Streets and Sidewalks

Duncan stepped through the throng of shoppers making ready for the start of term at Hogwarts. First years and their families' milled about like an army of confused ants swarming from one store to the next. Like many of the older students, Duncan already owned much of what he would need. His biggest stops would be Borgin and Burkes and Weazly Wizarding Wheezes.

He strode along with a smooth and steady gate, and absorbed the sights, sounds and smells. It had been too long since he waas in England. He missed it so much. He stopped at a corner and watched the crowd. He knew he would never be able to recognize the students that were fisrt years with him, it had been three years since he had seen any of them, but he felt a need to try.

Duncan brushed his blond hair aside from his stormy blue eyes and scanned for a friendly face.

< Anybody want to join in ? Duncan only went to Hogwarts for first year. The 3 other schools. Anybody that was at Beau Baton might recognize him >

Evanna's eyes widened as she pressed her face against the WIzard's Cafe Window [her parents owned it], wondering if what she saw was really all true. She then sat staright up, closed her eyes, pinched herself, then opende her eyes and looked back out of the window. So it was true! She wasn't dreaming. In the distance was a boy who she recognized right away as Duncan Mowbray. Duncan was one year older than her and they met at Beauxbatons-in her first year (so of course he was in his second year). They were really good friends but soon the year passed and on her parents orders, she had to transfer to Hogwarts. But still-Evanna never thought to find him here! To tell the truth-Duncan was her old crush. Her first crush.

Getting up, Evanna decided to talk to him. She stood up, took her bag and ran out of the Cafe fast-before he would disappear. But suddenly she was stopped by two very tall boys who Evanna reckoned was about 2 years older than her. They must've been muggles because she never saw them at Hogwarts. "You know-you're really pretty," said the two boys-in unison. Evanna was pretty used to it-she was half-veela so this seemed to be a very regular comment. "Um-thanks," Evanna said peering over their shoulders to see if Duncan was still where she thought he was. He was-so Evanna quickly said to the boys, "Um sorry but I have to go," and dashed away.

Suddenly, Evanna felt her two feet topple over each other and before you knew it, Evanna was rushing head-first to the ground. She quickly shielded her face as she fell and luckily enough, it didn't hurt at all. Evanna lay there for a moment then looked up. Someone offered their hand. She took it then looked up to thank the kind person. Evanna froze. It was Duncan.

Duncan couldn't believe his eyes when he saw Evanna rush out of the shop, but he coold believe it when the two large guys surrounded her, guys were always stupid around her. He moved through the crowd with the speed and grace of a panther, ready to protect his friend. He arrived just in time to see her trip.

The two older guys were both reaching hands to her. Duncan stepped between them and Evanna. "I've got it guys." he said.

"Yeah, and why should we let a little punk like you get between us and her ?" the bigger said.

"Any decent fellow would step out of the way for one of her real friends." Duncan said with a sincere smile.

The larger boy tried to give Duncan a shove, but Duncan smiled and leaned out of the way and let the fellow trip. Duncan had always been as nibble as a cat. Despite being well trained in martial arts, avoided every fight that could be avoided.

Duncan reached his hand to Evanna and, spoke fluent French with a bit of an English accent, and said "Now this is about the best unexpected surprise I could get on my first year back at Hogwarts. It's great to see you." He smiled and his ocean blue eyes seemed to llight with joy.

Pheodas sat comfortably in a seat outside of Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Palour, slowly licking a mouthwatering, raspberry and chocolate ice cream watching the busyness of Diagon Alley. He smiled elegantly as he noticed Ravenclaw Head-Girl Evanna, trip and then be protected by a boy with sandy blond hair and london blue topaz eyes.

"Duncan Mowbray" he muttered to himself with a smile, by now his ice cream had almost melted under the belting, yellow sun. A tall slender lady approached Pheodas from inside the shop.

"Refill" she said with a silver glint in her eyes

"Oh no, I don't want to spoil myself" chuckled Pheodas as he took out a long mahogany pipe, stuck some tobacco in the end and waved his wand to start up a small fire at the end. He watched the other witches and wizards scuttle around to different shop like mice being taunted with cheese.

