|
|
Post by Riley Neves on Jan 18, 2009 3:25:15 GMT -5
"It wouldn't surprise me. I wonder..." She tilted her head, but abandoned the train of thought, outloud at least.
She didn't even realize that he was sitting down again, but he pulled her from her thoughts, and gave him a look. All the same, she sat down slowly. "What is it?" She asked, wondering if it was about Arachne, or his previous mission.
|
|
|
|
Post by Roland Ferrera on Jan 18, 2009 3:33:59 GMT -5
He almost laughed. Merlin, this felt stupid. After all they had talked about... This just felt trite and trivial. But it was important to his mother, though Merlin knew why.
He wasn't able to keep the sheepish grin from his face. "OK, this is going to sound dumb, and I'll understand if you're not interested... but I figure this is the best time to ask you... since we're not fighting for a change." He covered his face at the ridiculousness of the situation. "My mother would like you to know that you are invited to Christmas dinner at our house."
There, he'd said it. And Merlin, it sounded even more preposterous aloud.
|
|
|
|
Post by Riley Neves on Jan 18, 2009 3:39:23 GMT -5
She stared at him blankly for a minute, like her brain was trying to register what he had just told her. It just didn't seem to be going through, and after a moment, she laughed. It was probably the first time she had ever laughed inside the Ministry.
"That's very kind of your mother, and I'd appreciate it if you could tell her thank you for me. But I'm... otherwise engaged." That was a lie. She was already planning on working on the case more on Christmas, but she could only imagine how awkward that would be.
|
|
|
|
Post by Roland Ferrera on Jan 18, 2009 3:43:51 GMT -5
He was laughing, too. The whole thing was ridiculous. But he knew full well that the "otherwise engaged" story was not going to fly with his mother.
"Forgive me," he said, holding back a laugh. "But what kind of plans do you have? I promised I wouldn't take no for an answer. You'd... you'd hardly have to spend time with me at all, if that helps. We have a very large family."
|
|
|
|
Post by Riley Neves on Jan 18, 2009 3:48:56 GMT -5
"That's rude," Riley said, not ashamed of pointing it out. "It's Christmas. Of course I have plans." And the sentence sounded stupid and fake in her own head, and she knew Roland wasn't going to buy it. She frowned.
"All right, maybe I don't. I was going to work on the case. But consider my not being there your Christmas present from me."
|
|
|
|
Post by Roland Ferrera on Jan 18, 2009 3:54:01 GMT -5
He sighed, silently wishing he came from a family that wasn't so kind and loving and polite all the time. "OK, look," he said. "I... I would like you to come." Merlin, it even sounded like a lie to him. "You're far away from your family... and it's Christmas. There'll be a ton of food... you can meet my brothers and sisters... Maybe you'll see a different side of me. Or maybe you'll just hate me more, but at least you'll have had something good to eat. Will you at least consider it?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Riley Neves on Jan 18, 2009 4:00:10 GMT -5
It sounded a lot like a lie, and the look in her eyes should have told him she didn't buy it for a second. Honestly, they would both be happier if she just stayed home like she had originally planned.
"Your mother really did tell you not to take no for an answer, didn't she?" He was trying pretty hard to convince her to come, and she didn't really have a reason other than her dislike of him not to go. "I'll think about it, all right? But I'm not making any promises."
|
|
|
|
Post by Roland Ferrera on Jan 18, 2009 4:09:09 GMT -5
Roland nodded. "OK, fair enough," he said. "That's all I can ask." He relaxed immediately, now that the nearly impossible task was complete. He stood up, picking up his empty coffee cup.
"OK, well... let's get to work then, OK?" He headed for the door, throwing the cup in the trash can as he went, then turned around to look at her.
|
|
|
|
Post by Riley Neves on Jan 18, 2009 18:14:14 GMT -5
Riley just shook her head, and quickly caught up to him, discarding her coffee cup as well. The last three minutes had been ridiculously surreal to her. Christmas dinner, really?
"Let's head down to the Department of Mysteries, then," she said, smiling as though at a joke in her own mind. It was gone soon, replaced by business, and a new hopefulness that maybe the two of them could make this work.
|
|
|
|
Post by Roland Ferrera on Jan 18, 2009 18:50:05 GMT -5
Roland was uncharacteristically flushed after the humiliating Christmas dinner invitation. Thanks a lot, mum, he thought to himself. The worst part about the whole thing was that she had left it undecided... which meant he would probably have to bring it up a second time. If he didn't, most likely, she would quietly pretend that the subject had never come up at all. And a non-committal answer would never do for his mother.
He said nothing as they moved to the elevators and pressed the button for the bottom floor.
"I don't know much about Patterson, but I know Kinsella is a pretty jumpy sort of person. If she knows anything at all, it won't take much for her to spill it. What about Emma Burke? Doesn't she work there as well?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Riley Neves on Jan 18, 2009 19:15:16 GMT -5
"I... I don't know," Riley admitted. "I'm not terribly familiar with the Department. We could ask Vincent for a full list of Unspeakables... as I'm not sure I trust anyone in the Department enough to give us one. Anyway, we should talk to anyone there. Let's go with Ms. Kinsella first."
She paused just before the elevator doors opened, and the stepped out before him. The Department was dark, and quiet. Granted, two of their own were at the school, which gave Riley an uneasy feeling.
