July 5: Most People Are Good: Annette

[Arthur Weasley]

misuse of muggle artefacts office

▶︎ nobody gets a second chance to make new old friends

i believe in working hard for what you've got
even if it don't add up to a hell of a lot

...what's making that noise?

As Arthur looked around the small office, made smaller by the collections of paperwork and muggle tools, the piles of solved and unsolved misuses, the busy calendar and photos from muggle magazines taped to the wall, the wondering wasn't one that he could determine an answer to immediately. But it was one that he would hopefully answer quickly, because in just a few minutes time, his new assistant would arrive. It wouldn't do for her to find him picking apart the office in search of the noise, would it? It'd been a month, maybe a little more, since his latest assistant had changed positions, and he needed today to be a good one. A bright Hogwarts graduate coming with his own Head of House's stamp of approval? How much luckier could he be!

She'll need to get used to the noises, to be fair. Batteries and whirlygigs and whatnot - there you are!

Victorious, Arthur pulled the rattling pancake tower of rubber-banded flappy disks out from under a now-tumbling stack of rolled up transit maps. By the time his office was brought in, the poor muggle techies were covered with the blasted things as if they'd all been magnetized, and he still hadn't worked out all of the kinks of the curse. Had he moved them too close to the lamp? Too far from the toaster oven? He settled for stuffing them in a box for the moment, chuckling quietly to himself as he checked the clock. He didn't understand why the other departments refused to give him the resources he needed, when he was at any time drafting opinion pieces and bits of law, running off to a raid, repairing collected artefacts, giving testimony...He needed the help of an assistant again, and with any luck, Annette Greengrass could be just the one to help his office run more smoothly again. 

[Annette Greengrass]

Okay Annette, you can do this.

        Just pick up the pace, you don’t want to be late!

It was her first day on the job, and she was determined to impress. And she would impress, she just knew it. After all, her head was a little more together these days than it had been in the last few months of school. She had hoped over her years of pleas with her parents, and their exposure to the muggles from Barking would have made them see that there was nothing really all that special about being pureblood. But you didn't want to cross a Lestrange, or so she'd been told, and so they'd never wanted to pull the plug on the arrangement that had been made when she was a child. Quite thankfully, her and Rabastan had had an agreement on how neither of them wanted it, and with the sudden and admittedly suspicious death of the Elder Lestrange, the whole affair had finally been called off. Much to the dismay of her parents, but they weren't about to argue with her about it. Unfortunately, she was still living with them and had to hear about it every day. She wanted her own place, something in London, to be close to work and her friends. Grace Peasegood had offered her a spot in her flat, given that she was hardly ever home, but she didn't want to put out her friends just because her parents were annoying. 

The elevator jerked to stop on her level and pulled Anne from her thoughts, and she followed the crowd of people out as she headed towards Arthur Weasley’s office. A job in the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts office was important to her, she had decided so long ago that she wanted to work with muggles in some way. It pained her to know that people (like Rabastan) would enchant muggle objects to do harm, she didn’t understand that hatred of being who were unable to do magic. Some of the dearest people that she loved were muggles, and she didn’t feel that they were any lesser than she was. Before she even realized it she was outside the door and putting a smile on her face, she knocked twice before entering, notebook and pen in hand. “Good morning Mr. Weasley, it’s so nice to meet you. I’m Annette Greengrass, your new assistant.”

[Arthur Weasley]

"Ah, Ms. Greengrass! Come in, come in!" Arthur promptly stood and moved out from behind his desk with a smile of welcome, reaching out to shake the young woman's hand as she entered the narrow space. "This desk right here is for you," he said with a gesture to the chair nearest the door, the desk-space before it clear of clutter in anticipation of her arrival, "feel free to bring anything that will make you feel at home." As delighted as he had been to receive Minerva's owl recommending Annette, he was curious to learn more about her and what brought her to the Ministry, his department, specifically. The Greengrass name was as well-known as his own (as much as he distanced himself from so many others within the Sacred 28, it was impossible to forget the names), after all, and he was glad to see that another pureblood wanted to help right the wrongs committed against non-magical folk.

