"Hunted? People from Russia I presume" she said, laughing slightly, though she somehow had a feeling that he was telling the truth. "That could be why your hairs turning a frightful shade of grey" she teased, mentally comparing herself to him. He was being hunted and always alert whilst she managed to somehow remain carefree.

Ramona raised an eyebrow in a little shock, still that was the norm for anyone in Oxford...obviously. Yep she nodded, feeling a little squeamish at the memory. That had been another night she hadn't slept, she'd never had a good sleeping patern but still. Oh. Lovely she smiled a fixed smile, I don't think I would. Oh, nice? She asked, tilting her head slightly, is it um, foreign? She asked hesitantly

Nathaniel laughed heartily, "Yes it is foreign, it means suspicious, or traitor, take your pick, you see, in the fight...I fought in the beginning for the ministry. Later, after....everything....I joined the resistance. And made a name for myself, during the wars."

"Of course who else would be hunting me? I hope not the British ministry as well." He ran his hand through his greying hair, "Yes, that is true, life on the run is a living hell." He looked to the patrons of the establishment, and his eyes landed on a couple in the corner. "They could be everywhere, so I must be ready, even if that involves killing curses."

Mason was actually surprised when Medea lifted her glass of wine and said "Cheers". Last time he had attempted that, he nearly got a face full of glass. A smile tugging at his lips, he also raised his glass and clinked it with hers. "Cheers." He said and laughed quietly at her big wink. He tried to hide the raise of an eyebrow when she swallowed down the whole glass. Classy.

Picking up his menu, he scanned through the items without really reading them. He was still a little nervous, even though everything seemed to be going well so far. Still, his mind was busy with thoughts flowing through it of how this night was going to end... And if a relationship would start between them. He was still confused about whether he wanted a relationship with her or not. Tonight would tell though, he was sure.

And then she asked why he picked Cora. Mason knew it would come up in no time. Another smile tugged at his lips and he sighed, setting the menu down. Even though she wasn't looking at him.

"There's a few different meanings... One being 'dark-haired heroine', another being 'heart'." He looked down at the table. "I don't know, I just liked it. I saw it, and it just stuck with me." He said with a smile, looking at her again. He wanted to tell her that he thought Cora had a heart deep inside, though she was reluctant to show it. But he refrained from saying such. He didn't want to say anything that could in anyway provoke her to slap him.

"And why did you choose Leo?" He wondered, taking a sip of his wine. Now it was his turn to ask questions.

"Who knows, with all the controversies in a lot of the ministries around the place they might actually be after you as well... the question then is how will you avoid two ministries?" Sophia questioned, glad to finally understand why he was so jumpy, and why he'd almost used the killing curse on her.

She didn’t ask him to ‘clink’ her glass. Stupid boy-man. She looked up and glared at him while he sifted through the menu.

Why did I even agree to go on this date?! The woman had gone over this in her head probably a hundred times. He was at least 10 years younger than, well by appearances it would seem that way. She had never dated, nor been interested in a man younger than her. It was always older men, older men with power or money. She was usually not attracted to the man himself, but rather what she could gain from the relationship. As she tossed and turned last night she kept asking herself one question, ’What benefit is he to me.?’

She couldn’t come up with one… Not an obvious one anyways. There was one very small possibility that was nagging her, but she did everything she could to ignore it. It simply wasn’t possible. She reviewed it 5 times, there was no way he fit the prophesy. A little voice inside her head corrected her, oh its entirely possible… and you know it.’

Medea looked back down to her menu as he looked up and explained ‘Cora’. Not bad, he actually put some thought into it. She had a few men that came up with names like ‘baby’, ‘sweetie’, ‘hot-lips’, etc. As he finished the explanation she looked up, but instead of looking at him she scanned the room and spotted the waiter. The picked up her wine glass showed him it was empty and then placed it back on the table. He better hurry up… she was thirsty.

