Victoria walked into the Hog's Head, smiling at the old sounds and smells. They hadn't spent much time in here at the end of their school years, but the memories were good ones. Tess and her slipping in for butterbeers among the adults. Now that they were older, Victoria had harder tastes when it came to drinks.

Taking a seat, she smiled at the woman that came by to take her order. She'd been so used to simply drinking water up in the mountains that butterbeer did sound rather good. She ordered two and waited for Tess to arrive.

Arriving in London, Victoria had contacted Tess, hoping to have at least one friend when she returned to the area. She was trying to start a new life, but felt that it was best achieved by reconnecting with her old one.

Tess was really excited for what was to come. Growing up, she never really had anyone with whom she clicked with. Her brother ignored her for most of his life, and she found herself alone, that is until Hogwarts and Victoria came along. They were best friends for the longest time, it was until graduation when they had to separate and go off to their own paths that they really fell a bit apart.

When she was contacted, she was a bit surprised, but overall pleased at the situation. St. Mungos took most of her time, but she had asked Chale for a day off so she could take some time and catch up with an old friend.

Walking in, she smiled instantly, as she noticed her. Both had changed a lot, and as she walked towards her, she couldn't help but feel like perhaps not too much had changed.

"It's been a while" she commented as she sat down across from her.

Victoria couldn't believe how different Tess looked. They'd always seemed rather similar, compared as sisters at times, but they'd both changed. Victoria knew she had many scars from working with dragons, though the worst ones had healed for the most part. But Tess looked like the book worm that she had started out as.

Victoria remembered that she worked as a healer now. She wondered if that's where the look of wear came from. She smiled at her friend, happy to see a familiar face. "How are you?"

She'd wondered if it would be weird, not really having seen each other in...3 years. But she felt completely at ease. "What do people do around here for fun?" She gave Tess a cheeky grin, full of mischief.

Tess shrugged at her questioned and thanked the waitress as she brought them their drinks. She smiled realizing that the drinks were what they used to have a kids.

"I'm pretty good I suppose. I'm a workaholic" she said grinning. "I work at the Pediatrics Wing, youngest Healer there. It's a miracle my boss let me out today"

She wasn't lying. With a sixteen hour shift, around six days a week, it was a miracle Chale had said yes, though she knew she would pay for it later. But it didn't matter, she was just glad that they were both enjoying a get together, it'd been a while.

Taking a sip of her drink, she grinned widely as she saw the glint in her friend's eye. She laughed and shook her head, feeling like they were back at Hogwarts.

"Merlin, you haven't changed!" she said laughing.

Once she got herself back to normal she replied.

"Normal people go out clubbing, drinking, and other things usually involving alcohol somehow"

Victoria smirked. No, she hadn't changed in some ways. Always loved the next adventure. It had been rather of a good thing in school. They never were wanting for entertainment. And it was a trait that carried her all the way to Wales in search of the ultimate adventure.

Dragons! But she'd gotten another adventure she hadn't been asking for. Shaking off the bad feelings, she took a sit of the wonderfully sweet liquid. "That sounds wonderful! I knew you'd be smashing." Tess had always been the brainy one of the two. Victoria could never find the drive to memorize all those facts unless it had to do with animals. For some reason they made sense to her.

She leaned back in her chair, laughing at her answer. "I should check out the clubs then. Haven't really been to one in...well...maybe ever." They didn't have clubs in the mountains.

Tess blushed slightly, but let out a grin. She knew that despite how her family renounced her decision of being a Healer, Victoria was her supporter. She knew that Victoria was meant to go on adventures, and she had moving away to train with dragons, it was exciting, or she thought'd it be.

"Thanks, it's not that bad, the hours are long, but the pay is good"she finished smirking. "What about you? Didn't you go off to work with dragons?"

At the mention of clubs she laughed and shrugged. Clubbing wasn't her thing, in fact she had only gone twice, and one night she ended up being dragged home by a sheepish Parker who convinced her to have firewhiskey for the first time, and the second, was Alec dragging her home after convincing her to go drinking with him. Both experiences weren't that great.

"Clubbing isn't really my thing, because I don't have time, but that's basically where Alec lives, so I can tell you that's were people lose it."

Victoria felt her heart clench at the mention of dragons. She realized how out of touch Tess and her had gotten. Smiling lightly at her comment about Alec, she caught a waiter by the arm in passing. "Can I get a round of firewhisky, please?" She looked hard at Tess. "I'm gonna need it."

