Courage, dear heart

Dorcas Meadowes - DJ - Order Member

[head-auror-moody-archived-deact]

Know the Enemy || Dorcas & Alastor || January 8, 1980 || Puppet Strings

Merlin, what a shit day. And the worst part about it, he had a feeling it was going to get worse. The meeting with the Head of DMLE hadn’t gone very smoothly. According to the Head, the Auror Department was still not putting enough pressure on the Death Eaters. The attack yesterday, and the ones that had cropped up since then showed a real possibility of something terribly wrong. Alastor simply chalked up his boss’ words as the standard message that he received in just about every meeting. At least they both agreed on something: Death Eaters were responsible and something had to be done before things got out of hand. Aurors were already stationed at major locations around the Ministry and Diagon Alley, patrolling the areas.

All day, Alastor had been paying close attention to the people around him. He was looking for signs of odd behavior, which was harder to do since he wasn’t sure how each person normally behaved. There were certainly a few odd quacks in the Ministry, which didn’t make things any easier.

Just how many people are imperiused, he wondered. As he walked by a group of wizards, he looked behind him to make sure none of them were following him. All the Unforgiveables were terrible, but the Imperius Curse was his least favorite of the three. It was something about seeing someone you knew, but they weren’t themselves. The curse really messed people up even afterwards, as they weren’t sure if they could trust people or even trust themselves. And for Alastor, it only heightened his paranoia.

Pulling open the doors of Auror Department, he saw that there were a lot more people than there had been when he’d left. He turned to the secretary, “More attacks,” he asked. She simply nodded with a grim expression. “Seemed to have gone up since yesterday.” He nodded, matching her grim expression.

A lot of Aurors were standing at their desks, taking statements from shaken wizards and witches. Alastor ran his hand through his hair before motioning for two Aurors to come over. “Edwards and Lee, start compiling a timeline and map of the attacks. Us the break room, if you need to.” The two Aurors nodded and set off to their task.

Alastor was about to head to his office when he saw a familiar face walk through the doors of the department. He always gave fellow Order members priority, when it came to his attention. Has she seen something? “Meadowes,” he called out, waving to her.

[gracingmeadows]

In a way, it was a bit like being drunk. 

Dorcas was vaguely reminded of those mornings spent lazily curled up in bed after a night out -right before the hangover truly hit when everything still felt fuzzy and good- as she walked through the Ministry. 

It seemed to have fallen into a bit of chaos. With the department being filled with Aurors, nobody was outright panicking but even in her distant state, Doe noticed the grim expressions all around her. Be rational, act like them logic told her. At least she thought it was logic, that little soothing voice at the back of her head.

Right now it was urging her to continiue with her mission; find Moody and dispose of him. It seemed right, everything inside of her wanted to follow that little voice that urged her to do so. Just do it, nice and easy. It was like a steady little hum, like having her favorite song stuck at the back of her brain. Yeah, she wanted to do that. 

Moody was at his desk with a group of Aurors gathered around as he barked instructions at them. Something must have been happening then, she realised, but that thought was quickly drowned out. Such unpleasant worries would just ruin this nice calm feeling so why think about those? Not when she had so much more important things to worry about, such important missions. Dorcas hovered at the back while the Aurors dispatched after instruction, only moving forward when he called for her. 

“Moody,” she simply said calmly. Stay normal, be clever, Yes, Moody was very clever and a bit paranoid- everyone knew that. Dorcas had to be clever too, had to act normal and catch him off guard. But it was hard to make her face into a frown when she felt this calm, so instead she simply kept her expression serious as she looked at him. Her hand was hovering over her back pocket where her wand was residing. Attack the second he is distracted, the little voice reasoned. “What is going on? Are we under attack?”

[plantsandpotions]

Nightwatch || Tilden and Dorcas || November 10th, 1979

[gracingmeadows]

plantsandpotions:

Tilden had heard Dorcas cry out as they ducked away from the stray curse and his heart skipped in fear that she’d been hit. A moment later, however, she was straightening up, unscathed, and he felt an ephemeral flutter of relief before tension seeped back in as they both faced the two angry wizards whom they’d been spying on. Dorcas’ hands were raised placatingly, though her wand was still held in her fingers, and Tilden followed suit, trying to look as disarming as possible without actually disarming himself.

The men didn’t look convinced by Dorcas’ assurances that they were innocent passersby, nor by Tilden’s nodded agreement and his murmur of “Don’t want any trouble.” The lingering anger in their expression from their interrupted argument was darkening into something more aggressive and defensive.

He heard Dorcas’ warning and nodded in understanding, though the movement was so minute that he wasn’t sure she would be able to even see it. As subtly as he could, he tried to shift into a stance that would allow him more ease of movement should things turn sideways. The narrow confines of the side alley were far from ideal for a fight, but maybe they could get out of this without things getting violent.

