Third Wheel

Even though winter was far forgotten, their was still the lingering nip in the air, and the persistent fog this morning, that hardly let up. Even worse, as John stood on the street corner, listening to the early morning pedestrians hustle about their daily lives, and the street vendors screaming their wares on commuter's deaf ears, that something was amiss. For several days now, he felt like someone was watching him in the shadows, lurking just out of reach. When he went to investigate, he found no one suspicious in the vicinity. Today was no different.

He watched as a mother carried a sleeping child in one hand, and her groceries drifted lazily behind her. A man still drunk from what seem like yesterday night's binge of hard whisky, to a couple arguing about what potion ingredients they need from the apothecary. Everyone seem to self absorb in their lives to notice a Ministry reject standing at the street corner, contemplating his next move.

Even so, he could not let wandering eyes keep him from his duty. Especially, now that Madison is putting double duty on his plate. Not only does he have to swoon Ministry officials, and watch what they are doing, when they do it, and who they are doing, Madison got the brilliant idea to tact biweekly training practice. He thought she was tough and rigid as a person, but being a professor now she is just a pain.

Well, John can't complain, he secretly likes to taunt her every chance he gets. From a simple misfired spell, to a blatant argument about her teaching strategies. It became so easy to get under her skin, but the training sessions became frequently difficult. She took pride in causing John pain, and he took pride in ticking off the ticking time bomb.

It was pitiful, having to rely on John. A man hardly worth his wand, and he was the only one showing up at the Order. It's been several weeks since Madison had seen anyone else, and it was incredibly concerning, especially since it meant Michelle was missing.John would have noticed by now, if not for the frivolous tasks Madison kept assigning him. Not to mention, she was still forcing him to practice his wand-work. She made sure to keep his plate full, until she decided what to do about the Order's situation.

It was such a situation that persuaded her to follow John. She was rather paranoid, having John as the only active member and unable to defend himself. She was merely keeping an eye on him, so yet another member didn't go missing. She trailed after him at a distance, in the shadows, padding after him in her animagus form. Now she just had to figure out what he was doing in Hogsmeade.

On his only day off, John found himself wandering the Business street of Hogsmeade. Every store had an open sign, every place of business had a flow of costumers coming in and out of their doors except of course the Three Broomsticks. It still was boarded up and barren, with graffiti scrolled over the walls and what was left of a window.

But enough of sight seeing, he had business to attend too. He found himself poking his nose around Tomes and Scrolls again. Books held more knowledge in a single store than ones one entire life span. It was a tremendous thought but humbling at the same time. He spent about twenty minutes arguing with Zachariah, the shop keeper, about the merits of Self induce Transfiguration. It was not hard to set Zachariah in a frenzy, but each argument he placed forth, John calmly ripped apart. Perplexing to John, they still remains friends. I cannot say that to his next customer though. Poor chap, he was shaken with fear and ran off as Zachariah turn to him and give him a snarl because the wizard interrupted him.

After he left their, a nice thick book wrapped up in hand, he walked across the street to the Owlery Post Office. Even as he approached the door he could hear the owls hooting merrily away, some even flying out of the skylight openings.

She sat out in the brisk air as he stepped into the bookshop. As he stepped back out, carrying a hefty book, she took off again, following on the opposite side of the street, about a block or so behind. It was difficult to keep up with him, as busy as the streets were, but getting caught was more treacherous than battling an entire swarm of Death Eaters. So she kept her distance, keeping a matched pace on her furry paws until he reached the Post Office. She paused, across the street from the building turned slightly away from the building without necessarily looking away. She waited once more.

John took his time looking at all the well trained owls. They came in all shapes and sizes. Black and brown to stalk white. Small minute owls to hawk type owls that could fly across country. All of them look capable to doing the job, but John had little to no idea where the owl was flying to so he played it safe. As he reach the counter, he asked for the largest owl. Quite a hefty some of money it cost, but still...

