Drew Thornton
Ministry of Magic
Auror-in-Training
I didn't do it and you can't prove otherwise...
Posts: 14,114
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Post by Drew Thornton on May 17, 2008 3:08:00 GMT -5
Drew didn't particularly want to be the reason why they were late, thus causing Mr. Hjort to get upset. As Felicity looked over towards the boat, Drew followed her gaze and noted that they were pretty much ready to shove off.
It only made him more nervous when she kissed him, though he couldn't help but sigh happily at the contact. Of course, if her father had seen it, Drew was sure he would be paying the price for the rest of the day, and that simple kiss only made it harder to leave her.
I love you, he mouthed, giving her another nervous smile before walking backwards towards the boat, not ready to take his eyes off of her quite yet.
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Post by Felicity Hjort on May 17, 2008 20:42:50 GMT -5
Mouthing the same words back to Drew, Felicity stood there smiling at him, not bothering to look past Drew and see the looks they received from her dad. She was nervous for him, though she didn't think he had any reason to worry. Her dad wouldn't do anything, and if he tried, well Harold and Stephan were going too, so no worries.
"Good luck!" she finally acknowledged everyone, mostly giving the words to Drew. He'd be fine, she knew, but she couldn't help but to sway nervously, rocking from side to side, holding her hands clasped in front of her. Actually, she knew everything would be just fine, no reason to worry. Fishing was easy and there wasn't a whole lot of talking because you didn't want to scare the fish.
Worms being rushed to the boat, and Drew making his way, Ib fired the thing up, letting it idle while he impatiently waited for the two others to hop on so they could get out to the middle of the lake.
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Drew Thornton
Ministry of Magic
Auror-in-Training
I didn't do it and you can't prove otherwise...
Posts: 14,114
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Post by Drew Thornton on May 17, 2008 22:30:33 GMT -5
He smiled as he saw her repeat the words, and with that was willing to turn around and walk towards the boat properly. Drew tried not to look directly into Mr. Hjort's eye as he approached and fortunately, the man didn't say anything.
Felicity called out and Drew turned around to look at her one last time, his smile wider and feeling more natural. She probably meant the well wishes for the group in general, but couldn't help but feel like it was mostly for him. He could do this as long as he knew she was going to be waiting for him when he got back.
He made a short stop by his tent to grab his baseball cap and ran the rest of the way to the boat. He climbed aboard quickly, only glancing briefly at Felicity's dad, trying a smile and reminding himself that everything would be okay.
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Post by Felicity Hjort on May 17, 2008 23:09:42 GMT -5
Everyone on, secured, and boat running, Ib set it into the proper gear and took them off to where he and Harold had decided on a fishing spot. They thought maybe later, depending on the outcome of this trip, they'd go out for some moonlight fishing that night. However, the station said to look for clouds that night with a chance of rain. Not too good, but if they could get to the fish before the rain could, they might be able to wring in a good batch.
Finding the spot Harold had heard was a good fishing one, Ib let the boat idle for a moment before turning it off and the boys started pulling out their gear. Stephan had decided to take Drew under his wing the day, knowing how Ib had reacted a few years ago with one of Lindsay's boyfriends, not to mention how he'd reacted when Stephan brought home a girl before. He wasn't a man to mess with.
"Here you go, Drew," the older boy told him, handing off one his own fishing poles. It was in good shape, though a couple of years old. Stephan had just bought a new one the year before because it was handmade in Nigeria, one of the many places his company shipped him during the year to handle business.
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Drew Thornton
Ministry of Magic
Auror-in-Training
I didn't do it and you can't prove otherwise...
Posts: 14,114
|
Post by Drew Thornton on May 17, 2008 23:36:37 GMT -5
Drew had been fishing a few times before, but didn't have his own pole. He had assumed someone would lend him one so he could join in, or else he figured he'd be responsible for keeping the bait organized and the caught fish fresh. He was quite glad when Stephan handed him a pole which meant he'd get the fun option rather than the stinky one.
Or as much fun as sitting quiet and still in the sun could be. With a nervous smile, Drew thanked the older boy for the loan and tried to remember exactly how to get started. Most of his experience (as little as it was) was with salt water fishing and he wasn't sure if fresh water was any different. He tried to see what the others were doing without being too obvious about it.
