Love Again | Fred Weasley

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CW: Mentions of Blood and Injury.

PAULO SIPHONE was never one to take answers as they were. Working for the Ministry of Magic, he learned that most secrets have more secrets hidden behind them. So when he overheard two Heads of Department whispering to each other in an elevator about "developing problems", He decided to start listening. Paulo started to listen more and more to the small hints and whispers he would hear around the Ministry, and rumors that his fellow co-workers had.

"Morning, Paulo." Arthur Weasley, a good work friend, smiled. "Morning, Arthur, alright?" Paulo replied, earning a slight nod before the ginger man took a small sip of his hot tea. "How's Carmen and Maja?" Arthur asked. "They're both doing well, I just sent Maja a letter. How are Molly and the kids? Has your little girl started at Hogwarts yet?"

"They're all good." Mr. Weasley smiled proudly. "Ginny's now in her second year, actually. She's proven to be quite the witch. I hope she'll be able to meet Maja soon." Paulo smiled back, glad to hear about the Weasley family. "I'll be sure to have Maja look out for her."

Arthur and Paulo had been friends since Hogwarts, ever since Mrs. Siphone and Mrs. Weasley introduced the pair. When Maja was born, Molly and Arthur were some of the first people to ever see her. Over time, communication became distant, but Arthur and Pablo always managed to pick up some conversation at work, usually about the gossip going around.

"Do you have any clue why everyone's so wound up around here?" Pablo asked, his eyes following the many people speaking quietly and moving hastily. "Ever since the end of last summer, nobody seems to be their old selves. It feels almost, strange."

Arthur seemed a bit confused, like he knew something Paulo didn't. He thought a while before responding to Paulo's stare. "Everyone's scared, I suppose." Arthur began. "Ever since Black's escape, nobody has been able to think properly." Paulo's eyes widened at Arthur, his mouth agape. Paulo had heard of an azkaban escapee, to which he and the rest of the Ministry were forced to stay silent about. Yet, he didn't know that Sirius Black, a renowned Dark Wizard, was the one to escape.

Paulo didn't know much about Sirius, seeing that he was older than him. But when he did speak to Sirius, it was usually at house parties that he, James, Peter, and Remus Lupin would host. Gryffindors heavily tended to segregate themselves from other houses, for reasons that Paulo didn't really understand.

It wasn't until Paulo and Carmen were indicted into the Order of the Phoenix, that they truly met Sirius. Paulo found Sirius to be extremely confident, and witty. He was never far away from James, or any of his friends. When he received the news from Carmen that James, Lily and Peter had died to his hand, he was shocked, and devastated. He never thought Sirius would do something like he did. He had a hard time believing it.

"Black was the one to escape?" Paulo choked on his words. It was now Arthur's turn to slightly gasp, he thought most of the office had known at this point. "You didn't know?" he replied, as Paulo shaked his head. "Why, everyone in the Ministry knows, Lucius of course being one of the first." Arthur rolled his eyes.

"Has anyone made any moves towards finding him? I mean, he's dangerous to everyone, especially Harry." Mr. Siphone felt uneasy at the thought of Sirius returning to Hogwarts. "Well of course the dementors were sent to Hogwarts. They sent news of this, didn't you get it? It's supposed to be under control, but Ron has already written home that students have been attacked.." Paulo had not been aware of the dementors' arrival, and wondered if Carmen had.

"Some students?" Paulo snapped out of his thoughts, worried for the well-being of his daughter. "Some students who?" Arthur caught on before shaking his head rapidly. "None of ours, but Harry Potter was attacked on the train ride to Hogwarts." He sighed. "Poor boy never seems to catch a break.