"Yes, you have an excellent point, of course," Samantha conceded. "However, we wouldn't be able to stock any of those departments without first providing the basic learning for them in the first place." She smiled, she really enjoyed this banter and sensed that Rachel and she were very much thinking along the same lines. She had just met the girl but could already see her similarities to her uncle Jake and how sharp her mind was.

ooc: You're absolutely right, and I was just going to suggest that! Here is my suggested path of where we should hit -
1st stop - Inspection Committee (I'll post there now)
2nd stop - Examinations Committee
3rd stop - Maybe we can sneak into the Division Head's office if Jake isn't around (we'll make sure he goes out for a minute!)
4th stop - Lunch room
5th stop - Minister's office, 1st floor
6th stop - 2nd Floor - Magical Law Enforcement
67h stop - 3rd Floor - Magical Accidents and Catastrophes
8th stop - 4th Floor - Magical Creatures
9th stop - 5th Floor - International Magical Cooperation
10th stop - 6th Floor - Magical Transportation
11th stop - 7th Floor - Magical Games and Sports
12th stop - 8th Floor - Employment Office and Magical Maintenance
13th stop - 9th Floor - Mysteries
14th stop - Back here

That ought to keep us going for a while!

Rachel stared up at her in wonderment as they exited the room. She's saying the exact things I'm thinking! I wonder if that means I'm destined to work here, or something? "Yeah, I was just thinking that actually," she said and walked into the hallway.

ooc: sounds good!

Knock, knock.
"Samantha?" Lucy opened the door slowly, calling for her boss. "Samantha?" she looked inside the room. No Samantha. She wasn't in there. She decided to go to the Breakroom looking for her boss, although she doubted Samnthat was there drinking coffee. She had to fight agaisnt her will to drink more coffee. She had had three cups already.

"Samantha!" Lorraine exclaimed, quickly knocking and opening the door of the Magical Education Department Head. She had just come from a fabulous little meeting with the shopkeeper at Florean's, where together they thought of the most awesome idea to celebrate Christmas at Diagon Alley with the shopkeepers and department heads. Surely Samantha would just love to join in the fun.

Spotting the woman at her desk, Lorraine held out the charmed box for her to see. "I've got the greatest news! And I know you're just going to die of love at this. I've just discussed with the woman at Florean's Ice Cream, Bella, and we've planned out a wonderful idea to celebrate Christmas at Diagon Alley. We've decided to do a Secret Santa, and we'd like to ask you to join in on all the fun."

Setting the charmed box down on Samantha's desk, she patted it lovingly with her hand. "In this box, we've placed the names of every Ministry Department Head and each and every Diagon Alley Shopkeeper and Assistant," Lorraine explained. "The box was charmed so that when you tap your wand on the box and say 'Accio!', a certain name designated just for you will shoot from the box and land in your hands. Remember not to tell anyone whose name you drew - not even me! All you have to do at that point is buy a gift for that person and somehow get it delivered to them without knowing who sent it - they'll need to guess! Won't that be fun?!" Lorraine's hazel eyes twinkled with delight.

"Now, if you decide to participate, we'll have a little party at Florean Fortescue's on December 19 (OOC: December 19-21 anytime is the roleplay). You can come bringing your favorite party foods and drinks, and we'll see if anyone has been able to figure out their Secret Santa!" Lorraine continued. "So, now then. Would you like to participate? If you would, tap your wand once upon this little box, say the correct incantation, and your name will just pop right on out of there! Go on...give it a try!"

*****

OOC: As soon as you roleplay your charrie choosing a name, please return to this thread and follow the directions. Use the [s] [*/s] feature without the * to cross out the name you choose, then roleplay your charrie sometime before December 19 delivering the gift. You may choose a Ministry charrie or a Diagon Alley charrie. You can just be as creative as you'd like at this point. Don't forget about the party, either! Make sure you cross out the name you choose, so we won't have one or more people choosing the same person! Any questions, feel free to PM me!

"Hello, Lorraine!", Samantha exclaimed happily. "That is wonderful news, and of course you may count me in as a participant!" Samantha tapped her wand on the tiny box, said the incantation and received a name. "Well, look at that!", Samantha said, opening the slip with a smile. "A Secret Santa and a party at that, what could be more wonderful? Thanks, Lorraine, I'll see you at the party! And thanks so much for inviting me, I'm so looking forward to it!" Samantha thought to herself that this is just what was needed between the Department Heads and the Shopkeepers, a chance for them to get to know one another in a fun holiday atmosphere would be great.

Lorraine beamed when Samantha agreed to participate; one down and eight more to agree. Or was it nine? "All of us at the party, enjoying a little rest from work," Lorraine winked at her, picking the charmed box off of her desk. "No. Thank you Samantha and I look forward to seeing you in a week or so at Florean's!" With that, the Magical Transportation Department Head turned on her heel and walked towards another office on Level One whom she could not forget to include; the Senior Undersecretary.

Liam knocked on the office door and waited to be let in.

