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(Fleur) Undercover
Author: Bill Weasley
Date: 06-20-16 12:39
After a morning filled with processing activities for her new position as fourth assistant to the Prime Minister, Fleur arrived at #10 Downing Street and was met by Mary Bagshawe, a woman in her fifties wearing a navy blue jacket and skirt and with silver hair pulled into a chignon. She was in charge of all the other assistants, to whom Fleur was introduced in the course of the tour of her new place of work.
The first assistant was positioned at a desk right outside the Prime Minister's office door and was named Anna Pullin. She was petite and blonde and newly married. The second assistant Bess van Ness was a young, full-figured brunette who wore cat-eye glasses and loved to laugh. The third assistant's hair was vivid red and cut into a short bob, not unlike the jet black wig Fleur herself wore. If she didn't know any better, she would think they went to the same wig shoppe. The third assistant's name was Jessica Dark.
Like the others, Jessica seemed pleasant enough, but there was an aloofness about her that Fleur picked up on from the start. Jessica seemed like the sort of person with ambition who wouldn't want to settle in her current position. Fleur imagined Jessica working her way up the corporate ladder, displacing Bess and Anna and maybe one day even the Prime Minister himself. Remaining a mere assistant didn't seem like Jessica's style. That was Fleur's first impression, anyway.
After introducing Fleur to all the support staff, Mary checked the time and conferred with Anna regarding the Prime Minister's schedule. A five minute block had been set aside for him to meet his newest assistant, and that time was now. Mary knocked on the Prime Minister's door, and then she and Fleur entered at his welcome.
"Sir, I would like to introduce you to Nellie Leblanc," Mary said.
"Please to meet you, Nellie," the Prime Minister said. He rose from his chair, came around the desk, and shook Fleur's hand.
"Thank you," Fleur replied. "I'm pleased to be here and happy to make your acquaintance."
He started asking her some polite questions about her background and interests, which Fleur did her best to answer while trying to survey the room. His office looked typical, with a desk, chairs, and bookshelves arranged pleasantly and practically in the room. On the wall were a few paintings, including one that was covered in boards.
The Prime Minister caught her wondering about it and explained, "There's been a problem removing it."
"Will it damage the wall if you try?" Fleur asked. She guessed that the boarded up painting was the one the Minister of Magic used for communicating with the Prime Minister and figured that it was attached to the wall using a permanent sticking charm.
"Yes," he replied, after a beat.
Fleur had volunteered to infiltrate the Prime Minister's office on behalf of the Order of the Phoenix. It was vital she determine the amount of damage Kingsley's dopperganger had created in terms of Muggle-wizard relations, and if she could, she would like to resolve things before something even more detrimental and completely irreversible happened. Fleur needed to figure out just how many in the Prime Minister's circle knew about the wizarding world. If the number was small, then perhaps a few well-placed memory charms would do the trick.
However, there was the problem with Kingsley's face and name being plastered all over the news media. That was a bigger problem in need of fixing, but first things first.
All too soon, Fleur's audience with the Prime Minister ended. Mary escorted her back out and showed her to a work space where she was assigned to her first task.
(Anthony) Back to Work
Author: Beck
Date: 06-21-16 19:34
Anthony officially returned to work on Monday but so far had spent everyday on desk duty. Not jumping back into field work after such a long leave of absence, on top of the stress of being falsely imprisoned was probably for the best, though Anthony itched to get back into the swing of things. He found he had a lot of catching up to do, however, which involved reading up on some of his old cases and being apprised of things he'd missed while incarcerated. It turned out that the catchup work was more time-consuming and far less dull than Anthony originally imagined.
After hours of reading case reports, Anthony rolled his chair away from his desk and spun around to climb to his feet. It was about lunchtime and rather than eat in the canteen, Anthony thought he might go to Diagon Alley. He wanted to stretch his legs a bit and grab something quick, like a sandwich from the deli. He made his way out of the office and stopped in front of the bank of lifts.
The lift he got into ended up stopping at every floor. When it arrived at Level 7, Anthony made the split second decision to exit. He had been wanting to talk to Jared about Alanna, and now was as good a time as ever.
Anthony had long wondered why Jared didn't seem to question Alanna's leaving him for Reed Wycombe. Her family could tell something was the matter, so why couldn't he? Anthony had no doubt in his mind that Alanna had tried convincing Jared that she didn't want to be with him, the same way she'd tried convincing her family that everything was as it should be. Either she had truly convinced him, or Jared had been looking for a way out and took the first chance he got. Both scenarios didn't sit well with Anthony.
He entered the Department of Games and Sports offices and looked around to see if he could find Jared's desk without having to ask. After an unsuccessful first glance, Anthony flagged down the first wizard he encountered.
"Wynbourne?" answered the wizard. "He's been out of the country on assignment. Not expected back for a while, yet."
