One minute, Sander was walking along happy as could be, bobbing his head and whistling a tune he'd heard on the airplane over here, and the next...

???!

He was lost. How had he gotten back here, and how did he get back out? He needed to see that candy store yet, and the pub with a pig head on the sign, and definitely the prank store. This was place was none of those things; it was just a small, dark, dank little corridor thing. And it smelled.

Sander quickly shoved his hands in his pockets where his coins and wand were, and started picking up the pace with his long, gangly legs. Erm.. there had to be a way out sometime, right?

Yeah he was suppose to be meeting up with Cinna, but Bart had to take a side trip to the alley. He had snuck a potion out of the castle he had been working on and wanted to try it. He just needed to find something to try it on. If he could get this Befuddlement Draught perfect it could make things interesting. He still had the letter he had found in his mums trash from Rebecca and it was his inspiration for the potion.


No there had to be something he could use it on. A frog, stray cat, he'd find something. Maybe he should have stayed at the castle he just tried it on Herpo. His newly found cat seemed to not mind being his test subject for his last potion and once he did the antidote the cat was fine.

Looking around he noticed that he wasn't alone. The man was older, not school age, so Bart eyed him a bit. He knew people lived around here, but it was always interesting to see them on school weekends. He figured most adults ran to hide from the takeover of students. Making eye contact he nodded, "Sup"

Jamie wasn't lost, never lost, he was simply exercising his right as the official photographer for the yearbook. Professor Airey was going to be SO impressed by the time he got back from this Hogsmeade weekend thing and anyway, taking pictures was a neat distraction from his empty pockets. While everyone was off spending, James Malloy was working until he found his brother and begged him to buy him something.

As he walked, the fourth year came across a back alley of sorts...!!! And someone walking through it. Click.

Could be a creeper. A criminal. A stow away in Hogsmeade...or just a regular dude walking the place and he would be the Gryffindor to get the shots. Only problem was....these were all from behind and essentially useless. "Hey! Hey you!" Click click. And wasn't that...um.....Bart, right? They were housemates last he checked. Jamie already had LOADS of pictures of him whether he knew it or not.

Amazing no one got fed up and broke his camera yet.

Footsteps. There were definitely footsteps behind him... someone was coming! Coming around the trash cans! It was probably a bum!

Just kidding, it was a kid. Two of them, actually. One following right after the other with a camera. Sander put a hand up against the blinding flash from the second kid, and stopped wherever he was headed.

"Sup," he returned the greeting from the first boy. Was this back alley a common way to get from store to store? Hogwarts kiks ought to know, and Sander was friendly enough to ask for directions. "Uh, you," the sup kid. Aleksander pointed at him with one of his long fingers just to be sure he was listening. "You know how to get to the candy store from here?" Not that he was lost or anything... just a little bit confused.

He heard the clicking first and turned his head, quickly slipping hte vial into his pocket. No need for anyone to let old Pops Culloden that he was testing new potions out on students animals of Hogsmeade. Nope, he didn't need a detention or grounding from his step father. He liked his freedom thank you and he wasn't going to get caught, he rarely was caught. So why was Jamie clicking pictures back here. Glaring was going on now, "Dude, I think your camera needs to be at the broomsticks were the action is. Go get the couples of Hogwarts or something." That should get him to shoo, right?


Looking at the man he checked him over a few times. Was he a dark wizard needing the Hogshead? Sweet Merlin that would be awesome. He hadn't been around a real dark Wizards since he tried to intern in Knockturn Alley over the summer. That had failed, but he would try again. Disappointment showed as the man asked about the candy store, "Little old for a candy store aren't you mister?" No dark wizard would be in a candy store.

Going back to his looking for something to use to potion on he stuck a finger out in front of him. "Go down that way and to your right. It's like the second or third building." He thought that was right at least and honestly he didn't care if the man got lost more, he'd find more kids that way, they would help him.

Don't get him wrong, the candy shop was plenty important but even as Jamie snapped another shot, he couldn't help but feel like this was a huge let down. There would be no grand spanking story for the yearbook that he could sell to the Prophet later.

Missing persons maybe? If this guy was lost someone must have been looking for him. That warranted another click as the man turned to face them.

The broomsticks though? "Nah mate, I haven't gotten to that side of Hogsmeade yet. Workin' my way around hopin' to catch as much as I can for the Professor. He'll love it--maybe not these on account of the poor lighting but I feel like I could salvage these differently, y'know? Add some effect of sorts. There's spells for that, or so I read."

And hang on, if they were still talking the candy shop. "S'not that way. It's back that way, take a right and it's the fourth one. The one with all the students rushing in and out." The one he had to avoid though it pained him. "I'd take you there but only if you bought me something in return. Cauldron Cakes are amazing." Click click click click. The dim alley was alight with flashes and this was what excited Jamie.

