The last week of his life had been so awkward. The meeting with his new adopted sister was weird enough as it was, but the rest of the week was just a muddled mess. He was glad to just be spending time with Chloe, just the two of them, it had been off the awkward scale since she started dating Heinrich. Mrs. Hunter had apparated them to Hogsmeade so Mason could spend a bit of his Christmas money on some nice new things, and he never went shopping without someone else.

Either his mother of Chloe came with him, it was one of those outing things that people did. Mason had a few galleons in his pocket and he was ready to get some new clothes and supplies for school, and candy, of course. He was bundled up in his old bubble coat that was getting to small for his elongating torso, and the sleeves were getting too short. He looked up at the castle on the hilltop, he wished he was there, being able to perform magic as he pleased.

He was just glad Chloe walked by his side, the spunky little ginger had spent less and less time with him since the begining of the year, and with the weird falling out with Thea, they were friends now, but it was still kinda weird talking to her, with Chloe, he could be, to an extent... normal "Soooo...." Mason said swinging his arms as he tromped through the snow. "What'cha gonna get?" He would have normally been more literate, but it was Chloe, and she was...Chloe-y, she wouldn't care, she was Chloe.

Chloe's bag hung at her side, swaying as she walked along the cobblestone streets. Her shoes clicked as she walked next to her friend, her best friend. The one person who she'd trust with her life. And that was saying something, coming from Chloe. "I don't know. All I know is that these gallons are burning a hole in my pocket." She said, shaking the bag so he could hear the coins jingle.

"Mom got me some hideous clothing, but I'll just use that as new paining clothes. What did you get?" She asked looking over at Mason.

"I got a few new books, mostly stuff I needed for school, but I got a neat beanbag chair for my room." Mason said, rather indifferent, Chloe knew his family didn't have much, she would understand. "But my other relatives sent me envelopes of money that I brought to Gringotts and got converted to wizard currency." Mason shook his pocket that contained his leather pouch that held his various coins.

"I'm just glad I didn't have to work today, before Christmas was a mad-house and now I've been stuck re-shelving and restocking the store room and shelves, and all the bending down and climbing on the ladders at the 'Shelf is killing my back." Mason stretched, bending back as his arms extended into the air. His back cracked. "Ah, much better", he rotated his shoulders and began to crack his knuckles.

"What do you think of Melody? I'm not sure I'm adjusted to it, it's weird having her around."

"Melody is a sweet girl. Really. I think you'll be a great older brother. Hell, you're already like a brother to me." She said to him, as she tightened her grip on her bag. They were now passing through an alley where she felt like she was being watched. She smiled at him as she talked about his job. Chloe didn't have a job. Her parents gave her everything she wanted.

They spoiled all of their children. Always.

Mackenzie waltzed along the streets of Hogmeade, pretending to window shop as a sort of cover.  He saw two kids walking along the road, chatting.  He heard the jingle of coins in their pockets, and encroached on the two silently.  They entered a slim, dank alleyway perfect for pickpocketing.  Mack nimbly inched up the wall, his arms and legs pushing with even force to increase his height.  He crept forwards, trying to position himself right behind the two--despite that he was at least 4 meters above them.

Mack released his grip on the bricks, landing with a slight thunk on the ground and quickly crouching, his hands contacting the bottom at the same time to break the fall.  He knew they might have heard him, so his wand was already in his clutches.  He pointed it at the two and edged for their pockets. 

Mason heard the crunch of snow behind them and looked over his shoulder, he took a double take and spun all the way 'round to face the very, very large, stoicly creepy man behind them, he was being held at wand point, he hadn't even thought to bring his wand, he never used it during holiday anyways, it was still in his wand box in a drawer in his desk where he had spent countless days painstakingly writing and sending his families Christmas cards before and after work, all while managing shopping for him mum, dad, and Melody, which he had no clue what to give her, he decided to get her a set of books from the Dusty Shelf, she seemed pretty content with them, and it had made Mason feel pretty good too.

