Need a Place to Live?

[Lewis Kane]

Lewis wasn't too excited for his second year of Med school. Oxford had one of the best, but it was growing to be a bit boring. Plus, his last roommate had been a muggle which meant that his potion making had, had to be kept to the bare minium. This had in all caused a bad year for Lewis. He had kicked out that roommate, but Lewis, while your average nerd, with messy hair and a live long and prosper t-shirt, liked the company of at lasted one other person. This was why, in the University Pub, Lewis had put up a notice that his apartment had room for another person. It was a bought house, so no rent was needed which was a great thing for Lewis. He didn't like taking money from others, no matter what.

Most of the guys from his were now making jokes about the fact that Lewis was outside, Lewis just smiled politely at them and laughed along, he couldn't do much else, although Lewis was of average height, in fight he would fail epically. Lewis did spend a lot time inside, making potions or reading. He didn't drink, which was another thing English people found quite funny. This was something Lewis had always hated, he didn't like the taste of alcohol, or most of it. Every so often he would help himself to some vodka, but that was very infrequent. Lewis had his ipod headphones hanging out from his t-shirt and his new Blackberry in his hand. He really did love his muggle equipment. Lewis' sea blue eyes scanned the notice that was in his hands before beginning to stick it up on the board of all things Oxford.


The Apartment

 

[Alexis Richarde]

Seeing Izaak and Isabella in Alexis' old home made it prevalent that above all else she needed to find a home that she could share with someone else because she simply didn't have money to pay everything on her own when she still had to pay off her university funds. And with this solely in mind, Alexis arrived on the campus of Oxford University, hoping that there would be some postings up. She wondered around momentarily before asking a young man who looked like your typical university student; defiant emblem in his hair of the horrible style of a braided rat's tail and various other phyiscalities that she barely had time to assess before he answered her with an annoyed roll of his eyes "the bulletin board by the pub".

Every bit of his words irked her, Alexis found that they were rude and above all condescending. It took all of her will power not to hex the muggle to kingdom come but then again it took all of her will power not to do that to most as of late. She needed to breakaway, to start at Oxford because if she didn't soon she would become the disheveled mess again and that would not impress her professors.

After a good twenty minutes, Alexis followed the stream of loud, arrogant drunken slurs to the pub and then her hazel eyes eagerly spotted the board, to which the American girl nearly jumped with excitement as she saw that a wanted ad for a roommate in a house was put up. In near relief, the girl took the ad off and took out her mobile to call the number that was on the sheet. "Pick up, pick up," she pleaded quietly, hoping the late time wasn't a deterrent in her application to be this persons housemate.

As she held the phone to her ear, Alexis heard a ringing of another mobile nearby and she glanced over to the person owning the phone. She clicked her stiletto onto the ground as she wondered if this could be her possible roommate. He looked normal, but then again she didn't seem to be a very good judge of character as of late.

 

[Lewis Kane]

[ I swear I posted yesterday. *shakes head*]

Lewis had stuck around in the Pub. He'd stayed with the few friends he had made from his course. All of whom had been getting drunk. Lewis thought it was really stupidto get drunk like that. But then again they had pressured him into buying a pint of lager and a glass of The Famous Grouse Scottish Whisky. He'd almost finished the pint. Just as most of his friends were on their 10th or so beer. He watched as someone he kinda hated, ran to the bathroom to throw up. Lewis had to say, that made him happy. He picked up his drink and sipped it. He really didn't like the taste of Lager. Lewis ran a hand through his hair, just as he suggested in his strong Australian accent, which was slowly changing, that they should go back to their homes and sleep it off. Most agreed. Agreed drunkingly. Lewis watched as they stumbled and fell out of the pub.

