"You have no idea how good it is to see you again!" Elixa exclaimed into her old friend's chest. The Leaky Cauldron was a rather fantastic place to meet, and in the short time she'd been sat waiting for Johann, she'd been fascinated with the comings and goings, and even nodded to a couple of drinkers who she recognised from her first few days at the hospital.

Her arms were wrapped around his skinny form, and his had followed, tentatively around her shoulders. The height difference was somewhat laughable but hadn't ever stopped her throwing a hug in years gone past.

"You shouldn't be such a stranger!" She scolded him, letting go and then landing a punch on his left arm with her right fist.
"Ow! What was that for?!" He exclaimed, hand instinctively going to the place her knuckles had landed.
"For not telling me about her. You've gone and got engaged and you didn't even write to tell me you'd found the love of your life. Rude!"
"Alright, alright, I suppose its my turn to buy round then, in that case?"
"Too right it is."

She slipped her fingerless gloves off and tossed them into her hat, which in turn landed on the bar.
"Beers please! Whatever's half decent." Elixa demanded, landing her backside on one of the stools. Moments later she let the cool liquid drizzle down her throat and let out a contented sigh.

"Better?" Johann asked, having now removed his coat to reveal the rather conservative attire he must have worn to work that day.
"Its good to see you too. I was contemplating writing in your Christmas card that I should come and visit. Wasn't sure if you'd be with your family this year, or if you had someone."

Elixa scoffed.
"No, of course I don't 'have someone', you know me, and besides, I wouldn't have moved to a foreign country if I had, would I? Pfft, your standards are slipping." She grinned, content to tease him.
"Yeah, I spent it back with Mum, Dad and my brothers. Like old times. Then I packed up my place, headed over. Staying with Ed at the moment."

Johann's face crossed with confusion at who she meant.
"Edwin. You know, Edwin Glass? I stayed with him last time? You forget? I thought you didn't forget, brains?" She tapped his forehead, and he pulled his head back and made a face.

"Glass, yes, I just don't know him as 'Ed' like you do. There's an auror up on two who answers to that." Elixa's turn to look confused as to what 'two' was.
"Magical Accidents, yes, capable chap. You staying there permanently?"

"No, can't be cramping his style for too long. Hadn't meant to do it at all, but he insisted he wouldn't mind the company for a week or two." She lowered her voice, "I think he gets lonely. No woman, lives on his own, not even a pet. But he knows enough of them."
"Pets?"
"Women. Well, you might call them pets."
"Right…"

"Nah, I'll find somewhere, look, like this." She shoved her hand in her jacket pocket, put down her glass and smoothed out a copy of a note she'd seen.
"A kneazle, and describes himself as the average working wizard. Not the country, well that suits me." She let Johann read the note and watched the corners of his mouth turn up as his eyes got towards the bottom.
"I wonder if its the same person." He mused.
"What's that?"
"Arcturus." Johann pointed to the bottom. "Healer at the hospital called that, Arcturus Hollingbury. You might have seen him, black and white hair."

Elixa thought back through the sea of faces and passing introductions from the days before.
"Possibly. Rings a bell. Incidentally, when did your face get plastered on the apothecary wall?"
"Ah." There was a colour to her friend's angular cheeks.
"Apparently you're not to be let in or be served without a healer being with you."
"Really? Not hex on sight?" He sounded almost disappointed.
"I can arrange for that, if you like?"

Johann was still examining the copy of the notice.
"You're meant to have a room to rent to him, not also be looking for a room, you know?"
"Same difference." Elixa replied all too readily, plucking the note out of his hand so he couldn't pick any further fault.
"You don't even know him."

Elixa grinned.
"You do though. Its his name on the bottom of the instructions on not letting you in. That's where I've seen it before. Thank you for the aide-mémoire dear distant cousin."

"I've accidentally started a catastrophe, perhaps?"

"Psh, we'll see. I may be smoke-free, but he'd have to share the cleaning." She drank a healthy gulp of beer, wiping her lips with her thumb.
"Where are you living? Shacked up with your wife-to-be?"

"No, I live with a friend. Colin Downer. Hannah's got her own place."
"Which you naturally spend more of your time at, right?"
"Er.."
"Ergh, ok, perhaps spare me the details."
"No, its not like that."

Elixa leaned her face in towards her friend and stared at him intently. She placed a hand on each of his knees as they were both perched on stools facing each other, and scrutinised him a moment.

"Oh, oh really. I see."
"What do you see?"
"Are you lying?"
"No."
"Hmm."

She sat up and let him go. Well, he always was the one with the good mind, quick to learn, the better performer. It didn't surprise her at all that he'd been snapped up finally by a woman. She'd not yet crossed paths with Bombay, Elixa had looked her up in some rosters and found she tended to work nights. Not exactly the most conducive shift pattern for a couple to co-exist with. Perhaps that was why.

"You'll have to introduce me."
"I'll see what I can do."
"I want to meet her, or I'll find a way - I do work in the same building."

"Lix, please, not a good idea. I'll sort something." She looked down at the hand which had landed on her arm, furthering the point.
"Alright. But you better."

She lowered her voice,
"Tell her I cook a mean steak."