WHO: Dominic Yaxley & Laura Mulciber
WHAT: Sort-of Proposals
WHEN: April '78
WHERE: Three Broomsticks

Despite the fact that he had owled Miss Mulciber nearly a week beforehand, and had in fact received a rather cordial if confused acceptance of his demands to meet with her this weekend, Dominic was still slightly anxious to whether or not she would show up. He was not nervous, however, about meeting with her did she come to see him.

Any normal man might have been nervous to be charged with the duty of telling a teenaged girl that she was to be his bride and that she had no decision on the matter (not that a woman should be trusted to have that decision, he reminded himself), but this was not any normal man. Never nervous, hardly ever touched emotionally (on the outside, that was), and always dutiful. This was his duty, therefore there was no reason to be apprehensive--he did not want to marry anyone, but he would and there was no reason, so long as it satisfied his parents, that he should be anything but agreeable about it.

This was why Dominic stood there, ever-dignified air and all, in front of the Three Broomsticks, leaning against the outside wall and taking long drags on a fag as he waited to see the head of Laura Mulciber bobbing in the midst of the crowd of students rushing into Hogsmeade. Ugh, he did wish she would hurry it on--he was just brushed by some disgusting Gryffindor that smelled horribly of mudblood.

It was fortunate that Laura Mulciber considered Narcissa Black as a friend, otherwise she might have been tempted to become quite irritated that the blonde had secretly snatched the letter from a Mister Dominic Yaxley and read it. Ever since then, Narcissa had been hounding her, and Laura simply waved it off. However, she was more than a bit puzzled about Dominic's letter. They were not close friends exactly, though they were acquaintances, though her brother, and she spoke about with her close friend Lia Llewellyn. After lingering for about a minute in front of the Three Broomsticks, she waved goodbye to Lia and stepped inside to the usual busy atmosphere of the bustling place.

She leaned to her right slightly to allow two giggling Hufflepuff third years past and looked around. Ahh, there he was. Though she hadn't seen him in over six months, she would have recognised him anymore - especially with that cigarette. As she approached him, she offered him a polite smile, tucking a strand of her long dark hair behind her ear. "Hello, Dominic."

Ah, there she came. Dominic had been watching Laura very carefully every since she had walked into the room, although out of the corner of his eyes so that she could would not notice. When she finally approached him, he turned to regard her in a mild, fake surprise, allowing a small smile to cross his lips. "Miss Mulciber," he said, nodding his head to make note of her presence in a cordial manner. He noted in his mind that she looked as beautiful as the last time he had seen her--fortunate, for if she were turned into a beast in that time, he would certainly not allow this engagement to go over.

"I am so glad that you've found it fit to oblige me with your presence today."

Laura gave him a small, tight-lipped smile, the kind that only close friends would know that she was even the slightest bit nervous. "It is no problem at all," she replied. "After all, I did wonder about your note." Honestly, she really did have no idea what this whole thing was about, and now that she actually was face to face with the man, her curiosity was growing by leaps and bounds.

"Ah yes, my owl," Dominic replied with a knowing smirk. He took a deep breath, which it was apparent that he didn't actually need, before laying a hand on her back and gently steering Laura towards a small booth in the back. "I believe... that it would be better if we were to sit down... for the sake of our discussion." After all, it wouldn't be suitable for the girl to faint in the middle of the restaurant, or go on creating a scene. Oh no, that wouldn't do at all.

Laura shot him the same tight-lipped smile as she settled into her seat. Would it be... considered mental for her to dread whatever he needed to say to her? Though she was eager to find out what was going on, her Spidey-sense was indeed tingling (hah, hanging around that Smeth did have its effects). Was this going to be good news or bad? Unexplainable intuition sensed that it was to the latter.

She tucked her hands in her lap and looked at Dominic expectantly. "I'm ready for whatever it is you have to tell me." Get on with it!

