9:46 a.m.

     Focused and determined, Alfonz looked at the paperwork piling up on his desk.  If it wasn’t for Hogwarts and the ministry thinking it was the greatest idea to have the wizarding tournament back on the grounds of the United Kingdom, then he’d have everything done and the search for his sister wouldn’t have been postponed.  Of course, the search by the ministry for the missing witches had been done for months.  Alfonz, however, would never stop until something turned up.  He didn’t have hope, rather, it was a vengeance to overcome whatever had ultimately tore his younger sister out of his life for good.  Picking up one of the pieces of paper, he crumbled it in his hand and threw it towards a metal wired trash can in his office.

   His office was rather large, spacious even; but for the head of a Department it didn’t seem to be as large as other’s.  Alfonz cared little about those kinds of things, for he still had prestige and an intimidation about him just from his position in the world.  It may not have been where he had seen himself, but sports and Quidditch was something he knew well.  His desk was a good size as well, your standard sized, but now covered in paperwork most of which was from Hogwarts and the tournament.  One paper even stated that his presence would be nice to be had, just for moral support of the champions and of course to make sure everything ran as smoothly as possible.  Alfonz thought little about going.  The lack of feeling compelling him to want to actually be there was nonexistent.  That paper too, was crumpled in one fist and thrown towards the trash basket.  Raising an eyebrow, he looked at the paper balls upon the floor, regretting the decision to have the basket as far away as it was.

   Lifting his wand, without a word he waved it; the paper balls and discarded notes of instruction were all levitated into the air and placed into the basket where they had belonged.  Sticking his wand back into his robes, Alfonz rose from his seat and wandered towards the window in his office.  His leg was slightly bothering him from sitting wrongly on it, making him limp a bit more than normal.  Out the window he saw people bustling, owls flying, and idiots without a care in the world.  Brows furrowed, he turned around not wanting to see any more delusions, his focus completely off.

   Like a feline, Alfonz twitched his ear towards a familiar sound and yet, he couldn’t put his finger on what it could be.   Looking in the direction of his office door, Alfonz rose one eyebrow.  I knew I should have shut the damn door.

((Warning: she swears a little... >>))

Oh, what a lovely department. Even though Alethea had always excellent manners at the Ministry, keeping a serious and respectful posture, except for all the cigarettes and chewing gums of course, she wasn't able to walk through those halls without losing that control a little. Just a little. Very slightly, for sure. A "Hi there!" here, a "Hey, how was last game?" there, even a "Who's the handsome on that poster? I think I'm a Chudley Cannons' fan now..." sometimes. No big deal at all.

At least until she had the chance to take a look at the watch on her wrist. "Oh bloody! I was supposed to be at the limping monster's office about forty minutes ago... " she said a little disappointed for having to leave the little group of ex-Quidditch players and general sports connoisseurs and their delightful conversation to have to face the one ex-Quidditch player and general sports connoisseur she hated the most. Ok, maybe "hate" was too strong for that, Jedynak was just someone she wish she could avoid. Unfortunately, avoid him would be the last thing she would do at the Ministry from now on, at least until the Tournament was over.

She wished she could walk into his office gushing a "Damn you, Jedynak! What the hell is wrong with you? It was your responsibility to be at Hogwarts for the First Task, but nooo... you thought you could just miss it to be at your cozy home looking into your boring white walls because I bet you got nothing better to do! And now I'm tied to you and your work as if mine didn't mean a shit. Without me, who else would make the Muggles believe that the rogue Animagus gang’s attack was just a bunch of wild cats threatened by dogs[1]? But no, it's obviously not important. I should now travel often to Scotland with you to make sure kids won’t get hurt playing on their Tournament playground! Grrr..." – And that wasn’t even her real feelings about the Tetrawizard Tournament, she was dying to be there, but so not with him that it would all include some punches and kicks right in his limping leg, of course, but when she got at his open door he was already looking at her as if he was thinking just the same, including the punches and kicks, oh, such a child!

"Morning, Mr. Jedynak, I got a message to you." She announced all full of dignity before victoriously handing him a closed envelope with the MoM's seal in red. It would be so funny, at least. "And I would recommend you to invite me in, or soon you'll get another one of that." There was a sweet smile on her face, as she could hardly wait for him to open the howling message.

1.	Feral cat pack terrorise town Nothing relevant really, just for fun xD

He’d heard the footsteps coming, knew the familiar feeling of betrayal and ignorance on its way towards his office.  Alfonz had been in his position for less than a year and already, though it had been a stepping stone in the right direction, he’d figured out quickly that it was still on the bottom of a very tall ladder to the top.  Since Celina’s disappearance, climbing the ladder quickly wasn’t his highest priority and his work had taken effect; the woman then standing at his entrance of the open office was the result in his lack of caring.  Morning, Mr. Jedynak, I got a message to you.

