Two years later at a meeting: The minister cleared his throat before he started talking. Kayley was at a meeting for the heads of the departments, she usually didn't go to these, but Mrs. Kipling had invited her. Usually Mrs. Kipling went by herself and filled Kayley in later. Kayley didn't understand why she had to come. She thought that it was easier to just let Mrs. Kipling go by herself, but she wasn't going to argue with the elderly lady. Mrs. Kipling had made it sound like it was a very important meeting. She had worn a robe today, as she usually did for meetings, but this one was one of her nicest. She had started wearing muggle skirt suits, and other business looking muggle clothes after the first week.
"Now," said the minister, "I have an announcement to make." The minister said, easily holding everyone's attention. The war in England had been really heating up recently, the death rate was staggering. Everyone in the room was wondering if the announcement had anything to do with it. "Mrs. Kipling has decided to retire." There were sighs and groans of protest. "She has recommended Miss Daniels to take her position." The minister continued. Kayley felt the blood rush to her face and she suddenly felt hot, and slightly nauseous. "I thought it would better to hire someone with more experience, but after reviewing Miss Daniels' work I think she'll do a fine job. Mrs. Kipling has graciously agreed to stay on for a little longer as Miss Daniels' advisor." He finished. Kayley felt rather overwhelmed. There were several people in her department that had wanted that job.
The minister then went on with the usual business. "England has requested back up. I have been considering what to do. Miss Daniels, your assignment is to go down there and visit the ministry, and bring back a report. I will discuss details with you after the meeting." Then he gave out other jobs that he had.
Mrs. Kipling left as soon as the meeting was over. Kayley almost followed her, but then she remembered that she was supposed to hang back. She was still stunned. She was the department head. That was almost at the top of the ladder, if something happened to the minister, she was know eligible for the job- and she had only worked here two years. The minister was gathering up his papers. She quickly put hers in a neat stack and stood by the chair beside the minister, while he continued to mess with his papers.
He put them into his briefcase, snapped it shut, and then turned to look at her. "Well, Miss Daniels, congratulations." He said finally. "You leave October 28, and will report to the English ministry on October 30. Do you have any questions?" He asked.
"Yes, how am I getting there?" Kayley asked.
"Apparition." The color drained from Kayley's face. What if she splinched?
"Cross continental apparition, sir?" She asked.
"Yes, you'll start your training tomorrow." He said. "You will need to report to Madam Akello. Report to me on the morning of the 28th for send-off." He said.
"Yes, sir," She said turning to leave. She opened the door to Mrs. Kipling's office, well her office, and went in. Mrs. Kipling was cleaning out her desk.
"What are you doing?" Kayley asked, frowning.
"Cleaning out your desk," She said.
"I don't want it, what will you use?" Mrs. Kipling pointed at Kayley's desk.
"Why don't you want it? It's a very nice desk." Mrs. Kipling pointed out.
"Because it's your desk," Kayley said, feeling exasperated.
"No, it's your desk, besides, I want that one it's, newer." Mrs. Kipling said with a smirk.
"Why are you retiring?" Kayley asked.
"Shorter hours," Kayley sat on the edge of her new desk and stared at her favorite picture on the wall. "It's you're room now, you can change it if you want, you know."
"No, I don't want to." Kayley answered, not taking her eyes off of the picture. "Do you really think I can do this?" Kayley asked.
"Yes," Mrs. Kipling told her, looking at her for the first time. She picked up her box and carried it over to her new desk. Kayley slid off of the desk.
"I'll be right back." Kayley said.
"Okay, but you don't have to tell me." Mrs. Kipling said. Kayley wasn't sure why, but this annoyed her. She shut the door behind her after glancing Mrs. Kipling cleaning out her desk for her.
Kayley turned into the bathroom, and went straight to the mirror. She had worn a clip today, and it was driving her crazy, she always ran her fingers through her hair when she was nervous, exasperated, thoughtful, or just bored. She pulled the clip out and then looked around trying to figure out what to do with it. She took out her wand and transfigured it into a safety pin. Then she pinned it to the inside of her sleeve. She looked into the mirror. She had a crease. Kayley ran her hand through her hair several times and finally got rid of it. She exited the bathroom and walked down. She kept her eyes forward as she passed Nichelle, the secretary's desk. She had warmed up—a little, but they were still by no means friends. She kept walking down the hall until she came to a door with a gold number seven on it. She raised her fist to knock and then lost her nerve. She instead dragged her hand through her hair. Then realizing how stupid she must look resolved to knock on the door. There was a muffled 'come in' and Kayley opened the door and walked in. There sat her uncle at his desk going through some papers, he didn't look up, but Kayley could tell that he knew that it was her. She walked over and flopped herself in the chair across from his desk,
"Congratulations." He said still not looking up. So he knew.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," She said, looking at the floor. He put the papers down and looked up.
"Did you not want the job, Kay?" He asked. She shrugged. After a few minutes when he didn't say anything she looked back up.
