WHO: Caradoc Dearborn, Juliet Dearborn, &
Stupidman Maddockson Selwyn
WHAT: Someone obviously has never met the Dearborn siblings
WHEN: July '78
WHERE: Knockturn Alley
Caradoc gave a lazy glance down at his watch from his corner in Leaky Cauldron. Well, Juliet was late, wasn't she? Nothing he would hold against her. In theory. Though now, he was definitely going to use this lateness as an excuse for brining her down to Knockturn with him. He had some gift to pick up for--- not him, to say the least, and Caradoc was supposed to pick it up last week, but-- eh. Better late than never. Not that he really cared in the first place, but, he guessed it would be in his best interest to somewhat show interest in the whole matter. And Juliet would come along, obviously enough. She would be able to keep him entertained, at least, while they walked down there.
"Dearest sister," Caradoc stated as Juliet finally came into view and up to him. Lunch was still in order, of course. As much as Juliet didn't want to admit it, or himself, he really did like his little sister. She seemed to be one of the rare few that was legitimately intelligent in this small, stupid world. Not to mention he had almost twenty-four hour access to annoying the crap out of her nearly everyday. Well, not as much now since she was stationed in a different country, but. That was another thing entirely. He gave a sweet smile to her, and put an arm over her shoulder to direct her into Diagon.
"We have a quick errand to run before we can have our extremely expensive lunch, which I am going to assume you were plotting to have and make me fully pay for?"
Juliet made it a point to roll her eyes and look in disgust at the arm Caradoc slung around her shoulder, as per usual, but only while simultaneously knowing that he wouldn't take offense to her cold reception. Actually, of all the people in the world, her brother happened to top her list of favorites... not that she was allowed to say that to him. Didn't want the guy to get too big an ego, did we? No no, in fact--it was Juliet's duty to keep Caradoc in check.
"Indeed," she confirmed flatly. Of course she was going to make him pay for it and of course she was going to make it expensive. Redemption didn't come cheap, honestl--"Wait--errand? I don't recall house elf being in my sisterly job description." Juliet raised a skeptical brow at him.
Oh, he was going to have to make it a really good lunch if he was making her go places with him. Last time she checked, he was supposed to be doing this for her, to get back into her good graces, not do the shopping and drop off the tailoring.
"Good to know."
Caradoc's head tilted to the side slightly as his eyes rolled at her; he wasn't telling her to do it, but simply tag along. Preferably closely, though, because it was not the safest of times to walk down Knockturn... but she didn't have to know what. He would simply walk behind her or something slightly inconspicuous as that. But either way, Juliet was coming with him whether she wanted to or not; he rarely came to Diagon, so now was the perfect time to pick up the object especially since he was sure he would never get around to it at another time.
"Yes, an errand. No, that's right you're not a house elf-- very good. It'll only take a few minutes," he said as he pulled out his wand and tapped on the brick wall entrance, but keeping one arm slug lazily around her shoulders (everyone else needed to know that they were related). It actually would only take a quarter of an hour; Juliet would have the whole afternoon to try and spend out his Gringotts account.
"Where are we going to lunch, by the by?" Caradoc stated easily a few minutes later, as if it was nothing to head down the street they were heading down.
Despite the fact that Caradoc seemed to be trying to be casual about this whole errand business, Juliet felt a slight hint of suspicion creep up on her. She really couldn't imagine what he'd need to be picking up that he couldn't get another time... and it made her wonder why he didn't just say what he needed to do, instead of calling it 'an errand'--but maybe she was just being paranoid. Probably. Juliet couldn't help that she was instantly suspicious and judgemental about everyone and everything, it was just a part of her charming and multi-faceted personality, as Caradoc liked to remind her. Often.
"I was hoping you had some suggestions," she answered offhandedly, shaking her mind off her previous thoughts. Truthfully, Juliet hadn't decided until halfway through her letter that she wanted him to take her out to lunch, she had just wanted to get out of the house. She still hadn't really planned this out at all. "Don't think that means you can get off cheap, though--I still get final approval."
"So I have to pick you up, decide on the place, and pay for the meal all while getting your final approval? Plus most likely spend a good amount of time with you afterward because you'll refuse to go home? This is starting to sound more like a date than just a simple lunch, Juliet, I hope you are aware." A sly grin played on Caradoc's lips as his gaze wandered above them, watching the almost empty sky. The unbusy street was not standing up to his needs, and frankly seemed much more boring.
He had half a mind to bring up John and Jill, just for giggles, but today was supposed to be a day of 'redemption' and 'acceptance.' Bringing up their ignorantly suffocating parents probably wouldn't put the both of them on that path. Therefore, it would just have to be brought up after lunch.
