Janruary 18th, 1890 — Irvingly Market

Annabeth had lived in Irvingly for a little over two years now, and still, she loved the little town. It surprised her she did, it was so much smaller and quieter than the city where her family home was. Yes, she missed the bustle of the city and maybe that was why she enjoyed market days so much, the crowds reminded her of home. She tried to go every week, even if she didn't need anything - like this week. There was nothing she or the household needed, at least not that anyone had mentioned to her or the housekeeper wasn't in charge of.

The market was always so colorful, she couldn't help smile. The scents in the air were divine as well. Somewhere nearby she could smell some sort of sweet bread that made her drool. She deviated from her path to follow the scent, misjudging a few times and back tracking to the main alley a few time.

One sweet roll later, Annie was back to wandering around, detouring to booths when something caught her eyes - typically something bright and colorful. Most was muggle, the non muggle things were subtle limited. Anything else was likely tucked behind some muggle proof ward that she couldn't get through without a magical escort.

Or so she thought.

Something small caught her eye in one booth. It was tucked away in a corner, full of cages. At first she thought they were cats, but closer look and there was something off about them she couldn't quite place. They had an unexpected amount of intelligence in their eyes but that wasn't it. Their proportions were off.

Before she could place her finger on what the feline animals were, a cage door sprung open - likely not latched properly and opened the rest of the way when her coin purse brushed against it. She stumbled backwards at the sound, uneasy creeping upon her as the feline-like creature sprung from its cage and chased after her. She felt ridiculous running from something a bit bigger than the size of a cat, but she'd glimpsed its teeth and they were a little too sharp for comfort.

@'percival adlard jr.'

  

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thank you bee for the absolutely lovely set

Irvingly Market was not a place that Percy often frequented and normally he would not have bothered to check it out, but the department had received a tip that an illegal animal trader was anticipated to set up a stall there this weekend. Given the rules of the town it was prudent to check the situation out before it became something that quickly got out of hand. Typically such a task was below Percy’s position, but he had two employees out sick and he was caught up on his paperwork so it had seemed the right choice. Afterall Percy missed being out in the field, even if he was a bit more hindered than he had once been.

Strolling through the market Percy had decided against inquiries, he didn’t want to put the town ill at ease so he kept his eyes peeled. He could not have been at the market for more than a few minutes when it appeared he needed have been so quiet about what he was doing. Right before he reached a stall that had caged animals (the most promising for this sort of vendor) a young lady stumbled back into him. A kneazle hissed as it stalked toward her. Whatever had she done to upset it?

“Are you alright miss?” Percy asked, not actually looking at her but keeping his eye on the kneazle. He couldn’t actually use his wand to stun the creature, so instead he’d have to show it they meant no harm. “It won’t harm you.” He hoped. “Just back away slowly.” He encouraged, moving with slow motions to put himself between the creature and the young woman.

  

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Pretties from Lady <3

She stumbled as her skirt caught on the corner of a cage and she caught herself on the edge of a tale, flushed. Eyes turned towards the unknown male as he spoke to her. "Quite fine, other than being pursued by this thing that looks like a cat but I don't think is a cat, she quipped, embarrassed at having been caught so frightened over something that was likely was just a cat. "Cats do not look like mini-lions. Or have that look of intelligence, I will have you know."

He shifted to put himself between her and the not-cat. So he was going to playing her knight in shining armor... or dark suit. It would've been nice, even romantic if it wasn't for the fact she was only half convinced it wasn't just a domestic feline. Needing rescue from a cat. Se would never live that down if her siblings found out.

"All I did was bump against the door. It must have not been latched properly. I do not know why it seems so angry with me."

  

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thank you bee for the absolutely lovely set

The lady stumbled over her words, much as she stumbled over her skirts, the kneazle keeping her in its sights the entire time. “It’s not a cat.” Percy assured her, realizing belatedly that if she didn’t know what a kneazle was she probably was muggle and he likely wasn’t supposed to be telling her this. (The rules in Irvingly had always been rather muddling to Percy, personally.)

“Kneazles, are territorial,” Percy started to explain, locking eyes with the creature, “And protective.” He added as he slowly inched forward toward the creature. It was now watching him, or rather his cane. That wasn’t a good sign. Where was the shop keeper? Percy wondered, not taking his eyes off the creature. It was slowly backing up, toward its cage, that was a good thing. “Have you seen the owner?” Percy asked the woman and he continued slowly forward.

