It was a Tuesday afternoon, and Trina Quinn had nothing to do.   It was pretty nice to have an entire day off.  She’d released her album ( Brave )about two months prior, and it was a lot of work with release parties, concerts, signings, and everything.  She tried to involve time for friends and keeping herself sane, but that was difficult.  With all that had been going on, she really hadn’t had much time to herself.  So that’s what she was doing today.  And it was a perfect day for that, as it was sunny and not too cold.

Because it was a nice day, Trina decided to sit outside the three broomsticks while enjoying some butterbeer and scones. Those were two of her favorite things. She also had a book with her, as it had been a while since she’d been able to catch up on some reading.  Trina happened to be reading Rascal Rosier’s book, Teeth of the Termite.  She rather enjoyed exciting books as such and was glad she had some time to read it.  And if she decided to put the book down for a bit, people watching was another one of her favorite things to do.

But at this time, she happened to be reading. And she got so involved in the book, that as she went to grab the glass of Butterbeer, and accidentally knocked it off the table.  That wouldn’t have been so bad, except Trina had managed to knocked onto a passerby’s feet.

“Oh, merlin! I’m so sorry! Let me get that.” Trina said, as she dropped the book down on the table. Trina hopped up and started using her wand to siphon up the butterbeer off the person’s feet. When she was finished, she stood up. “I’m so sorry. Did I miss any? I have a couple napkins too.”

She felt like a ditz.  Trina wasn’t normally knocking things over, but it must have been that she’d been overwork herself a bit.  That tends to make someone a little less like their normal self, right? She looked at the person for the first time, and hoped they wouldn’t be too upset. Granted, Trina had cleaned most of it up right away, so it shouldn’t be too big of a deal.  But people these days could get rather upset over nothing.

How it was Jasper had managed to let his parents convince him to come to Hogsmeade to look into exactly what his estranged sister was up to he would never know.  Some sort of parental guilt had been applied and he had caved.  So, that meant he had left the comfort of his home studio to basically act as his parent's spy.  He had managed to track her down to the Three Broomsticks, discovering not only was she living in the little town but apparently working as a waitress.

He was lost in thought as he looked for a table.  How was it that his supposedly brilliant but rather stubborn and rebellious sister had managed to go from working as a counselor at Hogwarts to...this?  Certainly they had never been close, in fact he could barely remember the last time they had even exchanged a casual hello, but this seemed rather unbelievable.  She was supposed to be a healer, not someone who ran served drinks to the local drunks.

Soggy shoes drew his attention away from his sister's apparent complete mental breakdown, and he looked down at his now butterbeer covered shoes.  He couldn't help smirking the familiar figure as she went about cleaning up without realizing who he was.  He had done a little work with Trina the previous year on her solo album which seemed to be quite a success.

"I think my shoes will survive, Trina," he said with a chuckle.  "Aside from the butterbeer, it's lovely to see you."

When Trina realized exactly who it was she’d spilled on, she couldn’t help but smile.  It had been a while since she’d last seen Jasper.  He had been a great help with her album, considering he had helped her record it. Among all the craziness of tours and everything, Trina hadn’t been able to talk to him much.  But of course, she was incredibly thrilled to see him today. And that led her to give him a great hug.

“Jasper! Oh, it’s so good to see you!” She smiled at him after the hug. “How have you been? I’m so sorry I haven’t been keeping up much contact. Everything has been somewhat crazy lately.”

And it really had.  Trina was sure Jasper had to know how it could be, especially since he was a concert pianist.  And a very good one, at that.  Trina was pretty good at the piano, but nothing compared to Jasper.  He had a way with the piano that was just beautiful.  And she really was honored that he had been able to help her with her album.  Trina was also quite happy because it seemed that people liked her album, and when you spend a lot of time on something like that, it means a lot.

“What were you up to out here? If you had time, I’d love to catch up. You’re welcome to join me if you’d like.” Trina motioned to the extra chair at the table. “It’s been so long since I’ve really had time to talk to anyone.”

Jasper returned the hug and the smile.  Life had a way of getting busy.  The months leading up to the holiday season tended to be a bit of a whirlwind for him every year.  Between paintings being commissioned as gifts and bookings to play at social events, he rarely relaxed from the end of October until New Years.  January tended to have a bit of down time though and he intended to enjoy that...not that he had thought he'd be playing spy for his parents.

"I more than understand," he told her.  "However, crazy is good when we're talking about the release of an album.  Everyone I've talked to has loved it...I couldn't be happier that I got to help a bit."

Trina had the talent to make a go of a solo career.  If he hadn't believed that he wouldn't have been so eager to play on the album.  It was guaranteed to be a bit of a tricky situation though as long as she was tied to her band.  However, for the moment he assumed it was all working out.

"What were you up to out here? If you had time, I’d love to catch up. You’re welcome to join me if you’d like.  It’s been so long since I’ve really had time to talk to anyone.”

