Brittany Breitbarth was excited. This was the first day she would have her new store open, and she was happy and looking forward to running her new business here on Diagon Alley and meeting new people. Since her brief stint as a Hogwarts professor she had traveled the world and seen some very interesting places, done some adventurous things, and she wanted to make some of these experiences available to others who wanted to live life on the wild side. She believed it was her true calling in life.

The pretty redhead, whom some would call kooky, felt the keys shake in her hand as she opened the door to the shop. Let the fun begin, she thought to herself. She finally had a chance to fulfill peoples' dreams, it would be so much fun!

Jade stopped in front of 59 Diagon Alley and blinked in curiosity. She hadn't remembered seeing this the last time she was here, but than again she had only been back in the city a few months now. Must be new and maybe just what I'm looking for.

Life still wasn't back to what she had expected and she was still fighting the feeling that the summer would only bring more issues. She did need to get away, even if it was for a few days, maybe even a long weekend. She knew deep inside that she wasn't the only one that might need an escape. Two other people close to her were in need of one as well. It was a sign for sure, perhaps an excursion was the key to getting things back on path again.

Peeking through the window, she saw it appeared to be open for business. Straightening herself up, as first impressions are extremely important, she pushed open the door and entered. All adventures must start with a single step.

Brittany heard the door open and a young woman entered through the door. A thrill of excitement went through her, her very first customer! Well, potential customer, anyway, she corrected herself. Smoothing her red and black checkered skirt, she walked towards the woman saying, "Hello and welcome to Terrortours. I'm Brittany, and I'd be happy to help you with anything you need."

She gestured around the store, which was small but included many photos of some of the places she had visited, as well as some she had not. Transylvania had been one of her favorite spots, the castle was everything she had expected and the fact that a vampire was the landlord made it so much more exciting. She thought of it as a bed and breakfast with a boost.

Jade smiled as she approached the redhead. "Hello, I'm Jade. Just noticed your store and I was intruiged, I just had to come in." It was as if she was pulled in by some force and she wasn't one to question mysterious force. Oh the wonders of the unknown.

She allowed her eyes to scan the room and smiled as they landed on a photo of a castle. It looked like a perfect place to escape to, even if it was for a short time. Looking back to Brittany, she smiled with a glint of excitement. "I was looking for a small getaway and was wondering what you would suggest? Nothing too grand, simple is good."

She was just looking for a change, a chance even to recharge and center herself before she let her emotions get the best of her. Life always seemed simpler when you allow yourself to be free and explore, at least that's how she always saw it.

"Nice to meet you, Jade," Brittany said, a wide smile on her face. "Now, you say you're looking for a small getaway, nothing too grand. I can certainly help put something like that together for you. But tell me, how much adventure are you looking for? Are you looking just for a place to get away for a while and relax, or would you rather have a little pinch of excitement thrown in? I want to tailor your vacation to fit you perfectly, that's my job. I want all my customers to be happy."

That was so true. Brittany's travel agency was a brand new venture, and she sincerely wanted it to be the best in the entire wizarding world. And she was very anxious to do a great job for her first customer ever!

Jade smiled as she thought about what exactly she wanted out of her getaway. One would have thought, she needed maybe a quiet and relaxing vacation, but she knew that wasn't at all what was needed. "I'd prefer something with excitement. Maybe something that will keep my blood flowing," she smiled at the thought. As of late, she had felt she was a bit dull and excitement was definitely needed. "Perhaps, if I told you more about why I'm looking for this getaway, it might help."

Jade has yet to actually tell anyone why she had been acting as she had. That reason alone was probably a factor in her excitement to get away. If Brittany's agency could get her out of this stupor, she would probably be indebted to the redhead for life, or at least for the next few months.

Brittany's face lit up. "Oh then, you definitely came to the right place. I can tailor exactly the kind of vacation you're looking for, it's my specialty. No matter what part of the globe you'd like to see, I can create a vacation for you that you will never forget. So tell me, are you thinking of Africa, Asia, South America, North America, Antarctica, Australia, or would you rather do something in Europe? There's nowhere in the entire world that I can't find something exciting and different for you to do. So tell me, you're taking this vacation by yourself, or will someone be traveling with you?" She was starting to think already.

Jade tilted her head in thought. Where would she like to go? "I would prefer Europe or Asia, if possible. I just got back from North America last year. Beauty area, but not really want I'm currently looking for." She was in fact in love with the region, but memories tend to taint beautiful things. Shaking her thoughts again, she looked back at Brittany with a smile. "Oh yes, I would be traveling with a younger cousin. She has had a bit of a tough term at school and I was looking forward to introducing her to a bit of excitement. A taste of what mysteries the world has to offer. Nothing that might terrify her by any means, but maybe a small taste something dangerous and unknown." Something like a rite of passage, a chance to break free from the strict lifestyle parents and family dictate on their young. She only wished someone would have done this for her back while she was younger.

