A Candle in the Wind

Another day, another disappointing potential match. It seemed her only plans besides her charity work were meetings. This one had been going well. At least at first. He was French and from a good family. They had a large ancestral home and good positions in the French Ministry. Everything seemed just fine until he started speaking about his potential mistresses. Plural. That was enough for Narcissa to find a reason to quickly leave. She wound up at the Leaky, not wanting to deal with her mother just yet. She took a seat at the bar, ordering a drink. Luckily, it quickly came and she took a sip before taking a look at the room around her. 

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“Taking a break from your usual haunts?” Avery asked as she slipped into the seat beside Narcissa. To be honest, the crowd at the Leaky left a lot to be desired but her father’s customers liked it there and it was easier to be overlooked in such a crowded place that dealt with all sorts of people. On the surface the Ollivander family had done its very best to keep a neutral position in the fighting, but anyone that knew them knew where their loyalties lay. “I certainly find myself longing for warmer, brighter weather these days to be honest.”

Ted had always been completely useless at names, though he did have a decent memory for faces, and he knew that he recognised the woman as a fellow ex Ravenclaw.  Something that he always had in common with his housemates was that they usually had their heads elsewhere, deep in thought. Mind you, he usually managed not to physically bump into someone.

“Ach aye, Ah’m fine.” He said reassuringly.  “Just abit embarrassed.  Been non stop all week and apparently it’s taken a toll.”

Avery nodded because she could empathize with the feeling. Her life felt pretty nonstop most days as well. “Ah, well it’s not hard to find oneself constantly busy.” There was typically something going on around them. How could there not be with all the strife and conflict in the world? Still she did not give voice to those thoughts at the moment. Now was not the time or place.

“What do you think out of the choice of France, Spain, or Norway?” She wasn’t sure a vacation was in the cards but a girl could wish and perhaps she could pass it off as a work trip to convince her father in giving her the time off.

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It wasn’t very often that Dirk had free time, he had been spending the past few weeks splitting time between Auror training, and tutoring would be Sixth years in Charms and Defense Against the Dark Arts.  It had got him to thinking that if the whole Auror thing didn’t work out, becoming a Professor wouldn’t be the worst thing. 

Wandering into the Leaky Cauldron, Dirk didn’t really drink often, so leaning on the bar, he smiled and asked the person next to him, “What would you recommend?” 

Avery frowned as she turned to look to the person who had spoke to her. Her first instinct was to tell him to stay away from anything on them menu. Had he seen the newest cook in their hire? “Well, I would suggest something strong to drink to kill any potential germs that might be in the food.” Okay, she probably shouldn’t have said that but she couldn’t help the words that come out of her mouth.

At the best of times, Ted was a pretty laid back guy, the only time that changed was when he visited his parents.  More specifically, his father… Eric Tonks was a corse northern sorta bloke, the kind that called a spade a bloody spade. “Jesus christ Ted, do you want to practise magic tricks and pull rabbits outta hat, or, d’ya want to be a man?”    But with everything that had been going on, he had felt obligated to check in on his mum.  Ted was always happy to see her, even if he felt three stone heavier after every visit.  “Don’t go listening to him, his head is so far up his arse, ah’m shocked he can hear anything….. here take some food away with ye”

He’d only just walked through the Leaky cauldron when he walked right into someone else.  “Oh blimey, Ah’m sorry, wasn’t lookin’ where ah was goin”   He chuckled softly and raised a hand to rub his head, where he had collided with the other.  “Ye alright?

“Just fine,” Avery assured the man as a soft smiled graced her features. As a Ravenclaw who read a lot of books while she walked even, it hadn’t been the first time she had been run into or done the running into. “Though admittedly a little fresh air is what anyone needs after,” she motioned to the place around her. A lot of the store’s customers liked to hand out there but Avery preferred other places to here.

There was absolutely nothing more tedious in Barty’s mind, than having to continue his employment within the ministry.  Unfortunately for him, it had been made abundantly clear by the dark lord that it was imperative to have as many undercover death eaters working inside Ministry walls for as long as possible.  It just meant that he had to suffer the excruciating small talk between Aurors and other employees.  Unlike many of his inner circle comrades who also worked alongside him, nobody seemed to question Barty’s allegiance, presumably because of his father.  This was both a blessing and a curse.  

He was about to leave his office when there was yet another knock.  Rolling his eyes, hidden by the one piece of privacy he had, the door.     Turning slowly in his chair, he composed himself.  “Do come in.”

Avery shuffled her bags as she reached for the door handle once she was invited into the office. Her father had left her this office number so she was hoping she was in the right place. The Ministry had always confused her with all the corridors and rooms and secrets. It was too enclosed and Avery could not help but think they needed more greenery and fresh air in the place.

“Good evening,” Avery said with a smile as she walked into the room. “I have a wand to drop off...?” Avery guessed again hoping she was in the right place. Barty’s family was certainly wealthy enough to afford a custom wand with some of the hardest to secure materials known to wandmakers. Her father had gone to extreme lengths to fill this order and it was unusual for a wand to be custom made without someone coming in to try their rather extensive collections of wands. After over two thousands years of making wands their family had quite the collection.

