Liadan had been in Diagon Alley to meet with a new client when she caught sight of the latest issue of the Daily Prophet. The headline blared- and there was a cheeky photo of the person of interest. Dominik Wiedman. He was an old family friend, and Liadan had always thought the man to be kind, generous, and basically a good person. Last they had met, Liadan had been under the assumption that they had agreed he was going to stop this foolish quidditch nonsense, grow up, settle down with a lovely pureblood wife, have beautiful pureblood children, and be a proper pureblood gentleman.

Apparently he had changed his mind.

She was conflicted on whether or not she ought to take immediate action. Liadan had been working hard to keep herself out of trouble, avoid Knockturn, and try to focus her attentions on pursuing some form of romance with Oscar Whitman. Going to visit Dominik, by herself, on a whim- well, that wasn't very ladylike. But she did consider him a friend, and friends did try to help each other. Determined that she was going to right his stupid mistake, Liadan rushed through her business meeting as politely as she could. Once it was over, she arrived outside of the Wiedman cottage with a quiet pop and knocked loudly on the door.

Liadan still had the issue of the Daily Prophet in her small hand when the door opened, and she realized that the man opening the door was the one she had intended to come and see, she reached up and popped him none too gently on the nose with the rolled up paper.[1] If he was going to act like a dog, she would treat him like one. "I am ashamed of you, Mr. Wiedman!" she exclaimed, thrusting the paper toward him and pushing her way inside. "Another season? And here I thought you had mended your ways! Whatever were you thinking?"

1.	Godmoding approved by Natalie.

Things had been strange and, flying by the seat of his pants, Dominik was still as in shock as anybody else that he'd signed on voluntarily for another season of Quidditch and was done with his sentence, all at the same time.  After his first match against the Pride of Portree on Saturday, he was completely knockered out.  He'd gone back to his parents' house and was staying in his old room in the basement the last several days, which was a welcome change from the seclusion of his flat that was so like the "Black Hole" room at Signature so as to be uncanny. 

He was bumming about in his long johns as his mum cooked pumpkin cakes and custard in the kitchens.  He and his dad were trading wry comments 'cross the table when the bell rang.  The Wiedmans didn't keep house elves, so it was up to the eldest son to go see who rang.  He shuffled off with an air of nonchalance, not expecting to be the person of interest behind the visit.  If there was one thing he could count on while at home, it was having the luxury of feeling somewhat normal and uninteresting - after all, it was much harder to surprise the people who knew you through your terrible twos and the angst of your adolescence as you hid in your dark lair in the basement, getting away with anything because you were the first and only son.

He certainly didn't expect Liadan.  He also certainly didn't expect the quick thwap to the face with a paper.  His head twitched, and he looked at her with a slightly hurt expression on his face. 

"Thinking?  I...," oh... oh no.  This was just awful, no no no no no!  He must simply make her appreciate him again, at once!  Because anything else would just be insufferable!  Subconsciously he noted he was standing before her in his long johns.  Oh, bother.

"Liadan, please, you must give me the opportunity to explain.  Would you please come in?  We can go to my room," he added, with a hint of pressing need to hide this from the parents.  His room was in the depths of the house and would provide some privacy.  Salazar knew he didn't want his mother to get a handle on this - or he'd never again see the light of day.   

He stuttered, and looked... almost guilty when she demanded an explanation. He invited her in and mentioned they might go to his room. Liadan looked him over, and frowned a bit. "I would hardly think it appropriate for me to accompany you to your room when you haven't any proper clothing on," she said flatly, smoothing out the skirt of her dress in agitation.

She had thought their talk had gone so well! Dominik was a handsome man with much more to offer the wizarding world than playing such a dreadful game as quidditch. He was too old for that nonsense now!

Liadan could hear the voices of his parents, and the urgency in his voice and mannerisms was subtle, though she did not miss it. "If you wish to have this discussion in private, I'll grant you that, Mr. Wiedman. But you'll put on proper clothes, and there will be absolutely no funny business. I have a reputation to maintain, after all, and you have one that you desperately need to repair!"

