Getting a note from Audrey Hughes was not expected!  Prirmose had gone into her Thursday expecting to retire immediately from work, take Valentine out for a ride before tending to the stable, and then go to bed.  That was the plan.  But, a litte note found its way to her and she was on her way to the location indicated: a bakery. 

That was apt, she had skipped lunch in favor of finishing a line of inquiry that she’d been working on to improve her chances of having another hearing.  The scheduling was brutal.  The rumors (and rather confident declarations of certain reporters) made it even harder. 

She did not want to push something when it would be impossible for some of their coworkers and the larger public to take her seriously, despite the fact she was sure most of the voting members were in on the joke with them, the wizarding world certainly wasn’t. 

At least the most recent article was a little closer to hitting the nail on the head.  Not that she hoped anything of the sort for Cepheus – he was a reasonable person who wasn’t actually horrible.  She wouldn’t wish being in the vicinity of Amherst on anyone, least of all a friend.[1] It was still inaccurate though – and Prim was tired of being in that rag! 

Meeting with Audrey with coffee and vegan treats wouldn’t incite any fiery gossip.  Walking into the little shop, Prim was pleased.  It was relatively empty, smelled delightful, and there would surely be tea and something with lemon.  First, to find a seat however. 

1.	Prim and Margo were housemates in the same year.  Margo teased her mercilessly about her teeth, being uptight, and generally anything.  Prim was snide in return. It was not a good relationship and continues to be sour.

The Woolfolk family had a nice working relationship with Audrey-- she had taken both family photos and fancy pictures of the horses. It wasn't her favorite kind of job, but she and Primrose in particular had clicked. Prim seemed like the sensible sort, and they both were great at two very important things: judging people and having bunny teeth.

She was in the area after a job, and figured it couldn't hurt to send Prim an invite to try a nice, vegan, gluten-free and fair-trade bakery called "Those Buns Dough." Despite the horrible names, they features delicious, almost-guilt-free treats. Now, Audrey usually adhered to a strict diet, but that didn't mean she couldn't enjoy the occasional miniature berry pie with a cup of green tea.  As she entered the shop, she saw that the other witch had beaten her there.

"Prim!" Audrey greeted her, "Uh, we go up to the counter to order." Taking the lead, she ordered the aforementioned tea and pie. "I'll meet you over there--" She motioned towards a corner table before taking a seat.

Once Prim finally got settled, Audrey met her gaze.

"So." She said dryly, "Your fiance is a casanova."

 Prim’s cheeks turned pink: she knew that. 

She pushed her embarrassment down and got up seamlessly, falling in line behind Audrey and ordering as soon as she was able: black tea and a lemon cake.  It was a quick business and she found her way to the corner with Audrey, already staring her down.

Judgment was coming. "Your fiancé is a Casanova.”

Prim returned the blank stare of the woman sitting across from her and sighed, “It is a stabbing blow to my ego, knowing I can’t keep him satisfied.” It was perhaps the most blunt Prim could ever be about such matters, but it seemed the appropriate time.  “It’s why I’m here, with you, drowning my sorrow in lemon cake.” 

Watch, someone would overhear and send that into Witch Weekly next.  The headline would be phenomenal: Woolfolk gains 5 stone in grief!  Following articles would be weight loss related chased by a recipe for a decadent lemon cake – her favorite, for irony. 

“But I’m sure my troubled romantic entanglement is not the only reason why you ended up in London today,” she tacked on quickly, “what brings you here?”

"You can't keep him satisfied because he's probably gayer than I am." Audrey took a sip of tea, "He just looks gay." Not that Audrey actually knew Ceph well, she'd met him once or twice when visiting her mother in the office. Sometimes, you could just meet a person and know they weren't even remotely straight. But if he didn't realize it yet, she wasn't going to push it. Audrey had been in her twenties before she came out to the shock of her parents. After all, she had gotten pregnant at 17. Audrey chalked that up to bad life choices combined with denial. Still, she'd do it again if it meant that she'd have Linus.

"I was taking engagement photos." Audrey rolled her eyes. God, that was boring work-- especially with such a dull couple. It didn't exactly give the same thrill as hunting down pictures of dementors did. But it paid the bills and supported her family. Overall, it was a job she enjoyed, and she particularly loved being her own boss-- being in charge of her own schedule. "I don't usually come to London unless it's for work. I live in Hogsmeade." She took a bite of her pie-- she could taste the coconut butter in the crust.

