Passing Time-cont-Open

[Reed Brennan]

Reed entered the Three Broomsticks. It wasn't as crowded is it probably had been earlier when the rush of Hogwarts students came down all at once. The familiar bell dinged as she opened the door and the warmth immediately comforted her. Reed held the door open so Liam could step in and to allow others to leave.

Once they were both inside she headed to her usual spot in the back. "Is this alright?" She asked not wanting him to feel like he had to sit at a table sort of excluded from the others.

[Liam McAdam]

Liam followed Reed and thanked her for holding the door open. He instantly felt warm and had an urge to remove his cloak, yet he did not. He did not wish for anyone to know of his left arm, as his cloak was the only thing concealing it. Hearing Reed's question about sitting in the back, he knew he could not complain. He actually thought about sitting in an isolated area anyway. "It's alright.....you actually....beat me to asking..." he said, rubbing the back of his head a little.

[Reed Brennan]

Reed sat down and gestured for him to do the same. She was glad since she preferred being apart from the crowd. A waitress with dark hair brought them their menus and Reed thanked her softly. "Is there anything you would like to try besides butterbeer? I don't really know what they have...It's been a while since I've been in here."

[Liam McAdam]

As Liam sat down, he saw the waitress hand them the menus and he thanked her in unison with Reed. He then looked at the menu, only using his right hand to hold it, which seemed wierd for alot of people. He then heard her question. "To..be honest...I don't mind...everything is..new to me.." he said blushing a little at the fact he had no clue about what was what.

[Reed Brennan]

Reed tilted her head to the side. "Really?" She asked incredulously. "They don't have any of this where you came from?" It seemed really weird. Of course, she had no idea what any of it was either when she first came to Hogwarts. They didn't have things like this in America, but he didn't sound like he was from America. Reed's eyes fell on the one hand he held the menu with. "Your left hand...you never seem to use it..." She observed.

[Liam McAdam]

Liam nodded at Reed's question "That is...partially correct...I mean...they do have it....where I am from...but it is not....very common..I never tried any." he said, smiling a bit. He then heard Reed's comment about him not using his left arm and tensed up. "So what? It's not...like it's useful anyway." he said, knowing what he said.

[Reed Brennan]

Reed raised her eyebrows. His tone surprised her and she questioned why he seemed to defensive. "Oh....kay.." She finished lamely. Reed turned to the approaching waitress. "I'll have a butterbeer please." When the waitress asked if Reed wanted anything to eat, she replied with a no. She got nauseous way too easy these days and food especially didn't help.

[Liam McAdam]

Liam took a deep breath. "I...am sorry.." he said to Reed, knowing he sounded mean. He then turned to the waitress. "I guess... I'll have a... butterbeer aswell." he said. The waitress guessed that he did not want anything to eat either and went to get the drinks. "It's.....just that...I don't know...how to explain....I'll show you..." he said before removing his cloak, revealing that the part of his arm from his elbow to his hand was cut off. He knew she might freak out and was ready for it.

[Reed Brennan]

As hard as she tried to avoid it, Reed kept her gaze on the absent arm a little too long. "I'm so sorry." Reed said sympathetically. The missing arm made her remember the girl she had met at a summer camp for cancerous kids on year. She was missing a leg and an arm from the shoulder down. Reed had kept in touch with her for a few years and was devastated to learn that the girl had passed away. Without another thought Reed pushed the sleeves of her shirt up revealing dark purple bruises that covered her arm so much it almost looked like her arm was that color in general. She looked at Liam waiting for his reaction.

[Liam McAdam]

"Don't be sorry...it was my..own fault it happened.." he said, not wishing anyone to take pity or feel sorry for him. He then noticed Reed was rolling up her sleeves and noticed the many bruises. He assumed she had a harsh past aswell, yet he did not wish to jump the gun. "May I ask...how it... happened to you?" he asked, knowing he'd have to explain about his arm in turn, but he did not care.

[Reed Brennan]

"I'm sick." Reed simply explained. "It's a muggle disease. I'm not sure exactly how it happened since I'm a wizard but it started when I was eight." Reed closed her mouth. She didn't want to begin rambling on about the effects or how it would probably end up so she nodded to Liam. "Your turn."

[Liam McAdam]

Liam thought about this. A disease...that seemed rather unique for that kind of thing to happen. "Oh...is there...any possible way to...reverse the effects..of the disease?" he asked, yet he did not get an answer. He then heard her tell him it was his turn. "I...I will tell you... all I can remember..." he said before taking a deep breath. "About ten years ago...My parents and I....moved to london...On that first day....everything went wrong...A man killed both of them....he stabbed me...in the left lung...and cut off my left arm...he then left me for dead...when I awoke...I was in a hospital...I...I hated myself...for being alive...I...I-" he said before he could not speak anymore, his voice loud enough for Reed to hear.

He closed his eyes tight to keep tears from escaping. It seemed like he had held in these tears for quite some time as he was struggling to stop himself. He was actually crying? It took quite alot for him to lose it like this, and apparantly having to relive the memories was more than enough. His breathing was somewhat hindered aswell, both to his emotions leaking through, and his wound.

[Reed Brennan]

Reed's mouth hung open in shock. She was expecting something like maybe a birth defect. Or a childhood accident like falling off a broom, not that any of those would be much better, but this came as quite a shock. She closed her mouth and swallowed. "I'm so sorry." She whispered. She didn't know what else to say.

To answer his question, Reed said "No, not for this. There are treatments I used to go through to slow it down but they were horrible. They made me so sick. I looked horrible, I sounded horrible, I felt horrible. It's not worth it anymore." A million questions burned a whole in her throat. "How about you? Is there any way your lung will heal or your arm will grow back? I've heard of things like that here in the Wizarding World..."

[Liam McAdam]

Liam gave a look of understanding to her story about the treatments for the disease. He was trying to calm his breathing, but it was very difficult to do so. He then heard her question about his wounds healing. "No...It has...already been attempted...only made it irreversable......besides...I...I already have...something to make up for...the arm...I was given...a false one...it had been bewitched to...link with my body.." he said, kind of embarrassed he had to use a fake one.

"It's kind of...embarrassing...but it helps.." he finished, smiling a bit. The waitress had came by and placed the butterbeers down. 'Enjoy.' she said, walking away to serve others.

[Reed Brennan]

Reed nodded. "That's good." She agreed. The only thing she had to help her through the course of the disease was painkillers. And she rarely took them. There were people who said they'd be there for her, and she appreciated it really she did. But it wasn't the same. They couldn't understand, could they?

Reed placed her hand on the mug with the butterbeer and the warmth was relaxing. She slid it over to her and took a sip before sliding it back.