Meadowes

Dorcas Meadowes Ravenclaw | Order Obliviation Division, Ministry of Magic

[magnificentmeadowes]

A drunk letter: James Potter 

POTTER. 

Right, remember, I was on the Ravenclaw Quidditch Team and you were on the Ravenc Gryffynh Gryffindor Quidditch Team and there was that match when you completely thrashed us and beat us by some horrendous difference? Well. It was a total fluke, even thogh you all said that it wasn’t for years, and you said it was that the girls from Ravenclaw were distracted by your good looks? 

Well. It was a fluke. Nobody gets distracted by your good looks, even if you are goodlooking now, you were basically just a kid. If we had a rematch now, you would see, and even though we don’t have whole teams maybe we should go one on one. At Qudditch. 

Love

Dorcas

[boxed-in-black-blog]

Ursa Minor | Regulus & Dorcas

[boxed-in-black-blog]

Regulus kicked at the rubble. It was unlikely anyone would be staying close by enough to hear so he kicked it, rocked his flat shoes against the odds and ends, and picked a tightening circle where the buildings used to be. There wasn’t much to see, honestly Regulus wasn’t sure what he expected to find–but there was… nothing.

Old bricks and bits of paper. Little pieces of artifacts. No notice of a blood bath or if there was a particular thing which whoever destroyed this section of street was looking for. He couldn’t think of anything that this street and Malfoy manor had in common, except several artifacts (and none of them replicated in both).

He noticed someone following him, but dismissed them. He had had enough time sneaking around and worrying over people following him when he met Peter to develop a certain sense of paranoia–although this time it was at least not all in his head.

Someone’s following me, Regulus had claimed more than once–it was almost a relief that this time it was true.

It was more enjoyable that he could just decide he didn’t care either.

[magnificentmeadowes]

Dorcas hung back from the man in front of her, watching him as he kicked pieces of stone and rubble. She edged slowly around the rubble herself, making sure she didn’t knock any. She wasn’t sure if he had noticed her, but she didn’t want to draw any attention to herself. 

He looked like he was looking for something. She hung back, tilting her head to one side as she watched him. What did he expect to find now? The whole area has been gone over by Law Enforcers time and again; if there had been anything to find, they would have found it. She assumed they hadn’t found anything substantial, because nobody had contacted her to say they knew what she had done. 

Dorcas moved sideways around the area that he was searching. She knew he wasn’t there on official business, that much was clear from the way he moved around the ruins. The whole situation made her nervous, and she felt the need to see the man’s face. If he did find anything hat might incriminate her, she wanted to know what she was up against.

She circled him, moving slowly and carefully, to make sure she didn’t cause any more destruction - as if I haven’t caused all of this - her eyes one the man in front of her all the time, until she could see the profile of his face. 

Regulus Black?

[boxed-in-black-blog]

Ursa Minor | Regulus & Dorcas

There was a fullness to his lip, hot and over sensitive that Regulus realized he should probably charm away but it was late and he couldn’t be bothered. Hours ago Regulus had stepped into an unmarked townhouse in Knockturn. Now he stepped right back out with a fat lip he’d almost bitten through himself. He walked a few feet, and then lingered by the doorway of The Starry Prophesier.

Further down there were still signs up that said mind your step from the explosion weeks before. It wasn’t like he was curse shy, of course, but the closer he stepped the sharper he tasted smoke and felt a memory of many people jostling one another–looking for loved ones or just searching out what had happened.

For the first time in weeks he felt clear-headed, wired and relaxed–but even still he couldn’t quite make out what the point was. There was no pattern, no rhyme or reason–not for the explosion, not for the attack on Malfoy Manor–and Regulus knew there had to be both. 

Which meant he had to check out what was left of the rubble–which he did, lighting a wand and lifting it above his head with little enthusiasm. 

[magnificentmeadowes]

Dorcas had walked past the site of the explosion many times since it happened. At first, it had made her feel uneasy, as though just being anywhere near the site would get her caught. More recently, though, as talk of the explosion died down slightly, the destruction she had caused seemed to fade into the background. 

She had been working late. Some idiot had decided to perform magic in the middle of a busy, London street during rush hour. It was the kind of job that took hours to sort out, with the whole team, to make sure no muggle witnesses slipped through the net. She hadn't finished her part of the paperwork, but she had done enough that it would wait until the morning. All she wanted now was to be curled up at home,, with a pot of sweet tasting tea and a book.. 

That was her plan, at least until the wand light near the scene of the explosion caught her eye. Someone was sniffing about again. She narrowed her eyes, trying to see whole was holding the wand, but the bright light blocked out their face. 

She knew she should carry on her way. She knew she should get home to that pot of sweet tasting tea, and the book sitting on her bedside table. But there was something about the way the lone person up ahead of her moved about the rubble  that told her they weren't on official business. 

She threw up the hood of her cloak, and almost silently, followed.

