De Rolo
Percy closed the door behind him looking at his irate sister. “Cass I can explain.” This wasn’t the first time he’d come home late. And ever since he’d started this job it seemed that there were some nights that he just didn’t come home at all.
"You promised. You would stop doing this.” Cassandra said her arms crossed.
Percy looked away. “I told you I’d have to work nights sometimes.” He said. The fact that he’d needed an escort to get home would not have escaped Cassandra’s notice. Percy hadn’t come home the night before so he was running on no sleep at all.
"You didn't come home last night. Those two had to bring you home... it's not healthy.” Cassandra looked like she was a mix between concerned and annoyed.
“The overtime is good…” it was a feeble excuse and even he knew it. “I just… got distracted today is all.” Vex’s arrival had thrown him off very much. “Next time just send an owl… and I’ll come home.” They had two owls. Cassandra’s eagle owl, and Percy’s tiny scops owl. Who he’d bought largely out of pity for the poor little thing. He was too small to carry more than a scroll.
"You worry me Percy.” Cassandra said.
“I don’t mean to… I just… I want to keep us safe.” He’d been saying that ever since they lost their family. Well after he’d regained his ability to speak. Percy had been mute for several year after those events. Events Cassandra couldn’t remember because of how young she’d been at the time.
"I know but it's been a long time. You have to come home. I need you.” The anger had faded and now she was just worried.
Percy pulled her into a tight hug. “I’m sorry… I’ll try to do better… and send word when I know I won’t be home at night…” he sagged with exhaustion. He looked terrible, and the bags under his eyes had become a permanent fixture of his face.
Cassandra hugged him back. "Thank you. Come get some rest. You look awful.”
“Gladly…” Percy sighed pulling back. “You let the owls out to hunt right?”
“Of course.” Cassandra smiled.
Percy smiled back. “Thank you Cass. And I’m sorry you only had leftovers to eat. We can go out to any place of your choice tomorrow night.” It wouldn’t be too much longer before Cassandra had to leave for school again. Leaving Percy in the apartment alone.
"It's ok. I'm just glad you are home.” She assured him.
“I mean it. You name it we go.” Percy told her hanging up his cloak.
"Thank you.” Cassandra smiled. Money was tight for them where gold was concerned. Percy’s new job paid peanuts compared to his former position in the Department of International Magical Cooperation. Their parents had only been able to leave them Muggle money.
He nodded. “Now we both need to be in bed. I’ll call you when breakfast is ready in the morning.”
“Alright.." She spoke softly. She saw the way Percy was dragging his feet. He’d never been this ragged before.
“Good night Cass…” he sounded completely exhausted. And Cassandra heard the soft thump of him just falling into bed, probably still with his shoes on.
"Good night." Cass sighed she went to make sure he at least got under the covers.
He had not and Percy was already dead to the world his left foot still dangling off the bed. She took his shoes off and covered him up with a blanket. He seemed to settle after that. He’d been taking care of her for as long as she could properly remember. Even while they’d lived with their great aunt and uncle Percy had been more than just an older brother. He seemed to think he was solely responsible for her. Like if she was unhappy, scared, or otherwise that it was somehow his fault.
Cassandra didn't blame him for any of that. She just wanted him around more, and ever since he’d been given this new position she’d been seeing him less and less. He was trying his best. But since they’d moved out of that house he was the only one who could work. Cassandra had her school, and she was still underage. She couldn’t use magic outside of school. A law Percy had been more adamant about reminding her of over the last week or so. It was odd. She could understand his worry. A student at her school hade died just a few months ago. That on top of everything that had happened since she’d started school… Cass was surprised he hadn’t pulled her out. Especially after her second year.
Cassandra was mostly excited to go back to school but part of her wanted to stay with Percy. She worried about him being alone in the apartment.
He would write to her nearly everyday she was gone. He missed her greatly and the separation was hard for them both. It had been like that when Percy had started his schooling at Hogwarts. Leaving Cassandra with their great aunt and uncle. Though they’d always been kind they weren’t her brother. But the letters back forth helped somewhat. And she always came home for breaks when allowed. On short ones like Easter she could always expect some massive gift box of sweets to be delivered in the morning.
Percy had always been the closest family she’d ever known. He rarely talked about their parents or older siblings. But they still had the pictures. Percy had put together an album for her about them. Written in it were small things, like how Julius had been a quidditch captain at school. It was nice to know. She understood it was hard for him to talk about. After all he actually remembered what had happened. But she couldn’t shake the feeling that he was hiding something more from her now.
Everyone got an uneasy sleep that night. Percy plagued by his usual nightmares. After making Cassandra breakfast and reminding her of her summer homework he was off to work. He was still out of it and trying to juggle a large box and several scrolls when he literally ran right into Vex.
Vex thankfully caught most of it.
