RP: Run Around

[rar_reed]

Date: 29 August 1998
Characters: Reed 'RB' Bradley, Draco Malfoy
Location: The Ministry
Status: Public
Summary: RB needed to at least try to find out if any of their things survived.
Completion: Complete

Comments

[rar_draco]

Draco stepped out of the other lift, still balancing his collection of files expertly. His mind was elsewhere. Tomorrow, he would be attempting an act of subterfuge, and he was in the middle of deciding which way he should sneak Hermione into the house; either through the stableblock, which was vast and empty; or through his mother's gardens, which were certainly a display of wealth and pride, and gave a wonderful view of the house as you approached it.

He was so thoroughly distracted; and knew the route to the filing room so well, that it was only inevitable that he walk straight into someone. It just had to be when was carrying sorted files, didn't it? They went flying, scattering across the floor, some of the contents falling free and muddling. He'd have to do them all again, and he really didn't have time! This week, he needed every second he could save.

So naturally, he decided to waste his time and turn on the person who had caused the accident. "Do you have even the slightest idea how long those files take to get sorted?" he asked, coldly. The 'Visitor' badge glittered from the other's chest, and Draco narrowed his eyes. Perfect.

[rar_reed]

Reed had been standing in front of the lift trying to get his bearings when someone plowed into him. He reached out to catch one of the files as it fell free. "Oi! Caref..." he was cut off with a rhetorical question he decided to answer anyway. "No, actually. I do wonder though. If it takes time to sort I'd think you would be more careful toting them about, Malfoy. Seems like a temporary binding charm on the lot would have been a wise move if you didn't want to sort them again." RB knew who the bloke was even if he had been a year above him in Slytherin. Draco Malfoy had been a Prefect and they had both played on their house Quidditch teams. He wondered what he was doing carrying about files in the Ministry though. It was rumored the Malfoys were richer than god. It didn't seem like the sort of job one of them would do.

It wasn't in Reed Bradley's nature not to help though, "Look, would you like me to hold those for you while you collect the others? Or I could round up what fell?" He wasn't sure if he was allowed to draw his wand in the Ministry or not, but he didn't need to summon the papers, he could pick them up by hand.

[rar_draco]

"Yes, I wonder," he drawled, bitterly. "Do you think, perhaps, I might be very busy? I didn't expect a gaumless idiot to be standing right in the middle of the corridor."

Draco waited, expectantly, still standing. "Go ahead," he told him, motioning to the scattered papers. There wasn't a single thing on earth that would make him scuffle around on the Ministry floor. He too, could of course have done it by wand, but it would be more entertaining to have someone do it for him.

"You played Quidditch," he pointed out, finally recognising him. No - he hadn't seen him for a while, but it was quite possible he simply hadn't been looking. Of course - there were other explanations. Draco was, admittedly, never particularly interested in the quibbles of other people's lives.

[rar_reed]

"Point," RB could acknowledge that standing in front of the lifts looking like a lost puppy probably wasn't the best idea. "Of course if this place was better labeled, there might be fewer gormless idiots to run into. Muggles make it a bit easier to find which way to go in their government buildings, even if the run around is the same."

RB decided that palming his wand instead of drawing it should be all right. He was careful to specify which papers he wanted as he whispered the spell. It wouldn't do to only specify paper and end up ripping the still organized files from Malfoy's hands. Amusing as that might be.

"Yes, I did. Reed Bradley. Ravenclaw Chaser 2 and 3 years ago, although I'm hoping I might be able to win my spot back this year. One of the reasons I'm standing about, actually. I'm hoping to track down my broom and other school things." The last of the papers were collected. "You wouldn't happen to know which way to Magical Law Enforcement, would you? Probably need a general information desk of some sort so they can send me off on another wild goose chase," he sighed. "Oh, where would like these?" He held up the papers.

[rar_draco]

"Muggles?" he asked, clearly hesitating, watching as Reed summoned the papers, his eyebrows raised, his arms closing a little tighter around the files he still held, almost defensively.

A few things made sense all at once, when he explained about his missing school things. There was only one way that could have happened. "You're a Mu...a Ravenclaw. That explains a lot. The holier than thou, for a start. Do you honestly believe that, just because I'm here, I'm responsible for the...'labelling'?"

"As far as I know, you're looking in the wrong place," he told him, snatching the pile of papers back, and shuffling them. "Death Eaters, generally, weren't the type to turn down free handouts. If they stored your belongings safely, in case you needed them..." there was dry sarcasm in his voice now, "then I would be very surprised. Of course, you're quite welcome to ask everyone in Law Enforcement for all I care. It's not like they've been doing any work since Greyback. Finding lost school things might even be a priority."

