June 19, around 7 pm.
Plot discussion here!


Formal invitations had been sent out to employees and their families, as well as  recent Hogwarts graduates about a week ago, and the Ministry was well prepared for the crowd tonight. The atrium had been expanded into a large, circular gathering place, filled with soft music instead of the loud bustle employees might be used to during the day. The wood floors had been polished, the golden fountain gleamed, and the floating candles brought a warm glow.

The first arrivals to the mixer would see celestial symbols and stars move across the blue ceiling, and curtains hanging over some of the lifts, giving the atrium a ballroom atmosphere. Food and drinks rested elegantly on long side tables, and waiting staff held trays to offer to the visitors.

For anyone wishing to visit other departments, signs by the lifts directed them to the proper floors.

(Outfit)

Daddy was in his element here. It was impressive, how quiet, respectful Aleksandar Farro could blossom into such a dynamic politician when placed in a crowd. Within moments of entering the atrium, he’d broken away from his daughter and swept up a small knot of his fellows from the Department of International Cooperation – mostly translators and his fellow liasons – and stirred them all up into a lively bout of conversation.

Eha chuckled as she watched her father from across the room, finishing off a finger sandwich. She always liked to get a feel for a room before she approached anyone, and besides, she hadn’t eaten since lunch and was absolutely famished.

Slowly but surely, the atrium filled with witches and wizards chattering amongst themselves, mingling politely and working the room. A few older witches – her father’s coworkers, no doubt – picked Eha out of the crowd, and she made small talk politely without revealing that she didn’t remember any of their names. Finally, she managed to disengage herself from them and went in search of somebody younger. There were supposed to be new Hogwarts graduates here, many of them new interns or aurors-in-training like herself, and she wanted to make a good impression. 

Fauna had visited the Ministry before, for the SAWS mixer in December, visiting Devlin in a holding cell, and during the werewolf chaos of March and April. But she'd never been here as Hogwarts graduate! She'd never been invited formally until now.

At the beginning of the evening she stuck close to her housemates, watching the Ministry atrium slowly fill with witches and wizards and their families. She held a nonalcoholic juice cocktail in her hand, knowing that alcohol of any sort made her very giggly, and wanting to appear somewhat professional when they visited Level Two.

Fiddling with the hem of her blue dress (she had a penchant for blue), Fauna turned to her housemates and told them she was going to mosey on over to the hors d'oeuvres. It would give her something to do rather than smile awkwardly at people.

As she made her way over, she nearly bumped into a young woman who appeared to be about her age. Fauna didn't recognize her from Hogwarts, however.

"Oh, sorry, hi," she said shyly, about to move past, then pausing. "Have you just started at the Ministry too?"

Fauna hoped the woman wasn't one of those thirty-year olds who had been employed here for years and only looked twenty. Fauna probably should have introduced herself first, but she was too nervous (and initially focused on the food) to think about it.

Brett had been looking forward to the ministry mixer. She wanted to meet some of the people she would be working with, and knew that it would be a lot of fun to see them all in a more light hearted atmosphere. Besides, it would be a great way to meet people and network before they started their training- and it was likely going to be the last time they were at the ministry and feeling well rested as opposed to annoyed or exhausted.

Fauna had chosen a pretty blue dress- but Brett was not a dress person. She didn't even own a dress, and the only skirts she had were for when one of the professors at Hogwarts had been offended by her wearing dress pants instead. So she decided to wear a nice gray suit instead, something that fit the semi-formal status and was professional in nature.

She nodded when Fauna said she was going in one direction, and Brett went in another, mostly walking around the other groups- stopping to say hello now and then to other seventh years who had graduated and were considering a life in the ministry.

Brett found her way to the bar where they were serving drinks, and ordered (after Fauna's lead) something non-alcoholic. Brett enjoyed having a drink now and then, but making an ass of herself at the mixer would be a horrible idea- and she knew that.

Eha saw the blue dress coming before the girl hit her and slid back a step to avoid the collision with a grin. "Hey, no problem." Her grin widened when the question of joining the ministry came up. "Sure did - Auror office. Can't wait to get started for real. And you - Hogwarts grad, I take it? Lemmie guess...Ravenclaw?"

