The Bold Spark

Brant grabbed his jacket his mind on getting out. He'd finished his report and now needed food, Good thing he'd pre-booked a table at Eli's. A place he'd heard good things about and now wanted to try it. Amelia was away doing her thing and so he was left to his own devices. Slipping on his jacket he grabbed his keys and headed out the door making note to lock it behind him.  

He walked slowly down towards where he knew Eli's was, he smelt the enticing aroma that drifted from the restaurant and smiled. With his hands in his pockets he noted several woman smiling in his direction , not that he didn't appreciate it but at this time he had eyes only for Amelia. She kept him on a level plain and in the real world.

He chuckled hoping one day they would actually have a romantic date together so he could show her he did care a lot about her  and he missed her. Reacting the restaurant he pushed open the door and walked in. " Table for one?" asked a man and he nodded.

" yes, I'm dinning alone...again." He said some what sadly  as he then moved to the bar to get a drink. He ordered a firewhisky and sat on a stood. slipping off his jacket he draped it over a second stool beside him.

"When will you be home, Master Daniel?" inquired his butler, hands behind his back as he waited patiently for his response. "I won't be long, my dear Robert," replied Daniel taking his keys, his wallet and iphone and put them into his pockets. "Just going to Eli's," he told the butler, walking over to the coffee table sitting in his very huge lounge room. "Again, sir? You know I can cook right? It is part of my job," pressed his butler. "Yes, I know Robert. But I feel like getting some fresh air, do we have a problem Robert?" Daniel rose his eyebrows as he stared at him. "No, no problems at all, sir," smiled Robert. Daniel repaid him with a smile before grabbing his jacket and headed out the door. "Oh and sir?" Robert paused. "Please do have a good night... its very much needed," said his butler and with that Daniel went out the door.

Daniel knew his butler cared about him and he appreciated everything he did. Robert had been there for him ever since his mother died and he was there to comfort him when his father decided to disappear off the grid. He looked after his sister, Katie when he was unable to look after her because he had to go to school for the year. Over the last few years, Daniel had learnt to get really close to him and trust him not only as his friend but as his adviser. There was no man like Robert Francis, his was one in a million and he couldn't have asked for a better butler.

Reaching Eli's he pushed the door opened. "Table for one?" asked the man behind the counter. "Yes," Daniel rolled his eyes at him. "Right this way, sir," the man gestured and started walking to find a seat. "Here you go and the menu," said the man. Daniel took his seat and started reading the menu.

Brant watched as a waitress walked over he picked up his jacket and followed her as she showed him to a table where a young man sat already. " I'm sorry sir but all our tables are full I hope you don't mind sharing" Brant chuckled as he looked at the young man.

"Well, if he doesn't, then I don't" he said and sat down thanking the young woman as he took his menu from her. he scanned the menu and decided on what he wanted. He glanced up at the man and sat back in his chair, he noted the well kept manicure and hair and how young he was to be eating in the restaurant alone.

" so whats a well off man such as your self doing eating alone, no girl hanging off your arm waiting for your to palm her off with money?" he asked softly.

Daniel was startled when he heard a female voice talking beside him. He looked up to see the waitress and saw a man beside him. His first thought was, this was the manager and he was in trouble for something. He didn't know what, maybe he wasn't dressed properly or something he didn't say or did. "Is it okay if this man sit with you. Everywhere else is full," asked the waitress. Daniel furrowed his eyebrows and look at the man, reluctant to let him sit with him. He preferred to sit on his own but, feeling sympathetic for the man he nodded. "Sure, why not," sighed Daniel.

The last thing he wanted was someone annoying him with questions and already he was starting to regret it when the man started talking. He chuckled. "I'm not looking for a woman right now, beside I don't care about having one right now," he said, still looking at the menu. "Too busy with work anyway," he looked up at him. "What about you Grandpa? Why ain't you here without a woman? Surely a man of your age would have a wife or something?" he prompted.

Brant listened and chuckled at the boys words, Old man huh he was not that old. He was not that old and smiled polity to him.

"I have a wife...of sorts, the new law paired me." He said softly " I work for the ministry, potioneer, I travel and find new potions and catalog them.." he said smiling as they waitress returned he gave her his order and also ordered another drink.

"Please, Just leave the bottle this time." He told her then looked back at the boy in front of him. " I'd guess...that your an Auror." he said a small sly smirk crossed his lips.

Daniel didn't know a single damn thing about the old man, but, one thing for sure he was already in his good book. When he heard that he was a potioneer, his eyes immediately sparkled as he looked up from his menu.

"Potion you say?" He was interested now. Daniel loved potion, it was a second passion of his, you know aside from being a detective. He knew everything about potion from their uses to their names and which ingredient they needed. He had thought of being a potioneer once, however being an Auror was too hard to pass. "I'm a bit of a potioneer myself, I love experimenting with potion. Its a bit dangerous, but that whats make it so fun," he said. The waitress returned to take their order, he ordered a raviolli and a drink of their top champagne.

"Same with me," He said, smiling at the waitress. That was two thing they had in common, he was starting to like the man now. "Nice deduction, Einstein," he smirked at him. "Well I just started two weeks ago," he quickly added.

Brant looked at him and nodded chuckling at his words." I thought you looked too new, I know a few older Aurors and they have this...," he gestured with his hand "look about them." He said and chuckled as he then went quiet waiting for his next quip about his age , hell he was okay with it. he'd traveled the world from Egypt to Argentina all at digs looking for old potions from really old wizards.

He smiled as the woman returned with the bottle and pored him a glass. Brant pored out a glass for the guy opposite "Brant, Brant Crawford" He said as he placed down the bottle and picked up his glass to salute the man, before he downed the golden liquid in it in one go with out batting an eyelid.

"hum..I've had better." He said sitting back in the chair again.

Daniel rose his eyebrows at Brant. "A certain 'look' you say?" he said, almost mocking the gesture the old man had given him, trying not to snicker. "Surely a man of your age WOULD know a few 'older' Auror," he shifted in his seat slightly. "So tell me old man, do tell me, what this..." he paused. "Look you are talking about?" he said curious to know now. He liked the man, even though he was being a total a-hole right now, he was enjoying his company. Maybe going out was worth it after all

The detective smiled and thanked the man for pouring his glass before taking it and raised it in the air in a toast. "A pleasure to meet you, my name is Daniel, Daniel Valentine," he sculling down his drink as he introduced himself and belched. "Oh excuse me!" he chuckled to himself, putting his drink down. "So, Crawford. Tell me about your job as a potioneer, I am curious to know. Have any of your potion exploded" he said, making light conversation with the man. He figured he might as well make the most of the night rather than to be dull and boring.

Brant sat and listened he could hear the mans remarks but chose to ignore them on his question about his job he smiled as he began to talk " well also known as Potion-Brewer or Potion-Maker, there a witch or wizard who makes potions for a living. This could include working as a professional brewer, studying or inventing potions, or teaching potions as a subject at a wizarding school, I never went down that path I chose to explore the world seeking out old potions from the past to help with learning about future potions" he said softy in a matter of fact tone.

He heard Daniel ask if he'd had any potions explode on him and he could not help but laugh "Ow Daniel, more than I can count, its how we learn, if it goes wrong you know not to do it that way and to try a different approach." He told him as he sipped his now refilled glass as he watched the man opposite him.