Level Six Corridor

Kindly ignore the nervous teenager standing in the hall. You’d be nervous too if you were here for your Apparition Test. The Department of Magical Transportation is located on this floor, and if you’ve discovered a new and improved way for witches and wizards to travel, you’d better take a number.

Barking bloodhounds and the creatures in the holding rooms were some of the things on Clarissa's mind as she travelled up the stairs to level 6. She needed to see someone about safe transportation for her daughter to and from school. Her daughter Rebecca had reached the age where she wanted to do everything by herself which had led to some quite heated arguments at home. Door slamming was usually involved.

To put an end to it Clarissa was now heading up to the transportation folk to get some advice. Reaching the level six corridor she stopped when she saw a very nervous looking teenager who seemed like she was going to jump at any loud sound. Shaking her head Clarissa walked carefully around and past to not frighten the poor girl.

With her mind on other things she didn't see the bench close to the wall and therefore walked straight into it. "SMACK!"

Armen was in dire need of refuge from the practical testing of imbaciles from MLE. The Department Head had left the Apparition testing center and after passing the breakroom he decided he was going to go for a walk around the floor and maybe down to the Atrium for a change of scenary.

As he walked out into the level six corridor he heard a small burst of sound to his right and saw a woman slam into the bench. Yikes. Wlaking over to her quickly, she was pretty after all, Recard reached forward catching her arm and keeping her from falling. "You ok, Miss?" he said with a charming smile.

When she collided with the bench Clarissa felt herself wobble for a moment before someone caught her arm and kept her from falling over completley. Turning to look at her savior she blushed embarrassed."Yes, I'm okay. I just didn't see the bench. Thank you for stopping my fall. If you hadn't I probably would have injured myself."

Straightening herself up Clarissa, once again pulled back some elusive red curls. Her hair had always had a mind of it's own. Stealing a glance the girl who was still in the corridor she asked "This is the Magical Transportation level right?"

Smiling smally as he made sure the woman was able to stand up again properly, he couldn't help but chuckle slightly. "Oh no worries, those benches seem to have a mind of their own and like to trip passerby." he was joking...obviously. "But you are welcome." Recard nodded.

Oh she needed the Transportation Department. He wondered what for. "Yes it is, and it's your lucky day because I am Armen Recard, Department Head for Magical Transportation; at your service." GRIN.

Clarissed laughed albeit a bit forced as she eyed the bench as if she expected it to make another move at her. Why did things in the magical world always at some point develop a mind of their own? Shrugging she crouched down to pick up the items she had dropped on the floor.

Repocketing them she turned to her savior who turned out to be none other than the department head of level 6. Licking her lips she beamed at him nervously. "Pleasure to meet you Armen, I'm Clarissa Stimpson. I work in the Magical Creatures department as Cheif Comittee Agent and Minister liaison."

Why was she here? Oh right, Rebecca. "I need advice on transportation for my daughter. She want's to go to and from school alone. I want something safe..." Did that make sense?

Esteban stumbled onto the six floor corridor. He wasn't sure where to go to be honest. He sort of had been wandering the ministry for a while now. He needed to make up his mind. He really didn't want to get in trouble and he couldn't believe his life had gotten him here. His wife was due to have their baby any day now, and her he was sort of jobless.

He sighed and walked down the sixth floor corridor. Now what? He noticed two other memebers of the ministry talking in the hall way...hoping that he wasn't introtuding too much.

Glad to see that she thought his joke was at least funny, Armen was already feeling better about the situation. He liked to be thought well of, and well those that didn't think well of him were still doing him a service talking about him--all publicity is good publicity?

"Ah well the pleasure is all mine Ms. Stimpson." The man continued to smile and nod as she stated her status of employement here at the ministry, and he had to admit he was impressed. She seemed to have a fair amount of power. And a Minister's Liason. Nice.

Now for her question. "Well I hope you and your daughter both take into account that the School and the Statute of Secrecy both insist that she take the Hogwarts Express to and from Hogwarts at the beginning and end of term?" If she hadn't been doing that, how had she been getting there? "However we can set up other means of transport for students wishing to return for holiday breaks. We will set up one time only porketys in the Great Hall with permisson of the Headmaster and will open his fireplace to a one way only Floo to childrens' homes. Is that ok, Miss?" Recard asked trying to think if he had mentioned all of the ways. Yep he had.
Armen had just finished explaining all of the ways Clarissa's daughter could come home from Hogwarts and they were getting along pretty well if Armen said so himself. Then just as things could have progressed, a random man showed up and stood awkwardly by them.

