Estelle finds herself in the Improper Use of Magic Offices under the guise of running errands for one of the currently active Auror teams (only Grimmond knows the true reason for her presences and Estelle intends things to stay that way), rifling through any and all reports in the past twenty-four months related to dark magic. She'd started with only the last twelve months before realizing that she'd likely get more activity, and thus more information, if she checks on the year prior to the Incident.

So here she is, up to her neck in old files, cursing her luck. She has a literal top secret mission from one of the greatest Department of Law Enforcement Heads of all time, and she's still stuck rifling through poorly-written paperwork. Which really, is just her luck.

"Finding everything alright?" Ms. Grimmond asks. The woman has popped by to check on Estelle every hour on the hour, and each time Estelle has the same answer.

"Not finding much, but yes, thank you." She says tightly, her smile plastered on. She does understand why she's being looked in on - if left alone she could conceivably tamper with or otherwise damage the files - but the repetition of that response is really starting to get to her. She isn't finding anything, which really in and of itself is telling. Estelle is honestly starting to suspect that the files have already been tampered with - though how someone could manage it considering how closely Estelle herself is being watched is honestly beyond her. She had detected about twelve different watching spells in the room as well when she's first walked in, so even in the hour between checks she still wouldn't be able to get away with anything.

It's certainly a conundrum, but no immediate method of testing her suspicions comes to mind, so she just keeps doing what she was doing so that she's at least accomplishing something, even if it doesn't feel like much.

It's a bit before lunch when she comes across a report that raises instant red flags. There are a few, small errors in the report omitting the Dark Magic presence at the incident being detailed - she knows because she'd been a part of the response team. She needs to double check this.

She picks up the report, rolling it up and magically reorganizing the rest back to their proper storage spots (than goodness for pre-set cleanup spells, because Estelle would not have remembered where everything went) before heading back to see if Ms. Grimmond is available to talk. The Head's secretary gestures for her to wait, and Estelle takes the offered seat, though her foot drums impatiently on the floor.

It takes what feels like forever (but she logically knows was only a few minutes) before she's waved into Grimmond's office, by which point she's mentally rehearsed what she wants to say so many times that the words don't sound like real words anymore.

She clears and holds up the parchment, hoping for the best. "I'd like to borrow this for a few hours, if that's alright? I want to check it against the originals down in the Archives - some of the details don't match what I recall, but it could be that the reporter just didn't fill everything in."

Grimmond frowns. "I suppose that would be alright. Give it here a moment?" She requests, and Estelle hands over the parchment without complaint. Grimmond places an alteration detection spell on the parchment and hands it back, which is again fair. Estelle is really thinking now that if a change did occur, it may not have been inside the office, unless someone who actually works in the office was the one to make the changes - anyone else would have too high a risk of tripping one of the many protective spells in place.

Estelle supposes, as she takes the lift down to the Archives a few minutes later, that Yurina's insider could work in the Improper Use offices - it could be a good position considering the many Dark incidents that end up filed there. But it's not quite the ideal location - the Archives or Law Enforcement is where the insider would be able to get access to the original documents and change them, so it's more likely they're in one of those two areas. She supposes she'll find out when she sees if the originals have been altered or not - this really could just be a case of a bad report job. There had been a lot of new recruits on that response team, so it's more than possible one of them ed it up.

When she reaches the Archive level it's the Head who's seated at the front desk, which Estelle has noted is a surprisingly common occurrence in the Archives. Most Department and Office Heads prefer to stay in their private offices and designate front work to the newest employees, but the Archives seems to put everyone on front rotation, even Head Taylor. Estelle has always wondered if that's an Archive thing, or just a Ms. Taylor thing - she's never asked.

"Good afternoon Head Taylor." She greets politely. "I needed to double check a file copy against the original report, if that's possible?"

Ms. Taylor nods. "Of course. Which report did you want?"

Estelle presents it to the woman, who hums as she quickly skims it.

"Right, follow me." She says after a moment, rolling the parchment up and handing it back to Estelle, who hurries to follow the woman into the Archives. They don't go too far in, which makes sense considering how recent the report was, and Eloise summons a drawer from one of the higher levels of the filing cabinets. "It should be in here - if not try one down." She instructs. "Come see me if you need anything else."

