Ex-stray-nge

There was a depth in Layabout Lane's eldest occupant's face that shouldn't have been there for someone so young. At twenty three years of age, Jack Dyllan should not have been carrying over weariness that looked like the excess exhaustion from three years prior. Her pupils seemed bottomless, her face seemed wrinkled even though it still had a youthful smoothness to it.Though comfortable at home, in old clothes, she looked ready to snap at attention.

She was busy putting away their takeout from dinner when Sunny ran through for the fourth time. "So, Goose fed the acromantulas without me-"

"He's not supposed to feed them without me-"

"Oh, well... Are we out of socks for Mongo?"

Jack cursed under her breath, realizing it was the one thing she had forgotten. She chewed on her lip, considering the plight of the sock-eating, mongrel-for-brains ottoman for a second before, "Give him a pair of Goose's. Show him."

Sunny beamed. "Aye, aye!"

She could distantly hear Sunny promising Goose she wasn't up to anything before he padded inside, looking bored. "Where's Viv?" he asked.

"Night off," Jack said, referring to the recent graduate who had taken up residence in the greenhouse and promised to help with the kid-minding. "And Lise and Tomas are-"

"They just left," Goose said, yawning as he referred to their neighbors.

"Want to feed the spiders for me?" Jack said.

Goose paused, staring at a point on the wall as he tried to figure out how to move forward. "They look... full. Must be shedding soon-"

"Okay, okay, go extinguish your pants and then go get that tank of pygmies. Then you and Sunny can feed the Abraxon foal."

That was when Sunny materialized. "We can do it now! C'mon!"

And they were gone. Jack sighed as she heard the back door swing shut with a squeak. One day the zoo would wind down. Of course, what would she do then? All of the disheartening things that had pushed Jack out of her active role saving the world had also stolen from her the joys of adventure. She used to jump out of windows and race down alleyways. She couldn't afford that anymore, though she certainly craved it. The adrenaline, the knowledge that someone was better off despite the danger to self, the turning of the mental cogs to outsmart and outmaneuver.

Without that drug, whiskey would have to do.

She looked across the house and a sigh filled her body, but it did not escape, instead reabsorbing.

Yeah, she was stressed.

@Maddie McKillon

((I thought you would be pleased. xP No worries at all! Juggling multiples gets crazy. And doooooo it. There's like 6 PAers on there. We use it for outfits, but also plots, advertising characters we want people to make, etc. It's super fun.))

"Yes, we do. Wanna see?"

Sunny and Goose had been in the process of feeding the foal, a flake of alfalfa in one child's arms, a bowl of grain in the others. The sound of approaching footsteps down the lane had prompted Sunny to set the grain down, informing Goose that it was imperative that they made sure it was not bad guys attempting to break through their wards. Goose, of course, thought that was unlikely, but once she had tip-toed away, he found his curiosity piqued enough to abandon the alfalfa and follow her around the house.

The front garden was crammed full of strange plants that Charlie had planted, so there was plenty of cover for the two to sneak up on the family. This clearly was not a group to be worried about, but they still were not going to pass up the opportunity to sneak up upon visitors.

Which is what Sunny did.

Her words were jolting after the privacy of their comments, causing Goose to drag himself from his own hiding spot. "Sunny," he groaned.

She turned. "What? We do. Hello, I am Sunny Dyllan. Shall I show you the Abraxon foal? We were just feeding him-"

The door opened and light poured out of the house onto the doorstep, causing Sunny and Goose's eyes to widen, caught in the act. Jack stood there, not looking surprised. It took a lot to surprise her now.

Jack's eyes found Maddie's. "You can take them too, if you'd like."

"She's kidding," Sunny whispered loudly to the boy, excited to see a kid so close to Goose's age, on her ever-continuing quest to ensure he had friends to fill the void of her friendship when he entered Hogwarts.

Jack waved them in. "Come on inside."

She had fetched the pygmy puffs for herself, their cage resting on the table as the zipped and hopped around each other. "Hey, kiddos. I'm Jack. These are my insubordinate child-slaves, Sunny and Goose." They both waved at their names, unfazed by Jack's strange brand of humor. "Anyone want something to drink?"

((Yessss! To both! Also, I already love these interactions))

The house was always full of strangers, as Jack's knack for attracting down-and-out werewolves had only multiplied since her times in Hogwarts. The mudroom was full of shoes without an owner, smelly socks without a cure for the odor. Lise and Tomas had permanent jackets hanging up, and Gabby's favorite liquor was set aside for his far and few trips.