"It will be nice to see you again at Hogwarts, Duncan...Let's hope you just don't blow up our Astronomy Tower like you almost did to Durmstrang's" Laughed Pheodas to himself as he smoked his elaborate pipe...

And there had been a brief lul in the noise as people stepped around the fallen girl and the young fellow that helped her up. Enough of a lul that a few people, including Duncan, overheard the headmaster. Duncan blushed bright red and a few people giggled and others murmured.

After he helped his lovely freind Evanna from the ground he turned towards the headmaster. "Good day sir. I..." he took a deep breathe. "I promise not to blow up any astronomy towers at Hogwarts, sir."

'This is just great' Duncan thought 'Now Evanna will think I'm too dangerous to be around. I sure didn't need this.'

He ran his fingers through his hair nervously. Duncan glanced at Evanna, then he spoke "It really... couldn't be helped sir. If you owl Professoer Mordred, he's the DADA and dark arts professor, he'll tell you everything. He was there and he... he can explain."

Duncan noticed the other students and parents standing around staring at him as if waiting for the rest of the story. Duncan said nothing.

Pheodas noticed the flustered and slightly embarrassed Duncan stuck for words. He smiled then took out his wand a marched over to the ice cream parlour, picking up a spoon he quickly muttered to himself.

"Orchideous" amazinly the spoon vanished into thin air as beautiful red roses had replaced it, Pheodas gave a quick sideways smile to Duncan as he took out what appeared to be a bone of sorts which he clicked quickly and a glistening silver blade popped out. He slowly approach the bouquet of flowers and quickly cut one of the roses (and it's thorns) so only the beautiful flower head and and a little bit of stem was left. He made a sharp turn and approach the flustered Duncan who was accompanied by Evanna.

"I expect you'll be need one of these to give to our lovely Evanna" He said with a smile. Pheodas quickly dropped the rose into Duncan's hands and then clicked his fingers...Pheodas vanished with a small wisp and a puff of smoke leaving Duncan and Evanna alone in the busy street.

Duncan blushed even redder and turned towards Evanna. He took a deep breath and, speaking in French again, said "The headmaster was right about one thing. A flower like this should belong to a.. I should give this to..." He was obviously flustered and it was easy to tell that he was not acustommed to trying to flirt with a girl.

He held the flower out to her. "Itwantstobeasprettyasyou." he blurted out without any pause between the words. He noticed some giggling coming from the onlookers. His blush deepened.

Evanna was a little bit confused wit all the things that just happened. But before she would clear up everything about old schools and events... she smiled. Evanna hugged her old friend and noticed the happy light in his eyes. She misssed that light. She then spoke rapidly in French, finding it easier to talk that way-she said, " Ohmygosh its soooooo nicetoseeyouagain. I reallyreally missedyou. Hogwartsisgreat. Youwilllikeithere-wait youalreadywentherebefore right?," Evanna slowed down, noticing that Duncan was trying to process what she said. "Ooopps. Talking to fast again-wasn't I?"

Duncan smiled and said, "Yea-still the same old Evanna," he said.

"Well-actually, I'm 'Ravenclaw Head-Girl Evanna' but I forgive you for just saying Evanna," Duncan and Evanna laughed then there was a sudden awkwardness.

Finally Duncan awkwardly gave Evanna a rose and said, "Iwanttobeasprettyasyou," he said and Evanna just stared. She smiled at him then said, "You are really pretty... well to me...". There was silence then Duncan said, "About the Astronomy Tower.... it's a long story but-" Evanna interrupted him.

"If it's a long story-I have the time. Tell me what happened," she said, with a serious tone.

"Well...."

He took a deep breath then, still speaking French, said "Let's walk and talk. I don't wanna attract a crowd." And he began to walk. Evanna replied "Yea, sure" in Fench and walked alondside.

