Do You Believe In Life After Love -- Edmund

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Susan knew her brother Edmund had officially broken up with Addilyn Slater, and while she had hoped that time would heal all wounds, it was becoming quite evident to her that it would not be the case. She felt bad that she hadn’t been there as much as a big sister should have been, but in all fairness she had been going through her own breakup too. Casey and she had decided to part ways, mostly due to their busy opposing schedules, but also because Susan was slowly beginning to realize her heart lay somewhere else. What she was going to do about that was still unclear, but she knew that she wanted Lysander to be there when the lightning storm that was predicted for this upcoming weekend, so that she wouldn’t be alone when she transformed into an Animagus. After she was successful, Ed was first on her list of people to tell, or hopefully, show.

Today though, she just wanted to spend some quality one on one time with her brother. It was a nice day out, with no sign of any impending lightning storm over the looming mountains. Susan had gone down to the kitchens to gather some of hers and Ed’s favorite foods, as well as a large bottle of pumpkin juice for them to share. She tucked the picnic basket under her arm, and hoisted a blue checkered blanket under the other, and headed out into the sunshine. She trudged down the grounds towards the shores of the black lake, stopping just a few feet before the sand met the grass. She set down the basket and spread the blanket out on the flat grass, letting it flutter in the breeze briefly before summoning a few stones to weigh it down. She kneeled onto the blanket and adjusted the basket so it was closer to her reach, though she’d wait for Edmund to start eating. Stretching, Susan lay down on her back and gazed up at the clouds; she could have sworn that a cloud looked like a horse, but perhaps it was just her mind playing tricks on her.

@edmund

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Ed was on his way to meet with his sister, Susan. A part of him was surprised for her invitation to join her at the Black Lake, but a larger part of him wasn't. Susan was good at being formal and proper and doing things the "right way." Of course she would actually send him an invitation. He wasn't upset by it, just noted that it was definitely a Susan thing to do. 

As he made his way from the castle to the Lake, Edmund couldn't help but feel a bit of trepidation. He wasn't sure what Susan wanted to talk with him about. Surely, it would be a better conversation than they would have had a year ago. Wow. Had it really only been a year since he had such bad relationships with all his siblings. At the moment the relationships seemed to be doing better, but Edmund wasn't entirely sure if they would stay that way or not. He hoped they would, but he could never tell with his family. They were unpredictable.

From a short distance away, Ed saw a figure sitting and headed in that direction. When he started to draw near, the figure lied down. It was Susan. He approached with a grin, trying to be quiet until he was just a few feet away. "Hey Sis, what are you up to?" He asked the question softly, not really wanting to scare her, but hoping to surprise her.

@susanvictoria

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Susan heard footsteps softly approaching and she held a hand over her forehead to shield her eyes from the sun. She smiled as she saw her brothers form grow clearer as he came up to the blanket. “Hey Ed!” she said happily. She closed her eyes, stretched out and sat up, turning so that she was facing her brother. “I was cloud watching while I waited for you to arrive. Some of them actually do seem to take some interesting shapes.” She pointed up towards the sky at a particular cloud. “That one looks like a lion, perhaps chasing the one that looks like a snake over there,” she chuckled softly at the metaphor. “Or perhaps the snake is feinting,” she added. She patted the blanket spot beside her. “Come and sit Ed, I packed us a picnic lunch of our favorites,” she told him. She had considered inviting their sister Lucy along, but graduation was hurtling towards them with lightning speed now, and she wanted to have one on one time for each before leaving them at Hogwarts on their own next term.

Susan opened up the basket and took out a roast chicken sandwich and a two large bags of crisps, one in salt and malt vinegar for Susan and the other in Ed’s personal favorite. She also pulled out a jar of pickles, and two bottles of butterbeer, one of which she handed over to her brother. “I just wanted to have some one on one time with you before my graduation,” she told him before taking a bite out of her sandwich. She chewed and swallowed the bit as daintily as one could. “So how are you?” she asked him seriously. He had not said much about Addilyn Slater over the past few months, and she hadn’t pushed him on it. But she was curious how things were now that she was back.

