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Gawain Robards ([info]sir_gawain) wrote in [info]strugglewithin,
@ 2008-11-18 19:31:00

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Entry tags:*complete, august 1997, cho chang, gawain robards, hestia jones

RP: After a day like his ...
Date: 18 August 1997
Characters: Gawain Robards, Hestia Jones, Cho Chang
Location: The Leaky Cauldron
Status: Public
Summary: After a day of trying to calm his Muggleborn employees, Gawain goes for a drink.
Completion: Complete



Gawain had spent the last week trying to calm the fears of his Muggleborn employees. He didn't think he'd done a great job, especially as he couldn't give them any guarantees or even solid answers. With the deadline for their Blood Status reports looming (and a good few of his men had refused to fill it out entirely, even though he knew for certain one was a half-blood and another a pureblood), he was worn out. What the Ministry planned to do with the reports was anyone's guess - and everyone was guessing. He'd tried to ask the Minister himself, but he hadn't been given an answer, just some sort of murmuring on 'following up with the origins of magic' which was rubbish if you asked him. They hadn't, of course.

And so, he was half wondering if he should owl up those of his men who he knew were Muggleborns and suggest they take a jaunt across the Channel or some such. But it wasn't fair - they shouldn't be forced out of their jobs. Fair, though, had little to do with life, he knew. He just hoped that there wouldn't be any drastic actions in response to these forms.

The case he'd been on the past two days wasn't helping things, either. The head of the Department of Magical Transportation had been tortured and killed, as had the man's wife. Rumor had it that Xavier Selwyn had been given the nod by the Minister, though that hadn't been confirmed in writing yet. It was a gruesome case, though no more worse than the other recent Death Eater attacks. There'd been arson, torture, vandalism, among other things, and though he even had witnesses to some of the crimes, he hadn't the manpower to go on a full-scale hunt for the three Lestranges and their assorted companions.

He didn't hold out too much hope, though, for any of it with the way things were going now which was why he was at the Leaky, staring in a pint of Tom's best.


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[info]healer_jones
2008-11-18 07:22 pm UTC (link)
Hestia had been running a few errands after she'd finished her shift at St. Mungo's for the day--nothing spectacularly important, mostly browsing for Viktor's birthday present-- when she realized that she was still carrying around the cursed amulet from a case she'd treated a few days ago. Had it still been bound in parchment, Hestia would have been worried for her own health, but when the case was resolved she'd stowed it in an enchanted pouch for transportation to the Ministry.

She was in the Leaky before she realized that she was still carrying the amulet, so Hestia decided she might as well grab a drink before she made her way to the Ministry. She'd need to loosen up a bit before entering the enemy lair, anyway.

"Auror Robards?" Hestia asked with surprise as she approached the bar and a face that she recognized from her examination room. Perhaps she wouldn't have to venture to the Ministry herself. She'd completed the mandatory Blood Status report for St. Mungo's earlier in the week, so that wasn't her worry with the Ministry, but Hestia hadn't been excited about venturing into a Death Eater stronghold.

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[info]sir_gawain
2008-11-18 07:46 pm UTC (link)
Hearing his name, Gawain looked up, tensing as he did so. Anyone who called him 'Auror Robards' either had been arrested by him or had him on a case, and he didn't want to talk to either particularly.

His eyes came to rest on the witch standing in front of him, and as his eyes rose to her face, he smiled. "Healer Jones," he said warmly, giving her an appreciative look. "Please, have a seat, if you're not joining someone else already."

His day was looking up, it seemed.

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[info]healer_jones
2008-11-18 08:00 pm UTC (link)
"No, I'm not meeting anybody else, I just finished a shift," Hestia said, not missing the look that he gave her. She liked that feeling, although she chastised herself for her reaction. Auror Robards had been a good patient when she'd last seen him, interesting to talk to and slightly flirtatious, but she had Viktor for that now, Hestia reminded herself.

"Please," she said with a smile, "Call me Hestia. Healer Jones makes me feel like I'm still at work, and I do enjoy my limited time off." Hestia slid onto a stool next to him and ordered her usual drink.

