The Back Alley

[BanaBatGirl]

The streets of Hogsmeade are clean, cheerfully lit, and full of chatter with the store fronts advertising their wares. However, the alley behind the shops is dark, dank, and kinda... creepy. If you know anything at all about the school's history with the village, then you KNOW to avoid this place.

Also, it smells bad. Blame it on the rubbish bins, if you will.

[Mad Eye Touz]

Zahra could hardly BREATHE she was so excited! Zahra had a hat on, a big sweater, her digging boots and a pair of leg warmers. She'd thought about dressing nice, something Ruby would put together for Mikey - but she couldn't focus long enough on CLOTHES, something so trivial when MIKEY WAS ON HIS WAY TO HOGSMEADE.

They had to be careful. Very careful. Zahra had only told Mari and Ruby about his visit.

She stood bouncing from foot to foot, waiting, watching, jumping, pacing for Mikey Toussaint. She was totally about to smuggle that boy back to the school.

[Mell]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mad Eye Touz

Zahra could hardly BREATHE she was so excited! Zahra had a hat on, a big sweater, her digging boots and a pair of leg warmers. She'd thought about dressing nice, something Ruby would put together for Mikey - but she couldn't focus long enough on CLOTHES, something so trivial when MIKEY WAS ON HIS WAY TO HOGSMEADE.

They had to be careful. Very careful. Zahra had only told Mari and Ruby about his visit.

She stood bouncing from foot to foot, waiting, watching, jumping, pacing for Mikey Toussaint. She was totally about to smuggle that boy back to the school.

The trip to Hogsmeade was an eventful one and so not worth the galleons he had to fork out to the burl seventh year that had brought him here, but Michael handed over the money the moment he laid eyes on Zahra at the other end of the alley. Actually it was worth all those galleons.

After telling the guy what time he would meet him, Michael made a a beeline for his girl, making sure to keep as quiet as possible.

He came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist and buried his face into the crook of her neck for a nuzzle. "You look like you're expecting someone Kettleburn."

[natethegreat]

Gregoire was having a good time in the small town outside of the castle called Hogwarts, where he now temporarily lived. So far all was going well! The dirty blonde and tall boy was having fun exploring the new streets of the quaint place. It was decent sized too, and the shops were incredible! Absolutely stunning! Gregoire would explore every nook and cranny of this little and peaceful hamlet.

Looking for a shortcut to get from place to place he stepped into a back alley which he started to make his way down. The sky-blue eyed kid was keeping his head and eyes down at the make-shift map he had. Moving to the nearest wall he took out a pencil and started to draw the back alley onto the piece of paper. Hopefully by the end of this year he'd have a full map of Hogwarts, and a decent sized map of Hogwarts. Gregoire knew it would take the rest of his years here to get even close to a full map of Hogwarts, but he would still try no matter what!

As he was drawing the alley he thought he heard something from farther down the alley. (Mikey and Zahra) Gregoire thought he was going insane for a second. After deciding it was probably just a rat scurrying, or possibly some ghosts talking, he went back to his map. Gregoire made the dumb mistake to not even bother and look down to sound of the noise.

[Mad Eye Touz]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mell

The trip to Hogsmeade was an eventful one and so not worth the galleons he had to fork out to the burl seventh year that had brought him here, but Michael handed over the money the moment he laid eyes on Zahra at the other end of the alley. Actually it was worth all those galleons.

After telling the guy what time he would meet him, Michael made a a beeline for his girl, making sure to keep as quiet as possible.

He came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist and buried his face into the crook of her neck for a nuzzle. "You look like you're expecting someone Kettleburn."

Zahra wasn't the SQUEEEEEEEEALING type of girl, but a little squeee did escape her. HOW COULD IT NOT? It just couldn't be helped. Zahra caught his hands and HELD THEM so tight to her. "I AM though! My boyfriend. You better hurry up with that nuzzling before he shows up!"

