[3 Broomsticks] Like the good old days

[William Harris]

William had invited Dax out for a drink like they had always done. Every Friday night they had come to this infamous pub for two whole years, even when they had been too young really to come they had sneaked out. Reliving fond memories of their many adventures together William chuckled, it was a shame life had dragged them apart for a while, but know they were reuninted. They both seemed to be exactly the same, the time had only made Dax obviously a little plumper and William more grey as they had already teased each other.
Being influential William had got a Ravenclaw Seventh year to order in some alcoholic beverages, who had obliged without question after William had said he could buy one for himself too. He now just awaited his partner in crime.

[Dax Simmons]

Pushing open the door to the pub Dax noticed Will sitting in their normal window seat, which looked out over the street. With a small laugh Dax decide to make an entrance. Sticking out his chest and raising his shoulders Dax started to strut towards the table like a cowboy in the muggle movies.

As he reached the table he slammed his hands down on it making it shake and a few heads turn. Then putting on his best west American accent Dax raised his voice above the noise of the pub.
“This castle ain’t big enough for the both of us. I suggest you leave by dawn.”
He placed his hands on his hips before letting a loud laugh fill that air as he flopped down into his seat. Then reverting back to his normal voice he greeted his old bud.

“Hey Willy”

[William Harris]

Looking at his watch in irritation as he wanted desperately to start his beer, he gave a dazzling smile to the single good looking girl in the place; it seemed pickings were now more slimmer than they used to be. In their old naievty the pair had been going mostly for the older gals, in the years above, but now they were both in the upper end of the school, so those high aspirations were impossible. Sipping his beer and resisting the urge to begin to gulp it down he mused over his current affairs, not actual affairs but the goings on in Hogwarts.
Spinning round as Dax made a grand entrance Will put on a serious face playing along with Dax. But he broke first, laughing at Dax's antics he couldn't respond for the fits of giggles for a few moments. Gesturing for Dax to sit opposite he pushed a beer towards him
"Ha yours is smaller!" he teased as they had always done with that greeting.
"So how are ye then Simmy? How's life been treating you?" He glugged his beer down smiling broadly at his pal.

[Dax Simmons]

As Will replied in the normal way Dax managed to smile back at his friend as he reached for his glass of beer. Raising his eyebrows at his mates question he managed to fight off a frown.
“Things have been better for me. Why is it that when one things goes well another thing gets worse.” Dax ran his hand through his hair as he spoke and let out a small sigh at the end.

He did not want to rag the mood down of there meeting, so he brought on a small laugh as he took another swig of his drink.
“What about you Harris? What has the lean, mean love making machine been up too” Dax gave a small grin at Will thinking about how often they always teased each other, particularly Dax to Will, about how much they flirted with the opposite sex. On one occasion in Digon Ally Dax had tried to sweet talk a very strange looking 5th year only to turn out to be the leader of the Slytherin Quidditch team…he was not too happy.

[William Harris]

Will could tell there was something a litle wrong with Dax but he himself seemed determined to not touch on the issue so Will would be only too happy to oblige.
"That's the way of our life mate," he said simply still wondering what was up with his old pal.
Chuckling he answered "me, hardly you know I don't mean to mate, it's just what I do, but yeah I've had a few wicked relationships lasting quite a while as well...a few weeks is good for me anyways," he joked laughing loudly and attracting the attention of the good looking gal. Winking at her and giving her his best smile once more he nudged Dax and pointed towards her with his head whispering as they had done a random number
"9 o'clock mate, she's been giving me the eye!" he chuckled.
"But if ya really want to know, me longest relationship was with, yeah you guessed it Soph, I'm really really sorry about that, you know me, I fall in love easily, I didn't know you were really into her, but i'm sure you're over her now right?" he asked cheerily hoping he hadn't upset Dax by bringing up their past.
"She still likes us both actually, you could easily get in there if ya wanted, you know work the charm as you do, you old rascal," he chuckled knowing they were on a level par, both well versed in winning over girls.

[Dax Simmons]

Dax just looked at Willy has his mouth moved spouting out all kinds of information. With the odd smile, laugh and nod of the head Dax managed to make it seem like he was paying full attention. This did annoy him as when he was Will he liked to forget everything that was happening to him. Then as Will past onto the very, very risky subject of Sophie Dax’s full attention was taken.

A small stabbing pain started inside, mainly of regret more then feelings left over for the poor girl. They had put her through hell and back again and now the poor creature by the sound of it was finding it hard to move on.
“No thanks I do not really want to have your left over, although she was mine first.” Dax shot him a sly smile, before taking a sip of his beer.
“But two weeks, that is a life time for a fly maybe I should get in contact with the record books…hang on no wait two weeks is pathetic in human terms. It will come back and haunt you soon or later. You find someone that is…is so amazing but you can not stop old habits.”