@edmund

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Susan seemed really happy to see Ed and he couldn't help but smile back at his older sister. She'd be graduating soon, which was a strange thought, but he wasn't going to focus on that now. She wanted to meet for a reason and while he didn't know what that was, he was going to try and enjoy his time with her. His smile grew when his sister described what she'd been doing, pointing out the specific clouds to him. He couldn't help but chuckle a little bit. At her direction, he moved to sit next to her. "Lunch? Sounds great," he answered in excitement. Edmund loved food, a fact that his sister was well aware of. 

He watched as she started unloading the basket, full of all sorts of good food. He nodded when she explained what this was about. "How are you feeling about graduation?" he asked with a smile. He expected his sister to be excited about it, but he had a hard time being sure about that. A part of him wondered if it was excited or nerve-wracking to leave school. Susan was probably excited. At her question he shrugged, "I'm fine. Just getting ready for the end of term." He sighed, "really I don't have much going on Suz. Not much to say." In a way, Ed felt like his life was pretty boring. He was starting to get along with people better, but not always. His best friend disappeared for a while during the break, but she was back now, even though she acted strangely sometimes. What else was there to talk about?

@susanvictoria

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Susan smiled as Ed settled in next to her, grabbing his own sandwich to enjoy in the warm sunshine. She was in the middle of a bite when he asked how she was feeling about graduation and she held up a finger to let her have a moment before swallowing. “I’m...feeling alright I suppose,” she said, shrugging. “I don’t really know if it’s fully hit me that I’m not coming back after the years over. Even though my Ministry internship has already been set up and I know I’ll be heading there in June. It’s just...surreal, you know?” she told him, posing a question in the end. She didn’t know if Ed would have any idea how she was feeling, since he was after all a sixth year and still a full year away from his own graduation. She wasn’t entirely sure he knew what he wanted to do afterwards though, so she was grateful he could have some time to figure it out.

She pursed her lips slightly as Ed declared there was nothing much to report on his end of things. She sort of doubted that was true; his best friend had gone missing after all for at least a week, and had just appeared back randomly. She didn’t know the details, and wasn’t sure she wanted to ask. Still, she did like the girl and hoped she was alright. “How is Addi?” she asked him, then continued. “I know she went missing for a bit there, you must have been worried.”

@edmund

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There was Susan, ever proper. Edmund couldn't help but grin when she held up a finger before answering. He would've answered with his mouth full, but he knew she'd never do something like that. The fact used to annoy him but now he just thought it was kind of funny. He nodded when she did answer his question, saying that it felt a little unbelievable that she wouldn't be coming back. "Well, you could always come back for a day or so to visit if you want," he answered before adding, "but I know that that won't be the same as living here. I'm sure it'll be a little different, but I'm sure you're going to love it. You might even get so into your new job that you won't even realize when school starts," he teased. A part of him thought it was a valid point though. Susan did seem to tend to get into things that mattered to her. 

He shrugged when she asked about Addi. It was only a few days ago when Addi admitted to him that things were weird and that she didn't know what was going on, but that wasn't something he could tell anyone. She asked him to keep it a secret, and Edmund was definitely going to do that. "She's doing all right. She's a bit withdrawn, but she's back and that's the first step. Eventually she'll tell me what happened." Of course he already knew that she didn't know what happened during that week, but that wasn't for everyone to know. "I was worried, but I'm okay now."

@susanvictoria

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Susan nodded, opening the bag of chips in front of her. “That is true; I’ll be working with regulation of magical creatures, so it’s always a possibility that I’ll come back to check on the magical creatures for class,” she agreed, smiling a little. That would be fun; she wasn’t sure why the Ministry would need to check up on the Care of Magical Creatures professor and the creatures they kept, but off the top of her head that was the first idea she had. She popped a chip in her mouth and crunched thoughtfully. “I hope they send me places, though I’m sure in the beginning it will be mostly paperwork, coffee runs and errands throughout the different departments,” she added with a chuckle. It’ll be a strange sight to see she imagined, Lady Susan Windsor getting coffee for a Ministry worker. But in the wizarding world, her royalty status was just a title, nothing more. She could be “just Susan” at work, being treated like all the other interns. And to be perfectly honest, she couldn’t be more excited for that.

