After two weeks it was now official. The Department of Law Enforcement now knew and within an hour the entire ministry would be aware that Edward Pratt had had his hand forced to step down as Head Auror. The reality was quite different but the agreement had been so. Carstairs, the politically minded moron that he was, had had an issue with accepting a simple resignation from a determined wizard. He’d worried how it would look and the timing and Ed, the wizard who cared little for other’s opinions, offered himself as a scapegoat just to get his old job back.

But at what price had he done it?

Since his short meeting in the Head’s office on January the 10th[1], Ed hadn’t mentioned his decision to anyone but his wife. Rather than being mad at losing the extra money, she’d been supportive and relieved at the opportunity to spend more time with her husband once someone took the position off him.

Ed had been the first to leave the department briefing when the announcement had been made that morning. The memo sat on his desk from a few days before:

“Floor Memo. 

Due to personal reasons and preference, Head Auror Edward Pratt has been demoted from his current position to Senior Auror. Effective through paperwork on 24th January 2011. Pratt will continue on as acting Head Auror until a permanent replacement is assigned.  

Department Head
S. Carstairs”

The aurors, a curious lot by nature, had mostly left the wizard alone since the memo. He was aware of holding a certain respect in the office but had no doubt that he was the topic of conversation as they all made their way back to the auror headquarters. Today his door was left open as he waited for the first interested party to appear.

1.	Man Overboard

“Well, no good pussy-footing around the subject.” Nadine shrugged to anyone who was listening in the vicinity after morning briefing. Carstair’s memo had been to the point without saying anything very exact. Something else was going on there, and they’d all suspected something. Pratt hadn’t been quite so on the ball with his excellent humour, nor was there such a bounce in his step despite the rather attractive new wife. Initially Nadine had put it down to the horrors of married life, as one who had been married at 18 and then divorced only a few years later, she felt qualified to observe such in others, even if wrong. That and stress. They were all feeling it - results were hard to come by of late which had Nadine particularly grumpy. She was a successful auror, this didn’t match up with the persona she maintained.

She made her approach, leaning initially on the doorframe of the Head Auror’s office, intending it to look casual.
“Ed…” she began, the name of her colleague drawn out, “.. if it’s any consolation, despite being serving the shortest term as Head Auror in peacetime, I thought you were doing a pretty good job.”

Nadine made a point of giving a gentle pout as if she too shared in his sadness at demotion. She sauntered into his office unannounced and took a seat, folding one leg over the other. Ed Pratt's usefulness to her had just taken a bit of a left turn. Someone would need to be promoted to Head Auror, and it would be likely that Pratt would be in on the selection process. Harcroft or Radley were potential shoe-ins, but whoever it was, she wanted to know so she could put herself in their good books for an easier life.

“Carstairs has just been absolutely obsessed with statistics ever since he replaced Raynor. Well all know he’s just trying to keep Zephyr happy and stop himself losing his own job.” She sniffed and gave a shrug, “If she didn’t keep cutting our budgets maybe we’d be able to afford a few more informants. Don’t cut yourself up about it, Pratt,” she continued in a sympathetic tone, "we’re all behind you.”

Andromeda was surprised Pratt had not lasted. It was a hard time for them all. He was not a bad Head Auror. She did hold it against him that he had told her not to bother with Musgrave back in summer. Had she and Omari arrested him the next day when they interviewed him they might have put him back in Azkaban in July. He had to look at the bigger picture. It was frustrating. They could have saved lots of lives. But maybe someone else would have done worse. They would never know. It was not his fault entirely. Nadine went straight over to talk to him. Andromeda wondered who would replace him. Would Radley apply? Harcroft might. She did not feel she had enough experience to lead the Corps. Omari would be a good Head Auror. Neither of them were senior.
"You just have to do a really good job now." Andromeda suggested. She stood just outside Pratt's door. "Then they have to keep you on."

The first two to arrive were somewhat unexpected. Pratt had prepared himself for Radley, demanding to know why he’d not been in the know. He’d expected Harcroft eager to see if he was in the running for the promotion. Instead, Aurors Pinn and Gamp let themselves through the open door into the space inhabited by the wizard who now held a great deal less clout within the headquarters.

