» Tiny Monsters, private

[Brendan Beckett]

Backdated to the 18th June

HEAR THE TINY MONSTERS HUNT THE HARLEQUIN.

Vera was the only thing that Brendan could think about. In an ideal world it would have been a good thing to have the woman he sought to be on his mind, but not like this. Not in the way that killed his spirits. She had written to him, essentially, and asked for whatever relationship they had to crumble, in a manner of speaking. Thus, Brendan was saddened. He had started to grow warm through his feelings for the werewolf – public knowledge forced him to realize this – and through his teachings. He was not the same man he was a year ago. He was far from it in all actuality.

He had changed because his former cold personality would not accommodate his future as a teacher. He liked teaching and inspiring the youth of the wizarding world. Although, Brendan still was not sure whether or not that it was truly his calling, teaching, but he made it work the best he could. He was still learning the so-called “tricks of the trade” and made a plan to use more tact when approaching students, first years in particular. The thoughts of a teacher who wanted to do everything differently, a teacher that wanted a do-over plagued his mind. He just wanted that second chance to do it better. Phineas Black had rehired him for the next year, but Brendan could only wonder what would happen the following fall.

The man sauntered down High Street. He looked like he had no aim or no place to go. In reality, the Transfiguration professor was headed to the quite popular among students and professors, lower class to upper class denizens of Hogsmeade to wash away his miseries. Entering the one of the most popular places in the history of Hogsmeade, Brendan sat down at a corner table in the rather deserted place. Maybe the festival had made nightlife a little more interesting. Usually the Three Broomsticks had a warmer atmosphere, but the table he sat at was sort of grungy and the worn wooden table just about matched his feelings. He felt terrible and the table’s worn out look matched his weary expression. Brendan looked tired, sickly even. He felt as though he had not slept well in days. He missed Vera Rose.

Werewolf or not, Brendan would almost have said that he loved her. Physical intimacy, however, was not conducive to love if later the woman calls it off. It was as if the scenario would happen in a century into the future. It was not for Brendan’s time. He had been faithful. Brendan Beckett must have loved that werewolf bitch Vera Rose. How could she have been so cruel? She crushed him as easy as stomping on an ant. His heart was hers and she killed it. Brendan did not even know if he wanted romance anymore. Soon, he noticed, a waitress came over. “Your strongest alcohol,” he murmured softly. At that point he did not care whether or not it was a wizarding brew or a muggle one. He just wanted something strong.

The pub seemed to be still for the time being. Of course, there were the regular nighttime visitors scattered throughout the place. The waitress brought him his drink and Brendan paid the required fee and held the glass in his hand. At least it wasn’t dirty. He noticed the bell at the front of popular pub ding softly and Brendan usually would have glanced up to it with his blue gray eyes, but he didn’t. He stared at his alcohol for a little bit before picking it up and downing it rather quickly.

He cleared his throat and rubbed the now empty glass with one finger. Brendan had imagined it being Vera’s cheek. No. He had to stop. Vera had crushed him. His heart hurt and longed for someone else. He wrapped his hand around his glass and held it up. “Waitress!” he said loudly. The professor did not have to yell to be heard in the pub that night. It was empty, relatively speaking. Brendan put his glass down and waited for the waitress to make her way over to his table. He wasn’t necessarily in any rush to get drunk, but he wanted a drink to calm his nerves. He wanted the drinking to make his pain go away. Brendan was going to be drunk by the end of the night. He was going to wash away his pain, his demons, and his miseries. The professor looked up to see if the waitress had made her way over yet and saw another lady nearby. He stood up quickly. “Miss, looking for a table?” he asked. “You can join me.” Brendan gestured to his table and remained standing. He would either be dismissed or his offer would be accepted. Either way, Brendan was going to keep drinking alone or with a companion.

OOC: I got carried away.

[Theodora Flamel]

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If there was one thing Teddy enjoyed more than anything else, it was the freedom her father allowed her. She could do whatever she wanted, whenever she wanted, however she wanted. The Flamel family was influential enough and wealthy enough that everyone wanted to be friends with them and even if they managed to get themselves into the paper, most wouldn't care. In any rate, the important people wouldn't care. That was why Teddy was able to walk around Hogsmeade without a chaperon in sight. Her father trusted her, and he had absolutely every right to. The two had a very close bond, and Teddy felt no shame in telling him everything that went on in her life. It was more than she could ever ask for in a Father-Daughter relationship, something she believes stems from their shared innate ability to excel at potions and Teddy's extreme intelligence.

