December 7, 1996

The fabric of the dress was absolutely stunning. It was delicate and shimmered like starlight or the soft glow of the full moon. I spun in front of the full length mirror, giggling like a silly child for a few moments. I felt pretty. I felt like an adult. A fairy tale princess.

I pulled my hair back away from my face, creating a mock bun to get a better idea of what I would look like at the party. I had a glow of maturity about me that felt unusual and exciting. Work clothes made me feel nice, professional and competent, but there was a lot to be said for the effect of beautiful clothes being far different than even nice day wear.

My hair fell from my hands as I debated putting it up or leaving it down. No, I was going to put it up, allowing me to show off the earrings and necklace I had pulled out of my mother's jewelry box that I found too delicate, too fanciful to wear to work. A few quick taps on my head with my wand shifted my hair back and up where I wanted it to go, holding it in place while I placed the bobby pins where they needed to before releasing the spell, leaving me with a very nice low bun without a hair out of place. It was not too different from my usual style, but that was fine. I knew it would stay as I wanted it for the rest of the evening.

It was oddly satisfying to have a moment of success with my appearance while being alone in my room. Lucinda would be impressed, I had chosen to take her words about having a nice time being the best revenge to heart. It made sense, but I could not deny the slowly encroaching horror brewing in my gut. Lucinda said she would do her best to stay with me as much as she was able but I knew that would not be a long period of time in any case. Lucinda loved fiercely, but she and I both understood the social aspects of politics and playing hostess to people who could sway a room with money, power or both.

I picked up the lipstick off the nearby table, remembering Misty explaining to me about color and application as she demonstrated on me. It felt very beyond me but she said I could do this, it would look clean and natural, that the color was just a shade darker than my natural color so I should not feel ridiculous. Misty then told me if I found out I liked make-up we could have a more in depth discussion about the more intense things that I found kind of frightening even if it was just for fun. With a toothy smile, she secured my promise to tell her and Zara all about the party next Friday as they had to decline my invitations due to meeting Misty's family for dinner.

The color was a warm neutral pink that made me appear soft and harmless. Just me. Just Audrey with a little bit extra. And it looked really nice, it was not as strange as I thought it would be. Misty's assurance that I did not look like a clown echoed through my mind as I twirled in my dress robes again.

Misty wanted me to wear red lipstick until she found out about my silver dress robes and said that would be nice, but a bit too heavy. Also, I tried to stroke out when she had me try on the color.

Red lipstick seemed too… sensual for my wallflower intentions for the evening (and the rest of my life) but it was an intriguing idea that I had never dwelled on before. There was something bold and powerful about it, symbolic in a way I was unable to grasp. Love was always something I saw as a soft thing, sex seemed a lot… heavier. Scarier. Offering consequences that would reverberate down the road of my life that a man would never grasp. I never felt inclined to risk the consequences, I wondered why it was worth the risk for so many of my classmates? I had no trust a teenage boy would act with discretion, that he would brag to his friends if we became physically entangled no matter how much I trusted him. That word would get back to my father in a horrific manner and I would have to hear a hypocritical lecture of some sort that would reflect on his policies, career or an unplanned pregnancy as the worst case in that scenario that would destroy my future and tie me to someone who would treat me the way Jack treated Lucina. Even worse still, leaving me as a single parent, reliant on my father in some capacity for the rest of my life or even just far longer than I knew I would be able to stand.

If I had to spend my life alone to avoid that kind of betrayal, then that was fine, though it felt wrong somehow to give up on something that other people did not seem to struggle with. Misty and Zara seemed very happy together in a relationship that had fun and flirtation built into its foundation. While Tavish and Lucinda were not romantically involved, their friendship has lasted for years, they had basically coparented my mom and Alistair, becoming a business team in keeping Thornell afloat. My thoughts drifted to Alex and Thalia, who knew each other well enough to be apart and confident enough in each other to be that way long term. Though, that may have just been similar, catlike personalities.

