Years had gone by since the last time Jai had been in the same room as Jordyn. Actually, that was not true in the slightest, but it very much felt that way to Jai. They had exchanged letters and her birthday had passed, but still Jai felt a nagging sensation that it was probably easier for Jordyn to get through their separation. He couldn't imagine her thinking this much about him, nor did he sense that she thought about each and every word that went into her letters.

At the same time, Jai was ecstatic to be around the girl who he felt most himself around. All the worries Jai had about his clothes, about his speech and his hair faded away whenever Jordyn came into view. Maybe that's what had been so hard about this past month; he just needed to wrap his girlfriend up in a hug.

Things had been progressing well at work, though, since Jai was so anxious about waiting to see Jordyn again. Jai took all of that nervous energy and put it towards organization and efficiency in the office, apparently to his elders' delight. Talking out his recent successes in person with Jordyn would make it feel even more rewarding, since she knew more about how much this meant to him. Plus, his family was supposed to be proud of him.

Jai waited in the shop where they had first started really talking to each other. He couldn't remember the events that had led up to Jai sitting at Jordyn's table, but that particular visit to the Three Broomsticks had absolutely changed Jai. Since then, Jordyn had taken up more of his thoughts than any angles or symmetry ever would (maybe). He had gotten them both the traditional frozen hot chocolate, and wondered whether sipping at his while the other stayed on the table was considered bad luck. It couldn't be -- this place had too much good history.

Even on a trip to Hogsmeade, Jordyn had to represent the school as best she could.  It didn’t matter that she was going on a date with Jai and she wanted to look as gorgeous as possible, so she woke up early to get ready.  But, she did have to make sure she had the right balance of everything… she was still head girl.  She had to be a good example.

She wondered how good of an example she could be, snogging with her boyfriend in public… but she figured maybe she could control herself.  After all, she knew her reputation and she had to keep things on the up and up.  So, she kept her profile low even though inside she was jittery as all get out.  She couldn’t even eat breakfast!  Her foot just kept bouncing under the table and as much as Jordyn wanted to dig into a chocolate croissant, she couldn’t bring herself to eat it.

It was just too… much!  They’d written letters and decided meeting at the three broomsticks was the best choice, and then they could wander from there.  So, heading to the village with her friends, Jordyn’s feet carried her just a little faster than they might have on any other day.  Her slightly shorter companions might have had to walk with longer strides to keep up.

Though, it didn’t matter once they arrived because Jordyn was off like a flash.  She darted past the groups of students – tunnel vision.  The broomsticks was ahead and when she breezed past the door, her eyes only had to scan for a moment before she saw Jai and practically squealed as she bypassed everyone else to throw her arms around him in an uncharacteristic public show of affection, and kiss his cheek.  “How I’ve missed you!” she greeted, giving another tight squeeze around his shoulders. 

Jai spied a few students milling around outside, which could mean only one thing: Jordyn was on her way. He saw her bustling towards the Three Broomsticks, her face determined. Seeing that expression made Jai feel warm inside. That she was so excited and rushing to get to him felt nice, like the relationship was balanced, like she actually loved him. It still felt unbelievable that someone wanted to listen to him, kiss him, see him naked. Particularly someone so .... there couldn't be a suitable word for it, not one that Jai knew anyway.

He started standing up as she walked over to him, but she jumped onto his shoulders before he could be completely upright. And suddenly it was like the world had color again. "I missed you too," Jai whispered into her hair. Jai breathed her in and kissed her neck as they hugged, just a quick little secret peck. It felt so good to hold her again. He didn't want to let go but eventually they had to, if anything for his back's sake. He pulled back a bit but held her hands, then kissed her on the forehead and pulled her down to the table.

"Your cool old boyfriend ordered your favorite," he said, taking a sip of the chocolatey drink. He probably didn't look like such a 'cool older boyfriend' in that moment, especially in the moments before he licked the foam away from his upper lip. Later they'd have to have some firewhiskey to make up for it and to toast Jord's birthday, which they hadn't yet done in person. After a pause, he added, "You look beautiful."