 “Ah, Ms. Selwyn,” he greeted.  “I’m so happy they’ve sent their poodle to grace me with their presence.” 
They’d worked briefly together before, and for one reason or another had gotten off on the wrong foot.  How or why, Alfonz really had no clue.  It was apparent in her smile that she thought everything in the world revolved around her, and Alfonz just smirked back.  Today was not one of his good days when it came to focus, and even the threat of losing his job really didn’t bother him.  Let them find someone else who would deal with the Tetrawizarding tournament.  Let someone else deal with the worthlessness of a ‘partner’ or ‘assistant’ that they claimed her help provided.

Walking towards her to reach for the message, “Of course you may come in.”  Alfonz looked directly at the dark haired woman, giving her a wink as he did so.  “It would give me no greater pleasure,” sarcasm dripped off every word.  As soon as he touched the message in the woman’s hand it came to life, fluttering around in the air with magic and opening itself up.  Here it comes, Alfonz thought waiting for the lecture.

DEAR MR. JEDYNAK,

WE ARE VERY DISPLEASED WITH THE QUALITY OF YOUR PREFORMANCE AS OF LATE WITHIN THE MINISTRY POSITION WE SO GRACIUOSLY BESTOWED UPON YOU NEARLY 7 MONTHS AGO!  IT HAD BEEN ASSURED THAT EVEN WITH THE LIMITED TIME FOR THE QUIDDITCH WORLD CUP; YOU WOULD PROVIDE US WITH THE BEST SPORTS GAME THAT THERE COULD BE.  AND THOUGH YOU HAD ACCOMPLISED THIS, AND THE TOURNAMENT WAS A SEEMED SUCCESS, WE WOULD LIKE TO REMIND YOU THAT YOUR JOB DOESN’T END THERE!!

WE HAVE ASKED YOU TO PARTAKE IN THE TETRATOURNAMENT EVENT AT HOGWARTS; THIS MEANS THAT YOU MUST ATTEND EVERY TASK THAT IS HELD.  YOUR JOB IS TO BE A SPOKESPERSON AND OUR EYES AND EARS.  IF YOU CANNOT HANDLE THE POSITION, A RESIGNATION WILL BE REQUIRED.  AS YOU ARE OFF AT HOGWARTS, WE HAVE SENT MISS SELWYN TO DO ANY TASK YOU ASSIGN HER OF HERE WITHIN THE MINISTRY.   WE HAVE DECIDED THAT SENDING YOU HELP NOW WITH THE TETRATOURNAMENT IS THE BEST POSSIBLE THING.

THE TWO OF YOU WILL BE A VERY GOOD TEAM AND WILL FOLLOW THIS LETTER TO THE ‘T’. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, YOU KNOW WHERE TO FOLLOW UP WITH US. 

At this point, his mouth had tightened and his eyes narrowed at the other woman.  If things couldn’t get any worse now he had to deal with her messing with his work space while he had to go and play with some kids.  Just wonderful, he thought to himself.  He lifted his hand to his temple and started to massage it slightly.  He now had a headache from the howler’s yell from his bosses, and he seriously needed a drink.

To his surprise however, the message got oddly soft for a howler.

Mr, Jedynak, we understand and have sympathy for your current personal situation.  It was your choice however, to keep working on.  We expect the job to get done, or someone else will do it.  Please, do not make us reconsider this last chance we are giving you.  As soon as we know something, you’ll know something.  FOCUS!

Have a great day, and enjoy working you two!

The letter ended without a signature to who had wrote it, but Alfonz knew well enough.  It hadn’t been the only letter that had been sent with instructions to get his rear in gear, just the only howler.  The letter fluttered a couple more times, and then burst into flames; the ashes of the letter falling ever so slightly like snow all the way to the floor.  Alfonz watched it, and then turned his full attention back to his partner. 

“Excellent news,” He said calmly.  “I guess that means I need to start packing and that paperwork over there,” Alfonz pointed towards his desk that was scattered with tetrawizarding papers, “that needs to get filed and worked out for me.”  Alfonz smiled widely.  “Had they told you what the personal letter was that you were delivering?  Or did you just see the red envelope with the seal and think that ONLY my fate was inside?”  Alfonz laughed and actually smiled.  It was surprisingly the best he’d felt since finding out Celina had gone missing.