Talk of the town [Hogwarts Happenings Business]

[Celina Jedynak]

November 21, 2007

Another paper assignment. Excellent. Celina was a bit excited for this one as she was to interview the new Transfigurations professor that had just arrived on campus. Who was he? Professor Devin Brady, ex-auror from the ministry. Excitement bridged on fear as she had read the Daily Prophet's article a few weeks back that had said the man was immediately let go for attacking a pure blooded man on the streets in Diagon Alley. Confusion and bewilderment filled the young reporter's mind as she couldn't believe that Professor Raynor would hire a man who attacked randomly on crowded streets. Her real reason for wanting to interview the man, to find out why he was the only candidate for the position. If the man was really as off his rocker as she assumed he must be, than this interview would prove it for sure. At least he wasn't a vampire, but then again, he could use a wand and was an ex-auror. As she reached the professor's office door she found herself thinking that she'd rather be in the presence of Professor Marcos instead.

Standing at the door she looked throughout her paperwork. Celina found herself wondering why she had come alone. There were plenty of people on the paper staff that could have come with her that had probably read the article like she had. Course the idea of that was not to let the man know that she knew anything at all. Would he assume it? Of course. His face was plastered on the front cover in big bold letters, and a dashing picture. There was no way that any girl that was at least thirteen or older was not going to read that, and no boy who didn't see the word auror wasn't going to read it either. It had all the proper aspects of an attention grabber it needed to have the world look at Professor Brady's face and read why in fact he was fired. So, would he assume that she had read the article? Absolutely. But that didn't mean she couldn't play dumb.

Her hand shook a bit as she reached up to knock on the door. Celina hoped it wasn't a bad time seeing as the man had just gotten to Hogwarts a few days before, but the article had to be done for the paper as soon as it could be, and preferably before the winter holidays. Celina had messed up a bit on some of her last articles, and she was determined to make it up with this one. Exhaling a breath, and trying to look and feel as professional as possible she knocked three times on the door. Quickly before he answered, she straightened out her long tan skirt and black, frilly shirt that hung off her shoulders to the sides. Being as nervous as she tended to be with meeting anyone new, on top of that fact the newspaper article's contents, she tried to even rub out wrinkles that were meant for the shirt.

The interview was going to be fantastic....or so she kept telling herself anyhow.


[CLOSED FOR OFFICIAL HOGWARTS HAPPENINGS BUSINESS]

[Devin Brady]

It had only been days since Devin had moved in at Hogwarts, and he now sat hard at work in his office. All that could be heard in the office was the light sounds of the quill scratching on the parchment, the turning of pages in an old tome, and the light music playing out of the charmed phonograph. Transfigurations had always been something that Devin had loved, and been good at for that matter, the chance to teach it was a dream. He remembered only months ago, having a conversation about hoping one day he could come work at the school. And now though with some loss of reputation, he was doing just that.

The office the man sat in wasn't overly large, or overly small, in fact the size could be seen as pleasant. In fact the office could be seen as pleasant. When one entered the room, they met an interesting sight. Directly across from them was a huge wall of books. The books covered the wall top to bottom, shelves built nicely into the wall, all completely filled. The only thing petruding from the wall was the fireplace raging softly, and the mantel covered with dark magic detectors.

Devin was sitting to the right where his large ornate wood desk sat. The desk sat very neatly, nice piles, and lined up bottles of ink and quill. The only thing that stood out on the desk was a single picture of a woman. Two very comfortable chairs sat across from the desk, a while beautiful old rug covered the floor. Behind the desk was a different story. The walls were painted in stripes of red and gold, his true Gryffindor pride showing. Along with the color the walls were covered of smiling moving pictures of Devin and others during their schooling days. Both Hogwarts and other places could be easily determined from the pictures.

Directly across from the desk sat another wall compeletely covered in shelves. In the middle sat larger more spread out shelves surronding a window with various trinketes spread out along them. At the very bottom sat a pensieve, tightly hidden by cabinet doors. Other than that the wall was pretty much covered with books, though one other shelf was left for some old quidditch equipment, a broom, and an old picture. The last wall was again covered in red and gold stripes. However other than a door this wall only housed two types of things. A large Foe Glass hung on the very lower left hand side. The only other thing covering the wall were various awards and plaques that Devin had won over his life.

He heard a light knock against the door as he stopped working standing for a stretch. Devin was well aware of the meeting that was about to occur, of course he had agreed to it. It was an interview for the school paper, and being the person Devin was he happily agreed. Placing his papers to the side of his desk he waved his wand causing a pot of tea and cups to appear. Another waved caused the various candles floating around the room to brighten.

