Previous / Return to Scene List / Next

Title: Knockturn Alley Nightlife

Contributors: wings_of_charm, pb_prince

Edited by: Carla Lute

Posted: 2005-12-22 to 29

Game Date: August 31^st

Disclaimer: No one at Levicorpus owns Harry Potter, the world or its characters. We just like to play in J.K. Rowling’s world.

* * * * * * *

Promise sighed as she looked down at Hogwarts from about 100 feet above it. Eclipse's fur was sleek and soft beneath her and she had her fingers entwined in the huge winged animal's mane. She rarely used any form of tack and this day wasn't any acception. Eclipse was more used to following her pressure commands than reigning anyway.

School started the next day and Promise was excited but at the same time she was dreading it very slightly. Though she was bored and lonely she'd gotten very used to having this entire beautiful and amazing place to herself. Perhaps she was just feeling a little antisocial that day.

Charm was nearly asleep on her shoulder and sending waves of comfort to her through their physical contact.

Promise sighed again, "wouldn't it be nice to just be able to fly away?" she asked neither of the creatures in particular. Charm didn't respond but Eclipse, stroking her wings again, snorted and nodded. She was tired of the unchanging scenery. She was used to going on days of adventuring in the summer with her two friends, not staying in one place.

"I wish we could just....Fly all the way to London....wouldn't that be lovely. It's not like it wouldn't be possible. You're easilly fast enough, Eclipse."

Her eyes scanned the sky in the distance and she frowned, "Of course the ministry would probably get on my case then because I'm sure they'd freak out about me being spotted by Muggles."

Charm scoffed, the cat had always known why the rules against Muggles finding out about the wizarding world for her species liked to lay low from them as well...but she'd always found herself irritated when something so harmless as flying to London was prevented by the mere fear that Muggles would spot them. It had always bothered her that it was the wizards and witches that had to lay low all the time. It always struck her as unfair but perhaps she was just feeling protective of Promise. Though she pretended that she didn't like the girl that much she was very protective. She would rather die than let her be hurt.

Promise looked at Charm and smiled a little, "well maybe we can fly for a little way right?"

Charm smirked, she knew that if Promise started the trip she'd certainly finish it. Her kitty like smirk turned into a frown. She knew it would never be a good idea; however, and made a negative sound.

"OH don't be a stick in the mud, lady!" Promise smiled, "just let me go get my jacket and we'll be off."

She directed Eclipse to land, so the horse dove and landed at a gallop then proceeded to slow down and stop just outside of Hagrid's hut.

"Oy!"

Promise stopped and looked up, Hagrid was calling her, "Hello, Hagrid!" she called back to him. "What is it?"

"Well we should be goin' soon, don't ya think?" He asked her.

She cocked her head, "Going where?"

"Didn't anyone tell ya? You're s'posed to meet up with the other students and ride the Hogwarts Express from London just like everyone else. We have ya set up in a Muggle hotel near King's Cross Station for tonight so you can make it in the mornin'"

Promise looked startled, "No, no one told me. Give me a few minutes to collect my overnight things and we'll go. I'm sorry I'm not prepared. I had no idea."

And so Promise took off to the castle to gather an overnight bag. She then disguised Charm's wings for she was rather certain that they'd be running amuck with Muggles, and they wouldn't really appreciate the sight of a winged cat. Finally she returned, and Hagrid escorted her to the "Comfort Inn Kings Cross" for the night. He told her that there was a Muggle "Shuttle" (he didn’t know what it was but since Promise was brought up mostly around Muggles she was familiar with the term) to the station in the morning. He then proceeded to tell her about how to get to platform 9 3/4 then bid her adieu.

Promise looked about her hotel room. It wasn't the best of hotels, but it wasn't shabby either. It had wireless internet so that made her happy and she pulled her laptop out of her bag. She couldn't be separted from it for she seemed to have been sucked into the lovely world known as "livejournal" where one could complain to the entire world and rarely get flaque for it.

She plugged in her computer, which she fondly called "Brutus," and then walked to the window, looking dazed. After a few moments of pondering she went to her computer to update her journal.......

* * * * * * *

Promise quickly changed out of her pajamas, for that had been what she'd been wearing all day since her shower. She wore pajamas fairly often at Hogwarts when she was there alone. Why become less comfortable when there's no one to see you?

She slid into a black tank top and jeans for she'd only brought a change of clothes and her Hogwarts uniform. She had only packed for overnight after all.

She picked Charm up off the bed and set her on her shoulder. Charm was looking VERY cranky for her wings weren't present at that point and time, and she was rather attached to them usually.

"I'm SORRY, Charm, it's only for a night. Besides, where Blaise and I decide we want to go may be a wizarding place anyway. I swear I'll give them back then, alright?"

Charm nodded irritably and Promise continued, "Alright, will you bring us to Diagon Alley, please? I'll get you sushi before we go back to the school?"

Immediately they were in Diagon Alley, Charm looking quite pleased at the idea of getting some sushi..she loved sushi. As Promise had told Blaise earlier the week before, sushi, chicken, and money...the keys to Charm's heart.

