With one final glance at her paperwork, Mariel pushed it to the side and looked back at Victoria. She would deal with that later, it was really tomorrow's affair anyway.. but now she had two things to look forward to. Well, the match after some necessary unpleasant business.. But tonight was all about relaxing and having a good time. "Yes, we really should make girls night a regular thing," she smiled back at her coworker. At least a couple times a month anyway. The stress of work was getting to her and she really did need to unwind once in a while.

But onto more important things.. such as moving in with her boyfriend. Leaning back slightly in her chair, Mariel gave Vic her full attention as she explained, chuckling a bit as she spoke. "Well.. you are inseparable.. and you talk about him constantly. I figured it was only a matter of time." She nodded a little as she continued, then shrugged. "Well, if it feels right, then it probably is.." How long had they been going out? Six months or so? Mariel wondered to herself if she would be ready to move in with someone after that amount of time.. but not only was she not in that situation but it wasn't really her business so she didn't really give it much thought. Then she gave her a quizzical look and laughed a little. "Not do what again? Fall in love? People can't typically help that.."

She leaned on her arm a bit and looked up at Vic with eyebrow raised. Something about the way she began told Mariel that this was going to be a good story. Listening, her smile grew to she couldn't help but laugh. "That was interesting conclusion for the boy to come to." She thought for a moment about how that all must have played out. "And I be that was quite the explanation.. kind of chaotic for a minute?" She chuckled a little more. "Maybe.. but he gets along pretty well with both boys, right?" At least that's what she seemed to remember from what Vic had told her. "That should be helpful for the adjustment.."

Victoria smiled, “Maybe next time shopping should be part of that girl’s night. I can’t believe it’s October already. I feel like I need to start thinking about Christmas shopping.” She was a bit nervous for this year’s holiday. It was the first with Charely and his family and she felt the need to make sure everything was going to be perfect so it was a plus she had a few months yet to plan. “I want to have you come over for dinner one night as well.” You know show her around the house and just sit and relax there. She could probably even kick Charely out for the evening, he could probably just go over to his sisters. Merlin knew he was there enough because of Luc anyway.


Victoria couldn’t help but blush a bit, she really didn’t think it was that noticeable, “I’m so sorry.. I have to be being such a pain if that’s all I’ve talked about lately.” She couldn’t help the smile though, he made her happy and fully happy wasn’t something she had felt in a while. Guess it was alright that everyone was seeing her happy as well. Now if only Bart would come around to it, but that was another story within itself. She was glad Mariel supported the decision, not that she needed the friend’s approval, but it was nice to hear someone say that they felt it was alright. Victoria laughed at her friend’s response, “Well yes I’m seeing that now, but after Jon and I separated, because of Becky I said I wouldn’t set myself up for that possibility again. I was doing well, what almost three years well.” She chuckled a bit. “Darn my need for coffee and that coffee cart.” Her smile showed otherwise though, she was very grateful at the moment that she had wanted coffee at the very minute Charely was getting some as well. It worked out very lovely if she could say herself. “Now maybe we need to get you to go to that coffee cart more often.” She only joked with Mariel, but she did wish she could meet someone. She worried about how much she worked. Never giving herself free time it seemed.


Laughing she nodded, “It was, but Luc is a very imaginative young man. He is always thinking outside of the typical thirteen year old box it seems.” and she was beginning to feel that his professor didn’t see his imaginative side as something positive which was a pity really. “He means well and he seemed super excited over it, but it’s not happening so he will just need to find something new to be happy about.” If she only knew how chaotic it was, maybe more so because Victoria flipped al little on her own about hearing the news. “Lots of explaining when I got the owl from Bart. I’m surprised the boy wasn’t bold enough to send me a howler really.” She could imagine he wanted to, but figure it wasn’t worth being grounded over, which Vic didn’t feel she would have for something that big. “He seems to get along with Luc the best, but Wade is more wrapped in his own life to notice some little eleven year old and I don’t blame him. He’s seventeen, almost eighteen. Has a girlfriend, is head boy this term. He is very nice towards Bart though when they were around each other over summer and I think Bart does look up at him even if he won’t admit it.” She knew Bart was feeling a bit jealous over things, but it would take time. “I’m hoping over winter break Bart will settle in a bit better since all the boys will be around. Well Luc will visit probably all the time. It seems like he pretty much lived with Charely over the summer at least.” Which she had no problem with. She loved Luc and thought he was fun to have around.

