golden boy

there were so many things from her life before magic that mary failed to reconnect with. she barely saw her family these days, out of fear of bringing them in danger if she visited, out of fear of showing them all the ways she had changed. she was no longer the girl running around with muddy shoes and wide grins and cows surrounding her. she was a hardened person, with a scarred skin and charred insides. the only thing she kept coming back to was god, was muttering the same words over and over again, was folding her hands before she went to bed and closing her eyes. and even that had changed — she didn’t ask for healthy calfs or for grandpa to recover any more. she asked why, why, why, and for her friends and family to be safe from remorseless people who would kill her without thinking twice. but she still prayed. “that would be nice,” she said eventually, returning to leo and their conversation, rather than her thoughts. “we should make a habit out of it. i mostly pray alone these days and … i never used to, when i was younger.” there was always her father, leading the prayer before, with his deep voice, and she and all her siblings saying amen after. “and i don’t think it’s … about it helping. it’s about continuing to do it, i guess.”

“i guess that does prove that she’s good at what she does.” it was good, to poke fun at situations, to smile a little. mary needed lightheartedness. it made her chest feel a little less tight, her muscles a little less tense. “i guess you’re right,” she said, shifting a little. “i mean, it won’t be completely useless, whatever the results. i just … we need something big.” was she cocky, to think that she could find that? mary wasn’t sure. all she knew was that she was terribly determined to find something. she pulled her legs up on her seat, rested her head on her shoulder. he wanted to ask her a personal question, and mary felt her body tense, but she nodded either way. “i do,” she said, closing her eyes for a moment before meeting leo’s. “i mean … it feels stupid sometimes, i suppose, but i do. it feels right, too.” her anger wasn’t with god, most of the time, and while she wasn’t sure how much use there was in praying, it was a habit, etched in her veins. “i don’t know if it helps, but i don’t think that that’s the point, you know? it’s kind of like a ritual. some people have other ways.” she felt like she was avoiding what she needed to say, but she was scared of voicing all her thoughts on religion. “i don’t go to church that much any more, though.” 

she   greets   him   quickly  ,    but   warmly  ,  completely  at   ease  .   “ who   knows   ?   maybe   i’ll  get   a   singing   career   out   of   this   .   ”  she   jokes   ,  comment    mostly   fueled   by  the  alcohol   coursing   through   her   veins   .   but   eloise   never   had   a  problem   with   putting   herself   out   there   ,   being   the   center   of   attention  .   in  fact   , she   LOVED   it   ,   relishes   it   almost   any  time   she   gets   .  fingers   grip   the   microphone   ,   hips   already   swaying   .  “  let’s   do  THIS  .   ” she   directs   a  wide   grin   in    his   direction   before   motioning   for   the   song   to    begin   .  

she understood his fear, at first she had to contain her anxiety when holding draco but now it was almost as if she could consider herself a pro. it helped that draco was an easy baby, not too fussy and slept through most loud noises and conversations. “ let’s not refer to the baby and kill in the same sentence. stop worrying, “ else he was going to make her worry. “ his head and neck are fine, that’s the important thing. leo, he’s fine. “ if it was anyone else she wouldn’t have been so patient nor kind but this was her longtime friend, narcissa trusted him. “ i don’t think so, little odd to take in. ‘m still getting used to it but not a bad change, “ // @peacvck​

“we are a few steps up leo, but we have been for a while,” he said, his voice slightly teasing, returning to his usual state of pretentiousness. it was great, though, to see leo holding draco, to be with people he loved so dearly. “but it’s a big change, indeed.” the feeling of warmth, of genuine happiness that spread through him were ones he was growing more and more used to, even if he was tentative of doing so. there was a lot to lose ( and it was his fault if they lost it ). “a wonderful one, though. i mean, look at him! he’s truly magnificent, isn’t he?” // @leonardoflint

( @leonardoflint )

“ you want a drink? ” rodolphus questioned taking a sip of the glass of scotch in hand, leaning back against his office desk. it wasn’t often that he branched out and spoke to those who were not immediate relation but something had always remained off about leo. he knew that he was often around the malfoy’s but he had an eye for these things, after all rodolphus was a wolf in sheep’s skin hiding among the ministry without much issue. it had become second nature to keep close watch on others especially those he believed had incorrect intentions.

