points of authority | hazel

[asher rowan burke]

You like to think you're never wrong

You live what you've learned

January 4, 2026
Hazel Rosalie Burke

Asher drummed his fingers impatiently on the table. The Leaky Cauldron wasn’t busy, and he didn’t expect it to be on a Sunday. But, unfortunately, his sisters had not made it home for the Christmas holiday, no that his mother and father would express any emotion other than disappointment—then again, their oldest had at least come home. But Asher did it out of obligation, knowing full well it would be full of the usual preaching and questions about he had not married yet. And then more questions about why his sisters had not married either. It seemed that despite all the time homeschooling them, his parents hardly knew them—especially Hazel. She’d always been willful in every way possible. Still, Asher knew it was important for the family and their lineage and for connections as well. Of course, it didn’t help that his mother often reminded him of eligible bride's engagements and recent nuptials.

Well, if Asher had to suffer this, then so did Hazel. It had been some time since he had seen his sister, although at least the Purifier cause had brought them closer than before. The news of this island had appeared in the Prophet, and Asher did his best to keep an ear out at the Ministry, whether it was his visits to Law Enforcement or in Department Head meetings. There was so much information he was privy to, and then again--there was a lot he couldn’t get his hands on. But the current Head of Law Enforcement seemed tired, and Asher saw a possible opportunity to get closer to that information through this weak part of the fence. While he thought through the possibilities, he saw out of the corner of his eye, though she was hard to miss between her outfits and personality, his youngest sister Hazel. Naturally, Asher had chosen a seat facing the pub entrance—he wasn’t one to leave his back turned to just about anyone. ”You’re late.” He merely remarked as she approached the booth.

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[Hazel Rosalie Burke]

4 January 2026

Okay, so there were definitely much scarier things in life than her brother – breaking a nail in the middle of class, spending time in an area with no cell reception, and practically anything to do with Muggles (god, could you imagine having to touch one?). Still, the thought of having lunch with Asher alone, without Ivy in the middle to act as the voice of reason (by siding with Hazel, of course) was extremely shudder-worthy. Hazel had already complained extensively to Xiulan yesterday about it, and a good part of their session had centered around Asher and his obsessive idea that Hazel needed to…ugh, settle down. Thankfully, as much as he liked to bug her, there wasn’t really anything he could do about it besides make dumb faces and even dumber arguments. But that didn’t mean she wanted to hear it! She was going to get wrinkles if she continued this unfortunate trend of worrying about things, and she would absolutely kill Asher if he was the reason why.

Hazel was already running late, but she never worried about little things like what time she arrived to an event. Honestly, she was worth the wait. Anyway, she had only just finished her last project just before the start of term, and Hazel loved taking the merchandise out for a quick spin before sending it on to her client. And part of the fun of being a metal charmer was that the merchandise was always fun. She gave the enchanted earrings a little flourish, smirking slightly as the sunlight positively made the earrings glow. Really, nobody was going to be able to take their eyes off her, not that they’d be able to resist in any normal circumstance anyway. Hazel strut into the Leaky Cauldron (ugh, but what a disgusting name), her brow wrinkling slightly at the telltale smell of dust before her eyes settled on her uptight brother. The smirk returned to her face as she crossed the room (slowly, of course) to meet Asher, with his first comment being a tight-lipped observation that she was late.

“Well, you know Ash, this,” she began as she used a neatly manicured hand to gesture to herself, “doesn’t come from nowhere. Perfection takes time, after all. But, you know, we all do the best with what we’ve got.” She scrunched her nose in mock sympathy as her eyes lingered on Asher’s slightly tousled hair and plain dark robes. Hazel slid into the booth across from her brother, dumping her purse next to her before elaborately flagging down a waiter. “Yes hi, I absolutely need a drink. Something that, like, shows that I’m fun and stylish, but without saying it directly. Like, it should just hint, not scream it. Oh! And pink. Thanks babe.”

asher rowan burke

[asher rowan burke]

You like to think you're never wrong

You live what you've learned

January 4, 2026
Hazel Rosalie Burke

Hazel stuck her hand in his face to show her newly and perfectly manicured hands. There was the urge to roll his eyes, but he resisted, his icy blue stare meeting her own and just as intense blue eyes. The single shred of proof one could find that Hazel and Asher were siblings considering their personalities couldn’t be farther apart. And yet, they had a begrudging loyalty to one another. Asher cared about his sisters and enough that he could tolerate her antics. Plus, if Hazel had ever shown up to a lunch appointment on time and with her manicure in a state that was anything but immaculate, he would instantly check for the effects of a curse and drag her to St. Mungos.

