(OOC: Remind me later that I have a plot idea for Rose/Bash/Ben
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Never one to be late to anything, Bentley had been awake for hours – though, frankly, that probably had to do with both his anxiety regarding the day as well as his new maybe-flatmate. To say Ben had been distracted the past two days would be an understatement. He hadn’t even been to the office, regardless of if he really ought to be. It was technically holiday break so, in his less-than-humble opinion, he shouldn’t really be expected to show up. This meeting, however, was not something he could avoid or stay home during. No, it was non-negotiable.
Striding into the ministry, his usual confident nature was taking over where it had been failing so badly in his own flat. The Gryffindor had certainly changed him, regardless of if Bentley wanted to accept it or not. He’d known the guy less than forty-eight hours if he was counting correctly, and yet he couldn’t help but hate the Ministry all the more for taking the blonde away just as Bentley was being taken away.
A steady hand lifted to knock on the door, eyes already narrowed with distaste, before Ben pushed it open and made his way into the office unbidden. “Morning,” he drawled, the word seeming almost pulled from his lips. Falling into the closest chair, Bentley eyed both women with a raised eyebrow. Perhaps this meeting could kick his arse back into gear. Bring back his sardonic, mercurial self. He was used to that version of himself and found he liked it a little better than the unsure, confused Bentley he could now see each time he looked at the mirror in his flat.
“Morning, Mr. Pierson. Miss Weasley.” Ana greeted slowly, regarding him warily. Ben’s eyes snapped back to the redhead. He should have known she was a Weasley. She looked like one now that he thought about it. “Do have a seat, Miss Weasley.”
Glancing between the two, Ana continued with her generic, over-rehearsed speech. “Bentley, this is Rose Weasley. Rose, Bentley Pierson.” She punctuated the introduction with a nod, shifting the papers around on her desk. “Now, for today we’ll need to go over what you two should expect in the next month as well as completing the fertility tests in order to-“
“Honestly?” Ben interrupted with a huff, tilting his head slightly to show his disapproval. “This is bloody ridiculous.”
“What this is, Mr. Pierson,” Ana corrected darkly, voice low and words short, “is the way for you to avoid getting sent to Azkaban. Do I make myself clear?”
“Crystal.” He chimed sarcastically, then rolled his eyes when she turned to look at the redhead.
“You’ll have a month to plan things, and if – at the two week mark – you come up with more questions you can set up another meeting to discuss things with me.” Mrs. Levski continued, avoiding any look in Ben’s direction. They clearly weren’t going to get along – not that Bentley minded even a whit. “The marriage must be filed with the ministry and officiated by the end of the month. How you have the wedding, where it is, and so on – that’s all up to you. We just need proof. Then you likely know the three year time period designated as the range of time in which you’re meant to have at least one child together.”
“What about this,” Ben jumped in again, rather enjoying the angry look she shot at him. “How about we marry, but then she has the kid with someone else, hmm? I’m not the father type.”
Ana glared at him for a moment before sitting up taller and leveling an angry look at him. “The point of the law is for certain people, with certain amounts of wizarding blood and influence to be matched with those who are different. In order to assist with the issue that has risen regarding the number of squibs and children with weak magical powers. You will do as the Ministry asks, or you will be reprimanded most harshly. Anything you do can affect her, as well, so you might want to ask her what she wants before you go on and make ultimatums.” Ana gestured to Rose vaguely, though her attention remained on the dark-haired wizard in front of her.
Smirking, Bentley leaned back farther in his chair. If he could get under her skin, well that was a morning well spent. Glancing over at Rose, he offered her a joking grin. “Well, then, Red. Any questions? Or should we just let her get on with things?”