"It's strange, living so close to Hogwarts but not being able to see Linus-- next year he'll be able to go out on weekends." If Hogwarts decided to continue with Hogsmeade weekends, after the kidnappings.

Prim laughed into her teacup, splashing some of the steaming liquid over the top of the cup.  She, of course, wouldn’t dignify anything that Audrey was saying with a response.  It wasn’t her place to ‘out’ him, even if she had to think if Audrey could see it, how could anyone else not?  Honestly!  “Regardless, as you can see, I am absolutely cut up by the current news,” she snorted and put down her teacup to listen. 

Engagement photos?  Her face scrunched in distaste, especially as Audrey’s eyeroll indicated she hadn’t enjoyed it that much.  “That bad?” she asked sympathetically; honestly, it sounded unfortunate for everyone involved.

When she brought up her son, it was like a little bell went on in Prim’s head.  She knew that!  She’d seen updated pictures from Ruzena, along with an explanation of how regrettably English and weak he was.  “Even if he were allowed this year, isn’t he at the age where parents appear unnecessary?” Prim asked before taking a bite of her lemon cake – satisfied that it actually tasted like lemon cake.  She never knew with alternative ingredients.  He was twelve, she supposed, and Prim knew that by then she was convinced she had been fully adult.  “Or is he the sort that would ant to see you regardless?” 

Audrey sighed. Linus was growing up way too fast. Way, way too fast. She could remember when he was a tiny little hellion. Now he was a significantly less tiny hellion, though still small for his year. Flynn had been too, though now he was on the taller side. The same went for her father. She hoped that Linus took after her family in that way--she didn't remember how tall his biological father was, but Audrey didn't care either.

"He's going to be thirteen, in August." Audrey said, "But regardless of whether or not he wants to see me on Hogwarts weekends, he will have to see me." She didn't care if she was being too overbearing. "I think that students staying at Hogwarts without being able to go home at the end of the day gives parents the excuse to be uninvolved. I won't have it ever be said that I am not." It helped that her partner, Shona, was there teaching. Linus had begun to lovingly call her 'mum' as well, playing around with different titles until one sticks.

If it were any other person, Audrey would have been concerned with Linus being attached to her partner-- because what if it didn't work? In the case of Shona, though, she was confident that she'd stick around. They worked, and Audrey had zero doubts about their relationship.

 “Thirteen!” she replied in disbelief.  Wow.  The thought of being a teenager again was repulsive to Prim.  She had enjoyed the learning aspect of her time at Hogwarts, but socially she had been somewhat of a disaster.  She wouldn’t go back for anything. 

Then, there was the thought of being the mother of a teenager and that made her blood run a little cold. Looking at Audrey, it was hard to believe that she was the mother of a soon to be teenager!  Age was only part of it, the other part was that Prim could relate to her, and on the whole, she did not have a solid standing with even one mother from her peers (professional and personal) that were procreating.  She didn’t mind, of course, she was hardly ready to be a mum. 

She shook the thoughts quickly, however, and refocused.  “My mum always made me write three times a week, summarizing lessons and reporting on my marks.  Nothing but Os and Es,” she lilted her voice at the end to try and imitate her mother’s much more pleasant, musical voice.  “So, I see your point.” 

She took another sip of her tea, “Though, that might be a more viable option if Hogwarts discontinues weekend outings.  I doubt it,” she added quickly, “but I’ve heard a rumor of its proposal.” She shook her head at the thought: the whole thing was insane.  “I can’t see it going to vote, though.  Not with accusations of inside cooperation or facilitation. The Headmistress would have to make the decision,”  Prim peered up over her glass and sighed, “Sorry, politics."  She remembered the rules of their friendship.  She didn't want to violate their agreement, "Is Linus doing well, at least?"

"Thirteen." Audrey confirmed. Linus sometimes felt much younger than that, but she recalled being a 3rd year and feeling so grown up and adult. Girls were forced to grow up faster than boys were, especially part-veela girls. If she ever had a daughter, she would do her best to let her feel like a child for as long as she could. Within reason, of course.  So, Audrey wasn't in a rush to push Linus to act more maturely. He knew perfectly well how to when it was necessary. There was no sense in trying to cram him into some sort of mold that he didn't fit otherwise.