"The explanation you have to offer had better be a worthwhile one. I've come quite a long way- hoping this article might be a case of misinformation. Given your reaction, it most certainly is not." Liadan whacked him with the paper again, this time on the arm instead of in the face. "Lead the way, then, Mr. Wiedman," Liadan gestured impatiently with her hands. "It isn't polite to keep a lady waiting!" Of course, politeness was entirely relative at this point given the current situation. He was already undressed, she was here unannounced an uninvited, and they were apparently about to go to his room. The line had already been crossed in more than one way, but she could at least try to make him stick to some level of decency!

Throughout her pronouncements, Dominik made faces of deep understanding and concern - in fact it was very clear that he was trying his hardest to be present and engaged, appearing deeply concerned about his transgressions because he could certainly intuit that crossing Liadán any more than he already had would be a terrible, terrible mistake. 

"Yes, of course," he said, placatingly.  "I'll escort you to the lower chambers and excuse myself to put on proper clothing at once.  Please, uhh - don't take my state of dress as any kind of insult to your gentle... ladyhood... and - oh, just come in!"  He'd said his last piece with a bit of quiet urgency, but no amount of irritability was present in his voice.  He stepped back and held the door open for her.  The smell of home baking was quite kind to the senses and immediately set in when one entered the Cottage.  His mum was always juggling six or seven things, always with a bun in the oven or something like that.

He really didn't need his folks to know that he'd disappointed the lovely and prestigious Liadán Ó Móráin - and if they knew she was here they would take over her visit completely, leaving Dominik shamefully embarrassed.  He showed her quickly to the stairwell going down to his level of the house.  As they started down the stairs, he addressed her in a quieted, secretive voice. 

"Could I get you anything before we settle in?" he said.  "A bite to eat or some tea?"

If Liadan were not livid with him, she might have found his stuttering and attempt at appeasing her senses a bit amusing. She might have smiled or laughed even- which would alleviate most of the tension between the two of them at the moment. Unfortunately for Dominik, however, Liadan was livid and there was no hint of a smile on her features. He would not receive a smile from her- polite or otherwise- until she was satisfied that Dominik knew what an utter fool he was being and decided to mend his ways.

She followed him in silence toward the stairs, wondering exactly where the man was leading her to. At lease the scent of baking was less overtaking once she entered the stairwell. At least he had the presence of mind to offer her something. "No thank you," she responded in a quiet, even tone. "I just came from a business meeting where I had a late breakfast. But I do appreciate the offer."

Once they descended the stairs, Liadan paused at the bottom, surveying her surroundings. "Now that you've successfully dragged me into the depths of your home, clothes," Liadan ordered. "We have much to talk about and I'd rather you were a little less comfortable than you currently are." She scanned the area for a seat, and when she found one, perched upon the edge of the cushion. "I've had enough scandal in my life without adding whispers and rumors that I am connected to you in some romantic way."

Dominik wasn't so sure it was a good idea to go somewhere private with this woman; she had the look like she might try to murder him!  At least she wasn't handling a wand in her state of agitation.  Then he'd really have to worry.  It was amazing how she kept to her impeccable manners even as she was readying herself to lambaste him.  That almost made her more terrifying in a way. 

Once they were at the bottom of the stairwell and stepped into the downstairs lounge, Dominik carefully closed the door behind them, apparently relieved that they were safely out of the earshot of his mum and dad.  He took a deep breath and looked at her, an awkward pause that was as though he were awaiting further instructions.  Then he remembered his pants.  He let her finish what she was saying first, awkwardly holding his hands in front of himself.  She actually made him blush with what she said.

"Blimey, yeah, be right back then," he said.  "You, er, make yourself comfortable."  As he walked into his bedroom off the side of the lounge, he added loudly, "Not too comfortable because we are not here to have sex at all!"  Closing another door behind him, Dominik's face scrunched up as his own stupid words caught up to him.   

