“Mrs Glass?!” Eva stared at the wizard who had been ogling her from across the table for the past hour and a half as she’d taken part in small talk and drowned a fair amount of free wine.  As soon as the minister had gone up to do his speech and give out the final dull award of the night, the ogling wizard took it upon himself to slip into Glass’ chair and pull it uncomfortably close.

“Is it the power? It certainly isn’t the looks.” He continued, breathing wine fumes in her direction. Eva turned her face away, lips pressing together in distaste.

“I think you’re mistaken, Sir.” The witch gripped her wine glass, gaze narrowing at the wizard. They were in a public venue, her here with the Minister of Magic to represent the Ministry. She couldn’t mess it all up because some louse was making moves on whom he thought was the minster’s wife.

“Well done to you,” He leaned in closer, hand reaching for her thigh to rest over the material of her long dress, “you’ve made it a profession, gold digging.”

Very quickly and without her usual decorum, Evangeline pushed her chair back and stood up, wanting to put as much distance between herself and the unpleasant wizard as possible. She spun around and collided with the chest of the minister himself, Rosé wine emptying over his smart suit as she grabbed his arm to maintain balance.

“Merde!” she exclaimed, blue eyes wide with surprise as they met his. This was certainly not how the evening had been supposed to go down!

There was a ripple of applause as the Minister descended from the stage, clapping a congratulatory hand again to the winner’s shoulder. It had been a long night so far, too many awards, and good grief the speeches. Edwin was glad of the complimentary wine, which was, unlike certain St Mungo’s events complementary about the drinker by being entirely non-sentient.

Ever since that awkward todo with Kuester over her Azkaban stay, Edwin had been rather more careful about how he handled his legal adviser. She was a useful mind, and it was easier if the two of them got on. He wasn’t going out of his way to be nice to her, but the odd perk did ease the wheels somewhat. Besides, Kuester was intelligent and a pretty face. She was not out of place at events like this, in absence of a romantic partner or wife.

There was someone sitting in his seat beside his blonde colleague, Edwin noted, and by the way he was leaning towards her, Edwin suspected for a moment he was about to interrupt a flirtatious exchange. However Kuester clearly indicated otherwise by abruptly getting up, moving away and colliding with Edwin’s broader chest.

Wine coloured his dress shirt.
“Ku- Eva!” His exclamation wasn’t anger, but surprise. His habit of her surname had fired off first from his lips, and then remembered she had ticked him off for being so formal outside of the office. A hand lightly went around her waist, both protective and chivalrous. Glass of a year ago might have laughed more at this scene, but tonight, despite the wine consumption, he was both Minister and gentleman.

The wizard in his chair was looking smug until he realised he was observed, and the expression turned sour.

“Are you alright?” Edwin asked, not yet attending to his shirt, though his right hand had reached for his wand to do so.

Things were already at a certain level of awkwardness between the minister and his assistant. Since Glass had basically put her in her place as he saw it, Eva had held back, acting more professional than she’d immediately felt it was necessary. It had, therefore, been a surprise to be invited as his companion to this event. She’d known he didn’t have a wife of a significant other, the rumours circling around the ministry said enough of his reputation.

But the evening had been going somewhat well until this point. With wine, he was more relaxed and had agreed to refer to her as ‘Eva’ rather than ‘Kuester’ throughout. The speeches had been dull and long but the wine had distracted her. It was simply unfortunate that Glass went to present his award and the unpleasant wizard decided to make a move.

Eva stared, wide eyed at the wine now tinting his shirt. He asked if she was alright and placed a hand on her waist to steady her. Eva’s eyes flashed up to his.

“Merlin! I’m sorry Sir.” Rather magically, her glass began to refill and she lowered it before anymore could end up on the most powerful wizard in Britain.

“I think I need some air.” Space needed to be put between her and the offender before her wine ended up over his head and she burnt her bridges with her boss.

Without really waiting for him to agree, Eva pulled away, weaving through the crowds of people in the large room. When she was finally outside, Eva took a moment to finally relax. The wine was helping but she was still technically working, keeping up appearances.

A moment later, Glass appeared in the doorway and Eva took a sip of the freshly refilled wine from her glass. Her eyes scanned towards the door, checking no one followed him.

“Do you know that wizard? Who sat in your chair?”

