Adelaide put off setting up her new office at the embassy, as long as she possibly could. She kept making excuses for herself, claiming that she had to find a daycare for Theodore and then, when she found the daycare, she claimed that she hadn't seen enough of London to be familiarized with her new home. It wasn't until Friday morning that she ran out of excuses and found herself forced to grab her boxes that had been patiently waiting to go to their new home. She stared at the boxes in contempt, wishing that she could take another day off, but the diplomats started working on Monday, and she had to be settled in by then. So she slipped on business appropriate clothes and traveled to the embassy.
The embassy was located in Whitehall, central London, but unlike the Ministry of Magic, its offices were on street level as opposed to below ground. The building held the same architectural style as those that surrounded it, and to magical eyes, the golden plaque on the door stated that it was the American Embassy of Magic, and that its hours were from eight to four, Monday through Friday. To muggle eyes, the plaque stated that it was private property and anyone that trespassed would be apprehended by the police. That's not to say that many muggles approached the building, most of them simply walked by it, thinking it another government building that they weren't allowed to enter.
Since it was the first time Adelaide visited the offices, she thought it best to travel there via muggle means instead of apparating. Once she familiarized herself with the area, she'd find a spot to apparate discreetly in. She hoped that there was a reserved area for apparating there, perhaps an area in an alleyway where muggles couldn't enter. Though ideally, she would've preferred a location within the office itself. That way she could avoid a dark alley or the rain that was so common in London. When the cab finally arrived at the dressed, she paid the driver her fare and then stepped out, making her way up the concrete steps that lead to the building.
A laugh left her lips as she took in the appearance of the building. Even in another country, the American government had to have a better building than the main offices of that countries government. She hadn't been inside the British Ministry, but if it was below ground, it couldn't have been all that much to look at. The view would've been horrid and there wouldn't have been a cool breeze blowing in from an open window. And she was, in this instance, glad that the government had gone through the trouble of procuring a building with such character. No wonder the elites of American diplomacy had always fought to be assigned to Britain. They didn't think of it as going to work in an office. It was a palace that they ruled, a palace in which they met with other Americans living in the country and held banquets.
It wasn't actual work, at least not in her opinion. Adelaide was used to going to meetings with foreign diplomats, to working out treaties and seeing that those treaties were being honored by both sides. She was used to being in the thick of it and now, having a set workday that solely revolved upon tending to inquiries about visas and other [i]normal[/i] things, unnerved her. It didn't seem right for them to have such regular tasks to do when the country was at war, and what felt even worse was that the diplomats before them had been cowards that fled because their comfort was being questioned. The three diplomats that left had been there for over seventeen years. She thought they owed it to their country and to Britain, to stay, but they didn't think so, and now Adelaide was walking up the steps to take over the tasks that they'd been so quick to abandon.
When Adelaide reached the entryway to the offices, she extended her hand to open the door, but before she could, the door was open from the inside, and she was welcomed in by a statuesque man in an Auror uniform. She uttered words of thanks and walked inside, grateful that the embassy had Aurors on hand.
"Morning Miss, I'm afraid that our diplomats aren't currently available. If you'd like you could return Monday morning, when they're all present." The Auror spoke.
"OH. I'm not here to see a diplomat. I am a diplomat." Adelaide chuckled. "My name's Adelaide Sinclaire Thirlby. I believe I'm the only diplomat that's yet to set up their office."
"Mind if I see some identification?" he asked, following protocol.
"Yeah, just let me . . . Can I set this down? Have to reach into my purse." The box was set down on a nearby couch. "Okay, ah, here you go."
The Auror looked over her identification and reassignment papers. "Thank you, Miss Thirlby. I hope you'll forgive the inconvenience, but with things the way they are in this country, we have to make sure that our embassy is safe."
"It was no inconvenience," she reassured. "I understand you guys have to make sure we're alright, because Merlin knows diplomats are hopeless when it comes to dueling."
The Auror smiled politely at her words. "Would you like me to call Cassandra to show you to your office? Cassandra is your secretary."
"I get a secretary?" she'd never had a secretary before. She didn't even know why she'd need one. "Yes, that would be fantastic. Thank you."
"It'll only be a moment, Miss Thirlby. If you like there are seats right over there and the receptionist, Barbara, can fetch you a bottle of water or whatever it is that you'd like. Would you like me to call her?"
"No need, thank you."
The Auror bowed his head politely before taking his leave. Adelaide tore her gaze from his retreating figure and redirected it to behind the desk where two women sat. She walked towards them, curious to meet the receptionist and whoever the other person was.
"Hello," she greeted them. "I take it that one of you is Barbara."
"That would be me, Miss," spoke a raven haired young woman with hair that fell just below her chin in a bob cut. "What can I help you with? I can't give you an appointment with a diplomat, not for today at least. They'll be here on Monday if you want to come back."
