to build a home [ana]

[Deleted]

7 February 2026

Petri was not a planner of things by any means. But when it came to the dinner he had promised Ana, he wanted things to be perfect. That she had never before experienced a sauna, that she was wound up much too tight for any semblance of relaxation alarmed him to no end. If he didn't succeed in at least taking the edge off, Petri would be devastated. He was a man of grand gestures, of caring too much and indifference to receiving too little. Every experience had to be something great, something to be remembered, something to look back upon fondly. His relationship with Ana had steadily progressed from a somewhat professional one to one of friends. Nor could he deny the fact that he often thought of her secret smile while lying in bed awake at night.

Jules had vacated the house, off to visit a distant relative that she had only just discovered. Petri had wondered if she made this up for his benefit, knowing that he was feeling a big strung out about this dinner, or if she actually was meeting a family member. Petri didn't even know if he ought to consider this as a mainlander date. Was it? He certainly thought Ana was one of the most beautiful people he had ever seen. He felt like he could see into her soul, hidden behind those shuddered chocolate brown eyes. That she was not necessarily the stoic and cold woman that he had met when intaking her as his patient.

Petri lit the coals within the sauna he had recently completed, letting it warm up as he retreated back into the house to scrounge through his stores of druid wine. Sadhbh's wine was the best he had ever tasted, and the Earth mother had blessed her as a friend of his. He always replenished his stock whenever he went to visit his favourite cousin, Aidan, at Hy-Brasil. Petri poured two glasses, and took a deep drink of his, calming the nerves that washed unfamiliar over his person.

anastasia marie karkaroff

[anastasia marie karkaroff]

i don't know which me that i love

i've got no reflection

February 7, 2026
@petri

Ana ran a hand through her brown hair and checked the time on her watch once more. She didn’t want to be late to…whatever this was. The fact that she had agreed at all had surprised her—but then again, nothing had been normal in how this year had progressed. She’d never admit how much the island had shaken her. Outwardly, she appeared much the same. The same stoic expression and daring look in her eyes, just waiting for someone to question her. It also seemed that her usual person to visit when she needed to take the edge of was wallowing in his own misery, and she didn’t have time for such childish emotions when she had one goal in mind. And then she’d been approached by Petri again at the Hospital, and the sight of such a tall and handsome man had certainly made her experience better, though she didn’t gawk by any means and simply allowed the conversation to begin.

And here she was. While she had been trained that it was rude to refuse such an invitation, she also hadn’t planned on it either. Either this was simply a dinner, or it wasn’t. Either way, it took her mind off her work and memories of the island and the occasional phantom bell she would hear from time to time. Besides, those stunning green eyes and how they looked at her still lingered in her mind. Ana apparated and appeared in front of a flat. She’d never been to this part of town as far as she could recall though she paused a moment to smooth down her blouse from any wrinkles before she walked to find the door and knock. Clearing her throat, she waited for an answer but scoped her surroundings out of habit. It was like her to inspect her surroundings to note entrances and exits and mentally be aware of where her wand was just in case.

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[Deleted]

A tentative knock resounded throughout the flat, and it took every bit of resolve for Petri not to bound towards the door and throw it open. He took measured steps, the smile growing on his face with each movement closer to the door. He had invited Ana here because he wanted to show her more of his life. The life of someone who appreciated things more than risking their life for their career. A life that was interwoven with the Earth and nature and the world that surrounded them.

Petri flung open the front door at last, beaming down at Ana. "Welcome, Ana. Please," he said, moving back and gesturing her through the doorway. "I take cloak? I pour wine. It is in kitchen." said Petri, hanging her cloak on the hook by the door then leading the way towards the kitchen. Various plants and vines hung from the ceiling, artfully creeping along to create an almost jungle like feel to the kitchen. An oversized window looked out on the garden, lit by the faerie lights he'd littered around, creating an ethereal atmosphere. "I even put coals on in sauna. For later," he added brightly, offering the glass of wine he had poured for her. "You are... ok? No more visits to spooky island?" asked Petri, a hint of mischief in his grass green eyes.

anastasia marie karkaroff

[anastasia marie karkaroff]

i don't know which me that i love

i've got no reflection

February 7, 2026
@petri

Ana looked around quickly, although her attention was brought back when the door swung open that that familiar face beamed a giant smile at her. She returned the smile, a polite one, of course. Petri moved to the side, and she walked into the flat, her eyes inspecting what she could immediately see very quickly before she slipped off her cloak and handed it to him. ”Thank you.” There was an immediate offer of Wine, which Ana was pleased with—she’d never turn down a drink. ”Wine would be lovely.” As they walked further into the flat and toward the kitchen, she kept inspecting her surroundings. It was charming and very different from her own flat. The place seemed to have a life of its own, but in a warm way—hers was cold and literally used as a place to sleep and hold her belongings and nothing more than than that. 

