Cassie had an agenda. Her mind was perfectly focused, and her outfit was perfectly arranged. Of course everything was exactly how she wanted it to be. Anything about herself that she could control, she would. Cassie liked to limit the amount of things that were out of her control. The last touch was putting a smile on her face. It wasn't too difficult, or too fake. If smiling made her more beautiful she'd smile as often as she could.

Approaching the department head's office was not a particularly daunting task. She supposed that some could see it as such, but Cassie was not easily intimidated. Her knock was confident, and she did not fidget as she waited to be allowed to enter. Cassandra was not nervous.

He was working on trying to get things figured out for the information from Games and Sports. He hoped things worked out this time, the last time they'd been planning the Junior games, things had gone all wonky, and then things had gone bad. Now he had people he had to replace as some of his employees had left, that were to be a part of it. Merlin how many more was he going to lose to switching ministries?

He looked up when he heard a knock on the door and set the paperwork aside "Come in!" he called. Was it someone to solve the issues he was having? Merlin he really wished but doubted it...

Cassie strode in the door as soon as she was invited. A friendly smile was on her face, of course. All impressions, not just the first, were very important. At all moments, she had to calculate exactly how to appear. She was definitely not nervous, of course she wasn't. Talking to people was nothing to be afraid of, no matter their position. Still, the smile helped ease her nerves. Not that she was nervous.

"I hope I'm not interrupting anything." He didn't look particularly busy, but she couldn't be sure. Cassie took a seat in the chair across from Gid. "I had a few international policy ideas, specifically in education, and I was wondering if I could run them by you."

Gid glanced at the paperwork one last time but looked up with a smile as the door opened. "Oh not at all, Cassie" he said shaking his head "Just trying to organize the department a little better, and fill the positions we've lost people in." he said shrugging a little. His eyes went to her as she mentioned International Policy ideas for education. "Absolutely, feel free." he said nodding.

He was always looking for policy ideas to bring forward to the board. And with education, that was higher now on his priority list with having two kids at Hogwarts and a daughter at the Wizarding Academy. "What sorts of policies did you have in mind?"

With her dragonhide folder full of notes and paperwork tucked neatly under her arm, Mariel headed up the stairs to level 5. Not immediately seeing anyone at the reception desk, she headed straight for Gidyun's office. She likely would have waved off any assistance anyway and if it were a bad time, she could always schedule a meeting at another time when she spoke with him for a moment. But this would be a more casual preliminary meeting anyway.

Stopping just outside his door, she gave it two quick raps with her closed knuckles then stepped back to allow him to open the door. Hopefully he had a free moment since she did as well, and she was rather excited about potential plans she had and enlisting his department's help in that.

Cassie tried to assess from his tone if losing people in the aforementioned positions was a problem or simply an inconvenience. It didn't sound like it was too big of a deal, and she'd been in the department long enough to be confident that Gid could handle it no matter how much of a problem it may be. Plus, it didn't concern her or affect her in any way so she turned her attention fully to the reason she had wanted to meet with Gid.

"Each wizarding school follows a planned curriculum," she began. "But that's only within the single school. Overall, the only sort of international curriculum are the OWLs and NEWTs. But those are only tests, there is nothing to guide what should be taught and when. The OWLs and NEWTs are even handled differently, given at different times, in different schools." She paused for a moment, wanting to make sure that she had hit all of the points she had wanted to.

"This isn't always a huge issue, but it can become one when a student transfers to a new school. At Hogwarts, for example, they get placed into a year solely based on their age. But the material could be too advanced or even something they had already learned because the curriculum at their old school was different than the one at Hogwarts. I'm not saying there should be specific rules, just some general guidelines about when it would be best to teach what."

He grabbed a notepad and started listening as Cassie started to speak about the wizarding schools and curriculums and nodded as she continued explaining. Merlin wasn't she right on there?! Those tests varied so much according to country for when they were given and which tests. He did agree on that, and that it should be more orderly for when and how, not to mention curriculums and advancement. "I absolutely agree, it makes sense that these curriculums should be somewhat similar if not placement testing even before entering a school, even by transfering. I think we should have some general guidelines written up. Do you have some ideas for that? Any guidelines you've thought of already?"

