Piano Man (OPEN)

[Liam Smith]

Liam looked up at the clock on the Leaky Cauldron again, not exactly for the sake of what time it was, but for how long he had been there. Liam didn't have much at all to do nowadays but wait for a holiday when Mina would come home, and even that seemed to move at a slug's pace. It was a lonesome feeling, and Liam knew he should feel happy for Mina and hated his selfish feelings, but he wanted her home. He should be able to take care of her, for Christs sake! What if something happened at Hogwarts while she was there? God only knows how much trouble Mina could get herself in...
The thought was unsettling, and Liam grimaced. Mina would be able to take care of herself. It was those damned creatures she worked with he couldn't trust. Liam couldn't count how many times he had seen the previous groundskeeper and Care of Magical Creatures professor, Hagrid bruised and burnt by the many creatures that lie on Hogwarts grounds, and sure enough, Mina didn't have the rough build of a giant to protect her...
It wasn't just the job that scared him. It was what could possibly lie at Hogwarts.
Even though Mina had distanced herself from Xanthe (for what reason, Liam didn't really know), he had known her long enough to know that she was fanatic about potioneering and the Dark Arts. They hadn't kept contact outside of Hogwarts, but what if she was up to her usual work? It wasn't just dislike that could have been rooted from both of the girls dating Darien Wakefield, Liam's best friend, that Liam had noticed in his school years. No, when they passed the halls, it was a bitter loathing. What if Xanthe had some sort of role in Hogwarts happenings; what, with the excessive wealth her family posessed, she could be a school govorner...
Liam nearly laughed at the idea.
Come off it, Liam. You're just nervous about her and the baby, is all.
The baby. Would the baby be staying practically its entire life on the Hogwarts grounds, barely to see or know his (or her, Liam reminded himself) father at all?
Liam looked down at his drink he had ordered, a mead. He pushed the mug away, sighing. He didn't feel like drinking tonight.[/size]

[Julian Metellus Cimber]

"Glad 'te have yeh again, Doctor."

Julian nodded at Tom, the hunchbacked inkeeper at the Leaky Cauldron, looking around at the nearly deserted pub. It was a bit late for anyone to meet for lunch, but too early to go to a bar and drink. It was exactly the time of day that Julian liked best; personally, he couldn't concentrate when the pub was noisy and boisterous. He was a thinker, Julian was, and a quiet place was preferable over all.
Dr. Cimber looked around at the barely populated pub, trying to find a suitable spot to inhabit with his much wrinkled copy of The Daily Prophet. Julian flashbacked to the boy who sold it to him,a specky, mouse haired boy shouting at the top of his lungs about the two Sickle paper; Julian paid him three to make him go away.
There was a hag in the corner with two rather large glasses of something frothing green foam and steaming, muttering some sort of incantation over them. He decided to avoid that side of the room altogether.
Julian heard a sigh, and he turned his head to see where it came from. Sure enough, where there was a pub, there was someone drinking out their problems. Julian was no therapist and was rather a bit statuesque when it came to feelings, but something rang. That man obviously had a problem in the female department. Really, there wasn't really anything else worth moping over, it seemed for men.
At least, not for him. He was statuesque and professional.
Julian took the seat next to the man, looking to the bartender.
"MacCutcheron scotch, please. Over ice."
He looked at the stranger's mead. It was condensating from not being touched.
When the drink came, he took a small sip, then placing it down and looking at the stranger.
"So," he began. "What's her name, then?"
Before the stranger could talk back, he laughed lightly. "And don't try to tell me that it's not over a lass, because then you wouldn't be drinking in the middle of the afternoon."

[Liam Smith]

Liam was enjoying a needed break until a voice disturbed him from his relaxation from work.
"So, what's her name, then?"
"Excuse me?" Liam growled, conveying only a bite of irritation in his voice. Before he could rebuttle more, he heard more of the stranger.
"And don't try to tell me that it's not over a lass, because then you wouldn't be drinking in the middle of the afternoon."
Liam turned to the man.
"Well, thanks, Captain Obvious." he grumbled, grabbing at his mead so he could have something to grip. "It's my wife."
He looked down at his wedding band, twisting it with his fingers, wondering where Mina could be right now and how she was doing.
Liam scrunched his eyebrows in frustration. "And I 'spose you don't know much about women and wives, considering you're alone in a pub in the middle of the afternoon." he retorted, a tad bit friendlier. After all, there was no need to take out frustration on this guy.
He closed his eyes. "She's away from home, teaching at Hogwarts. Well, I'm glad that she's doing what she loves, but I, eh, wish she was here, you know?"
Liam loosened his grip a little.
"And here I am, running nominee for the worst husband and soon to be father in the world and I just know everyone's waiting for me to mess up. And I most likely am going to. If she gets hurt there, it's going to be all my fault because I couldn't care for something that really meant something to me for once."
He didn't know why he was telling him all of these things in a pub side confessional, but it seemed to help a bit.
Liam looked up at the man, giving him a false grin of satisfaction.
"Well, there's my life story, mate. Now what?"[/size]

[Julian Metellus Cimber]

Julian blinked at the stranger's harsh rebuttal. It was what he expected, after all.

"And I 'spose you don't know much about women and wives, considering you're alone in a pub in the middle of the afternoon."

Julian closed his eyes, his frame turning into rigid stone. Oh, if only strangers knew to think before they spoke...Doctor Cimber knew that he would never attempt to get visibally upset over something, but somehow, his wife, Aimee, would always know when he was in pain; she would have easily called out at this man right now.
If only she were here. God, I need her so much...

"It's my wife."

"Ah, so you're married." the man said, a grin on his face as he took a depletion from his scotch. "Wives are always a bit of a bugger."

"She's away from home, teaching at Hogwarts. Well, I'm glad that she's doing what she loves, but I, eh, wish she was here, you know?"

Julian nodded as the man ended his comment in asking for reasurrance. At least the man acknowledged on what his wife had felt, something he sometimes failed to do in the romantic department.

"And here I am, running nominee for the worst husband and soon to be father in the world and I just know everyone's waiting for me to mess up. And I most likely am going to. If she gets hurt there, it's going to be all my fault because I couldn't care for something that really meant something to me for once."

Hmmm. Father to be.
Another difference between himself and the stranger at the pub, the doctor noted. He himself wasn't very fond of children; they were monkey-like and reckless and had no judgement. He'd never have the patience for a child.
But not being able to protect the thing you love...that was all too familiar with him.
"Well, friend, I can see why you're drinking." he said with a small laugh. "I was at Hogwarts a while back, and when I was in Gryffindor, Care of Magical Creatures was my favorite subject. It is a bit dangerous, though."
He looked at his drained scotch, not bothering to order another.
"But I'm sure she can manage. I mean, that's the great thing, mate. You always have a number one fan in the stands. When I was becoming a doctor, my wife-"
He struggled mentally how to word the next verb.
"-used to cheer on for me. She was always there, and I was often away from home. Yeah, at times she was worried about me running away with a young healer of sorts, but you've no need to worry about that. It's not like she's gonna run away with a centaur or something."
He paused.
"But still, mate. If this is really what she loves, be happy for her. She's going to come home in one piece. And I wouldn't worry too much about messing up, because that's always nerves, like when I have to face a patient. But I always end up getting it right, because it's all there - I'm just not concious of it at the moment."
He grinned.
"And the little tyke would be too small to remember if you accidentally missed a belt loop or something petty."