Sometimes its easier to rake snow than shovel it. (Tag: Landon.)

Cazz had texted Landon not to long ago, she was feeling a bit lonely and was too bored for words. It had been so cold the last few days where she had been Cazz had not left her apartment in some time. So she suggested to meet at the cafe on the corner of her street. Bundled up tightly as she walked in ordering a few items muffled by her scarf and hat as she began to unzip her jacket after ordering she slowly made her way to the back. She sat at the furthest table at small cafe her scarf still wrapped tight around her neck though pulled from her mouth no longer muffled, coat had been shed like an extra skin as she sat there quietly looking around taking in the warmth trying to warm up her hands. Cazz had lost her gloves some time ago and had yet to get another pair. Her feet gently scuffing against the floor every once in a while. The women brought over a big cup of hot chocolate and a snow man cookie. The items being placed in front of her as the women walked away to tend to other people. Cazz looked down at the snow man carefully moving the carrot of his nose side was curling it like a mustasch as she laughed shaking her head.

The bite of the cold air was doing its best to sneak its way past Landon's warm clothes as he made his way through the streets of London, keeping an eye out for a certain cafe on a corner. He huddled farther into his coat as he looked around, certain his destination should be close. He was on his way to meet Cazz and was afraid he was running late; she had sent him a message earlier in the day and he had happily agreed to meet with her after he finished work. It would be easy, he thought, since he could use the visitors exit from the Ministry and head right to the cafe. It was taking him longer than expected to locate it, though, and right as he decided he needed to look up where it was again he noticed its small sign just across the street.

A quick scan of the cafe revealed Cazz sitting in the  far back, away from most of the other patrons. Landon quickly ordered a drink from the counter then headed over, pulling off his coat on the way. His garish sweater beneath stood out in the calm atmosphere of the room, but he hardly noticed. Winter was the perfect time to wear ridiculous sweaters, wasn't it?

“Hey Cazz,” he said as he reached the table, bending down to embrace her in a friendly welcome. She was already warm and Landon guessed she must have been sitting inside for a while already. He moved to the other side of the table, peeling off his gloves as he sat down with a grin, happy to see his friend. “Sorry I'm a bit late, I got a little side tracked at work.”

Cazz's head snapped up smiling brightly as she wrapped her arms gently around him giving him a tight squeeze before pulling away sighing happily as she waves her hand about slightly rolling her eyes. "Oh I came early, no need to worry. Work comes first anyway no need to worry. Lovin' the sweater by the way makes you a smoking hot Mr. Rogers."

She winked laughing a little leaning back into her chair warming her cold hands against her legs before taking a drink of hot chocolate. "How was work sorry to suddenly text you in the middle by the way but your fun to hang out with and I was superduper bored there is only so much you can do right?" She laughed slightly before rubbing the back of her arm enjoying the warmth as the heat kicked on under there feet.

“Oh, same old stuff at work. Super secret ministry stuff, you know.” Landon laughed, aware that he was being honest in his answer. He had spent the last eight hours locked in his dim office in the Department of Mysteries pouring over records and occasionally checking the minds of the other employees in the building, checking up on them and making sure everything was as it should be; a usual part of his daily responsibilities. Cazz didn't need to hear any of the details, though. In fact, she was not permitted to and Landon wasn't about to risk his job, or his neck, on telling her.

“What have you been up to that's gotten you so bored? What, no running off and traveling the world? I thought for sure you'd be off on some adventure by now.” Landon grinned at her, letting his good mood take over and flow out through his lips. His drink, a peppermint mocha, had arrived and he took a sip, inhaling the steam and delicious scent that it gave off.

( Im so so sorry just got back from Florida)

Cazz smiled brightly taking a drink as she listened to him carefully giving a slight nod licking her slightly chapped lips before grabbing her chap stick shaking her head gently putting on some before looking up at him eyes sparkling with excitement pulling out of her purse an old tattered map as she slammed it against the table messily opening it up, placing the napkin holder on the curling up side looking up at him. "Okay okay.. so I was reading while not leaving the house cuz it was like super duper cold and this map just fluttered out on the floor! So I thought why not go with someone who likes adventure too because Mar mar will totally just lecture me."

She waved her hand about getting off track smiling brightly back up at Landon grinning clapping her hands together smiling brightly as she chewed on her lip slightly trying to think of anything else to add. "But its a really cool adventure... you know... adventure adventure... you can't just be sad when your looking for things that have been hidden for so long... and I think it will be something really cool like that book I found in that old box that one time at my place it was super cool ya know." She smiled happily looking at the map her fingers slowly tracing the side of the map.

