alaraselwyn

[alaraselwyn]

She gave him a playful nudge with her elbow, her nose wrinkling at his words. This was clearly going to be an adventure in muggle cuisine. “Why don’t we just get one of each?” she suggested, pointing toward the steak and ale pie, bangers and mash, and toad in the hole. At least they’d be in it together. “And we’ll definitely need drinks,” she added with a knowing glance. She was familiar with a few muggle alcoholic options, enough to make things interesting.

Sirius slid into the booth and picked up a menu, reading it as he sat down. “You’re asking the wrong guy,” he replied, not well versed on unique muggle food. He laughed, shaking his head. “I’m not taking that responsibility.”

[alaraselwyn]

Alara would never turn down a customer who looked ready to buy three boxes of sweets.

"Three? Absolutely," she said with a warm smile. Two more flat sheets floated toward her, folding themselves neatly into boxes mid-air. "Were you thinking an assortment of cupcakes? We’ve got red velvet, pumpkin spice, double chocolate, vanilla, and white chocolate." Before Edgar could even answer, she was already filling the first box with practiced ease.

As she placed it on the counter and reached for the next, this one destined for her four varieties of scones, she glanced up at him. "How are you doing, Edgar?" she asked gently. "You seem a little quieter than usual." Maybe she was wrong, but she’d learned to trust her instincts.

Dark brows rose as the wizard was all soft smiles && approving eyes as he marvelled at the ease with which the other witch navigated through the conversation. He wouldn't call in jealousy per se, but he could recognise a longing, a deep longing to reclaim a passion for his work, to find a quiet certainty in his day-to-day life.

He watched, calloused hands relaxed at his side, as dark hues took in the magic with a glint of appreciation. "Ah, yeah, that sounds lovely." Voice steady "Though could you make up another box... maybe two, if I just get the one, I'd be playing favourites." && Merlin knows that wouldn't end well. "Sorry, I'm rambling now." Pausing mid-sentence, dark brows rose as he spotted some cupcakes.

"&& This could be an inconvenience, so please feel free to say no. But could I also have a large box filled with cupcakes ? " Everyone felt it these days, the shroud of darkness, the constant fear, everyone lived in it, fear so thick you could almost breath it in. && the order meetings were no better, still sometimes the best medicine for fear was something sweet, something to help the nerves && ready yourself for the danger.

[alaraselwyn]

Alara watched Remus closely, her brows knitting as he took his first bite of the scone. She knew his expression would reveal more than his words, he was always kind, always careful not to hurt her feelings. Her head tilted as she caught the subtle cues. “Survive?” she repeated with a dry laugh. “That bad, huh?”

She snorted softly, shaking her head. “I can live with not bad, though there has to be a way to make them taste like proper scones.” A beat passed before she added with a smirk, “Honestly, I think between you and the rest of the boys, eating is your favorite pastime.”

Reaching into her bag, she pulled out a small box and held it out to him. “Here, payment for your noble service as my taste tester. One fresh cauldron cake, just for you.”

Remus paused, mid-chew, his expression somewhere between diplomatic and mildly alarmed. A few stray crumbs clung to the corner of his mouth like they were clinging to hope.

He swallowed slowly, then cleared his throat. “Well,” he began carefully, “I think I could survive on these. With enough butter. They're not -- not bad,” Remus said quickly, reaching for another. “Just texturally adventurous. Like chewing a particularly polite rock. But I like the flavor! Cheese and and chive is doing its very best in there.”

"May your fingers continue to create -- which they will quickly, no doubt. You're a genius in the kitchen. Until they do, I’ll eat every last questionable scone. For the sake of friendship."

[alaraselwyn]

"You’ve never tried any hobbies before?" Alara asked, unsure exactly how to ease into the conversation. "I guess some people would call baking a hobby, but I turned it into a profession." She paused, considering for a moment. "You like to read. What kind of genres?"

"Hobbies?" Freya asked, intrigued, "which have you tested out so far?" Hobbies had always been an odd topic of conversation in the Macmillan household, it was a household filled with creativity and perhaps a little too frivolous at times. When Freya lived with her parents, creativity and outlandish hobbies were encouraged more than the basics. Freya, in an act of rebellion, tended to be a bit more by the book, albeit she could never shake her love of a writing. "I love to read, although I should try to read a bit more, life just tends to get in the way."

