Night Falls Over Us (OPEN to ALL)

Gabriella sighed and fiddled with her fingers as she walked through Hogsmeade withhold her hands in her pockets. Her outfit was fairly simple, a light blue summer dress under a white cardigan that she hid her hands in (as well as her wand slid up her sleeve), she smiled politely at everyone she passed. She meandered through, briefly thinking she should have gone to Knockturn Alley and wondering why her lapse in judgment made her come here. Oh yes, she thought, because it was unlikely she was going to get herself a good Butterbeer and a sandwich.

"Hello," she said smiling as she entered the restaurant and as she took a seat to wait for her table she smiled at the patron next to her. "Good day," she murmured with a smile, secretly analyzing every detail she could in the span of twenty he nods, trying to asses them and their weaknesses quickly.

A brisk, if long, hike through the woods and foot hills surrounding Hogsmeade was just what Landon had needed on his day off from work. He had awoken early, as was his usual schedule, and went straight away to the peace of the wilderness, ready to test his endurance and allow his mind to relax as he did so. He had spent the day by himself, thinking over all that had been happening to him lately and trying to jog any sort of memory by walking paths that others had told him he had once loved. It was not  a new place for him, even in the life that he could remember. He had done this many times, always hoping for the same result, but never achieving it. His past stayed stubbornly away, even while retracing steps he apparently used to take.

By early evening he found himself on the streets of Hogsmeade, just after wandering in from the woods. His stomach growled as he walked, and Landon made a course correction in the direction of the nearest restaurant. He walked in, the warm lights and noise greeting him happily, and leaned against a nearby wall to wait for a seat to open up. As he waited he looked around, taking in the variety of people in the room. He spotted a vaguely familiar face across from him: a woman whose dark hair and kind face stood out in his mind. Landon looked at her a moment longer, trying to recall where he had seen her before; more than likely she was a ministry employee he passed in the halls from time to time, that seemed to fit.

Aware that she would soon notice his attention to her, he smiled good-naturedly and called across the small divide, “Hey there.”

Gabriella saw no threat, no strange ticks that would make him viable to hurting her and decided that making allies now that she'd finished her travels was a fantastic idea. In all honesty, her old friends from Hogwarts had slowly, but surely drifted from her life. It was partially her fault for moving so often trying to track down others like her after all. She offered her hand, still smiling.

"Gabriella Rose at your acquaintance, do you know this restaurant well?" She asked putting a shyer front, "I'm afraid I haven't been here since my Hogwarts years."

“Nice to meet you,” he shook her hand firmly, his larger hands engulfing hers as he did so. “I'm Landon.” He let her hand go and brought his to rest in the pocket of his jeans as he continued to lean casually against the wall. He looked around the restaurant again, looking for signs that would tell him if he had been there before, but coming up empty. If he had, he didn't remember it. In fact, he hadn't even looked at the name of it before he had entered. The thought made him laugh, and he shook his head, his hair tousling into his eyes briefly. “I don't even know the name of it, honestly. I'm just hungry and it was the first one I saw.”

Landon watched her as she spoke, catching her shift from confident to shy. He wondered if it was on purpose, or she did it unconsciously. She looked sweet enough, and if she was indeed a more demure woman than he first thought, he would be sure not to push the conversation too hard. “Hogsmeade's not your usual spot, then?”

Gabriella looked at Landon once more tilting her head, letting her smile drop but keeping her face pleasant. When she went home she would be sure to reprimand herself because being nice was a pain. However, she could feel as if it were going to pay off. When she watched him scan the area she rose a brow.

"Are you here to meet someone then?" She asked before shrugging. "Hogsmeade's a bit well, childish. So many Hogwarts kids come here after all, Landon are you from here?" She asked curiosity at his little laugh.

When she mentioned the amount of kids that often came to Hogsmeade Landon did indeed notice a large amount of children around, all talking excitedly amongst themselves. It did nothing to dampen his mood though, as Gabriella's words implied it did for her. “Looks like the only people I would be meeting here are teenagers, so no.” He teased, his toothy grin playing on his face comfortably. “I'm not interrupting you waiting for someone, am I?”

“Nah. I'm not really from anywhere in particular,” he remained vague if only because he really couldn't answer where he was from honestly. “I'd say I pretty much live at work, but that would sound pretty boring, wouldn't it?” Landon had the feeling the mentioning work would arouse another question from Gabriella, asking where it was that he worked. It was his off hand way of figuring out whether he did indeed recognize her face from the Ministry or not, as he would then undoubtedly ask where she worked. Landon had always had a knack for getting people to revel things about themselves as if it was their own idea to share; it was a skill he used often, when not in a situation where he could slip into their mind and find out for himself.

