A table for one...more. -Closed:Noah-

[Tristan Stavros]

The noise from outside of his office was growing. Although he had been able to convince Minister Wagner to allow him to charm the inside of his office with complex soundproofing spells, Tristan had not been as lucky for the outside. According to the Minister, which Tristan unfortunately couldn’t disagree with, if some chaotic scene had unfolded and his, the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, office was oblivious to the sounds of mayhem then that would have been a complete and utter disaster. The Austrian Ministry could afford no more muck ups when it came to response time and security. While he could have argued with the man that he would have likely been able to see the silhouettes of said chaos from the inside of his windows, he didn’t press the matter. Especially with the thought of how bad that would have looked on him. Tristan had spent many, many years building his career and reputation to what it was at today and he was damn proud of it. He was one of the very select few that had been maintained his integrity and morals as he rose up the Ministry chain. After the Battle of Gringotts so long ago, everything in the building had been turned upside down. Witches and wizards making deals with the devil. Espionage in all shapes and sizes. Blackmail. Hell, someone had even busted out a crate of pixies from Level Four costing his old department on Level Seven several hundreds of thousands of galleons to replace broomsticks for the national Quidditch team. The Ministry had become the laughingstock of the entire wizarding world.

Through it all though, Tristan Stavros remained unchanged. That wasn’t to say that there had been moments of frustration. He could certainly count the number of times on both hands that he had wanted to put in his notice and take his family back to Greece. His home country continued to beg for his expertise to this day. Minister Lykaois sent him at least a post a month for the last four years to see if he had changed his mind yet. The salary offer continued to grow with them, though Tristan had made it a point not to tell the misses about that. His wife, Annika, was just as, if not more, eager than Minister Lykaois to have him accept the job offer. “You know damn well you’d take over that country in no time,” she constantly argued. “He’d feel stupid chasing after you for so long.” He agreed with her. The crime rate in Greece was moderately high. Not quite as high as Austria but the country certainly had its own demons with corruption and bribery being at the top of the list. It was practically a given that as soon as he took the helm of their Magical Law Enforcement department the changes would be drastic and he would eventually be the hero of Greece. “Tristan Stavros – Hero of Greece” certainly had a nice ring to it.

For as long as the offer had been on the table though, he had never been able to bring himself to accept. Austria’s wizarding world was a mess. It needed help. Despite Darren Morgan’s disappearance, things were taking a very long time to get back to normal. One thing would get fixed and then as if on cue, another broke. It was challenging and frustrating but Tristan had always lived for it. Why not be the hero of Austria? Why waste all of the blood, sweat and tears that he had already poured into this department after graduation? It wasn’t time to leave…not yet. Until that feeling of unsettled business subsided, he wanted to remain until he could feel he had left some sort of lasting impact on the department.

As much as he hated to admit it, the departure of Wentworth had made things taxing. Not long after he had come back from a mission to apprehend a wanted fugitive from Spain, his first hit wizard job, Tristan had received news that Ashton was moving departments. Even to this day, he wasn’t sure he understood the real reasoning behind it. All he knew was that he had returned to their shared office for only a day before the man had packed up his stuff. The next day, a man by the name of Booth, whom Tristan had never heard of until that day, was suddenly a suitable replacement. It was suspicious but nothing that he felt he would ever get a direct answer about. He and Ashton continued to see each other periodically. Their relationship changed as they aged. Although still quick to jump down the other’s throat and the occasional punch, there was an unspoken respect. If that’s what it could have even been called. The two men knew how reliable the other one was. They had learned to deal with the others squabbling because in the end, they were a strong alliance and made up for the flaws of the other. At one point, his frenemy had even allowed him, his wife and their three children to stay at his manor for a week after there had been an unexpected disturbance at his condominium on Ilfracombe. The family had been forced to move out of the blue and Wentworth had opened his door to them if only temporarily. That’s something that Tristan would forever be grateful for.

The laughing silhouettes walking past his office window moved with such speed that Tristan didn’t even need to look and see what time it was. Dropping his quill on the active warrant he had finished signing, he pushed himself away from his desk and leaned back in his chair. Sighing, his hands moved to his face and slid down only enough to expose his eyes. He hadn’t left his chair once in the five hours since arriving this morning. Blinking a few times, Tristan rotated his head to the left and stared out of his window overlooking Alzubra Alley. On cue, his stomach began to growl. He had forgotten to grab the lunch Annika had packed for him again. She was probably going to give him an earful when he got home. They weren’t struggling by any means but she always got a little offended when the extra five minutes she took out of her day to pack him a lunch went for nothing. He could see the streets already filled with Ministry officials hitting the local spots for their quick breaks. It was going to be a nightmare down there. Tristan supposed he could have stayed in and have Marguerite bring him something from the cafeteria but he really didn’t care for the food here. Only place that had worse in his opinion was Everdines. He felt he could say that fairly given the amount of times he had been there in his tenure in office. His hands moved to his legs, slapping the tops of his thighs as he realized he would have to leave the confines of his safe space and venture out to satiate his appetite. At least he got a longer lunch break since he was a department head and all.

Lifting himself from the chair, Tristan grabbed his wand from his desk and pocketed it. His hands then moved to his Ministry badge, tucking it underneath his green collared shirt. Picking up the warrant he had just signed and today’s issue of the Daily Timestopper, he moved towards his office door and opened it. In such a short amount of time, the floor had practically cleared out with the exception of a few stragglers and his secretary Marguerite. The woman had been with him for almost ten years now. “Staying in?” he asked, giving her the piece of paper. She accepted it and smiled. Merlin he hoped she hadn’t thought that was an invite. She knew perfectly well that Tristan was married. If he hadn’t made it apparent, Annika had every time she had came to visit him. “Not very hungry today Mr. Stavros.” She would never call him Tristan. “I’m going to send out your warrant, organize a few things and then hope you’ll grant me permission to leave a little early today? My sister and nephew are in town.” He nodded. “Of course. We’ll see where you’re at when I come back.” Tristan made sure to add the last sentence to ensure he wasn’t asking her to join him. “Thank you Mr. Stavros. Enjoy yourself.” He grinned and turned on his heel. He walked to the elevators, lifting a lazy hand to some voice in a cubicle that greeted him. As he approached, Tristan pressed the button to go down and shoved his hands in his pockets as he waited. The doors opened not too long after and he stepped in, joining two other wizards and three witches in the process.

