pillars of salt [ana]

[Deleted]

January 2026

Petri scrubbed his hands over his face as he left the plant and potions poisoning ward. It had been a long day, with numerous patients. Thankfully, his patients had fallen into his speciality. He'd been a bit traumatised with all of the Hag's Fever patients last year. He was grateful the disease had gotten under control, but it was still haunting to see so many of his fellow magical folk fall ill. Sauntering over to the healer station at the apex of the ward, Petri looked over a few documents and charts. Though he was just an apprentice, his fellow healers knew he excelled with plant poisoning due to his background.

With a smile to the charge healer, Petri signed off one last document before washing his hands and departing the ward. He took the stairs up to the cafe upstairs two at a time, his stomach rumbling. He hadn't gotten the chance to eat in hours, and he was larger than the average witch or wizard. A toastie and some tea sounded delightful right now. Since leaving his kommun and moving to London for further medical experience, Petri had learned so much about different foods. At the kommun, they ate what they hunted and gathered, all very natural ingredients. Here, cheese and dairy products and vegetables were so easily available! And they didn't even have to be in season. And the different cheeses from different animals... it had been a thrilling day the first time he tasted goats cheese.

Petri pushed open the door to the fifth floor, his hulking form framed in the doorway for a moment as his eyes scanned the room. There were just a few people in here, mostly healers on their break but a few visitors. Petri's eyes landed on a familiar brunette - a former patient of his who had come to him with a nasty rash on her arm from coming into contact with belladonna without proper protective gear. "Anastasia!" said Petri with delight, as he lumbered over to her, grinning from ear to ear. "You are back here! Why?" asked Petri as he folded himself into the chair across from her.

anastasia marie karkaroff

[anastasia marie karkaroff]

here is your present

lets take the future

January 2026
@petri

Ana walked from the fourth floor of St. Mungo’s. As much as she didn’t want to be here or even have people see her here, it hadn’t been by choice. The Ministry had noted some…side effects from those that had visited the island, and whether or not they would admit to whatever ailment they had, they were all told to have a full physical as soon as possible. She had seen many co-workers from Interpol and also Aurors and a handful of Curse Breakers. She supposed it made sense the bank would want to ensure their human shovels were still good to be sent back out into the field. It had been almost a week since the ringing had stopped, that bell noise she still heard as a phantom sound at times. But overall, she felt that she was finding her mental footing again. She’d begun doubling down on her Occlumency practice just to feel normal again.

But it was late, and she decided to pop into the fifth floor for a cup of coffee. Leaving here meant going back to the Ministry to finish the work she had missed the entire day, and the thought of the stack of files she must have on her desk only gave her a headache. It wasn’t like Ana to avoid her work, but the island had rattled her more than she cared to admit, and for now, she just needed a moment before she could walk back through the Atrium with her familiar cold gaze. She was in thought as she sat, one hand clasped around a steaming cup of coffee in a styrofoam cup, but then she heard her name. Her full name. Nobody called her that, or very few ever did for long. However, when she looked up to read to cut whoever had called her with her eyes, she saw the beaming and happy face of a gigantic figure.

She blinked a few times as he took the seat across from her. Ana’s expression softened. She had met him in her last visit the previous year when she’d accidentally come into contact with belladonna while on a case. It hadn’t been her fault, really, but a duel had turned into a sort of fistfight, and the table with the items was in the way. After apprehending the suspect, she’d been sent here. Naturally, Ana hadn’t been too happy but tried her best to force the politeness, but he had also been so incredibly patient that she had found herself not finding the need to be sarcastic. But, she was surprised that he remembered her. ”Petri?” There was still a bit of shock. She never figured herself as the approachable type. ”The Ministry has required physicals for all of us that went to that…island.” She explained, since the story broke in The Prophet there wasn’t much use to keeping that a secret.

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[Deleted]

It was with unbridled delight that Petri beheld Anastasia. She'd been a patient of his some months ago, back when he was still new to his role. While he was still new, Petri had come much more to grips with working with non-druids on healing patients. He did not make note of the frozen glare that was shot his way upon calling her name, only taking into account the softened expression as Anastasia met Petri's gaze. He folded himself into the seat across from her, beaming at the petite brunette before him, asking cheerily what brought her back to the hospital. She did not seem to be ill, nor did he see any rashes on any part of her body. Perhaps under her clothes? Petri swallowed thickly, directing his thoughts back to the task at hand.

