Interlude [Briony]

As much as they had been warned this willow tree was not - in fact - the violent, whomping kind, there was still a magic aura about it. There was a sense of crossing into an altered space as they walked through the threshold formed by it’s descending leaves. At this point of the night both the bar and the reception where busy and boisterous, but some sort of charm must have been placed on the structure to separate the resonance. Nadia could barely hear the music playing at the dance floor, instead there was a pleasant hum and a persisting twinkling of ice and glass. Every once in a while someone would come into or retreat from the space and the sounds from the reception would penetrate for a few seconds before the curtain of leaves was back in place.

They had taken a seat in one of the few chairs around the circular deck surrounding the tree. Most of the bar was left open for people to walk to and from, but a few had parked in front of it and settled into close-quarter conversations or lonely imbibing. They were currently playing the role of the latter, at least until P had properly caught up with Felix. They ordered a glass of firewhisky for themselves and Portias’s G&G as well, thought it would probably be a while until she returned. It seemed to them there was quite a lot of unresolved business they could get into. Nadia hoped it would be comforting and not unpleasant. A small, irrational part of them also hoped neither of them would make a move. Portia had been perfectly clear she didn’t have any outstanding feelings for the boy, but there was there was no way of truly knowing how she would react to the man.

They didn't have much time to dwell on these foolish suppositions, for a familiar face was standing next to them trying to get the bartender’s attention. It took her a second to place them, but once they did Nadia greeted a little too effusively, glad to find a conversation partner.

“Valerie, right? Valerie Hopps? Your sister was my Quidditch captain. How are you?” And so their exchange flowed as they cordially caught up with each other. It wasn’t until Valerie excused herself to go to the loo that she realized how much time had passed. Nadia had half a thought of getting up and checking on Portia, but then a stunning stranger in an impeccable suit joined the fray.