*// despicable

Social niceties were only mandatory if others paid attention to you, being a Borgin, Elisabeth wasn’t one of the highly regarded Sacred 28, and had never been much of a socialite. Not that she minded her name being off the list, because being associated with the likes of the Prewetts, Weasleys, and Longbottoms wasn’t something she wanted either. And it allowed her to go unnoticed when that was often the goal. The less attention she attracted, the safer she was. “Maybe I should dress like this more often.” People might let her alone if she came off intimidating enough for Mulciber. Twisting the ring again, further this time, steam rose from the outside of the glass. “I pick my accessories very carefully, Malachi. I wouldn’t want to be bored.” Nor bore any audience that she might have. In this crowd, they were all potential patrons. Returning, or otherwise. “Maybe I’ll even let you play with it.” If she was feeling generous, or wanted him to keep one of her father’s friends from coming over to socialize with her.

his mother’s maiden name sat proudly on the list of those who would believe themselves to be part of the upper echelon of wizarding society. by blood that meant he was as well, yet malachi had been able to sit comfortably on the outskirts. proving the only gift his father had even given the wizard in his short life was the name mulciber. and with his marriage to elsa it was a gift he’d give his eventual children as well. “i wouldn’t advise against it. there is something inherently threatening about a woman who spends all her time in a ball gown.” in the time she’d spent with alecto he’d learn to appreciate many varieties of intimidation factors without being completely moved by them. “what will it cost me?”

— she’d had a few drinks because if she had to listen to another comment about narcissa without it, she was going to rip someone’s head off, so it really wasn’t surprising that when the girl her mother had introduced her to made a snide remark about the whole affair, elsa had, rather rudely, made a snide remark about the girl’s dress. all while smiling as if nothing was wrong. the younger rosier had promptly turned on her heel and walked away, making it five steps before she recognised someone else and was swept into a new conversation, thankfully about the dragons they were now working with since graduation.

   she’d rather have been home with malachi. or at least skipped the ministry event. because at least somewhere else she wouldn’t be dragged away from him because she was expected to be social. but her mother would never have allowed it. these wouldn’t seem so bad if she’d been the one to do the event planning. then at least, she’d be seeing her own hard work coming to life.

   her smile grew as she heard malachi’s voice, though, and she spun around, beaming up at him. “ of course you can steal me for a dance. ” she took his hand, moving to walk towards where the floor had been set up for dancing. she turned and reached up, dragging malachi’s head down so she could kiss him briefly. “ tell me again, ” she murmured against his lips.

when they’d arrived he’d acquiesced to the older rosier’s demands of her daughter's time. though he didn’t do so happily and allowed that to be known. the response to the news of the malfoy’s elopement making him bolder knowing neither of their parents could handle such a thing. malachi’s attention had stayed on her even as she spoke with his father’s colleagues.

he met her easily reveling in the show of affection. “you are the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. actually, the most beautiful woman in the world; a truly ethereal.” he said pulling back with a smile on his face. “the love of my life. even though i have to fight your mother for any time with you.”  the music sounded far away from then as he pulled her closer. 

knowing now both of their mothers could be malachi for a moment he wondered if this is what their wedding was destined to be. especially now that its competition looked far less daunting. that along with that time he’d given up was the principal reasoning for the amount of elsa’s time he attempted to monopolize. “i’m thinking i’ll tell your mother we’re adding the house elves to the wedding tonight. she far less likely to curse me in front of people, and if she does at least your cousin isn’t the topic of conversation anymore.” 

Christmas Eve || Ministry Ball

The short glass of firewhiskey on the rocks sweated in Batty’s long fingers. She studied it, finding it much more fascinating to watch than the crowd around her. The dark haired witch had pulled a ring out of her clutch and put it on, spinning it ever so slightly to freeze and unfreeze the glass. It was almost calming to do, in the midist of the large gathering. Would the participants ever realize that the majority didn’t fancy being there and cease such frivolous events? It’d been happening for a few centuries, so she doubted it. Despite the fake smiles and miserable looks that appeared when others thought no one was looking, their society loved chaos in the form of drama and gossip, among destruction and terror when it suited them. Batty twisted her ring again, the glass frosting over, droplets of water freezing beneath her skin. She felt the eyes on her a moment before and they’d returned, but the Borgin girl didn’t look up. “Just because I’m dressed up, doesn’t mean you need to be intimidated to say hello, my darling.” She informed the other, finally glancing back and hinted to the ring. “Or are you simply interested in what you see?” 

