Crazy little thing called love

[Ainslee Maxwell]

It's been months since that zoo encounter happened and that speed dating thing that ended up in a disaster. Ainslee wasn't disappointed that she didn't get any dates from the said activity, in fact, she wants to forget everything that happened all those months. She was frustrated at the fact that she had revealed everything she felt to the only guy she liked and added that she and her brother are not in speaking terms. The young lady decided to stay at their summer house in York while she takes a couple of weeks off from the Ministry and work on her niece's agenda. It was only Ainslee and her mother left at that house with some couple of helpers.

Her day was almost over, it was pass six o'clock and dinner would be ready, when the young lady got a telephone call from someone about a painting stolen from one of their beneficiary museums which coincidentally her favorite museum in Amsterdam. As a representative, Ainslee has to go. Not even thinking to change her clothing, she grab her bag somewhere and apparated from her study to an alley near the museum. She walked cautiously in front of the museum to learn that it was close, that's what she thought so. "Oh come on! not funny." She muttered to herself. Ainslee shook her head slightly but tried the first door her hand could pull and as if stupidity came over her, she took a deep frustrating breath.

Ainslee came inside the pitch black building and she wasn't liking it, yes, she was afraid of the dark before when she was a child but not anymore now that she's old. But the eeriness of the feeling was giving her goosebumps. The lady would like to ran as fast as she could outside but priceless paintings are here inside and the entrance doors are open. She took out her wand in case of emergency. Rearrange her eye glasses on her nose which she forgot to take off but then she'll be blind without them or contact lenses.​

Out of Character:

Tada!
The lamest date ever ...

 

[Arnaud Cormac]

When Arnaud woke up that day he was in a rather cheerful mood. A mood you would never find him in on a usual work day, but today wasn't going to be just like any other day. Today he was going on a date with the woman he'd liked for several months now. When Arnaud stepped out of bed he immediately put on the clothes he had put aside the night before, made himself breakfast, brushed his teeth and went off to work. Like I said, you wouldn't see Arnaud in a cheerful and happy mood often at this hour so when he stepped into the office the twenty-four year old greeted his colleagues with a 'Hi' and a smile whilst they all glared at him, wondering what was up with the man that normally didn't say a thing.

It was around five o'clock when Arnaud Cormac walked out of the Obliviator Headquarters and headed towards the Atrium were he would take the floo network back to home. He stepped into the fireplace and vanished in green flames - seconds later he stood in the fireplace of his livingroom, whiping dust of his suit. With a smile he walked into his livingroom, threw his small, old brown leather duffel on the diningtable and went upstairs to change and freshen up a bit.

He was almost done when an owl pecked its beak against the bathroom window. Startled by the sudden noice, Arnaud turned to see what it was and saw the owl, who was holding onto a letter with its beak. He quickly opened the window and the birth hopped inside, hooting happily after letting go of the letter. Arnaud stroked the owl over its head before it took off again. The man opened the letter and read the content of it. It was Jessica informing him of where the date was going to take place. His eyes grew wider when he read the words 'museum' and 'Amsterdam'. Amsterdam? Why not choose a museum much closer to home? he asked himself as he continued reading the letter and quickly fixed his hair afterwards. Once downstairs, Arnaud stepped into his fireplace - luckily for him, Jessica had taken the fact that he lived on the otherside of the world in account and had set up some sort of safe house for him to go to whilst travelling with the floo network. Green flames engulfed him for the third time today as he was travelling to a place he didn't know anything about.

He arrived in an empty living room in an appartment in Amsterdam, close to the museum where the date would be. Without looking around, Arnaud made his way to the museum. He opened the door of the museum and stood there with awe. How Jessica had managed to somehow let the date happen in the museum would forever be a mystery to him. The man walked to the place Jessica's letter told him to go to and ever a bit or searching and wandering around, found a table with lit candles and two chairs standing in the middle of a room full of paintings. Arnaud had arrived before Ainslee did which was a surprise to him since he came from the otherside of the world. Before she would arrive, Arnaud walked over to the table and sat down in the chair opposite of the room's entrance, silently waiting for Ainslee while the light of the flame flickered on his face.


sorry, this is mehh.