Mariel tilted her head slightly. Time to start thinking about Christmas already? She supposed it was.. "That's probably a good idea. I don't have a lot of people to buy for.. but I always try to get something for my niece and nephews.. and my sisters and their husbands of course." Christmas just didn't seem the same as when she was young.. and not having her own family like her sisters did made it not as special. She hated to admit it, but she sort of felt like a tag-a-long to their respective families at the holidays anymore. "It is coming up soon though, isn't it?" She smiled lightly, her thoughts taking her far away. Her smile grew a bit brighter as Victoria continued and mentioned dinner. "Oh, that would be nice.. I'd enjoy that." And she could check out her new place.. not to be nosy or anything, but she'd like a look around. Mot to mention she could use a night out. Merlin, she was starting to sound pathetic in her own mind.

Mariel couldn't help but laugh a bit at Vic's next words. "Well, maybe just a little.. no, I'm totally joking. It's nice to have someone who obviously makes you so happy." And she really thought her friend deserved some happiness in her life. She knew her son made her happy, even if he was a handful at times.. but she could use that someone special. She nodded a bit as she continued, then gave her a curious look. "Because of Becky? What do you mean?" She wasn't sure what her ex-husband's.. whatever had to do with her friend's happiness, other than she might have been a homewrecker, but Mariel didn't really know the details of all that. "You should always open yourself up for the possibility of happiness.. Think of what you could miss out on if you don't." With a slight guard wouldn't hurt though, just to protect yourself and all. She couldn't fight the urge to roll her eyes, albeit a bit playfully, at her next words.

Mariel shook her head and chuckled lightly, thinking about what it must be like to have teenage, and near that, boys in the house. Never a dull moment, she supposed. She listened to the family dynamics, nodding here and there. "Sounds like quite the crew," she smiled. "I'm sure Bart will adjust well. It will be helpful to have the older boys there, I think. Does he think of them as like older brothers?" She knew something of being the youngest of three.. maybe it wasn't exactly the same situation, but maybe she could relate a little. "Yes, I think Christmas break will help.. he will start getting used to how things will be.." She gave her friend a small smile. This had to be a difficult situation between her and her son.. and she wasn't sure what to say to help.

Victoria sat down at her desk and slipped off her shoes while her feet were hidden under her desk. Those shoes were killing her feet today or maybe her feet were just swelling. She would have to keep an eye on that a little more. She hoped they were swelling already, she had a few more months to go and didn't need cankles already. She looked down at her paper work. A meeting should be scheduled to go over some of this stuff, but she was the PR person, who else was there to meet with. Going through her notes and findings, she looked up the amount tickets were for the last world cup. That should help her at least get started with this.

Pulling out a note pad, Vic started making notes on what she needed to do in the next few weeks. Getting a hold of a few mascots to make a few appearances and she still wanted to talk to a recruiter about Wade, she knew he had said about Uni, but she wanted to just make sure all his options were open. She didn't want him wasting his talent if he really wanted to play, but that could wait. Now she needed to get down to some of her work.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bazinga

Victoria sat down at her desk and slipped off her shoes while her feet were hidden under her desk. Those shoes were killing her feet today or maybe her feet were just swelling. She would have to keep an eye on that a little more. She hoped they were swelling already, she had a few more months to go and didn't need cankles already. She looked down at her paper work. A meeting should be scheduled to go over some of this stuff, but she was the PR person, who else was there to meet with. Going through her notes and findings, she looked up the amount tickets were for the last world cup. That should help her at least get started with this.

Pulling out a note pad, Vic started making notes on what she needed to do in the next few weeks. Getting a hold of a few mascots to make a few appearances and she still wanted to talk to a recruiter about Wade, she knew he had said about Uni, but she wanted to just make sure all his options were open. She didn't want him wasting his talent if he really wanted to play, but that could wait. Now she needed to get down to some of her work.

