Tales from the Auror Office

Like Stars in the Night

May 18th, 2024

"Cheers!"

The dull clunk of plastic cups filled the office. "To justice!" Someone roared and the room erupted in celebration.

Ha justice. That's far from what I'd call the harrowing event scheduled for tomorrow. Though I don't blame them for wanting to celebrate something again. Moral in the office was low these days. We needed any win we could get with whoever was still around.

And no matter what happened tomorrow, it was likely to be an exciting day.

"Here's to brighter days ahead!" One of the remaining senior aurors cried out. I sighed. Here's hoping.

I checked my phone and frowned at the lit up screen. Charles still hadn't texted me back. Hopefully everything was alright at Seb's new place. I put my phone away and looked around again. Elinor was chatting with some of the younger aurors, including that Laramie girl that seemed to hate me for no reason.

I sighed again. Well, no reason to stick around any longer since the work was all done.

"What's up, Powers?" one of the junior aurors called as I got up. It was William, one of the trainees I had supervised for a few weeks way back when before management decided I shouldn't be trusted with that anymore. He was a kid caught in the battle, as far as I knew. No alliances, just truly neutral.

"Oh, just gonna head home to get some sleep," I shrugged. He glanced behind me. "You can tell Elinor I'll meet her back at the flat," I offered, catching his unspoken question. 

He nodded and I slipped away, grabbing my coat before coasting through the door and down the hall. I was almost to the elevator when a voice called form the dimness behind me.

"So you're disappearing again."

The voice stopped me in my tracks. Unfortunately, it had none of its usual joy and kindness.

"You are, aren't you?" Elinor accused. Behind us, the cheers of the party resounded through the dim hallway.

"Just go back to celebrating, Elinor. I'll meet you back at the flat." I didn't turn around but I was sure she heard me.

"Where are you going?"

"It doesn't matter," I quickly retorted.

"Alexis..." she pleaded. "You don't have to do this."

"Do what?" I turned and replied. The lighting in the hallway was minimal but she was walking close enough that I could see the furrow in her brow.

"Leave. Go off alone again. I know it's been hard - you think I don't feel it too? The emptiness...missing our friends, the weight of everything over the past five years..."

I huffed out a heavy breath. "You seem to be doing just fine without me," I muttered.

She cocked her head. "What? Them? What else am I supposed to do? Allies or not, we still have a mission to carry out. I haven't forgotten that. We're lucky they haven't demoted us or shut us up in some prison somewhere. Even though it's been one obstacle after another, I knew we would be fine...because I had you by my side. But now" - she sniffled - "I never see you anymore. You're always off on some errand with Charles or up late into the night with that journal of yours or sneaking off to God knows where."

I swallowed my previous words and with it all my snark. Softly, escaping my lips: "Elinor, I-"

She was a couple steps away now and I could see tears were brimming in the corner of her eyes. "We could die tomorrow, Alexis. And if this is the end, I at least thought I'd have you. But did you even think about asking me if I wanted to come along. I would have said yes, every time, no matter the circumstances. You didn't have to go searching alone or study that journal alone. You didn't have to go to the dragon reserve alone. You didn't even have to sit in the cell in Azkaban alone." Her voice rose with each statement. I expected to see tears falling down her face but that sorrow was gone now. Only resolve remained. "Alex, you know you're not in this alone, right?"