Brittany thought a moment. "I think I have the perfect trip for you, Jade. Do you and your cousin like castles? And have you ever thought of staying in a castle which is owned and operated by a vampire count, a castle in Transylvania? The vampires are actually quite charming, but there is that certain element of danger and excitement involved that I think you might be looking for. Plus the vampires I've stayed with have been really sweet, like I told you. I think Count Gradowski would love to have you two come and stay at his castle. Wait!"

Brittany ran over to a large photo album and brought it over to Jade. She opened the album up. It contained wizarding pictures, the kind that move. "This is Count Gradowski," she said with a grin on her face, gesturing towards a very stylish man dressed in a white shirt with a black cape, thinner than usual and with a very pale complexion but not looking overly dangerous. "There are all kinds of tales he can tell, things he can show you. He's a friend of mine, and has always been very accomodating to people I've referred to him. I promise he would keep you entertained, if that's what you're looking for. He just loves to give visitors the grand tour of the Graveyard, and he might even show you his casket!"

Jade's face lit up at the mention of a castle. She adored castles. The architecture and the mystery that surrounded them. "Brittany, that sounds perfect! I have always wanted to visit Transylvania and Romania. I keep hearing it's beautiful in its own right." She clasped her hands in excitement. Just the right about of adventure for the little eleven year she planned to invite with her. Plus the idea of meeting a vampire count also excited her. She had briefly met one in pass while in Boston, but the oppurtunity to stay in a castle with one was truly exciting. Her cousin would enjoy it as well she had remembered a letter about how she had done an essay about vampire for one of her lesson.

Looking down at the open album in front of her, she allowed her eyes to scan all the moving pictures. Brittany was correct, this was definitely the place she wanted to go. Her eyes stopped on photo of Count Gradowski. He was quite handsome and didn't look too dangerous to her. She felt she would be safe under his care. Smiling she looked up and made her decision. "Brittany, I do believe you have found exactly what I'm looking for. If the Count would be willing to have us, I'd be honored to visit his home." She was almost beside herself with joy. "A grand tour of a Graveyard? I would actually enjoy that. Spooky graveyards intrigue me a bit, strange I know. His casket! That would be quite exciting as well." She clapped in sheer excitement. She did tend to act like such a little child while excited.

Brittany began to dance around in excitement. "Ooooh, Jade, I'm so happy for you! I really think you will love this tour just as much as I did, and your cousin will love it, too. Both of you are going to experience something that very few people ever see, and I know that it is something you are going to carry with you for a lifetime. I will be happy to let the Count know when the two of you will be coming, we can make the plans right now. How many days were you planning on spending? I would certainly recommend at least a week, if you can spend that much time, to take in everything and to really soak in the full atmosphere of the castle and the countryside. You will learn a lot of the heritage of the vampires, as well, so you can think of it as an educational experience for your cousin, also, but above all, it will be FUN!"

Jade joined in and danced around in her excitement. She couldn't wait to tell Mina about their trip this summer. A week, yes at least a week would be perfect. "I'm sure Mina will enjoy it. She'd probably make every moment of the trip a learning experience. Dark things like that intrigue her as well. Perhaps something like ten days or so this summer. I think our family has something planned for us just after she returns from school." She pulled a small organizer out of her bag. She had made a habit of carrying around the simple muggle-style item during her stay in the States. Flipping through it she smiled to see where both their schedules were clear. Closing it with a bright glint in her eyes, she smiled. "Is mid-July possible?"

"Ten days in July sound perfect!", Brittany agreed. "July is a lovely month to visit Transylvania, it's right before the big Halloween rush and you will be able to truly have the chance to see it as few people have. I can promise you and Mina a first rate experience that I just know you will cherish as I did. But you have to promise me to come back and let me know how everything went, because I would love to hear about your adventures once you return!"

"You will be one of my first stops upon my return," Jade promised. She was radiating with joy. She hadn't felt this much excitement since perhaps her acceptance to Hogwarts or Oxford. "What do you need from me to get things started and what should I pack?" So many questions filled her head. Yes, she had some time before the trip, but she did want to have the best experience possible. She did enjoy going into situations blind from time to time, but in the case of being in a foreign land, she did want to be somewhat prepared.

Brittany smiled. Jade was efficient and organized, she appreciated that quality in others. In spite of her being an absolute kook in some ways, she was also very well organized and actually liked to think things out before doing them. She just didn't know what would be coming out of her mouth all the time!

"Well, it gets chilly in Transylvania in the night, so you will definitely need to bring some fairly warm robes, perhaps woolen or flannel," Brittany said. "You might want to have a bit of garlic on hand, too. Contrary to popular belief, the vampires actually love garlic, and I'm sure Count Gradowski would appreciate the gift. And chocolates, vampires love chocolates, especially Godiva Chocolates from Belgium. As a matter of fact, I might send a gift over with you, if you don't mind, that is?" Brittany looked at Jade hesitantly. "Nothing too big or heavy, of course. Oh, and be sure to take enough clothes for ten days, but I'm sure I don't have to tell you that. Dark colors are probably best, you won't be visiting the beaches of the Mediterranean, after all." Brittany chuckled at the very thought. "But all in all, I do think you and Mina will love it as much as I do."

