No Rest for the Wicked - 13th of June, 1978

[Euphadora Parkinson]

“It's level seven, and head left out the lift and all the way down to the end of the corridor." The man turned away before Dora reached out and gently grabbed his arm. "No, wait, right. Head right from the lift.” A wide, plastic smile dropped from her face the moment the wizard walked away, and Dora slumped down into her chair unceremoniously. Her tea had gone cold yet again. Honestly, how hard was it for people just to know where they were going? Dora really felt she oughtn’t need to give every Tom, Dick, and Harry that came in through the Floo directions to locations that were clearly marked. Now, if someone was wanting the Department of Mysteries that might have been a tad trickier, but really, all these so-called sports fanatics couldn’t even find the Department of Magical Games and Sports on their own? Ridiculous. Multi-colored eyes rolled up toward the ceiling as she pulled her wand from the garter on her thigh and pointed it at her teacup. “Focillo.” The tip of her wand glowed red then steam began to rise off the liquid in her cup. Dora pulled her skirt up enough to stash her wand away again, just as someone approached the reception desk and Dora sighed softly into her teacup without looking up at whomever it was that needed directions this time. She would take her time with her tea until actually addressed, hopefully saving her even a second or two of torment.

Tagged: open
Outfit: Not see-through, but not not see-through...

[Bellatrix Lestrange]

The Quidditch World cup was two months away, and Bellatrix was already over it. There were much more exciting things to plan around the world cup than anything concerning Portkeys. She should have done what she wanted, but she had to remember that her service to the Dark Lord was far more important than whatever tasks she might be assigned as Rabastan’s assistant. Like, for instance, she had to run memos to the seventh floor, instead of sending them along magically. It was important that they be looked at first, for reasons Bellatrix hadn’t cared to listen to. She had taken the memos like she was asked, she’d flirted with a cute boy in the Ludicrous Patent’s office, and now the only thing left to do was go back to her desk, and flip through the magazine she’d already read twice. When she had first taken the job, it had been to spite her father who didn’t want her working in any capacity - at the Ministry or for the Dark Lord. She’d wanted to set an example for her sisters, that they could be powerful in this world.

But now? Now it was boring. Now, she could be having fun with Alecto, the younger woman not a staple around the Ministry. There were many things they could be doing, and not many of them would her husband approve of. Was it her fault that Rodolphus was so busy between the work in the Department of Ministries and the work for Voldemort? She’d always craved his attention, acting out to get him to pay attention to her. She’d had him all to herself in school, and she did miss those days. But Alecto - she cared for Bella. Alecto would always be there for her, and while she loved Rodolphus, she loved the freedom she’d found in Alecto more.

As she entered the lift, having felt she delayed her return to her desk long enough, her thoughts were interrupted by Avery Wilkes, talking about a girl they’d just seen on level 8. Prying into their thoughts, she smiled to herself and waited for the lift to be empty once more before she took it to the level 8, approaching the reception desk. She surveyed the witch sitting there, amused. This was the girl she’d heard about, the one that Rodolphus thought only liked Rabastan for their money. “Euphadora is it?” she spoke, flashing the girl a smile, “Bellatrix Lestrange, I don’t think we’ve ever been properly introduced.” Did Rabastan know she was working here? He had failed to mention it to her if he did, which wasn’t unsurprising of Bunny.

[Euphadora Parkinson]

The tea was crisp and citrusy, a delightful little pick me up in the midst of a long work day, but Dora couldn't help but still feel annoyed by the constant influx of needy people approaching her desk. The job was mundane, broken up only by the rare opportunity to flirt ferociously with a sexy Auror or politician, or by the pleasant sight of a few familiar faces who also happened to work in the massive building, though her friends all had more posh titles that came with important duties which left little time for chatting up the pretty brunette at the reception desk. She only retained the position here because, well, she had to have some proper source of income seeing as she had already moved out of her parents' home and they seemed none too keen on the idea of her returning. Her father had given her a proper scolding after working his meager connections to get her this job, and there was no chance she would willingly disappoint her daddy. She did enough of that unintentionally, and hoped that she could receive some praise or words of approval if she did well here.

