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Harry Potter:"Do you really think there's going to be a war, Sirius?"
Sirius Black: "It… feels like it did before."
TURN ON THE LIGHT is a Post- Potter roleplay that takes place twenty-five years after the Second Wizarding War.
We welcome canon and original characters in this (currently) sandbox style roleplay.
Level 10 at The Ministry was one of a few floors he was more than familiar with. Today's court session had been held there, a poor half-blood Grimsby was the defendant and unfortunately, the matter had not gone well for him. The opposite could have been said for Silas who, as a member of the Wizengamot (and a seasoned one at that) asked more than a few good questions that got the proper parties properly riled up and focused on the issue that Silas (or rather Silas' puppet masters) wanted them to. The result was one most parties he knew would be pleased with - minus Mister Grimsby of course... And his family. That poor, poor family. They (and by good argument Grimsby) had done nothing wrong. Another lost soul for the cause... At least that's how Silas reasoned it, but what cause he was fighting for he could not be sure other than it was the one that those stronger than him wanted him to hold up.
The courtroom had emptied, at least he had thought so, and Silas took the opportunity to rise and pick up his messenger bag which he opened and snuck his hand through eventually falling on a muggle device. tape player. An ancient ruin now but one he utilized. Not something he liked to boast about - either because of his anxiety or because those who had their thumb on him would never live it down... But the music helped calm him and so he pressed play and there it was. The tones of Cheap Trick singing Surrender.
Instantly his fingers which had been balling into nervous fists relaxed in his pockets and he began to hum to himself. Slinging the strap over his chest he turned around only to see someone looking back at him. "Oh, um..." Instantly his eyes widened in surprise and nervousness. "Apologies, I thought that everyone had left for the day..." His fingers were beginning to clutch at his bag strap tightly as anxiety began to wind up within him. "I would ask if you were lost but we both know that is untrue." He gave a nervous smile that he didn't even believe. "So, uh..." On cue, his hair turned a pale, light blue. Another telltale sign of nerves he couldn't control. Still, he had to try to. "Can I, um, help you with, uh, something?..." Please Merlin say no. The longer he spent with folks not on the dark side the more he fretted about blurting out something that he wasn't supposed to like the git he was.
"Do you need something from me?" He rephrased his question, hoping to Merlin that wasn't it either. Realizing another one of his errors he reached up and quickly pulled the old headphones from his ears and they now dangled around his neck.
Stray animals weren't uncommon in magical creatures. If they got loose they tended not to get too far but this kneazle kitten had. The litter had been born after their mother had been rescued from a cruel owner. Suspiria suspected it had been more than this and until they got rehomed after growing up enough these kittens were kind of department mascots.
It was Rascal that got loose and he was last seen heading round here. Suspiria has stopped every level after using the stairs to ask and this made her sure she was going in the right direction. The witch people would see was wearing a black trouser suit with a white shirt and a pink bow tie. She dressed properly when at HQ and dressed slightly down when in the field. You didn't want to mess up good clothes when dealing with going to a farm.
She adjusted her round glasses and had a cat cage in her left hand. Then heard a voice coming from the only other person in the court room. He had headphones on; something she recognised as she owned a larger set of them herself.
This semi-distracted witch looked at Silas as she asked in a home counties accent "O Hello, did you see a black kneazle kitten around? Rascal has been a naughty boy and got out". She then added a little smile and further remarked in a cheerful voice "I use headphones too though mine are attached to a record player". Looking as if she had a screw loose was nothing unusual for Suspiria and you'd never think that she was a former Slytherin. She was on a mission as she also listened carefully for feline noises while her smile got broader.
"A kneazle?" He repeated quietly as if trying to make sure that he had heard the woman correctly. Unsurely he glanced over each of his shoulders checking the courtroom. Resisting the urge to check under every table and chair he turned his dark gaze back to the blonde woman in glasses. "I, uh, can't say that I have. Sorry..." What was he apologizing for he hadn't the slightest idea. It was a habit ingrained in him as much as breathing was. Maybe he was saying sorry for his own existence... If he wasn't he felt like he ought to.
"They, uh... Let you bring Rascal in here?" He knew that he shouldn't pry, it would only draw more attention on him (attention that he hated) but it was an interesting thing to be looking for and while the Ministry sometimes had various marvelous magical creatures on the trial floors wasn't one of them. Perhaps this was one of those service animals but even so it seemed like an odd choice... then again, weren't most people employed here considered odd? And when a bunch of odd people gathered together in one spot how did he always manage to be the outcast?
