A complicated process

[Lindsey Sawyer]

Lindesy Sawyer had been many things in her life. She had been a rebellious student; creeping around hallways out of hours, never handing in homework and, more often than she'd ever admit, flirting inappropriately with professors. After school she had gone a-travellin', seeking out new horizons and different sunsets, dancing her way across two continents. She had settled down a couple of years ago, started teaching at a magical primary school. Thus, Lindsey Sawyer had, in her short twenty-four years, been a great many things. She had not, however, had much practice at politics.

The witch walked through the Ministry of Magic with a slight frown on her forehead, intently reading every sign on every door that she passed, trying to work out exactly where she was meant to go. Lindsey had applied for a position as an Improper Use of Magic official, and while she had a general idea what that entailed, and everything else she was sure she would just learn on the job, she still had no idea about the specific details. For example, did she have an office? Or was the Improper Use of Magic area just a communal enclave, where each official had a cubicle and each cubicle had an official? It was complicated work, and she hadn't even started yet.

Dressed smartly for her first day of work in black robes, emblazoned with the Ministry crest, and a name badge on her chest, shining proudly, Lindsey sighed and sat down in one of the large, over-stuffed leather armchairs that were scattered around the hallway she had been wandering aimlessly up and down. Hopefully, she figured, somebody will pass and take pity on me, and ask where I'm meant to be. She was far too proud to ask for directions, you see. Better that someone else ask her where she was, rather than she ask someone else where she was.

Like stated, it's a complicated process.

[Straw Buckett]

He didn't normally march. Marching was usually not his thing. But today, he was ready to do a lot more then storm down the corridors at work. In one hand the young man held the Daily Prophet, scrunching it rather tightly under his vine popping fits. A deep frown creased his brow and his heart beat rapidly forcefully in his chest. He couldn't believe it, the nerve of some people, who did they think they were. Straw Buckett was fuming. He was ready to hex someone and god save who ever was to crossed his path next.

Gritting his teeth Straw rounded the corner rather hastily, blinded and insulted he completely did not see the young lady who sat innocently on the comfy leather sofa. A fly, to Straw's great enjoyment, decided it would try it's luck by flying up his nose. Swatting it away furiously, probably with more energy then needed, Straw found himself tripping and tumbling forward. To what he fell on next would definitely change his mood for the rest of the day.

[Lindsey Sawyer]

The nerve of some people!

There she was, sitting very calmly and rationally, counting the tiles on the roof over her head, minding her own business, when somebody decided to fall right in her lap. Lindsey started out of her reverie and jumped about a mile into the air, getting up from the armchair as if she'd been burned, consequently tipping the man onto the floor. She didn't feel bad at first, because she was just too shocked. It wasn't a common occurance, a man falling into her lap out of nowhere.

As Lindsey recovered from the shock, though, her manners kicked in, and her hands flew up to cover her mouth. "I am so sorry!" she cried, though her voice was slightly muffled by the hands. Please don't be my boss, please don't be my boss, she chanted in her head as she dropped to her knees beside the man, worry in her eyes. "Are you okay? I did not mean to tip you up, it was just a reaction," she rambled on, as of yet not properly looking at the stranger.

The witch brushed her long hair out of her eyes and she glanced at his face once, then again. Her breath faltered and her heart seemed to pause. The strange man who had fallen into her lap was not an unattractive man. In fact, he was quite attractive, as attractive people go. She shook her head, going back to the idea that he could be her boss, and she gently placed her warm hands on his arm. "Are you okay?" she repeated, her eyes wide.

[Straw Buckett]

Landing in the lap of an attractive lady Not bad Buckett, not bad at all he thought to himself as his anger quickly died and calmer eyes fell on the slender legs of the young lady he'd fallen on. "It's ok, really, entirely my fault." he winced forgetting for a moment he was on the floor. However on realising he was gazing up at the woman from the floor Straw thought it best he dust himself off and stand. "My fault really, wasn't watching where i was going" he shrugged then sadly reality came swooping back and he felt the cold sting of annoyance once more.

"Sorry, I'm Straw. Straw Buckett. I haven't seen you around here, are you new?" he asked giving her a natural warm smile. Straw could not make any excuses, he's always had and always would have a thing for green eyes and hers were definitely ones that seemed to draw and blow him away. Away from the paper, the column and gossiping wizards who'd been congratulating him all morning, then transporting him to a happier place. "I'm sorry but i must say you have the most stunning eyes!" he let slip as he gazed at those emerald beauties.

