@❛ hunter ripley。[h] everything about katerina screamed trouble, she knew it, the people she worked with knew it, even her advisors and those higher up in authority knew it. her acquaintances knew it off the bat as well - just some of the persons she got closer to over the time of being in britain - such as hunter. him being a common denominator to anything, no matter what. hunter and katerina always maintained a rather professional relationship - it could've crossed the boundary into being what others -- the muggles call friends, she won't know for sure, since the slytherin blood in this veela surely had a hard time making what one would consider friends.

usually, when she needed new ingredients for her potions, she would always seek out hunter's help, he had some of the rarest herbs and attributes, he even knew a trick or two up his sleeve that helped katerina create a trustworthy and unique blend of potions over her time being here. it also helped in sales at the dark market where she was keen on selling them. she's staying in hogsmeade currently and the person she stays with allows katerina to aid her in their shop, a nice elderly couple, wary but nice no less, even with the professor who took her under his wing from hogwarts, reassuring that the slytherin girl is just that, a girl placed in a house that's true to its nature. doesn't mean she's malicious, wicked or evil per-se. ah, professor lloyd was that naive at times. he always saw the best in others and with the russian girl, it was nothing less than that.

"it's wicked out there," the young girl spats out, her eyes boring holes into hunter's visage - not that the young man cared, he got used to katerina's nervous ticks - her habits, how she would snap when it's far too hot, or she's stressed, under the weather, physically and mentally drained. let's just say, that with katerina being closer to hunter than others, she doesn't have to put on that cheery expression all the time and be the go-lucky type with him. she can just be 'herself.'

settling down on the bench provided, she looks around belatedly, taking a much-needed gulp from the iced tea, noting that it's quiet in here compared to usually. normally there's at least one other person lingering around, asking nonsensical questions, all of which hunter was a darling to answer no matter what. katerina sometimes envy his knack for having patience, her patience is usually ran thin - she cannot stand people and that goes to show a lot of the times when she's out and about running errands. even when she's looking after the elderly couple's shop and people come in asking dumb questions, katerina would give them a look that clearly says, 'are you plain old stupid?' hunter is one of a kind indeed.

"starlight seems fond of me a bit more, i'd hope? allowing me to invade her space and all that," she mumbles more to herself than anything else, the sunkissed blemish on her skin fades over time as she regains her fair complexion while drinking the tea and cooling down from inside out. finally she can breathe out in content - dark orbs finding his as her eyes fixate on a blood-replenishing potion and she's giving it a little tap. "is this like the usual ones, or this is different? i know you have rather... unique things on your shelves, tell me more about this please. there's someone... i knew them from the past and apparently their sibling is going through a terrible curse and needs a blood- replenishing potion to help combat it. however, the regular ones never seem to work on them... i- probably should meet the witch and see for myself, but alas, with my reputation and theirs, it's not allowed."

katerina mumbled with a sheepish smile - alas, a genuine grin on her features first time for today. the entirety of the day was spent sporting her resting face, one that she wears all along to fight off any unnecessary attention, not wanting or wishing for anyone to strike up a conversation with her. yet, she's quite comfortable, sitting in hunter's apothecary talking about the daily adventures they both may come across and the new range of potions that have arrived.

@❛ katerina solovyova。 ⸻ wicked intentions ;

it was close to midsummer and lavender was lining the windows. there was mint blooming in the front garden, and the scent of it mixed with lavender filled the entire shop. it was brighter than usual, and hunter spent a few days rearranging the furniture and the ingredients. he hung some ivy here and there to give the space an earthier atmosphere. he prepared lemon, mint and lavender iced tea and had it ready for when clients would start rolling in. it was probably one of his favourite times of the year, and it wasn’t because of the overbearing heat. it was because his shop felt like an oasis – cool, filled with summer scents, and only just lit up by the burning sun. starlight loved sunbathing perched on her pretty windowsill, which now had purple pillows to match the blooming lavender. it was the most prolific season for the shop, as more people would peek inside even just for a moment to cool off. and hunter was known to be a good host, and he had way too much tea to spare not to serve his clients some.

