#lcstrangcx

January, 1982

It felt so out of sorts, to be able to go out at night and have fun, while there was an active war going on around her. Lily seemed to struggle with this more than others- parsing the reality that even though she was repeatedly exposed to pain and aggression, the world continued to turn. Children went to school, shops opened and closed, and trees marked time’s passing as their leaves fell and grew again. The world did not become stagnant by violence, like an apocalyptic stage. It just spun, greeting the Sun one minute and the moon the next. Why?

Because it has to, was the honest answer. Lily admired that quality, and found herself wishing often that she could embody it.

Lily pushed against the exit door to the bar, needing a moment in the cold night air. Still smiling from a joke she’d caught on the way out, Lily stepped into the dark street, skin glittering with sweat under the lamp light. Stretching her arms up high, Lily sighed contentedly. She had needed this. It felt so good to be out, to see a crowd of smiling people, to only think of what was right in front of her.

She was going to be 22 by the end of the month. She had a perfect, silly, bright, wiley son and a husband to match. She had the love of her friends and mother in law, even Lily’s career focus was developing nicely. Her face felt sore from smiling. It was nice to glean some context when not distracted by violence. When it came to the things she had control of, her life was very beautiful.

Lily was taken away from her thoughts as she heard someone else coming into the alleyway. Turning to acknowledge them, Lily smiled into the shadows. “Evening!”

It wasn't all too unlikely to happen and yet not a daily occurrence to begin with. Perhaps it was better that way as each time her path lead her to Rodolphus Lestrange, the witch found herself all the more curious. Each time an artifact required more knowledge of the dark arts, there he was and each time there seemed to be more surprising facts; those she'd have rather not known and yet wouldn't have dared herself unheard for the hell of it.

Her hand reached out, knocking on the office door and waiting to be let. Perhaps it was her impatience that seemed to take over, the need for answers pushing forward. Whether the chance had ever been fully extended, Emmeline found herself standing in the office. "There's papers I need you to look over, if you have a moment. And something else you might find interesting." Or rather something she herself needed answers about. With a few quick steps she was at his desk, carefully placing the files on it before taking a step back, already feeling as though this was an invasion of his space.