"Excellent," Lorraine commented casually, nodding in appreciation as he left the office. "You're quite welcome and I trust to be in contact with you soon. Please send the next person in on your way out," she added on politely.

Madison noticed the one employee exit her Department Head's office and so she figured it was her turn. She knocked on the door once again as she opened it a little wider, making her presence known. "I hope you are not to terribly busy," she said as she walked into Lorraine's office. "I just need to speak to you about a few things."

Checking her daily schedule once more, Lorraine looked up at the sound of the knock and the door opening and smiled vaguely at the presence of her assistant. "Ah, Madison," she greeted, pushing a manila folder to the side. "No, not too busy," except that I have to go to speak with Ms Taylor this afternoon, "Have a seat. What can I do for you?"

Madison quietly glided over towards the chair and took a seat, folding her hands in her lap. A faint glow from a finger on her left hand caught the light just right, if anyone was paying attention. "I know I'm a tad early in telling you this but, I will need a couple of weeks off for the upcoming summer." She paused in her words by pushing her hair behind her ears.

"I've recently become engaged and my fiancee and I are planning a small wedding followed by a quiet trip for two." Her eyes beamed with joy as she looked from Lorraine down to the ring on her finger then back up again. If anyone knew her quite well, they could tell it was the happiest she had ever been.

But before her boss could get in another word, she wanted to pass along any information leading up to the days she would need off from work. "I will plan ahead in making sure that all my work here is completed and up-to-date." She pressed her lips together, finally becoming quiet and allowing Lorraine to speak.

Lorraine watched with eager interest as her assistant - a fair-minded woman - took a seat and folded her hands in her lap. But it wasn't the delicacy in which Ms Myers took this upon herself to sit down, rather what was was around her finger. Some shiny object in which she had never noticed before; an object that she herself never dreamed about like most women did.

Listening to Madi speak, the brunette thought she knew what to expect from this conversation. Especially after spotting that new object on the young woman's finger. But she waited nonetheless to hear it for certain. Yes - a moment later, it was revealed.

"Well first and foremost, congratulations," Lorraine commented back politely, as she was truly genuinely happy for those who wished to enter the sacred union between two people. A unity that she herself was not too interested in, but that was besides the point. "And secondly, which I do think needs to be asked, is if this fiancee of yours is the same man you were telling me of months ago?" She leaned forward on her hands, which rested on her handsome desk, as if wanting the juicy details.

But Lorraine was never one for girly gossip and so she quickly sat back in her chair and jotted down a quick note. "So when was it that you would need off for? So I could make the adjustments to my calender . . ." The department head offered, quite business-like.

"Oh thank you, Lorraine," Madison said as basically, her Department Head was the only person she told, besides her family. It made her almost gitty inside, like a little girl, but she couldn't believe that her boss remembered all those months ago. "Yes it is," she said with excitement and then remembered, "And in fact, you could run into him while at Hogwarts."

She leaned forward and peeked at the calender with a questionable look. Oh great! They really hadn't set a date yet. They knew about the time but, not an actual date. She needed to find out when school was out and make it the following week, but just to be on the safe side..."These two weeks," she said pointing to the second and third week of June. Well, she just made a decision on her own.

"Of course," Lorraine commented respectfully; even if she might not have been for all the sappy romance stuff, then she still definitely had enough dignity left in her to respect others that did! Oh and then Madison had to go and remind her of the fact that she was going to Hogwarts . . . Ugh. "Hmm, yes, I just might run into him. Remind me again who he is? Perhaps if you had a message or anything for me to give to him, then I could do that for you?" She offered sweetly towards her assistant.

Noting the expression on Madison's face when she asked about when the time off would need be, Lorraine bit her lower lip gently. Oops; apparently those details hadn't been made yet. "Early in the summer then," she replied thoughtfully, scratching off the days that Madison pointed out, even if they were tentative. "Well sounds perfect then. If they are altered at all though, then do let me know." And if I'm invited to that wedding than let me know that too, Lorraine wanted to say, but refrained.

