25 September 2009
7pm

Zora Roh stood stiffly with her hands behind her back in the office of the Gryffindor Head of House, a witch called Levartian.  She was in her uniform and was on official business, but at least it was a pleasant call.

They were waiting on a student, Jazelle Hawke, who'd been a victim of a magical mugging over the summer.[1]  For Zora the investigation of something like what had happened to Ms Hawke was routine, but it had given her some pause - Jazelle was the same age as her own daughter Waverly and it was not easy to imagine someone that young being treated so brutally.  But from what Zora had heard, Jazelle had handled herself with bravery and had made a full recovery.  Level Two wanted to see that the girls' stolen belongings were returned personally.

Professor Levartian had been good enough to send of her.  In the meantime, Auror Roh was not long on conversation.  Waverly was in Slytherin, and not a student of Artihmancy. 

All she found to say was, "I appreciate your flexibility today.  You must all be very busy with the Tournament."

1.	Baddrick Strikes Again - link

Jazz had just finished dinner and was making her way to Myrni Levartian's office.  After receiving notice by her Head of House she wondered what it could be about.  It must be important to have her skip Astronomy class.  To her knowledge she hadn't done anything out of sorts: her Head Girl responsibilities were going well and her general mood wasn't something to be concerned about.  Honestly, she was at a loss for theories and that set her nerves on high alert.  The notion that this could be about literally anything spurred a new wave of paranoia to surge through Jazz.

Oh, God, what if someone died?  Dad's a mechanic.  There might've been a mishap at the shop.  Or a car accident since he's always on the graveyard shift and people are crazier at night.  Brian?  Maybe his computer exploded?  That's dumb.  He could've had too many Doritos.  Though an overabundance of nacho cheese chips isn't typically fatal to my knowledge.  Plus, he drinks all that milk that must balance things out.  That one coworker of mom's could've snapped and burned down the building...  Her mind conjured up as the numerous horrid scenarios plagued her soul with every step.  I haven't seen anything like that lately, so maybe not.  But... my sight is unpredictable and I do miss important instances at times.

Stopping outside the door of Levartian's room she allowed a little time to collect herself before plunging into the unknown.  In mere moments she will find out whatever it is that's so important.  A death.  Expulsion.  More duties.  If this turns out to be something trivial like planning a prefect outing or putting on a little play for the teachers I'm going to flip a table.  The only thing for Jazz to do is mentally prepare herself for what awaits her.  Taking several ragged breaths, she gritted her teeth and opened the door in one swift motion, and froze inside the doorway at what she saw.

An Auror?  Oh no.  Someone did die!  Jazelle then had the urge to turn around and run into the Forbidden Forest to live out the rest of her days in solitary ignorance.  No one will find me.  I'll live in the trees like an Ewok and fashion a bow like Katniss.  Or, I could just use my wand for defense.  Much easier.  Plus, I got the aim of a blind... something.  But I am good with living like an Ewok.  Maybe I can befriend a creature and learn its ways as a child of nature.

Nope.  Can't do it.  How would I get vanilla coke?

Of course she was going to be accommodating to an Auror who wanted to speak with one of her students. Even if she did not know the full scope of the why behind it. Myrni simply hoped that the Head Girl alright. Naturally the Gryffindor Head of House was protective of the young woman.

But Nathaniel had assured her that Roh's visit was nothing to be overly concerned with and he had even briefly spoken about the kind of co-worker the woman was.

Levartian's office was small but cozy. For a closet, it had been considered rather large and had the capacity to house a plethora of books and supplies. But its conversion into her office quickly revealed how compact the space really was.

With Roh's polite attempt at conversation, Myrni looked up from the Arithmancy papers that she was absently grading as a means to pass the time before Hawke's arrival. "Oh it's really no bother, Auror Roh," she assured the woman, flashing her a warm smile. "And the Tournament has really made things more busy for the likes of Headmaster Reid, not me."

Myrni stood the moment she saw Jazz, mainly because of the expression of alarm on the girl's face. "There she is. Come in, Jazz." The Arithmancy professor came forward slowly and ushered the Seventh year to a seat. Looking back at Roh, she inquired, "Would you prefer it if I stepped out while you spoke?"

Oh, she was American.  Professor Levartian's accent gave her away and Roh made note of it - she found foreigners to be interesting people, when she met them, even for their unusual tones of voice.  But Jazelle Hawke had arrived looking like she was in trouble.

