The best laid plans of Sturgis and men... (podris) wrote in crossfire, @ 2012-06-11 18:02:00 |
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Sturgis was reluctant to leave the laboratory for the night. He was in the middle of a project that required a lot of attention, and he didn't much like leaving work undone. Of course, with extended projects like this one, there wasn't much choice there. Despite his requests, the rest of the Committee didn't want a sleeping sofa in their offices. So, he had to leave.
There was another reason he didn't want to leave today, however. When he'd gone for lunch, he couldn't shake the feeling that someone had been watching him. Following him, even. He didn't see anything for sure but it was unsettling, as though he'd walked into a room full of people who'd just been talking about him. He was probably being paranoid. He'd been jumpy since the Ministry attack and that was weeks ago; his subconscious probably still hadn't let that go. Passing the spot where Maude had been killed every day hadn't made that any easier. They'd been colleagues, not really friends, but they'd worked side by side for three years and Sturgis kept expecting her to come back.
He finished packing up his work area for the night; the rest of the Committee had already left and he didn't mind cleaning up at night. It let him clear his mind a little before going home. He headed out, recasting the lock charms on the doors and making his way toward the elevator. After five or so, the Ministry was rather on the empty side, so he was surprised someone else stepped up to wait with him. He vaguely recognized the wizard, but couldn't place him in a department or with a name. Sturgis was pretty sure he didn't work on the third floor, though.
"Late night?" the stranger asked, and Sturgis couldn't help but feel uncomfortable. He didn't like small talk very much and something about this man's tone seemed more inquisitorial than friendly.
He shrugged, not wanting to be rude. "No later than usual. I like working in an empty office, actually."
"Hmmm," the man murmured as the elevator arrived. "Gives you real control of the place, then?"
"Oh, no," Sturgis insisted, stepping in and requesting the Atrium. He pushed the button a few times, as though that would make the elevator go faster. "It's just quieter. I can think better." He wanted to stop this conversation, but couldn't stop himself talking. He rather hated that about himself.
"You're Sturgis Podmore, right?" The man must have seen the startled expression on Sturgis's face, because he immediately added, "We met once, some interdepartmental function. You kept going on about some Muggle film about a shark, and that song." He began to hum a few notes.
Sturgis studied the man. "Jaws," he offered quietly. This didn't seem very much like him; he couldn't remember going on at any time about Jaws, let alone at a Ministry function. What was this man getting at?
"That's the one. Never seen it, myself. I just remembered you seemed to know a lot about Muggles."
Sturgis was sure he'd heard disdain in the man's voice, but his expression seemed friendly enough. Sturgis didn't say anything.
"Yeah, it's coming back to me now. Experimental Charms. You lost one of yours, didn't you? Merlin, I am sorry about that. Terrible tragedy, the whole thing. Were you close?"
Sturgis looked down. He thought he'd have gotten used to the discussion by now, but he wasn't. He offered a small nod, just hoping the elevator would go faster.
"That's too bad. You must feel awful."
Finally, the doors opened and Sturgis could escape this strange conversation. Perhaps he was overthinking it. Maybe the man was just talkative, and forward. But Sturgis couldn't shake the feeling that he was being interrogated.
"It was nice talking to you," Sturgis lied politely as he walked quickly to the exit. Nearly there, he turned around to glance at the man, who had stopped just outside the elevators and seemed to be making notes about something. He glanced up and met Sturgis's eye; Sturgis looked away first and left, thoroughly shaken.