He made a few notes "If you want to draw up some notes on this I'd like to have a meeting with a few of us and with immigration people and maybe even some governors and see what we can do about this. Right after the holidays." he said after a minute. "Perhaps you and I can meet early next week? Don't worry if you're busy with family, we can always do it just after the new year no problem!" Looking up he bit his lip and moved to stand up and see who it was, "I want to hear more on this, and will plan this meeting for when everyone's back. Please owl me any time if you need to."

Greg was definitely running now. Now that he'd freed himself from that lunatic up on that level. What was it...? He tried to remember but was having a hard time because his lungs felt like they were burning. Running really wasn't his thing.

Reaching Gid's door he started banging on it rapidly and not giving up. He had to tell someone and other than Amethyst, Gid was the only one that could probably do something about it that he knew.

Gid looked up from under his desk where he was trying to pick up all the paperclips. Where on earth was his wand? BAH, he smacked his head on the top of the desk above his head when someone knocked and muttered a few words as he called "COME IN!"

Ow....and why were they pounding over and over on his door? What could be so bad? Oh merlin please not the chizpurfle stuff again! He reached for a paperclip and stabbed himself with the pointy end into the pad on his finger.

Greg walked in and looked behind him to make sure Mr. Crazy had not followed him to his office before shutting the door. "There's something weird about this dude...." he said as he looked around and frowned at his clothes still wet. He needed to change.

"I was exploring and got lost. I knocked on this door and this guy came out speaking in riddles and laughing hysterically and....body fluids everywhere..." Greg shuddered again and was really half tempted to strip out of his clothes right here.

"I didn't know who to go to!!!!"

"Greg?" he asked still under the desk. That sounded like Greg....he was almost sure. Wait what? Sucking on his finger that had been poked he picked up the last of the paper clips. Weird? Got lost...how in merlin's name did one get lost in the ministry? Just go to a lift and go to one of the floors, right?

"Riddl..." BANG! "Damn" he muttered, rubbing his head again and sighed when the box of paper clips went flying that time when he hit the top of the desk again when Greg shouted.

He heard the voice but he had no idea where it was coming from. "Yes, yes it's me!" Why wasn't he as freaked out about this as he was???? Greg moved over until he saw Gid under the desk. "What are you doing?"

He silently prayed that Gid wasn't crazy too. He would probably have to quit if everyone was. OH NO!!! Hopefully it hadn't spread to Amethyst!! Maybe he should go check on her to be sure....

"Paperclips spilled" he said and tossed the box around and up onto the worktop of the desk. He'd find his wand then pick those up. He looked out at Greg, "Okay you were saying someone was talking in riddles?" he asked blinking at him and then moved to scoot out.

Was it just him or was it a summer thing? Everyone wanted to go on holiday and no one could because so much was happening? "Did you say body fluids?" Great someone had gotten sick? Well maintenance could clean that up... What was the big deal? Someone gone nuts? Maybe they did need a holiday? Just talk to their department head if it were that bad, right?

Paperclips?! Why was he worried about paperclips at a time like this?! SENSE THE TONE MR. BOSSMAN!!! "Yeah this guy up on level...um..." He closed his eyes to try and remember and clapped his hands in success, "3! Level 3. He was speaking in riddles and laughing a lot and got snot everywhere, tears everywhere and...well....for lack of a better phrase, urinated, on me." Yeah that didn't sound good at all. He was so going home after this.

"There's something wrong with him, Gid. I don't remember his name. He started off with a knock knock joke and said Noah so maybe it's Noah?" Like he knew. He was pacing now and just really wanted to go home and see his daughters after dragging Amethyst home with him of course.

Gid was blinking up at him at his words, especially at the urinated part. Say what?! He moved to his feet and looked towards the door, "Okay yeah, something's definitely off..." What in merlin's name had happened to the guy? Had he finally lost it? "You don't remember his name? Any idea at least where in level 3?" That was a big level! "Perhaps...." Oi, he wasn't about to make the poor guy show him this person.... "I need details. If I'm going to find the guy I need to know how to find him. All I know is level 3, it's a big level!"

Knock knock joke and said Noah...."I....don't know of a Noah there. Was he in the break room? Work areas?"

