So, what brings you here?

[Takuya Blaze]

Professor Takuya Blaze, knew that now that it was the week for the break on lessons throughout HNZ, he would finally be able to get out of that castle and have a little fun. But, he didn't exactly know whether or not that would be a lot of fun or whether he would just be pretty much doomed to spend the entire week on his own. So far, Takuya had only just managed to finish up everything in preparation for the exams next week, so he had the rest of this week off. There was no way Takuya was going to spend all that time cooped up inside of a castle looking after students who would probably start mucking up the second he was out of there way. If he was a Head of House, he would be strict. He would make sure his students kept in line.

Takuya knew that it would probably be a long time before anything like that happened, and he had a lot of faith in Professor Snow as the Hufflepuff Head of House, she knew what she was doing, and she did a good job of it. Takuya sighed, and decided he wanted to take a look in one of the shop windows as he walked past, his eyes seemed to wander to every little detail as he walked past every store, taking in as much as he could at the same time. Takuya stopped outside the broom store and took a good look inside. He had never been good at Quidditch, but it had always been an interest for him. Having been a Hufflepuff when he had gone to Hogwarts, he just hadn't felt brave enough to play it back then.

 

[Ellen Harper]

Ellen finally had a day off. She put in her request for it a week or so ago, hoping to catch up on some errands that she allowed to build up over time. Today was the perfect day for it because although it was winter, the air outside felt cool and nice, and with it mixed in with the brightly shining sun, it made the Harbour feel spectacular. The weather had been dreary lately, and she was grateful to be off on a day that felt splendid. Now, those errands. Her hand held a somewhat crumpled up piece of paper with curly handwriting detailing a list of items to purchase. Ellen required neatness and order with everything; a grocery list being no exception.

The wind picked up slightly, as the woman strolled along Obsidian Harbour. It rustled the paper, forcing it to become less tidy than Ellen desired. She was annoyed, but her obsessive compulsiveness would need to be in check since she was venturing out in public. She walked past a broom store, but suddenly stopping in her tracks, spotting a beautiful mahogany handle broom featured in the window. "Gorgeous." She said aloud, walking closer to the display. A man was already standing and peering inside the shop. Ellen tried to look for a price, or even a sign that had the brooms name on it, but she didn't see anything. "Excuse me, but do you know which model this is?"

 

[Takuya Blaze]

Takuya had been considering buying his own broom for a little while. He sure had the money for a broom, what with the store he owned and whatnot. Though, it wasn't exactly doing very good business lately, and that could be bad if it didn't pick up soon. Takuya heard somebody talk to him, and he definitely didn't know who she was when he turned to look at her. He hadn't seen her before, so she was either new around here, or just liked to keep to herself. Either that or he didn't get out anywhere near as much as he should, which was a bad thing for somebody like him. Professors were meant to make sure they had everything done for their years, yes, but they were also allowed a personal life, like everyone else should be. Takuya sighed.

He smiled at her, only slightly. "Yeah, it's 60 Galleons." Takuya said, unsure of why somebody like her would want a broom. She looked like a serious kind of person. His guess was that she was probably a Ministry Official, but he couldn't be all that sure unless he asked her. "Do you like Quidditch? Ever played before? Or do you just like flying?" He asked, hoping she wouldn't take his questions the wrong way. That kind of thing had happened before, and it had ended up with him being punched in the face by someone. Then, afterwards, he had got them back, and boy had he got them back good. He chuckled at the thought of it. That had been an interesting day to say the least, and he wouldn't be in a hurry to forget it anytime soon.

 

[Ellen Harper]

Ellen hadn't paid much attention to her window shopping companion until he answered her question. She met his eyes, and smiled formally, feeling slightly uncomfortable in a social interaction. Since she left Hogwarts, Ellen had kept to herself and didn't get out much to be in any social situations, so she had grown unused to conversations with the opposite sex. She wouldn't allow it to be noticed, though. "Not too bad. It must be too good to be true, though." She was wary about cheap brooms. They would work swell for a few months and then turning the hilt of the broom would prove difficult, and eventually it would start to slow down in speed. "I work at the Ministry. In the International Magical Office of Law, actually." Ellen answered smoothly. "I usually go to international Quidditch games for meetings with other Officials, and I grew an interest in it."

She didn't play Quidditch, but she did research the types of brooms the Professional Quidditch teams used, and which ones they despised the most. One day Ellen hoped to fly her own broom, but for now she was satisfied just watching the games and reading up on the players. "But no, I don't fly myself. I did a bit at Hogwarts, but nothing serious. What about you?"

 

[Takuya Blaze]

Takuya noticed that the girl seemed to feel a little .. awkward talking to him. Though, he could probably guess why this was straight away. She was from the Ministry, and probably didn't get out much to talk to people, especially being an employee in the law department of the Ministry. "Yeah, I can imagine you would get an interest in something getting to go to all of the games. I'd love to do that, but I'm just so busy at the school. I'm the Potions Professor for a couple of the years up there." Takuya said, feeling proud when he mentioned it. It was a fun job, but most of the students there had caused him more than a little bit of trouble at times. He hated it when they did that, because it meant he had to run around the castle watching them from time to time.