With the waiter having returned to the table, Hazel ordered a drink, and Asher simply requested his own after she was done rambling. ”Brandy. Neat.” No need to overcomplicate things, but also he would need a drink—he felt. The waiter went off to prepare their drinks, and finally, Asher spoke. ”Mother was disappointed you and Ivy couldn’t make it for Christmas.” And Asher was also disappointed because he became their focus of criticism and questions. Not that it bothered Asher anymore, he’d learned long ago to not let such behavior hurt him in any way, but it didn’t make it any less annoying. ”It got her hopes up that perhaps you’d found a suitable husband.” And even at that statement, Asher almost threatened a smile. He knew his sister well enough that not just any man could waltz into her life and capture her attention—and he pitied any man that felt he was worthy enough.

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[Hazel Rosalie Burke]

Hazel rolled her eyes at Asher’s absolute bore of a drink order. “Wow, couldn’t even afford three words, huh? Are you on that tight a budget with that little Ministry salary of yours?” Hazel asked in a snarky tone, sparing her brother one derogatory glance before her eyes slid back to admire her nails again. The idea that any of the Burke siblings would need to rely on a salary was laughable, at the very least – considering the fortune behind the Burke name and all the luxuries that came with it, manor and house elf attached. Merlin, that would really be a sign that things were sliding, wouldn’t it? Needing to work for a living, ugh. Hazel might kill herself first – ideally before she was ever anything but young and beautiful. Asher would never be able to relate, even with those spectacular eyes of his that were just wasted without the right color palate in his wardrobe to complement them.

It was so hard to believe they could be related – and when she was younger, Hazel would waltz around and tell everyone she’d been adopted too. Anything to seem more like Ivy, and it was a little cherry on top of the sundae if it affirmed that there was no way on earth she and Asher shared the same blood. But no dice. Their parents had quashed the notion early, to ensure she could make a good match for the family, and Hazel had to life with the nail-grating knowledge that somehow she and Asher had come from the same source. Clearly their parents had left all the good stuff for her! Hazel rolled her eyes for the second time in five minutes as Ash brought up her and Ivy’s Christmas vacation. “Oh my god Ash, are we seriously going to talk about this again? It was one vacation, okay! And you didn’t even ask me how it was, which is like, so rude!”

The idea of Asher being alone at their parents’ for Christmas was such a cringey thought, so Hazel didn’t spare another moment on it. What would they even talk about? Something boring, no doubt, like the absolutely garish wallpaper or the new ratio of melons to grapes in the fruit cups at the Ministry. She and Ivy had definitely dodged a bullet there, and an island vacation was exactly the tonic they needed before returning to dreary old Hogwarts. At Asher’s last pointed remark, Hazel glanced up and shot her brother a sharp smile. “Oh babe, I never hope. Hope is dangerous. For instance, if I was the hopeful type, I would’ve walked in here hoping you’d thrown out that pair of scruffy robes. And then I’d be disappointed, and what good would that do for anyone?” Hazel would gladly hand over every fur in her closest if it meant moving on from the subject of marriage. She got needled enough from her mother about finding a proper pureblood husband, and she certainly didn’t need the same treatment from Asher. Usually the best way to move on was a properly placed insult, and she hoped her brother would take the bait.

asher rowan burke

[asher rowan burke]

You like to think you're never wrong

You live what you've learned

January 4, 2026
Hazel Rosalie Burke

Asher was hardly phased by his sister’s words, this was the normal ‘banter’ between them though to an outsider, it might seem a little strange. It seemed the only proof that they were related at all were a set of piercing blue eyes they used to stare down whoever was in front of them, or at least whoever dared to challenge them. And despite all their differences and how they might annoy one another, Asher knew his sisters were both formidable, and he supposed it was a source of pride for him. ”I don’t need a hundred words to make my point clear.” Asher remarked. Though it was habit, the life of an Unspeakable (as the name suggested) meant he didn’t often speak about his work except to other Unspeakables. In that regard, he was grateful for friendships such as Felix.

But it was enough for Asher to scoff. His work was not for the benefit of a salary, and thankfully he didn’t have such stresses on his life as holding on to galleons for dear life. Asher got straight to the point, as he learned to do with Hazel as she would avoid the point if given the opportunity. It was his role and duty as the eldest son (and only son) that connections be made. Other pureblood families to ally with to help the Burke name and push out the more prevalent blood traitors still in their society. ”I didn’t say I was disappointed.” His tone was flat. ”I don’t particularly care who you marry, Hazel as long as it's not a muggle-born or a squib and mother can stop asking about it.” That was the quick version.

