"Are you certain this is what you want Talbott? We could honestly use you here."
Talbott lowered his eyes, looking at Mirunna's nameplate, underneath with new bold letters her latest function having been added "Head of the Auror department". Nodding subtlety, he lifted his gaze to look back at her "Yes I am sure. I don't think I was ever truly fit for this position so it's sort of the next normal step for me. I know you are short of staff after the war but I want something else. There's no further contribution that I can make in my current state." Frowning slightly, he added "If anything I might actually be a liability out in the field."
She understood it, she knew it all too well, the horrors witnessed leaving scars far deeper than most could heal "Well, didn't hurt to ask again, you know in case you changed your mind." She offered him a wide smile, honestly of her words reflecting in her eyes "You will be missed, just so you know and you need to let us throw you a goodbye party, no" she added as soon as he started rolling his eyes "you don't get a say in this yeah? It's settled already."
"Fine." He smiled as well.
"Good, well in that case you can clean out your locker and give me the key at the party tonight. Everyone is already aware so act surprised please."
Shaking his head, he sighed, however the amusement was still clear in his tone "I will do my best. Even throw in a oh no you shouldn't have."
Clicking her tongue, she chuckled "Yeah, they will buy it for sure then. Now go, I have enough paperwork to make me want another job."
Getting up, he shook her hand "Well at least this way you have enough work until you retire."
"Get out before I change my mind about letting you go." Mirunna laughed throwing a random object from her desk at him, Talbott making a shocked mock face.
Walking through the Ministry after the events felt strange. In a sense it felt odd for him to leave his Auror job behind. It was a big part of his life, it shaped him into who he was in that very moment, helped find a purpose when he figured there was none in sight.
But times have changed and he knew they would continue to alter in the future as well. It was up to everyone to contribute and he was going to help shape the future generations with his new position at the Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry as the new Transfiguration professor.
Reaching the changing rooms, he opened up his locker, a sad smile shaping Talbott's lips "Fancy seeing you here Winger. Or should I say professor Winger?"
Chucking, he turned around "Not until the first of September." Walking to the locker next to his, Talia dropped her bag to the floor, it clacking loudly with several weapons 'What did you do raid a weapon museum?"
"Can't fit a canon in here unfortunately, spells or not." She chuckled.
Lowering his eyes he saw the shiny new Auror badge strapped to her belt, his gaze lifting back to her face "You cut your hair, made it darker."
"Yeah" she said running a hand through it "figured it would get in the way when on missions and honestly women tend to cut and dye their hair when faced with an existential crisis. By the way, I need you in the main office at five, need to run by you some things before you leave since I'm going to pick up your mess."
"I tend to be very organized in case you forgot. You can even read my handwriting, go figure." He smiled, agreeing, however he knew it was just a setup for the farewell party. Turning to look at the door, Harry and Ron just walked inside, all of them greeting each other.
"Last day?" Harry asked Talbott.
"Looks like it, I need to clear out first."
Checking her clock, Talia smirked "Boys I suggest you change quickly and go get your butts to the training room." Ron already groaning at the very mention of it "Chop, chop, you know how Munday hates tardiness."
"He's a bloody menace is what he is." Ron whispered to Harry, both of them laughing. Talia and Talbott shared a look since they knew well enough had bad Jasper could actually be. However with the pardon from the Ministry, he decided to actually become a proper trainer and help future Aurors. If it were up to Talia and Talbott, they had a few things to say, but decided to hold their tongues and just let the events play out which oddly enough were in Jasper's favor.
"Careful Weasley or he might fail you."
He went pale, a loud gulp barely swallowed "You won't tell on me will you?"
Crossing her arms over her chest, she smirked "Well I don't know, what's in it for me?"
Chuckling, Talbott turned back to his locker, taking out items and placing them inside a bag, letting them bicker or better yet Talia intimidating the boys until they cursed under their breaths since they were actually going to be late for training.
"Well I need to get going as well." She mentioned as she practically struggled to shove the bag in her locker.
"I thought you were done with training the moment you got that badge." He teased, actually jumping a bit when Talia slammed her body in the locker door, finally managing to close it and turn the key.
Letting out a huff, she looked up at him "You know that's never the case, I want to get better and better so I need to push my limits. But no, not going to train today. I need to meet up with Charlie and Felix before they leave for Romania. It's their last day today and I can't believe a week already passed since they came back."
"How are they doing?"
Placing her hands in her pockets, she leaned against the lockers "You know, work, living the best bromance they possibly can. They're better, it actually helped them to go back to the sanctuary after all the funerals. Getting to leave helps."
"But you didn't, not even for a day."
She offered him a small smile "No, I couldn't, I can't. Some of them are still out there. Constantine is still out there. I have a lot of work to do until I can finally rest a bit. It keeps me busy though, not having a moment to myself."
Talbott nodded, placing his hand inside the locker, eyes widening "Well, it helps for a while."
