You're too cute Connie but, I'm not telling you who it is just yet, maybe ... I dunno, I'm writing these off the top of my head, please pardon the really bad grammar.

♥

"What the devil do you mean I can't ... the Cairo office is gone. Teddy's gone missing, and you can't tell me what's going on in London? Tiffany we've got problems." Ottery exclaimed at the face in the fire.

"The garbage pick up is also saying you're delinquent but ..."

"We have a bloody secret headquarters under the Eiffel Tower. How is the garbage pick up delinquent? We don't have garbage pick up!" Ottery cried out.

"I'm just telling you what all is going on, Otts. I'm not the one who created the problems," Tiffany replied. "Maybe if you came into the office to check on things a little more often instead of going all over the world doing all sorts of crazy shenanigans."

"Oh, so now you're my boss."

"Don't be cross Otty, I'm on your side."

"You're also the one who takes care of all my ... well everything."

"I was on holiday for two weeks remember, you were supposed to take over for me or get someone else?"

"That was last week?"

"The last two weeks, doll," Tiffany replied. "I'll see what I can do about the garbage but ..."

"That still doesn't explain who the devil is stealing MY operatives! Where the devil are Teddy and Freddie and everyone? Call in Ron and Harry, this is important. Get me Dumbledore and get Fudge on the line."

"I'll see what I can find out ,Ottery, but all signs point to ... one of your old friends."

The fire in the furnace went out. Ottery paced up and down the room of the castle. He took his wand and started blasting things. He screamed and cried and found himself sitting in the middle of the room laughing and opted to go into the kitchen for a bowl full of ice cream.

♥

Conrad Fate was not one given to failure. He did not accept the existence of any such thing because quite simply the only people who failed were those who weren't trying hard enough. Failure was for losers. So the bitter taste of his present setback left him annoyed.

"I can't believe that oafish buffoon beat Madison and me. At least if the girl had gotten away with it, I could understand. She's a world famous cat thief but that idiot? Ottery St. Catchpole can't find his socks in the morning which is why they never match."

"You're taking it quite well," the cat replied, as they walked down the Paris street.

"Yes, well ..." The boy took a box out of his pants, opened it, and took out a pocky stick. "I need chocolate, don't judge me." He slammed the tin box shut and shoved it back in his pocket.

"I'm not judging anything, I'm just wondering what the devil you and ... your associate are plotting."

"Everyone's interested in these Death Stalker kids running around taking revenge on Death Eaters. Just a bunch of punks who are going to get strung up by their knickers. I want the painting."

"Yes, but why? What's so important about the thing that makes everyone want it?" Prince asked the boy.

"You want the honest truth?" Here Conrad smirked.

"I wouldn't be averse to it but feel free to embellish if it makes you happy. Just remember, you can't lie to a cat. We always know."

"Old wives' tale."

Here Prince only smiled in reply.

"It might be a horcrux. Whose horcrux, it isn't possible to know but ... there's a fair few dark wizards who might have taken that road to a long life. Grindelwald, Voldemort, Dumbledore ..."

"Dumbledore isn't a dark wizard," Prince corrected.

"It just depends on how you look at it, doesn't it?"

"Or who's doing the looking, no?" Prince meowed as some muggles passed by and Conrad fought the urge to spell the cat. Prince was too smart for his own good and Conrad didn't trust him anymore than he trusted his associate. It would be a very short matter of time before Ottery got wind of the mess in his house and he'd have to go fix it. All of which was well and good but Conrad had to get his hands on that painting first otherwise he would have to get involved with Ottery's mess and that would mean interfering with his associate's plans.

♥

ohhhhhh!!! ur making me come back with the LURVVV train toot toot u r such an amazing writer keep em comin and comin and comin

"I'll see what I can find out ,Ottery, but all signs point to ... one of your old friends."
A friend, thinking back to old friends of Otterys' Ummm Luke, whats he up to lately? Any ideas of betrayal? Ummm Adam, is he already in this one? Can't remember. Would he betray Ottery? I think he did once in one of their adventures, but not sure. I hope its not Tiffany! Would she betray him? Late again, must get sleep. Catch ya later on your next great post.

dangrlforever People all over the world now join hands start a love train love train I love that song ... Thank you for reading dangrlforever I'm gonna be posting up a storm if I can ... it's storming here so ... that explains the metaphors. Here's some more ... wish me luck, my Beta's asleep.

Connie I almost missed replying to you Connie cuz ya snuck in while I was writing this post. Go to sleep luv and sleep with the angels tomorrow you will have this post waiting ... I hope you like it. Adam, nope. Luke hehehehe haven't used him in a long time ... nope. Tiffany was on holiday remember. So nope. Have you read my Unauthorized Autobiography? Maybe there's a clue there, but I don't think so ... still you shall know soon enough. Maybe.

♥

Laura was in London now. She got off at the airport not because she had taken a plane but because it was what was expected and she wanted to mingle in with the muggles. Her father's invisibility cloak had helped to keep her both dry and invisible. Now she stood around looking at all the different people from all over the world popping in and out and going through London on their way everywhere it seemed and she didn't know where to begin.

Just exactly how was she going to find Giovanni. She needed to find him if she was going to tell him how much she loved him.

"Hello there luv, lost?" a boy asked. Laura stared at him and thought he had the most beautiful blue eyes she had ever seen, they matched his hair.

♥

"Ottery," the girl exclaimed following after him with a clipboard markers, which she was using on the clipboard and a cell phone she hardly ever closed.

"Not now Tiffany, I'm thinking." The boy exclaimed as he paced around the camel trying to figure out how to mount it.

"Ottery, don't be stupid ..."

"I'm going to buy us camels, Tiffany and that's the end of that. A jinx here and a spell there and we'll have them doing a couple hundred miles an hour across the desert in no time." The boy smiled at the trader who glared at him with an expression that seemed to say, 'a fool and his money are soon parted'.

"Ottery!" Tiffany screamed.

"What?!!!!" The boy yelled back.

"I already got us a magic carpet," she explained and the boy blushed and turned away from the used camel salesman whose expression now seemed to be, 'dang woman, you've foiled me'.

