It was an unusual and mystifying concoction of emotions that overcame the Auror. Anger would spark viciously and then simmer down into a bazaar mix of dread and anxiety and then spark back into anger and back down again. This summersault of sensations was not directed at her fellow Auror, the likely recipient, but rather at the woman sprawled on top of him. That was even more perplexing. Tamis was rather fond of the Department Head; one of the few bigwigs she actually liked.

And Gertrudis was not making it any easier on Tamis to figure out.

For a long moment Raynor just stood there, gray eyes uncharacteristically unfocused as she tried to make sense of the scene unfolding before her and shun it at the same time. Where they really trying to… she would not put it past Archer, but this was a little bit public … But Covadonga … … had she just asked for advice? Finally Raynor’s eyelids slid downward very slowly and she blinked.

Radley did not have to seem so happy about the situation. Especially while he was on duty.

Despite every instinct that told her to turn around, forget she had seen anything, and be on her merry way, the petite woman took a couple of precarious, weary steps forward, her cheeks heating ever so slightly. Whether it was annoyance or discomfiture was up to the interpreter. Face as stony as rock, she inched forward, leaned over and – shot a baleful glare at Archer Radley overtop Covadonga Gertrudis head.

“A button.” She stated plainly out loud.

The woman’s blasted hair was caught on one of the buttons on the chest of what was left of the front of his robes. There was still a great deal that left to the imagination, but it was better than the alternative.

Sending the other Auror another sideways glance and half muttering to herself, she bent down on her haunches and stuck her hand between the cusp of the woman’s head and the man’s chest. In a couple of a few easy twists, and minus one strain or two, she managed to free the locks of golden hair.

“That should do it,” she said, nose twitching.

“Of course it is a button!  Where else here would my hair be entangled?  You know as well as I professional witches and wizard robes do not use zippers,” even during these modern times the robes of the Magical World liked to keep it simple.  Nothing fancy, the mode of closure usually tied up or buttoned down.

Covadonga could not help but wince when Tamis went a bit hard on the roots.  Besides that there was no other noise or expression on her face.  In her field she had gained many scars and endured plenty of pain, all of which she had been able to keep covered up or healed the non-magical ones.  The witch was not too fond of showing them off like some of her colleagues. 

She considers them to be reminders of mistakes rather than marks of experience.  Already there were four puncture scars from the runespoor bite on her thigh and the Diffendo a little bit lower than that.  With all the other marks there her right side was a piece of work.

Sitting up and sighing with relief once she got Speedy out of her hair too, she looked back up at the Head Auror and smiled from the floor.  “Thank you so much, Auror Raynor!” using her formal title.  Well, they were in the presence of one of her employees, who was still for some reason giggling like a fourteen year old girl.  After glaring at him for a second she began undoing her knotted braid and began to comb all the tangles out with her hands.

“So how is work, ma’am?” her brow suddenly furrowed in all seriousness.  She knew the situation about Miss Katz, the dear librarian who had been helping her get copies of books to her new Lupin Library.  Hopefully there would be a break in the case soon.

Looking to the side she saw her raven splayed out on his back, his legs curled up in the air, and his black tongue lolling out the of his beak.  Rolling her eyes she scooted one of her legs over to poke him with her boot she mumbled, “Oh, stop it, you drama llama.”

Archer didn’t intervene in the little tete-a-tete between the two.  For some reason, it only made him smirk a little more, considering it was a little argument on his account.  Who said that sort of vanity was only for southern women of the age of emancipation?  He’d let them argue a little bit more, sit back and enjoy the moment, he thought.  He couldn’t help but snort a little though, sitting up on his elbows when Tamis bent over them, acting like she was surprised or something.

“Hello Ray,” he greeted warmly, grinning at her.  She was not so amused, but that didn’t mean he had to be miserable.  It was too good to just be serious about. 

Whatever she thought, it was clearly not quite as innocent as it was.  Good, maybe she’d get the idea sooner or later, he thought, and watched as she took to the hair and the button with her typical force, though he was surprised that she was going about it so diligently.  In a little less than an instant, they were untangled and most of the fun had ended – though she was still sitting on him, which wasn’t as uncomfortable as some might have thought.  Ray certainly looked like she was going to punish him later.  It might have been worth it. 

