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[clumsy_auror]

The days that Nymphadora's been back have sped by far more quickly than she'd like. There've been near-daily visits to the Healers, for tests and exams and ultrasounds, and Durkin's been scratching his head trying to re-calculate Charlotte's exact due date. Then there's Allbright, who hugged her, told her off, and dumped a foot-high stack of

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[young_tmriddle]

As soon as he gets the owl, which brings a note simply stating "I'm finally home", Tom drops everything and hurries to the Tonks-Wrangle flat.

He knows nothing of what has transpired over the past few months. All he knows it that his dearest friend and her family have been absent from his life, presumably on holiday, since no hue and cry was raised about their absence in the general bar.

Tom's not been in the bar nearly as much as he once was accustomed. This and the usual fast flowing waters of life have all led to this incorrect assumption.

The wards aren't locked against him, so he comes right into the flat and upon seeing 'Dora, he sweeps her into a huge hug. "Bloody hell, I missed you. How was France? Next time you might answer my frantically worried owls, you sneak." He's laughing and smiling the whole time, so the upbraiding is not meant harshly.

[clumsy_auror]

The initial beam on her face has morphed into wide-eyed shock by the time Tom pulls back to look at her. 'Dora blinks, her hands tight on his forearms, and then she shakes her head as though to clear it. "France?" she replies stupidly. "I-- I mean, I was a lot of places, but France wasn't one of them."

[young_tmriddle]

He frowns, still smiling.

"You all went on holiday, yes? I mean, I would have known if something bad happened, but since no one mentioned anything, I figured you all slipped away for a very well-deserved, extended holiday."

[clumsy_auror]

Bugger, she thinks, and rubs one eye as she collects her thoughts. Then she takes a deep breath and chooses her words carefully.

"It wasn't a holiday. I was... away, though, because I was accidentally taken back to Elizabeth Swann's world with her. I've been on a pirate ship. Well, several pirate ships, to be exact."

[the_woodpecker]

Bernard's been swinging from one extreme to the next, either clinging to 'Dora like he can't let her go, or keeping to his study, the door closed, immersed in work.

It's the latter he's indulging in today.

He just... It's hard, getting used to her again. Getting used to not missing her.

[clumsy_auror]

'Dora pauses outside the study door, listening for a moment before rapping softly with one knuckle.

"Bernard? D'you want something to eat?"

Her voice sounds a little tentative.

[the_woodpecker]

"Mmmmno," he answers, absentminded, scribbling in the margins of the top page of a huge stack of back inventory sheets. "You want me to make you something?"

[clumsy_auror]

Her brow furrows, and Nymphadora opens the door enough to stick her head through the crack.

"No, I was asking if you wanted me to make you something. I'm perfectly capable.

[bad_in_latin]

Mal got any notes there were to be had a little late -- he'd not been coming in but for bartending, and at the end of his shift Bar thought to deliver a scrawled thing from Dora.

And Mal sprints directly upstairs.

He's already one timid knock in when he decides its way too late to be visiting, and turns to wait until tomorrow.

[clumsy_auror]

But Nymphadora wasn't sleeping; Charlotte's playing football, or similar, and that's not really something that exactly lulls you to sleep. So barely a moment passes before the door opens and she stands there, framed in the door, clad in rubber ducky flannel pajamas.

When she realizes who it is, 'Dora squeaks and lunges for Mal, dropping the book in her hand in the process.

[bad_in_latin]

The book lands with a rather resounding thud.

Dumbstruck and stiff, "...You're gonna wake everyone up."

[clumsy_auror]

'Dora ignores him, hugging him tightly. "Christ, Mal, we thought you were dead."