Torree was walking through Hogsmeade after applying for a job at Hogwarts. It was dark out, but the streets were well lit. She wasn't looking for anything in particular to do. She was mainly just looking for new people to talk to. This was the first time she's been back here in four years. It looked just the same as when she left. She wasn't even sure where to start, so she just casually made her way through the streets, hoping that someone would try talking to her.

She wanted to cut to the other side of the buildings, but didn't feel like walking all the way around. The streets were quite busy and that would take too long. She remembered a small alley that she could cut through to make it easier to get there. She made her way there. She quickly cut the corner into the alley, and just as quickly she found herself lying on her back. She had hit someone, but didn't know who it was. No one even aknowledged her on the ground as most just kept walking around and over her. She slightly covered her face, hoping she wouldn't get stepped on.

Florent was leaving the pub, finding a back alley.

"Perhaps there will be some interesting folk back there," he said in a whipser to himself.

He was walking and saw some bloke knock over a lady. He was appaled, he hated bad manners.

"You all right madam?" he asked. He leaned over and offered a hand to the lady.

Through all of the people just walking over her, Torree head a voice ask if she was alright. Atleast she hoped they were talking to her. She looked up to see a man with his hand held out. She was glad that someone here still had some manners. She took his hand and pulled herself up.

"Yes, thank you." She smiled at him. She was glad she was off the ground and safe from being trampled on, and also glad that she now had someone to talk to. That was, if he even planned to stay and talk. Her black pants and white blouse now covered in dust, she began to brush it away. "Oh, this is just great." She was a bit aggitated. She hated rude people.

He looked into her eyes. She was too nice to be a Dark Wizard, she was okay to talk to right now. Perhaps she was a pureblood fanatic.

"Of course. Why were you down here anyways?" he asked. Not many people walked through back alleys. He saw a group of students hiding around the corner. He wanted to investigate but not be rude and leave this girl.

"I'm Jacques," he said, faking his name. One thing he wished AJ would do, but never did. "And you are?" he asked, extending his hand.

Torree finished brushing the dust from her clothes and looked back at the man. She smiled at him again. She did that a lot. She had a tendancy to be really nice to anyone she met. Though if you got on her bad side, you'd regret it.

"Well you're definitely french." She smiled, indicating his accent and name. Stating the obvious was a bad habit of hers, but she didn't care. She shifted her purse from her right hand into her left and took his hand. "I'm Torree. But you can call me Torr, most do." She smiled again, letting go of his hand.

"Well Torr, what brings you to Hogsmeade today? Are you from around here? Or a traveller like me?"

He made it a point to make sure people understood he wasnt from around there, wherever he happened to be at the moment. "I was just passing through Scotland and decided to stop. Never been this close to Hogwarts."

Florent glanced between Torree and the students in the background.

Torree nodded. "Ah, that's pretty exciting." She wished she could travel a lot. She's only been to England and Ireland, but most people have. Before answering his question, she took notice to him looking between her and some students. That worried her a bit. She wasn't sure what his intentions were, but she guessed she would soon find out.

She smiled at him. "I guess it depends on what you mean by from around here. I was born in Ireland, but went to Hogwarts. But i've been living in Ireland for the past four years, going to a school there for Healing. So, i guess you could say Ireland then." She felt like she ranted and she hoped he didn't mind. She loved to talk. "I'm back trying to get a job at the school now, and decided to walk around Hogsmeade for a bit."

She looked around. Something had changed, and that was the people. They were much more rude and stayed mostly to themselves now.

He noticed she noticed his eyes and decided to forget about the students. "Ah teaching? I have already met two lovely Professors and had a drink with them."

"Healing? That's good. I get injured a lot and make my way to St. Mungo's alot or try and find people good with healing spells. I was never good with hose."

He frowned. "Ireland is always nice. I prefer Northen Ireland of course." he informed her with a smile.

Torree smiled. "Well it's not teaching. I just want a job in the Hospital Wing. I'm trying to finish my training in the same place i started." She wondered how she could meet Professors as easily as it seemed he had. She had no friends here and she really needed to find a few. If they were Professors, that would make things much better.

She shoved those thoughts aside. "Oh, well..i'd say i'm quite good with them. So if you ever need some quick and easy assistance, and don't feel like making a trip to St. Mungo's then come find me." She smiled brightly at him. "You did me a favor by getting me out of the street, so i owe you one." She jokingly winked at him.

She felt as though she hadn't stopped smiling yet, and wondered if he thought it was strange. So she let her smile fade from her face.

