April 6 2009
2:30 pm

Griffin Manley's Office

"I see the repairs to your wing are nearly complete!" Zephyr bubbled to the receptionist outside Griffin Manley's office.  There had been some significant structural damage to the stonework archways during the horrible werewolf rampage this last full moon.  Apparently a heroic werewolf hunter had used his environment resourcefully to protect a Hogwarts student - Fauna Blake - Persepolis brought the young witch's name to mind.[1]

The lift had also been severely damaged - the werewolf had been trapped there until a proper crew could be mustered to detain it properly.

"Frightful mess, all of that," she said with a somber shake of her head.  "Just frightful.  Thank goodness for your people!  Manley! There you are! I'm early."

Zephyr was a splash of saffron and green in the stonework entry, her flowing, shapeless robes fluttering around her like colorful plumage.  She was bursting to speak with a man she considered an old friend, the strange, the personable, the diplomatic Griffin Manley.  There was Hogwarts business, and there was news.

1.	Those Dog Days Aren't Over

Griffon had decided to take a late lunch. His father wanted to take him out, and he had juggled his schedule to make it more convenient for the older man. The two had a nice time, and Griffon had been pleasantly surprised when his younger sister Polka-Dot had joined them as well. In fact, he found himself taking a half hour longer for lunch than he really should have- but it was nice to see his family and spend time with them. Nice to enjoy himself, have some laughs, and not worry about the department for a little while.

As he exited the lift on level four and made his way to his office- plucking a letter from an owl on the way- he smiled as he saw the familiar figure of Miss Persepolis Zephyr. Her robes were a pleasant shade of green, and smiled broadly when she greeted him. "That works out well then," he said, "because I'm late!" Griffon dropped the letter on the desk of the receptionist, and then opened the door to his office. "Just getting back from lunch with my father. You're familiar with him, yes?" Griffon asked, gesturing for Persepolis to make herself comfortable in a large, over stuffed arm chair.

"Argyle Canterbury- he's been on the Wizengamot for years. Good man- though I'm fairly certain he's getting senile in his old age. Of course, living through what he has, I guess he's entitled to his senility. Hopefully it runs n the family!" he said cheerily, setting himself behind his desk. "What brings you down to level four?" he asked. "I hope this isn't about my approval to let the deputy headmaster borrow two baby dragons for a class of his," he said. "I promise that I'm sending them pre-sedated and also sending along some of the best dragon handlers I've got to keep everything in line. It's for the seventh years, and they're a capable bunch!"

Persepolis gave Griffin a quick embrace before following him into his arboreal office and taking the visitor's seat.  "Canterbury!" she chirruped.  "Canterbury, that dear old warlock - is he still running amok?  We should all be so lucky to age so joyfully."

Her smile didn't quite reach her eyes as she politely complimented the aged Wizengamot Elder.  He was a war hero, and a veteran of the court - but now, well, whatever he was now, he was a voice she needed to friendly, so no wrong moves, nothing uncharitable.

She peeled off her yellow gloves and laid her wand down in her lap.  She waved a hand and smiled wide and white.  "Oh not at all!  Not at all!  Dragons belong at Hogwarts and that Declan is a sweet, sweet young man." 

The young Deputy Headmaster was one of the more controversial members of the Hogwarts faculty at this time, and that was saying something when you consider the flock of owls the Governors received about Ignan Storm, Georg Kirchlehnor and Tapendra Trishna.  But staffing complaints were not the Governors' purview and Zephyr had stated many times to their funders, and to parents that she had complete faith in Snark.

"No no, Griffin, I've actually come round on something a touch more dour - the Hogwarts students affected by the March full moon."

Her thin eyebrows nearly met in a serious expression.  All the proper work had been done, and everyone was safe, of course.  The MLE was handling its part, the WCU theirs, but the Governors' work still had yet to come to a close.  There were still some jagged edges and lingering questions.

And everything would need to be smooth before she could take the next step.

Griffon laughed. "Yes, he is quite joyful I think. Enjoys spending his time bothering others and sticking his nose where it doesn't belong. But I suppose that is something easily explained away by old age. Set in his ways, thinks he has the right to be in charge of everything. Luckily the old codger hasn't yet taken to poking his nose around level four. Though I'm sure he watches to make sure I'm not totally ruining the entire department."

He was relieved when she said that dragons belonged at Hogwarts, and that she trusted the deputy headmaster. Griffon had known enough of the O Morain family history to suppose that Declan had some prior experience with dragons. Though likely not as much as the MacFusty clan. "People are so careful these days," he conceded. "Always afraid a creature is going to attack. I've heard ever since that Hippogriff went wild on the Malfoy boy so long ago that most are afraid of a repeat incident. Good to get practical application in. Only way to learn to handle a creature is to actually handle it."

