Along The Way ((Adrina))

[Heather Foster]

Heather sighed tiredly to herself as she buried her head into her hands. Her elbows were perched onto the dark table top, a purple mug of coffee next to her, with The Daily Prophet opened in front of her. No one would expect to see Heather Foster like this. Normally, she was the lively, optimistic out of all her friends, never allowing such depressing emotions too overwhelm her. Miserable just wasn’t in her personality at all. Picking up the handle of the mug Heather took a sip of the hot drink, still staring blindly in front of her. Just recently she had been offered a training course in Switzerland with the best curse breakers there were in the wizarding world. Now how could anyone give up an opportunity like that? All Heather could think about was getting away from those grouchy Goblins, pursuing something that she had chosen for a profession. Of course she accepted the offer, but she didn’t realize that meant leaving behind the one person she cared about the most; Justin. Heather really didn’t understand their relationship status at the moment. They had kissed, but nothing too much followed after that. They were friends, yes, but there just had to be something else there. ‘He’ll still be here when you come back. she thought taking another sip of her drink before setting it down on the table. If she knew that, then why was she so sad with leaving? He understood when she told him. He said those exact same words, but maybe Heather’s biggest fear when she returned was that he wouldn’t be there. What if she didn’t want to leave Switzerland? That was nonsense. Zennor was her home and Switzerland didn’t have that one thing that England did.

Running her fingers through her blonde hair, Heather stood from her spot at the kitchen table before washing off the empty mug in the sink. As soon as she set the cup into the dish washer there was a loud bark followed by a high pitched hiss. Groaning, Heather closed the lid to the washer, heading into the living room to see what the problem was. Lucky was sitting patiently at the bottom of the book shelf while Oreo was laying about in a free space that was bathed in the morning sunlight. Rolling her eyes, Heather gently grabbed Lucky’s blue collar dragging the relentless dog out of the room. “How many times do I have to tell you to leave Oreo alone?” she asked opening the back door to the backyard. Lucky just barked happily wagging his tail as he shoot straight outside jumping upon a flock of seagulls that were pecking at the ground. Laughing, Heather just shook her head as she closed the door, locking it before heading upstairs to her bedroom. It was still shocking to know that this was her house now. Well, not exactly, since her grandparents helped pay for some of it. Her grandparents were wealthy muggles and helped out with their sons siblings, getting her other three brothers and sisters through universities. Once reaching her bedroom, Heather opened the door to her closet taking out her attire for the day. She had at least a dozen arraigns to run in Diagon Alley before she left next week. Pulling out a stripped orange and white tee shirt with laces at the edges, along with a pair of jean Capri’s she normally wore down to the beach.

Once she was all dressed, Heather finished her whole attire by pulling her hair up into a half pony tail. Grabbing her purse by the side of the bed, Heather headed back down the stairs and just before she reached the door, there was a loud crack. In seconds Heather was standing in the small pub, making her way through large crowds. It was summertime, which meant there would probably be more Hogwarts students around. She just kept a small smile on her face as she headed down the busy streets of Diagon Alley toward her first destination. The head curse breaker of the wizarding bank in Switzerland had sent her a letter about the work attire. Just last week Heather had got fitted for new work robes, which meant they had to be ready by now. Opening the door to the small store, Heather heard the little jingle from the bell. It wasn’t too crowded, only a few people getting fit by measuring tape in front of the mirrors. Making her way toward the front counter, Heather stood beside another girl waiting as she was. “Excuse me…” she began but the older women didn’t listen. Turning her head toward the girl next to her she sighed. “How long have you’ve been waiting here?” she asked wondering if it would be best to come back later. After all, she had to also get some stationary.

[Adrina De Luca]

Adrina put on her clothes comically just as there was a knock on her bedroom door. “Come in Air.” Adrina called nervously. Aria entered the room and instantly raised an eyebrow. “What’s wrong with you?” She asked plopping herself down on Adrina’s bed. Drina sighed placing the sapphire blue cardigan over her crème camisole. She turned to face Aria. “I just got an owl, the autobiography is being published as we speak.” She said nervous as she could be. “No way!” Aria shrieked which was rather weird for Aria. There were very few things in life that made her happy. Adrina nodded. “Yea, yea. I meant I knew they said that they loved it, but I didn’t think that it would really be published or anything.” Adrina said smiling and twirling a random piece of brown hair. “I owe you a bunch. I mean, I never would have gotten that far if it wasn’t for you. I mean, you introduced me to Jeff.” She with a nervous grin on her face. Aria nodded. “Yea, but you got yourself through the door.” She paused. “This is crazy! You’re autobiography is going to be published!” She said smiling brightly. Adrina nodded. “I know. Oh my gosh, I never would have dreamed.” She said falling backward on to her bed by Aria. “That is insane.” She smiled with delight.

