A Long-Awaited, Overdue Meeting

Donovan Blackwood strode through the streets of Hogsmeade. The wizard was wearing his finest casual robes, and had taken time to comb back the lion's mane he called hair and ditched his usual hat in favor of none at all. An attempt to tame his wild beard was also made: portions of the front had been braided in their usual plait, with the rest left to its own devices. As typical of his style, a goblin-made sword hung, sheathed, at his left hip. The handle of the weapon contained a compartment that hid his wand for easy retrieval.

He vaguely wondered if his daughter had been given the news of her special permissions under these atypical circumstances. The bigger concern on his mind was the girl herself. In short, he wanted to know more about the daughter he didn't know he'd had, despite any risks it might create amidst the children he knew to have sired. Donovan supposed that over summer break or the next available holiday, the lot of them deserved to know the truth.

The wizard pushed his way into the famed pub with one arm. His other hand was much too full of a very special gift for Jade that required a steady hand. It was tall, cylindrical, and covered with a cloth. However, the circular handle practically gave it away that it was some sort of cage.

Although not quite up to its usual roar of clientele, the place was still somewhat crowded. Much to Donovan's delight the table he'd reserved was clean and waiting. He placed the cage on the table, near the window, and strode to the bar to order drinks: one for himself, and a butterbeer for Jade.

Henry and Jade Blackwood walked down the path leading to Hogmead Villiage, Jade being alittle more entusiastic keeping afew steps ahead of her new found older brother. They walked in silence however. Neither brother or sister not knowing what to say to the other.

Henry had been asked by the deputy head, to escort Jade to Hogsmead to meet her father for the first time. Since they had the same father, it did make sense for him to go with her, since she was only 11 years old.. So off they went to Hogsmead, Three Broomsticks where their father was likely waiting...

Jade couldn't wait really, she had always wanted to meet her father and it was finally happening. There was a nervous little voice in her head that wondered what he would think about her when he saw her.. But she ignored it, through the letters they sent to eachother, she was sure she needn't worry. She wasn't sure why Henry was so glummy about the hole thing, there father didn't seem that bad...

"Why are so grouchie?" she asked suddenly with a smirk.

Henry blinked and sighed, " I am not grouchie, this is just at little difficult to accept" he said not really sure how to explain to the girl.. and with that smirk on her face she really was her fathers Daughter. "This is your long lost reunion.. I will just the tag along while you and father talk" and really he didn't want to be in the way and make his father say something stupid to him and make for a awkward silence...

"Ha! well if you say so. perhaps you are right" she said making Henry roll his eyes and continue walking in silence for a minute.

"I will introduce you both and make you are accquainted, then I will take my leave.. somewhere else" he said hoping he could find a firend, if not he did bring a book.

"Very well" Jade merely said as she smoothed out her clothes as she saw they were apporching the villiage, She was wearing a nice black blouse and a dark green skirt that went down just past her knees. She had a dark green ribbon tied in her hair that keep her blonde hair from blowing in her face from the wind. In her hand she held a small bag that had some money her mother let her bring with her, her wand, a spell book and a small box.. In the box was a simple pin, it was in the shape of a black bird or a raven.. She like to think it was a Raven.. it sounded cool. Her mother sent it to her after asking her in a letter if there was anything she bring her father a token type present, and that was what she sent.. so she hoped it was alright.

By the time the two Blackwood kids neared the pub, Jade was almost giddy, like she was on a sugar rush, even Henry had to look somewhat amused at how Jade was barely containing her anticipation. He actually did hope now that his father didn't ruin anything.. The girls dream was coming true for merlins sake. How many people could say that? Yet is was big role to play in to...

"Well here goes nothing" Henry thought to himself as he opened the door to the pub, being the gentleman by habit and let Jade walk in first.

Jade looked ever so tiny amonst the many older people, plus it didn't help she was short for her age. While she looked healthy, and been well fed she was still very small and petite in stature..

Henry was sure his father was going to love her in moment, she was perfect little lady looking around the pub with wide eyes.

Jade's green eyes eventually landed on Donnovan, she smiled and flicked her eyes back to Henry to confirm what she suspected.

Henry nodded and tilted his head towards his father as if to say, "well go on".

Jade hurried over to her fathers table, Henry purposely staying afew steps behind her.. this was there reunion after all...

In waiting for his and Jade's drinks, Donovan had decided to pick up a discarded copy of The Daily Prophet and take a seat while he waited. The castle was fairly faint in the distance from the village. He hadn't a clue how long it would take Jade to make her way from the castle to here.

Donovan had taken the seat that would allow him to see those that entered the establishment. Every time he thought he heard the door open he would glance up, partially out of anticipation and also due to simple curiosity. Hazel eyes would flick back down when the entrant was an adult and of little concern to him. However, sure enough, a curious thing happened: the door opened and there stood Henry. Donovan refused to set his eyes back to the newspaper. It seemed Henry was holding the door open for someone, but with the crowd as it was he couldn't see the person that accompanied him. When the door closed not long after, without someone of similar height, Donovan assumed one of two things: either Jade had inherited her mother's height, or Henry had been waiting on a friend and they had instead gone their separate ways. The wizard decided to continue reading, though not without trying to train his ears to single Henry's movements out from the crowd. It was easier said than done.