Gabriella took his words in trying to find the meaning in them. Questions just bubbled up in her throat, she felt out of place as if something had happened that she had missed and desperately wanted to know. Along with the thirst for power came the thirst for knowledge. After all, knowledge is power. She let her brows furrow as she placed a finger on her lips, rubbing it as she so often did when she was in thought briefly before she chuckled a little at his Hogwarts comment.

"Not at all, in fact how would you feel if we just dined together to save ourselves the trouble of sitting with children?" She moved her hand back down to her other hand on her lap.

"It depends on your job, right? Do what you love and time just flies by." She paused, with a smile. "I understand, however, I just recently accepted a position at the Ministry." She answer earnestly, feeling no need to lie. His appearance didn't say that he was a threat per se, and supposed gaining trust meant giving it too. "If I may, but what do you mean you're not from anywhere in particular? Are you a gypsy?" It was a light hearted tease and she leaned forward with a grin. "I can just see you dancing to your heart's content at the beat of a drum and shake of the tambourines."

“I think that is a great idea; I'd much rather dine with you than that twelve year old that keeps looking at me. It's kind of creeping me out.” As he spoke he motioned towards a gaggle of kids, who quickly blushed and turned away, giggling. Just in time to spare Landon and Gabriella from further annoyance, a waiter approached and lead the two of them to a table in the far corner of the restaurant, where it was slightly quieter and much more comfortable.

As they sat down Landon listened as Gabriella revealed that she did indeed work for the Ministry: a position that had been recently acquired. It seemed odd luck that he had run into someone out here in Hogsmeade that worked at the same place he did, though, he thought, there were an awful lot of people employed by the Ministry. “Really? Well, let me welcome you to the job, then. Looks like we are co-workers without even knowing it. I've been working at the Ministry for years; word of advice – don't trust the free muffins. They're all bran.”

Another question was aimed at Landon, and he felt himself wanting to shift the conversation back to her soon rather than sharing too much about himself. “Ah, you've caught me. I am a gypsy. I can't help my need to dance my way around the world. It's a burden, really.” He laughed and winked, playing along with her jest. If the real answer to her question was only as simple as she suggested, he would have been happy to be just a wanderer. Instead he just shrugged and said, “I live in London, but no where I've lived feels enough like home to say that's where I am from. Are you lucky enough to not know how that feels?”

Gabriella took a moment to glance at the 12-year-old's with narrowed eyes. She swiveled away with a turn and smiled back at Landon. She took a moment to appreciate his grin, it was calming. It wasn't one that she saw herself swooning over, but since when did she? She was capable of appreciating a handsome man when she saw one and could admit so to Landon, well in the recesses of her brain at least. There was a lot of curiosity in this friendly man, any person, especially one in the time of returning Death Eaters and other dangers would have turned her away.

" I don't about that, you seem awfully trusting and love does come in all shapes and size." She giggled this behind the sleeve of her sweater. When he welcomed her, her smile grew genuinely with no ulterior motive at this kindness. In her years, it wasn't many experiences that hardened her heart it was herself. "I'm only kidding I swear."

"Aah," she nodded, "good thing I enjoy blueberries more than bran." She said as she stared at the menu. Suddenly she felt as though she wanted something less than a Butterbeer and all it's sweet goodness. " Say, we should make it a habit to get breakfast together then. It was an idea, one that was friendly, but in that time she could use it to find out more about this strange man. "What do you do in the Ministry?" She asked titling her head as she drummed her fingers onto the table. She registered his discomfort at his answer to her question with interest, but put it in the back of her mind to catalogue as her wonderment for this puzzle he was grew with fascination.

"I don't know how to answer that, truthfully." She sighed and ran her hand through her hair pushing it to the back only for it to fall back in her face. "Home is, home is where the heart isn't it? " She said firmly even as her mind chided:But what if you have no heart? Yes she was back, and she had a home, but it wasn't the kind of overwhelming warmth and security that home was supposed to feel like. "Before I came to this job, I was travelled and my grandparents funded it all. It was what I needed after Hogwarts." His discomfort from earlier came to the forefront of her mind and she smiled politely before moving both of her arms up onto the table and creating a bit of a bridge for her head, resting her chin above her hands contentedly. "What were your school years like? Adolescence was a pain was it not?"

Landon's easy laugh resounded in the crowded room as Gabriella spoke of love and then assured him she was kidding. He liked a girl that could tease him right back, who had a sense of humor about things. It was so dreary when people did not know how to loosen up. As for her comment about him being trusting, well, she didn't know better than to assume that, yet. As they both looked over the menu he kept glancing back up to watch her speak, following the movement of her lips with interest.

