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Post by Skylar Constantine on Jun 7, 2013 21:20:46 GMT -5
It was early evening when Skylar arrived at the gates of Hogwarts. He was wrapped in a hooded black cloak despite the weather, and the child perched on his arm was wrapped in a white one. He couldn't keep her hood up no matter how he tried and wasn't willing to use a sticking charm and risk her pulling hair out, so he let her tug and chew on it and keep herself entertained.
His free hand was wrapped around the handle of a sturdy leather bag which appeared quite full and was actually even more so. A fluffy stuffed hippogriff with embroidered eyes and a lavender ribbon around its neck was hanging half out of the top, as though it had been shoved hastily in by someone with only one free hand and half the attention needed.
Someone was supposed to meet them here. No matter how Skylar tried to keep his hopes from being too high, Ember's antics kept making him smile and he couldn't keep a straight face until he saw a figure approaching from the other side. It was just dark enough that he couldn't make out any distinguishing features, and caution rose up again.
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Jun 7, 2013 21:30:05 GMT -5
Michael, with Hero walking along lazily beside him on a leash, stopped as the gates opened. "So, ah, I found someone who could help you," he said, a smile spreading across his face. Hero plopped down beside him, looking curiously at the pair of strangers. "Welcome aboard." His free hand was slid into a pocket. He wondered briefly at just how good Eros was.
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Post by Skylar Constantine on Jun 7, 2013 21:55:36 GMT -5
"I didn't think anyone could," Skylar admitted. "I owe you big time. If you ever want something, no questions." As far as he knew, Ember wouldn't be safer anywhere else in the United Kingdom.
"Who's that?" he asked, gesturing at the dog. The bag slipped around his arm as Ember noticed and tried to launch herself onto the fluffy beast. DOG!
"Yes, dog," Skylar said. He half turned from Michael as he tried to work the bag past the end of his sleeve. Catching Ember was first priority, but as tense as he was, the reflex to hide his arm was easily number two.
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Jun 7, 2013 22:05:21 GMT -5
Michael smiled at Ember's excitement and ignored Skylar's attempt to hide his mark. He wasn't as paranoid about that as he had once been, but he definitely understood. "This is Hero, we rescued him a few months ago. We've got another dog, but Hero's calmer. He needed a walk. And don't worry about it," he said, shaking his head. "If I ever need anything, sure, but I'm just glad to help someone."
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Post by Skylar Constantine on Jun 7, 2013 22:19:04 GMT -5
It was the if I ever need anything that calmed Skylar down a little. He wouldn't have been able to wrap his mind around not owing someone for something this huge, and it would have eaten at him. When he had the bag's strap in the crook of his arm and his sleeve low enough to count, he looked at the dog again.
"I've never seen a dog that mellow," he said. "He's used to kids?" Skylar figured as much, considering the twins he'd seen, but he was as protective as a father could get without locking his girl away from the world.
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Jun 7, 2013 22:24:45 GMT -5
"Yes," Michael said, reaching down to scratch Hero's ears. Hero promptly opened his mouth and panted happily. "The twins will lay on him and sleep sometimes. Our other, Elouai, is much more hyper." Elouai was more likely to herd the twins while Hero watched from afar, absently gnawing a treat or toy. "You don't have anything to worry about, promise."
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Post by Skylar Constantine on Jun 7, 2013 22:29:25 GMT -5
Even with that assurance a moment passed before Skylar placed an excitedly wiggling Ember on her feet. He caught her hand expertly, then squatted beside her. "Gentle," he told her as she reached for the dog. He didn't have anything to worry about. She was mostly interested in seeing how deeply she could bury her arms in its fur, and the dog seemed perfectly fine with it. Skylar ruffled its fur too, then stood up and let the bag slip back down into his hand. "Let's get in," he said, glancing over his shoulder. Hogsmeade seemed safe enough, but the shadows were lengthening.
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Jun 7, 2013 22:35:06 GMT -5
Hero was perfectly content to let the little girl play with his fur, it wasn't like she could do any damage the twins hadn't already attempted. Michael shifted the leash so that Hero could walk next to Ember and led the way up the sloping lawns. "The school takes a bit to get used to, but it isn't a bad place. There are the twins and another little girl, though I haven't seen her much, so Ember won't be alone or anything."
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Post by Skylar Constantine on Jun 7, 2013 22:39:02 GMT -5
"Wow," Skylar managed. "Seriously? Is there daycare and everything?" He wouldn't have believed that any of the old crew were domesticated, and here was Michael, who'd had quite a reputation, with kids and dogs. And a husband. That was going to take some getting used to. And here he was at a school he'd never attended with a job, and there were kids for Ember to talk to. It seemed too good to be true, and when things seemed too good, they were. He'd just keep an eye out until he found the catches.
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Jun 7, 2013 22:51:56 GMT -5
Michael shook his head. "There isn't, we have an elf, and I believe the Traces do, too. The school has plenty of elves, too, if you need some help." He was fully aware of how lucky he and Dare were to have their elf, especially since it had been his family's only one. "I'd offer, but during the day Gilda's busy enough with the twins and the dogs, you know?"
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Post by Skylar Constantine on Jun 7, 2013 22:59:21 GMT -5
Skylar nodded. He had one and she was a handful sometimes. He couldn't imagine borrowing a school elf to watch her, though. His gaze dropped to the top of her head, all curls only just held back by a ribbon. "It's just been me and her her whole life," he said. "It's gonna be hard." Not that he'd never left her in daycare before, but he'd done his damn research first, and he hadn't done it until they'd been in the States. "I wouldn't trust the elf my parents had, though." He couldn't imagine the thing was loyal to anyone but his mother by now.
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Jun 7, 2013 23:12:17 GMT -5
"My mother gave us Gilda when she found out about the twins and she got a new elf to help her with my sister." Michael chuckled softly. "Literally like two weeks after the twins were born we went on a school-sponsored vacation. Probably not the best idea, but Gilda kept us all sane." Now, he couldn't believe they'd done it, but they had and he certainly didn't regret it.
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Post by Skylar Constantine on Jun 7, 2013 23:21:38 GMT -5
"How do you get an elf?" Skylar asked, brows drawing together. The one at home had been in the family its entire life, and as far as he knew, that was how it happened. He'd be glad to have one that was his, one that would accept Ember. If he ever made it home that was one more thing to deal with.
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Jun 7, 2013 23:25:21 GMT -5
"I think some people sell elves, I haven't really asked my mother how she got her new one. Mine currently has a baby, but it's still very small." Michael still hadn't quite wrapped his mind around that one, but it was female and that meant it stayed with his family instead of going with the father's. "I'm sure it wouldn't be too much of a problem to find out some information, I don't believe they're cheap, though."
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Post by Skylar Constantine on Jun 7, 2013 23:39:19 GMT -5
That would be a problem, and the look on Skylar's face said as much. There was a reason he hadn't waited longer than two years to come back, and it wasn't entirely due to homesickness. He didn't have a lot left that he could sell, but he knew where to go, if he dared to show his face around the place.
"How safe is it here?" he asked. "How much do people come and go?" Could he get away with a trip out and then hide away again?
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