berkley macbeth

At dinner, his owl flew down and gobbled up some of his lamb stew picking out the meat nearly swallowing it whole. “Oi, she lives in London. You worked up an appetite. Was she mean to you and not give you treats?” His owl still hadn’t given him his letter. It didn’t truly matter, he wouldn’t send his owl off and have Berkley leave her outside overnight. He spoiled her like that.

He finally wrangled the letter off of her and started to draft his own reply. He’d send it out early tomorrow morning.

You could get to know me if we had some kind of communication. These letters are a start if you can give me more than one sentence. Those cellphones Muggles use are nice too, I’ve left mine in the bottom of my trunk but I can always see if it can work around the castle. 

Not that you asked but my birthday was pretty good. It sucks that it was a Monday and I had classes but my mother sent me a few things and I ate a lot of my favorite foods. The elves made me a birthday cake which was delicious but I kinda wish I could have spent more of it with friends and not having to go to classes. I could have gotten drunk and someone nice might actually bring me home and well, you know.

To be frank, I intend to marry you. That means you are Wifey so it’s good to know your birthday-thanks for that but there’s more I should know. What’s your family like? Do you like Quidditch? I don’t remember you playing for Slytherin. What’s life like outside the castle? This is starting to sound cheesy. What’s stopping you from getting to know me? 

Everett Danveirs

Your future Husband.

Hubby :D

At the bottom, he wrote down the number to the cellphone he never usually touched. He’d have to see how well the service worked in the castle and figure out where it worked best. He rolled it up and left it on his bedside table for tomorrow to be sent off with his owl.

This time around she recognized the owl while she sat out on the stoop of Fiona and her’s apartment. She was sipping tea and some orange juice was forgotten on the step beside her. She had no treats for the owl and so she expected an aggravated owl but instead, she found that the owl allowed her to take the letter before flying up into a high branch of the tree up the street. She then went inside to write back to him since she had time before Fiona woke up.

I have a cell phone, it works but it’s not like I look at it often. It’s a little strange I admit, that the fact that you’re so set in this decision to marry me and adamint about it. It’s intimidating and slightly endearing but only slightly. I am not Wifey I will answer your questions if you can contain yourself and refrain from calling me for a few letter exchanges.

My family is close, though I have thrown a bit of a wrench in that. My mother passed when I was six months old. I have no real memories of her but I’m told I look like her and I can see it in some pictures my brothers have showed me. Speaking of brothers, I have four older brother. Callum, he’s the oldest, his kids are my neice and nephews. His wife, Val, is cool she was always on my side while Cal sided with my father about marrying me off. Eventually, to keep them from fighting I made it that we were no longer talking about my impending marriage. Gus is the next oldest, then Mason and Finn. My dad is the reason I have a contract out so you can guess how strained that relationship is. We used to be close though.

I’ve never played outside of with my brothers and their friends but I enjoy watching Quidditch. If I remember correctly you play for Hufflepuff right? As a beater. You can imagine I’m rollng my eyes. 

Life outside of Hogwarts is pretty great since I don’t have any wfely duties. I work at Spectrum, I might also spend down time there too. Sometimes it feels like I have too much time, like how this morning I’d done everything I had to and waited on the stoop till Fiona wakes up. The only reason I’m answering you is because I have free time.

You should tell me about your family now since you know about mine. Who’s your favorite Quidditch team in the league? I like the Magpies and Falcons. Good luck with your exams. Enjoy the Holidays.

Berkley MacBeth.

She went to the window and peeked around for Everett’s owl but it looks like it had gotten bored and flew off. She’d send it out in a bit since that was decided she reread the letter she wrote actually quite surprised with how much she gave him, but she’d thought over a few things and decided to give the guy some slack. She was considering scrapping the letter and writing something a bit less forthcoming but she could hear Fiona stirring in her room so best to just leave it be.

“Berkley, wait.” He stood with her and stepped into her path. “Jasper is my father, well- not exactly. He’s my mum’s ex-husband, but he’s not my father. And I know I’ve been making him seem like he wants something nefarious but that’s not exactly it. He just wants a little more control over our lives again, maybe some revenge. I don’t know exactly, but I do know that he’s not gonna let it just drop.” This was probably his last chance to get her to listen to him tonight. “Just consider it. I can tell we’re done here but I’m not gonna stop just because you’re being a brat.” He raised an eyebrow in a challenge before stepping out of her way.