Estelle nods her thanks and Ms. Taylor vanishes back the way they came, leaving Estelle to conjure a chair to sit in and a table to spread the contents of the drawer out onto as she hunts for the specific report she'd brought.

It takes some time - and she does end up pulling out the other drawer when she can't find the file right away, but she does eventually locate the original document.

It matches.

Estelle frowns. She could have sworn the document was incomplete - and if it was, there will be another report to fill in the details. So she dives back into the files, trying to find the one that fills in the Dark Magic elements from that particular raid. If it's not present, then she'll have to report a possible conspiracy to Clary and-

She stops. Can she report it to Clary? If these original have been tampered with, then wouldn't that not only indicate a mole within the Law Enforcement Department, but one that goes rather high up? The thought sits ugly in her guts, but she can't dismiss it without being negligent of her job. She shakes her head. It's only the possibility of a conspiracy - nothing is proven if she can't actually locate an altered report.

 New goal set she dives back into the two drawers, laying out every single report discussing an incident that she herself is familiar with. She ends up locating five promising reports, though she'll need something to compare them to before she can justify requesting a formal investigation into the possibility of alteration or even forgery. Though even processing that request could be tricky.

Estelle sighs. When she'd first asked to work this job she'd been hoping for excitement, and while she is definitely getting that she's also realizing that she might be stumbling into something huge, and if she lets the fact she's discovering these things be known to the wrong person than it's all very quickly going to fall apart.

She sighs. She still doesn't technically have the evidence she needs anyway - she could be stressing over nothing. She rather doubts it, but it's a possibility all the same. So she turns back to the files one last time - if she can find anything concrete, then she'll start worrying about how to handle the next step of the process.

It's about twenty minutes later that she finds it - the proof that all the original reports may have been tampered with. A report on a small incident in Muggle London that has a single sentence scrubbed out - the one indicating that there had been scant traces of Dark Magic present that may warrant further inquiry should something similar happen again. The report reads fine without it - Estelle wouldn't have even noticed at all if it hadn't been for one, simple thing:

She's the one who wrote the report. And she knows that line had been there.

With this discovery, she knows for certain that something has gone very, very wrong - and the culprit is likely within the upper echelons of the Archives or the Law Enforcement Department, as no one else has access to these files for long enough to change them so effectively and subtly. With this single discovery she realizes she's pretty much alone in all this.

Taking a deep breath she pulls together the files she suspects have been altered and puts the rest away, then sits down to think through her options. What are her next steps? She can't tell Clary - the woman is high ranking, and considering she'd been the one to insist on the intentionality clause of the Vow, something that in hindsight is a bit suspect, Estelle can't assume she isn't the insider. But she needs to get these documents properly checked over, and she'd usually have to submit a request for such things. A request that would then be seen by basically every upper level Law Enforcement Officer which. No. Not an option.

But... she knows some of the people they use for forgery investigations. Well, she knows one of the people, but the woman in question is fantastic at her job and can probably keep a secret just fine. Maybe if Estelle can get these files out of the Archives she can commission a private investigation entirely separate from the Ministry. It's a little underhanded, and she'll still need permission to remove the documents, but it's better than nothing. She'll just have to pray that Ms. Taylor isn't the insider.

Actually, if she can pull this off it'll probably count as the coolest thing she's ever accomplished, which is kind of fun. Too bad it's kind of terrifying in the moment.

She stows the files in a messenger bag that she conjures and then heads for the front, hoping that checking things out will be easier than she's heard.

"Hey Head Taylor? Would it be possible to check these out for a few days? I wanted to go through them in a little more detail and I know you're closing up soon."

Ms. Taylor looks up, eyes sharp and calculating. "I'm afraid I can't simply hand things out to lower level Aurors Ms. Kuhara. You'll need a signed approval from one of your superiors in the Department as assurance you won't do anything untoward with the records." She says briskly. "I can hold that bag at the front here for twenty four hours if you like, so you can collect your signature and then return to retrive them."

Estelle nods, trying to look casual instead of gutted. "Of course. Thanks Head Taylor!" She hurries over to the lift, hoping it looks natural. Of course she needs a superior's signature - why on Earth would this actually be easy?

