Hogsmead Village

'Since when has that stopped him?'

"He has nowhere to hide this time. Their allies have all scattered or been imprisoned and their spirit is broken." He assured her.

'Your thinking...like yourself.' SHe sighed. 'No offence meant by that- but you arent thinking like him. Them being scattered, them being broken? Thats just more incentive for him. You should know that.'

"Yeah, I guess reason usually takes a backseat for him..."

'I dont think he knows what that word even means.'

"You haven't.. seen him recently have you?" He asked gently.

'Maybe?'

"River if you have, there may be a chance to stop him from hurting either himself or someone else..."

'I told you.' It was almost snapped. 'I am not getting involved.'

Artemis sighed, "Alright sorry. If you ever change your mind, you know where to find me..."

'You know I wont.'

"Yeah... I do." He nodded sadly, "Well, it was good to see you again..."

'Artemis...' Part of her felt like she was letting him down. Maybe she was- but she was so tired of doing everything for other people, so tired of feeling like she was in the centre of something she would never escape. Artemis had been her best friend once- but she had ruined that long ago. She had been letting him down since she picked her brother over him. So she just sighed, shaking her head. 'Never mind.'

He felt a pang of guilt as he knew she had something to say. An apology? An regret? He didn't know, but he couldn't force her.

"Take care of yourself..." He waved to her with a sad smile and walked off.

Crouch had always enjoyed his visits to Hogsmeade. The crowds brought him a strange comfort, a normalcy in a way. But it also brought a question into his mind. How could all these people be so content with being average? Did all of them feel that way? Or was all the hustle and bustle their attempts to rise above mediocrity? He wasn't sure, and he couldn't ask without alienating himself. 

But this particular visit, he wasn't alone. In fact, he'd never felt in better company. His other friends were good for laughs and an enjoyable evening of socializing, but he feared none of them could quite comprehend his ambitions. 

But Amy felt differently. It was almost like speaking to himself, such was his comfort with her. "Do you visit often?" He asked cordially as they made their way through the populous.

On the outside Amy appeared calm and collected though she stuck quite close to Crouch. The village was beautiful as always, but she had never been the biggest fan of busy crowds, the sounds were a little overbearing for a mind that ran at super speeds so often. She shook her head a little her smile had that hint of shyness back to them " Not really.. I mean I have on a few occasions , but more out of a necessity for a change of scenery than anything... I uh.. don't do too well in areas with a lot of people usually. Although I don't seem as bothered by it with you here honestly."

He smirked triumphantly as he guided them into the Hog's Head. "What can I say? People feel comfortable around..."

She seemed much more at ease the moment they entered the pub. This was one of the few places she frequented when she did happen to wonder into the village "It's your charm and charisma I think". She walked towards the bar a frothy purple drink was already sitting waiting as it usually was from the quiet bartender. It smelled sweet with a pleasant scent limiting from its swirling content. She looked at him with slight curiosity "so what's your poison?"

Ever concerned with appearances, Crouch looked over the menu. The right drink said a lot about a man. 

Eventually settling on a red vintage wine, he swirled the contents in his glass with ease and control. He was pleased with the choice, he thought it spoke of elegance and a thoughtfulness rather than intentions of inebriation. 

A few extra galleons from his pocket helped the bartender forget about checking their ages.

"I more prefer the classics myself..." He told her as he eyed her drink. "I can't say I've seen that before..."

She was a bit impressed with his choice in wine. The sophistication was unexpected though it brought a smile to her lips "Can never go wrong with a nice red." She took a sip from her odd concoction "It's a drink the bartender made up for my the first time I ever set foot in here. I'm not quite sure what's in it, but I know it's strong and at the same time very anxiety reducing as well as superb on the palate."

"Hmm..." He looked at her her glass with clear curiosity. "Mind if I...?" He asked.

She slid the drink in front of him Her smile slightly mischievous "not at all, but I'm not joking when I say it's strong."

Crouch lifted the drink to his lips, taking a moment to sniff the mysterious contents. What he smelt was almost as indescribable as what he tasted. 

But she wasn't lying when she mentioned it's potency. If she hadn't sipped it first, Crouch could've sworn he drank poison. "Wow, you were NOT joking.." He chuckled in spite of himself as he slid the drink back to her.

(( this is close to IRL when I make drinks for everyone xD I am the queen of getting people drunk off of a single drink.))


She grinned a little taking the drink and knocking back quiet a bit of it with ease. Her cheeks were tinged slightly pink as she placed it back on the table "Unfortunately I've developed a bit of a tolerance to liquor lately.I found it helped me sleep easier. At first anyway, but then I had to find something a bit more potent and this packs just the right amount of punch." She was thoroughly enjoying spending time with him. She felt completely at ease and able to speak freely which was unusual, but a more than welcome change.

Why was that he wondered? Did she have some kind of troubles that required her to numb herself? 

"Just recreational or... are you trying to shut out reality like a poorly behaved house guest?"