IT'S BLOODY HOT IN HERE (no, really. it's seriously hot.)
it's the summer holidays! a perfect time to travel, relax, spend time with loved ones and bask in the sun. the wizarding world is lively with energy at this time of year. everyone seems to want to make the most of their break before september comes around the corner and life returns to its normal, mundane pace. it has been especially exciting with the sporadic and strange appearances of old and new faces. some claim to be from a different world while others claim to be from a different time. then, there are the ones who have simply found themselves waking up to be remarkably younger or older. just remember to keep to your curfews, half-bloods and muggle-borns! those eerie disappearances are still happening in an increasingly alarming rate...
MINISTRY OF MAGIC
for the ones who don't have the good fortune of going on holiday, you won't have to worry about having nothing to do, especially if you're part of the ministry of magic! with all the anomalies happening, you're going to have your hands full registering, documenting, interviewing and/or helping with a multitude of busywork relating to the newcomers. or maybe your job doesn't have anything to do with that. maybe you're on the opposite end and you've been brought in. or maybe you're just a tourist and you want to see if you can catch a glimpse of the minister for magic. whatever your reason is, welcome and stay out of people's way!
DIAGON ALLEY
everyone loves to go shopping and what better place to do it than diagon alley? you'll find mills of people looking at all the different items on sale or on display in store windows. maybe you're here to purchase materials for the upcoming school year or you're out on a date with your significant other. or maybe you actually own or work at one of the many shops here. whatever your reason is, you better be ready for the crowd and the heat.
KNOCKTURN ALLEY
oh no! what are you doing here? turn back right now! knockturn alley is no place for you to be. well, at least it isn't if you aren't a dark arts practitioner or you're not part of some nefarious secret group. just turn around and go back to diagon alley. it's much nicer there, friendlier and safer. have you not heard about all the disappearances going on? you're only asking for trouble stepping into a place like this, even if it's remarkably cool here.
M.I.A.V.I.
not in the mood to go out? or maybe you're stuck in the waiting room at st. mungo's trying to figure out why you're suddenly 10 years older and you need a distraction. disregarding the reason, it's sure a good thing you've conveniently brought along your m.i.a.v.i. so feel free to browse the public network, create your own post, or private message someone!
OTHER
not interested in any of the options above? feel free to make up your own! the wizarding world is huge, so get creative with it. the setting is the summer of 1980. have fun testing out and shaping your characters, mingle with others, and start getting those crs down!
[ it's not rare for regulus to be here. in fact, he very often is (ahem), and in mornings it's because he and lucius go to the ministry together. regulus to work, lucius to fuss around and do ... whatever it is he does. it's a good arrangement, and even though his cousin-in-law is older than him they get along well and it allows him to see his favorite cousin on a daily basis.
lucius must always look perfect of course, which means that regulus spends mornings lazily eating breakfast, drinking tea, and reading the prophet while waiting for him to get ready. as soon as he hears footsteps, a low drawl comes from behind the paper. ] It's about time, I'm growing old every morning just waiting for you to get ready.
[ but then he notes something - it's not the sharp staccato of lucius' steps nor is it the click-clack of narcissa. the paper gets brought down with the tell-tale crinkle-rustle of newsprint and a scowling, haughty face that will be deeply recognizable from photographs is going to stare right at scorpius. ] Who the hell are you?
[ the question is a courtesy - if he hadn't already known about the strange things happening around involving time, he would hex first, ask questions later. even if this young man clearly is a malfoy.
[Scorpius stops short at the unknown voice, frozen in the doorway as the unexpected stranger sitting at his kitchen table as though he's there every morning lowers his copy of the Prophet to glare at him.
Scorpius places him immediately. Regulus Black. He'd always somewhat admired him, even as a child, for his long-unrecognized rebellion. He knows who he is, but it doesn't make any sense.
If someone else had gone to the past and changed things so he'd lived, wouldn't Regulus be much older? And Scorpius wouldn't even know that anything was wrong, since he hadn't made the change himself, and if Regulus did live and still didn't recognize him, then he probably wouldn't have existed anyway, and then he definitely wouldn't be in this situation... But how could he have gone to the past without even realizing? Unless this was some sort of-- strange after-effect of that prototype time-turner, showing up long after the fact. He manages a nervous smile, though his face is drawn and pale.] S-Scorpius. Ah, could you-- it would be lovely to know the date.
[ he's back to drawling, though he sets his paper down with an exaggerated look at the date on it as he does. ] August Seventh, Nineteen Eighty. Dare I say that's not the date for you?
