RP: We'll need more than an umbrella today

[rar_terry]

Date: 15 August 1999
Characters: Terry Boot, Lisa Turpin
Location: Ministry of Magic, then the Pink Umbrella Cafe, Diagon Alley
Status: Private
Summary: Terry and Lisa go out to lunch.
Completion: Complete

Comments

[rar_lisa]

Lisa was grinning before she even looked up at Terry. Hell, she was grinning before he'd even come over to her desk, because she'd looked up and seen the clock. Taking half a second to scroll another line on her report--and to tone down the smile to office-appropriate brightness--she set down her quill and then looked up. "Yeah, I'm ready. You need anything? We're going to the Pink Umbrella." she added over her shoulder.

"Nancy food," Hardy grumbled, not looking up from his report. "Nah, you go have fun while I stay here and work. It won't reflect on your review. Much."

Lisa rolled her eyes at Terry, laughing, and grabbed her cloak and bag. "I'll bring you back a sandwich." Then to Terry she said, "Let's go. The floo is fine."

[rar_terry]

Terry watched in amusement as Lisa's mentor, Mr Hardy, mumbled something to her as she made to leave for lunch. He met her eyeroll with just a flash of a grin. Hardy was a pip, as Terry's Muggle grandfather would say; he was glad he'd got Sibley, who was a bit more mellow, as his mentor.

"Sounds great," he said as Lisa joined him. They took a lift to the Atrium and made their way to the Floos, where they waited in a short queue. Stepping into the first available one, he said, "The Pink Umbrella Cafe" and found himself, a moment later, in the Floo of that establishment. A moment later Lisa joined him. Looking round the cafe, he saw a small table available near the entrance. "That one okay? At least it's not right next to the front door."

[rar_lisa]

They waited in the queue for the floo, then Lisa followed him through to the Pink Umbrella. It was pretty busy, which wasn't surprising for the time of day. Terry indicated an empty table, and she nodded. "Yeah, it's fine. So long as we're not getting pelted with rain every time the door opens, I'm good."

They sat down, and Lisa pulled a menu over to her, but didn't look at it yet, watching Terry instead. It was good to get away for lunch, and even better to get away with him. "So Sibley's got you filing today, yeah? Hardy's been grumbling over that same bloody report he's been trying to finish all week. You know, that crazy case we had on Monday?" She shook her head, rolling her eyes a little. "I may come hide out at the filing cabinets with you just to get away from the grousing a bit."

She was pretty used to it by now, but on slow days like today it could get old. Perhaps bringing him some food would help, she thought as she looked down at the menu.

[rar_terry]

When they'd sat down at the table he'd suggested, Terry took a minute to study the menu. "Sibley's always got me filing, if there's nothing else to do," he said with a shrug. "That crazy case in Chipping Sodbury, yeah? That's practically in my parents' back yard." Not really, but the town was quite close to Bristol, and he'd been a tad envious that Lisa and Hardy had drawn that case, while he and Sibley had to deal a problem up in Leeds.

"Hide out in the filing cabinets, yeah?" He couldn't help a smirk. "Could get up to a bit of mischief back there, Lise."

[rar_lisa]

"I don't really know her that well. But you know how that whole group was in school, the Slytherin girls. I'm not surprised neither of us know her well," Lisa said, reaching for her water. "We talked a bit before and during my birthday party, and other times at Utopia. And she went dancing with Cho and Ang and I that time in London. I like her," she repeated.

"His arse is lucky I'm such a nice, considerate trainee, or he'd be stuck eating that shite he brings every day for his lunch." Lisa laughed, taking a moment to eat a bit of her sandwich before adding, "If a bloke ever needed a good girlfriend, it's Hardy. Might make my life easier."

[rar_terry]

Terry did, indeed, remember the Slytherin girls who were in his year at school. Despite their superior attitude back then, they all seemed to have turned into decent people since the war ended. It occurred to him that perhaps they'd been decent people all along, but their basic decency had been stifled by other members of their house.

Lisa's assessment of Hardy was spot-on; not surprising, as she was a good judge of character. "What, you mean he's not married?" Terry teased, feigning shock. "Sibley wouldn't put up with him for a minute, y'know? But she's already married, from what I've heard. Got a couple kids in Hogwarts, several years younger than us. I reckon her son'll be in seventh year next month, and her daughter maybe in fifth."

[rar_lisa]

Lisa chuckled at Terry's pretend shock. She didn't really think her mentor was so bad--really liked him, most times--but he was a bit abrasive on occasion, especially to those who weren't used to him. "Yeah, I think Hardy mentioned as much. Not too much longer before they'll be off to school again, yeah?"

Merlin, it was weird to think Hogwarts would be starting again soon. Even stranger to think that it had been nearly two years now since she'd last headed off to the Hogwarts Express herself. She gave a little involuntary shudder, realising this also meant two years since she'd been carted off to Azkaban. But the thought hadn't even occurred to her before then, which surprised her a bit, and definitely not in a bad way.

[rar_terry]

"September first, 'm sure, just like every year," said Terry, taking a bite of his sandwich. "My nephew Henry's starting third year, and my niece Portia will be an ickle firstie. 'm sure they're both really excited that school's starting soon."

Lisa seemed a tad discomfited, and it took Terry a moment to realise why. "Must be hard for you to think about that day," he said quietly, covering her hand with his. "I mean, what happened on the platform. If you ever want to talk about it, I'll listen. I know this isn't the right place, but if you do want to talk, I'll be all ears." It was the least he could do; she'd been through so much that year, and she'd always been there for him when he needed someone.