The crumpled paper in her tiny hands held the beautiful, loopy cursive of Winona's writing. A set of blue eyes read the name again for the hundredth time. Rowan Tyren, Auror.

As if her future wasn't scary enough, this was happening. It was only the responsible thing to do now that her Seventh year was creeping on her like a shadow. Despite her wondrous skill and lush knowledgeable smarts, Winona was not at all prepared for what she wanted to achieve once she was finished at Hogwarts. Careers seemed to dangle above her like a Puppeteer, and the string that read 'Auror' was tugging pretty hard at her heart and head. A bottle crash echoed through the bustling Three Broomsticks. Some students looked recognizable to her but she sat at an empty table. Winona had no idea who Rowan Tyren was, and well-- she honestly had no idea with what the man looked like. Or was it a woman? She had no clue, and if there was something that was a pet peeve of Winnie: it was not knowing anything about a situation she was involved it.

The most she had 'spoken' to this Rowan was through owls and various letters to meet. As much as she didn't want to admit it to herself, fear raveled itself around her heart and squeezed tightly. Setting the crumpled paper on the old, wooden table, she reached for her butter beer, taking a sip. The butterscotch flavor ran down her throat, somewhat coaxing her better from the inside out. Her teeth bit at her plump lower lip, eyes scanning around the business.

"Oh.. Oh, Winona, you don't even know who you are looking for," she muttered to herself, setting the mug back down.

Her mind was racing. Auror.. The Department of Magical Law Enforcement.. Her-- enforcing magical law. A smirk crossed her lips. All Winona was to everyone was a pretty face and a body. But, she knew, and Elian and Atticus knew that she had the nerve and ability to defeat almost anyone in a clean duel. Make the duel dirty, and you were done for. Defense against the Dark Arts was her strong suit, and she was good at it... She knew it. This was her chance to get her name into the DoMLE and see if that a potential career, hell-- even a mentorship was good there.

Her hand went through her hair, looking around again.

Rowan was a  bit late, which she felt bad about. She'd lost track of time, reading a novel that she'd found. It had been a Muggle book, sometimes she got tired of the books the Wizarding world had to offer, and wanted to get back in touch with her roots. She had been curled up on her couch, engrossed in her novel, and had just gotten swept up in the story. When she checked the time on her pocket watch, she had sworn and jumped up, trying to make herself presentable.

It was about ten minutes after when she'd said she would meet Winona, the 6th year who she was speaking to this evening. She'd decided to leave her red curls down for the evening, after all she almost always wore it up when she was at work. She glanced around as she entered The Three Broomsticks, trying to spot the young woman. Luckily Winona had thought to send her a photo, so Rowan was able to recognize her.

Tucking a lock of hair behind her hair, she strode over to where the girl was sitting. "Winona?" she asked, standing a foot or so away from where Winona was sitting with her butterbeer.  "I apologize for my tardiness, have you been waiting long?' Rowan had never believed that just because someone was younger than you meant you shouldn't treat them with respect.

Just as Winona was going to pull the waitress aside for another butter beer, she heard her name. Looking around, her eyes fell on the woman in front of her. She immediately stood up, knocking over her empty mug and chair. Quickly, she looked behind her and at the fallen mug. Looking from them to the woman in front of her, Winona frowned some, before waving her wand, setting the mug and chair back upright. Her eyes went to the woman in front of her. Was this Rowan? She was nothing like Winona had pictured. Red curls and a nice sort of appearance, she seemed quite wholesome, which was reassuring enough for Winona any day.

Tucking a lock of brown hair behind her ear with one hand, she extended the other. "Um. Yes, Winona. That's.. that's me." She said. "I assume you must be.. Ms.. Tyren?" She said, trying to pronounce it right, the name unorthodox on her tongue. Shaking her head quickly, she smiled to show it was fine. "Not too long," she said. "I'm really patient." Her smile widened some. Despite how ugly she felt, she knew she looked stunning, seeing some guys look at her. Winona felt the smile dissipate some and she pointed to the empty chair with her palm.

"Um, please.. Please sit. Is there anything I can get? Butterbeer? I mean, it's on me. I'm the one who owled and suggested here," she said, her words going fast. This was always how she did in new situations with a new somebody. Taking a breath, she brushed back her bangs. "Sorry, let me start over," she chuckled some. "Would you like anything?"

Rowan smiled down at Winona, not missing how unsure and a bit uncomfortable the poor thing looked. She must have been told horror stories about Aurors, to get this type of reaction.  The girl was pretty, far prettier than Rowan had ever been in her 6th year. But her nerves and genuine tone made Winona seem likeable enough, and not too full of herself. That relieved Rowan.

