seriously? -JONATHAN-

Jonathan had strolled into the Three Broomsticks about an hour or so earlier. He had just gotten back into the country after procuring some Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder and bringing it back for the Order. The stuff was dead useful for throwing an opponent off of their game, and generally helped them from having to use more force than necessary, which was always a plus in his eyes. It was very important to him to not become the enemy, because then what would be the point? All of their sacrifices would be for naught if they became just as cruel and violent as the Death Eaters.

Jonathan certainly didn't enjoy war. Like most decent people he'd gladly have taken peace. But somethings were worth fighting for. Freedom, for one and the Death Eaters were certainly keen on depriving muggles and muggleborns of that. It was with these heavy thoughts weighing him down that he had sought the Three Broomsticks. It was generally packed enough to where another warm body wouldn't attract too much attention, especially if he drew his cloak near. That and the bruises on his face, along with the growth of a few days of not having, he was certain he'd be left in peace.

He had snagged a table in the corner as well, out of the circle of merriment and dancing that rang out in bars on weekend nights. Students enjoying a Hogsmeade visit before it got -too- late, and the older adults just glad the week was through. Jonathan couldn't help but smile at the joy the small bar seemed to be ringing with. It (along with the Firewhiskey he had been enjoying) filled him with a warm sense of oneness with humanity, that was so hard to come by in these times.

Therefore it was a bit unnerving the complex emotions that flooded him when someone he was familiar with entered the Three Broomsticks. She was a strikingly beautiful, blonde-haired girl with a very fair complexion and warm smile that could bore into the coldest heart. She had aquamarine eyes, that reminded him of beaches, laughter and kindness. They had gone to school together, and she all together caused him to feel a bit unnerved. Isadora was one of the girls he had always fancied from afar, but the time to make something more of their standing as acquaintances never seemed to happen. After they graduated they ended up working in the same Department in the Ministry, and it seemed highly unprofessional to view her as more than a mere colleague. And then well... he was a bit out of a professional job so to speak. Please don't notice me. He prayed to himself looking down at his drink.

She looked incredibly well, flush with life and apparently just done shopping. It looked as if she were completely untouched by the death and destruction that surrounded them. He watched her scan the bar for a seat, and make her way through the throngs of people. His heart seemed to rise higher and higher in his throat as she approached his table, and he broke into a cold sweat. He seized up entirely as she sat herself at the table, but felt a momentary surge of relief when she cracked open a book, paying him no mind at all.

Ok... just sneak away. He thought to himself. He certainly didn't want to be seen by anyone who knew him, least of all her in this disheveled state. She seemed to be in quite the book-induced revery before he thought it safe to sneak out of the crowded bar. He looked her over, torn because it had been sometime since he had reconnected with anyone he had been particularly close to, but he'd be doing her a disservice by associating with her. She still had a career, she still wasn't marked by Death.

It would have been just as well, if in his nervous state, as he stood up he hadn't thudded the table nearly spilling the drinks. He worked a panicked expression when she looked up into his eyes and the flint of recognition glittered brightly in them. He smoothed the expression into a charming smile as she asked his name in greeting.

"Heya... errr long time no see. Howzit" He said slowly sitting down, the ruse busted. He nervously ran his hands through his cloaked hair.

### | ISADORA DOLOHOV| ^__^

Jonathan couldn't help but grin at her smile, and whispered exclamation that he was alive. Truth be told, and he wasn't about to confess this to her he was really lucky to be alive. Merlin only knew how he had managed to dodge Azkaban or being murdered when the Auror's were purged from the Ministry. Better people than he went away or were killed. People he had worked with colleagues and friends. It made a sick, hot fire burn in the bottom of his stomach just thinking about it. So he elected to focus on the woman across from him instead. He kept the grin on his face and in a low voice spoke in mock indignation, "Isadora, I can't believe you'd underestimate me like that! I'm shocked and appalled, truthfully."

Jonathan then pulled himself out of the elation he was feeling at seeing an old friend. He scanned the crowd around them, double checking that nobody was paying them any mind at all. Men and women sat on bar stools, some eagerly chatting with Madame Rosmerta as she passed to refill flagons and take orders. Loud music filled the pub and many seemed to be enjoying it, dancing and generally being merry. Others seemed to be in their own little worlds chatting about family, friends and the latest gossip, but Jonathan kept his voice low still, to a even lower whisper and added,"Best use my middle name in public... Can't be too careful, you know?".

