"Dear Minister,

I am writing to inform you that I will accept your job offer, but with three conditions. Firstly, I will serve the Ministry in the capacity of a consulting Auror. I do not wish to have a full time position. Secondly, I will choose which cases I work on and I will use any means I see fit to pursue leads and offenders. Thirdly, I will work alone. I will not have a permanent partner. I will consult with anyone in the department who I am assisting with a case, but I will not be permanently assigned to another Auror.

If you can respect these reasonable conditions, then I will happily accept your job offer. If not, then you will be kind to leave me to my peace.

Thank you,

Cadence Coleman"

Gabriel lowered the letter from in front of his face and gave me an unreasonable expression. His dark blue eyes, which I knew would be a different color tomorrow, were wide with disbelief and mild disappointment. His handsome charming lips were curled in a disapproving frown. I smirked at him as I sat back in my desk chair. Gabriel let his hands hang by his sides for a moment before he crossed them over his chest and glared at me.

"What?" I questioned. "I don't want to be a full time Auror. I don't want to be tied down to commitments to the Ministry. I'm not interested in fulfilling anyone's agenda but my own. This way, I can help the Ministry as the Department sees fit while also using their resources to help find Carrigan. I thought you'd be happy…"

"If you're going back to work, I am most certainly happy," Gabriel said with a soft tone. "Your insubordination never ceases to amaze me."

I laughed. "You think it wouldn't by now," I smiled. "I'm surprised Scrimgeour gave you the letter."

"He took most of his anger out on me. He thinks you're out of line to make these requests."

"But he'll honor them," I replied still smiling. "Because he wants me back."

"You're good," Gabriel nodded. "But don't count on that to carry you with Scrimgeour. You know how he works."

"Yes, and he knows how I work. He knows that I'm bitter after what happened last year. I know he's not to blame, but the Ministry as an institution is. And I'm not crazy about going and aiding their agenda. I want to make sure I get something in return for my hard work and unwavering faith in the dear Ministry of Magic. I want to use it just like it's planning to use me."

Gabriel's lips spread into a smile. He dropped the letter on the floor as he uncrossed his arms and relaxed from his stern demeanor. He crossed the room to me in four long strides. Without warning he leaned over me, his hands holding the arms of my chair, and trapped me in the chair under his muscular body. He leaned down and kissed me passionately on the mouth. I was not expecting the deep lust that came oozing from his mouth into mine as we kissed; I could not help but return the sentiment. I wrapped my arms around his shoulders as I inhaled and plunged deeply into his sweet kisses.

After a few moments, he pulled back as he smiled down at me with all knowing, hot eyes and a crooked-charming smile. I bit my bottom lip as lust rushed through my entire body. Gabriel grabbed my hands and pulled me up from the chair straight into his arms. He embraced me close to his chest and kissed me slowly while his hands wandered up my shoulders and neck. His fingers tangled in my hair as his lips danced across my chin and jaw line.

"Gabriel," I said his name with a girlish giggle. "What has come over you?"

He leaned back to look me in the face as he spoke. "Your stubbornness and bluntness is something that I love. Seeing you act that way has always turned me on."

I laughed again and stood on my toes to kiss him romantically. He lifted my body up and allowed me to wrap my legs around his torso.

"I'm happy to see I still have that effect on you," I smirked as Gabriel's hot lips kissed my neck and collar bone while he held me. Without warning, he lightly tossed my body down on the leather couch of the study and laid down on top of me. He pressed his body against mine with tingling desire, which made heat rise in my core. I smiled as his hands pulled at the buttons of my pants and our lips pressed together full of love.

Gabriel sat back as I undid his pants and pulled off his black tee shirt to reveal his beautifully sculpted torso and upper body. My knees grew weak and insides turned with desire whenever I saw him half-naked. His toned arms were covered in sleeve tattoos, with multiple designs that overlapped and intertwined to make an outstanding piece of artwork on his flesh. There was hardly any hair on his chest or abs, his skin was smooth and tanned from the sun soaking his flesh every morning while he ran; there was a small tattoo on his left side, on his ribs that read 'rhythm.' The sight of the small printed word made my heart skip a beat.