Or maybe not. One of the men scoffed at Dorcas’ question and answered in the affirmative. It would seem that the two strangers’ quarrel was temporarily forgotten as they turned their attention – and their aggression – on Dorcas and Tilden.

The one who had spoken shouted out an incantation and a Stinging hex flew their way. It barrelled through the short distance of the alleyway and Tilden dropped his empty hand and waved the wand in his other, casting a quick Shield charm that sent the hex rebounding off of it and into a nearby wall.

The two wizards both had their wands raised and their faces set in grim anger now as they both rushed towards them, Tilden’s Shield charm between them. “You take the lass,” one of them called to the other. “I’ll take care of the bloke!”

He then summoned a curse strong enough that it shattered the Shield charm. Tilden didn’t have time to glance over at Dorcas to make sure she was alright before he had to counter another hex.

“Impedimenta!” he cast in turn, tripping his opponent. As the man fell, shouting and still brandishing his wand, Tilden risked a look over at Dorcas. “You alright?”

Dorcas was softly cursing under her breath as things went south pretty quickly. Any doubt that the two men was not doing anything shady vanished the second Tilden’s shield charm was shattered.

Her arm moved almost before her mind did -after countless run-ins with trouble through the Order, Doe had gained quick reactions when it came to fights- and she cast a charm back, nothing that would injure but simply a spell to freeze her attacker.

As luck would have it, she and Tilden had managed to aim for different people and whilst his was somewhat successful, Dorcas’ opponent was quicker than he looked and just managed to sidesweep it, having it partly hit his arm rather than his chest which would have knocked him right out. While the spell would slow him down a bit, it would not stop him but rather piss him off more. Doe bit her lip and readied her wand arm as she watched him curse and yell, his partner looking like he was fighting his way up again; both equally angry at this point.

Doe took a few steps back, glancing over at Tilden and quickly scrutinizing him to make sure that he was unharmed. She gave a little nod. “Yeah, you?”

The question was what to do next. They had little time to decide before both men was up and about again. Apparently their plan was to separate her and Tilden and while Moody would probably growl at her once she found out, she considered going along with it. Single combat was a lot easier, especially in such close quarters.

Her time quickly ran off when her opponent shot off a curse at them. Dorcas barely had time to throw up a shield charm and backed another step back. She didn’t look at Tilden as she spoke to him, keeping her eyes at the man advancing. “Throw another tripping spell on the other one, try to make him stay down for a bit. We lure this one away, take him out before his friend can join, yeah?”

She didn’t wait for an answer - they didn’t have time- before she threw down her shield and cast another spell attempting to slow him down while they got a little headstart. The second she heard his yells as it hit him in the chest, she moved. “Now!” Dorcas moved backwards quickly.

[gracingmeadows]

Dorcas: 

Hogwarts years: Natalia Dryer

Order years (21+): Emilia Clarke

[the-wolf-within-blog]

This Aching Bones // Remus & Dorcas // December 10th, 1979.

[gracingmeadows]

the-wolf-within:

He recognized that voice, though he certainly hadn’t expected to run into her at such early hour in the morning. Curse his bad luck, of all the people in the world it had to be someone he knew. 

“Dorcas?” he questioned back at her, sheltering his eyes from the sun with the palm of his hand and finally managing to recognize the face hovering above him. Yes, it was unmistakably Dorcas Meadows.

Remus’s heart rate immediately increased. It was one thing to encounter a stranger in his state, but someone who knew him? That was a completely different story. He owned her at least a decent explanation to his appearance. But what the fuck was he going to tell her? “Yeah, don’t worry. Just coming back from spending the night transformed as a blood-thirsty beast that my miracle didn’t kill someone”.

He pressed himself closer to the wall behind him, as if hoping his body might dissolve into the cold stone and spare him the difficult situation he’d landed himself in. As if having to face Dorcas wasn’t enough, his pained muscles and aching bones just wouldn’t give him a moment of peace to think properly and just…get a decent story together. He was cornered, and absolutely screwed. What the hell was he supposed to do now!?

“For starters, you could accept her hand and get back on your feet instead of leaving her hanging in mid-air”.

Wincing from the excruciating pain it supposed to lift his arm and grasp Dorcas fingers, Remus accepted her help, struggling to get back on his feet. His knees knocked together and his legs threaten to give away from under him once more, but between Dorcas’s grip and the free hand he was quick to press against the wall, the young werewolf somehow managed to get up…sort of.  He was still half bent over himself in pain.

