[The Bloody Muggle] My mouth is a gun I can shoot. [Darren]

Jane couldn't believe that she'd actually agreed to this. Was she completely daft? She felt like it, sitting in the Knockturn Alley pub. Waiting on Darren Hadditch, no less. After what he'd dared do to her last time they'd drank together, she had to be an idiot to trust him again. Why was it that he only wanted anything to do with her when she was seeing someone else? Sure, she and Padraig weren't exactly official. At least not yet. Still, she had a good feeling about this one. Of course, she knew that Darren would have an issue with it. He always did. It didn't help that Padraig was another former dormmate of his. She did seem to have quite the thing for snakes, didn't she?

Seated at a booth, alone for the moment in a dark corner of the pub, the auror-in-training watched the door as she absently stirred her drink with her middle finger; her other digits resting lightly on the rim of the glass. She hadn't spoken to her best friend much at all since their encounter in the dungeons. She was obviously no longer dating Theodore, but she was still very angry with Darren for his meddling. He'd really messed with her head, that day. She'd spent years telling herself that he wasn't attracted to her; that he never would be. And then he'd had to go and do something stupid like kiss her and screw everything up! After that, she'd begun to have doubts as to how she really felt about Teddy. Those doubts festered in her brain, and it only became worse after the Second Battle of Hogwarts, in which she was a participant. He had not been, and as far as she knew neither had Darren. She had almost died, and yet her best friend was nowhere to be found. He didn't even see her in the hospital. At least Theodore had come to see her. And how did she thank him? She'd dumped him. She was such a piece of shit, sometimes.

It was all for the best, though, of course. Jane realized that she really couldn't ever stay with someone like him. They were too different. Their families were too different. It would have never worked out. Besides, she was seeing Padraig now. He wasn't exactly her boyfriend or anything, yet, but... well, he was close to it, she figured. She'd been intimate with him, after all.

Darren wasn't going to be happy about that. Why had she agreed to meet him, again? All they seemed to do, on the rare occasions that they saw each other over the past year or so, was fight. It was killing her. She'd never admit it, but it was true. She hated fighting with him. She hated it when he hurt her, and even worse when she hurt him. Of course, he'd never admit that she hurt him. He had a hard time admitting that he wasn't invincible. She had hurt him, too, the last time that they'd seen each other. He'd probably deserved it. No, he definitely deserved it for his meddling. Still, she couldn't help but feel guilty. She'd said some pretty awful things to him. It was a wonder that he even wanted to see her, today.

Sighing, she continued to keep an eye on the doorway. Darren was a dark wizard now. Jane knew he was. She wasn't a complete idiot. And she was an auror-in-training, after all. She was in the Order. She heard things. He was always making things difficult for her. No matter what he was doing with himself since graduating, she couldn't let him get himself into trouble and get locked up in Azkaban. She knew what happened to people there. No matter what, he could never end up there. Not that she was eager to get herself into trouble by protecting him and ending up there herself. Still, she wasn't about to throw him to the wolves. No matter how much of a bastard he was.

And he was a bastard. Her thoughts drifted to their last meeting; their kiss. Well, if you could call it that. Jane hadn't kissed him back, after all. She still wasn't quite sure what to think of it all. Maybe today she could get some answers. Then again, this was Darren that she was talking about. He'd probably just bullshit her. Frowning, she took a sip from her glass. What was taking him so long, anyway? She swore, she spent half of her life waiting on him. It was getting old.

Even though he was a bit surprised Jane had agreed to meet with him Darren would never show it. They hadn't exactly left things on good terms, but when had they ever. Darren felt like maybe enough time had passed and the two of them could just go back to being friends, like before. In the back of his mind he was nervous, what if too much time had passed. What if they had grown so different that they really never could go back. Darren didn't need her, of course that's what he told himself, but he would definitely miss her. He had found something in Jane that no matter how hard he looked he just never seemed to be able to find in other girls. Not that he'd ever tell her that, obviously. Dressed in black slacks and a dark gray thermal long sleeve shirt Darren made his way into Knockturn Alley. A place he was beginning to belong to more and more each day. Hands in his pockets he felt the pack of cigarettes that was safely resting inside. Darren wasn't afraid or nervous, but he was something. Something he couldn't exactly explain. Since the last time they saw each other Darren had chalked that night up to just some drunk mishap. He'd never admit he had feelings for Jane and he'd told himself so many times that she felt nothing for him that if she did happen to he wouldn't believe it anyway. Darren was good at persuading people to do and believe in things that they normally wouldn't, it just so happened he could convince himself of just about any thing as well.

