Mistaken Identity.

[sashalin]

It was a cool fall day in Hogsmeade, the wind had just the right amount of chill to it and the sun’s warmth mixed with it to make the perfect conditions to be outdoors, though it didn’t take much to get Verrin outside. She strolled the main street, her hands dangling gently at her sides, her fingertips brushing the side of her leg through her jeans as she moved. She was in a good mood today, for no other reason that it was someone special’s birthday and that always made her happy. It had been a very rough few months, her mother’s death, her father moving Fiona into the house and then moving from her home into a friend’s and then finally with her grandparents, but still she wasn’t about to let that spoil her this day, especially not for him.

She was wearing black jeans, which had been torture to find, even with her small frame there was always a problem with them no matter what brand she bought, there was always some adjustment that needed to be made. Unlike a more fashionable girl who might be wearing some nice frilly top, Verrin wasn’t in that type of mood, instead she had opted for a green vest with ‘Mi Amor’ written in gold on the front and a black denim jacket over it. Her blonde hair was tucked up inside her black, polyvinyl biker’s cap that she had bought at a Flea Market in Notting Hill over the summer. The cap was pulled low over her eyes, and at a glance she looked just like her younger brother Philippe, who had a thing for the brooding delivery boy look. It was his birthday today, he was finally fifteen, an age he had been waiting for forever, though why she wasn’t completely sure, but then again he was a teenage boy, who could understand them?

She raised her face to the sun, allowing the warm radiance to wash over her. She was supposed to be meeting Philippe in three hours, but still hadn’t picked out the perfect gift to give him. With everything that had happened she’d almost forgotten about it. It was very hard for her, living apart from her brothers and sisters but none of them were brave enough to do what she had and refuse to live in the same house as her father and his new girlfriend, but she understood. Today was her way of making up for not being there for him over the last month except in owls, and see for herself how he was doing. He hadn’t come back to Hogwarts with everyone else this year, instead he was taking some time to get himself used to the fact that their lived had changed forever. Don’t think about that, just find something nice.

She stopped in front of the men’s clothing store debating when she spotted something that was right up Philippe’s alley. A smirk of satisfaction came over her face as she walked up to the door and opened it, entering the store that smelled of cologne and leather. This store was different, it sold both muggle and magical attire, but with one twist, they were all from past, the store sold nothing that was less than twenty years old. She had often passed it and wondered how they managed to stay in business when they only sold such old items, but it was still there months after it had opened so someone had to be buying what they had.

She nodded slightly at the clerk behind the counter before walking down the middle aisle where the jacket were hug on either side, a tiny sign telling you from what year they were made. She stopped looking at a 1914 bomber jacket, her brother liked history and was keen interested in the muggle world, and he might like a jacket like that. She held it up in front of herself and then placed it against her body, to estimate the size, it was just about right her brother being a rather thin in size for his height and age and since the jacket only partially swallowed her it was sure to fit him. She turned to look at the small mirror that separated the racks from one another, holding the jacket up against her once again she leaned her head to one side trying to determine whether she liked it or not. She must have looked rather interesting standing there with a men’s jacket in her hand measuring it against herself, but she didn’t care, nor would anyone have noticed in the dim light, she could have passed just pass for her brother. When she looked up she jumped a little when she realized that she wasn’t the only person looking at her reflection, she stared at the person, her eyes obscured by the shadow of the hats peak. She gave a sheepish grin but said nothing.

[Danny McKay G5]

Danny woke up late today and had to rush so he wouldn’t be late for the trip over the Hogsmeade which he had been looking forward to for sometime. He rushed and changed into a sweater which had the Gryffindor colors on them but have faded out and due to his moms knitting the sleeves were just a little bit longer then his arms but that just made it more comfortable for him and he liked it that way. He threw on a pair light blue jeans and ran down to the common room as fast he could then ran out of there just to make it to the great hall in just in time. He was relieved to see that there were still people there so he wasn’t that late.

When they made it to Hogsmeade Danny just stood there looking around just watching as the other students ran around talking about what place to go. Danny didn’t really have any plans or have anyone to meet up with so he just started walking and looking around. He loved being in Hogsmeade it gave him a change to get out of Hogwarts. Hogwarts was one of the greatest places in the world Danny thought but it was nice just to get out and see somewhere new or just a change of scenery. Danny kept walking and stopped at a few shops but didn’t stay long in any of them.

He was saving the joke shop and candy shop for last so he wouldn’t waste all of the money he had on candy and joke stuff till he looked around the other shops. Danny saw a few people he knew but nobody he really felt like talking to so he kept walking till he saw a really weird shop. It wasn’t the fact that it was a men’s clothes store it was the fact that everything in there was old. Not just the style, the clothes were actually old the idea just seemed weird and he couldn’t help but walk in. Maybe he would find another leather jacket or something, his old one was nice but it’s always good to have an extra one incase something happen to that one.

