lost angels | damian

[anastasia marie karkaroff]

If you're always on your own

you don't ever feel at home

May 22, 2026
DAMIAN ANDREAS KARKAROFF

Weary. That was the word. Ana had been trying to think of a word to describe her present state among the brain fog that accompanied this persistent numbness she’d been carrying for some time now. The island and that damn bell that followed her around had made Ana want to rip her hair out, but fortunately, that had been taken care of, and she felt that semblance of sanity again. A part of her was concerned that she was susceptible to the same descent into insanity that her mother had taken, but she had refocused on her Occlumency training to find that balance again.

And it had been necessary, in any case. Harry Potter had reached out for her help, and she had agreed. It was a dangerous assignment to traverse the underground and gritty parts of Wizarding Society, where she looked for the convergence with Pureblood society and hopefully a lead to the Purifiers. Fortunately, she had the support of the Ministry’s resources and Interpol as this covert assignment existed and operated at the highest level of security classifications. In the Order, only Harry had known, and then she’d informed her brother Cas, but merely as a formality in case, she found herself in a corner she couldn’t get out of by herself. Fortunately, she hadn’t had to resort to calling her big brother and taking that hit to her Pride.

She’d found that convergence, found her way in, and then Ivy had cracked. It had all worked out, all that hard work finally resulting in something, but it hadn’t mattered in the end. Ana had never visited Hogwarts, but now the only images in her mind that would be associated with the school would be of fire and death. And even a week later, nobody had slept as they worked to dismantle the Purifiers and deal with the aftermath. Ana felt like she had lived at the Ministry. She was pale and tired but pushed through. Not only that, but she’d been ignoring most phone calls and letters as she developed a tunnel vision for the clean-up work. Plus, the fall out of the public knowing that one of the Department Heads had worked for Elaine all along. There were a few opened and unopened letters on her desk, a few were quick notes, but she’d ignored them regardless.

The pain of having a family member work for the paper was their habit of only having a trail of incessant questions. Damian would naturally be looking for details, but she wanted to avoid her other big brother for as long as possible. She glanced up from her spot where she stood behind her desk and wondered if the momentary thought of him had somehow summoned him here. ”Did you get lost on your way to the Prophet?” She asked, waving her hand to simultaneously close all the files on her desk, and they neatly stacked themselves in one of the corners. No doubt he had questions, but she didn’t have time for a family visit.

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[DAMIAN ANDREAS KARKAROFF]

Damian plucked lazily at the strings of his guitar, trying to find muse at the lingering notes. Woodward, the editor of the prophet, had asked for an op-ed on the Ministry's policy of putting together a task force of former professors to rebuild Hogwarts, rather than hiring professionals. Damian had to admit, he rather agreed with Woodward, though he understood the nostalgia of fixing what was broken. However, Damian was struggling to put his thoughts into words, something rare for him. Writing had always come to him so easily, but tonight, nothing was happning. Pen was not going to paper.

So instead of staying in his flat, Damian chucked his guitar aside, donned his cloak, and disapparated to the ministry. The best place for inspiration was probably the place where things were all happening. And maybe he'd get a nose into the Asher Burke situation as well - Damian was sure that would be his next story, whether Woodward told him so or not. Damian drifted through the dimly lit halls of the ministry, passing hurried office drones heading the other way, heading home. Damian knew his sister wouldn't have left yet - she hadn't left the ministry in days.

