Blake walked into the office as quietly as he could manage. If he was going under cover he wanted to practice his stealth incase he'd need to sneak up and listen in on someone. Yes, Blake was going to take this way too far. He took a bag from Rex and smiled, "Thanks," Was Rex going to go as well? Probably not. knowing him there's probably some other weird head of department job he has to do. Blake walked back towards the door again with new excitement flowing in his blood. Course before he goes to the carnival he has to change his clothes from his regular clothes to complete black and spy glasses and--

Oh wait.

They were supposed to pretend they were there for pleasure. HMPH. Too bad. Blake even had his outfit all planned out. Well he'd just save it for the next mission. SIGH. Now to go catch some dark magickey trinkets!

So he just had to blend in? Blend in with little kids playing around at the carnival. Okay... that should be ...easy. He was a bit nervous as he kept fidgeting with his shirt and saw Blake, who was only a few steps in front of him sneak in to the office. He raised an eyebrow and shook his head. Someone was in the spying mood. He followed the others and entered the office too.

He listened carefully what they are being instructed to do and watched curiously as their boss walked towards a painting which happened to be a safe.

He grabbed one of the bags and walked out of the room with a poker face. This was going to be interesting.

Noah was actually nervous as he approached his boss' office. What if he hated him, and Noah was miserable? 'No..you can't think that way.' the young man told himself as he fixed his hair and adjusted his grip on the suitcase that Sigrid had bought him.

Taking a deep breath, Noah knocked on the door and awaited for an answer, hoping to just give a quick 'hello' before heading to his desk.

Gina knocked on Rex's door. "Mister Vindictus!" She said sweetly, "I have the kids from Hogwarts! Are you busy?"

Penny had trooped in quietly after the tour guide lady.... The main reason she was quiet was because this was the department she really wanted to see and be....

Arielle approached the door eager to meet her new department head. She straightened the skirt of her grey suit (which was a straight as allowed possible) and knocked. She held her hands in front of her waiting patiently to be called in.

"Vindictus?!" Sierra half-whispered, looking over at Latorta with widened eyes. Was this a brother? A father? A son? How old was Vindictus anyway? Was he even old enough to have a son eligible to be a department head? She decided not to ask any of those questions but rather waited quietly by Latorta's side.

Rex knew that the kids from Hogwarts were coming for a visit and he was determined to show them that HE was the better of the Vindictus boys. Now it was time to make a grand first impression.

He heard Gina's distinctive knock and nearly thirty seconds passed before the door opened.

"Mrs. Latorta, it's delightful to see you and our special guests today," Rex said rather cheerfully as he held the door open for them. "There are refreshments for everyone located on the sideboard. Students, please help yourselves and you're more than welcome to sit down while we wait for the others."

It was then that Rex noticed two new members to the department (he had been reading their files when Gina arrived). "Mr. Oter and Ms. Morelli?" he inquired and held out his hand. "Rex Vindictus, department head."

What were children doing at the Ministry? Noah glanced at the younger ones before looking up at his department head. He seemed like a professional. The type of man that his father would want for a son.

"It's a pleasure Mister Vindictus." the young man said, shaking his hand. "I didn't realise that you would be having...guests today or I would have come to introduce myself at another time."

"Welcome to the department," replied Rex and he nodded at the students. "These are the top house points earners last year at Hogwarts and they're being rewarded with a tour of the Ministry. I promise you that they won't get in your way as you get settled in."

"Oh well, congratulations to them." he smiled politely at the students.

"And thank you for the welcome. I shall head off to my desk to get settled if you don't mind. Lots of mascots to take care of and all." Noah winked, as he was a cheeky sort of fellow and waved goodbye before heading out of the office so that Mister Rex could sort out the children.

Gina turned to look at the Slytherin child perplexed and then said, "Do you know Rex Vindictus?" She asked.

She was going to correct him and tell him to please call her Gine, when she realized the students were there. "Thank you Mister Vindictus," she said giving him an equal amount of respect. She then leaned into him and whispered, "Once this Tour is done, I'm bringing my personnel down to strike against the minister... I'm going to demand he be impeached."

