(1938-10-01) Leaving for Berlin in the Morning
Details for Leaving for Berlin in the Morning
Summary: Thomas comes to visit Rhyeline on his birthday to give her a gift and announce that he is leaving for Berlin in the morning to find the wand that cast her curse.
Date: Tuesday, October 1, 1938
Location: Rhyeline's Flat
Related: For He's a Jolly Good Fellow, Birthday Tea
Characters
RhyelineThomas

Rhyeline's Flat

A door with stained glass window panels reminiscent of Frank Lloyd Wright's water lilies distinguishes this red-brick flat from the others on either side.

The mudroom opens onto a foyer with stairs leading to a second floor. A long hallway runs alongside the stairs through to the back door. The foyer opens to the right onto the parlor with an adjoining dining room. From the dining room, the kitchen hides tucked into the back of the house. Upstairs, a master bedroom and a guest bedroom allow for guests or even a flat mate. Outside behind the flat, surrounded by tall brick walls, sits a small garden.

The scent of an ever crackling fireplace intermingles with that of brewing coffee and the pure white roses in the bay window facing the street. Gentle lighting lends the flat a warm and cozy atmosphere.


On a lovely fall day like this, many of the muggle flats of Lambeth have their windows thrown wide open to welcome in the fresh, cool breeze. However, Rhyeline keeps her windows closed and her curtains drawn. Instead, she prefers the cozy warmth of the fireplace. The little one sits all curled up in her chair by the fire, lost in a German newspaper.

On his way back from work, Thomas has decided to make a slight detour, straying from his normal path. As he walks down Lambeth, he reaches the front door of Rhyeline's flat. His right hand moves up and knocks softly on the door, his other hand still holding his briefcase. After knocking his hand moves up and checks his watch for the time.

Rhyeline blinks, looking up from her newspaper. The girl is half burried under discarded sheets of german print. With a rustle of paper, she emerges from her reading and leaves it scattered throughout the room (away from the fireplace). Reaching the front door, she opens it just a crack and peeks up at Thomas with that profound shyness of hers.

Thomas smiles softly, "Is this a bad time, Rhyeline?" asks softly, the warm smile on his face. He looks through the crack of the door at Rhyeline, his steely blue eyes meeting hers, "I can come back another time, that is more convenient for you if need be Rhyeline." he says slowly and softly, as features softening slightly as he looks at her.

Rhyeline's cheeks grow a bit warm as his gaze fixes upon hers. She hesitates, hiding a bit more behind the door before she begins drawing back and pulling the door open wider. The door stands open with the little mouse peeking out at him from behind him. A silent invitation for him to come in.

Thomas nods and smiles warmly, "Thank you, Rhyeline." he says softly as he steps through the threshold, removing his fedora slowly. "I certainly hope I am not interrupting you, I really wanted to see you before I left for Berlin." he says slowly with a nod, his lips still curled into a smile, his gaze still on her.

Rhyeline closes the door behind him. She peeks over her shoulder up at him, looking rather surprised. "You… you are going to Berlin?" she murmurs.

Thomas nods slowly, looking at Rhyeline, "Yes, I just got the next week off approved." he says slowly, "I leave tonight and will return in one week, Rhyeline." he says slowly looking at her, that soft smile on his face, "Also I got you something, I thought you would enjoy." he says softly with a soft chuckle.

Rhyeline rests back against the door and tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. Then the little one moves to silently lead him into the sitting room where she reoccupies her spot by the fire. She slips her feet out of her ballet flats and tucks them beneath herself. Without a word, she watches, waiting.

Thomas takes a seat, the same spot he sat last time he visited Rhyeline. As he sits down he unbuttons the bottom button of his suit jacket, sitting his fedora on his lap he opens the clasps of his briefcase, reaching in for a moment he removes a leather bound book. It appears to have been bound by hand and very old, no title or anything else lingers on the book as he offers it to Rhyeline, "Poems, by John Donne. First printing, Seventeenth century." he says slowly, with a smile.

Rhyeline's dark gaze widens and the shyness of her manner heightens upon catching sight of such a book. She sinks a bit deeper into her chair. Biting her lower lip, she reaches out to accept it as if it were the most fragile, precious treasure. "Thank you…" she murmurs, almost whispering.

Thomas smiles softly, "Out of my personal collection." he says slowly with a small nod, "I hope you like it, I've been collecting books for years, most of my free money that I am not investing goes into books and I picked that up a few years ago." he says softly with a small nod, "How have you been Rhyeline?" he asks softly with a smile.

