April 8th
12 PM
Just outside of London

“Old. Ripped. Old and ripped.” The large double bedroom of the country house was covered in clothes, boxes and everything else under the sun. As she pulled more things out of the chest of drawers, she either tossed them on the floor for binning, or into her trunk for taking. This woman didn’t travel lightly and she was getting incredibly irritated to find that most of her things wouldn’t go in the trunk. She’d have to practice a few shrinking spells when she had the chance. But she was leaving tomorrow!

The doorbell cut through her thoughts and she found herself asking out loud “What now?” Gritting her teeth and rolling her eyes, she stepped over the pile of clothes to go and headed out of the room, mumbling something about impatient idiots as the doorbell went once more.

“I’m coming! Merlin’s beard...” Well it wouldn’t have been someone getting the wrong house or anything like that, she was miles away from anywhere. Peter had liked that idea. It meant they could happily practice magic without the worry of nosy neighbours.

She finally reached the bottom of the stairs and made her way down the bright hall, her bare feet moving across the cold wooden floor. After a moment, she opened the large front door and the dark brown eyes widened greatly before she shut it again. “Dragon’s...dung.” She grit her teeth. Jason Marren was stood outside her door, that smug grin playing on his face and she was behind the door, wearing yoga pants, a baggy t-shirt and messy scraped back hair. He’d never seen her out of smart work wear, looking lovely and presentable and keeping up that professional air.

After taking a breath and deciding to get on with it, Andy finally pulled the door back open and raised an eyebrow. “We don’t use doorstep salesmen.” She said coldly, leaning against the door.

It had been odd news to find out the day before; Miranda Elliot was gone from St. Mungo’s?! Jason had been caught off guard to say the least. The last impression he had of her was that she didn’t give up on things. He’d been so busy with his floor, though, that he hadn’t had much time to keep up with her. Not that he purposefully went out of his way to keep tabs on Miranda. She drove him insane, and it was easier to brush her off. Less hassle that way…

It really became a question when he realized he hadn’t seen her around or heard her annoyingly ‘holier than thou’ rants. As much of a blessing as it had been, Jason also realized that some part of him missed her mind numbing lectures. If anything, it gave him something to look forward to—debating with Miranda was always sure to be interesting. Sometimes seeing her get so irritated was quite satisfying.

Since he had today off, he’d decided to go over and see what was going on. Maybe she’d come down with the next plague… in which case, Jason was only putting himself at risk by heading over. Still… his curiosity was going to kill him. After helping get Aidan dressed and ready for the day, Jason went and got dressed himself. A pair of jeans, white undershirt, and an open collar shirt with the sleeves rolled up, and he was ready to go.

Leaving his little champ with Fiona, Jason figured out about where Miranda’s place was. Apparating to the first attempt, he was rather surprised that he had completely missed what he had been meaning to get to. It didn’t help that he hadn’t gotten there before, and didn’t know about taking the floo. It would have been a bad experience had he landed in an actual fire… Plus, he didn’t know if Miranda would have been helpful at that point, healer or not.

After getting some directions as to where about it might be, Jason set out on foot. It took him a short while, but he finally reached his destination. Luckily it was April, so the weather wasn’t too terrible for a nice walk. Stepping up to the front door, Jason glanced around, admiring the land. “She’s done all right for herself.” Ringing the bell, he waited impatiently. Surely she was around… A moment passed and he pressed again—no one had seemed to know where she was, and now she wasn’t answering the door. Maybe he would have to break down the door…?

About to push the bell again, Jason was surprised when the door shot open. Seeing her just briefly, Jason smirked. When the door slammed shut, however, he frowned in slight confusion. “Wh…” He was just trying to be a nice person, checking up on her and everything…

“We don’t use doorstep salesman.”

Finally she opened the door again, and Jason recovered from his confusion with another grin. Well… she certainly looked normal. Scratching the scruff over his cheeks, he finally glanced back up at her face. “You don’t say…” After a moment longer, he raised an eyebrow. “Are you going to invite me in? I promise I won’t stay long.”