“Thank you” he gasped, cold sweat sliding down his temples. He raised a still shaking hand, asking her to give him a second to catch his breath (and come up with some sort of excuse). He clearly couldn’t say “nothing”, since he looked more dead than alive. Maybe he could say he’d been assaulted in Knockturn Alley? No, what could he have been doing in Knockturn Alley last night in first place? Anyone with have a sensible nerve would know better. 

Maybe he could say he’d been attacked by some muggle criminal gang and that he’d barely managed to Apparate here. First place he could think of where he might get help that was close enough to apparate in his state. It wasn’t the best story he’d come up with, but it would have to do. 

“Yes I…well…been better” he winced, breathing still hurt, let alone speak “I  had a bit…of a rough encounter with some…felons” he coughed dryly, his chest protesting from the effort it supposed to endure those sharp, violent spasms.

“Yeah, it’s me,” Dorcas said softly, doing nothing to hide the worry in her face. While she surveyed him, she tried to remember what little she had of training in these situations; Doe had participated in a crash course through the Order in case she was left with a wounded partner. Now she really wished that she had taken the lesson closer to heart and silently added it to the mental list of things she needed to do.

Doe kept a grip on his hand after she helped him get back to his feet, ready to dive in and support him if he collapsed. During the time she had known Remus, he had always seemed a bit tired, if not scratched, but now he looked terrible and it made her heart ache.

Her eyes widened at his exploration as her mind jumped to conclusions. “Rough encounters.. Were you on a mission? Alone?”

“Here, c’mon, there’s a bench nearby and you look like you need to sit down a bit,” she said, moving to put his arm around her so she could support some of his weight before he fell together. “No protests, try not to talk too much, Rem.”

What was she supposed to do? She knew some healing charms, but most were simple things that maybe made bruises go away a bit quicker than they normally would have. With this- she had no idea where to even start. Maybe if she had been at home with her first-aid kit she could patch him up a bit, but with only her wand? Dorcas was afraid that she would do more damage than good whilst trying to help.

She glanced around as she supported him, silently encouraging him to put his weight on her. Who was nearby? The Order hq was too far to walk and she had a feeling that long apparations would tear at him. She started musing out loud. “I dunno... You need help, Remus, we should get someone. My apartment is nearby but I dunno how much I can help. Maybe we should get you to the hospital, d’you think you could make it that far? I could apparate you?”

[perennialgrace]

Top Secret Mission Stuff || Dorcas & Daisy || July 10th, 1979

[gracingmeadows]

perennialgrace:

@gracingmeadows

Without exception, every single one of Daisy’s school friends were spending their summers sitting in the sun, ignoring any idea of responsibility, procrastinating on their homework. The last of these was, admittedly, something Daisy had every intention of doing; excluding that, though, her summer was going to be incredibly different to everyone else’s.

For the first time since joining the Order five months earlier, she wasn’t a student. At least, not for the next fifty-three days, she wasn’t. And for the next fifty-three days, she was going to be able to actually properly finally participate in the day-to-day operations of the Order. She could attend every meeting, go on stake-outs, patrols, missions— it was brilliant.

Today was her first such a mission, and Daisy was more excited than was probably reasonable. So much so that she arrived outside the Leaky Cauldron a full twenty minutes before the time she was due to meet Dorcas. Which, she told herself, was completely ridiculous— and worse, would probably look ridiculous— but that was okay, because there was no one here she knew, and Dorcas wasn’t early, so Dorcas wouldn’t know that she’d been twenty minutes early! It was fine.

It was very important to Daisy, that she wouldn’t seem ridiculous. This was her first mission. She didn’t want Dorcas to regret being paired with her, didn’t want her thinking she’d been saddled with a useless teenager who wasn’t taking this seriously. Because she was— maybe too seriously. This wasn’t going to single-handedly change the course of the war, or anything… though that fact wasn’t really going to stop Daisy from treating it like it was.

She made herself go for a walk along Diagon Alley, heading back to the pub only at the actual agreed-upon time. She quickened her pace when she spotted Dorcas waiting just outside. “Dorcas!” she said in greeting, as she reached her. “Hi! I just arrived,” she added, quite unnecessarily. “Are you ready, shall we go?”

For everyone else, summer meant two weeks filled to the brim with laziness. Once that had been Dorcas´ definition as well; her ideal summers had been filled with late nights enjoyed with tea and the knowledge that no alarm clock would wake her up the next morning, roadtrips in a beatup van they had underpaid for and days at the beach if the shifty weather decided to comply, filled with the sounds of children laughing as they braved the waves and an icecream in hand. Now, however, summer vacation was like every other day. Evil did not rest and neither did radio hostess; someone needed to make sure music entertained the lucky bastards that was on vacation for when they felt like snuggling up in tents in the warm summer nights.