Anthony frowned and murmured, "Thanks."
He left the way he came and waited for another lift to take him to the Atrium. His plan to discuss Alanna's behavior with Jared would have to be put on hold for now.
Invitation to Eat
Author: Eoghan
Date: 06-21-16 20:37
Colm Riordan sits on the corner of his youngest brother's desk. "Grand digs you've got."
Though Colm's tone isn't sarcastic the sarcasm is there. Eoghan responds with, "It only seems small because your big ego is taking up so much space."
Colm chuckles them jumps to his feet. "Are we going or what?"
Eoghan signs a report then slides it into a file. As he stands he asks, "Where did Lochlan want to meet?"
"That Japanese place near his office."
Eoghan makes a face. "Great. Sushi."
"You can have tempura or one of the many other non-sushi dishes."
Eoghan knows this is true but continues making the ick face. No matter how hard Lochlan has tried to turn him into a sushi lover, it's never going to happen. Eoghan has never been a fan of eating raw fish. Or any raw meat for that matter. He'll never understand the attraction to dishes such as steak tartare and carpaccios.
Walking through the warren of aisles created by cubicle walls Colm is taking everything in just as he'd done when coming to see if Eoghan wanted to join Lochlan and him for lunch. As they reach an exit to a corridor he remarks, "I still can't believe this is what you're doing now. Big change."
"Not really. As I've told all of you who knows how many times now the job you thought I had was a cover."
"So you've said. I'd still think it would be a big change. Apparently, you used to have to lie to most everyone and pretend to be something you weren't. Here, as an auror, you can be yourself. Not have to hide anything."
"I see your point," Eoghan acknowledges as they reach a bank of lifts.
"Why did you make the switch?"
"I got tired of that life, the constant lies. It can wear a person out."
"Don't some do it until forced to retire?" Colm wants to know as they step into a lift heading to the Atrium.
"A few. And those few rarely have families and those that did tend to lose them to the job. Even those who leave the field for desk jobs or to be handlers are prone to burnout but some stick with it because they don't know what else they'd do."
"They can't become an auror or a hit wizard like you have?"
"Sure, some could but even this isn't a job for everyone and some of them consider this a step down. Or less thrilling. Not as interesting. Pick an option. Everyone who stays in has a reason even if that reason is really just an excuse."
"Huh."
They'd somehow had the lift to themselves until it stops on level 6. Two women get on, sending Colm into his utmost charming mode. In the short time it takes to reach the Atrium on level 8, Colm has made a date with one of them. No sooner have they parted ways from the two women to go towards one of the exit Floos then Colm is back to quizzing Eoghan about the decision to quit as an agent to become an auror.
(Malden) Making a Date
Author: Minerva McGonagall
Date: 06-22-16 18:52
Malden and Arielle sat in a corner of the Common Common Room and attempted to work on homework, but both of them were easily distracted by the comings and goings, the chatter and laughter, and the pleasant aromas wafting over from the bar. If they had been serious about working on homework, then they probably should have gone to the library instead.
Malden finally gave up and shut his textbook with a loud snap. It was after dinner, he didn't have anymore classes till the next morning, and the only thing he felt like doing was hanging out with Arielle until they had to part ways for the night. Arielle, who did have Astronomy later, also put away her books.
She asked, "You haven't told me if you'll be my date to my parents' wedding."
Malden sighed and said, "It's not that I don't want to, although it's weird to think of being at Professor Kent's wedding even if he is your dad…"
"It's because of Asher," Arielle finished. "I know, but I don't see why it should matter. He's never going to accept the fact that we're together, just like he'll never accept the fact that our parents are remarrying. Asher is stubborn. He'll never change his mind about any of it."
"I don't want to be the cause of a scene."
"If there's a scene, then believe me, you wouldn't be the cause."
Malden sighed again. "Are your parents okay with me being your date?"
Arielle nodded. "My mum's really excited about it, actually. My dad… well, I think he just wants to make sure you do right by me, but otherwise, he's cool."
Malden said, "I'll always do right by you, Arielle." He leaned forward so that they were closer and said, "I'll be your date to the wedding if that's what you really want."
"You will?!" Arielle exclaimed. She threw herself into his arms and kissed him.
(Andromeda) Decisions
Author: Capri Brycin
Date: 06-23-16 19:19
It had been several weeks since Andromeda had received the letter from her brother and his girlfriend about her baby. She unfolded the letter and read it over again. She could not believe just how easy it would be to get rid of the baby, however she would still have to see it but no one but the family would have to ever know that the baby had been hers. This was the way to go.
She wrote a letter to her brother and Divina and agreed to what they were offering and then folded the letter and stuffed it into her robes and headed to the owlery to send the letter off. It was there in the owlery that she ran into none other than Kirby. She closed her eyes tightly and wished him away but when she opened her eyes he was still there.