"I'm one of the diplomats." Adelaide stated. "I'm Adelaide Sinclaire Thirlby, the last of the transfers to set up their office."
"You're Miss Thirlby?" she turned to look at the blonde young woman that sat beside her. "I was just telling Roxanne about how you hadn't come in yet. It's great to meet you though. I'm, well you know, Barbara the head receptionist, but you can call me Finn. It's my last name and I hate the name Barbara." She chuckled to herself. "This is Roxanne."
"Hello," she extended her hand, which Adelaide gladly shook. "I'm an intern here and I mainly help out at the front desk, but I also do mail runs and anything that's needed around here."
"So you've both worked for the other diplomats, the ones that turned in their request for reassignment, I mean."
They nodded in unison.
"I've been here for about two years," spoke Barbara.
"And I've been here for a little over a year now. It's a paid internship and I love London. It works out great." Roxanne said. "There used to be another intern, but his father thought it was too dangerous for him and had him transferred."
"His father?" she raised her brother.
"Nelson Agnew," replied Roxanne.
"Something tells me, I'm glad that I won't have to work with him." Adelaide declared, not caring to keep her sentiments hidden. "I have a question for you both. How have the working conditions changed since Voldemort fought at the Ministry."
"Uh, well here they've stayed the same. Work wise, I mean," answered Barbara. "The only change is that the Aurors seem a little more on edge, but that's just how it's been. I'm sure you've experience their watchful eye at your apartment complex."
"I have," Adelaide pursed her lips. "Do you girls live in that complex as well?"
"Us?" she shook her head. "No, we live in the complex a few streets away. It's where the Aurors live to. And the workers from the Canadian Ministry as well, come to think of it, it's pretty much where the international workers that aren't diplomats, live."
"That sounds like it'd be a great place to live, very eclectic and you'd get to meet a lot of interesting people from around the world." Adelaide commented.
"Miss Thirlby." Spoke a voice from the doorway.
Adelaide turned to see who had called her name. It was a middle aged witch with graying hair and a kind smile. "Yes? I'm Miss Thirlby."
"It's a pleasure to finally meet you. I'm Cassandra Davies, your personal secretary." Cassandra held out her hand for Adelaide to shake. "I see you've met Barbara and Roxanne."
Barbara pulled a face at Cassandra and Adelaide had to stop herself from laughing. "I have. They've both been very welcoming."
"Well we are a very welcoming embassy. The finest in the world, I would argue." Cassandra's eyes flickered to the box in Adelaide's possession. "Oh. Let me carry that for you, Miss Thirlby."
"You don't have to. I can carry it, really."
"Nonsense, I'm your secretary. This is what I'm here for. Now," she took the box from Adelaide. "Please follow me, I'll show you right to your office. The elves were in there yesterday, giving it a good scrub so it'd be perfect for you. If there's anything you'd like cleaned or fixed, I can call Eve and have it arranged."
Adelaide followed Cassandra up the stairs. "I'm sure they've been very thorough with their cleaning."
"That they did, but some people are very particular about how things are done for them, which is fine," she quickly added, afraid that she might've offended her new boss. "And the elves really have no problem with tidying up a certain way."
"How many elves are employed here?"
"Three," replied Cassandra, "Eve, Mickey, and John. They don't just work here though. They also tidy up at the diplomat residence. That's where there living quarters are. Ah. Here we are," she opened the door. "Right this way, Miss Thirlby, here's the waiting area, my desk and through that door is your office."
Her eyes flickered across the room, bouncing from the crown molding that wrapped around the entire wall, to the couches where people would wait to see her. She'd never had a waiting area of her own. She'd always been the one waiting to be seen by others. It was strange to be elevated to a position of power, when she felt that the work it required was minimal. She followed Cassandra into her office and for a moment she swore she was going to pass out. There was an antique mahogany desk waiting for her, it was regal like something out of a period film. The chair behind it was equally elegant and she couldn't believe that that would be her office.
"Would you like a glass of water or coffee?" inquired Cassandra, softly. "I can get something else if you'd like."
"No thank you, I'm fine."
"I'll take my leave then. If you need anything or have any questions, I'm right outside." Cassandra left the box atop Adelaide's desk and then walked out, closing the door behind her.
"This is mine," she whispered to herself in disbelief. "Fuck. Fuck! This is mine."
She bit down on her lip to stop herself from letting out a childish whoop. It was her office. Not some bastard whose family paid for him to be there. It was hers, hers alone. She had a secretary that would bring her water and carry her stuff. She had a waiting room where people would sit impatiently to talk to her. It was all so grown up and as she paced around her office, she couldn't help but think that London wasn't going to be as bad as she'd imagined it would. So far life there had been treating her well, and although she missed waking up to the sound of the river, she had to admit that her new flat was spectacular. That London was an extraordinary city.
