Absit Omen RPG

In all of the things that Prim had planned for… this hadn’t been part of it at all.  Not one, but two of her nosy sisters had planned a stakeout.  They’d probably been up all night!  Oh Godric.  If they’d been up all night, they would have known she hadn’t been home at all. 

She’d almost been relieved when Hattie latched onto the least correct thing she could have ever said.  But, the relief was short-lived.  Maree was not so silly, and did not waste a second in allowing her an escape.  Primrose struggled to make anything other than a strangled sort of sound and looked between her two sisters.

This was the very definition of betrayal.

It made the Roman Senate look virtuous by comparison.  She might have preferred being stabbed at least twenty-three times to this.  Maree might have been innocent in most things, but she was not dumb and that was where Prim’s misfortune merely started.  Hattie provided the fuel for such a train of thought and Maree was worse than Wild Flower or Valentine: she just ran with it. 

Hattie had locked the door and while an armed Primrose could have dealt with that, she left her wand in her room.  A locked door with a Hattie in front of it?  That was an impossible barrier.  She’d never let her through – and Hattie was not above physical violence to get her way. And no amount of stern looks or doe eyes would sway her. 

Amaryllis was supposed to be the easy one in this situation.  But she was just as ruthless.  If she had guessed this would be the outcome, Primrose would have just taken something from Marigold’s closet and have been done with it.  She would have just screamed at her and then moved on.  There would never be this many questions: Marigold was not this interested in her life.  It really made her question her judgment in all of this. 

Clutching the dress in her hands, Primrose faltered.  She wasn’t ashamed! That wasn’t it at all – was it?!  Oh Godric.  Gnawing on her lip for a second, Primrose looked between her two sisters to try and decide which one she would address first.  The rock and the hard place never looked so much like tricky blonde demons before. 

“It was a gathering – with friends,” Primrose lied feebly.  There had never been a reason to come up with another story – she was much better at planning her words than creating it out of the blue.  If only she wasn’t so tired!  If only they hadn’t surprised her like that.  “I – I hadn’t asked because it was so last minute!”  Prim continued, “You couldn’t expect me to wait,” her eyes sought Hattie (she was far more likely to believe such a thing), “and these shoes were better…” objectively true, but a weak excuse in combination with having so little time to actually ask for the thing she took… hopefully neither of them would notice. 

 “I’d never do something that would make you so happy,” Primrose scoffed as she sipped her drink, nose turned upward.  Beside, Hattie would be sorely disappointed if she tried to steal anything from her older sister.  They were endowed quite differently, in that Prim had precious little in comparison to the sixteen year old.  When she was younger, she might have been jealous, but these days she didn’t find the implications for such a thing quite so troubling… on her own behalf. 

Her sister, however, she was cause for concern. 

She wouldn’t be half surprised if she were nicking things out of Marigold’s closet.  Godric knew that despite the fact that Marigold was a massive pain, she did have decent taste – and she and Hattie were far more physically similar than Primrose was to either of them.  It was practically unfair.

Almost as unfair as having foam put on her face.  Gasping, Prim felt frozen in her seat.  “I’ll make sure Gingy definitely makes you pay for that,” she admonished her as she grasped frantically for a napkin at the table.

Dabbing at her face, she gazed down at the cloth, her heart pounding: she didn’t want any of her foundation wiping off.  Thankfully, she escaped an uneven face for the time being and there was just a foamy splotch looking back at her.  “See if you get to do anything this summer,” Prim threatened (as empty as it was) while lying the napkin down beside her cup. 

She did not trust Hattie and her reassurances.  She loved her sister, but she had a rather wild imagination – and worse, a proclivity toward bad decisions, particularly regarding the boys she liked to mention to her sister.  It might not have even been true, but Prim didn’t know one way or another, especially if truth resided in how she spoke.  Against her better judgment, Prim decided to attempt and act like it didn’t bother her, even as her cheeks pinked up and hands shook just slightly as she lifted her cup. 

