Adult Party

Susan sighed softly. Ever since she had gotten divorced over a month ago she was bored and wondering how much she still had in her. She didn’t feel like she forty-five, she barely felt like thirty-five. She still was the same feisty and strong-willed women she was when she was seventeen; the only difference now was that she knew her body’s limit. She wasn’t a stupid kid anymore. She wondered who would show up and how many times she’d have to play referee. Being in Hufflepuff had an advance when settling arguments since ever thought you were unbiased, which Susan was not but she kept things fair unless her temper got to her.

She told the bartender to put a cap on anyone who started to drink too much including herself. She didn’t want anyone trying to appearate drunk and get killed. Also she didn’t want anyone to get killed in Diagon Alley stumbling around drunk; Death Eaters would find a very easy target. She knew that anyone under the influence of alcohol couldn’t fight as well as they did sober. She personally didn’t want to become a Death Eater test dummy so she wasn’t going to get to that point. She ordered a shot of a less alcoholic drink to help with her headache, or make it worst depending. She didn’t need to pass out and end up with two of her with her ability to separate herself in her sleep it was never a good idea to pass out at a party without scaring a much of drunk people.

[OOC: Jemma doesn't know you, but it says open, so I'm assuming it's ok - ie. a public event thingy & not a private function.]

Jemma walked into The Leaky Cauldron. She hadn't been visiting many prominent wizarding locations for a while now, so she still had that sense of happiness at walking into The Leaky Cauldron. She wondered if there were any jobs in Diagon Alley, she thought. Being a Secretary at the Ministry was good from a connections point of view and such, but she didn't want to leave any stone unturned - what if her dream job was around the corner? The problem was, she still didn't know what it was. She remembered all the teenagers talking about what they wanted to be when they grew up. Well, she had grown up alright, but still had no idea what she wanted to do. Hogwarts was the longest place she had worked at, and had done two stints there, but she had had a miriad of other jobs and was tired of it. She just wanted to settle down already. Was that too much to ask?

Jemma approached the bar, not sure as to what to order, but knew she wanted something to drink. A firewhiskey was always her fallback drink when she didn't know what she wanted, and she was tired and not in a mood to think of anything else. She waited for the bartender to come over, who was currently serving someone else, the woman next to her by the looks of things. The pub wasn't too busy she realised, looking around. Jemma smiled at the woman next to her, as she was a friendly person. A while ago making any kind of communication with strangers would have alien to her, but after her stint of being a muggle, she had become used to talking to random people. A useful skill, since she was now a Secretary at the Ministry.

Susan smiled back at the women who had moved next to her. She had learned to be very social from her Auntie and her party years in her teen years and early twenties. She had always been very social, to the point her ex-husband refused to host anymore parties. Like that had stopped her. She still knew a lot of people but she didn’t know the women next to her. She took it as a challenge to get to know her.

“Pardon me, the name is Susan Bones,” announced Susan. She held out her hand. She loved meeting new people and she didn’t get much chance to do that between having four teenagers and editing the Daily Prophet took up so much of her time. And for some reason she still wanted to possibly adopt and fifth kid or even more if she was offered a set of siblings. Her heart ached for more children she knew she couldn’t have on her own anymore, her body just couldn’t do it anymore. She knew she had to talk with Khaat about doing so, she knew more about that stuff then she did. She was certain she wanted to do it though despite her already busy lifestyle.

Jemma was glad to see that the woman was friendly. Some people would just completely ignore strangers. Then again, she used to be one of them, she reminded herself.

"Nice to meet you Susan, I'm Jemma Tiquelle." she responded to the woman who she now knew to be Susan, and introduced herself as well. Bones, she thought. She recognised that name. She seemed to remember some older Hufflepuff students with that name when she was in Hogwarts. She hadn't known them well, she couldn't remember first names. Actually, she recalled, their were some Death Eater attacks on them a while back, she thought. Of course that could be a different family, the surname could be a coincidence.

"So, what brings you here tonight then?" she asked, wanting to start up a conversation with Susan.

Susan didn’t recognize the name, not like she expected to. She wondered if her Aunt would have writing the name down somewhere, well her daughter had her Aunt’s journals with her at Hogwarts. She was glad she was able to leave them with her daughter, if anyone could live up to her Aunt’s name it was her daughter. She knew that her youngest daughter was well on the way to be an Auror, which scared her a bit. So much danger in the job, there was so much danger being the Order like she was. She knew she could be making the same mistake her Uncle Edgar had but that had been a very different time.

