A week further which didn't pass without some disturbing activities. I was glad that Kayla was save at Hogwarts.

The cases at my job were the definition of one big chaos. They came pouring in like water did on a rainy day. The attacks by Death Eaters were intense and more frequent then ever before. The wizard world is walking on their toes. People are living in terror, despair and fear.

The Auror Office is desperately trying to save and protect every human being. We felt powerless and it was driving us to utter desperation. My division was no exception. The Investigation Department was practically being drowned in the many piles of cases.

In the meantime we were being stalked by Aurors who demanded details and frequent information.

''Bugger off!'' I snarled to Gerald Upwick. ''I DIDN'T knew half an hour ago, I DON'T know now as well.''

''NOW GET BACK TO WHATEVER WHOLE YOU CAME CRAWLING OUT OF , UNTILL I HAVE THE NECESSARY INFORMATION!'' I finished roaring throughout the whole office. Gerald looked a little shocked, but most certainly got the hint and left without another word.

I sat down and felt the exhaustion taking control of my body. I've been awake for 2 days, at this rate it would become 3 days in a row. My team has been trying to track down the Inner Circle of Death Eaters. Everything was spiraling out of control. Two days ago the Head of the Auror Office even declared that we are authorized to use the Unforgivable Curses on suspected Death Eaters.

''Aeryn, go home'' the head of our department spoke while he was walking towards my desk. ''You're exhausted. It won't take long before you'll be inattentive and anxious'' he commented.

I groaned a little in irritation. I knew he was right. ''Fine'' I mumbled and got up. We both knew I would be back during the early morning hours. I took my jacket and walked out of the office. It took me quite a while before I finally stood outside the Ministry. I pulled the hood of my jacket over my head and started walking, ignoring the pouring rain.

I didn't take long before I noticed that someone was following me. I clenched my jaw and wrapped my hand around my wand, which I held onto in the sleeves of my jacket.

Suddenly someone stood right in front of me, grasped me by my arms and apparated both of us. In a blink of an eye I stood in front of the ruins of a ancient and neglected mansion. It's a pity I didn't have the luxury of a second glance.

I kicked the person in front of me in his groin. He groaned in pain and his grip on my arms weakened. I pulled myself loose and ran like hell. I tried to run as fast as my exhausted legs could take me. I could hear someone yell ''Get her!''.

Alarm bells in my head started ringing when a jet of light shot past me. It missed me by an inch. I could hear more then one person running after me. My legs feel like they are burning, I can't run any longer. I will have to duel my way out. I turned around while mumbling ''expelliarmus'' towards the most nearby enemy.

''Aeryn, stop!'' spoke someone behind me. I turned around and was in some sort of shock. ''James?'' I asked in utter perplex. The last time I same him was at our graduation from Hogwarts. He walked towards me. He came closer then I wanted. I pointed my wand at his throat. In the meantime I tried to keep an eye on the one that I disarmed, who strange enough didn't do a damn thing. He just stood there. This was too strange for words.

''Where and when did we meet for the first time?'' I asked James with narrowed eyes. He could easily be an imposter that drank polyjuice potion.

James looked me in the eye as he spoke, ''Your father's funeral at the small pond in the garden. We were ten years old. The day after that we were playing in the garden of my parent's house. You fell out of a tree and broke your ankle'' adding that last part with a smirk.

I smirked as well. ''What the hell is going on?'' I asked him with a frown and eyed the one that I disarmed and the one I stunned, who was still on the ground.

The features on James his face turned serious. ''Not here'' he said and stuck out his hand. ''Do you still trust me?''.

I hesitated while repeating the question in my head. I made my decision and took his hand. That's when I side-apparted for the second time today. We reached our destination when I felt a floor underneath my feet.

Then I saw a face that moved my heart. My reaction was unexpected, I fainted.

Four hours later I woke up and sat up. My head felt as if someone stamped on it. I heard some murmurs around me and looked up. ''What is this ? A blast from the past?'' I asked with a raised eyebrow. Why were they here? What the hell is going on?

''Be a little more grateful'' snorted Julie. I never got along with that stuck-up wench.

''Why should I ever be grateful to you, barbie'' I replied mockingly.

