"I don't want to rush the girl, Price, but the Auror program starts in a week, and no one has still heard from her. Her N.E.W.T.s and her grades are definitely outstanding, and not just passes our standard, but exceeds it as well. But if we do not hear a definite response from her, I am afraid we will have to present her slot to a different candidate on our wait-list." Scrimgeour explained to Sloan, who had been sitting in his office timidly for the past twenty minutes.

He did not particularly like meeting with the Head Auror, given their shared history of bad blood. But Florence's future was on the line, and despite him taking care of all the paperwork, without Florence to confirm whether or not she still wanted to pursue the career, she would lose the position completely.

"Jane died, Rufus. You are very fortunate that you will never experience the loss of a mother at such a young age, the least you can do is be a little bit more considerate." Sloan frowned, "Florence wants this, she just needs a little time."

"I'm sorry but an elite force will not wait for a grieving girl. With what times we have, with several death eaters on the loose, we need dedicated recruits to be in training. If she does not report to me directly within two days time, Sloan, I'm afraid she will have to look in to some other career."

"Fine," Sloan gritted his teeth, "I don't know why I expected you to have empathy this time around."

With that, he rose from his seat, seeing himself out of his office.

Julien had been waiting anxiously outside the office for his father, the tense look on his face usually meaning the worst. Sloan looked perplexed, wordlessly walking with his son for a bit, before sighing.

"I thought I could get this one right for Florence," he said, "She's lost Jane, and it would break her to lose a potential career too."

"You know it's not your fault, don't be too hard on yourself," Julien told him, "Florence will not lose anything. We will break the news to her. If she does nothing, then it is her choice to let go of this career, and her decision would be in neither of our control."

"You're right," he put a hand on Julien's shoulder, as if drawing strength from his presence. "We'll discuss the matters with her once we are home."

"How? She hasn't been out of her room since she got home from Hogwarts."

"Well, matters are drastic. I know we should be giving her space but this cannot wait for long. She will understand. She may not be ready to see anyone, but Scrimgeour is right. Life isn't going to put itself on hold for her."

                                        ——————

Nicolai had been at St. Mungo's for the morning to attend the orientation before they started training to become Mediwitches. Jillian had been there as well, the couple deciding to stop by Florean Fortescue's on the way home to replenish the heat a little bit.

The past few days Nicolai had been less chipper than she usually was, as Jillian observed. She knew that her girlfriend was worried sick about Florence, this affecting the way she interacted with everyone. It was as if something was constantly nagging her, and this worried Jillian as well.

"Hey," she said, putting a hand on top of Nicolai's after watching her swirl around her mint ice cream for the past ten minutes, "Penny for your thoughts?"

Nicolai sighed, "No need, I'm still thinking of Florence."

"I'm sorry, darling. She'll be well in her own time. You're worrying doesn't really help her in any way."

"I know, I still can't help it."

"It's understandable. You, her, and Xander, you three love each other to death."

"Fred and George are having their store opening today," she said, as it had occurred to her, "We were hoping that would get her out of her room but I've yet to hear news from anyone."

"Are you gonna go? Their shop is right around the corner, if I remember correctly. And maybe Florence is there with them already?"

"I dunno, I'm pretty tired from the orientation. That lady had a voice that could put people to sleep." Nicolai said, "Plus, I'm sure Florence isn't there."

"Well, even if Florence isn't, Fred and George are still your friends."

Nicolai snorted at this, "I would hardly call them my friends."

Jillian gave her a look, "Come off of it, you fake-dated George Weasley for half a school year. And you've also hung out with Fred a handful of times. I'm sure that means you lot are friends. Show them support, in behalf of Florence, if you will."

"Okay," Nicolai gave in, "Will you come with me?"

"You know I can't, I have to meet Karen back at St. Mungo's in fifteen minutes. Dad's check-up remember?"

"I knew that, but I was hoping I could change your mind if I whipped out my puppy dog eyes?"

Jillian laughed, "Nice try, but you'll have to put them away for now." she stood up from her seat, leaning over to plant a kiss on Nicolai's lips, "I'll visit the twins' shop with you some other time if you like?"

"I suppose that's okay," she feigned disappointment, before a cheeky smile bloomed on her face, "Another kiss please."