"I'm supposedly checking up on my sister with whom I've had no contact for about fifteen years for my parents," he said, his tone hinting at how ridiculous he found the whole affair.  "Which in my opinion is completely rubbish as she's almost forty years old, yet here I am succumbing to parental pressure and acting like a stalker."

Across the restaurant he saw a blonde waitress who resembled the vague image he had of his sister in his hear from fifteen years earlier.  How it was Arianna had managed to end up waiting tables in Hogsmeade was beyond him.  Yet, it was his understanding she was living there alone and no one seemed to know where her husband was at the moment.  Their parents had sensed weakness due to her personal tribulations and he was quite sure that was why they had insisted he check up on her.

"Catching up with you sounds like a much better way to pass the time though," he said, giving her a genuine smile. 

“Oh, thank you so much. It seems like there’s been good reception. And honestly I really have you to thank for it getting done. I don’t think I would have been able to finish without all of your help.” Trina said sincerely.

That really was the truth.  Trying to put out an album by yourself was a difficult task. With Jasper’s help, Trina was able to work with someone who was more experienced in the music business.  And he was probably the best pianist out there (in Trina’s opinion at least). Having him on her album as well may have helped in the record sales too, because of the respect for him in the music business.  At least that’s how Trina felt about it. And he was just a wonderful person, especially to help her out.

“That sounds like an interesting task.” Trina said, taking her seat again. “And she’s just somewhere in Hogsmeade?”

Trying to find a long-missing sibling seemed like an arduous task, especially if he hadn’t seen or had contact with her in fifteen years. Trina couldn’t imagine trying to find someone like that.  A lot can happen in fifteen years, and people can change a lot in that time, too. Why Jasper’s parents didn’t try looking for her instead was another matter. Plus, if someone hadn’t contacted you in that long, it was likely they were find not having that contact.

“How come they sent you? If they’re worried, why not go themselves?” Trina questioned, realizing after that it was probably none of her business. “Sorry, I’m being nosy. Anyways, I am glad it meant that I got to see you.  How have things been besides the being sent to find the long lost sister?”

"It's alright," he said with a genuine smile.  "Until this whole mess I was doing well...preparing for an opening in March.  However, life has a way of making sticky situations a bit more bearable by providing good company.

"To be honest, I would be nosy too if I encountered someone doing what I've been asked to do.  The whole thing is a bit...insane if you ask me.  To answer a few of your questions... I've already found her.  I believe she might actually be your waitress as I've yet to see anyone else waiting tables."

Glancing over his shoulder, he watched the blonde make her way across the restaurant to the bar, going about her business completely unaware of who he was.  He wasn't a teenager any more.  Odds were she wouldn't even notice him or recognize him.  She certainly hadn't given him a second thought after cutting herself off from her family.

"She had dinner with my parents Sunday," he told her.  "I was shocked to hear she even accepted given how things were left between the three of them.  Apparently she left it slip that she was estranged from her husband and no longer working at Hogwarts.  She wouldn't elaborate further.  To be honest, I don't entirely blame her for being coy with them."

With a slight shake of his head he continued, "My parents tend to be a bit...controlling in that way those concerned with wealth and society tend to be.  I play by the rules just enough to keep them happy...she was always a bit more free spirited.  I think they see a chance to try to regain control after all these years.  Since I was a boy the last time I saw her I have a feeling they're certain she won't even know who I am.  If she knew they were checking up on her I somehow doubt she would be happy about it."  With a sigh he added, "Of course, now that I've found her, I have to decide what I'm gong to tell them."

Glancing over, he saw Anna coming their way, likely having noticed a new customer and looking for an order.  "I suppose we'll be testing that theory about her recognizing me momentarily," he told Trina.

“Ah, so despite having seen her in person, they decided to send you in hoping to make sure she’s really not in some desperate situation living on the streets?” Trina asked.

She turned and took a short glance at the blonde woman who’d brought her drink over in the first place. Assuming she was Anna, she didn’t look like she was in any dire situations.  She seemed to be doing rather well, actually.  But separating from your husband could definitely make things hard.  She remembered how it was when she and Sidney had ended.  They hadn’t been married, but had been together for quite a while. Granted, that was a while back, but there are still parts of her that wondered how things would have been if she had supported him in his decisions instead of ending it over that. Trina tried not to think of it usually, but unfortunately sometimes past decisions come back to haunt her.

“Well, perhaps if you’re able to talk to her, you can help her from getting too controlled by your parents? Unless she’d prefer to have them there.” Trina saw that the girl in question was heading towards them. “I suppose start with hello, and see if she remembers you.”

As Anna came over, Trina decided that her starting the conversation might help.

“Hi, I had a bit of a spill with my butterbeer. I cleaned most of it up, but wouldn’t mind another, please.” Trina gave the girl a smile. “As for my friend here…”

She looked over at Jasper, giving him an entrance to say something.  Or even, leave her room to perhaps recognize her long lost brother.

