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Post by gerardwinthrop on Aug 13, 2007 21:07:58 GMT -5
Gerard entered the Three Broomsticks. The crowd of people not only overwhelmed him but made him feel rather nervous. He grabbed an empty table and face towards the door so that one: no one could sneek up on him; and two: to obviously spot his mother when she meets him for drinks.
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Post by jessicann on Aug 13, 2007 21:20:57 GMT -5
Jessica just finished editing the last page of the Daily Prophet and it looked like it was ready to go into printing. She just had to give it to the layout editor to start making the Daily Prophet look pretty. She loved this job more than anything else. However, she promised her son that she would meet him at the Three Broomstick for drinks. They were suppose to buy some new school robes since it looked like Rardy grew a few inches over night.
As she entered the Three Broomstick, she looked around the pub until she spotted her son. She smiled and waved as she walked over and joined him at the table. "Hello, darling," she said. "Hope you haven't been waiting too long for me."
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Post by gerardwinthrop on Aug 13, 2007 21:28:09 GMT -5
"Not at all," he muttered. Gerard didn't know whether he was more happy or relieved to see his mum. Though a good break from the usual bunch was quite refreshing.
"How have you been? Is work good?" Gerard started. But the waitress came over. "Shall we order then?"
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Post by jessicann on Aug 13, 2007 21:31:45 GMT -5
"Work is busy, of course," she answered her son. "The election of the new Minister is going to keep us occupied for a while. And, not to mention that people want to know what's going on behind these disappearances and deaths. I, personally, don't think they're just accidents or separate crimes. I think you and I both know how I feel about this. But, I'll just leave that for my editorial."
Jess was still getting adjusted to her surrounding when the waitress came over. She looked up a bit surprised to see the third person join them. "Yes, yes, I'll just have a water," she said. Then, she turned to look at Gerard so that he could order whatever he wanted.
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Post by gerardwinthrop on Aug 13, 2007 21:39:34 GMT -5
"Oh, um butterbeer is fine, thanks," Gerard was looking at his mother when he was ordering instead of meeting eyes with the waitress. She seemed unbothered and just walked away.
"Yes, I think it would be better to not cause so much attention to the "accidents." Very smart. Very smart indeed." Even though he had been alone with his mother many times before, it didn't feel right. Something was missing. And he knew that exact link that was missing. His father. Almost ten years have passed but he still couldn't help but feel empty inside. "So, are we only going shopping for robes?" Gerard knew that if he didn't show that he was upset, his mum wouldn't worry.
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Post by jessicann on Aug 13, 2007 21:46:25 GMT -5
Jessica always knew that Gerard was a shy boy. She sort of blame it on the fact that there lacked a certain male figure in his life. Sighing deeply, she folded her hands on top of the table. She could tell that something was bothering him. Normally, he might not look strangers in the eyes, but he always looked up when he talked to her. Her mother's instinct knew that something was up.
"Yes, I thought we can go and buy robes and maybe some more school stuff," she said. "And, then when your book list comes, we can come back for books. I'm just worried that I'm going to be extremely busy by the end of August, what with the election going on and we'll have to report the winner."
Looking aimlessly around the bar, Jessica racked her brain to find something to make her son feel better. She hadn't spent as much time with her son as she wanted. She was too busy working at the newspaper, and she felt a bit guilty for neglecting poor Gerard. "So, Rardy, how are your drawings coming along," she asked, remembering he liked drawing.
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Post by gerardwinthrop on Aug 13, 2007 21:53:07 GMT -5
Gerard looked up at his mother a bit surprised. He didn't know that she knew he drew. "Um. Okay, I guess." He really wasn't big on showing his drawings to anyone but he reached in his bag anyway.
He pulled opened an old scrappy sketch book he's had for a couple of years. He chose a picture he drew of a little girl in a red dress. Rardy had learned how to enchant the drawing so that the little girl was giggling and twirling and in the background a tall, shadowy figure was lingering. He hadn't quite really thought about who the figure was when he drew it, he just thought that it would make a nice effect and make the drawing not so...innocent but mysterious.
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Post by jessicann on Aug 13, 2007 21:58:18 GMT -5
Though Jessica has been immersed into the wizarding world since she was eleven, there was still a part of her that was still fascinated by magic. Being muggle-born meant that everything was extra magical. Some people might argue that this might wear off with time. But, not Jessica. She was actually impressed with her son's drawing and how he was able to enchant the drawing. Not to her knowledge, has she seen anyone of his level do this.
Gerard was an average student at best. His teachers would send owls to her, telling her that her son might need some extra help. She was a muggle-born and yet worked hard to still be a good witch. However, Gerard's father was a half-blood. One would assume that Gerard would be able to do magic better than Jessica. However, this just shows that blood means nothing, unlike what some Death Eaters out there believe.
"This is really something," she said, smiling, looking between Gerard and the drawing. "Really, it is. I didn't know you were so talented. And, I couldn't believe you figured out an enchantment to make this move. This is really high quality work."
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Post by gerardwinthrop on Aug 13, 2007 22:07:24 GMT -5
Gerard sat silent for awhile. He wasn't used to compliments and didn't know what to say. "Er...thanks, mum," he said slowly. He looked over towards the counter. A bit impatient that they hadn't yet arrived with their drinks. Especially since his mother only ordered water and himself butterbeer.
The waitress then popped by the table and dropped off the drinks. "Finally! It seemed like it would take them forever," Gerard said and quickly shut his mouth. This little outburst was strange even to Rardy. He has never done it before, and yet it felt good to say what was on his mind. He glanced at his mum and gave a weak smile.
