WHO: Elliot Alderton & Archie MacMillan
WHAT: Old friends and exciting new ventures
WHERE: MacMillan manor
WHEN: Today!


"Yes, we're very excited about the baby," Archie said, setting down his cup on his saucer with a small clatter. "Surprised, of course, since Olive wasn't all that long ago, but you know how it goes, I'm sure! Elysia's beautiful."

He hadn't seen much of Elliot since Elliot quit his job at the Ministry. Archie couldn't deny he was surprised, but—well, he understood family duty. Not that he experienced it in any way that Elliot did, what with his friend volunteering to step down from his rather prestigious Ministry career path to help his father manage his shop, but he understood it in principle. And he hoped he and Izzie would instill in Ernie the same principles. Still, if Elliot was content with doing that, then Archie was happy for him, but couldn't help thinking his once very ambitious friend might find his new lifestyle... lacking, if only a little. Having been only on bedrest for a month or so following his injuries after the earthquake, Archie already felt like he'd go mad after about two weeks. It had been closing in on just three years for Elliot, and he sometimes wondered if Elliot ever had a change of heart, or just wished for something a little more.

Which was exactly why he had called Elliot over, by-passed any one of the sitting rooms, and taken the meeting (as he'd come to think of it) straight to his now-immaculate study. If things went as well as Archie hoped they would, it would be two gnomes with one Gobstone, so to speak. And Archie was very good at talking people 'round to his view of the matter.

"I have a proposition for you, Elliot," he tried not to squirm excitedly in his chair, but couldn't stop the rubbing together of his hands. "And I want you to consider it as if we were strangers—forget about our friendship entirely."

Elliot forced himself to refrain from stating that Archie felt like a stranger these days, though he couldn’t entirely blame the other man for that. It wasn’t as if he or his family were very keen on social visits, even though it had gotten better with the arrival of Elysia. It was still hard to come up with excuses for why there were certain weekends he just couldn’t make it out, but Archie had managed to catch him on one of his better days, where the wear and tear of his monthly transformation wasn’t causing his entire body to ache with pain.

What was aching though, was the nervousness Elliot was trying to conceal. Even though Elliot knew it was for the best, and even though he had been doing it for years now, keeping the secret of his wolf-like tendencies from those he used to care most about was still a struggle. The guilt ate away at him, but he was desperate to maintain some sort of normalcy in his life. Archie had been his best friend for ages, and look--even if they’d drifted apart in the last few years, he still made time for Elliot. Even if it was for a proposition?

“Er---” Elliot let out, forcing his hands to not wring together. They twisted awkwardly by his sides and he forced them into his pockets. “I--sure. What is it??

It wasn’t as if Elliot had any money to lend Archie, even though by the state of his manor his friend was in no need for extra funds. The thought made Elliot’s gut twist and he stared expectantly at Archie.

Archie was having a very hard time containing himself at this point, but still cleared his throat and tried to give the speech he'd previously prepared without unnecessary clapping or excessive displays of exuberance (but it was trying). "Well, as you know, there have been a slew of promotions over the years, particularly since You-Know-Who's defeat. With Fudge having left the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes long ago... well, I have been approached about potentially becoming Minister of the department."

A dream, it was his dream to hold an office where he could do some real good for the Wizarding world. With that department, he could better their relations between their few Muggle liaisons, as well as ensure the Wizarding world stayed as well-hidden as it was always meant to—in essence, performing his very same job on a much grander scale.

"I am young," very young, his primary opponent was sixty-six if he was a day, "but it's been said that with my record and the Order of Merlin, I stand a good chance of being elected." Eventually, he'd always planned to advance his position in the Ministry, but didn't feel the need to do so immediately, not when making the climb up the ladder was a feat he had to perform by himself. Now that he'd been told by very reliable sources that he could help usher in a new, post-war age in the Ministry, well, he hardly had the words to describe the feeling!

With his hands clasped, Archie leaned forward as he spoke intently, "But I need someone to manage my campaign. And, honestly, I can't think of a single person I'd rather have working side-by-side with me than you. I know," he held up his hand, anticipating any immediate refusals from his friend, "I know, you've stepped away from all of this, but—I really think we could make something wonderful work, Elliot!"

That had not been what Elliot was expecting at all. His mouth dropped open, all of this information slowly sinking in. Of course he had joked about Archie becoming Minister of Magic some day, but this was surprising! Exciting, even! There were few things outside of his family that brought smiles to Elliot’s face, but he grinned, widely, and before he could help himself, he nodded.

“Yeah! I mean---absolutely!” Elliot had not thought like a ministry man in quite some time, but the ideas were already starting to flow. They would need a slogan, a catchy one that wasn’t uptight like Archie was, to make the public think he didn’t have the mindset of a crotchety old man. He didn’t! Most days. They would have to play up his family man aspect, and then there were his policies...

Elliot sat up straight, feeling a sort of energy that he hadn’t realized he’d missed. He was immensely pleased that Archie had thought of him to be his campaign manager, and Elliot realized how much this friendship truly meant to him. It was one of the few relationships in his life that hadn’t been affected by his monthly changes, and Elliot needed to take full advantage of it.

“Do you have a headquarters? There’s this empty shop in Diagon that could work wonders, right in the middle of all the hub-bub...”