It could be worse, of course. Todays mission was an easy one, perfect for the gentle heath that had been going lately. It made Dorcas lazy, and while action always was exciting she did not particularly feel like running through the warm streets of London either in pursuit or fleeing. And she had been assigned a somewhat new partner for the day! 

While Doe knew that some of the Order members were skeptical to working with the new kids, she didn’t mind. She remembered in perfect detail how it had been when she was new; the gentle anxiousness that came with joining such an important mission and the burning need to prove herself, to prove that she fit in and was useful. That she could fight. That she could make a difference. So she had happily obliged when she was assigned with Daisy that afternoon; while Doe didn´t know her too well she seemed sweet. 

“Hello,” she called as she walked a few steps towards the girl to meet her, giving a wide grin. “Thank Merlin, I was afraid I was late. The tube is filled to the brim with tourists, had to wait out two trains before I found one with any space one.”

Dorcas shook her head at the memory. “Let´s go- we need to walk a bit, hopefully we won´t melt in the heat. You´re all ready for the mission then?”

[gotqueensdaily]

Emiia Clarke for i-D Magazine (April 2013)

[no-blind-guides-blog]

Classes|| Dorcas and Rodolphus|| May 1979

[no-blind-guides-blog]

Rod continued to watch her as she set her things down beside his own spot. Luckily she left enough room between them, else there really would have been trouble. Unfortunately this was a muggle class, yoga hadn’t really hit the wizarding world yet, least not in this part of London. Thus he was stuck in a room filled with them for an hour. 

Those that try to wear me down, I am the sky and you are the weather. It was his most recent mantra that he found himself reciting in his head more often than usual in a class like this. Especially when the newbies asked stupid questions. 

“Well, her downward dog is a bit lopsided so I’d suggest taking her then,” he opened his eyes after breathing his mantra. 

“Whenever I can, sometimes life just takes over,” he answered honestly. It was true that in a place like this, in his element beyond all the killing and other shenanigans, he felt relaxed enough to be relatively honest and almost amiable.

“Its just nice to get away from things, recharge the batteries a bit.” he added with a chuckle. The yogi had entered and welcomed the new members to the class while waving to some familiar faces. Miranda casted a death glare over to Dorcas as she huffed around the room loudly, setting her mat down angrily in the back corner where she was now forced to sit. 

Rod glanced over his shoulder at her and chuckled under his breath to Dorcas, “You still sure you can take that on?”

[gracingmeadows]

“I´ll remember that if she turns hostile,” Dorcas joked with a laugh. Of course she would never harm anyone unless it was a Death Eater situation, but it felt nice to just relax and joke around a bit. She loved these yoga classes for the content alone, and adding someone she could talk with just added to the experience. 

Dorcas gave the instructor a wave as she walked into the room before starting her usual mental checklist to make sure that everything was in order. While her life on the outside tended to be chaotic, Doe liked to have some routine in her classes. Her mat was positioned the way she liked it, her water bottle was within easy reach and filled up to the brim. Just enough space between her and the people around her. Everything was perfect. 

“I see what you mean,” she said softly as he put words to what she felt. “It seems like everything is happening at once now, it´s good to just not have to worry about it for an hour, don´t you think? Plus, it´s become routine now- I almost feel more exhausted if I miss a class.”

Doe could feel the death stare she was getting from across the room, and while it almost went against her nature to feud with someone over petty matters, she simply shrugged it off and gave the woman staring her down a chipper smile. “Don´t worry, I´ve faced worse.” 

She glanced over at Rod with an easy grin. “You´ve all stretched out?”

[gracingmeadows]

🍼

- name: Lyanna (“Ely”) Meadowes Lupin (They considered a middle name but decided no child should suffer the pain of having four names)- likes / dislikes: Fairy tales with interesting villains and happy endings, dogs, cinnamon buns with extra icing, smooth pebbles & parks / thunderstorms, baths, the vase in the living room and (for a period that lasted a lot longer than both parents wanted) shoes.- first word: Dada - appearance: She´s a tiny little thing, prompting many to simply call her Birdie, with wide eyes and a tiny upturned nose. Often found in multicoloured leggings and with her soft brown hair in a pony tail, Ely has a gentle look to her- but turn your back on her for more than a few minutes and those blinking doe eyes will sparke with mischief- which parent they look more like: Dorcas, but the fairer hair comes from Remus and there are strong traits of him there- which parent they like more: The tiny diplomat will announce that she loves her parents equally when prompted, but the actual answer varies from week to week, depending on who has won her favor at the moment.- height once fully grown: 5,6- job ambition: Something to do with animals, either a vet or a pet store owner - faceclaim: Sophie Nélisse perhaps? (but with a bit darker hair)