Bringing her eyes back to him she finally acknowledged that he was there asked a question. She stared at him for a moment. Before she could speak she was interrupted.

The waiter brought a bottle of wine to the table, he filled her glass and turned to walk away, ”You can leave the bottle.” As she snatched it from him she shooed him away.

Grasping her glass in front of her with both hands she took a deep breath and eyed her wine. She was not about to tell him the whole truth, nothing but the truth so help her Merlin. The truth was last night she dreamt of a lion. Medea loved dream interpretation, and had many books on the subject. To dream of a lion means you need to overcome some emotional obstacles. Get in touch with your emotions. Another sign. She ignored the voice.

Again gulping the wine she put the glass down. ”No particular reason really.” She looked back to her menu and flipped through it. Not looking up she added, ”I had a dream last night and there was a lion in it. Leo means lion, so I thought it was a good idea.” Her voice wasn’t cold, but it wasn’t exactly comforting either.

”Have you eaten here before? “ She picked up the bottle, topped his glass off for him and filled her own.

Putting the bottle down rather hard she asked him another question in quick succession, "And how old are you?!" It wasn't a curious tone, but rather an interrogative tone.

Okay, maybe things weren't going that well. Mason noticed the ever-present glare on her face. Had he even done anything wrong? He was just... sitting there, drinking wine. Maybe the clinking was too much. Buzz-kill.

Picking up his menu again, he looked through it in a moment of silence while Cora impatiently waved her empty wine glass at the waiter. Well maybe you should have drank it slower. He thought to himself, but dare not say.

Sheesh, she was glaring at him again. Why did she feel the need to do that? He murmed a "Thanks" both to the waiter as he walked away from the table and to Cora for topping off his glass. And then he listened to her as she explained her name for him. She hadn't put as much thought into it as Mason did for hers. But then again, he didn't really expect her to read a whole encyclopedia of name meanings and pick the best one, so he wasn't really dissapointed.

But the dream about the lion was certainly intriguing. Mason was a Gryffindork at Hogwarts. Maybe it was a sign to her..? Pff, yeah right. Mason didn't believe in dream interpretations, it was all just a silly belief. Coincidental dream was all it was.

He paused for a moment. "Well I do like it." He told her. Leo. In the back of his mind he actually worried that it would be some ridiculous name that no one had ever heard of or wanted. He was glad with the outcome.

At her question, he was about to answer, when another question spilled out of her mouth. Ah, yes he wondered when she would ask that. He answered the second question first; she seemed more interested in that. "I'm twenty-six... And yourself?" He wondered, not knowing if she'd actually tell him. "And yes, I've eaten here once before. Why do you ask?" He asked curiously, taking a drink.

Ramona nodded, slightly confused as to why her stupidity was funny, but she went with it. You didn't go against the crowd, especially with jumpy dudes, not afraid to use an unforgivable. And that made her a little nervous to make her usual jokes, still he seemed like an okay, just a little...trigger happy. Oh, not nice then, she said, nibbiling her lip, the conversation always got a bit awkward as she slowly discovered new snickbits to his personality. Really she should run, but he was just so interesting. So scary, but interesting. Oh well...

Nath thought for a brief moment as he looked into his tea. "I will do what i have always done, fight my way out, or fight my way in. I am good at what I do you see." That was in fact true, he had been the ministries' top 'cleaner' for quite some time.

"Not nice indeed, its a hard life, but I survive. I am again very sorry about the unforgiveable, I don't think they are as widely accepted here...Over in Russia, they are the only curses we really use!" He looked solemnly down into his tea again. If there were other 'cleaners' sent after him, he may as well have put these two women's lives in danger.

No. No. They arn't she said firmly, shaking her head, she was still a little...jumpy from them, but after another sip of her tea she was nice and mellow. Well not mellow but mellow-er. [B]Oh, um[/B... she faltered off, her eyes darting around the room for any other metal Russians. One she could deal with. Two. Never. She looked around the room turning her head this time, no one is following you right? She asked, nervously, tensing up a little

Nath paused and looked the woman in the eyes, "I don't know if I am being followed, I suspect it, and the ministry may have sent other cleaners after me, oh sorry." He paused thinking over the terminology, "Cleaners are assassins, and they are very good. Though I can usually spot them." He had taken care of the last team sent after him in Outremer, that had been a bloody fight....

