Hawke found the small group of initiates within a chamber off the main hall, mingling among their families, but his brother's golden head was nowhere to be seen. This didn't come as a surprise to the auror, given Theo's sensibilities when it came to the fact that he and Hyperion had no family outside of one another . . . for the most part. He wouldn't have hung around to be the odd man out either. And he didn't. He spun, sending the tail of his robes whirling around his boots as he stepped back into the hall, the door closing itself behind him as he wondered where else Theo might be.<br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff8000">"Hyp."</span>Poised to continue his search, Hawke drew up short at the familiar nickname. No one else called him that. It was always "Hawke." Not Hyperion and certainly not Hyp. He turned to find<a class="link link--external" data-proxy-href="/proxy.php?link=https%3A%2F%2Fs-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com%2F736x%2F95%2F3a%2F54%2F953a54916cdb966d69e11555e46f903c.jpg&amp;hash=efd86901a329198bab89e06ee3fed280" href="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/95/3a/54/953a54916cdb966d69e11555e46f903c.jpg" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" target="_blank"> </a><a class="link link--external" data-proxy-href="/proxy.php?link=https%3A%2F%2Fi.pinimg.com%2F736x%2F95%2F3a%2F54%2F953a54916cdb966d69e11555e46f903c.jpg&amp;hash=7f297ac93fe814729dcf37cd7ec378f7" href="https://i.pinimg.com/736x/95/3a/54/953a54916cdb966d69e11555e46f903c.jpg" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" target="_blank">his brother,</a>looking rather awkwardly alone as candles lit themselves along the vaulted ceilings above them. There wasn't much time left before the ceremony began, which meant his words would have to be quick.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#b30000">"There you are," </span>he strode forward, embracing the younger man's smaller frame before holding him at arm's length. He had to admit, the uniform almost looked better on Theo than himself. Almost.<br/><br/>Tucking his hair behind his ears, Theo seemed relieved to see him, much to Hawke's surprise. They hadn't exactly parted on good terms a few nights ago. But no matter their arguments, family was still family.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff8000">"I thought you said you didn't want to be here, you know, something about not 'advocating my poor decisions.'" </span>Hawke dropped his arms to his sides, his brow furrowing as he leveled the other with a calculating stare.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#b30000">"Just because I'm here doesn't mean I've changed my mind. I still don't like this." </span>The relief disappeared from Theo's expression, replaced by irritation.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff8000">"So you're not here to support me after all. The one time I care about your opinion . . . Sodding hypocrite!"</span>His brother made to walk away, but Hawke nabbed him by his robes and forced him back into the conversation.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#b30000">"Just because I don't agree with your decision doesn't mean I'm not here for you. You know I'd do anything for my baby brother. Take a curse. Empty my vault. <i>Anything."</i></span>Anger had worked its way into his voice, drawing the stares of the crowd that had begun to file into the hall<i>.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#b30000"> "</span></i><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#b30000">But the one thing I won't do is watch you die like Mom."</span>There. He'd finally said it, bringing to light the silent argument that had been driving a wedge between them for weeks now.<br/><br/>Theo jerked his arm away, the look in his eyes telling Hawke he'd gone too far, but the older blond's grip held.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff8000">"So that's what this is about?" </span>As if this had ever been about anything else. "<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff8000">Did you ever stop to consider that maybe I'm doing this<i> for</i> Mom? You don't think avenging her death hasn't been on my mind for the past three years now? And I can't do that if I'm working some cushy ministry desk job. This, what you do every day, it's what I want and you aren't going to talk me out of it."</span>It seemed every conversation he'd attempted with Theo lately turned into a screaming match, despite Hawke's futile attempts at patience. He forced himself to calm down before opening his mouth again.<br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#b30000">"Revenge is not what she would have wanted and it's no reason to risk your life . . . " </span><br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff8000">"And your sense of self-righteousness is a better reason?!"</span><br/><br/>Hawke released his brother's robes rather roughly, quickly growing tired of this conversation.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#b30000">"My reasons are my own."</span>And had absolutely nothing to do with their mother's death. She'd still been alive when he'd entered the academy. And might still if he'd chosen that cushy desk job he now urged Theo to accept.<br/><br/>And that was a secret he would take to the grave.<br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff8000">"You know what?" </span>Theo's pale eyes were bright with emotion, mouth curled into a sneer.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff8000">"I don't want you here. I'll do this on my own just like everything else."</span>That was a low blow and Theo knew it. If Hawke had done anything with his life, he'd expended every effort to be both a brother and a parent. Feeling needed kept him going. Regardless, his brother drew out his temper like no one else.<br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#b30000">"I'm not going anywhere,"</span>he growled, crossing his arms stubbornly. He'd stay just to get under the younger man's skin. And because . . . despite fighting this tooth and nail, he'd known all along that Theo wouldn't fold. So he might as well attend the bloody ceremony, even if his instincts continued to insist that this was a bad idea.<br/><br/><br/><div style="text-align: center"><div class="bbImageWrapper lazyload js-lbImage" data-lb-caption-extra-html="" data-lb-sidebar-href="" data-single-image="1" data-src="/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Fs-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com%2F564x%2F8d%2F27%2F38%2F8d273887ac9c8a83f4e1ad0b39b3f5c0.jpg&amp;hash=fd711bb42e67813a8cf1a47cd7ae4159" title="8d273887ac9c8a83f4e1ad0b39b3f5c0.jpg">
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</div>
<br/>​</div><div style="text-align: left">It didn't take long for the hall to fill up, or so Hawke observed from his vantage point behind the podium where Minister Kingsley would give his speech and then proceed to anoint the academy graduates. He was flanked by his colleagues, fellow aurors who had agreed to attend the ceremony in order to give the new generation their blessings and respect. Of course they also served as security in any given event, especially when the Minister would be present. But these days crime seemed rather silent, however.<br/>
<br/>
After what seemed like hours to Hawke, left standing as motionless as a sentinel as he observed witches and wizards, department heads and even a few Wizengamot claim their reserved seating, the crowd was silenced at last by a muffling charm, voices disappearing into the open air as if spoken through mouths of cotton. Eventually every mouth stopped moving altogether as a slender woman made her way to the podium and announced Shacklebolt's entry. Hawke had heard this speech many times before and didn't care to hear it again. Instead, as Kingley's decadent plum robes swept before the line of aurors, Hawke busied himself by mindlessly toying with his wand at his back. Aspen, core of unicorn hair, eleven inches. Stubborn and idealistic, very much like himself. But the damned thing was loyal, refusing to function for anyone else and Hawke liked it that way.<br/>
<br/>
After the Minister's speech was over, the slender witch began to call out the names of their initiates . . . and Hawke sized up each one with sharp appraisal. Most of them, he knew, would be searching for a new line of work within the month. Three years of training and protocol were nothing if a wizard didn't possess the courage to look danger in the eye. Theo would persevere, he knew. It's what he was afraid of. <span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ffff4d">"Theodoras Hawke."</span> The name seemed to echo louder than the others and emotion bubbled in Hawke's chest as his brother's blond head bobbed into view. While he didn't agree with Theo's decision, the least he could do was take pride in his brother's achievements.<br/>
<br/>
Green eyes met Theo's pale blue, both brothers smiling as the Minister's wand flicked the silver pin onto Theo's chest.<br/>
<br/>
And then all Hell broke loose . . .​</div>