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Tweak says, "We will, we will rise again!"

Lavender Brown (__lav) wrote in wished,
@ 2010-06-21 15:19:00

Entry tags:

!2003: 06, !incomplete, lavender brown, percy weasley

WHO: Lavender Brow & Percy Weasley.
WHAT: Percy has to do his Ministry duties, Lavender is forced to allow someone into her house.
WHERE: Lavender's cottage in the countryside.
WHEN: 11 o'clock.
RATING: G - PG

Lavender wasn't sure about how she felt about the Ministry coming into her home. She understood that Percy Weasley was just doing his job, but she felt safer if he did it from his office. Wasn't that the point of the journals to begin with? Rolling out of bed at 8 in the morning, Lavender sighed. Another restless sleep left her feeling more exhausted than the day before. Running fingers through her blonde hair, she grabbed a robe and headed for the bathroom. Maybe a shower would help with the build up of anxiety. It wasn't just the prospect of Percy Weasley coming over, it was everything that happened from that battle at Hogwarts. Lavender never imagined her life to end up this backwards and ruined. She had dreams, she had plans. She had the potential, and all of that was destroyed by one single scratch. As the hot water hit her skin, she shivered under the stream and closed her eyes. She supposed it could have been worse. She could have been killed, she could have died, and that would have been the end of Lavender Brown. Or... Fenrir could have bitten her and she could have been transformed completely into a werewolf. Literally shaking underneath of the spray of hot water, she quickly finished her shower, attempting to wash the thoughts from her mind and from her body.

Tossing on a simple floral summer dress. Lavender didn't bother to look herself in the mirror as she ran her fingers through her hair and flicked off the light to the bathroom. Heading downstairs, she turned into the kitchen just to find her owl sitting on the back of a chair, looking at her expectantly. Glancing at the creature for a moment, she took the letter off its talons and found it was a notice from her mother. Glancing over the parchment, she sighed and crumpled the page up. "Of course." Grabbing a cookie from the jar on the counter, she offered it to the owl who took it happily and hopped to the window sill. Watching as the owl extended it's massive wings and took off into the morning sky, Lavender was filled with envy. It wasn't fair that her owl could have such confidence to fly around as it pleased, but she could barely step out of her house without having a panic attack.

Eyes looked back at the letter that was tossed onto the table. She really did wish her mother could be here with her, but she understood that she had other commitments. Her father likely wouldn't get her owl until Wednesday, he was a very busy man. The kettle on the stove began to whistle, snapping her out of her thoughts, as she moved robotically to make her tea. Catching a look at the clock, she sighed. 10 am. Where did the past two hours go? Swallowing nervously, she moved into the living room and took a seat behind the black grand piano. As she took a slow sip of her tea, one finger ran over the ivory keys before depressing and allowing a sweet steady note to fill the air. Placing the tea on a coaster atop the piano, fingers immediately brushed over the keys once more.

A tune that she memorized years ago began to play out over the piano. So this is what Lavender Brown's life has been reduced to? Sitting at home, alone, playing the piano. The more she thought about how pathetic she seemed the more depressed it made her, and as each note drifted from the strings, she couldn't help but pour her heart out into the music. It was the only thing she could still hold on to that didn't fade away into fair and self loathing. It was the only thing - in her eyes - that wasn't a hideous monster.

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weasley_percy
2010-06-21 09:43 pm UTC (link)

Percy paused at the door, his hand ready to knock when he heard the sound of music. With his hand raised, he took a step closer to the door, and laying his ear to the hard wood, he could hear the tune clearly. It was sad and yet passionate and Percy stayed where he was, listening to the player on the other side of the divide between them. It made him think of Bill and Fleur's cottage by the ocean, of walking along the beach and picking up shells to toss in the water. The melody made him remember the smell of salt in that moment, and of looking in the air at flying gulls, hoovering in the wind.

He couldn't bring himself to knock for a long while, listening and waiting for her to end before he roused her from her position in front of the keyboard. He knew how to play himself, but he hadn't ever seen this music and wondered fleetingly who it could be. He rest his head there, and then as she seemed to come to a close to the piece, Percy realized how utterly absurd he must look to anyone who passed by. He stood, glancing down at the small purple bag he held in his hand and wondered if he was crossing an imaginary line of propriety.

