A woman walked down a run-down, graffiti covered street. Stepping
into a beat up phone booth, she looked at a small strip of paper that she
held in her hand. She picked up the receiver with her free hand, and
glanced down at the small piece of parchment.
"All righty then...ummm...six, then a two," and as the woman said the numbers aloud she dialed them on the phone. "And a four, followed by another four...and then a two." At that moment a pre-recorded sounding female voice filled the entire phone booth.
"Welcome to the Ministry of Magic. Please state your name and business."
The woman smoothed out her blouse, and said, "Eloria Felton, here to take the British Auror test and become certified." The woman's voice was very flat, and she spoke as if she was very tired.
The pre-recorded female voice started up again. "Thank you. Visitor, please take the badge and attach it to the front of your robes," and at that moment out of the change bin appeared a square silver badge which stated Eloria Felton, Auror Certification. With an exasperated sigh she grabbed the badge and pinned it on the front of her perfectly pressed blouse.
"Visitor to the Ministry, you are required to submit to a search and present your wand for registration at the security desk, which is located at the far end of the Atrium," chimed the female voice, but at that moment the floor of the booth began to sink, and carried the woman to down underneath the street and buildings. The darkness was starting to annoy the woman, for she could not read or do anything useful. Luckily a gigantic blast of golden light filled the phone booth at that moment that was so bright, the woman had to shade her eyes.
The sound of the female voice saying, "The Ministry of Magic wishes you a pleasant day," followed the woman out of the open door and into the long, highly decorated hall. Passing the many golden fireplaces where witches and wizards would pop out of every few seconds or so, and taking no notice of the enchanted blue ceiling with its changing gold symbols, the woman walked determinedly down to the end of the room, to a desk. The sign above it read "Security."
"I assume this is the place I have to give you my wand or what not," the woman demanded the man who was sitting behind the desk, reading the Daily Prophet. He had not seen her coming, and her loud voice startled him, causing him to jump slightly in his seat. "Well, is it? I don't have the entire day you know."
The man looked at the strange woman who was standing in front of him. Her hair was drawn back into a tight bun, and she wore a pair of wire framed glasses. Her white lacey blouse was perfectly pressed, as was her khaki, knee length skirt. Her brown loafers just emphasized her resemblance to a librarian. If she had not been standing right in front of him in the Ministry of Magic, he would have sworn she was a muggle. In her right hand she carried a silver briefcase. It must have been 2 feet across, and 1 1/2 feet tall, yet only an inch thick. The man stared at it, wondering if you could even keep a notebook in there until he noticed the woman tapping her foot impatiently.
After squinting to read the badge that was pinned on her blouse, the man finally said, "Eloria Felton is it? Well, yes you are in the right spot. First let me check you over." He took a golden rod and passed it up and down her front and back. "Right," he grunted and held out his hand. "Wand." She placed the silver briefcase on his desk, right over the paper he had put down. Eloria undid the latches, and pulled out her wand. The man took it, and placed it on a special set of scales that only had one dish. After her wand vibrated a bit, a piece of parchment came out of the base of the instrument. The man picked it up, and began reading aloud, "13 inches, unicorn-hair core, been in use for..."The man paused for a second, and glared at the strip of parchment. With a puzzled looked he finished, "...Been in use for 73 years?" He thought that the woman before him was in her years a bit, but not that old.
"That is correct," Eloria said, eyeing the man suspicoulsy. Grabbing the wand from the man, she shoved it in her suitcase, and closed it up. She took a step towards the golden elevators, but then backtracked and asked the man, "May I ask where I can get out of these clothes? If I have to wear this blouse for one more minute I am going to go insane."
The man had picked up his paper again, but lowered it so he just see over the top. For the first time she saw the man smile. "There is a woman's lavatory over there," he grunted, and pointed to a door that was to the left of the fountain.