@morsmordrestarters​

the point in the night where he started to keep himself entertained with the bar had finally arrived. taking whatever attempt at sophistication they were going for this time. the introductions had started to blur into each other very few of his father’s colleagues being of any interest to him. malachi made the decision that he would at least attempt to avoid boring some young wizard to death when the time came. yet in a place held together by tradition things like that were easier said than actually committed to. “you’d have had me fooled.” he was thankful for at least a familiar face that would drag him a conversation that amounted to unsolicited advice. a smile formed at her question, “you don’t seem surprised.” as soon as she’d used it his attention had been caught, which unsurprisingly she’d noticed. 

had it not been the expectation of her attendance malachi would have chosen to spend his night at home without a second thought. but she’d welcomed him back with open arms, and repeated professions of love. so the least he could do was spend the night out to spare his fiancée any more questioning. 

“i hate to interrupt, but can i steal you for a dance?”  he’d excused himself from whatever mindless conversation had been happening around him. most interested spending at least part of his time with the woman preoccupying his thoughts. seeing her dressed like this send a pang of anticipation through him. if there hadn’t been enough scandal about supposedly rushed weddings he’d have married her tonight. “have i told you today that you’re the most beautiful woman i’ve ever seen?”

Christmas Eve- Ministry Ball

Narcissa felt the eyes on her the minute she walked into the room. There was no point in hiding now. The damage had already been done and well…it wasn’t as if Smudgley had been wrong. There would be another scandal soon and that would eclipse any sort of notion about their elopement. Now, she just had to make sure to survive the night without hexing someone. It was already proving to be a herculean task. 

It didn’t take long for the now Malfoy to need a break. She moved out into the hallway, sipping the champagne she had with her. It didn’t take long to find an empty chair and sitting down, pulling out her mirror to check her make up. Ever vigilant, she felt eyes on her the moment she sat down. She had hoped they would have looked away but she knew they were still watching. Without even looking away from her reflection she spoke loud enough to be heard. “I’m afraid I’m charging for pictures tonight if that’s what you’re looking for. A galleon each or five if we’re in it together.” @morsmordrestarters​

at one point he’d been almost criminally good at dealing with these sorts of things, but right now everything registered at just the wrong side of too much. he’d considered just skipping the event altogether, but he wouldn’t leave elsa to continue answering questions about his whereabouts. there had been enough running from his problems for the time. 

he’d seen narcissa enter the hall, they all had. just in listening to elsa’s feelings on the matter made him feel for the newlyweds. despite his feelings on lucius himself. “i can’t say that i blame you for that. “ he spoke with a shrug. after enough mindless pleasantries to last him until at least this time next year malachi had excused himself from the main hall. and hadn’t been completely surprised to find the witch there. “in my personal opinion, not that you asked, you’re not charging enough.” 

— leaving had never even occurred to her. at least, leaving without him hadn’t. if she left, it would be with malachi and evan or not at all. elsa wondered if she could convince him to leave, even if he didn’t change sides, just to leave, go somewhere safe until the war ended. they could do what they wanted with their lives. but could she really leave everyone else ? she wasn’t sure. she could keep up the facade, though. she’d been doing it long enough that it wouldn’t be that hard. 

   she wasn’t sure if she was worried about how unconcerned her mother had been about her refusal to be involved in anything through the whole time malachi had been gone. she hadn’t commented on the unanswered owls, the short responses. she hadn’t even shown up to demand her daughter pay attention to her. the elves had even given her space, although dorna had mothered her even more than usual, forcing her into basic habits. 

   she clutched at him, fingers digging into the back of his shirt as she pressed a kiss to his shoulder. “ i missed you too, ” she murmured into his neck. she pulled her face back slightly when she realised she was crying, lifting one hand to wipe at her eyes while still clinging to him. “ of course i forgive you. ” she pressed her face back into the crook of his neck. “ i love you. ”

there were many times during the long quiet nights in egypt he’d let himself fall into such hopeless thinking. trying to convince himself they could just leave and enjoy their lives together. but the truth would that they’d be running, and would have to keep running forever. malachi’s own self-interest he was barely cared for, but he wouldn’t subject her to a life like that. 

