Today the Cenaculum's windows showed a beautiful landscape with green mountains, some buildings in the distance and a meandering river nearby.

"Hi there," Gwen said and collapsed into one of the (today) green chairs. Her tray, laden with a plate of Stargazy Pie, a glass of gillywater, and cutlery, plummeted ungently in front of her on the table, which made the pilchard's head wobble eerily.

"Oops, sorry," she gasped.

Isabelle removed the splashes of sauce from her beige-coloured robes with a flourish of her wand and grinned: "Hi, Gwen."

Roberta, who was talking to the blond Timothy in soft murmurs, waved and winked at her. Eleanor had just started to eat her barbecued steak, and looked up.

"Hi Gwen, you look so … happy today?" the blonde widow answered.

Gwen nodded. "I've been lucky today," she beamed. That would be the opportunity to steer our conversation to the memory I've just seen, but there are too many people.

"This morning I drew 'Nine of Wands', isn't that saying something?"

Eleanor looked at her curiously, but didn't ask any further.

When Timothy had to get up and leave, Roberta turned to them and asked: "Want to join me to the Magic Gym after lunch?"

Eleanor's face brightened up. "What a nice idea!" she explained. "I haven't been there for ages." Then she frowned, all at once.

"I've never been there," Gwen said gloomily. "I'd be a laughing stock, believe me."

"You've never been there?" Roberta looked aghast, and Isabelle fell in: "Incroyable. You must come and see it."

"Yes, please, come with us," Eleanor pleaded.

Resignedly, Gwen let her shoulders fall in a slump, and eyed her pilchard sadly. "I'll be like a blown-up balloon when I've eaten this," she lamented.

Eleanor gave a high clear laugh, then shrank back, putting her hand before her mouth.

"It is so good to see you laughing," said Isabelle, looking straight into Eleanor's eyes. Tears sprang up into those beautiful blue eyes, but she blinked them away.

I think no-one can imagine how life is for her now, Gwen thought, full of pity. Losing the most beloved person in your life…

Roberta saved the situation: "You know what: the four of us will go there, and if anyone laughs at Gwen, I'll set Amber Dancer on them," she suggested, chewing a pink sparkling gum, as she'd already finished her salad.

Now all laughed, only Gwen murmured: "Won't that be a bit difficult, as Amber Dancer is upstairs on Level One, and the Gym on Level Seven?", but she was shushed down by Roberta, while Isabelle asked: "Mais, how come you know where the gym is if you've never been there?"

"I work here," Gwen replied with dignity.

~ooOOoo~

They entered the Bistro where a slim well-toned witch with short green hair and long legs was serving energy and fitness drinks in all colours and flavours behind a counter. Some of the drinks were sparkling, others frizzling, others bubbling, others were doing combinations of these.

"Hi Roberta," the witch called. "I see you've brought some of your friends."

"Hi Amelinda," Roberta beamed at her. "Meet Gwendolyn. I think you already know Isabelle, and Eleanor?"

"Nice to meet you." They all shook hands. A purple drink gave a sudden pop.

"Oops!" exclaimed the green-haired sportswitch. "Anyone of you fancies a drink before you start?"

As they all answered in the negative, she pointed to the counter on the other side, where they could borrow some sportswear. After they had each picked up matching sizes (Gwen needing the most time to choose) Roberta showed them the door to the changing rooms.

After they had changed into their sports clothing (Roberta had brought her own) they moved on to the central hall of the Magic Gym.

Gwen winced and had to suppress a whimper when she saw the large bright hall full of treadmills, bikes, benches and weights. At this time of the day – moreover it being a Friday – a good many wizarding people could be seen exercising on the various machines. They all seemed very hardworking and concentrated, some seemed to even enjoy their exercises, others just stood there chatting.

Around the main hall several doors led to other rooms. Gwen could decipher inscriptions like Quidditch hall, Gymnastics hall, Broomracing hall, and Dance school.

