Scratches (Fred Weasley)

(117) Pressure

Florence noticed how off Sloan had been acting around her the moment that her mother was released from the hospital, as her stay was dragged on for awhile due to continuous mental check ups. Cruciatus victims, apparently, were very prone to becoming mentally ill, and the Healers did not know exactly how many times she was struck with it.

Florence couldn't point a finger at what seemed strange about Sloan, but it seemed to be a great deal that was bothering him. But when asked, he would shrug and say that nothing was going on. Deciding to leave it alone, Florence's focus was shifted now to making sure that her mum was okay.

Mr. Weasley was also dismissed from the hospital, a couple days before Jane. Molly had been quite livid finding out very late about Jane's hospitalization, and more so that their reasoning was that no one wanted her to worry even more.

She also took Julien's advice, and started small with who to tell about her accepting the job offer from the Auror's department, deciding to tell both Nicolai and Xander as they met at the Leaky Cauldron three days before Christmas.

"Well..." said Xander, stirring around his mug of eggnog as soon as Florence had finished telling them, "I didn't really expect that from you. But the same time I did. I mean, you were pretty excited with that Quidditch offer."

"I know, that's what I though too." Nicolai chipped in, "You talked about it for weeks. And this Auror recruitment...thing suddenly pops out and it's like you didn't even need time to think about dumping your chance of getting to play with the Harpies."

"But...what do you guys think?" Florence asked them anxiously, "If you were in my shoes, would you have chosen differently?"

"Well," Nicolai began, "...assuming we were still ourselves and only put in your situation, then I'd probably play it safe and take the Quidditch offer. Atleast there the only thing that could murder you is a bewitched flying metal ball, and not a bunch of deadly dark wizards who could use the killing curse on you anytime."

"I believe she wanted something encouraging from us, Nic." Xander pointed out, "That did not help her at all."

"Because I wasn't done yet, you dingus." she rolled her eyes at him, "I have dramatic pauses when I'm about to say something wise."

"Go on," Xander sighed.

"Thank you, Xander. The point is, that's what I'd do because I'm Nicolai Clearwater. But come on, you're Florence Price! Beautiful, resilient, smart, brilliant force of nature, caring, selfless... I understand why you want to engage in that kind of work, Flo. It's because you want to help protect people. You're just that kind of person naturally."

Florence pretended to sniffle, "That was so beautiful, Nic."

"I meant every word."

"And I agree with every word." Xander chipped in, "If anyone's going to pull this off, it's definitely you, Flo. You chose the right thing."

"Thanks, you two. I can always count on you lot to lift my spirits..."

"Not to be that person, but... you still have to tell your mum about it.." Nicolai said slowly, causing the grin to slip off of Florence's face. "Nic!" Xander chastised.

"No, it's alright." Florence dismissed, "Nic is right. There's only three days left until Christmas. If I tell her today, she'll have three days to blow steam off if she gets mad... But if I tell her after Christmas, I might ruin the New Year for her."

"What a dilemma." Nicolai said, in a tone in which her relief for not being in the situation was evident. Florence had a special skill of handling stressful situations with a look zen-like calmness. Nicolai, when stressed, definitely looked as messy as she felt.