''Aeryn, there is something you need to know. You are aware that Death Eaters are after the people from your Division?'' asked James who stood up and moved his chair towards the couch I was sitting on.

''Yes of course'' I nodded. Some of us got to close to the truth behind the identity of certain Death Eaters and had enough evidence to prosecute a dark wizard or witch.

A creaking door at the back of the room opened. ''It seems that you sparked their interest, miss Blake'' came the voice of Albus Dumbledore.

''Professor'' I noted in astonishment. ''Wha..ho..who'' I couldn't wrap my head around it anymore. I was in the same room with 3 old classmates and the headmaster of Hogwarts after 3 long years. Not even counting in what happened before I fainted.

Then I remember who I saw before I fainted. I looked around the room. He was there, in the corner of the room. My face hardened when he looked away. I felt a slight pang in my heart.

''It seems that your current task is making some Death Eaters anxious and restless. We recently found out that you possess some helpful information. One of them was following you today, they wanted to abduct you. Our helpful member of the Order of the Phoenix was just in time'' Dumbledore continued to explain. As if that would resolve the confusion in my head.

''But firstly we have a meeting to attend to'' he continued and motioned for all of us to follow him.

Saying that I was stunned would be a understatement.

I was sitting in a meeting of the Order of the Phoenix after just learning who they are. A cold feeling ran down my spine after everything they just told me.

'How did they even got away with this without the Ministry meddling ?' I thought a little irritated by the naivety of our Ministry of Magic. Even though I knew the answer.

There are enough members of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement in this room that could easily cover up everything the Order does. I started to doubt my abilities. I looked around the room to see all the people as expected.

I felt a sting in my heart that told me that I could never protect other people like they can. They only person that I ever successfully protected was my grandmother, and Kayla.

But then the blood in my body started to boil. Who the hell was I kidding? There is no time for self-pity. It's my duty to protect. I trained my arse of to be an Auror .

''No, most definitely not'' I refused through clenched teeth. Refusing why they brought me here. ''The point of my job is to protect people, not being protected!''. 'Or held captive in a bloody safe house' I added at the back of my mind. I stood up with my teeth still clenched together.

Then the door I was heading for opened and I froze in my spot when I saw who opened it. My face went as white as a sheet and it felt as if my feet are nailed to the ground. ''Kiara'' I whispered while I felt the tears sting in my eyes. The tears that I had been holding in for 2 years for the same person at the door.

''No, this has to be some kind of sick and twisted joke'' I barely managed to speak out in cold horror.

''Aeryn'' Kiara said with a smile. She walked towards me and hugged me, my arms hanged limb next to my body. ''No, I'm real. This is not some kind of joke.'' she stated.

I shook my head and pushed her away in disbelieve. Then walked out of the room. I walked down the hall when the voice of the friend I lost 2 years ago called my name.

''I was there when your house burned down! I barely managed to get your little sister out of there! '' I yelled at her, raging in anger, after I turned around to face her. ''Fucking hell. I searched every single corner of this land the past 2 years! '' I spoke while my hands turned to fists, trying to stop the shaking of my body.

''I promised Kayla that I would never stop looking for you after you went missing! Do you even remember her? And what it did to her?'' I slowly started to lose my mind ''While all this time, you've been here?''

''Aeryn stop it! You don't know what you're talking about?'' Kiara yelled while she finally stood up, tears were flowing down her face. ''I didn't have a cho..''

I cut her off in her sentence. ''DON'T even try finishing that sentence'' I snarled.

''She is your bloody SISTER and you left her behind. She still had you and you abandoned her''. I officially lost my mind right there at that moment.

But who could blame me? Since Kayla lost her family she spent her holidays and summer vacation at my apartment. I watched and listened Kayla crying herself to sleep almost every single night for the past 2 years. My never ending search for Kiara in the past 2 years were why I became part of the Investigation Department.

At that point I couldn't hold the tears anymore and they flowed freely for the first time in years. ''You could have sent some kind of sign that you were alive'' I choked out. ''And don't you dare tell me you couldn't, when you know that there is always a possibility''. I took a step back every single time Kiara took one forward.

I started to breakdown for the first time I can remember.