Frigus . Sirius Black (Mortem BOOK 2)

chapter nine

November 20th, 1978 - Diagon Alley 

Nephera had long ago learned that just because someone close to you dies, it does not mean that the world stops spinning. In times of war, that fact is only amplified, which became clear to all of the marauders as they still had to attend their jobs and Order meetings. 

Currently, Nephera was patrolling Diagon Alley under Moody's orders. Aurors had been on a rotating schedule at all the hotspots of both the wizarding and the muggle world, lest there was an attack somewhere. The brunette hated that, it was awfully boring and required almost zero brain capacity, thankfully that day, she had Peter to keep her company, the boy electing to spend his lunch break with her, "So this is what Aurors do all day?" he scoffed, sipping on his coffee, "Watch and wait?" 

Nephera laughed at the humor, "I don't like it any more than you do, but until more intel comes in, there's nothing more to do," she sighed, raking her eyes over everyone 

"What are you doing about Dumbledore? Merlin that son of a- did he really use Monty and Mia to take back over the Order?" 

The witch's eyes darkened as she thought of the Headmaster, even if she had to admit it was a smart plan, "Smart move on his part, there's no room for vulnerability in politics," she mused, lighting up a cigarette 

"What will you do about it?" asked the boy, motioning for her to pass the lighter 

A wicked smirk took over Nephera's face, and Peter shuddered involuntarily, for he knew that such an expression didn't signify anything good for the poor person that had gotten her attention, "I'll let him think he's in charge," she mused, flicking the ash off her cigarette, "For now," 

Peter laughed lowly at that, "How do you know it won't backfire on you?" he asked 

"First of all, when have I ever been wrong?" she asked, raising an eyebrow, "Second of all, he was caught red-handed conspiring with Voldy, the Order won't trust him again. Not to mention, that the more power he thinks he has, the less suspicious of me he is," 

An unwilling shiver went up Peter's spine as he heard Nephera explain her plan. He had always known how good she was at it, but hearing it out loud, how easy it was for her to manipulate perceptions, it was deeply unsettling still. 

"He used Monty and Mia's deaths as a fucking opportunity, so will I," she spat out, fury deep in her eyes at what the old wizard had the nerve to do, "He wanted to paint me as some grieving teenager that wasn't capable to focus on the Order, I'll let him think that's what I am," 

The mousy boy didn't know what to reply to that, it seemed like Nephera was talking more to herself than to him, so he simply nodded his head and stood up, "I need to go back to St. Mungo's, stay safe out here, alright?" 

"I will, don't worry wormtail," 

With that, she was left to her own devices once more, trying to keep her mind agile during the all too boring task of watching over a damn street. She occupied herself with the same game she had become all too familiar with, observing people and figuring out as much as she could about them. 

The girl had gathered that there were three different categories of people that occupied the Alley at that time. The first, was Diagon Alley's most frequent customers, the ones that practically live in the pubs there, the most popular being the Spiked Dragon. It was midday and most of them were already drunk on the cheap alcohol, not that Nephera could blame them. Hell, there were many times when she herself had thought of forgetting all about the war by downing a bottle of Firewhiskey. 

She recognized one of them, Steve Tirum, his girlfriend had been killed a week and a half ago by Death Eaters for being a muggleborn and opposing Yaxley in the Wizengamot. The Order had been too late that day, it was Frank who found the body first.