[Puddifoots] What a small world.

[Shayla Kane]

A hard day, Shayla was beginning to get used to it. Still fresh out of auror training there were a lot of things that remained new to her. Training could help you do your job but it could in no way prepare you fully for what the job was actually like. The days were long and the nights were even longer. So far she had barely had any time to herself. It had been ages since she'd seen the inside of her flat. This was the first time in weeks she had some down time. There was nothing keeping her in the office so she pretty much ran right out of the ministry.

The one thing that she craved was a nice cup of tea. There was no place better than Madam Puddifoot's. Sure it was a little out of her way but it didn't matter since she had actual time for a change. Entering the place the strong smell of tea was the first thing that hit her. Inhaling deeply Alexis shivered with excitement. Probably a bit pathetic to get so excited about a cup of tea but what did she care about the opinions of others.

Going right up to the counter she checked the list and it was quite long anything your heart desired could be found in one place. The waitress seeing her eyes on the list left her alone a moment. One name caught her eye and Shay knew immediately she had to try it. "Ok I know what i want, the sexual adventure please." How could she not try it The girl smiled at her before walking away to get the tea. Standing there Shay eyes the place it wasn't too busy but there were a few people scattered here and there.

As her tea came out the door opened and she automatically turned her head. Being an auror she made sure to keep on her guard at all times, EVER VIGILANT! Was the motto at training. Seeing the man walk in Shayla realized immediately that she recognized him from the ministry. He used to work in the Magical Games and Sports department. She had not seen him in a long time and wondered what had happened. Giving him a smile and a wave she hoped he would join her in the que.

[diederick]

The wind blew and shook up Errol's hair as he stepped into Madame Puddifoot's shoppe, welcomed by the warm air and pervading smell of tea. Looking toward the counter, Errol saw a young woman standing at the counter. She gave a small wave and smiled toward Errol before turning back. Errol, not knowing who the woman was, walked to the counter next to her and immediately gave his usual request to the waitress standing behind the counter, "I'll have the earl grey green tea, if you please," before turning to the woman next to him.

"I'm sorry," he began, "you look strangely familiar, do I know you? I'm Errol Kridik; I work at Hogwarts." Though he was new to hogwarts, and hadn't yet begun teaching, he still held the right to state he worked there, albeit little. The tea arrived and Errol brought the china cup to his lips, sipping the tea, before he turned back to the woman sitting next to him.

[Shayla Kane]

He didn't seem to recall who she was. This caused Shayla to wonder if she had been mistaken. He might have been someone entirely different, she had not had a good night sleep and her senses weren't up to scratch. At least he wasn't unfriendly he did come over to her and he did not give off the impression he thought her crazy. He actually spoke to her and it seemed that he too thought she looked familiar. But when he said he worked at Hogwarts she figured she must have had the wrong man. Perhaps they both had one of those familiar looking faces.

"Oh you work up at the school. Then I was mistaken. I do apologize it's just that you look so much like someone I used to work with. I have not seen him in some time so I just thought..." She let the words trail off along with her voice. Shay hated awkward moments like now. Normally she would have waited until he was closer to make sure of his identity but she didn't because she thought she as right.

"I hope you do not think me forward. I normally behave better than that." Winking, she tried to make light of the situation. Picking up her cup she apologized before walking to find herself a table.

[diederick]

Errol sipped at his tea again as the women spoke her thoughts aloud. Errol, smiling, turned to speak, "do you work at the Ministry? I worked at the ministry in the Department of International Magical Cooperation. I was fired ten years ago. Were you there? there was quite a controversy over it." Sipping at his tea again, Errol smiled. His time in the ministry was good, until charges of dark magic were brought against him. Runic magic had been his life, and it cost him his job.

He never forgave the Department Head, who had always wanted to get rid of him. Mr Woolridge, the Department Head of International Cooperation had had it in for Errol from day one. Errol frowned a bit as he thought of the despicable man.

[Shayla Kane]

Whoa ten years ago? Then they certainly had never met. She was only in her fourth year at Hogwarts ten years ago she was off doing some silly school girl thing back then. All of this was just odd Shayla was usually good with faces and his did look very familiar. Maybe if they spoke to each other a bit more it would come back to her. Sitting at a table she threw out her hand in a gesture that let him know he was free to sit there as well. For several moments she looked at him willing herself to remember. She wasn't used to being out of the loop or incapable or remembering something. The whole thing was irking her.

Peeling her eyes away from the man for a moment Shayla grabbed her cup of tea greedily taking a sip. The woman wasn't a proponent of caffeine but the stuff in that cup was good. She could see why it got that name because she felt good damn good. "Oh boy this tea is out of sight." Shayla wasn't talking to anyone in particular though there were quite a few eyes on her now. Being an auror Shayla had to learn not to be embarrassed to simply let things just roll off her back. With this in mind she smiled at the rest of the room mouthing the words "good tea" to all of them. A few smiled and nodded in agreement with her, others simply stared at her as if she were crazy before turning their attention back to other things.