Fortunately, the elevator didn’t take many stops along the way. It reached the lobby fairly quickly and Tristan stepped out with the others. His feet took him across the lobby and out of the building. As he stepped into the sunshine, he immediately took his glasses from his shirt pocket and placed them on his face. Now to just decide where to eat. He walked past the first group of restaurants, very quickly deciding against them as they were all filled to the brim with his peers. Five minutes later, the next, same dilemma. Frowning, Tristan continued to walk. He wondered at this point if he was going to have to grab something from a cart on the street. He preferred not to. It was a beautiful day out and would have much liked to have sit down and enjoy it for an hour or so before having to retreat back to his office. A little further and he noticed the entrance for the Dragon’s Claw. A little pricey for a solo lunch but he had heard that they offered specials he decided were worth checking into. Quickening his pace, Tristan moved towards the door where a hostess was standing to greet guests. “One,” he said with a smile. The young girl giggled sheepishly at him. He still had it at the ripe age of 31. “Inside or outside sir?” He pointed at his sunglasses. “Outside of course darling.” Another giggle. “Right this way, sir.” He followed as they weaved in and out of patio tables before stopping at the only open one.

“Last one sir. Reserved especially for you.” Tristan chuckled and slid into the seat facing Alzubra. “The gift of foresight,” he joked, placing his newspaper on the table. The young girl gave him one last look resting the menu in front of him and turning away from him. He leaned forward, opening the first page. He was rather hungry so it was certainly appropriate for an appetizer before his main meal. “Greetings sir. Welcome to the Dragon’s Claw. My name is Rubin and I’ll be your server this afternoon.” Tristan looked towards the direction of the voice. “Well that was quick. Nice work Rubin.” The server nodded. “Thank you sir. May I start you off with something to drink?” Groaning, he positioned his right leg over the left knee. “As much as I’d like to oblige Rubin, I think it’s just gonna be a water with a tea today.” The server nodded again. “Very well sir. Would you like to begin with an appetizer?” Tristan pointed at him. “Why yes I would. Let’s go with a calamari please.” Rubin nodded yet again. “I will get that in for you sir.” As the man walked away, he grabbed his issue of the Timestopper and opened it. There was an article about a Quidditch game that had lasted for three days in Russia a few days ago that he had been in the middle of when Marguerite had brought him the warrant he signed not too long ago. Now was the perfect time to get back to it.

[Noah Eklund]

Noah Eklund was walking on cloud nine and had been ever since he had set foot in Austria a little over a week ago today. Each day had been different then the next. This country one minute, another the next. Some days he had met with several people. Others he had met with only one. He had usually gotten home late and woke up only a few hours later to do it all over again. The one thing that all had in common though was sunshine. From dusk ‘til dawn, the weather had been beautiful. Bright, sunny and barely any clouds in the sky. The weather was always warm, but not overly hot. He could get away with wearing his normal dark attire and not feel as if he were sweating right through the fabric. The leaves were still on trees and grass was still green. Honestly, if Noah could have chosen to conduct his business outdoors he would. A little known fact about the man was that he was an emotional person. Nature tended to have a very impactful effect on his well-being. Often, he relied heavily on the weather to dictate how his day was going to go. It was simple really. Rain was gloomy. Cold was distressing. Clouds brought uneasiness. Sunshine was optimistic and tended to bring his very good days.


It just so happened that ever since coming to Austria the weather had been perfect. Even if he hadn’t witnessed the sunrise in the country itself, Noah had been subjected to it in the other ones. The sun had been an indicator of good fortune and thus far, had yet to prove him wrong. Within the course of only a couple of days, leaps had been made in regards to the search for the Babi. This was how the process always worked though. The initial findings were slim to none. He’d have to wait for this person to contact that person and then they needed to get in touch with another one who was last seen off the coast of Ethiopia seven months ago. Anytime he attempted to secure a very rare piece, these were the avenues he’d have to go through. These weren’t just run of the mill trinkets and treasures. They weren’t gifts one would purchase for their parents fifth wedding anniversary or a grandmother’s eightieth birthday…unless they were in some real heavy shit of course. Not to mention the price tag of such a job was usually one that even members of the upper class would find to be a burden. It certainly made his job challenging, but Noah would be lying if he said it didn’t make it that much more rewarding.


Things were almost going too easy. He didn’t want to jinx it by any means but at the rate Noah was going, he was confident he would have possession of the Babi by the end of the month. All of his contacts had been responding thus far. All of the intel he had received had proven to be accurate. Hell, he even had a damn Ministry official giving him maps and codes for this and that. Granted, they did have heavy involvement in this dealing but that was neither here nor there. Noah didn’t like thinking that things were too good to be true. He was a firm believer that the universe always gave for those willing to put in that little bit of hard work. After all, he had spent a good year or so leading up to this doing his own research. He had been the one to make initial point of contacts. He had continued to keep Wentworth in the loop about his progress when he could. He had been the one to venture throughout Europe and Africa to ensure that the rumors weren’t just that. Noah had been putting everything into this deal. All other transactions that didn’t directly need his involvement had been assigned to other members of his organization. Even the ones that did, he opted to send Mikkhal as his representative. The man was the only other person in this world that he trusted with every fiber of his being when it came to commerce. Mikkhal knew how he thought and how he worked. The man would always respond appropriately and only involve him if it were absolutely necessary.


Although things were going well on the business end of life, Noah’s family life was suffering a bit. He had told Emmeline before they even stepped foot here that things were going to be this way. They had to. He told her that he needed to completely dedicate all of his time to the deal. “The more I do, the more I earn,” he had explained to her one night after Lukas had went to bed. “Buying an island isn’t cheap Emmeline. I have quite a lot saved but this one is really going to put us over the edge. You and Lukas are going to have to let me do this. Our time together is going to have to be sacrificed but its only temporary. If I don’t give this everything then I don’t deserve to take time off when we move and make up for every second I cost the both of you. I have to make it worth it.” Emmeline had said she understood but Noah knew she really hadn’t. Her anxiety wouldn’t allow it. He knew he wouldn’t be able to put her at ease until they were at their final destination. She was a very stubborn woman like that. Their son had been a little more understanding but even Noah could tell that the boy was starting to act out a bit. Behavior that was completely unlike Lukas. Unfortunately, he left too early or came home too late usually to sit his son down and have a conversation with him. It bothered him to no end. What had to be done was being done though and Noah promised himself that he would spend every second of every day making it up to him when this deal was finished once and for all.


