#iemmeline

[caitrionaebing]

when: June, 1978 where: Hogwarts who: Caitriona and @fidemaledicta​

For her entire childhood, Caitriona had known what her life would look like. She would learn all the things she needed to know to carry on the Burke legacy at her parents knees, and then at eleven she would go to Hogwarts and be sorted into Slytherin as was befitting of a daughter of the Sacred 28 and build strategic alliances with her peers, after graduation she would enter society and marry a suitable man who met her parents’ high standards. For the longest time it had been all she wanted, all she expected, this regimented existence she could waltz through blindfolded; any part of her that might have wanted more was killed off when Andromeda was disowned. 

The problem was, Caitriona had never factored in the dangers of Hogwarts and the variety of its students. Suddenly she’d found herself not just surrounded by people who’d grown up exactly the same way she did but also half-bloods and muggle borns and people her parents would consider blood traitors. No one had done more to show Caitriona the wider world than Benjy Fenwick, but just thinking his name right now hurt. And he wasn’t the only one. Emmeline Vance, so similar to Caitriona in so many ways yet different in some supposedly crucial ones, had made Caitriona question what she’d been raised to believe, too. Caitriona couldn’t acknowledge her feelings for Benjy in public, she couldn’t say goodbye to him in any way she hadn’t already; that was a wound that there was no closure for other than time. But she could say goodbye to Emmeline.

Their graduation ceremony had ended, and Caitriona’s fellow graduates were mingling on the lawn by the Black Lake. It wasn’t difficult to find Emmeline, standing off to the side with no remaining parents to celebrate this landmark moment with. Caitriona smiled a small smile that was somewhat softer than the one she usually put on for polite society as she approached Emmeline. Not usually one for physical affection, Caitriona did not throw her arms around the other girl in an embarrassing display of emotion like some of their classmates, but she did briefly take Emmeline’s hand and give it a brief squeeze. “I think we’re supposed to be excited.” She murmured, her smile turning wry.

[alessandraesmee]

when: Friday, 16 July 1982  where: the Museum of Muggle Curiosities  who: Alice and @fidemaledicta​

Alice was not a big fan of her own culture. Not her Scottish heritage, of course, she was very proud of that, but her pureblood heritage. That was a problem. Or at least, it had never been something for her to be proud of, the generations of hoarding wealth and power, not to mention the long line of loveless marriages and soulless homes. She’d always preferred to learn about the muggle world, and since she ran away from home she’d come to think of it as sort of her adopted culture. These days, she wanted to share that with people, which is why she was particularly excited about the Unity Fair. And the Museum of Muggle Curiosities. The last time she’d been it had been a little underwhelming, but she was hoping the recent renovation had included updating the exhibits. 

She’d said as much to Emmeline on the way to the museum, walking too fast even though the other witch didn’t have long legs for Alice to keep up with. She stopped outside the small-ish building and huffed a little in disappointment. “I was kinda hoping there would be a line or something.” The museum was supposed to be the big draw of the fair for the day, and Alice had expected more people to take advantage of the free admission. Instead, the museum was largely ignored by passers-by, even with its newly painted sign.

[alessandraesmee]

when: 26 May 1982 where: Alice's cottage on the outskirts of Hogsmeade who: Alice and @fidemaledicta and @afracturedstar

Alice had been getting ready all morning. Really, she’d been getting ready far longer than that, but that had been for the mission, and this was more for the people coming to her house bit. Alice would never be a hostess like her mother, she didn’t want to be, but in an odd way what Astraea Lestrange had taught her still shone through. She tried to tidy before people came over, and she liked to have food out for people to snack on. Today, she’d also pulled her little dining table into the center of the living room and opened the leaves so she could spread out the Gringotts floor plans on it. She also had some scotch, in case Sirius wanted a chaser after the polyjuice. Alice knew she would. She’d also had to shoo Frank out. Even though he knew about the mission, and had been helping her prepare by working on her Rodolphus walk and controlling her fidgeting, she wasn’t sure he was technically supposed to know. Once everything was ready, Alice had nothing left to do but sit and pet Cinnamon and munch on biscuits while she waited.

[alessandraesmee]

where: an Order of the Phoenix safe house when: December, 1978 who: Alice and @fidemaledicta​

Alice was always excited when there were new members joining the Order. Of course, it dampened the excitement a little when they were so young and this lot was fresh out of Hogwarts. She’d had no idea what she was doing with her life when she was that age, not really. She’d only thought she did. But that was part of why she was here, because she did know what she was doing with her life now, and one of the reasons she did was the people who’d helped her along the way. Now, she had the chance to be that person for others. 

Hanging back really wasn’t Alice’s style, never had been, but she’d been watching more than anything else this evening, and she wasn’t totally sure she liked what she was seeing. There had been some raised eyebrows and not too subtle whispers when she’d first joined the Order, but by and large being an auror and a former Hufflepuff had outweighed being a Lestrange. And she’d had friends like Frank and Alastor at her back. This Vance kid, on the other hand, was on the outside looking in in a big way, and Alice didn’t like it. 

When the meeting was winding down things began to morph into socialization, as they usually did, and Alice made a beeline for this Emmeline Vance. “Hi, I’m Alice. Welcome to White Knights incorporated.”