Solitude has never actually been Talia's friend. While most of her existence she had spent it alone or hiding from people, she was never fond of being alone. Ever since she was little, she was locked away, feeling as if she was a prisoner, trapped between four walls, never to truly know what was on the outside.

As she moved from one place to another, she spent a lot of her free time reading on interactions, learning to shape herself and her way of speaking to best fit any scenario. If she was not reading, she was paying attention to how people behaved alone and around others. What made them click and how they would react in front of certain events.

However it was all for show, each person in front of her being resumed to nothing else but a purpose to serve. Nothing of magnitude, or worth. No wonder Talbott managed to shake her up as he did. Despite their time being cut short, it managed to make her very core tremble and tumble more than once. A feeling that she had yet to name or admit anymore.

Entering a dilapidated building, under the concealment of the night, several voices spoke in muffled tones from behind masks. The inside of the concrete structure as cold as the late November air, chills pricking her skin, the attire far too thin for such an occasion, yet it ensured she could move freely, no rustle of the clothes being heard as she approached on silent feet, listening in.

Several cries could be heard from behind a closed door, soft pleas mumbled from under mouth gags, fear and desperation casting a thick veil as several people stirred, a harsh command being directed at them, telling them to quiet down or else another one of them would meet their end.

From her initial assessment, there were a maximum of ten Death Eaters patrolling, Talia careful not to trip against the rubble at her feet as to not alert them of her presence. If one pebble shifted on the floor, all could be lost in a matter of seconds and there would be no going back or saving the prisoners.

Hiding behind a pillar upon hearing footsteps, a patrol of two passed, both engaged in a discussion about mundane topics, as if they did not just kidnap people in order to torture them for information. If there was one thing Talia had to give props to, was Voldemort being able to find such people that were so far gone, they cared little about who they killed or how they did it.

To her left a door slowly opened, Talia ducking out of sight as she waited for the Death Eater to come out and take his rightful post, another set of footprints stopping right next to the wall she went behind. She held her breath as they exchanged a few words, telling one another the area is clear and no one in sight.

A scream of pain echoed inside the building as the Crucio curse hit its target, Talia gritting her teeth as she remained hidden, contemplating on which path to take as to not be caught. Getting up, she walked ahead, choosing not to go after two targets at once since she knew stealth was of utmost importance and while she could take on two people without much issues, one would surely alert the rest of her presence inside the building.

Following one of them inside what she believed to be the bathrooms by the stench alone, she was quick to rip the mask off his face, wide eyes taking her in as she leaned in locking lips with the Death Eater. By the time pain burned from the inside out, she had already done far too severe damage for him to even fight or even push her back. Screaming was taken off the table in the first second as fire left her mouth, burning down his throat, the man only being able to stare in horror, fire reflecting off her wild gaze.

Placing him in one of the stalls, she healed his body before all living cells died out, leaving no trace behind as to what caused his sudden death.

Listening in, she was met with nothing but silence as she emerged into the hallways, seeking out her next victim.

If it was not in her nature to pay attention to everything happening in that very moment, she might have missed the sound of wings just outside a broken window. She barely had time to press her back against the wall, casting a concealment charm on herself as just a few feet away a golden eagle flew inside the building, morphing into a man a few moments later once he assessed there was no immediate danger.

Taking out his wand, Talbott listened in attentively as he took a few steps, Talia almost cringing considering his footwear to be a tad too rigid for such a mission. As he drew closer, she silently prayed in her head for him not to get too close to the wall or else he would surely stumble into her and blow her cover. Fighting him at that very moment was not something she wished.

"Just that the fuck are you doing here you idiot?" she asked herself, annoyed more than anything. As he stepped right in her line of sights, Talbott tensed, brows drawing together as he turned to look behind, inhaling deeply, Talia not even blinking. His sharp eyes scanned the dark corridors, however he could not see anyone, yet he still lingered there, not even an arm stretch away from her.

If he were to take just one step to his left he would bump into her, but it appeared Talbott felt as if there was someone there with him. She felt her heart beating faster as she looked at him running a hand through his bangs in an attempt of getting them out of his face. Seeing him like that, not bothering to even tame his hair and pull it back in his usual fashion, made her eyes softened. If there was one thing she always liked, it was how his hair like that made him appear younger, betraying that boyish charm she used to swoon over.

But now, if he came in closer just a fraction, she would have to knock him out without any hesitation, the palm of her hands itching under the tension of the moment.

A soft hum to her left distracted Talbott, him nodding into the darkness before advancing, a clear rehearsed sign. Yet she still could not move until they were out of sigh, the very hint of magic dissipating being enough to alert them to her whereabouts.