"Umm, hello, what can I do for you?" he said looking at him dryly trying to not lose Clarissa's attention. Wait a minute he wasn't a random guy, he's seen him before. "Oh umm aren't you one of my employees' husbands?" he asked curiously.

Esteban was sort of taken aback when the man spoke to him. He really wasn't expecting to be address after all, his department was the one....okay...calm down. He can figure this out. "Yes, Jen Hill, or Rivera now." Esteban said with a smile. "But's she hasn't been in a while, we are expecting a baby within a few weeks." Esteban added smiling at the thought of his pregnant wife at home.

"Well, no I don't really need help, it's just...that my Department is locked up. And I wasn't really sure where to go." Esteban added with a sigh. He still wasn't sure where his heart wanted him to be. Either at work or at the Picket Line. Gina would be so disappointed in him.

The school? Statue of secrecy? Clarissa blinked consectively as what Armen had just explained sunk in. Holding up a hand to her head she responded "Oh no, no, forgive me. I should have told you what school my daughter is attending. She is not of age yet to go to Hogwarts, she is only 9. Rebecca is enrolled at a magical pre-school outside of Diagon Alley."

Pausing for a moment to collect her thought she continued a few moments later. "Rebecca has reached the 'I can do it myself' phase and insists on going to and from school on her own. I'm not completely comfortable with that given the dark times we are living in..." Armen would understand, wouldn't he? Clarissa hoped so.. "So um is setting up a floo network the best option?"

Enjoying her conversation with Armen, Clarissa was slightly startled when a man out of the blue showed up. He seemed disoriented or at least confused about something. She first stood quiet as Armen adressed the man and the man responded, but that didn't last long. Frowning deeply she asked confused "Why is your department locked up? Has something happened to it?" She hadn't heard anything about trouble on another level but that wasn't uncommon. Creatures wasn't exactly at the top of the information chain like MLE or Minister's offices.

Esteban sighed. He wasn't sure the best way to bring this up. He was sure the other man would already know about the Strike. He was after all a Department Head. But Esteban wasn't sure how it would be taken by the woman. He sighed again and looked up at the pair.

"International Magical Cooperation is striking" Esteban said. He didn't want to turn his back on his Department, after all Gina would probally want to murder him then, but he couldn't help it. He wasn't sure he wanted to be otu there striking anymore.

O___O

She wasn't speaking about Hogwarts? Recard was about ready to send her to Gina's department of International Coop to get some permissions finished through with before having her come back and deal with porkeys or floos to Durmstrang or Beuxbatons but then Rebecca came back with a school he hadn't been expecting.

"Oh the pre-school outside of Diagon Alley? Oh lovely place, that won't be a problem!" he said with a smile. Well of course her daughter was only in preschool the woman wasn't old, quite attractive really. "Well I would say for your daughter's level of magical abilitity at that age, I would say that us setting up a floo at the pre-school would be the best option. I will have one of my employees routinely check it and work with it's upkeep. Her teacher will be able to assist her but since you said she likes to do things on her own..." he reached into his pocket and pulled out a pamphlet. "Here's a beginner's guide to Floo transport." he chuckled imagining the little girl jumping into the floo.

Turning back to the man Armen couldn't believe what he was hearing. International Coop was on Strike?!

"You've got to be bloody kidding me. Gina has gone too far!" Armen's face turned to a scowl as he thought of the older woman who had been so sweet and nice to offer him treats here and there and was now going aganst their wonderful Minister of Magic all because he called her old in their last Department Head meeting. Seriously people could be so shallow. "Estaban, that's is your name right?" He began looking at the guy quizzically. "You may come along with me to check out the situation or you can take safe haven on my level in the break room, it's open and there is plenty of food and drinks."

He then turned on the spot and faced Rebecca, the pretty lady he had been assisting. "I need to go, because as you see there is an emerency but here's my card," he handed her a tiny business card that flashed and changed with his address here at the Ministry. "Feel free to come visit me if there are any problems. And would you like to get a cup of coffee with me later? It's the least I can do to appologize for having to rush out like this." He said with a smile. It was true, Gina would pay for making him leave this woman in such a rude fashion.

Esteban sighed, going with the Depatment Head ment that Gina would see him, staying in the break room meant he was a coward. Why was life so complicated all the time. He wished it was easy. But he had made his decision to stand with the ministry, and he would take what ever consequenences from Gina that ment. Afterall, he could always switch Department later.

He wished that he would have seen the light sooner. "It is Esteban." He said in response to the man's question about his name. "And I'll go there with you. Everyone has to face the music sometime." He looked at the woman. "If you'll excuse me. I'm sorry." He apologzied for them bailing on her. "Lead the way." he said back to the Department head.

