The big wide world

[Mark Stone]

It was July here in New Zealand which meant it was also winter. Although it was not super cold Mark was still feeling it and made sure to wear a coat. It would be his birthday very soon which would make him eighteen. He had left Hogwarts and was not seen as an adult. The notion sort of scared him but he was excited to be able to be out in the world. He could get a job now and make something of himself which he had not done in school. He wanted to set a good example for his little brother, Logan. He thought that if Logan was surrounded by family who were doing well in life then he would have people to look up to all of the time.

With a slight sigh Mark took a seat on a bench in the harbour. It over looked the waters so he could see a few boats tied up. Mark had never been one for sea travel but when he could just apperate places now he didn't need to like travelling by air or sea. He was going to miss his student days though, they had been so fun and now he had to grow up with no questions asked. He looked down to the ground as he thought about what he could do for his future

 

[Amelia Johnson]

Amelia was walking through the streets of Obsidian Harbour, she was fed up with New Zealand already and she had only been here a week. However would she manage a whole year? She sighed as she walked, or glided as she was once told by an admirer. There were NO good looking boys here, no one to chat to and so far, she felt like a foreigner. Ok, so she was a foreigner, but surely someone should try to make an effort.

As she was walking, she suddenly became aware of a stranger sitting on a bench. Glancing over, she saw a sight that made her smile. From the looks of things, this boy was also part-veela. Smiling to herself and flipping her hair behind her back, she walked up slowly. "Excuse me monsieur, do you mind if i join you?" She gave a flirtatious smile towards him and hovered next to him.

Her eyes were shining. It was rare for her to find another half-veela, let alone a male one. 'Finally. Someone who will understand.' She thought to herself as she stood there quietly.

 

[Mark Stone]

Mark was busy in thought, he was thinking about what job he would want to do although he couldn't pick one. He didn't know if he should follow in his cousin's foot steps and become a Professor or a Quidditch player. He liked the sound of both but he didn't want more than one job so he would have to take a bit of time to think about it. Besides there was no rush, he knew that Riley wouldn't rush him in to anything and with his income Mark knew the family was ok for now. After all Riley did have three jobs and that meant he got a lot of money. That was good news in many ways for Mark. He didn't want to stay unemployed though because that could seem ungrateful.

The teenager was so caught up in his thoughts that he nearly missed the girl near to him. He looked up quickly as he registered what she had just said to him. He noted her beauty and guessed that she was too like him, a part veela. He rarely met another one of his kind, well apart from his family that was about it. "No be my guest." He said with a smile as he scooted up a little bit to give her some room to sit. He noticed her French accent which reminded him of Alana. She was also French but he had not seen her in so long. He should have really seen this coming as it was what had happened before when he dated her. He sighed, he was not going to get hurt by her again, he had just come from a depression and was not going to let it happen again. "You from France?" He asked before noticing it was a bit of a stupid question to be asking. "Wow sorry that was a really stupid question." He said scratching the back of his neck awkwardly.

 

[Amelia Johnson]

Amelia smiled softly and sat down gracefully. She thought that he looked deep in thought and didn't want to interrupt his process. She nodded at his question and watched with interest as he reacted to his own question. She didn't mind his question, she got it all the time. Smiling again, she decided to question whether she was in the way. "Monsieur, have i interrupted your thoughts?" She asked quietly, listening to the ringing sound of her rolled r's.

Someone had once told her that her voice was like a small choir of angels and every time that there was silence, she tried to hear it. Standing up as if to leave, she waited for an answer. She didn't really want to leave, but she didn't want to get in the way and annoy the ONLY good looking boy around.

Holding her breath out of habit from awkward silences, she made to leave.

 

[Mark Stone]

Mark watched her nod and was relived that she had not laughed at his own silliness. He hated that he spoke as if he was dumb when he really wasn't as ill educated as he sounded. He guessed it was that he spoke faster than he thought sometimes and it made him look bad. He listened as she asked if she was interrupting him. She wasn't really, he didn't like being alone anyway so did not mind the company. There was always later to think about things. He would soon be going on holiday with the family so the more time he could spend with people the better. "Oh no don't worry about it. Your really not interrupting anything." He said as she stood up. He didn't want to make such a pretty girl leave him. He may not have been the flirt he had once been when he had been in Durmstrang but that didn't mean that he didn't like to be on the company of such a pretty girl. Also the fact that she was veela like him made him feel less self conscious. He always found that if he was around a girl they always stared at him or pretended to be something else just to make him like her. It was really unattractive and annoying though and always had the opposite effect to what they were hoping for. "Have you just finished school for the holidays too then?" He asked taking it that if she had such a strong accent then she would go to a French school and there was only one French wizarding school that he knew of. Then again she could have gone to any other school and just kept the strong accent.