Takuya chuckled. He loved watching Quidditch, and he liked to fly around from time to time, but nothing serious like the players in the leagues did. That was something different, that was for sure. He smiled at the girl, and knew it was about time for him to learn her name if he wanted to get anywhere today, as a friend anyway. "I'm Takuya, and who might you be?" Takuya knew that a more casual approach would be a lot better around now, and the formalities that they would be used to at their respective works were just too much for outside. Takuya wondered whether or not she was even used to socialising, he doubted it with the way she was acting. She was a serious person, and he could see that.

 

[Ellen Harper]

The Ministry Employee nodded. "It was an easy way to bond with others in international Law departments." Ellen had already made a few great friends from other Ministry's just by sharing a fondness for the flying sport. She needed to keep a common interest with other countries, that way they could bond by watching a match, and also speak politics afterward. Quidditch was also a fantastic way to ease stress after a long day, or shortly before a meeting. "I understand you! If it were not my job to mingle and discuss certain laws with other Ministry's, I wouldn't have time either." That was another reason why she loved her job, even if it did take up most of her social life.

"You're a Professor?" She repeated. In her seventh year, Ellen contemplated whether to be a Professor or choose the path of the Ministry. Watching her classmates make fools of themselves and annoy the teachers forced her to choose the latter, and although she was very happy with her occupation, she did often daydream about shaping up young minds and teaching them the wonders of magic. Even if they did annoy her...

"I am Ellen Harper." Ellen was so used to introducing herself to various people that she didn't think twice about giving out a last name. "Ah, yes. My little siblings, Briony and Daniel have told me about you." Having recognized the name, she was finally grateful to put it to a face. "Not sure if you remember them... I do understand that you have many students."

 

[Takuya Blaze]

Takuya could see where this girl was coming from, and he could see why she would have so much fun a time at the Quidditch Games. They would be a nice retreat from her busy life, up until she had her meetings with the other International Law Departments. But when they were done she could always just settle down and get back in to the game again. Takuya smiled at the thought of being able to get into all of these games, and then just be able to watch them without having to worry about his work for the time being. It would sure be fun. "Sounds like a pretty alright job, if you ask me." Takuya said, smiling.

Takuya chuckled, "Yes, I am a Professor. It is a pretty nice job, as well." Takuya said. He didn't really have any complaints about the job. It was interesting, and it always kept him busy. But, sometimes, busy could be a bad thing. Especially considering this was probably the first time he had been out for a few months. "Though, it can keep you busy and cooped up inside a lot of the time." Takuya said, chuckling. He vaguely recognised the names of the students as she told him about them, but he didn't know if he had taught them. He shrugged, "I hope they were all good things." Takuya said, chuckling softly.

 

[Ellen Harper]

"It truly is." Ellen conceded cheerfully. She liked this Professor Takuya. He was able to keep up a friendly conversation despite them knowing hardly anything about each other, and she felt like they could become wonderful friends. "I enjoyed learning at Hogwarts, but I could hardly stand to be cooped up all day." She was happy that her work didn't always keep the young woman stuffed up in her office. She did travel a lot, and that was what made her very happy with the Ministry.

"They were all good things... although they did say you were a bit strict." Which Ellen did not find a bad thing. Perhaps if more teachers were strict and down to business with their students, they would not be playing pranks on each other and casting magic between classes. A prime reason why she wouldn't be a very well liked Professor. "I wouldn't be surprised if you didn't really recognize their names. Both are very quiet and serious about their work. Briony is a Ravenclaw, and Daniel is a Gryffindor." Ellen was pleased to hear good reports about them both. She had always been the serious student in school, making O's and EE's, and never causing sudden trouble in classes. Outside of classes was a different story, however. Ellen was a notorious "mean girl" and hung out with her own group of snotty girls.

 

[Takuya Blaze]

Takuya smiled, Ellen seemed to be relaxing a little bit, and enjoying the conversation. This was always a good sign with people, because it meant that they liked where the conversation was going, and they liked the person they were talking to. Takuya was glad, they had made progress. He wondered whether or not she had ever wanted to be a Professor, and she probably would have. Most students did want to, if not for the power, just for the fun of it. Takuya chuckled. "It's a whole different experience when you're actually the one teaching the students, then if you're the one who's being taught. For starters people actually listen to you, instead of you having to listen to them." Takuya said, laughing. He hoped he wouldn't look like an idiot for laughing at his own joke.

Takuya wondered if she was being entirely truthful, but as far as he knew she had no reason to lie to him. Whether or not it was true for the kids, was a different story altogether though. He had a whole lot of experience in picking up lies from kids. There was always somebody who thought he could lie his way through something, and Takuya was the kind of person who just liked to pick up on those lies and expose them, it was kind of a necessity for him. Takuya smiled, "Yes, well, I must have taught them for them to know me, and I don't seem to remember having any trouble with them, so it seems to be all good there." Takuya said, chuckling slightly. He wasn't going to admit that he had forgotten about them. Like not at all.