Love my job [open]

Well this town has closed down too early…

…and there’s nothing to do.

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“You’ve had enough.” Amber giggled as she quickly snatched the empty glass away from an inebriated patron. To her surprise the man didn’t protest. He nodded his head, slipped off the barstool and stumbled towards the door. “Can you make it home?” She called after him; he raised his arm and waved as he ran into the door frame.

Shaking her head she conjured a Patronus charm and sent a message to Ben over at the Hogshead to make sure he wouldn’t give anymore booze to the man who was now falling into the street outside. She wasn’t even sure if he was working today, but whoever was would need the message if the man wandered into the pub. With a groan she put her face in her hands and shook her head again. What a day so far and it wasn’t even rush hour. With another groan, Amber grabbed a cloth and wiped down the bar before making her rounds to the tables which were already clean.

Business was slow which bothered Amber immensely. Having ADHD meant she needed to stay busy or she would go insane. Though she knew it was the weather that now kept the pub empty, it still bothered her. She didn't like the rain and she was sure others didn't either.n She wondered what she could do to draw people in, but there wasn’t a whole lot. If it had been Saturday, the Hogwarts students would file in and out, beg her to sell them something stronger than Butter Beer and tip her badly, but she enjoyed watching them. Seeing them reminded her of the times she spent at this very spot with her friends and romantic partners. A sudden chill crept up her spine at the thought of one particular encounter with someone she was still close to.

Clearing her throat, Amber leaned against the bar and looked longingly at the door, but still no one entered. Finally, giving up, she grabbed the sketch pad she had hidden under the counter and started sketching the wood grain of the counter. It turned that wood grain didn’t occupy much time so she started sketching the scene outside which took more time, but she knew before long she would be bored again and would probably resort to cleaning yet again even though she kept everything as clean as she could anyway.

Knowing the school day was almost over, Amber wondered if any of the Professors would pop in for a pint; she desperately hoped so. It had been a few days since she’d seen any of the Professors from Hogwarts, but she was wanting to see one Professor in particular. Again, a chill went down her spine at the thought of her favorite person at Hogwarts. Not wanting to get her hopes up, Amber kept her mind and hands busy. No use in getting excited when the odds of seeing anyone were very slim.

It wasn't that she wanted to see anyone in particular, or at least that's what she told herself, she just wanted to see anyone. Well anyone worth having a conversation with anyway. The pub got kind of lonely when no one was around and Amber didn't like being alone. Having ADHD meant she always had to be doing something and standing around, cleaning the same stuff over and over again, drawing the same scenes time after time... well it started to get to her.

The rain that continued to beat on the roof of the inn made her flinch every so often. It seemed like that was all she could focus on, she couldn't even remember any songs she liked so she could hum them. Every so often her eyes would glance up at the ceiling in annoyance and a sigh would escape her. Oh how she wished someone would come and save her from the dullness that was her life.

Sure she might not have to sit there and wait for someone to come along, heck she could even close up shop if she wanted to, but why? It wasn't like she never got business, things were just a little slow today. Amber hoped dearly that someone would come in, even if it was just to ask for a room and then leave her alone again, at least someone else would be under the same roof and she wouldn't seem so alone.

Amber sighed again and looked down at the paper in her hand. Even though she liked it, she also hated it. The rain through the windows in her drawing was an eerie resemblance to the rain falling outside. With a growl, Amber slammed the sketch pad shut and pushed it down the bar away from her. Now what? She wondered. As she thought she bit the inside of her cheek and made clicking sounds with her tongue. Her eyes scanned the empty pub and she slowly began to wonder what the tables would look like with flowers on them? Tilting her head to the side she tried to imagine each of them with small vases of wild flowers on them. Her heat tilted to the other side before nodding.

"That's what I can do." She said quietly. "Before I open tomorrow I'll get some flowers, enchant them and put them on the tables." Amber nodded again and smiled to herself, glad that she had finally found a way to make the pub a little less dreary. But then she sighed, "Wish I could do it now..." She looked longingly at the door and bit her lip. Even though it wouldn't take her long, Amber dreaded closing up shop even just for a little while. The thought of losing even one customer because she was busy just didn't sit well with her.

With another sigh, she put her elbows on the counter and plopped her chin in her hands. Her eyes fixated on the door, as if staring at it would make someone magically come through it. Again, Amber began making random clicking noises with her tongue as she rolled her head from side to side. The rain outside continued to mock her as she watched it. Slowly her gaze turned to a scowl. In her mind she cursed the water and wished it would stop, but naturally nothing happened. With another sigh, she let her elbows slide across the smooth surface, crossed them and then lay her head ontop, tired of looking at the rain.