Danny started walking around the store and saw someone in front of a mirror looking at how a coat would fit him. Danny didn’t think much about it till he got another look at the person and started to think he saw him somewhere before. so he just walked up to him and realized that he had seen the person but it wasn’t a guy which made Danny laugh a little when he realized his mistake. “Just when I thought I’ve seen it all I see you checking one a men’s jacket.” He said smiling as he looked at her though the mirror. “Anything else I should know about you Verrin?” He added laughing a little still looking at her reflection.

[sashalin]

The smile crept across Verrin’s face as she looked at Danny’s reflection in the glass but didn’t turn around, “Whatever do you mean Danny?” she said teasingly, and holding up the jacket against herself and looking down at it momentarily. “Doesn’t it suit me?” she jested looking back into the glass. Danny was her friend and housemate, and always seemed to know just the thing to make you laugh.

She turned around with a smirk on her face, “I didn’t realize you were coming into Hogsmeade, or I would have waited for you,” she informed him honestly, the jacket lowering to her side. “And what are you doing in here. Is there something I should know Danny?” she teased. “Do you have a soft spot for the antique?” she asked. She grinned at him as she looked over at the other rack and pulled out a rather long and heavy looking cloak from 1087. She held it up in front of him, “I think this would look great on you,” she said with a small laugh as she pretended to measure the cloak against him.

Verrin was just that type of person, happy and easy going, never letting whatever troubles she may have show to the world. No one outside her family knew about her mum, she had refused to tell any of her friends. Telling them meant it was real and that her mother was gone forever, and she wasn’t completely ready to deal with that yet. She had been the rock to her siblings, the pillar they all leaned on so they could keep on going, but there had been no one for her to lean on. Verrin had tried to have her cry when she alone, and there was no one to see her, but that was very difficult to do when you were the eldest of five children in the house and they aged from six to fifteen and were falling apart. Since her mother died her youngest sister Evangeline, had been sleeping in her bed with her; that is until she Fiona arrived and Verrin left. She would have taken her with her if she could have, she would have taken all of her siblings, but that wasn’t possible.

She smiled at Danny, “So how was your summer?” she asked as she replaced the cloak on the rack. “Did you do anything exciting or the usual boring things? And incase you’re wondering, this isn’t for me, it’s for Philippe, today’s his birthday and I wanted to get him a little present. So, tell me about your summer.” She leaned against on the post to her left as she spoke, folding her arms gently across her chest and giving him a small grin.

[Danny McKay G5]

Danny smiled right back at Verrin as she looked through the mirror and smiled. Danny had been friends with Verrin for awhile and that was the only reason he was able to tell it was her a few minutes ago. If he didn’t know who she was he would probably just think it was some guy standing in front of a mirror. He laughed a little as she talked and seemed to be teasing him at first then asked if it suited her which made Danny laugh a little more. “No it looks wonderful on you.” He said smiling at her still though the mirror. “But I would really like to see you in… how can I put this.” He said still smiling. “Well in something not from a men’s store.” Danny laughed as he finished saying that.

He kept listening to her talk and smiled when she said she didn’t realize he was coming to Hogsmeade and she would have waited for him if he knew. “Well If I was any later waking up I wouldn’t even be here to begin with.” Danny said smiling as she asked him what he was doing here and was there something she should know about him which made Danny laugh. “Well there are a lot of things you don’t know about me but none that you should know.” He said laughing and watched as she ran to get another coat which this one looked extremely old and held against him then said it would great on him. “You don’t say?” He said laughing as he looked down. “I’ll just stick to what I’m warning right now if you don’t mind.” He added laughing still.

Then Verrin asked how his summer was as she put away the coat, was it exciting or the usual boring things. Danny thought about it as he listened to her say that if he was wondering she was looking for a birthday present for Philippe. Danny kept thinking for a second trying to sum up how his summer was. It was boring yet a nightmare at times because of the day he met his real father. It was one of those days which Danny wished he could forget about. “Well My summer was a lot of things.” He said smiling at her as she leaned against a post. “It was boring for most of it, a complete nightmare at times and pretty much the whole time I was just waiting to go back to Hogwarts.” He said smiling.

“But I am glad that you said that this was for Philippe.” he said laughing a little. “Because I was beginning to think I would have to come here to shop for a birthday or Christmas present for you.” He added still laughing a little. “So how have you been over the summer?” He asked her smiling.