Promise slid her wand into her back pocket, covered by her shirt and secured tightly by a piece of duct tape she kept in there to make sure it didn't go flying out. She'd found out that it was wise to take this precaution the hard way. It was a small wand, only 8 inches, so she didn't usually have trouble hiding it.

Blaise's home wasn't hard to find, two large towers guarded by nothing less than a Troll. Charm crouched on her shoulder and growled low in her chest.

Promise shook her head, "No, Charm, leave the poor beast be. Blaise said he'd meet us at the entrance."

Charm looked slightly disappointed but relaxed as Promise walked as close to the front door as she dared tempt the guard troll's limits.

Blaise stepped out the front doors and waved the guard Troll off. He was dressed in pink silk robes with a purple sash. He gestured to Promise and Charm to come inside.

Promise smiled slightly and walked confidently to Blaise. Charm simply HAD to hiss as they walked past the troll, and Promise glared irritably at her. "Must you?" she grumbled.

Charm looked smug, and Promise shook her head then moved her attention to Blaise, "Good to see you again…and in a better mood than the last time I saw you. You didn't seem to excited to see that Harry kid."

The inside of the lobby was even whiter than the outside of the building. It's ceiling opened in a tall column about twenty stories high. A white stair circled all the way up and appeared to be fuse perfectly with the walls. There were a few doors and corridors leading off the ground floor, but every floor above it seemed to only have one set of doors. There were two large gold barred cages the size of large elevators.

Blaise shrugged. He'd been in a bad mood before he had seen Potter. "Potter's an %^(, but I don't really want to talk about him." Blaise gave Charm a quick scratch behind her ears, and headed towards one of the cages, the doors of which slid open invitingly as he approached.

Promise made a face, "Well he didn't make a good impression on me, honestly. I mean he acted like I was invisible...it was odd...usually even rude people will say hello."

Charm purred loudly at the scratch and bunted Blaise's arm as Promise came up next to him in the elevator.
"Looks like you made quite the impression on Miss Charm," Promise said with a smile, glad the little cat had made a friend, "She's not generally that friendly with people right off the bat."

She glanced around the entry room for the building through the elevator cage, "and to change the subject, very interesting architecture for this building. Can't say I've seen many similar. I like it."

"Well that's the point, isn't it?" said Blaise. "Seven." The doors slid shut and the lift rose smoothly into the air. It stopped at the seventh landing and doors on the opposite side slid open. Blaise stepped out and led their way to the single set of double doors, which he pushed open. "Come on in."

"Yes, I suppose it is, isn't it?" She grinned at him as he spoke the floor to the elevator.
Promise looked around as they rose up the white shaft. She sincerely hoped that Blaise's apartment...thing...had some color in it. She feared she'd go blind if it was white as well. It was pretty, but very hard on the eyes.

The doors behind Promise slid open, and she spun around, very slightly startled. She hated it when elevators did that because usually she was lost in thought on an elevator, and it startled her when the doors opened somewhere other than where she'd walked in. She covered up her slight shock very well, however, and she followed Blaise to the set of double doors. She assumed they were to his apartment as he opened them for her, inviting her in.

"Thank you," she said with instinctive politeness as she took him up on his offer and entered the doors, Charm cheerfully making a series of sounds that sounded like a cross between a meow and a chirp that meant something along the lines of "Oooooh going into a boy's house the first time you hang out with him? You little hussy!"
Promise flicked her friend on the nose, but it did nothing to stop Charm's little sneeze of laughter. Promise shook her head and Charm continued to look entertained.

Blaise apartment did indeed have some color in it. It was an eclectic mix of modern, African, and Middle Eastern furniture pieces and accessories that somehow achieved a sort of warm harmony against a backdrop of white and neutral colored walls. Every piece spoke of wealth, travel, sophistication, and comfort, and Blaise seemed extremely indifferent to all of it.

There was a small aviary in one corner housing a grumpy looking grey owl on one side and a more exotic, brightly colored bird on the other. A jewel encrusted nightingale like the one from the story of the Emperor tilted its head from side to side and let out a welcoming chirp.

"Hungry?" Blaise asked passing through the first room and into the dining space beyond.

Promise was enchanted by the birds, but she didn't get too close. She had always been slightly phobic of birds. Charm, however, was rather intent on getting closer. Of course Promise wouldn't allow that, and she didn't have her wings so she just sat looking at them with that stare that only a feline can give.

Blaise asked if Promise was hungry and she pondered for a moment, "I hadn't actually thought of it, but I suppose I could eat something."

She glanced around and smiled a bit, "You have a beautiful place. Some interesting things in here...Charm seems particularly interested in the birds, but I think she might just be hungry..."

Charm gave a kitty smirk then booted Promise in the ear and made a demanding sound.

"Only if you promise not to try and eat the birds."

Charm pondered for a moment then nodded. Promise pulled out her wand, "Desino Veneficium"

Charms wings popped back into existence, and she stretched them joyfully then settled back down, purring contentedly.

Promise then scuttled after Blaise into the dining area.

