Moving Day [OPEN]

[Curse Kameren]

Bzzzp, bzzzp, bzz-- A calloused hand smacked Curse Kameren's muggle alarm clock. Curse sat up, looking around groggily. The clock told him it was morning, but the morning sun didn't shine down inside the Hogwarts dungeons. Curse missed waking up with the sun, but he didn't have to miss it much longer. His tired eyes looked around the room; everything was in a few cardboard boxes, charmed to hold more than the box regularly could. He pushed himself out of bed, taking a deep breath. It was going to be a long day.

"Max!" Curse stepped out of his room, banging on his son's door on the way to the kitchen. "Moving day! If you want breakfast you better get up!" Curse smiled as he heard Max stirring in his room, proceeding to the kitchen.

It was a few days after the end of the Hogwarts semester, and the students had all been sent back on the train. Curse and Max hadn't gone with them; Curse had gotten rid of his old apartment when they moved here, to keep them safe once his address was released to the public by the Ministry. Now, with the conclusion of the school year, they needed to find a new home. Curse had spent the school year shopping around for a new place to live, trying to find the safest place for an ex-auror and his family to live peacefully. He had chosen an old place in a historic community, a place that he was sure would be safer for Max to live with him than inner-city London. The two were moving to Godric's Hollow, to a small old English cottage in the town.

Max yawned as he plodded into the kitchen, pulling himself sleepily onto the chair. He looked around. "Where'd the sky spell in the living room go?"

"I took the spells down. We're moving today, did you forget?" Curse smiled at him, messing Max's already-bedhead hair from across the counter. "For breakfast all I have for you is cereal. Everything else is packed."

"Packed?" Max arched a brow at his dad, glancing down at the cereal bowl in front of him then back at Curse. He seemed to snap out of his tired fog, his eyes widening with surprise. "We're moving today?"

Curse gave him a confused look. "Have you not noticed me packing all week? Telling you that 'we're moving'?" Max frowned. Curse rolled his eyes. "Eat your cereal. And drink the milk. If I catch you giving it to Tabby you'll be in trouble." Max sighed, but started eating. "I'm going to hop in the shower. Leave your bowl so I can clean it and get your sheets off your bed so we can pack them. You packed your room, right?" Curse didn't hear Max's response as he headed into the bathroom.

Curse took a quick shower, wanting to get out before Max fed his milk to Tabby. He knew he was going to. He dried off and put a robe on, poking his head into the kitchen again. "Max! damnit, just go put some clothes on and take care of your room." Max glanced over at Curse with wide eyes; Tabby crouched on the counter, lapping up the milk from Max's bowl. Curse shooed Tabby away as Max ran into his room. He set the dishes to cleaning themselves, heading to his own room to get dressed.

"Daaaaaad, I can't find any boxes." Max knocked on Curse's door. "Daaaaad--"

Curse opened the door, pulling at his t-shirt to make it sit right. "What do you mean? I put three charmed boxes in your room a week ago."

"No you didn't." Max crossed the hall into his own room, searching around for it. Curse followed him slowly, cringing as he prepared himself for what he'd find in his son's room.

"Max, you didn't bloody pack anything yet..." The room was a mess, clothes and books all over. Toys littered the floor, and posters and drawings were still stuck all over the walls with Spell-o-Tape. Curse bent down, picking up clothes and looking around for the boxes he'd given him. "We're moving today. You couldn't have told me you didn't have boxes a few days ago?"

"I didn't know we were moving..."

"Max--" Curse sighed. He summoned some boxes, opening them up and charming them to hold what they needed. He waved his hands, the clothes on the floor starting to fold themselves and stack themselves near the boxes. "Friends are going to be showing up to help us move any minute. Do as much as you can. Maybe Alex can help you finish packing while we get everything else moved." Curse sighed, looking Max up and down before turning and heading for the kitchen again.

Of course Max didn't have anything packed. Nothing could run smoothly. Curse sighed, running a hand through his hair as he packed away the dishes Max used for breakfast. There was much to do; Curse had picked up the moving truck las night. It was parked on the Hogwarts grounds, near the cellars. The cellars were the quickest way from the dungeons to the outside, so they would be bringing the furniture and boxes that way. He had asked a few people, he wasn't exactly sure who was coming. Hopefully enough people to help him move and keep Max organized at the same time. Merlin knew Curse couldn't do it on his own.

The professor glanced up as he heard the the creak of his office floorboards. Someone had arrived. "Hello? In the kitchen..."

[Reckony Pike]

"I know how it is, mate," Reckony rested his chin on his hands, hunching himself over Curse's sparse desk and maintaining eye-contact with the latest subject of his counselling services.