"Yeah, well ... do you know how to drive one of these things?" Ottery asked as Tiffany sat him down on it and sat in front 'taking the wheel'.

"Where to boss?"

"We'll do the pyramids first then the sphinx ... with any luck they're still hanging around here somewhere."

"Ottery, if you were in Paris when I called you, why didn't you just hop over to London and confront whoever's posing as you and stealing your operatives?"

"What? And make this any less exciting? I don't think so, wait 'till you see what I've got planned."

"If you're talking about the Lover's Day Ball, I've already sent the invitations."

"There's no keeping any secrets from you is there Tiffany?" the boy held on tightly to the edges of the carpet as she banked hard to the left.

"No, there isn't," she winked in reply.

♥

Ginny and Luna were in the back yard chasing chickens and gnomes practicing what they affectionately referred to as their 'muggle techniques' when the owls arrived. Two separate owls carrying large pink envelopes with wax seals trailing long pink ribbons. They opened them with some trepidation but they smiled and giggled and laughed at the invitation. It was for a week from that day in the city of Paris, a Lover's Day Ball and the envelopes contained tickets for the magic train from London to Paris on the Magic Express, as well as tickets to the ball and directions to the castle outside the city where they would be staying.

"Mum will never let me go. At least not unchaperoned," Ginny remarked suddenly realizing her biggest obstacle.

"It's a costume ball." Luna remarked. "I'm sure father would let me go, but not by myself he wouldn't."

"I wonder if ..."

"Ginny, dear." Came Mrs. Weasley's voice from inside the house. "Come in dear, come in."

Luna and Ginny rushed into the Burrow to find a long white box sitting on the table. They both crowded around it, as Mrs. Weasley pushed it over to Ginny.

"I reckon it's from Ottery. He sent me a letter about the Ball he's hosting in Paris. Wants your father and me to come along, as well as Ron and you."

"Does that mean ...?"

"Well with Harry coming dear, we'll all have to go, won't we?"

"Then I can go, then?" she asked smiling at Luna.

"I suppose so, we can't go until the night of the ball. I can't just leave things here unattended. But Ron and you can go early. Harry, your father and I will come afterwards."

Ginny couldn't help smiling at her brilliant luck. A whole week in Paris alone and unchaperoned. Ron didn't really count he'd be busy with Ottery and they'd probably be doing stupid boy things like making the dog fly or playing quidditch in their underwear while singing bawdy songs and trying to hide from the muggle police.

"Well, aren't you going to open it?" Mrs. Weasley asked. "It's probably your costume for the ball."

Ginny undid the long white ribbon on the box and lifted the lid. She pulled back the pink paper and gasped at what she saw inside the box. It was breathtaking.

Luna grinned.

From upstairs could be heard Ron moaning about not wanting to wear anything so frilly and shiny, how much like a girl he'd look and other such nonsense. Ginny couldn't hear it, Luna didn't know what to make of it, and Mrs. Weasley told him to shut up and wear it, they were invited to Paris.

♥

AN:I've held off as long as I can ... Next up, I'm sure, is the big reveal. Maybe I don't know ... I'm writing this on the fly Thank you all for still reading, for voting on Human Nature, for being cool and for sticking with my seriously weird story. The romance is coming and so is the comedy ... I hope. Giant gorrillas and high speed chases as well, one hopes 2.

Hate the taste, but love the smell. (I fix it for Steve, (hubby) everyday multiple times.) But I might have to make myself drink some to stay awake. Yeah, honestly, I forgot Tiffeny was away for two wks. And yes, I have read your un...bio... thread. Loved it by the way. It is the first thing I read of your work when I started reading Human Nature so I could get a handle on your style. : I've read lots after that too. You do have lots to read, and I love to read. Anyway,( maybe I better get that coffee, the keys are moveing around on me. ) I actually meant to guess David and wrote Adam instead. Oh well, the answer is comming soon you say, so I'll wait for it. Hope you have a super day, and I'll catch ya later.

is ♥. I just wish it loved me in return *sighs*

You need to try Loves Whimsical Melancholy aka Love Is The Music My Heart Dances To, quite possible the best title for a story ever written it is also affectionately referred to by Ottery as his magnum opus, his best story ever. THAT will give you a good idea of his true style.
Ottery has that same problem alla time

Actually, I'm starting to wonder if he knows who it is, yet.

*has plans to kidnap Teddy and torture the truth out of him* And yes, I'm going to bring the :choc: Starry Night, comin' right up!

"You need to try Loves Whimsical Melancholy aka Love Is The Music My Heart Dances To, quite possible the best title for a story ever written it is also affectionately referred to by Ottery as his magnum opus, his best story ever. THAT will give you a good idea of his true style."
Thanks I will. Actually, I checked my to read list, and that was the next one on there. Took a sneak peak, and it reads so different! I already am way interrested in it, and only read the first page. And you know what? That St. Valentine guy looks suspicious. Maybe he's the old friend. That's just what popped into my head. Anyway, Steve's off tonight and its past bedtime. I love starry nights, with or without chocolate. Good-night, and catch ya later.

*sings Beautiful World by Utada Hikaru for his readers* I'd post lyrics but ... only the words "It's only love" and "Beautiful World" are in English and besides I'd probably mispell the romanizations of all the Japanese ... XP

Beautiful world

Love's Whimsical Melancholy IS the greatest thing I ever wrote not counting Candy Shoppe which will never leave my side or see print EVER! so don't hold your breaths ... well, you could dig up my corpse after I die, because I'm going to be buried with the only written copy of it. But that would seriously be morbid and not fanboyish at all





"Why would any of us want to do anything you ask of us?" Freddie asked the boy in the chair angrily. The boy just laughed.

"I don't know, he convinced me," Giovanni replied, shrugging his shoulders.

"You're not helping things," Freddie shot back at his friend. Then turned his eyes back to the boy in the chair, his wand still in his hand.

"I'd just like to know what your scheme is and how this might be profitable for anyone?" Draco Malfoy added. He glared at his fellow Slytherin. His face did not betray the shock that had been so apparent in Freddie's face.

"Oh, there's going to be money involved, loads of it, if he knows what's good for him," Teddy answered Malfoy. He cracked his knuckles for emphasis.