“I just want to remind you that he is your cousin,” Prim put forward in response to Hattie’s mention of the elder and younger Flint.  “Perhaps it’s best not to focus on boys for the time being.  If you really want a leather jacket, I’m sure we could arrange that.  Providing your OWL scores are good enough, that is,” she glanced up over her teacup.  “After all, an outstanding academic record is more likely to last than some silly school dalliance.” 

Cora would certainly be in attendance.  After the shop was attacked, she will definitely double down on her pro-vampire stance and give blood!  Margo would also donate (if her blood alcohol content was low enough ).  I could have Jordyn involved, as part of her St. Mungo's training post-graduation, if that would be cool!  If Augustine was involved in any way, Dosia would also be part of it.  Though probably reluctantly. 

Prim refuses on principle.  Not her thing.  If there are any anti-event articles/pieces, she'd be happy to contribute her opinion on the matter

It wasn’t quite dawn when Primrose apparated outside of the barn.  She could hear the stomping of hooves and quick flicks of tails that accompanied excited movement inside.  She dug inside of her purse and with a few quick flicks of her wand, assuaged the anxiety that they would feel about hearing (and probably smelling) their care taker without getting food.  She couldn’t go in though.  The smell would definitely carry and she had to sneak the dress she haphazardly threw back on less than fifteen minutes ago back into Maree’s closet. 

She must have looked it too. 

It’d been a mad dash after hopping out of Grigory’s bed.  She hadn’t intended on falling asleep and staying the night, but one thing led to another, 1 AM turned to 2 AM, and before she knew  what was happening, her eyes closed and it was 4:30 o’clock in the morning. 

As much as she wanted to stay nestled up with under the covers, Prim knew if she wasn’t home before everyone else woke up she’d never be able to return the dress without its owner realizing it was gone.  It took quite a bit of resolve to ignore sleepily murmured pleas to stay, but she’d done it and crawled out from under the duvet to hastily tug the dress on and her (Marigold’s) shoes.   

So, here she was sneaking across the yard, avoiding detection like someone who’d just made a break from Azkaban… except she was trying to get back in.  As she approached the side of the house quietly, Prim went to the window that she’d left unlocked and gently pushed it inward.  Climbing up and in, Prim quickly shed Maree’s dress and held it up in her left hand, waving her wand quickly to give it a quick clean.  Good as new. 

It would have to do.  Settling it down on her vanity, Prim lifted the robe off of the stool in front of it and tugged it on, tying the belt tightly.  If she were to run into either of her parents in the hall, it’d clearly look like she had been sleeping in her room… never mind the dress she was carrying.  Hopefully they wouldn’t notice – in an ideal world she wouldn’t run into anyone.  Picking up Maree’s dress, she sent up a little wish that this would go well and made her way to the door. 

Exiting her room, she peered around; the coast was clear. 

Quickly, she scampered up the stairs toward her sister’s room.  She hadn’t run into anyone yet.  There was a hallway left… she could do this.  Leaning against a wall, Prim let out a long, deep breath.  She prepared herself to make the final leg of the journey and tip toed down the hall.  Her heart was beating in her ears.  Resting her hand on Maree’s doorknob, she turned it slowly – silently – and pushed it open. 

Rather than being met with the slow, deep breaths associated with sleep and a pitch-dark bedroom, Prim cursed herself.  She hadn’t checked the bottom door crack.  It was too late – she already had a foot in the room.  She stopped, eyes wide and mouth slack, like a deer that heard a stick snap in the woods.  Her fingers tightened around the dress.  Caught!

Title is taken from quote, "And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye," by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince.

---

Primrose had to try and blend in with the muggles.  That was a daunting task.  It required stealth, and the ability to sneak into Maree’s room when she wasn’t home to take something to wear, and then into Marigold’s room to steal a pair of her shoes.   It was not her typical style, that was for certain.  But, from what she’d gleaned walking to the ministry and peering at muggle magazines, she wouldn’t exactly fit in with her typical choices. 

Amaryllis, however, was always doing muggle things!  It was part of her job – and she had a section of her wardrobe dedicated to it.  It was the perfect place to sneak something out that wouldn’t be a too far departure from what she was used to and what she would need for her night out at the movies! 

