Finished Summer, Sunshine, Smiles and work... PV Simon Kincaid

When she continued to persist, to say that she was 'fine,' Simon wasn't disappointed in his friend but he did wish that she'd trust him enough to allow him to help her - not so much in the physical injury itself but with letting him in on what happened.

Everyone had their secrets though and their tragedies, he knew that. He understood it and he wouldn't pressure her further.

She surprised him by rolling up her sleeve to show her injured arm to him. Simon was focused downward upon it as she told him about how 'he' got angry, threw a chair, how she had used magic outside of school, that she had tried to keep the wound clean.... So much in so little time and he knew she had just been keeping it all in for far too long and needed to tell someone. Anyone.

He was glad it had been him.

Although he would have prefered there had been nothing to tell in the first place.

"Emiline...." he said gently. "We're going to get this feeling better very soon. I'm glad you were bandaging it up." It didn't appear to be healing well, at all, but there didn't seem to be any sign of infection so that was good. "And you aren't going to worry about using magic outside of school. Not for this," he said, assuming the 'he' was her father. Fathers were the absolute worst.

At least that was his opinion.

Simon turned and looked to her meal, his own, and up behind the counter just as the man at the Leaky Cauldron who had been helping them was bringing his bag for Healer Ketteridge. "This should be enough and then some. Thank you," Simon stated as he passed some money to the man. "We're going to St. Mungos. Come. I'll stay with you the entire time. If her mum comes, can you please direct her to St. Mungos?" Simon instructed to the man behind the counter who nodded.

He was able to get right to Healer Ketteridge, his mentor, when they arrived and Simon asked if he himself could perform the healing spell. He did so, bringing out his wand and stating the spell clearly and it seemed to do its job, the wound was patching itself up in no time. First try, effortless - perfect. Simon was pleased at both himself, his wand, and the magic he was learning to perfect. It wasn't always easy for a dhampir who's magic could be spotty. "Now we've both done magic outside school," Simon smiled.

"I'm going to go eat my lunch. That'll give about the twenty minutes needed to ensure that she's not dizzy or feeling feverish from any possible infection," the redheaded healer said as he smiled and took the bag from Simon. "I trust you'll stay with her?" Simon nodded. The healer left the two in the room.

"I'll tell you some about my Summer and what happened with AngelFyre. But first, will you please tell me more about....the 'he' in your scenario?" It wasn't to report to any authorities. It was to help a friend - even if he could only perhaps offer a listening ear if nothing else.

Talking with @Emiline Hunter

He was glad that Emiline confided in him, especially since it was such a sensitive topic. His arms wrapped around her and he pulled her closer into the embrace, to signify he was there for her, to signify that she was safe with him. He couldn't protect her from everything but he would do his best to be a good friend.

"Some dads are total jerks," he whispered to her. He hoped that Emiline and her mother could get away from the man - far away; whether that meant getting authorities involved or not. No one should be living their life in such fear. But then again, wasn't he? He was letting someone vindictive control his own life right now as they spoke at the beginning of summer.

"My own is one of them. He uhh, he's trying to marry me off. He betrothed me to one of the vampires in his coven and he's threatened AngelFyre so, to keep her protected, we...." he paused, knowing his voice would crack, "...we broke up"

"Of course I'm going to try and get out of it." His father wasn't human but how did someone get like this? How did someone become so vindinctive? So malicious?

"Some fathers are just jerks. I want to be one someday - I want lots of kids, at least twelve," and he was serious on the number. "I'm not going to be like yours. I'm not going to be like mine." He was sure of it. He was going to be a loving, supportive, caring parent.

Date: 20th July at 2pm
Interacting with @Simon Kincaid
WC:300

Emiline holds onto the embrace like a lifeline- because for her it is. Her way of comfort. Her way to release her worries. It felt nice to be held, her mother did it sometimes, but not nearly enough. It was warm, comforting and safe. Oh so safe. The smell of comfort and warm filled her senses as she hugged tighter into the embrace, not wanting to let go from this moment. His whispered words slowed her crying and she sniffles but manages to reign them in after what feels like a really long time. She steps back a step and quickly wipes her eyes with the palm of her hands.

