Something in the air

[Cyndi Kingsley]

Cyndi knew that pretty soon she would be heading back to the school to begin her second year of teaching. She was so happy that she had agreed to take the job as the Ancient Runes professor because she loved teaching what had been one of her favorite subjects in school. And, now that she was teaching, she couldn't imagine herself being very happy working at the Ministry. A lot of things had happened over the course of the year, but even with all of the ups and downs, she wouldn't change any of it.

Stepping out of her house, she quickly apparated into Brightstone because she had a few things she needed to buy there. After quickly picking them up, Cyndi wasn't ready to go home. The day was very nice, far nicer than it had been only a week ago, and it felt as if the Spring was on its way. The air was slightly warmer and even though there was a wind, it wasn't making her feel as if she needed to run for the indoors. Deciding to stay outside for a few minutes, Cyndi walked over to the benches in the center of the village and took a seat. She sat and watched as many people passed by on their way to run errands or simply shop, content to do nothing but watch.

 

[Elliott Woods]

Elliott had already been occupying the bench next to Cyndi, when a wind blew passed him making him grunt a bit by the mixture of weather. He will never get used to this, right now it would be fall in Canada or just the ending of summer. Now here the snow was slowly melting, but the frost sort of linger as he withdrew a breath. His lips merely prickle, as he sucked them in only to let the warmth of his content make it feel better for just a few seconds. He felt the wind again; his oceanic blue eyes gaze to look up as he witness a family of five walk pass him, the husband cuddling so closely with his wife, while three of their children scream and shrill in laughter. Elliott close his eyes, his heart feeling a deep pain that has been harvesting for almost a year now, the pain that has not yet went away. It was becoming bearable, but all he could say was that he was becoming more numb than anything, because the pain he felt that he cause had took a love one away from him. Only to confuse him, for he had gain a new love, but of a child. His distraught memoires becoming full of light whenever he thought of his one year old daughter

 

[Cyndi Kingsley]

Cyndi grinned as she saw a couple pass by with their children, who were screaming and enjoying themselves. She definitely wanted that one day though she couldn't see herself marrying any time soon. Two of her closest friends were already married so she knew her time was likely coming soon, but the young professor was in no rush. She knew that one day she would find someone she wanted to settle down with and when that day arrived, she knew she would be ready.

Cyndi pulled her wand out of her pocket, where it was jabbing her uncomfortably in the side and placed it on her lap. Reaching into her bag, Cyndi wasn't prepared for the huge gust of wind that blew. Her wand rolled off her lap and toward the bench beside her. She was very protective of her wand because it was the same one she had since her first year in school, so she jumped up from her seat and moved quickly toward it, leaving her bags sitting on the bench. The wand had come to rest right under the bench where a guy who had his eyes closed sat.

Not wanting to disturb him, Cyndi tried to grab her wand herself but she realized it would be difficult to do. Finally, with a sigh, she said to the guy "I'm sorry to disturb you, but my wand is right behind your foot. Can you please grab it for me?"

 

[Elliott Woods]

Elliott open his deep ocean blues to peak under his lashes, only to see the radiant appearance of a girl not much younger than him disturb him from his thoughts. He look down at his tennis white shoes, and just behind his right foot stood out a wand, lightly rolling from the bypassing wind. “Sure let me get it for you.” He smiled at her, reaching down, with the grip of his palm and four fingers he was able to retrieve the wand for the girl, placing it by the palm of her hand only to meet her gaze with his. Elliott was a type he could judge by the shape of a person eye, if they worthy of small talks or just someone you didn’t want to mess with at all. He left those rebellious days behind, but at times he could very well snap if someone didn’t set so well for Elliott.

“Nice weather?” He said in a sort of Canadian accent as he slipped his hands into the warmth heat of his pockets, his lips still playing a smile. “And I thought the muggel said there was supposed to be sun and clouds all day...” he said jokily. He wasn’t sure if the girl was muggel or not, and replaying back the words that he had just spoken, Elliott knew he hadn’t said anything defensive. He felt himself rub his thumb and index fingers together, his eyes tracing the smile Cyndi was displaying for him, it was genuine, very unusual when most didn’t really much talk Elliot so easy.

 

[Cyndi Kingsley]

Cyndi felt completely vulnerable without her wand. It wasn't that she needed it because she had become fairly good at wandless magic, but she always felt much safer when it was in her possession. As the guy placed her wand back into her hand, Cyndi gazed into the man's ocean blue eyes. A smile swept onto her face. "Thank you so much" she said as she slipped her wand back into her pocket. Cyndi was all set to walk away after that because the guy before her didn't seem the type to randomly jump into conversation. He was a bit intimidating actually.