Jonathan looked down at his glass before raising it to his lips and taking a healthy swig. The warmth of the Firewhiskey and the pleasant company of someone who did not want to talk strategy, defenses or to tell him the latest death was welcome relief indeed and a shiver of pleasure. He had the feeling that good conversation was exactly what he needed, probably more than some sap for his bruises to help heal himself. His inner appreciation of the situation was interrupted by the soft touch of a fine hand to his bruised cheek. He winced slightly and looked into Isadora's eyes as she spoke.

“ It is so good to see you.”

He returned the warm smile and said very earnestly, "It's so good to see you as well. I'm so pleased that you seem to be doing well." And he genuinely meant it as well. Any small sliver of good news was welcome. He then added, deciding to keep the pleasantries rolling,"What brings you out this cold, evening?"

### | ISADORA DOLOHOV| ^__^

Jonathan was feeling giddy both from the Firewhiskey and seeing Isadora and was only briefly shaken when she had said had apologized for not listening to the missing persons radio. He didn't blame her, being in the Order he generally heard the news first hand and it could be a bit soul-sucking to hear the constant stream of missing persons and those who had died. In a way he felt glad that the war didn't seem to have touched her so painfully. Not to say she hadn't suffered or lost anything. They all had. You couldn't avoid that sadly, but she didn't seem damaged for it.

He nodded along as she explained that she had escaped persecution due to some family members. Jonathan couldn't help feel a bit of an unease with her family. The Dohlohov's had a spotty record with being associated with the Dark Arts, and certainly some of her extended family were certainly mixed up in it all. Jonathan didn't tend to focus on that though. You couldn't choose who your family was, and Isadora certainly wasn't the type to be a Death Eater. That thought was silly, and had never crossed his mind. His eyes hardened and he seemed to rise, and tower as she mentioned the prospect of being tortured. It made cold waves of fury roll over him and he clenched his fist at the though of someone so kind, and warm being hurt by some faceless Death Eater somewhere.

"Small blessings for them that they didn't touch a hair on your head then." He said in a very cold, level voice. It took him a moment to realize what he had done, and he turned a bit red before he mumbled and apology to her and smoothed his expression to the warm, charming smile he had worn earlier, he looked back into her kind eyes and let her continue on telling him what had brought her out to Hogsmeade for shopping.

He smiled brightly at the mundaneness of it all. Something he missed, going out and just doing the day to day things that everyone did. When he left Grimmauld Place it was always for a calculated purpose anymore. He frowned a bit concerned at her,"I hope she's ok." He didn't really know Isadora's sister, for whatever reason they had never been introduced. He wasn't sure now would exactly be the best time for meeting a new person, and he made a mental note that he'd have to excuse himself later.

He grinned slightly at Isadora in a conspiring manner and joked when she had asked him about keeping his head low,"I'm sitting with horrible posture. My head -is- low. Plus you know cloak and everything... Truth be told I'd not be here if I weren't keeping an eye on things up the hill." He said inclining his head in the direction of Hogwarts, before shivering adding,"Being near so many of them gives me the heeby-jeebies. I'd much rather be on a nice Autumn stroll with a pretty girl." He said grinning widely at her.

### | ISADORA DOLOHOV| ^__^

Jonathan gave a grim smile as she mentioned the students should be enjoying themselves carefree. He agreed wholeheartedly with her. His own Hogwarts experience had been wonderful and the kids up the school didn't deserve any less. It was atrocious what was going on up at the school. Death Eaters running amok, forcing them to learn the Dark Arts, teaching that awful Muggle Studies class. He perked up from his own depression at the thought of the poor kids that he couldn't do much when she had said Don't let them find you.

He grinned at her and leaned in,"With you to protect me, how could anything bad happen?" He said it in a joking manner, but truth be told she was a very accomplished Hit Wizard. Merlin knew he wouldn't want to go toe-to-toe with her in a duel. He grinned even wider at what she had said next. Was she flirting back at him? He could never seem to tell with her, sometimes he thought she was just playing along and other times he thought she was joking. But maybe their was something there... It was certainly an idea that Jonathan found appealing, but he didn't linger on it.

“ We should get out of here soon. They will come looking for wanted people in a few hours. “

He frowned at the inevitable departure and his face fell a bit as he looked down at his empty mug. He had been having such a lovely time with her as well. He never got to hang out with anyone, let alone someone he enjoyed so much. But then a little voice in his head snapped him out of his self-pity, She said we you dolt! He then looked up into her eyes, with a confused expression on his face. Did she actually mean we? She couldn't possibly mean -we-.

Deciding to be brave he asked a question,"Yeah you're right... Best not get caught here. Where should we go?

### | ISADORA DOLOHOV| ^__^