(no subject)

[iopenthings]

Bernard said 'Dora was out by the lake, and so that is where Door is headed, black skirts swirling around her ankles in the slight breeze.

It's not unpleasant at all, though her errand is.

No one likes to give bad news.

Comments

[clumsy_auror]

It's starting to get dark, so Nymphadora's thinking about heading inside; there's a few minutes of good daylight left, however, and so she continues her methodical spell-work, practising a myriad of both defensive and offensive charms and curses. The magic lights up the immediate area with an alternating rainbow of colours.

Then, out of the corner of her eye, the witch glimpses her friend. "Impedi--Oh! Wotcher, Door."

[iopenthings]

"Hello, 'Dora."

Door's smile is genuine, but a little wan.

This blends perfectly well with the general air of strain she seems to be under.

"I hate to ruin a perfectly lovely day, really I do, but there's some things you should know."

Again there is the quick flash of a weak smile.

"I can't think of a better way to say this."

[clumsy_auror]

And just like that, she's all business, her shoulders tensing with apprehension. "What's happened? Is everyone all right?"

[iopenthings]

"No, no. No one's been harmed yet. It's only . . . you should be wary of owl-post, just now. It seems Blodwen's learned a new trick."

She pauses for a moment, shifting her weight to her other foot.

"Tom thought she was Galatea, you see. And there's all sorts of trouble come from it, and we're doing what we can, but I'm afraid it won't be enough."

Her voice rises toward panic for a moment, but she tamps it back.

"She has the run of the House now, 'Dora. Tom promised. She made him."

Opal eyes flash red for a moment.

"Bloody bitch."

[clumsy_auror]

"The House? How on--" 'Dora breaks off, swearing violently, and then takes a deep breath. "What're the conditions? What's she after?"

[iopenthings]

Door is quiet for a moment, thinking.

"She seems to want safe harbor--a place to run to if she can't find anywhere else."

Door hopes this is all Blodwen wants, at least.

"And the conditions--she promised no harm to the women and children in the House, and to avoid any rooms they might be in."

This, it seems, might be something.

"But she has free access, and a room of her own. And she swore Tom to silence."

Which is why Door is relating this secondhand.

[clumsy_auror]

"No harm to the women and children -- but not the men? What about Tom, does she seem like she might hurt Tom?"

[iopenthings]

Door swallows hard at 'Dora's questions.

"I--the men aren't any more safe than their own discretion will leave them. Tom is dreadfully dated sometimes, I don't think he can help it."

In another time that would even be funny.

"I don't--I wouldn't put anything past her. And--"

There is that flash of panic again. This time it sticks around rather longer.

"Please, she can't find out I've spoken to you about this, or that Tom's shared any of this with me. I--I don't think she'd be happy, and we don't know how to protect ourselves yet."

Yet.

They will find a way, though. She can't live with anything else.

[clumsy_auror]

The Auror's jaw sets, and she puts a firm hand on Door's shoulder, steadying her. "Listen to me. I won't say a word, except to Bernard. And We'll find a way to protect you. Tell Tom I'll do whatever it takes -- he and I can come up with something. Aziraphael and Crowley, they might have an idea, or--"

A deep breath.

"Thank Merlin Ingress is away right now."

[iopenthings]

Door breathes for a moment, one hand coming up to hold on to 'Dora's.

"Thanks. Really. Just."

Another deep breath.

"I'm learning not to be afraid to ask for help, or take what's offered. It's hard. Even now."

She laughs a little. Call it a release of tension, though it isn't, quite.

"And yes. Temple and Arch, I'm grateful for Megwyn and Valdemar right now."

So very very grateful.

[clumsy_auror]

"I know it's hard. But there's plenty of people who'll be around to help."

Tonks looks out over the lake for a moment, thinking.

"Do any of the other House residents know she's there?"

[iopenthings]

Door nods.

"They do. We had to tell them. So they can be careful."

She bites her lip.

"It might not have been wise, but it--to do otherwise would have been unfair, and cruel. Or so Tom and I think."

Hopefully no one lets information slip to Blodwen.

Oh, please no.

[clumsy_auror]

A tight nod in return.

"I'd have done the same. I mean, what if one of them found out some other way? Then the whole thing might've blown up."

Not that particular outcome is out of the realm of possibility, in any case.

But that doesn't bear dwelling on, just now.

"I'll tell Sunny she's not to go to the House, for a while. Hopefully she won't ask too many questions, but as long as Ingress is gone I reckon she won't put up a big fuss."

[iopenthings]

"Yes. Yes, you're quite right."

There's relief in that, too, at the moment.

"I can hope she wouldn't, I'd hate to cause problems for you in that regard. I Only wish we could've convinced Gavroche to go, as well."

[clumsy_auror]

Wincing, Nymphadora bites her lip. "I wish you could've, too. He's welcome to come stay at the flat if you can convince him yet, but he's awfully independent, I know. Done a lot of growing up lately." She makes an attempt at a reassuring smile. "At least he's a wizard, so he's got some ways to protect himself."

[iopenthings]

"He does, at that."

She's quiet again.

"It's one of the reasons I'm worried about him. He is very brave, and friends of his have been hurt. It--I don't entirely trust him not to do something silly and dangerous."

[clumsy_auror]

Grimly, "If nothing else, tell Tom to fix him up with a good solid Petrificus Totalus if things get hairy, and stow him out of harm's way. I'm not above a little spell-work on the kids if it's for their own good."

[iopenthings]

"I'll definitely relay the message. Though I hope things never reach that point."

She, too, looks out over the lake.

"I won't rely on that, though."

[clumsy_auror]

"Knowing Blodwen? No. Neither will I."

With another sigh, the witch slings her arm around Door's shoulders, and squeezes.

"This, too, shall pass. As my dad always has the annoying habit of saying."

[iopenthings]

Door leans into the hug, resting her arm around 'Dora as well.

"Fathers are like that the world over, it seems. Though mine always said 'there'll always be another blowup tomorrow, Door, don't let this one get under your skin.' Which. Well, I guess that isn't really the same thing at all."

She manages a smile, though it's not a very good one.

"I like yours better."

[clumsy_auror]

Lightly, "That seems like pretty good advice to me, too. Put them together and I think we'll come out all right."

[iopenthings]

"We'll certainly do our best. And it's worked well enough before."

Her smile is a little steadier now.

She might be getting her second wind.

[clumsy_auror]

Firmly, "That's right. Now. There's pie in the pantry. Pie cures a host of ills. Interested?"

Because there's nothing to be done right this second, anyway. So they might as well make the most of things.

[iopenthings]

"Oh, very."

The smile brightens into something almost teasing.

"Particularly if there's ice cream to go with it."

[clumsy_auror]

"I'm sorry. Have you met my husband? Could you ever imagine any freezer of his having the audacity to not contain ice cream?"

Grinning too, 'Dora pockets her wand and steers Door back to the flat.

Her smile fades, a bit, along the way, and so does Door's.

But it's always nice to know one has friends.