It was difficult to find a place to go out, especially in the wizarding world.  There would always be someone there to see them or to pass on information to someone else.  It wasn’t exactly like she was unknown and growing coverage over her and Cepheus’ supposed courtship, she didn’t really want the real thing exposed for the world to speculate and comment upon. 

So, she covertly got ready for her date in muggle London – at the muggle movies!  Apparently they were something like the pictures in the Prophet, but longer – with sound – and colors!  When she admitted she had no idea what Grigory was talking about, he had insisted that this was what they were going to do.  He was taking her to the muggle moving pictures. 

She was a little nervous, to be perfectly honest.  But, she decided before someone barged into her room and asked why she was dressed how she was dressed and where she was going… no.  Prim didn’t have time for that.  All she could do was let Gingy know she was going out and to keep everyone away from her room (the house elf was completely helpless against the task). 

Finally, once she was ready, she let a deep breath out and went into her closet to muffle the sound of her apparition away from the estate and to muggle London.  She fiddled with the strap of her bag as she took pause in the alley she’d gone into to fix her hair and smooth out her very short dress, which felt even shorter now that she was out of her bedroom.  She wasn’t even sure she had a nightgown this short…

The color flared on her cheek as she sneaked out of the alleyway and looked from left to right and then finally ahead.  Ah! She spotted the place – Electric Cinema.  Stepping quickly, she crossed the street, waiting for the muggle cars to slow to a stop so she could cross with the rest of the group at the corner.  It was slightly exhilarating, to be in public like this, waiting for her boyfriend.  A wide smile slithered across her face and she rocked on her toes, glancing to and fro, impatiently waiting for him to arrive (she figured she would have seen him if he was already there -- he wasn't exactly easy to miss). 

 “You’re making things up again, Hattie,” Primrose rolled her eyes, albeit lovingly, at her sister.  The idea that Primrose threw any parties was ridiculous.  That was definitely more of Marigold’s idea of a good time – and sounded more like her type of party that was being described as well.  Even Amaryllis would throw a better get together than Primrose: she actually liked people, and strove to make sure they had a good time.  Prim was not like that at all.  “Talk to your other sisters about that,” Prim deadpanned. 

There would be no chance it would work on her anyhow.  As much as she loved to spoil her sister, she certainly wasn’t going to allow her to partake in alcoholic beverages or dance with certain older wizards who had no business even being near a sixteen year old.  Honestly, Primrose didn’t blame their mother for the rules she imposed upon Hattie. 

This past Christmas, Prim had promised to keep her eyes on her sister for their mother, just in case… not that she would admit it to Hattie.  That was about as likely as admitting that she and Hattie were probably in a place now where they could share undergarments.  This was an accomplishment for Hattie, no doubt, but not so much for Prim who could claim the proportions of a teenage girl. 

That did not mean she wished to share though.  Not while Hattie was still a child.  “Ask again next year,” Prim replied haughtily and lifted her drink to her lips, trying to maintain the high ground against her naughty little sister.  Licking a bit of foam from her upper lip as gracefully as she could.  “The elves wouldn’t think anything of it, Hattie,” she assured her, “they needn’t ever know.  Gingy certainly wouldn’t,” she lifted her chin and looked at Hattie down the slope of her nose. 

“What’s brought all this on?” she asked, feeling very suspicious of her little sister.  She was generally cheeky, and that was to be expected and she liked to rib Primrose in any way she could, but the insistence of it all… She turned her chin and looked at Hattie with a piercing, inquiring gaze.  “Do you have a boyfriend?”

Standing on the edge of the lake, looking back at the trail as Valentine dipped his head toward the droopy grass.  Cepheus and Morris were not far behind.   Prim reached up and tugged her ponytail tighter, dragging her fingers through the silky hair and curling it about her finger at the end to form a single, thick ringlet. 

She let her hands fall to her sides and rested her thumbs in the loops meant for a belt that she clearly did not need with such fitted riding trousers.  “Sounds perfect to me,” she called out, rocking onto her toes and pitching forward into a step, which led to another and another until Prim was casually strolling around the edge of the lake, waiting for Cepheus to catch up.  “None that I’ve seen,” Prim looked over her shoulder at him, “though, I dare say you’re welcome to dive in and take a look,” she grinned at him and shifted her hands into her pockets. 

