before the rain [Chase]

[[Charlotte Barnard]]

On a cold late January morning Charlotte Barnard decided no matter what the other pubs claimed no one could serve up a butterbeer quite like Madam Rosmerta.

And so Charlotte was forced to realize the mistake she had made, on a cold morning Hogsmeade residents as well as the Hogwarts students on weekends often gathered in the establishments of Hogsmeade, most commonly The Three Broomsticks.

Charlotte wasn't what someone would call an ochlophobiac, having a fear of crowds but nevertheless the amount of people in the usually mild-mannered pub overwhelmed her. With a quick scan of her eyes Charlotte spotted two possible open seats, one near where two lovebirds were snogging their hearts out, at this Charlotte sighed, before steeling herself up and marching over to the table where a man's head was laying limply, letting out a snore occasionally as the door opened to reveal newcomers.

Wincing slightly at her chosen seat Charlotte pushed her way through the crowd and primly cast a quick Scourgify, after that she did a quick scan of the pub incase anyone she knew came in while she had been checking for a seat.

Charlotte's eyes widened as they fell on someone who she hadn't seen in quite a while.

"CHASE!"

[Chase McKinney-Jackson]

Chase decided it would be a good idea if he got out for the night and went and got a drink in the Three Broomsticks. It felt weird going without Brent, but Chase needed some time to himself sometimes, and as much as he wanted Brent to be there. It wouldn't be time by himself with him.

Chase was just finishing up a drink when he heard a voice call out to him. He turned around to find none other than Charlotte. A really good friend that he hadn't seen in a while.

"Charlotte!! Fancy meeting you here! What are you doing in the Three Broomsticks? How are you? How's everything?" Chase smiled as he bombarded her with a flood of questions. He tended to do that when he got overly excited. It was a talent and a weakness all in one! Chase was just surprised and happy to see an old friend.

[[Charlotte Barnard]]

[OOC: Eep, I'm so sorry for the late reply! D:]

Charlotte grinned from ear to ear sheepishly as half of the pub stared at her, but soon enough they returned to what they were doing and Charlotte bounced up and made her way to Chase pushing through the once again heavy crowd.

"Slow down there Chase, aren't I meant to be the talkative one?" Charlotte tried to sound stern but burst out laughing anyway, "First of all I live here. Second of all I'm absolutely brilliant as can be when one is thirty-seven, single and don't even have a house pet to keep me company."

It was hard but she managed, Charlotte desperately wanted to hug Chase but it had been quite a while. No matter how much smiling she did somehow it just wouldn't be the same, that didn't mean she couldn't try though, but that would come much, much later.

[Chase McKinney-Jackson]

Chase noticed that the pub was rather busy that night. He silently wondered why, but didn't pay much attention to it. He was, instead, paying attention to Charlotte, whom he missed terribly and wished they spent more time together. She was a good friend, and fun to be around.

"You know I'm talkative! And that I ramble when I'm excited or nervous or any time really. I'm just a rambler." Chase laughed. It was good to relax a bit and talk with an old friend. Chase didn't do this enough. He spent most of his time with Brent or the other band members. But of course, even Charlotte didn't know that. Their band was secret.

"Right. I forgot you lived here. My bad." Chase laughed again. "Why don't you get a nice cat? I've heard they're rather friendly. That's why I love my job so much. I can have all the pets I want! And not those boring normal ones either! I get thestrals and unicorns and hippogryffs!" Chase smiled at her. He really did enjoy being the Care of Magical Creatures professor.

OOC: Perfectly fine, Nadia! I don't mind one bit. I know you had that English thingy.

[[Charlotte Barnard]]

It was so easy, to relax that is, with someone like Chase. And relax Charlotte did.

However at the mention of cats Charlotte wrinkled her nose in distaste, "I hate cats, well maybe not hate but they're so...I don't know!" At the mention of hippogryffs however Charlotte brightened.

"I thought the Ministry put a ban on that? They must've released it somehow I suppose, I like Hippogryffs, say do you think I could visit Hogwarts and take a look around? I haven't been there in a while!"

Of course though Chase did not know the reason why Charlotte hadn't been there in a while, once moved to Hogsmeade she expected to visit Hogwarts at least once a month. But that had been five years ago, five years had passed and she still hadn't worked up the courage to go to Hogwarts.

Charlotte knew not to mention magical creatures again unless she wanted a full on essay on them, she loved Chase she really did (platonically that is), but she didn't often want to hear about how thestrals developed their camouflage. And once Chase got started on a subject it was hard to stop him, so Charlotte moved on to a different one, even one that made her uncomfortable.

