August 11th, 1895 — The Painted Lady, Hogsmeade
Nova sat down at an empty table, placed a book down on the table with shaking hands, and tried to collect herself.
It had all started at Tomes and Scrolls. How was she to know that Porphyria would chose that exact time and day to browse the selection there? That would've been disturbing enough on its own, but she'd been there to buy a copy of Porphyria's new poetry book, hadn't she? Cemetery Verses seemed a significant title but she hadn't been able to discern much else about the book before the authoress herself walked through the bloody front door. Nova had almost thrown herself off the gallery in a panic of being caught by Miss Dempsey with her very book in her hands, she'd seem deranged or... or something else altogether undesirable. To her relief, Porphyria hadn't headed straight for her but in her relief she had done something truly mad. She'd swept down the stairs and straight out of the shop as fast as was possible without actually running. She stormed past three shops before she suddenly stopped and realized she'd just stolen the book.
She had to go back and pay for it, she wasn't a criminal, she couldn't let the shopkeeper think her some kind of book thief! But Porphyria was still in there, she'd probably think something perverse like her accidental shoplifting was impressive... or something. That was fine, she could maybe handle that, but she'd sooner throw herself under the Hogwarts Express than have Porphyria know it was her book she'd accidentally stolen. She couldn't have Porphyria knowing that she had a copy no matter how it was obtained. No, she was lucky enough that she'd probably gotten out of there without being seen by her, she'd just have to go back later and pay for it. Obviously - because fate was clearly tormenting her today - as she was having her moral quandary in the middle of the street, Porphyria emerged from the bookshop.
Nova clasped the book to her chest and tried to obscure as much of it as she could with her arms and scurried off down the street, not daring to look over her shoulder in case she drew Porphyria's attention. She had no reason to think Porphyria would actually approach her, she hadn't done so once in the entire year that had passed, but feeling guilty and having something to hide suddenly changed things. Nova walked briskly down the street, book smothered against her bosom, until she clocked the sign for The Painted Lady and decided she'd calm her nerves with some tea before she went back and confessed to her crime. It would also give Porphyria some time to go wherever she was going which was hopefully away from Hogsmeade sooner rather than later.
For a few moments, Nova just sat at the table while her heart pounded in her chest. As it finally seemed to be settling a little, she pulled the little book closer to her and, with a little difficulty thanks to her shaky hands and gloves, opened it. Her eyes scanned the contents quickly, she started to double take at what she'd thought had been her name, when the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. Nova's face snapped up and she was horror struck to see before her P.B. Dempsey herself. Fortunately she hadn't received any tea yet, so when she yanked the book from the table to hide it in her lap, nothing was spilled. She thought she might take ill, she was trapped. How could she know that Miss Dempsey might be thirsty or had social plans in this very establishment? But there was also no reason to think that she wasn't going to continue avoiding her. At least the book was out of sight, that was a close save, but she could feel the slim volume in her lap as though it was burning through to her petticoats.
Outfit | Tag: Porphyria Dempsey | Notes:
