Samantha didn't know what to say. "You were there?", she asked anxiously. "Oh, Becca, that must have been horrible for you! I'm so sorry."

"No, I wasn't there either. But I feel like I did nothing to protect them" she closed her eyes "I.. could and should have done more... It's my fault they're dead."

Samantha walked over to Becky and placed an arm around her shoulder. "I heard about what happened, at least a little of it, and I don't think it was your fault. From what I've heard, I don't think there was anything that anyone could have done to change what happened. Those boys were determined to take on the Death Eaters by themselves, and I think they've made the world a better place as a result of that. They were heroes, and sometimes you can't stop something like that. Never think it was your fault, it wasn't. It would have happened regardless of anything you could have said or done," Samantha said softly.

Becca put her head in her hands "I feel like it was, I should have done more" her voice shook "And I had an argument with Mei Lin over it... and I made Brian worried" she admitted "He had to grab hold of me to stop me doing something stupid" Becca bit her lip.

"No one should blame you for what happened," Samantha said. "I'm glad Brian was there to stop you from doing anything foolish. That makes me very happy, and I'm glad you have him to count on. But truly, there was nothing you could have done about it. That's what I honestly believe, having heard the story." Samantha had read the whole story in the Daily Prophet and knew a little about what had happened from a few associates at Hogwarts.

Becca shook her head "She was right to blame me, I tore their family apart" the more she said it, the more she believed it. "Brian was there, yes, but he couldn't help properly because Mei Lin ignored him totally" she bit her lip to stop herself ranting about people ignoring him. It wasn't nice at all. "I'm glad you know the story, but I do think it was my fault, I could have done more" Becca shook her head again.

"How could you have torn the family apart?", Samantha asked softly. "As far as Mei Lin goes, I know she's in a lot of pain, too, and sometimes people blame others unfairly for something. This happens a lot of times, especially when something is too painful to deal with, like this. Perhaps this is just her acting out in her pain, searching for someone to pin the blame on. Please, don't blame yourself. I hope Mei Lin will calm down one day soon and you will be able to be friends with her again, but she shouldn't blame you for what happened, not at all."

She shook her head "Well.. she chose the right person, didn't she?" Becca closed her eyes and remembered the argument "The worst part was... I stopped caring when she spoke about her sister... I can't handle families... I don't have one... Brian is introducing me to his family soon, that'll be awkward enough" Becca mumbled "Especially since my family left me alone such a long time ago" Becca shook her head again and stared at the floor.

"They did?", Samantha said with a shock, beginning to understand a bit more why Becca felt the way she did. "I'm so sorry to hear that." Samantha knew that a lot of times, a tragic event was the root cause for someone blaming themselves for things that weren't really their fault. She hoped that Mei Lin would realize that Becca had nothing to do with what had happened, though she knew it might take a while. "It sounds like you've had a great deal of pain in your life," Samantha said softly, glad that Becca had found Brian and that they now had each other. That would certainly make things easier, she knew.

"Yes, but not by choice, they were torn from me" she sighed "They died" she explained "Mhmm, I have, but I've always had someone there until a while ago, then she went and a few months later, I found Brian." Becca shook her head "And.. I don't know how I got someone like him in my life"

"I don't know either, but I'm really glad you did," Samantha answered. "It's funny, sometimes these things happens, someone will show up in your life who will help you through a hard time, and I believe these things do happen for a reason. It sounds crazy, but it's something that was meant to be, there can be no doubt about that. And with you and Brian, I think the two of you have really discovered something a lot deeper than that, something very precious and rare, so not everything is bad in your life. I'm very happy about that, because you deserve that kind of thing."

Pepe straightened is tie, pushed his dirty glasses back up on his nose, and rapped on the door. He was going for a 'responsible headmaster' type look and probably only managed a 'barely respectable shoes salesman' look.

Samantha heard a knock on the door and stood up quickly. "I'll speak with you again soon, Becca," she promised. "It seems I have another visitor, but please stop by again and let me know what's happening with you and Brian. I have a feeling you two have a very bright future ahead!" She smiled.

Samantha walked over to the door and answered it. Immediately, she recognized the man who stood on the other side, she had met him briefly and knew him to be one of the most important people in her world. "Why, Headmaster Bontecou, what a pleasure to have you here! Please, do come in," Samantha invited, gesturing towards one of her comfortable padded chairs. "Shall I bring my Division Head in, as well? And would you like some tea or pumpkin juice?"

"Yeah, me too" Becca nodded "I think things happen for a reason, but usually the reason is easy to see" She shrugged and smiled "Oh, I know know we're going to be together forever, it's just too perfect not to happen"

She heard a knock and stood up "Okay, thanks for listening Samantha, I'll drop in again soon, I have a feeling that next time I'll have some big news for you" Becca grinned and stood up, heading towards the door, she heard the name of the visitor, Headmaster Bontecou. Wait... he was in charge of Hogwarts wasn't he!? Realising this was important for Samantha, Becca waved to her, smiled at the headmaster and quickly walked off back to her own level.

He had been on his way to get some more coffee - feeling quite guilty about it since he had promised Rachel that he would lay it low with the stuff - and had just stepped out of his office when he noticed a slightly shabby looking person knock on Samantha's door. He looks strangely familiar... Jake thought as he observed the man as inconspicuously as he could, walking really really slowly towards the breakroom.

