Adrian Devrat Pucey (adrian_pucey) wrote in rodrian, @ 2008-01-21 13:48:00 |
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There was a certain Auror he’d been ambivalent about looking up for lunch. Not entirely sure what he was trying to do, other than thanking him again, Roger had shipped over dendrobium orchids that morning from the flower lady on Diagon. Anonymously, of course.
Now, he skipped up the stairs to the second floor to pop in on Pucey unannounced. He hoped Pucey was there at work today. He hoped he felt like going out for lunch. He also hoped he wasn’t making a complete and utter fool out of himself for showing up like this after a month of silence.
Roger looked about the field of cubicles. “Um, I’m looking for Auror Pucey?” he asked a passing witch. She waved vaguely over her shoulder and Roger started down the row, peering curiously into the motley… offices? Surely they couldn’t be called offices.
*
When the flowers arrived, Adrian hadn't reacted more than arching an eyebrow and accepting them in silence. A few sniggers and glances in his direction were ignored as he set down the vase on the desk in his cubicle.
Inwardly, he was wrenching his brain to think of somebody who might've sent him flowers. They'd already been scanned for various bugs, curses, hexes and whatnot, and the only omnious thing they'd found, was a small dead spider.
It was effing hard to concentrate on his work - reading through file after file, to find clues - when those purple orchids were staring at him. They were incredibly beautiful, and several female Aurors and clerks came by his cubicle to admire them and ask who the sender was.
Adrian replied the same every time "Yes, they're nice. No, I don't know who sent them." By 10 am, the rumours started crawling from cubicle to cubicle. At 11 am, Adrian heard them. At 11.03 am, he laughed his arse off at their stupidity, told them he was flattered by their attention and asked them, loudly, if not they had more worthwhile things to do, than gossip about him.
That didn't exactly kill the gossip, only postponed it he suspected, but at least he didn't have to listen to more whispers.
Once more he was able to immerse himself in the files, and this time his interest was actually captured. He was absently jotting down notes, while reading.
*
Roger walked down cubicle after cubicle until he spied the flowers he'd sent, and then Adrian's dark head bent over stacks of papers.
"Nice flowers. Are they for your girl?" he asked, pitching his voice low and for Adrian's ears alone.
His bright blue eyes swirled with mischief.
*
A familiar, but unexpected voice startled Adrian out of his concentration. He turned his head and looked up at ...
Roger Davies, of all people. Looking very healthy and fit and ...
"No." He put down his quill and turned fully in his chair, so he could face Davies comfortably.
"Anonymous giver ... perhaps a satisfied customer?" The gleam in Davies' eyes had Adrian thinking.
*
"Ha!" Roger barked out a laugh. He stood there smiling. Gods! It was good to see Adrian Pucey!
"Hungry? Let's go get lunch."
Roger didn't care that he was distubring Pucey's work day. The man looked like he could use a distraction.
*
Such a change from when he'd seen the man last. The happiness had been there, but not as vibrant as that, not as energetic.
His lunch break wasn't for another half hour, and he really needed to finish this...
"Sure." Adrian flipped the file shut and rose.
"You're buying this time."
*
"Of course," Roger agreed easily, backing out of the cubicle to give Adrian room. "The Broom again?"
His eyes rose and rose as Adrian stood. Why did it always surprise him with how tall he was?
Because of how broad and powerful he's grown.
"How are things in the Ministry?" Roger let small talk cover their exit from the building.
*
"Things are calm." Once more Adrian ignored the looks he could feel on them, as they left his cubicle and then the large Auror department.
"What about St. Mungo's? Not that you look like you've spent time there lately." All healers had that slightly pale, if not even pallid skin. Just like the clerks down in Records. And some obsessed Aurors.
*
"Yeah, I haven't a clue. Just back from 4 weeks away with the kids."
Roger held the door to the stairwell. It appeared they were alone as they descended.
"You were right back there. Those flowers are from an extremely satisfied customer."
*
Adrian looked at Roger, expression inscrutible "I suspected as much. They're beautiful. Thank you."
That case had ended in a somewhat different way than expected. But ... satisfactory, to those that mattered.
