#natalie001

location: high school

Walking through town, Tori was surprised about how much this town had changed since the last time she had lived here. Then again there were somethings that seemed like they would never change. The Five and Dime still had the same clerk who she had tried buying alcohol from in high school. Horizons was still one of the few places in town she could find food that followed Kosher law. The Wiggins Estate still looked like something out of a fairytale. And Craft’s Café was still up and running though who was running it Tori didn’t know.

Maybe if she did know she wouldn’t have gone in but if she was going to go on a walk down memory lane than this was one of the places she needed to go. The atmosphere was just as friendly and inviting as she remembered it and the layout felt like something out of a tv show. Getting out her camera, she took a few shots before moving to the counter to order. “You guys still serve that amazing cinnamon hot chocolate?”

Let’s get out of here had never been such welcome words as they were tonight. He almost thought he had to stop letting Hans drag him to these things - he always had more to drink than he would have liked to admit. But it was almost worth it for that secret smile passed between them, Hans ushering him out toward the elevator. He smiled a little easier, and once the elevator doors closed the privacy was taken full advantage of until they reached the ground floor.

Correspondence was a perfectly dull part of the job in the Department of International Magical Cooperation, but it was integral to the spirit of the office. Even the smallest nations, who perhaps were unable to send envoys to communicate with the Ministry could just send a letter. In that sense, the letters Cece received were fine enough, and it made the envelopes she was now thumbing through more bearable. But now, as she came across one particular letter, her heart rate skyrocketed. What bloody now?

In a barely-restrained fury, Cece crossed the office she shared with Natalie. Glancing from side to side, ensuring that there were no other employees nearby, Cece gingerly placed the envelope on Natalie’s desk. It was a creamy envelope, with beautiful, arching script; the wax, stamped with an ornate signet, was laced with gold flecks.

“It’s from the French Ministry,” Cressida said, jaw clenching. She pushed it forward on Natalie’s desk, shaking her head; her brown hair tossed around her head. “It’s your turn, I can’t bear to read another letter from them.” Cece stepped back, clasping her hands together so tightly they shook. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. 

@natalie-mcdonald

In the middle of the chaos that was Dennis's heart and mind, something was broken inside of him. Sometimes, his mind was a machine that worked overloaded, making him think so much that the only way to escape was either sleeping or through alcohol. In other days, though, his body wasn't more of a shadow - he felt empty inside, as if nothing could bring any joy, sadness, not even angriness. It's been almost a year since his body worked perfectly, and he couldn't even remember the feeling. All he knew was that since Colin's death he was faded to live like this, a boy that lost everything, one that would probably never be happy again. He didn't know if it was possible, finding joy when all he could think about was destruction. Happiness was a feeling way too pure for a broken toy - way too feeling. He couldn't really feel good things anymore.

Or maybe he could - not that he knew.

That afternoon, with his body pressed against the wall, waiting the minutes until he would be able to enter the transfiguration classroom, Dennis was no more than a shadow. He had missed two classes already, not really finding the energy to be with his classmates - sometimes, their euphoria was enough to trigger his humor -, but he forced himself to go. He was the Prefect, somehow, probably the way the school found to apologize for not stopping Colin from being in the battle (if that was the case, Dennis only hated the school even more), and he couldn't miss classes. Well, he wouldn't.

At least, that's what he was thinking about before he noticed someone walking towards him. Nope, not towards him, because the girl passed straight by his side and kept going, away from the transfiguration class - he had been watching her for good ten seconds now, almost hypnotized. Until something snapped inside of his mind. 

"Fuck." He thought, or maybe muttered out loud, just after realizing who it was - Natalie? Why was Natalie crying? The heck... He didn't know. But he got worried. Sometimes, it happened - with the people he still carried about, and Merlin knows Natalie was a good friend, more of a "survivor" if he considered he had stopped talking with almost everyone in their year. Anyway, watching her walking and crying woke up something inside him, and soon he was following her, worried. He couldn't remember the last time he was worried about someone - not like this, at least.