He'd not looked exactly cheery when she first noticed him at the bar, so she was a bit hesitant to bring the amulet out of her bag. Hestia decided to wait for a bit, and if Robards seemed in good enough spirits, she'd address the amulet situation. If not, she'd make a trip to the Ministry later in the week.

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[info]sir_gawain
2008-11-18 08:09 pm UTC (link)
He nodded, pleased at her answer. What man wouldn't be when a fit woman wanted to sit with him? "Oh, well in that case, what can I order for you then, Hestia?"

He wasn't going to let her pay for herself. She'd healed him up really well, so he owed her.

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[info]healer_jones
2008-11-18 08:19 pm UTC (link)
"Just a red wine, please," Hestia said as she settled in her seat. Perhaps she could convince Viktor to go out for his birthday. A trip to the Leaky or one of the restaurants around Diagon would be a nice outing for him to see more of London.

"Your ankle hasn't given you any more trouble, has it Auror?" Hestia asked with a bright smile. "I hope you've not had too much trouble with new recruits, or even your department's new, um, focus." She stumbled over her words a bit, but chose them carefully. She sensed that he was a good man, but he was employed by the Ministry, so Hestia knew to tread lightly.

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[info]sir_gawain
2008-11-18 08:50 pm UTC (link)
Gawain threw her a grin as she sat down, gesturing for Tom. After ordering her wine, he looked over at her.

"Oh no, the ankle's brill, thanks. Hasn't given me a bit of worry. You're a bloody good healer. I'll have to recommend you to all my friends," he said, winking. "Speaking of, how's work? Been busy lately?"

And there he went getting back on work. Sort of.

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[info]healer_jones
2008-11-18 09:30 pm UTC (link)
"I didn't see you about for a follow-up, so I assumed you were getting around well enough," Hestia said with a smile. Tom delivered her wine, and she gave the bartender and appreciative smile before she took a sip. "And I appreciate that, it's nice knowing that I'm doing something right around the hospital," she added.

"Work, it's always chaotic around St. Mungo's," Hestia started, "but things are...changing, as I'm sure you know, and things are getting more chaotic." Since they'd received the Blood Status reports at the hospital, people were getting nervous, and some of the muggleborn staff had already resigned to avoid registration.

"We always find ourselves understaffed, but there are more resignations every day. It just makes things more difficult and stressful for those of us that're staying. I hardly doubt this new committee thought of that when they started this registration business," Hestia said, leaving herself a bit unrestrained. "I'm sure not all of the changes have been wonderful for you, have they?"

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[info]sir_gawain
2008-11-18 09:39 pm UTC (link)
Gawain winced. Right, the follow up. "Well, things got a bit busy at work," he hedged because honestly, they had, and honestly he'd totally forgotten about the follow up in the ensuing madness. "Is there something making you feel as if you aren't?"

That didn't sound good to him. She was a talented healer. Why would someone be making her ... oh, bugger. Was she Muggleborn? Had those blasted forms gone to the hospital, as well?

"Yes, at the Ministry, too," he said, nodding and taking a sip of his pint. "I expect to have a few resignations soon on my end."

He'd seen Michaels, a witch a few years his junior who he knew was Muggleborn, working diligently on something earlier, anyway, when Michaels usually only worked diligently in the field. She was not a paper pusher in the least and did her best to get out of it she could.

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[info]healer_jones
2008-11-18 09:57 pm UTC (link)
Hestia shrugged. "It's not often that I hear follow-up stories from the successful cases, usually it's the ones that don't go so well that I have to deal with over time. I suppose that makes sense, but it's not the greatest situation for healer morale, you can probably identify with MLE."

Hestia saw the look in his eye and chose to clarify her statement. "My father's a wizard, thank goodness for that, but under-staffing means heavier case loads for healers, and that means less capable healers." And that was that.

"I'm sorry to talk so much about work, I work a lot and I spend a lot more time at St. Mungo's than I should, it's so difficult to get away from it," Hestia said, shaking her head and blushing a bit. Viktor often wanted to hear about her time at work, but she forgot that that wasn't exactly the case with everybody.