[gracingmeadows]

🍼

- name: Hannah Theodora Prewett- likes / dislikes: the colour blue, any animal with fluffy fur, music, chocolate milk and puzzles with pictures of owls / bedtimes, itchy sooks, brussel sprouts and she has a vague dislike towards hiphop music- just like her daddy - first word: “Pippa” (aka their cat) ((second word was ´no´ and at that moment, both Gid and Doe realised that they had a lot of fun years ahead)- appearance: She´s got a mop of dark hair that is usually everywhere (despite desperate attempts), and none of them really knows where the chaotic curls comes from. With her sea of freckles and dimples whenever she smiles, nobody is really safe from Hannah´s charm (both parents tease that the charming gene comes from them). - which parent they look more like: It´s an even mix; her eyes are definetely from Gideon, but her mouth and nose comes from Dorcas- which parent they like more: Hannah is a total daddy´s girl, and Dorcas highly suspects that it´s because he spoils her and bribe her with chocolate - height once fully grown: 5,2; she´s a shortie just like her mum - job ambition: it varies- their favorite was when she was four and decided she would be the first witch to fly to the moon on a broomstick. - faceclaim: As a kid, I kinda see her as Mackenzie Foy?

send in 🍼 and i'll create a child for our characters !!

- name: - likes / dislikes: - first word: - appearance: - which parent they look more like: - which parent they like more: - height once fully grown: - job ambition: - faceclaim:

[plantsandpotions]

Nightwatch || Tilden and Dorcas || November 10th, 1979

[plantsandpotions]

Dorcas quickly extinguished the light at the end of her wand and Tilden echoed the spell, ushering them into darkness. It took his eyes a minute to adjust and he pressed them closed to hasten his night vision. When he opened them again, the surrounding alleyway was still nearly pitch black, but he could see the faint outlines of the walls and shops, enough to move forward without running into anything.

After her quiet assertion that they should investigate and the murmured incantation to throw them into darkness, Dorcas had fallen silent. Tilden held his breath, assuming she was listening keenly for the noise, just as he was doing. Without sight, the night sounds seemed suddenly amplified. He heard the wind as it rattled through loose window panes and past weathervanes high up on rooftops. And beyond it, the voices.

He saw the movement of Dorcas’ nod. She looked like a shadow in the night, highlighted only by the faint light of the sky overhead and a distant lamp glowing outside a shopfront further down the alley. As she moved in the direction of the voices, Tilden followed in her wake, a flutter of uncertainty keeping him from taking the lead. Dorcas was as much a civilian as he was, yet she seemed so much more confident than he and he couldn’t help but want to let her take the lead.

Which was terrible, he told himself in silent recrimination. Letting a friend walk first into danger! What was wrong with him!? Feeling like a coward, he hastened up a step as quietly as he could, to walk more at Dorcas’ side than in her footsteps.

They stilled as they neared the end of the side alley and a figure came into dim view. Tilden stayed close against one of the walls, deep in the shadows as he peered towards the stranger, looking for the glint of a silver mask that would indicate a Death Eater. “I dunno,” he whispered back to Dorcas at her question. “I don’t see a mask.”

Another figure moved out of the shadow of a doorway. It was the person the stranger was talking to. They seemed angry, their voice a harsh hiss. There was a flash of movement and Tilden put an instinctive warning hand on Dorcas’ arm: both of the figures had just drawn their wands. Whether this was Death Eater business or not, a fight seemed imminent.

“You’ll be sorry!” snarled the first figure, flourishing his wand. There was a flash of light and a bang as whatever spell he’d cast rebounded off the other person’s Shield charm. The beam of the spell ricocheted away from the mysterious duo. Right towards the two Order members hidden in the shadows.

Tilden ducked, feeling the heat of the spell as it soared over their heads. The narrow miss wasn’t the relief it should have been, though, as the light of the spell illuminated their presence.

“Oi!” shouted the second person, staring at them in alarm. “Who’re you!? Who goes there?”

[gracingmeadows]

Dorcas stood completely still as she watched the transaction, her body tense but ready to move at a seconds notice. Her hand was clenched around her wand, halfway lifted, and mentally she went through lists of spells that could work if she needed to fight- both defensive and aggressive. Hopefully she would have to use neither.

Suddenly she felt Tilden´s hand on hers, and for a moment the entire world went still. Her breath caught in her throat as a small wave of panic caught her and for a moment she just stood there. Just Tilden, she told herself as she made herself breath again after the surprise. Tilden, your partner, warning you. You are on a mission, get your game on. 

