Lyanna

This wasn’t going well at all. Lily tried to summon up as much patience as she had left but she couldn’t quite rid her tone of her irritated disbelief, “It’s the patients who are important. I assume you care about helping them.” It certainly wasn’t the impression Lyanna Rowle was giving off. She also noticed the other witch ignoring the invitation to use her first name. Well, fine. It wasn’t as if she was here to make friends. “Again, I apologise. I should have been more professional.” At least it seemed as though Rowle was going to help, and Lily walked after her. “Did you manage to find anything? It seems to have become a favourite curse of the Death Eaters. Of course, they aren’t known for their moral fibre, but this one seems particularly cruel.” Her anxiety was clear in her tone, and as much as Lily hated having to depend on someone who had been so arrogant, she truly hoped the archivist had found something. “ I suppose eventually they’ll manage to arrest one and then perhaps a counter-curse can be found but for now, it’s looking hopeless.” 

Did she care about the patients at St,Mungos? No. But it wouldn’t look well no her to be blatant about it and besides is never a good thing to fully show her colors or thoughts especially to people like Miss Evans here. So she smiled, a smile that surely conveyed that she was all about helping those poor patients.  “I can’t remember honestly, but maybe I haven’t gotten around to the report.” She was actually rather sure that she hadn’t read anything regarding those types of curses, she would probably have destroyed the information if she had anyway. “But yes you’re right it sounds cruel.”  She said softly as they arrived to her office. “Yeah maybe someday they’ll arrest someone.” She was sure they wouldn’t and if they did that person wouldn’t talk that she knew.”

A half-smile almost caught on Severus’ expression. Almost. Perhaps even a little hint. It was becoming a little easier now that he was being brought into the society he wanted to be fully immersed in. Especially with company that was in it as well - and had been all their life. “I prefer other simple joys in life - such as a good book.” he finally let a smile appear on his lips at her recognizing his name, and nodded. “Severus Snape, yes,” he replied before her first name came to mind, “I’m afraid I have to find my way back to Hogwarts, Lyanna. I suppose you’re on a lunch break from endless meetings?”

“I can’t argue with enjoying a good book beats doing many things.” She rarely had time to fully immerse herself on a book but when she was able to, she truly appreciated it.  “Must you really have to go back there so fast? I mean Hogwarts will always have its charm and everything but surely it gets boring to be there all the time.” She sighed and nodded “Yes, or people coming to my office for things that aren’t really part of my department.”

“If you’re that certain that you’d rather not marry, and your parents haven’t thrown you out, I’d suggest that you keep going. If they were going to disown you they’d have done so by now,” almost as soon as she’d left Hogwarts Bellatrix had been married off, and a refusal would almost certainly have brought disgrace upon her. “He’s certainly not a disappointment in that department. Most other things, yes. But not that one,” Bellatrix smirked. Of course, if anyone else was to say these things about Rodolphus, Bellatrix would defend him wholeheartedly. They had an understanding in that regard. “They were terribly irritating. I’m sure they asked for it in person just to piss me off.”

She laughed “That’s true. But I know i’ll get married soon enough, when they decide I will or I’ll truly be disowned and honestly, being disowned just because you don’t want to put up with some guy is silly. i’ll just enjoy the time before my marriage happens.” Sure she could get in a relationship with someone they approved but no one had interested her in some time. “Then i think, is good right? If he isn good at that and you two get along well enough you have it better than a lot of others.” She sighed “Probably, most are a bunch of people that get high on having any amount of power available, so if they feel they are able to get someone here because they ask I’m sure it makes their week.” 

Perhaps that was deserved but she nonetheless felt frustrated - there was, after all, a war going on, even if ministry employees were a little too comfortable to see it from their offices. It was very different at the hospital. “I suppose that’s true enough,” she responded tightly. “I don’t really have the time to sit around and wait. There are people who need my help.” She didn’t exactly mean to lecture, but Lily knew she could easily go into self-righteous mode. “It’s Evans, Healer Evans. You can call me Lily,” she added in a softer tone. “It’s research on a curse. There are no visible injuries from it, only internal. We suspect it’s been recently invented, but we were hoping there might be some record of prior use in the Ministry files.” 

The self importance of this woman was already grating on her, especially because she knew that she wasn’t, Lyanna knew everyone that was important in this society and an annoying redheaded healer certainly didn’t make the cut. Not even close. “Yes, you surely are very important, so much so you can just intrude in other people’s loves and work.” She said still managing not to sound annoyed, if anything she sounded bored, this girl really thought Lyanna cared about her issues, or those at St.Mungos. And really Lyanna could be helpful and care, but the woman just rubbed her the wrong way. “Miss Evans, a bit of advice not try to lecture or sass the people you need something from.” She took a drink of her coffee as the other explained the symptoms. “Right I heard about that one” She sighed “Come with me, any results should be at my office, you walked here in vain it seems.” She said standing up and starting to walk.

“My parents were not too subtle about marriage either….not that there’s much benefit to having a husband. He’s only good for the sex….most of the time,” Bellatrix scoffed. “Magical Law Enforcement….just had a report to file. It certainly could’ve been done by owl, but they insisted…for security reasons, they said.”

