When you enter the Department Head's office, the first thing you will notice is the window that takes up at least half of the wall directly behind the mahogany desk situated in the middle of the room. This window is charmed to let you see a variety of creatures in their unique habitats appear as if they were just outside the window; the creatures most often seen are the different breeds of dragons as these are the creatures Ella has worked with the most. The window will change the type of creature it displays after a certain amount of time and will circulate through nearly every type of creature known to wizardkind.

Once you manage to tear your eyes away from the window, you will probably notice a few of the pictures on the walls. They, too, contain moving images of magical creatures, along with several pictures of the different countries she has traveled to, including Romania, Russia, Australia, Austria, Peru, South Africa, and several more. In many of the pictures, you will find her alongside a man around the same age.

Against the right wall in a corner near the door is a medium-sized mahogany book shelf. Books on magical creatures are set both vertically and horizontally on each of the shelves to make sure they all fit. The ones that Ella felt she was mostly likely to read have been set on the outside for easy reach.

In the center of the room is the desk behind which your Department Head will be seated whenever she's actually in the room. The desk is neat, organized, and everything is where it should be, just like Ella likes it. Also on her desk is a smaller picture frame facing her that contains a portrait of her and that same man in the other pictures. In front of the desk is a pair of comfy armchairs where any visitors who come to see him can sit.

If you need to talk to Ella for any reason, do not hesitate to come by and talk with her. She's always willing to lend a listening ear. However, please knock on the door and wait for her to allow you in. It's only polite after all.

Kylie had not been to a first day in forever, it seemed like years but this time she wouldnt have her mother whispering to everyone and the Head of the Department wouldnt have remembered her as the girl who picked him up. She had her normal purple orchid in her hair and she thought she was dressed appropriatley. Walking up to the Department head's office so she could meet him face to face and not just "through" a letter so to speak. When she reached the door she gave it a good knock!

So many papers. So many reports. So much reading...

Atticus would have thought that after nearly two years at this job, he would be used to reading and hopefully even like it considering how much of it he had to do. Old habits and dislikes died hard though, and even now he wished he could be doing anything else right now. Watching a flobberworm would surely be a great deal more entertaining. But he had a job to do, and so he picked up another sheet of parchment and began to read...

...when there was a knock at the door.

Perfect timing!

He set the piece of parchment back down on his desk, stood, and walked to the door, opening it when he reached it. "Oh, hello," he said, greeting the woman standing there with a smile. "Come on in." He stood to the side a bit and pulled the door wide open to let her in.

Smiling she walked into the heads office. I hope I am not intruding, were you busy? Remembering this man probablly didnt know who she was not in Australia where her mother was the Minister of Magic. Sorry, I am Kylie Rewuri. I was hired as the Cheif Werewolf Operative. I just came to introduce myself and say hello and meet you. Looking at his desk she realized he had lots to do but she wouldnt be here that long. So, hello! Kylie wanted to ask how many werewolf operatives there were but she could wait...A couple moments not that long though the curiosity would have killed her by then.

Busy? Eh. "It can wait," he responded with a nod. Ah, yes, Kylie Rewuri, he did remember getting her application. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Rewuri," Atticus said, giving her a polite smile and offering his hand for her to shake. "I'm Atticus Aldredge, but you may just call me Atticus." It was much preferred. "So hello to you as well," he continued with a slight chuckle. It was nice to see someone so enthusiastic about being here.

Taking the lifts he'd decided it was time to go introduce himself to his fellow department heads. He'd really not gone outside of level 5 'cept to enter and leave the ministry, til recently. Even then though he didn't even stop and visit other levels. His first stop he figured would be level 4 since it was one of the few he'd not delivered trays to a few days previous. Glancing at the two offices, one for environmental and the other magical creatures he picked the magical creatures one.

Knocking on the door he stepped back to wait to be bidden to enter.

Ella had just sat down at her desk and was just about to reach for a binder on the bookshelf behind her, when there was a knock on the door. Well, good timing, since she hadn't started working yet. "Come on in!" she called from inside the office. There was a picture of her and a man on her desk and Ella noticed it was crooked, so she went to adjust it. She did, but for a few moments just stared blankly at the frame and her eyes seemed to glaze over as if she was lost in a deep thought...

Entering the office when he heard the words 'come in' Gavin peeked in before entering fully. "Good morning." he said brightly, "I just thought I'd stop in and introduce myself, I'm Gavin Higareda, the new International Magical Cooperation Department Head." Wow, that was a mouthful. Maybe he should have just said level 5 department head... Oh well, too late now. "Am I interrupting something?" he asked when he realized she was kind of looking lost in thought.