Shrugging at Covadonga’s glare, Archer tried to cease chuckling, but it was quite difficult.  She was oblivious, Ray looked pissed, and he was in the middle of the whole thing.  He might as well have enjoyed it while he waited for his punishment to be laid down upon him.  It was clearly going to come in the form of doing some sort of demeaning task, like washing out trainee-equipment or something, maybe polishing her collection of militaristic boots.  Whatever it was, he would talk his way out of it – maybe. 

Thankfully, Covi seemed to be engaging in conversation fairly normally with Ray and he looked at the bird on the ground, who looked somewhat dead.  He hoped he didn’t kill it… that would be bad.  He didn’t know if he should mention it… he had already dealt with the insane amount of innuendo that she just didn’t pick up on.  He didn’t want to deal with crying.  Naturally though, he was surprised that she showed no concern and his eyebrows shot up.  “He okay?” he asked from his position on the ground.

A faint crimson color tainted the Auror’s cheeks at the other woman’s bafflement over where her hair could have possibly been tangled. The fact of the matter was that Raynor had not suspected the culprit to have been hair. She, however, kept that little revelation to herself. As a matter of fact, it was best not to respond at all.

Archer, damn him, gave her the perfect outing.

“Auror Radley,” She responded sweetly, returning the grin with a far too pleasant smile. He was so dead.

Now propped up on his elbows, the fellow Auror was still chuckling. How a man could be both charming and grating on her every nerve at the same time was an utter mystery, but it seemed to be an ability inherently granted universally to males. Still on her haunches, Raynor attentively lifted one of the torn portions of his robes and then released it, allowing it to flop back down again. She did not say a word. One of her eyebrows perked and she simply stared. She did not think she had to say a word.

Thankfully for him, the still oblivious Covadonga saved him this time.  The woman was so obviously clueless that Tamis felt a tinge of guilt for not having been as meticulous with the strains of hair as she could have been. She had not purposely intended the blonde locks harm but there had been a significant amount of irritation. Tilting her head respectfully downward, she acknowledged the verbalized appreciation.

Her gaze also took in the keeled-over raven wearily. How it had got in that state, she could not phantom. She just hoped Archer had not killed it. She could not be angry with the man if she had to turn around and defend him for bird slaughter.

“Work has been busy,” she replied, also sobering. “Too many dead ends.” Ends that she desperately hoped would not end in any more mortality. 

Upon being poked the poor bird flopped over onto its belly and huffed.  No Oscar for him today.

After scooting off the Auror she crossed her legs, paying no attention whatsoever to Speedy as he waddled over toward her.  You see, she had been distracted by a glimmer in the corner of her eye.

“MINKIE!” she shouted at the rodent, who was viciously gnawing away at its prize.  “Bad, BAD Minkie!”  The Niffler, realizing she had been caught, crouched down and turned its ears back, her eyes full of guilt.  “Get back here this instant, little lady,” Covadonga ordered, pointing to the ground next to her.  The wee beast quickly obeyed, keeping its nose down as far as it could with the coin in its mouth, and ran with its belly low to the ground.  A vision of pure submission.  After reaching the spot pointed out to her, she timidly crawled up and into her human’s lap.

Speedy could not have looked more amused.

Rolling her eyes she turned her focus back on the conversation, her solemnity returning, “I am sorry to hear that, Miss Raynor…” she hoped Akiva would be found soon.  Preferably alive.  Even more preferably unscathed.  With each passing hour, nay, minute the hopes of finding her in any favorable condition dwindled.

“Is there anything at all I can do to help?”

Glancing up at Tam, particularly when she reached over and grabbed the torn piece of his robe, the Auror gave his most charming smile.  The corners of his eyes crinkled (crow’s feet, damn them), and he looked at her expression then down at the torn swatch that she let fall back.  “I thought torn things were all the rage, Ray.  Adds a little to the rough, rugged persona, doesn’t it?” he smirked, hoping she would just bristle even more.  If he was already going to die, he might as well make his hole as comfortably deep as possible. 