"You spend your life going around in circles. Round and round without a chance to escape unless the world suddenly changes or you die. And no one understands you - I mean, how can they? 'Cause you're you and no one will ever be in your shoes, you know what I mean, eh? Figuratively speaking, friend. It's like we're all in one giant fish bowl. Everybody's watching, everybody's judging, but there's not enough food to make everyone the fat fish. And what, what makes their lives so special that they can point at us and say you're just the runt, huh? You're itty. But you know what, I get you. And I'll let you in on a little secret, one runt to another. Eventually them fat fishes eat too much food and they explode. True story. I was there." He sighed heavily and placed a large hand on the glass aquarium that held Max's fish. "I'm glad we had this talk, Victor. I know moving day can be tough for everyone." Reckony glanced sideways at Tabby, who had been watching intently from the corner.

"Don't you worry, my special kitty friend. You're next. And you can tell Uncle Reck all about it. I know, I know! Why only nine lives? Why not ten? I think it's criminal too."

A sudden voice from the other room snapped Reckony up off the tabletop and sent Tabby flying south.

"Hello? In the kitchen..."

"Room Service!" Reckony responded in a high-pitch shrill. "A chocolate for your pillow?"

[Ralin O'Faerlun]

"I didn't know Hogwarts has maid service now," a merry Irish-tinged voice rang out behind Reckony. Ralin was studying the fishbowl, his nose pressed against the glass.

"I think yer advice helped. He looks much brighter. Maybe it's just him swimming in circles faster. Do ye give counselin' to owls too? Mine has ADHD, I swear. And anxiety problems. Maybe he's in love."

A small feathery ball collided with Reckony's face, hooting happily. The fluffy missile stumbled back in midair, partially stunned by its abrupt meeting with Reckony, then flipped a loop around the man's head.

Ralin slapped his forehead with an open palm. "Oy, Spud, quit actin' up. Ye'll never find love that way." He was apparently used to the wee Scops owl's antics, because he ignored the owl's off-kilter flapping.

Winking at Reckony, the young man shrugged. "Sorry about him, he insisted on comin' with me. I think he gets separation anxiety."

He popped his head around the doorway. "Hi Curse! Where's th' party?"

[Curse Kameren]

"Room Service!" Reckony responded in a high-pitch shrill. "A chocolate for your pillow?"

"I didn't know Hogwarts has maid service now."

Curse smiled at the sight of his two cheerful friends, glad to see them. "I wish. I'd have the time to make sure Max was actually packed before today," Curse sighed, smiling as he waved the two wizards into the apartment. He leaned on a box, his emerald eyes rolling towards the hallway as he listened for Max working. He didn't hear much movement. He sighed. "Max forgot we were moving. Must've thought I've been practicing cardboard transfiguration the last two weeks for nothing."

Curse's eyes darted to the living room, a light hiss sounding from behind his teeth. Lucy's bright green head poked up from under the boxes. She glanced at Ralin and Reckony for a moment before slithering into the hallway. "She's going to make sure Max is staying on track." Curse glanced up at the two men as he started to stack boxes near the door to his office. "I'm not entirely sure who's all coming to help, I know Alex will be here anytime soon. We're moving the boxes first, then the furniture so it'll be first off the truck at the new house."

"I never realized how much shite I've acquired over the years until I had to pack it all," He chuckled, turning to the two men with a smile as he reached for more boxes, stacking them conveniently by the door. "How have you two been by the way? Hope our trouble in the 'Broomsticks hasn't hurt your business, Reck..."

[Alex Kameren]

Whooosh. The flames in Curse’s office fireplace turned green, a moment before a tall young man stepped through the flames and onto the office floor. Not before bonking his head twice on the low mantel, once when he forgot how small the fireplace was (apparently Curse had taken down the charm that expanded it when someone arrived by floo), and the second time when he was in the process of lowering his head to manoeuvre his way out.

Rubbing the sore spot on the top of his head, Alex also shed soot onto the (once) clean floor of the office. He cleaned the area up with a quick spell, not neglecting the soot and ashes in his hair and on his shoulders, and moved out into the main area, where the voices were coming from. He carefully stepped around Tabby, who was perched in the exact center of the kitchen.

“Aaachoo!” He sniffed as he entered the living room. “Ready to move into your new, pink house, Curse?” He grinned.

[Theo Bowre]

"Actually, I believe the colour is called salmon. Hi again."

Theo shared a slightly apprehensive look with Alex before entering the apartment with several bags of muffins and thermoses of hot coffee, care of the orphanage's indispensable chef, Miss Moon. His one an only experience with Alex Kameren to date involved an escort at the Ministry of Magic and a visit with Theo's slightly loopy elder brother, Jack. So far they were hitting fouls in their acquaintance.

