Woo!  This week had been quite the busy one.  First there were the owls from Hogwarts, then the visit from Mungo’s, said follow-up with one of the other Healers there to check and see if they had acquired all the supplies they needed, the multitude of paperwork broken up by a lovely chap with her protégé and one of the Department Heads, more paperwork, issues with Pest Control and their poor handling of the runespoor eggs, and the list went on, and on… and on.

Friday night had offered no reprieve.  Covadonga had been found in the wee hours of Saturday night, hunched over her great desk, her inbox growing slowly yet steadily smaller while Speedy had perched himself on top of her head to get some love and breakfast.  The witch had been on a roll.  Yes, it was a bit unhealthy but after she started getting into the drafts of her Werewolf renovations and polishing off the unfinished proposals to a number of the committees within the RCMC left by the former Head she couldn’t stop.

After a handful of her employees were barked at for bringing some menial problems to her attention they got the message and steered clear, stopping by only to check the Wizarding clock on the back of her door.  For once they were left to their own devices instead of coming to her with every other “my nail broke” problem.  It was good for them, Covi reflected, she had been babying them for far too long as it was, nursing them from the drama which had happened in the past.

A good nap and dinner with Robbie and her house-elf she was revived, making a shopping list that night while she checked her inventories.  First up!  The Menagerie.

The woman continued to hop from shop to shop, her old worn magically reinforced bags floating behind her and after a run by Weasleys’ a little after noon to find some things for her nieces and nephews to annoy her brother and his wife with she skidded to a halt as something in Flourish caught her eye.

“Fantastic Beast New Edition, eh?  Obscurus popped that one out fast…” she mumbled to herself as she went through the door, holding it open for her bags to come in behind her without being shut out.  With a gentle swish they settled quietly onto the floor, one of the Exploding Snap deck of cards accidentally going off, but thankfully the noise was mostly muffled by a bag of Jelly Slugs.  Silently she wandered her way through the aisles, her fingers drifting over the spines of the book as she searched for the new title.

The day had started like much of the rest. Off from work for the time being, Lukas decided to do some shopping for himself. A new book had been in order, something to tease the senses and make him want to read on. It had been years since he found a book as spell binding as the ones of his youth.

Perhaps when you grow up the mystery starts to die out. Or there was always the deepening cynical attitude he felt weighing down his shoulders often cutting out the magic that he used to find sparked by book bindings and old worn pages. Some time off was just the ticket to getting back to his roots, getting back into his correct frame of mind to clear things up.

Walking through the alley was just as it always was. Children scurrying here and there in and out of the skirts of their mothers still far too young for schooling. A couple folks trying to peddle their wares out on the street instead of the safety and security of their shops. Those folks who stepped out of their comfort zone to break the monotony where what gave the alley it's charm.

His hard black leather boots clanked down on the cobbles as he bought a paper from a local shop and gave a beggar near by a spare sickle holding tight to the lining of his pocket. There wasn't much he didn't enjoy when he was out in the fresh air of the alley but sadly seeing those who were no longer able to help themselves was disheartening. Maybe he was soft hearted by giving in and lending a few pieces of silver here or there but it didn't matter.

Waving off the rush of pity he felt in his stomach, Lukas's blue eyes closed in on the shop he came into the alley for in the first place. Pushing past the old door he heard a soft ring alerting the folks within of another customer entering. Without looking up to the faces around him he gave them a curt nod walking towards his destination with swift steps. There was a new book on Defensive Spells for the Assailable and he wanted to take a gander before he heard about it from everyone else in his department.

Finding the book he wanted the spine made it's home in the palm of his hands as he drifted into the pages not looking where he was standing. He barely noticed anyone near him.

“Hermmm…” she grumbled as she rattled off names, hunched over like an old hag against the bookcase, “Saal, Sabe, Saddler, Saggerson, Salisbury…” Until she came to, “Saxton, Sayle, Scaife, OOF!” she cried, her head colliding with…

Someone’s crotch?  Oh bother…

She fell on her bum, the buckles on her boots rattling and the leftovers of her laces smacking the ground like whips.  Whacking the back of her head on one of the stepping stools her eyes screwed shut as she rolled to the floor with a growl like a hurt leopard… very accurate sounding, in fact, but mimicry was one of her talents.

Smacking headlong into a man’s privates… not so much.

There was a certain joy to being taller than most. Sure it wasn't exactly a giant but six foot two inches was nothing to sneeze at. Lukas could see over most book shelves, except for the abnormally sized ones. There was little worry when he was in a crowd that he wouldn't be able to see over the heads of those shorter than him, so it made him better at spotting people. That and the intimidation factor was brilliant for him.

