A Thief to Catch a Thief; a Death Eater to Catch a

Nipping into the office







“Hermione?” said Kingsley, his voice dripping sweetness, “Can I please strangle the chief of the Health and Safety department?”



“Yes, but you’d have to fill in the risk assessment first, and as your supervisor I’d have to sign it; thus I’d be aware of it and then I’d have to arrest you for assault.” Hermione said, not looking up from her paperwork.



“Bugger.” Kinsgsley said with a smile.



“What have they done to piss you off now?” she asked, putting her quill down.



“Complained that the interdepartmental quidditch is a bad idea because we aren’t professional players and could get seriously hurt if we fall off our brooms. They also moaned that the auror brooms are too fast and that we should use lesser models, we might fall off.” He shrugged, sitting on the edge of her desk.



“Right, so flying around after dark wizards and witches, while firing curses and dodging those fired at us isn’t enough broom practice? And we have firebolts and Nimbuses because we need the speed!” Hermione was the owner of the NimbusFemme(™), it was specially designed for a female flier and they were used exclusively by the Harpies, they were also painted in the shade ‘princess pink’. Firebolt were working on a rival product, but were more suited to making more ‘neutral’ brooms.



“Oh, and accounts are bitching about the re-match too.” He said, picking at his fingernails.



“Challenge them to the cha-cha and see if they’re capable of doing it – if they are, they win.” A haggard Lucius said from the door.



“Hey mate, how you doing?” Kingsley said, liking the idea of the cha-cha challenge.



“I am not sure, I will let you know when I know myself.” The blonde replied with a shrug.



“Sign that, Lucius.” Hermione said, handing him a lilac piece of parchment.



“It is a holiday form for one week…” He said in confusion.



“Yeah, I figured you wanted to get everything sorted out before coming back to work.” Hermione said, standing up and giving him a friendly cuddle before walking to the ladies loos.



Jess had heard his unmistakable baritone voice and had come running down the corridor to hug him. “You doing ok?” she asked, clinging to him like a limpet.



“I’m fine, I think, let go for two minutes so I can breathe.” He said, dislodging the young woman from him. Jess was a very touchy-feely person and hugged everybody she was emotionally close to, the aurors had been through thick and thin together and were all very close – Jess and Lucius cuddling wasn’t an unusual sight after a mission or if one was in a less than positive mood. Everyone looked after each other, be that physically or mentally.



“What did I hear about the quidditch match?” Harry said, as their seeker he was very interested; but he still clapped Lucius on the shoulder in reassurance. Harry didn’t know how to be touchy-feely and was rather uncomfortable when being hugged – unless it was Ginny.



“Lucius said we should challenge them to the cha-cha… I think it’s a brilliant idea!” Kingsley said with a beaming grin.



“Oh, and the twat wouldn’t last two minutes on that!” Jess giggled, imagining her ex falling over.



Hermione came back into the room to find Jess sporting an evil grin and Harry laughing. “Lucius, you have a week’s paid holiday – what are you doing in my office?” she said, raising a bronze eyebrow in his direction.



“Actually, getting some work done, Draco is coming over, and he is willing to design the new department. I came for the notes we made.” He said.



“I’ve got them in my desk – but it’s in my scribble so doesn’t make much sense; shall I come with you to explain what we want?” Jess said, running to rummage in her desk drawer.



“Well, that’s that sorted then – are you sure you don’t mind paying?” Hermione said, smiling a shy grin, she hated that Lucius was once again having to put out for them.



“Its close to what I’d be paying in tax at the end of the year – but at least we’ll be seeing the money, not hoping we’ll get it. Don’t worry about it – I can’t take it with me when I’m dead, and there’s plenty of it to spend.” He said with a shrug.



“Right, I’ve got the book and the doodles, and the minutes from the meeting we held – the minute taker actually made an effort at that one.” Jess said before following Lucius to the apperation point and leaving for Malfoy manor.



“I’d put money on Jess and Draco getting married by this time next year.” Hermione said with a giggle, “Jess thinks Draco\'s the best thing since sliced bread, and Lucius has tried to match them up for months!”



“I’d put money on it too… but I’m more interested in putting money on the cha-cha… I’ll go speak with the Minister for sports and games, and explain to accounts.” Kingsley said, grinning from ear to ear as he left the department.