Everybody mattered, Adrian... Just not to him.
"How are the children?" A smile finally came to his lips, as they walked, side by side, down the stairs.
*
Roger had to take his cue from Adrian's words, and trust that the flowers were agreeable. His expression told him nothing.
"They are doing well. Great actually. They're with my mother today while I attend to business in London. We had a blast, visiting up there for a week, getting reacquainted with grandparents and aunts and an uncle, and even some great-grandparents!" He smiled as he prattled on, while they descended the stairs.
"Then we spent a week at a lovely beach on the Mediterranean, building sand castles and collecitng shells. That was fantastic! I wore nothin gbut swimming trunks for a solid week. Then we went to a muggle amusement park, the zoo. I took them 'round the barns at Hogwarts..."
*
"Sounds great," Adrian said, still smiling.
All over tan then... Adrian told his mind to focus.
"How was old Hogwarts holding up? Still standing tall and proud as ever?" Truth be told, he missed the place. It had been easy years back then, and he hadn't known just how easy, before they were over.
*
Roger raised his eyebrows. "It actually looks better than when we were there. It was a bit startling. It looked ... well, shiny and clean, neat and well kept."
He held the next door open.
*
"Huh..." Adrian looked slightly surprised at Roger.
"Did they get a new caretaker, or were we that messy?" Well, Adrian had been messy, but seriously not to a degree that would make the school look messy.
*
"Well, I think it may be that the school itself no longer has to ... well... fight the dark forces that were constantly attacking it when ... well, back then. So it's able to devote its energies into simple maintenance. I didn't talk to anyone about it, so that's just my speculation."
They arriced at the Golden Broom and were shown to Adrian's 'reserved' booth.
*
"Ah... hm... that could be." Roger's speculation wasn't that far fetched after all.
Adrian sat down with a sigh and stretched his legs. He'd been cooped up at the Ministry all day and it was good to move around and relax.
"You saved me from a fate worse than death ... Ministry food." Adrian grinned a little.
*
"Ha! Saved myself from Mungo-food. Mungus Fungus, we call it. I tend to skip lunch or go out."
Well, he tended to skip lunch... a lot.
"So what are you up to now? I suppose you can't talk about your cases?" Like Roger couldn't talk about his patients ... at least not by name.
*
Adrian chuckled at the comment about the food at St. Mungo's.
"Right now I'm researching basically. There's been a more than a few cases of Artifacts with dark curses on them turning up in Northern Ireland. And it has a familiar feel to it. So, I'm going through old cases that might be relevant, to see if I can find any clues."
He looked up with a light smile as the waiter arrived with menues "I'll have the usual." Then he looked over at Roger.
*
"Ah... make mine the same," Roger said for simplicity's sake.
Surely to god, you're not trying to demonstrate how compatible you are...
"That actually sounds like fun," he said after the waiter cleared out. "One thing I'm doing this week is making my peace with St. Mungo's. They didn't take too kindly to me disappearing for two months. Tomorrow, I present my specialization proposal. If they go for it, I'll be studying three more years, and doing research. It's actually better this way... than if I'd kept studying right after my residency. I've got tons of practical experience to draw upon now."
*
"Fun is one way to describe it." Adrian smirked lightly and shrugged.
"Practical experience is worth a lot more than it's been credited for. What are you going to specialise in?" He realised he was actually interested, and not just asking to be polite.
*
"I want to look into how magic affects the brain, the emotions, and such... with teh hope to discover insights into counteracting spell damage and dark magic like Imperio... in a nutshell."
Roger gave Adrian a broad smile. "I'll be presenting this idea in much more detail tomorrow."
*
Adrian nodded, intrigued by the topic.
"Sounds very interesting." He idly wondered if the Imperio had had any emotional effect on him.
"My father is an Obliviator although he's retired now to do researhch. I don't believe you have heard about him though. He worked predominantly in India and the far East." And why even bring Father into this discussion? Was he purposefully trying to make this distasteful for himself?
*
"Really?" Roger's eyes shown with interest. "That's one of the subtopics - Obliviation and its effects and how to heal the damage of too much Obliviation, or Obliviation gone wrong. You remember Professor Lockhart? He's still on the spell damage floor."