Thankfully they knew sitting in one spot was not a good idea, Talia letting out a heavy breath once she was able to move.

Is she were to listen to her instincts, she would have left as soon as Talbott and whoever else was inside the building, arrived. If the Order or Aurors were there then there was no reason for her to stick around, she could leave the rescue mission to them. But then another thought sparked inside her mind, Talia cursing herself. If they were not enough, if they would be caught off guard, then their chances of survival, both for him and the hostages would be close to none.

Of all the people, she thought as she followed close by, recognizing Tonks, as well as the man Talia had seen her often with, despite not having a name for his yet. And they were making a mistake, they were going in head first, right to the heart of the problem.

Picking up a small rock from the ground, she threw it at their feet, scrambling to get away and out of sight, cutting a few corners, only to feel the tip of a wand pressed against her back. It did not waver, it did not falter, however remained in the same spot as she raised her hands, indicating she did not have a wand on her.

Slowly turning around, her eyes locked with the Death Eater's, who watched her eyes intently, a hand rising slowly to take off the mask. The moment she recognized the pale face behind it, she pulled off the mask covering her mouth, her arms snaking around his neck, pulling him in a tight embrace.

"Felix." Getting over his initial shock and surprise of finding her there, his arms wrapped around her after missing a few beats, the tension in his muscles loosening as he felt her warmth against his body. Cupping his cheeks in her hands, she crossed her thumbs over his sunken muscles, worry evident "You fucking idiot." Once more she pulled him closer for a few brief seconds "Run, get out of here or you'll die. Please go."

Creating some distance, his eyes fell on her, carefully looking at her from head to toes "Why? Why are you here?" his voice faltered, shaking as he finished asking her those questions, Talia half paying attention to him, half on the lookout for any noises.

Focusing her eyes on him, she took his free hand "Go, I can't help you if you're here, you will be caught in the crossfire. Go before it's too late."

He swallowed hard, eyes sharp radiating with pain "You know I can't."

Pulling his back in, pushing her forehead against his, she uttered softly "I'll find a way to save you, but not if you stand in my way."

As a spell went off somewhere in another room, Talia pulled back the mask covering everything but her eyes, running out in the hallway. Casting smoke to conceal herself, she pushed through, walking in the middle of a full blow battle. Talbott's wand emanated a blue light, protecting himself and the hostages, Tonks trying her best to untie them as their other help fought with all his might to keep everyone off them.

A soft green hue barely managed to materialise itself, Talia lunging to push Talbott out of the way, a dagger flying out of her hand as she tumbled out of their line of sight, concealing her form in the smoke once more.

"Are you alright?" Tonks's voice echoed inside the building, barely managing to see Talbott get back on his feet, hectic eyes trying to look out for the person that pushed him to the ground.

"See to your task, don't worry about me." His voice responded, feet secure as he continued to attack.

They moved well together, Talbott in the front, him in charge of guiding the prisoners out to safety, Tonks and her friend securing them from behind. Talia watched from her corner, attacking when necessary, the remaining Death Eaters calling for a retreat of forces.

While several footsteps hurried to leave the building, a couple remained behind, a grunt leaving Tonks's lungs as she hit a wall. Stepping from between the smoke and mayhem, Talia took no second chances, a single neck twist putting an end to the first attacker, her moving in to the other, pulling him back as he screamed in pain, her quickly emerging to check out the damage done to her friend.

Tonks wobbled on her feet with the help of her friend, Talia coming closer "Move now."

"Who are you?" the man keeping Tonks upright asked, however all she did was look at the corridor Talbott already escaped through, not uttering a word. Lifting her eyes, locking them with Talia's, Tonks gasped, the space between them closed before she could utter the name.

"No, you didn't see me, do you understand? I'll explain, but not here, not now." Looking into the eyes of the man, she refused to give in "Take her, go, I'll cover you."

Guiding them through what she considered secure, she got them out of the building through a different exit, several figures making a run for it through the building, Talbott on the lookout. As he turned to look for his friends, Talia hid, taking one last look at the people she helped.

"I will stay, make sure no one attacks you from behind, go."

"Talia." Tonks straightened, leaving the secure grip, wrapping her in a tight hug "This is Remus."

"A fucking pleasure under other circumstances, go before anyone comes. I can't keep them all away. Please." She nodded, as if finally understanding the words addressed to her, taking hold of Remus's hand as they made their way away from the building.

As Talia watched over them, she saw Tonks turning around one last time, smiling wide as she pressed her index finger to her lips, indicating she was not going to tell a single soul about meeting her that night.