Loose in London ((Liam))

[Cassandra Blackfire G7]

Cass burst out of the fire in the coffee shop with a look of absolute horror on her face. Oh god, how could I kiss him like that? Cass thought in horror. It was so impulsive, so brash, and so much like her. She wouldn't be surprised if he didn't follow her through the fire. I mean, honestly, he might not even liker her like that. God, things were getting weird with him. It would of been different if it was someone other than Liam. Cassandra would have to to Liam Angelus for the rest of her days at Hogwarts, and screwing up the placid relationship they once had would probably make the rest of her days at Hogwarts unbearable.

Cass tapped her foot. Raising her wrist, she looked at the small silver watch that adorned her wrist. He was taking too long. How dare Liam Angelus to keep her in suspense this long? Or maybe something happened to him? Cass' stomach churned with worry over Liam. God, it only seemed like it was last week when this type of delay by him wouldn't of bothered her. Things were different now, and it was still baffling on how this had all happened. Too think, they had been in the same house together for four years and the two had never thought of themselves more than friends. Cass looked at her watch again. Okay, she was getting really worried now.

[Liam Angelus G5]

Liam felt the sudden pull in his stomach when he called out his destination. No matter how often he traveled by Floo, he still could not stand the sensation of his insides being pulled in all different directions or the uncomfortable spinning he felt in his head. As he spun, Liam thought about why things like traveling by Floo had to be uncomfortable. Wondered why whomever created the Floo network had come up with something so discomforting.

Finally, Liam stopped spinning and felt his feet on solid ground once more. Stepping out of the hearth, Liam brushed the dust from his cloak before standing up straight next to Cass. Liam spoke to her as he saw her check her watch, "Sorry to keep you waiting Cass. I came as quick as I could."

[Cassandra Blackfire G7]

Cass stood next to Liam and helped brush off his shoulders. Black soot fell to the white floor, and Cass saw a sales witch cleaning it up from behind them. They had apparently left a little trail from the fire to where they were standing. " Oops, it seems we made a bit of a mess. Oh well, doesn't matter. It's not like it isn't normal for our kind." Walking over to the counter, she ordered a mocha coffee and motioned Liam to do the same. While they were standing there, Cass removed her cloak and stuffed it into the bag that was in her hand. " God, that feels so much better. I've never been much of a dress up person. I hate skirts and dresses. My mother is luck she got me into one today. I threatened to wear slacks."

Taking her coffee, she stepped away from the counter and took a seat near the front of the store. The bay window allowed the couple to see muggles and witches alike to hurrying down the street. Most of the muggles didn't even look at the little cozy shop, but every once in a while a witch or a wizard would open the door that led inside. Taking a sip of her coffee, Cass tried to progress the conversation further. " So, are you excited about Quidditch? I can't wait till the season starts, but, of course, my mother will try to get me to quit the team again. She did last year anyway. She always tells me how it it not a sport for ladies and all. Same with dueling. I told my mother I wanted to go on the International Dueling circuit when I graduated and she nearly died right where she was sitting. So, have you ever thought about what you are going to do after school?"

[Liam Angelus G5]

Liam was grateful that Cass helped him brush the dust from his shoulders. Every time he traveled by Floo he had to brush a considerable amount of dust from his shoulders due to his above average height and the low fireplaces that seemed to be ever where. Liam turned to look at the witch who was busy cleaning the dust that they had managed to get on the floor. "Sorry ma'am," Liam said as the last of the dust was off his cloak. Liam followed Cass to the counter and waited for her to finish ordering. "Coffee, black," Liam said before he turned toward Cass as she spoke.

"I never was much of a big fan for dressing up," Liam replied as he took his coffee. "No matter how often I had to get dressed up, I never got used to it." Liam followed Cass to a table near the front of the shop. Liam saw many witches and muggles cross in front of the bay window, but did not pay much attention to any of them. "Yeah, I am excited for Quidditch to start. I hope we can get the cup this year," Liam said after taking drink from his coffee. "I can't wait to see you out there this year, no matter if she does try and get you to quit. But there are plenty of ladies playing Quidditch now a days, some of the best are ladies. As for dueling, I agree it is dangerous, but if you are skilled enough then I say go ahead and do it." Liam took another drink of his coffee before he continued. "I'm not sure what I want to do after. I'll probably become an auror for the ministry so that I can do some good."