Perhaps that red lipstick had brought a lot more issues to the surface than I expected? Maybe even just as a symbol of other things that I had yet to think about in depth.

I took a deep breath and turned my attention back to my immediate future. What an odd thing to be well dressed and almost too scared to be seen, but I must bury this. The clock had chimed and all that was before me was the mere hope that my skullduggery would turn the current of this river. At the very least divert it away from me for a time.

Oo0Oo0

The chandelier sparkled with refracted candlelight that aided the ballroom's warm glow. A small band of musicians played waltzes for those who wished to dance. I admired it for a moment before I came down the stairs from the landing.

My stomach fluttered and flipped, my skin prickled with anticipation or nerves as I braced myself to face the crowd that was gathering and lingering at the edges of the room. More were walking in the door, dressed in a colorful array of robes and sparkling jewelry of necklaces and button cuffs that made me think of a flock of shimmering, shining peacocks.

Don't trip.

These heels were a little too high.

Don't fall.

I hoped I was more graceful than I felt.

Don't embarrass yourself!

I could see Lucinda at the foot of the stairs looking up at me as she leaned on her cane. Her robes were a vibrant red and gold with a high collar that would make her easy to see in the crowd. Her eyes glimmered maliciously behind her glasses, the small pleasures one takes in messing with an ex-nephew-in-law.

"You look nice." Lucinda looped her arm through mine with a soft laugh. "I was not sure about it at first but I guess Juliane was right about you being able to wear almost anything."

"Thank you. I love your robes! Any sign of…?" I trailed off as I looked around the room.

"Not yet, but I'll be greeting the very important people when they start to arrive. Let the Minister look for you, tell him you were helping me if he decides to be an arse. If I see your friend," she held up the bracelet that adorned her wrist, "I'll let you know."

I played with the bracelet on my own wrist that was an exact match to Lucinda's. If I closed my eyes, I could feel the pulse of power between the bracelets from the close proximity of their twin. The twins were thick, chunky silver bracelets with delicate carvings and had small chains at the clasp for extra security. I wondered if they were goblin craft, but I doubted it. Goblins would not have such a standard design or such simple communication spells, they preferred more complex enchantments and thinner designs for jewelry as a way to show off their skills.

"Perfect. Thank you for all of this."

"No need for thanks, I'm getting a lot out of this too." Lucinda gave a pointed look around the room at the decorations and a slight, victorious smile.

Lucinda had given me a history of every item she had on display or for decoration. She showed me pictures of the reception she had thrown for my parents after they eloped during my mother's tour of America after her graduation from Hogwarts. Lucinda claimed that after receiving the letter from her niece about her new husband and her intent to come back to Thornell to introduce Jack Graves to her family, Lucinda decorated the home to the absolute pinnacle of her skill to host this reception. The pictures she had shown me were stunning, beautiful white drapes on the wall, floating candles next to shimmering crystals that dangled from the ceiling like stars or snowflakes. Lucinda had decided to repeat the feat for the Ministry Gala with a few alterations to modernize it, but overall, it was identical enough to leave Jack in a very uncomfortable position that he would not be able to explain to anyone in a manner that did not make him look like a lunatic.

Jack's Secret Service team had reached out and requested a room in case something occurred and privacy was required. Lucinda had informed them that she had a room for them, her secondary office would be perfect for their purposes, but she had a couple of conditions related to the use of the room. That her paintings would stay up on the walls, untouched, as they were prone to protesting their movement and some were of great personal value. She had been very sneaky about putting in a muggle portrait of my mother facing the desk she kept in the room. The painting was eerie and my mother's fey-like beauty in a still moment in time made it more so, the way she just stared at the desk unnerved me.

I imagined it would have the same effect on Jack.

I almost wanted to see Lucinda and Jack meet for the first time in a decade. Lucinda was clearly a master of petty, long term revenge, eager to lay bare her dislike so subtly that none but the victim would truly understand it.

