E. Vance

Narcissa placed herself at the front of the ballroom where she could easily receive her guests, and she smiled at each one of them as any good hostess would. Everyone seemed to be in a happy mood– the band was playing an upbeat song and couples were dancing along to it, there was a decent amount of chatter in the place as well as the sound of people laughing, and there was a long line near the tables where the food was laid out. It appeared that things were going smoothly. Despite not being in a festive mood herself, the witch wore a pleasant expression as yet another guest approached her. She gave a small nod of a greeting. “Enjoying yourself?” Narcissa asked.

Emmeline really did not want to be here. After the invitation was recieved, she had spent most of her time convinced it was a trap and expressing that to various Order members. But after she thought about it and realized that many top ministry workers would be there and also the even Lucius Malfoy would never be so obvious with a trap, her mind had settled a little. 

So there she was, in one of her best dresses (no reason she had to look frumpy), she looked over the familiar ballroom. She remembered extravagant  parties and balls and it seemed Narcissa had kept up the elegance that her in laws provided once. Emmeline took a deep breath and headed towards the closet area of drinks and grabbed some wine. She knew she would need it to get through the night. 

After a few sips, she took another deep breath and headed towards Narcissa who was greeting the guests. She waited until she was finished with the people around her before she stepped up with a small tight smile. 

“I am actually. This is a lovely party.” She glanced around before her eyes settled on her former friend. “It is nice to see you again, Narcissa.”

@emvxnce

          ❝  let’s make tonight our bitch  .  ❞

“First I would like to remind you that I am auror, so keep that in mind. Second, Should I be scared of what you have planned?” She asked, her expression partly worried and partly amused. “But do continue.” 

@emvxnce.

“There’s no point fighting about this.”

“Because you know I am right, Alastor, and you don’t want to admit it.” She laughed as she took another sip of her drink. “Did I tell you yet that Wilkes put me on desk duty because she didn’t want  to be seen favoring people who are in the Order. I also think she hates me a little. And I am so tired of this Ministry trying to be neutral bullcrap. ” Emmeline sighed and rested her chin on her hand. “But whatever. Enough about me. How have you’ve been?” 

arthur looked at the woman who had stopped fred and george. emmeline vance. they had been at hogwarts together, he was a gryffindor and she a slytherin. that already brought on a rivalry, but he was also a pureblood that didn’t find blood politics very useful. he was very open about his love for muggles and that was something that teenage emmeline didn’t like. they had often gotten into verbal and magical arguments, though emmeline had a few more friends than he did which meant that he was picked on quite a bit.

the relationship was better now and she was a part of the order, he knew that. out of love for his wife and children, he hadn’t joined but he had to be honest, he hadn’t forgotten how emmeline had treated him and people who weren’t pureblood. he always kept a bit of an eye out, because his trust certainly wasn’t unconditional.

“yes, i did.” he told her and his oldest two sons took fred and george’s hands. “thank you for apprehending them.” he said, jokingly. “it’s easier when molly is with me. she is better at keeping them in line and well, two extra hands are no luxury when doing anything with six children. luckily billie, charlie and percy are such good boys.” he said, making the boys grin at him. “but the twins… i fear they’re going to be a handful for the rest of their lives.” he said. “and who knows what kind of boy ron here will turn out to be.”

Emmeline remembered Arthur. Kind, Interesting, Friendly. Someone she should have been friends with. Nothing like blood politics to get in the way. She remembers vaguely the horrible things she or her friends would throw his way, though he had sort of shield since he was pureblood. Even if he was a blood traitor. She nearly laughs at how stupid she was.

He had no reason to trust her change of mind and she respected that, so she was surprised when he was so courteous towards her but she really shouldn’t expected less. Even in school, he was kind until she wasn’t. 

Her smile became less awkward and she laughed a little as he described the twins behavior. “Well, children always listen to their mother’s more, I’ve found. And no problem, they may be tiny but I’m pretty fast. “ She kneels down and says hello to the baby, who she got through the quick progression of names was Ron. “Well, beside of the running of the toddlers, they all seem so very well behaved. Though am I right to suspect that they probably get that from their mother.” She joked before standing up.

persephone looked up at emmeline and couldn’t help but move a strand of hair out of her face. “you’re my favourite idiot though.” she said gently and she felt as if they were back in time, when she did this all the time and then kissed her deeply. they weren’t those people anymore, though and she pulled her hand back. “sorry” she mumbled and took a step back. she just wished that her actions weren’t so determined by her emotions all of the time. it always got her into trouble.

she licked her lips and looked away. “well, i hope i’ll find someone too.” she told emmeline and then, even though the words almost caused her throat to close, she said “and you too.” 

it hit her that this was really over, no matter what she wanted or was hoping for. they had their run but too much had happened. it was as if she received a punch to the stomach.

she bit her lip and decided she just needed a good cry right now and she simply couldn’t do that around emmeline. “i’ve got to go now.” she said, her voice slightly shaky.

