24th March, 1891 — Fitz's Flat

It would never have occurred to Harriet to book a berth of her own on the Santa Antonina: partly because she loathed the very thought of being confined to one place for so long and partly because other than her nieces there weren't too many interesting people filling out the passenger list. And then of course she had found out that her son was taking the trip and it was too late to join the cruise, even if she'd wanted to.

The very least she could do was to ensure he used the time wisely and if that involved interrupting his packing then so be it.

"I understand both of the Miss Zabinis will be aboard?" Harriet asked with faux disinterest. She knew perfectly well that they were and had already assessed the suitability of them both as potential daughters-in-law; they both passed muster, despite their mother, and either would be a perfectly suitable match for Fitz.

---

---

Fitzroy Prewett | Aldous Crouch

  

---

Lady is magnificent and so is this set <3

It had been the ardent hope of Fitzroy Prewett that he might slip away unnoticed, write to his mother while berthed in Spain or something equally exotic, to tell her of his departure after the fact. Unfortunately, her invitation for luncheon the following week had demanded a response, and the sending of regrets had demanded an excuse and now here he was, faced with Harriet Prewett in the flesh and duty bound to offer her tea even though what he wanted was for his mother to leave. Surely Faustus did not face this degree of their mother's special brand of affection?

"Will they?" the wizard asked in genuine surprise before swiftly—but likely not swiftly enough—schooling his expression into one of polite disinterest. In truth, he had given limited thought as to who would actually be on the boat, instead focusing upon the adventure of it. But if Miss Zabini was to be on board, well, that could mean a whole different sort of adventure...

"I am sure a great many fashionable people saw it their mission to secure a cabin; I am no doubt fortunate to have made inquiries rather early."

  

---

— graphics by lady ❤ —

So he had been planning this for a while, had he? Without bothering to tell her of his intentions, in fact actively avoiding telling her when she had mentioned the cruise a month or so ago over dinner, noting to her son that Matilda and Rufina would likely come to regret being at sea when the season began.

Harriet opted to hold her tongue. Contrary to what she suspected her son thought of her she did not desire them to be joined at the hip but she did want to know what he was up to – the last time she had not known he had ended up in Azkaban along with Freddie and…

“Please tell me Arthur Pettigrew isn’t joining you?”

A quick engagement would be one thing, a further criminal record quite another!

---

  

---

Lady is magnificent and so is this set <3

Fitz snorted in response. It was not dignified, but it was apt. The thought that Desdemona Pettigrew might let her husband leave the country was laughable, for the woman's desire to suck all adventure from Art's life had only intensified since the Quidditch World Cup.

"Art couldn't escape the quidditch season even if he were inclined to," Fitz pointed out. "Worry not, this is my own little adventure before the season begins and you have me strutting about like a peacock." Never mind that he had no intention to actually strut about looking for a wife. His brother and sisters had given their mother plenty of grandchildren, and Faustus had ensured the continuation of the Prewett family name. Besides, he had two other brothers who had never married!

  

---

— graphics by lady ❤ —

“Oh, because it’s only for my sake that you flirt with every young lady I’ve ever seen you stand next to,” Harriet replied drily over the rim of her teacup. She was under no illusion that Fitz had plenty of women in his life – was it too much to ask that he make an honest woman of at least one of them?

“Where is the ship heading again? Nowhere they play illegal games I hope?”

---

  

---

Lady is magnificent and so is this set <3

"Flirting and wooing are two entirely different things," Fitz uttered with a scowl, not even justifying his mother's question with a response.

  

---

— graphics by lady ❤ —

"Yes my dear, but there's no reason that they have to be, is there?" Harriet asked, a delicate frown appearing on her brow. "I hope you don't imagine I would ever force a match upon you, Fitzroy?"

Not unless she absolutely had to of course, but if that had not arisen as a problem yet then it probably never would. Fitz seemed to have a good grasp of discretion at least.

---

  

---

Lady is magnificent and so is this set <3

Not in the traditional sense, of course. He was a grown man of thirty; he had his own home, his own income. She had no authority over him. But Harriet Prewett was his mother still, one with an uncanny gift for guilt and needling and while she could not force him to do anything, Fitz would not have been surprised if she invited him for lunch one day only to haul a bride, vicar, and witnesses from out of a sidebar.

"I have no sights set on marriage," he said by way of answer, "not this year, at least."

  

---

— graphics by lady ❤ —

That didn’t answer her question but nor did it invite further conversation: which was something of a habit when one conversed with Fitzroy she had come to notice. Perhaps she ought to give up while she was still ahead? Focus her attentions onto her other sons and hope that Fitz eventually realised that being alone became harder with each passing year?

“If you could rally yourself to it before I die I would be most grateful,” she said with a sardonic smile. “I’m surprised the Minister is allowing you so much time away…there isn’t anything you need to tell me about work is there?”

  

---

Lady is magnificent and so is this set <3

He did not quite resist the urge to roll his eyes.

"I have dozens of men quite capable of keeping the department from setting itself on fire, Mother," he remarked. "Besides, I'll liaise with my Spanish counterpart while in port."

  

---

— graphics by lady ❤ —

Unless the Spanish counterpart was a pretty debutante of sound family Harriet had precisely zero interest in what her son’s professional arrangements were. (Beyond the possibility that she would be missing out on a cruise replete with handsome Spaniards.)

“How thrilling for you.” Harriet replied wryly. “Almost as thrilling as the map I shall have to invest in to know where my son is.”

The following 1 user Likes Harriet Prewett's post:1 user Likes Harriet Prewett's post
   Fitzroy Prewett

---

Lady is magnificent and so is this set <3

"You shall hardly even know I am gone," Fitz insisted, resisting the urge to sigh audibly.

  

---

— graphics by lady ❤ —

So spoke a man without children, Harriet thought wryly, but had the wisdom not to say aloud. It was a terrible shame really - Fitz's child would have been nearly eight years old which was a lovely age from what Harriet recalled her nannies telling her. Still, there was time, though she doubted this cruise would move them any closer to where she wished her son to end.

"Send me a postcard darling," she said with a long-suffering sigh, reaching out to stroke her son's cheek, forcing him to look at her. "And stay out of trouble."

[wrap?]

  

---

Lady is magnificent and so is this set <3

"I always endeavour to do so," he said perfunctorily, leaning to kiss his mama on the cheek. He never meant to get into trouble, and it had been some time since he had been. Surely, Fitz thought, this would be an easy request to honour.

  

---

— graphics by lady ❤ —