two kinds of hearts

“Well, yes, that’s true. I just never thought it’d happen to me,” Mina sighed, pouting slightly as she looked down at her hands. Furrowing her brow at Simone’s question, she looked back up at the healer. “There are tests? I just assumed I was because I kept on getting sick and feeling bad whenever I drank it. Kind of just put two and two together, you know? I didn’t know it could be even more official. Should I do tests? In, like, your free professional opinion, I mean.”

Simone couldn’t help but laugh, although she tried to smother it enough that it wasn’t offensive. “There are tests for just about everything,” she said, once her amusement was under control. “That’s a fair guess, but sometimes it helps to have an official diagnosis. And sometimes what you think is the trigger might be completely off - there are a lot of other things you can take into account, like what else you eat when you’re drinking and where you are. I personally recommend having the tests done just for certainty, but it’s up to you.”

Susan smiled kindly at Simone as she sat down in front of her. She was aware of what the other Order member was going through, having to keep on top of things like that as a right hand of the organization. Still, it didn’t make it easier to find the exact right thing to say. Susan couldn’t imagine going through what Simone was going through and remaining so strong, and she truly did admire the person sitting in front of her. “If you ever need someone to help out at home, just send me an owl, ok?” she said gently, but without judgment. Susan had appreciated all the help she had gotten when her kids were still young, and she understood that, though it sometimes stung to be offered help, it was never unnecessary. And if it did insult Simone, then Susan was ready to deal with the retort. Sometimes, wanting to help didn’t always go positively, but it was always better to offer to do something than to do nothing. 

“I’m quite good, thank you for asking. Things are a bit… Intense at the Ministry what with the new law and everything, but… Stress as usual, I guess? People don’t exactly come to me with their worries concerning the new legislation, which makes sense, but it’s kind of awful to be helpless when so many people are scared, you know?”

Simone nodded gratefully; although she wanted to think she would be able to handle herself easily enough, she knew better. There had been so many times where she had needed Cora’s assistance and that was out of the question at the moment. She wasn’t bitter or angry, but it was a fact of her life currently and she was trying to accept and acknowledge it. “Thank you. I will.” She could only imagine what the atmosphere at the Ministry was like currently. Everyone she knew seemed to be quite tense whenever the subject came up. “I’m sure it is. And I know that feeling. I’ve heard a lot of whispering about it even at St. Mungo’s, or when I’m out shopping.” It made her nervous and uncomfortable for many reasons, not least of all she had relatives who would be directly affected. “I keep thinking I’ll wake up and it’ll be a bad dream. It doesn’t seem like the sort of thing that can actually happen.”

“ sometimes, “  cecily began  —  unsure how what she was about to say would be taken. she couldn’t quite recall the last real conversation she’d had with someone without any real intent behind it. and she couldn’t recall at all the last time she’d spoken with a stranger. she didn’t want to end it before it began, but neither did she want to censure her thoughts.  “ I wonder if that kind of busyness isn’t good, nowadays. you’re tired, but at least you don’t have to think about anything but what’s right in front of you. “  cecily shrugged and set her cup back down on the table to curl her hands around.  “ I promise, I wouldn’t exaggerate. I figure it’s only kind to give fair warning. oh  —  the weather seems safe, yes, “  she agreed, a small smile forming.  “ it’s very  …  chilly. and cloudy. wouldn’t you agree? “

That was a bit more philosophical than Simone had expected, or hoped for, at this time of the morning. “You raise an excellent point, I’m sure,” she said; in the current climate, perhaps being overly busy was a bad thing. There were any number of people who chose not to ally themselves with either side, and the constant work would only be a distraction. “Chilly and cloudy is accurate.” She turned to the window and nodded. “I hope it clears away later. I’d like to take my daughter to the park, after I’ve had a chance to sleep. I was hoping for some sunshine to do that.”

WHERE: Wherever outside of Hogwarts. WHEN: Whenever between Feburary 25th, 2024, and March 6th, 2024.  WHO: Open to all characters who aren’t currently attending Hogwarts!

“I’ve just realized that I’m allergic to beer. Can you believe that? Beer. What kind of nerd is allergic to beer? Well, me, I guess, but… Shit. It’s so cheap. And good. This is my worst nightmare; please take me away from this forsaken world. I need to find joy again.”

Simone blinked, lips quirking into a bemused smile. “I can believe it, actually. People are allergic to just about anything and everything. Did you have any tests done though? You should have a medical confirmation for something like that.”

