So...there was this lady glaring at her....and she didn't know why. Hadn't even been 10 good minutes at the table yet, quite impossible to already be getting on people's nerves but apparently not?

Lex made a face at the woman, positive she didn't fall under her command, "What?" Yeah, what? It couldn't have been something she said considering she hadn't even said a word to her so....what?

Heeeyyyy, the new official 'Big Man' had rolled in--literally. You think Alice would be here for her grandfather's first legit night in office but apparently not. Shame too, she'd have liked the food and they could have snuck off and accidentally gotten lost on Level 9 or something.

"Hey Mr. Clarke!" She said with a grin and a wave. "I'll only be a floor away now, so you know and I'm technically sorta...kinda...in some way a body guard so if you ever feel like the stuffy old hats on Level 1 are trying to out you, you should send me a patronus." There was no shame in selling your services to the Minister of Magic when you'd had food at his table a couple times before his granddaughter moved out. It was completely allowed.

Oh wait, wasn't that Oakey right there?!

Fancy that, Oakey Gunter was working in the Ministry too? How many other people that left Hogwarts ended up here? See, this is why Cassia should have applied...even if she couldn't think of a Department she wouldn't hate having to show up to every day. It was a hard life when you weren't sure you were going to be a kick butt Auror one day.

"Merlin Oakey, calm down, they're just people." All that nerves and stuttering stuff was weird and reminded her of what Daichi was doing too--because yeah she could hear him.

"And I didn't know you worked here. What Department?"



Hang on, what? Lex didn't remember offering to get him a drink, though nothing on her face gave away this sudden 'whut??' moment because hello he was the boss and she was here to impress. You couldn't impress by objecting; fact of life so yeah, Lex took his goblet while waiting for the other guy to give a response.

"Yup, Cambridge, Alexa Cambridge. I go by Lex too, figure that'll be easier to remember. Three letters and it just rolls off the tongue. Here, see: Lex, I need you to haul in a criminal for me; Lex, I need you out in the field today; Lex it's time for your promotion, I want you running my squad because you're skills are brilliant."

See what she just did there? How easily the 'Lex' came? He would get the hang of it soon enough.

At his proposal her mouth fell open and her eyes widened notable. Challenges...? Promotion...? sifguisegfisugf!! "Legit? You mean it? No yanking me around the Quidditch pitch?" Because as she'd just learned, MLE-ers were liars just to get a reaction. Although if he had to yank her around the pitch for the challenge...she would tough it out...."Deal! Absolutely! Prepare to be mind blown."



Lex paused, just after grabbing his goblet. A Healer....?

...

........

"I don't even know where the bathroom is, how d'you reckon I'll find a Healer? And anyway it's a party, no one came here to work so I think they'd all lie if I asked for a Healer." They'd all been lying to her all night anyway, what was one more lie in the end?

"But I can help! I'm brilliant help, just tell me what you need!" BEAM.

Zach smiled at the Minister. He seems to be a really nice fella and he will be happy to work with him as soon as possible...

"I am looking forward to working with you, Sir!" he remarked when the man said of the two of them seeing each other often. Although he had only worked with the former Minister for Magic only a few times before, he did enjoyed his company. Zach had worked more with the Department Heads though, which reminds him to introduce himself to them, especially the new ones. And that means meeting Gavin's replacement.

He bids farewell to the Minister as Zach knows he will be busy talking to other employees of the Ministry. As we turned around, he heard somebody say Senior Undersecretary and it is not Gavin, which will be absurd since he received a notice from Gavin that he will be moving away and note continuing with his posting as the Senior Undersecretary. As he turned around he saw a vibrant lady. Zach approached her and cleared his throat and said, "Hello Ms. Senior Undersecretary, I am Zacharias McMillan, but you can call me Zach." he said extending his hand. He purposefully called her by her position, because he does not want her to think that he had researched on her enough to know her previous work or that might cause some weird feeling around the office.

Zach then approached one of the people he had recognized from before. He smiled and waved at her. "Hello there, err... Harmony" he said hesitating what to call her as.

"Had a great holidays?" he added. The last time he spoke to her was before the official campaign for the new Minister of Magic. Actually that's the last time he had spoken to all of the Department Heads.

He also overheard a new guy saying he is the New Department Head for the MLE. Now he is wondering what happened to Emily?

It seemed Harmony wasn't the only one concerned about Aron and Gabi's aura was bright pink, showing her compassion. Still, the red head had seen the man in action and he seemed like he could handle himself fairly well. Surely he would be okay! He just needed to relax and focus on the positive energies in the room. She would have TOLD him so too if he hadn't gotten all sarcastic with her. WELL. Way to harsh her mellow, man. "Perhaps some ice for that hand," She offered quietly, though she was a bit put off. Merlin, this was meant to be a fun occasion!

She didn't see what was so bad about the new law enforcement department head, anyway. He was being extremely friendly to her at the moment and he was so handsome. Harmony smiled serenely as he offered his hand and she took it, careful to avoid the food remnants. "I'm sorry, I didn't quite catch your name."

Speaking of names, there were so many young people surrounding the table! Harmony was pleased to see the ministry had attracted the youth of the wizarding world and she knew that their enthusiasm and fresh take on things could only help. Smiles were given, that was for sure. And look, the minister!

"Hello, Mr. Clark!" Harmony waved excitedly, a radiant smile playing on her lips. "I'm Harmony Skylark, Creatures department head. I just wanted to say congratulations and it's so lovely to have you as our new leader." The man gave off a good vibe and Harmony was digging it.