his father was the type of person that had eyes everywhere, so the angry barrage of letters hadn’t come as a complete shock to him. despite his actions, for once, malachi understood the man’s concern. if she chose to hide the parts of herself that he’d fallen in love with elsa could easily do better than him, and this. their pairing had been pure luck on his part, and yet he was recklessly willing to endanger that. 

i love you.

it felt like his heart stopped at those three small words. he stepped back to be able to look her in the eyes. it felt like he was dreaming, and would wake up somewhere far from her drowning in regret. “say it again.” he held her face in his hands, taking time to appreciate how beautiful she was before kissing her. “please, i need to hear you say it again.”  there must have been some life he had led before where he’d earned this. because nothing about the actions he’d taken in his current state of being hand warranted this. “i want you to understand that you’re it for me.” he said slowly. “we’re meant for each other.”

— alecto shrugged, “ how do you know i don’t have some grand scheme involving a mission completely ill-suited to both of us ? ” she grinned. “ i can’t succeed if you’re expecting me to try, can i ? surprise is going to be the key. ” sure, they were probably being set up for failure. there was no way the dark lord didn’t know they weren’t a good fit for this. 

   “ well, people are shallow enough that they’ll just support you because you’re attractive. at least for a while. ” alecto grinned. she laughed, “ of course there is. we’re supposed to be the muscle, not the ones out doing this, ” alecto rolled her eyes. she tilted her head, “ ugh, less heavy-handed is what they want us to do, right ? ” she grumbled. “ is this a test ? ”

“im going to be honest. of all the possible options that is easily the worst one.” he spoke with a shake of his head. “fair, but that means you’d actually have to make more friends. and that’s not a sacrifice you’re willing to make.” the felt like a set up if he’d even seen one. malachi owed whoever the clever idea belonged to a punch to the jaw. 

“this is the most complimentary you’ve ever been of me. i’m starting to think we’re having a moment.” from their surroundings alone malachi already knew they weren’t going to be thrilled to see alecto or himself. he’d doubted they’d chosen their current surrounding if they weren’t hiding. “hey you’re the one that brings the insight to this team, you tell me.” he sighed. “but if i had to guess, yes it is.”  

— lunch hadn’t been so bad. her mother had, mercifully, barely mentioned malachi or the engagement, instead opting to discuss the upcoming holidays and the rosier family plans. although, elsa’s mind had wandered to anxieties about what if malachi left her and she was alone for them? she wasn’t sure she’d be able to handle that. and then she’d moved on to wonder whether her mother knew that anything was going on. she hadn’t said anything, hadn’t done anything but ask how he was, which she’d claimed he’d been away for work. there had been no mention of elsa’s refusal to go out anywhere, of how little anyone had seen of her. and she wasn’t sure it would have gone so unnoticed.

she’d barely slept in the past weeks, waking up from nightmares most nights, or being woken by one of the elves before the nightmare could wake her. they’d been so worried, and dorna had taken to bringing her food, the most work she’d done for elsa for meals in a long time. she was pretty sure they’d started sleeping in shifts so that one of them would always be awake with her when she couldn’t get herself back to sleep, as well. now, though, it was odd that she’d arrived home and hadn’t seen any of them.

  she had been so lost in her mind that she hadn’t even realised malachi was home until he said her name. that explained the lack of house elves, she thought. they were probably giving them space. elsa stared, wide-eyed for a moment, “ m-malachi.” she bit her lip, taking a deep breath as she mulled over what to say. she didn’t know what to say. i love you and i’m pretty sure i’ll die without you, please don’t leave maybe ? she let her book drop, launching herself at malachi, arms and legs wrapping around him as she did. “ i-i… you’re home, ” she mumbled against his neck.

for the first time in his life, malachi had to question where his loyalties truly laid. his thought had eventually moved from her leaving to what would happen if someone else found out. soon he had come to realize that in facilitating their pairing his parents had made their worst mistake. he’d have followed her the world over if it meant keeping her out of harm's way. things were too far gone now he’d have chosen her over anyone in the world. 

most nights he didn’t remember actually falling asleep. his days had blended together quite some time ago. it was obvious avery had been avoiding questioning him recently not that he blamed him he’d been a right pain in the ass. however, it was nice to know somebody cared outside of the parental disapproval. 

one look at her face and his heart was shattered. relief was written all over here and it confirmed he didn’t deserve the woman in front of him. in the back of his mind he’d expected her to use the time to take her leave. but here she was and happy to see him of all things. now that she was in his arms malachi knew he wouldn’t jeopardize her ever again. “i’ve missed you so much.” he spoke into her hair. “can you ever forgive me?”

