Two days, less than that with the setting sun, that was how long they had left until every student and professor in the school would leave for the upcoming summer holiday, each returning to their respective homes.

With a steady gaze set on the horizon, Talbott could not contain the sigh leaving his chest. They would have to return to the camp, face it all again, report back to Jasper. In all honestly he was surprised he had not reached out to them, requested an update. It was not the fact that they had been gone for long since that was not the case, however he knew well enough that tyrant needed to keep everything in check.

Doubt clouded his mind, a pressing thought clouding his eyes, one that was nagging him far too much as the date of their return approached. He could not shake the feeling that something was not right with the entire establishment. If Voldemort was indeed trying to return, if he managed somehow, Aurors would be essential in the war to come. Then why was the camp not producing them?

Pressing a hand to his forehead, he massaged it slowly as he tried to focus on something else as he waited for Talia to return. She practically insisted on going alone to speak with Dumbledore about her hex and removing it, fact which bothered him more than he cared to admit.

"Please don't let it be painful." The words slipped from his mouth as he started pacing through the Owlery, owls turning their heads to watch him. He needed a distraction, something to ground and grant him patience. Pulling the map out, he spoke the incantation taught, patterns and names coming alive on the parchment. She was still in the headmaster's office, Snape also present for the process taking place.

Scanning other names, he found the Weasley twins near Filtch's office, more than likely planning one last prank before leaving, a small smile shaping his lips. He would need to return the map to them as per their arrangement, while it did not help much, at least they did not need to roam the corridors blindly.

Talia did keep up to her end of the barging right after their picnic by the Black Lake, the memory still making Talbott chuckle.

She cocked a thin brow when the boys were making their way to their meeting point, questions swarming in those bright eyes of her.

He told her she could trust them, but to let them have it. He knew very well she was proper pissed after learning the Boggarts were actually the twins' scheme and not the intruder's doing. Honestly he was surprised they got off so easy, he was almost ready to bet money that she would set their hair on fire or something similar.

Her brow betrayed a slight twitch despite her calm exterior and Talbott loved how he was starting to notice certain things about her, small gestures that spoke about her real feelings. The boys looked at her with eager eyes and sly smiles, gazes widening as Talia took off her belt dropping it to the ground. Pulling her wand out, she traced an almost spiral like pattern as she uttered "Obedio." A chant he had not heard before in his life.

Before their eyes the leather belt came alive levitating in the air, slowly rising, Fred shrugging his shoulders not understanding how a simple levitation was impressive, George mirroring his brother's actions. The answer came in sound form, belt snapping like a whip with one flick of Talia's wrist, their eyes widening as realization took root in their young minds.

Talbott blinked a couple of time before he crutched, holding onto his stomach laughing as Talia ran after the boys berating them, belt cracking against their legs and bums yelling after them "Hope that freaking teaches you numpties."

That image would stay with him for a long time, it truly made his day brighter.

Seeing Chiara in the Hospital Wing, more than likely talking to Madame Pomfrey due to the proximity of their steps, he was glad he could finally introduce Talia properly, spending more hours in the day together, thus learning she was actually there for an internship, otherwise no hospital would hire her without proper experience and papers of recommendation.

Thinking back he was glad that even he managed to make a few friends throughout the years, maybe it would not hurt to try and reach out to some of them, see how they are actually doing, where they are working now.

He could imagine the shock on Andre's face upon seeing him hand in hand with Talia. That would show him for all those time he had told him he would never get a woman with the fashion sense he had. Penny would surely be happy to hear of such a development and would probably try to steal Talia on shopping dates or just to chat. Girls apparently needed their time together from what he gathered.

Girls…

The thought did not sit well inside his mind, Talia was a woman, that felt more appropriate. She had a certain way she carried herself that ignited something in him, that subtle chin raised, eyes never wavering.

Shaking his head, the last of the idea formed – did she truly see him as a man or did he still give out that boyish naivety? A subject for later perhaps.

He was tired of heavy subjects, about her past, his.

Her learning he was an unregistered Animagus made her panic, consequences of such actions, things he knew by heart spilled from her tongue, fearing for him if they did become Aurors and their pasts would be looked into. It was then when he uttered her true name in retaliation, threw in her face the same scenario, how the Ministry could somehow find out. The look she gave him spelled murder with big bright letters. How she did not take her wand out and attacked was beyond him.

But he was thankful it was out there, all secrets spilled.

It has been tiresome, hard, but it was over with.

The past couple of days have been coated with side glances, uncertain fidgeting, nerves running up the walls until that very morning at breakfast. She understood his distrust in the Ministry, she was not very fond of it either.

But they had the same goal.

Talbott, although not trusting the system, has worked his entire life towards becoming an Auror and stopping dark wizards and Death Eaters from hurting others. He wanted no one else to suffer like he did, if he could, he wished to save families, have parents see their children grow up into teenagers and adults. He could only hope his parents would have been proud if they were alive to see the man he grew up to be.

