The Yule Ball

Sonia laughed sparing a small smile. "Are you sure you're related to Maik?" she joked then immediately regretted th words. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean that."

Elrohir laughed appreciatively and shook his head. "No! That's fine. People often wonder about that. Sometimes I have to wonder myself." He smiled and turned to flag a cab. He was beggining to like this strange girl Maik had found. At least he'd made her smile. That was somthing.

sonia looked in awe. She had never seen one before much less ridden in one. "Wow, is it safe?" she asked cautiously. It was obvious she had had a shelter life as an aristocrat.

Elrohir just chuckled and opened the door for her. "Would I let you ride in one if it wasn't?"

Sonia shrgged. "i guess not." she said sliding to the far side. She had never had to do so before. It excited sonia to try something completely new. she looked out the windows to watch the passing people.

Elrohir jumped in the cab and gave the driver instructions as to where to go. As they traveled, he watched Sonia closely, and wondering.

Sonia finally tore her eyes away from the window and looked at Elrohir. she egan to chew on her bottom lip. "so, um, what exactly do you do for the m. . .min. . .minisrty." It was ovious sonia hated the word, most of it's employers.

Elrohir didn't fail to notice that, for whatever reason, she didn't like the ministry. Not that he blamed her. "I'm an auror." he answered simply

Sonia smiled slightly. "do you and maik go on missions together."

Elrohir seemed to find something outside his window extremely captivating suddenly. "Somtimes. Well, a lot of times." He paused for a moment "They think if I do I'll be able to keep her calmer."

Sonia hated herself. She hated everything she did. it always seemed to screw up. "I'm sorry. I should stay quiet and say nothing"

"No. it's fine. really." He looked pleadingly at her for her to understand. "Don't allways assume you've done somthing wrong. Maik... has allways had a temper. She just stopped trying to control it when Alex...died."

Sonia sighed. "She hid it well from me until..." she paused. "Until I tried to bring my parents back."

Now things made sense. Maik's explosion and everything... "So THAT'S why she was so mad." Elrohir thought that over for a moment. Just then the taxi stopped at their destination

"Um, i..I'm sorry. I'm lost." sonia said stepping out.

"I'm not."Elrohir replied as he paid the driver. he led her to a broken down store window with a horrible looking maniquin in it. within five minutes, they were in the ministry.

sonia stiffened as she recognized the place. horrible memories came back and began to shrink back. She swallowed involuntarily taking small steps ackwards until she bumped into Elrohir.

"You allright?" He asked nervously. He wasn't sure if this was a good idea after all. "Maybe we should find Maik, ok?"

Sonia bit her lip. "Do we have to pass by Fudge's office?"

Elrohir thought for a moment, then decided that they better not. "No. not if you don't want to."