i dreamed a dream

Marius had only been to the castle once, and it hadn’t been for an occasion as celebratory as the one he was attending. He wandered away from the entrance hall, quickly breaking away from his sister and making an excuse to say hello to an old friend of his—though Marius didn’t have friends, not in this country. He didn’t dwell on the fact for too long since he was much more curious to find where the dungeons were.

He didn’t want to go in a dungeon so much as he was curious to see if they were still using the dungeons as prison cells. He wasn’t sure if he was trying to seek closure either; he just wondered if it were worth all the trouble to really get in that sort of trouble. It wasn’t that the crime he had done was ever resolved; he was just lucky to have friends on the other side—though the word he was using was a bit questionable.

The lower levels of the castle were damp and even in a July evening, Marius felt his clothes stick uncomfortably to his skin. That was what distracted him from his search, only to realize that he had taken a wrong turn somewhere; the familiar looking walls looked pretty much the same as the walls he wasn’t familiar with.

Left: MARIUS – Sky Alpha Male, Reversed

From the Magical Dogs Tarot: With all that intelligence and power, it can be easy to fall into manipulating others. You can become angry if you feel like others are challenging your authority, but you should remember that others have valuable input as well.

Key words: abuse of power, detachment, paranoia, tyranny, manipulation

Pat’s Summary: I can’t say I’m surprised; Marius isn’t particularly known for being kind—although his success in manipulating others has been limited, especially to those who really know him. He’s been known to manipulate muggles before (because how else has he lasted so long without his money, you know?) so perhaps he’ll think he’ll get a leg up if he thinks Theta could be useful to him in any way.

Right: THETA – The Seer

From the Magical Dogs Tarot: Let go of your preconceived notions by getting a different perspective. Sometimes it’s better to hold off and wait to act while you reflect on the situation in order to gain insight. You may be in an uncomfortable situation where things will be delayed or you feel stuck, but don’t worry about it. Sometimes we must sacrifice expediency and comfort for greater rewards of knowledge and wisdom.

Key words: new perspective, altered consciousness, intermission, sacrifice, prophecy, spiritual growth, intuition, seeking knowledge

Pat’s Summary:  There’s going to be a sacrifice that might need to be made—and not that Theta will be happy about it, so much as he understands that it’s necessary to move forward. I can’t see Theta having to make a sacrifice for Marius specifically, but perhaps meeting Marius will make him come to this realization or at least look at something in a new light.

Top: PAST – The Lovers, Reversed

From the Magical Dogs Tarot: Relationships aren’t always sunshine and dogwoods in bloom; sometimes even in the best relationships there can be disharmony and strife. Examine your values and open the lines of communication. Often finding balance from within allows us to have a more loving relationship with others and ourselves.

Key words: lack of communication, disharmony, lack of balance, selfishness, lack of trust

Pat’s Summary: Since Marius and Theta haven’t actually met, I’m going to interpret this a little differently than I have with the past readings. I think the both of them have this discord in common within their own lives that it probably almost brings them together. Marius is just at the cusp of making up with his siblings—while Theta has been losing touch with Danny; if and when they do meet, both of them will have their guard up.

Center: PRESENT + DYNAMIC – Ten of Sea, Reversed

From the Magical Dogs Tarot: It’s great to get together with family, but sometimes being too close for too long can lead to discord. Perhaps not everyone is being valued as they should. A family needs compassion and understanding if it is to support all of its members. Alternatively, are you living by your core ideals? Make sure you’re being true to yourself.

Key words: family problems, disregard for others, intolerance, breakdown of ideals, misunderstanding

Pat’s Summary: I don’t think they’ll ever be close or ever really see each other as family, but their relationship, if they meet, will mostly involve them being lost. I feel like they’re so wound up in their own problems that the issues ultimately come from the fact that they’re not truly seeing each other. I’m sure they care about the problems of the other, but only to the extent that their relationship is useful to the other.

