Act Human

[Tiberius Lestrange]

Really, it was the house elf that had done it. His father's estate–well, his estate, now, as his old man would never return to reclaim the country house–was rather lonely with only one resident, and far too quiet to justify a hired human servant, but it was also too large not to require some minimal maintenance, and he could hardly be expected to handle all that upkeep himself; he had other, better things to do. Besides, there was also the matter of meals; he felt rather obligated to dine at home once in a while, since he did live there, and if he spent every night at the club it would be hard to justify the expense of keeping the house running, but Tiberius Lestrange had never cooked a meal in his life, and he certainly didn't intend to start now.

For these reasons, he'd thought it appropriate to acquire a house elf. The thing was not, strictly speaking, a new acquisition, but rather had been the spawn of some house-elf of a distant cousin. It seemed more logical to take an elf that was already in the extended family, if they were available; even for such pathetic creatures, a Lestrange elf would necessarily be superior to any he'd find on the market. However, this did mean that the thing was very young, and very... enthusiastic. Even after he'd strictly admonished the thing not to bother him during the day, not to talk to him, ever, and to stay out of sight unless absolutely necessary, he still encountered the elf more often than he would like to, and it was just so pleasant and eager, and he thought if he didn't have a regular cause to get out of the house and away from the elf, he'd probably end up killing it, and then he'd have to go through the tedious process of acquiring another.

So, on a whim, he'd decided to obtain an occupation, and here he was, reporting to the Ministry of Magic for his first day of work in the Department of Ministries. He had no idea what he was meant to do, but it certainly couldn't be all bad; Lucius had held this position for years without tiring of it, and Claudius worked in this department, as well. Surely, something interesting would happen.

  

[Bianca Kirke]

wasn't exactly where he specifically is so going with in the ante-chambers/most exterior offices of the DoM, correct me if need be and I'll edit!

• The lifts had been jam-packed this morning, and Bianca had been stuck in one as it ascended all the way to the tenth floor before it took her down again. Stepping out into the Department of Mysteries had slowly become a calming moment, although the eerie atmosphere of the corridors had never been entirely shaken off. It was almost unsettling, to sudden appear on a level that lacked all the hustle and bustle of the main Ministry, that was cool and silent and felt like a different world. It certainly gave one space to think.
  
  She darted in and out of one of the offices where records and such things were kept to attend to a few morning duties and then swept back out on her way to the central chambers of the Department, making for the Time Room to continue the experiments they were currently engrossed with. She had not gotten far, however, when her eyes fell upon a face she did not recognise. She couldn't help her double-take, because the Department of Mysteries was smaller and more secretive than any, and if she could not remember all her fellow Unspeakables, she was utterly hopeless.
  
  But no, this man was none of them. Her eyebrows rose a little, torn between the thought of minding her own business, the nagging keenness to get on with her work and the potential consequences of ignoring the stranger milling around in their hallways. "Excuse me, sir," Bianca declared as she approached, "Are you certain you're in the right department?" It wasn't especially easy to wander into this one, but the Ministry was a maze, so perhaps it was still a possibility.
  

  

[Tiberius Lestrange]

I was vague because I didn't know who'd take the thread, but that's perfect! This will be lovely. >D

Tiberius had reached the Department of Mysteries easily enough--large and complex though the Ministry might have been, he was not such an idiot that he could possibly get lost with directions as simple as go down, however, never having been to this department, and indeed, not having had reason to visit the Ministry in a fair while, he was unsure how to get from the antechamber to his desk, wherever that might be, or how to find his new employer, Malfoy, to be given an orientation. Luckily, however, he had not been there long at all before a woman approached him.

This room was reserved for the Department of Mysteries, which meant she could only be the secretary of that department. Good; he wouldn't have to waste any time.

"Certainly," he said briskly. "Department of Mysteries, if I'm not mistaken. I'm to start today. Tiberius Lestrange," he said by way of introduction, offering her a slight nod but nothing more. Working class women hardly needed the same respect as women of character, and certainly not secretaries. "If you could let Mr. Malfoy know I've arrived," he instructed her, then turned his attention back to casually observing the room. "Where shall I find my desk?"

  

[Bianca Kirke]

• Well. The stranger was not lost, so Bianca wouldn't be reprimanded for having been witness to an unnamed observer explore the Department of Mysteries or meddle in any of its affairs. She was mildly surprised by the revelation that he was new - a new co-worker - and so offered a pleasant nod, half-apologetic for questioning his certainty.
  
  That said, he had just introduced himself as a Lestrange. This was not necessarily a bad thing - Claudius Lestrange, of the department already, had always been civil - but Bianca was not ignorant of the Lestranges' reputation as a strict purist family, and with every word he spoke she forced herself to be a little more on her guard.
  
  Whilst she cared little for long-winded formalities, that Mr. Tiberius Lestrange scarcely cared to honour them did not escape her attention. The introductory nod seemed to her little more than dismissive, and that was before he had practically discharged her with a command and a question. After that, she had an inkling of what had passed by on assumption alone. She ought to have expected nothing more; it was not, in truth, the first time the mistake had been made. (Nevertheless, expectation made the reality no less aggravating.)
  
  The ripple of annoyance was a controlled one, and whilst she could have corrected his error more bluntly, she held half a hope he might realise his mistake with a swift hint. "Bianca Kirke. I wish I could provide you with a better welcome," she said smoothly; "but I can certainly direct you to Mr. Malfoy so that you might inform him yourself."
  
  On second thoughts, perhaps it was best to make it that much more certain that he didn't labour under such a delusion for longer than necessary. After a brief pause when she remained pointedly in place instead of trotting off on his instruction, Bianca added, "I could make an educated guess as to your assigned desk, but the departmental secretary is likely to be more informed of those arrangements."