He had found himself purchasing these small tolkens for her, after their brief conversation in the journal. His curiosity peaked at her words, Percy had done a bit more research, reviewing her case and had been struck by the blazing similarities to his own dear brother. The words werewolf attack, and no fear of transformation had struck him; the rest was the standard basic medical information sent to the Department, as well as a documentation of communications between his department and Ms. Lavender Brown. Percy was surprised and a bit disappointed that the bulk of the interviews had been handled by correspondence; he didn't approve of that method at all. The one thing he found that seemed to help the most was for these people to connect a face to a name. And that service had been missed for Lavender; she had somehow, fallen through the cracks.

He had been struck by a sense of sorrow for her. Her case indicated that she was an only child; in comparison to Bill's extended family, Lavender had had the minimal of family to support her through these troubling times. She was exactly the kind of person who did notneed to be isolated and yet, she had been by shear happenstance. Percy had been struck with that as he had prepared himself for work, adjusting his tie on his blue suit as he had made his morning tea. He had a small ceramic jug of his mother's blend of tea, the kind she mixed for all of the family to help with stress and anxiety, and Percy impulsively pocketed it as he was readying to leave. Then, just outside of the Ministry, he'd stopped at a small shop and picked up a lavender bath set, bubbles and powder and spray, and with the ceramic jug, he had the clerk wrap it up in a small purple parcel.

He wondered even as he had apparated to her address, pushing his way through the gate and walking down the walk, what had possessed him to do something so personal for a person he barely knew. But part of him knew it was the right gesture to make. And he felt more confident as he lifted his hand again and knocked soundly at the door.

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__lav
2010-06-22 03:44 am UTC (link)

Lavender's fingers were poised over the keys to continue playing, but the loud knock made her hands recoil back from the piano. Feeling a sudden wave of anxiety crush her lungs, she tried to swallow back that feeling of nausea. It took her a few moments to build herself up mentally to answer the door. Rising from the piano bench, bare feet padded over to the front door. Unlatching the tiny peep hole, pale blue eyes focused on the man standing on the other side of the door. The striking red hair instantly told Lavender that a Weasley was standing at her door. She remembered Percy from her time at Hogwarts, of course, all she could recall was his bossy Prefect personality and then his Head Boy airs.

Yet, that was so many years ago, back when she was in Hogwarts, she was known as the gossipy, giggling air head who snogged Ron Weasley. People could change, couldn't they? Closing the latch back on the door, she moved over the locks on the door, before finally pulling the door open enough for Percy to come in. Since moving into the cottage, Lavender refused to have guests over. Her mother visited occasionally, usually to try and coax her out of the house, but other than that, she's become a complete and utter recluse.

Having so much time on her hands left her with nothing to do but clean. The cottage was impeccable in both style and cleanliness. Everything seemed placed in their proper place and not a speck of dust could be found. There were typically only two routes a complete recluse could go, one being the path of hoarder and slob, or in Lavender's case - OCD cleanliness and order. At Hogwarts she had a tendency to keep things in order and neat and now without having any other way to entertain herself that urge to stay neat and organize was just exacerbated.

A faint smile curled on her lips, as blue eyes lifted to look up at him, "You made it. I really hope this isn't too much of a bother. I would hate to inconvenience you." She said softly as she moved to the side to allow Percy into the house. She wanted to add that him showing up wasn't necessary and that she did not mind corresponding through journals, or even owls. It saved the stress and anxiety that came with opening up her house to someone after being used to living alone and being alone for so long.

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weasley_percy
2010-06-22 04:24 am UTC (link)

The first thing that struck him was how very pretty she was. It was also the second and third thing that went through his mind as he stood stock still on her doorstep. He swallowed, and instinctively put both items in his left hand so that he could extend his right to her to shake, "Hello, Ms. Brown. I am Percy Weasley and I believe you are expecting me," he said as a way of an introduction. Realizing that she had been standing with the door open, he moved inside, and stood to the side so that she could shut the door.

