#march23rd

closed starter for @aggieturner

Taking care of Doom was the only chore Eric would volunteer to take care of for Zach, mostly because it didn't feel like a chore. Ever since they let the dog run around the building more or less freely, he would find the dog scratch on his studio's door sometimes and the two would play fetch on the stairs. Doom's ball bounced down the stairs as he waited for the right release command, impatient to chase it.

They sat at the top of the stairs and even though the pup must have ran the two Wexley buildings worth, it seemed like a warmup - he brought Eric the toy and wagged his tail, waiting for him to throw the ball again.

"You like a challenge? Let's see if you'll like this one." He threw the ball harder, wondering if this one would discourage Doom. The first few moments when he didn't run up back like lightning, Eric felt proud of himself - he broke the invincible pup. He beat him at his own game! But the longer Doom didn't come back, the more suspicious the man grew and soon he decided to check on his furry friend. There were only two things that could stop that crazy dog from fetching his ball - food or belly rubs.

When he finally saw a very familiar happy tail swiping the floor left and right, he knew someone had been chosen for the latter, but when he saw who was The Chosen One his heart skipped a beat, a cartoon-like sigh escaping his lips. Sitting on the floor next to Doom was the blonde he saw for the first time during the rescue mission, a literal angel. He couldn't stop rambling about her being his guardian angel and the only reason he survived the explosion, ignoring Zach's inquiries about the other two men and their guardian angels.

Remembering how she acted around other people, with few exceptions, Eric stopped right where he stood and watched them in silence, smiling a little at the wagging tail and how it pushed the tennis ball in his direction.

Time: 23rd of March Place: Diagon Alley Status: Closed, for @everybody-talks

Maddy’s grand opening was supposed to be on the 22nd of March.

Dedalus and her had everything set up by the 20th, and were meant to meet in the afternoon of the 21st. Needless to say this meeting never happened. She didn’t see it for herself but she’d heard of it. Of the destruction...

During the battle at the Potter Estate, Maddy had been fine. “No, really, I’m good,” she’d told Maurice who had come looking for her, frantic it seemed. And it hadn’t been a lie. She’d grown up among bombs and gun fire. She’d grown up in a world where you avoided dark alleys, and the bright ones even more. She’d grown up being told to stay calm in situations of danger, and so she did. Sure, she’d never fought in the fights happening around where she lived, and certainly never used her magic to attack people, but she didn’t feel completely out of water. Her adrenaline spiking, it pumped her through the day, while her mind remained sharp. Acting the way she’d been told to act.

So when night arrived and she made it back home, Charlie and Gerry having prepared a nice roast dinner, she felt ... fine. She knew joining the Order meant getting into danger, people had warned her about it, and thus she had mentally prepared for that. She wasn’t injured. And she hadn’t seen anyone else die. Actually, there was only a mild feeling of disappointment in herself for having failed to land even one proper curse. But then again, at least she had dodged quite a good number and defended almost three people as well. Hadn’t just been hiding. That was what she clung to when she got to bed that night: at least she had done what was expected of her. At least she’d done something.

The next day she returned to the House of Bones and helped out where she could. The grand opening wasn’t happening now, so what was the point in still going to Diagon Alley? With almost too casual of an attitude, she took her mentors’ orders and made herself useful. All day, without break. She wasn’t really tired either, not physically, not mentally, after all, she’d prepared for this type of situation. For the long days. For the sight of blood. And once again she arrived at home just in time for dinner, and went to bed feeling ... fine.

One Order mentor had told her to take a day off tomorrow, though. So she took it. It was an order, and after all, she would have to help repair Dedalus’ shop eventually. So she rose early in the morning, as always, got dressed and packed a lunch, then made her way to Wizarding London. It was both busy and eerily silent at the same time. People were working to fix the town while also being absorbed by their own thoughts. Maddy searched their faces for emotions, for anything that could tell her how she was supposed to feel, but there was nothing. Empty, tired eyes. No instructions.

And then she arrived at Dedalus’ shop -- her shop.

No one had told her to prepare for that. No one had taught her how. No one had explained what to do in such a situation, what to feel, how to react. It was all her now. Her, in the middle of the street, staring and the remains of her dream, scattered across rabble and candy, and her lungs began to hurt. To squeeze. Tight. The corners of her lips escaped her control and so did her brows, and suddenly she was crying.

Time: 23rd of March Place: McKinnon’s Farm Status: Closed, for @inconsolcble

Alcott Avery was dead and Bran’s father was still alive.

She couldn’t go home. She couldn’t go hunt for more Death Eaters. She was stuck.

So she went to where she’d been for the past few weeks anyway, more often than not, and offered Benjy Fenwick her help. Emmeline was still in no position to work and Bran was, as it seemed, still one of the more competent healers around. Curse her mother for having kept right for once. Then again.

Bran liked Benjy. She liked the hard work. And in a way, between blood and potion fumes, her mind was kept off the revelation Fletcher had brought to her, and which had stirred something so great and terrible within her, she wasn’t quite sure how to control it. So for now, she distracted it.

Benjy had just disappeared to the Potter Estate to rescue whatever hadn’t been destroyed in the attack to bring it to the new infirmary at the House of Bones, so Bran was alone with her healing potions. It was then, that the door opened and a poor excuse of a man slurped into the room.

lights up in green and white on 23rd March, honoring Pakistan’s spirit and resilience, a beautiful tribute glowing across ’s skyline with pride and unity.