He laughed but took her offer very seriously. "Will do, thanks." he smiled at her.

"I'll have to know where you are then, to send Owls of course." he glanced back at the group of students who were now laughing and running past them. They looked up to know good.

"Excuse me," Florent said turning and pulling out his wand. He flicked it causing all three boys to trip. "Always loved that spell. Tying feet together. Always a laugh." He smirked.

She smiled again, but subtly. She wasn't very sure, but she figured he would really take her up on her offer. She was glad for that, but worried when he asked where she would be. She knew nothing about him and wasn't sure if she should give that away. He seemed nice, and she always trusted people very easily. "I'm staying in a small house in Dawley right now. Even though it's small, it's very easy to locate. It's somewhat in the woods, away from all the muggles and such." She nodded. She hoped that wasn't a mistake.

She watched as he tripped a few students with a flick of his wand. She made a sincere face, feeling somewhat bad for the students. Once she realized they were fine and it was all in good fun, she looked back at him and smiled. "You seem to have some interest in those students. May i ask why?" She let her smile fade and she cocked her head to the side a bit, waiting for his answer.

He saw she wasnt too pleased with him. "I don't like trouble makers. Generally trouble is bad." though this statement was an oxymoron, he felt some trouble was good for society. After all he broke rules to catch dark wizards.

"I over heard them talking about a student. Probably going to terrorize some first year." he didnt feel bad one bit. The lot were now struggling to their feet. He flicked his wand again, letting them free from the invisible rope.

Torree nodded in agreement. This was very true. She had always disliked kids who caused trouble just for the fun of it. She was never like that when she was in Hogwarts, and she looked down on people who were. Though she couldn't prevent any kid from picking on first years. It was always fun knowing that you weren't the youngest anymore.

Torree laughed a bit, staring at the students. "Oh, let them go. They're going to have their own fun either way." She looked back at him, smiling. She knew there was something not right about this man. "So i never got to ask you, why are you here?" Her smile remained, but her expression turned suspicious.

"I was near this area and appirated over here." he said, he really had no reason. Perhaps he could tell her the truth. "A friend of mine who is oten here said he had noticed some NDE or just some Dark Eaters lurking on the edges of the town. Thought I'd check it out." he said with a serious face.

"And then I went to the pub over there to have a drink and bumped into the Defence Against the Dark Arts and Potions Professors. I had never met them, but struck up a conversation with them."

He wasnt sure if she understood he was a Dark Wizard Hunter.

Torree slowly nodded her head, now understanding. "So you're a Dark Wizard Hunter then?" After saying it, she realized she probably shouldn't say it so loud. There were still quite a few people around. She wasn't really sure what to think of this man. He seemed really nice, but hearing this was a bit of a shock.

"Well you seem to like striking up conversations with random people." She smiled.

"Yes. I hunt." he said looking around, hoping nobody had heard her. "I usually keep it on the hush, but you seem like a valuable resource. Being a Healer and all."

He straighted his tie. "It's part of my job. I need to network. Find resources, find out who is Dark. I need to put myself on the line. Sometimes I get in trouble with it. As you can imagine."

He glanced at his watch. "It is getting late and I could use some food. Perhaps we can get some together? I've only had firewhiskey all day."

Torree smiled. "Well you are right, i am very valuable." She sounded conceited, but it was only as a joke. She shook her head. "Yes, i could imagine that. I don't think i could personally do that."

Torree thought that he was going to leave then, which disappointed her a bit. He then offered they get food and she smiled brightly. "Sounds great." She was glad she had a new friend, even though she had a feeling he wouldn't be around a lot. Atleast she had someone to talk to for the moment.

They walked down the main street looking at all of the shops. Florent had never been here so did not know where he was going. "Any places worth going to? I'm at a loss here."

He shoved his hands into his pockets, feeling his wand. "I can eat anything really, it doesn't matter to me." he said, predicting she would ask what he liked. There were so many styles of shops. Joke, sweets, pubs, tea rooms. It was a cozy place that the students must love.

Torree was about to open her mouth when he got to it first. She was a little surprised, he seemed to read her mind. She shook her head and laughed a bit. "Well my question is answered then. I know when i was younger, my favorite place to go was The Three Broomsticks." It was where just about everybody went, but it was a good place.

"So we could always go there if you'd like?" She looked up at him, smiling. She felt like a little girl standing next to him. He was quite tall compared to her 5'5" figure. She was often mistaken for a student.

