you should see me in a crown

    Edgar tried to hide a yawn but failed miserably, it’s not that he minded being up at this hour, he had always found the silver lining in having to leave the comfort of his bed, but he had had a restless sleep, there had been an alarming increase in dark magic related injuries, and it was making him restless. Still being up early meant he got to stop by his favorite coffee shop, sure there was a perfectly fine one near the hospital, but they didn’t carry the blend he liked —he had tried to leave pureblood high society behind, but it was the little things that seemed insignificant that reminded Edgar, maybe sometimes it’s really hard to escape something that was a part of you for years. And speak of the devil, Edgar recognized the person who had reached for his arm even before they had started to speak, 

      ❝Alecto, it’s been a while❞ he said with smile, he had lost touch with most of the people he had grew up with, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t take a chance to reconnect with them. ❝I-uhh, yeah sure…❞ Edgar shrugged taking the seat across from her, ❝but I’m afraid I won’t be able to stay long, I have a shift that starts soon❞ he said before taking the waiter for bringing his coffee, ❝last I heard you were out of town, when did you get back?❞ 

--- alecto shrugged, “ yes, well, i like to avoid the society functions. i’ve found it’s much easier to avoid them now that i’m living alone. ” although she really didn’t know who still went to them. the exceptions always being those who wound up in the gossip pages for whatever scandals they’d caused. or for their choice of wardrobe. not that she paid much attention, but it grew more difficult to ignore when information about things such as the malfoys’ elopement had been plastered across the front pages.

--- alecto had spent two weeks in egypt for work, and then another two in spain, the first for a mission for the dark lord, the second because she hadn’t really wanted to stay in england after her mission had been completed. she had, of course, returned home to report to gringotts before the mission, and then to the dark lord after, and then she’d spent a week sunning in barcelona and benidorm, and if she hadn’t been a death eater, she wouldn’t have been entirely opposed to simply remaining in spain. although if she were going anywhere that long again, she was taking winter and her brother with her. she had told work she’d be out another week to handle family stuff, but had mostly been at home or trying to help winter with setting up for her apothecary’s opening. now she was settled at a table in the cafe near her flat, coffee set in front of her as she people-watched while she waited. she looked up upon realising someone was passing her table, she reached out and grabbed their arm, “ come join me so it looks like i had real plans in case anyone i work with happens to pass by, ” she gestured to the seat across from her. “ i offer free food in return, ” she added, glancing at the pastries set on the table in front of her.

Winter turned to face the redhead at the sound of her voice. She hadn’t seen Alecto in a while. Too long. She hugged her tightly, even though she was quite certain her friend would not appreciate it. “You’re not supposed to leave without me, Ally.” She scolded the other slightly. All of the pain and misery she’d been dealing with, the brunette had wanted her best female friend to help her through. Wanted to confirm that she was the one who’d sent Elsa to see her. She wanted to talk with her and cry to her. Have her make sense of everything with Barty. Even Dirk, though, she knew better than to talk about him with her. “And I would like help from you, if only to keep you around before you go back to work.” Winter teased, though, she did want her friend to stay around so they could catch up. “Thank you, my Grandfather knows how to turn my mood around at the very least.”

--- alecto laughed, wrapping her arms around winter to return the hug, even if she wasn’t fond of the things. she’d been gone long enough that a hug was probably deserved. she hadn’t intended to be gone so long, but after two weeks away for work and a mission, she hadn’t been able to help herself staying away longer just to relax. “ i’m not supposed to leave permanently without you. i promise to bring you on my next trip. i’m thinking the next trip will be a few weeks before school would get out. then we get to go right before all the family vacations start. ” she grinned. she squeezed winter a little tighter, “ sorry i left so quickly after all the... you know, ” she mumbled. she hummed, “ as if i’m going further than my apartment or work without you for longer than a few hours ever again. but we’ve got to add spain to our travel list. ” she really hadn’t thought through how much she’d miss winter. alecto pulled back slightly, “ what did i miss that your mood needed to be turned around ? ” she frowned, worry etching itself onto her features.

