Embers of the Heart ; George Weasley

One - 3.0

Two years had passed since the war ended, and life had taken on a new rhythm. Freya was now four, full of boundless energy and endless questions, while Rosie, at two, was toddling around with a curious determination. And now, I was pregnant again, this time with two boys. My days had become a delicate balance between motherhood, my job at the Ministry of Magic, and the anticipation of our growing family.

The Department of Magical Law Enforcement was a far cry from the life I once imagined. Each morning, I arrived at the imposing Ministry building, it's grandeur a constant reminder of the importance of our work. The atrium buzzed with activity, witches and wizards hurrying about their business, the golden statue in the centre casting long shadows as the morning sun streamed through the enchanted ceiling.

I headed to my office, a modest space adorned with stacks of parchment and case files. The walls were lined with shelves filled with books on magical law and dark artefacts, a constant reminder of the dangers we faced. My desk, cluttered yet organised, held the tools of my trade — quills, ink pots, and a battered old typewriter that had seen better days.

Today was no different. I hung my cloak on the coat rack and sat down, glancing at he list of cases I needed to review. The war had left behind a trail of unfinished business, and it was our job to ensure justice was served. Some days, the weight of it all felt like too much to bear, but I found solace in the fact that I was making a difference, one case at a time.

A knock on my door interrupted my thoughts, and I looked up to see my colleague, Eliza, standing in the doorway. She was a few years older than me, with a no-nonsense attitude and a sharp mind that I had come to admire.

"Morning, Aurora." she said, stepping inside. "Got a new case for you."

I took the folder she handed me and skimmed through the details. A string of mysterious disappearances in a small village on the outskirts of London. Muggles and Wizards alike had vanished without a trace, and there were whispers of dark magic at play.

"Looks like a tough one." I murmured, my brow furrowing as I read the reports. "Any leads?"

Eliza shook her head. "Not yet. We're hoping you can work your magic and dig up something useful."

I nodded, already formulating a plan in my mind. "I'll get on it right away."

As Eliza left, I focused on the task at hand. The village of Blackwood had always been a peaceful place, its close-knit community unaccustomed to such turmoil. I had a sinking feeling that this case would be more complicated than it appeared on the surface.

Hours passed in a blur of research and paperwork. I contacted the local Aurors, gathering as much information as possible, and arranged to visit the village the next day. My thoughts kept drifting to George and the girls, wondering how they were doing.

By late afternoon, I decided to take a break. I leaned back in my chair, stretching my arms above my head, and glanced at the photograph on my desk. It was a picture of our family, taken at the Burrow last Christmas. George, Freya, Rosie and I, all smiling despite the lingering sadness of Fred's absence. And now, with another two babies on the way, our family was growing once more. It was moments like these that kept me going.

Just as I was about to return to my work, the door to my office burst open, and George walked in, his face etched with worry.

"Ro, we need to talk." he said, his voice strained.

I stood up, my heart racing. "What's wrong?"

He took a deep breath, running a hand through his hair. "It's about Freya. You know how she's having these nightmares, and they're getting worse? Well, she's terrified, Aurora. She keeps talking about seeing Fred."