[somedaystories]

Letter Meme

✍: a letter that gets sent

✉ For a letter that does not get sent

✈: For a goodbye letter from my character to yours

☁: For a drunk text/ letter from my character to yours

 ☑: For an invitation from my character to yours

 ✿: For a love letter from my character to yours

 ✓: For a confession from my character to yours

[magnificentmeadowes]

[magnificentmeadowes]

Books are a uniquely portable magic | Dorcas & Emmeline

[murderousvance]

Emmeline was in “enemy territory” as usual–but not the usual sort of enemy territory. Instead of flitting between Order and Eaters, she was simply scouting the shelves of Flourish and Blotts. For all that she would not, of course, admit it where anyone important might hear her out of professionalism, she knew–and so did Elphard–that the larger bookstore had obtained its prestige for good reasons, and one of those reasons was that it simply sold more books. And Emmeline knew everything that was on the shelves of Selwyn’s Scrolls; she had stocked most of them herself.

At least the place was clean now, at long last, but after so many days spent tidying-up after the ugly mess in Knockturn Alley, she was sick of the place–but there was a reason Emmeline had chosen to work there too, and it wasn’t just because her cousin was an indulgent taskmaster. She simply liked books. It was hard to walk past a bookstore without popping in, and while she was sick of Selwyn’s, she wasn’t sick of Flourish and Blotts. Besides, they weren’t really the enemy–just the competition. It was a very different thing although, for the last few years, Emmeline had viewed the Order of the Phoenix and the Death Eaters the same way she viewed Selwyn’s Scrolls and Flourish and Blotts: competitors, but not outright enemies.

(She was staring to think that she was the only person who saw it that way.)

A pile of books already stacked in her arms, Emmeline was more than happy to let the enticing reams of leather-bound paper distract her from ugly thoughts like that; she could have just perused the Malfoys’ extensive library if all she’d wanted was a new book to read, but she’d wanted a distraction. And there were few distractions as delightful as shopping for books…

But talking to friends was good, too. And there were some friends she hadn’t seen in far too long. The chime of the bell over the shop’s door caught her attention and made her look up; the elderly wizard ambling inside was of no interest to Emmeline (although he bore a disquieting resemblance to Professor Binns) but the woman standing between her and the door was. She would know the back of that head anywhere.

“Dorcas!” Emmeline practically skipped around the shelf in front of her to get to her friend. The books in her arms wobbled, almost falling, and she had to pause to catch them all–but looked back up with a grin right away, even as she shuffled her burden. “Dorcas, how are you!” It didn’t occur to Emmeline that the other witch might not be pleased to see her, at least not so publicly; they were best friends after all, so why wouldn’t she be just as happy?

[magnificentmeadowes]

Hearing a familiar voice say her name, Dorcas turned from the little old man entering the shop, and spun round to face the speaker. Emmeline was moving too fast for the amount of books she had in her hands, but she saved them from falling. Like a true Ravenclaw, Dorcas thought to herself, a smile forming on her lips already. Perhaps it was because the bookshop had already reminded her of Hogwarts but seeing Emmeline’s grinning face over the teetering pile of books made Dorcas think of all the times the girls had spent too long in the library at Hogwarts, traipsing back to the Ravenclaw Common Room with too many books to carry. 

At the sight of seeing her best friend’s face, after not seeing her since she had left the Order’s safe house - what felt like a lifetime ago - Dorcas felt her heart swell. Emmeline was safe, she was unhurt and she looked happy. Dorcas felt a huge variety of emotions, none of which she could really pinpoint, but she was sure they weren’t all positive. She wanted to embrace her friend, but knew it would overbalance the witch, with her arm’s full of books. 

“Merlin, Emm,” Dorcas’ voice wasn’t as cheerful as Emmeline’s. She sounded more disbelieving than anything. “Been a while, eh?” 

She laughed, pulling her hair round to one side, so the curls all hung down one shoulder. It was a habit that she had always had - it was like she couldn’t keep her hands off her hair. She always said it was because she wanted everyone to see how gorgeous her hair was, but she knew it was really because she struggled keeping her hands still. 

“I’m pretty good... How about you?” Dorcas’ smiled faltered slightly as she asked the question, with a frown almost appearing between her eyebrows. She had been worrying about Emmeline, especially since she had heard who she was spending her time with. 

[tedblack-soulmate-blog]

When Peace is Unattainable || Ted & Dorcas

[tedblack-soulmate-blog]

Ted blinked at her invitation, a bit surprised, and weighed his options in his mind. He could cast a quick charm on himself to diffuse the scent of liquor, smoke and nicotine to fool his wife and daughter and go home to collapse on the couch before retreating to the basement to stare lethargically at his science project. Or he could continue to smoke, drink and converse happily with the interesting witch in front of him.

It was really no contest.

“Yeah.” He replied, with a small smile - the first truly genuine one in weeks. “Yeah, I would.”

He took a seat and ordered another of what he was drinking before. The bar tender looked at his critically but he ignored them, he could still walk and talk perfectly coherently. He was fine.

