[Suzanne Le Tissier]

Suzanne was in London for work. The ministry had reached out her after there had been several reports of muggles encountering selkies in Scotland. Ministry obliviators had gotten involved to straighten out the incident, but of course all of that would be useless if the local colony in Loch Shiel kept antagonising muggle tourists visiting the area. Suzanne had agreed to talk to them and now was in London discuss the ministry's strategy and terms before travelling to Scotland for the actual negotiations.

It was a pretty standard incident. Suzanne thought it was probably just a few selkie teenagers having a bit of fun, but Brentwood at the Beasts Division was treating it like a high profile breech or the Statute of Secrecy. Suzanne wasn't sure why. Scottish muggles believed a lot of strange things, what was claiming to have seen a selkie among all of that? She'd debated not even coming in for this, but meeting Brentwood gave her an excuse to visit the ministry for an entirely different purpose.

A couple of days ago, she'd overheard a conversation between her father and some other wizard. Apparently, a potential suitor was finally being discussed. Suzanne had stood pressed against the door of her father's study for a full ten minutes soaking up every word said, but she still hadn't learned all that she wanted to know. Apparently, the potential match worked for the ministry, was a studious type and hailed from a respectable family. But what did he look like? How old was he? Her father, unfortunately, hadn't asked these things. Perhaps, they'd come up earlier in the conversation before Suzanne had been within earshot.

She understood that nothing was agreed or set in stone yet, but curiosity compelled her to check out the gentleman in question, a Mr Abercrombie. If she remembered correctly from the papers he was usually out and about with his cousin Farren. She tried to recall if they'd ever talked before, but her mind came up blank. The young Mrs Abercrombie-Rosier had an entirely different social circle than the Le Tissiers. Their paths hadn't really crossed all that much. Paris had always held more allure to Suzanne than London.

She'd agonised about her wardrobe for far longer than was reasonable. She wanted to look cute if this was to be a meaningful first meeting, but at the same time she still had to look like she was just going to work. In the end she'd settled on a matching ensemble of a quilted skirt with a flared silhouette and half-cloak. Work-appropriate, but still fun.

No matter how well prepared she'd come, kicking her little reconnaissance mission into action turned out harder than anticipated. She'd literally had to beg one of her friends at the ministry to help her out. As a consultant she only came in occasionally and didn't know a lot of people working for other departments. However, her friend managed to eventually hook her up with a chap called Winthrop who divulged that Mr Abercrombie sometimes spent his lunch breaks reading in the ministry library. Even more excitingly, he'd described as Abercrombie as handsome.

Suzanne wanted to squeal in excitement, but bit down the emotion. It was too soon. He could still turn out to be an unpleasant person.

Now armed with a physical description Suzanne entered the library and took a look around. She didn't recognise anybody save a witch from the beasts division who had an unhealthy obsession with quintapeds. She quickly skipped past Ethel, only giving the woman the briefest of greetings. And then she spotted him, tall, dark and handsome. Well, at least she liked to imagine that it was him.

Suzanne took heart and approached the wizard in question. "Excuse me," she started gently. "I was hoping you could help out a colleague in a pinch here. I can't seem to find the book I am looking for or the librarian. Must have gone off to lunch I suppose."

[Christopher Harrison]

Christopher had thought the Hogwarts rumour mill was extraordinary as a boy. The obsession with gossip, the more sordid the better, was expected of teenagers. They were hormonal bundles of energy cooped up with too much free time and not enough activities to distract them. What he hadn't expected back then was the continuation of the behaviour into adulthood. It wasn't just teenagers who sat around speculating on the latest celebrity scandals or avidly discussing the lives of their peers when they weren't present. The only difference was adults liked to think they were more sophisticated about it.

