Long day (Kieran)

It was almost midnight alredy, but Sarah was still far from done. She felt exhausted and all she could think about was her little Misha at home. She really hoped she is a good girl and she sleeps. The last thing she needed was hyperactive daughter once she comes home. After all, hyperactive husband will be just enough. Thinking about Armen, Sarah looked out of the window, watching the heavy rain outside. It has been months since she discovered, what she hoped was last if his collection of dark secrets. Since then, she was able to somehow ignore it, but that didn't mean she was over it. She sighed. Her life simply couldn't be easy. Not even for a bit.

It was a pretty late hour, but that was a great time to complete his duties in ministry undisturbed. Last days were quite busy and every free moment was so precious. Nobody ever told you that this is going to be an easy work. And you knew what you're getting into. As he walked past his boss's office, he realized that the doors are slightly opened and that she is still there. Kieran didn't used to see her often. After all they were both really busy about their work. And maybe it was a good thing, because he really didn't feel very comfortable with her around. All that remains is hope that she didn't realized him still being there that late.

Sarah was a good witch. No matter how weak she felt next to her husband, she was head of Unspeakable department for a reason. "Anything to share, whoever you are?" she asked, her voice sharp. She couldn't afford anyone getting suspicious about her activities or family. Her being exposed would put Armen and Misha in danger. Stuck in the middle of this war, even if Sarah still had troubles with giving information to dark lord, she saw no other choice.

Damn. "No Mrs. Salander. I was just...passing by. Why are you still here? Shouldn't you be at home already? I mean...it's quite late. Anything serious? Or anything i could help you with?" He stepped in the door to her office. "You shouldn't work so hard alone. You can always count on me being around. I can't let anything bad happen to my boss. That would be really shame if anything goes bad, won't it?" He always felt there was...something weird about Sarah. But she couldn't be in this high post if there's anything wrong with her. Or could she? Maybe there's time to get to know more about her...

Sarah smiled a bit, but was carefull to keep her authority high. Unspeakable department was simply place only for the strong ones, if she didn't have enough respect, she wouldn't be here. "It's nothing. Merely the fact I have little daugher at home keeps me twice more busy, which sometimes requires even work until the very late hours," she explained as she took some papers and put them into the shelf and locked them in. "But what are you doing here? I thought I am alone. No family to come back to for the evening, with Christmas so close?" Sarah asked, suspicious. What if he was up to something. What if the fact that highly prized informations are getting to dark lord himself is known now. The last thing Sarah needed was this danger.

"Just doing my work to satisfy the needs of ministry. With all the things going on... We can't be careful enough about anything, can we?" At least we need to keep our eyes opened to everything strange or suspicious. "How long do you think we'll have to deal with all the...wild events all around?" What is it that she keeps locked in that shelf? "I bet you can't wait for everything to calm down. I'm not even able to imagine how it must be hard for you to care about a family knowing that things could get out of our hands anytime."

"I guess in times like these, none of us will be able to get some rest until it's all over. I just have to hope it will be sooner than later. Don't want to miss my daughter's whole childhood, do I?" Sarah replied with smile. She wasn't lying. Nothing what she said in this conversation was a lie. She knew she was now standing on the other side of the baricade than her visitor. Maybe she wasn't as happy about it as she should be, but it was the fact she accepted long time ago. Still it didn't change the fact that this man was up to something. And Sarah only hoped she was ready for it. Because so far, there was no need for her to cover up. "And yes, it is hard. But that's the war, right? We can either keep fighting or die. There is no escape. I am just trying to do my best and live day after day in hope it will all end well."

"You're right. We have to do our best. At least i can be glad that i work in here. Safest place to be right now, isn't it?" Strange. Although she looks like a nice person i still feel there's something wrong. "Strange that we never got to talk to each other before. Guess you've got really lots of work to do in here." Or you try to avoid people around in here. "Or is it something else?"

"Is that a doubt I hear in your voice, mr. MacPhearson? Because if yes, than I would like to hear what makes you think about me as the one with wrong and secret intentions," Sarah turned to him, her voice sharp as knife once again. Of course she had a lot to hide, but still, suspicion of her co-worker really surprised her. She was extremely careful in all her actions so far.

"I didn't mean it bad. It's just...we're working here together for quite some time now. And we never got to know each other...at least a little." Do you really avoid people? Or are you hiding something? "I'm sorry. I'm just young. I guess that my mind sometimes wander off in the wrong direction. I should think more about things before i say them."

"You should. We are unspeakables. Our job is not to chat. Specialy not mine. I answer to the minister for everything we do. For friendly chat I have my husband back home," Sarah said and realized she sounded more hars than she wanted. "I am sorry. I didn't really mean to speak to you like this. It's just I have lot of work lately," she excused herself afterwards.

Oh. What made you strike on me so hard? Is there really something wrong going on? "It's okay. I get it. It's none of my bussiness. I just try to get to know people around me. These are really hard times and one simply can't underestimate anything. If i want to stay safe and take care of people i love... I need to be cautious. After all that's something that you taught me." Kieran smiled. I should try to get to know more a little longer. If she snapped after me like this...maybe there's more...

"Did I really?" Sarah was surprised. She never really considered herself as the one who would ever be able to teach someone something useful. Even when it came to her own daughter. But she couldn't really change the fact Misha was more after her father. That made Sarah sigh again. This conversation seemed really dangerous to her.

