Teddy shifted under the gaze of his predecessor. "So you're Knots, the new guy. Nice to meet you. I had your job, living in the city and all for the last five years. However, my girlfriend got fed up with Cairo and the erm… the precautions of living here, and when we got married, she wanted me to go back to England. Understandable, and I love her, don't get me wrong. We'll have you over for dinner sometime maybe. I just apparate every day now, but someone needs to be here basically twenty-four seven, and that's you."
"Yup, that's me," said Teddy looking around the small cramped field station. There was an assortment of desks and each had a messy bit of paperwork on them that gave the aura of business to the room. However, upon investigating more carefully, the papers had a thin layer of dust that belied the semblance of activity in the room. "So, this is the office?"
"Well, this is where we are supposed to do all the 'paperwork', but erm, the majority of it is sent back to the main office. We simply ship the goods we uncover in the tombs with any information we deem necessary and let them do all that horrid filing and paperwork. Gives me a headache," said Harrison Davis. Harri, as he liked to be called, scratched his short curly black hair and looked around the room.
"Yeah, I always hated doing that sort of thing too," agreed Teddy, hoping that they would leave soon if they weren't going to do anything here.
"Yup, well, that's the field station, we come here about once a week and try and pretend to work… you know, just to keep being paid. Most of the time we are in the actual field. The ancient tombs were a combination of things as I'm sure you know, burial chambers, storage for important documents and secrets, bank vaults for the original wizarding society, and libraries of ancient knowledge. To date, there has been only one scroll room that was discovered in the early seventeen hundreds. This one room containing only 150 scrolls of ancient spells, potions, and knowledge opened up a huge door in the magical society by supplying knowledge that hadn't been known for centuries since it was lost in the dark ages. Hopefully, we could find another such room. However, most of the rooms we find, which is about one or two a month, merely contain mummified bodies, and wealth. The wealth belongs to Gringots who researches the ancient lineages and sees if the owner of the ancient vault has someone who the money belongs to, and if not, then the money is divided between Goblins, and the Ministry. As curse breakers, we wait until the Egyptians break the curses leading to the next room, and then we collect everything from the room. Over half of it's cursed in at least some way and we have to spend a great deal of time making everything normal again, making it safe, taking all the wards down. These spells have been here for thousands of years, and well, some of them have had time to stew. Quite the nasty things they are. Especially if the person who owned them was royal! Honestly! But some of the treasures you'll see are amazing! What I wouldn't do to be one of the few who ever inherits something from one of these vaults! Well, actually some of it's pretty nasty stuff, like, dark magic crap, but you know."
"Yeah, it would be like winning the lottery."
"Yeah," said the long winded man. Teddy hoped he didn't go into another long explanation or speech. They were finally at the tombs, and while he had visited them as a tourist, he was going to be seeing the parts not open to the public, and he wanted to be able to look at them and not have to listen to Harrison ramble. The entrance was secluded and didn't look like much, just a tent, but then, in the tent was a set of stairs that lead to a corridor that stretched downward into the deep layers of earth under the Egyptian desert.
Entering the corridor, there was a few people passing them, going back from the ends of the hallway, but Teddy couldn't pay attention as he looked around him. The long corridor was well lit magically with white orbs placed near the ceiling every few feet. The walls were decorated with beautiful ancient paintings, murals, engravings, and runes. Some entire walls were covered in ancient runes text. Every few feet or so was another door, and while the inside would be empty most of the time, the vacant rooms were also covered in runes and paintings.
"Wow," said Teddy after they had gone a few hundred feet. "This is amazing, all these paintings and murals, what are they of?"
"Well, we don't know some of them, some of them depict legends, others depict what we believe to merely be ancient scenes or their versions of portraits. We think they are just art, but some of them are quite interesting."
"So no one has studied these?" asked Teddy running his hand along a portrait of a beautiful woman holding an owl on her hand and a baby in her arms while she sat on a throne.
"Nope, at first, people were interested in translating every word on the walls and investigating every picture, but now there are so many, and it takes years to translate even a small wall of runes, it's just too much work. Sometimes they do the first few lines or try to pick out some repeated words and see if they can get the general gist of a mural. Most of them are dry family histories while others are legends that we already know. Spells are usually marked specially so they know any of those might be important. Largely most runes go unstudied."