Their drinks arrived.
"I'd like your father's card, if you think he wouldn't mind an owl from me on the topic."
Roger took a sip.
He shook his head as thoughts ran through his mind. "I'm trying to decide where to move, but I can't decide till I know if St. Mungo's will take me back. I want to get a place in Hogsmeade. I'm selling the old house. I won't live in it. Finalizing that with the goblins this afternoon. Mum wants us to land up on Lewis, but I want to be near the kid's school." He shrugged, as if apologizing for boring Adrian.
*
"Eh, well..." Adrian smiled wryly "I'm not sure whether he would mind or not. I don't have contact with him." he cursed himself for even mentioning Father.
"But maybe he'd be professionally interested in something like that. I ..." Adrian shrugged lightly "Personally, I wouldn't recommend any dealings with him. But I'm biased."
He hoped Roger wouldn't be tempted to ask about that bias. He'd rather spend his lunch in a comfortable way.
*
"Oh," Roger said in surprise. Then he chided himself for assuming... that everyone else had healthy relationships in their family life... yeah, right.
"Adrian..." Roger said softly... intently... "I will trust any and all recommendations coming from you. In fact, I'd stake not only my life, but the lives of my children on it."
*
Somewhat stunned by that proclamation of trust, Adrian wasn't quite sure what to say. They hardly knew each other, and even if he'd helped Roger with getting his children back, he had basically only done his job. And before that ... nothing since their rather antagonistic relationship back at school. Apart from that lunch. And yet, here Roger was, basically saying he'd trust Adrian with his and his childrens' lives.
"I appreciate your trust in my judgement, Roger." he said sincerely, thinking 'You shouldn't be so trusting, Roger.'
"I hope you won't have to stake any lives on it in the future." Adrian smiled crookedly and took a sip of water. He wasn't used to something like this.
*
Roger thought that he might have discomfited the man. But it was the simple truth. He and his children were in a terrible situation, for years, and no matter who he turned to... the Lethifold always managed to slip out and away.
Until she'd tried an unforgivable on this Auror.
Roger wouldnt' ever forget that. He and his kids had a new life now, a happy life full of hope and laughter.
"No. No more staking of lives." Roger paused. "I'm babbling. Tell me what's going on in your life."
*
Adrian shrugged and leaned back in his seat.
"Nothing much, other than work. I think you know that feeling, ey?" Adrian smiled at Roger.
The waiter brought their food and Adrian dug right in, hungry as usual.
"One case takes the other ... there's always something interesting to research, some new developement or series of clues to consider." And well, Roger would probably not appreciate hearing about Adrian's more ... casual exploits during his days off.
*
Roger looked at him strangely. "I want to know that feeling."
What would it be like to simply work, and come home to play with his children, and go back to work?
"Hmmm, like putting together a jigsaw, I imagine." Roger set about eating as well. he was tired of amusement park food and beach food... and even his mother's cooking.
*
Of course ... Roger had never only had his job to worry about.
"It'll be strange to get back in a routine, I suppose?" Or in reality, start up a new routine, since this was a new situation.
*
"Oh, nothing's routine with a 4 year old in the house," Roger said with a chuckle. "But it will be a dream come true to get back into research and study. Wish me luck on my presentation tomorrow."
Roger took a bite and a little bit fell onto his hand. He lipped it off his thumb then met Adrian's eyes in embarrassment.
He'll think you eat like a monkey. Roger refused to examine too closely the reason he cared.
*
Adrian chuckled as well. He knew how 4-year olds could be. His cousin Nanji's youngest girls were 5. Adrian was just about to wish Roger luck, when he was somewhat mesmerised by those lips sliding against the man's thumb to capture that wayward morsel.
You're drooling, mate. Adrian chided himself absently.
"Hm?" Adrian looked up just in time to meet Roger's eyes.
"Oh! Yes, of course. I'm sure you'll convince them." He smiled.
*
Roger wasn't sure precisely what it was that he saw in Pucey's green eyes. But it made his chest tingle and he was sure that it wasn't disgust.
