A Lack of Service to Forget

[Carolyn Porter]

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Clack. Clack. Clack.

[/I]

The familiar sound of heels clicking heavily against the cobblestone street of Hogsmeade came through the cold and somewhat quiet air. The few people who were out on the street looked at each other with surprise in their eyes and nervousness about their bodies. For a moment, the people stood there silently and very still. But as the clicking of the heels drew nearer, the people standing outside quickly turned and went into shops before the woman whose heels were clicking could reach them.

Carolyn Porter was a woman whose name and appearance had become well-known over the past decade or so. Her big break had come six years ago during her appointment as Mistress of Magic. Before then, her name had been somewhat vague in the minds of many people, even some of those who worked in the Ministry. But as soon as the front pages of many papers splashed her name and image across them, Carolyn found herself gathering more attention. Whether it was positive or negative had yet to be determined.

When she walked through the doors of the Ministry of Magic or down random streets near local shops and pubs, she saw people walking in the opposite direction, trying to get out of her way or escape her possible criticism. Those who dared come near her had a specific reason, oftentimes for business, and only spoke with her for a few moments. She was a woman whose image was very intimidating, especially those vicious eyes of hers; her name was one that tended to be feared, like she was a killer of sorts. But, no, she was nothing of the sort. She was the Mistress of Magic. And people knew her well enough to stay out of her way.

Seven years at Hogwarts, eight years of university schooling, three husbands, and twin daughters had brought her this far during the course of her life. She had always chosen work over her family, and this was apparent even in her everyday life. Her daughters were fifteen, but she didn't know them. And they barely knew her other than the work she did inside the Ministry that they read about in the papers or in the documents she brought home that they snooped through without her permission. Her life had thrived upon her work. That's why she had never been able to keep a husband. But that only showed her excessive amount of dedication to her work. But it also showed that she held some things higher in her life than others. She could only imagine what people thought of her. Not like she cared….

Smirking a bit and chuckling lightly to herself, Carolyn shook her head as she opened the door of a small shop and stepped inside. A bell sounded somewhere above her head and rang across the small shop. She sighed a bit as she saw that there was no one there. This shop was always empty, never had anyone in it. The thought was a bit depressing to Carolyn as she realized how wasteful the space was. There was a whole tea shop there--the décor was disgusting, too--and it was rarely even used. The Mistress of Magic shook her head and sighed a bit.

While she stood there near the door, she continued to gaze around, her lips pursed together. A woman quickly appeared behind the counter and looked like she was about to faint when she saw who was standing in her pub. Blinking, Carolyn looked at her and raised a brow.

"Slow day, I presume?" she asked, her voice a bit flat and knowing. She knew that the Hogwarts students were there in Hogsmeade since it was Saturday, but none of them were in the tea shop. They had all chosen other shops, like the joke shop or even The Three Broomsticks. Carolyn was just being too polite for her own good. She should have just told the woman that her shop wasn't the best place in the world and that she should probably rethink the entire self-owned business situation. That's what she would have done to anyone else. But she was feeling generous today. Or was she?

"Are you going to serve me or not?"

Whether she had come to this particular shop or not, the woman should already know her favorite. The papers splashed it onto the first page almost every time they wrote something about her. It surprised her that they would, but maybe it was their attempt at making sure everyone knew just how Carolyn Porter liked things, in case she should walk into their path one day, just like Carolyn had just done to the madam behind the counter. She liked to surprise people, see how much they knew about her.

"Yes, Mistress, what would you like?"[/I]

Apparently the woman didn't read the papers or else she would know that Carolyn preferred to be called by her first name. And she would know what Carolyn would have liked to drink. The Mistress looked around, seemingly confused. Her gaze fell back upon the woman.

"Who are you talking to? You cannot be asking me what I would like to drink. This should be obvious," Carolyn said with a rude tone in her voice. She allowed her lips to remain somewhat parted. She waited for a response. But because the woman seemed lost in words, Carolyn decided to speak again. "Coffee. Solid black. Scorching hot." She emphasized three simple words to make sure she wasn't misheard.