Susan got the impression Edmund was not quite giving her the whole story, but she shrugged it off. If he and Addi had something going on, a secret between them then that was their business. “Well I’m glad she’s doing alright, and I’m glad you’re being a good friend for her,” was all she said, smiling. She took another bite of her sandwich, allowing a comfortable silence to come over them. When she swallowed, she took a sip of her juice before speaking again. “You know, Andromeda Lestrange is coming to stay with us at some point in the summer. If you’re going to be staying at the London apartments of course,” she told him, taking another sip. “Don’t worry, she’ll be staying in my room so she won’t share a bathroom with you or anything,” she added teasingly. She actually wasn’t positive on how much interaction Ed and Andy had shared over the years; Ed usually kept to himself when they were home and Andy was...well, Susan’s friend.

@edmund

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He smiled back when his sister commented that she might come back to school to check on some of the magical creatures. "Just make sure you say hi if you do come," he commented off-hand, a little surprised by what he said ... after it was already said. Asking his sister to visit him definitely wasn't something Ed would normally do. Maybe she wouldn't notice, but he wasn't going to get his hopes up for that. He scrunched his nose when she explained that at first she would probably be nothing more than a message girl. "That does not sound like fun at all," he commented with distaste. Ed still didn't know what he wanted to do with his life, but running errands for others was definitely not something on his list of things to do. Ever. Hopefully he'd be able to avoid that somehow, but he wasn't entirely sure. If he couldn't decide on something ... his options might end up being quite limited. 

He nodded when she mentioned him being a good friend to Addi. That really wasn't a surprise. The two of them had been close their entire time at Hogwarts, so him trying to help her and spending his time with her shouldn't be a surprise to anyone in the entire school. He cocked his head to the side when she mentioned Andromeda Lestrange, blinking when his sister mentioned she'd be coming to stay with them sometime in the summer. "I ... didn't know that," he answered slowly. He didn't mind that the other girl would be coming over, he knew how good of friends she was with Susan, but he was a little surprised he didn't already know about it. "Do you know when she'll be coming?" he asked curiously.

@susanvictoria

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Susan laughed. “It’s alright, like I said I’m excited. I want to work my way up the levels of the department in the Ministry. I want to earn my right to be there, not just be handed it because of my family or social status, you know what I mean?” she said, trying to explain her excitement over an internship. “And of COURSE I will come say hi. Not only will I say hello, I will come pull you out of class to come on a stroll around the grounds with me,” she added teasingly. She could just picture Ed’s face if Susan burst through the doors of the Potions classroom, dramatically telling the professor that she needed to see her brother immediately, and then letting him know it was just to say hi. “Perhaps I’ll go the less dramatic route,” she mused, sticking her tongue out at him before giggling.

“Yes, she’ll be coming to stay I believe the first week in July, after we start up at the Ministry. I know she wanted to spend some time with Phil and their families before starting working, just as I want to spend time with your precious face before I get lost in the vast halls of the Ministry of Magic myself,” Susan said, adding the last bit in as a flair for the dramatic. “She’s going to be staying in the guest bedroom across from my room - the one that overlooks Parliament and Big Ben. I think it’ll be a nice sight for her to wake up to,” she added, then wagged her finger at him. “No sneaking into her room though,” she mock-chided, snorting a little at the ridiculousness of the claim before popping a few more crisps in her mouth.