“Sure, I'm always up for company for breakfast. Though my schedule isn't exactly steady all of the time. I'm more of a come and go at every hour of the day type.” He shrugged, making light of his odd hours. “I work downstairs in the Department of Mysteries.” Landon did not elaborate on his job; he knew better than that. It was pretty much his job description to be remain tight lipped about what he really did down in those lonely, dark corridors and rooms under the more bright and alive Ministry. “What department are you in?” It never hurt to know who was who in the building, and if this Gabriella was about to move her way through the ranks it would be good to have a head start on knowing where she was. Besides, it would give him an idea of when she would be at work if the situation arose that he wanted to grab lunch with her, or do a little over-time work to figure out just who she was.

Gabriella was speaking again, answering his question, as Landon turned his eyes from the menu back to her. She was proving to be much more interesting that the daily special, and Landon was feeling better about spending his day around Hogsmeade than he had been before running into her. “I think my heart must have gotten lost, then,” he grinned, sensing the brief bout of melancholy in her voice and on her face when she spoke, and trying to cheer her up. The conversation moved on naturally, flowing in a light-hearted way that was both comfortable and sustainable.

“Oh, probably a lot like any of the kids in here, or any other person. I don't remember much of it; I'm more of a live in the moment kind of guy now.” Landon answered easily, accustomed to acting as if he was a normal person with normal memories. If Gabriella turned into more than an acquaintance he would probably reveal to her the truth, that he did not recall anything before the last four years, but for now it was easier to bend the truth a little bit. It wasn't that he was worried over what she, or anyone, would think, but that he did get tired of explaining his situation again and again. It made it impossible to move on if he was always dwelling on it. Instead he shifted the conversation back to her. “Sounds like you're quite the adventurer. See anything life changing on your travels?”

Gabriella grinned broadly at his accepting to her breakfast meets. It wasn't like this was an exploration of child innocence as though she was earnestly trying to make friends. He worked in the Ministry and she needed more of an in than just working there. However, Landon was a- mystery of a man, there was something about him that she was missing and she wouldn't leave their friendship closed at just his name and a bite to eat. She planned on investigating, and of course it was helpful that he wasn't a toad of man and had a charming smile and infectious laugh.

"Of course, I'll probably send an owl or a Patronous your way, should we not be able to meet somewhere for breakfast. But do try to eat, breakfast is the most important meal of the day," the last bit comes out of nowhere and she flushes before clearing her throat and lifting her head more confidently, "I am in the pending process of working in Magical Accidents and Catastrophes." She rubs her hands together as she quells her pride at the next words. She planned on being Head of the Department since the prior Head had otherwise been indisposed to the job. She wondered if a sandwich went better with the mocha she planned on ordering or a croissant.

"Of course, home is where it feels right and sometimes you go through bouts of wrong before finding the right." She laughed at these words, they were astoundingly deep for two people who just met. However, she categorized his words. He didn't have a home? Why? She'd hold this until later in their developing friendship. "Sorry, it's just I'm just realizing that was awfully deep for two people who just met and it's a bit inappropriate of me to pry."

His bouncing of her question gave her clarity: he wasn't going to give secrets away so easily. She was fine with that, if it were easier she wouldn't be sitting here still. She amended her prior analysis of him being overly trusting just for being friendly. She didn't let the smile let loose at just how amazing her trip was to her, how wondrous it was for her and rejuvenating for her to realize that life would never be the same.

"It was life changing all in its own to feel free." Gabriella answered honestly. "Well, enough about that though. Let's hit lighter topics? You know the simple stuff that anyone barely remembers, no offense of course, but what about..." She paused tapping her bottom lip before snapping her fingers. "What's your favorite color?"

The news that Gabriella was going to be working the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes was useful to Landon and he noted the faint hint of pride when she spoke of it. It was a hard department to work in, and Landon figured she was in for a lot of over-time and long days, but if she could stand it then she must be a very capable woman. “I might be seeing you around the building at two in the morning, then. Those mates are always running around when some accident needs their immediate attention at any given time. One time I ran into one of them who had just come back from turning a muggle back to normal after they'd been transfigured into a sentient doorknob.” Landon had leaned back in his chair while telling the story, getting comfortable to listen to Gabriella when she spoke next.