The only problem was, when others who didn't notice him seemed to slam into the lower half of him. It was somewhat embarrassing for them and slightly amusing for him.

However, this time, at this very hour in this store he was a little scattered and left red faced by the latest collision. Why was it when he was just trying to get some slight reading done he seemed to cause a pile up of bodies?

Looking down he held out his hand, "Oi sorry miss didn't mean to knock you off balance" instead of playing to the embarrassment he tried to make amends. His large hands were reaching out for the other persons considerably smaller one. "Let me help you up."

For a moment her eyes opened just a teensy bit and blinked, watching the scruffy face looming over her suddenly sprout into twins, triplets, and then back again.  With a grumble she winced and lifted her hand to be taken.  When it was she made note of the size of it and the toughness.  Granted she had some pretty calloused hands herself prancing about and tumbling after an assortment of all things fuzzy and not, but this was something else.

With a moan she used his leverage to hoist herself up.  “Bugger me…” she whined, poking at the bump on her head as she leaned back against the bookcase to regain some semblance of balance.  Covi was able to manage a slight grin once she could tell that the man was one and not three, “Thank you,” and trying to make light of the situation she added, “I must remember to look before I… umm… headbutt.”

Once she ascertained that the wound was not fatal she lowered her hand from her noggin, “My apologies, sir.”

Lukas allowed his rough hands to slowly lift her to the feet, careful not to let her get a head rush coming from the floor too quick. The now woozy woman looked like she might topple back over if he wasn't standing there. Once he was sure she was on her feet and steady he smiled his hand lingering a bit on her shoulder for safety purposes of course. "There we go, all in one piece no thanks to me but yeah." It was bad enough that he knocked her down, he didn't mean to almost bowl her over in the process.

She looked as if she might be trying to focus so he stood as still as he could. "Maybe I should look before I plow into unsuspecting patrons of book stores" he gave her a winning smile. She didn't seem like she was sore at him so that was a start.

Leaning on a near by book stack. "Apology accepted, and I hope you can forgive me for almost smashing you into the floor." He gave her a sly look over and then a smile of approval slid over his lips. "What is it that you are looking for" he gestured at the books surrounding them. He spends a lot of time in Flourish and Blotts so he figured if anything he might be able to help her.

While it took Covi a moment to notice, she managed a strained grin of gratitude as he tried to help her steady herself by holding onto her shoulder gently.  “Oh hush, you know it was my wrongdoing, my good sir,” the witch started, waving off his apologies, “I did the plowing if you recall, and plowing requires forward movement.  Dropping her hand she added with a coy grin, “Your apologies are meaningless.”

Covadonga was often very stern when it came to her opinions, sometimes even on the simplest of things.  Once her mind was set it took a very good debate for her to back down and change her mind.  Usually it ends up being an argument of semantic.  Either people had to learn to take her word or if they were as stubborn as she put forth very, very good reasoning, otherwise the opposing would become very, very pissed.  Covi, most of the time, was able to stay calm… unless it dealt with the equality and treatment of beasts and beings.  If the opposing was the same then it just pissed off the people around them.

With a quite, “Hmm…” she tried to remember what indeed she was in this shop for.  Her brain had been so jostled she had forgotten it for a moment.  After good stare with those blue eyes and survey of the authors on the bookcases she snapped her fingers, “Ah!  The new addition of Scamander’s,” and not quite knowing whether the man knew what book she was talking about, “I mean Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.” 

If he worked for the Ministry maybe he would know who she was based on her interests and physical description.  Recently she had been running back and for between different departments working on the runespoor case.

The paper he had planned to read was now left forgotten laying on a near by bookshelf. His full attention was now on the woman with the distinctively blue eyes before him. "Well I appreciate your candor but I still feel a teensy bit responsible for you falling onto your hind end. Really allow me to make it up to you," a sly smile crawled across his rugged face.

The calm demeanor she took was something he found interesting. It was usual that most people slamming into someone they are unfamiliar with or don't know at all might find a way to be grouchy with the incident. She however seemed to be extremely even keeled and that made him more curious about her.

Taking her hand he kissed the top of it softly and smiled, "Allow me to help you find the book it's the only thing a gentleman can really do when a lady is knocked nose over end because of their presence."  Her hands were certainly softer than his and he took notice of it.