She was trying very hard to get his face OUT OF THE WAY so she could turn around and SEEEEEEEE HIM and jump on him and put him in a bag and drag him back to Hogwarts.

[Mell]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mad Eye Touz

Zahra wasn't the SQUEEEEEEEEALING type of girl, but a little squeee did escape her. HOW COULD IT NOT? It just couldn't be helped. Zahra caught his hands and HELD THEM so tight to her. "I AM though! My boyfriend. You better hurry up with that nuzzling before he shows up!"

She was trying very hard to get his face OUT OF THE WAY so she could turn around and SEEEEEEEE HIM and jump on him and put him in a bag and drag him back to Hogwarts.

"Pfft...he'll just have to learn to share." He gave her another nuzzle before getting the hint that she wanted to turn around. Pulling his face out of her neck, Michael spun her around so that they were now face to face.

He let out a low wolf whistle. "Gorgeous as ever." And Merlin, was she ever. Those pictures she had sent were awesome but the real thing was so much better. He held out his arms. Hugs were required and then snogging.

[Mad Eye Touz]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mell

"Pfft...he'll just have to learn to share." He gave her another nuzzle before getting the hint that she wanted to turn around. Pulling his face out of her neck, Michael spun her around so that they were now face to face.

He let out a low wolf whistle. "Gorgeous as ever." And Merlin, was she ever. Those pictures she had sent were awesome but the real thing was so much better. He held out his arms. Hugs were required and then snogging.

"He doesn't seem the sharing type," Zahra said a split second before she JUMPED ON HIM. Hugs and snogging wouldn't DO. Zahra was going to climb him and be as close as she could AND SHE WAS STILL GONNA PUT HIM IN A BAG and not go back to Hogwarts without him.

Then very seriously she said, "I killed a troll." Because she'd just been DYING TO TELL HIM. It was a tale for FACE TO FACE time and she'd missed his face so much and it was way more important than her being gorgeous.

Then she snogged him. Quickly. "A real troll." Another kiss. "I missed you so bad."

[natethegreat]

Gregoire finally finished sketching out the alley way. Granted, the lines were a bit slanted, and they could also be a little bit darker, but that stuff could be touched up later on. Now he had more business to do. The noise he heard before continued though. Which was strange. "Bonjour? Anyone there?" Gregoire called out with his usual heavy French accent.

Moving slowly to the sound of the noise he started to pull out his wand. There might be some trouble, and if there was, Gregoire wouldn't want to go without his wand. If necessary, Gregoire would also cast the first spell. He was only semi-afraid of the things that he might have to fight. Though, the sly Frenchie didn't want to have to cast any spells right now. Unlike what he had to do in a class. There was no way, he'd be ready to actually fight some people. The dirty blond only knew a few offensive spells, and one defensive spell.

[Mell]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mad Eye Touz

"He doesn't seem the sharing type," Zahra said a split second before she JUMPED ON HIM. Hugs and snogging wouldn't DO. Zahra was going to climb him and be as close as she could AND SHE WAS STILL GONNA PUT HIM IN A BAG and not go back to Hogwarts without him.

Then very seriously she said, "I killed a troll." Because she'd just been DYING TO TELL HIM. It was a tale for FACE TO FACE time and she'd missed his face so much and it was way more important than her being gorgeous.

Then she snogged him. Quickly. "A real troll." Another kiss. "I missed you so bad."

Before Michael could even respond to that comment, Zahra was upon him. To be honest he was surprised it had taken her this long. He held her tightly and returned all her hugs and kisses. He would be quite happy to do this all day.

That was until she told him her news and he waited until she had finished kissing him before placing her back onto the ground. "Really!? That is so awesome!" He gave her a quick kiss on the lips. "I am so proud of you." Not to mention slightly jealous. It had always been a dream of his to take on a troll.

Michael heard someone call out from somewhere behind him but he ignored it, he had not seen his girlfriend for months and he was not about to be interrupted. "So tell me, how did you kill it?" He wanted all the details.

