InsaneJournal

There were exactly four people in the world that William actually cared about, his mother and siblings. That was it. Other people he could like to varying degrees, or he certainly pretended he liked with easy smiles, but regardless of if he liked them or not, he didn’t really care what happened to them unless it affected his family. So his sisters were always on top of his list of priorities, they’d grown up without a father and a very busy mother so Will had made himself the protector and ringleader of their little group. Even now that their situation was better and there was a little brother, that hadn’t changed for him, and it was always Izzie he watched out for the most. Damien had a father and a stable home life in terms of finances to grow up in and Gwennie was outgoing and could always handle herself. He still watched out for those two, but Izzie had started out quieter and had ended up in a different house where he couldn’t be fully there for her. She had definitely grown in confidence in the last years, but she was still his little sister and it was his job to watch out for her. Especially since next year she’d be alone at Hogwarts.

He’d popped on up for Hogsmeade weekend to visit the girls, and while Gwennie had drinks with the other seventh year Slytherins, Will took Izzie out for tea and cake. She aimed to please and wouldn’t actually usually admit what she wanted so oftentimes he just picked something he figured she’d prefer, someone had to after all. They were seated in a corner in one of the nicer tea shops in Hogsmeade, perfect spot for people watching, as their slice of cake arrived.

“I was wondering what you’d settled on, Iz,” Will grinned over at her, having purposefully excused himself earlier when the waitress arrived just so Izzie would have to pick the choice of cake herself and not passed it off to him. “Feels like we haven’t done this in ages, doesn’t it?”

---

Most people would probably find it a little embarrassing to be spending their Hogsmeade time with their big brother instead of their friends, but it was a welcome change for Izzie. She’d always been close to her siblings, especially the older two, and she knew they doted on her, felt like they needed to protect her. Yes, sometimes it did feel like too much, but she knew it came from a place of love. They would probably always be her safe place, she didn’t have to pretend as much with them as she did within the castle walls and at events.

Giving a polite smile to the waitress who brought over the coffee cake, Izzie made sure it was placed between her and William. He knew she would never eat the whole thing anyway. “It’s been a while since it was just you and me. Not that I don’t love Gwennie, but it’s nice to have time with just us two sometimes as well.” Picking up her fork, she took the tiniest bite of cake so she could talk again.”You really need to get more of a life though if you can spare the time to come up here just to see me.” Izzie teased.

---

Will had always tried to include his sisters where he could. Others at Hogwarts had avoided siblings sometimes, but he had tried to carve out time for them regardless. He wanted to show them that he had their backs, that whatever it was they could come to him, they were always going to be important to him. The family had once lost everything, he'd been just old enough to be able to remember that, and he had told his sisters many times that he'd get all that had been taken from them back. Rosiers to the top, that was always his motto and his promise.

Taking the other fork, Will spun it between his fingers as he let her have the first bite. "Don't worry, I love both of you, but I like individual time too and I don't get that chance often, it's a shame." He smiled over at her, with an amused raise of his eyebrow as he finally took a bite of cake for himself. "How so? What should I be spending this time on instead?"

---

“There’ll be more of it next year if you can ever pin Gwen down to one place.” She reminded him with a soft laugh. “It’s odd to think she’s going to be out of Hogwarts for good in a month, even weirder to think that will be in a year.” If she ever decided what she was going to do after her own graduation.

Izzie rolled her eyes lightly at being made to spell it out. “I don’t know. Friends, women maybe?” Making it clear she really meant more of the second.

---

"I'll certainly try to," Will chuckled. "It is a little, I'm so used to you both being at Hogwarts. Just one will be odd, and then you'll both be out into the wide world and I'll have to try pinning you down too." He grinned a little and took his bite of cake.

