emmeline

Emmeline’s reaction made her laugh yet again. She hadn’t really thought about that, but Alice had always been open about sex, that was nothing new, but she understood why Emmeline would be a bit grossed out with how close she was to them both. “Sorry sorry” she smiled “I promise i’ll keep it pg from now on- just couldn’t help myself.” To be honest, Alice thought she could’ve said a lot worse but…

“Yeah” Alice agreed softly “though part of me does feel a little guilty that it’s distracting from spending all my time on solving Amelia’s case- but I know that’s irrational and that she’d be happy for me too- but I feel like you’d understand what I mean.” They had both helped each other through the grief. “If it wasn’t serious I think i’d feel worse” she continued “but it is- I don’t know Emme- I think maybe he might be the one.” She was nervous to say it out loud, having kept the thought to herself until now.

@emmelinevancx​

---

The two women talking about their sex lives wasn’t something knew. Alice had been one of Emmeline’s closest friends for years, and they had talked about near enough everything. But there were some boundaries that Emmeline wanted to maintain. And talking about Frank inb bed was one of them. “It’s okay....” She mused with a little smirk. She was happy for her friend, but she really did not want to think about her two friends in bed, regardless of how happy they boh were.

“You’re so cute...” Emme mused, teasing her friend, a little smile on her face. She’d really not seen Alice like this before, and she was just hoping that it wasn’t going to go bad. She didn’t want any of her friends getting hurt. It would be bad, considering they all worked together. But, she had a feeling it was not going to go badly. “Oooh.... .I can see it....” She mused with a laugh. “I’ve not seen you like this before.... But maybe that’s a sign?”

Amos relaxed as Emmeline finally took the shot. “I think that I should probably not answer that with so much drink in me right now” Amos stated. He knew Emmeline was known for being flirtatious and knew she didn’t mean anything by it, but still he figured there was lines not to be crossed. Loyalty was one of his strongest traits, and it wasn’t worth damaging that for a throwaway quip. Amos didn’t know why he hadn’t expected a follow up question, he didn’t want to put arthur in any danger, but he did trust Emmeline. At least as much as Amos ever trusted anyone. How to phrase this? “Lets just say a certain friend of mine, decided to join this Order thing- and clearly thought I wasn’t worth an invite” Amos knew he would regret this when he was sober “i’m only ever good for one thing right- so I don’t why I should be surprised”

@emmelinevancx​

---

Emmeline had to admit that drinking with Amos wasn’t too bad. He was pretty good company, even if they didn’t know each other that well. She’d not really see him as anything other than work competition before, but she was wondered if maybe she’d been wrong to not get to know him. “Mmm..... next time then” She murmured, a smirk on her face. Smiling at the bartender, she pushed the water towards him. “Drink.” And she really was not going to be saying no for an answer. Amos was a good auror, and they couldn’t afford him to do something stupid whilst drunk tht would get him fired. She raised an eyebrow at his next words, and she had to chose her own carefully. Whilst she didn’t want to lie to him, she didn’t want him blurting out that she was in the Order. She would like to keep it to herself for as long as she could. “Maybe....” She murmured, clearly concerned about his feelings, even if she wasn’t going to tell him all the truth. “He was trying to protect you? You do enough at work.....”

Alice laughed at Emmeline’s excitement. It was nice for someone other than herself and Frank to be excited about it. Though she found she didn’t know what to say in response. She also didn’t want to rub it in her friends face, knowing Emmeline hadn’t had the greatest luck with relationships. “You easier to say that when it’s not you taking the risk” she scoffed jokingly. Really though how was she supposed to know Frank felt the same the whole time.

“Shut up” Alice muttered embarrassed. She knew Emmeline had never seen her like this before. She had been happy in previous relationships but not like this. Not to the point where even the mention of Frank’s name brought a smile to her face. “Oh you have no idea” Alice joked, though she didn’t want to share what Frank had told her about liking her since Hogwarts, that was private. “Though I certainly think we’re making up for lost time” she added cheekily “honestly though, it doesn’t feel like we just started dating- feels like we’ve been together years, its strange- good strange.”

@emmelinevancx​

---

As she watched her friend, Emmeline was wondering how she had managed to not even notice that her two friends were together. Alice and Frank were like siblings to her. They’d gone through auror training, and then worked in the field together. There hadn’t been much over the last 10 years that she hadn’t done without them. She really could not imagine her life without them at this point, and she really didn’t want too. She honestly couldn’t believe that she hadn’t noticed.