Once the woman behind the counter nodded and hurried off to get the Mistress's order. Carolyn walked over to a table in the corner near the window, removed her traveling cloak, and seated herself. She smoothed her skirt beneath her and fixed her simple, form-fitting shirt. Once she was comfortable, she crossed her legs and sat back against her seat. The shop owner brought her the coffee. With no caution whatsoever, Carolyn touched the outside of the cup and let her fingers linger upon the ceramic. She sighed a bit heavily.

"Did you not understand me?" she questioned. "I said I wanted my coffee scorching hot, not just hot. Fix it." Carolyn nodded her head at the cup. The woman nodded her head frantically and took her wand out, flicked it at the cup, and looked at the woman, waiting. Carolyn placed her fingers on the ceramic again and waited. When she felt that it was hot enough, she gazed towards the window. The woman remained standing there at the table, looking at the Mistress with a questioning gaze. Carolyn turned her head and looked at her, her eyes glaring over her glasses. "That's all."

The short, stubby woman nodded her head frantically and hurried off. Carolyn shook her head slightly and shifted in her seat. She lifted the cup to her lips and sipped lightly and slowly. She then suddenly felt the urge to spit the coffee out and complain. But she said nothing. At least nothing loud enough for the woman across the room to hear. "And she wonders why she has no business." She placed her cup upon the saucer and moved it away from her. She removed her glasses and rubbed her eyes a bit tiredly, shaking her head and brushed hair from her face. She then placed her glasses back upon her face. How hard is it to ask for good service? she asked herself, scoffing mentally.[/size][/font][/blockquote]

[Skye Caine]

Skye wore all black. It wasn't to sunny out but enough she had to remain covered. She wore a pair of black skinny jeans, a pair of black converse sneakers, and a simple black tight fitted long sleeve shirt beneath her black hoodie. On her hands she had a pair of black leather gloves, some would question her attire with simple raised eyebrows.

He reddish brown hair hung out of her her hoodie around her pale face. concealing it more than what it was already by the hood of her jacket. Her eyes were a deep scarlet red and she glanced from beneath her hood at the surrounding people. She was hungry. it wasn't dark yet but maybe she could find a human snack somewhere.

As she walked she heard the clicking of heels against the road. looking up she sniffed the air. The scent wasn't delectible as she would have wanted but maybe it would quench her till the following night. Spotting the woman she smirked.

Perfect.

She thought when she noticed her as the Mistress of Magic. the godforsaken bitch who ran the ministry and banished her kind from civilization and job oppurtunies. How she hated the ministry and everyone in it.

Following the woman into the small tea parlor she screwed her face up as the scent of the shop hit her nose. It about ruined the vampires appetite but she pulled a book from her pocket of her hoodie and began reading it. Watching the woman over the top of it.

[Carolyn Porter]

The smell of the coffee setting on the table before her was intoxicating, and not in a good way. It smelled about as good as it tasted, and Carolyn had made up her mind a few seconds ago that she was not going to drink that poor excuse for coffee. Clearing her throat, Carolyn removed her glasses from her face and wiped them off on her shirt. She help them up to the light and sighed, blew some warm breath on them, and wiped them on her shirt again. When she checked them, she was at least satisfied and placed them upon her face again.

She looked across the room at another one of the tables. There sat a younger woman wearing all black with her hood up. Blinking in confusion, Carolyn swallowed some and wondered when the girl had wandered into the shop. She could not recall hearing a bell or seeing anyone walk in through the door. The question was: When did that young woman wander into the shop? Carolyn thought once again. Had she missed something?

