Dance With Me``Logan

[Jesslyn Rosalie]

Silence filled the air, but that was alright, least, I didn't mind, that and the only time it could be bothersome was when Amara would randomly shout out against the semi frigid air. Laughing faintly I glanced down at the small girl that only faintly resembled me, as she clutched onto my hand tightly.
Really, the father wasn't know, and I hoped that she'd never meet him, though she looked so much like him. I could hate him, but never her. Her silky, long, black hair that cascaded down her back was far to precious, and it contrasted greatly against her pale skin. Pale skin just like mine. Smiling a little I still watched her, her small free and gloved hand reaching out and waiting for tiny little snowflakes to fall against it.
"Mum, why're they melting?" I watched as bright green eyes turned on me as the question filled the air softly. It was a rather good question for a five year old, because the ground was littered in a layer of snow, and it stayed there, but the flakes that touched her gloves dissolved into water that were soaked into her gloves, touching the tips of her fingers.
"Because baby girl." I answered, laughing faintly. "You're gloves are too warm." I smiled and touched the tip of her nose with a bare finger, in turn she scrunched up her own nose.
This little girl that clutched my hand in hers and tried grabbing at the impossible snow flakes was my life. I don't know what I'd be without her. I mean, granted that I held on to my life before her, but I was practically only living in a minipulated shell back in school. They made me do things, had me think certain ways, and now I could be myself and everything, because this girl was such a wonder and a big interest to me. And because she was she was never out of my sight. I never let anything happen without me, good and bad things. Though soon here I'd need too. Well, not really soon, though I had no doubt that time would go by all to quickly.
Looking back up and away from her I smiled, seeing that we were a good block or two from home, the streets empty of the muggle cars and cleared of snow. The sidewalks layed out white, no footsteps showing except from where mine and Amara's feet had landed.
Well, okay, there were some footsteps, they were just being covered up. And there were other people, just not many to count as being there.
Silly thought. Some but none?
Amara stopped walking, causing me to stop and look at her as she dropped my hand, and I could only laugh a little when she started dancing in circles. You'd think this would be more like to happen in the rain, but no, not with Amara.
"Mum, dance with me." She said, looking at me and giggling as she did. Watching this now, and looking at her I could only think of Boo from Monster Inc, the muggle movie she had made me watch with her hundreds of times because she loved it so.
"Alright, alright." I said with a laugh, grabbing her hands lightly in mine and then spinning slowly in circles with her.

[Logan Andrews]

I've learnt my lesson about straying too far into the wizarding world. I don't think I'll be testing myself by wandering around in Diagon Alley, or even Knockturn Alley, again any time soon.
It's too dangerous, I guess.
I sigh softly, because that's not something I've really had to think very often, because it's not often that I've actually cared.

Then again, wandering the muggle world isn't much more of a smarter idea. I've already gotten lost once and had to backtrack until I caught sight of the house that I'm pretty sure is Arden's. It looked like her house from a distance anyway, but I wasn't going to go back because I'm not ready to go back yet.
So, I just turned round and started walking away from it again and now I'm here, wherever that is.
Everywhere looks the same when it's covered in snow like this.

You'd think snow was something altogether impressive by the way the muggle's are acting. It's more irritating, in my opinion. A hindrance that makes it hard to work out where I'm going because everywhere looks the same, and because it's cold and I hate being cold, and because the muggles all go into some sort of ignorant frenzy.

Like those ones over there.
I glance up to check where I'm going and see that the path is blocked by two of them up ahead, dancing. I wonder if they know how ridiculous they look.
The small one has very dark hair and is about the same size as...what's her name? I don't remember, but the youngest of my sister's bratty little children.
Damn, I should remember that. And also, apparently, should not think about Adalia or her kids or my son because there's a sort of strange empty ache somewhere in me all of a sudden that isn't entirely normal.

I sit down heavily on a wall to the edge of someone's garden that is pushed up against the pavement after a moment.
I still don't feel all too strong, thanks to Azkaban, and I have been walking around in the freezing cold for quite a while now so I think it's okay to just stop and sit for a minute or so before I go somewhere else.

[Jesslyn Rosalie]