There were two women just ahead of them, and Riley glanced at Roland.
|
|
|
|
Post by Roland Ferrera on Jan 18, 2009 19:20:35 GMT -5
Roland recognized the the two women, one being Fiona Kinsella and the other, Emma Burke. He didn't know her well, only by reputation.
He nodded at Riley, then approached the two women, clearing his throat. "Excuse me... Ms. Kinsella? We were wondering if we might have a word with you?"
He kept his voice quiet. Somehow it felt wrong to speak too loudly in this place.
|
|
|
|
Post by Emma Burke on Jan 18, 2009 19:23:17 GMT -5
Emma raised her eyebrows, though she was not the one being addressed.
"Excuse me, sir?" she said, cutting in before Fiona could. She stood up to her full, slender height and met his eyes. "We're not allowed to... have words, as you put it. If you have any pressing questions, you will either need to come back and speak with Mr. Rookwood, or talk to the Minister. I'm afraid we can't help you."
|
|
|
|
Post by Fiona Kinsella on Jan 18, 2009 19:29:29 GMT -5
Fiona was still settling in to her temporary position as Augustus Rookwood's "eyes and ears" in the department. That was how she liked to think of herself... as an extension of her beloved boss. That she was stepping into his shoes and just doing what he would.
Of course, his shoes were difficult to step into, especially for one as tiny and timid as Fiona. The rest of the department didn't seem all that keen to listen to her. It was a little frustrating.
"But... Mrs. Burke... I told you I needed that report for Mr. Rookwood on your project yesterday, and I still don't have it... I'm supposed to meet with him this afternoon, and if I don't have a full report of what everyone is doing, I don't know what I'll tell him..." she was saying.
She was staring at the floor the whole time, unable to meet Emma's eyes. It came as quite a shock to her when an unfamiliar male voice interrupted and addressed her. Before she could reply, Emma began to speak. Fiona could only nod helplessly in agreement.
|
|
|
|
Post by Riley Neves on Jan 18, 2009 19:47:36 GMT -5
Of course. They hadn't even said a word about why they were here and they were getting shut down already. This was why she avoided this department. Just because they were unspeakables, they were allowed to keep things from everyone else. It just wasn't very safe. There should have been someone they answered to.
"Actually, Mrs. Burke, is it? You are allowed to answer our questions." There was a tone in her voice that probably only Roland would recognize... it was the condescending one that said she was pleased with herself for being able to trump the woman. "We're from the Auror Department. I am Riley Neves and this is my partner, Roland Ferrera. If you would like to check with the head of *your* department for our authorization, please be my guest. We'll wait."
|
|
|
|
Post by Emma Burke on Jan 18, 2009 19:51:50 GMT -5
"I know who you are," Emma said, her voice low as she appraised Riley. She hated Aurors. They were such a self righteous lot that could get away with murder.
"Fine," she said after a moment, finally backing down. She looked at Fiona. "I'll try and finish that report by tomorrow for you," she told the girl. Why Augustus had put her in charge was beyond her, but Merlin knew she was not going to make it easy for the woman. She knew fully well Fiona was desperate for that report... which was why it was sitting on the bottom of her stack of things to do.
She turned, leaving them.
|
|
|
|
Post by Fiona Kinsella on Jan 18, 2009 20:11:11 GMT -5
Fiona frowned as Emma made her retreat. She really needed that report today, not tomorrow. She was going to have to make something up for Mr. Rookwood, and she hoped he wouldn't be displeased with her.
The two aurors facing her now were of a secondary priority for Fiona. For her, it was Augustus who was ever present on her mind, always first in her priorities. But now that she had no where to look but at them, she felt a shiver of fear. The man, in particular, was ridiculously intimidating, with intense eyes that seemed to stare right into her.
"Er... yes... Why don't you have a seat over there?" she began, pointing to one of the nearby tables.
|
|
|
|
Post by Roland Ferrera on Jan 19, 2009 12:49:02 GMT -5
Roland nodded and followed Fiona to the table. Sitting down, he glanced up at Riley, indicating that he was going to start the questioning.
"We do apolgize for the intrusion, Ms. Kinsella," he began, giving the woman a slight smile. "We realize that you are very busy, and that your department is required to have a certain level of secrecy. We'll try to keep our questions to a minimum."
He leaned forward and fixed his intense gaze on her. "Are you familiar with a woman by the name of Arachne Weaver?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Fiona Kinsella on Jan 19, 2009 13:26:56 GMT -5
Fiona was already sweating, although that might have been from the encounter with Mrs. Webb. The woman made her very nervous, but then there were few people who didn't. Fiona was always more at home in the lab or behind a book than any time she actually had to speak with another person.
"Ms. Weaver? Er, yes... she is an intern here. She just started about a month ago."
|
|
|
|
Post by Riley Neves on Jan 19, 2009 13:43:51 GMT -5
"Right," Riley said, sitting down a moment later next to Roland. So why was she at the school?
"Ms Kinsella, correct me if I'm wrong, but, like the rest of the Ministry, your interns are paid, are they not?" She was trying to narrow down any excuses why Arachne would be at the school... if she was paid here, she wouldn't need a second job. Even Roland didn't pick up a job at the school to watch his siblings, though she wouldn't put it past him. So why were there two Unspeakables at Hogwarts?
|
|
