marius--lestrange

[marius--lestrange]

Down Once More: [ Aloma | Marius ]

Marius had only been to the castle once, and it hadn’t been for an occasion as celebratory as the one he was attending. He wandered away from the entrance hall, quickly breaking away from his sister and making an excuse to say hello to an old friend of his—though Marius didn’t have friends, not in this country. He didn’t dwell on the fact for too long since he was much more curious to find where the dungeons were.

He didn’t want to go in a dungeon so much as he was curious to see if they were still using the dungeons as prison cells. He wasn’t sure if he was trying to seek closure either; he just wondered if it were worth all the trouble to really get in that sort of trouble. It wasn’t that the crime he had done was ever resolved; he was just lucky to have friends on the other side—though the word he was using was a bit questionable.

The lower levels of the castle were damp and even in a July evening, Marius felt his clothes stick uncomfortably to his skin. That was what distracted him from his search, only to realize that he had taken a wrong turn somewhere; the familiar looking walls looked pretty much the same as the walls he wasn’t familiar with.

@goldentaube 

[marius--lestrange]

Marius + Theta [Magical Dogs Tarot]

Left: MARIUS – Sky Alpha Male, Reversed

From the Magical Dogs Tarot: With all that intelligence and power, it can be easy to fall into manipulating others. You can become angry if you feel like others are challenging your authority, but you should remember that others have valuable input as well.

Key words: abuse of power, detachment, paranoia, tyranny, manipulation

Pat’s Summary: I can’t say I’m surprised; Marius isn’t particularly known for being kind—although his success in manipulating others has been limited, especially to those who really know him. He’s been known to manipulate muggles before (because how else has he lasted so long without his money, you know?) so perhaps he’ll think he’ll get a leg up if he thinks Theta could be useful to him in any way.

Right: THETA – The Seer

From the Magical Dogs Tarot: Let go of your preconceived notions by getting a different perspective. Sometimes it’s better to hold off and wait to act while you reflect on the situation in order to gain insight. You may be in an uncomfortable situation where things will be delayed or you feel stuck, but don’t worry about it. Sometimes we must sacrifice expediency and comfort for greater rewards of knowledge and wisdom.

Key words: new perspective, altered consciousness, intermission, sacrifice, prophecy, spiritual growth, intuition, seeking knowledge

Pat’s Summary:  There’s going to be a sacrifice that might need to be made—and not that Theta will be happy about it, so much as he understands that it’s necessary to move forward. I can’t see Theta having to make a sacrifice for Marius specifically, but perhaps meeting Marius will make him come to this realization or at least look at something in a new light.

Top: PAST – The Lovers, Reversed

From the Magical Dogs Tarot: Relationships aren’t always sunshine and dogwoods in bloom; sometimes even in the best relationships there can be disharmony and strife. Examine your values and open the lines of communication. Often finding balance from within allows us to have a more loving relationship with others and ourselves.

Key words: lack of communication, disharmony, lack of balance, selfishness, lack of trust

Pat’s Summary: Since Marius and Theta haven’t actually met, I’m going to interpret this a little differently than I have with the past readings. I think the both of them have this discord in common within their own lives that it probably almost brings them together. Marius is just at the cusp of making up with his siblings—while Theta has been losing touch with Danny; if and when they do meet, both of them will have their guard up.

Center: PRESENT + DYNAMIC – Ten of Sea, Reversed

From the Magical Dogs Tarot: It’s great to get together with family, but sometimes being too close for too long can lead to discord. Perhaps not everyone is being valued as they should. A family needs compassion and understanding if it is to support all of its members. Alternatively, are you living by your core ideals? Make sure you’re being true to yourself.

Key words: family problems, disregard for others, intolerance, breakdown of ideals, misunderstanding

Pat’s Summary: I don’t think they’ll ever be close or ever really see each other as family, but their relationship, if they meet, will mostly involve them being lost. I feel like they’re so wound up in their own problems that the issues ultimately come from the fact that they’re not truly seeing each other. I’m sure they care about the problems of the other, but only to the extent that their relationship is useful to the other.

Bottom: FUTURE – Strength, Reversed

From the Magical Dogs Tarot: Feeling vulnerable can lead to snapping at others around you, which is often regrettable. Look inside yourself and squelch that self-doubt. What others may see as anger is often just inner fears resurfacing; when you alleviate your fears, true strength can be achieved.

Key words: weakness, intolerance, lack of self-discipline, cowardice, acting on impulse, bullying, fear

Pat’s Summary: Clearly Theta and Marius aren’t meant to be friends; most, if not all, of this reading involves a lot of loss of self. What fears does That have, and how does it get projected onto Marius? How does Marius represent what he fears? If Theta is the one making sacrifices, having Marius around may make it seem like those sacrifices were made for naught.

And another thing…

There’s a lot of reversed cards in this reading, and while I don’t usually say that they’re negative, this reading in general has been tougher to spin in a positive light. While Marius and Theta don’t have to be sworn enemies, I don’t see them getting along very well—although they could, if they really tried. The other factors at play are what’s going on in their personal lives and how those influence the relationship.