Jake had just pushed open the room when Samantha simultaneously opened her door too to welcome her visitor. Due to his quite sharp sense of hearing and the relative silence of the halls, he heard the Department Head greet the man as 'Headmaster Bontecou'. Of course!! Jake yanked his hand away from the doorknob as if he had been burned as he suddenly remembered with a little help from Samantha exactly where he knew this man from. The Headmaster of Hogwarts!

Changing direction, he briskly made his way over to Samantha's office, for once not really caring if he was not supposed to be here. Walking right up to the door, he smiled as Samantha asked if she should call in her Division Head. "No need, Samantha, he's right here at your service," Jake replied with a smile as he pointed at himself. He peeked inside the room and saw that it had other occupants - not just any occupants but Rebecca Todd, his former boss, herself.

Moving a little to the side, he made more space for the woman as she left the room, greeting her with a warm affectionate smile as she walked past him. After she had left, he swiveled again to face the inside of the room and felt slightly uncertain about entering. Eying both the Headmaster and Samantha with slightly curiosity, he opted to step inside the room but remained standing lest he was told to leave again.

He stood there for a few moments as the Headmaster got comfortable then realised that if he was going to stay here he should at least introduce himself to the man. "Hello Headmaster - I'm Jake Rider, the Division Head in this department," he said, nodding his head towards him as he kept his hands firmly behind his back. The man was sitting and if he offered him his hand to shake then he would be asking him to get up - which would be quite rude. Old habits die hard I guess... Wander if he'll connect me with Rachel?

I finished with the filing" Joe Jon Montcenaggio told Samantha. " I even filed the other years of students previously at Hogwarts for you" J. J. Starr beamed. " This way if you want to know about a students brothers or sisters from past and coincide the names with the newbies brothers or sisters from the same family ,it will be easier. " J. J. Starr remarked to Samantha.

"Thank you, J.J., that will be very helpful," Samantha said, trying to clear the office of everyone but the Headmaster, Jake and herself. Finally, everything seemed to be settled. "Excellent, Jake, I'm glad you're here. Now, sir," she smiled, turning back to the Headmaster. "To what do we owe the pleasure of this visit today?"

Where had he come from? Jake blinked as J.J came into view, talking to Samantha about an assignment that she had given him. Watching the Head thank him, he moved from his position in the doorway to allow the man through. After he had left, Jake swiveled instantly back and eyed Samantha warily - wondering if she would ask him to leave too.

I guess not, he thought happily as she seemed genuinely pleased that he was there. Excellent - that's all I need, and with that properly entered the room and chose the seat to the right of the Headmaster, opposite his boss and made himself comfortable as he waited calmly for the man to continue. He itched to hurry him up already, since he was now insanely curious, but fought to keep himself under control - if not for himself, at least for Rachel. She'll kill me if I embarrass myself in front of her Headmaster.

J.J. Starr leaves Samantha's office. He will figure out what to do on his own.

Clay Killian, now off an extensive leave, walked up to the Department of Magical Education Head's office and knocked on the door. He was the new co-liaison for this department, and he wanted to introduce himself to the head and the employees who would be working under him. He was eager to start work, as he'd been away for quite awhile. He was glad that was still a liaison, and would definitely work hard this time.

As he stood waiting for admission to the office, his brow furrowed as he picked at his fingernails. Stupid muggles...causing him to leave work for all those months. Well, at least he still had his job. That was definitely a good thing.

J.J. Starr walked in Samantha's office. There seemed to be a bad vibe from this so called new, well, maybe old worker. Joe Jon Montcenaggio is a pureblood but he knows when they do not like muggles or half-muggles. These are J.J.'s good freinds and one his best freind- jason Potter Weasley even though J.J. is at least 3 yrs older than Jason. How can this Cooper lover be any part of this dept.
Samantha, I like to do more work, got anything for me?" J.J. Starr asked her.
Joe Jon Montcenaggio gave the new employee a dirty look. He seems to have a special badge like the other supervisors. Samantha and jake are my only bosses. J.J. Starr will only listen to them besides Reagan Taylor.

Samantha heard a knock at the door and went to answer it. There was a young man standing there who she did not recognize. "Oh, you must be the new liaison from the Minister's office," she said. "I'm Samantha Rose, Head of the Magical Education Department. Please, do come in." She held the door open.

Samantha saw J.J. walk into the office. "That will be fine, thank you, J.J.," she said. "Would you do me a favor and go through these O.W.L. and N.E.W.T. scores and make sure that they're correct? I only have a few dozen of them but they could take a while to double check. Thank you so much." J.J. seemed to be in a bad mood, she would speak to him later about it. The last thing she needed right now was bickering between her employees and employees of the Minister himself.

" I will go over through the O.W.L. and N.E.W.T. scores for you" Joe Jon Montcenaggio told Samanta. " I will be very happy to help you at all times" J.J. Starr told Samantha. mr. Starr walked out and did not make eye contact with the other boss who is a Cooper man.

"Thank you very much, J.J. I know I can count on you for this kind of thing," Samantha said with a smile before turning her attention back to the newcomer. "Take your time, and I'll look them over whenever you finish. We just have to make sure the scores are all correct."

Clay smiled at the woman who'd opened the door, which he could only assume was the Head of the department. He was assumed correctly when she introduced herself to him as Samantha Rose. Nodding his head, he ducked into the room and looked around.

"Pleasure to meet you, Miss Rose," he said, turning back to her and smiling once more. "My name is Clay Killian, and I am at your service."