He panicked for three minutes finding clothes that were nice enough to compensate for his stupidity and lack of respect.  He actually came out looking halfway decent.  Running a hand through his overgrown hair, he sat on a different couch piece than her and tried for an apologetic look.

"Soo," he said.  "I take it that you're a little upset with this decision that I've made."

Liadan's eyes grew wide at his words. How scandalous that he would even say such a thing out loud! She pursed her lips. This was not the cool, calm, collected and lovely Dominik Wiedman she had interacted with in the past. Any time he had come to visit at her home he had always been a perfect gentleman and entirely control of his faculties- today it seemed he had been replaced by someone entirely different.

Liadan did not like this new and different Dominik.

"Let me first say that your previous comment was entirely out of line, as I am sure you are very aware. In case you have forgotten, that is not a topic that is appropriate conversation with any type of lady. The word itself is vulgar and offensive. I don't care for it." Liadan couldn't even bring herself to say the word "sex" in front of Dominik with that meaning. "If you are not speaking of gender, it behoove you to erase it from your vocabulary."

She paused, sitting back in the seat and making herself a bit more comfortable. She fiddled with her skirt, smoothing it out and adjusting the pleats so that they fell just so. Her feet barely skimmed the ground now that she was settled into the chair.

"Do you remember when last we met?" Liadan asked, getting down to business. "I certainly do. We discussed how it was best for you not to renew your contract. I suggested many prestigous and appropriate careers for a man such as yourself. And of course, after coming back into society and getting a stable job, suggested that you find a proper wife, marry her, and produce an heir."

Liadan paused again, giving him a very disappointed look. "And yet you've renewd your contract, and are moving yourself even further from the appropriate steps one is to take to achieve happiness. People like us follow the rules, Dominik. We do what is expected of us because it is right and because we care about our reputations. Are you not cut from Wiedman cloth?" Liadan asked. "Do you want to be a disappointment to your family and your friends by continuing on with this quidditch nonsense?"

Dominik's expression turned from something awkward to something a little more cautious and concerned as she began to speak.  He couldn't help but feel a twinge of dread hearing how intense her reaction to his statement had been.  He really wasn't supposed to use the word sex in front of a lady at all?  Was that the type of girl he was going to marry?  It honestly made him slightly afraid!  He loved Liadan, but she couldn't possibly be that prude, could she? 

Then he realized that his actions had seriously offended one of the most traditional Witches in all of the Wizarding world.  And how bad that was had been confirmed by the time she came round to her finishing statements.  Wow, he thought.

"Liadan...," he said slowly and evenly.  "I'm really so sorry that I've offended you."  He was actually quite ashamed of himself; to have disappointed someone in the pureblooded community, and someone as important to him as Liadan, was truly terrible.  This required a great deal of tact as he crafted his words in a very particular way - so as to show her his gratitude, his obeisance, and his willingness to ask permission before even trying to defend himself to her.

"I feel that I can justly explain myself to you," he said.  "Though, I know I shouldn't presume that to be permissible.  I can only hope that your being here is a testament to your desire to hear my reasoning and to continue our friendship and alliance, should that be ... at all possible."  He paused, looking at her steadily and with care in his dark eyes. 

"If you so desire not to hear me, then there is nothing I can do but acquiesce to hearing whatever more you have to say to me.  And after that, to deal with whatever consequences you may present to me for disappointing you.  I don't fool myself to think that you aren't very capable of hurting me - physically, socially, or by any other means.  I want you to know that I am hurting already because I feel I've disappointed you deeply.  I would like to explain myself if you'll let me."

Liadan allowed him to speak. He seemed genuinely bothered that he had upset her- though Liadan doubted that he at all regretted his decision, moreso the reprecussions of that decision. He was correct, though, she did desire to hear his reasoning- did want to continue to be his friend, and to keep family relations on good terms. There was also a part of her that wanted to help reform Dominik. She felt like he had so much potential that he was letting go to waste- and wondered, quite often, whether or not he saw that potential in himself.

