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Post by Arthur Weasley on Mar 8, 2009 16:05:09 GMT -5
Arthur had been hearing a lot of rumors flying around the Ministry. It was really kind of strange; there was so much violence and turmoil in the wizarding world that he would have thought that would be what most people would be talking about. But no. It seemed that they preferred to gossip about office romances instead. Maybe it was just because they were all trying to distract themselves with something normal and trivial, rather than face the more severe situation in the outside world.
Whatever the reason, Arthur knew that Fabian Prewett was supposedly seeing Riley Neves. But there were also rumors of constant arguments and bickering between Riley and Roland Ferrera. Having seen the argument between his two neighbors first hand, he knew there was something between them.
Meanwhile, he and Ted were back on speaking terms after the attack on Hogsmeade. Ted was back together with Andi, which brought him back to the easy-going, friendly guy Arthur had always known. So he invited Ted out for drinks, and, at the last moment, invited Fabian as well.
Arthur was the first to get there, and was waiting at the Leaky Cauldron with a glass of butterbeer.
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Post by Fabian Prewett on Mar 8, 2009 16:12:29 GMT -5
Fabian had been oblivious to what was being said around the Ministry for the time being. He wasn't one that really listened in to people's gossip, plus he was busy himself. He found that he was working twice as hard to get all his work done so that he could have more time to relax by the end of the week.
The invitation to go out for drinks from Arthur was a little bit of a surprise, but Fabian didn't have anything planned, so there was no hurt in going. Besides, he was just going to sit around in his apartment and do nothing. Going out for drinks sounded like a better plan anyway.
Fabian was the second to arrive. "Arthur," he said smiling once he saw his friend. "How are you and my sister lately? I haven't been able to talk to either of you as of late." He gave him a teasing look, then ordered a butterbeer himself.
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Post by Arthur Weasley on Mar 8, 2009 16:17:31 GMT -5
Arthur grinned at the sight of Fabian. He looked happy enough, although tired. That was to be expected, with all the pressure on the auror department these days.
"It's good to see you," he said. "Nothing is happening with me and Molly at the moment, but Ted and Andi are going to try and arrange a meeting between us, now that they're back together. But enough about me, how have you been? It's been forever since I talked to you."
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Post by Fabian Prewett on Mar 8, 2009 16:22:31 GMT -5
"Well then. That's good, you need to let me know how that goes. I highly doubt that Molly will really tell me how it goes, unless its in that giddy girly voice." He gave a light chuckle. "Just make sure to be safe with her. You know the drill." Fabian gave another teasing look.
"I've been alright. Busy, but alright, can't complain." He sighed as the barmaid put a drink in front of him. Fabian ran a hand over his face. He was tired, but he had enough energy to get him through the night.
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Post by Ted Tonks on Mar 8, 2009 16:30:15 GMT -5
Ted was running later than the two of them, trying to catch up with whatever he had fallen behind in. Plus, he spent a few extra minutes stopping by the school to see Andromeda. Veronica was used to him taking off at the end of the day to go see Andi now. Everyone seemed to be happier now that the two were back together and Ted, at least, was working better.
He joined Fabian and Arthur pretty soon, however, and smiled as he sat down next to Arthur.
"What did I miss?" He asked, breaking in on the middle of their conversation.
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Post by Arthur Weasley on Mar 8, 2009 16:39:40 GMT -5
Arthur groaned at the comment from Fabian. "Of course I will be... I promise. Don't rush things too fast yet; she hasn't even agreed to meet with me yet. Andi's going to have to convince her."
As Ted walked in, Arthur broke into a smile and clapped his hand on Ted's shoulder.
"Hey, Ted!" he said cheerfully. "Fabian and I were just talking about Molly. I'm looking forward to seeing her next week."
He paused to take a sip from his butterbeer. "So how's Andi doing today? I know you stopped by to visit her before you came here." He gave him a wink.
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Post by Ted Tonks on Mar 8, 2009 16:51:06 GMT -5
Ted smiled. "Of course I stopped by... I don't mind admitting it. She's doing fine, by the way." He was smiling like a little boy again when he talked about her, and it was such a switch from how he acted when they weren't together.
He nodded about Molly. "I still don't think Molly likes me much... I'm going to leave the hard work to Andi. But she can be pretty persuasive, so I wouldn't worry." He winked at Arthur.
"But we'll keep him in line, don't worry Fabian."
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Post by Fabian Prewett on Mar 8, 2009 17:09:19 GMT -5
Fabian was relieved that Ted and Andi ended up back together. Even if he wasn't around them all the time, he wanted them to get back together, after all, they looked like they were miserable. However, he had noticed that both of them were getting back to normal, and it was better this way.
"Ah, Molly probably likes you, she's just, cautious, I think." Fabian gave a shrug. "But I'm sure that Andi could talk her into it. After all, Molly listens to her more than she listens to me or Gideon."
At Ted's next comment, Fabian couldn't help but grin. "You see Ted, it's not really Arthur I'm worried about, its Molly. I know that Arthur wouldn't do anything to hurt her or anything like that. Molly can just be, forward."
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Post by Arthur Weasley on Mar 8, 2009 17:24:58 GMT -5
Arthur let out an embarrassed laugh. "Forward?" he repeated. "If by 'forward', you mean 'tempestuous', then yeah... that's Molly." He laughed. "Don't worry, I'll be careful."