His amusement seemed to only get more pronounced at her spelling it out. "Izzie...women can happen any other time, and yes they do, but Hogsmeade weekends only come about every so often. Besides, I want to be here. Wouldn't see you two otherwise and owls just aren't the same." Actually his saturday nights consistently involved women, or partying with quidditchers. Though the latter he often did to keep those connections and for work reasons. "If I'm going to take most of a weekend off of work for once, might as well get to see my favourite girls right?"


---

Pinning her down might actually be a problem if she were to ever give in to what she really wanted to do after Hogwarts and travel, but it was unlikely she would. “I’ll be far easier to get hold of than our sister. Much less likely to be out every night.” Izzie smiled as she thought about what Gwen would be like once she was free.

“Are there any particular girls I need to be aware before apparating to you over the summer, or is it all just more general knock first?” She pried, scraping up a little frosting from the cake without any cake itself. The sweet mess seemed to distract her, just staring at it and biting her lip for a couple of seconds before she spoke again. “What if once we are all out in the real world we just stop… making the effort? At the moment school means we need to make the most of the times we can see each other, but we won’t have that eventually, and what if we just get lost in our own lives?”

Ok, maybe she was a little reliant on her siblings being around.

---

Will smiled and shook his head at his sister. "Let's go with a general precaution of give me a ten minute warning just in case on evenings." He paused and leaned forward so his arms were resting on the table as he watched her fork idly scrape up frosting. It wasn't hard to tell when something was bothering Izzie, she could be quiet sometimes but he found that if he let her have her moments of thinking she'd be more likely to come out and say what was on her mind.

When it finally came out it didn't surprise him, not really, because he imagined if he was about to be left at Hogwarts on his own next year it'd be a genuine worry to consider. "Iz," he said more softly with a fond smile. "Do you know what the only full days I take off from working, in any way, are? Hogsmeade and days I've promised I'd take you guys out. That's it. Literally no other days, everything else is vaguely work related at the least. I'm already out of school, if I was going to stop making the effort, I would've done it by now. So, you're stuck with me, no matter what. Sorry Iz." Will gave her a comforting smile, the same one he'd use to promise her he'd be back for the holidays and he'd write her. He always did of course, he'd lie through his teeth to other people but he wouldn't go back on a promise to his sisters.

---

“It’s the morning afters I was more worried about.” She laughed. “But I will stay away from surprising you with breakfast just in case. 10 minute warning noted.” She didn’t really feel like doing the awkward talk with whatever woman she might find in her brother’s kitchen. “Just let me know if there is anyone more serious eventually so I know to be nice.”

He knew her faaaar too well. “It’s not the same. You take those days off because you know they are the only times you can see me. Us. When I’m not in school either we’ll think we can set up times whenever we want, so we won’t prioritise it. What if we just never end up doing it at all?” Part of Izzie knew her siblings would always make an effort to see her, but she still worried a little. “And promise you’ll keep visiting next year and try to drag Gwennie along for some of them? I promise not to spend too long freaking out about what I’m meant to do after graduation.”

---

"Good point. Alright, mornings and evenings are for warnings but I'd be willing to do breakfast with you. Only way I might get breakfast some days," Will joked, though it was true that he didn't usually have three meals a day. Often because he was just plain busy. Will rolled his eyes slightly but was smiling. "When I have to go get married, I will make sure both you and Gwennie get to meet her so she can win you both over. After all, you'll both be over visiting and there's always a guest room or something reserved for you two at my place."

Will put on a more serious face and looked Izzie in the eye. "Isabelle, I promise that I will keep visiting next year and I'll do my utmost to drag Gwennie along for whatever ones I can. I even promise that all visits are on my tab." He smiled again finally, a silent question of 'better?'. "And don't freak out about what you'll do. Do you think I planned on going into the Prophet and structured my final year around it? No. Besides, you'll have Gwen and I to help you find something, and I'll be in a better position to do so."