“The main reason I’m here is because I just decided to throw a party here, it’s been years since I’ve hosted an adult party. At least since I got married and had kids. The second being I’m trying to get away from the fact I have four kids who are becoming adults. Well, my youngest is only thirteen but he’s not a little kid for sure,” she said with slight smile. “I remember being my kids’ age, but back then we were all hiding from the facts in front of us. My aunt didn’t hide from what is in front of eyes and was killed for it. Along with most of the rest of the family,” she sighed taking another drink. She had never gotten over the anger and hate she had against Death Eaters. She knew that same hate was growing in her youngest daughter and oldest son; she could see it in their eyes. She was worried they’d end up dead because of it. Yes, her Amelia was talented and becoming more powerful each day but Edgar was hot-headed and lacked the Bones family talent.

“Pardon my sour mood. It’s just been a long few months. I honestly think I’m trying to handle too much at once, I don’t know how my Aunt ever did this. She was an really incredible women, it’s quite frustrating to know the only one in the family now who can ever live up to her is only fifteen. Not saying my other three kids couldn’t but they don’t have the same will-power to do she said still with a smile. Rarely did she frown, unless her kids had gotten into trouble or were in danger.

Jemma listened to the woman talk. An adult party, that sounded like fun. It had been...well, she couldn't remember the last time she'd been to a party. She realized she hadn't been getting out much at all recently. Her social life had gone from sparkling to dull over the course of her being, well, away. Jemma was determined to bring it back up again. She was a social woman by nature, and hey, now she was at a party!

"A party is a great idea. I'm sure it's a lot of work looking after four kids. I only ever had one myself. Are they all at Hogwarts now?" Jemma asked her, curiously. "I remember when my daughter first went to Hogwarts. It was strange not having her around all the time, I felt so lonely. I was a single mother with one daughter then, so it was a big adjustment." she told Susan. She didn't usually open up to people this much, but this woman seemed nice and the fact her social life had been lacking seemed to make her more chatty than usual.

"Yeah, I remember back when I was in school, during the first war. One of my best friends parents were killed, I remember she was devastated and was never the same again. It was horrible back then, just awful." Jemma reminisced. None of her family were killed, but at the time the only family she was in contact with was her mother, after her brother and father had left after her parents divorced.

"Your children I'm sure will be fine, so will you. What are you trying to handle at the moment, if I may ask?" Jemma asked, not wanting to overstep any boundaries. "Even if only one of your kids become a great witch or wizard, I'm sure the others will still do good things and lead promising lives." she added, wanting to cheer the woman up. Jemma wondered how her daughter was doing in France. Her son-in-law's family seemed to believe a woman's job was in the house and a man's at work. Her daughter, Marie, loved children but didn't mind, but Jemma was worried about her. Her son-in-law was a nice man, but she was a bit wary of his family. And they were the ones her grandchildren were growing to love and be around, not her, which pained her inside. She wished she could move to France, but knew little to no French and didn't honestly want to live there. She just wanted her daughter and grandchildren back over in England. And her son-in-law, he wasn't so bad.

[[OOC: Susan would have been at school during the second war with Harry right? Jemma's slightly older & was four years behind the Marauders at Hogwarts, so there during the first war.]]

“All four of them are at Hogwarts. My eldest son is a seventh year, much to my dismay. I worry about him into himself into trouble. Unfortunately he inherited his father’s hot-head and workaholic tendencies and my mouth. It isn’t the greatest combination for a young man. My eldest daughter is a sixth year. I wouldn’t be so worried about her if she wasn’t trying to hook up with every guy she sees, one of these days she’s going to meet the wrong guy. Then there is youngest daughter is a fifth year. She is more like my aunt then me as I already told you. And last but not least is my youngest son who is a third year. He’s still very shy but he’s getting better,” Susan said with a smile. She loved her kids dearly but she missed the days back when they were all little. Edgar trying to chase Demiguise while they were invisible, Claire reading Shakespeare out loud during dinner, Amelia exploding dinner when Drew stole her meatball and Drew getting stuck in a tree, all of those years when by too fast.

"That’s why I’m the editor for the Daily Prophet now. I put my grief and worry into the Daily Prophet trying to change the way people see the Daily Prophet. I really didn’t care about the Daily Prophet until my eldest moved out now I want to do something about it inside of complaining,” she said with a bright smile. She loved working after her ex-husband kept her at home for so many years she felt free. She still cleaned, cooked, did laundry, helped with vacation homework, took the kids to St. Mungo’s and tried to raise them all to be great wizards and witches. Yet she still wanted to add more to her hectic life.

She cringed at the mention of the first war and parents murdered. It made her think of her father, uncle and aunt when they lost their parents. Then it made her think of her uncle, his wife and three kids being murdered during the First War. Then lastly it reminded her of the night when she had gone to get takeout and came back to find her aunt brutally murdered by no one else then Voldermort himself. Her family had seen too much death in those two wars. Her father and she were never the same after the Second War. She had seen close friends die before her eyes. She hated talking of death. She had come way too close to losing her ‘baby’ girl this summer in a stupid broom accident.

