Spring Starts ((Jack))

[Alice Swann]

Besides the run up to the Christmas season, the transition between spring and summer was probably Hogsmeade's busiest time. The summer holidays were not as lively as expected, because families were more often than not abroad, experiencing better sunshine than could ever be found on the sunniest day in Britain. Alice didn't enjoy crowds, so whenever she and Kitty made trips to Hogsmeade during the weekend, she would prefer to wander along the outskirts, amongst nature rather than people, and relish the peace and quiet. Kitty would usually join her, but today she had to go into the centre of the village to buy a gift. Alice wouldn't mind following her, but they couldn't spend every single minute together; they could stand it perfectly, but they tried to have moments in time to themselves. Neither twin ever felt lonely even when they were left to their own devices anyway; it was as though they were with each other in spirit regardless of the physical distance between them.

There weren't many buildings on the edge of Hogsmeade, but there were a couple of shops set along the paths, selling food and drink for the men and women who worked around the area and needed lunch. The benches were fairly empty today, which Alice was glad of; although she'd have to share, there was actually room for her to sit down. "One vanilla ice cream please," she ordered from one of the shops, then tried to find a bench to sit. Most of them had more than one person occupying them, save for one a few metres away, where there was only one lone man. Alice headed towards him and perched on the other end, ice cream in one hand, the other already rummaging through her bag for her novel.

Alice sat in peaceful silence, engrossed in her book, when she felt an odd sensation down her spine. Looking up, she caught the man staring at her from across the bench. Kitty's natural impulse was smiling, whereas Alice's face was blank as a canvas. "Hello," she eventually said before the man could turn away. The slightest of smiles rested on her lips, indicating that she wasn't afraid to talk, nor was she unfriendly. Alice just wasn't a people person, not to the extent of Kitty, but she did enjoy socialising, and she liked to learn about anything - whether it be the world, or the people in it. Everything in life was fascinating.

[Jack Reid]

In Hogsmeade, Jack Reid was walking through the trees, eyeing the ground. He didn’t want to think about where he’d been for the past seven hours or so. His warehouse job drained him on a regular basis, loading and unloading boxes of potions and other random manner of objects. While he would be completely content using spells to just move it all, his boss insisted that he not use magic. He felt that Jack could use some character. Little did he know of the vast amount of character Jack had within him. A cheating father, a mother that can’t feed herself, and two brothers with attitudes? Not to mention the ridiculous relationships he’d suffered through all during his years at Hogwarts. Probably the most hurtful had been Riley, two years ago. After spending so many good months together and enjoying each other’s company, she’d completely shut him out after a simple misunderstanding. He couldn’t understand why she’d just given up so easily on what they’d had. But that was history now. What mattered was his life now. Apart from Hogwarts, but still sticking close enough to the grounds to feel like he was still home.

Home was no longer Scotland. Home was this strange place between Hogsmeade and Hogwarts. Reaching a clearing, he looked around the places he’d learned to call home, and wondered where his life had gone. All his life consisted of was work and sleep. Jack took care of himself, of course, but only enough to keep his job and to keep an appearance. Not that it mattered what other people thought. He did it for himself. He had something of a heart still, but it was guarded by every wall imaginable. It would take a lot to get into the closed off part of his heart that he had stupidly given away before. Coming back to reality, he eyed the path in front of him which led toward the first number of shops at the entrance to Hogsmeade. Walking swiftly, he made his way down the path and noticed what appeared to be a young girl, probably from Hogwarts, sitting reading a book. She was attractive, yet she looked much younger than him. Probably a fourth or fifth year, he assumed. Jack began to cross her path and she didn’t seem to notice his presence. Deciding against his better judgement, he stopped and looked over at her. She must have felt someone watching her, because at that moment she looked up with a blank stare.

“Hello,” she innocently spoke up. She indicated with the look on her face that she was up for talking, and meeting someone new. “Hello yourself. What brings you to this deep part of Hogsmeade? History of Spells perhaps?” Citing a classic book used in an early class at Hogwarts, the question would likely answer his question of what year (and possibly House) she was a part of. Jack quickly turned the corner around the bench across from the girl and took a seat, looking directly into her eyes. “I haven’t seen you around these parts much before...I come around here on almost a daily basis, due to my strenuous work schedule. Blasted boss thinks someone like me needs to grow up or something. Typical of that type.” He wondered what his simple conversation would accomplish with this girl, and awaited her reply.

[Alice Swann]

Alice observed the man silently. He was responsive, and not particularly shy. He looked quite a bit older; maybe in his early twenties, but no more. "No," Alice replied serenely, holding his gaze with clear, scrutinising eyes. "I like taking walks here. It's peaceful. The centre of Hogsmeade is too loud and crowded." She noted the scruffy attire and wondered if he worked in this area. He confirmed this moments later. "I come here every few weeks, when we visit Hogsmeade. The time varies," Alice supplied for him. She noticed that her ice cream was beginning to melt, and calmly took a small lick of the dripping white. "Where do you work?" she asked with some interest; she wasn't aware of many big businesses situated in this area.

"People always want us to grow up faster," Alice said after a beat, turning away from the man and watching as a couple strolled past, arm in arm. For a brief second she contemplated boys: if she wanted a relationship, if she liked anyone, if Kitty and herself was enough. One day, they would each be on the arm of one of these men walking past, and things would change. Alice didn't know how she felt about this; she was neither looking forward to the inevitable, nor was she dreading it. She knew it to be inescapable, and it would come eventually, so why dwell over the issue too much? Alice was not a worrier, she was a logical realist, and she never panicked. As long as Kitty chose a good man, which Alice was confident she would. She herself didn't particularly want a boyfriend at the moment; she had always been independent and distant, and there are rarely been any boys worth more than a moment's consideration.

Alice took another lick of her ice cream, this time longer, as she brushed her distracted thoughts away. "When we really need to grow at our own pace," she resumed saying. "There is a reason why every person is unique." Alice didn't lament, nor was she complaining or whining; she was merely stating her opinion, whether or not this man liked it or not. She never sought to be confrontational, but she was always honest, and she held her beliefs steadfastly. "You are bitter," Alice added, glancing back towards the man and watching him closely. "Why?"