Come si chiama lei?

          Politics had never been their thing. They’d never been like the rest of their family. They’d been raised to be softer and able to follow their dreams. That wasn’t possible anymore. Everything slipped out of their hands in such a short amount of time that they weren’t sure if things would ever feel normal again. The crushing weight of being the last of their line and what it meant for things politically. Maybe Grace needed to take a stand and decide where they stood, but it also didn’t seem smart to align themself without backup. “Yes, but I’m also gonna pretend I’m busy.” Their mind seemed to be all over the place these days. Brushing their hair out of their face and straightening out their skirt, Grace nodded and took Beatrice’s arm. They were adults and did make their own decisions. “Our decisions count, yes.” 

“ it makes sense. i know what you mean. ” darcy reassured with a smile, before continuing. “ sometimes having a childlike simplicity can be a good thing, but when it comes to any form of art i myself tend to prefer the more complex stuff, and i’m terrible at anything of that sort. ” but they suppose that perhaps there’s a charm or something to help with creative talent, not that she’d ever consider it. “ well in that case, i’ll have to make sure that it’s nothing but my best work, deserving of such a spot of honour. ” they laughed lightly. “ i agree. i think that it’s the least we deserve. ”

“oh?” she didn’t want to look stupid but she wasn’t sure what that meant. “why not? both events will be the talk of the season.” perhaps she wasn’t invited? but the maestros were a well known family, she didn’t see why they wouldn’t be invited along to at least the garden party, that one felt more political anyway. “light blue it is, lets find one i like and then set about changing the color with madam malkin, if necessary. but you, what would you wear, if you go?”

          “I don’t blame you. It’s a nightmare here.” But here felt safer than home these days. At least here they were surrounded by people that would see if something happened. At home Grace was alone. “Well that’s a good philosophy to have.” A good one, albeit one that Grace couldn’t really follow. “It’s fine. I am allowed to leave.” They laughed, but it was forced. A lot of things felt forced these days and Grace didn’t know how to go back to the person they used to be. “Come on, let’s go.” They stood up and grabbed their bag. “If anyone asks, I’m having a… dinner? Supper? Whatever time of day it is meal with a friend and I’ll be back. Nevermind if that is a lie.” 

           amycus  nodded.  he  didn’t  much  care  about  the  words  coming  out  of  beatrice’s  mouth.  sure,  she  made  a  great  point  about  having  the  people  you  actually  care  for  be  around  you,  but  he  wasn’t  sure  yet  if  she  was  one  of  them.  she  should  be,  especially  if  he  were  to  see  her  walk  down  an  aisle  in  a  wedding  dress  to  meet  him.  maybe  he  needed  to  give  her  the  benefit  of  the  doubt.  “  of  course,  yes,  the  store.  ”  he  didn’t  know,  or  care,  much  for  her  brothers,  but  it  was  evident  in  the  way  she  talked  about  it  that  it  belonged  to  her.  eventually  so  belonging  to  him.  “  i  agree,  if  that’s  alright  with  you.  i  don’t  want  to  drag  you  into  all  of  my  shit,  so  it  is  probably  for  the  best.  ”  he’d  keep  it  to  himself  on  the  dangers  she  may  be  put  in  if  their  marriage  was  bound.  he’d  be  sure  to  never  get  her  involved  to  know.  “  i  don’t  think  ill  of  you,  beatrice.  i  hope  you  at  least  know  that  much.  ”  she  was  smart,  much  smarter  than  him.  he  could  even  say  she  didn’t  deserve  him,  even  if  she  may  need  him  later  down  the  line.  “  you  have  a  beautiful  name.  i’d  hate  to  tarnish  it  with  the  carrow  one.  ”

where: maestro’s diagon alley

“i’m looking for the 1970 gibson les paul, do you think they’ll have it? i love that we have such a good music shop, i just wonder if i’m better off checking the muggle stores first. but i’m here so i might as well, right?”

@beforedawnstarters​

          “I’m here often enough, it might as well be true,” Grace shrugged. They didn’t mean that literally, although half the time they did end up falling asleep in their office rather than going all the way back to their townhouse. It felt weird going home alone to an empty house that had been filled with laughter for so long. Although everywhere felt like that these days. “You’ll get used to it. I could give you a better tour if you want.” Grace smiled a genuine smile at Beatrice. “That’s a good thing right? Being busy? Or did you want a bit of a break?” Grace didn’t really want a break, but that was for a different reasons. “No, not really working. Why did you want to grab lunch or something. As long as I don’t get spotted, I don’t have anything to do today.” 