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[info]sir_gawain
2008-11-19 04:28 pm UTC (link)
He had to think about it - because that wasn't something he considered usually - but he nodded in agreement. "Yes, it's much the same. The ones who keep at it are the ones we see most often. It can ruin your view of humankind really, only seeing the traumatic things."

Feeling a flash of guilt and shame for being relieved she was a half-blood, he nodded. "Yes, it's going to be like that at work soon, too, I imagine," he said without thinking before he winced, looking around quickly. No one appeared to be listening, but he needed to keep watch over his tonue.

"You're not the only one who's quite into their job. I sometimes think I should just transfigure my desk into a bed. There's the gents' for washing up and there are even showers. If the food wasn't shite, I wouldn't have reason to go home, other than the cat."

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[info]healer_jones
2008-11-19 06:14 pm UTC (link)
Hestia truly feared a mass exodus of muggleborn healers from the hospital, and that was the last thing St. Mungo's needed now, especially with the country on the verge of war and You-Know-Who gaining power. She feared even more that she herself would have to leave the hospital if the Ministry began more intensive investigations, but she tried not to dwell on those thoughts.

"Do you think that this new commission's going to cause more change?" Hestia asked, dropping her voice. She turned on her stool to face him, and also get a better view of the patrons around them. She didn't think anybody in particular would be listening in to their conversation, but Hestia also didn't want to take chances. Now was certainly not the time to act carelessly or take unnecessary risks.

"First you're looking for a bed at St. Mungo's, and now you're after one at the Ministry as well?" Hestia teased, shaking her head with disapproval. "And there's no Mrs. Auror Robards nagging you to be home on time for dinner?" Hestia was slightly surprised at that. He'd been rather charming at the hospital, and he had an impressive job; there wasn't an incredibly obvious reason for him to be single.

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[info]sir_gawain
2008-11-19 07:06 pm UTC (link)
"I'm believe so," he said, choosing his words carefully, lest someone was listening in. "I don't see how it can't have an effect. They say that Muggleborns stole their magic - that has to change how things are, don't you think so?"

He wasn't sure what her opinions on it all was, but her reaction to his decidedly neutral words (or at least he hoped they were neutral) would tell him a lot.

"Well, it can't hurt to have beds in many places, can it? And no," he said, smile warming as he looked over at her. "No Mrs. Auror Robards. Never found a witch silly enough to put up with me spending all my time at the Ministry."

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[info]healer_jones
2008-11-19 07:28 pm UTC (link)
This was a difficult dance that Hestia had started. She didn't think, or she didn't want to believe, that Robards was leaning in outright support of the new Minister and his crusade for blood purity, but she knew that her own answers had to be very carefully chosen. It wasn't as if she were having a conversation with Order Members where she could speak very freely, but it wasn't as if she were interrogating that Ministry secretary she'd met at the grocery store last week, either.

"I suppose it does, but I don't really support change just for the sake of change," Hestia said as she crossed her legs and took a sip of her drink. "I believe the Ministry exists to serve all of us, regardless of heritage." She nearly added something about how she didn't see what need this new commission would serve, but Hestia bit her tongue.

"I suppose it can't hurt," Hestia jested. "But leave one place empty for too long and somebody may snatch it up. You never know who you could be crawling into bed with." She smiled, then laughed a bit at the nonsense.

"You wouldn't really have to find a silly witch," Hestia said, her mind instantly turning to Viktor who seemed happy with her despite her regimented work schedule. "Just a witch who understands that an obligation to work doesn't necessarily mean that she's not your top priority."

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[info]sir_gawain
2008-11-19 07:40 pm UTC (link)
She was being as careful as he was, he noted, and she seemed to be leaning toward the 'this is a load of dragon dung' side of things. He nodded, still keeping his voice pitched low. "I would agree, but I think that is a conversation best left for some other time," he said, as he spotted a suspicious looking gentleman enter.

"And so long as she's a pretty witch, I wouldn't complain," he teased. He tried not to look too interested as she explained what type of witch he needed. Was she offering herself? It certainly sounded like that. "I'm afraid I don't know too many witches who can understand that."

Leaning forward, he caught her eyes with his own. It'd do him good to get out, have a date, even with things going to shite. "Maybe I can take you to dinner sometime, when our schedules permit."

