Simon made his way through the ministry feeling as if he stuck out like a sore thumb. One of his biggest worry was bumping into someone who remembered him. Anyone who might of remembered his former job in the ministry might have a fleeting memory or two of him being unceremoniously hurled out the door for his rising rage. Since then he had become more in control of his anger problems.

It had been so long that walking through the halls felt like a flood of images hitting him all at once. Days of old when going to the Ministry meant he was fighting to protect people were long since gone. The last person he protected had been Kia and that had been mostly out of curiosity. It wasn't the innate need to protect, it was because he watched the girl with a short skirt get cornered and he couldn't let that be the end of her as he knew it.

Simon pulled up the collar on his long black coat as a way to avoid being spotted in the hall as he searched for the office Covi had mentioned during their last meeting. It had been a while however he figured soon enough he would find her. His eyes looked about eagerly through open doors for where the woman who offered him a normal future was hiding. Or as normal as a werewolf could hope...

The Department Head, now brainwashed far enough by her sister-in-law Callie to own some decent business attire, was walking down the hall with a purple quill between her teeth and Speedy the raven perched on her bony shoulder.  In her hands was a thick folder, another doxy case-Merlin’s Knickers they were really becoming a nuisance-, while a heavy textbook full of pest control strategies floated before her eyes.

Knowing how oblivious their boss became when so deeply occupied, her employees were keen to dodge and dart away before they ran into the short witch.  Still, some people were caught unaware by a collision which was easy to do when someone of her height could sneak by under someone’s nose.

Mistaking one of Speedy’s, “Watch out you bumbling IDIOT!  You’re about to run into someone!” caws for his usual, “Hiya!  How’re ya doin’?” he often offered to the people he found familiar in the halls and bounced headlong into something quite solid. 

Her concentration gone the heavy book fell to the ground and a few of the loose sheets in the folder crumpled against her chest, but the horrible tragedy of losing the order of the whole case was averted.  With a giant huff Speedy pecked Covi’s nose and then hopped onto Simon’s shoulder and pecked his ear before fluttering off, tilted sideways as he always was due to his old injury.

With a dazed, “B-KAW?!” of her own she hobbled a bit, doing her best to stay balanced on her new heels.  Wiping her forehead with a relieved, “Phew!” when she succeeded she looked up, expecting a wall… which was what happened last time when she wasn’t paying that much attention to where she was going… earlier this morning. 

A great grin found its way across her face as the surprised young woman’s eyes found a familiar face.  “Mr. Reid!” she exclaimed happily.  “I trust you found the place well?” she knew he had worked in the Ministry before, but inter-department relations were not as good then as they were now.

The thing about it was that Simon had been paying attention. However when you have a wild animal keeping your attention it apparently gave you free reign to bump into people in halls and then to add insult to injury the little snipe bit his ruddy ear. "Ouch!" He muttered his leather covered hand going up to access the damage done by the piece of poultry. "Stupid bird," he breathed heavily.

Was a job worth being attacked by some black winged devil for no reason? Thinking about money in the future and the thought of maybe getting a real flat seemed to turn his sour attitude back to it's previous cheerier state. Well as cheery as Simon could be back in the walls of the ministry.

"Found it well enough, yes one would say that. Seems that the halls have changed a tad but nothing I couldn't sniff out in the process," he followed the scent clues that clung to the walls to wear she were Covi had been hiding. Granted in human form his senses weren't as dead on as when he transformed but luckily for him they were still acute compared to the normal witches and wizards hobbling about these halls.

Pulling on his collar a little Simon looked down the hall and back at Covi, "Other than some odd looks as I walked in the trip was rather uneventful. I would have expected someone to stop me but it appears they were all busying themselves with more important matters..." Smirking he bounced his brows, "Doesn't say much for the security of the place now does it? Might want to look into that, as well as obedience lessons for that bat you have flying around." Bat, bird, whatever it was the same thing.

