Hogsmeade has been one of the better places for an active night life ever since the new resturant/ club had opened a little while ago. It was not strange at all to see adults and young adults alike partaking in the fun that was there to be had. What was probably a stranger sight was the entrance of Marcus Annwyl and Analiza Snark to the popular hangout. During the day the club was simply a place for fine dining. At night, however, the place turned into an entertaining mix of nightclub and burlesque theatre. Marcus had personally visited this establishment many times, just disguised as one of the alter egos he uses to get around.

The usual precautions just didn't matter much tonight. The morning had been filled with stresses and paperwork regarding the Hearing for Theodora Kingstreet, followed by the actual Hearing itself. The ultimate verdict called for early release, and it was beginning to weigh heavily on Marcus' shoulders. Alex had put in all the necessary measures to ensure she can't touch an office supply as long as she lives. The truth is that you can't keep someone away from something if they really want it. She couldn't be monitored twenty four hours a day, and the practice of scanning her thoughts can only yield so much. As a former lawyer, she would have had to be trained in preventing attacks on the mind, even if her files didn't say such a thing.

There were many social taboos associated with mingling with a subordinate. It was no great secret that him and Alex were great friends, and had been for over two decades. His friendship with Analiza Snark was a bit different. He had known her from her father, Gustav. He had worked with him on several occasions and had considered him a good ally. The war on Hogwarts took care of that, because Gustav was killed that night. Marcus' connection to the Snark family had only begun, as Marcus had been personally responsible for the capture of Analiza's mother, grandmother, and step-father, who had all been suspected of Death Eater activity.

She had taken it pretty hard, even though she knew it had to happen. While not Auror policy, Marcus took her out for a drink to calm her down and counsel her on any matter she was having trouble with. What followed was a little bit more than just counsel, and a friendship bloomed from that night. A friendship with certain advantages.

Marcus had decided that he didn't care about what social taboos he was combating, because he needed to relax. The burlesque club was the perfect place to do it, and Analiza was the perfect person to assist with the process. The two took their seat, with Marcus pulling out Analiza's chair for her. She had insisted that she not be doted upon, but it was in Marcus' nature. He just couldn't help it.

"Thanks for responding to the message I sent you. I had hoped you would join me tonight to relax. What would you like to drink?"

Outfit

Ana knew she should have been ashamed, walking into a night club on the arm of the most powerful wizard in Britain with her head held high and an arrogant glint in her golden eyes. If it wasn't for the fact that people actually knew who she was, she would have been called a "gold digger" and a "Whore". Why else would a woman go out with a man 13 years her senior? But it wasn't just that, it was the fact that he was her boss and her superior. If people didn't already think she had done underhanded things to get her position, they sure as hell would now.

Ana, on the other hand, didn't give a damn. She had been maligned and accused of everything from murder to Death-Eater involvement since the day she took her post as Head Unspeakable two years ago. So the accusation that she was sleeping her way to the top did little to bother her. In fact, it kinda made her giggle. If that was the case, she would have been Department Head 10 years ago when they first met. Of course, few people knew this fact. They had been on and off, friends with benefits for a long time, but this was their first real date. A fact that had not escaped her and had actually resulted in Analiza acting like a teen again, spending longer then necessary to pick out her outfit. She had gone through at least 4 dresses before she decided on a teal one that would make her eyes stand out.

Marcus on the other hand, had not. In fact, aside from the crisp new black collared shirt he was wearing, there was no change to his usual white suit and black shoes. Ana had to admit she found Marcus attractive... just not his choice in clothing. She much preferred his black suit. Eying him with a somewhat scrutinizing look, Ana accepted his offer to pull out her chair. She was too preoccupied with her thoughts to remember that she had pointedly asked him not to coddle her.

"Thanks for responding to the message I sent you. I had hoped you would join me tonight to relax. What would you like to drink?"

Analiza barely glanced at the wine list before she made her selection " A glass of Château Margaux would be splendid." She said, a coy smirk spreading across her slim lips as she put down the menu and regarded him in silence. She wondered, briefly, if this was a real date for once and what it meant, exactly, for them as a couple. Were they a couple? Were they just friends who occasionally enjoyed more banal activities? She would have liked to ask, but before she could, she lost her nerve and focused on his choice of clothing instead

"... Nice shirt... I was beginning to think that you didn't own anything else but that turtleneck... " She grinned playfully for a second as she picked up the glass of water already on the table and took a drink. It tasted strongly of lemon and she grimaced quickly before putting it down. Eying him through lowered lashes, she added slyly "... Is this a special occasion or did I just get lucky and that thing finally wore out?" She meant the turtleneck of course. Never could stomach them.

