(T.Broomsticks) Harmless Drink

[Rebecka McDyne]

It had been a long time since Rebecka could say she enjoyed a nice drink, even longer since she could say a nice drink with enjoyable company. Though the company may not be exactly enjoyable right now, due to the fact she was sat in a dark corner by herself, but the drink in itself was good. The warmth of both the drink and the pub was welcoming to Becka, who had not felt the warmth of an indoor area for far to long, having been holed up outside all the time. With it getting closer to Christmas, the air was definatly both sharper, and colder. Something Becka did not like.

The air around her was thick with tension. It seemed to her that the Ministry just put pressure on everyone, despite who they were or what their profession was. Though this didnt surprise Becki much, considering just how corrupt the Ministry was they were bound to put everyone on edge, though she had learnt to deal with it and relax, at least around herself, she didnt yet trust anyone she had come across, though she was sure eventually, she would.

Drinking her firewhisky, she kept an eye on the events going on around her. People talking in hushed voices, others looking tired or scared, even the odd few who seemed to be having a very heated discussion. She drank her drink slowly, wanting to savour it rather than hurridly drink it like some of the people in here were doing. She found this rather stupid considering once you consumed too much of it, your head didnt function right and you ended up throwing punches at people. Which, she just witnessed as a fight between the two men who had been having the heated discussion broke out. Becka sighed, men were all the same, all they wanted to do was pick fights with eachother for one reason or another. Shaking her head, she turned her attention back to her drink, rather than watch the embarrasing spectacle that was now taking place.

[Prof Octavious Everritt]

Addis needed a drink and with his face once more as Octavious he was free to enjoy himself, though he was still careful. He kept his hand on his Bloodwood wand, feeling the power within it as he stepped into the Three Broomsticks. He noticed that there were several people in there already, despite the relatively early hour. He guessed they were weak against the cold. He kept the though and after laugh to himself.

He went to the bar and ordered himself a firewhisky, receiving it quickly and thanking the bartender and sat on the stool, taking a long sip and looked at people about the room. He noticed a pretty blond sitting in a dark corner by herself, a thought came to him as he remembered that Gobien had recruited new members and she certainly was savouring the inside comforts a little too much.

A scuffle broke out to his right, forcing him to drop his drink and intervene, holding both men off as he pushed them apart with a simple spell, emanating from both hands. One fell over backwards, obviously he had consumed too much alcohol and the other simply turned red faced and ran from the bar, back outside. He shook his hands and cracked his neck, a laugh escaping his lips. Several eyes looked up to him but his stare was enough to send them back to what they were doing and it seemed the noise had redoubled.

He ordered another firewhisky, taking the sip a long one. He turned and saw the pretty blond was now focusing on her drink then with a simple smile he walked over to her. He opened his hand, palm up and used a simple hover charm to carry his drink, before he sat down at the girls table, his eyes looking intensely at her. The noise level was perfect for him.

'I am Addis and I presume you're with the Rogues?' He said, loud enough for her to hear yet low enough for any suspicious ears to have a hard time to listen in.

[Rebecka McDyne]

As the door opened once more, Rebecka turned to see who it was that came in. Though she didnt recognise him, she hadnt seen him around here before and she hadnt seen him in the forest. Though she was new around these parts so it was easily looked over. She assumed she hadnt been paying enough attention, which was more Rebecka's style.

She had forgotten just how noisy bar's could get, and though it was a little deafening at some points in the other peoples conversations, Rebecka found it almost soothing, like a long lost frined she had finally found. Not like that was going to happen anytime soon, she never got close to anybody when she left her home. Not trusting people made things a whole lot simpler and easier when it came to dealing with things.

When the scuffle broke out Becka turned to watch, she saw the man drop his drink and hurry to intervene, What a classic hero she thought sarcastically to herself, watching as he performed what seemed to be wandless magic to push the guys apart. She couldnt help a smile though when one man fell over, clearly intoxicated, and the other ran out of the pub, tail between his legs. Pathetic the thought entered her mind when he ran out of the pub. Shaking her head, returning to her drink, minding her own business.

She was looking down at her drink, arms on the table and her hands clasping the glass that contained the liquid. To an observer, she seemed lost in thought, though her mind was completley empty of all things. She didnt even look up when the man who had stopped the fight sat infront of her. Instead she just kept her eyes firmly fixed on the glass, not saying a word.

