𝓌𝒾𝓁𝒹𝒻𝓁𝑜𝓌𝑒𝓇

A map taped to the wall, a motorcycle jacket draped over a chair in the parlor. You’ve already seen the world – your parents were diplomats, living in New York and Saigon and Sri Lanka. Maybe if they’d been around more, they’d have noticed. Maybe not. They didn’t come back after Vinda’s trial – turns out that tarnished reputations are harder to fix than tarnished trophies are to clean during detention.

@drvellarosier​ || (diagon?) barber shop after hours

“I’m not peeking, I swear!” Podric yelled, more than once (truthfully) as he made his way to the back – to the supply cabinets – and even throwing his hands up like blinders, as if that was going to reassure her he wouldn’t look in a mirror once out of sight. But Podric knew right were the hairpins and ties were, the extra combs, all the goodies; Pod didn’t need his eyes. He hollered back, though, knowing he was less suspicious if he didn’t go quiet. “Okay, no thoughts, instinct only, first answer is your answer: you have to fight a hogwarts teacher, who are you 100% ready to fight on sight?”

❀

        ”You’d better not be! Otherwise I’ll have to do something drastic, and I’d really rather not.” Dru trusted Podric to keep his word, but it was always more fun to tease. She’d already poked around the shop three times since Pod had closed up, but while he was gathering what was needed she was yet again looking over each of the stations. “Dumbledore, hands down. I know I wouldn’t win a fair fight but I think I could take him. That or that herbology professor that gave me detention for stealing one of the mandrake plants. He never did find where I replanted it. You?”

It seemed that Diana had a habit of collecting people willing to protect her from the world. Vulcan couldn’t say they disagreed in the slightest, and Diana could do worse than Druella and her little posse. “Having me at dinner may help her forgive me. I’d love to attend if I’m still on the invite list.”

–

❀

        Dru eyed them for a moment, at least attempting to maintain the act of considering to extend the invitation – she’d already made up her mind before she’d even spotted Vulcan, and even if they’d said it was a bad idea she still would’ve invited them, maybe even tacked on some sort of half-threat if needed to make sure they came. “Well.. I suppose it couldn’t hurt – even if she’s cross with you I know she appreciates what time she can get with you. Besides, I’ve already made the arrangements and I’d hate for the food to go to waste.”

“You’re being awfully quiet.”         “Hmm? Sorry, I was just.. thinking.” Sulking, more like, or perhaps daydreaming. Either way Dru had let herself fall into her own thoughts and lost track of what she and Niko had been talking about. “Do you ever catch yourself wondering about how different life could be if things had been only a little different?”

“We need to be careful.”         “Do we, though? Why?” Dru knew full well they had plenty of reasons to be careful – even if things were as simple and quiet as they seemed in the moment, they’d have reasons. 

“Let me see the wound.”         “It’s nothing terrible, really. Looks much worse than it is.” She hadn’t lost any range of movement in her hand, but keeping it still enough to not cause the bleeding to pick up again was nearly impossible. “I ran out of my own healing potions, and I left my wand at Cyg’s house yesterday.”

“We need to be careful.”          Dru let out a gentle huff, a small smile playing at her lips. “It’s just a vanishing cabinet, Diana – I saw the other one in Vinda’s apartment when we were there last, and I just want to be certain we didn’t leave anything important behind.”

—

“Concerned? No, I was just going to confirm it.” Vi took a seat at the table, not particularly caring if she was welcome. If this acquaintance of Druella’s was going to talk about her family, she had the right to join. “My brother’s an idiot and he got himself arrested, but there’s hardly a family in the Sacred 28 that can throw stones about that.”

.

        ”Well no, they can’t – doesn’t mean they won’t try the second your head’s turned.” Dru had to imagine Violet knew that just as well as she did. You don’t grow up in the circles they did and manage to remain completely oblivious without a lot of others working to keep it that way. “I heard he got out, at least? More than most can say.”

   “Of course, darling.” Diana agreed at one as she settled into the chair opposite. She held a butterbeer in hand, and though she appreciated Aberforth’s kindness, and the Inn was far more comfortable during it’s daytime operating hours, she was still surprised to be there. She also set down the basket of fresh, piping hot chips, mouth watering as she took one and gently blew on it to cool it off before popping it into her mouth, wincing as it was still far too hot. “There’s a lot we can discuss, but two things first. I was visiting with Orpheus at the Shafiq’s, and he mentioned that his younger brother Atlas may be courting a woman. Like any man he’s clueless about it all, but it doesn’t add up. Isn’t that odd? Surely the eldest would be aware of his younger brother’s courtships?” She insisted, leaning in conspiratorially. “I think he lied to me, but why would he do that?” She pressed, wanting to pick Druella’s brain. 