"There's profit to be had in everything if it's done right," the black boy answered cheekily. "Oh Draco, you're so adorable trying to tax your mind. Don't hurt yourself. Leave the thinking to the big boys," Blaise Zabini replied. He laughed again.

"Did Ottery leave you in charge?" Freddie asked. "If you're using his office and his friends without permission ..."

"Yes, Freddie, we're all perfectly aware of how dangerous an angry otter is. Moving on ... idle threats, and deposed leaders aside. I have a plan that is mutually beneficial to all parties involved."

"And that would be?" Draco and Teddy asked. They looked at each other and smiled wickedly to one another.

"Patience children. Patience. First of all I need to know that you will all work with me to see this come to fruition. I won't let you know unless you're going to be a party to it, and that means ..."

"I'm not taking an unbreakable vow with you, Blaise," Draco remarked.

"You will if I make you," Teddy replied.

"All of your skills are necessary to this endeavor otherwise I wouldn't have chosen you lot to help me. Either you're in or this caper isn't happening." Blaise played with a pen on Ottery's desk. "You all have skills that are ... unique and necessary to this assignment."

"Caper?" Freddie asked.

"Well, you didn't think it was going to be something like cross stitch did you?" Giovanni answered.

"You're not helping Gio," Freddie replied.

"I know. Just go along. I'm sure Ottery would approve." Giovanni told his friend, then plopped down in one of the office's fluffy chairs.

"Where is that fool anyways?" Draco asked.

"Under a large pile of rubble if we're lucky," Blaise remarked under his breath.

"I'm all for a caper," Giovanni remarked smiling with all of the enthusiasm of youth. Still, Freddie couldn't help thinking that something was horribly wrong. Ottery always asked Teddy or Tiffany to run things in his absence and yet here was Zabini running the show. And what the devil was wrong with Teddy, just following along? Something did not smell right.

"I'm game," Malfoy replied. "If Teddy puts his wand away."

Teddy smacked Malfoy over the head with his wand and put it away, taking out a cigar and walking over to stand next to Blaise. "I'm game."

"Prince and I already said we'd play," Giovanni remarked. "If you get us that book on summoning dragons."

"I"ll do you one better and get you the book and an egg," Blaise replied, then turned his attention to the lone dissident. "Well, sir, what would you do? Will you lend us use of your lupine qualities for our little heist?"

"Heist? Oh this just gets better and better doesn't it?"

Blaise merely smiled wickedly.

♥

"Which one of you boobies stepped on the booby trap?" Tiffany exclaimed.

Ottery pointed at Seamus who pointed at Dean who was pointing at Clucky who was pointing at Ottery who happened also to be pointing at Tiffany.

"Boys are expendable," Tiffany replied, to which Clucky laughed.

They were standing inside a chamber in one of the pyramids having found each other. Seamus and Dean had explained about the bogus letter and Ottery had explained to them how his friends had been hijacked and how they'd hijacked his plans and Teddy was missing and the dang garbage people had the audacity to charge for garbage pickup when there hadn't been any. It was during this quaint reunion that someone had stepped on a wrong step and set off a trap, causing all the doors to close on them locking them in the chamber. As if that were not enough ...

"Mummies, seriously," Ottery remarked taking his wand and casting a sleep spell. The spell bounced off and did nothing. "Oh, yeah." He cast a fire spell and the flames engulfed the creature. "Kind of hard to scare people when you're not fire retardant isn't it?"

"Not working mate," Dean remarked, as the fire surrounding the mummy died down.

"Ottery," Tiffany screamed as one of the mummies tried to get fresh with her. She elbowed the monster in the face, causing his jaw to fall on the floor. "Oh, you don't pay me enough ..."

"You figure a way to get us out of this and you'll get a raise and that Matisse you love so much."

"Throw in the Magritte and yo've got a deal," Tiffany replied.

"Get me out of here and I'll find a way to give you the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel." Ottery fired a spell after another while Seamus just started punching and Dean used one of the mummy's fallen arms as a bat. Clucky cheered the boys on but things looked dire.

♥

My apologies if this seems rushed. I'm trying to finish this story before next month because if you all don't know it's ... Nanowrimo! I entered last year and I got 20.000 words down. Pity they sucked and the story had no plot. This year however, I will do better. More words and a plot. LOL Just don't ask me what it will be. I haven't decided but it's going to be slice-of-life rather than fantasy.

I'm thinking of writing a sci-fi story about Jester and Niko (my boys) but it would be posted obviously elsewhere ... it would also be like Dumbledore & Grindelwald only totally PG so obviously not posted here. Now, onto replies.

Connie: I love coffee but only if it's highly over priced and mixed in with fruity flavors a la Starbucks. Kelly needs to take me to Oxford for over priced coffee. I'm glad you're reading my stuff Connie but I should warn you its of varying degrees of good and bad. I've written them over the years so ... you can see the evolution of my writing style. I have to admit though Love's Whimsical Melancholy is the greatest story I've ever written here again ignoring Candy Shoppe which is my most epic. I loved it so much, and it brought me through some bad times and I would work on it and beta'd it and I was happy and sad throughout it, and it's ... well a time capsule of a beautiful and better day. I may never write it's sequel or it's like again.

KellyBear: I love ♥ you. And I totally know who it is yet, I knew days ago ... it just has to come to me ... You cant force art. You can't torture Teddy and I love Starry Night ...

dangrlforever:

OtterySt.Catchpole: WTH?!!! are you doing here? Shouldn't you be posting this story?

Aw! You're cute too

Teehee! I started to get that when the owl talked




Taylor for Miss Personality.
Kanye for Most Talented.

Just my opinion

Freddie has to die?? Noo! I'm torn between the 1st and 3rd...though I think I pick Angel winged Freddie. That way his death will be a surprise.

Oh coool! I've heard of it-well, Ern's entered and I read the rules after seeing her avatar-but I've never entered. It sounds too hard o_O But I'm sure you can do it Cause the Otter Rocks. In full.

In any case, I'm all caught up now and I'm on the edge of my seat. Literally, I'm leaning towards the monitor I LOVE IT!