This is also a reading with a lot of cards from the Major Arcana, which I keep saying is the ‘loudest card’ in a reading. While Marius might be the ‘tough guy’ as the King of Wands Reversed, that doesn’t mean he’s the one that really calls the shots in their relationship. Think about what Theta might get out of this—what new perspective could he gain? Finally, with the Lovers Reversed and Strength Reversed, there are a lot of forces at work (particularly issues with family and possible fear in the wizarding world) even if we didn’t get a chance to para with them together.

@thetadjr​

[marius--lestrange]

Marius + Aloma [Affirmators! Tarot]

Left: MARIUS – Seven of Wands

From the Affirmators! Tarot: Uh-oh. Something (or someone) is thwarting your progress. Don’t let it get to you—you’re in the right palace and you don’t need to yield your personal power to anyone (or anything). Stand your ground, prove your worth, and swat away any temptations to back down or compromise. No one can ever take away the things that make me and my life brilliant… and if they try, I may cut them.

Key words: defense, standing up for yourself, the upper hand, challenges, perseverance

Pat’s Summary: Marius has been through a lot since having lost Beatrice. He’s built himself back up enough that he could manage to check his emotions every so often. He may be in a defensive position, but he’s not the person to run and hide; he just doesn’t want to sacrifice the progress he’s made. He’s in a position to defy the odds—not necessarily in figuring out who killed Beatrice, but in the sense that he could put his energies into something new without having to give up what he’s got now.

Right: ALOMA – Seven of Pentacles

From the Affirmators! Tarot: Consider this a reminder that that in order to glean big harvests, you need to do a lot of planting. And once you’ve done that planting, those plants need a lot of care. If that’s too much metaphor for you, how about this: work hard, stick with it, and good things will come. I make sacrifices now, knowing that I’ll thank myself later.

Key words: hard work, perseverance, diligence, patience, evaluation, assessment

Pat’s Summary: This is probably like… the most Hufflepuff card I’ve come across so far. While Marius is willing to fight, Aloma is willing to give—certainly a little at a time! For her, patience and hard work comes naturally, if she’s willing to move forward. Both Marius and Aloma are Sevens in different suits—Sevens most have to do with choices and discovery. I think the both of them don’t need to do too much working on themselves as this might suggest so much as both of them could explore what this could become.

Top: PAST – Knight of Cups

From the Affirmators! Tarot: This gentle, imaginative knight is romance personified. He could pertain to your love life but relationships aren’t his only forte. Au contraire! The romance he exudes  is an attitude of being in love with life itself. He reminds you that it’s fine to be sensitive, fun to be generous, and easy to be poetic. To accept his invitation is to embark on a quest of utmost importance: the search for your personal holy grail. That grail—your most priceless treasure—is a radically, shamelessly, open heart. I fall in love with falling in love, and love falling into it with every tiny miracle I stumble upon.

Key words: messenger, romance, adventure, love, emotional investment

Pat’s summary: They don’t really have much of a past—they’ve only really met once and that was because Marius had to kiss her on a dare. Or was it the other way around? This card suggests that they really hit it off—it invokes the idea of a knight in shining armor. That being said, knights tend to be characterized as a bit rash—clearly a first kiss by dare wasn’t the best way to really meet—but knights are also associated with intuition. They may not know each other well, but there’s a good feeling between them to start.

Center: PRESENT + DYNAMIC – Knight of Pentacles

From the Affirmators! Tarot: This guy is all about work, and boy is he good at it. He takes his job seriously, and you can rely on him to accomplish pretty much anything (except sleeping in). His appareance might be telling you to focus hard on yoru responsibilities, and handle whatever you need to handle on your own personal chore wheel. As with all court cards, he might also be representing an actual person in your life; know that this is a trustworthy, dependable soul. I recognize the importance of a mature work ethic, and I maturely accept all of my duties.

Key words: efficiency, hard work, routine, trustworthy, dependable

Pat’s Summary: Their relationship offers them some security in this trying time. Not to say that the two of them are currently at the point where they can depend on the other person, but they themselves know that they would be there for the other, should they need them. To reflect back on the two Sevens from earlier, the suits they have really speak to their personalities: Aloma has Pentacles, which is associated with earth and cultivation; Marius has Wands, which is associated with fire and willpower. If they do meet again, I think their personalities will really shine through—and this is the core of the trust they have to build upon.

Bottom: FUTURE – Page of Pentacles

From the Affirmators! Tarot: The Page of Pentacles is excited about a new venture that could lead to great success and lots of money. He’s a dreamer, yes, but this isn’t just tipsy boasting at the local dive bar. He’s also a planner and a doer. Follow his lead, and turn your spark of inspiration into actual, achievable steps towards your goal. It could be that this Page is beginning a great new chapter. I magically turn my dreams into reality with the magical magic of… to-do lists.

Key words: practical, studious, scholarly, dreams, desire, new opportunity

Pat’s summary: Pages are students, focused on learning and discovery (clearly a central theme in their relationship because of the sevens and the knights) but also the bearer of good news—clearly a reflection of their dependability from before. This card evokes whimsy—pages tend to have childlike personalities—meaning that the work to do together will not be for naught. Their path may not be smooth, but at the core of it they’re willing to make things work.