"I see," said Petri with a nod. He pulled a face, distaste evident in his expression. "I do not like the sound of this island. More people need to be healed. We have enough problems without spooky island adding to them," Petri lamented. He loved his work, but his ultimate goal was to rid the magical world of curable diseases. Not to add to that host of maladies. There was already enough darkness in the world without the mysterious appearance of Yrisle.

"I am glad to see you here now though. You have not come into contact with more poisons, have you?" asked Petri, arching a brow, a smirk playing at his lips. He distinctly remembered the moment Anastasia had come into his care, how on guard she had been. Petri had taken care to be gentle with her, to peel back her layers of sarcasm and coolness to find a kind woman beneath. "Apart from the island, you are keeping well?"

anastasia marie karkaroff

[anastasia marie karkaroff]

here is your present

lets take the future

January 2026
@petri

Something was intriguing about his optimistic nature. Perhaps it was just Ana’s natural curiosity since it was entirely not in her nature to smile so much or even look on the bright side of things. Was it refreshing? To a point, yes. It wasn’t as though the Ministry didn’t have employees with similar outlooks, and they made Ana cringe as much as scraping something on a chalkboard would. But, Petri had been so kind and patient in her last visit and to the point that she even felt…bad? For being snippy and rude. Now that had been a change of pace, but she had drummed it down to exhaustion, she wasn’t going to be soft—that wasn’t the Karkaroff way. Though despite her upbringing and general habits when interacting with others, she wasn’t blind. He was pleasant to look at. She made a mental note to tell Astrid about him, at least in the little girl talk they participated in.

His expression shifted when she brought up the island. She found there weren’t many that expressed anything positive toward it, and she certainly would never express anything but distaste. Ana nodded softly. She thought about the annoying bell that she’d kept hearing for some time and how it had affected her sanity. It was haunting her in a way but had also been a bit humbling. So far, only Bianca and Astrid knew of what she had experienced, and that was enough people that knew. ”Spooky?” She asked. It was the first time she had heard it described as such, but it was a mild way of putting it. ”It was certainly….different.” She stared off away from Petri for a moment before returning her attention back to the man in front of her.

”No, I have not.” She gave a small smile. If her life and even her Occlumency training had taught her anything, it was that Petri was undoubtedly one of the most genuine people she had ever met. Her guard was still up as it always was, but she hardly had her wand at the ready. There were so few people she ever felt at ease around, even her brother, who would have quickly pointed out if she was relaxed as a mother might immediately notice their child slouching. She looked back at him, eyes green and gleaming. She nodded her head, ”I am, thank you. I am hoping the Ministry does not send me back to spooky island.” She responded, using his terminology for the place. ”And you?”

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[Deleted]

Petri was rewarded with a small smile from Ana at his mention of spooky island. His command of the English language was mediocre at best, and abysmal at worst. He had heard rumours of this island changing people, cursing them. It was not natural. It should not have existed. Like Samhain, it incorporated the darker half of the Earth mother, corrupting those who dared breach the shores. So Petri thought spooky was quite an apt term to describe that place. He returned her slight smile with one of his own, considerably more easily than she had.

After enquiring after her health, Petri found himself rather more interested in other aspects of her life. Unfortunately, Ana took his words rather literally, and only metered out a simple response about how she hoped the ministry would not send her back to spooky island. He chuckled as she enunciated the word spooky, copying his terminology. With a shrug, he replied easily. "I am good, yes! I have a new flatmate. She is always ill. I don't like when people are ill, so I make tonics. Also, my garden is coming along nicely. I have not finished sauna yet though," he rambled, then paused, mulling over his words. "You should come to see sauna when I finish. I make you herbal tea and we take a sauna. Loosen up. Relax." He shook his overlong arms like tentacles, attempting to draw a laugh from Ana, futile as though it might be. "Big decisions to be taken in sauna. Tell ministry you need day off," he added with a laugh, his grass green eyes twinkling with mischief.

anastasia marie karkaroff

[anastasia marie karkaroff]

here is your present

lets take the future

January 2026
@petri

Petri was quick to smile. She’d noticed that about him. Ana supposed she was always curious about those who could constantly walk around with happy demeanors and acute optimism. What did that feel like? Had she not been born a Karkaroff, would her life be a simple as those around her? Then again, her closest friend was about as detached as she was, and they came from different backgrounds. Her experience on the Island had worn her down a bit. Escorting the High Druid, watching her best friend transform into some unknown creature, running into Bianca at that mysterious lake and that damn bell that had driven her to the brink of insanity…perhaps she found Petri’s company refreshing. Not that he was terrible to look at either, she was a woman after all with two perfectly good eyes.