Today’s adventure had brought Noah back to Drear Alley, almost near the same spot he met Wentworth for the first time he arrived in Austria. He had met another contact with a name of yet another one who had unique knowledge of some underground catacombs in Serbia. The meeting had lasted no more than five minutes. Quick and forced pleasantries, a slip of paper and a few hundred galleons. Painless. Whistling to himself, Noah had turned on his heel after the transaction and left his dismal surroundings. Although he engaged in shady behavior, it didn’t mean he enjoyed being in that type of environment. It took him a few minutes but with his plain clothed security warlock a few feet behind him, he walked out the alley and found himself in Alzubra. This was the side of the strip he had yet to see so far. He had always been curious to. Ever since the aptly named “Battle of Gringotts” he was interested in seeing if there were any remnants left from the battle that had taken place. Noah knew they had likely cleaned up most, if not, all of the mess by now but perhaps there was still a condemned building or an indent from the werewolf who had apparently gotten tossed into one. Noah had been amazed after reading with how long the battle had gone on for as well as the amount of financial damage had been caused. It had only been just another reminder of how drastically the Austrian Ministry of Magic had failed to protect its citizens.


Noah wasn’t sure where he was going but once a towering structure from off in the distance had caught his eye he proceeded to go in the direction of it. That was likely Gringotts. Moving through the swarm of people, he was surprised with how busy it was. Upon further inspection, he noticed the restaurants and small cafes he passed were filled to capacity. He frowned, looking down at his watch. Well that explained it. As he realized it was lunch time, he remembered how his first meal of the day had been hours ago and a small one at that. Before taking in the historical site, Noah decided he should get something on his stomach. He only had a short amount of time, for him anyway, to get some food and take in the sights before needing to head to his next appointment. Allowing his feet to take him to a restaurant called the Dragon’s Claw, he headed to the host stand where a young raven-haired girl smiled at him and blushed. “One please,” he greeted, holding out a finger. His employee would simply have to find his own table. “I’m sorry sir. The last table was just seated. We’re on a wait for about fifteen minutes. Would you like me to put your name down?” Noah’s brow furrowed. A wait? That was unacceptable. He didn’t have time to wait. He was starving. Looking over the frames of his glasses, his eyes scanned the outside tables around him. All were full with the exception of one. The lone table against a railing had a man sitting at it, or at least he thought it was a man. He couldn’t tell by the newspaper covering the individual’s face but the hands certainly looked burly. Unknown company wasn’t his favorite option but time was not on his side.


“I’m meeting a friend actually,” he quickly spat, leaving the host confused as he quickly strolled to the table with the open seat. “Excuse me,” Noah started, smiling ear to ear at the newspaper. “Would you mind if I stole the seat across from you? I don’t normally do this but everywhere else is full and I’m simply looking for a place to rest my weary body and consume enough food to ease my famished appetite. I would buy you a drink for your troubles at the very least.”

[Tristan Stavros]

Very rarely did Tristan get moments like this to himself anymore. His job required him to interact with people daily. Whether he had to oversee meetings, exchange quips with members of his staff who had entered his office needing yet another one of his signatures or setting foot anywhere in the damn building, his personal time was limited. The same was to be said about his homelife. No longer was he able to hide in a small bachelor’s flat. Now, in order to get any sort of privacy at home, he had to lock himself in a bathroom. Even then he typically had to deal with tiny little knocks and giggles on the other side of the door. That kind of attention Tristan never minded though. The importance of family had been instilled on him at a very early age. Family were the only people who could be relied on through thick and thin. Even at the worst of times, they would be the ones offering a shoulder to cry on while pushing you to keep going. Merlin knew his had been there for him countless times throughout his life, which was why even after a very long day in the office or out and about in the field, his wife and kiddos were a welcome sight.


Any other time though Tristan enjoyed his personal space. He wasn’t anti-social by any means. He had never been the type. Back at Galaxia, when he was a Prefect, he had relished in the attention he got from the title. It wasn’t as nearly of a high badge of honor as say being Head Boy but it still came with the popularity. Now as Head of Magical Law Enforcement, he was popular all right but in a different sense of the word. People still wanted to be around him because of the power he had but now they just wanted to schmooze with him for their own personal gain. That or they needed him for advice on the best tactic to arrest a wanted criminal. Tristan had been used and abused so many times in his position of authority. At first it had bothered him. People just using him for their own best interests. As time went on though, he realized that it just came with the territory. The business world was all about connections anyway. One couldn’t really expect to get any place without them. Hell, even he had acted accordingly when it came to mingling with Rutherford back in the day to get better assignments than Wentworth.


The small table shook in front of him as the server returned with his drinks. “Thank you,” he said, acknowledging the man but not looking up from his paper. His left hand held the sheets as the right one moved towards the glass of tea. Grasping the glass, Tristan brought it to his lips and took a sip. The cold brew of black tea and lemon leaves felt good on the back of his throat. Although outside wasn’t overbearingly hot, it was certainly warm still. The ice added a nice little temperature drop as well. It looked as if they had been charmed to stay cold and not melt. He hoped so. He didn’t care much for watery tea. Placing the glass back on the table, Tristan brought his free hand back to the other side of the Timestopper and turned the page. He chucked to himself as he found himself upon the Editors page with a scathing headline reading WHY THE AUSTRIAN MINISTRY OF MAGIC IS THE WORST by none other than the deputy EIC Erich Griesser. He remembered the man from his days in Galaxia. He had been a year younger but often got bullied by the older years due to his inability to keep his mouth shut. Being older now, Tristan secretly admired the man. Years and years had past and he still kept to his guns. Still said whatever was on his mind no matter the implications. That could have been what lead to his rise in the Timestopper offices. Surprising given that the offices were located in the very Ministry he hated so much.


