Scarlet isn't Just For Christmas Anymore

Khaat had gone to Diagon Alley to do some holiday shopping for the handful of people that usually went with her. It was hard to escape them in order to buy Christmas gifts for them when they took their job of making sure she stayed out of the harmful reach of Luther Burke, Tom Gelding, and Felix Barker. She had managed it today by letting Brian sleep in. He'd been up late delivering a foal in the barn. He hadn't gotten to bed until almost sunrise. So, she had taken full advantage of it and and gone to Diagon Alley alone.

She hadn't been in Diagon Alley very long when she saw, clearly, Luther Burke. She saw him taking long, determined purposeful strides towards her, and she had attempted to lose him in Knockturn Alley. But that had been stupid. Knockturn was like a playground to the likes of Burke. No sooner than she saw him come into the alley and saw the smirk on his face, she knew she had miscalculated that manuever. She attempted to escape down the alley, but, as with the general nature of Knockturn, it only got more dark and evil the farther down it she got. She began to wish for Rob or Jen. Someone who was more at home here than she was.

Burke fired his wand at her, and she had, out of instinct, raised her arm to shield herself. Another stupid move. The sectumsempra he'd fired hit her arm instead of her neck or her chest. She fired back a couple of rapid fire explosive blasts in his general direction that were certain to gain attention. Luther cursed at her and fled. She sat down on an empty wooden shipping crate and tried to catch her breath. She took her ivory knit muffler and began to try to wrap it around her arm. This was not the way to begin Christmas shopping. Not at all.

James Manson was kinda free for today, he wasn't really doing anything, and so he went to Diagon Alley. It was the time for Christmas and so James worked his way to it. He went from the school to Diagon Alley in the morning, as he looked around. So many people, so many people he didn't know as they were all for Christmas around here. So he walked around, looking into the many shop windows, seeing if something was there for him. He didn't really have any person to give a present to, but it was always nice to see it.

He sighed as he looked at a child that was running around. Oh was I back then that age, playing around and enjoying the Christmas time, but that without my parents of course.He thought. He missed his Grandma, she raised him up well, and he really missed his parents, but they were gone, so he hoped they would have a good time in heaven, at least he hoped they were there.

Suddenly James snapped out of his thought as he heard something, it sounded like some dueling, and that in Knockturn Alley. He headed to it fast as he saw the few spells flying around. He stayed out of it, as he saw someone running away. He looked at a girl that sat down, as he slowly walked to her. "Are you alright?"He asked with a soft and kind voice.

"I..I think," Khaat said. "I dodged most of it. I guess I'm a bit out of practice. I should have used my shield. But when one blocks a sectumsempra with their arm, then one gets what one deserves." She cast the Vulnera Sanentur spell over her arm in order to stop the bleeding. "Next time, I hope I can arrange it for the aurors to catch him. He's an evil little man who deserves to spend the rest of his life in Azkaban. He's a paid assassin. He works for the highest bidder. I want to see him and his friends standing in front of me in the Wizengamot. I'm sorry. I haven't even told you my name. I'm Khaat. Khaat Lupin. And you are?"

She knew most of the witches and wizards in London, and she hadn't met this man before. He seemed nice enough. She wasn't sure what he was doing in Knockturn, though. He didn't seem to fit here anymore than she did. "I don't think I"ve seen you here before. Are you new here?"

"Good, it looks like it goes well."He said as he looked how she healed the spell. "The Sectumsempra spell is really a awfull and terrible spell."James said as he saw it finally stop. "a Assassin, yeah aurors are trying to get them, just like the Dark Wizards."He said. James read most of the stuff, or at least about aurors, the ministry and all the other stuff. He was a wizard and he wanted to make sure everything was going ok. "You would totally lock him up, if he comes in front of you Miss Lupin."James said. He pulled out his hand waiting to shake it. "Nice to meet you Khaat Lupin, My name is James Manson."He said. "I am still trying to find my way, tried to get gameskeeper but I need to wait for that I guess, and for the rest, yeah I wonder around."He said.