Stopping at the corner of Knockturn, Caradoc drawed his arm back from Juliet's shoulders and stuck it out in a way to let her know she would go first. "Lead the way."
Okay, now she understood why she had been suspicious. Knockturn Alley? Of all places, he was going to go run errands in this sess pool, this--this disgusting breeding ground of scum and villany and dark magic? Was it really necessary to do it on the day that she was with him? What if one of those old hags touched her, or--ugh, it was just... appalling!
"You've got to be kidding me," Juliet said, her voice portraying her emotions quite clearly as she walked in front of him. She didn't know where they were going, but imagined Caradoc would direct her--for his sake, she hoped that it wouldn't be far in. "Oh, you're tallying up a much larger bill than you had before, Caradoc Dearborn, you're really outdoing yourself..."
The Ravenclaw jumped away from one of the buildings as the sign sprouted skeletal arms and attempted to reach out and grab for her arm--holy fuck, maybe this was why she wasn't in Slytherin. How could people appreciate Dark Magic?
"You're not a dark wizard, you have nothing to worry about," Caradoc rolled off his tongue, his shoulders tightening as he talked and shifted in his spot. No, if anyone saw them-- actually, that would be good. He needed to keep up his, what could it be called? Death Eater image, maybe? Whatever it was, he needed to keep it up. It sounded idiotically stupid, but, if it would keep people going along then, it worked well enough for him. For a brief second, Caradoc wondered if Juliet thought he was a Death Eater, but-- he knew she knew better. Not that he had ever really given her a clue concerning anything that he did in his life... or at least tried not to.
"I try," he responded, giving one last side glance down the the bright alley before following Juliet down into the dark one. Not even trying to hold back a snort as Caradoc watched her jump nearly five feet in the air, he caught up to her pace quickly, grinning. "Do you need my hand?" He stuck it out gently, his fingers wiggling as he focused on her and moved closer near her. Preparing himself for a slap was probably his best next move, so Caradoc did. Though, he hoped Juliet wouldn't strike too hard; he would rather not want to hit the slimy wall to get away quickly.
Juliet really did think that she should smack him for that, and she knew that he quite deserved the hardest she could do to hit him... but no, she wouldn't. If only because she knew that he was expecting that she would, and Juliet did so hate living up to people's expectations of her. Instead, she crossed her arms tightly in front of her chest and scoffed at him. "Bastard," she muttered just loud enough for him to hear. It was a mystery to her why she actually liked and from time to time tolerated Caradoc as she did, especially when he was like this. Bloody big brothers.
"Now," she emphasized, turning her eyes away from the alley for a moment to glance back at him, "are you going to tell me where we're going, or do you expect me to continue to wander around aimless--hey! Watch it, asshole!"
Normally, when Juliet ran straight into someone, she didn't break out the obsceneties, but it just happened to be that this lanky, greasy man that had just walked into her caught her in the right state of mind. It was out of her mouth before she even thought that she probably shouldn't call the people wandering around Knockturn Alley assholes, but--oh well. She stepped back, into Caradoc, as the man gathered his scattered possessions, muttering and hissing angrily to himself, and reached a little too close for comfort.
Caradoc had vaguely registered the other man standing in the street when they had been farther up the street, but hadn't thought anything of it then. The man obviously should have moved out of the way, he knew that they were coming down the street well in advance. It was just road edict; you don't stand in the middle of the road, staring strangely at people walking by. But then again, it was Knockturn. Everything did go out the window once you stepped onto the molded stones. So maybe it wasn't as entirely strange that--
"Hey!" his voice rose as the man began to brandish the things in his hand at Juliet in a violent way, definitely breaking all boundaries of personal space. Caradoc couldn't exactly grip what he was saying (either some other language or just the other man was slurring his words too quickly), but the wand in his left hand that had been detached from the books in the other was all Caradoc needed to understand. Taking one step and pulling out his wand, he swung around Juliet to gave her a push to further distance her from this apparent madman. Well, maybe not madman--- just stupid man.
Really, who would want to aggravate a Dearborn? Stupidman (because that was his new dubbed name) didn't know what he was getting himself into.
"Why don't you," Caradoc pointed his wand at the man's chest, "back off" --- flicked it over to the side of the street--- "and try not to spit and drool all over yourself in the process. I know it's hard, but find it within. We have faith." A condescending smirk played on his lips as he flicked his wand again. No one touched Juliet, or made the implication that they were going to.