He took another sip from his butterbeer, then considered Fabian carefully for a moment. "Listen, Fabian... I kind of asked you here for a reason, and it's not about Molly. I don't suppose you realize it, but the Ministry has been a hotbed of gossip lately."
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Post by Fabian Prewett on Mar 8, 2009 17:31:08 GMT -5
He laughed and clapped Arthur on the shoulder. "Good luck." Fabian was mainly just joking with Arthur, and he was glad that he didn't mind it all that much.
After Arthur picked up his butterbeer, Fabian followed suit. He knew that there was a reason why he was asked to go out, but honestly, Fabian never thought of why. At the change of conversation, he raised his eyebrows slightly. "I haven't really been paying attention to be quite honest, but what brings this up?"
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Post by Arthur Weasley on Mar 8, 2009 17:57:39 GMT -5
Arthur glanced at Ted for a moment. He hadn't mentioned that he was planning to discuss this issue with Fabian, but he had a feeling Ted would be able to back him up.
"Well, the thing is, Fabian... some of it concerns you. And I jusst thought you should be aware of it, as your friend. I heard that you've been seeing Riley Neves?"
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Post by Ted Tonks on Mar 8, 2009 18:04:30 GMT -5
Ted gave Arthur a questioning look. He had no idea there was a motive behind inviting Fabian, and he was curious what Arthur had in mind.
When he heard Riley's name, his eyebrows went up. Appearantly, it wasn't just the Auror office that gossiped, and he was wondering just what Arthur wanted to say.
So he remained quiet for a moment while he got his butterbeer, just waiting.
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Post by Fabian Prewett on Mar 8, 2009 18:05:31 GMT -5
He looked at his friend curiously. "Concerns me," he questioned. Fabian didn't understand why his name would be in the mix of Ministry Gossip. It hadn't ever been before, well, not that he knew of anyway.
"Well, sort of. I've taken her out for lunch, it hasn't been anything huge." Fabian still looked at Arthur with a curious look on his face. "What is being said?"
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Post by Arthur Weasley on Mar 8, 2009 18:22:50 GMT -5
"Well, the part about you hasn't been bad," Arthur said, quick to reassure him. "Not yet, anyway. It was just what I said, that you were starting to see Riley. But there are rumors about her... not bad... just..." He sighed and took a drink, looking to Ted for backup.
"Surely you've heard about her constant arguing with her partner, Roland Ferrera?"
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Post by Fabian Prewett on Mar 8, 2009 18:39:08 GMT -5
He still wasn't sure what exactly Arthur was getting at. However, at least nothing bad was said. "Not yet? The rumors about Riley are what Arthur?" Fabian was confused about what his friend was trying to tell him. He knew better than tell Arthur just to spit it out.
"I know that they do argue constantly," he said. "Yes. And that's something you don't have to listen to gossip to know."
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Post by Arthur Weasley on Mar 8, 2009 18:49:42 GMT -5
Arthur looked at Ted and sighed. This was harder than he'd thought it would be. But he really felt it was his duty to let Fabian know just what he might be getting into.
"They both live down the hall from me," he said. "Actually, Roland lives right next to me, and Riley is next to him on the other side. I've heard a few of their fights... including one particularly bad one. They're at it all the time, Fabian... and having witnessed it, I can tell you, there's something between them. Everyone is talking about it. People are taking bets on how long it will take for them to get together."
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Post by Ted Tonks on Mar 8, 2009 18:52:21 GMT -5
Ted frowned, looking into his drink. He didn't particularly want to get into this. "I don't know that there's anything *between* them, Arthur. I don't really see Riley that much. But Roland definitely has it bad for her," he said, his eyes shifting from Arthur to Fabian.
"And I hate to say it, but those arguements are going to come to an end one way or another... bloody, or sweaty."
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Post by Fabian Prewett on Mar 8, 2009 19:06:02 GMT -5
Fabian listened to Arthur and Ted. He knew that something had to be going on somewhere, but no one ever did anything about it. The evening that he walked Riley back to her apartment, he had sensed the tension then, but he just pushed any ideas away.
"Look, we're not really 'dating'. I've just taken her to lunch." It wasn't like he was already in love with her. He just liked to make her laugh and Fabian really wasn't planning on anything. Whatever happened, happened, was his outlook.
At Ted's last comment, Fabian swallowed. He always thought that was how arguments were going to end up.
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Post by Arthur Weasley on Mar 8, 2009 19:15:33 GMT -5
Arthur nodded at Ted's comment. He had got the same vibe out of Roland, but he was less sure about Riley. Except for one thing. "The first argument I heard from them... the really bad one... I wasn't trying to listen in or anything, but they were so loud it was hard to miss what they were saying. Riley was angry with him because she'd caught him having a one-night stand with another woman. She was passing it off as being angry that he was distracted from the job, but he was off hours at the time. It really shouldn't have mattered."
Pausing to take a drink from his glass, he watched Fabian's face as he said this. "It's possible that she doesn't feel that way about him... or that maybe you're better for her than he is. I just really thought you should know what's going on before you go too far."
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Post by Ted Tonks on Mar 8, 2009 19:20:15 GMT -5
"Riley doesn't seem like the type to play a couple of guys, either," Ted interjected quickly. He didn't want Fabian to think badly about Riley... maybe she was like that, but he didn't know, and didn't want to imply it.
"But if it was just lunch, I guess you don't have any worries," he added, now also curious just how Fabian felt about Riley. Was it just a friendship between them? "Riley seems to really like you, though. From what I hear, she smiles the most around you."
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