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The windy weather outside was certainly becoming frightful and a fireplace sounded delightful while it began to snow in the village of Hogsmeade. Thankfully, heavy coats, dragon hide boots lined with sheep wool, tightly knitted gloves alongside a cap, and scarf kept Gabrielle warm. Her teeth were chattering inside the scarf as she exited Honeydukes with pumpkin and dark peppermint fudge in tow.

Meeting with Ignan had given her a breath of fresh air and a chance to reaffirm that this journey with Francis was one worth travelling on. It would take time, something Gabrielle knew Francis could make and break with, but it would take a great deal of patience along with expectations of potential disaster, even disappointment.

Her eyes spied a few members of the various student bodies huddling towards where she was headed, so Gabrielle quickened her pace hoping that she'd beat them there soon enough... However, in the hurry, she clearly wasn't watching as bodies were soon to collide and the fudge packages to fall from her hands.

-WHAM!-

"Desari's ghost! I'm so sorry! Please forgive me; I was merely trying to beat the students for warmth," she offered in premature condolences, shuffling the packages back into her arms before observing her unfortunate recipient. She blinked. "...Are you all right?"

---

^{1 = Ju Ju Magic = Steam Powered Giraffe}

Oh Maker he needed to quit doing this. Every time he looked down in public he always ran right into something or someone. One of these days it was going to cost him a great deal more than his dignity.

"Forgive me! I wasn't watching. Here." He started to help her, smiling as he did. Gale loved the season of red and green. He loved the winter white, and the way the air seemed so full of magic even without their spells or charms. He was born in the midst of this, and loved every second of it.

Today he wasn't dressed as he normally was, he looked more the part of a bum than a professor, but when the weather got like this it was hard to look your best--he threw on what kept him warm. And if looking like a renaissance fair outcast kept him warm, well Merlin's buckles he would go by the name Ravensblood Bane, Sir Humperdink, or even Lord McFarlin.

"M-" He started his little mouth quipping into a shy smile as he opened his arms, "May I help you?"

Bless him.

Gabrielle looked at Gale as though he were a loveable street urchin with a body as pure as the snow that fell around their bodies, unaware he was a full fledge Hogwarts professor like her cousin. Her cheeks blushed a rosy hue, which led to Gabie clearing her throat before she got any more embarassed than what she already was.

"Nae, I'm fine, rest assured. The fudge's outer and inner packaging might be a tad bit wet but it'll survive in its cellophane wrapping. Would you be interested in a drink of your choice? It truly is something I don't mind paying for." A grin crept on Gabie's lips. "Consider it an early Christmas present. What say you, good sir?"

She shivered momentarily, the air whipping through the knitted cap. This weather was certainly starting to feel the winter holiday spent in Romania and likewise the Carpathian Mountains. Hopefully, camping outdoors for a night wasn't on the schedule?

"Oh...I..." He stopped, stammered a little and brushed his hair behind his ear nervously, "I can buy my own drink." Did she really think him a beggar? Maker, maybe he did need to start dressing better. "I wouldn't mind the company though. Here. I couldn't let you carry those. My grandmother would kill me." He smiled opening his hands for the packages, and offering her his arm.

"My name is Nightingale, I'm a professor at Hogwarts, and everyone calls me Gale." He grinned, "And apparently it's very hard to shout when you are angry." He kept her close, as a gentleman should, and wished he'd worn his glasses. She seemed very familiar.

Oh, dear.

"....I meant no insult, I humbly do apologise!" Gabrielle replied in regards to Gale's assurance he was well off and could pay his way. Idiot, she chastised herself even as Gale was now offering to take hold of packages lest his grandmother come for him for being rude. The worries left as she handed the packages over and grinned when their arms interlocked. What a nice gentleman he was, were Gabrielle's initial thoughts as introductions were coming forth from his lips.

...A Professor.

