Nathan finally caught up with Lola as she was leaving the break room with another member of staff. He wasn’t quite sure how he managed to lose her from the lifts to here. His stared at the unconscious elf for a few seconds before looking at Lola. This had all happened very fast. “You alright?” he asked, noting the lack of chaos in this room. Lola looked the way he felt. “You did this?” he asked gesturing to the elf. He couldn’t help but feel sorry for the little creature. “Poor mite.” he muttered. But he knew Lola had no choice in the matter… and Nathan would have done the same if he had been in her shoes… or lack of as the case may be. “No sign of the children then?” he asked.

From her position on the couch, Katherine looked at the new people in the room. Her eyes moved between them, trying to figure out what was going on.

"Excuse me?", she finally says. "I'm a little confused here. A little while ago, we were talking about how there was nothing to do. Now, there're a loose Erkling and Sphynx running around, and you two are talking about house elf rebellions and something about children?" She didn't know who these two were, exactly, even though she thought she'd seen the man in the cafeteria. But everything that had happened in such a short period of time was starting to irritate her. It was taking every ounce of her self-control not to storm out, or do anything else she might regret.

Lola took a deep breath. "You mean you saw those creatures running loose?!" That wasn't a good sign, not at all. "Perhaps we better stay here then." She looked around, things were calm, and Lola wasn't complaining.

Lola breathed a heavy sigh of relief. "Nathan! I am so glad you're here, you have no idea." All she wanted was a little break from her daily routine and now she was thrust into a full blown House-elf rebellion. "I'm fine, he didn't get a chance to attack." she jabbed her wand at the elf. Now that she thought about it, he hadn't actually made any move towards her. He might have just been an innocent elf doing his job. She gulped, if the elf wasn't angry before he certainly would be now. She was just so overwhelmed by what had happened, she saw the elf and reacted.

Lola rubbed her eyes. "No sign of them. I was hoping to revive this one and interrogate it, but once awake, it will certainly apparate away." She circled the unconscious elf. "Nathan, what do you know about the magic that bonds an elf to its masters?" she asked, knowing that magic could be their only hope. "If they're still bound to our orders... I'm presuming, as Ministry employees, we are their masters... we can stop this. Or more immediately, we can safely question this one." She couldn't help thinking the rebel elves found a way to break that bond, how else could they have started all of this?

She turned to face the woman on the couch. "I think everyone's a little confused right now," she said sympathetically. "If you were bored before, you're in luck, because things have just gotten very bad. Yes, there is a House-elf rebellion, they are messing up entire floors, and they probably released those two loose creatures." she said very quickly. She didn't know if the lady heard any of it, but things were happening to quickly, she didn't have time to be slow. "The House-elves kidnapped some muggle children, we believe. That's bad. Very, very bad." she added sombrely.

He gave Lola a small smile as she spoke of how she may have just stunned an innocent elf. “It’s ok. We’re both stressed by this.” He reasured her. "I would have done the same thing." He listened to her theory at stopping the elves – she may very well be onto something here. “You’re right. We had a few elves when I was growing up.” He said sadly. “They have to obey their masters. I don't think they have much a choice – but who would that be? Us? The employees of the ministry? Or someone higher up... the Minister of Magic?” He furrowed his brow – his brain was really not functioning properly. “I suppose we’ll just have to wait for this one to wake up and see what happens when given orders.” He hated this. He disagreed with the slavery of house elves in the strongest terms – but they had gone too far taking those kids. And if this is what it took to get them back, then so be it. "If they choose to disobey an order, they punish themselves for it."

Nathan looked over at the other confused looking woman. She seemed irritated by his and Lola’s presence here. He stood there, covered in mud and sweat, looking extremely bedraggled after being soaked to the bone in an indoor thunder storm, having no success getting security to help. He took a deep breath before answering, otherwise he may very well snap. “The ministry house elves are reeking havoc within the ministry. Go and take a look at level eight - that will answer your question, love.” He said, managing to keep his calm. “They have taken some children captive. Muggle children.” Who somehow managed to get into the ministry through (the lack of) security. “An elf rebellion against... us.”

Lola continued to pace back and forth. They were wasting valuable time. If they could just prevent the elf from apparating, they could properly interrogate him. "We're wasting time, clearly the only thing we can do at the moment is knock the little buggers out." She was becoming increasingly angered by the rebellion. She never minded elf rights because most elves loved serving. She thought there needed to be some sort of wizard oversight committee to prevent abuse and free elves who wanted it. Clearly she must have been mistaken, because now there was a full scale elf rebellion right within the Ministry.

"What do you think, Nathan? Think we should move on and find the children?" She hated feeling so helpless. The creature probably didn't know about the missing children, it was just another Ministry elf, not one she had seen with the kids. "I think we need to move on, this is going nowhere," she said impatiently, pulling out her now muddy pink headband. She put it through her hair to keep it out of her eyes. She must get it cut, but now wasn't the time to think of such trivial matters.