An unfamiliar voice broke through her thoughts, using her formal name which didn't seem to give her the same thrill as when a man called her Euphadora. A deep, masculine voice calling her by her proper name made her flushed with excitement, reminiscent of when her father would scold her as a child except somehow not as punishing, but when a woman called her Euphadora it left an unsavory taste in her mouth, as if she were being chastised by her mother. Dora kept her expression soft as she lifted her head and smiled at the elegant witch in front of her. Bellatrix Lestrange. Rabastan's sister-in-law and one of Dora's long time idols from childhood, Dora knew exactly who the witch was despite having never met. When she was younger and her parents would take her and her brother to posh parties with all the wealthy families they so desperately wanted to be part of, Dora would watch Bellatrix Black and her cohorts reign over the festivities from afar, keeping close to young witches and wizards her own age but always longing to be a part of Bella's crowd. As Dora grew older and found her thoughts more preoccupied with sneaking off with boys during the parties, her admiration of Bellatrix Black took a backseat, but it had never fully left her. She extended her hand in greeting. "Most people call me Dora," she clarified. "Lovely to meet you. Can I help you find something or...?" Her voice trailed off, confused as to why she was being addressed directly, though not wanting to risk looking incompetent at her post.

Tagged: Bellatrix Lestrange
Outfit: Not see-through, but not not see-through...

[Bellatrix Lestrange]

How long had the girl in front of her been at this post, and she failed to hear about it? Yes, yes, she passed the reception desk almost daily at her work here, but she’d never paid much mind to that or the security desk. But she would have thought she’d have gotten wind of it in Rabastan’s thoughts when she got bored and tried to pry - although he was much better at Occlumancy than he had been years ago. Bella didn’t know much about the Parkinson family, in fact, she quite rarely even thought of them. Pureblood, yes, but they were low in the rankings. Not that Bella, in particular, cared for things, a pureblood who kept to the right kinds of people was still a good pureblood. Even better if they supported the Dark Lord, or at least sympathized with their cause. There had been a younger Parkinson boy at one of their meetings, had he taken the mark - was he even invited to do so? All burning questions that could be answered in time.

“Dora,” she repeated kindly, giving the other woman a smile. “Oh, no, I work in the portkey office, with Rabastan. He never mentioned that you work here too.” She did want to see what Rabastan’s plaything was made of, to see if her husband's concerns had any validity. Not that she disagreed in marrying for money - it wasn’t why she’d done it after all. It was loyalty that really counted in a partnership. “It seems like this job would be annoying, answers questions from those lost in the Ministry all day. Surely you aspire for something more than all this?” Long were the days of her trying to recruit for the Dark Lord, but a little curiosity never killed anyone, did it? Soon the Ministry would be filled with fresh-faced Hogwarts graduates, some soon to bear the mark that was on her arm. “Oh and please, call me Bella. No need for formality.”

[Euphadora Parkinson]

It wasn't completely unsurprising that Dora hadn't noticed Bellatrix Lestrange worked in the Ministry of Magic, or vice versa. It was a massive building with thousands of people coming in and out at all hours of the day. The only people who ever came to the reception desk generally needed guidance somewhere, meaning they weren't regulars in any of the departments. What was surprising, however, was that Bellatrix had somehow linked the younger witch to Rabastan. Did he speak of her with his family? Dora's cheeks flushed at the thought but her face was otherwise serene. "I suspect Rabastan has little need to mention me. We don't hang out often." Theirs was a more private friendship, though Dora had never turned down an invitation to a social event if it came her way, and they didn't exactly shy away from meeting in public, but they weren't snogging in a club or holding hands in the street like he might have done with a proper girlfriend. The relationship they had developed had gone on so long with such little fanfare that she couldn't even remember if Rabastan was still engaged to whichever wealthy witch he had at one time been linked to. She had heard something of an engagement or betrothal, though not from Rabastan directly, if her fuzzy memory served correct. They spoke of a great many things leading up to or departing from the bedroom, but rarely of romances and impending marriages. It simply didn't concern Dora, and she certainly wasn't in a position to have any say in what Rabastan Lestrange, nor any other committed man she dated, got up to with his personal life.