Though it might be a bit amusing, she did not want to keep Dominik squirming. "I would very much like for you to explain yourself, Dominik," she finally told him. "And I assure you that I have no desire to hurt you at all- I am too fond of you to set out to intentionally harm you, in any way. Besides, I feel you are quite good at harming yourself socially without any assistance from me."

Dominik couldn't help but show her a brief flicker of a smile; he was both grateful and partly amused by her latest comment.  But his wan brand of mirth was vanished almost as soon as it had surfaced; it simply wasn't appropriate now.  He held his hands together and lowered his brow, deep in thought as he set out to explain his recent choices to Liadan O Morain.  It felt in a way like a verbal examination following his Summer trials and tribulations.  He had, after all, been wrestling with his own soul and future prospects, and this decision was in effect the first in a line of movements that would determine the man he was to become.  Now was the time to see if he could justify that reasonably and to assess where he was going.

"I'll start by saying that it was a fortunate position that I found myself to be in, with my standing in the league I had some amount of preferential treatment and was able to negotiate a shorter contract.  I've signed on only for a single additional season - and my understanding is that this would be the best possible scenario; that I would now have the time that I need to begin a deeper transition in my life, while showing my care for the team that took me on by mentoring the young lad who might be my eventual replacement, with any show of luck.  To leave now would be too abrupt and I fear might send me into a deep depression - which of course would prove counter-productive to any sort of integration back into... any sort of polite society."  He paused to look at her carefully, thinking to himself and wondering if her world was one he could ever truly exist in.

"Another benefit to my staying through another season is monetary, that is, my previous contract was of course written as a mandated sentence and required me to donate the majority of my income into charities and other community efforts.  So I have very little to show for... my fame, and well, the work of my entire adult life to date.  I could hardly start any kind of respectful life with what I have now.  But because of my standing in the league, they are now willing to pay me quite handsomely, even with only a single season's commitment.  The plan now is that by next Summer, I should be in a better position to focus my efforts in all seriousness on redirecting my life toward a more respectable aim."

He spoke with care, slowly and deliberately, showing some confidence in having thought this out, though not seeming overly sure that any of this would sound as reasonable to her.  Dominik was as always impressed with himself after talking this way with Liadan.  He still appeared quite modest and sorry, and he did have to add, "I would have liked to have shared all of this with you before you found out about the decision through the papers.  Unfortunately it was a rather last minute decision, settled on just this Saturday.  I admit it was a very impulsive and chaotic move that I only made sense of in the following hours and days."  He looked at her apologetically as if to say, what more can you expect from a mess like me.

Liadan was pleased to hear that he had signed only for a single season, and that it paid him handsomely even for the short term. At least his life would not be put on hold long-term again. And his being depressed certainly would not do, he was correct. Though Liadan did doubt he had any plans to return into polite society- whether he was depressed or not. But she let him continue speaking, allowing him the chance to talk through his reasons for making such a horrible and detrimental decision.

Monetary? Liadan lifted a brow. She had never thought much about his monetary situation, but had assumed that the family had enough money where quidditch fortune was not necessary. Perhaps the Wiedman funds were not what she expected them to be? Unless he was the sort who wanted to earn his own way in life- that, however, did not sound like most pureblood men that Liadan knew, not when the family fortune could be at their fingertips. But then again, Dominik's parents were still very much alive.

"I have to admit that your reasoning is very sound," she said after a few moments of silence following his speech. "But you must certainly understand my worry, Dominik. You are not quite as young as you used to be. No doubt you are still a handsome man with much to offer, but you haven't the time to dilly-dally about while making sense of your life. The sooner you produce a wife and an heir the better. Though I'm certain you already know all of these things, simply consider the other pureblood men your age and older."

"You do not want to continue down this line until you find yourself at a point where you must settle for a less than perfect spouse. You deserve a beautiful, intelligent, and competent woman. Though many young ladies no doubt prefer experience, and your fame will draw many of them to you like a moth to flame, there is a difference in a girl you have a fling with and a girl you settle down with. Any lady worth marrying is not going to put up with your shenannigans, which is something you ought to keep in mind."