Now she lifted her head to look at the man she had asked to join her. Suddenly, something clicked and she remembered. "You were in the papers years ago about your firing. That's where I've seen your face before, I just couldn't quite remember because it happened as you said years ago. Although, you do bear a striking resemblance to someone who works in the ministry now." Finally, she could stop letting that bother her she placed his face now time to move on.

[diederick]

Sitting down at the table Errol sipped from his cup of tea. It was good tea no doubt. The woman Errol was speaking to obviously agreed; she had shown her pleasure quite spectacularly before explaining it was good tea. Errol smiled, "What kind of tea is that? Something interesting, I'm sure. By the way, what is your name? I'm afraid I missed it." Errol went leaned back into his chair as he looked at the woman and sipped his tea; how English of him to do so.

The young woman then snapped up, remembering Errol's face from the Daily Prophet during the row he had had with the Ministry over his job. It was sorry that that was the only way people knew him. "Yes, I was in the paper. The Daily Prophet took it upon itself to demonise me for using runic magic when I was representing Great Britain to Norway. William Woolbridge was the Head of the Department of International Cooperation at that time. He had it in for for quite a long time. He used my practise in runic magic as an excuse to sack me. I doesn't really matter. I got a better job after that anyway." Though Errol did not admit it, the sacking was still a fresh wound in his mind.

[Shayla Kane]

Ha ha he asked for the name of her tea. Shayla wasn't one to get shy easily but how did she tell someone she ordered a tea named sexual adventure. It was so funny that she since she had recently taken a sip she was close to spitting it out. Controlling the urge she got it down before answering. "Ah well the name is what caught my attention when I ordered it mind you, but I can certainly understand why it was named that. It's called sexual adventure. A completely delicious blend I must tell you. Oh and I do apologize for being rude I'm Shayla Kane."

Placing her cup back on the table, she looked longingly at the cup. This tea was one of those things you could become addicted to. Lucky for her Errol (she remembered the name now) began speaking about his firing. Listening it became clear that there was a lot of hypocrisy in the ministry using runic magic (though she wasn't quite sure what it was) didn't seem like something to be sacked over.

"Well that's just plain horrible. I am sorry, but I'm sure you've moved on and onto a much better position. Tell me what is it you do now?"

[diederick]

Errol smiled at the name of the tea Shayla was drinking. "I understand the impulse to get something with a name like that. Probably would have gotten it myself had I looked at the menu, but I have a usual here." It was the truth, since Errol had arrived at Hogwarts, he had spent some of his time personalising his classroom; but most of his time was spent in Hogsmeade.

Shayla agreed with Errol that the use of runic magic should be no reason for a sacking. She then enquired to Errol's job, asking what he did at Hogwarts. "I'm the professor of Ancient Runes," he said as a matter of fact, "it's a really interesting class to teach, though I haven't begun teaching yet. It's my first year." He finished speaking to take another sip of his tea.

[Shayla Kane]

Of all the classes Shayla had taken at Hogwarts she avoided Runes because she never got it. She knew a lot of people who loved it swore but it but to Shay it was simply confusing stuff. She could admire anyone who decided to teach it. "That class always scared me when I was in school. Never understood it. Still don't actually guess that's why I enjoy my job as an auror."

Taking another sip of tea she thought that this would be her usual here. It was way too good not to have again. Placing the cup back down on the table, she let her index finger trace the rim while she looked at him. "So you're first year teaching well that must be exciting. New term is starting right? I still miss it sometimes. Can't believe it's been seven years since I left there seems only yesterday." She was babbling, now a bad habit of hers one she tried to work on but there were times when it just happened like now.

[diederick]

So she was an auror? Errol noted the fact before he replied. She hadn't done runes in school, it was a bit sorry for being such an interesting and useful subject. Errol sipped his tea once again before speaking, "an auror!?" he said with mild surprise An interesting job no doubt. It's really sad you didn't take Ancient Runes. Really, the only reason the class is called that is because it was the first magical object in human history. The class is more about magical theory and how to use it. It'd be very useful for an auror."

Errol then sat back to dig into the pocket of his emerald robes. Finally, he pulled out a small marble trinket. The stone was glowing a dim green. Carved into the sides of the long marble piece were runes. Errol was dying to ask the question he had in the back of his head since he had arrived at Hogwarts. Setting the stone on the table between the two of them, Errol began explaining; "I've been waiting to find an auror somewhere to show them this," he said, "it is called a nutiusmalim. It glows when it nears dark magic. As you can see, it has a slight glow right here, but it was glowing very brightly in Hogwarts." Errol thought he had done some part in helping something. He could only wait now.

[Shayla Kane]

Shay almost kind of laughed. Of course since he was the ancient runes professor at Hogwarts he would stick up for his subject. Tell her that it would have been beneficial to her to take the course. Perhaps in his mind but to her it was a lot of theories that she really didn't know anything about, a lot of things she didn't think she'd ever truly understand. She smiled, instead of giggled like she really wanted to. No need to put her personal opinion on him he already had his mind made up about his subject.

