April 13th, 1888 - House of Lytton

The season was only a short month away and Lucy was in desperate need of new gowns. It would do no good to begin a new season wearing last year’s gowns! Typically Lucy would have taken Bella with her on a shopping trip but she had waited until rather late to have her gowns ordered - she wanted to be the height of fashion this year! - and Bella had had to work. So Lucy had ventured to the House of Lytton on her own. Or relatively on her own. Her maid had of course accompanied her, but that was as alone as it got for Miss Lucille Flint.

The store was full of the latest trends, hats, gloves, robes, gowns, stockings. It was like walking into a candy shop for young ladies. Lucy sighed with a smile at the potential before her. Her gowns would be gorgeous, she was sure of that but really accessories were just as good at adding to the impression and this season she was going to leave an impression.

Lucy currently stood over a display of bewitched stockings, holding a pair of the night sky with a shooting star running across the knee. She had been looking forward to seeing them in person since she had read about them in the latest issue of Witch Weekly and they were even better than she had hoped. She nudged the person next to her, thinking it was her maid, and held them up for inspection, “What do you think? Would they go with the lavender gown?” Lucy only realized as she lifted her eyes up for a brief moment that the person she was speaking too was much certainly not her maid.

  

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Thank you MJ for an amazingly Lucy set!

As guardian to his sisters, one of the things that came with such responsibility was being their chaperone at times. If anything, he could ask for the all too willing Aunt Jade to do the chaperoning or hire someone or ask for Aunt Brenda, but Aunt Jade would probably find some way that such letter got 'lost'. But there were those days were he did wish to spend time with his sisters. His only living brother was still in Hogwarts, so there wasn't much they could do together. Jolie was also in school, but did send letters home frequently.

Today he had been given some time off, and had decided to spend it with Sybille. Deciding to take her dress shopping, they were at the House of Lytton. Girls liked dresses, right? At least, he hoped this would put Sybille in higher spirits. A new dress, and some time with her older brother, that was nice, right? He watched as his sister explored, looking at the various items available. It was the latest fashions, though he wasn't really one to care for such things.

Feeling a slight nudge on his arm, he looked over in confusion. Raising an eyebrow, he shook his head slightly. "I'm sorry, Miss Flint. I would not know of such things. Perhaps you could ask my little sister." He said, partially joking on his last sentence. He remembered her vaguely from school, but couldn't recall if they had even spoken to one another. It was clear to him that he was certainly not who she thought he had been, but it was rather amusing to see her reaction.

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Magic by MJ!

The gentleman before her was a recognizable fellow with his bright red hair. They’d gone to school together for seven years and while they hadn’t been in the same house Lucy’s upbringing had made her very aware of two things; one, that gentlemen of her status, that is to say from good families, were people to remember and by name alone she knew who Mr. Lukeson was. Two, that she would one day marry and therefore it was important to know eligible gentleman and form opinions on them. She couldn’t remember the last time she and Mr. Lukeson had actually spoken, but she could remember speaking of him among her friends.

“Mr. Lukeson.” She greeted fondly as if they had spoken only just yesterday. “I do apologize, I had thought you my maid.” A faint blush crept into her cheeks for it was of terribly poor taste to be asking for an opinion on one’s undergarments to a gentleman. She placed the stockings back on the table, hoping he might forgive her indecency.

Hoping to turn the conversation to less daring topics she then asked, “How have you been? It feels as if it has been years since school and yet it’s only been one. How time flies, don’t you agree?” Words cascaded in a polite tumble from her lips, flighty as butterflies in a field of daisies

  

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Thank you MJ for an amazingly Lucy set!

Though he and his immediate family did not agree with the rest of their families views on blood purity, that didn't mean that his own blood 'purity' didn't give him some advantages. Purists seemed to value his family as equals, or at least close to it, given the relationship and non-dismissal of his half-blooded cousins and their parents. His family was also quite respectable, outside of the hint of oddness of his mother and grandmother.

A hint of shock showed on his face at the statement that she had thought him to be her maid. Then he thought further and realize what he meant. "It is an understandable mistake. Though one I hope that none of my sisters shall make." He said, though the second statement was more lighthearted and jokingly.

His kind smile lessened softly, a hint of sadness showing in his eyes. "I have obtained a wonderful job in the Ministry, in the Department of Education. Though tragedy has struck my family recently. There have been several deaths in my family, and I have been left as guardian of my siblings." He said softly. It still hurt, though he tried his best to not burden his sadness on his siblings.