I like that turtleneck, Marcus said to himself.

If Analiza had something else to say then she wasn't doing to divulge, Marcus' fashion sense aside. Did she think this was more than just an outing between friends? Analiza was great, in more than one way, but Marcus just didn't see it going anywhere. He really was quite fond of her, but he was also fond of most women he came across. It's not because of an inability to settle down, or a refusal to grow up. It was more like a disorder.

Every woman Marcus has ever been with, he's loved. That love always seems to go away whenever the object of his affection leaves a room. Empathy in it's ultimate form. It made the ability to develop relationships difficult. No woman wants to be thought of as 'the next one'. Analiza was no different, Marcus just wasn't sure if she knew that side of him yet. How well can you really know someone when the only time you ever see them is in a bedroom?

"No, it didn't wear out. I just took your advice. I know you don't like the turtleneck, and I guess I must have subconsiously opted to not wear it. Please excuse me while I get your... Château Margaux. Hey, I remembered the name this time." Marcus winked, then stood up to get their drinks.

Suddenly, the idea of being spotted at the bar getting drinks for two seemed like a dangerous idea. It didn't take long for the old paranoia to set in, and Marcus quickly changed his appearance to someone a bit more generic. The table that him and Ana sat at seemed to be surrounded by distractions, so they wouldn't cause too much of a stir. Still, he would change his face for the purpose of getting the drinks.

The bartender was surprisingly efficient, getting what he needed in what seemed like record time. Marcus made his way back to the table, where he gently set down his date's wine glass before sitting down with his own drink. "The trial today really took a lot out of me," Marcus confessed, taking a drink of his single malt whiskey, "I think she's up to something. I just don't know what yet..."

"No, it didn't wear out. I just took your advice. I know you don't like the turtleneck, and I guess I must have subconsciously opted to not wear it. Please excuse me while I get your... Château Margaux. Hey, I remembered the name this time."

"Mmmmhm..." She smirked sarcastically as she leaned back in the chair, crossing her legs so that her foot swung freely to a beat that only she could hear. Cocking her head to the side, she arched a brow as he stood to gather the drinks and called after him "Good... don't bring me champagne this time..." She laughed a little as her eyes focused on his retreating figure with a look of admiration. The white suit might have been obnoxious, but he still made it work. But then, she didn't TRULY know what he looked like under it. All she could remember was smooth skin, sculpted muscles and... well.. other impressive things. The thought made her chew her lip and breath in deeply in thought.

Engulfed in her day dreams of what was to come, Ana didn't notice him return to the table. When he set her drink down, Ana only glanced up at him. At first she mistook him for a waiter, considering his face had changed in the time it took for him to retrieve the wine and whiskey. She had almost asked him to bring them some rolls when he took a seat. It was then she saw the suit and knew it was Marcus. Giving him a rather dirty look, since she preferred his real face, Analiza accepted her wine and took a heavy sip.

"The trial today really took a lot out of me, I think she's up to something. I just don't know what yet..."

Inwardly she sighed. On one hand, she felt quite privileged to be privy to the Ministers thoughts on the Kingstreet case and the unspeakable in her wanted to delve deeper. However, on the other hand, she didn't want to talk about work tonight. She had seen how stressed out the case had made him and she just wanted to spend the night making him feel better. It seemed it wasn't in the cards... yet.

"Well of course she is up to something..." Ana said flippantly, crossing her arms almost childishly. Glancing at her nails, a habit she had when she was uncomfortable, she added  "She's already proved she has the nerve to try and over throw one minister... Do you really think she has gotten that out of her system?" Leaning forward, Ana gave him a stern look "Think about it... why do you think she was so excited to get out now rather then a couple weeks from now?"

Analiza gave Marcus an unexpected look when he arrived at the table. Did Marcus mess up the her drink and accidentally get her champagne? It toook a minute to realize that Marcus had forgotten to change his face back. It must have been a shock to see some strange man approaching her table with the expected drink. He changed his face back as soon as the realization hit.

