Hello Stranger -- Magi

[Irina Rose Krum]

It was the week after Irina’s orientation at Gringotts when she found herself back in Diagon Alley. She didn’t really know why she was back; Cursebreaking training didn’t start for another three weeks in June, and it wasn’t as if she needed any school supplies for the upcoming year at Hogwarts. A part of her was feeling rather nostalgic; the past eight years since her brother had started at Hogwarts she’d been coming to Diagon Alley as a sort of ritualistic rite of passage. They’d have lunch at one of the many Muggle restaurants nearby, always at the suggestion of one of her mothers’ friends, then they’d go school shopping, and finish with dinner at the Leaky Cauldron before heading home. This year, Irina would be too busy with her new job to join the girls and their parents shopping, and she felt a little bit sad over that.

She also wanted to talk to her old friend, Aras. Last she knew, he had worked for Ollivander’s as an apprentice or something similar, so that was where she headed. She entered the shop and the tiny bell dinged overhead. She looked around, frowning slightly. The place seemed deserted, but then she heard some shuffling in the back. She walked over to where the noise was coming from and saw the back of a girl putting away boxes of wands. “Hello? Excuse me,” she called, and her face lit up in a happy recognition when the girl turned around. “Magi? I haven’t seen you in ages,” she said, hurrying forward to give the girl a hug. “How are you?” she asked. Magi and she hadn’t been able to speak much since the pregnancy had been terminated; she wondered if it was a request of her brothers that she keep away. Either way, Irina was an adult now, officially, so she could make her own choices in who she talked to.

@magdalena

[Deleted]

Magdalena, when she wasn’t at the Three Broomsticks, spent the majority of her time at the wand shop. It’d been good, reconnecting with her brother after almost a year. Moving back in with him helped with the reconnecting. But also helpednoprn her back up to the family business. Before she’d been so determined to deny her heritage as an Ollivander. But Aras made it feel normal again. Like she shouldn’t be ashamed of her family name. And thus, she finally started going down into the family shop. Not really working officially but doing what she often did as a child. Exploring the shelves, refamiliarizing herself with the hundreds of wands. Watching the shop when her brother stepped out.

Today happened to be one of those days. He’d stepped out not to long ago. Instead of closing up for a few hours Magi had offered to keep an eye on things and help anyone that came in. She just had t expected anyone she knew entering.

Magdalena had just been returning some wand boxes to their shelves when she heard the door open and a customer calling out. She knew that voice... It couldn’t be... when she turned to see the person she realized her assumption was correct. Irina Krum. The sister of her ex boyfriend. That was a story that she’d rather not remember right now, and the girl tensed a little. She hadn’t spoken to Irina since the break up, so she didn’t know exactly what her brother had told him about anything (aside from the abortion, since she obviously wasn’t pregnant anymore.). But, to her surprise Irina came hurrying over and pulled her into a hug, which after a moment’s hesitation Magi returned. ”Irina.” she finally managed to muster up a surprised ‘greeting’ of sorts. ”I’m... good. You know, usual. What about you? What are you doing here?” the only reason why people came in here was for wand related matters.. so while it was good to see the younger girl... What had brought her to Ollivander’s?

Irina Rose Krum

[Irina Rose Krum]

Irina noted Magi was surprised to see her, but that wasn’t shocking, seeing as the last time they had spoken, the girl in front of her had been pregnant with her brother Dmitri’s child and they were in a relationship. Now everything had changed; Irina had always wanted to consider Magi a friend even after their breakup, but had maintained her distance out of respect to her brother. Dmitri had told her it was fine, but still Irina had kept away for his sake. “That’s good to hear. I’m well - just starting out at Gringotts as a Cursebreaker, but I had my orientation the other day. I don’t start until mid-June officially,” Irina told her, feeling the slight tremor in her voice. Magi was a surprisingly easy person to talk to and she had forgotten this over the past few months.

“Oh! I’m looking for Aras,, he works here. I don’t actually know his last name as it’s just never come up, but he sold me my wand when I was eleven and we’ve had a pen-friendship for a while now,” Irina explained brightly. She looked around, assuming that if Magi was there then likely Aras was out. “I’m glad to run into you anyway, it’s been ages, I’ve missed you,” Irina told her quickly, not wanting Magi to think she wasn’t happy to see her. She could always come back and bother Aras when she was out of work anyway.

@magdalena

[Deleted]

Magdalena was still trying to piece together what Dmitri had told Irina. Obviously, whatever it was Irina didn't think any differently of Magi. That was a blessing. Because at least things didn't have to be awkward. Well... As long as the subject didn't come up. Here was hoping.

The girl blinked as Irina went on about curse breaking and orientation, suddenly remembering that Hogwarts was out for the summer. Which meant... Irina had graduated. Not being in contact with Irina the last few months of her school year had made Magi completely forget about that. "Oh! Congratulations!" She remembered Irina mentioned before that she'd wanted to be a curse breaker, so the congratulations was both in regard to graduating and landing her desired career.

.... Aras?

Magdalena's expression was completely blank, and then very confused at the mention of her brother and Irina being penpals for several years. Him selling Irina her wand didn't surprise the girl at all, but penpals? That didn't sound familiar at all at to her. But to be honest she'd been a studnet those years herself so she'd only seen Aras during the breaks. It was entirely possible it'd just never come up. "It's Ollivander. Aras Ollivander." She finally answered, offering up the only answer that she could, the one piece off information that Irina hadn't known. So... That meant... Irina didn't know who he really was..? "He's my brother." She finally added, incase the identical surnames didn't make that abundantly clear already. She knew she'd mentioned her brother to Irina before, but now that she thought about it she realized that she'd never actually mentioned his name. She opened her mouth once more to explain he was out when Irina continued on, mentioning being glad to see her. Immediately her mouth closed and she gave a small smile. "Yeah, yeah it has. Since February." That's when the break up had happened and Magdalena had stopped writing. But best not to discuss that.

Irina Rose Krum

[Irina Rose Krum]

Irina blinked a few times, stunned into silence. Aras was Magi’s brother? How had that never come up in conversations? Irina tried to think back over the times Magi had mentioned her brother; had she ever said his name? She didn’t think so, and Aras hadn’t mentioned a sister in their conversations. But why would he? Their topic of conversation never really turned to family, as Irina had always gotten the impression that he didn’t want to talk about that sort of thing, so she just...let it be. She opened her mouth to say something, but instead of words, a laugh escaped. One laugh turned into several, and suddenly Irina was doubled over with mirth. Oh Merlin, but she didn’t know why this was so hilarious! “I should have known. Aras was the owner of Ollivanders, you mentioned you had an older brother….” Irina straightened and shook her head with a smile. “He and I are...I guess you can call it penfriends? We got on well when he sold me my wand and told me I could write to him if I ever needed someone to talk to that wasn’t a Krum and I took him up on it.” Irina finally explained with a small shrug. What a small world it was.

The topic changed to the last time Magi and Irina had conversed, and she twirled her dark hair through her fingers awkwardly. Magi and Dmitri had broken up because of the baby, and though Irina had wanted to stay friends with Magi, the other girl had stopped writing, and so Irina supported her big brother and stayed silent. A few months had passed at this point however, so hopefully Dimi wouldn’t be angry for her talking to Magi now. “Have...have you and Dmitri talked at all since then?” she asked her quietly.

@magdalena