[Mad Eye Touz]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mell

Before Michael could even respond to that comment, Zahra was upon him. To be honest he was surprised it had taken her this long. He held her tightly and returned all her hugs and kisses. He would be quite happy to do this all day.

That was until she told him her news and he waited until she had finished kissing him before placing her back onto the ground. "Really!? That is so awesome!" He gave her a quick kiss on the lips. "I am so proud of you." Not to mention slightly jealous. It had always been a dream of his to take on a troll.

Michael heard someone call out from somewhere behind him but he ignored it, he had not seen his girlfriend for months and he was not about to be interrupted. "So tell me, how did you kill it?" He wanted all the details.

That Slytherin in the alley? Zahra was going to kill him later. She'd not seen Mikey, she never got to see Mikey, Mikey Mikey Mikey and kid with a deathwish. Mmmm she kissed his WHOLE FACE.

"NO,I mean really. Really, really. It was the COOLEST! Okay, so like... we're in Potions and Professor Culloden actually wasn't HATING me for once, and all of a sudden someone is KNOCKING on the door.... BOOM BOOM BOOOM! - And guess whoooooo? TROLL. TROLL IN THE FREAKING DUNGEON, TOUSSAINT!" Zahra punched his arm, like CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT?!

"And everyone was freaking out and I was just like, man I miss Mikey... and Professor C was about to get eaten, and YOU KNOW how me and you know all about Harry Potter and Ron and what they do... I just did what they did! I levitated a DESK and knocked that old troll OUT COLD. With some help of that Ravenclaw Jasmine. I wish you had been there. We might have died, but it'd been SO COOL with you."

That was as good as any LOVE YOU in Zahra World.

[Mell]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mad Eye Touz

That Slytherin in the alley? Zahra was going to kill him later. She'd not seen Mikey, she never got to see Mikey, Mikey Mikey Mikey and kid with a deathwish. Mmmm she kissed his WHOLE FACE.

"NO,I mean really. Really, really. It was the COOLEST! Okay, so like... we're in Potions and Professor Culloden actually wasn't HATING me for once, and all of a sudden someone is KNOCKING on the door.... BOOM BOOM BOOOM! - And guess whoooooo? TROLL. TROLL IN THE FREAKING DUNGEON, TOUSSAINT!" Zahra punched his arm, like CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT?!

"And everyone was freaking out and I was just like, man I miss Mikey... and Professor C was about to get eaten, and YOU KNOW how me and you know all about Harry Potter and Ron and what they do... I just did what they did! I levitated a DESK and knocked that old troll OUT COLD. With some help of that Ravenclaw Jasmine. I wish you had been there. We might have died, but it'd been SO COOL with you."

That was as good as any LOVE YOU in Zahra World.

If it wasn't bad enough that he had to be apart from his girlfriend, he had to find out that she was having all these adventures without him. He would have loved to have been by her side taking on the troll. "Smart thinking to levitate a desk." Michael ga e her a nudge with his elbow. "Something a Ravenclaw might do." He would have totally gone in for the tackle like Harry Potter had done.

"I wish I could have been with you." He dragged her into his arms again and held her tightly. "I've missed you too Kettleburn. So much." He'd managed to make a couple of friends at Durmstrang but it just wasn't the same as having Zahra around.

"Tell me what else you have been up to?" He wanted to hear everything.

[Mad Eye Touz]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mell

If it wasn't bad enough that he had to be apart from his girlfriend, he had to find out that she was having all these adventures without him. He would have loved to have been by her side taking on the troll. "Smart thinking to levitate a desk." Michael ga e her a nudge with his elbow. "Something a Ravenclaw might do." He would have totally gone in for the tackle like Harry Potter had done.

"I wish I could have been with you." He dragged her into his arms again and held her tightly. "I've missed you too Kettleburn. So much." He'd managed to make a couple of friends at Durmstrang but it just wasn't the same as having Zahra around.