[sashalin]

Verrin continued to lean against the post, the hard wood right between her shoulder blades and somehow quite comfortable. She could help but grin as Danny said he’d prefer to see her in something other than items from a men’s store. “I’ll take that under advisement Danny,” she responded to him comment. Danny was always laughing and most of the time when you were around him you had to laugh too. Verrin was about comfort, not necessarily fashion, however she found something that was both then by all means she’d wear it. Her favourite items were calf-length skirts or jeans, but most of the time the denim won out as it a lot easier to find something to wear with it, and they were always comfortable.

She had waited for Danny’s reaction to the garment she had suggested, and when it came it was just as she’d thought it would be as he said he’d rather stick to what he was wearing at the moment. “I’m going to have to get you a clock Danny McKay, a good clock with a really loud alarm,” she said with a smile as Danny informed her of the reason he’d almost missed coming to Hogsmeade. She laughed again as Danny told her there was a lot she didn’t know about him and that she shouldn’t. “Ok be a mystery, I don’t mind. I’ll wheedle it out of you eventually,” she said with a grin. “I like to unravel mysteries.”

She didn’t smile when Danny said his summer had been a lot of things, she instead nodded her head and listened. Her summer had been a lot of things too, a rollercoaster of emotions and events and summing up to the worst summer of her life. She smiled again as Danny said he was pleased to find out the jacket was not for her but for her brother, “Now wouldn’t that be something if you did have to shop here for a gift for me. I can see it now, a brown blazer from 1586 or a hat from the year 1000,” she said joking. “Don’t worry Danny, you don’t have to worry about that and me.” She was trying to avoid the subject of summer but she couldn’t ignore his question either so she took the highroad. “My summer was a lot like yours, a rollercoaster of events and wanting to get back to Hogwarts. Hey you still haven’t told me what brought you in here,” she commented and giving him friendly poke in the chest.

[Danny McKay G5]

Danny laughed as she said that she would have to get him an alarm clock, a good loud one. Danny didn’t really like the idea of getting an alarm clock because he would feel guilty about getting it as a gift so then he would have to use it and second because it was an alarm clock. He laughed again as he thought about that. “Well I was only late because I was up so late.” He said smiling and listened to her talk about him keeping secrets and she would find them out sooner or later and that she liked mysteries. “Well have fun Verrin because it’s going to take sometime to find stuff out.” He said laughing not really sure if he had any secrets. He did have a few but those were something he didn’t even plan to remember let alone let someone find out about.

He laughed as he listened to her commented about him getting a gift for her here then just smiled. “Hold on let me write this down. You want a brown blazer from 1586 or a hat from the year 1000.” He said laughing a little. “Well now I know what to get you thanks. Nah I‘ll find you something better.” He added still laughing. Danny listened to her explanation of her summer and figured out that she probably didn’t want to talk about it from the way she explained it so he didn’t plan to ask her anymore about it.

Then she told him that he still hasn’t said what brought him into this shop in the first place then poked him which made he laugh a little. “Well I wasn’t following you or anything, nope I wasn’t doing anything like that.” He said jokingly then smiled at her as she still against the post. “Actually I was just walking around and say this shop and my curiosity got the best of me so I came in.” Danny said still smiling. “So you found anything Philippe would like yet?” He asked looking around the shop.

[sashalin]

Verrin smiled, “Studying?” she questioned as Danny said he had woken late because he’d gone to bed late. “Or pondering the great wonders of life?” she continued to tease. She hadn’t slept much the night before either but her body was programmed to wake at six whether she liked it or not whether she’d had ten hours of sleep or two. “Okay Danny, whatever you say,” she said with a smirked as he told her it would take sometime for her to find stuff out about him. She gave him a toothless grin after she spoke, truthfully she couldn’t tell anyone about secrets, she was still holding everything with her mother’s death and her moving out a secret from everyone including her friends. It was time to move off of the secrets subject.

She started to laugh as Danny pretended to make a note of what she’d said for possible gift ideas for her. “Why thanks Danny,” she said in a laughing tone, “it’s nice to think enough of me to not buy me either of those two things.” The old stuff might have suited Philippe with his fondness for things old and muggle, but for Verrin it would have one of those things that she smiled and thanked you for and then stuffed into a drawer to be forgotten. It wasn’t something she did often as most people knew her tastes, but there had been one or two instances where a gift had to be shelved away in the ‘lost and never to be found’ section of her wardrobe.

She smiled again as Danny professed that his reasons for coming into the shop had nothing to do with following her. “Aww shucks, and here I was feeling all special that you wanted to stalk me,” she jested. She pretended to frown but it wouldn’t stay on her face. “Maybe next time.” She liked being around Danny he was an instant relief from life’s harsh realities as he washed you a way in laughter like a gentle wave.