"I wouldn't bother the birds, Charm. Artemis doesn't shy from using his claws." Blaise pulled a chord and almost instantly a house-elf appeared. Blaise sat down at the long dining table. "Fix a dinner for two and bring some pheasant for the cat. Do you have any requests?" Before Promise could answer he added. "And bring us some tea while we're waiting."

Charm sneezed in laughter at the warning of the bird's claws, and Promise smiled gently but she said nothing. Now wasn't the time to let Blaise know that Charm was a very VERY dangerous magical creature. She'd let him know if an egg was found for him, but until then it was Charm's little secret.

Charm forgot about her amusement very suddenly at talk of pheasant and instantly leapt on the table, marched over to Blaise, sat down and gave him an affectionate rub. "I like you." She said very slowly in English in a strange, high and mewling voice. Then sat down and cleaned her paws in preparation for dinner as if she'd said nothing.

Promise jumped, startled, Charm rarely spoke in a human language. It was very hard for her, and it wasn't necessarily the most pleasant thing to hear for her mouth and voice weren't made for things like that but it was certainly interesting when it happened.

"OH!" Promise suddenly said, before the house elf could wander off, "I'm allergic to walnuts!"

She paused...it seemed a very strange thing to come out when her CAT had just TALKED, but she didn't want to forget to tell the little elf. She wasn't deathly allergic to the things, but they certainly made her uncomfortable.
Charm blinked at her slowly and continued to clean as if nothing had happened.

Blaise stared at Charm. He definitely wanted one of these. "You're not bad yourself," he said, giving her another scratch behind her ears.

He turned his attention back to Promise. He looked her over from head to toe and frowned. "That won't do," he said.

Charm gave him a feline grin then padded back to Promise to curl up on her lap and wait for the food. She'd be happier if Blaise could understand her regular speech rather than just human speech. He needed to get a hatchling. Once bonded with one, he'd know the language.

Promise cocked her head and lowered one eyebrow at Blaise when he said, ‘That won't do.’ She gave him her best 'wtf?' look and asked, "um...sorry?"

Blaise stood up without answering and disappeared into one of the doors off the living area. He reappeared a minute later with a very expensive looking set of medium blue witches robes. "Here," he said handed them to Promise. "Blue jeans are for Muggles."

Promise raised her brows, startled, then laughed, "Yes, and they're usually very helpful when being around them as well."

She then smiled slyly, "I don't think I'll ask why you have relatively nice witch's robes just lying about..."

Her smirk remained as she got up, took the robes, and slid out of the room. She didn't do more than go around the corner into the other room where she couldn't be seen. Muto Armarium, She didn't speak the switching spell outloud. She was working on getting better with silent spell casting. That sort of thing was possibly why she was advanced for her age...all she ever DID was practice at home.

After she folded her Muggle clothing, Charm took it in her claws and disappeared. Moments later she was back and set herself back on Promise's shoulder before Promise re-entered the room where she'd left Blaise.

"Good choice," She said, indicating the robes. She didn't explain, she figured he'd know. Medium to light blues looked very good against her dark skin and hair; therefore, Blaise had chosen well from wherever he'd dug them out of.

She usually felt more stately when she was in robes, probably because she was USUALLY in Muggle clothing at home since where she lived it was far more practical. Feeling statelier she generally moved with more grace than before as she did now as she moved back to her chair.

When she sat down she looked up and gave a slightly more sincere little smile, "Thank you."

Charm was sniffing the robes with interest. She liked Blaise, but she had to make sure everything was all right with them. She trusted no one around her bond-mate. If Promise was to die, she would as well, so she was very protective.

Blaise looked Promise over again, more approvingly this time. "They're my mother's," he said in answer to her earlier unspoken question. "She's about your size."

She considered teasing Blaise with a "suuuuure they are" comment but decided against it. She was actually startled that they were his mother's, though. Blaise wasn't a short person and Promise was VERY small. If his mother was Promise's size then she must be quite small as well. He must have gotten his height from his father.

"Your mother isn't a very big person, apparently," Promise said, looking down at herself. She used to get made fun of for being short, until she put a hex on a kid that made fun of her. Made him two feet tall. She nearly got suspended...but it was worth every moment of the twice a week detentions that she got for the rest of the school year

"Well, she's a bit taller," said Blaise. "But width wise you're about the same. Those robes are cut a bit on the short side."

The house-elf arrived with their tea and shrunk back when Blaise cast him an annoyed look. The teapot poured two cups which floated to set infront of Blaise and promise. The milk pitcher filled a shallow saucer and offered itself to Charm.

Promise and Charm both looked delighted at the presentation of tea and milk. Charm peeped at Blaise then looked at Promise expectantly.

"Charm says thank you," Promise smiled. She had decided that half the reason she liked Blaise was because he was so kind to Charm. Most people ignored her or just treated her like a regular pet, and he treated her like he would a regular person...perhaps nicer than he would treat a person. Charm loved it and Promise also appreciated it. They may have enjoyed a good bicker between them, but they were actually very close.

Promise's eyes widened slightly as she remembered something she'd meant to tell him when she saw him at Diagon alley but had slipped her mind, "I mailed my mom about an egg. She's not at home right now but she mailed me back saying that when they go back for a visit in the next couple of weeks she'll have a look around for you."