"Did i say something wrong? You seem...uncomfortable. Nervous." Could it really be? She can't. Or can she? One needs really good reason to be paranoid. But being on this high post... He always thought that even in the ministry can be bad people. But this high? "Is everything alright Lady Salander?" If there was any way to be sure....well maybe...

"I am just careful. You never know who to trust these days. Besides, it's after midnight and I am working mother. Even if my husband is at home to help, I will always be mother. Which is exhausting. Do you have family on your own?" Sarah asked, partly to get attention away from her and her possible secrets.

Maybe i just need to push a little more. If there's anything going on ¨, she can't hide it forever. "Well I can help you with your work. so that you can get home sooner. I bet you can't wait to see your little daughter again. Just show me what are you doing right now. We're on the same side so we don't have to hide anything when it comes to things about ministry." You want to be home. I know it. And the only reason you'd refuse my help, is that you're hiding something.

"That's very kind of you. But you are maybe on the same side, yet I am still your boss. There are things I cannot share with anyone. Even my people. That would probably be the reason why I am doing them in the middle of the night, don't you think?" She asked him kindly. This made sense. Even if she mainly wanted to make sure all the documents Armen wanted to see were in her hands and no one will see her taking them away.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it bad. You're right there are possibly things that i'm not meant to see. But there have to be something i can help you with. After all we're the same department. It's not like you're working for the other side." Kieran laughed. Or at least i hope so...

"Okay, I can see where this is heading. I am not stupid. I don't lead this department simply for my pretty face, you know? So, where exactly do you hope to push me? Because there is nothing from me to confess that would make you feel satisfied," she said, her voice sharp and angry. Except for the fact I hand all the important information to my husband, first death eater to command, every single night. She told herself inside her head.

"Well, this could be a long dialogue..." I should just spit it out. She already has to know what i'm talking about. "...so let's just get to the point." Kieran walked closer to his boss. "The thing is... I feel like there is something wrong in the air. And i felt like i should do some search. So here i am. Having few suspicions." As he got right next to her table he raised his eyebrows. "So if you'd be so kind. Could you roll up your left sleeve? Just to get over this conversation."

Sarah looked at him, complete shock in her face. "Are you kidding me right now?! Are you trying to say I am a death eater?! I am boss of this department, how dare you even think of me in such manner?!" she was furious, which actually made the situation more real and could help her in the end. Because truth was she panicked. Maybe there was no mark to be found on her left forearm, yet the fact there was someone with suspicion made her feel very uneasy. She pulled out her wand, took a deep breath and before she did something, she put it back and rolled up her sleeve, just like she was asked to. It was better not to cause bigger conflict. Specialy when there was no dark mark.

"Happy now? I am mother of little girl and my husband is groundkeeper at Hogwarts, where we also live together in peace. How could you even think that with such a life I would be able to become a death eater. And being unnoticed until now? Isn't that a bit ridiculous?" She asked, much calmer now, but still clearly offended. For a moment, she herself believed her acting.

Oh my...i was so sure...Now i'm really in troubles... As Kieran looked really shocked, he stepped back. "I...I...sorry Miss Salander. This is so..." This will be a big problem. Accusing you're own boss. But i was so sure... "I was...stupid... apparently i was really stupid. I'm so ashamed. It's just...i felt like there could be a spy in the ministry...and there were so many unanswered questions and secrets." What are you going to do right now? "Please...is there a way to make it up to you?" And some way to make this...never happened... "I really don't want to lose this job. Yet there is so much that i need to learn about it..."

Sarah still felt anger in her vein as she sighed. Thank God Armen gave me a choice when it comes to dark mark. I would be screwed now. "Being unspeakable means a lot of secrets mr MacPhearson. I would expect you to know that alredy. Specialy in times like this, there are secrets that can never be told in front of anyone but the minister and his closest. My position means to know all those secrets and believe me, I'd rather be ordinary soldier in front line sometimes, than have my knowledge," she spoke to him, her voice cold, sharp and firm. "Yet I can't deny there is a spy among us, and I am as desperate as all of us in my atempts to track him or her down. This... accident... will stay just between us. But I will surely keep an eye on you and your actions since now on. I am still your boss and you are just my employee. Very easily replaceble may I say, so keep that in mind next time you decide to speak in such manners to me."

"I am really sorry miss Salander." God, how could you fail like this? You should be glad your boss is so kind. And you accused her. "I promise that I'll do my best to make it up to you. Next time when i'll have some...suspicion, i'll come to you. After all you're my boss and you should know what I am doing. I just need to keep my eyes opened and stop being so paranoid." Now I'm on thin ice...and i should be careful about my every move. "I guess i shold be going now. If you really don't need anything."

"That would be the best," Sarah nodded to his solution for the next time. She felt a bit pity for him. He was right all along and now, he will become just another puppet. But she made her choice. It was Armen. Maybe she still didn't really understand why, but she decided to stand by him. And there was no way back now. "We all need to be a bit paranoid. I understand that. But that doesn't mean we should let our paranoia to hold power over our actions,"she added afterwards. "You may go now, you have plenty of work to do yourself I suppose," she finished and considered their conversation over.