Madison sighed. She wanted to give him something but she didn't know if he would even try to seek out her department head and disturb her during her class. "He's the Groundskeeper," she began with a bright smile as she spoke of the man she was completely in love with. "Umm, thanks but he will probably be busy." He always said that students were coming to visit and if he had one at that time that was having a problem or what not it would be just too complicated.

Then the subject changed to the wedding date and Madison could tell that Lorraine understood her. She grinned as she looked back to the calender. "Thank you for understanding." With the summer and all their planning of going to China for red pandas, they both completely forgot about setting an actual date. "And of course, I am letting you know that if you would like to come, you will have an invitation and will be more than welcome to bring a guest." She wanted to let Lorraine know that she was invited and that Madi definitely wanted her there.

Giving off the faintest of smiles, Lorraine listened up when Madi spoke once more about who he was. Normally the brunette wasn't one to fall for sappiness or romance, but the expression on Madison Myer's face as she spoke of her fiance was just too cute. "Oh right, busy, well I'll be making more than one trip to Hogwarts this term, if you change your mind." But probably not, since taking care of the grounds was sort of a big deal. There was always owl communication. Speaking of which, she herself needed to send an owl to an old friend - she'd have to use the ministry owls though, most likely. Perhaps Teal had some on his level she could borrow...

Nodding at Madison's thank you, she could tell that she was both excited by the prospect of being married and yet completely nervous too. Oh and there she goes, adding on that little invite bit. "Of course, thank you Madison, and I will look forward to the date." Even if she didn't particularly like weddings, she would support a friend and colleague in her decision. "I wouldn't miss it for the world," she tacked on lamely, and tossed a small wink at the young blond.

Elijah gave a quick loud rap at the door, hoping that Lorraine was in her office. He had been sent to see her and was hoping that they could work out what they needed to quickly; something very strange was going on within his Department. He coughed a few times, then folded his arms, wondering which side of the campaign she was contribuiting to.

Well that meeting with Reagan had gone much more smoothly than she hoped. It was settled then, she would be heading up the independent campaign in charge of publicizing the election and stuff whereas Syd would take the Advertising. Now all that needed to be found was someone to chair the debates. Reagan had suggested Elijah, which Lorraine did find to be a satisfactory choice, but she wanted to explore all her options being Lorraine. And so when she got back to her office she had busied herself with making a list. Because that's what Lorraine Brothmeister would do.

Barely started the list, there was another rap on her door. Looking up in alarm, she quickly covered up the list she had begun working on and called to the visitor, "Come in"

At the call of Lorraine, Elijah turned the knob and entered her office. He grinned a little as he took in her slightly paranoid expression. It looked as if she was hiding something. "Hey Lorraine. Reagan sent me to you to talk about the upcoming election. Any idea what about?"

He eyeballed her desk and shelves, quickly checking to see if maybe there was something she was hiding. Feeling ridiculous, he shook his head to clear it, and stated coughing again.

Anticipating it was Madison again, saying she forgot something pertinent to the wedding or someone else from her Department, Lorraine waited hardly a few seconds for the visitor enter. As luck should have it, it was Elijah! Seems she didn't need to go hunting for him after all, but why was he so paranoid? Oh, must be the nerves of leaving his mysterious department. How she would give her rear molars to know what was down there; but she would never dare ask.

"Hey Elijah," she replied cheerfully. No sense in hiding her disappointment of him coming to see her instead of her trekking down to that mysterious department. "Oh di--" Lorraine stopped as she noticed him looking around her office. "Have a seat." She gestured to the comfortable looking chairs on the other side of her desk.

"Anyway, as I was saying, yes. I wanted to speak with you about the upcoming election and in the possibility of recruiting you for the independent campaign. You seem-" even though I've only spoken with you like twice "to be quite intelligible and I would be honored if you would consider chairing the research and debates area of the election."