As he approach the huge hawk type owl, with its brown grey type feathers smooth down except perched on his head three small feather stick up, the owl just stared at him with little to no interest. All he just did was stick out his clawed feet, and waited patiently. Once John was finish tying the letter to the owl, he said, "Take this to Eirina Naer." The owl just nodded that he understood and took flight.

Well that was done, he thought he had just a few hours to explore before retiring to Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop. He walked down and out of the market district and up the bath towards what else near the outskirts of the Dark Forrest, where it is said that people have gone missing in recent weeks.

She followed him for awhile, then, when she realized which direction he was headed, she darted into an alleyway, hurrying to get ahead of him. By the time he got there, she was already up a tree, making no attempt to conceal herself. As he came up the hill, she stared down at him.

This time he knew someone was there. He heard nails scratching against something and rustling of leaves. He did the stereotypical, "Whose there?" as if anyone was stalking him would answer. Of course no one answer so he investigated even further and found the culprit to be none other than a black stray cat. It reminded of the stray cats running about in the Order. On several occasions he would see in the corner of the eye a cat stalk by, but always when he investigate Madison would turn up handing him another mission to attend too. She was so tiresome, but he liked work, and it gave him time to tease her a little bit more.

"Hey little fella," John said approaching the tree branch the cat crawled up. The little guy looked bewildered and afraid seeing as how thin the cat was, cats needed to be fat and fluffy. That is what John always says. Also, dirt clung to its black fur coat making him more beast than common house pet. "Don't be afraid," he said outstretching his arms to reach the poor kitty but he was not tall enough to grab the branch let alone grab the kitten. "I won't hurt you."

The cat scowled at John, remaining perfectly happy where she sat. He had quite an affection for cats, as it seemed he followed one whenever it crossed his path. On all accounts that she'd witnessed, it had been Madison he'd seen, but that was irrelevant. She walked down the branch, where it grew thin, and sat down once again, eyes ever fixated on the strange man as she lashed her tail back and forth.

But the cat ignored him. Well, John wasn't surprise. Cats did what they pleased, and if they did not feel like doing something, they won't do it. Well, it could not hurt to try one more time. "Come one?" he said outstretching his arms out further trying to reach the cat to no avail. "I will get you warm milk, and a nice place to sleep," he promised, hoping that would entice the cat to come down.

'The cat' did not move. In fact, completely losing interest in John entirely, she looked out at the town below, watching people pass on the streets, completely oblivious to the crazy cat man up on the hill. Fortunate for them. She gazed back down at John, purring in amusement. He really needed a new fetish. He was only gonna wind up scratched.

John did not want to leave the Kitten all alone, especially in the Dark Woods. It wasn’t for any inexperience animal or human to go into such places lightly. Ferocious beast, sinister plants and shady characters all surround this forsaken place. Instead of going to the cat, the cat will just come to him. Without hesitation he took out his wand, pointed at the cat and said, “Accio Cat.”

The cat was revolted by the sight of the wand, but before being able to jump out of the way, she was pulled threw the air, screeching a wretched meow as her claws flew recklessly threw the air. She even managed to find one pair of claws across his face, before he caught her. She stared up at him with the most displeased look possible for a cat to portray. All she was thinking was how much she would make him suffer during their next sparring session. She hissed at him, hoping that scratch would leave its mark. It seemed karma had split both ways this time.

His spell worked, just not the way he expected. The cat fought him all the way. She clawed at the tree to brace him/herself, but the spell was too powerful for the cat to hold on any longer. Once it let go of the branch, the cat dipped down, John spell was not powerful enough. The cat was drag against the dirt once, twice, three times before it leapt up into the air. His/Her claws went straight for the face before he wrapped the cat in his arms.

John did not berate the cat as he wrap the little guy in his cloak preventing the cat from running or from clawing at him more. A venomous hiss leapt out from the cat, as she struggle against all odds to be released from the man’s grip. “You’re safe now,” he said turning back to the tea shop. Maybe they sell milk there as well?

Eirina had been in the tea shop for about an hour now, and she hadn't moved more the an inch.