Devin walked to the door and opened it, smiling a bright and charming smile. "Ms. Jedynak I assume," his light Irish accent playing with the words. "Come in, come in," he laughed out. "It will do you no good trying to hold an interview in that corridor." The way he spoke was probably not what she had expected, of course, most people these days thought of him as a raving luenatic. Though that was hardly what Devin looked like, though in his mind he was dressed more comfortably. His hair was of course nicely combed, a light beard played at his face. Though today he was not dressed in his typical trendy dress robes, nor did he think he would anytime soon. No today he wore a sweater vest over a plain white shirt, the sleaves rolled up. Along with a pair of slacks, he felt like for the first time in his life he didn't need to dress himself up.

[Celina Jedynak]

First impressions. Professor Brady was older, obviously, but still younger than what her father was. His charming demeanor and attitude took Celina a bit off guard and as this was their first meeting face to face, Celina had expected someone a bit more rugged than he actually was. The picture from the prophet, she had determined, did the man no justice, but then again neither did the many that hung around his office. He dressed appropriately for that of a professor and was nice. Or so it seemed.

Celina wasn't giving up on the fact that she thought he could have been off his rocker, not just yet. It might have taken a bit more to pushed him to exceed the point of sanity. She didn't even dare to think of what would happen if she did that, so Celina decided to just play the interview safe and not make the man angry. There was no use in her being attacked next if it was just a random thing that he did.

She walked in smiling at the man, and trying not to be too shy to actually give the interview. At his jest about holding the interview in the hall, she could feel her face turn red a bit out of embarrassment, and as he ask her name she nodded. Snap out of it, you have a job to do, she told herself examining the vast room. The walls and walls of books, however, did in fact tickle her fancy a bit. When she hadn't been playing with her cat, she was reading (or lately hanging out with friends that she had just acquired). And as she stretched her neck around, she noticed that there were more books there that she could probably read in a life time.

"Have you read all of these?" Celina said softly, her tone in awe still looking at the books from the center of his office. She dared not move close, take a seat, or do anything until told to. She was invited into the office, after all, not to make herself at home.

Still looking around the room, she then noticed how many things he had in the room that had his name on it. She giggled a bit to herself, joking in her head about how he must not want to forget his own name. Celina then gulped hard hoping that what she thought wasn't seriously true, that could be one sign she had to help her with her discovery that he really was quite nuts. Celina turned back to Brady and smiled, only a few inches shorter than the man she smiled and looked around innocently. There was something about this office that screamed....perfection? Though, she knew that it had to be a cover for something. Otherwise, how would such a man get fired from being an auror, and hired as being a professor even with all the baggage that attacking a person must have gotten him. Smiling, Celina met with Brady's gaze, and decided finally that she had to speak. "Thank you for agreeing to do the interview for the paper. Would you like to get started?"

[Devin Brady]

Devin laughed lightly to himself as he allowed the girl to enter the room. It was a bit comedic when girls got nervous around him, it felt good to feel like an old man, but still have the girls chasing after you. He again laughed, this time out loud as the girl spoke. Gesturing around the room he smiled, "All of these books, no not all of them. Most of them actually, some I've only read sectons of, some I haven't read at all. These are the ones that I've felt more useful, most of my other books are still back at my home. Some people would think of him more or less as a genius, he read everything he could, mostly to become more efficiant, but also because he enjoyed it.

Of course there was a specific time that all he did was read. He read because he wanted to make sure he never made a mistake again, he became a perfectionist, no longer the carefree person he was. That isn't to say he couldn't be fun, no he was charming, and could be a blast, but he lost himself at that time. It wasn't half bad though, to gain knowledge and wisdom, is to better prepare.

It was then that a thought crossed his mind. It wasn't his thought no, no he was positive about that. It was the girls, and when she turned to him and their eyes locked momentarily he heard it. She had thought of a joke something funny, something about not remembering his name. He smiled brightly, but quickly frowned as the girl began to get nervous. She spoke again, this time signalling that she wished to begin the interview. "Why don't you have a seat then, and we can begin. And if you are wondering, those aren't there because I can't remember my name, I have a pretty solid memory." He paused looking towards the one window in his office, the window that sat directly across from him. "Before we start I want to assure you of something. I am not as most people now think, crazy. It was a big misunderstanding, and it is very complicated."

[Celina Jedynak]

The impressions were getting worse and it took every muscle in her face to keep it from looking absolutely horrified. Had he just read her mind? Celina feared that maybe she in fact was going crazy. It had to be the office, that's what it had to be. Stop thinking!! she screamed at herself. No more would he read her thoughts. As long as she focused on the work that had to be done, she had little to worry about. However, it did make her wonder what else he had heard while invading her thoughts. She shuddered at the thought and slowly strolled over to a chair in front of his desk to sit down.