He was a grown man, a Ministry Department Head for Merlin's sake and he did NOT need to be escorted back to his office by some MLE troll.

Armen had been forced to walk all the way up here from the Atrium rather than just Apparate to his office because Bole was starting to toughen up a bit and see to it to have him watched. Well that was just bloody fantastic. How was he supposed to get anything done stuck in his office? He needed to get back to that strike and end it but that wasn't possible unless he had some help and MLE refused to do their job once again.

If Armen had been walking slow in the hope that Gabe would get bored and leave, the man was in for a shock. He was going to stay all day - or however long it was necessary for Van to complete the mission.

"Keep walking, Recard. Office is that way," Gabriel growled from the side of him, pointing his wand in the direction they were meant to be heading. Because, you know, the man was an idiot. It wouldn't have surprised Gabe if he'd tried to pretend he was lost. Or deliberately go the wrong way to waste time. Any more slowness and Gabe would jab his wand in Recard's back instead.

*siiigh*

It was as if Gabe could read his mind. Armen had planned on heading to the staircase that led up to the upper levels, because the man had never came to his office and all, to confuse him but it didn't seem like it would work now. "Yeah I know where my office is!" he snapped. They were almost there now. He couldn't wait to go in and lock the blasted door.

Well, you never knew. Considering Recard probably didn't possess many brain cells - he WAS in the Cult after all - Gabe felt it best to point out where they needed to go. And it seemed the man was still in a mood. Which wasn't entirely surprising, and was still vaguely amusing to the head of security.

"Get a move on then. The sooner you are in there, and out of the way, the better for everyone." And maybe Gabriel would be able to tape his mouth up to stop him talking. Yes? No?

The whole ministry had lost it. People had lost it in general. She needed to find her boss and be with him so he wouldn't be alone if any of the MLE goons got hold of him. They had no decency after all and might harm him before taking him in. Not that she believed he had done anything wrong in the first place.

Wand in hand, Layla rushed down the level six corridor.

Dacs apparated in the Level six corridor. She was mad that Ren got away. She stalked down the corridor, eyes constantly roaming as she looked for any signed of Ren or any of his crew. He was smart. He would either go to the obvious place, level 9 or hide out somewhere else.

As she moved quietly along the corridor, she saw the last person she expected to see, wand in hand. Walking toward her Dacs said,"What are you doing out here? Shouldn't you be doing some paperwork?".

Layla spotted her sister slinking her way down the level six corridor. There could be nothing good about this visit. She stopped and frowned at her. The question further deepened the frown that had formed on her face at the sight of Antoni.

"One..I work here and two paper work is not my thing. The question is, what are you doing here? This is not your department...turn back." And yes she meant it. Dacs needed to turn back now.

Dacs raised an eyebrow at her sister."Is your cultist boss around? He may be harbouring a fellow cultist, Ren. So move. I'm going to search his office." Dacs shot at her through clenched teeth."Don't make me move you Layla."

She made to go around her as she was here top do her job. Not have small talk with Layla.

Layla scowled. Really she was not in the mood to bandy words with her manish sister, not today and not with all that was going on in the ministry. "Manners Antoni or I may have to school you myself. It's Mr. Recard to you and everyone else in your department."

She stepped in front of Dacs as she tried to make her way around, blocking off her path.

"No warrant no pass." She smirked at her. "Oh and I guess you'll just have to move me, won't you?"

Dacs sighed in frustration."Layla, get out of my way. You are obstructing me from doing my job. If you're standing in my way I'll have take you in too. So move." she said as she shoved passed her driving her shoulder into Layla's.

She could be a real bull dozier when she wanted to be. If you were in her way, she was going to go over you like there's nothing to it. She didn't want to use magic unnecessarily but it didn't stop her from being physical.

Take her in? Take her in for what, preventing her from digging through her bosses office without producing any legal documents to do so? Well then she would have to take her in but she would not go easily..heck no. Layla stumbled back a bit as Dacs shoved her shoulder into hers. So it was like that then?

Without thinking passed the fact that yes it was her sister and yeah she was an MLE worker, Layla shoved Dacs full on in the chest.

"Do not EVER touch me!" She snarled at her.

Before Dacs could even comprehend what was she felt something hit her in the chest and she was falling back. Landing squarely on her butt , Dacs looked up at her sister.It was more like glaring though.

"Did you just push me? Did you really just PUSH ME?! Nobody puts their hands on me." she said as she stood up,"Move Layla. I need to find these men. They are dangerous and wanted."

She went to move around her sister again. If didn't want to move it was going to be on.