I had a very sweet responce to your responce to me about "Candy Shoppe", and even a super cool analogy with it, but, it disappeared somewhere in cyber space in posting. Hope it doesn't show up later and make me double post. Anyway, all I really wanted to say was that I'm sorry for the tough time you went through, and it's those times in our lives that help us through the times to come. It's good you have that story to hold onto, for your own personal inspiration, you can draw on it when you need it. I'll say it again, you're a beautiful person, and I'm thankful for your friendship. God Bless You!

"I hate the authorities," Freddie remarked burying his hands deeper into his jacket and walking down the street.

"Yes, pleasant creatures aren't they?" Prince the cat replied walking out from behind a statue.

"What are you doing here cat? Where's your boy?" Freddie asked looking over his shoulder at the ministry officials patrolling the street.

"My boy?" Prince started to laugh at that.

"Shut up cat, muggles aren't suppose to know you can talk. You're going to attract the attention of those ministry morons."

"Testy aren't you? Going somewhere interesting?"

Freddie did not say anything but noticed that the ministry wizards were following at a respectful distance. He sighed. Just what he needed another shakedown in the middle of the street. They probably knew he was a werewolf or if they didn't they'd find out soon enough and then things would get interesting. Father had told him not to leave the house for the big city. Still, Freddie had thought that he had been summoned by Ottery. He still didn't know what to make of the fact that it was Blaise running the show.

"Oh, crap!" he said suddenly seeing Teddy walking up to him.

"Well this out to be interesting. In broad daylight too," Prince said. "I think I'll pick a better vantage," and the cat climbed up the wall next to him to the top of the fence. "There, safer and a much better view."

"You traitorous little ..." Freddie started to curse Prince who sat there and licked himself in response.

Teddy grabbed Freddie's arm and smiled wickedly, "I got this covered."

Freddie turned around in time to see him throw his arms up and say, "Hey boys, what are you doing in this part of town? Don't you know it's dangerous to be out here alone?"

"Don't you have a rendezvous you've got to keep?" Prince remarked.

Freddie knew that it was a small window of opportunity, seeing Madison clandestinely. Blaise had made it clear that they were not to contact anyone of any interest outside of the group or there would be dire consequences. And Madison was an ace thief in her own right. How much more interesting could you get than that?

"Have some shoe you ..." Teddy was shoving his shoe into one of the auror's mouths while he wrestled the other one. Freddie sighed. Why didn't he just use his wand? Seriously, did every fight have to be physical or worse did he have to use dynamite to solve everything?

"Oh heck," and Freddie turned around to help his mate. Teddy might be crazy and over the top but you didn't turn on your pals.

Elsewhere in the city the rain came falling down softly over the city coloring everything a drab grey and the cold chill made her grasp her cup with two hands to feel the warmth of it. But it didn't matter. Madison was smiling because in spite of her evil stepmother, her ignorant father, that idiot Conrad Fate who wouldn't stop calling her or sending her owls and presents, or that obnoxious Ottery who suddenly disappeared off the radar--making it very difficult for her to find the stupid painting--in spite of all of this Freddie had sent her an owl asking to meet him at this cafe. She didn't know what he wanted to talk about and didn't really care, the point was he had asked to see her and that meant everything.

"I love you Freddie St. Valentine," she whispered into her cup. "I don't care if all you want to do is talk. Just being with you is enough for me." She took a deep whiff of her strawberry tea and drank it down letting the warmth fill her body.

Life was good in spite of the pain.

A few blocks away there was a giant explosion in the middle of the street and a white cat was laughing.

♥

Obi-Wan K'Lari: Wait, what? The owl was talking? So you liked my revelation about Octavius, huh? Sadly, it's my only one after Blaise, this really isn't a suspenseful story it's more of a mishmash of comedy and tragedy and love ...

I didn't know you liked Kanye Lari, 'nuff said. *Stops bashing*

Well Freddie doesn't have to die but ... well ... I don't know ... maybe? What if I let him die just a little?

Nanowrimo is pretty cool Lari, but it is very difficult. Super hard. You have to keep motivating yourself no one else does and you don't win a prize or anything at the end of it sadly. But if you have 50.000 words down that's a novel so ... fix it up and you can sell it, yes? I got 20.000 last year and I had to bail out half way through the month. The story was seriously stupid and life just kinda got in the way. *sighs* But not this year, I hope. LOL We shall see. I was trying to make this fairy tale novel and ... well fairy tales lend themselves to short stories not complicated stories.

Don't lean too close love ... but I love how intense you are about reading my fic.

Connie: Candy Shoppe is something very personal Connie, and close to my heart and full of boy loves and crazy ideas about politics and magic and all sorts of crazyness ... but it's very dear to me and only Kellybear's read any little bit of it. I'm suppose to be editing it because I've lost my way ... it's something like ten books by now and it follows all these different characters everywhere and ... hehehe you'll notice my vagueness I suppose

I'm glad you liked the Travis song it came on when I was reading your PM. I meant what I said. Anytime. I only let my friends PM me so ... feel free. I go through tough times all the time Connie ... it's a part of life ... that which does not kill us ... annoys the ... out of me and makes me fight harder.

But you didn't tell me what you thought of my story post? Now that's a hard time happening right there ...

I hope you like this new post.

Woo I caught up again!! At least on this one Sorry I fall behind! Life, school, husband, homework.. crushed toes!! All overwhleming

GREAT updates! I am loving them!!

Sorry Ottery; I hit the submit button just as I realized I hadn't said anything about your post. I actually did on the one that went into cyberspace, and I didn't post it again right then cause I didn't want to get in trouble for double posting. This is what is floating around who knows where. Good luck with that contest, I'm sure it's in you to be able to win!
"Did Ottery leave you in charge?" Freddie asked. "If you're using his office and his friends without permission ..."
He wouldn't leave that bozo in charge...would he? And I was also going to say I love the way Tiffanie handles the boys.
"Which one of you boobies stepped on the booby trap?" Tiffany exclaimed.
Ottery pointed at Seamus who pointed at Dean who was pointing at Clucky who was pointing at Ottery who happened also to be pointing at Tiffany.

