Kay knew that Elijah was going to ask her the same question that she had asked her grandfather and aunt repeatedly. A question that she had never received an honest answer to. "I really don't know because no one will give me a straight answer. My aunt says that it's all my father's fault, but Grandfather says it was an accident," she explained.

"I was visiting Grandfather last week and I showed him a picture I found locked away in my father's school trunk. It was of the Ravenclaw Quidditch team and they were hoisting two trophies - the Quidditch Cup and the House Cup. Grandfather pointed out father and his best friend, a person named Maximus Vindictus. He went on to tell me that the two of them were inseperable and that both ended up playing for the same professional Quidditch team. The name sounded familiar and picked up my latest issue of Quidditch International. He was on the cover and there was an entire article about his plans for retirement," she said and smiled. "According to the article, he was going to help run the family business - Quality Quidditch Supplies."

She put one arm around him and smiled. "Maybe this Maximus Vindictus can tell me what really happened and besides, I need to get a new broom."

Elijah smiled sincerely at Kay and pulled her close to him as she put her arm around him. "Well then it seems we've picked the right time and the right place to visit for such a thing," he said. "Come on then, Quality Quidditch Supplies is just up the street, I think."

In the back of his mind, Elijah hoped that whatever this Maximus Vindictus had to say wouldn't upset Kay in any sort of way; though of course he couldn't make that promise to himself and keep it. But he was prepared for whatever may happen.

Kay smiled as she and Elijah walked down the street towards Quality Quidditch Supplies. "I say we first get my broom and then start asking questions," she suggested as the neared the entrance to the shop.

_____________________

The clanging of the shop bell was starting to irritate Maximus as customers came and went from the shop. Business was brisk and he was making a nice profit from the sales. That thought cheered him up a little after his lengthy encounter with Luciana earlier that day and he turned around to straighten one of the many photographs of himself that he had hanging on the walls around the shop.

Elijah walked into Quality Quidditch Supplies along side with Kay. It had definately been an interesting afternoon; Seeing Ashlie for the first time in a couple of years, having a not-so-good run in with Kay's aunt, and now here they were walking to the shop, about to ask the owner about Kay's parents. He had his doubts, Elijah had to admit; How could they know that this... Maximus would willingly talk with Kay about her parents... let alone how they died? He didn't let his doubts show to Kay, however. He wanted to be strong for her, just in case things did get ugly.

The door to the shop opened with a usual dinging of a bell above, signalling another customer. His eyes fell upon a man, he assumed to be Maximus Vindictus, who was tidying up many pictures around the shop. Upon closser inspection, Elijah realized that these photographs were of the man, Maximus, himself. Elijah groaned inwardly to himself, hoping he and Kay were not about to deal with an ego.

He gave a sideways glance to Kay and slipped his hand over hers, lacing their fingers together.

Max turned around as the clanging of the shop bell announced the entrance of another customer. What he was not prepared for was the emergence of a familiar looking young woman who was approaching the counter hand in hand with a young man.

"Why, good afternoon! Is there anything I can help you with today?" he asked jovially to the young man as he made his way around the counter.

Elijah looked up as the shop owner addressed him. He gave the man a nod, "Hello. Been busy have you? I'd imagine so with a lot of the younger school children wanting to buy their first brooms and such."

He glanced over at Kay quickly, thinking he saw Maximus give Kay a rather... odd look. "Well I'm sure you can help," he said turning his attention back to him. "My girlfriend, Kay here, is looking to get a new broom. She's the Captain of the Ravenclaw House Quidditch team at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry you know," he continued. "She will need a state of the art broom, one that's safe and reliable but not hoirribly expensive either."

Maximus wasn't surprised to hear the accolades of the young woman Elijah was with because he already knew and nodded his head in approval. "Well, of course she is! All Harrisons end up obtaining the House Captaincy; it's tradition, you know," he said grinning and ended up winking at Kay.

"So, a state-of-the-art broomstick, you say? Well, I'm sure that this youg lady is fully capable of selecting the best broomstick on the market." Max grasped Kay by the elbow and led her over to the broomstick display rack. "Take your time looking while I have a chat with your boyfriend," he whsipered to her as they reached the display.

Kay gave Elijah a pleading look as the man grabbed her by the elbow and led her over to the broomsticks. "What the . . . ?" she mumbled as he told her to take her time looking at the broomsticks. She was confused by the man's behavior towards her for several reasons: first, she never recalled meeting him before; and second, he seemed to know quite a bit about her. Elijah never mentioned my last name . . . how does this guy know who I am?

