Alice C. Longbottom (ravenauror) wrote in an_ill_wind, @ 2009-07-16 01:04:00 |
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Entry tags: | - 1980/07 july, alice longbottom, rosalind rookwood |
Who: Alice Longbottom and Rosalind Jugson
What: Awkward small talk
When: Wednesday, 15 July, 1980; just before Alice's interview
Where: The Ministry, where all the Aurors gather
Rating: PG
Status: Completed log!
Alice wasn't really looking forward to this interview. The fact that Frank had survived his interview reassured her somewhat, but it didn't change much. It wasn't the thought of losing her job that worried her (though, considering who the Minister was, it was a distinct possibility at this point) so much as sitting in that room with three known Death Eaters. While eight and a half months pregnant. Her reflexes were not as good as she would like, and though she knew they'd have to be daft to try anything in an official meeting, she could not force herself to relax. She knew who they were, and they knew who she was, and it was reason for concern. Alice took care to be in the Ministry a good fifteen minutes before her scheduled time, stopping to greet the coworkers she hadn't seen much of since taking her maternity leave a month ago. Much had changed in that time, and as such there was a particular person she had hoped she would not see when she stopped by the DMLE. Of course, when she returned to work, she fully intended to keep a sharp eye on Rosalind Jugson. But right now, she wanted to get through her interview and get out. "Miss Jugson," she said, careful to keep her voice level when it seemed she would not be able to avoid conversing at least briefly with the traitor. "I understand you're engaged to be married," Alice chose the topic that was possibly the safest. "Congratulations." Rosalind had been discussing a case with colleagues when Alice Longbottom arrived at the Auror office. She knew that she'd be here today, as she'd noticed when her interview was scheduled, and she welcomed her with a rather convincing fake smile. It brightened as she noticed Alice's uneasiness when she realised that she could not avoid her without snobbing other colleagues as well. "Yes, I am. Thank you, we're very happy. It's coming soon, but it cannot be soon enough; though I assume you say the same about your baby," she replied with fake interest. Alice was expecting for the end of the month, almost the same time than her wedding. "I'm sorry that you had to interrupt your maternity leave for the interview," she added. Her own interview had been the previous day and had gone quite well, though she hadn't been worried. Her cousin would not fire her, and their Lord needed her in the Auror office, even now that Rodolphus was running the Ministry. The fact that the Order knew her identity was a frustrating situation, but she was still useful. Alice Longbottom, though, was most probably much more nervous about her interview. Rosalind sincerely hoped that there could have been something in her colleague's past that gave them an opening to fire her, but she had a perfect record. It would be impressive if it wasn't so annoying. Alice produced a fake smile to match Rosalind's. She was used to keeping up appearances in front of her colleagues, to stay detached so that they had no reason to suspect her involvement with the Order. She would really rather throw that all aside and let her fellow Auror know precisely what she thought of her and her Lord. Still, there were others present, and that was a discussion that belonged outside the workplace. "Yes, we're very much looking forward to it," she replied, unable to hide her excitement. Of course, she did not like the fact that Death Eaters knew when she was supposed to have her child. She should speak to Frank about their plans for that moment. If they decided to strike while she was in labor... Alice's face didn't betray any of her thoughts. "Already had your interview?" she inquired. The owl had only included her interview time, and she hadn't looked at the official schedule when she came in. "Yes, mine was yesterday. Shortly before Frank's, in fact." She wondered how Alice's husband's interview had unfolded. His record was just as spotless as hers, which meant that there was little chance that they could find something justifying firing him. Unfortunately. She was afraid that they would only manage to get rid of Moody, out of all the Order members among Aurors. She would still be in minority, but she had the Minister on her side, which did give weight to her position, even a minority one. "It's a good thing that those interviews aren't spread on a longer period. Everyone is quite tense about it; it wouldn't be good to drag it on." And of course, the shorter it took, the quicker they would get results. It was quite unfortunate that Rosalind would likely be remaining in the DMLE. Even if her cousin wasn't the Minister, she was (by all appearances) very good at her job. If she had slipped up, even once, Alice was sure she would know of it. She only hoped that they would be able to keep their people in the Ministry, as well. It wouldn't be easy, but they couldn't lose the DMLE entirely. "I'll be glad to get it over and done with." If they didn't find an excuse to fire her, Alice had little intention of returning before she had the baby. Having this happen so late in her pregnancy was frustrating enough, but she had thought it better to come in than to attempt to write in and be excused from it. They would probably just take it as one more thing against her credit. "We'll all be," Rosalind agreed honestly, though her reasons for it were different. "Are you planning to take a long maternity leave?" she asked, wondering when her colleague would return. The good thing with a pregnant Order member was that she could not do much against them in her current situation. Remembering their duel in Hogsmeade, when Alice had already been very pregnant, she revised that judgment: she was always dangerous. Her options were much more limited, though, and would still be as long as she was kept away from the office. Hopefully they would be able to neutralize her before she came back. "I haven't decided," Alice replied, skirting around the subject. Of course, it was the truth, but Rosalind didn't need to know that. Alice would take time to heal and make certain there was someone she trusted explicitly to watch over the baby when she was ready to return to work. And, honestly, she wasn't sure if she'd ever trust anyone that much, aside from Frank. Even among her fellow Order members. But it was only maternal instinct that assured her that her baby would be safest in her care alone. And it had been far too long since she'd felt of good use to the Order. "What about you? Taking time for your honeymoon?" Alice would honestly be glad if the Ministry was rid of Rosalind and Rookwood, if only for a week or two. Especially for what it would mean for the Aurors, not having a Death Eater to interfere with their investigations. "We'll be taking a few days, yes," Rosalind answered without giving more details. She would have liked a longer honeymoon, but they couldn't afford it now, not in the current situation. She was slightly nervous, if she was honest with herself, about marriage and all it entailed. It would be a major change in her life and she hoped that she would adapt to it easily. Honeymoon was the chance to get used to it in the best conditions, before returning to everyday life with its duties. She truly enjoyed spending time with Augustus, but living together would be a different matter. "How do you enjoy maternity leave so far?" she asked Alice. If only she took a leave from the Order as well, she thought. "It's been rather nice," Alice replied, not responding further. It had been fairly productive, considering she was supposed to be resting. Instead, she had fought at Hogsmeade, helped deliver a child, and managed to locate and obtain not one, but two safehouses for the Order (with help, of course). It didn't keep her from feeling somewhat useless, considering the fights that had occurred since Hogsmeade. She reassured herself that at least Edgar was finally awake, and Fabian and Gideon hadn't been too badly injured (and she was trying not to think about little Percy or Remus). Alice noticed the clock, and double-checked the time on her watch. "I should be going," she said, glad that she wouldn't have to endure any more of this small talk. Of course, that was overshadowed by her concern about the interview. "Wouldn't want to be late." Though she had a distinct feeling that Rosalind would have no qualms about Alice being late for her interview. "Of course not," Rosalind concurred, utterly dishonest. She wouldn't have minded keeping Alice late, but it would be rather obvious and she didn't want to open the door to such critiques. There would be other opportunities. Her cousin and the rest of the panel might be able to get her to say something incriminating during the interview, after all, though she doubted it. "It was a pleasure seeing you," she added with a fake smile before returning to her colleagues and the case at hand. |