But, it was more complicated than it looked. More and more of their generation seemed to push against the values of their forefathers. Asher could understand that to a point—that point being that by entirely disregarding that path, you lost that power, and without that power, how would you shape the world around you to what it could be? Asher himself still received questions from his parents on when he would find a suitable bridge. Still, he also was not in a hurry, or the options put forth before him would have him willingly walking through The Veil in the Death Chamber of the Department of Mysteries. The waitress arrived with their drinks, and Asher hastily took a sip of his own. The brandy was tolerable, nothing like the quality he kept in his home or offices. ”That’s because anything that isn’t covered in sparkles is ‘scruffy’.” Asher retorted, commenting on her own usual ridiculous choice of outfit. ”Are the students at Hogwarts supposed to take you seriously? Durmstrang would have never allowed such a thing.” Anyone watching them might have been confused by the banter and insults, but this was the nature of Hazel and Asher’s relationship—anything else would have been frighteningly abnormal even when they were working together.

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[Hazel Rosalie Burke]

As usual, Hazel pivoted her entire argument on a whim in order to better suit the moment. She could be flighty like that, although she was prone to thinking that it was all the better for arguing with Asher. She liked trying to catch him by surprise, throw him off balance with a few words. Most of the time, he was on his guard and quite used to her antics, but sometimes she could manage it. “That’s right,” Hazel began slyly, shooting her brother a clever look, “Someday you might even catch up with the times and start using an emoji or two. A picture’s worth a thousand words, you know, and wouldn’t that be quite the little revolution for you.” She tittered at her own joke as she fussed with the faded silverware on the table. In truth, the idea of her snobby brother scrolling through emojis was about as believable as a tame Chimaera. Some things were just impossible, after all.

She raised an eyebrow imperiously at Asher’s flat observation that he didn’t care who she married – within acceptable parameters, of course. “Oh really?” she pushed, her eyes glinting as she leaned forward in interest. “That sounds like a challenge, Ash. Maybe I should marry a little lower, it’ll make whatever troll you end up with look like an angel.” She used the back of her spoon to catch a glimpse of her reflection and ensure her hair was still falling perfectly, fussing slightly to reach that ‘trying but effortless’ look. Hazel didn’t glance up as she rolled her eyes and observed, “Anyway, it’s none of Mum’s business, and you can tell her exactly where she can stick--” The rest of her sentence was cut off as the waitress returned with their drinks. Hazel huffed slightly at the interruption but quickly recovered, looking as serene as a calm lake (ha!) as two drinks were placed on the table. In truth, Hazel wasn’t nearly as rebellious as she seemed on the surface-level, since she ultimately did as her siblings said and believed fully in their cause. There was a clear hierarchy, after all, with Muggles on the bottom, wizards on the top, and demi-humans falling somewhere in the middle. It was only natural to think that magic became purer as blood did, because ultimately where could magic come from except their bloodlines (setting aside the occasional small mistake like a Squib)? But she still had her red lines, and her parents poking their noses into her love life was one of them.

“Gorgeous,” Hazel announced as a drink more-or-less along the lines of what she’d ordered was placed in front of her, “and this looks pretty good too.” She smirked slightly and played with the glass as her eyes followed the retreating form of the waitress before settling again on her decidedly much less interesting brother. She gave a snort at Asher’s observation about her robes, shooting him a sickly sweet look. “Oh Ash, you do listen. Just imagine what I could do with these,” she said as her fingers picked at the sleeve of Asher’s plain dark robes. Honestly, he was so unimaginative with his wardrobe, it was a wonder he didn’t blend into the wall. She resisted the urge to roll her eyes again at the mention of Durmstrang – Asher could never resist name-dropping his school to her and Ivy, always underlining the fact that he’d been raised separately and differently from them. “Oh yes, please tell me what passes for fashion at Durmstrang. Are bloodstained robes out yet? Can you even see everyone’s robes hidden under all those heavy cloaks and furs?”

asher rowan burke

[asher rowan burke]

You like to think you're never wrong

You live what you've learned

January 4, 2026
Hazel Rosalie Burke

Asher knew better than to engage in a full argument with his sister. She may have seemed like her head was in the clouds surrounded by sparkles and other shiny things, but she was one of the most intelligent people that Asher knew, along with Ivy. If only she could sit still or even compose herself in general as Ivy did. Either way, they typically combined forces against him—as if he was the enemy here. Emojis. Ridiculous little pictures on these devices they were being forced to use. They had silly faces and shapes, and people replaced actual words with them. Asher saw it as a bit of a downfall of society, another muggle thing entering their world and ruining it one message at a time. He rolled his eyes. It wasn’t even worth a response, and instead, his eyes scoped the part of the room he could see without turning his head.