With that in mind, it was hardly surprising word quickly travelled through certain circles within the Ministry when a pretty young blond started making enquiries about Pyxis Abercrombie. Christopher had just finished writing a report on an interview with a witch accused of casting a few trivial hexes on a Squib neighbour when the Department's secretary Imelda Burke burst into his office to tell him the latest Ministry gossip. She'd heard of the pretty blonde's inquiries from Leticia Johnson, who had heard it from Alexander Davies with the Department of Mysteries, who had heard it straight from the source.

Auror Harrison usually tried to ignore such trivialities, but the report he'd just finished had been extraordinarily dull, so he listened to the woman's comments with an unexpected openness. He snorted with amusement at the idea of this upcoming encounter. Of course Christopher had heard of Mr Abercrombie. He was constantly in the tabloids along with his cousin Farren, the heir of his infamous family. The muggleborn could concede the man was conventionally handsome; there was a reason Mr Abercrombie had won Witch Weekly's most eligible bachelor of 1968 award. However, the Pureblood was as dull as watching paint dry, and the way he pranced around with his nose in the air made him as appealing as the contents of Christopher's lavatory.

A mixture of boredom and morbid curiosity led the Auror to leave his office and head to the Ministry library for his lunch break. Could Abercrombie even converse with a member of the fairer sex without making her want to die of boredom at best and claw his eyes out at worst? It was hard to imagine that pretentious dullard being capable of summoning even the slightest trace of charm. Thankfully, his office was quite close to the library, and he made it there within two minutes.

Christopher had only opened the pages of his chosen text, a book on advanced potion brewing when an unfamiliar woman entered the library. He instantly noted her beauty. Could this be the mysterious woman Imelda spoke about? Christopher hadn't planned to get involved. He had hoped to simply watch Mr Abercrombie's stumbled attempts at Charm. However, who was he to deny a request for help? Auror Harrison offered the woman a winning smile. Unlike Abercrombie, he knew how to be pleasant company. "Yes, of course! I'm always happy to help out a colleague. Especially, and I hope you don't mind me saying this, one as pretty as yourself! So what book are you looking for?"

A gentleman would have offered the woman his name, that way she would know he was not the one she sought and could depart with relatively little fuss. However, he was bored, and what was the harm in keeping her company until Mr Pretentious came along?

[Suzanne Le Tissier]

"Thank you," Suzanne replied. "I really appreciate it." In truth, she was a little flustered. She hadn't made much of a plan for any conversation that would ensue, she had just wanted to hear his voice. He sounded a little less formal than she had anticipated, but she decided that wasn't a bad thing. It would certainly make things easier if he was flexible and easy going in his approach. A small smile played around her lips. It was too soon to say, but it seemed that waiting for all this time was about to pay off and be worth it.

"I'm preparing for a diplomatic mission in Scotland," she explained truthfully. "I was hoping to find something related to local mermaid history and customs. I obviously have the official mission brief, but I prefer being thoroughly prepared and doing my homework before every assignment." Was that too much to say? Some people thought the work the Beasts Division did wasn't important. Hopefully Mr Abercrombie wouldn't be one of those people.

She had to admit that it felt deliciously naughty to send the young man before her on a fool's errant. It was rare that she got to break with pureblood protocol and have a little bit of silly fun. There wasn't a book about selkies Suzanne hadn't seen or read before, however, the man across from her didn't know that. He'd hopefully find her something and they could have a bit of small talk and get to know each other. "It shouldn't take long really. If you can drop me off at the right section I can find my own way. Wouldn't want to keep you from your duties here."

Little fib. Obviously she was keen to keep him from his duties and spend a little bit of time. However, she could hardly come forward with that. "So what is it exactly that you do here?" She asked. In Suzanne's experience most men liked talking about themselves and their work. Her mother claimed that it made them feel important. Suzanne was inclined to agree.

[Christopher Harrison]

Auror Harrison offered his companion a warm smile as she expressed her gratitude. This one was far too nice to be stuck with a pretentious arse like Abercrombie.