“Well, I’ll take your word for it, then.” Ted replied to her hope in her quidditch team. “I have to admit I’m a bit behind when it comes to sports. Dora isn’t to fond of the sports station, calls them ‘Dadaidh’s  boring talk shows.’” He said with a chuckle. “But I’ll pay more attention next time the Kestrals come up.”

Ted didn’t reply to her remarks about the statute at first, turning her opinions over in his mind. She brought up some good points but he still couldn’t… “I have two younger sisters.” He finally admitted, perhaps the alcohol was infecting his mind or perhaps it was just the way kindness seemed to radiate out of Dorcas’ eyes or maybe he was still just rattled from the recent attack. But he could feel cracks forming in his carefully constructed walls. “So I’m probably biased when I say I want this conflict as far away from the muggles as possible.” Shaking his head slightly, he grimaced. “Having no “us” and “them” seems like a grand idea. Truly. But it’s not possible to me. We are more powerful then them and that’s a factual barrier we could never overcome. Two separate societies is better than having one society with a firm caste system.”

His eyes narrowed as they danced over her face, her hands, her in general, wondering just what she was thinking. Curious as to what she thought about his rather unconventional view of soulmates. “What do you think of my theory?” He asked, alternating between drinking and sucking on his cig. “About soulmates being a bit more… varied than what we like to think?”

[magnificentmeadowes]

Dorcas followed Ted’s lead, getting a drink and sitting opposite him across the table. The mention of Dora surprised her, even though she remembered hearing more than once about her. Her parents were still in contact with that side of the world, and they occasionally gave her updates about people she barely rremembered. She wondered when her parents last spoke to the Blacks or the Rosiers, and if they knew what those families were really like. 

“Of course,” Dorcas smiled. “You have a daughter. How old is she now?“

His further responses intrigued her further. She hadn't known he had siblings. It struck her as odd that he was telling her about them now, when the world was in such turmoil about families and bloodlines, and they were, essentially, on opposing sides. She leant in slightly, her voice softening to a compassionate tone. Her hand itched to touch his arm, desperate to give him comfort, it was clearly something that concerned him.

"I don't think many people want to bring it to the muggles’ doorsteps, I'm sure they're safe." 

She ran a hand through her hair. 

“Maybe not now,” she admitted. “Not while views are what they are. But perhaps in decades to come, if we can stamp out this ridiculous notion that some blood is better than others...Then perhaps we could create an two integrated societies even if it wouldn't be immediately one society.” 

She leant back in her seat again, sipping her drink to give herself a chance to think about her answer. "It’s plausible, I suppose.. Not what we're taught, but I guess if you don't grow up with the tales, maybe it's easier to look at it from the outside. from another angle. And there's no way for us to really know, is there? It's not like they come with instructions.”

Her mind slipped back to Evan. It was impossible, in a conversation like this, not to think about him. If the soul marks had come with instructions, it would have been much easier. She would have known what to do with him. 

“There are plenty more ways that a person can affect you.”

[magnificentmeadowes]

Books are a uniquely portable magic | Dorcas & Open

Dorcas stepped out of the bright light of Diagon Alley, and into the cooler, darker interior of Flourish and Blotts. She took a deep breath, inhaling the musky smells of a room full of books. As long as you didn't go into the shop in the last few weeks before the students returned to school, there was an almost reverent hush amongst the shelves.. It was as though people automatically whispered when in the presence of books.

She took a few steps forwards, reaching her hand to run her fingers gently along the spines on the shelf nearest to the door. The shop always reminded her of times at Hogwarts, when she would just stay in the library, hidden amongst the shelves, breathing in the smells of the hundreds and hundreds of old books. The library was one of the things she missed most about Hogwarts.. Having that many books within reach.

Dorcas’ eyes were on the shelves as she wandered up the shop, examining the titles for something that jumped out at her.. She wasn't sure what she was looking for, exactly, just that she wanted something new.. Something she hadn't read before.

The door behind her opened, startling her slightly. She had been focused on the books in front of her.. She glanced over her shoulder at the person who had entered the shop.

[tedblack-soulmate-blog]

When Peace is Unattainable || Ted & Dorcas

[tedblack-soulmate-blog]

“That they do. But the Kestrals are a good team, not doing to shabbily this year either. Think they have a shot at the final?” He asked. The speech patterns surrounding a conversation about quidditch were the same almost every time and keeping up such an exchange was easy: I like x team, did you hear about team, did you hear about y’s new training regiment etc. etc.  There was also something inexplicably comforting about sports. A war was on but life still went on, people married and had children, the moon and stars kept up their fixed movements and quidditch was played and won and celebrated.

He nodded along amicably as she talked about her experiences with muggles and continued to do so when she alluded to his blood status. A small spark of hope burned inside him when she mentioned it in passing… perhaps she was a rare person who truly didn’t care. But then she took it back, covered up her slip. The whole thing seemed to Ted to have an air of you being different makes me uncomfortable so let’s pretend we’re the same. Stiffening a bit, Ted nodded.