The ruins that had been in the place of the apothecary she worked for had been restored and greatly updated. It was a completely different store front, sleek and new. Beautiful display windows just waiting to be filled. And the sign was new. It displayed a new name, ‘Toil & Trouble’s Apothecary’. Winter Nott’s apothecary, just as she’d dreamed it. Her grandfather, after seeing her so broken down since New Years Eve, offered his wife’s old friend, the owner, a buy out. Her grandfather invested enough to start the shop off and keep it going for a few years and gifted it all to her. What was salvageable of her grandmother’s tools were in the new Greenhouse that was attached. The shelves and displays on the inside would all match and be persistently organized, unlike the eclectic  manner in which things had been presented before. And while it was not open yet, Winter couldn’t help but beam brighter than she had in a while as she looked up at her new place. The first thing that was truly her own. “I won’t be open for another two weeks,” She explained to the person that had stopped to look at it as well. “I have to get shipments in from my new vendors, build up my potion stock, and get the greenhouse flourishing. But, it’s all mine now. I can hardly believe it.”

@mxrsmxrdrestarters​

--- alecto had been away first for work, and then for a mission, for longer than she’d really intended to be out of the country. and without really notifying anyone of her departure, other than a couple rather vague owls to winter and her brother. alecto had stopped home to shower and change, first, but then had been too restless to do anything at home to relax. so she’d wandered out, a small smile flitting across her lips at the sight of winter standing in front of what appeared to be her own new apothecary. the witch made her way to stand beside her friend, grinning as she regarded the shop. “ hmm, well if you want help with setting anything up, i have another week before i have to actually get back to office work, ” she offered. she nudged her friend’s shoulder with her own, “ congratulations, ” the redhead beamed at her.

Disorganization was hardly something that Doris had enjoyed since it had befallen her personality. It usually had to do with time, running extremely late to all that she planned. If it hadn’t been for her willingness to model for Witch Weekly when they were in a bind, she’d likely not have a job. Her boss was smart enough, too, to make her deadlines two days early, so anything she did was still on time. But the attack was the first time her character flaw had benefited her, to her knowledge. The redhead had her days off and thought New Years Eve was the night after it had actually been. “I was late, as usual.” The half veela explained as someone had asked for the umpteenth time how she’d gotten out of the attack unscathed. It was hardly like her to miss a party and she lived in Diagon Alley. Her flat rested above the Kwik-Repair Shop, but she’d been at the office that night, working on a beauty product review.

Trying to get away from the conversation, she spun and skittered towards the door of the shop. Her veela charm seemed to catch another patron’s attention, however, and they popped up in front of her, causing her to jump back, bumping another person and spilling her iced beverage. The man that’d been struck by her beauty looked around in a daze, before running off, face flushed, leaving Doris to deal with the mess. “I’m sorry,” She told the other, looking at her spilled drink in disappointment. “He came out of nowhere. Did I get any on you?”

@morsmordrestarters​

--- alecto sighed when she was bumped into, scowling at the man who’d caused the collision as he ran away without even so much as an offer to help clean up the mess he’d caused. she glared, not really mad at the girl who’d stepped back into her, but at the guy, until surprise flitted across her face when doris turned around. “ um, ” alecto paused, staring for a moment, and then shook her head, “ no. else he’d have a couple hexes flying after him. ” the redhead grumbled.

There was a vague hint of regret present in Vivianne’s eyes, still sad she’d been out of the country during New Year’s — and therefore missed all of the fun. Still it gave her a vague hint of satisfaction as she felt the crunch of glass under her heels every now and then as she walked through Diagon Alley, though she was careful not to let it show. Stopping in front of a destroyed store, Vivianne surveyed the damage, before slightly tilting her head as she felt someone standing behind her. “Merlin,” she sighed out in honeyed tones, so sweet it was bordering on saccharine — she had her cover to maintain, after all. “So much damage done here, isn’t it just awful?” 

