November 19th, 1888 - MoM
Maeve Connolly

It wasn't often that his mother needed his expertise on matters for work, they hardly overlapped, plants and creatures, but Mason supposed that once in a while it was nice to get out and do something related to his field that wasn't teaching. Plus he never approached the Headmaster for a leave without a legitimate excuse. Consulting on a ministry matter was probably a good enough reason. Probably.

Apparently there was a local florist, one Mason thought he might be familiar with, that wanted to crossbreed plants and animals? That was new and Mason thought, rather unorthodox if he were being honest. He'd been called to give a professional opinion on the matter, if you was even possible and how the ministry should facilitate the process. It had been interesting, to say the least, though he wasn't entirely sure of the prospects, he'd given his best professional opinion on the matter and he had spare time before heading back to the school.

On his way out of the ministry, Mason thought about stopping by Quin's for a snack or two, or even to see if his friend would take some time to grab some dinner, but he was stopped in his tracks after catching sight of a familiar head of red hair. Poor Miss Connolly seemed to be going through the ringer lately and being married to Barney couldn't have made it any easier. He thought he might not bother her, but as he looked up again, his eyes caught hers, so he passed her a sheepish smile. "Miss Connolly, a pleasure to see you again." He greeted as she shifted the book and papers in his arms from one to the other, leaving room for him to scratch the back of his head idly, a quirk when he didn't know what else to do with his hands.

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Barnabas Skeeter, bane of her existence, causing badgering and belittling even when he was not present. Hers had not been an easy road since the pair had abruptly married, especially as he bloody refused to leave Connolly House, and it was only the smallest blessing that the Ministry was so large that she was, generally, unlikely to see him during the course of her work day. Still, bumping into Mason Skeeter was far more surprising, given that the herbologist did not actually work for the Ministry of Magic.

“My apologies for not inviting you to the wedding,” she returned dryly, though a smile tugged at the corner of her lips. “The least you might have done, though, was sent a card.”

  

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— #PrettiesByMJ —

Mason barely resisted the grimace that threatened and instead managed a weak chuckle. "See, I wasn't entirely sure congratulations were in order." Mason was very familiar with his cousin's... demeanor and somehow the professor highly doubted that the redhead before him was one who would put up with that. Actually he rather thought Barney might die at the hands of a woman like Maeve Connolly. She reminded Mason quite a bit of his mother in personality and so therefore he assumed that she too would not suffer any fools for very long.

"I'm afraid I also rely heavily on my mother for such niceties, news is few and far between up at the castle." In all reality the school itself wasn't very far from town, but news seemed to stay put unless it directly involved a student or impacted the school itself. He wasn't complaining, the seclusion was a nice respite from the outside world and kept him far removed from things like amortentia-laced love letters.

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Maeve Connolly

  

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magic by MJ the magnificent

"You have good instincts," the witch remarked, teasingly. "You ought to have been an auror, rather than trapped up in the castle."

Though being married against her will was hardly something Maeve was inclined to celebrate, the redhead could not help but note that, of the Skeeter family, she seemed to have become shackled to the worst of the bunch. At least Mason Skeeter, she thought, she could have endured the company of once the amortentia's effects had finally worn off.

"My only true consolation is that my dear husband seems just as put out by the situation as I am, though it is scarcely a comfort," Maeve added. In spite of this, Barney Skeeter also seemed resigned to their fate, a fate that the auror was herself fighting tooth and nail.

Mason Skeeter

  

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— #PrettiesByMJ —

Relieved his jest hadn't got awry, Mason relaxed a little. "Clumsy as they come though, afraid I wouldn't have made it very far in the training." He shrugged a little. It was true, he was kind of gangling and awkward in general. He may have fared well enough in the academic aspects of being an auror, but the more physical traits were better left to those like the woman before him. He also tended to get a little distracted, which also would not serve him very well in life-or-death situations.

Nodding along, Mason had yet to hear how Barney felt about the whole thing, but then again, he had never much judged his cousin's ability to handle a situation like this. He hadn't any idea how he might handle it either, but Barney lacked a certain sense of... tact, Mason thought this kind of predicament would warrant. "Ah well, he has never been the most agreeable of people, even as children." Mason said absentmindedly. He certainly couldn't blame Maeve for her apparent distaste for the whole thing. "No clear way out yet then?" Honestly being married to Barney must have been miserable.

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"Not unless the culprit turns themselves in out of the goodness of her—or his—heart," her answer came, accompanied by a sigh. Though she was leading the charge against the person(s) responsible, little evidence had turned up—little of anything had turned up. It was simply a parade of half-leads and dead-ends and bizarre new marriages.

She loathed it.

"Tell me, Skeeter," she could not help but mentally flinch at the name, for all that there were dozens who bore it, "how did you escape these arranged love-traps? Surely you're as public a face as any, what with working at Hogwarts and all."

Mason Skeeter

  

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— #PrettiesByMJ —

Mason honestly felt a little bad for the person caught behind this. He rather thought it Miss Connolly had her way, there would be some... unsavory tactics involved somehow. Needless to say it would not be pleasant for them.

When the question of how he escaped surfaced Mason could only smile a little and shrug. "I honestly could not tell you but I thank Merlin every night. I must have a forgettable face, despite more than one appearance in Witch Weekly." How he ever found himself among the most eligible bachelors he would never know and part of him still suspected it was in jest, but he tried not to give it too much thought. "I think being tucked away in the castle gives us a little bit of leeway to be forgotten." He was so fine with that it was comical. He simply could not imagine the look on some poor woman's face if he'd ended up entangled somehow. Then again even he though it would be better than Barney. Poor Miss Connolly really must have had terrible luck.

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Maeve let out a small snort—some people, she thought, simply had all the luck.

"Treasure that anonymity," Maeve recommended tiredly. Though she had never been one to remain in the background, recent events had caused her to yearn for it.

  

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— #PrettiesByMJ —

Mason smiled sympathetically. He did not envy Miss Connolly in the slightest and he had the sneaking suspicion she knew that. It was most unfortunate for her. "I suspect I shall." He nodded. "Hopefully you can boast the same when the time comes." It would take a while, no doubt. Society would not likely forget this scandal until something bigger and better came along. In the mean time Mason sincerely hoped that Miss Connolly was able to get through the storm of noise that would no doubt barrage her throughout the course.

Though he didn't want to seem rude, Mason checked the watch in his pocket quickly. He'd likely missed his opportunity to stop and see his old housemate before heading back to the castle, but that was life. "I doubt I'll be seeing you at family functions in the near future, but best of luck. I'm afraid I have a curfew to meet." He chuckled and shrugged a little. "If I'm not back at the agreed upon time the Headmaster will simply leave me out of the barrier." Again, sad but true and Mason liked to stay on Black's neutral list.

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"It should set a bad example indeed if a professor were to be late," Maeve joked dryly.

  

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— #PrettiesByMJ —