"Boys are expendable," Tiffany replied, to which Clucky laughed.
And for this post;
"Still, Freddie had thought that he had been summoned by Ottery. He still didn't know what to make of the fact that it was Blaise running the show."
Loved your post(s)! Catch ya later on your next post. Must fix supper now.

Madison waited in anticipation ... watched the clock as the dials moved and still she waited. By the fifth cup she had waited enough. Madison was not one to sit and watch her life pass by as she let some boy play with her emotions. She stood up dropped a few notes on the table picked them up and exchanged them for muggle money and she pushed the chair back and walked out. She stood outside the door for a second, daring to look up and down both sides of the street in one last vain hope then put on her shades and started down the busy street.

She didn't like the taste of being stood up.

♥

"What the hel are you still doing here?" Teddy asked as he kept punching one of the guys.

"I think he's unconscious now, Teddy you can stop," Freddie replied, pulling his friends arm back and holding it.

"I know, I just wanted him to wake up with the mother of all headaches."

Freddie sat down on the sidewalk and Teddy joined him as they both tried to catch their breath. In a few moments the police would likely show up along with the Ministry's aurors seeing as they had set off an explosion earlier and there had been a few spells exchanged.

"C'mon kid," Teddy said, then looking around and seeing no one pulled the kid to a red call box nearby.

"Teddy what the ..." the brown haired boy didn't wait to hear his companion but just pushed the boy into the call box, followed after him, shut the door and after muttering a spell they were gone in seconds.

Still sitting on the fence, Prince smiled and watched as Ministry of Magic Aurors came to see what had happened to their mates. Soon after the police arrived and the memory charms and reparations began. Prince yawned bored and headed back to the office.

♥

*Flower*: I hope your toes are feeling better sweetie. I know you've got a life, I do too ... sometimes *sighs* It's okay if you're not here like everyday ... sometimes you are sometimes you're not it's cool. Just don't be a stranger and pop in whenever you like let me know what you're up to.

Connie: I was kidding earlier Connie but thank you for commenting on what you liked in my story. It's always helpful to a writer to know what people like or don't like in their stories. I love criticism as long as it's instructive and given with the best of intentions ... as yours is. I love Tiffany too, she's there to keep Teddy and Otty from getting too far out of line ... and when they do get out of line, she's the one who puts them back

plays Death March "She didn't like the taste of being stood up."
OOOOOh there is going to be soooooooooo much trouble now! I hope Freddie has time to make his reason for not showing up sound forgiveable enough. She'll probably think anything short of near death will be trite.
Hope to be reading more soon. Great short post. hee,hee.

Giovanni walked down the busy street through the crowd of people surveying the damage from a bakery explosion, completely unaware that it was not indeed a bakery exploding and that the two men taken to the hospital were indeed going to St. Mungo's along with a few curious muggles who had seen too much. Completely disinterested and really just looking for a place to get firecrackers for a prank, he came across Prince.

"Hey, what are you doing here?" he asked the cat.

"What? Aren't you afraid some muggle will see us talking and go bonkers or start calling the cops?"

"Me? What have I got to worry about? You're the talking cat. You're the one they'd sell to the circus, not me."

"Touche!"

"So, what ARE you doing here?" Giovanni asked again.

"Didn't they ever tell you that curiosity is an annoying trait in people?"

"But it can't get me killed," the boy countered.

"On the contrary, it quite possibly can. But not by me and besides I like you. You get me those kitty treats I like so much."

"They're Scooby Snacks and they're actually dog treats but whatever."

"They taste sooooooooo good, that's all that matters," Prince said rolling on the ground purring.

Giovanni bent over and picked up the cat. "C'mon let's take this on the road. This story isn't moving along fast enough."

"I love Velma and Daphne," Prince said.

"So, anyways. The big boss sent me out to get some things but I just want some firecrackers. Crazy things, firecrackers. If you mix them with nitrous oxide you get ..." before he could finish, a shadowy figure jumped out of the bushes and knocked him to the ground. "Get off me!" he yelled. He couldn't break free because his arms were pinned to his sides. Prince had managed to jump aside to safety and cowered under a bush.

"Shaggy's funny but Scooby's always been funnier," he continued then started laughing as he remembered an old joke.

♥


"Seriously, my pants?" Ottery exclaimed.

"I needed to transform something and they were the only thing around," Tiffany shouted back.

"Seriously! Seriously! Nobody else here wears pants?" Ottery yelled. "You can kiss your Manet goodbye."

"It was a Matisse you ... boy you." Tiffany threw back.

"Honestly mate, that was a fair bit of magic, that." Dean said coming to Tiffany's defense.

"She did save our lives, she did, Otts," the sandy haired boy added, patting Ottery on the shoulder. "It was your pants or us, mate. I'm just glad it was your pants."

"Could someone at least conjure me up a barrel with straps or something?" Ottery asked.

Clucky walked out of the pyramid last, trailing a bit of mummy wrapping. Ottery shivered, Tiffany laughed, Dean rolled his eyes, and Seamus explained, "She wants a bit of a souvenir. This being her first big adventure and all."

"This is insane," Dean said. "Who'd stick us in a tomb with mummies and what are you lot doing here anyways, Otts? Did you come to get us for an assignment?"

"Actually yes, we did." Ottery replied. "Some cretins hijacked my headquarters and they're using my friends and operatives like Teddy uses dynamite."

"He means indiscriminately," Tiffany interjected.

Clucky clucked. "Paaaakaaaaaaawk?"

"What? I can talk to cats but ... I'm not fluent in chicken. Where's Dr. Doolittle when you need him?" Ottery pronounced.

"What she said was, what are you wanting to do about it, mate?" Seamus interrupted.

"Do about it? Do about it? Sweetie, I'm doing it right now." Ottery replied. Everyone stared at him, waiting for him to finish but seeing that he had finished, Tiffany explained.

"Ottery's hosting the first ever Chocolate Paris Lover's Day Ball," she replied. "Don't ask me what that's supposed to do to help our situation but it's supposed to."

"It will. You see, I've invited everyone who's anyone to be there. Once I get all my players on the board, I'll strike."

"With bubbly, I'm sure," Tiffany replied.

