InsaneJournal

Yesterday's events had left very little doubt in Cambina's mind that her mother had some opinions on the news Narcissa had shared. Part of her had expected a summons to lunch the following day, but the invitation to dinner was not unexpected. Bina knew that refusal wasn't an acceptable option and so as soon as she finished her shift, she made her way to the house, shrugging off her coat and handing it to the house elf once inside.

"Hi Mum," she said with a smile, pouring herself a drink from the sideboard after giving her mother a kiss on the cheek in greeting. "Can I refresh your drink?"

From her chair, Dulci took a good look at her daughter to see whether Bina appeared more anxious or less rested than usual, including a glance at her hand for all that she hardly expected Bina to have taken a decision on the proposal, or even spoken to young Rosier, in the day or so since the cocktail party. "Yes, please. How was work?"

Picking up her mother's glass, Cambina headed for the sideboard where she refilled her mother's glass of wine and poured herself a glass as well, hoping she wouldn't need anything stronger for this conversation. She shrugged. "The usual, I suppose. Nothing new to report. How about you?"

Bina handed a glass to her mother and took a seat. "Last night's event went well."

"I thought so. Some likely prospects, and I'm intending to take on the Parkinson girl as one of my interns. I don't expect her to stay, but she definitely seems to be looking for a career springboard and my office is that." Dulci took the fresh wineglass from her daughter. "And work continues as it always does. Mostly civil matters right now, so there's been a little actual work in shifting binding magics and the like. I haven't heard of anything significant coming down the pipe, either."

"Well, that should make it easier for you to devote more time to forming your interns," Cambina said with a smile over the rim of her glass. She ran a hand over her hair and decided to get to the point. "I take it you're not thrilled with Narcissa's suggestion."

Sometimes Dulci wondered how her daughter had been sorted Slytherin when she played the Gryffindor so often. She shook her head. "I know I don't need to give you of all people the lecture about enjoying the sausage without buying the pig. But that's an insulting offer. You're not a girl any more, Bina; you're thirty years old, which isn't the first blush of youth but is hardly old maid territory either, and well established in your career. Rosier may have an old and even sacred name--" and an impatient huff of breath showed how much regard Dulci had for that "--and there's nothing wrong with him, but he's, what, about ten years younger than you are, and nothing about him is established. He's a writer with the paper, which is a decent enough job, but it's not a prestigious career, and it's certainly not public service with the Ministry. And frankly, the Rosier vault may have a bit more than the Weasley vault in it, but not much more. All the money is on the Montgomery side there. There'll be a bit from the Selwyns--his mother's a Selwyn--but you'll bring the bulk of the finances to the marriage. Along with a better name and more connections.

"The offer suggests they think you're desperate. Maybe Cris is, but you don't have to be."

Bina rolled her eyes. "It's not about any of that, though. It's about getting in with their crowd and pleasing them. Letting them think they have the upper hand. It's all just part of the job. I was expecting some old widower and Will is certainly easy enough on the eyes and we get on well. Which will make it easier to do my job. And Will's in the process of getting hired at the Ministry."

Bina took a long sip of wine. "I don't care about the money. Between you and father and my own, I have more than what I need. You'd rather she have proposed someone old and wealthy?"

"I'd rather you weren't involving yourself in this charade at all, of course. But if you treat it anything other than seriously, you'll set off warning bells. Rosier's father was what he was, but that doesn't mean he has the information you need. Quite possibly the opposite; his father wasn't there to raise him in that company. But more importantly for you, if you look desperate--and taking this offer without further consideration is desperate-looking--they're likely to become suspicious. And that--" and here Dulci pointed a finger at Bina "--is precisely what you don't want."

"Well, pulling out is not an option." Except it was. It was an option that Bina rejected. Maybe the rest of the DMLE was fine with not making significant progress, but she wasn't. And if this had a chance of success than it was worth it. "I told Narcissa that I would need to talk to my father - which I will do - and I can easily take the time to consider the offer and question if this is the best she can do."

Cambina didn't mention the conversation she'd had with William that morning, where they'd discussed the proposal - and Narcissa - to some extent. "What I want is to earn Narcissa's favour, that's what this relies upon. I know choosing Rosier is an attempt to call my bluff. She doesn't think I'm willing to turn him into a pawn if necessary because we're fuckbuddies. But I'm willing to do whatever it takes."

"What do you think that Narcissa Malfoy's particular favour will obtain for you? How is this a step toward achieving your goal? And I should ask: how do you frame your goal in the context of this request?" Dulci was all in favour of bringing in Death Eaters and other vigilantes. Perhaps there was no other way to bring in whoever the target was, or to gain evidence. But the risk was high here and the prize ought to be worth it.

Cambina huffed. "Mother. You're on the Wizengamot. Not in the DMLE. Hell, you already probably know too much about what I'm doing. I need you to trust me and Rufus on this. There is a plan." Or at least a semblance of one, but the price of the mission was quickly going up.

Dulci shook her head. "That's where you're mistaken. You drew me into this plot and now you're trying to cut me off when you don't like answering the questions I pose, which tells me you're scrambling and don't have good answers. I don't have to trust you on this. You will, of course, do as you please, but if you and Rufus think I'm going to play along with whatever half-baked scheme you're over your head with while you slide toward becoming another Prewett or Meadowes, you both need to reconsider your planning."

"I gave you forewarning, which is more than I needed to do!" Cambina snapped, her temper flaring. Normally she got along well with her unflappable mother, but nothing about this situation was normal. "It doesn't matter whether you trust me or not, I'm going to do my job, and comparing me to them is an insult!" She certainly couldn't tell her mother how she enjoyed practicing with the unforgivables, how powerful she felt with that amount of magic coursing through her.

"I'm calling your behaviour as I see it. You can tell yourself it's about your job if you like, but that's not how it appears to those outside you. And if Narcissa Malfoy is encouraging you to behave in this way, and she's a suspect or a material consideration in an Auror Office investigation, perhaps you should think on that for a time before you accept her offer." Bina seemed to want Dulci to lose her temper, but she wasn't angry. She was simply laying out her case with practised logic. "In any case, it's clear you've already decided what you're going to do, even though you may be telling yourself otherwise. Just remember that I'll be here to get you out of this mess when it goes wrong--and as far as Prewett and Meadowes go, what Rufus did to them."

If this went wrong, Cambina knew there was a chance her mother would be in danger. And to be successful, she knew she'd be having disagreements like this with friends and family alike. She wouldn't be able to tell her friends she was marrying Rosier for work. She'd figure it out though, one way or another. The comment about Rufus just rubbed her the wrong way. "Have the solicitor draw up whatever papers are necessary to protect the family's assets."

Bina's anger ran off Dulci like water. "Covering assets has never been a problem for me, dear. I'll wait until your father sends notice about your portion for the marriage, but rest assured that in the event of a separation, your interests will be fully protected." Which covered a host of things Dulci meant to do, none of which she was going to discuss with her daughter.

It was more sadness than anger that Bina felt when she stood up. She had known her mother had concerns but she had wanted to share her outrage and anger at Narcissa. The choice of William had thrown a wrench into her plan - she wouldn't be able to draw out the courtship and engagement as much as she liked. She had very few legitimate reasons to turn down Will, despite Dulci's insistence that he was an insult and not worthy. She liked Will, but she wasn't above using him to achieve her goal. Now, she just felt alone.

"I'll keep you informed."