Cheers Darlin' [Harmony]

[Dorian Innes]

Saturday, 29 October 2005
5:30 pm

Dorian had anticipated a more cheerful mood this evening. The extended weekend, a rare luxury with three consecutive days off work seemed to be perfectly timed. Today marked Dorian's thirtieth birthday, and his favourite holiday, Halloween, awaited in just two days. But the shadow of his separation from Selah loomed heavily, casting a dark cloud over what should have been a joyous occasion.

For the first time in a decade, Dorian would not be celebrating his birthday with his wife. To add insult to injury, Halloween also happened to be his and Selah's eighth wedding anniversary. The weight of these two events bore down heavily on Dorian, and when he received an early morning owl bearing a sweet birthday message from Selah, it was almost more than he could bear. A part of him wished that she hadn't sent it, but deep down, Dorian knew that her silence would have been just as, if not more agonizing.

Despite his disheartened mood, his thirtieth birthday was a milestone that warranted a break from the confines of his cramped office at Hogwarts and a good night's sleep in a proper bed. Having checked into the Leaky Cauldron late the night before for a three-night stay, Dorian celebrated with copious amounts of Firewhisky, rang in his birthday at midnight, then staggered upstairs to pass out.

Apart from the owl's message this morning, Dorian's birthday had so far mainly revolved around nursing a substantial hangover. As the sun dipped lower in the sky and the clock neared five, Dorian finally mustered the energy to get out of bed. After a long, hot shower, he shaved and dressed in his typical jeans, a t-shirt, and boots. With the day's fatigue finally receding, Dorian threw on a cloak and set out to continue the previous night's activities.

Leaving the Leaky Cauldron, Dorian navigated the familiar route to the junction between Knockturn and Horizont Alley, a path etched into his routine over the years. Approaching the Curious Chimaera, his attention was drawn to the golden chimaera statue atop the signboard, currently at rest on its stomach as if engrossed in a book. Anticipating the imminent transformation, Dorian envisioned the creature rearing up to raise a wine glass in a welcoming gesture, a sight he had not seen in a long time due to his schedule.

Pushing open the door and stepping inside the Curious Chimaera, Dorian was greeted by the tantalizing aroma of freshly brewed coffee, a scent intermingling with the subtle undertones of the bar that would soon emerge. Having worked the night shift so often lately, Dorian was, at the very least, excited to experience his favourite establishment during the hours it actually functioned as a bar.

Behind the counter, Harmony, a skilled barista was still fulfilling her duties, though it seemed she was approaching the end of her shift. Through the years spent at the Chimaera, Dorian had developed a close relationship with Harmony. She was one of the few who were privy to the details of his separation from Selah—a revelation that had emerged from Dorian's drunken confessions rather than a deliberate choice to confide.

Taking a seat on a plush red barstool, Dorian offered a nod in greeting to Harmony but refrained from interrupting her work. His fingers deftly reached for an ashtray, and he lit a cigarette, silently making a pact with himself that it would be the only one for the night. Despite having successfully quit smoking a week earlier, the occasion of his birthday seemed to justify an exception.