Kuester was quick to apologise, and excused herself a moment later, flitting away with her wine glass refilling as she went. Edwin’s eyes followed her a moment before catching the gaze of who was still sat in Edwin’s chair at the table. It wasn’t a particularly friendly look served by the Minister before he charmed his shirt without further ado.

“Minis-.”

Edwin swept by, uninterested in rejoining the table. I think I need some air, was not the phrase his legal adviser used ordinarily. The Minister had come to understand Eva Kuester had resilience and pluck. She’d been enjoying herself up until then, as far as he could tell. It was only polite to check she was alright, unless of course she had excused herself to powder her nose rather than take air.

There was crowd of people in the room, now up and milling from tables as the formal presentations were over, and some were departing to leave while others moved to congratulate winners and mingle with the Prophet’s advertisers to keep them sweet. Eva was three inches shorter than him, not that her heels ever gave that impression, even in the thick carpet of Level One, but heels, height and her lesser recognition to Edwin meant her route across the room was impeded enough for Edwin to spot her ahead, and tail.

He stepped out into the night air, and slipped his hands into his smart trouser pockets. Her eyes glanced from his standard ruddy cheeks to behind him, checking for someone else. She still had her wine glass, but Edwin had left his glass on the table before he presented.

“Do you know that wizard?” Eva asked, and combined with her body language, Edwin drew the conclusion something untoward had definitely happened in his absence. He glanced back over his own shoulder before nodding.

“Darlus Scruffin,” the Minister explained, just loud enough for his colleague to hear. “Used to be less-than-affectionately known as Scruffy. He’s a long-time reporter with them, now Deputy Editor.” Edwin breathed in a decent lungful of fresh air, recognising how stuffy it had become inside. “Still a bit of a prick too, by your reaction.”

He gave Eva a reassuring smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes. A sense of support from him, but not condoning Scruffin’s behaviour. “You alright?”

The minister’s response was followed by another of his smiles. These smiles never quite reached his eyes, they always lacked warmth and unnerved her. But he’d come out to check things were alright; that was a step in the right direction towards decent relations in the office. The whole evening had been heading that way until ‘Darlus Scruffin got involved.

He asked once more if she was alright and Eva smiled genuinely.

“I’m absolutely fine, Sir.” she folded her arms, wine glass still in hand. The cool night air was causing goose bumps for form on her skin. “But yes, a prick is probably a word I would use too. Or… Arsch mit Ohren, as the Germans say. A walking arse with ears. And hands!” Her eyes widened, thinking about the wizard’s hands and how she’d have preferred to break his fingers.

“He thought I was your wife and decided he wanted a piece. I’m less insulted by that than the fact that I was labelled a professional gold digger. Apparently that is the only way for you to find affection.” Eva gave a shrug, feeling like she’d passed on what she probably should.

“I’m sure I could find a law in some old tome about banishing an Arsch mit Ohren from the country to some tiny island near Antartica that only eat fish guts. A ministerial decree.”

He got an answer this time. Kuester had taken the time to compose herself, and he had been polite and gone beyond his basic duties as a superior.
“… Arsch mit Ohren… a walking arse with ears, and hands!” Edwin was amused at the comparison, his shoulders hunching at the thought. It was a good expression, he’d have to try and remember that.

“He thought I was your wife-” Eva explained, and Edwin’s gaze dropped respectfully, rocking from heels to the balls of his feet in his shiny Balmorals. He'd have followed it up with a cheeky one day you might be, if you’d like a year ago. He had no qualms about flirting with pretty women, especially not pretty and intelligent ones such as Eva. However, she seemed to have heard suggestions that he only attracted financial chancers. A safe assumption now.

“… near Antartica that only eat fish guts. A ministerial decree.”

“I bet you could!” Edwin agreed, “Your knowledge for such is unrivalled, Eva.” Safe compliment surely. “The whole country seems obsessed on a low level that I’m not married, so the likes of Scruffy are bound to get over excited.” The Minister rolled his eyes and let his shoulders drop. “I hope it hasn’t put a damper on your evening?”

The whole country wanted to know why their minister wasn’t married and the reporter had decided to marry him off at the first sight when out with a witch. Eva felt as if she had a feeling why her boss wasn’t married. A smile that so rarely reached the eyes wasn’t welcoming and it certainly didn’t put someone at ease. It was difficult to be truly comfortable around someone that didn’t smile.