Arielle was impressed her department head knew her right off the bat. She shook his hand with a solid grip. She noticed that students surrounded the office, "I hope I'm not intruding... I was on my way to my desk I thought I should stop by and introduce myself." She smiled, "Clearly, that's been taken care of." She gave a small laugh. "I have noticed some of the files you are waiting on like checking on the expiration dates of all current referees and a need to send out notifications to those whose licenses expire in 6 months. Are you having someone working on those, or would you rather I start something else?"

Penny looked at the man, then did a double take when she heard his name..."Vindictus?".... surely there couldn't be two of them, she thought...

Maybe he wouldn't be as brusque as the 'other' Vindictus - remembering the last time they had a flying lesson..

But she put this from her mind for now and she remembered her manners.."Good Day Mr Vindictus, I'm Penny Laughgood, representing Hufflepuff", extending her right hand for him to shake it.

Sierra spun around at the sound of the door opening. She stood, anxiously awaiting whatever was about to happen, and then relaxed a little as he greeted them and then offered refreshments. "Oh, wonderful! I'm starving!" she said. This was the freaking Ministry of Magic. You'd think they would have prepared a banquet, but nooo. Refreshments would do, though. "Oh. I mean, ...hello, Mr. Vindictus." She extended a hand. "Sierra Greingoth. Slytherin house representative."

Get in the way? Sierra eyed the man that Vindictus had spoken to. ...and just what did he think he might do if she did happen to be in the way? Tattle on her to the Senior Undersecretary to the Minister of Magic? AKA, her father. Ha. Go ahead and try, Mr. Low Man on the Pole!

The employee didn't say anything, though, so Sierra simply smiled at him and then turned to Miss Latorta.

"Do I know Rex Vindictus?" Sierra repeated. She looked back at the department head. "Errr. Are you related to the man that teaches us Flying at Hogwarts?" Merlin, these Vindictus men were serious about some Quidditch, now weren't they? Must just run in the family... "Mr. Vindictus, I play Quidditch for the house team," she added. "Top beater in the school last term." In other words, show me the contract. I'm ready to sign. Nevermind the fact that I'm thirteen-years-old.

She saw Latorta chatting away with Vindictus, saying something she couldn't hear at all. She edged closer, but just as she did, the conversation ended. Boo.

"It would be wonderful if you could get to work on it," Rex replied. "Most of the officials are responsible enough to keep their officiating licenses current, but there are a few who seem to forget."

"You know where I stand on that issue," Rex answered and he smartly kept his opinion about the head windbag to himself. "Keep me posted on the situation."

That was his way of saying 'I'm in.'

Rex reached out and gave Penny a firm handshake. "Pleasure to meet you, Miss Laughgood. Welcome to the Department of Magical Games and Sports. Please enjoy some refreshments before the tour of the level begins."

Rex raised an amused eyebrow at the girl. He knew who she was. Anyone who worked in the Ministry knew unless they were complete morons. "So you're Alexander's little girl," he said as he shook her hand. "Welcome to the Department of Magical Games and Sports, Miss Greingoth."

But then she had to mention prettyboy. Not a smart move, but that could explain why she was in Slytherin. "Why, yes I am. Maximus is my younger brother."

Smile. No more discussion about the little man.

She actually plays Quidditch? She's too small to be a Beater! Maybe a Seeker or a Chaser.... "Congratulations on your achievements as a Beater for Slytherin," Rex said and he motioned to the food on the sideboard. "Won't you please enjoy some refreshments?"

She nodded to Rex. "I don't mean to rush you, Mr. Vindictus but I need to move the Tour along. Could you let the students know what happens here? In your department?" She asked.

"You mean you don't want the short tour that includes the popular British and Irish Quidditch League office?" Rex asked, a bit taken back. He had stuff planned. Cool stuff. Stuff his bratty brother would hear about when the students returned to Hogwarts. GRRRR.

He rubbed his left shoulder for a moment while he collected himself and reworked his speech in his mind.

Now he was ready. They were getting the short version.

"The Department of Magical Games and Sports is one of the most highly respected departments in the Ministry of Magic," Rex began with an air of authority in his voice. "The department consists of three major divisions - Patents, Gobstones, and Quidditch."

