OOC: Please have your character knock and wait to be let in by Bella before roleplaying walking inside. All characters need to see Bella before going directly to the Minister's door, so please wait for her to see your character and speak with him or her before you proceed through to the next office.

Just outside the office of the Minister for Magic is the office of her Senior Undersecretary. You must check in with the Senior Undersecretary before proceeding to visit with the Minister. For those of you who've been here before, you should be quite familiar with the area. However, there is one very noticeable difference. The gold-lettered plaque which once indicated the office of Ms. Samantha Rose (now-former Senior Undersecretary to the Minister of Magic) has been removed. In it's place, a new plaque now reads:




OOC: These are the old plaques from when I was department head of level six. New plaques are in the process of being made now.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, Mrs. Ice Cream has moved into the Ministry of Magic and is in the position just under the Minister herself. Will the office ever be the same? Probably not, but here's hoping for the best, eh? The setup of the office is more or less what you would expect from any other office of such a kind. There's a desk in the middle, complete with portraits of the Greingoth family of soon-to-be five. A bookcase stands tall off to the left side of the room, containing a large, neatly-categorized collection of literature relating to a variety of subjects. Plants placed in beautifully decorated porcelain pots line the two windows found on either side of the office.

Your typical office? Yes, somewhat.

If you look closely, though, bits and pieces of Mrs. Greingoth's own personal flair are actually found in abundance throughout the place. Amongst the family portraits and paperwork stacked atop the desk, one can also find quite a few issues of fashion magazines and a few brochures relating to international travel. An entire shelf on the bookcase houses a make-up mirror, a cosmetic bag, and a random assortment of Wonder Witch products. Oh, and those plants lining the windowsills? They're pink puffapods, of course.

Yes, yes. A Greingoth woman has definitely made her way into the Ministry of Magic.

It was weird for Jake as he stepped into the Undersecretary's office knowing that Samantha wouldn't be there to greet him. She had left so suddenly - they hadn't even exchanged goodbye's. Ever since he had begun his Ministry career, Samantha Rose had ALWAYS been there to help him - heck, if it weren't for her, he wouldn't have Rachel and THAT was a scary thought.

Speaking of Rachel... Back to reality. He was here for a reason and that reason was important. VERY important, actually. "Hello, Ms..." he racked his brain for the name on the door plaque, "Greenwood? I'm sorry - I'm a little distracted," he apologised, realising that the name was wrong.

"Jake Rider - Head of Education," Jake quickly introduced himself, blinking as he suddenly took in the GIRLISHNESS of the office. Er... Everyone and their own personal tastes? Plus, he wasn't one to talk - just look at HIS office.

Aaaaanyways. "Me and my two employees would like to speak with Minister Taylor as quickly as possible, please. It's really urgent - news from Hogwarts," he spoke rapidly, not sure of just how much information he should reveal. How high up are undersecretaries to the Minister anyway?

Knocking before entering behind Jake, Gretta peered around the office looking for her old boss but found another woman amongst the office who sat behind Samantha Rose's desk. "That's right," she chuckled at her forgetful mind for not realizing they'd replaced her old boss. "Excuse my foul mannerism. I'm usually one for respecting others space," she apologized for her abrupt entrance," but as Mr.Rider has previously stated, there is an urgent matter that needs to be addressed." She glanced at Jake wondering why he spoke vaguely about the matter. Had it not occurred to him that once the Minister finds out, so will the papers, and the jigs up?

Brainless, she thought looking at the back side of Jacob and turning towards the woman.

"I'm Gretta Amerie. The Department of Magical Education Division Head," her words flowed perfectly as if she'd practiced the line before. "Lovely puffapods," she added examining the office decorations or lack there of. Simplicity can be beautiful, she admitted silently panning the room and stalling near the door.

"Ms.Stedman should be here any moment now," she reassured herself and the other two behind her though fought her urge to say anything malicious about the deranged woman.

"Ms. Stedman is right here. I don't get lost that easily, Ms. Amerie." Lucy came up right behind the woman. Oh, that damn woman! She loved to get on everybody's nerves. Distracted by her thoughts about the lovely Ms. Amerie, Lucy only notice then who they were talking to:
"You're the woman from the ice cream shop! Florean's. Ms... Bella Greingoth, right?" Lucy smiled. That was one face she could tell she recognized, though she had never traded more than to words with the said lady when requesting for ice creams - which, truth be said, used to be done by Jake. "It's really nice to meet you formaly. I'm Lucy Stedman, worker from the Department of Exams Authority down the hall." she introducced herself politely, her expression changing into a very professional one.

