Who: Kevin Brocklehurst & Katie Bell
What: Katie runs into Mr. Brocklehurst while leaving the ministry. 
Where: The Ministry. 
When: Afternoon, Monday.
Rating: G // PG
Status: Complete



Katie seriously hated going anywhere near the Ministry anymore.  It wasn't really the type of place that she liked to be at all.  In fact she wanted to beat the crap out of half the people that she saw.  One of her teammates joked that she nearly turned into a Falcons player every single time someone mentioned the Ministry or the new laws.  She wasn't exactly effected by directly, but just the way it was hurting her friends.  Maybe she took it more personally because of what had happened to her.  She was asked once if she thought that maybe they'd be good seeing as well... It didn't matter.  Leanne had always been there for her, and now she was being shunned.  To say the least Katie was furious.  

So when the Manager of the Magpie's told her to go fill out some paper (more papers), Katie wasn't exactly happy about it.  She thought about going to see Leanne, but she thought better of it when she got a disapproving look from someone she'd talked with a few weeks earlier.  She'd just figure out a dinner with Leanne later.  That was safer anyways.  

After signing the papers, she gave a fake smile and headed out of the Ministry.  That was until she nearly ran into someone.  No ones real fault, merely one of those moments.  "Sorry."  She said quickly with a polite smile, although not focusing on who it was.

Kevin knew of the Quidditch players since he liked the game, but also because he had kept a close eye on his daughter over the years. Moreover, after his conversation wit Katie via the journals, Kevin had been quite interested in the girl. He thought dhe might pose a problem to the order that the Ministry was so desperately trying to establish in their post-war world. Hence, when he looked up, he couldn't believe fate. "Miss Bell," he said as an insincere smile spread over his face, "How do you do? You alright there?" He bent to pick up one of the papers that fell. "Here," he added, "Careful with your things."

When Katie finally put things together and realized who she was standing in front of she had to force herself not to roll her eyes.  Instead she answered the questions.  "I'm alright.  Yourself?"  She said simply before taking one of the papers as she bent down to get the other couple.  "Thanks." She said, though was sort of amused he'd only gone for one.  She sort of figured he didn't like her at all, and that was his problem.  "Sorry about that."  She said again, although she didn't think either was exactly to blame for it. 

Kevin didn't like or dislike anyone really. He simply knew who would further his career and family and stuck to that. Katie Bell couldn't possibly help him so she didn't register on his radar other than to annoy him with her chatter about Leanne's treatment. He merely nodded curtly at her apology. "Quite fine. No trouble, hm?" He looked her up and down, wondering what she was even doing at the Ministry. Visiting Leanne again? "Is there anything I can help you with?"

Katie's didn't like the way he looked, she was being really judgmental, and she knew it, she didn't exactly like him.  Not that wasn't clear, sometimes she wasn't going with hiding her thoughts from the look on her face.  "No.  But thank you for the offer. I've got it.  Just leaving anyways."  She said still standing there.  Was it just her? This was sort of an awkward conversation right?  Katie was pretty sure it would go up as one of her more annoying conversations....

"Leaving so soon? Did you find everything satisfactory this time then?" He well recalled her complaints from earlier and was quite ready to squash any idea she had about the Ministry's treatment of its employees. Katie simply didn't understand the complex matters...Kevin barely hid his smirk as that thought fluttered through his brain. It was a warm day and so he dug out a tissue to wipe his brow before holding one out to her. "You look like you could use a cold drink, Miss Bell."

"I have no reason to spend more time around the ministry, than I have to. It isn't exactly the most inviting place to be these days."  Katie said very simply.  She gave a very puzzled look as she waved her hand in a no thanks for the tissue.  "Thank you, but I'm fine."  She said honestly.  Katie was fine, she didn't have any need to deal with anything else, besides, if he was suggesting she spend more time around him than she needed to, well that was just a little bit insane right?

Kevin wasn't at all put off by Katie's behavior. If anything, it further proved he was right to distrust her. "How are your parents, Miss Bell? What do they do again? I must have met them at some point, but their faces escape memory for the moment." He pushed the tissue back into his pocket. "As a father myself, I have a soft spot for girls your age. I wouldn't want your parents thinking I left you here to melt."

"They are fine.  My father, Aidan, owns a lot of pubs."  She said with a polite expression.  Something about him made her feel uncomfortable, perhaps it was the different views they had.  "My Mum, Elizabeth, also helps run the pubs, but dabbles in other things as well."  The Bell family had a lot of pubs in England.  "I doubt they'd think you left me here to melt."  She said with another polite smiling.  Katie didn't really want to think about the fact that her parents might have known him, but of course they would.  His daughter was just a year younger than she was.

"Ah, pubs yes. Of course." Kevin scratched his chin thoughtfully. His five o'clock shadow was appearing so it itched. "Perhaps some of us old folk darkened one of those doorsteps." He flicked his wand, accioing two bottled waters. "Take it with you if you like, but I really need a drink now. You know when you get to be my age..." He grinned, trying to make it as trusting as he could. He didn't intend to run her off. She was young and pretty; she could be useful.

 "Probably, they are some of the best pubs.  But I might be biased." Katie gave a friendly smile.  She figured it'd be worth a small joke, or at least try... Katie took the water, purely out of the fact to be polite. She didn't really like taking it, but she wasn't going to be completely and totally rude.  "Thanks."  She said with a soft smile.  "I'll make sure I send my father some extra water than as well."  She said playing along somewhat.  She really wasn't sure if she should walk away now, or what?  It was one of those moments that just seemed kind of awkward.

Kevin's smile widened as Katie tried to joke with him. Good, very good. He unscrewed his bottle cap, lifting it to his lips to take a long sip. "Yes, believe me, Miss Bell, us old geezers need hydration. And to be taken out in the sunshine once in awhile." He winked. "Not that there's much sun here usually." The last words were spoken wistfully as Kevin really did enjoy sun ironically.

He sort of left her feeling oddly confused about what to say.  Maybe that was the point.  She wasn't sure what to say.  "Well, perhaps you should get yourself inside before you burn."  She said after a pause.  Katie didn't see the point in saying anything else.  It was uncomfortable as it was, and she really didn't like being near the Ministry.  It was uncomfortable, and well he wasn't someone she wanted to spend too much time talking to.

Guessing he had gotten enough chit chat from the girl, Kevin inclined his head and held out a hand. "A pleasure finally meeting in person."

Katie took his hand, although she'd rather not do so.  "You too."  She said with a slightly annoyed smile, Katie just didn't like the feeling he gave her.  Something just didn't seem right, or maybe it was there different views... Katie didn't know.  "Have a good day."  She said letting going of his hand and making her way past him as fast as she could, without looking like she was hurrying to fast... Awkward