— while having had the small group with reina, dolohov, and malfoy had been fun — in part because she got to annoy malfoy just by being there — she didn’t like group… anything. and it was an odd pairing, too. maybe they were supposed to scare them into joining. she could do that. 

   alecto grinned, “ you’re right; you know me too well, ” she laughed. she rolled her shoulders, “ i’m quite certain the dark lord is expecting me to kill my partner if he sends anyone else with me. ” she gave a slight eyeroll. “ you’re not ? ” alecto feigned shock. “ and here i thought you were going to go on to be the next minister for magic with just your charisma. ” alecto teased. “ well i, i will have you know, am great with words. do what i want or else. ” she grinned. “ maybe he’s just expecting us to make threats until we get what we want. ” she suggested, after a minute.

“now that i’m thinking about it i don’t even remember the last attempt you made on my life. keep this up and i’m going to start thinking you actually enjoy my company instead of just tolerating it.” he was convinced one of two things were happening here. either they were being completely set up for failure, or there was some attempt at reverse psychology. and knowing how those lot worked each option was likely as the other. 

“unfortunately one can only get so far on their sexual magnetism.” he rolled his eyes as she spoke. “and that is exactly the type of leadership we’re missing in the ministry.” malachi retorted. “probably, but i still feel like there is probably some better suited for this.” his gaze roamed for a minute before he shrugged. “are we going full pomp and circumstance? or something a little less heavy-handed?”:

closed starter for @mulciberii​​

— she’d reluctantly dragged herself out to a lunch with her mother, despite still wanting to just sulk. but she’d needed the distraction, and she’d painted on enough makeup that she hadn’t looked quite as exhausted as she felt. now, though, she trudged through the house to wash it off of her face, not wanting to keep it on any longer. it wasn’t like she had to convince the elves she wasn’t entirely sleep deprived. they knew perfectly well that she hadn’t been sleeping.

   she hadn’t had such a long stretch without the nightmares until she’d been with malachi. she felt safe with him. and even though they’d grown more infrequent since she was fifteen, they’d never just disappeared the way they had when she’d moved in. but the nights since he’d left, even though he’d promised to be back after taking time to think, the images of the attack had haunted her dreams, and she’d kept herself awake long enough that she was too exhausted to dream, just to avoid seeing the incident in her mind.

   but wiping away her foundation revealed the dark circles, proving just how little sleep she’d gotten, and she scowled at herself in the mirror, quickly dabbing on moisturiser before escaping to the living room to curl on the couch with a potions book she was unlikely to retain any information from.

it had only been a matter of time before his parents found out. he hadn’t planned on being away for as long as he had, nevertheless here they were. the older mulciber had practically been vibrating with rage when malachi finally spoke to him. they were acting like he was leaving her, which wasn’t helped by his unwillingness to answer any of their questions. 

saying he’d been miserable the entire time he’d been away would be an understatement. in the previous weeks, he’d learned just how little sleep his body could run on. his work being fueled by sheer force of will at times. even when he’d arrived back from egypt he hadn’t had it in him to go straight home. finding his potion aided sleep at avery’s.  but enough was enough, and even if they were headed to what felt like an impending doom elsa deserved better than his absence. malachi was both disappointed and relieved that she’d been out when he’d arrived. not that it had same him from an awkward encounter with the house-elves. he’d expected them to be angry with him, and merln had he been right. 

he’d been putting the last of his bags away when he’d heard her arrive. malachi’s heartbeat was drumming in his ears and he was certain if she’d arrived any earlier in the process he’d have lost his nerve. for as much time as he’d been gone from her, he still had no idea what to say. his feelings he was firm in, but how to voice them was something different. “elsa...” 

closed for @mulciberii​

— usually, alecto was sent alone, mostly because she tended to cause problems when she went with others, barring amycus and malachi. so she hadn’t been on a mission with anyone else in a while. but she did actually enjoy having malachi along.

   just get the information i wanted and convince them to join. you don’t need to play with your victims, they’d been told. although the last part had been more directed at her. in her professional opinion, if they couldn’t be convinced to change loyalties, she didn’t see the point in leaving them alive.