"I brought fuel." Theo lifted the bags on to the counter, eyeing the boxes that littered the rooms. "Figured you might have packed the chips and made Max eat that horrendous cereal. Where is he, by the way? The kids made him a bon voyage present." He lifted a small package from his inner jacket pocket. "I think it might be an inflatable helmet and a St. Christopher's medallion. They heard Curse was driving."

Theo was going to ask why the entire apartment smelled of soot but thought better of it once he saw Kameren-sized footprints leading from the fireplace.

"How can we help, Curse?"

[Curse Kameren]

“Aaachoo!” He sniffed as he entered the living room. “Ready to move into your new, pink house, Curse?”

"It's not pink! It's-- ah --lightish red." Curse sent his brother a childish glare from behind a pile of boxes as he picked them up. "Keep that up and I'm making you hold Tabby in the truck."

"Actually, I believe the colour is called salmon. Hi again."

"Exactly." Curse looked pointedly at Alex as he set the boxes down by the door again. Tabby jumped on top of the pile, swiping at Curse as he walked away. He sent the cat an impatient look; Curse and Tabby were constantly in a silent war with each other, their only mediator being Max. He hated that bloody cat. He would have gotten rid of the damn thing as soon as he got it if Alex hadn't given it to him. Now he was stuck with it.

"I brought fuel." Theo lifted the bags on to the counter, eyeing the boxes that littered the rooms. "Figured you might have packed the chips and made Max eat that horrendous cereal. Where is he, by the way? The kids made him a bon voyage present."

"Daaaaaad!" On cue, Max's voice sounded from his room. "The box is full but clothes keep trying to go into it!"

The Potions Master suppressed a groan when he heard Max. How did he have so many clothes Curse's expanding charm couldn't hold them? Amelia must have been shopping for him again. Max was going to be difficult today, he could already tell. Max had his days where he was very well-behaved, but today he was needy. He needed someone to hold his hand during this move, but Curse didn't have the time to do everything for him. Curse silently hoped Arianna would come; she had a way with Max, and though he had invited her casually, he really hoped she'd come. He needed someone to help him take care of Max sometimes, as much as he hated to admit it.

"How can we help, Curse?"

"Start moving boxes towards the cellar. Do any of you know where that is? Ralin, you were here not too long ago, you might know where it is. Anyway, open that up and the moving truck is sitting outside. The back hatch is open--"

"--Dad."

"I've gotta go help him," Curse looked between the four wizards apologetically before ducking into the hall into Max's room. "What's going on?"

"The boxes are going to explode!" Max pointed at the boxes, his face worried and his arms laden with books. "They made this rumbling noise and then they started to stack up and--"

"I got it," Curse skimmed his hand over the sides of the box. The piles on top of the cardboard started to slowly sink inside. It was going to be ugly trying to unpack that later. "There, that's better. You've got most of your clothes, your toy box is only half-packed. Do you want one for your books, or do you just want to put those with your toys?"

"What did you do?"

"I have book boxes."

"I want that then." Max smiled as Curse waved his hand and another box appeared. He happily stacked the books in the box, watching as the pile slowly sunk down. Curse followed Max around the room, the two Kamerens picking up books off his shelf, dressers and floor and putting them into the bottomless box.

"There, is that all of them?"

"I think so. Did you see my Beetle the Bard? I don't want to lose that one," Max looked around, checking under his bed to make sure he hadn't missed any.

"I got it." Curse smiled, obviously glad to get one of Max's boxes settled. "I'll take this one out, you keep working in here. You've got a long way to go. Shout if you need another box." Curse picked up Max's book box, magically labeling it and stacking it with his own book boxes. He picked up two of them stacked together as he headed for the office door. He stopped as he accidentally bumped into someone. "Oh, sorry," he glanced up over the boxes.

[Arianna Blackthorn]

When Arianna moved back to England she had promised herself she would avoid Cure Kamren. They were back for each other. And Yet, here she was several months later on his doorstep helping him and his son move. Oh, she avoided him all right. Things had leveled out between them, the air cleaned. There were still in that in between stage that either might develop into a stronger very close friendship or romance again. It was too soon to tell. She still loved him but there was so many questions. After he had left her apartment, Arianna had promised herself to take things so. Since she tended to lose control and speed in his presence, that meant limiting their interactions for a while. Then the moving invitation came and she couldn't resist. After an hour of avoiding looking at her wand and trying to read a book she gave up and traveled to the road that lead to Hogwarts.

Curse would most likely need her help with Max. He was leaving his favorite place in the whole world, of course he'd be difficult. She was picturing Max as a first year, dressed in his little robes, as she made to enter the apartment. She should have been paying attention. It was a moving day after all. That meant people with boxes who couldn't see where they were going.