"Well of course she is up to something. She's already proved she has the nerve to try and over throw one minister... Do you really think she has gotten that out of her system?" Think about it... why do you think she was so excited to get out now rather then a couple weeks from now?"

She was going that thing with her nails, signaling to Marcus that she clearly was not comfortable with the conversation. It must be discussed, if for no reason than to clear Marcus' head. It was always more helpful to brainstorm when there was another person present to bouunce ideas off of.

One thing was for sure, Kingstreet definately had not worked out her passive aggression in Azkaban. In fact, it more likely served to make it stronger, and more methodical. "Yeah, I know," Marcus replied, "I'm not saying that no one in the Ministry of Magic is incorruptable. It's entirely possible that she can get to someone on the inside, and work her poison on all of us. The main problem from before is that there were so many inter-Department secrets. No one spoke to anyone about anything."

Ana leaned in and focused her gaze, which made her eyes that more intense. It was sexy and threatening all at once, which was Analiza Snark in a nutshell. "Alex is very goood at his job, as are you. I am confident that we can do enough to make sure that everyone is safe should she decide to do something drastic and/or methodically planned. That, and I haven't let my senses dull over the years like some others in the past."

The night was not about shop talk, and it definately wasn't about starting a heated debate. It was about relaxing and relieving stress. Marcus decided to switch gears. "I'm sorry if I upset you. How's your son Alex doing in school? He's almost a seventh year if I'm not mistaken." The fact that Analiza was a mother greatly intrigued Marcus. The responsibility that being a parent entails was very alluring to him. To Marcus, there was almost nothing sexier than a woman who can juggle work atnd parenting.

Ana didn't say anything to his little speech, despite her inner thoughts screaming with suggestions, but she could not control the way her brow arched at the "Inner Department Secrets" comment. It seemed a bit hypocritical for them to be sitting here, drinking like they didn't know what was going to happen later, and talking about not keeping secrets. However, she wasn't willing to reveal this particular secret any more then he was. They could make an exception this one time. So she kept quiet and just sipped her wine as he went on.

 "I'm sorry if I upset you. How's your son Alex doing in school? He's almost a seventh year if I'm not mistaken."

"He's fine. Stop trying to change the subject" Her mouth curved at one corner against her will, ruining her stern look. Reaching out, her hand briefly covered his in an uncharacteristically caring gesture before she pulled it back, her eyes darting around the room for possible reporters in disguise. Even though she didn't see any hiding behind potted plants, she didn't relax. Instead, she sat back and rested her hands in front of her on the table, aimlessly playing with the skull ring on her right finger.

"Just... Just tell me you are going to be safe about this. There has been a lot of prophecies made about Remembering day and we don't know yet which ones regard her or you..." her voice cracked a little, belying her real emotions, and Ana had to take a drink of her wine to keep from revealing that she really did worry about him.

"He's fine. Stop trying to change the subject."

Internally, Marcus rolled his eyes. Yes, he was trying to change the subject. For her sake, nothing more. For someone who didn't want to talk about work, she was sure unwilling to let the topic go. Then again, Marcus did still want to talk about it. Then she put her hand on his. Under any other circumstances, this could be seen as a caring gesture between someone who genuinely cared for teh well-being of another. For the Minister of Magic and a Department Head, it could easily be seen as scandal if handled incorrectly. Or rather, if there was someone around to put a negative spin on it.

It took a second to see what was occuring. Marcus recoiled his hand, Analiza did the same. His old habits kicked in as he scanned the room without being truly overt about it. He then looked for all available exits, and anyone that looked like they were paying attention a bit too closely. The surrounding tables seemed to be either engrossed in their own small talk or hypnotized by the inticing stage performance of the dancers. Good.

"Just... Just tell me you are going to be safe about this. There has been a lot of prophecies made about Remembering day and we don't know yet which ones regard her or you..."

Every year is different as far as Remembering Day is concerned. Not since the Azkaban Breakout in 2004 has there been so much panic about prophetic visions and immediate danger. Theodora Kingstreet, while still dangerous, was a corrupt bureaucrat parading as a villain. Still, the matter was taken with the utmost seriousness. What she can't do with a wand, she more than made up for in penmanship and legal jargon.