 It was so nice to just hug him again.  Their letters were good and she always looked forward to them, but it was totally different being able to hold onto him and smell him and feel how warm he was.  Even though it was only October it was getting cold out and the feel of warm arms around her was so much better. 

Since the summer, Jordyn was getting more and more comfortable with the fact that she cared about someone else like this, and right now it was totally acceptable to feel that way.  Of course, when she felt a couple of sets of eye (or more for all she knew) on them and she laughed with a bright blush.  Falling back into the chair, she spied the frozen hot chocolate and grinned even wider.

“You remembered!” she smiled warmly and reached forward to grab the cocoa, feeling silly as she involuntarily giggled at his compliment.  “I wanted to still look professional,” she wrinkled her nose at him, “I’m a role model, you know!” she teased and took the spoon out of her drink and ate a dollop of chocolate dusted whipped cream. 

“But I just…” she shook her head and couldn’t really think of the words she wanted to use to express herself.  “It’s so good to see you,” she repeated, perhaps dumbly because she was just too happy to think.  Jordyn reached her hand over and though she was still wearing her gloves, she put her hand over Jai’s and gave it a squeeze.  She didn’t know what she wanted to do, but it was really nice to just sit there just holding hands.

As expected, all of Jai's anxiety faded away as he embraced his girlfriend. The air felt lighter and fresher, and so did Jai. He laughed as she said she was supposed to be a role model. He agreed, of course, but couldn't help but point out "So it'll just be our secret that, if given the opportunity and means, you would eat sweets for every meal." He smirked and wished he was close enough to kiss her on the nose, but instead gave her a little tickle on her free hand.

When their hands touched, all words escaped him. It had been so long since they had touched, really touched. Although she still wore gloves, her fingers were warm and all Jai could hope was that his palms weren't sweaty. They stayed like that for a few moments, silently. It was far from an awkward silence. Instead it felt like they were sharing all the agony they'd been through over the past few weeks in missing each other. A touch of understanding.

Finally Jai broke the silence. "It's good to see you too," he said softly, his eyes glimmering. He smiled and gently rubbed her hand with his own, massaging it and then lacing their fingers together. There was probably so much she wanted to tell him -- Jai's life hadn't been too exciting, most of his news went into the letters. "School is...?" he waited for her to finish the sentence with whatever adjectives she deemed suitable.

Pretending to be entirely offended by Jai’s assertion that she’d eat sweets for every meal, Jordyn gasped (outrageously) and pushed the frozen cooca away (well maybe like a centimeter away because she definitely wanted it).  “I resent that!” she announced, “I would eat… normal food too.  Most of the time…” she couldn’t help but smile and wrinkle her nose at him before sticking her tongue out.  With pretend spite she grabbed her cocoa (it was gone too long) and took a very long and appreciative sip.  “I thought you were supposed to keep my secrets,” she informed him after, licking a little bit of whipped cream off the corner of her mouth. 

She would have commented about how mean he was, but she thought he got the point.  Then, they sat in silence until Jai broke it with telling her how it was good to see her.  She felt a blush rise to her cheeks (again) and she sipped her cocoa again.  Biting her lip behind the rim, because she was embarrassed but so pleased.

It was nice to have attention, positive and sweet attention at that.  She could tell he was being truthful, he really felt that way, and it just… made her warm and fuzzy inside.  When he sort of asked her about school, that was when Jordyn snapped back into reality from her silly schoolgirm dreaminess and put her cup down, resting her hands on the edge of the table.  “You wouldn’t even believe,” she sighed.

“The minister came to school and that was… so amazing, and then classes are…” she shook her head, “I do so many inches of parchment a week… honestly, I’m glad you sent me the stationary for my birthday or I’d never have anything to write to you on,” she laughed.  “Besides, then there’s all of the Head Girl responsibilties… I have to help plan the Halloween Party, you know!  It’s such a big deal – my first in charge school wide function.” 

As he expected, Jordyn was full of things to share about the happenings at his alma mater. It felt strange to hear her chronicling these things-- he felt so distant from it now. Of course his school experience hadn't ever been like the over-achieving Jordyn's, but still, not having been there for the minister's visit reminded him that he had graduated and wouldn't be returning.