The prospect was an entertaining one, certainly, but probably ill advised.  If the cold wouldn’t do him in, the potential dark creatures could.  They’d have to reserve that for another day, and settle on a stroll and return ride for the time being.

“It’s a date then,” Prim said with a smile that brimmed with irony, “once Orion has left, that is.”  She sat a little taller in her saddle and turned her eyes once again outward over the landscape – the lake was not far off in the distance. 

Truth be told though, she was a disaster in the kitchen.  So much so, that she had been officially barred from the premises by Gingy, their faithful house elf.  She’d almost burned it all down once.  “I’m not picky,” Primrose answered his question, “And you may not consider yourself a chef, but compared to me, you might as well have a thousand restaurants opening up all over the world.”  The exaggeration was small, and not ill characterized.  “Make me your signature dish, whatever it might be.” 

It’d taste delicious, no doubt.  Taking the last of the turns through the wooded patch before the lake, Prim urged Valentine forward a bit, giving the reigns a bit of slack for him to pick up a trot, holding her heels down as she laughed – glancing over her shoulder at Cepheus.  “Then I’d have to leave the house in nothing at all and frighten the daylights out of when I’ve arrived!” not necessarily the safest thing to call out on the estate, but they were well enough alone and far enough out that no ears except the intended targets would overhear. 

She tugged up on the reigns and slowed Valentine to a stop, swinging her leg over his broad back and dropped into the grass with a soft thud of her boots on the damp ground.  Valentine tossed his head about and then lowered his muzzle to the ground, the soft rips of grass signaling his distraction to graze.  Prim ran her hand over his withers and patted him before turning to see just how far back Cepheus was.  “I think I’ll be sticking to slippers this time around.” 

Prim shuddered at the talk of jarveys.  They’d certainly done a number on Amaryllis.  “They need them,” Prim agreed, “and Amaryllis said it was just lovely!” she lilted her voice in the way that her sweetest, younger sister would.  It was, of course, out of love that she imitated her.  “I’ve never been,” she added, to explain, “but Maree seemed happy with it.”  Whether it was the food or the company, Prim could not separate. 

She imagined she could eat fish and chips out of a newspaper cone with someone she thought was dreamy and it would have been the best meal in the world.  “Maree was originally supposed to go grab coffee with Flynn Hughes and his dog,” she explained, “but he apparently owled and changed the venue to a romantic restaurant,” she wiggled her eyebrows at him with a giggle.  “I helped her pick out her outfit for the whole thing – it was very cute.  Apparnetly, it also went well.  Time will tell, of course,” she waved her hand with a wide smile that melted into a sort of shocked expression. 

Raising her eyebrows at him, Prim could not believe what she was hearing.  He cooked too?!  Primrose wasn’t allowed near the kitchen.  More than one occasion marked by being saved by Gingy had forbidden her from any source of flame or food production.  It was for everyone’s safety that her exile be upheld.  Now, she knew that Grigory could cook – but Cepheus too?! 

Shaking her head, she leaned forward in her seat, “I think I’d much rather eat a Cepheus cooked meal than Italian,” she admitted, “no matter what the suggestion might be.”  Prim could only laugh at the thought, her family wasn’t so backward that they would raise their eyebrows too high, but they would definitely get their hopes up.  “Then I wouldn’t have to worry about apparating under the influence,” she joked.  “Let’s do it – scandalize the lot of them.” 

Prim was not a tactful person.  Nor was she the sort to keep current events that did not directly impact her much in her mind.   But, when Cepheus turned his eyes away and she wondered why he became sullen all of a sudden… oh.  Well, she was a right idiot.  “Of course,” she shifted uncomfortably in Valentine’s saddle and the big thoroughbred tossed his head, exhaling hard. 

She put the reigns in one hand, tipping forward to rub his neck, clicking her tongue soothingly.  She hadn’t meant to agitate him – or Cepheus, at that.  “I’m sorry,” she added, completely sympathetic.  While she hadn’t exactly cultivated an admirable reputation, the Gamps had never been as controversial and now… well… Prim’s politics looked like tea time. It wasn’t the time to feel a little vindicated about her own conservative leanings, however.  This was about her friend and his family, so it seemed wrong to announce her personal victory and she elected to show support instead. “I hope the same,” she added, quite genuinely as a matter of fact. 