It was far easier to pretend it didn't mean anything than to ponder over what it might of meant. It would of been hard to be with her before, when she was merely some beautiful, hot-tempered lion head but now.... now it might be near impossible. The war was over but that didn't mean people forgot, especially not people like her. She was in the ranks of the 'good guys' now and Darren didn't want anything to do with that lot. He had taken a far different path when they left school, one that he was destined for since the day he was born, crime. He wasn't necessarily an evil wizard, but he definitely wouldn't fit in with her new crowd. He had a feeling she'd know about his dealings by now. They had agreed to meet in some pub down the block but Darren had to stop for a cigarette first. He knew it would make him late but he didn't seem to mind. He never cared much for other people's schedules, if he was important enough they would wait for him. Leaning against a smooth brick wall he made sure to be out of the way for anyone walking by and then lit a stick of cancer and took a big puff. Something was bothering him in the pit of his stomach, could this be what the saps call 'butterflies'? He shook it off and just told himself he was hungry. Which he was, but that wasn't the cause of the strange feeling in his abdomen. He was a bit nervous to see Jane again.

Taking another deep hit he tried to calm his nerves. She was only a girl, after all. Maybe it was because he had finally admitted to himself he might of had feelings for her, got her drunk, barely caught one kiss, and then didn't speak to her for over a year. There was a lot of unresolved issued left in there. Darren usually finished the things that he started. Perseverance and dedication were two of his best traits. He finished his cigarette and pushed away from the wall. Taking the last steps to the door of their meeting place Darren managed to push any emotion that had crawled to the surface way back down, back where it belonged. Using one hand he pushed open the door to the pub and looked around. It was only seconds before he picked her out of a crowd, he blamed it on the bright color of her hair though. Smirking because he got to check her out from a distance for a moment he made his way toward the table. Slumping down into the chair he wondered why he had wanted to see her again... he felt awkward now... that was not something Darren was used to feeling. "Hey" he said lightly and smiled at her like he used to. Slowly his nerves were calming. Even though he had no idea what he was doing here or if she even really wanted to see him again he still felt better than he had lately. He held a hand up to the waitress who was eye-balling them, motioning for a drink and she knew just what to get him.

Darren inspected her drink and chuckled a little, his dark eyes finding their way up to hers. "I like your plan, get straight to the alcohol. Good things have been known to happen when you let loose a little ya know?" He laughed again, a little more hearty this time. And that's when Darren realized it was way better to acknowledge what had happened and make a joke out of it than it was to pretend it never occurred. Sure it might not be the best way to treat sensitive topics... but it was way better than trying to face them head on. Darren wasn't really the touchy-feely type. Leaning back in his seat, two of the legs lifting of the ground a little Darren smiled straight at her. "Maybe we should find some cozy dungeon to continue the party in huh?" Perhaps that took it too far. Darren was good at pushing peoples buttons, it was one of his favorite things to do. He figured if he pissed her off about it first then they wouldn't have to sit down and talk about it later. Maybe not one of his best plans, but it wasn't like he'd ever admit to that either.

Just as Jane had set her glass down, there Darren had appeared. She watched as he slumped into his chair, noticing the smile on his face. She returned it. He looked good, considering the lifestyle he had. Though she was reluctant to admit it, she'd been worried about him for all this time that they'd been apart. She'd missed him.