"Thank you," he said softly... holding the eye contact.
Finally, he looked down at his meal. A warm glow in his belly had nothing to do with food.
*
Adrian didn't mind the prolonged eyecontact at all and only looked away after Roger had turned his attention back on this food.
He wanted to ask if the man used a charm on his eyes or if they were that ... enthralling, naturally. But that was probably too personal a question.
"Will you be working while you research and study?" Adrian forced his own attention back on food as well.
*
"Merlin, I hope not..." Roger said, then considered. "I know they want me back. That's why I took the time off. I can get a job as a Healer anywhere."
He sipped his drink.
"The older research Healers, usually mentor the first year Apprentices and may teach or help with the teaching. So I fully expect to be doing some of that."
He shrugged. "It really all depends on how they like my presentation and how much they want to support my research. We'll agree on a topic and outline a year's worth of work. I get free run of St. Mungo's if I teach or heal, or whatever it is they want from me... And we revisit the deal next year."
He looked down again, overwhelmed at what he was contemplating... on top of raising two small children all by himself.
Of course his mother was devoted to helping tremendously, but every spare moment he had went to them. He missed Rosa's weight in his lap already.
*
"You're going to be busy. Reminds me of my last year as trainee. We had regular shifts with Aurors at the same time as we had training and homework. I don't think I had a week that had below 70 or 80 work hours." He shrugged and took a sip of water.
"Then again, that prepared us for how tough it would be when we became Aurors, by making that last year so hard. Of course, I only had Hugin and I to look after. You have children." Not for the first, and probably also not for the last time, Adrian wondered if he'd ever have any children. He doubted it, even if he wanted children of his own.
*
Roger chuckled. "Long hours, yes, but life-threatening danger? No."
"It's stressful, sure, but not that kind of stress. And with luck, I can do a lot of this year's work from my home. That would be bloody brilliant!"
Roger finished eating but kept talking. "My son said something strange to me... He asked if I was ever first in my class. He was third in his class of ten this year... in kindergarten. I told him no, and explained that I'd been excelling in so many subjects in order to take Healer training."
"He sort of rolled his eyes at that, which is fine. I understand that he wouldn't grasp the difference at his age. But then he looked at me and said, "I shall be first in my class."
"Then we talked about how to go about that.. and he was like a little general launching a campaign. He was utterly convinced that he had to sabotage the efforts of others. After telling him that was wrong several times, I finally appealed to the logic that if he'd sabotaged their work, then that proved they were better than him and winning the class award was meaningless."
"He seemed to buy that. Then we talked about ways to garner the teacher's favour and make friends with the other children. And again I had to convince him that he had to be nice and helpful and honestly like them, not just buy them with presents."
"It was bizarre... he's only 6."
*
Adrian couldn't help a smirk from curling his lips. The little general... so much ruthless ambition at that age... He was quite reminded of himself, atlhouth he'd never bothered with buying friends. He'd always had enough in himself.
"You have a potential Slytherin on your hands there, Roger." Adrian chuckled and carefully picked up the last morsels of food on his plate with his fork, then glanced at Roger, arching an eyebrow sharply.
"He'll go far, that one. I did, after all." He flashed a grin at Roger, then put the food into his mouth and chewed.
*
Roger was appalled! His mouth dropped open.
"He's... he's a Slytherin!? But his mother was a Hufflepuff and my family's been Ravenclaw's for- for- forever!"
But if his mother was a Slytherin without much ambition... she'd have ended up in Hufflepuff... that most generous house that gathers up the rest the other houses don't want... Or if she'd simply asked the hat...
"Dear Merlin, you're going to have to help then. That's all there is to it." Roger raised his eyebrows and shook his head as if there was no other possible way to deal with such an outrageous situation.
*
As he chewed, watching Roger's disbelief, Adrian didn't know if he should be insulted by Roger's reaction, or amused. He decided on amused, since that reaction really should be expected by somebody so straight-laced Ravenclaw and nice as Davies.
"I'd be honoured to help, but are you sure you'd like to expose your son to my Slytherin influence?" Adrian waggled an eyebrow.