 

[Ainslee Maxwell]

Getting uncomfortable standing in a semi dark room, she was about to cast lumos on her wand when her eye sight saw a slight flickering at the gallery room where the paintings hangs. Fire? That can't be Ainslee thought. Her heart beat was raising every minute her feet wasn't moving. Next thing she knew, the lady was running toward the gallery, ready to cast some spell to kill the fire or whatever that was but the scene Ainslee saw was not heart raising. It was as if her legs was made of jelly, the young woman had to lean against the door jam. "Umm ... Mr. Cormac ... ummm." Ainslee greeted the man she was avoiding to see or talk to. After that speed dating, seeing him and Jessica all friendly, smiling and laughing irritated her and well, Ainslee was a little bit jealous. What is he doing here? She asked herself but that question should be directed to the man who Ainslee will be seeing for the first time not wearing a suit and tie.

The young woman looked around the gallery, the paintings were alright but noticing a table and chairs in the middle with candle sticks, flowers on a flower vase and plates and cutlery. Holy Merlin's beard! is he on a date? with Jessica? Panic strike her face. "Please, don't tell me you're on a date with Jessica? I mean she's ..." Ainslee thought of something nice about the woman, but nothing came up. "She's perfect and all ... pick anyone but her." She stated, leaning her head all together at the door jam. Did something change in him? Must be my glasses because he is as handsome as ever Ainslee pushed her glasses up to the rim of her nose again as she stared at Arnaud.​

Out of Character:

It's perfect

 

[Arnaud Cormac]

Arnaud's heart skipped a beat the second he saw Ainslee and couldn't help but smile at her. He knew she had been trying to avoid him at work but could not blame her since it was partially his fault that she was on the evening news, and since Devlin didn't respond to any of his letters, Arnaud was under the impression that he too did not was to speak to him at the moment. He chuckled slightly when she addressed to him as mister and said, ''Come on, Ains. You can at least call me by my first name after avoiding me.'' He knew he was to blame but still didn't like the fact that she had been avoiding him after that day at the Wellington Zoo.

''I'm not,'' he said to her with a smirk, ''She's not really my type.'' Arnaud then stood up and walked over to the chair opposite of him. He pulled it back so that Ainslee could take place on it. ''Though she did help me set all this up.'' Which was quite nice of her since the two barely knew each other at all. He turned his body toward her and stood there, doing nothing more than smiling and taking in her appearance. He wasn't used to seeing her in casual attire but it suited her very well. ''I'm here on a date with you.'' the twenty-four year old told Ainslee happily. ''If you want to of course! I don't want to force you or anything.'' he added quickly

 

[Ainslee Maxwell]

Ainslee knew the museum held things like this, she always dreams of having a date here but it never happens. "Arnaud, I ..." She sigh and crossed her arm in front of her chest. The lady can't even tell the guy why she's avoiding him, it wasn't about what happened at the zoo, Ainslee is on his side. Though, confirming her that he's not with Jessica at least lifted her chance. "if you think I'm avoiding you because of what happened ... You're wrong. I saw you and Jessica at the pub, of all people. And I was jealous." She had to mutter the last sentence as she doesn't know what he feels about her.

She avoided his stares but almost cranked her neck when he told her he's on a date with her. Ainslee can't help but smile, "Are you serious?! This is a prank." But how could it be a prank, maybe I outh to relax and don't panic She thought to herself. "And of course I want to date you, my whole school life .... I mean .... Umm .... Isn't it getting hot in here." Ainslee was blabbering too much, she could tell. The lady's cheek is burning from embarrassment. First dates shouldn't be like this but for her, it is. Ainslee walked toward Arnaud as he waited standing there with a drawn chair for her. She had seen dates on the telly before and for that, she thinks she will ace this one. After all, Ainslee's been waiting for this.

"Thank you for this but if you're only doing this because I told you what I feel ... " She stopped talking, realizing she's about to ruin her own date. Ainslee just smiled and gave Arnaud a kiss on the cheeks and sat down on the chair. Though, she secretly waved her wand to give a protective spell on the paintings in case something gets out of hand. Particularly the candles.​

 

[Arnaud Cormac]

''You hadn't arrived yet so I was like you know, why not talk with someone - I honestly didn't know you two knew each other.'' he said with a small chuckle. ''But don't worry. We were talking about you most of the time.'' He wasn't sure if he was suppose to tell her that, but since Ainslee had been avoiding him because she saw him talking to Jessica he thought it'd be the right thing to do. ''And please, stop avoiding me after tonight, ok?'' Arnaud asked her with puppy eyes, she was the only friend he had other than the few men he'd usually drink with after work and felt kind of lonely while she didn't speak to him or anything.

