“I was right as rain within a few hours of the incident.” Orpheus replied. “They only kept me in as a precaution because I caught a fever- they’re still rather cautious after the summer.” He shrugged. Miss Yaxley had come off worse really, but Orpheus hadn’t enjoyed all of his valet’s fussing. The man was very protective to say the least.

Orpheus took a glass of champagne from a passing waiter as he looked around. Quidditch was really out of his comfort zone, and balls were scarcely more familiar. “Look on the bright side- at least mother isn’t here.” Orpheus teased.

“There’s no evidence there even is a debutante killer.” Orpheus replied placidly. He wasn’t one for rumours, and wasn’t pleased to hear that this seemed to be fuelling them. “So many debutantes were traumatised over the summer it is no wonder they are so distracted as to keep falling in the street, as tragic as it may be. The bridge was probably weakened over the summer too- who knows, maybe the plague is having after affects or something that surface under the pressure a debutante is under to find a match.” No, Orpheus certainly wasn’t one for idle gossip and hysteria.

“I moved back into Black’s for a month or so once Ministry Officials were allowed through the quarantine.” He explained. “That was whilst my house and the one next to it were demolished and my solicitor went through buying the now empty extended plot so I could build a bigger house, but as soon as at least part of it was done I moved in.” He’d spent most of his savings on the additional plot and the rebuild costs, though he now had a very fine and large house and gardens to show for it- much more than he would otherwise have been able to afford. “Most of it is now done, though I confess my staff are still rather lacking.”

Orpheus nodded. “I even managed to squeeze in a room for duelling- I confess that when I marry it shall probably be commandeered as a small ballroom, but for now I have room to practice.” He’d become rather more focussed on his duelling practice since the bridge incident, though he’d always rather enjoyed it.

“My staff is perfectly fine for me, though I doubt it would be enough to serve a whole family- thankfully I expect I shall have time before I have to think of such matters!”

“I’m sure there is no need to rush to use the room, for I daresay it won’t be commandeered for a fair while yet.” Orpheus conceded lightly. He certainly hadn’t got his eyes on anyone, and he was hardly someone to rashly enter into something as serious as matrimony. “I would hate to give you an excuse to fall out of practice with your dancing, however- the coming out ball isn’t that far away, and whilst it is hardly like you’re in a position to hunt for a wife, it wouldn’t do for you to be a wallflower during it.”

The mention of the dratted Witch weekly caused the wizard to give a small but audible sigh. “No debutantes, thankfully, but the secretaries at work are another matter entirely. I suppose they lack the subtlety of the debutantes, though I’d rather not know their opinions on all of it.”

“Whether you like it or not, dancing is a skill a man must have.” Orpheus reminded. He didn’t particularly like dancing but he’d worked to make sure he was tolerable- after all, the ministry held balls occasionally and it hardly helped your employment chances if you crippled the head of department’s daughter or trampled the minister’s wife.

He pulled a face at the mention of being distraction. “Fortunately my department is on the opposite side of the ministry from Mother’s.” Not that Orpheus had chosen it because of that, nope. “And I have my own office now, so at least I’m not in full view of all the secretaries.”

Orpheus gave a small and only just perceptible intake of breath at the mention of Drommy getting married. He was pretty sure his mother didn’t even know about Andromeda and Javert, let alone Felix, and whilst Orpheus had privately reconciled with and accepted the thought, it wasn’t something he particularly wanted to dwell on whilst in public.

“Well, that’s hardly the surprise- she was born just before my fifth birthday, and whilst I am only just reaching marriageable age, come May she’ll have been out for five years.” Orpheus pointed out. “It would be more of a surprise if I were to get married first.”

“I doubt she’d be going very far.” Orpheus pointed out. He was hardly going to allow his sister to be sent away to Timbuctoo or something. “After all, Javert l-” Shit. He probably ought not to have said that. He glanced around hastily. “You didn’t hear that.” Orpheus added quickly. “Do not breathe a word of it. Especially to mother.” Oh Christ.

He quickly turned conversation back to more safe grounds. “I went to intern in law enforcement, but after a year I moved to the department of transportation.” Orpheus replied.

Orpheus gave a small groan and ran his hand distractedly through his curls. He walked his brother over to a quieter area of the room where they wouldn’t be heard before continuing. “This does not get mentioned again.” He warned sternly. “Not to Mother, not to Drommy, not to Mordred, to nobody. Regardless of whether you’ve been drinking.” Orpheus was mentally kicking himself, and he’d physically kick his brother if this got out.

“You remember how I stayed in the theatre dressing rooms with Javert this summer? Well, I went out for the paper one morning and when I came back in, Javert had one of Andromeda’s handkerchiefs. I first thought he’d found it or taken it from what I’d saved from Mother’s house, but it turned out our sister had sent it to him. I wrote to Drommy, and she feels the same way.” He explained quietly.