Heard It Through the Grapevine

[Francesca Beechworth]

Francesca's footfalls echoed along the stone corridors of the old Hogwarts castle, as she walked towards the wing of the library, the place where Chess knew she could find her only close friend employed thoroughly. Violet Ollivander had become a fast friend to her when the thin, lovely woman was employed as the new librarian. Chess of course didn't know the appeal books had for leisurely purposes. She read for information only, and she put stock much more on the human element for entertainment and pleasure. The human element, though far less stable, held more amusement for Chess than the cold pages of a book.

Regardless of their immediate differences--Violet's softness and love of books and all things romantic, and Chess and her sharpness and her love of the human element--they became quite fast friends, and Chess was thankful for finally having a female confidante. It was odd, after all the years of being in a male only household at home, but Violet was simple and kindhearted. And she seemed to have needed a friend too, as frightened as the red-haired woman had looked to be when she first arrived.

"Vi?" Chess called out, peeking through the library with her candle as her light. It was just now very dark, and Chess had only just loosened her nurse's attire down into a more comfortable, modest wrapper as well as taken her hair down into a thick, wildly untidy braid. She hadn't expected to be back out of her own dormitory, but Chess could hardly sleep. And she couldn't even take to her nurse's station and fiddle with her tonics and salves without pure interruption, as a poor unfortunate little fourth year was bedridden in the infirmary after taking an ill-performed hex in a duel, and he had a terrible snore. He was a precious boy, and Chess was glad that his pain had subsided enough for sleep, and so she forfeited her own comfort, as she was often known to do for her patients.

Instead of sitting about useless, she decided to use her little bit of free time to seek out her dear friend, whom she'd had little contact with as of late. And whom, rumor had it, had been the object of Cage Wakefield's affections, if only for a fortnight.

"Violet?" she called out again, hoping that she'd be met by her friend and not by a trysting pair of students, or worse, the lunatic responsible for the student disappearances. Chess had a tight hand around her wand in that moment, just in case. One could never be too careful.

  

[Violet MacFusty]

Violet was even more jumpy than ever before. She had hoped that the patient would stay far from Hogwarts. The Ministry really ought to have caught the perpetrator. Then again, it probably didn't help that they didn't know who they were looking for. She hadn't a clue why the Hospital had decided to be difficult in the matter. Surely, the disappearances of the students could have been avoided. She was worried that Sebastian might possibly be out searching for the loon. Granted, he was a Translator, but she knew that he had been hard at work in trying to get a promotion. Just the thought of him cheered her. Instead of anxious butterflies, she felt happy ones. It was all just as well, since the darkness of the library terrified her.

She swept her wand at each of the candles that were set on the tables throughout the library, putting the flame out. Just as the second to last one sputtered into darkness, she thought that she heard her name. Was it a ghost? Hogwarts was host to many ghosts, but Violet wasn't a fan of them. There was just something about them that made her incredibly uncomfortable. It could have been from when she had first arrived at Hogwarts at the tender age of 11. The Bloody Baron had taken great pleasure in terrifying her and floating through her when she least expected it. Needless to say, she did not enjoy it.

Violet pretended to ignore it, quite certain that a ghost had come to bother her. She took the last candle to her desk, where a teapot was set. Tea helped to soothe her nerves and Violet certainly needed it when it was this dark outside, not to mention the going-ons of Hogsmeade. She poured herself a nice warm cup by the candle light and lifted it to her lips. Just as it reached her mouth, she glanced up to see an illuminated face coming toward her. The candlelight enhanced the sharp features of the face and almost made them appear demonlike.

In the next moment, Violet screamed like an eleven year old girl. She dropped the teacup all over herself as she scrambled for her wand, unaware that the tea had splashed the front of her skirts quite thoroughly in an area that might have been mistaken as her wetting herself. The chair she had sat in flew backwards and landed on the floor with a bang. Her quick movements blew out the single candle before her and she was immersed in darkness just as she pointed her wand at what appeared to be the floating head. Her hand trembled and she meant to demand what their business was, but all that came out was a terrified squeak.

