the puzzle (that is life)

by The Crownless Queen

A drabble/OS collection. Most recent: 75-A look in on John and Amelia's relationship. 76-Stranded in a time not her own, it is now time for Helga to leave. If only that didn't also mean leaving Gellert behind. 77-After his mother's funeral, Severus frees himself from his father. 78-Lily's kisses taste like chocolate and sunlight and Severus wants to never let her go.

1. First Day (Arthur W)

This drabble is written for the Seven Fics Challenge (word limit: 300-500 words) and the Bingo Card Drabble Competition (n. 3) on the HPFC.

Character: Arthur Weasley

Genre: Friendship

Word count:353

First Day

Arthur entered shyly the office after a light knock on the door. Yesterday he had visited what would become where he'd spend his days for the next years – unless he was transferred. Perkins, the older man who already worked there greeted him warmly and gestured him toward his desk – not that Arthur would have been able to miss it: it was the only other desk of the room, and it actually took nearly half the space, the other half being Perkin's desk and the small place left being used to move between them.

He sat on his chair – his chair! – and installed everything he would need. Unfortunately, there was nothing for him to do, so he risked small glances toward his coworker, who was clearly as bored as he was, shifting from one position to another as discreetly as possible in the vain hope time would flow faster.

"For the love of all that is magical, would you stop that?"

The sound of Perkin's voice startled Arthur out of his day-dreams so much he fell out of his chair. Loudly.

"Sorry," he muttered from the ground as he tried to get up. "It's just… I thought it would be…" He paused, "livelier, you know." Why was it so hard to speak today? He was a Gryffindor, for Merlin's sake! "Isn't there anything I can do?"

Perkins seemed to seize him as his eyes looked at the young redhead, freshly out of Hogwarts.

"Tell you what lad, I'm sure there are a few things I can teach you about the Ministry and our Department…"

During the next hours, Arthur listened, enraptured, as the old wizard told him everything he had learned about the Ministry's inner workings and little stories about what would become his job, what already was his job. If at first he only was listening, soon he asked questions and gave his opinion. The day seemed to be gone in the blink of an eye and Arthur gained a new friend.

This would made their work so much easier, to share such a friendship – a rare thing in this Ministry.