Of all the things which Admete had ever found on her desk in the morning, a note to stating that she was to visit the Minister's office was the most unexpected.

And the most worrisome. If she'd known, she would have at least worn her dress robes instead of the somewhat-formal but not quite uniform outfit she'd slipped into that morning. All she'd expected to do that day was to clean up paperwork and grumble half-heartedly at Bailey. But instead she'd made her way rather uncertainly to Level One and to that one intimidating office.

She'd never been there before. Or particularly near there, unless one counted being in the Ministry as nearby. If only they'd-well, maybe the point of this was to test the reactions of Senior Aurors to stress and politics. Perfect. She found herself glad that she'd long ago learned to keep the annoyed sarcasm merely in her head.

Unless it was directed at Pratt.

A deep breath, and she stood up a little straighter as one of the staff directed her into the office. "Minister?"

"Ah! Good!"  Persepolis rose from her desk to greet the Auror, waving her forward.  "Come, come."

Zephyr was dressed in goldenrod and deep rust, and an ornate red cloth wrapped around her head.  As she beckoned, her hands jangled with jewelry.  She was the Minister of Magic - each day required she dress as a stateswitch, a leader.   It wasn't an expectation that was overly burdensome.  Previous Ministers had always been sharp dressers.

"Thank you for coming, Auror Brown."  Persepolis knew they really didn't have a choice, but it was nice to thank those she summoned anyway.  She did not use the priviledge lightly and today would be no different.

"Have a seat," she said and took her own as well.  "I was hoping you'd answer a few questions for me.  I've been told that you're an exceptional Auror in that you step outside of the pit frequently.  Is that so?"

The truth was, Cameron Rosier would no longer be able to Head the Department of Magical Law Enforcement and all day Persepolis had been meeting with other officials and advisers to narrow down a list of candidates.  It was her job to appoint the Heads and then get the Wizengamot's blessing, and so choosing the right candidate would be important.

Admete took her seat with particular care, attempting to hold to a ramrod-stiff posture throughout the process. Which made it more difficult, of course. But she'd spent enough time doing such to achieve some dignity with it.

The Minister looked largely like the Auror had expected, important, though with a bit more jewelry than she'd have guessed at. This meeting was having the unfortunate effect of pointing out to Admete just how little interest she'd really taken in Zephyr's appointment. The Minister was some sort of large figure in the back of her life, not someone who summoned you to her office to discuss committees and getting yelled at by other offices.

"Yes, Yes I do." Admete folded her hands in her lap. "A lot of our cases involve other offices these days, and it keeps the howlers down a bit." She groaned inwardly. This was going to lead to another committee. At this rate, someone would start leaving jackets stating 'desk jockey' at her cubicle.

The Aurors Zephyr had met personally alternated between stiff and formal to swaggering and above the pomp.  Zephyr didn't feel like she had to decide which she liked better.  They were Aurors.  They weren't really made for offices.

But then again - she smiled and nodded at Auror Brown's politely short response - some of them might soar given a swivel chair and an ink blotter. 

Her response was short though.  "Don't hold back, Auror Brown, I want to hear about it.  You won't bore me.  Please, do go on."

And there it was again.  Some Aurors clammed up out of a show of regimented duty and others clammed up out of a sort of defiance, that every conversation was an interrogation.  But they all were shut-up like clams, weren't theY.

"It's relevant, I assure you," she encouraged with an open palm.

That meant a committee. Perfect. Admete simply offered a sharp nod before continuing. She'd been honest with plenty of people before, even if they weren't renowned heads of state. She'd just have to manage. "It started after the war. Lots of cases, and more frayed nerves. Seemed like we spent more time with those than the cases."

Her fingers tapped against the back of her hand. "Healers had told me to stay out of the field for a bit. Took some hits during the battle, guess they didn't want any more holes in me." That'd be in her file anyways, but well, the Minister had asked. "So I was asked to help with some of the feather-smoothing."