Many years of being trained to read and understand people meant that Ed didn’t take Pinn’s seemingly thoughtful words to heart. Quite the opposite to her superior, Nadine Pinn was the player who wanted to be on the right side of the boss. Her attitude had changed towards Pratt when he’d been promoted and her knew that as soon as his replacement was hired and he officially became a senior auror, she’d change yet again. He’d no longer be useful to him.
This knowledge, however, didn’t stop him from offered her a small smile and a nod. He had tried not to grimace at her very kindly pointing out how he was the shortest running head auror in peacetime.

Gamp also came with kind words and a suggestion that if he did a good job they’d keep him in the position. For a couple of aurors, Ed was disappointed they were unable to read between the lines of what had happened. Did they genuinely think he’d been sacked from the job? Had he been that bad of a leader? Ed had somewhat hoped that his own staff would see through the façade to the truth that the wizard had simply become sick of paperwork, their department head, being an authority figure and the lack of seeing his children. Despite it being his own suggestion, the wizard was finding it hard to deal with the fact that now his staff thought he’d been demoted for being incapable.

“I don’t wanna’ be kept on.” The wizard commented as if it were obvious. “Carstairs is eager to source a replacement as soon as possible and so am I.”

“Well, it was obvious,” Nadine remarked, glancing over her shoulder to her once sister-in-law who although was younger than her, had been an auror longer (not that Nadine was at all competitive). “If he’d been dismissed, he’d have been demoted to one of us, and Carstairs would have put someone else in as acting head of office.” Harcroft probably - he was quite literally by the book. If anything, he’d thrive up at the top, all the red tape and subclauses of the law they were meant to remember and enforce. Only he was far too useful as a senior auror, training up and leading cases. She made a point of being nice to him because working on his cases meant good results ordinarily.

Nadine glanced back to Ed. “Are we having a pool on who replaces you? Think Carstairs might string it out, force you to stay in? I mean we’re not going to have a breakthrough with any of this overnight. Might as well blame you for the rest.” Perfectly logical situation. She examined her nails a moment, glancing from one to the other slyly. “If Head of Department really is cursed like they say it is, Carstairs will be for the chop anyway.”

"I thought you were doing a good job." Andromeda said to Pratt. She preferred he kept his job. Nadine kept talking. Andromeda leaned on the wall inside the door. She frowned. "Do not say that, Nadine. We do not need another change of boss. It has been crazy." Andromeda shook her head firmly. Carstairs needed to stay Head of Department. They needed continuity. "Does it have to be a senior auror? I do not mean to disrespect you Pratt. But we need senior aurors right now on cases. I am glad you will have more time to do that. But I do not want to lose another. We need all of you. Can someone else not do the paperwork?"

Both witches had so many questions, so many opinions and suggestions. Pratt had thought himself prepared for it but now it just irritated him. He didn’t want people jumping to conclusions or questioning it all. But aurors did; it was their job. His staff would know he hadn’t been sacked as the head auror. But they were no longer his staff…

“He’ll string it out, no doubt. No one is exactly eager to jump into this job.” Ed was eager to jump out of it. Did he see it as a failure? No. He saw it as a very sensible decision for his family and his sanity. “He’ll probably have Riordan on the paperwork. And I’m still head auror in name until a replacement is hired.” If a replacement was hired.

Well, it was a great Monday. Glorious.  Things were already in shambles--and that had been before word had gotten to him that word had gotten out about Pratt.  Weren't they supposed to coordinate these sorts of things?  Frowning, Riordan decided he'd swing by Pratt's office.  Have a word--friendly-like.  It had helped, of course, that they had several years of friendship between them--clear back to Hogwarts.

When he had arrived at Pratt's office, he noticed he was not the only one with the same unique idea.

Gamp. Pinn. He'd've thought Bassir or Eddy'd have jumped at the chance for some gossip, too.  There was a strained sort of sobriety to the room.  Roirdan rested his arm heavily upon the doorframe, leaning in. 

"Well, I hear the nargles did it," Riordan's drawl was slow and sly.  "We're speculating over... what exactly?"  As though he couldn't already guess.  His smile grew broader and he waved the question away. 

"Had a few questions for you, Pratt, over this..." his eyebrows raised significantly, "...paperwork. When you've got a moment. Sorry to intrude."  He didn't want to run Gamp and Pinn off outright. He'd expected a crowd.  Pratt was popular--and rightfully so. He'd been a stalwart in an office that had seen significant turnover.  A high performer, and a man willing to take a lead. At least for a time.  What was more, he had the batch of Aurors loyally flagged about him.  Pratt was one of their own.  Simon Cartairs and himself?  Stuffed suits, pushing papers and agendas.  He hoped that perception would change.

