cat people | juniper

[ewan caelus mcgonagall]

a judgement made

can never bend

Late August 2022
juniper minerva mcgonagall

It had been gnawing at him. Taking over his thoughts almost completely. Should he do it? Would he be able to do it? What if he failed? So, he’d read the books. And then more books. Ewan knew the process, but he felt he was missing something. So, he finally decided. Ewan would try it, and he was determined to be successful. If his sister could complete the Animagus process, then why couldn’t he? He was a McGonagall as well, wasn’t he? Ewan closed the file on his desk, stacking it neatly in the ‘completed’ pile in one corner. The other corner contained files he still needed to review. Potential employees would not screen themselves.

He was sure Juniper was in. He swore he’d seen her large glasses from across the Atrium that morning as he carefully wiped the ash off his cloak from the fireplace. It was not his usual transportation to work, but it worked nonetheless. Walking out of his office, he made his way toward the Department of Education, but he didn’t have to go far. Exiting the lift, he saw his target at the nearby coffee station. Instinctively he grimaced. How she could stand that stuff was a mystery not even the Unspeakables could solve.

”Is it true there is ink in the coffee to give it that…lovely color?” Ewan approached, eyeing the fresh cup in her hand and then her. It had been a little bit of time since they had spoken at length. All his work occupied much of his time, as was getting his older sister out of trouble again. And then his mother’s “quick chats” were at least a half day where she spoke faster and faster with each cup of tea. ”You are just the person I was looking for.” Ewan spoke with a grin. While Ewan liked to work independently and behind the scenes, he wasn’t so stubborn to ask for help.

”How are you doing, Juni?” Ewan always asked out of habit, though she looked a little tired, and he thought of their last conversation but didn’t bring it up. For all he knew, she’d just stayed up late completing her work.

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[juniper minerva mcgonagall]

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It was over. That same thought had rolled through her head constantly for the past few days. She'd spent every day after work for the past week looking for a reasonably priced flat to move her things into, because she didn't want to force Rhys out of his. She felt heartbroken, not vindictive, and knew how difficult it was for werewolves to still find housing and that it would be that much harder for him because he was always gone for work. Once she found a place far enough away from the old shared apartment that would reduce her chances of running into him immediately, all that had been left was to officially move. Rhys had disappeared while she got her things out, but it wouldn't have bothered her if he had been there. There wasn't much to take as her new flat was furnished, so it was basically just a suitcase full of clothes and a couple boxes of knick-knacks. She still hadn't decided what to do on things Rhys had given her over the years, though she figured it would be a waste to toss items she still used or had fond memories of. It wasn't like she hated him, it just wasn't working out anymore.

So that had been her weekend. By the time she got all of her things in place, she ended up sleeping the weekend away yet still felt exhausted. Even when she was on her own while Rhys was gone working, their apartment never felt as empty as her new place did. Everything was emotionally draining and her brain still felt raw and numb. She knew it would eventually go away and that this was for the best, but she hated it so much. Thankfully her glass frames were thick enough to mask some of the dark rings under her eyes, though a few coworkers had asked her if she was fine. Passing it off as feeling sick and getting little sleep seemed to work. They never really cared much about her personal life so she doubted they'd ever bring it up if they even heard in the first place.

She'd gotten in line for her third cup of coffee since getting to work, having forgotten this morning that the coffee machine stayed with Rhys. The day was absolutely dragging, which really wasn't much of a surprise to her at all. Her brain barely processed that Ewan was walking towards her from across the lobby, and asking her how she was. Merlin, was it that noticeable? Rubbing at one of her eyes as she tried to find the right words, she shrugged tiredly, "I hate moving." The scalding sip of coffee that followed didn't even register. She'd feel that burn on her tongue later for sure.

ewan caelus mcgonagall ● 463 ● Song by Artist

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[ewan caelus mcgonagall]

a judgement made

can never bend

Late August 2022
juniper minerva mcgonagall

His sister might as well have been in another dimension. Ewan raised a curious eyebrow but then frowned slightly. She looked exhausted, quite terrible, actually. Juniper hadn’t even responded to his latest coffee insult. It reminded him of those who drank too much calming draught or a sleeping potion and awoke groggy the following day. But with how much caffeine Juniper typically drank, Ewan had no doubt she fell asleep quite easily at the end of the day. But after rubbing her eye, almost knocking off her glasses in the process, Ewan merely blinked.