“I’m surprised that I have lasted as long as I have.” She wanted to think her tactics had helped but also she suspected her parents just hadn’t found someone they deemed good enough and that was fine by her. “Well I would hope that they would at least be good at that. I hope Rodolphus hasn’t been a disappointment?” She wasn’t sure how their marriage was like of course but she didn’t feel they care much about each other and though normal, she had a small hope that she could at least tolerate her future husband. “They always make things complicated, i think is one of the most bothersome departments.”

Bellatrix waved her hand at the other’s words. “I’m fine standing, honestly. Keep your chair,” though she did set her coffee down on the table. “My day is okay, although I confess I’m not fond of being in the ministry. Everything they do seems largely…unnecessary. Including requiring me to file my paperwork in person instead of sending it by owl,” Bellatrix rolled her eyes. “You work here if I’m correct? How on earth do you stand it?” 

She laughed “Usually in my department I don’t get bothered too often and well I think i rather be there than in my house with my mother not so subtly trying to get me on board of getting married.” She had held on so far, she didn’t think it would last much longer but for now she would remain like this, she found it far more entertaining. “But you’re correct that some departments complicate everything. Who made you come all the way here? Surely they should know better.”

After a particularly long meeting with Lucius and a fair few others within the Ministry, Severus was sure to make his way out quickly. Yet another place he felt he didn’t belong and a complete stranger. He’d much rather be over a cauldron with Professor Slughorn - or even filing and labeling at the apothecary. It simply made more sense to him. However, in his rush to leave, Severus felt an uncomfortable shift in his belly - having not eaten the entire day. With practically a roll of his eyes, internally of course, he tried to find something quick. Finally at a cafe within it, he was staring at the menu, thinking that a coffee would hold him over until he got back to Hogwarts. That was until, someone interrupted his thoughts. Arching a brow, he saw a familiar face from within Pureblood society, but couldn’t place the name. “Normally, I’d be inclined to do so, but I’m not actually staying….” his voice drifted, “Rowle…correct?” he tried piecing the name to her face.

She looked at the man, trying to place his face, because she knew that she had seen him before but couldn’t place where or when. “You know drinking coffee in a rush in never a good idea, you could spill it or just not enjoy it.” She said politely as she kept trying to remember “Indeed and you’re.. Snape right?” She finally said feeling confident that was his last name, she couldn’t think of a first name and maybe she didn’t even know it. “Why are you in such a hurry?”

Bellatrix had some business in the ministry that morning. Just a simple issue of returning some paperwork, but she hated the place. It was everything that was wrong with the world, especially the departments that regulated muggle issues. In a magical government, there was no place for muggles. When the Dark Lord took over, Bellatrix hoped she would have the opportunity to raze the place to the ground and build a new, pure government. 

As she strode through the halls of the ministry, her stomach began to growl. Making a beeline for the small cafe normally intended for the employees, she paused as she entered. Her eyes fell upon a woman not too far away, and her eyebrow raised. She hadn’t seen Lyanna in some time. “I wouldn’t take your chair away from you Miss Rowle, that would just be cruel.”

She smiled and chuckled lightly “Miss Lestrange, is not cruel at all.” She said vaguely amused, it was good to see a familiar face here really and the Blacks even with the few setbacks they had gone through in recent years  were still a good and respected family, plus she was now married to the Lestranges,  Lyanna did like Bellatrix enough. And well after spending so many hours with all kinds of people here it really was good to see someone that was part of the right side. “How has your day been? I hope you’re not here for anything too annoying.”

Just before the end of her shift, a harried Senior Healer had pulled her aside and asked her to check on their request to the archives. There was a new spell wreaking havoc on St Mungo’s wards, filling up with its victims. Suspected to be used by Death Eaters. St Mungo’s had no records of it and therefore no way of Healing it, at least, so far they hadn’t found one. They were desperate to find it in the historical record, in case someone had come up against it in the past. 

The witch in the cafe seemed to match the description the front desk had given her. “Er, no, Miss Rowle? Your office said I could find you here. St Mungo’s wanted me to check on the progress of their request. I’m so sorry to bother you on your break.” She felt slightly embarrassed but understood the urgency of her fellow Healers. 

“If you were really cared you wouldn’t have come talk to me in break now would you? You could have stayed and waited or ask someone else on the department to help. Why say you’re sorry if its not true? ” She said casually as she looked at the woman. Hmm she didn’t think she knew her and she looked fresh out of Hogwarts still, if she was someone important she’d know but regardless for now though not impressed with the girl she had to just deal with the situation. “But, okay. St. Mungos has requested a few things lately so you must be more specific Miss..” She trailed off expecting for her to introduce herself.

Since it was slow in her department she decided to go to a small cafe in the premises of the Ministry, it wasn’t the best but out of anything around it was the most salvageable. She got her cup of subpar coffee and taken a seat when she noticed someone hovering near her “If you want the chair just take it.”

CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT TASK - 1