 

[Amelia Johnson]

Amelia smiled gratefully and sat down again. "Oui. I have. When i 'ave finished school, i am moving over 'ere to live. I like it over 'ere. That is why i am 'ere at the moment." She explained, her french rolling back in again. "I am Amelia. But please, call me Amy." She added, aware that she didn't know his name either.

"I got to Beauxbatons academy of magic." She said quickly, wondering if he had heard of it. "Where do you go? Or 'ave you finished?" She asked cautiously. He looked old enough to have finished school but she wasn't sure. She smiled again, not wanting to seem too, eager to question him to his death.

She laughed inside at the thought of it, but quickly turned her attention back to what he was doing when he started talking again. Everything he said, well it seemed like the words sort of glowed as they came out of his mouth and travelled around.

 

[Mark Stone]

Watching the girl take a seat next to him once again Mark let a smile cross his handsome face. He was well away of how he looked, but like the rest of his family Mark never used it to his advantages. Well not usually anyway. He didn't think it was a good thing to do, he liked to earn things rather than take the easy way out. "Yeah it is nice here. Iv recently moved to another part of New Zealand but I still like to come here now and then because I came here so often it feels nice to come back a bit." He said taking a deep breath and taking in the salty air from the harbour. A slight sense of smugness over came him when she said the school that she went too. He felt slightly proud of himself that he had sort of guessed that. "I thought so. Your accent is so strong I thought you went to that school." He said to the girl happily. Since the meeting of his sort of girl friend he had grown find of the french French accent and found it quite attractive on a girl. "Iv finished now, but I went to Hogwarts New Zealand which is why New Zealand is so homelike to me." He explained to her. He could see why she liked this place so much, he wouldn't want to live anywhere else. "So what year are you in?" He asked her curiously. He wondered if she was in Allys year. That would be a bit strange for him to say the least

 

[Amelia Johnson]

Amy watched as a smiled crossed his gorgeous face and smiled herself. She always thought that a veela smile would always beat any other and this was another reason for her constant smiling. She listened as he talked. "Wow, eet, sounds as if you love eet 'ere." She said slowly, her french accent was getting stronger and she was trying to stop it.

He said that he had been to HNZ and had now graduated. Amy nodded, taking this in. That was why he looked older but not old. She was guessing that he was about 18 years of age. She smiled again, only just acknowledging the question posed to her. "I am in the 5th year. Well, i 'ave just finished it. I will be 16 in October." She said quickly. She didn't want him to think that she was too young for him.

She sat up straighter and decided to ask him about New Zealand. "I 'ave only been 'ere a few times before. Always with my parents. Do you know of any 'tour guides' around, i just need someone to help me familiarise myself with the place. Thats all." She threw another look at him and sighed blissfully at how handsome he was.

She had never been the 'soppy' type of girl, who falls for every man who knows how to do his hair right and dress correctly. No, she had hardly ever fallen for any guys at all. It was normally the other way around. Once she knew them, she started to like their character. But really, she wanted someone with the best of both.

 

[Mark Stone]

Mark nodded as she said it sounded as if he liked it here. "I do like it here. I like it here a lot. Though where im living now is really nice. Its by a river and there are some woods by my house which has the most amazing waterfall in them." He said as his eyes gleamed at the thought. He had only been to the waterfall once but it had look so beautiful to him. He would have to go there again soon but once he had got a few things sorted out he would do that, a way of relaxing after all the hard work. "Oh so you have had your OWl's then. Hope they went well for you." He said with another smile. Logan had his next year, Mark knew he would pass with flying colors. He always did and in fact even with the drama's of this semester with the adoption and the move Logan had still passed all of his lessons with EE's. "Il be eighteen in a few days. Im not sure what to do for my birthday though." Mark told her as he pursed his lips slightly in thought. He was thinking maybe having a few friends over in the Medley or something. "Oh well if its a tour guide you need then Il volunteer. After all i know my way around here well enough." He exclaimed to her excitedly, he loved the opportunity to be able to help someone out and this time it was in a field that he knew really well

 

[Amelia Johnson]

Amy smiled at the guy. Wondering what his name was, she listened as he spoke. He seemed really passionate about New Zealand and his excitement was infectious. "Um, well, at Beauxbatons, they do the OWLs in the 6th year." She said quietly. "But thanks anyway." She added, knowing that most New Zealander's didn't know that fact.