”Moving what?” Moving? What on Earth would she be moving that left her so clearly exhausted? Unless…Ewan had a hunch. Though only due to one of their previous conversations. And to think he almost wholly missed it due to his animagus tunnel vision. ”I see…new flat?” Moving was so dreadfully tiring, even with the help of magic. Once Ewan had moved out a year into his training, he had stayed put. If his sister and the werewolf were still at odds or even over, perhaps he shouldn’t ask his question immediately.

”Do you have time for a break?” Ewan asked casually. ”Let’s get you a proper cup of coffee.” And he insisted, though not too harshly. Plus, the perk of working for Human Resources was who would question him? A small fact that he only utilized when absolutely necessary, such as now. She was asleep on her feet, which might make her more agreeable in this case. Regardless of his personal feelings, he’d never considered Rhys a bad chap. And at least she wasn’t making a scene as their older sister might have done.

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[juniper minerva mcgonagall]

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Ewan had always been sharp. While it took a moment for him to process her brief statement, he figured it out immediately without any prying. He was the only one in her family that wouldn't, really. The second her sister found out it was going to become a circus, and that was exactly the situation Juniper didn't want. Because then it would be all about her and how she always knew Rhys would do this blah blah blah. She had always been jealous of how long it had lasted since she could never manage a relationship that lasted longer than a couple months. Juniper had always told her to stuff it. Now her sister was going to probably feel vindicated, for whatever reason. "Yeah...new flat..." she responded after a moment. Even saying that made her exhausted. She really should have taken the day off. Mondays sucked normally, this just added a whole new layer onto it.

She stopped halfway through her second sip of inky sludge coffee as Ewan asked her if she had time for a break. To be fair, she was doing everything in her power to avoid doing work right now, so yes, she did. Getting real coffee was a bonus. Reaching out to drop her almost full cup directly into the trash bin next to the stand, she nodded her head at him. Anything is better than this." She couldn't come up with a great descriptor for it, because it was honestly just plain old bad. Worse than normal, even. Leaving the Ministry for a bit would do her some good too. Fresh air and all that, like she was always saying whenever work stressed her out. The act of just moving helped immensely, and considering she'd spent all weekend in bed, she absolutely needed it right now. "The bakery in Horizont always has decent coffee," she mumbled as she started for the closest exit that could get her there.

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[ewan caelus mcgonagall]

a judgement made

can never bend

Late August 2022
juniper minerva mcgonagall

For someone that worked in surreptitious information gather, he was also one that appreciated privacy. As such, he wasn’t surprised that Juniper hadn’t said anything until now, though with their last conversation, he would have hoped she would have said something sooner rather than when he waltzed into this floor for another reason entirely. Nonetheless, he was here. And though confident and not afraid to stand tall, he wasn’t so cavalier that he forgot he was a brother as well. Juniper looked like she was using all her energy to drag her body around. Some proper coffee would help for the moment.

And Ewan watched as she quickly dropped her cup of coffee in the trash bin. Good, that was where it belonged. ”Horizont it is.” Ewan would always prefer tea. The taste of coffee had never grown on him. Would he drink it to be polite, of course, but certainly not on purpose otherwise. They walked toward the lift, and Ewan pressed the button for the Atrium. Several memos had entered with them. Over time Ewan had realized you could sometimes tell who had written the memo. Everyone’s charm for folding them created a slightly different result.

”I heard the Unspeakables are conducting a study on the long-term effects of that tar you all drink.” It wasn’t true, at least to the best of his knowledge. The Department of Mysteries was a tough nut to crack. But the coffee had been a joke between himself and an old friend, Felix, who worked there. But Ewan was far more curious about the rest of the staff and what secrets they had to hide. Arriving at the Atrium, Ewan walked straight for the entrance. ”I’d prefer to apparate if that’s alright.” He’d had enough ash and soot on his person for one day and walked directly past the fireplaces.

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[juniper minerva mcgonagall]

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"It destroys the taste buds, she droned, not meaning to sound disinterested but also really didn't care what the Unspeakables thought about anything. They were a bunch of pricks most of the time, and some really thought they were better than the rest of the Ministry employees. A much, much younger Juniper had contemplated entering that department once upon a time but opted to do her current job once she saw it in person. She was trying to get away from being a snobby, unapproachable person. And while she definitely had a look on her face right now that could scare off the faint of heart, she had gotten so much better over the last five years. It was all thanks to being with Rhys. Which caused another pang of guilt to shoot through her, mostly because she knew she was at least half at fault for fucking it all up.

