words

Of course I like you, don’t be silly. [ she holds out a box wrapped in delicate green paper ] This is for you. 

“Ooh! You really do like me!” She handed over the little box from her bag. “Help me put it in my hair?”

“That’s pretty damn relatable.” 

“You’d think people would realize what was right in front of them.”

“Happens to the best of us,” they say before pausing. “And me. It’s okay, though, I mean– I mean there are plenty of things to do. I mean– it’s just a day where it’s more socially– where it’s socially acceptable to be overly affectionate in public.”

“Plenty of things to do that don’t involve the actual holiday, you mean,” she said with a slight pout. “Well, I mean technically you can do things with friends, but half of the fun of the holiday is going out on dates and doing cute things.”

“I would advise doing so, although if your mother is anything like mine, she’ll have a very strong opinion about the decor,” Augustus said, with a laugh. “If my mother had her way, my apartment would look like a miniature version of the house.”

“Next time I’ll be sure to make a more firy entrance. And what have you been so busy with that you haven’t had time to miss me properly.”

“Work. Never a dull moment when you don’t even have time to take two full breaths before someone else wants something from you at the Ministry.”

Augustus laughed softly. “Ah, the age-old pressure from the parents to marry,” he said. “I wonder how many other Pureblood children feel the same way. It’s absolutely infuriating, although I suppose they just want the best.” He nodded. “I enjoy having my own place. It’s pleasant to have solitude at times.”

As usual, she didn’t bother correcting the fact that he seemed to lump her in with other purebloods. “I’ll have to find my own place soon. Wanting the best or not my hair might fall out if the only two places I go on a regular basis are home and work.”

“Mmm, are you saying I should stay away longer next time? Leave you wanting more?”

“Absolutely. Give me a chance to forget about you and then come back in fire.”

“It’s a mixture of endearing and irritating. I know she means well, perhaps that is what makes it so endearing. I don’t live with her anymore, but I see her a few times a week. She usually just pesters me about my live life.”

“I know what you mean. The next time I have to hear my mother tell me about the nice man she thinks would be perfect for me, I might set an owl on her.” Kala laughed, shaking her head. “Must be nice to get some time away, thought.”

The door being closed means don’t bother me. 

“Well, unfortunately for both of us, the ministry’s turned me into an owl. So these are yours.”

He scoffs.   “Oh I’m sorry.  I did not realise you were the expert here. Perhaps you should tell me where I’m going wrong?”   He rolls his eyes.  “Maybe if you asked more relevant questions.”

“If I thought myself an expert, I wouldn’t be asking for the help at all,” she snapped, trying to regain her composure. “It’s between finishing this, which is information that will go through father and finishing something for Phaedra which has nothing to do with my current tasks at all. How seriously should I take Phaedra?” she asked, trying a different question.

Amelia glared at the translator. She hadn’t felt the prospect of working with her very well, but she was now starting to think that it would be worst that she had expected. 

“ Excuse me? “

“Work, with you. I don’t have time for it.”