"I don't think you're crazy, sir," Celina's soft tone shook a bit, as she tried not to think about what she really thought of him. At the moment, he wasn't doing to well for himself. And now, he was making her feel as if she too were nuts. Everything is fine, she told herself looking forward across the desk, noticing the quills and inks and papers that were on the desk. Celina tried to focus her thoughts as she searched through her bag to get out her own quills and inks and parchments with her notes.

Looking up, back at the professor she forced a smile again, the dimple on her left cheek showing as her untied hair fell around her face. Pushing one side back behind her ear, she held her quill up, determined that she was about to get this article started and finished quickly. No telling what else this office held that could effect her.

"Now, before we begin, I always like to tell those I'm interviewing that if anything comes up that you are not willing to have put in the paper, just tell me and it will be scratched from the record. Ok?" she questioned looking at the Professor and getting into the swing of the interview. She smiled, and this time it felt less forced, and decided that everything would be fine. Celina calmed herself, thinking that what had just happened was just a coincidence and she was to obvious about her thoughts. That's all that had happened...nothing more.

[Devin Brady]

"I apoligize Ms. Jedynak. You see that last occurance was truly an accident, let me explain. I'm a legilimence, and once you learn to do it without a wand, it really becomes more of a second nature. Now if you didn't know it mostly revolves around eye contact. So while I really should have been paying attention, I wasn't due to all the paperwork that was on my mind. So with me not paying attention and us having eye contact, it brushed my concious. I apoligize sincerely really, and assure you I will be sure I'm paying attention." He smiled, sitting down behind his desk, and grabbing a quill in his hand, as he spun it lightly.

He smiled lightly when she said she didn't think he was crazy, he wasn't sure how much of that he believed, so he explained anyway. "Listen, I want to let you know that its okay if you do. The thing is, is that I was working for the Ministry for 15 years, and I've made few mistakes, not really one I can remember. Then after 15 years, I made a mistake, granted it was a rather large one, but none the less the one mistake got me fired. I'm not a crazy ex-auror, who was fired because he never listened and made carefree mistakes." He paused, "It's not that I really mind people on the streets thinking, 'Oh there goes that crazy ex-auror,' I don't. I just don't want the students to see me like that, especially when I'm not."

"You see the reason I took this job wasn't because, I needed money. It's cause I want to help the students learn, and make a difference. I could probably live a lavished life style, for the rest of my being if I so wanted. I am from a rather well known pureblood family after all. But that just isn't me. I need to help you all prepare, and I took the chance when Raynor asked me."

"Now lets start this interview. Oh, and I do promise anything I want left out, I will let you know."

[Celina Jedynak]

...

Celina's quill quivered a bit in her hand. Legilimency was a technique used to read other's minds. One that she herself had been introduced to in the past. Celina was relieved a bit to now understand what had just taken place. She wasn't going crazy. But now that she realized what really had just happened, she didn't feel anymore at ease than what she had when she first entered the professor's office.

Legilimency. A second nature? Maybe. That was dangerous in itself, and Celina knew it. How was one supposed to keep anything private with an ex-auror who, not only knew how to read their minds without even saying a spell or any such warning, but did? They weren't. Celina also knew that that was the point. What Brady didn't realize was that her father was an auror in the ministry as well. Or maybe he had met her father, but all in all, it wasn't as if Brady knowing her father would have been anything big. Celina's family wasn't one for making headlines as the Professor had been as of late.

Her father had been working for the ministry for multiple years after his job of working at St. Mungo's with her mother. He was one of the aurors no one ever heard about fighting in the background against the Deatheaters from the second war, and that was how he liked it. It kept the Jedynak family safe and out of harms way if they weren't advertised as a pureblood family fighting against you-know-who. It was all fine and dandy, but there was no use in hiding anything from him either. It made it difficult growing up for Celina, especially since so many expectations were forced upon her as being an upstanding pureblood citizen. So, instead of hiding her thoughts, she hid herself from him and avoided eye contact as best as she could, and even that was pointless at times. Her brother, however, protected her from their father when they were younger, and when he left, her mother tried. Celina started to realize that this interview was going to take more out of her that she had thought it was going to. That was for dead sure.

"Ah, yes, I've heard of legilimency. It just is a bit startling to find it when first meeting someone, especially a new professor," Celina softly spoke only quickly making eye contact as if not to seem rude. He said he'd keep in in control, but so did her father the many times he tried to persuade her to do something, or tell him something. Playing games with one's mind, a normal game she had to defend herself from. It was amazing how well she could avoid such confrontations with her father, and how many things she had finally been able to keep from him. But, then again, she never allowed herself to be in a room alone with him if she was hiding something.