“Hey, it's only inappropriate if I'm offended, right?” He smiled reassuringly across the table, laughing along with her. Their different octaves mixed well and the sound fit well the playful atmosphere. “But if you insist on being polite, I'll keep my philosophic comments and life history lessons to a minimum.” After that Gabriella spoke only a few words about her travels, much less than he expected to hear. Such a trip must have accrued her many stories, yet she was keeping them to herself. Landon could respect that; he himself was keeping much from her. Still, it piqued his curiosity and he stored the information in the back of his mind in order to revisit it later and perhaps either bring up the topic at a later date or do some investigating of his own into her memories when the chance arose. He was still thinking about it when she abruptly changed the course of their conversation with what sounded like the start of some teenager's first date.

“Color, huh?” He looked off momentarily, his eyes searching out the window and into the growing darkness. “Blue. A sky blue, the kind you see when you're at the top of a mountain and the snow is reflecting the sun so bright you can hardly see.” Landon could have continued - told her how the color made him feel right in some profound way he couldn't understand, like the feeling of being in the sky above everything; being able to see everything, to know everything. Instead he just raised his hand to rub the back of his neck and said, “What about you? Let me guess: something dark?”

While they were speaking a waiter appeared by their table, asking what they would be having that evening. Landon ordered a beer and a sandwich, looking forward to the bitter taste of the cold drink after a day of hiking. Realizing that he had in fact just walked into the restaurant directly from the woods and foothills, Landon ran his hand through his hair, the texture slightly tousled from dried sweat. He wasn't one to put much stock in what others thought of his appearance, so he left it at that. If the present company had thought he looked too rough for wear she wouldn't have extended the invitation to dine together. She looked well put together, though, in comparison. It was a surprise that a woman like her was out alone, but there could be many reasons that explained it that Landon did not know. Instead of prying he asked a simpler question in the same fashion as hers. “My turn to ask a question! Lakes or oceans?”

"Then I guess we'll be having dinner too," she joked with a smile and a tilted head before letting out a weary sigh and a small laugh. "I can't say that I haven't dealt with many of those situations. I once had to locate a woman's cat: a cat she turned into an orange when she was only trying to dye it's hair orange. Said cat was at the bottom of her fruit bowl." She shook her head before chuckling in memory. Gabriella loved her job, it was a hilarious job that never got boring or ever ceased to amaze her at the pure originality of the some of the situations.

"The trip was all over Europe, I wouldn't dare travel to America or India on my own, it was inspiring. Seeing the landscape, the empty areas that were void of any bad or good or any lurking darkness. I-I met some very amazing people as well, people who have changed my life to this day." She offered sipping on her newly arrived drink and taking a small bite out of her crumbly croissant.

She laughed and put this to memory, the sky blue had another deeper meaning she knew but she didn't plan on analyzing it mid-conversation. She would have to take this conversation out of her memory and take notes later, but not wanting to at the time. She let out another huffy laugh. "Actually it's red." She paused, "my grandfather worked at the Ministry when he was younger, and there was a flower stand there one day. He asked how long they'd be up and running and the lady told him everyday and that their flowers were magical, that they took on the color of whatever the one who held it was. He found out she was a witch, and bought her a bouquet," she paused with a wistful smile pausing as she left the cup at her lips, "they were a vibrant red like her lips, my grandfather told me, and it was the beginning of a romance between my grandfather and my future grandmother, Katherine Ro-Ross," she rubbed her temple and took a sip of her mocha cursing her slip of her tongue, "after my mother was born she would receive a dozen red roses from him and when I lived with them, he would buy me the same amount even if my grandmother stopped working there at that time."

Gabriella let out a short breath of a giggle, "That must have been a lot to listen too, sorry." She waved it away. "Oceans, definitely, and what a strange question: why?" She took another sip, "and that will count as my question."

(( OOC: Sorry! Monday was my birthday and yesterday I was at my best friend's for hers. ))

“Breakfast and dinner, huh? Don't think you'll get tired of me? I can be a big bore.” Landon's effortless smile lit up their corner of the restaurant as he leaned his elbow on the table in order to hold up his chin with his hand. He listened to Gabriella launch into a story, taking a sip of his beer when the waiter brought them their meals.

“That's a nice story. I didn't think people still did those grand romantic gestures anymore; I guess romance isn't dead after all. Your grandmother must have been a lucky lady.” Gabriella's short story of her family was interesting for the the hesitation and stutter in it, if nothing else. The mention of her grandmothers name didn't sound fluid enough in his ears to ring true: he had too much practice with getting the truth from people to not catch her possible lie. He also didn't care much for tales of love; if he had ever been one to swoon over such things he wasn't anymore. His inclinations lay in other areas. Information was more precious to him than love, though he didn't mind flirting the line between the two when needed.

