Chapter 311 - C.S.A.E. Results (2/2)
”Always such a Gryffindor, Madam Berk,” Master Strauss teased back.
Madam Berk wrinkles her nose at him in distaste. ”A Ravenclaw, actually,” Madam Berk loftily declared. ”And what of you, Madam Marchbanks, a Gryffindor?”
Madam Marchbanks lets out a loud guffaw. ”No, Madam Berk, I am very much a Ravenclaw. Though that wretched old hat did suggest putting me in Gryffindor,” Madam Marchbanks growled with a roll of her eyes. ”As if I'd lasted a single day in that outrageously loud house without going mad and poisoning those loud louts within a fortnight!”
There are loud chuckles from the rest of them as Master Strauss says, ”I must admit that Gryffindor's tend to be a loud bunch the whole lot of them.”
Glancing at the late hour, Madam Marchbanks pointedly says, ”These old bones of mine aren't as young as they used to be and need to rest.” There are murmurs of agreement as they rise and collect their graded exams that need to be registered.
Despite the late hour, the middle-aged female clerk with cropped hair and her old boss are still awake in the C.S.A.E. Office. The old wizard pushes up his thick spectacles and accepts each graded exam and records the grades. The female clerk already had an official letter written that only required the recipient names. She quickly adds the name before preparing the envelope's in which the results and letter will be sent out.
Having finished recording the official transcript, the old wizard tamps the parchment with official C.S.A.E. seal and says, ”A copy will be sent to the examinee's and to Hogwarts. A third copy will be kept and filed here at the Ministry of Magic. Thank you, Madam Marchbanks, Madam Berk, Master Linnaeus, and Master Strauss for your hard labor. May you all have a good evening.” The two witches and two wizards nod their thanks, before making their way out.
The female clerk takes the official transcript and places it with the written letters sealing the letter with the official wax seal of their office. The old wizard says, ”Go on home after mailing those letters. I'll close up the office here in a bit.”
”Yes, sir,” the female clerk gratefully said, before gathering her things, and quickly making her way out of the office towards the mailroom to have an owl deliver the two letters to be delivered to the same exact destination.
Rising to his feet, the old man carefully files the transcript into the system, before putting on his thick warm robes. Certain that all the candles had been put out, the old wizard takes out a gleaming golden key and locks the door behind him as he leaves. His footsteps quickly fade away leaving nothing but silence and darkness.
Sometime after simpering footsteps can be heard as a stout figure tries to open the door. Cursing the figure points their wand at the door know and says, ”Alohomora!”
A shrill shriek is heard as the spell rebounds back and sends the figure flying back against the wall. Angrily hissing the stout figure stomps away in the darkness leaving behind no indication of their presence except for a black bow that had fallen to the floor.
Later that night, the Magical Maintenance crew would come upon it and think nothing of it. They'd simply toss the black velvet bow into the trash bin. After all, they had a job to do and didn't have time to wonder much less ponder about every strange item that they found within the Ministry of Magic. If they did, they'd never get anything done at all!