Flowers for Sale -- AURELIA

[Irina Rose Krum]

november 1st, 2028

Irina had been home for several weeks now, and she was bored. Her partner Natalia had woken up thankfully, but it would be another week before she’d be allowed out of Saint Mungos, so she supposed she had a little longer for desk duty to go. Of course, they could shake things up and give her a new partner, but with the amount of Cursebreaker injuries going around, they were spread rather thin for the field. She imagined the goblins were not too happy about this; less Cursebreakers meant less treasure after all. Then again, she supposed it was a good thing they were not trying to kill them by sending them back out too soon.

Looking around her flat, Irina thought it looked rather dull. She hadn’t been there much over the past year so decorating had gone to the wayside. She decided that, at the very least, she could get some flowers for the flat. She hadn’t received flowers since she had been in a relationship, but where was the rule that women couldn’t buy themselves flowers? Besides, she knew her old classmate Aurelia had opened a flower shop in Horizont Alley a few years back; if anyone could get her the best flowers, it was her.

Irina Apparated into the Leaky Cauldron, then made her way into Diagon Alley, taking the cross street that turned into Horizont. Soon, Forget-Me-Knot Florist appeared in front of her, and she went in, the bell tinkling as she crossed the threshold. Thankfully, Aurelia was there; Irina was sure anyone she hired would have been fine, but sometimes it was nice to see an old schoolmate. “Hi Aurelia, hoping to get some flowers for my apartment today, any suggestions?” she asked the girl pleasantly.

aurelia edith flint

[aurelia edith flint]

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The onslaught of Hogwarts students was done and gone, and the last minute purchases by parents to be shipped via owl seemed to have died down. Finally. Forget-Me-Knot was not supposed to be a supply shop for students, aside from walking quality hide gloves for general gardening and the occasional basic tool set that a young herbologist may need. While she always dreaded it in the run up to the first of September, Aurelia couldn't help but feel slightly nostalgic about it now. Her first few years at school had been pleasant. Before she truly understood the toll that her home life played in everything. Thankfully that was done and over with and she had her little space all to her own. Nothing had ever felt this way in the Flint household. Whenever she got comfortable, it was always ripped away.

But not her shop. The feeling she got every morning walking down from her apartment above and getting the store ready for customers was second to none. Such a thing hadn't been possible before, when it was easier to shrink and hide like she didn't exist in her own home. Customers could still be a hassle at times but never on the same level as her parents talking down to her or minimizing her achievements. With the shop, she actually wanted to share the success of a customer tackling a tough plant or getting into herbology.

Nostalgia could only go so far though, and as much as she would have enjoyed going back to school and being able to rewrite everything, time turners didn't exist any longer. Dwelling on it only reminded her of the worst times of her life, and that she and her sister had made it past that and done well for themselves. Making herself busy by organizing the shop was the best way to dash those memories, so that was exactly what she was doing currently. The bell above the door chiming that someone had entered almost didn't draw her attention, as it was fairly common for customers to wander around before realizing she was right next to them to help.

Not Irina Krum though. Her former classmate seemed to have spotted her immediately, and was asking for suggestions on flowers for her apartment. "Are you looking for something seasonal, or to make it livelier?" Did it really matter though? Her opinion was that any kind of plant would make things better in the home. Except maybe the venemous tentacula that she was growing on her back patio again. That could stay out there. "And maybe the places you usually put them?" she added quickly as she hustled away from the organizing she was doing to stand in front of Irina. These sorts of answers helped with informed decisions, after all.

Irina Rose Krum ● 468 ● song by artist

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[Irina Rose Krum]

Irina paused to debate Aurelia’s questions. “I’m looking to mostly cheer up my sitting room. It gets great sunlight - the room is west-facing.” She hesitated on what type of plants she wanted. “I’m not really sure what I’m looking for, if I’m honest. I certainly don’t have a green thumb like yours,” she admitted, shifting her weight from one foot to the other. “But I feel as though something is missing from the setup. So perhaps something magical or something that if I…erm, forget to water it for a day or two it won’t die.” She smiled ruefully. “Please don’t hate me,” she added with a small laugh.