As they waited, she figured she'd better start in. "Yeah, I followed Bronn to Wales to work with the dragons there. It was great at first." The waiter was back before she could even blink. She figured he'd seen how much she needed it. She wasn't sure if Tess drank at all, but it was something Victoria had picked up a bit, what with living with mostly guys.

She took a long drink and tried not to smash the glass back down on the table. "I actually formed a really close bond with one of them. Cyreen. She was this beautiful Opaleye. Craig is taking care of her now, but I really miss her." She talked about the dragon, avoiding the topic of Bronn for just a few more minutes. Maybe let the alcohol set in.

Tess blinked surprised at the tone, but simply asked for some rum and coke for herself. She figured that she ordered the firewhiskey for a reason, and that peaked her curiosity. As Victoria began her story, she picked her drink and listened just like she used to as a child.

"I always knew you had the passion for dragons, really having little interests in books of other genres" she said reminiscing. " It must have been hard to leave. Why did you?"

Tess was curious by nature, always dying to know more about whatever sparked her inquiry. But she wondered why Victoria would be so general about her story, usually she would keep talking about people, but a dragon? Surely there had to be more of a reason why she left.

Victoria couldn't help but smile. Tess knew her too well, even after a few years. She sighed, figuring she just better get to it.

"Well...Bronn, actually," she took another drink. "I went there with him. Eventually fell in love. Or so I thought.." He'd been wonderful. They'd been close through school, the three of them. When he asked her to come away with him after they graduated, she thought it was a dream come true. A way to have a career that she'd love, and have the man she loved at her side. Guess not! Drink.

"Anyway. Apparently he was working for the Germans. One night he lead an attack on our camp. Luckily I was sleeping on the outskirts to be closer to Cyreen. I hopped on and we didn't look back." She wasn't proud of the way they just retreated, but she had been terrified. She'd seen the group of men tare through the camp, curses blazing. And at the head had been Bronn. But he didn't look the same. His face looked contorted, into something of evil. Victoria still had nightmares.

Taking another drink, she tried to smile. The alcohol was setting in and she could feel the warmth in her stomach. "We met back up with Craig and a few other lucky ones. I decided I...well I just couldn't stay in that life anymore."

Tess at first smiled brightly at the mention of Bronn. He and Victoria were always together,but they never made her feel like the third wheel because they were a happy trio. Bronn would be a bookworm like Tess, but he'd have more logic than the two girls put together. She was expecting to get an invite to their wedding, soon after graduation, but as Victoria kept telling her story, Tess' happy thoughts dimmed.

The second drink was a bad sign, and as she kept going, Tess felt she needed to drink as well. Taking a sip she winced at the strength of the rum but kept listening. She couldn't believe that'd he'd do something like that, so heartless to betray not only his friends but his country.

"What a bastard" she said finishing her drink and ordering another one. "That bastard had everyone fooled I guess. I understand though, I wouldn't want to be back there too if I had to remember that."

She shook her head and wondered how years made these changes. In three, three years everything had changed.

"What are you plans now?"

Victoria set her second glass down. She figured it wouldn't do well to get sloshed here and leave Tess to clean her mess up. She closed her eyes for a second, trying to stop the world from moving a little.

"Yeah. Bastard." She honestly didn't know why he'd done it. Or if their relationship even factored into his plans. She didn't know if his feelings were real or imaginary. Within that moment of fear, staring at a face that was no longer his, Victoria had decided she didn't care. He'd made his choice.

She sighed. "I really don't know what I'm gonna do now. I'm actually staying in a hotel in London til I find a decent flat. I have a little money saved up. But no job prospects right now. All I really know how to do is work with dragons. Or any animal really."

She looked at her friend, realizing how much she'd missed her. "But what about you? What have you been doing besides work. Or including work! Tell me all about it."

Tess tilted her head and wondered if her next suggestion would be inappropriate, she hoped not.

"Victoria, you shouldn't be staying at a hotel. If you want, you can stay at my flat, I have an extra room, has a bed, you'll be surrounded by books, but it's not like it's anything different from when you visited my room as a kid" she finished laughing.

She really wanted her friend to bounce back. London was not exactly the cheapest city, and she figured she'd help the person she still considered her closest friend. Victoria had grown up beside her, and knew what issues and things she dealt with as a kid.

"Me?" she said grinning. "Not much, as I said I work with kids at St. Mungos, though it might change if Chale has anything so say about it."

She finished off trailing off a bit, with a smile.

