Evanroseier​:

@fxprewettx

dorcxsmdws​:

When they brought her back to the interrogation room she was confused.  She didn’t think that Moody would need anything else from her, but maybe he did.  Or maybe he was here to tell her that he tried, but that he couldn’t get her out without giving himself up.  That was something that she’d have understood.  She wasn’t worth anything, not really, not in the long run.  Her contributions to ending the war would be minimal if he managed to get her out.  She could heal, sure.  She was a great dueler.  But there were other duelers.  There were others who could manage basic healing spells.  She was nothing, but Moody was crucial.  He couldn’t give himself up, or even hint at any sort of suspicion.  Not the kind that could have him in a cell next to hers.  Maybe that was why he was coming back.  Maybe he was coming to tell her goodbye and good luck.  She’d understand.

But when she walked in and saw Alice she was confused.  The interrogation rooms were freezing, but they were so much warmer than the cells, out of the reach of the effects of the dementors.  She could think clearer the second she crossed into the room, and clearer still as the heavy metal door closed shut behind them.  When she wrapped her arms around her Dorcas didn’t react, not at first.  Alice was soft and warm and comforting – but did she deserve that?   How was she meant to accept her comfort after everything.  Why was she even here?  She should be with her baby.

But after a few moments she responded, lightly wrapping her trembling arms around her.  “I’m okay,” she said softly, her expression blank, her voice a hoarse whisper.  

...

Alice squeezed hard, despite the fact that Dorcas remained limp in her arms for far too long. When she finally did reciprocate the hug, it was weak. Pulling back, Alice looked into Dorcas’ eyes, worried about what she saw there. She knew very well what the dementors did to people, had experienced it plenty of times herself when she had to come here for Auror duties, but she had never been through it like Dorcas was right now. It had been six long days that Dorcas had been stuck in here, forced to relive her worst fears and memories on a constant loop -- it was no wonder that her eyes looked deadened. Alice waved her wand to cast an extra warming charm and transfigured one of the chairs into a blanket, wrapping it around Dorcas’ shoulders. “No, you’re not okay,” she replied softly, her voice filled with understanding. 

Alice sighed. “I’m not really involved in the case, so I don’t really have any updates for you except that Moody’s working hard and he’s determined to get you out of here. It was probably a major stretch even to come here, but I had to see you. I couldn’t stand the thought of you alone in here after everything.” Her eyes filled with tears, but she blinked them back, cursing the postpartum hormones. Dorcas didn’t need to see Alice cry. “They don’t have a case against you, not unless they want to take Rodolphus down too, and we know that’s not going to happen.” 

She reached out to touch Dorcas’ arm, wanting her to feel human warmth and contact for at least just a little while. “I brought you something, too.” Reaching into the pocket of her robes, Alice pulled out a picture. It had been taken in happier times, at an Order meeting. In the picture were Fabian and Gideon, their arms slung around Paulie, Fabian laughing as Gideon mussed up her hair. “It’s a little risky, but I don’t think the dementors will notice that you have it, and I wanted you to have something to remind you of who you have out there waiting for you.”

homemade cosmic brownies

(*¯︶¯*)

FIN.

alicelxngbottom​:

Alice laughed, nodding in agreement with Marlene’s sentiment. These parties, however lavish and grand, were nothing short of dull. Alice had hated them as a child; though her parents didn’t attend many of the parties all that often, they were careful not to burn too many bridges with the rest of the Rosiers, so she had been subjected to her fair share of boring parties. Luckily for her, Marlene had often been there to liven them up, so it felt full circle that she was here tonight, even if she wasn’t really supposed to be. 

Alice shrugged. “He tries to get back at least once every couple of weeks, but it’s usually only for a few hours. I guess it’s taking longer than expected.” She couldn’t really say more, not even to Marlene, because it was Auror business and not anything to do with the Order, so she gave an apologetic smile for her vague response. “Moody promised he’d be back in time for the birth, though, so fingers crossed I don’t go too early.” 