Level Eight being the atrium and entrances to the ministry, not to mention the food court (shiver) and the daycare, it was already well watched and searched. Nevertheless, Simon had briefly checked in on both the security office and the wandweighers with nothing new to report from either direction. He had debated skipping right back to Two with the prophecy but was milling it over as he went and knew most were on their own searches and tasks for the day. There likely wasn't anyone to hand it off to just yet.

So upon leaving the Atrium and speciality areas behind, the auror was upon Level Seven soon enough. Games and Sports, he mused, remembering when it was lead by the older brother of one of his mentors. And when he had ever so briefly considered joining it rather than face his demons in Law. Whatever would Jacob think on that idea? Shaking his head to exchange memory for concentration on the present, Simon turned into one of the offices on the floor and found himself face to face with quidditch posters and anything and everything to do with the sport he once played and captained.

More memories to shy away from as he looked around.

Victoria was in the middle of an owl to the arrows and then she was moving on to the Falcons. She needed their mascots soon to make appearances. Her brain was going off into other directions as she thought about the other things going on. She still needed to figure out those ticket prices, she needed to find out which teams could be a possibilities. Her thoughts were cut short by hearing someone come in.

Since it had been such a quiet day she was able to easily know when someone had entered. Turning in her chair Victoria noticed a man, had she ever seen him before. Her first instinct was a hand her to swollen middle and to reach for her wand. No one was going to be trusted without really knowing who they were. "Excuse me, may I help you?" Pretty much identify yourself and quick.

She then seemed to recognize the man, wasn't he at that court case. The one that the woman had gotten away. She kind of remembered his face, but she wasn't sure and she wasn't going to put a guard down until she knew for sure he wasn't there to harm or cause trouble.

Simon had registered he wasn't alone in the office and it wasn't long before his own presence was caught by the attention of another. The woman in question turning towards him at her desk and revealing herself and her condition in the process. "Not entirely sure," he answered to her question at first before continuing to assure the woman he came in peace.
Not the way he had been helped two floors below.

"My apologies, you needn't be concerned." He had seen the move that usually alerted one to the reaching for a wand, though likely in defense rather than offense this time around. " I'm Simon Bennett from Level 2. Just checking on the security of things." Yep....no use of title given because he wasn't sure if he was working solely for security purposes or jointly with his auror duties. He didn't want to cause any confusion unless he was pressed. Not that it mattered for what which he was working with for the moment.

Victoria relaxed her hand from her wand and slipped her heels back on. Pushing up off her chair and almost waddling towards the man. "Security?" She eyed him in confusion. What on earth did the sports department need with security. Had she missed a memo about an event or something. "Well it's pretty quiet in here today so if you need any help with anything around the department don't hesitate to ask." Giving a small smile now that she knew he wasn't there for harm or anything. "Victoria Maroon by the way." Since he did say his name she felt rude not saying hers.

As she watched him closely trying to figure out what he was even looking for it hit her. "Would this have anything to do with that Talone woman or however you say her name?" She wasn't even sure she was saying it right. "I was a jury member for that. Have you ever found anything on her?" Oh he was probably not allowed to say even if he did. "I'm sorry I won't ask a thousand questions I know you are probably busy doing whatever it is you are doing." She started heading back to her desk to sit out of the way.

Security?

The question was tinged with either confusion or skepticism and Simon didn't need to decipher which one it was because either made him aware he might need to explain further. Even the fact she rose from her seat and moved slowly towards him. But thankfully the woman opted to chose to simply back down and be helpful to him, the auror granting her a nod of acceptance. "I'll be sure to ask if I do," he said returning a soft polite smile. "Nice to meet you." Just because he was here to do a serious job didn't mean he shouldn't be courteous.

"Yes, it does," Simon confirmed, "and you said it right." Jury member...yes her face did look a little familiar, though he had to admit most of his attention had been on the witnesses under his protection and the defendant and her attorney. Simon had known that Wes was there as a judge and three prosecutors from the department were trying the case but the jurors weren't high on his list of things to watch. It did mean that she and her wand had already been technically cleared of any wrongdoing so good to trust at this level. "Nothing concrete, but that's why we're checking on things." As Victoria pulled away from her inquires, the auror resumed his perusal of the area.