“So, you can watch Gia for the afternoon, right?” She asked moments later. Aria nodded. “Yea, why?” Adrina smiled. “Well, in a couple of weeks when the autobiography is released, the publishers are having a sort of release party for it.” She said smiling. Aria grinned. “Shut up!” Adrina nodded. “Crazy, right? And of course you are coming and of course the fabulous Gia. She’s the only reason why they wanted to read my writing.” She said absently. Aria shook her head. “No, you’re the only reason they wanted to read your writing. You and your life and your baby. But mostly, you.” She said sighing. Adrina grinned. “Yea?” Aria only nodded. “Well, I’m going to get fitted for new dress robes.” She said standing up. “What about you. What’s she going to wear?” Aria asked. “Umm, I think I have something.” Adrina said simply. “Okay, well this party better be awesome.” She said laughing. “How much money are you making on this book anyways?” Aria asked. “Nothing.” Aria looked shocked. “I told Jeff that since it was my first of anything published that I wanted the money to go to unwed mothers.” She said walking towards the door. “Wow, you’re nice and crazy.” Adrina laughed. “Thanks.”

Adrina walked through Diagon Alley about thirty minutes later. It had been forever since she had been out without Gia. Then again, that was how it went when you had a baby had fifteen. Adrina was just lucky that Aria was there to help her out. It was crazy. The book thing. Everything was just happening so crazy. Adrina was getting her autobiography published. She never would have dreamed. Then again, it was all Aria’s doing even if Aria herself wouldn’t admit it. Aria met the guy in a book store in Hogsmeade. Jeff apparently loved stories of real life teens with real life issues and well..lives. Adrina didn’t think that the book was even that good. It wasn’t even a book. No, more like a short essay and it was just being published for charity, but it didn’t matter. It was a big deal to Adrina so it was a big deal. She couldn’t help but smile as she entered the shop. She looked around trying to find someone to fit her for robes, but she only saw one lady standing at the front counter. “Excuse me..” She started. “Shh..” The lady said back talking to an older customer. Adrina rolled her eyes and waited.

After a good twenty minutes, Adrina was about to give up and find another shop to go to. Just then, an older girl walked in and tried to get the attention of the sales lady. The girl asked Adrina how long she had been there. She sighed. “A good twenty minutes.” She explained. “Seems that the check out lady only wants to gossip with that lady over there about ex-husbands.” Adrina explained trying to be a bit friendly in the situation. “Personally, on lady gossip is more annoying that regular school gossip, but since I have to endure it there, I might as well endure it here.” She said smiling only a tad and looking at the sales lady again. “Umm, can I please..” She started. “Shh!” The lady called and then turned to her friend. “Great..” Adrina muttered under her breath thinking about Gia and Aria. Drina felt bad about leaving Gia with her when she was on vacation. After all, Aria had Gia during the school year. “I don’t think she understands that even though we are not that old, we still have places to be and things to do.” Adrina said the girl eying the sales person. “I’m Adrina De Luca by the way.” She added trying to take away some awkwardness. Adrina then looked at the sales person again who didn’t seem to be stopping her conversation any time soon.

[Heather Foster]

Heather rested her hands on the wooden desk, her blue eyes staring at the group of old women whispering in hushed tones. She leaned into the counter as the girl next to her answered her question, snorting when the girl gave an idea of the women chatting about ex husbands. “Let’s just hope when we become their age we don’t gossip about other woman behind their backs,” Heather added in glancing over at the younger girl next to her. She looked about sixteen but she didn’t remember any names or rumors about her when she was still at Hogwarts. “You would think they already learn about how many false rumors, or the truth put in a way that could hurt someone really impacts their lives.” Heather never really followed the grapevine when she was at Hogwarts. She had a handful of friends, but made sure she stayed out of the rumors that escaped the castle. When the girl failed again to get the sales clerk attention she gave her name. Adrina...Heather couldn’t remember that name, and then again, Heather wasn’t really good at remembering names. “Do you still go to Hogwarts?” she asked trying to making casual conversation. The old women didn’t seem to be ending her gossiping anytime soon. Normally there were at least three people working the counter, handing over finished robes to people. Today must be a slow day since school was out and people didn’t need new school clothing. “We could always come back later I guess, but I’ve waited for those robes for two days already,” she said, a hint of annoyance in her voice.