She looked around the store absently, “That’s what happened to me when I saw it,” she said as her eyes returned to Danny. “I came in today because I knew it would probably be the only place in Hogsmeade that would have something my brother would really like, as shocking as that may seem,” she said with a small laugh. “Yeah I did,” she raised the jacket, “this little item you thought I might like for myself. It’s just the kind of thing Philippe would love. I don’t know why he likes these old things but, if it makes him happy them I’ll get it for him.” she flashed another brief smile before headed towards the counter, nodded her head for Danny to tag along.

She placed the jacket on the counter for the clerk to ring it in, “So you still want to look around in here or would you care to join me wandering around Hogsmeade?” she asked as she searched in her purse for the galleons to pay for the jacket. Philippe’s gift was costing her a grand total of fifty galleons, but it was nothing to her, price didn’t matter when you knew the item would really be appreciated. She took her parcel, having already had it gift wrapped, and turned back to Danny. “So are you joining me or would you like to take another look at that cloak?” she joked.

[Danny McKay G5]

Danny laughed as she questioned him about why he was up late was he studying or pounding the meaning of life. “Not really, I just couldn’t go to sleep so I went for a walk around the castle.” He said smiling which was true for the most part besides not saying where he went during his little walk in the castle. “The fat lady sure can get mad when you wake her up.” He said laughing as he thought about what happened. Danny laughed later on as she thanked him jokingly and told him it was nice that he didn’t plan on buying any of those as a gift for her. “Yea I’m sure I can find something more fitting if I tried.” He said smiling. “And if I can’t a bag full of candy is never a bad gift.” He said laughing a little.

He smiled then laughed as she acted disappointed and frowned when he said that he wasn’t stalking her and then she said maybe next time. “Don’t worry I’ll stalk you around the castle if it will make you feel better.” He said smiling. “Or I’ll just follow you at random so it will be a surprise.” He added smiling then listened to her talk about why both of them had come to this store and about her finding something for her brother. She toke the same jacket she was sizing on herself again and said it was great for her brother, he loved things like that. Then she headed for the counter and Danny followed her and laughed.

“Darn and I was just beginning to think that would look great on you.” He said laughing as she started to pay for the jacket. Then she asked him if he was going to look around the store more or walk around Hogsmeade and Danny toke a quick look around the store and smiled back at her then she asked him again after she was done buying the jacket. “Hang out in a men’s old clothes store or walk around with you… Let me see. I always get the hard questions.” He said jokingly. “Sure let’s go.” He said a few seconds later laughing. “If I stay in here any longer I’ll come out looking like Sherlock Holmes or something.” He said laughing as he walked to the door and held it open for Verrin.

[sashalin]

Verrin knew all about not being able to sleep, but unlike Danny she hadn’t gone wandering the castle, instead she stayed in her room with her thoughts and watched the moon from her window. “You went for a walk around the castle? You’re lucky McGonagall didn’t catch you,” she said with a smiled. The Fat Lady did tend to get a little riled up when you disturbed her beauty rest, after all great singers had to keep their voices in tiptop condition, and the Fat Lady was a great singer, at least she thought so. “Candy works if you can’t find anything more fitting. My favourite’s chocolate trains, if you’d like to know.”

Verrin laughed as Danny said he’d stalk her around the castle if she’d like. She instantly perked up as if it were the happiest news she’d received in years. “Oh goodie, I can’t wait,” she said in an enthusiastic tone as she tried to stop laughing. “I think random is best, then I can be all surprised.” She was glad she’d run into Danny he would make walking around Hogsmeade for a few hours more bearable until she had to meet Philippe.

“Sorry to disappoint you Danny, but this little item is not going to have the pleasure of being worn by me, but I think it’ll still get some good use in,” she said with a small smile. Danny looked around the store as Verrin waited to see if he was going to join her or had other plans in mind. “I know,” she replied with a smirk as Danny stated that the decision between walking around with her and hanging around the store was a difficult one. Finally, as she expected or hoped, Danny decided to join her. “Excellent! I just have to pick up a card for Philippe and then we can go wherever you want,” she said with a smile as they headed for the door.

Verrin stopped half out the door when Danny said he might end up looking like Sherlock Holmes if he stayed in the store anymore, “You know,” she began and gave Danny the once-over, “that might not be a bad look for you,” she teased before stepping out into the sunny streets of Hogsmeade. You could tell it was a Hogsmeade Day, as the streets of the village were filled with the faces of Hogwarts students all clamouring to their favourite stores or just enjoying the time walking around and talking with friends. She started down the street in her usual manner of walking, back straight and head high, she would probably have had the worst posture imaginable if it hadn’t been for ballet, but now no matter how hard she tried to slouch she couldn’t.