She knew she was being a brat as he’d said, she didn’t care. It was his family drama that was being pushed on her too if what he said was true, she felt she had a right to brat around a bit because she had no choice in the matter. “We have the whole year to speak about this. We have time.” She finished off the rest of her drink and stepped up closer to kiss his cheek. “Enjoy the evening Everett.”

quellaayaxley‌:

“I’m stuck between holiday shopping becoming easier or more difficult outside of Hogwarts. On the one hand, more shops and we could go anywhere when we were limited to Hogsmeade before. On the other, I see friends less and therefore am a little more lost on what to get them. That might also be a plus considering I have fewer gifts to purchase this year.” After some vigorous holiday shopping, Quella and the girls had stopped at a local pub for a bite to eat. “Were you able to get everything you needed today?”

@fiona-imperia @iamberkleymacbeth

“If you don’t know what to get me Ella, just ask,” Fiona smirked around a forkful of her salad. Her Christmas shopping had pretty much already been finished before Berkley suggested their little outing, but she wanted a chance to see her friends before getting sucked up into family holiday drama, so she agreed to go and had spent a majority of the time helping Quella carry her bags.

@iamberkleymacbeth

Finally, chow time, she didn’t know how after following Quella around from shop to shop Fiona was eating a salad. Berkley herself was pigging out, a burger and chips. Personally, she had so much shopping she had to do what with having four siblings, two sisters-in-law, two nephews, and one itty bitty niece. That wasn’t even including friends but still, she was procrastinating. She had plenty of bags weighing her down though and was happy they were taking a break. “I think it’s easier, don’t overthink it, definitely easier. I can make it really easy for you both, some alcohol. Can we order those mimosas?” Oddly enough even with living with Fiona, she was a hard cookie to crack. “What do you want Fi? Quella is easy, last I was at her place she had a list of books on her icebox.”

She was already starting to perk up, the potion must have been fast-acting. “Alright then, let’s get you home and with some food in your system. Are you feeling up to apparating?” 

Berkley’s mind was definitely clearing but she was still queasy. She pulled out her wand to conjure up a bucket in case she puked when they landed and gave a sheepish smile. “Let me conjure a bucket first, I don’t wanna make more of a mess.” With a swish of her wand, a bucket was at their feet. She reached down to grab it before grasping Quella’s hand. “Thanks for this love.”

Tyler gave a small smile, ever-so-slightly embarrassed. “Sorry, it’s not intended to be, after you’ve said it a few times it becomes second nature to say the whole speech.” He made sure to carefully put away her signed form and then nodded to her question. “Yes, of course.” He turned back to the many shelves behind the counter and read along the labels on each one until he found the right potions and placed them on the counter.

Berkley’s lip quirked as she packed up her potions. “I get it, you’re spared. Thank you, I’ll see you at Spectrum Sir Headboy.” She’d been so concerned about her own potions she completely forgot about the potion ingredients she was supposed to get for her brother.

Xiomara looked across at Berkley from the rim of her glass, then had a sip of her drink. “Am I prettier than a glass of water?” Xi asked her old classmate. “So more pretty than a glass of water, but less pretty than this drink?” She hummed, “I think I can handle that. That’s a good amount of pretty.”

“Why is this drink so pretty? It just… The swirls and the… The smoke at the top? It’s so pink.” Xi wept into her drink after admiring it, then looked up as the multiple empty cocktail glasses floated back to the bar. She looked up at the person sitting opposite her in the booth. “I will never be as pretty as this drink.”

Berkley twirled her drink in her glass and rolled her eyes. She tried to hold back the smirk but it was easy to hide that behind her glass as she brought it to her lips. “You wanna look like a pretty princess? Love, the saying is tall glass of water, not pretty pink monstrosity.”

He waited long enough, Berkley was good at avoiding him-he’d give her that much, but she wouldn’t be able to avoid him forever. He hoped as he messily scrawled on the back of his Ancient Runes notes, that his words would agitate her enough that she’d respond. At least they’d get a line of communication started.