"Though, I do have a question. Is it hard for you to control it?" Celina wanted to bite her tongue so she could stop, but she had to know. Softly spoken, and slowly stated she asked the man next, "If you have this ability, what makes it so you feel that you could be trusted by the student body from entering their thoughts and pulling out whatever secrets they are thinking at that very moment?" Did anyone know? Did Raynor know? Celina would have to see her after the interview sometime to ask. That was if she had a chance...

[Devin Brady]

Yes Legilimency, he had spent many years learning the techniques, back when he was still young. During the second war it was a most nessicary asset, especially when you were a member of the Order. He had persued it with members of both the Order and Ministry. It was two he trusted, and two people that had really saved his life. "Ms. Jedynak, please don't be worried. The art of Legilimency can be hard to control when first learning it, but when you study for a long enough time its a basic practice. Rarely do I slip up like that, and I truly apoligize. Stress doesn't help I promise you that, and with all this work, and the recent scandal... well its taken some out of me."

He smiled looking at the girl, but sighed as she asked if he should be trusted. "Like I've said, I can control it, so I would think I wouldn't need to be seen as a threat. I can assure you that I have no wish to go around to the student body and dive into their thoughts. In all honesty I don't think there would be much that I would be interested in knowing. And I trust that anyone who has anything to hide will know how to hide it. So no I don't think I need to be seen as a threat."

"Well feel free to use that in your article if you would like. I'm not looking to keep secrets. But let us continue, I'd like to see what questions you have for me." Smiling Devin jestured to the tea, "Can I offer you anything to drink, I'm sure I can find some pumpkin juice or butterbeer if you like."

[Celina Jedynak]

Ms. Jedynak, please don't be worried.

His calm voice and genuine tone was one that if she wasn't already on edge would have surely fooled her, but as she went back to her notes she made sure to note Legilimency. Especially since she had permission to write about it in her paper. Though as he talked she wrote other notes down as well. Scandal....under stress loses control.....rarely does he slip....up

Celina tried to look a bit confused as he mentioned scandal but continued to write anyhow. The whole idea was for him not to know she had read the prophet and to give him the benefit of the doubt.

Celina looked up briefly as the man continued to say that he was not a threat. She thought as little as possible as she wrote, and briefly made eye contact before fidgeting a bit in her chair and finally being able to speak. "No, thank you," Celina said shyly as she tried not to think of all the other items a drink could hold. However, she quickly changed her thought patterns. "So," Celina's next question was planned out. She looked back at her notes and then up at the man and smiled sweetly once more. "What brought you here to Hogwarts? And was there any particular reason for teaching Transfiguration, other than Professor Bloaxam's sudden departure?" Possibly the scandal? She held her tongue. Celina had to remain professional, for the paper.

[Devin Brady]

Looking at the girl he sighed. This of course wasn't his favorite subject, especially since the loss of the job made him especially upset. But they did have a right to know, and best coming from his own mouth.

"The reason for my recent appointment as Transfigurations here at Hogwarts is a bit of a controversial one. Of course everyone is well aware of my immediate dismissal from the Ministry of Magic, and though I believe it was a bit extreme I have accepted the reasonings behind the punishment. Of course I would like to sincerely apologize to Mr. Jedynak, who is of course your brother, and I didn't mean any true harm. We all do make mistakes and I believe that though I am not known for many, that I have learned from this one." To tell the truth Devin wasn't exactly sure how much the girl knew about the incident, but she was related... she should know something.

"As for my employment as the new Transfiguration's professor, the job was given to me by the Deputy Headmistress. She thought I might be interested, as I did have the highest scores for Transfigurations in my year, as well as the fact that I am as of now a former auror. So she felt that Transfigurations would be completely suitable for me. With the coincidental departure of Mr. Bloaxam, and my recent move to unemployment it seemed like a great opportunity."

[Celina Jedynak]

Of course I would like to sincerely apologize to Mr. Jedynak, who is of course your brother, and I didn't mean any true harm.

The answer was more than Celina ever had expected. And much more than she'd ever put in the paper. Had he just apologized indirectly to her brother through her? Wait....how did Professor Brady know Alfonz?

Celina's quill broke at his apology and her hands shook as she looked up sheepishly, grined nervously, and went to shift through her bag to find another one. Avoiding eye contact, she didn't want him to knoThoOf course I would like to sincerely apologize to Mr. Jedynak, who is of course your brother, and I didn't mean any true harm. Though, he meant no harm? Then what was he getting at? She still shifted through her bag, almost wondering if she had really not thought to pack another. How foolish.