his skin pulsed harder against her hand the longer she touched him. as if his heartbeat sounded from his wrist. his heart demanding to be acknowledged, to be felt. an anchor. she shook her head in irritation at leo’s damn poetry rubbing off on her. but the irritation softened as her new surroundings took shape. his bedroom… another person, a lesser person might scoff at a room as a secret. but tessa, whose own walls held every dark bit of her, understood. she rotated slowly, trying to absorb it all even as the haze of alcohol clouded her mind. plenty of time, she decided, to uncover the room’s secrets. later, when remaining vertical posed less trouble. so certain that there would be a later. her fingers loosened her grip on his wrist, collapsing on his bed rather than settling for the couch. drunk on a day where politeness and propriety had little sway over her. her gaze studied the ceiling, half-wondering at his reaction, half-mulling on what led them here. a secret for a secret she had said. her confession splattered against the ceiling, dripping back down on her as she spoke. “i barely remember her. my mother.” disgust still evident, but something weaker coloring her tone. “she’s more a collage of bits and pieces than a person. her pearl necklace, the color of her hair, the way she screeched at the house elf not to feed me biscuits.” her hands twisted into the blankets. “i remember knowing she didn’t want me, had never wanted me. and loving her anyway. thinking that if i loved her enough she’d love me back.” her voice broke. tessa refused to glance leo’s way. cursing herself for opening her damn mouth but too stubborn, or maybe something stronger -her eyes made it to the tips of leo’s fingers- to stop now. “and then she… my dad bought me pretty robes and shoved a bow in my hair and told me to cry, to look pitiful and tell everyone how much i would miss her. to play the grieving daughter. instead i chucked that bow in my cousin’s face.” there was more to say, so much more to share but she fell silent. exhausted. if he laid down next to her, put his arm around her waist, tangled his hand in her hair, she might let him. her foot kicked in his direction “your turn.” 

she’s   only   half  paying  attention  when  his  request  rings   loud  and  clear  and  for  some   reason   it   just  seems   so   appealing   ,   a  last   minute   decision   to   make   a  fool   of   herself  once  more  .  “  oh   screw   it   .    ”   she’s    already   several   drinks   in   and   apparently     full   of   confidence   ,   springing   to   her   feet  .  the  contents  of   the   drink   in   her  hand   are  emptied   as  she’s   leaving  the  corner  the  rest   of   her   friends  occupied    ,   skipping   to   the   stage   .  “  prepare  for  the  best   duet   of   your   life   .   what   are   we   singing   ?”  eyes   scan   the    machine   ,  brows   raising   ever  so  slightly  .  “  summer   nights ,   really ?”

       it was common for victoria to wander around diagon alley when she had time on her hands to spare. her job kept her busy most of the time, often travelling to break ancient curses or save the day. whenever she was back in town, she would make sure to be seen.    she caught a glimpse of a familiar shape and her curiosity won over her common sense. catching flint dropping a bag in a corner behind madam malkin’s, she didn’t give him any time to hide.                “ what’s in that bag and why are you hiding it here? ”       //    @leonardoflint

welcome to... RAVENCLAW ! 

amelia hesitates, doesn’t want to burden him with anything else. she remembers who he is, who THEY are, who they’ve always been. but she just can’t bring herself to explain everything to him, not when everything was so fresh. that was a conversation for another day. “you’re right. he does always do that. bad habit that is.” she sniffs, eyes already misty with tears ready to fall. after her visit to edgar’s, one would think that she would have no tears left to cry. but she blinks them away, determined not to completely crumble this time. even in front of leo, one of the only people she fully trusted, amelia has a hard time being truly vulnerable, preferring to keep her calm demeanor. “so am i.” the tears brimming at her eyes finally fall, but she brushes them away quickly, finger tips resting against her temple. she was sorry she wasted so much time, sorry she didn’t tell him how she really felt, sorry she was in this war in the first place. her hands grip his arms tightly for stability, but also for comfort. her eyes finally meet his, gaze misty with tears and heartbreak. “i just saw him       sturgis, i mean. got called to the scene.” amelia never had a problem with dead bodies before ( it was part of her job, after all ), but that night was a different story. she’s still visibly shaken, still deeply shocked, even after talking it over with her brother less than an hour before. her voice is empty as she speaks, eyes trained on the wall in front of her as she tries to formulate coherent words. but how could she put into words what she was feeling when it still didn’t feel real ? “i can’t keep doing this. fighting a war where people, perfectly GOOD people keep dying. it hurts so much, leo. i can’t - i can’t. i don’t want to.”   