He paused, his briefcase in one hand, and the bright purple bag back in his other as he waited politely for her to show him in further. The space was charming. It was very neat and organized and surprisingly welcoming. Glancing about, he spied the corner of the piano, "I hope I am not too late. I was actually delayed, loitering on your door step. It was the music," he said as he turned his own eyes to her blue ones, "It was too beautiful to interrupt. You play marvelously Ms. Brown. Have you played for a long while."

He let his words linger there, giving her time to answer if she so decided. He didn't want her to feel pressured; there was something very important about being sure Lavender felt comfortable with him here, in her home. He knew she didn't have many visitors from the Ministry, and he was determined to make her feel at ease.

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__lav
2010-06-22 06:46 pm UTC (link)

Her smile broadened as he kept calling her Ms. Brown. "Mr. Weasley, what did I tell you about calling me 'Ms Brown'?" Six or seven years ago this would have been the point where she would giggle, but instead she just smiled coyly and closed the door behind him, making sure to lock all the latches. "Please, it's Lavender. 'Ms Brown' makes me feel like an old spinster..." Voice trailed off as she realized that she was certainly going down that line by the way she was living. Moving into the living room, which was furnished with plush white couches and a soft area rug in front of a fireplace, the only thing that was in the room to off set the clean white was the sleek, black piano.

As he mentioned hearing her play, a bright pink flushed across her cheeks, "Thank you very much. I have played for as long as I can remember, my mother taught me." Moving further into the room, she moved to the piano to pluck up her tea cup off the coaster. Glancing over at Percy, she nodded to the couches.

"Please, have a seat, can I get you anything?" Head tilted to the side, as she studied him for a moment. Yes, Percy Weasley was most definitely a Weasley. That shock of red hair, and the freckles gave him away instantly, but it was the facial structure that made him look like an older version of Ron. Lavender had her mother's looks, short and petite with long blonde hair. The only thing that made her different than her mother was her nose. Of course, she had no siblings to be compared to, and most of the time that was how she liked it. Of course now, with her mother and father far too busy to be with Lavender all the time, she regretted not having a least a sister to keep her company. Even Parvati - whom she considered a sister - was off living her life. Lavender was just stuck... in this cottage, fearing everything including herself.

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weasley_percy
2010-06-22 07:40 pm UTC (link)

Percy was struck by her smile; in that moment, her face had changed from being pretty to something even more breathtaking, and he relexively smiled back at her, "Lavender, you are hardly the spinster type, and I should know. I have visited a few a time or two in the last couple of years," he said as he followed her direction towards the white couch. The room gave Percy a crisp clean feeling and he nodded slightly in his approval.

At her offer, he was going to refuse at first; but something made him change his mind. He felt no desire to rush through this and hurry off to his next appointment. Lingering here sounded like one of the best ideas he'd come thought of in the last few minutes.

"Tea please, if I may join you?" and he thought about the tea he had in the small bag, ready to present it to her. But he said nothing, setting the purple gift on the coffee table in front of him as he sat on the while couch, "I thoroughly enjoyed your playing. I play myself, though to no degree the level of expertise that you exhibited. It was so nice," he said, settling himself more, "That particular tune. It made me think of my brother's cottage. They have one, he and his wife, just on the coast, and there was something about that tune that evoked a reminiscence of that place."

He kept his blue eyes on her, and gave her a smile that communicated his delight in that moment, there on her porch, "Perhaps I can persuade you to play another tune. Later, if you are willing?"

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__lav
2010-06-22 08:39 pm UTC (link)

Lavender couldn't deny how much she appreciated the human interaction. She didn't realize how much she craved to talk to someone until she actually had it. Perhaps this visit wasn't such a bad idea. "At least I don't have any cats." She mused as she finished her first cup of tea.

"Of course you may, I wouldn't have asked if I didn't want you to." A finely sculpted brow arched slightly, as she moved to the kitchen to reheat the kettle and pull down a clean cup for Percy. It was strange having someone over but comforting - yet, Lavender had to remind herself that Percy was just doing his job. The ministry sent him here to check up on a "victim" of a werewolf attack, and Lavender had to tell herself that this was a necessity. It didn't take long for the kettle to reheat - the magic... of magic.