   alecto hummed as she apparated to their meeting point — fifteen minutes late — smirking when she spotted malachi. “ sorry. i got a little sidetracked, ” she said, twisting her hair up into a messy bun to keep it from her face. “ this’ll be fun, i haven’t been sent on anything with anyone else in a few months. ” 

alecto must have been the one to acknowledge them in some way, because malachi had still been utterly confused when they’d continued on. he didn't mind working in a group but normally he sent him on his own as well. usually in search of a particular item. when he went in search of people, it was usually never for something delicate. that mixed with the common knowledge of alecto’s reputation had left him stunned. 

who sends two killers to a negotiation? 

he’d expected her tardiness, taking his time getting there for that reason. alecto did things as she chose to, not that he blamed her for having a rebellious streak. there was no denying they worked well together, most of that he credited to accepting alecto as she was. “you don’t have to lie to me.” he said after a short laugh from her apology. “after hearing whispers about the last time i’m not surprised. but i’m not sure why they sent us to do this.” He answered with a shrug. “im not known for my way with words.” 

PATERNAL GRANDPARENTS:

Dominic Mulciber - Jeff Bridges

Current: Potioneer

Amelie Mulciber (nee Laurent) - Sally Field

Current: Housewife

Like many couples, their marriage was decided behind closed doors without either having any say in the matter. Formally, they’d only spoken in person a handful of times before their wedding. In the beginning, neither had any real interest in each other but did their best to present well in public the two operating more like roommates than a married couple. It took a few years before they announced the birth of their first child, Malachi’s father, Damian.  When all was said and done they would go one to have two more children together. 

Dominic is known to be a stern man who had high expectations for his sons and was not know to spare them. Even in his younger years, he was known for the cold manner in which he dealt with the people around him.  His regimented manner assisted him well in his career as a Potioneer. He now owns an apothecary and is still doing a lot of the brewing of his own products himself.  While his expectations are still very high he has softened in his older age and is known to favor Malachi despite having not spoken to Damian in years. 

Amelie grew up in the French countryside as the middle of three daughters with aspirations of owning a bakery at some point.  She is the youngest of three children and the only daughter. Her parents were French wandmakers.  Despite her agreeable nature it took her some time to warm up to the uncompromising man she’d married. Though she won him over rather quickly and is the apple of her husband's eye. Acts as the family mediator more often than not. 

Dominic and Alexander Rowle have been close friends from their time at Hogwarts together. And both couples are still known to spend time together quite frequently. 

While Amelie does not share her husband’s views on blood purity she values her family's reputation too much to voice such opinions.  

MATERNAL GRANDPARENTS:

Alexander Rowle - Mark Harmon 

Previous: Unspeakable & Head of the Department of Mysteries 

Current:  Member of the Wizengamot

Jacqueline Rowle (nee O’Grady) - Susan Sarandon

Previous: Professional Quidditch Player & Head Coach of the Holyhead Harpies

Current:  Bookshop Owner

Alexander Rowle was enamored with his eventual wife the moment he laid eyes on her. She was boisterous and extroverted which let the two to butt heads for all of the seven years they spent at Hogwarts together. While they did marry for love it was far from a fairytale. Their relationship started on the heels of a drunken kiss in the midst of a petty argument at a party when Jacqueline challenged the other. What followed was a whirlwind relationship that ended in Alexander purposing before his family had even that the time to consider suitors. While they weren’t thrilled with his choice, not believing her to refined enough, ultimately they stopped arguing with him because she came from an otherwise desirable background. The two went on to have two children together. 

Jacqueline Rowle was the firstborn to a large family that resided just outside of Dublin. She’d grown up working hard either at home or in the bookshop her parents owned. Regardless of their best efforts, she was always a bit rough around the edges.  Her natural curiosity helped her excel during her time at Hogwarts despite the posh Englishman who seemed to make her life miserable. After graduation, she went on to play professional quidditch first for the Kenmare Kestrels, and then later for the Holyhead Harpies. After the birth of her second child and a string of injuries, she moved on to coaching which she did until a few years ago when she retired from Quidditch all together. Jacqueline is a very outspoken witch who had a hard time transitioning to type of life her husband was born into. She is a very capable witch who was regarded for her spell casting prowess. She currently runs her family bookstore in Dublin which many Irish families preferring to purchase their school materials there. 

