January 2nd, 1895 — Winter Festival, Padmore Park

Somehow, the first day of the festival had gone off without a hitch, which was a blessing for all involved in his department. It had taken months of delicate charm work to unravel the magical chaos caused by the young (and presumably powerful) Miss Regina Pendergast and the Bone Menagerie. There had been countless meetings, endless hours of headaches, and still somehow those higher up than him had believed it logical to test their work with a festival of all things. Dory had initially argued for a much softer, quieter opening, however he lost all hope for his voice being heard after every point made fell on deaf ears.

Now all that was left was to pray nothing went wrong today.

They didn't have much reason anything necessarily would go wrong today. The ground had been thoroughly tested, the caves caused by the sinkhole had all been filled in and closed off. By all accounts, the ministry had dotted every I and crossed every T, and still Dory couldn't shake the feeling that they somehow missed something critical.

It was with this feeling in mind that he had volunteered to amongst the ministry employees discreetly working the event. He had experienced enough disastrous encounters to never wish a similar experience upon one of his squad members, so if someone was to risk their lives it would be him. Though now that he was walking through the market he wished he had chosen differently. (Was that a tremble beneath his feet or was his mind playing tricks on him?)

It was going to take a long time before Dory willingly strolled through the park again.

He stopped at a stall selling small wooden trinkets as a ship caught his eye for Orion. The Darrow branch of his family had to have countless ship paraphernalia, but maybe it would entice Orion to view Dory as his favorite uncle if Dory had ships at his house too? Zelda certainly would appreciate the gesture at least. It took but a minute to barter an agreeable price for the ship and barely another to charm it small enough to fit into his pocket. He'd have to invite Zelda over for tea now, which was never a hardship but meant ensuring his place was safe enough for a todd-

"Mabel," Dory greeted with surprise as he registered her sudden appearance besides him. Then, with a broadening smile he added, "Happy New Year."

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The air was bitter cold but Mabel hardly resented the chance to get back into Padmore Park again. The appearance and disaster of the sinkhole had left the community in tatters to recover from the aftermath of Miss Pendergast’s display of magic. Even at the time Mabel had wondered how Dory was handling it given he was the head of the Accidental Magical Reversal Squad. She knew he’d untangled nasty magical incidents before but this seemed to be one of those larger-than-life events that required the brain power of multiple departments.

It was with Dory in her thoughts that the healer entered Padmore Park on the premise of merely enjoying herself rather than looking out for anything disastrous. She perused the botanical garden, observing the many specimens there and making a note to stop by Evergarden’s later in the week to replenish her supplies in her potions kit.

Mrs. Honeycutt had set up a joint stall with Miss Edgecombe from the Ivy Leaf where they sold butterbeer and pastries which Mabel thought she might stop by later to get some refreshments once she was done exploring. She hummed a little tune to herself before she spotted a familiar figure at a stall. Her heart leapt in her chest as she walked over to the stall next to him. She idly looked over the wares provided (magically petrified flowers that had been made into earrings, necklaces, bracelets and hair ornaments) waiting for Dory to be done with the vendor before she sidled up next to him.

He seemed to be deep in his thoughts because it was only after he’d pocketed his purchase that he registered her. Unoffended, Mabel gave him a smile. “Good afternoon, Mr. Fisk.” She replied pointedly, as the turning of people's heads around her to look towards his familiar greeting reminded of her blunder just yesterday at the New Years Ball. “I hope you’re enjoying yourself today?”

Dorian Fisk

  

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He chuckled at his blunder, the very same one she'd made yesterday. It was near impossible to keep their intimate knowledge of one another at bay when caught by surprise, though if anyone ever asked Dory would be able to easily explain their friendship. (We have worked countless cases together, she was with me for the dragon attack and when the Ivy Leaf was bombed, we're friends, nothing more.) It would be a lie, of course, but after years of avoiding suspicion with romantic entanglements Dory felt relatively safe.

“I am,” he answered with a white lie as he nodded his farewell to the merchant and led Mabel back into the crowd. “And you? What brings you to the festival tonight?” Will Mr. Coyle be joining us?

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The throng of people in Padmore Park wasn’t a surprise; given how much of a central location Padmore Park was to Hogsmeade, it was a considerable blow to the community when it was roped off. Now that it was restored, Mabel enjoyed watching the families gather round for games and festivities. The sound of laughter and smell of food in the air was too great to resist for many, Mabel included.

“The same reason most people came, I suppose,” She responded, keeping herself at an acceptable distance, though not bothering to control the smile on her face. “I wanted to see Padmore Park restored in all its glory.” She’d missed walking through the park on her way to her flat. Walking by every day on her way to and from work, seeing the Ministry workers (Rowan included) working hard to reassemble the park piece by piece was a testament to how integral it had been, and how much the community had wanted it back.