She was considerably less angry now that he'd explained himself. "Just one more season?" Liadan asked. "And that is all?" The questions, though, sounded more like a command than an inquiry. "I hope that I do not have to make taking care of you a personal mission of mine. My charity is not given lightly, and if you think that your mother and father are demanding I am much more. We all want the best for you. You came to me in my time of need, and I intend to do the same for you." Liadan also had a few friends and relatives in mind that might be a suitable match for him. She wondered if he would like a delicate French flower.

Briefly, a flutter rose in his chest and pierced his spine; he'd only just realized what it really had meant for her to have come here, seeking him out today, and to be sitting in the lounge outside his childhood bedroom with all the concern in the world shining upon her face.  It was that she had listened and considered his reasoning with a sense of mercy and grace that really threw the Quaffle through the loop for him.  He had to think, she must really care for me.

"One more," he agreed, "And that's it."  Eleven years, then, and as simple as that.  Eleven was a significant and repeating factor in the life of Dominik Wiedman, so when he said his affirmation and did the arithmancy, he had to feel it was true.

"Thank you, Lia...," he said, trying his luck with an abbreviation of her name.  "I can't at all take your faith in me lightly."  He did a little smile, and let his posture drop just ever slightly.  He knew that she was right of course, that he didn't have a lot of time to dilly-dally round trying to make sense of his life.  He couldn't help it, really.  Even though Dominik wanted to continue his lovely lineage while he was still young and fit, something was seriously holding him back in a very big way that nobody ever seemed to understand.  It was infuriating.  He hated being so misunderstood.  The conflict, for him, was very real - and the simple solutions that others saw never availed themselves to him without a fight.

He sighed, heavily.

"I've never been very good about being in love - I always go about it all wrong," he confessed.  "There is nothing I fear more or more blindly trip after than a Witch who I might forget myself with.  I don't know that I'm very well suited for the task of carrying my family forward into a whole new generation.  Liadan, I just feel so unsettled.  I do have hope that things will be different, yet at the same time I need to cling to what I know, desperately."

Dominik wanted to relish in the funds that would soon be pouring in from the sport that displeased Liadan so thoroughly, but he also wanted to live in colourless squalor and feed on darkness and lust and violent tempers.  He did want to find Dolly, who had somewhere along the line disappeared from his life, and make for a fresh start, but he also wanted to isolate himself and torture his soul another ten years in a blaze of masochistic hedonism.  His family had money, it was true - yet they were quite modest in comparison to your typical pure bloodline.  There was no massive inheritance for him straight out of Hogwarts.  He had their support and a home and folks who loved him.  When they passed away, he'd probably have the cottage and all the savings.  But he didn't think about that now.

He didn't realize the absurdity of his own assumption... that is to say, he thought that in order to enter into a polite sort of life, he had to become filthy rich first.  He felt he was ill prepared to be thinking of starting a family.  Perhaps he was comparing himself to others.  It all seemed perfectly reasonable in his mind, to think that raising capital came before babies in the baby carriage. 

"Dominik, marriage is not about love," she chided him. "It's much more a business arrangemen than it is any sort of emotional arrangement! For people like us, the priority is to preserve our lineage, our fortunes, and our reputations- hoping for love on top of such responsibilities is foolish!" Liadan clucked her tongue at him and shook her head. "Love," she practically scoffed.

"What would there be after the novelty wore off if you were to marry for love?" Liadan asked. "The warm fuzzy feeling does not last forever, and certainly should not dictate the person you choose to marry. You need to look for qualities in a lady that could sustain you for life, Dominik. She might not be the most beautiful, the most intelligent, the two of you might fight like cats and dogs for the majority of the time- but it is those important qualities that will make your wife. Subservient, obedient, maternal, things of that nature." Because those were the things that Liadan had been taught made a woman a good wife.

She sighed a little, giving a Dominik a look that clearly conveyed she pitied his simple outlook on what marriage was. "Love is a luxury many of us will never be able to afford with marriage. The best that most can hope for is mutual respect and affection." Liadan offered him an encouraging smile. "Sometimes that attraction and affection is more beneficial to a long term relationship than wild passion."