But, as per usual, he had to go and ruin all that. Didn't he always? "F*** you, Darren." Narrowing her eyes at him, she couldn't help but being slightly amused herself. Managing to keep a straight face, however, she continued on, "That's not funny." Oh, how DARE he even? No. No, she had to be fair. He didn't know about Padraig. Then again, he didn't know that she'd dumped Theodore either! Her temper flared once more. Why couldn't he ever respect her relationships? "You're such an arse. Remind me, again, why I should be here? You don't respect me, Darren. If you respected me, you wouldn't have kissed me while I was in a relationship. If you respected me, you wouldn't be making jokes about it, now." She kept her tone low, but she wanted to scream at him. The only thing stopping her was the fact that they were, in fact, in a public place. The auror office didn't need any bad press, right now. It wouldn't do to see her name in the Daily Prophet for causing a scene in a Knockturn Alley pub with a suspected criminal.

Still, she had to do something about that. She couldn't let him end up in Azkaban. She'd have to do something with the files on him; get whoever, if anyone, was looking into it to look the other way somehow. Downing the rest of her drink, she shook her head. That was part of why she was here. "You need to keep your shit on the down-low. Don't act like you don't know what I'm talking about, either." She lowered her voice even more, just to be sure that nobody would hear her except for him. She may have even sounded concerned. "Do you know how many snitches are out here, these days?"

She was concerned. Even though he was an intolerable, thoughtless prick, she still cared for him. He was her best friend. She didn't seem to have as many friends as she'd thought, these days. She wasn't about to lose him to her coworkers and/or a bunch of Dementors. She couldn't.

He couldn't help but smile even brighter each time she seemed to let her temper get the best of her. He'd been in fights with Jane before, he loved them. She was so passionate about everything he couldn't help but poke at her. Sure it was probably a bit selfish to pick fights just because he enjoyed how she shined when she was mad, but he didn't care. The waitress dropped off his drink but Jane didn't even seem to notice, Darren paid the server no mind either. His eyes fixed on Jane over the rim of the glass, he took a sip of his drink. It was bitter and just the way he liked it. Nearly choking when she said he didn't respect her Darren swallowed hard, the fiery liquid burning even more then usual this time. "Your crazy Jane." He said and shook his head. "That kiss had nothing to do with my respect, or lack thereof, for you." He shook his head again, amazed she would even begin to go down that road. "Your thinking way to far into it. And as for your boyfriend at the time," Darren rolled his eyes as he said the word 'boyfriend' "Where is he now I wonder?" He took another gulp and then set down his glass. "And don't pretend like you didn't enjoy the kiss, besides it was in the past. Just let it go." He smirked, knowing telling her to let something go could very well put her right back on the edge.

Imagining what it'd be like if she got up and starting screaming at him in a place like this he chuckled to himself. She was way to easy to anger, maybe that was one of the things he liked about her so much. Darren was a natural instigator... if he smelt trouble, he made sure it happened. It didn't matter if it was his worst enemy, best friend, or his youngest brother... it was all the same. An eyebrow arched when she lowered her face and suddenly seemed much to serious. Was this not a social meeting? What was she talking about... he had been careful. Did her words mean someone in the organization he had just barely broken into was a snitch? Oh someone was definitely going to pay if that was the case. Darren had a special place in his black heart for rats. "Well if you give me some details on this snitch I can take care of the problem." He said in a low tone to match hers. Darren was normally very careful about his extra curricular activities but then again he'd never been part of a group of criminals. He'd always either been on his own or with his brothers. And no matter what the current rumors might say, the Hadditch family stuck together when it mattered. So being part of a group of criminals meant taking certain risks, trusting information with different people, and apparently being double crossed.

"What exactly have you heard?" He couldn't stop himself from asking. Jane was a loyal person... Darren wondered exactly where he loyalties lied. Was she that far into the ministry already? Could he even trust her anymore... Shaking his head he barely believed that thought could cross his mind.. this was Jane Lennon he was talking about. She'd been his closest friend since before he could remember. His only close friend actually. There wasn't anyone outside of family he'd trust more in this world. She practically was family. "Don't worry about me Jane, Ive got it all handled." He felt sure of the statement once he said it out loud. Darren could be quite resourceful when it came to figuring out other peoples dark secrets. He was positive he'd have no problem weeding out a couple bad apples. "You know me." He gave her a friendly smile this time, something that was rarely seen across his features. It was really the smile he saved just for her. Changing the subject back to her he kept his voice low again, "So I here your trying to be one of the good guys now?" He shook his head in disapproval, "thats a damn shame."

