Change the Fate's Design

“Just popping in for assistance?” she asked using air quotes. “Ha!” Georgette shook her head angrily as she placed her wand on her person. She looked Julius up and down. “Doubtful,” she growled. “Highly doubtful. Wouldn’t want you to get your pretty clothes dirty.”

All Georgette knew about Julius is he was a Yaxley. Unfortunately there were surnames everyone knew, most of whom didn’t deserve it. Ironically hers was also a known name. Irony was a bitch. It was people like him who needed to be knocked down a peg. In fact – Georgette cocked her head, brow furrowing, “You look a little …too clean after all that happened.” 

Georgette walked around Julius, stepping on glass as she neared the windows. To say she was suspicious would have been sugarcoated. She knew something wasn’t right with this one – more than other Pureblood trash who acted like they own the world. “You are way too clean.” She then looked him straight in the eye. If she didn’t trust people before, she was certainly didn’t after the attack.

Julius cocked an eyebrow at her feistiness. “Well, you’ll find that the nice clothes actually wash better than the cheap ones.” Not that she would know but the looks of her. What was worse than those that were lesser? Those that had all the means to be respectable and choose to live in disrespect and squalor.

He chuckled at her response. “Careful, people might think you’re committing slander there.” Not that he was worried. No one would dare to raise a serious accusation against someone of his standing. “I will have you know, I was quite adept at cleaning charms and spells in school.” In his line of work it was actually quite useful to be skilled in all things magic, especially charms. “Got an Outstanding in my NEWTS and everything.”

“Though,” he looked around at the mayhem around them. “If you ask nicely I might give you a pointer or two.” It really was needed in current surroundings.

He meet her steely glance with one of apathy and a casual coolness. “If there’s something you’re trying to say, by all means, say it.” He said knowing perfectly well what she was hinting at. “Just because some of us actually take pride in our appearance,” he started cutting himself off before he said something too offensive. Julius was there on “official” ministry business after all. “A calm, crisp, and clean exterior also inspires confidence in capability in the Ministry. Basic psychology 101, but don’t tell that to some of my coworkers. Current company included,” Julius shrugged. “But since you are doing so well on your own,” he pulled out his list of shops he was supposed to check and offer assistance if needed. “I’ll mark down you require no further assistance cleaning up, reimbursement in lost or damage goods, or any other help the Ministry of Magic is offering.”

Julius knew he couldn’t do anything outwardly to this woman and her shop, but he could make sure her life was miserable in other ways. In legal ways. Since handing out aid was squarely in his right as his assigned position in this time of ‘crisis’. It also wouldn’t be too hard to sneak some illegal ingredients accidentally into a shipment of theirs either when he knew random inspections and raids were scheduled.

As Amos turned to face Julius, he made absolutely no attempt to hide the rolling of his eyes. It was pretty difficult to make Amos snap, mostly because he spent his days arguing back and forth people who wanted him to fold on giving out more money from the budget for a varying of equally ridiculous things.  He told himself that was all this prick was going to get, an eye roll.  He even managed to suppress the want to comment on what it was that Julius actually did in a day of work. Not to demean the work of the Wizengamot, because Amos knew how important their work was, but he highly doubted that someone bearing a name such as Yaxley actually did much, other than flaunt the title. 

A small smirk formed on Amos’ lips and he shook his head, not quite able to prevent the snort that escaped him.  “How kind of you, but you can hand that to my secretary, as I’ve got several meetings today.”  Eyeing the stack that Julius had somewhat unceremoniously dropped on his desk, Amos tutted and pulled his wand from his inner jacket pocket and non verbally used a spell to tidy them up.  “Though…”  He said, tilting his head slightly as his gaze raised once again to meet the gaze of the other. “There aren’t any wild Hippogriffs anymore, not in Britain anyway.  It probably just got free from private land, I dare say it’s been captured by the owner by now.  Although, if you feel so inclined as to chase it up, you could always ask Hagrid if he’s seen one.”  Yes, on a technicality Hippogriffs were Amos’ department, though honestly not much would be done unless it was harming wizards, or sighted by muggles, which was unlikely given that they seemed to prefer the quiet of the highlands. 

Using his wand again, he lifted the stack off his desk, and called for his secretary to take the files away.  She did, and politely left.  “In the future Julius.  Don’t waste my time.”

Julius laughed because he knew when he got done there would be plenty of wild hippogriffs wandering the countryside inflicting chaos, and hopefully, a few injuries as they went. At least he would be able to say he had brought it to proper authorities and they overlooked and dismissed his concerns. How good was a Ministry that did not listen to the needs of the people? Discredit the lot of them and it would be much easier to displace them later with a group of people fit to run things.

“Well, let’s remember this when I am coming back to have another chat with more dismal prospects.” Julius wasn’t surprised his claims were dismissed. They were meant to be dismissed in all honesty.

Her father was one to usually pop by the Ministry for lunch with his daughter, but Emma insisted she needed to escape for a little while. After the attack a place she usually counted on to be one of the few organized aspects of her life was basically in shambles. The Leaky was a good enough place as any, and Emma was just waiting at the bar for her leftovers to bring with her. Growing up she never had a reason to learn to cook, and as an adult she could never be bothered to pick up the hobby. She also knew she wouldn’t feel like going out to get something later when she was home. 

“Is it… even past noon?” Emma asked, glancing past Julius at the pretend clock on the wall. The woman knew it was, but barely. “As much as I like an excuse to day drink, I still have a ton of paperwork to do when I get back to work.” 

Julius waved his hand. “Oh, it’s five o’clock somewhere, I suppose.” He pointed out has he made a purpose show of taking another drink. “Loosen up a bit and have a drink, we all deserve one.” In his case, for a job well done. It had been a small nearly meaningless mission last night, but look at the stir it had kicked up and he hadn’t needed to get his hands dirty. It was a good night.

