Code Of Conduct

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Part One: Living With Ghosts

"Life is about choices. Some we regret, some we're proud of. Some will haunt us forever." - Graham Brown.

Chapter Three: Change

4th - 5th December, 2004

After Voldemort's resurrection in 2000, Gwen had been trained - extensively - by the Department of Mysteries'. They'd made liberal use of time turners, and most every other advantage at their disposal, but by the end of that summer, Gwen had been powerful, had been trained, and had been prepared for the war that had brewed overhead. She'd been at loose ends afterwards, when Voldemort was dead and gone, but although her particular skill set had no longer been useful, she'd continued to train - just in case.

In retrospect, Gwen was glad she had. Others had let themselves go, had chosen to embrace the peaceful lifestyle, to put down their weapons and to never look back. Gwen, with a list of enemies as long as her forearm, and traumatised by the war to boot, had not had that luxury. The fact that she was still in excellent physical condition, and also combat ready at a moment's notice, would surely come in handy in the coming months.

Coulson had explained that she'd undergo a 6 week training program to ensure her skills were up to par, but that wouldn't start until January, and before then, she had loose ends to tie up, bills to be paid, among other things, and Gwen had no intention to leave everything to the last minute. She'd grown out of that habit years ago, when her only concern had been homework and class projects, and her (new) job was a lot more important than those.

With an exhale, Gwen dropped gracelessly onto her yoga mat, glanced around her sparse living room, and smiled to herself, bittersweet. She'd packed up her things, they'd been collected and were already on their way to Washington DC, and Gwen would follow suit in a number of days. Will had already left the Bay, backpacking across Europe as he'd anticipated for months, Gwen had paid the last of her rent cheques, and she'd be sad to leave Colwyn Bay behind. She'd not stayed long - barely a blip on the locals' radar, really - but the coastal town had left it's impression, and the former Gryffindor was sure she'd be back - eventually.

That said, she was looking forward to her move. It was a fresh start, of sorts, in a country whose legend of the 'Girl Who Lived' and the 'Witch Who Won' was greatly diminished, where she could disappear into the millions of foreigners who'd chosen to call America home. Colwyn Bay had been wonderful - a refuge from the demons of her past - but with a definitive future ahead of her, the Bay was no longer what Gwen needed.

That was why, when she boarded a plane from Cardiff to Washington DC two days later, she had no regrets. She was anxious and excited, certainly, but with the support of those friends whom she'd not cut ties with, and the certainty that she'd be helping to make the world a safer place, she had no doubts in her decision, and Gwen was determined for it to stay that way.

As the plane soared westward, she withdrew a novel from her bag, settled into the business class seat she'd purchased for herself, and wiled away the hours with a Bryce Courteney classic: 'The Power of One'. Eventually, however, the plane taxied into Washington DC, she disembarked with the rest of her fellow passengers, and trudged her way through immigrations, baggage collection, and customs with bloodshot eyes, dragging footsteps, and a weary smile. Her day, however, wasn't yet over.

From the airport, she boarded an express train to Georgetown, and from there, she caught a taxi to her new address. It was a medium-sized, comfortably furnished home purchased by Dorea Black, and meticulously maintained by one of her house elves, and for Gwen, it was more than she really needed. Of course, there was no real certainty about how much time, exactly, would be spent within the property, but the former Gryffindor had no complaints and likely, the house elf, Lottie, would ensure Gwen would remained satisfied.

"Will Mistress Gwyneth be wanting anything?"

"Yes, thank you, Lottie, just some dinner, please."

She kicked off her shoes by the door, trudged her way towards the kitchen, and settled herself at the dining table with her novel. Her thoughts, however, were on what she'd need to do in the days to come, and even the prospect of planning left her tired. The jet lag likely contributed, of course.

"Will electronics work in this house, Lottie?"

"Yes, MIstress," Lottie replied, "It is being a muggle house."

Which essentially meant that it was hooked up to the local power grid and water mane, and the use of magic would be kept at a minimum. Gwen didn't mind, really, since she'd barely used it in the last year, anyway, though she did wonder if Lottie would be alright.