Despite his actions, the elder Gamp was clearly in need of help, and any of the victims… well, they’d surely need the same.  Perhaps the Woolfolks would have to look into a sizeable, and quiet, donation to the Janus Thickey ward… Prim would bring it up with her father later. 

Without thoughts of money on her mind, she shook her head at him.  “My parents? Take away my one and only prospect for marriage because of his family?” Prim looked at him with a sly sort of smile, hoping her joke would lighten the mood a little.  “Our engagement is secure, don’t you worry.  No escaping me.”  Her laugh bubbled up and Primrose urged Valentine to slow up a bit as they made way over a hilly patch. 

Meeting Ceph’s dark eyes, Prim smiled at his question.  “Well, if my sister and her blossoming romance are to be believed,” this hint of gossip was a tantiliizing little crumb to drop, “apparently Italian at Ascendio is supremely romantic and much preferred to having coffee with a dog.”  The whole story had been absolutely ridiculous, but Prim was happy for Amaryllis.  She deserved to be happy and Flynn Hughes, while not the person Prim would have assumed her sister would like, was not a bad option.  And, Prim was friends with his sister, so she could keep an eye on them… if she needed to.  “You do need to watch out for the jarveys though,” her lip curled in distaste, “apparently they’re ruthless.” 

She was glad he could laugh at the ridiculousness of her family.  Prim needed to remember that sometimes family was as much a source of humor (and nonsense) as they could be of love and support.  In regards to securing her future and making sure she didn’t end up alone with beasts for the rest of her life, they tended toward humor and ridiculousness. 

It was good to have a friend who could remind her of that so easily.  Shifting the reins in her hands, the ‘l-word’ made her supremely uncomfortable.  That was reserved for her family members.  The last time it had been used outside of her sisters and parents it had been a disaster of epic proportions.  “Ease up on the extended wedding metaphor,” she chuckled nervously and tried to will the blush away.   

Everything Ceph said was objectively true and the fact that he noticed a change in her demeanor… She bit her bottom lip and nudged Valentine along, following the bend in the path toward the thicket of trees before the lake.  She did not typically talk about feelings, but they were in the middle of nowhere essentially.  It’s not like anyone else would hear her.  “You read me like a book,” she looked over at him and smiled awkwardly, “and he does…. And I am happy, but…” she turned her eyes back to the trail and let a deep breath out, shoulders and back slumping, “have you ever felt like something is too good to be true?”

That was what she dreaded, that as soon as she accepted that she really liked him and brought him into her life he’d go away and she would be disappointed.  It seemed like most things that she really wanted disappointed her, so it was easier to just keep it casual and secret.  Then she could mourn the inevitable loss of whatever it was by herself, not have to share the burden with anyone else.  It made her chest clench a little bit and she shook her head, trying to focus on Cepheus instead.  “I’m obviously not going to do those things,” she rolled her eyes at him, “but I’m glad you say that.”  Cepheus probably knew her best at this point, so she accepted his evaluation. 

“Enough about me and my problems,” she finally deflected, glancing at him out of the corner of her eye, a smirk on her face.  “Tell me anything: you, your sister: what trouble are the young Gamps up to?”

Prim didn’t understand where all of this analysis was coming from.  Out of all of the Woolfolks, it wasn’t like Amaryllis to be so neurotic.  It was somewhat endearing: clearly, she really liked Flynn.  However, everything she was talking about sounded decidedly not like her.  Maree was sweet  and genuine.  Whatever she was talking about, it sounded more like her ridiculous friends and Marigold than it did the sweestest of the Woolfolks. 

“First of all,” Primrose settled her hand on her sister’s arm, hoping it would give her something to anchor onto instead of the stream of thoughts clearly swirling about her head, “you have to stop listening to your friends.” 

