As Hawke felt the other wizard's proximity grow nearer, he slipped behind a thick oak tree and began the most painful reversion to human form he'd ever experienced, body straining from Analiese's doing as his wound warped and changed with the rest of him, now a clear cut through the shoulder of his robes, bleeding freely. He had to admit, he felt somewhat light-headed.<i><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#b30000">Just stay on your feet long enough to have a conversation . . .</span></i>Or so he hoped that's all this would be. His only defense at this moment would be a swift escape, provided he didn't splinch in his condition.<br/><br/>Hearing the rustle of cloak and feather, the Auror heard Albiorix land. Hawke slipped around the tree, looking very much worse for wear, but he steeled himself, refusing to look weak in from of his adversary. He doubted he succeeded as his breathes came too quickly, and crimson dripped from his fingers. Wand in his good hand, gold eyes went immediately to the mask covering the other's face. It was the first time he'd been in the man's presence, knowing his true identity, with such an obvious reminder that he now spoke to a one-time servant of Voldemort, a fact that was now driven home quite effectively.<i><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#b30000"> It's not as if I don't know what you look like . . . </span></i>His thoughts echoed between them, somehow easier in this moment than physical speech. And yet it felt too intimate at this distance, so Hawke cleared his throat, voice hoarse as he spoke.<br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#b30000">"Forgive me if I didn't trust you would actually come. You're not exactly . . . a knight in shining armor,"</span>he commented with a grimace as pain jolted through his arm, eyeing the mask as if to prove a point. Though the man was right, the Auror was loathe to admit. Perhaps this injury could have been avoided, but as if he'd admit that to the other, especially being chastised for his brash actions.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#b30000">"And if Rosa did follow, I promise you I won't stick around long enough to chat, so you'd better hope she doesn't show." </span>He couldn't duel effectively, not like this. In fact, he was quite grateful for their link in this moment, having nothing else to rely on, hoping he might get an extra second of reaction time if he felt an imminent threat. Oddly enough, he felt nothing as of yet from a man he'd expected to try and kill him outright.<br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#b30000">"You'll get your ring,"</span>he assured the other, the dark stone clenched firmly in his bloodied fist.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#b30000">"But first I need information. That's the least you can give me after I carried your bitch mother's fingers in my mouth for a mile."</span>Disgust passed over his face.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#b30000">"I need to hear what you know about the attack. All of it."</span>He somehow felt that the other wasn't lying. That he did know<i>something.</i><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#b30000">"And I have questions. Not for the ministry, for myself." </span>With a sigh, he carried on, doubting Albiorix would respond well to his prying.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#b30000">"Back at The Cauldron, the things I saw . . . " <i>My memories you meddled with, you prick.</i></span>He paused, knowing full-well the Death Eater couldn't have missed his slipped insult.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#b30000"> "That black smoke. That was an obscurail, wasn't it?"</span>He'd never seen one before, only thought of them as old children's tales. Of course, the thought of his own repressed magic crossed his mind, an idea that sent a shiver up his spine. Or maybe that was the blood loss.<br/><br/>And then the final question, one that had plagued Hawke's sleep and his subconscious ever since this damned link had been formed.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#b30000"> "And . . . I need to know. Did I kill my father?"</span>As the question hung in the air between them, Hawke's vision spun for a moment, but he blinked it away. He could apparate back to the Ministry after he had his answers. He needed to hold on long enough for his answers.<br/><br/><i><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#b30000">And one more thing . . . </span></i>