As he was getting to the beginning of another paragraph listing the Minister’s poor choices in Head selection, Tristan was assuming his name would be top of the list; Griesser never liked him even back at school. He was only able to read the first two sentences before a voice broke his concentration. “Excuse Me.” His eyes shifted to the top of his paper where they landed upon a very tall, dark-haired man in clothes that looked like they cost at least one of his paychecks. “Would you mind if I stole the seat across from you? I don’t normally do this but everywhere else is full and I’m simply looking for a place to rest my weary body and consume enough food to ease my famished appetite.” A charmer he was. A flash of light from the man’s wrist caught Tristan’s eye as the man moved his hands, he was quite the hand-talker as well. Once it stopped long enough his eyes widened behind his frames at the silver watch face glistening back at him. He highly doubted the man was from around here. “I would buy you a drink for your troubles at the very least.” He also couldn’t quite place it just yet but the man definitely had an accent that wasn’t German. He spoke the language quite well but a few of his words were in a dialect not common for around these parts.


Tristan found himself in a unique position. If he obliged, he’d more than likely lose the personal time he had been seeking. Even if he kept behind his newspaper, he’d still have some sort of interaction with the man whether it was asking him to pass the salt and pepper or separating the bill. If he objected though, the man could have potentially started a scene, causing him to have to brandish his MLE badge and probably blacklist him in the Timestopper for being a dick. Bringing the paper down to expose his face and neck, Tristan smiled at the man and pulled his badge from underneath his shirt to show the man. “I’ll have to say no to the drink friend. Still on the clock.” He dropped the badge and used his hand to motion towards the seat in front of him. “But please, help yourself.”

[Noah Eklund]

Noah was a stupid rich man. He had just always been good with numbers for as long as he could remember. Though it certainly helped that he was business savvy. He had learned most of his tricks through trial and error. He firmly believed in order to truly succeed you had to allow yourself to fail. Merlin knew he couldn’t count the number of mistakes he had made as a young businessman. Ego getting the best of him. Saying yes when he really should have said no. If he didn’t have the ability to learn and adapt, then he would have likely found himself forever as his parents had once been. Broke and barely able to make ends meet. Noah was convinced that was how he kept himself humble. He knew how quickly things could go wrong. How one bad business or ethical decision could destroy everything he had worked his entire life for. Karma was a constant burden. Even if it didn’t happen right away, eventually it would. Despite dabbling in unethical business transactions, he did his best to make them go as professional as he could in hopes that would somehow keep him clear of fate’s bad graces. It was vital he remain a respectful man who was no better than the other next to him simply because he had a lot of money. Everyone was on different paths in life. Noah knew he was not to place himself on a pedestal because of his wealth. He had no problem displaying said wealth but allowing it to absorb him was unnecessary.

It was why Noah had no problem pushing himself on the newspaper body. Sure, he could have easily offered him a hundred galleons or so to vacate his seat and allow him to sit at the table alone, but what was the point? The newspaper had rightfully gotten to the table first. He could rightfully say no if he wanted to. Noah hoped if he did that, he would at least be polite about it instead of laughing in his face and telling him to go fuck off. Then, and only then, would he potentially feel justified in telling the newspaper to also fuck off and threaten to buy the restaurant then and there just so he could kick him out and ban him for life. Excessive behavior but Noah did have a temper when he felt he had been wronged after being respectful.

As the newspaper revealed itself, Noah suspicions that it was, in fact, a man were confirmed. A chiseled face with stubble to match his own looked back at him. Or he thought it did considering he couldn’t see the man’s eyes behind his sunglasses. He kept the charming smile on his face. It would be impossible for the man to say no. Impossible to say no, but now that he had exposed his chest and Noah could see how built he was he figured his fist could easily give him the answer. Suddenly, a small pit formed in his stomach. He had some muscle to him but not nearly enough as the man sitting below him. If he chose to start a fight, the only way Noah would be saved would be if his security warlock ambushed the man. Confidence he thought to himself. This would be awfully humiliating to explain to Emmeline later on though. How he got beat up by a man because he was too hungry to wait for his own table. At the thought of food, his stomach grumbled. Merlin he wished the man would just say yes or no. He wouldn’t even yell at him if he refused. He’d leave, make his security tail him and then attempt to beat him up at an opportune moment.

Fortunately, the uncertainty was short-lived. Though what came next was a surprise to Noah. The man returned the smile but also exposed a shiny holographic badge that he didn’t have to question what it was. ”I’ll have to say no to the drink friend. Still on the clock.” Well wasn’t this his fucking luck. Magical law enforcement badges looked the same no matter what country he was in. He did his best to keep his smile from faltering. He worked very hard at avoiding law enforcement at any costs. Associating with unknowns was too risky, especially in another country. He had gotten lucky with Wentworth who was seemingly becoming a friend rather than just a business associate. Noah knew it was presumptious to push his luck twice. He wasn’t trying to bring attention to himself. Well, more than the usual that came along with how he dressed. He knew what to and what not to say in conversation. He typically knew when not to be overconfident. Yet the law made him uneasy no matter how respectful they were being at the moment. ”But please, help yourself.” Now he found himself in a bind. He could accept the man’s invitation and take the seat. He could do his best to refrain from interacting with the muscle head for as long as he possibly could. Perhaps he could study the menu all throughout his lunch and become an expert in the offerings of the Dragon’s Claw. He also could not accept the man’s invitation and make himself look suspicious for suddenly losing interest in sitting down for lunch. Noah would then prolong his own lunch in order to walk away as far as he possibly could and deal with the man thinking how strange he was.

Clapping his hands together, Noah laughed and playfully bowed to him. “Well then I have no choice but to buy your lunch then instead Officer or is your ranking higher? Forgive me long enough to learn your appropriate title.” Grabbing the back of the empty chair, he pulled it out and took a seat. This was ballsy, even for him but if there was one thing he was good at it was faking it until he made it. Who knew? Maybe this would have some sort of good to come from it. “Thank you again,” he said, bringing his chair closer to the table. “I know this is a little unorthodox but you certainly saved me from a wait.” He grabbed the menu resting on the surface in front of him and brought it to him. “Sebastian Berg,” Noah introduced himself as, extending a hand in the direction of the man as he did so.