Damian's dark eyes narrowed as he noticed that Ana's door was partially open. It was unlike her to keep an open invitations, especially when she was working. When Damian pushed through the door, irreverent smirk on his face, Ana barely looked up. "Now now, little miss. Is that any way to greet your brother?" crooned Damian. He summoned an apple seemingly out of nowhere, and tossed it to his sister. "You look like shit. When was the last time you were away from this desk? Toilet breaks don't count," Damian said, perching himself on the corner of her desk, genuine concern on his face.

anastasia marie karkaroff

[anastasia marie karkaroff]

If you're always on your own

you don't ever feel at home

May 22, 2026
DAMIAN ANDREAS KARKAROFF

Ana had always wondered what it might have been like to wield the authority and power of an older sibling, even with an age difference of not even eighteen months. Close in age but not close as siblings as one might think—their mother had ensured that in her very own way. Damian was her favorite after all, and Ana had quickly learned that nothing she did would ever suffice or gain her mother’s approval, so why bother for it at all? Before she could return with another answer, she caught the apple in her hand and placed it on her desk.

”I can think of other ways.” But Damian had a point. Perhaps it was time for a break. They’d been working non-stop for the better part of a week, but Ana’s task had started long ago, and she could hardly remember a break since then. Even the last full conversation with Cas—well, that had hardly been a relaxing one, to say the least. She didn’t answer right away and instead let out a sigh. Damian was perhaps the one that ever witnessed Ana at her weakest. Whether it was watching from the sidelines while the girl was bullied relentlessly by her classmates at Durmstrang or bearing witness to his mother’s frustration with her. Even Cas hadn’t seen that, though he knew.

”I’ll take a break when every last Purifier is dead or in a cell.” She spoke, taking a seat. Even her shoulders hunch just the tiniest amount. Composure was everything for her, but it took energy for all that. ”You here to write about it?” If he was, Ana would throw him out herself. She didn’t need some silly scandal under her belt because she spoke too openly with her brother—a journalist. Border Patrol would not suit Ana. But for now, her glare softened—she tried to think of the last time she had really seen Damian. But it was all a blur and all along that timeline of her work, where she had pushed just about every one out of her life that wasn’t useful to her mission. Her only friends were Ivy and Hazel Burke, though they were both in the wind now. Still, his concern was a far cry from any help she’d ever received from one of her brothers. Maybe it's why it felt so out of place.

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[DAMIAN ANDREAS KARKAROFF]

For all of his faults, Damian was still Anastasia's older brother. He genuinely cared about her wellbeing, and would possibly even protest if someone said he cared more about a story than his family. After all, he only had one baby sister - even if she was only eighteen months his junior. "Right, like, oh brother, it's been so long since I've seen you! So pleased you've come to grace me with your presence!" He paused, narrowing his eyes at his sister. "And not in that ghastly sarcastic tone you usually take."

Damian rolled his eyes at Ana's seething response. She even had the audacity to sit down. To sit down as if he was here for a nice calm chat. Damian scoffed. "Oh no, I don't think so. Up, up," said Damian, springing to his feet and pulling Ana up from her chair by the arm. "You have a long time to not have fun then. So instead of that, we're going to drink shitty beer and play darts. I'll even let you win one," said Damian, marching Ana to the door. "Little sis can't manage her time? I heard that a few time turners made it through the cull, just do the hours over again," said Damian in an offhand sort of way. "And anyways, I'm not here for a story. Well, not involving you, anyways. Unless you can tell me why the ministry decided it was a good idea to turn professors into builders?" asked Damian, tilting his head. Though Ana was nearly a foot smaller than him, she was no less imposing. "Thought not. Let's go."

anastasia marie karkaroff

[anastasia marie karkaroff]

If you're always on your own

you don't ever feel at home

May 22, 2026
DAMIAN ANDREAS KARKAROFF

Ana very quickly rolled her eyes in response. Deep down inside, there was probably the capability of Ana to be more excited to see her siblings express that they were important to her, but it was difficult when one was raised to be a pawn. Everything in Ana’s being was determined to prove a point and to prove something. ”Its not sarcastic to be direct and not hide behind an article full of flowery language.” Ana gave her brother a look. It was part rebuttal to his comment and part teasing him for his profession. A writer—far different from the slow chess game Cas played regarding life and the steamroller approach that Ana utilized, not to mention the passive way Alek bent to everyone’s whims.