  

[Francesca Beechworth]

"Violet!" Chess exclaimed when she heard the clash of glass and the whoosh of a candle blowing out. Chess couldn't help a nervous laugh and she continued on purposefully, setting her candle down on the table. "It's just me. Chess. Calm down. You'll hurt yourself, or me, and I've tended to one too many ill hexes today," Chess spoke in a chiding, but tender voice.

Francesca surveyed her friend in the dim light and chuckled slightly, taking her wand to the damage done by the teacup and then took her seat adjacent to the one Violet had vacated in her horror.

To be honest, Chess felt a certain amount of relief that it was truly Violet behind the bookshelves and her death had not come upon herself. Chess wasn't a terribly vain creature, but she felt that even in her spinster-like status she deserved a few more years.

Chess felt her heart rate settle and she looked up tot her friend, settling into the chair. "I couldn't sleep and thought I would seek out some company. Word around campus says that you have a few things you've been keeping from me, Violet dearest." Chess raised a brow in the dim candlelight and she helped herself to some tea, conjuring up a delicate cup of her own.

  

[Violet MacFusty]

The familiar and softly scolding voice made her feel foolish. She immediately recognized the voice as belonging to Francesca. That was what she got for being jumpy - she had nearly hexed her friend!

"Oh Chess!" She exclaimed sheepishly, "I am so terribly sorry. I hadn't realized... I had thought.. oh please forgive me!" She was glad that Chess was much more relaxed than herself. If the two had scared each other, who knew what could have happened? Violet's cheeks burned red in the candlelight while she waved her wand to dry her skirts. She flicked it once more and the chair was picked up and set back into place.

She blushed even further when Chess spoke once more. Violet didn't know what exactly Chess had heard, but she didn't think that it was anything good. The librarian hadn't a clue how the word had gotten to Chess - she had tried very hard to keep her interactions with men a secret.

"Oh?" She asked, "What is it that you have heard?" Violet waited until the other woman was finished with the teapot before she poured herself another cup, if only to give her nervous fingers something to do.

  

[Francesca Beechworth]

Chess took her tea and gave Violet a scolding sort of look. "What does it matter that I've heard anything?" she teased chidingly. "What matter is that I haven't heard it from you."

There was a good amount of tease to Chess's features, but then again there was a certain amount of seriousness about them as well. Chess enjoyed her intimacy with Violet, moreso than she had expected. The woman was comically demure and clumsy, but she had a good heart. A great heart. And if the rumors were to be true, Chess would soon be hexing the pants off a man that messed with her friend. Or perhaps hexing them permenantly one.

"What I have heard is that you were victim to Cage Wakefield's affections lately," Chess mentioned casually. Chess had only known of the man by his legacy, both in the business world and in the world of the skirts of ever woman in Hogsmeade. "Word has it that you were preyed upon and then cast aside when something better came along. What hexes shall I be performing on the man, Vi?" Chess hated men, it was a general known fact. Though of course no one knew why.

She assumed Violet probably assumed that Chess had gotten her heart broken where she lived in Kent. Chess was old enough for that to have happened. At 28, she was quite beyond her springy young years. But of course, the sordid truth was less savory than that. Being raped by your brother, even in the magical world, did not lend people to be sympathetic. Chess had been called a harlot for inspiring such sinful affection when she had confided in a childhood friend. She knew better now.

Not that Chess assumed Vi as capable of such things. She was far too kind and sweet to prey on Chess so mercilessly. But Chess herself didn't want anyone to know. At Hogwarts, she was normal, untainted, and unscathed. Like before when she'd gone to school here. It was a safe haven, and would not be tainted by a tale of her treacherous past.

"Or perhaps you can correct the rumors and tell me what's really been going on? You don't exactly look like someone broken hearted over an asshole of a man," Chess commented slyly. In fact, she looked elegantly flushed with good emotion, aside from her scared appearance. Of course, perhaps it was the dim light playing tricks, but Vi didn't look to be a puddling mess of a woman over a man. She looked, pleasant and even dreamy. Chess was perceptive with emotions, as she'd always put stock in them. Shed known the many emotions of her father and brothers by just a look, by necessity. To know what to do for them while they were in capacitated. And perhaps that was the worse thing about her brother's transgression. In a deep corner of her mind, she had seen it coming, and had been powerless to stop it.