“Well there is a spell to prevent apparition but that’s for wizards. I know very little about elf magic so I have no idea what we’re facing here.” Nathan was being useless here. “It looks like that’s the only option we have.” Nathan replied and shook his head to Lola's suggestion of stunning the elves. He didn’t particularly want, but they were being left with very little choice. “There must be rooms within the ministry which can hold them. What about down in the Wizengmot?" He wished Egypt were here. She would know about that type of thing.

“We need to find the kids. That’s the most important thing here. We can handle rain and dirt and fireworks, but the muggle kids will be scared out of their wits. We should search all the rooms on this level before we move on." He suggested, hoping security would get here soon. "I think their argument is with the wizards on this level more than any other.”

She agreed with Nathan, if the elves wanted to plot revenge, this would be the place for it. She looked around outside, things seemed a little calmer, and quieter. "I don't hear the kids, that's not a good sign," she said solemnly. "But we should search the entire floor." Lola said, echoing his suggestion.

"I say we split up, if we find any of the children, try to get a hold of them, no magic if you can. They're probably terrified as it is." She held her wand up high and started out of the room. "Oh, and Incarcerous," she directed her wand at the stunned elf. Thick ropes tied up the elf's hands and feet. She could tell the others around her were shocked by her harsh actions. "Just in case he wakes up and decides to cause more mayhem." she added sheepishly. She didn't know she could do such things before, she always considered herself such a passive person.

Walking out of the room, she reminded everyone, "And be careful, didn't the elves release some dangerous creatures being held me?" And with that she left, wand ready.

Catlin watched as Lola left the room and just before Nathen left she called after him, did you want me to help search this floor? althoughto be truthfully honest she wasnt really sure what she was looking for or what to do if she did find something

Quote:

Originally Posted by maritoy

She agreed with Nathan, if the elves wanted to plot revenge, this would be the place for it. She looked around outside, things seemed a little calmer, and quieter. "I don't hear the kids, that's not a good sign," she said solemnly. "But we should search the entire floor." Lola said, echoing his suggestion.

"I say we split up, if we find any of the children, try to get a hold of them, no magic if you can. They're probably terrified as it is." She held her wand up high and started out of the room. "Oh, and Incarcerous," she directed her wand at the stunned elf. Thick ropes tied up the elf's hands and feet. She could tell the others around her were shocked by her harsh actions. "Just in case he wakes up and decides to cause more mayhem." she added sheepishly. She didn't know she could do such things before, she always considered herself such a passive person.

Walking out of the room, she reminded everyone, "And be careful, didn't the elves release some dangerous creatures being held me?" And with that she left, wand ready.

Nathan nodded. “Alright. We can cover more ground quicker that way. But I want you to call if you find anything.” He told her. “The kids have seen enough. A patronus is not going to scare them more.” They were going to need a trip to the Obliviator’s when this was all over anyway.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kerryleanne

Catlin watched as Lola left the room and just before Nathen left she called after him, did you want me to help search this floor? althoughto be truthfully honest she wasnt really sure what she was looking for or what to do if she did find something

“Oh, yes, love.” Nathan replied. “Any help we can get would be very much appreciated. The more people we have helping, the faster we'll find them. If you see any sign of the house elves or the children, alert me or Lola immediately.” He gave her an encouraging smile before following Lola out of the break room.

Still levitating the stunned elf in front of him, Enrico headed into the first open door he saw on Level Four. Luckily, it appeared to be free from elf attacks and had a few employees inside.

"Thank Merlin someone's here," Rico said with a sigh, strolling over to one of the tables and dropping the elf unceremonily. He then turned toward the general group and spoke.

"Some band of rogue elves attacked the International Cooperation offices," he said sternly, "and this one was ah, stupefied in the process. They left without her so.......I brought her to you guys...?" He trailed off with a question, not sure what to do now. Maybe he should have went straight to the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures or whatever it was called.

Jack rushed inside the Break Room, noticing there were some people inside it, "Have you seen.." he stopped asking the question when he saw one elf, tied up in the ground, and another one, stunned, at least the last one seemed to received better treatment, if that's how it's supposed to be called, "How did you..? Umm, I guess I'll take those two back to the House-Elves offices, and try figure this out" Jack said, "Thank you, for bringing them here" he added, and with a small movement of his wand he took the elves in middle air down the hall.

Richard walked swiftly in to the room, wand by his side, his blonde hair coming out of its neat parting. "Have you manage to catch the elves yet? and what about the muggles" he asked to the room at large.

Katherine narrowly avoided rolling her eyes as more people kept coming into the break room. She couldn't remember this many people entering the room, or even the floor for that matter, from levels other than this one. And some of them seemed to want to leave to search the floor for the elves and children.