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Tag! OPEN
Wearing! Peach, westernish style button up shirt, white tank top, faded blue jeans and boots (sorry for the cowgirl jab)
Words! 1,078
Credit! CC
Lyrics! Songs about rain- Gary Allen
Notes! Wont someone come talk to my poor baby lol.

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Harry had to take a leave of absence from his job at Zonko’s. A certain group of Dark wizards had tracked him there, so in order for his own safety and everyone else’s, he needed to stay away from there for awhile. He had been living on his own, ever since he decided to move out of the Garrett’s mansion. However, he currently found himself living there again. He didn’t want to take the risk of going back to his own apartment, just in case they found out where he lived as well as where he worked. He might be cowardly, but at least he was safe.

The Garretts had saved him from the streets after he escaped the Dark wizards and they had grown to practically become his family. They had built a wonderful home for him and he appreciated it greatly… However, Harry was the sort of person that got cabin fever very easily. Maybe it was because he was held captive for so long or maybe that was just how he was, but he couldn’t stand to stay inside for too long. He liked to move around, to meet to people, to go new places. So against his better judgment and from Mr. and Mrs. Garrett’s rules, he snuck out of the mansion, apparating to the little village of Hogsmeade.

He had a large hood over his head, in the hopes that it might momentarily conceal his identity. It probably wouldn’t last long. He never could stand having a hood or hat on his head for too long. After entering the Three Broomsticks, he immediately slid onto the stool at the very end of the bar. He lowered the hood of his sweatshirt and cocked an eyebrow when he saw the bartender with her head on the bar. “Well, I came in for a little whiskey, but it seems like it’s a bad time,” he said with a grin on his face,”You alright?”

Well this town has closed down too early…

…and there’s nothing to do.

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At some point Amber had dozed off a little. She started dreaming first about her time at Hogwarts. Everything passed by in a blur and it all seemed to involve the fleeting romances she had and most of those seemed to focus around Missy. Apparently Amber had been secretly hoping to see the female professor again, but doubted very much that she would get to see Missy any time soon.

Her dreams then shifted to her life as a child and how she missed not knowing about magic. Now don't misunderstand, Amber loved being a witch, but it also made things complicated. She found herself shying away from all muggles no matter who they were just so she wouldn't have to tell them what she was and either get them or her or both of them in trouble. Needless to say those dreams didn't last long.

Finally, her dreams shifted to seeing herself as a Centaur and living as part of he group in the Forbidden Forest. Amber remembered from her time at Hogwarts that they were not to be tamed by the Ministry and so they ran about as they pleased. She had always found that appealing and sometimes wished she could run around free like that. Then she remembered they didn't wear cloths which sent those thoughts away quickly. Amber wasn't comfortable in her own skin even though she pretended to be.

When a man's voice greeted her, she jerked her head up and looked around stunned. It took her several times of blinking before she realized she wasn't alone. Quickly she got up from the stool she had been sitting on, knocking it over in the process. Amber froze as the stool crashed loudly to the floor. Her eyes closed and she shook her head. When the stool stopped moving, Amber shook her head again, opened her eyes and bent down to pick it up again. "Sorry about that." She said, making sure the stool was safe before walking around it towards the man."I didn't hear you come in. Must have dozed off." Casually she leaned against the bar before speaking again. "It's been a slow day. What can I get ya?" It felt good to be back in her old routine again.

Though Amber didn't know the man's name, she knew him by sight... sort of. She was sure that she'd seen him working at one of the shops around the village though at the present she couldn't quite place him. It was apparent however that she hand't seen him recently and though it wasn't really that important she wanted to figure out where she knew him from. She thought back to her recent ventures around the village and the shops that were around her. There had been a short visit to the sweet shop, her rival bar even though they were't at war or anything it amused her to think of the Hogs head as her competition and hadn't she been to the joke shop? That was it! This man worked there at least, she'd seen him there before, but she hadn't seen him recently.