“I hope it hasn’t put a damper on your evening?” The minister asked and Eva shook her head, frowning.

“Well this evening did disrupt my schedule,” she responded quietly, “it needed to come up big and make it worth my while working overtime. Not anything can make me sacrifice a night alone with my dog.” Eyebrows rose, showing she was joking before she took a sip of her refilled wine glass.

“People are obsessed because they know so little, Minister. We are curious things; and the personal lives of those you know so little about are fascinating for most.” A shrug lifted her shoulders. “You are a closed book to the public, so they try to understand what they can.”

A thought suddenly sparked in Eva’s mind and her brows lowered as she considered.
“Mister Scruffin, he may have been trying to get dirt on you, through me.”

“… Not anything can make me sacrifice a night alone with my dog.” Kuester teased him. He allowed her to, let her speak. It would be rude to interrupt.

“You are a closed book to the public, so they try to understand what they can.”
“And fill in the gaps with colouring pencils.” Edwin agreed ruefully.

“Mister Scruffin, he may have been trying to get dirt on you, through me.”

“Quite possibly,” Edwin agreed, nodding, “or just closer to you in general. Either way, you did not appear to share the same aspiration.” A look of mild concern crossed the older wizard’s features. “I obliviated him once,” he told Eva, looking away from her as he recalled the memory, “operational necessity of course.” The Minister pressed his lips together and raised his eyes to the sky. “Maybe the colouring pencils are more kind to me than reality.”

Speaking of dirt… Edwin looked down, and drew his hands from his pockets to better inspect his shirt, thankful she drank Rosé, but saying nothing of it.
“I’m sure I can trust my legal assistant, at the very least she’d negotiate a high price for the information, correct?” He asked, looking up at Eva with a smirk. “Or maybe I can work on that Antarctic decree.”

The prospect of Scruffin trying to gain information or a story from her was far more appealing than that he’d simply been trying to get closer to her for his own personal agenda. Eva had always been a somewhat shallow person and this handsy wizard definitely didn’t fit the mould of acceptable dates. Not that his appearance even mattered when he’d presumed she was the unscrupulous and cheating trophy wife of the older Minister for Magic.

He was looking at his shirt, the shirt he’d managed to clean after she’d emptied her drink over him. Better accidently having done that than purposefully throwing it in the face of Darlus Scruffin.

Then was that a joke? Eva’s brows rose minutely as she stared at her boss.

“The highest price,” she offered a smirk back, “I’m in need of a larger house in a nicer area.” It was cold out in the alley, but it was refreshing after such a stuffy room. “Don’t take it personally, Sir.”

“I’ll try not to.” Edwin replied, sarcastic, and gave a brief but genuine smile.

He slipped his black jacket from his shoulders and approached, dropping it over Eva. He was much broader in torso, so it rather swamped her, but was decidedly warmer. Edwin was habitually a warmer man, and didn’t feel the temperature, still riding the last of the adrenaline from standing on stage.

“We don’t have to stay too much longer.” He assured Eva, now beside her. He turned to face the door they had left from, “my duty’s done, and there’s only so much I can tolerate the two-faced company of people who write column inches in criticism of our every decision. I know one should keep them on side, but trying to on nights like this feels rather desperate if you ask me.” Edwin folded his arms. “They’re only hoping to ply us both with enough wine to say something.” It was cynical of him, but a rather more honest opinion than Edwin usually offered.

“Just try to pour your wine over Scruffin next time,” the Minister suggested. “Nightcap in it for you, if you hit target.” He stepped away, looking as if he might be considering returning to the fray.

 Perhaps Glass wasn’t as tightly wound and chauvinistic as Eva had professed to her friend. Perhaps he needed warming up, getting to know. The new role of Minister for Magic was daunting and saddening taking on a new staff was intimidating. Perhaps Eva could have given him the benefit of the doubt? He seemed far more personable this evening. Yet, it was possible that that was simply down to wine.

But she’d caught the one genuine smile.

Either way, she was surprisingly grateful for the jacket to block the cold wind from the shoulders and arms that were now covered in goose bumps. The jacket was quite enormous on her, hanging down low, but it was appreciated nonetheless. She said nothing, but offered a small smile of thanks as he continued, explaining their lack of obligation to stay for much longer. But that would be passing up on the free wine. He probably didn’t care, but she was glad to be out of the house.