Alice’s smile softened at Marlene’s words. “Thanks, Mar, but I’ll be okay. I have the perfect alibi since I was actually invited. I would have come even if we hadn’t come up with this insane plan.” She shook her head, making it clear that she hadn’t been one of the ones on board with this. It seemed more risky than it was worth. “Being able to be here and help if someone gets into trouble is far less anxiety-provoking than sitting at home wondering what’s going on.” 

*

“That’s shitty, but at least he’ll be back for the birth.  Can’t imagine him missing that.  You must be getting excited though!  Or nervous?  Or both?  I can’t imagine pushing something the size of a small watermelon out of my vagina”, Marlene crossed her eyes, “Sorry, that’s probably not helpful.”  She was excited to meet the baby once it was born, she knew the little child was going to be so loved.  It was bizarre to her that anyone would decide to have a family in the middle of a war, but then again, you never knew what was going to happen each day, so what was the use of putting things off if you really wanted them?

“That’s surprising”, she laughed, “but I don’t blame you.  They do always have great food.”  That may have been the only nice thing that she could say about the Lestranges and their gross flair for the dramatics.  Even then, she realized that the compliment was more for whoever would have prepared the food, and she smiled.  That was fair enough, she would have felt exactly the same way.  “Nothing is going to happen, we’re going to get in, get information, and get out.  I’m willing it to happen.  All is going to be good.”  

Even though she wasn’t all that worried about being recognized, she realized that it was probably time for her to go.  Giving Alice one last smile and salute, Marlene winked, “Well, I should be off.  Information isn’t going to find itself.  Owl me if you need anything while Frank is gone, okay?”  Resisting the urge to give Alice a hug, she gave her arm an affectionate squeeze and then disappeared back into the crowd.

alamoody​:

The return of Emmeline had brought back a relative calm to the Order, most of the members busy with reunions. The Death Eaters probably were in the scramble that they’d had been in just days ago, but he took pleasure in that. Serves them right for what they’d do to innocents and the torture they deemed appropriate to use on Emmeline. Alastor didn’t exactly know those details yet, but he’d seen the state of her when they’d “rescued” her, and he had it on good authority she’d been given a few healing potions. If she looked like that even after help, he can only imagine the extent they went to with her.  He and Alice would know shortly the exact details, and he knew he’d end up feeling some sort of way about it all. Emmeline was practically his daughter, debriefing was always hard, but with the added personal connection he knew it’d be harder. He was grateful Alice was willing to join him on it.

“You’re fully aware of how these go, but I must tell you I think it might be one of the worst cases we’ve dealt with. It may take a lot of time, and I can probably safely say we might have to break with it.” He stated to Alice before they’d go in, it was better to get some things out before starting. They’d probably tell Emmeline the same, but they would need to be on the same page before we enter. He knew they both had a special close connection to Emmeline, it wouldn’t be like at work or with members not directly working with them that’d been caught up in it all. “ Now, do you have anything you want to say before we let Mary know we’ve come for it?”

@alicelxngbottom​

...

Alice was far enough along in her pregnancy that she didn’t join Moody for many of these debriefings anymore. In the time they were living in, pretty much any debriefing was exhausting and heartbreaking, no matter what the situation. But this one would be even worse. It wasn’t just one of their Aurors (though Merlin knew they both cared about all of their Aurors), this was someone who was like family, especially to Moody. Alice had known him for a long time now, and he knew that he didn’t easily let people in as closely as he had with Emmeline. So when he asked Alice to join him for the debriefing, Alice knew that she had to say yes, no matter how close she was to popping. This wasn’t something he could do on his own, nor would she want him to have to.

As Moody spoke, Alice nodded. Of course she already knew everything he was telling her, but she knew that he needed to say it. Alastor Moody was the kind of man who was used to being in control, and this situation had been so far out of his control that it had to have shaken him up quite a bit. As he finished, Alice gave him a soft smile and reached out to put her hand on his arm. “I know this will be hard for all of us, but we can take it as slowly as Emmeline needs. What matters is that she’s safe now, and we’ll do everything we can to keep it that way.” Giving him a serious look, she nodded, motioning for him to lead the way.

@alamoody / @vancexemme​

hope — my writing

Send my muse lies about people they care for.