Dora tromped back into the room a bit crestfallen, but better than before. "Sorry ladies. I had something to care of." she mumbled as she took her seat and pulled her things back out. She was trying her hardest not to think of the situation with Silas, it bothered her too much. She just went quietly back to work... or made her best attempt to look as though she was working.

The door opened and she was slightly surprised to see Dora. As she went towards her desk Calla knew she was not to be bothered right now. She didn't even reply to her comment about having to take care of something. Calla turned another page in the file of Mrs. Maystomp.

Melanie nodded in agreement " Some people completely loose the sense of reality some times" she said with a chuckle as well. " Defense spells, you really think so? Maybe we could find a way to make the camping area duel safe... just in case as well..? And of course some defensive spells to put on the tents, so only their rightful owner can enter or something..?"

Melanie raised her eyes to Dora, that just wasn't right...

... she could tell Calla was pretending not to notice it as well, but Melanie had enough of it. She got up and approached Dora's desk. " Hm.. Nymphadora, would you come with me to the corridor, just one second?" she said seriously, using all her bossy tone.

Dora couldn't help but cringe when Mel used her given name. Looking up she had to fight really hard not to narrow her eyes. "Sure, Miss Hale, right behind you." she remarked and got up to follow her to the corridor.

Calla heard the ladies, she had never heard Mel speak that way... for that matter she had never really heard Dora speak with that tone either.

Calla held her breath as the women walked out of the room, part of her wished she could hear what was being said, the other part was more than glad she was in here.... working.

Defensive spells... mmm... she dove back into her files.

Melanie re-entered the office quietly and with a sad face. She really didn't want to upset Dora and she was, most definitely, NOT waiting for a story like that. She gathered her things and looked at Calla with a sad grin " I'll be going now, you take care.." she said, then she remembered what happened to Dora " Really, take care Calla, please" she said in a pleading voice getting out of the room.

Upon reentry to the office Melanie’s demeanor had completely changed and softened. Calla lowered her brow and concentrated on Mel. What had Dora told her to get this reaction?

“Sure, sure Mel, of course. Have a good weekend.” Calla was barely above a whisper.

She watched Mel leave the office, and thought she should be going too. Gathered her things, and headed toward the Floo.

Dora stepped into the office days after she and Mel had had their confrontation in the corridor. She felt horrible about the whole thing and hoped to get a chance to explain to her fully what the situation was. Sighing as she noticed no one was there she took a seat and pulled out her things and set to work.

Calla was in a fantastic mood. It just seemed like every thing was going well today. She entered the office with a spring in her step, "'ello Dora!" Calla was pleased to see her there. "I'd like to thank you again for having me out this weekend - it was a wonderful time." Calla clunked her things down beside her desk, placed her right foot in the chair and sat on it.

She pulled out parchment and a quill and started to take notes and go over the files she researched. Calla needed to come up with some defensive spells for the World Cup manual they were making.

Dora looked up and smiled at Calla saying, "No problem at all. I had fun too. Next time we'll go out and have a proper adventure. It was just too cold this time around." She furrowed her brow in mock aggrevation and then chuckled lightly.

