( non binary | she/they | sydney park ) โโ isnโt that GRACE TUFT? yeah that is them, outside the three broomsticks! they used to be in HUFFLEPUFF but apparently they now work as a HEREDITARY SEAT HOLDER at the WIZENGAMOT. sybill once said that they reminded her of a meadow of sunflowers, collections of sea glass, always walking around barefoot, and waking up early to bake pastries which seems about right. anyway iโve heard theyโre still a bit SOFT, CLOSED-OFF and ENTHUSIASTIC, theyโre TWENTY now but some things never change! i wonder how being a HALFBLOOD is affecting them after hogwarts, especially now theyโre NEUTRAL? i guess only time will tellโฆ
character influences :ย june claremont-diaz (ย red, white & royal blueย )ย ,ย jester (ย critical roleย )ย ,ย nina zenik (ย six of crowsย )ย ,ย anna darvulia (ย blood countess )
full name ย : ย grace nari tuftย
nickname ย : ย gracieย (ย by her fatherย )ย
name origin ย : ย graceย , ย meaning godโs graceย , ย latin
siblings ย : ย noneย
age ย : ย twentyย
date of birth ย :ย ย 1st juneย
sexuality ย : ย bisexual
relationship status ย : ย single ย
patronus ย : peacock
boggart ย : ย it used to be her family deadย ,ย but grace refuses to find out what it is nowย .
wand ย : ย red oakย , ย fairy wingย , ย springyย
affiliation ย : ย neutral
former house ย : ย hufflepuffย
job ย :ย hereditary seat holder at the wizengamotย
ย ย grace was never born with a silver spoon or a feeling like she had a legacy to protectย .ย that always fell to graceโs older siblingย .ย and grace way always fine with thatย .ย as the youngest in her familyย ,ย grace always saw her familyย ,ย her motherย ,ย her fatherย ,ย her grandfatherย ,ย her sibling as they wanted the world to see themย .ย ย
ย ย ย they were never like the rest of their familyย ,ย softer and more delicate even from a young ageย .ย grace wasnโt meant for the political limelight that the rest of her family seemed to craveย ,ย but that was okay because they never thought theyโd get the chance to be that wayย .ย ย
ย ย ย grace was steadfast in her own ways as childย ,ย wanting to be her own personย .ย they loved plants and had a way with animalsย .ย deep down a part of them always wanted to care for creatures or maybe even be a healerย .ย though they were always dreams a child hadย .ย
ย ย ย from the sidelinesย ,ย grace watched her motherย ,ย spent the first years of her life growing up in the halls of the ministryย .ย grace learned the place inside and outย ,ย different heads of departments babysat themย ,ย but even as a young ageย ,ย grace knew that the ministry wasnโt her placeย .ย she felt like she was built for moreย ;ย rather than the sheltered home she had and the ministry of magic that almost seemed like a second home for the entire tuft familyย .
ย ย ย she watched her sibling go off to hogwarts at the age of nine (ย and a halfย )ย ,ย sat waiting for the letters to hear what the school was likeย .ย ย thankfully it wasnโt long before she got her answersย .ย grace coveted the lettersย ,ย waiting for her chance to go off to school herselfย .ย grace didnโt have to wait that much longer eitherย ,ย as they were only a year and a half youngerย .ย
ย ย ย hogwarts was a lot for her at firstย ;ย really it was her first taste of somewhere other than the tuft house and the ministry of magicย .ย the amount of people there amazed them and grace wanted to get to know everyoneย .ย the sorting hat barely touched their head before shouting out hufflepuffย .ย ย
ย ย ย grace didnโt struggle at hogwartsย ,ย but they also werenโt the top of their classes eitherย .ย honestlyย ,ย grace was more into the social scene of schoolย .ย meeting new people from all over the placeย .ย that was graceโs favorite thing about schoolย .ย although grace never got horrible grades they were very much an average studentย .ย ย
ย ย ย death twย :ย it was the end of her seventh year that the tragedy happenedย .ย her entire familyย :ย goneย .ย a dark mark was seen in the skyย .ย her parents and sibling goneย .ย grace tuft was the last in her familyย .ย that meant the entire legacy that she never thought theyโd have to bear was theirsย .ย ย
ย ย ย after graduatingย ,ย grace took over her motherโs position within the wizengamotย .ย sheโs taken a back seat on everythingย ,ย attempting to be like the rest of her familyย : neutralย ,ย but also afraid of the same fate the rest of her family faceย .ย ย
ย ย ย grace is a shell of the child they used to beย ,ย quieter and less eager to believe the things they hear on the streetsย .ย though grace very much still holds the same ideals that they always have felt and is steadfast in her beliefsย .ย
a pint at theย leaky cauldronย was more alluring than dinner with her parents โ a quick owl, and she had been whisked away on a mission and unfortunately unavailable for a dinner that was nothing but an olive branch that emmeline didnโt care for. at least not right now โ maybe it was her pride talking, but it wasnโt going to be on their terms,ย โif youโre going to keep staring, you might as well buy my next pintโย