“I said, I might be tempted to think the repeal of the Statute could be a good thing. But how things are just prove the wisdom of it.” He shrugged and glances aimlessly around the room, still talking  but not bothering to look her in the eyes anymore. If he made her uncomfortable, then he wouldn’t aggravate the situation by looking her in the eye. “I’ve seen every reaction under the sun, Meadowes. But more or less parents and especially siblings are accepting once it’s explained properly. No, the biggest issue is the friends and extended families. Your gran will be curious where you go to school and you have to make something up and keep track of your lies so you don’t accidentally contradict yourself and make people suspicious. If muggleborns choose to keep up with their childhood friends, their friends may ask why they’ve got a stick in their pocket or have an owl for a pet. So the statute has its complications but like I said… it’s the best option all in all.”

Ted chuckled a bit as the conversation turned to soulmates. He stamped out the butt of his now finished cigarette and immediately lit another one. “The biggest lie society tells us is that the most important and impactful relationship in our lives will be romantic.” He said softly, absentmindedly rubbing his bicep where Andromeda Black was branded on his skin. “Is that true for a lot of people – yes! Is that true for everyone – no! Your soulmate can be bad for you. Absolutely. Anyone who says otherwise is a delusional twat. But that doesn’t mean they won’t be important or they can’t impact your life. Fate is always going to catch up to you, always. So it’s foolish, not to mention destructive for everyone involved, to fight against it. Like I said before… alternative solutions exist. You just both have to be willing to think outside the box and figure something out.”

[magnificentmeadowes]

Dorcas enjoyed talking about quidditch. It made her feel like she wasn't just a clog in the big machine of war - which even her job outside of the order made her feel sometimes. She felt like she just spent her nights fighting, and her days clearing up the mess.

“I reckon we have a chance,” Dorcas smirked at Ted. “But I would say that even if we were at the bottom of all tables." She paused, thinking for a moment. “However, our chasers are on top form.. We really do stand a chance.”

At her correction, Ted avoided Dorcas’ gaze. She scorned herself, silently, thinking it was because it appeared she had alluded to his blood status. Her parents had always taught her not to talk to people, as it was something that didn't matter, and something that shouldn't be discussed. It was part of the reason that the Death Eaters obsession with purity had disgusted her so much. 

“I can see both sides of the argument. Maybe we're protecting people by keeping ourselves secret, maybe we're keeping muggles safe.. but then, they aren't safe. They're getting hurt in all this mess too. If they knew about us... maybe they would be safer.” she ran her tongue over her teeth. “Maybe a complete honesty would bring about a lot more equality. If everyone knew where everyone stood, perhaps there would be less of an “us” and “them” mentality.”

She tilted her head to one side, listening intently to his theories on soulmates. She noticed the way he rubbed his arm, without seeming to notice, much in the way that her own hand found it's way to Evan's name on her ribs. She assumed that was where Andromeda name sat. She didn't look though, knowing how it made her feel when people obviously noticed her touching her own soul mark. 

“Someone you affect in some other way,” she didn't know how to feel about that. How was Evan related to her, if it wasn't romantic. As a teenager, she had always assumed it meant that they would end up together. When she had decided his views didn't fit with her, she just cut him straight out of her life. She hadn't given any thought to whether there was another way they were connected. She didn't think she she wanted to think about it.

She also didn't know what to say to his theory that fighting fate was foolish, as it was what she was doing, and what this whole fight was about. She didn't want to discuss it with someone who was affiliated with the other side, especially as she was enjoying the conversation.

Choosing not to answer, she motioned towards the bar. They had been standing at the back of the pub without any drinks for too long.

"Want to grab a drink?”

[tedblack-soulmate-blog]

When Peace is Unattainable || Ted & Dorcas

[tedblack-soulmate-blog]

Ted laughed at her suggestion of his Quidditch loyalties. “No, I’m not a Cannons fan. I don’t really have a particular team I’m loyal to even though I follow Quidditch. I didn’t grow up with it so I don’t feel any kind of particular passion for any of them. Though,” He mused, a mischievous glint in his eye, “I do tend to get more excited when Holyhead’s playing. Though I think that has little to do with Wales.”

Ted agreed with her assessment completely. “Muggles are surprisingly rational and kind people. If this was a time of peace I might secretly harbor wishes for the repeal of the Statute of Secrecy. But…” Ted shook his head. “I’ve barely known this world in times of peace. And we can’t let them get mixed up in this war, they’re too ill-equipped to handle it. Plus they’ve already had two massively devasting wars in this century and some say they’re on the brink of a third. They don’t need to deal with our problems too.” Ted shook his head, wondering if revealing so much of his knowledge about his people was a risk. He wondered if Dorcas was the type to gossip and spread rumors that would get back to the ears of his in-laws. He didn’t think so. And at the same time, he didn’t really care. He was too emotionally unstable to really think about the words falling from his mouth anyway. 