Hazel didn’t seem to believe him, even if he was candid for once. No omission of information here or information for later. He honestly did not care. Pureblood society was not what it once was, at least from what his father had explained to him, and he’d made his own observations after leaving to come work in London. Though he couldn’t help but want to chuckle at ‘trolls’, his eyebrow raised in amusement. ”Trolls is putting it lightly for some of these society women.” They had all converged at that Windsor party, ignoring the small fact that the magical members of the British Royal family were all muggle-born. They were interrupted by the arrival of their drinks, thankfully sparing him hearing the rest of his sister’s statement. ”Mother has made it her business. She brought up Karkaroff again—the youngest one.” The eldest and the youngest boys were still single (as far as his mother knew), while the middle one had gotten married. The actual youngest worked at the Ministry, though she and Asher had never gotten along.

They were back on the topic of his attired, which Asher thought was perfectly fine. His suits and robes were always tailored and free of lint or lose threads. It was a part to play with his work but also with his business. The Ivory Room was an establishment for those with enough gold, though behind that façade was the real fun. Illegal dueling and trading and he had an appearance to maintain there as well. Durmstrang had not been about fashion, and he doubted that Hogwarts could match the institution academically either. He didn’t answer and figured they needed a topic change anyway. ”What have you heard about this island.” Really if anyone would know anything, it would be him. ”The Ministry is a bit…shaken, to say the least.” Asher spoke in a tone that conveyed how silly he thought the current Ministry leadership was. The Head of Law Enforcement and the Minister both frozen as if staring at a wall would give them answers.

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[Hazel Rosalie Burke]

Hazel’s lips curled into a smirk at Asher’s obvious disgust for their mum’s increasingly obvious attempts to marry him off. She knew that he only put so much pressure on her because, at least for now, their parents’ attention was completely focused on him. He was the oldest, after all, and the only male heir. As a result, he would be expected to carry on the Burke name and legacy – a much greater responsibility than Hazel’s own marginal role. It was amusing to see how much they despised certain elements of the society they ultimately devoted themselves completely to. Asher clearly hated the empty-headed socializing and gossip, while Hazel simply couldn’t stand the politics. And yet they’d both do the right thing in the end. Obedience was the real Burke legacy, after all.

She scoffed slightly at the mention of the youngest Karkaroff. She and Ana had always been thrown together at society events, since they were about the same age and – most importantly in the eyes of their parents – girls. That was where the similarities ended, though. Ana Karkaroff was like her brothers, in that they were all grim and serious and very calculating. Hazel had that last trait too, in a sense, but it manifested itself very differently (and much less obviously) than even compared to her own siblings. “Ana Karkaroff has so much wasted potential,” she commented frankly as her gaze dropped down to admire her reflection in the back of the spoon again. “She’s pretty and comes from a good family, but is just so serious and boring and…well, actually, a perfect match for you then!” Hazel laughed as she congratulated herself on such an astute observation. But she dropped the spoon to fluff her hair and lean forward conspiratorially with a smirk, “I don’t know about those Karkaroff boys, but I wouldn’t mind giving that one Yaxley a quick try. He looks like he knows how to give a girl a good time.”

Ugh, the island. To be quite honest, Hazel didn’t care one iota for this new phenomenon that had captured the attention of the public, the Ministry, and the Purifiers. It sounded dangerous, and full of potential for maiming, sweat, and everything that could ruin her makeup. Why would she concern herself with something like that, when there was absolutely nothing in it for her? “Why would I have heard anything about that?” she asked distractedly, playing with the straw in her drink before taking a long drink. Merlin, she needed more alcohol in her system immediately if she was going to make it through a lunch with her brother. She was counting on the fruity cocktails to get her drunk fast. “What do I care, anyway? That’s your department, babe. Maybe you should ask Mother what she thinks. That woman has an opinion about everything these days, apparently.” Oh yes…she was still bitter about her mother’s recent attempts to force a husband on her. Shouldn't she take care of her son first before pestering her lovely daughter? Or let Ivy take the responsibility -- she was much better acquainted with that crowd than Hazel.

asher rowan burke

[asher rowan burke]

You like to think you're never wrong

You live what you've learned

January 4, 2026
Hazel Rosalie Burke

Expectations. Every Pureblood knew them as if these unspoken facts were passed on before they were even born. But it interested and annoyed Asher to see how each family responded to them. The Burke’s, fortunately, did not have any black sheep. Though one might say, it was Asher for being his age and unmarried without children bearing his name. But while he’d never expected to marry for love, it didn’t put him above being picky. He would have to endure this person for the rest of his natural life, after all. If Hazel thought she felt the pressure now, it was nothing compared to when it would be her turn to marry.

