my brother's keeper. (H. Chambers)

[Jackson Reese]

Auror Chambers. It felt like he had been looking for this person for ages; this person was his brother--at least he hoped so. Jackson left his country to search for the family he never knew existed until about a year ago. One piece of the puzzle resided within the Ministry. When he entered, it looked very much like a large government bank, and he wondered if he had gone to the right place. He'd never had any affairs that required a visit to the Ministry before, so it was all new to him. He approached the teller when his turn came up in the queue, and he smiled one of his signature brilliant smiles. It didn't hurt that it was a young woman who was chosen to serve him today, so his smile came off as charming. She appeared a bit flustered, and he wondered if perhaps she was new. "As long as she isn't a feckin' idiot," he thought, but his smile was unwavering.

"I'm looking for an Auror, Auror Chambers," Jackson said with confidence as he leaned forward in the teller window. "It's for a surprise." With that excuse and those pearly whites, it wasn't surprising when he was told to go to the third floor. The witch even provided proper directions for how to get to the office, but he figured that the signs would have guided him if necessary. Still, he thanked her for the information and shot her a wink before he boarded one of the many elevators to the third floor. Once he arrived, he took the path from the directions that he managed to memorize despite them only being recited to him once. Before he realized it, he stood before the office door for the Auror Department. When he pushed it open, he was reminded of a police department. He panned the room with his eyes before settling on the proper desk.

He took a deep breath and slowly approached the desk. There was someone seated in the chair, but it was the back of the chair that faced him. He cleared his throat so that his voice sounded clear, but his nerves threatened to get the best of him. "Auror Chambers?" His Irish accent was already strong, but it seemed to intensify with his nervousness. He focused on keeping slow and steady breaths; he didn't want to lose his composure. This person was just his brother. They just happened to share blood. There was nothing to be so excited about. Who was he kidding? This was his brother!

[Hermione Chambers]

It was just another day in the office for me. Writing up reports after following leads. Putting leads together that I could follow. It was all very tedious, but I was the equivalent of a muggle detective and undercover agent at the same time. Most of the department was out on patrols. That's why it was a surprise when I heard someone enter the department.

Their footsteps weren't heavy with gear like aurors, so it wasn't some of those in my department. It also had a bit of a hurried quality, which could be several possibilities, someone reporting a crime, an informant trying to keep their identity secret or a secretary on rounds.

Though what was really surprising was when the footsteps stopped behind my chair and I was addressed. My contacts know better than to come into the office to report, and I'm not a department head yet. Who could it be. I swiveled around in my chair and for a second, I almost thought I was looking at my late husband again. After a longer glance I realized there were several subtle differences, but Josh didn't have any family outside of his mum who had died shortly after he had.

"Yes, can I help you?"

[Jackson Reese]

Jackson froze, and his mouth opened slightly unable to hide the surprise he felt when the one seated in the chair was revealed to be a woman. No, this wasn't right. Auror Chambers was supposed to be a man, a man who looked very much like him. The young woman stared back at him, and the silence was unnerving to say the least. This person obviously wasn't his brother. So, did that mean he hit a dead end? All his time spent going through records led him to this point. Had he been wrong all this time? He exhaled a breath that he didn't know he was holding, and he relaxed. There was only one conclusion; there was another Auror Chambers in the building. He flashed the young woman a polite smile, which was difficult given the circumstances. He was disappointed by this strange turn of events, and he tried desperately not to show it. His circumstances were no fault of this woman.

"Sorry. I must have the wrong person," he started slowly. This was all so frustrating, and he focused all his efforts on trying not to let that frustration become anger. It just bothered him to know that all his hard work might have been in vain. "I'm looking for another Auror Chambers, Joshua Chambers to be exact." His eyes briefly swept the room again, but he didn't notice any other desks with that name on it. His gaze returned to the young woman--a beautiful young woman--and his demeanor softened as he managed to cast away the frustration, if only for a moment. The smile remained on his face. "Is he in?"

[Hermione Chambers]

Is this some kind of joke. Is Straw mad at me for missing the engagement party? No, he wouldn't be so cruel as to do this as it'd hurt him just as much. That and Kat would skin him alive. But who in London wouldn't know of his death? It was all over the papers due to the crowd that killed him and his honor funeral.

I opened my mouth to respond, and then shut it to prevent any hexes from coming out trying to calm down. Afterall, it wasn't everyday that someone inquired to the whereabouts of my late husband. "Why are you looking for Josh? I mean, last I checked he wasn't working on any cases. I also happen to know all his friends, but I don't know you. Sorry if I appear to be rude about it. He's just a very sensitive subject for me."

[Jackson Reese]

It was obvious from the hesitation before each response that this woman had some ties to his brother, and Jackson simply wanted answers. He swallowed thickly as he found it increasingly difficult to remain composed when he was so close, only to be interrogated by someone who unfortunately wasn't his brother. Though it was always nice to see a lovely face, his mood plummeted quickly. Impatience wasn't one of his better qualities. "No, I'm sorry. I'm the one who's been rude." He extended his hand to shake for a proper greeting. "I'm Jackson Reese. I'm here, because I'm looking for my brother." He watched her in wonder of where her place was in Josh's life. Had they been close? Could it be that this woman was his sister? They shared the same last name. Cousin, maybe? "Is he in?"