Though she grew more annoyed as Damian rounded the corner of her desk to grab her arm as soon as she had sat down. ”Dam, what are you—“ She tried to yank her arm back, but despite all her strengths and formidability, Damian had a good grip. She was tempted to hex him, but since they were on Ministry property, that would require paperwork after the fact. ”I don’t have time—“ Again, she was cut off, but his ramblings about beer, time, and time turners. But before they got to the door, she dug her feet in as best as her small frame would let her. ”Fine—just let go of me. I’ll go.” Ana finally relented, letting out a frustrated sigh.

Damian asked about the committee that Ana had heard about, former Professors hired by the Ministry to help oversee the project by the Department of Education. She merely looked at him, a bit of disbelief in her face as she really wondered if he was seriously asking her about something in the Department of Education where she nowhere near worked. ”Wait—three things.” Ana crossed her arms. ”I’m not talking about work. Nothing is on the record. And if I see an article after this that has nothing to do with the former Professors, I will hex you myself.” She’d seen the scandal that Slater had fallen into. It was only after that, Ana herself found out that Claire’s brother also worked for the Prophet. It only made her more careful. She raised her eyebrows slightly as she waited for a response from her older brother. ”And what time turners are you talking about?” While she wanted to focus on work, she supposed this wouldn’t be so bad. Much like when she’d go out of her way to find Cas if she hadn’t heard from him for some time. The Karkaroff way.

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[DAMIAN ANDREAS KARKAROFF]

Damian rolled his eyes, completely bored by Ana's tone. "Whatever you say, sis," said Damian. "My work leads me to what I want in life. What do you want, Ana? Except to see your enemies crushed beneath your iron will?" he added, inclining his head ever so slightly to look imperiously down at her. Damian and Ana had always been very different, especially based on the tension that stretched between them due to his mother. Damian had found Ana and Cas suffocatingly self righteous, where he preferred just to let things happen and pick up the juicy tidbits afterwards.

Even as Ana tried to escape his grasp, Damian held ever tighter. All those years of writing had lent strength to his hands and fingers, and Ana had no way to escape. Eventually she gave up and begrudgingly agreed to join him. Damian knew he could trust her, so let go at last. There was a heartbeat when he actually thought she might run back to her desk to keep working, but her resolve held and they left the ministry side by side. As they walked, Damian prodded at her knowledge, curious as to the state of the committee of former professors who were rebuilding the castle. The prospect was laughable to Damian, and while he had been instructed to dig deeper, it seemed that he wouldn't strike gold with his sister. He held up his hands in mock surrender - "Fine, fine. All off the record, just pure curiosity," he said, cheshire cat grin spreading across his lips.

However, it would seem Ana's curiosity would get the better of her. Damian shrugged, as if it were a matter of nothing. "Just rumours, sister," said Damian, refusing to elaborate. If she wanted to keep secrets, fine. "Here we are," said Damian a moment later, holding open the door to a hole in the wall pub with aforementioned shitty beer and a darts board off in the corner. The place was mostly deserted, though a steaming drunk man lay collapsed halfway across the bar and three men and a woman were tucked away in a dark corner, whispering hurriedly about something of great importance. Damian longed to wheedle his way into their web of secrets, but resisted. For the moment please. "Two pints please," said Damian to the bartender. "You hide the darts back there or let your lovely patrons fend for themselves with potential weapons?" The haggard looking bartender grunted, poured the two pints and slammed three darts on the bar. Damian paid, and handed the darts to Ana. "Let's see how you shoot."

anastasia marie karkaroff

[anastasia marie karkaroff]

If you're always on your own

you don't ever feel at home

May 22, 2026
DAMIAN ANDREAS KARKAROFF

Ana looked at her brother, her expression speaking for her to say ’obviously’. ”I don’t think it’s too much to ask.” It would be the greatest reward for the life she’d lived up until that point. Also, it pandered to the satisfaction she always felt when proving somebody wrong, especially anyone who underestimated the smallest Karkaroff due to her size, age, or gender. Their closeness in age meant that even though Cas could get under Ana’s skin, Damian succeeded the most. Maybe it was because of his closeness to their mother.

