Sophie wasn't far behind Elise, but was quite surprised to find that she'd arrived after Leathan. Quite surprised indeed. She yanked up the left sleeve of her elegant black robes and looked at her watch; she was early, as she'd intended... unless her watch was wrong.

A hurried look up at the wall clock told her that her watch was, in fact, precisely attuned with official Ministry time.

Sophie brushed a strand of dark hair out of her eyes and calmly took her seat across from Leathan, casting him a suspiscious glance as she did so. "Leathan, it is quite rude to have your feet on the table," Elise was saying.

"Yes. It is, rather, isn't it?" he murmured, giving a jerk of his head towards Rufus. "But then, it's just too much fun to get under his skin." Shaking her head, Sophie added with the tiniest hint of a smirk, "Don't bother, Elise dear. You can't reprimand the incorrigible."

To be honest, she was not at all looking forward to taking on a summer intern, and she was bracing herself for the worst. The very first intern Sophie had ever taken on had been a hex-happy idiot, who boasted and bragged about his talent... and then fainted at the sight of his first crime scene. It seemed like all the kids wanted to be Aurors these days, regardless of whether or not they were really qualified (not to mention, mature enough) for the job.

Yet, here she was again, about to meet her latest apprentice. Not because she didn't get enough smart-alecky neophytes at the Auror Training School, but because it was her job, nay, her responsibility, to be here.

She could hardly contain her excitement.