By the Twelve, this was going to be a hell of night.

The shimmering refracted light on the polished floors regathered my focus as more people began to arrive. Early birds from Lucinda's small parties who had connections and money and Ministry employees that I recognized as mid ranked officials and a few I recognized from administrative support. I saw Susanna, the Head of Administration and her husband arm-in-arm talking to another couple near a table covered in bottles of wine.

"Rowana's diadem, there's Matilda." Lucinda stepped away from me with a weary, peevish sigh. "I have to go play nice with the she-devil before the politicians get in here. Go be friendly. I'll be around."

As I watched Lucinda make her way towards a slight woman with graying brown hair in emerald green robes, I knew I could have no better accomplice or partner in political skullduggery.

Lucinda loves deeply, but shows it in… unusual ways.

There was no doubt in mind that if there was anyone in my acquaintance who could get away with murder, it would be Lucinda Ainsley. Thankfully, she preferred to shed blood on the battleground of politics and society then through the fields of war. Either way, if she had stayed with the Ministry, I was sure she could have become Minister if she desired it.

More people were arriving. The band was preparing and doing final tuning on their instruments as the crowd continued to come through the doors. I spoke with Susanna and met her husband, Albert, who was a funny man who was the kind of person I could picture with my driven, but relatively easy going department head.

"I didn't know Lucinda was your great aunt." Susanna said with a grin, "I know her from some of her political work, financial support for Saint Mungo's and the like. She was involved with orphanage management after during the last war against You-Know-Who, she used to come and give us candy and books before committee meetings with the managers."

"Really? I didn't know that."

"I was about ten when my parents were killed, my relatives were in no shape to take me in and I only needed a place during the summer after starting at Hogwarts" She shrugged and moved a little closer to her husband. "I had a place to live and she helped me get my first apartment and my first job at the Ministry." Susanna looked across the room to Lucinda. "I wonder when we'll have to do that again."

"Do you think we will?" My voice was low and Albert looked between the two of us with a serious expression. "This war has not gone on long."

"I have no doubt." Albert said softly, barely heard over the beginnings of the music from a few feet away. "If it's like last time in any case. I'd be happy to take in a child in need or support any orphanage that pops up, but we'd be more comfortable with Lucinda managing in some capacity."

Susanna nodded, "Tell her to call us if she needs any kind of support, Albert and I are ready to help with whatever cause she puts her weight behind."

"I'll be sure to do that."

We parted as Albert was called over by his department head, Susanna went with him with a wink in my direction before I lost sight of them in the flurry of beautiful robes and smiling guests who admired Lucinda's decor.

Over the next half hour it became easy to make small talk, speaking of Lucinda's skills and Tavish's artistic eye for the grounds was simple matter. I was truly beginning to understand the depths of people's respect for Lucinda, I met people from her charity groups, some of her old work friends from her time at the Ministry as a young woman and many were here just because she was hosting. I had attended small parties with Lucinda, but I always had the impression that she had those invitations out of obligation as a member of the organization, the Ainsley name crafting ways into wherever she wanted to be in society, even as the name drew its final breaths.

I thought originally that it was all based on blood status, that having an unmarried, pureblood great-niece was giving her leverage in circles where her influence was waning, perhaps that was only part of it. It was a way to turn people with money back in her direction so she could maneuver their bank accounts to her own interests and causes. How did I keep finding these people?

There was a warmth from the bracelet only moments before I felt a tap on my shoulder that made me jump.

"There's my favorite intern."

Elihu Weathers looked down at me with a crooked, vaguely cocky smile. His curly, dark hair was combed back and he wore dress robes of a deep burgundy color with white accents. The same robes he favored for official embassy functions. Oh, this could not be more perfect.

"I'm glad you made it!"