Placing the tea in the kettle, she placed everything on a tray and moved back to the living room. "Thank you, I haven't played for someone in a very long time. Perhaps you will be able to." Was that a little flirtation? Once more that coy smile curled on her lips as she placed the tray down and took a seat on the couch opposite the one that Percy was sitting on.

"I'll pour the tea in a moment, I want to let it steep." Leaning back on the couch, she looked over at him with a tiny smile, "So your brother lives by the sea? That must be lovely, I have always wanted to live on the shore, but I burn easily." A sheepish smile returned to her lips as she crossed her legs at her ankles. Small talk was good, wasn't it?

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weasley_percy
2010-06-22 10:39 pm UTC (link)

Percy found himself alone as she moved off to make him tea, and he watched the backside of her as she left. She was not what he remembered at all in school and found himself feel flushed and more eager than he had felt in ages. He recalled a younger girl, with a bouncy head of hair giggling constantly and running about, arm and arm with Ron. She hadn't talked to him very often, occasionally sassing him with her friends, to follow with a peel of laughter.

That little girl was no where to be found in this willowy, graceful woman, Percy that as he watched her return, with a smile playing across his lips. She was the perfect hostess and he deferred to her as he sat up, "Perhaps I can indeed," he replied at her comment about piano playing. He gave her a larger smile as she sat across from her, thinking of the questions he had in his briefcase that he was supposed to review with her. But her interest in Bill pleased him, and he sat up more and leaned forward, "Yes, Bill has the smartest of cottages by the ocean, right at the top of the cliff. It smells of the salt, and you can almost the waves, especially at night when you are lying in your bed," he added, coloring slightly at the topic of the bedroom. He went on, "There is something very calming and soothing about being there, to walk on the beach in the early morning," and on an odd impulse, "Perhaps I can take you there sometime. If you would like," and he gave her a smile, "I can see you walking on the beach. And Bill," he said, his eyes opening a bit wider as he realized he was speaking to her about Bill, "I meant to mention him to you. I was actually going to try to make arrangements for you to meet with Bill. He has...valuable knowledge that could help you I would think."

Percy found himself stopping, and unsure what else to say. He wasn't acting his normal formal self. He had what was almost a script that he followed, at least to start, when he visited with people; it was a method to put them at ease and allow him only to loosen up. It always worked; usually by the end of his visits, he and the individual would be talking about some various subject like old friends.

But for whatever reason, he had thrown the his entire methodical routine out the window. He looked at the purple bag, and stretching out his arm, he took it in his fingertips and extended it to her, "You were on my mind yesterday, Lavender, your case and such," he added hastily, "I hope you won't be offended that I purchased you something."

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__lav
2010-06-23 03:55 am UTC (link)

Was he flirting with her? Oh Merlin, those butterflies instantly began fluttering in the pit of her stomach as she studied him for a moment. Did he really want to hear her play? It's been so long since she actually had an audience that the thought made her a little anxious. As she listened to him explain his brother's cottage, Lavender shifted on the sofa to begin serving the tea. Head lifted at the mention of her going with him to Bill's cottage. "Oh," She began nervously, swallowing slightly, she immediately looked down at the tea. "I..." Clearing her throat, she suddenly felt like she was falling. "I... don't really like to leave the cottage."

However, she fell silent as he spoke about Bill having valuable knowledge that could help her. Placing a tea spoon in his cup, she placed it all on a matching saucer before lifting it up to offer it to him, "He has knowledge that could help me?" Lavender couldn't even fathom what kind of information Bill might have for her. It's been ages since she corresponded with any of the Weasley's that the idea of Bill having information for her left her perplexed.

While Lavender didn't know it at the time, she was inwardly relieved that this little meeting was going as well as it was. Lavender didn't really know what to expect, but pleasant conversation was certainly not one of them.

Head tilted to the side as he mentioned being on his mind. Eyes widened with surprise as he offered her the gift. A tiny smile curled on her lips as she took the bag. "Of course I'm not offended. Do you do this for all your clients, Mr Weasley? Shower them with gifts?" Biting down on her bottom lip she attempted to hide that coy smile which was begging to paint across her face. She wasn't sure if she was supposed to open it now, or wait, what was proper etiquette when it came to receiving gifts?