She sipped her coffee. It had cooled down to a reasonable temperature though the quality was lacking and still somehow better than what was served at the coffee stations at the Ministry. Petri explained he had a flatmate with medical issues and some other personal facts. ”Well, isn’t she lucky to have a Healer as a flatmate.” She hadn’t expected that if she was being honest. Though mainly since she was hardly one to share much about her life with anyone, let alone someone she had only met at most once or twice. Place her cup back on the table. She was surprised by his offer though her slightly surprised expression shifted to an amused one at his display. ”Do you often invite strangers to your sauna?” It was charming how innocent he seemed, though she also thought of how one could exist in this world being so good-natured for long. It wasn’t exactly a refusal of his offer, though if he had asked her six months ago, she might have just walked away with a look and not even a verbal response.

She drank more of her coffee, looking back at him. She had noticed his eyes when they’d first met, an interesting green she had never quite seen before. But also, focusing on him helped focus her thoughts. Control and order, it was what she needed and craved, especially in her mind. She had been practicing her Occlumency more since returning from the Island last. It helped her feel grounded. ”I can’t promise anything. The Ministry is quite preoccupied with this Island after all.” The likelihood of a day off hardly seemed possible until some control was gained on the Island and who was visiting, though the idea of a relaxing day was very tempting—even for Ana.

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[Deleted]

Petri barked out a laugh. Life, living life was something that came so easily to him. He was easily strung along, easily swayed, and easily happy. He prided himself on his promise to heal rather than hurt, to provide a life worth living to all those who sought him out. He mentioned that his new flatmate Juliet had many medical issues, and nodded eagerly when Ana supplied that it was by good luck that she had a healer in her life. "Good luck, or the Earth mother bring her to me. Like she bring you to me. She works in mysterious ways. Hopefully she stops giving poisonous plants to bring wonderful people to my life," said Petri with a smile.

Ana appraised him with slight amusement on her face as she sipped her coffee. Petri chuckled. "You are no stranger, Anastasia. You are friend. Yes?" he asked, his sleepy green eyes meeting her with an intensity he hadn't been sure he'd seen in himself before. Even though his path had crossed with Ana simply by chance, he trusted the Earth mother's judgement for bringing her to his life. His eyes traveled over the sharp angles of her face, the tight line of her lips. She looked tense and stressed. But Petri was innately curious about her. She was so different from him, despite the fact that she was a mainlander. Even if Ana had been a druid, they would still be so different. Perhaps Ana would be more attuned to the Earth, but he doubted her very nature would change. "It is good place to think. So hot you cannot help but focus on other things," said Petri, taking a sip of his own drink. He commented on her own tense demeanour, and suggested she take a day off. He smirked. "Hmm. It sound like you look for excuse," said Petri, arching a brow at her.

"Your brother is okay too? He is good? He is no bossing around too much?" asked Petri after a moment. Petri only vaguely knew of Ana's older brother, but could not recall his name. Only that he assumed he was just as overbearing as he was with Virva. "You no curse him?" it was something Virva had suggested she do to him many times when his nature got the best of him.

anastasia marie karkaroff

[anastasia marie karkaroff]

here is your present

lets take the future

January 2026
@petri

Ana never equated a simple conversation, even some light flirting, to anything more than that. She’d been brought up to be a pleasantly sociable person after all. How else was she supposed to charm the heirs of Pureblood families and bring more prestige to her own family’s name? It was a skill she shared with her brothers as well, although she didn’t make a habit of sharing the details of her personal life with Cas—it wasn’t relevant to their work or any of his business. The man sitting before her intrigued her, plus he was easy on the eyes. She was a woman, after all, and not one that was blind. And in the short amount of time they had spent together with their light conversation, she’d already found him better company than Teddy—and he was taller.