He reached out and rubbed Dorcas’ shoulder appreciatively, squeezed it  and let his hand drop. “You’re doing a lot of good for this world. Both of them. Thank you.”

Ted chuckled. “It is like we’re playing on opposite sides of the same team. I like that idea. I do work with kids up at Hogwarts every couple of months and if a child seems like he needs particular help I might have some one-on-one sessions with him. Normally it’s just workshops and group therapy sessions a couple times each term.” Ted explained, he liked when Dumbledore called him up to Hogwarts. Working with kids was one of the best parts of his job. “Sometimes I’ll take on adult muggleborn clients but that’s a caseby case basis. Sometimes I’ll just see someone for a couple months as they work through a rough patch.”

Ted grimaced a bit as he came to the core of his work. “Soulmate counselling. Well, I firmly believe that fate gave us our marks for a reason and we shouldn’t just… cast our soulmates to the side. We should explore our options with them, see how we fit into each other’s lives. I act as a kind of guide with partners as they figure out the specifics of how their relationship is going to work. For come partners, like me and my wife it’s very simple. We fell in love and got married. For others it’s more complicated and they might need some help finding a different solution.”

[magnificentmeadowes]

Although the concept seemed alien to her, Dorcas could understand why he wouldn’t have a particular team that he was a fan of. She was an avid supporter of the Kenmare Kestrals herself, but it was mainly because her father had grown up near there. Dorcas’s grandmother still lived in the area, and Dorcas always made sure she popped in for tea whenever she went over to watch a game. Which, admittedly, wasn’t often now that they were engaged in this fight for fate. 

“Well, the Harpies do have a certain... charm.” she smirked playfully at Ted. “I, however, am a proud Kestrals fan.” 

”Removing the Statute? At work, when muggles come across magical activity by accident, they usually want to forget, if it’s bad.” She hesitated, biting her lip as she thought. “But muggles who have magical children seem to cope alright, don’t they? I guess you’d have more experience with that.”

Realising it sounded like she was referring to Ted’s blood heritage, which she had always been taught was the height of rudeness, she quickly added, “I mean, at work. People must come to you with families who don’t accept it.” 

The way that the conversation about soul mates was turning, Dorcas found that she couldn’t push Evan out of her head any more. The idea that he was meant to be some huge part of her life just sat there, waiting for her to deal with it. She was still refusing to accept that their lives would be entwined in some way. 

“What if a soul mate is bad for you?” She posed the question to Ted. It was an idea that she had wanted to discuss, properly, as an adult, with someone who had the opposing opinion from her. “What if they’re abusive, or their ideals are so different, or... or just bad for you?” 

[magnificentmeadowes]

There is scarcely any passion without struggle.

1. 

Although there were, arguably, bigger things that had happened in Dorcas’ life of late, there weren’t any that made her heart hurt quite so much. She had blown up half of London, and killed at least 7 people, in order to become an active agent in this war. But even that didn’t affect her as deeply as the sudden absence of her best friend. Dorcas and Emmeline had been inseparable for the majority of their lives, and suddenly Emmeline was gone. Not from the face of the earth, but from Dorcas’ world. Even worse, she had been pushed out by the people who were meant to be on their side. Dorcas had heard the whispers that Emmeline had killed Peter in order to cover up her own tracks, that she was the traitor, but they always stopped when Dorcas walked into a room. Which was lucky, because she was excellent at charms and hexes, and she would make anyone who accused Emmeline in front of her regret it. 

2.

The Meadowes family wasn’t quite pureblooded, but they were ‘clean’ enough that the majority of people forgot that they had muggle blood in their heritage. When it had been more important to be pureblooded, in society, her family had worked hard to integrate themselves with the highest of the high, the purest of the pure. Dorcas herself had been good friends with the Rosiers and the Blacks when they were growing up, both members of the Sacred 28, and firm believers in the importance of blood purity. It was this belief that caused the rift between Dorcas and many of her childhood friends. She couldn’t understand the idea that some people were more important than others, and the older she got, the angrier the idea made her. She slowly moved away from the people she had spent her childhood with; and the whole drama culminated in Dorcas cutting all ties with her soulmate, because he wouldn’t see the error in his ways. If destiny wanted her to be with someone who believed they were better than her because some distant relative wasn’t magical, then destiny was wrong. 

3.

Dorcas Meadowes had always loved Quidditch. Although her and Evan had always planned rough as children, he was always so much bigger and stronger than her, and he would always win. Unless, of course, they were on their brooms. As soon as Dorcas was off the ground, she was on level pegging with her best friend. She could suddenly keep up with him. It was up against Evan that she had gained all her Quidditch skills. 

The first time she had tried out for the Ravenclaw Quidditch Team, she was in her third year, and they had turned her down. Evan pointed out, later, that it was because she had presented herself in a less than genuine light. She had tried to show them the skills that she thought they would want to see - not the skills she actually had. She tried to just score the most goals, and be better than the other people trying, rather than showing them how she really was on the pitch. A year later, another place opened up on the team, and Dorcas tried out again. This time, she presented herself more naturally, playing up with the team and strategically working around the other people trying out and scoring goals that way. She was accepted. 