“You don’t say…”

Well didn’t Mister Marren look a hell of a lot more put together than his former colleague? Miranda’s lips pursed as her eyes scanned him up and down, while she tried figuring out why he’d just, out of the blue, turned up at her front door. How did he even know where she lived?! It wasn’t exactly the most obvious of locations.

“Are you going to invite me in? I promise I won’t stay long.”

‘Yeah, I hope you don’t.’ Andy found herself thinking before she stepped to the side, opening the door further for Jason to enter past her. “Well it seems I’ve no choice, have I?” Once the man had entered the house, Andy shut the door and made her way along the hallway and into the oversized kitchen. She squinted slightly, a little put off by the bright light streaming from the bay windows which overlooked the countryside.

“Coffee? Tea? Poison apple?” Miranda was already by the sink, filling up the stainless steel kettle. She glanced back at Jason and frowned. “Is there any reason, besides to nose at my house, that you’re here, Jay boy?” After flicking the kettle on, she turned to him, leaning against the wooden countertop. Polite greetings over, now time to get to the point.

Miranda’s outfit was definitely different than he was used to seeing her in, but he figured she was at home, with neighbors nowhere near her, and… alone, from the fact that it took her so long to get to the door. At least they both seemed comfortable, in their own way. Jason’s jeans were so worn in he was surprised they didn’t have holes everywhere. It made them nicer, though, and fit him just right. Or he thought so.

“Well it seems I’ve no choice, have I?”

Thinking about it a moment, Jason shook his head slightly. He was cocky about some things, and he felt comfortable enough with Miranda to let that out. She did it enough back, anyway… “I did come all the way out here.” Stepping through, giving her a wink, Jason followed behind her. He admired her home as he walked on—he was surprised at the ‘taste’ she seemed to have in decoration. “Besides, you like being bothered. You’re one of those types of people.”

“Coffee? Tea? Poison apple?”

Aw, wasn’t she so caring? How ever did her daughter manage to make it out of childhood? Rolling his eyes slightly, Jason walked over and looked out, admiring the view. Crossing his arms over his chest, he nodded. “Coffee would be lovely, thanks.” His mind drifted momentarily as he looked at the countryside. She certainly had a nice little spot. While he loved the city, it was nice to get away now and again…

“Is there any reason, besides to nose at my house, that you’re here, Jay boy?”

Blinking as he came back to the present, Jason turned and looked at Miranda, smirking. Dropping his arms, he moved over to her kitchen table and set himself down. “Mandi… I would never nose at your house.” Smirking before putting his chin on top of his fist, he shrugged a little. “Actually yes… I was coming by to see what you were up to. Realized you haven’t been around at work, so thought I’d take it upon myself to be a good Samaritan and check on you.”

“I did come all the way out here.”

Miranda’s eyebrow rose as she pushed the door shut. “Ah yes, nature and the country is foreign territory for a weak city boy. You sure you feel alright? Don’t need a sit down? A relaxing charm?” Within a few moments the banter had began, like usual. It was if they hadn’t had a week long break from one another. As he continued, she smirked and rolled her dark eyes.

“Those types. Nice.” Sometimes it wasn’t worth humouring his ridiculous comments. Hell, how could one humour every comment that was idiotic when that was all the man used? She was already too kind and allowing for her own good. Nothing more could be asked of her. That was simply impossible. Besides, Miranda was certain that if Jason said something coherent and intelligent, a dragon would explode through the living room fireplace and burst into a chorus from Carmen.

“Mandi… I would never nose at your house.”

A small laugh escaped Miranda’s dry lips as she turned back to the counter and pulled a cup off the tree mug and filled it with coffee. “Yes, because you’re not nosy at all...” She never much appreciated this....nickname, but once again, one of those things that was easier to put up with. After all, she also had a patronising name for him. But she was allowed to have one, she’d been his boss for quite a while and had watched him turn into the healer he was today.

“Actually yes… I was coming by to see what you were up to. Realized you haven’t been around at work, so thought I’d take it upon myself to be a good Samaritan and check on you.”

