Rex shifted uncomfortably in his chair and cleared his throat.

Is she barking mad?

He was trying his best not to express his displeasure with Allie and it was quiet for a few uneasy seconds.

"I do not have a timeframe for how long the inspections will take because we have limited experienced personnel to carry on such a monumental task," he began. "I won't bore you with the details of the inspection team, but we'll have to prioritize a list of pitches and reschedule games. As for the start of the official season, it's been delayed for one month because of the European Cup and so we can use this delay to our advantage."

Does she realize that this is a nightmare for us? Not to mention, next year is a World Cup year?

"Does this answer your question, Minister Carlton?"

For several seconds after Rex was finished talking, Allie just sat looking at the man, thinking carefully about what he'd said. When she finally moved, it was to look at Martel, almost as if she was waiting for him to say something for her or give her a cue of some kind.

She finally turned her attention back to Rex and said, "Yes, you have indeed answered my question." A second later, she added, "You seem to have a plan of action well-organized and ready to be put into effect. Go ahead and take the necessary actions. You have my support." As she leaned back in her chair and considered what she'd just agreed to, Allie silently questioned why she'd even second-guessed Rex's plan of action in the first place. Muggles absolutely could not play witness to a spectacle such as Quidditch! It would reveal nearly every secret they'd all worked so very hard to conceal!

Tick.

Tock.

Tick.

Tock.

Seconds ticked away slowly before Rex could rouse himself and give a civil reply. "Thank you, Minister Carlton," he said and glanced at Gina. "We'll take our leave and get to work on the situation."

He stood up and took a quick glance at the goon standing behind Allie before he rested his eyes on his boss. "I'll keep you posted with any developments."

Gina looked at Rex... he wasn't happy. Nope... not one bit. She nodded and moved to follow Rex. Cookies wouldn't fix this... she needed to bring in the big guns. When she got back to her office, she'd contact her husband. This situation called for Fudge... rich... gooey fudge.

Having said all that she needed to say on the matter, Allie just nodded once in Rex's direction then turned toward Gina and gave the older woman a smile. "You're quite welcome," she remarked, turning her attention back to Rex. "I look forward to hearing of your developments and please let me know if there's anything I can do to help with the situation." Of course she'd be keeping her own tabs, as well, but Rex would certainly be able to provide more thorough details.

She'd wish them both a good day, but with the recent happenings regarding Quidditch, she decided that a hopeful smile was likely her best bet. So with that thought in mind, she gave both the most hopeful smile she could manage; and then, knowing they were on their way out the door, she turned her attention toward a bit of paperwork stacked atop her desk.

Martel met the man's eyes calmly and watched the two department heads take their leave.

"With respect, Minister Carlton. Perhaps we ought to err on the side of caution?" He spoke in low, calming tones, not quite audible to the leaving Dept. Heads except as a private sort of murmur.

"There are other areas, perhaps more important than a Quidditch Pitch or two, that are supposedly just as well protected from muggle sight as the Pitches were. What if this is not simply limited to sporting arenas? What if, say, our nations children are at risk? Should we not assess such a possibility?"

Naturally the Minister would follow this line of thinking to its completion. She was quite excellent like that.

Allie had just picked up the first piece of paperwork atop her desk, when she heard Martel speak to her. Abandoning the paper, she turned to him and said, "Our nation's children are at risk? How so?" The usual dangers, the ones children were typically told to look out for, came to mind. Other dangers, though? Perhaps Martel was thinking along a line she had yet to consider. "What are you suggesting?"

She paused for a moment as a thought suddenly occurred to her. Now Lexi, her sister, had been a professor at Hogwarts for the past two years. She'd shared with Allie how a few of the students had recently been put in danger for one reason or another. She narrowed her eyes in thought then glanced up at Martel. "Well if the children are endangered, we should start at Hogwarts. That's where most of them are headed...right now, as a matter of fact." She glanced at the calendar on her desk, noticing that it read September the first, which was the date the train came to pick up the students.

"They very well might be. Places like Hogwarts are protected in much the same way as Quidditch Pitches are after all, with magical wards. Perhaps assessing these wards would lend weight to your official statement, when the time comes to make it, as after all it would show you are doing everything in your power -and more- to be sure that the failing of the wards is only a stand alone incident." D'Isigny senior answered smoothly.

"I do believe you are right." It WAS the first of September. "It would be an excellent opportunity to ensure the school is safe. After all, it hasn't always been the case has it? I'm quite sure the current Headmaster will be pleased to have the Ministry actively supporting his efforts to keep the children safe, and of course eliminate those pesky interruptions which have in the past so unfortunately marred the consistancy of education here in Wizarding Britain."

He paused heavily and then, as if the idea had just occurred to him, "I believe I have the perfect candidate in mind. A master in the art of safety, security, defense and protection of the weak and the innocent. Ikenna Gevrik would be particularly useful at Hogwarts, securing the school, ensuring there are no breaches or risk of breaches in the future. Do you not agree, Minister Carlton?"

Ahh, so she and Martel had been thinking along the same lines, after all. Well, to give her adviser credit, he had been the one to get the thoughts going in Allie's head in the first place. She'd just followed lead and come up with a few ideas on her own without him having to tell her what he'd been thinking.

"You bring up several good points," she pointed out. "Mainly the fact that assessing the wards on the school would back up my recent statements." As her mind raced with possibilities, she thought about just how they could go about accessing the wards, and just who could lead such an assignment. Eyebrows raised, she turned to Martel as he mentioned his idea for the perfect candidate for the task. "You know, he does seem to be quite efficient in his duties, and he's very good at moving about unnoticed."

"I'm in agreement, yes," she finally answered. "Ikenna Gevric seems like the perfect man to get the job done." Pleased with their progress, the Minister allowed a small smile to spread across her face.

"Excellent. I will inform Gevrik immediately. By your leave of course, Minister Carlton." He bowed slightly.

"Perhaps it would be a perfect opportunity to move on other issues we spoke of, Minister? Regarding Security and Maintenance? After all, with the security checks that need to be conducted, it would make perfect sense to have Law Enforcement take a more active hand in such things." Martel gently, oh so gently, nudged her in the right direction.

"And of course, I will leave to speak with our busy and important friend in just a short while. Everything is coming together nicely, Minister. I must commend you on your leadership." Another bow and a charming smile to boot. He patted her shoulder much like a proud parent might.

Nodding once, Allie said, "Please do inform Gevric immediately." Believing him to be taking his leave, Allie once again turned back to the paperwork she'd been attempting to get to for the last half hour. A Minister's work, be it paperwork or approvals such as the one she'd just granted, was never done.

However, Martel spoke again, and Allie returned her attention to her adviser. She blinked just once and then nodded in Martel's direction. "Making the move sooner rather than later does seem to be most appropriate. What with us taking such drastic measures to ensure security," she commented. "Agreed, on all accounts."

She paused to spare a small smile for her adviser. "I don't doubt that things are coming together beautifully. Thank you," she remarked. "Give my regards to our busy and important friend, please."

"As you command, Minister." Martel smiled an enigmatic little smile at her, watching her turn to her work.

"Excellent. I'll take care of everything, my dear."

Everything.

He bowed slightly, the enigmatic smile still in place even as he left the room.

The door may have locked behind him.