Heh..you are joking. Right? She said, her skin tone paling a little, she didn't do scary "cleaner" dudes out on a wing to kill people. She was from Oxfordshire for christ sakes! Oxfordshire, home of the morals and the poshness. She didn't do this...thing! Right, no offence if you do have em following you, I'm gone she nodded seriously.

Coward? Yes

Nathaniel shook his head slowly, "I rarely joke, though I removed the last team in Outremer, I hope they haven't yet picked up my scent." He tried to reassure her, though he doubted it would hep, perhaps she would stick around. After all, she could learn quite a bit about the Dark arts. As he looked at her he smiled encouragingly, he really didn't want her to leave.

Oh. Yay. Ramona's smile fixed to her face. Cleaners=Assasins. This was news to her, cleaners were people who cleaned after her. She didn't have one, that was why her flat was a tip. Again. But she was making it all domestic and stuff, it was only because she was terrified of the prospect of someone bursting in a holding a wand to her neck. Even though she was a touch melodramatic, she could imagine it being like that all too well. Yeah. Hopefully she nodded, though the reassuring tone didn't really work, she swallowed down the rising feeling of naseua and took another sip.

Why wasn't she just running? Why?

...

Oh yeah. She was an adreniline junkie/psycopath

"Well yes, at this point, hope is all I have." He took another sip, and looked over the large crowd of people. "If you want, I can always teach you two to spot cleaners, or even those magics that are considered forbidden. It is just an offer of course, even if Russians don't come bursting through your door, it is highly likely that you will be faced with a different threat eventually, and knowledge of all magic can be helpful."

He wanted them to be safe, and the only way to do that, was to show, if they accepted, sometime down the road the different techniques that cleaners used. It would be very exciting, but he didn't want to scare them away...

I guess it would be, Ramona nodded mournfully, she didn't like all this bad energy and she couldn't help but think...if I'd never have gone here, if I'd have gone to Pret Um...she couldn't really refuse if HER life might be in danger because of her socialising with him. Thats what they always said on the movie, the girls who interact with the man in question always ended up hostages or...*gulp* dead. To be honest though she was much tougher than the lot in the movies.

Yeah, go on then she nodded more confidently, she knew her fair bit from defence against the dark arts in practise but she'd never had the chance or choice to use it. Now she might of had to.

Nath raised his eyebrows and withdrew his wand, "I hesitate to do this in a public place, but for you I will, no harm will be done I assure you."

He beckoned to one of the random muggles who while surprised did come over, Nath pointed the wand at him under the table and smiled. "Imperious!" It was only a whisper but the muggle's eye's glazed over and he slumped slightly "Get us another cup of tea eh?" The muggle obeyed and Nath looked to the two girls. The spell had been hidden to the rest of the outside world, "This is the most common curse used by those in the ministry, if they can turn your allies against you, you are finished!" He looked at them, "Now, do you know how to defend against it?" Surely Hogwarts had taught that.

The muggle approached and gave them new cups of tea. Completely harmless.

Her face softened slightly as he said he liked the name. A smile started to peek through, suddenly (realizing what she was doing) her face went back to its unemotional state. A battle was brewing inside her. She genuinely liked him. He seemed to be the one her Grandma foresaw. She didn’t want to feel that vulnerable again, because of this she felt enraged – and he was to be her target.

Twenty-six?! There is no way that baby face is twenty-six. And then he asked her age. How rude! Doesn’t he know you never ask a woman’s age? She didn’t even register his answer to her other question.