“I just have to go into the souvenir shop just down here,” she told Danny as she pointed towards the sign that said Mulhalley’s.

[Danny McKay G5]

Danny laughed when she asked about him going around the castle at night and he didn’t get caught.
“Yea I got lucky last night and no body found me.” He said smiling. “You’re more then welcome to join me sometime.” Danny said laughing a little. “You’ll be surprised at what you see that night.” He said smiling at her then listened to her talk about that candy would work if he didn’t find anything and that she liked chocolate trains. “Ok good thing you told me because I was just going to get chocolate frogs.” He said laughing a little. “Somehow get all the frogs to hop at the same time you wake up. That would be funny.” He added laughing thinking about that and if that was even possible he would have to look into that sometime.

Verrin seemed to get even happier when he said that he would stalk her sometime if she wanted him to then she said it would be better to do it at random which he then laughed then just smiled. “Well I guess it’s not really stalking if you want me to but I’ll do it anyway.” He said laughing then listening as she said that the jacket wouldn’t have the pleasure of being worn by her but she was sure that it would get good use. “And I’m sure that it would be a pleasure for the jacket to be worn by you.” He said smiling. After he said that he would walk around with her she said excellent and told him that she just need to get a card and then they could go wherever he wanted. Danny just smiled, it was always fun to be around Verrin.

“Well I don’t really have any idea on where to go I’m just walking around from place to place and looking around.” He said smiling at her. Then laughed as they were going outside and she said the Sherlock holms look might look good on him. “Well if that happens then you’re going to have to be Watson.” He said laughing as they walked outside and he waited for a second as his eyes adjusted to the sun light. Danny turned and followed Verrin down the street and looked around to see students all around. This must be the day all shop owners waited for. Tons of students let loose with money and no parents to stop them Danny couldn’t help but laugh as he thought about it.

Danny looked over to Verrin as she started talking and watched as she pointed to a shop with a sign that said Mulhalley’s on it. “Do you think I put my name on the card?” He said laughing a little meaning it as a joke.

[sashalin]

Verrin looked over at Danny with a smile, “Sure, why not,” she replied as he told her she was welcomed to join him sometime. It wasn’t like sleep was Verrin’s friend in recent times so a little late night wandering was better than laying in bed staring out the window or at the four-posters of her bed. “I’m sure I will be,” she said with a small laugh. Hogwarts at night was always guaranteed to be interesting, whether it were the numerous ghost running about or Peeves getting himself into trouble, there was always something. “Chocolate frogs,” Verrin said with a small laugh, “then I am glad I told you first. The last time I had a chocolate from it jumped into my tea and melted. It wasn’t pretty, and I haven’t had one since,” she admitted. She had to laugh as the image of chocolate frogs jumping all in a row came to mind at Danny suggestion. “If there was anyone who could get that done I’m sure it would be you Danny,” she said with a smirk.

“I guess not,” Verrin replied, if she wanted Danny to stalk her then it really wasn’t stalking now was it? “Thank you for saying that,” Verrin said with a smile as Danny said it would have been a pleasure for the jacket to be worn by her. Danny was always full of compliments and any sweet or funny remark to make you smile, she supposed that was why people liked having him around, and she couldn’t blame them, she liked having him around too.

“If you don’t have place in mind, then I guess we’ll just wandering around together and see what we find,” she said with a smile. “Me? Watson?” she asked with a laugh and then a thoughtful expression came over her face as she tapped her chin with her finger, “I say Holmes, you might have something there. I’ve always wanted to be a doctor,” she said laughing as she continued down the street. “What are you laughing at?” Verrin asked as Danny started laughing out of nowhere. She looked at him strangely and then pretended to sidestep away from him. “Are you having a moment Danny?” she asked.

She gave Danny another strange look, “Yes Danny, I think you did,” she teased in return. “Will you hold this for me a second?” she asked as she held her parcel out to Danny so she could remove her hat from her head. Verrin pulled the black leather from her head, freeing her hair. She shook it a little and then pulled it up into a bun on the top of her head before replacing the hat. She took the parcel back and continued on to Mulhalley’s. Verrin ducked through the door as another Hogwarts’ student was coming out, “Thanks,” she said as she slipped by them inside.

Mulhalley’s wasn’t a large store by any stretch of imagination, but it did have everything you could think of crammed into that one small space. She weaved through the other customer’s inside, mostly other students, towards the back shelf where the cards were located. She turned around once or twice to make sure Danny was still with her. “You alright back there?” she asked as she looked over her shoulder.