“Eww....” Emme laughed, shaking her head at her friend, as she took a sip of her cocktail. “I don’t want to know all the gross details. You and Frank are like my brother and sister” And she really did not want to know about their bedroom antics. Sure, she was happy for them, but she really did not need to know all of the details. Her features softened into a smile though. “But... I’m so happy for you” She murmured with a smile. “There’s so much shit going on around us... you two deserve some happiness.”

frank ordered himself warm scotch eggs with apple beet salad and mustard sauce, caught slightly off guard by emmeline’s response as he’d only been joking. “geez, em, i knew she was swamped today or else i would’ve,” he said defensively. “i didn’t want to be the reason she got behind at work.” frank would’ve jumped at the chance to just hold her hand on top of the table while they ate lunch without a care in the world, but he understood her reasons for not telling anyone (except their parents and now emmeline) and respected her wishes – even though it was starting to weigh on his mind. “but of course she doesn’t mind. i’d like to think we’re all family by this point, yeah?” 

@emmelinevancx​

---

“Frank.....” Emmeline just rasied an eyebrow as she looked at him. Had she offended his words? Because that had not been the intention at all. “I’m only teasing you....” And it was something that he should get used to, because Emmeline was intending on teasing them both. That’s what they got. But she was happy for them. She could tell they made each other happy, and Emme just wanted her friends to be happy. “Always next time....” She mused with a smile. It was good of Frank to think of Alice’s caseload though, especially as she was pretty sure Alice would have come if they had invited her. But she also knew her friend wouldn’t mind them coming without her either. “Yeah....” The brunette murmured with a smile. “You’re like my brother Frank, have been for the past decade” And she couldn’t see that changing any time soon.

“as if that would really be such a terrible thing,” frank commented with raise eyebrows, knocking back a small taste of his ale – good as always. emmeline knew how he felt about her… extracurriculars. and he could give his opinion all day long, but ultimately, it was her choice and there wasn’t much frank could do except sit back and be there when she needed him. as much as he tried not to worry, he couldn’t help himself when it concerned his close friends and family – especially now, with how circumstances had changed all around. none of them could afford to let their guard down even slightly. “but you might have to find a new lunch date; i’m not sure how fond alice’ll be of me dining with strange women too often,” he joked, feeling a sudden weight lifted off his shoulders – it was something so simple as mentioning alice in that aspect that allowed him to let out a breath he’d been holding in for weeks. 

----

“a certain friend of ours might disagree....” Emmeline mused, a wicked grin on her face. She was of course teasing him. She really hoped that Alice and Frank knew that she would be teasing them for weeks. It was there own fault for taking so long to get together though, so she really could not be blamed. Deciding what she wanted, she motioned to a waiter, and ordered some lunch. “Oh?” She mused, raising an eyebrow as she looked at him. She knew exactly what he was talking about. “Strange woman? Is that all I am to you now?” She feigned being offended, a little pout of her lips. She was sure Alice wouldn’t mind the lunch dates. They were totally platonic after all. Emmeline considered Frank a brother, and nothing more. “I mean we could just invite Alice? Though I doubt she’d mind. She’s my best friend after all”

Keira understood why people felt… uncomfortable coming to the mortuary. It wasn’t exactly a pleasant place. Every thing was too sterile and bright, hard on the eyes and cold. So cold. The kind that sunk through your skin and wrapped around your shoulders. But it had to be, she thought to herself, as the side of the room was the dedicated to the mortuary cabinets, and their contents had to be kept at specific set temperatures. Meaning no thermostat, and no chance to warm up. 

At first, it was difficult to work under, but like the other aspects of her job, you became acclimated to it all. Cold. Death. What was it but another day at work?

But as she looked at Auror Vance, who seemed to dread the aspect of returning, Keira decided to that she might break typical protocol for her. 

“I could save you the trouble of coming back,” she began as the witch made to turn herself out the room. Vance stopped in her tracks and then, slowly, turned back to Keira, head tilted as she considered Keira’s words. “Complete the examination with you in the room. Give you direct feedback. That is if you feel comfortable with it.”

|| @emmelinevancx​

--

Emmeline just waned to get out of here. She really did not feel comfortable at all. She didn’t know if it was just because of Amelia. But she just didn’t like it. The sooner she could ge out of here, the better. She knew there was a very good reason for her being here, but she just didn’t like it. Emmeline was really considering getting one of the juniors to come down later to collect the report. If she could get away with coming back here, then she would.

