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12/28
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9/27
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Harry Potter:"Do you really think there's going to be a war, Sirius?"
Sirius Black: "It… feels like it did before."
TURN ON THE LIGHT is a Post- Potter roleplay that takes place twenty-five years after the Second Wizarding War.
We welcome canon and original characters in this (currently) sandbox style roleplay.
It was only her second day in the UK since her slightly impulsive decision to pack up and move, and after a good nights sleep Sydney decided to explore a bit. She had heard so many wonderful stories about the Wizarding community in that country that she knew she would have her hands full. It was going to be an adjustment, especially starting over by herself. Was she terrified?
Absolutely.
Who wouldn't be? She didn't exactly have a backup plan if it failed, which just meant that failure was not an option. Her southern stubbornness was going to need to be in full power if she was going to make it a successful life. Fear was a powerful motivator though, and she was going to make it. She had to.
Today she had decided to check out the village known as Hogsmede, and from the moment she set foot in it, it just felt right. Sydney was completely overwhelmed but in the best possible way. Every shop was so unique, and Sydney could only imagine this was how the children felt on their first visits. The stress and worries were slowly fading away and though she knew it was likely only temporary relief, it was nice.
A sign for a pub caught her eye, and she decided to pop in and grab a drink. She took a seat at the bar, her eyes scanning the menu before settling on a nice tall beer. She took a sip, her eyes closing as a relaxing sigh escaped her lips. Had she finally found her place? She certainly hoped so.
Given she worked some of her time in a bar it made sense she'd go to another one when she needed to blow off steam. Not the first choice but it was closer than going down to London when she felt a need to get drunk.
On the plus side today she'd gotten to see an ex about making a TV work in the magical world. Having tracked Rufus down in magical transport he'd written down what she needed to do to make that work for her friend. He'd have to do some of the work too once they did have the said TV but things were proceding nicely.
So the dive bar this evening was the choice as it close to home and it wasn't work. At least she still could get beer here and entered wearing a blue dress, DM boots and a black winter coat. At least tomorrow she only had another trip to London for music practice on the agenda. She could cope with a hangover if that was the case.
Heading to the bar she sounded out of place but had lived here since she was ten. An Irish accent was rare enough in the magical world and she asked politely for a tall beer. There wasn't many other customers but there was one who caught her eye. Then she glanced at Sydney.
For Syd, the hardest part about starting over, was going to be building the friendships and relationships needed to make it an easy transition. She was already shyer than most, but in an unfamiliar setting she was going to have to fight the urge to just blend into the crowd and act like she wasn't even there.
As she sipped on her drink, she just let her eyes wander amongst the room. People watching was definitely a hobby of hers, and a bar was one of the best places to participate. Her eyes fell on a woman who had joined her sitting at the bar, her eyes drawn to the shade of blue of her dress. She felt like maybe she was staring a bit too long though, and quickly averted her gaze to the drink in front of her.
Syd heard the woman in blue speak, and a soft chuckle escaped her lips as she heard the accent. "At least I'm not the only one who sounds out of place." she said, her southern drawl quite evident. She didn't even realize she had spoken to the stranger, and a soft blush crept onto her face. "Sorry, tend to speak before thinkin, didn't mean any offense." she stumbled over her words, wishing she had a time turner to cover up and erase the embarrassment she was feeling.
Seraphim still sounded out of place even now even with Hogsmeade being a real melting pot of nationalites and cultures. She heard the voice which could only have came from the other woman at the bar and smiled back. Then the cogs turned in her head as she assessed the situation.
Firstly she'd apologised and secondly she'd said what was on her mind. Not many people did the later here that often. Thirdly she was also very pretty and if she wanted time with her she'd need to move fast. It would be a shame if a grasping male giot there first.
"No harm done" she cheerfully replied as her beer arrived in its tall glass."I'm Seraphim Sellars, part time bar staff in the Three Broomsticks and also a musician. Hopefully more than part time in the future". Syd had certainly got Sera's attention given she was into both genders and she was looking at a really cute one right now.
Her name wasn't one you'd expect an Irish witch to have. All the doing of her late father who was English but while she didn't remember him there was still the whole branch of his family there anytime she needed to go to London.
Considering how shy Sydney actually was, the amount of times she spoke without thinking was a bit surprising. She would get scolded as a child quite frequently, but it was a habit she very clearly still struggled to break. It had never been an issue thankfully, but there was always the chance that it could end poorly for her.
This wasn't one of those poor endings though, and the woman introduced herself with a pleasant smile. "A fellow bartender, always fun to meet another." she said with a smile. "Haven't had the chance to check out Broomsticks yet, only my second day here after all." she said, sipping at her drink as she felt herself already beginning to overshare to a complete stranger.
"Names Sydney, pleasure to meet ya" she said warmly, waving over the bartender. "Next drinks on me, if you don't mind of course."
The cute woman facing her smiled back and introduced herself. Now she'd spoken more it was obvious she was American. Sydney had made the journey that her people had made to the states. Seraphim's aunt Siobhan had settled in the US too; a muggle since her mother was the only witch in the family but if you could have one muggle born she wouldn't be surprised if there were others from the Wainwright's in the future.
"I'm pleased to meet you Sydney. Since you're offering the next round let me show you around in return. So do you work in the trade too?" she gently and cheerfully asked.
"I've lived in Hogsmeade since I was ten. My ma figured it was easier to move here than answer awkward questions once my magic showed. She also went to Hogwarts" she added. Drinking more of her beer she settled into a bar seat to keep Sydney company.
Sydney knew that it wasn't always going to be this easy to make friends in a new place, so she wasn't going to complain when a positive situation dropped into her lap. "Tour guide for drinks? Sounds like a fair trade to me." she said with a warm grin. "I was back in the states, hopefully I'll find a place hiring sooner rather than later. Could always find a muggle pub to hold me over." she said with a shrug.
Seraphim spoke a little about her upbringing, and Syd had a feeling there could be some underlying similarities in their upbringing. "Yeah, my family just kinda locked it away, told people I was being sent off to some highly prestigious all girls school." she said with a roll of her eyes. "Ya know, to this day I STILL don't think anyone really knows the truth about that." she said, sipping at her drink.
Seraphim liked the smile she was getting back from Sydney. She wasn’t thinking in terms of flirting with her but it did look that they were getting on well. The bar trade had also been her mother’s first job after Hogwarts and her daughter had done the same. So had Sydney back in the states.
“If you can’t find a wizarding place I could point you in the direction of pubs in Brentford, London. My ma worked in one after she graduated from Hogwarts and that was how she met my father. He passed on when I was still very little so I don’t really have memories of him. So when I showed my magic we moved from Belfast to make things easier. Her side of the family knows my secret and they understand but my father’s side don’t know. They’re the ones who live in muggle London. I still spend time with them but have to be careful not to spill the secret.
She was muggleborn and her sister left for the states while she went there; that was my Aunt Siobhan and she brought her husband back a few years ago to visit. You know his accent sounds similar to yours”.
Seraphim cheerfully spoke as she sipped her drink. She was enjoying this evening out away from work and she had fantastic company. It did sound like her drinking buddy might have had a rough time before wizarding school. So she added “hopefully things improved once you got to wizarding school. I was sorted into Slytherin and had to fight for my place in the snake pits pecking order”.
