Prince of Ruin

Chapter Twenty-Three: Coco

The rest of the weekend- not that there was that much of it left- seemed to fly by. Monday morning was Theodore's first day in his new department, so I of course woke him up early for a good luck quickie before we dragged out of bed, had breakfast, and headed to our offices.

The first half of the day flew by and the next thing I knew it was time to meet with Baz for lunch. He was sitting on the bench outside of the Prophet's office when I walked out.

"Where to, sister dearest?"

"It's freezing outside, I would like to go to the Leaky Cauldron for their pot pie," I answered, leaning into him as his arm moved around my shoulders.

"Perhaps, Cordelia, you might not be so cold if you wore real clothes." I looked down at my outfit, I didn't have a coat on, sure, but I had on a long-sleeved blouse, the sweetheart neckline and corset-like structure was a bit risque, but not to the point where my boss was bothered- and for once I wasn't even wearing a skirt. I was wearing trousers- yes they were cropped but they didn't even show my knees. The red high heels were a give in- my signature. All in all, I was giving fifties pin-up girl, which apparently did not lend itself to warmth.

"Perhaps, Bastian, you might live to see twenty if you mind your own business. Also, these are real clothes. It's not my fault that my body makes them sinful."

"We agreed a long time ago that we do not discuss your body for the sake of my sanity."

"There is no saving that," I warned him. He reached over and flicked my nose, so I pushed him. Of course that worked a lot better when we were kids and I was bigger than him.

It changed when we were in fifth year. all of the sudden my scrawny little brother was taller, he was more buff. Before I had been able to beat him in fights and then, suddenly Genevieve had to snap at him to not hurt me.

It had been a terrible time- primarily for me. As far as I could tell, he was pretty into finally being able to best his sister.

We apperated to The Leaky Cauldron, got a table, and ordered our food. I was settling in, picking up the water that appeared in front of me when we were rudely interrupted.

"Look at that, our timing is perfect." It didn't take much to identify the pair that walked up to our table. Between the bright red hair on one and the scar on the other, they were walking, talking billboards for the Aurors.

"Potter. Weasley." Baz deadpanned, looking them up and down. It was a bit odd, seeing the pair like this. We went from seeing them damn near every day for six years. then, of course, they both disappeared during our seventh year, which- was not surprising. But when they did finally show up, they brought war with them.

I hadn't actually seen either of them during the battle, I'd been doing everything in my power to protect myself and Baz. but after the war, both of them had been stalked by the media, along with Hermione Granger, who I knew opted for ministry work over being an Auror which- couldn't blame her for that.

Harry and his friends had not made many comments to The Prophet at the time. Which wasn't a shock considering the way they had torn him to shreds in the years before.

"The Men, The Myths, the Distractions to our Education." I didn't hate Harry Potter, not in the way Draco ever had. I was vaguely annoyed by the favoritism and the fact that he consistently got in the way of our education.

"Cute. We are the ones on your case." Ron said, his eyes on me.

"I have a case?" I quirked an eyebrow.

"Someone tried to hurt you, Coco."

"Someone tried to hurt you?" Baz interrupted.

"No. Well- yes, but they didn't manage it."