Oh, right. She had a visitor. Ella tore her eyes away from the picture and stood up as the man entered her office. Ah, that's right. He was the new level five department head. Which was a lot easier to say than that whole slew of words he just said. Ella let out a quiet chuckle and held out her hand for Gavin to shake. "A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Higareda. I'm Ella Wellington." She assumed that he knew she was the Magical Creatures head since he was in her office that was full of pictures of animals.

Interrupting something..? Oh. Ella shook her head and waved her hand. "Oh, no, I was just... spacing out," she said, glancing back to the picture on her desk. She looked back at Gavin with a smile. "No problem. So... You're new to the Ministry, too?" She actually didn't know. She just knew he was a new department head, like her.

Stepping forward she shook the woman's hand, "A pleasure as well Ms. Wellington. Please call me Gavin." Yes, he insisted on that even outside his own level. The formality still irked him a lot. Smiling kindly he shook his head "No I've been in the ministry for 7 years now, I started in the Time Room but moved to level 5, five years ago." By her question he'd assumed she had just started in the ministry "Are you a new department head as well, and just starting out in the British Ministry?"

He really wished he knew more about the people in the ministry. He'd never really gotten to know the other employees, except on level 5. Even those in the time room he'd not really known well. Except Jade and Becca anyway. Smiling he nodded as she said she was just spacing out.

Ella smiled politely and nodded. "In that case, Gavin, you may call me Ella." She didn't really like the formalities much either, but she used them just in case it made the others feel more comfortable. Oh, wow. He had been in the Ministry for quite some time. "Oh, wonderful. You've got experience in here then." Unlike Ella, who didn't know anyone, or how to get anywhere. "Yes, I'm brand new, in all aspects. It's taking some getting used to and I still have to pull out a map occasionally, but I think I'll get the hang of it soon." Ella gave him a small laugh and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

Gesturing to the chair in front of her desk, Ella spoke again. "Would you like to sit and chat? I've got some tea warmed up if you want. Unless you're too busy and were just stopping by to say hello." She thought it was polite to ask, though.

Nodding he smiled kindly in return "I sure can, if it's what you wish as well." It was a relief to know that the formalities weren't necessary with some of his fellow department heads. "Yep, I have a bit of experience, on a few levels even. Awww, well I'm sure you'll be able to a hand on it soon." He nodded encouragingly "It took some time when I first started here too, but after a bit I was able to find my way around fairly well." It definitely helped that a witch called out the floors and what offices were on each as it stopped at each level!

Taking the seat she offered, he smiled in reply "I'd enjoy that thank you." He had most of what needed doing completed so he had a bit of time on his hands. "Tea would be lovely, thank you!"

"I do, please." Ella normally didn't use formalities unless she was talking to someone she didn't know or someone who was above her in the workplace. Ella shrugged with a small smile. "I'm sure I'll get the hang of it soon." She better, since she had to work everyday.

Pleased that Gavin accepted the invitation, Ella smiled and scurried to the other side of her desk where there was a warm pot of tea and a few tea mugs. She poured two cups, glad to see that it was still steaming. Grabbing the cups, she brought them back to the desk and set one in front of Gavin before sitting down in her chair and taking a sip. "So, seven years in this place, huh?" she asked, crossing her legs. "And you said... 'Time Room'? What is that?" Maybe she had too many questions, but all Ella really knew were magical creatures.

Nodding "As you wish." he replied wiht a smile. He did prefer it when he was on the same level as the person he was working with. It had taken him ages to get used to the informality of calling Gina by her first name! Nodding he grinned "Once you figure the floors out it's fairly easy." Then came remembering what else was on each of the floors! Then the fact that there was a level 10 besides where the courtrooms were located.

"Thank you!" taking the cup he was offered he gave her another smile. "That's right actually in London even, 7 years here and 2 in the Daily Prophet as a journalist and before that San Fransisco's Daily Prophet." Cocking his head to the side a little "Ever work with a time turner? Well that's where we make them as well as keep track of every one of them in Britain."

Ella sighed contently. "That's good to know. Of course I still have to remember where everything is on each floor. That will also take some time." She let out a little laugh and sipped her tea again. It would all come in time though.