Mabel resisted the urge to draw closer to him but it was about as easy as pulling against a magnetic field. “Are you on duty today then?” Her eyes moved to the crowd, wondering how many plainclothes Ministry workers were secretly watching out for any further trouble afoot.

Dorian Fisk

  

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The parkwas supposed to be restored to its glory, so Dory didn't blame Mabel for wanting to believe it to be true. Still, it was a challenge for him to not lean in and beg her to flee while she still could. He had already saved her from a building's collapse once before, and that was when he wasn't responsible for anyone but her. If the sinkhole were to reopen — if she disappeared into the abyss — Dory wasn't sure he would be able to focus on his work until she was safe.

But, the park was supposed to be safe, and she wanted to enjoy it. Ripping that joy from her was as unfair as warning her off Coyle when she seemed to enjoy his attention. (It was killing him not to ask about the kiss to her hand.)

“The gardens are reportedly beautiful.” He was still smiling, still overjoyed to be spending a rare minute with her, but a shadow seemed to cross his face now. “Have you gone yet?” They were on the far edge of where the hole once was, which stood a better chance of remaining in place if the hole were to reopen.

Dory nodded. “Yes, there are a few of us working tonight. Just another safety measure.” He kept his voice low to lower the risk of being overheard. That, and he didn't want to have to answer questions with responses he didn't necessarily believe in. (After all, what was he supposed to do if they all fell in a magic-siphoning sinkhole again?)

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“I took a quick walk through some of them when I got here,” Mabel provided, still looking around every which way. It seemed just when her attention had caught one thing, another replaced it demanding to be beheld. But his voice drew her back into their little bubble and she paused in her observing to look up at him.

He looked worried. Not in a way that might be obvious, but she knew the lines of his face too well; knew the brief twitch of his brows; the way his eyes seemed to shutter slightly that seemed to convey a deeper thought. So she was right in assuming there were more plainclothes Ministry folks wandering around. She took care not to look around the crowd with worry on her face, keeping her gaze affixed to him.

She decided not to say anything; there was nothing she could say that wouldn’t potentially be overheard. “But I’d be happy to revisit them if you haven’t gotten a chance to do so already.” She said of the gardens.

Dorian Fisk

  

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He kept his gaze focused on the crowd, scanning quietly for any signs of mishaps or chaos. Of course, there were none (yet) and likely wouldn't be. And really, if he were smart, he would be using this time as paid fun, rather than another source of stress. Dory drew in a deep breath and forced the anxiety back a step. After all, if something did go wrong he would need to be able to focus instead of panic.

“Would you like to have some hot cocoa with me first?” Dory asked, glancing over at her for a moment before turning back to the crowd. “I think there's a stand back that way selling some and, if you can believe it, ice cream as well.” Dory was far too cold for the summertime treat, but he'd order one for her if she liked.

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Hot cocoa! Mabel visibly perked up at that, and almost gave a little hop in place as she followed his gaze. “Oh, that sounds lovely, I think my fingers are freezing cold right now!” She quipped, following him over to the stand. She made sure to keep close behind him, again resisting the urge to reach out and take his hand.

Now that they’d settled on rekindling their friendship, Mabel found it harder to truly keep that distance one would expect from friends. Even during her working days there were times when she was called to incidents involving children exhibiting magic and she could only hold her breath until she got there, hoping that she’d run into Dory along the way. Often it was one of his employees now that he was the Squad Head, as it should be, but she couldn’t help but wonder if they mentioned her to Dory later in the day.

Arriving at the stand caused her thoughts on this to cease and she refocused back on the task at hand. “Oh I think I needed this more than I thought I did,” She mused as she accepted a cup.

  

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Her delight brightened his dimming spirits considerably, so much so that he nearly reached for her hand to draw her closer to him. Mabel had always shone like a star — no, like the fullest moon — and Dory hadn't realized until recently just how much he missed her light.

“As did I,” he admitted before taking a small sip of the steaming hot cocoa. His bones had begun to freeze in the shivering temperatures. With any luck, the cocoa would tide him over this last hour until the festival ended and he was able to return home. “I think the organizers were pushing for some warming charms around the area. You can imagine the looks they received from my department at the thought of using more magic in this area.”

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At the idea of using more magic in the area, Mabel winced. She understood the sentiment but after the park had been so decimated by magic, it likely wasn’t the reassuring gesture they thought it would be. She gave a light laugh as she sipped on her cocoa, stepping out of the way of everyone else. She wondered if he had any hesitations about the botanical garden seeing as it was closer to the edge of where the pit had been.

“Hopefully those needing warming charms already know how to apply them themselves,” she commented, then dared to reach out and put her hand on his forearm. It was a quick gesture, one that she immediately retracted and only served the purpose of getting his attention. She hadn’t been looking for an excuse to touch him at all, no.

“Could we go see the botanical gardens now, do you think?” She asked hopefully as she looked up at him from her cocoa. It was true she’d already seen a bit of them, but she knew seeing them with Dory would be like seeing them anew.

