The Friday of their return registered as dark and gloomy as the feelings weighing them down. Talbott and Talia sat in the middle of the London train station, both of them looking into the distance as the train left, luggage dropped at their feet. The entire commotion of children meeting their parents did not register fully, everything sounding like white noise, all happening at a far distance.

Both knew well enough what needed to be done, however it all fully registered once they both returned to London. They tried to hide it, not give away feelings as to protect the other, yet it dawned in their eyes. Talbott barely blinked, molten stare burning anything in its wake, jaw tense, hands coiled to fists at his sides. Talia's eyes darkened like the ragging sea on a stormy night, back slightly hunched, open palm pressing against her beating heart.

They could read each other if they only looked.

Once the train was out of sight, slowly, Talia reached for her bag, Talbott mirroring her actions, taking a few steps "Do we have to go back today?" she turned to him, someone almost bumping in them due to the sudden halt. Talbott tugged on the strap of his bag, securing it over his shoulder, mind working on how to answer her question.

Instead of verbalising anything, he just took her hand, guiding her away from the busy station and out into the street. Sheltering his eyes from the pouring rain, he tried to keep them under building ledges in order to hide from the rain, however they were still soaking wet by the time they reached Diagon Alley and made their way inside the Leaky Cauldron.

Placing a few galleons on top of the bar, a key to a room was given in exchange. All the while he still held Talia's hand, her not arguing with the decision made, not even when she found herself in the small worn out room.

Dropping their luggage to the floor, Talia turned to him, smiling as if Talbott had just brought her to a mansion and not the poorly decorated establishment, with paint chipping off the walls, dust rising off the wooden floorboards with ever step. Pealing the cold, wet shawl off her shoulders, she twirled around, drops of water flying out of her hair "Perfect."

Lowering his gaze, he did feel embarrassed for the state of the room, however Leaky Cauldron was not known for its fine rooms and satin sheets, yet seeing her smile eased his worries "We should change before we catch a cold and go down stairs, you must be hungry." Running a hand through his hair to slick back the stray hairs, he lifted his gaze back to her, lips curving in a small smile.

"Starving." Closing the space between them, her fingers brushed away the water dripping down his jaw line "Thank you for this. I would have suggested it but I wasn't quite sure how you would react."

Gently wrapping his fingers around her wrist, he kissed the palm of her hand "I go where you go. That's my promise to you."

"I'll hold you to it Talbott. I'll take the bathroom so I can change."

While she was out of sight, he did run her words through his head, letting them sink in. As he pealed soaking clothes off his body, he stopped, understanding a bit more. Would he have regarded her differently if she was the one suggesting a room for the night? Would have he considered it an invitation, something done with a certain purpose in mind?

"What in blazes am I thinking about?" draping his clothes on an available chair, his eyes travelled to the bathroom door, heat invading his chest. They were after all alone in a room with just one bed for the both of them. Sighing, he reached into his bag for a pair of dry pants "As if." He mumbled under his breath, yet he still glanced back to the door, the ''what if" question rising in his mind. Covering his face with a hand he could not believe how unprepared he actually was for such thoughts, let alone any interaction happening beyond his imagination.

Yet he smiled to himself as he fished for a shirt, he has changed without even noticing that much. He had always believed change would get him in trouble, be a painful process, yet this one came naturally, willingly and effortless.

"Talbott?" the door creaked open, however did not open all the way "Can I come back in?"

"Of course." Talia stepped in the room, stopping to look at him pull the shirt over his body, their eyes locking moments later, her pursing her lips, before smirking.

Thick brows rose, eyes squinting at her "What?" however all she did was turn that lip curve into a smile, ignoring his question entirely.

"Come let's eat."

"You need to dry your hair first, you are not going anywhere like that." Her pout did not impress him as he pointed back to the bathroom door, Talia eventually giving in to his request. Little did he know she would purposely take two hours to dry and get ready.

By the time they went back downstairs it was already lunch. Fridays usually meant the establishment would be full to the brim, mainly because of the lowered prices, however they managed to find a small table.

As both of them decided on what to order, Talia flinched upon hearing someone call out Talbott's name, her eyes lifting up in panic. He however just turned, providing a small nod to the red head who already pulled up a chair at their table "Hello" he flashed a charming smile towards Talia "Bill Weasley."

"Oh another one." Suppressing a small chuckle seeing Bill's face, Talbott watched how she extended a hand out, waiting for the new comer to meet her half way "Talia Hayes. Nice to meet you, I do hope you aren't as troublesome as your brothers."

"Ah, so you met the twins." Turning to Talbott, he quickly picked up a menu, although he already knew what he would order for lunch even before arriving "So how is training going? Did you get accepted?"

Talia squinted her eyes, however opposite of her there was no animosity emanating. Talbott appeared to know Bill and felt comfortable around him, enough to admit about the camp and the fact that it was not at all what he imagined "But there is always the prospect of curse breaker."

"Right?" they both laughed, the action hinting to an inside matter that Talia did not know about however had little time to dwell on as Bill turned his attention back to her "So, you're his partner. Is he behaving?"