"It's not all that bad," Dora lied as Bellatrix, Bella as she was now permitted to call her, questioned after her position. "I get to talk to people, some of whom are rather interesting." More of whom were complete knobs. "It keeps me busy and pays the rent. I'm not sure what else I need to be looking for in a job at the moment." She was only freshly 20; plenty of time to figure out what to do with her life or, as her mum liked to remind her, piss it away on booze and men. "Portkeys must be interesting, though?" she asked, a slight hesitancy in her voice. It didn't sound the least bit interesting, particularly if you couldn't just use the portkeys to travel wherever you wanted at the drop of a hat, but she'd never been up to visit Rabastan at work - which would have violated the unspoken agreement of their relationship, or so she had thought - so perhaps there were more exciting adventures being had in the portkey office than the name let on. There had to be, given Bellatrix Lestrange's employment there. A witch of her standing had no need for work, particularly not after marriage. Was Rabastan's brother so awful to be married to that one would take a post in an office all day just to be away from him?




Tagged: Bellatrix Lestrange
Outfit: Not see-through, but not not see-through...

[Bellatrix Lestrange]

It was hard not to smirk at Dora’s reply because she wasn’t wrong. Rabastan had little need to mention her, The only reason she was a topic of conversation among the Lestranges at all were Rodolphus’ concerns, and Bella’s need to be nosy in Rabastan’s life. Since the ridiculous betrothal to that muggle-loving Greengrass had ended, she’d hoped the man she considered her younger brother would find someone he actually liked. Bella felt like, that besides the people they argued about, her relationship with her husband really was beneficial to the both of them. Perhaps after she was done sizing Dora up, she’d go down to the Department of Ministries to see him. That would certainly kill a few hours that would otherwise be spent dealing with any plans related to the upcoming world cup. The only plans she cared about pertaining to that were still being discussed among the most trusted, a group that Bellatrix had not yet become a part of, which was its own aggravating thought. But one for a later date, she had to size up the young Dora Parkinson. Maybe Rabastan didn’t have any intents on anything other than a mutually beneficial relationship with the young girl, but was she even worth his company? That was the real question.

No ambitions then? A pity. It was clear now, why she’d never seen Dora get an invitation from the Dark Lord. Yes yes, paying your bills was good she supposed, not that it was ever anything Bella had to worry about. It was true, that what you got up to outside of the walls of the Ministry was often far more important, and far more fun. But any hopes that Bella had of taking Dora under her wing were slowly dissipating. Sometimes a plaything was simply a plaything. Bella laughed at Dora’s next question, shaking her head, “Oh no, it’s not really. Only with large events, and even then I’d much rather be doing anything else.” Like out a mission, like Alecto was, or tangled up with sheets with Rodolphus. It wouldn’t be the first time she had ditched her duties to convince her husband to go home with her. “But it’s preferable to being at frivolous parties drinking tea, and whatever else it is proper wives do at those sort of things.” The only tea parties she enjoyed were the ones she’d had with Alecto in the past, and those rarely involved tea. “Do you care much for all that frivolity?” 

[Euphadora Parkinson]

Dora hid the uneasy feeling that she was being interrogated behind a pretty smile. Bella had given no indication as to why she was suddenly so interested in the dark haired receptionist, but this was clearly more than a polite chat as she passed by Dora's desk. Without knowing the older woman's intent, and being at work - a job she literally could not afford to lose - Dora was forced to play dumb, something she was all too accustomed to by this point in her life. She pretended not to be aware of her family's financial straits, nor her mum's apparent dislike of her own daughter, and she never spoke of any girlfriends, fiancées, or otherwise significant persons in the lives of the men she entertained herself with, pretending those relationships simply didn't exist. It was not a wonder that many of the witches and wizards Dora aspired to endear herself to thought her a dullard. She played her part well, and while she wasn't making the sort of social ladder climbing relationships her parents had hoped for her, Dora did feel the connections she had were strong.

