such secrets we have, don't we doctor?

“Wishful thinking maybe?” Lily replied with a shrug. “I’m hoping that someday they’ll start to write better articles.”

“I wouldn’t hold your breath if I were you.” Ilona responded with a slight shrug. “They’d need better writers for that to happen.”

Cassius chuckled softly, but he wasn’t going to admit -out loud, anyways- just how much that little bit of affection affected him. “You’re being sweet today,” he said playfully. “Who do I have to kill?” He laughed again, shaking his head. “It was one of those ratty Gryffindor boys. I doubt killing them would make much of a difference. Kill one, and two more would grow back in its’ place.”

“No one.” Ilona over-emphasized, flashing Cassius a grin. “Can’t I just show you an ounce of affection without it ending in your killing someone for me? Is that who I am now?” She asked, her expression remaining amused. “Hm, that may be true. It’s probably not the best idea then.”

“Well, you heard the boss lady,” he said, smirking. “Get outta here.” He pointed towards the door, turned on his heel, and abandoned the counter altogether, making his way towards Ilona. “Gods, I thought he was never going to shut the hell up,” he said as he heaved out a sigh, leaning up against the wall and looking down at the books Ilona had around her. “What'cha got goin on over here?”

Ilona quirked a brow at their quickly retreating guest before forgetting about them almost instantly as Cassius approached her. “I was going to see how long it would take you to finally snap, but he really was starting to get on my nerves.” She chuckled, her attention being drawn back to the books in front of her again, idly flipping over a couple of pages. “Ancient Egyptian texts... I acquired them on a whim with the intention of selling them on, but now that  I’ve managed to crack the locks, I’m starting to wonder if they are worth keeping a hold of for the time being. What do you think?” She asked, turning one of the books towards him.

Winter Ball, December 1978

“Wait, wait, hold on…” Cassius shook his head, heaving a heavy sigh. For such a long story, he wasn’t really seeing the point yet. “What does any of this have to do with me?”

“It doesn’t.” Ilona called out eventually, glancing up from the books in front of her. She had been listening to.. whoever it was, muttering on and on at Cassius about something she had yet to pick up at the other side of the shop, and even though she wasn’t really paying attention to it, even she was growing bored. “If you’re not looking to make a purchase here today, sir, kindly leave. You’re making the place look untidy.”

“Do people actually believe all of this? Some of the stuff in here is ridiculous.”

“Of course it’s ridiculous.” Ilona commented as she glanced sideways over at Lily. “I don’t know why you would even consider reading it in the first place, it’s all just trash.”

Cassius chuckled at the sound of Ilona’s voice, taking the fresh drink she offered. “Ah, well, if it’s my wife who wants to do the kissing, then I say kiss away,” he replied, still chuckling as he looked up at the wife in question with a cheeky grin. “What sort of husband would I be to deny you that?”

"I believe it would make you the worst sort, as far as my knowledge of husbands go.” Ilona chuckled, leaning down to press a brief kiss to Cassius’ cheek. It was a rare occurrence, for her to do such a thing, especially in public, but the moment seemed to call for it. “S tell me, who was trying to kiss you? Who do I have to kill this time?”

Lucius eyes stopped and he turned straight back at Ilona, offering an almost apologetic smile. “Nothing gets past you, Ms. Burke. Suppose I’m trying to convince myself then. It isn’t awful, just…” He paused, his brow twitching up. “Less ideal than I’d like. I prefer my parties to be much more…selective. But I’m sure the fireworks won’t disappoint.”

"It isn’t awful, but would be much better if they forgot to invite filth. Don’t worry, I get it.” Ilona smiled, nodding slightly before she took a sip of her drink. Naturally, Lucius was used to a certain kind of company at parties, it was the same company Ilona kept, so she understood perfectly just how much a strain on the patience being at a gathering such as this could be. “It will be a spectacle, I am sure.” She agreed. “I noticed that you didn’t come here alone this evening, I do hope you haven’t just abandoned the little Miss Black to be over here.”

“Of course I’m having a good time.” Lucius shifted with a nod, switching his drink from one had the other. He wasn’t, though, not really. Even with the talent of talking to anyone, sometimes he hated the effort of it. Smaller, quieter parties were more his pace, but any type of gathering that involved public figures, and a Malfoy was sure to be around. Lucius used to accompany his father, but now, Abraxas trusted him to fly solo more and more. Not the large, major events, which Lucius was sure his father simply enjoyed attending, but still. It was something he was proud to do alone.

“Aren’t you?” His eyes scanned the room, seeking out his next target to get friendly with, just in case.

Ilona couldn’t help but raise a brow at Lucius’ words. She wasn’t convinced by them, purely because she knew that anyone who knew what it was like to have to suffer through function after function, never truly enjoyed things like these, even if they were meant to be in the name of fun.

“Tell me, who are you trying to convince here? Me or yourself?” She asked with a grin in response.”

“Kiss me, and I will kill you,” he said before turning back to his drink. “And if I don’t, you know my wife will. I’m not Irish, and I’m not interested in anything but booze.”

Ilona had no idea who Cassius’ comment had been directed to, but with a smile she come to a stop at his side, holding out a glass towards him even though he already had one of his own. “And if it happened to be your wife who wished to kiss you, what say you then, hm?”

Never one to be at the centre of the chit chat and dancing and people making a show of themselves, she kept herself to the outskirts of the large room within the town hall where most of the festivities were happening, forever observing those around her, collecting any tit-bits of information that she deemed to possibly be useful in the future. 

With a drink in one hand, and a cigarette in the other, Ilona smiled as another approached her from the centre of the room. “Had enough of all that palava have you?”

Group Task: Saint Patrick's Day Attire