Holiday "CHASE-iing"

"Oh, I had a gorgeous wand," he said wistfully. "Broke the bloody thing in a duel. Robert said I was lucky that was the only thing I lost. Robert saved my butt, but the wand was a goner.

"It was 11 inches, beautfully marked tiger maple, with a sphinx hair core, with handcarved tigers in the handle. My grandfather bought it for me one Christmas. What i'm using now is an old beat up wand of my older brother's. He upgraded to a really expensive, fancy one, and tossed his first wand in a drawer. So, when I broke mine, I hauled his old one out of the past and puressed it back into service. The thing looks like hell," he laughed. "But it still works.

"Khaat almost always carries two wands. I think it is a security thing for her. She has her wand, and then she almost always carries Remus's old wand someplace. She normally wears boots and tucks a wand into each boot. Not a bad habit, really. After all, where else does one tuck a 10 or 11 inch stick when one wears little skinny jeans? There isn't much room in her jeans for a wand. But I know if she ever lost or broke Remus' wand, she'd be devastated. Funny what a little wooden stick can mean to us, isn't it?"

Chase listened as he described his wand, and then smiled. If she put in the order now... She made sure to repeat the wand's description in her head, over and over until she had it memorized. "Yeah.. mine wasn't nearly that exciting.. a few designs in the handle is all." She said shaking her head. "Wow.. broke in a duel? Mine was destroyed by one of those Demon things, I shone a light in his eyes, and he crushed my wand into pieces.. I guess that's what happens when you get cornered in an alley.." She said shaking her head unhappily. "I haven't had much luck with stuff like that." She smiled at him and then turned as he did as they came up to the store that had Khaat's clothing. She was going to have a hay day in here, picking out winter coats and sweaters for Khaat to wear.

"Wow.." She whispered as they walked in, looking around the room. It was huge, with all types of clothes everywhere. "Okay.. I think I want to get her a good coat first.. then maybe some sweaters and warmer pants..." She said nodding carefully. Glancing around her. This stuff was beautiful and Chase was glad that money wasn't a problem with her right now. "What are her sizes?" She asked turning towards Angus. Now all she had to do was think of some way to get away from Angus for a bit, in order to get his wand ordered, so that she could have it wrapped and put under the Christmas tree. "Do you want to split up for a bit? I really don't think Barker is going to be here... I mean.. it's a woman's clothing store!" She said spinning in a circle, and giggling as her hand ran over some very fine silks next to her. "I'll get some jackets, and you can get some sweaters or something... then we can both meet here in.. half an hour?" She asked batting her eyes. Of course she highly doubted he would let her, but it was worth a try.

"You do know, don't you, that Robert's favorite spell in all the world is turning people into bugs--right? I highly suspect that there is more than one of those bugs in those little jars in his potions lab that didn't begin life as a bug. And my suspicion is that it isn't so easy to talk him into changing people back. The man does like bugs," Angus laughed. "I really, really don't want to wind up in a jar on one of his shelves. And if I let you wander off, I'd be in a bug jar before nightfall for sure."

He glanced across the shop as he spoke, just being watchful, and his eyes landed on a woman at a rack of dresses of some sort. "Well, I'll be. Look there. Thats someone i didn't expect to see today. That's Katherine Lupin--Khaat's mother. I guess great minds work alike."

He motioned Chase to follow him over to Kate. "Good morning, Kate," he smiled.

"Angus!" she smiled broadly. "And Chase! How good to see you both. Tell me what you think." She took a red maxi length sweaterdress and held it up. "For Khaat? I need an extra gift or two." She looked up at the clock. "Oh darn! Angus, be a good lad and help me out? I need to pick up a pair of earrings for Khaat at the jewelers in the next block...."

Angus looked at her, frustrated. "Um.."

"Run along, Lad. I have my wand. Chase and I will be fine for a little bit. We'll meet you back here in 20 minutes." She kissed his cheek. "Go. That's my boy." Angus found himself walking out the door and standing on the street, wondering exactly how Kate had hoodwinked him so easily. If he hadn't respected her like he would his own mother, he knew he'd have never moved a step. He shook his head, sighing. He hoped Chase had a sense of humor about this.

Chase smiled and shook her head. "Bugs in jars? Really.." She said frowning slightly. The problem was, was that she had a strong feeling that was very true, and she wouldn't want Angus as a bug in a jar either. But when he saw Kate, she followed him over and smiled at her. "Hello." She said softly, a little timidly. "We're here shopping for Khaat too, I thought I would buy her some nice coats and sweaters or something.." She said with a smile, as she looked at the sweaterdress.

"I think that will look wonderful on Khaat." She said with a grin. "Maybe you could help me pick out something for her while he's gone." She said with a smirk as he simply left. Chase raised an eyebrow and grinned. "So maybe he's not as afraid of being turned into a bug as I thought he was." She said with a snort. "I do hope The Minister doesn't find out." She said with a laugh. "Though.. it's kind of odd that he would just leave you to me.. for all I know you could be Barker or his sidekick in disguise, trying to get at me still." She said with a short laugh, before blinking and looking at Kate carefully. Angus was gone, and Kate was now her protector.. and now she had just gotten into her head that Kate was actually Barker in disguise, and it wasn't like Chase could ask her a personal question... she didn't know her. Chase blinked and laughed a bit more, though it was hesitant.

"I'd love to help you shop for her," Kate smiled. "I'm sure we can find some wonderful things.

"Oh, "she sighed. "Those bloody jars in the potions lab. He really does like bugs much too much. So long as nothing happens, Robert won't care. Its not like I haven't helped to protect my family before, my dear. And I wouldn't give Barker another thought. I'm quite sure the last thing he would be doing today is Christmas shopping in Savile Row. Besides, if you think about it, the only way he could be me is if he had gotten some of my hair for polyjuice, which I promise you he has not done.

"Now, shove those silly thoughts out of your head and help me. My baby girl needs warm, pretty clothes for Christmas. Get yourself together, and let's do some shopping. We have 20 or 30 minutes without Angus, so how should we best use it? I doubt that he's impressed if we shop for lingerie, but he'd weather it out. Oh, wait...I reallly should pick up some tobacco for him down the block Its a rare blend that they only carry at Christmastime. He doesn't smoke very often, but I'd like to get him the blend he likes. What do you say? Shall we go elsewhere and come back? Any sneaky little errands you need to do?"