I laughed softly as I stopped dancing in circles with Amara, though she kept right at it, and I stepped back, crossing my arms slightly, moving a hand up to cover my mouth as I laughed a little. The little five year old stopped and grinned at me as she started swaying a little bit, maybe a bit to dizzy for her own good. "Come here." I said with a laugh, moving down and holding my arms out so that I could pull her into a hug and then lift her up in my arms. She stepped forward, giggling slightly too loudly than usual and I picked her up in my arms, laughing and supporting most of her weight against my hip.
Amara moved and rested her head against my shoulder and I smiled softly. "Hm, want some hot chocolate?" I asked, turning slightly so that I could faintly see her face, the wide grin that seemed to engulf it, a greedy nod being pressed on my shoulder.
She was silent for a few moments and I frankly wanted to know why, especially when she lifted her head from my shoulder and looked behind us. "What?" I asked, faint humor showing through my voice. Turning, Amara swiveled her head to follow to where she was looking, as to not lose the picture that held her interest, but the only thing that I could see was a man sitting down on the ground against a wall.
"Can I walk mum?" I raised an eyebrow towards her as she looked at me with hope filled eyes, and I couldn't help but to give in, even if it seemed a little bit like she had a reason to walk. Moving I set her down, letting my hair fall over my shoulder as I did and then straightened up. "So home it is, love." I smiled towards her and started walking, grasping lightly at her hand.
Too bad home is past the man Amara was looking at.
I wasn't sure why, but I didn't like him from that brief moment I'd looked at him, so I tried to ignore him, and to keep looking ahead.
Too bad that just before we were going to pass him Amara dropped my hand and took off running towards the man that I didn't like from first look.
"Amara." I called after her just as she stopped next to him.
"Want some hot chocolate? Mum's offering. You look cold. What's your name?" She started rambling off and I stopped behind her, kneeling down and clamping my hand lightly over her mouth, not really to keep her silent, just to give her a hint to stop now. "Sorry 'bout that." I said, turning to the man and locking my eyes on him for a moment before standing up and grasping lightly at Amara's hand.

[Logan Andrews]

"Uh...no." I answer guardedly, only glancing very briefly at the ridiculously small one.
I've never thought that I looked particularly approachable, let alone to children, but apparently I'm wrong in this case. Very wrong.
I'm not sure what I'm answering to, everything she's just said in one single word...as in 'don't even try'.

Emilie.
The name slides into my head with a jolt. That is Adalia's smallest daughters name. Ha.
I feel really triumphant about remembering that, even if it just appeared from thin air which is a little bit on the strange side.

And then I realise that this has completely distracted me, which sort of backs up my realisation that I do in fact have quite a short attention span, and that now the other one is talking to me as well.
"It's fine. Don't worry." I half-shrug.
I really can't be bothered with being annoyed at the moment. Not right this second.

[Jesslyn Rosalie]

Amara let out a huff when he said no just that instant and I almost had to laugh a little at that, but I didn't, she looked about ready to start interrugating him now, to persist in asking him to come for hot chocolate and I shook my head, looking down at her and silencing her in that little look.
He sort of stopped after that, probably thinking about something, so it's not really bothersome, least not to me, but Amara looks by far a little insulted, causing me to laugh faintly. Maybe some people spoiled her a bit much, I'll admit that I've done my share, but I don't say yes to everything for her, so it's not all me.
"Alright." I said and tug lightly on Amara's hand as I decided we probably should start home, especially since I don't think I can entirely trust this man.
Just as I tugged lightly on her hand though, she pulled against the tug, staying where she was stubbornly. "What's your name? I'm Amara." She said, a smile on her face, knowing that I didn't want to stay there all that long. I suppose she was doing this just so that we wouldn't leave.
Sighing I looked at the man, doubting that Amara would shut up for days if she didn't find his name, and she'd try and stay for ever. Sometimes.... Then again, I don't want to seem all that rude and say, no we're going, no more chatting with the man that looks a little more crazy than good for his health.

[Logan Andrews]

It's vaguely amusing that I seem to have irritated the girl. Not amusing enough to laugh, or even smile, but probably something that I'll think about later and it will entertain me.
So I decide that there's no harm in actually answering because maybe it's not quite so bothersome and she'll leave me alone if I do.
"Logan."
So...now you can run along...
I glance up at what I assume must be the mother briefly, but sort of dismissively as if to excuse her. A sort of 'you can go now and please take her with you' look.

[Jesslyn Rosalie]

Smiling when he said his name, Amara nodded a little. "So Logan, what's your favorite color. Mine's Purple. I like purple, do you? You sure you don't want to come home for some hot chocolate, mum makes good stuff. She uses magi..." She started rambling on and then I moved and decided now was the best time to clamp my hand lightly over her mouth.
"Amara Nicole." I hissed, pulling back my hand. "I'm sorry." I smiled faintly towards the man. I still didn't like him, not with how he had been acting so far, or with his appearance. Though, Amara had been being frightfully annoying, rambling on. Say that I used magic. Really, no muggle would believe her, but it's not like I wanted her shouting it all around that I used magic.
"Time to go home." I said, standing up straight and heading past Logan now.
"But mum, I was making friends." She whined and I let an exasperated sigh past my lips. She hardly ever was like this. She usually kept everything between the two of us and now she was talking to a complete stranger and insisting he come home for hot chocolate. "I don't wanna go home anymore." Now she was just being stubborn as she stopped.

[Logan Andrews]

I sort of half turn my head away as she keeps prattling on. I honestly have no idea what to do. This has never happened to me before, nothing ever like this.
I've lived in a flat with four children for however long, and still I've no experience at all to help me.
But then she says magic and I turn my head back again, quite sharply too.
I mull this over as I watch them sort of try and leave, but then the allure of being able to converse with someone else with wizarding lineage who doesn't seem to know who I am is too great to ignore.
I sort of haul myself to my feet and half-step after them. "Wait, you're a witch?"
I make sure to raise an amused eyebrow at this, just in case the child is making up some stupid game and their both just muggles so I can pretend that this is a poorly formed joke if she really does have no idea what I'm talking about.