When she glanced at the younger woman, she saw her staring over a book at her. Their eyes met for a few seconds, and Carolyn let her gaze linger for a few extra seconds. Her hazel eyes were fierce and determined, evil and calm all at once. But they brought no calm to anyone who looked at them. Averting her gaze, Carolyn stared out the window where she was sitting. There was no one walking around in the street. It was a depressing sight, made the village look desolate and vacant. Carolyn let herself sight inaudibly and then turned to look around the pub. She saw that same young woman dressed in black looking at her. "Disgusting," she said under her breath as she stood to her feet. She pushed her chair in but left her filled coffee cup on the table and started to walk across the shop towards the younger woman. Her heels clicked loudly against the wooden floor.

When she reached the younger woman, she stood before her with a stern and serious gaze, her eyes somewhat darkened and evil. She did not blink for a few seconds. When she did, she opened her mouth and spoke. Her cool, low, and airy voice filled the silence in the air.

"I understand that you may not have been taught manners or respect at home, but I do demand respect. If you have something to say, say it to my face. And don't stare at me from across a shop like you have a problem with me." Carolyn looked at her with her brows raised above her eyes in an angered and agitated sort of way. She allowed a silence to fill the room. And then she spoke again. "Well? Did you have something you wanted to say?"

[Skye Caine]

Skye continued reading as she stared at the sorry excuse for a woman. As the woman approached her she gave a small laugh. Looking up from beneath her hood with her scarlet eyes, "Why should I respect a bitch such as yourself? You have not earned my respect in anyway."

She said simply as she also stood. She kept her face slightly down to keep her appaearance hidden, No one needed to know who or what she was. That was for her and her alone to know. Placing her gloved hands in her pockets she raised her head a bit to where only her scarlet eyes were exposed.

"I do not respect those who do not give me respect first. Treat others how you wish to be treated." She said before laughing and running her tongue over her fangs, "I highly doubt you know that though, Afterall you are nothing more then a self centered hag who has no morals."

[Carolyn Porter]

The audacity of this woman! Indeed, the Mistress of Magic had requested that the younger woman say whatever it was she had to say. But that was the last thing Carolyn Porter had expected to hear coming from her mouth. Blinking in a bit of surprise but not flinching even the slightest bit at the woman's words, Carolyn removed her glasses yet again and wiped them on her shirt. She then replaced them upon the brim of her nose and shook her head slightly. The front of her hair fell into her eyes, and she brushed it away with a swift motion. Her hazel gaze then returned to stare the other woman in the eyes. Her eyes were red, an abnormal attribute to have unless one was albino. And by the looks of it, this young woman was not albino.

Carolyn remained silent, allowing the woman to degrade her all she wanted. She did not seem at all bothered by the fact that she was being called everything but nice. She knew that there were many who didn't like her or the way she had run things. Regardless of who you were, though, you had to admit that she had done a fairly good job during her five years of administration. Many people hated her ideas and hated her overall, but she kept things in a decent order, and she kept things mostly at peace. Very few people even had the courage to say something to Carolyn like what had just been said to her. It surprised the Mistress of Magic that there were people out there who would actually be brave enough to say anything.

Her gaze remained upon the younger woman as she continued to speak. A few moments of silence fell, and it seemed like that was the last thing she had to say. The older woman remained silent for a few lingering moments, taking in such brilliant silence. And, when she was ready, she opened her mouth and allowed her cool and airy voice to fill the air once more.

"While your words are not the least bit surprising to me, I find that the bravery and courage you possess does," the woman told her simply, complimenting her on the fact that she had spoken aloud for herself and had not held back a single piece of what she was thinking. She had said what she wanted to say and gotten straight to the point. That was a plus. Carolyn had only chosen to lie about not being surprised. She figured she would get some rude comment, but she had not expected to be called a bitch. That had, indeed, been one of the last things she expected to hear. But that was okay. Everyone was entitled to his or her own opinion, and Carolyn would not stop anyone from speaking, unless it was truly uncalled for. "I did not expect you to say what you said, and I respect you for that. Anyone who has the audacity to call me a bitch must really be brave." Her voice was a bit dark and flat. She was trying to show the severity of what the younger woman had said. Carolyn was letting her slide--this time. Other ministers may not have been as generous.