Pat has more stuff to say because this spread has probably been the most interesting so far

So the Past/Present/Future column has a lot of court cards, which typically represent people or personalities. I can see the two of them being more involved in each others’ lives. The Knights signify that there’s a lot of energy from the both of them and that there’s a quest or a journey they’re embarking on. The Page of Pentacles in their future shows them putting that energy into something fruitful.

Similar to the Julian/Aloma reading, there are a lot of Pentacles in play. (It’s the Hufflepuff suit.) For the Julian/Aloma reading, I said that their relationship is grounded since their Julian/Dynamic/Aloma row had all Pentacles. I think the difference between her relationship with Julian and Marius is this: with Julian, they’ve always cared about each other—but with Marius, with his card being from the suit of Wands, is bringing something new to the table.

Finally, this reading doesn’t have any reversed cards either; typically there’s nothing hidden or confusing involved in the relationship. Not to say that all of this is clear to them nor will it be free of conflict, but I just see readings like these to be ones with the least amount of bullshit involved.

@goldentaube​

[marius--lestrange]

Marius + Avery [Herbal Tarot]

Left: MARIUS – Four of Swords [Mullein, Verbascum tapsuse]

From the Herbal Tarot: Expectorant. Demulcent. Anti-inflammatory. Anti-spasmodic. Used for all upper respiratory complaints. Relieves mucus congestion. Topically relieves pain. Mild calmative. Healing from the wounds of battle. Rest before the final onslaught.

Key words: rest, restoration, contemplation, meditation, calm

Pat’s Summary: Marius has returned home—or at least to Vivienne’s place, basically licking his wounds—not only has he lost Beatrice, he’s had to accept help from places he didn’t think he’d ever need help with. He’s no closer to finding her killer, so he’s that point where he’s just over it. He’s not angry with Avery but he’s certainly not particularly apologetic either—but he’s calmed down significantly. I’ve been pulling a lot of fours lately, so it tends to lean towards these characters being the more ‘stable’, more ‘consistent’ than others.

Right: AVERY– The Devil [Lobella, Lobelia inflata]

From the Herbal Tarot: Lobelia is an antispasmodic, a stimulant, an expectorant and a nauseant. It is used for asthma, lung problems, relieving spasms, nervous tension and cramps, and to induce vomiting. Playfulness. Frivolity. Make believe. Getting loose. Lightening up.

Key words: excess, materialism, playfulness, temptation, seduction, manipulation, addiction, lust

Pat’s Summary: From a previous reading I did for you, the Devil is about temptation—yes, you have choices, but that doesn’t mean those choices don’t have hidden consequences to them. However, the Devil also refers to addiction, obsession, or manipulation. Is there something about Marius that Avery is particularly hyperfocused on? Or is there something he would need to convince or manipulate Marius to do? Most likely he may just be wary of Marius and it’s hard for him to take him seriously. Since this is the only card from the Major Arcana that’s been pulled, Avery’s the one who’s going to be the catalyst for change or conflict of their relationship.

Top: PAST – Queen of Swords [Lady’s Slipper, Cypripedium pubescense]

From the Herbal Tarot: Nervine. Tonic for hysteria, pain, all nervous inflictions and premenstrual syndrome. A serious woman, over thirty-five, who is unswervingly faithful to her goals—quite often at all costs. On the more positive side, she is eminently capable of upholding executive positions.

Key words: complexity, perceptive, clear mindedness, honest, knowledgeable, opinionated

Pat’s summary: So this card really just highlights what their relationship is about: both of them mostly bring their thoughts and opinions to the table and perhaps connecting through their mutual agreements. For the two of them, it’s about the honest truth and hard facts. Marius has no reason to lie to Avery, and Avery has no reason to lie to Marius.

Center: PRESENT + DYNAMIC – Five of Swords [Mistletoe, Viscum albume]

From the Herbal Tarot: Nervine. Antispasmdic. Regulates blood pressure. Treats cancer. Calms the nervous system. Realization of defeat. Need to regain composure and inner peace after the fray. Realization that there are no winners in war.

Key words: defeat, loss, battle, conflict, win at all costs, ambition, sneakiness

Pat’s Summary: They’re both kind of stuck in a garbage situation. For Marius, he’s back where he started—or definitely worse off; he’s at the mercy of his siblings’ generosity. Not to say they’re always fighting (though perhaps they are), but it’s getting to the point where the fight has gone a little too long. Perhaps this fighting has led to some bitterness. Perhaps one of them has gone a step too far—not necessarily something unforgiveable, but enough to put some pause in conversation it’s mentioned.

Bottom: FUTURE – Six of Swords, [Vervain,Verbena Officinaliis]

From the Herbal Tarot: Alterative. Hepatic. Bitter. Antispasmodic. Used for nervousness and irritability caused by congested liver and gallbladder, and for premenstrual tension.

Key words: transition, leaving behind, moving on, healing, travel

Pat’s summary: They’re going back to France. Like, this is the card that has to do with travel over water. Aside from this very straightforward interpretation, it’s probably the only thing they can probably agree on, or the only way to really recover from the stress of conflict.