Jillian granted her request without hesitation, the two parting ways outside the shop.

The street leading up to the Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes was surprisingly packed with people. Nicolai had a hard time snaking her way closer to the door, which was still closed off. Some parents had complained that she was cutting, Nicolai biting back her urge to sass them with a reply.

Squished and out of breath, she rapped on the shop door as hard as she could, seeing the redhead twins scuttling about in the shop, trying to get everything ready.

"Guys!" she yelled, "Nic here! If you could let me in, that would be great!"

George had noticed her struggling amongst the crowd, opening the door for her and pulling her in quickly, which caused an uproar from the crowd of people who wanted to get in as well.

"Sorry, she's a friend! Worry not, we will be opening in a few!" he called to the crowd, before locking the door and pulling down the blinds.

"Clearwater," Fred greeted, sweat building up by his temple, which he wiped away with a towel, "What brings you here?"

"Came to see the big opening," she said, shimmying herself up to sit on the counter where the cash register was on, "I am very happy to have such successful entrepreneurs as my acquaintances."

"We could really use a hand. Why don't you stop sitting pretty and stock one of those shelves with snackboxes? Please?"

"Free labor? Never." she shook her head, before chuckling, "Just kidding. Might as well put myself to good use."

She heard a loud crash upstairs just as she had gotten on her feet, giving the two a questioning look.

"I'm fine! Nothing's broken, bones or product!" a voice yelled out, to be followed by footsteps.

"Who's that?"

"George's girlfriend," Fred said with a slight smile, his twin brother's face turning red within an instant.

"She's not my girlfriend," George retorted, "And keep it down, she'll hear you."

"Oh please, you're so very clearly smitten with her. She'll be your girlfriend soon enough."

"Ooo, we're talking about Lisa, are we? Must be getting pretty serious if she's helping out with opening day."

"I guess so," George replied, desperately wanting to divert the topic away from him and his slowly blossoming love life, "Anyway, do you know if Florence is coming by?"

Silence washed over them with this question.

Fred's head snapped up to hear Nicolai's answer, hope fading as soon as Nicolai shook her head, "I don't know. I haven't been over there yet since I've been at Orientation all morning. But, you know, I'm sure she would have wanted to go... you know... if circumstances were different. She wouldn't miss it for the world."

"It's okay," he said, "I understand why. She'll be ready to come out and interact with us at her own pace."

"Hey you, no moping around," Nicolai chastised, "Today will be one of the important days in your life—second only to yours and Florence's wedding ofcourse—so no negativity! All positive vibes. No one would want to buy prank products when the one selling it to them is being pouty."

This made Fred smile, "Yeah, yeah, okay. Continue stocking those shelves, won't you? We'll have to move a couple boxes up stairs and by then..."

"We'll be ready for opening!" George exclaimed.

———————

"How do we tell her?"

"I have a better question, how do we get in so we can tell her?" Sirius said, throwing a questioning look at Sloan, "Everyone's said that she hasn't been out of there for weeks now. What makes you think she'll open up now?"

"We'll just have to find a way to get her to talk to us without startling her." Remus said, "Which means, we should avoid using the phrase 'serious matter', because that will surely panic the girl."

The three had been standing around Florence's still closed bedroom door for the past ten minutes, arguing how to approach the situation. Unbeknownst to them, their voices were loud and clear from the other side of the door, where Florence had been waiting for them to finish their bickering.

"But it is a serious matter," Sloan retorted, "She'll lose her slot in the Auror force if she doesn't report to Scrimgeour within two days time."

"Then we should tell her exactly that," said Sirius, "We shouldn't sugar-coat the matter, or handle her with kid gloves."

"Her mother just died. Ofcourse we should handle her with kid gloves—"

The door swung open, silencing the three. Florence looked surprisingly well for someone who hasn't come out of her room for weeks. Sirius, Sloan and Remus stood there awkwardly, all the things they had planned on saying suddenly disappearing from their thoughts.

"Florence, dear, we—" Sloan began, only for Florence to cut him off hastily, "No need. With how loud you lot were arguing through the door, I heard every word. I will see Mr. Scrimgeour tomorrow first time in the morning. Please tell him that."

With that, Florence promptly closed the door, leaving the three still quite startled.

"Well... that's settled then."