"Thank you, so much," Eloria said, with a great look of appreciation in her eyes, and she headed off to the bathrooms. Opening the gilded door she found a woman's powder room, where the walls were lavishly decorated, and a large pink squishy chaise was in a corner. Across from the chaise was an armoire, which was presumably full of robes. Stuffed away into he far corner was a full vanity, including lotions, many different scented perfumes, and a gold leafed mirror. Sitting down at the vanity, Eloria once again slammed her silver briefcase, this time on the vanity table, and undid the latches. Piece by piece she took off her costume. The wire framed glasses came first, followed by the white frilly blouse, and brown loafers. The khaki skirt was off soon after. Using the mirror she undid all of the bobby pins and the large clasp which had kept her hair up in such a tight bun. Reaching into her briefcase she pulled out a plain dark grey robe, a pair of worn jeans, and a green knit sweater. She stuck her hand into her briefcase once again, and after searching for a bit revealed a pair of running shoes and two green socks. After putting this all on she looked into the full length mirror that was on the door in which she came in.
The woman had an oval face, which was outlined by naturally wavy raven-black hair. Her grey eyes were neither stunning nor plain, but very intense. Her pale skin was unmarked by freckles or the sun, yet a few pink scars could be made out. The clothes she had put on were not fancy and she would look more like a muggle than a witch if it weren't for the robe she wore. She had a medium frame, yet a distinct figure. Before in her librarian get-up she looked at least 20 years older. Now, one could see that she was rather young, and looked like she had just graduated school. Observing herself in the mirror, Eloria gave a sigh of relief.
"Now that is more like it," she muttered while carefully repining her silver badge on the front of her robes. She took a glance at the makeup that covered the vanity table. Eloria however didn't wear makeup.
After giving her hair one last look over in the mirror, she grabbed her briefcase and left the powder room, headed towards to the far end of the Atrium again. From the corner of her eye she saw the man at the security desk take a distinct double take. Winking at him, she boarded one of the empty elevators whose doors had just opened. Besides a few fluttering paper airplanes that circled above her, Eloria had the lift to herself. She once again heard the female voice that had filled the phone booth.
"Level seven, Department of Magical Games and Sports, incorporating the British and Irish Quidditch League headquarters, Official Gobstones Club, and Ludicrous Patents Office."
"Nope, not me. I'll just wait till I hear the right department I guess..." Eloria puzzled, hoping that the elevator would keep ascending on its own.
Once again the female voice chimed, "Level six, Department of Magical Transport, incorporating the Floo Network Authority, Broom Regulatory Control, Portkey Office, and Apparation Test Center."
Eloria face was now filled with concern and she began muttering again. "Father said I didn't need to go there, but since I just did travel..." But before she could finish her thought, a man entered the elevator doors. He was a bit heavy set, with flaming red hair. He was carrying what looked like a bewitched skateboard. Its wheels were turning on its own, and it kept trying to rise out of the man's hands.
After managing to keep a hold of the skateboard and pushing a number, he turned to face Eloria, who was now standing next to. "So, what floor are you?" he asked, gesturing to the buttons.
"Well, ummm..." Eloria paused. "I don't really know. You see, I think I'm supposed to go to the Department of International Magical Cooperation, to see someone about my papers." She looked at the man who was standing next to her now, whose face showed his confusion. "See, I just came from America to get certified as a British Auror. But before I can see anybody about that I have to have some papers checked out," Eloria said hoping to clear things up a bit. The man's face lit up with comprehension.
"Yes, you have the right department. That's level five. You'll probablly want the 3rd door on your right when you get there. After that you'll probably want to check out level two, where the Auror Headquarters is." The man smiled.
"Thank you so much. Things are pretty different here than at the MAA office...my name is Eloria by the way. Eloria Felton." She extended her hand to the man. It appeared to be difficult for him to keep a hold of the skateboard and put out his right hand, yet after a minutes' struggle, they managed to shake hands.
"Arthur Weasley. Pleasure to meet you Eloria."
Right then the female voice announced, "Level five, Department of International Cooperation, incorporating the International Magical Trading Standards Body, the International Magical Office of Law, and the International Confederation of Wizards, British Seats."
"Well, that's my stop...thanks again!" Eloria said, stepping out of the elevator.
"Come and visit me in the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts office after you pass your test!" Arthur said smiling and waving as the doors closed.