[Jesslyn Rosalie]

Logan had ignored Amara for the most part when she had been running her little mouth about silly little things. Honestly I could almost see that as a good thing as I tried to make our escape from this man who looked, I dunno, straight out of hell, or to get much closer to that, Azkaban, and really, I doubt he had just been there.
Then again.
Nah, he wouldn't be sitting in the middle of a muggle town.
I almost laughed softly about how I could think he could've been in Azkaban. Especially with how he'd treated Amara, true he hadn't been the nicest, but he hadn't snapped or anything. So in all honesty he couldn't be a terrible person.
Not in my books at least.
Turning to look at Amara, half tempted to pick up the five year old just to make it home I saw that the man was standing on his feet now, maybe half a step closer, and his question threw me off.
How do you answer that?
How do you know that your answer is going to be the right one?
On one hand he could be a wizard and be curious to if I was a witch or a muggle.
On the other he could finally be listening to Amara and just be playing along.
"A..." I was just about to answer him, but Amara butted in before I could even finish a single word. "We both are." I could hear the pride in her voice, but at this moment I felt like a lot of trouble could be made. "Sure you don't want hot chocolate?"
And that was Amara for you, pushing to invite a total stranger over for hot chocolate, after telling him that we were witches.

[Logan Andrews]

There's never really been a single point in my life where I've struggled with coherency as much as this.
I really actually cannot form a word because I really cannot think of a reply, not even a vague one.
So, I just say, "Uh..." and sort of glance at the woman instead of the girl because I really have no idea.
This sort of supports my conclusion that I should have spent a lot more time building relationships before my imprisonment. I'm thirty years old, I have one friend, a handful of relatives who have cleared off, and also very little idea of how to relate to other people. It's actually sort of pathetic.
But I really do want to try, I suppose. To interact with someone else, I mean. I just don't know how to go about it.

[Jesslyn Rosalie]

He looks like he can't respond at all now that Amara's gone and told him we were witches. Was that a bad thing? "Got a problem with witches Logan?" I asked, teasing him slightly, trying to make the silence not as awkward.
"Jesslyn by the way." I add a moment later, taking a step closer to the man and stuck my hand out for him to shake. "And if you ever want her to shut up I'd say yes if I were you." I add, referring to the hot chocolate invitation, and smiled slightly towards him. I'll admit, I hated the fact of letting a stranger in my house, anywhere near Amara, but I did feel sorry for the bloke, looking so out of place and now no longer having a clue what to say.
Serves him right. I can't help but think, and it was only because he'd blown off Amara while she was speaking to him.

[Logan Andrews]

"Not at all." Now I've been asked a direct question by an adult it's much easier to form a response, and I think that I almost sound normal. I hope so, at the very least.
And I even manage half a smile as she reaches her hand out, shaking it very hesitantly and then letting go again immediately.
"Jesslyn, right."
But then I hesitate again, because I really should go home.
Home. Home is a funny old thing though, because I don't actually have one. I have a hideout, I have a hollowed out shell of a flat that's fallen into disrepair, I have my cell in Azkaban. Hmm, no, I don't think I really want to go to any of those places.
"Uh...yes, then." I shrug awkwardly, but then regret it almost instantaneously.
So I'm not annoyed at the moment, so I'm calm and collected and completely in control right this second...what if that changes?
It could. My sanity is very fickle, although I have been feeling quite clear-headed for the past few days now. For some reason I don't suddenly want to go psycho and butcher them or something...because they haven't actually done anything wrong and I've got no reason to.
But I don't think I've thought that before because I've never really minded what I do before, so this is probably a good sign.

[Jesslyn Rosalie]

"Alright." I said with a small nod, he didn't seem to have problems with that question. I ignored that fact and just watched him wearily. I still didn't trust him, he hadn't given me anything to trust him for, so as long as Amara was around I was going to watch him and not let him near her.
See? Protective.
He hesitated before shaking my hand and then letting it drop almost an instant later and I brought my hand back to my side, not sure if I was glad for him breaking the contact or almost mad because of how he'd went about it.
I nod when he says my name. "Nice to meet you too Logan." I said, though really, was it?
I guess it was more for the polite factor.
"Yes!" Amara cried and started spinning a little.
Sometimes.... She worried me. Why was she so attached to him after just running up and saying hi and then blurting out that we were witches?
Nodding slightly I forced my lips into a hard smile, almost wondering if it had been good to invite him over as well..
I mean doesn't a complete STRANGER seem to throw you off a bit?
"Then come on now." I said, starting to walk backwards, letting my eyes linger on him because I still didn't trust him, and then I turned round, grabbing Amara close to me. really I hope he doesn't take offense to this and really just understands why I'm acting the way I am.