"Please call me Rowan. I'm not a professor, nor am I married. No need for formalities," Rowan told her, her lip quirking at the way Winona stumbled over her last name. " That's good to hear, patience is key for an Auror. If you cannot have the patience to wait for someone in a casual sentence, you will struggle greatly to master patience when waiting for a mark."

Rowan sat, though she would have even without Winona's invitation. "I'm fine, thank you. I'm happy to meet with the students of Hogwarts and give advice where I can." She gave Winona a reassuring gaze, to help the young woman feel more at ease. " Why don't you tell me a little bit about yourself?" she suggested. She figured this might help Winona relax and feel more at ease.

"Rowan it is then," she said softly, her teeth back at the nervous tic of biting on her lip. It eased the squeezing fear around her heart to hear her compliment her patience virtue. Rowan had a point and Winona decided to make note of it. Aurors had to be well-rounded individuals, prepared for anything.. Winona felt nicely that she fit more than half the bill for an Auror, and yet, something felt like it was pulling her back.

Winona ordered another butter beer for herself, and she adjusted, sitting more comfortably. "Well, where should I begin?" She asked as a rhetorical question. Exhaling softly through her nose, she smiled some. "I am a sixth year Ravenclaw, as I had disclosed to you. My heart has an affinity for DADA and Charms, though I, as a whole person, have a thirst for anything that teaches me something." Winona rested her elbow on the table, her small hand cupping her round chin. "I am half-Veela... It's hard for people to get that because I'm not blonde. But, my mother is very much blonde, my father being the odd ball brunette."

The waiter set the butter beer mug at the table, staring at Winona. She made a face and he walked away. "It.. It hinders a lot of people's impressions about me," she muttered, her hands now cupping the mug. "I am a nearly a Straight O student. I like.. I like books," she said smiling some.

Rowan listened in silence, wanting Winona to be able to speak freely. She couldn't help herself from smiling however when Winona mentioned she was a Ravenclaw. "That's right, I'd forgotten. I was a Ravenclaw myself, way back when. I'm glad another Ravenclaw has decided becoming an Auror is a worthy persuit."

She fell silent again after this brief comment, letting Winona continue where she'd left off. She listened, nodding here and there. Rowan had enjoyed both of those subjects, though of course Ancient Runes had been her deep love. "Half-Veela?" Rowan repeated, her brows lifting. That explained the girl's unnatural beauty and the way so many young men were staring at her like she was practically a piece of meat. "I imagine that must make your life interesting," she commented.

"You sound like a very dedicated student, Winona. Shall I confess something to you? The reason I was late is because I was reading a book I simply couldn't put down. Books can ensnare me like that, I'm sure you know the feeling."

"Interesting is far from the actual word," Winona mused. "I can't even begin to explain all of the... unwanted actions that happen to me. It's hard to fathom sometimes, but it's who I am I guess." She sat back, twirling some hair around her index finger. "It's.. It's really more a curse than anything. I don't understand how some Veela are so happy with themselves. But, to each their own." And that was the gospel truth as far as it went for Winona. Being born into such a... rich blood was more a curse then ever a blessing. It prevented people from treating her as she truly was: a smart ass duelist.

Winona nodded, acknowledging to the woman that any secret bestowed upon her was in safe hands. A wide smile crossed her lips as the woman told her what she was doing. Books were enchanting to Winnie, as if they had charm of their own. It was like the words would jump off the pages, binding Winona to sit and finish it all.

"Yes, I can surely empathize there," she giggled. Her body began to relax and she felt so.. comfortable. "They are surely the most... wonderful things to have. There are so many different kinds: fiction, non-fiction, history.. and textbooks." Winona smiled with a dreamy look. "Books are all I have anymore to get me through my mother's Veela lectures. She smirked. "I love learning new things, and I love reading, it's who I am. Another way, I was thinking I could get away from my mother this summer was perhaps, maybe an internship at the DoMLE?" She asked softly.

'We all have our little quirks and complications. Yours just happens to be more noticeable. Don't let it get you down, the sooner you fully embrace who you are, the sooner you can find fufillment in your life. It matters not what others think of you. What matters is what you think of yourself." Rowan had learnt this through much struggle and unhappiness during her first year or so of training.

Rowan was pleased to see Winona smile widly, forgetting for the moment about her Veela heritage. "Indeed, books can be some of our best friends. Hermione Granger always agreed with me on that, I think she was only person who checked out more books than I did in school." It was good to hear that Winona loved to learn, because that's what she was in for during another three years after graduation from Hogwarts.