“complicated,” she nodded, as if she had foreseen that very answer. her hand stilled, her whole body relaxed, this - the cynical understanding, the bitter edge creeping into her voice - was a relief. a scorching cleanse to rid herself of lingering feeling. “complicated is marlene’s middle name, so i suggest you adjust.” relief mixing with revulsion at the thought of her oldest friend’s boyfriend -perhaps she had been in denial that the two had grown so serious- his hand on her leg, hers tangled in her hair. marlene so rarely committed to anyone… and tessa thought to ruin that for the promise of whatever lurked in that smile. her hand ran down from his hair to his face, nails scraping against his cheek. for just a moment. “this isn’t worth it.” her voice ringing hollow in her ears. all emotion gone gone gone. wasn’t worth hurting her best friend, upending her life, torturing herself in the name of whatever insanity possessed people to say that one little word. his hand fell off her as she stood abruptly. noting, with some satisfaction, the paint smeared on his couch. but her face showed nothing but cool indifference, her greatest defense against the ache growing in her chest.she lingered atthe door for a second, as she turned around. “we’ll keep our hands to ourselves. from now on.” her look conveyed that the next time he touched her, she wouldn’t be as gentle in removing him. she left no chance for him to stop her as she disappeared. 

she had forgotten any thought on her mission, even if edgar had detailed it to her briefly during their run before she had let her hurt inflict harm on him. bitter words spoken as she lashed out in frustration and edgar had been the receiver who didn’t deserve it. doe eyes blink in confusion as the evening’s escapades ( and morning ) leave her colder by the minute. the happy smile on her lips diminishing as regret, hurt, pain flashes over her features. but leo doesn’t see, he isn’t looking at her anymore and she doesn’t understand why. what had changed? had he seen them? the thought sends a cold shiver down her spine before she shoves the feeling away. forces a smile upon her lips and responds as if nothing is awry. ❝ bulstrode’s brunch, of course! lo siento, lo olvidé por completo. dame un segundo y estaré righ there ❞ language mix as she speaks to him, moving into her bedroom knowing that he stands at the bottom of her stairs with a look she doesn’t recognise. refusing to admit that she was the cause of the hurt flashing in his eyes and the fists his hands had become. they had only been for fun, hadn’t they? but his behaviour causes thorns to dig into her heart, telling her that no ––– what they ( once ) had hadn’t only been fleeting moments in the depth of the night, had not only been two souls holding onto each other as their world was swallowed by chaos. putting dark tresses up in a messy ( but elegant ) bun and slipping into a sapphire dress hugging her curves marlene lets a silent spell paint her face with lipstick, blush and mascara. no features needed to be enhanced, she was as beautiful with as without makeup –– and she knew far too well. SOON, she descended the stairs to greet him and be by his side again. hand reaching for his out to correct his tie out of habit, so used to being close to him and having him close. the anchor keeping her steady in the midst of her storm. ❝ lo siento, i overslept but i am all yours now. ❞ her voice devoid of the usual inuendo as she gives him a warm smile ( different from before, her mind remembering other lips pressed against her skin only an hour ago ). ❝ you ready? ❞ hand previously at his tie moving to grasp his as she lifts her wand to apparate them out of there.

“i often am.” his mouth opened to inquire what, this time, he was right about when marlene’s name floated through the air. he swallowed a groan. for a second, the wooden door frame looked inviting. he wondered what would happen if he banged his head against it. repeatedly. “come in. you’ll have to tell me what, specifically, is fucked. so i can figure out how to fix it.” he held the door wider, resignation in the line of his limbs. he doubted alastor would be pleased with the discovery but… perhaps this was his payback for the line of hickeys he had left on edgar’s neck. “yes, that is moody. no, you don’t have to leave. we’ll go to the kitchen. with any luck he’ll sleep through this.” he walked ahead of the man- leo already knew the way. the same mug leo always used floated to the table, tea filling it. these visits happened often. “leo, you and i, we’re friends.” he felt like the man needed a reminder. “i want to help. and beyond that, as my direct report, i’d prefer to hear about the mess before it gets worse.”

1979, june

leo 

his apologies, his acceptance, his soft words washed over her. without permission, they soothed her aching chest, taking all the fight from her body. “you shouldn’t let me get away with it, leo.” she murmured, observing this man who was so willing to give himself away -all of himself- for nothing but bruises in return. her hand reached out, to brush through his hair in silent apology. “stand up for yourself. especially with me.” staring at him for another heavy moment, she gave little warning before hopping off her stool. fingers wrapping around one of his wrists. holding hands had always been too intimate, too showy but this… she tugged him toward the door. “i don’t want to be here anymore. take me somewhere?” as she awaited his answer, leo’s own small confession tumbled in her mind. he understood how heavy of a secret… he understood. even with the haze of alcohol, she wondered what secrets the flint family hid. perhaps marveled at how leo could understand yet still be warm, willing to weather the storm. so warm that the bare skin of his wrist burned her fingers. she tightened her grip and dared to ask the question brewing, brave concern seeping into her tone. “take me somewhere. where it’ll be a secret for a secret.”