adam cautions against the ides of march. (disinterested) wrote in an_ill_wind, @ 2009-07-09 15:01:00 |
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Adam took a summons from the Minister very seriously. And so, for lunch, he had eaten just an apple - never mind that it was a bloody race against time to eat a damn apple before it browned - before heading to the first floor and the Minister's office. He was exactly eight minutes early and he stood as patiently as he could until one of the handful of secretaries showed him to Rodolphus's door, opening it in front of him and speaking quite clearly with a quick smile into the room. "Adam Williamson for you, Minister." Adam moved into the room, standing in front of the desk. He wouldn't sit until he was asked to. This could be a thirty second meeting for all he knew and just lounging messily in one of the Minister's chairs was both disrespectful and unprofessional. "Good afternoon, Minister," he greeted, inclining his head ever so slightly. Rodolphus, despite the irony of having killed Michael Jones the previous afternoon and of having brought about yet another breech of security, had been impressed with the way Williamson had handled things. He'd been watching the senior aurors closely after Alastor Moody's name had shown up on the list of the resistance Bellatrix had picked out of Sirius' brain. He needed to be replaced. The interviews themselves would likely see to it that there wouldn't be any problems demoting the old drunk and putting a capable, Ministry-loyal man in charge. He was waiting in his office when Adam arrived and stood to greet the other man, holding out his hand to shake. "Good afternoon, Mr Williamson," he said with a nod and slight smile. "Please, have a seat." Adam shook the Minister's hand firmly, returned the barest bit of a smile and then sat in the nearest seat. Squishy and comfortable and still, Adam's posture was damn near perfect, barely a hint of a slouch. He shifted just the barest bit to be properly comfortable, all the time keeping his attention on Rodolphus. "Thank you, sir," he said, not about to ask why he was here. All in good time. He very much doubted that the Minister would waste time. "I would like to express my admiration of the way you handled yesterday's... situation with Michael Jones," Rodolphus said immediately, taking his own seat again. "You have demonstrated and excellent work ethic over the course of your career, Mr Williamson, and a willingness to take charge and ensure that a task is completed both thoroughly and properly. I am quite impressed." Adam gave a single nod of his head. "Thank you, sir. I regret to say that I think the department has been woefully inactive and leadership far too lax. In fact I think the entire department has lost sight of what it is we do and is instead, deciding to choose sides in a war that the government has no direct interest in other than the affect it has on our citizens. Someone has to remain objective." "I agree completely," Rodolphus said, (relatively) impressed. "Within the Department of Magical Law Enforcement I have seen a great deal of oversight and unacceptable behaviour, and certainly in the leadership of the Aurors. I'd like your honest opinion, Mr Williamson. What do you think of Alastor Moody?" Adam sighed. An honest opinion, then? Adam was quite happy to speak frankly. "I think that whilst he's been known to be quite effective in the field and certainly commanded a large amount of respect in the past, his usefulness has diminished greatly in the past few months and is having an increasingly negative affect on the department. Coming to work drunk after all, is not a sign of good leadership and whilst I'm sure everyone has their own personal problems at home, they must remain just that when it comes to work." "I am, of course, conducting these interviews in an attempt to evaluate the DMLE as objectively as we are able," Rodolphus said, leaning back in his chair slightly. "I will give Mr Moody the same opportunity as the rest of the department heads, though I am entirely unsure of whether or not he will be remaining in the Head Auror position when all is said and done. Should it come to that, Mr Williamson, I wonder if you would be willing to take on the position yourself? I would choose you ahead of Mr Meister, as I fear he was promoted too early and does not have enough field experience to properly command authority." Promotion. The hint of Slytherin ambition in him wanted to rush at the opportunity. Adam shifted slightly in his seat. "It would be an honor, sir, and I would of course serve in the position with as much integrity and leadership as I am capable." Which would certainly be more than anyone else was showing. "Excellent. I am glad to hear it," Rodolphus said with a small, genuine smile. "This is not an official offer, of course, and I won't make any promises, but it does seem a quite probable appointment, with all things considered. Thank you for coming in to see me, Mr Williamson. I am sure that I will be in contact with you again directly before the end of next week." Adam nodded and carefully pushed himself up from his chair. "Thank you, Minister Lestrange. I very much look forward to it." Another slight incline of the head, a firm handshake and Adam swept out of the Minister's office with the barest of smirks on his face. His week, despite the deaths, had just gotten exponentially better. |