Frigus . Sirius Black (Mortem BOOK 2)

chapter fifty-two

December 15th, 1979 - Ministry of Magic

Even though she had to be under Moody's direct supervision while she was working, until she was cleared by the Mind Healer, Nephera loved going to work. The Auror office was much busier than she remembered it being, but she was certainly not complaining. If anything, the interrogations, the patrols, the missions, were all helping her take her mind off of her main issue, that being her parents being back on the outside.

She had only contacted them once through Astral Projection, where she had managed to fake some confidence enough to scare both her parents and the Dark Lord a substantial amount. That was the issue, though, it was an act. Because as much as she had grown, as much as she had matured, as much as she had proven herself to be a force to be reckoned with, every time she stared into the brown eyes of her father, those so similar to hers, she was transported back to being a little kid again, cowering from the cruciatus curse.

That mattered little though to anyone else other than her. See, who you are doesn't matter, not in the least bit. The only thing that matters is what other people believe you to be, and as far as her parents and Voldemort were concerned, she wasn't rattled in the least bit by it all.

"I've got to go," she sighed, standing up and turning towards Moody, "Got the bloody mind Healer to see,"

"He still won't clear you?" asked the Head Auror

"No, and my parents coming back only made it worse," she snarked back, "He's all like 'how do you feel', 'what does that make you feel', 'tell me about what you're feeling,' like bloody hell, leave me alone and let me work at this point,"

Alastor's lip quirked up in a half-smile, "I'm surprised you haven't offed the bloke yet," he said, "Want me to escort you out, help you deal with the press?"

Someone coming back from the dead was bound to garner the attention of the press all over the wizarding world. Death Eaters being released from prison were also bound to attract photographers and journalists. But when it was Nephera Winchester coming back from the dead, and her parents being released a few days after that? It was bloody chaos outside the doors of the Auror office.

"I've got it, don't worry," she replied, "Merlin, though, you've got to give it to them, they're not giving up until they get a blasted comment,"

She left after that, going by her office to pick up her coat and bag, deciding to stop briefly by the training center to say goodbye to Sirius. She had been ecstatic when he'd been offered the position to oversee the training of the interns, truly, she had been. What she wasn't so ecstatic about was the blasted eighteen-year-old thinking they had a chance with her wizard, of all people. Thankfully, coming back from the dead had scared most of them into backing away.

Most of them.

When she walked into the training center, a vast arena located on the bottom floor of the Auror office, she rolled her eyes at what she saw. The redhead was pretty, she'd give her that, at least, "You know, the whole top-button-open would work a lot better if you actually had something to show," she spoke up, startling both of them

While Sirius looked relieved to see her there, the redhead's eyes widened in fear and she quickly scurried off, her head hung low, "J'aime quand tu es jalouse, mon coeur," I like it when you're jealous, he smirked, leaning down to press a small kiss on her lips

"Not jealous, just making a point," she rebutted, "I'm leaving, got to go torture myself for an hour straight. What should I tell Kreacher to make for tonight?"

"Nothing, I haven't got patrols tonight, so I was thinking we could go on a walk. Should snow, as well,"

The idea of some time alone with Sirius away from Grimmauld put a smile on her face, and she nodded her head, "I'd love that," she grinned