But there was something refreshing about a family visiting their zoo-like home. Everyone who visited Layabout had that fragmented, lonely quality. Every family had their messiness, but Maddie and her kids seemed to be a crew who stuck together, and welcoming them inside felt like a breath of fresh air.

Jack couldn't get a word in against the young girl, Kathryn. And yet, when she finally found an opening, she was silenced with the rest of the group by the voice of the boy, which seemed to be a rare thing indeed. Goose was watching Charlie with curiosity, clearing intrigued, and Sunny was absolutely beaming at him, clever enough to realize what the adults recognized. Charlie liked them.

Jack nodded in time with the orders, and crossed to the refrigerator, grabbing two water bottles - glasses had a tendency to be broken - and pulling out a can of butterbeer. It was a nice new development, having Gabby invest in the Three Broomsticks. They were canning the butterbeers now and Jack loooooved it.

She placed them on the table while Sunny did the talking. "We could certainly show the abraxan. It's only one, but it's a baby, which is better than five grown up abraxans, obviously. We were supposed to feed him but then you. showed. up..."

She trailed off as she realized she had forgotten to feed the foal, and Goose was sighing heavily, pinching the bridge of his nose. She glanced to Jack who tried to keep up the fake irritation, though she liked the idea of these clearly enthusiastic kids being able to take part in the feeding.

"Then you four better hurry," she said.

((Fun fact, I had a best friend named Kathryn who was selectively mute. Named spelled that way and everything. Just a weird coincidental factoid.))

Sunny was already babbling on and on about their plans for the foal - Jack's plan to nurse it back before returning it to the winged creature rescue, and her own plans to hide it in the wood behind the house so she could fly and visit her cousin whenever she wanted. She didn't even bother keeping her voice down as she grabbed Kathryn's hand and marched her outside towards the little makeshift stable, continuing to list her qualifications as an abraxan handler, while Goose nodded towards Charlie in the spirit of getting him to follow. Goose shoved his hands into his pockets and slumped alongside the other, boy, but Jack could hear him ask, as the door shut between them, "What farm did you feed abraxans at?"

The silence after the kids left the house was nearly unsettling, but Jack smirked, saying, "There's always this ringing in my ears when they go outside. Like, I can still hear them prattling on." She laughed and reached back into the fridge for a regular old beer for herself. She lifted it up so Maddie could see. "I also have this, if you'd like one."

She crossed to the table and sat down, popping the cap off her beer and taking a sip before letting out a yawn. "It's never just a pick up and go thing with kids, is it? It's good for Goose and Sunny though. They don't see many other kids. How old is Charlie now?"

Jack didn't know if she could call her sentiments towards Goose and Sunny maternal. She didn't act like their mom, and she made no attempts to. She felt like it would be an insult to the clever minds and the spare memories to pretend she had always been there when she had not. Both kids new the deal, and it seemed to work well to be as upfront about it as they were. They all knew it wasn't for lack of caring. Jack almost hated to admit the love she had for the pair, but it wasn't because of any familial obligation. She thought they were cool humans.

So yeah, even though they exhausted her and she often thought she was not only unequipped, but maybe not even as enthusiastic about the role as she should have been, she could not but help hear the voices bounce between her head even when they were gone. It was a comfort.

"Mmm," Jack said, taking another swig, as the nostalgic territory was a path she rarely walked down. "It's hard to do outings when you're busy making sure they don't starve," she pointed out with a laugh, shielding the truth of the hardship of single guardianship with the joke. Neither woman needed much of a reminder, she supposed.

Jack lifted an amused eyebrow at Maddie's words. "Same age, yeah. Actually, we just got confirmation that he can attend Hogwarts. Might attend- " she shook her head. "He doesn't have much magic. Pureblood lines tainted his magic supply so he's weak, in all regards but mentally. We met with the Lupins though and we're... we're working on it." She sighed. "He hates admitting how much help he needs."

Jack quickly waved a hand at Maddie's sympathy - while it was welcome, considering Jack did not have a wealth of people willing to offer it, she did not need it. "No, no, it's fine. He's handling it well, honestly. At least he has hope now. Before, I think he was prepping himself for the inevitability of not being able to go. Robert was able to concoct a potion that should help, and we're doing some physical training as well. Now, it's just up to the school board." She shrugged.