"I don't go that far, I don't make him write every detail." Though she could certainly understand why some parents did, "I get enough detail from his head of house. Linus isn't subtle, Prim. He takes after my dad that way." Though Ruzena could hardly be called subtle either.

"Some politics are fine," Audrey clarified. Werewolf politics, on the other hand, were never fine. With her partner being a werewolf, her friendship with Prim was an unlikely one. The only way it did work out was because of the boundaries they had set for each other. Even if the boundaries grated against everything that felt natural to her. After all, Prim's werewolf ideologies were... Unreasonable. Fueled by fear and hate.

She didn't think Hogwarts would discontinue weekend outings though, "I think Hogwarts is increasing security during Hogsmeade Weekends." Audrey said, "I've been seeing more of Bert around, and more staff members seem to be venturing into town."

Prim laughed when Audrey pointed out that Linus was not subtle.  That much, from what she knew, was true.  He wasn’t exactly the type of kid who would sneakily do something.  He had once offered Primrose a discount on mermaid brains for potions ingredients if she would pay up front.  This exchange happened in front of his mother.   Prim had wisely declined the purchase, but she couldn’t imagine he would have any more regard for a professor than he would his own mother. “Fair point,” she conceded. 

Having a child as spirited as Linus was a daunting thought.  Though, she supposed having any child at this point in her life would be daunting, especially with everything going on in the world.  It seemed every single time you opened a paper there was something horrible happening in the world – and after last month?

She had never been one to worry, but she couldn’t see herself doing anything but that.  “That should be fine then,” she nodded, even though she couldn’t understand.  Obviously someone like Bert wasn’t involved in what happened, but the rumors were widespread.  If someone in the ministry wanted it to happen, well, she couldn’t imagine they wouldn’t.  She kept that to herself though. 

“I imagine that’s comforting in more ways than one,” Primrose smiled deviously over the rim of her teacup.  Sure, she couldn’t (and didn’t wish to) talk about what Shona was, but that didn’t mean the topic was completely off limits.  After all, friends talked about these things.  Breaking off a piece of her tart, Prim raised her eyebrows, “Are professors allowed to spend evenings off campus?” she asked before depositing the tart in her mouth. 

"They are." Audrey replied, "I know Rick doesn't live on campus at all, he stays at his own place. Shona stays with me often. When she's tired, she sleeps on campus. I think that's true for most of the people who work there." She picked at her pie, "Though, I imagine they must have some staff who stay all the time. Or maybe a schedule for when people spend the night." That would make sense.

She gave Prim a small smile, "Linus has sent me letters, telling me that some students are setting up a bake sale later this month." The first Hogsmeade weekend since the kidnappings. "He is trying to convince me to go." She probably would, with Shona. Everybody would be wanting to check in on the students.

"It has something to do with the Leaky Cauldron. Raising funds, maybe. He wasn't clear and I didn't ask for details."

In all of her years as a student, Primrose had never really considered the private lives of their professors.  They were people, surely, but it didn’t really cross her mind that they didn’t live there.  She supposed she didn’t even consider they had wives or husbands or anything of the sort.  Now, as an adult (and after asking) that was a very juvenile way of thinking.  “I couldn’t even imagine it,” Prim responded honestly, “Especially having to watch all those teenagers…”

Her voice trailed off as she considered.  Obviously, she knew what students were up to when she was at school.  Without professors around… well.   She sat a little taller in her seat and sighed.  “I don’t suppose students have changed all that much.”  Probably one of the understatements of the century. 

But, with all of the less savory things that teenagers did, it sounded like there were obviously positives too.  “You should!” Prim responded enthusiastically, “if he mentioned it, I’m sure he’d be happy if you did.”  Children didn’t typically drop something like that if they didn’t expect their parents to attend, right?  That sounded right. 

“If they’re made by the house elves, you’ll need to bring me one,” she added with a bright smile, “it has been too long – and Hattie never remembers to send anything,” she rolled her eyes, but lovingly.  Her little sister was a hair older than Linus, but equally as dodgy about details.  “She’s been begging to come home.  I think exams are getting to her.”   

