Silas smirked when she said she'd figure him out. It wasn't likely. She was smiling at him awfully broadly...

Oh dear.

Ohdearohdearohdear. The smirked quickly faded from Silas' face when she complimented him and then spun around. He knew exactly what was happening here and didn't like it one bit. She was getting close to him; he could tell. It was only a matter of time before he would start telling her things. He turned his back to her, and nervously fussed with his hair and played with the edge of his vest, stammering.

He felt a need to get as far from her as he physically could but still be in the same room in case Melanie and Craig needed them. He began pacing and rubbing the back of his neck, muttering to himself awkwardly.

Dora didn't know what had gotten into her, she and Edward had just ended things and it was tooo soon... She had the urge to get up and run from the room, but couldn't make herself get up. She followed Silas back and forth with her eyes for a moment and looked away. What is going on, Dora she yelled at herself. She had to say something, this was the most awkward moment she had had in quite a long time. Clearing her throat she said, "So are you as excited about the Quidditch World Cup as I am?" How lame was that, Dora?! she berated herself. She turned to face Silas again and was again struck with confusion for the way she felt. She averted her eyes and took out her wand and started to make butterflies pop out the end of her wand and flutter around the room. This calmed her and made her smile. She waited for Silas to speak.... if he ever quit muttering to himself long enough to answer her. Then she jumped up and grabbed a piece of parchmet and hastily penned a note to Mel, or whomever would get it, and summoned her owl forth. tying the parchment to her leg she told the owl, "Take this to Wickham Getaways, Craig's Flat. Make sure Craig, Melanie, or Eddie gets it, hurry." With that her owl took off with a flutter of wings. She turned back to Silas and said, "I had to know if everything is okay." She bit her lip and fought back the tears of fear that were threatening to spill from her eyes. She wanted to be comforted, but didn't know if there was anything that would ease her mind.

Dora's owl came flying in, with the same hurry it had left.

It landed on a desk, exhausted.

Silas paced and muttered... muttered and paced. He was lost in his own thoughts, completely oblivious to how awkward the situation in the room had become. Silas wasn't one for picking up the subtleties of tension, unless he himself intentionally caused them, and this had most certainly NOT been intentional.

Dora was speaking again, so he stopped pacing after a bit and ceased his muttering. Pulling out his wand and summoning a comfortable chair, he hastily tossed his lanky body onto it and draped his long arms over the sides. "The World Cup? If you are even the least bit excited, I would dare say I'm not as excited as you." Silas' tone had returned to cold and bitter following their rather intimate personal exchange. "I don't quite care for Quidditch... nor crowds, frankly. So, I dare say the event itself will not be an enjoyable one for me." Silas paused. "That training ground Ben's setting up for my division, though... now that could be fun." Silas grinned mischievously. He hoped the training ground would be tricky and challenging and at least remotely interesting. The accidents at the Cup, barring any catastrophes, he assumed would be mundane, simple for those not caught up in Quidditch frenzy to rectify, and frankly, not worth his time.

With a plop, Dora's owl returned with a note. Stretching up in his chair, taking notice, but not fully standing, Silas looked at Dora expectantly. "What does it say?"

Dora noticed the change in Silas' tone. Gosh this guy is hot and cold, hot and cold, she thought. "Don't like Quidditch, huh? Well that's unusual, do you have a specific reason? Since I was eith the Invisibility Task Force before the two Divisions joined I get to work on the Invisibility aspect." At this Dora smiled widely thinking of the possibilities of fun. "I really love Defensive Magic most of all but I love the idea of hiding something as large as the Quidditch stadium. After all disguise is my specialty." She said with another smile.
Just then her owl came swooping into the room and Dora squealed as she ran forward to take the parchment off. Unrolling and reading it Dora began to cry tears of happiness. She turned to Silas smiling through the tears and said, "They are fine, everything is okay". Without thinking Dora ran forward and grabbed Silas and brought him into a huge hug.

Why didn't he like Quidditch... why didn't he like Quidditch. Well that was the question of the century. His mind churned as he tried to think of a convincing lie, frowning deeply.

