Cosmic Coming of Age [Rue]

[nova hypatia vector]

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CW: Mention of Drugs

June 26th, 2026

Nova wasn’t a huge proponent of getting high on her own supply, especially considering it hindered her ability to do her work effectively. But she’d spent the last month seriously in a rut over what had happened at Hogwarts. The idea of mortality had been skewed horribly for her by the disappearances of her mother and the other wives of her father, and his own death had been of little to no interest to her. Hogwarts contained everything that she cared about outside of the bakery and her aunt, with all six of her siblings being there. They were all safe, thankfully, but she knew that not every student had made it out and the destruction of the school had left her extremely rattled in the weeks that followed. Her attempts at trying to act like everything that had occurred over the last few years were immediately dropped and she felt exposed for the first time in a long time. Work obviously kept her busy and not dwelling on those thoughts, though they still intruded after she locked up at the end of the day and went home. That was where things got a little out of hand, to the point where her occasional self-soothing with a joint or brownie had become a habit. The second her shoes were off and her cat was fed, she was trying to numb it all away. In her mind, there were worse things to be using daily, like sleep potions or hard muggle drugs. All this was doing was helping her relax and fall asleep. But when she started hitting it right when she woke up in the morning, that was when she realized she’d taken it a bit too far.

Throughout all of this, her other job, where she provided similar products to those that paid, had continued. It didn’t help her problem at all, and where she used to not try and make stronger edibles, she now was because she wanted to eat them as well. One of her more frequent fliers was Rue, who Nova had graduated with from Hogwarts. Rue was easily the sketchiest of her acquaintances, and Nova knew that they were doing similar things on the side as well. It was hard to ignore. Of course, tagging along with Rue was always Mina, an equally suspicious but more grounded character that she’d spent her school years tolerating. Somehow all three were wheeling and dealing now, and it often times felt off. She reasoned that someone had to do it, and if she was the only one making products safely for these two, then it was better her than some muggle. They were both more than happy to come back often and it was hard to turn away their eagerness.

Today was one of those days where she was waiting on Rue to pick up an order. Brownies, like usual, though it was double in size of what the normal typically was. Was this for both her and Mina? It seemed a bit strange that they wouldn’t come separately considering the latter usually stopped by after her shift at Flourish & Blotts on Thursdays. Mina hadn’t made an order this week, so Nova believed her assumption to be correct.

Normally she wouldn’t have a problem handing over the giant white box to Rue in the store, but Decima was there today and absolutely would be asking questions. She was fairly certain that her aunt was unaware of what was going on as she had never asked questions and things were fairly low key. Pickups were almost always scheduled for her aunt’s off days or when she was gone for the weekend. On days like this, where both of them were working, doing the transaction in the back alleyway was how it went down. If she were to be completely honest, it was absolutely sketchy that she did handoffs like this with Rue of all people in a back alley. Anyone that wanted to question what they were doing wouldn’t have to think too hard.

Nova had the back door, which was past the kitchen and storage room, propped open with a wooden box as she waited to hear Rue come down the alley. A wandering cat had made her ears perk up a few moments earlier, but aside from a few inquisitive mews about the open door, it left her and her pot brownies in peace after a couple of seconds. The only worry she currently had was if Decima came back to see where she was and saw the box and open door, which definitely screamed strange. She could only imagine the questions that would follow, and trying to explain why she was handing over perfectly normal looking brownies to a person at the back entrance would be tough. The lie of it being a personal gift for a friend and not wanting to do it in the shop in front of other customers absolutely wouldn’t fly. Her aunt knew all of her friends, and those were not the same ones that she sold baked goods to.

