It was finally a day that wasn't raining! For days it had been just dark grey skies and rain coming down, keeping everything nice and wet. Not that Elliot minded terribly, since it had allowed her to stay comfortably tucked away in her flat all that time and read with the sound of rain pattering at her windows. It had been almost pleasant. But, after almost a week of it she was needing some real fresh air and so she had taken the opportunity to enjoy the actually somewhat sunny day and went out to the park.

The sound filled silence was a nice change to the actual silence that dominated her flat. The sound of shoes striding along the paths, people talking, and the bits of sunlight that managed to peek through the clouds gave a gentle gleam, warming the usually grey atmosphere. Elliot breathed deeply, bringing her shoulders up and folding her arms across her chest to try and keep the warmth all within her sweater and coat on top of that.

Smiling to herself and setting herself down on a bench she got herself comfortable. For the first minute or two she simply enjoyed the view, watching people pass by and catching bits of their conversation as they remained caught up in their own worlds to not really noticed others beyond them. After that she pulled what was typical for her from her bag, a book. She crossed her legs and leaned back a little further into the bench, opening up to the page she had left off and allowing her own self to be lost in her own world while the real world around her slowly faded away from her sense of awareness. She would glance up once in a while just to check and see if the sky would suddenly decide to come down with more rain, just to spite her now that she was outside.

Arc never really told people he liked to stroll around in Hyde Park[1]. Maybe a few knew, but otherwise he'd never really emphasised it was the favourite haunt of his whenever he needed to go and spend some time with himself.

The weather clearing up had encouraged him to take a stroll there. Muggles were all out, possibly enjoying the clear weather as well even if the clouds still hung a little drearily overhead. He'd placed a small Disguising Charm on his hair to stop Muggles from noticing his rather outstanding hair, but it would still be visible to any magical folk who happened to notice. Either way, no one was giving him second looks, he was just as unremarkable as the next person, and he was blending in well.

Some way along the Serpentine was a row of benches where people would proceed to eat lunch, nap or read, facing the river. Arc let two Muggle joggers with wires coming out their ears pass him along the path between the railing that prevented people from falling into the water and the grass, and then continued his stroll, looking out at the calming water. He was hoping for some luck at seeing swans on the river, though he doubted it. Swans didn't always like the wider stretches of the river, where he was.

He came to a stop in front of someone reading on a bench - he didn't look too closely - and leaned his elbows on the railing, smiling a little in the tranquility of the moment and the world going on around him.

1.	Confirmed with Mayonne.

Elliot brought her eyes back down from the sky, setting her book aside for a moment to rub her tired eyes. Her mirror had reflected dark circles under her eyes and she hoped few to none noticed it. And if anyone thought to scrutinize her face further, the dark circles would be accompanied by her eyes looking a little redder than usual due to a great lack of sleep. The past few nights since the attack Elliot had been having a difficult time finding sleep for very long, if at all. But she was still trying to make herself look like nothing was wrong, even though that was far from the truth.

She reached once again for her book to resume reading, but did a double take as her eyes caught sight of something rather unusual. Somebody was in front of her, leaning on the railing and looking out to the river. But the odd thing was his stark contrast of black and white hair. Where had she seen that before? She knew she had somewhere. It was difficult for her to remember exactly, what with her mind not thinking quite clearly due to lack of sleep, and her having to sort through all her unpleasant memories again.

Through her tired eyes Elliot kept her focus on the seemingly familiar figure before her. It had to have been somewhere near work where she met him, that was the only explanation she could come up with through her equally tired brain. Her mouth moved silently as she went through various names to see if she could make herself remember, regardless. Part of her wanted to get his attention, but he was doing his own thing and she wasn't sure if she wanted to interrupt that. She kept going through her mental list of names, each round getting less and less common and more and more unique.

"Dorian...Aldebaran...Albus..." She paused, musing. There was a combination of sounds she had gotten to that sounded familiar for this gentleman with yin-yang hair. "Albus...Al...us...Ar...us...Arc...tic? Arcturus?" The more she pushed her brain into remembering the more she could visualize him there at Flourish and Blotts. She did remember seeing black and white hair passing through isles of books; the quick and courtesy comments made back and forth between them. She could half remember a face.

"Arcturus?" she said again, just loud enough for him to possibly hear.

Once there was external white noise, the chatter in his brain tuned down, leaving very muted streams of thought running in the background. He turned his attention to said external noise, of which was mostly comprising footsteps on the path behind him. People were running, or walking, or in between...he'd lose all sense of time just listening to life going on behind him.

"Arcturus?"

Arc's eyes opened immediately. Wizarding folk abound. He straightened up and turned around to see a woman on the bench behind him.

