(Hogsmeade) In The Real World

[Mike Swan]

The past seven years had passed in a sort of daze for Mike. While he was in school it seemed never ending, sort of like he would be there forever. He enjoyed it but kept himself to himself most of the time, rarely mixing with other people. Not exactly what you would call person friendly half the time. Though in all fairness Mike was just shy and it took him a while to build up enough confidence to speak to anyone. Though he knew now, that this had to stop.

He had now left school, his grades were where they should be and he was getting his life on track now. He thought of going home at first but thought of the kind of place he would be going home to and decided to stay here. His homelife was good it was just too relaxed for Mike's liking. He wondered what they would be doing now? His family? Probably getting ready to go to bed, afterall they were on the other side of the earth from Mike now. Though Mike didnt regret his desicion to stay here. He felt as though his future was here and not in New York.

Sitting donw on the bench in hogsmeade he smiled to himself. He had never really had any achievements in life, though he had never really set any goals for himself. He was the newest recruit in the ministry and he knew many people opposed them right now but in all honesty, Mike couldnt understand why. Though he never really listened either. Mike was stubborn, that much was certain.

[arista]

It was nice to have the day off. Or pretend like you have the day off. Arista wandered into Hogsmeade, knowing quite well that any second a small child could be running into her hospital wing screaming at the top of their lungs saying that they got a boo-boo. Arista needed a break. After Dan's accident it seemed that everything just went down hill. More and more serious accidents had occurred. Arista's social life had gone down the tubes. She hadn't been to eat in the great hall all week. She needed a breath of fresh air. Besides, if anything to serious happened she had told Brianna where she was going.

It was a lovely day to pretend to take off. Arista had planned she would spend sometime in the Three Broomsticks, venture over to Pudifoot's for a cup at tea time, then to the apothecary to pick up something or another. She figured if she walked back to Hogwarts with a bag from the apothecary and got caught, she would have a decent excuse. She was picking up some whatever, even though she was probably perfectly qualified to make it herself.

It had rained the day before and the dirt road didn't seem to be very keen on drying. Arista had been smart enough to wear boots, but not as smart as to wear old boots. Her dress, rather long and slightly mid evil, was just touching the dirty ground, creating a line of brown on top of its goldenrod color. Every time Arista looked down she sighed. Soon she was be inside and not have to deal with the mud.

Arista was just outside of the pub when she stepped right into a large puddle. Sinking into the mud, Arista's new boot disappeard below the water line, and her sock suddenly became uncomfortably wet. "Ugh." Arista said, pulling her foot from the muck. Limping over to the nearest bench, she sat down. Not noticing the man she was sharing the seat with, she pried of her boot and flipped it upside down. A large amount of water gushed from it. "Ugh, great." Arista said, wrinkling her nose. The water from her boot hit the ground beneath the bench, splashing up, hitting the mans pant leg. Noticing it suddenly, Arista put her hand to her mouth. "I am sooo sorry." She said, about ready to get down on the floor and clean up her mess.

[Mike Swan]

Mike had yet to start work. His letter told him that he didnt start till next week and told him blatently that he had to introduce himself to his boss. He had stood infront of a mirror every morning practising his speach, though he didnt have a speach but it helped boost his confidence somewhat. He wondered silently what was going on at Hogwarts, part of him wanted to stay there but he knew that his future lay away from the school, it didnt mean he couldnt visit every once in a while did it? The school was amazing and he enjoyed every second he had spent in it, but now it was time to join the real world. Away from the comforts and the securities of the castle.

Despite the fact it had rained heavily yesterday, the sun was now beaming down, trying to dry up all these mud puddles. There was a slight breeze but it wasnt enough to keep someone cool. The sun felt hot against Mike's neck and when he raised a hand subconciously to the back of his neck, he felt like it was on fire. Though this wasnt bad, he would just pick up some burn heal at the Apothecary later. Right now he just wanted to spend some time in the sun.

Mike was sat on the bench just off the dirt road, which put mud right up close to him and he was ready to scold anyone who jumped into it to get mud on Mike. He had a sense of humour, but that would be pushing it to the extreame. Mike was wearing, stupidly, light colours. He was dressed today as a muggle, his white t-shirt hung limply on him, though showing off his quite powerful arms, it didnt cling to him. Mike wasnt one for showing his body, he didnt feel comfortable with it. His jeans were a very pale blue and they too, hung limply around his legs, they were very baggy, not to mention falling off. His belt didnt help hold them up much and when he stood up, if his shirt hadnt been as long as it was, would have shown his boxers.

Mike just stared down the street of Hogsmeade, there wasnt really many people about today, despite the fact the sun was high and it was very warm, he guessed many people didnt like the muddyness. Mike didnt blame them, he supposed he should have stayed inside, or at least put on darker clothes. Mike turned his head as he saw someone sit next to him, though he became aware that she hadnt noticed him. She had one boot off that was blatently full of mud. She must have stepped in a mud puddle or something he assumed. He watched as she emptied the boot of mud and water and a lot of it splashed up Mike's leg. "Great" he mumbled as he looked down at his jeans, splashed now with brown dots of mud. He looked over to the woman who seemed to have now, noticed him. A hand over her mouth and apologizing. He gave her a smile and shrugged, "Its alright, it was bound to happen" He bent down trying to brush the mud splats off his leg, only to make it worse. "Never mind, it will come off in the wash im sure"