"Wait....Marry you off....But you're like sixteen. How is that even legal!?" The shock makes Emiline pause her crying, her friend since she first started at Hogwarts, is getting married off. "So...um....this vampire from his coven. Is she bearable?" Emiline gives a forced smile, which looked more like a grimace as she tried to seem supportive of Simon's father's choice.

Then as Simon said that sentence, her heart dropped. They'd broken up?! Simon and AngelFyre, the golden couple, the couple she'd known her whole time at Hogwarts, had broken up. Her heart wept for Simon as his voice cracked with emotion. "Hey, at least AngelFyre will be safe." She offered weakly, not really knowing what else to say. Her experience with relationships was few and far between and the only real stuff was from movies and books.

Her heart leaps with hope as he says he'll try to get out of it. She feels herself hoping with all her heart that he can. For Emiline, potentially getting married in three years seems absurd and too young. It seems very permanent and grown-up.

Her eyebrows shot up at his next statement. Twelve kids?! "Twelve, really? That's gonna be one chaotic house then, but those kids will have a great dad in you Simon. You are kind, caring, funny and always know what to say, you've helped me so many times in the few years I've known you. So, I can confidently say, you'll be a brilliant father to all twelve of you future children."

She gave a firm nod and looked Simon dead in the eyes. "Can I do anything to help with the dreaded betrothed scenario?" Genuinely wanting to help Simon as he's helped her so many times.

"I'm hoping to find a way out of it. I mean, that's the plan. I don't really have a way just yet but I'm hoping maybe somehow Vanessa can help me with that. She's a good friend," he said and paused because he knew it was more than friendship on her behalf but not on his. His heart was taken. "And I'm going to try and figure out a way to start distancing myself from my father. He's controlling and manipulative and I don't need that in my life. I thought years back when he first entered into my world that I needed him because I didn't have a parent but no....he's done too much and taken this too far." He wanted a pawn to control and Simon wasn't that.

"I don't know what will happen but I'll do anything to keep her safe," he spoke of AngelFyre. Anything at all. Simon wasn't sure what lengths that would take throughout the summer but he would be ready. If circumstances presented themselves than he was going ot have eto take them and right now - keeping a distance between them seemed like what was necessary: as heartbreaking as it felt.

"Are you able to distance yourself with him?" Simon asked Emiline, speaking of her own father. "Do you need some help? I don't know what can be done but I'm here for you - in letters or we can hang out or I can help you go to the authorities if that's what needed." Simon was serious. This father of hers sounded like a negativity no one needed in their lives and he would do whatever it took to help keep her safe. She was his friend. It wasn't only AngelFyre that he wanted to have safety.

"That's what you can do to help me. Keep me posted, keep me informed, keep me updated on what's going on in your life - the good, the bad, the ugly. Let's spend time together, let's do things together, and let me help you like friends should. I've had a lot of friends shut me out over the years and I just want to be able to help and to do that, I need to know it all." Just as he had revealed what was going on with him. She was the only one right now, besides AngelFyre, who knew all the truth of his situation that summer. Not even his aunt knew or his best muggle friend.

Date: 20th July at 3pm
Interacting with @Simon Kincaid
WC:318

Emiline rummages in her small bag and pulls out a notepad and writes Vanessa, then below it she writes, distance from father then below that she writes safe place? "Just because he's family doesn't mean you have to stay close..... Any other plans to get to a safe place.... away from your scheming father?"

She felt her heart squeeze as Simon said he's do anything to keep AngelFyre safe and it reminded her of her many books with the super protective brothers and boyfriend which made her smile.

As she pondered over Simon's question her hand traced her arm, where the old injury was. "I mean, I thought I had distanced myself from him, but he found me again despite the no contact and everything. Its like some twisted game of Hide-and-Seek that I don't want to play. I thought staying with mom would help, but he found us anyway." She sighs "I think I'll buy an owl before going back to school.... so I can you know talk with everyone and stop feeling like its me against the world" Her mind started racing on how she could start saving for an owl so she could talk and vent about everything during non-school time and I gave her hope, so much hope.