Victoria sat in her chair, but didn't go back to the papers on her desk she watched the man curiously. Resting her hand on her belly she glanced at her work. She probably should turn and go back to it, but her curiosity of what he was doing was getting the best of her. "So did you work with the case when the woman was missing before?" Since she wasn't in the country during that time she wasn't sure any of the real details other than what all she heard at the hearing. "It's very unnerving what she did to those children." Her own son going to be heading to Hogwarts next term, it just didn't sit well with her.

She glanced around the room. Honestly she didn't think he would ever find anything of good use here. No one out of the ordinary ever came here, which was a good thing. "Is there anything I could keep my eyes open for to help you?" She would love to help if she could, but having no clue what to even keep an eye open for it was hard. "Do you think she would b around here or do you think she fled the country by now?" Was she asking too many questions. This was her first real case that she had gotten to witness it had her very interested. Plus the way the Daily Prophet had mentioned it, it seemed maybe that someone might have been helping her, but they had to have been for her to escape, right?

Scanning the offices one by one was likely going to become extremely repetitive once time wore on and he made his way through the various departments. They might be as different as night and day but they had their similarities and having nothing stick out was already one of them for at least two departments. Hearing the woman again, Simon became aware that she hadn't just simply gotten back to her own work while he did his search. "A little," he answered truthful, "but more so after she was caught." He had been one of the chosen guards of not only her but her shop at times.

And ever so briefly a fellow cellmate.

The auror nodded at the comment about the children. That was always the most difficult of the situation; the dangers she still posed to boys and girls whose only crime was being young like DeTalone wanted to be. "At the moment nothing specific unfortunately. But anything unknown and out of place and suspecious could be something." Even if it wasn't particular to this case. More a general security issue because it meant other things might be getting in that shouldn't be. Kill two birds with one stone.

"Probably fled...or in deep hiding. It was too big a case here in Britain to be able to hide from attention."

You enter your office expecting a good day ahead. Instead, as you step inside, you notice that the floor is wet and it smells. Smells like drool. How gross. Better watch your step if you plan to get to your work station.

But that's not all. Some lost records from weeks ago are scattered on the floor too, all wet and baring bite marks. This was not how you expected your day to start off with, wasn't it?

Ellis had been in quite a good mood lately and he was looking forward to more planning for an eventual Quidditch World Cup. He had taken his time arriving to the Ministry and when he stepped off the lift and made his way to the main works pace for level seven he wasn't in the least surprised that it was almost completely empty--no one on level seven showed up to work on time, duh!

He walked over to his cubicle area but noticed that the floor felt sloshy and wet and then the Public Relations officer smelled...mildew. "What in Merlin's beard?" He said in disgust as he lifted a shoe with a bit of wet and torn parchment stuck to it.

Victoria was back she was fully back even if her mind wasn't fully back. She had stopped for her morning coffee which was amazing, she didn't realize how much she missed coffee the last nine well actually eight months since the girls had come three weeks early.

Now she was enjoying her coffee and the quiet. It was so quiet here, she missed her babies so much it was killing her to be away from them, but how quiet was this place. Alana had been screaming when she left so this was peaceful until she opened the office door and the smell hit her.

"Oh gross this is worse than the babies diapers."

She cringed her nose up as she looked around. Was the floor wet? Why was it wet and were there papers on the floor. Oh Merlin what was going on? She then saw someone standing there looking at everything. "Umm... What happened here?" HOpefully he would have answers.

The first thing that caught Lourdes' attention was the odd smell. At first, she didn't really mind but the awful stench grew stronger as she passed by the offices of her employees. What were they up to this time? She checked on the Gobstones Office, the Patents Office, and then the League Headquarters. Her eyes widened when she saw the mess. What... happened?

She looked at her two employees who were in the office, Ellis and Victoria. "As far as I could remember, this place wasn't messed up yesterday," Lourdes said. Well, she knew that both of them had nothing to do with all of this basing from their reactions. "Do any of you know what happened?"

Deep inside, the department head was panicking. And those... were the lost patents records! What were they doing here in the Quidditch League office? Oh no, they were ruined and wet. No way they could replace those important files! But... eh, she wasn't going to touch them. Lourdes took her wand out and sent non-verbal Scourgify and Tergeo charms.

