Drinking Alone...Or So I Thought (Raven)

Shoving her hands into the pockets of her black trench coat and favorite pair of red heels, Raven Monroe walked through the streets of Hogsmeade, excited about getting to the bar. The work week had been rough, students driving her up the wall with their petty gossip, but it paid the bills. Merlin knew it paid the bills. Her readership was up at least 76 percent since she had relocated to Hogwarts to cover some of the cup and other news surrounding the infamous school. It was good to be her these days, especially since the split with Bryant Xavier had given her even more of an edgy tone to the column. She bit down on the inside of her cheek, trying not to smile too much at the thought, no matter how much it pleased her. She pushed open the door to the bar with her hip, finally letting herself grin from ear to ear at the thought of what was to come out of this evening. One of the men in the corner let off a whistle and Raven raised both of her eyebrows at him, ”In your dreams, sugar.” She said, offering him a light wink and then allowing her eyes to scan the rest of tonight’s crowd. It wasn’t until she landed on a familiar backside that she recognized Rian Lewis sitting at the bar, all by his lonesome.

”How did I know that you were going to be here, eh?” Rave asked as she walked through the tables toward the bar. He didn’t turn like she expected him to, but instead continued to down the shots that were lined up in front of him. If he was trying to get drunk this evening, then he was obviously going about it in the right way.

”Merlin, you’re so tense, Lewis-” Raven said as she laid her perfectly manicured fingertips on the back of his shoulders, ”I really wish you would let yourself loosen up, you’re going to go grey before your time if you’re not careful-” The redhead leaned forward and pressed her lips to the back of his neck before grazing her teeth across his skin. Perpetually the flirt that she was, and given the...rather unique history that the pair had shared back at Hogwarts, Raven wasn’t above such petty seduction tactics.

She gestured toward the line-up of drinks that frequented his section of the bar and raised both of her eyebrows, ”What’s the occasion? Don’t tell me we’re celebrating my birthday late, are we?” The twenty three year old breathed as she finally took the seat next to him. She flashed the bartender one of her award winning smile and he put down a shot glass in front of her, filling it up with the spirits that she assumed Rian was drinking too.

That face, those tattoos, that smile, and that wink! They were driving Raven up the bloody wall with anticipation. All her brain was running on was the remembrance of that singular night passed that they had spent together while back at Hogwarts. Writhing, sweat, twisted sheets: It was a haven for Raven Monroe. Just the same she bit down on her lip as he spoke, making sure that she controlled herself for the time being. She turned slightly and slid her fingertips around the shot glass in front of her, raising it to her lips and tipping her head back, letting the burning sensation completely sear her throat, ”Merlin! What’re you drinking?!” She asked as she slammed the shotglass onto the table upside-down. If he was trying to get drunk, this was the way to do it. The liquid the tender had poured her tasted like lighter fluid and cough syrup. ‘Lovely’ She rolled her eyes slightly.

”Your knee.” She remembered reading in the tabloids what had happened to him. In fact, she was pretty sure that she had written an article in Raven’s Rantings about how Gallagher had purposefully put Lewis out for the remainder of the Cup. It was tragic, really. Rian has literally been one of the best chasers in the league...at least until this had befallen him. Without thinking, the dangerous red-head leaned forward and ran her hand over his knee, eyes still trained on him as she waited for a response, ”You’ll get out there before too long. I’ve got bets with the rest of the office. If you’re not out back out for training in a month, I’ll have to go on a evening out with Fagin Dietrichson. Bloody Fagin Dietrichson!” She exclaimed and gave his knee a gentle squeeze before withdrawing her hand, ”So you’d better be back out there.”

Immediately she raised both of her eyebrows at the snarky and incredibly attractive Rian Lewis; he certainly knew how to press her buttons and wasn’t afraid to do so, apparently, ”You’re such a bloody tease, you know that-” Raven winked at him and leaned back, making sure to lock her heels together as she crossed them and then draw her fingertips up her leg as she spoke, ”God things are good, sugar.” She breathed, eyes sparkling with delight, ”The column’s back on top, the ex-boyfriend’s out the door, and I’ve got aspiring journalists lining up at my door for letters of recommendation. I’m headed to Italy for the holiday season, as well. What about you? Besides the...well you know.”