Rhyeline's sitting room is full of books. Some of them are quite old and valuable. Her books are selections from both wizarding and muggle authors, both British and foreign (French and German mostly). The little one hugs the gift gently to her chest. The blush in her cheeks is so very warm. "I… I've been well. But… still careful."

Thomas nods slowly, "Understandable." he says slowly, "Take good care of that book, it is one of my favorites." he says playful with a smile. "I've been concerned about you, since we last spoke." he starts slowly, his hands coming up and running through his hair slowly, "That is one of the reasons I am going to Berlin." he says softly, "I wanted to let you know that I was leaving." he says continuing with a small nod, "I leave tonight. I am using Muggle travel." he finishes with a nod.

"Why are you using muggle travel? And- what do you mean? What is one of the reasons you are going to Berlin?" murmurs Rhyeline, looking a bit confused.

"I am using muggle travel because I am not going to be bothering the Ministry with this, I do not want them involved." Thomas says slowly with a nod. "I am going because I am going to find the wand that was used for the curse on you, Rhyeline." he says slowly, "If I can not find the wand I will find out something else. I am not leaving Berlin without something." he says slowly, his tone a little darker then normally, "I haven't been able to get a hold of Mikhale, I am not going to send him a letter. If I am not back in a week, send him after me." he says slowly with a nod.

Rhyeline looks rather startled when he mentions the purpose of his trip. She parts her lips to speak, but it takes a moment before she can say, "Wh-what? Why are- But… But the one who- I thought he was dead… and his wand… wouldn't it- it have been confiscated?"

Thomas waves his hand slowly, "More then likely the German Magical Law Enforcement officials have it, though I will do everything I can to get it." he says slowly, "And if they will not give it to me, I will stay in Berlin til I have something worth coming back with." he says slowly running his hand through his hair. "If it takes me longer then a week, something has gone wrong or I need Mikhale's help to get things, either way." he says with a small wave of his hand, "I told you Rhyeline, I do not accept this as fate." he says slowly, a soft smile on his face.

Rhyeline hugs the precious book to her chest a bit tighter. The shyness of her eyes is as intense as Thomas has ever seen it. "You… you barely know me… and yet- you are doing this?"

"I told you before Rhyeline, you stole my heart already." Thomas says shrugging softly, the smile on his face, "I am a Carrow, our resolve is matched by no one." he says softly with a nod, "I do not give up easily." he says running his hand through his hair.

"You should be more cautious… you should know me better… take time to discover the secrets of my nature," murmurs the girl, resting her cheek against the side of her armchair that curves inwards a bit.

Thomas smirks softly, "Maybe I want to be pleasantly surprised?" he says slowly with a soft wave of his hand, "Perhaps I should, but you make me want to throw caution by the wayside, it appears though that I have done just that." he says slowly as he rubs his chin.

"What if- what if I… turn out not to be the girl I seemed?" murmurs Rhyeline, biting her lower lip. It seems the great lengths he is going to in order to win her heart overwhelm her a bit.

Thomas smirks, "What is life without risk Rhyeline?" he says slowly, his head tilting curiously to the right, "And what if I am nto what I seem?" he asks curiously, looking at her.

Rhyeline seems to understand well the idea of risk being key to a meaningful life. When he suggests that he might not be as he seems, the little one blinks. Such a thought renews her blush. "…you are going to miss my birthday. Though- already, you've given a gift…" Lowering her gaze, she sets the book carefully on a side table on top of two other closed books.

Thomas just smirks a little, "That's okay seeing you already made my Birthday." he says slowly with a nod, his hand coming up and running through his hair, "Perhaps the only person in the world who slips out of his own Birthday party to come give someone else a gift." he says softly with a small wink. "Happy Early Birthday Rhyeline." he says softly with a nod.

Rhyeline pauses, looking over at Thomas. "It… it's your birthday tonight?"

Thomas chuckles and nods, "Yes, I have a bit more work to do, that I am going to do at the Cafe, then I am going to go on to Berlin. I don't like leaving work undone." he says slowly, with a smile, "And so far sitting here with you, it has been the best one yet." he says slowly.

"Would… would you like to go out somewhere? The- the Leaky Cauldron… that's a good place for celebrations," murmurs Rhyeline, biting her lower lip.

Thomas smiles softly, "Really I would rather just spend it with you Rhyeline. I am not much for Birthdays, perhaps it was all the stuffy parties I had growing up, they always turned into some kind of… statement of wealth and position." he says slowly with a small nod, looking up at Rhyeline, "Though I would accompany you anywhere." he says slowly with a nod.

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