"Hm?" He wasn't much used to smiles and the one she was sporting distracted him until she pointed out his muggle headphones. "Oh." Blinking he looked down quickly before snatching them off of his neck and shoving them into his messenger bag. "I actually just found these." He lied, doing his best attempt at a small smile. "I was actually going to drop them off at the lost and found on my way out for the day." Another lie. Hopefully she wouldn't follow him because he couldn't function without the things. "Record player?" He feigned stupidity, raising his brow at her in question, shoving his hands into his pants pockets. "Can't say that I've ever run into one of those." Except, that he owned one... but she didn't need to know that.
"So, uh, about this rascal Rascal... Have you tried telling reception?" No idea what they would do about it but certainly more than him. "Maybe they can help..."
Suspiria's brain might well be wired differently to others but she did notice things rather quickly; even if she appeared to casual observers to be a bit crazy. There was also logic working as the gears in her brain turned faster than the 33rpm records she owned and played. She knew the kitten couldn't have gotten out the ministry on his own. This was also the only place he knew so he could wander back to momma if he wasn't seriously hurt by others. Her Hogwarts experiences told her that people could be cruel to a little kitten and she knew house mates who'd lost their cats and found them dead later on.
So looking back at Silas she smiled a little this time trying to to not freak him out too much. Perhaps she'd done it already given the first things he'd said to her. "He's only little so you probally haven't seen him. He's the size of a bag of sugar and he's not mine. His mother was brought into Magical Creatures after a neighbour reported that she was being badly treated. That man should have been hauled through here for animal cruelty. Anyway she had her babies in the department and he's got the purple collar with his name tag on it. I'd love to bring him home but I already have a dog. I doubt they'd get on" she mused. She knew there was no point in trying it and then moved onto the next thing the man in front of her said.
"Then I hope lost property finds who owns that" she added. Muggle Studies was relevant to her job as she sometimes needed to go into muggle areas. She kept up to date even with a NEWT in the subject. Though she wouldn't be going any further than records where muggle entertainment was concerned. That was enough to deal with.
"I can mention him to the receptionist . Thank you for that idea" she cheerfully mentioned. Then she tried to remember if she'd came across them yet on this floor. She would have noticed if it she had so had a little question to ask him.
"Please could you show me where they are?" she posed. Her concern for the kitten was obvious and if she couldn't find him she hoped he found his own way back. There was only so far he could have gotten.
"Oh." He listened to the kneazle's origin story with slightly wide eyes. This woman sure could talk. That was good. He was personally lousy at it. "Well..." He glanced over his shoulder racking his brain for options to help in the cat's capture hoping that he would turn and find him sitting there but no... of course not. Things were never easy. Not with Silas Gromitt.
"Do you have anything that, um, Rascal would like?" He ventured, again not sure what that would be. He was an expert in magical law not so much animals. "A toy, or treats, or, um..." Or what, Silas? Or what? The Ministry was very big so there were really countless places that the thing could be hiding, but he somehow doubted that it would be helpful to mention to her.
"Surely he couldn't have gone too far..." He knew he should come up with a reason to be on his way, speaking with anyone for longer than thirty seconds often got him into trouble somehow, but for some reason, he just couldn't manage it. And because he had overstayed his welcome in a conversation that he didn't start he was now locked in by her next request.
"Oh, uh..." Say no. Just say no. Two letter word. Takes a second to utter. Say no. Just say it! "Um, ok. Sure. Yes. Alright." That wasn't no you idiot! Clearing his throat he nodded toward the door. "This way." Awkwardly he waited a moment or two before he willed his feet to move toward the door. Hopefully they would find this creature sooner rather than later. If any of the higherups found it first and Silas' name came up there would be issues (for him... there always were).
Suspiria was unaware of the internal struggle going on in Silas. She'd always had something to say for herself ever since she started to talk so this was a normal state of affairs for her. She had a thoughtful look on her face as he made his suggestion. His ideas were good and she used her free right hand worked round in a jacket pocket. She'd been playing with Rascal earlier that morning but hadn't let him out; that was one thing she was sure off. A tinkle of a tiny bell told her she'd found just the thing and pulling out her hand showed Silas the bait.
"He likes this. Oh and I never introduced myself. I'm Suspiria Maxtible, normally a magi-vet but today I'm office bound. I needed to deal with the paperwork resulting from the home visits" she cheerfully said as the bell tinkled. Then she shook it again to tempt the kitten but he didn't come running. It was just as well Silas was going to bring her to the reception area. A thought unrelated to her current business half formed and she vocalised it as it was a good idea. If he couldn't or wasn't free nothing was lost.
