ššØš«ššš¬ Ā š¦ššššØš°šš¬.
where: Ā the Ā three Ā broomsticks
when: august thirty-first
for: Ā @marlseneā
Ā Ā Ā with the start of term greeting the students once more,Ā dorcas Ā has Ā found Ā herself Ā spending Ā more Ā and Ā more Ā timeĀ wondering around throughout the castle and the surrounding grounds.Ā looking Ā for Ā the Ā familiar Ā things Ā that Ā she Ā loved Ā about Ā the Ā castle Ā that Ā she Ā so Ā desperately Ā felt Ā the Ā call Ā to Ā go Ā back Ā to, Ā but Ā things Ā just Ā were Ā not Ā the Ā same.Ā nothing Ā was Ā the Ā same Ā as Ā it Ā used Ā to Ā be. Ā
Ā Ā Ā dorcas Ā found Ā herself Ā walking Ā towards Ā theĀ threeĀ broomsticks, Ā a Ā haven Ā of Ā familiarity.Ā no Ā matter Ā what Ā was Ā happening Ā in Ā the Ā world, Ā theĀ threeĀ broomsticks Ā was Ā a Ā place Ā that Ā would Ā never Ā change. Ā The Ā sticky Ā floors Ā that Ā conquered Ā one Ā too Ā many Ā shoesĀ thenĀ she Ā was Ā willing Ā to Ā admit Ā and Ā the Ā smell Ā of Ā scratched Ā up Ā old Ā wood Ā that Ā made Ā the Ā place Ā feel Ā like Ā a Ā second Ā home where she could hide in plain sight. the people that were here barely spared her a look and if they did, they just turned the faces away and never said a word to the girl.
Ā Ā Ā thisĀ second Ā home was full Ā of Ā boisterousĀ drunk studentsĀ who Ā were Ā far Ā too Ā easy Ā to Ā scam Ā for Ā a Ā couple Ā galleons Ā in Ā quick Ā gameĀ of Ā poker.Ā the Ā drunk kids failed Ā to Ā bluff Ā andĀ dorcas, Ā well, Ā she Ā could Ā keep Ā a Ā solid Ā poker Ā face.Ā the Ā sounds Ā of Ā ā damns ā Ā and Ā groans Ā filled Ā her Ā ears Ā as Ā she Ā once Ā again Ā took Ā the Ā pot Ā from Ā the Ā three first years, Ā throwing Ā one Ā of Ā them Ā a Ā galleon Ā with Ā a Ā quick Ā ā get Ā yourself Ā a Ā drink.Ā on Ā me. ā
Ā Ā Ā pulling Ā the Ā cards Ā back Ā to Ā her,Ā dorcas Ā shuffled Ā the Ā cards Ā over Ā and Ā over Ā again Ā as Ā she Ā looked Ā around Ā the Ā bar that was in full swing with the unofficial memorial for the professor, Ā her Ā eyes Ā meeting Ā withĀ marleneĀ mckinnonās.Ā she Ā raised Ā her Ā eyebrow Ā as Ā she Ā lifted Ā her Ā drink Ā and Ā tipped Ā it Ā towards Ā the Ā woman Ā that Ā had Ā caught Ā her Ā eye. Ā
Ā Ā Ā ā if Ā looks Ā could Ā kill Ā I Ā think Ā Iād Ā already Ā be Ā in Ā the Ā graveyard, āĀ dorcas Ā joked Ā as Ā placed Ā the Ā cards Ā out Ā on Ā the Ā table Ā and Ā started Ā to Ā deal Ā out Ā two Ā sets Ā of Ā five Ā cards.
Ā Ā Ā ā galleon Ā for Ā your Ā thoughts,Ā mckinnon? āĀ
ādoe!āĀ marleneĀ exclaimedĀ whenĀ theĀ otherĀ witchĀ caughtĀ herĀ eye,Ā aĀ genuineĀ smileĀ gracingĀ herĀ featuresĀ Ā āĀ theĀ twoĀ hadnātĀ beenĀ muchĀ moreĀ thanĀ acquaintancesĀ atĀ hogwarts,Ā butĀ theyĀ hadĀ grown. significantlyĀ closerĀ overĀ theĀ courseĀ ofĀ theĀ lastĀ coupleĀ ofĀ years,Ā muchĀ toĀ herĀ delight.Ā inĀ theĀ gryffindorāsĀ humbleĀ opinion,Ā oneĀ couldĀ neverĀ haveĀ tooĀ manyĀ friends.Ā Ā āoh,Ā theyĀ canĀ sodĀ rightĀ off.āĀ sheĀ slurred,Ā theĀ alcoholĀ coursingĀ throughĀ herĀ systemĀ onlyĀ fuelingĀ herĀ alreadyĀ lion-heartedĀ nature;Ā somethingĀ thatĀ marleneĀ neverĀ botheredĀ toĀ hideĀ away,Ā whichĀ wasĀ bothĀ aĀ blessingĀ andĀ aĀ curse,Ā really.Ā āyouāreĀ justĀ goingĀ toĀ winĀ again,Ā youĀ know.āĀ withĀ aĀ laugh,Ā sheĀ raisedĀ herĀ glassĀ toĀ herĀ lipsĀ andĀ tookĀ aĀ longĀ drink,Ā wincingĀ slightlyĀ asĀ theĀ chilledĀ firewhiskeyĀ burnedĀ theĀ backĀ ofĀ herĀ throat.Ā Ā āiāmĀ shitĀ atĀ cardĀ games.Ā but,Ā ifĀ youĀ insist...āĀ sheĀ joked,Ā raisingĀ herĀ eyebrowsĀ inĀ drunkenĀ amusementĀ asĀ sheĀ reachedĀ forĀ herĀ cigarettes,Ā swiftlyĀ fishingĀ oneĀ outĀ ofĀ theĀ pack.Ā sheĀ glancedĀ aroundĀ theĀ crowdedĀ barĀ forĀ aĀ momentĀ beforeĀ eventuallyĀ fixingĀ dorcasĀ withĀ aĀ semi-concernedĀ look.Ā Ā āareĀ weĀ allowedĀ toĀ smokeĀ inĀ here?Ā iāmĀ guessingĀ theĀ answerĀ isĀ yes,Ā butĀ iĀ donātĀ wantĀ toĀ beĀ rude.āĀ
