& right where you left me

there were so many people that lily had on her mind, her friends scattered to the winds after the chaos. the hospital looked like it was about to burst with the amount of people there. she was shocked she only walked away with a couple sprains, bruises, and cuts. she turned to mary, smiling gently at her. “this isn’t right...”

Hamish thought over what he’d ordered carefully for a moment. “Three creams. The way you like it.” Hopefully.

Carefully, he put the food and coffee down on a free space before picking up a quill and parchment. Good thing he wrote fast. “I’m ready. Fire away.”

–

“thank you, hami,” she says, taking the tea and setting it down quickly. “what did i say about using the charm? i don’t want to hold a hot cup of tea while i drink a hot cup of tea.”

it was an easy mistake and she offered a small smile. “dear fabulous reader...i love your sincerest comments about my writing and accept your criticism-scratch that.” she said and stopped pacing, looking over her shoulder at hamish. “about my writing and i hereby pledge that any more criticism can be burn in hell...my reports are all true. anyone who says otherwise is...unfortunately wrong.”

“Oh, sorry, I figured since the door was a bit open…” Lena said. “Are you… alright?”

“a bit open? and so what? you saw a door open and thought...let me just see how much more sad i can make the room...what brings you down to the prophet?”

“Sorry, Rita-” Sybill’s arm jerked with the impulse to reach into her pocket for a tissue, but then she remembered the reasons she hadn’t knocked in the first place- the heavy box she was carrying in both hands. “uh-” Sybill set it down on an unocupied desk, then did hand Rita that tissue, “delivery day.” She explained with a shrug, gesturing to the box, “head of the department in? I need them to sign for it.”

rita accepted the tissue as if it were a second handed rag, but dabbed her face gently with it. “ah, i did do some catalog shopping the other day. between you and i, i used the editor’s account this time. he owed me and always talked about the bonus i might get and-and thought it was perfect to spend on some new shoes. do you have those?” she said, inclining her head slightly as if to peek at what boxes sybill had. “no, he’s not. out for lunch. i can sign for it though. i’m basically head of the department.”

 “you didn’t lock the door and i could smell whatever this,” max gestured to rita’s general being, though clearly paused just a millisecond longer once she reached her teary eyes, “was a mile away. what’s wrong?”

“it’s love potion number 5,” she said, nodding hastily as if it were relevant to the conversation. “you could have stayed a mile away. why would i possibly tell you what’s going on-allergies...need to change it to love potion number 6...”

“…I’m delivering an order? It’s already been paid for, it’s just some potion supplies for the department.”

“i...thank you. i don’t know what someone in the department would want with some potions, but i’ll make sure they get to the right person.”

“I think you missed your stop. On the elevator. Don’t you normally get off by now?”

–

“strangely intutive of you...,” she says with a hidden smile. “sorry-my head is in a fog today.”

“Yes, you have. Someone stole my kneazle and I would like to have him back.”

“why-and why would someone steal your...kneazle was it?”

“it’s fun, it’s fast, it’s the love of my life, i literally just spent several long hours making it so she abso-fucking-lutely purrs when i go anything over thirty, i don’t make you wear a helmet, you get to wrap your beautiful beefy arms around my waist, and we get some glorious bonding time. needs i go on, moons?”

“love of your life? isn’t that a bit fast? shouldn’t you get to know each other? have a whole fight and then realize you two want to be together forever-sunset sort of thing?” he teased as he walked around the motorcycle. “no-i am not getting on that-this thing without a helmet or any kind of protection.” he crossed his arms. “nor am i...wrapping my arms around anything before something is on my head.”

“She already has a trust fund.” Simon said, knowing that their parents had already set one up. Si had asked for it to syphon money out of their account, and their parents had agreed. “Do you think she needs another one? A trust fund, that is. She’s got three bouncy chairs now– one for every place she goes. Is that… is that too much?”

–

“that’s good. was that created by you or the mother or together?” she asked, looking at the books and then looking at them. “sorry if that’s invasive. i care more about numbers than personal stories.” her shoulders dropped from her ears and she stretched to look over at simon. “yes, of course it is. you could die and she would have nothing. do you have life insurance policies? heir to anything? besides three bouncy chairs...i think you should be thinking about her future. these are solid investments but it’s never too early.”

★ –

“georgina, i am a married man with two jobs. i can spend my money how i see fit, end of story. i shouldn’t have to ask you not to go through my things, family or not.” he folded his arms across his chest, exasperated by the conversation. “your christmas present is becoming less expensive by the minute. is something wrong? you seem like you’re trying to keep your mind off of something.”