"Thank you for the invitation. I'm surprised I did not secure my own official invitation, especially for something as important as a first meeting between two world leaders given my position. If you had not told me about it I would not have known."

"You've always been a sucker for protocol."

"Comes from the rigors of law school." He plucked a horderve from a passing Barry with a quick thank you. "Any sign of your daddy?"

I shuddered as the last word passed his lips, struggling not to retch. "No not yet, and don't say the 'd' word."

"Daddy?"

"Yes! That one!"

Elihu laughed and nodded, "Tonight is going to be so much fun."

"Stay nearby and don't be obvious. I want them to be surprised."

"I'll keep you in my sights, and I found some help," he stepped aside to reveal a slight woman with short red hair and glasses in cerulean robes. It took me a moment to recognize Valencia Talbot, though I did send her an invitation, I did not expect her to actually come.

"Valencia?"

She finished chewing the horderve and waved at me with a smile, her earrings glimmering in the nearby candlelight. "Hey Audrey."

"She was hiding in the bushes."

"I was not!" Valencia huffed and fixed her glasses. "I dropped my glasses."

"Three feet away from the road, Val?"

"Ugh. Anyway, Elihu volunteered to hang out with me for the evening if I helped him out with your problem."

"I did not think you would want to come."

Valencia shrugged, "I want to study powerful people in their natural habitat. If I happen to witness anything interesting…" She trailed off with a sly smile knowing that Elihu and I understood what she could not say in public. "We'll be nearby."

Elihu offered Valencia his arm to steady her on heels that I knew were of a practical height, though she took his arm with a smile and nodded at a table of small desserts.

I did not get the impression Elihu was ready to date after Elaine's passing, but perhaps he was readying himself to step out socially to try. Valencia was probably a safe choice for that, there would be no pressure of commitment from her and they knew each other from less than ideal circumstances. Maybe Valencia wanted something similar, someone she trusted who wanted nothing but her company with no pressure for more than she could give.

It was easy to look around the room for any sign of the Minister or my father after that, allowing my eyes to drift over the crowd as couples stepped onto the dance floor with their arms around each other. My hands shook at the memory of Percy's hand in mine at Eddie's wedding. It seemed so long ago now.

As if summoned by my thoughts, I saw a shock of red hair through the crowd and a glimmer of glasses on a long nose and felt my breath catch in my chest.

Get a grip, Audrey.

I had long found Percy handsome, there was something about his face that was more intriguing than traditionally handsome. There was something in his countenance that would not be considered traditionally attractive, the girls from Illvermorny would find him too thin and gangly. The American ideal of attractiveness had never been something I subscribed too, men who were all virtually identical with muscular builds, athletic with nearly interchangeable faces. I had seen too many men within that image who used it in their politics, pretty faces who said ugly things tended to only wear a mask of civility. People who had the world because they were rich, beautiful had no… character in them. They had expectations that the world would bend to their whims and nothing of substance to fall back on should the world push back.

Percy was handsome with a nice jawline, his freckles gave him a boyish quality that was endearing, but the contrast of such a serious personality with such vibrant hair was fun. It was a reflection of the layers of his personality that I felt I was beginning to put together.

And every time he smiled at me everything would stop for a few seconds while my stomach flipped and spun.

Percy's eyes met mine from across the room and the world seemed a little calmer for a moment.

I took a step forward with what I was sure was an awkward smile on my face. I knew he was coming but it was still so surprising to see him outside of work. He was breaking off his discussion with the young men he was speaking with, looking over at me through the crowd.

"Ah, Miss Graves." It took me a moment to recognize Harrow Avery, though in truth I would recognize his weak chin anywhere.

Ugh. Not now.

"Hello Harrow, are you enjoying the party?"

"Very much. Lucinda is truly an excellent hostess and I imagine you are learning everything from her in the process."

"I am, she's an excellent teacher in all kinds of subjects. I must admit that she is a wonderful mentor in more ways than I can describe."