But before he could speak, Dora had opened the letter and burst into tears, saying that Melanie and Craig were all right. Well that was a re... OOF.
Dora had pulled him into a hug, much against his will. So there he stood, Dora with her arms wrapped around him, him with his arms firmly, rigidly, attached to his sides. This was far far far too much personal contact for Silas' liking, but he didn't pull away.

Instead, a wave of warmth or kindness or some other unnameable feeling washed over him and he closed his eyes, putting his arms gently around Dora. In his mind, though, he was 10 years younger, holding Lizzie as she cried in his arms. "It's ok.. everything's ok," he whispered. He'd learned later, of course, that everything was not ok; this memory that Silas was so vividly reliving in his mind was the last time he'd ever seen Lizzie... alive.

Running his hand through Dora's hair, he just kept whispering "it's ok... everything is ok..." And just like that moment year ago, with eyes still closed, Silas gently kissed the top of her head.

Dora looked up at Silas with tears running down her cheeks and a huge smile on her face. Grabbing Silas' hand she said, "Let's go down to the cafeteria and grab a bite to eat."

OH MERLIN! Silas had snapped back to reality. Had that really just happened? Eyes wide, and more than a little uncertain, Silas allowed Dora to lead him out of the office and toward the cafeteria.

Dora tromped into the office with little to no motivation to be there... What a night! she thought to herself. Everything that had happened had ended with she and Silas becoming.. AWKWARD, at best. Why had she done that?

Dora seated herself at a desk to await Mel or someone else's arrival. She pulled out some parchment and quill and started making some notes about what the Invisibility Task Force could do for the Quidditch Cup.

SHe began to absentmindedly levitate her quill

Melanie re-entered the office, two days after that awful incident. She was looking like herself, at least on the outside, she was carrying a big business folder and as she let it slide through her fingers to hit her table it made a loud BANG noise.

She looked around and was surprised to see Dora there, she smiled at her friend apologetically "I didn't see you there sweetie, how are you today?" she asked cheerfully, taking a few papers from the folder and organizing them on her desk.

She stared at them for a moment, and they said, as Ben had told them during the Conference:

She intended to distribute them to her employees and then promote a little reunion, to divide tasks.

Dora was in her own little world when a loud BANG brought her out of it. Looking around she saw Melanie and smiled half- heartedly and answered, "I am doing alright...more importantly, how are you? she said tilting her head to the side. She was so extremely worried about her friend and her...erm...situation.

"I'm ok I guess, a LOT happened, but I think I'll be just fine.." she said grabbing one of her papers and walking with it on her hand to handle it to Dora " Here, I've done this.. while I..." her voice trailed of and she changed the subject, she didn't really wanted to talk about that " ... had some free time. I can never begin to thank you enough, you and Silas were such a help!" she gave Dora a quick hug and peeked on her paper " I'm thinking about making a little reunion with my employees, what do you think? You're with me right? Experimental Charms? I can never tell" she said laughing softly.

"Yeah, right you are! A lot happened.." Dora contemplated telling her about Edward's departure and whatever that was with Silas, but thought better of it, now was not the time.

"Mel there is no need to thank me, I am used to dealing with dangerous situations. Former Auror, remember?!" Dora chuckled a bit and returned her hug. "I am actually from the Invisibility Task Force originally, but if there is anything that I need to do just ler me know."

Dora was sensing that there was more that Mel wanted to say, but just couldn't... "Oh, Mel, I am so sorry for my inescusable behavior the other day! I lose my temper sometimes and act out. It will never happen again though, you have my word. Please extend my apology to Torquil as well." Dora hung a bit she was utterly embarassed by her outburst.

"I don't think that will be necessary, Torquil is changing departments ..." she said, trying to sound casual as she flipped through some other papers. She didn't dare to raise her eyes.

"Such a shame you're Invisibility Task Force then, that means I'm actually alone here!" she chuckled a little and looked around the big office one more " I'll have to start working on those ideas I discussed with Ben..." she sat once more on her chair and took an empty sheet of paper.

Dora's brow creased. Torquil is leaving? Well good riddance... no that's not nice Dora she thought. "Seems there are lot of people leaving lately, she muttered. Her lip slightly quivering, but she, like Mel refused to look up or acknowledge a problem.