[alaraselwyn]

Alara emerged from the back just as the chimes above the door rang out. Her eyes landed on a familiar face, one she hadn’t seen in far too long. She froze, just for a breath, memories of that conversation with her sister slowly surfacing. Secrets she had sworn to carry to the grave flickered through her mind. And one in particular belonged to the witch now standing before her, her brother.

It took her a moment to collect herself before moving toward the display case, gently setting down a tray of freshly baked goods. "Thanks," she said softly, offering a small smile. "I've been easing back into working the front of the shop, little by little." A small pause. "You should stop by more often." We’re going to be family, she thought, but couldn’t say. "Can I get you anything? It’s on the house."

who: @alaraselwynwhere: the bakery

Beatrice had only been in the bakery once before. After that life just hadn’t made much room for it. Of course, afterwards the whole mess regarding the witch’s choice had made the rounds and even those not interested in such matters had heard about it. If anything, Beatrice couldn’t fault the witch for the choice made. After all, her own family had once made that choice. Neither her nor her siblings would have been around if not for the step of someone who did not care for the notions of pureblood society.

“It’s good to see you back in the bakery.” The brunette had a smile on her face. The words came easy, despite the time that had passed since the events had gone down. “Haven’t had the chance to visit often, but it is still nice to see.” Beatrice could never say no to baked goods. Honestly, who could?

[alaraselwyn]

[alaraselwyn]

"Well, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with a box that’s got a little sweet and a little savoury," Alara said with a warm smile. A flat box floated toward her, folding neatly in mid-air before landing in her hand as she stood behind the display case. “You can’t go wrong with a cauldron cake, maybe even a red velvet cupcake for good measure. And I’ve just put out a fresh batch of cheese and chive scones.” She looked up at him with a raised brow. “How does that sound?”

Keeping his expression light, his grin still in place. It was strange to think that smiles, which came so natural to him were becoming a rarity these days. So bogged down with work, with the horrors he saw with the order, sometimes it was hard to find a reason to smile, to indulge in taking a few moments for himself.  “ Hm, maybe a little of both ? What would you recommend? what’s your favourite? ”

[alaraselwyn]

Alara grinned, the kind of grin that came easy around Madhuri, soft, knowing, and full of affection that had been forged over years of friendship and fire. “Well, I only sing off-key for those I love most,” she teased, nudging her with a gentle bump of the shoulder. “And don’t worry about the living room. How do you like having your cousin around?”

She flopped onto the bed beside her. “Royalty, huh? Finally, someone sees it. I’ve been waiting for my crown since third year.” The witch laughs softly. As Madhuri nestled her head in her lap, Alara instinctively started carding her fingers through her hair, a soothing gesture both of them knew well. “Oh, you know, the usual. Trying to avoid certain people, being called blood traitor, baking away.” Her voice softened. “But I want to hear about you first. I’ve missed you, Mads.”

Oh, Alara. The things she and Madhuri had shared through all their friendship. They made it through Hogwarts together, being roommates all seven years and then there after. Madhuri didn’t know what she would do without her. That’s why it was nights like this were so special. And they had become a little too infrequent since the war had landed in their laps. But she tried not to think about that. They were just busy. Right?

“Please do. You know I love that off key voice of yours,” she laughed. “And just ignore the living room. Max is staying for a little while and has taken over. Pretty easy since the place is small,” she went on. “But you are royalty. Didn’t you get the memo?”

When Alara tossed the chips on the bed Madhuri picked up and opened the bag taking one out immediately. “How do my friends know I love chips so much?” she munched. “Let’s talk about everything. I’m sure you have loads going on!” she plopped down on her bed as well putting her head on Alara’s lap.

[alaraselwyn]

This wasn’t like Mira. She was always the one in control, calm, sharp, emotionally unreadable. Logic came first. That was Mira. Alara had always been the emotional one, the softer one, the heart in a family that didn’t leave much room for feeling.

"You kept..." The words caught in her throat. She didn’t finish. Alara watched her sister carefully now, everything inside her churning. Each word Mira spoke made something twist tighter in her gut, like invisible knots pulling against each other. And slowly, with every piece Mira shared, Alara felt her heart drop. It was like the last bits of denial were being stripped away.

