Rafael gave the briefest few flicks of his wand a couple of things happened. All the books on his desk flew back to the shelf behind him, and a silvery genet flew from the tip of his dark wood and out of the office as the department head listened to the level three employee.

Once all that movement was done, he reholstered his wand.

"A charm to protect plants from frost," He mused. "I have some ideas, but I'd love to hear some of yours if you've got any?" Had he been working on the project any, or was it just recently assigned to him? Either way, Rafael had a few ideas of what he'd need a charm like this to do exactly.

He was in trouble. He was in trouble, he just knew it.

Sure, he may not have been paying full attention to what the Patronus Rafael had sent him was saying exactly, he was kind of busy poking some plants while in the Greenhouse, but really. What other reason would there be for the boss to summon him to his office? Was he distracting too many people from their work with his constant spinning? If he got fired, was he allowed to take the spinning chair with him? How awesome did he look in his work robes!?

Those were just a few of the questions running through Gilbert Shepard's head as he made his way to his Department Head's office, and once he reached the door, he raised his hand to knock.. but stopped himself. Was he supposed to just walk in? He was summoned after all. Ehh.. Knocking, just to let him know he was there, he slowly opened the door and peeked his head in. Who was that other guy? His replacement!? "You wanted to see me?" Sir.. Bossman..?

Bradley smiled when the other man jumped right in, well there was no time to waste right? Plants were dying from frost all the time. Right some of his ideas? what had he written down on that parchment before being sent this way, um. Brad had a vision of a empty sheet of parchment sat on his office desk. Ah, yeah ideas, about that. Sigh. "Well I was hoping to get your side of things before jumping into any ideas.." He said smoothly, man he was good at this. Brad smiled across the desk just as the door behind him opened.

Turning to see who it was Brad saw another man walk into the room, nervous, and mumbled to his boss about wanting to see him. Hm, he wondered briefly at who it might be and what about before turning back to the front once more. It was nothing to do with him, he told himself.

Right.

So he had nothing, really. That was fine, he supposed.

Rafael nodded his head at the gentleman, and then glanced over at his door when one of his botanist walked in. He motioned to the other free chair across his desk. "Yes, I think I could use your brain for a little assignment." Why did he look so nervous?

"We're discussing experimenting with a charm to protect plants from frost." He supplied. Plants outdoors, of course. "This gentleman from level three has been tasked with the job and has asked for our assistance." Or guidance, Rafa wasn't sure but he wasn't passing judgement just yet.

He also didn't know the other man's name, and gave him a brief look as if this was the time to supply them both with it.

"I was thinking a combination of certain charms that could be adjusted to our needs." He eased back in his seat, eyes flickering between the pair. "A shield of sorts that would seal in warmth, maybe even provide it, while still allowing physical contact to be made with the plant. Obviously something transparent. Lasting. Not harmful to the environment." Were either of them getting any ideas? He paused to see if they would contribute.

Ohhh, he was needed for an assignment.

Grinning rather sheepishly, all that worry was for nothing!, Gilbert moved further into the Bossman's office and took up residence in the empty seat across from him. He did give the other guy in the room, his not replacement, a nod of his head while making himself comfortable. Chairs were comfy, but missing something. However, it wasn't really time to think about that, and once the Bossman began speaking, Gilbert gave him his full attention. Well, as much as he possibly could. He was already trying to think of a few things that they could do. Protecting plants from frost with a charm. Just think of all the time people could save! Money, too.

"Well." he leaned back in his comfy chair and scratched at his chin thoughtfully. "Muggles usually use some kind of tarp or even newspaper to cover the plants before the frost is supposed to hit. And during the frost, spraying the plants with water will insulate them when the water freezes." And.. he knew that wasn't exactly an idea, but he was hoping that, by giving that information, it would fuel some. So far, though, he had nothing. Maybe the other guy did?

Once the other man had taken his seat Bradley leant forward and held his hand out to Rafael, "Bradley Wills" He introduced himself waiting for the hand shake so he could move on to shake the hand of the other man. At least now they all knew each other they could really get down to business. Brad was glad that the other man had offered up an idea as he still felt in the dark a bit.

Biting his lip a little he straightened his back and spoke, "Is there a way of using your idea in a simple way? We don't want to make this solution difficult and a chore to cast" He said as he was thinking idea through his head and the end spell and the way it would look to anyone using it. "Although I've never had the problem with frost and plants but my mother always said that continuous water of the plants soil before nightfall helps because the soil will release moisture into the air and make it warmer therefore protecting the plant in someway" He hoped it helped hem in someway.