"Tell me what else you have been up to?" He wanted to hear everything.

"Smart, but not Ravenclaw. Don't call me that," Zahra wiggled down and took his hands in hers. She wasn't interested really in GOING anywhere, especially not any place where OTHER people might take her precious Mikey time. "The Ravenclaws hate me since you left." That was pretty literal. "There's precious few exception. I dunno even know why." So that was another thing Z had been up to.

She CLUNG to him when he pulled her close, closing her eyes and just CLINGING to him. He was sooooooo going into a Christmas bag and being dragged to school with her. Z thought about what ELSE she had been up to... "Oh I've been using the digging junk Cope gave me. I dug a GIANT hole by the lake. That was cool. Didn't find a dinosaur though. OH and like, get this - the professors that LIKED me last year? Don't anymore. And the ones that hated me? Like totally love me. It's the weirdest thing, Toussaint."

[Mell]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mad Eye Touz

"Smart, but not Ravenclaw. Don't call me that," Zahra wiggled down and took his hands in hers. She wasn't interested really in GOING anywhere, especially not any place where OTHER people might take her precious Mikey time. "The Ravenclaws hate me since you left." That was pretty literal. "There's precious few exception. I dunno even know why." So that was another thing Z had been up to.

She CLUNG to him when he pulled her close, closing her eyes and just CLINGING to him. He was sooooooo going into a Christmas bag and being dragged to school with her. Z thought about what ELSE she had been up to... "Oh I've been using the digging junk Cope gave me. I dug a GIANT hole by the lake. That was cool. Didn't find a dinosaur though. OH and like, get this - the professors that LIKED me last year? Don't anymore. And the ones that hated me? Like totally love me. It's the weirdest thing, Toussaint."

"I'm just teasing you Kettleburn." She was no more a Ravenclaw than he was. He couldn't think of anything worse than being in THAT house. Michael swung their hands back and forth gently. "I don't think they hate you Z. They probably just took offence to the names you call them." He chuckled as he squeezed her hands. He had heard some of the names she had spouted at them.

He kissed the top of her head and while she talked about the things she had gotten up to, he breathed in the smell of her hair and simply got lost in the memories of the two of them.

After a moment, Michael realised she had stopped talking and he gave himself a small shake. "Did you leave the hole as it was?" That would be so funny to see people fall into it while not looking where they were going. He let out a small snicker as that thought entertained his mind but it was shortly lived. "Seriously woman, why do you think everyone hates you? Although why you're worried about the Professor's, I don't know." Because really, who cares what they think. "You think something is going on at the school?" Wouldn't be the first time, would it?

[Mad Eye Touz]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mell

"I'm just teasing you Kettleburn." She was no more a Ravenclaw than he was. He couldn't think of anything worse than being in THAT house. Michael swung their hands back and forth gently. "I don't think they hate you Z. They probably just took offence to the names you call them." He chuckled as he squeezed her hands. He had heard some of the names she had spouted at them.

He kissed the top of her head and while she talked about the things she had gotten up to, he breathed in the smell of her hair and simply got lost in the memories of the two of them.

After a moment, Michael realised she had stopped talking and he gave himself a small shake. "Did you leave the hole as it was?" That would be so funny to see people fall into it while not looking where they were going. He let out a small snicker as that thought entertained his mind but it was shortly lived. "Seriously woman, why do you think everyone hates you? Although why you're worried about the Professor's, I don't know." Because really, who cares what they think. "You think something is going on at the school?" Wouldn't be the first time, would it?

Zahra laughed. "Well, see, this ONE cool Claw - like, really probably the only one of the lot - came and suggested we fill it up with water. So we did that. Now it's a giant mud hole." So you know, still awesome. And even FUNNIER if someone fell in it. "But... I don't know why I worry about people hating me. I guess I don't have you to ... keep me busy. And I have to go to classes," Zahra was talking like she hadn't talked the WHOLE TIME Mikey had been gone, "I'm not giving your parents one reason to hate me TOO."