Harrow nodded, his smile was indulgent as he looked me over slowly. "Would you like to dance?"

I did not feel I was in a position to say no. I had to play nice with the Averys to make Lucinda's life easier.

"Of course!"

He offered me his arm and I took it so he could lead me to onto the dance floor where other dancers were gathering, they were mostly older couples and and people in early middle age with their spouses. The music began and I found myself being swept away as Harrow lead me gracefully through the music. The faces in the surrounding crowd became a faceless mass as I focused on not stepping on my partner's toes as his hand rested on my lower back.

Harrow Avery was a good dancer, as loath as I was to admit it, but his smug smile only made me resentful of his presence. His plain brown eyes seemed to bore into me like a falcon surveying the land for its next meal.

"It is such an honor to have the attention of the most beautiful woman here."

I could not be swayed by honeyed words. I had seen it too much as a child.

"I think that's a matter of perspective, but thank you for the compliment."

"Oh, I'm quite serious, a true pearl pulled from the ocean," Harrow glanced at the other dancers and pulled me closer to him, bending down to press his lips against my ear as he continued to speak. "Lucinda Ainsley has always been such a supporter of good causes. I only wish to come into her good graces… though lately I find myself wanting to find myself in yours."

"I beg your pardon?"

"An alliance between us."

"Alliance?" A political one? I doubted Harrow and I had enough political beliefs in common for such a thing.

He leaned back and gave me a soft, confident smile, his eyes glimmering with an unstated humor. "I'm speaking of marriage."

My stomach dropped and I would have frozen entirely if Harrow did not continue to lead me through the rest of the dance. I followed his lead mindlessly trying to process what he had just proposed.

"I don't really know you well enough for that," my voice sounded far away, barely audible over the noise of the band we were waltzing past.

"There would be enough time for that after the wedding. It's usually how these affairs go for people of our station in life."

"Our station?"

Purebloods. My mind was starting to work again and was catching on to the words unspoken that left me uncomfortable. I struggled with No-Majs, but my friends consisted of two Muggle-borns, and a woman of goblin descent. It was a hard thing for me to understand this country's views on blood purity. America did not pay any mind to such things except to explain why they were confused by something a Seed would mention. Our primary concern had always been magic and if a person had it or not, if their families had it great, if not then it only meant extra steps needed to be taken for security.

Harrow's expression grew more serious, his smile never losing its place on his face as he explained the situation to me as if I were a child. "My family has the resources to care for Thornell upon Lucinda's passing. Lucinda wants to try and pass ownership to you or your brother, even if she has to step on centuries of tradition and the courts to do so. It means coming against my family over hundreds of years of inheritance law. Should we marry, all of the involved parties would get what they want for the best possible outcome."

"I see… I've never really thought about it that way." It had crossed my mind in passing, but I dismissed it because Harrow was my cousin and much older then I would have liked in a partner. I had long gathered that Lucinda was very all or nothing in regards to Thornell and it would never be brought up to me as an option.

"Marrying into my family means you would be cared for as a woman of your standing deserves. You would never have to work again. Whatever your heart desires would be yours. You would truly want for nothing."

"I like my job." The words left my throat with a mouselike squeak that left me flush with embarrassment.

"A job is a fine thing for someone who is young and unmarried, but it's not as if we would need your income from the Ministry. Marrying me would provide you safety and security from everything going on in the world."

Only because your father is in cahoots with a dark lord.

Harrow looked over my shoulder and seemed to smile as the song slowed to an ending crawl. "I see Jack Graves has arrived."

My stomach dropped and a cold chill crawled up my spine from something other than the cold air of the open door as the final steps of the dance clicked and snapped on the floor before a round of applause broke out. Harrow released me from his grasp and I felt his fingers glide slowly across my lower back.

"We should speak with him, I would prefer to ask for your father's approval to court his charming daughter."

No. Absolutely not.