Turning around to face the office in which she just stepped in, Eloria took a collective breath. Looking around, she said to herself, "Right then."
"All righty then...ummm...six, then a two," and as the woman said the numbers aloud she dialed them on the phone. "And a four, followed by another four...and then a two." At that moment a pre-recorded sounding female voice filled the entire phone booth.
"Welcome to the Ministry of Magic. Please state your name and business."
The woman smoothed out her blouse, and said, "Eloria Felton, here to take the British Auror test and become certified." The woman's voice was very flat, and she spoke as if she was very tired.
The pre-recorded female voice started up again. "Thank you. Visitor, please take the badge and attach it to the front of your robes," and at that moment out of the change bin appeared a square silver badge which stated Eloria Felton, Auror Certification. With an exasperated sigh she grabbed the badge and pinned it on the front of her perfectly pressed blouse.
"Visitor to the Ministry, you are required to submit to a search and present your wand for registration at the security desk, which is located at the far end of the Atrium," chimed the female voice, but at that moment the floor of the booth began to sink, and carried the woman to down underneath the street and buildings. The darkness was starting to annoy the woman, for she could not read or do anything useful. Luckily a gigantic blast of golden light filled the phone booth at that moment that was so bright, the woman had to shade her eyes.
The sound of the female voice saying, "The Ministry of Magic wishes you a pleasant day," followed the woman out of the open door and into the long, highly decorated hall. Passing the many golden fireplaces where witches and wizards would pop out of every few seconds or so, and taking no notice of the enchanted blue ceiling with its changing gold symbols, the woman walked determinedly down to the end of the room, to a desk. The sign above it read "Security."
"I assume this is the place I have to give you my wand or what not," the woman demanded the man who was sitting behind the desk, reading the Daily Prophet. He had not seen her coming, and her loud voice startled him, causing him to jump slightly in his seat. "Well, is it? I don't have the entire day you know."
The man looked at the strange woman who was standing in front of him. Her hair was drawn back into a tight bun, and she wore a pair of wire framed glasses. Her white lacey blouse was perfectly pressed, as was her khaki, knee length skirt. Her brown loafers just emphasized her resemblance to a librarian. If she had not been standing right in front of him in the Ministry of Magic, he would have sworn she was a muggle. In her right hand she carried a silver briefcase. It must have been 2 feet across, and 1 1/2 feet tall, yet only an inch thick. The man stared at it, wondering if you could even keep a notebook in there until he noticed the woman tapping her foot impatiently.
After squinting to read the badge that was pinned on her blouse, the man finally said, "Eloria Felton is it? Well, yes you are in the right spot. First let me check you over." He took a golden rod and passed it up and down her front and back. "Right," he grunted and held out his hand. "Wand." She placed the silver briefcase on his desk, right over the paper he had put down. Eloria undid the latches, and pulled out her wand. The man took it, and placed it on a special set of scales that only had one dish. After her wand vibrated a bit, a piece of parchment came out of the base of the instrument. The man picked it up, and began reading aloud, "13 inches, unicorn-hair core, been in use for..."The man paused for a second, and glared at the strip of parchment. With a puzzled looked he finished, "...Been in use for 73 years?" He thought that the woman before him was in her years a bit, but not that old.
"That is correct," Eloria said, eyeing the man suspicoulsy. Grabbing the wand from the man, she shoved it in her suitcase, and closed it up. She took a step towards the golden elevators, but then backtracked and asked the man, "May I ask where I can get out of these clothes? If I have to wear this blouse for one more minute I am going to go insane."
The man had picked up his paper again, but lowered it so he just see over the top. For the first time she saw the man smile. "There is a woman's lavatory over there," he grunted, and pointed to a door that was to the left of the fountain.