“Sorry to startle you, Simone. I just wanted to come say hi. I’m about to head to work, but I noticed you, and we haven’t talked in while, so… How have you been?” She asked, completely honestly. When Susan asked someone how they were, it wasn’t just to make small talk. She truly cared about what other people had to say and how they felt. Especially fellow Order members for whom she knew things might not have been so easy lately. Smiling, the brunette pointed to the chair opposite Simone and slightly tilted her head to the side. “May I?”

Simone straightened at the familiar voice, her expression lightening a bit. The exhaustion was still there but a friendly face and conversation would do a lot to improve her mood at the moment. “I’m tired,” she said with a laugh. “These night shifts are wearing me down.” It wasn’t just the night shifts, of course, and that particular drain on her energy would be gone soon; she had requested a schedule change to be home with her daughter in the evenings, now that their home life had changed. “Please. How are you?”

“ but sometimes it’s nice to stay spread out when you already are, “  cecily countered just as quietly. she wasn’t sure there was much cause to push this point, except that she wanted to be sure she wasn’t an imposition.  “ I don’t take up much room if you end up needing to spread back out while I’m here. “  she broke the other woman’s gaze and flipped her notebook open, stuck a freshly sharpened quill in the last place she’d left off writing. cecily used it as a bookmark and picked up her coffee. she held it just under her chin and let the warm steam drift over her senses, using the pause to tilt her head at simone.  “ I get that. you don’t realize how tired you are until you sit down. well, as long as you don’t mind that I’m a rather poor conversationalist  — “  not the best thing to say, when half her living was made talking to people and publishing the conversations. she took the tiniest of sips and carried on, the barest hint of a smile winding across her face.  “  —  I’d be happy to stay and talk. about normal things. “

It was true; Simone had a tendency to prefer staying spread out, especially when she was researching something for work. That wasn’t the case now though, and she also didn’t mind making space. “I was on the go all night and didn’t have time to think about how tired I was,” she said with a wry smile. It had been a busy night and that was a nice thing usually. “And I certainly don’t mind, although I think that’s probably an exaggeration. So what sort of normal things do people talk about at this time of day in the cafe? The weather?”

where: ministry atrium when: tuesday, february 28th, 7:50am who: open

The air around them all had changed with the reveal of the Ministry’s latest proclamation; the registry that had sent an undercurrent of fear through the community, even though statistically speaking, it could not have impacted that many. No, the fear was mostly what it might mean for the future—who else might be targeted eventually, if this went unchallenged.

Nadia made her way swiftly through the newly heightened security checkpoint before entering the atrium, trying not to think about it. The plan remains the same, her grandmother had written from their villa in Italy, we stay out of it.

She was not one to disagree with Amalia Zabini, but perhaps neutrality was a more feasible stance when you were over a thousand miles away.

A scuffle behind her broke her from her reverie, for a moment, and she spun around; someone had failed the security check, and they were currently being escorted elsewhere. Nadia frowned, making her way to the lift; and barely making it in time.

“Thanks for holding it.” She said to the person next to her, without looking up.

Simone rarely found herself at the Ministry anymore, but it happened. There were any number things that might bring her there and today had been one of those days. She hoped to be in and out and then make her way back home to start her day off by sleeping in and then attend to her other responsibilities. In all, her mood was fairly light as she stepped into the lift, watching the comings and goings calmly - until the incident at security. 

Despite herself, Simone started and nearly walked right back out of the lift to go and intervene, or at least try to. But that would just be asking for trouble and Simone couldn’t do any good anywhere if she made stupid mistakes now. She put her hands benhind her back, fists clenching together. 

“It’s not a problem.” The answer came instinctively, a bit more terse than she normally would have been but the scene in the Atrium had unsettled her.

cecily wasn’t quite sure why there was something so strange in waiting for someone to clear a space for you. she hadn’t had a lot  ( or, really, any )  friends growing up, so there had never been an implicit understanding with another person that they’d save her a seat. she always had to ask; at least as an adult in a country that was not her own, asking felt a little less excruciating. anyone else in her situation, she told herself, would do the same. would have to do the same. the polite smile on her face warmed a touch in simone’s direction and mumbled a quiet, honest, “ thanks. “  she slid into the cleared space and tried not to let her stuff take up too much room. really  —  aside from her notebook and some quills, all she had was her coffee.  “ if you need more room, I really don’t have that much with me. the crowdedness probably  …  snuck up. so I could leave as soon as another table clears. “

“Of course,” she said quietly as she finished stacking her things and smiled again. “No, I don’t need space. I just spread out, I guess. It happens.” Chuckling, she pushed her hair behind her ears. “That seems like the most likely explanation. I only meant to sit for a minute but then I just couldn’t get up. And there’s no need for you to rush off, honestly. I don’t mind sharing a table and conversation about normal things - although we don’t have to talk. I’m not sure I’ll make any sense as it is.”