Bottom: FUTURE – Strength, Reversed

From the Magical Dogs Tarot: Feeling vulnerable can lead to snapping at others around you, which is often regrettable. Look inside yourself and squelch that self-doubt. What others may see as anger is often just inner fears resurfacing; when you alleviate your fears, true strength can be achieved.

Key words: weakness, intolerance, lack of self-discipline, cowardice, acting on impulse, bullying, fear

Pat’s Summary: Clearly Theta and Marius aren’t meant to be friends; most, if not all, of this reading involves a lot of loss of self. What fears does That have, and how does it get projected onto Marius? How does Marius represent what he fears? If Theta is the one making sacrifices, having Marius around may make it seem like those sacrifices were made for naught.

And another thing…

There’s a lot of reversed cards in this reading, and while I don’t usually say that they’re negative, this reading in general has been tougher to spin in a positive light. While Marius and Theta don’t have to be sworn enemies, I don’t see them getting along very well—although they could, if they really tried. The other factors at play are what’s going on in their personal lives and how those influence the relationship.

This is also a reading with a lot of cards from the Major Arcana, which I keep saying is the ‘loudest card’ in a reading. While Marius might be the ‘tough guy’ as the King of Wands Reversed, that doesn’t mean he’s the one that really calls the shots in their relationship. Think about what Theta might get out of this—what new perspective could he gain? Finally, with the Lovers Reversed and Strength Reversed, there are a lot of forces at work (particularly issues with family and possible fear in the wizarding world) even if we didn’t get a chance to para with them together.

Left: MARIUS – Seven of Wands

From the Affirmators! Tarot: Uh-oh. Something (or someone) is thwarting your progress. Don’t let it get to you—you’re in the right palace and you don’t need to yield your personal power to anyone (or anything). Stand your ground, prove your worth, and swat away any temptations to back down or compromise. No one can ever take away the things that make me and my life brilliant… and if they try, I may cut them.

Key words: defense, standing up for yourself, the upper hand, challenges, perseverance

Pat’s Summary: Marius has been through a lot since having lost Beatrice. He’s built himself back up enough that he could manage to check his emotions every so often. He may be in a defensive position, but he’s not the person to run and hide; he just doesn’t want to sacrifice the progress he’s made. He’s in a position to defy the odds—not necessarily in figuring out who killed Beatrice, but in the sense that he could put his energies into something new without having to give up what he’s got now.

Right: ALOMA – Seven of Pentacles

From the Affirmators! Tarot: Consider this a reminder that that in order to glean big harvests, you need to do a lot of planting. And once you’ve done that planting, those plants need a lot of care. If that’s too much metaphor for you, how about this: work hard, stick with it, and good things will come. I make sacrifices now, knowing that I’ll thank myself later.

Key words: hard work, perseverance, diligence, patience, evaluation, assessment

Pat’s Summary: This is probably like… the most Hufflepuff card I’ve come across so far. While Marius is willing to fight, Aloma is willing to give—certainly a little at a time! For her, patience and hard work comes naturally, if she’s willing to move forward. Both Marius and Aloma are Sevens in different suits—Sevens most have to do with choices and discovery. I think the both of them don’t need to do too much working on themselves as this might suggest so much as both of them could explore what this could become.

Top: PAST – Knight of Cups

From the Affirmators! Tarot: This gentle, imaginative knight is romance personified. He could pertain to your love life but relationships aren’t his only forte. Au contraire! The romance he exudes  is an attitude of being in love with life itself. He reminds you that it’s fine to be sensitive, fun to be generous, and easy to be poetic. To accept his invitation is to embark on a quest of utmost importance: the search for your personal holy grail. That grail—your most priceless treasure—is a radically, shamelessly, open heart. I fall in love with falling in love, and love falling into it with every tiny miracle I stumble upon.

Key words: messenger, romance, adventure, love, emotional investment

Pat’s summary: They don’t really have much of a past—they’ve only really met once and that was because Marius had to kiss her on a dare. Or was it the other way around? This card suggests that they really hit it off—it invokes the idea of a knight in shining armor. That being said, knights tend to be characterized as a bit rash—clearly a first kiss by dare wasn’t the best way to really meet—but knights are also associated with intuition. They may not know each other well, but there’s a good feeling between them to start.