[tedblack-soulmate-blog]

When Peace is Unattainable || Ted & Dorcas

[tedblack-soulmate-blog]

Ted took a long drag of his cigarette and thought back to his days at Hogwarts for a long moment in silence. “Raging hormones…” He mused. “Sometimes I wonder if they’re to blame for everything. Certainly no one takes fate quite so seriously as a disillusioned teenager hoping for some direction in their lives. All that passion and angst bubbling up inside of us… it’s little wonder how many of us threw ourselves into a war.”

Remembering that he was actually having a conversation with a person and not just talking to himself, Ted smiled at Dorcas a bit apologetically. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to take a turn towards the depressing.” Putting out the butt of his cigarette, he pulled out another for himself and offered the mostly empty box to Dorcas. “Care for a smoke? You’d honestly be doing me a favor, a box in an afternoon isn’t exactly healthy.”

Turning his mind back to the conversation at hand, Ted chuckled a little at her comment. “Hey, the Cannons might have a fighting chance this year. And I’m sure if they had you on their team, they’d be doing far better. But you’re an obliviator. That’s nice, getting to see the normal world every now and again.” Ted paused, the friendly conversation, drink and nicotine had made him slow. “Well… never mind. It probably isn’t that nice actually. I’m sure you’re doing mostly damage control and working with traumatized people must be taxing. It’s important though so, er, good for you.”

Nodding a bit and hoping to steer the conversation away from the world that he still considered “his” Ted smiled. “I run a clinic. Mostly I help muggleborns and halfbloods adjust to the Magical World but I do soulmate counseling too and some other basic therapy too.”

[magnificentmeadowes]

A disillusioned teenager hoping for some direction in their lives... While the point he was making could very well sum up the situation they had all found themselves in, the comment drew her mind to Mary McDonald. He could have been describing her specifically, a disillusioned teenage girl, fresh into the magical community with no idea what the name on her body meant - until the person who’s name it was made sure that she knew it meant she belonged to him. Every time Dorcas thought of Mary and her soulmate, she felt a little sick at the way he had outright manipulated the poor girl into acting like his little pet. 

Dorcas took a cigarette from the pack, thanking Ted. As she lit up, she narrowed her eyes slightly at him, trying to work out if his situation was similar in any way to Mary’s. Sure, he didn’t have the same lost puppy look in his eyes, and Dorcas didn’t feel the intense need to take him away from the whole situation and protect him. She didn’t feel comfortable about the thought of him and Andromeda, but it didn’t sicken her like Mary’s relationship. But still, a muggleborn, fresh into the magical community and a name appearing on his body... Did he just follow it blindly, without any thought for what Andromeda stood for? 

“You sound like a Cannons fan, Ted. Please tell me you’re not.” she laughed. “I had you down as someone intelligent!” 

When he referred to the "normal world”, Dorcas wondered if he meant the world outside of the war, or the muggle world. To her, the muggle world wasn’t normal at all. She had grown up in a magical community, and the Meadowes family weren’t quite pure, but they were so close to it that people - other than the pureblood fanatics - often forgot that there was muggle blood in her heritage at all.

“It is mostly damage control and working with traumatised people - upholding the statute, you know. A lot of the people higher up at work say it’s to stop a repeat of the witch trials fiasco, which was last time muggles found out about us on a widespread case, but, I think it’s just as much for the protection of muggles.” She tilted her head at Ted, taking a drag on the cigarette. “I meet a lot of them, and not many of them have been the types to grab the pitchforks and torches and try to burn us alive.” 

She listened to his explanation of the clinic with interest. To her, somewhere to help muggleborns settle into the magical community could only be a good thing. Maybe with an increase in clinics like Ted’s, situations like Mary’s would be less likely to happen. She felt her curous Ravenclaw side kick in, and she shifted her weight onto the other foot. 

“That’s such a great idea. How- how does it work? Do you deal with kids, like before they go to Hogwarts? Or people later? And soulmate counselling, I’ve heard about something like that before, but I don’t actually know how that works? Why do people need counselling?” 

She paused, pushing the thought of Evan from her mind before it could really settle. This was a conversation she was enjoying, and she didn’t want it ruined by thoughts of her soulmate. 

“It’s almost like we work on opposite sides of the same team. You helping muggleborns come into the magical world, and me helping the magical world stay out of muggles lives.” 

[tedblack-soulmate-blog]

When Peace is Unattainable || Ted & Dorcas

[tedblack-soulmate-blog]

Ted laughed along with her. An honest and true laugh which had him surprised. He was was always laughing, always joking, always smiling - he had to in his job, it was the only way to remain sane as he tried to help people adjust to their war torn world. But the only times he truly laughed was with his daughter. But Dorcas was so sincere in her mirth that Ted couldn’t help but chuckle along. “Probably.” He admitted. “As it was, my brother and I both fell asleep while we waited to be sorted, I think.”

