Marylebone District, Noon.

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It had taken long enough to get there - to the Minister's abode. Friday had been a sorts of emotions, Saturday faring absolutely no better and finding a way to sleep without worries gnawing away at her mind or owls requesting information, quotes for the Prophet. Dressed down to dark jeans and a grey parka, Gabrielle blended in well with the London crowds, weaving in and out of them until arriving at her friend's place. Raising a fist, she knocked at the door, smiling weakly enough.

Closing her eyes, Gabrielle stayed situated there for a moment, recollecting her thoughts until a gentle, faint scratching nearby got her attention. Looking at the window, her lips curled upwards into an amused smile - Perse's cat was pawing its hello to the witch. Wiggling her fingers back, Gabrielle grinned at the feline companion.

"Hello, hello~"

The cat disappeared from sight, leaving the curtains to droop back into place once more. Shaking her head, Gabrielle resumed her watch over the entrance, expecting the witch to open and invite her friend in.

The feline Mr. Fu was the first line of security upon which the Department of Magical Law Enforcement insisted upon for the Minister of Magic's private abode.  The second through fourth of the measures were layered warding enchantments.  The fifth was a runic curse upon her lintel, the sixth the same on her threshold.  The seventh, her favorite, was the rotating shift of rubbish collectors walking round and round the block pushing a bin.

Yow! Mwow!

Mr. Fu's cry was plaintive and excited. He was a shameless snuggler and the potential for a lap was hard to pass up.

"Who's calling this afternoon, sir?" Persepolis cheerily said, rising from her book.  At her slightest movement, he trotted off back towards the door, a chirp with every step.

"Not a burglar, I hope? Nor the press."

Myuh.

Of course it wasn't.  She had been informed that Mr. Fu was very well trained and should he sense the slightest ill will from anyone approaching the sleek black kitty would make it duly known.

She clicked upon the lock and opened the door.

Her eyes were smiling immediately and she let out a massive sigh.

"Gabrielle! On a weekend! Me in my housecoat! This is a day, oh this is a day.  I shouldn't have been expecting you should've I? Please tell me this is a surprise and I haven't missed a date between us!"

All through this she was embracing and bringing into her home her old friend.  Mr. Fu ran figure eights around their ankles.

The black cat and Persepolis soon revealed themselves as the door finally opened, Gabrielle's smile peering through only just. It was evident though the feline was happy like his owner as indicated by the weaving to and fro their legs. Once inside, the door did close, Gabrielle looking around the area. She hadn't been here in a while, but it looked marvelous as usual.

The witch squatted a moment, scritching the ebony fur, eventually under Mr. Fu's chin, smiling at him before rising to glance to her friend. "Call it a much needed distraction from the incessant post arriving on the top and middle of the hour. Clearly when a department head issues no comment right away, it apparently translates to 'please send more owls to find out why she's not answering.' Mm, sorry though to catch you completely off guard, dear." A soft mrow from Mr. Fu made Gabrielle to gaze down to him.

"And my sincere apologies to you as well, good sir. Though, I don't believe you entirely mind, do you?" A lulling purr confirmed the inquiry; Gabrielle chuckled, looking at Persepolis once again. "So, fancy having an indoors lunch and what ever else may come our way in the way of discussion?"

Persepolis was always completely at ease around her old friend.  Not that Persepolis was the sort to ever be ill at ease, but she was the sort to expend significant effort to cajole, intimidate, validate, and persuade.  It was her nature to influence.  But it was also in her nature to relax into friendship and embrace moments when masonry walls could be replaced with pillows.

The two witches' movement away from the front door and down the hall to the kitchen caused Mr. Fu to again trot quickly ahead of them.  He was on the countertop when they arrived in the humble cookery.  Persepolis had always been a traditional witch and her kitchen was homey.  Pots and pans hanging from rocks, dried herbs, jars, and plenty of light from yellowed windows.   

"An inspired notion, Gabrielle.  I rely on you, I hope you know that.  They're always leaving me food..."

The Minister of Magic was bent over, be-loc'd head deep in her icebox.  The staff back on Level One kept the overworked head of state well stocked, and she enjoyed feigning surprise each time a cucumber salad appeared on the wire shelf.

"What's this?!" Her voice was muffled.  She whirled around.  "Orzo and potato stew!"

She lit a fire in the stove and set the chilled crockery upon it to heat up the soup.  She leaned against the counter and let out a sigh, gazing upon her yellow-haired Gabrielle.

"Darling, how are you? How did you get way from the desk today? I had to fake my own death."

Normally, Gabrielle would be enjoying a fast sandwich admist working or wanting a decent Sunday roast to share with family, but orzo and potato sounded absolutely divine. Exhaling and nodding gently towards Persepolis' inquiry, Gabrielle could put on a brief, fake smile before it faltered itself.

"Faking your death? Wish I could do that a bit. However, when you have a family with two injuries, a hoard of memos everywhere, and you can't necessarily handle the silence inside your home..... It's been a bit difficult," Gabrielle remarked in a defeated tone.

"But thankfully, I've got you right now."

Persepolis wrinkled her eyes and nose and shrugged her shoulders.  "We've got each other," she agreed pertly.  Remembering herself, she got tea started alongside the stew.

"But tell me - how is your family faring?"  Her voice was gentled concern. She didn't want to hound the poor witch and make her feel compelled to talk about things she'd rather have a rest from. But sometimes it helped to have an ear, and certainly Persepolis had been worried but too busy to take time to personally inquire.

What with the events of a few days ago, this Sunday at peace had been nearly impossible to procure. But not everyone had luxury of an opt-in quietude.

"I believe with certainty that Monty will survive with a few more grey hairs and as for Francis, he'll make it through, I'm certain of it," Gabrielle reflected on from personal observations and medical references. "As having each other, I'm curious to know is that good for the fetters or bad for the boys?" A chuckle escaped the blonde witch, particularly amused by said such thoughts.

"Perhaps a little bit of both?"

The tea kettle began to whistle, causing Gabrielle to jump briefly, eyeing the metallic creature with a raised, semi-stern brow.

"Hmf. Noisy git." Gabrielle continued the chuckle, the smile. "Have you any chai to go with this stew? Chai sounds amazing to go with it, or so I believe so."

The scents of said stew began to waft, fill the room, causing Gabrielle to salivate slightly. "Whoever is your cook, I'm demanding some of their time. That smells and is no doubt going to taste better than the leftovers from the past few days."

"You'll have to poke around," Persepolis said. She wasn't much of a house-keeper. She indicated a cupboard near Gabrielle that would have a bevvy of tins and cartons full of sundry teas.

She was relieved to hear both of the Pepper wizards, the infamous Montgomery and the renown Francis, would recover. But she noticed Gabrielle start at the sudden noise of the kettle.  Did she always jump at water aboil or was she still shaken from the disastrous explosions? Persepolis frowned a little. It wasn't ever possible, nor would it be right, for she as Minister to ever let her mind wander far from the plights of her community.

It was then that Mr. Fu padded in to join them, tail up. He sat in the middle of the stone tile floor and blinked slowly.  "Hello, dear," Persepolis greeted him. He blinked again.

"Oh! I hate to bother you about work, love, but I'm curious if you made any progress with the ICW about any international similarities with our current difficulties? I know it's a long shot, but if we don't try everything we can't say we did."