"Elodie?"

She glanced back to the door of her office and spotted the department lackey, Charlene, leaning in. She dropped the file she had been looking over and ran a hand through her hair. Both her and Edward had been spending too many days in the office, sorting through witness reports, newspaper clippings, and any other evidence of Voldemort. Everything was just so stressful, since there was a constant flow directors pressing in on the entire investigation.

"Yes?" Elodie murmured, raising an eyebrow. Charlene smiled, "A Mister Lucius Malfoy here for the tour... Should I send him in?"
"Oh, yes," Elodie replied, suddenly straightening out her desk and tucking her hair back into a ponytail.

When she looked back up, her eyes landed on a tall, young man with vibrant lengthy blonde hair, also tied back, clad in rather stunning green and black robes. She smiled and stepped around the desk, extending her hand, "Mr. Malfoy, pleasure to meet you. My name is Elodie Potter, and I'll be directing your visit around the ministry today."
"Pleasure to meet you, Ms. Potter," he purred, gently gripping her hand and raising it half-way to his mouth, giving her a small nod. She smiled and picked up her notes, then motioned for him to follow her out. She stopped and waved around to the rather sloppy, paper-scattered, desk invaded department she worked in, "As I'm sure you know, this is floor two, and it's the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Do you have any idea what area you're most interested in?"
"The Department of Mysteries has always been a fascination of mine," Lucius confessed, pulling on a pair of gloves. It was as if he didn't want his skin touching anything. His facial expression when he touched Elodie's was riddled with disgust.

Elodie cleared her throat, "Oh, yes... Well, it is a bit of a popular place, but unfortunately-"
"You aren't allowed to show me," he chuckled, "I may be young, Ms. Potter, but I am not completely clueless."
Elodie frowned, "Mr. Malfoy, may I inquire as to why you aren't in school today?"
"I decided that I wished to take my tour now," he replied, "I have to finalize my future this year... I want to see if I'm suited in the Ministry."

Of course he was allowed to leave school to look at the Ministry. His father, Abraxas Malfoy, was always throwing their fortune around. Sometimes he funded the Ministry, other times there were articles in the Prophet about his generous contributions to Hogwarts.

"Well, what do you have in mind for the future then?" Elodie inquired, looking him up and down. She wondered how a fifteen year old could be taller then her. It was a little unnerving.
"I guess Magical Transport," he sighed, glancing longingly at the elevator leading toward the Department of Mysteries. Elodie cleared her throat as the proper elevator opened up, and she stood to the side, allowing Lucius to step in before her.

"So do you work here with your husband?" he inquired when the large doors shut. She cocked an eyebrow, "Excuse me?"
"I was wondering if you work here with your husband, Edward Potter?" he repeated, rocking back and forth on his heels. When he noticed her knitted eyebrows, he smirked, "My father mentioned him... I assumed you two were married, since you don't look related."
"And how do you know what Edward looks like?" she laughed, folding her arms. He shrugged, "He's been in the Prophet before."
"That was nearly a year ago," she marveled, "You have quite a memory."
"I do what I can."
"The school sent me your file," Elodie explained, stepping out of the lift when it came to a stop, "It's very impressive... I recommend coming into my department."
"Trying to steal away potential workers, Elodie?" Gill, a elderly gray-haired man, inquired, shooting her a grin. He was head of the department, and was incredibly intelligent.
"I'm sorry Gill," she laughed, "We need more then you do... How many people does it take to regulate broom control?"
"More then you think," he muttered, somewhat stiffly, and stalked off. Elodie glanced at Lucius, who seemed amused, "They're a little sensitive when it comes to people insulting their work... It's quite serious to them."
"Maybe I'm not quite... suited here," he snorted, glancing around, "Maybe something else?"
"Only you can make that choice," Elodie stated, "But we have some pamphlets in the atrium. Maybe you could take them, go back to Hogwarts, then come back. Or, write me a letter, and I can schedule you an appointment in the appropriate department."
"Yes, that would work better," he agreed, following her to the main lift, "I suppose I have too much work to do at Hogwarts anyway."
"Perhaps you should have waited for the holiday," Elodie chuckled, pressing button eight for the atrium, "You would have a clearer head."
"My... father suggested I go in," Lucius said slowly, "It is a weekend, after all... It's not like I have classes."
"That's true," she admitted, "But... Why come in now? I'm curious... Who cleared this visit?"
"Weren't you told?" he countered, watching the elevator door close in front of the pair.
Elodie cleared her throat awkwardly. All she had been told was that Lucius Malfoy was coming in, and needed a tour around the Ministry. She wished she could have been left alone so she could work on her case, however, Edward informed her the Minister had asked her for a favour.