"'Appy birthday for a few days then." She said with a laughing tone. She smiled softly again. "Are you sure? I mean, if you have other things to do..." She cut herself off. She really wanted HIM to show her around, but she didn't want him to feel any pressure.

She looked around, as if waiting to see what they were going to do next. Not sure of what conversation to make she just smiled and looked around. Every now and then she caught his eye and smiled flirtatiously, blushing. "Can i see this waterfall then some time? Maybe on the tour?" She asked. He seemed to love where he lived and Amy wanted to know the best places of everywhere.

 

[Mark Stone]

Mark bit down and put his palm on his fore head, embarrassed. "Oh i should have known that. Sorry, im really not as dim as I seem." He said with a laugh at again his own dullness. He seemed to be on a role today, unlucky for him that it had to be around such a pretty girl. He would have to learn to think before he spoke now. Hopefully it would be the last stupid thing he said around her. He smiled as she said happy birthday to him. "Thanks in advance." He said moving his hand down from his face. With a nod of his head he answered. "Im sure, I wasn't doing anything of much interest anyway and Id much rather be with you than be on my own." He said meaning what he had said as a complement than anything else. He frowned slightly as he replayed his words in his head. "I didnt mean that in a bad way i mean i would rather be with you that continue what I was doing." He said hoping he wasn't offending her. He was tired and with the stress of his NEWT's and the fact that he had not spoke to many girls for a while kind of meant he was a little out of practise. "I can take you to the waterfall but its on the other side of NZ so il probably show you at the end. Unless you want to go now of course but i will have to Apperate there and most dont like it and i dont want to spoil your day." He said biting the bottom corner of his lip. He had just really learnt to apperate and he wasn't comfortableness with apperating someone else just yet but he would do it if needed right now

 

[Amelia Johnson]

Amelia smiled at him. She didn't want to embarrass him further so she just waved it away with her hands and smiled softly. "Don't worry, i know what you mean." She said gently, her hand came down and she found it lying on his. Moving it quickly away, she blushed and looked away. "I don't mind where we go first. Its up to you, tour guide!" She said quietly, still embarrassed by what had just happened.

She looked around her again, something she did out of habit when she was either embarrassed or there was nothing to say. It was both at the moment and as she looked, she realised how stupid she must seem so pretended to be looking at the horizon. Giving up on that charade after a while, she just looked down at her hands, her cheeks going a delicate shade of pink on her pale complexion.

 

[Mark Stone]

Comforted When she said that she knew what he meant. He wondered if she meant it or was just saying it to make him feel better. Which ever it was it still made him feel a bit better. He was just used to Hogwart's way with tests. His eyes quickly flashed down to his hand as hers touched his. He didn't move his hand, why would he object to be touched by such a nice girl. She on the other hand had a different reaction to him. "Il take you around here seeing as we are already here." He said smiling, brushing aside the incident as it seemed that she was embarrassed by it. "My name is Mark by the way. I forgot to say that earlier." He informed her as he noticed that he had not introduced himself when she had. He stood up from the bench and looked down at her with a grin on his face. "Shall we get started then?" He said happily as he wondered where to go first. He could show her the good places to get some food and drink and then the shops. It seemed like a good plan for him to stick to. He just hoped he didn't show himself up again when he was with her

 

[Amelia Johnson]

Amelia smiled gratefully as he brushed it aside smoothly. She stood up as he did and brushed herself down. Wondering where he would take her, she trusted him enough to follow. "Mark..." She whispered to herself, liking the way it sounded. "Well, then Mark, where to?" She asked, eager to know where they were going.

"I am in your hands." She said as they started walking. Her hand was by her side and she was trying to stop herself leaning over to hold his. 'He probably has a girlfriend.' She told herself as they walked. There was something about Mark that made her want to be close to him. To hold his hand, to kiss him. She stopped in her thoughts right there to concentrate on where they were walking.