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[info]healer_jones
2008-11-19 08:27 pm UTC (link)
Hestia was close to questioning him about his abrupt end to their conversation until she noted the focus his eyes had taken. If anybody knew when to drop a conversation around a suspicious character, it would probably be the Ministry's head Auror. "Understood," Hestia said compliance as she took a sip of her wine.

She rolled her eyes as he teased back. Hestia really wasn't aware of where she might have led their conversation, but it really hadn't been in the direction of where he was taking the talk. She worried her lower lip between her teeth as he leaned forward.

"That would be lovely, Auror, and I'm flattered," Hestia began "But I've recently started seeing somebody." It wasn't as if he seemed like the sort of man that Hestia wouldn't date, she enjoyed talking to him, but she and Viktor had been working things out between themselves, and that was going far better than Hestia might have previously imagined.

"I'm sorry if I came across the wrong way or made some sort of implication," Hestia said gently as she pushed her fingers through her hair. "I'm not so used to being in a relationship and I haven't completely adapted to the changes."

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[info]sir_gawain
2008-11-19 08:43 pm UTC (link)
Gawain had a surge of hope, but that was dashed when he noted the tone of her voice, even before she got to the 'but'. He hoped he didn't look as embarrassed as he felt, though he covered by taking a long sip of ale. Apparently he still tended to like those witches who weren't available. It figured.

"Ah, well, congratulations then," he said, recovering and nodded. "You didn't give me the wrong impression, I think I was just a bit hopeful." Well, she had, somewhat, but a gentleman wouldn't point that out, and Gawain prided himself on being a gentleman. Mostly. A gentleman wouldn't find someone else's girlfriend or wife attractive, most likely, but no one was perfect.

He cleared his throat, hoping to smooth over that awkward patch.

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[info]healer_jones
2008-11-19 08:56 pm UTC (link)
"I'm terribly sorry." Hestia bit her lip. It wasn't often that she was the instrument of rejection in relations, so it was an uncomfortable position for her. It was probably an uncomfortable position for anybody, but she felt especially awkward. She disliked being the cause of his unease.

"I have to admit," she said, "I had a bit of an ulterior motive when I approached you tonight." Hestia paused to remove the small enchanted bag from her robes. "A patient visited the hospital a few days ago carrying this. She managed to get into my wards because she'd sprouted horns from her forehead, their growth somehow brought on by the amulet in that package," she explained as she set the bag on the bar.

"I was doing a bit of shopping, and I was on my way to the Ministry when I ran into you." She knew that he was passionate and dedicated to his work. Perhaps this would help to ease the awkwardness of the situation she'd somehow gotten herself into.

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[info]sir_gawain
2008-11-19 09:02 pm UTC (link)
Gawain waved off her apology. "No need to apologize. I mean that," he said firmly, smiling at her. As she continued, he felt a pang, though he didn't let it show on his face. An ulterior motive. Well, that explained that, then. She was interested in him as an Auror.

"Oh, really ..." He frowned, brow furrowing in thought. "Yes, I know the girl. She complained about it in the break room, actually, though we haven't been able to catch the man who did it. But thank you for turning in the amulet. That will help quite a bit. I know her superior planned to follow up with the hospital, but it's been a busy few weeks in the Ministry and some things have lost priority."

Taking the package, he didn't look in it, simply putting it in his pocket. He'd have to go in tonight to drop it off, but that was nothing new. "This will help, though, if we catch the man. Magical signatures and all that."

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[info]healer_jones
2008-11-19 09:35 pm UTC (link)
Hestia dropped the topic, glad that some of the awkwardness between them had dissipated. She couldn't help feeling like she was to blame for what happened, but there was certainly little that could be done about it now.

"I know I should have brought it earlier, I've been a bit worried about carrying it around today, but today was the first chance I'd even had to worry about the amulet, or even any of the follow-up cases," she explained. "That patient wasn't the first I've seen with, um, symptoms like that. We've had quite a few odd cases like that recently, as I'm sure you know."