She had been staring at the wall that had contained all of the brands and packages of tea that was to be sold, and she just couldn't decide what tea to get, or try. She kept looking between Earl Grey Tea, a classic tea that she had always kept in her cabinets, or if she should try African Honeybush, something that had never caught her attention before until their new, bright orange packaging seemed to come out. Not that she noticed the new packaging, she just noticed to tea that was always there, and that she had never noticed before.

Poor Madam Puddifoot, she just smiled and waited for Eirina to make her decision, and never pestered her once. She didn't stare her down, or hover, or anything. The poor woman just waited on her like the good, sweet old lady that she was.

Fifteen minutes later he stood out in front of Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop looking up and down the street to see Eirina coming, but he saw no one fitting her description. Well, he was after all early, and she seemed like the type of person to show up late. The cat with all his/her might struggled against the enclosed cloth wrapped around him/her. "Its okay," he whispered to the kitty, hushing it like a baby but once again to no avail. John decided to wait in the tea shop for her Eirina. With the light jingle over the door, announcing his arrival, he saw Eirina already there. She sat away from everyone, in the far corner looking over the menu of the exquisite teas they offered.

"Hey, stranger. Long time no see," he said approaching behind Eirina to surprise her.

The angry black cat did indeed struggle as John made his way back into Hogsmeade, but that was nothing compared to her fight once they'd entered the Tea shop. Even from behind, Madison recognized her boss the moment they stepped in. She writhed in the folds of the robe that trapped her, not making a single fuss of a meow, but instead, trying to stir free before she was seen. Her heart started pounding as John stepped closer and closer to Eirina. She was all but frozen when he stopped right behind the woman. Did John know Eirina? What in God's name was going on? All she knew, was that Eirina would recognize her the moment she turned around. She pulled her ears back, recoiled back into the bundle of fabric, and waited for the heavy blow.

Eirina, still completely entrapped in her thoughts as she stood looking at the shelves of tea packages, didn't really hear John. She was too distracted by her own thoughts, invested in her tea and what she would bring home. It was that stare though, and the close proximity, that finally drew her attention away from the tea and to the man behind her.

"Oh, hey, sorry, I was just thinking. What brings you here?"

She was talking to John, but her eyes started to drift to the cat that was in his arms. She immediately knew that it wasn't just a cat--no cat had a gaze that you could feel so strongly. And it wouldn't have the attention, either, to look at her like it was.

John watched Eirina mused over the teas debating on wither to attempt to try something new, or stick with what she knows, Earl Grey. It was amusing watching her work, until she realized John was present. He broke into a big grin, but it disappeared once he realize that Eirina was confused. "Didn't you get my owl?" he asked. She must love tea if I did not have to send an owl out, John thought as he took the position right next to Eirina, looking at the huge selection of ported and imported teas. Thankfully the cat stopped moving as much, so attempt to pet it behind his/her ear.

"What about this?" he turned to Eirina, holding up Chai tea. But Eirina was not paying much attention to the teas on the counter, or John much either, but the cat bundled in his robes. "You like Cats?" he asked holding the cat for Eirina to get a better look. "I found this little guy up a tree, scared to death. What do you think of calling her Mittens?"

Cats should have ridiculous names.

Disregarding the ridiculous name suggestion John had thrown into the open air, she focused on a random spec in the corner of the room as she was lifted up into the air, to be clearly seen by Eirina. Madison knew her, and she knew Madison. She was going to murder John the moment he stepped foot back in the Order's front door. She may as well have some composure if she was to be recognized. The cat turned its gaze back at Eirina, boldly staring at the woman, and calmly awaited for the situation to further unfold.

Eirina had never been the predictable sort. She was hot-tempered, bipolar, and calm, all in one. What she would do upon recognizing Madison, one could only guess. Madison was prepared for the worst, however.

(I lost my post, so yeah...this one's gonna be short now...)

It was almost like Eirina, once again, didn't hear a thing John said. Only, she did, but she was too deep in thought to think of anything to say to him. This cat was a person...an animagus.

She bent down, her face getting really close to the cat's, looking at it right in the eyes. And then she knew, almost instantly, and felt stupid for not noticing earlier.