Dora knew the signs of someone hiding things, especially after her evening with Silas!! So she piped up and asked, "Mel, is there anything you want to talk about? You know that I am here for you, if you need me."

Trying, but failing, to get herself under control she took a deep breath and said, "Mel, hold that thought, I need to step out for a minute. I'll be back ina moment." And rose from her desk and made to leave the room.

Melanie's head raised a little at Dora's sad mutter. Was anyone else leaving? " Not really, my life is just a big mess.. I'm afraid if I talk about it, I might meltdown... " she said softly, with a sad smile, looking away as Dora vanished. She shook her head and started trying to think about spells for her guide book.

Dora had only been gone for a moment as promised. She had a really bad habit of running off on people mid conversation.

"Mel I am sorry about that! I am really glad that you are okay. If you need to meltdown feel free to melt down! Whatever makes you feel better." Dora frowned. She disliked it when people she cared about were upset. Mel had so much going on right now, it must be eating her alive!

A note, folded like an airplane and enchanted to fly around the room, landed gently on Dora's desk.

Quote:

Dora,
I'd be most appreciative if you could join me at at The Hole in the Wall for dinner.
I will wait for you outside.
Regards,
Silas.

Dora smiled as she opened the note. "Hey Mel, since no one from the Task Force is here I think I am going to take off" She ran forward and kissed Mel on the cheek and ran out the door.

"Sure sure..." Mel mumbled as she watched Dora run out.

***

She entered the office, the day after, feeling like her old self, things work out with Craig, Torquil was no where to be seen and she was feeling sincerely good, the baby was growing well, and everything went smoothly. It was a rather small belly given her expectations. Since the baby had werewolf blood she was expecting a bigger belly, but it was rather small. The healer had said it was due the fact that it was her first pregnancy, and her abnormal tendency not to gain weight.

She was wearing one of her pregnant clothes(ooc:imagine the woman in the photo, a little less pregnant), since for the first time she felt like she had really something to show, and her pants were getting harder to button up.

She strolled down the office to her desk and sat happily, humming a tune to herself. " my love must be a king of blind love... I can't see anyone but you..."

She settled her things on the desk and began going through files happily.

Dora skipped into the office with a HUGE smile on her face. Last night had been stressful.. but it had also been wonderful, she felt alive again. She was simply glowing today.

She noticed Melanie sitting at her desk. She seemed to be feeling well this morning. "Hullo Mel! How are you? You look lovely this morning." Dora exclaimed running to her friend and giving her a big hug. Dora was positively beside herself today. "I am glad to see you back to yourself again!"

"I'm gladly back to my old self, thank Merlin!" she exclaimed with a giggle of happiness " You look pretty happy yourself.. something you want to tell me?" she asked with a curious look in her direction as they parted from a pleasant big hug.

"In fact, you're even glowing! You're not pregnant are you?" she teased with a wink.

Dora laughed heartily as she glided over to a desk and plopped down, letting her bag slip off to the floor. "Definitely not pregnant! But extremely happy nonetheless. Silas and I have been spending a bit of time together." Dora blushed deeply. She let her mind wander back to last night.

She then chuckled, "When I am not on the verge of hexing him and he's not being evasive we have a grand time together. I think I really like him."

Melanie's smile was so big it made her cheeks hurt "I'm so, so happy for you, I felt miserable when I found out Edward had left... but I'm definitely happy to see that you and Silas as getting along well" she made the thumbs up sign to Dora and laughed. " I'm going to make a special dinner to Craig tonight.. I just hope he's up to it " she said with a little smile on the corner of her lips. She then looked down at her papers and sighed.

"I've sent memos to all the employees on my department.. no answer till now, can you believe it?"

"I am really glad that things are going good with Craig, Mel! I am SO happy for you! Well, who knows what will come of Silas and myself, as I said I am always onthe verge of hexing him!" she laughed.

"I can't believe that no one is answering til now. By the way... have you seen or heard from anyone from the Task Force? I am really eager to get started on the project, but can't seem to find anyone..." Dora had settled down and taken out her work folder and quill.