[Tristan Stavros]

Back in the day, showing off his Ministry badge was nothing more than a prideful power move for him. He had worked very hard for the position he had earned; no one could take that away from him. Tristan had developed the obnoxious habit of flashing the thing anytime someone asked him what he did for a living. He even showed it off when they didn’t, finding subtle ways of turning any conversation towards his new career path. One of his favorite things to do in the office he shared with Wentworth, back in the day, had been to stare at him from across the room at his desk until the man yelled at him and asked him what his problem was. Smiling, he would lift his badge up and shake it at him, really rubbing it Ashton’s face that not only had he become an Auror, but that Ashton’s office had been expanded to fit the both of them. In the beginning, it had been easy. He had been promoted in the immediate aftermath of the battle at Gringotts. His “heroic behavior in the face of evil” had earned him the advancement in the Ministry. Tristan hadn’t thought twice about leaving his position as Head of the Department of Magical Sports and Games. Didn’t even bat an eyelash when he was offered the transfer to Magical Law Enforcement. The Auror title he had so desperately been wanting had been his. He wanted the whole world to know how excited he was.

Eventually, the novelty wore off. As he got older, and somewhat matured, Tristan didn’t need to go brandishing it around like a trophy. Instead, opting only to show it when he deemed it absolutely necessary. A crime scene, hostage situation, the discounts for ten percent off of lunch. Annika had also been a great help in keeping his ego in check, giving him a good smack in the back of his head when she felt he had been out of line. ”You’re not twenty one anymore Tristan. People don’t care anymore.” At times, he missed being younger when he didn’t have to deal with a grown woman who could easily put him in his place. Sometimes, Tristan would then question why his beautiful, equally blonde wife of six years didn’t fawn over him like the younger girls did. Annika would always laugh and ruffle his hair. ”Because they don’t actually KNOW you Tristan. To them, you’re nothing more than a pretty face.” He swore she was almost as bad as Wentworth sometimes.

As he buried his badge back underneath his shirt, Tristan watched as the stranger clapped and the bowed towards him. This fellow was very flamboyant. ”Well then I have no choice but to buy your lunch then instead Officer or is your ranking higher? Forgive me long enough to learn your proper ranking.” He couldn’t help but to chuckle as his man took the seat in front of him. A charmer as well indeed. ”Thank you again. I know this a little unorthodox but you certainly saved me from a wait.” Tristan shrugged, leaning forward to accept the man’s hand. ”Sebastian Berg.” Giving a firm handshake, he nodded. “Tristan Stavros.” He pulled his hand back, grabbing his glass of tea as he did so. “Don’t mention it,” he responded, taking a sip from the glass. “It’s not necessary to buy my lunch though. I’m afraid my Ministry discount won’t work if I don’t pay. I can relate all too well with being hungry as hell and having to wait to satiate an appetite.” He placed the glass down and patted his stomach. “I’m a big guy. Going without food longer than fifteen minutes is like a death sentence,” he joked, folding his newspaper on his lap. “I can tell you’re not from around here Mr. Berg, but you know our fair language well. Where are you from?” Before the man could answer, the server reappeared with his plate of calamari, placing it in the middle of the table and looking at Sebastian while he did so. ”May I get a drink for you sir?” As the man answered, Tristan leaned forward, grabbing a piece of squid and dunking it into what appeared to be a lemon crème sauce. “You’re welcome to share if you famished,” he offered as the server left the table with Sebastian’s drink order.

[Noah Eklund]

When the man accepted his handshake with an equally firm grip, Noah grinned. He was too charming to say no to. “Tristan Stavros.” The two men released their hands and he quickly moved his to the spare menu on the table. “Nice to meet you Tristan.” Noah opened his menu. ”It’s not necessary to buy my lunch though. I’m afraid my Ministry discount won’t work if I don’t pay. He could hear the playful nature in Tristan’s voice, giving him a slight nod in response. Some silly discount didn’t bother him. He wouldn’t push the subject further. He would just have to make sure to grab the bill before the massive man across from him did. ”I can relate all too well with being hungry as hell and having to wait to satiate an appetite. I’m a big guy. Going without food longer than fifteen minutes is like a death sentence.” Noah pointed a finger in the man’s direction. “Yes, a problem that many strive to have,” he responded, referencing his large stature. “Myself included. I enjoy working out but I’m afraid my cigarette and whiskey addiction make me winded far easier than I care to admit. If I had the ability to work out as much as it appears you do Tristan I would probably be in the same dilemma as often.” He hoped the man didn’t think he was implying anything about his body. In fact, he was rather envious of his size. Noah could only imagine how intimidating he’d look to business associates being charming and muscular.

“I can tell you’re not from around here Mr. Berg, but you know our fair language well. Where are you from?” Noah was glad the man seemed interested in pursuing small talk. If he hadn’t, it would have likely been an even more awkward encounter. Tristan at least had a newspaper to block him from view. He had nothing but a cell phone whose battery was too low to get much use out of. Opening his mouth to respond, he was quickly interrupted by an aromatic smell of seafood suddenly surrounding the table. A server appeared, placing a plate of what appeared to be calamari in front of them. Well didn’t that look delicious. ”May I get a drink for you sir?” Noah’s eyes went to the menu, scanning the drink list until he settled on a delightful sounding stout beer. “I’ll have a Black Rabbit on draft,” he ordered. The man nodded before stepping away to go get his order. Noah was anxious for him to return with his hazelnut barrel aged beer. “I hope you don’t mind me drinking for the both of us. I promise you won’t have to lug me to the drunk tank,” he joked, sending a playful wink in his direction as he placed his elbows on the table. “You’re welcome to share if you famished.” He made a noise from the back of his throat, rubbing his hands together before carefully picking a piece of fried squid from the plate. “I thought you’d never ask. I’ll get a plate as well when our server comes back.” Dipping the fish in the yellow sauce it was served with, he popped it into his mouth.

“Your ability to detect foreign tongues is spot on my friend,” Noah finally responded, swallowing the piece of calamari. “I’m from Sweden. I do business in this part of the world fairly often so it requires me to be bi-lingual. I thoroughly enjoy the German language though. It’s quite easy to learn.” His hand moved towards the plate again, grabbing another piece of fried goodness. “But you’re not the only one with an ear for accents. I think you’ve been here awhile but I’m willing to bet a few galleons you weren’t born here.” He quickly placed the fish in his mouth and swallowed. “You also look like a walking god which cannot be said the same for practically any of the other Austrian magical citizens so where are you from?” Noah slouched back in his chair and crossed his arms as he waited for Tristan to answer.