[Lindsey Sawyer]

She couldn't help but blush a little. Not only was he handsome but most generous in compliments. One hand unconsciously found its way to her breast, completely caught off guard by his compliment. Lindsey caught herself giggling slightly. "Hm why thank you," then realized how this might look to someone watching and stopped her smile, just by a little. "Nice to meet you... Mr Buckett? That's a very interesting first name you have. Straw did you say?” she asked catching herself in his own baby blues.

“I'm Lindsey and yes it is my first day." She hesitated suddenly reminded of her last thought, "You wouldn't...happen to be my boss in the Improper Use of Magic any chances?" and cringed bitting her lip slightly hoping both that he was and wasn't. She was slightly unsure if she wanted to work with him or not. Then looking once more into his eyes she was sure she'd be prepared to work with him on a day to day basic.

[Straw Buckett]

Now that his mood was growing, into something a little more pleasant, Straw would've possibly taken advantage of this beautiful woman and tell her he was her boss or something. Be the joker/flirter he was and yet he hesitated a little, probably because of the bad mood he was in before. "I'm not" he smiled knowing he could have had a lot of fun with her just then. "I'm an Auror, this is my floor. I think you have the wrong floor," he smiled nicely. "that's fair enough though, it's an easy place to get completely and utterly lost in." he shrugged wondering still why he hadn't gone with a game instead of this normal talk.

He frowned a little, mostly at himself, was he growing up? "So I'm assuming your transferring from somewhere?" he asked crossing his arms across his chest forgetting very quickly about the news paper and gossip column. "out of town or from another department?"

[Lindsey Sawyer]

Lindsey gazed up at Straw, tall, always a good sign, as he talked. She was relieved when he admitted that he was not her boss, and couldn't help the sigh. "Thank Merlin. I don't think it would have made a very good first impression tripping over the boss," she said, noticing again that she was rambling. She did that when she was nervous.

The witch's eyebrows rose as he introduced himself as an Auror, and she gave a little whistle. "Wow, an Auror. You must be a busy man, then," she remarked. Frowning a little, Lindsey turned slightly and pointed back the way she had come. "No, I'm on the right floor. The woman at the desk downstairs told me that level three was Magical Law Enforcement, and Improper Use of Magic fits in."

She shook her head at his question and grinned sheepishly. "No, not transferring. To be honest I've never actually worked in government before. I was good at defence magic in school, and needed a new job, so I figured I would give this a go." She shrugged. "How hard can it be?"

Lindsey's green eyes flickered up to Straw's face and she smiled. "Forgive me for intruding, Mr. Buckett, because I hardly know you, but you look quite troubled."

[Straw Buckett]

"Oh is it?" he chuckled, "ha shows you how much I know of my own floor. Had no idea the Magical Law Enforcement had combination with the Improper Use of Magic fits gang. I'm usually out in the field really. Rarely here" But i guess things are changing.... "Welcome aboard....Ms...Lindsey." and almost reached out to shake her hand but thought twice and decided not to.

"Not very," he smirked at her admiration to working for the ministry for the first time. She was an interesting person, from just meeting her Straw seemed to really like this woman. Something about her just made him smile, it was nice to know she'd be around for a while.

"Oh..." his first reaction to her comment about him looking troubled and looked down at the scrunched news paper in hand. "its nothing.." not wanting to be congratulated by another person for his none existent baby. "Just some silly gossip in the paper about..." he paused and for some reason did not mention Kat. "about me" he wasn't sure why and tried not to feel bad about his answer to Lindsey. "they got some facts wrong...its ok.. I'll hex them later. On my way to the paper in fact, you wanna come? Take you on a tour of the building while I can" he smiled liking the idea better then taking her to the news paper to complain about his not so pregnant fiancee.

[Lindsey Sawyer]

Lindsey grinned and nodded her head. "Why, thank you. I'm very excited to be a part of the magical security team you didn't realise that you had," she teased. She couldn't imagine being an Auror, whether in the office or in the field. She wasn't a brave woman, and dealing with dark magic-doers seemed much too dangerous for her.

The witch followed Straw's gaze to the paper scrunched in his fist and she pursed her lips, nodding. "Oh, fair enough," she said, understanding that he didn't want to talk about it. "Gossip? I'm surprised you even read the gossip column. You seemed a lot smarter than that, if you don't mind me saying," she commented. "Gossip columnists will write anything, they often don't care whether what they're writing is true or not."

A change of subject was the telltale sign of his not wanting to talk about whatever it was that was written in the newspaper, but Lindsey made a silent, mental note to read it later. The more she could learn about this mysterious man the better. Her eyes brightened at the mention of a tour and she smiled. "Sure, sounds like fun. Maybe later though, because I do actually have to work," she said, chuckling.