Only Hope

[Emma Flynn]

She was pretty sure this was the place. Everything about it just screamed that it was a hospital. Emmy had never been a real big fan of hospitals, they were too white and too clean.
Not to mention all the sick people.
She kept her eyes straight ahead, trying not to think of all the sick people that would be on the otherside of the doors.
She anxiously rotated her wrist, smiling slightly when she heard it crack. Nervous habit.
Her headmaster had suggested that she'd come apply here. She wasn't sure why exactly, but she wasn't about to question her headmaster's motives.
Glancing down at her outfit, she was pretty sure she'd make a good impression. Black skinny jeans, and a loose emerald green blouse, that seemed appropriate enough.
Brushing a stray curl out of her face, Emmy slowly made her way up to the desk. She was new at this, so of course she was nervous.
Clearing her throat, she waited anxiously to see if anyone would pay her any mind.
A part of her hoped no one would.

[Daniel Martin]

"Hey there, what's wrong with you?"
I should really stop saying that to people, but I pass several lost looking people a day and something like that always seems to slip out.
I've never really quite been able to grow up, I guess. I'm still too immature to 'express an appropriate degree of sympathy and concern' as my superiors would say, which is why I'm still pretty much stuck at the bottom of the career ladder.

I'm on my way out actually, I shouldn't stop and deal with people because I have to get home but it would seem rude to just ignore her.
I've just gone behind the desk for a second to sign myself out because it is the end of my shift, which of course happens to be the second that it's approached by some girl. But I still can't quite bring myself to be rude and ignore her.

Although, by rights, I should. I am no longer working. I've juggled all of my shifts around so I work a lot of early morning to midday sort of shifts so then I can spend an afternoon trying to be sort of...responsible-ish for Melody's sake, and also either looking for her father or some other sap who's sucker enough to just take an infant when someone tries to give it to them.
Melody is upstairs in the nursery right now, because I don't have anyone who I can get to look after her. It's a downside of cutting off your immediate family and not socialising enough, I suppose.
So I should really go and get her and then we can go home...or I can go home and she can accompany me more like, because it makes a significant difference to me how I phrase it.

I look up properly with a sort of vague smile across the desk at her to show that I'm only halfway sincere and that I don't mean 'what's wrong with you?' in a bad way.
Well...
No, no I don't.

[Emma Flynn]

"There's nothing wrong with me," Emmy snaps, being brought instantly out of her comfort zone. Growing up, she always had her brothers boss her around, and quite frankly she was getting sick of everyone else doing it as well. She knew for a fact that 'Doormat' was not stamped on her forehead.
"Sorry," She murmurs, half a second later realizing that if she wanted a job, snapping at people would not land her the spot.
"I'm Emma Flynn," She winced internally, partly because she hated how thick her Irish accent came out whenever she said her own name, and partly because she hated her name.
Emma What in the world was her mother thinking?

Absently cracking her fingers, she glances up again,"I'm looking for uhm-..." she glances briefly at her hand, where she had written down the name of the person she was suppose to speak with. "Madeline Speare? She's the Head Healer, correct?"
She couldn't help but notice how good looking this man was.

[Daniel Martin]

"Anger issues..." I mime writing it down in midair because for a moment it seems like a good idea.
No, too childish...too childish...
"Sorry, running on empty..." I apologise nearly immediately and tap the side of my head to illustrate the point. "Don't mind me."

"Emma Flynn from the Emerald Isle..." I murmur, glancing down at the mess of papers strewn across the desk on the odd chance that I'll spot the name on one of them, but to no avail.
I have to admit, I like the accent. It's just an odd little thing, I guess. I instantly take a liking to someone else who speaks differently.
I still sound like a Welsh berk after all this time so in my mind I am instantly connected to anyone with a similar defect...well, maybe defect is the wrong word. It doesn't matter, they're only thoughts anyway.
Unless she's a reader...I glance up at her suspiciously for a moment to check that she hasn't reacted to anything that I haven't said, and then realise what I'm doing.
No games...not now... I give myself a mental slap on the wrist and decide to try and behave myself from now on.

"Oh, you're looking for Madeline Speare?" I nod understandingly, "Aren't we all, right? She handed in her notice and took off months ago."
I head back round from the desk in case someone who is supposed to be round there comes along and shoos me away, crossing over to her. "Why're you looking?"

[Emma Flynn]

There's no stopping the amused smile tugging at the corners of Emmy's mouth, "Best learn to control my own temper,"
That certainly was the understatement of the year. She had always like to joke that her temper came from her being Irish.