[Tristan Stavros]

“Nice to meet you as well Sebastian.” Seemed like a pleasant enough guy already. Tristan may have been in the mood for some alone time but wasn’t opposed to engaging the guy in conversation as long as he didn’t turn out to be some weirdo. That or pry into his job. He didn’t mind talking about work but he was naturally weary about people who tended to ask more questions then he deemed appropriate. “Yes, a problem that many strive to have. Myself included. I enjoy working out but I’m afraid my cigarette and whiskey addiction make me winded far easier than I care to admit. If I had the ability to work out as much as it appears you do Tristan I would probably be in the same dilemma as often.” He laughed. “If you want something bad enough mate you force yourself to make the changes necessary. Hardest part of anything is getting started. I think I read that it takes, on average, two months to fully adapt to a lifestyle change.” Tristan quickly stopped himself and raised his hand towards Sebastian. “That’s not me implying you need to change anything about yourself nor critiquing what you feel your vices are.” He hoped the man wouldn’t take offense to what he had been saying. He was sure Sebastian was more than capable of being able to change aspects of his lifestyle if he chose to.

While Sebastian was ordering his drink, Tristan took the time to lean forward and scoop up a few more pieces of his calamari. The squid had been fried just enough for a perfect golden-brown color and crunchy texture. “I hope you don’t mind me drinking for the both of us. I promise you won’t have to lug me to the drunk tank.” He shook his head, motioning with his hand while he chewed and swallowed his food. “I would have been insulted if I had stopped you,” he replied once finishing. “Often, I find people too intimidated by my badge to be themselves around me. I get it but I like not constantly being reminded of work in my personal time.” Tristan grabbed his napkin and dabbed at the corners of his lips, feeling small pieces of crumbs resting there. He appreciated that Sebastian didn’t seem to be on edge around him. Obviously since the man had chosen to sit with him after discovering he worked for the Ministry. It did bother him though when people weren’t as comfortable around him. He never purposely tried to give off any vibes that he found everybody suspicious. He didn’t, but those who tended to change their behaviors or tones in their voices would automatically make themselves shady. Tristan had to think like that. He was programmed to. Then again, there were always those people who excelled in adapting to uncomfortable people and situations.

“Your ability to detect foreign tongues is spot on my friend.” He placed his right hand on his chest and bowed his head. “I’m from Sweden. I do business in this part of the world fairly often so it requires me to be bi-lingual. I thoroughly enjoy the German language though. It’s quite easy to learn.” Tristan could agree with that. When he had been accepted to Galaxia, he had opted to take a few German classes on the side so he could know exactly how to insult the Slytherins without them making fun of him for butchering their language. Granted, he could have easily just beaten them all senseless, which on a few occasions he had, but he also wanted to be able to throw obscenities their way and know what they were saying when they were doing the same. He had also had a few classmates, mostly females, who had offered to tutor him. As a form of payment, the girls usually were alright with a short makeout session in return. Even at a young age Tristan was all about saving money. “Sweden?” he asked, reaching for more calamari. “I’ve never been. I’ve always heard good things though. They say you have a beautiful country.” He ate his pieces before grabbing his water. “But you’re not the only one with an ear for accents. I think you’ve been here awhile but I’m willing to bet a few galleons you weren’t born here.” He chuckled, taking a sip from his glass. “You are correct.” He hadn’t been back to Greece longer than to visit since graduating school but he spoke nothing but Greek to his family members back home so it wasn’t like he was just able to forget his native tongue.

The waiter soon reappeared at the table with Sebastian’s beer. “You also look like a walking god which cannot be said the same for practically any of the other Austrian magical citizens so where are you from?” Tristan couldn’t help but to belly laugh at that one. Composing himself as the waiter placed the man’s dark glass of beer on the table, he waited for him to take Sebastian’s own appetizer order before responding. “Is it that obvious?” he asked. That stereotype had been made towards him time and time again in the past. Yet it never bothered him. How could it? It was a high form of flattery to be compared to a mythological figure. “Athens, Greece where everybody is a descendant of one of the gods or goddesses of ancient mythology. I, myself, am Zeus’ grandson twice removed. My first girlfriend had Aphrodite in her lineage as well.” He laughed, taking the last pieces of calamari that still remained on the plate. “I grew up there until I went to school here. Went home for summer and holiday breaks. Chose to stay here after I graduated from school and took an internship.” Tristan brought the food to his mouth and chewed silently at them for a few moments. “What about you? Do you still live in Sweden?”

[Noah Eklund]

Noah found himself amused at Tristan’s comment. “Often, I find people too intimidated by my badge to be themselves around me. I get it but I like not constantly being reminded of work in my personal time.” He would have loved to have taken the opportunity to go on a tangent about how easily people could get away with things if they just remained cool under pressure. He very quickly decided against it. He had no interest in doing anything to raise any sort of suspicion with Tristan. Though he was unsure of the man’s position at the Ministry, he didn’t think it was far off to venture a guess that it was pretty important. A man of lower level status wouldn’t look like him. Wouldn’t be in shape, wouldn’t be the sharp dresser he was, wouldn’t casually show his badge as if it weren’t the proudest accomplishment of his life. Tristan had probably seen some battles during his days and people like that didn’t not get promoted. Noah was insanely curious as to how high up he had reached on the Ministry’s ladder. As soon as the point in conversation opened up to it, he would catch it hook, line and sinker. Although he had no intention of telling the man his true business for being in Austria, it’d be nice to gauge if all the Ministry was corrupt or just his new friend Wentworth.

As the talked turned to his homeland, Noah smirked and nodded after Tristan remarked on how he had never been. Damn shame. Sweden was one of the most beautiful countries in Europe in his opinion. The landscape was dramatic. Rolling hills, mountains, thousands of lakes and freshwater streams. For an individual whose happy place involved nature, his country was the place to go. Emmeline, Lukas and himself had taken a few hiking trips back in the day and explored some of it on their own. “You heard correctly my friend. Nature-centric. If you enjoy the outdoors, hiking, being on the water, you should definitely take some time to go visit. Good cardio.” Turning the topic back to Tristan’s home, Noah was eager to hear where the man would respond with when their waiter reappeared at the table. ”Your beer sir.” He cleared his throat, straightening himself up in his chair as the beer was placed in front of him. “Good man,” he replied, bringing the glass closer to him. Tristan’s laugh causing him to almost forget that he also had to order another appetizer for the both of them. Reaching for the menu, he opened it, scanned the contents hastily before closing it and setting it back down. “Spinach and artichoke dip next up.” The waiter nodded, leaving the table as he did so. “Is it that obvious?” Noah arched his eyebrows in response as he picked up his beer. “Incredibly.” Bringing the glass to his lips, he took the first sip. Upon the initial taste, he was surprised with how chocolatey it was. It was smooth as hell but he would have probably opted to drink this with dessert or after he had finished eating. Well, lesson learned for next time.