It was only a quick moment of panic, but it almost cost her dearly. Dorcas yelped as she hit the ground, narrowly avoiding getting blasted with whatever the hell flew over their heads. She bit back a long line of curses -both directed at the man that had indirectly attacked them and herself for getting lost. Now, however, was not the time to dwell on what had gone wrong. Now it was time to focus on the situation they currently had to deal with. 

Doe stood up, lifting her free hand as she glanced at the two men in front of them. De-escalate the situation; that was what she would try first. “Nowt to worry about,” she called in what she hoped was an unfazed voice. She could talk them down. “Just me and my friend, heading home.”

Even from a few feet away, she could feel their skepticism. They weren´t buying it- not that she had expected that they would. She took a step backwards again, towards Tilden. While her wand arm was down, she was ready to flick it up should any of the two men make a wrong move. 

“Get ready to move,” she murmured to Tilden under her breath, not risking a glance towards him. “We try to leave peacefully; this isn´t our fight. But if they attack, be ready to fight back. If we lose each other, we rendezvous at the exit towards Diagon Alley.”

“We gonna have a problem?” Dorcas called out. Both of them had their wands out, neither had put down their arms. As far as she knew, they were not Death Eaters so they weren´t supposed to be the problem they were looking for. Fights broke out in Knockturn Alley daily, this wasn´t supposed to be a different one. 

“Yeah, we do,” the one who had attack said in his ruff voice.

Well, fuck.

[plantsandpotions]

Nightwatch || Tilden and Dorcas || November 10th, 1979

[plantsandpotions]

In the months he’d been a part of the Order, Tilden had been on patrol many times, both alone and with another member as a partner. He knew that some of his peers weren’t keen to hold a conversation while on duty, preferring to keep their focus on the important task at hand. Tilden was glad that Dorcas didn’t seem to mind, though. A little conversation, even hushed as it was, did wonders for calming his jittering nerves.

He gave a huff of laughter at her mention of the approaching holiday season. He didn’t listen to the wireless all that often, though Mrs Mulberry did have it on sometimes at work. He hadn’t really thought about how the DJs might feel about all the Christmas music they played when the yuletide season arrived. “Huh,” he said, shaking his head with a smile. “I never really thought about that. Must get kind of annoying, listening to the same songs over and over. At least listeners can always switch the wireless off for a bit, you’re stuck listening to it all the time!”

He’d never considered how much patience must go into working for the WWN. Still, Dorcas didn’t seem all that frustrated. She was looking on the bright side, as she always seemed to do. It was something that always made her nice to be around, as if she had a way of lifting away the weight of the world, at least a little, just with her presence.

He shrugged a shoulder at her question, smiling wryly. “I’m alright. Can’t believe Christmas is just around the corner! It always manages to sneak up on me!”

When he’d been little, he’d always looked forward to the holidays avidly, counting down the days until Father Christmas came with his toys and Christmas cheer. His parents had never been able to afford much, but more important than the presents was the jolly feeling that seemed to fill the air, everyone so happy and cheerful. As he’d gotten older and busier, his tendency to have his head in the clouds had a way of making things like holidays and special occasions arrive with little warning, though. He knew he ought to start his shopping early this year, so as not to feel panicked when December came along, but he suspected that he’d still end up in an unprepared frenzy by the time Christmas truly was upon them.

A sound in the dark made him look up sharply, raising his wand to cast light into the narrow side alley across from where they stood. “What was that?” he whispered urgently. “Did you hear something?” He glanced around, hoping it was just the stray cat, but it still sat on its window sill. When his wand light fall across it, it arched its back with a hiss and leapt from its perch, disappearing into the dark. Tilden hushed it distractedly, straining his ears.

Yes, there it was again! Voices in the shadows. It sounded like whoever it was, they were at the other end of the side alley. Tilden looked sidelong at Dorcas. “Should we check it out?” he asked, lowering his voice until he was practically mouthing the words.

[gracingmeadows]

“It can get tiresome- the clue is to change it regularly. Instead of playing the same five, popular songs I try to find lesser known Christmas songs. There´s always something out there to keep things interesting,” she said with a shrug. While it was true that she almost sobbed every time she heard the opening notes to ´rocking around the Christmas tree´ by the end of December, Dorcas always tried to mix the popular songs with lesser known ones. Older more hymn-like songs were always a favorite at three in the morning, and if that didn´t work there was always jazz interpretions of the classics. She was considering dedicating an entire day to that.

Dorcas kept herself from humming as he spoke -a habit she was constantly battling the few times she even noticed it- but could not keep her fingers from tapping against her leg in a random rhythm once more. Perhaps it was something that had stuck from a song she had heard at work, without realising it.

“Me too,” she said, grinning widely at him. “Every year I tell myself that I´ll start early and plan ahead, then suddenly it´s four days before Christmas and I have bought two gifts and wrapped none. Chaotic each time.”