"Ah, here it is! Then new Nimbus model. It outstrips your old Firebolt that the rogue Bludger destroyed a few weeks ago," he proclaimed loudly and left her there as he casually headed back to where Elijah was left standing.

"You're a brave soul bringing her into this shop," Max stated as he walked back behind the counter. He folded his arms across his chest and looked sternly at Elijah.

Elijah gave Maximus a one-eyebrow stare as he spoke of Kay as if she were a long lost relative of sorts. He didn't like this guy. Not at all. Especially when he could have sworn he saw him... wink at Kay.

As the shopkeeper grabbed Kay and literally pulled her over to a showcase of brooms, he made to grab her back and say that he, Elijah, would rather look at the brooms with her. But no avail. He caught Kay's eyes and gave her a reassuring nod and stare. He was not going to let anything happen to her in the middle of a shop in Diagon Alley in broad daylight.

Next thing he knew, Mr. Vindictus spoke of wanting a word with... him? "Why on Earth would he want to talk to me?" Elijah thought. He wasn't about to get too friendly with this man just yet. Elijah stuck his hands in his robe pockets very casually, and grasped his wand in his right hand, as it hid inside his pocket.

Quote:

"You're a brave soul bringing her into this shop," Max stated as he walked back behind the counter. He folded his arms across his chest and looked sternly at Elijah.

He blinked at Mr. Vindictus. "Excuse me?" he said. "Why would I have to be brave to bring her into the shop? There aren't any laws being broken here, so I don't see what the probelm is exactly..." He stared Vindictus down, his right hand still firmly gripped on his wand that rested inside his robe pocket.

"You need to relax," Max replied and chuckled. "You'll need that wand only if Madam McLaggen decides to grace us with her presence," he added acidly and made a fist, cracking his knuckles because he truly hated that woman.

He looked over at the display where Kay was examining the brooms and smiled. Good, hopefully she'll stay over there so that I can talk to this guy. "Sorry, but I'm afraid we haven't been introduced," he said holding his right hand out to Elijah. "Maximus Vindictus at your service."

Elijah opened his mouth to speak but then closed it immediately. How did he know I was clutching my wand? he thought. He loosened his grip and slowly took both hands out of his pocket. His eyes shot up as he heard a familiar name. "McLaggen..." he repeated. "As in... Lucinda McLaggen?" he'd half hopped he was wrong, but how many Lucinda McLaggen's could there possibly be? He couldn't help but crack a slight smile; clearly this man wasn't too fond of Kay's aunt either. But why would he be concerned with her...

Elijah looked at Maximus Vindictus' hand for a moment, before reaching out and shaking it. "Erm... nice to meet you," he said. "I'm Elijah... Young." he added.

Max heartily shook Elijah's hand. "Pleasure to meet you Elijah. Seems like you have met the old banshee, too," he said grinning. "Take my advice and steer clear of that deranged woman. I think the job and those scars have addled her mind."

"Here, let me show you something." He turned around and took a framed picture off the wall, setting it down on the counter before him. It was an old photograph of a large group of students wearing an array of school robes and Quidditch uniforms. At the center of the photograph were two young men, each hoisting a trophy in the air: the one on the left was an 18 year-old Maximus holding the Quidditch Cup over his head; the other one was another 18 year-old Quidditch player with short golden-brown hair and blue eyes, hoisting the House Cup into the air with one hand while the other arm was wrapped around a blonde-haired woman at his side.

"This is the last time Ravenclaw won both the House Cup and the Quidditch Cup," he said proudly and pointed at himself. "See? There I am with the Quidditch Cup and the lad standing beside me is my best friend, Robert Harrison. He has his arm around Minerva McLaggen and, oh goodness! There's little Angie Lainey. She was in here earlier today purchasing an officiating whistle as a gift for someone."

Peony entered the Leaky Cauldron in a hurry, her black hair mused by the summer breezes that danced erratically across the square. Grimwald followed at her heels. Every once so often, he tried to take a nip out of her ankle. It was practically a rhythm.

Bite. Kick. Dodge kick. Bite. Kick. Dodge kick. Bite. Kick. Dodge ki---

"Grimwald," said Peony through her gritted teeth. "I will sell you to a furrier. Got that? HUH?"

Boreas hooted excitedly and flapped around Peony's face.

Awwww, lookit that, he's wowwied about his weetle fwend.

Peony stifled a sigh. What's wrong with you?

I'm touched to the pits of my soul.

'Pit' is about right. If you have a soul in the first damn place.

Peony caught sight of Ashlie and rushed forward, if only to dodge Grimwald's bite. "Ash!" she said, promptly tripping over a chair and nearly ending up in her friend's lap.

