A Quiet Celebration (Open)

Jessica was thrilled, because she had just received her final exam results of her degree. She wasn’t qualified yet, not until she had undertaken at least six months of part time interning. As she wished to continue to make money while she was completing her final practical requirements, she had requested that she do so under the healer at Hogwarts. She could take care of the library and also finish her studies.

It was because Jessica was happy with her well above average results that she was sitting at the bar in Hogsmeade with a glass of firewhiskey in front of her. The woman didn’t even bother starting with something weaker, and she knew that by the end of the night, she would probably end up on a bar crawl in London with a bunch of strangers. Because though Jess was usually shy, the drunker she got the more likely she was to make 'friends'. She was never the type to kid herself.

David had finally had some time to do some research on some of the members of the order, and found one that would be a particular use to him. A healer in training, Jessica Saunders. Not that that position did much good to the Order in general.. but it did do him a lot of good personally.

Sure now he knew of Ambrosia which was a good blood substitute, but nothing was as good as being the real thing. And this woman was his perfect in to not have to steal Blood bags from muggle hospitals all the time. She had the access needed to get him whatever he needed.. or would. So he needed to get on her goodside.

That was why he was in hogsmede. So talk to her, one on one. He found her drinking at the Three Broomsticks. So he took a seat with her, flagged down a bartender and ordered "Scotch, neat." He then turned to Jessica and said "Saunders, isn't it?"

Jessica hadn’t expected for anybody to join her so quickly. Usually it was a few more drinks in and when she started to talk to them first. Her brother always told her that her shyness almost came off of her in waves, and that was why she never made friends most of the time. But the person who joined her wasn’t a complete stranger, though she barely knew him so it wasn’t much help.

The woman was surprised that he knew her name, but she offered a small smile and raised her glass before taking a mouthful. “That would be me,” she replied quietly, “and you’re David Shutter- Heir of Gryffindor. I pay attention.” Jessica going to talk much for at least another couple of drinks, but she didn’t want to come of as weak to the temporary leader of the Order, so she glanced at her glass before drinking to rest of it in one.

David nodded when she confirmed she knew him as well. "Thats correct, good to know someone was paying attention. However for all intents and purposes, David Shuter died over 400 years ago.. and I don't want to make my public return.. just yet anyways.. so lets keep the heir of gryffindor talk to a minimum okay?" he then watched her chug her drink. Now that was interesting. Did he make her nervous?

So he said "Woah, take it from me, too much of a good thing too quick may seem like a good idea at the time.. but you will regret it later." Something he learned the hard way more than once. However he learned from his mistakes.. it had been over a century since his last 'ripper' bend. And he did not plan on it ever happening again...

Jessica hadn’t considered that he might not want his identity revealed at large, though she had been quiet when she spoke. Partially because she didn’t want to speak loudly with someone she shared a ‘secret’ society with, and partially because her tone was usually quiet and calm. “Oh, of course,” she replied, her gaze shifting downwards and back to the bar as she tried to comprehend four hundred years, “so you keep to yourself a lot, then?”

She laughed softly at David’s words as she watched a full glass replace her empty one. Jess often started out the night drinking a little quicker so that she could actually start enjoying herself, but she could understand how it may look. “I’m celebrating,” she said, a small smile on her lips, “but I’ll drink this one slower, I promise.”

David nodded and Jessica's question. He did not really know how to answer that. Yes he has mostly kept to himself.. but there were times he was very social.. but those times were when he was looking for his next meal.. but no, barely any conversation that was personal in 400 years. So he replied "Yes, Unless I need to interact with people" That was the safe reply, and also a very true one.

He looked as the bartender came with their drinks. He offered a small smile with a thanks and said "Put it on my tab. Both of them." To which they replied "You don't have one, can I get your name?" David then sighed and replied "Nevermind, keep the change" He pulled out a handful of silver from his coin purse and handed it to the bartender.

He next took a sip before saying "And what are we celebrating then?"

Jessica noticed the way that he seemed to consider her question. It was as though he wasn’t sure how to answer, and then she considered if the same had been asked of her it would have been difficult to answer as well. When David did respond, she decided to answer her own question herself, and said, “me too. Unless I come out like tonight. I don’t talk to new people without some about of alcohol in my system. Except for work, of course.”

Although they had just discussed his want to remain on the down low, Jess raised an eyebrow at the way he avoided giving a name to the bartender. It made sense, but she wondered why he didn’t just give a false one. He was the Heir of Gryffindor, not Hufflepuff. However, all she said on the matter was, “thank you,” for the drink.

The smile that spread over her face was much more genuine than the last one, and she took a sip of her new drink before answering. “The letter of commendation that came with my final exam results,” she said, “I have a few months of practical work left and then I’m officially a healer.”

David nodded, it seemed reasonable to him. He would have avoided all social interactions all together if he could have fed without them. Unfortunately Compulsion only worked when talking to the person, and it was easier to feed without having to sneak about in the shadows. "I don't need the alcohol.. but its easier this way"

When she thanked him for the drink he nodded "Gold.. you tend to accumulate a lot of it over many years. So don't mention it" He did accumulate a lot of it over the years as he had no real use for it. However he still tried to avoid spending it. It was easy to track a big spender.. not so easy to track someone who rarely ever used money.