Landon mimicked Cazz's bright smile, a glint of mischief forming in his eyes. “An adventure, huh? Well you came to the right person. I've never been able to say no to the lure of an adventure.” As he spoke he leaned forward over the table, narrowly missing knocking over his drink before sliding it to the side. The map Cazz had laid down with such excitement did not look like much to him, and in fact he doubted what it could be leading them to, but it was hard to say no to such an irrepressible soul such as the grinning blonde sitting across from him. It felt to him like the way he should trait a little sister, if he had ever had one. Doting on her and playing along with her games, it was more than just a way to pass the time; it was thoroughly enjoyable for him, too.

Looking up from the map Landon met Cazz's eyes, both pairs twinkling in the florescent lights of the coffee shop. “So where do we begin, Miss Cazz?”

Cazz was almost shaking in her seat from excitement grinning up at him seeing that he actually believed her. Carefully she looked over the map humming slightly slowly lifting one of the sides looking at the back reading over the old cursive slowly grinning like a floor. "Well the beginning of course where else would we start?" Smiling brightly she slowly began to play with her hair slightly slowly looking up into his eyes as she smiled brightly thinking slightly as she flipped the map back over running fingers though her hair,

"I guess the first x you know so you know... so you can get to the first treasure... or the clues to the greatest treasure... maybe or maybe its nothing at all I found it in a book after all but you never really know you know until you know." she smiled slightly grinning again.

Landon was looking over the map as Cazz spoke, trying to make sense of where exactly the x's she was referring to were. He decided after a moment to give up and let her guide him; if it was going to be a wild goose chase of a day then better to go in blind and just enjoy the company than worry over specifics.

“You never know until you know; truer words there never were. What are we waiting around here for then?” Landon jumped up, grabbing his coat and sliding his arms through it all in one fluid motion. He took one last gulp of his drink, immediately regretting it as it burned its way down his throat, and gave Cazz a playfully impatient stare. “Let's go slowpoke, grab the map and an eye patch; we've got treasure to hunt.”

It was easy to play along, to let his more childish side roam free. After being cooped up in his basement office in the Ministry, after discovering new feelings and shards of memories during his encounter with the devilish woman who had attacked him, it felt good to be acting like himself again. Myself, Landon thought sardonically, and who exactly is that? Pushing those dark thoughts away from the time being, he managed to keep his easy smile in place, only a shadow of doubt fluttering across his eyes.

Cazz jumped from her seat in a fit of excitement almost knocking over her drink as she looked over the map quickly eyes roaming it before turning it back over rolling it up shoving it in her coat pocket batting some hair away from her eyes before looping her arm with his quickly looking about before pulling him to the back door of things. "This is going to be so much fun just you wait I know were going to find something super cool, maybe will find hobbit holes or new friends maybe old friends that will be new friends once we find them! OR OR We may actually find a treasure like maybe another treasure map the possibility of all this is absolutely endless!"

She skipped beside him happily deep in thought as she pushed out the back door flurries of snow following in as she looked at the map once more biting her lip before turning it upside down nodding. "Ahhhhh big giant oak tree first."

Landon let himself be steered through the door and back into the cold afternoon as Cazz took a hold of his arm and skipped forward. He looked up into the gray sky, the white of snow falling onto his cheeks. Snow again? He thought, wishing instead for the heat of summer. There wasn't long to dream though as Cazz was on the move again, her face moving from the map to their surroundings, searching for something new.

Her enthusiasm was infectious and he speed his pace up to match hers. “A big oak tree, huh? Let's see...” His eyes began to scan the streets around them, knowing full well they had to get out of the city a bit more until they came upon any big trees. “Why don't we try the park on the outskirts of the city? I bet there are a lot of trees there. Maybe we'll even have to climb one. I'll lift you up, you've got to weight like, what, ninety pounds?” He teased, placing his hands around her waist and lifting her feet from the ground, laughing, before putting her back down.

Cazz nodded quickly looking up at him humming slightly a grin taking over her face as she jumped around a little excited as she looked up at Landon. "That's perfect the park probably has a lot of trees you know!" She looked up at him excited before feeling the ground vanish from under her feet looking up at him surprised quickly trying to get back down looking around the wind whipping around her hair snow flying around slowly.

"Hey! Ya know I can't help it! Super strong and stuff just picking up people how ever you want." She stick her tongue out at him laughing a little crossing her arms slightly raising an eyebrow. "Lets go to the park!!" She smiled brightly quickly going ahead.

Landon let Cazz struggle in his arms for a minute before placing her gently back on the ground and returning his arms to his side. He was laughing along with her, their bright voices mingling together in the muffled snow clad street. The mirth bubbling from his lips was like a release to Landon, who had spent the last few weeks in serious reverie.

With the park as their destination the two of them walked the street, kicking up the thin layer of snow forming beneath their feet. It was a comfortable journey despite the cooling weather and Landon was surprised at the timely manner in which they reached the park. With the snow dusting the empty branches of the trees it looked like a spot right out of a fairytale and Landon found himself looking down at Cazz to see her reaction to the beauty. He imagined it would be one of wonder and he didn't want to miss the more than likely adorable look on her face.

