afraid of being seen | cas

[Claire Evangeline Slater]

never enough.

THE WINDING WALK FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF Mysteries to the Ministry elevator was unnaturally dark. Claire had never enjoyed it, nor did she make a habit venturing into the 'dungeons' of the Ministry. However, the department had an uncanny ability to seize cursed evidence from scenes that made Claire's paperwork extremely difficult to complete in full detail. It meant she often had to have lengthy arguments with the bloodless, elusive staff members when her boss breathed heavy down her neck about an untraced photography, or killer necklace.

The elevator itself, at least, was oft filled with a crew of other staff members. Claire placed herself in the back corner and made a point of looking busy as she read over the new Mysteries Request Form with a careful eye, side-stepping moving bodies as they came and went until she felt the elevator jerk forward as it made a stop and another figure stepped in to join them with a curt greeting and a floor request she didn't care to listen to.

Claire very nearly didn't lift her head to see who had joined them just one floor up from the dungeons, that was until she felt the uncanny feeling of eyes boring into the side of her face. Looking up curiously, Claire did not catch a nosy colleague peering over her shoulder. In fact, she felt herself freeze as she was greeted with the side of Casimir Karkaroff's infuriatingly blank face. As if he hadn't even seen her standing just a foot away from him, the doors closed and Claire's ability to flee closed with it. As if prompted by her own unwavering stare, she saw his head turn and didn't avert her gaze quick enough so they caught and locked. The form was held under her chin, her expression surely foolishly dumbstruck.

"Karkaroff," Claire croaked in greeting, jerking her head in what she hoped was a perfectly friendly nod before she turned her head down sharply. She could no longer see a single strip of text in front of her. It all garbled behind a frantic set of eyes, the parchment crinkling as her fingers flexed restlessly. She hadn't seen him in months, and even then they hadn't spoken in even longer. Claire felt that phantom humiliation veer its head, lingering from the Order base, having resorted to asking for his help desperately after she'd suffered her curse for weeks. "You look... well?" It came out like a question and she cringed into her parchment, almost hiding her face with how closely she examined it. 

Casimir Elias Karkaroff

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[Casimir Elias Karkaroff]

April 2029

Cas didn’t much care for the Ministry. It was a necessary evil to contend with, acknowledging its existence while he worked dutifully to sidestep it at all costs. His business depended on his ability to be discreet and go unnoticed, which was a difficult task for a store as well-known as Borgin and Burke’s (especially with the history that came attached with it, and the British’s long memory when it came to all things Dark). A long time ago, he’d nudged Ana in the direction of Law Enforcement when she’d been on the verge of finishing school – seeing the advantages that would come with a Karkaroff in the heart of the beast’s lair to watch out for her family. Besides, Ana definitely had the personality for it…Damian wouldn’t have survived doing as he was told.

Since Borgin and Burke’s was too high-profile to be simply ignored by the Ministry, and Cas had taken the necessary painful steps to ensure he could be properly informed if there was ever the need for it (like these pesky raids the Head of Law Enforcement liked to randomly carry out)…well, he’d decided to drive into the skid. And make a point of visiting regularly to demonstrate that his permits were in order and avoid the irritating publicity of Aurors in his store. Everything was done through Ana, of course, since he couldn’t rely on any other Auror to ask the right questions and avoid asking the awkward ones. Once upon a time, he’d also used this cover as an opportunity to pass on Order-related information about particularly suspicious Dark artifacts that might be going to Purifiers. But it’d been ages since the Order had disbanded and there was no need for that anymore…

With his seemingly empty briefcase in hand (a neat little protective spell in case a thief got any ideas), Cas let himself be jostled through the fireplaces of the Atrium and into the elevator. He was as he always was – calm, cool, and carefully collected. At least until he saw her. He felt his face almost immediately (defensively) settle into a blank expression as Cas noticed a conspicuous blonde head bent over a form like it was the most fascinating thing in the world. His pulse began to race as he forced himself to stare straight ahead until it was almost a compulsion to look again. They locked eyes and the only satisfaction he got was seeing her face turn bright red.

“Slater,” he returned coolly, swallowing slightly as she turned away from him, then back, then away like she couldn’t decide what to do with herself. But he could control himself better when there were other people around. Claire had gotten too talented at making that control slip, or completely shatter – but not when Cas had an audience. Then he knew how to perform like his life depended on it (which had been true for so many years). “I am well. You’re as articulate as always.” His tone was laced with amusement, because for such a spectacular Auror – well, she didn’t know how to act casual. Or blend in. No, she’d always done her best work when it involved standing out and blasting her way to the right answer. He found himself idly fidgeting with the handle of his briefcase – maybe the only outward sign that he might potentially be a little nervous – but Cas forced himself to stop and grip it tightly. “You must be going to Level Two…unless you can’t find your way?” Even in the middle of a crowded elevator at the Ministry of Magic, he couldn’t help himself.

Claire Evangeline Slater