It's Just One of Those Days

[Veronique Beaumont]

[ I'm sort of looking for Veronique to have a crush on a man who's double her age, something that would cause her to want to grow up faster than she should. ]

It really had been. The skies had been gloomy from the moment she'd woken up, and it wasn't too nice for a morning stroll, but she would do anything she could to get out of the house away from her brother and parents.

The fourteen-year-old Hogwarts dropout usually spent most of her days at home, studying household Charms such as enchanting a broom to sweep the floors and needles to sew by themselves. Sometimes, her mother even allowed her to change simple items in the house into different objects using the simple Transfiguration techniques she had been taught. Veronique enjoyed being a witch, but she strongly disliked the idea of having to learn unnecessary skills such as Astronomy and Potions. She would never use any of that rubbish for the rest of her life!

Dressed in one of her favorite plum gowns, Veronique strolled through the park, her aunt trailing not too far behind her. She preffered not to be accompanied by an adult at all times, fearing that it would intimidate any possible future suitors from catching her attention. Anyways, compared to her towering aunt, she looked like a little child—that was the last way she wanted others to see her.

Turning around one of the corners, a man dressed in rags came running in her direction. Before she could move, he grazed over her left side and pushed her, causing her to stumble to the ground. Her first reaction was embarrassment. Her cheeks filled with heat and she desperately glanced around to see if anyone had noticed. Her second reaction was one of utmost disgust. How dare the barbarian come slamming into her, an upper class lady?

  

[James Herondale]

Walking through the park with his new book from Whizzard Books, James read casually while there was a lovely breeze that passed through the park. He leaned slightly on his cane – his chest was acting up again, though it was nothing so out of the ordinary to suggest to onlookers that he was suffering from something. Turning his page, then swinging his walking cane, James was entirely submersed by his book.

He heard rushed footsteps ahead of him, and looked up just in time to see a man dressed in rather deplorable robes push a lady down. He furrowed his brow, and caught the man by the shoulder as he trotted gleefully past James. "That," he said in a dangerous voice. "was not something to do in front of an auror, mate." Shoving the man back around and steering him back to the girl and her aunt, James sat the man down on the park bench. He put the end of the cane into the man's chest so he would stay put before looking down at the girl, the dangerous look of anger quickly replaced with a kind smile. "Are you alright, miss?" he asked, holding a hand out. "Don't worry, I'm an auror," he reassured her, so she would not think that he was another despicable man in the park (granted, he certainly wasn't dressed as such either).

  

[Veronique Beaumont]

Hearing an unfamiliar voice scold the man who'd run into her made her smile a bit, but her face flushed soon afterwards when she realized he's also seen her take a fall. Please don't let him make a joke, she prayed inside her head. The man was quite handsome, though he did appear quite a bit older than her.

As he turned to her, she noticed the expression of anger on his face turn to a soft smile. Her heart fluttered a bit, and her cheeks flushed deeper than she had before, staring up at him. He was an auror? That was surely a prestigious career. Gulping, she reached up and allowed him to grab onto her hand to pull her up.

"Th-thank you, kind sir," she said gratefully, offering him a timid grin. From closer up, he seemed much more handsome than he'd appeared from the ground. He had to be more than half a foot taller than her with chocolate brown hair and dark eyes. "I'm not even sure what happened," she admitted, glancing besides him at the man as he was held to the bench.

  

[James Herondale]

"Not a problem," James said as he helped her easily to her feet. "I hope you were not terribly injured. And as for this man," Turning around, James glared at the man who frankly, stank of liquor and piss.

"Accio," James took his wand and pointed it at the man's pockets, thinking he might have pickpocketed the young girl. "Well," he said, when nothing came zooming out. "You're lucky you weren't pickpocketed, Miss." Taking the man by the shoulder and moving him roughly to stand in front of the young lady. "Apologize."

Scowling that he had gotten caught, the man tried to lift his arm and catch the auror in the face. James, having quick reflexes, immediately slammed his palm down on the man's arm and forced it to the man's side. "Apologize." James' voice became quieter, but no less stern. The man gave a startlingly realistic growl and glowered at the young girl as he muttered a fair excuse for an apology. "That wasn't so bad, was it? Now go, and if I catch you doing that again, you'll find yourself slapped with a hefty fine."

  

[Veronique Beaumont]

He was so brave, she thought with a sigh, staring at his face as he scolded the man. He had all the attributes of a chivalrous, responsible man. He was standing up for her when she was slammed into by a total stranger and was threatening him with a fine if he chose to do that to another woman. What was his name? She doubted with his apparel that his name. at least his surname, would be totally unheard of.

She put on a straight face as the poor man apologized to her, giving a swift nod before averting her eyes. Hopefully the man would choose to be more careful next time; she really didn't want someone who was already poor to give up the money they didn't have because of their recklessness. That would mean no new clothes, no dinner, and no paying the rent for them.

As the dark-haired auror finished scolding the man, Veronique's eyes stared him down, a look of adoration and slight possessiveness in her chocolate brown eyes. No, he wasn't hers, but he rescued her. What did the typical fairy tale princess do when the prince saved her from the tower? She claimed him as her own and married him, of course! Not that she could really marry him (she was far too young in her own opinion, but her mother seemed to think otherwise), but that didn't mean she couldn't daydream about him for the time being.

"Thank you, kind sir," she said almost dreamily, folding her hands together in front of her stomach. She attempted to straighten her posture to accentuate her natural curves and height, hoping she wouldn't be making a fool of herself. "But please, do tell me your name. I must know the name of my savior," she said kindly, her smile widening.

  

[James Herondale]

It was quite common in James' profession to be thanked, but perhaps not so...profusely as this one. Still smiling though, James bowed. "James Herondale, at your service, Miss." he said, sweeping his hat off.

He wondered briefly, why this young woman wasn't in school. She certainly seemed older than 11, and younger than 17, but perhaps she was one of the rare few that were homeschooled. "And it is no trouble. I am an auror, it is my duty." he added, donning his hat again.