“Athens, Greece where everybody is a descendant of one of the gods or goddesses of ancient mythology. I, myself, am Zeus’ grandson twice removed. My first girlfriend had Aphrodite in her lineage as well.” Greece. Should have known. Releasing a satisfied sigh, he held on tightly to his glass and mockingly bowed to Tristan. “I knew there was a reason I gravitated towards your table,” he joked, righting himself with a laugh. “I’ve always wanted to be in the presence of royalty, not just desperate to sit down at the only table with one person occupying it.” Noah toasted the man across from him. “You do look like it though. Not the stereotypical Greek man I’d think of.” Dark-haired and uni-browed, both attributes that Tristan had neither of. He wondered if the man would catch on to the stereotype or not. “I grew up there until I went to school here. Went home for summer and holiday breaks. Chose to stay here after I graduated from school and took an internship.” Explained why he sounded as fluent as he did. “What about you? Do you still live in Sweden?” Careful what he had to say here. Taking another drink from his beer, he propped his left arm up on the chair and leaned into it. “Not anymore. I have a vacation home there but I live off of the coast of Spain now. I wanted to wake up and see sand and the ocean outside of my bedroom window instead of mountains.” Slight honesty. Noah couldn’t wait until that was actually the case. He had already spoken to the construction company that would be building their new home on one of the Baleric islands. Specifically requested that exact want, amongst other things but that was neither here nor there at this time.

“Family still back home?” he asked, feeling his stomach rumble. Noah hoped his appetizer would come out as quickly as Tristan’s had. “I’m assuming work keeps you here? You never told me what ranking you had.”

[Tristan Stavros]

Upon Sebastian’s ordering of the spinach and artichoke dip, Tristan felt his stomach grumble again. He had always been a fan of the warm dips, particularly so if they were served with warm pita bread. Merlin, he hoped it would be served with pita bread. Wouldn’t hold a candle to the homemade bread his mother made but he always relished in any reminders of home. All this talk about homelands was bringing that familiar pang of nostalgia for the country he loved so much. Coast for miles upon miles. Vast mountain ranges that he and his father had camped out among when he was a younger boy. How often he had dreamed of climbing the top of Mount Olympus back in the day. Determined he’d make it one day and earn his rightful place amongst the gods and goddesses of Greek mythology. The very same ones Sebastian were comparing him to now. Tristan hadn’t been back to visit in so long. Not by choice of course. Work was always at the very forefront of his daily schedule. It wasn’t often he could pull himself away from duties for longer than a day. With the amount of responsibilities on his shoulders, even more after Wentworth’s untimely departure, he didn’t feel he could afford taking vacation time. There wasn’t a single person in that damned office he trusted to hold things down while he took time off, as sad as it was to say. Rutherford was on the brink of retirement. His boss had checked out awhile ago. Only holding his position for public appearances until the end of the year when he’d be eligible for that nice fat stipend and he’d be gone. After then, Tristan would likely take the position left vacant. Wentworth wasn’t around anymore to challenge him for the title. He’d never admit to the bit of resentment he had toward his frenemy for not being able to engage with the man in a bit of physical competition for the spot.

Realizing that he was losing himself in his thoughts, Tristan brought himself back to the present and smirked at the man sitting across from him. ”I knew there was a reason I gravitated towards your table. I’ve always wanted to be in the presence of royalty, not just desperate to sit down at the only table with one person occupying it.” He shrugged his shoulders, helping himself to another sip from his tea. He couldn’t quite get over how charming Sebastian was portraying himself to be. Knew all the right things to say and when to say them. He wondered if it came naturally to the man or if was an act. Had to always think like that. It was harder and harder to trust people as the years went on. Gringotts had changed his perception of people and their trustworthiness in an instant. Friends and acquaintances whom Tristan had thought he known. He actually didn’t. As a man who prided himself as being honest, he took it exceptionally personal when he came across people who didn’t carry the same trait. Never could quite understand why it was so hard to tell the truth. Sure, it was an awful thing to do sometimes. Especially knowing it could implicate one’s self or a loved one in the process, but it was something that had to be done. He had gotten better at reading people over the years. Didn’t really have much of a choice given his job descriptions. “I try my best to keep a low profile,” he finally said after a few moments. “Guess I don’t do too well of a job with it.” He closed his fist and brought it towards the sky, shaking it. “Curse my lineage. Making it difficult to walk among witches and wizards as if I’m just another one of them.” Dropping his arm back down to his lap, he smiled. Figured if Sebastian could be a little over the top he might as well join in on the fun.

Watching his lunch guest take a sip from his beer, he suddenly felt parched. What he wouldn’t give to join the man in a beer. Just one. Just one to make heading back to the office a little more tolerable. Damn him and his superiority. ”Not anymore. I have a vacation home there but I live off of the coast of Spain now. I wanted to wake up and see sand and the ocean outside of my bedroom window instead of mountains.” Tristan felt his eyebrows raise. A vacation home? Didn’t tend to come across too many people as wealthy as Sebastian in these parts. The government paid a decent amount to higher ranking officials but nowhere close to him being able to afford a second home. “Well mate, it sounds like you’ve got two of them if I can be honest,” he said, bringing his right leg to rest over the top of his left. “Do you rent out the one in Sweden when you’re not there? I hear that’s all the rage nowadays. Cheaper for most folk then staying at a hotel though I assume location has a lot to do with the pricing process.” Again, never had time for vacation to price lodging out of the country. Annika would probably be much more knowledgeable on the subject. Seemed his wife had nothing better to do with her time then to constantly tell him about all these nice places they needed to take the kids. One day he’d be able to give his family that luxury. The waiter reappeared at their table again, this time with the spinach and artichoke dip as requested by Sebastian. Much to Tristan’s delight, the platter was indeed served with pita bread. He had to refrain from rubbing his hands together in excitement as the aroma found its way into his nostrils. He really hoped the man would take the first helping quickly so he could have a piece of that damn bread.