The song came to an end and Harrow tucked my arm in his to lead me away towards where the back of my father's salt and pepper hair was in my view. A panic came upon me, something inside of me screaming to speak and end this now while I still had a chance to control the narrative and the actions to come.

"This will never work, Harrow."

"Really?"

I smiled my politest smile and kept my voice low, "How is your father doing in Azkaban?"

Harrow recoiled, seemingly unnerved by my sudden barb. His eyes grew fierce and his jaw clenched.

My voice stayed low and steady. "Jack Graves has no love for dark wizards. He would never wish to see one of his children marry into a family who have known practitioners in their ranks, even a generation removed. It's bad optics, something I am sure you understand better than most."

He examined me with hard eyes. If he believed that silence and politeness meant I was meek and spineless, that was his mistake. Many people had made that mistake, including my own father.

"There is not a chance in hell I would ever marry you. You have nothing I want and there is nothing in you that I admire or respect." I pulled my arm away slowly so as to not gather the attention of the people nearby. "Thank you for the dance. Enjoy the rest of the party."

Turning away from Harrow Avery was the easiest thing I had done all night. I did my best to smile on my way into the crowd and away from my father and towards where Elihu and Valencia were talking near one of the punch bowls.

I refused to allow myself to be manipulated, especially in such an inelegant way. Harrow was an arrogant person at his core, he just saw me as a way to ensure his inheritance upon Lucinda's passing. If I gave him an easy in, he would take full advantage of everything the opportunity offered, of that I had no doubt.

Being meek was not something I would deny, I would be a fool to ignore my own nature. A soft personality did not mean I was stupid. It did not mean I would let people walk over me to get what they wanted. It meant I was always in a strong position to pick the battles I wanted to fight, even if I only did so when pushed to the brink.

I could see Elihu and Valencia. The twin bracelet was glowing with warmth and I tried to put myself in the best position I could manage for the rest of the evening. Unnoticed as long as I could manage.

"Miss Graves."

Dammit.

That didn't last long.

I made eye contact with Valencia, who gave me a nod before turning to face Minister Scrimgeour with a pleasant, absentminded kind of smile.

"Minister, I'm so glad you could make it. Is everything to your liking?"

"Everything it perfect. Lucinda is truly a wonder, Matilda had her doubts but she has doubtlessly exceeded all expectations." He gave me a smile, "I believe the president has arrived."

My heart dropped while the smile remained plastered on my face.

"I'm sure he's busy." I glanced around for Elihu and saw the sleeve of burgundy robes from the corner of my eye. I turned my attention in the direction where I had seen Jack's hair somewhere over the crowd. "He does appear to be busy."

"Those are his American Aurors."

Ah. Yes. I was sure I knew one of them but it was hard to tell from the back.

"I'm sure he'll forgive the interruption."

"No, I don't think he will."

Scrimgeour's expression shifted from pleasant to stern before becoming a truly masked pleasantry.

Before I could wonder where Elihu was, he stepped next to me with a happy grin that hide the malicious enjoyment he was taking in my little scheme.

"Minister Scrimgeour! Always a pleasure to see you." Elihu reached in and shook Scrimgeour's hand, squeezing it to assert himself. "I thought this was a private party for friends of Madam Ainsley, I never expected it to be a political meet and greet of international proportions. Jack told me he would be in town tomorrow, not a day in advance."

I glanced between the two men as Elihu continued to speak, his voice becoming lower and vaguely more threatening.

"I'll have to have a talk with President Graves about that. It makes me look bad, you understand."

"I can't imagine why he would not have you informed, though Miss Graves has agreed to arrange introductions."

You're dealing with real politicians now, Scrimgeour, and you're out of your depth.

"Minister," I fought to keep my breathing steady as I willed my voice to an uncomfortable girlishness full of a soft innocence and sweetness. "I'm afraid it would appear far better for Elihu to make those introductions. I have no real knowledge of international protocol and policy, it's just so far beyond me. After all, I am just a secretary."