With the coffee brewed, Miranda turned back to Jason who’d quite happily plonked himself down at her kitchen table. “No one told you...?” She muttered, a small frown gracing her features. Her bare feet led her over to the table and she placed the coffee down in front of him. “Ugh, if you want to talk, come with me while I pack.” She couldn’t do this sitting around and chatting when she had to get everything set to leave tomorrow so she started to head out of the kitchen and up the stairs.

“Ah yes, nature and the country is foreign territory for a weak city boy. You sure you feel alright? Don’t need a sit down? A relaxing charm?”

This was why he’d missed seeing her around… Smirking, he lowered his voice a little as if he was trying to talk under, but kept it loud enough for her to clearly hear. “Everyone needs a relaxing charm around the Miranda Elliot.” After that, his face turned back to one of suspicious innocence. He was in quite a good mood, now that he saw, minus her disorderly dress, she was all right. He would have hated to destroy the front door in search of her, in case she was hurt. “You couldn’t survive a week in the city anyway.”

“Those types. Nice.”

He always felt better when she couldn’t fire back at him, as if he had said something she couldn’t think quite quick enough to jump back on. “Why else would you have chosen to be an in-charge? All you do is get complaints and people botherin’ you at all hours of the shift.” It was a fairly easy going job, once you got a routine down, but Jason had days that he missed being just Healer Marren on the Wilfred Elphick Ward.

“Perhaps that is why you chose to do it, though…” Miranda was someone he could count as a friend, though their constant bantering would come off to others as hatred or, at the very least, a very competitive dislike of one another. He was waiting for the right opening so that he could begin on something new; he didn’t seek out many just for the pleasure of getting one up on them, but Miranda (and occasionally his wife) was one of the lucky ones.

“Yes, because you’re not nosy at all…”

Her laugh made him roll his eyes. Shaking his head, he sighed noisily and crossed his arms over his chest at the table. “About as nosy as you.” Pausing a moment, he laughed as well. “Fine, then, nosy in certain regards.” He had been excited to see where Miranda lived, see if it was up to standard with the woman’s overbearing personality. So far… it did a good job. Definitely was too big for his liking, and he wasn’t sure how she filled the rooms with only her and her daughter (Maya still lived at home, right?).

“No one told you…?”

Seeing her frown caused him to frown. No one told him what? He really hated being told he was out of the loop. He hadn’t asked around too much; the few he’d asked said they didn’t know (or were… feigning ignorance…). No, she had him questioning his staff. Shaking his head, about to respond, he was cut off—another usual response from Miranda. As she set the coffee down, he muttered a "Thanks" before reaching for it.

“Ugh, if you want to talk, come with me while I pack.”

“Packing?” A moment longer and his eyes lit up as a half smirk slowly came up. His coffee could wait. “Did you finally get a permanent spot at the Eris Institute for the Mental? I’ve been putting in a request for ages…” Pushing himself up eagerly, grabbing his coffee, he was now grinning widely. “I’ll help.” Taking a sip of the coffee, he sighed—it hit the spot. Walking behind her, he glanced around. It was quite impressive, considering everything, though Jason was going to wait on his opinion of how she got it.

“Why else would you have chosen to be an in-charge? All you do is get complaints and people botherin’ you at all hours of the shift.”

Andy put her hand on her chest, glancing back at Jason as he continued. “I didn’t choose the job. It chose me.” Well that was somewhat true. The medical profession had been chosen for her by a pushy father, even if she had pushed herself further. Anyway, if it hadn’t have been in this profession, Miranda still would have pushed herself to the top. That was simply what she did. She wanted to be the best. But apparently ten years more experience and familiarity in other fields was what was needed to become the Head Healer of St Mungos.

The answer to Miranda’s last question was evident on Jason’s face as he looked up at her, bewildered. Oh if she’d received a sickle for every time she’d seen that expression on his podgy little face, Andy swore she’d be a very rich witch by now. Sadly, though, that wasn’t about to happen and she’d merely have to be satisfied with simply watching that expression grace his features.