most days, he would read fiction next to starlight, experience every adventure together with the main characters as he waited for someone to show up. hecate would visit him often, and hunter enjoyed the company. besides him, there was always katerina. katerina was a wildcard – hunter could never quite figure out what was going on in her mind, and that was often dangerous. he knew she was a powerful witch, and he learnt, over the years of knowing her, to never question her intentions or her needs. she would come by more often during summer, and hunter guessed it was because she hated the summer weather. it was quite amusing to see her with flushed cheeks, but hunter never mentioned it, not even to tease.

it was probably because every time katerina walked in, it was like a dark cloud poured in with her. she was often agitated, but she never showed it too evidently. however, hunter knew she was, because he has been observing her for so long. he never asked, it was that kind of friendship. whatever she was mixed in, it was probably best for hunter not to know. and that day wasn’t much different. katerina walked in sometime midday with cheeks flushed because of the sun, and probably a sunburn on her bare shoulders. starlight was alert, she didn’t mind katerina, but she also disliked it when she would try to touch her. hunter opened the minifridge he had under the cash register and brought out the fresh iced tea. he poured some in in a tall glass, then added some ice in which he froze some lavender and mint, then sat it on the counter with one glance at katerina. there was a table in the small garden, with an umbrella, but he doubted katerina wanted to go out there again.

“today is a hot day, isn’t it? here, have some tea. I made it this morning, it’s very cold, it should help,” hunter didn’t add more, he just took out a catalogue where he wrote some of their newest products. he knew that katerina was interested in flipping through. he made room next to starlight, and starlight curled in a corner to allow katerina to share her cosy space.

@❛ hecate lytras。 it was as though hunter has dipped his toes into the well of memories, he heard and saw them so vividly he could have sworn he was experiencing them all over again. the first time they met – two shy boys in new uniforms, trying to find their way around the unknown corridors filled with mysteries. or the last time they saw each other in the great hall, beaming from ear to ear because their adulthood was finally there (they spent hours imagining their lives after hogwarts). in most versions, their lives were intertwined like devil snare, afraid to look at reality’s light. it was common knowledge that high school friends tend to fall apart; hunter hoped the same wouldn’t be true for hogwarts students. they went through far more significant experiences than any muggle would. but at last, life has its cruel lessons to teach.

starlight was enthusiastic, as though she has been missing a piece of herself that she’s just found. hunter didn’t want to admit that the same was true for him. whatever feelings he didn’t dare explore when they were eighteen were now lost to the void of time. or, he liked to believe they were. he didn’t expect to ever see him again, didn’t expect to see him all grown up. didn’t expect to still recognise him (although that was the most untrue statement he could have thought of, he’ll always recognise him). “hecate,” he spoke his name with the same emotion he did before. he has always thought it was amusing how their names sounded so similar, even his dads found it suiting. his gaze, much like hecate’s, couldn’t meet the invisible space between them.

hunter busied himself with turning some labels around to make searching easier. he let starlight be the clingy one, even though he held onto this moment tightly, hoping it won’t be their last, knowing it might be. “it’s been too long,” hunter admitted with a melancholic smile, much too long, he thought. “but fate has its way of bringing people back together. not that I believe in fate much,” another meow and starlight was purring loudly, demanding all of the attention knowing that she might not get it much afterwards. hecate has always been one of her beloved people, and she only had very few people she admired like that.

“what were you looking for? I’ll help you. you seem preoccupied with stealing my cat,” hunter joked, time settled on their faces but not between them, at least he hoped so. he would have hated to be awkward with someone who was his closest friend at hogwarts. “I wouldn’t pick her up, she’s shedding quite a lot. it’s almost summer,” another smile, and then he took a step back, trying to lure starlight away. but she didn’t budge, she seemed to have found a permanent seat on hecate’s feet, and she was much too stubborn to give it up. “those are woodland herbs. most of them were picked up in the last five years, but we have older ones. the older they are, the more potent the potion. and of course, the pricier the product.”

@❛ hunter ripley。 Hecate subconsciously winced at the sound of the bell above the door ringing, rushing to face away from where he guessed the shopkeeper was and quickly busying himself with pretending to analyze what was on the shelf closest to him. Even in his alerted state, however, the myriad of ingredients and plants he’d never seen before that were neatly displayed caught his curiosity — if only the slightest bit. The shop had quite the cozy interior, and an atmosphere that helped him soothe his nerves, with rays of spring sun casting a soft lighting onto the ambiance. His shadow was dark against it.