@edmund

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She said it was all right. It sounded terrible to Edmund! Then again, that was probably why he wasn't ever going to go into the Ministry. It just wasn't his style. He might not know what he wanted to do with his life, but he knew a few things that he was not interested in. That was one of them. He nodded as she explained what she wanted, "Yes, I can understand that and I'm sure that you will do amazingly at it," he answered honestly. Then she said she would come visit him, and pull him out of class. Ed rolled his eyes, but he couldn't stop from smiling as well. "Well as long as you do it in a way that's not embarrassing, be my guest," he told her. Missing class to hang out with his sister? Of course! Honestly though, he'd take any reason to get out of class. "I mean it, Suz. Please don't try to embarrass me." He was suddenly worried that she would be dramatic, especially after she mentioned being dramatic and started giggling.

Edmund nodded as she started to explain when Andy would be coming to stay with them. Ed didn't really know the girl that well, but he was fine with her being at his house. He knew that she and Susan were really close with one another, so as long as the two of them were happy, he was happy for them. He nodded, "I'll be nice." He wasn't exactly sure if that's what Susan wanted from him, but it's what he told her. Then he rolled his eyes at her, "I'm not going to sneak into anyone's room. Unless it's to put rats in your bed," he smirked, sure that she would know he was teasing.

@susanvictoria

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Susan smiled at him. “Thanks for listening to me gush about joining the Ministry Ed, I know it’s the furthest thing from what you’d ever want to do in life, but the fact that you’ve been letting me blab on means a lot to me,” she told him, reaching over and jostling his shoulder gently. They may have had their differences in the past, but Susan knew her brother loved her very much - even if he had a funny way of showing it sometimes. “I will TRY not to embarrass you,” she added, sticking out her pinky to pinky swear to it. It was something they had always done when they were all children, when things made more sense and were less complicated. Still it seemed appropriate for the time.

Susan gasped as he jokingly said he’d put rats in hers and Andys bed. “Edmund Michael Windsor, you do that and not only will I show up at Hogwarts next year loudly calling for you, but I will also get your old baby album from mum to show all the girls in your year,” she faux threatened wagging her forefinger at him. She knew he was only teasing, but two could play at that game. She knew exactly where Ed’s baby album was kept after all, she could use it as a weapon if she deigned to.

As they finished their lunch, Susan dabbed her lips with her napkin and reached into the picnic basket once more. She produced two beautifully decorated one layered mini cakes cakes shaped like a gift box in blue and green and smiled. “I had the house elves make this for us last night, to celebrate another school year down; this one just happens to be my final year,” she told him. She set the cake down and wiped a stray tear from the corner of her eye. “Oh don’t mind me, it’s just randomly been hitting me that this is the last time I can say I’m a Hogwarts student,” she said thickly, reaching in for the cake knife to cut them each a slab of their own cake.

@edmund


cakes!

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She thanked him for listening to her talk about the ministry and Edmund shrugged. He'd never want to do it, but if it made Susan happy, then more power to her. "It's not a problem to listen about it Sus. Just don't try to make me join you there and we'll be good." Honestly though, there was nothing she could do that would make him want to join the ministry, in any capacity. It just didn't seem like a good fit for him at all. He gave her a smile when she said she would try not to embarrass him and then took her pinky with his own, pulling them up and down in a shaking gesture. Deal made.

Then she started teasing him about what she'd do if he put rats in their beds. At least, Ed was pretty sure she was teasing. He rolled his eyes, and his head along with it. "You and I both know I was just messing around," he said, his tone airy and innocent. Then he narrowed his eyes, "But if you bring those pictures you better be prepared for war." Honestly though. He hated that those things existed. If she showed anyone ... she wouldn't. He knew she wouldn't. Almost knew.

He smiled when she pulled out some cakes, saying that she had the house elves make them. The cake looked delicious. Then she started crying. Crap. Ed wasn't good with crying, even when she wasn't really upset just a little emotional over leaving. He didn't know what he was supposed to do! He wasn't good with emotions like that. He nodded at her, hoping his face looked sympathetic. "You'll do good, Susan and you can come back every once in a while. It's all good." He sat there, feeling awkward while she reached in the basket. Hopefully she wouldn't be crying much longer. Ed had no idea what he was supposed to do about that.