She gazed downwards for a few moments and sighed to herself, inaudible to anyone but herself. "I suppose I deserved it, though." She looked back up. Her gaze had softened, but only for a few very short seconds. Then it hardened again, like water hardening into ice in there mere matter of seconds.

"But while you may feel that I am at fault, I must say that you were at first. It is impolite to stare, and it can be offensive. I was at least polite enough to come and tell you that I did not appreciate the staring, but it seems that you shrugged off my attempt to be polite." Carolyn knew that she had been impolite in what she had said, but that was aside from the point. She got enough staring from people passing by on the street on in the Ministry of Magic. She didn't need any extra eyes upon her for no apparent reason.

Carolyn studied the young woman a bit more closely. Despite the fact that most of her face was hidden under her hood, Carolyn could see the redness of her eyes as well as the fact that she had taken a few moments to run her tongue along her teeth. She didn't get a good view of her teeth, but she could only make a simple assumption. Her assumption was that this woman was not real or normal. At least not as real or normal as Carolyn herself was.

"Oh, I see…" Carolyn said with one of her scoffs. She allowed a sarcastic grin to appear on her face as she shook her head, blinking behind her glasses. She allowed her eyes to stare at the young woman more intently, her face returning to normal, vacant of a smile and filled with slight agitation. "I see. I am such a self-centered hag that I gave leeway and opened more doors for people like you." Carolyn had made a small assumption that the younger woman was a vampire, or something similar to it. But she had not specified it specifically. Hopefully she was correct in her guessing. If not, she would admit that she was wrong, for one of the very few times in her life.

Carolyn had really opened some doors for special creatures. Many people saw them as foul and evil. Carolyn used to think the same, but she had given a chance for them to be a bit more free, a bit more open. Indeed, there were still heavy restrictions on things like vampires and werewolves, but they weren't as blocked and discriminated upon by high people in the Ministry of Magic. She hated it when people made assumptions about her, saying that she didn't do anything to help, that she only cared about herself. She did only care about herself most of the time, but she wasn't entirely self-centered. Just a bit more conceited than most. If only people truly knew her….

[Skye Caine]

Skye laughed darkly, "You underestimate people you encounter. Perhaps you should observe more and talk less. She laughed and stepped into the shadows away from the sunny window, "I suppose you don't even know what I am. I'd be shocked if you didn't you discriminate my kind far to much. As well as others with set backs. You and your ministry believe all of us are foul evil beings when in truth only some are. But all in all we are people just like you."

She pushed her hood back and flashed her fangs, her red eyes darkening slightly. The shadows beneath her eyes increasing the intesity of their color. Her pale skin illuminating with brightness against her black clothing.

"So tell me. Do you fear for your life in the presence of a thirsty newborn vampire? Or do you have the guts to try and hurt me. I highly doubt you can. My speed and ferocity is not to be underestimated. I also doubt you remember my human photo for missing person that circulated through papers as my parents searched franitically from me. Finally loosing hope and calling off the search. See if the Ministry worked harder against the actual evil beings that use their setbacks for evil and allowed those who still yearned for human contact and life and wanted to help. I am sure most of the darkness in this world of the dark creatures would be taken down."

She cracked her knuckles and her neck before leaning against the wall and glaring at the woman before her.

[Carolyn Porter]

ooc;; idk how i would have replied in this situation, but probably the same way carolyn did. sorry if it's kinda...strange xD

Perhaps Carolyn did underestimate those around her. Maybe she did think lesser of people who were not entirely human, like werewolves and vampires. But she never told anyone so. She never tried to discriminate against them, because she knew what it was like to be discriminated against. She was a half-blood, not like it mattered, but people still tried to push her status down, make her look smaller than what she actually was. Her position had given her a lot of spotlight, some that she had desperately wanted to outshine many of the people around her, but too much that it put her in the light as a self-centered bitch who had nothing else on her mind aside from herself. Sometimes that was true, but it wasn't all the time. Surely she had a heart somewhere deep inside what everyone believed was a endless pit of nothing within her chest.