Talia on the other hand willed her existence to only one goal. Living. Simple as that and despite an Auror being a dangerous job, she willed her mind to believe it was more than likely the only way to feel like she was doing something that mattered. Stopping pain from being produced and children to grow alone or worse, grow to be used. She would not permit for such things to go unpunished despite where that would land her.

That morning her fingers softly wrapped around his hand under the table, a small gesture of reassurance, telling him she was there, with him.

Setting his eyes back on the map, he saw Talia's name was making its way towards the Owlery on the map. As soon as she entered, his eyes scanned her, how she walked, how she looked behind that tired smile she put on display for him.

She was visibly worn out, as if not being able to get any decent sleep in days, colour drained for her face. Shoulders rigid, surely trying to mask some sort of discomfort she did not wish for anyone to pick up on "How are you feeling?"

She missed a beat, eyes falling to the ground, hand rising to touch her chest "Alive." Her brows knit, upper lip lifting slightly in a sneer "Too alive. Vulnerable." She whispered the last word mostly to herself "Come, let's take that back, it's almost curfew hour." She uttered pointing to the map, finally lifting her gaze to look at Talbott once the object desired was in her hands "Nothing?"

"No, no new names. If could be we missed the perpetrator entirely." Groaning at Talbott's words, Talia tucked the map in her back pocket, already turning to leave the Owlery, his hand gently wrapping around her wrist "Talia."

"I'm fine." She wished the line was delivered more softly, Talbott was suspicious in general, there was no possible way he believed such an obvious lie. That and her not turning to look back at him. Talia felt his fingers slowly unravelling, his voice dimming.

"I won't push, but I am here." All she did was nod, she knew well he would listen to her if she wanted to talk about how the hex removal went, yet her stubbornness was stronger. Why look back? It was done. If she was caught she would have no easy way out, she would have to fight twice as hard.

For that reason alone, she refused to talk, keeping the heavy silence alive between them, Talbott respecting it. Of course he would, she thought, one rejection was enough, he would not allow for a second one to take place that's how guarded he was. She was honestly surprised he let even that small outburst on her behalf happen. Maybe he did care for her in such a way that he allowed a modicum of her fangs to show in front of him.

"I feel like at the same time a weight has been lifted but also brought down upon me." He took note of her words without speaking in return, without touching her, instead placing both hands in his pockets to ensure he would not be tempted. He knew well enough how important space was, especially with such raw emotions. They burned in her eyes like wild fire however it was hard for him to decipher exactly what he was seeing.

By the time they reached the courtyard, she offered no more insight to her soul, but it was fine by his standards. Eventually, with time, she would and he could wait.

"We need to write the report for Jasper." He muttered out of the blue, changing the subject entirely "I for one know it will be a short one."

That caused her to smirk "Of course, in and out, Boggarts bye bye. That was what we were called for no?"

"Precisely." Movement in the corner of his eye caught his attention, a shadow concealed by the night that set upon them moving behind a stone pillar. His eyes widened a fraction, muscles tensing.

It took just a moment, the hooded figure being found, Talbott pulling Talia behind one of the fountain statues to avoid a direct hit. Wands found their place in steady hands, retaliation firing back, sparks lighting up the darkness.

Talia ducked as she slid on the worn out stones paving the courtyard, Talbott following her with his eyes after deflecting, making sure not a hair on her head was touched "Focus!" She practically commanded, sharp eyes going back to the attacker. This was as real as it could get, what they trained for, theory on paper and from training coming alive.

She was agile, moved a lot as to not get hit, him on the other hand deflecting and protecting faster than the attacks he could fire. Two against one doubled their chances of success, a hit landing, hissed groan echoing through the night air.

"Diffindo!" Talbott's position did not allow him to see exactly where the spell was fire at, however Talia saw the trajectory before it even left the wand firing.

Straight.

Direct target being the column Talbott used as shelter.

Words did not work for her, could not work.

Sprinting the couple of feet towards him, her body reacted on instinct alone as she pushed him out of the way, column being severed in two, debris falling between their bodies as they both hit the ground.

Covering his face, a piece that broke free hit Talbott's arm, him gritting his teeth on the impact. He was quick to get on his feet despite the pain caused by the sudden impact, eyes trailing to the hooded figure making on run for it during the diversion.

As he took a step, Talia's hand reached his "No, don't." her eyes lowered to his arm, hot blood painting his skin crimson.

"Are you mad?" turning to look at her face after making sure there was no more danger in sight, his eyes demanded a reason for her stopping him. In her free hand, the Marauder's map followed the steps of the intruder as they were being led to the Forbidden Forest before vanishing into thin air.

"Mischief Managed." His wand tapped the paper, Talia hiding it as soon as they heard footsteps rushing to the scene, Dumbledore, Snape and McGonagall running to the courtyard "Do we tell them?"

Her wild eyes narrowed as she leaned against his body for support "They might be the only ones we can actually trust."