...hmm, he was getting two different sets of directions. Were either of them right? "Can you put the camera down for a second, kid. I obviously don't go to Hogwarts. And I'm not interesting enough to be in the Daily Prophet." That was directed to the second one, who had a flashbulb for a face as far as Sander could tell. And now he wanted bribery for his could-be-false directions?

"I'll buy... something to reward whoever gets me to the right place first." How about that. He carefully didn't say what the something was though. Also, "You're never too old for candy," the ginger scoffed to the first boy. What was this kid, Sander's mother?

These two talked too much, maybe Bart would give one of them the potion. He had done a few experimental tries on humans, but never one that could do what this baby would do. Hmmm, he thought a moment as Jamie annoyed them with his camera. Suck ups, he couldn't handle them and this one was certainly one if that was why he was taking so many pictures. "Yeah there is, but I'd just take pictures of important things, so like stop taking them back here." No reason to have evidence of him with his potion.

His thoughts went to Jamie and how he could get him to take the potion. He'd be perfect for it. Could just blame the camera for his crazy. Yep, something happened, too many flashes into his own face. Could have had the camera backwards, that could be a good story.

A CAT!

There was a cat, Bart looked at both of them before looking back at the cat. He needed that stray, hmm how to do it without being too obvious. "Well yeah I guess, but it just doesn't seem like something I'd do at your age knowing the shop would be swarming with kids. Unless you got one you come to check up on." Was that it? He was one of those parents?

Reaching down he tried to snatch the cat, but it jumped right as he was about to pick it up.

Er...put the camera down? Jamie squirmed a little uncomfortably but let the camera fall to his chest, suspended by the strap it was attached to. Right then...so now...he just....stared at them? Was that it? What if at the very next second one of them did something so utterly unbelievable that a camera in hand would have served him better for it? If this man combusted into flames the world would miss it because he told Jamie to put his camera down. Talk about a wasted shot at publicity.

There was nothing wrong with taking pictures back here either. "The Headmistress said we're meant t'be mappin'." How many people knew this alley existed? He was doing his HOGWARTS DUTY so yeah...his fingers itched at the site of the cat. Camera down Jamie.

"I don't reckon he's too keen on takin' you to the candy shop. He's much too smitten with the cat, there, see? So you might as well let me take you and we can negotiate--you could buy me something from the three broomsticks instead." Like a nice warm meal. Hmmm, he could go for one of those right now. Kid was hungry, he was always hungry.

"You comin' or not?" At some point the stranger danger bells will start ringing...maybe...he'd just, not mention this to Gram in his next owl.

Was this kid seriously implying that Sander HAD a kid of his own? A troublemaker who ran around in dark alleys, chasing after cats? He let out a loud snort. "I'm barely old enough to be on my own, so I'm not a father, thanks." No he was not here to check up on a kid. He was here to check up on some CANDY. And do other touristy things, thanks a lot.

He half-turned toward Camera Face. Oh wait, he actually was a human now. "Alright, fine, just get me out of this alley. I'll follow you." He gestured for Camera Face to lead the way wherever. "Have fun chasing cats," Sander called back to the first boy.

Strange kids they had on this side of the pond. Real strange.

"I'm not chasing cats, I need a test subject." Whoops shouldn't have said that. Bart tried to retract, "Professor Morgan let a bunch of cats out for her class and some came up missing. Tryin to get extra points for Gryffindor." HA! No one that really knew him would believe that, but hey these two weren't Cinna and Emmylou, or even Brynn, so it could work.

He had rolled his eyes at the mapping stuff, so lame. "When she starts mapping the broken pitch let me know." That's all he cared about. His fingers itched for a broom. Maybe they were itching to try this potion and he eyed to other two. Which would be gullible enough to take it.

Did he ignore the barely old enough comment, well kind of his focus was on the cat that almost scratched him and Bart didn't care much for people's personal lives. Only if it helped him succeed in his goals and gain the power he was looking for. "Why you in Hogsmeade anyway? I mean we don't know you, for all we know you could be a dark wizard trying to kidnap students." Which if he was, could Bart learn something from him?

Sweet! He got him to follow him. Jamie was a great tour guide, nevermind this being his first visit ever. Kid had a good memory and what he lacked was made up for by the camera. Plenty of shots in there. No way he could be lost. Speaking of lost..."Cats can't be lost; they usually have a brilliant sense of direction. Why don't you take Professor Botros' crup for a walk or give catman an apple?" THAT was easier than wasting a perfectly good Hogsmeade weekend in an alley chasing cats.