The feeling that she was being assessed did not dissipate with Bella's laughter, but it helped. The younger witch's assumptions about the Portkey Office were validated. She never understood, nor took the time to ask, why Rabastan worked in what she suspected was such a boring field, but then who was she to judge? A few short lived careers in boring shops and now she was greeting all sorts of visitors, most of whom she would never dream of interacting with even in her worst nightmares, giving tours, and even fetching people's lunches. As with most things, Dora had no leg to stand on, but that wouldn't keep her from passing judgement in the company of good friends over a cocktail. Dora chuckled as the questions was posed to her. "I don't have much experience with that sort of party, truthfully. I love a good a cuppa, don't get me wrong, but if I'm expected to enjoy myself I would hope for more alcohol and less tea." 'Proper' was never Dora's strong suit.

Tagged: Bellatrix Lestrange
Outfit: Not see-through, but not not see-through...

[Bellatrix Lestrange]

Given their age difference, she knew very little of Dora. In fact, she rarely even thought about the Parkinson’s, she’d never paid the family much mind in social settings. They were members of the Sacred 28, and she wouldn’t be surprised if Dora’s parents were loyal sympathizers, although not directly involved that she knew of. Surely that would be changing, given how keen their Lord was to ask any pureblood to join the cause, even those deemed blood traitors by members of her society. Prewett’s, Bone’s, Weasley’s, they weren’t worth the time of the day the Dark Lord gave them. But surely one of the Parkinson’s would join the cause, or at least do more than be loyal for political reasons. Dora, for example, had an interesting perspective to offer the cause if it was something she desired, someone who saw the flow of people in and out of the Ministry could be a useful ally. But she wasn’t a recruiter anymore, she’d worked her way past the days of luring those to their side. And given the other woman’s earlier answer, Bella hardly believed that Dora was the type who would aspire to rise in the ranks of service to Lord Voldemort.

Prying questions led to answers, and Bella let out a genuine laugh at Dora’s words. “Well said, most good times start with alcohol and not tea. And you aren’t missing much at those kinds of parties, they are usually dreadfully boring,” she said with a smile, “Unless you are fond of talking of who is getting married next, and about children.” When she’d been dragged by her mother-in-law to those sorts of parties, it had taken everything in her power to act as she cared. It had, however, given her plenty of time to practice the magic of the mind on unsuspecting fools, which lead to her finding out the gossip that wasn’t spoken about. Her only solace at many of those parties had been Annette Greengrass, which was still mind-boggling to her as she had nothing in common with the girl Rabastan had been tied to for so long. But Dora? Bella could see why Rabastan liked her. “You’ll have to join me for a drink one of these evenings after work, I think we’d get along quite splendidly.”

[Euphadora Parkinson]

"Dreadful indeed. That sounds like an afternoon with my nan, whom I love of course, but you won't find me dragging her out to a dance club anytime soon." What was the point of being as wealthy as the Lestranges if you were just going to do things you disliked? At least when Dora played up that she enjoyed something she didn't, much like this 'conversation', there was some incentive in it. She was being polite and entertaining the woman's questions because it was her job. It wasn't necessarily in her post description that she have a chin wag with Bellatrix Lestrange, or with any employee of the Ministry for that matter, but she was paid to be polite and ensure people got what they needed. Mrs. Lestrange clearly needed some relief from her boring duties, and Dora needed her paycheck. It did neither of them any good for Dora to disengage from their little chat.

Bella offered a vague invitation for drinks, and Dora smiled politely. "That sounds lovely." Did it really? Possibly. Dora wasn't sure what to make of the older witch just yet, but she could get on board with the idea of having the socialite in her corner. Her mum would piss herself to find out involved Dora was in the lives of the Lestranges and Blacks, and while Dora did want something more out of life than her tiny little flat above a street of shops, she wasn't willing to exploit her friends to get there.