---

It didn’t surprise her at all to hear say she was the only way he’d actually get breakfast most days. It was no secret she was the calmest and possibly most organised of the Rosier siblings. Perhaps regular Sunday brunches would be how she would keep both her siblings fed and seeing her. “I’m sure your future bride will be thrilled to hear you plan to have your little sisters visiting so much.” Izzie joked, taking a proper bite of the cake. Not that she cared what the woman thought so much as what William thought.

A small soft smile and nod was offered as acceptance of his promise. “I just don’t even have an idea. Well, no realistic ones anyway. It must just be all the seventh years at the moment and their worries rubbing off on me. Ignore me.” Her smile a little bigger as she shook her head and reached for her tea. “Better position to help me than Gwen or better than now?”

---

His lunches and dinners were also erratic, but he neglected to mention that now. Will was always working and always trying to think of or make new opportunities. His raw ambition alone would've put him in Slytherin, without any of the other house qualities, though he did have those. But ambition was always the driving force in his life, he was going to fix the blow the family name and finances had taken, he was going to get it all back. And he was willing to do whatever it took, food was hardly even a sacrifice on that scale. "My future bride will just have to deal. My sisters come with me, Rosiers are a package deal, that's why she has to win you over, not the other way around," Will winked lightly as he took another bite of cake.

"No no Izzie, I'd never ignore you. But we can deal with what you may want to do after Hogwarts in the future. We'll brainstorm over the summer or next year, don't worry, we'll set you up with something." At her last question a sly smirk appeared on his face, and he leaned in slightly. "Better than now. Actually, I haven't told anyone yet, wanna be the first Izzie?"

---

“Rosiers first.” She agreed with a warm smile. It did make her feel a little warm and fuzzy how dedicated William was. “I feel sorry for all of our partners having to woo and win over all of us. At least we’ll know they aren’t afraid of hard work.” Izzie had a feeling her siblings would be especially wary of any man who wanted to win her considering how protective they were of her just in general.

It was obvious he had news to share, and his smirk made her grin and lean in closer too. “Of course. Every little detail you can spare. I love secrets.”

---

"Don't feel sorry for them. If they want us, and they want quality, then they've got to work for it. Laziness isn't attractive." He knew he'd have to marry, as the Rosier heir, and that it'd probably be a practical match more than anything. But he figured if he did well, it'd increase his sisters' prospects and they'd have a better pick of the pureblooded lads. Not that it'd be easy to be good enough to marry them of course. The girls could fool around with whoever they wished, that was up to them, who they married he'd vet more.

"It's not too big, and I generally don't like sharing things before they're more concrete...but with the recent Ministry shakeups, I managed to use some connections and get a recommendation from a senior member of the magical reversal squad. I've got an interview for a spot in the department," Will grinned, an almost shark-like grin of ambition. Of course there'd be more than one interview, but he was good at those and it was all about getting his foot in the door in the Ministry. That was where there was ladder climbing to do and plenty of room to gain influence, he'd been quietly waiting for his opportunity to nab something in the ministry.

---

“I couldn’t agree more.” She didn’t want some spoiled pureblood boy who’d just coast by and marry her for appearances. Of course Izzie would marry someone like that if she had to, if it was what was deemed the right thing to do, but it wasn’t what she really wanted.

Just seeing that smile on his face, the look he got when he had achieved something… She loved to see William so happy. “William, that’s amazing! Well done, you’ll have them begging you to work for them in no time! I didn’t even know you were seriously looking for a new job. It looks like we’ll be celebrating more than just Gwennie’s graduation!”

---

"Well, you know me, always looking for opportunities. We don't have Ministry relatives or contacts so I couldn't get anything out of school despite my scores. All these internships and such opening up now have a lot to do with Ministry shakeups that come with a new minister, so I was just waiting for my chance. Besides, I think I've gotten most of what I wanted out of the Prophet. I'm a staff writer already, there's not much room to move up and there's no point in making connections if you don't use them," Will shrugged. "We'll see, don't count it yet. Still need to do the interview and get invited to subsequent ones and then a job offer." Not that he didn't think he could do it, he was sure he could, but it wasn't good to count things as sure before they happened. Things could happen in between.