Did you just offer to help Roger Davies with his kid? Are you mad? It was a distinct possibility.
*
"Better yours than anyone else's. If he's that ambitious about first grade... I don't know what he'll getup to. You should come around some evening for dinner and meet him... more casually... Once I've got us a new place. I want a place in Hogsmeade close the school. But of course, I won't live in the old house. But all that's on hold till I find out my job future tomorrow."
Roger smiled. Yes, it was all connected and he was talking in circles. But it was really nice to relax like this. All too soon it would end though and he'd head off to the bank and Adrian would go back to work.
He wondered if he'd see him again.
*
"He'll get up to just about the same as I, I expect." Adrian grinned, knowing that wasn't reassuring at all. At least not to Davies' ears.
"But sure, you know where to find me. Or you could send an owl once you get settled." Adrian leaned back in his seat, full and relaxed. It was time to go back to work and yet, he wasn't really inclined to leave.
*
"And just what did you get up to?" Roger asked in alarm.
Roger nodded and said, "I'll do that."
*
Adrian laughed "Mischief and mayhem. Not a sensible thought in my head." He was teasing, mercilessly.
"Well, not really. But even if I was hard to manage, I didn't drive my family mad and I survived. So far."
*
Roger finally caught on that Adiran was teasing him.
Why does my heart thump so when he smiles?
But that was fair since Roger had been teasing with his overreaction to Robert's Slytherin like attitude.
"Hey, if you don't already have plans..." he asked, making this up on the spot, "... I'm going to grill out Saturday lunch."
He'd have to go buy a grill!
"You know burgers and franks. Nothing fancy. Come on over, if you like."
Roger... what are you doing? Roger could almost hear his mother's voice in his head.
*
Adrian was surprised by the sudden offer, in light of the earlier plans.
Well, not plans per se, but still...
"Oh, I don't think I have any plans on Saturday." He did, so why didn't he say so?
Fencing with Hargreaves doesn't constitute plans, that's why. We can fence Sunday as well.
"I'll be there."
*
"Great. My little place in Ottery St. Catchpole, you know." Roger said, nodding, with a big stupid grin on his face.
time was moving and the goblins didn't appreciate tardiness. He'd have to apparate to Gringott's... but he didn't want to leave. It was just ... nice... sitting here, taking lunch with Pucey.
*
Adrian nodded, puzzled by the grin on Roger's face. Surely the man couldn't be that pleased that he'd accepted the invitation.
"I'll see you then." Once more he'd be late, just like the last time he'd had lunch with Roger. Was a pattern emerging?
Two times isn't a fucking pattern!
Adrian rose with a smile "Should I bring anything?" Mother had raised him to have good manners after all.
*
Roger watched Adrian rise, up and up... so tall...
dark and handsome... whispered a voice in Roger's head that he wasn't sure he'd heard before... or maybe not in a very long time... like going on 8 years...
"Bring a dessert if you like."
Roger fished out his wallet and laid a few galleons on the table, sure that he'd covered for a nice tip. Then he rose also.
"See you then."
Roger couldn't stop smiling.
*
Adrian got an idea at Roger's suggestion, and smiled back. A bit more dazzling that truly intended. Right?
Right!
"Yes. Good luck with your proposal tomorrow."
*
Roger found himself staring and wondering what sort of glamour Adrian had placed over his features to make him so... nice looking... Those straight jet eyebrows are just... devastating in their beauty, he thought.
"Thank you!" he said warmly. "Well... see you 'round."
He really needed to start moving toward the door. But he wouldn't see Adrian again till Saturday.
*
"Yes, see you around. Thanks for lunch." This was getting somewhat ridiculous. At least in his eyes. They were both standing around like sheep, as if they didn't have to be somewhere just around now. As if they didn't want to go.
With a smile and a small quick wave at Roger, Adrian finally got himself moving towards the door and out of it. He could only hope nobody was looking too closely at the clock today.
As he arrived at his cubicle, he looked at the orchids and smiled just a little b
*
Roger watched Adrian leave and then shook himself and scrubbed his fingers through his hair. He apparated to Gringott's and finalized the details of putting the old house on the market.
He didn't stop smiling all day.