Yesterday (Veronica)

[lucrezia conti]

January 3, 2029

The combination of drunken revelry and the setting off of fireworks on New Year's Eve had meant that there was more noise than usual in Horizont Alley and its vicinity and far fewer donors or recipients in and out of the blood bank, but Lucrezia was surprised to hear the commotion recommence after a lull of a few nights—in the early morning, as strange as it was. Living nocturnally, there was a lot that she saw that others didn't because they were asleep, though she didn't know what was happening on a random Wednesday, either. The winter sun rose sooner, so Lucrezia grabbed her parasol out of instinct before stepping out of her flat connected to the blood bank to investigate.

Once outside, she was immediately met with not only rain but the odor of something's having burned. It wasn't just the stale cigarette smoke from overnight, and as she neared Diagon Alley, Lucrezia understood why. Ollivanders, the wand shop at which so many witches and wizards had purchased their first wands, had burnt to the ground. She didn't get closer to the scene initially, however. There were all kinds of officials investigating, and Lucrezia had no information to volunteer.

Veronica Ollivander, the present owner of the family-run business that had been around for centuries, was there among what little remained of the historic shop. It was a challenge to imagine how devastating the experience must have been for her. Lucrezia hadn't been part of the magical community in London for her entire life, but she had lived there for almost eighteen years and owned and operated the blood bank for a few years less than that—long enough to know the Ollivanders and the various other families with a long-standing presence there.

Grateful for the cloud cover, Lucrezia returned to her flat, whipping up a quick batch of brodo di pollo—Italian chicken soup—and putting some in a large metal vacuum flask so that it would stay hot. With the vacuum flask of soup, a spoon, and a blanket for some added comfort all in a bag (and a proper umbrella over her head), Lucrezia then returned to the charred wand shop. She was sure that Veronica, who reminded her of her own daughter, hadn't had an opportunity to eat anything, and she had probably been out there in the cold the whole time.

"…Veronica?" Lucrezia called out, the Italian pronunciation of her name evident as she spoke. "I have some soup for you." She stood back slightly, not wanting to get in anyone's way and be told off by some Ministry worker for looking decades younger than she was.

veronica giselle ollivander

[veronica giselle ollivander]

━ you have bewitched me, body and soul ━

THE RAINFALL HADN'T LET UP ever since Veronica Ollivander left her home that morning. She still felt the weight, the slight guilt of her actions from the passing Christmas, the unforgivable secret she had sworn upon her father and siblings to never speak upon. But instead the repercussions of it all hit her in a different angle.

Spending the morning wailing in mourning over the burnt Ollivanders Wand Shoppe, discussing with Aurors about the cause of the arson, providing vague details to the best of her ability - considering the eldest Ollivander knew who and why they had done this - it was already the early afternoon when Veronica tapped back into her senses. Hair wet from the rain and face filled with dried tears and ash from trying to recover what she could of that measly fifteen percent, the wandmaker almost missed the voice that called out for her.

"Lucrezia." She hummed quietly, forcing her best smile. Lucrezia Conti was a kind soul, despite being a vampire, Veronica never looked down upon her. She had no qualms or issues with other species. All except her squib brother. Veronica rose, taking the blanket that one of the Aurors had offered to her before stepping closer to the woman, so they weren't messing with any 'evidence' that the Ministry might of needed. "Thank you but...I'm far from hungry right now.." What she needed was a cold, crisp cigarette.

| lucrezia conti |

hopefully this works!

[lucrezia conti]

January 3, 2029

Veronica greeted her and stood, walking over to her. She already had a blanket, Lucrezia saw; it must have been given to her by one of the officials there to investigate the scene. Though she thanked her for the soup, she said that she wasn't hungry. Lucrezia knew that it must have looked strange for her to be so concerned. She was gaunt and pale herself, but the difference was that she was that way because of her vampirism.

She understood that the wandmaker probably didn't have much of an appetite because of the stress she was under. The fortunate thing for Veronica was that she didn't live where she worked. She would still have to figure out how to move forward, but at least she had a roof over her head to return to.

"I can leave it with you," Lucrezia suggested. "It's chicken soup." Unlike her, it would require less time and effort from Veronica to reheat it, since she could do it magically. She gestured to the bag she was carrying. "There are a spoon and a second blanket, too," she added, having been unaware of the blanket that Veronica had with her. In a hushed tone, Lucrezia continued. "Do you need anything else?" She hated that she had been out there in the cold for so long. "A towel? My umbrella?"

veronica giselle ollivander

[veronica giselle ollivander]

━ you have bewitched me, body and soul ━

IF VERONICA OLLIVANDER COULD TURN back time, to reevaluate the situation during that Christmas dinner night, decide whether her choices were part of the right or wrong kind...she would still find herself with the same result she went with. Her brother made the wrong choice, deciding to pick upon her son in the midst of their squabbles and arguments.

Their bickers were never unnoticed, but given the topic and nature of it all - she would always protect her son's peace. Even for extreme prices, like the one she was facing currently. "Thank you.." She managed weakly, taking the soup that the vampire gestured towards. Her appetite had left the moment the Ollivander rounded the corner and saw the first Auror in the area. She was doubtful it would return anytime soon.

"Please Lucrezia..you're too kind.." A spoon was needed of course, but a second blanket was more than welcome. Especially since she spent most of the morning stood in the rain, stood for long enough that the blanket that currently covered her was soaked through.

"No..neither." She answered honestly. What she needed, was her hands wrapped around the neck of her younger brother, or arms wrapped around her son or even her ex-husband for comfort. But what she actually needed? What she truly needed? She couldn't even tell.

| lucrezia conti |

[lucrezia conti]

January 3, 2029

Veronica took the soup and thanked her again for it plus the spoon and blanket, telling her that she was "too kind". Lucrezia hadn't gone out of her way for the compliments or Veronica's gratitude, though. Seeing any local business burn to the ground overnight was horrible itself, but it was even worse when it was the family business in her own neighborhood. Everyone in magical London, if not even farther afield, knew how important Ollivanders was.

The wandmaker answered that she didn't need anything else from her, neither a towel nor her umbrella, and Lucrezia nodded. She felt bad about the fact that she lacked the ability to warm Veronica up with magic, at the least. There was no real advantage to being a vampire out in the rain in the daytime; the only good thing was that the rain wouldn't harm her at all.

Lucrezia knew, too, that her physical presence probably wasn't the most comforting to Veronica. What she could do was console her. "All of us in Diagon Alley and Horizont Alley"—and probably some of Knockturn Alley—"are here to support you, Veronica. It's going to be alright."

veronica giselle ollivander