Letting out a sigh of relief, Archer was glad the bird was not dead.  He didn’t know what he would do if it were – the way she told him that they were all gifts, that meant he couldn’t just hand her a few galleons and find a replacement.  It was just a lucky thing it wasn’t on his shoulders.  He was also fairly sure that somewhere down the road it would get him back if that happened.  He gave a little glare to the bird, especially when she scooted off.

It wasn’t that he was necessarily going to say it was the preferred way he liked to be, but hey, it never hurt anyone to enjoy a little bit of close quarters.  He knew, just by the way Ray looked at the situation, it had perturbed her – he assumed because he was on duty and could have had a photograph taken at any point and some kind of crazy story written that she would have to deal with later, but hey, it was a relative dead zone. 

Hopefully, he sobered up at the more serious talk; there would be no more dead zones they would locate.  He knew the chances of finding anyone after one day were slim, after almost eight?  It was nearly impossible.  They were trying, but with no leads, it was hard to devote too much time.  He couldn’t even imagine being some of the people involved – at least all he had to deal with everyone else being a mess, not himself.  Sitting up properly now, the Auror brushed off his back and then rubbed his temple.  “Just keep your ear to the ground,” he began, “and let us know if you hear anything,” he glanced at Ray, thinking it was the best idea to date.

The lower lid of Raynor’s right eye twitched involuntary at the cheeky response from Radley.  It took incredible self will not to let her lips turn up in response to that grin. A blind and deaf dunce would have been affected by that grin. But she was supposed to be angry with him. And Tamis Raynor did not smile in public; it was bad for the image.

In most situations, Archer Radley had a favorable advantage over most other Aurors: his height. Many of the Corps had suffered physical abuse from the Head Auror at some point or another, a pulled ear or two, a bop on the top of the head with the morning Prophet if they were caught snoozing. These forms of endearment had not been bestowed upon Archer simply because he was out of reach and always seemed to miraculously be on his best behavior when she came floating through the cubicles. For once, the other Aurors head was almost level with hers. It was too perfect of an opportunity to pass up.

Without much change in expression, she victoriously lifted a hand and – slapped Archer upside the back of the head. Not hard, mind, he needed what was left of the brain up there, but hard enough.

They would address the ramifications of the mutilated uniform later.

Her mood improved when the other woman finally extracted herself from Radley’s lap. It now looked as if they were having a small Ministry pow-wow in the middle of the Festival instead of initiating a small-scale scandal. She felt even better when the bird, raven?, finally stirred. Another possible crisis adverted, though a third one appeared right on the horizon.

The Niffler currently under Covadonga’s scrutiny was cast a wary eye and the Head Auror actually scooted back an inch or two, increasing the distance between it and her. Magical creatures and Tamis Raynor did not have a history of getting along. Cats, dogs, and owls all seemed to co-exist on neutral territory, but the more exotic they became the worse luck Raynor seemed to have.

While she had heard rumors of the Head of the RCMC’s ability with animals, she had never actually witnessed it first hand. The Auror had to admit that it was rather impressive.

She grunted slightly, but whether it was at the ‘Miss’ appellation or in response to the needless apology was hard to say. Raynor was regardless attempting to find a polite way of saying that there was not much any of them could do at this point without much luck.  Radley, however, saved her the trouble.

“Sound advice,” she sighed in response. It was unhealthy to dwell on the prospects too much.

There was an undignified snort as Covi watched Auror Radley get his due for being a cheeky monkey.  Taking great care not to fall into a full-blown laugh she covered up her smile with a hand.  Speedy, however, had no concept of propriety and laughed aloud the only way he could, “CAW! Cah, ca, ca, cah, cah, caw!” which only ended up with his human’s two fingers pinching his beak shut.

“I cannot take you anywhere, can I?” Covadonga admonished him, paying no mind to his surprised wriggling and flapping about.  He had two perfectly working nostrils, she said to herself, the blasted bird could breathe well enough.

At least Minkie had a turn at being amused for once, but the Niffler did her best to keep her silly squeaks to herself lest she suffer the same fate.

Once she was sure Speedy had gotten the message, she released him.  After a deep sigh and an apologetic look to the human pair present, Covi went back to her hair, moving on to braiding the mess back up again.