"That's," Teddy said trying to think of the right word. "Disappointing, it might not seem important, but if it was important enough for people to write down, perhaps it's worth reading after all."
"Maybe you're right, but you've only been here a day."
"True, what does this one mean?" asked Teddy pointing to one randomly.
"That one I believe, and I don't really know a lot of them, is a version of a werewolf legend. A legend on how werewolves came to be. I think they translated the first few lines and found them to be one of the legends almost exactly. It's not fully translated though, almost none are. I don't think anyone even studies this one."
"Oh," said Teddy already planning to come make a copy of the wall so he could translate it. He had always been a bit fascinated by werewolves, and he would read that if it took him years to translate. And, considering it looked to be thousands of runes long, it might take him years.
"Yes, well hurry along, we have quite a ways to go before we get to the room you will be cataloging. I think the room we set aside for you had a devilishly complex sticking charm on some of the things in there, also, a few other curses. Most of the ones on the door have been broken, but you'll need to make sure that all wards are down and then make sure there aren't any side rooms. Sometimes you'll find a side room off of a vault, an entire secret chamber with new curses and wards. Quite fun."
Teddy nodded and they made their way down the hallway. With this guy, he was sure to have his ear talked off on a daily basis. However, he couldn't wait to get started on his work. Curse breaking would be interesting to say the least.
"Gran!" laughed Victoire as the door opened to the large house in front of her. "How are you!?"
"Vicky! How great to see you! I haven't seen you since graduation!" she laughed beckoning for the girl to come inside and go into the parlor while she got a few cups of tea and some biscuits.
"Gran Tonks! You always have fresh biscuits!" exclaimed Victoire as Andromeda came into the room carrying the plate and tea set.
"Well, with Tedders around, I got into the habit of baking all of the time. That boy ate more chocolate chip cookies as a child than any child I've ever met! He ate more chocolate than I thought humanly possible!"
"That's Teddy for you," answered Victoire sipping her tea and frowning as she scooped two more lumps of sugar into the bitter drink. Gran Tonks always had very bitter tea, but that might be because that was the way Teddy liked his tea. Unsweetened. "Has he written you much?" she asked.
"A bit, about twice a week, telling me how things are going, he told me a funny story about one of his coworkers and a snake. He was disappointed when his return home got delayed and he didn't get to see Murphy's game. He said he was stuck there for another few weeks, but he promised he would be back for your friend Sarah's wedding."
"Yes, that's about what he told me too," answered Victoire who was secretly pleased that she received the same number of letters a week from Ted. "The guy tried to reverse a curse and ended up with four arms. He thought they were so cool and useful he wanted to keep them. Apparently he claimed his wife liked them too."
The two laughed for a bit over this one. Teddy had relayed the story in such a funny manner it was impossible not to. "So," continued Victoire. "Has he mentioned, seeing anyone?"
"Not to me! Surely he would tell me. Has he mentioned anything to you, Vic?"
"Oh, no, just wondering. I'm certain there are lots of beautiful women falling all over him down there. I know that there are part sphinx women who are almost as beautiful as Veelas."
"Oh, no, well he hasn't mentioned them. In any case, darling, how is your Healer Training going? When do you take your HAREs?" asked Gran Tonks changing the subject with a knowing look in her eye that Victoire didn't notice as she glanced around the room.
"Well, pretty well, I've been getting good marks in everything. HAREs aren't for over a year, thankfully. I still don't know what I want to specialize in yet though. I could go for general and not specialize, but I would really like to have special cases. I was thinking either spell damage, maternity, or potions damage. Anything but bites really," replied Victoire , still thoughtfully looking around the cozy parlor. The blue afghan was still on the sofa the same as it always had, the long curtains pulled back to let light enter the room. The table in the corner still had the long tablecloth hanging over it.
She remembered the tents she had made in this room with the afghan and the tables. This room was the room where the dragon lived that kept the princess in the high tower and the brave knight came to the rescue on his broom. James was such a prat when she was the princess and he was the knight. That's why she preferred when he was the dragon, then it was acceptable to be a prat to the princess. And that's how they normally played, unless James was mad they were playing. If he wanted to play a different game, he would insist on being the knight because he knew, then Victoire wouldn't want to play. She frowned. James had been such a prat, why was she letting her best friend marry him.