"Oh sorry Percy. Here let me help you.” She picked up the scrolls that had fallen on the floor.
“Sorry… I should have been watching where I was going.” They gathered it all up easily. “Thank you. I actually have some things that were sent to us from your department by mistake. These bear traps aren’t enchanted just really well maintained.”
"Its ok. And oh. I'll take that up then.” She moved to take the clearly very heavy box from him.
“I don’t mind. I rarely get to see the upper floors where people are still sane.” Percy joked his eyes weary.
"Well come on I'll show you around a bit more if you'd like.” Vex smiled leading him to the lift and acting as a buffer so he didn’t collide with anyone else.
“I would.” Percy nodded following her. “I heard you have some rescued beasts currently.”
"We have. Quite a few.” Vex confirmed as they got into the lift.
“Could I have a look?” Percy asked. He seemed very interested now.
”Of course.” Vex was happy when anyone showed a healthy interest in beasts. She lead Percy out of the lift once it reached the correct floor and into the office she worked in.
Percy’s eyes instantly locked onto the thestrals. It really shouldn’t have been a shock that he could see them as well. With what she knew about what happened to his family.
"I know. They are so hurt.... I can't stand to see them like this.” Vex said looking at the injured thestrals.
“Who would do this?” Percy approached the pin without a trace of fear. He gently laid a hand on the male’s snout. He’d approached from the side where the thestral still had its eye. He knew what he was doing that was clear.
Vex smiled softly ar him," terrible people. They should be ok. But it's going to take some time.”
Percy sighed stroking the creature’s neck. He’d done this before. Very few witches and wizards felt safe seeing a thestral let alone touching one so gently. “That’s good. But this poor girl won’t be able to fly if her wing isn’t mended.”
"I know.. I'm working on that. She's the one I'm worried about the most. You are good with them.” Vex smiled, very impressed and interested.
“My great uncle taught me a few things.” Percy shrugged. “Mostly he just taught me to treat magical creatures with the proper respect.”
Vex couldn't help but chuckle at that," that very close to what I say when people marvel at my ability to work with creatures.“
“It’s what he’s always said. In his book too. I’m sure you’ve read it. It’s on every first year’s book list after all.” Percy said, which made Vex pause.
"Oh. That's your great uncle?“ she asked.
“Well we aren’t related by blood. His wife. My great aunt, is my mother’s, grandmother’s, sister. They took my sister and I in after…” he trailed off. Vex didn’t need him to finish. She knew what happened. Though she didn’t think now was a good time to tell him how close she’d been with Julius.
"Oh I see. That's very interesting.” Julius had never brought up that he was technically related to the Newt Scamander. She figured that’s who Percy was talking about at least.
“Yes… my mother didn’t have any magic of her own so… she was considered a muggle…” Percy explained.
"Well, you know I understand some of that.” Vex said. Being halfblood wasn’t nearly as hard but it had its challenges.
“I do know.” Percy nodded. “You’re half blood.” He said it like it didn’t matter. “You know if wizards and witches hadn’t started marrying muggles we would have died out during the 1800s.”
“So I’ve heard.” Vex nodded.
“It is true. There’s hardly an any of us live today who don’t have some mixed blood.” Percy waved his hand dismissively. “But blood doesn’t make you a good witch or wizard.”
"No. It doesn't. So many seem to think it does though.” Vex said bitterly.
“Oh they’re all mostly compensating for something. Lack of skill or otherwise.” Percy said. “I may be muggle born but I still got all 12 O.W.Ls and N.E.W.Ts.”
"Wow, that's very impressive.” Vex was also a little horrified. She’d barely slept at all during her exams and she hadn’t been doing nearly as many as 12.
“I wouldn’t recommend it honestly. I hardly slept at all during the exam years.” Percy chuckled.
That made Vex smile. “I imagine. They were awful.” It was odd that sometime so qualified and clearly magically gifted to be working where Percy was though.
And him being a slytherin no less. “They weren’t exaggerating when they said exhausting no.” He smiled.
"I believe it. How did you end up working where you are if you are so qualified?” Vex asked.
Percy blanched. “No other department wanted me after the new head shunted me off.”
“Oh. That’s ridiculous.” Said getting a bad feeling in her gut.
“I was working with the international magical cooperation office but… they found my blood status on my paperwork and that was that. The new head of department wasn’t happy.” Percy explained like he was resined to it.
"Oh... so this is a recent change?” Vex asked.
“Two months ago yes.” Percy nodded still petting the thestral. Which meant Vex’s father had been the one to put Percy in that tiny closet of a department.
“Hell… I’m sorry.” Vex said. Hating her father for this.
“The pay cut wasn’t pleasant but… I guess if anyone knows about muggle items it’s someone who was born to muggles… well a muggle and a squib.” Percy muttered.
"Still that's not right. He shouldn't have done that. He's a terrible person." Vex stated seeing Percy flinch a little.