Jane rolled her eyes and shook her head; now regretting how quickly she'd finished her drink. She gritted her teeth, listening to him speak. She wanted to knock his teeth down his throat. How dare he?

"I dumped him. When he came to visit me when I was in St. Mungo's. And where were you, then?" It had hurt her, when he hadn't turned up. It had hurt her more than she cared to admit. After being his best friend since first year, well... She'd expected him to come in and see if she was still alive. She frowned a little at the memory. She'd waited, every day, expecting him to waltz in and the healers to have to keep her from taking a swing at him. But, he hadn't. "I took a nasty curse from that Death Eater, Dolohov. Internal injuries. I had to take ten different potions a day for weeks, and you were nowhere to be found."

Ugh. "I might have, if you hadn't been trying to take advantage of me while I was in a relationship. I thought I meant more to you than that, but clearly I was wrong." So, why was she still trying so hard to save him? Maybe that's why she'd been sorted into Gryffindor instead of Slytherin? She couldn't just throw people away. Even when they hurt her. Hell, sometimes she even still missed Logan. Of course, that whole ordeal had been mostly her fault. It was an unfortunate truth. She needed another drink. Raising her hand, she signaled the waitress.

"His name," Jane began, "is Archie Backus. Former Voldemort supporter, turned Ministry informant. He was facing some time for some things he'd done during the war. So, he made a deal." She stopped speaking for a moment when her drink arrived, thanking the waitress and making a mental note to leave her a good tip. "I trust that you'll make sure he doesn't talk anymore?" Merlin, what was she doing? She was supposed to be one of the good guys. She thought she was past all this.

Sure. Sure, he had it handled. "Just make sure it doesn't look like you heard anything from me. It can't look like it came from me. ...Okay?"

Ha. It was funny, him bringing that up. She wasn't so sure, now, that she was one of the good guys. What was she doing, saving his ass? Shaking her head before taking a sip from her glass, she opened her mouth to speak.

"Funny. I thought I was, too. Guess old habits die hard, eh, mate?"

It was all Darren could do to keep from laughing when Jane said she'd dumped her last boyfriend right after the war. That was just like her, he loved it. Darren knew how cruel Jane could be, even if she refused to believe it. It was one of the things that he was most interested in about her. She was a true Gryffindor, without a doubt, but at times it seemed like she could of fit in perfectly with the snakes. He shrugged his shoulders when she asked where he was when she was in the hospital. He knew she'd been in the hospital and he had refused to go. He wasn't going to go watch her die, no thanks. Darren rarely let people in close and for exactly the same reason he didn't go check on her. He hated to lose things. If he didn't have anything, or anyone, then he could never lose them. And with a life like Darren led it was a lot easier to have no attachments. Normally he kept people at arms length but somewhere along the line Jane had managed to wiggle her way into his small heart. "Did you really think I'd show up at St. Mungo's Jane? Think about it?" She knew him better than that, but he supposed he could see why she might of hoped he would. They were friends and it was the closest either of them had ever come to death, but that didn't matter to Darren.

He absolutely hated hospitals, they'd have to put him under just to get him to go in for a check up. And he'd never ever let them put him under. He had no trust in Mediwizards and even less in the random nurses running around the place. Who knows what they might put in his vials of medicine, no he was definitely good on that. She was being frustrating but he couldn't help but laugh at her. His dark brown eyes dancing in the low light of the pub. "Take advantage of you?" He laughed again, "Are you serious Jane? Come on. Who's the one who always brings the alcohol? And the one time things go further than standing five feet apart some how its my fault?" He took a sip of his drink and laughed again. She was funny when she was being like this, he couldn't help himself. Still entertaining the thought of the two of them together Darren leaned in toward her. His voice dropped and he whispered softly, his well practiced seductive voice purring out. "Trust me if I was going to take advantage it wouldn't be just for a kiss." Winking to emphasize his point he then leaned back in his chair and shot her a devilish grin.