Charm twittered at Blaise and Promise translated, "Charm says she hopes you get an egg so you'll be able to understand what she's saying. See, when you imprint with a Car Danathi when they hatch they teach you their language. You have a kind of...instant sort of mental bond, and you can't speak through it but it helps you learn what they're saying pretty quickly."

Promise usually wouldn't give over a Car Danathi egg. Neither she or the Car Danathi race wanted their existence to get out to the world, but Blaise treated Charm so well and Charm seemed to trust him enough that Promise figured it would work out.

Blaise nodded. "I would like that," he said. He motioned to the sugar tongs and the dutifully dropped a cube in his tea. "So what did you have in mind to pass the evening?"

Promise also put some sugar into her tea and stirred it thoughtfully at his question.

"I wasn't entirely sure what I wanted to do. I considered finding a Muggle club or two, but I don't know what there is to do for the magical folk in the area..."

She began to blush very slightly, "Actually I sort of grew up in hiding so I'm more familiar with Muggle society than magical. It's kind of embarrassing, it couldn't really be helped but still..."

Charm patted her comfortingly on the hand with a soft little paw and peeped a word of comfort.
"In any case, I'm not actually sure what it is wizards and witches of our age do for fun."

Her blush grew slightly brighter and she mentally scolded herself until it began to fade away.

Blaise considered his tea for a long moment. "Ever play Exploding Snap?" he asked.

Promise sighed slightly, feeling increasingly more like an idiot with passing minute, "Never heard of it. Sounds violent."

Blaise smirked. "It's a card game. Not violent."

Three house-elves appeared ladden with enough food for ten people. The tea set moved aside for the new dishes. Delicate looking China plates with small but intricate rim designs appeared, along with silverware that looked as if it had been freshly polished, and gold rimmed glass goblets. "About time," Blaise said. "Shall we?"

Promise smiled, she liked card games quite a lot. "Sounds intriguing," she said but had time to say nothing more as large quantities of food began to be escorted into the room by house elves.

Promise looked slightly shocked at the amount of food. She was also startled at how nice the dinner was. She hadn't had anything this pretty since her third anniversary with her ex-boyfriend, and this time she wasn't even really on a date. For all she cared Blaise could have broken out the paper plates, and she would have said "bring on the potato salad" but she had to admit this was a nice change from the ordinary.

"Someone must have warned you about my appetite," she managed to say quietly after she had finished being startled at the sheer quantity of the food being put on the table.

Charm was wiggling with glee waiting for the promised pheasant.

A shorter than average house-elf bustled out carrying a plate of pheasant and set it before Charm. "I like a little variety," Blaise said as way of explanation and took a chicken leg from one of the food trays.

Charm made a tiny squeak of glee and was about to dive into the pheasant.
"Temperature, dear.." Promise cautioned as she reached out to take some caramelled salmon.

Charm halted a moment before she sunk her teeth into the meat and stuck her paw in. She jerked it back, for the food was hot, and licked off her paw then began to take more cautious bites, still clearly enjoying herself.

Promise couldn't help but enjoy herself as well. She traded a small piece of her salmon for a piece of Charm's pheasant. Charm didn't complain, she loved fish as well. She and Promise often shared food, which generally drew disgusted looks from people who didn't understand that Charm wasn't just some random pet.

"Well, I guess I have to agree with you, it is nice to have a bit of variety. I guess I just wasn't expecting so much for a spur of the moment dinner."

Blaise looked at the trays as if he saw nothing unusual about them. "You don't have to eat all of it," he said, taking some salmon for himself.

Promise gave him a milder version of her 'wtf' look for a moment before realizing he thought that she was startled because she believed she was required to eat it all. She laughed a little bit, a very pretty sound, and shook her head, "no, I mean most people would just break out the oven pizza and call it good then head out to do something. I just wasn't expecting a full course meal. Not that I'm complaining at all, it's fun to be spontaneously spoiled every now and again."

Blaise raised an eyebrow as if he wasn't sure he believed her. "Most people are poor hosts then," he said. "You really should spend more time with your own kind."

Promise smiled, "Well I hope to spend more time with my own kind. I seem to be seeing a better side of the wizarding world here than back home..." She trailed off, her eyes becoming clouded and troubled for a few moments but she shook off the dark feelings.

"In any case, pretty much the only time I've spent with other witches and wizards was at school." She rolled her eyes at mention of her old school.

"I take it you didn't like you're old school?"

Promise laughed slightly nervously and took a drink to hide her face for a moment so she could compose herself. When she set it down she replied, "Well, let's just say my old school didn't like me."

Blaise raised his glass in a sort of mock-toast. "Let's hope your new school like you better."

Promise smiled in a way that said 'dear god I HOPE so' and she raised her glass slightly as well. Charm had finished her meal and Promise was only about a bite away so the little cat creature peeped at her friend.
"Charm's right...we haven't actually decided what we're doing yet."

"Exploding Snap?" Blaise said with a shrug.

"Sounds like a plan to me," Promise said before finishing the last bite of her food.