Perhaps that's where Zahra's caring really stemmed from: Mikey's parents clear disapproval of her.

She looked up at him, studying his face, the subtle changes there. He was still Mikey, but he WAS changing. Was he taller now? Was that a BEARD like thing growing? Haha what... "You better be going to classes, too. I mean, don't turn into a nerd or anything, but we should... we should keep trying. Maybe they'll let you come back next year."

[Mell]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mad Eye Touz

Zahra laughed. "Well, see, this ONE cool Claw - like, really probably the only one of the lot - came and suggested we fill it up with water. So we did that. Now it's a giant mud hole." So you know, still awesome. And even FUNNIER if someone fell in it. "But... I don't know why I worry about people hating me. I guess I don't have you to ... keep me busy. And I have to go to classes," Zahra was talking like she hadn't talked the WHOLE TIME Mikey had been gone, "I'm not giving your parents one reason to hate me TOO."

Perhaps that's where Zahra's caring really stemmed from: Mikey's parents clear disapproval of her.

She looked up at him, studying his face, the subtle changes there. He was still Mikey, but he WAS changing. Was he taller now? Was that a BEARD like thing growing? Haha what... "You better be going to classes, too. I mean, don't turn into a nerd or anything, but we should... we should keep trying. Maybe they'll let you come back next year."

"Aww man, you guys sound like you're having the best time." Zahra was knocking out trolls with flying desks and making giant mud holes and what was he doing? Getting his butt kicked by jealous students of Durmstrang. "I wish I could be here to keep you busy." Like she had no idea how much he would like to distract her.

Michael heaved a heavy sigh and kissed the top of her head again. "They don't hate you Zahra. It's not really about you. This is my punishment for wasting four years of magical education." He looked down at her and smiled before giving her a quick snog.

"Of course I am going to classes. I don't want my parents sending me even further away or... He pulled a face..."be homeschooled. And besides I really need to catch up on my wand work. In particular offensive and defensive spells. There were a few people at school that needed serious payback. "Yeah maybe." But he doubted his parents would let him return that soon.

"So we staying here or are we gonna go somewhere else?" Preferably somewhere with food.

[Mad Eye Touz]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mell

"Aww man, you guys sound like you're having the best time." Zahra was knocking out trolls with flying desks and making giant mud holes and what was he doing? Getting his butt kicked by jealous students of Durmstrang. "I wish I could be here to keep you busy." Like she had no idea how much he would like to distract her.

Michael heaved a heavy sigh and kissed the top of her head again. "They don't hate you Zahra. It's not really about you. This is my punishment for wasting four years of magical education." He looked down at her and smiled before giving her a quick snog.

"Of course I am going to classes. I don't want my parents sending me even further away or... He pulled a face..."be homeschooled. And besides I really need to catch up on my wand work. In particular offensive and defensive spells. There were a few people at school that needed serious payback. "Yeah maybe." But he doubted his parents would let him return that soon.

"So we staying here or are we gonna go somewhere else?" Preferably somewhere with food.

It was not the best time. It was Zahra doing whatever she could to pass time by until Mikey came back. "It's more like survival, Mikey. It's not easy or fun or anything really at Hogwarts without you. If it weren't for Ruby and Mari, I'd have gone home I think." Like she had her first year, when she pitched a fit and waited to start Hogwarts the next year with Mikey.

Mmmm. Snog. Yeah, Zahra had missed Mikey snogs. And hugs. And pranks. And everything.

She was quiet, which was obviously strange for her, on this whole four wasted years at Hogwarts thing. And wand work. Really? That was news to her. "You're not bad with a wand, Toussaint. Don't let those Durmy Doo doos tell you otherwise. Maybe they need to get out in the sun and live a little." But Zahra was still kind of looking at Mikey like she was trying to figure out what he meant. Why wand work?

