Today had been hell on a stick. Natalie was stomping through the MLE offices. Hestia was in a particularly foul mood and had been since she had laid Burke out in the middle of the office. Natalie still couldn't believe he'd slept with Madley. Was the girl stupid?

She noticed Romy was still here as well. A idea formed.

"Hey, Vane, want to grab a pint with me? It's been a shite day, and I hate to drink alone."

Romy tried not to look as stunned as she felt by the offer. It wasn't that she was opposed to the idea exactly, it just wasn't one she'd ever expected to hear. In her twenty-one years, Romy could count on one hand the number of times she'd ever voluntarily spent time with another woman for recreation. Generally she preferred the company of men.

It had been a stressful time for her lately, though, and a cold drink wouldn't go amiss. Natalie wasn't bad company, she supposed. Nodding, she said, "Yeah, alright. Just let me drop an owl to Joscelin so he doesn't worry." Belatedly she realized Natalie probably had no idea who Joscelin was, but it didn't much matter.

Natalie raised an eyebrow. She didn't know Romy was dating anyone.

"All right. I have to grab my things anyhow. Meet you at the apparation point in ten?"

"Sounds good." As Natalie walked off, Romy jotted a quick note to Joscelin that she was going out with a -- oh for fuck's sake -- a friend from work and that's she'd be home, well, back to Tretower, later in the evening. After she'd sent it off with one of the Ministry owls, she made her way down to the Atrium to wait for Natalie.

Natalie grinned when she saw Romy approaching. "Sticks or Leaky? I say Sticks because if a fight breaks out, we won't have to bust it up. Plus, Brody's new bartender is hot... unless this Joscelin doesn't like you looking at other men."

"The 'Sticks is fine with me. Brody's not exactly unattractive himself." Pulling out her wand as she prepared to Apparate, Romy gave Natalie a look. "And Joscelin's not.. We're not... It's not like that." Hoping she managed it before the other woman could see the heat rising in her face, she disappeared with a crack.

Natalie grinned before she apparated into Hogsmeade. She followed Romy inside and they set themselves up at the bar. Natalie ordered a pint of ale.

"So... your place being bug-bombed," she asked. She was being nosy, but she just hoped Romy didn't mind. Natalie knew something was wrong, was still wrong. Her suspicious little mind was adding things up as she came to know them. Mainly she was getting alarm bells because Romy was not staying at home or alone. Nothing wrong with that, very smart actually, but Natalie was wondering why. She wanted to help in some way. If she even could.

Romy took a long pull on the Guinness she'd ordered. Since she'd been staying with Joscelin, she'd developed a taste for the dark brew. She didn't know what to tell her co-worker. She couldn't go into too much detail without bringing on more questions, but she didn't want to totally brush her off or lie either.

"No. I'm just staying with a friend for a bit. He's concerned about my safety." She struggled for a way to explain without explaining. "I've had trouble with my -- wards." It wasn't a lie, not really. Her wards had been done by Ethan Vaisey's company. They weren't safe for her anymore.

"You know..." Natalie started, not even sure the person she was about to volunteer would agree without Natalie owing him favors. "Draco Malfoy is a friend. Sort of. He's pretty good at the ward stuff. I could ask him to fix them for you... if... if you want. Dean says there isn't anyone getting into Draco's place he doesn't want there. I think Draco even did the wards for Susan Bones' house, if I'm remembering right."

A little surprised by the offer, which seemed to be the theme of the evening, Romy smiled. "Thanks, I'll let you know." Shifting the conversation off of herself, her grin turned a bit crooked. "How's Dean doing these days? No horrible trollops posing for him just to annoy you recently?" she teased.

Natalie laughed. "Yes, let's remind me what I wench I was about that. Not really. Lots of old ladies with dogs lately, so I'm not complaining. The crazy man tossed down a chunk of change trying to find Draco when he was missing. He's really sweet, but gods, that worried me. No, things with Dean are good. It's my Da's girlfriend that makes me want to hex my eyes out. I imagine her face on Jimmy's when I spar with him."

"Your father's got a girlfriend?" That was interesting. Romy's own father hadn't really brought any women around her after her mother left. She supposed he probably did date, but nothing serious enough to share with her. Of course, he'd killed himself without worrying about her reaction, too, so her opinion probably wasn't what kept him from sharing. "She's a pill, then? This girlfriend?"

"Does the name Hortense Nott mean anything to you? And Da wants us to be friends. I had to go shopping with her for masks for that ball thing I didn't even get an invite to - not that I wanted to go. I don't do dresses."

Eyes going wide, Romy nearly dropped her glass. "Nott? As in wife of the former Death Eater Nott? Isn't your father the head of a group for Muggleborn equality or something like that? How'd he get mixed up with her?" She shook her head in disbelief, adding after a moment, "And you should wear dresses. You've got a nice figure and I bet your legs are phenomenal."

