Saw Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald today! Had a good time and recommend it for any Harry Potter-lovers!
Hope you enjoy this next chapter! Sorry for being gone for a while!
Now, let's start!
December 31st 1999, Headquarters of the British Branch of Division M:
The cafeteria was redecorated for celebrating the passing year/century/millennia and what Division M had achieved in this time. The idea came from the office of the Director itself.
Employees of all departments were eating, drinking and enjoying themselves: office worker, accountants, scientists, researchers, alchemists, aurors, soldiers, even members of the administration and the Department heads were having a good time.
Pansy Parkinson was chatting with her friend/co-worker Theresa Wong, as well as Felicia Rivers and Frederick Sheldon, the two agents who had recruited the young pure-blood witch.
"I heard a rumour that the Director himself would hold a speech to thank us all" Theresa said.
"Who said that the Director was a "he"? It could be a "she" as well" stated Felicia. Despite her being the first witch employed by the British branch of Division M, she never met the Director, only one of his deputies, Jack Hallewell.
"I doubt that" commented Sheldon.
"Which one? The speech or the gender of the Director?" asked Pansy.
"The speech. Global Command wants to keep the identity of each National Director a secret" explained Sheldon. "I doubt that they'd make an exception for New Year's Eve"
"Better then rise through the ranks" joked Theresa. "Though I bet Pansy will be the first one to know"
Everyone laughed, until a male voice over a microphone boomed over the room.
"Attention please!" shouted Owen Winterbourne, a wizard working for the Investigation office.
Everyone went silent and looked at him.
"Ladies, gentlemen, Deputy Director Jack Hallewell wants to give a word for everyone!" Winterbourne said, and an older man joined. Winterbourne gave him the microphone and joined the other employees who formed a crowd around Deputy Hallewell.
"This past year has been a very good one to finish this century… not just this century, but millennia" Hallewell started. "Since 1981 we've been learning so much about the world and have been able to achieve things no one could have believed. And that's all thanks to you, magical or muggle!"
Everyone in the crowd was silent.
"The Director of course could not reveal his identity, but I can state on the behalf of him (Felicia looked disappointed, while Theresa snickered) and Global Command, that they are all proud of you. On their request I have been instructed to summon each Department Head and thank them and their respective department for their achievements"
The crowd continued to be silent.
"We should start with the brave men and women Investigations & Security! Aldrich Northfrost, Head of these heroes, come forth!"
Auror Northfrost stepped forward and grabbed the microphone.
"Thank you, Deputy Director, thank you. I want to thank all my employees, whether they guard our corridors, gather clues or chase dark wizards and creatures in the field, all of you are among the bravest souls I have ever worked. Special thanks to my three lieutenants: Finley Roberts, Captain of Internal Security, Rory Emsworth, Leading Agent of Investigations, and Auror Ernst Cornseed, Commander of the Tactical Teams"
Everyone clapped at three shout-outs.
"I also want to remember the 27 Tactical Officers we lost their lives in the past two years while hunting the Death Eaters. Here are their names" the Auror said and waved his wand. 27 names appeared in golden letters. They were the following:
Quentin West
Kiefer Schuman
Niles Haines
Maynard Barrow
Glenn Hudson
Peyton Taylor
Blake Harlow
Grant Lindquist
Travis Brown
Dyson O'Hare
Fulton McCusker
Cameron Schaeffer
Stephen Foster
Logan Harris
Bryce Larson
Anthony Paul
Tobias Scarboro
Cory Benson
John Yorke
Lamont Becker
Porter Lloyd
Cole Allerton
Reese Banks
Edward Doherty
Parker Copeland
Mike Bradley
Everyone went quiet for a moment, and Aldrich Northfrost left the stage.
Deputy Director Hallewell continued and every Department Head was summoned, who in turn thanked his/her staff.
Eventually it was Leighton Wright's turn, Head of Finance, and Pansy Parkinson's boss.
"I want to thank all the fantastic accountants and investors who oversee the financial logistics of this organization! I want to thank my deputy Marcel Centena, without whom I'd be lost half the time, and a special shout out to miss Pansy Parkinson!"
Pansy faces turned red, and every attendant of the party had turned their head at her. Marcel Centena had a sour look on his face.
"Thanks to this young and brilliant witch we are now cooperating with Gringotts Wizarding Bank and have started to gather wizarding wealth, which means our research into the magical can dive in much further! I except big things from you in the future, Pansy!"
"So does the Director!" continued Hallewell happily.
Most in the room clapped, save for some of the wizards and witches, such as Marcel Centena or Ernst Cornseed.
Many people went over to Pansy and congratulated her over what she had achieved. Some wizards and witches were also among these people. For example, Monroe Rutledge, a wizard alchemist, was very grateful for not having to use his own dwindling gold supply,
Pansy was gladly taking in all the compliments, though she grew bored from them over time, and went to get another drink. She had lost touch with Theresa, Felicia and Sheldon.
While enjoying some elf-made wine some wizard had brought to the party, Pansy was approached by a young man, presumably in his early 20's.
"Hi, I'm Maurice Wilkerson, from Investigations. And a muggle" the man said, clearly looking nervous.
"Oh, hi Maurice, I think I've seen you go down the halls a few times. I'm Pansy Parkinson" Pansy replied.
"Well, I think everyone knows who you are after that announcement" Maurice said, seemingly in a flirting manner.
"Thank you, but I've had enough compliments for one night" Pansy said.
"Well, I actually wanted to ask you come outside. We're not allowed to shoot fireworks or anything, but the night sky is quite clear and I wanted to started a new millennia by watching the stars. Was interested if you wanted to come with me"
"Well, sounds interesting, but are we allowed to just leave the base and wander outside?" asked Pansy.
"Well, as an Investigations Officer under Northfrost and Emsworth, I know of routes in and out of this compound. We just need to wear something warm while being out there"
"Okay, Maurice, let's grab our coats and go!" Pansy replied smiling and the two left the party silently.
Outside the Division M Headquarters:
The Headquarters were deep underground, and away from any major city, town or village. The only ways in and out were tunnels for cars, as well a few emergency exists for personnel, one of which Pansy and Maurice used to get out.
The area around/above the Headquarters was a wide meadow, surrounded by a large forest and the secret road which cars and other vehicles used to enter the tunnels. Like the van that brought Pansy earlier that year.
Due to the lack of light pollution in a city like London, the night-sky was filled with star.
"Only 15 minutes to go" said Maurice. "And then the start of a new millennia, maybe even a new era"
"Who knows these days" Pansy laughed. "A year or two ago my world was so different and so were the plans for my future"
"Well do plan to make any promises for this new year?" asked Maurice.
"Well, I plan to continue working hard and looked what life has to offer" Pansy said.
"Same here" Maurice replied.
Neither of the two had seemed to notice that by the time the clock turned to midnight, they were holding hands…
I hoped you enjoyed this!
So, it seems that Pansy Parkinson is kinda the main character of this fic! Seems like something's brewing between her and Mr. Wilkerson!
Trust me, I did not plan this it just kinda happened, lol
Comment your thoughts in either reviews or PM's and I'm open for ideas and suggestions to what to write in the future!