His mind start to go through thoughts as he heard Lupin. "Are you family of Remus Lupin, the one who was DADA Professor?"He asked looking at her. He then heard the other question. "You might not have seen me, I have been to Hogwarts, gratuated and then kinda travelled around to learn about stuff."He said. "Just the usual stuff really."He said giving a soft smile with a sigh. His past was kinda terrible but that was just not needed now, not for her at least, since they just met, and it was still fresh kinda.

"Very nice to meet you Mr. Manson. My adopted daughter's last name was Manson, but I presume you are no relation. Her family was from Romania. And yes, I am related to Remus. He was my uncle." The memory of Remus was a fond one for Khaat, and it made her smile. "We were very close. He was responsible for raising me most of my life. Not because I didn't have good parents. I mean, I do have good parents. But I was very, very unlike my parents. They just did not understand my need for adventure. Not like Remus did. Remus and I were alike in almost every respect. So my parents gave up trying to change me and let Remus handle things. It just seeme dto make for a happier house," she laughed.

"As for Burke, yes. I would. I'd put him in Azkaban and throw away the key most likely. So you're interested in becoming a gamekeeper, huh? Well, you know if that doesn't come through for you, you might consider taking over Eyelops for my mother. She doesn't really have time for it. She specializes in magical creatures, so she bought the shop, but I know she'd sell it in a heartbeat if she found someone else that loved animals like she does.

"You'll have to meet my eagle. My mother trained a bald eagle for me. He does my owling duties. His name is Archangel. He's just awesome. My father designed an enchanted fetching toy for him. When its thrown, it morphs into a bird. When it lands, it changes into a mouse if it lands on land. If it lands on water, it changes into a fish. He hardly ever misses bringing it back when we play. And he so loves to fly. He's one of my best friends. Say, would you like a cup of tea? I have a bistro just down the street, and we have a new Christmas spice tea. It's very nice really."

"It is like wise Miss Lupin."He said with a smile on his face. he then heard the story as it was fascinated. "I don't think I am family from her, I might look it up."He said. "It sounds nice to be family of a great wizard, he was a powerful one, and I only heard stuff about him, I did meet him sometime, but I am not sure if it was in the war or anything. My memory is a bit blurry."He said as he looked at her. "It sounds you are a adventure person, I was too, to find the person that murdered my parents when I was three."He said. "I got raised by my grandma, and she tried the best, after my graduation she passed away, god has her soul."He said. He looked to the ground as it was hard to tell it but he couldn't do else.

He then heard about the Burke and the stuff about Eyelops. "Ah Burke is his name, yeah I saw the spells flowing around here, so he must be a kind of dark wizard."He said as he looked up at her again. "Yeah I will see what is going to happen. I hope I get it, but yeah it is a hard time there, so I am just thinking about stuff right now."He said. "I might even think about wands. I worked on a few wands, but I am not THAT good in it, but your idea sounds fine too."He said. "If gameskeeper doesn't come out, I will have a talk with your mom then."He said.

"You have a eagle too, I have a baby one, I found it on the ground, her parents gone, so I started to raise it, she is so soft and sweet, but once she is fully grown, I need to let her go, but I am not sure if I can do that.'He said. "She is kinda my only friend, don't have much company with me."James said. "So yeah I would love to meet, your Archangel, and I don't mind for a cup of tea."James said again giving a smile. "I would love to tast the spice Tea, Miss Lupin."He said.

"Then, let's go get some tea," Khaat smiled, standing, and walking towards Diagon Alley. "The bistro is just a couple blocks down the street to the right from here. It hasn't been open quite a year, but it is a popular place. We've expanded four times since we've been open. We started small, then we doubled the dining space. Then we added a number of private rooms for parties and events and a catering business to it. Then we added a gourmet bakery and a gourmet coffee bar. I just recently added 50% more dining space.

"My father makes all the tea blends for Sparks. He is a potionsmaster,and making tea blends is one of his favorite hobbies. We always have two or three different flavors of tea on the menu besides the standard blends like Earl Grey and chamomile and the like. The Christmas spice is brand new to the menu...."