"Honestly? I don't know how much more seriously I can take it. Yeah, she was released early, and yes she is probably planning something. There is only so much that can be done legally, and I am not about to authorize the use of Unspeakables just because somebody might be gunning for me. The only thing I can do to protect myself more is if I... retreated to a concrete bunker every night? Slept with one eye open? Had Beefeaters on call to test my foods for poison before I ate dinner? Take your pick."

If there was one thing that annoyed people more about the personal side of Marcus, it's that he oftentimes makes attempts to dismantle arguments with the use of exaggerated analogy and humor. It could be considered destructive to the purpose of his points, but it was something easy to fall back on.

Marcus took a drink of his whiskey and calmly asked, "If you're really this worried, I'd like to hear some feedback on what you think I could do."

"... The only thing I can do to protect myself more is if I... retreated to a concrete bunker every night? Slept with one eye open? Had Beefeaters on call to test my foods for poison before I ate dinner? Take your pick."

"You don't have to be flippant about it..." She muttered darkly as her eyes snapped up and bored into his with a hawkish gaze. She wished her wand wasn't tucked away in her bag so she could really get into that head of his, but alas it was and she was forced to try and read him by body language. A difficult feat considering not only could he change his features at will, but he had long ago mastered the poker face. It shouldn't have really mattered considering she didn't really want to talk about work, but at the same time, she didn't want him just to brush things off so easily. It was an attitude like that that got you killed.

"If you're really this worried, I'd like to hear some feedback on what you think I could do."
 
She did have one idea, but the crowded room wasn't the best place to do it. Glancing around, she reached down and fished her wand out of her purse. Bringing it up, she muttered a spell and pressed the tip against her throat. Under the table, her foot touched his, not to play footsie or anything childish like that, but to make a connection. When she finally spoke, no one but Marcus could understand what she was saying.

"You should let me start Project Cupid." She stated, her eyes focused firmly on his, unblinking. It was a stupid name, but the project itself was something that could change the face of the wizarding world if he would only let her start the damn thing. Mastering the nature and the power of love could really make the English wizarding world something to be feared. It was the atom bomb of Magic. So what if she had to test it on living humans? Surely the criminals would appreciate a quick death to the agonizing torture they went through every day at Azkaban.

"... No amount of legal jargon and neat handwriting will be able to battle against the most powerful weapon known in magic..." Her eyes glittered almost greedily as she added in almost a conspiratorial whisper "Can you imagine what that would mean... You could be the most powerful and respected Minister ever... and the safest..." she said breathlessly, adding the last part as an afterthought.

"You should let me start Project Cupid."

It was hard to justify having such a magical weapon of such proportions. It was far from the first time that he had been approached by Analiza with such an idea, and Marcus had turned it down each and every time. "No, I still don't think it's necessary for our safety. If this was during the days of the Second Rise, I could see having it available as a last ditch scenario. Developing a spell on par with the atomic bomb as a preemtive move? It's a little excessive."

He continued, "Albert Einstein cosigned a document advising for increased funding for atomic research, and then years later he actually wrote a letter to the then-current President pleading to cease nuclear proliferation. He saw it as a bane of our existence." Marcus took another sip of his drink, "The atomic bomb was developed during a time of war, and killed thousands as a mere example of what they could do. We don't need it. We've got Department Heads and Ministry workers ready for just about anything. Alex especially. His stipulations for release put a real cramp on what Kingstreet is allowed to do. If we have to..." Marcus was cut off my Analiza, who had become increasingly insistent on her point.

"... No amount of legal jargon and neat handwriting will be able to battle against the most powerful weapon known in magic... Can you imagine what that would mean... You could be the most powerful and respected Minister ever... and the safest..."

Development of death dealing weapons didn't make anyone more respected, it made them more feared. Respect came from doing the job, and doing it well. Fear should never be an alternative to respect when it came to your own citizens. "Here's what I envision. Let's say I give the go-ahead on your Project Cupid. Another faction of our government catches wind of it, and decides to do their own R&D. Within a few years, we've got every government with the same destructive capabilities, and an itchy trigger finger." Marcus knew exactly what that felt like. Being behind the barrel and scope of an MSG1 sniper rifle sometimes felt like being God, especially when all you see are enemies.

He continued, "The means to nullify a wizard or witch's powers, in the wrong hands, could prove deadly." It was clear that Marcus would need more convincing, and he had hoped that the expression on his face conveyed that the discussion was, in fact, not over.