“that’s — certainly a unique perspective, and comment.” she put the dress back on the rack, turned off by that assessment. perhaps she should steer clear of all red gowns, now certain her hair would not flatter the color. “perhaps i should go with something more subtle, perhaps blue would flatter me. this isn’t for the debutante ball by the way, this is for the crouch garden party. the red would have had me overdressed. are you attending either event?”

“ it is, i swear ! well i suppose art looks different to everybody, so maybe some people would think my child like scribbles are artistic. ” darcy doesn’t believe she has any talent in that area, but she’s always been rather self-critical, so maybe that’s the ultimate reason why. “ you’ve got a deal ! i’ll find you before the train leaves and you shall have a darcy abbott original design, do we have a deal ? ” she grins. “ that makes sense. ” darcy understands it, because she’s already starting to worry about leaving hogwarts, and she’s another year to go, while beatrice only has a day now. “ its’ nice to see that you’re enjoying yourself tonight, though. ”

          Grace spent most of their time at the Ministry of Magic these days. Not because they wanted to, but because it felt easier and safer sticking around than going home. That word even sounded awful in their mind. Home was supposed to be their childhood home, not their little townhouse in London, but Grace hadn’t set foot in that house since graduation. The Ministry was quiet this early in the morning and they were already two cups of coffee in, though they watched as people began trickling in more at a time, until the place was as busy and crowded as ever. That was something Grace never minded until recently. As a kid, the bustling halls felt more comforting. Grace could talk to everyone, but sometimes it was difficult to tell who was friend and who was foe. They spotted Beatrice easily. “I never left,” Grace admitted quietly. It was awful just how many people felt the need to walk on eggshells around them. “How are you doing?” they asked. 

“do you think this one is appropriate?” she held up the dress she was holding, intending to show it to andromeda but found herself facing someone else. “sorry, that question wasn’t meant for you. but while i have you here what do you think of this gown?” it was red velvet, floor length and encrusted in diamonds from the empire waist up. but was red her color or would it clash with her hair?

@beforedawnstarters​

Connections and Plot Ideas

“beactrice” beaming as she gestured for the girl to come closer, happy that she had finally spotted a familiar face - at least one that seemed happy to see her, “i think so – i just need to take sips this time” she admitted. 

“perimeter would be great, i don’t really want to be drenched in drinks like the last poor sod – you think we can cast a little barrier?” she had tucked her wand away for good reason, her hands couldn’t really be trusted in this moment.

“Nice and slow, enjoy it that way, yes?” She demonstrated that traditional way in which one would drink, but her faced turned sour. “But no, it is not wine...perhaps just....perhaps you should just let it all down...or not have it at all.” Merlin, she did not want it anymore. It was quite...no good.

“ absolutely, i know that they’ll adore it. as a kid i never had any natural artistic talents, so they’ll be relieved to finally have something to put on the fridge, or wherever they decide to put it. ” darcy nods. “ there is a certain charm to these end of year parties, i have to admit. ” though maybe there’s just a nice atmosphere to a bunch of teenage wix celebrating their final term of the year together. “ i am, definitely. more than i expected, if i’m being honest. i’m looking forward to the final end of year party next year more and more. ”

“I will be there by the second week of July, yes? Well, I hope to be.” There was an unopened letter in her bag, she feared what information her brother was springing on her. “I am sure it will be very dusty since nobody has lived there upstairs in many years, so I will make sure that everything has been cleared out. I want you two to pick your rooms in the best condition.”

—— isn’t that BEATRICE MAESTRO? yeah that is them, outside the three broomsticks! they used to be in HUFFLEPUFF but apparently they now work as a PROPRIETOR at the MAESTRO’S MUSIC SHOP. sybill once said that they reminded her of a  violin being crafted from hand, an array of colored silks, letters burned in the fire place, a ring worn on a chain around her neck, a table open to negotiation, paint stained hands which seems about right. anyway i’ve heard they’re still a bit  COURTEOUS, AWOKEN, and GOSSAMER, they’re TWENTY now but some things never change! i wonder how being a PUREBLOOD is affecting them after hogwarts, especially now they’re an ASSOCIATE with ORDER OF THE PHEONIX? i guess only time will tell…