@susanvictoria

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Susan laughed. “Okay I promise I won’t recruit you to the Ministry unless it’s for an absolutely perfectly solid reason,” she promised. She couldn’t think of any reason off the top of her head that would make her break that promise, but she had heard that a lot of folk went into the Auror program after the Second Wizarding War in order to help track and recapture the straggling Death Eaters that had escaped the Battle of Hogwarts. That sort of thing was understandable; both the former Headmaster and her friend Rose’s father were former Aurors that after things had settled down had gone into different professions. She knew there was always a threat of war with Elaine Dupree still roaming free, but she hoped that she would be defeated before Ed and Lucy graduated school.

“I will always know where those pictures are brother dearest, but I won’t use them unless I have to. I swear it,” she told him, crossing her heart and holding her hand up in confidence. She pulled the cakes closer to her and started cutting them, knowing Ed was pretty rubbish when it came to emotional consultation. Every Windsor sibling had their strengths and weaknesses, and Lucy was the one she would choose to go to when she needed a good cry. Ed was just a good sounding board, to talk to about her future, and her stuff. As long as the subject didn’t focus in too much on him. She handed him a slice of green cake before taking a bite of blue cake. “Delicious, they’ve really outdone themselves,” she commented after she swallowed, dabbing her lips daintily with a napkin. “So...Ed. Now that your sixth year has come to a close, have you given any thought to what you want to do after Hogwarts? Aside from following in my footsteps,” she asked him, adding the last part in as a joke.

@edmund

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Edmund narrowed his eyes at his sister, though he was really only teasing. "No, no "unless" there. You can't recruit me to the Ministry unless I show some interest in it," he paused a moment, "and I won't, so don't hold out for that either. I've had enough of politics to last a lifetime." He knew that the Ministry wasn't all politics, but to an extend he was and that really just wasn't what he wanted to do with his life. He may not know what he wanted yet, but he did know what he didn't want. 

He groaned when she mentioned always knowing where those pictures were. "I promise, I won't give you any reason to use them. Please just get rid of them." He knew she wouldn't. First, if she did their mother wouldn't be happy. She thought all the pictures she took of her children were adorable, no matter how embarrassing they were. That was the hard thing about parents. What you thought was embarrassing was almost invariably something they cherished. He took a bite of his own cake, nodding when she said they were delicious. "Definitely," he agreed. He shrugged at her question. "I've thought about it, but I'm not really coming up with anything that I want to do." He paused for a moment. "Except maybe Quidditch, but I'm trying to keep my options open at the moment." He thought about asking for suggestions but didn't. He didn't want her to think of that as an open invitation to tell him what he could do at any moment. Ed didn't know if she would, but he also didn't want to take the chance.

@susanvictoria

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Susan chuckled. “Sorry Ed, I don’t want to face Mum’s wrath if I toss out those baby pictures of yours,” she told him, knowing full well he already knew she could not honor his request. “You may have, but Will and I certainly haven’t,” she added cheerfully. She wouldn’t be going into a career at the Ministry if she was sick and tired of politics after all. She knew Edmund had never been interested in that sort of thing, and would be rather shocked if he all of a sudden did. Susan personally felt invigorated going into her particular department; she wanted to make sure all creatures and beasts had proper care and rights to be treated as humanely as humans expected to be treated. “Imagine if I ever get to meet Minister Granger; she started her own career in the same department I’ll be interning for. She’s such an inspiration,” Susan breathed, sighing dreamily.

“Quidditch eh? That’d be fun to come watch you play professionally,” she said, sounding excited at the prospect. Of course, she always came out to watch Ed’s game as a supportive big sister, but it would be entirely different if he played professionally. What if he got recruited for the English national team in a World Cup? Susan had never been big into football but she had a lot of friends growing up in their private primary school who had parents host massive gatherings all to watch some athletes kick a black and white ball around a field. “Do you have a favorite professional team Ed? I don’t know if we’ve ever discussed it,” Susan asked him.

@edmund