As Marcus went into his usual speech about the possibilities of the weapon getting into the wrong hands, Ana sighed mentally and settled back in her chair. She kept her gaze unreadable out of respect for him and his position, but inwardly she was rolling her eyes and itching to pick at her nails. She had heard this same speech time after time and could almost repeat it word for word. It was ridiculous really, his reasoning, they would never go forward if they didn't prepare for the worst. And if they didn't, others would. The power of love was not a new concept, just an underfunded and complex one. How long did he think he had before another ministry decided to harness it?

"The means to nullify a wizard or witch's powers, in the wrong hands, could prove deadly."

It seemed not all hope was lost, that is, if his tone meant what she hoped it did. If he needed more convincing, she could do it. Leaning forward, she shook her head and tried to keep any irritation or even derision from her tone "... Marcus, you know as well as I do that anything can be deadly in the wrong hands... Water is good for you.. It replenishes, hydrates and cleans you. It grows plants and gives us the sky... but give a psychopath a tub of water and a victim, and he will drown them in it. Besides..." She sat back again, her eyes still steady on him.

"Love magic is inherently white. It serves to protect... not destroy. By utilizing it, we will have a weapon that nullifies our enemies magic long enough for us to overtake and incarcerate them.... Sure there are glitches..." She failed to mention said glitches, AKA insanity and cardiac arrest, but that was part of all scientific experiments "... but we would be sure it was safe before we used it... IF we ever need to..." Pausing, Analiza leaned towards him and cupped his hands in hers. Her gaze softened and her tone became quiet and almost pleading "... Who's hands would you rather this be in Marcus? Yours... where it is safe and unused... or the next Voldemorts?"

"... Marcus, you know as well as I do that anything can be deadly in the wrong hands... Water is good for you.. It replenishes, hydrates and cleans you. It grows plants and gives us the sky... but give a psychopath a tub of water and a victim, and he will drown them in it. Besides..."

She had made a good point, damnit. Even if he had heard it all before by her, it was still valid. "I agree that there is negativity buried in just about everything in this world, ready for someone with half a mind to exploit. The idea of stripping away the essence of what makes a wizard or witch who they are... it's like taking away one of the five senses." Or six, if you count Divination as a sense. "That, and it's a logistical nightmare. This sort of thing can easily be misconstrued as the Ministry of Magic delving into the Dark Arts."

"Love magic is inherently white. It serves to protect... not destroy. By utilizing it, we will have a weapon that nullifies our enemies magic long enough for us to overtake and incarcerate them.... Sure there are glitches... but we would be sure it was safe before we used it... IF we ever need to... Who's hands would you rather this be in Marcus? Yours... where it is safe and unused... or the next Voldemorts?"

She cupped his hands with hers, no doubt in an attempt to drive her point home. All it did was display a sense of affection that shouldn't be displayed between the two in public. They couldn't be heard, but they could still be seen.

Will there really be another one as horrible as Voldemort? In Ana's mind it was right around the corner. It was that fear-based thinking that leads to mistakes and misinformation. "I don't care how protective love magic is, or how afraid anyone is of another Voldemort, that's not the point here and you know it." A bit more combative than I had hoped. "Yes, if utilized it could be a powerful weapon against our enemies. Yes, it can and will be useful if needed."

"My main concern is why you're so eager to get it started. You can preach all you want about safety and usefulness." Marcus leaned forward, careful to remain in contact with her foot to keep the spell up, "Just be honest with me, Ana. What is your interest in something of this magnitude?"

"Just be honest with me, Ana. What is your interest in something of this magnitude?"

His words felt like a slap to the face and Analiza's posture changed considerably the moment they left his lips, from pleading and concerned to angry and tense. Immediately releasing his hands, Ana sat back, as though to put distance between them, and crossed her arms. Her foot remained in contact with his, but only the bare minimum, like she couldn't stand to even touch him. 

It wasn't the words, it was the tone. That combative and accusing tone. It spoke volumes on what he really thought of her and for the first time in years, Analiza found herself caring what someone thought. Why did she care though? They were coworkers who enjoyed an occasional night together... nothing else. Not even friends really, not in the traditional sense anyways. She reminded herself of this fact as she sat there in the heavy silence that followed his question.