But that wasn't even close to the point. The point was that Teddy could aimlessly wander around the carnival during her extended lunch break alone and feel no shame in it. All the work she had been given earlier that morning was done; it was supposed to have lasted her the entire day but Teddy was an efficient and precise worker. She got things done. Although it was out of the question, Teddy dreamed that one day she would be the head of the department. Of course, she was a woman. Even with her father being who he was, there was only so much that he could do for her. No man in their right mind would let a woman rise through the ranks to hold such an important decision. In her family, they were taught that women were just as smart and just as capable as men. Perhaps they were too forward thinking for their good, but the Flamels got by just well and their children excelled in every way, so long as they put their minds to it.

There were crowds upon crowds of people in the streets. The carnival was fun and interesting, as she had found out the prior summer, but this year it seemed twice as big and it seemed as though twice the amount of people had come out to see the sights. Teddy enjoyed the carnival and had never shied away from people, but she also liked to breathe and not sweat in her work best. Teddy slipped out of the summer heat and the crowds of people into the Three Broomsticks, which, to her lack of surprise, was just as bad if not worse than outside had been. It was crowded, and Teddy elbowed her way towards the back to the pub. She didn't even really want a drink; she had just wanted to escape the crowds! As a second thought, Teddy paused and realized that heading back to the office probably would be the only way to get out of crowds.

As she was about to apparate, Teddy heard a voice. She turned around, and a smile found its way to curl on her lips. Brendan Beckett, if she remembered correctly. The former Slytherin was a year her junior and had been a good kid, up until her last year in school. He had seemingly given up on everything and though Teddy had been strict with him, trying to help him out, she couldn't stick around to see if anything had panned out. Teddy was optimistic though, and she could only hope that he had turned things around. Although unsure of whether he remembered her or not (and, in all honesty, her hair had been brown back then and it was still a brilliant pale blonde, as she had dyed it for the Trail), she sauntered over to where Brendan was. He had invited her to sit with him, had he not? She offered him a smile and slid into a seat across the table. "Thank you, Mr. Beckett," she said, proffered smile still adorning her lips. "How have you been? It's been quite a few years, has it not?" Teddy looked at the bartender and held up two fingers, shrugging her shoulders at him when his puzzled expression asked her what she was ordering. She didn't know and didn't care; she'd drink whatever he brought to the table.

[Brendan Beckett]

HEAR THE TINY MONSTERS HUNT THE HARLEQUIN.

Brenny decided it would be best for him to be polite to the woman that had now sat across from him. He returned her smile and nodded. “The pleasure is all mine, Miss Flamel,” the Transfiguration professor glanced a large smile at the woman a year his senior. “It has indeed been a good many years since we last spoke or saw any of each other. Has the Ministry been faring well for you? I became Transfiguration professor last year,” Brendan said politely as the bartender brought over two firewhiskeys. Brendan had come to the Three Broomsticks to get drunk in the first place. Maybe getting drunk with someone he knew could ease the pain of Vera crushing his heart. Maybe.

The twenty-five year old heaved a sigh and downed his firewhiskey quickly. “Miss Fl- oh by Merlin’s undergarments I hope we can get past formalities. I am really not in the mood. Today has not been the best day for me,” Brendan admitted waving his empty glass to signal a refill. Keeping the alcohol flowing would be a sure path to a hangover and sure path to forgetting about the damn werewolf he befriended when no one else would. If it taught the man anything it was that he had to pick better friends. Beck hardly ever had this problem with his friends from school, but by now Brenny had wanted to just forget everything.