Center: PRESENT + DYNAMIC – Knight of Pentacles

From the Affirmators! Tarot: This guy is all about work, and boy is he good at it. He takes his job seriously, and you can rely on him to accomplish pretty much anything (except sleeping in). His appareance might be telling you to focus hard on yoru responsibilities, and handle whatever you need to handle on your own personal chore wheel. As with all court cards, he might also be representing an actual person in your life; know that this is a trustworthy, dependable soul. I recognize the importance of a mature work ethic, and I maturely accept all of my duties.

Key words: efficiency, hard work, routine, trustworthy, dependable

Pat’s Summary: Their relationship offers them some security in this trying time. Not to say that the two of them are currently at the point where they can depend on the other person, but they themselves know that they would be there for the other, should they need them. To reflect back on the two Sevens from earlier, the suits they have really speak to their personalities: Aloma has Pentacles, which is associated with earth and cultivation; Marius has Wands, which is associated with fire and willpower. If they do meet again, I think their personalities will really shine through—and this is the core of the trust they have to build upon.

Bottom: FUTURE – Page of Pentacles

From the Affirmators! Tarot: The Page of Pentacles is excited about a new venture that could lead to great success and lots of money. He’s a dreamer, yes, but this isn’t just tipsy boasting at the local dive bar. He’s also a planner and a doer. Follow his lead, and turn your spark of inspiration into actual, achievable steps towards your goal. It could be that this Page is beginning a great new chapter. I magically turn my dreams into reality with the magical magic of… to-do lists.

Key words: practical, studious, scholarly, dreams, desire, new opportunity

Pat’s summary: Pages are students, focused on learning and discovery (clearly a central theme in their relationship because of the sevens and the knights) but also the bearer of good news—clearly a reflection of their dependability from before. This card evokes whimsy—pages tend to have childlike personalities—meaning that the work to do together will not be for naught. Their path may not be smooth, but at the core of it they’re willing to make things work.

Pat has more stuff to say because this spread has probably been the most interesting so far

So the Past/Present/Future column has a lot of court cards, which typically represent people or personalities. I can see the two of them being more involved in each others’ lives. The Knights signify that there’s a lot of energy from the both of them and that there’s a quest or a journey they’re embarking on. The Page of Pentacles in their future shows them putting that energy into something fruitful.

Similar to the Julian/Aloma reading, there are a lot of Pentacles in play. (It’s the Hufflepuff suit.) For the Julian/Aloma reading, I said that their relationship is grounded since their Julian/Dynamic/Aloma row had all Pentacles. I think the difference between her relationship with Julian and Marius is this: with Julian, they’ve always cared about each other—but with Marius, with his card being from the suit of Wands, is bringing something new to the table.

Finally, this reading doesn’t have any reversed cards either; typically there’s nothing hidden or confusing involved in the relationship. Not to say that all of this is clear to them nor will it be free of conflict, but I just see readings like these to be ones with the least amount of bullshit involved.

Left: MARIUS – Four of Swords [Mullein, Verbascum tapsuse]

From the Herbal Tarot: Expectorant. Demulcent. Anti-inflammatory. Anti-spasmodic. Used for all upper respiratory complaints. Relieves mucus congestion. Topically relieves pain. Mild calmative. Healing from the wounds of battle. Rest before the final onslaught.

Key words: rest, restoration, contemplation, meditation, calm

Pat’s Summary: Marius has returned home—or at least to Vivienne’s place, basically licking his wounds—not only has he lost Beatrice, he’s had to accept help from places he didn’t think he’d ever need help with. He’s no closer to finding her killer, so he’s that point where he’s just over it. He’s not angry with Avery but he’s certainly not particularly apologetic either—but he’s calmed down significantly. I’ve been pulling a lot of fours lately, so it tends to lean towards these characters being the more ‘stable’, more ‘consistent’ than others.