"That's fine," Juniper responded as her brother stated he wanted to apparate. Going through Floo would take too long and she still had to be at her desk today even if she wasn't actually getting work done. "I'll see you there," she added as she stepped outside and immediately disapparated. Despite being in her current state, it hadn't effected her magic as much as thought it would. Landing in the designated area for Horizont, she checked her phone briefly for the time as she waited to see Ewan arrive. Her coworkers weren't even going to notice she was gone. And it wasn't like they didn't have their fair share of out of office breaks. Everyone knew Dave ran off at lunch to have his little tryst with Dolohov. Juniper found out because her former classmate was loudly bragging about it as she passed by in the hallway a few weeks back, probably a subtle way to gauge if Rhys was available. Well he was now. Hopefully he wasn't stupid enough to hook up with her. Only if he traded brain for more ab muscles. Not that it was her business anymore...

ewan caelus mcgonagall ● 342 ● Song by Artist

MADE BY VEL OF GS + ADOX 2.0

[ewan caelus mcgonagall]

a judgement made

can never bend

Late August 2022
juniper minerva mcgonagall

She was right. The Ministry of Magic didn’t have room in the budget for decent coffee. If there was one area, they were failing in comparison to muggles. At least they had tea. Ewan wasn’t against caffeine by any means. He was an adult, after all, but preferred not to get it from coffee. Aside from having the same parents, that was the only significant similarity between Ewan’s sisters. Coffee. She did not seem to care for the Floo either, and Ewan didn’t understand anyone who did. But the number of reports he received from his colleagues with a handprint or finger-shaped soot stains irked him.

With a crack, she transported herself and Ewan a moment after. Still, he ended up in front of one shop while Juniper was in front of the neighboring one. While mostly reliable, it wasn’t like a portkey. His own questions still lingered in his mind, but they made their way to the nearby bakery—the Pi Pâtisserie. But on the way, he spoke. ”Now that we’re out of the office…” Ewan wondered if it was a pointless question to ask, especially since he’d technically already asked it. ”How are you really—with everything?”

The bakery would not be crowded at such an hour, and the woman that worked here was always very kind. And the baked goods here were quite good, even Ewan had to admit. One could gain inches on their waist if they weren’t careful. He held the door open for Juniper and heard a little bell ring, not waiting for her answer immediately. He still had his own in the back of his mind, but it could wait until perhaps her first cup of real coffee that day. The door closed, and a new face stood behind the counter, Ewan didn’t recognize her, but certain features stood out. Perhaps a relative.

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[juniper minerva mcgonagall]

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It wasn't difficult to anticipate the question Ewan was going to ask the second they both landed in Horizont. She knew it was coming from the second she mentioned having to move. The real question though was whether or not she wanted to tell him everything. After their last conversation regarding the state of her relationship, it had clearly devolved into the worst way possible. And this unfortunately wasn't one of those 'take a break with one of them moving out for a while' things that some couples tried to do. Maybe the real mistake was immediately moving in together after Hogwarts without actually having their own spaces first. Maybe it was her poor communication skills. Either way, it was done. They'd agreed on that at least.

"Not good," Juniper freely admitted. It felt better that way, after having it bottled up all weekend. There really wasn't much left in the reserves to cry anymore - those had dried up two days prior after she got everything in her new flat set up. "I'm exhausted." It would've been easier if they had just kept it going until they hated each other instead of ending it this way. Then it had the chance of being a clean break because she'd never want to see him again. This was so much worse. Going from seeing him nearly every day for close to five years to this wasn't good at all. She couldn't even remember what it was truly like to be on her own. Not that she thought they were codependent on one another, but total freedom like this sucked.

She stayed quiet as they got closer to the bakery, smelling it wafting through the air before being able to see it. Thanking her brother as he held the door open for her, the doughy warmth of the Pi Patisserie felt like it rejuvenated her soul slightly. It was sort of impossible to be upset in a place like this. Negative emotions weren't allowed.

