deadlines {open}

[victoria]

"No, Perkins, although your photography is excellent, the article simply isn't interesting enough to go on the front page," Victoria repeated to the head in her fireplace. Her photographer looked disappointed, but he knew better than to argue. He pulled out from the fireplace, and Victoria resumed working. It was busy, working for the Daily Prophet, having to churn out a newspaper three hundred and sixty four days a year. The only day that never had an issue was Christmas. However, Victoria loved her job, it prevented her from being lonely while her daughter was at school and her husband was working.

Victoria's assistant poked her head into her office, looking cautious about interrupting. "What is it, Heidi?" Victoria inquired without looking up from the stories she was reviewing. The mouse of a girl stepped into the office. "Urgent news break, ma' am, five muggles murdered by magical means." said Heidi. At that she stopped, placing down the parchment and looking up at her assistant, who was standing tentatively. "Well, get going! Have reporters get statements from the Aurors, send Perkins to get pictures of the crime scene. If we move quickly we'll make the deadlines for tomorrow's edition." said Victoria. Heidi nodded and darted from the room.

Victoria reached for her reading glasses, putting them on the end of her nose to better see the things she was looking at. Ever since the next generation of Death Eaters had went public at the match at Wimbourne, things had been pouring in like crazy, making her job quite a bit more stressful. Victoria wouldn't have it any other way, though, subscriptions were through the roof, profits were coming in quickly. Victoria stopped once again when there was a knock at the door frame of her office, she looked up to see...

[igloogirl]

As usual, the intern was sent to do the Aurors' dirty work. Gabriella sighed slightly as she walked over to the editor's office. Since five more muggles had been murdered, the Auror office had wanted to get in the report to the Daily Prophet before reporters could come bother them about it. Gabriella doubted it would work, but she had brought the report anyway and was there to answer any questions; well at least the best that she could. She was rather tired and didn't know too much about the case, anyway.

She knocked on the door frame to the editor's office, refraining from yawning. Gabriella hadn't slept in two months now and knew she would have to get in some hours soon or suffer the consequences. Also, she was rather thirsty and was afraid that if someone irritated her, her eyes would turn black instead of their usual brown. Gabriella knew she would have to fight hard to keep her composure today. "Report from the Aurors' Office," she announced to the blonde woman inside the room.

[victoria]

Victoria quickly abandoned the articles she had been reviewing and stood up to take the report from the young woman. "Heidi, cancel the statements from the Aurors, get Perkins out to the scene." Victoria told her assistant, who nodded and ran off to get their best photographer. She opened up the report, briefly glancing at it before looking up at the girl. She looked young, couldn't have been older than nineteen. "Thank you," said Victoria, "can I get you anything before you leave?"

[igloogirl]

"No thank you," Gabriella replied politely, she was thirsty, but not for any beverage that this woman could offer her. Besides, she had too much to do to linger around the Daily Prophet's office too much. "If you have any questions, I can answer them for you," Gabriella said. If the woman didn't have any questions, Gabriella would just be on her way, hopefully to do something more productive, though she knew it was necessary to talk to the Prophet. They had a lot of sway over the wizarding world, and it would be nice if the wizarding world thought the Aurors were doing a good job.

[victoria]

Victoria skimmed the information she was given, she would properly read it later, but at that particular moment she needed to make sure the basics would be answered before she sent the young woman on her way. The girl looked pale, Victoria hoped she was feeling well, but her health was not as important as the story in her hands. "What means did they use? Killing curse? Potions?" Victoria asked, keeping her composure although she was incredibly impatient, she needed to get the facts to a reporter straightaway.

[igloogirl]

"Four were murdered by the killing curse," Gabriella replied, feeling slightly uncomfortable talking so casually about the deaths of the muggles. "The fifth appears to have been tortured and died presumably of blood loss." Gabriella wasn't entirely sure what all the details in the report were, but hopefully Mrs. Storm would have all the information she needed.

[victoria]

"Hmm," Victoria responded, snatching a quill from her desk and making a quick note on the report. She closed it up, and then cast a charm on it that would prevent the papers from falling out, then used another spell to send it zooming to the news reporters. She didn't care who wrote it, she felt that her team was good at what they did, no matter who it was. Of course, she wouldn't trust the information to her gossip columnists, but that was a different story. Victoria returned to her desk. "Will my photographer have any issues at the scene? The ministry has been cooperative on other occasions, but I am uncertain as to whether this will be handled any differently," said Victoria.

[igloogirl]

Gabriella had to think about this for a moment. She knew that the Aurors wouldn't purposefully block a photographer from taking pictures at the scene, but sometimes it was annoying if the person got in the way of what they were trying to do. "There shouldn't be any issues unless your photographer gets in the way of my colleague's work," Gabriella replied. The Auror's office wanted to cooperate with the Daily Prophet, but Gabriella knew that relations between them were sometimes not so friendly.

[victoria]

Victoria nodded, not looking up from her work. She adjusted her reading glasses to be a little bit higher up on her nose, to better see the documents she was looking at. She was quiet for a time, perhaps a bit too long to be socially acceptable, but she was somewhat distracted. "Thank you for coming by, are you sure that I can't get you anything, dear?" said Victoria.

[igloogirl]

"No thank you, I'm quite alright," Gabriella said, which was a downright lie. But then again, she couldn't really be expected to tell this woman that she was a vampire and therefore offering her food or drink was pretty much useless. Gabriella just regretted that she would have to go back to the office now. What she really wanted was a nice, midday nap, but of course her colleagues didn't understand that she would rather take the day off than the night, so Gabriella doubted she would be getting any sleep for the next couple of days. And as for blood, it was out of the question until Gabriella could find time to go home. Lately she'd been running around crazily.

[victoria]

Victoria nodded, although she did frown somewhat, finding it strange that the girl wasn't interested in her hospitality. She did suppose that the Ministry folk were busy, just as she and everyone else at the Prophet were, perhaps the girl needed to go back to work. "Well thanks once again for bringing in the report; it certainly makes our lives a lot easier. Have a nice day," said Victoria, offering the girl a smile. She knew just how badly most people were in need of support, especially during times like these.

[igloogirl]

Gabriella nodded and gave the woman a small smile in return. It was about all she could manage at the moment, but she figured she should be polite. "Thank you," Gabriella said. "You have a good day as well." Gabriella paused just long enough for the woman to respond, and then she left the office, heading to an empty space so she could Apparate back to the Ministry.

[victoria]

((OOC: Okay, I think it's dead...))

[igloogirl]

((OOC: Yeah, DEAD dead.))