Right: AVERY– The Devil [Lobella, Lobelia inflata]

From the Herbal Tarot: Lobelia is an antispasmodic, a stimulant, an expectorant and a nauseant. It is used for asthma, lung problems, relieving spasms, nervous tension and cramps, and to induce vomiting. Playfulness. Frivolity. Make believe. Getting loose. Lightening up.

Key words: excess, materialism, playfulness, temptation, seduction, manipulation, addiction, lust

Pat’s Summary: From a previous reading I did for you, the Devil is about temptation—yes, you have choices, but that doesn’t mean those choices don’t have hidden consequences to them. However, the Devil also refers to addiction, obsession, or manipulation. Is there something about Marius that Avery is particularly hyperfocused on? Or is there something he would need to convince or manipulate Marius to do? Most likely he may just be wary of Marius and it’s hard for him to take him seriously. Since this is the only card from the Major Arcana that’s been pulled, Avery’s the one who’s going to be the catalyst for change or conflict of their relationship.

Top: PAST – Queen of Swords [Lady’s Slipper, Cypripedium pubescense]

From the Herbal Tarot: Nervine. Tonic for hysteria, pain, all nervous inflictions and premenstrual syndrome. A serious woman, over thirty-five, who is unswervingly faithful to her goals—quite often at all costs. On the more positive side, she is eminently capable of upholding executive positions.

Key words: complexity, perceptive, clear mindedness, honest, knowledgeable, opinionated

Pat’s summary: So this card really just highlights what their relationship is about: both of them mostly bring their thoughts and opinions to the table and perhaps connecting through their mutual agreements. For the two of them, it’s about the honest truth and hard facts. Marius has no reason to lie to Avery, and Avery has no reason to lie to Marius.

Center: PRESENT + DYNAMIC – Five of Swords [Mistletoe, Viscum albume]

From the Herbal Tarot: Nervine. Antispasmdic. Regulates blood pressure. Treats cancer. Calms the nervous system. Realization of defeat. Need to regain composure and inner peace after the fray. Realization that there are no winners in war.

Key words: defeat, loss, battle, conflict, win at all costs, ambition, sneakiness

Pat’s Summary: They’re both kind of stuck in a garbage situation. For Marius, he’s back where he started—or definitely worse off; he’s at the mercy of his siblings’ generosity. Not to say they’re always fighting (though perhaps they are), but it’s getting to the point where the fight has gone a little too long. Perhaps this fighting has led to some bitterness. Perhaps one of them has gone a step too far—not necessarily something unforgiveable, but enough to put some pause in conversation it’s mentioned.

Bottom: FUTURE – Six of Swords, [Vervain,Verbena Officinaliis]

From the Herbal Tarot: Alterative. Hepatic. Bitter. Antispasmodic. Used for nervousness and irritability caused by congested liver and gallbladder, and for premenstrual tension.

Key words: transition, leaving behind, moving on, healing, travel

Pat’s summary: They’re going back to France. Like, this is the card that has to do with travel over water. Aside from this very straightforward interpretation, it’s probably the only thing they can probably agree on, or the only way to really recover from the stress of conflict.

So, a few other observations about this reading: they don’t have any reversed cards—not to mean that there’s anything explicitly bad about their relationship, but just that it’s very clear to them what’s involved in this relationship. Four out of five of the cards are from the suit of swords (the element of air, involved with logic, ideas, and intellect) so their disagreements are based on certain core fundamental beliefs rather than a true dislike of the other person. Their relationship is almost formal, in a way—if there’s a possible ‘meeting of the minds’ for the two of them to perhaps finally be on the same page, I think that’s the most they may be able to manage in the meantime.

Left: MARIUS – Queen of Swords [Ernst Haeckel, Storyteller]

From the Science Tarot: Artist and biologist Ernst Haeckel remains widely known today for his many books of intricate illustrations in the realm of plant, animal and microscopic life. In his lifetime, his work helped explain Darwin’s theories to the general public. His perceptive and wide-ranging analyses mapped a genealogical tree of Earth’s lifeforms, dividing and defining living organisms according to species, genus, family, and order. His drive to observe, categorize, and communicate his findings about the world’s knowledge created a wellspring of practical knowledge. Even as the world is divided into sections and categories, a storyteller gathers strength and wisdom to achieve a common purpose. While you may be tempted to let emotion dictate your actions, the situation may require direct observation and intellectual investigation instead.

