River sat in the plush white chair in Greg's office, going through a few papers on the desk. She wanted to make sure she had everything, that she had covered everything he had asked her to do. They were going over her findings today, both his list of therapists and the suitable school places she found, which is why she was in his office to begin with.

All she needed now was her employer to show up.

Greg was a bit tired as he apparated into his flat. Training had drained him more than he thought it would, which told him that he'd really fucked up. He was just now getting his strength back from his descent into stupidity. Shaking his head, he kicked off his shoes and headed towards the couch only to have Luthien stop him. "What?"

"Miss River is in the office," Luthien told him as she looked him over sullenly. "Master Val, you shouldn't be this tired."

Greg rolled his eyes and ignored the scolding as he hurried towards the office, skirting the piano. "I'll go and talk to River."

He leaned on the door frame and watched River shuffle the papers around on the desk that was more her's than his. "Good afternoon."

She looked up at the sound of his voice, a smile immediately spreading across her face. "Afternoon. And welcome home, I suppose. I've finished everything you asked me to, so whenever you're ready, we can start going through it, if you'd like."

He was impressed at the speed of her research. "Thanks. As long as I can sit while we talk," he teased, dropping into the chair in front of the desk. "Start anywhere."

River merely smirked and set two photographs, both accompanied by a few pieces of paper each, in front of him. "We'll start with your school, then. Which, might I add, I hope you have or will mention to Tracey. I was working on this before meeting her for coffee on Monday and I didn't know if you had told her yet, so I wasn't very subtle at hiding them when she got closer. She didn't ask, but bring it up to her, yea?" She shook her head, gesturing towards the two pictures with her hand. "Either way, those are the two best places I could find. Either strike your fancy?"

Greg laid the photographs side by side. He let the comment about Maeve pass, not wanting to think about how they had left things between them. At least, not right now. "They both are brill, River." He tapped the first photograph. "What should I know about this one?"

She only had to glance at it before the information she found came flooding back. "That one is on the far outskirts of London. There's a surprising amount of land that goes with it, though it is a bit hilly. It would need a bit of sprucing up on the inside, but that shouldn't be too difficult at all. However, it is still relatively close to the city, so while it would be easier to get into Wizarding London, there's a greater chance of Muggles happening onto it. You will need quite a few wards set up."

He mulled over that information, idly tapping his fingers on the second photograph. "And this one?""

"Scotland. It's an old building, will need more renovation on the inside. On the plus side, it is regarded as a haunted area by the locals, so very few ever venture anywhere close to the building or the lands surrounding it. There would be the occasional thrill seeking Muggle, but for the most part, it would be left alone. It is a bit far from any Wizarding community, though."

He'd have to think about it. There were good and bad things about both locations. He wanted to look around before he decided one way or another. He liked the look, like they were more a home than a school. "Can I walk through both?"

"Yes. They're both mainly abandoned, so I'll leave you with directions before I go and you can visit them when you have the time," River said, piling up the pictures and the papers with them and putting them to the side. In the now empty spot, she spread out the rest of the papers she had brought over, leaning back i n the chair after with a wide smirk. "As for your therapists...you picked some real winners there, Greg."

His brows rose. "I didn't pick them, Medi-Witch Weasley did. But, do tell."

She couldn't help the snicker that escaped her. "As you wish. Let us start with Larry Coppey, a therapist in London with a rather odd method. This man believes that clothes are a boundary that must be overcome and insists that all his sessions be done starkers. I didn't think you'd be up for that."

Greg's jaw dropped. No way in hell! He was horrified. Not that he liked clothes all that much himself...it was...He shook his head. "Not happening. Next?"

Her smirk grew wider as she continued. "Jonathon Gilbert, Welsh. He thinks that people are more at ease when they feel they already know the person they're talking to...and has taken to doing impressions of various film characters to help with that. I heard his version of the priest in the Princess Bride is quite good."

He stared. Then he laughed. "You...you're serious?"

"Yes. He's working on a Father Jack one now, from the Muggle show Father Ted. Rubbish as a therapist, he is, but I heard a few people go just for the laughs." She grinned before continuing, gesturing towards another piece of paper. "Thuston Knobb is the other Londoner you gave me, but he's just as odd as the others. He refuses all together to speak to the patient and communicates using a wide variety of gestures, movements, and horribly drawn doodles."