There were certainly more plants than at her own flat, but she’d never been one to deal with them. There had been staff for that in her childhood home, and Herbology had never piqued her interest either. Still, the natural light was different but welcoming. Grabbing the glass of wine, she gave Petri a good look, he looked different without his Healer’s uniform on as much as she might have looked different outside of her usual work robes. Women typically didn’t wear such flattering items, and heels were not useful in a chase. Ana gave him a quick smile, ”No more visits to spooky island.” She confirmed and she was damned if they would send her back. ”I look forward to the sauna you keep mentioning.” Ana added, sipping her wine but meeting his gaze.

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[Deleted]

It was rather rare for Petri to accept a vast life modification - though he had been working towards changing that. He was a positive force of nature, at odds with his reluctance to go against the status quo. He appreciated the natural beauty of the Earth, and had a certain distaste for muggle electronics and inventions forcing their way into daily wizarding life. However, Petri found himself grateful for some aspects of mainlander life - mainly the introduction of Ana Karkaroff into his life. Though she had once been his patient, her completely stoic and unchanging stubbornness and drive intrigued him.

Petri greeted Ana with a brilliant smile and the offer of a glass of wine. He hung her cloak by the door, then guided her with a gentle hand on the small of her back to the kitchen. Ana's gaze swivelled around, inspecting her surroundings with an analysing and keen eye. There was much to see - plants littered the flat surfaces, and hung from the ceiling, creating an almost jungle like feeling to the flat. Petri preferred this, feeling like he was outdoors once more, like he was back home rather than in the city.

It was all a balance.

"Sauna is excellent. We can take now, if you prefer? Or wait for after dinner. I charm back garden to be heated too, you see," said Petri, taking a sip of his druid made wine and opening the back door to the garden. Faerie lights surrounded the enclosed space, casting an ethereal glow amongst the plants and the pine wood sauna against the back section of the garden. "Or we eat. I finish cooking? I make a tagine earlier today with sweet potatoes and carrots and chickpeas. This okay? I also have pesto. Fresh herbs from garden," asked Petri, shifting his gaze back to Ana and drinking in her porcelain face. He had noticed her unique beauty, the stark contrast of her dark eyes and her fair skin, the secret smile she sometimes wore when she was thinking very deeply. Petri noticed very many things about her.

anastasia marie karkaroff

[anastasia marie karkaroff]

i don't know which me that i love

i've got no reflection

February 7, 2026
@petri

It was interesting to interact with someone who’s personality was almost the opposite of Ana’s. She didn’t know many people with such positive dispositions as Petri’s, but perhaps it was a side effect of her career choice. Many of the older Aurors and Agents were gruff and cynical. Ana considered herself a realist and typically took that negative perspective. Although one might chop it up to a certain wariness and paranoia, classic Karkaroff family traits. Usually, such an attitude would have annoyed her endlessly, such as a few dismissed or transferred interns that she had dealt with over the years, but with Petri—it was refreshing. Hence, why she hadn’t hesitated to accept his invitation. Plus, he was nice to look at.

Petri offered the sauna earlier on the agenda than she had expected, not that it scared her off by any means. Ana followed him to the open door, looking at the garden he had constructed. There was so much life here in terms of plants, the opposite of what Ana had in her flat, which was hardly this warm and welcoming. Ana sipped more wine, noting the unique taste, but she rather enjoyed it she found. ”Where is this wine from?” She asked curiously. It wasn’t like anything she’d ever tasted now or even back home. She still pondered Petri’s question, but Ana wasn’t one that default to the safe route either. ”A Healer once told me a trip to the sauna was recommended.” She glanced at the sauna in the back of the garden. ”And I’m not quite hungry yet.” Ana added, looking back at her host with a relaxed expression on her face, but suggesting eyes.