Natalie was so shocked by the compliment she just stared at Romy until it became awkward. "Thank you?"

It was silent for a bit as the drank.

"I have chicken legs. That's what Dennis used to call them. I'm all flat surfaces and straight lines. You're the one with the figure."

The new bartender was grinning and looking from one to the other.

Romy's voice turned a bit soft as she spoke of Natalie's friend. "Well, you might've had chicken legs when Dennis saw them. You were what? Fourteen then? You've grown up since then, Natalie, even if you aren't as voluptuous as I am. You're not a carpenter's dream."

The bartender gave Natalie a look that said he agreed with Romy and Natalie should not argue before refilling their drinks and heading off.

Natalie did not really know what to say, so she changed the subject.

"So... what do you think about that illegal shipment of brooms that got confiscated with that 'handmade by kept Muggles' thing burned into the handles? You think that's just a joke?"

Frowning into her glass, Romy shook her head. She'd heard about that and as much as she wanted to think it was a farce, a cold feeling in her stomach told her it wasn't. "I hope so, but there have been disappearances and strange things going on. It's not unthinkable. It's incredible to think that there are people who think enslaving Muggles is okay, but people are crazy."

"This is quite true," Natalie said, taking a deep drink. "I'm going to gossip now. Can you believe Burke slept with his trainee?"

"Absolutely, that man has no shame." Signaling for another drink, Romy snorted. "What I can't believe is that Madley was stupid enough to go along with it. I'm not exactly known for my chastity, but even I wouldn't have screwed one of the senior Aurors. Especially one with Burke's reputation. Hestia warned us about him. Laura should've listened."

Natalie started chuckling.

"What I don't get is why a guy like Church puts up with him. I mean, Church is the job, you know? I'd have hexed him by now if he were my partner. Sad thing? I can't wholly dislike Burke. He's pretty good at what he does. Maybe that's why Church lets him live."

"Oh, I'll even go as far as to say I like that bastard. He's hilarious, you know, in a complete sleaze kind of way." Her lips twitched. It was fun gossiping with Natalie. Romy felt very girly all of a sudden, and giggled, adding to the effect. "If he was in a different department, I might be tempted to pull a Madley myself."

A wicked gleam came into Romy's eyes and she leaned towards Natalie conspiratorially. "You know, Tonks is doing a bit of interdepartmental romancing."

Natalie raised a brow. "Really then?"

This was sort of fun. Natalie had never been one for gossip before, but it was almost like Romy suddenly spoke her language.

"Who is it, and can I be there when her cousin threatens him? Because he will, you know."

"He's a Hit Wizard. Bishop Rascaile. You should see them in the training room. They spar like it's foreplay." She snorted. "It probably is, now that I think about it. He's Joscelin's best friend, awkwardly enough. And I'll try to give you a head's up if I see Malfoy headed his way." Bishop wasn't the type to be easily intimidated from what she'd seen, but that might make the meeting even more amusing.

Natalie choked on her ale a bit. "Now you have to tell me. Because I know who you're talking about. He's not the smallest bloke in the department, that's for sure. Though if Draco will provoke a werewolf into attacking him... yeah, that'd be a cage match to watch."

Natalie giggled then, her mind suddenly conjuring an image of pale and sleek Draco fighting the 'my muscles have muscles' Rascaile. Somehow they got covered in chocolate sauce during this imagining. Then marshmallow cream was added. This got Natalie to laughing so hard she nearly fell off her bar stool.

Romy giggled, playfully pulling Natalie's glass away. She wasn't sure what was so funny, but she had a sneaking suspicion that the ale was adding to the amusement factor. "Alright Miss McDonald, I believe you're cut off. I'm going to take a stab in the dark and say you don't drink very often, yeah?" A few months ago Romy would've thought the likelihood of Natalie getting pissed was somewhere on par with Voldemort wearing footy pajamas and having a stuffed bunny he called Harvey. It was nice to be wrong about her.

"Nope," Natalie said, popping the P. "No tolerance for it at all. I was just imaging Malfoy confronting Rascaile and there being a tussle. Somehow chocolate sauce and marshmallow cream got added."

This dissolved her into further giggles.

Brody was suddenly there making a face. "Iffen she canna apparate herself home. I know where Dean lives."

Smiling at the large Scot, Romy patted the giggling girl's shoulder. "I've been to Dean's before. I'll make sure she gets there safely if she's not fit to go on her own."

Romy swiveled on her bar stool, highly amused at Natalie's admitted thoughts. "Rascaile and Malfoy covered in chocolate and marshmallow? That's downright pervy, Natalie. A lovely mental image, but truly pervy."

"Dean told me once that when Draco first started having a relationship with Ginny that he and Draco had a mostly-naked pillow fight over a misunderstanding about Ginny and Hannah Abbott. Dean somehow ended up in just his pants and Draco was naked. I think they'd hexed each others' clothes off or something. I'll be that was interesting. Because Dean's pretty in a boy way with his clothes not on. They were using couch cushions to hit one another because they didn't want Ginny mad at them."