--- alecto had plastered on a face of shock, when she’d apparated into diagon alley just to wander through the wreckage, under the guise of helping clean up. she tilted her head when she heard someone commenting, though, nodding, “ it’s really such a shame. and to attack in the middle of what was supposed to be a celebration. ” she spoke, voice sweet. “ did you see any of it ? ” as if alecto didn’t know exactly who had been involved. but as far as anyone knew, she had been with the younger rosier, drinking to the new year and pretending they didn’t hate each other.

Batty shrugged indifferently. “You don’t have to explain it to me. She’s quite talented at potions.” That was the best compliment that she could give to someone she knew only from a distance. Her match, however, fascinated the younger witch. She held still while her cousin went to mending her wrists. “No? I can’t say as I do either.” Because that was the point of how people like Barty and herself acted. No one really got to know them. For a moment, she considered this and thought about her encounter with Remus. The change she’d made from victim to monster in her 18 years of life. “Alecto, can I stay here tonight?” The last time she’d stayed with her cousin was after she’d attacked her father, right before returning to Hogwarts. She wasn’t the type of girl to do sleepovers, or show up drunk on someone’s doorstep in hopes of some useless comfort. But, maybe, tonight, she’d been enough of a monster and it was okay to be just a girl for a few hours. That wasn’t it, she told herself, having to fix those thoughts that made her vulnerable. It was the logic that she didn’t have a wand, so she needed to stay with someone who did, especially with the attack having just ended hours before.

--- alecto shrugged, hiding the surprise at the compliment that her cousin had offered as she turned her wrists over, “ how do they feel ? ” she asked. she nodded. “ does anyone ? ” she hadn’t made much of an effort to get to know anyone else in the cause, really. so many people annoyed her, even if they did have things in common. she nodded at batty’s question, “ you’re always welcome here, ” she said. “ whether i’m here or not. ” she didn’t do the whole braiding each other’s hair and sharing secrets that she knew was involved in the sleepovers some girls had, but batty would always be welcome in her flat, no questions asked. alecto had never been one to pry. at least, not when it came to those close to her. others, well, it was more to be annoying than anything else. 

The words did nothing but earn her cousin a snort. “Except the youngest Nott, but you’ve always had a soft spot for her.” This was a good time to see what her cousin might know about Crouch. She doubted much, as he seemed harder to read than most. “Quite the interesting match she’d procured, isn’t it?” Batty indicated her wrists nonchalantly. “These. The rest I can fix myself.” Despite the pain that surged through the twin injuries, she took the cup from Alecto and lifted it to her lips to take a sip. “I can use them, but they ruin my aesthetic.”

--- alecto set her tea on the coffee table, taking batty’s back and setting the cup beside her own as she sat on the edge and reached out with her wand for her cousin’s wrists. “ winter is the exception, yes, ” the redhead nodded. “ she’s lets me be me. ” she shrugged before beginning to murmur the healing spells. “ hn. i suppose. can’t say i know him that well. ” although she had found she got along with barty better than she did with some of the others. well... as well as alecto got along with anyone. but she didn’t like the idea of winter in anything arranged. really, she didn’t think she liked the idea of winter engaged at all, but it wouldn’t be so bad if she was sure her friend wanted to be.

Batty showered and changed, but that had been the extent of her aftercare from the battle. Her mother’s wand was at her father’s and she didn’t want to go there so late at night. Even if he was still at St. Mungo’s, all but petrified, that place was her personal hell. The ache of her broken wrists, cuts, and bruises didn’t bother her much. Pain was an old friend. “I don’t mind using her wand until I find a new one. It’s at the estate and I didn’t feel like making the trip.” Her mother’s wand worked perfectly well, she’d used it a few times. It’d been useful in her father’s demise, so nothing could be found on her own wand, not that anyone had checked. “Yes, with milk,” She answered, before sheepishly adding, “Please. I’d help, but…” Batty resisted the urge to walk on the carpet with barefeet, simply to make a point that the broken glass wouldn’t bother her. Holding up her arms, the dark haired teen showed her cousin the swollen green and purple that encircled her wrists. The right was rather displaced, but there was no sign of agony on her features. “Just some scrapes and bruises, otherwise. Couldn’t really heal them on my own.” Though, she was quite talented at healing spells, they weren’t her strong suit without a wand. “You mind?”