She laughed, shifted her drink - a sweet butterbeer cocktail with a hint of chocolate liquor - into her left hand and extended her right to the young woman in blue. "Eha Katrina Farro." She slipped easily from a southern London accent to a Eastern European cadence as she rolled through the syllables of her full name. "Soon-to-be-Auror-in-Training. Pleasure to make your acquaintance."

Amile walked into the atrium of the Ministry on her low heels. As she left her house, she had looked longingly at the beautiful pair of stilettos next to the door. Alas, it was a ministry function. Security had to be high when there were that many important people in one place.

Even though she wasn't “working,” constant vigilance was ingrained into her brain. She was prepared to kick off the simple heels or transfigure them at a moment’s notice. The redheaded Auror looked around and saw many new faces. Her eyebrow raised slightly. It looked like the Auror Academy was going to have more than the sparse number of trainees it had had for the past four or five years. Unless all the new faces were interns…

Highly Doubtful.

She moved across the room at a steady pace, memorizing faces and refreshing herself on those she hadn’t seen very often in the past four years. It was interesting to not be one of the youngest in the room. She reached the drink table and opted for a glass of water. Vigilance

There was a younger girl near the table as well. She looked slightly lost. Amilè smiled cordially, “Hogwarts graduate?” She extended her free hand. Although she was rather fond of the French cheek-kiss, she had to remind herself that she was surrounded by mostly English. “Amilè Vaillancourt.”   

Fauna's face lit up when the girl told her she was going into Auror Training. Her friendly, easygoing manner was contagious, and Fauna grinned, shaking her head when Eha guessed Ravenclaw. Must be the blue dress!

Her name sounded unusual, and the accent she slipped into for a moment sounded foreign too. Fauna shook her hand - she hadn't gotten to do that much as a student, and hoped her palms weren't sweaty. Though Eha probably wouldn't be able to tell with the gloves she wore. That was likely a new fashion thing Fauna had missed, she thought.

"Fauna Blake. Hufflepuff, actually. I did just graduate from Hogwarts! I reckon it's easy to tell," she smiled self-consciously. "I mean, with the way I'm looking around wide-eyed," she clarified. The Ministry building was much more intimidating than the Hogwarts castle, and that was without thinking about all the people here.

"I'm going into Auror training too," she told her excitedly. "So I'm sure we'll be seeing each other a lot. Where did you go to school?"

Durmstrang, maybe? Probably not Beauxbatons. Eha didn't have the French accent that she was used to hearing from the potions professor at Hogwarts. Taking a sip of her drink, Fauna looked at her curiously.

"I did just graduate from Hogwarts! I reckon it's easy to tell, I mean, with the way I'm looking around wide-eyed."

Eha chuckled at that, glancing up at the star-studded ceiling. The first time she'd come here - a summer 'bring-your-child-to-work' fiasco when she'd been twelve - she distinctly remembered being equally as intimidated by it all. By now she was more than familiar with the Atrium, and with Level Five; but if Level Two had anything grander to offer, she'd likely be in the same boat as Fauna and all the rest.

Something to look forward to, then.

"Durmstrang," she said in response to Fauna's question, flipping her hand and rattling the bracelets on her wrist. "Class of 2007. Mum argued for Hogwarts, of course, but Daddy had his heart set on at least one of his kids getting into his old Alma Mater, and since my brother can't speak a lick of anything but English, the honor fell to me."

Her stomach gave an unhappy little moan - one finger sandwich wouldn't do the job, it seemed. She leaned back a moment and snagged a tiny plate off the table. It, too, bore finger sandwiches - Eha didn't recognize the rest of the offerings on the table, and she wasn't feeling up to an adventure in the middle of a conversation. She snagged the nearest cheese-and-white-bread piece and offered the plate to Fauna. "They're not bad," she offered, and slipped back into easy conversation.

"So, Hufflepuff - that makes you a reliable one, right? Hard worker and all that. Good quality to have. Bring any other badgers into the Auror Corps with you, or it just the one this year?"

Dorian landed in one of the fireplaces while still checking his pocket watch, trying to figure out how long he would have to be at this function for the optimum balance of maximum amount of respect to his colleagues with the minimum amount of boredom and social awkwardness, like all social functions usually ended for him. Or at least the once he had attended as he was younger. Traveling for over a decade really does nothing for your social standing and etiquette....

He straightened his tie (a vivid green to match his left eye), and started moving through the crowd.

Well, he thought, at least the female talent was quite good here, and a good view is always to be appreciated.