Tagged: Bellatrix Lestrange
Outfit: Not see-through, but not not see-through...

[Bellatrix Lestrange]

Bella chuckled at the other woman’s words, feeling like she understood them all too well. Bella didn’t know her grandparents and didn’t care to, but her years living with Rabastan’s mother had taught her a lot. Mostly that the kind of life she was expected to lead was boring. So while the job at the Ministry certainly wasn’t her first choice of things to be doing with her free time, it proved useful. She’d swayed many a sympathizer of the cause into doing something more than just thinking their world needed to be cleansed. She had found out about carefully crafted plans to control the rise of dark wizards, and helped to stop them. Her job at the Ministry had very little to do with a paycheck, where it seemed as though Dora’s entire purpose for being here was one. If the girl had no ambitions, it was no wonder he never brought her around them all, and it made sense why he didn’t consider the Parkinson girl someone he could marry. Rodolphus would be glad to hear that his younger brother’s plaything was simply a plaything.

“Have you been to Pandemonium? Not my favorite club, but better than a muggle dance club any day,” Bellatrix said with a smile, wondering if she could talk Dolphin and Bunny into a double date to France’s location, “It is unfortunate they aren’t as exclusive as I would like, but the music is good and there’s plenty of room to dance.” And it was certainly a step up from any of the god-awful places Annette had tried to drag her over the years, the young Greengrass no longer a thorn in their side. Surely her brother-in-law wouldn’t mind if Bella occupied some of Dora’s time, perhaps they could even be true friends. Their side always needed more women in it, and maybe there was some ambition underneath the surface that Bella just wasn’t seeing. The unique advantage offered by being simply a reception witch that no one would think twice was passing on secrets to the Dark Lord. And if the girl didn’t want to pass on secrets to the Dark Lord himself, Bella would be quite willing to stop in and gossip. After all, who was going to think twice about the two of them simply talking? “Do you like to people watch? I would think this is the perfect place to do it, it’s so interesting to see what people do with their days.”

[Euphadora Parkinson]

Pandemonium? Of course Dora had been to Pandemonium. Bellatrix Lestrange clearly didn't know who she was talking to. There wasn't a nightclub or pub in possibly all of Europe that Dora hadn't stumbled out of in the wee hours of the morning - or momentarily come to from a black out in, if she were being honest with herself. Her knowledge of wizarding night life was one thing Dora was confident in beyond any other subject, sans perhaps getting a bloke out of his trousers in under a minute. If she could figure out a way to turn clubbing into a profession, she wouldn't have to sit in the Ministry atrium all day long, pretending to enjoy spur of the moment conversations with her bed buddy's sister-in-law. Hell, she'd be more wealthy than the Lestranges, were that an option.

"Of course," she said, momentarily allowing a bit of her true self into the conversation. "I'm good friends with Julien. The bouncer," she clarified, in case Bellatrix was not up on the sort of name dropping Dora could manage. "He's such a doll. If you're ever wanting to go, I can put in a good word with him, though you probably aren't want for my sort of help." She didn't have an in with the likes of Orion Black, the Burkes, or You-Know-Who but she knew the right sort of people for her lifestyle; bouncers, bartenders, knight bus drivers to pick her up when she was too pissed to apparate home safely. Had it ever crossed her mind to go into that sort of business, she would be well connected with the best of the best to hire on, but of course at 20 years old Dora was thinking more about being entertained than running the show, not to mention her total lack of funds to start up something of such magnitude. "I can't speak for the clientele, but I do know there are plans for a dance club in London opening sometime later this year. Magic folk only, of course, but what sort they consider truly magical remains to be seen.. Why it's taken this long to develop a proper nightlife in Diagon Alley is beyond me. As if everyone fancies sitting at home, knitting like their grans on the weekend." Dora rolled her eyes, assured that it was stuffy old birds who's husbands had long since lost interest in them that were keeping the rest of them starved for more enticing forms of entertainment locally. It surely didn't help that people like Rabastan, wealthy and well connected, frequented the likes of The White Wyvern, a rundown, dingy old place that Dora had visited on many an occasion if only for the company of the charming Lestrange.