Simon was not exactly looking for small talk about halls and creatures not of his own condition. "Yes, so any way getting back on track. You told me to show and so here I am... I trust you made some advances on our concerns since we last spoke," he was curious to what she had been up to in the way of forming an office for Werewolves and the like. He knew she was all about animal rights, being rights, and he just wanted to know where he was going to fit in, in this grand plot of hers. At least from what he read in her articles and gathered from her conversation last she had a good head on her shoulders.

Quietly she allowed the remarks about the bird pass through one ear and out the other, although there was the smallest of twitches on the outside of her left eye.  Instead she focused on how in tune he was with his senses when not transformed.  It was a weird thought, but she had always wanted to ask what she did smell like, what kind of aura she emitted.

“Thankfully,” she started, taking her wand out of her holster and performing a Leviosa on the book and papers on the floor, “the security is not my problem.”

Turning on a dime she beckoned the man to follow her with a finger and led him to her office.  Putting her paperwork down and grabbing the tome out of the air to put it in its proper place on her bookshelf (doing it by magic would ruin the delicately aged cover) she gestured for the man to take a seat in the comfy wine-red armchair in front of her desk.

Taking a deep breath she answered his question, “Very many advances, indeed.  Minister Annwyl has accepted all the paperwork and pretty much given me free reign to do what is needed,” meaning what she wanted, of course.

“Let us see,” Covadonga flicked her wand once again to have the other purpler chair facing him and took a seat there instead of behind the desk.  Leaning back and crossing her legs appropriately she looked to the floor for a moment before her blue eyes went back up to the werewolf before her.  “Right now we have a Library and Resource Center in the works for free education seminars and conferences for all interested, a Consultation Desk for day-to-day matters, a Legislature Branch for reviewing laws pertaining to Werewolves and handling Lycan criminals, the Mentor and Registry program, positions working with the International Cooperation Department where people can go oversees and help form organized communities and hold classes, and positions in the Capture Unit to help them train and give a lycans point-of-view on the situation in order to aid in creating and refining more efficient and humane strategies for Werewolves who find themselves in trouble.”

Sitting forward she put her elbows on the armrests and clasped her hands right below her chin.  “What would you be interested in?”

The damn piece of chicken bit him. So if he was a little annoyed he had every right. The buzzard was lucky it didn't come back and do it again, might give Simon more of a reason to show her why they kicked him out in the first place.

It was that bloody temper of his that caused all the trouble. If he was able to control it maybe he might not have lost a job with the ministry in the first place. Simon knew his Auror job would be swiftly taken from him for being so short fused, but to lose employment altogether had been a major blow to his self esteem, not mention it gave his parents cause to cut him out all together. As if they were just waiting to kick him when he was down.

The Reid family was never known to hold onto rubbish when they can discard it cleanly in the nearest dust bin. Being considered a piece of trash by those who were supposed to be his 'loved' ones, only seemed to be par for the course. His father was so disgusted with his unemployed werewolf son he refused to acknowledge him. When Simon thought of asking for support, for something, he watched as his father looked right through him to the wall behind his head. It was enough to make the young man snap and the rage continued to build until it was almost too much to contain. So he started down a dark path which he was finally just coming out on the other side.

Simon was going to bend to pick up the papers with her but Covi was already ahead a few steps picking them up with a spell. Smiling he just followed her as she lead him in to have their little talk. Taking the seat offered to him Simon leaned back against the chair resting his arms on the arm rests.

Listening as she rattled off her list of positions he leaned forward on the chair and looked at her, "Well you offered up the position you must have something in mind for me..." There was a smile that crossed his face again curious to what her suggestion was. It wasn't like he had expected to be offered anything anymore but Covi did offer. Why? Who did that nowadays? Simon couldn't quite recall. What he did know was that he made it into the ministry without a hassle, that was the first step.

“Hmm…”

Covadonga looked at Simon long and hard.

She tapped her lips, and then bit the bottom one.

You could swear that you could here the beautiful music of the intricately connected cogs turning against one another. 

What would this man be good for?  She hardly knew him, but there was something she could tell about him.  Simon had been dealt an unfair hand, and he knew it.  From what she had read, much of everything had been taken away from him after he was terminated.

