francievandoren:
If there was one thing that Francie didn’t understand, it was organized religion. Her family had never really been the religious type, but she supposed that had to do with most faith groups’ general dislike for witchcraft and the lack of interaction between the Van Dorens and no-majs. The idea of some divine being and plan was somehow a little bit too fantastical for the young woman who grew up in a strictly magical community.
So when the possession case landed on her desk, she wasn’t really sure what to make of it.
Fastening a gold necklace around her neck, she frowned at her reflection as the cross came to rest just below her collarbone. She would have to play a part - a difficult one since she would be dealing with no-majs. Difficult if only because the pureblood had little experience with their culture. “Don’t you dare mess this up, France. This is your chance,” she mumbled to her reflection as she smoothed out the rather drab frock she’d chosen for her “disguise”. This was a far cry from the colorful and patterned silks she normally chose to wear, and she couldn’t help but frown at the dowdy look. If this is what it meant to be Christian, she refused to sign up.
Tearing away from the full length mirror, she took one last glance over the file before disapparating. The last thing she wanted was to keep Camden waiting. She wasn’t sure she’d ever had an interaction with the corporal, but she was incredibly intimidated by him. It wasn’t in her best interest to start off on the wrong foot, especially given she was only recently assigned to the case as his partner. Apparating to the scene, she had a grin on her face, ready for action, but it quickly dissolved at the other auror’s reaction to her arrival. Apparently he hadn’t been alerted to the switch up.
“Settle down on the excitement, partner. It’s positively embarrassing,” Francie deadpanned, arms crossing over her chest. So much for not starting off on the wrong foot. “We don’t really have much choice but to ‘make it work’, Corporal Savage.” Her gaze couldn’t help but wander to the things he’d had in his arms - religious artifices she figured. “Or should I be calling you Father Savage for this case?”
He raised an eyebrow at her words, but said nothing for a long minute, simply smoking his cigarette. “Funnily enough, to a great many, I’m always Father Savage,” he said finally.
It was rare to come across someone in the department who was unaware of the Savages and their heritage, but it was possible. No matter how hard their parents had tried, no matter how much they both had tried, the name didn’t hold the same power that it had been the original Silas had brought religion to the wixes of America generations ago. There were plenty of wixes, even purebloods, who heard the name Savage and merely thought it was a strange last name, nothing more. He had to remind himself not to fault her for something she had no way of knowing, but he was already annoyed enough to realize he had been given a partner he didn’t know that that was difficult.
“I take it you’re not religious?” he asked, frankly. It wasn’t so much a question, though, considering he could practically see it in her eyes, from the way she stared at the things in his arms. “I’m not overly familiar with no-maj religion, but from what I understand, it’s hardly different from our own, simply without the magic involved. How they believe the words of the Bible were possible without magic is beyond me, but at least they are believers in God. We should be just fine if you follow my lead.”
At least he wasn’t worried it would be a terribly complicated case. It had magic written all over it, as most so-called demonic possessions did; the real trick was fixing the issue without the no-majs realizing, and without the girl in question coming to any harm. But the collar around his neck, the crucifix in hand, made Camden confident in his ability to do just that.
“What’s your name?”