"Hello!" He said sweetly. "How are you feeling?"
"Fine." Andromeda growled.
Kirby looked affronted by her change in demeanor back to the way she had always been before they had started having sex. He didn't like the change. He loved her all the same no matter how she acted but he liked it a lot better when she was sweet and loving towards him.
"I'm sorry am I bothering you?" He asked.
"No." She spat. "I am just trying to send a letter off. "I have decided that I am not keeping the baby."
Kirby's eyes widened and he stared at her. "What do you mean you're not keeping the baby?"
"I am giving the baby to my brother and his girlfriend."
"Okay…" he said unsure of what else he was going to say. He hadn't told his parents what was happening because he didn't want it getting back to McGonagall – however he felt bad that Andromeda was having to serve detention every weekend for the rest of school.
"I am too young to raise a baby, Kirby. You have to understand that. And what are you going to do? You're not out of school either and you can't support us."
"I know." He said flatly.
"Well I need to get this sent off." She said and she stepped around him and went and found an owl to send her letter off with. Kirby peered into the owlery where Andromeda stood but when she turned he ducked out of the doorway and headed back to the main part of the school.
Tears streamed down Andromeda's face she was scared about what was happening and about the decisions that she was now making. She was also afraid to face her parents, her brother, sister and anyone else that they knew.
Confirmed
Author: Lysander Stratford
Date: 06-24-16 18:23
Lysander sat at the kitchenette table and pondered the implications of the letter that had arrived from St. Mungo's only that morning. The letter had been the cause of distraction all day long. Lysander had almost told Julian he wasn't feeling well enough to work but then realized if he stayed home all day, then he most certainly wouldn't do anything else but think about the letter. At least by working, he would occasionally be too occupied to ponder on it.
Now that the workday was done and Lysander was home again, he thought on the letter and what it meant for him and his family. After much consideration, he had gone through with getting a paternity test to see if Dylan really was his. Lysander hadn't expected the results to come out positive, because even if Dylan resembled both himself as a young child and Charlotte when she was that age, what were the chances that an abandoned baby left on his doorstep would end up being related to him?
The test confirmed that Dylan was Lysander's biological son, but who was the mother? Lysander had racked his brain in remembering when he'd started his affair with Astrid. He would much rather Dylan be Astrid's son than the other possibility, but he felt Astrid would have been honest with him about it if Dylan were hers. She wouldn't have left the baby on his doorstep. She would have entrusted him to Lysander directly and pleaded with him to keep Dylan's origin a secret to protect her relationship with Axel. At least, that's what Lysander believed.
He knew one way to rule out Astrid being Dylan's mother, but he wasn't sure he wanted to ask. He didn't want to admit who Dylan's mother could be, because that would lead to all sorts of questions he really didn't want to answer. Unfortunately, now that he knew the truth and because he would eventually tell Julian and Liam, the question of who Dylan's mother was would undoubtedly get raised.
Lysander already knew what Liam would think if Dylan's mother turned out to be Adriana Fairchild, but what about Julian? Julian had his own issues with Adriana because of what happened with Helena.
Then there was Dylan himself. What a burden it would be to know one's mother was the most wanted criminal in wizarding Britain. Lysander didn't want to ever have to tell him the truth, but he wanted to know it for himself. He decided to make himself get in contact with Astrid.
London Meetings (Draco)
Author: Lucius Malfoy
Date: 06-24-16 20:19
The meeting adjourns, Draco gathering a stack of parchments to put in the dragon hide briefcase Astoria had given him on his last birthday. Done for the day he slightly loosens the tie that Scorpius had picked out to give him for that same birthday. After running fingers through his hair to brush it back from his brow Draco picks up the briefcase and follows others out of the conference room.
From behind and just to the side of him Eileen McNara, who also lives in Geneva, asks him, "Going home, Draco, or staying over?"
"Staying. Asteria and I decided that with these meetings lasting the better part of two weeks we'd all come and stay at Malfoy Manor. What about you?"
"Some of both. Going home tonight for the weekend but after we reconvene Monday I'll stay here in London. I get tired of the back and forth when there's that much distance involved even if portkeying or Flooing."
"I understand. That played a big part in our decision. Asteria said I'd be cranky if I was traveling that far twice a day. Say, why are we starting on a Friday only to have two days off?"
"No idea. I've wondered and I know others have as well."
Eileen and Draco continue talking on the lift to the Atrium. Just as they're splitting apart, her heading to where a spot designated for her to portkey home while Draco is going to an outgoing Floo, he sees someone who causes him to halt his forward movement. Noticing his pause Eileen asks, "You all right, Draco?"
"What? Oh, yeah. Thought I saw someone I know and was going to say hello. Wasn't him though."
She nods and continues on. After a second Draco resumes walking as well, sure he had seen the cousin Aunt Bellatrix revealed to close family members not all that long ago.