  

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Pretties from Lady <3

So it wasn't a cat? That statement made her feel both better and worse at the same time. Better because she had confirmation that she was in fact, not crazy. There was something off about it. Worse because there was no other mundane animal she could compair it too. Which meant it was magical in some sense. And it seemed angry at her for some reason and who knew what it could do.

Kneazel? That word, or name she figured, sounded faintly familiar. Like she'd heard it before but simply couldn't remember where she'd heard it before. But she could now guess why it was after her and by proxy this gentleman.

"The owner?" she parroted, her expression showing a startled confusion. She hadn't expected to be asked about the owner. She hadn't even thought to look to see if there was someone else in the stall with her when she'd come in. "I think I saw someone over there," Annabeth offered, point roughly at a back corner where the two sides of fabric met and parted for another exit.

Why was he getting closer to the creature? She couldn't tell if he was actually concerned about being harmed or not.

  

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thank you bee for the absolutely lovely set

For a moment it seemed like the lady might have no idea. Percy continued to back the creature up, making soft noises toward it, when she indicated where the owner might be. Worried about losing eye contact, Percy barely spared a glance in the direction she pointed. The owner wasn’t here now and therefore likely won’t be able to help the situation.

The kneazle took one step back into the cage and Percy began to feel relief. Another step as Percy continued forward. Until finally it had settled back into its cage and Percy could latch it. “There! It appears you are now safe from danger.” He declared, turning to look at the lady with a reassuring smile.

He’d have to wait until the stall owner came back to inquire further, but first the lady did look father shaken. It would be rather unfair if he did not calm her as well.

  

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Pretties from Lady <3

Her posture fell slack as soon as the man latched the door shut, handling the situation far better than she would have left to her own devices. She wasn't too much of an animal person even when they weren't charging her, hissing and growling the whole way. Though in hindsight, once watching how he handled the not-cat (yes he had told her what it was but at this point, her brain was stuck on calling the creature a not-cat) it reminded her greatly of how she sometimes had to calm the children down at school.

"My knight in shining armor," Annabeth quipped with a breathy laugh. "Really though, thank you, sir. But I quite think I'd like to keep any future danger to my books," the muggle sighed, though she did offer him a smile in return.

Now that her so-called danger had passed, she leaned against a table - this one empty, its occupants either moved or sold already - and her face twisted into a thoughtful frown. "I can't offer much more about the owner, I'm afraid. Though I might be able to recognize him if I see him again. I assume if this," she gestured to the cages around them, "isn't permitted here - if that kneazle is magical - that he'll need to be identified?"

  

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thank you bee for the absolutely lovely set

Percy wasn’t sure he’d call himself a knight, he had simply been doing his job, but the lady’s compliment saw a faint shade of pink creep into his keeps. “Just doing my job Miss.” He told her a tad gruffly, uncomfortable with the conversation it showing as he shifted on his cane.

He did, however, completely understand her comment of books. “I find the best adventures sometimes come in the form of books.” He agreed, quick to change the subject, an actual smile on his face. Perhaps calming the lady would be easier than he anticipated. As long as she didn’t continue fawning over him. It reminded him of the nurses after the troll incident and he hadn’t been comfortable that either - especially as he’d just destroyed his friend’s livelihood.

The lady was astute as well! “Indeed.” Percy agreed with a nod. “If you wouldn’t mind waiting around, I’d be greatly obliged.” Then he wouldn’t need to find other witnesses or start attempting to track the owner down either.

  

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Pretties from Lady <3

"I am fairly certain a knight's job is to be a knight," she teased, large smile breaking out, one that reached her eyes, at the flush that he had developed. Had she known him better, or if he'd been one of her brothers, she probably would have taken the chance to poke him in the arm (or being her brothers, possibly flick him in the forehead) but she figured that wasn't really appropriate here so she settled for words.

"Mhmmm yes. Books have all of the excitement we just experienced and none of the chances of injury or death. That method of adventure far suits me better. The children give me far more than enough chaos outside the pages I read that I do not need anymore."

"Waiting wouldn't be a problem at all. I had nothing else planned for the day but to aimlessly wander the market." Most of the stalls were the same each time anyways, and she spent a good many of her off days wandering like this here. It was the most interaction she had with anyone over the average age of seven all week. "While we wait, could you tell me about the rest of the animals here?"