It was a surprise to her when he opened his mouth again and said something about the weather. As he did so, Cyndi noticed that he had a faint Canadian accent. It was only the fact that she had been close friends with another Canadian that allowed her to recognize it. "Oh, they are always getting the weather wrong, but it's not that bad out except for this wind" she said as the wind flared up again as if to prove her point. "You're not from around here huh?" she asked curiously.

 

[Elliott Woods]

"I can see that.." he watched as her hair tussle against the wind, his lips becoming dry again. It was irritating having to apply lip blam, so he sucked his bottom lip again the warmth soothing them just for a while. "No not really.." he answer her question right away, but he did live not to faraway from these parts. "Figure the accent wouldn't be that noticeable." he continue to say, the smile never leaving it a little edgy though. He didn't want to fighten the woman, but he noticed she didn't seem like she was from New Zealand as well. "Your not from around here too? You don't seem like it?" he study her features closely, but not that long so it didn't seem like he was staring, Cyndi would be the first woman he ever conversated ever since Elizabeth has passed away. Besides little Sarah babysitter and his mother, Elliott much stayed to himself.

 

[Cyndi Kingsley]

Cyndi listened to the guy speak, she shook her head at his surprise that she recognized he wasn't from around New Zealand. "Canadian, right?" she asked, though she was nearly one hundred percent sure she was right. "It's not that noticeable. I just had a friend who was Canadian. After spending seven years around him, it's pretty easy for me to hear a Canadian accent."

When he asked if she was from around New Zealand, Cyndi shrugged her shoulders. "I consider it home, especially since New Zealand is the place I've stayed the longest." Her parents had dragged their children to many places around Europe, Africa and Oceania and Cyndi had never really lived in any one place for very long. Her time at Hogwarts had marked the longest period of time that her family had stayed put. They had moved a little over a year ago back to Britain, but she had been grateful that they had remained so close for so long. She knew her father must have turned down some exciting adventures in order to remain close to HNZ in case Cyndi wanted to visit.

Raising her wand, Cyndi performed a silent Summoning charm to bring her bags to her side. Once they were on the ground beside her, she put her wand down and held out her hand. "Thanks again for grabbing my wand for me. I'm Cyndi" she said with a smile.

 

[Elliott Woods]

"Bingo...right on the money." Elliott eyes scan more into her expression, he wasn't used to conversating but he was starting to like the easy flow of the back and fourth. "I'm surprise you didn't pick up his accent quickly, its very contagious, eh." he slightly chuckle as his eyes flicker than twitch. Elliott suffer from facial twitch, it was like having turrets but the mild kind that didn't much have an effect on Elliott. He had some control at times, for the most part though it appears out of nowhere. "Let me guess Hogwarts, and you were in Gryffindor?" Elliott took a shot at what school she may have went. The only school he came up with that was located in New Zealand was Hogwarts. A school Elliott wished he had attended, but was content with the education he had received in Salem. "Names Elliott.." he stood up to formally introduce himself, extending his hand to gently shake Cyndi hand. "Cyndi wouldn't have guess. You look more like a Natalie, but I like it." his eyes flicker towards their surroundings. More children were running around, a few punks wereon their skateboard showing off as usual. A kid decided to act tough, and grind against the pavement next to Cyndi. Elliott wasn't much into the scene, well never have been since he was that age. "Hey watch it kid." Elliott step besides Cyndi' his face fixed. The adolescent flipped Elliott off and boarded away. "Damn little suckers." he cussed under his breath, than look back at Cyndi. "Sorry about that, notice a few don't know much about manners." he chuckle again.

 

[Cyndi Kingsley]

Cyndi smiled, happy she was right. When he asked whether she had been a Hogwarts Gryffindor, Cyndi's eyes widened. "Whoa...that was a great guess and I didn't even tell you my last name" Cyndi began and then added, "The Hogwarts is easy since I told you I lived in New Zealand, but what gave away that I'm a Gryffindor?"

Their conversation flowed easily, which surprised Cyndi because Elliott didn't look all that friendly. As they spoke, Cyndi barely took notice of the kids that were running around in the square until some kid on a skateboard came a little too close for comfort. In a second, Elliott was up and yelling at the kid. When he apologized to Cyndi, she shook her head. "Thanks Elliott, but you don't have to apologize. Maybe I should move though. Do you mind if I sit?" she asked, gesturing to the bench where he had been sitting.