"Let's get acquainted before we get into what you'll be doing for the job itself, how does that sound?" He went back to his chair and turned it to face her before taking a seat, gently un-tacking a moving photograph from the board on the wall (he was still determining just how to get muggle photos developed, from what he'd read, the process behind-the-scenes was astounding!) to show her the latest picture of his wife and the boys. "This is my Molly, Bill's just beside her there with Charlie by the hand to stay in the frame," he said with a fond laugh, the child was inquisitive, loving the dirt and the grubs within it, their chickens and the gnomes, so much so that he was not likely to stay still for very long at all. "We're expecting our third by the end of the summer. We live over in the country in Devon, out among the hills and the meadows, just lovely if you like that sort of thing. Let's see - er - I've been Head of the department here for the last three years, started as the assistant right out of school like yourself," he said with a smile, his tone shifting towards a firmer determination as he moved more into the work. "Simply put, we do our best to fix the wrongs that happen, and try our hardest to put legislature in place to stop them from happening altogether. It's an upward fight, but we've all got to do our part, eh?"

Arthur sat back in his chair, silently reminding himself not to get too caught up in the work right off the bat, and asked, "What can you tell me about yourself, Ms. Greengrass?"

[Annette Greengrass]

Smile on her face, she gladly shook Arthur’s hand, unable to express how happy she was that she had gotten this job as his assistant. She wanted to help protect muggles in a way that she could, and this was a way that she could help. She couldn’t imagine the people she loved back home being accidentally hurt by magic in some way. She dropped her bag and notebook on the desk that he pointed out as hers, and made a mental note to get a good picture of her and the girls that she could put on her desk. Perhaps even a plant! Although it would have to be one that survives without much sunlight, she decided she would write to Willa, both because she missed the younger girl and for advice.

“That sounds great Mr. Weasley,” she said, turning her chair as he had done before she sat. She smiled at the picture he showed her, the boys were absolutely adorable and Molly was absolutely stunning. She had heard stories over the years about Arthur and Molly, whenever the Prewett twins were hanging around. She knew how much Fabian respected his brother-in-law, which had made her only more excited about the chance to work with Arthur. She looked up from the picture to him with excitement - because another baby! It was so sweet to hear such wonderful news. “Oh, congratulations on the new baby! Your children are so cute,” she said, handing the picture back to him.

She nodded as she listened to him talk, shifting from family to the work itself. Annette was fairly aware of what Mr. Weasley’s job was, she’d done her research, but she was unclear about what exactly she’d get to work on as an assistant. She could imagine pouring over legislation for hours, trying to figure out ways to write the wrongs in it. She wanted muggles like her dearest friends from Barking to be safe. But they would get into the work eventually, as Arthur turned the question on her. “Oh well, I grew up near Barking, on a lovely little street with muggles and magical folk alike. It was always a struggle, not telling some of my muggles friends about magic,” she said with a grin, thinking of how Phoebe learning had been a disaster at first, or so she had heard. “I just moved back in with my parents near there, most of my friends are near London now though, so I'm hoping to move closer to them and work. My parents are sweet their just...a little close-minded at times."

[Arthur Weasley]

"Thank you!" he said happily to Annette's kind words. "Molly's just remarkable with them, I tell you. I'm sure you'll meet them all one day, and by then feel as if you know them. I promise that I can focus on work, but I can't keep all my stories inside." Unlike some - more often than not, as the Ministry fouled - she genuinely seemed happy to give her regards and see the lights of his life in the photograph. Arthur had hoped that they would get on as people as well as workmates, and was so far thrilled at how this was beginning. He tacked the picture back up, keen to turn an ear to the graduate and hear from her own voice what had brought her here today. Arthur's smile grew and he struggled to refrain from interrupting as right off the bat she spoke of Barking, and was refreshingly surprised as she went on. Her honesty was a breath of fresh air, and he nodded in kinship.

"Believe you me, I understand what that's like," Arthur told the kindred spirit. "Too many relations call me a blood traitor for me to find any sense in still calling them - well - relations. I imagine it's been difficult to be so close to the muggle world, but with your parents not keen on blending. Tell me, do you know the Bones family?" he asked eagerly. "My wife's brothers and the eldest Bones, Edgar - three peas in a pod, from their first year, the twins would disappear off to Barking over the school holidays as much as they could. Edgar's sister..." Arthur gave a few snaps as he thought, "Amelia, she'd be about your age. Lovely family, just lovely."

A memo-laden screech owl zipped over Annette's head, and Arthur rose to receive it and relieve it of the note. "Lob it a treat, would you Ms. Greengrass?" he asked as the bird perched on his shoulder, and he gave a wayward wave to the jar of owl treats as he scanned the parchment. When Selwyn and suspect activity occupied the same lines, he knew better than to dally. He scrawled a quick reply on the back of the parchment and sent the owl off again, spinning about to gather his cloak and wand. "I apologize for the abrupt change in our morning, but this is how things go in our little office - I've got to investigate a matter at the Selwyn Estate, would you care to join me?"