"Backus?" Darren couldn't say he was surprised. They'd done one job together and the guy was already ratting out. "Don't worry about him, and he doesn't have shit on me." Now that he knew the snitch's name he was confident that he wouldn't get caught. The job was small and Backus didn't have a big part. Either way if he spun what he knew the right way it could mean problems for Darren and the bosses involved. Darren had to tie up that loose end. Knowing Jane wouldn't appreciate him talking much about it he didn't go into details. Thinking about Jane as one of the 'bad guys' made Darren smile again. She would of made an awesome criminal. She had all the right instincts, but he supposed those instincts would also make her a great Auror. Darren wished he could change her mind though. Running games in Hogwarts was always funner with Jane by his side. He felt like maybe an Era was ending and if he had a bigger heart it might of made him sad. "Yeah I guess so..." He said as his eyes travelled from their table and to the skirt walking to the counter a few rows over. Checking out the stranger only took a moment or two and then Darren's attention was back on Jane.

"But they don't have to die Jane." He said plainly. "I mean what made you want to be an Auror in the first place? You never really were one of those gung-ho Gryffindors ya know? I think a life of crime would suit you well." Playfully smiling at her he nudged her foot from under the table. "Is it just because of what happened during the war? Is that what makes you want to be an Auror?" Honestly Darren didn't see it coming. He always knew she had a good sense of right and wrong, he just thought she was one of the few who didn't care if the lines crossed. All during Hogwarts Jane seemed to live in a gray area all her own. Joining the Order seemed way to one-sided for her, but that was just Darren's point of view. Maybe more had changed than he really knew, either way he missed her. "And besides if you really go along with this Auror training that means we will see less of eachother... our professions don't exactly... get along." Eyebrow raised he waited for her answer, hoping it'd be this simple to change her mind but knowing that it wouldn't.

"What's so funny?" Jane was indignant. There was nothing funny about her breaking someone's heart. Merlin, he was such an ass! And he wondered why she didn't want to be with him? She could hardly tolerate him when he was just her friend! Adding a romantic aspect would be disastrous. But, at the same time, she had a special place in her heart for him. Even if he was always breaking it. The blonde felt a small twinge of sadness at what he'd said about coming to see her in recovery.

She frowned, casting her gaze onto the table. "I was hoping you would." But, really... He was right, in a way. The fact stood, however, that if it had been the other way around, she'd have shown. She'd have checked on him, even if he didn't want her to. But, whatever. It didn't matter. She didn't care. Regaining her composure, and "f*** it all" attitude, Jane looked back up at him.

"Oh, please. " She could not believe him! How DARE he? "Yes. Yes, it is your fault. How could it be my fault? As I recall, I'm not the one who got all jealous and butthurt and tried to kiss you while you were in a relationship. Now, am I? I didn't even kiss you back." Damn it! Why was he laughing?! Jane's temper rose higher and higher. And then he had the audacity to use that little purring voice thing with her?! She ought to slap him right out of that chair. "Like I'd have you." Would she? No. No, of course not. Especially not now. She wanted to prove to Padraig that she was girlfriend material.

Taking a deep breath to calm herself down, she took another sip from her glass. At his question about Backus, she nodded. "Good. Keep it that way." She didn't want to have to fudge his file, but she would. She just couldn't get caught doing it. She had worked too long and too hard for this. The thought occurred to her that she hadn't really talked to Darren about her plans much. She didn't know if she'd really done that on purpose or not. Her being in auror training must have come as a bit of a shock to him, considering their behavior in school. Still, obviously she wasn't entirely on the straight and narrow if she was trying to protect him instead of arrest him or at least interrogate him. Downing the rest of her drink, she slumped in her seat a little. Jane took note of it when another woman seemed to attract his attention. He'd never change. She couldn't believe she'd even begun to entertain thoughts that they could work out. They couldn't. Ever. He would never be what she wanted, and she would never be enough for him.

"I'd wanted to be an auror for a long time." She spoke quietly, not wanting the other patrons to hear that bit in particular. "My mum's a muggleborn. You know that. Voldemort... Voldemort wanted to kill muggleborns. Most dark wizards feel that way. But, I know that you don't." ...Did he? No. Why would she even think that?

