The night air felt soothing and cool against his wings, travelling through each feather as he searched for bright hair, each passing second feeling as if time was slipping through his strong grasp. With each flutter determining his flight, his brain got even more caught up in itself, thoughts running wild.

"I should have went with her." Alone, that's how they dealt best with everything, however they promised to be a team. He remembered her stating at the very beginning she was not searching for a friend, but for a partner. As much as he wished that word could be erased from existence, he now more than before understood its meaning.

They worked for so many months to make their duo unbeatable, growing stronger with each strategy rehearsed, yet guilt towered over all the emotions drilling through him. He blamed himself, his own inability to withstand her and his initial resolve: better off alone. Because of him he felt she had to resort back to old tricks and deeds. Due to him getting closer, allowing them to become one, Talia was now exposed and franky so was he.

But how could Talbott go back now? When he was in Knockturn Alley, his entire life flashed before his eyes. The pain barely registered after the first stab as memories violently invaded him, his parents, his friends, her. He would have given anything then to see her one more time, to pour his heart out, say things he never admitted.

Tell her how he adored seeing her forehead wrinkle as she continued to read Muggle books late into the night, that concentrated look suiting her perfectly. Admit how warm her skin felt her when he was embracing her, how she alone managed to melt the cold stone walls of his heart. He would shake her head at her when they were training, that wild long auburn hair always getting in the way, yet she never pulled it back because she hated how her ears looked, but he believed they were cute.

When her eyes met his as he mustered all his strength to get up as soon as Jasper's men hit the ground, adrenaline rushed back in his body. At first he thought he was surely hallucinating, there was no way she could have escaped the camp with everyone watching her like a hawk. However her soft hands were real, her strength pulling him back to reality every time he felt his consciousness slipping. Talia came for him, saved his life.

For that reason alone he was able to fight another day, to help. Despite her wishing to Obliviate him, he understood deep down it was all to protect him from all the hurt. And after all said and done, he also performed the same spell on several people, in an attempt to shield his secrets. Shaking the thoughts free, he felt his mind collapsing onto itself. How could he handle a scene where he returned to camp and found her dead? The very idea made him lose focus as he barely avoided flying straight into an antenna.

Settling down on a roof top, he knew the majority of the wizards in London lived in that neighbourhood. It was their way, always being close to one another, a sheltered and united community. It was never a good idea to mingle between Muggles as they needed to keep their identity a secret.

Choosing a secluded spot to transform back, he ran down the streets, eyes scanning windows for any familiar faces, anyone who would even be awake at that hour, yet few lights shinned out into the streets. Stopping in the middle of the road, he felt a tad dizzy from the blood loss, but apart from that he was alright. His body was fine, strong, untouched.

"Think Talbott, think." Tonks would have went to someone she knew could be trusted, but who? Who did she know that he could relate to as well? Lifting his eyes towards the night sky the name appeared clearly in his mind: Alastor Moody. He helped them during the Vault quests, he could be trusted. And while he did not know his address, he knew one address in London where he could go to.

It was probably around two in the morning when he banged loudly against the door while the other hand kept a steady finger on the doorbell. The sounds echoed inside the apartment until the door swung open, wand directed to his face "Talbott." Bill couldn't hide his surprise when he pushed past him, the door closing swiftly. As the lights came on, his eyes widened seeing the blood on his clothes and those manic eyes searching the surroundings as if he was waiting for something to jump from inside the apartment and attack "What happened?"

"Moody, I need to know his address. There's no time to explain."

Bill pushed back his untamed locks, rubbing the sleep from his eyes "Wait a second, are you hurt? There's so much blood." Talbott quickly caught the hand edging to touch him, swallowing loudly.

"I'm fine, but Talia isn't, she's all alone and we need backup." That was all Bill needed to hear. Running toward his room, he picked out the first clothes that came to hand, getting dressed in record time.

"I'm coming with you, come on."

As they apparated close to Moody's house, Tonks and him where speaking with two Aurors. As she turned to witness the pair approaching, she sprinted directly in Talbott's arms thanking Merlin he was alive "I thought for sure you're dead."

"Talia came to the rescue, but now it's time I returned the favour." He replied, returning a quick embrace. It was not characteristic of him to engage in such things, however at that very moment it felt every bit right.