[rar_reed]

"Yeah, muggles. In their offices there are usually signs or plagues near the lifts labeling which departments or office numbers are in which direction. Then I suppose this place may be like Hogwarts where stuff never stays put. In which case labels wouldn't work, would they?" RB laughed.

His face hardened and his eye twitched as he caught what Malfoy almost said. "No. I'm familiar with minor government bureaucrats and their narrow definitions of what constitutes their jobs. Want I should summon that stick you've got up your bum while I'm at it?"

RB nodded, "I've got a feeling I'm looking in the wrong place too. But you see Malfoy, it was the Ministry that took us from King's Cross. So it is to the Ministry I have come," he stamped down the urge to share a few more choice words with the arrogant arse.

"Don't let me get in the way of your filing. I'd would hate for you to have to explain to your boss that you fell behind because you stopped to help a muggleborn. Since you're headed that direction, I'll just be going the opposite, shall I?" It was a good plan in his opinion. He wasn't interested in wasting anymore of his time on this petty bureaucrat when RB was positive there were so many more he'd have the opportunity to chat up before the day was through.

[rar_draco]

"Of course," he drawled. "You must ignore my pessimism, of course, after all, the likeliness is that they've got a special locked room with all your things neatly labelled and packed away." He snorted. "I'd start taking your disappointment pills now, if I were you."

He stepped forwards. "And if I walk into you again, and you make any assumptions about me that even resemble prejudice, I'll see that you get ejected from the Ministry faster than you can say 'broomsticks'. As far as I recall, Muggleborn is a statement, and not an insult. Of course, if you want to take it that way, then feel free, but expect no deferential treatment from me."

He couldn't get him thrown out, of course, but he would use it as a threat none the less. There was simply no way he was going to allow anyone to speak to him that way without a sharp word in return.

"Don't get me wrong. I hope you find your things. Sooner, rather than later, so you can crawl back to whichever rock you came off...from. I just hope you don't disrupt every important Ministry department in your no doubt valiant search to rescue a few books and an old broomstick." He sneered. "Good day."

[rar_reed]

"The Ministry fed me disappointment pills enough for eight and half months, thanks. I fully expect to be disappointed again. Only someone has to at least try to see if any of our things are about. Might as well be me, yeah?"

Malfoy stepped forward and RB joined him with a step of his own. He didn't like confrontations but the bloke thought that acting like an Alpha wolf was going to work he was mistaken. "Then I suggest you watch what slips out of your mouth next time you call me 'a Mu...a Ravenclaw' and start throwing insults about yourself, you sanctimonious prig."

RB stepped around him as mentioned whichever rock because he was in serious danger of losing his temper. "That rock was in the North Sea, Malfoy. And if you're not wanting to be labeled prejudiced, I suggest that you keep it to yourself that you'd prefer I was still rotting in Azkaban. This isn't just about my broom. I can get another." Somehow. "This is about a second year orphan's only picture of his family, a third year's scrapbook, a sixth year's grandmother's locket... it's about people, Malfoy and things that matter to them. And if I have to talk to every bloody person in this building today to help them, I bloody well will, because they matter... at least to me. Good day."

[rar_draco]

Draco waited for him to finish, one eyebrow raised, unmoving. Sometimes the best response was to simply stay quiet, and hear what they had to say; it enlightened you to more of their purpose. So he was collecting things that Muggleborns had had taken from them. How noble and trite. Not to mention a complete waste of time. Not his time, of course. He doubted this whelp was even out of school...grown up jobs and time mamangement probably meant very little to him. The importance of the Ministry running smoothly, of work getting done... It didn't seem to bother him how many people he disrupted.

Draco was by no means done, however, he waited until the other walked away, and then spoke again, voice clear as a bell.

"For a Ravenclaw, your ignorance of basic English language is surprising," he told him. "You might try looking up the the definition of the word 'insult' some time."

[rar_reed]

RB laughed, Malfoy was kind of growing on him. Sure, he was an arse but he was pretty clever with a dig. Reminded him a bit of his cranky Uncle Winston. He called back as he continued to walk away, "Why? because it's on the same page as 'insufferable' which has your likeness for illustration? I won't miss your company so much that I'll need a picture of you, Malfoy, but I appreciate the sentiment." He raised a hand to wave good-bye without looking back and wondered if Malfoy might get in another shot before he was out of hearing range. RB sort of hoped he would. There was something almost comforting about trading insults in the corridor. It was like being back at school, something he was definitely looking forward to in a few days.

[rar_draco]

"Depends," he called, satisfying his need to deliver the final word as he stepped back into the lift. "Do you want it autographed?"

The doors of the lift closed, with Draco heading back up to level one to re-sort his files.