  

[Violet MacFusty]

Violet's cheeks burned even more brightly in the candlelight. How in the world had she found out about Cage? The librarian had only been seen once out in public with him since their courtship had started, and ended. While the "break up" hadn't exactly been quiet (Violet had lost her temper and had foolishly allowed her voice to rise), she hadn't expected anyone to know of it. Then again, Cage may have been spreading word around about yet another accomplishment of his - stealing a girl right out from under his friend's nose.

"It's mostly the truth," She admitted as she took her seat. Violet figured she ought to tell Chess the entirety of the story, lest her friend discover that she kept something from her. The woman was still rather ashamed about the entire ordeal.

"Cage Wakefield courted me for about a fortnight... and then he came to my office and broke it off," Violet told her, feeling self-conscious, "He said he hadn't been faithful and that there was another woman. He wouldn't say who she was as he wanted to protect her reputation, but he hardly seemed bothered about my own reputation."

After a moment, she continued, "I suppose I ought to have expected it, what with his own reputation. He was just so entirely persistent about it..." She had been foolish and naive to think that he would change, just for her. He wasn't the type to be able to make a solid commitment, no matter how much he wanted to.

"Anyhow, it didn't take me long to get over it. I discovered that I didn't truly have any feelings for him, although marriage isn't about that. I've.. I've met someone else though. I had actually met him before Cage, but I had thought his affections for me were simply platonic," She explained, her insides felt sweet and drippy like honey as she thought of him, "I've recently discovered that he has just as strong of an affection for me as I have for him."

  

[Francesca Beechworth]

Men like Cage Wakefield only proved Chess's hatred of the upper class. Their arrogance and belief they could have whatever they wanted made her loathe to deal with them in any facet or form. but dear Violet was a romantic, and Chess appreciated her ability to see the best in people. She didn't particularly understand it, but she thought that it was an admirable, if vulnerable trait to possess.

"Well, he should be begging for forgiveness from you," Chess decided definitively. She folded her arms, though her hard, hatred-filled countenance softened at the tale of Violet's new affections. She did narrow her eyes towards the end, leaning onto the table.

"Now Vi," Chess began, tilting her head and reaching for her hand. "I'm happy for you, but just be careful. Men are both predictable and unpredictable beasts. It is better to be cautious before a man and make him work for your affections, than easy with them and suffer a broken heart." Chess's eyes were filled with concern fro her firend and she squeezed Vi's hand, smiling gently.

She paused for a beat, wondering just who the mystery man was and if she knew him. Not that she knew anyone outside of Hogwarts anyway.

"So this mystery beau...tell me about him," she offered with a chuckle.

  

[Violet MacFusty]

Violet knew that Chess had a point. While she had known Sebastian since before Christmas, she hadn't spent enough time with him to truly know him very well. Certainly, she knew plenty about him. She was able to perhaps predict what he might do or say on occasion, but it was far from thoroughly knowing him. He seemed rather perfect to her. Though she knew that he couldn't possibly be so according to logic, her romantic side overruled it. Perhaps he simply was that perfect.

"You're right," She said suddenly feeling sheepish about allowing her affections to be so strong. The librarian feared that it was too late however. She was quite enamored by him. Violet doubted he would ever do anything to purposely break her heart, despite how she may have deeply hurt his. He had forgiven her in only a moment. Surely, he did not hold any grudges?

"Alright," Violet agreed, her grey-blue eyes sparkled deliciously in the candlelight, "He works at the Ministry.. he's a translator there. He's sweet and kind and amusing and he makes me feel.. special," She paused at this, quite self-conscious to admit something like that to her friend that she hadn't even dared to write in her journal, "And pretty. And he's very handsome." Her description didn't even come near to how wonderful Sebastian was. She simply couldn't explain it to her friend. Chess would have to meet him for herself.

  

[Francesca Beechworth]

Chess smiled as her friend talked about the man of her affections, and Chess awed at the look of love-strickeness in her being. Chess had craved that, wanted it so badly she could have screamed, for ages. She had wanted love and a family and a chance to be a loving and caring wife to a man. And now that was ruined. Chess took on a distant look, only drawn back by the silence of the room after Violet stopped talking, to which she finally offered a gentle smile.

