Chapter 63: Stormy Windows

Inside the Portkey Office, Arthur Weasley was standing in a dark room looking out through the windows at the green valley projected onto them. Only this time, a storm was brewing over the valley while the sun had vanished behind dark gray clouds.

"Good to see you again, Claire," Arthur said to Claire before looking at Tonks. "And you must be Nymphadora Tonks. Sorry about the windows, as they're only supposed to show sunny weather at all times."

"Well, there's nothing like a good hurricane to start the day," Tonks remarked. "And I would prefer being called just 'Tonks.'"

"Right, Tonks," Arthur acknowledged.

"Mr. Munch said we needed to come here for our next assignment," Claire said.

"Ah, yes, I was going to introduce you to Portkeys since the Portkey Office staff are out at the moment," Arthur explained.

"I've actually used a Portkey before," Claire mentioned, though she hoped Arthur wouldn't ask for further details.

"Excellent! Then I'll tell you more about how they work and what they have to do with the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office!" Arthur declared. "Now, as the name implies, the Portkey Office maintains and manages Portkeys. Though since most Portkeys appear as unassuming objects, Muggles usually don't pick them up, even by accident. Portkeys themselves, however, are — sorry, this blasted weather is too distracting! So instead of learning about Portkeys, you two are going to fix these windows."

"Are you sure, Mr. Weasley?" Claire asked.

"Yes, no one in the Ministry is going to be able to work properly if the windows keep showing hurricanes," Arthur insisted.

"Well, I guess they are pretty distracting," Tonks admitted.

"I hope Alastor doesn't mind if I change the assignment, but these windows have to be dealt with," Arthur said.

"Never fear, Claire and I are on the case as Aurors-in-Training!" Tonks declared.

"Jolly good!" Arthur smiled. "You might talk to someone from the Magical Maintenance Department first. Though the last time this happened, they were using it to demand a raise before fixing the windows. I've discovered that using plain talk while highlighting their accomplishments gets them to work faster. Now, if either of you see Charlie let him know that his mother sent him some lunch and it's in my office."

"We will make sure to tell him, Mr. Weasley," Claire said to Arthur as she and Tonks left the Portkey Office.

They went to the brass elevators and met up with Charlie, Barnaby, Ben, and Liz there. Like Claire and Tonks, they were also wearing business clothes.

"So nice to see some familiar faces in here," Claire smiled.

"Fancy seeing all of you here," Tonks said. "Claire and I are off to the Magical Maintenance Department to get some hurricane windows fixed."

"Whoa," Barnaby remarked.

"Can you tell us what the issue is?" Ben asked.

"It's just that the windows, which normally show good weather, are showing bad weather in the Portkey Office," Claire explained.

"Do you think it's a Thunderbird?" Liz suggested, causing everyone to look at her. Then she sighed and said, "Sorry, it's just that there aren't any magical creatures in the Improper Use of Magic Department."

"Liz and I are assigned there," Charlie stated. "But that's what this issue sounds like: an improper use of magic."

"Sort of reminds me of Ben and I's assignment, which is to sort out various Muggle Artefacts," Barnaby interjected.

"They actually have a toaster under lock and key in the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Department," Ben added. "Makes you wonder what it did to end up here."

"Mr. Weasley thinks the bad windows might be the Magical Maintenance's doing, so they can get a raise," Claire mentioned.

"Oh, I remember Uncle Cecil talking about it!" Barnaby realized. "He said the windows were all messed up, and not just in one office."

"Does your uncle work here?" Claire asked Barnaby.

"He's never missed a day in two years," Barnaby replied. "'Can't catch werewolves if I'm not there,' as he says. In fact, the Werewolf Capture Unit sent him to talk to Magical Maintenance when the incident happened. Work is his greatest passion, next to being interested in topiaries and trimming his prized rose bushes."

"Wouldn't expect a Werewolf Capture Unit member to be into topiaries," Tonks said.

"Do you think we could talk to him about the incident?" Claire said.

"Sure," Barnaby agreed. "I'll even come with you, since I'm his favorite nephew — well, his only one, but still."

"I'll head over to Magical Maintenance in the meantime, just so we cover more ground," Tonks suggested. "Have fun, you lovebirds."

This reminded Claire of the Valentine's Day date she went on with Barnaby when he first kissed her, which made her blush from just thinking about it. Barnaby seemed to be thinking of the same thing, as he looked astray while escorting her to the Werewolf Capture Unit Office. It was located in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement area, where a man in a purple uniform stood by a desk with a yellow badge on his arm that had a wolf's paw insignia on it. He had a small mustache and short brown hair that was the same color as Barnaby's hair.

"Barnaby, my boy!" The man greeted. "Looking strong and hearty as ever!"

"You can see my heart, Uncle Cecil?" Barnaby questioned.

"He means you look cheerful," Claire said.

The man tipped his purple conical hat toward Claire. "Indubitably, Miss…?"

"Claire Krystal," Claire answered.

"Ah, you're Barnaby's girlfriend!" Cecil smirked. "He's told me a lot about you through the letters he's always sending during the summer."

"Well, sort of," Claire muttered. "But right now, we're participating in a school program to learn about different careers for us to pursue when we graduate Hogwarts at the end of this year. We were wondering if we could ask some questions about—

"The Werewolf Capture Unit?" Cecil interrupted. "I can tell you everything you need to know!"

"No." Claire shook her head. "I wanted to ask you about the time when the windows weren't working and the Magical Maintenance Department not fixing them right away."

"Oh, that," Cecil realized. "All right, I'll tell you all about that unfortunate incident if you duel my nephew. Because I would like to see if either of you have what it takes to be a part of the Werewolf Capture Unit, and it's only fair for you to learn about my department when you're here to explore the Ministry for career options anyway."

To be continued…