(no subject)

[clumsy_auror]

*Nymphadora's sitting at the dining room table, a much-diminished stack of files in front of her.

She's been back at work in the afternoons since Monday.

From the looks of things, she's less than happy about this.*

Comments

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

*From the bathroom come splashing sounds and even the occasional giggle.

Sunny's not having the worst day ever, for once.*

[clumsy_auror]

*A soft grin spreads across her face, at this, and she listens to them for a few moments, absently tapping quill against parchment.*

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

*And there's a big splash and a masculine shout.

Guess who just got doused with water.*

[clumsy_auror]

*Nymphadora snickers. She suffered the same fate last night.*

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

*From the bathroom*

Okay, I think bathtime's over.

*Sunny wails, because she knows that bed comes next.*

Oh, please. You're all pruny. Come on.

*Sounds of a struggle.

More splashing.*

[clumsy_auror]

*Still grinning, Nymphadora turns back to her work, the sounds of the battle royale still raging from down the hall.*

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

*The splashing stops and the howls are muffled as Bernard clearly throws a towel over Sunny's head and carries her to her room to get into her pajamas.*

[clumsy_auror]

*Sunny's protestations gradually quiet as Bernard gets her into her pajamas and settles down with a story.

Nymphadora has to force herself to focus on the parchment in front of her.*

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

*Some of the story carries out into the rest of the flat, even though Bernard's voice is soft.*

-- but in the middle of the stairs he trod on the gown of the youngest princess, and she cried out to her sisters, 'All is not right; someone took hold of my gown.' 'You silly creature!' said the eldest, 'it is nothing but a nail in the wall.' Then down they all went, and at the bottom they found themselves in a most delightful grove of trees; and the leaves were all of silver, and glittered and sparkled beautifully...

[clumsy_auror]

*She sighs, leaning her head on her hand and listening.

This is what's hard to leave.*

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

*The story ends and another begins.*

--the king said to the young princess, 'As you have given your word you must keep it; so go and let him in.' She did so, and the frog hopped into the room, and then straight on--tap, tap--plash, plash-- from the bottom of the room to the top, till he came up close to the table where the princess sat. 'Pray lift me upon chair,' said he to the princess, 'and let me sit next to you.' As soon as she had done this, the frog said, 'Put your plate nearer to me, that I may eat out of it.' This she did, and when he had eaten as much as he could, he said, 'Now I am tired; carry me upstairs, and put me into your bed.' And the princess, though very unwilling, took him up in her hand--

[clumsy_auror]

*Nymphadora listens intently to Bernard's soft voice, interrupted occasionally by a question or exclamation from Sunny.*

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

Okay, munchkin, into bed you go.

*Sunny's protests are half-hearted and interrupted by a yawn.

A few moments later, Bernard emerges.

His hair's only somewhat wet.*

That little monkey.

[clumsy_auror]

*Snickering, Nymphadora gets up and kisses him on the cheek.*

I'll just go say good-night. Be right back.

*She walks into Sunny's room, the soft tone of her voice but not her words carrying into the dining room. Sunny answers sleepily, and a moment later Nymphadora rejoins Bernard.*

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

*Bernard sprawls in a chair at the head of the table and eyes the case files warily.

The work had really piled up while she was gone.*

[clumsy_auror]

*She sits back down and bends over the parchment for a few more moments, biting her lip in concentration as she scribbles.*

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

*After a minute, Bernard slumps on the table, chin pillowed on his hands, and just watches.*

[clumsy_auror]

*Glancing up, she smiles a little before going back to her work.*

Almost done, love. Just want to finish this last one.

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

*He shrugs*

No rush.

[clumsy_auror]

*Another minute or so, and she finishes with a flourish, closing the file with satisfaction.*

There. All yours.

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

*Bernard smiles.*

That was quite a pile.

[clumsy_auror]

I know; how dare Kingsley not do my entire workload along with his?

*Grinning, Nymphadora gets up, stretches, and walks around to Bernard's chair, settling herself in his lap and draping an arm around his neck.*

Hi.

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

Hi.

*Bernard rests his head against her collarbone, arms slipping around her waist.

He sighs, mostly contentedly.*

[clumsy_auror]

*She twines her fingers in the hair at the nape of his neck and kisses his forehead.*

You okay, sweetheart?

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

Mm-hmm.

*He lifts his head, smiling, and there's no sign that anything is wrong, at all.

Because there shouldn't be and he knows it.*

Did you have a good day at work?