James thought things were looking up for first time in a while. He had finally made amends with Lily, he was surrounded by loved ones and friends, and things were relatively quiet on the warfront. But the letter he had received from his grandmother had him absolutely fuming. How could they do this to him? Betrothals were such antiquated traditions and he thought his family had been much more progressive than to attempt to arrange one. He sat at the bar, letter balled up in his fist as he awaited his drink.

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“Oi, you look as cheerful as a Venomous Tentacula,” Avery pointed out as she dropped a package onto the bar beside a rather glum looking James Potter. She might not be a Seer, but you did not need that certain subset of talents to know that something was wrong.

Avery hovered a minute waiting to see if James would elaborate on his troubles. “I would offer to help but not sure I am the best fixer type of person...” She admitted with a sheepish grin and a shrug. “Do you want another drink or an impartial ear to listen?” She could do one or the other or even both. There was plenty of time until she was needed back in the shop and to be honest, Avery wanted some time away from work.

“Who let you in here?” She asked as she heard the bell of the closed shop tinkle as the door open. Had she left it open? Probably. “This isn’t actually an open shop to customers,” Avery started as she looked up from where she was elbow keep in dirt and mud as she tried to bring some order to her oversized garden box set up on one of the counters.

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At the best of times, Ted was a pretty laid back guy, the only time that changed was when he visited his parents.  More specifically, his father… Eric Tonks was a corse northern sorta bloke, the kind that called a spade a bloody spade. “Jesus christ Ted, do you want to practise magic tricks and pull rabbits outta hat, or, d’ya want to be a man?”    But with everything that had been going on, he had felt obligated to check in on his mum.  Ted was always happy to see her, even if he felt three stone heavier after every visit.  “Don’t go listening to him, his head is so far up his arse, ah’m shocked he can hear anything….. here take some food away with ye”

He’d only just walked through the Leaky cauldron when he walked right into someone else.  “Oh blimey, Ah’m sorry, wasn’t lookin’ where ah was goin”   He chuckled softly and raised a hand to rub his head, where he had collided with the other.  “Ye alright?

“I’ll survive,” Avery told Ted as she shifted her packages into a more organized fashion so they did not tumble to the ground. Typically, her father required customers to pick up their own wands from the shop, but the times were changing and some people had other obligations to tend to. Her father may not admit he was in the Order, if he was even an official member, but certain people did get priority. A war could not be waged without the proper equipment.

“However,” she motioned to her packages now carefully arranged in her hands. “The merchandise may not,” she said hoping to lighten up the situation some. “I think the more proper question is are you okay?”

Dirk tried to visit his Dad as often as he could, never telling him that it was mostly out of concern.  It was no secret that muggleborns and half bloods who worked for the Ministry and were a part of the Order put their families at risk.  Choosing to stay in Glasgow for the best part of a week, as it always did it took him a moment to adjust back to the Wizarding world.  

Staring out at Diagon Alley almost as if he were a child again, the street never ceased to amaze him.  Clearly he had been staring too long because he became aware of another person stopping beside him.  “Oh I’m sorry, am I in your way….sorry.”

“You’re kind of in everyone’s way,” Avery pointed out but she wasn’t angry about it. One of her favorite things as a shopkeeper was watching the amazement on other’s faces when they came into her shop or Diagon Alley in general. Especially the Muggleborn children when they got their first taste of magic and shopping for wands.

“Although, there is an awful cranky woman behind us who might hex your trousers if you keep hoping up the line,” Avery told him with a laugh. “So I might suggest the gazes of amazement continue over there, what do you say?”

Alex had been pretty relaxed for the past few weeks, he knew that he still had afew more weeks before his next game.  He was usually someone who enjoyed being healthy, but as he was on holiday he had found himself outside of honeydukes and unable to resist buying almost every kind of chocolate.  A wide smile stretched across his face as he stood in line and noticed what the person infront of him was buying.  “Ahh, good choice, I would also recommend the sugar quills, I mean unless your planning on giving them to a little one, then maybe not…. they’d be bouncing off the walls come midnight.”

Avery had to laugh at the suggestion because she had spent many nights at Hogwarts with her own sugar quill hoping to get through one more assignment before heading to bed. “Oh, I don’t know. A little bit of energy is never a bad thing.” Then again, she did not have any little ones to have to babysit and bounce off the walls. “Though if my sister ever has kids I will totally be the aunt that gives the children sugar and then sends them home.” She admitted with a laugh.

“I am much more partial the the more fruiter snacks if I am being honest.”