The sound of footsteps from out in the alley had Nova getting to her feet, picking the box up as well. She peeked her head out the open door and looked both ways, spotting a figure that looked like it could be Rue. Kicking the box into the backroom as she stepped over it, allowing the door to snap shut behind her, she stood awkwardly in the middle of the alleyway, holding the giant box of brownies in both of her hands. “This isn’t all for you, is it?” she called out, still worried that Rue was going to attempt some sort of challenge to eat the entire sheet of brownies. As she always stated when a sale was made, she wasn’t responsible for what happened if too much was consumed at once. Everything was tested in moderation by herself, and she normally wouldn’t eat the whole box in one go. If it was split between Rue and Mina though, maybe it could be safely done…

Prudence Oria Weiss ● 1,016 ● Cosmic Coming of Age by Fickle Friends

MADE BY VEL OF GS + ADOX 2.0

[Prudence Oria Weiss]

━ the mirror's telling me to go home ━

LATELY, RUE FOUND THEMSELVES WANTING to test almost everything and anything in line with her potions. It was such an odd feeling, considering that the day of being alongside the Purifiers were over yet Rue knew their work was far from finished. In the last year or so, Rue had developed new potions and with that had gained new customers all over the country. It was an incredible feeling in a way, knowing that Galleons could be made in such mysterious ways. Though, while the Weiss wanted to consider today a day off, especially from what they ordered from Nova, she would be lying to herself if she hadn't planned later usage for the chocolate delights. Thus once more, combining another Muggle thing with her creations. This time was different however, considering now Rue's brownie order was twice the size.

Nova and Rue weren't the closest of friends, but...more-so acquaintances. They graduated alongside each other back in their days of Hogwarts and now...Well. They both seemed to have their own side hustles. It wasn't something the Weiss planned on questioning, considering she was a cautious being, realising that sometimes not knowing is seemingly the best thing for people. But as Rue staggered along the cornered alleyway of Horizon Alley, that took her towards Pi Pâtisserie, the potioneers eyes tried to focus, the figure of a few stray cats coming into vision but alas. They were high...As always. So things weren't exactly clear.

With the deal taking place behind the store, Rue figured it was because the usual strict clerk or owner was back in store, deeming the deal to be all the more suspicious. While Rue was curious, they knew to never ask anyway. After a few moments, the Weiss figured that she was close to where she and Nova agreed to meet and at the sound of the Ravenclaw calling out, Rue's eyes focused completely. "Whats it to you?" They replied, a lopsided grin growing on her lips. "More so...fifty-fifty. Half for me and half for...Something else." It was kind of easy to figure out what Rue meant, but even then, they couldn't remember if Nova had ordered from her once before.

| nova hypatia vector |

so sorry for the delay!

[nova hypatia vector]

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The closer Rue got to the bakery's back door and where Nova was standing, it was fairly obvious they were high. It was the little steps down the alleyway, probably trying to keep from looking like it was worse than it actually was. Overcompensating like that always made it blatant to those that knew what to look for. Thank Merlin this was in an area no one usually walked through aside from the shopkeepers and delivery personnel. Knowing Rue's propensity for drugs, they were on something strong in order ti look visibly high. As they approached Nova, the baker let out a long sigh. This exchange was always interesting, no matter how it went down. The lack of Mina tagging along meant it would probably be quicker though. That one was a chatter box, like she'd been attention starved her entire life and was finally able to let it all out. Nova knew that wasn't true though, because the girl had been the same way in school too, starting on the Hogwarts Express first year.

Nova shrugged when asked what it meant to her for wanting to know who the brownies were for. "I want to make sure they're not ending up with anyone that can't handle them. If it's for you and Mina, I really don't care." Assuming Mina was the something else in Rue's secret code. She was trying not to sound exhausted about it, but with everything that had happened as of late that was becoming increasingly more difficult. Especially with Harmony freaking out on where to send the rest of the Vector kids to school. Why any of that was Nova's problem was something she hadn't figured out yet. As long as they were all safe, she didn't mind if they went to France or the United States. Speaking of her stepmother, now that was someone that needed a box of pot brownies to chill out. "They're stronger than usual," Nova added as she held the large, white box out for Rue. "You know the drill. You made them if anyone asks." And honestly, why didn't they? It was probably cheaper in the long run. Nova's cooking prowess didn't make them any better than what others could make.