He snagged a whiskey from a passing tray, and started walking around...

"Dorian, how's things?" Francis Pepper, a fellow unspeakable greeted.

The atrium was already thronging with people, even bureaucrats loved to gossip and attend events that made out they were important. Ministry social events could be terrible bores with conversation drifting between work to children's achievements and the size of houses. Then the odd bit of current affairs, though mostly about who was doing poorly in their department.

Claire had known far too much about some people, working down in the courtrooms, but her smile and charm had kept them both moving between different groups, and Francis did miss her company. Ambrose and Timothy were at home - Ambrose was off the following morning on the Egypt trip and Theta's mother, Catherine was there thinking of all the things Ambrose had forgotten to pack or wash. Francis felt a little bad for not being there himself.

"Have I introduced you to Theta?" He asked his colleague, gesturing to his niece. "She's my new apprentice in the workshop, continuing the family trade." Beside him, Theta extended a hand to shake, blushing, "Dorian deals with experimental spell work... I think anything more specific and he'd be forced to obliviate us both." He gave Dorian a kind smile. 

People! Johann's mind whirred as he observed all the many and varied expressions and interactions between colleagues and families and complete strangers. What a wonderful rich tapestry of communication and body language - not to mention smells and colours. Perfumes mixed with food, tobacco and alcohol and the underlying familiar note of the Ministry building - parchment, soot and concentrated magic.

He'd avoided all the food so far, passing short conversation with his favoured contacts. Much as he loved to talk until the early hours with many of his friends and colleagues, tonight was about meeting new faces, and there were quite a number. Indeed, a whole new band of oestrogen for the MLE by the look of it.

Ho, Ignan would be pleased to have churned out a group of feminist aurors. Johann chuckled. His Professor cousin had gone home to Germany following the end of term. Apparently Trishna had tried to persuade him to come to Egypt - Johann had hooted as Ignan's letter including an explanation of not wanting to spend a summer trapped with all those hormones without the threat of detention or house point deductions.

Wine glass clasped gently between his long fingers, Johann surveyed the scene for suitable conversation, and chanced upon two trainee aurors.
"Hello." Johann greeted with a boyish smile, "Two strangers making introductions, what the hell, I'll be a third." He held out his free hand to shake.
"You two don't look like you're meant to sit behind a desk writing pamphlets, and have that fresh faced enthusiasm reminiscent of the MLE. They normally beat that out of trainees within a few weeks I heard. Oh, sorry, Johann Storm, I work in International Co-operation." He grinned broadly and sipped his wine.

"Ah, Mr Pepper! Or should I perhaps say Dr?" Dorian smiled for half a second at his own joke before remembering yet again the barrier between wizard and Muggle societies.....
But still smiling, he plodded on, hoping he hadn't already messed up the evening.

"Have I introduced you to Theta? She's my new apprentice in the workshop, continuing the family trade."

He turned to Theta. "Well, hello there, little lady! I have heard so.... well, little about you, actually, but then again I came back to England just a few weeks ago, so..... But what I do know is that if you've gotten even a smidge of your uncle's skill, the Ministry will tick along quite happily!"

"Dorian deals with experimental spell work... I think anything more specific and he'd be forced to obliviate us both."

"Oh, hush now! No need for that, ey? Though it IS true..." He winked at Theta, and gave her a joking smile.
"Talking about experimental, I was wondering if I could borrow some parts from your office and check their reaction to a new spell I'm working on? Maybe I could pop in your office on Monday?"

Theta Pepper still felt the need to pinch her own arm every now and then as she tailed her uncle and was introduced to person after person. She tried to remember their names, but instead began to feel she was getting them muddled. Subsequently when Johann Storm turned up with his grin, Theta muddled his name and felt thoroughly envious as he reeled off the names of anyone who worked for the Ministry within ten foot of them within the crowd.

The feeling of inadequacy was still very rich in her mind. Even if she had finally persuaded Francis to take her on (with Professor Trishna's support) she still felt she had to prove something, which was daft, but a feeling she couldn't shake off. It intensified each time she was introduced to a clever colleague in the Department of Mysteries - oh, and here they went again.

"Have I introduced you to Theta? She's my new apprentice in the workshop, continuing the family trade."