"Is something wrong dear, about bites?"
"Well, I don't know, I always end up on that floor, and it's ridiculous! I am always there! I would really rather be somewhere less, connected to me I guess. With all the bites in the family, it's hard not to see every person who comes in with a dragon bite as Uncle Charlie."
"Well, my husband Ted, he was a healer you know. I think he liked being able to relate to the cases he worked on. It made him a better healer because he wanted them to live, treating each of them like he would someone he had been close to his entire life. If you treat each person as you would treat your uncle Charlie, then you'll do a better job."
"Where did he specialize?" asked Victoire.
"Potions damage, he was quite the potion maker. Neither Nymphadora nor Tedders inherited his ability though. Neither are especially astute in potions. Teddy takes after me in charms and defense against the dark arts though," answered Andromeda smiling at the memory of her husband and daughter.
"Yes, potions seems interesting. Besides, if I specialize in potions, I could mix potions in the apothecary for the entire hospital, remedies, pain potions, skelo-grow. That sort of thing. And I was always just behind Elaine in potions, and I could work with a lot of plants. I don't know anything really."
"Well, you are a talented, wonderful young woman. I still remember when you would play under my card tables pretending you were a princess or in my basement pretending you were looking for treasure. You've grown up so, much Vicky, but, don't forget. You can still be anything you want to be. Have confidence in yourself and you will find your path. Sometimes it's just not quite as obvious. When you know what specialty you want, you'll know."
"Thanks Gran, I really can't talk about this sort of thing with my parents since my mum wanted me to be a banker type anyways. I'm glad that you at least want me to be a healer. I've been obsessing over this and I really needed someone to talk to. All my friends just want to talk about their weddings and their boyfriends."
"Anytime Vicky, darling," said Andromeda with a sweet smile. "It must be hard with Elaine and Sarah both engaged. Are you still not seeing anyone?"
"No," replied Victoire somewhat dejectedly as she thought of Teddy, hundreds of miles away. She didn't notice the way Andromeda's eyes twinkled but she decided that her love life was one thing she didn't really want to talk about with Teddy's Gran. She had better leave. "Well, it was really nice to see you, but I have a big test tomorrow over how to heal a splinch, and I really had better review my notes. I'll see you later Gran, thanks for the talk." Victoire stood, setting her empty tea cup on the tray and slipping an extra cookie in her robe pocket hoping that Gran wouldn't notice. Hugging the old woman who had helped raise her, she let herself be led to the door before apparating home.
Two weeks later, Victoire frowned into the mirror. Turning she evaluated herself in the long panel on the back of the door. The dress had an excellent line to it, flawless really in showing off her wonderful veela figure. It was a strapless dress that showed off her collarbones and arms. It hugged her upper body and cinched at the waist with a thick white bow wrapping around her stomach before flaring out into a flowy skirt that didn't poof too much or fall to limply and reached her knees. The dress's shape really was perfect and the elbow length white gloves dressed it up to perfection along with the white strappy shoes she was wearing. However, the color was not one a veela like her should ever wear.
With her silvery blond hair and pale porcelain skin, the pale yellow of the dress washed her out entirely. White had never been Victoire's best color as she was already pale, and this outfit had quite a bit of white and a pale yellow. She looked like a pale yellow, silvery yellow, pale beige skin, and white blob. There was no vibrance to her appearance, even her red lips, pink cheeks, and bright blue eyes could add to the overall drabness of the ensemble.
"Come out Toire! I want to see how you look next to Elaine, Shishi, and my sister!" exclaimed the impatient bride. Toire sighed and opened the door reluctantly putting on a face of complacency as not to upset Sarah who had picked out these dresses. Victoire looked at ShiShi who looked amazing with the pale dress setting off her tan, and at Elaine who also had a bit more color to her natural completion that set off the drab colors of the dress.
"Oh! It fits perfect! I'm so glad we don't have to do any more fittings! You look amazing! I love it! My wedding will be absolutely perfect!" exclaimed Sarah who was tearing up at the wonderfulness of it all.