But now, Mason wasn't feeling all that great. He slowly started to back away from the wizard, his sneakers pressing down the snow as his foot fell upon it. He had never been mugged before, he was too scared to be in a place where someone would be mugged anyways. Now the walls of the alley seemed to be closing in, he was very, very uncomfortable. Mason swallowed, and in the bravest voice he could muster said, "Hell-O!" His voice cracked and his eyes got wide, he tried again. "Can we help you?" His voice stayed even, but the brave-ness behind it had quivered a bit.

Mack knew that they had heard him when the taller one looked over his shoulder.  He developed an evil glare as he watched the boy turn all the way around in astonishment and try to act like Mack was doing nothing wrong.  "Listen, Superman.  Don't try to be a hero, just...  Just..."  Mack faked struggling with his words to obtain an opening.  Quite suddenly, he reared back and kicked the boy in the temple, a perfect shot.     

He expected the girl to challenge him next, and had prepared his wand for that.  "Stupefy," he exclaimed, his wand in the direction of the ginger.

Chloe was able to dive behind a left over barrel as the red sparks came flying by. She shrieked a little, before taking a deep breath. She had learned self defense through multiple classes that her parents made her take. She was their only girl, and even though they wanted her to be safe forever and ever, they knew that wouldn't happen.

Chloe cleared her mind and tried to remember the alley way. She was behind a barrel on the left side of the alleyway. The attacker was in the middle of the alleyway, and her friend was on the ground. She didn't have time to check if Mason was okay. But now what strategy to use? Play the innocent card, then go in for the attack? Or see what he's going after.

Chloe slowly stood up, raising her hands above her head, and turned to face the man. As soon as he got close enough, she'd roundhouse him and get Mason and go. She closed her eyes and thought of dead puppies. If she could make herself cry, maybe she could appeal to his good nature. "I don't know what you want. And I won't tell anyone I saw you, if you let the two of us go on our way." Finally, after thinking about her dad in a coffin, the tears appeared. She opened her eyes, as one raced down her cheek.

Mason could see the confusion on the man's face, he had acted as if nothing odd was happening at all. But, Mason was not expecting a foot to the face. Mason spun once and flopped over on his stomach, feeling his pulse in his head. "Oof!" Mason saw red sparks over his head. It was hard to concentrate with the pounding in his head. "Ow." He hissed. He was surprised he had stayed conscious, normally someone would have passed out on impact, but no, he would have to bear the pain in his head.

Mason pulled an arm from out underneath his body and grabbed a large chunk of ice and slowly pulled his arm back towards himself as he listened to Chloe's pleas. Mason sat, breathing, trying to get air back into his lungs and enough energy to roll over in one fluid motion. Mason swung a leg over and he was face up, he bent at the waist and brought his hand back with the ice chunk.

Sonny chucked he ice ball as hard as he could, considering the circumstances, straight at the wizard's chest, the alley was only so big that the guy didn't have much of an option to move.

Mack looked on at the girl, a bit skeptic.  He didn't really care if she was crying or not, anyway.  In retrospect, maybe I shouldn't have dropped down from above, Mack thought, knowing that he could have figured a more silent method of reaching the two.  He finally said, "Oh, I'm sorry, are you sad?" He asked, like he was talking to a child.  "Well, boo-hoo, bitch."  He finished. 

Before he could advance, the boy he thought he had subdued had stood and threw a large chunk of ice aimed right at his torso.  Mack stumbled back from the blow, sure there would be blood, and at least a bruise.  He straightened, pressing a hand on his chest, his wand in the opposite hand.  "Flipendo!"  He yelled, his wand pointing at the boy this time.   

He had no choice.  Mack immediately turned on his heel and ran.

For the second time in the past few minutes, Mason found himself on his stomach, gasping for breath. His face stung with the frozen ice crystals that remained under his cheek. His vision was foggy and his ribs hurt, he had most likely broken one when he fell. He was filled with pride as he heard the foot-fall of the wizard as he fled.