She followed Silas as he led the way adding in a very cheerful manner "do you fancy going to the Leaky Cauldron later on. Once your works over for the day off course?" She fancied a sit in dinner this evening and a jug of beer sounded good to her. Company would be even better and Silas did look cute. She also didn't realise just how much she was shaking things up for him. What he was seeing was her normal self and sometimes people couldn't deal with it. The Hogwarts boys and girls who could got the rewards and some got even more good things.
The soft tinkling of the tiny bell caused her eyes to divert themselves to the woman's offered palm. At least that was a start. He opened his mouth to say as much but that's when he learned her name. On the move now he held the door open for her then they both took off down the hall.
"Nice to meet you Miss Maxtible." But was it? Also... What a unique name... and that was coming from a Silas! "I'm Silas. Uh, Silas Gromitt." It was the polite thing to do, to return the introduction, but a part of him knew he shouldn't have. A part of him was well aware that he should have ended this now conversation before it had ever begun. Too late now. "I'm a member of the Wizengamot." Obviously. Why else would he be in the courtroom with a bag and files?
Go out? With someone? But he didn't have friends... he didn't have anyone except the Death Eaters currently squatting at his home. Were they his friends? They certainly pretended to be, in between bullying him of course. "Oh. I, um, well... I don't really drink... or go out much to be completely honest..." He admitted, not looking at her as he shared that. Again he was probably letting on more than he should. "Tom allows you to bring Rascal in?" He tried to make conversation referring to the old barman and owner of the establishment that she had mentioned.
As the bell hadn't tempted the kitten they had to keep looking. It was just as likely that Rascal had found sanctuary in an office somewhere and he'd find his own way back or somebody would send a flying note to magical creatures so he could be collected. In the meantime the smiling Suspiria had found out the name of the cute looking guy helping her out. She thought her name was unusual but his ran hers pretty close. The cogs in her brain turned as she recognised the family name. Hers was also known as one of the pureblood line but the Maxtible's were on their last legs. Suspiria would most likely be the last Maxtible standing unless she had children and got to keep her name but such concerns didn't bother her too much. At least she could say her family worked for a living as they weren't filthy rich but they were closer to muggle middle classes.
"Pleased to meet you Silas. It must be interesting working in the engine room of justice" she mused back to him. "Rascal if we find him won't be going. He's been away from his mother too long already. Anyway why not go out. It dosen't need to be alcohol and a lot of the time people like us don't get proper meals. Always too much to do in so little time" she added looking back at him and making a valid point.
The offer still stood for Silas as she meant it. Life was getting dangerous again as she sensed rumblings in her world; the same type she'd sensed in school while she was there.Not that stopped her from having fun. Now the door was opened by Silas the search could continue. She stepped through and led the way.
Interesting? "That is a good way of putting it." Except not really. Work was work and though this particular job stretched the makings of his brain he found that it was equal parts scary and intimidating. Not when presenting, that he was a pro at, but the taunts by some of his coworkers because he was different (even as far as a wizard in this universe was considered). Maybe he deserved to be mocked especially with the sorts of secrets that he was keeping. "It certainly keeps me on my toes." That was another nice way of putting it.
"Oh, well, I, you see..." He rubbed the back of his neck looking down at his feet bashfully. She was really trying to convince him wasn't she? But Silas knew that he couldn't do it. "I can't tonight." Maybe if you're lucky she'll think that you have other plans and won't press at least he hoped so. Find the cat, send her on her way. Or maybe when she wasn't looking he could dip out. Would he feel guilty? Sure. But an escape was an escape and the mousey man would snag it like his life depended on it (because it often did).
"I bring my lunch..." He murmured as they walked hoping that she would just leave it. He felt bad enough as is. "Maybe he went toward the, uh, cafeteria? Kneazles fancy food just like the rest of us, uh, right?" He led her further down the hall and waited for her to step inside. The cafeteria wasn't exactly his favorite place to be. Too many eyes and too many flashbacks to school.
Every department had a cafe, canteen or whatever they wanted to call it. It was a place to eat breakfast, lunch, tea, dinner or in some departments pre-breakfast as some never closed. Each eatery depended on the shifts it worked and her department had both early and late shifts. As Suspiria walked with Silas it sounded like a good place to look and now they'd reach the cafeteria. Looking round this new location it seemed like a smaller version of the great hall but with more tables; this was suited to people who weren't bound to the long table they'd used in school. You always remembered your old house and while it might influence your choice of colours it didn't always lead your actions or how you interacted with others.