Alexander was always rather particular. As a young boy, he was known to do things repeatedly until they were up to whatever standard he’d placed upon himself. During his school years, he was as meticulous as ever. His work always well researched and perfectly written. So being view as comparable to someone as crude as a girl who called herself Jac drove him up a wall. With many of the men in his family being career politicians, it was unsurprising when he took a position within the ministry. While politics weren’t his focus he has been a lifelong ministry employee working as an Unspeakable and heading the department all together before his retirement. He’s been a member of the  Wizengamot for the last ten years. 

PARENTS:

Damian Mulciber - Jeffery Dean Morgan

Previous: Dragon Killer

Current: Head of the Beast Division

Eleanor Muciber (nee Rowle) - Elizabeth Hurley

Current: Housewife

The announcement of their engagement was a shock, to say the least. With the Rowle’s love story, it was expected their children would have the ability to do the same. The two had grown up together with Eleanor being one of the few able to break the young wizard self-imposed isolation at times. Nonetheless, it was safe the say the two hated each other. Despite his friendship with her brother Damian tormented the poor witch well into their time at Hogwarts. Even with their dislike of each other being common knowledge they were wed less than a year after her graduation. While Eleanor made continuous attempts to be the wife Damian wanted and expected their household was far from happy. Malachi is their only child together, and was born after years of being pressured by their families about children. Early in his childhood, Eleanor began locking herself in Malachi’s room at night as a way to keep them safe from his father. The two have slept separately since then. 

Damian Mulciber grew up in a house that was initially as warm as it was grim. In his early years, his mother doted on him incessantly. While his father didn’t find it becoming he allowed it as to not rob his wife of her experience as a first-time mother. However, by the birth of their third son, Dominic had no patience for his heir being coddled. While he was hard on all of his children the focus of his ire was largely on Damian. In turn, the young boy chose to isolate himself save a friendship with the Rowle’s son. The two would bond over similar conditions and quiet penchant for violence which would lead both of them to an association with Tom Riddle in the school years. His obsession with Eleanor began as jealously; he found her to be spoiled, sheltered, and vain. Though no fault of her own she became the embodiment of everything he felt was out of his reach and was determined to show her just how miserable the world was. In spite of his father’s protest, he took a position as a Dragon Killer straight out of Hogwarts. It was far from glamourous but Damian proved to be almost too good at it. He is one of Lord Voldemort’s earliest followers joining as soon as he was approached, believing firmly in the cause. He is currently the head of the Beast Divison and has been for the last four years. 

— everyone else made it too easy for her to just pawn off the things that bored her on other curse breakers mostly just malachi. it wasn’t her fault that some of the others had started following suit. and she had told them not to. it wasn’t her fault they didn’t listen. but half of the ministry employees were incompetent anyways. “ it’s your main job. forget about all of the other things in the job description. top of the list is ‘ keep alecto entertained at all times ’ always, ” she joked. “ you’re better company. everyone else is annoying. or incompetent… or both, ” she grumbled. that was probably the closest she’d ever get to telling someone she’d missed their company while they’d been gone. 

   she shrugged, “ some girl brought it in, complained a guy tried proposing with it and it tried to kill her, ” she shrugged. “ i think i might keep it, though. tell her it had to be locked up. they don’t need it and the idiot who put the original spell on it fucked up anyways. it’s supposed to be betrothal jewellery… and one of the apprentices almost died when it started to choke her because she thought it would be funny to try it on. this is why i don’t like anyone. they pull that shit, and then give me their work with the intention of then passing it off as their own. ” she waved her hand at the other trinket she’d been left with. “ so where have you been ? ”

he knew the issue would solve itself if he just stopped doing it.  but he’d gotten into the habit of just doing everything as a way to shake the brutish reputation he’d earned in his younger years. “too bad someone hadn’t informed me of that sooner. i mean, i wouldn’t have done it but i would at least like the satisfaction of knowing i’m letting you down.” malachi laughed as she criticized their co-workers. “i’m taking this to mean you don’t find me to be either and i thank you for the compliment you’ve ever given men. “ 

“between it trying to murder the apprentice and burn my hand off, i’m going to assume he thought she was cheating on him.” as she spoke he studied the metal chain in front of him. “welcome to working for the ministry. but my basic guess is whatever tried to kill me is stopping you from fixing the other murder attempt. probably a convoluted stunning spell or something. ” not that he didn’t agree with her, but from he could that seemed to be a universal experience. “off doing this, but the fun version. don’t tell me you actually missed me.” 