"I don't know. I don't know if I wanted it. I'd never thought about it. I don't even know if I can do it. Mrs. Kipling was always here when I got here and I always left before she did. Now it's supposed to be the other way around, it's weird."
"If you didn't want the job, how did you get it?" He asked.
"Mrs. Kipling recommended me." Kayley said.
"Well, then she must think that you can do it." He said.
"I guess." Kayley said looking back down at the floor. "She said she did." She continued to stare at the floor some more. "Do you think I can do it?"
"Yes, but it doesn't matter what I think. Do you think you can do it?"
"I don't know." She said thoughtfully. "I guess we'll find out." She said standing up. "Thanks, Uncle Evan." She said turning to leave.
"Kay?" He said. She turned around
"Yeah?"
"Why don't you come over for dinner tonight? I'm sure that your Aunt Kya would want to celebrate with you." He said.
Kayley smiled. "I'll be there."
The next day Kayley wore a pant suit to work, with her hair pulled into a clip. First thing when she got there she was supposed to see Madam Akello for her apparition lesson. She walked into her office; hoops lined the wall, Kayley knew what they were for, she had used them during her first apparition lessons. Madam Akello walked in. When she saw Kayley she smiled warmly, and extended her hand. She was a strict looking woman, with a strong face, and tanned skin. She looked between thirty and forty, and had the appearance of a mean school teacher. She was wearing a brown skirt suit, and her black hair was mounted on her head in a tight bun.
Kayley took the madam's hand with a forced smile. They let go almost immediately. Madam Akello strode across the room to her desk. She picked up a clip board and slipped her glasses onto her face. "How far have you apparated before?" Madam Akello asked.
"Not very far," Kayley said. Madam Akello looked annoyed.
"Okay, starting today, we're going to exercise. It won't be easy; I want you to apparate two hundred miles today three times a day. You'll want to drop out of work for a while. The minister knows. Mrs. Kipling will be able to handle it while you're training. The minister should have given me more time." Madam Akello looked annoyed at the last sentence. "Add two hundred miles every day, go east, and report to me in five days, after you reach Atlantic City, New Jersey. You're dismissed."
"Yes, ma'am," Kayley said, feeling like she was back in school.
After Kayley reached Atlantic City the training got more vigorous. She was now supposed to apparate onto a boat out in the middle of the ocean, and she was so tired after apparating that if she missed the target it could be deadly. Kayley rarely did much during these training days; she got up, apparated, disapparated, took a nap, and then did it again. She was often too tired to eat.
October twenty- seventh was Kayley's last training day. She went home and slept. It was the hardest training day yet. Kayley was exhausted, and she had to go farther tomorrow.
The next morning it was raining steadily. Kayley got up barely in time to have breakfast. She probably wouldn't have had time to eat breakfast, except that Lucky made her get up. Lucky also packed her trunk for her, and Kayley had banished it to her room at the pub that she was staying at before she left.
She had a nice welcoming reception from Mrs. Kipling, who had made her banana nut bread. She accepted it happily, even though she shouldn't have. It was harder to apparate if she had just eaten. She was nervous- she was just sure that she was going to splinch. "I'm sure you'll do fine, dear. I'm glad that they are sending you, and not me." Mrs. Kipling said.
"Thanks" Kayley said half- heartedly, as she glanced at the clock. "I'd better go."
"Have fun and be careful," Mrs. Kipling (who had walked Kayley to the minister's office) said. Kayley nodded and went in. The minister and Mrs. Akello were both there.
"Ready?" Asked the minister. Kayley nodded and closed her eyes.
"Hold it!" Mrs. Akello said. Kayley and Minister Kayshawn both looked at her. "I think it will work better outside." She explained, leading the way.
When they got outside the rain had increased. Kayley closed her eyes again. Madam Akello had showed her pictures of the alley that she was to apparate into for a while. Kayley felt like she knew every corner and rock, even though she had never been there. She did a half turn and felt the unpleasantness of apparating. When she opened her eyes she was pleasantly surprised to find herself exactly where she was supposed to be. She then closed her eyes again her head felt like it was going to explode, and she felt like she was going to faint. She stood there awhile, and gradually the pain lessened, but, by no means did it go away.
She exited the alley and went left. It was now pouring. Kayley imagined that it had at least let up at home. She was supposed to be looking for a pub called The Leaky Cauldron. She had worn jeans and a tee shirt because one, she didn't think that she'd stand out much in them, and two, she had been too tired to put on anything else. She located the pub and went in. No one was wearing muggle clothes. Kayley now felt hot, and like her head was going to explode. She felt several pairs of eyes follow her to the bar. There were scary looking people there. She was sure that she saw a hag, and that man sitting in the corner, he had to be a vampire. There was also a worn out looking man sitting at one table, he was very worn out and battered looking, and there had been a full moon last night. Could he be a werewolf? She suddenly felt uncomfortable. She focused on the bartender; he was old, and toothless. He looked really old, he was stooped slightly; he was also bald. Kayley tried her hardest not to look at anyone besides the bartender. She was soaked. She could feel her jeans, tee shirt, and hair clinging to her tightly. This only made her more uncomfortable. It would be worse if she had worn robes. She was glad that she hadn't, even if people were staring.