They continued over the grass, the warm lights eminating from the windows of the house getting closer with each step.  “You’re going to be fine and you’re very personable.  Even if you don’t know that many people, I’ve never met someone more instantaneously likeable than you,” she smiled warmly and bumped her shoulder against Maree’s.  “Besides, Flynn isn’t my friend and if you bring me I will definitely not know anyone and I am nowhere near as friendly as you – you’ll be tethered to my side all night,” this seemed like a reasonable enough way to get out of it.  She was also mostly sure Audrey would feel the same way and wouldn’t be there for a very long time, if she was at his friend party at all. 

“But,” Prim stopped them and turned so she could stand directly in front of Maree.  She put her hands right above both of her elbows, giving a small squeeze along with a comforting smile.  “It’s just a date – it’s just a party,” she tried to ground her in the concrete of this situation.  “Have fun, be yourself, and for the love of all things good, please stop listening to Veronica.  You are perfect the way you are and all of this,” she let go and gestured freely to the air around them, “will go just like it’s supposed to.” 

She hooked their arms again and tugged her forward with a bright smile, “Now, why don’t we get inside – out of this weather,” she exaggerated a shudder, “and have Gingy get us some tea si we can comb through your closet?” 

Amaryllis had the purest heart known to mankind.  As such, obviously her fantasies took on the sweetness that one would expect from a fairy tale story.  The worst thing she could conjure in a man was the idea that he would love golf.  Prim could imagine a thousand things that would make someone imperfect far beyond that.  Thankfully though, she was not asked to elaborate.  Instead, she smiled warmly at her and rolled her eyes.  “All of the other rumors will just have to do!” she declared and winked – poorly at her. 

Granted, most of those rumors were about her right now – but, small details.  Negligible in the long term.  She’d laughed about it with Cepheus – perhaps next Christmas they’d both walk in with someone else and all of the marriage speculation would go up in a burst of bluebell flames.  Cepheus’ circumstances would surely be more noteworthy, but it would absolve both of them of the rumor mill.  Or turn her into the poor victim of a closeted man’s desire to hide his true feelings.  Now that would be quite the story for Witch Weekly. 

Thankfully though, the subject shifted back to what she was going to wear. “I think,” she started critically, “if he’s suggested a more date-like location, a dress is not out of the question.  Ascendio is nice, you wouldn’t be out of place at all.”  She could think of quite a few things that her sister owned already that would fit the bill. 

Prim listened with a critical ear.  Amaryllis was worried about appearing too eager – her silly friends had cautioned her against it and probably talked all the time about not seeming too interested or waiting at least a day before owling back – nonsense like that.  Being aloof was one of Prim’s specialities, but she didn’t do that when she was interested in someone, not really.  She was private, but she was not aloof.   

“As for going to both, if he’s invited you, why wouldn’t you?” she quirked her eyebrows, trying to understand her sister’s – and her ridiculous friends’ – logic.  “It sounds like he’s asking – you didn’t just invite yourself,” she expanded.  “I always assume if you are interested in someone, you should let them know.  If you’re too shy or afraid to show that you like them, what interest would he have in continuing to see you?” 

Prim beamed.  “I couldn’t have picked better myself!”  Prim loved the winter lake.  There were patches of just barely there ice floating on the grey surface and even if the grass on the sides was brown like the drenched Earth it was perched upon, it was still beautiful.  The better part, of course, was it was remote. 

Though, it wasn’t preferred at the moment for the same reasons as some of her other favorite remote places on the estate.  She wasn’t trying to steal away hidden corners for clandestine meetings with Cepheus. 

Even if she were, she wasn’t entirely sure Calvin or Imogen would mind.  That was probably the strangest part of it all.  Her father was practically ready to put out a price on her head for her marriage at this point.  A Gamp boy wasn’t his last choice, that was for certain, and they were incorrigible. Christmas had practically put them over the edge.  How wrong they were. 

At least someone knew. 

Looking over at Cepheus, Prim blushed and ducked her chin while she looked away.  The assertion that she looked happy was different and it made her feel foolish.  It’d scarcely been long enough for anyone to make her happy whenever she heard his voice or saw his soft, lopsided smile.  Twisting the leather in her hands for a moment, Prim slowed Valentine to a gentle walk and waited for the gap between them to close.  “I don’t think it’s so much a reputation as a blind delusion on their part,” Prim laughed. 