I reached forward and touched his rolling six-pack abs. I traced my fingers down his abs, past his belly button, and paused to trace the lines of defined hipbones as they creased down to the center of his body. He put his hand on my side and pushed up my tank top as he laid down on me while kissing me slowly with his tongue invading my mouth—

A harsh knock on the study door destroyed the romantic moment we were sharing. Gabriel sat upright on the couch and looked towards the door. Before either of us could say a word, the door opened and Benjamin appeared in the frame. He frowned deeply as his eyes fell on Gabriel, half-naked with his pants unbuttoned, and me lying on the couch with my shirt and hair disheveled.

"Oh, sorry," he said as he pulled the door back and disappeared behind it. He didn't close it completely. "I am so sorry, guys."

"What is it Benjamin?" Gabriel asked with a touchy tone. He stood up off me and snatched his shirt up off the ground.

"Mrs. Weasley is in the fire," Benjamin's muffled voice said. "She is wondering when we're coming over for Harry's birthday? They're waiting for us to cut the cake."

"Shit," I said as I sat up. "I forgot!"

"Obviously…" Benjamin muttered.

"Tell her we'll be over in a moment!" Gabriel barked. Benjamin laughed and closed the door to the study. Gabriel turned to me and grabbed my hand. He pulled me off the couch and caught me in his arms. He smiled at me as he brushed my hair behind me ear. "I'm happy you're back."

"Back?" I questioned with raised eyebrows. "I never left…"

"You did," he said. "You left me and shut me out. I'm happy you're starting to let me in again."

He kissed me quickly and released me. "I'm going to change my clothes. I'll meet you downstairs."

He walked out of the study without another word. His comments made me feel awkward. I crossed my arms, puzzled by his comments, and thought through what he meant. Because I was being sexual, it meant that I was opening myself up to him again? A slow hot feeling rose in my lower torso and spread through my limbs. I bit my bottom lip as I thought about Gabriel's hot muscular body pressed against mine and his smooth sweet lips on my flesh. It didn't matter what Gabriel meant by his comments…about me being back to myself…the only thing I could think about was having sex with him. Is that what he missed? Me tripping over myself as I thought about his hands all over me?

I rolled my eyes, fixed my shirt as I exhaled loudly and headed for the door to the study. Gabriel was right; I was back because he hadn't been able to get a sexual rise out of me since May.

When I arrived at the foot of the stairs, I could hear Benjamin and Gabriel's voices traveling down the hallway from the kitchen. I stepped slowly, hoping that the floor wouldn't creak, and paused for a moment in the hallway to ease drop on their conversation.

"I'm just saying it's good to see that you and Cadence have a healthy sex—"

"—if you don't want me to beat the bloody shit out of you, you should stop talking," Gabriel snipped.

Benjamin laughed. "I could take you, old man."

There was some rustling of furniture and grunts. I lurched forward into the kitchen to see Benjamin holding Gabriel in a headlock.

"Hey!" I shouted. Gabriel swung his arm back behind Benjamin and shoved his elbow down straight into Benjamin's back. Benjamin groaned and pulled back, releasing Gabriel's head. Gabriel stood up straight, grabbed Benjamin's arm and flung him over onto his back. He kept a tight grip on Benjamin's arm and placed his boot on Benjamin's chest.

"Old man!?" Gabriel growled.

"Gabriel!" I snapped as I rushed forward to shove Gabriel off Benjamin.

Both men were laughing as I pushed Gabriel back against the counter causing a jar of candies to be knocked over. The multi-colored candies rolled across the marble counter top and onto the dark cherry wood panel floor.

"We're just messing around Cadence," Gabriel laughed as he wrapped his arms around me tightly. Benjamin was standing up when I looked over my shoulder, while Gabriel still held me close. "I would never hurt Ben…"

"If you found him half-naked on top of Carrigan like he just found us I bet you would," I said. All laughing stopped in the kitchen, which caused me to smile brightly as I looked between the two men in the kitchen.