He was interrupted in his idle actions by the feeling of something brushing around his ankles — something warm, alive, soft to the touch. Hecate’s normally neutral expression were painted over with surprise when he looked down and realized just who the presence was — of course, there was only one animal who ever had the courage to approach him. “Starlight?” He thought to himself, fond memories resurfacing in his mind as he kneeled down to pet the cat’s soft, well-groomed fur. But if Starlight was there, then that could have only meant…

“Hunter?” Hecate spoke up without a second thought, his voice laced with the raspiness of not being used in a while. His heart hammered in his chest as he found the courage to fully turn around, the stream of memories erupting at full force in his mind as soon as he saw him — he wasn’t sure on how to react, on what to say. But somehow, as it always did with Hunter, actions came spontaneous and natural.

“You grew up, too.” He responded, not missing a beat, having already taken note of how the other had now fully developed into his features, their height difference more noticeable than when they were kids. “I… was looking for something,” he admitted, suddenly hyperaware of every trait of Hunter’s face — what was still familiar and what had changed, shaped by adulthood. He immediately forced himself to pry his eyes away. “But it doesn’t matter. I’m… glad...” he trailed off, “that I found you again.”

I missed you.

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@❛ hecate lytras。 the sweet scent of lilies was brought in by the shy sunrays and a spring draft. the windowsill covered in earth-coloured pillows was hot. starlight was perched on top of them, bathing in every bit of sun, scrunching her nose at the strong scent and curling up to hug her own tail. hunter was flipping through the pages of the latest edition of a herbology magazine, trying to find information on an herbal tea to cure melancholy. it was a lazy day for both him and starlight, but he didn’t mind it. he knew sooner or later business will pick up, so he was grateful for the small moments of silence. the plants on the shelf behind him were bowing their heads at the soft chimes spring, and starlight yawned before stretching fully on top of the pillows.

the sudden ring of a bell made starlight perk her ears, curiously checking who was at the door. she usually didn’t bother with strangers, and she would make it very evident that she doesn’t want to be touched or disturbed. hunter lifted his head up from the magazine and placed it on the counter before standing up. it was a custom to greet newcomers, he was so used to it he didn’t even think about it anymore. he approached, but only just, not wanting to disturb the silence of spring. it took him a moment to frame him in his memory, but once he did, he felt overwhelmed by the bits and pieces they shared together. and there were many, as many as there were days in a school year. he could almost not believe his eyes – for a second he even thought it might be an illusion created by his tired mind or by some hex. but no hex could enter the shop, and he wasn’t that tired.

starlight zoomed from her seat and found herself between and all around the customer’s legs - a very unusual reaction. hunter couldn’t help but smile, she remembered him too, otherwise she wouldn’t be so happy. “you grew up,” hunter broke the ice, without a pang of awkwardness ruining his confidence. “did you intend to find me, or was it just a coincidence?” there was a meow of approval (or disapproval), followed by two pretty cat eyes looking up, waiting to be picked up. for a second, one second alone, hunter feared he might not remember them.

@❛ hunter ripley。 Diagon Alley is a place Hecate attempts his best to avoid visiting.

The bustling atmosphere, the excitement of children running off to buy their supplies, the liveliness of countless shops all facing the same road… it feels too suffocating to be around for too long. Whenever he’s in a remotely social setting, the dread of ruining it all grips at his heart each time; the awareness that, be it because of pure coincidence or something else he cannot quite put his finger on, his presence tends to ruin the peace of such moments. He briefly wonders if perhaps, had he brought up differently, he would have been the kind of person to enjoy the lighthearted pleasure of grabbing a meal with friends at a restaurant, or wander around little shops looking for the best trinkets to decorate his studio with. He does not dislike people per se, after all — he’s simply learned that there are just… places and settings he does not belong in.

Thoughts of such caliber accompany him throughout his entire walk around the busy street, almost making him forget his initial intentions: acquiring Draughts of Peace potions. The art of brewing has always been something Hecate had never managed to get a good grasp on, always on the verge of failing the class during his school years — and with the luxury of potions shops now available, making them out of scratch seems like a perfectly avoidable waste of time, to him.

Clutching his dark coat a bit tighter, he wanders further until he enters a door underneath a sign reading out “The Green Thumb” and slowly exhales, relieved to have reached his destination. Perhaps, if he is lucky enough, the shopkeeper won’t even notice him and he’ll return to the comfort of his little studio in the next fifteen minutes.