"That will certainly help you in becoming an Auror. You always have to be willing to learn and re-learn, no matter how much you think you know." She considered Winona's suggestion, before nodding slowly. "That could be a very good thing for you."

Winona suddenly felt herself squeal. "Do you think you could help me with getting an internship there over the summer?!" She asked, almost knocking over her butter beer. Immediately her hands took the mug and held it steady. "Whew," she said, gently before calming down some. Her mind was still racing, but now it was about different thoughts. Thoughts of her interning  at the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, learning hands on...

"If you could do that for me, I... I don't know what I could say," she said, breathing happily. Her heart hasn't raced this much since Elian last kissed her. Then, she stopped, backtracking in the conversation somewhat. "Wait- wait.." She said, sitting back. Folding her arms over her chest lightly, she tilted her head at the woman. "You knew Hermione Granger?" She said, a small gasp in her throat. "She.. I've honestly read a lot about her."

Hermione Granger.. Winona had heard a lot about her, read a lot about her, and still felt like she very little about her. All Winnie could grasp about that elite learner was that she had knowledge beyond compare. That is what Winona strived for.

"I was very surprised she wasn't a Ravenclaw.. It would've been lovely to have her represent our house," she said, half talking to herself and half to Rowan. With a dainty shrug of her shoulder, she looked at Rowan. "And also, I wanted to say thank you. It's not everyday I meet an Auror. Everyday, all of you are in danger and well- Thanks," she beamed.

Rowan chuckled softly as Winona burst out her question, unable to contain her excitement. She waited for the young woman to settle back down in her chair before nodding. "I think I should be able to. It would be minimal, you understand. We can't someone who is still attending Hogwarts into the field, it would be far to risky, far too much liability. But if you want to see the office side of things, see the files we get and the people who come in, then yes, an internship should work just fine."

Rowan was un-surprised to find Winona asking about Hermione Granger. Unless people had gone to school with her or bothered to do the math, most people didn't realize that Rowan had been in the same year as the famous Harry Potter. "Indeed I did, I was in the same year as her. We didn't speak much, I'm sure you know how wrapped up she was in everything surrounding Harry Potter. But she was quite brilliant, and kind."

"I believe everyone is sorted int0 their house for a reason. After all, it is who we choose to be that the Hat takes into account just as much as who we are in the moment. Neville Longbottom turned out to be an excellent example of this," Rowan's eyes were soft as she said this; Neville was  a dear co-worker of hers who she both respected and liked.  "It's my pleasure Winona," Rowan replied.

Winona felt her cheeks get hot as the woman laughed at her excitement. She couldn't help it. Curiosity was one of her biggest personality traits and yet, it doubled as a flaw and a perfection. It also tended to lead her into trouble, but she chose to ignore that last bit. "I completely understand. And for the experience I'll be getting, I don't care if I file papers or scrub floors... I'll be in the building, on that particular floor, being immersed in it." Winona shut her eyes for a second, her thoughts warping to what she daydreamed the DoMLE looked like.

Opening her eyes, she smiled at Rowan, cupping her chin in her hand again. "She was one of my role models for the longest time, until I realized something. It seemed I was always reading articles about her and whatnot, and I felt like I knew everything there was to know. I don't really know much about her at all, except she is very smart. I hoped to excel her grades, but I realize that's now impossible with the way Potions is going," she muttered, sipping her butter beer.

"I believe everyone is sorted int0 their house for a reason. After all, it is who we choose to be that the Hat takes into account just as much as who we are in the moment. Neville Longbottom turned out to be an excellent example of this."

Winona listened, immersed in how this particular woman was. There was something about the way she spoke, and the way she held herself that made Winona ache to be like her. This woman was a successful Ravenclaw alumni Auror who seemed to be doing well. She's alive, isn't she? Winona felt her gaze soften and she adjusted the way she sat, leaning back in her chair some, crossing her legs. "Thank you so much.. for all of this," she said again. "You have no idea what you spared me from going back home all summer. And, I'll be closer to my boyfriend. He also had a very big interest in such things, although he's taking a much more dangerous route: hit wizard." He blue eyes flashed a moment, holding a sadness in her eyes.

It was such a shame that as quickly as they met, they'd be taken from each other.

"Well then Winona, if you're willing to take on that type of work, I'm sure us Aurors would be happy to have you this summer. I'll send an official inquiry about it in the next couple of weeks for you to fill out and get approved" She smiled gently, noticing the dreamy look Winona had in her eyes. She just hoped the reality of how time consuming and tedious the work could be didn't dampen Winona's spirits when she actually started her internship.

