Promote me, yo.

[Barnabas Skeeter]

Barney's field journal for reference on his work in America.

Monday, May 4th, 1885
Barnabas had just returned to Hogsmeade the day before. He was rather exhausted - the ship ride had not been the smoothest - but he refused to miss a day of work. He wanted to prove even further that he was fully dedicated to the Ministry. He'd done a hell of a job at it in America. Now that he had returned home, he had expected a standing ovation when he had returned to the office. Toussaint hadn't given him one and it was hardly even mentioned by anyone else. In fact, it was only brought up by Barnabas himself. Some of the employees hadn't even heard of it!

Quite frustrated and stubbornly unhindered, he punctually attended the meeting he had scheduled with the Minister of Magic himself. As he waited outside the Minister's office, he thumbed through the pages of the field journal he had so diligently kept. There were other more official records of the happenings of course, but he wanted to prove that he had played a large role in the solving of the case.

The door to the Minister's office opened. Barnabas stood swiftly, clutching the journal tightly in his hands.

@Balthazar Urquart

  

[Balthazar Urquart]

Plagues, destruction, and escaped convicts. Balt’s tenure as Minister of Magic was not going as smoothly as he might have liked.

Stress had been his watchword of late, and, he was rather ashamed to admit, he’d been holing up in his office as much as possible, sneaking quiet naps here and there to prepare him for the next meeting (which were often more like debates), press conference (public lynching), or hearing (a time to work on crosswords). Actual law-making and making a difference had been put on the backburner for more pressing matters, leaving him decidedly disenchanted with his post.

His new secretary rapped at the door to inform him Mr. Skeeter had arrived; Balt was not sure what the younger wizard wished to discuss—he had been in America until recently, if the Minister recalled correctly—but hoped he would cut straight to the chase.

“Good afternoon, Mr. Skeeter,” Balt greeted. “Please, take a seat.”

  

[Barnabas Skeeter]

Barnabas did as he was bid. It wasn't often that he had a lack of control of his nerves. The very feeling of such overwhelming anxiety made him worried that he might vomit all over the front of the Ministers desk. That thought didnt help thimgs much either. It was only the assurance that he deserved proper recognitiom that kept him there. He swallowed the lump that had formed in his throat - the Minister was looking at him expextantly.

He leaned forward in his seat earnestly, causing the chair beneath him to creak, "Thank you for making time in your schedule for me, Minister. I very much appreciate it." He supposed that it was better to just dive right in. The Minister was a busy man and it didn't seem right to ask him about the wellbeing of his family. It wasn't like he'd really ever met them, nor had he ever had a conversation with Urquart himself.

"As I am certain that you are aware, I recently returned from assignment in America. I believe that I was primarily - if not solely - responsible for investigating and recovering a weak link in the Congress' system. I have recorded my efforts here, which can of course be cross checked with the Congress' own records." He slid the journal across the desk.

  

[Balthazar Urquart]

Balthazar was, in fact, not aware—well, he supposed he was now, but this was, generally speaking, news to him. Frankly he would have been hard pressed to pick Mr. Skeeter out of a line up—they had, after all, never worked in the same department—but even a toddler would have known that that was impolite to bring up. Instead he smiled and nodded politely, accepting the offered book and flicking through it casually, though few words registered in his mind.

“It sounds like an admirable endeavor,” he said at last, not even remotely sure why this man had called a meeting to check in with his boss’s boss’s boss over the fact that he…did his job.

  

[Barnabas Skeeter]

"Thank you, Minister," He nodded solemnly. The situation had begun to play out a bit differently than what had happened in his head. He had hoped the man might say just a tad more. Well, what now? An awkward silence wouldn't help his case any. Should he just push on and assume that the Minister though him impressive? Or back out as tactfully as possible? No, his pride wouldn't let him do that. He had arranged the meeting, he would go through with it.