Petri wasn’t shy. He said what was on his mind--either a different tactic or just a symptom of his personality. She paused at his question. Well, he seemed harmless enough and didn’t appear to be operating with some kind of agenda as many people who approached her were. ”Yes, I suppose we are.?” She responded, her own brown eyes meeting his very green ones. ”In which case I insist you call me ‘Ana’, only my mother calls me Anastasia.” Still, her nature was to be guarded and protect herself no matter what she did. It was easy for Ana to physically stand next to someone and never let them past her outer walls. In fact, it was just how she treated anyone in her life except for Astrid. As long as Ana had control, that was her only aim. The island and her experiences there had shaken her up because she had lost the tight grip she had on her control, and it had shaken her in a way she would never admit out loud.

His suggestion was innocent enough tho his tone was not, and if there was ever a sign from the universe that she needed a day off—it was probably this. A clearly open door held open by a pretty face and intense green eyes. ”I don’t need excuses to do what I want.” It was true, she had the confidence to do what she wanted, and it had been many years since she had been in a sauna, and Ana had already decided she was due a short break after dealing with that unpleasant island. ”And if it’s your professional opinion that the sauna would help, then I might take you up on that offer.” Her naturally sarcastic tone always came through, but she was also serious in this case. And even Ana had a point where she needed a break, even if her threshold was higher than most.

Petri then inquired about her brother which changed the direction and tone of the conversation. ”He is doing well. And no, but he certainly tries.” There was enough mutual respect between the two of them that Ana didn’t have to suppress an urge to hex him when he asked her to do something.

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[Deleted]

A grin split across Petri's face as Anastasia - Ana agreed that they were indeed friends. Petri had decided long ago that everyone and everything he came across would be his friend. He didn't completely understand animosity, and so rarely felt anger. "Okay, Ana," said Petri, revelling in the way her name felt on his lips. It was pleasant, and sweet. "Good thing for me I have you to teach me about mainlander ways of life. It is so different here. Home, we do not send people to bad places. We leave them be. Earth mother makes them, so they are that way," said Petri thoughtfully. He didn't like the idea of Ana in danger much more than he liked the idea of having enemies.

Petri added that the sauna was a good place to think, and he thought that Ana liked to think about many things. She was very thoughtful and smart - she had been very interesting to heal, even supplying him with some stories of her own once he had managed to crack that icy exterior. He was fascinated by her, so opposite of him. But was Petri not so adverse to change? Leaving his kommun had been the first great change of his life, and it had been a near impossible adjustment. Yet when he had taken in Ana as a patient, Petri found himself more curious about the mainlanders and how they all ended up so differently. And she was the most fascinating of them all.

Petri had neglected to mention to anyone how he found her brown eyes to remind him of the Earth mother, how even with their keen glare he felt warm. Like freshly turned Earth, ready for a seed to be planted and given life. He blinked, lost in metaphors as Ana went on about his professional opinion. He nodded. "It settled then. You come to the house this weekend. We take a sauna. I make you dinner," said Petri. Perhaps he would even ask Juliet - or perhaps he would ask her to stay with her aunt for the evening so he wouldn't spook Ana. She did not seem like the type to take to new people.

Petri had only asked about Ana's brother out of sheer politeness, but was curious now. He cracked a grin, laughing. "Older brothers. We are intolerable!" he exclaimed. "My sister wishes me to not be so bothered by her business. She is with child. And I am afraid for baby. She keeps turning into dragon," said Petri, his brows furrowing. Well, he supposed Virva knew what was best for herself. "Do you know any dragons?"

anastasia marie karkaroff

[anastasia marie karkaroff]

here is your present

lets take the future

January 2026
@petri

The insistence that she not be called Anastasia, her full first name, seemed agreeable to Petri. The confirmation of their budding friendship it seemed though Ana didn’t mind—it was different from finding connections at work because the fastest way to stall one’s career was to be difficult to work with. Even when they had first met, Petri often spoke of ‘mainlanders,’ but he’d also mentioned his druid origins, though she knew it was a complicated history. His community on Hy-Brasil and the Ministry, she supposed she was surprised he was so friendly with her despite knowing her occupation. ”Well, I wouldn’t be very good at my job if I avoided the bad places.” She commented. It seemed the sole purpose of Law Enforcement, whether it was Interpol or even the Aurors. ”Somebody has to do it.” The noble task, so that civilians would never have to. That’s what Ana would tell anybody that asked, though she might admit she liked the rush and the chase of literally chasing down the ‘bad guys’ or out-dueling them.