[ there's a problem here other than that, mostly because for scorpius, regulus is dead before the beginning of 1980. regulus black died in 1979 at the age of 18. which means he's 19, which means something strange is happening, which means that time is definitely gone wrong somewhere. (which means, which means, which means.) he smiles back but it's tight, something a little sharp around the edges still. ]
Regulus Black. Now, Time's gone a little strange lately or you'd be hexed halfway to Sunday by now. As it is, I'll need you to sit. Tell me when you're from, who you're from, everything. Lucius will be down later.
[Scorpius is a good little Slytherin, who has learned the hard way that sometimes discretion is the better part of valour. He's also very quick-minded, brain buzzing a few steps ahead of the conversation. There's so many things that are wrong about this situation, and no answers as to why any of it's happening.
The best thing to do for now is play along. Definitely he shouldn't let on this isn't his first experience with time travel. Play the part of a lost child and see what information he can gather.
He sits, hands fidgeting nervously for a moment before he forcibly settles them in his lap.] It was July twentieth, two thousand and twenty-three. I'm Scorpius Hyperion Malfoy, born November fifteenth, two thousand and five. My parents are Draco Malfoy and Astoria Malfoy née Greengrass. [He's pretty proud of himself for saying her name without any waver in his voice.] I attended Hogwarts, was sorted into Slytherin, and graduated on time with the class of twenty-seventeen. [He tips his chin pridefully, feeling the strange urge to impress Regulus.] I recieved O-level NEWTS in Transfiguration, Potions, Charms, Herbology, Ancient Runes, and Arithmancy and an E-level in Defense Against the Dark Arts. [He'd been so close to an O there too, but DADA wasn't his strong suit... Albus had given him such a look when he'd complained about it ruining his O streak.]
[ regulus is a good slytherin too and his expression doesn't change for the whole of this little speech - he had asked for everything, after all. there's something off about his timeline, or his calendar at least - it sounds like something muggleborns claim, but he doesn't let on anything about it in his face.
no, instead he just nods. ] Of course you were sorted into Slytherin. Good stock, though. Trouble in Defense Against the Dark Arts? That's an important course. [ he sounds a little tired, or almost bored. not quite. finally, he sighs. ] Associates?
[ here's a real test: who do you spend time with, scorpius? ]
[Scorpius doesn't hide his flinch at the comment about his DADA NEWT in time, but-- maybe it's to his advantage, to make Regulus think he's got him. Being underestimated has always worked to Scorpius' favor in the past.
He knows there's no way for anyone to check him on this, so he can just say whatever he wants. He could make people up entirely. That'd probably be better, at least until he figures out what's going on.] You mean, my friends? Well, I mostly spend time with Andrew Nott and Tobias Avery. Travers is alright too, I suppose. Talks about quidditch far too much, though.
[Go ahead, challenge him on it. He knows Regulus can't verify it either way, and Scorpius enjoys spinning up stories.]
[ maybe it is, maybe it isn't. the answer's not clear. regulus listens though, searching for any tells. it's difficult when you don't have someone's baseline though so he's left just dealing with what he has, filing everything away.
then he laughs, a clear and sharp bark-like thing so similar to a brother that scorpius will have never met. ] I never liked Travers, good to know his descendant turns out alright. You not a Quidditch fan? I fell out of it after Hogwarts.
[Don't say you think it's boring don't say you think it's boring don't say you think it's boring] It's alright, just not really my thing. I certainly don't need to hear about it every five minutes.
[That works. He fidgets with the fabric of his pants, then stills his fingers again.] So... you don't know what's going on? Why time's gone all weird?
That type. Not too different from Travers now, actually.
[ these small bits of information are purposeful: they're gifts, because while regulus is a shit, he's not a monster. he's giving him little things to clutch to, to use in future if people ask him what he knows. his gaze is still hawk-like but there's interest in it, like he's sizing up the other wizard and taking stock of him.
he smiles and it's a little less sharp, but then sighs and shakes his head, gesturing to one of the other chairs. ] No. No one knows. Not citizens, not Dumbledore, not even the Minister. It's a bloody mess all around and no one can figure out why it's happening.
[Scorpius doesn't recognize them for the gift that they are, but he files the facts away the same he does all the information he encounters. His mind is full of facts and trivia, only a small portion of which has actually been useful in his life.
"not even the Minister" sounds off to him somehow. Given the date, it should be Bagnold, who wasn't as incompetent as her successor by any measure, but certainly wouldn't rank for "surprising that they don't know what's going on" after Dumbledore.] Who is Minister, by the way?
[please don't say voldemort please don't say voldemort]
[ regulus blinks once, twice, tilts his head aside. he knows the other wizard is from the far-flung future, but somehow he hadn't even considered the option of there being a different minister. as though riddle would simply be in power forever and that was that.
that's what it feels like, isn't it? ]
Minister Riddle has been in office since I was a boy.
[and the prize for worst sentence scorpius malfoy has ever heard goes to.......
it's at least in the top five, at any rate.