"Owe..." She said absentmindedly rubbing her head as she looked at Curse. "My fault, you're the one caring boxes. Can I grab one for you?"

[Reckony Pike]

[[OOC: Posting Reckony and Theo together]]

"Start moving boxes towards the cellar. Do any of you know where that is? Ralin, you were here not too long ago, you might know where it is. Anyway, open that up and the moving truck is sitting outside. The back hatch is open--"

A dangerous and delicious expression crossed Reck's face as an old memory involving his serpent-stained adolescence percolated to the surface.

"Oh," he spoke as though the destination was a subject of desire. "I know where the cellar is. Come gentlemen." Reckony started to heave boxes upon his friends, burdening Ralin, Alex and Theo with at least three boxes a piece. In true supervisor fashion, he left with none.

"Perhaps you could give the kid a hand?" Theo mumbled behind boxes labelled BOOKS and LINENS. Were he not otherwise hidden behind a wall of cardboard, he'd have given his young assistant, Ralin, an apologetic look and Reckony the glare of daggers. Both Theo and Alex cleared six feet in height; they could at least partially navigate the trek through the cellars with their loads. Ralin just barely cleared 5' something.

"I'm coordinating, Theodore. Please do not break my concentration. Ah, this way." Reckony started to walk towards the dungeon halls, a happy bounce entering his step.

Theo wondered if Curse would notice a barkeep-sized dent in his belongings.

"I'm sorry. I forgot that gypsies preferred pompous asses over the labour class. Ralin, cover your ears. You're going the wrong way, Reckony. To the right!" To Alex and Ralin. "Let's make sure he doesn't get the keys to the van."

[Ralin O'Faerlun]

"Oh no worries mates, I call dibs on drivin' the truck. Nicked th' keys from Curse's pocket. Don't tell him."

Ralin grinned as he easily levitated the stack of boxes before him, wand out in careful concentration not to dump the tower on Alex or his boss. Now Reckony, however... The leprechaun glint in Ralin's eyes brightened as he waited for the right moment...

The stack of boxes caught Reckony full in the back, hopefully with enough force to shove him off balance, not enough to bring the stack on him. After a quick nudge from the boxes, they were back (apparently) in Ralin's arms, the young man looking around the cardboard innocently.

"Watch th' steps mate, they're a wee uneven I think."

Ralin passed a wink to Theo and Alex, waiting for Reck to turn again for another strike.

[Curse Kameren]

"Owe..."

"Oh, sorry," Curse apologized, but a crooked smile lit up his face when he realized who it was. She had come after all! He hadn't been sure if Arianna would join them, or if this situation would be a bit too intimate for her. He knew it was an awkward thing to ask of an ex-fiancee, but he needed help with Max and Alex wasn't nearly as good with him as Ari was. And, honestly, he missed her. "Thankyou for coming. You're a saviour, honest."

"My fault, you're the one caring boxes. Can I grab one for you?"

"It's fine, I have them," He shrugged them higher up on him, resting the inner sides on his thin torso, "you can help move boxes if you like, or you can help Max pack his room. He forgot we were moving." Curse rolled his eyes; there was no possible way he could forget. He just didn't want to pack, and expected Curse to do it for him. He was ten years old, he could pack boxes on his own. "After I help get the heavy stuff away, we could switch. Max is being difficult today." The professor frowned as he heard Max yelp for him once more.

[Alex Kameren]

"It's not pink! It's-- ah --lightish red." Curse sent his brother a childish glare from behind a pile of boxes as he picked them up. "Keep that up and I'm making you hold Tabby in the truck."

Alex shot his brother a look of amusement in return as he surveyed the box-strewn room. This was something he’d missed, the chance to needle his brother when no one’s life was on the line. Lately they had made a habit of only coming together when there was danger or Curse was very sick.

"Actually, I believe the colour is called salmon. Hi again."

“Tell me again, what is the definition of the word salmon?”

“Oh," he spoke as though the destination was a subject of desire. "I know where the cellar is. Come gentlemen."

Alex had already hefted one box when Reckony (Alex was only vaguely familiar with the man) piled more boxes into his arms. He craned his neck, trying to see around the boxes to wherever the apparently neurotic barkeep was leading.

"I'm sorry. I forgot that gypsies preferred pompous asses over the labour class. Ralin, cover your ears. You're going the wrong way, Reckony. To the right!" To Alex and Ralin. "Let's make sure he doesn't get the keys to the van."

Alex dutifully turned right. “I don’t think that will be a problem, Bowre.” The little column of pack mules navigated around more turns, up narrow stairwells (where Alex scraped his elbows) and finally, out of the dungeon and into the cellar. Alex deposited his boxes in the truck.

“Well, it’s a start.”