That tight feeling in her chest twisted, the kind that came with realizing something you'd always feared might actually be true. Deep down, maybe Alara had known there was some kind of connection, how could there not be, with the beliefs their parents had raised them on? But she’d hoped, really hoped, that Emir and Mira would never be part of it. But this? A spy. In the Order. Pretending to be one of them.

Her mind flashed to her friends. The ones whose blood wasn’t pure enough, whose families had suffered, who were forced to live in fear. The people she loved. The damage the Death Eaters had caused. The thought of Mira tangled in that web, even as a spy, hurt.

“You’re what…?” she breathed out, trying to keep up with the revelation. “You’re, in the Order?” And then, just when she thought she couldn’t take in anything else. “You’re pregnant?” Her eyes widened. “Wait. Anthony?” Her eyes darted to her sister’s belly. “You, pregnant.” For a second, she didn’t know what to feel. Her thoughts were racing, and the weight of it all pressed down on her like a wave about to crash.

But when she looked at Mira again, really looked, she didn’t see a Death Eater, or a traitor, or even the sister she once knew. She saw someone exhausted. Someone afraid. Someone who had been holding too much for too long. Without a second thought, Alara leaned forward and wrapped her arms around her sister, tight. “I’m not going anywhere,” she whispered. “We’ll figure this out. I don’t care what’s happened, we’re family. We’ll get through it. Together.”

Mira sat down, pulling her legs up onto the seat as she seemingly curled up into herself. She ran her fingers back through her tangled hair, trying to decide how to go about confiding in Alara about all that had been going on. It was almost as bad as having to tell Anthony the truth about what she’d done, the person she’d become. Would her sister react the same way? She had to accept the fact that Alara may not be able to forgive her. But she had to tell her, she deserved the truth after all.

“Emir and I….we kept some things from you.” She started, glancing up at Alara she offered her a small sad smile. “Wanted to protect you more than anything, let you make your own decisions. By now I doubt it surprises you to know that if our family chose sides in this war it would be the Dark Lords. Family purity and strong, pure bloodlines and all of that.” Not that Alara needed the reminder, it was the reason she had left after all. She hesitated a moment before she spoke again, her eyes meeting Alara’s. “I thought I was doing the right thing by joining the Death Eaters. And when they asked me to join the Order as a spy, I agreed.” There was shame in her voice, impossible to hide. “It seemed simple enough, feed the order false information, take valuable information back for the Dark Lord.”

She shook her head, looking down at her hands. “It was easy enough at first. I remained detached, I did what I was meant to and nothing more.” She looked up. “But the more time I spent with the Order the more I began to question things. Anthony made me question everything. I didn’t want to get attached or involved. Damn Anthony for his charm and persistence…” her voice broke a little and she looked down once more. “I knew what I was doing was wrong, that I was on the wrong side of things.” She looked up once more, teary eyes meeting her sisters. “I never hurt anyone or killed anyone, but I know that what I did, the information I shared caused it. And I’ll never forgive myself for any of it.”

“I had to make it right. So I went to the Order and told them everything, prepared for whatever fate they would have chose. But they’ve given me an opportunity to show my loyalty, I’ve now gone to spying on the Death Eaters, playing them as I once played the order.” She explained. “I told Anthony everything, I had to.” Tears began to well once more and she shook her head. “I never meant to fall in love with him, and now I have and he’ll never forgive me. And now I’m pregnant…” A small sob fell from her lips, her head dropping as her hands went to her stomach. “I’ve ruined every good thing I have. I’ve been so damn foolish and blind.”

[alaraselwyn]

cemre baysel LEYLA — bölüm 002

[alaraselwyn]

Alara had read the announcement about her brother’s wedding in the paper, fully expecting her parents to turn it into a spectacle, especially after everything that had happened with her. A small part of her wished she could’ve been there for his big day, but she didn’t regret walking away from that part of her life. “Well, I always enjoyed the comics,” she said with a small smile, glancing up at James.

location: anywhere; dealer's choice status: open to all!

A few days after Agatha's wedding, James was still trying to scrub the pureblood conversations from his mind, glad he'd only stayed for the ceremony and first dance. He'd left a good present to make up for his quick exit. The Prophet featured the wedding the next week, alongside the usual fabricated articles covering Death Eater crimes. "Which section would you like? I'm not yet done with the sports one. Still tallying how many bets I won."