"How was that?" Jai asked, genuinely curious about how the crowd at Hogwarts had handled the visit. He had been at work that day, as usual, and had heard mutterings of the minister's visit. It had nothing to do with Jai, though, so he'd nearly forgotten about it.

When she thanked him for the stationary, Jai smiled bashfully and looked down at his mug of cocoa. Jordyn's birthday had been very important to him- especially considering all that had happened over the summer and her being away at school. He'd reluctantly written Lydie for advice, and she had really come through. Apparently all those girly magazines and books had taught her something, because Jordyn was definitely pleased with the gifts.

"What're you thinking for the Halloween Party?" Jai asked her. He wished he could go with her to the party- she would look so cute all dolled up for the big event. Sadly, his status as a graduate stopped that from happening too. It was the perfect event for Jordyn to be in charge of, though. She had the tendency to represent doom and gloom (in the best way possible). "I'm sure that Peeves is happy to get involved." If he remembered correctly, the ghost at Hogwarts were always a little too excited about the holiday, finding new and unbelievable ways of spooking the staff and students alike.

 “I honestly thought it’d be a complete disaster, considering some of my classmates…” she started to describe the visit, “but it wasn’t a complete disaster.   I think, overall, any disasters can’t be attributed to me, anyway,” she smiled.  It was true.  Anyone else’s actions couldn’t reflect on her, but being a good ambassador and her team’s actions were on her and she’d been absolutely clear on how that was to go down. 

Politics were one thing, you could write parchments on them and submit them to the Prophet, but during an actual meeting they weren’t themselves they were representing the school.  It was an honor. 

But there were infinitely more fun thigns to talk about and when Jai opened the door for the Halloween discussion, Jordyn rolled her head like she had been dying to share her thoughts.  “I have so many ideas, but the meeting about it is Sunday after the weekend is over.”  Her shoulders dropped and she sighed, looking at him.  “I want it to be insanely memorable – you know, since it’s the first event and all.” 

She wasn’t sure how to go about it, but her lip did curl when he mentioned Peeves.  “Godric, no!” she cringed, “that’d be terrible.  I want it to be scary, not threatening.”  That much was true, and she also wanted it to be a good balance between scary and chic and something that everyone could enjoy.  “But I need a costume,” she informed him.  “So maybe you can help with that?” 

“In fifth year I was a devil…” she rolled her eyes, “All part of a thing with Devlin,” she imagined Jai would remember the student who then went to Azkaban or whatever happened to him.  “Then, last year, I did a sort of play off of an 18th century witch…” she paused and frowned at him, “It doesn’t have to be great but I don’t want to look like an idiot, you know?!” she let a deep breath out through her nose and looked up at him, realizing up until this moment she’d made everything about her!  Whoops!

“I mean, that’s all silly stuff though, right?” she downplayed it laughed, taking a sip of her cocoa.  “What about you?  What exciting things are going on in the adult world?  You have to tell me.”

During his years at Hogwarts, Jai had not spent much time participating in school events. There was the Astronomy club and the occasions associated with that, but he had (predictably) shied away from anything else. Jai had been in his fourth year when his sister Lydie joined him at Hogwarts, and she had been astonished by his lack of interest in dances and parties. She often filled him in on the gossip from the parties she attended, which was basically any one she could get herself into.

Thinking about Jordyn dressed up in a devil costume, though, was enough to make him regret missing not just that holiday but any one where she might have been wearing a cute outfit, where he might have noticed her earlier. He feared might never get to see her dressed up in a costume. He could have never imagined that he would feel jealous of the student who had landed himself in Azkaban, but suddenly it was reality.

After thinking briefly, Jai made a suggestion. "Maybe something to do with the seven deadly sins?" Jai asked. Jai's aunts spent a chunk of their lifetime planning parties, and that theme had always stuck out in his mind as a good outlet for creativity.