Charm looked downcast because she was fairly sure that if it was a card game she wouldn't be able to take part. Promise petted her head gently. "It's alright, kitten, don't look so disappointed. You can help me cheat," she joked.

She smirked at Blaise slightly and scratched Charm under her wing, causing Charm to close her eyes happily and stretch said appendage out to allow easier access.

Blaise wordlessly summoned the card deck with his wand. He explained the rules and demonstrated what it looked like when a card exploded.

Promise went through the process of learning the game with very few questions. She usually caught on to card games fairly quickly, though she couldn't help but jump a little every time a card exploded.

It was a fun game, though she didn't win very often. She used the excuse that she was a beginner which drew "whatever happened to beginner's luck" comments from Charm who Promise simply ignored.

Blaise won more out of habit than anything. He never looked too pleased when he won, but he frowned a bit when he lost.

As they were playing a song suddenly began to play from somewhere in Promise's vicinity. She looked completely and totally puzzled for a few moments until the light of realization came across her face followed by embarrassment.

"Excuse me," she said and began to dig through her handbag muttering, "I could have sworn I turned that thing off days ago..." When she pulled the ringing cell phone out of her bag she glared at Charm. "Seriously, Charm! Must you? I turned it off because I'm not too keen on talking to her."

Charm was very entertained for she loved listening to Promise get frustrated.

Promise sighed and looked at Blaise with an apologetic expression then opened her phone, "Hi mom..."

Charm squirmed with glee and Promise glared at her, "Mother if you bring up Grandpa I think I'll go become a Death Eater just to spite you....Thank you. No, I can't talk. No, I'm with a friend....yes a male friend..NO, not a boyfriend, Ma. No, I don't plan on it....Mom...seriously, I had this thing off for a reason....Because Charm is an evil little....Sorry, yeah. Ok, Mom got to go, I'll write you later. Yes, thank you. Alright, I'll send Charm tomorrow or the next day. Ok.....MOM! Love you too...goodbye."

Promise hung up and turned the phone off looking incredibly embarrassed, "Charm..." She shook her head then looked up at Blaise. "I'm sorry about that..."

Promise wasn't sure why she felt so embarrassed. She hadn't ever been a huge fan of cell phones, her mother had made her get one so she could 'check in.' Even though she didn't like them she wasn't ever embarrassed to have them before. It just seemed like Muggle technology was looked down on quite a bit more here than in America where it was usually accepted as fairly useful. Charm finally seemed to actually feel kind of bad and came over to nudge Promise in apology. Promise petted Charm's head and looked uncomfortable. She didn't know what to say anymore.

Blaise watched Promise talk into the odd device, caught between amusement and annoyance with the fractured conversation. "What are you not planning on?" he asked innocently.

Promise stared at him dumbly for a moment, having no idea what he was talking about until it finally clicked that she'd said that in the phone conversation. "Oh, I don't have any plans to go out in search of a boyfriend," Promise shook her head. "I don't know why she's always so interested in that. I guess me being single for the past several months has startled her. She always gives me the 'not all boys are Alex' junk. She doesn't like to take into consideration that I'm not wounded, I just haven't been looking."

She shrugged. Her mother was an interesting creature. It wasn't that she didn't get along with the woman, she just was irritated by her mother seeming to think she was emotionally unsound all the time when in reality Promise was incredibly emotionally stable. That and her mother always thinking she was in danger, for one thing Promise was perfectly capable of taking care of herself being not only quite talented but fully schooled, for another she was doubtful the dangers her mother cooked up for her were even real.

"At least she's interested in you," Blaise said, returning to their interrupted game.

Promise couldn't help but let a look of concern cross her face at what Blaise had said. Part of her wanted to address it, but the rest of her told her that it was a bad idea to bring that sort of thing up just yet.

Instead she also returned to the game and said, "..well yeah...I could never accuse her of being uninterested. She gets annoying, but I understand that she's just trying to be a good Mom..."

She lost the game they were playing and laughed, "You'd think I'd have caught on a little better by now. Maybe I just suck."

"That is possible," Blaise agreed. "Want to try something else?"

"Well just because I suck doesn't mean it's not still fun...hell, I'd never have fun if that was the case." She smiled, "But a change could be nice. What do you have in mind?"

"I don't know. Something more physical," Blaise said standing up. "Want to take a walk? I bet the Gryffindors didn't show you Knockturn Alley."

Promise's face lit up a bit, "A walk sounds great, and no I wasn't shown Knockturn Alley. They just carted me around me around from store to store and aside from Cho and Seamus ignored my presence," she laughed a little, good naturedly. She wasn't discouraged by them ignoring her, it had just been a bit of a bad impression they'd created. She was beginning to wish she'd been housed in Slytherin. "Actually, what IS Knockturn Alley? I've never heard of it."

Blaise smiled. "Why don't I show you?" he said. He stepped into another closet and pulled out a dark purple and dark blue over robes. He handed the blue ones to Promise. "Put that on," he instructed throwing the dark purple robes over his arms.

Promise looked at the blue robes admiringly for a moment before putting them on. She loved blue, it was a close second to dark red which was her very favorite.