So, a few other observations about this reading: they don’t have any reversed cards—not to mean that there’s anything explicitly bad about their relationship, but just that it’s very clear to them what’s involved in this relationship. Four out of five of the cards are from the suit of swords (the element of air, involved with logic, ideas, and intellect) so their disagreements are based on certain core fundamental beliefs rather than a true dislike of the other person. Their relationship is almost formal, in a way—if there’s a possible ‘meeting of the minds’ for the two of them to perhaps finally be on the same page, I think that��s the most they may be able to manage in the meantime.

@raxlestrange​ 

[marius--lestrange]

Marius + Albus [Science Tarot]

Left: MARIUS – Queen of Swords [Ernst Haeckel, Storyteller]

From the Science Tarot: Artist and biologist Ernst Haeckel remains widely known today for his many books of intricate illustrations in the realm of plant, animal and microscopic life. In his lifetime, his work helped explain Darwin’s theories to the general public. His perceptive and wide-ranging analyses mapped a genealogical tree of Earth’s lifeforms, dividing and defining living organisms according to species, genus, family, and order. His drive to observe, categorize, and communicate his findings about the world’s knowledge created a wellspring of practical knowledge. Even as the world is divided into sections and categories, a storyteller gathers strength and wisdom to achieve a common purpose. While you may be tempted to let emotion dictate your actions, the situation may require direct observation and intellectual investigation instead.

Key words: honest, opinionated, knowledgeable, complexity, perceptive, clear-mindedness

Pat’s Summary: Marius is a little bit emotionally distant, and he’s focused on finding the truth (though not necessarily about Beatrice—though some of my books do say that if this card resembles a person, they might have gone through a recent loss). Between the two of them, he’s the one with a clearer head.

Right: ALBUS – 4 of Wands, Reversed [Brown Dwarf]

From the Science Tarot: Somewhere in a distant galaxy, a brown dwarf waits in a dim corner of space. Once it was on a journey to become a star: clouds of dust and gas drifted together and were compressed and heated by gravity. It seemed inevitable that its future would be spent as a brilliant sun. But the journey came to a halt. Too little mass had gathered, creating too little gravity for fusion to spark. The celestial body that had promised to become a star now instead spends its life waiting at the threshold, unable to cross. Every path we take eventually leads us to a threshold. One day we may gather the courage and strength required for this adventure, and we’ll leap into whatever lies ahead. Or we may remain comfortably at the threshold and watch others begin the journey we may never experience ourselves.

Key words: lack of communication, instability, home conflicts, burnout, cancelled plans

Pat’s Summary: In numerology the number 4 is a “stable” number (think tables and chairs), though since it’s reversed Albus might not feel secure in this friendship. He’s kind of at a crossroads as to whether he actually feels a kinship with Marius. Considering both this card and Marius’s card, Marius is the reliable lab partner and Albus is undecided as to whether he trusts Marius.

Top: PAST – King of Pentacles [Marie Curie, Visionary]

From the Science Tarot: Marie Curie’s commanding role in chemistry and the nascent field of radiology brought her from Nobel prizewinning laboratory work to the French-German battle front during World War I. Working with her husband at the turn of the century, Curie coined the term “radioactivity” and discovered two elements, radium and polonium. Her personal efforts were responsible not only for the development of x-ray technology, but also for the production of mobile x-ray labs, called Petites Curies, which made lifesaving surgery possible on the battlefield. The determination and bravery that guided her through decades of scientific discovery served her countrymen well as she assisted with injured soldiers in the heart of the conflict. Marie Curie was undaunted by personal or technical challenges and was driven from within to pursue the most vital and complex of goals. This visionary woman calls upon us to look into the distance, take command and do what must be done.

Key words: security, stability, financial advice, trustworthy, disciplined, abundance, power

Pat’s summary: Pentacles have to do with money, which is nuts because they literally met at a bank lol but the King is seen as a provider (while the Queen is more of a “nurturer”) so their relationship, or how it began, was mostly transactional in nature, but it does prepare them for what’s coming for them moving forward.

Center: PRESENT + DYNAMIC – 8 of Wands, Reversed [Big Bang]

From the Science Tarot: The universe was born billions of years ago with an explosion of such tremendous force that the galaxies that formed fromt eh scattered debris are still speeding away from one another. As you send your work into the world, a universe of possibilities expands and influence grows more powerful. The writer, inventor, and scientist launch works into the public sphere to challenge, support, and inspire their colleagues worldwide. Their creative energies released today will continue to influence lives for years to come.

Key words: obstacles, waiting, slowing down, feeling stuck, delays, not feeling ready for change

Pat’s Summary: With the 8, it’s a push towards the “end” of the numbers; this number typically signifies movement. But the reversal means something is stalled here, like there’s an obstacle they have to wait through or get past, though they might not be sure what it is yet.