As Jake clambered out of the Leaky Cauldron's fireplace and made his way into Diagon Alley, he tried to keep himself preoccupied with the cobbled street and not on his purpose here. If he thought about it... he would back out.

And he didn't WANT to back out - or did he?
...
COBBLED STREET.

Jake counted every slab of gray stone he passed until he felt it was necessary to look up in case he missed his venue. He spotted the agency a few metres from where he was standing and made a beeline for it, not stopping until he was inside the building.

Terrotours Travel Agency. The place was new and Jake could only be grateful for the fact that it had opened at this time since he had NO idea how to even begin to go about planning an organized trip.

"Hello," Jake greeted the woman in charge and her current customer, reluctant to wait.

She had another visitor, Brittany realized, and this was only her first day in the shop. She was already booking a tour for Jade and now a young man had entered just as she was wrapping things up. "Why hello!", she said warmly, a smile on her face. "Welcome to my shop. I'm Brittany, and my job is to design a trip such as you may have only imagined but never dreamed could come true. And I'll be right with you!"

Today was a very good day as she turned back to Jade and asked, "Do you have any other questions? If not, the only thing I need is a firm date of when you will be taking the trip and I can book it for you right now. Let me owl the Count for you, I know he'll be excited to have two visitors!"

"It's nice to meet you Brittany - I'm Jake," he replied with a smile and was about to extend his hand to her when he realised he would only be interrupting her and kept it by his side. He grinned as she described her job but didn't reply, wanting her to finish with the lady so that they could move on to HIM.

He knew what he wanted, but had no idea on actually booking hotels and stuff... Looking around, he discreetly put his hand in his pocket and felt the list he had written up shortly before coming here. This vacation needed to be perfect, and he was not going to accept any less than that.

J.J. Starr looked around and saw a new store." My name is J.J. Starr" hee told the innkeeper. Joe Jon Montcenaggio was bummed that Samantha Rose left the ministry. " So what type of trips do you have in here?" Joe Jon Montcenaggio asked the woman.

"Nice to meet you, Jake," Brittany responded. She held her hand out for a shake, seeing that Jake already had his hand ready and not wanting to leave a person hanging. "I'm here to help you plan the trip of your dreams, whatever you have in mind. And I'll be with you in just a moment, I promise. Please feel free to have a look at my album here, to see some more of the type of trips I specialize in." Brittany handed the large album filled with photos of some of her more memorable trips to Jake. "If you don't see exactly what you're looking for don't worry, customizing is my specialty!"

"Hello, J.J., it's nice to meet you!", Brittany smiled as a third potential customer entered the shop. "I'm Brittany, proprietor of this little shop. And to answer that question, all I can tell you is that our trips are tailored for the adventurous at heart mainly, but I'm willing to customize to suit the tastes of whoever is planning the trip. I do like to throw in a few extra touches, though, makes life more exciting." She giggled, but it was true. The trips she liked were those that would never be forgotten.

Looking at the pages opened up before her, Jade found the perfect dates. "Let's say July 14 - 23. That would work the best for everyone, I believe. I'm looking forward to being a guest of the Count." Yes, this would be quite an experience for her and maybe the right kind of motivation she need at the moment. Noticing the enttance of two new people, she smiled to them before returning her attention back to Brittany. "I don't believe I have any more questions, but thank you for all the help. I'll be more than happy to deliver your gift to the Count as well. I'll keep everything you suggested in mind."

J.J. Starr waited to look for a trip from Brittany. " Hello Brittany , your name seems familiar to us in the Ministry department, especially the Magical Education Department" Joe Jon Montcenaggio remarked to her. " Hi Jade" J.J. Starr said to her. She had been invited to the wedding along with Mina, her niece.

"Excellent," Brittany said, rubbing her hands together in anticipation. "I know you will both enjoy yourselves thoroughly and never forget this trip! July 14 - 23 is a great time to go, you'll be there on my birthday, so be sure and think of me on the 19th." She smiled. "Have a great trip, and I'll be in touch with you again before you go." She waved a "thank you" to Jade.

"Yes, I used to teach Muggle Studies to the girls when they had that Clara Belle School," Brittany said. "That was a long time ago, though. I've changed." She giggled. "Hang on, J.J., I'm gonna take care of you and Jake both. I've got lots of fun trips that you guys will LOVE!"

"Hello, JJ. Nice to see you again," Jade smiled to her friend. It hadn't been that long ago, she was at his wedding and first met him. Turning back to Brittany. "I'll be sure to think of you and thank you again for this opportunity. I'm positive I won't be disappointed and I'll be sure be stop in again. Thank you again." She smiled brightly before turn to make her leave. She did have somewhere to go and it had just crossed her mind, she might be late. Waving a final goodbye 'thank you' to Brittany and a nod for JJ to keep in touch, she made for the door.