Annoyed by the fact that she was avoiding him again, Arnaud took a deep breath. Although he quickly laughed when he heard her reaction. ''No, why would this be a prank?'' the man asked her, shaking his head slightly. He loved the way she was rambling on, it made him like her even more. ''I have no idea what you're talking about.'' Arnaud said teasing her as she mentioned the temprature of the room.

''You think I would come all this way if I was only doing it because you told me how you feel about me, Ains? Come on, you now me better than that. I don't do stuff like this.'' He said as he looked around the art gallery. ''Unless I really want to.'' Arnaud normally disliked going on dates since he wasn't good at them but would make an exception for Ainslee. He sat down too, and since Jessica had organized the date, Arnaud didn't know what would happen next other than the two of them talking to each other.

 

[Ainslee Maxwell]

The conniving little witch wants something else than helping someone set up a date. Ainslee frowned at Arnaud, "Did she say something along the lines that I'm a cruel sister-in-law to her sister? You know how I hate my sister-in-law." She told the man in front of her, though, it was a nice move. But looking around one more time made her wince, it was a Friday and usually, the museum is open until ten pm. Private use of the facility will posses your bank account empty and knowing Arnaud, he must have done something to pull this off. Ainslee looked back at Arnaud and slightly shook her head with a smile, "Why? Tired of seeing other women and miss my face that much?" Ainslee teased, she was getting a bit comfortable about the date and took a deep breath to calm her.

He also confirmed that this wasn't a prank and she appreciated the effort. Yup, there was something on those sentences. Deep inside she's back being a teenager and jumping around like a lunatic. "Hey, we're witches and wizards. We have the means of transportation that doesn't needed a passport. But thank you for the effort, it's actually cute. Though, next time, tell Jessica -if ever she's going to organize another date- that she doesn't have to break your bank account for this. I'm simple as it gets. A movie or a picnic will do." She stated with a smile. Ainslee could reimburse the expenses secretly, she's no FBI or the interpol to know people's bank account numbers but she has her ways.

Silence occurred from the both of them after, Ainslee is still having a party inside her mind. "Do you want to ditch and go to the park? Every painting here are portraits and I fell they're staring at us. Vondelpark isn't that far from here, we could walk." The young lady suggested. Ainslee likes the museum, no doubt about that but it wasn't really romantic like she sees on movies. Though, her life isn't really much of a fairy tale nor a Shakespeare novel. ​

Out of Character:

You know what? I ain't changing it

 

[Arnaud Cormac]

Arnaud shrugged. ''I don't know, no, I don't think she said anything along those lines. She didn't talk poop about you at all. And I didn't know that Jessica was your sister-in-law, you never really told me her name.'' If he had known that Jessica Fields was Ainslee's sister-in-law he wouldn't have talked to the woman at all because he knew how much Ains disliked her, but he was glad he did not not this detail since she had helped him by doing all of this, and she didn't even know him properly. The man laughed at what she said next and said, ''Well so what if I do? You're face is not the most ugliest face I've ever seen before.'' It was meant to be a compliment but Arnaud had seriously no idea how it sounded to her.

The twenty-four year old chuckled slightly and grinned. ''Right, note to self: Don't go all out next time, just keep it simple.'' He was happy that she told him that she liked it simple because otherwise he'd spend more hours at work to take Ainslee on another date and perhaps even get a second job. Ainslee broke the silence and Arnaud smiled. ''Yes, please. They creep me out as well.'' He said with a smirk and blew out the candles. ''Guess I'll follow you then.''

 

[Ainslee Maxwell]

She let out a sigh of relief because this date would just end up in disaster rather than romantically. "Oh, thank god. But still, there's something about that woman and no, she's not my sister-in-law. Jessica is just the sister. She doesn't really have a say when I date and when not to date." Ainslee explained, just thinking Jessica as her sister-in-law gives her the shivers. It wasn't easy living with them as well, that's why once she finds a suitable little house, she'll take it. Though, Arnaud's next remark made her pursed her lips, trying not to laugh hard. The man just called her ugly, for her anyway, that's what he meant. When she can control of herself, she pretend to get serious and said, "So, you're saying my face isn't the MOST ugliest, though, my face is ugly then? I guess someone's not getting a good night kiss then." Ainslee muttered the last sentence as she crossed her arms and looked somewhere else.