"That's not funny," Gabriel said as he released me.

"Yea, that's not funny, Cadence," Benjamin shook his head as he gave me a cross look while Gabriel's back was turned. I beamed and patted Benjamin's shoulder affectionately.

"Get Harry's gift?" Gabriel turned back to me.

I smiled. "Yes," I snapped my fingers and a small package wrapped in brown paper with a white ribbon on it appeared in my hands.

"What is it?" Benjamin asked.

"You'll just have to wait and see."

Benjamin rolled his eyes and turned to the fire in the kitchen. He grabbed a fistful of Floo Powder and threw it into the orange flames, there was a small explosion and the flames burst green. Benjamin moved forward and stepped into the flames.

"The Burrow!" he shouted.

The green flames whirled up around him, engulfing his body and taking him from the grate.

"What is it?" Gabriel asked touching the package in my hands.

"Sirius' necklace. The one I gave him for Christmas that I made from the star Sirius," I whispered. "He wasn't wearing it at the Ministry. He had finally taken if off…he never took that damn thing off. He was finally not wearing the necklace…" I paused and looked away from Gabriel's piercing eyes. I looked down at the package in my hand. "I took it from Number Twelve because I thought it meant something…but I…" I looked up at Gabriel with a forced smile. "I just think it will mean more to Harry then it does to me."

Gabriel nodded and gave me a reassuring smile.

"Cadence," he said my name very gently. He brushed my messy chestnut brown curls behind my ears and leaned forward to kiss me. "It's okay that a part of you still loves him. He was the father of your child. I know you will always love him because of that. I do not love you any less because of that."

I bit my bottom lip and nodded my head. "Sometimes, I think I don't deserve you," I smiled.

Gabriel stood back and pinched my cheek playfully. "Well, lots of women have felt that way." He winked and took my hand. "Let's go."

My stomach flipped, like I was young again and madly in love. I realized as Gabriel threw the Floo Powder into the fireplace that I was madly in love and only Gabriel made me feel that way. Sirius never made me feel the way Gabriel did, despite how much I loved him, or at least tried to.

Gabriel extended his hand to me once he stepped into the green flames. I smiled and took his hand as I gripped Harry's birthday present in my other hand. Gabriel pulled me in tight and yelled, "The Burrow!"

When we stumbled out of the grate at the Burrow, I was not surprised to find the kitchen empty. Molly had warned me that quite a few people were coming to dinner to celebrate Harry's sixteenth birthday. I anticipated that they would be eating outside. Benjamin was already out the door when Gabriel and I arrived. Gabriel led the way outside and I followed quietly.

"Gabriel! Cadence! There you are," said Molly standing up from her seat at the long crooked wooden table that had been set up in the garden for the celebratory meal. All the Weasley children were filed around the table: Bill, Fred, George, Ron and Ginny (Charlie and Percy were the only two missing); they were accompanied by Hermione Granger, who looked prettier then the last time I had seen her with brown hazel eyes and light brown hair that was curly and messy, and Harry, who looked somewhat uncomfortable because he was the center of attention. His dark green eyes were calm and pleasant despite the discomfort on his face. He gave me a warm smile when he saw me approaching the crowded table.

Tonks, Remus, Mad-Eye and Fleur Delacour (who I had not seen in about two years) were also gathered around the table. Fleur was sitting close to Bill and leaning towards him. Their hands were resting under the table; I imagined holding the others.

"We were getting worried!" Molly said with a forced laugh.

"Just you were, Molly dear," said Arthur with a smile as he stood up to shake hands with Gabriel. Arthur looked thinner and more ragged then usual. Gabriel had told me that he had accepted a promotion at the Ministry and now worked more hours then was reasonable. But honestly, we all worked more hours then was reasonable now a days, even if we weren't working for the Ministry.

"Hello everyone," I said with a forced smile. I was afraid that someone would ask me how I was, or try to reassure me that everything was going to be okay. I had to pretend to be okay; despite how Gabriel made me feel just a few moments ago in the study, I was still numb inside. Carrigan's absence left me numb to the world.