The conversation, or more accurately, her monologue, made Admete's throat feel a bit dry, but she continued. It was seeming a bit easier already. Just had to get over the oh Merlin the Minister part. "Took a bit of digging at the start, but once you get through the politics and old funding spats most people don't expect too much. Just things like signing all the paperwork and not standing around while Muggles take pictures with their VowelPads."

This was followed by a shrug, though the movements were still a bit stiff. "Apparently I had a talent for it, since the complaints started dropping. They've had me helping out with it ever since. Even worked on some committees regarding office and department interactions." Some was a bit of an understatement, but the list would be in her file, and despite Zephyr's words, Admete didn't wish to be a bore. "It's interesting work, and I've seen a lot of the rest of the Ministry. Hard not to come away from that with more respect for the whole of it." The Auror office might have been a major part of the Ministry, but it still managed to seem rather small at times.

"Mmm!  I see!"  The Minister seemed interested and engaged and she enthusiastically held back her words while Auror Brown dutifully and completely told her tale.

Yes, there it was.  Persepolis saw a growing openness, a confidence peek out from under Brown's stiff mantle.  A willingness to speak about her accomplishments.  She seemed to take pride in what she'd been doing, though it was out of the ordinary. 

"And how has this all gone over with your home department, brandishing a bit more quill than wand?  I can imagine you might have had some pressure to do things a bit more by the book.  But then, if I know your Chief Auror at all, she does enjoy a bit of creative thinking...?"

Persepolis was slowly trying to turn a few stones and get at the heart of the matter, which she had not yet revealed to Auror Brown.  That Brown's inter-Departmental work had been making ripples.  It was being noticed. 

It was going much better than Admete had expected. The vague sense of dread she'd had coming in was beginning to abate. "Think it went over much better since I had the badge first. And I still work my cases. There's ribbing about desk work, sure, but after this long they're rather used to it."

Though it could lead to some rather interesting pranks. Far too many of which had accidentally hit Bailey instead. The thought brought a smile to her face, followed by a quick touch of guilt as the smile faded. Bailey wasn't...alright, he'd had no permanent injury so it was amusing. Someone had to be the office clown. "And people seem to like the idea of someone who'll volunteer to go get yelled at instead of them. Apparently it's on the list of least favorite hobbies."

The expression that followed seemed a little more serious, though not so much as to venture quite back into stiffness. "The part afterwards where I have to come back and communicate that there were actual points amid the so-called yelling is a bit harder. Promise of reduced future paperwork helps a bit there."

Persepolis had heard all she needed to.  Admete Brown not only seemed confident in what she did, but it seemed like she had at least some support from within the Aurors.  Of course, heading up Level Two had much more to do than command the Aurors, but having them on the side of the administration never hurt, especially when Perspolis's main short-coming to former Minister Annwyl was her soft stance on crime, her disconnect with Law Enforcement. 

Appointing Brown straight from the Auror floor could do a great deal to patch that cauldron.

"I'm very impressed, Auror Brown," Zephyr said, her eyes crinkling in a composed smile.  "And that's why I've had you in today.  I need to warn you."

Zephyr was no stranger to dramatics and she let that ominous statement hang a moment.

"You're being vetted to replace Rosier.  I'm meeting with advisers and we're going over a few candidates with a fine tooth comb.  There will be interviews, background checks, and I'll need to defend my choice to the Wizengamot.  While I'm sure you have nothing to worry about, the process can get a bit tense.  Do you think you're ready for that?"

Impressing the Minister was far more than Admete could have expected from herself, but with the warning right afterwards she had no time to enjoy it. Instead she stiffened back up a little, uncertain and perhaps just a bit concerned. Enough to make that pause tense, to lean forward and hone her attention to an even finer point.