Lottie deposited a serving of roast lamb, pureed potatoes and assorted vegetables in front of Gwen, who dug in heartily, thanked the elf for her efforts, and proceeded to eat to her heart's content. As she did, she thought over the things she'd need to purchase for the house, or for herself, and silently mourned the US' legal drinking age.

Alcohol, it seemed, was out of the question.

"Bugger," she mumbled, thoughts on how on earth she'd survive the next 20 odd months without her whisky - or anything, really.

"Is everything being satisfactory, Mistress?"

"Yes, Lottie," Gwen answered, "The food is lovely. Thank you, again."

"It is Lottie's honour to serve, Mistress."

Lottie curtsied and popped out of sight, Gwen lost herself in the silence, and it wasn't until later, when her plate was empty and a shopping list had been written, that she stirred from her seat. She stretched, yawned heartily, and trudged towards the bedroom she'd already decided to call her own. It was the master suite, with cream coloured walls and darkly polished floorboards, and it was lovely.

At least, Gwen thought so.

The house had already been furnished when Gwen had learned of it, and the master bedroom was no exception. Darkly polished wood furniture; a king size bed, two bedside tables, two chests of drawers, and a singular vanity. There was a walk in wardrobe and a magically enlarged attached bathroom, and although the place was blatantly designed for two, Gwen had appreciated the aesthetics from the get go. She had no real intentions of changing anything but the sheets and such things, but as she dressed for bed, she left such thoughts for another day. Instead, she got comfortable between luxurious linens, closed her eyes, and fell asleep to thoughts of her future.

In the morning, over breakfast, Gwen learned that Lotti hadn't worked in the DC house permanently. She'd visited on a bi-monthly basis, but otherwise, much of her time had been spent either at Ysgarlad - Potter Manor - or at one of the many other Potter properties across the globe. She'd sensed Gwen's intentions to move, however, and had thus moved too, in preparation for Gwen's arrival.

"I'm expecting a delivery in the next few days," Gwen informed Lottie, "It's mostly just my personal effects, but the delivery service is muggle. Will that be a problem?"

"No, Mistress," Lottie answered, "I is just being wearing a glamour."

Upon Gwen's perplexed expression, Lottie used her magic to cover herself in a disguise, and in the blink of an eye, a middle-aged hispanic woman stood in Lottie's place, dressed as a cleaner, with a matronly smile on her face. It was astounding, really, and Gwen was impressed.

"Magic never fails to surprise me," she remarked, and returned to her breakfast. She'd already learned that the electricity and water had been switched on - courtesy of Lottie's hispanic alter ego - and without any other questions to ask, Gwen's thoughts were on her plans for the day ahead.

She was shopping with the intention of planting roots here, in America, and to Gwen, the thought was terrifying. She had spent the last 15 months or so as a nomad, with no where to call home and what have you, and there had been something comforting in her freedom to pack up, to leave, and to do so without qualms.

With a job and bills to pay and a contract signed, Gwen couldn't do that here.

"I'll be heading out today," she said, and Lottie listened attentively, "I'll be buying things for the house, and such. Electronics, mostly. Did you need anything?"

Lottie looked startled, and Gwen idly wondered if she'd ever been asked that before. "Mistress is not needing to by Lottie things. I is having all I is wanting."

"Alright," Gwen acknowledged, and didn't pursue the conversation further. She finished her breakfast instead, and afterwards, Gwen dressed for her day, left the house, and proceeded to find her way to the nearest shopping centre.

It would do her well to learn her surroundings, as she'd been taught, so once her errands were done, Gwen wandered the streets around her house, took note of cars and neighbours and such things, and finally returned to her place shortly after midday. It was still foreign to her,but Gwen was hopeful that she would - eventually - come to call Georgetown home. In the meantime, she still had a great deal of settling in to do, a job to start and hopefully, friends to make, but there was still time, and the witch felt she had all the time in the world.