Office of Department Head Emily Browne
 

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The large office reserved for the Department Head, has been stripped wall to wall and ceiling to floor, and extensively laden with security charms creating a net of impenetrability. These charms, hexes, jinxes, curses and a multitude of advanced spells cross over and intertwine in numerous places making it impossible to get into and impossible to eavesdrop upon. Anyone who has tried have found themselves permanently without ears - how unfortunate for them.

The office contains a distinguished mahogany interior, and there are two large wall-to-wall shelves spanning the back and side of the room occupied by thick tomes of various colours and sizes. A large world map has been fixed to the wall beside the door, with a deliberate tangle of coloured string with photographs and newspaper cutouts fixed to the areas of importance. The focal point of the room, is the large desk and leather chair which is reserved for the Department Head, though it is usually unoccupied. Emily doesn't wish to encourage people to visit and 'chat' for extensive periods of time, preferring to keep people on task and active in their roles, so the two chairs reserved for guests are less comfortable than the norm.

The handsome fireplace on one of the walls has only a few direct floo links, and these are password protected – restricting those coming in and going out. The password changes every week but the links are always active. If anyone were to try to floo their way in or out without the correct password, they would find themselves in one of the holding cells on Level Two. In addition to this, Emily keeps a monthly calendar engraved in the desk. It changes as the month turns and is only visible with a spell Emily would have to teach you herself, should she consider you to be significant enough to be privy to her plans.

Emily keeps her work extremely organised and secured, the only papers you will find on her desk when she's not present are those which have not long ago found their way into her in-tray. But there have been a recent addition or two to the room, giving it a personal touch it was previously lacking. A photograph of her adopted son Zeke is one such example which sits on the corner of her desk, though one would typically not notice it, owing to the fact it is facing her, and her alone.

As a result of the nature of MLE, Emily spends as little time in her office as possible, preferring to be out and about on business, or mingling with her employees, feasting in the food court or stocking up on coffee for the copious amounts of paperwork which will need to be done when she indeed confines herself to this room. For this reason, her door is always locked and well secured, so unless you're the Senior Undersecretaryyou know the password of the hour, and are exceptionally skilled in the art of survival, you could, avoid dismemberment and spontaneous combustion, and get in.

The office can be used, with permission from the Department Head, for division meetings if the conference room is in use, or if a smaller, more intimate setting is required.

You are here.

Please read the thread description before posting here! This is not a public thread, but anyone is welcome to have their character knock on the door, assuming they have come through reception first. Emily probably isn't in, though, so it would be best to make an appointment first.

With each spray from the bottle, dozens upon dozens of chizpurfles keeled over and twitched their tiny clawed legs. But only for a short time as the solution in those bottles of yours is quite potent!

IT'S WORKING IT'S WORKING! BYE BYE CHIZPURFLES!

"It's amazing, you're doing yourself a disservice by passing it up." Then again, that meant there was more for her - something she wasn't at all going to complain about. It was instances like these where she found people to be interesting, and perhaps a little neurotic. Like now. She'd commented on how grand coffee was on a level that wasn't Vic's.. and bam! defensiveness regarding level seven coffee. Or at least, that's how she interpreted the woman's justification. How very, amusing. She had simply held her smile and nodded along with all of that, there was no need to take the conversation on coffee further than it had already gotten. "Always swamped... but it's fine, you can watch me sort papers and and get some filing done." And by filing, she meant into her waste paper basket. Honestly, some of the rubbish that came through her office was astounding.

Getting a laugh out of Vic was always a good indication of socialising gone right, good work Browne, good work. "See that's just the thing, I don't need to try, it just happens. If my life was a pie-chart, my free time in which socialising would be acceptable would only account for one maybe two percent on a good week." Did she want a break down of how many minutes that might be? Because she could do the math. Taking a right hand turn, Emily guided them up the next corridor before pausing in front of her office. Negating her multitude of wards, she pushed her door open and gestured for Vic to enter first. Being a guest and all. "Aaahhh... ice cream," she noted, perhaps more amused than before. It was a trip they all made on a too-frequent basis, but again, she wasn't one to complain.

She'd hadn't missed the bit about Alana and the Healer, but didn't think it was necessary to pass comment... that was normal right? Little ones? Healers? It seemed that way, so she wasn't going to ask. "So how have you been anyway?" she asked, more broadly. "And congrats about the promotion." She'd heard, obviously.

Amazing? Hmm, she'd have to possibly check it out the next time she was taking a walking break from her desk. "I'll take your recommendation next time I find some time to be away from things." Which anymore wasn't often, but she forced the time at the moment. Watch her work? Well not what Victoria had hoped from her visit, but then again her thoughts were at the fact that she had come unannounced and she was interrupting the woman at work. "All right, but I won't stay long. I don't want to distract you."