Adelaide spent her morning familiarizing herself with the office. She went through the closet and cupboards, making mental notes of what she could store there in the future. She placed her books on nearby shelves and hung her diplomas, as well as a few framed photographs up on the walls. She paid great attention to detail, wanting the office to give off the vibe that its inhabitant was a mature diplomat that they could put their trust in.
By the time lunch came around, Adelaide had finished settling into her office and was ready to explore the rest of the building. She stepped outside, eager to ask Cassandra to give her a tour, but when she walked out there was no Cassandra in sight. She ran a hand through her straightened hair, wondering where it was that the witch had run off to, and just as she was going to return to her office, the door opened and in walked Cassandra, carrying two salads with her.
"Were you looking for me?" asked Cassandra. "Knew I should've told you that I was making a lunch run, but I didn't want to disturb you. Sorry about that. It won't happen again though. Next time I'll give fair notice, but I brought lunch. Thought you might be hungry. I asked the elves to whip up some chicken Caesar salads for us. The dressings on the side, I wasn't sure if you cared for dressing."
"I like dressing." Adelaide reassured. "And thank you for grabbing us lunch. I'd completely lost track of time."
"That happens when setting up a new space." Cassandra smiled kindly. "Would you like to eat in your office or out here?"
"Out here's fine if you don't mind the company." Adelaide took the salad from Cassandra.
"Mind it? Heavens no," she took a seat behind her desk. "It'd be nice to have a chat and get to know you better. It's always good to know who you're working with. The diplomat before you, his name was Wyatt, he'd been for nineteen years, and I was his secretary for eighteen of them. Knew him very well, I did. Him and his family, very nice people, they were."
"You've worked here eighteen years?"
Cassandra nodded. "Didn't plan on it happening, but when I came here to visit an aunt, after my first marriage failed. And I somehow ended up falling in love and since he didn't want to move to America and I loved England, this job was perfect for me. I got to work for the American government and be with the man I love."
"That's so romantic."
"I like to think it is," she smiled softly. "How long have you been with the Office, Miss Thirlby?"
"You don't have to call me, Miss Thirlby. I don't know how the boss-secretary relationship's meant to work, but you can call me, Adelaide."
"I'd like that Adelaide, though I'll have to refer to you as Miss Thirlby when we have foreign diplomats visiting. Here, they're very fond of the distinction between diplomats and their staff, especially the head of the Department of International Magical Cooperation. That man is an elitist. Always looks down his nose at everyone. The one before him was better, he was a kind man. Was a bit thick, but he was friendly and struck up conversations with the secretaries. The new one is just, well, he has lots of money and he thinks himself royalty."
"Sounds like Agnew."
Cassandra's eyes went wide. "You don't like Agnew, either?"
"Absolutely despise him," she replied. "And he knows it. That's why he reassigned me to England. I think he thinks that I'm going to quit. Unfortunately for him, I'm very stubborn."
"And I'm very thankful for that," commented Cassandra. "Or else I would've been stuck with another diplomat, and who knows, maybe they would've been pro Agnew.
"No one's pro Agnew. Those that are, are only pretending," she lifted a forkful of salad to her lips. "I was wondering," she said after she'd swallowed her food, "If after we finish eating, you'd be nice enough to give me the grand tour."
"Oh. Yes, of course I will. I'll even show you the entrance we use to get to the Ministry. There's an enchanted door to the side of main waiting room, and we use it to get back and forth. It's much more convenient than going in via public restroom."
Théodora shot her a confused look.
"To get into the Ministry, the employees have to flush themselves in, in a public restroom." Cassandra explained. "It's disgusting and up until a decade ago, that was the way we got in as well, but complaints were made and the Ministry eventually enchanted a doorway so that we could get in and out of there easily. Wyatt was actually the one that pushed for it. Always joked that he did it because I was too old to be walking out every so often," she chuckled to herself.
"Wyatt sounds like he was a very good diplomat."
"He was. That's why I was so shocked when he put in his request to be transferred, but then I remembered that he and his wife have small children. He transferred to make sure nothing would happen to them."
"Have things been that bad here?"
"Well nothing's happened to us," she said in a low voice. "Our people are all safe, no one's been harmed. But the other day Roxanne was followed in Diagon Alley, and it wasn't until she spoke that the men following her left. The American accent scared them off, so that's our saving grace. But for the people here, it's not been so easy. People have been disappearing ever since You-Know-Who came back. Not just regular magic folk, but one's from powerful families and in positions of power. They killed the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. And she was a fierce one. Come to think of it, I think that's what scared them off, because as soon as she was killed, they put in their requests, but don't worry Adelaide. Just make sure people hear your voice. Only a fool would kill an American wizard or witch. And You-Know-Who knows that."