With June marking all calendars around the world, Charlie Weasley packed his bags in order to return to England. His father sent him a letter when he had announced they had won seven hundred galleons in the annual Daily Prophet prize draw and they were planning a trip to Egypt in order to see Bill.
Prior to his departure day, his steps took him to Talia's tent, her voice inviting him inside. She sat at the desk, eyes scanning a book on dragons that Felix lent her, with the promise that he would quiz her later "Not your cup of tea?" he inquired trying to hold back a snicker since she looked positively fed up.
Throwing her hands in the air, she closed the heavy book, ready to toss it in the garbage bin "I swear, he is such a mother hen. He actually believes this will help?"
Leaning against her desk, he crossed his hands over his chest "Well the men have been calling you dragon tamer and whatnot so it's only natural Felix wants to make sure you are better prepared to face anything." He could have sworn her eyes lit up a fraction more upon hearing those words, but did not pry further. However he did enforce the idea that she should gather more knowledge.
The men started asking her to come along, a small party actually leaving towards the mountains the following morning in order to ensure everything was in order. While it was good to see her actually leaving her tent and becoming a part of the sanctuary, it all appeared to make her close down even more.
"So have you come to bore me with more dragon talk?" her eyes were pleading, however he knew it was all a ruse.
Shaking his head, he chuckled lightly "Nothing of the sorts, I know your opinion by now." Pausing slightly, he decided to just go ahead and tell her the real reason behind his last minute visit "Look I'll be honest. You know I'm returning home and will be in England for a few days. Do you need me to do something?"
Her eyes darted to the blank papers on her desk, heart feeling as if it was shrinking inside her chest. She had not been able to send the last letter she wrote, at the end of the day she did not send anything. While she could not bring herself to sever all ties with Talbott, she also could not find that neutral tone needed "Take me with you?" she glanced back up at him, lashes fluttering fast.
"Talia, I know we have never talked about England, but if you want to return just do it. You don't need approval from anyone. I think the country is big enough to contain both you and Talbott." There it was, the name none of them spoke out loud, however she took it better than he had expected.
Nodding a couple of times, she ran a hand through her hair "I know, however I can't help but feel as if I am not wanted anymore. As if I was but a ghost." Sighing, she got up, heading to make some tea "Or perhaps I wasn't as relevant as I initially believed."
Pushing himself off the desk, he followed her around the tent as she busied herself with nothing in particular as the tea brew "Talia, your relevance isn't set in stone by one man."
She wanted to snap, it was evident by how rapidly she turned around, glare stopping him in his tracks "I know that." She kept her voice levelled and low "Talbott did break me, but that's because I allowed him to get that close. A mistake I won't be repeating."
"Want me to punch him for you?" Charlie let out a small laugh, prompting Talia to also relax, especially since he was not to blame for her turmoil.
"That would be giving him too much attention, which he sort of had enough of with nothing to offer in return." Wrapping a strand of hair between her fingers, she looked to the side "Don't tell him anything if you do see him. I don't want to punish him for his silence, but I also don't want to make it easy for him. At the end of the day, I can't force him to talk to me if he doesn't want to."
Charlie shook his head, heading to the table to stir some sugar in the cup "I don't think it's that from what Bill told me, but Talbott had always been this secluded person, ever since school. Doubt he changed that much since graduation." He pointed to an empty cup, however Talia shook her head, going back to the desk in order to retrieve the bit of coffee she still had sitting in a mug forgotten since morning "I'm not saying he is a bad person, but he just needs a push."
"I know Charlie, but this is something he needs to do on his own. I am tired of opening doors for him, despite my feelings. Sometimes we have to learn some lessons for ourselves, despite our wishes."
Shrugging, he tried to appear nonchalant "Well if you change your mind, you know at what time I'm leaving."
Talia just smiled at the open invitation, she knew every detail of his departure, however she knew just as well that she could not return to England. At least not until she was certain she could deal with the whirlwind of emotions threatening her.
The following morning as her and the men said their goodbye to Charlie, wishing him a fabulous vacation, Talia, Felix and two other set about the trail in the mountains to document how the latest dragons were adapting to their new home. It would take a few days to cover all the terrain they had discussed, that if they did not run into any trouble. Talia having openly come out about her healing powers had made the men want to bring her along for almost everything.
While they did whisper between themselves about the display, no one dared to cross her path and openly question her. It mattered little in the end who she was and where she came from as long as she was on their side.
And as long as no one crossed her, she would use the distraction to her advantage. After all, it flexed her powers, made her push past barriers she set for herself and that was a challenge she would mold to her advantage.
However she was agitated, Felix catching on rather quickly. With missing the mark in sending a letter, she would surely miss another week since they would not be at the camp when the owls did their weekly deliveries and pickups. And despite her discussion with Charlie the previous night, she could not help but wonder what Talbott was thinking and feeling, what scenarios would he create inside his mind especially after two weeks of not a word from her side.
"So, have you managed to read the first chapters I told you about?" Felix tried to call her back to the reality of the moment, yet she was having none of it, purposely walking behind everyone, always a few feet away. Enough distance so she could be alone with her thoughts, but close enough as to always listen in to their conversations "Are you listening to me Talia?"
"And actively ignoring you." She snapped, eyes lowering to his hand. Felix stopped in his attempt of touching her, yet he could not hide his surprise and worry.