[Cassandra Blackfire G7]

" I love Quidditch, and I honestly thought about playing professionally. I just don't see myself doing a desk job for the rest of my life, or sitting at home being a good house wife. A lot of pureblood witches look down on me for that," Cass swallowed hard for a second. She hoped she wasn't coming across too overly opinionated. " I mean, I just don't see myself staying home and being a good little house wife. Now, don't get me wrong, I want to have kids and everything but I just see myself as a career woman." Cass laughed when Liam mentioned about seeing her on the Quidditch field. " You act like you've been watching me play for years. I only joined the team last year, and only then just barely. I still don't know how I did it. Besides, you act like you enjoy watching me play?" Cass looked at him coyly over her coffee cup.

Cass put down her empty coffee cup and placed her hands on top of her crossed legs. " I would love to with the Quidditch cup this year, but I honestly think this will be our last chance for a while. After this year, alot of our older players are going to be leaving. I really want to go for captain next year, but I doubt I will get it. Nasser is probably next in line. I would also hate to make that commitment with my mother being like she is. There is always that chance that she would make me quick."

Cass looked down and found that her left hand had somehow found Liam's on the table. " An auror? That's really cool. I don't think I would make a good auror really, but some people do better in that line of work than others. What made you make that decision? Was someone in your family an auror or does that line of work just appeal to you?"

[Liam Angelus G5]

Liam listened closely as Cass spoke about what she wanted and play Quidditch. "Personally, I think the idea of a witch staying home and being a house wife to be a thing of the past. Surely we have come a long way since then," Liam replied honestly. "Muggle wives don't all stay home and tend to the house, a lot of them have jobs outside of the house." Liam allowed a small smile to come to his lips. "Well, in my mind I have been watching you for years. What if I do like watching you play? There is nothing wrong with that, at least I don't think there is."

Liam took a last sip of his drink before he placed the empty cup on the table in front of him. Liam noticed that Cass' hand was now on his own. "Its true, some people do better in the field then others. But I think what made me decide on the field is my desire to help and protect people from the likes of You-Know-Who. My grandfather told me some of my family had been aurors, and I kind of remember him saying he was for a little while before he meet my grandmother, but with him it is always hard to tell when he is telling the truth or pulling your leg."

[Cassandra Blackfire G7]

Cass smiled shyly as Liam and her continued to talk. Even though the two of them had been friends for several years, Cass had never thought Liam had watched her in any manner. To hear him say it, made her feel very odd. They had been friends for a good long while, and she felt very conspicuous know that she had been the focus of his attention for some time. However, Cass couldn't help but feel excited about this new found fact. Maybe she wasn't the only one feeling their relationship progress in a new direction. " You honestly believe that?" Cass was talking about the earlier conversation about women. " Most of the men in our society are about as backwards as most muggle men in the early 20th century. To think, you honestly believe that wizarding men who think that muggles are nothing more than worthless animals to be hunted would not be as bold to think that their wives are nothing but household slaves. Come, Come, Liam. I didn't actually think you were that naive. Not all of our kind are as forward thinking and civilized as they would like to think."

Before Cass got too incredibly opinionated, the subject turned to Liam's family and their years fighting the dark arts as aurors. " I never really wanted to be an auror. As glamorous as the job sounds, it's really dangerous. Most dark wizards will stop at nothing to keep themselves from being thrown into Azkaban." Cass giggle as Liam mentioned that his grandfather might of been pulling his leg when he had mentioned that he was an auror at one point. " Really? My grandfather was that way too. He always seemed to come up with these incredible stories of what he did 'before he met my grandmother.' I mean, I was never really that close with my grandparents, but I do remember the lively stories granddad used to tell."

Tiring of the store, Cass stood up and stretched. " Ugh, I can't stand these horrible chairs anymore. They are not the most comfortable things in the world. Come on, I'm pretty sure that is something else we can find to do." Picking up her carry all bag, she pulled Liam towards the front door. " Oh, I know there is this muggle music store down the road. Even though they won't play at Hogwarts, I always like to look at the CD's to see what's new. I can usually find them later on the WWN."