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[Deleted]

Petri had made an effort to make this tiny London flat feel more like his home. He had grown plants that now littered the interior and exterior of the house, some grown to twice the expected size. Ferns draped lazily over counters, tendrils of ivy hanging languidly from pots hung throughout the rooms. He loved the blurred line between indoor and outdoor, to feel a connection to the Earth mother no matter where he was. He glanced at Ana, hoping she too would appreciate the effort he had put in to decorating his home.

"It come from my friend on Hy-Brasil," said Petri, beaming at the brunette before him. "You like?" he added, taking another sip of the wine. It was a particularly fine batch of wine from Sadhbh, and Petri was glad to impress Ana with it. She did not seem like the type of woman who was easily impressed - when he had first met her all those months ago, she had seemed so closed off and unwilling to feel. Petri had prided himself on peeling back her layers and befriending the wonderful and passionate woman within. Nodding ecstatically, Petri offered Ana a hand, leading her into the back garden.

The look Ana gave him with her comment ignited something deep within Petri's belly. He gazed at her, torn between the sudden fierce desire to kiss her and the fear of terrorising her. Mastering himself, Petri hitched his signature bright smile on his lips. "Towels are already in sauna, and pitcher of water for drinking. Come, you see," said Petri, crossing the garden to the oaken hut that took up the back half. He had started the coals earlier on, and the temperature hovered around 65 degrees. Not too hot, but Petri didn't want to shock Ana too much. His eyes drifted over the fair planes of her face, noting her stoic intensity. Swallowing thickly, Petri took a deep breath and tugged his shirt over his head. "This for you. You just take off clothes and wrap towel, yes?" said Petri, careful not to look back at Ana.

anastasia marie karkaroff

[anastasia marie karkaroff]

i don't know which me that i love

i've got no reflection

February 7, 2026
@petri

”Yes, I’ve never had anything like it.” It had caught Ana off guard but in a pleasant way. Naturally, she’d been raised to expect a certain standard of wine and such in her life—the only training she had valued from her mother. But then again, everything to do with Petri so far had been a pleasant surprise. Ana wondered if her recent experiences had pushed down walls that been standing for an incredibly long time, or maybe she was bored. Petri intrigued her—from his cheery disposition, his gentle way about him, and those stunning green eyes. Was she attracted to him? Well, she’d be lying if she said she wasn’t. She was a woman who knew what she liked and didn’t like, and when she was settling, and her flings as of late had been in the ‘settling’ category.

Petri didn’t hesitate and moved toward the sauna he spoke of. Ana wondered if he was as innocent as he seemed sometimes, but something in those eyes of his told her that her own hints were not going unnoticed. She noticed where others might not, and she certainly was paying attention when his shirt suddenly went over his head. She couldn’t help but look at him head to toe once more before taking the towel from him as he turned away to give her some privacy. Despite the fact that they were outside, it was a private area. ”I better not catch you peeking.” She commented, mocking her own serious tone. And with that, she unbuttoned her blouse, taking her time. Yes, she could use magic to speed up this process, but Ana was a patient person. And eventually, she disrobed and found herself with only her wand in her hand and only in the towel.

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[Deleted]

Petri knew from the first time he had met Ana that she was the complete opposite of him. In his fair complexion, she was dark, her eyes as piercing as a moonless night. He was open and warm, where she was reserved and cool-headed. She accepted change and all the activity that came with it, where Petri was stoic as a mountain, refusing to accept that something new might be better than what already existed. Ana was his juxtaposition, and she was intriguing and interested in learning more. Petri, a naturally curious soul, had taken to her immediately. Simply put, she was different.

With a piercing look, Petri was torn between wanting to ravish Ana on the spot and wanting to run away. He calmed himself, and directed her to strip, as no clothes were allowed in the sauna. He chuckled at her next statement. "I promise," he said, hoping that she would instead allow him to look. He shook his head slightly, clearing his mind of those wanton thoughts, and gracefully rid himself of his clothing, wrapping a towel around his midsection. It felt strange, for the terry to be brushing his skin as he waited for Ana to turn round, clutching her towel. He offered her a reassuring smile, before pulling open the oaken door.