There was one thing about England and the students of Oxford was that no matter how rich they were, the one thing they all loved to do was get absolutely steaming. Lewis hadn't ever totally been steaming, but he didn't drink all that often. Lewis lifted his drink again. The one thing he was quite glad about was the fact it was summer. And despite the fact Oxford got bad weather all year round the summer of 2024 had been a good summer. So much so, that Lewis had been able to remove the jumper, that usually stuck to his skin. His t-shirt which was black had the words 'Normal is Overrated' He generally wore t-shirt like this. He was a self confessed nerd. He liked nothing more than reading a book, or making a potion. It was a reason why Lewis was at Oxford. He wanted to be a Healer in the wizarding world, and had decided to do this properly, he needed to know the muggle view on Healing. Which from he had already learned, was really not that much. His thoughts were interrupted when his phone rang. It was a cheesy ringtone. The theme tune to the popular, and old kids tv show pokemon. Lewis picked it up and answered, briefly seeing that it wasn't a number he didn't know.

"Hi, Lewis Kane speaking." Lewis said.

 

[Alexis Richarde]

Alexis waited with her mobile to hear ear and immediately perked up when she heard the stranger greet her. "Hello Lewis Kane," she said, "I'm Alexis Richarde." She paused momentarily, hoping that her habit of speaking too quickly would not come into play as she said, "I saw your pinup for a house mate and I'm responding to it." Her American accent was barely audible to the untrained ear as she had been all over the world for various periods of time, most recently Australia but the underlaying tones were British because of all the years she had spent in London.

Anxiety filled the first year English Lit and Biochemistry student as she waited for Lewis' response, she could truthfully say that she hoped he was as much of a nerd as she because while she didn't have the appearance of being one, she was the girl who needed a room the size of a bookstore to hold all her books. Well she hoped that and that he wasn't too weird, that he didn't all ready have a housemate because she would likely have to continue looking and she honestly didn't want to.

Oh I hate when that happens.

 

[Lewis Kane]

Lewis was just that little bit surprised. He had not expected anyone to answer so quickly. Still he was glad. And the fact it was a girl was good too. The previous people he'd shard with had been guys and while the hours and hours of gaming were some of the highlights of his year, having a girl around would be a nice change. It would most likely mean no more completely sleepless nights. Rude behaviour and he felt his crazy potions might have to be reduced. It would also mean that Lewis would have to clean up his act. He waited until she had finished, but it was then he looked up to the notice and saw a girl looking at the notice that was no longer on the board but in her hand. He smiled. She was cute too.

"I am looking for a roommate, and I have one simple question for you Alexis Richarde, Merlin, fact or fiction?" Lewis asked, his Australian accent strong. Some hated it, but he loved his accent. The question it was simple. If the girl was a muggle she would reply either fiction, or mythology. Because that was what muggles were taught. Where as Lewis knew from his own education at Hogwarts that everyone was taught that Merlin was fact, that he had exist and was the first known wizard. Should Alexis get this right, it would prove to him that she was a witch and if she was, Lewis was pretty sure, he'd start happy dancing around the whole pub. He waited for her answer, knowing that she might think his question weird. But were she a witch she would realise what Lewis was getting at.

 

[Alexis Richarde]

Alexis nearly laughed at Lewis' question but when she found that he was completely and totally serious she answered the truth because it was what she had been taught. "Fact, of course," she said and as she opened her mouth to ask why he was asking such a question it struck her, could this young man be a wizard as well? "Merlin's beard, you aren't a... um... are you?" she asked, not wishing to actually give the actual word should he be a muggle but if he was a wizard well that could possibly be the most ironic thing ever because she wanted to go into the muggle world to get away from magic and this person could very well be a wizard.

 

[Lewis Kane]

Lewis, resisted the urge to happy dance around the room. He almost laughed when she realised it too. It probably wasn't what the girl Alexis had expected. He knew that she, like him had taken the chance to go to a muggle school, to not only further the education, but to get away from all things magical. He started to laugh, he pulled down the phone as he laughed. He looked up and over to the girl, who he was sure who Alexis. Of course, they couldn't talk to loudly about the fact they were both wizards, but the pub was loud enough, no one would hear. Or even bother to listen. That was one thing that Lewis loved about people in the UK, most of them, didn't care about the person sitting next to them. They found the weird normal, and normal weird. Lewis wondered how to get her attention.