"I'm probably the first Healer to see most of the patients affected by his cursed amulets," she explained. "The hospital will fully cooperate with any Auror investigation, but I'm willing to help in any way that I can," Hestia offered. She didn't have any legal authority, that was sure, but Hestia could offer any testimony regarding the similarity of the many cases she'd seen which likely related to the same culprit.

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[info]sir_gawain
2008-11-19 09:44 pm UTC (link)
Gawain snorted. "I'm sure she'll be disappointed to realize she isn't alone in that," he observed. He didn't know the girl well, but she seemed like that sort to want to be special in her so-called martyrdom.

"Though we may have to have you in as a witness, should we catch him." Should they catch him? Since when had he started being uncertain about his men? "When we catch him, I mean - so thank you."

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[info]healer_jones
2008-11-19 09:54 pm UTC (link)
Hestia had thought that much about the young woman's attitude, but being a Healer she had to be objective, even if she did seem to agree with his assessment of the situation. Hestia was probably a bit more candid when talking about her co-workers, so he was justified in that sense.

"I believe that you'll catch him, despite your department's new focus," Hestia said. She knew that she was probably saying more than she should have, but she couldn't resist. "You can contact me through the hospital, or send a personal owl, should you require testimony."

"I've got to be going, I haven't quite finished my errands for the day, but thank you for the company and taking care of the amulet," Hestia said with a smile. She managed to subtly place enough coins on the bar to cover her drink before she turned to leave. She still had no clue what to get Viktor for his birthday, but at least she didn't have to worry about the amulet anymore.

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[info]sir_gawain
2008-11-19 10:01 pm UTC (link)
Gawain watched her go, sighing as she left the bar.

Bugger it all. Another lovely woman he was attracted to that was taken.

Shaking his head, he gestured for Tom to refill his drink. He needed another before he went to work.

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[info]misscho
2008-11-18 08:00 pm UTC (link)
Cho slipped into the Leaky Cauldron quietly. She was on a Mission tonight. Chang Imports had received notification of the requirements of the Blood Status report and the already ambiant tension in the office had risen to near smothering levels.

Rebecca, stalwart, loyal, sharp-tongued old Muggleborn Rebecca, had taken one look at the forms and attempted to resign all the while muttering under her breath in her native Polish and rubbing her wrist. Grandfather had refused the offer. Instead he had transfered her to the New Orleans office.

Rebecca and her entire family had been on one of the Chang ships leaving the Port of London even before Cho had finished filing the backdated paperwork that made it seem like the transfer had been planned months ago.

So here she was. On a personal Mission to try and find out if Rebecca was the only one panicking over registration and pograms and yellow stars. The Leaky was as good a place as any to hear what people were gossiping about.

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[info]sir_gawain
2008-11-18 08:15 pm UTC (link)
Gawain had moved to the corner of the bar, where his back was to the wall. He just didn't feel safe being that exposed, even with the mirror for him to watch the other patrons.

So when the slight Asian woman came in, he watched her closely. He'd already eyed the older gent who'd order a snifter of brandy and began chatting up the pretty young thing sitting at a table by herself. Gawain was pretty sure she was a working girl, but he didn't have the energy to go over and see if she'd try to chat him up. He was off duty, and for once, he was staying that way unless an emergency reared its ugly head.

This one, though, didn't look like a working girl. Prim, proper, vaguely familiar. A Chang or Li, maybe. He'd gone to school with a couple of them, and they had that same fine bone structure. Then again, there weren't all that many Asians wizards in Britain at any given time.

He sipped his drink (his third) and watched to see what she would do.

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[info]misscho
2008-11-18 08:26 pm UTC (link)
It had never been this stressful sneaking around for DA meetings under Umbridge's nose. Cho forcefully reminded herself that she had every right to be here and that eavesdropping was rude, but not a crime.

She ordered a pint from Tom and then wandered off to take a seat at a small table near several groupings of the after-work crowd and settled down to try to listen in without appearing to be doing so.

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[info]sir_gawain
2008-11-18 08:49 pm UTC (link)
Gawain watched her sit down and took a sip of his drink. Maybe she was meeting someone. Might do to sit and watch while he finished his pint.

Couldn't hurt, at any rate.

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