A young girl that looked like she was probably still in Hogwarts stood behind the counter, waiting for them to make their choices. Before Juniper could do that though, a voice called her to the back to take care of something and an older woman replaced her. She only heard snippets of what the woman said to the two of them, something about her niece still in training to become a baker. Her brain was more focused on giving it stimulants. "Can I get the largest black coffee you have? And whatever that is?" Juniper said stiffly, not meaning to be rude but also not wanting to make idle chitchat. She had pointed at what looked to be a gigantic chocolate muffin. Hopefully it had chunks of chocolate chips in it too.

ewan caelus mcgonagall ● 464 ● Song by Artist

MADE BY VEL OF GS + ADOX 2.0

[ewan caelus mcgonagall]

a judgement made

can never bend

Late August 2022
juniper minerva mcgonagall

It was always a toss-up if she would answer such a question. Maybe deflect or change the topic or the exact opposite and answer. In this case, Ewan was glad she answered. Regardless of his feelings about the whole matter, a breakup was a breakup. The only person who could not empathize with literally anybody but herself was their older sister. Ewan wasn’t so uptight that he couldn’t admit there were things he would never understand, though the pain of a breakup was not a rare experience. Even on that note, he internally cringed. Not even Ewan wanted to hear it from her. And to think he and Juniper were at odds at one point in time while he stuck by his older sister. Funny how things change.

”Understandable. On its own, moving is tiring enough.” He was surprised that she opted to move when by her account Rhys was the more mobile one. But he didn’t ask for now. He’d have to glance at his old notes out of curiosity. If the werewolf had thrown his sister out, he would consider making a detour on his way back to work. They entered the bakery. The smell and atmosphere were always welcoming and warm—just as much as the owner’s friendly face.

Ewan didn’t recognize the girl, but she was quickly called to the back. She looked very young. Oh, Merlin. Ewan held his tongue as he noticed the regression in simply ordering coffee and a muffin. This really had knocked her sideways, it seemed. Clearing his throat, he smiled warmly. ”I will have the blueberry muffin and…” His eyes scanned the menu. Where was the tea? Of course, there was no tea, only different combinations of coffee and milk. Internally he sighed. ”…a small coffee, please.” Looking at his sister, he spoke in a lower voice while he reached into an inside pocket for his coins. ”Go sit down before you fall over.”

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[juniper minerva mcgonagall]

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Merlin, he could say that again. Even with magic and a bottomless charmed bag, it took hours to collect all of her belongings up. So much was left that she actually enjoyed but also didn't want to take away from Rhys, like the couch. She loved that stupid couch. But she felt that taking it with her would be like stripping him of it as well. Somehow it was easier to let it go than to try and parse it out. New furniture could be bought. New home, new memories. That sort of thing. She assumed there would be less pain if she didn't have to see things that were once shared anymore. Cutting it all off at the same time instead of prolonging it. It was going to suck no matter how she approached it.

Instead of elaborating on it to her brother immediately, she wanted to get her order finished and sit down. While it had to be obvious how tired she actually was, he ordered her to find a table and she did so, finding the one that was furthest from the front of the shop. Taking a seat, Juniper immediately felt how heavy her legs actually were. She'd been like a zombie all day, but now she could actually feel it. Slumping in her seat, she watched Ewan start to pay for everything. A few blinks of her eyes and she decided to rest them momentarily. Maybe she should have taken the day off after all. This was the slowest part of the year for her after, with the previous year's exams graded and the current one's starting to enter the review period before being finalized. They would be fine with her taking an extra day or two to catch up on things. It wasn't like she was the worst offender in the department. Plus she'd be more productive if she got more sleep. Her eyes started to droop at the thought, but she fought it away for the moment.

ewan caelus mcgonagall ● 334 ● Song by Artist

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[ewan caelus mcgonagall]

a judgement made

can never bend

Late August 2022
juniper minerva mcgonagall

Juniper quickly followed his instruction to find a table, although he didn’t immediately note where she went. Decima, the owner, told him his total, and Ewan provided the appropriate sickles and knuts to cover the cost. Ewan had always been good with names and faces, but he didn’t dig deep into any of the faces around Horizont or Diagon Alley until he had a reason to. The Vectors had only popped onto his radar after a recent death. For some reason, there was a file on this family and a string of deaths but nothing definitive. And at least nothing nefarious in regards to Decima.

Turning around, it didn’t take long to find Juniper. Now that he could get a good look at her from afar, she looked worse for wear. Exhaustion was clear in her face and movements. The coffee would help, but she probably just needed rest. Ewan walked over and took the other chair. ”Have you considered taking some time off?” He calmly asked. She was no good to anyone in this state. In a way, it was fortunate he’d decided to see her that day. Who knew how long it would have taken her to tell him or before she was found sound asleep under her desk. At least she could nap in her cat form if she preferred.