"I'll keep you posted- do you need my address for the owls or do the owls just know where to go?" Emiline gives a sheepish grin. "I'd love to organise more time with ya..... even if its to get away from the hellholes which should be our sanctuary."

Emiline goes back to her pad of paper and scribbles down,
Future plans: Simon and Em meet ups
- London?
-Diagon Alley?
-Vannessa's house?
-Aunt's house?
Then she swivels the pad of paper so Simon can see. "Lets get this planned so no cold feet about not sharing problems..... for either of us.... 'kay?"

Simon scanned the pad of paper and then reached over, taking what she wrote her words with from her hand and made a couple changes. "Vanessa lives in my father's.....castle," he said, the last word a little stalled because he knew how awkward that sounded. Who lived in a castle? Manipulative controlling vampires who were leaders of their coven, apparently.

He also crossed out Aunt's house and wrote Simon's house, adding his address next to it. Then he wrote down Simon's aunt's bakery and wrote down the address to Crawford's, the bakery/bookstore that his Aunt Maggie owned. He knew it could be a safe haven for her whether he was there or not and might be a good place to be when he was off on his internshp or visiting his father.

"Why don't we go there right now?" he said, looking at what he just wrote and then brought his gaze back to his friend. "I can introduce you to my Aunt Maggie and maybe Clara will be there. She's uhh....she's like a cousin or sister who came to us by unique circumstances. We can let the barkeep know where we went in case your mum comes looking for you. It's not too far."

Maybe along the way there she could share more with him if she wanted to, or ask him more about his situation. They both ere in such a tight spot that Summer and that was unfair to the both of them. Summers were supposed to be carefree and fun - not this. If she did agree, Simon could have her meet his aunt and he could later explain to Aunt Maggie that if Emiline ever did come to the shop that he hoped she could give her extra attention and keep her eye out for her. Aunt Maggie, like Simon, was all about helping others.

Date: 20th July at 3pm
Interacting with @Simon Kincaid
WC:244

The troubled girl watched as Simon writes on the paper. Two addresses. Two safe places. Two places she could go if she needed out. The relief made her shoulders at least five times lighter if not more. She even felt her lips itch up into a smile as he mentioned that Vanessa lives in a castle. Like who even lives in castles nowadays, the king, the royal family, super rich French people? The list in Emiline's mind was short to say the least. Simon's aunt's place really made a warm tingly feeling in her heart- like a safe place in a bakery/bookstore? Sign me up! She thought.

It was clear to see that Emiline was a tad bit shocked when he suggested they go to a safe place right now. She knew her mum wouldn't be back to late and would one hundred percent forget that I was here and just go straight home. So in all consideration, going there didn't seem like a bad idea. "How far is your Aunt's place?" She wondered. "Cos my mum won't come back here till at least nine if not later"Her tone was trying not to be bitter but it definitely crept into her tone slightly. While speaking, she slipped the pen into her satchel and ripped off the first page of the notebook and tucked it into her top pocket. The rest of the notebook went into the front pocket of the beige satchel.

"Not far at all," he smiled, reassuring her that it would be okay. They were in Diagon Alley after all which was in London and his aunt's bookstore was in London as well. "I'll even personally see you get back here. We just have to drop my to go order off at St. Mungo's real quick on our way." He didn't want his mentor's dhampir special to go cold. "Come on," and he figured that with her packing up and confirming she would just be sitting around the Leaky Cauldron for hours that it was a statement that she was ready to come along. He flipped over his paper receipt and wrote down an address, handing it to the barkeep. "If her mum comes looking for her before we get back, please hand her this," Simon said. "Only her mum."

He doubted that Emiline would feel safe enough staying there if she thought her father might come there to Leaky Cauldron but still, better safe than sorry. Emiline was a smart girl though so he figured that he was being a little too precautious but he'd do what he could to keep her safe. Taking his paper bag, he motioned then for her to follow him out.

