* 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐲 / 𝙿𝙾𝙸𝚂𝙾𝙽.

date: march 17 location: the flint estate status: open

the book in bellatrix’s hand smelled of ancient leather and had a heft to it that you would regularly only find in a well-curated library. incidentally both the black’s and the flint’s indeed had a well-curated library. she was flipping casually through the pages, only reading bits and pieces that appeared interesting as she strolled towards the courtyard of the estate. her husband had long since risen and left the comfort of their suite of rooms, and she supposed that it was time for her to make an appearance as well. there were expectations of her. she snapped the volume closed. “take this and place it on the table to the left of my bed.” she instructed the house elf which had been provided to her without even looking in the creature’s direction. instead, her gaze was drawn to someone at the end of the hall. bellatrix clasped her hands in front of her as she approached them. “does this live up to all of your expectations? personally, I’m finding it rather disappointing.”

“Even if it doesn’t live up to one's expectations, you can’t deny, Hamilton Flint is a brilliant host,” It was a non-answer, mostly because Rosalind didn’t feel like arguing the point before breakfast, or rather, before her coffee. The scenery was beautiful, the service was excellent, and the estate was filled with many wonders — but still, she couldn’t help but vaguely agree. To say so out loud and insult her host seemed wrong, but when receiving an invitation from Hamilton Flint, she’d expected... more than just a luxurious vacation. Something that would make sure this retreat became an extraordinary tale to tell in the future.

Still, the main events of this retreat were a few days away, and she’d wait until at least the Aurora Borealis viewing to give any true judgment. Maybe the real excitement was just saved for later that week. “What would you suggest to liven things up?”

when: march 18, 1979, pre-dinner cocktail hour where: main floor, a terrace who: briar avery & open

There was no use denying it - this was incredible. Briar still wasn’t entirely sure how it had all happened, how the perfectly written and sealed invitations had wound up at all of their doors, how the travel arrangements had fell just into place. It was the stuff of stories, old tales that she had heard her parents sharing after important dinners with their colleagues. And here she was, the new generation of Avery, at the very epicenter of it all.

The sun was just beginning to set, and a warm glow radiated around her, her blonde tresses glistening in the low style they had been pulled into. A light blue dress hugged her figure, and as she heard footsteps behind her, Briar turned, offering a smile as she set her drink on the terrace’s ledge. “It’s impossible to deny the splendor of this place. I’m afraid I may never want to go back to London.”

“I feel the same way. Some part of me is considering if the remote location is worth it, though then again, with those enormous libraries, I’m not sure if I’d ever even want to go outside again,” She’d chosen a dress the colors of alabaster and sage for her own evening wear, quite simple, but offset by her bright hair, styled into long waves. Her only jewelry was an emerald bracelet her grandmother had purchased for her at Boucheron, purely on a whim. Despite being content in her own outfit, she paused to appreciate the fit of Briar’s dress.

Her voice lowered as she stepped closer to the terrace ledge, looking at the beautiful scenery in front of them. “Honestly, though — I’d miss the bustle of London. With the people gathered, it seems lively, but imagining being here by myself... it feels somewhat lonely.”

Date: March 18th, 1979 Location: Winter Gardens  Availability: Open

Narcissa was not a patient woman. She hated being made to wait, and she especially hated to wait for Lucius. He had promised that they would take a walk in the gardens this afternoon, and while she was sure that he had a very valid reason to be running behind schedule, he had probably been taking care of business or had run into one of his friends, she still didn’t appreciate being made to wait. But she wouldn’t act like a bitch when he finally arrived, instead she would assure him that it was quite alright that he had stopped to speak with a friend, or perhaps he was just sending a message to the Minister. 

She felt someone step up beside her and she turned her head, disappointed that it wasn’t Lucius. “Oh. Hello,” she greeted, her voice neutral. “I’m just waiting for Lucius. He’s just sending an owl to the Minister, even though we’re on vacation, he still has to work. I convinced him to come and take a break, though. So we’re taking a stroll through the gardens.”

“Narcissa Black — patiently waiting for someone?” Rosalind raised her eyebrows at the sight of it. Her friend was not known to be patient, she knew that well enough because neither was she. Being made to wait on someone always made her feel... lesser than. She supposed it was a form of posturing as well, the most important guest always arrived last, as everyone stood there, waiting for them. This, however, seemed different.

Approaching her friend, she made a hint of concern touch her face. “How late is he?” She simply asked, lips pursed lightly at the thought of it. How disappointing. “If it’s been longer than fifteen minutes, I suggest leaving. You can’t let him think your time is worth anything less than his, once you do, you’ll be waiting on him the rest of your life.” Some pureblood men thought that was the exact purpose of their wives, but Rosalind had always been more liberal in thoughts such as those, and even with how much she enjoyed seeing Lucius and Narcissa together, this was not fair towards her friend.

Date: March 17th 1979 Location: One of the many libraries in Hamilton Flint’s estate Available: for everyone

It was as if Isla had ended up in paradise when she pushed open a door to one of the many rooms. It was unbelievable how larger the building was and maybe it had not been a great idea to move around alone but she had just wanted to know more about what she could find around here. And it was only even better when she wandered into one of probably many libraries. As she kept the door open, she moved towards the shelves, her fingers tracing lightly over the many backs of the books. A smiled formed slowly on her lips. Yes, this was definitely her paradise.

Isla was pulled out of her thoughts and happy place when she heard something behind her that startled her. She quickly turned around to face whatever had happened behind her. “Hello?”

“This place is a miracle, wouldn’t you agree?” Her father would have enjoyed these libraries — that had been Rosalind’s first thought as she ran her hand over the spines. She still meant to ask if maybe he’d been here before, it seemed likely, but he was, sadly, no longer around to ask. So she was left to enjoy it without him, spitting her way through volumes so rare she’d thought they did not exist. This one was close to her rooms, and Rosalind had thought to enjoy a cup of Darjeeling tea with an interesting book in her lap for the rest of the afternoon, not expecting anyone else to be there. Still, she didn’t mind the company.

“I’m honestly not sure what I enjoy more, the endless books or the extravagant art collection,” Rosalind noted the house-elves arrived with a large teapot and two dainty cups, not just one, so she decided to ask. “Care to join me for a cup?”