The northern chill was beginning to relent and release its hold on the little island that had so much worldly influence. As the snow melted and subsided from the streets, people began to creep out of the bear-like hibernation they’d been in since early November. It had been a lengthy train journey from Hogsmeade to London and though she had stayed at home for a few days, Millie had yet to feel the weariness of travel to subside in her bones. Her father had set her out on the right foot, making sure that she had enough money for food in Diagon Alley when the time came for her to have her lunch break; which she was immensely grateful for. She’d felt much brighter that morning and had made sure to eat at least some of the breakfast that was set out for her and her brother who was also going to head to work for the day. Their father was insistent they tried everything - even if it was only a little bit.
Seamus had been bizarrely attentive the last few days, making sure she knew how much he adored her and taking extra care to give her just that little bit more of their chocolate-flavoured desserts as Elliot tried, and failed, to quiz their father as to the whereabouts of their mother, Lavender. The smell of the house had told Millie as soon as she’d stepped over the threshold that the matriarch hadn’t been there for a long time. The clutter was the second indication and of course the lipstick marks on the wine glasses from where Seamus had been neglectful with the washing up was the third piece of evidence. Millie hadn’t made any move to question Seamus as Elliot had. No, instead she just wiped round the rim with a wet cloth and returned the glass to the shelf. She had been forced to get used to the idea of her mother and her father separate. She was almost worried by the fact that she wasn’t as moved by it as perhaps she should’ve been.
“Millie,” Seamus had called to her, his timing inconvenient. Millie nibbled at her bottom lip, her eyes glancing up at the clock mounted on the wall opposite the staircase, wondering if she’d have time for the chat he wished to have with her. Reluctantly, the blonde closed the door and turned to her father who had slowly made his way from the kitchen into the hallway, his hands busy with the task of drying a plate. Seamus opened his mouth but as quickly as the air was inhaled, the words were lost on him and though his lips quivered for a few moments, he soon brought them back together and ducked his head a little. Seamus brought his head up once more, a smile bringing his lips upwards and he sighed bashfully, his cheeks flushing scarlet. “Have a good day, poppet. I’ll think of you. Do you want me to come and pick you up later?”
With a laugh, Millie obliged to his offer, ducked up to press a kiss to his cheek and whirled round; prancing towards the door and only just managing not to trip over a box addressed to Elliot that had yet to be moved to his room. She exclaimed her goodbyes to her father in excess, her smile only growing as she stumbled out into the world. She heard the retreating calls behind her of ‘be careful’, ‘have fun’ and the like but didn’t pay them much mind as she thundered down the road towards the train station, shouting good morning to various neighbours as she went.
London was heaving. It was still early, the sun only squinting through the heavy cloud cover over the city, but the commuters were out in their hundreds, flocking towards whatever building they happened to work in. Millie was admittedly somewhat lost and it didn’t help that she stuck out like a sore thumb amongst the many suits. She certainly did not do conspicuous well but despite this, her appearance brought smiles to the faces of the commuters who, after a few glances, would laugh and shake their heads in amusement and odd affection for the young girl who, unbeknownst to them, you see, was a witch. The way she leisurely, almost absent-mindedly made her way down the road brought delight to the faces of the people whose grey suits betrayed the monotony of their lives.
Millie had been floored by the amount of people on the streets but she was even more disturbed by the amount of people in the Ministry once she got there. It was daunting enough without having to show up by her lonesome in a place crawling with witches and wizards. She stuck out once again both for her Muggle outfit and the outrageous colours that had attracted the Muggle attention out on the street. Swallowing, Millie’s eyes turned to the lifts were shooting up through the shoots in every direction. Deciding it couldn’t do any harm, Millie dived towards them and allowed herself to be packed into one of the lifts on the left of the fountain which, much to her dismay, she hadn’t been able to get quite as close a look as she’d hoped to.
“Hello!”
Millie, startled by the greeting, recoiled back a little to look at a wide-eyed wizard of about forty. He wore a set of plum coloured robes with a gold trim and proudly emblazoned over his left breast was a badge stating his department: The Department of Magical Games and Sports. Of course. Millie laughed despite herself and followed his line of sight to her bag set on her shoulder, the strap of which held her treasured Puddlemere United pin. She brushed it subconsciously, her pride showing as she relished in the joy of their recent win. She smirked boldly at the man who seemed to mirror her enthusiasm as he gestured to a patch that had been sewn into his robes, small enough to be engulfed by the size of his badge but large enough to still be seen.
“You’re the new secretary, right?” He inquired, his eyes lighting up by the prospect of some new life in the Ministry. “We hired a fair few from Hogwarts.”
Millie nodded slowly and the man laughed heartily as the lift came to a stop. The doors shuddered open and he gestured for Millie to get out; which she did without so much as blinking an eye despite the fact that he was essentially a stranger.
“Follow me.” He instructed, taking off down the hall at a pace Millie didn’t struggle to keep up with. “What did you say your name was?”
“Millie.”
“Well Millie,” He said, coming up to a rounded desk and taking a clipboard from the top. “Let’s find out which department you’re supposed to be in shall we?”
outfit.
by 