Ewan paused to think, and their coffee and pastries were brought to them promptly. His eyes moved from the tiny coffee cup to the dramatically large one they brought to Juniper. ”Merlin…I think they brought you the whole pot…” He muttered as he cooled his just slightly with a small wave of his hand. At least he could sip on it. While it wasn’t tea, it wasn’t the bitter tar they served at the Ministry. Actually, this was quite good, but Ewan kept his opinion to himself. ”Where are you staying now?” Not that Ewan couldn’t quickly find out, but he preferred to ask. Plus, if she needed to get anything else off her chest, she could. As much as he had his own questions. Advanced transfiguration felt far less important than a life event.

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[juniper minerva mcgonagall]

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Time off...the thought had crossed her mind a few times over the past week. Especially after she barely moved from her bed for two days straight. The cartons of delivery food thankfully cleaned themselves after she swatted at them with her wand, but that didn't take away from the pit she'd been in. Now it was physically showing, which clearly wasn't going well for her. Ewan was only the first to notice and say something, and she was sure a coworker or two would later in the week if she kept this up. "I did...but I just took that whole month off for the animagus..." she answered quietly, her eyes still closed as Ewan took his seat. She knew it was pointless to be at work, and her department lead would catch on eventually. Quiet season or not, there were still deadlines that had to be met and if this kept up, it was inevitable that she was going to miss some of them. "Taking time off from a break up isn't as serious as practicing complicated magic," Juniper added. A tiny spark of her normal know-it-all returning for a moment before drifting back away again. It would be back some day, she knew that. After the end of the world feeling went away, of course.

Their order was brought over and only then did she open her eyes again. For as gentle as the lights were inside the café, it still stung. The young girl that had been at the counter when they'd walked in was dropping everything off, which didn't make any sense considering it could have been levitated over. Juniper stared up at her, muttering a weak thanks to her before snatching her oversized coffee and muffin from the edge of the table. She didn't care if she made a mess, crumbs falling as she pulled pieces of the top off and shoved them directly into her mouth. "That's why I like it here," she answered her brother between chewing. And the pastries were literally the best she'd ever had in her life. The quality was insanely consistent.

Washing down the first chunk of her muffin with the boiling hot coffee, Juniper dreaded that she had to respond to his next question. The brief moment where she'd forgotten Rhys and everything was gone instantly, brought back by the reminder that she lived somewhere else now. And on her own. "Down the street," she pointed deeper into Horizont, passed where they'd apparated to. "Fully furnished too so that solved some problems." The only part that sucked was that it was a one-bedroom with a tiny kitchen and living quarters, and the stairwell she had to take to get up to it was dangerously rickety. And she had to keep the interior door locked at all times because apparently customers in the shop below liked to wander up and try the handle. It was a strangely shaped building, as her living space only took up the front half of the building, and as far as she could tell, there wasn't anything on the back half. Wizards weren't exactly architects though...

ewan caelus mcgonagall ● 521 ● Song by Artist

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[ewan caelus mcgonagall]

a judgement made

can never bend

Late August 2022
juniper minerva mcgonagall

Ewan didn’t flinch at her response. He rarely did anymore. Their sister still did from time to time but only when she acted holier than thou and had her guard down. Always such an ungraceful fall off her high horse. What their sister lacked was the ability to read the room and have some tact when discussing anything. And the partners she brought over were much the same, forcing Ewan to take action before his headache erupted into a migraine. ”It is if you cannot focus on anything.” Ewan corrected, neatly breaking off a piece of his muffin after placing his mug down.

Merlin, every first bite of some baked good or pastry here felt like you were trying it for the first time. It tended to distract Ewan even from the crumbs on his shirt. Juniper spoke as she ate, though inhale might have been a better word, her own muffin. On this, they could agree. ”Always an excellent choice.” A better location might have been in Diagon Alley, where the main foot traffic was. But it was one of the staples of Horizont as it grew over the years. It would take a while before it matched its neighbor.

But while Juniper let most of her muffin fall on herself, Ewan quickly brushed off the crumbs off himself. And it seemed Juniper was also nearby. He nodded as some form of acknowledgment and acceptance. Well, that was convenient. If he recalled correctly, her previous flat—or Rhys’ flat was slightly further into magical London outside Diagon Alley. A convenient distance away but not too close. Then again, he’d only visited a few times. Ignoring his muffin for a moment, he drank more of his coffee—Merlin, that wasn’t bad. And then Ewan paused, thinking through a few options as Juniper focused on her coffee which was somehow half gone already.