She sighed. Oh, really? He was going to try to guilt her? Really? "That's not necessarily true. I'll be looking out for you, still. Just... nobody else can know about it. You're safe." But, would she be able to look the other way if he got into something more serious? A feeling of dread settled in her stomach. He wouldn't go that far, would he? She didn't want to be here anymore.

"You want to go for a walk? Get out of here? Drinks are on me." Digging around for her pocketbook, she shook her head. She was so stupid.

Didn't kiss him back? Oh he remembered that night a whole lot differently than. Yeah he remembered that he'd kissed her first, but she kissed him back... didn't she? He thought about it for a second and realized that of course she did. So then why was she trying so hard to deny it now? Was she ashamed of him because of who he was? Was she ashamed of herself for maybe having a crush on him. Darren tried to figure out each angle of the situation so he could plan his next move best. If she was ashamed of him, perhaps he'd have to prove how much of a 'good guy' he could be.... nah, that option seemed far too boring. And he wasn't trying to trick Jane into liking him. If he did have feelings for her, which of course he didn't, then he'd want her to like him just how he was. Jane knew him better than anyone and if she couldn't accept him then he'd be better off leaving her alone for the rest of their lives. Jane never seemed like the type to not want to be seen around him though. It was another thing that had originally drawn him to her. She didn't give a damn what others thought, she did what she liked and that was that. Darren admired that trait in a girl.

So maybe his second assumption was correct. Maybe it was her who had feelings that she was denying. Maybe she was trying to convince herself that she hadn't kissed him because it'd make the whole situation easier to deal with. Darren wasn't known for making difficult situations easier and another smirk crept across his face. "So what he's gone now what does it matter? You really wanna chase down crooks for the rest of your life?" Darren had little respect for law enforcement, obviously, but he did understand the balance of it all. Bad guys vs. good guys. No one side ever winning, just little spaces in time where 'peace' was known. Sooner or later another big bad wizard was going to rise up and then the doe-eyed order would have to figure out how to stop him. Darren just wished Jane wasn't right at the front of the line signing her life away. He'd rather she join him and things go back to how they were before. She wasn't a tattle tale... but now he found himself wondering if he could really trust her anymore. After all... she was the one who switched teams without even as much as a post card. "Being part of some group of Law-abiding witches isn't gonna' make your mum any less of a muggle born ya know?" He shrugged his shoulders and frowned at her.

Darren was also not a pureblood, but he kept that secret locked away. Jane knew the truth about his families blood status but she was one of the few non-hadditch's who did. He wasn't going to give up on trying to convince her to leave the stupid Aurors and join ranks with his kind, but he was going to take a small break. When she asked if he wanted to go out he nodded, downed the very last of his drink, and stood up. "No I got it." he said and pulled some funds out of his coat pocket. "You know my side does pay pretty good too." He said with a laugh and then waited for her to get up. On their way out the door he spoke again. "And for the record I'd like to state that this time it was you who offered to buy the drinks." He grinned and kept joking with her as he walked out the door and into the street. "Are you trying to get me trashed so you can have your way with me Jane Lennon?" As his playful jokes turned into light flirting his voice lowered and he leaned in slightly.

"Cause' you know I'd be okay with that, right?"

"It matters because there are still people out there who hold his ideals, and someone is bound to take his place eventually." Jane sighed. Didn't he get it? She didn't care about what he was doing. She didn't care about all the little shit. She just wanted to keep the real bad guys off the street. That's why she was training to be an auror. She was doing the right thing. She wasn't going to let it go to her head, like some people did. Jane wasn't that sort of a person. ...Was she? No. Of course not. Unfortunately, she was the sort of person who was willing to be corrupt in an entirely different manner. She was willing to cover for her friends, and to let some things slide. Why couldn't he just accept that this was how things were now? He acted like she'd stabbed him in the back; like she'd taken him entirely by surprise. Hadn't he been paying attention at all, over the years?