She missed the sound the first time, glancing up at Tilden while tilting her head. Every thought of Christmas was abandoned at once as her training kicked in. Scan the environment, search for threats. Protect your partner, engage if you can, flee if the risk is too high. Avoid escalation if possible. Constant vigilance. 

Dorcas stayed tense as she listened, wand raised and ready to either attack or defend, whatever turned out to be necessary to the situation. Yes, this time she heard it too- definitely voices. Hushed voices in the dark streets of Diagon Alley was never a good sign, and Doe was convinced that they had been put there for a reason instead of a whim. They were few enough as it were in the Order, placing members wherever was ridiculous. She glanced over at Tilden as her mind raced through possible scenarios and outcomes. One thing was certain; she was checking this out. 

“Let´s see what it is,” she said, keeping her voice hushed. She whispered ´nox´ to let her wand turn dark again- if it was something serious going on she wanted the advantage of surprise. They didn´t have a snowflakes chance in hell if they were seen from a mile away. Study situation in darkness, assess and make a decision- that would be their approach. 

Doe nodded towards the alley and started walking, keeping every step light and making sure that she kept in the shadows. Slowly she made progress, careful to the situation as the voices grew louder by each step. Annoyed, it sounded, but Death Eaters or simply inhabitants of the place? She stopped once she could see the outline of someone and pressed her body against the wall draped in shadows behind her. Dorcas glanced back at Tilden, her voice barely more than a whisper. “What do you think?”

[gracingmeadows]

Coffee and chats II Gideon & Dorcas II 7th of December 1979

[gidconprcwctt-blog]

Gideon noticed her practiced eyes  check every detail, every corner in the room for potential dangers. He didn’t say anything, after all he’d have done the same if he hadn’t known that his siblings did regular safety checks and that a few trusted members of Bagnold’s personal security team had cleared the entire floor before he’d even been brought in here. He’d been able to talk her out of posting a guard at his door but only just.

Dorcas’ arrival felt like a ray of sun after a particularly bad thunderstorm. Gideon didn’t have a particularly great day but his friend’s appearance had just lightened it up immensely. She had that effect on him, on people in general. Where Doe went, people smiled more, were happier. Their friendship was an easy one full of banter and teasing but Gideon didn’t think she knew how much of an impact she actually had on his life. How much she helped him on the bad days. He just hoped that he could somehow repay her someday.

“Aren’t you indeed.” He sighed and grinned at her. “My life would be dull and grey without you and hospital stays even more frustrating.” Gideon grabbed the coffee off the nightstand and took a moment to just breathe in the scent, closing his eyes as he did so. “Mhhh the smell of heaven. You have no idea how much I missed this. Did I tell you they told me to cut down my caffeine intake? And they forbid me to smoke. Honestly, no wonder everyone hates hospitals.” He noticed her taking the chair instead of sitting next to him but didn’t comment on it. He supposed her aim was to go gentle on him and be cautious because of his injuries so he let her although he wouldn’t have cared. Dorcas was one of the very few people whose closeness he didn’t mind, and did in fact welcome.

Taking a small sip of the coffee Gideon moaned quietly. “Coffee has never tasted better. You smuggling it past the guard-dragons in the hallway for me only makes it better. Thank’s, Doe. You do indeed have a very special place in my heart. He took another bigger sip and promptly burned his tongue, pulling a face and coughing as he put the cup back on his nightstand. “Perfect. Then you can entertain me all day long. If you steal it back I don’t know if you’ll live, though.” He said between coughs. The effort hurt his chest and Gideon reached for another glass on his nightstand that contained a light green liquid, a light painkiller the nurses left for him just in case. Not strong enough to make him fall asleep like the stuff they gave him at nights, but just enough to take the edge off.

After taking a few gulps from the glass he put it back and took the offered box of chocolates instead, popping one into his mouth while he listened to her stories. “Never trust the tech people there’s something just not right about them. Do you need me to come over and have words with Gary? Or I could provide you with a few nice potions you can slip into his tea. They’re giving me a lot of hardcore stuff here I bet I can nick you some.” He winked and took another chocolate, holding the box out for her as well. “They haven’t yet, but I’ve asked At to bring me mine from home later today. I can’t miss another show although if you’re playing hip-hop I might rethink that.”

His smile faded as he took another look at her. He couldn’t see any visible injuries, but you never knew. “Doe, you didn’t get hurt at the Ministry, did you?”

[gracingmeadows]

“They should do something to make hospitals more lively. Happier colours, playing music or letting animals walk the halls,” Dorcas mused, wrapping her hands around her cup as she leaned back in her chair. To be fair, she had never been at a hospital for more than a day at the most, but she could understand it getting boring pretty quick. If Doe ended up with a prolonged stay at one, she would probably pay the nurses to put her in a room with someone else, just so she could have someone to chat with. 