Victoria smiled her first genuine smile in...Ages. If it was anyone else,she might have turned down the offer, thinking it was just charity. But she knew better with Tess. They'd relied on each other two many times over the years to ever feel self conscious or embarrassed about it.

She put her hand over top Tess's on the table. "That would be wonderful! Just like old times." She'd spent many summers at Tess's home, wherever they were staying at the time. Her favorite had been back in California. It was fun getting to go back to the sea as a kid. Though they did have to deal with Alec as well.

Her ears pricked up at Tess's comment. "So who is this Chale, and when do I get to meet him?" She raised her eyebrow suggestively. She didn't know if they were an item, but she couldn't pass up a good teasing.

Hearing her reply, Tess grinned brightly and squeezed her friends hand at her acceptance. She wanted to make her transition as smooth as possible, after all it was hard to just move and start all over. Victoria moving it might mean she might not have to be so alone.

Being ostracized at work, it was nice to have someone to talk to. Parker was busy and having issues and well it was just her, and her books usually. Sometimes she felt like such a spinster at 20.

Chale, she had mentioned Chale. She hoped Victoria would have just ignored it but no she hadn't That grinned of hers made Tess blush through the root of her hair and she took one of the Firewhiskeys and drank it to gain some courage.

"He's...he's the Head Healer. Not much you know?" she said looking at her glass.

She had a crush on him. She really tried not to, but it was so frustrating how brilliant he was, and how he questioned everything she did. He made her be aggressive, something that she hadn't been dealing with since Hogwarts and when she had dated Xander.

Victoria grinned at Tess's reaction. "Oh come off it. You can't lie to me." Tess had never been able to lie to her, at least convincingly. If she remembered correctly, Tess had been a lousy liar all around. But Victoria just figured it was because she had such a kind heart. Victoria had learned how though. You couldn't get out of all the mischief she'd gotten into without learning.

Her eyes sparkled at the fun of being able to just let go of the darkness for a while. She was glad the waiter had kept them coming. She picked up a firewhisky, motioning for Tess to do the same. Downing it in one go, she plunked it on the table. "Okay. Spill."

Tess let out a noise she hadn't made since school: a whine. Victoria could easily know when she was keeping a secret. She was probably the worst liar ever, that's why Victoria and her would practice any possibly lie they might need if they were ever caught in any trouble. Huffing she took another gulp and hissed at the burning.

"Merlin why am I such a shitty liar" she said chuckling.

Touching her cheeks trying to cool them down (the drink wasn't helping at all), she took a deep breath before spilling. It was as if they were teenagers all over again.

"His name is Chale Donovan. As I said he's the Head Healer...he's really handsome" she mumbled ignoring her friend's gaze. "He's the smartest person I've ever met."

Taking a breath she took another one for more courage and twitched a bit at the way they were warming up her belly. Licking her lips she wrinkled her brow and began to complain.

"He's a bastard at the same time. He's so blunt and orders people around, I mean they're genuinely scared of him. It's frightening how they scurry like cockroaches. He never really sees me you know? He just yells 'Black can you walk any faster' or 'Black you're stuck being second to me for this surgery'. He uses up most of my possible free time."

Running her fingers through her hair she wondered how she even got in this mess.

Victoria laughed at Tess's admittance to her lack of lying abilities. Some of her best memories were when they'd sit in the dark somewhere thinking up ridiculous lies, just to learn to say them properly and convincingly. Whether it be for forgotten homework or being caught out of bed after hours. It started with reasonable stories that they could later used, then led to outlandish tales that had them laughing so hard they cried.

At Tess's first discription of Chale Victoria wasn't convinced. Tess didn't go for a guy just because he was smart and good looking. Ever since that Xander guy from school, she'd always needed a challenge. It made Victoria grin even more when Tess broke and finally admitted how she really felt about him. That's the Tess I know.

"But I bet you'd like him to use up more of your time, eh?" Knowing she'd teased her enough, she let up. "But honestly, how can he not see you? You're fabulous! He's lucky that you see him."

Tess glared and fought a smirk that was appearing on her face. Honestly, Victoria was such a tease in the worst way possible. Still, it was nice to be able to talk to someone about her petty things. Though there was more to it, and she figured that Victoria might be able to help.

"That's sweet" She said softly. "But it's just a crush I mean...I can't. He's my boss and well my colleagues hate me already, no need to give them a reason to hate me more."

She took a shot and coughed as she figured that she needed to slow down before they'd wobble to her flat.

