Nic stopped running, finally.

She didn't know where she was, what had happened or what had kept her going for just that long. Four months of running, barely any food or sleep and hiding had come to an end, even if it was just for a moment. She was at a beach, a harbour. The sun was setting peacfully giving the sky a pink hue and a nippy breeze. Palm trees loomed over her along with high, modern, muggle buildings. The sea in front of her began to reflect the moonlight as the time wore on. She sat for a while, her legs hanging off the edge of the boardwalk, looking at her surroundings, trying to figure out where she was. It was obviously a tourist town, for there were many people of all nationalities passing her.

She knew she was in Australia. She had confounded a Korean man to allow her on his freight ship that was transporting Asian-made didgeridoos for the tourist market in Australia for outstanding prices. When she came to port, she hi-jacked a battered ute and drove as far as she could. The Police, or someone else entirely, however, caught up with her and so she began to run, physically, after setting the car alight. She survived by stealing bottles of water and muggle food from roadside inns until she finally reached here.

One thing came to mind. Was that safe?

People would be able to recognise her, surely. Nic had come to the conclusion that somehow people would know her face. If anyone was tracking her, she could easily be found. She was chased down the highway after hi-jacking the car to get here after all. The trackers and the hunters would catch up, eventually, but hunger had precedent. It had been days since she had eaten.

Getting up to her feet, Nic decided to stay for a few hours, in the dark, hiding. Her feet needed some rest. Her stomach some replenishment. So she walked down a few streets, her head held low. There were gift shops left, right and centre, the odd bar as well as lots of young people. They flooded the streets making Nic feel more out of place as they seem to be all dressed up, ready to hit a club or something similar. All Nic was wearing was a battered old pair of jeans and an off-white t-shirt under her jacket. She found a small night cafe and ordered a coffee using all the change she had in her pocket. Mumbling a thanks to the man behind the bar, she turned to go out, only to be faced by a particular tall blonde that she definitely didn't want to see.

How the hell did she find her here, or all places?

"You know, if you're going for stealth and hiding, word of advice - don't come to my main working area, it makes it way too easy and you know I like a challenge." She said with a look that almost showed disappointment.

"Shove off SC," Nic replied, and walked towards the door, only to be stopped and pulled backwards.

"Hold on, don't I get a hello? A nice to see you after doing the same thing you never really forgave me for?" She added with a mockingly cheerful tone. "You know, for a Ravenclaw, I thought you'd be smarter than this. Come on, Nic, this is Cairns, it's a pretty major area – I've got swarms of people searching Broome, Alice Springs and Cairns with your face etched in their minds and don't think there aren't more out there because you've probably got more people searching for you than however many people that Jesus bloke fed."

Nic went to move past her again, but SC blocked the exit. "Let me go,"

"Where are you going to go?" SC asked with raised eyebrows, although there was a small tinge of concern that anyone in her team would be surprised to notice.

"Anywhere." Nic replied shortly.

"Can we talk?" SC asked, seriously.

"No."

"Five minutes."

"No."

"You'll want to hear what I've got to say, you know."

"You think?"

Nic managed to get by and started to reach for the door when SC called out to her, "It's about Chase and George."

That got her, and SC knew it. Family was the most important thing to Nic. She turned and faced her, "Five minutes, and a piece of cheesecake."

Five minutes turned into fifteen as Nic and SC sat and talked seriously about the situation at hand. She was informed of Chase's condition, the fact that George was living in London to look over him, the status of everyone else and the movements of the people chasing her to seek revenge or justice for her crime.

"The Muggles are looking too, their police - that's how they caught up with you on the Savannah Highway. The Death Eaters have more than likely infiltrated them as well, though, so I prefer my own team to lead the search." SC informed her.

"What about the Ministry?" Nic questioned.

"They have a suspicion it was you." SC admitted. "But I don't know what grounds they have for it. But I managed to clean the area before they were even informed there was a death. They still believe Dermot O'Brien was an Arithmacist who was brutally murdered – reason as of yet unknown."

Nic frowned, "Not his true identity?"

SC shook her head, "No, not yet." There was a beat of silence as Nic took all this in. "Although your mum is determined to get everything cleared up – she's leading the investigation."

"Fucking fantastic," Nic leant back in her chair, and there was another moment of silence between the pair. It seemed such a long time when these two were at Hogwarts and had long chats about life.

"Why are you telling me all this?" Nic inquired, curious.

SC inhaled sharply, steepling her fingers before leaning forward. "I hoped that if told you, that you'd come back with me."

Confused, Nic asked, "Back where?"

"ARKITEKT." She said bluntly. "You're damn good at those wards, Nic, you've got a lot of potential. We could use you and anyone there will tell you that's a hell of a compliment I just paid you."

"What if I refuse?"

"Then I'll let you go and you'll be caught. It'll be a bit of a kicking match – between my lot, the Ministry Aurors or the Death Eaters." She said matter-of-factly.

Nic looked at her for a moment, "I'll take my chances."

"You'll get killed, Nic, can't you get that through your stubborn head of yours?" SC exclaimed, maybe letting out a bit more emotion then she wanted to.

Nic shook her head and folded her arms, "No. I've seen you, your guns and wands, being all elitist. That's not me."

SC's expression flickered. She went from being the helpful ally to foe in a matter of milliseconds as her concern changed to her familiar steely expression. "We're good at what we do, we do what we have to. We're also trained – especially with weapons. Something you could possibly think about using before waving another gun around."

"Yes I'm a murderer, doesn't mean I should be promoted for it." Nic replied satirically.

SC just looked at her.

"Can I go now?" Nic asked.

"This is your final chance Nic – the second you walk out of here there's no second chances." SC said seriously.

Nic stood up after leaving a few dollar notes on the table. "Yep. That's it. Goodbye SC."

There was something final of her tone, it truly was the last goodbye. They both knew that the Trackers and Hunters would have caught up with her by now – they'll be everywhere. Nic's only hope was to quickly get out of town and start running again, this time fast and stealthier then ever before. At the door, she turned and looked at the blonde one last time, then the redhead turned and ran as fast as her legs could carry her. This is what her life would be now. A life of running, stealing, hiding.

At least it would have been until she got hit. Binds wrapped around her legs and she fell face first onto concrete, breaking her wrists from the fall. The binds slithered up and around her body, tying her hands together and clasping her arms against her chest, making it almost impossible to breath.

"Ha! We got her! A voice exclaimed.

"Yes, our Master shall be pleased." Replied another, "Pertificus Totalus!"

Nic was rigid and completely hopeless. Maybe this was her just desserts.