Finding a book

Calista looked up at him and said, "I think so...is it normal to be shaking so much?" She put her arms around her trying to keep from shaking badly. She knew that a good strong drink might help her but she doubted it would keep her from shaking. Calista didn't care though she just wanted to put the memory behind her and lock it away never to see it again. She waited for him to lead the way to the Cauldron, because she didn't want to get in front of him for fear someone else would try something.

"Oh trust me on this one love, shaken is the least of your worries. This way now, watch yer step." He said calmly as he gently ushered her through the crowds of people moving to and fro and up the steps of the Cauldron. He used his broad shoulders to clear a path and took note that she was keeping two steps behind him. Poor woman, that bloke must have really gotten under her skin.

"Name's Mordecai by the way. It's always better to put a name to a face so that it's easier for the Ministry to track me down." He flashed her his winning grin to let her know that he was only joking as he wrenched over the heavy wooden door and stepped aside to allow her to enter first.

"Ladies first madame." He said with a slight wave of his hand.

"I'm Calista." She said smiling at him softly. "Thank you." She walked in but kept her arms around her close. She felt cold but wasn't really cold it was only because of that man. Calista waited for Mordecai just inside the door not wanting to go in further in case there was a repeat of what happened earlier.

"Calista eh? That's a pretty name." He entered the place after her as the door swung shut behind him. He nodded his head over toward the bar where a line of wooden stools were set up. Over there they wouldn't be bothered by prying eyes and eager ears. No one really paid much attention to the folks who sat around the bar. Also sitting there would give them the advantage of being able to see the front door. Positioning, strategy, and safety. All rules of the game.

"Ya don't have to worry about that muggle. He couldn't find you here even if he knew where to look." Mordecai said as he wove his way around the wooden tables and chairs. He tapped his fist against the countertop and waited until the bartender appeared. That man had a knack for showing up out of thin air.

"Heyo Mord. What can I getcha t'day eh?" The barman asked as he sniffed loudly.

"Whiskey for me and a toddy fer the lady." He said with a curt nod. A galleon flashed from Mordecai's hand and vanished into the barman's grasp. Moments later the drinks appeared in front of them. Mordecai slid Calista's large warm mug over to her.

"Cheers."

Calista took a large swig from the cup and began to calm down some. Her hands still shook slightly and said, "Thank you Mordecai. even if he cannot find me i'll still be scared of any other person who comes up to me like that." She shivered slightly out of memory instead of the cold.

Mordecai arched an eyebrow as he watched her closely out of the corner of his eye. She really seemed shaken to the core over what happened. From what Mordecai could tell the stranger hadn't had a chance to lay a hand on her but the poor woman was shaking like a leaf. Hmmmmm.

"Not a problem love. I'm always good for a drink or two." A smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth as he lifted his shot glass and tapped it against the rim of her pint before he slugged it back in a single swallow. The burning sensation that travelled down his throat was both pleasurable and familiar. It had been a long time since firewhiskey had the ability to send him into fits of coughing. With the amount he had drunk over the years Mordecai suspected that the fluid in his veins was three quarters whiskey and one quarter rain water.

"Hey now. You listen to me y'hear?" He said as he reached over and placed a large calloused hand over her slender trembling fingers. It was a simple gesture of caring and one he wasn't even aware that he had done until the chill of her cold hands caught his attention. He quickly brought his right hand back to the countertop and cleared his throat.

"There's no reason to spend your time jumping at shadows. The next time a bloke comes on to you like that, ya go for the groin an' give him a piece of your mind. Hurt him before he hurts you, a life lesson to be followed." He said as he gave her a knowing look.

Calista put her drink down and began rubbing her hands together. "Do you mind if we sit near one of the fireplaces? I'm cold." She asked softly looking at him. "Well if another bloke comes on to me like that i'm walking away very quickly. I don't like to use force if it's not neccessary."

"Of course. I shoulda thought of that sooner." He said as the barman placed another shot of whiskey down in front of him. Mordecai rose to his feet and stepped aside in order to give Calista to slid off her chair as he plucked his drink off the countertop and headed for the empty table that was next to the old stone fireplace. The crackling flames seemed to swell as he approached and soon the fire was roaring merrily in its grate. Enchanted fire, how could anyone survive without it?

"Walking away might help but would you really want to turn your back on someone who's out to cause trouble for ya?" Mordecai asked as he moved two chairs away from the rough wooden table and say down in one of them. He unslung his shoulder bag and placed it on the floor by his feet

Calista sat down in the chair and said, "I'm a good runner not so good hands on fighter. I would more than likely miss hitting the guy and hurt myself instead." She said as she began to warm up. She looked at him curiously, "So where are you from Mordecai?"

Mordecai nodded his head as she mention her views on hand-to-hand combat. In the wizarding world fighting was usually done in the form of duels. Always with the magic with that lot. Mordecai could never quite wrap his head around the idea that instead of scrapping it out with a bloke over some slight everyone always had to make a big production of it with their wands. He wasn't about to knock dueling, far from it. But were wands really necessary in a situation that called for a hard knock to the jaw and then buying the loser a pint at the local pub?

"Ah well, fixin' that is easy. All you need is a bit of one-on-one training. Using a wand in self-defense in the wizard world is one thing but pulling a wand on a Muggle, that could lead to headaches ya really don't need." Mordecai said as he tapped the bottom of his shot glass on the wooden table before he knocked it back.

"I dunno. Must be the muggle in me but I've always preferred dealing with my opponents with a holy mackinaw to the jaw and calling it a day. I find it less stressful." He chuckled as he placed the shot glass down and sat back in his chair. The wooden chair creaked slightly as he settled his bulk against the flimsy backing almost as if it was protesting him being there.

"Where do I come from? Ohhh that's quite the story." He grinned as he laid his arms on the armrest and stretched out his legs under the table, taking care not to invade Calista's personal bubble. The lass was already frazzled enough as it was without having him getting all comfy cozy in front of the crackling fire. But it weren't his fault he had long legs.