The whistling of the kettle roused him from his work, gleaning information for tomes written in languages  long forgotten in  today’s modern age.  Idly he pointed his wand at the noise and the kettle lifted itself from the stovetop, and poured steaming water into the tea pot settled on the counter.  Placing his wand down again, Kendall Fleetfoot, Professor of Charms at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry returned to his research, or at least tried to.

Only a week had passed since school had let out for the summer, and he was glad for the use of the floo to travel back and forth daily to the now seemingly abandoned school.  Kendall would often wander the grounds, and often sit along the shores of the Black lake in the mid to late afternoons.  His mornings seemingly consumed by overseeing repairs to the main manor house here in Welshpool, reading and note taking from the Sanskrit manuscripts he was researching, or, and this was most often the  case, distracted to the point of obsession by images aand thoughts of Morrigan Ramsay.

Again he lifted his wand, waving it over the scrolls and books on his dining table as they rolled and closed, neatly stacking and then tucking themselves away until the next time he decided to peruse them.  Tucking the wooden stick into the back pocket of his American Levis jeans, he made his way from the table to the small cooker and took his mug before moving out the back kitchen door of the gatehouse and onto the covered porch.

The main manor house was surrounded by goblin construction gear, scaffolds and equipment used in repairing the old family home which Kendall now owned.  Since returning to England from Tibet in February, he had been staying in the old gatekeeper’s cottage, and it was beginning to feel cramped.  His quarters at Hogwarts were far larger and better appointed than the gatehouse was.  Standing one hand on the stone wall surrounding the porch, his steaming mug in his other hand, he smiled in thinking how the rising steam reminded him of the waves of auburn hair Morrigan possessed.

His research over the past week had been abysmal at best.  Perhaps two or three hours total of the nearly forty he had attempted.  He knew he had to see her again, even if just from a distance, and to do so meant a trip to London.  Then he remembered the leaving feast, and how they had gone separate ways… without him getting the address where she would be staying the summer.

Sighing he turned away from the manor, looking at the cold stone of the gatehouse.  It could take ages to find her just traveling the lengths of Diagon Alley, and that assumed she was staying in the magical section of London.  A ringing telephone drew Kendall from his thoughts as he re-entered the kitchen and picked up the receiver.

“Hello, Stonewell Manor this is Master Fleetfoot.”

What in the name of Merlin and Morgana was wrong with her?  Honestly, this was summer and she was supposed to be keeping her distance from Fleetfoot.  Yet here she was, in the middle of London not far from the enterance to Diagon Alley dialing the number on a pay phone that was listed for a K. Fleetfoot in Welshpool.

Her eyes were closed as she listened to the ringing.  She had leaned foreward slightly, the crown of her head coming to rest on the cool metal of the red frame of the phone booth.  She was considering hanging up after a couple rings, figuring he either wasn't in or that she had the wrong number.  However, the fourth ring was cut off and a familiar voice spoke, causing her eyes to shoot open as her heart rate increased.

“Hello, Stonewell Manor this is Master Fleetfoot.”

With a smirk she said, "I always knew you had a complex Fleetfoot.  However, I am not calling you Master anything."

At least she could find an easy opening for a bit of a jab before he asked the obvious question, why are you calling?  To be honest she wasn't sure what she was going to say.   She had felt this unexplainable urge to talk to him since the feast the week before.  She was now convinced she was crazy.  Morrigan Ramsay was not the type of woman to long to talk to someone 'just because.'

"I always knew you had a complex Fleetfoot.  However, I am not calling you Master anything."

It was odd how something so trivial made such a difference to Kendall's day.  at the same time, his pulse rate increased, he began to sweat and his hands fumbled the phone receiver.  He put the mug on the table and reached for his wand casting 'suspendo' a stasis charm on the mug so it would not get too cold while he talked to Morrigan.

"Well this is a surprise.   I was wondering how things were with you after our meeting outside the great hall.  Did you find what you had forgotten in your room?"

Keeping the conversation casual and not turning it into something more than it was, Kendall was having difficulty keeping his thoughts coherent.  Hoping that this would be a longer conversation, Kendall waved his wand to conjur a wooden chair in his hallway.

"I don't know about you, but I almost miss the hallways filled with students now that it is holidays.  I have been back to the school nearly every afternoon jusst to walk the gardens."

