Lemuel had once more gained access to the ministry and swooped through the corridor and into Miss Antigone's office as a man left. He landed on the desk as he had done before and held out his leg to Miss Antigone, tied to which was a small, neatly wrapped package.

Antigone had thought that she had FINALLY gotten rid of the bloody bird, but then he was back with a package to replace the ripped letter that still lay on her desk. Sighing she reached out and untied the thing. Her hands trembled as she saw HIS handwriting on the outer package. She fumbled until she got it opened....

Lemuel blinked slowly and puffed out his feathers with pride at having found her again so quickly.

Chloe's eyes widened when a bird flew into Antigone's office and landed on her desk. Looking at it curiously, she tried to figure out what it could be in that package, and then she looked at Antigone. She was obviously not pleased to see the bird. She almost seemed scared what with her fingers fumbling to untie things. Chloe wanted to help her, but she wasn't sure Antigone would want her to see what was in the letter or in the package. "Um... do you... do you want me to go?" she asked a bit timidly, not sure whether Antigone wanted her here at this moment or not.

Antigone put her hand to her mouth to keep the sobs from escaping as she opened both things Lemuel had delivered. Looking to Chloe, fresh tears in her eyes she said, "Yes, please excuse me... THank you so much for being such a lovely friend Chloe."

Chloe nodded and gave her boss friend a reassuring smile. Standing up, she said, "I'll be at my desk if you need me." Then she walked out of her boss's office and shut the door firmly behind her. No one needed to go in there and bother her right now. Then she made her way through the work area to her desk, suddenly missing Asher more than she was capable of explaining.

Lemuel realised that he was trapped with Miss Antigone when the other woman. He was unsure of what to do. He tupped her a few times on the arm and shifted restlessly from foot to foot.

He was unsure if he should stay or go and so in the end opted for perching on the back of her chair, almost as though he trying to read the letter over her shoulder.

As Lemuel tupped her she paid him no mind, silently crying and holding Chi's gift and letter clutched to her chest. She wanted to believe him, but she didn't at the same time.

Finally when Lemuel perched on her chair she reached back and began to stroke his lovely feathers absentmindedly.

Miss Antigone was stroking him. That Made Lemuel feel happy. He could sense that she was unhappy though and let out a soft, consoling caw.

Malachi Brown walked purposefully down the corridor of the Dept. of Magical Education to Antigone's office. He stood outside the door and took several steadying breathes. He knew that he was thinner than the last time she had seen him, he barely had any appetite to motivate him to eat without her.

He closed his eyes and thought of her the last time he had seen her, smiling and looking so... happy. She had vanished and it had taken weeks to find out why.

He almost couldn't bring himself to knock. What if she didn't want him there? She hadn't replied to his first letter... What if she had met someone? What if she had married someone? That thought was too awful to contemplate.

He stood paralysed for another moment, unsure of what to do. Almost of its own accord, his hand formed a fist and knocked on the door. He waited for her to answer, barely breathing.

Hearing the knock at her door she could only assume it was yet another idiot employee coming to make her angry. She slowly rose from her chair and marched around her desk to the door, taking a deep breath and not even bothering to wipe the tears from her eyes she slung her door open and began to shout. "Have I not told you already that you're lack of professionalism...was... I..." she began to lower her tone and trailed off when she saw a rather gaunt looking Malachi on the other side of her office door.

She still had the letter and his gift clutched to her chest and her mouth was open in shock. She began to get lightheaded and fainted right there on the spot. The entire day... too much to handle for her...

And there she was. She looked so... upset? Who had upset her?

"Tiggy, please, just let me..." but before he could say another word, she had fainted. He grabbed her quickly, not allowing her to fall. He scooped her up and held her close to him, breathing in her wonderful scent. He carried her in to the room, sitting her in her desk chair. He glanced at her for a moment, wishing that he could kiss her awake like she was Sleeping Beauty from the muggle story.

Instead he drew his wand and murmured "Rennervate."

Antigone could feel herself be scooped up and moved but was unable to do or say anything. THe days events had proven to be too much for her. Oh but then he did it... he woke her up. She let her eyes flutter open and said, "You are here... and you lied"

That was all she was able to get out before tears began to drop her face quickly as she drank in every inch of him she could see. Oh dear Merlin... she wanted to kiss him.

Malachi breathed a sigh of relief when her eyes fluttered open. Her words stung though. "I am here, I am but I didn't lie. That was him... He lied. He was jealous, he wanted you."

Even when she was crying she was so beautiful. He reached out and stroked her cheek, wiping away her tears. "I could never do that to you. I -" He paused, ready to have his heart broken. "I love you." He looked into her startling blue eyes and cupped her cheek. "I've always loved you, I would never do that to you. Please... Please believe me, I'll do anything for you."

The skin on his hand tingled where it made contact with hers her cheek. He was burning to kiss her but he knew that just touching her was trespass enough for now.