Lucy looked around to appreciate the office while they were waiting. But there was something more about that woman... Wait a second... She was looking at the portrait of a young girl dressed like an Head Girl. She could only be Bella's daughter. There was something else. Photographic memory, give me a hand here.
"Is this your daughter?" Lucy adressed the question to Bella. "I believe that I've heard from her when she was studying in the castle, but I can not be entirely sure."

Yes, Lucy didn't know where she was heading as well, but to gain, at least, some sympathy from the undersecretary couldn't be a bad thing. She would understand their worries, if her daughter had really studied in the castle.

Oh. Well. This saved a trip.

Chad stopped as he spotted the "Jake Rider" Reagan had requested. "Hmm, you must have read the Minister's mind, Monsieur Rider. She has just requested your presence. Unfortunately, is it an urgent matter...and it is required now. If this is about the recent events at the school involving the...misfortune fate of some students, save your breath. She already knows. On top of that, the cards have turned a little more. She has requested the presence of Monsieur Rider only, though," he added, giving the two other ladies a tired look of 'sorry'.

For the love of Merlin!
"Alright. Mr. Rider, Please take this..." Lucy took out her wand and immediately summoned the letter. "... to Minister Taylor." she paused. There was nothing else she could say. She wnated to, but Gretta was there. That awful lady who insisted on messing with her.
"Dear colleague, shall we head back to our offices?" she suggested with one at look at Gretta Amerie.

Jake paid neither woman much attention as they stepped into the office after him, too caught up in his own terrifying thoughts of Hogwarts now to be distracted by their womanly chatter. Bleh - HOW could they talk so much? And about such nonsense too when there were URGENT matters that needed to be taken care of.


Just then, a familiar face stepped out of the Minister's office and once he had spotted Jake, Jake noted the recognition on the man's face. Hmm... AH! Chad something - ex-Department Head of something or other...

Pulling himself out of his mind, Jake listened attentively to the Frenchman as he talked and had to fight to keep himself from sighing at the terrible news. Nodding to show that he understood, Jake was about to walk towards the Minister's office when Lucy cut him off. But how cool that he had decided to come JUST as the Minister needed him?

Did she just call him Mr. Rider... ?

Eh, NEVER MIND THAT NOW, JAKE. Taking the letter from Lucy's hand, Jake mumbled a thank you and turned back to Chad. "All right, I'll go in now," he said, for want of better words. Because really, what does one say when the Minister summons you? Yay? Fantastic? Let's go? They were all too... cheerful, for such an occasion as this.

With one last fleeting look at the office, Jake walked over and entered Minister Reagan Taylor's office. Here goes...

Time to move on.

With a nod to Jake and the ladies, Chad continued on his way - down to level two to collect Syd.

"Very well," her persona changed at the entrance of Monsieur Stryker. The Minister has made her request and there was no point what-so-ever daring to argue about coming along for the meeting and yet she felt as though she needed to be present. Shrugging off her annoyance she turned on her heel and headed towards the exit. "Lucille, I have a few errands to do but I'm sure we'll be seeing each other soon." Without looking at her, her voice became soft and sincere. "I do hope you get the kind of resolution you're wanting." Her words were meant to be an apology but also her expression of doubt with the issue. Concern for the students families and peers overwhelmed her greatly and now only thing she could do is hope Jacob would do something about it... or at least try.

Without one glance backwards she waved towards the newest Undersecretary and left for nearest lift.

Bella had been sitting behind her desk quietly working on some important paperwork when the door to the office opened---without anyone having ever knocked---and Jake Rider from Magical Education barged right on in. Whaaat? Whatever happened to knocking on someone's office door? Regardless of whether or not Jake was asked to come here, Bella felt as if he still should have been polite enough to knock on her office door rather than letting himself in.

"Mrs. Bella Greingoth, Jake," she said, still a little astonished that the man helped himself in. "It's lovely to see you, but I must request that you knock and wait to be let inside the next time you need to visit with one of us. Invited here or not, this is still my personal office, and I'd like to remain in control of it." She finished her request with a small smile just to let Jake know she wasn't angry him...just a little annoyed at the moment.