Lukas gave her a polite nod scanning the book shelves for the text she required. "So 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them'? Hmm that's an interesting book, any particular reason?" He asked allowing his curiosity to take over as he let his fingers travel the spines and bindings over the area he figured it would be hidden waiting to be discovered.

"A ha!" He pulled the book out of it's hiding place nestled among the other books on creatures and poisonous species. Holding it out with his right hand he smiled at her with it now in his possession. "Is this what you were looking for?"

Ooo…  Now this was getting interesting, or at least she thought so.  Catching his tone and expression she brazenly asked, “Oh?  And how would you make that up to me, Mister…”

And then he was kissing the back of her hand!  Well, at least her mother’s side of the family would approve.  They were sticklers for manners of different periods and cultures.  Covadonga felt like she was at one of the old Ashwin affairs.  The last one was actually not too long ago and she almost dropped into a curtsy due to it, but settled for a more informal nod of her head.  Still, she had not caught his name… now THAT would have not impressed her elders.  It was usually at this juncture that the gentleman introduced himself to the lady.  The woman never introduced herself first.  It was like a man holding the door open for a lady, a common courtesy. 

“Why thank you!” she exclaimed politely with her own devious brand of a grin as he offered to help her, which widened into a smile when he presented it to her.

"Is this what you were looking for?"

“The very thing,” she replied, gently taking the book from his hand and flipping to the cover page to check and make sure it was the proper edition.  Her eyes suddenly widened in surprise at the addition of a new contributor.  “Luna Lovegood, Naturalist…” she mumbled to herself.

Well, that was definitely something she would reflect on later.

In his younger years Lukas was every bit the scamp he pretended not to be. Playing up his playboy persona and being an overall pain in the arse to his house mates as he picked off their female conquests one by one. That was of course until he met his proverbial match and fell head over tail for her. Subsequently taking him both off the market and off the hit list from his mates who were fed up with his constant galavanting and profane gesturing.

Morgana had stunned him and made him into what he was today. Cynical to a fault and learning that it was okay to fancy someone or even sleep around but if you got too attached things might end up with you getting kicked right in the arse in the end.

The bitterness lingered on his tongue like a sore apple waiting to hit his senses once more when the memories crept back into his skull. Losing her lost the younger part of Lukas, a part he now buried with cheap thrills and dare devil antics none of which allowed his heart to be broken.

He didn't however break his habits of chatting up lasses who caught his eye. She however definitely fit that description. Her eyes are what caught him, they glowed with a light of their own and she had a smile like she was hiding something.  Lukas wondered what she was hiding behind her devilish little smirk. He held out his hand again, "I must beg your pardon... it seems I have bumped into you, helped you out and haven't had the pleasure of learning your name."

Taking a subtle breathe he smiled again, "My name is Lukas Quinn... and what might yours be?"

Having forgotten the fact that proper introductions had yet to be made she was jerked away from the page, snapping the book shut, “Ah!  I am Covadonga Gertrudis, and while awkward, it is a pleasure to meet you,” she gave his large hand a hearty shake.

The witch nose wriggled as he continued the debate, “Now, now, remember I bumped into you, not the other way around.”  She smiled again, “You have only been the perfect gentleman in this instance,” she complimented.

Then, something cracked off in her brain… she recognized the fellows face, particularly the scruff on his chin.  Carefully she looked the man up and down, scrutinizing him, but paying no attention to how odd her gaze may be.  She often did that, her observation skills honed and sharpened to be scientific and blunt so as to gain as much information as she could.

“Do you,” she started off slowly, “work for the Ministry by any chance?”

Running his fingers through his hair, Lukas made sure his to look at ease in conversation. That was of course how it worked. The flirting, the pleasantries it was all a ritual for adults anymore. He however got a thrill for the chase, for the luck of bumping into a pretty girls when it wasn't on purpose.

"Right, of course perfect gentleman. How could I forget such a thing? I suppose there is a code of honor a 'perfect' gentleman would stick to. So if I truly was one what would I do?" He brought a fist to his chin and acted as if he was actually thinking it over hard and for a brief quiet his eyes almost reflective. "Let's see," he chuckled, "If I am the gentleman you claim I am then the next question should be obvious."

Looking at her with a tilted head he felt the grin coming before the sentence left his lips, "How about a drink Miss?"

Cocking a brow after he asked he heard her question to him again in his head. Obviously his time out and away from work wasn't as plentiful as he had hoped but this was a start. "Why yes, I do work for the Ministry... why do you ask? Perhaps you too hold a post there."

