Catching the wind with a friend

Mariana had been living in London ever since she graduated though she hardly got to see any of her school friends again apart from Sophia who was an intern at St.Mungo's with her. In all case she wasn't much in the mood for socializing while Jess was kidnapped. It was a saturday cloudy day when she got up and sent a message to her best friend Arthur to meet her at the alley by the bridge in the evening.

Having no idea why she did that, she just decided to go along with the story hoping it would have some point on the end. As her rain coat was tightly fixed across her jemper she walked outside a bit earlier having a desire to walk by the river in a simple desire not to use magic for once. Wind was blowing through her hair even though she didn;t sense it. At the end, she arrived at the place and pointed her look at the river as it seemed she was a bit early....

He liked to take a stroll around London, his hometown. Once you get to know it it would become a very comfy place to live and to explore. Having his black suit and white shirt under it, with a reindeer hat and a black umbrella, he strolled around the streets looking for something new and interesting. And he found it... or what would be better, her. He approached her from the back, slowly and quietly, putting his palms over her eyes. ''And what are you doing here, my friend'', he asked, smiling.

Mariana would eventually jump at meetings like this, but before she had time to Arthur spoke and made clear who he was. "Hey Arty.." she said smiling as she turned around after her eyes were free to see again. She removed hair from her face to face Arthur like normal people. "What am i doing here?" she asked confused not sure if this was just a prank or he was actually serious. "Waiting for you ofcourse. Haven't i sent you a message this morning?" she asked curiously.

''Actually, no'', he said. Maybe he did not receive but, but that was not important. They met and it was... as planned. ''So, Mariana, where shall we go? Anything particular?'', he asked. ''And yes, Mariana, how's it been? It is a long time since we spoke last time and there has been much change, I trust? It would be lovely to hear about it'', he said, smiling.

Mariana raised an eyebrow as she realized Arthur was actually serious about whole "What are you doing here?" question. "You must have missed my owl then." she commented though that thought wasn't much of brilliant. "Well i was just thinking we can take a walk or something. Maybe we run into some open cafe later." she answered shrugging her shoulders as word Mariana picked her ears. "If you call me Mariana one more time i might just send you to the moon." she said not meaning that literally. It was just generally known she liked to be called Mari.

As the change topic arrived on the stage Mari just shrugged her shoulders. "Well Jess got kidnapped on the graduation ceremony and from student pathetic lightform i became graduated pathetic lifeform. That's all. How about yourself? What are you doing since you graduated?" she asked speaking as it was totally normal.

''Well then, we walk'', he said, taking her arm, pulling her with a smile on his face. ''Well, that is harsh to say, isn't it?'', he wondered. ''What have I been doing, nothing much, really. Taking a good rest and preparing for work. I am going to work in Doyle's Potion shop, thereby learning more, since we were all deprivated from that subject on our last year.'', he added. ''So, what do you think about that situation?'', he asked.

Mariana took Arthur's arm grateful because he didn't ask many questions. "Well it's the truth, but that's besides the point right now." she said with a light tone. "I didn\t know you liked being a sales man. Who is Doyle anyway?" she asked curiously sounding like she already heard that name somewhere. "For what it's worth i got a job at St.Mungo's and in the ministry too. Not excatly my original plan though i think you like it more then a previous one about moving to Mexico and opening a resturant." she added quickly not sure why.

''Well, isn't that nice. Which positions, exactly?'', he asked with a smile. ''Me? A salesman? No, no. That is not it'', he said, laughing. ''The fact is that I am forced to work in a shop, but I can hardly say I do it for the sale itself. My goal is to learn about potions, and Doyle has enabled me just that. Edgar Albert Doyle is the new Potions Master in Hogwarts. Starting next term, the lucky students are going to have Potions again... unlike us. He is strange, but I like him. He is the original owner of the store'', he replied.

"Well for now i am a healer intern and member of Wizengamot. Strange choice for me huh. Well strange people make strange choices." she said not showing any kind of depression on the fact. On the contraire, she spoke of it as it was the world's most famous joke. "And when you do learn do you plan on taking potions post on Hogwarts or what?" she asked admiring someone who actually liked potions. "Lucky?Huh i never liked much potions which is strange considering i like to cook. Doyle that name rings to me where did i hear it before..." she started remembering where did she hear that last name.

''Well, he was the guy with the cane at our party, the one that got away, but actually took over the office in the Dungeons. Strange, but brilliant. I like him. The one that bugged Majere'', he said. ''Taking the post? We shall see, but Doyle has to do his term first and I have to do my internship'', he said. ''Well, do not be so... cruel to yourself. You're nice, smart and sweet... that is not just nice to hear'', he commented with a sad tone.