"Ah," Emmy nods slightly as he taps the side of his head,"No worries, I'm the same way after exams." School was far from her mind at the moment. Not much to look forward to when your the social outcast. Casually slipping her hand into her pocket, Emmy manages to stand somewhat straighter as she spoke. She was always fidgeting.

Her face fell slightly as she took in the news of Madeline Speare. Glancing at her hand, she double checks that, that is in fact the name she wrote down.
Yep, there it is. In plain green ink. Madeline Speare.
Surely the Headmaster would know that?
Well he is getting old..
"She took off?" She asks, raising a slender eyebrow,"Oh well, I'm from the school." Obviously Em,
She frowns slightly at the voice in her head. Emmy did have a sort of baby face to her, and she was always mistake for being at least three years younger then she really was. "I was wondering if I could get a job, or something,"

[Daniel Martin]

"Needs must, I suppose," I grin lopsidedly.
I'm quite glad she's not too offended, but tempers are fine, because if they're not then I'm in trouble. I don't say this though, because when you meet someone you don't tend to own up to all your flaws on the spot, especially if said someone is pretty and is actually talking to me for once.
Hi, I'm Daniel; hotheaded, lazy and a complete committment phobe. Great to meet you.
I grin again, and shake my head slightly but at myself. And now she probably thinks I'm mad. And I think I might be mad too, and on speed possibly.
My excuse is that I haven't slept very well lately. Blame Melody; not because she cries or anything but more because she's there and I don't know what the hell to do about that.

"Yep, took off, or so the word around the staff room is," I shrug good-naturedly, slipping my hands into my pockets, "With the kids and boyfriend. Guess she had enough."
Enough of what, I don't know, but that's what I've heard.
"The school, huh?"
Damn.
My luck, I guess. I sort of assumed she was older than she was, despite the baby face. I know what it's like to be cursed into looking younger than I am, but at least when everyone else is old I'll look younger than them.
"A job or something...well, can't really help you. I'm sort of equivalent to a janitor around here," Slight exaggeration, "but hey, I could take you to admin. I'm heading that way anyway."

[Emma Flynn]

"My brother once lost his temper and ended up punching his best friend in the face, wouldn't want that to happen to me," Emma mumbles, allowing a weak smile.
In order for that to happen you'd need a best friend, or at least a friend.
Ignoring the voice, Emma manages to wrap a loose curl around her forefinger,"Sorry, bad story, probably don't want to hear it."
That's right, no one wants to hear about your stupid little muggle family.

She couldn't help but look at his eyes. They were gorgeous. She could also tell he was tired though, the bags under his eyes were proof. "Oh, that's sucks. I heard she was one of the best," Emma murmurs, gently rubbing her hand in a feeble attempt to get the ink off. She secretly wondered why she had just taken off.
"Mhm, sixth year. Slytherin." She gestures to the green and silver scarf wrapped casually around her neck. "Most think I'm thirteen or something,"
She grinned coyly,"I think I may, just as soon as I learn your name. Mother always said never go anywhere with strangers,"

[Daniel Martin]

"My brother once lost his temper and tried to drown the neighbours dog," I compensate by telling her something she doesn't want to hear as well, and then realise that's really stupid for a social interaction, "Bet you didn't want to hear that either, we're even."
Actually, that just sounded a little bit psychotic, I realise. But I did manage to inject a suitable amount of cheeriness into the statement in a vain attempt to cheer her up.
I don't like it when people frown and I don't know why. Nosy, I guess, because if I don't know why I can't do anything about it.
You always need something to fix, don't you?

"That's what I heard too," I agree, "And hey, maybe she'll come drifting back through one of these days. You never know."
"Ah," I grin, taken aback as I suddenly notice the scarf. I don't see why I didn't notice it before, but then something sort of connects up in my brain and I frown just a little bit, which is a bit strange whilst still grinning. I've never really liked Slytherins. "Well, if it's any consolation, I thought you were older. Better to assume that way."
Because otherwise I feel like a paedofile, when I happen to think someone is pretty and they turn out to be a kid.
Then I grin back again though, because it's just a harmless thought anyway and it doesn't matter what I think because I forget most of my thoughts within the hour.
"Smart woman your mother. I'm Daniel," I bob my head in a small inclination as I say my name, holding a hand out to her to shake even though she's already done the introduction thing and it's my fault for being a bit slow on the uptake.

[Emma Flynn]

"That's certainly a conversation starter," Emmy grins wryly, "Feel bad for the dog though, bit extremely animal cruelty. The worst I've done is tug on the family cat's ears, and even then I paid the price," Rolling her sleeve up slightly, she shows off the faded scratch on her underarm. "Since then I've never been much of a cat person. I'll laugh if I turn into one of those old ladies with a hundred cats though."
She had never felt this at ease when talking to someone before. It was oddly comforting.

