Beth nodded, she was trying to digest everything Lucius was saying. She knew it was never going to be some sort of fated kiss which meant they would be together forever and everyone would accept her because she was with a Malfoy. She knew all that, but it didn't mean she didn't want that with all of her being.

'Okay.' She simply said and went back to open the door again.

'Don't go yet.' Lucius said, he sounded exasperated and agitated.

'No, let me go. I need to go.' She looked up at him, her eyelashes sticking each time she blinked. Tears rolling silently over her eyelids.

Lucius simply nodded, he looked defeated and Beth knew her tears didn't help the situation. She felt like someone had dropped a bag of rocks into her stomach and all she wanted to do was go home, to the apartment she shared with other interns, and go to sleep.

She forced herself to turn away from Lucius Malfoy and edge out between the door and the frame, not wanting to cast any light into the room or the situation. She also was hoping Lucius just let her go, she had nothing left to say. I mean what did she expect, Beth was always going to be a nobody to someone like Lucius.

The next day, Beth slunk into to the Ministry late. She worked all day with added enthusiasm and towards the end of her shift she felt a little better for the first time. She had got through a day without seeing Lucius, she had got through the day without breaking down. Beth was giving herself metaphorical pats on the back by the time she reported to Yaxley's desk an hour before she was due to leave. She could take off her brave face when she left, and unfortunately her metaphorical pats would turn into punches of pain. Pain that she wore like a great metal shield until she could go home and take it down, feeling herself empty and unworthy without the shield to take all her heartbroken blows.

Beth pushed her shoulders back and got a better grip on the stack of folders she was depositing to Yaxley, she pushed into the office with her back and turned to the mahogany desk that shone with an over polished hue. Usually Beth knocked, but she paused in the doorway this time, holding out the folders as an explanation for her impertinence.

Beth's grip faltered and the folders streamed out on to the floor like water spilling from a bucket. The paper covered the floor in a patchwork of yellow and white carpet. Lucius was standing with Yaxley behind the desk, their heads together discussing privately, up until Beth had let the folders escape her that is. Beth felt disappointment rise in her, she couldn't help but seem foolish and childish whenever Lucius was around and she was annoyed that she already was face to face with the man that made her heart flutter after less than a day since their conversation in his office.

Lucius didn't look awkward though, as Beth had expected, he looked professional as always and there was a gentle expression in his gaze as he leant down and picked up a few bits of paper that had settled underneath the desk.

Yaxley was bursting at the seams with anger and as Lucius straightened back up, Yaxley hit the papers in his hand and they flew out over the desk and landed like autumn leaves on top of the rest of the paper on the floor.

'How on earth can you be so clumsy? How dare you interrupt an important meeting and then act so foolish and stupid. I apologise Malfoy, this one is a HUGE burden. She gets stuff done but not to any level I would expect. I guess it's all that dirty blood she's got.' Yaxley came over to loom over Beth in three quick strides. 'Apologise to your superiors and then please go to the west elevator and take it down to the entrance, we are expecting some visitors. Oh, and then leave! I've had enough of your trouble today.'

'I…I'm sorry.' Beth burst from the room, her eyes blinking rapidly, trying to dispel the tears that were so eager to fill her eyes and blur her vision. She ran all the way to the west elevator, got in and then waited for a moment to calm herself. The elevator plunged downwards, following her heart.

'I'm so sorry Malfoy, I suppose she can clean this all up tomorrow. It will remind her of her status among the wizarding families that truly belong here. Well that's if our boys don't do anything to her, eh? We can have our meeting,' Yaxley cast Lucius a fleeting glance, 'in your office instead?'

'Wait, He sent the men from his…our…organization here?' Lucius stood up straight, a shiver slipping down his spine.

'Of course. They want to see what you found for Him last week. I've organised their arrival to coincide with a large Ministry meeting. Of course they'll be disguised with the helpful use of polyjuice potion, I mean we can't be too careful. Our existence being unknown is crucial at the moment.' Yaxley smiled a malicious smirk, his eyes lighting up at the thought of his involvement with something that he obviously felt proudly of.

'Did you tell them you would send someone down?' Lucius said, it came out as barely more than a whisper.

'Of course. I told them my insignificant Mudblood intern would get them to the elevator. I also said it was about time I wasn't associated with such riffraff, so hopefully they get the hint and do me a favour.' Yaxley's eyes glinted at the idea.

Lucius slowly walked towards the door, he smiled half-heartedly at Yaxley's comment. Yaxley's grin back assured him that he thought Lucius was in the same state of mind. A keen and willing devotee for the cause of creating a pure blood wizarding world. Which he was all for, or so everyone thought.

With the promise that Lucius was only dropping off some files in the department of Mysteries, and the reminder that in fifteen minutes he and their arriving associates would be at his office door, Lucius dismissed himself. As soon as he shut the door of Yaxley's office, Lucius turned and ran towards the elevators. The halls were empty, the meeting was under way and Beth was walking into something she may never get out of.