Who: Ted Tonks and Prior Parkinson What: A conversation! Sort of. Where: Ministry of Magic When: Backdated to Monday morning, April 14th
If it were up to Ted, then he'd still be at home and in bed, cuddled up to Dora and Andie. As it were, somebody from the Hitwizards office had owled him early that morning and asked that he come in for another interview. Ted didn't know what good it would do- he still didn't remember anything about what had happened to him. All he knew was that he had taken those puppies to their new homes and the next thing he knew, he was at St. Mungo's. The interview had gone about as well as he had expected- there was frustration on both ends because Ted couldn't help any more than he already had-- which really wasn't much. He had to admit that he disliked it. A lot. He just felt so useless.
Once the interview was over, they had finally allowed him to leave. He didn't go home just yet- he thought he'd make his way up to the career center or whatever they were calling it these days. He hadn't told Andie yet, but he was thinking of a bit of a career change-- perhaps at the ministry he'd be at least somewhat safer than working at the clinic that he had been. This plan to go speak to somebody about it was a good one. Or rather, it would have been a good one if he had been able to remember just where on earth that office was. Apparently, it kept moving, because every time he asked somebody, they gave him a different location and every time he got there, it wasn't there! He was starting to wonder if this office just didn't exist. Or maybe it used to and didn't anymore. He couldn't say for sure.
Prior was supposed to spend the entire morning attending to his work. He was supposed to collect data, observe the stars, arrange materials, preparations, maps, and so on and so forth, but apparently, his father had other ideas. He was woke up at a rather rude hour by the consistent rampage of his father's menace of an owl against his bedroom window. It carried with it the characteristic scrawl of a man who aimed to intimidate--well, in this case, order his son around--and Prior had no other choice but to concede. Padraig Parkinson had raised him with the belief that fathers mean only well and when fathers ask their sons to do something for them, it usually means much benefit for the obedient child. So with what had been a resigned sigh and a petulant stomp of his feet, he left his bed only three hours after slipping between the sheets, Prior had went about his day as tolerably as possible.
By mid-morning, half of his business at the Ministry was already over and done with. His father had listed quite a number of chores to busy himself with there and, whilst waiting for the nth man to meet/negotiate/bargain with, Prior was left to his own devices amidst the ever-interesting hallways of the Ministry. Walking down a peculiar-looking one, he lost count at the number of times he had to duck, side-step, and swat the mischievous work-notes. He could even note the odd owls walking to and fro in huge numbers, even the warring books on a seemingly protesting bookshelf. With an air of amusement, Prior entertained himself by being the audience to this most chaotic scene, that is, until he spotted a familiar-looking face in a busy Ministry crowd.
He waited for the man to pass by him, all the while trying to reconcile face with name. He was in Hufflepuff, Prior was certain. Hufflepuff and... Older. A bit older. But, not by so much, Prior supposed. "You don't look like a wandering tourist but you look ridiculously lost," he remarked over his shoulder as the man walked past, his head curiously following him.
Ted paused in his tracks when he heard the voice, turning and leaning a bit more on his cane than he meant to. "I am, a little," he replied, lifting a shoulder in a shrug. "I think this office just doesn't want to be found." He tilted his head as he considered the other man. "I'm sorry, have we met before? You remind me of...somebody. But I can't quite place who." He stepped back as another inter-office memo went zooming by his head. "Do you know what floor we're on? I think I've also lost track."
The office doesn't want to be found? He would laugh but many years of going in and out of the Ministry with (and for) his father made him immune to finding it the least bit strange. Prior considered it for a moment, then gestured slightly with his hand. He moved slightly to were Ted was standing--with his cane--and managed to avoid staring at it because, as his mother said, it's incredibly rude to openly ogle the disability of others, Prior. For shame, child. "I have this suspicion that the office would only appear to your bidding if you have anything that it needs." A pause. "Or wants."
He turned his head slightly, eyebrows furrowed, and his eyes narrowed in thought. So he wasn't the only one who thought the other looked remarkably familiar. "I was hoping you would answer that question..." the sentence trailed, slightly, instinct expecting the other to supply his name. But he shook his head and smiled almost apologetically, more in reprimand for himself than anything. "Hogwarts, maybe. Or somewhere," he shrugged, then looked around as the question of 'where' drifted in the air. Where indeed. "Third floor," he said, dismissing the subject, before jumping back into polite curiosity. "So tell me, where have we met?"
Third floor. Ted bit his lower lip and frowned just slightly as he looked toward his feet. How on earth did he get there? He was just on the sixth floor! Merlin, this place was confusing. "I'm Ted," he said, looking back to Prior. "Ted Tonks. Hogwarts sounds right- Erm. Prior, wasn't it? Former Hufflepuff?" He shifted his weight and held his hand out for a handshake. "I think I was just a few years ahead of you. Unless I'm completely wrong, which is also entirely possible."
