Sasha didn't need to be told twice.  He offered the little witch at the front desk a hasty thank you and slightly disingenuous I'm sure I'll find my way before hurrying past her in, presumably, the direction of Balfour Spectre's office.  Even as he forced himself to stride through the array of cubicles, desks and fluttering paper airplanes with the purpose of someone who knew the path well, he could hear Moira's voice in the back of his head chiding him for his determination to get lost.  Surely, there could only be so many options, right?  How many offices could there be?

He hoped, at the very least, he'd recognize Balfour Spectre among the sea of unfamiliar faces.  They'd met, briefly, during the previous year's career fair at Hogwarts though the location had precluded anything more than a superficial, curious-student interaction.  He knew of the man through Johann, of course.  Not that any of that was going to help Sasha locate the right office. 

Luckily, Sasha managed to spot the name plate on the door before passing the correct office completely.  He drew up on his heels, took a moment to straighten his collar and smooth the lapels of robes before knocking and letting himself in once invited. 

Polite formalities were the safe, default mannerisms when approaching a situation where the style of interactions were vague or unknown.  Which, in Sasha's case, was most of the time - especially when navigating this side of the newly-discovered family tree.  His step-father had attempted to drill some basic rules of business into his head and Sasha had been running through them on his way to the Ministry. 

He extended a business-like hand.  "Mr. Spectre, I appreciate you taking the time to meet with me.  I'm sure you're quite busy so I'll try not to keep you too long.  But, I was hoping to speak with you about the what happened with that home up in Keswick.  More specifically, well, about the animals they found there.  Assuming they ... did find them."  He'd known, in the back of his mind, that there was a chance this would be a brief and pointless visit.  That the story hadn't ended well for them. 

He was, somehow, managing to do three things at once.

Mrs Lanningham very helpfully reminded Balfour about his appointment when he got back into his office, having just delivered an onsite briefing to the Nundu Supervision Squad. It was one of those days - running between office and field with barely a breath to spare in between. Luckily the rest of this afternoon's engagements wouldn't necessitate leaving the Ministry. It gave him the luxury to change into something more comfortable than their godsawful jumpsuits.

Which was how he found himself wrenching a sweater over his shirtsleeves while trying to light a cigarette and enjoy a cup of tea. The door swung open. Balfour tugged the green jumper all the way down, faced by the young wizard offering a handshake.

"Sasha! Hello, hello." His cigarette drooped dead from one corner of his mouth but he quickly shook the extended hand before reaching for his wand to light up. "It's Balfour, please, my father's Mr Spectre. And my grandfather's old bastard Spectre so don't get any ideas about that either."

Somewhere in distant Aberdeen, Balthair's ears were probably burning.

Balfour waved a hand towards the chairs positioned in front of his desk; only the one chair was empty, others occupied by stacks of folders and reference books. "Make yourself at home. You have a personal interest in the Keswick creatures, do you? They're mostly alive." Last month's incident at the manor felt like decades ago right now.

The world had gone upside down and then the right way up since then. He was a father now. Gods. Balfour didn't take his place behind the desk, leaning against the front of it instead and gesturing at the two steaming mugs near the edge.

"Mrs L brought in some tea for us. How do you take yours?" he reached for a tall bottle of Firewhiskey that looked like it rarely left the table. "Sugar, milk, whiskey?" The Scotsman poured a dram into his own mug.

Sasha blinked, not entirely sure if Balfour considered being called old bastard Spectre by Sasha a legitimate concern.  Just in case, Sasha shook his head slightly for good measure.  "I ... that would be highly unlikely.  My governess would probably find a way to smack me from the grave."  He took the offered seat, unfastening the bottom button of his outer coat. 

Though mostly alive was more then Sasha had initially hoped for, he still grimaced at the confirmation that not all had survived.  Hopefully, the ones Abby had been closest to were among those that survived.  He turned his attention to the offer of tea before answering Balfour's question.  "Thank you.  Straight black is fine.  I have a match this afternoon, so the whiskey's probably not a good idea."  He still hadn't gotten used to adults that weren't his parents freely offering him alcohol. 

"From what I understand, there was a variety animals at the property.  I'm friends with Abby Reid and I know she cared about them.  I wasn't sure what had ... or would become of them, especially the mundane ones like the horses."  Perhaps it was his own prejudice but it always seemed like the Ministry held less vested interest in people or animals that weren't from the magical world. 

"I'd like to offer to take them in.  I don't know what Johann has said about me but I'm ... I know horses."  He was really hoping Johann had mentioned something.  "I have plenty of land and the means to take care of them.  If that's an option." 

Balfour laughed, wondering if the young wizard was being witty about the governess line. It was rather odd for him to meet other people who were his god-daughter's age - Alex was unusually mature, and sharp to the point of impertinence, in contrast to many of her peers. Sasha seemed almost the opposite; vaguely naive and mollifyingly formal. In some ways, a pleasant departure from rascally Spectre cousins.