Bottom: FUTURE – The Chariot [Technology]

From the Science Tarot: Technology harnesses the power of nature to achieve human goals. Long ago we imagined ships that might fly us through the air and into space. Years of observation, experiment, and struggle brought these dreams into reality. Technology demands an understanding of what we have learned and a vision of what may be possible. We begin each flight with our feet on the ground and our eyes turned towards the sky. The Chariot carries us between opposites, from the world we know well to the places we have never been. Imagination can be balanced by calculation, ambition with caution. When we gain control over ourselves, our emotions and the forces of nature, we can escape the gravity of the familiar world and reach our higher ideals.

Key words: confidence, courage, overcoming obstacles, travel, success, direction, control, willpower

Pat’s summary: If they ever get their shit together, they can actually get moving and get a lot done. The Chariot is a ‘success’ card but it means that they do have to take control of their situation to really get things going!

 @alchemicalpotter​ 

[marius--lestrange]

Somebody To Love

Queen of Cups, Reversed: vulnerability, disconnect, overly sensitive, emotionally drained

“You’re very sensitive to others; this makes energetic boundaries important to your own self-care. Keeping these boundaries up all the time, though, can leave you disconnected from those you care about and even with your own higher power. Find a balance between being open to those in need and leaving yourself vulnerable to emotional drains.” - Mickie and Daniel Mueller, The Magical Dogs Tarot

There had never been such a thing as business as usual for Marius after Beatrice had died. He had lost their Maida Vale apartment long ago. He hadn’t shown up to work, obsessed with revenge and drowning in heartache. But at least now he was home.

“I don’t think I can answer that,” Marius laughed. “How could I think about marrying again? Well, not again, but getting married in the first place, since I wasn’t even married the first time?”

He didn’t think himself to be cursed. He just wasn’t looking. Besides, he wasn’t really entitled to any inheritances or dowries; for as long as he had pushed his siblings to buck tradition, he found himself conforming the longer he stayed with his sister. Sure, he wasn’t going to marry anyone out of the Sacred Twenty-Eight, but there were definitely candidates who were good and who were willing to move up.

Again, if Marius had tried.

“I mean, I’m sure she’ll come along—” Although Marius wasn’t convinced that his one wasn’t only a she. And whoever his only one was wasn’t going to come along from in between his sister’s topiaries. His mother blathered back about how important this was and Marius couldn’t even say he was busy. He didn’t have money to spend—you needed a wand as identification for the bank and he was just too stubborn to ask for it back, even if he was on his best behavior.

Besides, Marius didn’t need a wand. He had house-elves and he had macarons and he could heat up his own tea water. Finley had an extensive library that Marius could go back into reading about the Dark Arts—out of his own morbid curiosity—like he used to.

But he had been without a wand for so long that it didn’t seem to matter, anyway. The books never explained why strange and terrible events always happened because of him, but probably because Marius wasn’t looking in the right books, at least not at first. The spontaneous explosions, the burning hands, the heat that crept along his limbs. This new ability—though could he call it new? He had dealt with it for months! And nor was it really an ability so much as it was an unfortunate accident…

None of it was inherently Dark. He wasn’t cursed by a normal wix’s definition of cursed, but it was a part of him that was uncontrolled. It was terrifying, this idea that he could possibly just spontaneously combust at any moment—maybe that was why he hadn’t properly presented himself as a suitor yet—but he didn’t and he was safe. Being home was just an opportunity to figure out how not to lose himself.

And he didn’t want to admit it, but he lost himself to Beatrice. He was desperate to find her again, though revenge, through divination, through long afternoons sulking about how little he had done for her. He was lying in wait, he told himself. Everything else was just a distraction—or was everything else just a means of moving on?

“I can’t go back to France.” He was tired of this conversation, which seemed to repeat itself over and over again. “I’ve got business here left unfinished.”

[marius--lestrange]

The Prodigal Son

@lafemme-lestrange​

Vivienne always made good on her promises of macarons, but Marius hadn’t yet taken any. Instead he just stared at them, but not with the same expectant expression his sister had. He rubbed his eyes before speaking again.

“You know Beatrice—Beatrice and I left to make our own way, right?”

That was one way to preface everything.

“Not that I didn’t miss it here. There just wasn’t anything for me here. Not really. Avery got the business and you were assigned to Finley and all I wanted was to be happier than the both of you.

“And I almost did it. That’s what’s so tragic about all this is the almost. There’s no trying again for me. I didn’t have anything to lose after that. If I couldn’t be happy, then no one else got to be. I wouldn’t have killed Dominique—please, I wouldn’t have been capable anyway—but I just wanted to see her suffer in the way I did. And that kind of thing isn’t something I thought about, it just happened, and I can’t quite rationalize how or why I did it other than just... wanting to watch someone else hurt more than I did?

“So I do owe you something there. For the memory charm. I don’t know. How long ago did I burn Avery at that Quidditch game?”

Marius took a breath and leaned back into the cushions. How the hell was he supposed to keep track of all the months?

“There was a lot of back and forth between Hogsmeade and Diagon—whatever. Sometimes I made it with the muggles, asking them for a bit of help, and they were all perfectly nice to me. I mean, nicer than magical people, anyway. Some witch cornered me, asked me about my business—made a promise about looking for Beatrice’s murderer and immediately betrayed me.  You can’t trust anyone these days, really.

