What was I doing here?

[arianna]

Standing just outside the deputy's office, Arianna glanced up and down the hall, wondering if she really dared do this. She had a few questions she'd like to ask, but was certain she would be denied yet again. The girl had the odd feeling that a potion and a few borrowed hairs from her best friend would help, but hated having such thoughts about Drew in the first place. Arianna decided she would give it a few tries more before attempting more drastic measures.

Knocking lightly to inform anyone within that she was coming, Arianna pushed the door open and stepped inside. Unfortunately for the girl her mind happened to go completely blank at that moment and she had forgotten what she was doing there in the first place.

[Tamis Raynor]

It was fortunate for the woman in the chair that Arianna had forgotten her purpose once she walked through the threshold, but not so much so for the reason behind that. However, she was completely oblivious to the fact. Or that someone had entered her office at all. For she was under the impression that she had locked her door. Woe to her beliefs.

"I told you, I'm not doing these types of things any more," she argued into the fireplace. The Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts was not a very expressional woman. But no one could have mistaken the agony creasing her face. "I'm married, have a child -- that I should be with right now -- why do you think I retired as an auror? However selfish it is, I'm not doing it."

That determined irk to her voice however, was not unusual. For a split moment, one would think she had been conversing with herself. Simply staring into the flames as she did such. But then, if one looked again, they could see a head floating in the fireplace. A head that replied to her, but so softly that unless you were leaning over like Raynor was, it was indistinguishable.

The Deputy's mouth opened again to reply and then snapped shut, her sixth sense at last kicking in. That and she had caught the open door with her puerperal vision. Swinging around in the chair, Tamis came face to face with Arianna Shriver. The head in the fireplace disappeared.

"Miss Shriver, what are you doing here?" She asked, cool and collective, but perhaps a little too quickly.

[arianna]

Standing at the door with her eyes wide, mouth dropped open, Arianna babbled a few incoherent words. She had the feeling she had stepped in on something she shouldn't have.

"I-I didn't mean...I could come back..." she stammered. Hopefully she could get some time to refresh her brain and figure out what she had forgotten.

[Tamis Raynor]

Good Merlin, how much had the girl seen? How much had she heard. Feeling sick, Raynor realized she might have to cleanse the memory of one of her students. Was it too much to hope that Arianna had seen nothing and heard nothing? Yes. Those wide eyes and gaping mouth answered that question for her.

But if the Ravenclaw left now, she might never find out how much she had overheard. And if she were to tell others in the mean time? The girl looked ready to back right out the door. That couldn't happen.

Just play it cool and see what happens.

"No. No. Miss Shriver. Stay, you didn't interrupt anything. Nothing at all." Her gaze shifted slightly back towards the flames. The Head was gone. Thank Merlin. "Please, stay."

[arianna]

Arianna blinked. Well, at least she wasn't in trouble. Not yet, anyway.

"I...I didn't mean..." she started again as she shuffled back into the room. Arianna still did not know what to make of the whole thing. Whatever Raynor had been doing had to be important. It wasn't likely the professor would tell her, though. No matter how interesting it might have sounded.

[Tamis Raynor]

No, it was not likely Raynor would tell her what had happened. However, the woman's unease was enough to disturb anyone that knew her on even a slightly personal level. Despite how the Deputy might feel, showing such outward signs of her emotions was not like her. Had that been a bead of sweat that she had wiped away from her forehead?

Gray eyes glanced towards the fireplace one last time before settling fully on the girl.

"No apologies needed, Miss Shriver. Take a seat, please. I did not mean to shout at you like that. It has been...," she hesitated, "a long day. A very long day at that. I did not mean to upset you."

She sounded sincere enough, but still a little too jumpy for comfort. If she was going to find out if the Ravenclaw had seen or heard anything, she would have to conjure her control first. Arianna was not likely to tell her anything if she remained so distressed. So Raynor took a deep calming breath.

When she next spoke it was more like herself, "I'm sure you came you for a reason, Miss Shriver. Take a seat."

[arianna]

Despite the Deputy's reassurances, Arianna still felt as though she had stepped in at the wrong time. The woman kept glancing back at the fireplace, as though expecting something to show up there at any moment. Or to make sure it wasn't there? Arianna really didn't know.

"I...I'm really sorry," the girl muttered again, still wondering if she should just leave. Instead of doing so, though, she found the chair, with some difficulty, and took a seat, her eyes wide and still upon Raynor. She looked quite like she expected to be in trouble.

[Tamis Raynor]

"Again, Miss Shriver, no need to apologize at all. The door was unlocked, you had every right." The Professor replied, trying to sooth her, though her own nerves were shot.

The door was unlocked. She would have to make a note of checking that next time. But she was positive that she had locked it. Positive. Well, one can not cry over spilled milk. Though now they'd find out just how big of a glass wound up on the floor.

"You're not in trouble, Arianna," she consoled again. Doing her best to comfort the girl. Should she risk asking now? "I hope I didn't frighten you... did you see anything that you might have misinterpreted?"

Yes, that was the best way to approach this.

[arianna]

Arianna stared at the woman for a long pause. She was still a little distraught. What if she HAD walked in on something she wasn't supposed to? Was Raynor interogating her to see how much trouble she should be in? No. Arianna had to assure herself that wasn't the way her HoH worked.

"Just...just something about not doing....something...anymore," Arianna finally spoke, her voice quieter than usual. "Because....because of the baby and being married....Then mumbling from the fireplace, but I swear I didn't hear anything from..from...whoever it was."

[Tamis Raynor]

She had not heard too much. Nothing to take any drastic measures against. Tamis could have said those things against any point. She could have said them against Cody Thorne wanting her to come out of retirement as an auror, or the School Governors pestering her about something. So far, she was relatively safe.

A hesitation.

"Miss Shriver, I must ask that you don't repeat anything you heard to another living soul. It is... very personal... information that was being discussed." That was the best reply she could give.

[arianna]

"Oh, no, I swear I won't say anything," Arianna replied quickly, shaking her head just a fast. It made her a bit suspicious, though, and she almost wished she HAD heard whatever Raynor and...whomever she was talking to had been talking about. Was it about the Elevens? Requesting her presence at a secret meeting, perhaps?

Numerous suggestions popped up in the girl's head. If she were Drew, she probably would have asked more. However, Arianna was not one to pry into things she didn't think she should. Even if it piqued her interest more than previous encounters had. Arianna was already curious about what her Head might be involved with lately, but she hadn't caught much more than odd reactions to certain questions to even form good evidence.