"Madison? Seriously? What are you doing?"

"Madison?" he question, putting down the Chai tea, and turning to face the now crouching Eirina, who was staring intently at the cat. "That is a dumb name for a cat," he said not realizing what and who this cat is at the time. "And a person as well," he added, thinking about her made his blood to rise. Can he have just one day without thinking about the retched woman?

Finally the cat stopped moving and squirreling about making it easier to scratch the kitten behind her ears.

It was natural for Madison to want to appear as composed as possible in front of the Headmistress- her boss- but that was rather difficult whilst trapped in John's coat. It took every fiber of her being not to lash out as John once again treated her like a typical cat. At least he didn't jump right to conclusions. Perhaps she could still get out of this situation scot-free.

There wasn't really much she could do, until John decided to loosen his hold on her. She wondered just how blatantly Eirina would go about this situation. It was difficult to predict anything when it came to this woman.

Eirina's patients was a little thin whenever she encountered Madison, and when she hadn't decided to turn back after a few moments, Eirina found it rude, and did it for her. Taking out her wand, she cast the animagus reversal spell, and awaited for Madison to return to her normal self. Eirina wasn't really thinking of what she would say, but she found it to be very disrespectful for Madison to not reveal herself, but to hide herself from Eirina's presence. Was she doing something wrong? Because she sure made it seem like it.

A bit bipolar, as well, Eirina's emotions so quickly changed. Having before been calm and collected, she was now on edge and a bit angered. Of all things, Eirina had hated when she was disrespected, and that's how she viewed Madison's actions.

Madison tensed as Eirina drew her wand. One second, Madison was a cat, the next, she was herself once more, standing next to the Headmistress, back turned from John like he'd never been there in the first place. They never really did see eye to eye, Madison and Eirina. Perhaps because Madison was not very tactful with how she acted around Eirina, perhaps because Eirina disliked secrets, and Madison was fully wrapped within them.

After a deep breath- Madison's temper had risen as well, though it was inappropriate for her to act on it- she turned to Eirina, folding her hands together as she apologized, "Forgive me, Headmistress. I was in the midst of some delicate work." Delicate work that she knowingly put down for the sake of Headmistress Naer. Nothing came before what her boss wanted. she dropped it just like that, knowing John would put two and two together, and knowing Eirina would not be pleased with anything she said.

In the years since he been an Auror, he was rarely caught off guard, and surprised by such revelations unfolding. He was taught to expect surprises, and react to the any and all new conditions, in order for his survival. This just through him for a loop, seeing the black cat, which leapt out of his arms, in midflight transformed into Madison Reid.

With a loud screech, and a clatter behind the counter, John’s hand, which was quick, went straight for his wand, but seeing as how Madison paid little attention to John, he did not with draw it for Eirina sake. Madame Puddifoot, which in her elderly state could hardly take any revelation unfold before her, saw the whole Madison transformation unfold. She dropped whatever was in her hand, and clutched her chest in shock. John was at his elder’s side, holding up the woman before she fainted, and leading her to one of the clear tables and out from under the debris of shattered tea cups and hot spilt tea. “Don’t worried, Madam Puddifoot,” he said gently rubbing her back to calm her nerves. “I will clean up the mess, and then make you a strong cup of tea to calm your nerves.” She just nodded her head in agreement, still to shock to speak.

All John was thinking to himself as he clean the mess with one swish of his wand was how he berated himself for being so careless. Not only with Madison being an animagus, and how she could easily get so close to him without his knowledge, but not connecting Eirina to the title of the Headmistress. Was he that thick to make, which now seemed like obvious connections, or was he gone to long from Europe to be up to date with current events?

“Here is your tea, Madam Puddifort,” he said finally handing her a mug of strongly brewed common British tea. John walked back to where he left the two women carry three mugs also, one for each of them. One of the mugs contained Irish coffee, strong on the Irish. “Here you go Headmistress, Ms. Reid,” he said presenting them with the tray so they all could choose their own glass. Right at this moment, they had a trifecta. All of them hide secrets from the other. Especially, John to Eirina.