Tonks! Ted Tonks! A look of surprise took almost a second to manifest in his face, quickly followed by a series of nods, and an emphasis of a smile. Of course! "I remember you, yes. A few years above me..." He took a moment to remember anything else. Hufflepuff, but that was a given. "Quidditch..." Then he reconsidered, "Did you play on the team? Or was that another Tonks?" He offered his hand, as if only just remembering the basics of good manners, "Prior Parkinson, yes, so good to see you again, Ted Tonks."
Ted brightened just slightly, nodding. "No, that was me. Beater, 5th through 7th years. It's good to see you again as well, Prior Parkinson." He shook his hand briefly, then released it, letting his own fall back to his side. He shifted his weight again, half wondering if it might be better for him to just head home soon and forget about finding this bloody office. Obviously it didn't want him to find it- not today, at least. "Do you work here at the Ministry, then?"
Prior nodded, finding himself at a loss as to what topic to breach next after all formalities were over and done with. "Oh, no. Running errands for my father. According to him, seniority is enough of a reason to laze about at home and make his children do his job for him." Which was just an exaggeration, of course, and held no genuine insult to his father. He stood back, then, and looked at him with a sharp eye--or, at least, what qualified as sharp for Prior. After a moment, he put two and two together and--
--blinked, realizing. "You were the Tonks who married Andromeda Black, weren't you?" He asked unnecessarily, for he was already mostly certain that it certainly was him. Certainly fit the profile his mother ranted about one Sunday afternoon: plain, unassuming, and, apparently, friendly.
Ted couldn't help but laugh as Prior mentioned his father, and he nodded. "It's a nice thought, but I don't imagine it's one that I'll hold to when I get older." He stiffened then, his fingers tightening around the top of his cane. How was that any of his business? Then again, he vaguely remembered something about the Parkinsons being a part of the prominent Pureblooded society- hadn't somebody mentioned that he was getting married soon, himself? Ted couldn't remember for sure- Merlin, this memory business was frustrating. "I- yes. Yes, that was me."
Prior grinned, relishing that small victory as if it were a major triumph. He nodded once, appreciatively, and looked at Ted under a new light. Andromeda married this Ted Tonks. Andromeda who was--eldest? second eldest?--of the revered Black family, Andromeda Black who was expected by many to attain a reputation far greater than her parents'. His grin faltered, then, but not before he let out an amused chuckle.
"You lucky bastard," he remarked, chuckling still as he did so. With his parents as members of the circle of Purebloods in Wizarding society, he was aware of the many tidbits, facts, and scandals of a lot of renowned families. This Ted Tonks was one of those juicy issues his mother had discussed with her friends over tea. Poor Andromeda Black, marrying that Muggle Ted. Prior smirked, shook his head. "You surprised us all, swooping Andromeda like that. We expected a Lestrange, of course, or a Malfoy--" but then again, Lestrange and Malfoy still wound up with Black sisters of their own, "--Nott, Greengrass, Yaxley... List is endless. But as endless as it seems to be, we hadn't realized that Tonks would be in there as well." Another shake of his head. "No sir, we didn't."
Lucky bastard? Ted blinked, somewhat confused by Prior's reaction. Really confused. Most people, when they brought up Andromeda around him- and if they weren't one of his particular friends- didn't call him a lucky bastard for marrying her. "I- yeah, it was kind of a surprise to me, too. But- well, I'm glad she agreed." He blushed faintly and shifted his weight uncomfortably.
He could sense that line of conversation's death in the foreseeable distance but Prior wasn't finished yet. "Honestly, Ted," he said, a little more seriously this time but with the same humored smile still on his lips. The expression seemed a little forced now, though, as if Prior had maintained it only for the sake of appearing jovial and, at the very least, sociable. (Prior can't have the snark to go with his reputation, it would be most improper.) "The Blacks, they're a family on top of all the other families. It's a wonder she chose you above all the other eligible bachelors out there. Bachelors who can possibly provide houses in France, or in Spain, or bachelors with established positions in the Ministry."
He paused meaningfully, surveying Ted with a critical eye, before continuing. "Lucky, lucky you."
"I suppose so," Ted replied, a bit put off by this encounter. He shifted his weight again, a little uncomfortable. He did his best by Andie- he really did. He couldn't provide her all of the fancy houses or china or family jewels that she might have grown up with- that others expected her to have- but she was loved, and he did the best he could for her and Nymphadora. "I didn't force her to do anything she didn't want to."