But his cheery attitude did not last for long as she brought up the subject of the March full moon. That had been an ordeal. And that the attacks had managed to reach Hogwarts at all had made the mess even worse. "Yes, that full moon seems to have made quite a mess of everything, hasn't it?" he rubbed his face, and scratched idly at the stubble on his face.

"What about the attacks would you like to discuss?" Griffon asked. "Do you mean the students in the forest, Miss Blake getting attacked at the ministry, or the students who are having to learn to deal with the aftermath?" He thought instantly of Sophie and the other Flickwicks. They were like family. He was Sophie's godfather. And he had to send someone else to break the news to her. Poor Romona. Such a wonderful woman. She hadn't deserved such a fate.

Persepolis made a small gesture with both her hands, a sad surrender.  "All of the above, Mr. Manley.  There were six Hogwarts students and one former student all involved in werewolf attacks both on and off campus.  I'm to understand that both Ms Blake and Mr Schlagenweit will both be required to report to Level Four for mandatory quarantine - and this is the second time Blake has been involved with something like this.  Hogwarts has been the stage for some very interesting discourses about werewolves," she went on, "not the least of which has been Headmistress Snark's removal of Olivia Foley, and activities of that student group S.A.W.S."

She pursed her lips and placed a hand on his desk.

"I want to be sure that the role of the governors, and myself, in these heavily politicized events is clear to your Department.  The governors place the safety of students and the tradition of excellence at Hogwarts above all else.  I trust that both Blake and Schlagenweit will be treated with great compassion and care - they're not common criminals.  In fact, they are among Hogwarts's brightest pupils."

She smiled then, her eyebrows raised in altruistic concern for the children.

Griffon was actually impressed that Persepolis would make a special trip to see him because of her concern for the Hogwarts students. (Naturally he did not suspect she had any other motives.) "It has been one hell of a year for Hogwarts," he responded. Not the most appropriate response- but it was the most honest. "It is a shame that Hogwarts has become the center for so much werewolf controversy, though. It's a subject that most school children are not going to fully understand. I hardly believe than a twelve year old can make an informed decision about anything." But that was not what the discussion was about- that was for another time and place.

But as far as the students were concerned- the ones that they would be holding- Griffon nodded. "I try not to treat anyone we're quarantining as a criminal- though it might seem that way once they are in the cells. I intend to separate the students from the rest of those we will be holding and hopefully prevent the occurrence of another attack on a student. Someone that young should never be afflicted with something so awful. I pity that poor Foley girl."

"I intend to have some entertainment ready for them, too, after we clear them as wolves. Protocol requires us to keep them all night, of course," he said to Persepolis, "but games and refreshment should help to ease hurt feelings. Hopefully we can remove all non-weres from holding cells as soon as others start to transform. I do not want anyone's life to be at risk."

"Perhaps this month we shall be lucky and the wolfsbane source will not be tainted. It is amazing, isn't it, that one ingredients supplier has a problem and the whole world can crumble? I would like to find whoever was responsible for not adhering to the recall and give them a swift kick in the teeth. But I'm too old for those kinds of fights these days."

"In fact, if it would satiate your concern, I am more than willing to allow yourself or any other member of the board to supervise the proceedings. Though they will also need to be aware that it is not a walk in the park to hear what goes on in the holding cells. Werewolf howls are quite terrifying."

Mr Manley was pleasant and compliant - traits he did not share with his infamous father.  He was unpolished, less polished than most Department Heads, but it seemed appropriate - a wizard in his position had to prioritize other things ahead of the correct words.  He was, after all, in charge of things like the Giants.  Werewolves.  Vampires.  Dragons.  If he turned a colloquial phrase here or there, it was probably the cost of protecting the hamlet of Trodgor in Umbria from being burnt to the ground by a Welsh green off her normal migratory route. 

"Oh no, Mr Manley, that won't be necessary.  I've complete faith in you and your people," she said as clearly as she could.  "I am eager to hear about your cooperation with Level Two to determine just where the monkey wrench went in with the Wolfsbane Potion mishap so that we can improve upon old ways and prevent future tragedy."

Her serious expression had begun to glow again, a pleasant sort of smile creeping back to her cheeks.  She felt confident she'd done her duty by Mr Manley, seeking his assurances that all would be handled impeccably, and assuring him in kind of her omnipresence.

Persepolis shifted again on the edge of her seat, and smoothed her bright yellow robes.  They were patterned with orderly gold embroidery and at the kick of her heel, the rich brown lining showed the same motif.  She always found yellow to be cheerful and unmistakable. 

"I am, in fact, so invested in the outcome of ventures like these that I've come to a bold resolution.  Have you any idea what that could be?" she asked with an impish glint in her eye.