Ted simply shrugged. “Don’t worry about it. I really should have been focused on protecting my team mates anyway. I don’t really remember why I distracted in that particular game but it was probably for a terrible reason.”

Ted wondered just how much Quidditch she was playing if she “plays when she can.” That probably meant next to none. People weren’t really focused on recreation or relaxation these days and while Ted knew why he couldn’t help but think it was only causing more problems. Stress only aggravated problems that were already there. “Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if I had tried pursuing Quidditch as a career.” He mused aloud. “I wasn’t brilliant but I was good enough. I just never found the motivation to dedicate enough time to training.”

“But you work at the Ministry now?” He asked, still smiling cheerfully. “Which department?”

[magnificentmeadowes]

“Ah, don't worry about it. We were teenagers. We were all distracted by all those raging hormones, so I wouldn't think anything of it.” she laughed. Back then, the biggest issue in their lives had been who was dating who, not how your best friend killed someone for being a traitor.. 

“Oh, I know. Like I  said, most my talent was actually arrogance, so I probably would have ended up being one of those people who left school with dreams of playing for England, and ended up on the Chudley Cannons or something!” 

She shrugged, smiling. She loved playing Quidditch, and knew she put on a good game, but it wasn't pure talent. She was cocky and played up to the other team, her talent was strategy and working out their strategy.

"Yeah, the Ministry. I'm actually an Obliviator. Out in the field with the Muggles.”

 She paused for a moment, observing Ted's reaction. He was a muggleborn, Dorcas knew that, but she also knew the views that his new family held of Muggles, so she wasn't sure what he would think of her working with them. “How about you? Where you working?“

[tedblack-soulmate-blog]

When Peace is Unattainable || Ted & Dorcas

[tedblack-soulmate-blog]

Ted normally would have stiffened when Dorcas commented on his last name, he was sensitive about everything relating to his marriage. But he had drunk so much that defenses seemed to have gone down at least a little bit. “I’m an unusual bloke.” He replied easily. “Both my surnames are cool, I think. I moved upwards in the alphabet which is nice. Having “T” for a last name always made waiting in line intolerably long while in school.”

Ted nodded as she revealed more about herself, chuckling as she related the story of her three-week stay in the hospital. “Yeah, I do remember you now. Definitely. I brought you flowers you know and chocolates. But perhaps you don’t remember what with the amnesia and all that.” He smiled as he thought back to their years at Hogwarts, at how at-home he felt in the Ravenclaw Tower and how much he truly missed it. “You were one of our best chasers, you know. Led us to victory quite a few times if I remember, of course I graduated before you though, so I’m sure you just got better as time went on. 

“Do you still play?” He asked after a moment of silence. He was quite liking this catching up deal, it was friendly and was keeping his mind of the war at least for the time being. It helped that he couldn’t remember her blood status. If she was a mudblood like himself he could get in serious trouble for speaking with her. But he could just claim innocence for now and not even feel a twinge of guilt for lying. “Quidditch I mean. I know things aren’t…. well, I don’t think many people have time for hobbies nowadays but do you still play Quidditch sometimes?”

[magnificentmeadowes]

His comment about moving up in the alphabet made her laugh, loudly and genuinely. In that moment, she decided she wouldn't push the issue of his bizarre match, and just enjoy the conversation. With most people knowing that Dorcas had cut her soul mate out of her life, she seemed to cause tension if she discussed the matter with people who were firmly rooted in their belief that destiny controls their lives.

"II bet that would have been most handy in first year, none of that standing for hours waiting for your turn at the sorting hat.” 

“Ah, yes. I probably never thanked you for them, as I probably couldn't remember you giving me them.. So I will take this opportunity to formally show my appreciation.” 

Her smile faded slightly at the thought that that had been ten years ago, and things had been so simple. Destiny and soul mates weren't causing any wars, Evan was her best friend and Quidditch was the most important thing in her lIfe.

“I was okay. I don't know how much of it was talent and how much was just arrogance. I thought nobody would beat me, so it sort of came true. Self fulfilling prophesy and all that.” 

She nodded at his question.

“I still play when I can. I never attempted to do itpprofessionally, llike some people did. Just went into a nice, steady Ministry job, and Quidditch was just for fun."

truth be told, with this war, Dorcas couldn't remember the last time she played Quidditch, her job was steady, or she had real fun.

[tedblack-soulmate-blog]

When Peace is Unattainable || Ted & Dorcas

[tedblack-soulmate-blog]

Ted blinked down at the pretty witch in front of him, she looked very familiar. It took him a moment to place her before he recongized her as Dorcas Meadowes, they had both been in Ravenclaw and she had only been a couple years behind him. It wasn’t too odd, Ted mused, for someone to run into an ex-schoolmate. But still he felt a type of cold, wariness between them. Perhaps he and Dorcas had sat beside each other at a meal once or talked about the weather or a new teacher in the common room. But his life had changed so much that they were just strangers now. She fit into that odd category of Ted’s mind that all his memories of his past life belonged to. He wondered if this was how “normal” people thought about their ex-school mates eight years after graduating or if magical culture and a the war had turned even this seemingly normal experience on its head. 