Elijah took a seat in front of her desk and had a temporary moment of bliss at the first chance to sit down that day. At the proposal of her offer, however, his eyebrows shot up and he fought his feet to not jump up and pace the room.

"Me, really?" he asked. He was, of course, flattered - but that Lorraine wanted his help in such a very busy position was a bit shocking to him. He hadn't talked to her much, and wondered silently if she asked him as a refferal from someone else. Pushing that to the back of his mind, he fixed a smile across his face. "Actually, I would love to. I was already backing the Independent Campaign. It'll be nice to help things get off the ground. Are you heading it this election?"

Lorraine watched his expression carefully, taking in all his features. He was quite young, it was no wonder that the Senior Undersecretary took nicely to him. Young, responsible, hardworking individual like that ... who had some handsome features as well. Not that it really mattered to Lorraine, as she was happily dating Teal. And nothing would ever change that.

Quickly shaking those thoughts from her mind, she awaited his reaction trying to gauge his interest. Ah, perfect! He was very enthused by her offer.

"Yes, really," she repeated. "Well right now we have myself and Syd, the head up on Magical Law Enforcement, for Independent Campaign. And yes, I guess I am heading up the Independent area of things. I've never really been one to outwardly show support for either party ... Syd didn't want to head it, so he's running by the advertisements. So we would be honored to have you aboard."

Contact Elijah. Check.

"First things, after informing the employees, of course" Lorraine continued excitedly now. "Would be head down to London and gauge awareness of the upcoming election among the shopkeepers."

"And of course I'll need to meet with Syd about meeting with the Prophet..." she started rambling more to herself, as she jotted down a few more things on her to-do list.

The woman in front of him seemed very analytical, but it was something he was surprised to find that he enjoyed. She was sharp and on top of things, just like him, and eager to get to work.

"I've got a few good ideas for locations we could use too. We should discuss it later," he nodded, leaning back a little in his seat. Unfortunately, as he did so, he started to cough again. Beating his chest a little, he apologized quickly. "Sorry, I don't know what's come over me. It must be the fresh air. One does get adjusted to the dark and damp conditions down there. Anyway."

He hastily pulled out a piece of parchment and scribbled something down, then reached across the desk to hand it to her. "Here, my home address, in case you want to owl. Unfortunately, I can't stay long. There seems to be a bit of chaos going on in my department."

Lorraine smiled weakly as she glanced up at him when he offered that he had ideas about the locations already as well. "Oh how excellent," she replied. "I'll send you and Syd a memo about setting up a meeting for us to work out some location ideas." Then he started to cough, which he cleared just as the brunette was halfway out of her seat, wide-eyed at him. Dark and damp conditions down there? Interesting .... they really did like to keep things mysterious.

"Ooh, well perhaps have some water?" Lorraine gestured to an empty glass and was halfway to conjuring some fresh water from her wand when he handed her his home address?! Blink. Blink. Oh dear. "On second thought, well, you best be attending to your department now. Thank you again, Mr Wright and we'll be in touch." Offering another smile towards him, instead of reaching for her wand she reached across her desk for another handshake.

"Mmh," he nodded, then tried to clea his throat once more. He just didn't know what the issue was! Shaking it off, he stood and took her hand in his, grasping it gently. "I'm excited to work with you. We'll be in touch."

And with that, he turned and left her department to figure out what was going on in his.

Lorraine nodded thoughtfully, peering at her door for a few moments after Elijah Wright had left to attend to the duties in his own department. Once he was gone, she shook her head to wave him off and realized she had some work cut out for her with regards to setting up about the campaign. Important things were needed to take place and it was up to her (Syd and Elijah) to get things going.