He smiled. "I'm flattered to hear that!" Griffon said. "Nice to hear not everyone has lost faith in us." And then she said she was eager to hear about cooperation with Level Two to figure out what had gone wrong. "From what I gather the wolfsbane potions were bad due to faulty ingredients- from the big O Morain recall.  Such a shame those ingredients caused such an issue. But as we work out the details of what we will do to prevent an accident like what happened- I'll send them your way."

Then the governor said that she had come to a bold resolution. Griffon blinked. "Well, I am glad that you are determined to be involved, governor, but I'm not sure what type of resolution you might have made. Departments cooperate most of the time, certainly, but many of us are not fond of having other departments poking their nose in our business." His voice had become slightly stiff- worried that she was going to snoop around his department and tell him what to do .

Griffon was very territorial about his department. He didn't like level two nosing around, or any other level who thought that they had the right to his files or his information without his permission. Griffon also didn't like others hassling his employees or acting as though they knew how to do his job better than he did.

"I certainly hope you're not gunning for my job," Griffon chuckled. "As wonderful a woman as you may be, I hardly think you would be qualified. And there was much more to those attacks- it was not simply the incompetence of the RCMC, I can assure you of that."

Persepolis let loose a peal of soprano laughter, much different than her usual lilting alto.  Her face was lit with delight at being abjectly misunderstood and totally unmasked all at the same time.   She rose from her chair in a billow of saffron robes and spun away with that gleeful noise.

When she came back round to face Griffon, her face was one of genteel contrition.

"Incompetance? Far from it, Manley!  Let it never be said I insinuated such rot! No no no!"

She swooped back in on him, her palms landing flat on his desk, her eyes level with his.  "I wouldn't dream of taking your job, sir.  Marcus Annwyl's on the other hand..."

Griffon wasn't sure how to react to the laughter that erupted from Persepolis. Nor was he certain how to react to the fact that she rose from her chair and spun- her robes fluttering about her. He looked at her as though she were touched in the head- and wondered if perhaps Persepolis' sanity might be called into question. But just as soon as she had started spinning and laughing, she had stopped- and was firmly telling Griffon that she had not meant to insinuate incompetence. And that she was not interested in his job.

Well- now that was cleared up, Griffon relaxed. The reason for her visit had been revealed. This must be the reason she was meddling in the RCMC affairs- well, part of it. He had no doubt she had genuine concern for the students, but appearing involved would certainly help her out if she was seriously invested in ousting Annwyl from his position as Minister of Magic.

Girffon couldn't honestly say he would mind a change in government, though. Annwyl was decent enough, he supposed, but the world had not experienced any real improvement under his supervision. "Minister of Magic, you say?" Griffon leaned back again, gentling stroking his chin as he carefully studied Persepolis. He wondered if she was indeed very serious, or perhaps making some ill placed joke.

"Well, I must say that is quite ambitious. But I can't say that I object to the idea. Then again, I've been out of the country for so long I don't know everything that goes on in the Wizarding world. But you've certainly been a bit more involved in this whole werewolf mess than the minister has. Do you intend to officially throw your hat into the ring?" Griffon asked. "Or is it just a casual interest?"

Although she felt like she could fly around the room, she lit back onto the seat of the chair.  But her posture was so tall, she might not have been sitting at all.  Manley was either being very polite, very strategic, or honest by reacting so positively to her goal.  The first two might have been the obvious motivations for anyone other than Griffin Manley, but Griffin was a different breed of politician - in that he'd probably  never admit that he was one.  But that's what Department Heads were, in Persepolis's opinion, or at least, what they should all be. 

"You can be sure, my friend, that I'm taking this very seriously," she said her bright face reflecting her grave intent.  "And I've got no illusions at all that unseating Minister Annwyl will be quite difficult.  He's a war hero and he hasn't done anything overtly controversial, save that werewolf legislation last year.  And that's turned out quite popular, honestly.  The Remus Lupin Resource Library has been a huge success, but then - that can always be attributed to that marvelous witch Covadonga Gertrudis.  If I'm honest, I don't intend to slander the poor man at all - that would be bad form and completely useless adversarialism.  What our people need, Mr. Manley, is a bit of peace and stability.  We're not at war any longer - it's time to grow."

Persepolis had more or less just given her platform speech - a test run to both gauge his interest and to see how it sounded out in the open air.  She'd already spoken with Analiza Snark but Snark was such a strong ally, Persepolis hadn't needed to be worried at all.  But Griffin - she'd do well with his support and as far as she knew, he stood neutrally.

"But you shouldn't be so self-effacing.  Out of the country or no, this Department has been on the cutting edge.  And it will need to continue to be.  Should all of this come round to working out my way, you can be sure you'll have my support.  After all, you're the expert."