“Besides if you have that much paperwork to see to,” He motioned to his drink. “Then you surely need to join me in one of these. Either that or find someone else that can do the paperwork for you and then you’re free to do whatever it is you like to do.”

“Uhh.. sure.” August agreed. 

He really didn’t know where to go this morning. The station had been taken by the Ministry, to send out updates and alerts, so he had the day off. He seemed to have followed the crowd to Diagon, but veered off into a nearby pub. The place was packed, so he spotted a seat at the bar, and took it. He tried to calculate the time change knowing it was early here, so surely it was quite early at home. 

“I’ll have a…a…” he started to panic, knowing the busy bar keep was staring daggers at him, “ale? Actually. Don’t care. Whatever isn’t much trouble. Anything.” 

The bartender turned to grab only god knows what, and August exhaled, before glancing at the man next to him. “Well… that was terrible” he chuckled.

Julius shook his head and motioned for the barmaid to bring them two more of what he was drinking. The man deserved a taste of what life was like when you could afford whatever you wanted. Cheap drinks were like cheap women.... Well, he wasn’t going to go there.

“You my, friend, do not know fine whiskey if it smacked you in the head.” Julius pointed out as he sipped on his old drink. Sure he wanted a drink but he knew to limit himself when he was in public and when it was not quite an acceptable hour. Not that anything would bother to say something to the likes about him. If they did, well last night was hard on all of them was it not?

“Here is to...” He paused for a moment trying to recall if he was worthy of being toasted to his health, but instead... “Your sanity. May it last longer than mine in these crazy times.”

Hell, someone should be pouring in a celebratory drink for having restraint and not taking out the garbage around them.

“How about a drink?” He asked the person lucky enough to sit on the stool beside him.

@mxrsmxrdrestarters​​

location: ollivander’s wand shop open to everyone

Burrowed between her small, sagging bed and a table that was falling apart, was a shivering Georgette. And Georgette want one to get scared. She had already been in bed reading when she heard the unexpected noises. She’d gone down the creaky wand shop’s stairs to look through the big windows. Spells were flying, laughter and screaming. “What the ever loving fu—?!” her phrase was cut off by a window breaking next to her. She raced upstairs hoping the building would hold its own until whatever was happening finished.

Without realizing it, she somehow had fallen asleep cradling her knees to her chest. Upon waking there was a deafening silence and sun shining into her room as if nothing had happened. Surely she’d had a terrible dream but when she saw the broken window, Georgette swallowed hard. The war hadn’t come that close to home — literally. Her mind swarmed. The only location that had been her safe space became unsafe.

She was hesitant to turn away but crossed her arms and walked through the wands — something that always helped soothe her. When the otherwise harmless bell rang, Georgette jumped out of her skin for two reasons. First, the one night she forgot to lock up Diagon Alley was near destroyed. Second, unsure of who would come in a bloody wand shop after attacks, she screamed “Get the fuck out of here!” Georgette’s terror made her wand shake in her hands.

Julius did his best to keep his face neutral as he heard the rather vulgar language slip from the mouth of, well, he wouldn’t say lady but she was a woman. It was a shame because the Ollivanders’ were an old family, blood as pure as his, and yet they were so filthy. However, theirs was a vault he wouldn’t mind getting the keys too because while they were crazy, the entire lot, they had been around forever.

“Well, pardon me,” Julius said as he leisurely leaned against the door frame of the door. He did not have to be there but he knew he should at least be out making an appearance. The Wizengamot did not help enforce the laws, simply rule on them, but they were supposed to be upstanding citizens and upstanding citizens helped others. He much preferred the breaking of glass (which he did considerable of last night) than the clean up, but life wasn’t fair.

“Just popping in to check and make sure everyone was okay,” he said giving the woman a small smile. “Or if anyone needs assistance.”

To say that the Ministry was in a state of panic this morning, would be a huge understatement.  Amos had barely had any sleep due to the fact that he had been helping with the aftermath of the attack. And as a senior staff member, he seemed to be something of an easy target for those wanting to blame the ministry and every single person who worked there.  Which, didn’t make a lot of sense, considering that he was not an Auror, nor did he work with the Minister… But such is life, people always want to throw blame at someone or something. It had taken him a good hour to navigate to his office, questions flying at him, here, there and everywhere.  He wasn’t a rude man by any means, but he had to tell several people to ‘kindly get out his way.’    Slamming his office door closed, he barely had two minutes to himself before someone just let themselves in.  

“Can i not have five minutes to myself?”  Though posed as a question, it was really more of a statement.

Julius sauntered into Amos’ office without a care for courtesy or respect. It wasn’t like he had to knock. Knocking would meant that he cared and well, if he was being honest, you knocked when you walked into the office of a superior. The Wizengamot would not be doing any work today, there were other matters at hand, but it didn’t mean he couldn’t throw his weight around and look like he was being busy.

“What could you possibly need five minutes for,” he wandered purposely out loud leaving out the end of his train of thought. The part which pointed out the other man hardly needed two seconds to string a thought together let alone five minutes. It wasn’t hard when you didn’t think in thoughts or words more than two syllables at a time. “But don’t fret, I promise to keep my intrusion to four and a half minutes and you can have the remining time to finish whatever it was you were doing.” Julius assured him.

“I am simply here to point out there have been sightings of a rampant hippogriff on the loose. Must have gotten lost in the fray. You know a stray curse or something,” he said biting his inner lip to keep from grinning. If there was a wild creature on the loose it was because one of his counterparts let it out. If it was up to him they would have let the werewolves free, but it wasn’t a full moon and it wasn’t up to him.