Being around Alfred and Roslyn at the same time made her nervous. When her brothers didn't like Alfred Zelda could brush them off - Ari had his reasons, but as far as she was concerned Nemo and Konstantin were just pissy - but Roslyn was something else entirely. She was the Minister's wife, for one; as a second, more salient point, she had a life Zelda would like to have. Not the Minister's wife bit, but the other parts. She had interesting hobbies, she clearly loved Ross, she did not have too many children; she was confident and practical and loyal. None of this was anything Zelda had ever verbalized, to anyone - but it was true. She wanted to be more like Ros, and she wanted Ros to like Alfred, and neither of these things seemed likely to happen.

Which was fine, or would have been, except she had Jo Smith's note burning a hole in her pocket and she did not really believe that Alfred was fine, thanks and she did not know how to ask. She also didn't know what to do with him now: she was interested in the tabletop Quidditch, but wasn't sure if it was the sort of thing Alfred would be into, and she sort of hated croquet. Did she just hover in Ros' vicinity during the reception and hope for the best?! If the Minister came over she was going to wither away, she was sure; Zelda wasn't used to being around him when she was the only other Fisk.

It was easier to talk about Transfiguration, and Zelda was glad when Alfred brought it up. "Thanks," she said; she was bummed that things hadn't worked properly, but she'd liked her attempt. "I have this theory that Transfiguration is the best form of dueling magic, but that's probably because I like it best, right?"

Alfred seemed a little off, too; maybe she was reading into things too much, or maybe it was because of Ros and the Minister. Or maybe things weren't really fine, thanks and that was why.

She needed a drink or something; Zelda wished she had a champagne flute in hand.

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