@beforedawnstartersโ
ย ย ย ย ย grace felt like she was spending a lot more time at the leaky cauldron than usual. it was easier to spend time away from home and the ministry here than anywhere else. they werenโt really sure why they were staring at emmeline, but they didnโt mean to stare.ย โsorry. if youโre serious, next round is on me. i wasnโt paying attention.โ grace looked around the leaky and smiled softly at her.ย โseems kind of empty tonight.โย
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย โ ย ย ย thanks ย for ย not ย pushing ย it ย ย ย โ ย ย ย she ย smiled ย , ย ย ย raising ย her ย glass ย of ย water ย to ย the ย other ย wix ย , ย ย ย liz ย recognised ย them ย from ย the ย papers ย . ย sheโd ย be ย a ย fool ย not ย to ย , ย ย ย but ย she ย knew ย better ย than ย to ย make ย a ย thing ย of ย that ย recognition ย . ย ย ย no ย one ย needed ย that ย . ย ย ย ย โ ย ย ย i ย think ย if ย i ย was ย drunk ย iโd ย be ย less ย relaxed ย if ย iโm ย honest ย ? ย i ย always ย get ย a ย little ย highly ย strung ย after ย a ย tipple ย . ย ย ย a ย sober ย me ย is ย probably ย best ย for ย everyone ย ย ย โ
ย ย ย ย ย ย โof course. only someone whoโs a jerk would push it. or... i guess someone that knows you well.โ grace didnโt want to drink tonight either. they really wanted to be out in public and not pay attention to all the people staring at them.ย โyeah, same. i might have a drink or two, but thatโs it. not enough to get drunk. it seems... well, i donโt know. i donโt want that at least right now.โ grace let out a bit of a laugh.ย โi guess every so often itโs good to let loose, right? around people youโre familiar with and trust.โย
arden had not being have the best summer of her life, she felt like most people werenโt. she was ready to get moving onto the next part of her life and get it over with. though with the news of the murder she didnโt know exactly what to do with herself now. she had found herself at diagon alley, a little hungover and needing something to drink. she had sat down with the only available seat and hearing someone talk to her she had looked up at grace before looking down at her cup.ย โi just needed somewhere to sit. i wonโt be here long.โ
ย ย ย ย ย grace probably was having the worst summer of their entire life. there were very few people that understood what she was going through and they didnโt really know how to act around people. it seemed like they were stuck in the anger part of their grief. grace missed the days when they could walk around diagon alley and people wouldnโt look at them weird. they missed the days when everything was simple. even her job was a lot.ย โthatโs okay. the seat is open. iโm just in the middle of this draft and i have everything... lined up perfectly.โ grace looked at arden with a sigh.ย โare you okay?โย
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย โ ย as ย if ย everything ย wasnโt ย already ย suffocating ย enough ย โ ย sure, ย put ย on ย a ย corset ย and ย drink ย champagne ย so ย you ย donโt ย have ย to ย feel ย your ย feet. ย โ ย that ย was ย never ย her ย style, ย and ย just ย from ย knowing ย the ย basics ย and ย outward ย version ย grace ย shows ย of ย themselves, ย sloane ย didnโt ย think ย that ย was ย their ย style ย either. ย she ย was ย thankful ย she ย never ย had ย to ย risk ย being ย invited ย to ย any ย of ย those ย events, ย or ย at ย least ย she ย hoped ย she ย would ย never ย have ย to. ย sheโd ย heard ย things ย about ย muggleborns ย being ย invited. ย โ ย people ย watching ย is ย always ย a ย great ย distraction. ย noticing ย the ย things ย people ย try ย to ย get ย away ย with ย or ย what ย makes ย them ย tick. ย iโm ย sure ย the ย alcohol ย helps. ย โ ย
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย โyeah, iโve never gone to them before.โ the rest of her family typically went to them, but grace never cared to go, liking the freedom of being around her own people. grace never needed to be play into the political aspect of their world. that had always been their sister and their mum. now grace was responsible for that mantle and they were going to do things differently. โexactly, itโs...itโs never really been my scene. this is, even if iโmโฆโ grace trailed off. even if she was the lone member of her family now and that meant she was supposed to be that person now. grace should have gone to the ball, probably. but... they werenโt going to do what people expected them to do. she giggled at sloaneโs next statement though. โit really does though. people watching is a lot of fun. most people never notice theyโre being watched.โย