— she was working on a particularly annoying necklace — someone had probably messed up the original curse. but she’d been interrupted by another curse breaker coming in for help with something they were working on, and part of her wanted to curse the incompetent fool but the other part intended to prove just how much better she was at this job than they were.

   what she wasn’t expecting was for malachi to be the one to barge in unannounced. alecto shooed away the man she’d been helping, keeping the trinket he’d been working on and muttering something about finishing it and returning it to him — not that she had any intention of letting him take credit for her work. she arched a brow at malachi, “ what, did you not want extra work ? i only left the things i didn’t want to work on. you weren’t here to entertain me while i worked on them, ” she shrugged, holding out the necklace. “ figure out what the imbecile who cursed this thing did wrong and i’ll pay for lunch ? ” she offered.

the sheepish look he’d gotten from one of the apprentices should have told him what he’d walk into. really he shouldn’t have been surprised considering how long some variation of “just leave it for malachi” had been the mantra.  except for the few times, when things had burst into flames while he was trying to handle something else. 

how quickly the other man’s eyes had gone wide managed a short burst of laughter. admittedly the way the two spoke to each other would otherwise be uncustomary amongst their other colleagues. “i hadn’t realized part of my job here was keeping you preoccupied. next time i’ll leave someone with a list of activities for you.” as soon as the necklace left her grasp he felt it go hot in his hand. dropping the ornate pendant on the desk a quickly as he’d received it. “where the hell did that come from?” he questioned after a series of grumbled swearing. 

for once it was his turn to bother her. he hadn’t bothered to knock, so he’d gambled on someone else being there, but as much as alecto enjoyed dropping in on him she’d live.  “how much of that shit on my desk is your fault?” he questioned making himself comfortable in one of the chairs opposite her. 

a few quick raps on the large wooden door announced his arrival to the other wizard. malachi liked to keep as much distance between himself and lord voldemort as he could. preferring to do a much through a middle man as possible. which is what brought him to lucius in the first place. he had a piece of obscure history in his possession that the dark wizard was interested, and malachi wanted it gone.  “merlin malfoy, today...”

— she watched his knuckles whiten against the banister, wrapping her arms around herself. she felt like she was going to collapse. her legs felt too shaky, and she let her teeth sink into her lip again. elsa didn’t know how to explain it. she didn’t really know when she’d decided she didn’t agree with all of the politics she’d had drilled into her since she was a child. she wasn’t sure how to explain it. 

   they’d promised to talk about things and she didn’t want to keep secrets anymore. but now, she was certain she shouldn’t have said anything. she’d lose him, and she couldn’t bear to lose him. she shook her head, “ i don’t— i don’t know. i think i just… i met people in school and they just… don’t seem so different from us… ” she replied after a moment, barely stumbling through the words.

   “ i-i— my f-feelings for y-you haven’t ch-changed, ” she added, voice shaky. she’d promised that nothing would change how she felt about him. and she’d meant it. she didn’t care whether they agreed on it all or not. she just wanted malachi. but she knew this would be a deal breaker for most. she couldn’t ask him to pretend as if she hadn’t said anything, now. she couldn’t expect him to stay with her.

while he was still having to force himself to breathe it had finally stopped feeling like that world around him was spinning. he furrowed his brows and buried his face into his hands. malachi needed to get himself together, whether he liked it or not this was the reality of the situation now. many times he’d brushed off a number of things said by the old guard. taking it as nothing more than mistrust clouding common sense, but in one experience they’d been vindicated. 

turning to look at her again was enough to bring back the tightness in his chest. seeing her wrapped up in herself like she was shielding herself from him was almost enough to break him. his first instinct was to comfort her, to hold her close until things were back to what they should have been. “your empathy outdoes itself.” 

but sadly there were so very different, and there was no real coexistence. if left unchecked he’d slowly lose her, and frankly, he wasn’t convinced he hadn’t started to already. after silence had settled between them for some time malachi moved to close the space between them. he touched her gingerly as though the thought she’d fall through his fingers like sand if he didn’t. leaning down he rested his forehead against hers. “i just need time to think. can you give me that?” he spoke softly. “i can’t let them take you from me.”