Smirking, she learned in a bit "Can I be honest?" offering a quick glance towards Talbott, she replied after Bill's head nod "He is perhaps a bit too well behaved." Hearing that, Bill's smile grew even bigger.

"Sure sounds like him."

"I can hear both of you, you know." However he did offer Talia a smile after a dramatic eye roll.

Bill leaned back in his chair noticing the exchange take place before him, eyes widening a fraction "Are you two" he stopped seeing them both grant their attention "I don't mean to stick my nose in your business." He bit back on his curiosity, switching the subject entirely "I'm going to go order, what do you guys want?"

As soon as he left, Talia pulled her chair closer and elbowed Talbott slightly "What gives? Should I be worried that we are getting such reactions?"

Rolling his eyes at her, he lowered his voice "Funny, but I had different priorities, other than girls." Staring at the table, he swallowed before speaking again "I mean women, I don't consider you, I mean I see you as a woman, not a girl, not in the sense." Getting annoyed with himself, he let out a sigh "I'd better stop talking before I make an even bigger fool of myself."

Placing her hand on top of his, he lifted his eyes to see her smile "I understand what you're trying to say."

Bill made his way back to the table, eyes set on their hands "Alright, it will be half an hour." Seeing how she was not removing her hand, but not addressing it either, he puffed his cheeks trying to think of a new subject.

"How's Charlie?" thankfully Talbott took the lead, Bill focusing on his face.

"Living the dream of course. Mum can barely get him to come home for the holidays." Seeing that proud smile Talia just had to ask if that was another Weasley brother, in the end having to sit through the entire lunch, listening about how many there actually were "You two should really visit, mum and dad will be thrilled."

Talbott provided Talia a side glance, face trained back to its usual stern self "I don't think that will be possible for some time."

Resting his forearms on the table, Bill leaned in and whispered "Are you in trouble?"

"We can't talk here." That's when the older Weasley sibling noticed how Talia took into account everyone entering and leaving the establishment, tense shoulders telling him she was actually looking out for danger.

"Talbott, if I can help." Checking his clock, Bill frowned "Look I need to get back to work, but let's meet up after, what room are you staying in?"

Getting up, Talia surprised both males "Thank you, but I don't think you need to get involved in this. Nothing personal, just safer." Placing a hand on Talbott's shoulder, she motioned with her head "Come, we can't be seen like this."

"Mate." Bill caught Talbott's forearm, quickly producing from his pocket a piece of paper and a quill, hastily scribbling down his address "Just in case." Nodding once, he took it before going up the stairs after Talia.

Once inside their room, he took a seat at the small desk, rubbing his forehead as he tried to arrange his thoughts in order to write the report for Jasper Munday "You can trust Bill."

"It's not about that." Talia came near him, placing some papers on the desk "But if we are wrong and involve more it will end up in tragedy. We need to find out why Jasper had one of his goons infiltrate Hogwarts and prove if he is really up to something."

Pulling her on his lap, Talia let out a small gasp when he wrapped his arms tight around her waist "Talk to me, tell me what's bothering you." Lifting his eyes to her face "If you want to."

"What if he knows?" her trembling hand pressed against her chest, face slightly contorting as if she was in pain "What if he suspects who I am?"

"No, I don't believe that is that case. You came late at the camp, he hasn't changed his ways, trust me." However as she wrapped his arms around his neck, he could not help but wonder if perhaps there was more to Jasper than they could see. He could have been anything, he could have sent his helper to gather information on him and Tonks, even Talia despite her being at Hogwarts for a short period.

"Why are we going back Talbott?" the question caught him off guard, she spoke so softly, he could have sworn he imagined hearing her, that perhaps his own mind was trying to convince him to flee from any possible danger.

"There are some good people in there. We need to investigate and get proof if we want this camp to fall. It's what an Auror would do." She didn't let him go, instead just nodding a couple of times against his shoulder "Talia…"

"Let me return alone." This time he made her create some distance in order to look at her "Let me bare this."

Shaking his head, he considered calling her mad, that she was losing sight of the actual purpose, yet words failed him. That burning determination spoke to him, told him she was willing to withstand anything that tyrant was going to throw her away, that she could do those things all alone. Without him to worry over.

"No." he finally found his voice "I'm not quitting the camp and definitely not leaving you alone. It would make me a bad partner and an even worse boyfriend." She did not like the fact that he was making a point, a very decent one at that.

However those feelings were nothing compared to the worry burring itself into their minds. Unspoken plans and tactics formed as Talia got up in order to silently pace the room while Talbott wrote the report.

None of them knew what to actually expect, what they had to do and endure and if they could help it, both did not want to actually know. They wished the Ministry would pull the plug, state it was all a test and that the remaining recruits would continue on with their training in order to become Aurors. Wishful thinking for most of it, however a glimmer of hope needed to remain, for she would not allow for him to get hurt and he would not let anyone touch her.

If only things were actually that simple.

Author Note: Hello lovely people, hope you are enjoying the story so far. Thank you for the kind words and for the time take to actually read this. I'm sorry I haven't been very active, been having some issues and writing has proven to be quite difficult in the aftermath.

Stay tuned for the next chapter, when Talia and Talbott return to the Auror training camp.