ย ย ย ย ย news always seemed to travel fast through the wizarding world, which was one of the reasons grace tended to stay as far away from prying eyes these days. she felt like she hadnโt gotten a proper night sleep in ages. probably the last full night of sleep theyโd gotten was when they were back at hogwarts, before exams. grace tried not to stop these days. always on the go and trying to focus her attention anywhere but her own emotions. if they stopped to think about it, grace wasnโt happy: not with work, not with life, and not with this community. clearly people thought murder was the right way to take care of a problem. what happened to the plots in books where threats and blackmailing did the trick? instead of sticking around the ministry, today grace thought diagon alley would be a better choice, for once allowing herself to be in public with her work scattered all over the table. a shadow cast over her table and grace glanced up.ย โno, that seat is not taken. however iโm not moving my stuff.โย
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย sloane ย nodded ย as ย she ย pressed ย her ย lips ย tightly ย together. ย she ย had ย felt ย the ย same, ย but ย could ย feel ย more ย for ย grace ย when ย their ย families ย memorial ย seemed ย more ย like ย a ย show ย or ย spectacle ย hosted ย by ย those ย higher ย up ย than ย a ย time ย for ย remembrance ย and ย goodbye. ย โ ย better ย now, ย or ย at ย least ย thatโs ย why ย iโm ย here. ย iโm ย tired ย of ย the ย same ย old ย โ ย need ย something ย else ย to ย occupy ย my ย mind ย so, ย hey, ย why ย not ย enjoy ย copious ย amounts ย of ย alcohol, ย right ย ? ย โ ย she ย laughed ย and ย rolled ย her ย eyes ย a ย bit, ย but ย some ย time ย with ย friends ย and ย those ย who ย actually ย seemed ย to ย care ย felt ย like ย the ย next ย greatest ย thing. ย โ ย not ย really, ย but ย it ย feels ย good ย to ย see ย some ย faces ย i ย can ย recognize, ย you ย know ย ? ย โ
ย ย ย ย ย grace had only gone to the memorial because thatโs what people expected of them. theyโd stayed the whole time because they knew that people were watching. people were expecting them to be sad and they were, but this was a game now and grace had to let people know that they were playing.ย โyeah,โ grace laughed, small almost forced smile resting on their face.ย โyouโre here for the same reason i am. iโd rather be here having fun than at some stuffy ball.โ grace had never been before, even if theyโd been invited.ย โoh, well, what could make it more enjoyable? more alcohol? people watching? dancing?โ even if she wasnโt feeling well, grace had always cared more about helping others than her own emotions. shoving the anger they felt to the side, they watched the crowd for a moment before turning their attention back to sloane.ย โbut i get it.โย
ย ย ย ย ย ย not ย to ย say ย sloane ย was ย particularly ย avoiding ย grace, ย but ย she ย definitely ย hadnโt ย been ย actively ย seeking ย them ย out ย for ย a ย conversation. ย there ย were ย many ย similarities ย between ย the ย two, ย too ย much ย for ย sloane ย to ย handle ย seeing ย as ย she ย was ย rather ย avoidant ย of ย her ย feelings, ย but ย she ย wasnโt ย sure ย about ย grace. ย โ ย hey ย grace, ย โ ย sloane ย smiled ย as ย she ย sat ย down ย next ย to ย the ย former ย hufflepuff. ย โ ย glad ย to ย see ย you ย here ย โ ย iโm ย sorry ย i ย wasnโt ย able ย to ย attend ย the ย memorial. ย โ ย
ย ย ย ย ย grace knew that their family situation made everything a bit more complicated. while theyโd always been kind and caring around other people, especially when they were going through something. right now it seemed like everyone wanted something from them. grace didnโt know what people wanted either. grief was tough for people and they understood why some people needed time to talk to them. while they did miss some people, grace knew (or hoped) the bridges werenโt burnt.ย โsloane, hello,โ they smiled.ย โno, itโs okay. i didnโt really want to be at the memorial.โ it was the truth. grace was ready for things to start getting back to normal, even if it mean that they skipped events like the black ball to hang out with people they actually liked.ย โhow have you been?โย
ย ย ย ย โ ย ย ย thanks ย for ย the ย offer ย but ย i ย need ย to ย say ย no ย ย ย โ ย ย ย liz ย smiled ย even ย as ย she ย turned ย down ย the ย offer ย of ย a ย drink ย . ย ย ย โ ย ย ย iโve ย had ย one ย or ย two ย already ย but ย we ย know ย itโs ย only ย a ย matter ย of ย time ย before ย some ย scuffles ย break ย out ย , ย ย ย i ย drink ย anymore ย and ย i ย wont ย be ย any ย help ย ย ย โ
ย ย ย ย ย ย โif you say so,โ grace said, a small smile on their face. they were glad they were here instead of the ball. it was a bit more relaxed and grace felt like this was where they were supposed to be. it wasnโt that she cared much for the ball.ย โitโs nice that youโre thinking about others though. you know you can relax for one evening.โ she understood though, it was easier to care for others than it was for herself.ย
โWell ye know Iโd be happy to have ye along on my wee adventure, Grace,โ Graeme replies, offering her a sincere smile. โThereโs a band playing at the Marquee Club tonight, if youโre interested?โ