Dorcas took another sip of her coffee with a grin. Had she not been operating on minimal amount of sleep,she would have opted for the tea but this kept her going for longer. Perhaps she would finally get a proper night of sleep for once, although she somehow doubted that. 

“No coffee and no smoking? Maybe it´s a new sort of motivational tactic- be good and take your medicines so that you can get well quicker and then get the hell out of here?” While Dorcas had never been one for smoking, she would never judge anyone for it, least of all Gideon- one of her closest friends. The job they had was... stressful, and there were worse ways to relax. 

She tensed as Gideon coughed. While he put a brave face on, she knew him well enough to see the lightly masked pain beneath and it killed her. She was torn between finding a way to ease his pain -something, anything- and hunting down the bastards that did this to him. For this she would not mind the repercussions; nobody was allowed to hurt him. 

But she made herself smile, because that was what needed. Normal. Easy. The way she always did it. “Oh, I can handle Gary. Just haven´t decided how though- I´ll keep you updated on the situation since you can´t stop by the studio at the moment.” She gave a crooked grin as she reached for the box of chocolates as well, taking one out while ignoring that she had already eaten half the box. “If At is busy, I can always bring over an old one from WNN. Merlin knows we have at least fifteen dusty old radios just hanging about- I don´t even know why they are there! Nobody would miss one. Maybe I´ll even take the canary yellow one, just to brighten this room up a bit. Watcha think?”

“Nah, I ended up almost missing the entire thing. I was off checking corridors when everything happened, by the time I got to the action it was almost over. Ran into a few men in masks, ´twas nothing really. Got a few scratches, was healed up the day after.”

Dorcas hesitated, her smile fading slightly as she looked down on him. He was alive, that was what she had told herself over and over to keep going the past few days. He was alive, he would heal, that was what mattered. Still. “Gid, I´m sorry. I should have been there, you know? I should have had your back when you needed it and I wasn´t.”

[gracingmeadows]

Jazz Wednesdays  

i. Dream A Little Dream of Me - Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong // ii. In The Mood - Glen Miller // iii. Desafinado - João Gilberto // iv. Sir Duke - Stevie Wonder // v. One Note Samba - Astrid Gilberto // vi. So What - Miles Davies // vii. Take The A Train - Duke Ellington // vii. Spain - Chick Corea // ix. Ornithology - Charlie Parker // x. Get Happy - Dizzy Gillespie // xi. Sing Sing Sing - Benny Goodman // xii. Chattanooga Choo Choo - Glen Miller // xii. Summertime - Billie Holiday // xiii. Fly Me To The Moon - Frank Sinatra // xiv. What A Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong 

[ladystarks-deactivated20170504]

My father always said, ‘Never trust anyone whose TV is bigger than their book shelf’ - so I make sure I read.

[gracingmeadows]

GENERAL INFORMATION ➤

Full Legal Name: Dorcas Meadowes Nickname(s): Doe, Docie Age: 28 Date of Birth: July 21st Horoscope: Cancer  Nationality: British Occupation: Evening DJ for the WNN Sexuality: Hetrosexual

APPEARANCE ➤

Faceclaim: Emilia Clarke Height: 5,4 feet Weight: 110 pounds Hair Color: Dark Brown Eye Color: Blue Noticeable Features:

HISTORY ➤

Hometown: Tadcaster Financial Status: Middle class Spoken Languages: English

FAMILY BACKGROUND ➤

Mother: Catriona Meadowes  Father: Halden Meadowes (deceased)  Sibling(s): None Pet(s): None at the moment Cousin(s): Marcus, Matilda and Darcy 

MAGICAL ABILITIES ➤

Wand: 10 inches, rowan wood with core of unicorn tail hair Patronus: A siberian husky dog  Boggart: A figure draped in darkness  OWLSs: Charms, History of Magic, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Potions, Transfiguration, Care of Magical Creatures, Astronomy 

PSYCHOLOGY ➤

Jung: ESFP Enneagram: The Helper Moral Alignment: Chaotic Good Archetype: The child Temperament: Sanguine

[gracingmeadows]

[The parcel arrives Christmas Day, wrapped inexpertly but with care and accompanied by a note.]

Dear Dorcas,

My dad’s been sorting through his old Muggle albums and giving some away. I thought you might like this one! Merry Christmas!

-Tilden

Dear Tilden-

This is wonderful! I know mum is ecstatic about this one, but somehow I never got my hands on an album so this is perfect! I know what I´m going to be listening to this weekend - hell, I may even bring it down to the WNN to spread the joy. Thanks, Til!

xx Doe