Good for you She thought. Rebecka didnt always mean to be cruel in her thoughts, but without trust, she couldnt help it. Anyone could be a Ministry Official these days, and looking at him, he could have been too. Yet at the same time, she didnt get the feeling he was. "Bex" she said simply, a three letter name was easier to give than her full one, just in case he was with them. "No im not. Ive only just come here" she said with a shrug. She wasnt part of the Rougues, in fact she had only met one, and for the life of her, she couldnt remember his name. Just the look on his face when he fell on the floor, this thought made her smile briefly.

[Prof Octavious Everritt]

Addis nodded, taking a sip of his firewhisky.

'Simple name.' Addis said quietly, hiding a bemused smile. He could tell she was here against the Ministry, why else would she sit by herself in a dark corner focusing on her drink?

'I know this will sound corny, but I know you're against the Ministry. I see too many new faces around here to not notice what faction someone belongs to. You're either with the Ministry or against them. If you're with them, you're out in the open pretending to be a new resident here. If you're against them, you sit in dark corners in pubs and have the look about you like you haven't been inside a warm room for a while.' Leigh said, speaking quickly and not jumbling his words. 'So, which is it? Ministry or Rogues?'

He knew he wouldn't have to harm the girl, she had made the right choice already in ignoring him and mistrusting him. If she was Ministry, she would have brandished her wand as soon as he had revealed to her his true name. He smiled, knowing she'd make the right decision.

'I can help.' He added, though not revealing too much more than that.

[Rebecka McDyne]

Becki looked to her left in the pub, scanning over everyone else, refusing to make eye contact with this Addis whoever he was.

Becki nodded when he commented on her name. She wasnt going to reveal more about herself unless absolutley necessary. Becki had realised lately that to be able to maintain a relatively safe life while opposing the Ministry, it was vital you didnt give your life story to complete strangers.

With his next words, she couldnt help but look at him with a raised eyebrow. If he knew so much about her already like he thought he did, why on earth did he keep with the questions, "Want to give me my destony while your at it?" she asked sarcastically. She drained her glass and set it gently on the table infront of her, looking at it with feigned interest. "I would say putting people into boxes is a little schoolboyish, why cant one just be beside him or herself?" she asked, not really knowing where this question came from, but she knew she wasnt about to get out of the questions that easily, "Though i suppose if you are putting people into two boxes, which is pointless because the world is not black and white, i would say the Rogues"

She honestly thought this, if there was one thing you couldnt doubt in Becki, it was her honesty and bluntness. She told things how it was and spoke what was on her mind. She didnt tiptoe around things to make someone else feel better, if there was something needing saying she would say it. You could count on her for that. Yet the world wasnt black and white, there wasnt only the Rogues and the Ministry. There were those in between. Those who didnt want anything to do with either of it, or those who chose a side but chose not to act on it.

"And how can you do that?" she asked, rather a little more cold than she meant to. Looking at him again with the same non-trusting expression.

[Prof Octavious Everritt]

Addis laughed, smiling at her bluntness to his question. He took a deep draught of his firewhisky and put the glass down, his hand gripping it tightly though.

'I put the two boxes out there, as you call it, because the Ministry sees you as cannon fodder if you're not with them.' Addis said bluntly, losing his smile. 'My destiny is how I wield it, if you want an answer. You'll find that by yourself opposing the Ministry will be hard, no one to watch your back, no one to trust.'

'Now, given I am a complete stranger approaching you in a pub with a drink in hand, I can help simply because I am able to. If you want a warm bed to sleep in at night, I offer you one.' He said, putting his hand up to keep her silent. 'Not mine! There is a small window that is a mere illusion near the Hogs Head, behind it in the dark alley. No one goes down there because there is no reason for it, except behind the illusion is a room that houses beds, clean blankets and bathing facilities. I tell you this, not in order to gain your trust, but to allow you to know you're not alone in your endeavour against the Ministry and also to use as a place to hide from the Ministry.'

He sat back and crossed his arms and looked at her, returning the cold look. 'He would like you amongst us, I'm sure.' He added. 'As to helping you, I'll leave that to you to decide how I can.'

[Rebecka McDyne]

Bex sighed, this was going to go one of two ways, either they would end up arguing, or they would end up, not trusting eachother, but on the way to trusting.

"The Ministry..." Becki said in a low voice, but the malace in those two words was unmistakeable. She looked back up at him when he began to talk about destinys, did he not get the sarcasm behind it? Or was sarcasm lost on people these days? "You're telling me things i already know" she spoke with a sigh, not a cold voice or anything of the latter, she had already figured that it would be a long and difficult road, and nobody knew where that road would take them, "In this line, you wouldnt expect anyone to watch your back, would you?" she more stated this, than asked it.