Inwardly, Gabrielle winced as it was now evident her judgment had been haste and in severe error. It was for the best to not mention what she had thought about him. It'd only lead to disappointment on her part and possibly down right disgust on Gale's. "It's a warm welcome then to meet you, Gale. I'm Gabrielle, but since I'm not being an important body of government today, I'll gladly allow you the privilege of calling me Gabie, if you wish it." The grin was now at ease as she laughed at his words. "Angry, no. Disappointed at the age of school youth defeating me? A little...but then again, I'm not a 'spring chicken' as my mother's mum used to say. Seems we both have outstanding grandmothers, but I can admit my father's side of them were much more... non-traditional in ensuring punishments." The blush returned only for a moment as Gabrielle cleared her throat. "I heard you rightly say you're Hogwarts? Do you enjoy it?"

Do you enjoy my cousin? Is he as hardnosed as you all make him out to be? No doubt. Ignan's not the sweet type there.... only a dash or three around me.

"Oh," He smiled. "None taken." He wasn't insulted by her comment, but finding it more and more his norm. It seemed everyone had their opinions of the strange new Charms professor, but this woman seemed far too kind to have ever thought anything rude. She had that sort of bounce that Gale loved, and the cheerful manner in her movements he found intoxicating. However, when she went on about not being a spring chicken he stopped her,

"Oh I wouldn't say you are not. You still have many years to go before you could be called an old hen." He touched her arm gently, at best he could holding her packages. "Yes a drink would be nice. I was just thinking of getting one. I've been in town most the weekend, and am about to head back to Hogwarts." She'd asked him how he liked it, but he opted to pocket that question for a moment, skimming over it with...

"It keeps me busy at times. There are days I can hardly remember what way my feet are supposed to be pointed. Until recently I was also the new blood so as you can imagine that is very tough, and I'm a veteran of the war so it's hard to be back there. I'm not like the rest of them, not hardly. So I find my comforts here, in town." Biting his lip he opened the door for her, as any gentleman should.

"What of you? Do you have much family Gabie?"

A sweet gentleman with the looks of a lunar angel. Gabrielle wouldn't dare mention the complexion thoughts outloud but truly he was a child born under unusual circumstances. She laughed briefly when hearing Gale calling her an old hen back, smiling warmly with his gentle and kind disposition. "You're truly too kind, Gale, but I thank you for your kindness," Gabrielle remarked as she entered their destination, warming up as if instantly. There were many good memories here in this place, including a few kisses that soon made the witch blush in silent reflection.

The blush, of course, came with the inquiry of family, so Gabrielle coughed to dismiss the nostalgia playing inside her head. "....Family? I have an uncle who's roughly ten years older than me and an older brother. There's also a handful of cousins on both sides. Other than that, I'm the sole heiress to the Murray name since my uncle chose to relinquish to me. Seems a bit silly considering he has two capable boys to carry on the name and fortune."

He found them a table rather quickly, pulling back her chair and even offering to take her coat after he sat her packages in sight where she could keep tabs on them in case she thought he'd try to lift one. He knew that his appearance wasn't the best it could be, and with his family's reputation there were many places a great seed of doubt could be planted.

Gale listened to her about her family, but turned a moment to order their drinks. "Mmm, no." He started to comment on her remark about her uncle's choice being silly, "Statistics show that women are simply better with the such things, Ma'am. Perhaps he can see the ignorance in his sons?" Rubbing his hands together after he pulled them free from his gloves he brought them to his pink lips to force warm air over them.

"I'm my father's true heir, a kingdom I'll get." He grinned at the thought, "Of caravans, and old drunks." The images as always brought a warmth to his grin, and a light in his eyes that only the Romani could. "Despite their rather rough and tumble nature, I highly doubt my father would leave his name to just anyone. Same with your uncle. They must pick and chose wisely, no?" His Picardy accent helped hide the way his teeth chattered as the warmth settled in, but when the waiter brought their tray he couldn't help but dive in.

"And do you have children of your own, Gabrielle?"