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Post by jessicann on Aug 13, 2007 22:11:26 GMT -5
Jessica shot Gerard a reprimanded look. She had never heard him so rude before. She turned and apologized to the waitress with a small smile. "He's a bit moody," she tried to explained, though she knew that wasn't true. "What's got into you?" This was not how she raised her son and she knew that something must be wrong. This was not the shy, quiet Gerard. Or maybe this was the part everyone told her about. The part where he will finally be a bit more like a teenager and stop being so shy.
The only thing she wanted for Gerard was to be less shy and more open. She wished her son had more friends to hang out with. Over the summer, he might recieve an owl or two, and that's not including the school owl. Jessica sighed deeply as she tried to solve her son's problems. Then, an idea popped into her head. "Hey, I just put an ad about summer camp in the Daily Prophet," she said. "Why don't you sign up for it?"
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Post by gerardwinthrop on Aug 13, 2007 22:18:21 GMT -5
"What?! Oh no. You're doing the thing where you make me do something so that I can have 'more friends' again, aren't you?" Another outburst. Really? What WAS wrong with him? Not only was this his second outburst, it was in front of his mother. But he stood by what he said. He hated when his mum purposely set up a play date or a "Day in the Park" or some stupid activity where he can meet new kids just so he can have "friends." There was really no point to it really. Everytime he went the kids he meet always make him out as a freak, so why fan the fire?
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Post by jessicann on Aug 13, 2007 22:23:05 GMT -5
Jessica narrowed her eyes at her son as she took a sip of her water. If this was the beginning of his "teen rebellion" she had better prepare herself. She was only looking out for her son. A person can not live through life alone. "You're going to go," she said, putting her water down. "This will be good for you. You'll be at camp with other kids your age, and I am NOT picking you up. You're going to enjoy the sun. Look at you, you're so pale. A bit of sun won't hurt you. You're not a vampire!"
Going to camp was not a suggestion. Gerard basically had no choice. There was nothing he could say or do that would change her mind. This is for his own good, she thought to herself. It was also a good way to keep Gerard busy during the summer so that she didn't have to worry about him as she worked on her paper.
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Post by gerardwinthrop on Aug 13, 2007 22:33:03 GMT -5
Maybe I DO want to be a vampire. "So you're saying I have no choice. And that even if the kids there are extremely cruel and nasty and want to bite my head off and jinx me until my eyes come rolling out of my head, you won't even have the decency of picking up the pieces. You do know you're sending me off to Hell, right?" Gerard said it rather quickly, and testing the waters before he gave his best argument.
He looked at his mother testily. He had never talked against his mother and never disobeyed her. So why now? Why now after all these years, was he finally fed up. Fed up of doing everything perfect, even if he wasn't even that perfect. He continued to hold a strong eye contact.
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Post by jessicann on Aug 13, 2007 22:35:25 GMT -5
She didn't like the way he was testing her. This was so not like Gerard. "Yes," she said, calling his bluff. "That's exactly what I'm saying." She finished her water and hoped to find a way to change the topic. "You know, we could possibly use your drawing in the Daily Prophet. What do you say, eh? Wanna submit your drawing to my paper?"
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Post by gerardwinthrop on Aug 13, 2007 22:38:50 GMT -5
Rardy knew what his mom was doing but he didn't want to be taken off topic. "Mother dear," he said in a sweet voice, "Please don't make me go. I will be extremely miserable. And nobody likes a bitter Ben." He just made up the last part and regretted it immediately after he said it. But he stood strong. It was low and stupid, but he had to give it a try. And to finish it off. The puppy-dog eyes.
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Post by jessicann on Aug 13, 2007 22:42:13 GMT -5
Jessica shook her head and looked everywhere but at Gerard. That puppy-eyed look use to work, but it won't work for this. "You might be miserable," she said. "But, you'll get over it. As soon as you make some new friends, you'll forget about how horrible it would be." She didn't want to see her son miserable, but this was important. This was her opportunity to allow her son to make friends. If he really doesn't make friends after this camp, she promised herself not to push the subject ever again.
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Post by gerardwinthrop on Aug 13, 2007 22:46:43 GMT -5
"Ugh! Fine! I'll go to this stupid camp thing!! But if I hear one more speech about the importance of friendship, etc. I will serious blow a fuse," He took a long swig of butterbeer. And nearly slammed it down on the table, but restrained a little sanity and gently placed in on the table.
He looked upsetingly at his mother. And crossed his arms. Yea, so what if he was acting like a child. After all, he was one. Right? Or maybe he was really becoming a "teenager."
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Post by jessicann on Aug 13, 2007 22:49:45 GMT -5
Her face soften when he finally gave in. Jessica always were able to get her way if she worked hard enough. "Good," she said, smiling. "How about we go get some robes now, and if we have enough time, we can get some ice cream. Or how about some nice new quill?" Jessica was trying to make Gerard feel better. So what if she would indulge him a bit because he finally allowed her to do what she asked.
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Post by gerardwinthrop on Aug 13, 2007 22:51:15 GMT -5
"Yea, sure. Whatever," Gerard mumbled. He hated the feeling of being defeated. Especially by his mother.
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Post by jessicann on Aug 13, 2007 23:07:23 GMT -5
"Good," she said to Gerard. Jessica looked through her purse to put some galleons on the table and got up. "Well, if you're done..." The sun was going to go down soon, which meant the stores would be closing up.
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