She slid the dark robes over the medium ones she was already wearing and pulled her long hair out of the collar. Before she indicated she was ready to go she walked to her handbag and pulled out a small bag, which disappeared into her pocket, and a silver bracelet with a small hoop of metal hanging off of the bottom. It almost looked like a charm that had broken and only the fastener was left.

She slid the bracelet on then deftly put her wand through the loop and let her sleeve drop down over it. "Alright, I'm ready when you are," She said with a small smile, not entirely able to hide her anticipation. She was very happy to be going out and 'exploring.'

She held out her arm and Charm fluttered over to her to land on it then crawled up it to take her usual place on Promise's shoulder.

"Make sure your wand's at easy reach and don't flash your bracelet," Blaise said heading for the door.

She smiled lightly, "I'll assume by that last comment that this isn't the safest of places. That's what the bracelet's for. I'm always holding my wand this way, that way I don't actually have to reach for it at all." Promise gave him a smirk, "A little bit of my mom's paranoia has rubbed off on her daughter."

Charm peeped a little bit.

"And if anything shaky happens we always have Charm as well. Which is probably more useful than our wands," she muttered the last part more or less inaudibly.

"It's safe enough, if you're careful," Blaise said. He looked Charm over with a bemused smile. He led her back down on the lift and out onto the street.

"Then I suppose we'll just have to be careful, won't we?" She let him lead her back outside and she waved at the guard troll. She'd never seen anything wrong with being friendly to the help, even if it was a troll.

Promise was smiling, happy to get out. She had been having a very good time, but she always loved the promise of even the smallest adventure. That was probably what got her into trouble so often at school. She was a mischief-maker first and a student second.

Diagon Alley had a different quality at night, particularly these day. The streets were deserted. The windows of Gringott's still shown brightly as the goblins worked the night away. Blaise led the way past the familiar shops to the narrow side street with the small sign reading "Knockturn Alley". This street was not completely deserted. Eyes peaked out from dark corners.

Promise, surprisingly, didn't appear bothered by the little eyes and the burning feeling of being watched from all sides. Charm's warm fur pressed against her neck comfortingly and Blaise stood confidently beside her. He knew what he was doing, she wasn't worried.

"...Charming," she said very softly and sarcastically

Blaise seemed to miss the sarcasm. He grinned as if they were walking through a pleasant sunny meadow. "Some of the shops are closed now. The aurors have been stepping things up, and it's a bit late. But one or two places might be open. That's Borgin and Burkes there. They deal in rarities. Items with peculiar qualities. The ministry arrested Borgin after Dumbledore died, but Burke's claiming he hadn't the faintest idea what was going on. He's a hundred and three, silent partner. Burke's grandson is minding the store now. I think they're going to try to get Borgin out of it all together. Afraid they're closed at this hour."

Promise's face lit up when she heard about Borgin and Burke's. It sounded like her sort of store but her face fell when she found out that it was closed.

"Sounds lovely, though I may want to come back to visit this Borgin and Burke's place at some point. Care to sneak out of Hogwarts with me sometime and do a little bit of poking about?"

"It's not easy to sneak in and out of Hogwarts," Blaise said coolly. "You could ask Draco about that, and I imagine they'll have added fresh protections considering his stunt last year."

He walked further down the Alley. "But I'm not saying no. Have you ever met a vampire?"

Promise smiled, "Well I'm also not afraid of getting into a little trouble if caught either."

As they walked farther into the Alley Promise could feel Charm tensing as she kept her eyes sharper than usual. It was comforting, as always, to have the little cat along.

"No, I've never met a vampire. Never really was put in the position to, honestly. Why? Have some one hand?"

Blaise smiled in a secretive manner and led Promise more deeply into Knockturn Alley. He stopped at an unmarked red door and knocked. The door opened and Blaise ducked into an entry nearly as dark as the night. He took Promise by the arm and pulled her inside.

There was a short set of steps leading down into a large chamber, reminiscent of a speakeasy. Round tables were draped with red cloths and many of the patrons looked up at the two teenagers as they entered.

A tall pale man in black robes slinked up to them. "Welcome, Blaise," he said in an oddly chilling voice. "Are you bringing a gift?"

"Not tonight, Sanguini," Blaise said. "Promise is a guest."

"Charming," Sanguini said, giving Promise a short bow.

Promise avoided making a sound of surprise as she was physically pulled into the building and down a set of stairs. are you bringing a gift?

Promise made a slight face, and she felt Charm grow tense until Blaise replied and she relaxed slightly.

'Charming,' the man said and Promise raised her brows, "Likewise." She managed to say the word with only a slight touch of sarcasm. Charm made as if to hiss and do something that only Promise could actually imagine to the man until she held up a finger to her, "Chill, Charm," she said quietly.

"Let's have a seat," Blaise said. He was still holding firmly to Promise's elbow, though he managed to make this look like a gentlemanly position. He led her down the stairs towards and empty table. Sanguini faded back to whisper with a couple of other equally pale figures.

Blaise took a seat, looking very comfortable and started looking at a parchment menu that listed things like A, AB, AB-, and some more exotic drinks.

