Lost (Dare/Wynne)

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare's lips curved slightly at the question. He decided he liked Wynne quite a bit. Surprise wasn't anything to be offended by, and he'd have expected anyone with a foothold in Society to have objections or worse. That she was still talking to him said a lot.

"Our daughter's birth mother left her a place in German Society that we can't ignore. We have friends in English Society who sympathize with us, and an estate for each of our sons. It would be best for all three of our kids if we could at least find them a place where they can choose Society if they want to. It'll be a challenge, we know this, but we've got fifteen years to work at it.

"When I said you could make a difference, I meant it as much as I meant you'd have to be open-minded." She'd be doing more than helping the fallen Hardts regain their place, more than raising the Blackwoods up. Dare and Michael truly intended to change Society, even if it took the rest of their lives.

[Wynne Aislinn]

There was a lot of power in that family, that much was obvious, and Wynne could see why the couple would wish to ensure their children would be able to properly take their places. "You're asking a lot of a girl just out of her apprenticeship," she commented. Her expression was thoughtful. "I know the Hardt name, though I can't place Blackwood. I know a little of German Society. This is quite the journey you wish to take."

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

"It is," Dare agreed. He tried to think of what he knew about his extended family. "The Blackwoods are a fringe family," he said, fairly certain he'd gotten the terminology right. She didn't need the whole story just yet.

"Michael will be able to tell you more about technical requirements, but I don't have an issue with you being just out of apprenticeship. Flexibility is more useful to us than physical experience. It's a busy household. We'll provide everything you need, and if we're not the right fit, we have friends with kids who might not be so demanding."

[Wynne Aislinn]

Wynne nodded, her steps slow as she thought, then nodded again. "I'm interested, I believe. You said you have young children, toddlers and a baby? What are they like?" she asked curiously. How did the children of two men act? She'd seen single parent families, but had never been around same-sex parents before, she had the feeling she was going to learn just as much as the children would, should she get the job. Oh her parents would not be happy with the thought of her working for such a family.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

"The boys, Alistair and Lestat, are precocious and energetic. Alistair is a little more patient than his brother, and Lestat is more adventurous. Isolde is quiet, but I'd swear she watches everything. You won't be left alone with them all day, so there's that much. Michael and I are active parents. Ah..." That reminded him of something, and he glanced aside to make sure no one was paying them any undue attention.

"Apparently I need some finishing too," he said. "I clean up well, I promise." He gave a slightly crooked smile at that.

[Wynne Aislinn]

Wynne smiled up at Dare. "I think just about everyone could use a little more finishing somewhere," she said. There was almost always a lacking area, somewhere a person could improve, where they weren't an expert. "What exactly are you interested in for your children? I know languages, Society, cultures..." About anything the Blackwood-Hardts wanted, she could provide, she thought. She couldn't help but be curious how a household with such different children functioned on a day-to-day basis.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare shook his head a little. "You'll have to meet Michael for that," he said. "I was raised in a mixed-blood household so I only know the things that have come up since I've been in Europe. I know that learning German is important. Being accepting of different cultures." He was quiet a moment as he tried to pull together all the things he and Michael had discussed.

"What I want is for the kids to be able to learn what they need to know without hating it. At this age, the goal isn't perfecting, it's introducing. I may be telling you things you already know." He looked aside at her. "Why don't you tell me what you think two-year-old boys should be learning?"

[Wynne Aislinn]

"That's the best age for learning languages and starting music," Wynne said. "When a child is that young and learns a second language or music, it's easier for him to learn more languages in the future." It was impressive what young children could learn, it was something she'd witnessed in near-disbelief during her apprenticeship. "Manners, of course, too, just the beginnings."

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

"You'll have to meet them," Dare said. He liked her, but liking someone didn't necessarily make them governess material. Michael would have to be the hard-ass about this because he was half smitten.

"You know, I haven't told you much about myself and Michael." They'd reached the potions shop, and Dare paused a moment before deciding they could keep up their conversation inside, as long as they didn't talk too loudly. He held the door for Wynne. "We're both professors at Hogwarts. He teaches Defence Against the Dark Arts and I teach Transfiguration."

[Wynne Aislinn]

"Really?" It was impressive that Dare taught, Wynne didn't think that was one of the occupations she would have guessed if given the opportunity. "What is it like working at Hogwarts? I've heard many good things about the school." It was one of the most prestigious schools in the UK. Perhaps the students liked Dare's alternative looks.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

"Hogwarts lives up to all its reputations," Dare said. "The staff is respectful, the students are kids, and the Deputy Headmaster is tough but fair." This probably wasn't the time to mention the party vibe that had gone through everything, or the fact that drama didn't come in waves, but typhoons. There was fair warning, and there was scaring her off.

"The Headmistress supported me and Michael from the beginning, so the school is more liberal than it was a decade ago. She let us have our partnership ceremony on the grounds."

[Wynne Aislinn]

Wynne fell silent as she imagined such a place, where a partnership ceremony happened on school grounds and men had children together. "How long have you been together?" she asked curiously. She'd heard relationships of the sort tended to be transient and temporary in nature, but from what Dare had said, it wasn't the case with them.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

"We've been married four years now," Dare said. "We were together a year before that, so five years." With the odd hellish winter and a few months where they'd been on the edge of finished. "His mother, Justine Hardt, supports us. She's got enough sway in Society that she hasn't been ostracized for it, though I'd bet it's not as easy for her as it used to be."

Pop! A female house-elf in a clean, pressed tea towel appeared, eyes wide with urgency. "Master Michael says that Master Dare must go home with Gilda now! Master Michael says that it is important!" the elf squeaked.

Anything involving the words now and important was serious. Dare gave Wynne an apologetic look, worry written on his face no matter how he tried to hide it. "Sorry to leave you like this," he said. "If you can't apparate to Hogsmeade, the Knight Bus will take you, there's a bookstore there too. I'll send you an owl, all right?" Gilda grabbed Dare's hand and apparated them both.