(Hogsmeade) A tall and rather handsome stranger!

[Girty Hubbles]

The sun was setting and as Girty glanced down at her watched she was surprised to see it was only half past three in the afternoon. Soon the shop windows will be filling the street with a warm glow, the smells of sweet Christmas foods float out and warm your stomach and tempt you to go and try some of there delights.
But instead Girty slowly walked over the trampled snow, trying to keep in same stride pattern of a rather large pair of shoes. They seemed to turn in one direction to the other; at one point Girty even thought she had lost the trail all together when a mass of footprints appeared. But just ahead she could see the trail again and she quickly carried on following it, that was until she almost walked it someone.

“Hey watch it Miss Hubbles.”
Looking up Girty saw she had walked straight into the side of Simon who was a local in the Three Broomsticks, and she had to say quite the gentleman.
“Oh sorry Simon was in my own world…”
“As always Miss Hubbles…will you be in the pub later? I still owe you that drink.”
“No sorry, I…I promised Dan I would spend the evening with him…he sort of needs the company.”
“Aye I heard about that, terrible business that, can not believe he did it himself…”
“I will see you next week maybe, you can pay me back then.”

With cutting the wizard off Girty started to walk away, head down trying to follow the trail of footprints once again. She did not mean to be rude, she just did not want to be preach at again about what Dan had done, in fact she did not even want to spend the evening with her brother.
Girty was so lost in her own thoughts and anger that she lost the trail of footprints she was following and had veered off close to the edge of the village and yet again almost walked into another wizard, although this time she did not know who it was.

[Jake Gobien]

Snow, Jake despised it, well of course anyone would when they were sleeping under the stars every night, he was frozen solid come morning and looked just like a snowman. Funny the first time true enough, and the second time, but eventually it got tiring and it took a long while to get his muscles working. Now rubbing his arms to get the circulation back into them, he hugged himself for want of a better, whilst trudging through the remaining dregs of snow. It was more so sludge at this hour, so his tracks weren't quite so clear as before. He'd had to take the risk, basically for a bit of adventure and excitement. So he'd arisen early and spent the majority of the day around Hogsmeade, mostly with less than scrupulous fellows.

But now it was time to return to base, the others would be missing him, he'd left a scrawled note but supposedly his writing wasn't legible so they'd be wondering where he'd got to. With heavy feet, because he'd not got chance to buy anything from Honeydukes, he pulled a sulky face and laughed as someone passed by giving him a large leeway. With his large trenchcoat and hat pulled over his ears, gloves worn and scarf wrapped about his neck he was well equiped for the weather, and any eventuality come to that; with his pockets being full of pleasant suprises. Grinning Gobien quickened his pace knowing the Ministry could appear at any moment, he cast a nonchalent glance behind, making it seem only natural rather than overly cautious. Then he saw someone studying his tracks, keeping to his pace he suddenly wheeled about determined to shake them off his tail by persuasive means rather than running off.

Hands folded he smiled as the girl approached her eyes fixed upon his tracks, until they reached his boots then travelled on up to his chest, then her neck craned slightly to look at his face, "boo," he chuckled, an amused grin plastered on his face.
"That your lover boy?" He asked blatently jabbing his finger towards the young man walking away, "nice ass, you've taste I'll give you that." Putting his hands onto his hips he asked in a lecturing tone as if musing aloud, "but why oh why would you be following me? Perhaps you knew such a print would lead to a handsome stranger?" He jested then glared down at her, "or maybe you've a far darker motive, perhaps you're trailing me so you can shove a knife in my guts?" He asked his tone strong willed, then he smiled once more to throw her off balance, "I much prefer option number one, don't you? Cause then that means I don't have to say anything nasty to a pretty young thing with a beautiful face." He grinned flashing his smile in a teasing manner.

"So what's the truth of it?" He questioned folding his arms once again and giving her an appraising look; not bad looking at all, shame she's so young.

[Girty Hubbles]

As her eyes slowly moved up the tall figure Girty found it hard to stop her heart from beating too quickly and as her eyes finally reached to met him head she could not but jump when he rather playfully went ‘boo’. But after the initial shock of seeing him and his small joke wore off Girty was able to mange a small laugh, more at her own stupidity then anything. But this man did not seem too notice, instead he carried on talking and about Simon of all people.

“No.” Girty responded rather bluntly. “That is just Simon, a guy from the pub.” But she could not help but look over her shoulder as the stranger mentioned about him having a nice ass, a small smile spreading across Girty’s face. “Yeah…yea he does….no wait.” With a frown she turned back to the man to defend her corner. “We are just friends. Nothing else.”

But as Girty was lost in the thoughts about her last meting with Simon and how he had spilt his drink as he tripped over some old wizard’s false leg and spend the rest of the evening shooting apologetic glances at the old man. Just the mere memories brought a smile to her face, which was not really the best timing as the stranger was questioning her about her reason for following him. Rather astonished that she would be accused of such things she looked on at the guy with her mouth hanging open slightly, particularly when he threatened her. It was then she thought that maybe this was not a man to mess around with.

“I was not following you…sorry sir. I was killing time and I do rather childish things really and thought it would be funny to try and keep up with someone’s strides, and seeing as yours were pretty long I picked them. I mean no offence.”

She was half tempted to add ‘don’t kill me’ on the end, and although he seemed like a man who would joke and have a laugh she was certain that killing people was not a joke in his eyes, in his sharp blue eyes.
‘Wake up Girt….he is like fifty.’

