8:15 pm

Niobe Thursby's key turned in the lock and the mechanism released solidly and reliably.  The dreadlocked witch was weary as she shuffled into her open studio apartment.  There was still some evening light coming in through high windows, but otherwise the apartment was dark and empty as always.  Another late night at the Daily Prophet, and all Niobe wanted...

Was to be surrounded by people. 

She dropped her bag on the rug and locked the door behind her.  A wand flick here, a swoop there and the kettle was working on tea.  It was so easy to settle down with a gin and tonic every night after work, but she'd fallen into that trap long ago.  She was older and wiser now.  Never drink out of boredom.  Only drink to celebrate or commiserate.

Dropping into a chair, she shook let out a groan of comfort.  Weight off her feet and work off her mind she let herself melt.  She toed off her boots and they fell one after the other onto the floor. 

"This is the life you wanted, you know."

Niobe's single alto sounded strange spoken aloud in the high-ceilinged chamber with no one else to hear it.

She laughed at it.

"Yea, this is the dream.  I've got an Auror on the inside.  I'm covering the Tournament, Zephyr and my name is all over MacDuff, the Runespoor and the werewolf attacks..."

She stretched her arms up into the air and streeeeetched.  A smile crept onto her face.  She'd cheered herself up.

"Who needs a life when you're an incredible beast?"