Rafael listened to both men, smirking slightly at Bradely's question. "I believe that is for you to figure out Mr. Wills. We've supplied you with our advice and opinions on the matter, and you're more than welcome to pick Gilbert's brain at a later time, but I'm afraid I cannot assist you more on this matter." He rose from his seat slowly, offering his hand to the other man. "Thank you for stopping by though, and I look forward to hearing your progress on the matter."

Then he turned his attention to Gilbert, half expecting to see him spinning. "I'm assigning you to help this man however possible, Gilbert. And keep me informed should you the two of you run into any troubles or need more assistance." If so Rafael was sure he'd be able to find more time to assist them both.

He'd try to at least.

Bradley nodded at the man's reaction and leant forward to shake his hand. He had all that he needed for now to work on this, he now had a clear idea of which direction he needed to go. He smiled as he took to his feet, his chair scraping back ever so much. "Thank you both for your help," He paused as he turned to each man, he stopped before Gilbert however, "If you don't mind I might call upon you for help in the future on this project?" He asked hoping this was allowed.

"If you both don't mind I'll take my leave to get back to my work" He said still smiling, Brad turned towards the closed door and took the few steps to the door and stopped again, turning towards them both once more, "Thank you both again" He added before taking his leave.

A purple paper airplane, complete with the emblem of the Ministry of Magic stamped along its sides, makes its ways through the lifts and corridors of the Ministry of Magic. Reaching its destination, the interdepartmental memo comes to rest in front of its intended recipient.

When unfolded, it reads:

Once again not waiting for Elinor, Wes found the office exactly where the bloody MAP had said it would be. He was tempted to kick open the door, just to be dramatic a time saver, but that would be unprofessional. Also, Beridiot did not work for Rafael. So he at least hadn't hired that mess of a man.

He settled with opening the door via the doorknob, and standing in the doorway so just his profile was visible. "Belmonte. I need a word." Now. More like...YESTERDAY. But now would have to suffice.

Rafael only locked his door when he wasn't in the office to protect his small projects and work files, and kept it unlocked when he was occupying the space as he didn't mind his employees coming and going, so long as it was for work. But now he was starting to reconsider this as the very tall and ill-tempered MLE head spoke from the doorway.

"Please, do enter, Ferguson. I'm not busy with my work or the like." He turned from the work table off to the side of his office where he actually WAS busy working on things, and glanced at the man, then he gestured over at the chair in front of his desk.

He could sit. Rafa supposed. "What's this about?"

The lab worker was glad that she had never gotten out-of-shape from her days as a private investigator. If her boss wasn't so TALL, Elinor wouldn't have had to sprint every other step to keep up with him. What was it with Elinor and knowing tall people? She followed right behind Mr. Ferguson, slightly disappointed when he didn't kick down the door. That would have been cool.

Ahem. Focus.

Lingering just behind him, she waited to be introduced, or prompted to do so. She wasn't sure. She hadn't spent much time with her boss, and wasn't sure which he would find more annoying; Introducing herself and potentially interrupting him, or waiting for him to do it for her.

So much pressure.

Not busy with his work or the like... yeahhhhh right. Wes just wasn't going to say anything about that, since the other department head was using words like 'please' and 'enter.' He needed to simmer down and he knew it but he had too much steam behind him to stop now.

Wes walked in quietly, noting the presence of Elinor behind him, and led the way over to the chairs although he did not sit. He paced around a chair for a bit and then paused once his thoughts were gathered. He gestured toward his laboratory SUPERVISOR who was most certainly not an assistant.

"Elinor here is from my department and she works in the lab," he figured he'd best keep it simple for these non-MLE people, "most recently with samples from the cafeteria and the infected Ministry employees." Wes took a breath. "My wife is one of these employees, Mr. Belmonte. It has come to the attention of my department that the outbreak appears to be linked to the Scottish Silver Ferns used to decorate the Ministry food court."

He gave the plant man a cold, hard stare, as though he were to blame for all the trouble these ferns could have caused. "Would you happen to know anything about that?"

Rafael had spoken polite words, but his slow actions of pausing on what he was working on and removal of his protection gear showed that he wasn't all to thrilled to have the irate man and his employee in his office unannounced.

"Elinor." He inclined his head her way in greeting, but didn't linger, turning all his attention to Wes. His brow rose at the mention of his plants. "I personally inspected all of those plants, Ferguson, and I can assure you that none of them are the root of our problem." He returned the man's glare with a hard look of his own, not appreciating what he was insinuating. "What I do know," He rounded his desk and leaned against his large-backed chair. "Is that this is a plant related issue, which is why I have my people working on finding a cure. But we don't know the cause and therefore can't put together a proper cure. Now, if you have any information that could help us I'd be glad to hear it and pass it along to my employees so that your wife and the others can be cured."

