(1937-09-28) Catching up in Hogsmeade
Details for Catching up in Hogsmeade
Summary: Valencia and Isobel catch up in Hogsmeade; discussing their year at Hogwarts, Quidditch and Work.
Date: September 28, 1937
Location: The Three Broomsticks
Related: None
Characters
Isobel

Despite the obvious patina of age, The Three Broomsticks has a warm, inviting ambiance. This character the pub has attained is, no doubt, thanks to the years it has been steeped in the environment of this particular village. Just one evidence of the village's influence on the pub can be seen in the dark paneling inside the building. The wood was once the outer walls of the home that housed Hogsmeade's founding family. Put to good use once again after the founding family bequeathed it to the pub, the paneling has served the pub just as well as it once served Hogsmeade's founders. The Three Broomsticks has flourished under its current proprietor and is always open and ready for a customer or visitor.

The dark wood surface of the floor glows with a polished sheen from much cleaning, and exposed ceiling rafters, which appear to be original, cross the ceiling in tidy squares. Wood tables of varying sizes litter the room, and matching chairs are scattered among them. Several secluded booths fill up the space along one wall. A flavorfully aged mahogany bar takes up most of the space near the back wall with a series of mirrors and shelves of varying heights hanging behind it. Those shelves behind the bar are lined with memorabilia depicting the life and people of the village as well as items which are special mementos to the pub's owner.


It had been a rather long day to say the least but Valencia hadn't minded in the least. She'd spent most of the morning helping a few students at Hogwarts with some flying and manuvering lessons, something the Quidditch Keeper liked and didn't mind doing in her spare time. She exits the light drizzle now, moving into the Pub with a half-hearted sigh. A pair of loose slacks are worn, a white blouse fitted to her waist beneith a khaki trench coat that hung to just above her knees. High boots make a soft 'clicking' as she moves further into the Pub, shaking out her blonde hair that was damp with the weather. Val' moves to a booth along the wall, ploping down with a content grunt and fanning through a list of beverages.

Arriving not more than a couple minutes after the Quidditch player is none other that Isobel Strudwick, a face from said player's past. A quite content gaze upon her face, the woman's feet lightly tap upon the floor as she proceeds through the tables to find a seat for herself. "A butterbeer, if ya please!" She calls out to the bartender as she moves about, her eyes finally landing on a quite familiar face. "Well, if I live an' breath if it isn't the famous Valencia Huntley. A rare sight for these eyes, if I do say so m'self." She grins as her feet putter toward her booth.

She's busy looking over a list of freshly brewed teas as Isobel enters. It takes her a moment but before long, especially as soon as the woman speaks, hazel-green eye flit up and focus on her quizically. She gets it a lot, people recognizing her, but rarely does she get to look up and see someone she actually knows. Val' blinks before beaming a warm smile, "Oy! Isobel Strudwick! Wha'do'ya know." The woman guestures for Isobel to join her, waving a hand next to the woman making her rounds of the tables, "Hot tea, any one 's fine, thankye." The irish woman returns her attention back to Isobel and shakes her head slowly, "Its been a long time! How ye been?"

Her grin seems to widen even more, if that's possible, as Isobel moves to take a seat across from Valencia. "Bloody right it's been a long time. You've become a fancy lil famous Quidditch player. Least I can say that I tried ta knock ya out a few times back when we played on opposin' teams back when we was in Hogwarts together!" She laughs and shakes her head. "Fancy that. I tried ta knockout someone who'd become a famous Quidditch player! A Keeper for the Appleby Arrows. Phew, ain't that somethin'?" She lets out a long, slightly whistling breath. "I've been good, ya. Workin' at the Ministry."

The irish woman laughs cheerfully at the woman across from her, "Yeah well, fer those of us who got nothin better to do and can't do much other then play Quidditch, I suppose I did alright." Valencia chuckles, "But look at ye! Workin' at the Ministry. That's great Isobel!" Val' can't help but shakes her head when Isobel talks about them playing against each other, "Ye were good at what ye did! Ye got me good a few times." The tea arrives along with Isobel's Butterbear and Valencia begins to sip her tea happily. "Hows the ol' Ministry treating you then hmm? A lot different then school days I bet."

