Well this was...Lively. Lochlainn looked about the club and at all the brats running around the floor, on the one hand when he was 15 he may of loved this place, on the other hand now he's looking for a good place to drink and a place to potentially get business. This many rugrats pretending to be adults was annoying him. Even if a majority are at school, one was too many for him. Kids were not good for business. Unless they weren't registered werewolves, as then he can make some good money.

Finally his first drink back in London though, he'd managed to come back and had just managed to get a house, he spent the last few days setting up his equipment and trying to get some potions done so he had more stock then the couple vials he had ran back with. Luckily Hogwarts did teach him some quick and easy ones, Elixir to Induce Euphoria was a good one, everyone needed to be happy right?

Although from the sight of him he looked like every kids worst nightmare, he did not look like that happy of a man and he was pretty sure that growing up, he would not want to be that man. But here is your future kids! With that though he was feeling alright, dressed to the nights theme and on his...sixth shot now was it? He didn't care to remember, he wasn't even tipsy yet and still had his glass of Firewhisky to sip.

As he downed another shot from his order he took another look around the club, enjoying the return to normality from French clubs and bars, for a start he could understand the music and what people were saying, that always helped. He looked over the couches and floor as he tried to look for someone he may of remembered. Although it had been awhile, he'd doubted many would look that similar, he was in better shape then before he left, much better shape now as surprise surprise, alot of potion making for advanced stuff requires waiting. And better not to have lots of potions on blast at the same time, mixed with being in a place he can't understand well. This all meant alot of exercise time for entertainment.

With a turn round back to the bar he downed his Firewhisky quickly and nodded, pulling out a galleon and placing it down onto the surface. "Another round of shots and some more Firewhisky right?" He said loud enough to be heard over the music to the person working the bar.

Fauna stood at the bar, waiting patiently to order another drink, her martini nearly finished in her hand. She cleared her throat and flashed the purple stamp on her hand and the barkeep gave her a nod. Spellpunk had gamely created a few drinks just for her! Well, for her measles. She'd been sipping the possibly offensive 'Squib sparkle' martini, ready to show Abby and laugh about it if she showed up. It was bubbly, and sparkled, but tasted weak (also offensive?), and Fauna was feeling relaxed but a bit bored. The other young twenty-somethings were dressed up for a Saturday night out, and she'd stopped here after her work day, wearing a striped tunic shirt dress and dark leggings that she stored in her locker for nights like these.

She'd hoped to find a few of her Auror trainee friends here (not Pratt. Never again Pratt). Level Two had spent most of the week preparing for the full moon patrols which would start tomorrow and last for the next few days. Fauna was done thinking about it. She still had no magic and couldn't help in that way (which saved her from having to decide whether to after December), and she'd been sleeping, eating, and breathing the preparation, the meetings, the worry. Time for a drink or two! The nearly full moon loomed in the enchanted ceiling above her. Fauna kept her gaze on the wixes around her.

A loud voice caught her attention. A grumpy-looking bloke sat a few seats down, looking like he'd been throwing drinks back easily. Firewhiskey, no less.

His head turned and she blinked at his profile.

Did she know him? Irish accent. Familiar face. The beard seemed... new, somehow.

Who was he? Hogwarts. Someone from Hogwarts. A Gryffindor. A Hufflepuff! He'd been a Hufflepuff ages ago! Not ages, but it felt like ages. Right, he'd been a few years older than her. She must have been a fifth-year or something when he'd been a seventh-year. Yeesh. Fauna raised her eyebrows and glanced away. As a fifth-year she'd been incredibly shy and self-conscious, sticking to her best friend Ollie, and actively avoiding most of the older students. Certainly the blokes.

What was his name? She was terrible with names.

Fauna moseyed on over, standing by the empty stool next to him.

"Um, hi," she paused, waiting until his head turned and he noticed her. She was more comfortable shouting at criminals than she was speaking loudly in a pub, Merlin help her.

"I think I know you! I'm trying to remember your name," she smiled. "Er, I'm Fauna. I remember you from Hufflepuff, I think."

He'd been sort of rude his seventh year. Uh oh.

"You would take your potions books to detention with you."

She gestured at him with her nearly empty glass, and her mouth thinned into a sheepish smile. She remembered now!