A Daily Prophet journalist, too. Interesting. "Did you like that? Journalism?" Just curious. Oh, time turners. Time room, time turners, it all made sense. "Oh, okay. I didn't know we made them here. That's fascinating." She had never used a time turner, although she could think of a time where she could definitely go back and change the past.

Laughing he nodded before taking a drink of his tea "I think that was the hardest part of learning the ministry. Finding where everything but the departments were. I swear I went around the ministry twice before finding the cafeteria we used to have!" And all he'd wanted was a sandwich!

"I did, I was editor back in San Fransisco. It was trying at times, but it was fun work. When I came to London I was a photo journalist so I did photography, which I found I liked a lot more." Watching as she put the two together he grinned, "Yep, it was fun seeing them become one, and testing was always a bit fun with sitting in the room with yourself, not always a walk in the park but fun all the same." He wondered what she was thinking, she looked kind of like she was thinking something, but couldn't be sure. He didn't know her well enough to tell that. "So what did you do before this?"

Sipping her tea again, Ella tried not to laugh it out. "Luckily, the food court was one of the first places I went to, so I don't think I'll have trouble with that one." The food court was new, or so she heard, and it was kind of all the rage. So it was hard to miss it, luckily.

Wow, an editor and a photo journalist. Interesting. "That's quite different than international cooperation," she said with a hint of amusement. She wanted to ask what drew him to the Ministry, but she was afraid of asking too many questions. Ella took another sip of her tea when he asked about her past. "I was a professor at Florence's Academy of Magical Creatures, over in Italy. I studied there after I graduated Hogwarts for a few years, did some traveling..." She paused momentarily before continuing, "Then I spent some time at the dragon sanctuary in Romania before becoming a professor. And after three years I realized I didn't really want to teach anymore, I wanted to be more active, and not by giving lectures about beasts and spirits. So, that's what brought me here." She smiled and shrugged a little. That was her history in a nutshell. Of course, there was more to it, but this was just for the sake of small-talk.

"Well that's good." he said winking at her "At least you know where the food stuffs are then." Yep, he'd pretty much starved til he figured that out, when he first got to the ministry.

"It is, but I've done a lot of travelling. Up til now it's been a constant in my life. Travelling to so many different places. And I have a lot of contacts out there, from both doing the travelling and working at the Prophet." He didn't add lots of contacts on the black market and underground, but that would be a given too, he figured. Tilting his head a little his eyes widened, "Fascinating, I haven't taught any subjects, though I'm sure it'd be a lot of fun!" He loved kids and watching as their lives opened up with the knowledge they got, just his little brother and sister in law, though they were young yet he'd learned so much about and taught them a lot. He loved having those two kids living with him and Kat! Nodding he understood where she was coming from. "I can see that. Being stuck in the school for 10 months out of the year, keeps you pretty limited and I don't rightly know if I'd like that myself, I'd want to be out there." Taking another drink he finished the cup. Instead of asking for more though he stood up and moved to the pot where she'd poured it from and refilled his cup before returning to his seat.

With a small laugh, Ella nodded. "And now I won't starve." Which was good in all cases.

Ella took another sip of her tea and nodded as Gavin spoke. He had traveled a lot too, like her. "That's good then," she commented about him having a lot of contacts out there. "That must be contribute to being the head of International Cooperation, I'm sure." Just a wild guess. Ella smiled again. "Yes, it was a good time while I was their. I was always fond of the school, and teaching there was a privilage. I enjoyed it." But, like she said, she realized after a few years that she wanted to be back out in the action again. Ella sighed quietly. "It was fun, but I'm glad for the change. I'm still doing what I love, I just get to be more involved and get more action." Just like the old days... The good days. Ella nodded when Gavin got up to get more tea. "Help yourself. I have some little caramel candies, too," she said, pointing to a glass bowl by the tea.

Laughing himself he nodded "That's always a good thing. Somehow the employees don't like finding us on the floor of our office starved to death." Well at least level 5 never had that issue, with Gina's cookies always appearing when they need one.

"A bit yes. But I think my contacts within the black market and other ministries probably attributed to it as well." he replied with a nod. Gosh he probably had more contacts in other ministries then a lot of other people did in just the continent they were on! "It helps having your own contacts at times, especially if you know precisely what you're looking for and know who to contact to get it."

Nodding he totally got where she was coming from "I think that's the hard part about not being out there, it's why I've moved so much. I hate just sitting back and watching the action, gotta be out in it!" Taking a caramel from the bowl, he smiled "Thank you." Taking another drink of the tea he sat back in his chair.