[Annette Greengrass]

“Oh, I would love to hear stories about them, I think children are just wonderful,” she said with a smile, more thankful by the second that Professor McGonagall had helped her with applying for this position. Her own Head of House had written a recommendation letter of course, but Minerva had been key in her even finding that the position was open in the first place. Arthur Weasely was just as charming and wonderful as she had expected him to be, based on the stories she had heard from the twins over the years. She knew plenty of purebloods who were cruel to anyone they deemed lesser, and Annette knew from experience that to be pureblood and part of the “Sacred 28” meant you were judged on your name alone sometimes. That wasn’t always fair, but it was something she tried not to feel defensive over. And it had taught her a valuable lesson on the luck she had to be born into a family name that meant something.

She’d been called a blood traitor many times, and it was one of those things that didn’t bother her. Blood didn’t matter, how you treated others mattered, and that was what she tried to focus on. She had the ideals her parents subscribed to just because that's how they were raised, couldn't they think for themselves?  “I think it was worth it, it gave me so much perspective on life growing up there,” she said with a smile, one that grew bigger when Arthur spoke of Barking. She had hoped bringing up her hometown would bring this conversation. “I do know the Bones family, they’re just a few houses down. Fabian and Gideon are fantastic, they were always fun to be around.”

An owl flew over her head, and she watched as Arthur read the note as she dug out a treat for the owl, who ate it gratefully. As soon as it left Arthur was moving, and Annette was gathering anything she thought she might need in hopes that he wouldn’t leave her behind. “The Selwyn estate?” she asked, frowning. She knew them, the son was a year below her in school, and he was an ass. “I’d love to join you.” She closed the door behind him to his office, following Arthur to the elevators. Once they were alone in the elevator, she piped up, “Have you been to the Selwyn estate before for this kind of thing? Charles - he’s kind of a brute when he wants to be.”

[Arthur Weasley]

"Is that so? Splendid - I think this is going to work out quite well," Arthur laughed, glad that the graduate didn't seem like one who would tire quickly from his stories. That wasn't the job, of course, they had far more important things to manage than ensuring she know the in's and out's of his children's days - but so much of their work, at its heart, came down to relationships. If they could form a bond of their own, know each other as people, it was such good practice for the work (and made the days that much better). If he could chat to a Wizengamot official about their niece's award winning Venomous Tentacula in one breath and ask about support on what was up for vote in the next - well, it wasn't foolproof, but it didn't hurt. Harder to say no - at least without properly weighing the matter - when you knew that person wouldn't shy away from following up, eh?

"It gets a bit confusing, I'll warn you. There are lots of us around these days, and two of them Bill's," he continued, chuckles dying down. "Our son's a William, officially, but he doesn't feel like a William or a Will so he's our Bill. But then my brother, well, he often doesn't fancy himself much of a Bilius, so we've gone and made quite a mess of things...or we've stumbled upon a new family tradition." Arthur grinned, wondering if she would be open to him helping along with an introduction to said brother. Hufflepuffs had always seemed to have a good way of riding through the waves of Bill, and if nothing else, perhaps a new friendship could form? If all went well, Annette would be around for quite some time and they'd meet one of these days...

"I'm glad to hear it - and that the boys have been fantastic. I'll be sure to pass on a hello, they'll be chuffed to know you're here." Unfortunately, their informal time was to be cut short with the arrival of the owl bearing news. Arthur clipped his cloak around his shoulders, wand in hand, exiting the office with Annette in moments. He was grateful that she'd agreed to come along, feeling the exposure would be valuable for her - truly knowing what she was getting into on the first day - as well as him. House calls could become a regular part of her experience or something to avoid in the future, if needed. But that she was willing to give it a try? Just splendid character, really. 

The lift lurched to a start and Arthur gave an exasperated chuckle at her words. "You could say that again. Unfortunately, I have, and they're very good at covering up what they don't want anyone to find. Which, for us today, is any sign of electronics tampering." He steadied himself against the wall of the elevator, watching the flashes of floors as they passed on their way to the Atrium. "We're not the most welcome of houseguests, but they know that shutting us out only makes them look more guilty. Hopefully something as simple as entry will not be one of our problems today. You're familiar with Charles?"

[Annette Greengrass]

Annette was glad she was already getting along so well with Arthur, although she had assumed if he was anything like his younger brother that they would get along fine. Bill had spoken highly of his brother, and that had encouraged her to pursue the position here over other places in the Ministry. She knew quite well, thanks to her years spent in approximately to the Malfoys and the Lestranges, that Arthur was considered a blood traitor, and that he was viewed as quite odd by many members of pureblood society. The family she had been tied to for many years absolutely despised Arthur, and maybe that was part of why she’d taken up McGonogall on her offer to put in a good word for her. Meeting him for herself, Annette was already seeing how wonderful he truly was, and she was glad to be around someone who had an adoration for family and children just as much as he had an adoration for Muggles.