Or if someone wanted to call the maintenance employees, that'd be nice too.

Squelch. Squelch. Squelch.

Every other step produced the disgusting sound as Adam made his way out of the Patents Office and the gross residue on his sole hit the floor. It was when he was on his way to Lourdes office that he noticed the door of the League Headquarters open, and heard voices coming from within. Squelching his way to joining them in the doorway, he was just in time to hear his Boss's question.

"I don't know what happened, but the Patents office is exactly the same."

And by exactly the same, he meant absolutely disgusting. Ugh. He pulled a face at the floor, before taking a cue from Lourdes and pulling out his was. GENIUS idea. Although his first 'Scourgify' was directed at his shoe.

"Want me to go find someone from Maintenance?" Maybe this was THEIR fault, because it certainly wasn't his, or any of his colleagues, by the looks of things. Hmpft.

She wasn't late but she was dangerously close to being there. Mariel walked quickly from the stairs down the corridor on Level Seven, her heels click-clacking on the floor. She was not taking the lifts ever again for a very long time after the little mishap a few weeks ago. She shuddered at what could have happened and pushed that thought far into the deep recesses of her mind.

She could see a crowd up ahead which sort of annoyed her. The brunette was running late and they were standing right in the path of her office! But she could put on her friendly and professional face.. which she did as she approached, noticing that her heels were no longer making the click-clack. The sound seemed more.. squishy. Odd.

The 27 year old glanced down at her feet as her steps slowed, noticing first the dampness on the floor just before the smell hit her. "Gross," she murmured aloud before finally reaching the crowd. "Welcome back," she offered her friend Victoria a smile. It would be nice to work alongside her again after her maternity leave, but.. "What is going on?" Merlin, this place was a mess. Things really were going downhill with the restructuring of maintenance, weren't they? Though she wasn't sure she was getting many answers right this moment as the rest of her department seemed as lost as she currently was.

Victoria was still looking around at the wet floor and ruined parchment when she heard others walk into the office. Looking up she noticed her boss. Did Lordes even know she was coming back from maternity leave today? Well she assumed she did. "Hey boss, not sure what's going on. I just got back and well guess my first day back shoes will be the last time I wear them." She picked her foot up seeing her soaked heel.

Then another person had joined the group, "Morning" Well there was no reason to waste time now was there. Victoria started walking through the office gathering some of the ruined parchments. Pointing her wand she started to dry and clean it. What was on these things anyway? Hopefully not her PR notes and events she had to get out. She had them neatly in her desk before maternity leave. She sighed looking at the mess when she heard the man say about maintenance. "Yes could you do that. Either send a patronous or head to that level and find someone. If there is a water break it needs fixed or our desks are going to be ruined soon."

That's when she heard a welcome back, "Mariel" Her friend got a smile. "Thank you, but this was not how I wanted to start my day. Have any clue what's going on or what I've been missing?" Maybe Mariel could fill her in on the work gossip if there was any, but firstly what was going on here. She left for maternity leave with rain in the buffet and came back with a flood in her office. What was going on this was way to strange.

Lourdes tried to avoid the wet liquid stuff on her level's floor but no. The whole floor was really wet and that means her shoes were going to get ruined. These pair weren't even a year old! Oh well, guess she could get them fixed soon but she'll have to get them fixed or something.

And then the employees were pouring in. Oh Merlin, this was awful. The Patents Office was in the same state too? Lourdes sighed. "Do you think the Gobstones Club Office is wrecked as well?" Because then, that would be her WHOLE level. Her office was wrecked a few weeks ago and that was horrible. Who would do such a thing? Good thing nobody touched the game room and the other places weren't touched. But still, her level was a mess. Not a good thing.

Aww. That was really kind of Adam to volunteer. "That's really nice of you, Mr. Stemp, but I think it'd be better to send a Patronus to the Maintenance employees at the Specialty Area." So that they didn't get separated, you know. Besides, they still had work to do. "The paper airplanes aren't working either. We haven't received any messages for the past weeks." That got Lourdes thinking though... was the Ministry wrecked? Like, the WHOLE Ministry? As for Mariel... "I don't know, really. I arrived here and everything was wet."

