Wednesday, and Johann had learnt valuable lessons from the day before:
1) Arrive earlier
2) Don't get in a lift with two disagreeing Ministry workers
3) Don't make smart comments in said lift, to tempt it to get stuck
4) The boss really does make every decision
5) Kadyn Hamilton was not to be respected. Ever. Again.

Subsequently, he hadn't slept all that much in Vasily's cat-infested digs in Hogsmeade, though he had thought fondly of his illuminating discussions in the Three Broomsticks with Dolly St James. Instead, he'd considered all he had gleaned from lurking in the Department of International Magical Co-Operation on the Tuesday, apart from one vital, missing piece.

Gabrielle Murray-Harker.

This highly revered witch was none other than the Head of Department of International Magical Cooperation, and the vital person Johann had been aiming to meet the day before, but she had evaded him by sod's law. Not today.

No sign of Kadyn Hamilton yet either, though a couple of more passively irritated members of staff had already rolled their eyes at him and muttered 'you again!' before attending to their duties. In comparison to yesterday he was being far less irritating, merely stood purposely and thoughtfully outside the office of the woman who really did make all the decisions in that department, who really did have to come to her office today, or he'd be waiting again tomorrow, or until he had to wrestle Hamilton... again.

"FOR THE LOVE OF LOCKHART! Where, might I ask, in this department have we allowed such insolence, such degrading & snide remarks!? Hamilton, what the HELL were you thinking!? You do realize if Ignan Storm writes me...no, you don't. We do NOT need anymore issues than what we're already dealt with! You're not fired, not by any means, but expect a dock in pay & if it happens again... God rest your soul. Now get out of here & let Mr. Storm inside."

Kadyn Hamilton left the room, looking at Johann Storm with a grimace as he grunted nonverbally to cue he was wanted in the office. His little joke had not gone over so well, especially after the bossman found out. He sulked away, prepared to tell his wife what had happened - if only Storm hadn't left a note with the secretary. . .

"JOHANN STORM!" came Gabie's bark after realizing the young man hadn't entered the room - she swore under her breath something to the effect of mummies & morons. The paperwork was still mounting, the questions rising - she needed a vacation. And soon. Perhaps asking Gwydion to assist in that? She snickered for but a moment when she stood up & took initative to get up. Her feet hit the pavement with a click-clack noise as she went in searching for Johann.

She found him sitting outside the office, looking somewhat like a schoolboy sent to the headmaster for punishment. "Hello again, liebling," Gabie stated with a smile on her face. "Sorry that you had to hear that & that I yelled your name. It has been a nightmare like you wouldn't believe. Let's go in & talk - yeah?" How informal but he was family (well like family but who cared?) to her & Vlad's families. She hoped they'd smooth this out because, good lord, did she need it.

---

Kadyn Hamilton (npc) - Member of the Magical Trading Standards Body; pb: Jack Davenport

Oh, speak of the ruddy devil.

Kadyn Hamilton left Gabrielle's office, glaring and grunting.
"Oh, shame, sorry we couldn't play some more Hamilton." Johann smirked, enjoying getting one up on the wizard who had caused him so much grief the day before. In his joy, he completely missed that it was his hasty cue to get his backside into the office.

"Run along now." Johann added in a soft voice,
"JOHANN STORM!"
Oh hell. That tone didn't sound at all promising.

Before he could get to his feet, Gabrielle Murray-Harker had filled the doorway of her office.
"Hello again, liebling," she smiled, her swift change in tone threw him off beat. "Sorry that you had to hear that & that I yelled your name. It has been a nightmare like you wouldn't believe. Let's go in & talk - yeah?"

Johann returned her smile warmly.
"Of course, I understand how precious your time is Madam," He referred to her formally as they were within earshot of Gabrielle's juniors. He followed her respectfully back into her office, and closed the door behind them, should Hamilton decide to try his luck at eavesdropping.

"My apologies if I've caused trouble in your department with my presence yesterday. It was not at all intended." He began. "Hamilton I sincerely hope is not a reflection on the general feeling amongst the staff here." Or the intelligence level, he added silently. "Perhaps I should explain my motives?" He asked, seeking approval from Gabrielle.

"I've had to uproot from Hannover at short notice. Arrived here Sunday evening. You may think it hasty, but I'm acutely aware my stay here is going to be for the long term, despite my sudden arrival."

His eyes slid from her face as he recalled the events that lead to his departure. It would be foolish to guess that Gabie would not eventually find out he had been employed by a criminal to assist him with translation - with Johann trying to cross the criminal later, by supplying the Ministry with more than enough evidence to convict him. Unfortunately the German Ministry had made a complete hash of things, and the criminal and his thugs had come looking for him.

"Ignan sends his regards, he was kind enough to offer me lodgings for a night or so - though its just not practical to stay at Hogwarts while he teaches. He suggested I come here to offer my services and expertise to the Department. Though I have discovered you already boast quite an extensive number of languages, which suggests I am surplus to requirements here in Britain, sadly."

