Remember that time we...(Eric Mitchell)

[Professor Carina Erikson]

Well, at least she was busy. For the last few weeks, Carina had been trying to cram her days full. She had just been so restless lately, she didn't know what else to do. Now with school starting soon things should be busier. She just hoped time past quickly. Everything that the professor could do at the castle was already done. Schedules, class plans, cleaning, everything she could think of. She had tried reading, but couldn't concentrate and couldn't sit still. Tried taking a nap to ease off the stabbing headache she had all day, but it just seemed to make it hurt worse.

Finally she gave up and headed to the shop. There was always something to do there. She wore sweatpants and an old Ravenclaw t-shirt. Odd, since she was head of Slytherin. Near as she could figure, it had ended up in her things when she went to visit. Her hair up in a messy bun and dark sunglasses guarded her eyes, completing the 'I don't feel good' look she was rocking that day. Letting herself in, Carina gathered the mail orders before plopping down at the desk. She tried, really she did. It didn't work out well though, the words seemed to blur together.

She slipped her ratty trainers off behind the desk. It's not like anyone would see her. Not trusting herself to brew potions, she figured that cleaning would be the next easiest thing.Sweeping the floor would have been easier if she used magic, but there was something therapeutic about using her own hands.

[Eric Mitchell]

Eric decided having just got here to try and contact Carina so he used the public floo to call her. Well that did not work she was not in her quarters at the school. Now where could she be school was starting soon. Carina would never start a term without having everything ready. Then he thought duh she probably already has everything done.

Well then he would go to town and hope to run into her. As he strolled down the road he glanced in all the shops, remembering when he used to rush into them to get everything new to impress her. He shook his head and laughed he had always assumed he would end up with Carina but Fate had other designs for him. He is very happily married now with three kids.

As he was passing the apothecary he thought he saw something in there then he remembered Carina ran the shop or at least she used to. Well he decided to walk in and when he did he was hit in the face with dust. "Well well what have we got here Professor Erickson cleaning. Also wearing my old shirt where did you get that?" Eric asked as he took a seat in a chair by the counter.

[Professor Carina Erikson]

How in the world did this place get so dingy so quickly? That was the question of the day. Of every day she was here. Most the time it seemed to happen over night. It wouldn't get done nearly as fast or as clean as normal. She did have a pounding headache after all. That was why chose to look like an idiot, still wearing her sunglasses in the dark building while cleaning.

Taking the lazy way out, Carina had moved everything off the counter, taking the broom and using it for the worst of the dust. That was when she heard the little bell over the door chime. Crap. Why had she not locked the door back after she came in. "I'm sorry we're closed." She spoke with a sigh and turned to wave at the dust.

Finally, she glanced at the person that had interrupted her quiet time. Carina just stared for a moment. That was all she could do. "Well, Eric Mitchell, as I live and breath." Her sunglasses were pushed to sit on her head, revealing tired eyes. A smile painted her face and she walked over to him, wrapping him in a hug. "What in the world are you doing here?"

[Eric Mitchell]

Eric just sat waiting for Carina to recognize him when she did he returned her hug. "Carina do you not read your mail. I sent you a letter over a month ago telling you I was coming. Then Eric remembered he did not tell why even in the letter. "Carina sit down and we can catch up and I will tell you why I am here."

"Well as you know Briony and I have two children of hers we also have Eli a boy I meet through my job as an Auror he has lived with us for the past five years. This year while we were getting all the kids school supplies Eli ask to talk to us before he bought his. We thought that was kinda strange but figured he is a teenager maybe he wanted to get his supplies on his own so we said okay. Well we decided we would talk that night after dinner. When we sat down to talk he told us he wanted to go to our old school. He said we were the only family he had and he wanted to continue the tradition of going to Hogwarts. So I am here to get him registered in school. I also will be staying awhile."

[Professor Carina Erikson]

Letter? Had she gotten a letter? She rummaged through the pile of papers on the counter and sure enough, there it was. "Oh, sorry. Guess it got caught up in the mail orders." Frowning, she tossed it back down, didn't really have to read it now that he was here. Pushing the papers out of the way, Carina pushed herself up on the counter with her coffee. "I've been super busy, I didn't even realize." She sipped at her coffee and then held the cup out to Eric. "You want some?"

One of Eric's worst habits was repeating himself and explaining everything, even if the person already knew. "Eric, mon cheri, I know who Eli is. I was there when you and Bri signed the adoption papers. He's not old enough to go to Hogwarts, is he?" She thought, adding dates into the mix. Merlin, he was old enough, more than old enough. "Merlin, he's thirteen. He can't be that old. That means I'm getting old."

"Why are you staying for a while? Is everything okay with you and Bri?" That was Carina's first concern. Her two friends have always had an odd relationship. "What about work? Your dad said you were getting a new partner." Pausing again so he could answer, she took her cup back from him. Let's face it, she needed it more than him anyway. "I have so much to tell you."

[Eric Mitchell]

Eric shook his head leave it up to Carina she would misplace her head if it wasn't attached. "That figures you are always misplacing things. Some things never change. How on earth you keep your class room straight I will never know." He says laughing. He takes a swig of her coffee and says “When did you learn how to make coffee because that is pretty good.” Eric stood up and got his self a cup of coffee, then returned to the chair and sat down.