While Jasper had never agreed with his sister's actions, he had understood them.  His parents were certainly 'old fashion' in their beliefs and she had rebelled against nearly everything they had ever done for her.  They could be rather insistent and he was sure several dinner invitations went unanswered before the witch accepted so the owls would stop.  That wasn't exactly how it worked though, she had given them an opening and now he was supposed to help bring her to heel.   If Trina had truly understood all the finer points of the Marsh family dynamics he doubted she'd be so quick to help with the reunion.

Glancing over at Anna, he gave a tentative smile.  Due to their age gap they had never been particularly close.  She had been away at Hogwarts or living with their uncle for most of his childhood, so it wasn't like they had engaged in many sibling type conversations.  As a boy he had often wondered why she had never made more of an effort, and had always been left to guess why it was she seemed to dislike him.  He had always assumed it had to due with the truth about how he came into the world...he was, after all, only her half brother and a reminder of their father's infidelity.

"Hi..." he began, weighing his options.  The whole thing was causing a rather uncomfortable knot to form in his stomach.  He had always been kept out of the feud before, and she was a grown woman capable of leading her own life.  "It's... a butterbeer for me as well, please."

The words it's been a long time, Anna had been on the tip of his tongue, but he couldn't will himself to speak them.  Instead he let her wander off with their order, running a hand over his face.

"I understand what you were getting at with giving me an opening to talk to her," he said, once Anna was out of earshot, "but it's just so complicated.  She turned her back not only on our parents, but on me.  She never really had any interest in me from the beginning...why would she suddenly take one now?"

It was actually relatively busy for a Tuesday afternoon.  Anna had tables both indoors and outside the Three Broomsticks and she made her way from table to table to check on her patrons.  At one table had been a woman she was relatively certain she recognized from somewhere when she initially took her order.  She wasn't a regular, but Anna had yet to place her.  A gentleman had joined her and Anna approached to take his order.

“Hi, I had a bit of a spill with my butterbeer. I cleaned most of it up, but wouldn’t mind another, please.  As for my friend here…”

Anna returned the smile the woman had offered, turning towards the gentleman.  There was something familiar about him too.  She regarded him for a moment as he seemed to start to say something, but then instead ordered a butterbeer.  It was curious, but it seemed from the way he looked at Anna that he knew her as well.

"I'll have those right out to you two," she said, wandering away from the table to retrieve two butterbeers.

She hadn’t really paid much attention to the waitress before Jasper arrived.  But now, Trina took notes.  They did have a few similar features, but without knowing they were related, other people probably wouldn’t have been able to tell they were.  Anna was light, where Jasper was dark.  But there was something in the eyes, it seemed.

Trina watched as Jasper almost said something, then ordered a butterbeer.  After Anna had left, he explained why it was so difficult, and the dynamic between him and his half-sister.  Trina had never had any siblings of her own, and really not much family.  When she found out she had a cousin, she’d been so excited because she had never really known much aside from her parents.  But she did know that families could be incredibly diverse, and complicated. And it seemed that’s how it was with Jasper’s family.

“It’s okay. But it has been a long time. Perhaps whatever happened before, she’s forgotten.  Things change as we grow, and she’s even gone to your parents after a long time.” Trina paused. “You could always leave a letter?”

Public revelations could go either way.  As Trina thought about it, saying ‘I’m your long-forgotten brother’ in the middle of Hogsmeade could be a little much. But a letter she could read in private.  And if she wanted to contact him after, she could always send an owl and perhaps they could meet up on their own terms.

"That might be for the best.  Spares us all any possible awkwardness..." he said with a small shrug.

Both siblings had made their choices.  He had always been a bit more willing to tolerate his parents' old fashion opinions, even if he didn't always agree.  It sometimes meant leading two separate lives, one for his family and one that was just for him, but it had worked up until this point.

"I'd rather not dwell on the complicated mess that is my family though," he said, giving Trina a grin.  "So what are your plans now that you have a successful solo album?"

He tended to only get behind projects he believed in.  Trina was a talented song writer in a way he could never be, and he was quite certain that Brave would just be the start for her.  Of course she was still attached to her old band, it could be hard to do both.  Certainly a solo career would allow for more growth as an artist, something he supported, but he could also understand that commitment to Three Owl Standard.

Trina nodded.  She could understand his reasoning. It definitely could have become very awkward.  Especially when Anna was working.

“Well, I’ve been doing some shows, signings, and other promotional stuff for it.  It’s going rather well.” Trina said. “It’s been pretty crazy thought. A few things with Three Owl in between, but they’ve been doing more on their own as well.”

It was kind of nice. She did owe a lot to Three Owl Standard, as they helped her become who she was. If it hadn’t been for their manager either, she wouldn’t have been with them.  Trina had grown to love those guys like a family. A really weird family, since she had been used to a small, quiet one.  Through all of it, Trina wouldn’t give up those memories with TOS for anything.

“What about you? How have you been besides the family stuff?” Trina asked.