[Danny McKay G5]

Danny couldn’t help but laugh when he heard about her and the first time she had gotten a chocolate frog and it hopped into her tea and melted. Even as he thought about it he still couldn’t help but laugh. “I guess that would creep someone out a little.” He said still laughing he didn’t know why but for some reason he found it so funny. He stopped laughing slowly and listened to her say that if anyone could be able to figure out how to get all the frogs to move at once he could. “Well you thank you but I guess I won’t be able to because you don’t like them.” He said smiling. “I’ll have to see about getting chocolate trains to move instead.” He said laughing.

Danny smiled as she thanked him for complimenting her and laughed a little. “No problem I have tons of ones I could say about you.” he said still smiling. “It’s just too bad that I left my list in my trunk.” He added laughing a little. Then Danny listened as she said that they could just walk around Hogwarts since he had nothing planned and see what they could find. That sounded just fine with him because that was basically what he was going to do anyway. Danny laughed as he listened to her pretend to be Watson. “Well so far you seem to be a perfect Watson.” He said laughing.

As he was laughing about what he was thinking about she asked him what he was laughing at then before he could answer her she asked him if he was having a moment which made him keep laughing a little then she said that he must be having a moment. “I was just thinking at that with almost every student out at Hogsmeade this must be a shop owners dream and maybe a nightmare for filch, he has no one to catch doing something bad.” He said laughing a little then held on to her gift for her as he watched her fix her hair he guessed. As she toke back her gift Danny smiled. “Aww and I liked it down too.” he said laughing a little as they entered the shop. This place wasn’t really big and with the students inside it seemed even smaller.

Danny followed her to the back where he could see the cards were then she looked back to him and asked if he was ok back there and Danny just smiled. “Yea I’m fantastic.” He said laughing a little as he looked around the store. He had been in here a few times but never found anything of interest so he normally just left within seconds of entering. After a few minutes it seemed to him he looked back over to Verrin. “You find any good cards yet?” He asked her as he started to look at the first card that caught his eye. Danny laughed a little as he looked it over. “Happy hundred and fiftieth birthday.” He said to himself thinking about how that was a lot of birthdays.

[sashalin]

“Just a bit,” Verrin replied to Danny’s comment about her incident with the chocolate frog. It was quite appalling actually, the poor thing just looked at her with this sad and pained look as it began to melt and Verrin could do nothing to stop it. Danny seemed to think the incident was very hilarious, but that’s because he hadn’t been there. She didn’t laugh with him, but instead gave him a weak toothless smile. She wasn’t a big fan of frogs in the first place, but she wasn’t about to let Danny know she was squeamish about the slimly hopping critters, after she was a witch and weren’t toads and the like supposed to be synonymous with witches? “You can still try Danny, just make sure I’m not around,” Verrin said with a real smile as Danny made another comment about get chocolate frogs to jump at the same time, “but do call me if the train thing works out,” she said with a small laugh.

Verrin gave Danny another smile as he said he had tons of complimentary statements he could make about her. “Thanks Danny, I have a few I could use on you too,” she replied. She laughed, “A list? Wow! You have to tell me what’s on that list sometime,” she said flattered. Danny was a sweetie, but you could never really be sure when he was joking or not sometimes, and she wondered what was the case now. If his laugh was any indication, then he was joking. She grinned as he said she’d make a good Watson. “Well Sherlock, all we have to do is find us a mystery and we could get right to work,” she teased.

Verrin looked around, Danny was right, a Hogsmeade Day had to be the best day for shop owners in the town as Hogwarts’ students descended on them with coins in their pockets and gleams in their eyes. She laughed as Danny brought up Filch, “I wouldn’t worry about him, I’m sure he’d make do frightening the hell out of the first years,” she said as she fixed her hair. Argus Filch had ceased to frighten her in her second year when she realized he was the loneliest man she’d ever seen. Once her parcel was back in her hands, Verrin looked at Danny as he said he liked her hair down. She gave a soft laugh, “Thanks. I bet you’ll be really upset to hear that I’m thinking of cutting it then,” she added as she continued walking.

In the back of Mulhalley’s Verrin set about trying to find the perfect card for her brother. Philippe was such a strange person when it came to his likes and dislikes, but it always made gift hunting interesting, sometimes very long, but interesting. She flashed Danny another smile over her shoulder when he assured her he was fine. She picked up a card, it was blue with a quidditch player on the front and when you opened it a booming voice declared, “Welcome to your Birthday Card!” she shut the card immediately. The last thing her brother would want is a card that announced to the entire world that it was his birthday. She looked around a bit more and disregarded card after card none of them appealing to her till finally she found a simple white card which read, “On this Special Day, a Special Gift.” She read the inside, a smile forming on her face as the inside cover flashed with scenes of celebrations around the world. Perfect!

