Ditching School

Charles sat on an old stool on the bar, with a cigarette in his mouth, and a beer in his hand, he ordered another one for Professor Rouge. Who he was expecting to meet about any minute now, he looked around the bar, and it was fairly empty. Classes hadn't started in Hogwarts yet, so why should he be there? No reason, so he just left, figured he could take a day break, to meet with his special someone.

School hadn't even started yet, so Melody had no guilt whatsoever leaving the School and meeting Charles down at the pub for a bit. She walked into the bar and saw him smoking, and couldn't help but wrinkle her nose. She thought she had tasted ash in his mouth, but she had assumed he must live with a smoker. Not that he WAS one. She sat down next to him, her hair up in chopsticks, wearing dark denim skinny jeans, a white buttondown top with a white lace bra (not showing) and white converse. "You smoke?" she said, taking a sip of the beer, assuming it was indeed for her.

Charles extinguished it and flicked his wand quickly, the smoke had vanished and the smell as well. "Sorry, nasty habit, trying to quit." He explained popping open his own beer. "How are you," He smiled checking her out. "Sure do look good today, well you always do, but you know what I mean" He laughed.

Melody laughed, it was refreshing to date a guy who didn't always have the ability to play it cool. She was sick of cool guys. I mean, she was glad that Charles had some class, of course, but it was when they stuttered something out like that that just made her smile. She did, one of those big genuimne ones. "I'm great." she took a sip of her beer. "How are you babe?"

Charles took a deep sip of beer, "I'm doing good, about a thousand times better now that you're here," He smiled broadly. "It was a close call the other day in your office, think she suspected anything?" He asked taking another sip.

"No, I don't. We have a bit of an element of suprise on our side. No one knows me well enough to suspect the things I do." Melody said, a hint of sadness almost un noticable under her voice. "So, no, I odn't think anyone suspects anything." melody took another sip. "This is good..."

"Yeah, I bet this place has the best butter beer around, " He took a long sip. "Well I hope that will all change, I want to know you very well." He smiled.

"More than just what I feel like?" Melody asked, raising her eyebrows and taking yet another sip of her drink.

"No, more," Finishing his beer, he placed it down on the bar, ordering a second one. "I want to know you inside and out," He explained. "Tell me more about yourself!" He exclaimed.

"Well, there's a bit to tell." Melody said. "How abotu you ask questions, then i will answer, then I will ask you, and so on..." Melody said, finishing her drink.

Charles opened up the second beer, "Where did you grow up?" He began taking a sip.

"I was born in Ireland, but I grew up in the English countryside." Melody said, turning to face him. "I moved when i was about 3. According to my Parents, I had a fierce Irish Accent." She smiled. "Every time i get really truly angry at someone, it comes back. Until then, its just this soft english one." Melody smiled. "Did you know I have a twin sister?"

"A twin sister?" He asked. "No, I never knew that at all. That's pretty cool though." He took another sip of his butterbeer, than he brought his hand to her arm. Gently, he traced a scar he had never noticed before. "Where did you get that," Charles spoke bringing his other hand to her arm as well.

Melody's face darkened, and she closed her eyes. "I don't usually talk about it... I got it in my seventh year at Hogwarts." Melody frowned a little, but she liked the feel of his warm fingers there on her skin. "Its the reason I'm so passionate about DADA... because I wish I'd known it better."

Charles inched his stool closer to her, "May I ask what happend?" He asked gently, trying not to upset her in any way.

"Well, I was out in the Forbidden Forest, alone, taking a walk. She found me... she said I... smelled wonderful..." Melody closed her eyes, trying to forget her face. "she said she loved wonderful... she tried to bite me, she tried to kill me..." Melody said, shaking.

Charles brought his hands to her shoulders, and gently kissed her on the cheek. He hugged her tightly, rubbing her back. "It's ok, let's forget about that, have another, beer" Charles said breaking apart and offering her another bottle.

Melody took a deep breath, relaxing once she felt herself in hsi arms. She felt like he could hold her forever, and it was all she could do to keep from kissing him. What if someone saw? She sat back down, taking a drink of the beer. "So, how about yourself?" Melody asked, changing the subject. "Where did you grow up, and whats the status on your siblings?"

Charles took a swig of his beer, "Was born some small muggle town, "Godric's Hallow, you probably heard of it, you know Harry Potter, was born there, " He explained. "Didn't leave near him though, I was there for a small time, than we moved to the states for a bit. As for siblings, I am an only child,"

"I almost envy you." Melody said. "You must have gotten LOADS of attention."

Charles took another sip and smiled, "Not quite," He said and then he turned to her again. "So, what about your twin sister, where is she?"

Well, my sister couldn't wait to get out of Hogwarts, and having eight brothers, we are both fierce Quidditch lovers. She works at Quality Quidditch in Diagon Alley. Melody fiddled with her empty drink glass, passing it between her hands on the bar. "Why did you're parents move back to England? Wouldn't it be your senior year in an American Highschool?" Melody said a little awkwardly, as she was unfamiliar with the English School Systems.