Just one thing stopped her though. They would need a Debates Development Committee to work more on specifically the debates, under Elijah who would be in charge of research and debates. One person came to mind whom she couldn't recall seeing in awhile, not even at Reagan's office. Without further ado, she scribbled down three memos and tapped each one respectively to send them off to their respective recipients. Once they were sent, the department head rose from her seat, picking up some notes, and then left her office, ensuring it to be properly locked.

Flicking her light brown hair behind her shoulder, Amber Thatcher enhanced her grip on the notebook she carried in her arms, took a deep breath and knocked twice on the door. Now was the time to wait to be called in.

As she did so, the new liason passed a hand through her skirt, as if it needed to be even tidier than it already was, which was, in fact, simply impossible. Amber had never gone to work without looking her best and this would certainly not be the first time she would fail her little... tradition. Oh no! That thought was absolutely, well, unthinkable. And especially at that particular moment when she had not shown her worth, when she needed to do it at her best so that she could get what she wanted. Sigh. It would be tough work and the fact that Belden was there too would only make it harder but she'd make it. Merlin, she was Amber Thatcher after all!

Now, if only she could get her way into the office and start getting her work done...

Placing her parchment stack in her mouth, Lorraine reached back to replace her chocolate brown hair into ponytail. It was getting hot again in the Ministry, which must mean that summer was coming. Or perhaps just that it was coming early. Once her hair was tied back out of her face, she placed her parchment stack back in her hand and continued the walk to her office.

Though the almost forty year old witch stopped about three feet from her office door at the sight of an unfamiliar young woman standing there. Taking a few steps towards her, Lorraine eyed her cautiously. Pretty young thing, she was, which almost made her feel uncomfortable . . . and old. But she was Lorraine Jade Brothmeister; since when did she care about age or what other people thought? She had a job to do. Work to complete.

"Hello there," the department head greeted, fixing her hazel eyes on the woman's hair in the spot where her eyes would be when she turned around. "May I help you with something?"

Sigh. Didn't these people know how to be polite and answer the door? Or, if busy, at least just say so so that one would not have to stand there and act like a fool? Because that was definitely what Amber was starting to feel like. In fact, she was even starting to believe that perhaps it was just best to walk away before someone found her there and thought she was some demented person or something of the sort. Oh yes, for she would not make herself sound desperate and knock on the door.

Well, still, she could always wait one more minute. It wasn't as if anyone was nearby for the time being. From what she saw, that is.

Narrowing her eyes slightly at this thought, she looked from one side to the other, as if waiting for someone that would be covered with an invisibility cloak to pop out of nothing and give themselves in.

She was just observing this little spot on a wall, when she heard a female voice. Bawling banshees! Now someone would think she was a loony. What a great start as a Ministry worker, was it not? And that meant nothing but that she'd have to make whoever it was that had caught her standing there think something diferent. Not taking another second, she turned around to face a rather older woman. Unconsciously, Amber started taking the woman in, just as she would with a possible dark wizard. It looked like old habits died hard.

"Good day," She replied in a sweet tone, her lips finally cracking into perfectly fake smile, only for it to vanish at the woman's question as she gave place to an expression of relief. "Oh, yes, I hope so," She smiled yet again. "Do you happen to know where the department head is? I'm the new liason and I thought it would be best to introduce myself."

There, a perfectly good excuse (though could you really call it an excuse when it was the truth?) to be standing there like a fool.

At first, Lorraine wasn't even completely sure that the woman had heard her. Perhaps it was the young age of her where young people today were listening to too loud music or whatnot, thus going deaf at an earlier age. Or maybe beyond that thick hair of hers she couldn't hear clearly past the keratin?

Nonetheless, she was about to speak up louder in hopes of grabbing the woman's attention. Or maybe it would be better to get a security wizard to help her from the building? Whatever, she was being rude though by not answering her.

But just as the brunette was about to turn around and head to level eight, the young woman turned around and looked her up and down. The nerve of her; it was HER floor! Rude and ignorant young people. Though despite her rudeness, the woman did have a sweet tone, even if did sound fake. And on top of it, she didn't even know who she was!?

