Closed. Wizengamot paper sorting with Ella.

[hermioneee]

Hermione was having one hell of a week, but still managed to be walking into the office well before 9 AM. Her favorite time at the Ministry of Magic building was when it was still, before anyone started arriving. In the Wizengamot offices, it was just her and her tea- that is, for a few moments, before the other early riser was due to arrive

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[dearest_ella]

Ella had, once again, despite her best intentions and most genuine efforts to avoid it following stern directives from both Ava and her department head, found herself spending the night at the office. She had jerked awake as the (synthesized, of course, what with them technically being underground) sun had started to creep in through the 'window', the first hint of light shining all too accurately directly down on the spot where her head had fallen on top of her half-scribbled file retrieval requests

[hermioneee]

Hermione's gaze rose to meet Ella's, and gave her a small, sympathetic smile once she took in her appearance. The tell-tale signs of Ella spending the night at the office again were becoming apparent. Wearing yesterday's clothes didn't help, either.

Ella's commitment to the work was remarkable. As much as she loved all the old wood, all the history of the Ministry, Hermione could never spend as many nights here as Ella. That was why she put up her home office. And besides, she would feel way too guilty leaving Crookshanks all day and all night just so she could get extra work done. Especially after being without him for nearly a year.

Attempting not to fall into despair, her hands finally grasped a few papers off the top of her in pile. "It looks like we'll be busy, I'm afraid. A new case came through from the Auror office last night."

Hermione glanced at Ella's desk, a fresh stack of papers also filled her in pile. It seemed the Aurors had a late night, the work must have magicked in after Ella fell asleep on her work.

[dearest_ella]

"Brilliant," Ella mumbled, setting her coffee down on her desk and running a hand through her hair as she reached for the top file on the stack of new additions.

Burning Man Case. She did a bit of a double take as the name jumped out at her, eyes widening at the freshly stamped CLOSED smeared across it.

"Merlin-" She fell into her seat, glancing up at Hermione and fumbling to open up the file. Incident report, list of victims... no death certificates... "D'you read this yet?"

[hermioneee]

Hermione's heart was racing, she shook her head, "No..."

She placed the stack on her lap and took her warm mug of tea into her hands, to center herself. She breathed in the steam, taking a few deep breaths. Then, she was ready.

There was a subtle 'pop' as more papers were being added to the bottom of their piles, "I suppose it's still coming in. I expect it'll be doing that all morning." If her own research in the library the other day was any indication.