"Wouldn't've been a proper Beater if I hadn't gotten ya 'least once, eh?" Isobel chuckles, takin a sip of her butterbeer. "But you were a tricksy lil Keeper. Always dodgin' outta the way. Bit frustratin' to those of us on the Hufflepuff team!" She shakes her head and makes a couple of 'tsk' sounds. "Really though, good on ya for getting all famous an' on a good team there." She says softly and kindly, seeming to really mean it. "Ah, the Ministry. Well, ya see, it's not quite too different than school for me, ta be honest." She clears her throat. "Ya remember those people who came in ta test us on our O.W.Ls an' our N.E.W.Ts?" She pauses for a moment to take a sip of her drink. "Well, I'm one o' them. I'm an examiner for the Wizarding Examinations Authority."

Valencia waves a hand dismissively, "Ah no big deal," she chuckles. When Isobel begins to explain what she does for the Ministry Valencia's eyes widen a fraction and she nods her head approvingly, "Oh wow, thats pretty snazzy. Ye get to strike fear into he hearts of hundreds! Just like we were terrified to take those tests," the Keeper laughs. Val' sips her tea happily before tilting her head curiously to one side, "So what else is new Isobel? Husband? Your own Hogwarts children?" she questions, a light smirk playing on her features.

"Aye, I get to make 'em quiver an' quake at the thought o' failin' their exams!" Isobel chuckles. "M'favourites at times are testing potions. Potions and defense against the dark arts. The kids are always afraid with those ones. I know I was terrified that I'd melt me pot durin' the practical potions exam back in our O.W.L year." She shakes her head in amusement, taking a gulp of her drink. "Nay, I donae have a husband or children. I've got an eye on a gentleman or two, though." She giggles softly. "An' yourself? Got any lil ones or a significant other?"

At that the Quidditch Keeper does laugh out loud, "At least you were decent to good at yours! I was so focused on Quidditch I'm surprised I even passed with fair enough grades!" Valencia snickers softly before shaking her head, "That is great though Isobel. I'm very happy for ye." When Isobel asks her of her life as well the blonde woman shakes her head, locks swaying, "Nor I. The Hogwarts kids I teach now and again act as my children and I'm sure one day when I'm ready I can pluck a man out of my adoring fans," she giggles with a wink.

"It's 'cause I seemed ta have a notion o' becomin' an Auror." Isobel shakes her head. "Do ya know what they put Aurors through in trainin'? It certainly isn't easy. I'm happy where I am now, thank ya kindly!" She chuckles, and sighs. "I'm partly glad I can make myself me own potions at times, though. I mean, some are just too difficult to find a'times!" She smiles softly. "But one nice thing 'bout m'job is it allows for some time t'follow the area that I've always seemed ta be in m'own with. Transfiguation." She tilts her head in curiosity. "You're helpin' teach some o' the Hogwarts kids, eh? Well, can't ask for anyone better 'an a Quidditch player ta teach ya some o' those broom tricks an' how ta be safe on a broom when danger strikes…I assume it as somethin' ta do with Quidditch an' flyin' brooms?"

She listens intently, nodding her head every so often at the womans words. "Ye don't say, an Auror huh.. well I could see it but I don't doubt that it's extremely difficult training. It's nice ye like what yer doin now though," Val' says honestly. As she finishes her tea and Isobel asks her of the training Valencia chuckles, "Yes yes. I can't make it on a regular schedule but I do like to stop by when I can and it's acceptable to Hooch. Doesn't hurt for an extra pair of hands ang eyes to train them right." Val' beams a smile, gesturing for another tea. If she's up all night she won't mind, perhaps she can find a little something to get herself into some trouble.