"My interest is purely one of research and concern for the well being of wizarding kind..." She started stiffly, pulling out a text book response before leaning forward and locking her narrowed eyes on his "... And whether or not you feel it is necessary, precautions must be taken to ensure that there won't be another Voldemort. It isn't enough to just fight them as they come, you have to nip them in the bud... Tell me Mr. Annwyl..." She emphasized his name with as much venom as she could muster without being too insubordinate "... how many people will have to die before you take action? How many families will have to be destroyed before you label it time to take drastic measures?..."

At this point, she had removed her foot from his and was already in the process of pushing her chair out. "...Maybe you don't have a family or loved ones that you want to protect..." She stood and grabbed her purse, her words clear to anyone standing by "... But I do." Turning on her heel, she pushed her way through the crowd, stamping on some toes and pushing a few people out of the way in the process.

Once outside, Analiza came to a halt. She didn't really want to leave, to be honest, but she was upset and confused. Pulling out a ornate silver and red box from her purse, Ana produced a slender silver foil tube, lit it with the tip of her wand and slid it between her lips. As the chery tinted taste of tobacco filled her mouth and lungs, Ana breathed in deeply. Letting out a puff of smoke with a sigh, she tried to get her thoughts in order. She was upset, that much she knew for sure, because he had insulted her. Sure fame and respect played a part in her reasons for persuing the project, but they were not the only reasons. She did want to protect the people, and to be accused of anything else cut her deeply. Especially when the accuser was Marcus.

This though caused her to pause for a moment, pondering why she felt particularly bothered by his opinion. Maybe she was getting in too deep with him... So far feelings had been completely devoid in their work/gratification relationship. If they were forming now, she needed to sever them and quickly before it caused more trouble then it was worth. Sighing at the thought, Ana tilted her head back and blew out a long trail of smoke. As it faded into the night, she breathed in deeply and forced herself to calm down.

"My interest is purely one of research and concern for the well being of wizarding kind..." She started stiffly, pulling out a text book response before leaning forward and locking her narrowed eyes on his "... And whether or not you feel it is necessary, precautions must be taken to ensure that there won't be another Voldemort. It isn't enough to just fight them as they come, you have to nip them in the bud... Tell me Mr. Annwyl..."how many people will have to die before you take action? How many families will have to be destroyed before you label it time to take drastic measures?..."

Marcus decided to ignore the borderline insubordination. She was mad, and had a right to be. Marcus had questioned the integrity of her reasoning. "You speak as if I was Minister of Magic when Voldemort was around to make a grand mess of things. I wasn't, I was an Auror. All I can do is take everything that happened and learn from them to make sure they don't happen again. The only way history can repeat itself is by not learning from it, and I will not let that happen. We are stonger and smarter than we ever have been."

"...Maybe you don't have a family or loved ones that you want to protect... But I do."

She had relinquished contact, severing the link and the privacy, and making it near impossible for Marcus to continue arguing the point. The conversation had become confidential, and Ana knew Marcus wouldn't dare approach the subject any longer if he knew others could hear it.

In turn, Ana had also questioned Marcus' integrity with her statement. Not only was what she said incorrect, but it was too bold of one for her to make. "Wait just a minute..." Marcus chased her out the door, stopping periodically to make sure he wasn't going to be knocking anyone down, something that Ana didn't seem to mind. It was also imperative to make sure that there wasn't anyone paying attention to the ongoing scene. Everyone seemed to be focused more on the dancers, the atmosphere, and each other to find an argument interesting.

Marcus finally caught up to Ana, who appeared to have mellowed a bit in the last thirty seconds. Appearances can be decieving, and Marcus still had too much to say. "You have no right to tell me that I have no one to protect. I am the Minister of Magic, and that holds just as much weight. I have not only the Ministry to look after, but every wizard and witch in this country. My responsibility is not only keeping everyone safe, but how to do it without compromising the ideals that I've established for the Ministry of Magic and it's staff."

Marcus took out his wand and casted the privacy enchantment, moving his foot so that the toes of their shoes met. "If one word of this conversation gets out to the public, I'm going to need to explain our involvment. Not just what we were doing out in public, but why we were talking about sensitive material in a public setting. One word is all it takes to have reporters asking me questions. All making a scene did for this was make it harder for me to approve of it."

