#smokeclosed

If it weren’t for the heat he’d probably be wearing his customary leather jacket, but as it was he looked semi-respectable in the slate-grey button-down, the sleeves rolled up to reveal the fox and shadow tattoo on his forearm. His other forearm was spelled, otherwise he’d be showing off his Dark Mark, too. He ran a hand through his hair, messing it up even more than it already was, and was just about to head around a tent when he smacked soundly into someone. 

“What the-” he started in French, the language only a breath away purely because he’d been using it to speak to Nate exclusively since they’d arrived. He stumbled back slightly, blinking at the force of the collision since, apparently, he’d just been walking with that much purpose and obliviousness. 

She was practically vibrating out of her seat at having finally caught Odette at work, questions racing in the back of her mind. All she wanted to do was pull out her notebook and start working, but that wasn’t exactly appropriate for such a public space. 

“I really do only want to help. And I’m curious. It’s hard to find any willing to talk to me. Running away was a really dramatic response to a simple question, by the way.”

“Bulstrode,” he greeted coolly. Though he held a general antipathy for Levi Bulstrode, they had been ministry co-workers, and now Lucius was on the Hogwarts Board of Governors, so he had a vested interest in how Hogwarts ran its staff. “Enjoying the afternoon?”

Henry recognized the surly man from the park so long ago, although he had to do a small double-take. The angry stranger cleaned up nicely, and Henry regretted that he appeared to have forgotten the man’s name. Taking a sip of his drink and grabbing another, he approached with a wide smile, offering the glass. 

“The best defense is a good offense,” he said lightly. “Two handsome strangers alone in this room were bound to run into each other, and I’d rather not repeat what happened last time. Drink?”

Now, she wasn’t one for heroics. But some some dumb parents were probably taking their dumb kids to the dumb fair, and if she woke up to shitty news in the paper, she’d feel bad. So she made it her purpose to eat cotton candy and lurk by the stand, wearing her “The End Is Near” Sign and hand-made flyers detailing the meaning of every card in her reading, and why that meant they should be at home. It wasn’t illegal. Or at least not illegal enough that she’d get arrested-arrested. It didn’t even appear illegal enough to get her kicked out. Thus-far. 

“Do you have a minute to be strongly advised to leave the fair?” She said, to a passer by who seemed to find her amusing. It didn’t matter, this was more for her peace of mind than his sake, anyway.  @casruncorn​

Maybe that was why he couldn’t stand other purebloods sometimes. It seemed to him that some were too attached to the material side that was often tied to their blood. Like their inheritances were what made them better. Bullshit. He didn’t know if that was the case for Malcolm Greengrass. He seemed to be actually skilled, actually cunning. But there was something about the gloves he’d picked for this mission that made Mirek doubt him. He wasn’t even sure what they were made off, but they seemed new and undoubtedly cost more than his monthly rent.

He tried to focus on something else. When Dumbledore asked him about this mission, he couldn’t really go on and reply “well he was wearing some really elegant gloves, all things considered”. But he was definitely staring. He needed to get past it if they were going to get to work. Plus, some small talk couldn’t hurt. It would be weirder if he didn’t talk for the entirety of the mission, actually. “What are those even made of?” He said, pointing to Malclom’s hands. 

@themalcolmgreengrass​

So she’d arrived right on time, when Antonin had told her to be there, wearing a brand new gown. A floor length white number that hugged her in all the right places, but without being inappropriate. It was maybe one of her favourite dresses she’d ever bought. Her hair pulled back slightly and curled, to fall down her back. Dressing up was something she always loved doing, she liked looking her best. And this was the first time she would be seen out with Antonin as a clear- outing. Rather than a lunch run in that made it to the gossip rags. She wondered if people actually cared, did people really have opinions on who she should spend time with?

“Thank you for inviting me, I’m honoured.” She smiled to Antonin, picking up a glass of champagne that floated by on a tray.

Sirius was running late, he knew, but he’d had a hard time pulling himself away from Juniper, even for birthday fun. It wasn’t technically his birthday anymore, but his friends had been fairly accommodating and only given him a little shit when he said he wanted to spend the day of it with Juniper. Today, though, he was struggling to want to leave her when he knew what other excitement was brewing for them.

Eventually Juniper had told him to get out of her hair, and that shooing had been all it had taken for him to remember he’d made plans to meet one of his friends a full half an hour ago. He was half-surprised he didn’t have a howler already telling him to get moving, but perhaps that spoke more a lack of faith in him to be on time than it did in patience.

“Sorry I’m late!” he said as he plopped down into the seat across the table at the restaurant. “I learned some rather exciting news that I can’t seem to get other. Guess what it is.”

He grinned, knowing that none of his friends would ever in a million years expect the actual story. Peter wasn’t at all in that mindset. Remus had Katie but surely wouldn’t expect Sirius to follow suit. Lily and James might have had that conversation--Sirius didn’t know and didn’t really want to know if they had or not--but he certainly hadn’t been at a place in life to think about kids. Now that the possibility was not just theoretical but an actuality in the making, he was ready for it and wanted everyone to know.