"Ní mhaireann solas na maidine don lá." // "No morning sun lasts all day."

The security detail on Tara was no longer just Theseus. 

With a Grindelwald attack on a stage that the entire could see, the two of them were forced to inform the other Directors of Magical Law Enforcement about the threats and communications that she had been receiving for half of the year prior.

They were only briefly reprimanded for their secrecy, Theseus somehow managing to lessen the blow.

In the end, most of them agreed that it would be in their best interest to dedicate at least some resources to keeping an eye on her, no matter how ardently she had tried to protest against it at first. 

It took only one pointed glare from Theseus during the meeting for her to clamp her mouth shut.

Tara peered out of her front window, watching as two men in mute-colored hats and trench coats exchanged places on the dimly lit sidewalk below their apartment. She huffed in annoyance just as Leta’s head appeared over her shoulder.

“I know you hate it-” the smaller witch whispered. “But I for one feel much safer.”

“I’m glad.” 

“Plus, it’s most unlike the Ministry to take such direct action protecting one of their own.”

Tara scoffed dramatically.

“Yeah, well, it’s only because Theseus pressed for it so assiduously.”

Leta raised an eyebrow, but otherwise said nothing.

Tara had wrapped up yet another conditioning session with the Auror’s. It had been filled with strength training, a particularly rigorous set of exercises that she had created. All of them were heaving for breath by the time she had finally called it quits for the night. 

“Same time Friday.” she told them, tucking her wand behind her ear before pulling the front door open, and bidding them all a quiet goodbye.

Theseus peeled himself up off the floor with a little bit of difficulty, about to follow in her footsteps, when suddenly he caught wind of a conversation happening at the other end of the training space.

“I mean who does she think she is?” William was complaining to a group of three other Auror’s as they collected their things. “Giving us such serious exercises when we haven’t slept well in weeks? I mean, it’s because of her that we have to pull late nights now, she should be grateful.”  

“Grindelwald is targeting her, Morris.” Norma tried to interject. “It’s not her fault. And it was the Ministry itself that ordered-”

“Why should I care if Grindelwald gets her or not? At least we’d be free of these stupid training sessions-”

The man was suddenly slammed up against the nearest wall of the training area, the broad part of someone’s forearm bracing against the bottom of his throat. The remaining occupants gasped in surprise, as William found himself quite literally choking on his own words as he stared back into the fiery eyes of the Head Auror.

The air around them fell deathly still.

“Do not, ever, speak of Miss Kelly that way.” Theseus practically growled. “Or I swear to Merlin, I will have you thrown out of the Ministry so fast you won't even have a chance to breathe.”

“Can’t- breathe- now.”

In response, Theseus only pressed his arm tighter against William’s throat.

“Are we understood?”

The Auror swallowed, and Theseus could feel him beginning to shake underneath his arm. However, the man did manage to frantically nod his head, and Theseus was quick to release him after that. William fell to the floor below him in an unceremonious heap, grabbing at his throat as Theseus continued to tower menacingly over him.

“Her lessons are the only reason that I didn’t accidentally kill you, by the way.” he added darkly. “So maybe…you should be thanking her.” 

With that, the Head Auror stormed out of the room completely, slamming the door shut behind him for good measure.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* : ｡☆ﾟ.･ ───