Let the Midnight Oil Burn

[alexander rookwood]

There were very few of those employed by the Ministry these days who bothered staying late past the end of their shifts. Where once a certain level of work ethic had prevailed and employees had striven for positive change in Wizarding Society, more capable and power-hungry people had replaced them ... and all of that was just fine with Alexander Rookwood.

Ethical may not be a word generally used to describe him, but he enjoyed his work if nothing else. Certainly the ... legalities of his position were questionable but there was little difference there than in anything else he could be connected to. Still, he was one of those rare shining employees who enjoyed a late night at the office and the feeling of going home knowing there had been a job well done.

And there had been a job well done, indeed, as he wiped the blood off of his wand and tucked it neatly into the holster at his waist before sitting back down at his desk and resuming the paperwork he had abandoned hours ago.

There were exactly three people in existence who knew what Alexander's true position at the Ministry was, and they all knew that as they were in the same line of work, a mistake or word spoken out of turn could cost them their lives. By day, and to the public eye, Alexander Rookwood was a respectable Covert Operations Auror, one of the elite few to stand on top of the Aurors department. His true line of work, given to him by Zabini himself, was far more sinister in nature. Alexander was, in essence, a hitman. It was his job, along with the two others, to take care of those problems that the Minister of Magic simply found he needed to have ... disappear.

And so here he was, now nearly midnight, staring at his latest assignment and waiting for his partner, so that they could continue their list for the night.

[alexandria zabini]

[/b] Shutting the door, after the question was asked, she placed up only half the proper spells, silencing spell only. Only have magicked on her robes, let alone fix her hair properly or apply the proper makeup she knew that this would be one of the few times that Alexander would see her not composed. Only due to the level of trust they have; the level that is necessary to do the job, and part of a relationship.

"I don't want to hear anything about my general look or my lack of caring for secrecy right now Xander. My father decided that my job was more important than getting some sleep. I can't run 36 hour shifts like you," With that final thought she sat down and awaited the job for the night. [/ul][/i][/size]

[alexander rookwood]

<sup>The sudden burst of sound in the otherwise silent room jarred Alexander from his thoughts, although he showed no signs of it as he lifted his head quickly to see Alexandria come blazing into the room looking quite unlike herself. Smiling to himself, he leaned back in his seat and folded his arms over his chest, giving her an amused look as he let her rant for the moment.

Truth be told, he actually liked this side of Alexandris best. The complete disregard for how she looked, because only he would see her. It was nice that she trusted him, even though she technically had to trust him with her life everyday. The fact she voluntarily let down her guard was a nice change in their day to day relationship.

"For the record, it's generally closer to a forty hour shift some days ... you know how I despise paperwork." He teased her mildly as he chuckled to himself and leaned forward on the table, resting his elbows on the wood surface. "And also for the record, I like it when you wear less makeup." He said with a wink. He adjusted his weight, squaring off his shoulders and taking on a more professional demeanor.

"Now ... to work at hand." He said lifting the stack of forms he had in his left hand to indicate them. Opening the dossier, he revealed a few pictures of their next victim, his family, friends ... all taken as if from some far off distance. There were several pages on his daily activities and background. "Our newest assignment is a man named Demetrius Belflower. Apparently he is an old Muggle Rights advocate from decades ago and he's been stirring up trouble trying to preach tolerance ..." Alexander scoffed. "Tolerance of filth ... what a complete contradiction of terms." He said darkly.</sup>[/sup]

[alexandria zabini]

[/b] Alexandria waved her hand to wave off his excuse and correcting her, she absolutely despises being corrected but in that case was one of the only times it is passed by, he should know how long he was working. Rolling her eyes as his semicompliment, she let him explain the job before retorting back to her looks.

"Also, it's night and I was woken up, I know you wouldn't appreciate me coming in thirty minutes after the job being handed to you just to make myself look like the minister's daughter. Do well to remember that as the minister's daughter it's all about appearances. Although, next time you decide to take me out somewhere, the two of us, I'll keep in mind you prefer less makeup." Adding a slight smirk at the end she began to address the job. "Well, don't worry he won't be advocating much longer. Let's try to make this our quickest job yet shall we?" Making it seem like a game, to see how long it takes to plan and carry out the job the quickest.

"On another work related note, Evangelina isn't cooperating as we need her to. Any possible way that you can suggest I go about this, she hasn't taken to the fellow Slytherin path. I obviously can't use sexuality as I do with half our missions," Alexandria has been trying to convert the youngest Potter to their side for a good month or so, and that Potter is stubborn and not budging from her views. She doesn't ask for help often, but this is a second priority case. One that needs much attention.[/i][/size][/ul]

[alexander rookwood]

"Agreed." He replied with a curt nod.

In all truth, they did consider it to be quite a fantastic game. The two of them posed as positions with the Ministry. He himself, worked as an Auror by day. By night, however, the two paired off and got to play villain, slaying people who got in the way. The sheer power of it all was like a drug, and neither could quite satisfy their hunger for the high.

"It seems rather routine." He said sliding the dossier neatly across the table as he rose and began pacing behind his desk, glancing absently out the window that was situated behind him. "Belflower probably won't be too much trouble, but he is well liked by some of the less educated minds in our society, so discretion is key as I am sure you understand." He said folding his hands behind his back and looking thoughtfully to the streets below.

"It's a pity the Potter brat isn't cooperating as we planned, she would be beneficial." He mused, running a hand through his closely cropped hair. "Then again, I am certain we can make her see reason ... wouldn't you agree?" He said looking to Alexandria meaningfully with a glint of malice in his eyes.

[alexandria zabini]

[/b] here Alexandria put a meaningful pause, as if she was deciding the word, but in all honesty she wasn't. "Help him along hmm?" Closing her muse on this case, not as important as the Potter case, Potter would be an excellent asset to their group, the ability to go into places and hit people younger then these two would be fantastic. There may be only a few years difference, yet these people are starting to come up younger and younger, and they need someone that can relate to them better then the minister's daughter who is about five or six years out of Hogwarts, versus the fresh one or two year out of Hogwarts Potter daughter.

Noticing exactly what that glint meant, her matched his, although she knew that it wouldn't work as well. "Xander. Xander. Xander." Her tone had matched on as if talking to a younger child who just got caught and was in trouble. "We want her to join us out of loyalty, not fear. However Slytherin and being my successor she was, she's still a Potter and will have loyalty to her superiors, if joined willingly. I know how that works of her, she did have to be around me and learn from me my final year, did she not? This is will be the tricky part to figure out. Persuasion without the pain, my dear." By the point of finishing her response to his thoughts on Potter, she had stood up and joined him in his view outside the ministry. However, his eyes were temperarily directed to the streets, hers were to the stars and moon above. However Slytherin she may be, Alexandria still was a female, and she was secretly a romantic at heart, which would enjoy (whether or not she showed it) some cliche dating treatments, no matter out of her reach it is with him. Turning back to face him, face without emotional betrayal of her thoughts just now, she raised an eyebrow in patience for his response.[/ul][/size][/i]