Why Does the Workweek Start on Monday?

"Only if you don't mind Mrs. Lupin, I'll have a Ceylon Orange Pekoe with cinnamon and a dollop of cream, but if it's too much of a hassle" her brain said relax, so she breathe run and sighed, but jumped when the door opened. "Oh, hi Mr. L- Robert" she said stuttering, she went a bright magenta, and prayed she wasn't so self-conscious and shy. "Yes she is, I really can't, but everyone else can." she said now smiling, so he knew her mother and could put up with her, he must be crazy. She picked up the tray of scones and addressed the Lupins, drinking her tea, "We have scones, blueberry, raspberry,apricot, strawberry jam with warm cream, would you care to try one? I made sure they cooked it to perfection." She said obviously impressed with herself.

"Your daughter is lovely, and I finally understand a valuable quote now after working with her, 'Punctuality is the Soul of Business'" she had remembered about Robert being punctual and secretly winked at Khaat while waiting for his response.

Robert watched Khaat pour a third cup of tea and add some cream to it and hand it to Jessica. "Scones. How nice. Well done. Thank you. That's such a nice variety it will be hard to choose. But, I think..." He flicked his finger at a raspberry scone and levitated it to a small plate with some jam and cream. "Your usual, Khaat?" he asked.

"As long as you're serving," Khaat smiled. "Please." He flicked his finger at an apricot scone and some cream and jam and levitated it to a second plate. "Do have one, Jess," he said. "They look delicious." Jessica remarked that she understood the importance of punctuality in business.

"You are correct, of course," he told the new young assistant, "But in my position, punctuality is a blessing and a curse both. It helps me get things done, but it also rather imprisons me to a given extent."

"He and I both work two jobs," Khaat explained. "He works as the Minister but he is also the Chief of Staff at St. Mungos. And I have this job and I also work as the Director of St. Mungos. It means that he and I have to have both our schedules well coordinated. We each have to coordinate our two jobs, but then we have to make sure we're coordinated with each other so that all four posts are covered. It isn't an easy balance."

"Which is exactly why we need very efficient help in our personal assistants," Robert said. "And it looks like you're off to a good start. So--we'll expect you to call us both by our first names. That will make things a lot easier for all of us.

"Oh," he said, as a new thought hit him, "and we'll want you to know the people who are closest to us and who we trust. There are certain security risks with my position and Khaat's. I usually function on my own, but Khaat always, always travels with bodyguards. You'll need to know them. We do not depend on the aurors to protect her. She has a private security staff. I do not expect you to ever have a problem, but if you do, once her guards know your patronus, if you have trouble, they will respond immediately to it. I will respond as often as I can. Khaat's husband, Brian, will introduce you to Khaat's protectors so that you know who to trust."

He glanced over to the top of a file cabinet. "Are those the briefs that I needed?" he asked, letting his little plate with the scone float while he picked up the file.

"Yes, I believe it is," Khaat glanced at Jess, tempted to laugh at her father's multitasking.

"Oh, and introduce her to that bloody big bird of yours so he doesn't scare the life out of her," He said, flipping through the file.

"I somehow dont think Jess is scared by much," Khaat said. "Do you, Jess? I can't see that a bird is going to throw you much at all--big or not."

She quickly grabbed a scone, and nibbled it very slowly, not wanting to imply the trait of rudeness, or being a pig. "I only have a quick question," she said thinking, about the best question she could ask, "Are you scared? Scared of the fact that at this time there are Death eaters? What are the security measures you would go to to protect the Ministry?" they could easily think she was a DE herself after this, she just hoped they weren't big on the accusations.

"Oh, I know, you told me to tell the guards, but I'll show you anyway," she cleared her throat and while twisting her wand, she whispered, "Expecto Patronus" a shiny little otter escaped her wand a charged at the wall, when it hit it, it disintegrated into thin air.

"I also have another question if you don't mind? In a couple of years- well when you eventually think I'm ready, what is the next step-up from Personal Assisstant, where did you to start off?"

Khaat's father smiled a bit and then said, "Well, I was actually enjoying an early retirement when Khaat dragged me back to work. Its her fault really."

"I sort of started with Sparks--owning my own bistro. But I'm also a healer and a seer. So I eventually got the director's job at St. Mungos because they were looking for a businessperson who also could heal. That combination isn't always easy. The Ministry job started a bit later. But after I started at the hospital," Khaat said, "I really did need someone who had more healing skills than I did and who also had good potions skills. So I made my father forget about farming and come back to work at the hospital."

"So she made me Chief of Staff there," Robert said, "And this thing evolved because I have auror skills and business skills and have been a part of some of the fights for our country's freedom from Death Eaters. And I've been through more than one skirmish in my time. But in answer to your question as to whether we're afraid of death eaters...no. Theyre just other witches and wizards in masks who have a twisted sense of what is in our best interest. I dont approve of their need to prove themselves through dark arts, power and control, hurting and killing others...all of that rot. But fear? No."

"We're Gryffindors," Khaat laughed. "Textbook versions of it, actually. All of that loyalty and greater good business. We're all about that, and sometimes to an extreme. But once you decide what you want for yourself in your life, then you can pursue that. For example, if you decide you want to be an auror, then you need to start training with my husband. He's a trainer who trains fighters--both physically and magically. If you want to be a potionsmaker, then you need to apprentice under my father. Or if you want to be a healer, then you apprentice under any of the three of us. If its a Ministry career you want, then just stay where you're at for awhile and see what positions open up that are promotions for you."

"Ok, I'll leave you to get on with your meeting, I wouldn't want to be you with questions, Mrs. Lu- Khaat I'll be at my desk sorting through the letters, just ask if you need anything' she said.
(I know that was so short, but I only had to get a little bit in, when you ask her to do something I'll do it way longer!)