“Here we are Miss Cazz. Which tree holds our next clue?”

Cazz's eyes drifted up looking at the tree in just pure amazement, the tree almost seemed to glisten in the afternoon light as she quickly shoved the map in her pocket running through the snow, kicking it up everywhere as she went before colliding with the tree giving it a big hug. "Good after noon you might big tree!"

Once she let go of the tree she slowly started to walk around it going behind it gently pulling a piece of paper out waving it about as she ran to Landon quickly handing him the paper. "Hurry hurry read it so we can be off to the next clue! This tree is super duper old! So it gave us the next clue!"

Cazz looked up at him super excited her hands in her pockets keeping them warm, standing now a little closer to Landon resting her head slightly against his arm. Her cheeks bright pink from the cold wind whipping around the park bringing the snow up and around flurrying around everything.

He couldn't help doubling over laughing as he watched Cazz run up to the tree and hug it, looking exactly like a child. The cold air felt refreshing in his lungs as he took a huge breath in order to stop his laughter. “You're crazy!” He called out across the distance, making sure his voice was loud enough over the quiet of the falling snow.

When she returned to him she was holding a crumpled paper in her hand, which he took and unfolded. When he first saw it he was honestly surprised. He had not expected anything to come of this adventure of theirs, and when he opened it up he was brought back to the reality of it all when the paper seemed to be a note between lovers that was never found. Still, he wanted to play along with Cazz; it was much too early in the day to end their fun and he could make this note work as a clue.

“It says.... 'Dearest, I do not care what my family says, I will spend my days with you. Meet me where the water was frozen when we first shared a kiss'.” Finishing reading, he handed the note to Cazz as he looked down at her, by his side and resting against him. “Do you think they found each other? Should we try and find out?”

(Sorry I have been really thinking of what to write next)

"Normal girls are dull!! You need to have more crazy in your life Landon to much of the same thing came make everyone very very bored!" Snow was catching in her hair as she pulled up her scarf slightly smiling happily almost excited as it floated around her so peacefully.

Against Landon's side she gently took the note slipping off her glove feeling the cold paper and the pen work against her fingertips gently a soft smile on her face as she looked down at the note clearly touched by its meaning. Looking up at him smiling in just pure excitement humming slightly in thought. "I don't know, such a thing as this may be not in our jurisdiction Mr. Adwell..." A smile brightly was on her face as she slipped on her glove going to put the note back just in case the lover hadn't yet received it. Turning around quickly looking at him with worry slightly, "I do, but I'm unsure... we don't know if they have gotten it or anything... maybe they never saw each other or he just put it here today?" She chewed on her lip slightly folding it up gently sticking it back in the little hole she had gotten it from.

"What do you think we should do?" Her eyes shinned brightly as she hopped through the snow, trying best to get most of it off her shoes as she did so.

“I think...” he paused, letting his mind clear and the park around them fade into a mere blur. In his head he thought the words to his trusted spell, and let his mind open to the others around him. He was searching for the memories and thoughts of who ever had left this note, to see if they were still around. The park, however, was quiet; no minds other than Cazz's, which he thought better to leave unsuspected for the time being.

Slowly he returned to himself, his eyes again focusing on Cazz instead of the ethereal consciousness of the mind. “I think whoever left this note is long gone. It can't hurt to walk around the pond, see if anything is frozen. Maybe there will be a better clue there.” He took a few steps in the direction of the water, watching Cazz as she hopped around, looking more like a snow bunny than anything he had ever seen. “If the ice is thick enough maybe we can go skating,” he called out to her, his grin wide and full of hope.

(Somehow I didn't see you posted this until now! Ops!)

(So sorry just haven't looked down this far)

"Oh goodness... I haven't been ice skating...." She stopped slightly joining Landon on the path carefully tapping her shoes against the side walk mumbling something about math before giving up all together shrugging. "Hogwarts maybe even before than... are you good at ice skating you seem like you would be just have that air about you... or maybe thats just the winter air, oh god who knows anymore its too pretty out to care!"

Carefully walking ahead following the barely shoveled side walk, patches of ice here and there making her balance questionable at best even in the best of weather though she began to get closer to the pond her heart started to pick up in excitement. Cazz hadn't been to such a pond since school at the latest, things were sparkling against the water slightly the sun shinning through on even such a cold day making her wrap her scarf around her once more. "It looks pretty..."

Landon laughed as Cazz rambled on about skating and the beauty around them. “I don't want to brag or anything, but I do know my way around a pair of ice skates,” he said as they reached the pond.