Her jaw set at his next comment; her teeth grinding in frustration. "But it'll make her less murdered. This way, I can protect her." Rolling her eyes at him, she went on explaining, "I don't care about the petty crimes. It's not like I'm going to be one of those power-hungry aurors who will sell their soul for a promotion or anything... I'm just doing what I think is right. If I was going to be what you're trying to make me sound like, why would I be here? Why would I be willing to fudge paperwork to keep you out of trouble? I'm still the same Janie." Looking into his eyes, she wanted to make sure he understood. How could she make him understand that he could still trust her?

Pushing herself away from the table, she stood and smoothed out her clothes. "Are you sure?" Well, that was gentlemanly of him. Surprise, surprise! "I can imagine. You going to buy me nice things, now, then? I could really use some new robes." Of course, she was only joking. She really could use some new obes, though. She'd have to make a stop over to Diagon Alley eventually and get all that sorted out. It was nice; actually having money for nice things for once. Hopefully Darren wouldn't take that as her being a snob or something. She really had missed him, despite how much he got on her nerves. He was funny. He made her laugh.

Giving a small smile, she shook her head at him as they exited the pub. "Oh, yeah. You caught me. That's exactly what I was trying to do. Damn it." The blonde let out a laugh at his question; pushing him away from her playfully. "Oi! Distance, Hadditch. Distance. I am seeing someone, you know. Well, sort of... Unofficially. For now." He really did only seem to pop into her life, lately, once she was spoken for. Or nearly spoken for, in this case. "You needn't worry about me trying to seduce you. I promise. You're safe."

Smirking, she went on, "Besides, I'm not entirely sure that you could handle all this."

Although Darren couldn't relate with her about her mother being murdered he could understand why she would of wanted to protect a family member. If it was his own mother he probably wouldn't of looked twice, but if it had been Ryan, or Kelly, or even Alvin, Darren would of done everything in his power to try to protect them... including getting himself killed. Some how despite all of the terrible traits he had picked up during his rough upbringing loyalty was something that stuck. It was completely uncharacteristic of him sometimes really. At the end of the day though he protected what was his, and the Hadditch family was one of the few things he had. Truth be told he was rather proud of them, not that he'd ever admit it out loud. So in a way he supposed to understood what things from her past had drawn her to become an Auror. Similar things in his own past had taken him in exactly the opposite direction. Still, it didn't fix the fact that she had gone and signed up with the good guys... Darren felt wronged, but he couldn't exactly explain why. He never expected her to be some stone cold killer... but a cop? He didn't see that coming, or if he had he'd ignored it tremendously.

When she mentioned that she needed new robes his eyes shot to hers, accompanied by a devilish grin. "If I take you shopping does that mean you will model for me in the dressing room?" He winked and then finished with paying the tab. He half expected a jab to the gut for his last comment but it didn't stop him from laughing a little. The idea of her in the dressing room made his smile stick, possibly longer than it should of if he wanted to keep pretending he wasn't insanely attracted to her. Walking out onto the street he checked his surroundings quickly, looking for possible threats. After a childhood in the more violent parts of Essex Darren learned to watch his back. He'd been jumped before and promised himself it'd never happen again. For a person like Darren, someone who prides themselves on knowing his opponents next move before they did, getting blindsided and attacked was quite a blow to the ego. He never spoke of it, hurt anyone who did, and took measures to make sure there were no repeat events. He had only been half listening when she fake admitted that she was trying to seduce him, otherwise he would of had some smart remark ready to fire. Instead she caught his full attention right about the time she brought up that she was seeing someone again, spoken for.

Darren's body tensed and he frowned... wasn't she always? Looking away only for a moment or two he didn't want her to see his face. Didn't want her to know how disappointed he was because she was taken.. again. He never caught a break with this chick. It was like she only contacted him when she was already with another man. And then she went and played with him, teasing, saying things to mess with his head. Sometimes he thought perhaps Jane Lennon was better at mind games than he was, but she had an unfair advantage.... she was a female, they were born that way. He was sure of it. "Unofficially..." he mumbled under his breath and then rolled his eyes just for the added flair, it was obvious he was annoyed that she was with whoever she was sort of with. "What does that even mean? Guy sounds like a tosser to me." He frowned when she promised not to seduce him, it was exactly what he didn't want to hear. Parts of Darren were willing to admit that he felt something for the Auror-to-be in front of him. He had felt it since the day that they met, there was something different about her. He couldn't tell you what, but the mystery of it was what made it worth chasing. He felt like he'd been chasing her for years... always just a few steps too far back.