Standing up, she finishes off the last of her coffee and scours the mug clean. Placing it back into the cabinet, she turns back to the room. "I'm going to head back to my office. Or whatever you want to call it. My desk. I'll keep an eye out, and let you know if I see anything." She wasn't speaking to anyone in particular, and leaves before anyone can respond.

Enrico nodded at the man who took his stunned elf off his hands, thankfully. He was about to ask him if he needed any help, but people were leaving without much thought so Rico just shrugged.

"Uh....if you guys need any help.....yeah I'll just go now too." He pretty much mumbled this because he would have felt guilty had he not offered to help.....but then again, elves weren't his speciality. And with that, Rico slowly headed out the door.

A sphinx wandered into the breakroom. It surveyed the scene and then walked over to the long couch. Jumping up on one side of it, the sphinx laid down on its belly in a manner most... well, sphinx-like. It folded its front paws neatly, one over the other, and relaxed.

Catlin had just walked into the breakroom to get a drink only to see the same sphinx as before sat on the couch, muttering to herself she said, oh erm well i'll come back later, and she backed out as quietly as possible

Violet ambled into the break room. She made for the couch, only to see that there was a sphinx on it. She watched it with a wary eye for a moment, smiled nervously, and without the slightest hesitation turned and sat in the chair nearest her, as far away from the creature as possible. Shouldn't someone have noticed that there is a sphinx running around the Ministry? she thought.

The Sphinx sensed Violet as she entered the room. It opened its eyes and cast a glance at her as she sat far from it. She was intimidated. Good. She would likely leave him alone. The Sphinx closed its eyes again, content for the moment... content, that is, until its stomach rumbled loudly. It yawned, revealing long, sharp teeth. The cookies had been good, but the sphinx wanted breakfast now.

It glanced over at Violet again as though contemplating whether she would make a good snack.

Rico had been ambling towards the door with his hands in his pocket when he was stopped dead in his tracks......by the entrance of a sphinx.

"Holy cannoli! I must be seeing things!" he muttered aloud, rubbing his eyes with the back of his fists. "I'd better get up to level five before I see....see....animated paperclips or something....."

He shook his dark head wearily and edged towards the door....slowly...slowly....maybe its vision wasn't too good....

The sphinx yawned, stretched, and jumped off the couch, lazily strolling over toward Rico. He had mentioned cannoli. Perhaps he had something to eat. Perhaps he was something to eat.

Baby step...another step...ooh almost there....and... "SNAP!" Rico exclaimed, nearly biting down on his tongue. "Two more steps and...."

He stopped speaking suddenly and looked at the sphinx. Rico nodded politely and tried to fake a smile. Did it talk? Should he talk to it? Why oh why didn't I pay attention more back in school?!!!!

"Um.....hello," he started off, clapping his hands merrily. "Uh, you see, I was just trying to get back to my office....and er...." he swallowed. "Maybe you could let me by? Please?"

Or maybe he should try bribery......if this pathetic plea doesn't work...

The Sphinx smiled enigmatically (as Sphinxes often do).

"I could, indeed. Perhaps I will.
But first, you must answer this puzzle...
Name for me that which is often given, often returned,
Yet never can be borrowed?
State the answer and safe passage shall be yours."

He sat patiently, blocking the doorway, waiting for the answer.

Enrico gulped when he saw the Sphinx bare its teeth. Sure, it could be smiling......but more likely than not, it was just preparing to devour him,

And that's why I don't work with Magical Creatures....he thought nervously, taking a deep breath. I'd rather tinkle with Muggle eckletronics and deal with Quibbler stories all day than face a Sphinx in the breakroom...

And with that final thought, he squared his shoulders and prepared to answer.

"So...let's see...something give....returned...but never borrowed...can't be a gift...." he mumbled his thoughts out loud, careful not to give a definite answer. "Maybe a smile.....?" He stared at the Sphinx, almost daring it to leap at his answer. "No wait, no wait," Rico held up a tan hand. "I got it. Thank you. A thank you! Gracias, Merci, Grazie, and 10,000 other warm thanks!"

He almost felt like bowing. If it was right....

The Sphinx stood, towering over him in what was likely a very menacing posture. It stepped forward toward him...

And then walked to one side, bowing its head once.

"And with this answer; safe passage is yours."

It sat, giving Enrico a moment to flee. He'd better hurry before he changed his mind, too... The Sphinx was really hungry.

Enrico hadn't realized he was so tense until the Sphinx stepped aside and cleared the doorway.

With a light whoooosh, Rico exhaled and then smiled slightly, unsure of what to do next. "And thank you, Mr. uh, Sphinx." He bowed his head briefly and then powerwalked the heck out of there. Good luck to that level...and good riddance!