She continued looking her notes making sure she had everything in order.

~~~~~~~~~

After a while she got up and exited the office

As Melanie entered the office she sighed with pleasure to be back. Of course she loved Christmas, it was such a lovely time, and New Year festivities always were her favourite, but now, this year, with Craig and S it just contributed for her to feel even happier. Who cared if her parent's didn't even send her a card? She didn't.

She looked around the office and took a deep breath, it was so good, it surely felt like home to her. And it was January! She loved the Winter by that time, and little Selene looked so adorable in her cozy pink clothes. She giggled to herself and strolled to her desk gracefully, awaiting the return of her most loving friend which she hadn't seen for a long time.


ooc: In case you're thinking why is it January already.. well it is, the school and Ministry calendars are synchronized and .. it's January.

Dora entered the office in a buzz. She had such great news to share with Mel! SHe had not seen her in quite some time so she was really excited to get past the awkward moment they had and be done with it.Arms laden with presents for Selene and Mel she smiled and said cheerfully, "Hey Mel!! I have some things for you and Selene!!"

Calla watched Dora leave the office, Mel enter, and then Dora return. The door was surely getting its exercise. Mel looked almost enchanted as she strolled to her desk, “Was your holiday as wonderful as mine?” Calla smiled broadly and flicked her hair back.

Calla’s eyes soon shifted to Dora who was all a glow and some what hyper. She looked so cheerful! Dora had a way of affecting the entire room like no one she had ever met, if she was happy the room seemed brighter, and if she was angry the world seemed like a dark pit of horribleness. Right now she was very happy, Calla waited patiently to see the surprise for Mel.

"Oh Calla! I have some things for you as well. After our weekend fun I thought of something to get you." Dora exclaimed as she magicked a gift over to Calla's desk as well. She couldn't wait to see the look on Calla's face when she saw the funky vase! The holidays had been divine fpor Dora and she was itching to tell her news.

Melanie was startled by Dora's hapiness, she still didn't know if they were supposed to be mad at each other or not, after that little fight they had on the corridor. " Nice to see you Dora" she said politely " You shouldn't!" she exclaimed blushing a little, but she too had a little something for her and Calla.


"I hope so, mine were amazing, were yours too?" she said with a short laugh " it surely looks like it" she added with a wink. Calla looked happy. She took two little gift wrapped boxes " I also have something your you two, it's just something .. nothing much" she said giving each of them their boxes, containing a small golden bracelet each, with a little red rock for Dora and a blue one for Calla. They were identical, though not equal. " They're one of these new enchanted ones, were you can keep memories inside every rock you add, and keep adding rocks as the time go by.. you know? those rocks have some of my memories, my favourite memories of you guys" she said with a shrug, looking away blushing.

Dora smiled brightly at Mel and gave her a wink. She handed Mel a great big box for Selene (filled with pink goodies) and then another mid sized box for Mel. "It's not much, just something to remind you of me." sshe said with a laugh. The box contained a big multicolored mosaic pieced together by Dora herself. The pattern was all swirls and stars but the colors were bright and vivid just like Dora!

Opening Mel's gift and looking at it she almost choked upa bit before she ran forward and hugged her friend and whispered,"I'm sorry." That was all she said, for there was nothing more to do.

Smiling wider still she stepped back from Mel, but kept her at arms length and announced, proudly, "Well, I have some great news. Well, great for me anyway." she paused for a moment for dramatic effect before exclaiming, "Silas is moving in with me!"

Calla was so surprised by Mel’s gift; there were not words that came out of her gaping open mouth. Instead tears trickled down her face. She got up and thanked Mel with a hug, when she pulled away she said, “It’s wonderful, thank you so much!” Calla slipped it on to her wrist and beamed. “You’re so thoughtful!” then realizing she had no gift for Mel, she was embarrassed. “I am so sorry I didn’t get you anything,” she shrugged and looked down ashamed, “I’m trying to save money to get an apartment of my own.”

The gift Dora gave for Mel was beautiful, “Oh Dora! That’s lovely! You made this in the machine in the tent?”

“OH! Dora that’s awesome news!” Calla squealed like a little school girl at this bit of gossip. “So, this means ya’ll are getting more serious?” Calla’s eyes were huge with curiousity.

Melanie opened her present and smiled broadly. It was just like Dora, bright and colourful. " This is amazing, did you do it yourself?" she asked beaming at it " This will totally look awesome in my new home!!" she exclaimed and hugged Dora back, feeling happy as she apologised for her little outburst. She smiled at her with tears in her eyes " No biggie" she chuckled.

"Well, you shouldn't have to feel ashamed or something, it was just a little something I found during my Christmas shopping.. I got one for myself too" she said raising her wrist and showing hers. It had a little pink rock.

She too, squealed and jumped even closer to Dora " He's moving in?? THAT AMAZING!" she said and then covered her mouth giggling " Tell me all about it!!"