He tried to get his arms underneath him, but he just needed to lay there for a while, regain his strength before pulling himself off the frozen ground of the alley way. He concentrated on breathing, an effort as his splintered rib pressed against his lungs. He began to mentally assess where his ailments were. His wrist was burning with numb pain and his chest was by far the worst.[1]

1.	Broken wrist, and 2 fractured ribs, bloody nose.

Chloe cleared her fake tears, as the wizard ran off. She then raced to Mason, where she kneeled down next to him, brushing hair from her own face, then from his. She cradled his head in her hands, wiping some blood from his nose. She felt tears start to form again, looking at her friend who was in pain. "Mase, I, I," She couldn't conjure words. "Look, Mrs. Hunter isn't going to be back for another hour. We need to go get you help." She said, wiping her eyes, then trying to help up.

"You saved us, Mason. God knows what that guy would have done. But you took the pain for me." Chloe smiled a shaky smile, as she got Mason standing. "We'll go really gentle, okay? Three Broomsticks is right up here. Odds are someone in there knows a spell."

"Nononononono, I'm fine really." Mason put a hand over the spot where he was pretty sure the worst of the breakage was. His head was still foggy and the pain in his side was now unbearable. "Don't bother, I just need a cup of tea and I'll be ship-shape again." Mason was glad for Chloe's help as he grabbed at the walls of the alley to anchor himself.

"It's not a big deal, really, no need to make a fuss." Mason used his hand to start walking forward, wiping his nose with his other hand and winced, the wrist of his left arm was obviously broken. He wanted to put a brave face on for Chloe, not to worry her too badly. "It wasn't anything special, I threw a chunk of ice, it was no big deal." Mason leaned up against the brick wall to his right and took a deep breath, and continued down past the dumpsters.

Blood from his nose dripped and splattered onto his jacket. He  smiled, even though it was difficult to even breathe. His parents would have a cow and Melody would think he was a trouble maker and want no part of him. That was probably the worst part, aside from the broken bones and the bloody nose.

Wyatt had been strolling the streets of Hogsmeade for a bit, visiting one last time before totally disappearing into the dark, never to be seen again. He wished he was up in the Hogwarts castle, eating full, fatty meals and going to sleep in a warm, comfortable bed. That was all behind him now. His wand was tucked into his pocket, he trusted no one now, except Millie. He watched as a much larger wizard than he follow two kids he thought he recognized from school.

He heard shouts and after a few minutes, the older wizard fled down the street and into a pub. Wyatt was now concerned, he stood up straight from the wall he was leaning against and shuffled through the snow, the wind biting his face and ripping through his coat. He hadn't felt cold like this until he had moved to London, when every moment you weren't in front of a fire and under a pile of blankets, you were cold.

Wyatt drew his wand from his pocket and turned into the alley, not knowing what he would see. He was glad to see the two kids standing, barely. He knew who they were now, they were both a year younger than him and in Ravenclaw, Chloe Hawkins and Mason Harris, at least, that's what he thought their names were. Mason was leaned up against the wall, bleeding heavily from the nose and his arm was bent at an odd angle that didn't seem natural.

"Oi! You two need help?" Wyatt didn't wait for an answer, he walked into the alley and reached out for Mason, the boy waved him away, saying he could handle himself. Wyatt turned to the ginger. "What happened?"

"It wasn't anything special, I threw a chunk of ice, it was no big deal."

"Mason, it was the biggest deal." She hugged him loosely, not wanting to hurt him anymore. "You're the best. The absolute best." She then lifted one of his arms over her shoulder, in order to prop him up, to help him walk. They were about to leave, when Wyatt appeared. Chloe sighed angrily, as she looked up at him.

"What happened?"

"None of your business. Go control your sister or something. We need to get to the three broomsticks." Chloe knew the waitresses there, and knew that one of them had to know a healing spell. Hell, if they didn't, she'd tell them what spell to cast! "Come on Mase. Let's go."[1]

1.	Was talking with a couple waitresses at 3B, and they may be up to threading. I've got a plan.