When the younger woman removed her hood, the paleness of her skin, redness of her eyes, and her fans became apparent. She was a vampire, and apparently she was a new one by the sound of things. Swallowing slightly, Carolyn felt herself wanting to take a step back, but she stopped herself from doing so. She feared for her life a bit, but that was only because she had children to worry about, a Ministry to look after. Besides, she wasn't old enough to die or turn into a vampire, or whatever it was that happened when a vampire bit a regular human. Carolyn blinked and averted her gaze, finding the redness of the young woman's eyes to be a bit hard to look into, a bit eerie.

When she looked back up into the eyes of the younger woman, a flicker of fear could be seen within her hazel gaze. Again she swallowed, running a shaky hand through her hair a bit. She sighed some and allowed her shoulders to slouch a bit. Her posture was a little less hostile and a bit more relaxed and understanding. She didn't want to seem like she had given up, but she didn't want to seem like she was trying to fight either.

"I…I can't hide my fear, but I don't want a fight. I'm not going to hurt you. I…I wouldn't hurt you," she said quietly, her voice no more than a whisper. She shook her head from side-to-side slowly. "I apologize sincerely if you feel like I offended you or if you feel like I am trying to induce harm upon you. I promise, that is not my intention, at all." For once Carolyn sounded honest and sincere. She sounded like she was actually trying to meet somewhere in the middle, like she was trying to make an attempt to be nice. And it was killing her a bit, but she was managing to do her best.

When the younger woman brought up the fact that she had gone missing and that her parents had put out a search for her, Carolyn felt her heart drop. She could recall the search. She recalled the picture. She swallowed. They had tried a bit, but she had not sent the aurors out to search very often. And Carolyn wasn't about to get up and search with them. She had more important things to worry about, like the safety of her own children. Swallowing, Carolyn looked at her apologetically but didn't bother apologizing. She knew that it wouldn't mean anything if she tried to apologize. So she just saved her breath.

For everything that the young woman said, Carolyn could think of nothing to say. She swallowed and merely nodded her head, agreeing with some of the things that had been said. She wasn't going to lie and try to apologize for mistakes she made. And of all the things she could have said, there was only one that came to mind.

"Things are different now." Swallowing, she sighed. Her chest rose and fell back down with it. She couldn't think of anything more to say. She just felt bad that for once in her life she couldn't think of what to say. Usually she was great with words, but it seemed that this was a time when she wasn't. "What do you want me to say?" This would be a very rare occasion where Carolyn allowed someone to see her gentler side, at least she hoped. She didn't want people to know what kind of sap she was, letting herself give in a bit. "Because I honestly can't think of what to say anymore."

[Skye Caine]

"Why don't you actually drop the bitch additude and soften up to others. The world doesn't evvolve around you. Nor anyone. Why don't you try seeing through other perspectives. Like magical beings that are not human. Try viewing things through their eyes. Open up better options to the so called lower classes of magical society." Skye said angrily as venom began dripping slightly from her fangs.

"So you do remember the case. I'm shocked. Even of you had put forth more effort it would have most likely been to late. My parents think I am laying rotting somewhere. of coarse I may as well be. I hide from the world and everyone in it. Because of what you and the ministry catagorize us as. Has it ever occured to you that you should put on our labels use caution if crossed. Not all of us are crazy or insane. Thirsting for human blood. That I do and I drink it to survive. in between to quench a thirst I feed off of animals. It keeps the death toll by vampires down. I do it so people don't have to face the same fate I did."

Her eyes flashed with anger, "Maybe I just put a few thoughts of options into your head. to put on the agenda to do in your office time. Also maybe you could tell my parents you found my body. Walking around with no heartbeat. I'd like to see how they view you and your ministry after you reveal the fate I faced and still face because your effort wasn't good enough. Tell me. If it was your children would you be sending out the entire ministry to look for them or would you allow the same neglect to go to their search like you did mine?"