"Yes, and everything looked good yesterday at the guys' fitting. I thought the yellow vest and the green cravat looked great with the white robes for Frank and the yellow robes and green vests and white cravats for the rest of the groomsmen too," said Elaine who as maid of honor had to assure Sarah that the wedding was wonderful. Victoire had thought the yellow robes looked a bit ridiculous on the guys, but Sarah didn't want any harsh black on her wedding day. She was a bit odd saying it was a mourning color. Whatever flies your broom.
"Yes, except for that Teddy Lupin, honestly, can't show up until the day before the wedding, what are we going to do if the robes don't fit him!?" exclaimed Sarah getting back to the argument from the day before.
"Well, I am fairly sure about his measurements, his grandmother herself gave them to me, and I know that he recently had new robes made in the same measurements and they fit superbly. Besides, he's a metamorphagus and he can morph his body so they fit!" exclaimed Victoire, a bit annoyed with Sarah, but not wanting to show it.
"Yes, yes, anyways, I need you to come to the flower shop with me tomorrow, we're specifying the exact flowers for everything, and you were always so good at herbology. I already know I want the bridesmaids carrying all green bouquets, and I'll carry greenery and yellow tulips, but I just want everything perfect!" said Sarah clasping her hands and looking excitedly at her friend while ignoring the cutting remark about the metamorphagus skills of Teddy Lupin.
"Yes, well I really need to study for a test coming up on what to do for Dragon Bites and Burns, so I had better get out of this dress and get going, right Ellie, ShiShi?" said Victoire, quite annoyed with the ulgy dress. It made her feel ugly and Veelas were not UGLY!
Ten minutes later, ShiShi had abandoned them to go out for dinner with a friend, and Victoire and Elaine were walking home for the robe shop they had been at in Diagon Alley. "Tor, I know it's not my place to say, but really don't take it out on Sarah that you don't like the dress she picked out."
"I know, I was just a little disappointed, you, ShiShi, and Mandy looked great in the dresses. I looked like a washed out wallflower!" said Victoire unhappily.
"No, you er… didn't," said Elaine in a very unconvincing manner.
"YES! I DID! You aren't a good liar, Ellie. And Teddy won't have seen me all summer, and then he's going to see me in that horrid, monstrosity, and that's how he'll remember me the entire time he's gone!" whined Victoire.
"Okay, so it was kind of bad. But, really you should take it as a compliment. What sane woman would want a beautiful part Veela like you standing next to her during her wedding, the one day when she should by all rights be the most radiantly beautiful woman in the room? Honestly, Sarah was being a bit clever when she picked your worst color. You are so beautiful, she wanted to make sure no one was staring dumbstruck at the veela during the wedding. Besides, Teddy knows how beautiful you are already. He won't even notice the dress washes you out a bit."
"A bit! It ruins my appearance! And really, I just wanted to look nicer than usual, dress up so he sees me more beautiful than ever and then realizes his undying love for me!" moaned Victoire, still upset.
"Tell you what, at my wedding, I'll make sure he's knocked off his feet. He won't know what hit him. It will be the most beautiful bloody dress you've ever worn," promised Elaine.
"Thanks El, I knew at least one of my friends wouldn't be scared to stand next to a beautiful woman like myself," joked Toire.
"Yeah, and I'm marrying your cousin, so I won't have to worry about the groom even looking twice at you!" laughed Elaine as they got home.
"Yeah, and Ellie, you are also amazingly beautiful yourself, honestly, are you sure you aren't part veela or enchantress or something? Really, those eyes of yours! I'm sure not even a full blooded veela could outshine you on your wedding day."
Elaine looked at Victoire sentimentally and then gave her a hug. "Thanks Tor, you're a sweetie! No wonder you're going to be my maid of honor!"
"WHAT! I'M YOUR MAID OF HONOR!?" exclaimed Victoire excitedly.
"Duh, you're my roommate and best friend, plus you're just overall amazing. Why wouldn't you be? Besides, you're James' cousin and he loves you just as much as I do!" answered Ellie grinning as her friend absorbed the news. "So I take it that you accept the position?"
"BLOODY HELL YES!"
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Ellie