He looked down at the younger former hufflepuff, noticing her attempting to talk to him. He likely did take his potions book to detention with him a few times, there was alot of them, especially towards the last years. Apparently Professors don't appreciate certain language, he did call one of them a stupid ass in a kind way, but apparently it wasn't polite. What a world they lived in where you can't just insult your superiors.

"Fauna..." He muttered as he tried remembering. "Didn't you stick in a corner half the time?" He asked as he placed another galleon down. "Another for me, and a refill of her drink." He said to the barperson as he turned around to Fauna properly. Offering one of the shot glasses. "Want some? Pretty sure this vodka is paint thinner but it will do." He said before taking one of the other glasses to down.

"How have you been? Hows Hogwarts and all?" He asked as he settled back, this didn't seem like the night he would get connections, unless she was linked to anything but she didn't seem the type to sell gillyweed or want dodgy potions. "Is Knox still the headmaster?" He asked as he looked the girl up and down, sizing her up, hopefully she isn't a veela, not that he hoped to get anything, but more he just didn't want to lose his money again. He has grown fond of his money, even if his drinking funds took up a large portion of it.

He shifted to better sit on the barstool, then nodded. "And how are you doing? You don't look like a scrawny nerd as much anymore, and you're not in the corner or clinging on to someone for dear life. So how have things been for you?" He asked as he looked over her outfit, an odd choice he reckoned but he had to put up with what was to him an odd fashion sense of a good while. Or atleast to him it was an odd sense, he thought all French would wear striped black and white shirts with berets and garlic around them. He was sorely disappointed by it.

"Hogwarts?" She snorted out a surprised laugh.

She raised her eyebrows at his obvious and assessing look, but otherwise Lucas[1] didn't do anything other than mistake her age and comment on her wallflower tendencies back then. Fauna didn't feel any real insult behind it, so she took a seat on the stool next to him and ignored the slight blush on her face at the memory. Ok yeah, she had stood in the corner and clung to friends for dear life. How things had changed!

"Thanks," she handed the bartender her drink to refill.

"Uh, in a bit." She waved off his offer of a shot. "I'm reeling from all these comments on my scrawniness and er, nerdiness. I was never a nerd!" Fauna widened her eyes and smiled. Unless he thought anyone who had passed their OWLS was nerdier than him. Very possible.

"But um, Headmaster Greyfriar is doing well, I still talk to him," she said with some amusement, realizing she was One of Those who kept in touch with her old teachers. Greyfriar had always been more important to her than any other professor though. Maybe he didn't realize that Greyfriar was only recently back at Hogwarts.

"I work at the Ministry now," she nodded, hoping to get a question in before that opened up a bunch of questions. "How have you been? I don't think I've seen you around since Hogwarts," Fauna asked curiously.

1.	Yup, she remembered his name wrong

In regards to her turning down the shot, he just shrugged and downed it casually, he is still pretty sure it is paint thinner. Although maybe that is an insult to paint thinner. He watched as her drink was made, which was interesting, didn't look that interesting for sure to him though.

She worked at the ministry, that was interesting, and also meant it was unlikely he could do business with her. But from a guess at how he remembered her. Must be an unspeakable, they seemed like the shy types that would rather keep to themselves. And probably helped as well, they couldn't speak about what they did.

But he sipped at his firewhisky as he listened to her question, in which he gave a disgruntled sigh. "Right yeah, I sort of had...international problems." He said as he placed his glass down. "I had this great plan to go about Europe and some of Asia, but that got put on halt and I spent the time instead working for a potion shop in Paris."

He looked to the people on the floor again and then back at his drink. "I sort of got stranded, I was at this bar one night when I met this lovely." He started to hand gesture. "She had these beautiful great big.." He looked at Fauna and then lowered his hands. "Uh, eyes. Great big beautiful eyes." He went to sip his drink again and cleared his throat. "Turns out she was a veela, had no money left after so had to stay."

With that he finally finished this new drink and groaned. "So yeah, been stuck in a land with people I don't understand. Like if I had to be with anyone from Ravenclaw." Which was partly true, some of them used big words. Like Perpendicular or Offensive. How was he meant to know what they meant?  "Gave me time to get stuff done though, tried my hand at some potions like Liquid Luck. Can make some good Polyjuice also." He said confidently.