--- alecto began to put together batty’s cup, shrugging, “ you’re lucky i like you. anyone else and i’d make them get the tea themselves, ” she teased. although it was more along the lines of anyone other than batty and winter. there were few people who could come to alecto’s apartment unannounced and expect tea brought to them. she ignored the twinges of pain from the bruises that hadn’t healed fully — she didn’t really mind them. she’d done more damage than she’d taken. she shrugged, “ alright. ” she stepped across the room to batty, holding out the cup. she figured that the glass wouldn’t really bother either of them. “ want me to heal anything ? ” she asked, eyes scanning over the injuries.

Knuckles had only rapped twice on the door of Alecto’s flat. It was a courtesy, really, that she didn’t just go in and wait for her cousin to discover her raiding the cupboard. With Amycus, she might have, just to get under his skin, or see him jump in surprise. Instead, she waited for her redheaded cousin to open the door, and passed her without a word, collapsing onto Alecto’s couch. “Someone broke my wand.” She told the other darkly. While she didn’t have attachments to many items and she didn’t allow herself to feel crushed at the loss of her perfect mate, she was clearly not happy about the occurrence. One might even suspect she was slightly upset. “I have to use my mother’s for now. Did you make out alright?” Finally, she let her green eyes fall onto her cousin, checking her for damage.

@cvrrcws​

--- alecto had cleaned out the debris and blood from her clothes and skin, having somehow managed to get dirt in her hair as well, and glass. she’d showered, cleaned up the cuts and bruises, and then made tea. the water had finished, just as she heard the knock. going over, she opened the door, sighing upon hearing her cousn’s words as batty walked in. she watched her collapse onto the couch, “ we’ll go to the shop where baby rosier got hers, since it wasn’t in the vicinity of anything we hit last night, ” alecto suggested. they certainly couldn’t go to ollivander’s. she’d done enough damage that it would require a reasonable amount of repairing before reopening fully. “ after tea, though, ” she added. “ you want a cup ? ” she asked, beginning to pour her own. “ i’m fine, scrapes and bruises. careful of the carpet, there might be glass shards. ” she looked over at batty, “ was that the only damage ? your wand ? ” 

Avery knew she should have left a long time ago, once even a tiny break in the action had occurred, but she hadn’t. Maybe part of it was pride in not wanting to let her family’s hard work just be trashed and looted by people that clearly did not deserve to reap the rewards of their excellent wands. Her father had told her time and time again it wasn’t the wand that was evil, it was the witch or wizard. It still did not make it any easier to think of all the horrible deeds being carried out by their wands.

When the glass shattered, all Avery could do was throw her arms up in defense as the jagged shards flew inward. She could feel the tiny cuts being opened in her skin as they torn at her clothing.

“Impedimenta!” Admittedly, it was the first jinx that popped into her mind, but she hoped it would be enough to knock back whoever was approaching because they clearly were no friend to her.

--- alecto wasn’t expecting anyone to actually still be there. really, it had been long enough that everyone who hadn’t been stopped or been fighting should’ve had ample time to leave. it wasn’t the older ollivander, though. must be his daughter, alecto thought. she watched as the girl threw her arms up in defence from the glass.

   the redheaded witch flung a shielding spell up to protect herself from the jinx at the last second. she laughed, “ expulso ! ” she grinned as the blue light shot into the shop, towards avery.

   “ should’ve left when you had a chance, ” she called.

The shrill shriek sent ice through Mary’s veins as the celebration around her became a nightmare. She froze, still holding onto her candy floss until someone bumped into her. The brunette gasped, hands searching for her wand as the forgotten sweet landed on the cobblestone. Her mind was pulling away, attempting to go into that fog that she hated so much, but she tried to fight it. Tried to be present in the Alley. This was why she’d joined the Order, for when these attacks happened. She needed to help others. It took a few deep breaths for her to get her head back to reality, but it was too late, a dark figure was approaching her. She gripped her wand tighter in her hand, eyes darting around her. She saw a woman not far from her with a toddler, “Go,” the witch hissed out to the mother. “Bombarda” The incantation felt foreign on her lips, like a ghost of something she’d once known. The explosion didn’t hit the dark figure, but gave the mother and toddler enough time to disapparate from the scene. Leaving Mary to face this demon alone. Then the figure was to the side and she held her wand, hand trembling. “Stay back.” Mary warned them, telling herself that she was not going to freeze this time. She couldn’t.

