Hayes has a bit of a mouth on her. Just a general warning for swearing in case it arises.

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The Clapham House (or The House, as it was typically known as) was between the station and Hiraeth Gardens off a side street, about a ten minute walk from either way. For this reason it was a favourite hangout of Hayes'. It was a muggle pub, sure, but it was dark and quiet. The pints were reasonably priced, unlike everywhere else in muggle London. It was one of those pubs that people only really went to if they knew the area, as there were far cleaner pubs and flashier bars along the high street. The staff were an unassuming bunch. Polite, but no-nonsense and not chatty. And they had a wicked happy hour that ran from 4pm to 6pm. It was rare that Hayes was able to attend said happy hour, as she often worked until or past six. But on this rare Friday most everyone was sent home early. Lucky for Hayes, she had actually finished up her paperwork early for the day right before they received the good news. Not that the paperwork was difficult. Hayes had been in the department for less than two months, and she was bored. She was more than bored, actually. She was wondering if she had made a mistake.

Why had she wanted to become an auror in the first place, anyway? What made her think she was qualified to actually help people? She should have just given up the first time she was denied, right after graduating from school. And it wasn't that the work was necessarily boring or difficult, it just felt like her presence there was a waste of time. Her propensity of becoming one with the wallpaper and blending into the background had carried over from her Hogwarts days at full force. It wasn't that she wasn't capable, she was just... apathetic. It seemed so fruitless sometimes, hearing about the insanity of the world. Hayes had only been in the office for a few weeks when the bonfire night fiasco had happened, but her role was to mainly sort through the resulting paperwork. In hindsight, her attitude was selfish. Who was she to be complaining that she was bored when several people were severely injured or killed?

But she needed to actually be doing something. Anything was better than a desk job. If she thought about it hard enough she might realise that she had thought being an auror would entail actually being in the field. She knew she'd be good at that part, if the time ever came. But sitting at a desk? Filling out paperwork? She had already started having to bring her own quills to work because she kept breaking them with her fidgeting. And rocking back on the hind legs of too squeaky chairs was likely grating on the nerves (and ears) of her colleagues. It was like school all over again.

These thoughts on her mind, she entered the dingy pub and ordered a pint of (half priced!) lager. Making sure to pay with muggle money, she offered the (very attractive) barmaid a grin and headed outside towards the beer garden. It was getting a bit too cold to sit outside, but she wanted to sit out and smoke while the weather allowed it. Hayes was dressed appropriately for the weather anyway, so she figured she'd be fine. And if not, well, the alcohol would warm her up eventually. She took a sip of her drink and pulled out her papers and tobacco, methodically rolling a fag. She had off-handedly mentioned she'd be coming here and said that anyone was free to join  her when one of the aurors (she was shit with names and still couldn't remember who was who in the department) had asked her what her plans were for the evening.

Perhaps she should have sat up front in the actual pub, in the rare event someone had taken her up on her offer. Ah, well. They'd find her or they wouldn't. She'd enjoy her drink and smokes regardless.