“Nightcap in it for you, if you hit target.” It sounded like permission, Eva considered as she glanced back to the door Glass looked like he planned on returning through.

“Done.” The witch stepped past him towards the door and offered the jacket back. Now that would look interesting if she walked back through the room with the minister’s jacket thrown over her shoulders.

It only took a few moments to make it back to the table where Scruffin had returned to his own seat. With a smile and a nervous expression, Eva slipped herself into the seat beside him.

“I’m sorry about that, Edwin would freak if he knew what you’d insinuated.” she spoke softly, femininely.

“I didn’t say anything, love.” The wizard drawled, his eyes flashing to where they really shouldn’t have.

“Other than that, my boss has married a profession gold digger willing to cheat on him.” Her tone went cold, professional as she leaned in. “I’m the minister’s lawyer, not his wife. I suggest,” the wine began to slip, pouring down over his lap slowly. “that you write a wonderful article on how his presence here bolstered everyone’s spirits and how his speech blew you away or I will take you for everything you’ve got and make sure that they only place willing to employ you is the Quibbler” She took his hand and slipped her glass between his fingers.

“It was a pleasure, Mister Scruffin. We should do this again. I see a wonderful professional relationship between the two of us blossoming already.” Now, the witch did smile as she stood and left the table.

Eva looked more awake and inspired than she had for the past hour of listening to acceptance speeches and sponsor presentations. Edwin slipped his long jacket back on and adjusted his collar before returning inside, the pair of them splitting before they reached their original table. Kuester went straight for the kill, Edwin gleaned, as he was quickly caught for conversation. He was not anonymous by any stretch, and he had a certain obligation to be there and talk to the people he represented.

“… professional relationship between the two of us blossoming already.”

Kuester’s voice carried, and Scruffin stood up abruptly in her wake. He looked more than a little perturbed, and had drunk a decent amount to celebrate. As Deputy Editor of the Prophet, he was there in an official capacity as well as to keep the sponsors and guests happy.

“Willing to do his dirty work, clearly.” Scruffin called after her, also heard clearly by those around them, and pointed to Edwin before yanking his wand from his jacket to deal with the wine.

The international correspondant speaking to Edwin about a recent crisis overseas which the British Ministry were despatching aid for, paused mid-sentence, and she and Edwin stared at Eva and Scruffin’s exchange with that discomfort of someone making a scene in a party, potentially spoiling the atmosphere for all.

“Willing to do his dirty work, clearly.” Scruffin ruined the perfect exit by making a scene and drawing attention. While a lover of attention many years ago, Eva was far less comfortable with such now.

She grimaced, her expression turning to that of mild concern and nervousness as she twisted back to the unpleasant wizard with wandering hands.
“I said I was sorry.” Her voice, a loud whisper to be heard across the table where he stood. Her accent was stronger than usual. People were watching.

“Please don’t make a scene, Mr Scruffin.” she sounded worried, really uncomfortable but evidently having some pity for the man. “This is your party.” She glanced around, as if surprised by the onlookers and completely confused about the reaction. “I think he needs to go home.”

The plan was backfiring. Edwin probably shouldn’t have encouraged Eva - appealing to the mischievous aspects of her personality brought out by inebriation. They had been at such odds of late, he had seized the opportunity to improve their relations. She was much better on side than off. Unfortunately now she was at the centre of attention in a room full of Prophet staff and advertisers.

“Please don’t make a scene, Mr Scruffin… I think he needs to go home.” Kuester announced quietly to the onlookers.

“Come now Darlus,” Edwin attempted in placation, “You’ve been squeezing dear Kuester all evening for the inside word on your old classmate, Musgrave. She’s above a leak, well, other than from a glass it seems.” He gestured at the Deputy Editor’s sodden crotch.

He needn’t have considered their next steps to escape the hellish social evening, as he felt his pocketwatch in his breast pocket. The feeling interrupted his flow, and he pressed it open in one of his hands with a frown.
“A Minister is never off duty, gentlemen, I regret.” The mirth of the mischief with Scruffin was gone from his face, replaced with the formal, mildly concerned expression he wore about Level One daily. “Nothing to hold the front page for,” he told the international correspondent, “but maybe the third. Kuester.” He extended his arm to his adviser, and nodded to the others around them before they made to leave. “Thank you for the brief but brilliant evening.”

End