Key words: honest, opinionated, knowledgeable, complexity, perceptive, clear-mindedness

Pat’s Summary: Marius is a little bit emotionally distant, and he’s focused on finding the truth (though not necessarily about Beatrice—though some of my books do say that if this card resembles a person, they might have gone through a recent loss). Between the two of them, he’s the one with a clearer head.

Right: ALBUS – 4 of Wands, Reversed [Brown Dwarf]

From the Science Tarot: Somewhere in a distant galaxy, a brown dwarf waits in a dim corner of space. Once it was on a journey to become a star: clouds of dust and gas drifted together and were compressed and heated by gravity. It seemed inevitable that its future would be spent as a brilliant sun. But the journey came to a halt. Too little mass had gathered, creating too little gravity for fusion to spark. The celestial body that had promised to become a star now instead spends its life waiting at the threshold, unable to cross. Every path we take eventually leads us to a threshold. One day we may gather the courage and strength required for this adventure, and we’ll leap into whatever lies ahead. Or we may remain comfortably at the threshold and watch others begin the journey we may never experience ourselves.

Key words: lack of communication, instability, home conflicts, burnout, cancelled plans

Pat’s Summary: In numerology the number 4 is a “stable” number (think tables and chairs), though since it’s reversed Albus might not feel secure in this friendship. He’s kind of at a crossroads as to whether he actually feels a kinship with Marius. Considering both this card and Marius’s card, Marius is the reliable lab partner and Albus is undecided as to whether he trusts Marius.

Top: PAST – King of Pentacles [Marie Curie, Visionary]

From the Science Tarot: Marie Curie’s commanding role in chemistry and the nascent field of radiology brought her from Nobel prizewinning laboratory work to the French-German battle front during World War I. Working with her husband at the turn of the century, Curie coined the term “radioactivity” and discovered two elements, radium and polonium. Her personal efforts were responsible not only for the development of x-ray technology, but also for the production of mobile x-ray labs, called Petites Curies, which made lifesaving surgery possible on the battlefield. The determination and bravery that guided her through decades of scientific discovery served her countrymen well as she assisted with injured soldiers in the heart of the conflict. Marie Curie was undaunted by personal or technical challenges and was driven from within to pursue the most vital and complex of goals. This visionary woman calls upon us to look into the distance, take command and do what must be done.

Key words: security, stability, financial advice, trustworthy, disciplined, abundance, power

Pat’s summary: Pentacles have to do with money, which is nuts because they literally met at a bank lol but the King is seen as a provider (while the Queen is more of a “nurturer”) so their relationship, or how it began, was mostly transactional in nature, but it does prepare them for what’s coming for them moving forward.

Center: PRESENT + DYNAMIC – 8 of Wands, Reversed [Big Bang]

From the Science Tarot: The universe was born billions of years ago with an explosion of such tremendous force that the galaxies that formed fromt eh scattered debris are still speeding away from one another. As you send your work into the world, a universe of possibilities expands and influence grows more powerful. The writer, inventor, and scientist launch works into the public sphere to challenge, support, and inspire their colleagues worldwide. Their creative energies released today will continue to influence lives for years to come.

Key words: obstacles, waiting, slowing down, feeling stuck, delays, not feeling ready for change

Pat’s Summary: With the 8, it’s a push towards the “end” of the numbers; this number typically signifies movement. But the reversal means something is stalled here, like there’s an obstacle they have to wait through or get past, though they might not be sure what it is yet.