Ashlie's head perked up when she heard her name. A little slow at first, but what did you expect of someone who had had a bit too much to drink? Her curls hung over her face slightly, partially obscurring her view. She blew the curl back and then squealed in delight.

"Pee-O-Nee!" she cried out, jumping up and down suddenly. "Wow! I had no ideer you were coming." She let go of Jacques arm, which she'd been holding onto since she got off the counter.

"Wha'er you doing here! Eeee! Arer you staying?

Peony clambered erratically to her feet and stared at her friend, then levelled an accusatory glare at Jacques and every other male within ten feet of Ashlie. "Alright! I've heard of this kind of thing! Can't you get a girl without resorting to drugs, huh?" She waved her arms dramatically, whacking Boreas in the beak.

Grimwald hissed and bit her in earnest.

"Ow!" said Peony, losing balance and toppling into her friend.

Bwahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha~

"Shut up!" hissed Peony, wincing with pain.

Suddenly a suitcase launches itself into the Leaky Cauldron. A young girl around the age of fourteen enters shortly after. She didn't walk in like any normal person would, though. This girl had rolled into the building. Leaping to her feet next to her suitcase, Julia Agoobwah turns and looks out the door. "Come on, Jeff. Don't be such a baby," she calls to her pet, then grinning with satisfaction as a little crup comes prancing into the room. "Now follow me, and please don't get lost."

Sighing, she bends down and opens her suitcase with a SNAP!. Laying on top of all the clothes and other random items was a neatly folded up cloth, or so it seemed. Julia pulls out the cloth, shuts the suitcase, then unfolds it to reveal a blue cape with large bunny on it. Not just any bunny, but... Bugs Bunny. The KING of all bunnies.

Grinning proudly, Julia puts on her cape. "Ah, that's much better. I'm glad Mum didn't come, because she hates this thing," she tells Jeff. "Oh well. She's probably just jealous of my awesomeness." She smirks then picks up her suitcase and looks around. "I've never even been here before. How does Mum expect me to find my room that she reserved for me?" she whines quietly to herself as she walks around in a circle.

Eyeing the front counter, she contemplates whether or not she should go ask for assistance. After a moment or two, Julia rolls her eyes and laughs. "Even if I don't find the room, maybe I'll find an interesting place to explore," she says with an evil glint in her eyes, then looking down at her crup who had decided to lounge in a corner. She reaches up and touches the golden snitch necklace around her neck, then begins to sneak along the walls in search of her room.

She glances around the Leaky Cauldron and two girls in particular stick out to her; One girl with a head full of curls, and another with very odd looking pets. Feeling the urge to have a little fun, Julia slips two baby carrots out of her pocket and flings them at the two girls. "CARROTSSS!!!" She then drops to the floor and does a James Bond roll across the floor, then pops up and looks around sneakily.

Finishing off her French Toast Bucky sighed. People were just odd little creatures, weren' they?

"If you ask me," she said glancing over at Ashlie for two seconds. "I find her quite amusing. She should drink more often."

Jamie glanced at Ashlie, then back at Bucky. "You think so?" he asked, chuckling. Sure, she was amusing. And, so yes, she was legal. But still. "Long as she won't be driving," he grinned. He watched as a girl with a Bugs Bunny cape rolled in and tossed a couple carrots. Didn't he know that girl? He squinted his eyes and then nodded. "Yes.. I do! That's the Elijah girl!" he said out loud.

Ashlie eyed Peony with wide eyes, blinking blearily. What in the bloody hades? She stumbled slightly over to Peony and grasped her friend and giggled. "Ahhh Peeeeony! You'reso silllyyyy," she slurred, giggling uncontrollably. She continued to titter like this until a couple carrots landed at her feet. "Wha' the bloooody hads?" she asked in her tipsy talk.

"Pleased to meet you, Mr. Vindictus," he said. Elijah didn't need to be told twice to steer clear of Kay's aunt, and he nodded his head in agreement to what Mr. Vindictus said. What he'd said about her line of work had sparked some curiosity in him, however. "What exactly does... Mrs. McLaggen do for work?" he asked. "In our lovely encounter, I never heard what her career was."

The next thing he new, he was staring down at an old photograph. As he looked down at the then young witches and wizards in the photograph, they beamed up at him, cheered and clapped their hands with all their might. Elijah smiled to himself as he looked around at all the happy faces as Mr. Vindictus named them. "Lainey," he repeated with a smile, "She still looks just as good as ever," he commented. "She's the head of Ravenclaw House this year, and Deputy Headmistress. But I'm sure you might have already known that if she was in here earlier."