 

[Elliott Woods]

"I was always good at Divintation and guessing. Or so I was told..." he said almost with a smile, but his eyes were still staring at those kids running around. Thank goodness he had a girl and not a boy. Little Sarah was just a year old so he hadn't have much to worry about, least not till she hit 13. He was warned by his mother plenty of times of how much she will grow up and mature. But that was light years away, it just saddens him that she will never grow up to know her mother. It always brought Elliott into a deep slumber, but he rarely express his feelings when he was around strangers. Especially someone new as Cyndi, Elliott had a bit trust issues. It just came natural when the unspoken became a reality in his life one day. "I was actually getting ready to take a walk, near the bridge. Want to tag along?" he asked her, his hands slipping into his pockets.

 

[Cyndi Kingsley]

When Elliott asked whether Cyndi wanted to walk with him, she shrugged her shoulders. "Sure but give me a second" she said and turned to her bags. Somehow she had the feeling that she wasn't going to want to lug bags around on this walk. She used her wand to send them to her house. "Alright...I'm ready. Lead the way Elliott" she said. She noticed that he seemed very guarded in several way but it wasn't her business or place to ask why that was. She barely knew the guy and figured that might be the reason why. Most people didn't usually go revealing their life stories to anyone they had just met.

"So is your divination telling you anything else about me?" she asked curiously as they began to walk, a faint smile on her face. She had never taken the class herself because she had always been a bit skeptical about the subject, but it did hold a hint of interest to her. That interest was never enough for her to add a class to her schedule though.

 

[Elliott Woods]

Elliott smiled, for some reason he had though she would say no. He took another breath of air, as he casually walked at her side, peaking at Cyndi from the side Elliott couldn't help but stare at her. She was very beautiful, there was no doubt in that, but he felt to play it like he wasn't interested. It wasn't him to take in like in someone so quick, Sarah had to break down his shield when she first met Elliott. "You want to know something I sort of just guess and I lied." he looked at her, than back down. "I sucked at Divintation " but he did have that special abilities with the eyes, course Nathaniel had improved this abilities ten times more with his lessons. Elliott step father sort possess the same abilities, course it was more the person face expression and the eyes he could tell if they were good or not. "I don't know just never got the subject." he shrugged as they continue to walk towards the bridge. "I was more of a ummm Herbology major." he said almost biting his lip actually admitting to his least favor subject back in Salem, but oddly the best since he achieved with honors in that lesson. He remembered when he was capable of brewing liquid luck, with the very own ingredients he planted one summer ago. Course he never got to use that vile, his friend was the one that requested for liquid luck. Till this day Elliott wonder what did he used it for, hmmm.

 

[Cyndi Kingsley]

Cyndi stared at Elliott, shocked for a moment as he admitted to not doing well in Divination, and then busted out laughing. "Could've fooled me" she replied as her laughter subsided into giggles. "Me either...that's why I never took it" she admitted as their walk continued. By now, they had left behind the skateboarders with all of their noise and the area they were in was much more quiet.

"I gave up Herbology after OWL year" she stated, "it was interesting but not interesting enough for me to continue. I was more of a defense against the dark arts kind of girl." It had been one of her favorite classes in school, probably because it required bravery and skill, two things that were characteristic of people in her house. "Now, I work teaching...but not defense. I teach Ancient Runes" she added as they reached the bridge. Cyndi wondered why she was talking so much and shut up abruptly, putting her hands in the pocket of her jacket.

 

[Elliott Woods]

“Yeah magic sort of came unnatural to me.” He shrugged and watched as Cyndi laughed, making it contagious so Elliot laughed right along. “So that’s why I was very good at herbology, course it doesn’t help that your mother was once a healer.” He smiled as his blue iris peered out over the bridge, underneath the bridge held s small body of water; a river usually rushing was calm today. Despite the wind blowing at them in every direction, though Elliott stood unaffected. He was used to the wind; Canada was almost cold all the time, except when the weather decides to behave and show a little sunshine once in a while.

“Oh defense the dark arts? Really wow, guess it came natural with the whole Gryffindor...” he question Cyndi, as he rested his elbows on the railing of the bridges. “It took me a while, to get the whole subject. I just didn’t think it was necessary since nothing in America really happens, or in Canada.” He explained. “My mother and of course history of magic educated me afterwards. When I had to read the rise and fall of Voldermort.” He said his name so careless now, before if you even mention the name you would get scowled at. “That’s great that you’re a professor, I don’t know how you do it. I’m a healer myself..”