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THERE WAS A FINE LINE between indulgent and excessive when it came to alecto’s shopping habits, and she frequently crossed it. she didn’t need any of the things she bought. sometimes she didn’t even want them. but like her other vices, it helped still the chaos in her mind — and that was well worth the extravagant price tag. merlin knew the carrow vaults ran deep enough that even making a dent would be difficult. besides, it helped fuel the fake image people had of her. rich, vapid, and most importantly, harmless.

still, judgement was common, and as she tried on a new pair of charmed sunglasses on the stand in front of twilfitt and tattings, she felt eyes on her. “well?” she turned around as she asked, a light, playful grin on her lips. “if you’re watching anyway, the very least you could do is tell me how these look.”

Avery hoisted up her basket as she tried to balance the heavy load systematically on her arm. It was full of several pieces of prized wand woods, cores, and everything else they needed to continue to making the finest wands in the Wizarding World. Many would think the Ollivander vaults would be well stocked, and they were more than people knew, but they preferred to live a more modest lifestyle.

“They are charmed to look good on anyone,” Avery pointed out as she practically ran into the man in front of her that had been unhealthily staring at the Carrow woman. Her own intelligence and desire to stay on the right side of all potential clients kept her from saying more. “They certainly don’t look horrible on you though.” A gift of good genes she supposed.

since having kids, the amount of time the redheaded mother had listened to music went downhill. that didn’t mean it never happened, but there were times when her rowdy kids competed with the wireless, so it didn’t happen quite as often.

molly didn’t know too many songs from the weird sisters, but she knew the ones that were popular on the wireless and so her and her husband had agreed to go to the party at the three broomsticks. contrary to popular belief, it was more up their alley than the formal ball, even if molly enjoyed dressing up every once in a while.

she wasn’t sure if the kids (or herself) would make it until the weird sisters started, but they found a booth and let the kids roam around and people watch. just around the time the twins’ bed time, george pulled himself into his mother’s lap and cuddled into her body, molly watching her other children.

“I believe this little cutie belongs to you,” Avery said with a laugh as she picked up a young red head that had been following her around asking a plethora of questions. Not that she minded in the least. It reminded her of her sister when she had been that age which felt like a lifetime ago now.

“They always have so many questions at this age,” even now Avery felt like she was an endless stream of questions, but she had been in Ravenclaw for a reason. “I am pretty sure I was banned from the gardens as a kid simply because my father and uncle did not want to answer more questions.”

Narcissa Black was not one to wait around. That was for people not as important as her. She was at Flourish and Blotts to pick up a book she had ordered. Or attempting to pick up. She was starting to get frustrated, already waiting for five minutes with no salesperson in sight. She sighed, arms crossed around her perfectly tailored robes. She saw someone come towards the counter. “Do you know if anyone is working today? Or did they close and not inform anyone?” @mxrsmxrdrestarters​

Avery turned and found a familiar face talking to her. Everyone knew the Blacks and their history in the wizarding world. Not that Avery was one to judge. If they were being technical her family name had been around just as long, if not longer, but it wasn’t always considered a prized profession making wands unless you found yourself in need of one.

“I am pretty sure he’s over talking to some ordery woman. Probably going to be a while.” She pointed out with a frown. Avery needed a few things but she knew it was going to be a while before anyone else helped her. She supposed she could just help herself. Her father was friends with the owner after all.

Evie didn’t even sense the other woman’s presence until she spoke up. She looked up at the brunette and shook her head. “No, not at all. I was just looking at these here. Am I in yours?” she asked with a raised brow. She was in a slightly sour mood already, but she didn’t want to start a row in the middle of the store. That surely would ruin her day more.

She looked at the woman and shook her head. She wasn’t exactly in her way and even if she was, Avery wasn’t exactly in a hurry. The only thing she had to do later was go over inventory and care from some plants. It was hardly an exciting way to spend an evening.

“I am not,” she offered up politely. “Though if you’re looking for something I would say that’s a good color for you,” Avery told the woman. “I am sorry if that’s too forward. Excuse me and I’ll go mind my own business.”

As much as Everleigh enjoyed shopping for new outfits, she was loathing being back in Madam Malkins. It wasn’t the designer at all that she displeased. Rather, the occasion that had her shopping was the cause of her irritation. Her mother insisted that she get something new to wear for yet another gala hosted by their family. Only the purest of blood will be in the room. Perhaps a proper betrothal can come of it. Her mother’s words kept repeating over and over in her mind. The idea of a betrothal was not uncommon in their social circle; however, Evie thought it was entirely outdated. But what could she do? She had never been one to speak out against her family. She had seen what happened to Andromeda and Sirius. So, she combed through the racks, looked at each piece, not realizing who was in her presence nearby.

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Avery had only meant to stop and grab something for her sister, but she couldn't help but dig through the newest selection while she was there. Perhaps something would strike her fancy but she wasn't so sure. She was more about a stylist comfort than high fashion. Function was the most important to her.

"I am sorry, am I in your way?" She asked hoping the answer was no. "I can move if you like?"

“Oh for Merlin’s sake!” She shouted as Avery felt the cold gust blow through the store as the bowtruckle ran out into the street. For a moment she hesitated but she knew she needed to go after it. 

“Grab that bloody bowtruckle!” Avery shouted at the person directly in front of her.

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