She tinkled the bell and listened carefully. Rascal might need a bit more time and she looked back to Silas. He'd made it clear that he was happy with his packed lunch and to her that was the end of the chapter. She could get to know him better as she mused. From what he was saying she figured he was content with his job. You didn't have to like it or love it but she did love the job she was doing. She would even be getting her first trainee soon and she didn't want to scare a recent graduate too soon. It would be baby steps initially as some still had that innocence and others would need less time to make the adjustment to being an adult doing a job.
"So far no joy" she replied. "that is fair enough. We aren't always free when something unexpected comes up". Suspiria was thinking she'd have to just let nature take its course and the kitten to return on his own. This was taking too long and soon she'd have to leave Silas but not without trying to at at least make him feel better about himself. Suspiria could sense the nervousness from the brief time they'd been talking. The people he dealt with on a daily basis would have too. So why was he as awkward as a second year hiding in a corner of the great hall during the Yule ball? "Most jobs are interesting if you make them that way. It's the same for life and there never seems to be enough time for everything. Silas, we've only been talking a brief time and I can sense how nervous you are. If I didn't try and help you I'd be failing as a witch. So try and enjoy the little things like a bit of cherry pie with your packed lunch or even a cup of coffee with somebody who wants to help. Now I know where to find you and you can find me we can try and make things better".
She'd said it and if turned her down so be it. The ball was in his court and she'd respect his final decision.
"Who knows I might even run into you during a pureblood event. I don't get to many given my duties but I can at least get you a drink and offer a dance". She smiled. Even if all she could do was help with little things in life that was a starting point.
Cafeterias weren't exactly Silas' favorite place in the world. Far from it. He had been miserable within the confines of them as far back as when he was a boy at Hogwarts. Mocked mercilessly for stuttering, for looking the way he did, for being spineless. He didn't think that much had changed. He still did or was all of those things even now as a member of the Wizengamot. It wasn't an easy profession to secure but he had done so... even so he was mocked there too. You couldn't escape who you were and he was a worm. A worm would always reside on the ground and be stomped on either accidentally or on purpose by those who deemed themselves bigger than it.
A few folks in the busy area peered at them as they walked back as the blonde-haired woman rang the bell. Silas felt his cheeks go pink from embarrassment and he briefly pondered saying something, suggesting that she stop, but he resisted. What would be the point in that? She wouldn't listen to him. No one did.
At her observation of him he frowned. Stopping his walking. "Um, n-no I'm fine. A-Actually." Except that he wasn't. Still he would try (and fail miserably) to keep up the facade. A man had to have his pride... even if he had very little to begin with. "M-Miss Maxtible I think that's quite enough." He frowned. He didn't mean to sound harsh, and he barely succeeded in doing that, but he had to try and sell the act anyways. "I-I allowed you to bust into my workplace where you should not have been, I have entertained your claims of seeking a kneazle that I have not s-seen, and I have taken you around this building the least you could do is not needlessly throw assumptions my way at my expense - oh." He looked down to see a tiny kneazle kitten sitting on his dress shoe. Huh.
Bending down with a nervous but gentle hand he scooped the thing up before handing it to her. "Here."
Even if the circumstances round you tried to make you like a flobberworm you had to remember something. Things could always be better no matter how bad they look now. Her face wore a look of concern after Silas’ little speech and right now she just wanted to wrap him up in her arms and make him feel loved. A human shouldn’t have to deal with this every day. A flobberworm couldn’t even bite back but Silas could if he wanted too.
But guess what. He was handing her Rascal complete with the purple collar and name tag. Suspiria carefully put the case down on the ground while the people in here watched. Then the runaway was securely caged with this mission almost over. Not quite as she still had something to say to Silas but in a manner set for him only to hear. She couldn’t leave without saying one final thing.
In a clear voice for all to hear she firstly said “Thank so much Silas. You did the world a great service today. A lot of people wouldn’t even have tried to do what you have”. So there you heartless people! Shame on you.
In a whisper afterwards she looked back at him her concern for him obvious. “Something is seriously wrong here. I don’t know how it got so bad that you are suffering but please let me help. You know where to find me if you want anything other than this level of hell”. She’d made her offer and now it was truely down to him.
He had one last present from her and that was a little wave and a big smile. She’d seen dark things in her life too. School hadn’t been easy for her and her early life with crazy dark parents would have given anybody nightmares but she was strong and stubborn as well as being a caring soul.
“See ya around” she added before leaving. She hoped this wouldn’t be the last time they spoke. She even feared he’d jump off a tall building before too long.