She visibly perked at the mention of salamander blood. It wasn't easy to come across, and with all the potioneer-types in her house, it would go to good use. Besides, Robert had been all about them trying to find more solutions.

She grinned at Maddie's words. "Knowing Sunny, they're going to be out there for awhile."

Indeed, Sunny had taken the lead , tugging Kathryn by the hand. "You have to be careful. As a joke, Charlie - not you, Charlie, but my cousin Charlie, she's a girl - she planted some plants that bite. That way, any intruders would get bitten. Or if Jack walked outside before fully waking up. They won't really hurt you, but it's not fun."

Goose had fallen into step with Charlie, and had at first considered trying to make conversation, but decided he didn't need to. If he had a lesser feeling about the Jericho boy, he might have made polite conversation, but he was fine with just following Sunny.

They reached the paddock and Sunny pointed at the alfalfa flake they had forgotten. "Why don't you guys grab some." Goose grabbed a handful for himself before handing Charlie one. Sunny peered around expectantly, face shining, and slowly opened the paddock, before ushering them all in.

Maddie's concern abated slightly at Jack's assured words, but she still couldn't help feeling a little sorry for the young boy. Coming from a family with no magic, she was familiar with a life without it. But she could barely remember a time before her discovery of the wizarding world, and she couldn't imagine having to leave it after she knew. Her worries about Charlie entering Hogwarts suddenly seemed foolish and small minded. She would not know how to face a problem like Goose's- but then, she didn't have Jack's strength of mind or sheer resilience.

She nodded, feeling even more assured knowing that the Minister- if it was indeed that Robert- was involved. Not that she had much faith in the Ministry or the school board after the events of the last few years, but power and influence never went amiss.

"Well, he certainly seems very brave about it. It sounds like Hogwarts will be a welcome challenge. And I'm sure Casper will keep an eye out for him as well as Charlie, if they end up there together."

And she hoped they did, because Goose seemed like someone with whom her son would get along, both far too serious-minded for their age. At her next words, she mirrored Jack's amused expression, eyes crinkling with mirth.

"I wouldn't be surprised if Kathryn tries to keep us here till the foal matures! Between her and Sunny, Charlie'll probably be making a quiet escape soon."


Charlie wasn't. He was more than happy to walk along next to Goose in comfortable silence. Though he didn't quite recognise the feeling for what it was, it was gratitude along with relief that coursed through him when the other boy did not try to draw him into conversation. Not many were content to simply share in his reticence, so his affinity for the other boy rose at Goose doing just that.

Instead, he listened in on Sunny's conversation with Kathryn, eyes widening as she turned to address him, but managing a shy nod in her direction. The mention of the plants elicited an outward display of curiosity as he looked around for them, not in caution but in interest. Strangely enough, he wasn't that alarmed, trusting in Sunny's assurance of their relative harmlessness even as he was filled with a budding sense of respect at the thought of Jack wrangling with them and emerging unscathed- as he was somehow certain she would.

Kathryn had long since transferred her attention from her younger brother to the even younger girl pulling her along. Unsurprisingly, she proved more precocious than Charlie, deciding to test the truth of Sunny's words for herself. She extended an arm to prod one of the plants, a faint disappointment coursing through her when it didn't react beyond nodding wimply.

Her momentary distraction didn't stop her from darting forward to grab some of the flakes, looking over and expecting to see Charlie hanging back timidly as was customary of him. However, Charlie was carefully taking the handful Goose offered him, even offering a shy "Thank you" to the other boy. Her surprise only increased when he turned to the paddock without even hesitating or looking back at her uncertainly. Not to be outdone, she raised her fingers to her mouth, intending to call the foal and dazzle the youngsters with her incredible animal taming skills-

But Charlie beat her to it, pulling the whistle off perfectly. And as if she wasn't even there, he turned to the two Dyllans with a nervous but hopeful look on his face, adding quietly-

"At the farm they said it worked on all abraxans."

Well. What a bizarre development.

Jack nodded. "He has been brave. He's convinced he'll be a Ravenclaw, but I'm starting to think he might have some Gryffindor in him." Despite the fact that she had no genetic influence over him, Jack couldn't help but have that feeling of him following the family-way... Even though Elliot had been a Ravenclaw and Kip a Slytherin. They had a little bit of everything, save for Hufflepuff, but she would still argue 'til she was blue in the fact that the Dyllans were lion-people.