“Oh....” She murmured at the other woman’s suggestion. She could stop and watch? Oh no. No. She could not do that. To be honest, she didn’t really like blood. And she really did want to see any autopsy, yet alone someone that she knew well.

“No.... that’s okay....” She murmured, shaking her head. It was out of character for Emmeline to be lost for words, but she really was now. “Amelia was.... a good friend of mine. No.... it’s too weird.”

“Yeah I mean that was the original plan” she laughed. It seemed stupid now looking back on it. She couldn’t be more glad that she’d changed her mind “but he was teasing me and one thing led to another and I was kissing him before my brain even had time to catch up and panic- though I guess I had no reason to panic anyway.” Alice knew that the smile on her face right now might rival that of the cheshire cat, but she couldn’t help it, being with Frank made her extremely happy.

“Thanks” she smiled at Emmeline “it’s good too like really good- I think that my feelings for him were a lot deeper than I realised and was just in denial somehow- and don’t give me a ‘well duh’ look- but essentially i’m kind of smitten.” Kind of smitten didn’t really do it justice. Frank had her whole heart already. For the first time, she was completely vulnerable. “He’s actually kind of perfect” Alice added, twirling the straw in her glass “he’s everything I could’ve wished for and more- i think maybe you we’re right when you said we were made for each other 'cause it just feels so right”

@emmelinevancx​

---

“Alicee!” Emmeline just beamed at her friend. she didn’t know what it felt like. Not really. Emmeline had only been in one relationship in her life. That had been happy. She had been happy. But it had ended badly. It was the reason why she hadn’t dated anyone seriously since. She had gotten hurt, and the last thing she wanted to do was get hurt again. So she closed her heart off. She had flings, and she slept around. But it was nothing serious. So, whilst she was happy for her friend. She really didn’t know what she felt.

“Of course you had no reason to panic” The girl murmured, shaking her head. Emmeline would have been more shocked if Frank hadn’t felt the same way. “You’re so cute....” She murmured, nudging her friend under the table, before she giggled. “I’m happy for you. I really am.” At least one of them deserved to be happy, and she really didn’t think it would be here. She was happy being married to her job. “Took you guys long enough...” She mused with a laugh.

“Well you’re already sober so” Amos quipped back with shrug, sliding one of the shots he’d ordered over to her “enjoy it.” Amos thought she looked like she needed it. Ministry related blues he expected, though if Emmeline was getting fed up what hope was there for the rest of them. “You know threatening someone in public is frowned upon” he raised his eyebrows jokingly “but fine, if you drink, i’ll use something else.” As much as he enjoyed winding her up, he didn’t have the energy right now. He was also never sure if one day she might follow through on one of the threats she’d sent his way, not worth risking it. “I’ll tell you what” Amos announced as an idea came to his head “let’s play a game- take a shot if your best friend just betrayed you.” Amos downed his shot dramatically, a false smile painted on his face.

@emmelinevancx

---

“Good Observational skills dear.” Alecto laughed, shaking her head. She knew really she should probably have stayed sober, considering how wasted he was. But, she couldn’t quite make herself do that. She smirked, taking the shot, and downing it. She wasn’t usually a shot girl. She was much more sophisticated than that, but she could sometimes could handle them. “Yeah....” She mused, just shrugging at him. “But I’m the girl that catches the bad guys. Who’s gonna arrest me? You?” She asked, still smirking. That was unlikely, considering how wasted her was. Emmeline frowned at his next words, motioning for a waiter to come over, and she ordered herself a wine, and him a tall glass of water. “Your best friend betrayed you?”

“i think devilishly dapper was the right descriptor you were looking for, but i’ll let it slide this time,” frank answered, returning her smile. but beyond her cheerful demeanor, frank could tell that emmeline was traveling along the same wavelength he was – a weary, but determined one. they were all working tirelessly with seemingly endless case loads. frank didn’t mind the load, really, it was more so the amount of similarities between the ones on his desk that worried him as attacks and incidents were growing more gruesome than the last. heading to the atrium, the two used the floo network to travel to the hopping pot and grabbed one of the few empty tables in the place. frank requested a fishy green ale for himself, leaning back in his seat. “i’ve got the tab today so just get whatever you want, yeah?” 

---

“So you’d rather be dapper than handsome? Interesting...” Emmeline teased with a little grin. It was nice to laugh, even if behind it all, she was struggling. She was tired, but determined to carry on. They had enough cases as it was. Emmeline knew she needed to take some time off, but she would do it once they were more on top of things. But right now, she was ready for lunch, and she was just hoping that Frank wasn’t going to want to talk about work. Emmeline just needed a break from everything, even if it was only for the hour that they were on lunch. “You really know how to treat a girl. You’re going to make me have high standards for my future dates” She teased with a little grin as she glanced over the menu.

