Post by Anne Fernsby on Mar 28, 2013 23:09:37 GMT -8
10th January 2013
4:53 p.m.
Today had been interesting for once. Spending her day battling with her boss (Yes, even department heads had bosses, much to Anne's dismay.) was not how she had foreseen spending it when she'd got out of bed that morning, but Markus had seen to it that it took that unexpected turn around when she'd barely begun working. Seemed even trying to start half an hour early to get caught up rather than right at 7:00 a.m. wasn't something meant to work in her favor.
After frequent messages back and forth, her boss had granted her wish to be stationed at Hogwarts for the indefinite future around 2:00 p.m. Just an hour before she would have regularly been off work. Anne had chalked it up to Markus coming through rather than her boss suddenly just yielding to her wishes, of course. So, she had resumed working and actually managed to get something done for the last hour of her day before going home. She ate her usual 3:00 p.m. snack of plain yogurt with granola and fruit (this time, blueberries and strawberries) and even added just a touch of sugar to sweeten the otherwise tart, flavorless base. It was decidedly the best parfait she'd had in a while or perhaps that was simply the fact fear and excitement were catching up to her. This could be the last parfait she ever ate with the way things were going at Hogwarts.
Anne let herself fall down onto her bed when she reached her bedroom with that thought in mind. "Oh, Markus, you make me do the strangest things," she said as she fell back and rested her hands over her eyes for a few moments. "But this is by far the craziest," she groaned, sitting up and letting her hands fall from her face after shaking her head.
"You'd better protect me, you know," she continued to muse aloud as she stood and walked to her closet to grab some clothing. She had to pause a moment to decide if she should bring a few pairs of black slacks and button downs or if some more casual wear was appropriate before deciding to bring a couple pairs of slacks and her favorite powder blue button down that fit her just so as well as a plain white one, her official Ministry work robes, a pair of nicer jeans and a false layered-looking top as well as a flowy red dress.
"I deserve at least that from you. All the crap I'll be putting up with. I hate children, you know. I abhor them. Though I suppose yours aren't too bad the couple times I've met them." She chuckled as she took off her heels and began to push down her skirt so she could change into a pair of slacks. "Though the one's so proper. You must have a tight leash on them."
A few minutes later, and she was at least reasonably dressed down to make a run back to the Ministry to grab the paperwork she'd not thought about Markus requesting until that moment. She'd finish packing when she got back. That went fairly well, considering Markus had sent a patronus here requesting she be allowed to pick it up for him today, so she was back at her apartment within a half an hour after finding out about the patronus, signing what was necessary and having to send an assistant to find the paperwork. Apparently the Imperium Idiots weren't big on being prepared even with plenty of forewarning.
Anne sighed as she came back to her room and looked at the pile of clothing she'd left on her bed. Maybe she should stay here tonight and go in the morning after all, she thought as she pinched the bridge of her nose. It didn't take much more thought for her to decide to keep with her plan that she'd had since leaving work to go straight to Hogwarts. After all, Anne was curious even if she usually did her best to hide it in public. She hadn't seen Markus in ages, it seemed, and he needed her help. Somehow that implied more than messenger girl to bring him files as any of his guard could do that for him.
After a few small spells, her aforementioned belongings (plus a few other tops just in case) were neatly folded and placed into her suit case along with her pillow, which she wasn't about to leave here. If she was going to be sleeping in a strange bed, she was at least going to try to look out for her neck since her back could potentially be in for it come morning. Maybe I ought to bring a pair of flats... So, she packed them then glanced at the clock. 4:23. Well, she'd be there before five at least. Hopefully Markus would be up. Otherwise, she would wish she'd changed into a pair of jeans and a t-shirt before leaving. That was always her favorite part of getting off work, and here he was depriving her of that simple joy.
After reviewing her mental checklist, Anne disapparated and appeared on the High Street in Hogsmeade. After dodging a running young child and casting a self-drying/heating spell on her shoes, she began her trek to the school, which she made fairly quickly despite the snow beneath her feet. However, she was freezing and shivering by the time she reached the castle gates where two guards jumped to attention and she found two wands pointing at her through the gates. She held up her hand, which held her paperwork and Ministry ID in a neat two-slot folder style wallet. "I'm here by request of Markus von Wolfram. Anne Fernsby, Head of Internal Investigations."
The one to the right scratched his head. "Not sure we're expecting one. Are we, Scotts?"
Scotts, a tall, lanky fellow with some of the blondest hair Anne had seen since that bartender at Lure, looked over a list then shook his head. "No one here today, Reynolds."
Anne fought back the urge to sigh. "Well, the captain wasn't expecting me until morning. However, I decided to come early so we could get a head start."
"Sorry, ma'am. Can't let anyone in."
Now, Anne really did sigh and roll her eyes. "Listen, I have these folders: official files from your department. I expect you to let me in to deliver them or I will tell the captain exactly how little you do to help the reputation of your little group."
The two looked at each other uncertainly.
Anne shook her head. "Listen, at least go get him. It's cold out here, and I really don't want to have made this trek for nothing. Tell him it's Miss Fernsby from Internal Investigations as requested."
She was a little relieved when at least Scotts had the wherewithal to stick to his post while Reynolds ran to the castle door and back. Seemed they were being smart and having someone else go grab the captain.
Now, she waited.