"He sounds delightful, Vi," Chess offered, sipping the rest of her tea and setting down the cup. "I hope this all works out for you. You deserve it." And Violet did. Of all the people Chess knew, Vi was the kindest, most wonderful person she knew. She was genuine and demure, if a little shy. And she was intelligent, and of her own mind as well in the right ways. Violet deserved happiness if anyone did.

Once again, Chess's expression turned distant and sad, thinking of her own past. And how she would never have the chance to have a beau, not in good faith. They would leave her eventually in any case. Somehow, someway. She would always be ruined, destroyed, left. No happiness and no future aside from that infirmary and the children that she tended to every day.

  

[Violet MacFusty]

"Thank you, Chess, so do I," Violet replied with a dreamy and bashful smile. She had not noticed the look upon her friend's face until after she had spoken. It then occurred to her that perhaps she had spoken too freely of Sebastian and Cage. Poor Chess was a bit older than Violet. The two had thought that they would both become old maids (at least in Violet's mind, since the two hadn't discussed that fate). Yet, here was Violet who had had two prospects, while Chess hadn't had a single one. The librarian had a chance of possibly being whisked away to fall in love and live happily ever after, while Chess would have to remain here at Hogwarts as the school's nurse. It wasn't a very exciting prospect.

Suddenly, Violet felt incredibly guilty for having shared how happy she was. It wasn't fair to her friend. Instead, she decided to turn the conversation around so that they could speak of things that made her friend happy.

"How has your herb collection been coming along? I've ordered a couple of books about herbs specially for you," She asked, "They should be here by the end of the week. I wasn't sure if you had read them or not, but they would still be useful in expanding our herbology section."

  

[Francesca Beechworth]

Chess might have been thinking solemnly of her own despair at becoming an old maid, but she would have wanted anything but pity. Especially from her friend, her only female friend it seemed. She noticed Violet's diversion from the topic and chuckled softly, smiling knowingly.

"I'm sure I'll be delighted to peruse them," she confirmed filing her tea cup again. Chess took a sip and then suddenly felt the need to spill her worries out. She had never been a talker, not particularly, and she hadn't een told Violet about what had gone on in her past. Not that Chess wanted to. But she suddeny felt terribly alone, and terribly frightened of her future.

She would forever be unmarried, a single soul in a sea of matrimony taken and minded individuals. And she was partly jealous of that chance thye had. Suddenly Chess came out of her thoughts, staring down at her tea cup.

"I apologize for being so untalkative tonight," Chess spoke softly and almsot distantly. "My mind is so...full."

  

[Violet MacFusty]

Despite the obviousness that her friend needed to share her thoughts, Violet couldn't help but respond in a way that was very true to her Ravenclaw roots, "A full mind is much better than an empty one." It was better to have many things to think about, than nothing at all. It probably wasn't exactly what Chess had wanted to hear. The librarian thought she ought to set aside her slightly awkward social troubles and offer the opportunity that her friend seemed to desperately need.

"If you want to share your thoughts with me, I'm willing to listen," She told her softly. For some reason, Violet expected that they were not happy thoughts like her own. Chess was always a bit darker than Violet. She was wise and calm and perhaps spoke a bit sharply at times, but that was just how she was. She was quite different from Violet, who was generally unable to speak sharply to anyone for fear of conflict.

Violet finished off her tea, though she did not pour another cup. If she drank too much before bed, she would have to relieve herself. Getting up in the middle of the night to have the cold stone floor on her feet and the thick darkness was not something Violet was fond of.

  

[Francesca Beechworth]

Chess couldn't help the chuckl that spilled from her and she shook her head gently. "How very wise of you, Vi," she teased softly. Though to be honest, Chess would have given anything for an empty mind in exchange for the full one she possessed now. Especially filled over the things that it was preoccupied with now.

Violet's offer to listen took Chess on a different direction in her mind, a direction of wondering how much she wanted to tell and how much she could afford to tell. She sighed softly and looked up finally from her cup of tea, figuring straightforward was best.