"The Ludicrous Patents Office is responsible for the patents that are behind the world's best joke items and other magical trinkets and toys."

He smiled.

"The Official Gobstones Club is responsible for this game enjoyed by thousands of witches and wizards. Currently, the division is working on securing a location for the Gobstones World Championship that is to be held next year."

Blah, blah, blah. Gobstones were boring. Now on to the exciting division.

"Then there's the most popular division of them all - the British and Irish Quidditch League Headquarters which is responsible for everything related to Quidditch in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Seven years ago, we successfully hosted the Quidditch World Cup and the English team actually won! Just before all of you arrived on the level, I had just received some important news from the International Association of Quidditch."

Dramatic pause.

"I have the privilege to announce that we're one of four countries in the running to host the next Quidditch World Cup and we'll be hosting the European Championships next year."

How about that? The kids just got a scoop that not even the Daily Prophet knew about!

Smile.

"Now tell me this - which is your favourite team?"

These kids weren't going anywhere without getting some complimentary swag.

"Yeah," She said with a sigh. "We can thank our 'fearless leader' for that."

"That's correct," Sierra said, shaking his hand, as well. Did he typically call officials by their first names? Hmm. Well, at least he was polite enough to give her a title. Vindictus men... She hadn't started out thinking too well of the brother either, so she guessed she expected some of this. She eyed the man and decided that he'd redeemed himself on the Miss part.

She gave him a proud smile as he congratulated her on her accomplishments. Right. She'd be back to speak with him in a few years.

Ha! You got in trouble, Vinny Boy... *inner snicker*



Errr, ...right. Where was the information on how to get signed to a professional team? Who cared what a patent was? ...and Gobstones was for wimps. She did, however, tune in when it seemed he had important information to share about the Quidditch-related matters in his office. "We might be hosting the Quidditch World Cup!?" she exclaimed. "Well, in that case, save a trio of tickets for my father, his girlfriend, and I." ...and top box, too, if you will?

Sierra stared at him for a few seconds. Was he...serious?! Erm...

"Slytherin," she announced, matter-of-factly. Well, duh. "With the Holyhead Harpies coming in a close second." She stepped in front of Kurumi again and added, "Will any of their beaters be retiring in a few years?"

"Oh, I'll thank him alright," Rex quietly told Gina sarcastically.

"We might," Rex reiterated. What he didn't say was that as long as Berty Borr was the Minister of Magic there was zero chance of the country hosting the big event.

But then Sierra mentioned her favorite teams. "Holyhead Harpies are a popular team," he said and shook his head at her. "I don't think so - Beaters usually play the sport longer than any other position. It's actually easier to earn a spot on a team if you play any of the other positions."

Rex looked around at the others. "Anyone else care to tell me who their favourite professional Quidditch team is?"

Penny smiled, because she liked a few teams but she was particularly fond of the Ballycastle Bats..."Oh The Ballycastle Bats, firstly because they are Irish like me and secondly, They are a very good team but they've had bad luck this past few years"

Penny was disappointed that they weren't going to be going to the British and Irish Quidditch League office - that had been the main reason she was still on this silly tour...Quidditch made everything bearable, and now they couldn't go to the office, this tour was no longer bearable..Grrr

"Okay sounds good," Arielle smiled but before she reached for the knob she turned, "if there's anything else I can help with let me know, I like to stay busy." She felt good meeting her boss. Very friendly and assertive.

She looked around the room eyeing one of the kids standing by his desk, I wonder what they're up to today, was more of a passing thought. Then, she left.

Eino had been rather quiet throughout this floor. He wasn't particularly interested in sports and quidditch, but he was of other games, he just hadn't seem anything pertaining to those, yet. At the question, Eino turned his head and after everyone had spoken, he replied. "I don't have a favorite Quidditch team, but I like quaddles." The thing chasers used to hit other players, right? Yeah, that was all he knew, so he wanted to show off.

Rex nodded and added Ballycastle to his mental list.

"Don't you mean Quaffle?" he asked the Ravenclaw. "Since you don't have a favorite team, do you have a favourite colour?"

If the boy didn't have a favourite colour, then the poor lad was going to get stuck with Rex's old team or worse.