She chuckled more as she went into Emily's office, she knew what Gavin talked about her being a workaholic. Emily and Vic were very much alike in those aspects. She was just a bit more social than her MLE friend it seemed. "Well I'm glad I could be that small percentage to socialize with you today." Beaming a bit, she knew she forced it, but still it was giving her probably a needed break as well. Nodding at her ice cream she didn't feel like Emily was all that surprised, so maybe they did that often.

"Oh thank you." She assumed Gavin told her or maybe Mariel if they spoke, but she wasn't sure how much her boss and Emily spoke to each other much. "It was a great surprise last year during everything that had been going on in my life. Probably a great push in the best direction." They all knew Vic wasn't the strongest of people, especially last year. That was then though and now things had been getting better.
"Great really, super busy here, but that's the great part I think. We have that amazing Quidditch event coming up so that has been super occupied. Then between time with the girls when they aren't with Charely and spending time with Cosgrach when he can get away from the school, it's just been good." She was smiling bigger, did Emily know about Cosgrach, maybe not, she wans't one to lab her relationships around and since he hadn't come to the Gala with her, no one would really know.

Watch her work, yes, because a second lunch break wasn't an option, and even if it was... she wouldn't take it. There wasn't much wrong with watching her sort things, it hardly demanded much attention, so Emily was quick to dismiss Vic's claims at being distracting. "I'm not easily distracted, but if a work matter does demand my attention, I'll be sure to let you down gently," she mused, almost teasing. But here they were regardless, talking and whatnot, so yes... she was part of her 1-2 percent for the week, a glowing statistic if ever she heard one.

Closing the door behind them, Emily moved straight to her desk and claimed her seat, her in tray already looked a mess, and she'd dealt with it just that morning. Sigh. "Oh, well that's even better then," she acknowledged with a nod. Of course, she couldn't comprehend Vic's struggles the past year, but she knew enough to know the woman had a rough go of it. Work always made for a good distraction in that case. She heard a lot, Vic was good like that, carried a conversation all on her own. Work, the event thing, girls, Charley, Cosgrach. Why did that name sound so familiar? Cosgrach. And then it dawned on her. "Wait... Bachelor of the Month guy?" she queried. Considering though that the title was shared with two others that issue, it was hardly flattering. Pulling the pile toward her, Emily started scanning the trays contents.



After going over the girls file - not a particularly thick one, and full of commendations to boot - she poured a glass of water and set to responding to a memo when a knock at the door signalled Branxton's arrival. Or at least, she could only assume it was Branxton. Timely and well mannered, two qualities she liked in her employees.

"Come in," she called, the door opening slightly with a wave of her wand, her eyes still trained on the memo card in front.

And now was the moment. Genevieve took a HUUUUUGE breath, and then another, before opening Emily's door and slipping into the office. She didn't do nerves very easily, and she felt like her uneasiness was written all over her face.

"Hey, Boss Lady. Thanks for agreeing to meet with me." Pleasant chatter or jump right into it? Genevieve took a seat and folded her hands in her lap. "I'd like to talk to you about next steps in becoming a full Auror."

Going into the office Victoria looked around. Had she ever been in this office? She couldn’t remember, but goodness that inbox and she thought she had way too many things to do on her desk. Emily sure competed and maybe one that. Though the event had her more than swamped with inbox things. “Of course” She nodded knowing that things did come up and that was completely fine. “I do prefer being let down gently. Though I’m getting better at the blunt get lost.” She joked of course, but there was some truth under that statement as well.

“Yes it is, I was really even thinking a change in my career might need to be done to help me through things, but I’m so glad I stuck it out, because the promotion was just a shock.” She had never expected it and she really had thought about leaving just before it, but now she was Manager and Charely wasn’t even working at the ministry anymore. Things just worked themselves out. “How’s Zeke doing?” That was his name, right? “You should certainly bring him to the Quidditch Event, I bet he’ll love meeting the players.” It would be perfect for him.

A blush fell of her when Emily made the connection, “Oh yes, he was over the summer.” She chuckled almost forgetting about it really. “Bart had actually tricked us on a date last school term and we had went out a few times over the summer, but started dating right before he had to go back for the start of term.” It had been going well, until well they couldn’t talk at all. She was going a bit stir crazy over it.

Her prediction had been correct, and the sound of the trainee aurors voice was all the confirmation she needed. Quickly scrawling a few words on the back of the memo, she slipped it in her to-deal-with-later tray, and fixed her attention on the blonde.

"Not at all," she mused in reply. She would have liked to check in with all the aurors when they returned, but that was the nature of MLE. Busy, busy, busy. At least they were here now. "Of course, and how might I help you with that?" she asked, casually leaning back in her seat, swiveling slightly.



