A Year From Now PV Astrea Soleil Neptune

@Astrea Soleil Neptune
July 28th, Noon

Rarely did Bridget have a reason to visit the Ministry of Magic. For that she was glad; frequent trips as a non-employee couldn't be a good thing, especially considering today had entailed a summons as a witness in a case. It had been nothing dramatic or violent, only chaotic, a mini swarm of pixies that had gotten loose on a street in Cork and created a nice mess for the Obliviators to clean up. Bridget hadn't had much useful to share -- she'd frozen a few and had only seen the direction they came from, not a source -- so it was a fairly brief proceeding. Much more notable was simply being here, beneath the polished black bricks and amidst the bustle that kept the wizarding community of the British Isles afloat. She'd been comfortable thinking of herself as a witch for years, but this place resurfaced some old feelings of being out of place.

It helped that she had her destinations, paths to follow to keep up with the pace of everyone else. The hearing, first, and then a detour to the offices of Ministry Level 1 before she saw herself out. This was slightly more nerve-wracking, since she didn't have an invitation or a script, but she had sent an owl two days before. Bridget wasn't the sort of person to show up unannounced, and Astrea and Bridget weren't those sort of friends, if either even elected to use that word. This wasn't a conventional friendship, rather years of familiarity primarily as teammates. Astrea would rank high on a list of people Bridget had spent the most time with at Hogwarts, but that time had often been spent in near silence. It was just their normal, and Bridget was going to see her today purely because she wanted to. In the absence of all that proximity, she really did miss her. A year had passed quickly and yet stretched and stretched into a sort of wound, something missing.

The owl had been short, succinct. Her second draft, since the first had seemed a tad too sentimental, and she could say all the longer bits in person, just once she found Astrea's office or desk and passed any of the awkwardness of months apart.

Astrea,

I will be at the Ministry on the 28th for a 10 a.m. hearing I have been called to witness in. I should be out by noon, and if it's not too much trouble, I thought I might stop to visit you. Owl back or turn me away if needed, I understand you may be busy.

Best,
Bridget

She looked the part of a woman of business, in her best trousers and nicest vest over a white button-down, which would be bloody miserable if she walked outside, but she'd likely just bear the oppressive direct sunlight once she Floo'd back to Cork. It was one of her two professional outfits, which she'd likely need to get more of soon, but the role of pro duellist mostly required athletic wear. Bridget blended in, more or less, enough to not turn heads once she'd received directions and clearance to Astrea's desk.