She glances down at her scarf again, casually picking at a lose thread. She wasn't sure why she insisted on telling people she was a Snake. It really wasn't something to be proud of. Or that's what she heard at least.
"Well thanks for that," Emmy grins weakly,"Maybe someday I'll finally look as old as I really am."
She didn't mind looking younger actually. It was a comfort to know that everyone would look really old compared to her.
"Bet you have the same problem huh?" She asks, raising an eyebrow. She guessed he was at least 21 or so.

She glances at her ink covered hand, before deciding to shake with the other. "Wouldn't want to get ink on you," She grins coyly. "Nice to meet you."

[Daniel Martin]

"Oh yes, usually it's a coversation stopper as well," I laugh, "It did bite my sister though. First time I did magic actually when it went flying," I add as an afterthought, "Boy, were they surprised."
"Ooh, ouch," I grimace as I glance at the scratch on her arm, then laugh again, "I'd set your sights a bit higher than 'mad cat lady' if I were you, but that's just me."

I try very hard not to look at the scarf as she picks at it, because I do quite like her and I don't want to associate her with that blaring warning sign that screams 'slytherin' whenever I see that combination of colours and match it up to a snake.
Another little hang up. Although this one has reason behind it. Sure, it's mostly paranoia because I'm a muggle born lion, but it's also rooted in personal experience.
"Someday, or maybe all your friends will get to be haggard looking fourty year olds and you'll still look young and pretty," I suggest.
And that is when a harmless thought comes flying straight out of your mouth and becomes a sick, child pervert-like comment...
I rush on as if I didn't just say that. "Hmm, do have that problem actually. Get called runt a lot. And I'm twenty-six next year, sucks."
It would probably help if I acted my age as well, but meh.

I switch hands as she does to shake her hand properly.
"Yeah, that ink is a devil to wash off," I comment, then grin, "Lovely to meet you."

[Emma Flynn]

"Depends on if your talking to an animal lover," She points out, pushing back a lock of hair. "I don't really remember when I first did magic, all I remember is my mother's tea pot exploding," She grins wryly. Never really been one for tea, so she didn't feel that bad to see that tea pot go into the trash.
Pushing her sleeves back down, "Oh trust me, I'll make sure to steer clear of 'mad cat lady' don't worry,"

Admittedly, she found it odd when she had been placed in Slytherin. Yes Emmy could be a bit...-manliputative. But from what she had heard, only pure bloods were sorted into Slytherin. After hearing that, she made sure to keep her mouth shut about her muggle family.
The blush creeping onto her face is hard to hide, "Well maybe that's something to look forward too."
Her eyes widen slightly as he tells her his age. "So your twenty-five? Man, your old."
A mental note to hit herself later is registered. Emmy had never been good to keeping her thoughts to herself. She'd have to work on that as well.

"Maybe I should start carrying around a notepad, I write on myself way too much, I'll probably get ink poisoning or something," She grins, shaking his hand, noticing how soft it is. She had pictured his hands to be a bit rougher.

[Daniel Martin]

"Animal lovers..." I roll my eyes. I'm not an animal lover, or a small child lover, or really much of anything lover. I don't know, people of a sensible age - I like them.
I chuckle softly, "Exploding tea pot...damn, should have done that when I could have passed it off as an accident."

"Certainly is," I agree. I really wish she wouldn't blush though, because then I could pretend that I hadn't said anything at all and I wouldn't have to think about the blush at all, which actually just makes me want to look at her more.
I snort slightly, then warn good-naturedly, "Yeah, yeah, I'm old. Get over it. One day you'll be old too, and then you'll get young'uns like yourself mocking you when they find out you're not as young as you look."

"You should, but you'd always have to wear something pockets so you could put the notepad in there...otherwise you'd look like a berk," I point out with a slight laugh. Her hands are smaller than I expected, child hands.
"So...this way..." I point in the vague direction that we're supposed to be going in as I remember that we were going to see about getting her a job, and I have to go and pick up Melody.
Melody probably won't care that I've left her for slightly longer than usual, hell I don't even think she knows who I am. But that's because I'm the idiot that her dad decided to give her too in the street, so I don't see why she would know who I am.

[Emma Flynn]

"Got something against animal lovers?" She asks, raising an eyebrow. Emmy really wasn't one for animals either. Or people for that matter. It was amazing that she had been involved in a conversation for this long. Part of her hoped it'd would keep going on.