---

“I’m pretty sure you would have still found ways to use your connections and make more.” She pointed out. If there was one thing William knew how to do, it was making use of connections. It was a skill she tried to copy with her act at school and the events she got taken to, one she really admired. “But I understand, the Ministry gives you a lot more room to grow and expand on it all. I think it will be really good for you, and you for them. Do you know where you eventually want to be?”

---

"Long term plan right now is to end up in International Magical Cooperation, that has an even wider scope and more opportunity really, then from there hopefully use whatever position I've attained to jump into the Wizengamot. But that's long term and I'll be doing some department hopping. I'm flexible though so we'll see what happens along the way." Will took another stab at their cake as he explained. "Have to stay open to other opportunities if they pop up."

---

“International Magical Cooperation sounds good. Some chance for travel?” That sounded really good to Izzie. What did she need to get in there she wondered? “It sounds like you have it all sorted out. They’d be a fool not to want someone so driven working for them. Make sure you tell me how it went the second your interview is over!” She was genuinely happy and excited for him.

---

"Possibly. Mostly it has more influence and a broader scope, which means more opportunity," Will said, grinning over at her for the last part. "It's tough to get in I hear, most spots taken by those with the connections, but I figure inter-departmental transfer should be more viable down the line, get me a better starting position than an internship. But thank you Izzie, your vote of confidence is much appreciated. I promise, I'll update you on how the whole thing goes." He took a break from eating the cake, since he'd been having more of it than her and he wanted her to have a chance to catch up. "Enough about me, what has my littlest sister been up to? You hardly write, I have to mostly go off what I get out of you on these weekends!" He was teasing mostly, but he did want to hear how she'd been.

---

Making a small dismissive gesture with one hand, she sipped her tea instead of catching up with the cake eating. “You were always going to be a better candidate than any old internship candidate.” She assured William.

“That’s because my life really isn’t that interesting.” She laughed softly, picking at the cake with her fork rather than actually eating it. “I’m just getting through school, preparing for exams, avoiding losing shoes or clothes to the panic of the NEWT students. It’s terribly boring. Gwen will be the one with all the stories.”

---

"Nonsense, you sell yourself short Iz," Will insisted with a dismissive hand wave back. "No fun about Puffs in your year? No grand summer plans we can try to make happen if possible? Mum not bothering you about anything? There's always something Izzie."

---

“The puffs are being puffs.” She shrugged, taking a subtle look around the place to make sure there was no-one around to hear her if she said more. “There’s a first year I had to waste my evening last night helping look for her ridiculous cat she’d lost somewhere in the castle. The seventh years seem to be trying to encourage and help each other through their exams, someone was actually meditating in the common room with this incense that gave me a headache. Your normal stereotypes we’re not meant to believe in.”

---

Will smiled a little when she glanced around subtly, and he gave a small flick of his wand to indicate a privacy charm was up. He'd put it up earlier but he didn't think she'd seen, so he was a little proud she had more than enough sense to be careful before she said anything. "Sounds like a chore that's hardly worth the effort. But really, incense meditation? Bad enough, I shudder to think of what ridiculous muggle habits you have to deal with in there." He made a slight face at the thought. Being in Slytherin, his exposure to all things muggle that the house as a whole had a disdain for was limited, and it had always bothered him some that Izzie was stuck in a house so full of it. To think how many mudbloods Hufflepuff liked to boast alone...once again he wanted to see that Sorting Hat burn slowly.

"Nobody's bothering you in there though, right?" Not that he could do much from the outside, but he could get Gwen on it, or some of the Hufflepuffs in her year and Gwen's that he'd spent time befriending. Well...'befriending', the only reason he'd been nice to them was so he could hear what was going on in that house and watch out for his sister.

----

It was no secret that William really hated where the sorting hat had put her. Well, maybe it was a secret to those who didn’t know them well, but Izzie knew full well what her brother thought of it. His reaction just to the little she said made her laugh softly.