“I will do that, then,” she mumbled upon hearing the advice.

“How are things on the Runespoor front then, ma’am?” she asked in an attempt to change the somber subject.  Her blue eyes went to Archer once, unsure if he was intimately aware of the case.

Archer should have known that was going to happen.  He was usually able to avoid physical punishment by Raynor, mostly because he was too tall for her to get to, but on the ground, he was at perfect height for the gnome to strike.  She slapped him upside the head just hard enough to jostle his brain and he reached up instinctively to feel the area and raised his eyebrows at her with the most disgusted expression on his face.  She really needed to learn how to deal with him better.  

"What the bloody hell, Ray?" he grumbled like a big baby, shaking his head at her.  His chastisement of the woman wouldn't phase her at all - she'd probably be proud.  Ice Witch.  He looked at the noisy bird with the same squinted eyes, "I need some new feathers for my pillow," he sneered, sitting up properly and trying to regain most of his dignity.

Of course, it wasn’t as though he wasn’t going to keep coming back for more, so to speak.  She was a good boss and thankfully since he was not a normal employee (in the sense of being a giant), he was not subject to her physical abuse very often.  Sighing, he ruffled up the back of his hair and turned his head to the side, rubbing the back of his neck at the heavier side of the events that had taken place.  

Of course, the topic of runespoors was another issue he was familiar with, but had not picked up for the second time.  He had only been an auror for a few years the first time runespoors cropped up (in his memory) and he knew a little bit about the history the department had with it and the things that had been going on recently, but he wasn’t assigned to that case.  He wouldn’t have wanted it either.

Dangerous creatures weren’t his thing.  He couldn’t talk to them or understand what they were doing – he’d rather deal with dangerous people.  Most of the time, he couldn’t understand them either, but at least there wasn’t a language barrier.  And then the last word registered in his mind .Ma’am.  Covering his mouth, he tried not to snort, eying Ray.  He was going to piggyback on the statement, but didn’t feel like he could without laughing too hard.  Ma’am.  That was hilarious.

“That is for me having to cover your hide yet again,” she grumbled back at him. “I have to special order those.” The Department had surplus standard and dress uniforms in stock for the Aurors, knowing full well that they tended to get a bit… roughed up … in the line of duty. However, they expected the Aurors to pay for their replacements, a policy Raynor always somehow managed to find loop holes for. The problem was that Archer Radley was both tall and large – and did not fit any of the stock sizes. She had become very acquainted with his measurements and the Ministry’s seamstress.  

“Play nice,” she murmured to her partner as he growled at the literally mockingbird. Merlin, he had almost killed it once. Though, by the looks of things, he was asking for it.

The topic of Runespoors was not exactly a mood lightener by any means, though the Head Auror managed to force her lips upward into what could be considered an agreeable expression. Most individuals beyond the seasoned aurors with long memories had forgotten the tiny witch’s personal involvement with the Runespoor case, the reappearance of it and the loss it had caused her was very heavy in light of Akiva Katz’s disappearance. But that had been a very long time ago.

“A few leads, though nothing major since the last large bust,” which had ended in Raynor having to physically haul the other petite witch into St. Mungos. “We know there is trading going on still in Knockturn, be we have not pinpointed it yet.” She paused for a moment and then added tactfully, “how is your leg fairing?”

Out of the corner of her eye, she could just make out Archer’s burly form shaking uncontrollably. With a hand pressed over his mouth, he was laughing quite thoroughly, and making no point of hiding it.

“Something is funny, Auror Radley?” She asked him dryly.

“Oh bother…” Covadgona looked from Tamis to Archer, realizing what the smack was for.  “You can charge me for the damage done to the uniform,” she explained her reasoning by picking up the tiny rodent in her lap by the scruff and raising it to Miss Raynor’s eye-level.  “Minkie here is responsible for the destruction.”

Like a baby the curled up its legs and tail as she was picked up thus, offering a wee squeak in apology toward the smaller human.  “And I will make sure she herself will pay off the debt,” she gestured beyond the invisible dome behind her, “There are bound to be some galleons dropped and buried around the place.”