They really wanted to have it happen.  But she sighed, getting over the urge to joke for a moment.  “My dad is none the wiser,” she admitted, “when it gets too quiet, sometimes he pretends to hear wedding bells,” she rolled her eyes as she nudged Valentine toward the left.  “My mum on the other hand…” her shoulders dropped and she let out a deep, exasperated breath.  “She was asking questions about Grigory being here earlier.  I swear, sometimes I wonder if she’s a secret legilimens – or maybe she’s taking my thoughts out in the middle of the night for a pensieve,” a shiver ran down her spine.  Her mother’s previous position did not make her the most trustworthy witch in the world.  She’d feel the same way about Amaryllis if it weren’t absolutely impossible for her to do anything dishonest at all. 

“But you’re not a third wheel,” she added genuinely.  They’d hardly been seeing one another long enough to even be two wheels to intrude upon.  “And I would love to go to dinner with you,” she said pointedly.  It made her a little nervous to think that Cepheus thought her attention was so fixated on one person that he’d be dragging her away… Was she being obsessive?  “You don’t think I’m spending too much time on this, do you?” she asked cautiously, glancing at him.  “I mean, it’s barely been two weeks.  Is this moving too fast?” 

Her heart beat hard in her chest.  Pangs of confusion, guilt, doubt, and panic all pushed adrenaline through her veins.  She gnawed on her lip as they breached the crest of a hill and headed down toward a thicket of trees that they needed to cross through before they got down to the lake. 

If Hattie didn’t have aspirations for government work, Primrose could absolutely see her gracing a stage.  Her proclivity toward the dramatic in the Woolfolk household could hardly be rivaled, even by Marigold.  Even then, it was completely endearing when it was Hattie pretending she had large breasts and invoking their father in a ridiculous string of scenarios that were not happening – at all. 

Prim laughed along as they continued to walk and shrugged as she slid her cloak off of her arms.  Hattie was much more frantic in her movements, as she was in most things, really.  Prim watched her fondly as she danced around the edges of tables and blessedly, they were able to find something that didn’t have other teenagers loitering about it. 

“You’ve always been allowed to attend the holiday parties, Hattie,” she rolled her eyes.  Even when she was the youngest, all decked out in frills and bows, Prim had always volunteered to watch her and take her around.  She had always liked showing off her baby sister, and then she became old enough to show herself off – still with frills and bows, mind.  Some things never changed. 

But, that wasn’t really the point of this meeting, was it?  Big hands and parties aside, Prim was more concerned with Hattie’s academic career and where it was going.  It was like a weight lifted off her shoulders when she indicated that it was not in her plans to leave Hogwarts forever.  “Good!” she breathed out, resting her hands on her stomach as she breathed out. 

“Mum would have been terribly disappointed,” she added with a smile as the butterbeers were promptly delivered, dollops of cream on the top – the only proper way to enjoy a butterbeer.  It made her miss her school days, to some extent.  She wrapped her hands around the cup and sighed with relief at the warmth, lifting it up. 

She practically choked when Hattie brought it back.  She never forgot a thing.  Prim wouldn’t be surprised that when she could conjure a patronus it would be an elephant.  “Hyacinth,” she hissed over her cup and placed it down, “don’t be ridiculous.”  This was not a conversation she wanted to have with her sister.  Especially considering she’d just purchased several of the garments in question and none of them were fit for discussion with Hattie.  Nor would she ever find them. 

Despite Hattie’s insistence on rifling through her dresser drawers, Prim always had her secrets and was exceptionally good at keeping them by now.  “If you are in the market for such a garment though,” Prim raised her eyebrows and sipped her butterbeer, “you will have to owl mum.  I cannot be coerced,” evidenced by the very non-alcoholic drink in front of her. 

“Besides,” the corners of her lips quirked into a smile, “If it were up to me, it’d be enchanted to stay on forever.  Positively glued to your skin.”  She paused and tilted her head, eyes wandering upward, “You know,” she met her sister’s eyes again, “on the other hand, if you’re interested, I’d be happy to purchase that for you.  Consider it your staying in school present!”