ย ย ย ย ย ย โi'm good to go anywhere tonight. getting out of wizarding london would be great for a bit.โ theyโd been stressed and tired lately. one night of fun would be nice for a chance.ย โsounds like a good adventure ot me.โ
ย ย ย ย ย grace typically got an invite to the ball, but theyโd never gone before. it never seemed like their kind of thing having to make small talk with people she barely knew. this year felt equally challenging, as she could have gone to the ball, but didnโt. it didnโt feel right, having to step into that role when there were other things they could be doing with their time. theyโd always gone to the lock in, so the familiarity of it was what they craved. she was walking around, looking for someone to talk to when she spotted sybill.ย โhello, sybill,โ grace greeted.ย โhow are you?โย
โare you planning to seek revenge, then?โ she questioned, appearing uninterested in the response because in the end didnโt affect her much, she hadnโt been involved with the tufts end. but it would be so fascinating to see someone try to retaliate against the death eaters.ย
ย ย ย ย ย โeven better,โ grace replied, not blinking, โiโm looking for justice.โ they knew they needed to be careful who they spoke to, but this was more wishful thinking than anything else. one day she would find who did this and theyโd get locked up as a result. there would be no blood on her own hands. grace wanted the people who knew about this, who were behind this to see that those that opposed them were victorious. grace hoped theyโd be there to witness it.ย
โi couldnโt imagine it, losing the people i love.โ but then she didnโt really have to. sheโd already lost hannah and she refused to lose anyone else she cared for. she nodded, because if grace found out it would mean they had gotten through their grief to the other side, and she didnโt want that. she wanted grace to suffer.ย โthat will always be enough, in the face of grief, or life in general.โ
ย ย ย ย ย so many people couldnโt imagine the loss. everyone a person loved, gone in an instant. there were days when grace woke up from nightmares remembering hearing the news. the professors telling her everything sheโd lost as if it was news they delivered on a daily basis. regardless, this toughened her, made her feel stronger. no one could understand that pain until they lost someone.ย โone day the people who did this will pay.โย
the offer was an empty one but sheโd made it anyway, she felt like she was supposed to, but social graces escaped her quote often. she preferred the ease of business interactions, of the dialogue that came along with it, the roles. this was different, it made her uncomfortable.ย โhow do you ever get back to normal after something like this? it seems like a big ask โย โ was she being empathetic or antagonistic? she wasnโt sure.ย
ย ย ย ย ย personally, they werenโt sure what was supposed to happen now. her parents were gone and now she was alone. the memorial was over, so now what was supposed to happen? people were going to get back to normal with their lives, the tufts just a distant though. this would be something that grace had to live with forever.ย โif i find out, iโll let you know.โ because grace didnโt know, she didnโt know that sheโd ever know.ย โiโm not sure iโll ever truly know, but i know what tomorrow holds and the day after that. right now thatโs good enough.โย
evan had already gone through the anger phase though it wasnโt anger that his dad was gone, it was anger at all the things he didnโt get to have, all the things that his father could have been if he had just been a little bit more present in his life. he was the only son of his parents, he had so much responsibility on his shoulders he didnโt know what to do with it half the time when he was younger. he takes another hit of the cigarette and blew it out, tapping the edge again.ย โgiveย โem hell.โ is all he said, knowing there were so many things that they probably didnโt know about, and all the things that he could connect with what had happened to their family.ย โdo you want a drink?โ he eventually asked, nodding his head towards the pub that wasnโt too far from them.ย
ย ย ย ย ย grief was complicated and grace was doing their best to navigate all these emotions that they werenโt really sure how to feel. of course they had been sad and angry before all this had happened, but now those seemed to be the only emotions that they felt. everyone coming up to them and saying sorry for their loss, as if their parents were the only thing they lost.ย โiโm trying.โ though their efforts were almost laughable. grace had never been built for this kind of thing. they were sheltered and coddled.ย โyes, a drink would be nice.โ as much as they didnโt want to believe it was true, it probably wouldnโt take much for grace to be scared back into whatever the people that killed their parents wanted.ย
