#*arthur

The room smells exhausted since he'd sacked the staff. Heavy curtains seal the stale air in and the light out, dead lavender sagging along the pillars, the ash in the hearth laid up in a soft gray drift where the fire had lived. Spilled brandy. Stale tobacco. The yellowing collars stacked carelessly at the foot of the wardrobe.

Rot. Or old blood, buried beneath the layers of unchanged bandages. Stiffened in places and darkened.

prompts, accepting.

Lord Godalming trails behind in his trappings of grief, black coat, black cuffs, black manner.

Their host keeps a fine house, a fact he fastens to to the detriment of the dinner-party. They continue their sluggish tour up the staircase. Increasing details on each furnishing pour forth, unhampered by his guest's inattention.

Arthur can bear it no longer, this frittering. There is this woman pantomiming his own mind back to him.

"Spare this set the sight of your toilet, sir Humphrey."

Some heads turn to show their mock shock.

Sir Humphrey maintains his veneer: "Speak that again, Lord Godalming?"

The same heads turn back and forth, hopeful for something lurid to share to others when the evening is finished.

"I am tired," He treaties blankly. "I too should take some air."

Sir Humphrey offers back, inconsiderately specific, "The garden is not off-limits."

for once in what seemed like ages, there was not a single sound making itself known throughout the weasley house. of course, there were the quieter sounds of the house settling or crickets calling outside the windows, but those were peaceful. instead, there were no sounds of yelling children upset because “ he took my toy ” or crying twin babies who had been fed and changed and seemed to be crying just for the hell of it. it was mostly likely because of the day the weasleys just had. after arthur had gotten back from work ( a little late ), the whole bunch had headed to the fall festival in hogsmeade. molly had secretly had hopes that the kids would get worn out by such an eventful night, which seemed to have proven true. she had not had hopes she also would feel a little worn as well, but that also seemed to have proven itself by her state.