Bottom: FUTURE – The Chariot [Technology]

From the Science Tarot: Technology harnesses the power of nature to achieve human goals. Long ago we imagined ships that might fly us through the air and into space. Years of observation, experiment, and struggle brought these dreams into reality. Technology demands an understanding of what we have learned and a vision of what may be possible. We begin each flight with our feet on the ground and our eyes turned towards the sky. The Chariot carries us between opposites, from the world we know well to the places we have never been. Imagination can be balanced by calculation, ambition with caution. When we gain control over ourselves, our emotions and the forces of nature, we can escape the gravity of the familiar world and reach our higher ideals.

Key words: confidence, courage, overcoming obstacles, travel, success, direction, control, willpower

Pat’s summary: If they ever get their shit together, they can actually get moving and get a lot done. The Chariot is a ‘success’ card but it means that they do have to take control of their situation to really get things going!

Queen of Cups, Reversed: vulnerability, disconnect, overly sensitive, emotionally drained

“You’re very sensitive to others; this makes energetic boundaries important to your own self-care. Keeping these boundaries up all the time, though, can leave you disconnected from those you care about and even with your own higher power. Find a balance between being open to those in need and leaving yourself vulnerable to emotional drains.” - Mickie and Daniel Mueller, The Magical Dogs Tarot

There had never been such a thing as business as usual for Marius after Beatrice had died. He had lost their Maida Vale apartment long ago. He hadn’t shown up to work, obsessed with revenge and drowning in heartache. But at least now he was home.

“I don’t think I can answer that,” Marius laughed. “How could I think about marrying again? Well, not again, but getting married in the first place, since I wasn’t even married the first time?”

He didn’t think himself to be cursed. He just wasn’t looking. Besides, he wasn’t really entitled to any inheritances or dowries; for as long as he had pushed his siblings to buck tradition, he found himself conforming the longer he stayed with his sister. Sure, he wasn’t going to marry anyone out of the Sacred Twenty-Eight, but there were definitely candidates who were good and who were willing to move up.

Again, if Marius had tried.

“I mean, I’m sure she’ll come along—” Although Marius wasn’t convinced that his one wasn’t only a she. And whoever his only one was wasn’t going to come along from in between his sister’s topiaries. His mother blathered back about how important this was and Marius couldn’t even say he was busy. He didn’t have money to spend—you needed a wand as identification for the bank and he was just too stubborn to ask for it back, even if he was on his best behavior.

Besides, Marius didn’t need a wand. He had house-elves and he had macarons and he could heat up his own tea water. Finley had an extensive library that Marius could go back into reading about the Dark Arts—out of his own morbid curiosity—like he used to.

But he had been without a wand for so long that it didn’t seem to matter, anyway. The books never explained why strange and terrible events always happened because of him, but probably because Marius wasn’t looking in the right books, at least not at first. The spontaneous explosions, the burning hands, the heat that crept along his limbs. This new ability—though could he call it new? He had dealt with it for months! And nor was it really an ability so much as it was an unfortunate accident…

None of it was inherently Dark. He wasn’t cursed by a normal wix’s definition of cursed, but it was a part of him that was uncontrolled. It was terrifying, this idea that he could possibly just spontaneously combust at any moment—maybe that was why he hadn’t properly presented himself as a suitor yet—but he didn’t and he was safe. Being home was just an opportunity to figure out how not to lose himself.

And he didn’t want to admit it, but he lost himself to Beatrice. He was desperate to find her again, though revenge, through divination, through long afternoons sulking about how little he had done for her. He was lying in wait, he told himself. Everything else was just a distraction—or was everything else just a means of moving on?

@lafemme-lestrange​

Vivienne always made good on her promises of macarons, but Marius hadn’t yet taken any. Instead he just stared at them, but not with the same expectant expression his sister had. He rubbed his eyes before speaking again.

“You know Beatrice—Beatrice and I left to make our own way, right?”

That was one way to preface everything.

“Not that I didn’t miss it here. There just wasn’t anything for me here. Not really. Avery got the business and you were assigned to Finley and all I wanted was to be happier than the both of you.

