this is war.

Arthur Weasley | Introduction | Threads | Musings

Dominic Jones | Introduction | Threads | Images 

Fleur Weasley | Introduction | Threads | Images | Musings

Katarina Krum | Introduction | Threads | Images | Musings

Lisa Turpin | Introduction

Erin’s a bit taken aback by Arthur’s words, how easily he says it. It’s true, of course, it’s true for all of them, but still. “Perhaps not.” She knows she wouldn’t have, if it weren’t for Astoria’s potions. She knows that whoever had harmed her – Cassius? – had intended her to die. “Well, for the record, I’m quite glad you made it.” She gives Arthur a small smile.

At his words, she nods. “That’s right. Did you hear about Clemensia?” She thinks of the Auror, who had worked in their department. “They killed her.”

It was true. Arthur had lived a long and happy life. It had had it’s bumps and tough spots, but in the long run, it had been good. He wouldn’t feel the least bit sad, knowing that’s what he’d left behind. He taught his children and grandchildren what he knew, and they had made him proud. “Thank you. I’m quite glad, too.” Because even though he didn’t have anything to regret, he did have much still left to see.

“Ah, I did. Yes.” Arthur nodded, sighing. He had a feeling they’d lose even more before this was all over. “It’s terrible.”

Erin stands up again, and nods. “Yeah, yeah, that might be nice.” The thought of being all alone in this place is suffocating. Maybe she’ll go to Honora’s. For now, though, a bit of company would be good, just so she can used to the atmosphere of home again. “Tea?” She pauses for a moment. “Did you two come out okay?”

“Okay,” Kat replied, offering a small smile. Erin was one of the few people Kat would’ve even offered to help, and she wasn’t entirely sure why. Life just ended up that way somehow. “Yeah, tea sounds good.” She nodded. “We did. My ex actually got us out. Got her calmed down first.”

“Generally, sure. I don’t know that self awareness is something a human develops until at least they’re a teenager,” he says, shrugging a shoulder, “Perhaps, also, I have a different concept of what self awareness means,” he posits as he begins to walk back around the counter. “Great, a galleon,” he says as he starts to wrap the bottle in newspaper and place it in a paper bag.

“I think it depends on how a person is raised. Some develop it earlier, and some develop it well into adulthood,” Kat replied. She nodded at his second statement, before pulling out her pocketbook and handing over the galleon. “Thanks for this.”

“I only have vague memories of my mother. But they were all happy. Everything was happy until she died. And then it seemed to go downhill so fast. I really do think she was the glue that held our family together.”

“I’m relieved for you. I can’t imagine what it’d be like if they ever attacked the sanctuary. My home …” Parvati trailed off in distress. “Let me know if there’s anything I can help you with,” she said, her hand reaching out and clutching Lisa’s forearm in sympathy, an attempt to put on a brave face before she crumbled. “Not so well. I’ve just been at St. Mungo’s, all morning, with Rafe. I keep thinking about what could have happened.” 

“I didn’t think we’d be having to worry about things like this anymore,” Lisa replied, shaking her head gently. “It’s been quiet for so long after school. I guess I thought it was really over.” She offered a smile when she felt Parvati’s hand on her arm. “I will, thank you.” She paused, listening to her friend. “Is he alright?”

She was running low on supplies again. Luna thought it a good thing: it meant plenty of painting was being done, and painting helped, she had always found. Of course, if there was any place she would buy new supplies, it was at Lisa’s store, and so she entered the familiar place with a small smile. “Oh, hi Lisa,” she said, already looking at some brushes, considering them even though she didn’t need them. “Just needed some new paints, for the redecoration project.” She didn’t mention Grimmauld Place, assumed the other would know. Even here, she was wary. “Are you painting?”

Lisa was always glad to see a familiar face, and especially when it was Luna. “Hello, Luna!” She smiled, walking a little further into the shop. “Ah, yeah, how’s it going so far?” she asked, tilting her head a bit. She’d been meaning to stop by Grimmauld Place lately, but she’d had to fix up the shop a bit after Halloween. “I am, yes. I was just working on a commission for a very nice old woman.”

"Okay,” Lisa spoke, her voice quivering. She took a deep breath and nodded. “It’s just terrifying. I don’t want my kids having to grow up like this. Like we did.”

Narcissa’s lip curled into a bit of a knowing smile. She was quite sure the two of them were very aware of the fact that she held many things to herself. She wondered if Arthur had any ideas about trying to gauge some truth from her, he with his Order ties, but she doubted it. The Ministry had tried, she had lied, and here they were now. “That’s most certainly true,” she said. “Regardless, I do hope you’re in a good place mentally, too.”

She traced the nerves of wood on the table, and then nodded. “It’s the best we can wish for, these days.” Narcissa looked up at Arthur. “Trying times, hm? I truly do hope all this will be nipped in the bud soon.”

Arthur had no doubt that the woman before him had kept many secrets throughout their years alive. If she hadn’t had a single secret, well, he wasn’t sure he’d believe her. But he had no intention in learning anything from her - aside from the truth of how she was. She was family, after all, however distantly related. “As best I can be, yes.”

“This is true.” Arthur nodded. He looked around for a moment, wondering just how much longer this all would last - what would happen in the end. “As do I. I can’t imagine what would happen if it went on for long.”

Hugo chews the inside of his cheek, tilting his head, “I don’t really know what I want. I don’t really know anything, if I’m being honest,” he says, a smile crossing his face, this time more forced. He nods as he considers what she said, “I’ll have to try that. It’s just hard to see through the trees when…we could lose anything. Like, I don’t know what I’d do if,” he clears his throat, his voice starting to break, but he stops himself and forces a weak smile, “I shouldn’t - like, you can’t…there aren’t right answers, just the ones you get.”

Fleur nodded, her own smile more to support and keep her face peaceful than to show her emotions. “You know, that’s okay. You don’t have to know.” She was quiet then, as she listened to his concerns. She shook her head gently at the end. She reached out a hand to him. “None of us are sure of anything right now. It’s okay to be scared. You don’t have to be strong all of the time. I’m here for anything you need. Even if there aren’t right answers for any of it.”

“Probably ‘cus the British love to shit on the French, and vice versa,” he says, grinning a little. For a moment, he focuses on getting rid of the stain on his shirt, and then his hand extends again. “Cheers.” Jimmy is quiet for a moment, shoots Fleur a thankful look. “How’ve you been, Fleur? You come out okay, you know, at the carnival?”

“Don’t I know it.” Fleur chuckled, shaking her head. It was amusing, really. She adjusted her bag on her shoulder as she offered his coffee back, offering a brief nod. “Yes, I’m okay. My husband and children are fine. The rest will be alright if they’re not now. Physically, at least.”

Hugo grins broadly, turning his head, “So I should have kids?” he asks, laughing as he shakes his head, “I don’t know, I don’t think I’d be very good at that. But, I mean, that clearly worked for you,” he says with a small gesture, “I think everything like this makes you grow up fast. At least in a sense. How did you guys deal with it? Like, I mean, afterwards? What are we gonna do if we’re, uh, here?”

“Only if you want to,” Fleur laughed. Having kids was not a solution to problems, though, so she couldn’t recommend it. “Parenting isn’t for everybody.” She hadn’t even really considered it until she’d found Bill. She took a deep breath as she considered his question. “Learn to live with the aftermath, whatever it is. It won’t be easy, but we’ll lean on each other. Be grateful for what we have.”