"With more than that, love, with more than that," Ottery replied, laughing.

"And how exactly do you plan to get everyone there?" Dean asked.

"With this!" Ottery exclaimed and pointed to his satchel.

"A bag of Scooby Snacks?" Dean asked.

"No, those are for Prince, he asked me to get him some if I was in Egypt." Then he pulled out a long cylinder and smirked. It contained within it the object so many people sought.

♥


AN: By now you're wondering how this crazy mess will all come together aren't you? Well, funny. So am I.

Connie: As for what Freddie will be doing Connie DUN DUN DUUUUUUN we shall see, won't we? We shall see. I just like that smilie see the is for shock value I love sweet potatoes.

Funny, funny, funny! I couldn't pick out anything to highlight (or quote in my case. I'll figure out how you guy's highlight one of these times. Then won't you be so proud of me? I know I will be.) cause everything was so funny. I laughed my fool head off. I'm glad the kids are in bed, and Steve is at work, cause they would have thought I lost my mind. Actually, I like it best when Steve is home, but you understand what I'm saying. I so look forward to your posts. They're always great. I'm never disappointed, cause you make me feel what I'm reading, whether it be; happy, sad, serious, or fun. Love it!!!!!
Yes, we'll see about Teddy. I'll be surprised if he hasn't been thinking up something terribly clever and sweet. Glad you enjoyed your corn bread and sweet potatoes. Catch ya later.

YAY!! Look I am here!! Great Updates Otty! I liked the line, "She didn't like the taste of being stood up!! That was great!!

Yes my toes are doing better! I can actually sort of walk on them now.. ish And things are going well!! I am putting off a psych paper that I have to finish writing, but other than that.. I am well!!

Keep up with the updates!!!
Love you!

Whew!

OK, so lovin' the chicken, but the pace is a little...breakneck. And I am still not seeing the M/F love! So far, just a lot of my girl getting angry, and that can't be healthy for anyone.

It's chilly, or I'd write more, like how I'm wondering what's going on at the Burrow, how funny it is that Mrs. Weasley thinks Harry and Ron are with ottery but they have yet to appear in this story, and most important, what are Ginny and Luna going to be wearing? I hope they all look stunning!

Adam paced the ground of his father's mansion under the moonlight. Octavius was getting out of control. In the past week they had hunted down and killed three suspected Death Eaters and in doing so they'd lost one of their own. Lexie had gotten caught and for fear of being discovered Octavius had blasted her with a memory charm erasing her memories for the last five years. Adam had thought it a bit cruel. She would not have spoken, he was sure of it. No one had ever been more loyal than Lexie. Still, no one went against Octavius Black. But the boy was growing increasingly reckless and he had made it readily apparent that he did not value them any more than he did the Death Eaters he was killing.

He walked through the gardens and watched the stars in the sky. Adam was not a religious person but he was given to believing and practicing some tenets of different religions and now all he could think to do was question the universe for an answer. Octavius was clearly mad crazed with desires of revenge. Adam had only joined because all of his friends had decided to follow along, they'd thought it would all be harmless fun but people were dead and now Lexie was captured. Things had progressed too far. And now Octavius wanted to go after Severus Snape and Lucius Malfoy. The boy was mad. One was an important Hogwarts Professor and the other a pillar of the wizarding community. You did not just strike out against people in power. Not without expecting some repercussions.

Besides which this whole Chocolate Paris Lover's Day Ball seemed a bit too, convenient. Professor Snape and Lucius Malfoy and his family would be in attendance? The rumor was going around that Sirius Black would make an appearance as well. However, there was still a lot of rumor about what part he had played in the death of Peter Pettigrew and whether he was truly a Death Eater or not.

Adam sighed. Life was too complicated. It was just a game, it had all started as a game and now they were plotting assassinations at an important social event. He had to get out of this somehow. There had to be someone he could turn to, but to whom?

♥

Ginny and Luna were sitting on the old creaky porch swing in the backyard that hung between the two willow trees overlooking the little lake at the burrow. They sat in silence watching the moon glistening over the water and the fireflies floating about.

"It's a beautiful night," Ginny said.

"I'm looking for snraggleluffs," Luna replied.

Ginny turned to her friend and smiled. Luna was wearing a pair of antennas on her head that glowed brightly every time a moth or a firefly flew near. Bathed in the light from the different creatures she looked resplendent and Ginny wondered that Draco was not smitten with her or that her friend did not have a lot of boys tripping over themselves trying to ask her out.

"I don't know about the dress Ottery sent me," Luna said by way of starting a conversation, sensing that perhaps Ginny wanted to talk. "I think I'm going to make some modifications to it."

"It's Vera Wang, Luna," Ginny said.

"Our dresses have names?" Luna asked. "I would have liked to have been able to pick the name of my dress. But I guess the person who made it should have the honor."

"No, Luna. The designer is Vera Wang. Haven't you read Witch Vogue? She's one of the best muggle designers."

"Oh," Luna said. "Designers of what?"

Ginny laughed at that and didn't think to pursue it. From inside the house Ginny could hear Ron complaining to mum about the dress robes she thought he should wear. Old ones that had been passed down from old Uncle Albert. Uncle Albert had a love of frilly things and perpetually believed that the present day was actually the middle of Victorian England.

♥

Two tankards and four bottles of firewhiskey later, one of them smashed over Teddy's head, and Freddie was back out on the street and making his way to the cafe where he was supposed to meet Madison. It was late night and the place was closed. He stood outside cursing up a storm both at his foul luck and Teddy's idea of a good time.

As he was turning to leave though a white cloaked figure stood in front of him.

"Who are ..."

Before he could finish his sentence he was falling back stunned.

♥

And if you're thinking you want a stranger there's one coming home ...

First off I'd like to give out a thanks and a shout out to my friend Obi Wan K'Lari for her siggy. I'm seriously, seriously flattered, honored, floored, and all manner of blushing it was one of the sweetest things ever. I didn't ask her to do it but she did it out of the kindness of her own heart ... and that's sweetness you can't buy. Thank you Lari!

Replies:

Connie: I'm glad you liked it ... but do you think it's breakneck enough *glares at Kellybear* I'll get you a neck brace dear hold on ...