As they moved with the crowd, Duncan began tom talk again, still in French "I'm not sure how much to tell a Head Girl... but you were my freind before you were a head girl, so I'll trust you. And the story is a looong story so I'll start now and eventually get to the end. But I want to make the head girl a promise. I promise that I wasn't looking for trouble... trouble just seems to know where to find me... plus my curiousity gets the better of me. I'm the leap-before-you-look instead of look before you leap. I'm not going to try to make trouble at Hogwarts... but I will probably.. most likewly get into trouble. I promise not to try to be too much trouble.. OK ?" he sounded concerend and almost appologetic as he spoke.

She listened then held up her pinky. "I'll always be your friend, head girl or not. And you know-I will always try to understand you," she said. Duncan smiled and they walked on. Evanna then saw an empty bench in an empty corner. She took Duncan's hand-which, was almost as sweaty as hers- and went to take a seat.

Evanna then looked Duncan straight in the eyes and said, "you can go on." she took Duncan's hand a little nervously and waited.

"Thank you for trusting me." Duncan said with a smile. "I promise to always try to be.. trustworthy."

He looked up and down the street, wtching the throng of people pass by, a thoughtful expression on his face. "We've moved so many times and every school I went to I thought of a new school would be a new chance to start things over. It was... hard. Make friends then leave them and make new friends and leave them too... with dad's work moving him all over the world I never knew where I would be. England, America, France and Bulgaria.. I wouldn't have been surprised if we moved to the south pole."

He smiled and looked into Evanna's eyes. "That's where it started in Bulgaria, with my mates there. My first day there three sixth years decided to beat up the new guy. A couple of guys from the same house I was in saw nad jumped in and is was a big brawl. The guys that attacked me, they were all pure-bloods and they knew they could easily beat a half-blood like me. It never occurred to them that I'd have a nice muggle talent, Tai Chi Chuan, so we won easily once I wasn't outnumbered and held down. So me and my buddies lost 50 points and got detention. That's how it all started."

Evanna nodded, wanting him to go on.

Duncan smiled at her, playfully, perhaps a bit rogueishly. "An my story is pretty much my whole year at Drumstrang. I managed to get into and out of a lot of trouble there. And as far as the story goes.. it's your turn."

"My turn ?" Evanna asked.

"Yes, I'm sharing my secrets with you, you can share yours with me." he replied with a twinkle in his eye. "Does a head girl have any secrets ? Ever done anything to get a good detention or such, or are you staying as sweet as your smile ?"

Evanna seemed to be deciding whether to spill her secrets or not. She then nodded and said, "To be honest... I've done way to many things that make me not worthy of being head girl. Like- I've been in the Forbidden Forest way too many times that were NOT under the professors orders... I've stolen some things from the different professors and I've done more than you can think.... but please.... you can not tell anybody about this. Now-continue on with your story if I may ask, I'm very curious."

She sighed and looked at Duncan's expression which seemed not to be shocked.

"I knew you weren't the good girl all this time. You did pull too many pranks at Beauxbatons, I remember..."

NightMarauder118 wrote:

"I knew you weren't the good girl all this time. You did pull too many pranks at Beauxbatons, I remember..."

He stopped speaking and brushed the hair out of his eyes. "Maybe you and me can find a couple other people and be the nxt generation of Merauders." and he laughed.

He stood up and took a deep breath. "Let's walk and talk, I'm smelling something baking up ahead and I'm getting hungry. Let me buy you a snack and we'll talk over scones and tea. I wish you could buy ginger beer in diaggon alley. I miss too many muggle things here... I miss mushroom and pepperoni pizza."

He extended his hand to her "Join me ?"

She blushed slightly and took his hand. She kissed his cheek and said, "yea, me too. lets go somewhere else other than Diagon Alley. Somewhere where we can get pepperoni pizza." she said and watched as Duncan seem to go from normal face color to blushing madly then back to his normal face color. He nodded and they walked off.