“Apart from incense headaches, no-one is bothering me in any way I couldn’t handle all on my own. I promise.” She might play nice and sweet, but she could fix some of the annoyances herself without making enemies or using her siblings. “I’m just running low on patience, it’s the end of the year. I need some time at home and some events to boost myself again. The holiday with you and Gwennie can’t come soon enough.” In truth, riding this line between nice Huffle and good Pureblood girl got a little tiring at times.


---

"Alright, I'll take your word on it this time," Will smiled. She could handle herself well, he knew that, but she was still his little sister and he'd spent most of his life watching out for her, that certainly wasn't likely to stop anytime soon.

"Few weeks, hold out for that long and then summer freedom," he assured her. Will usually had a facade on that was a mix of nice, polite and charming but he could always go home and drop the act, and even at Hogwarts he could drop most of it within the safety of his own house. Sure, within Slytherin one still had to put on an act sometimes, but he usually didn't need to pretend to be nice and tolerant of things that he couldn't stand. Izzie didn't get that break, she always had to have the facade on. It was also why he tried to come up for Hogsmeade weekends as often as he could, give her a break from having to pretend so much. "We'll see what we can do this summer to make up for things. If I get the Ministry job I won't have as many random events I can bring you to, but society events are still up for grabs. We'll do some of those and some weekend trips. I think we all need a bit of a recharge, what do you say?"

---

Just because she could handle herself, didn’t mean that she didn’t like knowing she had Will and Gwen to support her or fight for her if she needed it. “Thank you.” Sometimes there were things they could do that she couldn’t if she wanted to keep her reputation, and she loved the fact they were willing to as much as they fact they mostly knew when to hold off.

“I say it all sounds perfect.” Izzie replied with real feeling and relief. I need some sibling time. I’m excited to see what mum and Alastair have planned for Gwen’s celebration too. How much do you know?”

---

He'd have her back no matter what, and Will always liked making sure he both made his sisters aware of that, but also demonstrated it.

"Very little unfortunately," he sighed with a shrug. "Aren't you going to finish the cake Iz? Anyway, I really don't know anything about what they have planned. I've been busy with work, especially lately, and while I'd like to help plan it out, I haven't had the time. Mum has mostly taken that over anyway, so I guess we'll find out when Gwen does unless she has jobs for us to do. But we did say the three of us would do a celebratory dinner at least, so we'll have that on the side of the family celebration. Maybe Gwen has her own plans for celebrations with her friends, we'll see. You and I could probably brainstorm some graduation gift ideas for Gwen later, we can give it to her at our own dinner rather than at the family one. That way we won't have to worry about what anyone but her will think."

---

At the mention of the cake, Izzie looked down at it and then back to her brother with a shrug. “I’m not really in the mood for it anymore. You should finish it.” She urged, sitting back in her chair again. “I really can’t seem to work out what we should get for her, so that could be a long brainstorming session. Maybe we can sneak away shopping the day we get back?”

---

Will paused and gave her a long look before he did anything to the cake, he wanted to be sure she wasn't in the mood because well...she just wasn't in the mood, and not for any other reason. Finally he sat up a bit and dug his fork in. "Only because you insist. And I'll admit I'm a bit stuck too, but we'll sneak a day, you and me, to go shopping and find her something. It'll be easy enough to distract her, she's got enough social things on top of that." He took a bite of cake and smiled at his youngest sister. "Always need a bit of plotting in our lives huh?"

---

William's assessment of her motives was ignored, knowing full well what he was doing and not wanting to make him come up with ulterior motives. "We are Rosiers after all, what's life without a little intrigue?" Izzie laughed softly. "Now finish the cake so you can take me shopping and get your fill of giggling girls watching you."

---

"Exactly." Will took one of the last bites of cake and grinned over at her. "Well when you put it that way, how can I turn it down?"