Jack chuckled at the all-too-possible idea of the kids spending way more time than was expected out at the paddock. "I can always send Elliot out to  recover them." The Gytrash immediately rounded the corner into the kitchen, intelligent eyes resting on Jack. The dog had served her well and had become more of a nanny, as of late, constantly rounding up the two hell-raisers. "Though he may prove just as big a distraction."

Once inside the paddock, Sunny squinted. Their own property wasn't nearly large enough for the foal to run as it should have been. When they had first taken it in, they had mostly kept it in the stable. Jack had extended the paddock, at the time used only for creatures who hated to be locked in the stable, beyond the property line, through the trees, and into the unowned wilderness that bordered the backyard. They'd get in trouble if anyone found out, but Jack wasn't scared of a bunch of nosey neighbors.

Sunny typically just called the horse but a whistle sounded next to her and she turned in unison with Goose, her face openly in awe whilst Goose looked with puzzled interest. A grin lifted the corner of Goose's mouth and Sunny immediately stumbled forward. "How'd you do that?" She shoved her own fingers into her mouth and blew, letting out an airy raspberry.

"Look," Goose said, pointing. Slipping beneath the trees was the Abraxon, who paused, tilting its head, its cream forelock sweeping across its proud head. Sunny whipped around and immediately clucked at it, and it recognized the familiarity of her voice and immediately burst into a trot, letting out a whinny.

"This one's friendly because it's so young and been raised apart from a herd," Goose said, breaking his silence in order to educate. "Typically, they aren't so easy going."

"But Doctor Humphrey Poncho loves us," Sunny said with a nod.

"That's not his name!" Goose's voice immediately melted into exasperation.

"It's his name," Sunny said self-assuredly, turning to her new friends.

The horse skidded to a stop a few feet from them, noticing the newcomers. He let out an uncertain whinny and Sunny thrust out the alfalfa. "C'mere, Doctor!" She glanced at the other two. "Hold it out! Once he chews on it, he'll let us pet him."

((I love that both boys thought they were going to be Ravenclaws and end up as Gryff and Slyth.))

[I know! Just another reason it's written in the stars (also, hope Jack doesn't mind her pets being petted)]

Maddie's face lit up at this new piece of information, lips stretching into a delighted smile.

"We're predicting Ravenclaw for Charlie, too! His dad and I were both Gryffindors, of course, but I think he'll take after Casper. Kathryn likes to tease him with Hufflepuff, which is admittedly a possibility. But it'll be nice for the boys to have a familiar face in the same house."

As the Gytrash rounded the corner, emitting its distinctive silver glow, Maddie let out a mock groan.

"Oh no, I'll never hear the end of it if they see your Gytrash. They've all been campaigning for a Crup, recently, but we just don't have the space at Hogsmeade. And Kathryn's developed an interest in Nifflers. I suppose I should be glad it's not the Streeler she was after last year."

But her actions belied her words as she bent over and coaxed him closer, turning to Jack and asking curiously

"I never asked- how did you manage to tame him? Casper almost got bitten by one in his fourth year, and ever since then I haven't been able to consider it. It's ridiculous, I know, but I've rarely seen one domesticated."


Charlie flushed when Goose and Sunny turned their attention on him. But he also felt a pleasant warmth at being able to impress the two children he'd already developed a liking for. It was an unfamiliar feeling and one he liked. A lot.

He was still unaccustomed to being so directly addressed by others his age, though, so when Sunny asked her question he froze a little, before he was saved from a fumbling demonstration by Goose's exclamation and the approach of the foal.

Charlie nodded seriously at the explanation that followed, impressed at Goose's knowledge and informed tone. A small amused smile quirked his lips at their brief disagreement, but when she turned to him, he nodded at Sunny's assurance with all solemnity.

Kathryn, who had been following mutely and watching the interactions with barefaced surprise and the teensiest bit of pride now stepped forward, holding out her alfalfa and smiling delightedly as the Abraxan moved on from Sunny's alfalfa to hers.When he finished, she reached out a hand to pet his muzzle before he moved on to the boys and she turned to the younger girl.

"That's such a weird name for such a cute foal. Have you guys been raising him from birth?"

Charlie had his hand outstretched, watching in concentration as the horse fed. After a moment of quiet observation he directed a question at Goose that came out a little hesitantly.

"What do you call him?"