Was he that recognizable? He looked for something to check his reflection and as he did so he shrugged off the prospect that he was losing his touch. Maybe he just looked familiar in that they bumped into one another before there.

At any rate Lukas made an internal bargain with himself that at work he would pay more attention to the passing of co-workers. He simply seemed to bump into them or run over them with noticing and that can't be healthy. Not that he had complaints before but if he was missing ladies of her caliber at the Ministry then what was he missing?

“A drink?” well, that certainly was a bit forward.  She had been asked out like this before, but not so quickly by a freshly introduced acquaintance.  However, in this day and age it did seem to be a gentlemanly thing to do, right?  With pursed lips Covi pondered over an appropriate answer.

Oh, what heck?  “I would be delighted,” she smiled with a shot of another mischievous grin.

“And I happen to be Department Head of the RCMC,” common name for the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures in the Ministry.  Back in the day it never seemed to hold much power and usually swept to the side as a sector that dealt with doxy infestations and killing off large nuisances like dragons and hippogriffs.  Since she had taken up the post, however, that had started to change. 

Already she was working with the MLE on a fresh case with Alexander Belisario.  Covi wanted to stay very close to it and be informed at all times as to what was going on with it and where she and her people could help.  Renowned Magizoologists, Being Specialists, Species Specific Wranglers and Trackers and the like had been recently hired to up the standards of her employees and beef up the power of the department.

There was no danger in sharing a drink. It wasn't like they were sharing dinner, or having a night cap at his spare flat. No they would just be having a drink. He wasn't assuming anything that was for certain. Everything was up in the air.

But that was the fun of it all. To be forward, to go out on the limb and live dangerously. Even if it didn't seem that way.

He figured he caught her off guard. But when she said yes and he looked at that smile she was wearing on her face he couldn't help but be hopeful for the nights future events. Covadonga seemed like a fun sort, and if he played his cards right he would get to know more about her.

"Brilliant, I think that it's only right that I ask you out for a drink. I mean it will only suit." Pausing he looked for his book. "Give me just a moment," he said briefly before slipping into another stack and finding the reason he came that way at all. Walking back to her he fingered the crisp white pages and smiled, "Alright so you work for the ministry too you say. Seems rather official," his brows bounced as he spoke.

Craning his neck as a motion for the door he smirked wide, "Well I happen to be one of those terrible few whom are all to often outside of the ministry bringing in the crooked and the criminal." The Hit Wizards were proud of their job and had no shame in who they were. In fact it was often a bragging point for Lukas. "Department head, you don't say? Hm I feel insignificant to the likes of you" he winked as he strode towards the clerk in the front of the store.

“It is only ‘office’ if one lets it,” she shot back immediately with her wink, “and no need to feel insignificant.  The word will not be made public to the media officially until December, but I am working to expedite that.”

She had often been approached by this type of subject.  After all, Covi had been known most as the witch who ran around lands and waters chirping, squeaking, growling, and howling with her subjects.  Yes, the paperwork was a pain in the bum, but not new to her.  Writing things like scientific journals back in the day at SAMM’s were a commonality.  Things had to be written in a certain order in a certain way in order to be accepted by the academic community or be considered for inclusion in newsletters, papers, and books.  Now with this position it was just like learning a new format to fill things out.

The increase in the load of dead trees on her desk was a hindrance to her participation in the field… but she found her ways to wiggle in here and there, she was a wily witch like that.  Plus there were always those long nights and weekends to finish the documents too, sleep was for the dead, as many say.

Covadonga recognized immediately with a smirk what his designation was, “Ah, a hitwizard,” she looked down at her book to flip through the pages again.  Every single one of them seemed to have the same idea of their job as Mr. Quinn here.  They did all the everyday work while the Aurors got all the glory.  “No offense to the others in your department but I like your kind more.  I tend to work with you lot more often.”  It was true, in most instances when only a small amount of investigation was needed the hitwizards and witches were called upon to backup her folk.

And then… the man suddenly disappeared!  Turning about, she saw Lukas walk down the aisle to the check-out line.  Pursing her lips she looked back at the book, the man, the front desk, the bookshelf, and back again a few times before tapping her fingers on the cover and following the man’s steps.  Certainly she could have just owled Rolf for the new information instead of buying the whole thing herself, but… she had other questions revolving around Ms. Lovegood.

Ending up behind the Hitwizard she whispered behind him, “As for that drink, allow me to by the first round, at least,” Covadonga started, putting a hand on her hip as her other arm was busy holding the new book to her chest, “it would only be appropriate.”