A Good Surprise Never Goes Out Of Fashion

Alice was over the moon. It had been ages since her parents had let her go to a party, though at four years old any length of time beyond 20 minutes was considered an eternity. Alastor had been on the fence about attending. As much as the Order of the Phoenix and those few uncorrupted agents left in the Auror Department were fighting to keep peace and order, the world was a dark place. The world Alastor and Clarice had envisioned raising their daughter in no longer existed, and as such, a party was a big treat. But there were other reasons that Moody was apprehensive about attending, and that had more to do with Dorian’s suddenly watchful eye on those Aurors who worked with the Order. To Moody’s knowledge, Dorian hadn’t caught on to any of them just yet, but he was certainly suspicious. Alastor began distancing himself from Dorian, knowing the man was almost as good an investigator as Moody was, but they remained friends. Or whatever Dorian Humbert’s at arm’s length version of friends was. The fact that Dorian was having a birthday party at all was a bit of a shock, but when Dorcas explained that it was to be a surprise party it all made more sense. Humbert was going to hate this. Added incentive for attending was getting to see the tightly-wound, though ultimately upstanding man fake his appreciation at the lengths friends and family would go for him.

The Moody’s arrived early to the Meadowes Chateau, as instructed, Alice hopping excitedly at the chance to ring the posh bell. A house elf escorted them inside. Clarice was off with Alice in the playroom, convincing the suddenly shy toddler that she could play with the other girls. Aurora, apparently having become accustomed recently to entertaining younger children, was offering Alice some toys, but the dark haired girl only hid behind her mother’s legs and shook her head. Alastor was in the main room, chatting up Dorcas’ mum and complimenting the decorations over a pint. When he heard the instructions to take their places, Alastor looked around, wondering if he should attempt to duck behind a sofa with his large frame or if just quieting down would suffice.

He rang the doorbell, despite having been welcomed in the home numerous times. Some people might feel comfortable strutting into their friends’ home unannounced, though expected, but Dorian had already encountered the couple in flagrante delicto once before, several years ago, and he had no wishes to repeat the encounter. Not that he expected them to be doing that while Ariel and Aurora were having a playdate, but Dorian never quite fully trusted Dorcas’ judgement. Not when it came to personal matters, at least. She was an excellent Auror with only a small blip of concern on Dorian’s radar earlier in the year, something he was still working through, but her personal life seemed a bit of a mess. She had married a man she’d been seeing while he was still married and had a run-in with the wife that resulted in a death. She kept all manner of friends, some of whom Dorian did not fully approve of – Tersha Knight – and continuously flirted with Dorian despite now being a married witch and step-mother. It was shameful and yet Dorian had difficulties shaking her from his life. He blamed that bit on Andre and Emily, Dorcas’ parents. They were an amazing couple and something of grandparental figures to Dorian’s niece, Ariel. She would be devastated to not have Grammy Em and Grandad Andre in her life, as would Dorian. Andre wasn’t exactly like a father-figure to Dorian – he had a proper father growing up and all – but he couldn’t say that wasn’t truly the case. And Emily was such a lovely woman, she was definitely a sort of motherly friend. Dorian had a strange familial-type relationship with the Meadowes and so he would tolerate Dorcas’ shenanigans out of loyalty and, reluctantly, friendship.

The door opened and as expected Doria was greeted by one of the Lestrange house elves, Ader. The other elf would no doubt be helping mind the children somewhere off in this obnoxiously large manor so Dorian allowed the smaller elf to shuttle him into the lounge where he’d been informed Dorcas and the children were playing. He’d be glad to not have to interact with her husband during this short exchange. Dorian had a nice quiet evening planned for Ariel and himself at home, hoping she would crash early after having played with Aurora all day which would give him plenty of time to review his notes on a case he was working. And maybe read a book if he needed to clear his mind for a bit.

As the pair neared the lounge, Dorian’s brow furrowed. There was noise coming from another room further down the hallway that sounded like more than just two children, and there was a hum in the air that made his jaw set. He felt uneasy, as if walking into a crime scene that had not yet been cleared. Dorian stiffened as the door to the lounge opened and the lights flicked on. Had it not been only a few days after his birthday, he might have drawn his wand in preparation for the throngs of people who were about to jump out at him.