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Magic by MJ!

“I should hope not!” Lucy giggled. She’d always wished for a younger sibling to boss around or an older brother to keep an eye on her. But she supposed one didn’t boss around older siblings and as such could understand Mr. Lukeson’s predicament if his younger sisters began such a habit.


Mr. Lukeson looked sad, Lucy could not fathom what she might have said until he explained. “I am sorry to hear of such tidings. You have my most sincere condolences. How are you and your sisters handling such a loss?” Genuine concern filled Lucy’s voice. She hated to hear of such sadness

  

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Thank you MJ for an amazingly Lucy set!

At least he had brought up her spirits. Though something that she would hopefully never do again, it was still a mistake. "The only sister I worry about to make such a mistake would be my young- second youngest sister. Sometimes she gets a bit too caught up in her own thoughts." He said thoughtfully, briefly glancing around to make sure his sister wasn't getting into mischief. To his luck, she was simply looking at some dresses near the window.

Catching his sister's gaze, he motioned for her to come over. He turned to look back at Miss Flint before she had spoken. "Thank you Miss Flint. We are struggling. My main concern is for Sybille and Avril. Sybille was so close with our mother. And Avril... mother and her were not getting along at the time." He said sadly. As Sybille approached, he looked over and gave his little sister a kind smile.

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Magic by MJ!

“Well I shall hope that won’t happen. How old is she?” Lucy asked, wondering briefly if Mr. Lukeson thought she too had her head up in the clouds. She rather hoped he didn’t, for she felt that would be rather unjust after just one encounter of the sort, but perhaps changing the conversation to his sister might help ease that impression.

While Lucy didn’t know the circumstances she did feel for the young siblings. She could hardly imagine what it would be like to be seperated from her mother in either circumstance. For she was close with her mom, but there were moments when she wished to rail against her. “If there is anything I can do to help, please let me know.”

Lucy smiled at the young red head who joined him. “This must be your sister.” Lucy stated with a bright smile, she assumed it was Sybille as she had known of Avril during her school days. “It’s a pleasure to meet you Sybille.” Lucy directed her attention at the young girl.

  

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Thank you MJ for an amazingly Lucy set!

Ace wasn't one to judge after simply one off encounter. Not unless they were especially rude. Which Miss Flint was certainly not. "She will be turning eleven later this month. I am not certain if we shall be hosting a party, given the recent losses in the family." He responded. It was hard to watch Sybille go through all of these milestones without mother and father around. Soon, she'll be getting her first wand without them.

It broke Ace's heart to see Sybille so hurt over the loss. They were all hurting, and it was so hard to keep a brave face for his siblings when all he wanted to do was have his own space to cope with all of it. "Thank you." He responded. Though, he couldn't imagine if there was much that she could do. It wasn't her responsibility, and he was sure that she had her own life that she wished to focus on.

Grateful to see such kindness from another, he smiled kindly once more to Miss Flint. Nodding to the young lady's comment, he smiled at his little sister. "This is her." He responded. Though a red head like their father, she had such a similar personality to their mother. At least in his opinion.

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Magic by MJ!

The last month of Sybille’s young life had been undoubtedly the worst. She struggled to remember every morning when she woke up, indeed whenever a thought popped into her mind to tell her parents, that mother and father were gone. Not to mention that black dresses were back for another year. She had so hoped for some color soon. But it seemed such a small thing in the grand scheme of things.

In some attempt to bright their days Ace had brought them shopping. Sybille had meandered the shop as her sisters fawned over fabrics and ribbons. Shopping just wasn’t the same without mother. She would rather hide in the kitchen and make bread or cookies. Bored of staring at black fabrics Sybille wandered over to where Ace stood talking to a lady. As she approached him she smiled shyly at the lady. Who actually addressed her. “It’s nice to meet you.” Sybille replied in a quiet but politeful voice.

  

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“Quite understandable.” Lucy nodded solemnly, before smiling at Ace, “But old enough for Hogwarts! She must be so excited for that.” Lucy could remember being eleven and on the brink of attending Hogwarts, she could hardly wait for each day to pass before she got there.

Lucy smiled down at the charming little girl. “I’m Miss Lucille Flint. I attended Hogwarts with your brother.” She explained with an ever present smile.

  

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Thank you MJ for an amazingly Lucy set!