He clasped his hands before him and fixed Gabrielle with an earnest stare, eye to eye.
"I can provide extensive written references, and proof of my abilities, paperwork, and the utmost promise that I will be a great asset to you and your staff."

She had Oz in her a week prior: he had been cutesy with her & well, Johann had the same boyish charm about him. However, Johann was able to pass off more as a member of her family as his features were more defined. He truly could be her little brother, but alas, nay. Johann, or Joho as she used to call him, was the one she seemed to feel a connection to as Ignan seemed a bit too stoic (the man opposed any affection, or so it seemed: it was like hugging a brick wall she often thought) for her tastes.

Hrm. Hannover needed him to depart suddenly - something told her she really did not wish to engage in a set of questions with him right now, but they would have to be eventually answered. He was asking if her department was always a bunch of goons - truthfully, they were but to be honest, they knew better too. "Hamilton's a bit of a mouth, not to mention he finds a bit too amusing to pick on some people, especially new employees as a way to test them. Rest assured, Joh, he won't do it again or he'll be on the job market scene once again."

Had Gabie been standing when she heard Ignan sending his regards, her bum would have met the floor. That was new to her hearing him wishing good tidings. Maybe he wasn't a total Ebenezer, right? After all, she had overheard from Hamilton of Ignan's methods at Hogwarts which would state he wasn't too willing to change 100%. Then Johann mentioned he felt he could do the workload that the translators did. She knew German for the better (and worse) but if she denied him while keeping Yoona, that was wrong.

"I'd be more than pleased to have you, Joh! Mind you, I would need some paperwork from Hannover & well, I can only put you on part time until the new budget year. It seems Madame Raynor & I are getting more people lately; would you be interested as well in having interns? Like one or two?" She smiled warmly - securing new assets were so grand. "Now...are you hungry? Thirsty? It is almost lunch, dear."

Ah, the slight lie about Ignan sending his regards had been enough to wrong foot Gabrielle, who was extended family. Merlin damn, the family got everywhere...

"I'd be more than pleased to have you, Joh! Mind you, I would need some paperwork from Hannover & well, I can only put you on part time until the new budget year. It seems Madame Raynor & I are getting more people lately; would you be interested as well in having interns? Like one or two?"

"I see, no, that's fine, I would be stupid to assume you would employ me full time so easily. Thank you Gabrielle." Johann replied respectfully, nodding his head in thanks. He tried not to let the shortened version of his name bother him, as he never shortened it himself, but several family members had adopted forms of it. Don't get him wrong, it wasn't on the scale he'd hex them for it, he just was never one to really partake in nicknames. It was likely he'd hear it every day now though.

"Interns? By all means, I'll train those up you wish, though give me a day or two to learn procedure and protocol around here." He was surprised, a part time job offer and suddenly the insistence he take up some interns. Hang about - did that mean no other bugger wanted to? Too late now.

Gabrielle smiled warmly.
"Now...are you hungry? Thirsty? It is almost lunch, dear." Truth be told, he hadn't eaten anything since that pie last night in the Three Broomsticks. He didn't want to help himself to what food Vasily had, and he'd felt altogether a little nervous in the stomach before setting out that morning. The morning had shot by with his patience.

"How time flies." Johann smiled, mirroring her. "Will you be going to eat, what is the done thing here?" He asked politely, actually having observed the eating habits of several of his new colleagues yesterday. Enough to put him off eating yesterday, not that he had the funds to do so. Drat, he'd have to sort that immediately, even Johann couldn't survive without food.
"Perhaps we can catch up on things over lunch, if you have time. Family Christmas gatherings aren't productive for anything more than boastful claims from certain members of the family, hmm?" He smirked, a glint in his eye.

Johann was always somehow the more perky, enthused member of the Storm & its coordinating family members who were very fitting to the family name. Dark, brooding, loud only when charged. She snickered at the comments of his overeagerness but knew he was truly thankful - who really wouldn't be? She sat as she listened to hear him speak, somehow still distracted by the recent events that she soon was flashing back to reality.

Lunch? She looked back to Johann. They needed to finish business first before even thinking what palattes would fill their stomachs. "We usually have about five to seven students from Hogwarts during summer break for at least our department. We find out usually, as it were in my case in '83, who can make it or break it. I have a few who I've seen breaking that mold - one of them worked for Paris' Ministry & received high remarks from them." Pulling out the manilla folder from one of the drawers, Gabrielle passed it over to Johann. "The name is Delacroix, her grandfather was a highly regarded Mungo's doctor in his heyday, her uncles & mother were brilliant Ministry workers. She needs to put herself back in a few classes, including History of Magic, that was at least what we recently wrote to her. What do you think?"

Her stomach rumbled - ooh, she was hungry indeed. Perhaps they'd go into muggle London & eat. The usual magical fare just didn't seem up for an adventure into her stomach today.