Ah, sounded like Lucas had taken a gap year. For a few years. It didn't surprise her that he'd gone off on his own after graduating. Growing up, he'd seemed the more adventurous and independent sort, not one to stick to a desk job. Shame that he hadn't had a good time in Paris beyond working at the potions shop.

"Uh huh," Fauna nodded hastily, not needing a description of the woman's, er, assets. Her blush deepened and she glanced to the side, giving him a moment to clear his throat and to claim it was all about the eyes. Men never cared about the eyes!

Had the Veela he'd met taken his money? Oh shit, sounded like it.

She bit her lip, restraining a chuckle at his Ravenclaw comment. Ravenclaws were lovely - one former Ravenclaw she knew was absolutely lovely. Beautiful eyes!

He regained his confidence talking about his work, and Fauna could relate to that. Not Potions as a subject specifically - she'd barely passed that NEWT well enough to gain acceptance into Auror training.

"Well, that sounds like an interesting trip. I mean, sounds like you learned a lot at the shop? Polyjuice potion - I have to say I failed that one dozens of times my seventh year. That's cool that you got to travel and experience something different from plain old England," she added more warmly.

She'd never done that! Fauna had gone on holiday a few times to other countries, but always with family. Never anything on her own or with friends.

"I'm sorry to hear that Veela took your money though, that's terrible," she shook her head in sympathy, dying to ask whether he'd reported it or been too embarrassed, and covering up her Auror inclination by taking a long sip of her sparkly, bubbly drink.

Loch sighed and shrugged. "Yeah if nothing less it made me like here better, even if its usually raining. And I picked up some potion tricks." He ordered a larger drink, since he was now going through Firewhisky fairly quickly be better to not get wasted while talking to Fauna, he didn't want to accidentally let anything slip when he doesn't know her ministry position for sure.

"My Liquid Luck didn't work out well, unfortunately it had the opposite effect. Poor sod who tried it." He finished his last shot and nodded. "I didn't even know Piano's were still strung up by rope to get into a building." Or for that matter, that a blancmange could cause a series of events that resulted in a Mandrake causing all the glass to explode and shredding another person. It did however sell for another purpose then being lucky. Just don't even get him started on the person who brought a honeycomb and a jackass into a brothel.

"So anyway, whats been up with you then?" He took his new drink and nodded, some sort of beer pint, he took a sip and nodded. "What job you got in the Ministry?" He asked as he kept guessing what her job was, it may not be on Level 9. Maybe she's with Creatures and really likes hunting down Werewolves, unlikely. But imagine if she was an Auror, that did not seem likely, she was slightly cautious and nervous around him, an Auror would have to be braver he would assume.

He took a good chug at his drink and is now a third gone at it. "Oh and has anything interesting happened since I've been gone?" He asked casually, not really expecting much to have happened, I mean in almost 4 years what could of happened? "Anyone been turned into stuff or stuff that I likely wouldn't of heard in France even if I knew the language?" He had gotten better at the language over the 4 years. He had to. Although he still couldn't hold a conversation to save his money.

Though she didn't completely understand the piano story, she grimaced and nodded. Fauna glanced up as a few of her younger Auror trainee friends walked in. Two out of three of the new arrivals wore their black Auror trainee jackets, trying to look badass. Bless. She gave them a distracted wave, then turned her attention back to Lucas.

"Level Two," a note of pride entered her voice. "I'm in Auror training. By June, I'll finally earn my red robes."

She smiled, glancing down into her drink.

When he innocently wondered if anything interesting had happened for the past four years, Fauna coughed, then pressed her hand to her mouth as she finished the sip of her drink.

She set her glass down and blinked wide-eyed at him, the corner of her mouth twitching.

Anything important? Anything life-altering? If only he knew!

Fauna slowly reached over to slide one of the remaining glasses of firewhiskey towards her (assuming his offer still stood). She threw it back, feeling the burn down her throat and her eyes water a bit. Okay!

"I don't even know where to start," she chuckled. "I'm doing well, you know? But uh, lots has happened."

Far too much to sum up.

"Stop me if you've heard any of this and I'm boring you," she raised a hand. "So, ok. In the past year alone," Fauna took a sip from her martini.