Persephone looked up at her and the regret she was feeling became stronger until it was nearly choking her. Than she brushed away a piece of her loose hair and she had to cast her eyes away. What if...What if But she had ran out of what if with Persephone. This was it. 

They both moved away from each other and Emmeline put her hands deep into her pockets, suddenly feeling the cool air of day. She could hear Persephone was getting upset so she didn’t make this harder by adding more to this already painful conversation. 

Emmeline took a deep breath, feeling the cold air numbing her lungs a little. “Good night than.” Emmeline said and gently kissed Persephone’s cheek before turning and walking away.

Natasha had been planning on staying at home. Staying warm, entwined with her husband on the couch to the sound of distant fireworks and the steady breathing of their children through George’s baby monitor. Things had changed as quickly as the new year had rushed in, the barely alive hope flickering in her bones at the news of an attack. Seven dead. It hadn’t been as bad as it could’ve been — no, scratch that. The direct act against the pro-Muggleborn integration Minister was one of the worst things that could’ve happened, discounting the mass murder of muggles.

The war wasn’t black and white. Natasha had always seen the world in shades of grey, flickering in and out. These days, everything seemed so bleak. With every step forward, there was at least three steps back. Realistically, the only thing keeping her sane was the people fighting with her. Without them, she knew she’d slip through the cracks. They’d been raised for war. Raised to defend and fight and piece together the broken pieces of the world in the aftermath. She didn’t want that life for her kids - she didn’t want Vanessa to get out of bed each morning and wonder what kind of massacre would be in the paper today, she didn’t want Olivia to grow up in a world where bloodshed was normal, she didn’t want George to have to be brave, so brave that with every heartbeat he can feel himself slipping away.

Her breathing didn’t change, channelling every spare thought - every shred of anger and guilt and pain - into Healing the people that needed her. She would have done anything - anything - for any person in that queue. It didn’t matter who they were - if they believed she was scum because of her blood or kept their heads down because if they supported either side, they thought they’d end up dead.

She flipped her wand around in the little pocket on the front of her Healer’s uniform, offering as much comfort as she could to those who were actually injured. She couldn’t wait to see someone she cared about. Someone, who, hopefully, wasn’t in the queue. Someone who would indulge her need for help, and need to keep them just as safe as she was trying to keep everyone else around her.

“Emmeline,” Natasha’s voice was full of relief, gaze not straying. “I’m okay - just a little overwhelmed. Could you help separate them into four groups? Some more Healers are meant to be coming through, replacements, but, there’s no way it’ll work like this.”

She noticed how singularly focused her friend was and she admired deeply, wondering how she ever did it. Emmeline had nothing to sacrifice except her friends, all that could take care of themselves but Tasha, Edgar, Frank, Alice, Lily, James, they all had everything to loose from this war.  That is why she truly fought so hard when she could have given up long ago. 

This war could only be won if the next generation felt safe.

She kneels down beside her friend so she wouldn't have to distract herself talking with her. She was glad to hear the relief, knowing she had gotten there in time. “Of course.” She answered and left her side to start dividing the people into groups based on the severity of their wounds and thankfully they were such in shock that none protested. Finally the lines started to look functioning instead of a mess it was before. She glanced over and talked to a few of the more scared one before Emmeline finally found her way to Tasha’s side again. 

“Done. It should be more easy to sort through the people. Anything else? I can heal minor stuff if you need help with that.” She asked, quietly. She wanted to ask Tasha to take a break but she knew better than that. 

arthur sighed as he was walking along diagon ally. he had to go buy shoes for the children and he was already counting in his head how much he could spend on that. it wasn’t much, he decided and sighed. ron wasn’t walking yet, so he was in the pushchair and he didn’t need shoes yet but the twins needed new shoes.

fred and george, who were two, were very excited that they could run and tried to escape at any given moment but he’d charged percy and billie to hold their hands, one getting a toddler each and to try and keep them in line, though it wasn’t as smooth sailing as he’d hoped. charlie, who was only four, had been told to hold onto the pushchair and luckily he did. yes, they all looked a bit messy, the children were loud and sort of tugging at each other but overall, he was pleased.

that was until fred and george both made an escape and toddled away, surprisingly quickly. “fred! george!” he yelled, “boys don’t run after them.” he said, not wanting to lose more children. “someone stop the ginger toddlers!” he yelled out, not sure what to do. he couldn’t just leave his other children behind.

She found herself on diagon alley, hoping to get a little shopping in before heading back home for the day. Where she probably wouldn’t move an inch unless it was life or death. When she had finished in the first shop, her bag already getting a little heavy, she heard a voice from down the street and her eyes spotted that said ginger twins and she instinctively stepped in front of them. The boys tried to get past her but she had down this before and she was able to get in their ways each time as they tried to escape again. She raised an eyebrow and put her hands on her their little heads and led them back to their father.