...blink.

As if one employee barging in wasn't enough, a second employee proceeded to do the very same. At least this employee's entrance wasn't as impolite as Jake's, though. The second employee actually knocked, however, she still didn't wait to be let in. She proceeded right through the office almost as if Bella didn't even exist. Bella's jaw dropped, and she looked at both employees in disbelief.

Trying to be as kind as possible, Bella smiled at the second employee. She was still annoyed, but she still wanted to try her hardest not to snap. "Miss Amerie, a pleasure to meet you. However, just as I've discussed with Jake here, I do need to request that after knocking, you wait to be let into my office before proceeding through," she remarked. "I'll certainly see to it that you get to see Ms. Taylor, however, I would like control of my own office." ...and now a Stedman woman was expected to arrive? Hopefully she would at least knock and wait to be asked in.



...so much for wishful thinking.

"I...BELLA MONTEZ GREINGOTH...AM ABOUT TO STAMP MY FOOT!" *ahem* "...and when a Greingoth woman stamps her foot, a herd of hippogriffs better flee in fear," she fussed. Bella's eyes narrowed in frustration as she studied the three employees before her. "Mr. Rider, Ms. Amerie, and Ms. Stedman, I do apologize for my outburst, but really, at this moment I feel as if I have no control over my own office." Bella paused for a moment, counted to ten in Spanish, then took a deep breath.

She glanced back up at the third employee. "Umm...huh? Ahh, yes. I used to be the owner of Florean Fortescue's, however, most recently, I've been the Department Head of Magical Transportation. My position now is Senior Undersecretary to the Minister of Magic," she replied. She turned towards Anna's portrait and smiled. At least her daughter could brighten her day when she needed it to be brightened the most. "Anna, yes. She's married and expecting twins."



Bella's eyes flickered towards Chad as he suddenly appeared and greeted Jake. "Good day, Chad," she politely said, giving her friend a little smile. Although still a little annoyed at the other three in her office, Bella gave them another smile, as well. No matter the circumstances, Bella wasn't a rude woman. "I'll be attending the meeting in the office, as well, Chad. I'll be there momentarily." As two of the visitor's left the office, Bella abandoned her paperwork, grabbed her coffee, and proceeded towards the Ministor's office.

Claudian lumbered towards the office door of the Senior Undersecretary to Minister Taylor. He raised his hand to knock on the frame of her door and waited a minute. H'mmm...No answer. Perhaps, she was busy then. He turned around and headed back towards his desk.

Some time later, Bella Greingoth click-clacked her way back into her office. There was work to be done---papers to be signed, owls to be delivered---but first, a nice, hot cup of coffee was long overdue. Tossing her briefcase onto her desk, Bella headed for the coffee machine, ready to unwind after half a long day at work. Half...which meant she needed to put in the exact amount of hours she'd already worked in order for it to be time to go home. She wasn't so much tired as she was just...any other new mother-to-be. Coffee in hand, she made her way back into her office, moved her briefcase to the side, then sat down to get started on the mountain of paperwork patiently waiting on her.

Walking hand in hand with her husband, the thirty-eight weeks pregnant Department Head of Level Nine looked up at him from the side. Putting her free hand on her belly, she wondered what Reagan's reply to their question would be. Hopefully, yes. "Ready love?" Becca asked quietly as they got to Bella Greingoth's office door. When he was ready, she was.

The twenty five year old Department Head, walking with his wife to meet the Minister for talking abt something important and needy. Looking down at her, Brian smiled, "Ofcourse, love." He squeezed her hand confidently, conveying his thoughts that the result will be positive for them. "But sit down untill Bella come and address.." he said and taking a seat next to her, waiting for the senior underscretary.

Claudian came lumbering down the corridor leading to the Senior Undersecretary's office. He still had not met the woman, but he thought it would be a good time to try and introduce himself again.

As he approached the outside of her door, he could see two people ahead of him. Oh, wait...! It was Brian and Becky! A warm and big smile was becoming apparent on Claudian's face as he pulled up besides them. H'mm...Becky looked different.