"I was merely told someone needed a tour," she replied tightly, beginning to become annoyed with his quick wit. Lucius raised an eyebrow, "My father said the Minister would see to everything."
"Well... I suppose he did then," Elodie grumbled, already deciding how she would rant at their head official. She had work to do! Important work!
"And what about your children?" he inquired after a few moments of silence, "Will they be Ministry officials too?"
"My little boy currently wants to be the world's best seeker," she laughed, momentarily forgetting to ask him how he knew she had a child, "but I suppose no parent has any right to decide their child's future... He can be what he wants."
"What's his name?" he pressed, sounding slightly rushed as the lift door opened. Elodie opened her mouth, ready to reply, but frowned, "Why?"
"Why are you so suspicious?" Lucius laughed, "I'm a curious young man... Is there anything wrong with that?"
"I'm an auror," Elodie chuckled, leading him through the atrium, "It's my job to have suspicions."

She smiled at the woman behind the main desk, who was currently patching a group of very lost looking Scots up to the Minister's office. Within a few moments, she had snatched up all the pamphlets and brochures retaining to internships and summer job placements, then handed them to Lucius.
"Have a look through these, then owl me, and I can put you in touch with someone who can help you," she explained, smiling, "Once Ellie is finished, she'll show you out."
"Thank you, Mrs. Potter," he murmured, nodding politely, "I will send you a letter within the week."
"Great," she laughed, waving to Ellie through the crowd of angry, red-headed Scots. As she turned to walk off, she paused, "And by the way... His name is James."

*-

Very sly, Tom, very sly.


Oh, he was very sly. He knew.

He paced in front of his fireplace, staring into the red flames, then flicking his wand, changing the heat to green. The colour was just so much more appealing.

"My lord?" Adrian Malfoy called, knocking on his open door, "My brother and his boy are here."
"Send the whelp in," Voldemort snarled, "I didn't ask for his father."
"Of course, my lord," Adrian murmured softly, "Lucius... Get in."
Voldemort heard the shuffling of expensive boots, then the sound of a young man being shoved in, then the delicate whoosh of a door shutting.

Frightened boy, Tom, frightened boy.

Oh, he knew. He could practically smell Lucius Malfoy's fright. It was wonderful.

"Did you do as I asked?" he hissed, keeping his back to the teen. He barely had to wait a moment for Lucius to begin speaking, "Yes, my lord, I would not disappoint you."
"And?" His patience was growing thin.
"It's true," Lucius explained weakly, "She's married to Edward Potter, and they have one child named James."
Voldemort's eye twitched, "Oh really?"
"Currently she is working with Potter as the heads of a team that... uh..." he paused and Voldemort's lip curled. He whipped back to the young man, a bit of brown hair falling into his eye.

Ignore the hair, Tom, ignore the hair.

He flicked it aside, "Go on, Lucius."
The young man shook visibly when he spoke his name, and he gulped, "They're working on a case against you, Master."
"Oh really?" he inquired again, his anger slowly melting away, "Against me, eh?"
"Yes, my lord."

It was a rhetorical question. It didn't need to be answered. Idiot boy.

"What did you think of her?" Voldemort asked, folding his hands neatly in front of his body, cocking an eyebrow. Lucius cleared his throat awkwardly, "My lord?"
"I believe I was speaking English, Malfoy," Voldemort chuckled, enjoying the uncomfortable look passing across Lucius's face.
"She's... uh... nice," Lucius finally stammered.

Nervous boy, Tom, nervous boy.


"Was she attractive?"
Lucius began shifting nervously, "I... I don't think I have any right to say."
"You're a man, Lucius," Voldemort mused, "Was she attractive?"
"I guess..." Lucius said softly, "She looks young."

Perhaps having a child had not changed her. Oh, this was just better then he had expected.

"You've done well, Malfoy," he chuckled, smiling as the boy knelt down in front of him, "And your family will be well rewarded for it. Now... Return to Hogwarts before that Dumbledore notices you've been gone longer then planned."
"Yes, yes of course, thank you," he stammered, standing quickly and bowing once more, then sweeping out of the room, leaving the door open as Voldemort watched him.

She had a son? James. What a horrible name.
He rolled his eyes. It sounded so... so... Gryffindor. Brave and bold and just... Ugh.

Voldemort sat stiffly on his leather chair, stroking his chin. So she was out to find him, was she?
Somehow this seemed to work out wonderfully for him.

"Well?" Julian voiced from the door, "Are we to continue?"
"Yes," Voldemort snapped, shooting him a glare, "Leave me be, and wait for my orders."
"Yes, of course."