Karkaroff was about six months younger than Hazel if he recalled correctly. But the society was wasn’t as large as the extended magical society. All the Purebloods knew one another, if only by name. To say the thought hadn’t crossed Asher’s mind would have been a lie, but spending time in proximity with Anastasia only confirmed that he’d rather stay unmarried. She was headstrong and thought rather highly of herself. In Asher’s mind, she needed to be taken down a few notches. ”You both are more alike than you think.” He remarked, having run into her several times during their overlapping tenures at the Ministry. ”I’m surprised you aren’t friends.” But Asher shot his sister a look when she began talking about Yaxley in such a fashion. It wasn’t the conversation he wanted. ”The Cursebreaker? I thought you hated sand.” He hoped she changed the topic, but perhaps that fact would stop her.

At least they could agree on one thing. Their mother was relentless in letting her children know her thoughts on absolutely everything. In that regard, Hazel took after their mother, whereas Asher had the patience to wait for the correct conversation to let his opinion known. ”I suspect some of our colleagues will investigate. The magic there is unknown but might prove useful.” He paused to let Hazel catch up to what he was speaking out. While Elaine hadn’t given any orders yet, they still had their other connections in the Ministry. Asher and the Department of Mysteries were hardly a first choice for the front lines of such a thing, but Elaine had allies in the the Department of Law Enforcement.

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[Hazel Rosalie Burke]

Hazel shot Asher a dirty look at the proclamation that she and Ana Karkaroff could be anything alike. “Rude,” she said huffily as she put the spoon down abruptly. She suddenly found herself rather crabby at the thought, and the expression on her face was thoroughly unamused. It was true that Ana was quite fit and Hazel might let her eyes wander a bit when no one was looking. But she was insufferable enough that the effect ended once she opened her mouth to tell Hazel off for being so silly or not thinking strategically enough. The Karkaroffs had pulled off a miracle in saving their status and fortune after the events of the last wizarding war, but they were famously known as wet blankets. There was some sort of relationship there between the eldest Karkaroff and Asher -- school friends or business partners, Hazel wasn’t sure because she usually stopped paying attention to a conversation once Asher opened his mouth. But that was the only connection that was worthwhile between their families, as far as she was concerned.

She only rolled her eyes at Asher playing dumb about the little throwaway comment she’d made about the Yaxley boy. “He could leave sand wherever he likes,” she remarked before letting Asher change the subject. As much as she liked to make Asher squirm by bringing up uncomfortable topics for him, even Hazel had her limits to what she was willing to discuss with her older brother. This sort of conversation was much more fun with Ivy, who knew how to properly appreciate a person’s, well, assets. As opposed to Asher, who wouldn’t know a good time if it slapped him across the face. It was almost a crime against humanity that he could run a club without actually appreciating anything that went on in there. Hazel slurped at her drink as Asher continued to ramble on about the strange island until she reached the bottom of the glass. Then she waved at the waiter to bring another one because she was still far too sober to discuss Purifier business.

To any potential eavesdroppers, it only sounded like Asher was discussing dull Burke family business. But Hazel knew better, not that it ignited her curiosity at all. She shrugged her shoulders and ran her fingers through her hair. “So? I don’t care about some dusty island. What could they possibly find over there that we don’t already have?” There was nothing quite like European magical society, and Hazel had grown up in a culture that admired and imitated their European predecessors in every possible way. Wizards had done amazing things that Muggles couldn’t even conceptualize, poor little misguided beasts. And as far as Hazel had heard, this island seemed uninhabited, and had been lost to time for at least centuries – so the only thing anyone was likely to find might be some plants and a dumb animal or two. That didn’t hold a candle to the beautiful and deadly magic that wands had allowed wizards to channel for thousands of years. Asher had that look in his eyes that suggested he’d found something new to obsess over, and he looked thoughtful about what they might find in the island. Hazel didn’t give a fig.

asher rowan burke

[asher rowan burke]

You like to think you're never wrong

You live what you've learned

January 4, 2026
Hazel Rosalie Burke

Asher didn’t know which idea was more unbelievable or terrifying. Ana Karkaroff as bubbly or Hazel with such a serious disposition. Still, it caught his sister’s attention. She’d always had trouble focusing, which frustrated Asher to no end considering her potential as a great Witch. Such compliments were not earned from Asher so easily, but he never had reason to not have faith in his sisters and their individual skill sets. All the Burkes were talented and very individualistic and yet held together by that strong bond of loyalty that could never be matched by just anybody.

