He knew she would not approve of what he did but despite her anger, the risk of losing her was far greater, one that he could not face again. So he reached out, to Dumbledore who was kept informed on what all sides were doing. While Talia would not listen to him in the slightest, he knew she would listen to Snape.

So he arranged for them to discuss, using a secret fireplace, Sirius taking her to the meeting place.

To say she was surprised was an understatement, however as quickly as emotions flashed on her face, just as fast she pushed them back "You will not go to the Hall of Prophecy and this is the only warning I am giving you Talia. It has been attempted and the end results aren't in your favor."

Crossing her hands over her chest, she peered into the flames "Well hello to you too father."

Hearing him call her that, his face softened, eyes searching her face, voice losing a fraction of its harshness "You will go mad if you attempt to look into a prophecy that is not your own. What do you think the Death Eaters have tried?"

"Alright, I might have heard that this might be an impossible feat however if Voldy wants it, then I can at least attempt to find it and steal it."

She heard him sigh, thing he usually did when annoyed with her behavior, once he had lost all control over time "I need you to listen to me, actually pay attention. You don't have to do this, you can fall back, you can retreat and it doesn't mean that you will be giving up, but better yet sit and manage to form a proper plan. You don't need to be part of this war."

She chewed on her bottom lip, eyes shifting to Sirius for a moment who did not look their way, but he could hear what they were talking about "Then join me. Haven't you also had enough?"

"I can't. I have a part to play, you don't." he cut her off immediately, cold and unrelenting in his decision.

"I see." Running her tongue across her teeth, she let out a bitter laugh "Well in that case what can I say? You do what you have to do and I will do the same." Stepping away from the fire, Snape called back to her however she did not waver. Two could play the stubborn game, she learned it from him after all.

Looking at the flames Sirius hesitated for a second, Snape looking over at him "Keep her safe for me at least. Perhaps there are still people in this world she is willing to listen to." Only nodding, Sirius followed Talia, stopping her right before she left the establishment, a steady hand being placed on her shoulder.

"Wait, he's gone. Though for what it's worth, he is right, you could decide to leave this behind and no one would blame you."

Turning to look at him, she fumbled to find her cigarettes, placing one between her lips, lighter flicking under her thumb but not igniting, further angering her before she discarded it, fire being produced from the tip of her finger "Stupid really that I rely on a Muggle a contraption to light a bloody cigarette."

Smiling, he removed his hand, sitting across for her, leaning against the wall "True, it is quite funny knowing you can do what you do."

Cocking a brow, she blew the smoke through her nose "Trust me, you don't know what I can really do."

"Fair" he nodded "however I still think it's beyond magical. So are you, not just your powers." Seeing how she lifted her eyes to look at him, he continued "I understand why you want to do this, you also have people you wish to protect and people who wish to protect you just the same. It's not wrong you know."

"I never said it is. But I want to be here to protect as many as I can. Believe it or not, I actually care about some people."

"I never said you didn't. But when you wish to take a certain action, think about how that might actually affect those you care about."

Several faces flashed in the back of her mind, Talia letting out a grown "Fine, I'll be careful. In and out, no touching or taking prophecies, just looking around. Happy?"

Sirius dipped his head "Not entirely, but I know very well there's no stopping you. It's either we are with you and try to support you the best we can or we risk losing you and that's not something we want. Not something I want."

"Why? Because I'm magical?" she teased him, Sirius actually chuckling at her words.

"Could be. Or maybe because you are genuinely a good person underneath all that harsh exterior. I get it, you want to protect yourself the best way you can. Being betrayed cuts deep and that wound never heals."

Her eyes searched his, Talia nodding her head before taking a last drag from her cigarette.

She did go through with her plan, however once inside the cold room, she felt as if she was staring into an abyss of prophecies. Her heart beat wild inside her chest, Talia feeling for the first time in long, absolutely overwhelmed. She was thankful people actually relented and provided her the information for the room, but now it felt it was all for nothing.

But she did not give up right then and there. Instead, she explored, the silence as if weighing down on her eardrums threatening to shatter them. All thoughts appeared to die out inside her head, one after of the other being hushed as a light on a shelf drew her attention. It whispered something indiscernible, words she did not understand at first, however she still could not help it as she reached her hand out, fingers running across the cold surface of the glass.

It was hers, she knew it, somewhere inside the back of her head she knew that was a prophecy for her. A distant future, signs she could not understand or place, however she was scared, that she could discern. There was a future for her after all, despite the cryptic message.

So she would stay and she would fight, deciding to become an active member of the Order of Phoenix. Many did not understand the sudden change of heart and even fewer looked into questioning her motives. Why she stuck around, why she was offering her guidance, why she was training with them, it did not matter. It looked as if, for those who actually knew her, that Talia was returning to her former glory.

She did not share her motives, being evasive, yet a tad more kind, however there was one person in the group who could not shake the slither of doubt inside his brain. Talbott knew Talia came back from the Ministry all shaken, something happened, something she did not disclose.

However with everything going and the planning, there was little time to question each other and even more so, they refused to hinder one another. Focus, focus on the missions, on tasks, on staying alive.

And as days trickled into June, Talbott and Talia found themselves back inside the Ministry of Magic, her separating herself from the group. He did not even realize when she had disappeared from his side, Talbott only seeing her form running in the distance after someone's shadow. He wanted to yell after her, but couldn't, they needed to be stealthy, they needed to not draw attention to themselves.

So with a heavy heart and tug on his arm from Tonks, he let her go, Talbott following the rest.