"It's good to see you, Cadence," said Remus as he stood and pulled me into a hug. I embraced him half-heartedly in return. He pulled back to hold me at arms length and looked at me with a serious stare in his faded brown eyes. Remus looked more ragged then Arthur did. I wasn't entirely sure why, but I had my suspicions of what sort of work he was doing for the Order of the Phoenix and Dumbledore.

"I just am," I said before he could ask how I was doing. I gave him a weak smile and patted his cheek affectionately. "It's good to see you too. You should come over sometime."

"I will be sure to do that."

"Good," I said easily. "I miss you."

Once greetings were exchanged around the table, and I had kissed Harry's cheek while he remained in his seat and given him his gift, everyone settled down around the table as cake was passed around on small white plates. The rest of the evening's discussions revolved around the most recent kidnappings that had taken place around London. Ollivander's shop had been completely abandoned; it could only be assumed that he was dragged off by Death Eaters for reasons unknown. Igor Karkaroff's body was found in a shack in the north. Florean Fortescue, who ran the ice cream shop in Diagon Alley, had disappeared as well. Molly kept trying to change the topic, but every man around the table continued to speak of the disappearance and the children were eager to hear what was going on in the world outside of their shelter.

"Cadence?" Molly called for my attention. I peered across the table at her. I had been sitting quietly, listening to the men talk about what was going on in our world.

"Yes, Molly?"

"Would you be willing to accompany us to Diagon Alley when the children's letters arrive from Hogwarts?"

"Yes, of course," I said instantly with out thinking.

"Oh thank Merlin," Molly was relieved. "Arthur doesn't think he'll be able to come because of work…"

"Speaking of work," said Arthur turning his head. "Cadence, I hear that you are going to be joining the Ministry again?"

"Really?" I smiled. "My contract has not been signed yet. Unless my conditions are met I will not return."

"Your conditions will be met," Gabriel said with a roll of his eyes.

"Conditions?" Harry asked as he peered at me with serious dark green eyes. "I thought you weren't going to return because it would be a distraction."

"Hence the conditions," I smirked at him. "I told the Minister I will only work for the Ministry as a consultant. I will choose which cases I work on and I will not have a permanent partner. I'm not interested in being an Auror again."

"Then why return?" Fred asked with an air tone. "Why not continue to tell them to screw themselves?"

"Fred!" Molly scolded.

"They have resources that I need," I said simply. "I have a meeting with the Minister tomorrow morning Molly, otherwise I will be able to accompany you and the children to Diagon Alley."

"Alright, thank you Cadence," Molly bowed her head. "It's starting to get dark, I think it best that we begin cleaning up."

With that, everyone began to pick up the table and dishes from dinner and dessert. The table was cleaned and put away with in moments. Molly invited everyone in for coffee or tea, but Gabriel and I declined.

"We all have an early morning," Benjamin said with a smile as he thanked Molly for dinner. He exchanged good byes with the children who he had gone to school with last year and grown to know, then turned to me. "I'd like to walk home, if you don't mind."

"Alright," I nodded. "See you at the farm house."

He bowed his head and turned to leave. I watched as he walked down the garden path towards the gate and dirt road just beyond the Weasley's property.

"Cadence."

I turned to Harry, who was standing just behind me looking happy. He was holding Sirius' necklace in his hand and looking at me with smiling eyes.

"Thank you for the necklace," he said. "I know it was important to Sirius."

"He would have wanted you to have it," I said with a smile. I patted Harry's cheek with affection.

"Are you sure?"

"Even if he wanted me to have it, I would rather you have it to remember him by," I shrugged. "Having it just reminds me of a time when I failed him."

"Thank you," he said again. I kissed his forehead. "I'll see you when we go to Diagon Alley?"

"Yes, of course. I will see you."

"Good bye everyone!" Gabriel said with a wave. I pulled Harry into a quick hug before turning to follow Gabriel away down the garden path.