"The teenagers aren't what you have to worry about." Audrey said, "The turnover rate for the professors is ridiculously high." She took a sip of her tea, "Some people speculate that the curse that was on the Defenses position is now affecting all of them, but--" The witch shook her head, "I take that as a sign of mismanagement. You only see a high turnover rate if the workplace environment is toxic." It did make her worry about Shona sometimes, but Shona loved her job and loved working with the kids.

She smiled at the mention of the house elves. God, those things were weird. But sweet. But weird.

"I think the students are making the pastries." Audrey said, a wary tone in her voice. "How old is Hattie, again?" She remembered sending letters home to her parents, begging them not to make her continue as a sixth year. She couldn't handle it, not with her charm, not with the other students an their purist ideologies. It had been too much, and homeschooling was finally agreed upon. "Is she having a hard time at Hogwarts?"

Prim nodded grimly.  Sometimes, it seemed like there as was no reliable place to work anymore.  Turnover was high in most places and sometimes Primrose felt like there was a revolving door of new people in and out of the ministry.  Though, that was probably slightly less noticeable than teachers coming in and out of a place.  She couldn’t imagine learning anything effectively if there hadn’t been some kind of consistency.  Maybe that was part of the reason Hattie wanted to leave so badly. 

“That sounds much less promising than the elves,” Prim acknowledged.  Children were not known for their skills in a kitchen, though, neither was Prim.  She supposed she had no room to judge.  There had been only one occasion where she had attempted to be in a kitchen.  Gingy had not invited her back after that. 

Audrey probably didn’t have that problem.  Anyone who could reasonably keep another person alive had to be at least partially good at it.  “She’s at the end of her fifth year,” she explained on the subject of her sister, “and I think she’s just… getting different priorities,” she grimaced.  Primrose had never been the type of student to not enjoy the end of the rush. 

She was also probably not like a lot of other students.  She thought Hattie would be more like her in that way, it turned out she was not.  “It’s difficult and I’m sure it’s the stress over OWLs.”  She paused for a moment, “Right?” Biting the inside of her lip, and looked at Audrey with wide eyes.  She expect a mum to know these sorts of things - Prim was just Hattie's sister. What if it was something else? 

Linus could cook, but he couldn't bake. And if he had a hand in making the pastries, well then.... The Hogwarts Bake Sale was doomed. She didn't voice that opinion, though.

She listened gravely as Prim spoke of Hattie. "It could be just the stress." She agreed, with hesitation in her voice. Audrey wasn't convincing. "It's hard to know, sometimes. Teenagers like to be... Dramatic. But." Audrey hadn't shared this part with Prim before, "I dropped out after OWLs. And it wasn't due to the schooling or the workload. It was the people." Part of it had been she didn't know how to handle her veela charm, and had no idea how to control or manage it. She had gotten into actual physical confrontations with people for looking at her 'wrong.'  If people thought Audrey was touchy now, they should've known her when she was sixteen.

"It could be a problem with the environment. Or something more could be happening. It's hard to gauge when it's just letters, though." She raised a brow in query, "Have you considered visiting her on a Hogsmeade weekend?"

If it were anything else, Prim might not have picked up on the stilted way Aubrey agreed with her, but in the case of her younger sister, she had rapt attention.  Each word meant a lot to her: Hattie was her youngest sister.  She felt protective and responsible in a way that she didn’t feel about Amaryllis or Marigold (especially Marigold).  “But...” she finally prompted, leaning in to hear what she had to say.

That didn’t sound good.  Dropping out?  She couldn’t imagine that for her sister.  Well, she could, but she didn’t want to.  Hattie hadn’t really ever written to her about her classmates… she told her about work and classes and things like that… was she dissatisfied with her peers?  Was there something going on?  She looked into her teacup and took a tentative sip. “How do you mean?” she wasn’t sure she wanted to know, but if it helped her understand what was going on with Hattie, then she wanted to know for sure.   Her parents told her not to worry about it, that Marigold had done the same thing, but that wasn’t exactly comforting. 

Letting her shoulders drop, she put the cup down on the table and frowned.  “I… hadn’t,” she admitted with only the slightest bit of embarrassment.  “But the next one,” she nodded… and then paused.  “When is that?”