Becki wasnt going to interrupt him when he put his hand up anyway, given the fact he was male she found herself somewhat shocked at the fact he wouldnt lure a female there, afterall, she had found most guys to be like that these days. Though she didnt judge anyone to quickly anymore. "I wouldnt go to yours anyway" she said, though with a smile and a slight laugh. She didnt mean it nastilly, it was just Becki joking around. In tones of seriousness sometimes she likes to joke, just for the crack of it. Besides, she didnt even know where the Hogs Head was, she was new around these parts. Obviously she wasnt going to tell him she didnt know "Thankyou, it is kind of you but... You more or less said it yourself, people who oppose the ministry are alone, no-one to turn to right?"

"Who's he?" Rebecka asked, she thought about how he could help her, all Becki wanted was to find the one who destroyed her home and destroy his home and his life. "I dont know how you can help" she said with a shrug, she didnt get many people offereing to help her these days, and when she did, she didnt know how they could.

[Prof Octavious Everritt]

'There are more than enough people to watch your back, Bex, if you allow there to be. We are organised, fight the Ministry and though we have suffered many losses, we have inflicted much damage on the Ministry.' Addis revealed, though not revealing too much more than that. He spoke in a lower voice with a steelly gaze and a warm tone.

Leigh laughed at her slight joke, though he admitted to himself trying to lure a woman to his bed was the last thing on his mind as of it late. 'I have said that, but that doesn't mean there are people out there willing to help just because they can. Any person who resists the Ministry is an ally to me.'

'He? I say that because he has a penchant for flirting with pretty woman, though I don't know how many times he succeeds.' Addis revealed, careful not to mention Gobien's name. 'He is a great friend and I trust him with my life however, as he does my own.'

'I don't know how I can help you either as I don't know your story behind your dislike for the Ministry,' He added, 'nor do I think you will tell me. I help out by being a professor, a job. I am in a position that allows me access to information that the Ministry has. Names, places and mainly patrols I can find, why do you think the Ministry has more than quadripled their efforts in finding us?' He gave the girl a slight wink.

[Rebecka McDyne]

"I think im doing pretty decent" she said with a smile, "Besides, how many pairs of eyes can one back handle?" she gave a sigh before continuing, "What i mean is, if people in this sort of work have to watch other peoples back, then they are putting themselves in even more danger... And i dont want to be the cause of someones life if they are too busy watching my back to not notice their own"

"Well ive done plenty of resisting." Becki had both been running from the Ministry and trying to find them all at once, in fact she was finding it more confusing as of late and she wasnt entirely sure why. The pub was steadily getting fuller and noisier, Becki wondered silently just how long it would be until someone from the Ministry came in...

"Ah," she half laughed, "He's a flirt is he?" This made Becki smile, at least now she knew there was someone else out there who managed to see the brighter things sometimes. Even if it was in the wrong intentions. "I guess its nice to have people like that" she shrugged, Bex found it easier to not get close to people, that way she wouldnt feel too much if they got killed basically.

"No your right, i am not going to tell you why" she shrugged, "And im not going to say, Its not because i dont trust you, i do. Because really i dont" she found herself being blunt again, but she already knew he knew she didnt tust him. "So your an inside man? Basically a spy? Its only a matter of time before they find you out you know, nasty habit of coming out them things have."

[Prof Octavious Everritt]

'That is a different view to have and I agree, it is dangerous having people watch your back while your watching theirs, but there is another side to the proverbial coin that it is also safer that way.' Addis replied, looking at his fingernails in an act to make sure that no one was watching them. He too noticed that the pub was slowly filling, most tables were now taken with several people sitting at each. He recognised several Ministry workers from the school and scowled.

'He is a flirt, even to the other Rogues who know what he's like, though given his circumstances I can understand why.' Addis said, laughing. 'Yes, there have to be people like that in our world, otherwise it'd be all gloom and doom, for the main part anyway.'

Addis laughed, looking at the girl with eyes filled with pride. 'But they won't find out about me,' He said, a twinkle appearing in his eye. 'A spy? No, more like a guardian for the students. I owe my allegience to the school and the students, and in turn I am against the Ministry helping out the Rogues. I do my part.'

He looked over his shoulder but made it look like he was brushing something of his cloak. He could see that half the men and women in the pub were Ministry officials. He turned back to face the girl and laughed, forcing himself to pretend she had made a joke.

'The pub is now filled with Ministry Officials, how funny is that?' Addis said quietly, leaning forward and leaning on his hand with a look of interest on his face. 'I may be able to get out of here under my guise, but what about you? You currently have a cover for being a "friend" I am happen to be sitting with, are you willing to play along?'