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weasley_percy
2010-06-23 04:20 am UTC (link)

He watched her pour tea and noted that she did it with grace and poise. She seemed to falter at one point, but Percy didn't pursue it at that moment, but instead focused on her reaction to his gift.

"Please, if you are going to make me call you Lavender, the very least you can do is call me Percy. We were in the same house. We practically grew up together," he offered, delighting in her smile.

"But I must confess, I have never brought anyone a gift to my recollection. At least, not on the first visit. On others, yes, I have a habit of bringing small tolkens," he said with a sheepish grin, "Please, open it," he said, and when she took out the jar, he pointed to the container of herbs, "That is a specially Weasley blended tea. My mum gives it to all of us kids, to help us sleep and sooth our nerves after a long hard day. I..I thought you might enjoy it," he said, his tone becoming slightly shy, "Bill especially likes it. He says those days just before the moon is full can be rough, and he swears by it."

Percy's eyes rested on her, "Bill was also attacked by Fenrir. His condition is very, very similar to yours, Lavender. That was why I thought you might appreciate his advice," and Percy looked down at his hands and gave a large sigh and looked back up at her, his look steady, "It has been a learning experience for all of us, but I think we gone through the roughest parts of it."

Percy paused and felt hesitant, internally bracing for her potential negative reaction. It could happen; it would not be the first time in Percy's experience. But it was different with Lavender; it felt more personal, and Percy found himself hanging on her words, her expression, with veiled hope.

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__lav
2010-06-23 04:46 am UTC (link)

Lavender sat in silence for a long few moments. She didn't know what to say. She knew she wasn't the first victim of Fenrir's, and she knew it could have been ten times worse for her than it was. Yet, in her mind, after growing up completely spoiled and happy go-lucky this sort of thing was a major turn around. It was like a smack in the face of the harsh reality. It could have been worse, Lavender knew that much, but it was still a rather horrid deal no less. She could feel that anxiety creeping up her back, and when Percy mentioned the full moon, her gaze darted to look at the calendar that hung on the wall. The day of the full moon was scratched out, almost like she was attempting to black out that day from existence.

"Thank you," She practically whispered, as she placed the jar of herbs down. Lavender could feel the tears threatening to spill. She made note to look away from him, she knew looking at him would make her cry. However, when he spoke about everyone having gone through the roughest parts of it, Lavender couldn't stop the tears. Sniffling softly, a hand lifted to brush the tears off her cheeks.

"I'm sorry, I don't mean to cry. I must seem so bloody pathetic." She whispered, as she looked away from him, focusing all her attention on the jar in her lap. "Every single day seems worse than the one before, I can't sleep... I can't even leave my house without being scared. Of what? I don't know. Every month I turn into this horrid, screaming nutter and I can't stop it. I can't stop the nightmares, and I can't sleep, and Merlin," She sighed trying to catch her breath, "I haven't slept in so long..."

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weasley_percy
2010-06-23 04:57 am UTC (link)

He felt the weight of the moment, and he rose, and moved around the table and impulsively sat down next to her as she began to cry. It undid something inside of him, and where in the past he would have kept on, in a rational logical way to explain the benefits and virtues of the situation, this time, he could not. He found his handkerchief, the PW embroidered on it in white, and he held it out to her, wanting to cross that divide and reach for her hand.

He didn't speak for a moment, listening to her cry, her voice so quiet and low, "Oh Lavender, you should not be going through this alone. What you are experiencing is not abnormal, but alone, it magnifies and is petrifying."

He felt her body pressed against his side, and could feel the subtle tremble that shook her. It was completely inappropriate for him to be this close to her but he didn't care; he felt this incredible need to comfort her, to protect her.

He looked down at the hand close to him and impulsively he picked it up, and held it gently, "Do you have someone to be with you this moon that is coming? You should not experience it alone," he said, concern lacing his tone.

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__lav
2010-06-23 05:36 pm UTC (link)

Taking the kerchief from him gratefully, Lavender wiped her eyes and took a deep breath. She felt so pathetic, she felt so weak, and just so helpless. This was not what she wanted in her life, this was not what she pictured her life to be like five years ago. Blinking back more tears, she sighed heavily and shook her head. "Mother or father usually comes over to make sure I...." Swallowing back her tears, she attempted to compose herself. "To make sure I don't... harm anyone, or myself..."

