Perhaps in Another Life We'd have been Friends [Yasmin]

[Deleted]

January 12, 2026
YASMIN ZARA EL FAYED

Gabrielle was back in the country. And after a number of rumors and getting situated she was investigating. Harry Potter. Alive. Really? How? Part of her hoped it wasn't true. Because it made her feel bitter. Everyone that had died in her family couldn't come back. It wouldn't be fair if Harry Potter did. Special Harry Potter. But if it was true... she was happy for James... Because at least he could get his dad back. At least he could have something she couldn't. But she had to know. Had to find out for herself.

So here she was, at the pub that was the source of the rumors. Hounds and Harriers. Ironically in Godric's Hollow, where she knew the Potter family had grown up. She walked in, eyeing the pub but no signs of Harry. The place was... comfortable. Thankfully nothing too fancy, so she didn't feel out of place. There were a few other patrons already drinking and having a grand evening. She took a moment before approaching the bar and taking a stool. The bartender, a young woman probably close to her own age, turned. "Something strong, what do you recommend?" She wasn't picky about her alcohol. If it got her buzzed that's all she cared about. Though, there was a familiarity in this young woman. It took only a moment for her to realize that it must have been Hogwarts. She doubted the girl had been the same year, but she remembered the face...

[YASMIN ZARA EL FAYED]

12th January, 2026

Yas quickly plaited her long, dark hair before returning to the bar from the back room. Her break had just finished, and though it was tiresome being on her feet all day, Yas enjoyed the ease with which she could listen to new stories, each patron inspiring a quickly crafted painting in her mind. She'd found her muse to be incredibly strong these days, all things considered. Even with his fame, Emrys had faded to a mere memory in the back of her mind. Even the thought of him didn't hurt quite as much as it used to. She supposed this was what it meant to grow up and move on. Yas had to admit that having Yara in England with her had been helpful in writing the beautiful, but dark man out of her life for good.

Hitching a genuine smile onto her lips, Yas pulled a pint for one of the regulars. "Not a problem, Gaz. I'll let Harry know to keep the stocks up on the bitters," said Yas with a playful wink as she placed the cool glass before him. She'd only been working here for a month as a way to help support herself as she kept busy with her art. Recently, Yas had become interested in 3D modelling, but her parents didn't want to pay for the courses. Even though they funded most of her life, so long as she kept an eye on Yara. More likely, Yara was keeping an eye on her.

Yas genuinely hadn't known this was Harry Potter's pub. She'd considered working in magical London, but decided against it. After all, she wanted a different point of view. Yas liked to challenge herself, even if she didn't much care for others challenging her. She'd quickly grown close to the owner, feeling protective over him despite the vast age gap. It wasn't like he needed her protection, but as the eldest sibling, it was only natural for Yas.

Yas turned her pleasant, but somewhat vacant smile as a girl with curly brown hair and an intense gaze approached the bar. It took Yas a moment to place the girl who had looked so familiar. She pursed her lips as the other girl appraised her equally, as if she was doing the same exact thing. "Sure thing," said Yas after a moment, turning to appraise the tall shelves of liquor. "Do you prefer a cocktail or just straight? I'd recommend a negroni, or a martini? There's always whisky. The people here seem to love whisky," mused Yas, picking up and weighing a bottle of whisky and a bottle of gin. She held them both up for the girl to appraise, arching a brow.

@gabrielle

[Deleted]

January 12, 2026
YASMIN ZARA EL FAYED

Gabrielle couldn't put a name to the face of this young woman. Definitely familiar, like a Hogwarts classmate, but definitely wasn't one she'd spent time with. The more she thought about it, the more she realized she'd probably never known this young woman's name, even during her school years. Because if she did? Something would have come to mind already.

The young woman asked waht sort of drink she wanted, offering up two choices to start. To be honest, Gabrielle didn't really care. Though, after thinking about it for a moment... "Martini. Dry." That would have more alcohol, so thus the better choice. It wasn't shots, but it was pretty damn close. Plus, after looking at the bottles she offered, the gin bottle was one she was already familiar with and liked. Sometimes it was better to stick to the brands you knew.

[YASMIN ZARA EL FAYED]

Faces did not particularly strike Yas, despite her many years as an artist. She was more into trying to capture the natural world, and the face that stuck so clearly in her mind was not one she wanted to recall. For years, Emrys had been her muse, and reproducing the hidden smiles, the crinkle of his eyes, the intensity of his very self on canvas had been so easy then. Now, she struggled to get the lines right, and felt herself itching to remember Emrys even though he had completely shattered her heart. And so though perhaps this young woman before her was familiar, Yas couldn't bring herself to delve through her own painful memories to recall a name.

With a grin and a nod, Yas turned to fix the dry martini her patron requested. "Never been able to drink a dry martini, so I commend you," said Yas, tipping in eighty millilitres of gin before adding a dash extra. It had always been her way, to top up drinks for patrons. She added a dash of bitters, then paused. "Lemon, olives or bare?" asked Yas, her gaze meeting the girl across from her. She seemed like the sort of person who would be unhappy with a drink not made the way she liked. "Long week?" asked Yas pleasantly.

@gabrielle

[Deleted]

January 12, 2026
YASMIN ZARA EL FAYED

Gabrielle folded her arms on the bar top as her gaze wandered the pub once more, slowly taking in the other patrons. No one familiar, though she hadn't expected them too. The only reason people looked familiar now-a-days was from her Hogwarts days (like this bartender) or it was work related and that wasn't something you wanted her to recognize you for. That reminded her that she needed to familiarize herself with the bounties in the UK that the Ministry ( or other parties...) had put out in case she ever stumbled upon them. You should never waste an opportunity.

"I learned to drink from people that don't drink light," she answered with a shrug. It was true. She hadn't really had the weak beers or fruit "bitch beers" when she was aroudn the world learning to bounty hunt. She drank what was strong, no matter the taste. As for the next question though she turned her head back to eye the selection before answering. "Olives," she decided.

Bar tenders, from her experience, were usually more on the social side, so the questions didn't bother her. "You could say that," she started to answer. She didn't want to give too much away though. "Reconnecting with old family friends I haven't seen in quite some time." It was probably the best way to answer her intentions without actually giving anything away. "You worked here long?"

[YASMIN ZARA EL FAYED]

The woman before her was somewhat terrifying, though Yas couldn't exactly place why. She tried to make a bit of light conversation, but was shut down almost at once. This patron was certainly intense. Yas gulped, biting her lip and nodding as the woman asked for olives. At least she was polite. The amount of old, grouchy men Yas had had to serve over the past months was astonishing. As if she wasn't even a human! She turned to make the martini, garnishing it with olives as requested. She made sure it looked good and tasted good - though she was no judge of martini tastes - before passing it over to the woman and taking payment.

Yas asked if she'd had a long week, which she suspected was probably true based on the martini before her. Yas' initial wariness wore off slightly as the woman easily answered her questions, without any malice. "Ah yes, I would say those are some of the toughest people to meet. Suddenly they're asking you why you haven't been married off and produced three to five children at the age of twenty-one," said Yas scornfully, her lips turning down into a frown. "I hope they didn't grill you too hard. And if they did, well I hope you showed them what you're made of," said Yas kindly. "Er, not super long, a few months. Harry is a good boss, and is really flexible with shifts. I am an artist but you know... doesn't always work so much." She shrugged. "I've half a mind to ask what you do, but I think I'd get shut down. So, is this the type of place you frequent? Or are you more of a cocktail bar kind of girl?" asked Yas.

@gabrielle