The chase, it provided its own thrill and also a measure of control that Ana thrived on. Anything that wasn’t a challenge would likely bore her. Petri certainly wasn’t boring, and his directness was appreciated. It was new. Or maybe she had just been hanging around Teddy too long and his more goofy attempts at flirting and how easy Ana could make him believe he was in control when she was getting what she wanted. However, she was surprised by his forwardness, but her mouth turned up in a half-smile. ”Dinner would be lovely.” She responded. A date. She thought, or she assumed if she’d read the conversation correctly. But, she would have more to report after the weekend. Mentally, she took a note to tell Astrid and also get her insight. Plus, Ana was never one to cook—it hadn’t been part of her training as a Pureblood daughter and neither with Interpol.

Ana blinked but kept her composure. ”A dragon?” She was confused, his sister turning into a dragon? Anyone ‘turning’ into a dragon would have to be registered with the Ministry, and that was something that would have certainly been whispered in the halls. ”No, I’m afraid I do not.” She responded to his question, and she’d never planned on meeting any. It was Astrid’s specialty, after all, not hers.

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[Deleted]

Petri cracked a huge grin at the confirmation of their friendship, regardless of her insistence that she had to do the dangerous things because someone had to. He shrugged. ”Well, you safe enough that no more poisoning,” he replied simply, idly scratching a spot on his neck. His stomach rumbled in protest at the idea of not having been fed in hours. Flushing scarlet, Petri realised that his initial reason for entering the tea room had fled from his mind when he found Ana up here. ”I get sandwich. You hungry?” asked Petri, as he abruptly rose from his seat. As quickly as he could, he picked a sandwich at random and paid for it, before rushing back to Ana’s side and beaming at her as he retook his seat.

Tearing into his sandwich, Petri invited Ana to dinner and a sauna at his home in the following days. When she accepted, he felt a funny flurry in his belly that had nothing to do with the cheese sandwich he was wolfing down. He popped the final bit of sandwich in his mouth, swallowing before speaking. ”Sorry. I not eat all day, body was angry,” said Petri, patting his iron abdomen as if it were made of fluff. ”I behave better when you come for dinner, Ana,” he added, still revelling in the sound of her name in his voice. Petri hummed his own approval as his gaze flashed over to Ana, measuring her response.

For reasons beyond even Petri, he brought up how his sister was a dragon animagus. Perhaps he was meant to have kept that quiet? ”I do not recommend. Burning is likely,” he said, pulling a face. ”I am nicer than dragon,” said Petri with a sheepish grin. ”I am a dove. What would you be if animal?” asked Petri, curiously.


anastasia marie karkaroff

[anastasia marie karkaroff]

here is your present

lets take the future

January 2026
@petri

Ana still recalled the incident which had led her to meet Petri in the first place. In hindsight, a rookie mistake, but things moved so fast in her line of work that these things just happened—much to her annoyance. ”Hopefully, no more poisoning, if I can help it.” A small smile appeared on her face. Maybe it was the company, or perhaps it was nice to talk to someone about things that didn’t have to do with work, the Order, or that Island. It was about as calming of a conversation as she’d had in a long time. But before she could add to her statement, Petri rose from his spot. ”No, I’m alright.” She responded, and he took off to find himself some lunch. It didn’t take him long to come back, and very quickly, he managed to inhale his sandwich. The man had quite an appetite, and there had been something animal in the way he’d forgotten most of his manners. Not that Ana focused on such things, having grown bored with such details growing up.

Again she couldn’t help but give a slightly amused smile as he promised to remember his manners when she joined him for dinner. Maybe it was the chaos of this month and her life in general over the past few years, but the idea of a simple dinner with a nice-looking man seemed so calming. Or maybe she was getting old since none of that had mattered to her as much in the past. ”I’ll remind you, don’t worry.” Petri didn’t seem to mind her more forward personality or at least her bluntness regarding some things. But as the conversation topic changed, she was still focused on the dragon animagus. ”A good friend of mine studies dragons—but how does one come to be a dragon animagus?” She asked out of person and professional curiosity, and such a transformation was something she wanted to mentally make a note of. Petri’s question, however, caught her off guard—it wasn’t something she’d considered or thought about before so she paused to think. ” something less flash than a dragon.” She responded first, her patronus was a snake, so it would make sense to be something along those lines.

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