Dominic's smile dropped away into an indifferent face because--well, while he figured that it would be very amusing to see how she reacted to this news, really he felt nothing about it but indifference. A great sense of duty, obviously, but emotionally? He couldn't care less about the girl, much less marrying her. He wasn't doing it for himself, anyway.

"It would seem that we are to be married." Meh, might as well be out with it. He never did like dancing around subjects, especially when they needed to be said. Reaching down into his pocket, his thumb and forefinger closed around a small, metallic object, which he pulled out and set on the table in front of her. "Which means that this is yours."

It would seem that we are to be married.

It was kind of amazing that those nine words would have such an impact on Laura, wouldn't it? There was a funny whooshing noise in her ears, like a vacuum. Her eyes grew round and she sucked in a breath. If this was a joke, then this was not funny, not funny at all, especially after the whole horrible Orpheus Travers fiasco, which she had just finally, valiantly gotten over. She had gotten the distinct impression that her parents had been up to something ever since she had visited home winter and spring holidays, but whenever she had tried to ask them, they had been completely mum.

Marriage? This was insane! Realising that she could only stare in equal parts horror and disbelief in only so long, Laura finally shook her head, her gaze settling on the... thing Dominic had in front of her. "I'm sorry," she said faintly. "...What?!"

Dominic rolled his eyes in an impatient manner, despite that he had to admit to himself that she had taken it rather more well than most people in her situation would. "Shall I slow my syllables down for you, or will that get the same reaction?" he asked, sounding bored. "Because I do believe you understood perfectly what I have said and are merely attempting to be difficult about it. Well, you've had your moment of difficulty, and now I'd appreciate it if you would accept it, don the diamond, and be on your way like a good girl."

It was all thanks to the rigid behaviour training that she had undergone half her life by her mother that she was able to take this news remarkably well. Laura clenched her teeth in anger and managed not to say anything that would get her into serious trouble as she ignored Dominic's sarcastic words. "So I take it that this arrangement has been made official by my parents?"

She made it a point not to look at the ring anymore, and raised her eyes to Dominic's, her hands tight in her lap.

Dominic sighed, waving the question off with his hand. "None other." After all, the girl was a pureblood--she knew how these things worked and all she was doing was asking pointless questions that were only going to waste both of their time. "Now I do insist that you follow my advice and put on the ring--you're being ridiculously silly being all shocked and annoyed, and it's no service to either of us."

Laura had a million things that she would have dearly loved to say, but for now... Swallowing hard, she took the ring - snatched would have been a more appropriate term, really - and placed it on her ring finger, marveling at how cold it was, rather than its undeniable beauty. Didn't her parents know - couldn't they have figured it after her former engagement to Orpheus had fallen through?

She would figure out exactly what the hell to do afterwards, because right now? She needed to leave. "It's very pretty." Her voice was hollow.

Slightly satisfied--but more relieved than anything, because again, little girls causing scenes was something he didn't intend to deal with today--Dominic nodded in response. Of course it was pretty, he did have a perfectly tuned taste for expensive, elegant things like any respectable upperclass man should. "I am glad you approve," he responded coldly, making it evident he really couldn't care less. Just like he couldn't care less that he was marrying her.

Well--he would care, if she proved to be difficult in the future... but for now, he was satisfied with her. "I assume you'll be wanting to get back to your friends now. Our business is done, so I will leave you be," he said, slipping out of his seat. That's exactly what it was, too--business, and nothing but.

Laura pushed back a stray lock of her long dark hair and stood up as well, feeling as if she was wearing a lump of coal on her finger, rather than an admittedly gorgeous diamond engagement ring. Her mind racing, she barely managed a civil nod. "Indeed. It has been quite... enlightening, seeing you. And good bye."

Though her departure had been rather abrupt, and nearly downright rude, she couldn't help it - Merlin, could any girl who had just been announced, out of the blue, to a man that she barely knew, have helped it? No, she did not. Something had to be done. Something drastic had to be done, otherwise she didn't know what to do.