Financial Thoughts (Ciaran)

[aithne]

Brianna stared into the glass box in the jewellery store. The earrings she’d seen last week were still there and looked gorgeous. They were dangly ones, silver and white with several sparkling sapphire stones set deep into their center. Brianna knew they’d go perfectly with the new white dress she’d bought… but did she have enough? Hunting through her small black bag to find her purse she wondered about her financial status. She knew of many people her age with jobs but the thought hadn’t come to her. Lately her parents had told her that money was slightly tight and she’d have to cut down on luxuries. But clothes wasn’t a luxury… she hoped. Brianna’s mother was a counsellor in a town near London and Brianna knew that although she charged a lot of money, she didn’t get too many clients and wasn’t earning much. Brianna’s father owned several small businesses, selling everything from printed pens to mugs and mouse mats. Although he owned several offices for the businesses his youngest daughter knew that staff were expensive and they were loosing money faster than they were making profit.

Brianna looked hard at the earrings. They were so beautiful… fashion was pretty much Brianna’s life. Currently she had her hair tousled stylishly and in curled waves. She wore a small amount of make-up; simple black mascara, some green eyeliner, a touch of shadow. She was dressed in a small dark green tank top with a larger white vest-top underneath, and black beads around her neck. Brianna’s legs were dressed in some black skinny jeans and she wore green pumps on her feet. She spent a lot of time in the morning getting ready; she wasn’t very vain, merely loved clothes. And not being able to spend what she wanted on them would not be good.

Pulling out her purse after fumbling for it Brianna gazed forlornly inside. She had just enough for the earrings, but then she wouldn’t be able to top up her muggle phone or see that movie with her sister next weekend. Sighing, she shook off the thought for when the event arrived, and called over the worker. Pointing one finger at the sparkling earrings she smiled as she thought of what they’d look like. That was her reward; seeing the outcome. The man raised his eyebrows at her choice, and after commenting on her expensive taste he slipped them gently into a pale blue box before dropping that into a brown bag. Handing the money over Brianna thought about the unavoidable anger she knew her mother would send her way. And then she thought about the figure of Lana, her sister, behind her mother; sneering as she got told off. But soon the image of Brianna in her dress with the glittering jewels in her ears came back and she shook off the thought. Saying a pleasant goodbye to the man she walked into the busy streets of Hogsmeade. But no further; a sharp jolt in her shoulder by a bustling figure passing by made Brianna fall backwards against the wall of the jewellers, and she gasped loudly as the bag with the earrings in fell to the floor. Seething she didn’t bother looking at whoever she’d knocked into and seized the sky-blue box before it got kicked away. Opening it, she examined the earrings carefully, making sure nothing was wrong.

[ciaran]

"Ciaran!" Finnea called running into her younger brother's room. "Huh?" He said sitting straight up in his bed. Ciaran even hit his head on his head board. "Ouch!" He yelped clenching his head. Ciaran rubbed it for a second before glaring at his sister. "Finnea what do you want it is.." His voice drifted off as Ciaran looked at the old fashion clock next to his bed. His jaw dropped as he looked back to his sister. "Finn it's five o'clock!" He yelled fully awake now. "Yes, well I need you're help today." She said calmly taking a seat by the foot of his bed. Finnea didn't care that he was fast asleep. Ciaran looked at her rolling his eyes. "With what? Where?" He asked. The early morning daze was still very much so in him. Finnea shook her head. "Well, actually mom and dad are going to visit Grandma Leane is Ireland. So, your stuck going to The Ministry with me." She announced in a calm tone. Ciaran raised an eyebrow at her. "Geez, I'm fifteen for god's sake!" He yelled. "I don't need to be baby sat and they know that." Finnea looked at him calmly. "Chill Cia." Said announced. "Just go with me and hang out in the office. There's a Floo right there so go where ever you want. Mum and dad will never know." She said picking at her nails. Finnea laughed at her. "And to think you work for the ministry.." Ciaran said in a mocking tone. He was referring to Finn letting him go out in the midst of a war. Finnea bopped him on the head lightly. "Well I'm no auror!" She laughed. "No that you are not." Ciaran shook his head. Finnea stood up. "Well, c'mon get ready. We're leaving in ten minutes." Finnea announced as she left the room slamming the door. "Sisters." Ciaran said aloud.