"I love you, Malachi. I hva never stopped loving you, but my heart was ripped from my chest with the news that I was given," she said quietly, tears still flowing. She looked at the man and considered taking him back right then and there, but she wasn't yet sure about anything.

"I can't just tell you that everything is alright, I can't do that. But, I can try to forgive you the pain I have felt... I said try, Malachi," she said as a sob escaped her lips.

His heart soared as she started to speak. She was saying what he want to hear... partly.

He wiped away her tears away again and moved closer to her, risking resting his forehead against hers. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I should have warned you... He's vile, he's so vile, he was twisted up with jealousy... He wanted you for himself and when it was clear that he couldn't have you, he decided to drive us apart."

Her features were slightly out of focus but he could not look away from her. "I didn't expect you to forgive me straight away or let me back into your life, have me back or anything but... Can I see you? Can I try to make this up to you?"

He was begging. There was no other word for it.

Antigone let him wipe away her tears and rest his forehead against her own, but she felt like she was being ripped apart inside. The pain from the betrayal... or the lies... it was too much for her to bear.

"I am not even sure that I believe you. Cain made some very interesting points, a lot of details of the things you were doing while I was away... YOu nearly killed me inside, Malachi," she said between sobs. Why must I cry so damn much today she thought to herself.

Finally having enough of the emotional showdown they were having she pushed past Malachi and took off running. She needed Milo... she needed to be in his arms.

When she said that she didn't believe him, he felt his heart rip in two.

"Please Antigone, please. I can -" but before he could finishing she was pushing past him. He lost his balance she ran out of the door. "I can prove it." He whispered. He looked up and saw Lemuel, ruffling his feathers and cawing softly. Malachi pulled himself to his feet and walked over to the falcon. He stroked the bird on the head and murmured "Go home mate." At these words, Lemuel stretched his wings widely and took off, soaring out of the office.

Malachi looked down at the desktop where the brown parcel paper stared back at him. She had taken the compass and the pendant with her... This fact gave him hope and he dashed out of her office, closing the door behind him.

Syd whistled as he walked down to the office of Ms. McArdle. He stopped in front of the door and saw that it was closed tight. Well it was to be expected wasn't it? Not everyone just lets people barge into his or her office. This was an important matter though so he figured maybe he should just head right in- but that thought was short lived. He was a true, Southern gentleman after all. In the end he gave a quick couple raps on the door and stood back a bit.

Upon hearing a knock at her door Antigone tensed slightly and called, "Enter!" She was in no mood for niceties after the days she had been having around the bloody Ministry.

She flicked her wand at the door and sent it flying open.

J.J. Starr knocked on Antgone's door.

Syd walked into the office and shut the door behind him. He looked around a bit, eyes darting this way and that as he took note of things around the room. Finally he sat on a chair he spotted immediately upon entering the room and smiled to his colleague. She was looking rather haggard, but he wouldn't bring that up.

"Afternoon, Ms. McArdle. How can I help ya today?" he asked, getting comfortable.

"Mr. Starr, you will have to wait here, this is a very important meeting with another Department Head. I do apologize, I have been expecting him. I will be with you momentarily," she said as she flicked the door back shut

Antigone eyed the other Dept. Head as he just walked on in and took a seat without having been asked to do so. Why did people have no manners around this place?! "Well, Mr. Wordsmith I would like to tell you a bit about the attitudes of some of your employees and I am sure you would like to know WHO the killer is in your Department floor right now," she said in a rather clippy tone.

Damn those stupid MLES idiots for not listening to her just because she isn't an Auror. Pfffft! And that Warren... and that idiot Alexa girl. GRRRRRRR.

" Never mind, I am used to being shut out all the time now in this department" J.J. Starr told Antigone. Joe Jon Montcenaggio wants Samantha or Jake back. They always had time for their employees. J.J. just gives a dirty look to Antigone. " This department has gone to the dogs" J.J. muttered under his breath as he left Antigone's office.

Chloe approached Antigone's door quickly, biting her tongue so she wouldn't shout back rude things to Ryan. She raised her hand to knock, but heard voices on the other side. So instead, she just sat down in a chair outside the door and waited. She didn't want to interrupt Antigone as whatever was going on inside the office was probably important. However, she was also most certainly not returning to her desk anytime soon. Raising her wand, she nonverbally summoned her planner, parchment, quill, and ink. As she waited, she began scratching out a letter to her goddaughters and flipping through her planner for a time when it might be possible for her to go visit them. Merlin knows she needed a break from seeing Ryan's face. She would not tolerate being disrespected.

"Mm, right. Both things would be nice to know. Now I can only apologize on my behalf for any of their negative actions toward ya, but you're free as a bird to not accept such an apology, ma'am," Syd said, folding his hands on his lap.

"So I guess you'll want to thrust the information upon me and get me out of your office then, no?"