"We'll just pop this off at the receptionist desk so it'll only take but a stop in," he said of the meal. "Not every day someone has a dhampir special," he said. Someone who was walking along the cobblestone streets of Diagon Alley in front of them glanced back his way, shot a quick look, and then moved her son closer toward the other side of the sidewalk to let them pass, creating a distance between them. Perhaps Simon shouldn't have said the term outloud but at the same time, he no longer hid what he was. Unfortunately, there were people out there that still had a big prejudice on what he was but it was okay - they didn't know who he was. That was just a mother trying to keep her son safe but Simon knew that he was the last person anyone needed to be kept safe from. He was a saver and hopefully he'd get on fulltime staff someday at St. Mungos and make that a reality.

They left Diagon Alley and made their way to muggle London. It was then that Simon remembered that Emiline was halfblood, was she not? If her father ever wanted to follow her it would be here in the muggle world and not in Diagon Alley. All was well though. Once again, he was quite confident that his friend was safe for the moment because she was with him and he would protect her.

They wandered the familiar streets. "Have you always lived in London?" he asked her. He had, since birth. It was second nature to him and he could wander so much of it without so much as glimpsing at a map to see wher he was. He also could ride the Metro without needing to check which stop to get off where or how many stops were between places.

They arrived at the rundown redbrick department store of Purge and Dowse, Ltd. that appeared to be shut down to be remodled. It had been this way since anyone could ever remember and sometimes when Simon passed he would overhear muggles talking about how it should be demonlished, not remodeled as it seemed the project had been long since abandoned. The wizarding world though knew that the building wasn't forgotten, just disguised, as it was the entrance to St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries.

"Hello, Margaret! How's the world been treating you since the last time we spoke?" Simon said to the receptionist upon entering. She was a middle-aged woman who smiled warmly upon seeing him. "Ah, Simon, our absolute treasure! I am well, thank you. How's life treating you, darling?" Simon handed her the bag. "Grand! I filled out that new intake form you made - much more logical than the previous one," he said and she just nodded and then smiled warmly at Emiline.

"Can you please get this to Dr. Ketteridge? I told him I'd bring it by." She nodded. "Of course, sweetie. Enjoy your day!" Simon too wished her well and they headed out.

It was a quick stop and they were headed next to Crawford's, Simon's Aunt Maggie's bookstore/bakery. She had retained the name of the former owners who had gifted her the business. Yes, gifted. Aunt Maggie had one of those infectiously kind personalities that everyone just gravitated toward and were better for having known her. She had worked in the store for many years and upon retirement, the couple decided that she would continue their vision. She had, exceeding all expectations of her. It was still rated five stars in all review platforms.

Immediately upon entering, a sugary scent welcomed them and the entire space just felt calm, inviting, welcoming. It felt like one of those places you just wanted to spend time in - with friends, with solitude. It was a great place to be and Simon had always felt that.

"Welcome in!" Aunt Maggie greeted them warmly and looked to Emiline curiously, as if not expecting Simon to have someone with him upon returning that day. "I'm Aunt Maggie, what can I get for you? The cinnamon rolls just came out of the oven and the icing is still warm! They're quite delicious!"

"Aunt Maggie, this is Emiline, my friend from school," he said and Aunt Maggie smiled wider at that statement. She was a muggle herself so anything about the wizarding world and those in it enthralled her to no end. "I brought her here to show her around and introduce her to you and Clara - just in case she ever needs to come here this summer for a sort of safe haven of sanctuary. You could do that - right?" and his voice might have shown a little shakiness within it since it was a sensitive subject that he was trying to not put too much emphasis on.

Aunt Maggie was perceptive though and most likely picked up on it right away. She didn't ask questions but she just came over from the counter to where they stood and engulfed Emiline into a warm hug. "You're welcome here any time! Any time at all. In fact, there might even be times that I need help in the back even," she said as she pulled back and gave a wink, indicating that if Simon's friend ever really needed a hiding spot, she'd hide her. No question were asked, just an open invitation for safe.