In a moment Donovan had gotten his wish: he had been able to pick out quickened footsteps from the crowd. It was not likely Henry, but it was better than nothing. For all he knew it could've been the barmaid, but these footsteps sounded much too small to be an adult. Donovan folded the newspaper and looked up just in time to see a young girl, possibly around eleven years old, scampering in his approximate direction.

Green hair ribbon...
Green skirt...

The marking color of a Slytherin, Donovan knew. Yes, this had to be Jade. Sure enough, a few steps behind was Henry. There was no mistaking the little girl now. Donovan stood to welcome his daughter, and it wasn't until then that he truly realized just how small the child was. The wizard made certain to soften his features. This wasn't a dueling arena: Donovan could afford discarding his usual hard and calculating expression.

"It surprises me to find you here, Henry... Though I suppose there's no better a candidate to show Jade around the village than her older half-brother," he said, raising his voice a little in order to be heard over the din of other conversations taking place. Out of habit the wizard looked his son eye-to-eye for a moment, then slowly returned his hazel-gray gaze to Jade.

Donovan knelt so that she wouldn't need to crane her neck in order to see him properly. He kept his arms at his sides, not sure whether a handshake of sorts or a hug would be either in order or welcome. Donovan would let her could decide on an appropriate gesture. "Jade," he murmured with a distinct smile. It was difficult to come up with something fitting to say. Apologizing wasn't usually Donovan's style. This was also supposed to be a happy occasion. "It warms my heart, to finally meet you."

Henry looked away, "Yes it seems I was the logical choice" he said in relunctant agreement, he still felt incredibly out of place in this. However he had a promised introductions to make first. He looked down at Jade she was beaming, yet seemingly trying to decide what to say.

"Father, Jade Blackwood, of slytherin house, Jade, Your.. father Donovan Blackwood, Headmaster of Drumstrang Insitute of magic" he said going for the usuall introduction, this was unknown territory for him..so he supposed he was winging it.

Jade was only absently listening to Henry introduce them, she had rehershed this moment in her mind since she was very little.. With a curtsy she mastered with much practice she greeted her father and sent her hand to him, hugging might be a bit much for the moment in the crouded pub, perhaps later.. when things seemed more calm.

"I have been wanting to meet you for.. Quite a while Father.. sir" she said smiling. "And your just how I pictured you" she added excitment in her voice and a blush creeping up to her cheeks.. And he absolutly was, she could feel the power around him, proud, regal and dominate. And that was when he was tonning it down. She loved it.

Henry blinked, now currently wishing his father luck.. the girl wasn't meeting her father.. she was meeting a bedtime story hero. But he said nothing, that kind of thing being the very thing he was affriad would make things... tense.

"Been waiting long?" he asked his father out of casual curiousity. Of course Jade didn't like the thought of them being late.

Her eyes wided, "Oh no we arn't late are we?... Henry walked so slowly" she said a trace of smirk on her lips before she surpressed it.

Henry rolled his eyes, not bothering to respond or argue, though his crossed arms and rasied eye brow clearly said he begged to differ.

Donovan eyed his son's reaction carefully. It was classic Henry, to be sure, but it was still reason to keep an eye on the teen. To "agree to disagree" seemed most definitely in their blood. His gaze focused back to Jade when the introductions were made, however, and couldn't help but grin at the ladylike gesture from the girl. It was practically second nature to take the offered hand and press a gentle kiss to it, even though onlookers would surely deem the old-fashioned greeting from an era of antiquity long since passed. Donovan, however, still stuck to those rituals considered "old fashioned".

Hazel eyes blinked in surprise at Jade's admission. Had Catherine shown her a picture of him? That didn't seem quite likely, but Donovan supposed it wasn't entirely improbable. "That so?" he murmured, raising his eyebrows. A part of him wondered just what Catherine had told Jade about him - whether the girl's head was filled with tale and legend, or fact. The former certainly seemed much more likely. Yet, knowing precisely what had been told would have helped him sort through fact and fiction.

"And I can imagine how long of a wait that must have been... far too long for my taste. I assure you if I'd known sooner..." Donovan decided to let his remark trail off. He truly would have taken part in the girl's upbringing, despite Catherine herself being less than a pure blooded witch. When it came to love, sometimes blood status didn't matter. It was a curious thing, Donovan mused: what life would have been like, had he known about the girl before him. For one thing, Matthew likely wouldn't have been born...

After a couple of moments Donovan drew himself to his full height once again. The wooden floor was not the most comfortable thing for his knees. He had just opened his mouth to reply to Henry when Jade chirped in. To settle the situation Donovan lifted his hand in a wordless request for calm. "I haven't been waiting long at all. There is no such thing as 'late' when it comes to family," he said, his eyes watchful as they meandered from one youth to the next.

"In fact, I had some errands to run while I was in the country," Donovan added, and reached into his robes to pull out a wrapped parcel. "Henry." The murmured name was coupled with holding out the rectangular package to the lad. "And this one is for you," Donovan added, looking directly at Jade as he made sweeping gesture to the table with his free hand. It was both an invitation for her to sit and to draw attention to the covered, tall, cylindrical item waiting there.