Ah, and now it made sense! Abercrombie was known for dealing with international diplomats as part of his work for the International Magical Office of Law! The woman was probably looking for some tips. After all, Chris and Abercrombie were like two sides of a coin in some ways. Abercrombie and his ilk made the law while Chris enforced it! Well, as much as one could impose it with the sinister undertones of corruption at every corner. Although, if she wanted the dullard's help in a professional capacity, why didn't she ask? What was up with the pretence?

"You must be a woman of importance if they send you on such missions" he offered brightly, as he led her through the library until they reached the relevant section. It was in the culture section of the library next to the books recently donated by the Comhairle na Draíochtaon on Leprechauns. "I can't say I'm an expert, but I was told this one is good for someone who needs to learn about the magical creatures of Scotland quickly." He held up a tome that briefly outlined information on magical creatures native to Scotland. It was perhaps more suited to a student studying for their OWLs at Hogwarts, but as stated it was not his area of expertise.

When she outright asked him about his work Auror Harrison sighed as the jig was up. He would not have minded spending a bit more time with the beautiful blond, but he wasn't about to outright lie to her. That wasn't the type of man he wanted to be. "I work as an Auror" he answered smoothly before extending a hand. "That reminds me... I never properly introduced myself. I'm Auror Harrison, but feel free to call me Chris." He was intrigued to see her reaction to the news he wasn't the man she'd been asking around about!

[Suzanne Le Tissier]

"I don't know about that," Suzanne responded honestly, "but it helps that I speak the language." She never felt particularly important, nor was the Beasts division widely acknowledged. It was nice though that Pyxis saw some value in what she did. Maybe, that boded well for the future. Working for the ministry had never been Suzanne's ambition, - her father had arranged it -, but she couldn't help feeling hopeful that she might be allowed to continue with it even after marriage. It wasn't much, but it was hers and she was arguably good at it.

The gratefully received a book from her kind helper and Suzanne nodded in appreciation. Again, she found herself silently hopeful. He'd made a sensible choice and given that he could provide a summary of the work he clearly was interested in academics and learning. Hopefully, that meant that conversation would not become tedious between them. Some of her friends who had recently married complained about that. All their husbands seemed to be interested in talking about were sports and politics. This was all shaping up very well, very well indeed.

"Thank you very much. I new this would be so much quicker getting some help." She opened the book and dutifully flicked through the pages listening to her future husband chatting about being an auror. What? Wait? Auror. Was her intelligence bad? She was sure that was not what her father had said when speaking the Abercrombie's family. Perhaps a misunderstanding, but, oh no, no, no.

Suzanne was taking aback as the man before her introduced himself as Auror Harrison. It was a good thing she'd been looking at the content of the book rather than the man himself or the other might have noted her disappointment. Perhaps, it was still visible even when she was hiding her face. Nevermind. Onwards and upwards.

Suzanne squared her shoulders and replaced her expression with a kind smile. It was an essential skill in pureblood society to be able to keep tabs on one's emotions. This was one of those times where it would have been undignified to show how she really felt about things. "It's wonderful to meet you," she said softly. It was the truth. Meeting him had been nice and for a split second there she had pictured a marriage to the very handsome wizard next to her. Alas, that was not what was meant to be.

"My name's Suzanne Enora Le Tissier, I'm an external consultant for the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, Beasts Division." She offered her hand to Auror Harrison, making a proper formal introduction.

"And I don't want to keep you from your duties, but I was hoping to catch up with Mr Abercrombie before I left for Scotland. It's been suggested to me that he might be of some help. If you wouldn't mind pointing him out to me. We haven't met before and I am sure you know how awkward it is to get a hold of people around here. Last time I came in to see undersecretary Buttersworth I spent a whole afternoon searching before anybody told me that her desk has been moved."

Suzanne thought she'd managed quite a smooth recovery and that she'd seamlessly transitioned into trying again. She wasn't quite ready to give up on her little reconnaissance mission yet. She still wanted to know more about Pyxis before consenting to a lifetime spent together. How could fathers just decide on these things more or less sight unseen? It was probably better not to think on that for an unpleasant truth was lurking just around the corner.