"Thank you, so much," Eloria said, with a great look of appreciation in her eyes, and she headed off to the bathrooms. Opening the gilded door she found a woman's powder room, where the walls were lavishly decorated, and a large pink squishy chaise was in a corner. Across from the chaise was an armoire, which was presumably full of robes. Stuffed away into he far corner was a full vanity, including lotions, many different scented perfumes, and a gold leafed mirror. Sitting down at the vanity, Eloria once again slammed her silver briefcase, this time on the vanity table, and undid the latches. Piece by piece she took off her costume. The wire framed glasses came first, followed by the white frilly blouse, and brown loafers. The khaki skirt was off soon after. Using the mirror she undid all of the bobby pins and the large clasp which had kept her hair up in such a tight bun. Reaching into her briefcase she pulled out a plain dark grey robe, a pair of worn jeans, and a green knit sweater. She stuck her hand into her briefcase once again, and after searching for a bit revealed a pair of running shoes and two green socks. After putting this all on she looked into the full length mirror that was on the door in which she came in.
The woman had an oval face, which was outlined by naturally wavy raven-black hair. Her grey eyes were neither stunning nor plain, but very intense. Her pale skin was unmarked by freckles or the sun, yet a few pink scars could be made out. The clothes she had put on were not fancy and she would look more like a muggle than a witch if it weren't for the robe she wore. She had a medium frame, yet a distinct figure. Before in her librarian get-up she looked at least 20 years older. Now, one could see that she was rather young, and looked like she had just graduated school. Observing herself in the mirror, Eloria gave a sigh of relief.
"Now that is more like it," she muttered while carefully repining her silver badge on the front of her robes. She took a glance at the makeup that covered the vanity table. Eloria however didn't wear makeup.
After giving her hair one last look over in the mirror, she grabbed her briefcase and left the powder room, headed towards to the far end of the Atrium again. From the corner of her eye she saw the man at the security desk take a distinct double take. Winking at him, she boarded one of the empty elevators whose doors had just opened. Besides a few fluttering paper airplanes that circled above her, Eloria had the lift to herself. She once again heard the female voice that had filled the phone booth.
"Level seven, Department of Magical Games and Sports, incorporating the British and Irish Quidditch League headquarters, Official Gobstones Club, and Ludicrous Patents Office."
"Nope, not me. I'll just wait till I hear the right department I guess..." Eloria puzzled, hoping that the elevator would keep ascending on its own.
Once again the female voice chimed, "Level six, Department of Magical Transport, incorporating the Floo Network Authority, Broom Regulatory Control, Portkey Office, and Apparation Test Center."
Eloria face was now filled with concern and she began muttering again. "Father said I didn't need to go there, but since I just did travel..." But before she could finish her thought, a man entered the elevator doors. He was a bit heavy set, with flaming red hair. He was carrying what looked like a bewitched skateboard. Its wheels were turning on its own, and it kept trying to rise out of the man's hands.
After managing to keep a hold of the skateboard and pushing a number, he turned to face Eloria, who was now standing next to. "So, what floor are you?" he asked, gesturing to the buttons.
"Well, ummm..." Eloria paused. "I don't really know. You see, I think I'm supposed to go to the Department of International Magical Cooperation, to see someone about my papers." She looked at the man who was standing next to her now, whose face showed his confusion. "See, I just came from America to get certified as a British Auror. But before I can see anybody about that I have to have some papers checked out," Eloria said hoping to clear things up a bit. The man's face lit up with comprehension.
"Yes, you have the right department. That's level five. You'll probablly want the 3rd door on your right when you get there. After that you'll probably want to check out level two, where the Auror Headquarters is." The man smiled.
"Thank you so much. Things are pretty different here than at the MAA office...my name is Eloria by the way. Eloria Felton." She extended her hand to the man. It appeared to be difficult for him to keep a hold of the skateboard and put out his right hand, yet after a minutes' struggle, they managed to shake hands.
"Arthur Weasley. Pleasure to meet you Eloria."
Right then the female voice announced, "Level five, Department of International Cooperation, incorporating the International Magical Trading Standards Body, the International Magical Office of Law, and the International Confederation of Wizards, British Seats."
"Well, that's my stop...thanks again!" Eloria said, stepping out of the elevator.
"Come and visit me in the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts office after you pass your test!" Arthur said smiling and waving as the doors closed.
Turning around to face the office in which she just stepped in, Eloria took a collective breath. Looking around, she said to herself, "Right then."