“oh, you’re so married and you’re so put together. your checks still aren’t balanced you amateur classist,” she laughed, rolling her eyes. “my christmas present? really? what did you get me that’s not expensive anymore? i do hope it’s a house in singapore.” she brushed hair out of her face and shook her head. “i charge by the hour you know.”

—

“I would listen to him. His pout is more unbearable when he’s not being reasonable.”

his gaze drifted to francis unimpressed. “she is a regular. she would know.”

“Can’t a girl even enjoy a cosmo on an evening without being interrupted now?”

“apparently not,” malcolm replied, looking between her and the man who seemed to be aggravate others. “is this man bothering you?”

it was at times like this that doris was glad malcolm had taken over. her last employer wouldn’t have cared, but as she watched him stare down the man who had made a grab for her as she stepped off the stage, it was clear that malcolm did. “you heard him” she chimed in, making a shooing gesture with her hand as she stepped up to malcolm’s side.

if anyone disrespected someone malcolm cared about or someone who worked at eclipse, they would need to pay. ever since acquiring the club, malcolm also possessed the power to rid it of people who didn’t deserve to be there. it was an established and fine place that didn’t need to be tainted with the likes of people who couldn’t manage the reputation. “i don’t like to repeat myself.” it seemed that the final warning sent the irritated man off and malcolm was still tense when he turned to doris. “are you okay?”

“and what happens once you reach five? out of… curiosity.”

“oh, you’re going to find out,” malcolm replied happily, as if wishing that the man would challenge him. “one more word and you won’t step in here again.”

Despite the nature of René’s, well, work (what else did one call being a Death Eater?) - he really wasn’t a violent person by nature. He was soft, loving, even protective at times.

But that was towards people he knew and loved - and Remus was not one of them. The wolf’s words were riling him up so much, causing a tempest of emotions to stir up in his chest - so much so that René realised he’d never wanted to hex someone so badly before in his life. Or, heaven forbid, curse.

“You do not know what it is like,” he snapped, “Do not pretend that you do.” 

He stepped forward as he spoke, attempting to look threatening.

“I think I had better tie you back up, wolf,” he scowled, “And perhaps gag you while I am at it.”

He ran a hand over his face and muttered, “Je ne peux pas croire que je t'ai donné une cigarette.”

♩♭♪

remus watched emotions flare on the death eater’s body motions, searching between the mask’s slits for eyes. he still had his hands tied down and there was not much he could do. he planned that the moment the death eater’s back was turned, he would cast wandless spells to untie them.

“i’m not pretending. i am only telling you how i’ve felt in similar situations. everything else is what you’ve told me, newbie.”

remus quirked his lips around the cigarette at being gagged, trying not to wince too much at the word wolf being used like a slur. 

“c'est bon personne ne saura,” remus replied back in french, his face falling more serious. “what are you going to do now?”

“it was worth it. i had a handsome man run to my side.” damien tilted his head, his own smile faltering at the sight of remus’ perfect one disappearing. he felt his heart skip a beat at the admission. he wanted to hear more of those. “of course. the library, or my study, is yours to work out of, should you wish it. i would offer my bedroom, but i think that would be far too… distracting.” tempting was a better word. he wouldn’t let the man leave, if he was working that close to his bed. “hm. i like this impatient side of you. i wanted to see you, too. but you never have to ask, amore mio. would you… like a key?”

his offer was met with another. remus wanted him to meet his friends? he had met a few of them, but it hadn’t been exactly.. intentional. unless meeting a drunk dorcas in a ditch could be classed as that. “you.. i would love to, remus.” he only wished he could offer his boyfriend the same. all of his friends were back in italy and while he often dreamed about showing remus his home town, he was fearful his parents would find out he’d returned and demand to see him.

“i hope you don’t mean to make this a continuous thing,” he said with another chuckle. it was a beautiful house and he was finding himself there more than his own flat which seemed to be sitting there collecting dust. his face flashed a nervous smile at the knowing thoughts that damien had mentioned the bed. “perhaps that’s something to keep in mind for later, but the library should be fine for now,” he said after a moment. he forgot what he needed to talk about for a moment when damien asked if remus would like a key. “what?” he asked, making sure he heard his boyfriend right. “yes-i would, i would love a key. that’s...nice of you.” remus was very flattered about it and leaned in to give damien a loving kiss. 

remus couldn’t help but smile at that and nodded. “good, maybe...soon? i can ask them?” his friends were his family as his own didn’t seem like a functional place of mind. his mother was lovely and perhaps one day he would introduce damien to her as she would love damien. but, his father was another case. but, that was something to think about later. “maybe my mother-another time, i don’t want to overwhelm you.”