Author's Note: I was never gonna get through this collection without mentioning Fabian :)

The prompt was "North".

Why was it always on a cold winter's night when Amelia Bones found that her house keys had decided to stay behind at the office? She had walked all the way back to her apartment, only to realize that her keys had not been returned to her bag and they were still lying on her desk. After some pointless joggling of the door handle and some language that would've gotten her a walloping from either of her parents (and possibly her brothers), Amelia took the long the trek back to the Ministry of Magic. It had been late when she left, so it was completely dark by the time she arrived back. Most other employees had departed, so she was basically alone as she moved across the atrium. It was creepy being there after hours, like being at school on a weekend. All unnecessary lights had been switched off, exaggerating the shadows. Amelia shivered and pulled her jacket tighter across her chest; the sooner she could get home the better.

Stepping onto the lift, Amelia pressed the button for the Auror Office floor. It carried her along before coming to an abrupt stop. In her first few months of working as an Auror, that stop had always thrown her (literally and figuratively). She expected it, but each time the ending jolt seemed to come sooner than it had the time before, causing her to stumble. After a year or so, she learnt to anticipate it; after a year or so at the Auror Office, she learnt to anticipate everything. The doors dinging open and the witch got out, turning right to walk towards the rows of cubicles that housed the Ministry's finest during daylight hours. She went along, like a trained mouse through a maze, not even really thinking about the moves she was making, able to find her way even in the limited light. But something along her path caused her to stop.

Two opposite cubicles were lit up in a low, sepia glow. Stars were floating on the walls, buildings were also projected. Nighttime colours painted the surrounding area and, taking pride of place, was the Eiffel Tower, covered in golden lights. It was as if someone had placed France inside his office; Amelia could hear a violin and she was sure she smelt something like fresh bread. It then that Frank Longbottom stepped out of the shadows, where he had obviously been lurking, causing Amelia to nearly jump out of her skin.

"Christ, Frank," she breathed, steadying herself, "what the hell are you still doing here?"

"I could ask you the same question?" he said, seeming equally surprised at his colleague's appearance.

"Forgot my keys," Amelia said, "but I'm not the one playing make-believe in my office space."

"I thought you might be Alice," Frank explained sheepishly.

Amelia raised an eyebrow.

"It's Midnight in Paris," Frank said, "Alice has been really stressed out about working late, so I organized her a surprise."

Amelia's expression softened. Frank and Alice were high school sweethearts; the Office didn't normally allow co-worker relationships, but they seemed to have turned a blind eye where those two were concerned.

"I hope she likes it," Amelia said, knowing that she would.

Frank nodded, grinned and resumed his waiting position. Amelia continued onwards into the darkness, leaving the warmth of Paris behind her. It was such a beautiful display and yet she couldn't help but feel a little sad. When she finally got her keys, she would return home alone, to an empty apartment. The only men in her life were relations, work place acquaintances or dirt-bag criminals she picked up on her rounds; she got the feeling she wasn't going to be shown Paris anytime soon. It was to be expected, she guessed. Amelia had never really been very good at relationships. And, given her job, perhaps it was best to not have somebody get too close. Still, the tiny romantic hidden in her heart was crying and, at times like this, it would not shut up.

There was already somebody there when Amelia reached her cubicle. Her partner, Fabian Prewett, was leaning against the desk, his golden-red hair shining even in the near blackness. He wore a jaunty grin and, as she approached, he picked up the keys and dangled them in front of her eyes.

"Forget something, Bones?" he cooed teasingly.

Amelia made a face and snatched them off him.

"And you didn't feel the need to head home?" she asked.

"Not when there's so much lovely paperwork to be done," Fabian replied sarcastically, "Who need's sleep when you can spend your time making grammatical errors in a graphically detailed incident report?"

Amelia nodded and then said with a smirk, "been to Paris?"

"Oh yes," Fabian said, "Made the mistake of walking through Frank's little surprise; was assaulted with a bread stick."

"Well that was fairly crummy of him," Amelia quipped.

Fabian looked at her and shook his head.

"Your stand-up needs work, Bones."

"Yeah, I know. That's why we keep you around, right?"

Fabian grinned and gave her a playful shove.

"You hungry?" he inquired, "We could get something from that Turkish place."

Amelia thought about it.

"Midnight in a North London bistro," she mused.

"How poetic," Fabian said flatly.

"Well it's not exactly Paris," Amelia whispered.

Fabian put his arm around her.

"Don't worry," he said, "one day I'll get you there."

Amelia stared up at him, her grey eyes meeting his blue ones.

"Would you?" she said softly.

"Yeah," Fabian replied, "Of course, you'd be paying your own way and you'd have to hold my beret whilst I chatted up hot French girls."

"Of course," Amelia laughed, only a hint of bitterness coming through.

Fabian looked at her kindly.

"Right now I can buy you a kebab," he said.

Amelia smiled.

"Sounds perfect," she said.

"Good. And, Bones?" Fabian said, leaning in closer.

"Yes?"

"Don't forget your keys this time."

Amelia whacked him on the arm and proceeded to follow him out of the office.