“It seems that you lost a few.” She joked, awkwardly and pushed the boys gently back towards their family. Than she waved a little at the little ones and couldn’t help but smile. 

persephone listened to her ex girlfriend and nodded. “don’t worry, i won’t tell anyone, emmeline.” she told her and went in to hug her, tightly. she rubbed her back, as if that would rub away the pain and hurt that emmeline was experiencing.

she turned her head and kissed emmeline’s cheek, more out of friendly affection than romantic feelings she had for her. “the world might not but you do so just be glad.” she said and then shrugged at emmeline’s next statement.

“it will heal.” she told her. she wasn’t sure, after hearing this story that there was hope for their relationship. persephone didn’t want to be in this other girl’s shadow and she wasn’t planning on waiting for emmeline, and letting life pass her by. she couldn’t know whether emmeline would ever be able to move on or if she’d even want to. she had to put this all behind her and really do try to be emmeline’s friend.

she pulled back from the hug and sighed. “i’m glad we got this out, ems. thank you for telling me and being honest.” she said. “i’ll get over this, i promise and we will be friends again. we have to be.”

There was a sense of relief Persephone said she wouldn’t tell anyone but there was a part of her that she knew she couldn’t hide from telling about this forever. It has been 9 years. 9 long years. But it was time to move on. 

Emmeline felt a little lighter, emotionally and physically and couldn’t help but chuckle as Persephone was so confident in her statements. The more she though about it, the more she realized how stupid she was to ever push Persephone away. But she was happy that Persephone was so selfless to still find a place in her heart to forgive her. 

They pulled away and Emmeline covertly tried to wipe away her tears before nodding in agreement. “Thank you for dealing with my idiot self.” She laughed, a little sadly. “I hope you find someone who doesn’t run at the first sign of trouble.”

“ trouble ?? of course not. if it were not you i would suspect you did not pay attention. “ regan’s strict words underlined by her movements, the witch slowly standing up from the desk, the palms of her hands leaning against the emerald wood. “ we would not wish you to overwork yourself and make a mistake during a case. cannot lose one of our best aurors in that fashion. “ she put on a smile at the last words, a rush of satisfaction in her vains as her hues followed emmeline’s features, the confusion and dissatisfaction evident to her. this is what you get from trying to play the hero.

“ i am grateful to hear you are still ready to work. no one talked about a day off. someone needs to sort through the papers regarding the attack on new year. you can do that without us worrying about your safety. “ she had to stop her lips from turning upwards with amusement. “ beside, we can’t seem biased. some suspect us we hand out cases based on the affiliation of the employees. your colleagues not in the order should have a chance too. “

She was told she was not in trouble but something was wrong. The woman before her stood up and leaned against her desk, her body language suggesting that Emmeline was not going to like what she was going to be told. First was the compliment and Emmeline was sure she heard mocking beneath it though she could never be sure with Regan Wilkes. They have been working together for years, yet she was still a mystery.

Than she was told that instead of giving her time off, or giving her another case, she was being put to desk work. That’s when Emmeline’s expression changed to confusion to barely suppressed irritation. And when the true reason for her the punishment was given, she finally understood. 

“I see.” She said, her tone short. It was no secret that she was in the Order, they didn’t hide themselves like the Death Eaters. But Emmeline did not talk about it, especially at the office or with coworkers. She had tried to keep the two separate except for cases of importance and information that Order needed. She had even considered herself fair with people that were known to be blood purists. Now it had finally come to bite her in the ass. 

“Is that all, ma’am or is there more?” She asked, not giving the satisfaction of arguing further. 

he narrowed his eyes at her, letting out a sigh. as much as it annoyed him to be standing here, speaking to someone who acted like she wasn’t accusing him of anything, he couldn’t make himself too obvious.

“you’re quite right, ms. vance. it’s a terrible tragedy.. but unfortunately i have no information for you.” he told her simply, leaning in to whisper. “i’m just leaving a friends home, i trust you’ll keep that to yourself as well.” he said huskily before standing straight again, looking around with expressionless features. “is that all, then?”

The mocking tone of his voice was nearly enough to hex him, of how she wished she could. They were getting bolder and bolder and even if the Order knew almost exactly who the death eaters were, they could only do so much without making themselves as bad as them. 

Than he leaned in and whispered and she tensed before she let her eyes narrow at him. Did Narcissa know? Why does Emmeline even care? There was a pause before she stepped out of his way. “Yes, That is all.” She said, her voice flat and irritated, knowing he had won this.“Good night.” 

@emvxnce

❝How do you say ‘what a dick’ in Russian?❞

“Do I look like I know Russian, Tasha?” Emmeline raised an eyebrow, amused but her friend’s question. “Why do you want to know this? Is some Russian dick bothering you? I’m sure they’ll understand in anyway we tell them.” She started to gather her stuff so they could leave.