Dax broke off and looked into space. He felt like a an old wizard who was on his 50th whiskey advising a very scared 1st year. Looking back at Will he shrugged at his old mate and gave a small laugh.
“Two weeks.”

[William Harris]

Will laughed amiably not taking Dax's words to heart
"Hey me and Soph get on like a hosue on fire still, and she isn't a leftover," he said stoically defending one of his best friends. But he wouldn't take it to heart, he had known it was a tricksy subject, but it needed to be mentioned to see if Dax himself had really got over Sophie as Will had feared he wouldn't have. Remembering Dax had had the greater capacity for strong emotions and attachments he was thankful he had let her go.
Countering swiftly with their usual banter he said "pathetic? Hardly, I've made a lot of people happy thankyou very much." He laughed jovially.
When Dax began to hand out advice far beyond the single year between them Will couldn't help but laugh. But he shrewdly noticed that it was probably more so linked to Dax rather than himself.
"Is that advice for me or you? You're getting serious about someone aren't you? Remember mate we only do what they want, if she doesn't want ya try a few times then give up, rule numero 3 methinks," he chuckled oncemore as he still used the rules they had made together though some were extremly old hat.
"How about you with relationships then? At least I've had weeks, what's your record an hour?" he teased "only joking you're much more serious than me," he commented with a rueful shake of his head.

[Dax Simmons]

Dax looked at Will shaking his head slightly. He must have been more easy to read then he thought. Will was right he was getting serious about someone…in fact there were two people but one of them kept playing on his mind over and over again. Every time a Ravenclaw would walk past he would crane his neck to see if it was her.

“Relationships. I have got better then 2 weeks. I had one relationship that lasted for 3 months. I will admit it started off through a bet. Anglia Fleetwood. Many people in the common room used to joke that she would not go amiss at a wedding of an ogre and a troll. I used to agree but when I got to know her, she had a beautiful personality. The bet was meant to last a week but I did not want to lose what we had so I continued on. Safe to say they would not give me the 50 gallons as I had not followed the rules of the bet.”

After his story had finished he took another mouthful of beer and smiled. Looking over at Will Dax wanted to laugh and talk about the old stories they have had but he knew it might simply make him more upset about his predicament.

[William Harris]

Will nodded sagely taking a long gulp of his beer, with Dax egging him on he quickly downed it.
"Ah lovely," he commented, "not just the beer mind...Angelina Fleetwood eh? I heard tell ye'd been a dating her, she was nice then? Good good, ye're right that ye wouldn't expect it from her exterior, so ye've proved our old theory wrong then; always judge a book by the cover!" He chortled. Knuckling his fingers he continued in a low tone designed for Dax's ears only.
"But then again so did I when I went out with Paris, that was quite long lasting, though she quite thoroughly used me, and I her I suppose for work, but she just wanted her popularity to increase o' course, she dumped me within the week, I'd even got to like her, not for the homework potential, but she could be nice in public when she wanted to be. Soph o' course set me right again, but believe me there's worse, and you know me, I'm not as hard as nails really!" he laughed putting on a brave face, the countless let downs he had recieved still couldn't dampen his high spirits. Seeing Dax seemed to be more forcing himself to be cheerful and laugh at the good old days Will looked seriously at Dax,
"I'm still stone cold sober mate, if you want some advice on your present situation ye'll have to divulge more." Chuckling he said
"If I judge rightly though you ain't bein chucked around by girls, always look on the bright side me old mucker."

[Dax Simmons]

Dax looked over at Will with a slight smile. With a shake of his head he took another swig of his beer and took in a deep breath.
“Soph really has messed us both around, but I can definitely notice with my egger eye that you still have a little glint in your eyes every time you take a glance at her.” Dax gave a small chuckle and tapped the side of the bottle letting a low ringing noise call out.

After a few moments of silence between the old friends Dax shuffled in his seat and moved his head closer to Will.
“When I was sitting in the Library I found something in one of the books….the library Will…the place with all the books.”
Dax gave a small laugh and placed his hand in his pocket and pulled out a small role of parchment, placing it on the table in front of them.

[William Harris]

With a faraway look in his eye as soon as Sophie was mentioned, Will remembered the last time they had spoken, a mere hour before the present gathering now. Standing with hands upon her hips glaring furiously down at Will who had been lazing on one of the more comfortable sofas in the Gryffindor common room, she had berated him steadily saying Dax would just be a bad influence and force Will to sink back into his old habits. But Will had come regardless though.
Muttering in half acknowledgement of what Dax but he was aroused when Dax mentioned precisely what he had feared, but he had his answer ready prepared
"I often have that look in my eye mate," Will laughed at Dax's snide comment
"yeah mate I know, but what have we here?" he asked his interest now perked. Will looked down curiously at the parchment which now lay unfurled before them.