The mention of Kay's father sparked an emmense intrest in Elijah; after all this was one of the reasons he and Kay had walked into Quality Quidditch Supplies. Minerva McLaggen must have been his love interest, Kay's mother, and unfortunately for Minerva, Madame McLaggen's sister. He looked down once more at Kay's parents and saw how happy and excited they were in the photograph. It made his heart ache to see; they couldn't have possibly known what tragics lied ahead for them.

"Sir, if you don't mind me asking," Elijah began once more, tearing his gaze from the photograph. "What did your best friend decide to do when he got out of school?" Hopefully the question was casual enough that it wouldn't make Mr. Vindictus suspicious or anything. After all, Elijah hadn't pointed to the photograph and said "Those are Kay's parents, what happened to them?" or anything else of sheer obviousness.

"That crazed banshee is an Auror, and a darn good one too, and she serves on the Wizengamot, but I'd rather not talk about her if you don't mind," Max quickly answered. He truly hated talking about that woman and always did his best to steer the conversation away from that undesirable topic.

"Now little Angie Lainey . . . I could tell you stories about that girl! Always cheerful and bubbly, and smarter than a centaur but a bit clumsy at times," he said with a chuckle. "She was in her first year in that picture. Today was the first time I had seen her since we bumped into each other back when she was an Auror."

Max's attention went back to the photograph and he continued to talk. "What else do you expect two gifted Quidditch players to do? Robert and I were inseperable. We both played professional Quidditch for the Kenmare Kestrels as well as completed the training to become certified Aurors," he boasted and looked again at the picture. "I was even best man at their wedding and remember when the girls were born. Those were the days, I tell 'ya. And then the darkness fell upon the Wizarding World."

He abruptly grabbed the photograph and placed it back on the wall behind him. "Whatever they have told her, it was no accident. They were killed," he said harshly to the picture, his back to Elijah.

Elijah could clearly tell Mr. Vindictus didn't care at all for Kay's aunt. So far he hadn't come accross anyone who did, but that only included Kay, and the shopkeeper of Quality Quidditch Supplies.

While he was listening to what Mr. Vindictus said about Lainey, Elijah was more focussed on Kay's parents. What could have possibly happened to these people that they had to pay the ultimate price?

He slowly looked up at the shopkeeper and cleared his throat. "Sorry but..." he began, "Again if you don't mind me asking... how were they erm... killed?"

He looked quickly over his shoulder. He wasn't sure if he'd want Kay to hear this or not, so he darted his head back to Mr. Vindictus.

Max turned around and leaned forward on the counter so that he was eye-level with Elijah. "Listen, this isn't the place to discuss that," he growled and looked to make sure Kay couldn't hear them. "But let me tell you this: you keep a close eye on her at school. If anything happens to my goddaughter, you write to me but don't tell her unless it is necessary. Got it?"

Immediately looking in the direction that she heard her old crush's name, Julia blinks as her eyes fall on a somewhat familiar boy. Pondering for a moment, his face suddenly pops into her mind. The boy from the hallways that watched her cry. How embarrassing.

Remembering how comforting and childish he was, she laughs quietly. Now... his name. "Hi... Jamie," she greets after a moment of hesitation. "Your name is Jamie, correct? Or am I just making up random names?" Tilting her head to one side, she shrugs and adjusts her Bugs Bunny Cape that had fallen crooked from her James Bond rolls. She casually glances over at the two girls she threw carrots at, and giggles quietly.

Elijah blinked and leaned back as Mr. Vindictus spoke. He slowly nodded his head, and mumbled, "Yes sir." He nodded his head once more as he glanced out of the corner of his eyes towards Kay. "I've promised myself to not let anything happen to her; no matter what," he said firmly. "I'd die for her in an instant."

He trailed off and gave Vindictus a narrowed glance. "Hang on," he said. "Kay is your... Goddaughter? Does she know that?" he asked fiercly

Max narrowed his eyes. "She probably doesn't remember, but you can bet your Galleons that the crazed banshee would prefer to keep it that way. Do me a favor and not tell her anything just yet," he said gruffly and glanced over at Kay who was still examining the broomsticks.

Elijah blinked his eyes a few times and looked over his shoulder to where Kay stood browsing over the various broom sticks. Heaving a heavy sigh he turned back towards Mr. Vindictus and shook his head. "You realize that by me not telling her anything means me pretty much lying to her," he said. "I don't want to lie to Kay. It would hurt her beyond reason, and that is the Last thing that I want to do," he said with an intense stare.