She tries to think if there are any higher-level people she knows with absolute certainty couldn't be the Insider. Drake Jarvis springs to mind, but he'd been vouched for by Clary, who is herself now on the suspect list, so he's out too. And outside of them Estelle doesn't honestly know the higher ups on a personal enough level to judge whether or not they might be secret spies for Yurina.

She reaches the second floor without a clear plan, which she hates, but she walks slowly to her desk, waving to a few people as she goes to appear as casual as possible. She takes the opportunity to also scan the room as a whole, reading the plaques on each of the high offices to see if any of the names inspire confidence. It's when her eyes reach the back of the room that she mentally facepalms.

She'll just talk to Department Head Potter. Obviously. The man is the guy who actually defeated Voldemort twenty years ago - no way he's working for Yurina now! The key now is actually getting his signature - meeting with a Department is Head when you're not an insignificant lower-level Auror (much as it hurts to admit that such a label would appy to her, it nonetheless does). Still, she steels herself and walks straight up to his secretary's desk. The woman look up at her suspiciously, and Estelle offers her sweetest smile, which she knows is very sweet. The woman doesn't seem moved, which is fair. If she was swayed by a look she wouldn't be in charge of the schedule of the most disorganized Department Head (cool as Potter is, it's not a secret that he struggles with managing his new pile of responsibilities).

Estelle clears . "So I needed to set up a meeting with Auror Potter? I just need something signed, preferably as soon as he's able?"

"Name?" The secretary drawls.

"Estelle Kuhara." She replies, and is surprised when the secretary looks up, eyeing her critically.

"You're Kuhara?" She asks suspiciously, and Estelle frowns.

"Um, yes? Am I in trouble? I've been out of the office so whatever happened it couldn't have been me." She says quickly, and the woman sighs.

"We're all doomed." She mutters. "Potter will see you when he's done with his calls - you can wait here, it should only be a few more minutes."

Estelle frowns but takes the offered seat. She really shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth, but she's always been curious.

"Soooo. I feel bad, but I haven't caught your name yet." She says, hoping to draw the woman into a conversation.

The secretary sighs. "I hate this job." She grumbles. "Iva Macmillan, twenty years old, no I didn't go to Hogwarts, I grew up in and studied in Peru because my parents are Curse Breakers over there and that's why my accent is strange - Spanish is my primary language. I'm here because my parents are originally from England and my father wanted me to get some time in my so-called homeland and get to know my grandparents. I got this job through my cousin William Macmillan who works in Wizengamot Secretarial whatever. Does that answer all of your inane questions?"

Estelle blinks at her, genuinely taken aback. This is the person the great hero Harry Potter had chosen as his personal secretary? Estelle can't help questioning if he's perhaps gone a bit mad under the years of the pressure of fame. Or the years of pressure to save the world as a teenager.

Actually, it would be completely fair if Potter was a bit off his rocker, but the idea makes Estelle less certain that talking to him would be the best idea. However, she doesn't have a chance to change her mind as the Department Head himself appears out of his office only moments after she has the thought, looking a bit unkempt with his robes ruffled and his hair an absolute mess.

"Iva, please tell me I don't have to talk to those people again for a while." He says pitifully, apparently not noticing Estelle's presence.

Iva sighs. "You don't. You do have an unexpected meeting, however. Ms. Kuhara wished to speak with you about a signature."

Potter finally looks over at Estelle, and appears a bit embarrassed to only be seeing her now, though he quickly runs a hand through his hair (which doesn't help at all in taming the unruly mess) and attempts to straighten out his robes before offereing a handshake which Estelle accepts firmly.

"Ms. Kuhara, please come in." He gestures for her to enter the office ahead of him, and she trots through the doors and looks around the office. The interior is about as messy as she'd expected from Potter's appearance - files are stacked on pretty much every surface, and the walls are covered in family photos. Most are children, and she wonders which ones are Potter's and which are his famously numerous nieces and nephews - they all look quite similar.

"Sorry for the mess. I think there's a chair around here somewhere? I wasn't expected a meeting until tomorrow, so I was going to clean up tonight before I left." He admits sheepishly.

"That's alright, I don't need much." Estelle says quickly. "Though I am curious as to why I was able to get a meeting with you so quickly." She admits - Potter's general demeanour makes her feel comfortable enough to pose the question.

