15th May, 1891 — Domitian and Matilda Zabini's House, London

Harriet Prewett was not accustomed to being a supporting act in society and yet here she found herself, observing her son’s new wife, quite cut out of the planning for this reception. As if the former was not enough of an insult, the latter was even more galling - she was surplus to requirements, an add-on, an inconvenience and her niece was the hostess.

The worst of it was that she could have easily made her peace with a connection to the Zabinis but would it have killed them to have a proper courtship? Camilla was a perfectly suitable bride: pretty, the right age, and Harriet had liked Ama more than enough to overlook her being a halfblood. And yet something had made them marry in haste.

(Harriet, mother of seven and woman of the world, knew exactly what that something was but really, how on earth could they be that stupid?)

At least Hermione was here to take the edge off but even she could not console Harriet forever, or keep an eye on her as she slipped from the parlour to the library where she suspected Domitian kept the better brandy. There she found someone already helping themselves and, despite herself, she was more pleased to see him than she had ever been.

“Could I trouble you to pour for me too, Arthur?”

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Arthur Pettigrew | Cassius Lestrange

  

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Lady is magnificent and so is this set <3

Art was kind of uncomfortable about this whole thing, as most of these non-Prewetts did not want to make eye contact with him under normal circumstances, and his relationship with the new Mrs. Prewett was already rendered weird by his having been living in her house when they met.

But it was something to do, and he was also extremely clearly not the most uncomfortable person here. Also, Arthur had no real qualms about breaking into Domitian Zabini’s brandy, although he was rather certain Mr. Zabini could dispatch of him if he wanted to.

At least the addition of Harriet Prewett was likely to reduce his discomfort.

”I would be delighted to, Harriet,” Art said; he poured her a healthy serving of brandy and offered it to her with a flourish.

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set by MJ <3

Her world might have shifted but Arthur at least was consistent she thought as she accepted the glass and knocked it back in one. It was decidedly unladylike but she was in the company least likely to comment upon such a thing.

“Another,” she said decisively, handing the glass back to Arthur even as that measure burnt through her. It wasn’t enough. Nothing could be enough to erase the utter desolation she felt that Fitz had not seen fit to include her.

She had loved her children with every fibre of her being – more than most mothers of her class, she knew – and yet, despite all the heartache they had been through together her boy had done this to her. It was almost as abominable as this farce of a reception.

“We might as well indulge dear, I suspect it’s the only dowry I’m likely to see from this union,” she gave Arthur a wry look, knowing that if she could trust in anyone to misbehave with her then it would be him.

Merlin, she hadn’t realised how lucky she was when her son’s worst connection was a handsome rascal.

  

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Lady is magnificent and so is this set <3

Arthur grinned over his drink as he watched Harriet knock back her drink; he poured her another glass and topped off his own. He left the brandy uncorked, suspecting that they would return to it sooner rather than later.

It really was something to see Harriet Prewett unwind.

"Not so sure on the new Mrs. Prewett, then?" he said, mirroring her wry look.

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set by MJ <3

"She is suitable enough I suppose." Harriet grudgingly conceded, taking a more measured sip of this glass as she could already feel the warmth of the first seeping through her in a highly pleasant way. "I doubt I shall be troubled by comparisons though," she added cattily, smirking at Arthur over her glass.

  

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Lady is magnificent and so is this set <3

"Ah, well," Art said, "No one compares to you." He raised his glass in her direction and grinned before he drained it in a few hearty swallows.

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   Elladora Black

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set by MJ <3

Very little bolstered her mood quite as much as being flirted with and Arthur, for his other faults, was particularly skilled at the art. Usually he waited till her sons were around to be irritated but it was heartening to know he made the effort even when it was just the two of them.

“Not everyone has your dubious tastes, my dear,” she drawled by way of reply, matching his drinking and glancing around the room to make sure there wasn’t a stray groom or footman hovering nearby she hadn’t noticed yet. “Dear god this room is terrible. I hope she won’t bring the same gloomy tastes to Fitz’s house.”

  

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Lady is magnificent and so is this set <3

"Well they should," Arthur protested. Honestly, Harriet Prewett was gorgeous, and he'd always thought so. "I don't think you need to worry about that, either. Camilla seems like a bright shiny thing." Well, maybe not bright — she did appear to have had a wandpoint marriage, and if it hadn't been on purpose then Arthur didn't think it was the best idea in the world. But he didn't want to point that out.

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set by MJ <3

Camilla was indeed bright and shiny despite the truth about her blood and the nature of her marriage. She was, Harriet mused, rather like her in that respect – despite Gideon’s death at the hands of aurors she had never allowed it to diminish her or her life: underneath the tarnish gold was still gold and no less brilliant for being weathered.

It occurred to her that she was probably going to like Camilla.

Not today though. Today she was going to be petty and indulge herself in brandy and flirting with her son’s best friend.

“Rather like you,” she replied with a playful smile poorly covered by her nearly empty glass. "Though I definitely need to worry about you."

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   Angelica Selwyn

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Lady is magnificent and so is this set <3

"And do you spend a lot of time worrying about me?" Art asked, leaning forward and smiling wryly at her. He raised the bottle to offer more to her. Harriet was having a bad day; she deserved infinite brandy.

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set by MJ <3

"Not just worrying," Harriet replied smoothly, holding her glass steady as he topped it up and allowing her gaze to trail over his dextrous hands. Quidditch did have it's few advantages and her occasional musings about Arthur's strong, nimble fingers were certainly amongst them. "Though now that it's a little more crowded at Fitz' house you'd be more than welcome to keep me company in mine." She sipped her brandy, lips curling with amusement. "I probably won't elope with a debutante."

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   Arthur Pettigrew

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Lady is magnificent and so is this set <3

Harriet didn't usually flirt with him this much; or, they usually were not alone long enough to flirt this much. He grinned at her. "I'll keep that in mind," he said, "The next time I find myself in need of lodgings."

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set by MJ <3

“Or if you’re in need of anything else,” Harriet said at perhaps the exact moment the brandy began to hit her brain. She wasn’t about to resist it though – fuck it, what was the point? Arthur was a handsome young man and she doubted he had much compunction about who he shared his bed with. Or the convenient desk in the corner of this very room…

Unfortunately the door was opened and though the new entrant knew better than the interrupt them they still remained supervised.

“You’ll always have a warm reception in my home Arthur,” she said, reaching up to graze her palm against his cheek. Anyone looking on would think nothing of it; she was, after all, old enough to be his mother and the gesture was motherly even if the lingering touch of her fingertips was definitely not.

  

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Lady is magnificent and so is this set <3

If there wasn't someone else in the room, Arthur surely would have kissed her — but there was someone else in the room, and her family was sure to look for her eventually as it was their party, and he had a wife. "I'll keep that in mind, Harriet," Art said, unable to keep the flirtatiousness out of his tone despite himself. "But perhaps we ought to rejoin the festivities."

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set by MJ <3

Irksome though it was Harriet had to admit he had a point. Behind her she could hear the clatter of another person, which put an end to any lingering thoughts of behaving badly she might have had, and even if Arthur might not be missed for a little while she certainly would be. Or at least she better be.

“As you say,” Harriet replied with a small, reluctant shrug. She did feel marginally better knowing that she could command someone’s attention even now and Arthur’s was certainly one of her favourites to command…

“Do keep me company though, I’m still not quite as cheered up as I might be.”

  

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Lady is magnificent and so is this set <3