“And I was just so damn pissed that I flipped a table at a Harvest Festival? The one at the village? But for good reason! They literally admitted to me that they were selling Veritaserum cupcakes to the goddamn Ministry of Magic! That’s—I am so sure that’s illegal, and they deserved it, obviously—but not without an Auror dragging me back to the castle and throwing me into a dungeon. This place is just so fucked up in so many ways and it’s like no amount of justice will ever turn it right again. So in prison I was. I thought about asking to write you to try to get me out—but I wasn’t just going to ask. I decided to wait.

“But I wasn’t the only one in a dungeon as a prisoner. I was probably there a few weeks before they threw someone else in—they were accused of an attack at the... the school? I think that place was a school but there were more Ministry people around—and more of them kept getting thrown into the dungeon. Some really liked to scream for help. Like it actually did anything. But maybe it worked.

“A couple of renegades had come to save us. Or one came for me—she was from the Zabini’s. It was a new life for me after that. The family took care of me for... months. It was the first time I felt like I was home, and I had forgotten why I left in the first place. I was falling in love with the Zabini girl... and then I felt guilty.

“I couldn’t save Beatrice and I couldn’t find her killer. I couldn’t make the world any better of a place for her. I wasn’t allowed to be happy until I figured it all out, and maybe the Zabini girl... knew all this. She was always a step ahead of me, and she never turned me out of the house—but I knew when my time had come to leave. I was planning on it on Valentine’s Day, during your party. Maybe I’d take the sleazy way and go home with someone. And there were a few I met where I thought to myself, maybe I could be in love with someone like you.

“I didn’t remember names really. Lots of faces. One of them was an athlete? Another was a girl, one I kissed during that bottle game. I wish I knew. But none of them were the Zabini girl, that’s for sure; I was back on the street trying to scrape enough to get from one place to another. And you know how it is with people like us, you can’t really ask any of your friends for anything. You wait for them to offer.

“And who was going to offer me anything? I didn’t have anything worthwhile to offer, other than the Lestrange family heirloom--my pocketwatch. You would literally have to pry that out of my cold dead hands. And even then, what’s it’s worth to anyone? You can’t really use it, can you? But I really thought I could make it on my own. And I almost did. Fuck, almost.

“I couldn’t keep myself out of other people’s business. This time around, I didn’t even mean to—would you believe I actually know Albus Potter? We met at a bank—well, I accidentally burned him, no idea how that happened since I’ve been without a wand for months now—and I have him some blood... as to not have me sent to that castle dungeon again. He’s so... I can’t even say annoying, can I? I want to punch him in the mouth so bad—but he’s doing some... interesting stuff. With the blood. Because I think I’m helping him—but we’re not like friends—what the hell do I do? Punch him in the mouth?”

Marius laughed. It was probably the first time in weeks that he had really felt relief—enough to make a joke, anyway. “If only. If only. I almost punched him in the mouth and that is the true tragedy. Wait, didn’t Finley actually punch someone in the mouth during the party? Or was I just so drunk that I imagined it?”

[marius--lestrange]

lafemme-lestrange‌:

Vivienne folded her arms beneath her chest, narrowing her eyes into determined slits. She didn’t like the sound of his not here and the ominous nature it implied. How much more trouble could Marius have possibly have gotten himself into this time? She had already helped cover up so much for the sake of her family and truly wanted to believe they were passed this. None the less, Vivienne was keen on getting to the bottom of it all… even if it took all afternoon. 

“Then where? My schedule is completely clear.”

“How am I supposed to know?” Marius had forgotten how stupid his sister was. Wasn’t he literally peddling for more sickles just to get more floo powder to get somewhere? “I don’t have anywhere to go!”

God, where the fuck was he supposed to floo anyway? It felt strange just to show up at the Zabinis and he had certainly overstayed his welcome.

[ Vivienne | Marius ]

[marius--lestrange]

lafemme-lestrange‌:

Vivienne wasn’t interested in the petty back and forth. Instead, she narrowed her eyes and dropped her voice to just above a whisper. Whether spoken in French or not, she was not proud of the actions she had committed on her brother’s behalf. “No, you’re right I did not say that…though I do recall helping you cover up a certain bar incident. That must count for something, dear brother. So I’ll ask again, what is the meaning of all this?”

He did owe her something. It was hard to pay back a debt to someone who didn’t need to have it paid back; Vivienne had everything she could possibly want. Marius had to give in—he didn’t have the answer to ‘what was the meaning of all this?’ and he couldn’t run anymore.

Perhaps he could buy some time for his answers, although if he couldn’t come up with any now, what made him think that he could with more time?

“Not here.”

[ Vivienne | Marius ]

[marius--lestrange]

lestrangecolette‌:

When he said she could go home she scoffed, shaking her head. She’d spent weeks trying to find the person responsible for deciding who went out of the country, she even thought about bribing the ministry official if it would only allow her to go home.  “If I had the means to leave I would have already.” 

