The Other Side of Me {OPENED}

[gillian]

Gillian entered the Three Broomsticks. It was rather chilly out so she'd put on her hooded cloak and pulled the hood up over her head so that it shielded her eyes. The only thing visible was her blond hair over both shoulders. She pushed open the door to the pub and felt a cool gust of wind blow in from behind her. She immediately pulled down the hood and felt a shiver run up her spine. She hurriedly closed the door and gratefully stepped over to the bar counter and ordered a butterbeer. While she waited, she scanned the interior of the pub. It was somewhat active, but not overflowing with students. Which was a relief because right now she was feeling a bit withdrawn. The bartender gave her her butter beer and she headed toward a table in the corner which was away from the door and just right. She pulled off her cloak and wrapped it aroudn the back of her chair. She had seen a few snow flurries and quickly dusted them out of her blond hair.

Gillian crossed her legs and began sipping her butterbeer. She guessed the reason why she was feeling withdrawn was because she'd gotten an owl this morning from her grandparents. They said how Elizabeth is blossoming and made new friends. But what irked Gillian was the fact that half of them, were from the magical community. What the hell was going on with her? Gillian thought aggravatedly. She was a real bitch toward me, giving me a hard time and everything, yet goes out to Ireland and makes new friends, whom are from the magical community! This only caused Gillian to have mixed feelings of hurt, anger and resentment toward Elizabeth.

Sighing, Gillian took another sip of her butterbeer and crossed her arms over the top of the table and let her chin rest on top of them. At this point she'd made up her mind. As far as she was concerned, she has no sister. It was a drastic action that she never thought she'd have to take but this only began prooving her feelings and thoughts...Elizabeth actually hated her. It had nothing to do with the fact that Gillian was a witch. Was Elizabeth jealous of her on some level? But why? I had nothing special going for myself. she wondered silently. Shaking her head again, Gillian turned back to her butterbeer and wondered if she would meet anyone interesting here today.

[dream4]

S is for the simple need
E is for the ecstasy
X is to mark the spot

,

This place gave him the creeps. Honestly, it brought back memories he wished he could get rid of. True, there were spells he could use to get rid of the memories, but they made him who he was today. Eyes narrowed against the chilly wind, hazel eyes gleaming beneath the shaggy hair due to the flakes that had melted. Pulling up his jacket collar tighter around his neck, the tall frame of the young man headed into the Three Broomsticks. As his hand grasped the knob, memories flashed before his eyes. He had somewhat someone could call, photographic memory. He is skilled mainly with memories of his own, and what he read. Otherwise, he remembers just like everyone else does. Though, this memory was nice, it was of him and Duffy, a childhood friend who had disappeared.

Where? He didn't know and honestly, didn't want to know in some aspects.

Duffy had been a bit like him. Duffy's parents were both muggles, and he was a wizard. Shaking the memory off, he quickly pressed into the tavern, wanting to get out of the cold already. At least he was of age, so he could use magic to warm himself up. Muttering an encantation, he warmed up and unbuttoned his jacket, and headed to the bar, feeling - out of place. Boots were half-way silent on the floorboards which creaked as people moved on them. The 6'3" frame moved through the crowd and sat at the bar, asking for a butterbeer, just to take the edge off.

They were always nice to have. Anything really that was alcoholic that could drown him and let him wallow alone. Course, this was Hogsmeade and not London, where he would like to live. To get away from everything here someday. Or Ireland, where no one really gave a crap about what or who you were. Yes, his mom was a pureblood and from a well-known family, his father, a muggle, and well-known muggle family. Did they communicate? Hell no. God forbid if a father knew his own son. Growling at this thought, he downed some more of the butterbeer before placing it back down as the bartender mused, while cups floated about him, "Cold outside, eh?"