Morrigan cursed herself for acting like a blubbering fifth year as she listened to his voice through the receiver.  Why was it that suddenly the one person who she had always seemed to be able to tell exactly what she was thinking, since she was usually throwing insults his way, now seemed to reduce her to a puddle?  She fought back the groan as she felt her stomach flutter a bit.

"What I had..." she began to ask, and then suddenly remembered the excuse she had used to get away from him during their last encounter at the school.  "Oh, yes.  I had borrowed a couple books from Isaac and I promised to return them to him at the feast so he could finish his packing."  It was a complete lie, but an acceptable excuse none the less.  Really she had just be desperate to be able to breathe normally again, which she seemed unable to do in his presence.

"I don't know about you, but I almost miss the hallways filled with students now that it is holidays.  I have been back to the school nearly every afternoon just to walk the gardens."

She laughed a little.   Leave it to Fleetfoot to actually miss the crowded halls.  She relished in the summer's peace and quiet.  As much as she loved teaching and helping to mold young witches and wizards, the solitude of summer was often welcome.  This was the only time she could truly do whatever it was she chose, and not have to work around the constant schedule of a school that also boarded its students.

"That's because you are a glutton for punishment.  I'm finding the bustle of London quite fulfilling actually.  It's been nice to get away."  Even if I missed the chance to see you, which I will NOT admit to willingly.

She mentioned London and that was a good thing in Kendall’s mind.  If she were referring to the bustle of busy London she must be near Piccadilly or Charring  Cross.  If it was Charring Cross that meant Diagon Alley, and perhaps a chance meeting.

“Funny you should mention London.  I have to come in to Harrods for a new suit, then I was thinking of getting an owl since I never really needed one until now.  Is Aeops still the best around?  I might have time to slip in this afternoon instead of being moody at the school.  It is so lonely being the only one other than Peeves to roam the halls.”

He was hoping that she might let something in her voice or in the conversation at least tell him where she was or would be so that he could happen to run into her.  “Oh I didn’t get a chance to stop by your quarters after the feast.  You were going to give me your London address so I could get your replacement jacket sent to you.” Smooth Fleetfoot.  You just asked the girl for her address without making it seem like you wanted her address.  Next you are going to be giving her hugs and then flowers… What is wrong with you??? This isn’t some teenage romance.  You need to figure out what is going on and quick before you go insane!

Waving his wand in the air in front of him he whispered “Tempus” to get the time.  It was late morning and he really should get some errands run in Diagon.  He did need some parchment and quills as well as stopping at Gringotts to see what was left in his vault to get through the repairs and until school started.

"Stop worrying about the jacket, Fleetfoot," she said, her tone a bit harsher then she intended.

She closed her eyes for a minute, trying to collect herself.  He was talking about coming to Diagon Alley, and the very thought had sent a combination of excitement and anxiety through her.  She suddenly had a thought, and perhaps it would even seem as if she wasn't looking for an excuse to see him.  After all, she certainly wouldn't do a thing like that.

"I mean...If you're coming to Diagon Alley, perhaps it would be better if I just met you somewhere.  This way I can pick out something at Madam Malkin's and I won't have to trust your fashion sense.  Besides, Eeylops is just a few shops down from it," she told him, looking at the wrist watch she was wearing.

The morning was quickly passing her by and she had yet to do much other then trying to clear her mind with a bit of a morning yoga practice.  She had intended to spend the day at the Ministry library, but when she passed the red pay phone booth she had gotten horribly sidetracked.

He smiled, "I mean...If you're coming to Diagon Alley, perhaps it would be better if I just met you somewhere. This way I can pick out something at Madam Malkin's and I won't have to trust your fashion sense."

There was excitement that she would meet him.  Maybe this would get rid of the brooding he seemed to be in since leaving the school for holiday.  Maybe he would be able to focus on his research.  Maybe he could discover how he truly felt about Morrigan?

Looking over himself quickly, he would need to change before heading in to London, carry a cloak at least for moving in Diagon Alley.  He needed to make a list of tasks.

“You mean you wouldn’t like your replacement jacket to be lime green? I thought it would bring out the color of your eyes!” Kendall’s voice dripped with humor.  “Why don’t I meet you at Flourish and Botts, in say two hours? That should give me time too get everything finished at Harrods and Gringotts.”

It would barely be enough time but if the appointment at Harrods was delayed a day… well it was another excuse to be in London.  Even as he waited on her response he began to think that perhaps he should have stayed in London himself over the holiday rather than here at the manor.