It’s not that she didn’t think about changing the decor, she just hadn’t seen it as her right to do so. This wasn’t her house. She did not feel such limitations in the Riviera but that was because she felt comfortable there, comfortable enough to make sure everything was to her liking. If she changed something here she felt like she intruded. Avery gave her her personal space, it wouldn’t be right to take his. But she had been living here for a few months now, maybe she could start to change some small things and give it her touch?  “I didn’t say he didn’t let me change it.” She hadn’t asked. There was a difference. 

Colette flinched when he broke the chair, not expecting it. “You can’t do that.”

He didn’t expect the chair to break. It was probably cheaply made. Not that this was a problem; they were literally magic. With the means to fix anything.

Not that Marius could, without a wand—which was the reason why he had come in the first place. Avery had to have had it somewhere, though Marius didn’t know much about the house aside from the guest room / basement / dungeon he had stayed in before he had decided to leave.

“Well, I just did it, didn’t I? And who was there to stop me?”

Marius was teasing now, trying to lighten the mood a little bit. He did think it was a little annoying that his sister-in-law was choosing to be helpless; he could keep accusing her of not playing her cards right. Advice was hard to give to someone whom he could not empathize with and perhaps even harder to follow advice from someone who just… didn’t understand.

He toppled another chair over—much more carefully this time, feigning concern about breaking anything. Clearly she wasn’t going to be any help to him, but he did feel… pity for her? That was a new emotion. “Either he will or won’t let you change it. Isn’t it easier to ask for forgiveness than for permission?”

That final quip felt like a muggle-ism; it wasn’t something that Marius had learned from school but perhaps his dead fiancee’s muggleness had rubbed something off on him.

[ Colette | Marius ]: Homecoming

[marius--lestrange]

alchemicalpotter‌:

Albus had truly acted without thinking on this one.  Jumping them through the Floo and straight to the hospital like Aloma would even want to see him.  He clicked his tongue, looking about and trying to get his bearings.  He was familiar enough with reception, with where the wards were and how to get from here to his friend to…well that would come later.  He nodded and turned towards the desk, following after Marius.  Time for a bit of stagecraft really.

One of the first things he’d learned how to do when he left the shelter of his childhood home was to hide.  The second was to look like a hapless Potter.  It was amazing how often that worked to his favor. 

“You wouldn’t happen to know where she is, would you?” he asked, voice holding just a bit of a waiver.  Large eyes through his fringe, worry his lower lip.  Hand fiddle with the sleeves of his robe, all to give the illusion of someone lost.  “I know someone said they brought her here.  And I just…” The shuddering breath.

And he had a room number.  

He thanked the receptionist profusely, not at all sure if there was a policy that said he couldn’t or if he was just deluding himself into thinking he’d snuck into the place.  And he all but dragged Marius after him, leaning on the other man as if he was the supportive friend. 

“Merlin, you’d think they’d have better security here,” he muttered once they were out of earshot.  He turned a corner, straightened up, and dropped any pretense of being upset.  “Right.  Think we can find a lab?  I have an idea.”  He paused.  “Probably a bad idea.  Lite crime, you know?”

A part of him shouldn’t be surprised that Albus could put a face on and get what he wanted—the true Potter privilege at work—but it still felt a little jarring. Only a moment ago on the other side of the fire did he show actual concern—or was it?

Marius tried not to think on it too much.

At the question posed to him, Marius cackled, though it sounded more like a choke.  “Lite crime? Weren’t you the one who had an Auror at the ready for a fucking accident?”

It was, truly, an accident. Marius lost control, though he was beyond the point that explaining anything would be helpful. Veela blood, probably. Maybe he went along with Potter’s plans to find out if somehow… Marius could get some help with… this. It wasn’t something he ever really dealt with while he was focusing all his magic on a wand—but he wasn’t sure how to ask for help, or even if Albus could help. How much trust was he putting in Albus’s hands?

But then again, who was around to be trusted anymore? And what did Marius have to lose?

“What isn’t a bad idea with you?” He let out a frustrated sigh, but he was already following Albus down the hall. “What do you want?”

The Limits of Criminal Justice: [ Albus | Marius ]

[marius--lestrange]

lafemme-lestrange‌:

“You’re my brother, its always my business.”

Marius scoffed, slowly lifting himself up off the ground. The witch moved herself out of the way of a conversation she wasn’t understanding--it was all French to her. “You didn’t say that when Beatrice died.”

[ Vivienne | Marius ]

[marius--lestrange]

lafemme-lestrange‌:

Vivienne scurried after the man she believed to be her brother, heels click-clacking against the pavement in a hurried frenzy as she called out to him. “Wait! Wait! Don’t you run away from me!” 

Slowing only once her brother fell to the ground, Vivienne finally caught up and let out an exasperated huff, placing a determined hand on her hip. “Marius! What on earth is the meaning of all this?”

“Since when is this any of your business?”

[ Vivienne | Marius ]

[marius--lestrange]

[ Vivienne | Marius ]

@lafemme-lestrange​

Vivienne did a double take nearly strolling in her designer heels straight passed the man begging for coins. It wasn’t until she registered his voice that she back tracked in confusion.

“Marius? Oh my goodness is that you?”