Oh, that Delphine woman was QUITE loud, wasn't she? Perhaps the poor thing had an auditory issue. Still, her enthusiasm was quite nice. Harmony smiled in her direction and greeted, "Hello! Welcome to the ministry."

Ah yes, Emmalee. Harmony had been planning on stopping by her office with a bamboo plant-probably still would, truth be told-but now was as good a time as any to speak to her. "Hello there. Congratulations on your new position." And because they shared a level, Harmony was determined to have a harmonious relationship with the woman, even if she'd initially rubbed her the wrong way. "It was quite nice, yes. I've adopted a lovely turtle named Mr. Small and he's the most darling creature!" She couldn't believe she'd missed out on the joy of owning a turtle for so many years. "I trust yours was a good one?"

Mr. McMillan was another handsome man and Harmony couldn't help the blush that appeared when he came over to say hello. "Zach, so nice to see you!" She smiled and tossed some red hair over her shoulder. "Ready to get back into the swing of things?" Skylark was. She couldn't wait to get back into the office.

Why, how nice of the new Minister to shake his han-- ohh, Sherman. Derek remembered him. He knew the tranquilising Potion he had taken wasn't that strong. See, he could even remember people's na- "Thanks." Derek said, because surely there was something to say thanks for. Mr Minister for Magic had just said it so why not say it too?

New year! "Yes, sure. The um, new year will be good. Good for you, sir." The lab technician patted the old man's hand with his free hand and nodded his head as if saying something really serious. Derek was being dead serious at the moment. Their lives depended on how well this man conducted the Magical World, this was serious busin--

Oh, who was that?

Derek's head turned towards the newcomer he had... never seen before. Boy, she was loud and made the former Gryffindor blink several times, almost as if he was blinded by her loud voice. That was possible.

"Hello." He said randomly, looking at her and oh look, it was his Department Head and Emmalee over there! Look....!

He was saying Derek's name too. So the man went over to the both of them and stood there as if waiting to be told something. Did they call? He heard his name.

He had heard his boss saying things about mutants. Ugly things, but Derek hoped they were well. Could he see them soon? He wondered if the cure they brewed had worke--

Emmalee wouldn't keep his boss? What? Derek stared at her in utter confusion and blinked some more. He heard the word 'experiments' and he liked experiments, could he join? He didn't want to be kept by her either, though.

It wasn't that Sabel wanted to go up to the head table. In fact, he had tried to think of every reason not to. None of them had been very good though. Hating politicians and not wanting to meet his new boss, so he could continue to deny that Emily wasn't gone, were horrible reasons.

So, he had swallowed as many of his nerves as he could and slowly made it up to the head table. Which, surprisingly, was no less crowded or filled with excitement than the buffet table. It seemed to be quite the night, in all corners of the building.

Catching sight of Alexa near a rather intimidating looking man, Sabel couldn't help but arch an eyebrow. There was some gleaning of agreements, healers and ....the minister? Sabel's head turned about to see the old man settling into his spot. Well, he certainly didn't look like no Borr, and he sounded a great deal more pleasant. Still, all he got from Sabel was a tight lipped smile and respectful, half-nod. He didn't want to go over there. Not. One. Bit.

Plus, he was on a business jaunt. Not a casual one. He wanted to get this over and done with and then get away from this table.

Turning his attention back to his new department head, Sabel stepped up beside Alexa, glancing at her from the corners of his eyes before turning his attention fully to the department head. There was no expression on Sabel's face. Not a single quirk of a smile or frown. He just was. "Mr. Rainey," he extended his hand, "Sabel Dakest. I just wanted," not, "to stop by and welcome you to the MLE."

"Pleasures mine." Oakey said extending his hand to shake his Boss' hand...paused for a moment then switched his hand around so he wouldn't be shaking the guys broken one. Wait...his wife? Who's his wife!?! She speaks highly of him! This guy looked double his age so Oakey began moving through faces in his head to try and pin some Lady's Face to his. Wait there was an easier route to take! "Uh...Who?"

"I know what People are!" He said turning his head to look at her. He just hadn't interacted with many outside of his Wife, Dylan, Ella, and his Former Boss since moving back to England "Just taking the time to soak it all in." he sure he'll be all over the place in the Ministry soon. No doubt just about everyone is going to need his expertise...then he'll know People.

"I'm in Accidents and Catastrophes" Seriously he was still not used to hearing how Idiotic of a place that was for him to reside in. He prepared himself, like he did with Vincenzo, for surprised reactions from Alexa. Really he would have been better off just telling them the field he was working in as opposed to the department. "My official title will be Curse Removal Specialist." So he'll be around the MLE some, and probably working with Alexa on a few occasions...WAIT WORKING WITH ALEXA. Shivers went down his spine at that thought.

Quietly and calmly the sal 'n pepper Head of Mysteries pulled up a seat not too far from Clark. He flashed a closed mouth smile at Skylark and pushed away the champagne glass whilst pull forth the water one. He wouldn't again be wearing any of that stuff tonight thank you. Though, even if a mishap did happen, at least he wouldn't have to worry about it being spilt upon his brothers suited or a rented number. No. Tonight Jasper had his own. And had even splurged on a bottle of Vorwhittle pour l'envoûteur.

The aisle ways of the Hall of Prophecy were so vast and the workers so sparse that he'd hardly seen the old man. Not to mention Clark's habit of falling asleep. He hoped he remembered him.

"Sherman, or should I say Minister Clark? You're looking quite nice, but where is all of your plaid?" Jasper had thought it was a thing for the older man. As far as he could remember, Clark was rarely without something that wasn't in the familiar and colourful print.