Teddy headed home to the flat he shared with his long-time girlfriend, Victoire. He would have to break the news to her that he would be gone for the next four months or more on an assigned to he was not allowed to tell her the details about. He knew she would just love that.
"What do you mean months, Teddy?" she cried, as he flung clothes along with his research materials in a charmed duffel with abandon.
"It's an assignment, Vic," he sighed, "I really haven't much of a choice." He neglected to mention that it was Harry who directly appointed him to this task, knowing if he did she would give her uncle unimaginable hell. When Victoire meant business there was very little that would come in her way. But plain old auror bureaucracy, fancifully dishing out appointments was far less tangible than an uncle who's house she could conveniently pop over.
She flicked her pale blonde mane with a hmmph sound, pouted her lips and asked, "You can at least tell me where you'll be? Can't you?"
He considered for a moment before tossing one last notebook in the bag saying, "Wales" with another sigh, "Land of impossible to pronounce words and Green Dragons." It couldn't hurt to mention where he'd be if it gave her peace of mind. And if the mention of dragons threw her off his trail, all the better. He didn't want the woman he loved to get tangled up in this madness, though he did wish he could unload the ethical dilemma that currently racked his brain onto someone, anyone else.
He felt her long, willowy arms wrap around his torso and pull him in an embrace, his eyes obscured by a curtain of pale hair that shone like winter sunlight.
"I just wish it wasn't for so long," she whispered into his neck.
"I know, I'm sorry," he managed in response, "It's important, though," he whispered back, with more conviction than he felt.
He gathered his back and looked away from the sad, dark blue eyes that watched him. "I'm sure I'll get a few days off, I'll find out when I arrive for certain. And you know I'll write you all the time.
He pulled her into a final embrace and headed over to his gran's place. He had some questions for her.
