The Three Broomsticks

"And we love 'im too!" Cook somehow acquiring a third bottle, announced and raised his glass to Hector.

"Here, here." Dick smiled following Cook's example and raised his own bottle to Hector as well.

Rory raised an eyebrow. "Well, he hates insincerity so...He could be worse!" He raised his own bottle, and Hector rolled his eyes.

Darien just laughed and raised his own glass. "That is very true. To the Baron!"

Hector's lips twitched in a suppressed smile and he clinked his own bottle into the mess. "Cheers, lunatics."

Darien downed the remainder heartily and glanced at Diana. "Well, it's getting kinda late, we'd best be heading back to school."

Rory gulped the contents of his bottle down and swallowed. "See! He has gone soft, sticking to timetables..."

Dick shook his head exaggeratedly. "Tsk, tsk, tsk... such a shame."

"Our ickle Darien's growing up." Cook said wiping a tear and ruffling Darien's head. "It was a pleasure to meet you Diana."

Diana smiled and said. "It was nice meeting you all."

Darien laughed. "Don't cry mother hen, we're all still your little babies!" He stood up and waved briefly. "Don't be strangers."

Rory nodded a consensus and glanced around for his next round's benefactor. "Have fun you two."

Hector nodded, with an odd expression torn between an attempted smile, curiousity and mild suspicion, and raised his still partially full glass politely. "Indeed."

Diana waved as well. Then she grinned impishly. She caught Darien's eye and nodded towards the bathroom.

____


"Well that do you think boys?" Dick said.

"Too early to tell but I like her." Cook said. "Now, who's up for another round?"

Darien raised an eyebrow, but an equally impish smile spread across his face. He gave her a look, as though to say 'ladies first'.

______

Rory leapt into the conversation. "Most definitely. And I know whose turn it is to pay!" He stared pointedly at Hector. "You know, you won't have to talk to the bartender yourself, just give me the cash and I'll get the booze. No worries about undermining your Baronly status." He held out his hand expectantly.

Hector sighed in defeat. "If it means removing you from my sight for even three seconds, it is money well spent." He tossed a couple of galleons carelessly at Rory, who dropped them, scrabbled around briefly, and skipped off to the bar.

The Baron then returned to Dick's question. "I thought she was...suspicious."

"There's a good Baron, looking after his men." Cook said with a serious face. "Long live the Baron!" His face turned jokingly again.

"Suspicious? You find everyone suspicious, Heck." Cook pointed out.

"Suspicious like how they aren't going at all but headed to the bathroom." Dick said following Darien and Diana with his eye.

__________


Diana grinned and headed towards the bathroom, which luckily, was empty... but no for long.

Hector turned to watch them as well. "I do not. I merely find those who are suspicious to be suspicious. Were the persons in question not suspicious, I very much doubt I would find them so."

Rory reappeared with the Butterbeers, cunningly pocketing the change the Baron did not demand. Probably forgot. Chucking money around...shameful.

"Who's suspicious?"

"The new girlfriend." Hector returned his gaze to the table. "

Rory sighed. "They do say power breeds paranoia..."

The Baron fumed. "Fine, but I am not wrong. You'll see. Just wait. My sixth sense-"

This caused Rory to burst into hysteria. "Sixth sense or third eye?" He half-sobbed.

"Alright Bingley," Dick said. "I'll indulge you. Why do you find her suspicious?"

"Yeah," Cook turned to Hector. "Why do you? She seemed lovely."

"Yeah... lovely." Dick said dreamily. "Do you think he's serious about her? You know, being the rebound is always fun."

Darien grinned, slipping into the bathroom as well.

"So...that went well, I think."

_____

Rory laughed. "Wouldn't question your experience of that situation, Dick."

Hector leaned forward conspiratorially, grabbing a Butterbeer. "I told you, she seemed suspicious. You can scoff-"

"And we will." Interrupted Rory, beaming.

"-But, I am not wrong." Hector paused, thinking. "I just thought she was too...quiet. And the facts we got were very vague. I mean, we did not even get her family's name, or where she's from or anything."

"Nosy sod." Rory drank like a man dying of thirst in the Sahara desert, on the hottest day of the year, wearing black clothing and no hat.

"Yeah, they seem nice." Diana said.