His demeanor calmed down some between breaths, making it possible to hopefully change the argument into useful discussion, "I'm your friend Ana, but I'm also your boss. I need to know reasons, impliments, logistics... disclosure. You want to do this? Then I need it in writing, with a full mock-up of how you think it should be done. Anything written and done sill be open to strict scrutiny. This will not be an easy journey, I can guarantee that."

"You have no right to tell me that I have no one to protect. I am the Minister of Magic, and that holds just as much weight. I have not only the Ministry to look after, but every wizard and witch in this country. My responsibility is not only keeping everyone safe, but how to do it without compromising the ideals that I've established for the Ministry of Magic and it's staff."

As pleased as Ana was that he chased ofter her, his explanation was not up to par with her standards. His excuse, like her reason to pursue Project Cupid, was just a text-book answer. It was the kind of answer you gave a newspaper reporter when you didn't want to tell the inconvenient truth. Or maybe she just was jealous because a small part of her wanted him to come rushing out of there like gallant knight in shining armor to tell her that it twas she who he wished to protect. This tiny part of her was the one that also enjoyed reading romance novels in a bubble bath and painting her toenails pink. In Analiza, it was a small albeit obnoxiously outspoken part of her personality and one that she hastily squashed while he went on.

"If one word of this conversation gets out to the public, I'm going to need to explain our involvement. Not just what we were doing out in public, but why we were talking about sensitive material in a public setting. One word is all it takes to have reporters asking me questions. All making a scene did for this was make it harder for me to approve of it."

"Hm." was all she gave him as she took a drag on her dwindling cigarette. She didn't want him to know that his remark about  her making it hard for him to approve of her actions made something leap inside of her. Oh there she had gone, being hasty. If she had not gotten so furious, then maybe he would have agreed. No... surely he would have agreed. She was being logical and sensible, as well as (in her opinion) quite eloquent, there was no way he would have really denied her in the end. That is, IF that obnoxious little twit in her head had kept her big mouth shut. Her logical twin mockingly added, in her subconscious, that this was why inter office relationships didn't work. Mentally, Analiza gestured obscenely and turned her thoughts back to Marcus.

"I'm your friend Ana, but I'm also your boss. I need to know reasons, implements, logistics... disclosure. You want to do this? Then I need it in writing, with a full mock-up of how you think it should be done. Anything written and done sill be open to strict scrutiny. This will not be an easy journey, I can guarantee that."

"Fine." Analiza said, her tones clipped and almost scathingly professional. She wasn't as furious as she was before, but she was definitely still mad at him. Sure she would get over it eventually, as the night wore on, but until then he would have to deal with her surly silence and short, sarcastic, retorts. After ten years, she was sure he was used to it. "We should probably go back in before they give away our table..." she added stiffly, throwing the stub of her cigarette on the ground before cruelly smearing it with the toe of her shoe. "You coming?"

((Feel free to godmod them moving back to the table. Ana is going to be pretty quiet the whole time...))

The night before consisted of reading the book he had purchased on the nineteenth, and thinking about his future get together with the delightful Covadonga. There was nothing serious going on but a drink among new friends was always welcome. The fact that she was attractive was just a bonus. The pair had been sending owls back and forth for the past few days. Lukas was pleased when they nailed down a date and time to get together so soon since they bumped into one another in the stacks of Flourish and Blotts. 

Lukas left work to prepare for their meeting. In the span of an hour he showered, dressed, and made sure he looked presentable. The stubble on his neck stayed since it was part of his usual appearance. With one last look in the mirror Lukas was happy with what the man in the mirror reflected so he decided it was time to get to the club.

It had been too long since he met anyone for drinks. Morgana and he were too young when they saw each other to go out for drinks. Then with Kayla he spent more time at work and out with his mates then back home where he could be nagged or bringing her out where she could make him feel guilty for never taking her out anywhere. It was a vicious cycle that never remedied itself, that was of course until the couple split and he proceeded to spend more time out with various women.

Stepping into the club, he was pleased to see it was a drastic difference to the places he usually went to relax and unwind. Walking up to the bar he saw that Covadonga had yet to arrive which was only fitting for all women he had ever known. Sitting down on one of the stools near by he ordered up a fire whiskey and proceeded to glance about at the crowds of people wandering through his plane of vision. At least from the looks of things this would be an interesting night.