[Jake Gobien]

Youngsters were always so blunt, just like he still was, and they did make things quite obvious simply by trying to hide things; clearly she liked this Simon, he was an attractive looking guy there was no doubting it. So her trying to cover up the truth only showed how much she liked Simon. That's how Gobien's mind worked.

Light blue eyes twinkling Gobien's smile broadened as he added, "your friend's got broad shoulders too, must work out." He carefully watched for her reaction guessing a blush would brighten her cheeks, or she'd even stumble over her words a little.

Chuckling as she pretty skilfully came up with a reasonable excuse for following him, he found it odd, but maybe she was just random like that. "Seems like a strange thing to while away time, I can think of better but whatever suits really." He grinned remembering times when he'd have played such games, oh wait he still would if he was bored enough.

"So did you come here just to gawk at Simon's biceps? Wait a minute, I get it now, you're following him. Not a bad catch at all if you can keep him under your finger." He laughed aloud then added, "I can't imagine him being easily house trained somehow, he's taking on my bad habits you see. But still a real gent, I should have known he was going for a drink all the while." He chortled, "still better than sleeping around I suppose."

[Girty Hubbles]

Girty tore herself away from Gobien’s eyes and watched his lips move as he mentioned how Simon must work out. Biting her lip Girty found it hard not to laugh at this statement and she had to reframe herself from once more looking over her shoulder at the person they were freely talking about. But just like before Gobien flicked from one subject to another, almost as to try and catch Girty off guard and asked about her acting childishly.

“What, are you saying? That I following foot prints is not….” But then he accused her of following Simon, something she most defiantly was not doing. It was just a very lucky and happy coincidence he was there. But then this man started to ramble on about how Simon was taking on his bad habits, and him not knowing where he was going at night. Girty was slightly taken a back by this comments and she found it hard to find her tongue.

“How…how do you know Simon…he has never mentioned…well he may have done seeing as I do not have a clue as to who you are...erm…” Girty broke off and scratched the back of her neck, butterflies started to flap around in her stomach and her mouth went dry. Girty either did two things when she was put in a situation like this, she would either talk herself stupid or fall deadly silent. It seemed today was going to be the latter.
Struggling to find something to say Girty looked up at the man, locking his gaze, getting wrapped up in his beautiful blue eyed stare. Then it happened, the words just rolled off her tongue without even a second thought.

“Your eyes are stunning…”

It was then Girty was able to catch herself. Her hands flew over her mouth as she stared on in disgust with herself more then anything. She stuttered some form of apology through her hands, her cheeks turning pink although this time it was not because of the cold. A small laugh soon escaped her lips as she lowered her hands, slowly shaking her head.

“Well I might as well introduce my self now. Girty Hubbles.”

[Jake Gobien]

This girl's clearly not used to talking with handsome guys he thought with a laugh out loud. How much can I trust her I wonder? He really didn't know, she seemed a trustworthy type, but so did had others before and they'd pulled the wool over his eyes with their devious deceptions. He had to be careful, only he found her attitude warming, she was in no way aggressive like most people were with Rogues. She might not have known he was a rogue but she didn't look like she was born yesterday. But then he remembered he'd shaved, cut his long hair and actually washed too, particularly for the diverting trip into Hogsmeade, and he decided he needed to look more respectable, and less roguish, of course he'd still act very roguishly.

Shocking eyes twinkling in merriment, he lightly smiled as she spoke, in a way that wouldn't cause offense, he was more so laughing with her, she seemed capable of lauging at herself, which was always good.

Laughing aloud as she remarked about his eyes he chuckled, "why thankyou Girty Hubbles," the name rang a faint bell, he'd heard it somewhere before. "Jake Gobien," he delivered smoothly in a way that some would claim to be flirtatious.
"You really shouldn't shut up though, keep the compliments raining in," he smiled teasingly then gave one of his own reaching out a hand, "gorgeous hair, what do you do to keep it so lovely?" He asked, strangely enough he was actually interested, touching her hair as lightly as a feather he left his hand there only a moment then grinned as he let if fall.

"You could say I know Simon pretty well," he commented, "and you're in with a shot I'd say, you're his type, and I mean that in the best possible way. I'll put in a good word for you with him." Chuckling Gobien found it enoyable to cast aside his toubles, if only momentarily. But deep down he was still on edge, his senses were alert and he wasn't entirely at ease as his eyes flickered to a man stooping in the street to tie a lace...

[Girty Hubbles]

Her already rosy red cheeks flushed even more as Jake reached out and stroked her hair, asking how she kept it so smooth. She did not have an answer for that even if she could find the words, but the problem was it had been an extremely long time since Girty had been complimented by a man. (Even if this one was quite a few years older then her) Opening her mouth slowly Girty managed to shrug her shoulders and stutter a few syllables.

“Noth…nothing. I just brush it.”

Lifting up her hand she ran her figures through her hair wondering if there was truly anything special about it. But seeing as someone had picked up on it then it must be, or it was the only thing he could think of a compliment. But none of that really mattered the thing that counted was he knew Simon and was going to ‘put in a good word for her’
A frown appeared on Girty’s face as she looked up at the wizard trying not to get lost in his stunning blue eyes.

“And what would that be?” She questioned, a small chuckle escaping as she did as she thought about trying to copy the mans accent. “’She has gorgeous hair mate.’ Yes I am sure that would win him over.”

It was a rather sarcastic come back from Girty, but when it came down to matters such as romance Girty was not really the most experienced of people. Her knowledge reached as far as childish crushes which this most certainly was and as in the past she had the same symptoms whenever her crush was near or mentioned.