Promise accepted the 'gentlemanly' act as necessary and made nothing of it as he led her to a table, and they both sat down. She looked at the menu and couldn't help but let the smallest turn of a smirk touch her mouth. "Dare I ask if these drinks are what they seem to be?"

"I don't think they always check the type before serving," Blaise said. "But the drinks aren't the appeal, it's more the atmosphere and the company."

Promise raised her brows, "Any way I could just order a water?"

Blaised chuckled and raised his hand. A gnarled looking man in a nice suit of black robes with a white collar appeared at the table. "An artery shot and a water for the lady."

"Ice?" the gnarled man asked in a hiss.

"Ice would be lovely if it's not too much trouble," Promise smiled pleasantly.

She then looked at Blaise and whispered, "Is that artery shot what I think it is, and if so am I actually drinking it?" She would drink it if she was meant to but if it wouldn't be rude she'd rather not drink a small glass of blood.

The man gave her a slight bow and slipped away again.

Blaise's forehead creased. "You asked for water, but I could order you a shot too if you want." He sighed, as had earlier when had to lay down a less than helpful card. "The shot's pretty mild. It's mostly vodka and rum with just a drop of A, just enough to make it salty."

Promise sighed with relief, "Well if that's the case then I wouldn't mind one at all. I was picturing small glasses of pure blood by the names."

Quite a lot of tension that one wouldn't have even noticed was there until it was gone melted from her face and she became much more relaxed. "To be honest I was slightly freaked out, though you could probably tell that."

Blaise gave her a patient look. "You'd have to order A straight for pure blood. It's a club for vampires, the hopeful, and their friends. If you weren't a little tense, you'd be very stupid. Some of them get a big kick out of frightening the fresh ones, but they generally avoid feeding on witches and wizards. The Ministry has a very low tolerance for it. I'm just glad you didn’t order something embarrassing. Draco asked for chocolate milk the last time we were here. I could have died."

Promise chuckled, "well you'd best be glad I don't like chocolate or I just might have." She paused for a moment then couldn't help herself, "out of curiosity...did they HAVE chocolate milk here?"

Blaise made a face. "No, and Malfoy bloody knew that. He's such a baby."

"Ah," Promise raised her hand to indicate a point, "However he did bring entertainment to your night and if not to your night then gave you an entertaining story for later so it wasn't a complete loss was it?"

She shook her head and put her fingers against her forehead as if almost ashamed, "If only you know some of the idiotic things I've done in my time that were at the moment embarrassing but looking back make a funny little anecdote. Telling people about them generally makes me feel like an idiot again, but they usually bring out a smile or two...." She trailed of, realizing she was rambling then paused and changed the subject, "can I order a shot when the waiter, server, vampire guy comes back?"

Blaise looked doubtful while she tried to put a bright side on Draco's rather too healthy milk obsession.

"Sure," he said. "Though I wouldn't recommend calling him vampire guy."

The server returned with the two glasses, but before Promise could speak, Blaise pushed the tiny shot glass towards her. "Here, I don't want it anymore." He took her water, and left her with a reddish shot half filled by an ice cube.

She smiled sheepishly, "I'll try to restrain myself next time."

When he gave up the shot she felt kind of bad, but it was his decision so she thanked him and took it. Promise cocked her head and looked at the shot curiously, she'd never had a shot with an ice cube in it. She was used to just knocking it back not having to worry about an icy chunk of doom going down her throat with it. She'd have to drink this more slowly.

Charm made a small whimpering sound and Promise looked startled, "Oh I'm sorry honey, here you can have a bit first."

Charm hopped down to the table and lapped at the shot a bit then settled down happily with her tail curled about her body then Promise finished what she had left and blinked. It wasn't bad. She’d been bracing herself for something kind of gross, but it was no worse than the regular grossness of hard alcohol.

It gave her the warm fuzzy feeling in her stomach, but she wouldn't have any more alcohol that evening. One shot was one thing, but she didn't need to be drunk in an unfamiliar and clearly dangerous place. The last thing she needed, also, was a hangover in the morning.

She looked up at Blaise and raised a brow, "That was a very interesting drink, thank you." She said before popping the smallish ice cube into her mouth.

Blaise sipped his water, feeling slightly petulant. Sanguini reappeared and took one of the empty seats across from them. The vampire reached for Promise's hand, "Blaise always has such excellent taste in company."

Promise was feeling very awkward and out of place, but she refused to squirm. She was determined to have a good time whether she felt out of her element or not. In reality the place was fairly fascinating to her, she was just still getting used to it.

Promise said nothing as Sanguini sat down but looked at him with polite curiosity. Charm bristled slightly but said nothing either; however, Promise was shocked as he took her hand.

"Blaise always has such excellent taste in company."

Promise's brilliant blue eyes widened and her cheeks turned brilliant red as her brain stumbled over the situation. Her eyes flicked from Blaise to Sanguini back to Blaise again as she was uncertain how to handle the situation.

Charm looked as if she was about to eat the vampire's face but Promise took a calming breath and decided to take the compliment gracefully.