Abigail walked towards her office wearing a winter jacket and her hair was pinned up in a messy bun behind her head. She was still feeling a little bit under the weather, but she has already missed about 2 days and she felt bad that she missed days when she was a Division Head and was suppose to be there! So, today, she had to force herself out of bed and to this place. But, at least she had gotten her voice back and wasn't running a fever.

Finally stepping into her office, she looked around at all her employees and friends and gave them a little smile. "I'm sorry I haven't been here in a few days," she spoke up. "I've been under the weather." With that said and done, she went over to her desk that had papers scattered all over it. Sniffling some more, she took her jacket off and placed it on the back of her chair before taking a seat.

Dora beamed at both Mel and Calla and nodded her head. "Yes, I handmade the both of those. I did drop the bottles into the contraption in my back yard, Calla. But I redid it until it came out just right! I didn't even magic yours Mel, I glued every little piece down. It was quite therapuetic." she said with a blush and a smile. SHe was so excted that they liked them. She felt like she was giving them a little piece of herself.

Bouncing up and down a bit Dora squealed also and said, "Hey came across me in Diagon Alley one evening having a walk trying to clear my head and he said he that it had felt different being at his flat after staying with me for so long. Mind you , I didn't like it one bit and I felt all alone out there in the woods by myself" Dora took a breath and continued her story, "Well, I suggested it jokingly because I thought he'd freak out if I were serious. I got the impression that commitment was a touchy subject to him. But I said and he said yes and that's that." She finished up the story with an even bigger smile on her face. He was moving in with her and that made her feel all warm and gooey inside.

Spying Abby enter the office Dora ran over andf hugged her. Feeling embarrassed immediately she released her and said, "I am so sorry for that, I am a hugger though." She giggled and looked her over. She didn't look as though she felt well. Poor thing! "We have been discussing the holidays, Abs. How were yours?" Dora asked her. She held out a little box for Abby. She didn't know her as well as the others but she had still gotten her a gift. "Here this is just a little something for you. I hope you like it." Dora said as she handed it to her. It was a candelstick holder set also made by Dora's magical contraption. THey were blue and red and swirled with color. Dora blushed a little and walked back over to her desk.

EEEEEP! Abigail almost fell out of her seat when someone ran over and hugged her. It took her a few seconds to figure out that it was Dora. "Oh, it's fine," she reassured her with a little smile. She looked away from Dora and coughed, and then she looked back at the woman. "My holidays were good," she replied. "Well, they were good until I got sick the day I was suppose to come back to work." Her green eyes looked at the present Dora was handing out to her and she said, “Oh, Dora. You really didn’t need to get me anything.” Slowly, she took the present for her and unwrapped it. She pulled out a candlestick holder and she smiled again. “Thanks. It’s really pretty,” she told her before placing the candlestick holding on the desk and looking back at Dora, who had just went back to her desk.

Dora smiled weakly at Abby and said, "THat's awful that you have been sick! Hope you get to feeling better soon." She was radiating good vibes and was honestly a little antsy with excitement.

getting back into work mode she said to Abby, "I have been practicing Disillusioning larger fixed objects around my house. Just trying it out, you know." She smiled brightly at her to let her know that she was still working on things.

After the exchange between Dora and Abigail the office had gone quiet, all to be heard was quills scratching, and files being thumbed through. Calla had been looking through some files for simple but effective defensive spells. As she flipped through another page her hair had fallen into her face for the fourth time, she retreived her wand, tapped the side of her head and her hair weaved into a neat braid.

"Mel, Here's something." Calla rose from her seat and took 5 steps to Mel's desk, "Avis Oppugno, this, as you may know, conjures a flock of birds and then has them attach. Simple, and yet it can be effective. Not enough to do serious harm." Relaxing her shoulder and tilting her head to the side she continued, "It might not be a bad idea to remind people of Petrificus Totalus either."

Melaine had been so concentrated on her work that she nearly forgot she was in her office. She looked up at Calla, scratching her chin " Well, I don't think it's advisable to encourage duels, let's just keep to the defensive spells to cast on the tent, keep the kids under control and maybe some orientation basic charms.." she said imagining what it would be like to provide a group of excited Quidditch fans a guide with spells that could be used on a duel, after a bad match.

Calla thought for a moment, yes Mel had a point but isn't is also important to make sure they can defend themselves in such a case? After another second herself reasoned with herself, it wouldn't be very responsible for the Ministry to support and promote dueling charms. Calla rocked back on her heels, tilted her head once more and pondered Mel's words, "You're right, I can see your point entirely."

Rushing back to her desk she remembered something she saw in Mrs. Maystomp's file. She flung it open and nodded, "Mel here's something I saw over last weekend, I completely forgot about it!" Calla was fingering the pages until she came to it, "Yes here it is, she used this charm to endsure her children didn't mis-behave when on the very rare occasaion she wasn't present to make sure of it. Disaplino Bambio."