Natalie snorted with laughter.

Both Brody's eyebrows had shot up. "I dinna need to know any of tha'."

Romy laughed. Loudly. "Defending a woman's honor by pillow fighting in the buff. That's classic. I wonder if either one broke a nail. God, you could sell tickets to something like that."

Giving Brody a teasing grin, Romy said, "I don't suppose you'd consider making that a regular event at the 'Sticks, would you Brody? I bet a lot of ladies would come for Naked Male Pillow Fighting Night." With a teasing wink, she added, "Especially if you were part of the line-up."

"Ooooo, yes," Natalie said, leaning on the bar. "You should see him with his shirt off, Romy. It's nice."

Brody cleared his throat and went to refill someone's glass at the other end of the bar.

"I wouldn't go telling Dean about your appreciation of Brody's chest." Pulling out a stack of coins, Romy laid them on the counter. Natalie was starting to wobble a bit on her stool and she thought it would be better to escort her home before actual physical lifting was required. "Speaking of Dean, what do you say we head over to his place? I bet he'll be thoroughly amused by his drunk girlfriend showing up with her sworn non-friend."

Natalie stumbled when she got off of her stool. "He thinks we're friends now. I dunno. I don't really have female friends. Unless you count Ginny, but she only likes me cos of Dean. All right. Let's go then, but you apparate. I think I might splinch myself."

Catching Natalie by the arm, Romy giggled. "I don't have female friends either. I don't have much in the way of male friends, either, but we've already had that conversation." With a wave to Brody, Romy escorted Natalie outside and Apparated them both to Dean's. Unsure whether Natalie usually just walked in or not, she knocked on the door as Natalie giggled and murmured about marshmallow cream.

Natalie let them in and hung on to Romy while pointing at the stairs. They made their way up. Natalie was determined to just have Romy deposit her on the bed - only Dean's room was occupied.

"Oh. See? It's pretty, isn't it?"

"Good timing, love." He'd just hopped out of the shower and was rummaging through his wardrobe for a pair of boxers. Dean grinned as he turned around, letting the towel around his waist fall to the floor. He froze as he realized that Natalie wasn't the only person in the room.

"What is it about me naked that makes women appear?" he muttered with a slightly disgusted look on his face. He bent down and slipped on his boxers.

"Hullo, Romy. Fancy meeting you here."

Snickering from behind the hand she'd thrown in front of her eyes as soon as the towel had started to fall, Romy said, "Hi Dean. I've brought your girlfriend to you. She's a bit drunk." Deciding that he'd had long enough to cover himself, she dropped her hand. "And you know, a lot of men would kill for that talent."

"When you put it like that, I suppose it does seem to be a silly thing to whinge on about, doesn't it?" Dean grinned. "Especially considering the quality of woman Nat's brought me. I feel a bit sorry for subjecting anyone to," he gestured vaguely to himself, "this."

Romy smirked, moving to help Natalie sit on the bed. "Well, Natalie's been singing praises of your prettiness, in a manly way, of course. I can't say I disagree with her. Besides, it's only fair that I get to see you without clothes considering I had to pay you to get you to look at me without mine."

Natalie started pulling her clothes off.

"Dean likes to paint naked ladies, but there's been a naked lady drought for him lately," she said from inside her shirt.

"You know Natalie, I realize I said you had a nice figure earlier, but I hadn't really intended on getting this detailed a view of it." Jerking her thumb towards the door, Romy shook her head. "I'm just going to head out. Make sure she drinks lots of water unless you're stocked up on hangover potions."

Dean tugged Natalie's shoes off, and began working on her denims. "You mean my hopes of some hot threesome action were in vain, then?" He sighed dramatically, before grinning at Romy. "Don't worry, I'll take good care of her."

"Threesome action in Vane. In Vane? Get it?"

Natalie started giggling.

With a groan, Romy headed for the door. "Okay, that's my cue. When my name gets used in drunken sex puns, it's time to go home. Night, Dean. See you at work, Natalie."

"G'night, Romy," Dean said as he finished pulling Natalie's denims off.

Natalie scrambled off the bed in just her knickers and bra and grabbed Romy in a very awkward hug.

"Have a good night. Thanks for drinking with me."

For a long, awkward moment, Romy wasn't sure what to do. Eventually she patted Natalie's back, just glad the other woman hadn't tried to kiss her. "You too," she said, gently peeling Natalie off of her. "Okay then. Goodnight." Before she could be caught in any more bizarre girly displays of affection, Romy bolted from the room.

Dean chuckled as Romy hustled down the stairs. Poking his head out the door, he called out,

"What? No hug for me, then?"

"Next time! Gotta run!" Romy called as she escaped through the front door.

{SUMMARY} Natalie and Romy go for pints after work at Three Broomsticks. Natalie is a lightweight, so Romy sees her home to Dean.