".... we can... I guess I should have brought us food... I wasn't thinking. I was in a hurry." Pause pause pause. "I just don't want to go somewhere that I'll have to share you." Hence meeting here. NOT to mention, his family lived (sometimes) in this very town.

[Mell]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mad Eye Touz

It was not the best time. It was Zahra doing whatever she could to pass time by until Mikey came back. "It's more like survival, Mikey. It's not easy or fun or anything really at Hogwarts without you. If it weren't for Ruby and Mari, I'd have gone home I think." Like she had her first year, when she pitched a fit and waited to start Hogwarts the next year with Mikey.

Mmmm. Snog. Yeah, Zahra had missed Mikey snogs. And hugs. And pranks. And everything.

She was quiet, which was obviously strange for her, on this whole four wasted years at Hogwarts thing. And wand work. Really? That was news to her. "You're not bad with a wand, Toussaint. Don't let those Durmy Doo doos tell you otherwise. Maybe they need to get out in the sun and live a little." But Zahra was still kind of looking at Mikey like she was trying to figure out what he meant. Why wand work?

".... we can... I guess I should have brought us food... I wasn't thinking. I was in a hurry." Pause pause pause. "I just don't want to go somewhere that I'll have to share you." Hence meeting here. NOT to mention, his family lived (sometimes) in this very town.

Michael knew exactly where she was coming from, he was having the same problems at Durmstrang. It was just a matter of getting through each day. He gave her a squeeze. "Hang in there Kettleburn, I'm going to do all I can to get back here." And if it wasn't next term then it would definitely be the year after because then he would be of age and no one could tell him what to do.

He was trying to ignore the look she was giving him but he found it too hard and he let out another heavy sigh. "I'm not bad at wand work...but the students at Durmstrang are much better especially with the things they get taught." He paused for a moment and then started to roll up the sleeve on his left arm. "Now don't freak out or anything." He held out his arm once his sleeve was up and showed her the angry red scar that criss crossed down his arm. "That's how far behind I am." But not for long.

"We could just grab some takeaway and then find somewhere quiet." He didn't particularly want to have to share her either.

[Mad Eye Touz]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mell

Michael knew exactly where she was coming from, he was having the same problems at Durmstrang. It was just a matter of getting through each day. He gave her a squeeze. "Hang in there Kettleburn, I'm going to do all I can to get back here." And if it wasn't next term then it would definitely be the year after because then he would be of age and no one could tell him what to do.

He was trying to ignore the look she was giving him but he found it too hard and he let out another heavy sigh. "I'm not bad at wand work...but the students at Durmstrang are much better especially with the things they get taught." He paused for a moment and then started to roll up the sleeve on his left arm. "Now don't freak out or anything." He held out his arm once his sleeve was up and showed her the angry red scar that criss crossed down his arm. "That's how far behind I am." But not for long.

"We could just grab some takeaway and then find somewhere quiet." He didn't particularly want to have to share her either.

Was now the right time to tell him HER plan to just take him back to the castle NOW and them just pretend like he'd been there the whole time? ....hehe... Zahra would just wait a few more before sharing that idea. It was, after all, brilliant.

WHAT. WHAT DID HE MEAN NOT FREAK OUT? ZAHRA WAS FREAKING OUT.

CHANGE OF PLAN! Zahra was going back with MIKEY and she was gonna BEAT EVERYONE THERE UP! FOR REAL. Wedgies, swirlies, and GENERAL BUTT KICKING AROUND.

SHE WAS SO MAD SHE COULDN'T TALK. She spluttered a few times, made several wild gestures at his arms, BUT PEOPLE THERE WERE HURTING HIM!? This was OUTRAGEOUS! Zahra was SO MAD AT HIS PARENTS! At everyone.

"Shrieking Shack," she finally managed, THOUGH SHE WAS STILL SPITTING MAD.