“What are you picking up?” she asked searching the younger girl’s face before taking her hands off the smooth counter. This was ridiculous. Pressing the little bell that was by the other end of the counter, Heather kept pushing the button hoping to annoy the sales clerk enough to get her attention. “Excuse me!” Heather called out noticing that the ladies looked up annoyed at the two customers. “We would like to pick up our robes. We’ve been waiting here for a while and apparently have other things to do all day.” Yes, Heather was being rude and normally she wasn’t, but she wanted those robes. When finally the ladies parted, one went to help measure another customer as the other one collected the finished robes that hung up in mid air at the other end of the wall. “Finally!” Heather told Adrina smiling as the lady handed the finished robes to the younger girl before giving Heather hers. She paid the proper amount, draping the fabric over her arm tenderly. They looked simply fantastic for her training in Switzerland. There were gold and silver threading on the cuffs and neckline with different colors. Smiling, Heather nodding thanks before turning around toward following the girl out of the store as the two ladies continued their gossiping.

Looking into the window of the shop Heather laughed motioning her head toward the two women. “Looks like they are it again. Maybe their making fun of their friend who probably wears ugly sun hats,” Heather laughed as she turned around to face the girl a small smile on her face. “You said you had other places to go right? If not we could grab something to eat or maybe some ice cream. Nothing like food when you’ve waited nearly thirty minutes for your dress robes.”

[Adrina De Luca]

Adrina chuckled at the girl’s reply. Adrina had no plans of being like those women. She hated gossip, despised it even. Still, she seemed to attract a lot of it, but that was only during her fifth year of school. Adrina was sure that more rumors would be started when she came back for her sixth year. After all, now she had a baby. It might have just been a rumor, but it was the truth. Plus, many Hogwarts students spent their weekends in Hogsmeade. Adrina did too, but she carted around a baby all the while. She didn’t care if they saw. If they saw the truth, then maybe some of the lies behind the rumors would be cut out. Unlikely, but it was a nice thought. It wasn’t the rumors that bugged her as much as the fake ones. Like the rumor that she was having an actor’s quintuplets. Really now. Who would make up some unbelievable garbage like that and who would believe it. Adrina didn’t understand those sorts of people. But, then again, they didn’t understand her either.

“Believe me, I don’t plan on it.” She said seriously to the girl standing beside her. Adrian continued to watch the annoying old women. Really, was this a way to run a business? “Apparently not.” Adrina said nearly rolling her eyes to the women as the older girl talked about how they should have known that gossip hurt people. This was a true fact, but not so much for Adrina. After everything that had happened with Danny, she wouldn’t let gossip hurt her. Not even a little bit. Adrina nodded as the girl asked if she still attended Hogwarts. “Yea, two years left and thankfully that’s all.” Really, Adrina had always liked Hogwarts, but she had a baby now. A baby that she didn’t get to see much during the school year. Adrina would have dropped out long ago, but Aria insisted that her going to school was for the best. Deep down, Drina knew that Aria was right. She always was. Adrina nodded when the girl said that they could come back later. “Yes, but if we do, we will miss what happened with Earl and Rose.” She joked repeating the names the two ladies were whispering about. Was anything more annoying?

“Dress robes.” She said easily. “I think they are lilac if I remember correctly.” She said thinking back. She nodded remember that was correct. Adrina kept in her laughed as the older girl rang the bell insisting on service. Adrina paid for her robes as the lady handed them to her and then walked out of the store. She looked to the older girl and laughed. “Wow, you sure now how to stop the gossip vultures. Well, for a second or two at least.” She laughed looking back to the women who were really going at it. “If only they knew that the shop down the street is gossiping about how nosey those two are.” She smiled thinking to what Aria had told her. Aria didn’t like gossip either, but she did spend a great deal of time in Diagon Alley. When you spend a lot of time somewhere, you learn things, simple as that. Adrina smiled to the new robes. They were perfect for the event. “And you would think that they would have better ways to spend there time.” Adrina sneered before turning her back to the window and the annoying women. Adrina smiled to the girl. “No where to go really, just a life that requires constant attention.” She said knowing that it made no sense. “But, I can always go for ice-scream.” She said motioning to the stand. “Then again, if I spill some on the blouse all of Diagon Alley might gossip about it.” She joked faking a concerned look. “Oh well.” She joked again making her way to the stand.