 astronomizzle ♧ gryffinDORK | & the rest is drag ♣ #badluckDerf
Offering the young woman a delicate handshake, he sometimes had to make the effort not to get overly excited and crush hands, he nodded in agreement to her words. "It seemed just the ticket after all the hard work administration had to do in the wake of my predecessor," he replied thoughtfully. Focus the team's efforts elsewhere during the reconstruction of the Ministry and Britain's wizarding livelihood. "Ursula, such a lovely name," added as a bit of an afterthought as his attention was drawn to Conley's arrival. He and the International Magical Cooperation department head had a lot of work to do, though Charles was proud to say that he had been able to mostly keep the relationship between the British and Japanese Ministry civil despite Nickles' efforts, but that would come in due time. For tonight, it was time to make some sort of attempt at relaxing. So he raised his glass to the man in acknowledgement and turned towards another woman introducing herself. "Laurel Vance...forming Hogwarts professor Divination and Slytherin Head of House, correct?" he beamed at her. "My grandson is a Slytherin. Would have been a first year in your final term at Hogwarts. James Eiji Rasting."
And yes, it WAS quite nice to be back in the building proper and without the need of a construction hat upon his head to protect his melon.
His glass was also raised towards Olly - who he had occasionally taken to calling Olive - as well as to Maddox, but otherwise he let the pair of them be. And that Alexa Cambridge. Ha! The man couldn't help let out a bit of a chuckle. Why, he remembered receiving a letter from his precious pumpkin of a daughter - then a seventh year - regarding this one as a first year and her scaling the Hogwarts Express. Ah to be young...
As for the presence of the Mysteries department head...Charles could only assume that that quirky man would be along shortly. Likely got himself in a tussle ironing his suit to perfection, which the Minister found a bit preposterous. What was life without a few wrinkles?
"Owen! Lovely to make your acquaintance," he greeted this one with a firm handshake. "Foreign relations is a FINE field. Where I made my beginnings, actually." Popping another finger sandwich from his plate into his mouth, Charles swallowed quickly so he could speak to the young woman - and subsequent young man - who had greeted and welcomed him. "Lucas, pleasure," he smiled warmly. He had not caught the woman's name but she was preoccupied with Ursula at the moment so it was just as well. Gave his mouth ample time to enjoy another cucumber sandwich. He was about to inquire as to what Lucas enjoyed about the Ministry when his twinkling eyes fell on none other than ---
"SIMON BENNETT!" he bellowed, his not-so-frail old man limbs bounding over to the former quidditch captain and SCOOPING the boy up in his arms for a healthy not-so-little bear hug. "I had been HOPING to run into you here. My look how GROWN you are! Why...I can remember you when you were, what was it? 15 or so when you were the quidditch captain and saw such potential in my precious peach that you made her a SEEKER!? No more unsavory pirate possessions since I've left London, I hope. Look at the strapping young lad you've become! Any children yet?"
So he could add to his collection of grandchildren to dot upon?
And if there were any others nearby he had missed, they could blame the presence of this Law Enforcement officer. The lad was just so squishable in the moment!
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Airey Flamsteed had NOT been ironing any suits, thank you very much. If anything the department head had arrived precisely when he had intended to and with only a bit of residual residue clinging unknowingly to his blonde locks from a certain potion housed in the Thought Chamber. Had he known, well, he would have most certainly have been late doing some suit maintenance.
"Maddox, couldn't possibly be missing me already," he chuckled as he approached his colleague and, dare he say it, friend. They had had a brief staff meeting not all that long ago, hadn't they? Or had he been spending too much time in the Time Chamber again?
His eyes wandered towards two of his former students - always odd seeing them out of Hogwarts so matter how often it happened. Much like seeing a crup walk on two legs, really.
He offered those surrounding Maddox a pleasant sort of nod before glancing over at the drinks while rubbing his five o'clock shadow. A peculiar sort of side effect to being turned into a cheetah - growing facial hair. Something puberty had not even been able to curse him with.
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When you're stuck in a moment and your spark has been stolen .................................................. ...........
this is our time to own it, so own it.....................................
baby we were born with fire and gold in our eyes |