"Do you want to walk or Apparate?"

"I wouldn't mind walking," I said as I took his extended hand. "It's nice out."

Gabriel squeezed my hand as we passed through the garden gate and made our way down to the dirt road. We kicked up dry dust as we walked, hand in hand and in silence.

"It was like old times," Gabriel said softly. "It was nice to be together with everyone as if there was no war."

"When have we ever had 'old times' that weren't during a war?"

"When you lived in Maine, with Carrigan and I came to see you every weekend."

"We didn't have any friends back then," I replied. "This is completely different…"

"My point, Cadence, is that it was nice to be around friends and family and be happy, even if it was just for a moment."

I nodded slowly. I wasn't really happy. Every moment spent not looking for Carrigan was a moment wasted. Every day wasted brought her closer to her death. Voldemort couldn't have use for her for very long. She would never betray me or our side of the fight. She was powerful, but what powers did she possess that he didn't? And despite her powers, the fact still remained that she would not turn.

"What if he blackmails her?" Gabriel whispered.

I was surprised by his comment. I looked up at him with raised eyebrows. I thought I had been blocking him. I didn't think he would try to read my mind now.

"Despite what happened in the study today, you still don't talk to me," he said with apologetic eyes. "I'm sorry I try to read your mind so often, but I want to know what you're thinking…I want to know what you're afraid he may do."

I sighed deeply. "Well I wasn't sure what he may do until you said that. You're absolutely right. If he got his hands on any means to blackmail her or force her into something…"

"Remember that everything isn't black and white, Cadence," Gabriel said with a reassuring tone. "Just because Carrigan may be tricked or forced into doing some evil for your Father does not mean she is evil. She is anything but that."

"I know, you're right," I nodded. "But Gabriel, what else could he want with her? Why wouldn't he just have killed her? If his goal is to hurt me—"

"What if he's trying to distract you?"

We both stopped on the dirt path and stared at each other as darkness fell around us.

"Distract me from what?"

"Something that he knows you can stop," Gabriel shrugged allusively. "The sure way to keep you distracted from what he is up to is to keep Carrigan alive. He knows you will search for her."

"That seems like a long shot," I whispered and turned away to walk again.

"Yes it is…but it's just a thought."

"Everything is just a thought," I said with a touch of anger. "The fact is we don't know what he wants or what he is going to do. And that fact is the reason that we have to find her—and fast! It's already been over two months! We don't know how much time Carrigan has left."

"We'll find her, Cadence," Gabriel reassured me. "I think you working at the Ministry will actually help you. It will allow you to clear your head and find her."

I didn't respond because I disagreed with him, but that is why I requested those conditions so that I would not get too distracted and split my focus. Gabriel understood my silence as disagreement, but shrugged it off. We fell into silence and continued our walk home without another word.

The next morning I woke before Gabriel and Benjamin. I showered and dressed quickly in tight black jeans, a red tank top and loose fitting black chiffon blouse. Before leaving the bedroom, which was shaded in darkness because the blinds were pulled tightly shut, I picked up my black traveling cloak, my hip holster and thigh holster. I paused for a moment at the bedroom door and stared at Gabriel who was lying peacefully in the bed. I smiled before turning away and exiting the room.

Downstairs, I threw my cloak on the banister to the staircase and stopped in the foyer to strap on my holsters. I slipped my feet into comfortable black leather boots and then walked to the back of the house, through the kitchen, back sitting room, and into the laundry room. I pulled my wand from my back pocket and tapped its tip against a blank spot on the red wall of the room, between the Muggle washer and drier that I insisted Gabriel to get. There were two reasons that backed my insistence: firstly, I felt that putting on the appearance of Muggle home might lead Death Eaters to believe that Gabriel and I did not live in the farm house (in case they ever did find it). Secondly, my mother had used a Muggle washier and drier to clean my clothing when I was a child. The fabric softener she used smelled of lavender and reminded me of a time when I was innocent; when the world was not so dark and hope still existed. Every time I used the washer, I used the lavender fabric softener. It was a strange comfort to me, because it had never been one before.

