let the kids be free

[Briar Rowan-Cullen]

Briar could not believe how quickly it had come around. Willow was soon to be starting school. and her niece Chante had finished the first year. Chante had stayed over the last night and today the girls were up early excited to be going to obsidian together to get school supplies. It was still quite early the time Briar had made them have breakfast and sorted out the school list. but that didn't matter. She lived in Australia so with the time difference it was about mid-moring then the three of them arrived in Obsidian through the floo network. "Now make sure you get everything on the list" she said handing the girls each their lists and willow some money. "there is some extra for you to treat yourselves to something once you have bought everything." she said she could tell they just wanted to leave the drain of a mother and aunt behind and have fun. "be back here at one and we will get lunch" she said before the girls nodded and ran off. It was not hard to keep track of them, even at the age of twelve chante was head and shoulders above everyone else and Willow had died her hair such a vivid shade of red it looked like it was on fire.
Briar wandered down the street. she had not had a day off in the harbour for a while. she had a browse in quality quidditch supplies and picked up some more broomstick polish for her trusty scarlet streak, and stoped in the apothecary to get some more ingredients for her wolfsbane. as she wandered she kept an eye out for the girls and saw them every now and then flitting between shops laughing and chatting like they always did. Briar paused when she got to the end of the street overlooking the water. before turning around and starting to walk back, she would stop in Gladrags she needed to pick up a couple of new work robes and she would see if there was anything she could get willow for school. before she got more than a few paces along the street her bag split and packets of aconite and asphodel slatted against the street. but what was worse was the small vial that had been in the bag started rolling across the floor towards the water. almost instinctively she made a dive for it. Inside the vial was dragons blood. she needed it for her potion and it was not cheap. but it was already too late it had gone flying into the water. she made a flicking motion with her hand. accio" she muttered summoning the vial back to her. it came dripping soring through the air in a big arch. great. she wasn't sure how contaminated it was but she was not going to risk it in the wolfsbane. she would keep it, it could be used elsewhere. slowly she picked up the rest of her packages. behind her, she could hear sniggers and turned to see two boys laughing at her. it seemed like they had jinxed her bag as a joke. she rolled her eyes. she couldn't do much about it. she knew she would have enjoyed doing that when she was that age too. she took out her wand repaired the bag and reloaded it before making her way back to the apothecary not pating much attention to who was nearby.

 

[Professor Cyndi Kingsley]

It had been no easy feat to sneak out of the house with Jacob when Eleanor had been occupied by her Nana. The girl had a knack for knowing when someone in the family was going out and a way of hollering to try and get herself invited along, but today was not that day. Her oldest son had promised he'd get his school shopping done at some point during the vacation, so Cyndi had left him to his own devices. It was some one-on-one time for Cyndi and her middle child, which didn't happen nearly as often as it should. "Are you sure you're ready to get your very own wand?" Cyndi teased as they walked into the Harbour. The boy had spoken of little else since supper last night. As he excitedly spoke of visiting Aunt Kiera's shop and being able to find a wand, the woman listened, a smile of amusement on her face at his excitement. She was happy that he was so happy, happy that her son seemed well adjusted and prepared for this next big step in his life. "I have a few stops first and then your wand, ok?" she declared, having personal errands to run as well as other items to get for Jacob for school. He didn't think them as important as his wand, though she had a feeling his professors might disagree if he showed up to class with no parchment.

They'd just stepped out from the Apothecary, her son's enthusiasm leading him to walk backward as he spoke. She was just getting ready to nod her head in reply when Jacob took another step back, banging right into an adult. "Oh Merlin. I am so sorry" Cyndi apologized in earnest as Jacob let out a more meek apology. Her gaze lifted onto a person, a sheepish smile on her face. "I'm so sorry. My son...he's overly excited about getting his wand." The woman hoped there wouldn't be any trouble. They'd been enjoying a quiet day, and she hoped to keep it that way. The last thing she wanted was to bring attention, especially the negative kind, as it would surely lead to an abrupt end to what had been a fun afternoon.

 

[Briar Rowan-Cullen]

Briar had just entered the apothecary when she felt something collide with her. she took a half step back but was thankful she didn't fall. she looked at the boy. he looked like he was the same age as willow. she decided down slightly to his hight "Ig you want to move around quickly it is best to move in the way you are looking" she said. before standing up to look at the boys mum who had apologised on his behalf. " he is okay a first wand is something very exci... Professor Kingsley" she said looking at the boys' mother. she had been there for her so many times over the years when she had been at school. trusted her when she had no reason to and protected her when her secret of being a werewolf had come out. "it has been so long. how are you?" she said looking at the woman. it had been years since she had seen her. "Is your son going to Hogwarts this year as well. my Daughter Willow is getting sorted this year" she said. wondering if the two would end up in the same house.

 

[Professor Cyndi Kingsley]

Professor Kingsley blinked, the woman looking vaguely familiar as het mind went through a whirlwind of memories to try to place her. It had been some years since she'd seen her last, but there were some students she just easily remembered. "Briar Rowan" she grinned, "It has. I'm doing well. How are you?" Time had passed but now that she knew it was her, it was easy to see some of the features that had existed since the woman's youth. "This is Jacob. He is. Who knows, maybe they'll end up in the same house. That would be a laugh" she continued, always happy for a catch up.

 

[Briar Rowan-Cullen]

Briar smiled as her former head of house remembered her. however, she had the impression that she was not someone who would have easily been forgotten. "I have been well. I have been working in the ministry for werewolf support services." she said. When Cyndi introduced her to her son she smiled at him. "Hello Jacob. What are you looking forward to most about going to Hogwarts?" she asked.
Briar smiled as cyndi said that she wondered if Jacob and Willow would be in the same house. "It would be good if they were in the same house. Are you still teaching?" she asked her old professor. not sure if she should warn her that her daughter had her mind set on Cyndi's house.