Shuddering slightly, she glanced up at him, "I take woflsbane potion regularly just to make sure I don't..." Shrugging slightly, she looked down at the kerchief and caught a glimpse of the embroidered initials. A tiny very faint smile emerged as she ran her fingers over the letters.

"Does--" Clearing her throat she kept her gaze on the embroidered initials. "Does Bill have difficulty during the full moon?" Lavender wasn't sure what the extent of Bill's injuries were. Lavender knew that some people were fully transformed by Fenrir, others like her, only injured. Her injuries made it difficult to tolerate the full moon, and left an ever lasting fear in her mind.

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weasley_percy
2010-06-23 10:06 pm UTC (link)

He held her hand tenderly, "But they are both away at the present. I think perhaps you should not be alone this moon next. If you will allow me, I will come and lend you what assistance you need," and he squeezed her hand in support, "Bill does have trouble, every month. While he does not change, it is quite difficult for him."

Percy paused, "You should meet with him. I think it would bring you more comfort to know that you are not the exception," and he held her hand still, moving it to rest on his own knee, "There is no shame involved in what you are experiencing. I would think you are very, very brave to face this, shouldering the burden on your own as you have been."

His eyes didn't leave her face, as he sat next to her. He wanted to put his arm around her, to lend her more comfort and support but the notion struck him as inappropriate and absurd. He should no be making an suggestive moves on a girl when she was clearly vulnerable.

Even if she was incredibly beautiful.

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__lav
2010-06-26 12:05 am UTC (link)

Sniffling softly, Lavender pulled her hand away when placed it on his knee, "I'm sorry, Percy, I really do appreciate your concern, but..." Swallowing slightly, she placed the kerchief on her lap. "I can't let you do that, mother and father will arrive here before the full moon, and I would hate to burden you with my...." Pausing, she looked down at her hands and shook her head. "problems." She really wanted to add that she was so utterly ashamed of the type of woman she became at each full moon, but she couldn't bring herself to expressing that embarrassment without breaking down into tears again.

Shifting slightly on the couch, head lifted to finally bring her gaze to his. Once more that tiny smile crept across her face, "But thank you, it was very sweet of you to offer. I have lived this way for five years, I consider it a habit at this point." Staring at him for a moment, she realized exactly how close he was to her, and she could feel her heart skip a beat. Just having another person at this close proximity made her realize how much she missed such a simple social interaction.

Fingers lifted subconsciously, as she could feel herself tempted to trace her fingers along his cheek. However, she stopped midway, and blinked, fingers poised in the air. "Um..." Clearing her throat, she immediately pulled her hand back and turned to look at the tea, "Sorry. I... How do you take your tea, Percy?"

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weasley_percy
2010-06-26 12:16 am UTC (link)

It was like a spell had been broken, and Percy also realized how close he was in proximity to her. He could almost smell her scent and he could definitely feel her form against his. But he had not offered rashly, "As long as your parents will not leave you alone, I can understand your hesitation at accepting my offer," he said, sounding slightly formal but pressing past it, "You should not hesitate to contact me, should some unforeseen situation arises and you find yourself without aide. Lavender, I have seen many things in my experience," he said, as he shifted away from her slightly, "And as much as you think your...afflictions may startle me, I can assure you, they would not," he said, meeting her eyes and giving her an encouraging smile.

"Of course you are well practiced at this," he added, his tone confident and not dwelling on her emotional reaction; it told him that as much as she protested that she was adjusted, she really was not dealing well with her changes to her life. It made his resolve to help her even stronger. He observed her move to distract him slightly and this time his smile was larger and more open, "I am a Weasley. How do you think we take our tea? Sweet, with lemon. It becomes more that treat that way," he said as he watched her prepare it, "Although I think I take it far less sweet than my brother Ron does. You two were well acquainted at one time, I recall. Do you see many of the old crowd from school?"

He wasn't sure how social she was; if she had slipped through the cracks with the Ministry, had she fallen out of communication with all of her old friends as well?

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