"I gave a tour to a member of the Wizengamot a few weeks ago," Jai recalled. "But besides that, not too much. Just trying to keep the office in order.." Since he was so particular about it, Jai had become the sole manager of the files and books that came into the Astronomy office and lab. "It's been good, though." he added, and then after a beat, "I really like it." Finally after years of struggling to fit in with his classmates, he felt like he was discovering the right place in the world. Even if it was as a bit bureaucratic, his job was fulfilling.

 “Would that be weird without six other people?” Jordyn asked thoughtfully, contemplating the idea.  She knew she would probably fall under the sin of pride, if that were the case, but it wasn’t so clear when you were singular. She could maybe get other prefects to do it, but that was probably not going to go so well.  Everyone would probably want to do their own thing. 

Sinking into her seat a little bit, Jordyn sighed and shrugged.  “I’m sure I’ll figure something out,” she assured him and bit the inside of her cheek as she turned her attention back to Jai.  She should pay attention to him too, after all.  He was always listening (or reading) about her problems and life, and she did the same, but it was so interesting to hear him talk about what he was doing.

It was like he was really figuring himself out.  It sort of made her nervous, in a way.  Jordyn was never known for her security (at least to those that knew her best) and she could only imagine it would be a short time before he found someone who was better than her and in the same place as he was – starting a career and giving tours to Wizengamot members too.  Leaning forward, she put her elbows on the table and watched his face as he talked, her eyes flicking from his expressive brown eyes to his lips and then back.

“I’m so glad you’re enjoying it,” Jordyn was completely sincere in saying so.  He deserved to be successful and if he loved what he was doing, that was awesome.  “So what was the tour about?  Who did you show around?  It must have been terribly exciting.” 

"Would that be weird without six other people?... I'm sure I'll figure something out."

"I meant as more of a theme," Jai shrugged. "I'm not exactly a party planner... but I think you'll make a great one." He wished that he was closer to her so that he could give her an encouraging kiss on the head. He was better at those --- it was easy for him to kiss Jord on the head. It wasn't easy for him to make dumb suggestions about parties. If she needed help, he could provide alphabetizing the invite list or something else more 'up his alley.'

The tour Jai had given took place weeks ago- he didn't know why he'd forgotten to mention it in all of the letters. "Oh," Jai brightened up a little. "Knox Greyfriar was preparing for a case so I gave him a tour of the astrolab and the office." He conveniently left out the part where he'd embarrassed himself in front of one of his superiors. That part wasn't particularly impressive.

"I was very nervous... but I think I did alright." Besides the run-in with Gamp, anyway. Jai still had his job, which was sign enough that he'd gotten over it.

Listening, Jord recognized Greyfriar’s name – and had been quite familiar with him as one of her teachers at one point.  The remembering day reenactment had been one of the stranger points of life – it had seemed so important at the time.  Jordyn was Bellatrix Lestrange, she remembered that.  Her death scene was quite a remarkable performance.  Thankfully, no one had gotten it in pictures.  It would have mortified her. 

But, at least it put her in the frame of mind to understand what Jai had done and who he was dealing with.  The man had always been loud, Jordyn remembered that and she could imagine Jai as very nervous, especially around someone like Greyfriar.  “A case?” she inquired, “Did he tell you about it?”

She didn’t think he would – case sounded private, but maybe he did because he needed to see particular things?  Also, what could be going on in that office that there needed to be a case about it?  Jordyn wished she had more access to information on it just because she liked to know.  “I bet you were absolutely amazing,” Jordyn assured him, giving his hand a squeeze before sipping her cocoa again.

It was so good.  Closing her eyes, Jordyn sunk into her chair a little bit more and her lips hovered over the rim of the glass.  “What else should we do today?” she finally asked, taking another sip of the cocoa.  It was almost gone.  That always seemed to happen. Hmph!  Maybe it was a sign it was time to move on and make the most of their day?

"Did he tell you anything about it?"