Her eyes went from his face to his hands.  She couldn’t remember if she had seen the gloves before, the first time they had met at the café.  Yes, he had been the one who had approached her.  He had the last article she had published in hand, the one arguing for equal rights, specifically.  Mr. Reid wanted as much change as she did.  The way he had spoken about their treatment… “Keep them drugged up and keep them out of the way, that's the ministry's take on it.”

The flap of feathers jerked her out of her memory of that day.  The Department Head slowly watched as Speedy drifted along until he settled on the back of her chair.  What an intimidating portrait the two of them made!  Like the picture of a villain of a child’s book.  The witch sitting there, hunched over and her hands steepled in front of her face, her eyes staring intently over her fingertips, all the while the ominous black bird perched above her, sharing the same gaze as his caretaker.

“How about Legislature?  You do have some experience with the law…” moreso than she knew.

“I believe it would be right up your alley.”

Simon watched her with increasing interest as Covi seemed to be turning thoughts over in that head of hers. Maybe leaving his fate up to a stranger wasn't his smartest move but Simon wasn't known for making the right decisions, or even the easy ones.

He cocked his brow and made a 'hmm' sound of his own as if he too was thinking. But really what he was doing was observing. This woman had the ability to bring him out of the shadows for the first time in years, and Simon found himself surprisingly receptive. When he worked for the ministry, Simon had lofty dreams of becoming a department head someday, actually becoming respected by his uptight family. The sad part about it all was he never got the chance, he lost it all and Simon resented the ministry for a long time because of it. Even now he teetered on the possibility of this all being a big gag on him, something in Covi's eyes told him otherwise.

The way she had been clued into him when they first met, Simon had a feeling about her. She was on her game, and he was intrigued. If she had any hope of helping him she would have to put up with a lot of Simon's past demons. Sometimes they seemed too numerous to count, but he had a feeling she was up to the task.

Maybe it was wishful thinking on his part, but he found himself strangely hopeful.

The damn piece of chicken came back into view. Simon's hand ghosted to his ear remembering the quick bite from before. It was still a little sore but he would survive healing from something that small in little over a day. Just a flesh wound...

"Legislature?" His voice sounded a little unconvinced. He hadn't been into his  mandatory check-ups in so long that he would be a considered a criminal himself by ministry standards. Simon's other financial ventures for the most part went unnoticed by those in law enforcement, that of course didn't mean they wouldn't uncover things as time marched on. "Up my alley, how do you figure?" Simon flashed a mysterious little smile as he thought of the possibilities...

She saw the look on his face, the doubt that he had.  Sitting back and waving it off she answered, “I know your record, and it will be expunged.  Granted the first month of your job may have to be ‘volunteer’ work so the paperwork checks out,” she grinned.

“Consider it community service," the grin spread up to her eyes as she saw the ones across from her light up, "by 'up your alley' I mean... do you not want to fix what has been done to you?"

The clock outside her door went ding!

“Ah!  Tea time!” the Englishwoman exclaimed after taking out her pocket-watch to confirm it.

Hopping up—leaving Speedy to stare down at the werewolf with cold, deep back eyes—she rounded her desk and leaned over (quite forgetting how low cut her shirt was) to open the bottom-most drawer on the left, which held her tea and coffee service.  Right on time steam flew up in her face.  Taking a deep breath, reveling in the smell and taste of the Darjeeling leaves, she sighed happily.

Standing back up she asked, “Would you like a cup, Simon?”  Covadonga didn’t bother asking what she took with it, hoping if he wanted anything with his tea he would speak up for himself.

Personally, she took it plain.

Volunteer work, a fancy way of saying labor for no bloody pay. Not that he could complain, he wasn't making any money now why would it be any different for a month? "It's going to be removed? As in I will not have to look back on it?" Yes Simon was aware of what the term expunged meant but hearing it made his ears ring. It was like a new sort of freedom and he wasn't sure what to think.

