Characters: Dorcas Meadowes & Barty Crouch Jr Setting: Leaky Cauldron, 3/17, early afternoon Summary: Ryland gets lost and Dorcas nearly freaks out
Loosing Ryland in London was hardly something Dorcas had intended. She was worried, almost terrified, as she searched the street for her 5 year old. Her face had gone ghostly white, lips pale, eyes dull as they darted around. He had been right there, and yet, now, he was no where in sight. Her stomach turned over on itself. With her profession, with her political affiliation, she could only hope he was safely inside. Scanning the empty street one last time, she finally turned to the old rotting oak door of the Leaky Cauldron. Entering, she noticed Tom at his typical position behind the part. A dozen or so wizards and witches were seated at various tables in the place, enjoying lunch and drinks.
She felt sick to her stomach. She had never let Ryland out of her sight before. She wasn’t quite sure on how’d he escaped. They’ been walking down the street together, then, suddenly, he was gone. Where? She didn’t know. Had she really been daydreaming so much that her boy had been able to escape? Apparently. It made her feel like a terrible mum. The worst.
Once she’d entered the dingy pub, she ignored Tom’s waving her to the bar. Ryland was on her brain. She looked frantically around the small space, hoping to Merlin he was somewhere nearby.
She felt herself take a large sigh of relief when she noticed the brunette blue-eyed 5 year old near a blonde boy in the corner. “Oh my God, Ryland,” she said, eyes set on the child. “There you are.” She was sure tears were glistening on her eyes but she refused to cry them. “Thank you,” she said, as she grabbed hold of Ryland’s hand. “Thank you so much.” The blonde boy that Ryland seemed to have taken interest in looked more than 17 or 18, but Dorcas couldn’t help but feel completely indebted.