And the Shit Show Begins

[Nigel Yaxley]

Open to anybody who may find themselves in the ministry atrium!

Every morning, Nigel walked through the atrium of the ministry to get to the portkey office. And every morning he walked past the stall selling the Daily Prophet. Most days, he had already seen the newspaper due to his step-father's copy Rosa assumes Caspar orders it in, however today his first sight of the headline was as he walked to the office.

"Ross to run for minister," Nigel repeated out loud to the person next to him, also looking at the papers on sale, "We're going to get one of these every day aren't we? When is this whole thing over?" His tone was far too jaded for a boy of his age, too pessimistic. He was a grumpy old man before he was even a man!

  

[Patsy Flynn]

Patsy Flynn hated her job. There was no joy in answering mail from angry quidditch fans, nor in fetching tea and stationery for the department’s employees. She had thought that any foot in the Ministry of Magic doors had to be better than none, but was fast finding herself to have been mistaken as she longed for something—anything!—more stimulating and politically involved.

As such, she lurked in the atrium for as long as she feasibly could, not nearly an eager enough employee to want to beat her superiors to the department if she could help it. Besides, out here, she heard all manner of interesting things. In there, she heard little more than the latest gobstones regulations.

She also heard all sorts of ignorant things.

“Heaven forbid we remain politically engaged,” Patsy muttered loud enough for the speaker to hear, given that they were right beside one another, as she rolled her eyes.

  

[Nigel Yaxley]

When the person spoke back to Nigel, he turned to look at them. It was some girl. Nigel actually appreciated the snark, but she was completely wrong about the election. "Are you telling me," he replied, with a pause for emphasis, "That you expect to be still completely interested in this election when we will have heard nothing else in the paper for six weeks?"