But seriously, Thank you for staying with this story. I know it gets crazy and IT IS a romantic comedy but I guess it's been a bit light on the romance ... so ... I'll see what I can do. I was going to wait until the ball but ... *plots next post*

*Flower*: Hehehe I'm glad you liked that line Thea, I was wondering if y'all would think it was corny or something but ... well, she didn't like it and there's gonna be heck to pay before they can get their love off of the rocks

Psych ... yeah, no. I don't envy you having to write papers. I remember when I was in Uni I used to escape to fanfiction while I was supposed to be writing my school papers I miss those days but not the papers


KellyBear: So you want romance? *takes you in his arms dips you back* Jealous, am I? Yes, I suppose I am — even though I know you've been faithful to me all along. How do I know? Because I know Ashley Wilkes and his honorable breed. They're gentlemen! That's more than I can say for you or for me. We're not gentlemen, and we have no honor, have we? It's not that easy, Kellybear. You've turned me out while you chased Ashley Wilkes, while you dreamed of Ashley Wilkes. This is one night you're not turning me out. [suddenly, Ottery fiercely kisses her and then carries her protesting up a long flight of stairs to the bedroom, two steps at a time]. like that.

Love, I didn't say, I wasn't getting enough romance. Perish the thought! My love is very romantic. I meant that Madison wasn't getting enough love. And let's face it, she needs some, poor thing.

OT: I couldn't find that little chocolatey treat from Loisiana that we discussed so I'm just gonna call around. I think that, and some truffles and fruit would make for a romantic meal for two, don't you? Perhaps as a picnic? Just sayin'...

"He had to get out of this somehow. There had to be someone he could turn to, but to whom?" Yeah, good luck with that! Right? Hope he can though.
"Before he could finish his sentence he was falling back stunned."
Man! He just can't catch a break can he!?
"but do you think it's breakneck enough"
:choochoo: Yeah, I'm hang'n on, and love'n every minute of it.
Can't wait for the Ball! Will Luna make her "modifications to her "dress"? Will we find out what Harry and Ron have been doing? Been wondering a bit. Looking forward to your next post, but, I know that contest means alot to you, so, I can wait if you need to spend more time on it, than this, and Human Nature. I'm sure we want you to be able to do your best with it. Catch ya later.

Freddie groaned as he felt a kick at his side. The effects of the stunning spell were wearing off and he was beginning to feel the pains from the beating he had obviously taken while sleeping. Through groggy eyes that seemed to be looking through frosted glass he caught sight of the stranger in the white cloak and seeing the next kick coming caught the boot and twisted it. The stranger came crashing down next to him at his level. In an instant he had sat up and had his arm thrown back about to strike when the hood fell back and revealed Madison.

"Maddy what the devil do you think you're doing?" Freddie asked.

He got a slap in the face for his pains. He caught her hand though as she came to strike again.

"Seriously, woman, stop!" He exclaimed. "That hurts!"

"Not as much as it will when I break your lying jaw, you piece of ..."

Freddie didn't know what possessed him at that moment but he well knew, at least his father had told him once, the best way to shut up a woman was to kiss her. So he did just that. Madison tried to bite his lips but even though she struggled she gave in to his tender entreaties. She fell back on the ground and he lay over her kissing her and enjoying it immensely.
Madison for her part was amazed that Freddie was such a great kisser, for such a shy boy.

His lips parted from hers as he caught his breath. Smiling at her he expected her to smile in return but instead she headbutted him and sent him crashing back onto the ground.

"First of all, don't you ever kiss me without permission!" She shouted.

"Dow. Thithter id'll be a long while before I dry to kiss you again," he complained through a throbbing nosebleed.

"You're an idiot, Freddie Valentine!"

"If you'd just let me explain," he said, but before he could finish she was talking again.

"Secondly, who do you think you are standing me up? Me? As if I don't have more important things to be doing with my time than waiting on you to ..."

"Madison, please. I ... I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. Teddy got me into this fight and ... well afterwards we went to a pub and ..."

"Isn't it usually you went to the pub first and got into the fight afterwards? Maybe you need to work on your story Freddie."

"Maybe you need to stop talking and start listening!" he exclaimed.

It was an odd sight. The boy sitting on the floor bleeding all over his face, the girl standing around in a white cloak yelling at him in the middle of an empty street at night. Any passerby might have taken them for a couple of overexcited adolescents who had been out on the town too long and needed to get to bed. But in truth they were simply a couple of love sick kids.

Madison with her arms crossed, her back turned to him and her wand out and ready to blast him again stood quietly listening as he explained everything. Fighting her urge to drown him in Veritaserum she turned to look at him and as his story progressed she sat next to him and listened more intently so that by the end of his sad little tale she was dressing his wound and cleaning his face.

"I finally got so tired of him and everyone knows that Teddy can't be drunk under the table by anyone ..."

Madison interjected, "Ottery says he drinks petrol sometimes."

"Exactly. So I took a bottle of firewhiskey and smashed it over his head instead. And I came running here to see if I could still catch you. I didn't realize it was so late until ..."

Freddie didn't get to finish his sentence because just then he was stunned again. Only this time it was by Madison's kiss. She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him passionately. Though all his ribs hurt and he would have liked to have gone to an infirmary just then to make sure he had no internal bleeding, Freddie didn't mind the pain because Madison's kiss was working as a pain reliever.

"Oh, Freddie you poor sweet boy," she said, kissing him and playing with his hair. "If I had only known. Where do you hurt baby?"

"Right now? Everywhere," he replied with a dazed expression on his face.

♥

Meanwhile back in Ireland

Reginald paced up and down the front of her house. The others gave him funny looks but he ignored them. He didn't want to talk to them, he didn't want to go for walks in the early mornings with them and he didn't feel like looking for worms either no matter the time of day. All Reginald could do was pace in front of her house and wait. He kept thinking of that song from his favorite musical, My Fair Lady, and he started singing.