Crossing his arms he sank back farther into the chair, "Of course I do. I never want anyone to go through that," the older Slytherin almost hissed as he thought of all the crimes against him that were committed by people doing the 'Right Thing'. Simon couldn't help but see the self-serving side of being able to work with legislature an assist in law making. Finally a way to work on matters that affect him...

His ear twitched and he watched her go for the watch to confirm the time of day. Was it truly tea time already, perhaps he hadn't realized how quick the day was passing before the pair.

What he did notice was her tilting down. Being the dog that he was he didn't stop himself from stealing a glance or two and proceeded to whistle as if he was trying to call the bird who looked at him with scorn. "Nice, real nice bird..." he kept the cuss words he was thinking to himself.

Setting his eyes back on Covi's face as she popped back up she looked at him with questioning eyes, "Tea? Plain please..." he replied remembering their first meeting. All he had enjoyed then had been tea without sweets or anything to muck up the beverage.

Ah, a man after his own heart.  She smile and put the pot and a pair of cups and saucers on the table.  Like all good things, this was worth doing by hand.  It wasn’t like she looked down on people who put sugar and milk in their tea… but… it just didn’t seem right to her.

Returning back to her seat after handing Simon his cup, politely warning against the heat of it, of course, she noticed Speedy was rather puffed up.  For some reason he was agitated and fixated on the man.  Well… she knew animals didn’t like vampires, maybe for some of them it was the same for werewolves?  Hmm… certainly something to study, or consult the Being Division.  They weren’t exactly her forte, but it certainly seemed like she was trying to fix that.

“Eh, I would not call him nice,” the bird in question responded with an indignant caw.  Naturally, she gave him a surly look and cawed right back at him.  Speedy just puffed up a bit more, grumbled and shifted his weight as if he had just been told off.

Which he had been… but, whatever.

“So!” she finally parked her bum back where it belonged, “If you do not want anyone else to endure what you had… would you be willing to go so far as to fight against the norms?”  He would need to be strong to do this.  If he chickened out, which she didn’t know yet if he was the type or not, it would not look good for his kind... which were a skittish lot overall.

Simon was not really one for sweeties. What he enjoyed was plain straight tea the taste of the leaves is what he preferred rather than cream or sugar. However he did enjoy a biscuit now and then or if a scone happened to drop in front of him, he might not be opposed to munching on the little snack. That was of course outside of closed quarters when he was out and about.

Taking the cup in hand once offered, he took a deep wiff of the tea and sighed contentedly. Perhaps a cup was in order to keep him calm and focused. Not that he flew off the handle over little things...no not Simon Reid.

Look at Covi's stupid black pigeon he could see the intensity that it stared at him. As far as he was concerned he started it. So Simon wasn't going to apologize, yes that's right he was holding a grudge against a pet. "I wouldn't particularly call him nice either, but that was just a thought..." he grumbled a little and turned his attention back on the cooling tea before him.

Taking a sip he closed his eyes for a second before opening and looking back at Covi as she questioned him further.

"Ha, fight the norms. I have been fighting the social norms all my life. How about something a little more challenging," Simon loved a good challenge. If he was going to do this, he would have to work on pushing out his past and focus on the here and now. It could be tough, but Simon knew all things worth it wouldn't be easy. "What did you have in mind?"

There was a mix of a snort and a giggle as he commented on poor Speedy.  He was in quite the mood today.

“Hmm…” she hummed again at his question.  How could she be more specific?  This was the second time he had asked such a question.

Once more the pose she held in the chair with the raven still staring down at the odd man looked like that villainous character, except now her teacup and saucer were up in front of her face this time.  Yet that look of concentrated thought still seemed to bore through his head.

“How about,” the last word was long and drawn out, then pausing a moment to pucker her lips and blow some of the steam off the top of her tea and take a sip, “changing those norms?  It will certainly be challenging, but I believe it is possible.”

She sat back, sitting the saucer in her lap, “The road will be long and hard… there will be plenty of opposition, but we will just have to keep chipping away at it,” yes, we.  The Department Head was going to make sure she was going to stay involved and help out her new employee—if he took the job—as much as possible.  She would not hold his hand, which would be ridiculous!  She needed someone who was nearly an equal in this sense.  Granted, he would need some education… he would be changing laws now instead of enforcing them, but she was sure now he was intelligent enough to take at least that task on, and he seemed tough enough to start it, but she still didn’t know if he had the stamina to stick it out.