He's not freaking out. He is not freaking out. At the very least, he is keeping his freak-out completely inside his own head. Yes, that is what he is doing.] Oh! Alright then!
[That explains a lot??? Or, it explains some, and it gives him some idea of what else is going on.]
[ no, that's not a weird reaction at all. are you okay there buddy? yikes.gif.
anyway, regulus looks at him inscrutably for a moment before he leans back in his chair, head canting aside curiously. now he wants to know: ] Who's Minister for you? You're from a long time ahead, after all.
With that very important information now known, Scorpius quickly considers how to answer that.
He could just say, as Hermione Granger isn't a name anyone in the wizarding world would know at this point. That could also be a problem of itself, but it also wouldn't be too hard to swing a lie about her blood status. He feels gross just thinking that, but he knows that nonsense is going to be vital in any reign of Voldemort's, even if it's under a veil of political maneuvers. But what if they tried to find her after that? She'd just be a baby, but eventually the Ministry would be made aware of her magic and the Trace would pick her up.
Or, he could lie, and then he'd have to think of a name that would make sense for Regulus. And that would probably end in all sorts of mess, because why would Tom Riddle ever allow anyone to take the position as Minister from him?
The only thing he can think of that most likely won't get anyone hurt is if he makes up a name entirely. This is getting to be a lot of made-up names.] Jane Granger. I-- can't remember her unmarried name, though.
[At least it's still Minister Granger, and it should be a lead they can't follow up on.... right?]
[ yes, a different kind of granger danger is very real here because regulus is an unknown: how good is he in this timeline? how bad? there's no telling. he listens though, quietly like he's figuring out the truth from it and deciding that he doesn't really care. smiling faintly. if he's surprised that someone other than tom riddle is minister, it doesn't show.
maybe that's a good sign?
maybe it doesn't matter. ] Minister Granger. Not a name I recognize, but--not as though that matters, right? Must mean the nasty disappearances have ended if people with names that don't fit into certain parameters have stopped.
[ a breath. his eyes flick toward the door like he's checking to see if lucius is going to arrive, then he speaks again. ] Does your past line up with this?
[Scorpius follows his gaze to the door, but no one's there. He doesn't know what to make of this, he feels like he's screwing up at every turn.
It's like taking a test in his worst subject after missing class for a week and without studying at all.] Um, well-- it's hard to tell, being so far before I was even born.
[Regulus doesn't know he's a massive history geek yet.]
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malfoy manor.
lucius must always look perfect of course, which means that regulus spends mornings lazily eating breakfast, drinking tea, and reading the prophet while waiting for him to get ready. as soon as he hears footsteps, a low drawl comes from behind the paper. ] It's about time, I'm growing old every morning just waiting for you to get ready.
[ but then he notes something - it's not the sharp staccato of lucius' steps nor is it the click-clack of narcissa. the paper gets brought down with the tell-tale crinkle-rustle of newsprint and a scowling, haughty face that will be deeply recognizable from photographs is going to stare right at scorpius. ] Who the hell are you?
[ the question is a courtesy - if he hadn't already known about the strange things happening around involving time, he would hex first, ask questions later. even if this young man clearly is a malfoy.
small favors. ]
no subject
Scorpius places him immediately. Regulus Black. He'd always somewhat admired him, even as a child, for his long-unrecognized rebellion. He knows who he is, but it doesn't make any sense.
If someone else had gone to the past and changed things so he'd lived, wouldn't Regulus be much older? And Scorpius wouldn't even know that anything was wrong, since he hadn't made the change himself, and if Regulus did live and still didn't recognize him, then he probably wouldn't have existed anyway, and then he definitely wouldn't be in this situation... But how could he have gone to the past without even realizing? Unless this was some sort of-- strange after-effect of that prototype time-turner, showing up long after the fact. He manages a nervous smile, though his face is drawn and pale.] S-Scorpius. Ah, could you-- it would be lovely to know the date.
no subject
[ he's back to drawling, though he sets his paper down with an exaggerated look at the date on it as he does. ] August Seventh, Nineteen Eighty. Dare I say that's not the date for you?
[ there's a problem here other than that, mostly because for scorpius, regulus is dead before the beginning of 1980. regulus black died in 1979 at the age of 18. which means he's 19, which means something strange is happening, which means that time is definitely gone wrong somewhere. (which means, which means, which means.) he smiles back but it's tight, something a little sharp around the edges still. ]
Regulus Black. Now, Time's gone a little strange lately or you'd be hexed halfway to Sunday by now. As it is, I'll need you to sit. Tell me when you're from, who you're from, everything. Lucius will be down later.
no subject
The best thing to do for now is play along. Definitely he shouldn't let on this isn't his first experience with time travel. Play the part of a lost child and see what information he can gather.
