Jer whistled his way through Knockturn Alley and on to the streets of Diagon Alley. It was the beginning of summer and he'd just been buying ingredients for his latest stock up which were now swaying along inside the bag that was hung over his left shoulder. The only reason why he'd needed more ingredients was because he felt it best he'd made newer, stronger potions for the tournament that was going on. After all he still wasn't sure what the four students were going to encounter and he wanted to be prepared. After all it could be anything.

Shaking his thoughts away Jer made his way through the crowds of people and to the bookstore. He'd been in need of some good books to read enjoyment and career wise. As he made his way into the store in which he'd been to many times before he stopped as he glanced around for any faces he knew. Not noticing anyone he made his way to the isles on the right where the healing book resided and began his search.

After a few moments passed he could have sworn he'd heard his name. Turning his hazel eyes from left to right he noticed a woman coming towards him. Narrowing his eyes he tried to make out who she was. When she finally came closer he noticed it was Roxane Stalhand, the Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor at Hogwarts. Flashing the woman his trademark lop sided grin he turned toward her.

"Hello there Roxane," he announced.

Roxane had been having a very boring day and couldn't wait to get home and do something else. She had to get up early so that she could go out and look for what the students would need for the new year. It was one of the down sides of being a professor at Hogwarts. She had to make a list of books the students would need.

Roxane looked at them all. She said to herself "Ok lets see what books we have here The Shapeshifter and Werewolf HandBook, Vampire and other creatures of the night handbook. These should do." Roxane was getting very bored.

Roxane kept walking around the bookstore, then she saw Jer from Hogwarts. "JERAUD!" Roxane shouted. Jeraud turned around and said hello. Roxane smiled.

"What are you doing here?" Roxane asked

Watching Roxane make her way towards him Jer smiled. He hadn't seen Roxane in some time. Probably because of her teaching which he knew could be come quite a handful. Keeping you up late at night doing grades, grading papers, and things such as that. Being a professor at Hogwarts pretty much decreased your social life to absolutely nothing. At least that's what he'd heard from the complaining professors every time they were in the staff room.

Shaking his thoughts away Jer let his hazel eyes take in Roxane's appearance. She looked just like she always had. Though something that he saw on her face shocked him. A smile? What has the world come to, he thoughts to himself suddenly. Whenever he'd met Roxane in the past she'd been quite opposite of a happy person. Even so he thought the smile a nice change.

"What does it look like I'm doing here?" Jer announced lifting the healing books in his arms and smiling. "I needed some new books. Enjoyment and career wise. How about you? I see some....DADA books in your arms. For the new year?"

OOC: Okay if my post portrays Roxane wrong in anyway let me know! =] I thought we'd say Roxane and Jer knew each other in school and were friends. This could be kind of a catching up thread. What do you say? If not just let me know! =]

Roxane laughed. "Yeah, the schools got me picking the books the students will need for DADA" Roxane said.

Roxane smiled, she used to be a person that never used to smile but now she was happier and smiling kept her sane. Roxane looked at Jer he had changed also. But he still had the same smile. Roxane always said to him to never change it cause it made him who he is.

"So how are you? How are your holidays going?" Roxane ased Jer as she picked up another book.

((OOC: thats fine I don't mind))

Listening to Roxane laugh and talk about the school making her go out and buy the books made him laugh also. He assumed that's what happened every new year with every professor. At least most of the times. He wondered briefly if Hogwarts ever used things over again. After all he knew it would save time and money if they did just that. Even so Jer knew how nice it was to have new things rather than used and old materials. You wouldn't have the problem of losing book pages or anything, he thought amused as he smiled to himself.

As his train of thought died Jer listened as Roxane went ahead and asked how he was and how his holidays were going. Smiling he went to answer as he shifted his posture for one more comfortable. "I've been doing fairly well lately. Been busy with the end of the year and the beginning of the summer. Especially with the tournament that's going on. I have to stay here for the whole of course along with the other healers, but other than that I haven't done much."

Shrugging as he finished his sentence he went on to ask. "How about you my dear Roxane? It's been too long since I've heard of you. How are you?" Saying this Jer flashed the woman his trademark lop sided grin and let his hazel eyes take in her appearance looking for any other changes he'd missed.

Roxane put down the books for a second. "Oh my holidays have been alright. I stayed with my aunt and uncle for a bit. Went to Mum and Dads grave. Some stupid kids did some graffiti on there graves so I had to wash it off." Roxane stopped smiling when she mentioned her parents. She missed them. It was nine years since there death. She was only thirteen when they died, it was still hard living without them. Roxane still hadn't gotten over their death.

Roxane snapped out of it. "I am fine my darling Jeraud." Roxane laughed, she remembered how they used to call each other stupid things like darling, sweetie, ect. Roxane wiped the blond hair that was in front of her eyes. She was the b***hy girl she was when she was a teenager. Her personality had changed big time.

Roxane picked up her books. "When will writers of these books make lighter books." Roxane walked over to the counter and put the books on the counter. Roxane got some money out of her bag and payed for the books. "So you and Gen, how are things going?" Roxane asked.

As Jer listened to Roxane answer his question about her holidays had been so far and how she was in general he could only help but frown at her words. He remembered hearing something about her parents dying around her third year. From what he could remember Jer knew Roxane loved them both dearly and had always taken their deaths hard. Then hearing that some punk kids had went ahead and graphitized her parents grave stones made Jer shake his head in disgust.