  

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thank you bee for the absolutely lovely set

He chuckled, the lady did bring up a fair point. Books tended to be just a bit safer. He’d never been a truly adventurous person, that hadn’t been why he had chosen his field, he’d just enjoyed animals and had taken the first post he could find out of school for a myriad of reasons, settling into the Beast Department without much consideration of the danger of such a position.

The comment of children stopped him up short as he looked at the lady. She appeared young but had she had several children already? She hadn’t objected to him calling her ‘miss’ but perhaps she was indeed married. “You have children?” He couldn’t help but ask. Maybe the children would prove an even better method of calming her, he told himself that was why his curiosity was piqued.

“Thank you.” He was grateful find that he wasn’t keeping her from anything - and it had the added benefit of making sure he could diligently get this job done.

“Certainly.” He nodded toward the creatures, “Which one would you like to know about first?” His eyes scanned the cages and realized that the seller was probably in for more trouble than Percy had originally anticiapted.

  

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Pretties from Lady <3

"Do I have children?" she questioned back and it took a second for her to connect the dots as to why he'd ask this. This man didn't know her or her job and the logical assumption would be to assume she meant her own. "Ah, no, no. None of my own. I am a glorified nanny. I teach the younger children at the school house in town. I'm a teacher. They would never let me live today down if they found out. They are typically good children but they have their moments. I cannot blame them to much. They are only children."

She sigh, a little tired and a little fond. She'd been teaching for a little over a year now. She hadn't needed the job, but it did well to keep her occupied during the day when Natalie and Brendon were out at the hospital.

But as Percy said he would grant her request, she leaned forwards, suprised. She hadn't actually expected him to say yes. Not when he'd likely already guessed she wasn't a witch. Most magic folk refused to speak to her, even if she already knew of their existence. Three magical siblings and you learn a lot. With her drive, she'd learned more than she was likely permitted already with reading her siblings textbooks and begging them for stories and now living in a magical household. Natalie and Brendon rarely held back before her unless they had company over.

"Any of them!" she exclaimed, moving from her post on the table to peer in various cages - though she was sure to give the kneazles a wide berth.

  

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thank you bee for the absolutely lovely set

A teacher. That made a great deal more sense. “Well you’re secret shall be safe from them, with me.” He assured her, careful not to say he’d keep the whole thing secret in general because he would indeed need to write a report about the incident. “Do you enjoy teaching?” Percy continued looking down the display of creatures to see what would be something that might interest the lady.

Percy pointed to a small glass jar with tiny air holes punctured into the top. Inside appeared a twig of a tree, but it moved the tiniest bit as Percy looked at it. “That is a bowtruckle. It is incredibly protective of trees.” Percy explained then looked at the next cage, his annoyance growing. “Those are cornish doxies, nasty little fellows. Always up to no good. Be grateful it was only a kneazle you let out.” The small winged blue creatures were shouting obscenities in their high pitched voices. If muggles lived in a place where magic was then, in his opinion, they should know what was around them. Ignorance was almost always more dangerous then knowledge when it came to such matters. Or at least so Percy had found in his years dealing with reports in Irvingly.

“I take it you are a muggle?” He asked as he kept peering at the creatures. A cloth covered something hidden halfway in the back of the stall and appeared to have slipped down to show a shiny object in the owner’s hasty retreat. If it was what Percy thought matters were about to become a great deal more complicated with this report.

  

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Pretties from Lady <3

"Once again, my knight in shining armor,  and do not try to deny it, sir." She was finding him quite fun to tease, especially with how he reacted the last time she had called him that. She wasn't sure if he was simply humble or shy or if something had happened to him in the past that warranted him becoming flushed at such a moniker. "I do. I grew up loving my studies and it just felt natural to do this. I've only taught for a little over a year, but I do enjoy it. I love being able to watch them the moment they finally understand something and knowing you got to help with that."

She followed after him gleefully, much like a child creeping down the stairs on Christmas morning, as he moved to a collection of jars. The first creature he showed her reminded her much of a stick bug. How anyone could find one to catch it was beyond her, though it was certainly cute. Annabeth couldn't resist giving it a little wave before she moved to the next. This was a lot less cute and had then been one of her children at the schoolhouse she'd washed their mouths out with soap with what the pixies were shouting.