"You flatter me, sir, thank you." She said as steadily as possible. She was usually a little more composed in situations like this but usually it would be a human in a place far different from this and far less suddenly.

Sanguini raised Promise's hand toward his lips but stopped short of kissing it.

Blaise was being very unhelpful. He was sipping his water, absorbed in thought, and seemed to have forgotten Promise was there. He gave Sanguini the briefest flicker of acknowledgement.

Sanguini gave Blaise an amused look and lowered Promise's hand. "Do you mind if I steal her away?" Sanguini asked. Blaise shrugged.

Sanguini stood, keeping a light hold on Promise's hand. "Come," he said in a soft, inviting tone.

The moment Sanguini suggested going anywhere Charm began to bristled dramatically and the moment he finished the word ‘Come’ with her hand in his Charm exploded and hissed, leaping on his hand to knock it away from Promise's.

"You'll take her NOWHERE, Rodent!" Charm hissed in a HORRIBLE raspy voice, her eyes flashing and sparks flying off of her fur.

Promise squeaked, startled and shoved her chair back. "Jesus!" She exclaimed, incredibly startled, and latched on to Charm who looked as if she was about to kill Sanguini on the spot…either that or have an aneurysm.

Charm growled low in her throat, "Charm, calm DOWN!" Promise said soothingly, clearly startled by Charm's behavior. "He didn't even say where he wanted to go. It's ok."

Charm's fur stopped fizzling sparks, and she unarched her back then finally returned to a dignified sitting position but her eyes still looked as if she were ready to kill something.

Promise looked up at Sanguini, suspicious after Charm's outburst but knowing fully well that Charm could have been over reacting as usual. "I apologize, Charm is very protective. Where was it you wanted to go?"

Blaise watched the outburst with something approaching amusement.

Sanguini had pulled back his hand protectively and looked as though he could not decided whether to be angry or fascinated. Several other curious faces had turned in their direction. Sanguini looked at Promise as though her question annoyed him. He straightened up and turned away.

Blaise dropped some gold on the table. "Time to go," he murmured. Without waiting for a reply, he swooped up Charm with one hand and stroked her back with the other. He led Promise towards the door. A very pale but pretty woman, grinned at him using one side of her mouth as they passed. Blaise gave her a "what can you do?" look and headed back up the stairs.

For the first time Charm looked very unhappy to be touched by anyone but Promise and squirmed out of Blaise’s arms at the first possible moment. Blaise released the struggling Charm once they were outside.

Promise dropped her confused, startled, dazed expression as they began to leave and looked sterner than Blaise would have ever seen her. Upon leaving the building Promise snatched Charm out of the air and looked at Blaise seriously. "Excuse us for one moment, please."

She then stalked off a few feet with Charm and set her down on a barrel then looked at her so harshly that the little cat shrunk back. She was silent for a moment, clearly pondering what she meant to say and trying not to lose her temper.

"What was that, Charm?" She asked, audibly holding back.

Charm peeped meekly and Promise put her hand on her forehead impatiently, "I know you are just trying to protect me, but you do not need to protect me until something needful of protection comes up. NOT TO MENTION I'm a fully qualified..." She trailed off, suddenly conscious that Blaise could definitely hear her. She would have saved this for later but it needed to be addressed.

"Charm you can HURT people! INNOCENT people, you KNOW that you need to keep your temper in CHECK!"

Charm piped up again, sounding guilty, and Promise gestured to the doorway, "You were so close that it was ridiculous and nothing had even happened. I'm AWARE he was a vampire. I was not going to go with him. Not only would that have been rude but stupid....never mind. You need to be more careful or people are going to get caught up in your rage that don't deserve to be there. Your mother would be ashamed. Now let's go."

She picked up Charm and put her on her shoulder then stalked back over to Blaise. "I apologize, Blaise." She said simply, not specifying what she apologized for, the entire situation had been a disaster and nothing needed to be specified. She then was quiet and clearly calming her agitated mood.

Charm reached a wing out from Promise's shoulder and touched his cheek with it, looking wounded and peeped an apology that even someone not knowing her language would be able to understand.

She probably would have told him she was sorry but her throat hurt from two attempts at human speech in one day.

Blaise listened to Promise's outburst and was unsure what to make of her apology, so he cocked an eyebrow. "You weren't in any danger of harming innocent people in there," Blaise said, touching Charm's head in a way to show he was not offended. "Though I might not try visiting again for while. Moody lot vampires."

He looked up at the sky. Though the stars were obscured by the lights of the city, the moon was visible. "I'm tired," he announced. "Time to go back."

Promise had calmed down slightly, and she more kindly said, "well though not the most innocent of crowds this isn't the first time this has happened...." She looked at Charm who looked sad and added, "however she is getting better."

Upon the announcement it was time to go back Promise gave an almost inaudible sigh of relief. She'd enjoyed the night but it seemed about time for it to be over.

When Knockturn Alley turned back into Diagon Alley, Blaise bid Promise goodnight and walked back home.

Promise and Charm said a quiet goodnight before apparating directly into Promise's hotel room and collapsing into bed.

Previous / Return to Scene List / Next