Riordan genuinely liked his Aurors. They were a good bunch--had been through enough to make them seasoned, and were being raked through the mud at the present, and unjustly so. Morale was low, and Riordan naturally felt protective.  They were his, even if they didn't necessarily see him as one of theirs.  And it was true: with this newest shift, they'd be seeing a lot more of each other.  He'd volunteered himself and readily so, with the justifiable argument that were Pratt to rejoin the workforce and perform fieldwork, his time would need to be freed up.  Reassigning some of Pratt's duties would spread the organizational knowledge around a bit; give Riordan the chance to rub elbows; ease the transition for when they hired a replacement. 

That and a little external coercion in the form of Ira Almasy.  That had been an unpleasant letter to receive, and it was all he could do to keep his demeanor its usual, multicolored flavors of biting humor and chipper cynicism.  Riordan was beginning to feel an entirely new sort of protective.

From his vantage point on a cranky Monday, though, there was no good way to do this: reengage the Aurors in a safe conversation.  Not tactfully.  Not without making him one of the most cringeworthy managers in the Ministry.  There were two topics: weekends and weather.

Oh, Merlin's balls, screw it. It was Monday and he was too lazy to come up with alternatives. "Anyone do anything interesting this weekend?"

"No one is exactly eager to jump into this job.” Pratt remarked, though Nadine shrugged her shoulders, insinuating that if she ever was eligible she wouldn’t shy from it.  In reality, she wouldn’t unless it was easy, better pay and had glory.

"Well, I hear the nargles did it,” the Department’s Deputy Head, and their collective superior entered Pratt’s office with a smile.  Nadine turned in the visitor’s chair before Pratt’s desk and delivered an equal smile, nodding as she did in greeting. "Had a few questions for you, Pratt, over this...paperwork. When you've got a moment. Sorry to intrude. Anyone do anything interesting this weekend?”

“Paid a visit to our latest traumatised victims[1],” Nadine replied smoothly, gaze sliding to Andromeda before raising an eyebrow pointedly. “Some of us sadly did no get much of a weekend owing to shifts and mopping up after others.” She shrugged with emphasis and smiled again at Riordan, “but such is the cross we aurors bear.  How about you, Gil?  A man such as yourself doesn’t cordially enquire on a weekend without requiring prompt for others to enquire on his for bragging rights.” She crossed one leg over the other and laced her fingers over the top of her knee, examining him keenly.

1.	Jan 16, Old Hands

"Not our victims, surely," Riordan drawled, before looking at her suspiciously.  Not unless Nadine Pinn was keeping secrets--and secret victims.  "Pratt, we need to schedule an afternoon meeting to talk about this one?"  He jabbed a thumb in her direction.  Riordan was rather fond of Pinn.  It was always good to see a fellow housemate doing well in ones' selected field, but what was more, Pinn really seemed to have an interest in the underpinnings of legal processes that the former counsel appreciated.  She'd worked with him for years before becoming a proper Auror. Riordan hadn't forgotten.[1]

At the very least, there was the wit. He could appreciate the wit.  But that would not get her out of at least a stern glower for the use of 'Gil.'  If they were going for abbreviated given names, he'd have chosen the latter part of "Gilchrist."  Might even help things a bit.  Level Two could very well use the help of the Son of God, at this point...Not that he was nominating himself. He knew where that road lead.

Speaking of crosses... "Ah, my little martyrs," Riordan said gravely, hand on his chest in a display of extreme sympathy and reverence.  The critique of shift and staffing did not go unnoticed, however carefully Pinn had packaged it.  It was an unending cycle, really.  People saw the waning performance of Level 2 collectively, the mounting responsibilities on Aurors and staff individually, and wanted well enough away, it seemed.  Last year's Auror trainee group had been a slim one compared to prior years.  They would need to make a more concerted effort with Hogwarts outreach to snag a few graduates.  And it wasn't just the Aurors, either. Legal, clerk, staff, hitwizard staff all seemed to be dwindling. They were spread thin as it was.

"As for my own bragging rights," he shrugged. "I'm sure I can neither claim nor boast more suffering than your lot."  Is that what he'd interrupted, then?  "A bit of this and that," he dismissed, "Though I was here Sunday, m'self." Both he and Sol had been pulling long hours.  It was in the apparently vain hope of showing some sort of solidarity.   He was not much surprised. Nothing brought company together like misery.

Wait, that was not exactly how that went.  And, surely no one could hold a candle to their own sacrificial lamb, Eddie Pratt, as the Daily'd fashioned him. 