She was taking a great leap of faith, but it was needed.  Simon looked genuinely interested, and a great deal of passion about wanting change about the treatment of his kind.

“Especially if you take charge of it, you will have a team of people helping you out.  Representatives from various parts of the United Kingdom, teachers, researchers and the like; you will need to help keep the peace and find a common ground for all of them to follow, help make compromises they can all agree on—begrudgingly or not—and help write and proofread the documents before they are passed as law, watching out for loopholes, et cetera.”

It was a load… would this be a challenge enough for him?  Or would it be too much?

Specifics were important when deciding if you wanted a position or not. At least in his mind he thought it was pivotal to his involvement in her little movement. Simon had been taking the bits and pieces offered to him, but he wanted to know more. Wanted to know what a job like that would entail.

If she looked a villainess than he looked like a henchman slouched down in her extra chair leaning over his own saucer and cup. The two from the outside looking in might very well give someone a fright. Looking as if the two were plotting wizarding world domination, which was rather humorous because what they were actually discussing was quite far from that.

A brighter world, a safer ones of beings stricken with his affliction. That was a dream he never thought before could be realized and before the incident never thought twice about. Perhaps that is how things were, until you went through it you could not truly have the same conviction or passion as a person passing through the situation.

"Changing the norms of course will not be an over night thing. Besides what fun would it be turning the world on it's ear if it wasn't a challenge?" The long road bit made him frown. It was almost like she was trying to scare him off, "Spare me Miss Covi but I am aware of all that you know." Chuckling a little he took another deep sip of his tea, "We will cross that bridge when we get to it surely."

Intrigued he did want to know more but perhaps he should secure such a position before he dragged out all of the title's quirks an obligations.

"People helping me for a change, now that is going to be quite different indeed. I like the sound of it," he puffed out his chest a little. His father was going to fly off the handle when he finds out what his renegade son was up to. Simon was going to be the black sheep Reid snagging headlines in the prophet if all went according to plan. It would be nice to make good news rather than the more seedy articles.

He liked the sound of it?  Was that a yes?  There was only one way to know for sure.

“Is that a yes?” her voice echoed her thoughts, with the addition of a quirked eyebrow, naturally.

As much as she tried, her mask slipped a wee bit, allowing the excitement she had thus far contained peek over the top.  Her eyes were practically sparkling.  If she had his help, this was quite like one of those nails in a box deals… or nail in the coffin… or whatever that Muggle… thing… was.

Covadonga did her best not to seem like she was reading every breath and movement he made, Speedy seemed to be more than happy to take up that responsibility, by taking delicate sips from her tea.  Sadly, she was soon finished with the beverage.  Politely, she did not move from her seat, simply flipping her teacup over and upside down on the saucer, calmly waiting for his reply.

He looked at her a littler perplexed. Maybe he wasn't being very clear about his answer.

What he remembered was the other time they met she said if he was interested to show. So there he was in all of his glory. Or drudgery whichever. Simon was there and he was never in the Ministry of Magic not if he could help it.

Maybe his answer seemed clear to him but not to her. That was always possible. Than again did he say yes?

"Oh yes, of course. I mean I am here aren't I?" So he did ask her to clarify a bit. That was only so he knew what he was getting himself into. "There would be people under me and aiding me this is very intriguing. I like the sound if it I do. Suppose now there is paper work and all of the other nonsense that goes along with it." She said it would be a month till he got paid for anything, what he needed to tell himself was to stop focusing on the financial.

However this was Simon and he couldn't not think of the financial aspects. When you struggle to make money on your own merit or you have to make ends meet by stealing and general thievery it's just not a happy life. Simon didn't complain about it, much. What he preferred was the comfortable life he lead with his family's money but without having to deal with the rest of the Reid brood. That would be ideal for Simon, it never came to pass unfortunately.