 

[Cyndi Kingsley]

Cyndi listened to Elliott as they reached the bridge. She glanced at the water underneath the bridge and was surprised to see that it wasn't rushing. She rested her elbows on the rail beside Elliott and continued to listen to him talk about his schooling. Her own interest in defense was because she was just good at the subject, that and Care of Magical Creatures which she knew was because she had spent half of her childhood playing near dragons as her father worked with them. She had a healthy appreciation for how dangerous things could be, which served her well in defense class.

When Elliott mentioned being a healer, Cyndi smiled. "And you think my job is hard? Being a healer must be a million times harder..." she said with a small laugh, "Being a professor is mostly fun except for when I have to grade papers and tests."

 

[Elliott Woods]

I that icon



Elliott looked back at Cyndi. "Yeah its hard especially when your dealing with terminally ill patients." as he said this his face fell to the ground. It was always a hard subject when you mention the sick around Elliott. By now you would think working years around his mother as her assistance, you would be used to it by now. But after losing the love of his life a year ago, just because of her muggels beliefs. It pained Elliott whenever he mention about ones dying, in fact it nearly kills him. Elliott was always strong though, still living day by day with his beautiful little girl, he tries to do his best for the both of them. "But I'm used to it by now my mom used to let me work with her during the summers. She had saved a lot alives, and does unfortunate..." he looked at Cyndi. "Man I'm jealous. Professor? What do they call you Professor Pretty?" he teased looking away. He never did catch her last name.

 

[Cyndi Kingsley]

Thanks...me too!

Cyndi listened and nodded sympathetically. She hadn't been around many sick people so she couldn't really understand what he meant, though she knew it must be said to help people who had little chance of surviving anyway. It had to be a difficult job to do at times.

When he called her 'Professor Pretty,' Cyndi giggled and blushed. "No, they call me Professor Weasley...at least to my face anyway. I don't know what they call me when I'm not around" she said with another laugh. She hoped that her students liked her, but she was still pretty new so it was sometimes difficult to tell what the students thought of her.

 

[Elliott Woods]

Elliott smiled its been a while since he ever commented or been with a woman. Since Elizabeth death he hadn't been able to move on, his mother Sarah worries about the well-being of her son and granddaughter. She sends owls everyday just to make sure he was still doing well. She even suggested Elliott to move back to Canada. He thought about it, but for now he rejected the idea, this was his wife dream to move to New Zealand. Now that she was gone, he see no point being here. Though he already started his full time profession in St. Mungos, so for now he was staying. "Weasley? Hmmm where have I heard that name before?" Elliott spoke out loud his blue orbs still looking at Cyndi. "Is it red head Weasley?" he question with feeble attempts to make it sound a little humorous. "Thought all Weasley were red heads?" he cracked again, looking away as he tried not to laugh.

 

[Cyndi Kingsley]

Cyndi could tell that Elliott had heard her last name a second before he began to try and figure it out loud. She smiled, knowing she could easily tell him the answer but enjoying letting him figure it out for himself. Finally, he got it. With a playful slap on Elliott's arm, Cyndi laughed. "Hey! Not when those redheads marry brunettes." Cyndi's sister and brother also lacked the red hair that their father had, though all three did have natural red highlights.

Cyndi found it easy to talk to Elliott. Now that they had been talking for a while, she could see that he was funny and smart...and handsome. There was definitely no doubt about that one. She wasn't in a rush to jump into anything though. After Val had broken up with her, Cyndi had promised herself to not rush into anything just because of some need to have a boyfriend, so her thoughts weren't straying there.

Realizing that more time had passed than she had first realized, Cyndi decided it was time for her to start heading back. She had to finish doing some last minute things before it was time for her to return to the school. "Elliott...I've got to start heading back, but it was really great meeting you." She smiled at him. "Thanks for saving me from the crazy skateboarders" she added with a laugh.

 

[Elliott Woods]

Elliott smiled as he felt Cyndi playful slap on his left arm. "Oh so that's how you lost the red hair generation." he grinned as he looked back towards the river. He was about to invite Cyndi over for a cup of Joe, but as Cyndi stated she had to leave Elliott couldn't help but feel a little negative inside. Not enough for him to just brush it off and say no big deal. "Oh me to have to get back to St.Mungos." he smiled as he stepped away. "So catch you around?" he said his face more serious now.