At first, Aubrey was a little hesitant about her Father's plan before suddenly remembered Fred once mentioning his father worked at the ministry in passing. At the end of last year, whilst she hadn't met Mr Weasley (yet), she'd seen him from across the platform and got a decent look at his face before her Mum whisked her off. Whilst she wasn't worried about Fred as such, believing that if anything was wrong, she'd know, it would be nice to have some explanation for the weird letter she'd received. Perhaps Mr Weasley could give her the answers she desired.

Usually, Mary wasn't too involved in Ministry affairs but the next morning, Aubrey found her mother looking smarter than usual in preparation, her wild curls clipped back in a silver clasp. She also noticed a tin full of pretty cookies on the counter which were no doubt laced with some sort of sleep-inducing plant extracts.

As usual, the family ate breakfast as a unit, sitting solemnly for once. Jasper assured them he had booked an appointment with the ministry higher ups which of course meant that he was simply going to barge in there without warning. 

"So, will you three be joining us?" Aubrey asked her sisters, two of whom nodded.

"Of course, why in the world would I miss it?" Dulcie asked, smiling whilst demurely cutting the crust of her toast. Isabelle merely shrugged, although her eyes were gleaming.

"Can't," Cynthia replied, "Last night as I was sleeping, your plights inspired me and I realised ... that's what my next painting would be about. Struggles. So I took a look at those old books we have  - "

"I hope you put them back neatly," Mary cut in.

"They were no help so I may have put them back in a bad order out of pettiness ..." Cynthia said, earning herself a glare from her step-mother, "I was thinking I'd start with Prinknash Abbey after the Monk's struggles in that silly little Break with Rome - "

"Aren't you worried you'll be carried away by ghosts?" Dulcie teased, "If some of those ghosts haven't shagged anyone in years, well ..."

"They're Monks ... it's an abbey," Cynthia replied, her nose wrinkled in horror, "They chose not to shag anyone, that's sort of the point, Dulcie."

"Why go that far?" Isabelle asked dryly from behind her mug of herbal tea, "Just head to Stroud's famous farmer's market, you're bound to find some middle-aged family whining about how the price of goat's cheese has gone up - "

"It has, they cost twice as much as they used to," Mary remarked, "Honey, don't you dare tell me that's not a struggle."

Whilst Dulcie laughed, Aubrey had long since zoned out of the conversation, sudden nerves cropping up. Her parents may be steamed about the newspaper article but it really didn't bother her too much. The Summer had been a boring but relaxing time which had offered little worries until yet now she was beginning to worry that her negligence to check on Fred could have dire consequences, Dulcie's words having got to her.

Luckily, after Breakfast was cleared, she had little time to dwell as the family quickly departed for London. Due to both Jasper and Mary's time there, they had no troubles navigating and before they knew it, they had arrived in the beautiful Ministry Atrium.

"Dad," She gripped at his sleeve, "Do you actually know who you're talking to - "

"Fudge. At the end of the day, the Ministry controls the paper, Fudge controls the Ministry ... and I'd love to pay him a visit anyway," Jasper replied, one hand linked with his wife whilst the other was pointing at particularly grand octagonal section, "Over there, if I remember correctly, that's where his office was ... right?"

"Correct," Mary confirmed, "This way."

The trip was starting to disinterest Aubrey who was already thinking of a Weasley-worthy excuse to go and find Fred's father. Glancing around the large atrium, she couldn't see anyone ginger but it was so crowded, there was a high chance she'd simply missed someone. 

The way to the Minister's office was long and convoluted and it quickly occurred to Aubrey why. Rather than take the normal way, her parents were going an odd back route they must have sussed out back in the day, which whilst long, held less security. After several minutes of odd glances as they snaked through random offices and narrow corridors, they arrived in yet another atrium, not as grand as the last one but majestic nonetheless; the floors decorated by literally swirling marble with several golden pillars in the corner.

"Are we here?" Aubrey asked, "Because - "

Her explanation of why she would rather not go in was cut off, not by words but by her distracted parents abruptly walking away. Behind her, Dulcie giggled, setting Aubrey's face into a scowl as she followed behind her parents.

"What if he's not in?" Isabelle asked.

"We'll make him in."

"That makes no sense..." Isabelle replied but she too was drowned out by Jasper sharply knocking on the door. Aubrey waited behind them, trying to figure out if she could get away with just sneaking off. For a few moments, they were met with silence before the door opened to reveal Fudge still sat at his desk, wand poised elegantly in his hand whilst he examined several papers.

"Martha, if that's you, I ..." The Minister finally looked up, his voice faltering. Within seconds he was up, attempting to close the door magically only to be thwarted by Jasper's leg, "What do you want? Get out - "

"I don't think I will," Jasper replied as Mary held casually retrieved the paper from her bottomless bag.

"Mary, can you please make your husband see sense? I ... I have a lot to deal with, got Runcorn at 11 - "

"Oh honey, if you comply we shan't take up too much time," She replied sweetly, "We simply need to talk about this slander..."

Fudge leant down, squinting to read it. Quickly, his face became a picture of disbelief as if he'd only just seen the article but for a brief second, his eyes had given recognition away - and both her parents had seen it.

"We just want to have a little conversation," Jasper replied firmly, "We wouldn't want to cause a disruption which your squib wand couldn't - "

"You just saw me use magic!"

"I've also seen street magicians do better!"

Fudge paused, briefly glancing at Aubrey before averting his gaze out of shame and irritation, "Fine, I will talk to you two but only you two, I don't want this to be a family spectacle."