"Mr. and Mrs. Lee!" He said, addressing them in a playful formality. "What brings the two of you to the Undersecretary's office?" He said, almost forgetting that they had no more liaison to go-between for them. He sighed recalling that bit of information. He was happy that at least the lot of his fellow liaisons were able to find placement within the ministry.

They had been waiting for so long, still no idea of when they were going to meet the Underscretary first then the Minister. Sigh. Waiting is not a problem for him, he could sit for a whole day if need, but Becca. She was 38 weeks pregnant and getting uncomfortable of sitting in one place. He gently squeezed her hand and kept smiling at her.

For a change, Brian heard a familiar and enthusiastic voice near them. "Oh..Hi Claudian!" Brian waved his free hand at him as an acknowledgement. "Just for getting permission.." he took a glance at Becca and then turned to Claudian again, "How have you been mate?" it was so long since they met last time at DA.

Progressing through the mountain of paperwork on her desk wasn't proving to be as difficult as Bella had once imagined. As a matter of fact, she was well into the tenth piece of it when she heard voices just outside her office door. Knowing that a knock would come soon, Bella went ahead and pushed her papers to the side and made way to the door. Doing this wasn't as easy as it once was, despite the fact that the door was only about six feet from where she stood. Expecting a baby---or babies in Bella's case---did tend to slow progress just a bit.

Once at the door, Bella opened it, her eyes settling in on Brian, Becky, and a man she believed to be a Mr. Claudian Slughorn. Three visitors, Merlin the office seemed busy today. "Good day, Brian...Becky...Claudian," she greeted, a smile widening across her face. "I hope you three haven't been waiting long. I've been in a meeting with Minister Taylor and a few others. Do come in, please." She stepped aside and motioned for all three to come in.

Smiling at Brian's squeezing of her hand, Becca nodded and then looked at the seat and refused to sit down. Sighing as Brian sat down, she then sat with him and looked up at another voice. A familiar voice. "Claudian," she greeted him, smiling at the playful formality "Lika Brian says, we're here for permission.." she nodded, looking back at Brian now and shifting uncomfortably.

She looked up as the door opened and smiled "Hello Bella." Becca looked up at the woman and then shrugged "Not as long as we could've been waiting." she smiled, subtly giving the message of being relieved. Standing up now with a small hand from Brian, Becca smiled warmly at Bella and walked into her office with Brian in tow, glad to be walking again.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mathi

They had been waiting for so long, still no idea of when they were going to meet the Underscretary first then the Minister. Sigh. Waiting is not a problem for him, he could sit for a whole day if need, but Becca. She was 38 weeks pregnant and getting uncomfortable of sitting in one place. He gently squeezed her hand and kept smiling at her.

For a change, Brian heard a familiar and enthusiastic voice near them. "Oh..Hi Claudian!" Brian waved his free hand at him as an acknowledgement. "Just for getting permission.." he took a glance at Becca and then turned to Claudian again, "How have you been mate?" it was so long since they met last time at DA.

"Good!" He answered sincerely whilst smiling brightly and popping one of his knuckles - the ring finger to be exact. "I've been good." He nodded, acknowledging Brian's answer. Permission shouldn't take long. Plus, it was Brian Lee and he was made of rock 'n roll and lightning. Whatever permission need be granted to him, probably wouldn't need to be won with too much struggle.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Becky

SPOILER!!: Quotesss

Smiling at Brian's squeezing of her hand, Becca nodded and then looked at the seat and refused to sit down. Sighing as Brian sat down, she then sat with him and looked up at another voice. A familiar voice. "Claudian," she greeted him, smiling at the playful formality "Lika Brian says, we're here for permission.." she nodded, looking back at Brian now and shifting uncomfortably.

She looked up as the door opened and smiled "Hello Bella." Becca looked up at the woman and then shrugged "Not as long as we could've been waiting." she smiled, subtly giving the message of being relieved. Standing up now with a small hand from Brian, Becca smiled warmly at Bella and walked into her office with Brian in tow, glad to be walking again.