A door appeared between the washer and drier after I tapped my wand against the wall three times while muttering complicated spells in Russian.

"Открывать дверь, сломанных."

Gabriel thought that requiring the spell to be said in a different language would help keep the training room more secretive. As it was our bunker in case Death Eaters attacked the house, we wanted to make sure that we were the only ones that could get into it. I did not know Gabriel spoke Italian, let alone Russian, until after we were married for almost a year.

A loud cracking sound, like wood breaking from wood, broke the calm silence that filled the house. The outline of a door formed on the red wall and then slowly cracked open. I pushed the door forward without hesitation and descended the stairs into the basement training room quickly.

On the far wall across from the staircase leading into the 'sand pit,' as Benjamin liked to call the basement, was a collection of different weapons that Gabriel and I had gathered over the years. I went to the wall and pulled off my two favorite blades. They were slim and curved slightly; they were ten-inch saux daggers with black hilts. I slipped one into the hip holster that rested just below my hips so that the dagger hung down the side of my right thigh. I slid the other into place on my left thigh. I stepped back and looked up at the wall with indecisiveness in my mind.

Did I want two small, four-inch knives, or one four-inch knife and Carrigan's gaudy six-inch dagger that Gabriel had gotten her for Christmas three years ago. As I stared at the dagger mounted on the wall, my mind was made up. I grabbed the six-inch dagger and held it in my hand as I studied the engraved hilt. Gabriel had Carrigan's name engraved on the hilt and encrusted it with a diamond at the end of it. I squeezed my hand around the hilt and snapped my fingers with my free hand. Another thigh holster appeared in my opened palm. I put Carrigan's dagger in my mouth, holding it between my teeth, and strapped the second thigh holster to my right leg. I slid Carrigan's dagger into it, then leaned forward and snatched two four-inch boot knives with stag grips off the wall. They fit perfectly in the side of my boots.

I moved quickly out of the basement, making sure that the hidden door closed tightly behind me, then moved through the laundry room and back to the front of the house. I picked up my cloak off the banister and pulled it on. I flipped my hair out of my face and Apparated out of the foyer of my farmhouse with a loud crack.

The atrium of the Ministry was just as quiet as the farmhouse had been before I left it. I purposely arrived early. As I walked through the green marble atrium, passed the fountain with the many magical creatures reaching and staring up at a wizard with his wand extended high in the air, I glanced at the large white clock that hung on the wall before the lifts. It was only five in the morning. I wasn't even sure that the Minister would be in his office that early.

I was not surprised to find two women sitting at the two desks in front of the Minister's office. They both gave me uneasy smiles. They no doubt knew who I was and were curious as to my reason for being in front of them. I looked at both women with a frank expression when I stepped out of the lift. The women at the desk to the right of the Minister's office doors was an older looking brunette, with pale wrinkled skin and streaks of white in her brown, pin straight hair. She was wearing a blue dress with matching blue robes over it. The other woman, sitting at the left desk, was a younger woman, perhaps right out of Hogwarts. She looked eager and light-hearted. Her strawberry blonde hair was breaded over her left shoulder. She was wearing a white blouse with blue birds printed on it and a black robe on top.

"Hello," said the older of the two women. "How may I help you?"

"I'm here to see the Minister," I said lightly.

"Do you have an appointment?" the younger woman asked as she opened a leather bond book, that I assumed was the Minister's schedule.

"No," I replied. "But he wished to see me."

"I'm sorry, if you don't have an appointment we can't let you in to see Minister Scrimgeour," the older women said with a serious tone. "Christina would be happy to make an appointment for you."

I smiled frankly at the older woman before looking to the younger one, Christina.

"Christina, I would like to make an appointment for this morning," I said. "First thing when the Minister arrives."

Christina pushed her breaded hair over her shoulder and frowned deeply. "I'm afraid the Minister is booked this morning Ms…?"

