May 18th, 1888 — Into the Jungle Fashion Show, Hogsmeade Ballroom

While Violetta had resigned to the fact that her days of "prowling for a husband" were past, it was very difficult to avoid events that were out of the norm. Garden parties, general balls — those were getting boring, but a fashion show was different. It wasn't just any fashion show either; the guests donned animal masks, and the tone was very different from the usual cookie-cutter event hosted socialites everywhere. Maybe that was the allure, or maybe it was knowing that she could openly socialize with anyone without worrying about what her mother would think. Besides, she couldn't be to blame for not knowing who was hiding under the masks!

After the actual fashion show concluded, Violetta found herself situated besides a gentleman who had to be, at the very least, a foot taller than she was. She knew she was short, but it wasn't very often she met men of the opposite extreme! While Violetta (in the most Extra fashion) donned a unicorn mask, the gentleman before wore one that resembled a large, spotted wildcat. It seemed that this evening, even five former seasons of regularly socializing with gentleman couldn't spare her from the bashfulness that overcame her; she was glad he couldn't see her flushed cheeks!

"Your mask suits you, Mr. Rosier. A fierce creature for a gentleman with an equally fierce occupation," she complimented. It seemed that, no matter how hard she tried to come across as flirtatious, her tone suggestion nothing but simple sincerity (and she was far too cautious to be so forward)!

  

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☙ Post Log ❧

If asked Enoch would have expressed the opinion that the masks, and anything at all relating to such frivolity, was foolish and pointless, but privately he thought they were rather amusing. His also gave him ample opportunity to look for longer than was strictly considered decent at some of the young women of their society without being chastised for it. One could look at a whore for as long as desired – not that it was advisable given the state of some of the specimens he had seen – but a young lady of breeding was quite a different pleasure to behold.

It was a sea of porcelain skin and well-kept hair, finely cut gowns and sparkling jewels, and the best part was that there was a show that made gazing all the easier. The lights being slightly dim did little to spoil his eyes and Enoch felt as much like a pig in muck as he did a ferocious feline, though the narrowing of his eyes whenever he beheld somebody he considered worth perusing later was definitely more reminiscent of the latter.

The girl he found himself next to, happily, was one such sighting.

“You seem to know more of me than I do of your Miss Lestrange,” he replied with a playful smile. “Certainly something that requires remedying I’d say.”

  

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Indecently attractive set by MJ

Violetta let out a high-pitched, girlish giggle and felt her cheeks heat up — which, fortunately, he couldn't see. Part of her did wish that everyone could take off their masks though, if only so she was capable of reading everyone else's expressions. Though Mr. Rosier's tone was warm, who knew if he truly was happy to speak to her or if he was simply feigning it? Perhaps it was just her insecurities, undoubtedly caused by previously failed seasons, that made her feel that way. It was so difficult to feel pretty among girls much younger than she, no matter what attention she was paid!

"Well then," she teased, smiling up at the much taller gentleman. "I shall attempt to answer whatever questions you may have." Apart from a few obvious questions that no polite gentleman would dare ask, and a few ones that she didn't know the answers to herself — not that she expected Mr. Rosier to be ungentlemanly.

  

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☙ Post Log ❧

The giggle was just the right side of charming but Enoch suspected that were she anything other than a Lestrange he might have thought otherwise. Young ladies were often a disappointment to Enoch, something he considered to be a fault entirely of their own making as their one task in life was to be attractive and amenable enough to attract a husband, but so far Miss Lestrange had yet to irk him which was a triumph in itself.

She had seen slightly too many seasons for his liking but she was attractive enough that it made up for it, more or less.

“I do hope nothing as dangerous as my profession occupies your time, Miss Lestrange? We aurors put ourselves in the line of fire to keep young ladies such as yourself safe from harm so I would hate to think it was in vain?”

Apart from Connolly of course but she didn’t really count. There were ladies and those who just happened to lack an appendage!

  

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Indecently attractive set by MJ

Violetta was perhaps the last debutante to pursue less than perfectly safe hobbies, especially given her failure of a cousin who had seen herself scandalized due to trouble. Miss Scrimgeour's only saving grace was that she didn't bear the Lestrange surname; it was the only was Violetta herself had been able to escape close association with the rumored harlot. And that was before considering the level of control her parents exerted over her life.