Claudian exchanged greeting smiles with Becca and stood aside to allow the couple to enter first.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anna Banana

SPOILER!!: Becky, mathi, SlytherinSistah

Progressing through the mountain of paperwork on her desk wasn't proving to be as difficult as Bella had once imagined. As a matter of fact, she was well into the tenth piece of it when she heard voices just outside her office door. Knowing that a knock would come soon, Bella went ahead and pushed her papers to the side and made way to the door. Doing this wasn't as easy as it once was, despite the fact that the door was only about six feet from where she stood. Expecting a baby---or babies in Bella's case---did tend to slow progress just a bit.

Once at the door, Bella opened it, her eyes settling in on Brian, Becky, and a man she believed to be a Mr. Claudian Slughorn. Three visitors, Merlin the office seemed busy today. "Good day, Brian...Becky...Claudian," she greeted, a smile widening across her face. "I hope you three haven't been waiting long. I've been in a meeting with Minister Taylor and a few others. Do come in, please." She stepped aside and motioned for all three to come in.

"Not at all, Mrs. Geingoth. And, thank you for seeing us impromptu." The larger wizard said upon entering after Brian and Becca. He wore a charcoal colour that seemed to pick off the goldish-green of his eyes and his skin was a very light brown which gave him a warm glow. "I don't think we shall be too long. But, Mr. and Mrs. Lee arrived before me, so I can wait my turn." Not to mention that Mrs. Lee was probably in somewhat of uncomfortable condition. Although, so was Mrs. Greingoth.

For their luck, Bella appeard through the opened door and greeted them to get inside the office room. "Thank you, Bella!" Sighing relievedly to himself, he smiled "Not very long for me but Becca.." he looked at Becca caringly, "Let's go..love" he put an arm around her waist as slowly walking inside with her and Cludian on the other side.

Smiling at his friend, he winked as noticed his ring finger. "You're radiating today mate.." Specifically. May I know why? A playfull smirk crossed on his face.

When the last of the visitors had come through the door, Bella gently shut the office door and headed back to the comfortable chair she'd previously been sitting in. Merlin, she didn't remember it being this hard with Anna... Perhaps it was because there were two now, instead of one. Still smiling and not missing a beat, she nodded in appreciation when Claudian suggested taking Brian and Becca's request first.

"Won't you have a seat?" she offered, looking toward everyone in the room on that note. She imagined all three were here to see Minister Taylor. Now-a-days, since she'd moved here from level six, it seemed there was rarely a visitor who came in to see her. Bella was happy in her new position, though, and she fully understood the need to speak with Taylor now and again. "Brian, Becca, what can I do for you today?" she asked.

Watching Claudian, Becca smiled more and then looked at Brian as he spoke to Bella "Thanks Claudian." she appreciated him letting them get this over with. Her gaze then came to rest on Brian who was saying it was a long time for her. Well, not really, but it certainly seemed longer than it usually would.

Feeling Brian's arm around her waist, she smiled again and looked over at Bella. What could she do for them? "Umm, we're here to talk to Minister Taylor," she stated the obvious first "Because of obvious reasons." she looked down at her belly and then fell silent to leave the rest of the talking to Brian. He knows what he's doing.

Giving a thankful gaze to Claudian his friend, Brian thanked Bella for offering seats. Helping her gorgeous, glowing, pregnant wife to sit first, he just stood behind her. "Yeah, We're really wanted to talk with her. I hope she's not too busy at the moment.." he smiled as gently rubbing on either sides of her shoulders.

"It wont take long, I can assure that." he added gently, thinking of nothing but Becca and their ready-to-come-out-at-anytime baby.

Bella smiled warmly at the couple standing before her. Of course they'd need to talk to Minister Taylor about their current situation. Bella, herself, was going through a similar situation and definitely understood the need to discuss the matter with the woman at the top. "Of course, and I'll be more than happy to send you two through to the Minister. However, there's already a meeting being held in there, so I'll have to ask you to wait just a little longer," she said, turning around and glancing at the door behind her. Surely the meeting would adjourn soon. It'd been going on for quite some time. "Why don't you two take a seat, and I'll let the Minister know that she has visitors waiting to see her?"

Sitting as Brian helped her into a seat, Becca listened and nodded as he finished her explanation. Feeling his hands rubbing on either sides of her shoulders, Becca leant her head back and smiled fondly, enjoying him being there with her. "No problem," Becca smiled, shifting slightly and looking at Bella interestedly. "Thanks Bella." she shifted again, putting her hands on her lap and looking at Brian by leaning her head back.