[Ministry] The Rogue of the Matter

[Alex Cromwell]

His eyes poured over the latest report unable to discern anything of interest. An older official had complained of ill treatment at the hands of a student and the Rogue DeConti but what could he do about it. The man was an incompetent fool and Alex was just frustrated that the Rogues didn't take him captive. Instead, he had to somehow figure out a way to take revenge upon the elusive Rogues. It was folly. Fortunately for the Rogues most were skilled and unfortunately for the ministry many officials were useless; a student honestly.

He took a sip of his coffee and read the report again. Revenge would have to wait; the old fat man could serve to be humiliated. He tossed the report aside and picked up another that would hopefully have further information.

He read it through. They were reported being seen in masses around the mountains and in the Forbidden Forest of Hogwarts. He smiled briefly, they were becoming more sedentary. Soon, however, he was frowning once more. For the Rogues to have taken up camp meant that they were getting stronger; more united and each day that passed more Rogues were joining the cause.

He pulled three images, a woman and two men. Gabriella De Conti, Jake Gobien, and Octavious Everritt. He looked at them as if hoping that they would give away something. But even the pictures they were secretive; glaring and menacing they gave away nothing. Alex sighed as he rubbed his 3 day old stubble; these three needed to be dealt with for as long as they were alive the Rogues will live on and continue to unite under one banner. The ministry would need to strike swift and hard-to lose to these mongrels would be humiliating and disastrous for the wizard kind.

[simoneflynn]

Simone shook her head as she had an appointment with another rulebreaker yet again, she dismissed him, and he he was escourted out of the building. She signed off the assignment and filed it in the correct place. Her office was big, and lucky for her it was one with a big window. She sighed as she stirred her tea magically by propelling her finger above it, then took a sip.
She looked over at her 'To do' pile, which was considerably larger than the 'Out' pile.
The next assignment was a large amount of pages all stapled together. She read the front page, then flicked it over to the next one, seeing it needed to be seen by Alex, an Auror in the ministry as he was part of this case too. She signed the front page to show she had read it, and stood up and walked out, clutching the pages.
She walked down a few corridors to be greeted by Alex's door.
The Word's 'Alex Cromwell, Auror' were on the door, and she knocked before entering.
"Hi Alex, I have a bit more information that's been sent down to me for you." She smiled at him, walking over and handing him the essay.
"So hows your day been so far then?" she said, glad of the little break.

[Alex Cromwell]

His eyes glazed over he continued to pour over the report. The Rogues, that's all he ever heard about and what he did know was still very little. They were attempting to band together but considering their lack of loyalty that probably wouldn't last long if the leaders were gone. And once again he was staring at the pictures-unable to find a way to get rid of them.

He was, for once, glad to be interrupted by a knock at his door until he saw who it was. A young witch carrying more paper for him to read. He inwardly groaned as he glared at the sheet of paper.

"I suppose I'm obligated to read those aren't I?" he said ignoring her questions. He was never one for pleasantries.

[simoneflynn]

Simone gave a little smile.
"Unfortunately yes. It never Ends does it?" She said handing him the papers.
She took a little pity on him, the fact that she'd been working att day and was only just leaving, but he was still stuck here. They must be the only two left in the building.
"Do you want any help?" She asked politely after a moment of silence between them. He looked stressed, and sat in the dark with nothing but his desk lamp for light, she could clearly see his stubble and darkened circles under his eyes. She pulled all her hair together and twirled it around a little so it was in a ponytail infront of her. She normally did this when she was going to get stuck into something, to keep her hair out of the way so much, whether it be work, or food. She did it automatically.

[Alex Cromwell]

He smiled back at the young witch, "So it seems."

He looked up at her once more, trying to put a name to her face- something he never was good at. And yet this lady's name seemed to be at the tip of his tongue. She certainly was remarkably beautiful and the red hair was certainly a rarity. He smirked, "Simone Flynn right?"

He laughed at her offer, "You must be a friendly girl if you offer to help me with this wretched work. But hey, maybe some fresh eyes will do me some good. I never frown upon the company of a lovely lady either," he said with a wink.

He tossed over the report he was holding about the possible. whereabouts of the Rogues and such. "Switch?"

[simoneflynn]

Simone watched as she could tell he was desperate to remember her name. She was about to say it when he won the right;
Simone Flynn right?
Simone smirked and nodded, before giving out a quick laugh.
"Correct" she said.
Alex looked very stressed, then he accepted her proposal her staying to help. She blushed when he called her a lovely lady.
She flicked yet another piece of hair out of her way and took off her jacket putting it on the back of the chair, and putting her suitcase and handbag next to the seat as she sat down opposite him.
Swap? he inclined to her, passing her his papers.
"Oh, go on then" she said jokingly. Taking the papers from him, she looked at him and smiled. He was what a proper man should be, not a boy.

[Alex Cromwell]

He smiled at Simone, "I'm glad. That could be really embarrassing otherwise."

He smirked as he saw her blush, he always enjoyed it when they did that. "I love it when you blush, it's just so cute." He said with a smile. He was also never one to not tell the truth-or stop trying to make woman blush.

He laughed as she agreed to his proposition, his mood brightening somewhat. "You truly are an angel!"

He glanced through the report, gaining nothing by merely skimming it. He sighed, most unfortunate, he would probably have to read it now. He flipped back to the first page and began to read more thoroughly; nothing new really appearing. "So what do you do here other than bring reports and offer help to grumpy aurors?"