"I know we're more than a little understaffed," he said, eyebrows raised as he looked between the three Aurors--three of the most active in caseloads.  It was an understatement to say the least. "The new hitwizard hires are aimed to help with the immediate response, free you up a bit..." This was all getting very business-y.  He puffed his cheeks.  "We aim to hit Hogwarts hard with our recruiting this year--it's a ways off, but come April... we'll need your ideas for recruitment.  What do you s'pose our angle should be? The greatest draw to the job?"

The question was not merely for purposes of recruitment.  It was also a decent way to get a sense on what, if anything, his little martyr-lambs still cherished in their job as well.

1.	I'm assuming, from the fact that she supported the legal staff?

Andromeda stared at Nadine. Sometimes her ex sister in law was a real bitch. No, a lot of the time she was. She was saying Andromeda did a bad job. She should try duelling dementors and an attacker AND protecting ex-criminals. Nobody wanted to protect ex-criminals so they had been on their own. Riordan also gave her a look. Nadine was just here to stir it up. Riordan was here to find out why they were talking to Pratt.

"The robes. Definitely the robes." Andromeda replied. She kept a straight face. "No. Status. Glory. Cos it is cool." She shrugged. "But not everyone can do it. Takes years of trying to get in for some people." She looked at Nadine. "I think some years we lower our standards just to get recruits."

"I know we're more than a little understaffed….”

Here we go again. Nadine huffed gently, not hard enough to indicate complete disdain, just enough to indicate it was the same old story.

"We aim to hit Hogwarts hard with our recruiting this year--it's a ways off, but come April... we'll need your ideas for recruitment.  What do you s'pose our angle should be? The greatest draw to the job?”

"The robes. Definitely the robes.” Andie got in first with. She was clearly trolling Gilchrist, and hadn’t taken too kindly to the comments from Nadine just before. Nadine glanced to Ed with eyebrows raised, as if to say ‘are we seriously having this conversation?'

“No. Status. Glory. Cos it is cool. But not everyone can do it. Takes years of trying to get in for some people. I think some years we lower our standards just to get recruits.” The other auror received a sharp look for that. It was clear implication and they were nearing cat-fight territory at this rate, which wasn’t ‘cool’ to use Andromeda’s adjective.

“The weak get weeded out.” She delivered in monotone. “And the worthy returned to the pack,” Nadine nodded to Ed, not wishing to tar him with the same brush. “Can’t all be quill-wigglers.”

“If yer gonna’ have a cat fight, ladies, save it fer tomorrow. Ye’ll overshadow my demotion.” Eddie Pratt grumbled from his seat behind the head auror’s desk. Gilchrist had seemingly started something that the now ‘acting head auror’ had to finish. Or so he felt as he watched the glares and snipes between the female aurors that had come to ‘offer their condolences’; or in other words, get the gossip.

“Can’t all be quill-wigglers.” had said and Eddie lifted his feet up onto the edge of his desk, sitting back comfortably with his arms folded.
“I’ll bloody stick the quill up someone’s arse if I have to sign another bloody report.” That was exactly the reason he’d refused to do anymore paperwork until a replacement was hired. Did it bother Ed that his old colleague and friend would have a heavier workload? Not anymore than a sneeze.

“Biggest draw of the job…” The wizard stretched out, leaning back and pretending to think on it as if it were the toughest question of the day. “free coffee.” There were certainly ways and means of getting out of being involved in any sort of recruitment drive for the aurors.

“If yer gonna’ have a cat fight, ladies, save it fer tomorrow. Ye’ll overshadow my demotion.”
“Us, cat fight, psh, you should be so lucky, Ed.” Nadine replied smoothly, all smug smiles to him.

“Biggest draw of the job… free coffee.”
“Good one!” Nadine complimented. It wasn’t really, but she preferred being on Ed’s good side. “The moral high ground, perhaps? Honestly, do we really have trouble recruiting, or is it just the quality rather than the quantity? I’m sure the cream of the crop from the wizarding schools can be wooed … perhaps we can encourage the ministry to sponsor a duelling competition or similar.” She shrugged gracefully. “Daresay, some could do with brushing up on their skills.”

"If you think that is fighting Pratt..." Andie teased. Nadine agreed. Andie crossed her arms. "Yeah you could do with." She teased Nadine. "Send her to school." Andie said to Riordan. "I think Ariadne would love that. What about your kids Pratt?"