He pressed his palms together to keep them from shaking, "I believe that I have proven myself to be an intelligent, hard-working, diligent and devoted Ministry employee. I have been here for nearly eight years, have never missed a single day and ensure that I go above and beyond my expected duties. And because of those things, Minister, I would like to seek out the opportunity of a possible promotion."

  

[Balthazar Urquart]

Balthazar was sure that he had not heard Mr. Skeeter correctly in the slightest. Having never met the man previously, but having been acquainted with his father via shared Ministry connections, the Minister wished to give the younger wizard the benefit of the doubt by assuming he was not mentally unhinged. Regardless, that still left Balt with the gaping question of why Mr. Skeeter thought this to be at all appropriate.

Decidedly very uncomfortable now, he cleared his throat in an effort to weasel himself even an extra second to recompose before speaking. The silence was now mildly awkward, but had not stretched so long that the conversation couldn’t be redeemed. Somehow.

“Very admirable qualities indeed, Mr. Skeeter,” Balt replied with—he hoped—a reassuring smile. “But I wonder,” he continued, “wouldn’t this be a better discussion to have with your superior?”

  

[Barnabas Skeeter]

"The thing about it is, Minister," He replied quickly, having had his response to this question prepared, "Mr. Tatting holds the only upwards position available in my current department. I wouldn't think he'd be willing to give me his own position — which is why I have come to you. I'm confident that you would be able to maneuver a suitable department relocation - and promotion - for me."

He pressed his fingers tips against each other as he added, "I do realize this is rather forward of me to come to you Minister, but I have put all of my faith in your abilities. My ambition will not rest until I had spoken to you on the matter."

  

[Balthazar Urquart]

Forward indeed! Balt was very near to being at a loss—not a place that the wizard often found himself.

“You are certainly an asset to your department,” the minister added with some awkwardness, though he tried his best to mask it, “and while I am sure he would miss your expertise, I have no doubt Mr. Tatting would support your move to another department if that is your desire. But…I cannot imagine that any such transfer would be a step up, given your lack of experience or skill in other areas.”

  

[Barnabas Skeeter]

"That is something that I also considered," He nodded in solemn agreement, "Which is why I had hoped that I might get your take on the matter, Minister. What would a successful man – such as yourself – suggest?"

He didn't know what he expected the response to be. Whilst he would not decline the idea of creating an assistant head position, it wasn't entirely necessary. It would get him above Favreau on the totem pole, but little else. The idea of such a thing happening was unlikely to begin with. What was far more likely was that Urquart would simply tell him to go back to his job and wait another decade or three until Tatting retired.

  

[Balthazar Urquart]

“I would suggest that you stay where you are,” he offered frankly. He was relieved to learn that the rather peculiar Mr. Skeeter had not had any illusions as to his qualifications, but was still puzzled about why he was, then, still having this conversation. “Opportunities come around more frequently than you might think, and the surest way to make sure you can take them is to give yourself a solid foundation. A position in some other department might open up sooner than one in your own office, but I daresay you would be more likely to get the latter, don’t you?”

  

[Barnabas Skeeter]

At least he hadn't beaten around the bush. Barnabas liked that about the man - he was kind enough, but not overly so. He hadn't given him any false hope (although an immediate promotion to senior undersecretary would have suited him just fine). It hadn't been what he had wanted to hear, obviously. It had at least gotten him on the Minister's radar. For that, he counted the meeting as successful.

"That would be the most logical course," He agreed grimly. Hurry up and wait, it was to be. "I appreciate your attention on this matter, Minister and I hope I have not come across as wasting your time. Your advice was most valuable."

He rose from his chair and offered a handshake to the Minister.

  

[Balthazar Urquart]

“I would be remiss,” he replied as he rose and shook Mr. Skeeter’s hand, “if I did not offer consultation to my employees when asked. I hope something suitable presents itself to you sooner, rather than later.”

With one last nod of dismissal, Balt reclaimed his seat.