"I suggest you start with a nice little warm-up on the treadmill," Roberta smiled, chewing her pink gum. "I'll show you how it works. You should exercise for ten minutes only, that should be enough for a start."

Gwen followed her like a lamb to the slaughter, Eleanor in tow.

"I'll go and see what they're doing at the dance school right now," said Isabelle happily, and before Gwen could raise any objections Isabelle had disappeared through the corresponding door.

Roberta showed Gwen how the treadmill worked. "It's easy, isn't it?" she asked enthusiastically. "And here you can set the landscape you want to have around you while you're running. You can also adjust your own ambient noise – look here, you can set birds' twittering, if you choose a forest, for example, or the sound of the sea, if you choose a seascape, or any kind of music you like, or just silence. You'll forget the others around you."

"Isn't there an invisibility booster, so that people can't see me?" Gwen asked hopefully.

"Well, …no."

"I'll join you," said Eleanor. "I, too, will start with the treadmill."

"Me, too," added Roberta, "but since I'll stay on it for some more time, I'll show you first a back machine, and the exercise bike where you can finish your today's training. Fancy some arm or abdo machine, too?"

She showed them everything, obviously being completely in her element, and then all three started.

To Gwendolyn it seemed like the longest ten minutes of her life. Her face crimson, she stepped from the treadmill and proceeded to the back machine, while Roberta kept on running. Eleanor followed Gwen, fresh as a daisy, her hair glowing like pure gold.

How come she is not exhausted, Gwen grumbled inwardly, but couldn't ask, as she was all out of breath, her calves aching.

Eleanor smiled at her: "It's nice here, isn't it? I put my treadmill on absolute silence. T'was wonderful." She tucked a streak behind her ear.

Gwen took a deep breath: "I think I'll just do the back bench, and that's it for today."

"All right, I'll take the one at your side."

Gwen wondered whether she should do some magic to her crimson face in case Roberta watched her.

~ooOOooOOooOOooOOooOOoo~

After they had taken a shower, Eleanor and Gwen were sitting amicably in the Bistro, Gwen tasting a pink bubbling, and Eleanor a green frizzling energy drink.

"Nice," admitted Gwen, "it tastes really good." Her legs felt like jelly, and she was not sure whether she wanted to repeat the experience.

"Contains all the minerals you need," promised Amelinda, beaming at both Unspeakables.

A group of brawny wizards entered the Bistro, sat at one of the small round tables, and ordered different magic muscle building drinks, laughing and shouting vociferously.

Gwendolyn rolled her eyes, and Eleanor dropped her gaze.

"Now, Eleanor, did you like the Magic gym?"

The blonde witch nodded eagerly and smiled.

"Isabelle is right," Gwen said suddenly, and gave her an intense look. "It's good to see you laughing again."

Eleanor froze instantly.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to…"

"It's all right, Gwen, you're just trying to cheer me up, making me feel better," Eleanor said miserably. "But the point is… I… it'll never be the same again. I'll never forget." She took a rapid sip of her drink, and coughed, as it tingled in her throat.

Gwen just sat there, listening.

Eleanor lowered her voice: "I'll tell you – but please don't tell anyone about it." Now she nearly whispered: "As soon as the Aurors have found the murderer I'll leave the Department."

Gwen choked on her drink, gaping at her. "You know what that means?" she whispered back.

Eleanor nodded: "Of course."

Any Unspeakable who left the Department of Mysteries was put under a strong Memory Charm that made them forget everything that concerned the Department, or the work performed in here. Miss Carthew was one of the rare exceptions, since she had been working there for more than fourty years before retiring, thus ending her long and honourable career. In her case a strong Memory Charm would have caused irreparable damage to her mind. They had used a very limited charm on her and bound her to ongoing secrecy.

"Don't you understand? I want to forget."

Gwen gulped. "Yes, of course." How can I ask her about that Macnair memory now? She remembered her former bold approaches with other colleagues and gave it a try.