“Yeah I just did,” she replied to Danny as he asked if she’d found anything as yet. Verrin moved over next to Danny as she attempted to read the card in his hand. “A hundred and fifty years, nice, for anyone I know?” she teased him and gave him a gently nudge with her arm. “I wouldn’t want to live that long,” she added as she stepped back to grab the envelope that went with the card she’d chosen. “Would you?” she asked as she looked at Danny.

[Danny McKay G5]

“Or maybe a chocolate frog that never stopped hoping.” He said smiling after she said they he could still try but just not with her around. “Ok but don't be afraid or anything when I’m walking around with my new pet chocolate frog.” He said laughing a little thinking of how funny it would be to be able to keep a chocolate frog moving forever then having one as a pet. Danny laughed again when she thanked him and said that she could say a few things about him too. Then she commented about the list he was talking about and he would have to show her sometime.

“No thanks, it’s a very personal list.” He said laughing knowing there wasn’t really a list but he could always think of something nice to say about Verrin, it was probably one of the easiest thinks to think about. “Anyway anything I say about you wouldn’t do you justice. Now I’m going to stop saying stuff like that before I start to seem like a real stalker.” He said laughing then laughed again as she did another Watson impersonation. “A mystery you say?” he said smiling trying to act like Sherlock. “Well there’s always the case of the missing ice cream.” He said laughing then smiling at Verrin. “For some reason whenever I get Ice cream it disappears in a matter of minutes.” Danny laughed again knowing how dumb that sounded but he found it funny.

Danny laughed when she told him not to worry about filch. “Who said I was worried I liked the idea of him having a nightmare or something.” Danny never did like filch, not because he would catch him doing something. It was the fact that he never seemed in a good mood and always just wanted an excuse to catch someone doing something. Danny was sad to hear that she was going to cut her hair just like she said he would, but Danny just smiled. “Well I guess I can cross off long hair from the list.” He muttered just loud enough for her to hear him but to seem like he didn’t mean for her to. He said it like that just to see the reaction.

While they were in the shop Danny kept looking at the card in his hands and opened it and it just said happy birthday. It seemed so boring besides it saying happy hundred and fifty. Then Verrin said she found her card and Danny was going to put the card he had back till she asked if it was for anyone she knew and he just smiled. “Well I was thinking about getting it for my mom but she would probably kill me if I did.” Danny said laughing and listened as she said she wouldn't want to live that long then asked him if he would want to. “Well…” Danny paused to think about it for a second he never thought about living that long. “Well maybe, it all depends on how my life is going.” Danny smiled saying that as he looked down at the card. “If I found the right girl in my life, had my family and I’m not a buried then yea maybe.” He laughed again then smiled to Verrin. “But one things for sure.” Danny said as he put the card back.

“I don’t want this card for my hundred and fiftieth birthday.” He said laughing then looked down at her card. “So we're ready to go then?” He asked smiling.

(Sorry it toke me so long, I've been really busy.)

[sashalin]

Verrin smile a little as Danny suggested creating a chocolate frog that never stopped jumping. “He’d be sure to never get eaten that’s guaranteed, no one is going to eat something that’s trying to hop out of their hand. Verrin looked at Danny and raised an eyebrow, “A chocolate frog for a pet? Danny…you’re crazy,” she teased.

Verrin gave Danny a quizzical look, “So you have a list of my traits but you can’t tell me? Am I that bad Danny?” she said with a laugh. Teasing Danny was fun, he knew she wasn’t serious and she knew the same. She couldn’t imagine anyone taking time out of their day to write something about her, she wasn’t someone important or special, she was just Verrin Molyneux, and when you thought about it, who was she really? She smiled at Danny, “Oh…I am worse than I thought,” she continued to tease him. “I will try to be better I promise.” She smirked at his stalker comment, “Remember I wanted you to stalk me, so I wouldn’t be very horrified by you sounding like one,” she responded.

“The case of the missing ice cream?” Verrin asked, a quizzical look on her face. “Why Holmes, I don’t think I’m familiar,” she added in her best Watson impersonation. She started to laugh, “Oh yes, I do remember that case, very tricky indeed. If I recall it was some nefarious rascal perpetrating the act,” she said raising her eyebrow at him again before starting to laugh all over again. Danny was hilarious, one of those people who were naturally funny and never really had to try, he was very lucky in that respect. She knew more than one person who would try to be funny so hard and fail miserably.