"No, of course not," he answered quickly, not fully realizing that he was making Ted uncomfortable. Dense as Prior was, though, elaborated even further. "But you obviously did something, to charm her way out of luxury." Prior shrugged, "But who could you blame you? Anyone can fall in love with her, I suppose. It just so happens to be, well, you." And not the many other qualified men out there. He chuckled, then, as if he made the most humorous joke there was--not to drain the insult from his words but because he really did find it rather amusing. A Muggleborn and a Pureblood--ha, hilarious stuff.
"No, I suppose they can't," he said, biting his lower lip. Well. They tended to anyways. "I couldn't help it, at least. She's a good woman." Another memo flew past, and Ted nearly lost his balance as he stepped back out of the way. He regained it easily, glad that he hadn't toppled over-- that would be just bloody brilliant, wouldn't it? To make a fool of himself in front of this bloke who he hadn't seen in years. "You're getting married soon, too, aren't you?"
"Yes, she is," Prior agreed, even though he had insufficient experience to back up that belief. He just deduced the impression that Andromeda Black(-Tonks now, I suppose) was a good woman from the reputation of her name and the inherent instinct that obliged him to nod and agree where appropriate. That is, until Ted reacted rather badly to an overzealous memo and Prior thought, for a moment, if he would have the strength to support Ted's weight. Dear Merlin, why is this man even out and about when he's obviously injured? His hands stilled, his entire posture tense and rigid, as if anticipating a major catastrophe--but when Ted regained control, Prior immediately relaxed and took a cautious half-step back.
--about his marriage, Prior let surprise show on his face mid-half-step. He regarded Ted with curious eyes--careful not to glance a moment too long at that cane, can't have your eyes discriminate the crippled--before clearing his throat and nodding. "Yes, I am. How did you know about that?" He asked, genuinely wondering just how Ted managed to know that if, only a few minutes earlier, Prior himself had a hard time remembering Ted's name.
Ted blinked at the surprise, biting his lower lip again. He hadn't meant to offend. "I- my work. I work as a healer for magical creatures, and people talk. I thought I had heard somebody mention it in passing the other day. I- I'm sorry if it bothers you that I know. But- well, it's not exactly a low-class wedding. Two well-known families, and all..."
Prior nodded, understanding. Of course. Of course. He laughed lightly, waving his hand in dismissal of his worries. "Don't be ridiculous. I'm just curious, is all. I hadn't realized that Andromeda kept in touch with her family enough to relay gossip from the rumor mills. I was right." It hadn't even occurred to him that if and when Andromeda Black would keep in touch with a family she left behind for this Muggleborn, it wouldn't be to gossip about the most meager things.
"So Ted," he said, jumping to a fresh course of conversation for the sake of keeping things interesting (and, well, to avoid whatever marriage-related question he might not be able to provide a dignified answer for), "What happened here, eh?" He asked, finally, and nodded at the cane in Ted's hands. He's been dying to know.
"Here? Oh!" Ted looked down. "I'm not sure," he admitted. "I don't remember a thing about it. They think it was an attack, from the other injuries I had. It's getting better, though." He was hesitant to say too much- firstly because he had no idea what had really happened, and secondly because he didn't really know much about Prior. He remembered a few things from their time at Hogwarts, remembered that he was a Pureblood, but he didn't seem to think that Ted was just the scum of the earth or whatever. At least, from what Ted could see. He wasn't sure, and he was a little nervous.
He nodded, signaling his attention, at all the right moments. Once more when Ted finished, to be sure. He adopted a sympathetic look, one formed with a subtlety that conveyed a believable helping of sincerity. (It should, considering that Prior had been admonished time and again for inappropriate facial expressions.) "That's most unfortunate, Ted," he commented, once more looking down at the cane, then at Ted's foot. Or feet. Or leg. He didn't know which, really, and didn't know if he would care to find out, either. "Nothing like bodily harm to diminish a man's masculinity, after all," he continued as an afterthought, once again unconsciously allowing his tongue to work its way before his head.
"Something like that," Ted said, looking down at the cane in his hand a bit self-consciously. "It'll be fine, though. There didn't seem to be any permanent damage." And then he glanced to his watch, then looked back to Prior. "Hrm. Well, it's getting late enough that Andromeda and Nymphadora will be wondering where I've gone off to. I should probably head home. It was good to see you again, Prior. And congratulations again, on your engagement."
Prior nodded, understanding. Or, perhaps, trying to since he didn't have a wife just yet and a part of him was truly curious how fatherhood plays out. "Nymphadora," he echoed, amused, "Alright, Ted. It was nice seeing you again, too. I hope it had been under better circumstances," he remarked idly, referring to the cane, the limp, and Ted's earlier role as lost sheep. "Give my regards to Andromeda."
"Of course," Ted replied with a faint smile. "Perhaps we'll see each other again soon. And I will. You have a good day." He gave a slight nod as he glanced around to regain his bearings and then started off toward the lifts.