 

[Mark Stone]

The Veela listened to her say his name quietly. A slight amused smile made its way on to his lips but he quickly got rid of it, not wanting to embarrass her by it. He took a quick look around to see where was closest. "I was thinking the Leaky Cauldron is closest so we can go there quickly. Its sells drinks and food." He said giving the place a quick introduction as he looked back to her then began in the direction of the pub. "I don't know what it is but Iv always liked pub meals. I think its the atmosphere in them or something." He said with a slight shrug of his shoulders. He didn't want the awkward silence to become of the two as he kind of liked the young girl, and not just because she was veela. As he was one too he didn't look for girls who were inhumanly pretty he liked personality better, looks were just an added bonus. Luckily for him this girl had the whole package. It was just a matter of slyly bringing up the matter of if she had a boyfriend. A way in which didn't sound obvious. "Do you have a boy friend." He said before kicking himself for not following the whole not being too obvious plan. "I mean do you not have a boy friend to be with. Surely a pretty girl such as yourself would constantly have a boy by your side." He said trying to recover from his earlier comment. What was it about girls that made him act like this, he had never used to be liked this.

 

[Amelia Johnson]

Amelia nodded as he showed her the Leaky Cauldron or whatever it was called. She followed him in and sat down at a table. He seemed to be troubled by something, like she was and she waited as he began to talk.

He asked her an awkward question and she could see that he was embarrassed by the bluntness of it. She laughed softly, trying to make light of it. "No, i don't have a boyfriend. I mean, as a part-veela yourself, you understand that i get 'admirers' if you can call it that, but no. I don't have a boyfriend at the moment." She said quietly, thinking about this problem. "How about yourself?" She asked before she could stop herself. She looked down and her loose hair made a screen infront of her eyes, shielding her from his look.

Peeking through her 'curtain or curls' she smiled shyly and waited for his reaction.

 

[Mark Stone]

Mark listened carefully as she explained her situation when it came to boy. Being part veela like she was he could understand what she was talking about. He was always getting unwanted attention by people and it did get a bit too much but it just came with the trait. He had grew up with it so he was used to it now but that didn't make it any less annoying when he was with a girl and didn't want to be interested all the time by others. "No I understand where your coming from. Im the same." He said before shaking his head. He would no longer see Alana as his girlfriend. He had not seen her in months and nor had he even received so much as a letter from her. "No not really. Just admirers like you have. Although its kind of hard to find a girl who wants to be with me for me but that's who im looking for." He said with a sigh as he looked down at his hands. He may only be eighteen but he loved the feeling of being in a relationship, the feeling that your with someone who loves you through and through. Thats what he liked. Being single may have been fun for some but he loved being in love. He also knew that he had to find the right girl to love and not any old heart breaker. "Want a butterbeer?" He asked her as he turned his head and noticed her peeking at him through her hair. He raised an eyebrow and chuckled slightly at her

 

[Amelia Johnson]

Amy listened to Mark's problem but inside her head she was secretly singing. 'he's free. he's free! he's free and he could be with me!' This was obviously all in her head but she was smiling the same. She noticed that he had caught her looking through her hair so she swept it swiftly behind her ears and out of her face. "Oh, what it it?" She asked as he offered a butterbeer. "Im sure i will like it, so oui s'il vous plaît." She said in French.

She caught his eye as he went to get them and she was sure that she could tell something from his look, but she wasn't sure yet. She would just have to see how it went. Whilst he was gone, she tried to think rationally. 'He's nearly 18. 2 and a bit years older than me. He's graduated. He's utterly gorgeous and he's perfect. But well, but well.' She was debating with herself in her head and turned to see where he was. She found him with her eyes and smiled at him, even though she knew that he couldn't see her.

 

[Mark Stone]

Mark bit his bottom lip as he thought about how to explain what butterbeer was. "Well its a sweet drink. But not too sweet and it makes you mouth water so its good to have if your thirsty." He said as his eye brows knitted together as he tried to explain it. Luckily she said she would have one and also luckily he had picked up some French to know she had said yes please to him. It came with having French girlfriends. "Ok il go and get us some." he said with a smile before he stood up and headed to the bar. Even though he was old enough to drink alcohol he had not yet grown to like many alcoholic drinks and he didn't want to be drunk around this girl. He ordered the two drinks and headed back once he had paid for them. Of course these drink had not alcohol in as she was too young to drink, which he didnt mind. mark wasn't one to rush in to anything or pressure anyone in to something they didn't want to do. He was very laid back. "Here we go." He said to her as he placed the glass in front of her. "Enjoy." He said before taking a sip of his own drink, enjoying the sweet taste it left in his mouth. He had always been a fan of butterbeer since before he could remember.