Now that she knew she felt better about the man before her, but she wasn't about to ask where he'd been. As it was Amber doubted that the man had even noticed she went into the store. He got all kinds of customers and she was easily overlooked so it was natural that he should have no idea who she was. Even so, she found herself wondering about his personality. It took quite a person to work let alone own a joke shop. If one hated pranks and jokes they wouldn't very likely be found working in a shop that specializes in nothing but. Just like if one wasn't fond of drunk people they wouldn't likely be found working in a pub much like Amber now was. She didn't mind drunk people, actually she found herself laughing right a long with them most of the time. Even when they got vulgar or tried to paw at her, it was easy to deal with. One quick wand flick and they were perfect gentleman again even if they were on there arses in the street outside. Yes, Amber had gotten quite good at the Hovering charm over the years, it was a good way to get unruly patrons out of her bar. She had heard of muggle club bouncers, and Amber wondered if she shouldn't look into getting one or two, she wasn't very big after all and could easily be overtaken, but since nothing serious had happened yet she really saw no need to take such drastic measures.

It wasn't until that moment that she realized where the man had sat. She looked up and down the length of the bar at all the empty seats and cocked her head to the side. Usually the only ones who hid at the end of her bar were those who got kicked out of the Hogs Head and still had coin to waist. The Hogs Head was home to the more shady clientele and they usually sat the farthest away from anyone and in the darkest places. Amber wondered if her assumption about the man was right, maybe he didn't work at Zonko's, maybe she'd seen the man on her rare visits to the other pub. Her eyes scanned the mans face, he didn't look like the type who would cause trouble or door shady deals, but what did she know; to be honest Amber was just a little naive sometimes. She tended to trust too easily and then wonder why she had been tricked.

Whoever this man was, she was just glad she finally had some company. It had been a boring day, At least maybe he'll hold a conversation. Even though she hoped he would at least talk to her a little, she wasn't expecting him to be a Chatty Kathy. Most of her patrons she left alone so they could drink away whatever their problems were, and normally she didn't care, but with this man she wondered what his troubles were and if he would need someone to talk to.

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Tag! Harold Fontaine
Wearing! Peach, westernish style button up shirt, white tank top, faded blue jeans and boots (sorry for the cowgirl jab)
Words! 1,042
Credit! CC
Lyrics! Songs about rain- Gary Allen
Notes! <3

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It wasn’t the first time that Harry had stopped in at the Three Broomsticks, but as far as he could remember, it was the first time that he had spoken to the barkeep. The fact surprised him. He usually couldn’t resist talking to anyone, especially if it was a pretty girl. Lately, though, he hadn’t had the chance to talk to anyone besides the Garretts. Not to get him wrong – he adored the Garretts. They rescued him and gave him a family when his own family was gone. They were all wonderful, but occasionally, Harry liked talking to someone new.

Harry raised his eyebrows and tilted his head to the side as the young woman suddenly jerked her head up. His eyes widened as he jumped up from his seat when he saw the stool go tumbling to the floor. “Long day, I take it?” he asked, unable to keep himself from laughing at the situation,”You alright?” He carefully dropped back down onto his own stool, after checking that it was stable beneath him – not wanting to go tumbling to the ground because he didn’t check.

He slumped down slightly and folded his hands before resting them on the bar. “Right! The whole reason I came in here. Firewhiskey, if you please!” he said, leaning back slightly, causing his back to crack. He froze. “Ooh, wasn’t expecting that,” he said with a chuckle before he rubbed his back. He paused and raised his eyebrows slightly when he realized how closely the woman was looking at his face. Now, Harry being the guy he was, couldn’t resist this opening. “See something you like?” he asked, his grin widening as he turned to the side. He was partially joking and partially serious.

Harry figured he might be at the pub for awhile. “I’m Harry, by the way,” he said, extending his hand to her. It was known with the people that knew Harry closely that he had a bit of a drinking problem. He usually couldn’t help it when those flashbacks happened and he remembered the torture, pain and fear. The alcohol helped him momentarily forget it for awhile. Who wouldn’t succumb to drinking in a situation like that?

Well this town has closed down too early…

…and there’s nothing to do.

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Amber felt uneasy. That was the first time that she had ever fallen asleep at the bar and it just so happened that someone found her like that. He had to be cute too, she growled to herself, but shrugged it off. Now as the time to correct her blunder. She brushed the front of her shirt, just making sure it was straight and nodded. “Long, slow day.” She agreed. Looking away she waved her hand dismisivly. “I’m fine. What about you? Think it scared you as much as it did me.” Amber laughed. The truth was she was embarrassed, but she tried to cover it up by joking. Always better to make a joke than admit how awkward you really felt.