Scrimgeour gave me a stern look, his brow knitting and his glasses sliding down his nose. Did he believe that this was all a happy accident. Of course not. Did I raise a valid point? Absolutely. I had just tied his hands. My end of this bargain was filled.

"That's no matter, with the war and all, perhaps the letter was intercepted. Now, I'm sure you know there are all kinds of procedures to introduce the heads of nations and it's lucky I'm here to see it through in all of the formalities. After all, as the Head of the MACUSA Embassy in the UK, it is my duty to handle these sorts of things. We can't have these things happen against procedure now can we? It looks bad for everybody if we do." Elihu gave me a wink before leading the Minister towards Jack Graves.

I win.

It was easy to slip away into the gathering crowd. I made eye contact with Valencia, who was holding a drink for Elihu along with her own who gave me a smug, satisfied smile and a wink that spoke of her pride in this apparent success. I had no doubt she would get the full story to publish to her own paper or sell to another for freelance, just as I hoped she would.

Yep. I had achieved success and was now in desperate need of a drink or several if I could manage it. I would be content to spend the rest of the night wandering through the garden solo drinking a bottle of wine to truly commit to my avoidance of my father.

Perfect. It was time to find bottle of wine. All I had to do now was find Tinsy, who would not say a word about my drunken ambitions to anyone.

"Audrey!" My heart leapt into my throat at Percy's voice. I turned quickly to see him walking towards me, dodging through the crowd to get to my side.

"Hi," my voice was breathless.

Percy looked down at me with a smile, his hair was neatly combed the same way he did for work and his dress robes were a dark blue instead of his black work robes, making him look a bit more lively than a young, dour professional. I noted the subtle gold cufflinks on his sleeves.

"How are you?" The words flew from his mouth a mile a minute.

"Fine. Busier then I thought I would be."

His face fell, "Oh, if you're busy-"

"No, not like that." I laughed quietly as he collected himself. "Are you enjoying yourself?"

His brow creased for a moment as he seemed to consider if he was or not. "I am enjoying myself. I've met some interesting people, though…" Percy paused, seeming to try and get his thoughts in order. "Your great-aunt has a marvelous home, I'm surprised you moved out."

I shrugged, "It was time. She invites me over for dinner a lot though, so I wonder if I ever left at times."

Percy chuckled, "She must miss you."

I nodded in agreement as the band played a few notes as a signal to get people onto the dance floor.

"Would you like to dance?"

This felt different than last time. There were no old ladies making snide comments about young people to incentivize and gently chide a young man to dance with the young woman at his table. This felt like a preference on his part.

"I would love too!"

I took his offered hand and he led me out to the dance floor. He smiled at me and my cheeks grew warm from more than just the room.

His hand rested on my lower back and his other hand clasped mine in its warm grasp. This was nice. The music started in earnest and I let him lead me around the room. It was not awkward. It felt comfortable and natural. I thought back to our first dance at Eddie's wedding, the casualness of that party was a radical contrast to the shining floor and string quartet of Lucinda's party.

He smelled nice, like old books and sandalwood with other things in the mix. I liked his day-to-day cologne better, but this was a very nice change.

"You look nice," I peered up at him with a slight grin to try and hide my nerves. "Are those new robes?"

"No, I just don't get to wear them often."

"Weddings and funerals?"

"In theory, I haven't been to many of those that weren't inviting me to the records office as a witness on short notice." Percy rolled his eyes, "Did I tell you my old year mate Tessa Vernon kidnapped me on my way to lunch the other day?"

"No!"

"She needed a witness for her wedding, I hope she and Tommy Gruber are very happy together. Apparently they were only dating for three months."

"Whirlwind romances never end well in my experience."

"Really?" His voice was low and teasing, "Have experience with that do you?"