He chuckles, returning to his own seat behind the opulent mahogany desk at the back of the room. "Shacklebolt said if you were any good at your job that you'd be coming to see me." He replies with a grin. "So I'm guessing you must be good. What did you need from me Ms. Kuhara?"

Estelle keeps her request vague - if Clary had told Potter about her job, and had expected Estelle to go behind her back, then who knows if Potter is actually going to keep the secret? He seems nice enough, but also probably pretty prone to manipulation if Estelle is honest - and Potter doesn't ask any questions, just writes up a letter permitting Estelle to check out whatever files she deems necessary for the next three months, which is far more generous than anything Estelle had been expecting.

Estelle thanks him and heads out, offering a small wave to Iva that is pointedly ignored. Estelle is a bit worried about her, if she's honest - the other woman's comments suggest she's aware of Estelle's mission, which Estelle isn't super comfortable with. She might have to ask Clary if she's told anyone else about what Estelle is doing if it happens again, but for now Estelle still wants to minimize contact with the older woman until Clary is fully cleard of suspicion.

She takes the lift back down to the Archives and presents her letter of approval to Ms. Taylor, who hands over the bag without another word. Estelle then heads back to the Improper Use Offices to request the ability to keep the report she'd borrowed from them. Grimmond approves the request and also lets her take their copies of the other five reports from the Archvies, and then Estelle is off, bag of borrowed reports slung over her shoulder and zipped up tightly - both physically and with magic - to prevent any nosing around. She Apparates back to her flat and then ponders her next steps. She knows where she needs to go to get the files checked, but she's not sure what the best plan would be to actually travel there without being followed. Apparation obviously is the best choice, but Estelle has actually never been to Oxford, so that's out - she'd absolutely splinch herself and probably not even end up where she wanted to be.

No, she'll have to take Muggle transportation - that's probably the best bet to not be tracked. So she looks up the train schedule and is disappointed to find it's an entire hour ride to Oxford, and the last train has already left - she'll have to wait until morning.

Her sleep that night is restless, and she hops up out of bed bright and early with no lingering sleepiness - she has places to be and people to see, and the earlier she arrives the more likely it is she'll be able to get her reports back quickly. She hadn't sent an owl to make any reservation since it's all too easy to intercept those, and if anyone is watching her right now it would be an instant giveaway.

She takes a cab to the Waterloo station, where she books a direct ticket to Oxford on the first train of the day. She buys a bagel with cream cheese and some coffee from one of the station's many Starbucks and downs them both on the platform - she had forgotten to have breakfast before rushing out that morning. And then she waits, rather impatiently, for the doors to open so she can take her seat.

Luckily they leave on time, and Estelle ends up napping on the hour and a half trip across the British countryside, her bag clutched tightly to her chest despite the anti-theft spells layered over it.

When she reaches the Oxford station she quickly realizes one crucial problem with her plan - she isn't exactly sure where the person she's looking for lives. Or, works, rather - presumably the forgery expert used by the top Ministry Aurors has an actual office, but it's not like Estelle can just look the woman up on Google. Frowning, she sits just outside the train station and thinks through her options. She could cast a locate spell, but without a clear image of the woman (and Estelle doesn't know what she looks like, only knows her name) there's a thirty percent chance of it backfiring, and a one hundred percent chance of it being picked up on by anyone following her.

She eventually pulls out her phone and Googles the name, just for the heck of it, not really expecting anything. To her shock, though, it comes up in connection with a Muggle flower shop on the other side of the city, so Estelle hops up and gets walking. Maybe the owners of this place will have some idea of where to find Estelle's quarry, assuming it's the same person. She figures it must be though - how many people could there really be living in Oxford named Farrah Krychelle Parker? It's a pretty unique name.

She reaches the shop around noon (Oxford, as it turns out, is a lot bigger than expected and she probably should have taken a cab) and enters a bit uncertainly.

"Hello! How can I help you today?" The woman behind the counter asks, smiles brighter than the sun.

Estelle smiles back. "Actually I was looking for someone, and her name came up on your website? Farrach Krychelle Parker. I was hoping to hire her."