Professor Levartian sat her down, and Roh sat down as well - hopefully that would help things.  "No, stay.  This won't take a moment," Roh said.  Sometimes it was expected that because Roh was a woman that she'd be a sympathetic sort of Auror, one with a knack for working with victims, but that was a stereotype that was unfortunately not actually true.  Roh was not known to be brimming with tact or gentle motherhood.  She was an Auror and she trounced Dark Wizards.  She didn't mean to be gruff or keep Jazelle and Professor Levartian in suspense, but that may have been what happened.

"I'm Auror Roh, Miss Hawke," she said by way of introduction.  "I'm here about the attack over the summer.  I'm here on behalf of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement to inform you of a few developments in the investigation."

Merlin, the girl looked as grim as a graveyard, and even Roh could see she'd need to say something.  Zora tried a smile.

"Look, you're not in trouble.  You can relax."

Though the Auror assured Jazz she was in no trouble, nor was this anything to be frightened of, she still couldn't seem to quell the anxiety in her heart.  Anything to do with the mugging was a sore subject for her.  That day was probably the defining moment when she realized how careless she had been.  How much of a fool she is.  And losing her possessions impacted her more than she liked to admit, whether or not it held significant sentimentality for her.  At least I got my wand back, she reminds herself, keeping the unpleasant thoughts at bay.

"Oh, hi," she said automatically, feet dragging to the seat set out for her.  "Is that wacky-old-harpie caught yet?" she asked bitterly, zipping up her sweater nearly all the way as a chill ran up her spine.  She hoped that creature was brought to justice once and for all.  Who knows how many innocent and helpless victims she cornered?  The cowardice it takes to render someone defenseless only to take what matters most to them is the lowest of low.  It made her wonder what happened in the muggers life that lead her down that dark path.  But then she realized she didn't care.

Zora frowned, not expecting Jazelle Hawke to be so blunt about it.  Teenagers.

"No," she responded flatly, impatiently.  "We have not yet made any arrests of a witch matching her description." 

"Needless to say, we'll continue looking.  But part of the reason I am here was to make sure you knew she was still at large and we have attributed more attacks to her.  Of course, you're quite safe at Hogwarts -"  she glanced at the Head of House, hoping to get some validation, "- but you ought to be informed never-the-less."

"I also need to remind you that if and when we do apprehend a suspect, you should expect to be called before the Wizengamot as a witness.  Likely, we won't need you, but you should be prepared for that possibility," she went on, cold and business like.

"Now that's the bad news out of the way."

"Oh," she said, feeling silly for jumping to that conclusion.  This sort of thing was a serious and delicate matter.  Who knows if this will ever be over?

"Yes, of course," she reassured, regaining composure.  She had no desire to retell everything that had happened to her, but she understood it was necessary.  "Thank you." she added, her polite nature coming through after being disappointed.

"There's good news?" she asked, curiously, wondering what it could be about.  Was... something found?  Something that was stolen?  Suddenly her hopes inflated massively, and before she knew it she was jumping to even more conclusions.  This time, however, she knew well enough to reel them back in.

Zora nodded and stood for a moment so she could take something out of a deep pocket in her heavy read robes.  It was a small black drawstring bag marked with the Ministry of Magic's symbol and a serial number.  It was the typical markings for an evidence container.  She also took out a small Ministry scroll.

She handed the bag to Jazelle and then began to unroll the parchment. 

"Go ahead open it up.  See if it's all there."  Then she read from the scroll.  "Typical boring Ministry procedure, but basically these items were recovered after having been reported stolen in your attack... let's see... they had been sold to a shop in Knockturn and a Magical Law Enforcement informant was able to recover them... they have already been documented as evidence, but are otherwise no longer needed in the investigation in case number blah blah blah... please ensure that these in fact are the items you reported stolen and then sign here."

Zora looked up and turned the parchment around to Jazelle.  Despite Zora's complete lack of enthusiasm, she was pleased that at least part of this case was getting resolved.  It was so satisfying to be able to clear off a file from the stack.

"Well?"

Oh god.  She thought.  They found something of mine?  And her heart sped up considerably.  The blood rushing to her head drained everything else out; everything the Auror was saying, and Jazz's shaky hand tightly gripped the bag.