Isobel says, "It was a dream o' mine, once upon a time. But dreams change every now and then, don't they?" Isobel chuckles. "Tha's great tha' you're helpin' out with tha'. Really. Don't want 'em kids hurtin' themselves on their brooms now do we?" She shakes her head, as if answering her own question. Taking another sip of her drink, she says, "How'd they wrangle ya up for that, anyway? Doesn't seem a common thing. Least, I don't remember havin' players from actual Quidditch teams comin' 'round ta help train us back when we were in school!""

Valencia giggles and shrugs a shoulder, "I offer." Le-Gasp! "I remember when we used ta play and I always thought it'd be such a pick-me-up if a real player was ever there." The woman shrugs, accepting her new cup of tea with a soft thankyou before sipping it with happy little squinty eyes. "I don't do it all the time mind ye! But I try to stop in occasionally." Valencia leans back comfortably, legs crossing at her ankles. "Other then tha' tho' i spend a lot of my time off the pitch hiding from strangers who think they know me just because they know my name, and sign a lot of pictures," she chuckles.

"You offer? Now tha's somethin' that ya don't hear every day!" Isobel giggles too, sighing. "Oi, I can only imagine how many people must try'n get ya ta sign things for 'em an' try to shake your hand or somethin'." There a pauses as she looks at her former classmate carefully. "Ya wouldn't wanna trade lives would ya? Just for like, a day or two? I'd like ta know the feelin' o' bein' famous!" She can't help but giggle at that. "Really, though, you should come visit me at the Ministry some time. It's a real…fascinatin' place. While there'd be fans there too, people often try ta be professional while they're tryin' ta work."

"You'd be suprised at the kind of people that ask just that," Valincia giggles. "I actually wouldn't mind fer a day or two! Be nice not to be badgered most place ye go." The woman sighs dreamily before beaming a smile at Isobel, "Visit yet a the Ministry? Now wouldn't tha' be a hoot! I'll just have ta take ye up on yer offer sometime." It'd be rather amusing to watch wizards and witches who would have asked for her autograph any other day have to act professional. Ahhh its the little things in life.

Isobel laughs. "Really? People ask to switch lives with ya a fair bit, do they?" She grins. "Well, maybe we could use…" She glances from side to side before leaning in and whispering conspiratorially, she says, "Have ya ever heard of a Polyjuice potion?" Leaning back up again, she says, "If ya do have issues with Ministry people tryin' ta get your autograph or ask ya questions or something, ya could always say, 'Today, you're an unspeakable. You're unable to speak to me, as I'm here on my own business!'" She grins.

"Nah, not too often," she chuckles. The irish woman taps a finger against her lips thoughtfully before answering, "I heard about 'em in school but I never had the gall nor talent to attempt one!" she chuckles. Though at the mention of the 'unspeakable' she leans forwards and blinks, "Ye c'n do that?" Val' questions innocently though flashes a bright grin as she does. "Suppose I will be coming to see ye after all!"

A shrug and a raise of her eyebrow and Isobel says, "Well, what if I was ta make enough Polyjuice potion for, oh…I dunno, two people. We could switch lives for a short amount o' time." She winks at Valencia. "Well, technically ya can't do that. But ya know…when speakin' ta someone famous, who's ta say know?" She giggles.

"That would be nice," she muses idly though she shakes her head and chuckles. "Maybe one day! Inbetween games and tests I would assume?" Valencia stretches however and gives a small yawn, "It's been a pleasure catching up with you Isobel, we'll definitely have to get together again soon!" She drops some money for her teas and smiles brightly, "I need to run. A nap is in my future; it isn't easy teaching those children! I don't remember being that much of a hellion when I was their age." She offers a quick wink.

"Well, I'll keep a stock o' polyjuice just in case." Isobel chuckles and nods. "If ya'd want ta try it out, there'd be no objections on my own part, let me tell ya!" She shrugs. "I'd like ta see things from your point of view, Miss Gryffindor Keeper." She grins and shakes her head in amusement. "We were right good and never caused no bits o' trouble, us!" She responds with her own playful wink. "Go on then, get. There's little rest for the wicked…so ya better get it when ya can! An' hopefully it won't be so long b'tween visits!" She offers a little wave to Val.

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