Not that the manor wasn’t a grand and lonely place for one, but the gatehouse was a dark and stuffy place filled with oak furniture that was meant to be utilitarian for the gate keeper, but not meant to be used by today’s more modern thinking, and less toughened wizards.  That and Kendall found the place to be less than homey without the touch of house elves.  The elves, well elf in this case as there was currently only the one family elf remaining, Froopy was busy with the interior repairs to the house, as well as maintaining the small herb garden off the kitchen. It was enough for an advanced aging elf to manage.

In his free hand he picked up the mug and took a swig, the tea now tepid at best.   

Lime green?  Morrigan smirked a bit, the joke quite obvious.  She felt a little nervous about meeting him, convinced she now had to return to her rented flat and change.  The thought was a bit strange to her...when had she ever cared what anyone thought of her clothing, especially when it was her summer vacation?  Yet the morning's yoga pants and a woren three-quarter sleeve tshirt didn't seem to be exactly what she pictured wearing when the met in two hours.

"If you like lime green so much, I'm sure we could find you something lovely in the shade...Since you're so comfortable in them from your research days, perhaps we could find you a loincloth in that color," she smirked, waiting for his response.

The mild banter was actually quite amusing.  Laughing a bit she added, "You would turn the fashion world on it's head with such a bold statement."

If being completely honest, while London had been a nice change of pace, it had been a bit lonely.  Nearly every day she had gotten up, done her morning ritual of exercise, and set to work reading a book or working on research.  She had managed to have lunch with a friend at the Leaky Cauldron, but other then that not much had occured during her summer.

The lukewarm liquid caught in his throat as he tried to desperately gasp for air.  Kendall was shocked that firstly Morrigan was joking with him about the lime green color, but he was completely flabbergasted that she had retorted with the comment about the loincloth.

It had been a comment in passing when they had sat down back that evening in may and she had invited him into her quarters telling him to ‘make himself at home‘  It had never crossed his mind that deep in the recesses of her mind she would remember what he had said.

His wand was out again with a quick wordless ‘scourgify‘ the tea which had been dribbled down his chin was cleaned.  Trying to recover, but finding his voice slightly horse from  the near choking, he managed to sputter out “I thought you preferred me in bright pink?”

Kendall then thought of what to wear to meet with Morrigan, and decided on ensuring he had a lime green accent just to continue the joke.

Hearing what sounded like choking, Morrigan felt a smirk spreading across her lips.  It seemed that it wasn't something that only happened to her.  She had to admit having an excellent memory for small details was often a blessing, especially when trying to best Fleetfoot in a friendlier sort of way.

"I'll see you in two hours, Fleetfoot," she said, laughing a bit.  "And if you actually show up in hot pink I might just take back that early comment about never calling you 'master.'"

It was a challenge, and she didn't really mean it.  Her pride would never allow her to refer to him by such a ridiculous title.  Of course, she would let me think she was serious just to see what happened.  It might end up being the highlight of her day to see him dressed in such a terrible color.

The gauntlet was thrown down.  The question was would he pick it up? Or even worse... was it not a gauntlet but a ladies silk scarf dropped for him to gallantly return.  The thought niggled in the back of his mind.

"So two hours then?" Kendall smiled.  It may be slightly excentric but it might work, and provide a laugh or two in the process as well. "I look forward to if Morrigan.  See you soon."

He rested the receiver on the cradle and a huge grin appeared on his face.  There was a time when he would not dare to make a fool of himself or give Morrigan the satisfaction, but things had changed.

Harrods would wait.  Gringotts would wait.  Morrigan would not wait and that was key to the flury of activity now taking place.

Kendall went so far as to even get the house elves looking until he found the desired box of converse running shoes.  A quick motion of his wand and they were exactly as he wanted them.

A shower and shave later found Kendall in front of the mirror, checking every hair, every gap between his teeth.  He'd flossed twivce, brushed three times and still wasn't sure of he had coffee breath, even if he had been drinking tea.

He sat on the bed and slid his white sport sock covered feet into the converse shoes.  They were comfortable even if he had only ever worn them once back in Sedona.  Mind you at the time they had been red high-tops.

As he walked out the door to apparate away, he grabed his cloak, and giving it a quick flick of his wand, lime green now trimmed the lining, a swirl and a pop later the only trace remaining of Kendall Fleetfoot was an afterimage of those bright pink converse shoes.

Morrigan had no idea who she was dealing with anymore.