Whisper Courage

Risking it All

Aurora and Kinsey wasted lots of time before actually settling down to work. Every time one of them would make the unpopular assumption that they really needed to get down to those files, the other would come up with a sudden reminder of something they had to do.

"We should get to work on these, I suggest," Aurora would say, her voice betraying her disappointment. Kinsey would grin and hold a finger up, as though enlightened.

"You know, I don't think we've cleaned my desk in some time," he'd say mischievously, and they'd waste another hour performing menial tasks to procrastinate. Aurora usually had a strong work ethic, but now her ability to waste time was a life or death situation, quite literally. They managed to get everything but those files done. The pictures covering their walls had been pruned, Kinsey's desk orderly for the time being, the room decorated, and a million and one errands run around the ministry.

Finally, after they got back from lunch, they gave each other that look and sank into their chairs, feeling unmotivated as anything.

"I guess we should get to work," he said softly and she could not think of anything else to do to prevent what was coming.

"You know, I think we should read each page together. Out loud. Slowly. For emphasis," she smiled, and he nodded avidly.

"That's a wonderful idea. We need to take our job very, very seriously," he said, with mock enthusiasm.

As Aurora arrived home that evening, she settled into the armchair with Remus. He was glad to see that she seemed to be in a much better mood than before she left for work, though he didn’t dare ask why. He was afraid that if he reminded her of why she should be upset, her eyes would well up with the tears she fought so hard to hold back once more.

“I wish Mr. Kinsey wasn’t such a git,” Aurora sighed. Remus brushed her bangs from her eyes and tucked his head on her shoulder.

“I know, but I’m afraid there isn’t much you can do, love,” he said. She bit her lip hard.

“I’m not giving up. I can’t. I have to know who my parents are,” she insisted. He was silent. He knew that he didn’t exactly understand her situation- after all, his father had abandoned him and his mother when Remus was ten and he hadn’t cared enough to go find the man who had left them so long ago. But, he knew Aurora would say, at least you knew who he was.

“Well, unless you plan on breaking into the ministry, I don’t see what you can do,” he shrugged his shoulders. The silence that pursued worried him. It was the sort of silence in which he could hear the gears beginning to turn wildly in her mind. He turned so that he could look her directly in the eyes.

“No, Aurora, you can’t do that,” he said now. A smile crept across her face.

“I wouldn’t have to break into the ministry, just the archives,” she reminded him. He sat up straight.

“Absolutely not; you’re risking enough as it is just going there for work every day. Can you imagine what would happen to you if you were caught breaking and entering?” He asked, gesturing wildly with his hands. She was undeterred.

“Remus, I feel like something…some part of me…is missing. I won’t be whole until I know who they are,” she said, making him feel slightly guilty for trying to stop her.

“Aurora, is it worth your life?” He asked now. She didn’t answer him.

~

The office was raining.

It had all begun just after lunch when as they sat down at their desks, preparing themselves for the emotional work they were about to undertake. Kinsey had suggested that they go through the files first and sort out the closed cases to be filed away-anything to put off apprehending the people who had managed to escape. They had pulled out the first sheet on Meredith, and set it down so that it was evenly spread between their desks. Leaning their faces in close to read it, Aurora took the big clipboard that Umbridge had dropped off and marked Meredith's name off. The clipboard contained all the names of the muggleborns who had failed to register with the ministry. Aurora still hadn't had the heart to break the news to Sadie, and had decided that she would put it off until she was asked.