At the sound of his name, Marius bolted in the other direction, only to crash into another witch, whose levitated stack of boxes dropped as her charm was broken by the impact. 

Marius slowly took his time to get up, hiding his face as much as possible and just trying to think of a way out. 

[marius--lestrange]

alchemicalpotter‌:

Albus would have melted Marius if he could.  The infuriating little bastard had ticked every box that send the Potter boy mad.  And he couldn’t decide just which mad he was going when around his unwilling accomplice these days.  Which, bad signs really.  

The Lestrange boy was sounding less and less horridly wrong.  Further bad signs.  

“I convinced plenty!  But it’s sort of idiotic to only be looking at your relatives!” he hissed back.  The ones that wouldn’t run to their grandmother, or worse his mother, and blab that little Alby was playing with blood.  God only know what rumors would run the family circuit then.  He groaned and rolled his eyes skyward.  Now he was being reminded of why Marius as an absolute shit.

The flash of heat and the screaming shook him from whatever snappy retort was coming.  He pointed the man towards the checkpoint and the Aurors.  They’d get the message to-

“Goldstein!” he hissed, eyes wide.  Flashes of his classmate ran through his mind and he reached out, grabbing at the other man’s sleeve.  “Fuck me I know her!” It was never exactly an easy feeling.  He knew too many of the missing. Or injured.  Or dead.  His grip tightened, clearly forgetting the incident in the bank.  “Hospital.  I…hum.  We need to go.  Now.”

He should probably feel bad that his reason for stepping towards the fireplace was in no way altruistic.  This though?  Well it might be an opening.

“Who the hell is Goldstein?”

Marius repeated his question again, not that the new messenger or Albus was really listening—nor did either really have time to explain what was going on. Everyone was just shouting over everyone else, though it didn’t take long for Albus to grab Marius by the arm.

Well, at least he was about to find out who Goldstein was. Marius was more dumbfounded by the fact that he was basically thrown into a fireplace and out another one. Marius coughed wildly as ash and soot devoured him and Albus; he was used to Floo now that it was his basic means of transportation without a wand, but not when someone else was at the helm.

He was hacking as the two of them tumbled into the lobby of the hospital. Marius has never been here before; most of his medical needs were taken care of by a hired physician who came to the manor, and never serious enough to warrant a real hospital visit. Marius shook Albus off his arm and dusted himself off before trying to look composed despite all the yelling and being pulled into another location against his will.

“Excuse me,” Marius started towards the receptionist. “We’re here to see Goldstein?”

The Limits of Criminal Justice: [ Albus | Marius ]

[marius--lestrange]

alchemicalpotter‌:

Most of what Marius was saying went past Albus as his anger and frustration blindsided him.  He felt so tied by inertia, seeing this world not moving when there were clear, bright, fucking fireballs bleating out that they should be scrambling.  That they had to be making moves now or be cast off a cliff into another war.

Or worse.  

He yelped as his collar was grabbed, which really why did shawl neck sweaters have to be so fashionable and cozy when they gave people such opportunity to use it as a lead, and stumbled after the prick that was yanking him towards the Floos.  Now he really wanted to punch the bastard.  

“Oi!  Fuck off!  I’m allowed to feel a bit of political ennui when the system my whole fucking family has worked to defend is being a shitstain!” he hissed, eyes flashing angrily.  He’d wanted to do something, anything, to not feel so useless.  And whatever Marius was suggesting was…wait.  What was he suggesting?

Oh.  Well…

“Yeah…I’m running sequencing on the samples, but it’s not a simple test.  Nor a quick one,” Albus explained, giving the other man a look.  He really didn’t have the time to explain muggle medical science to the Pureblood.  “Right now I have to wait for the results.  I could be preparing more samples, but I’ve hit a roadblock on where to get them…” he trailed off with a shrug.  He’d never gotten a chance to ask his missing beau.  And it seemed a bad idea to bother more family or the friend he had left with an appeal for blood.

They already thought him odd enough really.

“I mean... takes a shitstain to know a shitstain, huh?” Marius exhaled, a little unsure he was being sarcastic or if he was just trying to diffuse the tension. He blinked and took a moment to dust the soot from his pant leg—a minor inconvenience about being unwanded.

He took a deep breath, a little frustrated. “I don’t want to hear about the whole—“ And Marius waved his hands around, though he was unsure he was really actually aware of what this study had been intended to do. “—never mind! You—you’re literally related to Harry fucking Potter and you couldn’t convince someone you didn’t have to blackmail to let you stab them with a needle?”

God, he was working for—with—an idiot. Marius paced back and forth along the line of fireplaces, before pausing to stare into the flames. He shouldn’t care about the results—but he shouldn’t really be offering to help Albus either—and yet here he was, doing what he shouldn’t be doing—

Someone leaped out of the fireplace, throwing himself at the pair and gasping for breath. “Goldstein--I need Goldstein! His daughter--is--at the hospital--” 

Marius blinked. Who the fuck was Goldstein?

The Limits of Criminal Justice: [ Albus | Marius ]

[marius--lestrange]

“Spare a galleon, would you? I haven’t got enough floo to leave for home.”