Heat seeped out from the doorway, enveloping the pair like a glove. He placed his hand on the small of her back, leading Ana to the bench, his other hand clutching the bottle of druid wine and their two glasses. He considered loosening his towel, as he ordinarily would, but resisted. The door shut behind them with a dull thud, and the air seemed to stop in place. He set the glasses on the bench above them, topping up the wine and taking a drink. "Wine on coals not good. Beer on coals smell like bread," he said after a beat of silence, meeting her gaze with a sheepish grin.

anastasia marie karkaroff

[anastasia marie karkaroff]

i don't know which me that i love

i've got no reflection

February 7, 2026
@petri

Ana studied how he looked at her. From the beginning, she had noted their chemistry but hadn’t thought about it since that second encounter, and now they were here per his invitation. It wasn’t anything she’d ever imagined feeling with someone so opposite of her though it was enough that those intense green eyes of his kept her gaze longer than she cared to admit. Plus, Merlin, if she didn’t already feel a bit warm outside the sauna after he’d taken his shirt off. And if she needed confirmation that Teddy was settling, well, he was here right in front of her. It didn’t take long before they were both there with only towels barely covering their skin, and Ana walked through the door that she held open for her.

Immediately she felt the heat, but she knew she would adjust, and they took a seat on the bench. But her eyes watched him as he placed the glasses and topped them off. Petri’s towel slipped a little bit near his waist, and she almost missed what he’d said about the coals. ”I wouldn’t want to waste this wine.” Ana stood to place her wand on the bench next to the bottle of wine and she reached for her glass. However, her towel had other ideas as it began to slip, and her free hand went to hold it in place. ”Oh—looks like I might need your help. If you don’t mind.” Ana was hardly the 'damsel in distress' type, but it wasn't as though she had a free hand.

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[Deleted]

Petri held the oaken door open for Ana, his gaze following the smooth curves hidden beneath the towel. He followed her silently, shutting the door firmly behind them and taking up a spot next to Ana, far enough to give her space, but close enough to notice the tiny freckles that dotted her nose. He topped up their drinks, then settled into the bench, tilting his head back slightly as he explained that wine on the coals did not smell good, but beer on the coals was like baking bread. He revelled in the smothering heat, allowing his senses to drip away with the beads of sweat that quickly formed. Petri didn't even notice that his towel had become loose or dislodged around his waist.

"No, is good wine, not waste," said Petri agreeably, his eyes fluttering open and his gaze falling upon Ana. He placed an oversized hand gently on her shoulder - "Loosen - let problems roll away with sweat," he said kindly. Ana reached for her glass and her towel slipped ever so slightly. Her immediate reaction was to clutch at the towel to ensure her privacy. Petri respected that, but chuckled. "Yes, of course. At home, we no wear towels. I help," he said, shifting closer to Ana so that he could arrange the towel more suitably over her chest. His hands lingered for a long moment over her bare skin, his gaze flicking from the towel to her lovely face. His lips parted as he took her in, more innocent and open than he had ever seen her. Electricity sparked between them, and Petri forced himself away from her. He took a long draught of his wine, in an effort to stay his head. "Good place to think, sauna. And to feel," he said with a nod.

anastasia marie karkaroff

[anastasia marie karkaroff]

i don't know which me that i love

i've got no reflection

February 7, 2026
@petri

It was warm in the sauna, very warm. Ana could feel the sweat start to form, but she didn’t mind. The heat was relaxing, even for someone as serious as her. This wasn’t work, this wasn’t an Interpol assignment, this wasn’t an Order mission, and this wasn’t some clandestine plan her brother had crafted. This was…well, this was fun. Petri’s hand mostly covered her shoulder. Despite her intensity as a person and reputation, she was still small framed. He moved closer again when her towel threatened to fall entirely. But it was all just part of the experience, right? Ana had been patient and curious, wondering where this would go and how Petri would react. It was a far cry from previous dalliances where somebody expected something for the price of a cheap glass of wine.

Now he was closer than ever, and she placed the glass back where she had picked it up from, deciding she would not need it at this very moment. But he didn’t linger long, taking a step back and drinking his own wine, but suddenly Ana wasn’t in the mood for wine. Now, that was something she didn’t often see in her own social circle—respect. Had this been the firstborn son, they might have jumped at the chance or any window or opening for the only Karkaroff daughter, an opportunity to further a pureblood line. It was endearing, to a point, but Ana realized her ability to be authoritative might be helpful. There was a pause after he spoke, and she took a step toward him. ”So would you not recommend the towel, then?” There was a challenge in her eyes, but she let herself be close to his broad figure. There was heat between them and not just from the sauna. Casually she reached over and gently grabbed the glass from his hand to place it nearby. ”You won’t need this right now.”