Eyes widened slightly, when one eyebrow rose into an arch, though the young man replied, running a hand through his hair, which ended up in it remaining slightly spiked, "Course not." he spoke, allowing a weak grin to come across his features. Pearly whites flashed to the bartender, before the young man then slid a gew Galleons across to him to keep it coming, then maybe a Fire Whiskey if he was feeling lucky. Turning around on the stool, he people-watched. This was always interesting to do in here. Especially say, after a Quidditch match.

Thinking about that, he was half-tempted to try-out for the team again. He wasn't a Seeker, too strong for that. Usually the Goal-Keeper was his best position. Frowning lightly, he finished off his first drink and turned around, asking for another, though paused. Eyes landed on a blonde at a corner table away from everything else. Upon seeing her, he couldn't help but smile lightly to himself. He paused a moment longer to see if she noticed, before smiling weakly towards her, then turning back to get another drink.

[gillian]

Gillian spied a boy at the bar and was smiling at her. She automatically broke into a grin. She shifted her weight on the seat and then spoke to him.

"Hi. I'm Gillian. Would you care to join me?" she asked brightly.

She gestured to the seat in front of her. Of course, she didn't know if he was a halfbreed or mixed blood or what. The only way she'd know is if he told her. While Gillian put on a brave face and act around mixed bloods that she doesn't mind them but secretly she does. Still, she wanted to start to tolerate them, but her mind said otherwise. But of course she was judging him when she didn't even know his status yet.

She reached up and tucked a few blond strands of hair behind her ear as she waited. She took another sip of her butterbeer and waited to see if he would sit down with her. She hadn't really met anyone interesting in a while now and she hoped that this would break that barrier.

The pub was starting to get filled up now and she hoped the guy wouldn't go and sit somewhere else.

"I promise I dont bite," she said jokingly and lightly, hoping to break any kind of ice that might've formed. Gillian did have a good sense of humor, but beneath her kind exterior, she could be downright cruel. It all depended on how she was treated. If people treat her kindly, she returned the favor. If they treated her mean and rather cruel, she did it right back. To her it was the circle of life. Her hazel eyes watched the boy, waiting for him to make the next move.

[dream4]

S is for the simple need
E is for the ecstasy
X is to mark the spot

,

Seeing her smile, he automatically couldn't help but smile back. Which was weird. Immediately the smile faded as the bartender handed him another butterbeer, then another and winked towards him. Giving the man a gentle look, he stifffened slightly when she spoke towards him, giving him her name. Gillian. With a J or G? He guessed G...let's see. "I'm guessing with a G?" he teased, before standing up, and long strides got him over there within about three strides. Sitting down quietly, he replied, sliding her the other butterbeer if she wanted it, "Hunter, the pleasure's all mine, Gillian."

Course, he'd known her for years. Since they were kids. His parents knew her's, and they'd been friends throughtout childhood. Age was always a fact, Hunter enjoyed having a "younger sister" around, since she was two years younger than him. But ever since he graduated Hogwarts and travelled the world for a year, they lost contact a bit. They weren't as close as he would like to be with her. He hoped to change that too. Tilting his head softly, he chuckled lightly, amused at her comment about biting, remembering the time she actually did bite him.

"I'm sure...well, not hard at least." he winked coyly, before sipping his butterbeer once more and placing it down on the table, sliding his jacket off, revealing a regular shirt, matching his jeans and boots (though gave him no height, he was tall enough). Shifting lightly, stretching his long legs under the table, he sighed in contentment and inquired, "How have you been, Gill?" he inquired, purely curious, placing his elbows on the table, fingers weaving together and placing his chin on top of his knuckles. "Enjoying your last year of school?" Hogwarts had always been a pain for him, well, mostly his last year.

His last year had been when he'd found out about his actual blood. Well - hopefully no one would know. Hell - the school didn't even know. Oh well. He shrugged to himself at this thought. Though, Gillian, his childhood friend didn't know. Could he tell her? She was a pureblood after all, so she might not be as forgiving. Hunter cringed slightly, though he didn't let Gillian see that. Remaining poised, he grinned shyly, letting her speak before he spoke once more.