"You know, as a matter of fact, you could help me further our investigations," she said.

Eleanor put her glass down. "With pleasure. Anything you like."

"I've succeeded in extracting a first usable memory from… well, it's a memory that shows your husband with Walden Macnair. Do you know him?"

Eleanor thought for a moment. "No. Who is he?"

"He's a Ministry employee. Did Archibald ever mention his name? Didn't he tell you about him, and his … relationship with him? Have you ever heard his name anywhere else? Please don't hurry, think about it."

Eleanor remained silent. The wizards on the table nearby extracted a deck of self-shuffling cards and started a game of Exploding Snap. If possible their laughter got even louder than before.

After a while the young widow replied resignedly: "I'm sorry to be of no help, but I don't know him, or perhaps I don't remember him. What did Archie have to do with him?"

Gwen sighed: "That's what I would have liked to learn from you." She cleaned her glasses with a Tergeo spell.

"Archie knew a lot of people in the Ministry. He had been working here for a long time, while I only joined this year. He had been working in other departments before joining the DoM."

At this moment Roberta and Isabelle turned up, both beaming and looking very content.

"Oh, c'était formidable," raved Isabelle. "This dance instructor was simply amazing." She showed them some elegant arm and leg movements. The others clapped, the wizards turned their heads to look at her.

"And I think I beat my own record," stated Roberta.

Isabelle ordered a baby-blue energy drink, while Roberta just opted for a mineral water.

While Eleanor asked Isabelle about the dancing class, Roberta, sitting at Gwen's side, whispered into her ears:

"You know I always use a time-turner in the Gym, so I can do more exercises."

Gwen flushed bright red, when she felt Roberta's breath tickling her cheek, while the latter pointed unobtrusively to her gym bag.

"Please don't tell anyone," she whispered, "I suppose I can trust you."

"But aren't you taking a high risk?" Gwen whispered, aghast. "I mean – what with the missing time-turners you mentioned the other day…"

Roberta shrank back, and Gwen regretted her remark instantly.

"You have got a good memory," the dark-haired witch said coolly.

"I'm only worried about you."

Roberta's features softened. "That's nice of you," she whispered back. "And, of course, you are right. I love exercising, but maybe it's too risky – at least at present. We may be in trouble right now. Our team leader still doesn't know, but we'll tell her soon enough… The two time-turners are, in fact, missing, Graham confirmed my count." She looked strained again.

"Time to go back to work, isn't it?" asked Isabelle cheerfully. They all agreed, and left the Bistro, saying good-bye to Amelinda.

On their way to the lift they met the blond and somewhat overweight wizard with the round blue eyes Gwen had seen the other day. He gave the four witches a genial nod, and said: "Hallo, Roberta."

"That was Ludo Bagman," Roberta informed them afterwards, her voice full of admiration. "Head of the Department of Magical Games and Sports."

"I know," Gwen said, almost proudly.

"Have you ever seen him when he still was a Beater for the for the Wimbourne Wasps? He was brilliant."

Gwen gave no direct answer. "Have you played Quidditch, too?"

"Yes, of course!" Roberta beamed. "I was a Seeker in my school-days. But when I got Amber Dancer, I gave up Quidditch and started hippo-riding."

"Must have a lot on his plate right now, Ludo Bagman," Isabelle added. "With the Quidditch World Cup. Don't you think so?"

"Definitely," Roberta agreed, her grey eyes shining. Gwen suddenly wondered why she didn't work in the Department of Magical Games and Sports, but in the DoM, yet didn't dare to ask.

"Is anyone of you going to one of the World Cup matches?" Isabelle asked.

"I think Manisha is going," Gwen replied, "she told me the other day. She loves Quidditch. She's got tickets for the final."

"I am also going to the final," Roberta beamed. "If anyone of you wants to join me, I'll try to get more tickets!"

~ooOOooOOooOOooOOooOOoo~