Arthur brought up his son, and Annette was all grins at the information. It was cute that Arthur’s son shared a name with his brother, and made a mental note to ask Bill about his feelings toward his nephew. Surely it felt like an honor, to have a nephew that shared the same name as you. It also made her wonder why the younger Weasley brother felt that his word wouldn’t have helped her secure the position. Arthur seemed to speak highly of him, and she felt it was only appropriate to mention that she did indeed know Bilius. “I met your brother a week or so ago, he’s quite charming,” she admitted, although she hoped Arthur wouldn’t read too much into that. It had been one date, but Annette was hoping there would be more. “He works with one of my best friends from school, Grace Peasegood.”

She was sure that Arthur was correct, and that the Prewett twins would be happy to hear of her appointment to be Arthur’s assistant. They were good men, although sometimes Fabian could be bullheaded about things. Such as his long-standing will they, won’t they with Kyra, a muggle girl from their neighborhood. But Annette stayed out of it, mostly because she knew Gideon gave his brother enough hell about it for all of them. If there was anyone Fabian listened to, it was Gideon. Their time chatting was ended by the owl that arrived, and soon they were in the lift on their way to the Atrium. Annette didn’t really know what to expect with this sort of house call, but Arthur was quickly filling her in. She could definitely help look for tampered electronics, she was familiar enough with them from her years growing up in Barking. “I’ve had the pleasure of meeting him unfortunately,” she said as the lift jerked to a stop, stepping out of it into the Atrium. “He’s a good Quidditch player, but that’s about the only nice thing I can think to say of him. He has a quick temper and has been the cause of many fights during our school years together. I avoided him mostly.”

[Arthur Weasley]

"Did you, now? And you know Gracie too? What luck!" Arthur couldn't help his amused smile - that Annette and Bill's-the-one-who-got-away (oh, he'd never hear the end of it if Bill heard that!) were friends? And she grew up in Barking? And she was excited for the work, and recommended by Minerva, and...

Arthur quickly felt that he'd won the lottery, indeed, at Annette's assignment to the office. Really, how could things get off to a better start?

Did she say...charming? Annette and Bill had already met, and she'd found him charming. Arthur dearly hoped his little brother had met the young witch on a good night - Bilius was still determining how best to weather the ups and downs and storms of, well, life, and didn't always give the best first impression to new people - but from her smile, it seemed like he didn't have to worry on that. Although...he did hope that Bill hadn't been too charming. Annette seemed like a perfectly nice girl, and his brother wasn't exactly known for following through. Without assistance pushes here and there from concerned invested friends and family. It did twist his gut, just a little, that Bill had said nothing to him of their meeting. Annette was sharp, she would've put two-and-two together, he highly doubted that today and his being Bill's brother hadn't come up in conversation once she knew Bill was Bill Weasley. But that was for him and Bill to figure out, not for him to pry into on their first day. For the first time and, he knew, hardly the last, he wished Molly was here with him. His wife would know just what to say to tease out the details while making Annette feel right at home with her, and he wanted to hear of this first meeting from both Annette and Bill. But there would be time when they knew each other better, there would, and he didn't want to put her off by asking the wrong thing....even with as charming as he was when he tripped over his own sentiments.

While he would have quite happily stayed to chat in the office and start getting Annette acquainted with the lay of the land, and which piles of paperwork were which...as usual, it was best to have a general outline, not a prescribed list, for their day. Alerts from other offices could come at any time, and they needed to be ready to spring into action! Thankfully, she was game to give the house call a go, even as it turned out she was acquainted with their unwitting soon-to-be hosts. These calls didn't come easy - Merlin's beard, he hadn't even been a prefect, charged with officially confronting students on their poor comportment! - and Arthur's nerves were generally rather rattled when all was said and done, but they were necessary. He nodded to his companion's words as they left the lift; she was one to try and find the good in everybody, it seemed, and was able to find something to commend the Selwyn heir of. "I imagine that was for the best, he comes from a family just as rough around the edges," Arthur remarked, waving high for the security wizard's attention as they stepped quickly towards the fireplaces. The uniformed officer stepped to the head of a queue to pause the grumbling line, and Arthur ushered Annette in front of him. "Thank you, Bernard - I'll meet you topside, Ms. Greengrass, and we'll Apparate from there."