“Did you finally get a permanent spot at the Eris Institute for the Mental? I’ve been putting in a request for ages…”

The cheeky get! Spinning around to face him, Andy raised an eyebrow. “Oh, what a coincidence! I’ve been trying to get you in there as well! Someone’s got to do something to find out what’s wrong with you.” She shrugged her shoulders and turned back to the stairs, making her way up them. She was perfectly capable of being mean as well.

“I’ll help.”

“Ha ha, no way.” She shook her head upon reaching the top of the stairs. “I don’t want to find my underwear among my skin peeling potions.” She shuddered and pulled a face at that thought while stepping into the messy bedroom. What was the point of caring about a professional presence around Marren now? She would be living at the opposite end of the UK tomorrow. “You can just sit and indulge in your nosiness.” Her eyes widened at that comment. “In what’s happening. Not...ugh. Just sit.”

“I didn’t choose the job. It chose me.”

Jason merely shrugged and rolled his eyes. Such a normal response from her. He loved the position of leadership, but missed being just the regular Healer. He was just pointing out that she liked being bothered… She could be such a killjoy. It all came back down to the overall question of: where had she been? She was normally very dedicated to her craft, her profession. Had she taken an extended vacation? Extra time needed at the mental hospital?

“Oh, what a coincidence! I’ve been trying to get you in there as well! Someone’s got to do something to find out what’s wrong with you.”

Laughing loudly at that, Jason took the stairs at Miranda’s pace. How typical, she takes his smart remark and tries to switch it back on him. Childish and in bad sport, really. The least she could do was come up with something quick and witty on her own. “They have; the past week, I’ve been perfectly normal and all right. I believe it’s conducive to you.”At least when he had the comeback, it wasn’t one of those ‘I know you are but what am I’ sort of responses. Seriously… he expected better from Miranda.

“Ha ha, no way… I don’t want to find my underwear among my skin peeling potions.”

At first, he made a face at the fact that she mentioned her underwear, and then it dawned on him how horrible it would be to actually mix skin peeling potions with underwear. Shuddering slightly, the slightly disgusted look still on his face, Jason slowed down a little to put some distance between them. Muttering to himself, Jason glanced into his coffee. “I wasn’t going to pack your underwear…” Perhaps he should just find out why she wasn’t at work and then go home? Then he wouldn’t have to hear about any other uncomfortable things she was packing.

“You can just sit and indulge in your nosiness.”

Jason blinked and looked at Miranda, trying to think of the proper response to that. The ol’ ‘I don’t think my wife would appreciate that’ was some sort of fit, but really Jason wanted something good to slide in there. Nothing came before she quickly tried to make up for her stumble.

“In what’s happening. Not…ugh. Just sit.”

“I don’t really want to be nosy when it comes to your underwear, Miranda…” That was the truth, too. Glancing around the room, admiring the mess she had made, Jason smirked as he found a chair and cleaned a spot for him to sit down. Lounging out in it, he took a sip of his coffee. “Right… You want me to indulge myself in what’s happening in your room. I get it, Mandi, I get it.” Crossing his legs at the ankles, he frowned slightly. “So I see you’re packing. Did Peter finally get the house?” Grinning and attempting to hide it behind the rim of the coffee mug, Jason waited for her witty response.

“I don’t really want to be nosy when it comes to your underwear, Miranda…”

Miranda rolled her eyes as she stepped over a pile of clothes to reach a large glass of pumpkin juice which sat on the bedside table. “Good. Otherwise you’d be in desperate need of a healer and this one wouldn’t care.” She smiled and shrugged before lifting the pint glass to her lips and sipping. Jason was uncomfortable and that was worth that small bit of discomfort Miranda had experienced while stumbling over her words.

“Right… You want me to indulge myself in what’s happening in your room. I get it, Mandi, I get it.”

Once again, another stupid remark and his former colleague simply glanced towards him and smirked. “It’s a pity I can’t still fire you. Just for the sake of it.” Andy placed the glass back down and moved over to her trunk, kneeling down by it and picking her wand up. The clothes would need to be shrunk, but she had to remember the charm. Healing spells and that were easily remembered now, but regular charms and defence spells? Well she was hopeless.