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Post by Felicity Hjort on May 18, 2008 0:07:27 GMT -5
The bait was passed around, each person taking one and placing it onto their fishing hook. It was normal for all of them and none thought to ask Drew if he needed any help with it. It was common knowledge around their neighborhood that every Hjort knew how to fish, so if you ever wanted to catch something, hop a ride with one of them when they went fishing. The real good part was they all knew how to cut and gut what they caught, and fry it as well.
Carefully letting their lines out, Harold and Ib took one side of the boat, leaving Zachary to the back end of the boat, and Stephan and Andrew for the other side. If Felicity had gone with them, she would've been as far away from Drew as possible.
With their lines just laying in the water, Ib turned to Harold and started an extremely quiet conversation on the price of produce lately. Boring, but effective.
"I don't think I've seen apples cost so much in a while, I'm just glad Meadow buys her own from up in Ireland from that woman she sells those potions to."
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Drew Thornton
Ministry of Magic
Auror-in-Training
I didn't do it and you can't prove otherwise...
Posts: 14,114
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Post by Drew Thornton on May 18, 2008 0:42:53 GMT -5
Drew made sure his hook was tied on securely before sticking the bait on and casting his line over the side of the boat. Not really needing the brim to shade his eyes, Drew turned his cap backwards, giving the back of his neck the extra protection. He suddenly remembered he forgot his sunscreen but figured it wouldn't be too bad.
In the quiet stillness, it was easy to overhear Mr. Hjort's conversation and Drew flinched slightly at the man's tone, feeling the hairs on his neck prickle. He didn't care for the way the man said those potions, but said nothing about it. What could he say, exactly?
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Post by Felicity Hjort on May 18, 2008 12:16:14 GMT -5
"Yeah, but Meadow's getting in a good business doing that stuff," Harold defended his mother-in-law. "Since coming out about what she is, from what I understand, she's been bringing in good business to help out with the bills and whatnot." Ever since the children were brought into their home, that extra money that Meadow had been saving for Felicity so she could hopefully go to a good school (he assumed the magic school she was at now) went to helping out with David and Ruth's services and burial, not to mention what was left over was given up to help out with their children.
"Bringing in a lot of help, but some really strange people," Ib commented. The last lady that came to their house had been dressed in some pants that looked as though they came from a circus master, a shirt he was sure was only stylish in the 1800s and shoes that were surprisingly normal looking. He wasn't all too keen on letting such get-ups into his home, what if the children got ideas?
"I've a bite," Stephan suddenly spoke up, distracting the other men from their conversation as he started reeling and releasing the fish. A nice slow and steady pull in would help in tiring the fish. Hopefully he had a good hold on it.
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Drew Thornton
Ministry of Magic
Auror-in-Training
I didn't do it and you can't prove otherwise...
Posts: 14,114
|
Post by Drew Thornton on May 18, 2008 15:05:03 GMT -5
Drew sat silently, trying to ignore the conversation, but finding it difficult not to overhear. He just didn't feel comfortable with the way they were speaking and he couldn't help but wonder if Mrs. Hjort knew they spoke of her and her customers like that. It bothered him, but at the same time, wasn't sure what to say about it.
Perhaps he was used to his Uncle Mike, who embraced the magical community so much that he insisted that he was actually a Muggle-born Squib. The family laughed at the joke, but sometimes wondered if it was actually possible.
Stephan caught a bite and Drew was glad to have the interuption. "I got the net," he said carefully, securing his pole and turning back to grab the net.
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Post by Felicity Hjort on May 18, 2008 22:29:23 GMT -5
Reeling in the bite, Stephan only nodded at Drew, not wanting to spook anything, knowing they'd have to wait a bit for another bite since he was getting such a struggle from this particular fish. Actually, it surprised him he got such an early bite, normally they could be out there for an hour before getting the tiniest of tugs.