Date: 20th July

WC:610

Interacting with @Simon Kincaid

Emiline watched as Simon gave the Leaky Cauldron guy his address and told him about her mum. She felt glad as she knew her mum was the type to get worked up about this sort of thing, like any mother would. Despite only going to a friends house, the third year did feel a bit of guilt leaving without telling her mum but she shook it off when she thought of the many late hours her mum worked without warning.

She gripped her bag's strap a tiny bit tighter. You're okay Emiline. You're just spending time with a friend, don't feel guilty. She slipped off her stool and followed Simon with a semi-relaxed smile. Glad to be able to meet his Aunt soon but still having annoying feelings of guilt and anger for her mum.

As they walked through Diagon Alley, she watched as a mother moved her son away from Simon. Is it because he's a Dhampir? She glanced up at his face, to see if that had bothered him. As she passed the mother and son, behind Simon, she gave a protective glare at the mother as if to say 'how dare you, he wouldn't hurt a fly'. A hufflepuff trait that Emiline had was to always be protective of her friends and if that got her in trouble then so be it. Even as the pair were behind them, she glanced back with a scowl. "Rude" She muttered under her breath, but it was loud enough for Simon to hear.

Her glare relaxed back to a smile as Simon asked her a question. "Yeah, I've always lived in Westminster. Had the view of Big Ben since forever" She grinned. "But, I still hate the underground. The voice on the speakers is always muffled!" She had to jump over a puddle that was in her way, yes she could have gone around it, but where's the fun in that. She had as much grace as a gazelle, who was drunk with three legs.

She glanced sheepishly at Simon to see if he had seen her little wobble. If he had she would just grin embarrassed, if he didn't she would just move ever so slightly ahead of him, even though she only had a faint idea where they were going.

Once inside St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries, she stood semi-awkwardly to the side of Simon. Just something about hospitals gave her the heebie-jeebies, maybe it was the smell of hospital anesthetic or the idea that people died here that Emiline just didn't like. Then the receptionist, Margaret, gave her a warm smile and she returned it despite her unease.

Then they walked walked to Simon's Aunt Maggie's bookstore bakery. She followed Simon through the streets and they stopped at what she assumed was their destination. What she felt first was the wonderful smell of baked sugary goods, and the sound of relaxed chatter.

Emiline smiled politely as Simon's Aunt introduced herself and greeted them. She was about to respond to the cinnamon rolls question but Simon started talking and Emiline found her hand instinctively go to the place her old wound was. As if, just by touching it, she could protect herself from the memories of it.

But alas, the memories are too strong and she quickly gets pulled into the undertow. She only gets pulled out of her tunnel-vision by Simon's Aunt Maggie giving her a warm hug, surrounding her. Making her feel safe.When Aunt Maggie pulled back, Emiline had to clear her voice to make sure it didn't sound like she was about to cry again.... "Thanks... Really... Thank you, both of you...."

"Come here any time you want to or need to," Simon said, hoping she'd take him up on that if ever needed. They were passed some of the freshly baked goods from over the counter and Simon smiled and headed toward one of the tables to the side of the cozy welcoming space. "I'm spending the last of Summer at my father's place." He wasn't looking forward to that but it was necessary.

Sometimes in life you had to do something you didn't want to do. Simon would much rather stay at St Mungo's and continue his internship but he needed to visit with his father and ensure to him that he had broken up with AngelFyre and that all was 'well.' And he'd have to figure out how he could distance himself from Andrian Hawthorne.

He had yet to figure that out - not sure if it would be to become more introverted and remain in his bedroom there or if he should become slightly adversarial. Maybe neither. He would play it out how it seemed fit when he was there. It wasn't that Adrian Hawthorne was predictable to know how to be around him and Simon should never be foolish to assume such.

No matter thinking of that now and he smiled over at Emiline and placed himself back in the moment with his friend. "I should think we should be getting you back to Diagon Alley. If your mum isn't there, I can stay until she returns," he offered. Sometimes it was just nice to know someone was there for you, even if they couldn't fix all the problems that one was facing. Simon hoped Emiline knew she could come to him if ever needed.