If Dumbledore was not willing to help her, Talia's papers would have shown she graduated from Durmstrang Academy. It felt as close as she could get to England, just a few hours away by plane, or a few seconds and a horrible headache later via a port key. She had never been a fan of the French school Beauxbaton although she spent a year there. In her eyes, there was absolutely no way people could come off so perfect and happy, unless they had something to hide.

That's why Durmstrang felt more familiar. Rough around the edges, everyone trying to make a name for themselves, dark magic and questionable personas ensuring Talia would and could never relax. It felt just like home. She had to always be on alert, not trust, not allow anyone too close to her.

When she walked through the main gates, glares were directed her way in a second. Her looks ensured she would be spotted a mile away, bright hair and radiant eyes contrasting against the dark robes and sombre décor. It had been a few years since she last set foot in it, however several faces were familiar. Their scrawls and pointed fingers would fuel her for the remainder of six months until graduation.

Close, she was so close to returning home, her mind was set and there was no going back.

"Why don't you go to whatever pit you decided to crawl out of?" Karol was the first to address her, stepping in front of her path as a way to intimidate her just like back in year four. Her only response was a clean cut against his arm when he dared to reach out to her. She was faster, stronger than what he remembered but above all else, she could endure anything as long as it meant it brought her closer to her goal.

It came as a shock when he also told her he would head for England in order to join the Auror office there. The thought never let her rest, she knew something was off, that he could not be trusted, yet she never expected for him to join Jasper Munday.

Death Eaters, the scum of the wizarding world, the reason behind so much hurt and tragedy. It was common knowledge his parents must have forced it upon him when he was very young. Either that or have their boys taken away.

Taken…

Lifting her forehead from the cold bathroom tiles, dark eyes betraying dangerous emotions glanced at the small bathroom window. She was thin enough, if she could reach it, that would be her escape. Once outside the camp walls she could Apparate.

As she jumped, thin fingers gripped the metal bars, gritted teeth trying to keep at bay the pain filled groan threatening to escape as she hoisted herself, arms raw and still bleeding. There was not enough time for her to dwell on that, it would take longer to heal either way.

Instead she used that time to melt away the lock on the bars, that being the most she dove into those accursed powers. As she worked under the concealment of the shower running, a voice at the back of her head grew louder and louder, practically screaming at her, words unknown apart from a single discernible one: Death.

As she climbed out of the window, body hitting the ground below, a single promise formed from her lips "This is the last time." The last time she digs deep within herself to be that person everyone hatted, the last time she was willing to resort to her old self and ways.

Creating some distance from the camp, the night air felt like it was suffocating her lungs, ready to engulf her body as she ran. It's easy, so so easy to run, to turn the opposite way. No one followed her yet, she made it out of the camp without alerting Jasper and his men. By the time they realised she wasn't actually in the shower, she would be long gone, safe.

Safe…

Stumbling into a dark alley, she took a deep breath, ration winning over her heart. Snape's lessons wrecked her mind, all those words of not trusting, not allowing anyone near coming back to haunt her. And he was right, always knew what needed to be done.

"Fuck." Tearing her fingers through tangled locks, she exhaled sharply before acting. She knew exactly where she would Apparate, location vivid in her mind's eye.

Morphing in one of the bathroom stalls from the Leaky Cauldron, a pair of intoxicated eyes rose to look at her, alcohol infused breath lingering in the air. Ramming his head against the wall, she checked the wizard's pockets for money, grabbing his cloak in the process, body concealed under it.

As she stepped inside the busy establishment, smoke rose from countless cigarettes, happy voices reaching her ears as she casually walked over to the bar, ordering a shot "Got any rooms?" as she placed the alcohol to her lips, the content was gone in a one easy gulp, Talia flashing a charming smile.

Bored eyes lifted to take a better look at her "How many nights?" came the question as the bartender turned to look at the available keys .

Placing some money on the counter, she leaned in "One, I plan on getting a bloke drunk and in my bed. Don't need more than that." Shrugging his shoulders, he picked a random number, placing in her open hand the key to the room. At least it was on the first floor.