The woman blinks. "Oh, you must be from the Ministry! Usually Farrah just gets owls, but I can give you her address - she should be home right now." She bustles about, scouring first for some paper, then a pen, and then finally clearing some space on the counter and scribbling out an address. "It's not too far from here - you can walk it easy enough. Turn left out of here and then right on this street - it'll be on your left then."

Estelle is... honestly surprised how easy that was, but she just thanks the woman and exits the shop. She checks her phone again to see what Farrah's connection to the place is and finds she's the owner's best friend and roommate. Shrugging she heads down the street and to the right, finding the address easily enough as promised. She knocks on the door politely, and then subtly casts a spell to see if anyone is watching her.

They aren't, which is a huge relief. The door swings open, and a pretty, dark-skinned woman with large eyes and a larger smile appears in Estelle's sight-line.

"Hello? You don't look like you're selling cookies." The woman jokes, and Estelle offers a smile of her own.

"I'm actually looking for Ms. Farrah Parker?" She requests and the woman gestures her inside.

"Well I am Ms. Farrah Parker, so you're in the right place. What can I do for you today miss? I offer several kinds of genealogical investigative possibilities depending on your price point." She says cheerfully as Estelle enters the house and closes the door.

Estelle coughs slightly. "Oh, um, no, I'm not here for that, actually, sorry. I know my family history quite well, actually. I needed to consult you for an extremely time-sensitive Ministry case, one that needs to also be kept top-secret."

Farrah deflates slightly. "Yeah, that's fair. Am I charging to the Ministry?"

"Specifically to Department Head Potter - no one else can know about this. And only I should receive the results."

Farrah frows. "What exactly am I getting into here?" She asks, "Because I do have limits on what I'm comfortable doing."

Estelle nods. "I just need you to look over these ten documents and see if any of them were altered or subjected to forgery after their original creation. We'll pay up for a rush job if you can make this your top priority this week."

Farrah frowns. "I suppose that's manageable." She allows, accepting the bag that Estelle hands to her. "If it's just the ten I can probably get you your results in the next one to two days - I'll owl when they're ready and you can pick them up in person."

Estelle agrees and finds herself back on the unfamiliar streets of Oxford soon after. Now it's a waiting game, and Estells rather dislikes those but there's nothing else to do at this point.

So she takes the next train back to London and hopes that the results come back sooner rather than later.

Desmond still has nothing to do, and with Kylee back on her usual specializations he doesn't have meetings with Baylee anymore to distract him, which is extremely disappointing.

He understands, of course, why schools don't want to start working on a lengthy and probably expensive curriculum change when the impending threat of war is as potent as it still currently is - a war would render any and all changes to schooling in either world pointless, so waiting to see how things fall is the logical choice, particularly for those districts that would have to put in the money themselves for the alterations.

He still meets with Deputy Headmaster Roberts every other week, but nothing is changing for Hogwarts either - their main priority is still getting Muggleborn students to return to school (they'd eventually gotten most back after Christmas, but then half of them had stayed home once again after Easter Break at the end of April. Desmond definitely doesn't envy the Hogwarts staff right now). So Desmond has ended up with pretty much nothing to do. He's even started using work time to put together his syllabus for the 2019-2020 school year, since he does know he'll be back to teaching in the fall, and he may as well use the time he has to do something productive.

This monotony is rather abruptly flipped onto its head one evening when Estelle bursts into his flat and immediately yanks out her wand and starts casting several spells Desmond hasn't heard her use before.

"Um, good evening?" He says bemusedly, watching her work without getting up from the couch, where he'd been reading over some of the lesson plans he'd sketched out at work that day.

"Hi, sorry, be right with you." She says, a bit breathlessly, between spells. "Something massive came up at work today and I need to talk to you, but I can't have anyone overhearing it." She explains once she finishes and collapses onto the couch next to him. "So you've got about twelve layers of anti-eavesdropping and anti-entry spells layered all over your flat right now. Hope your neighbor doesn't need sugar."

Desmond raises an eyebrow. "My neighbor is an anti-social jackass and you know it. So what exactly is going on that's so secret? I thought you were still stuck on desk duty waiting for something to come up?"

Estelle coughs slightly. "Yes, well, I may have lied about that." She admits sheepishly. "But don't get mad yet! Let me explain why first, okay?"