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[Deleted]

Though he tried not to make it too obvious, Petri watched Ana with a keen eye as the heat worked its way through her body, relaxing each and every muscle, dulling and enhancing ever sense in a juxtaposed way. He directed her to loosen up, to let the sweat drip down her skin and take her tension with it. Her towel shifted, now in a more dangerous position and though it went against every instinct, he helped her to straighten it. Petri's fingers lingered for a beat longer than necessary, before he shifted away, distracting himself with his glass of wine. There was undeniable chemistry between the pair, but Ana had been his patient. Perhaps it was just a familiarity for her. Petri wanted to be respectful, and though he so badly wanted to kiss her, to shed the towels and space between them, he refrained. Ana was, simply put, not like other girls.

Petri commented that the sauna was a perfect place to gather one's thoughts, though at the moment he felt as if all his thoughts were flitting away from him, and the only thing that remained in his mind was the young woman across from him. He took a deep inhale, letting the hot air fill his lungs as the charged atmosphere urged him to make a move. "I would not," said Petri, his voice remarkably even despite the war going on in his mind. Ordinarily, he was a rather simple creature. But Ana struck him as something more.

Ana plucked the glass from his hand, and she was so close, he could count every eyelash that framed her dark eyes. His lips parted as his eyes dropped to her mouth, a knowing and sensual smirk pulling up the corners of her lips. "Ana," said Petri, his voice strained. His fingers brushed her hair away from her shoulder, coming to a rest along the curve of her neck, her bare skin tempting him.

anastasia marie karkaroff

[anastasia marie karkaroff]

i don't know which me that i love

i've got no reflection

February 7, 2026
@petri

Ana could feel the sweat forming on her skin, but it was a comfortable feeling. Her muscles were relaxed despite her eyes telling that she could pounce at any second. Maybe it was Petri, though she was typically one that stayed on her toes and always a step ahead. Even in this situation where she stood purposefully close to him and relieved him of the glass of wine he’d been minding while she fixed her towel. Ana would be lying if she said she hadn’t let her eyes trail down from his chiseled face and brilliant green eyes, the sweat dampening his hair. Her eyes trailed even further south down his bare chest and abdomen and then to his waist, where his towel seemed to barely hang on.

Oh, it was quite a sight. Still, Ana found room to move yet closer, and she could feel the heat off his frame despite the conditions in the sauna. She paused and looked up at him. He was very tall, especially to Ana’s much smaller frame. Petri spoke her name, and she felt his fingertips against the skin of her shoulder and neck. It wasn’t much, but suddenly she craved more. Another momentary pause as she glanced at his hand and then looked back at those green eyes as she slowly reached toward the towel and grabbed it off her body. With a bit of a mischievous expression, she held it to the side so it could land on the bench they’d just been sitting on. ”Well—I guess I won’t be needing that then.”

[ we can probably time jump now ]

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[Deleted]

Ana's name fell from Petri's lips, pleading for something more. Her eyes smouldered as they focused on his face, then drifted downwards, pausing only briefly on the loose-hanging towel around his hips. He watched her greedily, frozen under her appraisal. She met his gaze, then discarded the towel that had hidden her true beauty from view. Petri followed suit, eagerly and immediately, before gently taking her face and his hands and kissing her. Warmth spread from his lips down his body, alighting a fire in his veins. Soon, they were lost in one another, their bodies slick both from the heat of the sauna and their desire for one another.

Some time later, Petri and Ana lay in the sweltering heat of the sauna on a bench, with Petri drawing lazy circled in the bare skin of Ana's shoulder. "From patient to lover," said Petri after a long beat of silence, chuckling. "I am glad the ministry made you get checked out. I found you again," he said with a grin, shifting slightly to drop a kiss where his fingers had been previously. "We should eat dinner now though, no?" said Petri, his stomach growling loudly. He would have blushed, if the flush from their activities hadn't already been written all over his skin. He offered Ana a hand, helping her to her feet before leading her from the sauna. "You feel more... relaxed now?""

anastasia marie karkaroff