Ella laughed again and shook her head. "That would definitely not be good." Whew. It was a relief to her that he had a sense of humor. It was good to know she wasn't working with a bunch of stick-straight squares.

Black market? Ella raised her eyebrows at that, even though it probably shouldn't have surprised her that much. It was actually kind of intriguing. Nodding again, she took a gulp of her tea. "I know what you mean. Then again, you kind of have to have a million contacts with a position like yours. And mine, what with all the dragon reserves and everything else out there. Although, it is rather hard to contact mermaids." She laughed a little and adjusted a slightly crooked folder on her desk. Not many people spoke mermish, though Ella was learning.

"I know what you mean," she said again. "I like being on the move. I need excitement." And that explained the several years of her traveling around with her husband. Ella's eyes flickered to the portrait of them on her desk before she quickly turned around refilled her tea mug.

"Nope not at all." he said chuckling with her. It was nice to know he could feel free to laugh with his fellow heads, and not feel uncomfortable doing so, or feeling like it was forced.

He saw her lifted eyebrows, and mentally shrugged. Well every job held different things, and his had always dealt with working with the black market. Some things were only able to be purchased that way! And sometimes it was the only way to catch the bad guys that were trying scam innocent witches and wizards not to mention muggles! "In some ways yes, some times I have to deal with people I'd really rather not want to deal with but do, just so the job gets done." He was sure that she had some people that were the same though, but probably not along those same lines. Nodding as she mentioned dragon reserves. "Yep, just depends on the job. Hmm, I don't speak mermish, that's one that I've had a hard time learning. Though Troll and Gobbledygook were hard enough to learn, not all points and grunts you know." Wrinkling his nose he took another drink. The goblins he'd dealt with on occasion didn't make it any easier either!

"Definitely. I think this is the first time I've actually settled down." Grinning lopsidedly "Guess marriage does that to a guy." Yep, he'd been willing to settle down once he and Kat had finally gotten serious!

Ella shrugged a little. "Whatever gets the job done." That was the most important thing. That and safety, but... that was kind of a given. Although Ella enjoyed adventure, even if it wasn't exactly safe. Her life was always pretty adventurous, just the way she liked it. After taking another sip of her tea, Ella smiled a little. "I started learning Mermish recently. It's... complicated." She laughed lightly. She was fairly good at learning new languages though, even if most of them were Latin-based, not a completely different species. But she would manage. Ella shook her head and leaned back into her chair. "How many languages do you speak?" she asked out of curiousity.

Ah, marriage. That settled people down alright. Ella smiled a little solemnly and nodded. She never really "settled down" when she got married. Maybe they should have. That would have saved a lot of trouble. And maybe a life. Ella glanced at the picture on her desk again before distracting herself with words again. "Your wife, does she work here, too?"

Nodding "Exactly. And I've found the sooner you get it done the better off it is." Shaking his head if he had the chance he'd avoid all those kinds of encounters. But well, if he didn't do it who would? "Oh?" he asked as she said she was learning Mermish. "I've had a hard time learning it due to the high pitch. But you don't quite get the correct translations unless it's that high." Taking a sip, he thought about that answer, "Well I am fairly fluent in seven if you include both American and British English. And I do okay in four others...Mandarin Chinese, French, Troll and Gobbledegook." He already had a number of others that he'd added to his list of languages he needed to learn like Russian, fairy and veela just naming a few.

He caught her glance towards a picture on her desk and smiled at her question "Yes, Kat and I actually met on level 5, we both worked as undercover buyers. She's now the Ambassador to Magical countries." He wondered how she was going to react to know both Gavin and Kat were still on the same level...

"Yes, and then you don't have to worry about it later." Which was the best part of getting things done early, too. She took another drink of her tea as he explained his struggle with learning mermish. She finished her tea and was about to respond, but he continued. She just smiled. Seven languages? Wow. She gave him an impressed look as he named them all off. "That's quite impressive, I must say." And she had several more she wanted to add to her list, too. When she had time. Sigh.

Oh, they met on the same level. And they now worked on the same level? "That's... convenient," she said with a small laugh. Convenient, for lack of a better word. Meh. But this talk of marriage was... It was getting to her and it was only the beginning of the day. Sigh. Ella glanced at her watch. "Well, this has been nice chatting with you, but I think I better get back to work. We've got some bloodhounds to train." And other things to take care of, of course. Ella smiled and stood up. "It was a pleasure meeting you, Gavin. I hope we can work together soon."