The elevator steadily moved upwards of its own accord, an elderly wizard in green robes, white hair sticking up around his ears, was the only other person travelling up to the first floor. She was glad that she didn't have to smother her tears in a lift full of nosy people. By the time the elevator jolted to a stop and the gilded golden doors clunked open, Beth had caged her emotions and all that remained of her distress and embarrassment was the shaking of her hands. Beth bunched them up into fists and followed the older man out into the elevator foyer and then paused to take in the people around her.
Yaxley's men should arrive at any moment, they would travel using the floo powder network she was sure, therefore by staying this side of the great statue and near the elevators she should be able to see them no matter what. Beth folded her arms in front of her chest to still her hands, took slow steadying breaths and waited.
Lucius hopped from one foot to the other, waiting impatiently for a lift, any lift, to stop at his floor. It had been less than five minutes since Beth had left to collect the unwelcome visitors but it seemed like far too many. Beth had no idea who these men were. Yaxley was obviously getting back at the Ministry for not transferring him an intern whom he deemed worthy of his expertise. Lucius cursed himself for not seeing that Yaxley hadn't acted against Beth because he had assumed an opportunity like this would arise. This was why Beth couldn't have anything to do with him. He would put her in so much danger. For the first time, Lucius felt that he truly didn't believe that muggle born witches and wizards were nothing. It didn't matter who Beth's parents were or what her blood was like, it only mattered that that blood carried on pumping through her veins and her heart.
The lift clanged open and Lucius stepped in, keeping near to the gate so he would be able to leave before any of the other people who had got in the elevator with him. Obviously stragglers going to the Minister's meeting. All of which voluntarily stood as far away from Lucius as possible, when he looked around, they simply cast their eyes to the floor. His family had such an impact on everyone, his blood, blood that said he was superior, did all the talking. Lucius pressed his palm to his forehead, he couldn't live like this.
The two men were instantly recognisable as they came out in single file from a fireplace on the left side of the grand foyer. They both wore billowing black cloaks, like Lucius', and cast around confident glances as they walked towards the statue, the elevators and Beth. They both had greying brown hair and broad chins, they could be brothers Beth considered. One man, slightly older than the other, had a scar running down from the corner of his mouth. He had a constant grimace and he kept scratching the scar as if it were uncomfortable, which was unusual because the scar was white with age. The younger of the two, walked slightly behind, he shuffled when he walked which made it seem like he was sliding around in shoes two sizes too big.
They came around the statue with smiles on their faces, Beth caught their gaze and gestured towards the elevators.
'For Mr. Yaxley I presume?' The men glanced at her, smiles fading. The younger man nodded and Beth followed them into the empty lift. Beth would do one better than point these men in the right direction, she would take them to Lucius' office and if he saw her so be it. She wanted to prove that she now knew her place in his world. As Beth turned away respectfully from the visitors, the two men exchanged a smirk behind her, the older pulling out his wand as the lift dropped downwards into the dark elevator system.
It was a slow and silent journey, Beth began to feel more and more uncomfortable the deeper they travelled down into the Ministry. The men remained silent behind her, but she could feel their stares digging into the back of her head. Much to her dismay, no one got in at any of the other floors, each department where no one waited for the elevator, was one more realisation that something was not quite right. Surely not everyone would be at the meeting upstairs! These men did not seem like they belonged here, they didn't even seem like they belonged in their own bodies – they were so stiff and awkward.
The lift stopped on the final floor, the department of mysteries, and the darkness that hovered in these threatening corridors sat in front of them, daring them to step into the possibilities. Beth stepped out in front of the men and began to walk to Lucius' office, she heard the men follow her out, their shoes tapping and scraping along the tiled floor. The elevator left them to their business like a silent house elf creeping away and the corridor appeared suddenly more menacing with only the hazy green lanterns spreading out their tentacles of dim light.
Beth suddenly felt that delivering these men to Yaxley and Lucius was an awful idea, she felt a stab of fear at how stupid she was being. She wasn't being bold, or making a point, she was being childish and naïve. And nothing proved her more right than the harsh point of the older man's wand jamming into her spine and sending her sprawling onto the floor.