InsaneJournal

Even a hard working Auror had a day off every now and then. It wasn't that Cambina had planned to spend her day off in Hogsmeade, but some of her errands had brought her here. After all, not everything could be acquired in London. She'd slept in since she was working the night shift on Saturday, but she wasn't one to just spend the day reading or something. She wasn't working, but that didn't mean she wasn't watching what was going on. From her spot at the bar at the Three Broomsticks, she could survey most of the pub. Lots of Hogwarts kids, but nothing out of the ordinary. One foot was propped on the barstool next to her, skirt riding up her thigh as she sipped her ale. She wouldn't mind something stronger, but with a shift later, ale with her meal was all she'd allow herself. Her hair fell over her right shoulder, tossled but not entirely unkempt, displaying the shaved side of her head and the tattoo proudly until it disappeared into her jumper.

Michael had had a lovely lunch with Luna, with some other friends joining them at the Broomsticks later on. They’d all needed this Hogsmeade weekend desperately; sometimes getting out of the castle for a while was the best cure-all. Things had been difficult lately, between the threats and the deaths outside of Hogwarts and the bullying inside of it. Today was a day to let go of that for a little while and enjoy themselves.

He headed up to the bar to grab a last round of drinks- nonalcoholic, of course- for the few stragglers who were still hanging around before heading out to Zonko’s or wherever the afternoon would take them.

There was a chance he’d volunteered to get this round because of the blonde at the bar; Michael wasn’t telling.

“That’s a great tattoo,” he said by way of greeting, elbows leaned on the bar a respectable distance from the stranger as he waited for his order to be up. “I’ve never seen someone with a scalp tattoo before, it’s brilliant.”

Bina smiled at the stranger, letting her eyes drift up and down over him. Hogwarts student, given that the table he's come from was also full of young people. She ran a hand through her hair, giving the boy credit for coming up to her and manage to string a coherent sentence together. Most men and women turned into a stammering mess.

"Cheers," she said, a genuine smile dancing on her lips. "Sort of started it in a whim, figuring if I didn't like it, I could just let my hair grow out over it. But I liked it so much, I ended up extending it," she explained, fingers trailing over the vines on her head, down her neck and then to wear the tattoo disappeared under her jumper.

Michael’s gaze followed the woman’s fingers, down along her neck and then lower, where it lingered for just a beat too long.

He was seventeen; he couldn’t help himself.

“Well, I’m glad for everyone’s sake that you liked it enough to show it off,” he said, grinning. “I think you must have very good taste.”

Bina chuckled. "Oh darling, this isn't me showing it off by half. That would be at the club, wearing something that goes from here to here." Her fingers traced a line going from right shoulder to left breast, indicating a one shoulder top that would leave most of the tattoo exposed. Maybe she was being cruel, taunting the poor lad, but everyone was allowed a bit of fun every now and then.

Everyone was allowed some fun, sure. And if Michael’s idea of fun was continuing to follow Bina’s gestures and using his imagination, well. That fell under the same umbrella, so he was all right.

“Thanks for that,” he said wryly, glancing back up to make eye contact. “You sure know how to take a compliment, don’t you, miss?”

Bina laughed at that, her eyes lighting up as she did. "Just trying to give you a full picture. Always useful to know the whole story. Especially in my line of work."

“What’s your line of work, then?” Michael asked, grinning at the blonde. She was definitely encouraging him. “Let me guess, it’s something utterly bad-ass.”

Bina smiled, taking a sip of her beer. "Bad-ass? Are you making judgements based on my appearance? I'll have you know I'm a full fledged Ministry employee."

Michael shrugged, hands spread in a display of innocence. “Can you really blame me? It’s a hell of an appearance. Miss.”

"Bulstrode," she supplied for him, sipping her beer. "Cambina Bulstrode, but I prefer Bina. And if it helps with your image, I work for the DMLE."

“Well, like I said,” Michael said, grinning and straightening so that he could offer a handshake, “utterly badass. Hello, Bina. I think you owe me a pub crawl.”

He cocked his head a little, waiting for her to get it. He was pretty damn sure he was right; after all, Bina wasn’t exactly a common name.

If she were anyone else, Bina probably would have blushed. However, she was not a woman who blushed easily. Instead she smiled graciously at the compliment and extending her hand to shake his, her grasp firm and certain, belying a certain hidden strength. She gave him an another look. "Michael," she said, recalling the conversation on the journals. "Maybe once you finish Hogwarts. But for now, let me cover this round for you and your friends."

“Give it a few more months, then,” Michael agreed, not at all cowed by the handshake. “Don’t think I’ll forget.”

Chivalry- and a certain amount of natural pride- said to refuse the offer, but this didn’t seem like a woman who had much use for chivalry. Inclining his head, Michael let pride go. “That’s very kind of you,” he allowed, a tiny bit wry. “My friends and I thank you.”

Bina nodded to the barkeep to put the boy's drinks on her tab before giving him another look. "So, what are your post-Hogwarts plans, Michael? Besides discovering all the London pubs?"

Straightening, Michael stretched, turning the gesture into a slight shrug midway. “That depends on my NEWTs, doesn’t it? I expect I’m a bit destined to become a Ministry employee as well. I could go for Quidditch, I suppose, but to admit the truth I don’t think I’m serious enough about it.”

She nodded, her fingers absently dancing on the bar counter. "Destined, eh? Why's that? In love with filling out parchment?" she quipped, smirking slightly.