When she told him she passed he offered her a smile "Congradualtions, I am sure you will help many people." He paused before saying "You know.. healers have to interact with people.. without being drunk, will you be able to handle that?"

“I wish I could accumulate a lot of it,” she joked, toying with the glass, “I’ve been working at Hogwarts and studying, so that I can afford this fourth year of university.” Her parents had paid of the first three years, but they hadn’t anticipated that there would be a fourth, and hadn’t put the money aside for it. Their family wasn’t poor, but the reason they weren’t was due to careful money planning.

Jessica smiled at his words regarding her chosen career. She was sure she would help a lot of people too, and once she finally started working at St Mungo’s she intended to study even further and specialise. Getting such good results was what meant that she would be able to do so. “Thank you,” she said, proud of her achievement, “and I know. But it’s different when it’s at work. Nobody is expecting to learn anything personal about me, so if I keep professional I should manage just fine.”

"You don't know what you're asking for" He said darkly as he took long sip from his drink. Of course he knew she was just wanting to make more money, but given the context to what he had said it made sense for his response. He had tied getting money to being a vampire. Something he would not wish on his worst enemy, which was funny because a lot of his enemies WERE vampires.

David remained unmoving as she told him she would be fine, that they did not require her to reveal any private information. He replied "to some of those people you are the only person they talk to.. you may have to talk on a personal level in your job." He then took another drink from his cup, draining it. He flagged a bartender down for another one. The thought to compel them so he didn't have to pay was strong, as old habits die hard, but he ignored it, taking a sip from his new drink

Jessica found his reaction to her words odd, but tried not to let it get to her. It was something that she had a terrible habit of doing. When it seemed even slightly that she had bothered someone, she would dwell on it for days, considering whether they hated her, what she should have said instead. But this time she wouldn’t, because she was certain that his reaction hadn’t been at what she’d said so much as what he had said. “I’m not saying I want more time to make money.. just to earn it faster, I suppose,” she explained, though she thought that she probably didn’t have to.

“Hopefully I’ll have spent some time with those people by then, and they won’t be strangers anymore,” she countered, “and worst comes to worst, I can just perform procedures. I won’t have to have deep conversations if the patients are unconscious.” It was mostly a joke, but something she had also considered- just in case. Jess finished her drink only a few moments behind him, but knew that by the time she had a third she would be able to slow down and still have a decent conversation. “Do you have a job?” she asked, taking the fresh glass and pulling it to her.

David shrugged at her comment about money. he said "I apologize for my outburst.. it was unbecoming of me. However when you live as long as i have, you quickly learn that money is material, it means nothing. However i realize as I say this I still horde it.. perhaps it is because I know one day it will be of great use to me, perhaps to secure peace one day.." He shrugged again. He knew money held power.. this was something he could use.. maybe one day the use will present itself.

He nodded as she explained that she may never have to talk to patients. Of course that was true.. however he knew a bedside manor was required to be a good healer. Perhaps that was a skill she would one day acquire, he did not know. He did however know.. war changes people, and she would be a different person once this was all over. He raised an eyebrow when she asked if he had a job. He then proceeded to shake his head "No, It is hard to get one when you have no wish to reveal your name or explain after a few years why you have not aged" He paused before saying "Though, as a child, I dreamed of glory.. of hunting down the evils that haunt these lands and defeating them, winning honor for myself and my family.. of course that changed when I became one of those evils."

Jessica nodded her acceptance of his apology, somewhat understanding why he felt the way that he did. It made sense that he might consider money to be meaningless, but that was only the case because he had a lot of it. Her family weren’t poor, but they worked hard for what they did have and if she could make more money then she, and they, would never turn it down. “I understand,” she said, “money is a sensitive topic for a lot of people for a lot of reasons.”

The woman considered his words as she continued to drink. She thought it must be a boring life to lead, not working. She enjoyed her job and study, regardless of how difficult it could become to juggle. “I’m sure there are ways around that,” she said, before smirking, “or perhaps you should just change your name? Then you can become an Auror or a professor or.. anything you want really.”

David shook his head. A job.. a public job, was not in the cards for him. He was what everyone was most scared of.. he was a monster. He had no place in society. He was to be feared.. not respected or worked with.. he was meant to be put down.

So he said "No, I really can't. No parent would want their children taught by the monster they have taught their kids to fear, nor would the public feel safe when the force meant to protect them is exactly what they feel they need protecting from. No, my purpose is to free Harry, and then let him lead and get all the glory. That is it." Nor would he take up a different name.. it would be dishonorable, spitting in the face of his father and his father's father and so on all the way back to Godric Gryffindor himself.

So he said "I could not pretend to be someone I am not. I am who I am, to take another name would bring dishonor to the house of Gryffindor." He deemed that the safest response in case of anyone listening in. If someone heard the house of gryffindor, they would merely think of Hogwarts, not the blood of gryffindor.