     She paused a moment, before drawing back just a bit, “and then of course there’s you, my love. How are things with you and Cygnus? I’ve hardly seen him since Christmas, but we did go to an auction together. He helped me select the most beautiful horse I’ve ever seen. He’s very happy in the stables.” She admitted. “And I’ve scarcely seen you either, young lady. It really isn’t in good form to be so absent.” She teased, straightening her posture as she put on the most ridiculously haughty voice she could manage, only to ruin it with laughter right at the end. 

.

        ”Oh hardly – trusting Orpheus to keep track of his brother’s romantic entanglements would be asking far too much. In my experience as long as the younger isn’t making a mess of things, older siblings don’t always involve themselves much in their affairs.” Or maybe they were – maybe her own siblings weren’t the best examples. Given how wrapped up in foolish men the two of them were, it was hardly surprising they wouldn’t’ve paid much attention to the youngest Rosier’s love life. “Still, maybe Orpheus thought it was worth mentioning for some reason or another. Have you shown any interest in Atlas?”

        Dru drummed her fingers against her own glass, eyebrow raised as a gently amused hum slipped through her lips. “Oh darling, Cygnus and I aren’t courting. He’s one of my dearest friends, and we have an understanding of each other that ensures our arrangement will be comfortable for the both of us, but our marriage will be one mostly of convenience.” She wrinkled her nose at Diana’s tone, grinning as she lifted her shoulders in a slight shrug. “I can’t account for where Cyg’s been, other than likely avoiding his manager. I personally haven’t left home much the last week or so, which you simply must forgive me for – I promise to do my best to be more present.”

She hated agreeing with Druella on anything. It was a matter of principle. This was just another interloper who would tear away what little family Walburga had left and take it for her own. Fat chance. “That’s probably the only smart thing you’ve said in months.” She admitted grudgingly.

–

        She’s not quite certain why she still bothers trying to speak with Walburga – she never expects it to go any differently, yet she still refuses to avoid the other woman. It’d been the same since she and Cyg had decided to marry, and she doubted it’d ever change at this point. “In months? Dearest Walburga, I do believe you may need to have your hearing tested.” 

“Good, maybe he’ll stop dragging up people’s demons in public places.” Vulcan said with a shrug. He didn’t care if he’d offended someone at the moment. After all he’d done plenty worse. He looked up at Druella. “What’s your question? Promise my mood is better now. Though if your question is about Di, I’ll warn you now I think she’s mad at me so I may not know.”

–

        ”Oh I very much doubt that – people love dragging up the past, especially when they can make a spectacle of it. They just don’t like it when you bite back.” She lifted her shoulders in a slight shrug, not truly bothered by Vulcan’s reaction – she'd had her share of people with their ridiculous questions and judgmental glares, as if Grindelwald’s people hadn’t learned their lesson or found themselves in Azkaban. “If you promise – though if Di’s cross with you perhaps asking you to join us for dinner’s off the table..”

Location : The Hog’s Head Inn

        “I’m not saying we shouldn’t be concerned,” she lets a sigh slip past her lips as she stirs her drink, half-glaring at the passerby that’d decided to interrupt her conversation. “I am saying that I’d rather speak on other things. It’s all anyone’s been talking about and I hardly see how the gossiping of the average person is going to do anything other than stir the pot.”

where; oot and aboot whomst; anyone

“Considering that my parents, godwilling, are in Azkaban at the moment and will be for the rest of their natural and unnatural lives,” Vulcan said without looking up. He’d fielded the same question at least six times within the last week alone. It was getting boring at this point. “No, I doubt they killed the Minister. You’re going to have to come up with a new theory.”

–

        “Are you done? The poor lad’s already run off back to his nan with his tail between his legs.” Dru would very much be lying if she’d said it hadn’t been just a touch amusing to watch – she’d been dodging plenty of similar questions from people with the same foolish look to them, and it was amusing to see one of them scolded for it. “I’ve got a question of my own, but if you’d prefer to keep your indulging in your soured mood I’ll simply send an owl later.”