[Chase McKinney-Jackson]

Chase laughed. "How can you no like cats!!! I love all animal. They're all so sweet!" Chase was a big sissy. He knew that. He loved that! He embraced it! It was a big part of who Chase was, and he wasn't about to change that.

"Eh. Who cares about a little ministry ban," Chase smirked and winked at Charlotte as he said it. He knew about the ban, he didn't think it had been lifted, but that didn't stop him from having all the hippogryffs he has.

"Of course you're welcome at the castle, Charlotte." Chase smiled at her. "You're welcome anytime you wish. All you have to do is send me an owl and I'd be happy to escort you." Chase meant it. He always had enjoyed talking to Charlotte, it was fun and relaxing. There was no reason she couldn't come every once in a while to see the animals and the castle and hang out with Chase, maybe Brent. It would be a nice change of company for Chase.

OOC: I am sooooo sorry, Nadia! I didn't even remember this thread... and didn't see the reply to remind me... I'll look at it more often. I promise.

[[Charlotte Barnard]]

[OOC: No worries, I'm sorry myself, homework keeps cramping me...D:]

Charlotte frowned momentarily.

"Not, not no Chase," as if something inside her stirred Charlotte slipped back into one of her old habits; correcting people's grammar. It was a habit that dated from the start of Hogwarts and had taken years to dispel, unfortunately for Charlotte it had a penchant for coming back when least expected.

Charlotte grimaced at the mention of cats, she respected their independence and no doubt there were smart animals but they just creeped her out.

"Dogs are more my field Chase, you know that," after a pause Charlotte couldn't help but add; "I'd like to see a sweet dragon!"

Gratefully Charlotte smiled, it was slightly strained though because her mental capability overruled her desire. She desired to go back to Hogwarts but she couldn't be able to support herself if she had a minor breakdown, the guilt was overwhelming. Twenty-three years and counting, the guilt remained.

[Chase McKinney-Jackson]

Chase laughed when Charlotte corrected his grammar. He didn't mind, he half did it on purpose. It wasn't as if he didn't know that it was improper grammar. It was just so like Charlotte that she corrected him. It made him laugh at the memories.

"Dogs are good too, of course." Chase smiled. "I love all animals, you know that." Chase copied what she said. Chase did love all animals, and anyone he associated with should know that.

"I've always wanted a sweet dragon, but I'm afraid they aren't very easy to come by. It's my dream to go to Romania for a summer to spend with the dragons. They're fascinating creatures!" Chase was getting worked up about dragons, so he stopped himself there. He was really trying to not ramble on and on about an animal when he was sure the other person didn't want to know every single thing Chase was thinking about that animal.

OOC: No worries! How about we just say whenever we can get to it, and no worries from there? I know school can be suckish.

[[Charlotte Barnard]]

All the while that Chase talked Charlotte had a bright smile on her face, she hadn't talked to Chase in a very long time and it was now time for the inquisition to begin.

"Dragons are fascinating aren't they? But nevermind that, is there someone that I need to meet?"

Charlotte grimaced at her lack of tact, she never really was very subtle. Nevertheless Charlotte trod on not sure what to expect. It had been years, maybe Chase had found someone?

It wasn't that Charlotte wasn't happy for Chase if he had, or that she wasn't asking because she wanted too, she was simply curious.

[Chase McKinney-Jackson]

Chase laughed at her tact. Or lack of he should say. She just kind of changed the subject with no plausible reason. Chase just knew it was Charlotte. That was her. Chase just laughed it off. Even though it was a random question, he knew what she meant. Was Chase dating anyone. Was he? Was cheating with someone considered a relationship? Was it okay to tell her about him and Brent?

"Well. That's a difficult situation." Chase laughed it off. He wanted to tell Charlotte. She might actually help more than the guys in the band would or did. His talk with Hunter was pointless and he hadn't even talked to Reid about it yet. Conversations with Brent didn't go very far. Not without them making out normally. Or yelling. It bothered Chase sometimes, but he knew it was mainly because Brent didn't know what was going on with his life. He was upset all the time, scared, hurt. Chase understood that.

But Charlotte never talked to people from Hogwarts. Did she? If she did, there couldn't be many. What harm would it do if he told her.

"I suppose you could say there is someone."

[[Charlotte Barnard]]

Charlotte hadn't actually planned on what she would say if Chase said yes. If he'd had said no she would've laughed and said she was the same. But he had.

So Charlotte just smiled as convincingly as she could.