As for her leg, “Ah!  Thank you for asking, not so surprisingly still sore,” after all it was a magically-induced wound,” but the last time the stitches popped was about a month ago.”  The witch would have lifted her work shirt and pushed the waist of her jeans down just a touch to show the Head Auror, but she was sure it would be quiet inappropriate, especially in front of Archer.  In addition there were a few other larger scars on the same side that… well, she was pretty sure no one in the Ministry had ever seen.  Jokingly she asked, “And how are your ears?”

Once again the blasted man was laughing his arse off!  “What on this great green world do you keep snickering about, my good sir?!”  It was truly starting to annoy her.

Archer didn’t see what the huge problem was – robes were annoying, particularly these.  He hated them; they were stiff and heavy and red – like a freaking beacon when one was walking along.  It was good when trying to impose some authority, but for all practical purposes, red was like asking to be hit by a hex.  He, especially, felt like a bulls eye in every way.  A guy like him in those red robes – literally looked like a sore thumb – a handsome, sore thumb, but a sore thumb nonetheless. 

He kept quiet for their little exchange, not really having that much, if anything, to add.  The two women clearly did not need him butting in and if anyone was going to tell him to shut up, it would be either of them, probably Ray.  She had no problem ordering him around, which he always found rather funny, considering the foot of difference between them.  He would be quiet though – technically, to everyone else, she was his boss (though he could make a case that just because she was the head of the office didn’t make her the boss – it just made her the slave to the papers), so he was going to listen. 

Sighing softly, the other auror, continued to wait.  His outburst was only met by distaste from both women.  He thought he could have at least counted on Gertrudis to have a sense of humor! He wasn’t surprised when Ray looked at him like she really wanted to throttle him, but Covi’s sudden outburst of agitation wiped the smile clear off his face.  His dark eyes opened and his lips gaped a little, searching for something to say. 

He thought that it could have worked to mention that it was the first time he was truly speechless, but then remembered, had he been able to actually say it, he would not actually be speechless.  Licking his lips, the auror looked around and then tried his best to be charming with one of those signature grins, putting his hands in his pocket.  “Nothing,” he responded to both women, “just had a thought… you know…” he extricated one of his hands from its cozy perch and waved it from his temple out, signifying a thought. 

“Don’t mind me,” the grin widened, “pretend like I’m not even here…”

The Niffler was lifted by its scruff and held up for the Head Auror’s scrutiny looking pitiful and quite pathetic. Leaning away from the creature instinctively, Tamis concentrated on Gertrudis’ words. While she planned on shamelessly taking advantage of complaining about the damaged robes, she had not actually intended to make Archer come up for the cost for them. However, that was clearly the impression that the Department Head had received. She had her own opinion’s for the woman’s responsibility for the torn robes, but kept them to herself. “That sounds just,” she finally agreed.

Nodding her head, the shorter woman was glad that the slightly taller woman was on the mend. One could never be sure with magically induced wounds. No doubt it would scar, those types of inflictions never truly went away completely. But such commenting seemed rather inappropriate. The corners of her lips turned up just slightly at the inquiry about her ears.

 “The healers have assured me that my hearing will eventually fully recover,” she responded with a devised neutral expression. Never let it be said that Tamis Raynor was not equipped with a sense of humor.

Radley was continuing to get himself into deeper and deeper water though. A small bemused smirk graced her features when Covadonga berated him. Served him right. “You are a rather large figment of the imagination, Auror Radley.”

Shaking her head and rising to her feet, Raynor brushed nonexistent dirt from the front of her gold and red sequenced robes. The whole point of being here was to show the wizarding community that the Aurors were maintaining an active presence. However much as she enjoyed Covadonga’s presence, if she had to waste her time being here she might as well complete her objective.

“I should return to my patrol,” she said, offering the other female a sharp nod, as much deferment she showed anyone who she did not consider a direct superior. “It is always a pleasure, Department Head Getrudis.” Her gaze shifted and locked onto the grinning buffoon. “You. Try to remember that you are on duty.” Many of the Auror suspected that she practiced that stern and pointed stare in front of a mirror in order to perfect it.

Giving Gertrudis one last inclination of her head, Raynor drifted back among the other booths setting up.