He could feel his muscles tense as he made his way through the darkness, strong fingers wrapped around his wand. Almost unconsciously he reached to touch the pin safely strapped to the inside of his jacket, a silly thought crossing his head. He had switched it around so many coats and jackets, brought it with him to missions and stakeouts that he was even surprised the lock still held it clasp as tight as it did. For some unspeakable reason he actually thought that if he were to ever lose it, he would lose Talia as well. It would be permanent, the only thing left to remind him being two puncture holes, the same etched deep on his own heart.

"We need to split up." Moody urged "Got to cover more ground."

Talbott nodded, Remus and Tonks following his lead, the rest going on their separate ways, agreeing to meet up in a certain point in a few minutes, not wishing to lose too much time apart. Entering a room he had not been in prior while working for the Ministry, Talbott scanned it, placing a hand against Remus's chest. In the darkness they could discern a figure rummaging in the far end of the office, wand barely lighting as to not draw attention "State your name." Talbott uttered casting the Lumos Maxima spell, light engulfing the office.

"I know that voice." Removing his mask and hood, a smirk played on the man's lips "That's one memory I still keep. After all you were my captor."

Inhaling sharply, Talbott stopped Remus from attacking "No. Go, he's mine."

"Are you mad? You don't know who might join him." Remus tried to convince him, however it took one look at him to realize the young Auror would not back down. Tonks appeared to be on guard more than usual, her hair turning bright red upon recognizing the man standing before them.

"No" Talbott added, eyes never leaving the figure "he's searching for something, he wants information. Don't you Constantine?"

Laughing, he lifted his hands up in the air "You caught me, what can I say, we appear to keep bumping into each other over and over again Talbott Winger. Do tell, how is my daughter?"

"You two go, I got this one." There were no emotions giving him away as he took a step forward "You don't have a daughter, she died when she was five." But his eyes burned with cold fury as he saw the smile on Constantine's face grow wider, a low chuckle following after.

"You see you're not wrong, but not right either. So what now boy? You actually think you have a chance of going against me?" from the shadows another figure stirred, turning in a vacant chair, Talbott's eyes growing wide.

"Jasper. What are you doing here?"

Slowly getting up, his wand was already pointed at Talbott for good measure "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Consider this one an added bonus to all I have taught you."

Constantine released a spell across the room, Talbott deflecting it with one swift move, countering shortly. Jasper did not engage yet, instead sitting there, watching the show, eyes shifting between the two men.

As Talbott ducked and hid behind a desk, Constantine spoke once more "You really are a nuisance." He growled, patting his arm, putting out a patch of burning clothes "And I don't tolerate pests such as you."

His spell hit the desk, Talbott barely scrambling to his feet as to not meet the same fate as the wood that now sat in pieces scattered all across the floor. A flick of his wrist, Constantine stepping away casting away Talbott's wand "Well now, any last words?"

"I actually have one more nugget of wisdom to bestow on my former student." Jasper added coming closer "Crucio." Talbott hit the floor, body convulsing as waves of flesh tearing pain exploded through his being "For all your training, you still have not learned a thing." Casting the spell once more, Talbott closed his eyes, however instead of a new wave of pain, Constantine's cries of pain were heard "You like that? It's the same pain that my sister endured. The same your daughter endured and all those children. Too bad you won't remember this." Knocking him out, he nonchalantly cast the Obliviate spell, crutching down to look at the gash he managed to inflict on the side of Constantine's head, poking it with the tip of his wand "He has a strong spirit and mind this one, too bad it's rotten to the core."

Shakingly, Talbott got up on his feet "Why?"

Turning to look at his former student retrieving his wand, Jasper shrug his shoulders "I always wanted to do this honestly. I would also really like to kill him but that would look suspicious since someone else knows we broke rank. So I don't like to rely on odds, she might die, she might not, but then again no one knows."

"Where's Talia?" directing the wand at Jasper's face, Talbott witnessed him glaring.

"What do I look like her keeper? If you lost her that's on you."

"She went after someone."

Jasper's brows rose "Well if we are to use our brains and information at hand there are four people she knows that could capture her attention in the Death Eater ranks and two are here."

"Felix." Talbott's voice wavered, Jasper looking absolutely done with him.

"Or that mad woman Josephine. Imagine it, a fight, no one would know, she could take her revenge."

Pressing the wand against his throat, Jasper felt it burn his skin "Then why were you here with Constantine?"

"All part of the same roundabout that ensured his survival for so long. Information. Voldemort wins, Constantine provides immortality to his most trusted soldiers, win, win Winger." He spat out "That's why we broke rank, we have other orders to fulfil. Unlike other people that can't perform a simple task. The prophecy is still here isn't it?"

"Better here than Talia going mad." He added dragging the wand across undamaged skin, Jasper hissing in pain "I still don't know which side you serve. I don't know if you want to hurt her or save her."

Chuckling, Jasper looked up at Talbott "Then it's certain you will never know. Now I suggest you Obliviate me too and rough me up a bit. I intend to live this encounter and forget the colossal failure you turned out to be. You have yet to understand everything and it's due to that you will never be able to do what it takes for her."

"That's where you're wrong." Holding his wand in front of Jasper's face, he cast the spell, knocking him out after just out of spite. He wanted him to remember his face before losing consciousness. Staring at the door Tonks and Remus went through, Talbott ran after them despite the heavy feeling in his heart.

He knew well enough that if Talia wanted him with her, she would have asked. Instead she went ahead alone and all that he would do would hinder her on her solo mission.