Lourdes sighed when Victoria spoke, but managed a small smile. "I'm sorry about your shoes. They actually do look pretty, but anyway... it's good to have you back." She would ask about the babies but what they were facing right now was much more serious than that.

But anyway... "I will send a Patronus to the Specialty Area in a bit. I guess we'll need some of those desk checked as well. Also, be careful. No contact with the liquid, please. I'm not sure what it exactly is." Send it to the A&C department, maybe? Or somewhere?

After her quick discussion and planning with Charely in the gobstones club Saxon had carefully made her way through the level, checking rooms and the floor and anything else to see if anything looked even more suspicious or should be looked into some more.

The girl came bounding, a slight hop to her steps into the British and Irish Headquarters, as she and Charely had agreed to, and started screaming, "PROFESSOR PROFESSOR!!!" Wait. What? Why was she screaming Professor? Probably after being at Hogwarts and in danger shouting Professor sort of became second nature to her. "Lourdes! Thank god you're here." She said in a quick voice. "Charely and I, we were just starting our work day and we went into the Gobstones club and the place was a mess. There's weird liquid all over the floor and teeth marks in records and the place smells disgustingly terrible and...." The blonde stopped to catch her breath. It was only until this very second she realized how similar this department looked to the Gobstones one. "And it looked exactly like this. I think there's someone going about. By the looks of it, they may want a specific piece of paper. I mean, if there's paper all over the gobstones club and here, whatever it is wants papers but can't find it. Or at least not yet. Maybe it gave up. What are we going to do?"

"Adam, please," Mr. Stemp implored with a grin at his boss as she finished talking. Mr. Stemp was like... his great grandfather, or something. Six kids didn't make you old, no matter that his mother was telling him he was getting greyer every time she saw him.

Adam Daniel Stemp was not going grey.

BUT, back to the matter at hand. "Yes, a patronus sounds better," he agreed, nodding to his boss and the other woman who'd suggested it. She was probably right in sending it herself, too - a direct message from a departments head sounded far more urgent, whatever the subject. He nodded firmly once more at the suggestion of not coming into contact with the liquid - it stank rather awfully, and he didn't want the squelching experience again. He was praying, too, that it hadn't done any damage to his shoe.

Lor might kill him.

Or, you know, throw one of her shoes at him.

Adam raised his eyebrow at the bounding girl, and held back a smirk. The shout of professor had amused him, but he didn't want the girl to feel embarrassed over it. even if it was hilarious. "It could be looking for something, but these look like the record that have been.. well, missing. It.. they've done a thorough search to find something if they've uncovered something we couldn't find." And that in itself was a thought that left him uneasy. "There is," he continued, with a small clearing of his throat. "The chance that this is someones idea of a nasty prank? You know, hide the papers, bring them back in a mess a few weeks later?"

Adam was hoping so, at least.

What...

Lourdes turned around when she heard someone call out 'Professor'. Well, uhm... "Nope. Just me, your department head. Hello, Saxon," she shook her head and smiled at her employee. And then... Saxon was going on and on about what happened at the Gobstones Office. Oh Merlin's beard, it was exactly the same? Really now... who would do such a thing? Nothing like this ever happened before. Or at least while she was the department head. Maybe it had happened when Rex was still in charge of Games & Sports. One could never really know.

And then now Saxon was going on about the culprit. Lourdes got thinking. "Should we send a sample of this liquid to... maybe the Accidents department? They could probably find out what it really is," she suggested. She was sort of sure that it wasn't water or something. It wouldn't stink this bad. Plus, she wasn't touching it without protection. Who knew what it was anyway. After all, the Lab in Level 3 has been fixed and everything.


... Right. Lourdes should stop addressing her employees using their surnames. Their first names sufficed anyway. "My mistake," she apologised with a small smile. She kept that in mind now. No 'mister', 'miss', or 'Mrs.' from now on unless someone tells her otherwise for formality reasons.

Okay, then. Lourdes waved her wand and a white misty Hummingbird patronus flew and made its way outside of the room, towards the Specialty Area. That should do the trick now, right?

But... she thought of the prank. It could be the reason why her level was a mess, though she still wondered why it had to be Games & Sports. "I wonder who would've thought of a prank like this," Lourdes said. Were there any Quidditch haters out there? SIGHS. And to think that the Christmas Employee break was nearing, this had to happen? This was stressing her out. Who was the culprit? That question. Yes.