Prudence Oria Weiss ● 372 ● One Little Spark - From "Journey Into Imagination With Figment"

MADE BY VEL OF GS + ADOX 2.0

[Prudence Oria Weiss]

━ the mirror's telling me to go home ━

RUE'S STAGGERS DOWN THE ALLEYWAY were definitely noticeable to everyone who stared or bothered to care...except from the Weiss. They believed they were as quiet as the strays who walked alongside them, when in reality - a few grunts left the potioneers lips, followed by the odd heavy intake of breath or a quiet cough. No matter how ridiculously high they were, or how quiet they believed they were, if the person Rue anticipated on meeting; knew any aspect of their life...They'd know how fucked up she was. While she overcompensated for such an odd thing, it was out of sheer luck that not many people ventured through the alleyway - something that Rue assumed Nova also knew.

Hearing a long sigh as she approached the shadowy figure before them, Rue's lips only perked up a little higher. No one besides Mina really questioned what kind of drug or potion the brunette had ingested on that day, but at the same time, whenever someone asked...Rue truthfully had no idea how to answer. It was funny, especially since Rue's usual answer was 'a potioneer never tells' when in reality...Rue ingested various things and eventually had no idea which came first. But seeing Nova without Mina however felt like an odd trip for the Weiss, especially as the two would usually come together, arms linked as if they were an oddball couple, when in reality Mina was probably on the verge of getting drunk and Rue completely high. Two polar opposites.

At Nova's response to their question, Rue's arm lifted slowly, her hand scratching at messy curls, while her lips curled upwards in slight disgust. "I don't sell or distribute anything to minors." They muttered, lowering her arm. "Plus with this much..Why would I share with anyone except from Mina?" Rue added, questioning Nova back. As Nova held the box out for her, Rue stepped closer, fishing out the Galleons she owed and placing it on top of the box before reaching out to hold the base of it. "How much stronger?" She questioned, brow raising in interest. "Yeah, yeah. Added a tip by the way. For your..Incredibly fast services."

| nova hypatia vector |

so sorry for the delay!

[nova hypatia vector]

▲

Watching Rue sometimes made Nova feel happy that she had a stable job and hadn’t gone off the deep end like some of her old classmates had. It was almost sort of sad, though she knew Rue was safer taking these than anything else they got their hands on. Mina had sort of let her in on the secrets the potioneer, like how they were developing potions that functioned the same way as alcohol and drugs. Nova didn’t really have anything against that along as it was all safe and didn’t have a chance to harm anyone taking them. Basically the same as her own baked goods she made up. “Good,” she stated rather sternly as Rue stated that they didn’t sell to children. No one should. That was what made this business difficult to work in to begin with. Her own products weren’t inherently dangerous unless they were all eaten at the same time, the worst outcome being a horribly upset stomach and a vomit-inducing, head-spinning high. So basically like being drunk for most of the alcoholics she knew. “Fair point,” Nova added as Rue pointed out that they only ever shared with Mina. Thick as thieves, those two. And they had always been like that for as long as she could remember. If one of them was scheming something, both of them inevitably were.

“Double, at least,” she answered in regards to the strength of the brownies. “I tested it out a while back, so I don’t think it’ll be much of an issue for the two of you at all.” Oh Merlin, the fact that she knew what both of their tolerances were was a horrid thing. She never really considered herself as a drug dealer, but she sort of was, wasn’t she? Exchanging the package for the galleons, Nova didn’t even bother to count as she slid them off of the box and into her hand. Rue had never screwed her over before, so it wasn’t something to question. “Err…thanks I guess? Not for nothing Rue, but why don’t you just make them on your own? I can give you the recipe I use…” Being a potioneer, baking couldn’t be that much more difficult for them. Unless it was a time issue, then she could sort of see it.

Prudence Oria Weiss ● 383 ● Situations by Escape The Fate

MADE BY VEL OF GS + ADOX 2.0