"I'm sure my life is boring compared to yours, Mr. Rosier," she explained with a cordial smile. "I enjoy intellectual pursuits, though I don't have the inclination to pursue anything further than research from the comfort of my library." Which, in short, meant lots and lots of reading.

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☙ Post Log ❧

Her life being dull was just as it ought to be and Enoch was rather pleased to have finally come across a woman that did nothing more or less than she ought to. Between unnatural oddities like Connolly who thought they were as suited to combat as those a full foot taller than them and mad bitches who had no sense of propriety and didn’t appreciate when they were being helped-

He scratched at the phantom mark on his neck.

“I’m sure it would not be unbecoming for you to branch out to the library at least,” he smiled charmingly, eying her speculatively. “The Rosier library is quite the sight to behold,” he added in a casual voice. “Though I’m sure there is little to match your family’s academic holdings.”

  

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Indecently attractive set by MJ

Violetta smiled pleasantly at his remarks. Mr. Rosier, she thought, was charming enough, and was certainly suited to the sort of idle small-chat her mother thought she should be having at these sorts of events. She'd given up on trying to boost her own appearances after her first two or three seasons, and now subscribed to the belief that the best way to catch the eye of a gentleman was to appease him.

"I have considered it. The Crowdy Memorial Library is said to contain volumes that few private collections can compare to," she responded. "I don't think it will ever remove the charm of a home library, though; sifting through personal collections can tell you far more about a family or individual than an art gallery or interior choices can."

Her father's library in their Hogsmeade home was more limited in what it kept on the shelves, but was also limited in who could access it. Her mother's in Westley Park was admittedly much larger and varied in its selection, which made sense—her mother was a woman with many interests and a large personality.

"Do you frequent your family's library, Mr. Rosier?"

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☙ Post Log ❧

That much was certainly true and Enoch had a sudden and powerful desire to have a rummage through the Lestrange collections to find out precisely what secrets they had at their core. The family was a formidable one and if he could gain some leverage he might find himself with a bride that came with distinct advantages. Miss Violetta Lestrange seemed perfect for his ends in that respect but he had heard the other one was in the market for a husband before she was put out to pasture.

On the other hand she was terrifying and he might want a bride primarily for his own advantage but he didn’t especially want a miserable woman sharing his bed. This Miss Lestrange was much more the ticket!

“I am scarcely out it of an evening,” he lied smoothly, unable to recall the last evening he had spent inside the place. There were technically books at the Painted Lady, he was sure he’d seen them. “And what sort of studies interest you? Perhaps we might learn from each other’s expertise.” If not then he’d be more than willing to teach for other rewards…

  

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Indecently attractive set by MJ

It was not unusual to find a man who liked to read, but it was unusual to find a man who inquired about her own interests. It was so unusual, in fact, that her expression went blank as she took a moment to find an answer she had not considered preparing! Her cheeks flushed pink and she lowered her gaze for a split second.

"I must admit my interests vary depending on the day," she said. "I have always favored history merely because it can never grow boring—assuming you know where to look," she continued, a twinkle in her eyes that could almost be described as mischievous.

"The Board of Governors sees fit to hide very important parts of history from students under the pretense that they are unsuitable for impressionable youths; that also, unfortunately, means many miss out on information—sometimes even magic—that could help make them better wizards and witches," she explained, her lips having settled into a very comfortable smile. She was most comfortable when speaking of things that interested her, but so often she was discouraged from doing so.

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☙ Post Log ❧

For a moment he thought she might have completely lost her ability to speak and in all honesty it was not an altogether unappealing look for a young lady. Then she spoke again and Enoch through longingly of her silence.

Miss Lestrange was beautiful, came from a family he would give his left testicle to have a connection to and, thus far, she had proven to be a very agreeable woman. But she also appeared to be the sort of woman that had opinions about things and something to say for herself and this he was not sure about at all. Women who thought too much were prone to fits of melancholy or discontent and he wasn’t sure he had to the energy for that.

Still…perhaps she would get over her flights of fancy once she was a wife and mother?

“You must tell me more Miss Lestrange,” he replied with a charming smile. “But first I must claim a dance with you before someone whisks you away from me.”

  

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Indecently attractive set by MJ