She listened to the rest of his answer and nodded, but the beginning still got to her. And then she thought of something more. The man must have been lying...if he wasn't, why hadn't Alfonz told her of the incident? Why hadn't the paper reported that it was a famous.....surely the fact that her brother was a pro quidditch player would have made the tabloids at least. But Celina had seen nothing even there. And something else rang throughout her mind that the paper had said.....the attack on the pureblood was personal. Cellna looked wide eyed at the man...."Seems, I've for...forgot..ten another quill...." she trailed off still strying to think about her quill, not look into Brady's eyes, and be polite at the same time.

But now what was she supposed to say?

Keep going with the interview...for the paper, She told herself. As she had no quill to write with, however, she set her bag back on the floor and shifted the papers in her hands. Her curiosity though was killing her on the inside, and so was the worry for her brother. If he had gotten into a fight with an auror, it must have been over something serious. "I'm....I'm.....I'm sure though, that whatever was said in the paper," because I am still claiming not to have read it....I have to for the interview's sake. She continued under the falsehood that she had no idea, even though Celina's body language now told an onlooker that something was known by the girl that she hadn't shown before.

"...was just an exaggeration....I mean....I'm sure it was just like an argument of sorts....." Celina thought of her brother dueling an auror and found herself looking at the floor so that the look of confusion and worry wasn't found. "I mean, what in the world was there to fight about......oh! I mean if you don't mind me asking...." Celina trailed off. Why would Brady fight Alfonz? What was the point? If he wasn't crazy, and he meant no harm on Alfonz....then why else would he have had a fight? She hoped that she would come up with the answers she truly desired.


Maybe this was why she had wanted to do the interview....to see how this man's mind truly ticked.


Especially, after reading the Daily Prophet article.

[Devin Brady]

Devin smiled lightly, opening his desk drawer as she sifted through her bag. When she announced she had no other quill, he took out one of his own. "Here you can use one of mine, I do apologize, it corrects spelling, never can be too careful." It was then that the girls aura changed, no longer did she seem the shy nervous young girl he had met as she entered the room. No now she seemed concerned, worried at the least. It was almost unfair on the older man sitting across from her. He still did truly feel bad about what had occurred. It was of course a mixed effort, but he should have known better. He noticed the slip ups kept on popping up. Was their a reason?

He stood up from his chair and walked to the window. It was a nice day out, but cold. You could see the frost sitting upon the grass as the sun tried to fight it back, high from it seat in the sky. "The papers did exaggerate slightly. It was a duel, but very short lived. Your brother never truly stood a chance, and that isn't meant to be offensive in any sense." The boy thought he was some old fool who had no clue what he was doing, and he was highly mistaken. But he couldn't expect the boy to know any better, could he?

It was when she asked what the fight was about that he felt truly foolish. The fight was practically over nothing, well it was over disrespect thats all. "The fight, well it had to do with respect. You see I heard a woman scream, thought something had gone wrong, and turned into your brother. Before I could get out an apology your brother cut me off with a cheeky remark. We began to argue about how he hadn't shown me a bit of respect, and he kept up the cheeky comments. This is where things got out of hand and I feel truly foolish. I said that his parents obviously didn't raise him right, and hoped he had no siblings to follow after his footsteps."

Devin sighed shaking his head. He felt like he was a moron, the blood had boiled inside him, when the boy couldn't show common courtesy. "But then he got defensive, and I took a shot in the dark. Told him to say hi to you, guessing he had a sister. He took it the wrong way, and attacked me. I dodged it and with a few choice spells had him on his knees restrained. Then I let him go, but some pompous jerk from the crowd, went off to have a personal conversation with the Minister of Magic. And my perfect record was blown, the first mistake of my career and I was thrown out to fend for my own." He knew there was more, that it had to do with the fact that the boy was a pure-blood, but was that fair he was a pure-blood too. The only reason that man had sided with the boy was because of Brady's record of siding light.

"I truly feel remorse for what I did. I mean I feel we were both in the wrong, but I should have never instagated the fight... it was wrong." What had caused him to keep slipping up like this. What had changed in the last few months, in the last year. And it hit him like a ton of bricks, as he slowly made his way back to his desk and caught sight... of a picture. It was fear, fear of the war that was slowly coming upon them. He was starting to understand, as the look in his eyes sold away the pain he was feeling. The swirling memories, of the only woman he had truly loved. The pain of knowing that he had lost her, and the secret that he never told anyone about her death. He looked back up at the girl, his face returning back to its normal state. "I apoligize about that, just remembered something is all." His face remained emotionless, however his eyes told his lie.

[Celina Jedynak]

Celina watched as the man reacted weirdly to her question about the duel. Brady left his desk only to walk over to the office window and stare out at the scenery. His story began and Celina rested the quill he had just given to her on her piece of parchment. She didn’t want this piece of personal information in her notes where if lost could find their way into the hands of someone who would use them against her, not to mention her brother. Celina just had to know what happened. If it was Alfonz who this man had allegedly attacked, she had to know why, and why Alfonz hadn’t told her.