“I will die before I let anything happen to her.”

“I - I don’t agree. There’s a level of truth to it, of course - we  are both in danger and it’s not really better because we’re together. But I don’t think it’s worse because we’re together either. Both of us would be targets no matter what and I have to believe that we’re better and stronger together.”

for someone who had spent so long in pseudo - isolation, who had a career that kept her solitary by design, cecily didn’t much like being alone. when she could, she sought out places where other wixen congregated to write  —  even cafes that swelled to the brink of overcrowded early in the morning. the news and decrees being pushed out by this country’s ministry just made her all the more eager to be around others. she didn’t want to disturb this woman  …  but she didn’t want to leave so early and go back to her apartment with no one but her cat and owl around. she noted the st. mungo’s robes and thought, that does wonders to explain her preoccupation, as if further explanation than recent news was needed.  “ sorry, “  she said. a polite and perfunctory smile curving on her face.  “ there’s just not that many open seats. would you mind if I sat down? “

Simone straightened up and nodded quickly, sweeping her things over to create more space. The cafe was crowded for the time - although truthfully, she rarely came for breakfast after a shift, preferring to head straight to Cora and Rory and spend time with them instead of strangers. “Please,” she said belatedly, gesturing at the empty seat. “I hadn’t realized how crowded it was. I think it was quieter when I came in.”

It had a long shift and Simone didn’t even bother changing out of her robes as she left St. Mungo’s and made her way to her favorite (magical) cafe. She wanted some food and then she could apparate home and maybe have time to say hello to her family before she crashed for some much needed sleep. But the news prevented her from enjoying herself; her mind kept spinning round and round the new decree, and what it meant for the extended family she barely knew, and what it meant for her own relationship. It was a bad sign, a first step on a slippery slope and she just wanted to keep her family safe. A noise behind her startled from her thoughts and she jerked up. “Sorry - did you say something?”

When: February 4, 2024, morning Where: A cafe Who: Victoire Weasley & anyone probably adults unless your student has a reason to be out

A morning could not, and should not, be started without coffee and a good book. Victoire had picked up the mentality during her sixth year at Hogwarts, and over the course of ten years it had served her well. She was a regular at her favorite cafe, and had been sitting at the same table since she and Dominique had moved down the street. This morning seemed to starting off like any other - the blonde’s nose was deep in her latest novel, taking sips from her mug every now and then, with copies of various newspapers sticking out from her bag. She would go into the offices soon and truly begin her day, but this was her time for herself.

Unlike most days, though, Victoire could begin to feel someone watching her. Looking up, she marked her place in the book, before her eyes fell on another figure, locking eyes as she raised her brows. “Can I help you with something?”

Simone had been at St. Mungo’s for an overnight shift and wanted little more than to go home and sleep. The only thing that kept her out for any longer than necessary was the appeal of breakfast, and the knowledge that she would not be doing any cooking when she arrived home. Her footsteps led to her a familiar cafe, one that she had been to in the past. After placing her order, she turned to look for a table but they were all full. Finally spotting an empty chair, she moved in the direction of the table and paused until the occupant looked up. “Do you mind if I sit? Everywhere else is full, and I’ve been on my feet all night.”

where: the white wyvern when: january 1, 2024, 3:00pm who: open

This lockdown was more than a little inconvenient, but never let it be said Mei allowed inconveniences to keep her from her work. And it wasn’t bad for business—-as she left the one of the private parlors that adjoined the main bar of the Wyvern, she took note that it was much busier than a typical weekday at 3pm. She didn’t often frequent the public areas of the Wyvern, but the occasional glimpse of her allowed people to remember who was in charge.

She approached the bar when suddenly one of the wixen at her side—-a bodyguard in all but name—stepped in front of her. She wasn’t sure if the person they’d blocked from her view had meant to approach her, or had simply had the misfortune to not know any better than to walk in her way, but she waved the guard back anyway, curious. “Did we have an appointment?”

The lockdown hadn’t done anything good for Simone’s nerves. She’d been lucky enough not to be working - she was sure St. Mungo’s was a nightmare at the moment - but she wasn’t with her family, and that was frightening. She liked to think not much really frightened her, but the thought of anything happening to Cora or Rory . . . that did frighten her. She had decided to try and distract herself a bit, and the tavern seemed like a good place for that - although it really wasn’t her scene, not anymore, and she should have gone looking for a cafe or somewhere that she might feel a little more comfortable. But it was too late for that now.

Her thoughts kept her preoccupied and she was startled by the flurry of movement and voice that interrupted her. “Oh - no, no appointment. I wasn’t even planning on being here. Am I interrupting something?”