Only to find her concern validated completely. Such was a more pleasant way for it to occur, but not necessarily a relief. "It's an honor to be considered." Rosier stepping down must have been recent, since she hadn't heard a single whisper about it before this meeting. And somehow, she didn't think it'd be appropriate to ask.

"I wouldn't expect anything less. I can certainly manage some tense questions." She only hunted down dark wizards and got yelled at for a living. This was...still going to be a headache. "Anything else I should know?"

Admete's reaction was one that Persepolis knew she'd have to make note of.  There was that split second of when news arrived when a person's full honesty leaked out for just a moment.  These moments could disappear rapidly, but even in the most closed of persons, the moment existed.  The Minister couldn't be totally sure, not without a proper clairvoyant present, but she thought she saw real relief on Admete Brown's face, and what was that.  Was that... hunger?  Merlin, Zephyr craved to know but that was the million galleon question.  Had she chosen right?

She'd have to speak with her diviners straight away, but for now, she did have the object of her wonderings sitting right here.

"Tense is one way to put it.  They'll test the boundaries of your qualifcations and very likely we'll be far too invasive, but my Head of Level Two must be as sturdy and steady as possible.  You'd be stepping into some very storied shoes.  Scrimgeour."

The face of the former Minister of Magic, who'd also held the post Admete Brown might be ascending to, nodded from its frame.  "Robards."

He'd been murdered as well. 

"Rosier."

They'd all been outstanding, but none of them lacking in controversy.  Persepolis wasn't afraid of controversy, and she knew that Admete Brown likely wasn't either considering how she went about her Aurors' duties.  Far from traditional, this one.

"Keep this under your hat, won't you?"  the Minister of Magic requested.  "Let us handle the news about Mr. Rosier in good time.  Don't worry - you won't have surprised him.  And as for your fellow Aurors?  Well, might be best to wait until a formal announcement with them too.  And remember, dear, this isn't final.  You're not the only one we're looking at."

There was a very good lawyer with a score of years in the post.  There was Tamis Raynor, the Head Auror, also up for consideration.  And they were even short-listing an outside hire, a retired Wizengamot Elder who currently lived in a tree in Umberland.

The situation was starting to set in, and Admete's initial relief at the fact that this meeting wasn't occurring because of a death or kidnapping was being overshadowed that they were considering her, her of all people, for the position of Department Head. Anything besides being quietly terrified and much flattered seemed inappropriate.

Being reminded of those who had held the position before her, and the sheer weight of that legacy, amplified such thoughts even further. But all she did was to clasp her hands a bit tighter in her lap and give a solemn nod. "Understood. I'm sure the Ministry will make a good decision."

And talking about it? Oh Merlin, Luthas would have far too much fun with the whole kerfluffle. Plus if she had to explain things to the Wizengamot, well, there was only so much explaining Admete wanted to do in a week. Or a month. "And I'll keep it quiet. Pointless to stir that up early.  My cousin would never let me hear the end of it."

Having got the response she wanted - the best response she could hope for from her choice candidate - Zephyr stood up with a movement of finality.  "Good."

She came out from behind the desk to shake Auror Brown's hand and show her out. 

"I really think this is a fine opportunity for the Ministry.  You're not typical, you know, and that's why you've caught my eye.  Don't worry," Zephyr opened the door and smiled very wide.  "Just be yourself.  That's all we need."

Zephyr reached out to clasp one of Admete's hands in hers and she shook it with great meaning, looking up at the Auror over her round glasses.  "But watch your back.  Soon as word gets out things will change.  How will you handle the pressure?"

The question was rhetorical and nothing but support seemed to show on Zephyr's face. 

Such a few short minutes for how much impact they had. The sort that would leave Admete lurching in uncertain anticipation. The waiting, the questions to come, the weight of that one small office. And the yelling.  Because she needed more yelling in her life.

But the grip she returned the Minister's with was firm, and the compliments and warnings received a crisp nod and a certain thoughtfulness to the expression before the Auror was shown out.

She'd take her knocks as they came.

END