”If only you had a helpful older brother who worked for the Ministry of Magic in Human Resources.” Ewan knew all their policies on absences, sick leave, vacation time, and all that as if it were imprinted onto his brain. ”And ss an employee of the Ministry of Magic in Human Resources…” With an eyebrow slightly raised, he repeated himself purposefully in the point he was making. ”It is my job to tell you the Head of your Department does not need notice or any documentation of why you may have called in sick unless it exceeds seven days.” Ewan had seen it time and time again, employees using that little rule for additional time off conveniently around Holidays.

Again he paused, breaking off another piece of the muffin. ”As your brother…just take care of yourself, Juni.” His tone was less official and precise. A breakup was a breakup. And it was clearly affecting her. Ewan could only imagine how unproductive she must be at the moment. At least he could surmise by how she looked when he saw her by that coffee machine. ”I’d hate for you to turn into a hot mess and start creating dumpster fires wherever you went.” (Somehow, these muggle terms were the only terms that described their sister almost perfectly) Juniper was nowhere near the train-wreck their sister was nor would she ever be. Already she was handling all this more gracefully than that. But Ewan needed to prove a point. ”And if you really need a distraction, I could use your help with something if you feel up to it.”

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[juniper minerva mcgonagall]

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Juniper kind of hated that her brother was right. She liked marching to her own tune, only ever giving in to the advice of others when it started to look like her plans weren't working out. This was another one of those instances where she thought she could struggle through it and come out the other side as a better, changed individual. Clearly she was wrong because it was effecting her work and her entire existence right now. How stupid of her to think she would be fine. Five years wasn't some short relationship. It took up the entirety of her adult life so far, and she felt like she was drowning now that her life preserver was forcibly removed. Juniper didn't say anything in response at first, stubbornly eating the muffin and making a mess of it. Food and coffee really did help, and it was the first non-greasy meal she'd had in days. Comfort food had gone a long way so far but was also part of the pit of despair she had slipped into.

She looked up from her muffin as Ewan stated that she didn't need to give a reason for missing work to her department lead. Nepotism at its finest, right? But he was right that she was basically useless right now. Any work that got done was going to reflect poorly on her. Taking the rest of the week off to pick herself back up did sound nice. It would remove the stress of work at the very least...

"I'll take the time off if you promise to never use that phrase again," she groaned as Ewan told her not to turn into a hot mess. She cracked a weak smile at it, knowing he meant to put it that way. There was no way she would ever become like someone in their family. As for the distraction he was proposing, that was definitely a different way to turn the conversation around. Hopefully a way to get her mind off everything (which is what distraction meant, but her stupid brain had to reinforce that). "My help? I'm sort of useless right now..."

ewan caelus mcgonagall ● 358 ● Song by Artist

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[ewan caelus mcgonagall]

a judgement made

can never bend

Late August 2022
juniper minerva mcgonagall

Ewan knew the look. The microexpressions told him he was right, and she knew it. Juniper took out her frustrations on that poor muffin, however. But it was the truth. In this state, it was clear her head was not in it. And understandably so, but it wasn't a good look at work. Plus, Ewan knew some of their sister's friends worked in adjacent departments, and she didn't need to know about this just yet. They were of the stubborn sort. Much like the stories he’d been told as a boy of their Aunt Minerva and how people moved out of her way when she walked down a hallway. And Ewan couldn’t picture anybody ordering her around either.

They were proud and for different reasons. The oldest, unfortunately, ended up making a fool of herself when relying on that pride. Ewan liked to think he caused less of a fuss. But someone told him he got ‘tunnel vision’, and he couldn’t think why anyone would say that. It wasn’t true. Juniper liked her independence, but it could also be her downfall. His mouth upturned in a slight grin as he placed his half-empty cup back on the table. ”Which one? ‘Hot mess?’ or ‘Dumpster fire?’” Ewan asked for clarification.

Luckily he’d just eaten more of his muffin, which helped the snarky comment he’d been prepared to spit out as a response. It was a shame it wasn’t the time for that because it was a rather good one. Juniper had always prided herself on her knowledge. It was hard to think she’d ever call herself ‘useless’ in any situation. But as he brushed off the fresh crumbs, he casually mentioned the other topic on his mind. ”Yes, your help.” Ewan confirmed. ”Tell me more about your animagus journey. How’d you start and time everything?” He might as well have been asking what time it was with how casual he was acting.

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