Are there lilac trees in the heart of town?
Can you hear a lark in any other part of town?
Does enchantment pour Out of ev'ry door?
No, it's just on the street where you live!
And oh! The towering feeling
Just to know somehow you are near.
The overpowering feeling
That any second you may suddenly appear!
People stop and stare. They don't bother me.
For there's no where else on earth that I would rather be.
Let the time go by, I won't care if I
Can be here on the street where you live.

The other chickens might laugh, but Reginald Rooster would wait. He would wait forever if he had too, for his plucky love ♥ Clucky. He knew she was out there somewhere likely romancing that sandy haired fool Seamus, but he didn't care. Once she got her fill of adventure she would come home to his loving wings and together they would settle down and start a nest of their own. Who knew maybe Lenin the pig or Money in your pocket could be the best man at the wedding.

♥

When last we left our intrepid hero Giovanni he was *ahem* well let's see, shall we?

O: Funny how nobody cares about the red head *pets Giovanni* but Freddie everyone loves because of his dark wavy hair ... *ahem* *puts on narrator suit again*

Having been caught off guard, Giovanni could not fire a spell to defend himself. Nor did he need to when he saw who it was that had him pinned down.

"Laura? What are you doing here? And can you get off me please?"

"I came all this way to have you tell me 'get off'? I don't think so," the girl exclaimed. Then letting him go she spelled him, and he lay struggling on the ground tied up in ropes.

"Now you're going to listen, and you're going to listen good, okay, Gio?" the girl asked.

"Fine, Laura but why do I have to be tied up to listen?" the boy asked.

"Don't make me gag you, just listen. This is going to be hard enough as it is."

From the bushes nearby Prince laughed, rolling around on the grass trying very hard not to give away his presence. He knew Laura and he knew Giovanni and he knew what this was likely about and how good an idea it was to have him tied up because otherwise he wouldn't really listen.

"For a very long time now, Giovanni I've liked you."

"I like you too, Laura but this isn't how friends play," the boy struggled against the ropes in a futile effort.

"I like you the way girls like boys, Giovanni. Not just like friends," she said very quickly hoping that perhaps he wouldn't hear it.

"What are you talking about?"

"Not like brother and sister you idiot, she has the hots for you!" Prince exclaimed from where he was hiding in the bushes.

"What are you doing hiding there shouldn't you be helping me? Wait a minute ... Laura ..." Giovanni turned to look at the girl who was standing there with her heart in her hand unable to face the boy she'd grown up next to, whom she'd played with since they were old enough to walk and whom she'd now followed to another country just to declare her love. "Are you kidding, me?" he asked.

Laura watched the boy in horror for a split second and ran away crying down the street. Prince glared at the boy and tail and nose in the air proceeded to walk away.

"No, wait. I didn't mean it like that ... Laura!" the boy yelled. "Help me out of here you silly cat!" the boy exclaimed. But too late, Prince had already climbed the tree and was not listening. So, getting on his knees first and then hopping to his feet Giovanni, completely tied up, went running after Laura the girl next door, the girl he had played with since they were old enough to walk, the girl he'd grown up next to and who had now followed him to another country to declare her love. He had crushed on Laura when he was six and then again when he was nine but thinking girls were icky he had thought his love for her gone but it lay only dormant and he suddenly now realized how happy her words would make him, if only they were true.

Still, if she'd thought he was joking with her she'd never forgive him and if she never forgave him she would never look at him and if she never looked at him then he'd never be able to apologize and if he couldn't apologize he couldn't tell her he liked her back. Giovanni hopped after her as Prince watched from a tree top laughing. Love was funny but this was ridiculous.

♥

Draco was sitting at a corner table alone in Ottery's Pub, which Blaise had quaintly taken over and likely not bothered to inform Ottery was even now giving Teddy all that he could drink free of charge. He sighed. Draco had to pay for his drinks but Teddy could get them free. Obviously, Blaise was bribing the muscle. Somehow he knew this assignment would go down one way or the other. There was no point in his backing out. Besides which from what Blaise had said, after the sale of the piece, they would all be leaving with substantially large sums of money. While Draco didn't have a problem in that department he did not have access to large sums of galleons without question. However much money he needed Narcissa would easily supply, but the price was always interrogation. Draco had plans for this money, which involved a certain blonde haired Ravenclaw?

Honestly, he didn't know. But ever since that day he'd run into LoOny Luna at Madame Curie's shoppe he could not stop thinking about her. There was something oddly mesmerizing about that girl. Of course, she was just a girl, and a silly little Ravenclaw at that but that was just it. Who had ever heard of a silly little Ravenclaw? You did not get housed in Ravenclaw for being a fool. Perhaps she was only playing one to get at something. Maybe she liked being underestimated so she could strike without mercy when it was least expected. Whatever the case, Luna Lovegood intrigued Draco Malfoy and he wanted very much to get her somewhere alone so he could gauge exactly how smart she was or at least, what her game was.

The Slytherin boy took a drink from his butterbeer and sat in silence alone with his thoughts of Luna Lovegood glad that no one around could hear his thoughts. His father would think he was a fool. Mother wouldn't object, after all Luna was a pureblood wasn't she?

♥

This All-Love Post is lovingly dedicated to my Kellybear. Because she is my love. ♥

Replies: I'm tired if I'm not coherent my apologies ...

KellyBear OT: So long as you're there that's all the romance I need *smoochiesloves*

Kellybear: I gave Madison some love ... per your request.

Connie: You're sweet to worry about Adam but I wouldn't ... not for much longer anyways

I don't know Connie ... I'd say Freddie caught the best brake of all. Love. I was sure you'd all remember Madison's white cloak

I've decided to slow down the pace Connie ... I know, I'm weird. This story, Human Nature, I'm gonna start another thread in a few days, my assignment writing on my Lj AND Nanowrimo. I love pain don't I? or writing ...

Luna will indeed make her modifications to her dress ... which you will see, at the Ball and yes you will see what's been keeping Ron, Harry and Hermione so busy from this story ... maybe I'll throw in some Sirius if y'all are good. remember this takes place between HP3 & HP4 so ...

Love you two for being here so often and I love ALL MY READERS for reading so loyally ... I hope you all enjoy the new, slower paced and hopefully more romantic Love in the time of Whooping Cough ♥ A Series of Adventurous Romances - Sa13+