It was a feeling he was only familiar with when it came to two things. Jane and Quidditch. They only two things he'd ever wanted and just couldn't have. No matter how smart he might be, he just didn't have what it took to win. Quidditch was easy to give up on, especially with so many other things to do instead.. Jane was a whole other story. There were plenty of other girls out there, and he'd been with a good number of them lately, but it didn't shake that feeling. He hated the fact that there was something special about Jane and it was something he just couldn't have. Watching her smirk he felt the grimace on his face lifting slightly. She was funny too, he didn't know very many funny girls. "You never know unless you try?" He teased with her and then continued to walk. Darren was slightly eager to change the subject. He did not want to talk about her new man or the fact that he couldn't have her anymore. He was tired of that old song and dance. He thought for a moment and then started a new strain of conversation, hopefully it'd side track her enough to spare him the details of her new beau. "So hypothetically, what if I were to become the next big bad wizard?" He shrugged his shoulders, this was hypothetical of course. Darren was smart, dangerous, and could be entirely evil if it suited him, but he was quite young.

Evil dynasty's took sometime to set up after all... Voldemort was years in the making. "I don't think you would have the heart to arrest me, nope." He knew jabbing at her guts would get her all fired up, he had planned on it really. Pissing matches with Jane were his favorite after all. "I mean look at me?" He did something similar to the motion she'd made saying he couldn't handle all of her, "I'm way to cute for Azkaban, you wouldn't lock me up..." Giving her toothy grin he stopped walking for a moment and turned to face her entirely, "Would you?"

Darren would go there, wouldn't he? Talking about her in a dressing room. Ugh. He was incorrigible. Turning an amusing shade of pink, Jane rolled her eyes and shook her head. "I don't think so." And of course he laughed, and she couldn't help but smile just a teeny bit. "I bet you could probably talk some other chick into it, though. Chin up." She noticed when he started to look around. Paranoid, like usual. He should have known, by now, that even if someone did try to go after him in her presence, despite how damaging it would be to his ego, she would defend him. No matter who it was. It was sad, really, how devoted she was. Harry Potter himself could go after Darren, and she'd hex him into oblivion. Loyalty wasn't always a good thing.

However, that didn't mean that she'd ever date him. She didn't trust him that far. He'd just use her up and toss her away, like he did to all the other girls he'd been with. She chose to ignore the frown that seemed to appear on his face, and looked the other way. "He's not a tosser. He's your old housemate. Dormmate, even. Padraig Whalen? He's a professional Quidditch player, now, you know. Kenmare Kestrels. He's a beater. Really good, too."

Giving a small sigh, part of her knew that that might bother him. Darren had always wanted to play Quidditch. She'd felt guilty when she had made the Gryffindor team, and he hadn't made the team for Slytherin. She remembered trying to cheer him up. However, she could never cheer him up like other girls could. She wouldn't. Sure, part of her had wanted to... at one point. Not anymore. She was Padraig's girl, now. Unofficially, that is.

"I'd rather we didn't. I don't think that would make Padraig very happy. And whatever girl you've been shagging, lately, probably wouldn't be very happy either." She didn't like where this conversation was going. Then again, she wasn't exactly thrilled about where he steered it, next, either. It was something that she had thought about time and time again, since discovering his new profession.

Looking at him with slightly wide-eyes, she bit her bottom lip. "Hypothetically? I... don't really like to think about it, to be honest." Swallowing hard, she crossed her arms over her chest as they walked. "Oh, really? You think so?" Jane knew exactly what he was doing. Ass. Stopping with him, and cocking her head to the side slightly, she grinned. "Oh, I don't know. Maybe I should get some of those muggle handcuffs, and then we'll talk?" Well, that was inappropriate. Hopefully he'd know that she was kidding. He had to know she was kidding. Right?

"In all seriousness, though..." She frowned at herself. "I don't think I could. But, I hope that you care about me enough not to put me in that sort of a position. Wouldn't do for us both to be rotting in Azkaban together, would it?"