Desmond frowns at her, but slowly nods anyway. Can't hurt to hear her out.

So Estelle explains everything, from her Vow with Clary to her new secret job up to the files she'd just had analyzed for alteration.

"And the results came back today - I picked them up, and like I suspected the files from Improper Use hadn't been touched, but the Archive originals had. Someone got to those within hours of them being submitted - they had to have, to get them switched. Also Farrah said the job was nearly flawless, so it had to have been done quickly." Estelle in a breath. "There are maybe a handful people in the Auror department who could have had that kind of access, though it could also have been someone in the Archives, which widens the pool by a lot. Anyone on the front desk when those were submitted would have had early access."

Desmond frowns. "So what do you need me to do? Are we assuming this person is working with Yurina?"

Estelle nods grimly. "We've known for some time that there's likely a mole inside of the Ministry, but we don't know where. It's why I've not been allowed to tell anyone excepted personnel approved by Auror Shacklebolt." She sighs. "The problem now is that she was Head of the Department when all of those changes were made - it makes her one of the few people who would have absolutely been able to ensure she got control of the documents before they were sent to the Archives. I have a suspect list, and I hate it but she's right at the top. So I need to bring people in who she's not aware of, to try and catch her by surprise if it is her, despite her already knowing what I'm doing." She takes a deep breath, and Desmond braces for more, but she's apparently done.

"Okay... so again, what do you need me to do?" Desmond repeats, somewhat amused now. Estelle definitely had a good reason to keep all this from him, and despite how frazzled she seems right now he's pretty sure she's having fun playing secret agent.

Estelle beams at him. "Thanks Des. I kind of need you to keep an eye on the Hunters - all of them except Pup are in that handful of people who could be responsible."

Desmond blinks, and then frowns. "Will it not be obvious that I'm up to something if I suddenly show interest in the Hunters though? I haven't exactly gotten involved with them in the past."

Estelle pouts. "Aw come on Des, you're smart, I bet you can figure it out! And it would really help to know what exactly they're doing - it wasn't much of anything when I left but I know Auror Longbottom has completely shifted how they're doing their job, so I'd like to know what that actually looks like. If nothing else it will help me avoid accidentally interfering with their work while I do my own."

Desmond nods. "Alright, count me in. Give me a few days though, to figure out what I'm doing and to settle in a bit."

Estelle nods firmly and they procede to have their date night without further interruption, though Desmond does lie awake a bit longer than he normally would that night, thinking through what his plan of attack should be in the morning and how to make it seem as natural as possible.

The next day he heads to his desk like normal and pulls out his lesson plans - step one (and, unfortunately, the only concrete step at this point) in his new plan is "act natural." His offer to help the Hunters out needs to grow organically out of his usual routine - if one of them is the insider, then they'll be closely watching everyone on the seventh floor, and Desmond can't give him or her a reason to get suspicious.

So he gets back to work on his lesson plans, but he's honestly nearly done with them - if an opportunity doesn't present itself before the end of the day he'll have to make one himself.

Unfortunately for him, he finishes his rough plan about thirty minutes before lunch, and he glares down at the notebook slightly. With nothing coming of that he turns his mind to what he would logically do next - his work is at a standstill, and his lesson plans are finished, so without a secret mission from his girlfriend what would he normally procede to do?

Talk to the leaders.

He puts his notebook away and asks Fergus to watch his desk for a minute before heading over to the large office that houses the two Initiative bosses. He knocks twice and waits to be admitted, then frowns and knocks again when there's no answer.

"They aren't in right now." Alex informs him from where he's just stepped off the lift. "Not sure what they're up to, but it's something not Initiative related I think." He shrugs and heads back to the desks, and Desmond mentally curses his luck. What to do now, then? Without the leaders present, who can he-

He pauses, and glances over at the Hunters. Actually, this may just be that perfect opportunity he'd been waiting for. He makes his way back across the floor, passing his desk and nodding to Fergus again, who eyes Desmond curiously but doesn't comment. Desmond will give him an explanation later - right now he has a goal.

He walks uncertainly over to the Hunters' lead office and knocks lightly.