Wifey,

It’s my birthday, are you gonna wish me a happy birthday?? 

E. Danveirs

@iamberkleymacbeth

Berkley wasn’t expecting any owls but let the owl into her kitchen and held out her hand for the note in its talons. The wanker actually had the audacity to nip at her fingertips. “Are you telling me, it’s not mine?” She crossed her arms over her chest and waited till the owl let her take it. At first glance, Berkley assumed she let just any old owl into her flat. It was just scrap paper, the owl was probably just looking for treats. She tossed it onto the table and went to grab treats for the owl and that was when she saw the note from Everett. That name! With jerky movements, Berkley sat at the kitchen table and wrote back.

Danveirs,

I know very little about you. Happy Birthday, I always hated having a birthday around the holiday season. Enjoy your birthday.

Berkley Macbeth

P.S. Quit calling me Wifey.

Aw, she’s an auntie, “Pretty young to be an aunt, you do realize it’s not like you’re the one still at Hogwarts, right.” He said with a shrug. He, on the other hand, missed his mother but they exchanged letters at least a few times a month. “And I thought you were living independently, it’s why I asked if you wanted to get out of here.” The wink he shot her way, was probably pushing it but he was starting to like riling her up. “I’ve already told you Wifey, I want to get to know you. I can tell that you’re chaotic as shit, you call that plans? And you got placed in Slytherin? If you don’t want to marry me, fine. I don’t really want to marry you either, Sweetheart, but I do worry that my father has more planned than this. I’ll go along with this plan because if I kick up dust about this Jasper will make it worse.” He’d already read through the contract, all things considered, it was simple. It tied the two of them together taking away their choice and they couldn’t divorce for five years. Their inheritance was a stipend for the first few years though they would receive a large chunk of it when they did marry. His father had helpfully placed a note next to this clause indicating that it would be for their Honeymoon. It sucks that her father had a contract out for her, otherwise maybe Jasper wouldn’t be using her to make his life shitty. “So I’d like to propose…that we fake this till we make it Macbeth. I mean how bad could it be?”

She could see the mischevious twinkle in his eyes as he tried to rile her up with that stupid name again. Maybe if she would just quit reacting to it he’d let it drop. She really didn’t get it, she had four older siblings two of whom were married though only one had any children. “I live with Fiona Imperia and we wouldn’t be going anywhere together even if I didn’t live with her.” She said with conviction as she downed the rest of her drink. She settled in as her cup automatically refilled only to feel the need to throw it back in his face but she refrained showing more restraint than she felt. “What are you going on about? Faking it? I don’t know about you, but my father expects me to actually marry my husband. Something I plan to throw off its course regardless of what you’re trying to pull with this fake it till we make it hippogriff shit.” Sure she’d skimmed through their contract as well but she’d really like maybe Quella to look it over again. 

“This event isn’t about us Everett. I have no plans to marry you, not even fake marry to you. This Jasper you mention, who you say will make things worse doesn’t scare me. You can relax, enjoy the gala Danveirs.” With that, she stood to leave him at the table. 

Quella giggled grasping onto Berkley’s hand so she wouldn’t slip away from her. “Out drinking all night,” She stated patronizingly. “I would have thought you’d spend less time at Spectrum since you work there. Wouldn’t it get old?” She wondered how much Berkley had to drink or if she been smart about it and didn’t drink on an empty stomach. “I hope you weren’t too reckless last night.”

Tyler organised the paperwork neatly and turned it around to face Berkley on the counter. “It’s just a contract largely regarding missed collections, orders will be ready on the same date every month, you can either collect them or send word for an extension but if you leave it longer than a few days we may charge you again for the order.” Tyler had familiarised himself with all and any paperwork his job required, after the first few times of explaining it he’d largely got the speech memorised. “You can read through it all, if you’d like, just sign there at the bottom.”

Berkley smirked with a raised eyebrow. “I can assure you, I will be picking them up you don’t need to worry about that.” She signed with her typical scrawl before pushing it back towards him. “Impressive speech, almost intimidating. Did you mention if I would be able to get the contraceptive potions as well as my hangover potions?”