The conversation continued back around to the implicit perks of Dora's position as reception witch, which was completely baffling to the brunette. Aside from flirting with handsome MLE personnel, of which there were plenty, or getting to pop in to say hi to any of her many friends who happened to work somewhere in the massive building, there was no excitement in this job for her. The little light that had been in her eyes when talking of alcohol and dancing was once again replaced by a skilled yet false look of interest. "I suppose so, yes. We do get all sorts here, though if I had to choose I think it's the Wizengamot members who are most interesting. The Mysteries Department agents or Aurors are all sort of stuffy when it comes to chatting whilst coming through here, and anyone from levels four or six really don't seem to have much of anything of interest going on. Sorry, love." Dora winced at her own faux pas, mentioning that Transportation - where Bellatrix worked - seemed rather dull, though they'd already covered that in their earlier conversation so she continued on. "Games and Sports lads go on and on, at top volume, as if anyone gives two shites about what they've got going on. Err.. do you fancy sporting events? It's not my cup of tea, but to each their own."

Tagged: Bellatrix Lestrange
Outfit: Not see-through, but not not see-through...

[Bellatrix Lestrange]

There was a glimpse there, when Dora spoke of the club, that Bellatrix felt that the other woman had momentarily let her guard down. It wasn’t surprising, most people Bella talked to were guarded, and with good reason. Say the wrong thing to Bellatrix, and you will likely be staring down at the end of her wand. Of course, she was on her best behavior in the Ministry, she couldn’t compromise the Dark Lords' goals because someone mouthed off to her. At least not in the building - but outside it? That was fair game, and there were plenty around the Ministry who knew to watch their backs once they set foot outside. So far though, Bella hadn’t really found anything too interesting about Dora, other than that she seemed like she might actually be a fun person to hang out with. Especially if she was on a first-name basis with bouncers at clubs, although Dora was right - only a fool would turn Bella away from a magical nightclub. And Rabastan seemed to like the girl, which Bella assumed meant she was a regular guest at her brother-in-law’s new place. Something that her husband was still sour over.

“Oh, I still don’t understand those who knit. Have you seen some of the witches at lunchtime, sitting around knitting? There are much better activities to get up to for an hour,” Bella said with a laugh. At first, she hadn’t been sure if she would even like Euphadora Parkinson, but anyone that might be down for a fun night of partying was someone Bellatrix was willing to give a chance. “I’ve been waiting for some decent nightlife to come to Diagon Alley for years, there’s only so many nights one can spend at the Wyvern before wishing there was someplace more interesting to go. I do hope they screen their clientele well, but this is Diagon Alley. There are never any guarantees.” Perhaps this could be something she could get her husband invested in, to be sure that there was a proper pureblood place for them to go. They could pick up pretty girls together, at the very least.

Still, Bellatrix was trying to figure out if nurturing a relationship with Dora was worth it. She knew that the young witch was also close with Narcissa, and while generally, they had different ideas of the type of friends they kept, anyone who could provide information was useful. It had been a long time since Bella was in charge of recruiting witches and wizards to the Dark Lord, but if Dora had been wanted the invitation would have been extended to her by Voldemort a while ago. That didn’t mean she wasn’t useful, of course, but how useful the information was remained to be seen. She raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on her lips as she listened. Getting good gossip on the Wizengamot members could be useful, but it was unfortunate the Department of Ministries and Aurors didn’t talk. Thankfully they had inside people in both those departments. Bella couldn’t hold back a laugh, however, as Dora insulted her very job. “Oh, dear, don’t fret. I only work to keep myself busy during the day, not really the socialite sort now, am I? My job is so terribly boring, which is why I spend as much time away from my desk as possible. But do feel free to come by and chat whenever, both Rabastan and I would enjoy a break from it all. Sporting events are really beyond me, I don’t fancy watching them unless there are copious amounts of alcohol involved.”