Really, he had inspected them all personally, had he. You don't say. Wes found himself mentally mocking everything Belmonte said in his head, a bad habit he hadn't used much since Hogwarts, yet he didn't stop just yet. No, because this guy was such a plants expert that he knew the root of the problem - pun intended? - was a plant, yet of course it wasn't the plants he had inspected personally.

"With all due respect, Mister Belmonte," Wes managed through gritted teeth, "it's possible that you missed something. Elinor has solid evidence that this is more than just a plant related issue. I brought her here in the hopes that our departments could collaborate on a cure. Elinor?" Wes looked to his lab supervisor and finally realized he had a chair he should be sitting in, so he sat. "Tell Mister Belmonte about the deficiencies you found in our infected employees' DNA samples."

Look at him, being all good and sitting and not shouting. For now. He was only insinuating and quietly simmering. This was progress. Wes just wished Izzy were here to see it.

Elinor listened carefully as the two department heads spoke, standing where she had stopped when she had first entered. She couldn't tell if it was Wes' less-than-outstanding attitude, or if the two men had a history, either way, it was almost uncomfortable in the room. Almost. Knowing that she and her boss were on the same team was somehow a comfort.

And then Mr. Ferguson called her up to bat. The woman nodded and adjusted the folder in her arms. "Well, Mr. Belmonte, after another employee of MLE suggested the idea that the Scottish Ferns had something to do with the infection, I did a check on essential nutrients and elements found in plant life. I thought that, maybe, there was a specific reason the more advanced victims craved only wood. As it turns out, I was right..."

The lab worker was hesitant about handing over the documentation to the other man, but she knew her words were not evidence. So she opened the folder and withdrew a sheet of paper, at the bottom of which was printed two graphs. Elinor slid the paper onto the desk and pointed to each part as she spoke.

"This first graph is a sample of unaffected DNA. These levels fall within the average margin for each nutrient listed. However, this second graph, as you can see, has many differences. This DNA was taken from a subject who is in the more severe stage of infection. The two most noticeable differences are the alarmingly low levels of zinc and potassium. Both of which are high on the list of essential elements found in all plant life."

She had hoped her point was clear. Unless she was very wrong, this infection was plant-oriented.

Rafael leaned forward on his chair, narrowed his eyes at Ferguson, and spoke slowly and clearly so there would be so confusion with the man. "I don't make those kinds of mistakes." Pause. "Ever." Was he clear? Did he need to repeat himself to the department head with the thick skull?

It was possible that his employees, namely the younger ones, could have missed something though, or made some mistake after Rafael's initial check, but he was too offended by the insinuations to bother voicing it at this moment. Instead he focused his attention to the woman in the room, seating himself so that he could better see the documents she was showing him.

He studied the charts for a long looooooong moment, letting heavy silence fall between the trio before blinking up at Elinor. Sigh. "I agree that this is a plant related issue, but I'm still not wholly convinced this is an issue that stemmed from my ferns, considering how similar it is to other ferns on a fundamental level." He tapped his chin with his forefinger in thought. "But I'll need more evidence... if I'm to help with a cure." His eyes flickered over to Ferguson at that. He would of course help with curing others, even if he did disagree that he or his employees made some sort of mistake.

Obviously Wes still wasn't going to just BELIEVE Belmonte. The man was human; to err is human; and he had clearly err'd something up here, whether he was willing to admit it or not.

To his credit, though, he didn't reply in the same vein as Belmonte's 'threatening' tone or whatever the hell it was. He merely narrowed his eyes back at the man and waited for his verdict on Elinor's evidence.

....

OH GOOD MERLIN. "All right, we're done here," Wes shouted announced when Belmonte STILL insisted on playing the role of the skeptic. He stood up and snatched the charts away from the planthead, hastily handing them back to Elinor. He kept his eyes firmly planted in a glare on the other man though.

"Believe what you want, Belmonte, but I believe you're being uncooperative, and I know that I have all the evidence I need to accuse you," he pointed a finger in the man's face, "of obstructing justice. I'm taking my employee back to more cooperative levels now where I'm sure she will find a cure, with or without your so-called help."

He strode for the door then. "Come on, Elinor. He'll get what's coming to him when WE find a solution to the infection AND when we release the cause to the papers." Yeah, 'cause the cause was CLEARLY one OVERLY PROUD and plant-obsessed MAN.