Only five minutes later Finnea opened the door. She no longer had her night clothes on. Instead they were replaced with ruby red robes. She walked over to Ciaran. "That's what you're wearing?" She gaped at his clothes. Ciaran was simply wearing khaki pants, a blue polo, and shoes. Ciaran nearly smirked at her. "I don't wear robes really." He commented about to walk out the door. Finnea stopped him. "Just put this on please." She said handing him a navy blue robe. She held a black one in her other hand. "I had them made for you. Just put them over you're clothes like at Hogwarts." She commanded as Ciaran slipped it on. Finnea took a few steps back. "Perfect." She said. Ciaran was glad she didn't make him dress entirely in robes like he did for formal wizard events. Besides, he didn't know where he would let the Floo Network take him yet. Ciaran watched as Finnea left the room and made her way down the steps. "C'mon." She called. Ciaran made his way down. Finnea walked up to him. "Ok, promise you won't get in to any trouble." Finnea said in a sweet tone. Ciaran gave her an odd look. "Finn, since when do I even like trouble." He told her. "Oh, right. Forgot." She replied. Ciaran didn't like nor saw a need for any sort of Gryffindor trouble or trouble in general. Just because he was a Gryff didn't mean he like breaking all the rules. He looked at Finnea. "Hold on tight." She commanded.

Only a few seconds later, they were in the main entrance for the Ministry of Magic. Finnea worked for the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes. Ciaran thought the field was fascinating, but it wasn't what he wished to do. Ciaran followed Finnea up to level three. True, Finnea's job was pretty cool, but Ciaran didn't want to have to watch Finnea in action all do. She walked him through to the offices and let him to her desk. "Ok, I'll be here until five and you'll be where?" She asked taking a seat. "Well I'll probably just walk through muggle London and then head to Hogsmeade through the Leaky Calderon." He explained. Ciaran had just made that up from the top of his head, but it sounded good enough. Ciaran could always go to level nice to the Department of Mysteries, but there was nothing there except for a lonesome black door at the end of the long hallway. Ciaran dreamed of being an Unspeakable when he grew older so the level fascinated him, but he knew there wasn't much he could see. Finnea was looking at a list of To do's. Ciaran turned to leave. "See ya Finn." He called. "Come back in one piece or I'm dead!" She called.

Ciaran headed into Hogsmeade hours later. He hadn't done much. He just went to the park where had met Kia and he checked out a few muggle bookstores. That was basically it. He didn't even stop in The Alley. Ciaran just to The Leaky Calderon for the Floo. He hadn't been to Hogsmeade in some time so it seemed like the perfect idea. Ciaran walked further into the village. What would he do? Well, he was hungry, but that could wait until later. Ciaran would like to go to a bookstore. He couldn't help that he liked to read interesting stuff. Ciaran looked around. He didn't see a friend in sight. Well, that wasn't too surprising. Most of his friends were probably in Diagon Alley for some reason. He walked past the stores in his normal way. Suddenly, Ciaran saw a Slytherin walking past him and the kid defiantly had a mean streak. He pushed Ciaran into a girl. The Slytherin just laughed and walked on. Ciaran rushed to see if the girl was okay. She had hit the wall. Ciaran reached and helped her up. He could see she had a bag of jewelry with her. Suddenly, Ciaran turned to hear the Slytherin yell something. "Stupid Mudbloods!" The kid called. Ciaran ignored it looking at the girl. Ciaran was a pure-blood, but he was sure the Slytherin just did that because he was a Gryffindor. "Are you okay? I'm sorry about that. I don't even know who that was." He said pointing towards the Slytherin that was getting father and father away. "Is that okay?" He asked pointing to the box. Ciaran looked at the girl. She was his age and he had defiantly seen her, but Ciaran was in such a brain rush he didn't his mind wasn't taking in who it was even though he was certain he knew her face and maybe more. Ciaran waiting for the girl to respond.