[gillian]

Gillian grinned at Hunter. It was a long time since she'd seen him and they'd lost contact over the years. It was nice seeing him again. Gillian took another sip of her butterbeer, and realized that she was almost done, which was fine with her she was full as it was. But luckily, the beer had warmed her after spending time in the frigid cold weather outside. She polished off the beer and spoke.

"Naw not really that hard but I do have rabies," she teased right back. And heard him ask her about her school year. She nodded and responded.

"Yes and no. I wont miss the homework and stuff but my friends I'll miss the most. For the most part I've been good, but of course this thing with Elizabeth has me on edge though," she confided in him. "She is doing well back in Ireland but when she was here, she literally tore at me. And whats more, she made witch and wizard friends."

She hoped that Hunter would be able to make sense of things because she clearly had no idea what the hell was going on with Elizabeth at this point. She was at half a mind to just tell him that as of now she has no sister, but she knew he probably wouldn't go along with that. She put her elbow on the table and used the heel of her left hand to prop up the side of her jaw. She gazed at him and then spoke once again.

"What about you? What have you been up to lately?"

She wondered why they'd lost contact. They used to be so close and it would be nice to get to know him all over again. She'd missed him and now with him here, she felt a little better about things. The door opened and someone walked in sending a brisk gust of wind. She shivered and looked as a girl entered. Gillian turned her attention back onto Hunter and patiently waited for him to respond. He's certainly grown handsome now, she thought and quickly froze. Now where is that coming from?

Gillian forced herself not to blush but she knew she was probably fighting a losing battle. She waited.

[dream4]

S is for the simple need
E is for the ecstasy
X is to mark the spot

,

Hazel eyes noticed her butterbeed drink getting empty. Once she finished it, he smiled weakly, and pushed the other one towards her, silently giving it to her. He showed her the other one the bartender had given him. Hunter nodded solemnly, "To graduating school then." he grinned innocently, saying a cheer for them to drink to. As she mentioned about rabies, he leaned closer, deep voice soothing, "Good thing I'm getting shots for it." he winked an eye at her. Though, once she began to speak about school work, and missing her friends, he nodded gently. He understood, he saw some friends, otherwise they all were working so much.

He was working just to get by, mainly to keep himself preoccupied and not having to return to his mother's house. Cringing away from that thought, he then turned his attention back to Gillian. When Elizabeth was brought up, he frowned lightly. That was interesting. Her sister? Curiously, he leaned forward naturally, letting her know he was interested in hearing what this was all about. Oh right. "Well...she's still finding herself." he mused softly, gently with Gillian, knowing she could be like a timebomb if given the chance.

"And you can see your friends even more out of school." he grinned innocently, like he of course didn't have any idea what he was talking about, but he really did. Though when she asked about what he'd been up to lately, he shrugged shyly. Honestly, he hadn't been up to much, just working as a mentor and aid to the Ministry, which was odd work, but it paid well. He replied cooly, "Just helping others...got back from travelling the world." he grinned weakly, and mused, "Romania, Australia, Thailand, Japan, New York, Paris, Madrid, Tunisia in Africa and Morocco." those were the places he'd been too with magic, and met up with wizarding families in those places.

It was amazing how much bigger the world could be. Tilting his head calmly, hearing someone else enter and the chilly breeze brush by them, he flashed his dark wand and muttered a spell to protect them from the cold. A solid barrier appeared, blocking the winds from getting to them again. Hunter turned back to Gillian silently, "Much better." Though, upon seeing her blush, he kept it to himself, but his heart fluttered. Wait - why was his heart fluttering at her blush? It was probably from the cold.

Yeah, the cold. Blaming it on that made him feel better, but his gut was telling him different. A voice, mostly his voice in his mind spoke, "She's grown to be a beautiful woman." Smothering that train of thought before it launched, Hunter smiled softly, and mused, "I can show you some things from there. My favorite, I'd have to say was Romania, though I blame the dragons." he grinned, and then ran a hand patiently through his sandy-blonde hair once more, "But, on Elizabeth, I'd let her be for now, she's still figuring out who she is as a person."