[simoneflynn]

Simone began to read the report on the Rogues when Alex noticed her blushing, then he said he liked it, which made her blush even more. She felt like her cheeks were on fire, and they were probably the same colour as her hair.
"I deal with all the crap the ministry throws at me" she begun to laugh.
"I mainly deal with all the minor abuse acts, and reports of misuse. I normally go and talk with the person about it too, and stuff like that" she replied to him, cradling the paper in her hand. She put it on the desk.
"In otherwords buried under a pile of paperwork with the off occasion of a break to warn people" she grinned at him.
She decided to change the subject, and involve him a little more.
"So, how long have you been working on this then?" she asked, tilting her head and letting her red hair loose again. She put her hand on the paper, indicating she was talking about that.

[Alex Cromwell]

He laughed as she reddened even further, the blushing no doubt enhanced by her red hair and fair skin. He decided against teasing her further, for once being the nice guy.

He smirked, "Small stuff then. Sounds simply fascinating," he said slightly sarcastic. "Forgive me, don't think I could handle a job that was purely paperwork. Though I am glad to have met you so perhaps I am happy that you are willing to do the stuff I am not." He said with a smile.

"You really enjoy playing with your hair don't you," he said as she let her hair tumble loose once more.

"I have been reading these reports ever since the Rogues decided to band together a couple years ago. Before they weren't nearly as careful, we could hunt them down and throw them in Azkaban; few evaded us. He said pointing to the pictures of De Conti and Gobien. But now they decided to work together and the strongest protect the weakest making my job a lot more difficult and so now I have to read reports." He said placing the one he had in his hand down on the desk. "I've been an auror for about ten; I'm getting old."

[simoneflynn]

Simone smiled.
"It gets in my way all the time, but I couldn't bare to cut it all off, and yes, small simple stuff, but someone's got to put up with it haven't they" she said with her eyebrow raised. She found what he said belittling, but she wasn't sure if he meant it or not so she let it pass.

[Alex Cromwell]

"Yes," he said smiling, noting her harsher tone. "Sorry for my blunt nature. I have a great respect for those who do the work that I and my colleagues are most incapable of doing. I just have little respect for a few members of your department." He said tossing the other report over. "Apparently I'm supposed to attack Hogwarts because he was bested by a student."

"It would be a shame to do so; you have beautiful hair." he said smiling as he picked up the report again; reading the second page. His eyes widened with glee as he scanned through the finer points. It was exactly what we needed. "Simone I swear to god I could kiss you right now!" he said standing up and slapping the report on the table. He now had sufficient evidence to station some white roses at Hogwarts; the reports of a proper Rogue base deep in the forest were finally coming through. Getting to it would be difficult but capturing wandering Rogues would no longer be such an issue.

"This is the best news I've had in a long time." He said laughing. "You, my dear, are magnificent!"

[simoneflynn]

"Yes, I suppose so. I'm just the idiot that gets lumbered with it all" she smirked a little. He said she had beautiful hair, she didn't know what to do but smile and look away.
Alex picked up a piece of paper and joy spread across his face in an instant.

'Simone I swear to god I could kiss you right now'
She blushed a little at what he said, but she knew he said it in glee, so she let it pass. She was happy she was the one who brought matters forward. Her job seemed a little more important to her now, knowing she'd helped Alex achieve more information.

"Wahey!" She said laughing.
"So what's the plan of action now then?" she said, as she was holding the papers, she realised they weren't needed anymore so she put them on the desk.

[Alex Cromwell]

"Most unfortunately! I'm sure you'd be marvelous to have around in the field." He said smiling lightly, unable to quite contain his job. He laughed aloud, he'd been locked up in this office for too long-he was excited about a waiting and watching mission.

He ran forward and picked up Simone, twirled her around in a circle and then put her back down again. He laughed at her face, which was doubtlessly reddening once more.

"What do we do now?" he said sitting back down and taking out a quill and parchment. "I write a note to the head of department requesting some elite be sent, along with myself, to watch over Hogwarts for the Rogues because I know have sufficient enough evidence to do so!" he said happily as he folded the note into a little paper airplane and sent it away flying. "Then we celebrate!"

[simoneflynn]

Simone laughed as Alex picked her up and twirled her around.
"You better get writing then!" She said pulling on her jacket and picking up her suitcase and handbag.
"Good luck, You know where I am if you need me" She said with a glint in her eye, and with that, she smiled and left his office.

[Alex Cromwell]

He laughed lightly as she strode out of his office. "I'll be sure to find you!" He said merrily. He turned back around to his desk and sighed. Today had certainly been far more productive and much more enjoyable than he had suspected.

He sat down and began to tap his fingers impatiently against his desk. His eyes lingered on the spot where she had just been. She was certainly one of the most interesting girls he'd met in a long while. He couldn't put his finger on it but for some reason he was attracted to her though she generally wasn't his type-happy. He smirked at the thought.

He grinned as he watched a small note float to his desk in front of him. He knew the Head of Department would give him the okay and he was right. He smiled, he was happy that he would be able to leave his desk for periods of time now. He smiled as he wrote a quick note to the headmaster informing him of their arrival and that he would explain further upon their meeting. Truthfully, he was glad to see the Headmaster once more. He liked the man and looked up to him.

He glanced at his watch, he was supposed to be here for another half an hour. He smirked; he'd just take the long way around to her office. He laughed slightly, he didn't even know where that was. He threw on his jacket and strode out of his office and made his way towards her department.

He found her desk easily enough and sat down across from her. "Told you I'd locate you somehow,"