"Yes, I've been to the altar three times this year." Percy laughed. "I just think it's very easy for people to lie about who they really are and say all the right things if the goalposts are a short distance away."

"Really? That's very cynical, Audrey."

"It's just human nature."

"You've always struck me as a more romantic, optimistic sort."

"We work in politics, Percy. Romanticism usually gets beaten out of us with every failed bill and new regulation."

I thought of the two of us, he would be the more romantic in the traditional sense. An optimistic view about bureaucracy at its best. Though, in a personal sense, he could very well turn his intense memory for bureaucracy to a partner.

His shoulder shrugged slightly under my hand. "That just means we have to try again."

"How much do we sacrifice in doing so?"

"Preferably very little."

I peered up at him with a grin, noting that he was smiling down at me as well. Glancing aside I saw something intriguing that made me gasp and giggle quietly. "Percy! Over there!"

Percy turned slightly in step with the dance so he could look in the direction that caught my attention. "Is that Nobby Clark?"

"It is! The girl with him is Theodosia Knowles, her father runs a shipping company. She's reportedly learning the business from her father, but I think she just wants to be a powerful shareholder after he retires and let someone else run the day to day affairs."

Theodosia was a pretty girl with olive skin and curly dark hair, she was currently slipping away hand in hand with Nobby while her father who was talking to a group of eager young men who I imagined were trying to become the successors to the Knowles Shipping Company. Though, Lucinda had told me that Mr. Knowles had every intention of leaving it to his eventual son-in-law. I imagined this was a better deal for Theodosia, she could live her own life and write off young men who were too eager to meet her father.

"Good for Nobby. I'm sure they'll be very happy together."

"I think they will too."

I guess there was someone out there for everyone.

We were quiet through the last few moments of the song, a peaceful kind of silence that spoke of a natural comfort with one another that I struggled to place. There was not need to fill this silence with awkward chatter and fumble through niceties. Being with Percy socially was an easy thing, he was considerate and was interested in the same things I was on a more detail focused level, the details of the painting rather then the big picture so to speak.

The song came to an end and we stepped off the floor, my hand slipping from his arm once I noticed how close we were. I stepped back to put a bit of distance between us, something more friendly then this undercurrent of romance that sparked between us in my shaking hands and the butterflies in my stomach.

"Would you like something to drink?" Percy asked as he gestured towards the table where the drinks fresh glasses were filling themselves with an assortment of sorted wines, divided by color and maker. Reds, whites and a blush that I had found for this event that was crafted by a local vintner. I had an extra bottle hidden in my apartment for girl's night.

"Thank you. A white would be fine."

"Great! I'll be right back." Percy disappeared into the crowd who had the same idea and I moved slightly out of the way to avoid the rush of people coming off the dance floor.

A heavy hand placed itself on my shoulder and it's owner leaned down to whisper in my ear.

"Miss Graves, the president wishes to speak with you."

I felt my head nod as my mind went blank, my body felt numb as I turned and followed the agent out of the crowd to a quiet part of the house that led to the second floor where Lucinda had arranged her secondary office for political needs. I was going to be sick, my stomach churned at my failure to avoid Jack Graves and- I had felt so successful in getting Scrimgeour managed that I had forgotten that my father was not one to ignore the slights I had given him this evening by not playing the obedient daughter to help his narrative. Meeting privately would help him keep the story that our estrangement was one for my own political education.

I should have left after getting Scrimgeour off my back.

There were two guards at the door who nodded at me with courteous smiles and the agent who collected me opened the door into a well lit room. I could see the oak desk at the other end of the room directly ahead of me and an outline of my father looking out the window with his hands clasped behind him thoughtfully.

"Leave us."

The door closed behind me with a click at Jack's brusk order, leaving me in a cage with a lion.

Oo0Oo0

Author's Note: Daddy's here :)

I've got a chunk of the next chapter done so that should be up next week and take us to the end of the arc. Then I'm taking a break.