"Alexis Richarde." Lewis yelled out, and motioned over with his hands to the table he was sitting at. "What are the chances" He said, quieter, but still yelling over to her. Everyone around him, ignored him completely.

 

[Alexis Richarde]

Alexis heard her name called out from above the mass of students and she looked up to the face of Lewis Kane. She laughed with him and hung up her phone before eagerly walking towards him and when she approached him she gave him an eager hug, despite not knowing him but he was a life saver. "You have no idea how easy you made moving for me just by having your blood," she said pulling away and laughing with relief and joy. "Of all people in Oxford you're my new housemate. This is possibly the oddest thing ever!" she exclaimed.

 

[Lewis Kane]

Lewis smiled as Alexis heard him and walked over. He was a little surprised by the hug. He was used to being hugged but he just didn't do it that often, or being hugged by people he didn't know. Lewis smiled throw, he was quite simple very happy. He knew that the chances of that having happened were so slim, hr almost didn't believe it. But he put his skeptism to one side. He nodded to her while pulling from his pocket his iPod. He had an album with the pictures of the apartment. He wanted to make sure that Alexis liked it, or what was the point.

"It is so very odd. But Oxford is full of the brightest andthe riches people, there could be many others." Lewis said in his strong Australian Accent, he handed her the iPod.

"If you like the look of the apartment you can move in right now." Lewis said smiling at Alexis. She wasn't a Hogwarts student well not one from the Scotland one anyway.

 

[Alexis Richarde]

Alexis was amused at Lewis' awkwardness but knew that he wold have to get over it because she was a very affectionate person and she watched as he pulled out his iPod wondering what he was doing for a moment before he gave it to her and she saw pictures of a home. She grinned immediately and thought that maybe with a bit of sprucing up it could be a great place to live. "It's perfect Lewis," she said with a nod before handing him back his iPod. "Right now?" she asked curiously before beaming at him, yup, they would get on just fine.

"Well I was staying at the Leaky back in New Zealand so it'll be a few apparation trips but that'd be great," Alexis said smiling at him gently.

 

[Lewis Kane]

Lewis nodded. Of course right now, when else would there be a better time. He'd get busier as term drew near and he had to a whole load of potions he wanted to make, which meant a trip to Diagon Alley for some supplies, so why not. It would be over quickly and everything would be sorted out, and Lewis would not need to worry about finding someone to move in with him. Deciding on staying in the pub although at first not seeming like a tremdulously great idea, seemed like a fantastic one now. Lewis smiled at Alexis, while nodding once more. "Yes right now, And I can help you move your stuff." Lewis took his glass of whisky and like most other English people drank whisky downed it in the one.

"We should go back to the apartment first, and apparate directly from there. Not that it would make much of difference if we were to apparate from the pub, it's" Lewis checked the time, "Almost 4pm, everyone is drunk, they'd just believe it was the drink. But to be safe." Lewis said with a little chuckle, he was still getting used to English Student way of life. Some parts of it, were a little on the strange side.

 

[Alexis Richarde]

Alexis grinned at Lewis, this was sure to be the beginning of a great friendship. "Oh that'd be great thanks Lewis," she said softly before glancing around the pub which brought her to shiver with a flash of weakness for a drink. She hadn't had one since... well since she had been with Ioan and Izaak at the Medley. She blinked off the hypnotic liquid from her mind as Lewis suggested that they apparate from his their apartment. "That'd be great," she smiled before she laughed with him at his joke. "Muggles aren't that dense, even when they drink," she said quietly and pointedly but she wasn't sure if he had heard her, it really wasn't important.

"Kay let's rock on out," Essie said eagerly, she could not wait to be in a home that was her own instead the Leaky Cauldren where she had to avoid Isabella everywhere.