“I’m sorry Roxane. Did you report it or anything to the graveyard keeper?” Asking this he took in her facial expressions which suddenly changed from sullen and dreary to happy. Smiling slightly he knew she would hide away her feelings for another time, holding them in just like every other person on the plant. Of course as a healer he despised it when people held in their emotions, but as a person in general he hated it too. It wasn’t right and definitely wasn’t mentally and emotionally healthy. Nevertheless he kept his thoughts to himself as the woman went ahead and spoke again.

Hearing his words made him laugh along with her. Memories of the past floating into his mind. “Glad to hear it, love.” Grinning at his words Jer followed Roxane to the counter as he heard her remark about writers making their books lighter. Cursing himself mentally he braded himself for not asking her if she needed help. Opening his mouth to do just that a voice in his mind went ahead and spoke as they reached counter. To late now Jer. Frowning slightly at the voice Jer’s train of thought was suddenly interrupted by Roxane’s question.

Looking to the woman he shrugged a small smile on his face. It had been a while sense he’d seen her. He’d been pretty busy lately working and he had assumed she was too. He guessed they were okay though, after all they were at least friends right? He knew Gen felt more about him and Jer knew he felt something for her, but the depth of his feelings were still unknown to him. Shaking his thoughts away as he moved to pay for his own books Jer answered her question.

“We’re doing fine I guess. We haven’t talked much since our date. I think it’s because we’ve both been busy, at least I know I have. For all I know she could be avoiding me.” Saying this Jer flashed Roxane a small smile. Though if she were to look close enough she would see the hope that his last words weren’t wrong. Suddenly the hope and smile left his face, confusion settling in as he asked, “Wait how do you know about us?” After all he knew he hadn’t told Roxane about them.

Roxane gave Jer a little grin. "I have been talking to Gen. She isn't avoiding you." Roxane knew Jer was a bit touchy about the whole girl friend thing. Since about his last girl friend. "I won't tell Gen about this conversation if you don't want me to. So what books do you have there? Healing for dumbies or something" Roxane said joking.

Roxane and Jer payed for their books. "I told the graveyard keeper. He said he would try and stop them. But I don't think it will stop." Roxane hated going to her parents graves. It wasn't that she didn't love them, it was just she always ended up crying. "How is the family?" Just as Roxane asked Jer the bag hold her books broke. "Oh great" Roxane said as she started picking up the books.

Hearing Roxane comment about Gen avoiding him made Jer smile. After their date, especially the way he’d left her hanging so to say, he would have suspected that she was just busy and it seemed his thoughts were correct. It seems I didn’t mess things up after all, he thought to himself briefly; grateful as he pulled out his wallet and handed the woman at the counter who was ringing up the books for him the exact amount of money and a smile. In return to his smile he got a seductive smile to say the least. He felt himself chuckle at this as he nodded toward the woman and picked up the bag which held his books.

“Have a good afternoon miss,” Jer announced as he turned to Roxane a full out grin on his face. “I love my smile. Anyways it’s always good to know a woman you just dated isn’t avoiding you. Very good in my opinion because of the things that happened on the date….” Trailing off for the briefest of moments Jer shook his head before speaking on. “And I don’t care whether you tell her or not. Doesn’t matter either way to me and Hey! Healers for dummies? Is that the best you could come up with Roxy?” Laughing at his words he went ahead and listened to Roxane speak.

So she had told the graveyard keeper. Good thinking, he thought to himself but soon frowned. It angered him to know how inconsiderate some kids were these days. He could only hope one day karma would come back to haunt them. Jer knew then they’d know what they did was wrong. Shaking his head at his thoughts Jer looked up to Roxane as she asked about the family. He smiled almost automatically though it faltered as he suddenly heard an exclaim of ‘oh great’ and a breaking bag. Looking down at his feet he saw Roxane beginning to pick up her books, looking nothing but frustrated. Leaning down to help her he picked up the bag that had broken. Pulling out his wand he pointed it at the damaged bag.

“Reparo,” Jer announced watching as the bag repaired itself. Once the task was done he moved to grab the bag and held it upon as he began to stash Roxane’s books back inside. As he finished picking up the books he could he waited for Roxane to do the same as he finally answered her question about his family. “Well mum’s great, good as she always is for the most part. Derek, I’m sure you remember Derek my mum’s boyfriend ever since you know….my father left…Anyways he’s doing better. Got attacked by a werewolf not to long ago. In fact it was the night before I had my date with Gen.” Trailing off his last words were quiet as he spoke to Roxane. He smiled a little over at her before asking, “How about yours? Your family I mean?”

Roxane smiled, she had made a person happy. "The people I call family ae good Jerry. The Aunt and Uncle got there selfs a new house. Life is good for them. But on Dad's side... well... I don't want to talk about them" Roxane said to Jer. People that weren't part of the Staland family knew nothing about her father's family. Roxane was planning to keep it that way.

The two walked out of the book store and Roxane said "By te way Healing for dumbies was the best I could think of." Roxane laughed. "So where have you been staying? Wait let me guess homeless shelter" Roxane said joking. Roxane loved to joke around with people. Sometimes they would take it as Roxane ment it. Sometimes she did and they thought it was a joke.

Roxane was happy, singing quiet to herself hoping Jer wouldn't notice it. Roxane had always loved to sing. Music was the best thing in a person's life Roxane thought. "Do you mind if we come in here? I need to get some things for my own reasons" Roxane said pointing at the potions shop.