“I travel a lot for work, but right now I’ve been grounded, so to speak. My partner was injured on an assignment, so until she’s healed up enough to come back, I’m stuck in London. I’d like to come back to something cozy yet a little exotic. That’s where the plants would come in.” Irina wasn’t sure why she was further explaining herself to her former classmate; they hadn’t been bosom buddies at Hogwarts after all. But this was Aurelia’s speciality, and Irina did need a specialist in this particular area. “So…do you think you can help me?” she asked hopefully.

aurelia edith flint

[aurelia edith flint]

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Lots of sunlight, something potentially magical, and a plant that wouldn’t die instantly if forgotten to be given water. That definitely narrowed things down drastically, but Aurelia had tons of plants to the point where she was often times surprised by what she had in stock. Her charmed watering cans took care of most of that for her these days, she very rarely worried about accidentally killing anything inside her shop. ”Hmmm…” she hummed while looking past Irina and at everything she had displayed on the various shelves. ”If you don’t mind something rather boring looking?” she offered, before heading towards one plant in particular and giving it a once over with her eyes. This would maybe work…

”This is sneezewort,” Aurelia explained, gently lifting up the white petals of the small flower. It was one of those hidden gems of flowers, she found. Innocuous, even. ”Usually its used for Befuddlement draughts and things like that…but it’s native to the area so it wouldn’t look too strange to anyone that isn’t magical if they saw it in your flat.” It could last for a long time in the specially prepared soil she used in the shop, and if Irina ever got bored with it, she could harvest its parts for potion ingredients. ”If you want something hardier, honestly, a regular old cactus might do the trick too…but I think this could work if you’re fine with a simple looking flower that won’t try to kill you every time you enter the room. Or release poisonous gases.” Or shoot fire. There were so many hazardous plants she dealt with now, that it sort of became weird to handle ones that were normal.

Irina Rose Krum ● 281

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[Irina Rose Krum]

Irina followed Aurelia around the shop as she explained first the sneezewart, then the cactus, her expression curious.  Both sounded interesting, but not quite what she was hoping for.  However, when Aurelia mentioned Sneezewart being utilized for Befuddlement Draughts, and an idea began to form in her head.  "What about Dittany?  Always good to keep handy, you know.  I really have been neglecting my potion-making since being out in the field so much..." Irina trailed off, lost in thought for a few moments. 


Finally, she spoke again.  "What would round off a good little...magical herb garden?" she asked.  She was picturing it in her head, the tiny balcony off her room that got so much sunlight.  Or perhaps the alcove in the living room, that may be better so her roommate could use some if they needed to.  "If I'm honest with you, Muggles aren't exactly visiting my flat on a normal basis," she said with a laugh.  "But, it would be nice to have something to do in the flat that calms me down like potion-making," she told Aurelia with a small smile.

aurelia edith flint

[aurelia edith flint]

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”Should have some right here actually…” Aurelia said as her eyes scanned the vicinity to find the requested plant. Dittany was beyond helpful. She would be lying if she said she had never plucked a piece off to use it on small cuts or burns after hours. The convenience of having it right below her living space was too much to pass up on sometimes. ”Ah,” she said to herself as she finally found where she had placed the dittany on the shelf. Reaching out, Aurelia grabbed a small pot of it and set it closer to the two of them so she could keep looking for other plants Irina might want.

Which was honestly a good question. Irina pointed out that she didn’t have muggle quests, so that freed up quite a few options that Aurelia would normally not consider. It was always hard to tell these days. By living in Horizont, she sort of forgot that sometimes magical folks lived outside of the community and needed things toned down a little bit. Which was too bad, because happy, bouncing flowers that could also be used for potions was pretty awesome. Or even plants that spit goo out at anyone that got too close. Muggles were missing quite a bit of fun.

”Then maybe moly could work? Used in Wiggenweld potions, of course,” Aurelia stated as she found the white-petaled and black-stemmed flower. If anything, this one was more useful than sneezewort. And prettier. ”Or if you wanted more of a centerpiece, I have a couple different Wiggentrees. They just take a bit more time and care, and it’ll probably attract a bowtruckle or two if you’re fine with that.” Somehow, her shop hadn’t drawn any in yet. Which was unfortunate, because she very much liked the little creatures.

Irina Rose Krum ● 300

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