Anthony walked into the lifts from the Atrium with a group of other wizards. He pushed the button for level 3 and went to the back to lean against the wall while reading his latest Obliviation file. If I am quick, I can complete this assignment before too long and head home early. As more and more people filed in from level 7, he looked up to see a familiar face. It's her, he smirked. She had not noticed him as she made her way into the car.

He waited until the wizards exited on Levels six and five and then spoke, "Megan, I didn't realize you worked for the Ministry. Been here long?"

That voice! HIS voice. Megan spun about with wide eyes, clutching her files to her chest. Before she knew what she was doing, her hand slammed against the emergency stop button. The lift jolted to a stop.

"What are you doing here?" Then she noted the file in his hands. "You work here?"

She had been thinking of this one often in the last few days. He consumed her thoughts, her curiosity. He'd killed a man. She'd replayed it over and over in her head until she could see it without closing her eyes. It was on a constant loop, taunting her. He did things she wanted to do, but could not. Not yet.

Anthony's eyes flickered to her hand as she stopped the lift, and then raised slowly to her eyes. "Yes I work here, in the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes. As an Obliviator." He shoved off the wall, "So, if you wanted to forget what you saw the other night, I could take care of that for you," he said as he moved closer to her. He didn't know what it was about her that made him act so differently. He had never behaved this way to another person ever. He studied her face, watching the reactions play across it.

Megan was quite proud of herself for not taking a step back when he shoved off of the back wall of the lift. There was something reactionary about him for her. He didn't behave like a person should in her head. It made her skittish around him. She was nervous and... excited? Interested? Curious? Thrilled? When he offered to obliviate her though, that's when her wand was out of her shirt sleeve.

"That's close enough," she remarked in a cool tone. "Who said fuck-all about forgetting anything?"

Smirking, Anthony rose his hands in a mock peace at her raised wand. "Now, now. I'd only obliviate you if you wished it. I owe you that much for not turning me in." He kept his proximity to her but lowered his hands.

Megan retracted her hand and let go of her wand. It slipped nicely back into her sleeve. For some odd reason, she believed him when he said he wouldn't obliviate her unless she wanted him to. That could prove useful. Perhaps he could scrub all the memories of Hugh Dawlish from her when she was finished with the man.

So what did one say to a murderer when one had trapped oneself in the lift with said murderer?

"So... do that often, do we?"

"Yes, about once a month or so," Anthony said. Why he told her that, he did not know. His instincts, which had not proved him wrong previously, told him he could confide in her this. "Why are you interested?" he asked, staring at her intently. "Have someone you'd like off'd?" he said with sarcasm.

"Several people, actually, but my Imperius is the only unforgivable I'm spot-on with. Though from what I understand, an Avada doesn't require much skill. Hands, however, that might take a bit of finesse."

She was shocked at herself. She'd never spoken so honestly. Never. But he would not say anything. Megan didn't know how she knew this, but she did. He would extend her the same courtesy she was extending him. His habits would not be mentioned outside their very small, two-person circle, and neither would hers.

Then she started mentally ticking off people she'd kill. Hopkirk, Dawlish, Hestia... for starters. Perhaps Abbott for being such a blind fool, but only if Potter were disposed of. He'd never let anything happen to little Hannah... who else? Who else?

He looked at her with a questioning glance. "I usually only use my skills with muggles. I don't like to use my wand for anything that could send me to Azkaban. Of course, the idea recently came to me to use another wand. Perhaps, as we get to know each other, I could help you with a few of your problems. Until then, perhaps you would like to join me the next time I... do what I do?" He had thought of the look he had seen on her face that night often in the past couple of days. Seeing it again was something he was willing to work for.

Megan was breathing heavily as she turned her back to him. A mistake, but he wouldn't do anything to her that she did not want him to do. He'd said as much. Megan jabbed a button on the lift viciously to get it moving again. Did she want to do this?

Yes.

When she doors opened on level three, she stepped out.

"I think that would be lovely." She sounded like she was accepting a date. Dinner and a strangling? Certainly. Sounds delightful. Pop round my flat about seven-ish. You bring the piano wire. I'll dispose of the body.

She cocked her head to the side when he stepped off of the lift too. Quite close to her actually. Megan resisted the urge to take a step back yet again. That's right. Obliviator.

"I'm this floor too," Megan said in a softer voice. "Misuse of Magic Office. I'm Mafalda Hopkirk's secretary."

Anthony felt a little nervous when she turned away, but when she spoke he felt a rush that he'd never felt before. She would join him on his next outing. "Right," he spoke suppressing a smile as there were people getting in the lift around them. "I will talk to you later about it then? When I've... finalized my plans?" When she nodded he backed away from her and turned to head to his desk.


{SUMMARY} Anthony and Megan run into one another on the lift in the Ministry. He asks her out. Sort of.