"They all already think I slept with him to get my position. They're all bastards, I hate them all. No one believes that I actually read anything. Sometimes Alec and my parents were right should've been a damn Auror."

Victoria felt hot in the face. May be the liquor, but most likely not. She'd always had a hot streak when it came to defending Tess. "Point me at 'em and let me have fun. I'd love to beat the crap out of them." She couldn't believe they'd think that of Tess. Victoria wasn't delusional to think she didn't engage in natural acts of the adult nature. But she knew how much this job meant to her. Too much to jeopardize it by sleeping with the boss to get there.

She was shocked to hear that her family didn't believe in her. But then again, it really wasn't. She knew first hand how distant family members could really be. You could tell them about everything that goes on in your life, but they'd never understand. The closest someone could get was to be your best mate. And she knew what Tess could really do. Sure, she was brilliant at spells, but she'd always had a healers heart.

"I know how brilliant you are. If they can't see it then they can bugger off. You're a grown adult and you can do whatever you put your mind to." She took a drink of the water the waiter had brought. Cheeky bloke. At the mention of Alec though, she couldn't help but ask. "What's the big bro up to nowadays? Off seeing the world?"

Tess smiled brightly at her comment and looked at her shaking her head. Honestly Victoria was very protective in the best sense, even when they separated for a bit, she found herself happy at the fact that she was able to feel safe despite the silliness of it all. She remembered once when Victoria had beaten up a boy who'd pushed her down every day after Transfiguration and ever since then he never did.

"Thanks" she said smiling. "But it's foolish to have the crush you see? He was the one to tell me that there were rumors during an interview. I was mortified to say the least."

Tess took a sip of the water and was relieved a bit, hoping to sober up a bit so she didn't start crying (she was an emotional and honest drunk).

"Ugh Alec? Who knows. Last time I saw him was on the day of my graduation, he was the only one to arrive, only to try and tell me that there was an opening at the Academy and that I had wasted enough time. He told me 'Buckle down squirt'. Once I told him to sod off, haven't seen him since. Probably man whoring himself around."

Taking another sip she sighed.

"And he's the favorite? I don't get my folks" she whined.

Victoria understood how she felt. It was hard to crush on someone. Especially if there are obstacles. Bronn hadn't been the only love in her life. There'd been a younger student, Luke. But it hadn't worked out. They were lucky enough to end on a good note, though. "You'll figure it out. Screw what everyone else thinks. As long as you can be happy doing what you love, then who cares about them."

Her grin at being able to simply be a good friend faded at Tess's talk of her family. Victoria never understood why why Tess's parents couldn't accept her choices. It was like no matter what she did, they were never satisfied. Victoria appreciated them taking her into their home all those times she visited, but sometimes she wondered if they were a little too Slytherin.

And it sounded like Alec was no better. "I can't believe them. Do you talk to your parents anymore, since they don't really approve of your job?"

Tess smiled as Victoria gave her advice, she was always the best when it came to cheering her up. She remembered fondly how she would give her advice and convince her that she needed to keep going.

"You're right, you're usually right" she said smiling slightly.

She felt bad a bit that she had taken the smile from Victoria. She was used to being blunt about the large gap between her and her family. She had accepted it, but it still didn't stop hurting. In fact, she felt a bit heartbroken, but acceptance was the first step.

"No...I haven't spoken to them since graduation" she said sighing."But it's for the best."

Victoria's heart went out to Tess. She had never been close with her own parents, which was why she spent so much time so much time at Tess's house when they were younger. She suddenly felt bad for going off on a grand adventure right out of school and leaving Tess on her own.

Deciding to pick them up out of this funk, she took one last drink and smiled brightly. "Well I'm in need of some new threads. Preferably ones without scorch marks," it had been an inevitable affect. "Then let's go see this wonderful flat."

She was really excited about them living together. Tess had always been the sister she never had, and now it would feel that way.

Tess smiled at the change of subject, she appreciated the change of mood, even if it was a bit obvious what she was trying to do she went along with it. She finished her glass of water and nodded.

"Come on, before I forgot where I live" she said smiling. "Will you be needing to get anything from your hotel room?"

Victoria grinned ear to ear. She lifted up her purse, which looked like miniature brown messenger bag. "I found the spell in seventh year that that witch Granger used from our history class. Everything's in here." It had been very useful up in the mountains. It also helped that she hadn't really owned much in the way of furniture.

Paying for the drinks, she stood and linked her arm in Tess's. "Girl, we're gonna have the time of our lives!"