Turning around, she casually scanned the bar, steps slow, eyes lingering on several faces turning to look at her. No one familiar was in sight, Talia smirking as she looked away from a bloke winking at her. He would do. Making a sign with her finger, he followed her into the cool night air, half smoked cigarette dangling from between hungry lips.

"Come on let me take a good look at you." Slowly he removed the hood, locking eyes with her "Nice, where you from?" placing a hand behind his head, thin fingers stole the cigarette from his mouth as she pulled him around the corner "I got a room back at the bar if you want to really take me somewhere."

"Sure big boy, anything you want." Letting the cigarette drop from between her fingers, his eyes followed the motion, sparks from the lit bud igniting. As she immobilized him, he struggled as she whispered in his ear "Shhh, shhh, it's alright. I won't kill you, I just need you to fall asleep for me." Soon strength left his limbs, half-hearted attempts at hitting her, turning to non-existent.

Procuring the cloak off his back, she left him at the entrance of Knockturn alley, half leaning against the wall. Majority who would pass would just figure he had one too many pints and not bother too much with his presence there, especially not so close to the cursed place anyway.

She took slow steps, eyes alert and ears picking up on anything that could give away Talbott's position. It felt like she had been walking since the dawn of time, scanning windows, peering up at suspicious faces. They haven't been gone for that long, there was no way she missed them, unless of course the amount of time she spent in the bathroom feeling sorry for herself went unregistered inside her head.

He had to be there, he had to be alive.

She felt goose bumps form on the surface of her skin at the thought of finding him in a corner, lifeless. Shaking her head she continued, pushed through the hands reaching out to ask for some money, ignoring the whispers about several forbidden items or potions.

What she would not give for a vial of Liquid Luck, one drop, anything to calm her nerves and send her feet in the correct direction.

She berated herself, she should have went all out right then and there at the camp. Make Tonks run to alert the Ministry. Make Talbott turn into his Animagus form and flee. She needed him to be safe or else she could not form a single straight thought. Not without fearing the worse, not without the feelings inside her chest threatening to destroy her very core.

This was her fault, Jasper surely knew her real identity and was punishing her further. Or he knew who Talbott was and decided to finish the job, end the line of the Winger family once and for all. Stopping in her tracks, the idea made her stomach twist painfully.

Whatever the reasons, it was all too late for that. For such regrets. She needed to pay them no mind.

Peering around a corner, several silhouettes cast shadows on the dark stone bricks, a pain filled hiss resonating in the air, words chocking. A thud followed, laughter resonating, bouncing up the walls in a sinister song "You got some fight in you Winger." Talbott's groan hit her as one of the thugs kicked him in the sides.

"Bombarda!" it took them by surprise, it appeared out of nowhere as if the shadows themselves cast the spell. However the distraction was enough for Talbott to scramble to his feet and create some distance between himself and Jasper's thugs who were still lying on the ground, confused and hurt by the previous blast.

As he turned the corner, Talia's arms wrapped around him for a moment, before she pulled the cloak over his body, manoeuvring him through the narrow passages. She did not utter a word, instead always looking behind her shoulder as her hands pushed Talbott from behind.

However his laboured breaths, the way he stumbled, speed decreasing with every step taken worried her. It was not until he collapsed that she turned him around. So much blood painted his clothes. Cupping his face, Talia hovered over him "Come on, please, a little more. We need to get out of here." Despite the pressure he held on the wound, blood still slithered past his fingers, Talia wrecking her brain trying to remember what vital organs were below his rib cage.

Fast footsteps put an end to her train of thoughts, fingers coiling in his shirt to set him against the wall. Pushing herself as much as she could against him, she felt the strain in her arms as she cast Cave Inimicum, concealing them both. She could feel Talbott's hectic heart beat against her back, her hands shaking.

She could handle fire based spells without too much effort, however casting other types of spells without the use of her wand put a strain on her body. It started slow, as if needles were pricking her skin, her needing to keep the spell active until they were gone "Where in bloody Hell is he? Are you sure you got him good?" one of them abruptly turning to glare at the other.

"Definitely, he couldn't have gone far, he's too hurt and he can't Apparate in this area." Pushing the other thug, they all but started a fist fight right then and there. Inhaling slowly through her nose, Talia rested her head against Talbott's shoulder, trying to ignore the burning sensation now piercing her skin.