He looked over at her when she smacked his arm playfully "Don't give me that tone, I know. I am talking about it, dealing with it. It's only been a few months, you can't expect miracles from me. I'm doing the best I can in the current situation."
"I know, I'm sorry." Taking out a box, he turned to her "Here."
"What's this?" she asked before even taking it off him.
"Well it's…inside you'll find all the letters I wrote but never sent you. I'm keeping the pictures if you don't mind." Her eyes lowered, hesitation evident as she did not yet extend her hand to take the box "If you want I can throw them away."
"No." she uttered softly, finally taking the box "I would actually like to read them, but why are they in your locker?"
He ran a hand through his hair, pushing back the bangs that were tickling his forehead "Believe it or not, I actually believed this place was the safest one to store them and keep them until the war ended. I was wrong, it wasn't safe, but they remained intact regardless of what happened."
"Mmmm, I see. Alright then, though just so you know, it's a dick move." She witnessed Talbott's eyes widening, Talia placing the box under her armpit "These should have reached me years ago, not now." Waving at him, Talbott sighed as she left to go meet her friends.
With everything following the war it felt as if there was no more room to actually debate or talk about a future together. They barely had the power to make decisions when it came down to their own careers.
Passing the training rooms, she knocked on one door before walking inside. Talia motioned to Jasper, him walking over "What is it?"
"Nothing, just do me a favor, look over at Potter and Weasley and glare for a few seconds." She smirked when Jasper's brows rose, but he did comply, looking over his shoulder at the two trainees "Thanks. All good with you?"
"Yes." He answered looking back at her "It took some adapting but things are actually alright."
She nodded, a small smile spreading on her lips "Good, good. See you in the weekend, we need to go over decorations for the venue."
"Not certain I should be there for this but oh well."
Shrugging her shoulders, Talia leaned forward "You take it up with Mirunna then." Winking at him, she left as quickly as she came, finally making her way to Diagon Alley.
Felix and Charlie were already waiting for her, her hugging both men "So sorry, had some things to sort out. Been running all day."
"Well at least now you can relax." Felix said, pulling up a chair for her before signaling for the waiter to bring her a coffee.
She thanked him, placing the box on the table, letting out a sigh "I wish I could relax, but I have to go drop some things off for Teddy, take this box home and then make it back to the Ministry for Talbott's farewell party. Not to mention help Mirunna and her lovely piece of a man with decorations for the wedding."
"Blimey, didn't figure Talbott would actually leave." Charlie mentioned "I was dead sure he would continue to be an Auror, it fits him like a glove."
Scrunching her nose, she dipped her head "Yes and no, he's different than me. He is a fighter, but in a different sense, trust me this decision is the best one for him. So are you two excited to return to Romania?"
Charlie gave out an immediate happy yes, Felix rolling his eyes "If by excited you mean getting to risk our lives in poor conditions and scooping dragon dung, then yes, so excited."
"You were always so sensitive. You and your pasty arse even need that sunscreen in the summer."
Talia laughed throwing her head back as Felix countered "Surprised you do not with your complexion."
"Mate, I don't tan. I burn, peal and repeat."
The three spent several more hours outside on the terrace, talking and laughing, Talia leaving them with the promise that she will visit them in Romania. Before she concealed herself in the thick crowd, Felix caught up to her.
"Talia" his eyes held worry, one he did not want to show while they were all bickering back at the table "are you actually alright? Are you happy with how everything is right now?"
Offering him a faint smile, she spoke as she wrapped her arms around him "Next question Felix." Kissing his cheek, she told him to take care of himself and Charlie as well.
Returning back to the Ministry after she finished her business, she waited with the rest inside the shared office space, everyone cheering as Talbott walked in, him just shaking his head "I did not expect this."
Mirunna slapped her forehead but still laughed "Thank Merlin you aren't taking an acting job."
They had sweets and a cake Mirunna swore she baked, however Jasper was quick to dismiss her claim since she not only did not know how to cook to save her life but also he was the one who went and bought it "I thought we were a team."
"We are, I just do not want to hold onto this lie and have you actually bake a cake and give the entire Auror division food poisoning."
They laughed and made fun of each other, wishing Talbott the most boring of jobs. Hoped nothing excited happened, that he stayed so safe he went looking for trouble on his own.
As they wrapped up, Talia walked him out, her hugging him before they both went on their separate ways "Don't be a stranger, actually write to me this time."
"That's a promise."
She pinched his sides, Talbott jumping "Don't promise, you suck at keeping them."
Lowering his gaze, he nodded "Yeah, apparently so. You take care of yourself alright?"
She smiled when he looked back into her eyes "Already worried about me are we?"
"Always, you know that." She did, of course she did. She was aware he would always fuss over her and actually spend time wondering if she managed to get over certain things, if she was actually as alright as she tried to be.
But events still haunted her during silent moments, late at night, when it was just her with her own thoughts. But he did not need to know that.
Smiling, she playfully punched his chest "I'm fine, I'll be fine."