  

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Hopefully, those desiring warming charms realized the delicacy of the situation and opted for a heavier coat instead. The last thing they needed was the park being set ablaze by a spell gone wrong if the magic beneath their feet remained unstable. Breathe, he reminded himself as he took another sip of his cocoa. Everything was thus far going well and there were no signs of that changing.

“Yes, absolutely.” Dory agreed as he resisted the urge to hold out his arm for her. It would be different if they were courting or engaged, then friendly touches would be smiled upon rather than the subject of curious stares and swirling rumors. Some day, maybe. Hopefully.

He led them towards the gardens and through the gate to the gardens. It was his first time seeing the hard work of the botanists in person and the sight filled his eyes with wonder. Dory had never been the type to fawn over plants but even he could see the dedication and devotion put into the greenery. “Wow,” he mused softly as he glanced over at her. “I understand their insistence upon including a garden now. I'm surprised you didn't linger here longer earlier.” Though he was incredibly grateful now that she hadn't.

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It was difficult for Mabel not to break into a little skip as she followed him; instead she merely picked up her pace to accommodate for his strides. The cool chill of the air meant her breath billowed out in wispy white clouds in front of her and she worked to balance her cup of cocoa as they walked. She was content to walk over there in silence, letting the chatter around them float back and forth.

Once they reached the gardens, Mabel grinned, looking up at Dory to gauge his reaction. The look on his face was about the same expression that her own had held when she walked through before meeting him. Greenery absolutely spilled over every which way like a waterfall. “Isn’t it just beautiful,” She murmured to him, taking a step towards one of the rare flowers that Philomena Sprout had donated to the garden. It was at that same moment that another person had stepped towards the flower to observe. One foot in the wrong place and Mabel’s ankle rolled under her. She gave a gasp of pain and collapsed.

“Woah there!”

There was a flash of movement and a pair of arms shot out to catch her. Mabel blinked. Looked at Dory. Then peered up into the face of Mr. Coyle as color immediately flooded her cheeks.

  

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It had been the perfect moment to try and catch up with her. He’d seen the two go into the gardens and quietly tacked himself onto their tour group towards the back until the guide had left everyone to wander on their own time. Fisk was easily occupied by the novelty of the flowers; something that brought a grin to his lips as he slowly made his way nearer to the pair.

A timely sneeze from someone nearby masked his confundus charm perfectly, causing Miss Brighton to stumble; a perfect opportunity to quite literally swoop in. With her in his arms, Coyle grinned down at her, letting warmth into his expression as he let out a low chuckle. “Careful, I heard some of these plants are carnivorous.”

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written by: lady

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One minute she was standing beside him and the next she had fallen into Coyle's arms. Dory hadn't even had time to react (nor would he have been able to safely catch her without falling himself) before her new suitor had miraculously appeared and saved her. For a moment, Dory stood there awkwardly, stunned into inaction for perhaps the first time in his life. It was like a scene from one of those trash romance novels he sometimes read, only this time Coyle was the hero and Dory was the forgotten one.

He felt uncomfortable intruding on the pair, especially when Mabel had so happily spent the start of the New Year with Coyle's lips on her skin. In fact, he would have quietly slipped from the scene altogether were he not so attached to her opinion of him. It would go against their newly rekindled friendship to leave without saying goodbye, or would she rather he did so she might spend time with Coyle?

The uncertainty dragged on endlessly as he shifted, his expression full of concern for her wellbeing, and waited for her to regain her balance. Dory would leave them once he knew she was alright. After all, he was supposed to be working, not admiring the flowers.

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beautiful set by lady

“I’m so sorry,” She managed, her voice caught in her throat as she stared up at Mr. Coyle. Her heart had started to thud impeccably loudly in her chest as he helped straighten her back to rights as easily as if he was lifting a feather. She swallowed. “A-are you hurt?” The distinct smell of cocoa wafted through the air; she’d spilled her cocoa on the both of them. It had cooled down enough to not burn her skin, but that might have been because her cheeks were already burning.

“Not a bit, Miss Brighton.” Came his response, coated with amusement. He took out his wand and tapped it on both of them. The smell of chocolate was still apparent, but Mabel was considerably less wet. As she took a step back, her flustered gaze landed on Dory. “Ah! Mr. Coyle, you remember Mr. Fisk?” She prompted.

Mr. Coyle gave a dip of his head to Dory. Mabel smiled up at Dory, her expression hopeful. “Mr. Fisk and I had just been about to finish the tour of the gardens. Would you care to join us?”

  

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“I’d delight in nothing more,” Coyle’s grin stayed on his face as he moved his gaze from Miss Brighton to Fisk, his hands in his pockets as he gave the man a once-over.

“You don’t mind, do you Fisk?” Of course he wouldn’t really care if Fisk shouted his protest to the world, but appearances must be kept up. He shifted his weight which incidentally brought him closer to Miss Brighton.

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written by: lady

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