Amber was the type that acted cool and confident when actually she was freaking out inside. Because she liked to make others happy, she tended to pretend for their sakes. No matter how uncomfortable she felt, she would still be as charming as ever. Some might call that fake, but she preferred to think of it as considerate. If she disliked a person, she would very rarely tell them to their face just to spare their feelings, regardless of her own. And if someone she was involved with liked someone she didn’t, she would put on a brave face just to make them happy. Suffering for the happiness of a few… it was worth it to her, but sometimes he got to be too much.

When he settled back into his seat, Amber settled into her business nature, ready to get him whatever he requested. Normally she would have gone right to the bottle behind her, poured him a generous amount and handed it to him while making small talk, but she couldn’t move. Something about the man intrigued her. the fact that his back snapped so loudly made her wonder what he had been doing to cause his back to be so stiff. It wasn’t really her place to ask though so she gave him a soft smile, but said nothing more so as not to embarrass either of them. When he addressed her again, she flinched and felt her face flush. With a smile, she turned away and grabbed him a whiskey glass and the bottle of Firewhisky and poured him a fair amount. Her eyes stayed focused on the glass as she slid it towards him, but something inside her couldn’t resist. For some reason she wanted to seem more casual than she felt, ”You know, I just might have.” Amber replied cooly, smiling and batting her eyelashes at him. It was a normal behavior for her; she had to deal with drunken patrons all the time so she had to have a casual way of looking at things.

When he introduced himself, Amber was actually kind of surprised. She wasn’t used to her patrons introducing themselves until their third or fourth visit in a row, but she was glad he had said something. Gently she reached her hand across the bar and grasped his lightly. “It’s very nice to meet you Harry. I’m Amber-Lynn, but you can call me Amber.” A kind smile spread across her face as she watched the Harry. Though she knew it wasn’t really her business, she found herself curious as to why she hadn’t seen him lately. “You work here in Hogsmeade right?” She asked, altering her real question at the last second. Though she really wanted to get to the heart of her curiosity she decided a little more tact might be the better option.

Amber couldn’t help but feel like something wasn’t quite right. Just the way he had come in and sat so far down the bar was suspicious enough, but knowing that she hadn’t seen him around lately made it even more so. Maybe he’s been sick. And if he was it wasn’t her place. Everyone had their own lives to deal with and she was sure that this man was no different. Amber felt weird just staring at Harry so she moved down the bar to her sketch pad and opened it to a new page, but slid it down the bar closer to Harry and scooted her stool with her foot. Not really sure what she was going to draw, Amber just touched the pencil to the page and let her hand move. Before she knew it she already had a rough sketch of Harry’s face. Gasping she flipped the page over and set the pencil down, Ok, so drawing is out for the moment. Twitching her mouth she started turning slightly on her stool and thinking about how good a Butterbeer sounded at the moment.

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Tag! Harold Fontaine
Wearing! Peach, westernish style button up shirt, white tank top, faded blue jeans and boots (sorry for the cowgirl jab)
Words! 783
Credit! CC
Lyrics! Songs about rain- Gary Allen
Notes! <3

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A grin broke out across Harry’s face when he heard what the woman said. He couldn’t help but laugh at not only what she had said, but just the situation itself. “Well, you know, it’s not every day that you walk into a bar and the bartender is the one passed out at the bar,” he said, raising his eyebrows and nodding, allowing another small chuckle to escape his mouth. “Glad you’re okay and I didn’t have to perform CPR or anything like that,” he said, pausing to smirk before continuing,”Not that I would have minded, of course.”

He often used flirting as a way of breaking the ice or, even more often, he would use it to change the subject. Harry would often do that when Zelda got a little too preachy with him. She liked to act big, but it was so easy to make her feel uncomfortable – hey, at least it got her to leave him alone for a little while. Not to get him wrong – he adored Zelda, but she really could be so annoying sometimes. She really thought that she knew absolutely everything and she wasn’t afraid to criticize. So, in his eyes, she deserved the discomfort.

Harry grinned and raised his eyebrows when he heard the woman’s response. “Oh, really?” he said, intrigued,”Care to be a little more specific?”

He gave her hand a firm shake before releasing. “Nice to meet’cha,” he said with a nod. It really shouldn’t have, but her next question caught him off guard. It made sense for her to recognize him, since they worked in the same general area. He glanced at her for a moment, surveying and studying her. “Yeah, yeah, I work in the joke shop. Taking a little hiatus for the time being, though,” he said, with a light shrug before picking up the whiskey and taking a long drink.

Harry heaved a sigh as he peered down the bar, where the bartender had wandered. “Hey, what’cha working on down there?” he asked curiously as he saw the pad of paper in front of her.