"Excuse me." Kayley said when she reached the bartender. He was busily scrubbing on a glass, trying to get a tiny speck off. He looked up when she spoke.
"Yes?" He asked looking her up and down.
"Umm…I think I have a room reserved here. Room fourteen?" She said uncertainly.
"Miss Kayley Daniels, from America?" He asked. She smiled slightly- she was in the right place.
"Yes, sir," She said feeling a little better. He put the glass down and grabbed a key with a simple key chain from the key holder, and stepped out from the bar.
"Follow me, please." He said leading the way up a beautiful wooden staircase. He stopped at a room with a golden fourteen screwed onto the door. He inserted the key in the lock and held the door open for her. It was a beautiful room. There was a wood panel floor, a wooden for poster bed, and a wardrobe. Her trunks sat at the foot of the bed. "If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask." He said handing her the keys. She nodded. He shut the door behind him. She crossed the room and locked it. The people staring at her when she came in had made her really nervous; of course, the British wizarding world was at war.
Kayley unpacked her trunk and made the place more like home; after all, she was going to be there for five days, counting today. Kayley was suddenly overcome with exhaustion she undressed as quickly as possible, and extinguished the lights. Even though it was just two o'clock Kayley went right to sleep. The last thing that she heard was the pitter- patter of the rain on the window.
When Kayley woke up the clock on the bedside table read ten o'clock. Kayley groaned and rolled over to go back to sleep. The next time that she woke up the clock said that it was noon. Kayley got up, dressed, again in jeans and a tee shirt, and went down stairs to have dinner. Once again no one else was wearing muggle clothes. Kayley went up to the bar to order her lunch.
"I tried to wake you up last night, in case you wanted supper." The bartender said. Kayley gave him a small smile to show her appreciation.
"That's okay, I didn't really want supper." Kayley took her lunch back up to her room. She was too uncomfortable with all of the people staring at her. After he finished she sat her plate on the bedside table and grabbed her jacket. She picked her plate back up and started down the stairs. She met the old bartender on the way down stairs.
"I'll take that," he said reaching for the plate.
"Thank you, " Kayley said.
"Where are you going?" He asked.
"I thought that I'd go see Diagon Alley."
"I wouldn't wear that if I were you." He said pointedly.
"Umm…Okay, thanks." I guess Kayley added silently to herself, heading back to her room. Since it was still raining Kayley took off her jacket and pulled her robes on over her jeans and tee. She then wrapped her cloak around her shoulders and headed out the door again. She got all the to the brick wall outside The Leaky Cauldron before realizing that she didn't know what to do. Feeling annoyed because now she was wet again, Kayley turned around and went back inside The Leaky Cauldron. The bartender was behind the bar again, now serving a customer. Kayley patiently waited.
"Thanks, Tom," the young man said turning to leave.
"Yes?" Tom asked, starting to wipe down the bar.
"Err; I don't know how to get to Diagon Alley." Kayley said, felling the color fill her pale cheeks. Tom merely looked at her. Then he led the way back outside. He started counting bricks. After he found just the right one he tapped it. An archway opened immediately, and Kayley got her first look at Diagon Alley. She thanked Tom and watched him leave. Kayley stepped into Diagon Alley. She was very impressed. There weren't any places like that were she came from. You just had to know where to go to get your supplies, and some of them you had to gather yourself. Tom had been right; no one was wearing muggle clothes. Kayley stepped onto the cobbled street and marveled at all of the shops. She decided to visit the stationary shop first. She didn't have any supplies for the next day, when she would visit the British Ministry of Magic. She spotted a stationary store and decided that that would be a good place to start. When she opened the door a man with blonde hair bumped into her.
"'Scuse me," Kayley said. The man said nothing. This annoyed Kayley, but she didn't say anything. She brushed off his rudeness, and went in. She automatically picked up a few rolls of parchment. The shop had no pens, but instead contained quills. Kayley thought that this was odd, but looked at the quills any way. There were different brands of quick quotes quill. There was a paper with directions written on it above the quills. There were test papers beside the quills. They came in packages of two or more with testers. Kayley picked up a Quick-Quotes brand quill, sucked on it for a while, and put it down on top of the pad. "My name is Kayley." She said. The quill wrote. A beautiful young girl of twenty, Kayley Daniels, with brown hair, and dark brown eyes say "My name is Kayley."
Kayley tore the paper off the pad and burned it, not at all impressed. She put the quill back in its holder, after going through almost all of the quills Kayley discovered that they were all the same with different colors and brand names. Then, she saw it, there was another quill pushed slightly to the back. Kayley sucked on it and put it onto the pad. "My name is Kayley." She said feeling tired of the sentence. The quill moved in a curly fashion on the paper. She put the quill back into its holder and read the paper. It said 'My name is Kayley.' She smiled and picked up a box of Kwik Kwotes Kwills, and went to pay for them.