"Do you mean The Rorschach Inkblot test? That's a mindfuck no matter how you look at it." He sighed, hoping the last two were normal. Though. The Gilbert bloke sounded like a bit of fun. "What about the others?"

She pointed to the second to last paper. "John Hellstein. He's usually drunk, but apparently he's better as his job that way. And the last one, sadly, I couldn't find much on...Abagail Sulley...she's the perfect type for her job. I'm disappointed I didn't get a laugh out of her background or practice..."

Grinning wickedly, he replied, "Leave the contact information for her and the Gilbert bloke. I'll contact them and see about an initial consultation. I really do appreciate you checking them out. though, if it amused you then it wasn't hard work, yeah?" He snickered. "I would love to see what you could find out about some of them," he said with a nod to the stacks of files on the shelves.

"After your school is set up and the Ministry's Winter Ball is over, I shall see what I can do..." Brown eyes widened for a split second as she remembered her chat with Tracey about the ball, or more specifically, her date. Well, she might as well just ask him now. It'd give her time to find someone else if he said no. "Which, ah, reminds me...are you busy on December first?"

Right. He mentally sneered. His calendar was fairly empty these days. "Umm...not that I know of. Why?"

"I was hoping you would be willing to escort me to the Winter Ball. Tracey's taking Theo, and I would rather not go on my own...please, Greg?" She gave him her most winsome smile, hoping he'd agree.

Greg blinked in shock. He didn't do formal balls. But...River was rather like a sister to him. It went against his instincts to deny her. It wasn't right, making a woman go alone. "What would I have to wear?" he asked suspiciously.

"Dress robes, I would think. I can owl some to you, if you would rather not find them yourself." After all, she hadn't even figured out just what she was wearing yet. "We can even leave early, if you'd like. We don't have to stay the entire time."

He blanched. "I'll muddle through it on my own. It's been a few years since I've gone to one of these events...I'll be in black if that helps you any. As for the leaving early, don't worry about it. I'll even be decent to Nott." Or at least I will try to be decent.

River giggled. "Being decent to Theo is something you should be promising Tracey, not me. And it's been quite a while for me as well, but it shouldn't be too difficult to slip back into. We grew up around formality." Even after being out of country for so long, they had managed to get back into their typical lives without too much ado, and this shouldn't be too different.

"I should," he conceded. "I'll behave and not embarrass either of you, promise." He shrugged. "Let's just hope it isn't one of those boring evenings where you want to gouge your eyes out with a rusty spoon rather than be there. Then again, I'll be with you and Trace so that isn't really an issue."

"Not to mention that Tracey and I are planning the entire event. I think we know how to make the night entertaining." She paused as the topic of conversation finally registered, then smiled wide. "Does this mean you'll come with me, then?"

"Yes. Can't promise I'll be an entertaining escort though. I'll do my best," he said with a wry smile.

It was hard to keep her excitement and over abundance of happiness out of her voice. "Your best is good enough for me. Thank you." River paused, considering spilling her secret now, but held back. She'd wait until the next time; she'd given him far too much to think about and work on already today. "I...suppose that's everything that needs to be covered today, then. Unless you can think of something we missed?"

He shook his head, getting to his feet. "I think we covered everything that we need to for now. If you need more time, you're welcome to say. I, however, need to rest," he said sullenly. "See you later?" He turned to go, stopping in the doorway and shooting her a glance over his shoulder. "Thanks, River."

She was already gathering her papers and notes together, and she looked up at his last words, blinking. "Whatever for?"

He wasn't sure how to say it without it coming out all sorts of wrong. He had to try though. He didn't want River to turn from him as Maeve had. She was his now, family, a little sister to watch over. "Sticking around."

River smiled, nodding. "You're my friend, and as Puffish of a sentiment as it is, I'll always be around for you. No need to worry otherwise."

He grinned. Neither of them would ever be mistaken for a Puff, at least not in this lifetime. "See you later then, yeah?"

"Of course. I'll look into the laws and regulations around the two possible locations and get back to you as soon as I can. Let me know which one you prefer when you visit them?" she asked, starting to scribble Apparation directions onto a spare piece of paper.

"I'm falling asleep on my feet," he admitted. "Leave the directions on the desk or with Luthien, please."

River glanced up and shook her head, giggling. "Go to bed then, and sleep well. I'll see you next time I pop by."

Shaking his head, Greg left her in the office and went straight for his bedroom. He threw himself face down and was asleep in moments.



{Summary} River and Greg discuss the therapists, buildings, and the Ball.