Vic was, for the most part, easy enough to get along with, and Emily could appreciate her sense of humour at times. Like now, the whole get lost thing elicited a quiet smirk from the Department Head. "I'll keep that in mind," she added as an after thought. Though it was hardly necessary. She could be crude and rude at the best of times, but she was developing an unusual patience for people she didn't care for, which made dealing with the ones she liked, even easier.

... and that, that was news to her. "Considered a career change, that sounds more serious than I thought." Nothing, or.... very little, could convince her a career change was in order. She was where she was supposed to be. "Glad things worked out in the end..." yep, all those good things. As for Zeke... "He's well," she started, tilting her head from one side to the next in consideration. She spared a glance to the photograph of him that he had made her promise to have on her desk. Something about not forgetting he existed and remembering to pick him up from school. As if she could forget - and if she did, he would probably cross London and make a scene in the Atrium just to get 'escorted' up to her level. The boy had strange notions of what was 'fun'. "He already told me we're going, and I can hardly say no since he's been stroppy all year because of the ban at Hogwarts, really enjoyed the matches last year." All her fault for getting him hooked. Circe help her. So long story short, yes, they would be there. In one form or another.

The blush was unmistakable, and it actually made her skin crawl a bit. She didn't much like reading the Prophet, ever, and certainly not about bachelors seeking love and the like - but in an effort to get Zeke working on his reading, she still heard second hand about these things. Go figure he didn't seem to understand that she didn't need other men in her life. One was enough, and two was borderline too much... she didn't need to hear about how 'desirable' those bachelors were. The boy was nuts.
"Ahhhh... one of those," she mused, considering how embarrassing it must have been in the beginning.

Genevieve straightened up at Emily's question, not entirely sure if the Boss Lady was being sincere or was pulling her leg. It seemed kind of obvious to Genevieve what her anticipated next steps might be, but maybe it was something she had to prove she was ready for. And maybe part of being ready was asking.

"Last year was my third year as a YATI, and I was scheduled to complete my last five assessments: Magical Psychology, Concealment and Disguise..." she trailed off with a sheepish grin. That was all in the file. She didn't have to tell Emily. "I've completed them all with a passing grade. And... I'd like to know if you think I've completed the YATI program and can come on full time as an Auror."

It clearly meant the world to the young woman, as her shining blue eyes indicated.

Nothing about Genevieve's response surprised her. She had gone over the girls file, and was perfectly aware of her passing grades - something that was to be expected from a top recruit. What amused her most in all of this, was perhaps the manner in which Branxton was approaching this. "I'd like to know if you think you're ready to be a full time Auror," she returned with emphasis. "Your grades are indication enough that you're capable, and your conduct on the job supports this."

Did she see where she was going with this?

"What I'd like to know is, where you do see yourself in five years from now? What are you hoping to achieve?"

In any other situation, this would be laughable. Genevieve was always straight-forward, sometimes abruptly so and sometimes well ahead of when it was appropriate. So for her to be sitting here, beating around the bush and asking politely for something she wanted was so out of character for her. She was infuriated with the whole situation. Maybe even a bit with Emily, and definitely with herself.

And so she sighed a little heavily before answering. "Yes, I think I'm ready. I know I came in young, green, and... impulsive, but I know I've made great strides over the past three years. I'd like to be able to contribute more fully to the department, and I can't do that being a trainee." And she did have top marks, but she'd already pointed that part out.

What did five year plans have to do with this year plans? "I see myself here. I'm taking courses at university in potions, specifically to specialize in poisons and antidotes, but that's to further my own specialization in law enforcement. I suppose I'd like to be a team leader someday, but mostly I just want to pull my weight and do good work as part of the team."

Switching the leg she had crossed in her seat, Victoria just chuckled a bit more over the getting rid of her thing. Not that she thought Emily couldn’t do it, she knew she could, but she knew she was just kidding. Keep it in mind, her friend had a great sense of humor whether she knew it or not.

This wasn’t a surprise really, as social as Victoria was she kept her hurt hidden as much as she possibly could. “Well it had been bad enough that I did end up seeing a healer.” If that wasn’t serious nothing in her eyes was. “I had no clue what I was going to do and I love being here at the ministry , so I can’t see myself going far if I left level seven, but yes you are right it worked out.” She was happy it worked out the way it did as well. She loved her position and everything for the most part seemed normal between her and Mariel again. No more awkward was always nice. Oh and Zeke was just well, alright. She knew Emily wasn’t one for many words so she wouldn’t press the issue further. She did beam as she said they’d be at the meet and greet. “Wonderful, it’s going to be exciting. We’ve worked really hard.” She was very proud of her division.

Her brown eyes lifted in question, “One of those?” She was very confused, what did that mean exactly.

Laurie walked up to what used to be Evander's office after stopping by reception and being waved through rather impatiently. She took one second to straighten out her jacket and skirt. She did her best to avoid anyone that she knew as she made her way to this office. Taking a deep breath she raised her hand and knocked on the door. It was now or never.