"Well, hello there, little lady! I have heard so.... well, little about you, actually, but then again I came back to England just a few weeks ago, so..... But what I do know is that if you've gotten even a smidge of your uncle's skill, the Ministry will tick along quite happily!"

Theta blushed profusely at Dorian's description.

"That's very kind of you, Sir, but I've got much to learn." She uttered, shaking his hand.

"Dorian deals with experimental spell work... I think anything more specific and he'd be forced to obliviate us both."

"Oh, hush now! No need for that, ey? Though it IS true..." Dorian winked at Theta, and gave her a joking smile. Her blush intensified, and she smiled back, lowering her chin a little, all these introductions a little overwhelming. Experimental spell work was hard and extremely risky.

"Talking about experimental, I was wondering if I could borrow some parts from your office and check their reaction to a new spell I'm working on? Maybe I could pop in your office on Monday?"

There it went again, everyone so welcoming but unable to prevent themselves from talking 'shop', due to their location. Theta glanced around herself as Francis replied to Dorian's question with curiousity and confirmation. She thought she spotted Brett and then she saw Fauna in a pretty dress just as Johann sauntered over. Brett and Fauna had been Theta's classmates but in different houses, and had both chosen to be aurors. She was glad she had some friends within the Ministry, but she doubted she'd see much of them given their completely different roles.

"Have you worked here long?" Theta asked politely as the arrangements for Monday were completed verbally. "What made you want to study experimental charms?" It sounded like a job interview, but as Theta clasped her class of pumpkin juice and ice, she gazed up at Dorian with curiosity. Best to make some friends in colleagues, especially ones that were within a decade of her age... hopefully.

"Have you worked here long?"

Dorian had to keep himself from a small snigger. He recognized the tone of slighty forced interest and politeness. God knew he had used it often enough himself....
"No, my dear, not really. Well, I have officially been employed here for about a year, but my job makes me travel a lot, so I see relatively little of the Ministry."

This girl's blush really was very cute, Dorian couldn't help noticing.

"What made you want to study experimental charms?"

Dorian had to smile broadly now, for such a familiar subject was to be cherished! His eyes widened, fixing Theta with his gaze.
"Why, the excitement, of course! The thrill of finding either something with a charm or spell that could use improvement, or even, a few times between everything, when the mood of the world and your mind is just right, THEN you come up with something completely new! And let me tell you, that is one of the most amazing feelings I know of...."

Some details of his memories made his eye a bit moist, so he shook himself out of the reverie, and continued.

"It's sort of like a drug, actually. But, um, mum's the word about that last part, OK?" Dorian put his index finger to his lips.

Fauna nodded, raising her eyebrows at the mention of Durmstrang. Luckily for Eha, she did not fit the stereotype in Fauna's head that most Durmstrang alumni were like Professor Storm - stern, competitive, ruthless. Though she had to admit the Defense professor had pushed her to get an 'O' on her NEWT! She was grateful for that.

Eha seemed lovely, and also competent, if the multiple languages and her social skills here were any indication. Fauna wouldn't be surprised if she'd graduated in the oberteils. Giving her another self-conscious smile, she suddenly worried that the young woman had negative stereotypes about Hogwarts, especially the Hufflepuff house. Badgers didn't usually get a lot of glowing recognition.

"Oh, thank you," Fauna took one of the offered sandwiches and took a small bite, washing it down with a sip from her cocktail.

A relieved and surprised smile spread across her face when Eha complimented her House and wondered if any others would be joining them this year.

"It's a Hufflepuff invasion. Sort of," she chuckled. Fauna glanced around the room, catching sight of Brett talking to a redhead, and spotting the Fayette twins.

"Do you see those tall blond blokes over there?" She pointed for a second, then waved goofily when one of the twins saw her looking. "Dax and Dion. Also Hufflepuffs, and going into Auror training..." Fauna trailed off, about to offer to introduce her to them sometime tonight (and likely earning a big hug from Dax for it later), when a tall man with curly hair greeted them with an amusing joke about the MLE.

Fauna shook his hand with a shy smile, glanced at Eha, then nodded, "Right! MLE. I'm Fauna."

A second later she realized she'd forgotten to include her last name. That was something she'd need to get used to doing at the Ministry as well.

"Um, are you related to Professor Storm?" She asked Johann hesitantly, after giving Eha a chance to say hello. "He teaches Defense at Hogwarts, and graduated from Durmstrang," Fauna told Eha.