Well of course it was Saxon's department head. She had been in such a rush that well, her mind hadn't properly placed Lourdes. Whoops. "Of course. Right. Lourdes." To think she had scared Saxon when she first met her. Now she was accidentally calling her Professor. What was next?

Saxon listened to Lourdes' suggestion and nodded. "Yes, maybe we should. It doesn't seem safe to be walking all over it, let alone, perhaps accidentally slip on it. I think it best we do send a small sample to the Accidents department, maybe it can give us more insight to these happenings."

A prank? Who would pull a prank like this? Then, she wasn't really sure why this popped into Saxon's head, but it was something she just thought of. "That Anaconda girl. Well, maybe not her exactly. It could've been her Attorney. Or at least someone working with them, that wasn't a part of the trial. Just payback. Why, perhaps, other levels are being attacked as well, we may not just know it yet." That was just something that came into Saxon's mind.

If it was a prank, by anyone, it was very elaborate, though.

Well, Lourdes didn't really mind being called Professor, you know? But she wasn't one anyway. She never thought of herself being a Professor since she wasn't the kind of person to spend hours standing in front of a class, helping young kids learn what to do and what not to do. It was a lot of hard work on the Professor's side. But either way, Lourdes liked her job as the department head of a level which involves one of her favourite things in the world, Quidditch.

Alright, so Lourdes considered the sending of samples to the Accidents department since they did have a lab where they could research on what this liquid is. Maybe they would be able to find out who did this or whatever caused this? Maybe some witch or wizard who thought this prank was funny, because to Lourdes it wasn't funny. Whoever did this should be punished. This wasn't going to be easily forgiven and forgotten.

... Who in Merlin's beard was Anaconda? Lourdes blinked. "Anaconda girl?" the department head was sort of confused. As far as she knew, she had never heard of a hybrid between a human and an Anaconda that even existed. Was that even possible? She doubted it. But... Lourdes then understood now. Attorney? "Do you mean Amarantha de Talone?" The time thief? The one who escaped during her trial with whoever her lawyer was. Yes, that was a possibility, but Lourdes doubt she could even get inside the Ministry without being caught since she probably was the top 1 most wanted criminal in the Law Enforcement's list.

Also, the Maintenance people should be coming by now. Where were they?

So no one knew what was going on or what the gross stuff all over the floor was? Mariel was pretty sure it wasn't water since water didn't smell that way and, even though she was now purposefully avoiding it, she had stepped in it and noticed that it was not the same consistency as water. Right.. the brunette's eyes fell on Victoria. Who would want to come back to their job in this state. It wasn't conducive to getting anything done. Did she have a clue? Not really but.. "The Ministry seems to be falling apart lately," she said in a very unimpressed tone. This she directed to everyone and no one at the same time. "I was on the lifts not long ago when they.. broke." She was lucky it didn't plummet as she was very scared for a very tense few minutes. And she wasn't about to use them again any time soon.

Professor? Mariel turned and gave that Saxon girl a raised eyebrow as she simply stared at her incredulously. Odd little thing she was and Mariel just did not have the patience today. Though she knew how to bite her tongue. And then she nearly choked on her own saliva at the prank comment. Really? Did the Ministry employ a bunch of children? She thought not. No, this was something more serious. Her mind drifted to those horrible infected people and that obnoxious French man. That was no laughing matter then either.

She pretty much tuned everyone out, starting to head to her own office space/cubicle thing when she noticed the patronus. "Good luck with that. From what I can see, Maintenance will probably be busy. Might take a while." By the time anyone showed up at the lifts, they were up and running again. And as far as she was concerned, something was going on that kept the MoM from running properly. She wouldn't be surprised if other things were breaking down or just a mess.

Might be easiest to take care of what she could herself. Pointing her wand, Mariel magically cleared a path on the floor towards her desk as she took a step in that direction. "We aren't all needed to wait for Maintenance, right? I have work to do." Certainly one or two of them out here were plenty and she was busy. Cleaning the floor as she walked, she headed to her desk mumbling something under her breath about that Anaconda girl. For Merlin's sake.