”Family still back home?” Tristan nodded. “All of them.” Every single Stavros was still back home. Even his married sisters hadn’t left. The only two who tended to apparate away from time to time were Theodora and Natassa since they both worked as an artist and a magizoologist respectably. “Yours?” While the man responded, his eyes followed Sebastian’s hand as it grabbed a piece of bread and dunked it into the dip. He could almost feel his mouth watering as a long strand of cheese pulled from the mixture before breaking off. ”I’m assuming work keeps you here? You never told me what ranking you had.” Work wasn’t necessarily a sensitive subject for him but he was definitely cautious of the information he provided when asked. Tristan could, of course, reveal the formalities. The complete in’s and out’s though, strictly off-limits for nonessential personnel. Especially those who didn’t work for the Ministry. Leaning back towards the table, he finally grabbed a piece of pita. He was grateful it wasn’t overly hot, simply nice and warm. Helping himself to some of the spinach and artichoke dip, delighted that he also had cheese string from the bread, he brought it to his mouth and had to keep his eyes from closing in pleasure at how delicious the appetizer was. He finished chewing before speaking. “You assume right. I’m the Head of the Magical Law Enforcement department.” Moving his hands down to his napkin, he wiped off any stray crumbs from his fingers. “I do a little bit of this. Little bit of that. Still get to see fieldwork so that keeps it exciting.” He paused to drink some water. “What about you? Vacation homes don’t exist on my salary. Seems to me you might have a good gig being able to travel the world and all.”

[Noah Eklund]

“Well mate, it sounds like you’ve got two of them if I can be honest.” Noah chuckled to himself. “It does, doesn’t it? Hope it didn’t come off as boasting. Wasn’t my intent. I’ve just been working hard to treat thyself and its finally paid off.” It wasn’t a complete lie. Not by any means. The countless hours he had already spent in search of the Babi, his and his family’s ticket to paradise. That and all of the other dealings his business normally pursued. Nothing had ever been handed to him. His childhood and early teenage years were proof of that. All the nights he and his parents had gone hungry. The days his mother had to go without being able to fill her prescriptions. The extra hours his father had to pick up just so they could pay rent. His past was what had molded Noah into the man he was today. Sure, he liked to flaunt his money. Liked wearing name-brand, ordering the expensive things off of the menu and paying for only the finest tables at the local clubs. Yet he always knew where that money had come from and how easily it could go away. It was what drove him. “Do you rent out the one in Sweden when you’re not there? I hear that’s all the rage nowadays. Cheaper for most folk then staying at a hotel though I assume location has a lot to do with the pricing process.” Shaking his head, he took another sip from his beer. “No,” he said firmly. “I like my privacy. I don’t mind talking to strangers but sharing my home with them is a different story. I’m sure you understand. Plus, the thought of having to spend money on cleaning up a mess people leave behind-“ Noah shook his head. “Not willing to do that.”

He could smell his appetizer coming to the table before he could even see it. With a grin, he placed his beer on the table as the plate was set in the middle, the man grabbing the empty calamari plate to replace it. “Good man,” Noah said, grabbing a piece of pita bread before the server had even left the table. ”All of them. Yours?” Dipping the point into the spinach, he stirred the cheese and vegetable mixture until it had blended together. Scooping from the side, he clicked his tongue to the roof of his mouth as he pulled his hand up and leaned closer to the table. He shook his head, not showing many manners and shoving the bread into his mouth. Merlin that was delicious. Had always been a fan of warm spreads. “No. They’re retired. Found themselves at the beach as well.” Wouldn’t go into specifics as to what beach that was. Wasn’t pertinent information in his eyes. Noah allowed Tristan to help himself to a portion of the dip. Couldn’t hog it all to himself even if he wanted to. Once the man had pulled back, he again helped himself to a portion. “You assume right. I’m the Head of the Magical Law Enforcement department. I do a little bit of this. Little bit of that. Still get to see fieldwork so that keeps it exciting.” Had to refrain very hard from letting his face show the surprise he felt. Well wasn’t it just his fucking luck to be sitting across the table from a Ministry head. Swallowing the dip, he extended his hand back to his beer glass. Needed a good hearty sip after hearing that news. He had only known Tristan for a matter of minutes but could already get the vibes that this man was completely unlike his new friend Wentworth. Personable from the get go, probably moral, professional, clean. Stavros was the exact representation of what someone in charge looked like. “A Ministry Head eh?” he finally said, wiping his lips with the back of his hand. “You sure you’re not the Greek god of justice Tristan?”

Noah would never show it, but he was growing anxious sitting across from the man. With as big as Tristan was, he wasn’t shocked at all learning that he still got his hands dirty though very likely more in a moral sense than his friend Ashton. He wondered if Tristan had known Ashton. Very possible. Had to work one’s way up to become a Ministry head and even though the man across from him looked fairly young, had to have worked for the government for a while. No way in hell was he going to ask about his acquaintances though. ”What about you? Vacation homes don’t exist on my salary. Seems to me you might have a good gig being able to travel the world and all.” Wasn’t that the million galleon question. Chuckling, he placed his beer glass back down and took some more bread and dip. “I’m an antique dealer. Always been a fan of nostalgic items.” Again, not a lie, just not the complete truth. “I’ve gotten good enough to travel the world. Buying, selling, bartering. Got any old family heirlooms you want to get rid of? I can get you a pretty knut for it. Looking for an old painting of Acropolis from your father? I can get you one. I’ve been in the antique business for a little over ten years now. Made some pretty good connections. I know what most sellers are looking for and how to haggle to get them to give you what you want for cheaper. It’s my super power.” The two men feel into silence afterwards, saved shortly by the server once again coming to their table. ”I hope the food has been coming out to your liking gentlemen.” Making a noise at the back of his throat, Noah nodded, finishing his mouthful of food. “Perfect.” Tristan nodded in agreement. ”Very well gentlemen. Are you ready to order your entrees?” Almost forgot they had still to order their main plates.

Moving the plate off to the side, Noah grabbed a menu and quickly opened it. “No, but I can be in just a moment.” His eyes quickly scanned the menu before closing it and handing it to the waiter. “Peppercorn mushroom sirloin.” Looking to Tristan, he grabbed his glass once more. “Tristan?”