Back to business

Kingsley Shacklebolt watched with a smile as two muggle boys played some muggle sport outside the house opposite to him. They seemed to be trying to throw a ball into a hoop, a game that seemed awfully boring compared to quid ditch but a decent enough substitute. They could not see him, for he was standing at the doorway of Number Twelve Grimmauld Place, having just apparated there. Sighing, he turned around the face the door and put his hand on the handle. For the past year he had tried his best to return to a normal life. Traveling, visiting friends and just relaxing. He had needed it, but lately he had become increasingly troubled. For Kingsley, it was impossible to stay away from what he considered was his duty. But it was also dawning upon him that he was perhaps, finally, too old for this.
Last chance Kingsley.
He turned the handle and walked in.

Shacklebolt frowned as he entered. The place seemed utterly deserted, and Kingsley had always found the place quite creepy. Now, it reminded him too much of all the people who had passed. Why were the Order still using this place as HQ anyway? Taking great care to avoid the portrait of Mrs Black, Kinglsey moved to the kitchens to see if anyone was there.

Jack had been saying good bye in her own ways. The meeting in which she revoked her leadership of the Order of the Phoenix had come and it had gone. For a year and a half, she had led the Order, and she had been a key player since they had taken her in as a seventh year, making the exception for her as the leader of Potter's Army. The girl had been steeped in leadership far longer than she had ever wanted to be. She found it hard to remain responsible for herself and she had only wanted to lead until there was a more suitable replacement.

She had found one, though. It had taken this long and, even now, she worried. Hallie was younger, younger than Jack had been when she had taken over, far less experienced. But Hallie had something that Jack had never had, even when she took leadership. Unlike Jack, Hallie believed that the Order could make a difference. Jack had been too cynical for the role, too certain by past proof to believe in any future hope. Hallie was nearly untainted by this negaivity. She would give the Order something to believe in.

Jack knew that she was not going to be leaving forever. She knew she would be at meetings to watch the progress of everyone, to support Hallie, to look for promising young recruits for the Knight's Watch. But she knew it was going to be different. Just as it was different to walk into Wheezes after she gave the ownership to Fred Weasley, she knew that she would never enter Number 12 again the same way.

She sat at the head of the kitchen table, her eyes closed, a mug of rum before her. She heard a noise and her eyes flicked open as Kingsley Shacklebolt entered the room. "Long time, no see."

The Kitchen was almost as dark as the entrance room, though it was noon. Grimmauld Place had always been a dark place, with far too few windows compared to the size of the place. More than once Shacklebolt had wondered why the Blacks, perhaps the most ancient and noble of pureblood families, had chosen to live here - in a muggle neighborhood - of all places. He had never asked Sirius that, and never would. He looked down across the table that he had sat with many of the Order members and saw Jack at the end. She had evidently been thinking quite deeply, for she hadn't made a sound before she saw him.

"Nice to see you again, Jack," Kingsley replied. He had known Jack for a long time, having served headmaster to Hogwarts. He had seen her grow from a mischievious little brat to the leader of the Order, and had grown quite fond of her. He had last left the Order with her at the lead, as he had believed she was quite capable. Shacklebolt hadn't had much contact with the Order members since then, and was not sure of the current situation. "How have you been? You look tired."

It truly had been a long time since she had seen Shacklebolt - she knew it because the last time she had seen him, she had felt some inkling that the Order actually had some voice in the future. It had been long since she had felt that way, therefore informing just how long it had been since the eldery war hero had made an appearance. She sat up, deciding to look a little less run down, though the look did not leave her expression. She lifted the mug, swallowing a good mouthful of the strong rum. It was good drink, and it slipped down her throat and landed heavily in her stomach, soothing her body on its journey.

She brushed her hair back, her elbow resting on the table, as she set the mug back down. A heavy smile twitched onto her face, looking more the grimace than anything. She ticked her head in agreement. "Very asute." She sighed and straightened back up. "I've been okay. I could be much worse, I'll admit that. I'm just... yeah, tired." She nodded a little, as though reminding herself of all of this. Her eyes brightened a little as her eyes fell on his face. "And you? What have you been up to? It's good to see you again, truly."