"Ah, that sounds nice." he said. He wasn't sure if that was the pub he was in already or not. And if it was, they had good firewhiskey, so he was excited. If the food was as good as the drink he would have a grand meal.

They walked together, he often looked down at her, listening to what he had to say. The arrived and sat at a table.

"This is where I met the Professors earlier. Seems like a popular place? Do students come here as well?" He looked around seeing if any suspicious characters were around; it was a habit.

As they walked in and sat down, she noticed that there were a quite a few people there. There were mosly just adults in there at the time, which surprised her. She listened to him speak as she looked around. She then looked back at him, with a small apologetic face on.

"Oh, i'm sorry. We don't have to stay since you've already been here." She began to get ready to leave. "And yes, there are usually much more students than adults here."

"No no. It was a good drink earlier. I hope the food is just as delicious." he smiled at her.

They ordered food and were waiting when he asked her, "What if you don't get accepted here?" he didnt mean to be pessimistic. "will you try for St. Mungo's?"

He had been hospitalized so many times he couldn't count them anymore. It would be nice to have a Healer there that he knew. But then again, AJ would do nice to have a healer to take care of him without asking any questions while he was still at Hogwarts.

Torre comtemplated this question for a few moments. She really wasn't sure. She wanted to work here, the same exact place she became so interested in Healing. Then again, she couldn't not work just because she didn't get a job at the school. She nodded. "Probably. I mean, chances are high that i won't get the job. They probably have all the healers here that they need, but at St. Mungo's they could always use extra help." She smiled. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad working there.

He listened. She didnt seem to optimistic. "Don't worry. Hogwart's is always in need to Healers." he said as the food came. "Merci."

The food was as good as the drink had been. He was satisfied. Florent smiled at Torree. "And St. Mungo's could always use someone like you. You seem very smart. What house were you in while at Hogwarts?"

Torree listened to him speak. She really liked his French accent. It made her think of how much she would love to visit France one day. It always seemed to be an interesting place. Torree smiled back at him. "I was in Ravenclaw." She nodded. "So yes, you could say i'm pretty smart. I seem to just catch onto things very quickly." She was always very proud of that.

"And you didn't go to Hogwarts, correct?"

"Ah, I went to Beauxbatons. Beautiful place." he said after chewing his food. "Ravenclaw? Ah yes. The smartest of the bunch. My informant..." he slipped. "A friend of mine is currently in Ravenclaw. A seventh year, The best wizards for Transfiguration i've ever seen. Very smart."

He boasted about AJ. "How old are you then? Perhaps your times with him over lapped?"

Torree looked at him curiously when he cut himself off and seem to change his choice of words. She let it slide though and smiled. "Transfiguration, never my best subject." She laughed a bit. She wasn't sure why, but she never really liked it.

"I'm 21." She nodded. "So i guess they did then. Maybe i'd know him if i saw him." She smiled a little. "Is he a Dark Wizard hunter as well?"

Florent didn't really want to say. "He helps."

Perhaps they did know each each other. "You would have been in 5th year I think, when he first went to Hogwarts." He said after he did the math in his head. "He's a big bloke. Plays beater for the Quidditch team. AJ."

He gave the name. Torree seemed like a trustworthy person. "A fan of Quidditch?"

Torree nodded, trying to think. There were a lot of big guys when she went to Hogwarts. She began to think of the Quidditch team. His name also sounded familiar. "I am a fan. Don't play much, but i enjoy watching." She was still thinking.

A face finally popped into her head. "You know, i think i may actually know him. Well, not really know. But i've probably seen him before." She smiled. Though he never seemed like the type to hunt Dark Wizards. In fact, he was still a student and shouldn't even be doing that. She shrugged, nothing she could do about it.

"Ah well. Perhaps you will meet him eventually." he said, thinking of whether or not AJ would like Torree. "If you get the job at Hogwarts you'll probably be seeing a lot of him."

AJ was one to get injured due to dangerous stunts. "This food is good isn't it?" Florent was now almost finished. He hadn't had a real meal in ages. He had been going from empty muggle house to house living until AJ offered him a bed.

"Hogsmeade sure is a nice place."

Torree smiled. She liked that idea. Although he was a student, she would enjoy maybe being friends with him too. "Well if he's anything like you then i'm sure i'd love to meet him." Though she didn't like the sound of seeing him a lot in the Hospital Wing. She was always so worried about everyone. A student shouldn't be doing things like this and risking his life. The worry somewhat showed on her face, but she wasn't about to say anything to him.