“Shoot that is right you were there weren’t you? Eli would have a heart attack if he heard you saying you did not think he was old enough for Hogwarts. He is always trying to make his self look older. He is thirteen but tries to act as if he is sixteen. Were we ever that bad? Do you remember the little girl he used to run around with Katya? She is going to Hogwarts this year too.”

Eric looked thoughtful for a minute. “Everything is fine between me and Bri. I do not know if we told you or not she is expecting. Well as you know I am a curse breaker now. That is part of why I am staying my new partner is already here her name is Lilith Braeden. There is also another reason though Bri does not want Eli to be without someone for a little while. It is the first time he has ever been away from home.”

“So you said you have so much to tell me would part of that be why you look like death warmed over. The Carina I know would never be caught dead wearing old jogging pants in public. And once again where did you get that old shirt.”

[Professor Carina Erikson]

“My classroom stays clean because I make the children clean up after themselves. Not my mess, so I’m not cleaning it.” She rolled her eyes a little as she took her coffee back. “I know how to make coffee. Really, it’s not that hard. There’s milk and sugar in the cabinet.” Carina tucked her feet under her. Setting her coffee aside, she flipped through the mail orders, squinting at the small print. Frustrated, Carina threw them down again. They would just have to wait. Finally, Eric returned and Carina could pretend she had nothing to do.

Carina shot Eric a good natured grin. “Hmm. I remember another boy that used to try and make himself look older. I can’t imagine who that was.” Yes, she remembered Katya. She reminded Carina so much of Eric’s wife, Briony. Small and shy, just like Bri was. “Of course she is. She and Eli are connected at the hip, I think. If you see one, you see the other. And you can tell both of them, I didn’t take crap from you in class and I won’t from them either.” The grin remained on her face, though she was serious.

The relationship between her two friends always tended to run hot or cold. Thankfully, it seemed to have evened out over the years. The grin turned to a full blown smile at the mention of the new baby. “Yeah, your dad told me last week. I’m far more excited than I should be. You know I love babies. Do you know if it’s a boy or a girl yet?” The smiled faded from her face, turning to a frown at the mention of his new partner. “I’ve met a lady with that name. Quite pretty actually. But there’s something off about her.” Carina shook her head a little. “I’m not sure what it is.”

She winced at the bluntness of her friend. Really, did he have to be so point blank about it. “I have a headache is all. Been a little restless. Nothing to worry about.” The headache had been easing off anyway. It would be back, she knew, but for now it wasn’t bad at all. “Your shirt, I guess, ended up in my stuff last time I stayed with your dad. It was just kinda there one day. As for the big news, I’m not sure I should tell you. I’m not sure how you’ll react.”

[Eric Mitchell]

Eric walked over to the coffee machine. “Excuse me then you must be a batter Professor then the one I had I was never forced to clean up after myself. I just put my equipment away and left the mess for the Professor or the elves to clean.” Eric reached into the cabinet and got the cream and sugar for his coffee, fixed it then went and sat back down.



“If I remember correctly I wasn’t the only one trying to look older. As a matter of fact I seem to remember a certain girl helping me look older so WE could go the tavern and she could get plastered” Eric grinned as he remembered the weekends he and Carina spent at the Hog’s Head. “I can’t speak for Katya but I do know you will not have any problems out of Eli he takes his class work very seriously he is almost as possessed as you were at 13!” Eric look her dead in the eye so she knew he was serious. ”Eli wants to be a curse breaker and Potions master before his 25th birthday.”



Eric got a big grin on his face as he said “we do not know yet but when Briony finds out she will let me know.” “I have only seen my partner one time and that was just for an introduction so I do not know what to expect.” Eric frowned as he said that he really hoped Carina was just being paranoid . “Well I have grown up so whatever you have to tell me I promise I will not over react so TELL ME what is wrong with you.”

[Professor Carina Erikson]

Yes, she could remember the mess he left at the end of every class. She was not sorry in the least that he wasn’t a student any more. “Yes, I remember that.” Carina’s droll tone of voice far different than the annoyance she still felt at that memory. Trailing along after Eric, Carina fixed herself another cup. With a sigh, she replaced the cream and sugar in cabinet since he left it out. He was right, somethings never change.


“Well, it’s certainly nice to know that I won’t have a mini Eric on my hands. Glad to know he takes more after Bri in that aspect.” He’d either end up in Ravenclaw or Slytherin thinking like that. “Lot of school work involved for either of those.” She couldn’t stop the small smirk that came on her face. “As long as he knows he can’t beat me. After all, I was 21 when I got my mastery.” She was still so proud of that fact. Probably more than anything else she had done.

“You’ll see when you talk to her for a while. Just odd.” Carina shook her head. The lady was probably just odd, that’s all. “Anyway, let me know when you find out that it is.” A maniacal grin crossed her lips for a moment. “We’ll go shopping.” She knew good and well Eric hated shopping, but he would suck it up for her like he’s always done. He’d grumble and complain but he’d do it.

Now, for the big news. Back at the counter, she stood on the other side from Eric, rubbing her finger absently on a dirt smudge. “So, yeah, um.” Come on and spit it out, she thought. He’ll either accept it or not. “So, I’m getting married.” There was so much more than that, but she’d see how that part goes first.