Aurors, Keira thought as she watched the woman before her, were many things. Brave, smart, the right kind of reckless yes, but early? Now that was almost unheard of. It wasn’t uncommon to have them be late by an hour or so, almost expected at this point. They lead busy lives after all, back and forth between the ministry, assignments and cases upon cases, Keira did not envy the Aurors, not one bit, especially these days.

“Doctor Grey,” she said, and then glanced down at her watch, just to be sure she wasn’t late. Sometimes (appallingly enough), she fell behind and lost track of time. With all the new cases flowing in, the line that all coroners walked between order and chaos was fine. But sure enough, the clock watch showed just past six. Overtime for the common nine-to-fiver, Keira knew for a fact that Aurors were taking extremely long shifts to make up for the Solstice ball. It seemed that Auror Vance, with purple under her eyes, was on one of those shifts.  

“You’re about… 15 hours early for the report, ahead of even ministry schedule.” She said with a smile. “Quite impressive. The examination is actually-well I was actually just about to start when you came in.” 

|| @emmelinevancx​

---

To be honest Emmeline didn’t want to be here. As much as she had sadly gotten used to death in her job, she still was creeped out by dead bodies. She really did not get how people could work so freely with them. She did not do it by choice. And, so she quite commended the girl in front of her. Emmeline knew that she could not do this job.

Oh. It wasn’t ready yet? Emmeline sighed. That meant she would have to psyche herself up to come down here all over again. Or maybe she could convince one of the Junior aurors to come down here. She’d decided that later. All she knew was, she really didn’t want to be down here any more than she had to be. “Typical....” She grumbled, shaking her head. “I hate coming here.” And she knew she could easily avoid it by not being on the case but that was not an option.

“Guess I’ll be coming back in 15 hours....”

🧁

Alice nodded along at Emmeline’s statement. She wasn’t wrong. The workload was crazy at the moment, and will all the training they had to go through, it wasn’t like they could get new aurors that easily. Add that to the few aurors who were out on undercover missions, and it led to a very overwhelmed office. Alice was just trying to take it day by day, and delegating wherever she could to Doe. That was one positive, Doe was very smart and quick and Alice was glad she was able to rely on her at a time like this. She laughed at Emmeline’s eagerness, and tucked a strand of hair behind her ears. “So before I start just know I would’ve told you earlier- I just wanted to keep things quiet because of everything” Alice started to explain “so ermm Frank and I are together, we have been for a little while.” She hoped her friend didn’t take it personally that she’d kept it a secret from her. She just wanted to protect him “I went to see him when he got out of hospital and there was just an atmosphere, so I err kissed him and then things escalated and well yeah- now were here”

@emmelinevancx​

---

Emmeline knew she could talk honestly to Alice about work. They both had the same work ethic, and she knew that if she spoke to anyone else, they’d be worried. But Alice understood. It was why Emme appreciated her so much. She was her best friend, and she adored her. She really did appreciate having work colleagues like Alice, Frank and Amos. It made things a lot easier. And the younger aurors were great too. Having people like Dorcas and Lily, that she knew they could rely on, made things a lot easier. She adored the younger girls, and really appreciated the hard work that they were doing at the moment.

“What.....” She blinked, just staring at her friend. Frank and Alice were together? “I thought you said you werent going to do anything about how you feel?” She asked, not really caring that her friend hadn’t told her. She obviously had her reasons for keeping it a secret, and Alice wasn’t going to judge her on that. “But...... I’m happy for you! This is such good news Alice!”

Who: @emmelinevancx​ Where: Unnamed pub in wizarding London

Amos still hadn’t approached Arthur about hiding it from him that he’d joined some secret society. He was struggling with it. Unable to understand why his best friend, the person he trusted most in the world, didn’t think that Amos was worthy of an invite to join. The decision to keep his emotions to himself was eating him alive, but he also didn’t want to bother Laurel with it either, she had enough on her plate and he didn’t want to scare her away by showing her his less appealing side. All this lead to the current situation where he was sat, absolutely wasted in a pub. The Diggory name protecting him from being thrown out. Amos spotted a familiar face. “Emsywemsy, come join me” he shouted, his words slightly slurred “everyone here is boring and wont drink with me”

