i will burn out;

Poppy was wracking her brain to try to remember what happened, but nothing important seemed to come to mind. Maybe it was because she didn’t witness anything important…or maybe it was some of the champagne and whiskey she’d consumed on the job. Fuck it. Fuck it all. “I don’t know what they’re doing,” she admitted, defeated for only a moment before she pointed a finger sternly at Alex. “If you can’t get to a party, bring the party to you. Everyone’s gonna go stir crazy staying in here thinking about where everyone else is. So, let’s light a fire under their asses and get them the fuck out of here.”

“I’m not naive, but thanks for the life lesson. I really needed that.” Lucy rolled her eyes. “I don’t let anyone tell me what to think.” 

‘‘Good. Keep an eye open. Both of them, even. You’ll soon see all the fucked up truths.’‘

“I wouldn’t put all Healers and the Aurors with ‘Britain’s evil men’, but I suppose I can see what you’re talking about. Don’t really think they’re here to discuss mass control of the population though. Would be a bit on the nose.”

‘‘That’s because you aren’t seeing  the bigger picture. The evil is more than what people tell you it’s evil. Evil wouldn’t be evil if it introduced itself. It would be dumb. Well, that’s what they want you to think.’‘

Poppy nodded quickly along with Alex’s words and tried to wrack her brain for anything odd that happened that night. Everything about the night was odd. Was it odd that Jonathon Marks said he thought he’d killed her? In the moment she was so set on appearing unfazed she’d barely registered what he meant - until now, as she stood too stiff and felt a slightly twinge in her lower back from the amount of time she’d been on her feet. It was fucking him, she didn’t need it spelled out or proven with any physical evidence. He hadn’t killed her, no, but he might as well have.

“I-” Poppy’s thoughts were wild and it felt impossible to concentrate on the present let alone the past. “No one did anything. Nothing I can remember. I think Roxanne was going to try out a new Weasley Wheeze or something but I don’t think she did it. Everyone was acting suspicious, weren’t they?” It made sense if this was a chance to fight away from the party where there was a vow of peace. “Maybe. Or else half the room would’ve been at each other’s throats if they knew there was no other chance to fight tonight.”

It seemed as if the mental list of people Poppy needed to track down kept getting longer. She’d seen Alex in the crowd at some point but was immediately distracted again when shoved and turned around as people sought out their own friends. Alex could hold his own, she believed, but she hoped she could find him before anything broke out. Right now everyone was just confused, searching for a way out or a way to their missing friends. There was no telling what that confusion could give way to, though.

Finally, she caught sight of him again and planted her feet firmly, even shoving back against someone who backed into her and nearly put her off balance. “I work for a catering company, not this place or that asshole,” she corrected, firm but not offended. She had no doubt, at the end of this, an Auror would come to speak with her and Nerissa. She couldn’t blame them, but she was going to exonerate herself as early and quickly as she could. “Who’d you see disappear? Did anyone seem ready to go?”

“I don’t know. I forget how old he is. Probably, he would have graduated before either of us started going to Hogwarts. He’s a work friend, I guess, for lack of a better term, but really he’s a dedicated to actually getting shit done when nobody else will and fighting back against the people who dropped a flock of fucking dragons into the middle of fucking Hogsmeade friend. We need an abandoned building because we don’t want people spying on us and we want a nice, secluded, empty place that we can trash if necessary while experimenting with amplified powers. When I’m trying to kidnap you and Oliver I won’t be so sketchy and obvious, and I won’t be offering to let you pick locations, which I just have done, if you were listening. Any other questions?”

‘‘You were only offering to let me pick because you knew I wouldn’t have an alternative. It doesn’t matter. Kidnapping doesn’t work with me. You’d be wasting your time. I could have many more questions, but they can wait and don’t really matter. I said I’m in. I’ll be there. I’m a little skeptical right now - you have got to understand why - but I’ll be there.’‘

“I don’t really believe in one day deciding my whole year, I’m not that superstitious.” But she agreed that this party wasn’t a good idea. “I guess we should all be on our guard tonight. Something feels off…”

‘‘Is it the fact that all of Britain’s evil men, including the Ministry, Auror system and Healer association are gathered here possibly to discuss how to mass control us all and keep us like sheep on a field? I guess it has to be something like that.’‘

“No, we won’t be alone. It may only be Oliver and Charlie and us tomorrow, but there will be more than that soon. You got a better abandoned building you want to meet at?”

‘‘I don’t know this Charlie guy. What year was he in compared to our own? I don’t know any abandoned buildings but why would we need one? You’re not trying to kidnap me and Oliver, are you?’‘

“Yeah, Poppy, Marzia, and I found a flat. We can meet at yours though. Sylvia is definitely quieter. I really like Sylvia, by the way. You picked a good roommate.”

‘‘Yeah, she’s decent. Sylvia isn’t even home during holidays so we’d have the whole flat to ourselves until January. Poppy and Marzia are loud. They wouldn’t even leave us alone. Come by my place then.’‘

Lucy grimaced, realised that she’d been snapping at him for no reason. “I’m sorry. It’s been a rough day.” 

‘‘For all of us. Which sucks. It’s a bad way to start your year, granted. And this party is in no way comfortable. I’m sorry you had a bad day.’‘

“I’ll protect you. There are aurors planted through the crowd. Stick close to me and I’ll be your personal guard.”

‘‘That’s very kind, but I don’t need protection. I only need to know if there’s something I should be defending myself from. I can protect myself just fine. But we can work together if you want.’‘

“Fine by me. I got enough friends, and I could use more partners. My whole life is a free period.” That was an overestimation and simplification, but it was easy enough to leave the store when she had to as long as there was coverage. “Tomorrow afternoon we’ll start. Meet me on the edge of Hogsmeade near the Shrieking Shack.”

‘‘Why there?’‘ he asked the first question that could indicate a red flag, not that he was scared. Of Roxanne, no, in any way. ‘‘Will we be alone?’‘

“We’re not cursed. We’re blessed. We’re special. The Ministry treats us like a curse because they are jealous and frightened. They are small. We can be big if we teach ourselves and remember we are not a curse for our powers. You’re a curse for making fun of my butterflies. They are hair accessories. Men have hair.”

‘‘I didn’t necessarily mean that, but you’re right. Or, at least, I used to think you are right. Now, not so much. Do you believe the studies saying the oldest registered muggleborn spirit elemental died before turning thirty? I always thought the Ministry and the Healers got him killed, but suddenly I wonder if I were wrong all along. I do know men have hair, thank you. But they’re still girly... as in, for a girl’s hair.’’

“Fuck yeah we can start tomorrow. I underestimated you, Alex. I think we’re going to be friends.”

‘‘Take it easy, Weasley. I don’t make friends. We’re at best partners. When do you have your free periods? I have all afternoon available, but morning’s a bitch.’‘