"And it's only natural you should feel unsettled- you are unsettled. It's only natural that a man your age should feel unsettled if he has left so many important aspects of life unattended to. No wife, no proper job, your only home outside of your parent's cottage being that flat in Knockturn... These are not ideal conditions for a man of your age and stature! Chasing balls around on a broom is all you have to offer for your life. If I were thirty years old and had nothing to show for it, I would feel quite unsettled as well."

"But now it is time to focus on your future. While playing your final year with the Falcons, start building important connections and get ready to move on with your life. If you truly adore quidditch so much, you could find employment at the ministry with Magical Games and Sports. Not as glamorous as politics, but an honest living none the less. If you are at all interested in getting to know any young ladies, I have plenty of friends and relatives I could set you up with. My cousins in France are lovely little women..."

Dominik looked at her with sad, wild eyes. 

There had never been anything as important to him than love - certainly nothing more vital than wondering how to extend his family by way of making babies with someone who actually impressed him.  A son is what he imagined for himself, but what good to him would a son be if he was any less than completely blood-kin to the feel?  He should be half Wiedman, and half something else amazing and loveable - down to earth and wicked keen.  He couldn't have a son - or worse a daughter - who came out not resembling him in wit or sentiment.  That would surely be worse than if he were to end his bloodline right here and now with his own miserable self!

"Well sure," said Dominik, a bit absently, in response to her generous offering of French Witches.  There was a certain empty quality to his voice, with that.  But what would it hurt?  "Yes, I'll take all the help I can get," he said.  "A blind date, or seven, I'll take what you can throw at me...." 

All bludger puns aside, Dominik didn't mind entertaining possibilities.  In many ways he thought it might help to be forced into seeing what was out there.  Maybe he would come out of his own head a bit and learn a thing or two about actual courtship.  Which was, he figured, a bit different than the love scandals he'd grown accustomed to.  Still, he couldn't help but notice her words about fighting like cats and dogs or having a Witch who wouldn't put up with his shenanigans... considering that both ladies in his life in recent months had shared both qualities... did that make them fit to be his wives?

Suddenly, a very confused look dawned upon his face.  "Liadan...," he started.  "Please tell me something."  His dark brows were stitched in consternation.  "Now I don't think I could work for the Ministry.  But if I told you something else about myself that very few people knew... which might be a more artistic path for my future, something more deeply creative; well... if I had a modest career, I wonder... would you ever find yourself willing to marry the likes of me?"

Liadan's brows shot up when he posed the question- would she ever find herself willing to marry the likes of him? It was not the way she had expected the conversation to turn, and wasn't exactly sure what to say to him in response. It wasn't that Dominik was an unattractive man- quite the opposite. He was dark and brooding, he had a very nice physical appearance, and she got on with him well enough. Even so, she had never really considered there being any real romantic ties or future with him.

But Liadan did not want to hurt his feelings by telling him as much. Besides, he might be looking for a comparison. If Dominik was interested in marrying a witch like herself, Liadan could certainly not oppose.

"Something more deeply creative?" she repeated. The idea of him doing anything artistic was almost laughable. "There is nothing wrong with artistic pursuits," she began slowly. "My cousin Lothario was an art dealer, and also an artist himself. There are many respectable witches and wizards who dabble in the arts or make them a full time occupation. Though it would certainly depend on the exact type of creativity you speak."

Modest? Liadan could never imagine herself marrying anyone who had a modest anything. She was incredibly vain and materialistic (faults she knew to be true about herself) and had no desire to settle for anything less than luxurious as far as lifestyles were concerned.

"I do not consider you below my station so far as to be unwilling to entertain the idea of marrying you, or someone like you," she finally told him. "Though I certainly believe there are witches far better suited to your temperament than I, and I believe there to be wizards far better suited to my temperament than you. But I think you could easily find a lady much like myself if that was the sort you were interested in marrying."