Familiarity tickled a strand of memory or two, but he still had an apologetic expression as he raised a finger and took a breath. For several seconds that felt far too long for something like this, someone he remembered seeing a month or so - was it? - ago, he said nothing as his mind quickly went through all the possible names attached to this face. Slight panic was rising, but eventually he finally said, with a hint of an incoming cringe in preparation, "Elliot Blair, right?"

Thank Merlin he got that right. He smiled, partially in relief, pulling away from the railing and walking up to her so that they didn't have a large path between them. "I haven't seen you around in a while," he remarked. "Though I haven't been in Flourish and Blotts of late...trying to get out more rather than burying my nose in books. How have you been doing?"

The fact he turned around to face her was proof that she got his name right. Then it was his turn to try and remember her name. Thankfully he did. Thankfully, by both remembered right. It would have been a bit more awkward if one or the other couldn't remember each other's names.

"I haven't seen you around in a while. Though I haven't been in Flourish and Blotts of late...trying to get out more rather than burying my nose in books. How have you been doing?"

"I've noticed," she said, in reply to his first comment. "I'd remember seeing that head of hair coming in and wandering about." Elliot managed a smile through her fatigue as she remembered the times she'd see him walking about the store, unable to help herself but stare for a moment as she had seen his hair switch from black to white, depending on which side he was looking.

He was right though, she didn't remember seeing him in the store for a while. She had been seeing her other regulars as of late, and the occasional new customer to browse through the shelves. Some left with one book, some left with more, and the few remaining left with much more. Merlin, her mind was going everywhere, unable to keep itself on track for very long before veering off like a broom would should its rider be just as tired as she felt.

At his question Elliot brought her eyes back down and fiddled with her book in her lap. The memories of only a few days before flashed through her mind. She clenched her jaw for a moment before forcing herself to ease the tension in herself there and stray from the thought of the dementor and its horrible effect. The physical, emotional, draining it had on her, forcing her to think of nothing but the bad she'd ever experienced in her life.

"I've...been alright," she lied. Her eyes were aching and she couldn't keep herself from rubbing them again. "Been busy. A little stressful too, but I'm alright." She repeated that she was alright, mostly for herself. It was a constant attempt to try and convince herself that she really was okay, despite the lingering stress the dementor's attack had caused her.

It was always the hair, but for once Arc felt less inclined to dismiss it as just another way someone could remember him and a little happier someone remembered him anyway. He hadn't been out a lot lately, or spoken to people outside the little circle of friends he kept close. He needed to change that.

Though Elliot's behaviour after that made him worried. A decade of being a dedicated healer meant nothing went unnoticed, but he didn't bring it up. He didn't know her very well, and outside of the hospital environment what originated as compassion could be seen as overbearing. Merlin, he'd even been considered overbearing and too much of a stick in the mud even in the hospital. Without knowing for sure what her reaction would be, that attitude had to stay away.

"You have my sympathies. I've been fairly busy and stressed, too." Arc cast a glance at their surroundings, pretending not to have noticed her mannerisms. "Sounds like Flourish and Blotts has had good business, though? Holiday sales?"

He gestured to the empty space next to her on the bench. "May I? Should at least catch up with one of the few people in my life who enable me to be a bookworm, though I really shouldn't be doing that." He chuckled after that, while his mind did an internal eye roll. "What are you reading?"

"Oh! Yeah, sorry," she said quickly when Arcturus gestured towards the unoccupied half of the bench. She quickly pulled her bag into her lap, freeing up a bit more space for him to sit.

While in the midst of doing that, out of the corner of her eye she caught sight of a dark colored figure coming towards her. Tensing, startling, and gasping all at once she snapped her head around to see, her eyes widening in fear. An instant later she heaved a sigh, both in relief and in frustration at herself when she saw that the figure was just a man in a long dark coat striding by. Second time this week...

"Sorry, yeah, I um..." she started, trying to put herself back together. "Yeah, things were really busy during Christmas. The big waves for the store tend to be towards the end of the year, what with Hogwarts starting up for a new year, and then the holidays shortly after that."

She was struggling to form complete sentences and not let herself be distracted by what just happened. She could still feel her heart beating a little too fast within her chest.

"What are you reading?"

"Oh, this?" she questioned back, showing him the cover of her book. It was leather bound and had the image of a tree engraved into it, its roots and branches stretching wide across the cover. "It's an abridged history of the Celtic druids." She fiddled with it, tightening and easing her grip on it, her thumbs rubbing against the cover. "So, how have you been?" she asked, stumbling over her words for a moment due to still being a little shaken from the startle a moment ago. "Other than stressed and busy."

Her being jumpy kept tripping flashing bulbs in his head, but he still didn't bring it up. Focus away from distractions. Still, feigning interest wasn't something he was keen on doing.

