Confused was a total understatement.

Why were they locked out? Did this have something to do with the broken climate charms just before the Christmas holidays? Was de Talone ransacking the place to eliminate all files on herself?

There were a million and one questions running through Alexandria's head. And mostly she was itching to go explore the old location for the Ministry for clues. But alas she couldn't, so instead she found her way to her temporary work location ... the basement, Roxanne had said via owl.

Musty elevator too. Wrinkling her nose in disgust, she pushed the button and waited, thinking she ought to take the stairs next time. Just where were her coworkers?

Annalise stepped into the elevator, her blue heels click-clacking loudly on the hard floor. Ooh. And what in Merlin's pants was that horrid smell? Mold. It had to be mold. She smiled warmly at the other woman in the elevator. "Hello there, I don't think we've met before.." She said softly, tossing back her long blonde locks. "I'm Annalise, Junior Botanist."

Hopefully she wasn't bothering the woman, she looked a tad bit.. put off by their new office situation. And who was Annalise to blame her?

Hearing her, before she saw her, Alex looked up in time to see another woman join her in the elevator. She seemed polite enough. And the shoes; she totally approved of the shoes. If nothing else, at least the blond woman had awesome fashion taste. "Alexandria. Climate Controller. But you can call me Alex." Alex said back in reply of the introduction.

"Love the shoes. Hope they don't get ruined by this new ... situation." But at least they weren't on a boat, like some departments she heard were. She could handle musty basements. If she just held her breath.

Was he in the right direction? This was not THE British Ministry of Magic he remembered. This was something else.

Now it said that he need to take the Elevator down to the basement. Just as the door was about to close, Sebastian put out his briefcase to stop the door from closing. Then, he stepped into the elevator. Sigh. That was close. "Ladies, Hello!" He greeted the two women in the elevator. He heard that one of the women is a Junior Botanist and the other one is a Climate Controller. So he was in the right place. "I'm Sebastian Messer, Senior Oceanologist."

Annalise nodded, a huge smile forming on her face when the woman complimented her on her shoes. "Aren't they simply divine? I got them on sale while visiting my family in France last month." The woman was right though, the conditions around here lately were not typical to what she was used to, and she was going to have to keep a close eye on her heels, the last thing she wanted was a ruined pair of shoes. "A pleasure to meet you, Alex."

Just as she was about to begin discussing the current mold and mildew issue another person entered the elevator, this time it was a man. She smiled warmly as he introduced himself, extending her hand for him to shake. "Pleased to meet you Sebastian, I'm Annalise."

Maybe this whole new ministry relocation was a good thing, it certainly was providing an easier way for her to meet her fellow colleagues. Perhaps she wouldn't be spending so much time alone with her plants after all.

"Does anyone have any idea what they are planning to do about this mold and mildew situation? I hardly think this will be workable for too long.." Annalise said quietly, wrinkling her nose.

Ugh. There had to be a charm for this.

Admittedly the last thing Alex expected was another employee to enter the elevator. Muggle? Seemingly not from his greeting as he had overheard their introductions. Taking him in, she nodded politely at him. "Pleasure to meet you, Sebastian! First day?" Because he didn't look familiar at all, despite his title of senior.

Ooooh.... French fashion! How lovely! "Your family is from France?" She didn't look French. "My parents are actually in Italy... But well, I feel like I haven't been home in years." Alex reflected, trying to recall when she was last home. At least five years... probably when she returned to Europe from Australia. And here she thought she would be seeing her family more with being closer distance-wise. "Likewise, Annalise."

"Couldn't we clean some of it ourselves? Just ..." she bit her lip slowly. "We probably want to be careful with using magic. I think muggles are working in our building too. So maybe we start small? Or just use of a bubblehead charm so at least we could breath...." At least then they wouldn't be altering appearance of anything.

He was not really happy with the whole basement and the musty elevator but at least his new colleagues seems friendly. "Nice to meet you too, Annalise." He took her hand and gave it a firm yet gentle squeeze. "And its pleasure to meet you too, Alex" That's her name, right? "Yes, I just moved from America."

Then Sebastian heard the women were talking about their family origin. France? And Italy? Now he wished that his family came from a cool country, not he didn't like his hometown but if its compare to France and Italy, Denmark was an underdog. "Mine is from Denmark." Since they're sharing and all.

"Cleaned it ourselves? The muggle way?" How did Muggle clean mold and mildew? "Bubblehead charm could work." That was actually a good idea. "So I have been meaning to ask, what happened with the old British Ministry of Magic?"

"Yes, well.. my mum is of French decent and my father is English... they both reside in France now though. I moved and have a flat now in Australia.." Annalise beamed, looking down again at her shoes. They were simply adorable, and a quite the find at that.

She nodded slowly, listening to the conversation the two of her work colleagues were having about the current mold situation. Wincing when the man blurted the question they were all probably dying to know Annalise turned her attention to him. He really should have been more quiet about it though.. they could never be too careful."Well, yes... I suppose we... we could do that..the muggle way.. although I'm sure we could maybe find a way to sneak a few charms in under people's noses.. And as far as... work...I'm not exactly sure what did happen with all of that.." Annalise mumbled, tossing her long blonde hair back behind her shoulders.

Well her coworkers seemed nice? Why didn't she get to know them sooner? Obviously Sebastian she couldn't have since he just started and moved here, but yea. Oh right, because meeting new people was awkward. It was easier to just go in, do your job, and get done.

Denmark? Well weren't they a very unique group!? "So we got French, Italian, and Danish, all working in this department!" Well to be fair, her parents weren't both from Italy, but they both resided there currently and she was born there. But wait ... did Annalise just mention what she THOUGHT she said?! "Australia? No kidding!" She blinked rapidly. "I ... lived there for about 10 years, after graduating Hogwarts. What part?"

"Muggle way... with yes, I was thinking what Annalise mentioned... sneaking a few charms in, carefully. We are in a basement." So even though muggles might be working in this building, they weren't really likely to investigate a basement unless they had reason to. They were all adults though; surely they could figure out how to be inconspicuous .... As far as the old british Ministry; "I am just as clueless as you are about the old Ministry." Though she did have theories.