"Coleman," I said instantly. Christina didn't seem surprised to hear my name. Her pale cheeks flushed slightly, however and her blue eyes betrayed her opinion of me. I put my hands on my hips, pushing open my cloak to reveal the five knives I was obviously carrying. Both women took them in with whisks of fear in their eyes, but they quickly looked away. "My meeting will only take a few moments. And I'm sure the Minister will be fine with seeing me before his completely booked day begins. He did, after all, request my presents."

"Yes, I did," said a male voice behind me. I turned to see Rufus Scrimgeour stepping out of the lift as it chimed, announcing its arrival to the top floor of the Ministry of Magic. "Hello, Ms. Coleman. Good morning, Christina, Gloria."

The Minister was wearing a black pinstriped suit with a charcoal grey cloak over it. He had on a solid red tie that complimented the suit and made him look very authoritive. In one hand he clung to his leather briefcase, in the other he held the morning copy of the Daily Prophet.

"Good morning, Sir," both women said cheerfully. Gloria stood up from her desk and moved towards the office doors. She opened the doors to the Minister's office for him. I didn't wait for an invitation, I followed the Minister into his office. Gloria had walked across the room to a bar where she was preparing a pot of tea. The Minister set his briefcase and newspaper down on his desk then tore off his cloak and suit coat. He threw both of them on the coat wrack behind his desk. As he turned to face me, he rolled up the sleeves of his white button up and made sure that his tie was neatly tucked into his waistcoat. His white, graying hair was flying around his head like a large lion's mane. He looked no different then he had a year ago, before I was fired and he was my direct supervisor.

"Thank you for coming in," he whispered as he motioned for me to take a seat in one of the leather chairs in front of his desk. I took a seat slowly as I studied him, trying to figure out his mood that morning. He looked like stone, as usual. Scrimgeour was always hard to read.

Gloria walked across the large, well-decorated office and placed a tea tray on the hand-made cherry wood desk. Scrimgeour thanked her and requested his schedule, the morning reports and asked that notification be sent to Williamson (I wasn't sure who that was) that he needed to speak to him immediately upon his arrival to the Ministry.

When Gloria left the office, closing the door behind her, I spoke. "Busy morning, Rufus?"

"Always," he said shortly as he stirred his cup of tea with lemon. He took a seat in his oversized brown leather office chair. "You're here earlier then I expected. I thought Gabriel would have to drag you in."

"Why? I said I would be willing to work for you if my conditions are agreed to."

"Your conditions are steep and unreasonable."

"Hardly," I retorted sharply. "I don't want to work for the Ministry, Rufus."

"Because of what happened last year? That was a moronic decision on Fudge's part, you know I did not want to sack you."

"It's not that," I said leaning forward. "I'm not interested in fulfilling your agenda, Rufus. I have my own agenda to fill. I am happy to help you when I can and when I want to, but I have my own problems that I have to take care of."

"You have a responsibility to the wizarding world," Scrimgeour said quickly with harsh stone grey eyes. I sat back with raised eyebrows in surprise.

"Excuse me?"

"You are the only one who can stop Voldemort," Scrimgeour insisted.

I looked at Scrimgeour completely bewildered by his comment. "You don't believe the Prophet?" I questioned. "According to them, Harry Potter is the Chosen One, not me."

"The Prophet has no interest in truth, they are only interested in money. I don't think Harry is ready to be the Chosen One. Until he is, we need you to help stop your father—"

"Sir, I get it. I get the political move of having me on your staff," I said quickly with a touch of bitterness in my voice. "I understood the political strategy when Bagnold hired me when I was underage without taking an Auror exam. I am not the poster-girl for the Ministry. And I am most certainly not the Chosen One or this countries last hope, nor do I owe anyone anything. The only responsibility I have is to my daughter—my flesh and blood—my child, who is out there somewhere and in need of her mother."

Scrimgeour nodded, but said nothing as he opened a drawer behind his desk and pulled out a red file folder. He opened it and turned it to face me before flinging it down on the desk in front of me. I leaned forward to see the bloodied photograph of Fenton Scotts, the Death Eater I had killed in self-defense a few weeks ago.