Greg watched as Gid FINALLY sensed his urgency or soemthing and got off his bum. At his questions he shook his head and tried to think of how he got to where he had been up there. Too many questions were being asked. Pushing up his glasses nervously he scratched his head. "Well he had an office like a proper one. Like yours and...an Australian accent I think...?"

He hadn't really paid that much attention because he didn't realize what was going on at the time and honestly just wanted to get out of the place. He didn't really know how to describe the guy. See this was why he had a desk job and wasn't an Auror or Security or something. He preferred books and logical thinking. "Can I go home for the day?" Please! He felt sick.

Gid blinked again at him. "Australian....Aron?" he asked after a moment. He was the only one he could think of honestly period that was Australian. "The department head's office?" Had he missed something? Okay now to find out what was happening up there. He looked back at Greg and nodded "Yeah go ahead. If I need you for anything with this I'll let you know. But feel free."

He honestly didn't blame him! Merlin, that was just disgusting! Forewarning at least, stay far enough away from the guy?! Okay now to go find out what was going on. He headed for his door to head for level 3 knowing Greg would likely follow out of the office.

Gabby had never been to this area of the Ministry before. Why would she come here? She wasn't a member of...what department was this? International Cooperation?

Ehh...who cared?

Hopefully THIS Department Head wasn't insane, because she needed help with Lynley. Approaching the door, she knocked and waited for a reply.

Really he should just stay til the end of the day, who needed sleep right? He'd just gotten back from Aron's office, and had his head set on the desk with his hands on the back of his head. Merlin his day had been long....finding Alex as a ferret, locked in a lift, Greg then Aron....had the day ended yet? Bah, yesterday hadn't even ended yet, he hadn't slept in almost 36 hours now!

He groaned as heard a knock on the door and looked up "Come in" he said calling out as his head lifted from the desk.

Oh, thank Merlin!

As soon as she walked in, Gabby could see that he hadn't lost his marbles...yet. That meant that he could probably help her.

"Hi. I'm from Level 6 and..." There was no other way to put it, was there?" "...my boss has lost her mind. She doesn't know who I am and she threw a plaque at my head. I tried squirting her with water and that didn't seem to do the trick. I think she's off wandering the corridors or something."

So...could he help her? In Gabby's opinion Lynley needed a room at St. Mungos.

He looked up as a woman walked in, he'd seen her about the ministry....level 6 he believed? "Oh merlin..." he muttered getting to his feet. "Linley too?" Wait? Squirting her with water? "You squirted her with water?" he asked blinking at her as he moved around the desk "Let's uhh see if we can find her?" he asked. Wandering the corridors. Right? So she was on her own? What was going on? Had everyone lost their minds?

He really hoped this wasn't contagious too! The Christmas hols couldn't come fast enough in his opinion!

'Oh Merlin'.

Yep, that summed things up nicely.

Gabby nodded as he restated what he just told her. She didn't have much patience for this kind of thing, but since he was going to HELP her she was making an exception. She was being so nice lately and it was really weird... "Well, it was done both as payback for trying to hit me and as a way to try and snap sense into her." There was no shame in telling him the truth.

Nodding, she watched as he moved around his desk. "So...does this kind of weird stuff happen here all the time?" It sure didn't back in Italy!

He blinked at her again but decided to just go with the flow. He could not help the small little snort that escaped him "Okay, well fair enough, honestly I'd likely have done the exact same thing if I had thought of it." Okay, so really, let's find Linley. This couldn't be as bad as Aron, right? Maybe she'd gotten bonked on the head, or really did need a holiday as well.

"Err...not this precisely, no." he said shaking his head. Nothing like this had happened when he worked in A&C in Italy either, but look at what Aron was doing. "Shall we find her?" he asked.

That snort meant that he was amused by what she did. Gabby couldn't blame him for it because not only was it pretty funny, she was rather hysterical. It was one of her many talents. "So I did the right thing then." Not a question. She was merely stating it because she ALWAYS did the right thing.

"Of course all the madness has to start when I come." Eye roll. Oh, whatever. They had a job to do!

He shrugged but smiled at her "Heh, right or not you can always say you sprayed your department head" he said with a wink as he moved to go out the door "Let's go find her. I totally understand that. I feel the same some days."