She ignored her thoughts and smiled. "I love their food. They seem to know exactly how i like everything." She noticed he was almost finished, and she was only halfway. Perhaps he doesn't eat too much. "You know, you're welcome at my house for dinner anytime you'd like. I've been known to cook very well actually." She smiled at him. "And it does get a bit lonely always having no one else to eat with."

Florent like the sound of that. Having a place to eat. "It sounds lovely. I can cook some food pretty decent. Just never have the time." He finished his plate. "I'm always on the move."

Florent thought back to his days in France; how peaceful they were. He enjoyed his life and thought Dark Wizards were worth catching over a warm meal. Risking his life was common for him, he didnt even think of it as risking his life anymore. If he died, it would be worth the cause.

Perhaps you could come to Kennington some time. I havent been out and about. AJ and I have been setting up his inherited house as headquarters."

Perhaps Torree would be a valuable asset to have living there, part of the group. A trained healer. And Ravenclaw. She was bright.

Torree smiled. "Well if you ever find yourself at my house, you can cook all the food you want." Sometimes she wondered if she was too generous. She barely knew this man, but she didn't really care. He seemed genuine.

Torree nodded at his suggestions. That could be interesting to see what they're lives are really like. "I may take you up on that offer." She smiled. "Just as long as i wouldn't be getting myself in too much trouble?" She was asking more than stating. She hated to get into a lot of trouble. Although she had been wanting to change herself a bit, maybe that was just what she needed. Some risk in her life could be good for her.

The accident of stepping over Torree and turning around to help her was turning out to be a good thing. Florent would have normally ignored it, but being in Hogsmeade, so close to Hogwarts he felt being kind would pay off.

"Trouble?" he smirked. "No, no trouble at all." He wouldn't want her to be out there hunting, just around for medic purposes.

Of course all of this would happen over time. Trust would need to be built. AJ and Florent knew that each other were looking for help, but both had to agree on the other choices. Florent had already found someone. And a four bedroom rowhouse could only hold four. One room was big enough for two people, but AJ had that to himself. Perhaps the basement could be converted.

"No trouble." he repeated.

"Good then." She smiled at him. She was liking this idea. Although she barely knew this man, she could see herself having a good friendship with him. There was a lot of time for them to get to know each other better and gain trust between each other. She really needed someone like a him; a good friend. Also, if he job did fall through at the school, it would be good to be able to help him and his friend.

'Well i think we should get together again soon. You know, us and your friend. I bet we would all get along." She smiled widely. She wasn't actually sure how well they would all get along, but she was always hopeful. "In fact, if you would like..you and your friend can come to my house for dinner tomorrow night."

"That sounds lovely. I will send him a OWL tonight. He will be able to sneak off tomorrow and we can apparate together." he was thinking of AJ liking to meet a hopeful. "You say you live in Ireland right?"

He was sure that's what she said. Or it could have been another professor.

He could imagine having a lovely dinner tomorrow evening. It was the first time he had ever planned something so far in advance in almost a decade.

Torree smiled, she was glad she was going to be able to meet AJ. Hopefully something good will come out of spending time with the two of them.

"Well i was living in Ireland. Now i'm temporarily living in Dawley. That's a small town in Shropshire." She smiled. She wondered if she even ever told him that. She shook her head. "It's not the nicest place, but it'll do for the time being."

"Oh." he said drinking. "When you said you went to healing school in Ireland, I assumed you had still lived there."

He felt very non-observant at the moment. "Well I'm sure it is quite lovely. At lease you have a home. I'm living in a student house, for free. I feel so useless. But it's all part of the job description."

There was no job description. But it made sense that he had to make sacrifices in his life to do what he loves most.

"Yeah, i wish i was still living there. But i figured i should live a bit closer, so i'm basically here until i get tired of it." She smiled.

Torree shrugged at his comment. It wasn't as bad as she made it, but she didn't like it. It was small and she never really liked living in small areas. She figured she would soon get over that. "That's alright, though. You've gotta do whatever to do what you want, right?" She hoped that talking about this hadn't made him feel bad or anything. She smiled warmly at him, hoping it would make him feel better if he did feel bad.

"Yeah. So," he looked at his watch, "Perhaps we should part ways and tomorrow meet for dinner. I'll bring firewhiskey?" he said not knowing where he was going to get some. He had little money at the moment. All of it was in the French Wizarding Bank.

"It will be lovely."

He stood up after putting his last bit of money he had down. "Until tomorrow?"