"I've been fine, as much as 'fine' can be for a healer who has had to deal with the events of the past month," he said, glancing sideways and running a hand through his hair distractedly. "You probably read about them in the Prophet. Some of us still feeling the aftereffects. I'm only glad I'm not the higher-ups who have to directly face the angry people, though the impact on us wasn't pretty either." He made a face, and then gestured as if to say 'what can I do about that, now?' "It's the new year now, and hopefully things look up for the better. If not, then I'll find some way."

It then dawned on him that perhaps he could also be implying that whatever she'd been through he was expecting her to do the same. "But I don't know," he quickly added. "I don't...handle crises well myself." That grave you're digging looks nice and deep, sure you want to keep going? "Anyway, I hope you'll have an easier time after all of that," he said, looking at her. "Where do you live, anyway? Above the shop? I've always wondered where the shopkeepers go, because the rent in Diagon Alley's main street must be fairly pricey."

Housing. You changed the topic to housing. Better than grim tales of work, but not by much. Arc tried to not bury his face into his palm.

Elliot now focused on keeping her gaze down, only occasionally glancing up at Arcturus as he spoke. She wanted to avoid catching sight of movement in the corner of her eye and startle again. The first time it had happened she wound up gripping the nearest thing she could grab and it had taken her a great deal of will power to finally let go and keep walking. Had that really happened just the day before yesterday? The days were feeling exponentially longer...

"Yeah, I did hear about that," she said in response his mention of recent events written about in the Prophet. For the past few weeks it seemed that St. Mungo's hadn't been doing so well.

"I...don't handle them well myself, it seems." Elliot rested her elbows on her legs and slipped her hands behind her glasses, burying her face in her hands. "These past few days have been...particularly difficult." He really had no idea just how much. The long nights awake, startled by nightmares or haunted by regretful memories she had buried but now needed to bury again; the nervousness she felt in her own flat, oppressed by the silence, and the constant reminder of how alone she was.

And then he asked her about her home itself. It was a bit unexpected. She glanced at him, looking at him with a hint of surprise at his question, but then she brought her gaze back down. "I live not far from here. It's a pretty basic flat, hidden amongst other muggle ones. And you're right about rent in Diagon Alley, it's beyond what I can manage. I've been in my current flat for a few years, but..." Elliot pulled her glasses off her face and brushed her hand down her face, sighing. "...but I don't know if I want to stay there much longer. Anything feels big when you're the only one there."

Alone, huh? While Arc couldn't necessarily speak for himself, considering how much he liked having his personal space and people had had issues with his lack of communication on that part, he could see where this was going. He pondered his conversation choices.

"Not even a soft toy?" A joke might cheer her up? Unfortunately, his brain cut in right then. "I think they call it stuffed animal in America, or a...a plushie. I could be getting it wrong, sorry," he confessed, "I'm not that well versed with the...different terms." Well, no one could say he hadn't tried. "More seriously, perhaps you could get a pet? There are a few magical creatures that make good protection and company. Kneazles are fairly protective and loyal, the only issue is of course having a licence for them, but they are highly intelligent felines that make good heaters, and the payoff - and cat hair - are worth it."

It took him a moment to realise. "Oh, sorry, excuse that ramble...I keep a kneazle myself. I am a bit biased." He laughed a little nervously. "But there are other magical animals who do just as well. Crups, puffskeins, even some owls are lovely and serve as messengers as well. Maybe one of those might make your apartment not feel so empty? Try Magical Menagerie, maybe you can find a furry companion that makes you feel safe at night."

Well, he hadn't been expecting to say that last part, but with the way she was acting made him a little reminiscent of his own ways. Without knowing what had really happened, and he had no interest in prying that out of her, the best thing he could offer was a suggestion.

Elliot kept her eyes down as Arcturus spoke up again. Oddly enough, he started talking about stuffed animals. The more he talked he more unsure and awkward he got about it. She couldn't help but feel a little smile appear on her mouth and she let out a chuckle or two. The feeling of amusement lifted her somewhat. It felt good to smile and laugh over something. She hadn't done so for a few days now. For the first few days after the attack she had struggled to even think that there was anything worth smiling over.

But then he mentioned having a pet. Being completely honest with herself, she had considered it a few times before, but never thought she'd have the means nor the lifestyle to really care for one. She glanced at the wizard for a moment, her smile growing a little more as she watched him laugh, albeit nervously. Even the sound of the laughter of others lifted her spirits. She looked at him gratefully, even though he probably didn't realize what he was he was doing for her. She then had a thoughtful look before looking out ahead of her. Yes, having something else there at the flat would probably help. Even if not a person, a creature as a friend to greet her and stay beside her.

"I have thought about a pet," she admitted, voicing her thoughts. "I just never convinced myself into believing that I have the means to care for one." She then paused for a moment, thinking over things again. Maybe having a pet would help...especially now. "You said you own a kneazle, right? What are they like?" She hoped he wouldn't say that they're energetic; she didn't want a ball of energy bouncing around her flat. She just wanted company. "Yours, at least."