"New liaison?" Her confusion definitely audible in her tone, as she narrowed her thinly plucked eyebrows. "Actually, as a matter of fact I do know where the department head is. And you're looking right at her. Lorraine Brothmeister, Magical Transportation Department Head. And you are?"

Perhaps she should have invited her into her office (after opening it which she had not done yet), but it slipped her mind. Oh well then!

Oh hell. Her tactic was definitely not working. It was obvious in the woman's tone and in the way that she looked at Amber, that the new liason had to find another way to approach the situation. Lucky she was a quick thinker and was used to having to find ways to escape problematic situations, even if most of those were quite a lot more physical, seeing as they involved dodging Avada Kedavras and the likes. Still, she'd make it.

Hopefully.

Smiling at Lorraine, Amber nodded in agreement to her words. So she hadn't been informed about the existance of a new liason, was it? There must be some huge communication problems between the Minister of Magic's Office and the Magical Transportation department, if the department head had no idea of such a change. After all, Amber might as well be a dark wizard who was trying to make her way into the department to acquire some valuable information and Lorraine wouldn't know about it. Yes, this lack of communication was definitely something that would have to be mended.

"Oh," She raised her eyebrows in surprise. Truth to be told, she hadn't been one hundred per cent sure that she was facing Lorraine. Actually, she wasn't even then. Heck, for as much as she knew, the woman she was facing might as well be someone who had taken a bit of Polijuice Potion. Oh yes, Amber had not gotten out of her Auror mode yet. "Do excuse me, madam," She added quickly. "I haven't been in the UK since I left Hogwarts so I didn't really know...," She bit her lower lip for half a second, kind of still playing the role of an innocent woman, the same role that had fooled quite too many people before into thinking she was harmless. Though, wait, wasn't she supposed to change her tactic? Ah, well.

She let out a small sigh. "I'm Amber Thatcher, ma'am," She introduced herself at last, with a curt nod and a small, polite smile. There, at least the smile wasn't too big or too naive-like. "I understand that you may have questions to ask of me?"

Tilting her head to the side slightly, Lorraine blinked slowly as she took in the woman's features. Serious brunette, but yet playful too. This was definitely a woman who knew who to get her work done. She was sure the woman also enjoyed critical thinking and analytical mindset, as opposed to not. Oh yes, after fifteen plus years in the field, Lorraine had gotten quite good with reading people.

Not to mention that she'd been reading Teal since even longer. But naturally that was a given. He was after all, her best friend. That was besides the point though, since she had not seen Teal in awhile. Though she knew he must be busy what with Cy and then work (even she was feeling the strain of the election).

No, she definitely had not been informed of a new liaison and she was sure that the shock of her not knowing was a shock to the young woman. There had always been a communication lapse in the Ministry though; even when she first started so many years ago. But that she had grown used to since it never really caused problems before. Which wasn't really a good excuse because Lorraine did also know that all it took was just ONE mistake for everything to come tumbling down.

"Oh, it's okay then," the department head replied, listening with rapt interest about how the new liaisn had not been in the UK since Hogwarts. Just how young was she!?! Suddenly, Lorraine was starting to feel the age on her body and she wondered vaguely if she could possibly be old enough to be the wom--no, the girl's mother. It was quite the possibility.

"Well then, it is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Thatcher," Lorraine spoke again, pursing her lips together lightly and nodding subtly in return. "Or would you perhaps prefer Amber?" Yes. She was definitely feeling the creases at the corners of her eyes now. A woman of near forty should not be allowed to work with people half her age; particularly other women.

But nonetheless, proper manners dictated that she should invite her into her office. Especially since she was apparently supposed to have questions for her. Though she hadn't the slightest idea what. "So, would you care to join me in my office?" Lorraine finally offered, extending her hand past and murmuring the passcode, as the door then swung open. Gesturing for Amber to enter first, Lorraine simply waited before she would follow after...