The Emerald Manor

Chapter 3

Cora's first month at the Ministry was uneventful, downright boring even. She used the time to review all the memos that have made their way in and out of the department for the last month to bring herself up to speed with her peers.

Cora had put up a couple of photos of Tara and Holly from Ilvermorny, perhaps the closest thing she had to a family. Although she had always kept them at arm's length, never trusting to let anyone in too close. She hadn't even spoken to either of them in the last couple of years.

Cora struggled to keep friendships. It's not that she was unfeeling, just the opposite in fact. She would tend to cancel plans or not respond to people. And eventually they would give up and just stop reaching out to her.

She sat at her desk and stared at the calendar, May 2nd, 2006. Perhaps, she thought, if she stared long enough it would change. She imagined her job as an Auror more on the thrilling side, less on the mundane.

Cora thought about getting up from her desk and taking Harry up on his offer to take one of his assignments or at least perchance help him with one. Because up to this point, she had done nothing of note and would like some action.

She heard a knock coming from the door to her office. She looked up and saw Gawain standing in the doorway, with another man behind him.

"Come in. Ah Gawain it is nice to see you. And who is this?" Cora looked next to Gawain to see a tall, imposing man standing next to him. He was clothed in long, elegant blue robes. His mocha skin was offset but his soft blue grey eyes.

"Cora I would like to introduce you to Kingsley Shacklebolt." Gawain gestured to the man next to him.

"Pleasure to meet you Miss Cora DuPont. It is not every day that we get to employ someone from across the pond. I hope you have settled in nicely. After speaking to a colleague at MACUSA they were disappointed that you chose to come and work for us. They were looking forward to having you as an Auror."

Cora stood up quicker than she had intended, knocking a photo over on her desk. She was not expecting the Minister of Magic to just waltz into her office.

"Sir, it is a pleasure to meet you. And yes. Thank you, I have been adjusting well." The familiar red was flushing up her cheeks. "I think MACUSA was being kind and might have overestimated my abilities."

"Nonsense! I saw the results of your exams and training. The word fearless came up more than once." Kingsley said. "I won't keep you all."

"Gawain I'll let you get Cora briefed and then if you can meet me up in my office? Granger will scold me if I'm late to our meeting about the house elves. So, I'd like us to wrap up quickly."

Shacklebolt looked from Gawain to Cora. "Keep him on track, Gawain can be long winded." The Minister chortled before leaving.

"Accio." Gawain summons the armchair from the corner of her office. He took a seat near her desk; gesturing for Cora to do the same. "Well, if the look on your face and the drizzling rain cloud outside your window is any indication, I am guessing you are ready for a real assignment?"

"I certainly won't say no if you've got one!" Cora's eyebrows were raised. Her eyes wide with a twinkle.

"Don't get too excited now Miss DuPont. As I believe Harry may have mentioned to you, things have been rather subdued the last couple of years, not that that's a bad thing. But this assignment isn't exactly flashy." Gawain explained.

"I understand. We shouldn't really be out here wishing for dark wizards to be causing mayhem I suppose."

Gawain did this awkward finger point thing at her. "Hey, we wouldn't be good at our jobs if we didn't enjoy the thrill and excitement. Anyways, time to get you up to speed. You'll need a bit more backstory than most I feel. Are you familiar with the name Malfoy?"