For a moment she just sat there staring down at the unopened bag in her lap.  It was all so surreal.  Tentatively, her fingers slid their way into the bag, feeling around for something that might be familiar.  And suddenly, something hard and cool to the touch halted her search as if paralyzed.  Her heart immediately knew what it was before her brain even managed to send signals to retrieve it.  Slowly but surely, her three main fingers pulled out the ring, the ring she literally fought tooth and nail to keep that fateful day.  The ring that she never thought she'd ever see again.  The ring that belonged to the one person she cared about most in the world.

Johnny's ring.

Her eyes fell onto the object with curiosity.  It looked... smaller.  It even felt different... like it was... frail and weightless.  Like if she squeezed it with minimal force it would crumble into a million pieces.  Odd... before it always seemed so strong and solid.  Like it was the anchor that kept her from floating away into the abyss of the sea.  Was this really the same ring?

Bringing it closer, she searched for the faint scratch she accidentally made one day back in her fifth year.  It was unnoticeable, at least, to someone who didn't know it was even there.  One would have to know just what to look for in order to have a chance at locating it.  Yes.  It's the same ring, she told herself with an uncharacteristic state of disappointment.

Strange.  Why wasn't she jumping up and down in excitement?  She had been pining over this thing for months, yet now she finally has it again...

Strange.  Why was she just staring at it.  Zora felt a twinge of deep impatience.  Merlin's bones, was it the ring or not? The veteran Auror sighed and turned her head, giving the silent and observing Gryffindor Head of House a glance, for some clue.  But she turned back to the girl and saw for a moment something she'd seen in her own daughter before.  Confusion.  Loss.  Probably best not to press her too hard.  She was the victim after all.  Someone's daughter.

Zora reached over and gently took the back from her hand.  "It'll be alright.  We'll catch her.  Here."  She passed over the scroll and held it so that she could sign.

She shook her head in response.  "Sorry," she said sheepishly, finally setting the ring down to take the scroll.  Signing her name, she was surprised to see her hand shake.  "Sorry," she repeated, feeling foolish for leaving such a terrible signature.  Handing it back to the Auror, she looked at Myrni for a brief moment, confused as to what to do next.

"Well, thank you," she said sincerely to the Auror.  "I'm glad that I got this back.  I know you're doing everything you can... and I appreciate it, really." she added, suddenly wanting nothing more than to leave.  "Is that all?" she asked warily.  The ring in her hand felt wrong.  It was the right ring, of course, but it didn't feel as it did months ago.  I must be in shock, is all.

Zora glanced as the signature before rolling up the scroll.  Again, Miss Hawke's age showed, this time in her handwriting and Zora was reminded of her own daughter.  Reminded again to remember the humanity.  It was so easy to forget and just get the job done.  Much easier than feeling all of these difficult feelings of vulnerability and grief.

The Auror now stood up and turned her sunglasses down again.  They were done.  She nodded and said, "Yes.  That's all.  You did just fine, Miss Hawke.  Thank you."

She extended her hand for a shake.  It wasn't the cuddliest of gestures, but even returning one stolen ring was one step closer to making this all right again.

"Owl or sparks anytime you need us."

Okay.  Everything was done now.  With a heavy heart she stood, gripping the ring in her fist and giving the Auror and her Head of House a polite nod.  After saying her goodbyes she left; her feet guiding her outside on the lawns and down to the boathouse.  She still had no idea how she felt at that moment.  Collapsing to the wooden planks, she curled her knees up to her chin and just breathed. 

Sometimes she hated how much the little things effected her.  Being this sensitive to the most mundane of instances really was exhausting.  Sometimes she wished she could just shut off her emotions.  Finally her fingers uncurled to reveal the ring.  Johnny's ring.

Jazz wouldn't fought limb to limb to keep this thing.  It seemed so... silly now, just looking at it.  It's just a ring.  It's not Johnny.  Johnny is long gone and it's time to realize that.  Holding on to the thing as if it were him.

Maybe it was time to just... let go.

Jazz twirled the ring between her fingers slowly, the sensation making her want to scream because it didn't feel right anymore.  None of it was.  She had loved Johnny for five years.  Every day it broke her heart that he never saw her that way.  Every day it broke her heart to watch him drift away.  And to think after all this time he would've broken her heart enough that she wouldn't feel love for him.  But she did.  And she hated it.  And she had to let go.

Time slowed to nothing from the moment Jazelle Hawke threw the ring into the black abyss of water till the first warm tear trailed down her face.

Goodbye, Johnny.  I'll always love you.  And that's why I have to let you go.