“It is pretty. Better not let it go to waste!” Oblivious to the slippery conditions Landon made his way to the frozen pond. Once out on the ice he stomped his foot down, then jumped with both feet onto the hard ice beneath him, making sure it would hold. It seemed frozen through; the perfect condition for skating. “Come on out here, Cazz! Let me change your shoes to ice skates.” When she reached him he did just that, pulling out his wand and swishing it over their snow damp shoes.

The thin blade of the skates rested easily on the ice for Landon and he took a few glides out and back to reacquaint himself with the motion. Sliding back to Cazz he grabbed her hand and tried to pull her out farther onto the ice with him, grinning at her and the rose blush the cold air had brought to her cheeks.

"Be careful!" She yelled slightly worried from where she was standing, it was of course fine it had been so cold for months that she would be surprised if the water hadn't frozen completely to the bottom of the lake. A small burst of excitement took over a she nodded a little bit as she carefully lifted her feet on the snow balancing carefully wrapping her scarf around her a couple times.

Cazz laughed nodding gently following him standing a little wobbly on the skates before she looked back up at him carefully stepping on the ice holding his hands tightly a little nervous as she looked up at him smiling brightly slowly getting use to the ice. "This is a lot slicker than I thought, but... it is ice..." She mumbled the last part trying to slide with him missing the bits built up on the top looking down at her feet the whole time.

“You're going to fall if you keep looking at your feet, missy. Here, let me -” he let go of her hand and instead placed both palms on her waist and drew her near enough to him to lift her skates from the ice and spin her around, twirling tightly on the slick surface beneath them. He was laughing, brown eyes sparkling from the reflections of the snow. He gently placed her back onto the ice, letting his arms fall back to his sides. There was something about being around the cheerful girl that made Landon behave less rigidly himself, and he was beginning to quite like it.

“What do you think, can you catch me?” Landon skated away from Cazz, heading towards the center of the pond in lazy strides, circling around and skating backwards to watch what she would do. He kept a close eye on her feet, wondering if she did fall if he could make it to her before she hit the ice and hurt herself. It was all good when they were both safe and enjoying themselves, but it would be another if she actually injured herself.

" But the unknown is something to be known and-and you know feet they have a mind-" She was cut off before looking up at him eyes widening laughing loudly her hands on his shoulders her grip getting lighter as they span around her feet carefully touching the ice again trying to balance herself laughing a bit still. The carefree look started to come back to her eyes watching him skate around the ice chewing on her lip taking the leap, or sliding across the ice.

Slowly slid across the ice steadily watching him carefully before she tried to turned going the other way from him a sort of smirk on her face as she went slow and steady getting use to the feeling holding out her arms slightly. "Its sort of like flying..." She turned her head to Landon grinning softly looking down a moment trying to slowly pick up speed.

Landon watched from farther into the lake as Cazz spread her arms like a baby bird taking its first flight. She was slow at first on the skates but soon got a hang of it and was gliding along with that carefree smile on her face that he so enjoyed.

“Oh yeah? Do you like flying? I don't remember what it's like; I haven't been on a broom that I can remember. I like being high up though so I really should try it sometime.” Landon enjoyed his feet firmly on the ground, but his love of being on the edge of cliff sides, peering down at nothing but air until the distant ground told him he did enjoy heights. Or perhaps he more enjoyed the feeling of being so close to disaster, yet being in control of it. He could take a step and be among nothing but that air and that long drop, but instead he could chose to avoid it. The control over his fate was something he clung to as he had no control over his past.

Cazz did a small spin before turning to him smiling brightly coming closer slowly skating his way before taking his hand smiling brightly, "I will have to take you some time! Its the most amazing feeling, terrific but terrifying!" Cazz slowly let go of his spinning around again giggling a little as she almost tripped forward a bit catching herself trying to catch her balance.

Landon felt Cazz's gloved hand reach into his again and he gave it a friendly squeeze as she spoke of flying before taking off yet again. She was like a fairy in the snow, never staying in one place for long but flitting around with perpetual energy.

“Oh yeah? Maybe when it's a bit warmer out. As long as you promise not to try to fly without the broom, I'll let you be my teacher.”

Landon saw Cazz start to stumble as she spun around him, probably too caught up with her giggling to notice where she was sliding her feet. He reached his arms out instinctively but she managed to regain her balance before his interference was needed.

“Careful, Cazz! I don't want to have to carry you outta here. People might get the wrong idea and think I'm abducting an innocent girl.”

"Definitely when its warmer out! Far to cold to go out now, I think we would fall off from being way to cold." She smiled at him standing still for a moment crossing her arms over her chest laughing softly shaking her head.

"You act like your a million years old Landon I am almost positive no one would think you were abducting me they'd be like 'Oh look over there she must have fallen or something equivalent to that explanation.' but if it makes you feel better I will try to be super duper careful promise." Slowly slipping her hands into her pockets quickly starting to skate around him in large circles.