[gillian]

Gillian listened to him speaking about the sites he'd been to. She eagerly took the next butterbeer and felt relieved when then spell took effect. She took a sip of beer and leaned forward, eyes twinkling as her face was inches from Hunters.

"Wow. I'd love to see the world. And sure I'd love to see your souveniers from everywhere. I'd never really been able to see much in my life but I'd love to travel." Gillian said softly as she took another sip of butterbeer.

She listened to his explanation on helping others and nodded. She put a hand on his arm.

"That's wonderful, Hunter," she said in a softer tone. Hunter was right of course. Elizabeth was probably nothing to worry about , that she was still trying to figure out who she was but there was still that nagging feeling that settled in her gut. She forced it out of her mind and spoke again.

"You're probably right about Elizabeth," she said. Gillian took a few more sips of her butterbeer and left half of it. She turned back to Hunter.

"What do you want to do now? We can take a walk through Hogsmeade if you want," Gillian suggested brightly as she kept herself leaning forward eagerly. Then she pulled on her cloak and wrapped it around her tightly. She left the hood down until they got outside. The pub was starting to get crowded and she really didn't feel like being indoors. Her hazel eyes were locked on Hunter, eagerly awaiting his response.

[dream4]

S is for the simple need
E is for the ecstasy
X is to mark the spot

,

Glad she accepted the other butterbeer, when she leaned forward, their faces closer, it took most of his self-control not to do anything stupid. Muscles grew rigid, though he kept himself poised and calm. He had to be careful with what he said to her. If he let on about being an impurity, would she disown him? His mother had fought very hard to hide his impure blood from the outside world, and when he figured it out his seventh year at Hogwarts in Ravenclaw, he knew things would never be the same. Sometimes he wished that he didn't know. The when she mentioned about seeing all the things, he nodded solemnly.

"You can come over and see them if you want. I redesigned my living room to fit for all the stuff." he grinned shyly. The instant she placed her hand on his arm, he felt a jolt travel up it. Feeling it send pleasant shivers down his spine, Hunter kept himself cool, before reminding himself Gillian was a childhood friend, a good friend and nothing more. Though heart cried out no, logic stomped out anything else his heart could say. Thinking of her sister, Elizabeth, made him smile. The two girls had been like his younger sisters growing up, his mom got him involved with any pureblood kids she could find, enveloping him into the culture.

Thoughts ran rampade in his head, while on the outside he hoped he didn't give himself away. Always having been a deep thinker, Hunter could multi-task with thinking, eating, listening and doing homework at the same time. Nothing more though, or he'd just give up one of the things, usually homework. He perked at the mention of taking a walk around Hogsmeade. Pausing lightly, debating over it, why not? He smiled and replied, sliding on his coat, "Why not?" Standing up, the tall young man then brushed in front of Gillian to open the door for her, the nippy wings digging at his fingers as he opened the door for her. No matter who he was with though, he never forgot his manners.

[gillian]

Gillian nodded eagerly.

"How about after we ransack Hogsmeade I go check out those wonderful artifacts?" She suggested brightly as she linked arms with him and they headed out of the pub.

They walked side by side. Gillian was glad to be out side in the frigid air. Something about feeling the cold made her feel relaxed and calm...and alive. She snuggled up against his arm, letting her head rest on his upper arm. Each time she exhaled puffs of steam rose up from her mouth and nose and evaporated into the air before her. She looked up at Hunter.

"How are you mother and father? Are they doing well?" Gillian asked him curiously.