Moody's voice reached them "You two stay behind us since Jasper took your wands. So Winger, where are we going to take this fight?"

"Back to camp, I'll lead the way."

Smoke circled the small training yard, several fires burning around Talia and Jasper. She was right, she did not lie when she told him that a strategy was formed regarding duelling him. Of course not one lie could slip past her lips when she sat tied to a chair in his office, Veritaserum working through her system.

Jasper slowly approached Talia, a limp in his right leg making him hiss as the pain hit him with every step. Burn marks married his body, torn fabric of his clothes hanging loosely in some places, in others sticking to the melting skin "You are such a pain Talia." Casting once more Crucio, she squirmed, body shaking violently with the pain inflicted, a scream escaping her throat.

It was due to one of the unforgivable spells that he could dominate the duel and defeat her. Kneeling next to her body, he pulled out a dagger, dangerous eyes taking her in. She tried to speak, him hushing her as he ripped her blouse at the neck "No, no I'm not going to kill you. It's alright." Caressing her hair a couple of times, he pressed a hand to her neck, blade edging towards her chest.

Panic gripped her, overpowering the pain inflicted by the spell, trembling hands trying to push back the knife in his hand, yet he still held more strength. The tip dug inside her flesh, Talia letting out a strangled gasp, eyes never leaving his face as he ran the blade through her scar. Fire burned his skin further, him screaming before dropping the bladed and letting her go creating some distance.

The Crucio effect wavered, however a new wave of pain took her over, Talia pressing a hand to her torn skin. It felt like molten steel was trying to make its way through the new found wound, the entire hot pain making her sick to the stomach "What did you do?"

Jasper just let himself collapse on the ground, coughing as smoke invaded his lungs. He turned to look at her, witness bright eyes changing colour, fire dancing in them, he smiled, yet did not utter another word. Not even when her eyes dimmed, pain subsiding. Not even when she stumbled to get up and he held his wand up to attack once more.

When Moody and the rest entered the camp, Jasper just dropped his wand, hands held up as he surrendered. But that smile never left his lips, eyes always watching Talia. If he was captured, if he was going to be taken to Azkaban for performing a forbidden curse, then why did he look like he had just won?

By the time morning light came, the camp was swarming with Aurors and Ministry workers. Wands were retrieved from Jasper's office and handed back to the survivors. His men were nowhere to be found however they did discover a trap door leading down to a dungeon, Amy Withmore and Mirunna Finnemore were found both alive despite not being in the best condition.

The other Durmstrang student was found dead in a forest, Karol however also fled alongside the rest of the men.

The Ministry soon discovered as interviews continued that all applicants that decided the training there was not for them held no memory of even applying for the camp in the first place. It was concluded they were all Obliviated.

Nymphadora Tonks and Talbott Winger were both interviewed separately, the Ministry offering them a job, concluding they had all the necessary requirements to become Aurors, based on the actions taken to bring the truth to light.

Jasper Munday did not wish to defend himself or answer questions as his sentence was being passed out, a lifetime in Azkaban awaited him.

Talia Hayes went through several interviews, her not being allowed to leave the Ministry for several days as different people questioned her. She kept the same details, same explanations no matter how they tried to twist it or make her believe others had a different story.

Alastor Moody was the last to step into the interrogation room to speak with her. Again the same answers, the same responses "You're lying. And I don't care why you won't tell the rest the reasons, but I need to know. I need to know who I'm going to train." Her eyes travelled to him slowly "You'll make one Hell of an Auror if trained right, the reports show you're bloody brilliant. Wandless magic? Fighting? Able to withstand torture? Those are abilities most of my best men don't have."

She kept the same face, not betraying anything as he spoke "They trusted you. They came to you." He knew she was referring to Tonks and Talbott "Why?"

"Because I don't have a problem bending the rules. So I will ask you once more, for me and just me. Who are you really?"

It was a bet, he would either tell the Ministry or keep it a secret, despite it being a damn good one. But in the end how much longer could she even hide it, with everyone watching and wanting to know "I am Talia Crane, daughter of Constantine and Josephine Crane." She lifted her hand not allowing him to speak "And no I didn't die that day they were captured. I was saved and now I believe that was a mistake." Moody's mouth opened, however no words came out "Do with that what you will."

He did not write it down in his report, the file on the desk closing before her "Welcome to the team miss Hayes."