Isabelle and Dulcie looked somewhat disappointed but Aubrey simply nodded encouragingly, somehow managing to get the outcome she'd wanted with little effort. Before they went in though, Aubrey quickly poked her head in and manically asked:

"Mr Fudge ... where does Mr Weasley work?"

For a few moments, he blinked before simply replying, "Head of the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office."

Jasper gave her a confused look but Aubrey simply smiled, shutting the door. By the time she turned around, her sisters had already gravitated towards the two comfy chairs on either side of the office, eyeing her up curiously.

"How long do you reckon they'll be?" 

Isabelle shrugged, pulling a copy of Witch Weekly out of her pocket, "Hours."

"Dad just said they wouldn't take too long," Dulcie pointed out.

"So ... hours," Isabelle replied, "Will you please take a seat, ma choupette, you're making me jumpy."

"No, I won't," She said, "I was actually thinking of taking a walk, I need to find someone ... can you cover for me?"

Both her sisters raised their eyebrows in time as Dulcie said, "Uhm huhm ... what are you doing, Aubs?"

"Looking for Fred's Dad."

"Oh,not a scandal in the making then," Dulcie huffed, crossing her arms.

"Won't you get lost?" Isabelle asked, "You need a ... for god's sake, what's the word ... Dulcie, the thing with the directions on it ..."

"Say it in French?"

"Forgot that too," Isabelle murmured as Aubrey watched on with amusement, "Dulcie, come on!"

"I can't read your mind!"

"Oh ... oh, la carte ..." Isabelle snapped her fingers, "A map! Yes ... you'll get lost without one."

Although it was a valid point, time was precious, "I think I'll head back to the foyer and ask someone for directions there. I don't need to talk to him long but I'm just worried about Fred - "

"See? Told you it was a red flag," Dulcie grinned.

 "Don't mock me, I'm new to this and he does things like that, okay? Anyway, I'm sure it's not too hard to navigate in the end."

Dulcie raised her eyebrows, "Alright, we'll cover for you ... I'll just tell Dad you went for a morning rendezvous with - "

"Not that!" Aubrey rolled her eyes, "Isabelle, hon, I'll put you in charge instead ... I don't trust Dulcie in the slightest."

"That's rude. I could talk for hours, weaving myself into complex lies in where I shine, Aubrey!"

Although she wasn't entirely sure where she was going, after a little bit of wandering she managed to creepily follow some people all the way to the foyer. As she did so, she made sure to carefully remember her movements so as not to forget later. Once she arrived, it was a little busier than she remembers now she didn't have her stampeding parents to guide her. Still, due to the gift of sharp elbows, she alerted the attention of someone who gave her the instructions she needed. By the time they considered that perhaps they should ask why she needed to know, the girl had disappeared, using her slight frame to easily blend in with the crowd.

It took her a while to find it, mainly because she walked past the shabby office several times, expecting it to be much bigger given the importance of the post. With some trepidation, she knocked on the door, only opening it when she was given permission to. 

Inside was a balding man with fluffy white hair but no Mr Weasley.

The old man looked up from behind his spectacles, "Hello my dear, how may I help you? I thought you were Arthur, we don't get too many visitors here."

"Oh ... I was actually - "

"Yes?"

"I was looking for - "

"Sorry, my hearing's failing me, speak up."

"WHERE IS MR WEASLEY?"

The wizard looked a little taken aback before replying, "He's on his lunch break, he only left some ten minutes ago. I'm afraid you've missed him, he usually wanders all around London trying out muggle cuisine - "

"Could you help me then?" She asked desperately, "Do you know if anything's happened to his son, Fred?"

"I don't believe so," The man replied, "He was discussing it only yesterday about how the twins were being a little testing. I understand they're not at home this summer but I'm not sure of much else, I'm afraid," The man peered over his glasses once more, "I'm sorry, who are you?"

"A friend of Fred's..." She wasn't sure as hell wasn't going to discuss her uncertain relationship status with this old man. Whilst she could have stayed longer, she decided to leave before it became awkward and quickly darted out.

Now that she knew Fred was alright, she could rest easy but as she walked away, she realised the new sense of ease had completely erased the directions from her mind. Due to all the walking around beforehand, the doors all started to look vaguely familiar and people were suddenly far and few between in the lonely corridors. As she walked, she became aware of what sounded like footsteps behind every now and then which, whilst she wasn't panicking just yet, did add to a building sense of unease.

After five minutes of wandering, the thought of returning to the office and getting escorted out by the old man himself was becoming very appealing. Her parents might be out by now depending on how much Fudge could withstand and whilst she had (some) faith in her sisters, she didn't want to be too long. Sadly, this was looking less likely as she came down a corridor that appeared to have no doors nor windows. Still, she walked to the end nonetheless, hoping there might a be secret passage or something like at Hogwarts ... there wasn't.

"I swear to Merlin, if I ever get a job here, there will be some changes," She muttered to herself, turning around before stopping dead. Standing at the other end of the corridor was a girl about her age, staring right back at her. 

The girl was pretty, with dark almond eyes and a heart-shaped face although no matter her appearance, Aubrey hadn't heard her sneaking up. Strangely though, she didn't look in shock to see Aubrey ... more expectant.

"Hello?"

For a few moments, her tentative question was met with silence before the girl softly asked, "Are you lost?"

"Very."

Again there was silence, the girl's face blank before it broke into a beaming grin, "Oh ... oh, yeah ... me too!"

• • •

I think I may have finally decided on Lexy's face claim although it's been hard - E x