"We usually have about five to seven students from Hogwarts during summer break for at least our department. We find out usually, as it were in my case in '83, who can make it or break it. I have a few who I've seen breaking that mold - one of them worked for Paris' Ministry & received high remarks from them." Gabie passed a folder over.
"The name is Delacroix, her grandfather was a highly regarded Mungo's doctor in his heyday, her uncles & mother were brilliant Ministry workers. She needs to put herself back in a few classes, including History of Magic, that was at least what we recently wrote to her. What do you think?"

Johann skimmed the file, and the photograph.
"Potential hard worker, for sure, though I am not sure her heart is in the type of work this department undoubtedly has. Though, she appears to have the aptitude and predisposition. We can but see." He replied, "Always difficult to judge someone accurately from paperwork, but I have my sources to find out a little more." Johann tapped the end of his nose and looked back down at the file.
"Did you hear if she had been studying history again?" He noted the exam results.
"An O in Defences, my I wonder Ignan's opinion with his high standards. Such a pity these schools don't teach languages, because one can have all the bookish intelligence and never understand the lilting dialects of our neighbours." He shook his head, and looked up at Gabrielle.

"Still, a most intriguing personal statement. Curious one that, be pleased to take her on." He closed the cover of Adelia's file and passed it back to Gabbie. "If you don't think I'll put her off for life that is..."

Gabrielle resisted the urge to laugh at Johann when he stated the Delacroix girl's heart could potentially not be fully in sync with this department. Clearly he had never heard Ignan or Hildegard tell their own amusing stories of a bushy eyed Slytherin graduate who was thought of not having any 'potential, much less enthusiam' for this department. She was now large & in charge now, so to speak! The laugh developed into a smirked smile as she took the folder & slipped it back into the other files. "You could have Mr. Hamilton's boy; he's as sharp & twice as thick as his father... but back to Adelia? I'll check with Hildegard Austerlitz midway through this half & see what she's accomplishing. I do say this as a strong suggestion: Should you feel the want OR the need to take her on an adventure, you will need to obtain four signature, no less than that number. One from her, the parents, Madame Snark, & myself; Snark & mine are to be last. If she axes you, you will not proceed, are we clear? I don't need any more stress than what I am going through now. You are smart, Johann, so please, for both our sanities, no abusing the system." She was surprised inwardly at the strictness she had just instituted to a new colleague - it felt as though she had come full circle.

"Now. You inquired about lunch? Depending where you are depends on time allowed - here in London, it's an hour & half, so if you come back early, you go back to work until the three o'clock fifteen minute break. I would normally go to the Atrium or Diagon, even Leaky, but what say you to Coventry Gardens? I haven't gone since about October. Good food, good entertainment & the best part is no one should bother us." Or so she hoped as she smiled to the younger Storm cousin. "What say you? Lunch starts in five minutes."

"You could have Mr. Hamilton's boy; he's as sharp & twice as thick as his father... but back to Adelia? I'll check with Hildegard Austerlitz midway through this half & see what she's accomplishing. I do say this as a strong suggestion: Should you feel the want OR the need to take her on an adventure, you will need to obtain four signature, no less than that number. One from her, the parents, Madame Snark, & myself; Snark & mine are to be last. If she axes you, you will not proceed, are we clear? I don't need any more stress than what I am going through now. You are smart, Johann, so please, for both our sanities, no abusing the system."

Johann raised an eyebrow, surprised at this change of tone. Merlin, did they think he would kidnap this student? Sigh, he had heard the Hogwarts Headmistress could be tricky. Hmm, perhaps if he got Ignan to put in a good word...
"Understood Ma'am." Johann replied, and mock saluted her with two fingers flicked from his temple. A little sarcastic gesture towards the rigid restrictions.

"Now. You inquired about lunch?" Gabrielle continued,
"Actually, you mentioned it first..." Johann replied quietly, but didn't think she'd heard as she continued on regardless.
"Depending where you are depends on time allowed - here in London, it's an hour & half, so if you come back early, you go back to work until the three o'clock fifteen minute break. I would normally go to the Atrium or Diagon, even Leaky, but what say you to Coventry Gardens? I haven't gone since about October. Good food, good entertainment & the best part is no one should bother us. What say you? Lunch starts in five minutes."

A little wide eyed at Gabriella's hurried explanation, he was caught off guard by her sudden pause for him to answer.
"Of course, sounds, er... appropriate." This could get quite some getting used to, he realised, already not quite sure which way was up with the rapid switches.
"Thank you, Gabriella." He added with sincerity, and gave her a genuine smile.

Getting the job hadn't been quite as hard as he feared it could have been, but carrying it out under Murray-Harker's command looked to be an entirely different ball game altogether. He'd enjoy being kept on his toes, and Kadyn Hamilton could scowl all he wanted over it.