"I'm scare, Vi," she said quietly. "I dislike the thought of being alone for my entire life. I know I'm not fit for marriage, and that marriage is no longer in my cards, but I hardly want to succumb to the idea that I will be alone for the rest of my life. It..isn't a pleasant thought for me."

No matter how caustic she became or bitter she came off, Chess ultimately loved people and enjoyed company. Even if it was only one person on a quiet night. She thought that perhaps that was why she stayed with her family for so long, even after they began abusing her kindness. She loved them and loved the purpose they gave her. And she had yet to find another purpose to substitute that with. Even healing at Hogwarts didn't fully replace that purpose. She needed a full time purpose. Something to occupy her at all times.
But where would she find that? How would she find that?

  

[Violet MacFusty]

Violet was quiet for a moment. She didn't really know what to say to her friend. While she had once thought that she would grow old all alone, it wasn't exactly a fearful idea. The librarian had thought that she might become a cat lady - with at least a dozen cats to keep her company - but that she might also be able to purchase her own house one day. That wouldn't be so bad. Chess was much more social than Violet however. She didn't think that fate would be quite so easily accepted.

"You're not alone, Chess," She reassured her, "I'm here, and I'll always be your friend." It might have felt a little kiddish to say, but it was the truth. Violet was quite naive when it came to Chess's fears. It wasn't possible for her to fathom what had happened to her dear friend. She merely assumed Chess believed herself unmarriageable because of her age.

"Perhaps you need someone to keep you company while we're not together. A cat perhaps? Although Ella generally does her own thing.. once in a while she'll let me pet her. You'd have to pick a friendly one. Or even an owl! Little Puck is so sweet. He lets me pet him whenever I want," She encouraged with a smile. Chess just needed someone to keep her warm at night, that was all. That someone could very well be a kitten.

  

[Francesca Beechworth]

Violet's earnest response about them being friends made Chess's heart warm a little. Since her mother's death, Chess had not have a constant in the human element save for the children that she healed at the castle. Even they came and went and would never think much more of her. Her father and brothers used her to justify their own lifestyles, and Chess had grown to distrust anyone who took any amount of interest in her. Especially men and older women of her ages. But Violet was hardly a gossip shark, and truly Chess valued her companionship greatly.

"Yes, I do always have you, Vi," Chess said with a soft smile, sighing as she sipped her tea again. She never slept well, and so the tea wouldn't bother that routine at least. It would keep her more alert to do the work she needed to in order to keep the nightmares at bay.

Violet's next suggestion made Chess laugh and shake her head sadly, her moss green eyes affectionate as she looked at her friend. "You wish for me to become a cat lady, Violet?" Chess ask incredulously. "Somehow, I haven't resigned myself to those desperate measures yet."

Chess set much more stock in the human element of life than other elements, though she loved animals. She just simply felt that the world had much more to offer through humans than any familiar that she could ever have or afford. Chess sighed and shook her head. "You know I'm much more of a people oriented person than you are, my friend. I'm not sure I would ever be happy like that, even surrounded by cats." Chess gave a soft, cynical chuckle and sipped her tea again. Perhaps lonely suit her best.

  

[Violet MacFusty]

The idea of surrounding Chess by the company of cats was gently, but firmly, shot down. Violet was not quite so opposed to the idea when it came to herself, as the furry critters were rather warm. They were like little heaters that snuggled with you - she wouldn't even need to bother with keeping the fireplace lit if she had enough of them.

"I suppose it does not suit you," She finally agreed resignedly, though she couldn't help but feel a bit miffed that the lifestyle was not what her friend wanted. The librarian was rather sensitive when it came to such things but was entirely unaware of it. She did not allow her feelings to show however, and kept a small smile on her lips that mirrored Chess'.

"I am sure that you will be happy one day," She tried again in an attempt to comfort the nurse, "It may not be when you want it to happen, but when you least expect it." That didn't sound very cheerful, did it?

Violet decided to press onward to try to rectify it, "Everything happens for a reason - fate has something great in store for you, I know it." There, that was better, wasn't it? If she had been told such a thing, she would have felt cheered. Then again, Violet was a romantic at heart and Chess was quite firmly rooted in logic. Perhaps it would not comfort her after all.