[Carolyn Porter]

An eerie silence fell over the small tea shop. It was so quiet that even the faintest of noises could be heart, like specks of dust falling to the floor or a mouse scurrying into its hole in the wall. The shop owner stood behind the counter across the room looking at the Mistress of Magic and the young vampire girl silently, curiously watching and listening for what would be said next. It apparently amazed how the young girl had completely degraded the older Mistress and how she had been so brutally honest with her. As much as she would have loved to join in on the conversation, she opted against it. She didn't want the Mistress of Magic to get any more angry with her than she already was.

The entire situation was awkward, from beginning to whoever they were in the conversation. Carolyn had taken a small step back and let her shoulders slouch, making herself seem a lot less hostile and prepared to "attack." When she did that, her entire posture was lost, and it appeared as if she had just been slapped in her face. Maybe she had been slapped in the face, figuratively speaking. She straightened her neck some, and it became apparent when she swallowed harshly. Her eyes became wide, and her lips were held tightly together in a silenced sort of way. She really could not think of anything to say, which is why a lingering silence had lasted.

When the silence was broken, it was only just that. Carolyn had trouble finding her voice, mostly because she couldn’t think of anything to say in response to everything that had been said to her. She cleared her throat and looked down at the floor, a sigh escaping her lips. She swallowed heavily once again and crossed her arms loosely across the chest.

"I know it probably won't mean much to you, but I really am sorry about what happened. I am sorry that I didn't send more aurors out to search for you. And I am sorry that your parents will have to know and live with the fact that you are no longer what many of us would consider "normal." She paused and looked across the room at a random wall. She blinked a few times and removed her glasses, situating them on her shirt so that she wasn't wearing them. For some reason, her glasses were overwhelming her and making her have a small headache.

"My daughters are all I have," Carolyn said as she looked at the young woman, her eyes squinting slightly to try and see her better. Her eyesight was getting worse and worse with each passing day, she feared. "Of course I would try and make sure they were recovered and safe. And if I didn't, I wouldn't sleep until I did." She blinked a few time, wiping one of her small hands over her face in a slight amount of fatigue. She knew that what she had to say would only confirm that she was a self-centered bitch and that she had nothing better to do than make sure things were okay in her world. Sighing heavily, Carolyn opened her mouth to speak again, not taking her eyes off the younger woman.

"And because this is probably all my fault, and because I am a person with respect and dignity, I will tell your parents that you are alive, but that you are no longer mortal. I will try my best not to lay the news on them too hard."

Carolyn pulled her glasses from her shirt and placed them back on her face. She allowed a gaze to linger upon the young woman for a moment before turning and walking across the room with heavy steps. She snatched her traveling cloak from the back of the chair in which she had previously been sitting and put it on. "And I think I'll do that now. Unless you want me to wait." Her voice had regained some of its bitterness when she spoke, even though she really had not meant to. And with that, the woman turned on her heel and walked towards the exit of the tea shop. She paused in the doorway, though, and turned to look at the young vampire. "I truly am sorry," she said. "And I hope that you can see that. But if not…" She shrugged her shoulders, opened the door, and left the pub without another word.

ooc;; meh. sorry if it's funkily written. i was so lost for what to say! you can either have skye follow carolyn out and talk to her about...something...or we can end the thread here. your choice

[Skye Caine]

ooc;; LOL You don't have to type an essay everytime.

Skyebit her lip with her fangs befor sliding her hood back over her head, "Break it to them as easily as possible. They will still hate you for your neglect and be utterly broken beyond repair. I may accept the apology lightly but my parents may not." She flashed her red eyes to the store owner, "Don't you know how to mind your own business?!" she said in nearly a yell, "I suggest you clean this place it wreaks." She pushed her hair back into the hidden domain of her hood and shoved her gloved hands in her pockets before walking past the mistress and out into the slightly sunny street.

ooc;; EW ITS SHORT *Slaps self*