As she entered Diagon Alley, she spotted the unusual form of Archangel flying into the crowded street. His impressive figure was always easy to spot. His large wings were spread wide into a gliding position, and she saw he had a letter in his talons. He glided over to her, dropped the letter in her hands and landed on his shoulder.

"Well, speak of the devil!" she laughed. "James, I'd llike you to meet Archangel. Archangel, this is a new friend. This is James." She looked at the bird who cocked his head to the side as if studying the new man in front of him. Khaat laughed. "I think he' s trying to figure you out," Khaat said. She opened the letter and read it. "Hm...It seems that Burke is getting a bit more desperate. One of my father's friends thinks he saw Burke's employer, Tom Gelding, in Hogsmeade trying to find my house. That ought to be interesting. The Lupins have been tangling with the Geldings and their illegal business for decades. Whenever Tom Gelding gets desperate, he gets sloppy."

James followed her until he looked at the eagle that headed to her shoulder. "it is good to know your father is such a great potionmaster, it sounds nice and good to taste it."He said. "You are a succes then I guess, that is if I hear it well, did you ever taste the Chinese Tea?"He asked looking at her. He travelled around the places and he even came to china. The tea was nice there, it made you look at the world. At least a other view.

He smiled as he looked to Archangel. He walked a bit closer as he started to hit the right spot of the eagle as he gave it a soft pet. He knew the weak spot of the eagle, as it kinda looked like the baby eagle he had. "Archangel, if you be nice and stop staring to try and find me out."He said grinning a bit. "I might show you a baby eagle."He said as he then heard the news.

"Hmm Tom Gelding, I did hear something about him , but I forget who he was or is, the name rings a bell, but that is just all. 'He said. He looked at the eagle and then back to Khaat. "So what are you going to do then?"He asked. "I don't think it is THAT good, if he stays around at your place, what will he do, Blow your house up?"he asked looking at her.

"No, I haven't tried Chinese tea, but it sounds completely wonderful," Khaat said. They reached Sparks, and Khaat opened the door and said, "Come in. I'll get tea for us."

"Khaat," one of the servers smiled and greeted her. "Lizzie has some new scones today. Cranberry Almond and Orange Pecan. Would you like to try them?"

"Yes, please. And send a pot of tea over to our table, please, Angie?" Khaat asked. "And a few bites of fish for Archangel?"

"Right away," Angie smiled, petting Archagel and then hurrying off.

"Come sit," Khaat said to James. She took him to a table near the window and had a seat before continuing to fill James in. "Tom Gelding is the son of Seth Gelding. Seth made his money by kidnapping and selling wizarding children to power hungry or money hungry muggles. The children are taught only the spells that will make their masters more powerful or more wealthy and are kept in slavery. My family has been fighting the trafficking of wizarding children for decades. My father was responsible for, rightfully, killing the fathers of Tom Gelding, Luther Burke and Felix Barker, all in the act of rescuing wizarding children. Its been pretty much just all out war to protect wizarding children, but its one we're dedicated to. None of those men have ever forgiven my father, and they've sworn revenge on my father. The one thing that my father loves more than his own life is his family. That makes me and my children their prime targets. They'll have to work to find my house, but if they do, they won't be looking to get rid of my house. They'll be looking to get rid of me. And my baby girls. Nothing would hurt my father more than for something to happen to me and my babies."

"I will be sure to give you it sometimes."He said as he sat down. He saw the server coming to Khaat. He gave him a small smile as he sat down listening to the story. He tapped his wand on the table as he gave the leaves of Chinese Tea. "If you want, here are the leaves for Chinese Tea, if you want to test it, then you can always use these.

He then nod. "I see the point of Tom Gelding, he is really a strange man I guess, as I hear about this."He said. "It will take awhile to get you, but I am not thinking you would give up so easy."he said with a soft smile. "If you need help with any of that, I would like to offer you the help I can give."he said. "I might not be the best help, but I do know my spells, so I wish to help you in anyway I can Khaat."he said. "I still need to come around for stuff, but once I am settled I could help you out."James said as he gave a smile to the server that brought some tea.