Gabie laughed briefly as Gale reassured Thackery's belief in her. His boys were capable hands, albeit a bit dunder headed at times. However that may be, family was family and Gabrielle had no intentions of ever stop loving them. She was soon listening to Gale's description of his own family... caravans and old drunks, eh?

"Nomadic they must be, I take it then? I know when I was fresh out of Hogwarts, my father whisked me off to his stomping grounds of Romania. I already knew from his grandparents a small token of the rich histories they had, but spending six months travelling with them was quite the journey. It was certainly an experience I could never forget."

Listening to Gale was pleasant and welcome company, Gabrielle thought as the warm beverage touched her lips. Mm, heat. Her eyes would soon widen, however, when Gale mentioned children. The beverage went to the wooden table as she folded her hands together. "No, I'm afraid. Shocking, isn't it?"

"Very Nomadic, indeed." He smiled at her question, and listened very intently. "My father his name is Jean-Luc, you would not miss him if you knew him. Maybe you have crossed paths?" She wasn't familiar, at least not form those years, but so much had been lost between them and now.

"It is very much a journey. Not just of land either. It's very spiritual to be so free and open isn't it? To survive on only what you have. I miss it sometimes, but I do love being a Professor. I find my journey through theirs each day." He smiled thinking of his students and how he couldn't do enough for them.

"Some of the children are from clans like mine, and we have been sewing dresses." He held up his hands to see the many needle sticks to his already over worked hands, but he did grin again. "That is actually what I am out doing. We need lace. It was decided last night that all fine gowns must have at least a lace hem." A small blush crept up on his face as he fiddled with his coat button--sewn on by red thread (even though it was brown) by his very own hands. It was very rewarding.

"Maybe you and your love should travel then? Not that children hold you down at all, I am proof enough of that, but get out and see the world some?" With a glance to the very cold window he chuckled lightly, "Somewhere tropical?"

[1]Gabrielle had gone quiet while still listening to what Gale had to say. Jean-Luc? Her mind went into storage data banks and tried to recognise who he was. The name wasn't ringing any bells, but it was no matter, really, because if she ran into him again, Gabrielle had the good feeling she'd remember in an instant.  She was surprised, however, with the mentioning that perhaps Francis and her should go on holiday. Had she...? Surely.... Oh, bother, did it really matter all that much? No, silly girl, it doesn't, she argued with the logical side of her brain.

"Where I work, darling, I see the world every day. In fact, there's a map of it hanging around the office." A laugh as she drank her butterbeer before continuing her speech. "I'm in the International Magical Cooperation department and just this fall did I come home from a sabbatical. As for going on holiday, that won't be happening until possibly late next summer and maybe I can convince my curly haired beloved to get out of his work. It's harder to grab him out of his department than my own."

1.	Sorry for the delays, Lily~

"Curly hair you say? Always been a sucker for that." He mused enjoying his own drink, but more so the life and spirit this woman possessed. "Wouldn't happen to know this curly haired beloved of yours hmm?" He liked to make connections, put faces with people that were being spoken about--it was the natural nomad in him.

"And your job sounds exciting. I'm a Professor at Hogwarts, so I can assure you I understand about summer vacations." Though this was his first year, he was enjoying it with every bit of his being.

"Do you have any children, Ma'am?"[1]

1.	Now it's my turn to be sorry for the delay!

"Make that two of us then for curly men, aye?" Gabrielle remarked matter of factly, grinning into her beverage in having thoughts of ruffling that hair of Francis Albert Pepper. That glorious curly hair, perfect whether kept or unkempt. When they had been dating steadily, Gabrielle had dreamt of a little girl with his hair and her eyes.

Still did, truth be told. Always holding onto that glimmer of hope that they'd have that beautiful child. Clearly, that glimmer had her so wrapped around in thought that Gale's question caused her to cough/snort the butterbeer.

"I, ah...what? Children? Oh no. Nonono. Not a single one. I'm not married. Had that opportunity once though. Muddled it up over worries of what it could do to my future? I was a silly little thing then and now I would love a little girl. A sweet little girl to love on like my mother did me for the few years I was able to know her."