"Yes, I think for many people she's an inspiration. But yes, that's how it is with celebrities, it's hard to ever find the space to truly know them. I suppose that's why more average people like me need to meet students like you, so we can give practical advice and encouragement that's from us in person, not just an article." Rowan chuckled as Winona muttered about her Potions class. "Yes, Potions can be hell. Professor Snape certainly made things...interesting in my day."

Rowan could see she had the girl's full attention, which surprised her a bit. She wasn't used to be listened to intently, and certainly not by any teenager she knew. But she wasn't about to argue. 'it's my pleasure Winona. I'm glad you're thinking ahead, so few do. They leave it to the last minute. Oh you have a boyfriend? That's nice, I hope you find time to see him during the summer. Perhaps you'll have even more to talk about now."

This was it. This was truly happening. Winona was one step closer to securing a career for her future. It was as if the beginning match to a jigsaw puzzle had just been found. "I will be looking forward to the owl," she said, her smile now becoming uncontrollable. Shyly, she tucked some more hair behind her ear, taking a sip of her butter beer. "You have no idea how happy this made me... I felt so unprepared about what will happen after my next year at Hogwarts and this-- This just gives me faith that I can actually do something." Winona had a way with words, but with every syllable held a strange amount of truth in it. Lies rarely left Winona's lips.

"Yes, Potions can be hell. Professor Snape certainly made things...interesting in my day."

Winona's eyes sparkled with more curiosity than a cat could ever handle. Sure, curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought him back. "I've heard many things about him. More bad over the good, but none the less, I feel he would've... actually taught me much better. Maybe it has to deal with the way I learn things. I'm very different. I am a kinetic learner. Oh Rowan, I learn by hands-on and doing and sometimes the Potions classes don't really conform to fit it," she said softly, but excitement in her voice from her securing an internship.

"Oh you have a boyfriend? That's nice, I hope you find time to see him during the summer. Perhaps you'll have even more to talk about now."

Winona nodded, a blush creeping across her pale cheeks. "His name is Elian.. Elian Harris..." She felt her blush get deeper, and her fingers ran across the rim of the mug, some condensation wetting them. "He is leaving Hogwarts this year though," she said, a sad aura running across her face. But, her smile only widened and she looked at Rowan. "Is it tough being an Auror and having a love life?"

Rowan nodded pleasantly. She didn't take Winona to be the type of person to exagerate and make promises she wasn't going to keep. It seemed pretty clear to Rowan that Winona intended to make this work, and that she indeed truly was looking forward to recieving that owl. "If you have faith in yourself, Winona, then you can do anything. Never let anyone or anything tell you otherwise." Rowan enjoyed talking to someone, especially a teenager, who was honest and open with how they spoke.

"He wasn't a bad teacher, but I think anger and hatred often got in the way. The people who actually listened to him and weren't targets of his humiliation learned things quite well in his class, me being one of them. I was actually quite annoyed when Slughorn took over, me being a NEWT student. I'm sorry to hear that the current Professor doesn't encourage hands on learning,"Rowan told her sympathetically.

Rowan's lip quirked at the obvious blush that colored Winona's cheeks, but she made no comment on it. No need to make the poor girl feel self conscious. "Elian's a nice name, I hope he's equally a nice boyfriend." She wouldn't hesitate to teach the 7th year a lesson if he turned out to not be a nice boyfriend to Winona, that's for sure. Rowan chuckled at Winona's next question. "I suppose some say it is is. I've always been, well, partial to women, so that's another challenge to move around. But I manage. Most of the time I'm too busy with work to care about a relationship anyway."

The amount of motivation in that one simple sentence made tears brim her eyelid for a moment. Blinking them back, she smiled wildly. No one had ever really told her something so powerful, not even Atticus... With what she was telling her, Winona has never felt any more powerful than right now. "Thank you," she whispered, gently wiping her eyes. Giggling some, she rolled her blue eyes. "Look at me, getting all worked up. I'm such a GIRL." She said, giggling more.

Just as she was about to respond about the whole Potions situation, someone approached the table. A boy from the corner of the restaurant... Winona looked up. The boy was blushing wildly, and he was moving as if he had to urinate really badly. He waved shyly and muttered a barely inaudible 'Hi'. Winona smiled nicely and looked at what he slid across the table. It was a picked flower from outside and an address written on a napkin, along with some writing. The scrawled writing read something about owling him sometime. Winona smiled. "Thanks," she said. The boy nodded and then ran off. With a scoff, Winona took the napkin and folded it, placing it in her pocket.

"See.. this Veela thing isn't very amazing. Of course, there are some women out there who enjoy the company of men?" Winona smirked some and sighed. "And.. as for the reason of that question... I just want to know that there's the potential of being able to stay in a relationship during training and whatnot."