"The horses are in our care, we do have a shelter for non-magical creatures." Bal reassured his visitor as he took a quick sip of his tea, which was a welcome sensation after being outdoors for so long. "Poor things were in a state."

He grimaced at the recollection, having himself been one of the party from level four who had seen to the animals in Keswick. The mistreatment of animals was not an unusual theme in Beasts Division but Balfour had felt great anger and sadness upon discovering what had happened on that estate. Especially to the unicorns, who had been bred to unnaturally tolerate the presence and cruelty of men.

            "...plenty of land and the means to take care of them.  If that's an option."

"It is." Balfour turned away from his thoughts, back to the matter at hand. "Johann did mention. I've been looking forward to meeting you properly, actually." His partner had spoken about Sasha at length and, in fact, did so in the same tone he took with Adelia: like a younger sibling. It was sweet.

Almost everything Joh did was sweet, if not terrifyingly sexy. Mm. Better save that thought for later. Balfour set down his mug and leaned forward slightly, arms crossed. "If you're keen on taking them in, we can arrange that. There's some procedure to go over - you need to submit a written proposal, and in turn we'll send a team to inspect the new environment for the creatures."

He paused, thoughtful. Sasha apparently had plenty of resources at his disposal. "Have you considered the unicorns? Although it would require further certification."

Sasha grimaced at the thought of the state of the animals, shaking his head slightly.  "I can only imagine."  It was a habitual and almost ritualistic response.  An attempt to summarize a situation without really having to contemplate too deeply.  A situation that should never have happened, on so many different levels.  But, it wasn't an entirely honest response and Sasha's brow furrowed as he shook his head, again. 

"Actually, I don't think I can."  This was one aspect of the world to which Sasha had always been very sheltered.  Those TV programs that followed animal control officers on their daily investigations were the closest he'd ever come to seeing animals that had not been well cared for.  As horrible and sad as those images might be, the television screen seemed to have a way of distancing you from what you were seeing.  "How many made it out?  How are they recovering?" 

Grinning, Sasha picked up the teacup and cradled it between his hands.  "I've been wanting to meet you, as well.  Without the complication of classmates.  He's mentioned you enough that it seemed like I should already know you.  Part of the unfolding of the family."  But, given the multi-tasking state Balfour had been in when he first entered, Sasha suspected this was neither the time nor the place, so he turned his attention back to business. 

"I am ke-  I would be happy to take them in.  I can get a proposal submitted this evening.  Is there anything I should be sure to include beyond the obvious?  Housing arrangements.  Care plan.  Do I need to submit any proof of financial means or NEWT scores?"  He had no concerns about an inspection of the property; the place was rarely anything but immaculate.  "My schedule is quite open until classes start in October, so I can make myself available anytime." 

Sasha stared at Balfour for several breaths before shaking his head.  "I haven't."  He admitted.  "I assumed they'd go some place, I don't know, official?  I mean, if they need a place, I'd ... I'd be thrilled to take them.  Assuming, you know, a male caretaker isn't a problem?" 

       "How many made it out?  How are they recovering?" 

"Of the four horses, two. And of the five unicorns, three." Balfour glanced back at his desk and reached for a folder that was precariously balancing on a stack of books about Centaur culture. He handed it over to Sasha. "The horses are surprisingly hardy but the unicorns are failing to adjust to the natural environment of our sanctuary."

The Ministry of Magic supported several reservations and sanctuaries for magical creatures across Great Britain - dragons certainly took up a great deal of these places but there were areas for creatures who were less territorial and therefore more likely to share habitats with other species. Unfortunately for the surviving unicorns, these were sometimes not suitable for animals born and bred in abusive, domestic settings.

Bal smiled at his visitor's eagerness, always warmed when people referred to how Johann spoke of him. As time plodded onwards it seemed that the Spectre clan would only grow vaster in its connections. His lover's family was his family.

            "...open until classes start in October, so I can make myself available anytime."

"Mrs L will let you know about the paperwork, on your way out later. Experience with creatures is always helpful with these things but I'm sure you have nothing to worry about, eh?" he grinned at Sasha, recalling the studious nature described to him by Joh. "The unicorns were bred to allow handling by a male. An abusive one, yes, but they are easily approached by wizards now."

There was a sad sigh in his voice. A pause, as he lifted his mug to take another sip of tea - a pretext to wait out his anger upon thinking about the aberrant treatment in Keswick. Balfour cleared his throat, forcing a smile. "I recommend hiring a witch to tend to them, on occasion. In old age they might revert to more instinctual habits," he explained levelly.

"Are you looking forward to classes in October then?" Balfour changed the subject in an attempt to lighten the mood. "I hope you're making the most of your freedom until then."

Despite having prepared himself for the possibility that none of the animals had made it out alive, it was still hard to hear that only half had been rescued by the Ministry.  Sasha shifted uncomfortably in his seat and, for a moment, considered asking which ones.  But, he knew chances were slim that the Ministry rescue crew would have recognized the individual animals in the terms that Abby had known them.  Even with limited information he had, he could imagine there hadn’t been personalized name plates adorning individual stalls. 