[Hermione Chambers]

But, Josh didn't have a brother. It was something he deeply wished for, which is why I considered having children for him. But this man looks very similar to him. Again, is this some kind of trick?

"Josh didn't have a brother. Though he wished he did for a very long time. His only family left was his mother, but she died shortly after.." I paused, still having a hard time verbalising his death. "Trust me, as his wife, I'd know."

[Jackson Reese]

His wife. This woman was his brother's wife. "It's no wonder she's bleedin' gorgeous," he thought despite himself. Perhaps they even shared similar tastes in women? It seemed so. "Do I not look like him?" He questioned with a slight tilt of his head. He thought the relation between himself and his brother would have been obvious, since they were supposedly identical. Maybe what he was told wasn't as accurate as he thought. "I can't speak for him, because I don't know how much he knows," Jackson said as he placed his palms on the desk and leaned forward a bit. His voice lowered, even though there was hardly anyone present to begin with. "Until last year, I had no idea I had a brother. Maybe it's the same for him." He straightened up a bit and shoved his hands into his pockets. "I have documents. He and I were adopted into separate families."

[Hermione Chambers]

Well, they do look alike. The story could be plausible, but I'd need to see the documents. If he is his brother, then he needs to know. I guess the best way is to be blunt.

"I will admit that you do look remarkably similar. Though there are subtle differences. Your chin is a bit more pointed, where his was rounder."

I pulled open one of my bottom drawers and removed my wedding photo that I kept stored there. Having it on my desk was too painful. I handed it to this Jackson Reese who claimed to be his brother.

"I would like to see these documents since I know those types of documents to be confidential. It's unfortunate, though, that I cannot point you in a real direction to meet him. Though I can tell you where you can find him."

[Jackson Reese]

Unconsciously, his hand raised to his chin, and he rubbed it to examine the "pointedness" of it. Jackson lowered his hand only to take the photo that was offered to him. He stared at it, and he helped himself to the memory. This was the first time he'd ever seen a picture, and he noticed all the similarities and the few differences. He understood what she meant about his chin, and it made him smile a more sincere smile. That was something they also shared, the same smile. He felt a sense of relief at seeing this picture. It was proof that there was a reason he'd worked so hard to find this person. Jackson was so caught up in the image that he only caught the tail-end of what this Auror Chambers said next. "Find him? Do you not live together anymore?" he questioned as he handed the photo back. "Beautiful picture, by the way."

[Hermione Chambers]

Okay, it's official, they have to be related as they're both clueless when it comes to dropping hints. Still want to see those damn documents though. How he got ahold of, I'd love to know as Josh's mum never gave hint that he was anything other than her biological son.

"Thank you." I said as I slid the picture back into it's home. I hesitated a moment before sliding the drawer shut, wanting to remember the few happy months we were married. "I'm afraid that I haven't lived with Josh for almost two years now, and I probably won't live with him again for another hundred. I don't think the gravekeeper would like it too much."

I gave a second for the statement to sink in. "Josh was murdered while working a patrol shift at Azkaban in July of 2007. We had only been married for 3 months at that point, though in a relationship for 2 years by that point."

[Jackson Reese]

The smile that he thought might never leave his face was officially gone. His eyes widened as the words sunk in. Josh was murdered. No, that couldn't be. What cruel fates brought him here only to learn that he'd never meet his brother face-to-face. There was a tightness in his chest unlike anything he'd ever felt. It was as though the sadness he felt from the loss of his mother was amplified by the loss of his brother. "I-I see," he said in a voice that wasn't quite his own. "I'm sorry I troubled you." He looked down at the desk and removed his hands from his pockets. Tears threatened to prick his eyes, and he blinked them back quickly. This wasn't how he wished to present himself before his brother's wife. He looked up again and forced down whatever emotions that threatened to consume him. "I'm sorry for your loss."

[Hermione Chambers]

I had never intended to make the man cry. Though I understood his reaction. I had been like that for months after losing Josh. Then again, this man had only known the idea of Josh and not the actual man himself.

"Thank you. I'm sorry you never got to meet him. If you want, I can take you to his burial place after I get off shift. Afterall, it's rather hard to get in. Josh was a member of the Chambers family, one of those down the line to take the throne. He's buried with others of high stature so their graves are under constant supervision from graverobbers and other miscreants. As his widow, I'm allowed unfettered access."

[Jackson Reese]

Jackson wasn't sure if sorrow was enough of a description for what he felt at that moment, but he straightened up to his full height, and he even chanced another smile. This one wasn't as brilliant as the one from before, but it was still sincere. As the young Mrs. Chambers spoke, he wondered what the Chambers family was like. Was Josh treated well? Did they raise him as their own son. They must have if Josh had been as much in the dark as he was some time ago. He nodded in agreement with the young widow's offer. "I'd like that very much. Thank you." Jackson took another deep breath and exhaled with a sigh. This wasn't to rid himself of anxiety; he did so to relieve the empty feeling that start to slowly permeate through him from his very core. He didn't like this feeling; it was beyond sadness. He felt numb. "I should leave, but thank you again. I finally know about my brother. I'll--" he paused, the image of his brother that he'd formed in his mind became the image of a grave site. "I'll show you the documents next time we meet."