----> Ardor

[Chloe Merrit]

There wasn't much to do in number 12 Grimmauld Place. Chloe really had nothing better to do before the Order meeting started; which wouldn't be for another half hour. Against better judgement, Chloe figured that a half hour spent at headquarters wouldn't be that bad. So she apparated over. In hindsight, that wasn't the brightest idea or most well though-out plan.

In all fairness, the house wasn't bad. Except for the fact it needed a dusting, the home was quite charming. O.k. she suposed that all of the Dark artifacts were a bit unnerving, the mere fact that it (by law) was Sirius' house irked her as well. All in all the small house was perfect for a headquarters. Sadly, there was a downside. Chloe inherited a slight obsession with neatness from living with a perfectionist mother. She was as lazy as the next person, but when a house was really dirty, her fingers itched for some bleach and disinfectant spray. Naturally, Grimmauld place made her very itchy. After a brief chat with an older Order member Chloe fancied a small walk outside.

Little did she know that the back garden hadn't been weeded or looked after for quite some time. Weeds were taling over the small yard as well as overgrown shrubs and rosebushes. As soon as Chloe stepped into the garden her neat-freak tendencies kicked in. Before she even knew it, she was pulling weeds. And she could have spent this half hour sleeping. What really made her mad was that, as soon as the yard looked halfway decent and she was covered in dirt, she realized that a flick of her wand would have fixed the problem entirely. Chloe sat back indignantly on the ground and sighed. She was too tired to lift her wand to clean her robes. Instead she just layed back in the grass watching the sky turn from a bright blue to a pinkish orange with the setting sun.

[Ridge Taggert]

"What a group we've got here. A werewolf or two, a few mad aurors, black market dealers.. and gardeners! Gods, we are versatile." Ridge said, his voice loud and clear, a small smirk playing at the corner of his lips. That was cute, she weeded the garden. It was only going to grow back the moment she left the yard, but it was a nice effort. So many people were attempting to clean the house, which Ridge had already dubbed a 'hopeless piece of shit'. It was wasted effort. Only those with an acute fear of insects and allergy issues had to worry,

Everyone else?

Tough it out, be a man.

He walked over to where she was, and leaned casually against the tree, watching as she laid there, sweat dampening her forehead. She was covered in dirt, and she looked nearly exhausted. He bent down next to her, pulling his wand from his back pocket. He held it out in front of her, "You see this sweetie? This is called a wand. It's a lovely piece of work, simply because with a flick of the wrist and a muttered spell, it makes life a hell of a lot easier."

He demonstrated, cleaning her clothing. He tucked it back to where it belonged and straightened back up. Was he mocking her? Oh certainly yes, she had opened herself right up for it. She had been asking for it.

It was cute thought, the whole gardening thing..

[Chloe Merrit]

Chloe was just about to fall asleep. Really, she was that tired. As if working at the hotel wasn't tiresome enough she just couldn't resist coming to Headquarters and cleaning. Her eyelids drooped and she was just about to doze off when someone interupted her.

"What a group we've got here. A werewolf or two, a few mad aurors, black market dealers.. and gardeners! Gods, we are versatile."

"Riiidge," She whined, opening one eye. "Don't make fun of me! You know I can't help myself." Chloe held her torso up with her arms behind her on the ground. An indignant glare was sent Ridge's way as he stood there smirking. If anyone else had been laying out in the garden covered in dirt, Chloe knew she would be laughing her arse off at their foolishness. But, because it was her own foolishness being laughed at, Chloe found the situation hardly worth a chuckle.

"You see this sweetie? This is called a wand. It's a lovely piece of work, simply because with a flick of the wrist and a muttered spell, it makes life a hell of a lot easier."

"Thanks," she muttered as he cleaned her clothes. "And I forgot that I could use my wand for this mess. Sometimes I get back into school-mode where I can't use my wand for real." CHloe explained half-heartedly. Truth was she just liked to do things the hard way sometimes. The hard way usually got her extremely exhausted though.

Chloe stood up and looked at Ridge. "Stop laughing at me!" She insisted with a smile.

[Ridge Taggert]

"Riiidge,"

His smirk widened as she whined.

"Don't make fun of me! You know I can't help myself."

"Oh but how could I resist? You put yourself in such a vulnerable postion sweetie." Of course, she was laid out on the ground, dirt smudged in different places on her body, and eyelids heavy with sleep. How many people really did work around here for the greater good? Ridge did it because Molly's wand would be at his throat otherwise.

"And I forgot that I could use my wand for this mess. Sometimes I get back into school-mode where I can't use my wand for real."

"I'd suggest you figure it out before you meet any Knights. Otherwise you'll make quite the pretty play thing." As if he didn't know how their minds worked. He only lived with half of them for seven years of his life. In fact, he had been good mates with some of them.

In Ridge's opinion, women such as Chloe shouldn't be allowed to join. He didn't care how talented they were, when captured they stirred up an awful lot of trouble. Their tortures were far more emotionally and physically damaging than any male's.

It wasn't a good move on Dumbledore's part.

[Chloe Merrit]

"Oh but how could I resist? You put yourself in such a vulnerable postion sweetie."

The twenty three year-old stuck her tongue out childishly before crossing her arms. Ridge definitely had a point there, Chloe had basically asked for it. After all, what witch willingly did muggle work when using a wand was so much easier? "Ok, whatever," was the best retort she could come up with.

"I'd suggest you figure it out before you meet any Knights. Otherwise you'll make quite the pretty play thing."

Chloe shook her head. This was an ongoing battle between Ridge and the world. He had great reasoning for not wanting women to join the Order, really it was very noble of him to think about that. But Chloe seemed to be the only women not insulted by his opinion. Many other female Order members became defensive before Ridge could explain his opinion further. Chloe had pointed out to him that not all the Knights were attracted to women, pretty men were suseptable to the same treatment if the right (or wrong) Knight fell upon them. "I know, I know. I think that when the time comes I'll be able to sort out my brain."

She sat on the ground smiling sweetly up at him for a moment. "So are you going to help me up or what?" Chloe asked expectantly.