She grinned wryly, shaking her head, letting a few curls fall into her face in an attempt to hide her blush,"What can I say, I was a hell raiser as a child. Growing up with two older brothers does that after all." Growing up with two older brothers had it's ups and downs. Lately is had it's downs.
"Well, you are old, just thought I'd point it out." The age gap had been made. Nine years, almost a decade between them.

"I could carry my notepad in my purse though," Emmy points out,"But then I'd be reduced to carrying around a purse for eternity, and that's just an unnecessary hassle,"
She grins slightly, letting her hands drop back to her sides. It's then that she realizes that he's going out of his way to help her.
"I'm not keeping you from anyone, am I?"

[Daniel Martin]

"Nah, just the animals," I shrug wryly, "Never really liked 'em. Apart from fish, quite like them, very low maintenance. And you know, that line 'my mother is a fish'. Thought it was cool since I read it, or my brother read it to me. I don't really read as such."
I'm rambling now. I realise I've just expressed a love of fish for no apparent reason, reminsced some childhood scrap of information and also professed that I am illiterate all in one sentence. Weird.
I haven't had a conversation that lasts this long in a while though. Not since I split up with whats-her-name. I remember exactly what her name though, and I know what my sons name is too, but it's much easier to pretend that I don't.

"I can imagine, with that temper," I grin wryly, "Two older brothers, huh? Unlucky. I'm a triplet, which is also unlucky I suppose."
The youngest triplet, actually, which sucks because John and Sophie would take anything they could as an advantage, but that's just siblings in general.
"I'm that old, really, when you think about it," I shake my head with a laugh, "Really, you're just quite young. Barely an adult, if that."

"Uh...no, don't want to carry around a purse," I wrinkle my nose, "Unless you fill it with bricks and use it for self-defence. Otherwise they just seem more annoying than useful."
"Oh, no, not really," I shrug, "I'm sort of vaguely on my way to pick up Melody..." I scratch the back of my neck awkwardly because I realise she doesn't know who Melody is and I don't know how to explain it. "She's this kid I'm looking after until I find her parents."

[Emma Flynn]

"Fish smell funny, besides I had a bad experience with fish, mine basically committed suicide. Jumped out of his bowl, and right down the kitchen sink. Scarred me for life," Emmy nods vigorously, before hanging her head in shame. "Made me never want to have another fish."
She could help but laugh softly as he rambled. It was oddly cute. She wanted him to keep talking, that way the voice in the back of her head couldn't scold her for finding a twenty-five year old attractive.

"My older brothers are twins, and I've got a baby brother as well. Only girl, so that makes it very unlucky for me," Emmy never really minded being the only girl, it came with it's advantages. Mainly more time in the bathroom in the mornings.
"I"m not that young either," She protests,"Besides I'm wise for my years."

It's then that she starts to realize that maybe, walking would be a good idea. "So this way then?" She asks, pointing down the hall.
"Huh, so it's like your a permanent baby sitter then?"

[Daniel Martin]

I glance at her a moment, trying to gage the seriousness of this remark, before I just give in and find it funny anyway.
"Geez, that would scar a kid for life. You know what? You should have a fish, I reckon. A non-suicidal one and then you could get over your aversion to fish. A bit of counselling, some fish-human bonding...it'd be fine."

"Pfft, that's unlucky? Only girls get all the luck, I'm telling you," I laugh.
The whole protective brother trip might not be lucky at times, but it comes in handy. Then there's the general affection for being the only girl. I know if Sophie had blamed anything on John or I to Mum or Peter, she would get away with it, no doubts. Or maybe that was just Mum and Peter, they always were a bit on the strange side.
"You are quite young," I state, and I try to keep the definite note of something almost close to disappointment out of my voice, "Wise for your years, sure...but young all the same. Not even out of school yet."

"This way," I agree with a smile, starting to walk with her, then shrug, "Hmm, for now, I am. But hopefully not for long, not an animal or child lover to be honest."
Then I frown and glance at her sideways as something strikes me, but mostly because I don't want to talk about Melody, "How did you get here anyway? You can't have passed your Apparation test already. Did you just walk out of school and think 'hey, I'll get a job today' or what?" I laugh slightly.

[Emma Flynn]

"Oh no, not happening. After all I vowed never to have another fish again. What if it happened again? I couldn't take it," She nods, trying hard to keep her smile from breaking out across her face. It felt odd smiling so much in one day.