 

[Amelia Johnson]

Amy smiled as he brought it back. "Thanks." She said, taking the drink. Holding it in her hand, "Well, 'ere goes." She said, winked at Mark and took a sip. Letting it sit in her mouth for a few seconds, she finally swallowed it. "That amazing! I love it!" She said, amazed that anything could taste so good. She was guessing that it was non alcoholic but was cautious anyway.

Smiling at Mark, she took another sip and let it slither down her throat. "This is delicious!" She said, gazing in wonder at the drink. "Do you know what's in it?" She asked, wanting to see if they had anything like it in France.

 

[Mark Stone]

Mark watched her slowly drink it. He did not know any one who did not like the drink but he knew everyone had a different taste, shame the ones who didn't like it had the wrong taste. "Said you would. I don't know anyone who doesn't like it" He said with a laugh. He had known she would like it, she looked like she had good taste and what decent girl would not like butterbeer. Even his cousins wife liked butterbeer. "Believe me you don't need to tell me that. Its one of my favourite drinks. My favourite being a muggle drink. Jack Daniels and coke." He said taking a mental note to get Riley to buy a bottle of Jack Daniels when he was next shopping. A bottle usually last him a month and he never had a whole bottle to himself either. "I dont know. Its the sort of thing that my Cousin would know. He is in to food. He is the chef of the family. And the Professor, and the shopkeeper and the Quidditch player." He said rolling his eyes at the long list of professions that Riley had. He really did work too hard, and if Mark got a decent paying job then maybe Riley could quit one of his and relax a little bit more. He hoped so.

 

[Amelia Johnson]

Amy listened to Mark talking about his cousin. She didn't know who he was but listened anyway. She thought that Mark felt either sorry for the Riley man or felt jealous of him. "Well, 'e can't be that famous, because ive never 'eard of 'im." She said, trying to cheer Mark up. Not sure whether this was the right thing to say, she took another sip of the butterbeer, enjoying the flavour and waiting for Mark to say something more.

 

[Mark Stone]

Mark chuckled slightly when she said that Riley couldn't have been too famous. In his mind he was the most famous person ever but mark knew that Riley didn't have the same huge ego he had once had after the Werewolf attack, then again who could blame him. He had a lot to carry around with him. Three job, an extended family and the condition was way more than Mark could handle alone. Luckily Riley had Adele to help him. "Nah he thinks he is but he really isnt. He is the Seeker for the Ballycastle Bats." Mark told her proudly. He loved the fact the his cousin had such a fun job, a fun job which got him and the family free game ticket to watch him. "So what makes you love new Zealand so much if your living in France?" He asked her curiously to see what the attraction was for her to come and live here

 

[Amelia Johnson]

Amy listened as he talked about Riley. It seemed that he really was proud of his cousin rather than jealous so that was good at least. She considered his question for a bit before answering. "Well, my parents live in France. I really wanted some individuality. I mean, i will finish at Beauxbatons but then i want to make my mark on the world, i want to do my bit. I love France so much but i think that New Zealand will be the perfect new start for me when i have finished Beauxbatons." She paused her, wondering if she had got the English right. "So, i wanted to make a fresh start." She didn't want to add that she wanted to find a new boyfriend and New Zealand seemed the right place to go. She smiled faintly and took another sip of Butterbeer.

 

[Mark Stone]

Nodding as he listened to Amy tell him about why she wanted to move to new Zealand once she had finished with school. He had to admit she did have some good reason to move and he respected her mature level of thinking. He didn't really share such ambitions, he just wanted to be the big brother Logan could look up to and be proud of. As long as he did that then he was happy. "Wow those are certainly some pretty compelling reasons to want to move. Making a fresh start is a good choice to make sometimes although luckily for me iv already had my fresh start and im making the best of it." He said smiling as he took a sip of his drink. Moving out of his dads and in with his cousin had been the fresh start that he had been looking for. "So what are you planning to do when you move here? Any idea's on a job?" He asked before noticing he was asking a lot of questions about her. "Its nice here don't you think. A good atmosphere to be in." He said quickly changing the subject off her