[Euphadora Parkinson]

Dora was struggling to get a proper read on the situation, initially suspecting that Bellatrix was trying to interrogate her - the reason still bafflingly unbeknownst to the brunette, but now she wasn't so sure. Perhaps Bella was actually just bored with her job of ... well, Dora didn't know exactly what they got up to there in the Portkey Office, but she imagined it involved a lot of paperwork and, from the sparse times she herself had travelled by portkey, filthy rubbish that ought to have been left in the bin. "If I stay in the building for my lunch, then I'm usually found pestering my friends, I got a few up on the levels two and three, but I'd much rather spend my hour at the pub. Or I nip home if I'm short on galleons." She wasn't on a diet, per se, but Dora was known to skip meals not only to save some money, but also to maintain her figure. Rebekah Parkinson had never abided any of her children looking portly, though Euphadora had seemed to get the brunt of her mother's weight shaming. It made sense to Dora, of course, as her brother didn't really need to be thin to be attractive, boys had it easier in that regard, but the pressures to keep trim were hardwired into the only Parkinson daughter, and if she had to intake calories she preferred it to be in the form of a martini anyway.

"Thankfully, blokes don't mind buying a pretty girl a drink if they think it gets them even a wee bit closer to... you know." Dora laughed lightly, certain a beauty like Bellatrix knew all too well what one could get a man to do if they suspected it might get them laid. Dora had garnered herself a reputation in school for being, well, a bit of a sl*t, and that reputation had seemingly followed her after Hogwarts. Certainly comments like this didn't deter that line of thinking, but Dora appeared unbothered by the gossip that spread openly behind her back. She wasn't one to turn down a free drink or three, nor anything more lavish if one wanted to spoil her in exchange for a few moments of bliss. Rabastan had been known to gift her with small trinkets from time to time, nothing too lavish but certainly of finer quality than she would be able to afford herself.

"Merlin," she exclaimed with a sigh, having fallen into a comfortable rhythm in the conversation and slowly letting her guard down, "I loathe the Wyvern. I am forever telling Rabby he needs to find a new bar to frequent..." Dora hesitated, her breath caught in her throat as she realized perhaps she let a little too much of her true self out in front a witch she really did not know. Her mind scrambled to cover her mistake as seamlessly as possible. "Some proper nightlife is dreadfully needed around here. I do so love to go dancing, I wish there were more disco clubs nearby. I'm really looking forward to this new place opening; I think it's called Hellfire or something. Sounds promising." 

Still unsure of where this conversation was headed, Dora decided her faux pas was as good a time as any to bring it all to a close. Bellatrix extended an invitation for her to come up to the Portkey Office to visit her and Rabastan, if Dora were ever bored enough. By the gods, that seemed like a wholly uncomfortable scenario; making conversation with her long-time bedmate and his sister-in-law while all pretending her carnal relationship with Rabastan either didn't exist or didn't mean anything. Not that she felt it meant something. No, she knew better than to develop feelings for a wizard of his standing, that would only lead to embarrassment for her, though Bella's intensive line of questioning was playing with that line at this very moment so it wouldn't have been a completely new sensation. Still, if Dora did have any romantic feelings toward Rabastan, she was certain they were not reciprocated and thus it was pointless to even entertain the idea. Just as she had no intention on taking Bella up on this offer to visit level six. "I completely understand. You won't find me a quidditch match sober, that is for sure." It was now or never, and Dora really didn't fancy trying to keep up the energy to play whatever game this was that Bellatrix was forcing on her. Was she simply being friendly or was there an ulterior motive to all the questioning? "I'll definitely pop by for a quick chat sometime, but I ought to be getting back my duties." And to her tea, which appeared to have gone cold again.