---

Emmeline rarely went drinking in pubs. Not alone anyway. But she’d promised herself that she was going to have more balance in her life, and she wasn’t going to work so much. That meant she actually had to go and do stuff. Emmeline knew that if she just sat at home, that she would get stuck in doing more work. And so that was why she found herself at the pub tonight. She intended to maybe have one drink. make somem friends and then go home. She wasn’t expecting to see Amos there. “Ugh....” She grumbled, instantly hating that nickname. “That’s because you are already wasted Amos” The auror murmured as she sat down. “And use that nickname again and I will end you”

for: @emmelinevancx​

where: ministry of magic

it was nearly lunchtime and frank was closing in on starvation. he’d forgotten to eat breakfast before heading in and then was called away the moment he stepped into the ministry. he was grateful that he’d at least been able to get some coffee into him. storing his current work into his desk and safely securing it beyond normal measures – frank was very insistent that everyone adopted the same routine, worried that information could fall into the wrong hands – he walked a few rooms down to emmeline’s office, poking his head in when he saw the door was slightly ajar. “we still on for lunch?” he asked, eager to head out. “i was thinking the hopping pot, but the choice is yours.” 

--

Emmeline felt that all she did lately was work. She knew why. She wanted to solve Amelia’s case as fast as possible. It probably wasn’t healthy though, to be working so much. The night out with Alice had been great, and it was making her realise she could do with better balance in life her. That had been why she’d agreed to go to lunch with  Frank. She  needed to get out of the office more, and she was going to take any opportunity that she could. “Hey...” She murmured, not looking from the paperwork she was working on. After a few second, she put her quill down, and then looked up, a grin on her face. “Of course I am....” She mused, still grinning, as she pushed her chair back. “Who would refuse a lunch date with the handsome Frank Longbottom?”

Alice let out a chuckle as she watched Emmeline’s reaction to the cocktail. “Told you it was good” Alice still sometimes felt a little guilty when she was enjoying herself, feeling that she should be grieving more for her friend, but she tried to remind herself that Amelia would’ve wanted people to be happy. To go on living and live life to the fullest. “How was work” she asked, taking another sip of the drink. Alice was eager just to give her friend the information she’d come here to tell her, she’d held it in for so long already, she barely had the patience. But still, it wasn’t all about her and she wanted to give Emme a chance to vent about her day, Merlin knows the Ministry could be a stressful place to work. “I do have some news” Alice stated playfully after a few moments, trying to keep her expression neutral. It was the first time she’d really had to tell anyone about it. Charity knew, but she’d mostly put two and two together after Alice didnt come home all night after visiting Frank with the cheesecake.

@emmelinevancx​

---

Emmeline wasn’t surprised when she liked the cocktail that Alice was drinking. The pair were similar. They had similar taste, and so she’d known she would like it. “You have good taste. We already know that” She mused with a little laugh. Sh shrugged her jacket off, relaxing a little more. They both needed this, and she was excited for it. They’d both been working so hard lately. And whilst it was hard to switch off, and just enjoy hsrself, Ememline knew she needed to do it. She couldn’t risk burning out. That would be no use to anyone. So, she’d been happy when Alice had suggested that go  out. “Work was shit.” She mused with a shrug. “We need more aurors. Work is piling up, and I feel really stretched?” She still had other cases, even if she did want to spend all her time on Amelia’s case. “OH?” She murmured, raising an eyebrow as she leant forward, watching her friend carefully. “Forget work. Tell me our news. Now.”

Closed for @emmelinevancx​

Alice had sent an owl to Emmeline earlier in the week asking her to meet up for drinks, so that she could fill her in on recent events. She felt a little guilty that she’d kept it from her for long as she’d promised her shed tell her if anything changed. Alice was currently sat waiting in the muggle cocktail bar she’d suggested, away from the prying eyes and ears of the wizarding community. She had no intention of being the centre of juicy gossip, which was one of the reasons behind keeping it quiet in the first place. Telling Emmeline was technically breaking the rules but Alice just couldn’t hold it in any longer, not when Emmeline was one of two people she’d told about her feelings in the first place. Alice was sipping on something called a Rum Punch, which was quite delicious. Emme was running a little late, but she figured she’d got stuck at work, Alice had managed to leave without being interrupted for once. “Evening” she greeted cheerfully as Emme arrived. “You’ve got to try one of these, they’re delicious” she stated, sliding the drink across to her friend.