She counted on her fingers, ”Leo, first off I do not believe you’re twenty-six and second how dare you ask my age! I can’t believe you’d so be rude and bold! Third, you need to learn I ask the questions. You’re job is to sit there and look pretty.” Medea knew that this would enrage him. She couldn’t help herself though. She couldn’t bear the thought of getting too close to him. And honestly, she didn’t want to do to him what she had done to so many others.

Medea knocked back her third glass of wine. She grabbed the bottle to refill but there was nothing but a couple drops. ”Damn it.” Waving the empty bottle in the air at the waiter she continued her rant, ”I’m not even sure why I’m here. Nearly a decade older than you. You probably haven’t had a proper relationship yet. Do you expect me to train you or something?” The effects of the wine were setting in. She was getting louder. ”GAWD! I bet you don’t even know how to tie your shoes.” She dramatically peered under the table. ”I was expecting to see Velcro.”

The dark haired woman’s face went flush. She was in a right state. Half of he wanted to jump over the table and snog him fiercely the other half wanted to hex him. She sat there quiet waiting for wine.

He began to feel proud of himself for a mere moment, when he small a smile peek out on her face. But as soon as it came, it was gone. Mason frowned. What was wrong with her? The woman practically snogged the daylights out of him yesterday, and now when he gave her a compliment, she glared? How did this woman think?

And then she exploded. She caught Mason completely off guard. His eyes grew wide and he set his menu down. Cora really didn't think he was 26? Why would he lie? "Of course I'm actually twenty-six. I don't lie about my age like women do." He retorted. Then immediately regretted it. Yeah, he'd pay for that one.

And the insults kept flying. He couldn't ask how old she was? "It's a common question, for Merlin's sake. You asked me, why couldn't I ask you the same? It's only fair game!" He exclaimed, bewildered by her insane, overreaction. "And no, I'm not just going to 'sit here and look pretty' just for you. If you get to ask questions, so do I." He used his fingers to mock air quotes.

He couldn't believe how quickly the night turned into an utter disaster. As Cora was knocking back her third glass of wine, he grabbed the empty bottle from her hand and set it down. "You don't need anymore to drink." He said. Surely it was the alcohol getting to her, right? She didn't need any more. Mason looked around and waved at a waiter. "Hey, can we get some water please?" He asked a little nervously.

"Of course I've had a proper relationship! I'm twenty-six for God's sake, and you think I haven't ever loved someone? You're the one who's older apparently, what's your excuse?" He asked loudly. Mason couldn't take this anymore. He wanted to leave.

Velcro? VELCRO?! "That's it. I'm done, Cora. Or whoever the hell you are." He threw his napkin on the table and stood up. "I don't understand you. I don't know why one minute you're into me, and the next you want to rip my head off. You confuse me!" He took a breath and threw his hands up in the air. "I'll see you around." He said as he began to slowly walk away. Just in case for some strange reason she felt the need to apologize. Fat chance.

She waved her hands in the air, ”Oh now women are liars?!?!” Are you kidding me? Oh this boy-man has issues! ”How dare you!” Leo was certainly making it easy for her to dislike him. She flipped her hair behind her hotly. Medea sat there stunned as he got mouthy with her. And then he did it.

Took.the.bottle.from.her.hand.

Her eyes went fiery. ”Who are you to determine MY limits?! I do not need water. What I need is some damned firewhiskey!” She spat loudly. By this time surely they were gaining attention from other patrons. She snapped her fingers at the waiter. ”Firewhiskey, now.”

The dark haired woman’s face contorted into a horrified look when he asked, ”… what's your excuse?” That cut deep. Straight to the heart of the issue. Frankly, it was him. All these years it had been him. Of course she didn’t know that yet, or maybe it was she wasn’t willing to admit it. All the signs pointed to him. Her rage was full swing, and all she wanted to do was cry.

Cry?! This wasn’t her; this wasn’t who she thought she was anyway. Admittedly she was beyond confused. The waiter, looking a little frightened, brought the firewhiskey to the table and backed away. She drained it as he made his last outburst.