The fact that Greyfriar had in fact told him a few details about the case made Jai feel important, and he hadn't even realized he felt this way until Jordyn made her inquiry. A little sheepishly, Jai made his response, "Well... I don't know if I'm supposed to talk about it, but... it doesn't seem like that big a deal..." Despite working in the Department of Mysteries, nobody had ever really gone over the rules of confidentiality within the Ministry. He assumed everything was okay unless someone noted that the information was classified.

"Well he said something about how an Astrologist is being sued over cursing a a neighbor's radishes..." He gave Jordyn a look that implied he already agreed with her about how ridiculous it seemed. "Apparently the location of Saturn has to do with the defense, or something." Much of the time Jai found the world to be a mysterious, inexplicable place and this just supported that belief. Jai shrugged, but he felt special that Jord was so proud of him.

"What else should we do today?"

Jai hadn't really given much thought to plans with Jordyn, beyond meeting her at the Three Broomsticks. "Hmmm," he pondered out loud. He took a drink of his frozen hot chocolate and then smacked his lips. "I'm up for anything you want to do. Any shopping you need to get done? Or we could try and find a private little place..." Jai hinted, although he couldn't come up with such a place off the top of his head.

Something secret! That was a big deal then.  Jordyn couldn’t help but be a little jealous she didn’t know, and very proud that her boyfriend knew classified information.  He did, after all, work on the most secretive floor of the ministry.  So it shouldn’t have surprised her that he couldn’t tell her much.  But, still.  It was cool and she did want to ask.  Even if, after he revealed a bit to her, it seemed kind of silly. She supposed she had no room to judge though, maybe it was a particularly terrible curse.  That was probably the classified part.  Tilitng her head to the side, she smiled,  “I hope the astrologist – and the radishes – come out of it alright!”

What a sentence.  She never imagined saying that out loud.  Radishes?  Who cursed radishes?  Who even planted them?  Jordyn did not enjoy them.  But that wasn’t the point, was it?  It was that Jai was doing well outside of Hogwarts and being successful!  Jordyn hoped she’d feel the same way almost immediately after graduation too.  For some reason though, she was not entirely convinced that would happen. 

Being a healer was what she wanted, but she knew it was hard.  She’d seen as much when she was interning during the summer.  Endlessly fascinating, but also endlessly stressful – and she wasn’t even a trainee yet!  She nibbled on the corner of her nail while Jai pondered out loud and she laughed.

“I have sweets for months because of you,” she informed him, “and no shortage of quills…” another way to point out shopping was not her biggest priority.  Of course, Jai clearly didn’t have shopping on the mind either.  She felt a very sudden flush and cleared her throat.  “Jai,” she cleared her throat, “I don’t think that is what the Head Girl should be doing on her Hogsmeade weekend.” 

It was true!  If anyone knew… she practically blanced at the idea!  “We could take a walk,” she put forward, “it isn’t raining, so that’s something we should capitalize on!” she smiled, almost teasingly.  She only liked to be in nature when it wasn’t dismal out.  “And then, maybe,” she leaned on the table, being a little coy about the whole thing, “we'll snog in the woods.”

Jai decided to leave out the part about Greyfriar’s visit where he had asked Jai about how he was doing. It still was unnerving to him, the idea that one of his superiors was keeping tabs on his emotional health. Jai’s psychological state was always something adults and peers had questioned. Jai thought he had been doing a pretty good job at hiding his anxieties but when Greyfriar had asked about how he was doing, Jai felt a little exposed.

It wasn’t anything he needed to worry about now, though. That had been weeks ago and being in Jordyn’s presence was keeping him calm. She always had that effect on him. He couldn’t stop himself from smiling as she blushed at his suggestion for some ‘alone time.’ “Oh it’s fine, you’d still be acting like a Head Girl,” Jai joked, “Just a different kind of Head Girl.” This was a joke from the summertime, when Jord had first learned that she had been chosen. Jai raised his eyebrows suggestively.

“We could take a walk,...it isn’t raining, so that’s something we should capitalize on!... And then, maybe… we'll snog in the woods.”

“Deal,” Jai said, drinking up more of the frozen hot chocolate so that they could get to it. There were only a few sips left now, so he drank them all in one slightly long sip. “Whenever you’re ready, m’lady.”