Pushing her hair back off her forehead, she opens her mouth to protest,"Oh so not true! I got stuck doing all the laundry, do you have any idea how disgusting that ones? My brother's played rugby like their lives depended on it." She wrinkled her nose at the very thought. The piles of laundry haunted her sometimes. Even more so when her brothers would shove their socks in her bag when she packed for Hogwarts. Their idea of 'having something to remember them by'.

"I just turned sixteen, and besides I only have one year left." She argued. It bothered her for some reason, that he still saw her as a child.
At that, she had to roll her eyes,"Hey, I'm pretty good at Apparation, thank you very much," It was a slight exaggeration but at least she didn't lose any limbs this time around.
"And if you must know, my Headmaster suggested I'd come down here, said it be good for social interaction, or whatever,"

[Daniel Martin]

I laugh, "I'm just trying to help you out. Fish aversions are not healthy, you know? Little on the strange side."
Because your child aversion is completely normal.
I think more people have child aversions than people have fish aversions though, so I don't know.

"Ack, laundry," I shake my head, "Alright, you win actually. I didn't account for the laundry."
Then I tilt my head slightly, slipping my hands back into my pockets, "Rugby? Like the muggle game?"
I would have thought she would have said her brothers played quidditch. I can't think of many slytherin families that go and play muggle sports.

"There's nothing wrong with it," I shrug apologetically, "I'm just saying is all. And on that year, when you graduate, you can go out and get hammered and then think 'fuck you, now i'm old' and that'll show me right?" I grin.
"Oh, right, 'course," I nod, grinning slightly. I cannot think of a single person in my year when I was a sixth year who was any good at Apparation. I'm still not good at it now.
"Oh, if I must know," I tease, putting on a haughty sort of tone, then smile again, "You wanna become a healer or is it just for the interaction?"

[Emma Flynn]

"Like I'll really run into a fish on the street in my everyday life," Emmy murmurs, rolling her eyes. "It's fine, I don't need help with my fish aversions." She grins coyly, putting emphasis on the last two words, letting her accent come through strongly.

"My point exactly, being the old girl I was stuck doing the laundry and the dishes, plus baby-sitting whenever my mum was busy." It was if her entire life story was threatening to jump off her tongue, she had never told anyone else these things before.
She stops abruptly as he catches her slip up. "Uhm, no not like the muggle sport, it's kinda of like Quidditch but the play it on the flying carpets my Da brought back, they call it rugby." She lies quickly,"Didn't know they had a muggle game called the same thing."

Biting down gently on her bottom lip, she glances at her feet trying to think of something to change the subject. Her family life was private. Something she would always keep to herself.
"I'm really not one for drinking, never really saw any fun in it."
She admits sheepishly. Which is pretty funny since my father owns a pub.
"I really don't know what I want to do, if you must know, I guess the Headmasters just trying to steer me in the right direction." Emmy shrugs, before giving him a coy grin, "But hey, I'm just a kid right? I'll figure that out soon enough."

[Daniel Martin]

"You never know. What if you did meet a fish in the street, eh? Then what'd you do?"
I chuckle at the way she says fish aversions, repeating it myself and attempting to imitate her accent, "Yes, fish aversions."
My own accent sort of shoots down any plans of it being a decent imitation, but still.

"Well, can't have been that bad, surely? A bit of responsibilities supposedly a good thing," I tilt my head wryly, "Supposedly, of course."
I glance at her sideways, because I'm not sure I quite believe her. I can't figure out why anyone would lie about that though, not anymore. Blood doesn't matter as much as it did back in the day, or so my step-dad told me once. I don't really remember the war though, I wasn't really aware of it.
But the again, she might not be lying at all and I think I'll just go with replying as if I believe her.
"The muggle game is good. Should try it sometime," I suggest with a brief grin.

"Really, now?" I tease, raising an eyebrow, "Now, that is absolutely no fun at all, I must say. Sensible; yes, fun; no. Of course, I don't see how you would know that you don't like drinking being as you're underage..."
Then I laugh, "Hmm, yeah, you've got a while to figure it out, kid."

[Emma Flynn]

"Scream and threaten to shove it down a toilet?" She supplies sheepishly. Clamping her hand over her mouth, in attempt to stifle her laughter, she grins slightly at his attempt to imitate her accent. "Close enough, keep practicing."

Emmy shrugs slightly, slipping her hands into her pockets,"I dunno, maybe. Muggles and Slytherin's don't mixed," It was hard to keep the bitterness from her voice. She wasn't trying to come off like the rest of the Slytherin's, all so ignorant to the muggle world.

A weak smile flickers at the corners of her pale pink lips, and she reaches out, shoving him slightly,"Shut up."