Griffon nodded, listening carefully to what she had to say. "You're very right, about peace and stability. There's some nutters out there, for certain- but they shouldn't ruin the good time of the rest of the country. Growth would be good! You know- those of us muggle born and raised always have such a hard time getting used to how behind the wizarding world seems to be, socially at any rate. It used to be so odd to me- but then I lived in the world for so long and spent so much time in Tibet I suppose I forgot what it's like to be forward thinking."

And Persepolis continued- carefully placing her words to make Griffon not only feel more at ease, but to use flattery to grease him up a little bit. "Yes, yes, I intend to keep things going around here. Make sure the public understand you can't just go around killing everything that scares you. It's hardly practical, and they won't learn anything from it at all. Hopefully we keep our heads above water and get everything straightened out and keep it that way."

"And it's good to know I'll have your support. I think some people were a little surprised by my appointment to department head with such a short time as a division head, but someone had to be in charge and I like to think that I have management skills." And honestly, Griffon wasn't a bad department head- mostly just a little gruff. But it made sense for a man like himself to be a little rough around the edges.

"What's your plan, then, to accomplish this mighty goal of yours?" Griffon asked. "Get the public support and whatnot. I'm sure you've got something up your sleeve- anything I could be of use with?" Not that he was tyring to usurp or oust Minister Annwyl- but that Persepolis was taking a particular and special interest in himself and his department made him inclined to offer assistance where he could, in the hopes that it might somehow pay off in the future.

Hardly able to stand it, Persepolis Zephyr was on her feet again, this time coming round Griffin's large desk via a meandering route. 

"I'm so grateful, Manley! Truly I am.  I couldn't have been more pleased at this reception. I think you see just as I do that a change in management is hardly a hostile act, but the normal course for a growing society," she said with glowing passion.  She truly meant what she said.

She walked behind his chair, her hands clasped in front of her face as she tried to contain all the words that unhindered would just flow out of her, so great was her excitement about the possibility of becoming Madam Minister of Magic.

"It'll be the usual, I think," she went on, gathering her thoughts about her campaign.  "I'll need to seek the approval of the public, appeal to their concerns.  I'll need supporters at the Prophet, here in the Ministry, and ultimately, the complete faith of the Wizengamot...  I won't insult Annywl so much as to say it will be easy, but his footholds are shaky at best.  But all I need from you, dear Manley, is for you to continue to do a fine job here.  As I put my total faith in you, and will gladly sing your praises..."

She paused now and bent low, to speak softly over his shoulder, as if she was asking a very great favor.  "...that you'll be ready to the same for me?  Your vocal support would come in very handy."

"Change in management is often a blessing in disguise, regardless of what others may think," Griffon added. "And I hardly think running against our current minister would be considered a hostile act. I'm sure you will not the be only one- though likely the most competent. Managing the board of governors and watching over Hogwarts is no trivial ordeal, I'm sure. You've already had a hand in shaping the future generations- I think if you are responsible and capable enough for that, then running the ministry and looking out for the best interests on the wizarding world is not a far stretch."

Griffon watched as she walked about his office, swiveling in his chair when she moved him. She seemed so animated- so excited. It was certainly refreshing. Griffon thought that a more vocal, more jovial minister of magic might be a welcome change. It could certainly make the public and the ministry in general more likely to compromise.

"I definitely intend to continue to do a good job. There is a lot I want to do, and many things to take care of. Hopefully we'll continue to hear praise from you- as well as others. And, naturally, I'll be more than happy to offer support in any way that I can. I'm not sure how much sway my own voice has, but I know my father's opinions are certainly considered important, and I will do what I can for you from that angle."

"I certainly hope you do intend to be more hands on than Annywl has been," he added. "I should like to see a minister who cares about all departments and makes appearances and keeps tabs on the ministry as a whole and truly considers our opinions and the public opinions. It is better, I think, to be involved than to be... detached." That was the best word he could come up with.

"But yes- my vocal support is certainly yours. I'm not the most articulate, and I flounder a bit with interviews on occasion, but if anyone asks I'll tell them my honest opinion- which is a positive one."

Zephyr clasped her hands together in abject pleasure.  She could have kissed the scrubby-faced wizard.  He was genuine and 'good earth'.  She was surprised but pleased that a man like him had managed to climb so high when there were so many other fiery personalities in the country today.  But when good earth like him rose to the top? Something was working well in the gears of fate.  Hopefully they'd work for her.

But all good celestial machinery needed oil to room smoothly.

She returned round to stand behind her own chair, the guest's seat she'd occupied these last fifteen minutes.  She looked on at Manley and nodded as he echoed back to her the same expectations she had for the post. More hands on.  More diverse.  More movement in all quarters of the Ministry. 

Persepolis smiled.  "I'm taken up too much of your time already, but I hope that you and I can meet soon to speak about those ideas of yours," she said.   "This will prove to be an interesting summer, I'm sure."