The memories of Romania were still fresh in his mind even now, nearly a decade later. Ten years. From his dragon taming sting hed back to deal with the pests in England, generally handling creatures that had been smuggled into the country. The cases gave way to paperwork and from there he lined up promotions with his talents. He was great at capturing and detaining things like werewolves, but his skills with paper pushing and diplomacy put him on the fast track to the top in his department, taking him out of the field and shoving him behind a desk. The job suited him, but sometimes he missed the adventure and the rough n tumble people.
As the covered bartender slammed a drink down on the counter before him he gave himself the luxury of a few moments reminiscence. Teresa Mancheri had been the puppy love of his life since he met her that first day at the camp. Shed been his first love and lover, and after she refused his proposal at twenty-three, she was his first heartbreak. At thirty-two she was a sour point in his life, had been ever since her passionate declaration that shed remain single and childless for the rest of her life, yet a couple years later she married a mutual friend of theirs and was now a mother of two. Kenneth shook his head and grasped his shot glass. People changed, it was part of human nature, and he knew he was a different person than he was at twenty-three. He was more responsible, more mature, and more grown up.
The curly-haired man tossed the drink back and the burning sensation that was characteristic of fire whisky seared his throat as another memory was triggered by the heat. A smiling face, challenging blue eyes, and lovely blonde hair; Julia Madley. The young woman could make him laugh and relax with little more than a grin and some of her random babbling. Listening to her talk calmed him, as did her occasional letters, and she was everything he wanted in a partner. His only regret in asking her to be his wife was the fact that she was so achingly young. There were so many things she couldve experienced on her own, so many adventures she couldve had, but her fathers plans ended that before she couldve made any arrangements of her own. He only hoped she could be happy with the life he had to offer her, and if she let him hed take her on a couple of journeys of their own.
The pleasant thoughts of Julia dissolved away suddenly as the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. He was being watched. The one downside of enjoying the atmosphere in sub-par establishments was being in the presence of seedy company, and in his time working for the Ministry hed gained some notoriety among some of them. Kenneths fingers instinctively gripped the handle of his wand, but he didnt give any other indication that he noticed the unwanted attention. If trouble was coming his way hed be prepared for it, but until then he would continue enjoying the liquor and relative solitude.