“I do miss the old department head… he was strict but at least he hired on merit and not blood status.” Percy shook his head. Now that had been front page news. The head of a ministry department turning up dead. And on Hogwarts school grounds during the tournament he’d helped organize no less.
“I heard what happened.” Vex nodded. “It was horrible.”
Percy went quiet for a moment. That fear that Vex had seen to often in her’s and Vax’s faces growing up. This man had that same fear. The fear of the darkest wizard in history returning to wreak havoc on their very way of life. Vex wondered if she should tell him about knowing Julius. What he’d done for her.
Percy’s sharp eyes found the mooncalves. Specifically the one with the collar. “Poachers are going after pets now?”
“They’ll pick up any creature they can manage to grab.” Vex nodded bitterly.
“Shouldn’t she be returned to her owner?” Percy asked looking into the creatures large eyes.
"Yes, but we are trying to get her health back up before doing so. Mostly upon my insistence. This kind of injury can be very expensive and we have more resources and skill here.“ Vex told him. She liked that he had this soft spot for creatures.
“That’s true. Though I’d probably send an owl to let the owner know that she’s safe in any case.” Percy said giving the mooncalf a scratch on its head.
"I was planning on it. That was first on my list of things to do today.” Vex assured him.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to insinuate anything.” His ears had turn pink.
"It's alright. I really don't mind. All of this just makes me mad.” She gestured to the traps they’d brought up, then at the injured creatures.
“I understand that. But humans… wizard or muggle can be cruel by nature…” Percy said, that sadness in his eyes again.
"That's true... there's just a lot of things going on lately all of them make me nervous.” Vex admitted.
“There are a lot of things happening that should concern everyone.” Percy muttered standing back up.
"Yes.. and everyone is trying to pretend that it's fine.” Vex sighed then she noticed Percy stiffen.
Percy looked around nervously. “We can’t talk about that here.” He hissed to her.
"Sorry. But it's true.” Vex said a little defensively.
“I know that:” Percy’s voice was low. “But we can’t discuss it here. We’re being watched.” He sounded so sure of that. Urgently but silently pleading with Vex to stop talking.
"Alright. I'm sure they've got it handled." Vex spoke clearly noting that she understood his meaning.
Percy nodded. And when they parted ways he slipped something small into the outside pocket of her robe.
Vex made no indication that she had noticed aside from slipping a hand into her pocket right before they were out of eye shot. the item was small. A paper card of some kind, she’d have to take it out and look at it later.
At that her attention turned back to the creatures and her letter.The collar gave her enough information in order to insure that it would go to the right person. The ministry had owls she could use to send it on.
While she had a few more animals were brought in. Not from poachers but from standard accidents, like being struck by muggle cars on roads. An occomi snapped its beak at her flapping its wings indignantly. Even with her gifts the wild creatures could be difficult.
"Easy. It's alright. I know you want to be outside. You will be soon." Vex spoke softly keeping her voice even.
It hissed a bit more but let her tend to its broken wing, if grudgingly. "Thank you. I'll be as quick as I can.” It laid its head down and closed its eyes, like a kid bracing for a shot. Vex gently ran a hand over its head trying to soothe it before starting to take care of the wing. The fracture was thankfully small. The charm to mend bones was a largely simple one once you knew it. Though Vex knew she’d never be at the level of her friend Pike Trickfoot. It took her much more effort than it did for Pike. But she managed it.
The occomi seemed to relax and curled its snakelike body into a more comfortable position. Tomorrow after some monitoring they’d be able to release it again.
"There you are. Rest now." Vex spoke softly. She hadn't even noticed that there were other people watching her. She was kind of a big deal within the department. Not that she had any idea of it though.
“Well done.” Amos smiled. He held up his hand covered in occomi bites for her to see. “Little guy almost took my finger off when I tried.”
“She’s the next Newt Scamnader she is.” Another witch said marveling.
Vex looked around," Oh. Please guys. I'm just doing my job. But thank you."
“You sell yourself short.” Amos said.
"I really don't see what all the fuss is about. I just do my job and take care of the creatures.” Vex shrugged.
“But they respond to you unlike they do with anyone else.” The witch, Kira pointed out.
“I’m sure I’m not the only one.” Vex blushed.
“Well not your degree.” Everyone here had one type of creature who responded well to them. But with Vex it was all creatures. Magical or otherwise.
"I don't know what to say. I'm just happy to help them.” Vex smiled setting the occomi into the woven nest they had for creatures like this.
“And that’s the most important thing.” Amos nodded.
Vex smiled to herself and went back to her work and soothing any of the creatures who seem agitated. They calmed easily with her. Something she’d never been able to explain. She didn’t think it needed to be explained but all the same she liked it. Being able to soothe away their pain and fear. She wondered if it could work on humans as well.