"The papers did exaggerate slightly. It was a duel, but very short lived. Your brother never truly stood a chance, and that isn't meant to be offensive in any sense."

Celina listened intently, her eyes holding their shaky gaze at Brady’s back. His introduction was slightly worrisome and annoying. His confidence in himself was admirable to the younger Jedynak, for he knew where in life he had been and was going. But what worried her was how confident the man really was, almost as if he thought of himself as infallible. Someone so cocky was bound to make mistakes, but from what he was saying so far and the attitude he gave off, it was as if he didn’t think he was capable of making mistakes. It scared her, and as he continued his introduction her emotions only became more confused.

She was glad when he started to speak of her brother that his back was turned. Her worry soon changed a bit to annoyance. Even though Celina found that his words were more true than false, she still wasn’t pleased that he’d speak so freely of her brother’s weaknesses. Celina knew very well that Alfonz wasn’t the strongest of duelers. Alfonz was best suited in Quidditch where his life lay, not in dueling. The Jedynak siblings had left that choice in lifestyle for their father. Alfonz would have never stood a chance against an auror, and Celina knew that Alfonz knew better than to mess with one. Not only because of the obvious unmatched abilities but also because Alfonz didn’t like fame. He wasn’t one to want to be in the paper, and especially not because he decided to go at it with an auror. Something wasn’t right…and Celina knew it. Brady’s introduction, however, was only the beginning of her rising questions. But first and foremost, Celina was after why. Why had Alfonz dueled an auror in the middle of Diagon Alley?

The fight, well it had to do with respect.

Why didn’t this surprise Celina? Not in the least bit did it surprise her that Alfonz had given this man lip, however that still didn’t explain anything. Celina kept her mouth shut, and listened. According to Brady, Alfonz had given him some smart responses that were a bit fresher than the man was used to. That didn’t figure. Celina had been on him about that multiple times about his first impressions with people. They were never good, and Alfonz didn’t have many friends because of it. If he found no use for a person as soon as he met them, then they were nothing to him. Celina knew this, for Alfonz had told her many times about his theories and how she too, should be like that. It was a way of protecting one’s self. Unfortunately, for Alfonz and Brady, it had seemed to back fire.

”I said that his parents obviously didn't raise him right, and hoped he had no siblings to follow after his footsteps.”

You said what?! Celina thought in her mind, not also wanting to step over her boundaries. The man now was her professor after all, and if he had attacked someone while holding a governmental position of sorts, there was no telling what he’d do as a professor. However, did he really just say what she thought he said? No wonder the argument escalated. This man had just insulted the Jedynak family. And right in front of her brother, probably one of the most prideful of the family members. Even her father wasn’t as prideful or protective over the family members, as Alfonz was; especially when it came to Celina. She knew this…who didn’t? Their relationship was very close and many couldn’t believe at times that siblings could get along as well as the Jedynaks did. Many claimed it was because of their age difference, Celina just believed that it was because of a unique bond they shared. What that bond was exactly, Celina never knew, but she did know that it was there, however.

She stayed silent as she secretly began to become even more annoyed. How could this man say such things? Why did he not just walk away? Or better yet, why didn’t Alfonz?

"But then he got defensive, and I took a shot in the dark. Told him to say hi to you, guessing he had a sister. He took it the wrong way, and attacked me.”

Very unwise. Celina’s eyes went wide as she heard the next part. Brady was sending a greeting to her through her brother? But why? And how had Alfonz taken it that would make him pull his wand? She cocked her head slightly, trying to keep her emotions of confusion, annoyance, worry, and anguish all under control. Her hand shook that held the quill, and one question kept running over and over in her mind: Alfonz usually leaves useless people….why didn’t he turn and walk away? Brady seemed as if he was just passing out insult after insult, which Celina knew probably were countered by insults that her brother would have thrown. She’d seen the arguments Alfonz had had between people before, but none of them lead to duels. Not one.

And bringing her into it all, even indirectly was a big mistake on Brady’s part. Celina owed everything to her brother. He was, in a way, her protector. But why would Alfonz feel the need to protect her from this man? Maybe he was crazy…or worse. Celina thought about all the events that had happened in or at their school, among the many other events that had happened or had been mentioned in the Prophet. The Eleven’s? Was Brady apart of them? Or was the answer just in the insults themselves?