“Of course you wouldn’t worry Danny. Who really worries about Filch? Honestly he is the most disdainful man, but I think he’s kind of sad actually,” she admitted. “He lives is entire life picking up after us with only a cat for a companion. He’s the male version of one of those old ladies who lives in an old house with a million cats of whom half are named Fluffy. It’s very sad being alone,” Verrin said, her voice faltering slightly but she soon shrugged it off. She smiled at Danny, “Well at least I found out one thing that was on that list.” Verrin really didn’t know what to say, she thought she might look good with short hair, but since she never really cut it short before she couldn’t be entirely sure. “I might cut it and look like a French poodle when I’m done.” She shrugged. “Would you still walk around Hogsmeade with me if I looked like a poodle Danny?” she asked with a grin. Cutting her hair wasn’t a definite decision, more a thought that kept crossing her mind from time to time. She wasn’t sure she would actually do it. She nudged Danny playfully, “Don’t worry Danny I can wear a hat around you always and you’ll never know the difference,” she said smiling.

A clear laugh left Verrin as Danny said he was thinking of giving the card he was holding to his mother. “I would agree Danny. You’d be a dead man if you gave her that. My mum would have…” she paused for a moment, “my mum would love it, she’d say I was willing her to live that long.” she flashed Danny a quick smile before turning her back on him. She closed her eyes as she fought back tears. “My mum’s just like that, great sense of humour.” She blinked a few times and looked at the ceiling as she made her attempt to stop herself from crying before she started.

“Really how so?” she asked still trying to compose herself while pretending to be looking at some random card. When she finally was sure she wasn’t about to start the waterworks she turned to face him again, a smile on her face as her mask. “Yeah those sound like good things to want to have at a hundred and fifty, especially the not being buried part,” she said with a grin. “What’s that?” she asked as Danny told her there was one thing for sure. She laughed at his answer, “Don’t worry Danny, you reach a hundred and fifty and I promise to get you a better card than that one.” She nodded her head as he asked if they were ready to go, and then she started for the checkout counter. She moved through the other customers who were still looking for that special card or item, and finally reached the counter. The woman attempted to put the card in a bag but Verrin stopped her, she would fill it out and put it with the Philippe’s gift. She stepped aside for a moment after paying and wrote up the card with the usual birthday sentiments. There was something she was going to have to tell him, something her mother had told her to tell him for her when she knew she wasn’t going to make his birthday. She wasn’t sure how she was going to handle that, but she was going to try.

“There! That’s done. So why don’t we go feed me and then see what we get into?” she said with a smile.

[Danny McKay G5]

Danny laughed as she talking about the chocolate frog then after she said he might have one for a pet he just had a big smiled. “Well that’s what all girls say.” He said laughing afterward. Danny just smiled as she teased him about the list he didn’t have as if it was about the bad things about her which he didn’t really think he could think of any bad things about her. “Trust me if you could get any better I’d probably end up kidnapping you.” He said laughing then smiling and continued to listen to her as she said she didn't have a problem with him sounding like a stalker. “Well be careful what you wish for you might just get it.” he said laughing a little then smiled and listened to her again.

Danny couldn’t help but laugh as she did her impersonation of Watson. “Well my dear Watson I think you just described half the people in this town right now.” Danny said laughing a little. “It might even be you.” He added smiling. “Where were you on any of the days that I had some ice cream?” He asked her teasing acting like she might really have done it. Danny just listened and agreed with her in a way that filch was actually a sad man. He was always alone picking up after kids. Danny had never thought about how sad he could be because he never seemed sad just mad at everything. He laughed when she said that she now knew one thing that was on the list then laughed even more when she said that she might cut her hair like a poodle and asked if he would still walk around with her.

“Well it all depends, do I get to put a leash on you?” He said laughing then she said she could where a hat so that he would never notice the difference. “Well if you do that then I guess I don’t need the leash and I was looking forward to dragging you around like a poodle.” He said laughing teasing her a little. Danny couldn’t help but laugh when she agreed with him that if he got that card for his mom he would be dead then she said that her mom had a great sense of humor. “Well that must be where you got yours from.” he said laughing a little.

Verrin agreed with him about how he would like to be if he lived to a hundred and fifty. Then she said that she would make sure to get a better card for him when he got that old and Danny just smiled. “Well thank you.” He said smiling. “But I thought you didn’t want to live that long, unless your going to give me the card as a zombie or something.” he said teasing her a little about how she wouldn’t want to be a hundred and fifty. After he asked her if they were ready to go she nodded and walked to the counter to pay for it and he followed right behind her and waited till she was done.

Verrin turned around when she was finally was done and asked him why not go feed her then go find something else to do. “Whatever you say my little poodle.” He said laughing teasing her. “Trust me you’re never going to live that down.” Danny added still teasing her and headed for the door. “Well ya lets go get something to eat.” He turned back to Verrin and smiled. “Here girl.” Danny said still teasing her. “Ok Ok I’ll stop.”