"And who is responsible for that?" Scrimgeour pointed a long knotted finger at the photo. I looked up from the photo with a serious and calm expression in my dark green eyes.

"If I was responsible for it, I would say it was self-defense."

"Come on, Cadence!" Scrimgeour growled in anger as he smacked his palm against the desk, causing his cup of tea to quiver and splash lightly onto the desktop. "I know Scotts was a Death Eater and a sick son-of-a-bitch, but you can't go around just killing Death Eaters when you do not have the Ministry sanctioning your actions."

"Who says I did?"

"Don't talk to me like I'm a fool," Scrimgeour spat. "I'm not Fudge. I know how you work. I'm asking you to join the Ministry because it will help protect you and your actions."

"I thought you were asking me to join the Ministry because it was my responsibility to the wizarding world."

"There is that as well, but I'm just trying to do what is best for you."

This comment caught me off guard. I squinted as I studied Scrimgeour across the desk as a puzzling thought entered my mind. Gabriel was happy yesterday that I was returning to work; he was happy that I was 'coming back to him'…whatever that meant…Had Gabriel asked Scrimgeour to offer me a job?

"Would you have asked me to return if Gabriel hadn't suggested it to you?"

Scrimgeour smiled for a moment, but did not reveal anything else on his wrinkled pale face. He ignored my question when he replied. "I will agree to your conditions except for one. I want you to have a partner at the Ministry, or rather a liaison, if you prefer. It will be simpler for you to interact with one Auror, not the entire department."

I frowned but nodded in understanding. "Fine. Who?"

"I don't know," Scrimgeour said mildly. "The new department head will decide that."

"Who is the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement now?" I asked with a sincere smile.

There was a gentle knock at the office door, which opened instantly. Christina stepped into the office, looking at Scrimgeour with a bright innocent smile.

"You're first appointment is here," she said softly.

"Thank you," Scrimgeour said with a nod. "Send Mr. Quintin in."

"Gabriel?" I said surprised as I turned in my chair to look at the office entrance.

Sure enough, my handsome husband walked into the office after Christina motioned to him. She looked up at him with longing, and rather lustful, eyes, which caused Gabriel to give her a flirtatious smile. I rolled my eyes and sat back in my chair. He was too charming for his own good. And if I was right in assuming he had spoken to Scrimgeour about asking me to return to the Ministry, then I was mad at him.

"Good morning, Minister," Gabriel said as he looked to the front of the office. "Cadence," he added surprised. I looked at him as he approached the desk. He stopped next to the armchair I was sitting in and pinched my cheek affectionately. "Good morning to you too, love."

"Hello," I said with a faint smile as I looked up at his half-cocked smile. I couldn't help biting my bottom lip as his chocolate brown eyes stared down at me. I was right that his eyes would change color. He was wearing a black suit and waistcoat with a dark grey button up and solid skinny black tie. He always dressed so well…but even if he didn't, Gabriel would still drive every woman crazy with his fantastic body, handsome face and devastatingly charming smile.

"I'm sorry for interrupting," Gabriel said looking at the Minister.

"Do not worry, Ms. Coleman showed up without an appointment."

"Of course she did," Gabriel beamed at me while I rolled my eyes. I batted at his hand that was still stroking my cheek. "What did you wish to see me about?"

"The request you put in for a new partner," Scrimgeour said as he sat back in his chair. I was surprised to hear the topic of Gabriel's meeting with the Minister. He was no longer the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, why was he dealing with Gabriel's reassignment request?

"Yes, Sir?"

"I'll grant you the request on one condition."

"And what is that, Sir?" Gabriel asked as he looked at Scrimgeour seriously.

"That you take over as Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement," Scrimgeour said mildly. My mouth dropped opened in surprise. That is why Scrimgeour was dealing with Gabriel's request; there was no new head to the department. When I looked up at Gabriel, he looked just as surprised as me, but his mouth was not hanging open. I closed my mouth and looked back at Scrimgeour, who was sitting in his chair with his hands folded on the desk smiling triumphantly.