"What are they like? Yours, at least." Arc lit up a bit inside. A topic he knew about! But he couldn't overwhelm her, not too much information. Would-be pet owner concerns.

"Well, they're a bit like dogs, they're very loyal to their owner once bonded," he said. "They can sense if someone is trustworthy or not, and can lead their owner home if said owner gets lost. Highly intelligent, learns quickly. Otherwise a kneazle is like a typical cat - reserves energy for quick bursts, sleeps a lot, lazes around, likes sunning themselves, independent and sometimes slightly rude." He smiled a little at the last one.

"Mine is a bit more dog-like than normal, he follows people around and if he senses something's wrong mood-wise he'll try to cheer them up. But only if he trusts them." The healer shrugged. "I suppose it's because he grew up while I was going through a hard time, so he seems to have become my therapy animal as well. He sleeps with me most times, curls up next to me on the bed. Greets me when I come home, when he can be bothered to. He's an adult, he has his moments where he wants to play and rough-house, but otherwise he's a lazy fluffbutt." He laughed, less awkwardly and more out of genuine humour. "And leaves a lot of hair! But it's a fact of life when you have a cat."

Was there anything else? He had to pause for a moment. "Oh, yes. Because a kneazle can get aggressive with people they don't trust, a licence is required. Just to say that you know how to deal with it. It's the same with crups. I've had it for years, just needs me to drop by Magical Menagerie annually to show no incidents. I haven't had any, Rustle's hissing doesn't necessarily give way to attack any time - just a warning. Ahem." He'd suddenly realised he'd been talking quite a bit. "Um, is that all you need? Or..."

Arcturus's expression changed when she asked about kneazles. He seemed happy to talk about them, which made Elliot continue to feel better. She leaned back in the bench, keeping her eyes on him as he spoke. She made mental notes as he went on about the characteristics of kneazles. Dog-like, loyal, intelligent, lazy. Maybe she would be able to handle one. His enthusiasm about them brought her smile back. It felt like it had been so long since she had felt anything related to happy, pleased, or content.

Then he went off about his own kneazle. She noticed that he was smiling a little more as he spoke about his feline friend. But, her expression shifted when she heard about his going through a hard time and how his kneazle was his therapy animal. She was caught off-guard, looking surprised as well as concerned. What had he gone through? Even though she wanted to ask it wasn't her place to pry, so she said nothing and kept listening.

He laughed again. The sound lifted Elliot's still flagging spirit and she smiled a little more. Now, if only she could bring herself to actually laugh too. However, as Arcturus continued on about his pet she couldn't help but feel a little curious about one thing.

"Rustle?" she asked. "Interesting name for a cat. How did that come about?"

He chuckled, hardly surprised by the question. Though anyone could name their pets anything they liked, Rustle by far was a name that drew more attention than, say, Mr Tiddles.

"He liked to play in paper bags as a kitten," he said. "You could always tell where he was and what he was doing by tracking down the sound of rustling paper. He grew out of it quickly enough but the name stuck. My sister gave him that name, actually, so all credit to her. I just went with it."

He thought a little more. "Magical Menagerie usually has a few contacts for kneazle breeders, but if you don't want to go through the hassle of having a licence they also have half-kneazles. Kneazles can interbreed with cats to produce a less aggressive and slightly less intelligent hybrid that has more characteristics of cats rather than dogs - I've not seen a half-kneazle that leads its owner home yet - but otherwise they're about the same. I haven't seen much advantage in getting a half-kneazle...if I wanted an animal that acts like a kneazle, I'd get a full kneazle anyway." He shrugged. "But that's up to you."

"Oh! Like the rustling sound?" she asked, surprised and amused at the same time. Merlin it felt good to smile and feel amusement again. She couldn't help but smile at the image within her head of a small cat, eyes wide and focused as it skittered about the floor, mucking with a paper bag. "I thought Rustle, like, the name of a person." Her chuckle this time had more energy to it, and the feeling helped to push away some of the thoughts that haunted her. She was still tired, but not as down.

"It certainly is something to think about," she said in reply to Arcturus's mention about breeders, half-kneazles, and his opinion between full and half breeds. As she remained sitting back in the bench she almost felt normal again. Almost. "Maybe it is about time I take on a pet." She paused to fold her arms across her chest. Whether to keep the warmth in her jacket or protect the current feeling within her from seeping away, even she wasn't sure. "It would make a nice change for me."

Heaven knows I need something better in my life...

"I guess I'll look into it, think on it, and so on. Who knows? Maybe I will end up with a kneazle in my apartment." She gave him her usual, crooked smile. "And it'll be thanks to you, as well as everything else good that comes from owning one."