@morsmordrestarters​

--- being somewhat smaller than the other death eaters made it easier for alecto to weave through the crowds and avoid the aurors, giggling to herself as she ran through the street and sent curses flying at anyone who tried to get in her way, as well as any remaining party-goers. she swore under her breath when someone’s bombarda nearly hit her. she smirked beneath the mask upon realising it was mary macdonald. she stopped to the side of the other witch, regarding her as she held up her wand. alecto could see the girl’s wand hand trembling, alecto’s smirk growing as mary warned her to stay back. “ and what are you going to do if i don’t ? ” the witch asked, a protective charm already ready to go if the other tried to hit her with something. alecto had already cast a charm to hide her voice, careful to protect her identity from anyone who might recognise her voice.

— alecto loved her mask. admittedly, the swirling designs on the front were stolen from a dress she’d seen the younger rosier in for one of the parties the girl had thrown for the pureblood elite before she’d grown too lovesick to bother hosting anything. but the mask was beautiful. hood pulled over her head with a charm to remain in place, keeping her braided hair carefully hidden from the view of anyone she came across, the witch ran through the alley, curses flying from her wand at both the party-goers, the aurors who’d appeared, and the surrounding shops.

   the red-headed witch relished in the violence. when she came upon ollivanders, she almost skipped over the shop, sentimental feelings about having gotten her wand there almost winning out over the distaste she held for the owner, who she knew was a supporter of the order. she grinned to herself, though, flinging a shattering spell into the glass before anyone could stop her.

Batty held back a smile when she spotted her cousin stealing drinks out from under the orderer’s nose. It was a rule of thumb that the Borgin heiress only show emotion when it was convenient for her. Sometimes, she could come off normally, like any other pureblood 18 year old girl. Showing some affection, especially towards her cousins and those she deemed important to her. The emotionless expression held when her cousin approached her. The dark haired witch didn’t hesitate to take the glass, but held off from bringing it to her lips. “Yet, you’re still smiling like an idiot.” She commented dryly, her jesting sometimes hard for others to understand. Alecto had been around it long enough, though, Elisabeth still gave a small twitch of her lips into a smile to indicate that she was just teasing. “I never found them all to fascinating to begin with. Which is why….” Her hand shook the clutch in her other hand for her cousin’s benefit, “I packed some accessories.”

--- “ must be your festive demeanour, ” alecto teased in response. she'd always taken to doing the exact opposite of what her parents had always demanded, the exception lying in her beliefs, so she tended to put on a more emotional exterior, at least when it suited her. she mostly didn’t want to deal with comments at work later, on how she must truly be a horror to know if she wasn’t even decently happy to see her own cousin. she already got it about her parents. alecto shook her head, “ no, they never have been. but they somehow seem to grow duller by the year still, ” the witch shrugged. she smirked, “ did you, now ? ” 

--- alecto sighed, staring around at the other guests before turning away from the man who’d been talking to her in the middle of one of his sentences. no matter how many of these things she came to, they’d never been her thing, and they never would be. she was ready to go home and she’d not even been there for an hour yet. she knew malachi had come with elsa, but she’d already spent time bothering the younger rosier for a dress, instead of going to buy a new one she’d only wear once. so she refrained from stealing her fiancé as well. she was going to wander off to the three broomsticks at some point, but she had to stick it out for at least a little more time, if only for appearances. the younger carrow found a smile crossing her face when she spotted her cousin though, and made her way across the hall, snagging two newly made drinks from the bar before the person who’d ordered them could on her way. “ i think the people coming to these get duller every time, ” she grinned, holding out a glass.