“So I see you’re packing. Did Peter finally get the house?”

That caused the healer to shudder. The thought of another fight over this house was a bit too much. When her ex-husband found out she’d be leaving it in the hands of her 19-year-old daughter for the majority of the year while she gallivanted off to Scotland to gain more ‘experience’, he’d be furious. But there was nothing Miranda liked more than winding that man up. He deserved it.

“Fat chance. He’s given up on that hope now.” But time to get to the important stuff. An ex-husband with a grudge was not important right then. “No I’m....I’ve got a job as a Head Healer. Just not at Mungos.” She paused. “Yet.” Miranda Elliot was still determined to get that position. One day.

“I’m moving to Scotland. Got a job at Hogwarts.”

“Good. Otherwise you’d be in desperate need of a healer and this one wouldn’t care.”

Now it was Jason’s turn to roll his eyes. “When have you ever cared?” Raising an eyebrow as he watched her, Jason wasn’t too worried. She was really all bark and no bite. Or almost entirely all bark and very little bite… Whatever, it came down to the same thing: Jason didn’t fear her. Perhaps that was where their odd relationship came from. The reasoning behind it didn’t matter too much, they were where they were.

“It’s a pity I can’t still fire you. Just for the sake of it.”

Letting out a gruff laugh, Jason swirled his coffee around before glancing over the mess in her bedroom. “That is a pity…” They were at about the same level, the only difference between them was her extra years of experience that he didn’t have because he hadn’t been around since the stone age. A smirk grew on his lips as he considered making that comment. Thinking better on it, though, Jason merely took a sip of coffee. “Would have added something to my day.” How many times had she threatened that over the years? Ah, good times.

“Fat chance. He’s given up on that hope now.”

“Poor man…” Jason made sure to keep his voice somewhat low, though he didn’t really feel that sorry for the guy. Peter should have known what he was stepping into with Miranda. Or should have taken more time to figure out if that was what they both wanted. Biting his lower lip, Jason figured it worked out in the end the way it was meant to. At least Miranda seemed to be happy, for the most part. Jason really didn’t ask questions about how she was coping and if she was seeing people. That would have been odd…

“No I’m….I’ve got a job as a Head Healer. Just not at Mungos… Yet.”

Rolling his eyes slightly, Jason chuckled. “The day that happens, I’ll put my resignation letter in.” Winking towards her, he sat forward and rested an arm across both knees. He lifted his coffee up to his lips, enjoying the strong scent before starting to take a big gulp. He should have waited, honestly.

“I’m moving to Scotland. Got a job at Hogwarts.”

As soon as he heard that, he coughed on the coffee. Jason gripped onto his mug and tried not to spit out the hot liquid in an attempt to grasp air and pull it into his lungs. Lifting his free hand to his mouth, he coughed and sputtered a few more moments before his airway cleared enough for him to breathe heavily in. Beating on his chest, his eyes closed, Jason finally was able to talk. “Scotland?!” Shaking his head, he took a slow breath in and finally caught up with himself.

His eyes were a bit watery from the coughing fit, but he wiped each one before laughing. “Really?” Hogwarts… “That means you’ll be even farther from me.” He was a little put off, though—that meant she wouldn’t be around to bug, debate, and have intelligent conversations with. “How ever will you be able to do your job without someone to do it for you?” Smirking as he glanced to her finally, he decided he should wait to drink for a few more moments.

“The day that happens, I’ll put my resignation letter in.”

A small frown graced Andy’s features as she slowly folded a t-shirt. “Yeah, well it won’t be happening for a while yet.” She shrugged her shoulders and placed the top at the bottom of the trunk before picking another one off the pile. “Anyway, I wasn’t a bad woman to work for. Just...stern...” That thought made Miranda feel slightly nostalgic already. She’d miss being the boss of people. The healer was very used to having people around her, wanting to please her and willing to do what she told them. Power was good and when she went to the school she’d be forfeiting that for a little extra experience. It was like a supermodel having her makeup and fake double D’s taken away from her. Or a professor with no pupils to teach. But it was better than her other option. Getting experience in some scary foreign country did not sound as accommodating.