Samantha went and answered the door. She was surprised, she hadn't realized that the door was closed, but she guessed someone must have done it on the way out of her office. She liked to keep an open door policy, but there were visitors off and on who may not have been aware of her habits. "Hi, Liam, isn't it?", she asked, recalling that this young man worked in Magical Games and Sports if her memory served her correctly. "Do come in and have a seat."

Liam walked into the office and smiled as he took a seat "I can't stop long, I've only left the division to give you something that someone told me to give you" He gave her this present, someone had given him to give to her.

Samantha opened the box and exclaimed in shock, "Why this is the most lovely thing I have ever seen! I wonder who it could be from!" She couldn't imagine anyone sending her such a nice gift. "Thank you very much, Liam, for bringing this to me, it has brought me great joy." Samantha fitted the necklace around her neck. It really was a lovely piece, and the fact that she had no idea who had sent it made it that much more intriguing. Perhaps she would find out later, or perhaps not. In any case, she loved it!

"Well Samantha, I think I had better get back to my division, it's a busy time of the year" replied Liam as he looked at the neckless "It suits you" he said after a moment pause.

"All right, I understand," Samantha said. "Thank you once again, Liam, and have a wonderful day." Today was turning out to be a very good day indeed, Samantha thought to herself. Perhaps she should throw a party for her staff!

"Well thanks for seeing me" replied Liam as he got up out of his seat and smiled before saying "Have a wonderful day to" he walked out of the office after that, He left the door open for some unknown reason.

Samantha smiled. Liam seemed like a nice young man, and he had really made her day by delivering that lovely ruby necklace. "You have a wonderful day, too," she called out softly before going back to wondering about who could have sent such a beautiful thing for a moment. It didn't really matter, though she would always be grateful. She decided that she wanted to go out and show off the necklace, perhaps in Diagon Alley. She was thinking about what outfit she should wear to show off the beautiful jewelry, then realized she had just the perfect dress.

Samantha was about to leave when she had an idea. Perhaps her staff could use a break, maybe a little party would be a welcome thing for them. Before she ran off, she decided to set up a little something for them.

A memo flew in the room and landed on Samantha's desk. It read:

Quote:

Level One, Department of Magical Education Head's Office

Samantha, where are you? The party and the decor looks great! The only people in here are me - Jake, Lucy and Izzy. Are you coming? And don't you dare say no because you have work to do! This is the time to relax and have fun, so come and enjoy Christmas with us.

Yours sincerely,
Jake

Samantha rushed into the office for just a moment and saw the note from Jake asking if she would stop in to the party. She vowed to do just that. In fact, she was on her way to another party which was about to start soon, but why not do both? It was important to make an appearance, even though she really wanted the employees to mingle amongst themselves and get to know one another a bit better. Well, it was definitely time to stop in, she decided, leaving her office once again. She checked her neck, making certain that the beautiful necklace was on, and went on her way.

The following memo should be distributed to your employees:

Returning back to her office, Samantha discovered another copy of that shocking announcement had been posted in her office. This was simply too distressing, so unimaginable that someone could actually be killed in the Ministry!

Samantha thought back to the scene during the opening ceremonies of the Ministry Convention, when a crazy woman had confronted the Minister's wife and then turned into a mosquito and buzzed off, threatening great harm before she did so. Somehow, Samantha had a really bad feeling about this. Perhaps the Minister and his wife were in great danger!

Reagan knocked on Samantha's door, with Egypt in tow. She hoped they would be able to speak quietly and quickly about the matter at hand. And she hoped that Samantha would be sympathetic to her cause and offer her support. If not, well, that would be putting her campaign off to a very disappointing start.

Samantha heard the knock on the door and opened it, surprised to see Reagan there along with Egypt, the head of Security. "Good morning, Reagan, how may I help you?", she asked, holding the door open. She had a feeling this was something which was best discussed in private!

A piece of paper flew into the Magical Education Department Head office and landed on her table.

Samantha read the note which the owl had left on her desk and set it aside for just a moment. As exciting as the prospects of the training were she wanted to hear what Reagan and Egypt had come to say first. She would probably show up at the training session later and hopefully not miss too much. "Come in, ladies," she gestured to Reagan and Egypt, keeping the door open for them.

Reagan entered Samantha's office, "Good morning, Samantha. I hope we're not bothering you. We've come to discuss a recent..." Reagan delved her mind for the appropriate word, "development in the Ministry. Do you have time for a word with us?" Reagan glanced around the woman's office, taking notice of the photos on the walls.

Egypt walked in behind Reagan. "Good afternoon Samantha," she told the older woman nicely.

"Greetings to both of you, Reagan and Egypt," Samantha said with a smile, yet sensing some urgency here. It was very unusual for her to receive a visit of this sort, especially with the Undersecretary to the Ministry and the Head of Security coming directly to her office. Ordinarily, a memo would be sent and she would respond, so she knew there was definitely something up here. "I certainly do have some free time right now, so do come in a moment and have a seat, both of you." Samantha placed a "do not disturb" sign on the door and closed it behind them, then walked over to her chair and took a seat, getting ready to direct all her attention to the matter at hand.