Duncan touched the place she had kissed his cheek and smiled. "yes, a better day than I had hoped for." he began to walk and said "I know a great pizza place a couple of blocks from The Leaky Cauldron's muggle side exit. But we'll need to find my brother and sister before we go and my parents would kill me if I left Diagon Alley without letting them know."

Duncan smiled a bit, and said "You might remember my little sister, Kate. She was a first year at Beau Baton the year I was there for third. And Will, he's the youngest, he's a first year this year. He'd hex me if I got pizza without him, or he'd try."

He seemed to be scanning the crowd as they walked. "But none of the three of us really look alike. I have dad's sandy blonde hair and deep blue eyes, Kate has mum's platinum blonde hair and bright blue eyes and Will is kind of a mix. Kate will probably be easiest to spot, or my dad since I look like him. Keep an eye out."

Evanna nodded. As she was scanning the crowd she spoke in French,"yea, Kate was like my very own sister. That Christmas Break when I spent it at your was when Kate and I met. I also met Will. He was sweet. So now, both of them are going to Hogwarts? Also, you must've moved now. Where do you live? Maybe it's close to where I live," Evanna then sighed. It was time to tell him, "look. I know we just met up again after about 3 years but still-I really like you. And maybe a little bit more than friends. I know you don't like me back but...."

NightMarauder118 wrote:

Evanna nodded. As she was scanning the crowd she spoke in French,"yea, Kate was like my very own sister. That Christmas Break when I spent it at your was when Kate and I met. I also met Will. He was sweet. So now, both of them are going to Hogwarts? Also, you must've moved now. Where do you live? Maybe it's close to where I live," Evanna then sighed. It was time to tell him, "look. I know we just met up again after about 3 years but still-I really like you. And maybe a little bit more than friends. I know you don't like me back but...."

Duncan stopped walking. His face had gone pale "You.. like me ?" he asked. His voice had a quality of disbelief, as if he was asking something impossible like 'are you Merlin'. "You're serious ?"

He looked at the ground. "I've never had a girlfriend. I never let myself because I knew we would move every year and if I liked a girl we'd just move and... and we'd both be hurt. SO I never let myself like, I mean, not like more than a friend because... I don't .. didn't wanna hurt anybody."

"Could you really like me ?" he asked. "I did go to Drumstrung and I did study Dark Arts there. I'm .. maybe not the same nice guy you remember. I .. wouldn't want to mislead you. I..."

He shook his head and huffed. "damn, I can face a manticore and I can't talk to a girl." He looked at the ground, took a deep breath and looked into her eyes.

"We have a place in London. Not far from here really. And dad said that his job is supposed to keep him here for the next five or six years. Me and Kate should both graduate before I'm moved again. I graduate and I can live where I want. I don't have to be... I won't be moved so I could .. maybe.. if somebody liked.. would like to..."

His deep blue eyes seemed almost to be a storm in the sea. "I had a huge crush on you. Did you know that ? If I didn't know I was moving to BUlgaria I... you know."

She kissed his cheek again and said, "you know, I don't really care if you studied dark arts or if you were going to move. I've liked you for a long time and I would never think of having another boyfriend if we did go out... you know, I never told anybody this before but the sorting hat seriously kept repeating that I'd be wonderful in Hufflepuff. I guess that's because I think I'm very loyal. And you know what? You're the same nice guy I remember. But maybe more mature, curious and you still never learned how to talk to a girl. But trust me, you're doing just fine," She gave him a slight kiss on the lips then said, "listen. I think I have to go. How about we meet here tomorrow?" She waved then walked off towards her mother, who was waiting outside their cafe.

NightMarauder118 wrote:

She gave him a slight kiss on the lips then said, "listen. I think I have to go. How about we meet here tomorrow?" She waved then walked off towards her mother, who was waiting outside their cafe.

He watched her walk away and admired the swish of her hips.
Talking to no one in particular, more thinking out loud than anything else, he spoke, still in French. "I have so much to tell you, lovely girl. I have changed and... "
He waved to her and turned and walked back into Diagon Alley. "Don't hurt her Duncan." he said as he walked away."
Out Of Character: and I believe that it is the end of this particular thread. Duncan is heading to the Leaky Cauldron.

