Firewhiskey, Friends, and Fiends

Robert was tired. He'd long stretch at St. Mungos that had truly messed up his weekend. He'd gone in early yesterday morning to authorize payroll before his shift started, worked his shift, ended up working overnight on a very difficult baby delivery, then ended up working another full day because one of the healers had gotten, of all things, the flu. Well, he had had someone finally relieve him. Now all he wanted was a firewhiskey and some relaxation. Some way to spend a Saturday and a Sunday!

He had left St. Mungos several hours ago, done at least half a day's work at the Ministry office before he tucked yesterdays unread copy of the Prophet, along with today's, put on a new gray wool Inverness and had enjoyed the walk in the cold night air. He walked to the Leaky Cauldron, had bought a double shot of Firewhisky, and had found himself a table near the window so he could look out and see some of Diagon Alley. He'd had enough of four walls.

The server brought the firewhiskey and Robert handed him a few sickles for it. The pub was quiet tonight. Almost too quiet.

A loud crack filled the air and a disheveled Jack appeared. He let out a sigh and ran his hand through his hair and took the steps towards the Leaky Cauldron. He did not go here very often, only when he had really long nights, and this was one of those really long nights. He realized that his hair was getting long and he needed to get it trimmed, he was liking the hair he had before. The short, but not to short, look he had going.

His night had started out simple enough. Going in and going over paperwork before going out to check on things. Then, he received an owl about a murder. Murders were standard enough, but it had been a family of three. It really got to Jack for some reason this night and he had to get away to somewhere and talk to someone. His hope was that someone he knew would be at the Cauldron.

Pushing through the door, he glanced around. At first he saw no one, then he felt almost relieved to see a face he did not expect, Robert Lupin, the Minister of Magic himself. They had never actually talked, Jack was new to the Ministry and did not have a lot of pull around the place, so maybe this would be a good time for him to meet the guy. He had heard that he was a pretty easy going guy, which was why Jack strolled over so casually.

"Long night?" He asked as he sat down at the table and propped his elbows up and rested his head in his hands. "I know all about those long nights..." When he said it, he kind of drifted off, remembering the sights he seen. He pushed them from his mind though, it was too late. Nothing he could do now but search for the culprit.

"Indeed," Robert sighed. "A couple of them now. Sometimes babies don't come on my schedule. This one kept me up all night last night. I'm hoping I don't have that tonight. I'd like to start the work week with at least one night of sleep under my belt. I've seen you around, but I don't think we've met, have we? I'm Robert. Have a seat, if you like. I'm just unwinding before I go home. So tell me, what gets you out on a cold Sunday night?"

Robert knew he knew the face from somewhere, but he didn't
know where. The man looked like he was strong and confident and capable. There didn't seem to be a lot of those sorts anymore. He always respected men of courage. And he looked for them. He needed to build up his resources of them. He had a nagging sense that things were not always going to be on this slight upturn forever. It never seemed to work that way in the wizarding world.

As the new Minister, Robert had a lot he wanted to accomplish, but like any politician, he also realized that his apparent effectiveness depended mostly on what kind of resistance and obstacles he encountered and whether or not he had enough resources of his own to overcome what stood in his way. And that, he never was quite so sure of.

Sally was having somewhat of a good day, She had bumped into people constantly each just saying hi. She needed a good butterbeer or firewhiskey perhaps? She walked in to the pub and saw Jack Wickham whom she had talked to the other day. He seemed to be having a conversation with an elder by the looks of the other person by his gray hair. Sally could sort of tell that they were just starting the conversation so she decided to join in as she had no one to talk to. She confindently walked over and smiled at Jack and the other man. "Hello Jack, and may I know your name so I can say Hello to you as well?" She asked smileing at the older man softly.

steven had left John and Andrew at the train station and sen him back to the school after a weekend together. He pushed open the door seeing Robert just smiled nad nodded before moving to the only empty table around he ordered a fire whisky the only one he'd have for the night and sat down his feet resting on an empty chair that sat opasite him his eyes watching the room and his back to the wall as he ushually sat , it gave him confidence and security that nobody would sneek up on him from behind , which he liked very much.

He sat watching and just relaxing he mainly watched Robert making sure he was in no danger afyter the things that had hapened he was happy to see him out and relaxing himself. But he wouls till keep an eye on him he'd done it so many times it was second nature to him.

"Robert Lupin," Robert looked at the young woman and smiled. "You're welcome to join us if you like. I'm just stopping by for a firewhiskey before I go home. You're welcome to pull up a glass and a chair if you want."

He looked over at the otherwise empty table where Steven sat. He motioned to Steven. "You're welcome to join us if you like," he said. He didn't know if Steven preferred to sit alone, but he didn't want to think that he had to if he didn't want to.

He motioned to the server and ordered a tray of assorted bar snacks. The Leaky's array was substantial and was always more than enough for several people. "I think we can share," he told the server. He looked at the young woman, who seemed to be the only one without a drink. "And what would you like to drink?"

"Why Thank you sir. Im Sally Emerald" She said smiling to him. She just noticed that he was the Minister of Magic so she decided to be quite careful with showing her left on. "Thank you, ill have a firewhiskey actually." She said smiling again as she pulled up a chair to the table and sat down.