"Is everything alright? Are you not well?"
Sighing, she clicked her tongue "Look, I just want you to act as if I'm not here. I want to just be alone, not talk about it, or anything for that matter." Sighing, she continued "Especially dragons."
"Does this have anything to do with Charlie leaving?" he regretted how he pushed her for an answer, however Charlie did ask for him to take care of her and from where he was standing, she was not alright.
She wanted to tell the infamous "next question" line, however with everything she was trying so hard not to feel, she could not find herself being able to remain neutral "Don't act like you understand anything Rosier." She hissed at him, eyes turning to dangerous slits "Because you don't. And if you ever want to touch me, think again, you might get burned."
He returned the glare, something cold dancing in his dark eyes "Fine, have it your way." He replied dryly before walking on ahead to catch up with his colleagues, leaving Talia alone.
She knew well enough she was taking it out of on him without any real reason, however she just wanted for him to just take the hint and let her be. It was bad enough she was out there with them, in the middle of nature. She had never been a fan of nature walks and camping, yet there she was, forced into certain things. Yet she knew very well she had to earn her keep, despite the place in the sanctuary being secured for her.
Plus, she never knew when a bunch of rugged men could come in handy in the future.
For the first couple of days she kept to herself, reading her muggle book, not talking unless a question was addressed her way. Yet Felix's stare still lingered on her form, despite him keeping his distance and respecting her wishes.
It was on the third morning, that Talia prepared coffee and tea for everyone, taking the cup made for Felix directly to him. He lifted his eyes from the notebook he was writing in, a small thank you leaving his lips as he took the hot cup from her delicate hands "I'm sorry Rosier." His stare widened upon hearing her words as she was not one to engage or admit to making a mistake "What I'm feeling, what I'm going through has nothing to do with you, so it wasn't fair to actually snap like that."
"Apology accepted." He contemplated on his next words carefully "However if something is causing you this much grief perhaps you need to resolve it."
She tilted her head to the side, offering him a small smile "If only it were that easy, however it's not."
He smirked, taking a sip from the coffee "I sort of doubt that. Someone of your caliber surely can do anything." She chuckled, waving her had to dismiss his statement, Felix carefully following her reactions "Please do not tell me this is about a man you left behind in England, because I swear if it is…" he stopped, words failing him as Talia just stared into the distance, something broken and defeated reflecting in her gaze.
"And if it is about a man?" she asked the question more to herself than him.
Felix swallowed loudly trying to find a way into the conversation without scaring her off "Walk with me?" to his surprise, she agreed. If it was due to the fact that she wanted to open up, or just could not handle the situation she had to face, the reason mattered not to him. What was important was that she was not pushing him away at that very moment "Tell me about him, about this man that captured your attention."
She giggled at his words, rolling her eyes as they walked though the thick forest, yet despite herself, she did speak. Somehow, it felt easier to present the situation to someone who did not have access to his name, or knew of her past "In all honesty I never expected him to even glance my way." She looked over at him, making sure he was paying attention "You saw me, the scars, the fire, the anger. Why would someone with such a good heart as his even look my way?"
Lifting his brows slightly he replied to her question "Well now, perhaps you are more than fire and fury."
She let his words reach her fully as she searched deep within herself. More? More of evil perhaps, at least that was all she could see when she watched her reflection in the mirror "I don't know, I thought I was. For a moment in time I actually believed there was more to me you know?"
Nodding, he offered her a bitter smile "I understand that sentiment all too well."
"But what if I'm wrong? What if I saw something good in me just because it was reflecting off of him?" her hand rose to her chest, heartbeat picking up slightly "He became so much to me in such a short time, yet it was as if when I set my eyes on him for the first time, it felt like I truly belonged. And that I could belong in England, anywhere really as long as he was there."
Felix continued to listen carefully to the words of adoration coming from her mouth.
How it felt as if she could finally breathe properly, found someone to ground her completely and want to make something more out of her life. That it suddenly clicked inside of her, with each passing day, the idea solidifying inside her heart.
"Such a strong person, yet with such a gentle heart. With eyes the color of ragging hot sunsets and a smile meant to stop your heart from beating. Oh how I miss that smile."
He kept silent for a moment longer before deciding to speak "Can I be blunt?"
"Have at it." She invited him to continue, despite picking up that he would more than likely not have a single good thing to say.
"I don't know you, or what you have been through. But if he is so damn great, then why are you here all alone?"
She bobbed her head, accepting his words "Yes, good question Rosier, why am I? It appears to circle back to what I was previously saying, maybe all that good in me was actually just him." Stopping from mindlessly walking, she turned around to look at him "But if that is the case, then what hope is there left?"
Felix came to a sudden halt, eyes widening as he continued to look at her, Talia's brows furrowing. Opening her mouth to speak, she found the distance between their bodies disappear, as he closed in on her, hand reaching up to touch her cheek. She froze at the sudden touch, wanted to flinch away, yet she understood what he was seeing "Talia, if that the real color of your eyes?"
"It would appear he still has the power to make me soft." Placing her hand on top of his, he soon retreated feeling the burning touch on his skin "You however do not." Embers colored her vision once more, replacing the turquoise depths he had lost himself in "Careful Rosier, or you will get burned."