“Why make you choose between lakes and oceans? Just curious I guess. I like oceans better, too,” he winked across the table at Gabriella. “From what I've noticed people who like oceans over lakes are a bit more dedicated. To their freedom, you know? They want to be able to explore everything vast, like the ocean is, not be tied down. You seemed like an ocean girl.”  Landon pushed himself back in his chair, leaning comfortably and  taking another drink of his beer. It was true that he usually found these traits in others when confronted with the question, yet he didn't mention his methods for getting the answer or the presence of the traits was not usually through speaking to these other people. It was another game of his; the sheer number of things he could find out about a person without ever speaking to them was intoxicating.

“Are you feeling like you wasted a question now? That makes it my turn again,” he grinned and took a bite of his sandwich before continuing. “Let's see...your grandfather worked at the Ministry, you said? Is that why you wanted to work there? Is it a family thing?” The more information he could get out of Gabriella the better. It wasn't going to be used against her, of course. Landon just liked to know.

(Happy late birthday, then! Sorry my reply a bit later than expected, too.)

"If I'm bored of you, then I'm sure you'd know," her reply was quick, more herself than anything else she'd said this entire conversation, she added, "and vice versa I'm sure. " She winced, realizing her slip of character before shrugging it off. " I'm sorry if that came off as rude, there's no reason to beat around the bush with anyone, honestly." She took another sip, looking down with disappointed eyes into her cup that it was empty. She ordered a refill quickly. "You don't seem like a dull character so I can't see our friendship ending anytime soon, though." She added absentmindedly.

"It's more of a tradition thing, my grandparents are quite old fashioned. Growing up I preferred their company, the silence is nice and peaceful, easier to think and read in." She added truthfully. When it came to lying it was easier to stick to the truth and she did so fluidly. Sometimes honesty was the best policy. When she snuck a glance over him once more as she took a bite from her croissant, the flakes flittering to the plate.

"They're prettier," she answered deadpanned, before lightening up with a small smile, "they have more possibilities." She shrugged, half heartedly. "I suppose, you could say so. He always did paint such pretty pictures of what Ministry work was like. I think, though, it really comes down to how I've always been proud to be a witch. I figured that after being given this gift, the best way to reciprocate was to give instead of take." Gabriella smiled softly, these words honest too before folding her hands on the table.

"What's your family like? Have any brothers or sisters?" She bit the corner of her lip to stop herself from groaning in remembrance of her own younger sister, wherever she may be, not that she cared... Perhaps just a little, but that was besides the point. The real point was that she had let the focus shift from him to her and that wouldn't do to sate her curiosity.

Landon was quick to catch the slight change in Gabriella's voice as she spoke of letting him know when she was bored of him. His experience with reading both the spoken and unspoken served him well when around new people. Her slightly harsher tone, and the way she quickly covered it up, did not go unnoticed. In fact, it added to his interest, as it proved she was not just another sweet doll of a girl that had only polite and nice things to say. “No, no, not rude at all. I like someone who doesn't need to sugar coat everything. If I got offended every time someone was forward with me, well, I'd probably be out of a job and have no friends.”

The conversation moved on as they both worked on finishing their meals and refilling drinks. When Gabriella told Landon her reason for working at the Ministry he chuckled, surprised by the seemingly selfless answer. “How very noble of you, Gabby. Can I call you that? Gabriella is a beautiful name, but it's kind of a mouth full.” He smiled over at her, letting his carefree demeanor wind its way through her polite attitude. While she was answering all his questions without pause he could still sense some reserve, that she wasn't completely letting herself relax. Landon had often found that getting people to open up was a simple as making them think you were a genuinely interested and friendly person, and what better way to assert that than by getting on a nickname basis with them.

“Working at the Ministry is a lot of give, that's for sure. You give a lot of time to it; or at least I do. This is my only day of this week.” Landon laughed and took another drink of his beer, enjoying the bitter taste wash over his tongue. The truth was he didn't mind working so much. It was interesting work, and he felt like he was furthering something important. Plus it left him little time to wonder over the parts of his life he didn't want to address. Keeping busy was the best way to avoid thinking.

“Actually, I don't have any parents or siblings. Not that I know, at least. I grew up in an orphanage.” He stated it as a simple fact, no hint of loss or deep sadness for his lot in life. It was what it was, and Landon didn't feel the need to hide the truth from Gabriella. Not that part, at any rate. He didn't mention that he could no more remember his time in the orphanage as he could his own birth mother, but as he had made no mention of his memory loss yet he felt compelled to continue down that same obstructed path.

“What about you? I've heard about your grandparents, but what else? Any annoying little brothers or bossy older sisters you like to avoid?” Landon imagined that's what happened when you had siblings, and imagined he had his fair share of sibling like rivalries while he was in the orphanage that he could not recall.