He got up, saying he was done. One more outburst flowed from her lips, ”You’re walking out, on ME?! Are you not going to pay for this supposed date?”

She stared at him. She commanded her voice to speak up, she demanded her legs to get up after him, and she begged her heart to take control. Medea sat there. Watching him leave.

Grabbing her bag she rooted around and put enough money on the table for the wine and whiskey, leaving enough tip for the waiter who had been through hell as well. A single tear seared her face as she apparated out of the restaurant. There was no way she’d let an one would see her cry.

Yes, Mason was walking out on her. He was sick of it all. The yelling, the glaring, the fact that he never understood what she wanted with him. She was the most confusing woman he had ever met! And all she did was glower at him and act like some evil temptress.

Should he pay for the "date"? They only had wine. Quite frankly, the waiter was probably to frightened to chase after them demanding money. He could tell there was a slight strain in her voice.

When Mason reached the door, he turned around to look at her. He watched her rifle through her purse. He watched as she slapped money onto the table. He watched as one solid tear slid down her cheek. And she was gone.

What had he done?

Sophia took her turn to think about what he had said for a moment.

"I don't reckon that's a nice way to live... I know that I myself grew up without worries... Australia actually... it was a 4 hour drive just to get to my mailbox, the most fighting we did was with the sheep and cattle when they were being stubborn! We didn't even have an address, that's how far from society we lived" she laughed, no wonder there was a huge difference in the way they reacted to certain situations.

MEEP! What was he DOING? THAT was an unforgivable curse for christsakes. The clue was in the name UNFORGIVABLE! Really she should be using her ministry head and going to report him, but this man was insane. He wouldn't hesitate to kill her if she grassed him up. She could just tell. Though honestly she didn't know anyone that mad. He was a first. She watched the muggle in a mix of horror and fascination, whoever said the dark side was more fun was right. Not only that, more compelling.
Oh. Right. She paused and dragged her eyesight away from the trance like human who was serving them, could you please take the spell off then she said to him politley as though they were talking about the weather and exchanging pleasantaries, it's rather awkward having this man as...she tailed off. THIS was awkward, right now. And she should be running, but again she couldn't, there was something dragging her, compeling her towards Nathanial, she didn't know what it was, but it was something that was for sure, because creepy, odd, weird Russians were soooo not her type.

You're not? She asked white faced, I refuse, no you're not putting me like, like...that! She said indignantly, Merlin knows what could happen to her if she was in that state, walking straight into a trap for all she knew. She couldn't trust this man. She couldn't

Nath looked at her and smiled, "Perhaps it is better to be raised apart from the society that does its best to corrupt us! I suppose, you are the perfect example of one who grew up apart from such terrible influences. I was not so lucky...."

Nath smiled grimly, he had gotten the point across he hoped, "Yes, mi'lady" With a twist of the wand, the muggle was out of his grasp, and a quick addition of an obliviation spell, the muggle would remember nothing. After that was finished, Nath turned back to the two of them. "It is disturbing for sure, and this is probably your first experience even seeing such a curse in person." He looked hard at both of them, "I am simply showing how easy it is to fall under the sway of these curses!" He looked kindly to Ramona and smiled, "I wasn't intending to put you under this horrid curse, it is horrid, believe me. I have been under its sway, and I ask you again....Do you know how to defend against it?" He hoped they knew, but a lesson could be taught, though he doubted Ramona would like it at all. Yet it was nice to see her staying after all this...

Sophia smiled back at Nath, finally seeing a slightly happier side of him...

"It doesn't do good with social skills though" she added, laughing to herself. "Nor does it help to then move to a city... or really end up around heaps of other people, my parents were sure I'd end up with a phobia of large groups of people! In your case... a holiday to somewhere such as the farm I grew up on would be a good experience I guess... learn to ride a horse" she teased, her smile changing... slightly fonder... if he showed this side more often than the paranoid side he'd be a wonderful person to be around a lot!