"Edward seriously, you can just come-" Hugo Longbottom stops halfway through his sentence, looking surprised when he registers that Desmond is the one standing in the doorway. "Oh, apologies. Ed's the only one who actually knocks, so I assumed it was him. You're one of the Initiative members, right? You'll have to remind me your name."

"Desmond Edevane." Finn supplies, coming over to join them. "Is everything alright with the Initiative, Mr. Edevane?" He asks, and Desmond nods.

"Oh, going perfectly well, all in all. Um, I actually am at something of a standstill right now, and as my own bosses seem to be absent I wanted to see if you perhaps needed some assistance? I, uh, teach Muggle high school. I don't know if that would impact your answer but." He shrugs and offers a little grin, and is relieved when Finn grins back, even as Longbottom looks at him a bit increduously.

"Well I don't think there's much you can do for the magical end, but talk to Edward - see if he could use an assistant. He's constantly running around, so an extra pair of hands may be appreciated." Finn suggests, and Desmond smiles at him.

"Thanks! I'll check." He agrees. Well, working with Edward isn't exactly the perfect situation, but it's a great starting foothold - he may be able to integrate further through this opening.

He heads over to the Muggle consultant's desk and waits for Edward to finish what he's doing (which seems to be writing a report of some kind). However, the man pauses his hand halfway through a sentence and glances up at Desmond.

"Can I help you?" He asks dryly, and Desmond smiles apologetically.

"Sorry, I was trying to be unobtrusive. I actually wanted to ask if I could help you." He says. He explains his lack of work as well as Finn's suggestion, and Edward sighs.

"Sure, why not? He's right that I wouldn't be opposed to another set of hands - I'm the only guy here now who understands Muggle police approaches, so I'm going through some old reports to see if there was Dark Magic involved."

Desmond whistles. "Sounds fascinating. Show me what to do and I'm all yours - at least until the schools start opening up to negotiation again."

Edward is a rather gruff person to work with, but he has a sort of efficiency about him that Desmond can appreciate, and they get quite a bit done over the course of the rest of the day, though Desmond unfortunately doesn't see any way to extend past Edward to start checking in on the rest of the Hunters.

He reports back to Estelle that night, who frowns.

"Well, it's a start at least." She agrees after a moment of thought. "Did he say you could keep helping him tomorrow?"

"He did, so that's one positive. I'll keep working at it - he sometimes goes to consult with the other Hunters on things, so maybe if I get good enough at this he'll let me do it a few times?"

Estelle hums.

The next day is much like the one before it, but this time Desmond tries a bit harder to actually make small talk with Edward - if he wants to be trusted with bigger tasks, they need to actually develop a repore. Edward seems more irritated than anything, but Desmond can be very amiable when he wants to be, so he keeps up the chatter throughout the day. That night he pitches a new idea he'd had during the day to Estelle.

"So there's absolutely no way that Edward is the one changing the documents, right?" He opens, and Estelle eyes him warily.

"Where are you going with this?" She asks, though they both know she already knows full well where he's going.

He shrugs, giving her a hopeful grin. "I'm thinking we should bring him in on all this - he'll probably be more receptive that way, and he has more access to Hunter stuff than I ever could."

Estelle grimaces. "I hate that you make a good point." She sighs. "I'd rather keep this group as small as possible - the more people come in, the more likely one of them will slip up, or worse be working for Yurina. We still don't know who the Muggle is who's apparently trying to sabotage the entire operation from the inside."

"That could have just been made up to upset the magical world, and honestly the longer the II drags on the more I'm inclined to think that." Desmond replies stubbornly. "If there was someone on the inside, why haven't they been found yet?"

"Because it could be Edward who's with the Hunters and not the Initiative?" Estelle says dryly, and Desmond frowns.

"Okay, point to you." He admits grudgingly. "I still think it's a good idea. If it is Edward, he'll want Yurina's insider caught too, right? And we get our Hunter inside information - it's a win-win I think."

Estelle groans, and Desmond knows he's got a long night of convincing ahead of him, but he's certain bringing Edward in will be for the best long-term.

Eventually Estelle caves, and the next day their team of two grows to three.

Author's Note: And so it properly begins~ Estelle's little sub-plot here wasn't a part of the original plans, but once I started outlining the story this entire escapade appeared and now it's one of my favorite things about the story xD Hopefully it's as fun to follow as it's been for me to write it!