“And I almost did it. That’s what’s so tragic about all this is the almost. There’s no trying again for me. I didn’t have anything to lose after that. If I couldn’t be happy, then no one else got to be. I wouldn’t have killed Dominique—please, I wouldn’t have been capable anyway—but I just wanted to see her suffer in the way I did. And that kind of thing isn’t something I thought about, it just happened, and I can’t quite rationalize how or why I did it other than just... wanting to watch someone else hurt more than I did?

“So I do owe you something there. For the memory charm. I don’t know. How long ago did I burn Avery at that Quidditch game?”

Marius took a breath and leaned back into the cushions. How the hell was he supposed to keep track of all the months?

“There was a lot of back and forth between Hogsmeade and Diagon—whatever. Sometimes I made it with the muggles, asking them for a bit of help, and they were all perfectly nice to me. I mean, nicer than magical people, anyway. Some witch cornered me, asked me about my business—made a promise about looking for Beatrice’s murderer and immediately betrayed me.  You can’t trust anyone these days, really.

“And I was just so damn pissed that I flipped a table at a Harvest Festival? The one at the village? But for good reason! They literally admitted to me that they were selling Veritaserum cupcakes to the goddamn Ministry of Magic! That’s—I am so sure that’s illegal, and they deserved it, obviously—but not without an Auror dragging me back to the castle and throwing me into a dungeon. This place is just so fucked up in so many ways and it’s like no amount of justice will ever turn it right again. So in prison I was. I thought about asking to write you to try to get me out—but I wasn’t just going to ask. I decided to wait.

“But I wasn’t the only one in a dungeon as a prisoner. I was probably there a few weeks before they threw someone else in—they were accused of an attack at the... the school? I think that place was a school but there were more Ministry people around—and more of them kept getting thrown into the dungeon. Some really liked to scream for help. Like it actually did anything. But maybe it worked.

“A couple of renegades had come to save us. Or one came for me—she was from the Zabini’s. It was a new life for me after that. The family took care of me for... months. It was the first time I felt like I was home, and I had forgotten why I left in the first place. I was falling in love with the Zabini girl... and then I felt guilty.

“I couldn’t save Beatrice and I couldn’t find her killer. I couldn’t make the world any better of a place for her. I wasn’t allowed to be happy until I figured it all out, and maybe the Zabini girl... knew all this. She was always a step ahead of me, and she never turned me out of the house—but I knew when my time had come to leave. I was planning on it on Valentine’s Day, during your party. Maybe I’d take the sleazy way and go home with someone. And there were a few I met where I thought to myself, maybe I could be in love with someone like you.

“I didn’t remember names really. Lots of faces. One of them was an athlete? Another was a girl, one I kissed during that bottle game. I wish I knew. But none of them were the Zabini girl, that’s for sure; I was back on the street trying to scrape enough to get from one place to another. And you know how it is with people like us, you can’t really ask any of your friends for anything. You wait for them to offer.

“And who was going to offer me anything? I didn’t have anything worthwhile to offer, other than the Lestrange family heirloom--my pocketwatch. You would literally have to pry that out of my cold dead hands. And even then, what’s it’s worth to anyone? You can’t really use it, can you? But I really thought I could make it on my own. And I almost did. Fuck, almost.

“I couldn’t keep myself out of other people’s business. This time around, I didn’t even mean to—would you believe I actually know Albus Potter? We met at a bank—well, I accidentally burned him, no idea how that happened since I’ve been without a wand for months now—and I have him some blood... as to not have me sent to that castle dungeon again. He’s so... I can’t even say annoying, can I? I want to punch him in the mouth so bad—but he’s doing some... interesting stuff. With the blood. Because I think I’m helping him—but we’re not like friends—what the hell do I do? Punch him in the mouth?”

@lafemme-lestrange​

Vivienne did a double take nearly strolling in her designer heels straight passed the man begging for coins. It wasn’t until she registered his voice that she back tracked in confusion.

“Marius? Oh my goodness is that you?”

At the sound of his name, Marius bolted in the other direction, only to crash into another witch, whose levitated stack of boxes dropped as her charm was broken by the impact. 

Marius slowly took his time to get up, hiding his face as much as possible and just trying to think of a way out.