“Would you like to donate to the orphanage? I’m collecting toys starting now so we can give the kids a great holiday season.” Meredith volunteered for the ministry orphanage and she had never asked for donations but she hoped people would be generous.

Berkley huffed crushing her cigarette out with the bottom of her boot as she stopped in front of an old classmate on her walk. She may enjoy smoking her cigarettes but others might not appreciate the smoke. It was dead anyway.  “That’s cute. Mugge or Magical? I might be able to sneak in and grab a few of my old things.”

This isn’t quite what he meant when he said he wanted to get to know his future wife. “Oh yeah, and what are those things you want to do?” His guess would be that she had no clue what she wanted. They were both eighteen, neither of them really knew what they wanted. Well, he knew he wanted his inheritance and that required the pain in his ass in front of him. He smiled up at the person delivering drinks and asked for one for himself. While she was distracted with the server Everett shifted his chair closer to her.

Oh, she had ideas and plans but in a very un-slytherin way, those ideas and plans had no clear path; everything was half baked. It was the part of her that was more like most of her family-the Gryffindors in her family. He could not know this. “I’d like to spend more time with my family, I miss my nephews and niece.” But she also wanted to live independently of them. “I want to travel, and enjoy being an eighteen-year-old for now. If that includes partying and experimenting than I want to do that without worrying about what someone else might think about those decisions.” She glared at him pointedly so he knew she was talking about him. “What do you want Danveirs?”

“When it’s something important, you’ve got to.” It seemed simple but of course it wasn’t, families were complicated at the best of times and parents made a habit of deciding what was best for you probably much longer than they should, when it came to your entire future he definitely didn’t think they should have a say. Four years was a long time to be at odds with your family. “It’s not going to be easy,” He concluded with a tilt of his head, thoughtful when he added, “But that’s how life is sometimes. I think it’s a generational thing, you know, in most cases previous generations seemed to hold this belief that no matter what happened you had to stick by your family- and by that I mean blood relatives- but we’re different. Took a long time but I think people have started to realise that being bound by blood doesn’t mean you’re good for each other. You’ve got to put yourself first.”

“I think I need some air.” She wheezed as she sucked in a quick breath. “And a smoke.” She glared over Isaac’s shoulder towards the exit like it might have all the answers to the questions she’s had and the new ones from talking to Isaac. “After this dance, if you could please just escort me outside. You don’t have to stick around with me, I just don’t want Danveirs to follow me out there.” She had more to think about though Isaac seemed to think she had an obvious answer right in front of her. She squeezed his shoulder as thanks and leaned in again to lay her head on his chest through the dance. “I’m just...lost.” Putting herself first might have been the thing that made her lost in the first place, or she was always supposed to be lost.

Quella rolled her eyes. “Yeah alright. I’ll be in and out and then waffles.” She booped Berkley on the tip of her nose and left her leaning against the wall out front. The trip inside was pretty quick since the sales associate seemed observant enough to know exactly what Berkley needed. She was back out in front of Berkley with the hangover potion dangling from her fingertips before her. “Drink up, I don’t know how far your place is but mine is walking distance if you’re up for it.”

Berkley giggled and shut her eyes for what she would swear was only a second when Quella booped her nose. When she opened her eyes again at her voice she was surprised to see the hangover potion dangling in front of her blurry vision. She had to have fallen asleep but she’d never admitted it. “Up for anything, always.” She smirked and stood before swaying a little on her feet before she swung her arm around Quella’s shoulders. “Lead the way, love.”

Tyler knew a little something about keeping things from his family, he hadn’t had much need for using a fake name though, avoiding his family could be as simple as using muggle alternatives or placing himself around unfavourable characters. “Alright recommended it is, handover potions monthly too, that’s all fine.” He jotted he details down as he spoke them aloud, asking in addition to the other details, “Do you want all these orders under the same name? You’ll have to sign the order form, I should mention, as there are some details regarding missed collections and such that need to be looked over and agreed to.”

“Yes please, trust me, I can sign for it.” Hadley was her mother’s maiden name and while it didn’t come off as sneaky to hide things under her mother’s name Berkley liked the subtly of it that and she’d practiced this signature when she was younger thinking she could use it exactly for things like this. She summoned a quill with a smirk and raised an eyebrow. “Where do I sign?”