What did interest her was the way he reacted when she said she was an auror. He perked up a bit then went to his pockets to pull something out. Shayla always on her guard didn't take her eyes off him. Ever vigilant that's the way she would stay. He pulled out what looked like runes or something Shay wasn't sure but knew he'd eventually tell her the answer.

What he did tell her caused a wave of panic inside her, something that he would never have known just by looking at her face, which was still composed. He mentioned that what it was he was holding emitted a faint glow. Shay could not see this glowing but she believed him still. "Glowing up at the school? That's not good, has it happened around anyone in particular?" There were talks of danger brewing but she hadn't taken it seriously, she saw now that it was wrong to overlook idle chit chat.

[diederick]

Though Shalyla hadn’t shown her interest in the nutiusmalim with her face, Errol could tell she wanted to know more. She voiced her concern, asking about when and where the stone glowed. Errol answered her in his straightforward manner, “Shayla, the stone consistently glows the same shade at Hogwarts. It stops glowing completely when I leave the Hogwarts grounds. Then, when I enter the outskirts of Hogsmeade, it glows like it is glowing now, a dim green. To my knowledge it hasn’t gone blue, or red, god forbid. For some reason, I don’t know, there is dark magic only in Hogwarts. It could be a person, a thing, perhaps the ground itself. I don’t know,” he said, “All I do know, is that magic, no matter its shade, travels where it pleases and there is little we can do to stop it.”

Errol knew dark magic was amiss, or perhaps the nutiusmalim was broken. He couldn’t tell yet, he would have to make another to be sure. He did have to tell Shayla something else, “Shayla, you can’t tell anyone at the ministry what I’ve told you. It could cost me my job, and I don’t want the ministry doing that again. The ministry tends not to understand people like me. If you announce I’ve seen dark magic, the ministry could act rashly. Now, I’m going to make another natiusmalim; however, it will take a few months. I’m going to see about things.” Errol hoped she wouldn’t tell anyone. He just wanted to confirm someone else could see the stone.

[Shayla Kane]

The fact that he couldn't pinpoint a place or a person seriously worried Shayla. The school was supposed to be the safest place, virtually impenetrable. Now this man was telling her there was dark magic around it, or in it. That was a scary thought one she was hoping didn't progress into something serious. How could it? He himself said his gizmo might not be working right. Perhaps it was on the fritz. Then why did he say it didn't glow when he got into Hogsmeade came the question her mind asked her.

Well he said he would make another one test his theory. The time it would take something could happen but he didn't want her to tell anyone at the ministry what he just shared so as far a protection was concerned her hands were tied. "Well I can't do much else until you know for sure. I will wait for word from you regarding this manner, a manner that will remain strictly between us until such times as it should be divulged to my superiors."

Shayla sounded all business but it was necessary they weren't talking about tea and crumpets anymore. Something evil was taking hold of the school she loved so much. This is something she wanted to be kept apprised of, "If anything else happens please inform me straight away."

[diederick]

Shayla had suddenly gone into business mode when Errol had shown her the nutiusmallim. Errol knew more about dark magic than he was prepared to let on; however, his knowledge of dark magic had little to do with the way his nutiusmalim was reacting. It would take him some time to retrieve the proper materials to make another one. It takes nearly four months to make one, if one can find the materials immediately.

Errol was glad to find Shayla would keep the conversation under lock and key. The once buzzing conversation had turned to a silent moment. It’s what happens when you introduce something like that. Errol took the nutiusmalim off the table and put back into his robe pocket. “I’ll contact you the moment I complete the new object. Expect a letter with a Burrowing Owl within the next six months,” he said matter-of-factly.

Errol finished his tea and looked up at Shayla before looking at his silver pocket-watch. “I’m sorry,” he said, “it seems I don’t have too much time. I regret we didn’t meet without this information. Perhaps we could arrange a drink or something next fortnight?” Errol wished he could have spoken with Shayla without the discussion of the nutiusmalim. He sighed to himself. This is what he got for not talking to anyone for twenty years.

[Shayla Kane]

Shayla had been deep in thought allowing the conversation to lag into an awkward silence. All of this happening now was just too weird a coincidence. Shayla was having trouble with all of this, she was just hoping that his doohickey was wrong. Nervously she took another sip of tea in order to give herself something to do.

He said six months, a whole six months she would be on pins and needles waiting. Maybe there was just another way, "There's no other instrument in your trade you can use, I mean six months just seems way too long a time to wait for something like this." She thought maybe a couple of months, this was way too much. Shayla was starting to feel nervous, six months of hiding something so serious how was she supposed to do that.

He had to leave Shayla looked at him for the first time in a while. Shayla hadn't realized how late it was. He asked if maybe they could meet for coffee in a fortnight. Shayla figured it might be nice, so she smiled "Sure Errol that sounds lovely, if you could owl me a place and time I'll be there"