Though, she knows he's joking, Ainslee's not going to make it a big deal. She smiled and shook her head at her date, "You don't have a clue on dates do you? I can feel it but this is nice I won't forget this." She said. Ainslee understands guys like Arnaud, her brother was one. Shame Devlin never took anyone for a date. Not even his wife. I wonder why their marriage stays She thought randomly. Ainslee stood from her chair once Arnaud agreed just to go to the park. The young woman lead the way out of the museum and into the Spring night of Amsterdam. It wasn't cool nor hot. She waited for Arnaud, walking at the park wasn't exactly a nice way but it was a good night.

​

 

[Arnaud Cormac]

He smiled and shook his head slightly. ''Seemed to me like she just wanted you to be happy, to be honest - she encouraged me to go on a date with you, so if it wasn't for her..'' Arnaud said with a smirk on his face. He didn't know what happened between the two of them but he was thankful for the oppertunity to go on a date with Ainslee without anyone standing in their way. ''No, not like that, not at all! I meant it as a compliment. Your face quite lovely.'' He said, trying to make her look at him again, a nervous tone in his voice because he thought he had just said something stupid to her, it certainly wouldn't have been the first time Arnaud said something stupid to a girl. Even as an adult, the man was still terrible around the girls that he liked and it was slighly annoying him. Why couldn't he just say normal things when flirting?

Arnaud simply shook his head. ''Not even the slightest clue.'' the Obliviator responded while laughing. ''And thank you, m'lady,'' He said with a nod and a smile, ''I was aiming for a memorable evening.'' The man jokingly stood up and pushed his chair toward the table, ready to go. ''Someone else will probably be taking care of this.'' Arnaud thought to himself as he gave the table with the candles one more glance before he followed Ainslee, looking at her behind and grinning to himself. ''So, you're sure Amsterdam is safe at night? I have never been here before.'' Arnaud asked the woman once they were both outside.

 

[Ainslee Maxwell]

The streest seems to be calm yet there were people roaming around, mostly couples. Ainslee frowned to herself, she's sure it wasn't valentines and the city isn't the most romatic in the world either. Ainslee heard Arnaud say something about 'safe at night' which she responded absentmindedly, "I assume you know some martial arts as you were an officer of the law before ..." She trailed off, realizing what she was saying. Ainslee turned her gaze toward the man. She was falling yet again but she knows that this date has another meaning. Like a sorry-I-punched-your-ex kind of date.

"I mean you're still an officer of the law except different ... like an officer who brain washes muggles ... but you do know how to defend someone or yourself without a gun or wand, do you?" Ainslee babble and no one can blame her either. This date would be her first official since being engage some 3 years ago. Thank Merlin it was broken or she wouldn't meet Arnaud again. Maybe it was best I didn't get married Ainslee thought with a faint smile. She looked around once more, the streets seems to be just fine. "I hope it's safe here, I have never been here at night nor going out at night without Aurors circling me." And if her brother finds out she's with no one from the British Ministry of Magic, she better choose her last meal or she's dead.

The Vondelpark is a few minutes walk from the museum and that gives them time to talk awkward stuff. Ainslee was about to grab Arnaud's hand when she thought of not doing so. It was always the guy who does the first move, it's consider gentlemanly. "All is clear. Let's go then!" She announced with a nervous smile.
​

 

[Arnaud Cormac]

Rather than being relaxed, Arnaud constantly looked around to see if there was any danger around that would pose a threat to Ainslee and himself. ''Yes, I do,'' the man said while he continued to look around. ''I've had some training in martial arts whilst attending the Scottish police college.'' Arnaud continued, thinking back at the time when he was still a recruit. It had been the best experience of his life so far, perhaps even better than Hogwarts.

Arnaud chuckled and nodded his head. ''I'd rather be an Auror.'' the twenty-four year old said admittedly. ''I mean, erasing the memory of Muggles is fun from time-to-time, but I miss having a job where I actually protect people from danger, you know.'' This would have been the first time in a year that Arnaud spoke the honest of how he really felt about his job, and it somehow felt as a relieve when he told her. ''I do with both but truth be told, I would feel alot more safer if I had my gun with me right now.'' the Obliviator told Ainslee. ''It's probably because I used to walk with it everyday.'' Even though he was only a policeman for little over two years, Arnaud had grown used to walking with his gun. He smiled when Ainslee told him that she'd never been out without an Auror besided her and said, ''Luckily for you I still train in martial arts then..''

As soon as the two started walking towards the Vondelpark the man continued to look around for danger which he realized might have been an old habit. ''So, how have you been since the zoo-accident?'' he asked his date with a warm smile on his face, trying to start a conversation going while the two were walking.