Finally, he let go of her, and she didn’t try to run back to her desk. Damian was excellent at being a persistent pest. Like a human form of a permanent sticky charm when he felt like it. This was not a battle she would win, and if Ana was being honest, a break might do her some good. Staring at the reports for too long at the computer screens made all the words blur together, and all she ended up reading was the word ‘fire’. Her eyes bored into her brother, another warning that she wasn’t kidding. Hexing her own older brother for the purpose of ‘protecting the family name’ was warranted in her opinion. Cas might have thought otherwise, but unlike Alek, she could form her own opinion.

They walked out of the Ministry, and she followed him to a hole-in-the-wall type of place. Damian ordered them beer and asked for the darts. She took the darts and scoped the room. A drunk in the corner, a man with some women in the other corner. Nobody of interest and nothing that set off her radar and her instincts. Even the most mundane looking of things could make the hair on the back of her neck stand up and put her on high alert. But she didn’t get that sense here, not yet anyway. Ana walked toward the dartboard, taking a single dart and focusing on the center.

Ana took a breath and launched the dart. Unfortunately, it missed the dead center she was aiming for, opting to stop just outside of the larger center ring. ”Dammit.” A heavy and frustrated sigh left her nose as she stepped to the side to let Damian take his turn. While none of them were known to have a temper, she already felt on edge for missing the bullseye. She just felt tired.

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[DAMIAN ANDREAS KARKAROFF]

Damian was pleased but not surprised when Ana finally gave into his wheedling. He marched her to a seedy bar he knew very well, and challenged her to a game of darts. Darts took planning and patience - you could try to hit as many bullseyes as you could and still lose. The trick was to fool the other player into a false sense of security. Darts was a game of waiting. And it wasn't won until precisely 301 points were scored. Go over, and you lose.

Predictably, Ana aimed for the bullseye, and missed. She still hit the 25 ring and Damian nodded. "You know you get to shoot three, right?" said Damian with a smirk, but he took the darts from her anyways. His aim was good, but he didn't want to show Ana his strengths yet. He flicked the darts out - one, two, three. The first hit the double twenty, the second hit the five, and the third hit the twenty. "Sixty five down for me," said Damian loftily, passing Ana the darts back. "Maybe you should practice more. I bet it would be helpful for duelling," said Damian, taking a long sip of his beer. "Not only that, but it wouldn't kill you to relax more. Where's your friend, the muggleborn one been?"

anastasia marie karkaroff

[anastasia marie karkaroff]

If you're always on your own

you don't ever feel at home

May 22, 2026
DAMIAN ANDREAS KARKAROFF

Anastasia Karkaroff didn’t have time for silly games played at a pub. But her brother seemed rather pleased with himself in how he successfully dragged her out of her office and into such a place. Somehow it made her feel more tense and anxious. The weight of one of their world’s institutions falling as it had was heavy if only because half that weight was a guilt she didn’t want to acknowledge. From the side, her eyes glared at him. Even in this dim light, you could see that.

Damian quickly fired off his three darts and handed them back to her. She stepped up to the mark though she turned slowly to shoot him yet another look. ”We can duel instead” It was very well known in the family that Ana was the best duelist, but if Damian hadn’t been antagonizing her, she would have been suspicious. She threw the first dart, landing at the seventeen. The second one, she paused again. Actually landing it in almost the same spot as the very first—the twenty-five. ”I don’t know.” She responded simply, though without turning. The last dart hit the twenty. Ana let out another frustrated sigh through her nose as she retrieved the darts.

”Sixty-two.” She handed the darts back to her brother before sipping the beer he’d gotten for her. ”You’re right. This is shitty beer.” Damian was talking about Astrid, but that only made Ana feel worse.

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