The ones that did make it out, though, would without a doubt have a future that would look very different from the past behind them.   And the unicorns...he would have...no.  Not have.  He would be sharing his home with three unicorns!  It was so hard to imagine. 

“I’m sure I’ll Be able to find help, sir,” Sasha offered, with a grin.  “I’ve recently hired a house elf and I suspect she’ll enjoy helping look after them.  And, I’m sure Abby will be happy to see them, as well.”  A goofy grin twitched at the corner of his mouth. 

If only he could go back in time and tell his 10 year old self that there would be magic and unicorns in his future.   

“And, if they do return to their natural behavior, they can always return to the sanctuary or I can move them to our property in the Black Forest.  Whatever. Is best for them.”  Sasha took the offered file and took a quick, curious glance at the contents before looking up at Balfour.  “Am I able to borrow these to look over?”

"Are you looking forward to classes in October then?  I hope you're making the most of your freedom until then."

A flicker of surprise flashed across Sasha’s features at the change of topic but it was replaced with a pleased grin.  “I am, yes, sir.  On both accounts.  I’ve never had this much free time to myself in my life; I’m feeling a little spoiled and half-regretting giving it up in a few weeks.  I've mostly been traveling and getting settling into life outside of a school.”  Before starting another. 

“But, I’m very much looking forward to classes.  I really can't wait to see where I am in comparison to my classmates, after learning independently for so many years.  I admit, though, I am a little apprehensive of life at university outside of classes.  I think I’m starting to understand why more wizards don’t go this route.  It’s all a bit-“

Sasha caught himself and blushed.  It had taken a remarkably short period of time to grow comfortable talking to Balfour but it was the middle of the man's workday.  "I'm sorry.  I'm sure you have plenty of important things to do; I shouldn't keep you from your work."

Balfour noted how the younger wizard's face had lit up on mentioning Abby Reid - she must be a special young woman and hopefully very different from her older sister, with whom he'd gone to school. Siblings could share many traits but he knew from personal experience that they could vary even with smaller age gaps, like with himself and Nathaira. Or maybe Abby was just like Aileen, and Sasha was infatuated.

He tried not to shudder at the thought.

            "Am I able to borrow these to look over?"

"That's a copy - please do. Just owl them back by the month's end." Bal smiled and finished his tea, much revived by the dram of whiskey that flavoured it. He didn't expect the sudden outpouring of words from his visitor - it reminded him a bit of how Johann could get carried away talking about work.

Or, for that matter, of how Balfour himself talked shop, often without meaning to. "Don't apologise," he laughed, crossing his arms across his chest and grinning at Sasha. "It's a good sign, being enthusiastic about what's next. I travelled quite a bit after Hogwarts, as part of my training. There's nothing like it to open the mind. I'm sure you'll be refreshed by the time you start at... Cambridge, was it? Not Oxford?"

His good knowledge of the muggle realm didn't stop him from making the odd mistake. Especially when they didn't concern subjects of personal experience.

"You've caught me at a good time." Balfour glanced past the boy at the clock that hung over the doorway, eternal reminder of things to come. "But I do have to run quite soon, Manticores again. You'll have dinner with us some time soon, aye?" he met Sasha in the eye with a genuinely hopeful expression.

It had been nice chatting to someone Johann was so fond of - and he knew it would be more enjoyable, under leisurely circumstances.

Nodding, Sasha set the file in his lap.  "Yes, Cambridge," he confirmed, with a grin.  "Churchill College, to be specific.  They - it's a bit complicated," he finished, vaguely.  It was a strange system, all around, but he'd visited a number of times over the summer and was starting to feel like he was getting his bearings. 

Yet, however complicated the various colleges and the academic schedule was at Cambridge, it was unlikely to be nearly as complicated as manticores.  At least, Cambridge didn't eat you and turn you into stone.  Not literally.  Even with seven years in the wizarding world under his belt, phrases like 'manitcores again' still sounded incredibly exotic and mystifying.  Sasha chuckled, slightly, and shook his head.  "Good luck with that."  Not that, presumably, he needed it. 

A genuine smile met the dinner invitation and Sasha nodded.  "Ja!  Of course!  It would be an honor and a privilege.  I only have one more trip planned before classes start, so my schedule is largely flexible.  Just let me know when and what kind of wine to bring."  With a grin, Sasha pushed himself to his feet and extended his hand, once more.

"It was wonderful to meet you, properly."  Outside of school and away from prying eyes and ears.  "And, thank you so much for your help and your time.  I know this will be good for everyone involved."  For the animals, for Abby and for himself. 

Tucking the file under his arm, he found his way back to the front and Mrs Lanningham's desk.  Adopting the etiquette lessons of his youth in a way that might have even made his mother proud, he collected the necessary paperwork from her.  He hoped that, by impressing her, he might ensure his paperwork hit the top of the pile when it was returned. 

Now, to tell Giada that three unicorns would be settling into the Schlagenweit estate.

Unicorns!