"Move it, if we don't find and finish him Munday will have our heads." That single line apparently reminded them of Jasper's rath, fists falling to their sides as they resumed their search.

Calling off the spell, Talia quickly turned, shaking Talbott slightly, a light slap making him open a pair of unfocused eyes "I know it hurts, but I need you to get up. Can you do that?" he nodded slowly as he strained to get back to his feet, using Talia's body for most of the support.

She knew they weren't out of the woods yet, especially with the enemy ahead of them. If they were planning to spend more time scouting, then Talbott would more than likely collapse once more and something told her he would not have the strength to get up a second time around.

She needed to keep them concealed, despite the pain, she needed to keep him safe "Lean onto me for all the support you need, just please don't fall." Securing his grip in her clothes, Talia's left hand secured him as much as she could, knees wobbling under his weight.

Raising her right arm as much as she could, the spell activated once more, pouring from her skin as they continued to make their way towards the Leaky Cauldron "Are you mad?" he hesitated as she pushed the door leading inside the establishment.

"Move Winger, we don't have time." His orbs widened upon hearing the use of his last name. It had been months since she addressed him like that. Pulling him inside, if anyone looked at them, they appeared like a drunken pair ready to call it a night "They won't think to search for us here. We're smart, not stupid remember?" protest died on his lips, body depleted of energy and sore. Even if he wanted to argue with her, he did not possess the necessary strength.

Barely managing to walk up a flight of stairs and into a room, Talbott collapsed on the bed. Warm hands worked quickly on lifting his shirt, hectic eyes analysing the damage done. Three stab wounds, close to one another, more than likely inflicted in short successions. Cursing under her breath, Talia knew well there wasn't a spell in her arsenal to heal such damage in a short amount of time.

"Get out of here Talia." His voice was faint, although conscious, they both knew it would change shortly.

"Shut up, save your strength." Getting off the bed, she took a towel from the bathroom, pressing it against his wounds, Talbott letting out a groan "I know but I need you to keep some pressure." Turning off the lights in the room, she peered out the window, taking the dark cloak off her back, using it as a curtain, sheltering them from prying eyes.

Climbing on top of him, her hands cupped his cheeks, forcing him in a sense to look at me "You'll hate me for this, but I need you to trust me and not scream." Removing the towel pressing down on his wounds, Talia's hand took its place, heat emanating from her skin onto his. Crashing her lips onto his, she suppressed the scream leaving him.

Talbott struggled against the pain inflicted up until to the moment he gasped for air, feeling like fire was thrust down his throat. Light radiated inside the small room, embers colouring Talia's orbs, chest heaving as she continued to pour herself into him, taking hold of all his control. She could feel her heart savagely beating against her ribcage, picking up an abnormal pace.

Soon the pain subsided, instead warmth engulfing him entirely, Talbott shuddering through parted lips. Soft finger tips caressed his bared skin, shivers dancing throughout his body as he surrendered completely to her.

As she parted from his lips, his hand patted his abdomen, yet no more wounds could be felt, no more pain. Her eyes appeared to die down in the dark room, returning to normal "Better?" caressing his cheek, he just nodded against the palm of her hand "Good. Obliv…"

She barely began uttering the spell, just above a whisper, his body acting on auto pilot, panic eating away at his nerves, confusion and hurt wrecking his brain as he practically slapped his hand over her mouth, pulling her onto the hard mattress, overpowering her "Why would you want to do that?" his hands trembled, body tense, however despite addressing the question, he still hesitated in removing the only barrier preventing her from erasing his memory "How far off did you want to take it? How much do you want to erase?"

Talia did not fight back, instead waiting for him to ease his grip on her knowing very well he could not keep her like that forever. Mumbling something against his hand, he reluctantly let her go "Run."

"No." sitting up on her elbows, their foreheads touched.

"Run away, you know too much, they will use you against me. Every moment near me if setting you up to fail." He shook his head, mind still struggling with the latest events.