He sits, hands fidgeting nervously for a moment before he forcibly settles them in his lap.] It was July twentieth, two thousand and twenty-three. I'm Scorpius Hyperion Malfoy, born November fifteenth, two thousand and five. My parents are Draco Malfoy and Astoria Malfoy née Greengrass. [He's pretty proud of himself for saying her name without any waver in his voice.] I attended Hogwarts, was sorted into Slytherin, and graduated on time with the class of twenty-seventeen. [He tips his chin pridefully, feeling the strange urge to impress Regulus.] I recieved O-level NEWTS in Transfiguration, Potions, Charms, Herbology, Ancient Runes, and Arithmancy and an E-level in Defense Against the Dark Arts. [He'd been so close to an O there too, but DADA wasn't his strong suit... Albus had given him such a look when he'd complained about it ruining his O streak.]
no subject
no, instead he just nods. ] Of course you were sorted into Slytherin. Good stock, though. Trouble in Defense Against the Dark Arts? That's an important course. [ he sounds a little tired, or almost bored. not quite. finally, he sighs. ] Associates?
[ here's a real test: who do you spend time with, scorpius? ]
no subject
He knows there's no way for anyone to check him on this, so he can just say whatever he wants. He could make people up entirely. That'd probably be better, at least until he figures out what's going on.] You mean, my friends? Well, I mostly spend time with Andrew Nott and Tobias Avery. Travers is alright too, I suppose. Talks about quidditch far too much, though.
[Go ahead, challenge him on it. He knows Regulus can't verify it either way, and Scorpius enjoys spinning up stories.]
no subject
then he laughs, a clear and sharp bark-like thing so similar to a brother that scorpius will have never met. ] I never liked Travers, good to know his descendant turns out alright. You not a Quidditch fan? I fell out of it after Hogwarts.
no subject
[That works. He fidgets with the fabric of his pants, then stills his fingers again.] So... you don't know what's going on? Why time's gone all weird?
no subject
[ these small bits of information are purposeful: they're gifts, because while regulus is a shit, he's not a monster. he's giving him little things to clutch to, to use in future if people ask him what he knows. his gaze is still hawk-like but there's interest in it, like he's sizing up the other wizard and taking stock of him.
he smiles and it's a little less sharp, but then sighs and shakes his head, gesturing to one of the other chairs. ] No. No one knows. Not citizens, not Dumbledore, not even the Minister. It's a bloody mess all around and no one can figure out why it's happening.
no subject
"not even the Minister" sounds off to him somehow. Given the date, it should be Bagnold, who wasn't as incompetent as her successor by any measure, but certainly wouldn't rank for "surprising that they don't know what's going on" after Dumbledore.] Who is Minister, by the way?
[please don't say voldemort please don't say voldemort]
no subject
that's what it feels like, isn't it? ]
Minister Riddle has been in office since I was a boy.
[ he said voldemort ]
no subject
it's at least in the top five, at any rate.
He's not freaking out. He is not freaking out. At the very least, he is keeping his freak-out completely inside his own head. Yes, that is what he is doing.] Oh! Alright then!
[That explains a lot??? Or, it explains some, and it gives him some idea of what else is going on.]
no subject
anyway, regulus looks at him inscrutably for a moment before he leans back in his chair, head canting aside curiously. now he wants to know: ] Who's Minister for you? You're from a long time ahead, after all.
no subject
With that very important information now known, Scorpius quickly considers how to answer that.
He could just say, as Hermione Granger isn't a name anyone in the wizarding world would know at this point. That could also be a problem of itself, but it also wouldn't be too hard to swing a lie about her blood status. He feels gross just thinking that, but he knows that nonsense is going to be vital in any reign of Voldemort's, even if it's under a veil of political maneuvers. But what if they tried to find her after that? She'd just be a baby, but eventually the Ministry would be made aware of her magic and the Trace would pick her up.
Or, he could lie, and then he'd have to think of a name that would make sense for Regulus. And that would probably end in all sorts of mess, because why would Tom Riddle ever allow anyone to take the position as Minister from him?
The only thing he can think of that most likely won't get anyone hurt is if he makes up a name entirely. This is getting to be a lot of made-up names.] Jane Granger. I-- can't remember her unmarried name, though.
[At least it's still Minister Granger, and it should be a lead they can't follow up on.... right?]
no subject
maybe that's a good sign?
maybe it doesn't matter. ] Minister Granger. Not a name I recognize, but--not as though that matters, right? Must mean the nasty disappearances have ended if people with names that don't fit into certain parameters have stopped.
[ a breath. his eyes flick toward the door like he's checking to see if lucius is going to arrive, then he speaks again. ] Does your past line up with this?
no subject
It's like taking a test in his worst subject after missing class for a week and without studying at all.] Um, well-- it's hard to tell, being so far before I was even born.
[Regulus doesn't know he's a massive history geek yet.]