“You’re fine.” Ted replied with an honest smile, taking a drag from his cigarette. “Don’t know if you remember. Ted Black, we were in the same house at Hogwarts. Of course my last name was Tonks back then… I was beater on the Quidditch team for four years.” He hoped she would remember him, he always felt a rush of guilty joy when someone remembered his as Ted Tonks. But really he was just desperate for an excuse to avoid home for a few extra minutes and making conversation with Dorcas, who was basically a stranger, seemed to be his best way to do it.

[magnificentmeadowes]

“Tonks!” Dorcas clicked her fingers and pointed at him as the name struck a bell in her mind. “That's it, I knew you had some cool surname... Well. You did at school.. Black, now, eh? That's... unusual."

She was, of course, referring to the man being the one to change his name. For a family as steeped in tradition as the Black's, it must have been a bold move. Then, being with Ted in any case would have been bold for Andromeda.. Blacks did not socialise with muggleborns, let alone marry them and have little halfblood babies. Although she hated everything that Andromeda stood for, Dorcas felt a little reluctant respect for her at the thought.. Going against a family like that would have taken guts. Dorcas wondered if she had always loved Ted, or if it has only been because of the name on her skin.. 

"Meadowes. Dorcas Meadowes, Chaser. We would have only been on the team together for a couple of years, though. You were a few years ahead of me, weren't you?“

She fell silent for a moment, trying to work out if everyone her age got hazy memories from school, or if it was just because their lives had been so crazy since they had left Hogwarts. 

“I was the fourth year who got hit on the back of the head by a Slytherin bludger so hard, I had amnesia for three weeks." She laughed.. “I guess I have you to thank for that. Aren't beaters meant to keep the bludgers away from their team? Although, it's okay. I got out of class, you don't get blamed for missing potions when you can't remember your own name!”

[scatteredneedles]

Your soulmate is not someone that comes into your life peacefully. It is who comes to make you question things, who changes your reality, somebody that marks a before and after in your life. It is not the human being everyone has idealized, but an ordinary person, who manages to revolutionize your world in a second …

Anonymous (via scatteredneedles)

[magnificentmeadowes]

4 | "So, love, did you save her? Was she everything you bet upon your life?" | Game AU | Emmeline Vance

Things had never gone back to normal since Emmeline had killed Peter Pettigrew. The rift between the two sides of the Order - those that believed Pettigrew must have been a traitor, and those who believed Emmeline was just a murderer - had become too wide to repair. Relationships were lost, and the Order slowly spread out into a number of locations, no longer talking. Missions started to fail as they couldn’t, or wouldn’t, communicate with the people they were supposed to be fighting alongside. 

It all culminated in a huge and bloody fight inside the last safe house that the Order had stayed in as one, where they were staying when Emmeline killed Peter. The two opposing sides of the Order fought for their belief and for their lives, and anyone who didn’t have a strong opinion on the matter was caught up in the crossfire. 

By the end of it, Dorcas crawled through what was left of the house, surrounded by disaster. The house had been just about destroyed with all the flying curses, and around her were the bodies of the people she had called her friends. She had just been defending her best friend. 

She crawled past James Potter and Sirius Black, lying side by side as though they had been fighting that way until their very last moments. Dorcas paused by them, glancing round for Remus Lupin, who she was certain must have been near his friends. He was a couple of metres away. She pulled him, slowly, with every muscle screaming for her to stop. She was sure her left ankle was fractured, and the pain in her side indicated that at least one of her ribs had cracked in the fight, but she knew Remus needed to be by James and Sirius.

Satisfied with the men’s final resting places, Dorcas continued her way across the room, her ankle throbbing unbearably as she crawled over the rubble. She wasn’t even sure where she was going, she just had to get out of that house, she couldn’t be surrounded by the death of everyone she loved.

She crawled into the hallway and stopped dead. Someone was lying at the bottom of the stairs; a familiar mane of hair, and Dorcas was sure that she knew that jacket from somewhere... She went cold. She crawled over to the body, praying to every god she had ever heard of that when she turned it over, the face wouldn’t be the one she dreaded to see. 

No such luck. Emmeline had clearly turned up during the battle, perhaps to try to bring some sense to the people she used to fight alongside. And they had killed her. Dorcas cradled her best friend’s body in her arms, the tears starting to roll down her cheeks. Her entire body ached, and now she knew her heart was broken too. She had been trying to defend Emmeline, to help her, to save her, and she had failed. Emmeline’s wand was still in her pocket, she hadn’t even had enough warning to draw it. Dorcas rested her hot, clammy forehead on Emmeline’s cold, lifeless one, and allowed the sobs to rack her body, feeling the pain of everything she had lost. 

In the end, the Death Eaters didn’t need to defeat The Order of the Phoenix, they defeated themselves.