"We were plagued by dementor swarms, especially in cold weather - happy new year, by the way. We've had swarms of ghostly entities," Pentrals! "A kidnapping of Hogwarts students in February, along with other Level Nine shenanigans, uh, Knox Greyfriar had to leave, like years ago, and someone evil took his place but now he's back," Fauna pointed in the air, pausing to take a breath. "What else. The Leaky Cauldron is also back! After it exploded. Really. We've had vampire problems, or I should say, politics and problems, we've had a few werewolf attacks, a werewolf trial, and...."

What else. Should she mention the dementor attack on St. Mungo's? Nah, enough about dementors. What about that chocolate prank? That could be lighthearted!

"Oh! And magical measles. I mean, wixes losing their magic."

Fauna took another breath, smiled and nodded at him. Yes, it was completely barmy. She hadn't said anything personal, but again, it was hard to know where to start. Poor Lucas, expecting just a bit of rain.

Lochlainn listened and nodded along. Firstly was she was an Auror. That was not good, and now there was a group of them here by the looks of things also. He needed to be more careful about what he says and does so he doesn't draw their attention much, but if he can befriend Fauna, that can be useful, get a friend who is an Auror so he has someone on the inside. Plus the side of her seeming like a good person, win win scenario.

He listened along to everything. And how could so much happen? Was this some sort of TV Soap? Like Eastenders where there is a murder, robbery, arson, assault every week? How can people live like that?

Firstly was Dementor swarms. Lucky he avoided those, he couldn't manage a patronus too well, he could cast one but he can't keep it up, he's a sprinter not a runner. Which caused some embarrassments at times, especially around those he tried to impress.

Second came the happy new year. He nodded and raised his pint up. "Happy new year." He said and then downed the rest of it, ordering up another one for him to start on.

Ghastly entities did not sound pleasant for him, something he would have to read up on. Ghosts usually aren't good for business. Especially poltergeists. He'd learned the hard way not to be complacent with one around, especially when testing polyjuice. He was damned pretty though.

Level nine did level nine things, who would of guessed that

Knox was replaced? Did someone complain about his long rants or had he finally gone senile? That would be something to ask.

Leaky cauldron going in an explosion was sad, they had pretty good pints and well priced. But its good that they are back, he'll have to check them out tomorrow night.

Vampires, the bloodsuckers weren't good for business he reckoned, on the other hand. Werewolf attacks were. As bad as it sounded in his head to be celebrating those cursed, Wolfsbane sells. And so that is a definite market for him to get into, he'll start gathering the ingredients and brewing next month, too late in the cycle for it now.

What perhaps worried him the most was this Magical Measles, he didn't want to lose his magic, it wouldn't be good if he lost them full stop, screw living with muggles for the rest of his life. Worse is the impact on his potion making, he wouldn't be able to make anything if he couldn't use his wand.

Finally he gave one last nod and sighed. "Thats a damn lot. Want another drink?" He asked as he scratched at his beard, maybe he should shave soon, not much though, its a damn fine beard in his eyes. "What happened with Knox? Why did he get forced out then put back in? He was a good Headmaster from what I remember, even if we had to wait past curfew to even start smelling food due to his speeches."

Lucas listened well. It was a lot to take in. She paused at his offer, considering, then nodded and refilled her shot glass. Though she had work tomorrow, her shift started later in the day. She glanced around the bar before remembering that Fig wasn't here. She missed her drinking buddy!

Fauna smiled fondly at his joke about the Headmaster, though it reached her eyes for only a moment. It wasn't exactly pub talk, but ok, she could explain things, she could do this. The more he knew, the better chance he had at settling into London and avoiding any problems due to his own ignorance. She took the shot. The firewhiskey burned all the way down once again.

She cleared her throat and leaned in a little closer, not wanting to be overheard too much.

"Oh shit," she shut her eyes for a second. "I misspoke. Ok. Actually, what happened was, Knox had left his post to join the Wizengamot." 

No small feat. His loquaciousness served him well there. Fauna hesitated, deciding how much to tell her former Housemate, who she hadn't seen in four years. She hadn't told him anything personal yet.

"My last year at Hogwarts, I sneaked out of the castle with a few friends," she shook her head, raising her eyebrows sheepishly. Her seventh year had been a turning point full of risky decisions. "The Headmaster - I'm sorry, Knox - was escorting us all back to the castle when a werewolf jumped out. Knox defended us. He was bitten. Turned."