The man looked up sharply at Caradoc, eyes glaring daggers at the other man. Was this man daring to condescend to him? Who did he think he was anyway, meandering into Knockturn Alley in his fancy clothes and regal bearing, acting like he owned the place--like he owned him. He didn't own him.
No one owned Maddockson Selwyn.
"Why don't you," he mocked Caradoc's tone, except his was punctuated by sibilant noises, almost snakish, "tell your little girl to back off. Don't you know it's not wise to insult people around here?" Seemingly ignoring Caradoc's wand, he pointed his at Juliet, right below her brother's arm. "Someone might decide to teach the little slag a less--"
"Excuse me?" Juliet cut in, her eyes looking Maddockson up and down in obvious and overwhelming disgust and disbelief. She stepped forward again, right up to the man's wand, tipping it out of the way. "Look, you ignorant piece of filth, get your mangy arse along and cut the shite before I decide to get really ticked. You've got no idea who you're dealing with." Honestly, who the fuck had the balls to go picking a fight with a Dearborn? They were one of the oldest pureblooded families around, and you never messed around with a pureblooded family. You could never know what kind of connections they had.
Yeah, like he was going to be intimated by Stupidman's glare. Ohhh so scary; Caradoc was shaking in his boots. Really.
Red sparks emitted from Caradoc's wand almost instantly as the man did not move, but instead proceeded to keep on talking to them. Not to mention jut his wand right under his elbow to point at Juliet. Seriously-- seriously? Was this fool really trying to test them-- him? He must not know who they were? He could bloody insult anyone he wanted, they were the Dearborns, and he was Caradoc for merlin's sake, never had-- the sparks intensified, and Caradoc had no problem basically sticking his wand right in front of the other man's face. No one, no one was allowed to call Juliet anything, especially not this complete-- Caradoc felt his blood steadily begin to boil. Before he could jam his elbow down on the man's arm, Juliet bumped right up and out into the open again.
Okay, that was defeating the whole purpose of keeping her away. Getting more aggravated by the second, because this whole situation was just becoming annoyingly stupid, Caradoc moved forward even further and redirected his wand to push it into the man's chest. "I think you should leave before some misfortune accident occurs. Wouldn't that be just a true pity?" His eyes flickered down to Maddockson's clothes and a sick smirk formed. "I'm sure you'll be sorely missed."
To further his case, Caradoc flicked his wand casually to make Maddockson stumble back. He probably wouldn't be able to go much farther without making the man think he truly needed to fight back-- and duel. Hm. So again, Caradoc moved to shield Juliet from view again, taking the risk of having her peeved later than now. "Just go before you force me to hang you upside down like fool that you are. I really don't think you can handle hanging by your toes, let alone actually do anything about it."
Oh, Juliet was indeed peeved at him. Honestly, she was completely capable of handling herself against this mangy street rat type, she had her own wand--Merlin's beard! Caradoc seemed determined to have her play the damsel in distress, though--a thought that made her scoff, but as it were, it was hard to get a good intimidation in when your brother kept pushing you back behind his arm like you needed some sort of protecting. She didn't deserve any protecting anyway, she had been the one to call the guy an asshole and she was prepared to deal with the ramifications of that.
Maddockson, keeping a wary eye on Caradoc's wand the whole time, bent over again to finish collecting the rest of his possessions. Books, bottles, and some more interesting items... he stuffed them all into his bag at once, scowling and seething. Little girl was going to pay for this, yes she was, and the man too, what nerve they both had to challenge him--
"Keep it up, I dare you," he taunted Caradoc, sparks flying from his wand also at the provocation. He kept it aimed on him as he straightened up again. "I've got no qualms about hexing little girls and pests."
Caradoc held back letting out an irritated sigh, though didn't stop from letting his eyes roll dramatically or stop his wand from dipping down slightly for a few moments. Yes, this man was definitely not something to even be concerned about-- anyone who used 'pests' in the form of a threat was nothing seriously to get wound up about. Or even care about, really. He obviously wasn't someone of importance, and by the looks of his inner thoughts (of course Caradoc had tried prying, he needed to start practing on someone and this man was making it very easy with the steady eye contact and high emotional levels) Maddockson was an absolute loon. Which really made things so much easier.
Maddockson stumbled back from the pair as he felt an invisible pull from his temples, and his sneer deepened. These arrogant snobs were surely not trying to--- It was only a few moments before he felt his face begin to break out, and large boils began to form not only there, but all over his body. An anguished cry escaped from his lips as he rushed forward to the smirking man and the smaller girl. Oh, he would wipe that smirk right off, yes he would, just wait. And her mouth too, it would be so easy.