"Who?"

Charlotte mentally racked through her brain, trying to figure out who exactly that someone Chase was mentioning could possibly be. To no avail it was however, because Charlotte couldn't for the life of her think of anyone.

[Chase McKinney-Jackson]

Chase say Charlotte smile, but it wasn't right. It didn't look right. Like it wasn't a real smile. Her talkativeness had left and she didn't seem like she thought Chase was going to say yes. She had assumed it would be a no. Chase couldn't blame her. He had been alone for so long. He didn't even know for sure if he and Brent were together.

Questions ran through Chase's mind as he thought about what to say. Maybe he should have just said no. Does she know I'm gay? Well.... Bi? Will Brent get mad if I tell her? Will Maryn find out from Charlotte? Charlotte wouldn't do that... she'd keep the secret. Wouldn't she? And anyways, Brent is going to tell her soon. It can't be that bad... Chase was having a mental argument with himself. But he decided just to answer.

"Well... I don't know if I've ever told you... but I'm Bi-sexual." Chase said it awkwardly. He had never really told anybody before. People had just known.

"I have a thing with Brent." It was all Chase said. He didn't bother explaining who Brent was. Anyone that knew Chase, knew Brent.

[[Charlotte Barnard]]

Charlotte blinked. Once. Twice.

Yet again Chase had managed to somewhat surprise her. Panic flooded within Charlotte as she processed it, it? How the hell was she supposed to reply to that?

Charlotte took a deep breath and smiled. She didn't even know whether it was fake or not, she just smiled. That was her back up plan, when everything else failed; smile.

"You haven't." Charlotte tried smiling even wider but she wasn't really ecstatic, it wasn't that she wasn't happy for Chase (there it was again! "It wasn't that she wasn't happy for Chase," again and again replaying through Charlotte's mind) she was just...overwhelmed.

Brent. Brent. Brent.

Charlotte tried to recall the name Brent. Then it hit her. Charlotte had given up magic before, but not communication with magic. She'd heard through a distant relative that apparently there was a boy who failed to pass a single NEWT, this just so happened to be Brent McKinney and Charlotte tried to discern whether Brent was that Brent.

But first of all Charlotte had to figure out how to approach Chase about such an obviously possibly touchy subject. It wasn't like she could just go; "oh yes, Brent? Umm, by the way Chase wasn't he the one who failed to receive a single NEWT and had to retake them?" No. Charlotte had the queasy displeasure stemmed from the knowledge that if she said that it would be taken the entirely wrong way. It would seem like she was instating Brent was mentally retarded or something.

So all she said was, "Oh."

Not satisfied with her awkward and brief reply, Charlotte cast her eyes to the floor absentmindedly, it was sort of grotty, Charlotte hated messes. They were so...messy.

[Chase McKinney-Jackson]

Chase could tell by the look on Charlottes face that she clearly didn't know before this. It kind of shocked him. He thought everyone knew that he was bisexual. He thought he acted more gay than straight. So at the very least he would think she thought he was gay. But he guessed not.

There was a smile on her face, but Chase wasn't even sure if it were forced or not. It didn't seem right, but it didn't seem fake. it was weird. And Chase always considered himself half way decent at being able to tell emotions on people's faces. Yet the one time he wanted to be able to tell her emotion, he couldn't.

"Yeah. He didn't really have his life in control during NEWT time." Chase didn't even bother to ask why she asked that. It was natural. Most every one in the wizarding world had heard about that. It was kind of big as normally even the dumbest of people got at least one or two NEWTS. Yet Brent, who was fairly smart, didn't get a single one.

"I know. It's a bit of a shock. I should have.... worked my way into it. Or... not told you. I'm sorry..." Chase looked down when he saw her look down. This was awkward. He didn't want it to be awkward. He figured she would have at least known about his sexual preference. But apparently it wasn't as obvious as he had thought it was.

[[Charlotte Barnard]]

Charlotte's eyes widened as she realized what she had asked aloud. She gulped nervously and tittered back and forth on the chair she was sitting on.

"No it's fine...it's just umm," Charlotte looked up, down, sideways anywhere but Chase. Charlotte cleared her throat after a few moments of yet again awkward silence.

"I'm actually sort of involved with someone too, congratulations though - for you!"

Charlotte felt like slapping herself, she wasn't involved with anyone romantically not in her lifetime nor the next would she ever, so why had she just lied to one of her friends? The congratulations came out weird in Charlotte's opinion it was as if she was commending Chase for an academic achievement not a relationship with someone!