Fauna paused, letting that sink in.

"Snark was Headmistress at the time, though she didn't last for long. Others came and went. Anyway, this fall, Knox decided to come back as Headmaster. Which is a huge deal," Fauna's eyes widened a bit, her voice proud. "Because, well, people are awful, you know? But Knox is brilliant, and he's back, and he's telling alarming stories during feasts again, I bet."

She took another sip of her martini.

"Hey kids," she waggled her eyebrows and lowered her voice like she remembered Knox doing, "Remember, the forest is forbidden, spirits haunt the grounds, and do take care around Professor Storm or you'll find yourself hanging by your feet from the ceiling. For those of you suffering from magical measles, I've provided bubble masks. Highly effective until popped."

She smiled again, humor glinting in her eyes to cover up regret. An unpleasant feeling, but she was beginning to accept regret, the cousin of responsibility, as she remembered and forgave her younger self for past mistakes.

He nodded again as he listened, so Knox went off to join the ruling court, that was pretty impressive, he would of been very well suited to reading out during the sessions on his thoughts. He did all the time anyway so may aswell get paid and have a very comfy job for it mightn't he?

He'd not often had a drinking partner, before leaving on his Grand Tour he had one a few times but it was more a small lads night out, they just messed about, he learned Darts. And learned he hated it with a burning passion, who has fun doing maths? So managing to get someone to drink with felt good, even if he knew he couldn't trust her, which he did feel bad for as she seemed like such a good person.

He did however notice she seemed somewhat upset, which he could understand. "Its not your fault, sneaking out of the castle. I mean honestly who would ever expect there to be anything dangerous outside of the forest, even inbetween the castle and Hogsmeade. Both are the safest places imaginable." He sighed. "Plus, lets be honest who can keep track of the moon, I mean sure now we can, but unless you were a werewolf or tied to it doing an Aniimagus. Who would keep track of the moon those years ago in school?"

He leaned back and sipped the head of his pint. "Plus Knox is a giant, he can survive anything." He put his glass down. "I can guarantee you, a Hungarian Horntail can rain death down upon him, all its might and flame centered on him. And he would go on to give it a lecture for several hours on how to improve its technique." Slight exaggeration, the man knew how to teach people so it would probably only be a couple hours.

He cleared his throat. "Now students. Remember, while Hogwarts is a school for everyone, please remember the Ghosts. I once talked to Moaning Myrtle. A very nice girl. She started to explain to me everything that can be done about the schools plumbing and-" Lochlainn half slammed his head onto the bar as he faked falling asleep.

After a few moments his head rose again. "And that is why if you must approach the Whomping Willow, not to attempt to make it snow on it when it is only Autumn." He finished his impersonation. He figured he got it spot on.

Fauna leaned back, giving him a considering look. It was nice of him to try to reassure her. She didn't really need the reassurance, not years after the fact and after understanding the situation better, but his inclination to be kind rather than judge said a lot about him. It was very Hufflepuffian.

The drink made her feel warm and fuzzy and nostalgic as they poked fun at the beloved Headmaster. Knox Greyfriar, Hungarian Horntail conqueror. Knox Greyfriar, advocate of wailing ghosts and clogged toilets.

She turned her head and laughed as Lucas slumped onto the bar. He was fine, just being silly, she waved her hand at the bartender raising his eyebrows. When his head popped up again to remark on the Whomping Willow, Fauna nodded, still smiling.

"Right! That's how it goes. Ghosts in the loo, the Whomping Willow kicking ass..."

She sipped at her drink, trying to hold onto the feeling of amusement and her pleased surprise at possibly making a new friend. He'd said something lighthearted though, hadn't he. Who could remember the moon? Oh Merlin.

Fauna tilted her head, hesitating. She felt a bit like the Welcome to London, Now Gamble with your Life committee. Should she? He was new in town. She just didn't want to scare him after she'd listed everything they'd dealt with in 2011. Maybe she'd find a way to warn him before the night was over.

He was new! She couldn't not.

"Just so you know, the next full moon is the 9th," she offered with a trace of teasing in her voice. Her hand drifted to the collar of her shirt and tugged it over the small scar on her neck.