It felt as if he was taking away something important from Sybille by not hosting a party for her eleventh birthday. Everyone knew that it was a very important milestone for those of the magical community. Still, he wished to respect the memory of their parents. Hopes were high that Sybille understood that. "Yes she is. I have been answering many questions about the school for her." He responded, remembering Jolie complaining over how many questions Sybille was asking.

Black was not a color that Ace thought of when thinking of most of his sister... except perhaps Avril when she was feeling especially rebellious. Though he would never admit those thoughts. In truth, Ace did wish that Avril would try harder to act more responsible and proper. At least for the sake of their younger sisters. It was a great relief that Jolie and Sybille did not take Avril's attitude to heart. "If I remember correctly, you were in Hufflepuff while at school." He added. The same house that their mother was in, and the same house that Ace suspected Sybille to be in.

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Magic by MJ!

“I can imagine.” Lucy couldn’t help but giggle. She’d probably been just as bad as a child, her mother had rarely had the time to answer so she’d taken to pestering her cousins about school. The letters between the cousins that summer had been seemingly endless.

The young girl looked rather timid, Lucy couldn’t say she blamed her after what Mr. Lukeson had just explained. “Yes.” She confirmed looking at Mr. Lukeson with a smile before looking at the younger girl again. “Do you have a house you hope to be in?” She glanced at the brother wondering if he would answer for the girl with how quiet she seemed.

  

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Thank you MJ for an amazingly Lucy set!

Sybille smiled at Miss Flint. “My mother was a Hufflepuff.” She volunteered, when Ace said that Miss Flint had been in that house. The woman again fixed her attention on Sybille, “I don’t know. I would hope to follow my mother, but almost everyone else is a Ravenclaw.” If there was a house that baked she was fairly certain that would be where she’d be sorted, but apparently such a thing didn’t exist at Hogwarts. She looked up at her older brother as she mentioned his house.

Then, because she felt she talked enough and was quite tired of this outing, she looked up at her brother. “Ace, Avril is looking at more black ribbon.” Sybille was clearly over anything black as was she about ribbons. She loved ribbons, but only when they were vibrant colors, pinks and greens and yellows and blues. Not black.

  

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It was nice for Sybille to have a chance to socialize more. Even in mourning, he did hope that this would help for his sister to cope and move forward with her life. Mother would want them to be happy, not hide away from the world forever.

Sybille seemed to likely be a Hufflepuff. Just like mother, and likely the same house that their cousin would be. Smiling at the mention Ravenclaw, he playfully winked at his little sister. Though not as likely, it would be nice if she was placed in the same house that he was in. However, mother would have loved for her to be a Hufflepuff.

Ace stopped himself from laughing softly at the mention of Avril and black ribbons. "Well, it is an appropriate accessory for one in mourning. Perhaps she is getting some for you and Jolie as well." He responded. It wasn't a color that he liked to see on his sisters, especially due to the fact that it symbolized what they were going through. But they had to, in order to respect those they lost.

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Magic by MJ!

“I think you be a very good fit for Hufflepuff.” Lucy confirmed as if she were the definitive person on the matter, truthfully she hardly knew the girl, but if her mother had just died and she wanted to be in Hufflepuff… well then who was Lucy to say otherwise.

Black ribbon did seem dreadful, Lucy had to agree with the girl’s voice, she couldn’t imagine what it would be like to be in black all the time. She hoped she didn’t have to find out soon. The last time she’d been in mourning she’d only been a year old and luckily she didn’t remember it. “At least there are different types of ribbons, I think a lacy one might accent your dress nicely.” Lucy could hear a whine in the girl’s voice, maybe acting as if she were very excited about ribbons of any color would help the poor dear.

  

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Thank you MJ for an amazingly Lucy set!

Sybille smiled shyly at the lady’s assessment. “Thank you.” She demurred. She could only hope she really would end up in Hufflepuff, but Ravenclaw couldn’t be too bad if so many of her siblings had ended up in it. The very least she could hope for was that Fleur was in the same house as she. The two cousins often fretted about it as they baked.

“Oh, a lacy one wouldn’t be so bad.” She nodded, then looked up at Ace, “I’m going to make sure Avril picks that out instead of something worse.” She wrinkled her nose in distaste. If she had to wear black maybe it would be prettier in lace. “It was nice to meet you Miss Flint.” Sybille slipped back across the sales floor to her sisters where she could at least intervene before they bought something she truly hated.

  

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