“Scotland?!”

‘That spluttered coffee better not have gone on the cream carpet...’ But maybe his shock had been worth it. Nevertheless, Andy still suspiciously eyed the carpet near Jason to check for any tiny specks of brown liquid. Why was her going to Scotland such a shock for the imbecile? Maybe it was because he’d miss her and couldn’t do his job satisfactorily without her. Wasn’t that sweet?

“Really? That means you’ll be even farther from me.”

Andy nodded. “I’ve been planning my escape for a long time.” She said light-heartedly while piling a few more tops into the oversized trunk. What was that spell? She was kicking herself for not remembering. But then she’d need to remember a spell to make everything normal sized again. Otherwise for the next few months she’d be living in one set of white robes. How sanitary...

“How ever will you be able to do your job without someone to do it for you?”

“Har har. Anyone would struggle without a medi-nurse at their side. But I’m not anyone.” She smirked and stood up, moving to the wardrobe and pulling it open. “It’ll be a learning curve. I like learning new things. You should take that initiative.”

“Yeah, well it won’t be happening for a while yet.”

He didn’t think so. Jason was really just giving her a hard time, and expected her to catch that. How often did they say sarcastic things to one another that could easily come off as mean, but were in fact harmless? He lost track after the first week they were around each other… At that time, it had been more stressed—they didn’t understand one another quite so well. Now, though, it was just them.

“Anyway, I wasn’t a bad woman to work for. Just…stern…”

A grunt escaped him before he chuckled and tilted his head back a little to stare up at the ceiling. “Yes… fond memories with you in them, I will always think ‘Boy, she was just stern and not a complete pain in the arse.’ Yes… Thank you, Miranda.” Smirking as he rolled his head to the side slightly to look at her, he took in a slow breath before letting it out heavily. “You did help others learn a lot, that is for sure. Even if that was the lesson of ‘two creams, not three.’”

“I’ve been planning my escape for a long time.”

Watching as the pile in the trunk seemed to grow, Jason bit his lower lip and considered it. “Escape… Yes… because when I think of places I’d like to escape to, Scotland, and more importantly, Hogwarts, comes to mind. Teenagers and their explicitly lovely attitudes would make me want to really… escape there.” Either she was losing her mind or going through some midlife crisis if she thought that was happening. “Or maybe you’re going to chill-” His free hand sliced out into the air, a little attitude to it, “-with the kids and get down to their level.”

His eyebrows went up and a grin lit up his face as his hand dropped to his knees again. “Am I right?” Miranda hitting it off with the teenagers to make her stay easier would be a site to see—personally, Jason would pay to watch it.

“Har har. Anyone would struggle without a medi-nurse at their side. But I’m not anyone.”

That really left it too open for him to say ‘You’re no one.’ Pursing his lips to keep from smirking though, he merely nodded along with what she had to say. His eyes glanced to the trunk that seemed to shrink under the clothes piled on and he raised an eyebrow.

“It’ll be a learning curve. I like learning new things. You should take that initiative.”

His eyes glanced towards where she was going now and gave the wardrobe an odd look. His eyes moved from the wardrobe to the trunk and back before smirking. “You like learning the hard way too, I suppose.” He had taken that initiative… he was one of the younger Healer-in-Charge of a floor that had come to the position. He was enjoying that level of difficulty, and really couldn’t move up anymore for now. He was only thirty one, soon to be thirty two.

“I mean, most would try and use a shrinking charm instead of hauling everything in five or six trunks.” Nodding to the mess she had, he took a sip of coffee before holding it between his knees and leaning forward. “Want some help with that?”

“You did help others learn a lot, that is for sure. Even if that was the lesson of ‘two creams, not three.’”