“How had Alfonz taken your comment to him of saying ‘hi’ to me? I’m not sure I quite understand,” Celina softly responded to his story. She hadn’t missed the end of his tale, nor would she forget it. “And why, if you don’t mind me asking, did you feel to instigate a fight at all?” He had instigated it. It was done on purpose that meant, didn’t it? But why? What did he plan on gaining from losing his job and attacking the innocent. Sure, her brother was never the smoothest of people to meet, but he wasn’t meant to be hexed or cursed either.
Celina also noted Brady’s apologies and nodded her head slightly, not taking her eyes away from him. As he said it was wrong, Celina caught herself thinking, No, you think? almost rolling her eyes. She couldn’t believe this, and from what she was getting the paper rather dulled what happened. The only exaggerated thing she could find was that the auror himself had not pulled his wand first…and that was IF the man was telling her the truth about the whole scenario. Something told her, however, that even after all he did...he wasn’t one that was about to lie.

He had taken blame where if seemed fitting, and even told her why the fight had started. Some of which she still didn’t understand, but hoped that it would soon be cleared up. As she watched the man, he turned around and Celina didn’t move her gaze. Was that sadness? Was he really that upset about attacking her brother? She almost would have thought so, but in that instant he came out of his daze and looked back at her. Celina froze a bit, eyes wide again, a bit more freaked out now that she could see him straight on. This man wasn’t insane, but at the same time Celina couldn’t disagree with the fact that there was more to him that met the eye. Her curiosity was getting the better of her, and when he mentioned that he had remembered something but it was ok, though the sadness still remained she could hardly control her vocals. “Remembered something? About the fight?” She asked him, almost certain she really didn’t want to know more.

[Devin Brady]

She questioned how Alfonz had taken it, well this was almost emberassing. It actually probably would have been, if he hadn't known what he knew. He hadn't even been on a date since the second war with Voldemort. "Well you see, he thought that I was insinuating something that I wasn't." This was harder to get out, more or less because this could be the end of his job here too, if people worried about things like this. You see he thought I was insinuating something sexual, he yelled out that you were much too young for me." He knew this would frighten the girl, that she would think he was some dirty old pervert. "You see I only said what I said, thinking it would bring his attention back. It wasn't meant to be like. The way he was so defensive, it practically called out, I'm a big brother."

He choked up a little bit as she asked why he had instigated. It was a rough subject on him, but she had a right to know didn't she? And it would clear up somethings. "Th-The reason I instigated the fight was because something inside me pushed me to do it. It was like I needed to releave stress, stress built up... from fear." He looked over at the trophies, then back at the picture, and on to the girl. "See all those, those are plaques of honor, those are because I was the best. I never made mistakes, that fight with your brother, well it was the fi- second. But people say the first wasn't my fault. They never mentioned that in the paper. That this was the first mark against my record. Almost all the people here at Hogwarts have more than five, but I got fired after one. But listen I'd like you to leave the part about the one mistake out of the paper. I don't want people to show me pity or any of that."

He stopped he had moved away from the subject sub-conciously. "But like I was saying, I was pushed by fear. You see this war, the war thats been slowly creeping upon us, it terrifies me. Not like it scares other people, I'm terrified because the last war is where I made the first mistake." He stopped he couldn't do it, though his face only shook slightly, his eyes were swirling with fear. A persons eyes never lied.

"I'm going to force this out, because you deserve to know what pushed me," he said quietly. "And I'm going to respect that. I'm not trying to claim I'm perfect, I know there were other mistakes. But these mistakes are real ones, the others are mistakes everyone makes." He looked at the picture one more time, he couldn't look at her right now... not while telling the story. "I was young, and in love, engaged actually. And my fiancee she was mostly stuck at the desk, mostly my doing. One day she came to me, she told me she wanted to go out on a field mission. She explained it to me, it was a small raid just on nobody death eaters. But when they got to the location, and broke into the house the death eaters freaked out. The started trying to run, and when my fiancee cornered one, well the man closed his eyes... and shot the killing curse. My fiancee... she was..." but he couldn't continue he was choked up and lowered his head it was his fault.

[Celina Jedynak]

Sexually? Celina’s mouth dropped a bit and her face instantly became scarlet. With all of the emotions that she was feeling now embarrassment was thrown on top of them. It was then she remembered the books she had read when trying to help Felicity what was going on inside of her body, and if she had liked Drew. Those books were a bit more graphic than she would have liked to remember, but all the same the images and information were engraved into her mind. He asked Alfonz to say ‘hi’ to her for him? It didn’t sound sexual to her, but then again she hadn’t been at the fight. And usually, didn’t fights end in some kind of insult or offensive slam before going into the duel part?

