Portrait of a girl (editing)

A serious Promise.

January 18th, 1994.

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"Keep up." The stern looking witch guided her through familiar corridors to the department of magical law enforcement, "You'll be with Scrimgeour for tonight's assignment. Lucky you." Seren wondered if that was meant to be reassuring or sarcastic, unable to tell by the woman's voice.

"Mister Scrimgeour, the intern is here." None of them had bothered learning her name, and she presumed it was either because she was a werewolf or they simply didn't care. "Ah, yes, the werewolf." She frowned, "You'll be joining myself and a few others in knockturn alley this evening, recently our department has caught wind ow back alley dealings."

"Well...it's Knockturn alley, I imagine there's a lot of that there...it is frequented by dark wizards after all." Scrimgeour frowned at her statement, "Quite." Seren's eyes quickly found the ground, "Head up, girl. You never look away from an attacker. You would do well to remember that if you truly want to be an auror...not that any of us think you'll succeed with your condition." She quickly redirected a firm gaze to the man before her. She began to wonder if perhaps he was right and she should re-evaluate her decision.

'don't let them wear you down, head up, Seren.' Remus' voice echoed in her mind as she steeled her resolve, feeling someone poking around in her head she quickly forced them out with a spell she'd learned from Remus over the summer, "You'd do well to stay out of other people's memories, Mister Scrimgeour." Her voice was steady as her eyes flickered gold for a moment, "My past is none of your concern, you are here to teach."

"My, what a foul attitude." She rolled her eyes, "If you're going to sit here and nitpick my disposition, perhaps I have chosen the wrong hands to place my future in." Rufus Scrimgeour gave her a filthy look as he corrected himself, straightening his tie.

"Mind your tongue, beast."

"Only if you mind yours." She replied lividly, "wouldn't want mistreatment of a student to get back to Hogwarts, would we?" she was trying her best to stay composed, but her heart was pounding erratically in her chest and her body felt like jell-o.

He motioned quickly to the fireplace, insinuating they would be travelling by floo.

Knockturn alley was just as hair-raising as it had always been, she'd made a wrong turn down the alley way when she'd been thirteen and been witness to some truly horrendous dealings involving human limbs.

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Knockturn alley was just as dismal as she recalled the dark and dreary alleys were covered in a thick layer of grime and the shops remained just as uninviting as they had five years ago.

She had made a quick change of her uniform before leaving the leaky cauldron and was now dressed like she'd stepped out of someone's goth girlfriend fantasy.

"What on earth are you wearing?" Seren rolled her eyes at him, "I stand out less than you do, who wears an expensive suit to do a stakeout? First rule is blend in...you'd think you'd know that." Rufus looked at her with disgust, "you look like a cheap whore, but then I suppose that fits the mold." She was growing tired of him taking cheap shots as she wandered down the dilapidated side streets off of Diagon Alley.

After a routine patrol Rufus had sent her to settle by Borgin and Burkes, telling her to keep an eye out for anything or anyone suspicious. She hadn't even heard the approaching footsteps until a voice behind her made her turn quickly.

"She's a jumpy one, adorable. What's a pretty thing like you doing in a place like this?" the man was considerably taller than herself with striking features and vaguely familiar eyes...perhaps she had seen him in a textbook. His hand struck out, catching her chin and pulling her towards him, "Ah, I knew I recognized that smell..."