"Aren't they... pleasant," she spoke dryly.

"Yes, I am. Much to my immense disappointment as a child - and admittedly even now. Three of my siblings are magical. I live with two of them on the magical side of town. I dreamed about going with my siblings to Hogwarts as a kid. I even wrote the headmaster multiple letters protesting they must have got something wrong. Surely I was supposed to be on the list of first years. But I never heard anything back."

She noticed his distraction after a momment, following his gaze to the back. "Is everything okay? What is that?"

  

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thank you bee for the absolutely lovely set

At the mention of knights again, Percy found his cheeks growing warm again, but he did offer up a tentative smile. “If you insist Miss.” It was slowly beginning to dawn on him that this lady might be flirting with him. Although, if he were entirely honest, he had absolutely no idea why she would do such a thing.

“You make it sound wonderful, almost makes me question my choice of career.” Mason would love if Percy would take up a post at Hogwarts but Percy had never been inclined. Perhaps it was the memories that lingered there, the ones he wished to settle quite firmly under the dust never to be uncovered.

“Oh?” Percy commented as he listened to her explain her siblings. She must have hated that growing up. “How many siblings do you have?” He inquired, generally curious about her now and having settled on what he felt was the most polite question.

“Indeed. I just hope that isn’t what I think it is.” Percy said with a nod toward the rumpled fabric. “Best to wait for the owner before poking around, I think.” Percy explained.

  

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Pretties from Lady <3

"It isn't for everyone, don't get me wrong. There are times when I just wish I could... I don't know but possibly try to physically shake the knowledge into them. And there have been other times when I am seconds away from just getting up and leaving because I get so frustrated with them. But the peaceful moments, the good ones, always make it worth it."

She didn't know where she would be now if she'd been magical like her other siblings. The possibilities for them were far more than she had as a muggle. Annabeth had learned quickly that despite its flaws, the wizarding society had far larger tolerance for educated women who did something with that education. That alone almost made her more jealous of her sister than the fact she possessed magic did - the opportunities Natalie would have that Annabeth could only ever dream of.

"I have four. A sister and three brothers. My sister and two of my brothers are all magical. James and I were the unlucky ones - though if he heard me say that he would argue that we were the lucky ones. He never wanted anything to do with magic. It has caused some arguments amongst my family. I end up in the middle a lot. Sometimes I can relate to how James feels. Everything certainly would have been far easier if they'd never had magic. How about you? Do you have siblings? All I'm doing is talking about myself and you just have to listen."

She frowned. This had been the first question of hers he hadn't answered, and that only made her more curious, though a part of that knowledge that he didn't wish to tell her what that was frightened her. How bad must it be for him to want her to have nothing to do with it? Especially because who knew when the owner could come back.

"Do you think whoever set this up might be waiting outside, watching for us to leave? If this is illegal, I doubt they'll come back till they see us leave."

  

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thank you bee for the absolutely lovely set

Percy couldn’t help but chuckle at her description. He rather felt some of his own professors had likely felt that way with him. He’d never really had much drive in school, hadn’t quite applied himself. If it hadn’t been for his friends he wasn’t sure he would have made it through NEWTs, but Mason and Maggie’s drive and Quin’s creativity had spurred him on. It had helped that he’d had Care of Magical Creatures to fall back on, the course had always been his favorite from the very first lesson.

“That must have been difficult, growing up.” Percy said thoughtfully. Comparatively his life had been rather easy. He’d always known he’d go to Hogwarts, Cat and Lissy following shortly behind. Then there was the fact that he hadn’t had to learn two worlds and keep track of what belonged there. Quin had given him insights into the various difficulties in such a situation as they had gone to school, he could only image what it would be like to be the one left behind when not one but two siblings went to Hogwarts.

“I don’t mind listening.” Percy told her truthfully, a gentle smile on his lips. Honestly it was much less nerve wracking then trying to find something to say all the time as so many ladies he’d conversed with desired him to do.

But as she changed the conversation to him he shrugged slightly, “I do. I have two younger sisters. Catherine and Felicity. They like to keep me on my toes.” He didn’t know why he added the last part but it felt easy to mention such things to this lady.

“I suspect you may be right. Perhaps if we were to stroll around the market for a few minutes, you might be able to spot them and point them out to me?” Percy suggested, offering the lady his arm to promote the appearance he had just suggested.

  

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Pretties from Lady <3