[alaraselwyn]

@siriusbpadfoot

[alaraselwyn]

She hadn't meant to bump into her, of all people, not today, not like this. But Alara held her footing with the poise of someone raised to expect confrontations behind smiles. Her back straightened, her expression composed, though her fingers curled slightly around the book in her hand. "Leta." A small nod in return. Her name felt strange on her tongue after so many silent months.

"Life is… different. But I’d say it’s treating me fairly, considering I gave it a bit of a shake." Her eyes softened just slightly, enough to show she wasn’t there to fight. "And you?"

It wasn’t unusual to be seeing Leta Rosier rushing about the place, especially between Madam Malkin’s and other parts of Diagon Alley. The witch was perpetually busy, it seemed – or, at the very least, could keep herself as such. A collision that seemed almost inevitable and it caused her to huff until her eyes landed on the figure in front of her. Within an instant she felt that chill of annoyance trickle down her spine only to be replaced with something akin to curiosity.

“Alara.” A nod. “That makes one thing.” The comment had slipped before she could stop it, not that she cared to hold back – although she would, for her brother’s sake. “How is life treating you?” Simple curiosity. - @alaraselwyn

[alaraselwyn]

"I’m glad to hear that." Hurting anyone was the last thing she ever wanted. Her gaze dropped briefly to the books in her hands as the comment about reading reached her. A soft smile curved her lips. "I’ve been trying to pick up new hobbies." She looked up again, curious. "Do you enjoy reading?"

"I'm quite alright," Freya reassured with a nod. Taking a moment to glance down at the stack of books in the other woman's arms. There was an awful lot of them. "I suppose that you're an avid reader?"

[alaraselwyn]

where: flourish and blotts who: @xremus-lupinx

"I know, they’re not my best batch of scones, but they can’t be that bad, right?" Alara gave a sheepish smile, brushing a crumb from her fingers. She’d been experimenting with a new recipe ever since hearing something about gluten-free while visiting the Muggle world over her birthday.

"Do you think they’re worth selling? Cheese and chive is always a hit, but..." she trailed off, watching for a reaction. "I’m not sure if this version makes the cut."

[alaraselwyn]

where: the flat above the bakery who: @gretascatchlove

Alara was genuinely excited for a night in with Greta. She’d gone all out, whipping up a few extra batches of Greta’s favorite sweets, baking fresh pizza from scratch, and bringing up a few bottles of wine to round it all off. Everything was carefully arranged in the living room, creating the perfect little nest for a cozy evening.

With preparations done, she slipped into her old bedroom to change into pajamas. The space felt oddly unfamiliar now, like a memory that no longer fit. Her gaze swept the room, and the first thing she decided was that the bed had to go, definitely time for something new.

Pulling her curls up into a messy bun, she stepped back out, her voice light and teasing. "Alright, what muggle movie are we watching this time?"

[alaraselwyn]

The door creaked open a moment later, and Alara stepped inside like she owned the place, coat half-off, arms full of snacks, and a mischievous glint in her eye. "I'm here." she called back with a grin, nudging the door closed with her foot. "One day I’m going to come in singing off-key just to test your commitment to chaos."

She ducked into Madhuri’s room, taking in the freshly swept-up state of it with a knowing glance. "Wow. You tidied. What did I do to deserve this royal treatment?" She tossed a packet of crisps onto the bed and flopped down dramatically beside it. She leaned back on her elbows, grinning.

"So, what’s the plan? Gossip? Snacks? Crying about wizards who don’t deserve us? I'm good for all three." She always felt better around her friend.

Madhuri was shuffling around her flat trying to clean up a little bit. A tiny bit but it was pointless with Max's stuff everywhere in the small living room so she went to her room and tried to hastily put dirty clothes in the closet, writing utensils and papers in the desk and smooth out her bedding. With Alara coming over they needed a place to hang out. In this case it would be in her room thanks to her cousin taking up space -- which she truly didn't mind but in that moment she wished she had a living room. At least he was out for the evening. Gave them space to be girls.

"It's open!" She yelled toward the door, knowing Alara's voice anywhere.