Stepping up to the next level.

Alex had taken a dip from his usual self, always willing to become a better person. Yet, even with his motions and trying. It wasn't helping him to achieve his goals, so he was doing something very unlike himself at this moment. He was getting drunk at the local pub, of course away from the idea of the other studets and payed extra to the owner to keep quiet about it with a room in the inn for himself to crash.

He took another swing of the hard liquor and felt his throat burn. He enjoyed the burning sensation and welcomed the feeling of his mind leaving him. He watched around him from his cloak covered over his face. They were right to say that women are what bring men down, they get under your skin then attack you...where it matters.

Alex once was the strongest of his slytherin class, smart, cunning, and handsome....yet he was reduced to drinking. He didn't regret falling for her but she was branching away from because of his own choices. He clenched the bottle on his table, thinking that he would throw it against the wall. It would draw to must attention....he needed to stay at school, he needed to stay loyal to the his group to get info. It was rather non-sense that he would trying this hard, but men tend to do crazy things for the person he loves....DAMN IT!!!

It had been a long time since Zada had seen Alex, and it had been even longer since she had been to Hogsmeade.  

Much had changed in her own life.  She had found her business arrangement with Lorcan had evolved. She had found the need to marry the Death Eater financier.  She had stepped away from a great deal of the mercenary work that she had previously done in order to be the appropriate aristocratic consort that her new life had called for her to be.  

She still carried her icy demeanor and her tendency towards ruthlessness. It merely amused Lorcan, who demanded, actually, nothing of her. And there was something vaguely satisfying in having someone in her life who was an ally that she didn't have to constantly be suspicious of. Someone capable of treating her in the manner to which she preferred.

And it didn't hurt that she lived in D'Eath Manor now and found her income to be virtually limitless.  

On this autumn morning, Zada had chosen a long black suede duster over tailored black slacks and a pewter colored turtleneck. She went to the Hogs Head, and spotted Alex nursing harder liquor than she remembered of him doing. She stopped at the bar to order a mug of Earl Grey, and made her way to the table.

She took the glass from his hand, smelled the booze inside and handed it back to him as she sat down.

"If you're going to drink, at least, don't drink bottom barrel stock. Come up a shelf or two.  That crap isn't worth whatever you paid for it." She tossed a few galleons on the table so he could order better.  The bartender brought her the mug of Earl Grey. Zada looked at him. "We'll run a tab," she told him. He nodded and picked up a galleon for the tea and walked away.

"So, what's all this about?" she asked him.