Life of Paris ((Anyone))

[dana]

Dana adored Paris. Sure, there were a few problems, but which city didn’t have problems? But Seine, street-cafes, Louvre, the Tuilries garden and Versailles. Even the Eiffel Tower was original painting. For Dana Paris really was home despite all of it’s mistakes. Dana pushed off from the railing on the top of the Eiffel tower and slipping through between tourists moved to the staircase. Taking the stairs was part of the charm of Eiffel tower and the stairs didn’t take as much energy in reality as most people feared.

Being back on ground Dana bought herself a croissant and walked with leisurely pace towards a garden next to the Eiffel tower. Finishing off the croissant and a bottle of mineral water Dana picked a place a bit farther from the coolers that were used to water the grass and laid down. It wasn’t too unbearably hot yet, but Dana pulled her white summer hat over her eyes and pushed off her shoes. Making sure that her skirt didn’t raise indecently high Dana relaxed on the ground. Hogwarts rocked, but Paris was still where Dana felt at home.

It was about an hour later when Dana’s heard an annoyed voice speaking in English and asking practically every French in the park if they spoke English. Dana grinned – few French actually spoke other languages. It probably was difficult for tourists but for Dana is was somewhat amusing. Finally the voice came closer and it sounded somewhat familiar. Most certainly from Hogwarts. Finally the voice came closer and shielding her grin at an other cheerful ‘Non’ and a lot of grumbling.
“If you tell me what you need, then I could probably help you,” Dana stated loudly enough but didn’t raise her hat from her eyes. If that person – whoever it actually was – really needed help or directions then he/she would have to be the one to approach Dana.

[daf]

Dafydd walked out of the hotel room that him, his little brother, and mum had rented the night before. His mum had to go on another business trip to Paris and decided to take Dafydd and Killian with her. Dafydd's mum worked for the international section of the Ministry of Magic, occasionally meeting other wizards in other countries, for reasons Dafydd did not know why.

Daf had awoken to Killian poking him and telling him to get up. After many minutes of just laying there, he finally did as he was told, and found a note on the hotel table.

Daf,

I had to go to a meeting. Meet me at the Cafe Grenouille for lunch at 2 O'Clock.

Love, mum.

"Cafe...gren...oo...ill...ee? Whats THAT supposed to mean?" Dafydd shrugged and placed the piece of paper in back on the table.

Dafydd looked over to the noise that had erupted in the room of laughter. Looking around, he spotted Killian jumping on the bed yelling "bonjour", the only word he seemed to think the French spoke.

"C'mon you little monkey." Daf grabbed Killian off the bed and put him on the floor. Quickly rushing around to get dressed, he looked at the clock on his way out.It read 10:00am.

After spending an hour dragging Killian around, trying to find someone who spoke English, a girl spoke to him in with a French accent, but clear English.

Daf walked over to her. "Hey..yeah I do need help." Pulling out the paper he had stuffed in his pocket before he left, he unfolded it and read it over again without even looking up."Killian, stop talking!" He told Killian, who had started to repeat 'bonjour' again. "Um....I don't suppose you know where to find the cafe gren-oo-ill-ee?" Finally looking up, a hopeful look on his face.

[dana]

Two boys walked over and Dana sat up lifting her hat from her eyes. Raising a surprised eye-brow upon seeing a fellow Ravenclaw – Dana had met Dafydd very briefly once at the end of year – Dana looked at the younger boy who was constantly greeting everyone in French.
“Morning, Dafydd, and I honestly didn’t understand what café you meant,” Dana said smiling and shaking Killian’s hand and replying to his greeting as well. Taking hold of the paper Dafydd was reading the name from Dana read the name and grinned: “Oh, the Frog Café, sure, I know where it is.”

The location of the café flashed through Dana’s mind but then she stopped hesitantly. Would it be enough for the boys to hear the street names in French or maybe she should make sure they get there. She didn’t have anything else in the way.
“Errr, do you want me to explain you where it is or do you want me to accompany you to the café?” Dana asked Dafydd.

((Dana doesn’t have a British accent – she’s French by birth! If she has any accent at all, then it’s French.))

[daf]

((Sorry! I didn't realize. I'll fix that last post))

Dafydd was surprised when he saw it was Dana, who was in Ravenclaw with him.

"Oh wow..Dana! I wasn't really expecting to see any familiar faces away from Hogwarts."

Dafydd looked confused as Dana told him the 'gren-oo-ill-ee' cafe was the frog cafe."Crazy French have to complicate things." Dafydd laughed to show he was only joking.

"Um..well, it would be easier for me if you could take us there, but if your busy, I guess a map could do. I honestly know where nothing is, and it took the longest time to find someone who could speak English. so if I get lost..I might end up staying lost."

Dafydd grabbed Killian by the back of his shirt as he tried to take off after the bird that had landed on the pavement. Pulling him back, he lifted him into his arms and held him so he couldn't get away.

"Perhaps if you came with us, I could buy you lunch?"

[dana]

Dana grinned and stood brushing off her back from any pieces of grass that might have stuck there. “I’m originally French you know. Moved to England when I was 10, because grand-parents wanted me to go to Hogwarts. My grand-parents still live in France during the school-year as they work here,” Dana explained with a calm smile towards Dafydd as she started to move towards Seine. It would be easiest and quickest to get to the café when following the river. Besides the view there was the best.

Dana shook her head with a smile. She knew most French people didn’t speak English. Actually Dana understood it too. French culture was completely different. And they were a big country – they managed very nicely with their own language. Even if it was a pain for the tourists.
“I don’t have that problem. If anything I rather have a French accent to join my English than an English accent to join my French. I’ve never encountered your problem, so can’t really symphatize,” Dana said with a small smile towards the boy that was along with Dafydd, “Is this your brother? And no lunch is needed, but thanks for the offer. What are you two doing over in Paris on your own anyway?”

[daf]

Dafydd put down Killian and took his hand as they began to walk after Dana. "Yeah, this is my brother. His name is Killian."

At the sound of his name, Killian started up with "Bonjour, bonjour" again.

"Kil would you stop it?" Asked Daf. Turning his attention back to Dana he went on."My mum works for the International Ministry of Magic. Shes one of the representatives for England. Sometimes she has to go to different countries to make sure everythings running smoothly, and to help with problems."

[dana]

Dana tilted her head letting the date and the ministry flash through her head: “Representative from England? I think there are a few different countries at the Ministry this week. I’m guessing your mother is one of those then. My grand-parents are meeting them all.” Dana smirked thinking of her grand-parents. Meredith was charismatic, almost over-powering and absolutely dazzling. Julien was calm, collect, serene almost and had authority. As a couple they worked together perfectly and you found yourself agreeing to them before you even understood what you were doing. Julien being the Minister of Magic in France, they had a lot of work, but they enjoyed it. Which only made them better at what they did.

“Politics and diplomacy is fun. Amusing at least in my opinion,” Dana stated with a smirk, “I might want to go into it one day myself as well. How do you like Paris however? Have you seen any interesting sites yet?”

[daf]

As the three of them continued to walk, Daf thought of the question he was being asked. The answer was simple. He hadn't seen anything but the scenery on the way to the hotel.

"I haven't seen anything. This is the first time out of the hotel room. Well, thats not true. I saw some grass, and some cows on the way here from the airport."