5 years post-Hogwarts graduation. Rose is currently working in the Ministry as an Auror. Talk has been circulating for months that she will be promoted to Head of Department of Magical Law Enforcement by Christmas. The youngest to ever be considered for the position (her Uncle Harry had decided to move onto International Magical Cooperation). After an Auror Mission leaves devastating results, and Rose partner-less she has been working overtime to prove she is still up to the job. She's currently living with her Hogwarts sweetheart, Elliott Wood. As fate (and lots of Firewhiskey) would have, what seemed like another late night at work turns into a run in with none other than the very person she has tried so desperately to forget.
*SUPRISE SUPRISE, JK Rowling owns everything.
Note: This is my first time attempting fanfic, I have a huge story in mind but will only continue if people are interested. I'm kinda new to this kind of writing. Would love any reviews. Let me know how you like it!
Chapter 1:
She breathes in slowly, scowling, as she stares at the immense paperwork that riddles her desk. She had always prided herself on her work ethic (inherited from her mother no doubt). How she had fallen this behind on updating files, filling out reports, and even organizing, she couldn't explain. To make herself feel a little less gloom she silently acknowledges that even paperwork can get the best of us. She could picture her father slowly grinning, feeling for her, but gleaming because he finally had proof that she had more than just his red hair and hazel eyes. Rose had been given this desk the day her internship had ended, the summer after she had graduated. She was taken aback on it at first but smiled at the memory of finding out she had been accepted into the Auror program and the realization that she would no longer be shuffled into the corner of a supervisor's office. The desk had been through hell and back from the very start. What once was a beautiful royal oak finish had been dimmed down to coffee stains, 300-page reports, and scattered scratches from Evra, her owl. She loved Evra but couldn't help but wish she didn't have to duck at every attempted postal landing. She could've cleaned it up with a little bit of magic but she liked to think that the damages served as a reminder of humble beginnings, or something like that. She glances over at the glaringly vacant desk that sits adjacent to hers.
She shakes her head as if physically trying to push the occupant of the empty desk out of her mind and glanced out her window. The curtain was slightly pulled back. While the Ministry was underground they had managed to recreate the outside views to brighten up the dreary Government building. It was late, even by her standards. She quickly accio's her bag, coat, and scarf, and casts a charm to shuffle all of her files into a cabinet in the corner, and locks it. She'd deal with it in the morning, she thinks while sighing to herself. Just as she closes the door shut behind her a voice catches her by surprise.
"You're the last one here you know", she turns into the direction of the soft-spoken voice. The portrait had been empty for the entirety of her time in the Law Enforcement department, today two figures standing shoulder to shoulder smile down on her from within the large frame. She didn't have to look at the plaque to know who they were and she knew what their sudden presence meant. She drew a faint smile, "That's how it usually is", she replies back. The faces are pale. The woman's doe like eyes and black-and-grey streaked pixie hair makes up for the hollowness and lack of color in her cheeks. "You must have someone waiting for you?" Now her partner speaks up, he's of average height, but lanky. He has friendly eyes, the same hair, and a curious look painted across his face. She looks away sheepishly at the sudden reminder of the fact she was avoiding a certain someone. Rose slowly nods her head and turns to walk away, when the woman sweetly says, "You know this place… there's nothing quite like it. It can take you anywhere, it can give so much, but it's not... everything. There's more, you see." With the last word her hand slowly raises to find the man's, their fingers clasp each other, and they glance at each other with confirming expressions. Rose stares intently, a thoughtful look has crept across her face. Suddenly the chiming of midnight from the corridors Grandfather clock interrupts her thoughts. She slowly makes out a, "I'll be sure to remember that," and turns in the opposite direction, pausing only to take a second to to say, "Goodnight Mr. and Mrs. Longbottom," and heads out into the long hallway of the Ministry of Magic.