---

Emmeline had to admit she was quite excited for drinks. She hadn’t been getting out lately. Although she had been getting out of the office more, it had only been back to the flat. But, it was a step forward. Emmeline had been realising she shouldn’t overwork herself. So, drinks with Alice was maybe another step forward. And, Alice was her best friend. She knew it would be fun. And she hadn’t been to a good muggle bar for a long time. She was excited to have some cocktails, and just forget some of the crap stuff that had been going on lately. That was exactly what Emmeline needed.

“Hey lovely....” She murmured, glad that her friend hadn’t mentioned her being late. She had left the office a little late, which wasn’t unusual for her. “It looks it....” She murmured, happily accepting the drink. She took a sip, and just sighed. “Mmm. You’re right. This is lovely. I need one!” And then she just flagged down a waiter, to ask her to bring her one of the cocktails over.

​“Water is not enough,” she rolled her eyes. She was unsurprised Emmeline had been neglecting herself to focus on others- the two of them were so alike that it was almost like she could read Emmeline’s thoughts, see how unimportant she found her own needs right now compared to the needs of others. But even if Lily couldn’t say these things to herself, she could say them to Emme. 

“Have one, it’ll make me feel better.” With a willowy flick of her wand, she summoned Emme’s misplaced tin of biscuits and send it whizzing towards her. “Oh, you know me, I can take care of myself. Haven’t been sleeping particularly well given the Marlene situation, but I think the eyebags give my face character, don’t you think?” Lily crinkled her nose as she helped herself to a biscuit as well. “We don’t have to talk about it,” Merlin knows the carnage from the ball was the last thing anyone wanted to talk about, “but is there anything I can do to help?”

---

“Its better than nothing....” Emmeline tried, with a little shrug. She knew it wasn’t good enough. But she was having a hard time lately. It was hard to grieve, and have to go through a whole investigation process. She knew that Moody would take the case off of her if she asked him too. But she didn’t want that. She had to do this. For both Amelia and Claudette. It was what they both deserved. But sometimes, she wasn’t sure if she was doing a good enough job.

“Only for you....” She mused, shaking her head. She opened the biscuit tin, and actually took two. They were her favourite biscuits after all. She took a bite before offering her friend a small smile. “I can relate....” She murmured, shaking her head. She had been very much the same lately. “I’d appreciate that.... i feel like all I’ve done lately is talk about it....” She murmured, biting her lip. “I just..... need a distraction.”

closed for @emmelinevancx​

  The lights in the mortuary Ward were bright and stark against the stainless steel of the table. The scalpels highlighted in the cool, fluorescent light, glinting as Keira prepped them for the autopsy. This was all procedure, expected, routine. But today, of all days, there was an outlier. Keira’s hands were shaking. 

  Generally that wasn’t good for doctors and healers, but her patients had no risk. They had nothing to lose after all, seeing as they were already dead. Unfortunately, shaky hands meant slow and halting incisions, and that was the last thing Keira needed when she was performing. 

  Keira set the surgical knife back down back onto the tray, and began to look around for her wand. While she felt more comfortable cleaning her tools by hand, using disinfectants and things she knew, without a shadow of a doubt, would clean the knives, spells like Scourgify could be used. Purebloods, like her superior, Professor Spleen, even encouraged it, but Keira couldn’t bring herself to use it, and instead sought comfort in Muggle doctoral practices. 

  This however, was an exception. 

  As she searched for her wand amongst the papers of her desk, the door of the laboratory swung open. Keira turned and saw a woman, around her own age, perhaps a little older, eyes darting around the room as if she were memorizing every inch of the place.

  “Hello?” Keira came to a full stand, abandoning the desk in the corner of the room and striding across the floor, steps punctuated against the linoleum. “Can I help you?” 

--

Emmeline was still struggling with the investigation. It was bad enough having to investigate one of her own. But to have to investigate the murder of a friend, at the hands of a colleague was even worse. They were still down aurors too, and it was just too much. Emmeline really needed a day off soon. She had actually been doing a little better at that. She’d been going home on time, and not doing that much overtime. Of course, she had been taking work home with her, but she had actually been sleeping more. Emmeline needed to be on form, and she couldn’t do that if she was half asleep.

But she was heading to the mortuary today. She needed to collect some things, and really was hoping to be in and out. She didn’t want to be too long. This place just gave her the creeps. But she needed a copy of Amelia’s autopsy. Even though she knew the killing curse had been used, it still was needed.

“Oh... Hi.” Emmeline couldn’t remember if she’d announced that she was coming or not. But, that was a bit late now. “I just came to collect a copy of Miss Bones’‘ autospy. I’m Auror Vance.”