"Well, let’s see where to start. I got divorced in July, now I have those sympathy eyes when I walked through Diagon Alley. I snapped at a woman for doing that the other day and hex another for saying things less than pleasant about me. My eldest daughter choice to stay with her father instead of coming to live with me, which I don’t think I’ll understand. My eldest son moved out in his own flat, which I know he isn’t mature enough to handle. Still can’t find a house to buy, I’m renting a house in Bristol and that’s not working with the two kids leaving with me. My youngest daughter was in St. Mungo’s after getting in a broom accident, nearly died and refused to stay home from Hogwarts for another week. And during that time she found out one of her close friends died from the disease. So not only was she in pain now she was grieving too,” she sighed with another drink “Oh yeah then my dad called in hospice for my muggle mother. She’s starting to forget how to eat and drink along with other basic needs. This summer hasn’t been the best but I guess it can only be get better from here on out.

“I don’t doubt that, it’s just that with a family like what I grew up in everyone achieved something great in their lifetime. I don’t understand how I can have four kids and only one of them being absolutely able to achieve what previous generations had. It’s even harder when they don’t want to improve on what they do badly at,” stated Susan. She was achieving something with the Daily Prophet; ratings were going up so that was a good sign.


[[OOC: That Susan would have been.]]

Jemma listened to her talking about her children. She could tell how much Susan loved them, from the words she was saying to the look in her eyes when she did. Jemma knew it was hard to send your kids to Hogwarts after looking after them for so many years.

"I'm sure your kids will achieve great things, it may just take some time." Jemma said, "They still have all their life ahead of them, I wouldn't worry yet." She finished, trying to cheer Susan up.

"The Daily Prophet? Wow, I hope you really turn it around. I've never been a massive fan in the past, but with a fresh set of eyes I may give it another shot." Jemma told Susan. She hadn't known there was a change in editor, but was happy for it. Maybe now it would be a decent paper. Time to renew her subscription, she thought.

Wow, bad summer. Jemma had had a lot of bad luck in the past, but having all those things close together just made it all that much worse.
"I'm sorry to hear that. I'm sure you'll get through the divorce, you seem like a very strong woman. And you're children will all be fine, though they may need time to get to grips with everything. And your daughter didn't die, that's good, and she sounds like a strong girl who will be alright. The house problem will sort itself out, I'm afraid it just takes time when you're in the property market. And at least your mother has the support around her that she needs." Jemma said, taking a breath afterwards. She didn't know what she could do, but she tried to look on the bright side of things.

"And you're right, things will get better from here on in."

Susan smiled at Jemma. She wondered if this woman had been a Hufflepuff. She just gave off that warm and inviting feeling that most Hufflepuffs did. She felt comfortable talking to her like she had with her aunt all those years ago. She hoped she could get to know this woman better. She seemed like a very nice woman.

“Were you in Hufflepuff by any chance?” she asked “you just seem like the type”. She didn’t want to insult the women. She knew some people would be offended being asked if they were in Hufflepuff. She personally loved being a graduate of Hufflepuff; she was proud of her house and not afraid to show it. She still wore her house scarf in the winter.

Jemma smiled as Susan mentioned Hufflepuff. She was a Hufflepuff, she had loved it. A lot of people teased Hufflepuffs of being the catch-all house or complete duffers. That wasn't the case at all though. They were loyal and hard working witches and wizards, many great witches and wizards had come through Hufflepuff. They just weren't very boastful, so a lot of their work and achievement went unacknowledged to the vast majority of people. It was sad, really, she thought.

"Yes, indeed I was a Hufflepuff. I actually taught at Hogwarts for ten or so years, and was Head of Hufflepuff for the latter half. I love Hufflepuff. So many people seem to just think it's a catch-all house or something, but they just don't understand it really." Jemma said, smiling as she answered. She couldn't help it, she was very house proud. "Were you a Hufflepuff then?" Jemma asked. It usually takes one to know one, and Susan did seem to think Jemma was a Hufflepuff, or she would have asked what house she was in, the more generic question.

Jemma thought back to her days of teaching. She really did love teaching. It was a shame that so few students had an interest in Divination though. She figured it was either something you had the talent for, or you didn't. If someone didn't have much of an inner eye, it was very hard to learn. They could do basic things, but not to much of an extent. Unfortunately it seemed to mean a lot of people didn't believe in Divination. A fair few thought it was rubbish, simply because they couldn't do it. People seemed to believe if they couldn't do it, that nobody else would be able to. A stupid assumption in her opinion, but she was more open minded than most.