Oh, Alfonz… she thought putting her hand over her face and shook it slightly. She looked at Brady a bit and then briefly glanced over herself, glad that the skirt she wore was a long one. What if Alfonz was right? What if the man was just doing more than pressing a button to get Alfonz going. Who says ‘hi’ to someone’s sister to press another button when, as Brady had put it, “screamed I’m a big brother.” It seemed almost as if Brady wanted to see how far he could press his luck with Alfonz. Celina found herself asking in her mind if he indeed was insane. It was now no wonder why Alfonz had attacked the man. Though it still didn’t explain why it had gotten so far. Why hadn’t Alfonz left the duel before such comments were thrown about?

As she sat in the chair she did, thinking and covering her face out of humiliation, she heard Brady ask that the information and story about the mistake not be revealed in the paper. She nodded her head and softly spoke, “All of what has been said has no spot in the article I am to write professor.” Looking up, Celina tried to smile reassuringly. But don’t think I’m doing you this favor… Celina thought about the reaction she’d get if any of what had just said was in the paper. All she needed to parade around the school was that Professor Brady was attacked by her professional Quidditch playing brother because he was allegedly making the moves on her through him. No, that wouldn’t do.

The thought of the paper and even mentioning any of that in the article made her face grow even more scarlet as she looked away from the professor. Frightened? Maybe just a bit, but anymore, with all of the emotions that were rampaging through the fifteen year old’s body, she didn’t know really what she felt. At the moment it was more embarrassment and ultimately confusion.

Then his explanation to her about why he had pressed it so far, took her off guard and made her want to call his bluff. Fear? Fear had pushed an auoror into a duel with an obviously weaker opponent? Something didn’t fit and Celina’s face returned to the color it was quicker than anyone probably would have liked. She tried not to show it, but the annoyance from before was building up again. She had been scared multiple times, but she had never gone out and tried to hurt anyone. Celina’s young mindset could not grasp this concept. To her, it was as if he had just told her that her fear of failing or disappointing her parents again would drive her to take out the Head Girl so that she could attain the position. More and more Celina started to wonder if indeed the man was crazy. It sounded mad coming from the professor, and Celina figured that it would sound just the same coming from anyone else.
Brady stuttered over his words when explaining about how he never made mistakes and then turned around and said he wasn’t perfect. That was getting old. Everyone made mistakes and Celina couldn’t help but wonder what made him different than any other person in the world. Then she caught something. He admitted to making the normal mistakes that everyone else makes….so he didn’t think of himself infallible just infallible of making the big mistakes everyone makes once and a great while. And if it were true, could fear really have pushed him over the edge.

Celina listened as his explanation grew to that of a story about losing a loved one. He blamed himself for his fiancée’s death and his eyes as he told the story kept switching over from sadness to fear. Could he have been that good of an actor? There were many times in Celina’s life where she had thought one way of a person only to find that she had endangered her well-being for doing so. This many times, included her father when he searched for information from her that he so desired. Since then, she understood that expressions could fool. And where as she believed Brady had lost a loved one in the war, she still wouldn’t succumb to believe that it was fear, and fear by itself that had lead him into dueling Alfonz. No, she couldn’t do it.

As the professor hung his head low, the room went silent. It was her time to speak up a bit and she did have further questions. Celina wouldn’t prod into anymore of his personal life, hell acquiring that much information about him was more than she wanted. He too had lost a female companion in his life. In Alfonz’s life, Celina was his sister and to Celina’s knowledge, the only female he ever talked to that he found was worthy enough of his time. Celina was grateful for her brother and knew him well, or so she believed. And as all of this made sense, some still did not. She would talk about it more with Alfonz she’d have to. Bur for now, Brady was the one she had to speak of this with, and she would do so…gently.

“I’m sorry professor. I didn’t mean for you to…..well, I mean I’m sorry for your loss….” Celina trailed off a bit now finding that she had been looking at her professor for some time not even worrying abut the fact that he could read her mind. At the moment, he didn’t look like he was in any shape to be doing anything of the sort. And eye contact was more polite, she just hoped she wouldn’t regret it later. “I must ask one last question about the incident though, if you wouldn’t mind…..Did Alfonz try to leave? Did he at any time as you were arguing try to leave the area?” It wouldn’t make sense if he hadn’t. Fighting in front of people would draw unwanted attention, and he’d probably get his face in the paper or something. Celina couldn’t see Alfonz just sticking around as he became more and more angry with someone, especially publicly. If it had been anywhere else, maybe then Celina could see this entire event happening the way Brady put it. But something was still off. Had Alfonz tried to leave as Brady bantered him? And all in all, if this was all the case….how did Professor Brady get a job here at Hogwarts? Accusations were powerful and very reputation damaging items. Did he have connections within the school? That could be discussed in another question.

Celina jotted down the note to ask later. She couldn’t leave anything out, not after all of what she had just learned.