She tried to relax again. Her face felt warm from the shots and her mind ran in worried circles. Make a joke! She could make a joke.

"How are you settling in, by the way? Got any wards set up yet?" Fauna blurted.

The moon was two days away, that meant plenty of time to get work in towards the next full moon. He had crafted some Wolfsbane before, under the guidance of the store manager he worked under, he was pretty confident he could do it by himself. And in larger batches. Honestly, how much harder could it be to upscale Wolfsbane? He'd done difficult potions, he knew how to brew. And besides, its not like those who would buy Wolfsbane from him would be up to any good anyway, if they're unregistered they should be lucky to get some support he figured, probably best to do cheap though.

"Two days, got it. No full moon parties I'm guessing?" He joked, resting and elbow on the bar as he leaned onto it now. "I hear they're meant to be good fun." Or atleast from what he overheard somepoint when younger, never managed to find one, he wasn't the type to be invited to parties.

The topic of wards though intrigued him, just in regards to potential attacks? Was she expecting more? He had put up wards on his home, didn't anyone getting in unless he allowed them. Be bad for business if it was found and people started looking around. "I have a few wards set up, the standard no apparate. locking doors." He said then gave a slightly dirty smile. "And if I ever get a nice woman, sound muffling so don't keep the neighbours up. Your usual." Also a few he would rather not tell an auror. Cave inimicum for an example but done just by the windows so no one can see inside properly.

"Oh as a side, since catching up and well, I'm new back as you know. Is there any good potion brewers or shops that I may find work at?" He posed as if looking for work, but he figured it was a good idea to get a look at those who may competition, anyone to worry about should he get noticed, or more accurately when he gets noticed.

With a grin as sips his beer he nods. "Need some way to keep affording drinks you know."

Fauna smiled at his joking manner, relieved he wasn't taking her too seriously. She was worried about the wards (at least he had the standard ones), but it wasn't as if she could say that her Level Nine friend had just had a vision about a man being attacked by a werewolf in his own home.[1]

There was no standard ward for that.

Fauna shook her head and laughed at his priorities, her face pink. As long as he had sound-muffling wards!

When Lucas asked for advice about work she perked up a bit, straightening in her seat and thinking it over.

"Oh sure, there's Slug and Jiggers and a few others in Diagon," she listed them.

"St. Mungo's is always looking for reputable sources. I could put you in touch with one of the Healers."

She didn't think Flynn would mind.

"Oh, and Sellaphix Apothecary. It's right on the edge of Knockturn, but don't let that deter you," she nodded. "They're good people."

They deserved a chance to turn things around and make earnings honestly. Which reminded her of Fig, and the hilarious trivia night when she'd flirted with Stephanie, and Lucas' priorities.

"I could find you a nice girl, you know," she offered with her best neutral expression.
 
"I mean, I might accidentally steal her away, but I could find you one," she glanced into her drink and grinned sheepishly.

Hufflpuffs were excellent finders.

1.	A Little Blurry, or Maybe it's My Eyes

He nodded to the list of the shops nearby that were in the same trade. the Sellaphix one sounded like a challenge as they're close by, but really, what could either of them do to eachother? They wouldn't attack a business would they? So overall they won't be a challenge to him, most likely.

If he was to go professional, that offer at St Mungo's sounded good, but he wasn't really looking for that kind of job, he doesn't really like the smell of vomit, or the elderly. They always smelt weird, what was up with that? But it was a very kind offer from her. "Ah, I think I will try with one of the potion shops likely, I'm not too good at looking after people, plus means you won't be in debt to your friend."

The other offer though was very tempting. Lochlainn thought of himself as a man of culture and suave. He had once eaten a croissant. This was a very good offer for him.

"A nice girl, seems like a downgrade from you." He tried to tease as a compliment, she was turning out to be, a very good person to have met, shame she had to be an Auror.

"I don't want to push since we don't know eachother too well, but at the same time, but it is a very good offer that I don't think I could turn down." He said as he finished his pint. "As long as you don't get into any trouble over it." Although he was using her to get better findings, and was hoping to use her as a way to avoid any...prying eyes on him. He felt somewhat sorry at how innocent and trusting she was.

"You thinking of one of the girls here or someone you actually know?" He asked as he looked out over the crowd, easily seeing above the children who were dancing.