"Right back at you." Groaning, Talia allowed herself to fall back on the bed, a heavy sigh leaving her chest. He was stubborn, so set and bent on being the saviour, the hero, on doing the right thing. Pressing her knuckles against her eyes, the immediate desire of washing took over. She was covered in blood, smelled like it. It stuck to her like a second skin, numbing her thoughts. If only she would have been fast enough, he would not have remembered…

Drawing a sharp breath, she actually wondered how much could she have made him forget. Just the healing process? The accursed day that seemed endless by that point? Her entire existence?

"Damn you." She hissed at him, the mattress shifting as Talbott got off the bed, lights being turned on, however she still draped a hand over her eyes "Are you some kind of sadist?" Just go she pleaded inside her head, anything to keep him safe. Anything to ensure there would never be another repeat of almost losing him, of seeing him in pain, blood painting his skin.

Feeling the weight of the bed shift once more, she flinched when his hand took hold of hers, lifting it slowly "I am in equal measures so mad and amazed by you." Caressing her cheek, a ghost of a smile graced his lips despite the pain entrapped in his eyes "We need to alert someone from the Ministry. Do you have anyone you can trust?"

Shaking her head slowly, the answer left her lips "Not a soul. But tonight isn't over, Jasper is mine and he will get what's coming to him." Sitting up, she paced the room trying to come up with a plan "You need to find Tonks, figure out where she went. Mutual friend, acquaintance, anything. I need to return, have Jasper show me his ugliest side and hope that by the time you come back with reinforcements that I am still" stopping in her tracks, she turned to him "forgive me, tonight I am not myself."

She could see the protest wanting to leave his lips, to put himself on the line, go instead of her however she quickly made work of that idea. She did not know Tonks, had no history with her so she could not predict where she might head. Also Jasper already tried to kill him, having Talbott go back to camp would just be serving him up for slaughter.

"Besides, you keep forgetting I am actually a Crane. Jasper would be forced to keep me alive until the proper time comes. Removing this abomination doesn't come easy." Her words chilled Talbott to the bone, as if she was talking about removing a baby tooth, not the very organ that ensured she lived. Then again he had never seen the old Talia and it hit him then, even if she was hiding behind a new name, she had always been a Crane, allowed that cursed legacy to fuel her hate and rage filled eyes.

He met Talia Hayes, however at that very moment he was in the same room with Talia Crane. And she was tired of running, tired of hiding.

"Go" she motioned towards the window "and please stay safe."

Talbott have her a curt nod, turning to look outside, ensuring no one was in sight "Talia" he called out before she left the room "you'd better not die because you can be sure I'll give you an earful once this is done." He did not turn to look at her, could not, or else he felt he was unable to let her return to that dreaded camp.

A small giggle reached his ears, fragile hands wrapping around his waist. She could feel the tension coursing through his body with how muscles tensed, how he breathed in when she touched him. He refused to return her affection and with good reason as far as he was concerned. She had betrayed him, his trust, the very idea of being opened and honest with one another and not hide.

But he allowed her to hold him, her forehead pressed against his back "I know you're mad and I understand why but I can't take it back. I wanted to do it, save you the pain." Unravelling her arms, she took a step away creating distance between them "Can't wait for you to tell me off." He smiled, despite the anger burning in his chest he smiled, dread filling him when the door behind closed with a soft clank, leaving him all alone.

Looking up at the chipping ceiling he felt the urge to ask anyone out there willing to listen to spare them. Not because he was ever religious and believed in a higher power, he did not even recall ever knowing any prayers or verses for such occasions, however he needed someone to hear his plea and grant his aching heart that one wish. For he knew, he was certain that if they managed somehow to overcome the challenge presented before them, they would be fine.

If they could stand now, they could withstand anything.

At least that was what he believed to be true as he soared through the night sky in search for Tonks.

On the other end of the partnership, Talia made her way towards the camp to find it surprisingly silent, nothing stirring in sight, no goons guarding the doors. It certainly felt like walking into a trap. Pushing aside the large doors, the hallways leading to the main yard was empty.

Only Jasper waited, prompted on a chair in the middle of the yard, wand casting Incendio every time the fire in front of him died down. He slowly lifted his eyes to welcome Talia, a smile shaping his lips.

"I'll tear your heart out Jasper!" Talia threatened once he rose from the chair, both taking their places on what would soon turn to their own battlefield.

"Not if I carve yours out first!"