It's been a while since she'd seen the Ramsey's. She hoped they were doing good. She rememberd how Mr. Ramsey had treated her like she was his own daughter. Mrs. Ramsey always fussed around Gillian, making sure she was comfortable and well fed. A warm sensation flooded through her at these thoughts. Yeah, but they're impuries a dark voice said in side her head. She stopped and shook herself mentally, forcing those thoughts to keep from swimming around her mind. Do you honestly think that your parents would allow you to frolic with these mutants if they knew the truth? the voice continued. Gillian let go of Hunter's arm and stopped walking, digging the heels of her palms just above her eye sockets. She stood, breathing rather heavily.

After a few moments, she slowly lowered her hands and gave Hunter a rather sheepish look.

"Sorry. Just a headache," she explained softly. She cleared her throat and linked her arm again with Hunters and they continued walking.

[dream4]

S is for the simple need
E is for the ecstasy
X is to mark the spot

,

An eyebrow curled lightly at mentioning, ransack Hogsmeade. Hunter inquired, curiously, "We're....ransacking it?" he grinned innocently, though nodded lightly, "Sure, I can take us there." Since he was 19 after all and could legally, one could say, teleport himself and others. Gillian was 17, which means she could too, but he'd prefer to do it, especially since she didn't know where his place was now. Upon her linking arms with him, the tall young man grinned weakly to himself, raising his other hand to his coat collar, and pulling it up to block the wind from nipping at his neck. Course, with Gillian being 5'5", and him being a good 6'3", he had to keep his pace slow so they could walk together.

Hazel eyes peered down when she asked about his parents. A pause, before he responded calmly, "They're all right. When I was in Paris, my mom paid me a surprise visit for a day." he grinned lightly, remembering that, "My father's retired now, he's enjoying that, they're just maintaining things now. Their stables, stuff." he shrugged. His parents, and his - well - his adopted father were enjoying having all the time in the world now. "I was thinking about stopping by for dinner with my parents tonight, my mom wouldn't mind having someone else join us...would you like to come along?" he asked lightly.

Suddenly, Gillian stopped, and he paused, turning back to see her digging her palms into her eye sockets. His stomach dropped, and Hunter cleared his throat, "Gill?" He surely hoped no one was sabotaging him. It had happened in Hogwarts, thankfully no one really believed him, so he got away clean. Warily glancing around for anyone who might be speaking out of term, he gently wrapped an arm around Gillian's shoulder, reassuring her. Though when she explained just a headache, doubting it, he didn't voice it, though merely nodded softly.

"Ok." he agreed, as they continued, Hogsmeade becoming quieter as people took cover from the chilly weather in different stores and taverns. He puffed some air out of his mouth, letting it vanish into the air, before looking back to Gillian, "And what have you been up to, Miss Gillian? Never really answered it." he grinned lightly, hoping it wouldn't swing back around about her sister, Elizabeth. If it did, he'd swing it around so they could veer off that topic, and catch up.

[gillian]

Gillian shrugged as they walked as she felt Hunter's arm around her shoulder. Somehow that was much calming and soothing for her.

"Nothing much really. Just checking into the local Magical community for anything suspicious. My boss is pretty cool actually but strict. So far there has been unusual break ins, and strange things that are even occuring even in the muggle realm," she said to him as they walked.

She inhaled the frigid cold and exhaled, watching her own breath rise in front of her. Gillian had taken up Magical Law Enforcement and was now working at the Ministry of Magic. It was basically like the magical community police.

"We're still stumped as to why this is going on but I'm sure we'll find out eventually," she offered him and then took up his statement on his parents. She smiled affectionately at the mention of the Ramsey's.

"Thats' good. Your dad needs a rest," She said kindly and smiled again.

For once, Gillian wasn't thinking of her sister. In fact, she was happy and glad now that she was walking with Hunter down Hogsmeade. Her hair bounced over her shoulders as she walked as she stuffed her one free hand into the pocket of her cloak. Their shoes thudded on the cobblestone street. They passed Knockturn alley and she felt a tingle run up her spine but she ignored it and kept walking.

"How about we check out Zonko's? You know I have an unusual sense of humor," she said breaking into a conspiratorial grin as she waited.