Budding Blossoming Orchid

The deafening smack of skin against marble abated the light, sleepy discussion at the breakfast table and matching azure eyes darted towards the cream double doors left askew, allowing the sound to travel through. Cutlery was placed down and from the head of the table, Adriana Avery rose, her dark hair stark in comparison to the heads of silvery blonde that were seated around her. She managed a shy smile before lifting her dress from the floor and hurrying as briskly as propriety allowed to the double doors. She tore one open as quickly as her small wrist could allow and stepped into the hall, pulling the door flush behind her, breaking the line of sight of those at the table.

The sight before the woman left her stupefied, a sight she never thought she’d ever see. Her stomach flipped within her, both out of fright and unbridled excitement and she could feel the beginnings of adrenaline seeping into her as her heart thudded almost painfully against her ribcage. The girl that she had watched be tortured by her family was stood on shaky, bruised feet. Her hair was bedraggled, her lip split but her eyes seethed with a rage that Adriana had never thought her capable of. Her arm was outstretched, lengthened by the Yew wand twisted in her long fingers, the tip of which was pressed against the chest of her brother; Caius.

The girl’s name left Adriana’s lips before the elder woman had a chance to stifle herself. Her reproach was replaced with a shriek as a swirling ball of purple light reached her and restrained her against the door. Cerelia’s eyes had not so much as moved from Caius. It was only then that she struck him and with a thunderous crack he was sent flying across the entrance hall, up to the second story where he landed roughly over the side of the railing. With that, Cerelia apparated from the entrance hall. When her magic disappeared from the valley, so too did the restraints on Adriana and she tumbled to the floor, the sound of her hands and legs hitting the marble similar, but not as monstrous, as that which had first alerted them to the girl’s presence.

If you apparate without truly thinking about where you are going, strange things tend to happen. Cerelia Araminta Avery ended up in Knockturn Alley, in the pub she’d had breakfast at with a few of her father’s associates what felt like a millennia ago. She hurried past the patrons, darting into the poorly lit bathroom where she proceeded to lengthen the mirror with her wand and inspect herself as best she could in the light. It then occurred to her that, indeed, she was a witch, so pressed her wand to the lamp and increased the light of the room – giving her much more in the way of visibility. It was then that she began to tend to herself, ripping open her bag and taking what few bits she carried with her in the way of healing potions, gauze and tape; not that she needed much.

A few spells did the trick and after smoothing out her clothes and righting her hair with a few teasing spells and some setting agents, she was ready to go.

Cerelia used the fireplace in the pub to get to the Ministry. She despaired at the idea of flushing herself down the toilet; it simply wasn’t going to happen. No, instead she contended with floo powder and joined the long column of workers and visitors, content to be carried towards the lifts and hoping against hope that someone would be going to her level.

Luck indeed appeared to be on her side despite all other shortcomings and not five minutes later she stepped out onto her level with an elderly, doddery old wizard who thudded off down the corridor in the opposite direction. He had smiled and gruffed out a greeting to her but that had been all; nothing more, nothing less. It suited Cerelia that way. She knew she was conspicuous but she didn’t want to be too visible – well, not completely, anyway.

She strode down the corridor, idly aware of the marble underfoot, and quickly made her way towards Jude’s office. There was no secretary, she noted immediately, and picked up the nameplate, frowning, before a glance at her watch told her that the woman was probably on her lunch break – which was certainly fair.

Cerelia leaned back against the desk and opened her bag, taking out a handful of orchid blossoms she had taken from the plant. She cupped her hands around them and blew into her palms; the little bit of magic replicating the blooms, and, opening her palms up, blew the blossoms towards the door. They darted with a flourish beneath the door but a few lingered Cerelia’s side and just underneath, just enough to encourage him to come and look – to find her.

outfit! :3

Jude was doing something he never did while he was at work, because he did not think it a very appropriate thing to do - he was working. He was supposed to be reviewing some proposed legislature some of his people had written up for him, and was now pouring over the papers as he was supposed to be presenting the laws... in a matter of days, he thought, he couldn't keep track. Jemma would tell him... eventually. He hoped, anyway.

It was in this state of concentration and focus that Jude found himself in a strange, wondrous situation. He heard a strange whooshing noise, the noise often associated with that special magic that sort of just leaked out of magical types. He looked up to see very familiar blossoms squeezing under the door. The twisted into the air, making their way over to him like spirited pixies, darting about his office and belongings, twirling around his face and shoulders. His interested peaked.

Cerelia Avery was visiting him.

He immediately stood, work forgotten so easily. He moved around his desk and caught a fistful of blossoms. He approached the door and opened it, stepping into the door frame. There was Cerelia - hmm. It had been longer than he had originally anticipated. He had sure hoped on seeing her more often than he really had, as of late. He tilted his head with interest and then smiled, holding out his arm. He unfurled his fingers and blossoms fell from his palm.

"You dropped these, Miss Avery," he quipped.

It didn’t take Jude long. Record time, Cerelia would’ve guessed. Cerelia’s smile was easy on her lips as the door opened and she pushed herself off of the desk when she saw Jude, her arms falling to her sides from where they had been curled around each other over her chest. She stepped forward and opened her hand, allowing the blossoms to land easily in the pale curvature of her palm. She closed her fingers over them and flicked her eyes up to meet his darker ones.

“Good Morning Mr. Undersecretary,” She retorted with a quirk of her eyebrows. “So I did, thank you for retrieving them for me.” Her lips spread a little at the sides into a poorly concealed smirk as she breezed past him towards his door, pausing on the threshold. “I do hope you’re not too busy.” She stole a peek into the office before stepping inside and turning a little only to look at him pointedly, mirth in her eyes; an encouragement to follow.

Cerelia’s fingers found the buckle of her coat and with nimble touches she managed to unbuckle it with surprising ease despite the stiffness the metal had presented that morning. She let her bag drop into one of the chairs in front of his desk and the coat soon followed. Her hands came to rest on her hips and she turned to look at Jude with a genuine smile, her hair bobbing about her, long and tickling around her bum.

“So what is it, exactly, that an Undersecretary does?” She questioned, her lips coming together in a small, inquisitive pout. “Not work, surely?” A grin appeared on her mouth instead and she laughed a little before cocking her head to the side. “I’m not interrupting anything too important am I? I’d hate to intrude.”