“Actually, I take my coffee black.” Miranda replied, rolling her eyes. All those years of working together and he failed to remember this simple fact? The most important thing to remember? “I suppose I should be glad you’ve turned out at least half decent. My reputation would be in tatters if not.” Not that it really matter where she was going. It felt as if she really was venturing into the Amazon or something. An unknown and possibly dangerous place. Who knew what school kids where like? Her Maya had been a heck of a nuisance while at school. That was only last year!

“Escape… Yes… because when I think of places I’d like to escape to, Scotland, and more importantly, Hogwarts, comes to mind. Teenagers and their explicitly lovely attitudes would make me want to really… escape there. Or maybe you’re going to chill with the kids and get down to their level.”

Miranda’s eyes went wide and she laughed out loud. After catching her breath, she shook her head. “When you’re son grows up, never do that in front of him.” A very sensible fact of life. Maya would still happily crucify her for doing something that ‘sad’. “Parents are even supposed to try to act cool.”

“Besides, I have a teenager of my own. I know what they’re like, and how to deal with them.” The words of a condemned woman…

“You like learning the hard way too, I suppose.”

“No, it’s the challenge I enjoy. Something to make you really think and have to figure things out. Be on your toes. Life can be very boring without a challenge.” She continued as a few sets of pristine robes were thrown behind her onto the king-sized bed.

“I mean, most would try and use a shrinking charm instead of hauling everything in five or six trunks. Want some help with that?”

Miranda glanced back at the trunk and sighed. “Ah, but when one cannot remember the shrinking charm, it fails to be used.” She shrugged her shoulders. “I’ll get my spell book out in a minute.” She didn’t like accepting help. Especially not from younger people that always thought they knew what they were doing.

“Actually, I take my coffee black… I suppose I should be glad you’ve turned out at least half decent. My reputation would be in tatters if not.”

Jason didn’t really worry about how she took her coffee… that hadn’t been his role for years and then some. Even then, though, Jason had been on a different floor, with an older and experienced Healer who was long since retired. Even if that might fit for Miranda now… Smirking to himself, knowing better than to say that out loud, he shook his head. “You’re going to try and take my amazing healing ability as some sort of off shoot of yours?” Letting out a loud sigh, he rolled his eyes dramatically. “Such a woman.”

“When you’re son grows up, never do that in front of him… Parents are even supposed to try to act cool.”

He was just happy she laughed. Scratching the back of his head, he gave her a knowing smirk. “I don’t have to try.” Jason was down with the kids, on that level of cool that people liked. Or that was what he told himself. He was laid back, easy going, easy to joke around with, and always looking for a nice time. Maybe, though, you became bitter and ‘old’ when your kid grew up. Or perhaps it was just Miranda’s personality… “Some parents can pull it off. Some…” Glancing her over, he held out his hand as if to prove it. Jason shrugged. “Well. They can’t pack trunks.”

“Besides, I have a teenager of my own. I know what they’re like, and how to deal with them.”

Thank Merlin he hadn’t taken a drink right then, or Jason would have really made a mess of her carpet… He did laugh unexpectedly, finding it more humorous than she obviously meant it. Or maybe… judging by her face, Jason wondered if she meant it as a joke at all. That made him try and calm down and stop laughing, biting down on his lower lip. “Of course you do.” Condescending; maybe that was what he had learned from Miranda over the years.

“No, it’s the challenge I enjoy. Something to make you really think and have to figure things out. Be on your toes. Life can be very boring without a challenge.”

“Right, of course. Does life get boring as you get older, Miranda? Counting your grays been a bit too much? Trying to recount what memories you don’t have not keeping you on your ‘toes’?” Keeping his face as serious as possible, he shook his head and frowned. “Are you prepared for your stay at the castle, then? Enough night gowns? Don’t forget your reading glasses! However will you give out the right potion?”

“Ah, but when one cannot remember the shrinking charm, it fails to be used… I’ll get my spell book out in a minute.”

Shrugging at her lack of acceptance for help, Jason took another gulp of the coffee, sad to see it was almost gone. Leaning back in the chair, rubbing the back of his head while he stretched, he tried to think of what else he could add on to the visit. “How is Maya then? What does she think about the new job assignment?”