“Were you on the trail?” he inquired. He might as well engage in pleasant conversation. Brenny did not have a care in the world whether or not Teddy Flamel stayed and kept him company or if she left after her firewhiskey. It was her business, not his. If she wanted to talk about how much love sucks and that he fell for a werewolf and she wanted to smack him and tell him to stick to his own species Brendan would deal with it. Of course, Brenny had to think back on HOW he knew that it was indeed Theodora Flamel sitting across from him in The Three Broomsticks. Her hair was different. Huh. He had not noticed that before. It was… lighter than Brendan remembered. “You changed your hair color,” he commented absent mindedly as the bartender finally refilled his mug.

A slight pink color came to his cheeks as he turned his focus on the alcohol in front of him. Brendan ran a finger along the handle and then along the brim before he brought the mug to his face again. If the bartender cut him off from drinking before Brendan drank himself silly, he would go to the Hog’s Head. Those bartenders did not care if you were already drunk going in, as long as you were one of the few paying customers they (the bartenders) would keep bringing you alcohol. “I apologize,” Brendan finally mustered enough courage to actually say something beneficial. “It was rude of me to comment. A lady has a right to her secrets. I am a blubbering drunk right now. Beg my pardon.”

Sure, while maybe Brenny need not apologize, he felt indebted to Teddy Flamel for no other reason than she was keeping him company. She had not said much yet, but it was comforting knowing that he could mention something that bothered him… no no no! What was he thinking? He had not told Theodora Flamel a word about what was bothering him. Vera Rose was condemned in his mind. The bitch deserved no sympathy and no emotional tie. Brendan had to sever that tie immediately and if seeing a whore at the Maison de Vénus helped, Merlin bless him he would be there. He needed to clear his head. The brothel was his second option if a drunken stupor did not work. Oh, by Merlin’s undergarments Brendan hoped that Teddy could help him in some way.

[Theodora Flamel]

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It was easy to tell that there was something troubling Brendan Beckett, but what it was, Teddy was unsure of. He was different during their school years, happier perhaps, but she couldn’t say for sure. He was someone who she hadn’t seen or kept in touch with after leaving the school. He was polite, and that was a kind gesture, though not one she had expected. She also hadn’t expected him to know she worked at the ministry. Of course, being one of the few women who actually did more than medial work there, and with her parents being who they were, it would’ve been safe to assume that word of her work spread quickly through Hogsmeade. “The ministry is treating me well, thank you,” she replied in kind. “I hope Hogwarts students aren’t giving you nearly as hard a time as I’m sure you gave some of your professors while in school.” It was a tease, something said in jest, and she hoped in Brendan’s different mood he wouldn’t take it as an insult.

He inquired about leaving all formalities behind, and she agreed. “They’re far too stuffy for people who have known each other for several years at this point anyway.” As she spoke, he downed and finished his first firewhiskey and had ordered himself another; she was still sipping casually on her first. There was something wrong with Brendan, and Teddy was going to figure it out if it was the last thing she did. It probably would be the last thing she did, as she and Brendan were no friendlier than they had been in school, and he had absolutely no reason to tell her anything.

“I was, yes indeed,” she replied to his comment about the trail, and asked him the same. There was a pause of silence between the two as Brendan stared at her hair. A slight smile tugged at her lips as he inquired of her hair colour. She said nothing in response but allowed him the silence. He took her silence as offence, and Teddy was quick to correct him. “Oh, no! It’s alright. I did change my hair colour. It used to be a dark brown, the same as my father’s in fact, but I thought blonde might suit me better. People have been telling me it makes my eyes stand out more. I changed it for the trail, actually.” Teddy watched as he fingered his tankard and hoped she could help him with whatever he needed help with. She had always been told she was a wonderful pair of ears and that her listening skills were second to none, but she had never really helped anyone. Helping was a field she liked, but wasn’t quite sure what to do with.

She sat back in her seat and observed all around her, but she observed Brendan most of all. “You said that today hasn’t been the best of days for you. I’m here if you want to talk. You look like you could use someone to talk to.” Of course, perhaps being straight forward wasn’t the best way to go about things. She knew quite well that a fair few people had been turned off by her directness and her uncanny ability to note when people weren’t feeling completely alright. In thinking about what she said, Teddy offered, “If it’s too intrusive, forget I asked anything.” She offered him a warm smile as she sipped her firewhiskey again, never taking her eyes off him. Something was up, something big, and she was damned determined to figure out what it was.