[Rebecka McDyne]

"You will find my views on certain things are different to other peoples" Being brought up in a completley different environment to most people round here they were bound to be. Becka was raised in a place where peace was the foundation of things, nobody ever fought, hardly anyone had thier disagreements. Right until the last moment, everyone had tried to reason with these scoundrels, but to no avail.

"Never know when you next flirt could be your last" she laughed, it was a bleak sentance but with a hint of jokingness about it too. "Well there has to be people who look on the brighter side, what kind of world would we live in if some people didnt look to a brighter future?"

"Special case" she commented, not wanting to pry into why he was so confident about them finding out, it was his business and she wasnt about to start with the questions to things that were not her concern. "Someone has to look after the kids"

She raised an eyebrow when he started to laugh at nothingness, but then realised why and quickly changed her expression into a pout before leaning forward, gently pokin him on the end of his nose and saying, "It wasnt that funny." Which it wasnt, because she hadnt said anything at all, but everyone else werent to know that.

"Hilarious" She smiled with a roll of her eyes. "Well i guess its easier for you to walk around under a guise whereas people like me are easily recogniseable" she gave a shrug, she was either leaving this pub or she wasnt, "Im willing to play along"

[Prof Octavious Everritt]

Addis leant in gently, feigning a genuine smile with a joyful look on his face. 'This face isn't my true one. If you want to see my real face, it's plastered all over the place on those damned wanted signs, though if a Ministry official sees me with it, they die usually.' Addis said, speaking lower.

'The Ministry will know you're new to Hogsmeade and not a new recruit, somehow they figure that part out. If you'll agree with it, I'll offer you my arm. It's up to you how you answer.' He said, standing and appearing broad shouldered.. He held out his arm in a gentlemanly way with a genuine warm look on his face; he didn't want any harm coming to this girl, he felt it was his duty to help her until she came to a decision if she wanted to join the rogues.

[Rebecka McDyne]

She didn't quite understand when he said the face wasnt his true one, but she didnt press the matter. Besides, here was not the place to do so. She smiled, eyes glinting, "Well a good Ministry Official is a dead one" she laughed. The only thing the ministry were good for she figured, was pushing up daisys. Though even daisys were too pretty to decorate their graves.

"Well all honesty all they'll need to do is look in past files and im sure they'll figure out who i am. Im surprised ive lasted this long not being found" She gave a small smirk. Bex half shrugged, it wasnt like she had a better plan now was it? Standing up she took his arm and gave him a smile, trying to make the smile look like she was really happy.

[Ashlee Van Dort]

<sup>[[sorry sneaking in... hoping you guys can talk AJ into turning against the Ministry... or kill her... either one works ^_^ lol]]

It was a long and tiring day at the Ministry. Everything had gone wrong, and AJ had NO idea what she was supposed to do anymore. It was her duty to make sure children practiced magic legally, but now all she was doing was trying to figure out what students would turn against the Ministry. She definitly had enough.

Ashlee needed a drink, a strong one at that. The girl was only 20 and already age was catching up to her. She walked into the three broomsticks, tightly wrapped in a wool coat. On her way to the bar, she ran into someone. She looked up, "sorry," she said.

Ash froze when she saw the man she had run into, "Uh..." was all she could force out. With a sigh, she continued her walk to the bar, not even bothering to acknowledge him, on account on how much he hated her.</sup>

[Rebecka McDyne]

[[Or be a Ministry Spy n_¬]]

Becka walked through the croweded pub, her arm still linked in with Addis's. Hardly anyone was giving them a second look as most just asumed, (probably because of the face Becki had on her), that one of them had too much to drink and needed help home. Though of course this was not true, as Becki had only had two, and as far as she was aware, Addis only had one.

The two got closer to the bar, which meant closer to the door and further away from these Ministry larks. Though, for the split second Rebecka wasnt looking where she was going, was the time someone walked into them. Causing Becki's arms to slide from Addis's, she looked at the girl who couldnt have been much older than 20, and by the look of it, living a luxery life.

Becki didnt say anything when she apologized, instead just looked upon her coldly. This girl had possibly ruined Becka's only chance of getting out of here unnoticed. She knew this was too good to be true. Though when she looked at Addis, she seemed to recognise him. When she walked off, Becka looked up at him, "You know her?" She asked and turned back to watch the girl walk away. Raising an eyebrow, Becka got the sudden urge to go and talk to her. She definatly had the sense something was really wrong with this picture. Looking between Addis and the other girl, confusion pretty clear.