"And maybe we'll map the pitch later." Hopeful Jamie was hopeful, but he was also hungry and didn't think he wanted to wait around here anymore so the 14 year old started back down the alley, figuring the guy would follow because he wanted out too, yeah?

But then the next thing Bart said had him stopping. Kidnapping children? Just when he FINALLY got to go to Hogwarts? This guy wouldn't. There was no way. "Don't pay attention him; he never has anything good to say. I know you're real legit and because you're real legit you'll really get me food when I take you to the candy, right?" Only now he didn't move. He needed confirmation because this just got REAL.

He didn't even know who or what these two were talking about, so Sander just kind of stood there with his hands in his pockets, looking between them. Why you in Hogsmeade anyway? Good grammar, kid.

"Ain't a fella allowed to tour the best wizarding village in Britain?" he answered the question with a question. "Do adults kidnap kids THAT often in here?" He'd read some things about Hogwarts, yes, usually only when they involved Bunburys though and his mother was trying to throw the paper at him as proof that her side of the family was better. He shook his head about the kidnapping thing and looked at Camera Face.

Yes, that was more like it. "Sure, look, I even have pocket money to buy you a butterbeer." Sander flashed a galleon out from his pocket and then quickly made it disappear between his long fingers. Oooh look, kid, close-up magic. "Can we get a move on now and leave Cat Chaser to it?" Test subject schmuject.

Cats can't get lost, pffft, did he hear himself? Herpo hadn't been found by Professor Morgan yet, so he figured there had to be others just walking around not sure where they belong. Maybe she was a catnapper taking all those needing to be adopted and dropping them at the school. Not that Bart cared, he didn't really care when it came to classes. He just need to test out his potion.

"Sure we will." He hadn't had the pitch in forever, so he wasn't believe some new kid that's for sure. His eyes moved just in time to see the cat was gone. Great now what? He eyed Jamie, he might take it or Bart would find a way. Maybe slip it into someones food. "Going to the broomsticks you say?" Maybe he'd follow them after all.

Holding back a snicker at Jamie's reaction to his kidnapping comment, Bart nodded, "Yup, weird things happen all the time. Wouldn't be surprised if kidnappers weren't just waiting for us to be here." Had the man read about the things that had gone on here. His mum was even a jury person for the one stealing youth. What was that name again, Botros Talone? "That's what a dark wizard would say just to make us trust him." Though he was interested even more.

Jamie watched the two go back and forth on the issue of kidnapping and creepy people in the village but he didn't see why they couldn't talk about all this in the candy shop since the guy showed him the galleon and said it was to buy him a butterbeer. That made him plenty legit in Jamie's head so...all this extra conversation....yeah.....no

"Sure sure, follow me." When finally asked if they were leaving or not. There was no food in this alley and they were making no progress here. This time he didn't even bother to correct Bart. They weren't going to the Three Broomsticks but he could figure that out on his own since he'd be tagging along.

Sooner or later he'd have to go find his brother but for now there was a bottle of butterbeer on the line so Dante could wait.

Eugh.

It reaked.

The smell alone of the dark back alley made more tears start to run down Gwendilyne's face. Most of them were from the smell. But some were from the thought of Gregoire's recent and tragic death. It was a real shame her older brother had passed away...He was so young...yet so reckless...she had a bad feeling that his recklessness would eventually get the best of him. But the brunette didn't expect it to be so soon. Gwen thought that it wouldn't be until the two of them were older. Sigh.

Wiping the tears off of her face, Gwen spotted the best place to set down a flower with a small note. Walking over with small and nervous steps, the youngest Bastion kneeled down. Opening the bag, she took out a small Lotus. From back at their home in Paris. The things were abundant in the small pond behind their summer home.

Gently placing it on the ground, she stuck a photo of Gregoire underneath. Gwen remained kneeling. She couldn't help but feel sad for her brother. Bowing her head, the 13 year old held back some tears. Hopefully nobody would walk by. She didn't want to have to deal with people right now.

Austin was enjoying his time at Hogsmede. Now that there was a tunnel that lead from the common room to the Quill Shop, it was easy to come and go. He hadn't liked going his previous years, mainly because he didn't want to ride the train there and back. But now that he can come and go as he pleased, it was easier for the third year. He had just stopped in for some candy, making sure to grab a bag of something for Ophelia. Her candy was old, and she deserved to have something that was fresh.

As he walked down the back alley happily, he saw a young girl looking rather sad. Sure it was a back alley, and it was dark itself, but it was very cliche to be sad in it. Austin usually saw the back alley as a short cut between stores, not a place to weep. Or... plant flowers? Why was this girl planting flowers? Was she a first year?

"Excuse me? Young girl, are you even allowed to plant those?"