Turning around, Harold began coaxing the fish with his words, not that it really worked but it gave him something to do. Zachary started to lean forward a bit to make sure it was really a fish and not some unpleasantries when he felt his own bite and began struggling with that one. Though, his wasn't nearly as much of a struggle and he had a little 2lb pan fish in the pail between him and Harold in no time. Pan fish never really got too big, but they made good enough eating. After his own quick excitement his eyes were back on Stephan while he continued to slowly reel the creature in.
Ib stayed where he was, moving slowly so as not to cause to many ripples and wondering what type and just how big this fish was that Stephan was pulling in, with the show he was putting on, it better have been worth eating, not like what he saw Zachary bring in. Then again, Zachary hadn't really ever been much of a fisherman for the sport of it, just for the relaxation he got from it.
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Drew Thornton
Ministry of Magic
Auror-in-Training
I didn't do it and you can't prove otherwise...
Posts: 14,114
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Post by Drew Thornton on May 18, 2008 23:25:54 GMT -5
Drew had to smile at Harold's urgings, doubting it would actuallhy work, but knowing it always made him feel like it helped a little. Drew noticed another fish make it into the boat and raised an eyebrow. He had been expecting hours and hours on the boat before anyone reeled something in.
"Here she comes... you got her," Drew urged Stephan ready to scoop the fish into the net as soon as it was pulled out of the water.
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Post by Felicity Hjort on May 19, 2008 14:42:10 GMT -5
Still taking it nice and slow, despite Ib's sudden words that he should make it quick before he lost the fish, Stephan continued a slow reel-in, keeping a pace he was comfortable with. The fish was right at the edge of the boat, still struggling and not ready to give up, but with Drew right there with the net, Stephan quickened the pace, not wanting to lose the fish right after such a long and enduring battle.
Reeling the fishing line, Stephan yanked the fish up, slipping it right into the net with a big grin. It looked like it was a nice good sized one, could feed at least two comfortably. Grabbing a hold of the netting, he left his line hooked into the fish as he took in the beauty of it. Shiny gills, good size, no abrasions he could see. Turning to look at Ib, the older man gave him a nod of approval after seeing it. Not bad at all.
"All right, let's get this hook out of his mouth then," Stephan said to no one in particular as he reached down in the net to pull his hook out. Hopefully it wouldn't get stuck in the darn thing.
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Drew Thornton
Ministry of Magic
Auror-in-Training
I didn't do it and you can't prove otherwise...
Posts: 14,114
|
Post by Drew Thornton on May 19, 2008 23:55:44 GMT -5
Drew scooped the net under Stephan's catch, grinning at the sight of the fish. Handing the prize to Stephan, Drew took a step back, not sure what to do at that point. He couldn't very well push past the older boy to get back to his pole when there was a fish to deal with.
"That's a nice one," he commented with a crooked smile, thinking it was probably the biggest one he had ever seen outside of deep sea fishing... not that he had done that too often. "What can I do?" he asked softly, not wanting to let on to Mr. Hjort that he really wasn't an experienced angler.
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Post by Felicity Hjort on May 20, 2008 0:04:51 GMT -5
"Oh, it's in there nicely," Stephan grunted about where his hook had latched onto the fish. Right down further than what was usual for a fish, but it just meant his catch had a good bite. Hearing Drew offer his help, or rather ask what he could do, Stephan pointed at the net in question to get the boy to hold onto it so he could stop the still wriggling fish and get his hook out before it was lost until the thing was sliced open for meal time.
"Let's see if we can't get him to hold still long enough to get the hook out before he swallows it and my line." Of course, he had a number of hooks and knew Ib would let him borrow one as well, but he liked this particular hook.
"You ready?" he asked, knowing the net would likely not be too steady since the fish was surprisingly still thrashing about.
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Drew Thornton
Ministry of Magic
Auror-in-Training
I didn't do it and you can't prove otherwise...
Posts: 14,114
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Post by Drew Thornton on May 20, 2008 20:23:44 GMT -5
The fish was in a panic, whipping back and forth in the net, and short of pulling his wand and stunning the thing, Drew did the only thing he could think of to keep it under control. He grasped the fish firmly with both hands, doing his best to keep it still and at the same time hoping he wasn't injuring it. Ironic, he thought, considering they were going to eat it.
He just hoped he didn't get hooked on the line as well with as much struggling the fish was doing.
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