It was a lesson many learned. Trust anyone more than your family, and you made yourself weaker to your enemies. But while Hazel frowned at the thought, it was Asher’s turn to frown at the mention of the eldest Karkaroff. Casimir had been a few years younger than Asher at Durmstrang, and he’d breifly met a younger brother who quickly showed himself to have the backbone of an old roll of parchment. While their mother might have delighted in the thought of Hazel marrying a Pureblood heir, Asher wasn’t so sure their father would go for that particular Pureblood. Rather than comment, Asher ignored the statement hoping that she would simply stop talking about it.

None of the many ways Asher could answer that question was anything he would say publicly. The Department of Mysteries investigated such things quite carefully, and their experiments ran free without the prying eyes of the Ministry leadership. His own little laboratory never hesitated to pass information to Hazel regarding Alchemy or converse with Ivy on a theory. ”We’ll find out when the Aurors return, I suppose.” He spoke simply, his eyes scoping their surroundings quickly again. Clearing his throat, he felt he’d done his duty in speaking to his sister on behalf of his parents. ”Father is expecting to hear from you. Preferably before you return to that school.” Hogwarts could hardly hold a candle to Durmstrang. And judging by the caliber of the alumni at the Ministry, he felt correct in that sentiment. ”I have business to attend to and none that requires reminding you or your sister of your duties.” He was needed back at the club. His presence helped maintain control and was something he far preferred to do than babysit his sisters.

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[Hazel Rosalie Burke]

Hazel squirmed in her seat as Asher continued to drone on in his dumb monotone voice about business. Merlin and Morgana, she knew she had to love her brother because they were on the same team and wanted the same things and all those lovely pureblood buzzwords. But it was like he’d walked through a waterfall as a kid and had all the fun and joy sucked out of him. It was a wonder that Ivy at least knew how to have a good time and could keep Hazel company on their wild and extravagant trips, because she might have actually tossed herself off the back of a hippogriff in flight if she’d been stuck with two boring older siblings. And she really, really didn’t care about the island or family business. Asher knew how to handle it, and Ivy had never asked Hazel to seriously commit to the Purifier cause. That was the other Burkes’ problem while Hazel focused on her alchemy, her metal-charming, and of course the parties.

She went back to admiring herself in the reflection of her now empty glass, giving a small smirk of satisfaction at the way her earrings caught even the dim light of the Leaky Cauldron. At some point, she noticed that Asher had stopped speaking and her eyes glanced up to catch his own icy blue gaze. “Oh yes, definitely,” she said, although she’d stopped following the conversation some time ago. Her brain finally caught up and Hazel only gave a quick little shrug. She and Asher didn’t agree on much, but they both thought that Hogwarts was a dump of a school. Hazel didn’t have a comparison point, since she’d never been to Durmstrang or Beauxbatons or any other European school, but she hated how dank and dingy Hogwarts was. Truly, who thought putting a school in Scotland was a good idea?

But she didn’t like the thought of reaching out to her parents. However dull Asher might be, their father was much worse. He made Asher look like a bubbly wizard who went around riding on a sparkling unicorn and handing out toys to kids. “Do I have to?” Hazel whined, crossing her arms before huffily uncrossing them and tapping her delicately ornate nails on the table. Her face brightened as she suggested, “How about you do it? You’re so good at talking to him, and you’ll know exactly what to say.” She saved the idle flattery for when she wanted something, and even though she didn’t usually want anything from her brother he was probably familiar with the tactic. But she flashed him a brilliant smile as she tossed her hair back. “Anyway, so glad that’s settled. I’m working on the trickiest little thing for a client and I really should get going.” Hazel swiftly ignored all the facts she didn’t care about – like the fact that Asher had been in the middle of a sentence about business to attend to, or that they hadn’t actually ordered any food yet for lunch. Instead, she stood up suddenly and decided to follow the whim that was bored and wanted her to leave. “You’re the best Ash, byyyyyye!”

asher rowan burke
[End post Hazel XD]