_____

"She was probably only quiet because she's shy. I mean, you are kind of intimidating you know?" Cook said to Hector.

"Please, I don't even know that about the girls I date." Dick said brushing it off. "All you really need to know is what to call her then your set."

Darien laughed. "While they're sober anyway."

______

Hector drew himself up proudly for a moment. "Perhaps that could be said to be not wholly false..."

Rory laughed. "Thanks for the tips Dick. I'll remember that."

The Baron paused. "Well, I should certainly want to know it about any girl I dated."

"What, in case she's not up to your class?" Rory again impersonated a posh accent, and downed the remaining Butterbeer. "Pity this has no real alcohol in it." He smirked. "Would be funny to see how much the Baron cares abut family history when completely smashed."

"I do not get...smashed." The word sounded wrong coming from Hector's mouth. "Regardless, something is still telling me there's something not right. It's not like Darien not to introduce her properly."

"No, not smashed heaven forbid." Cook said with a straight face. "Just completely sloshed."

Dick laughed. "Remember that time with the pineapple? That was classic."

"Rory perhaps, but I would like to think I can avoid drinking in excess to so great an extent-"

"Lightweight."

Hector glowered. "I am not a lightweight!" Childishly, he partially turned his back on Rory, as though pretending he was not there.

Rory wiped a fake tear from his eye. "Ah, back in the day..."

Hector feigned forgetfulness. "I really don't recall."

"Exactly!" Cook said. "If I drank that much I don't think I would have remembered either.... actually..." Cook added as an afterthought. "No... I think I would. Lightweight."

Dick chuckled.

_____

"Yeah well it happens to the best of us." Diana said shrugging.

Hector flushed. "Well, clearly someone put something in my drink!"

"...Sure. Keep telling yourself that...Lightweight." Rory grinned, kicking his shoes up onto the table next to Hector's back, still turned away.

He was rewarded with a glare. Rory beamed. "You know, I think a replay of the pineapple incident might be quite fun..."

"I am not partaking in your foolhardy escapades." Hector snapped.

________

Darien laughed. "I suppose so...on occasion."

Diana grinned and kissed him.

_________

"Want to head off to the sweets store here? I heard it was pretty good." Dick suggested. "I heard they've got a good selection of chocolates. And you know one thing ladies can't resist..."

"I'm game," Cook said ever eager for food.

Darien returned the kiss, holding her close.

_____

Rory sighed. "Since there's no chance of becoming sloshed here...next best thing I s'ppose."

Hector slowly finished the remainder of his drink and stood up.

"Be careful not to rush that non-alcoholic beverage oh Baron!" Rory exclaimed sarcastically. "You might end up sloshed, you lightweight."

Hector glowered. "I thought we were leaving."

"Yes we are." Dick said standing up.

Cook stood up as well. "To Honeydukes!"

___________

Diana pulled apart. "Oh hey I almost forgot, I promised I'd meet Nick later. He wanted help getting something for Amy."

Rory sighed and pulled his boots off the table, and rose to his feet lethargically. "Alright then." He paused long enough to pick up another bottle of Butterbeer, and drank it hastily. "Good to go."

_____

"Leaving me already?" Darien joked.

Dick and Cook stepped outside.

"Ahhh fresh air!" Cook said inhaling loudly.

______

"You can spend time with your friends." Diana suggested. Then she smirked. "Darling."

Darien pouted. "Fine. You have fun." He began to walk to the door of the bathroom.

_____

Hector paused outside. "Wait!"

He bent down to tie his shoelace.

"You too," Diana called out. Then she realised she was still in the bathroom.

So she went out.
_____

Dick tapped his shoes loudly.

Darien followed her out, and spotted his friends just leaving. He jogged up to them. "Hi there."

Hector rose again. "There."

"No, he's here." Rory grinned, pointing at Darien.

"Darling, what are you doing here?" Cook asked in mock concern. "Should you be with your girl? What are you doing here leaving her all alone to fend off perverted blokes who want her all for themselves?"

"Hmm... hey boys, I'll meet up with you later." Dick said rounding about.

"Blokes like Dick for example." He whispered. "No, you don't." Cook said grabbing his collar.

"What?" Dick said innocently. Cook gave him a stare. Dick sighed. "Fine. I'll leave her alone."