The Mowbrays and Evanna were apperated back to Diagon alley. "Meet me in the Leaky Cauldron in three hours for supper." said Duncan's father as he headed off.

"Gonna be strange shopping after what happened to Will." Duncan said. Then he turned towards Evanna. "I have a wierd favor to ask. If I ever get bewitched like that, like William was like he couldn't even think with of her without his brain shutting down.. if I'm ever like that please use your veela powers on me."

Before he could say anything else another student walked between them and said "Excuse me."

Duncan's expression changed and he called out to the boy "Hey, aren't you named Tae-Hyun Pyeong ? You're a fifth year Gryffindor. I think we were first years together. I'm Duncan Mowbray."

< me and Tae arrangged this >

Duncan Mowbray wrote:

The Mowbrays and Evanna were apperated back to Diagon alley. "Meet me in the Leaky Cauldron in three hours for supper." said Duncan's father as he headed off.

"Gonna be strange shopping after what happened to Will." Duncan said. Then he turned towards Evanna. "I have a wierd favor to ask. If I ever get bewitched like that, like William was like he couldn't even think with of her without his brain shutting down.. if I'm ever like that please use your veela powers on me."

Before he could say anything else another student walked between them and said "Excuse me."

Duncan's expression changed and he called out to the boy "Hey, aren't you named Tae-Hyun Pyeong ? You're a fifth year Gryffindor. I think we were first years together. I'm Duncan Mowbray."

< me and Tae arrangged this >

Tae had to say one thing about Diagon Alley: he never got sick of it. It was full of the most interesting sights and sounds and even after 5 years, it still threw him off a bit. And, as he had promised, her had his little sister Jin-Ae with him. She was currently 10 and hoping beyound hope to get a Hogwarts letter next year. Tae had to admit he had seen some weird stuff happen around her when she was upset, but he didn't know if her name would be down or not.

Currently, they were crossing to go to Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour. More correctly, Jin-Ae was trying to remove his arm to get there, not caring about his discomfort or the people she was shoving through.

"Jin-Ae! Slow down! It's not going anywhere!" He yanked back on her hand as he was drug between a guy with sandy blond hair and a very blond girl. He blinked. "Excuse me" And then he was past them. Before he was out of ear shot, he heard his name and turned.

"Yeah, I'm Tae-Hyun." he tilted his head at the guy and kind of scrunched his eyes before recognition passed. "Oi! I remember you!" He drug his sister back over before throwing her over his shoulder like a fireman. "How have you been man? I heard you went to Beauxbatons. Oh...to be all around those lovely ladies..." He grinned.

Duncan shook hands with Tae, smiling at the good luck of finally seeing a fellow that he recognized. He nodded and said "Yea, there were some very cute girls at Beau Baton." And he leaned closer to one of the girls with him. "And this is one of them, her name is Evanna and I had the good luck to become her freind in third year." But looking at the way Duncan had placed himself near the lovely lady you could tell that young mister Mowbray was at least hoping for more-than-friends with Evanna."

"I spent second year at the Salem Institute of Magic, third year at Beau Baton and fourth at Drumstrang. Beau Baton was way more fun the Drumstrang."

The other girl there, a younger, very pretty platinum blonde, cleared her throat. "I'm here too, big brother." she gave her brother an annoyed look. She turned towards Tae "I'm Kaitlyn Mowbray, friends call me Kate. I did first year at Beau Batons and second at Drumstrang. My brother isn't right often" she teased Dunacn "but Beau Baton was a lot more fun than Drumstrang. And I'm a third year and I'm hoping to get sorted into Ravenclaw."

Duncan nodded "You will be. I'm the weirdo in the family and the first not-a-Ravenclaw in hundreds of years." And he laughed. "I'm so leap-before-you-look I could only be a gryfindor."

He looked at the younger girl with Tae "Hi, I'm Duncan."