Drew Thornton
Ministry of Magic
Auror-in-Training
I didn't do it and you can't prove otherwise...
Posts: 14,114
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Post by Drew Thornton on Jan 14, 2008 20:07:36 GMT -5
There were about a million other places Drew would have prefered being at that moment: a dentist's chair, traffic on the 405, History class... And while he knew that he still had the option of just leaving and ignoring the situation, he also knew that wouldn't fix it. If anything, it would just make things worse.
So there he was, pacing the hall a few yards down from van Aller's door. His first one-on-one meeting hadn't gone so great, but Drew needed to clear this article business up. The best way to do that was to talk to her himself.
Gathering his thoughts and taking a deep breath, he made his way to the office, reminding himself to relax and keep his mouth shut as much as possible.
"Professor van Aller?" he inquired, knocking lightly on the door and waiting to be invited in. With any luck, she'd throw him out before he even got to speak. Then, at least, he could say he had tried.
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Post by viola on Jan 14, 2008 20:23:17 GMT -5
Well, what a sight to see as she walked down the hall toward her office. A Mr. Thornton, knocking on her closed door, requesting her audience? This month was turning out to be one she would hope to never remember. Annemarie was sure.
“Here, Mr. Thornton,” she said as she walked up to her door with her wand out. A genuine smile plastered on her face. She wasn’t about to be rude. It was a new day and with a new day came a new attitude and mood. And that day, hers was pretty good. “Please, enter?” she said, unlocking the door and leaving it open as she walked through. “What is it that I can do for you on this day?”
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Drew Thornton
Ministry of Magic
Auror-in-Training
I didn't do it and you can't prove otherwise...
Posts: 14,114
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Post by Drew Thornton on Jan 14, 2008 20:44:21 GMT -5
He was already starting to feel like he had made a mistake. The first time around, he hadn't thought it was a problem just speaking to the woman and that had blown up in his face. Now this time, with a heavy strike already against him, he was wondering why he was such a glutton for punishment.
He followed the woman into her office, but stayed near the door, figuring on a quick getaway if necessary. He had promised himself that he'd think before answering any question, determined not to make a mess of things like before. So when she asked what he was there for, he took a deep breath and counted to five before answering.
"I wanted to discuss the article you set for me," he explained carefully. "I don't think I'm the right person to do it."
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Post by viola on Jan 14, 2008 23:16:09 GMT -5
Annemarie took a seat behind her desk, realizing that the boy entered only slightly but said nothing of it. The last time the two had spoke, was not the cheeriest of memories for her, and rather, it showed her a lot of things that she didn’t want to accept. Since then, she had spoken to a many of people whom disrespected her, and told her of their views on what respect was. Again, her fear she had had when she confronted a few of her House students came into perspective. Maybe she truly didn’t know what respect was any more.
I wanted to discuss the article you set for me. I don't think I'm the right person to do it.
As she listened, her head cocked a bit and a subtle but disappointed look came over her face. The article was optional and she had merely suggested it to Miss Hjort for the boy to do since his article was now disbanded, but it was not mandatory in the least bit. “All right then, Mr. Thornton,” she said with a nod and a smile. “The article was just an idea that I had had and if you do not want to take it upon yourself, I completely understand. I too am busy, so I know how it is. But what is it that you wanted to discuss about it? Surly, you could have told Miss Hjort you were unable to do the article at this time?”
It was a shame he would be unable to do it. In her meeting with the boy, he knew nothing about what she thought respect was. However, if she knew nothing of respect was, as he blatantly pointed out to her that day, then maybe he could have shown her a new path with the article. Not to mention, it would have impressed her greatly. She figured it just wasn’t in the Ravenclaw’s nature to pile up on himself a bit more work. Probably studying for the NEWTs and all. “Please, Mr. Thornton. Won’t you sit down if there is something more you’d like to discuss. I don’t bite…” she laughed to herself as a thought crossed her mind. hard..that is.
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Drew Thornton
Ministry of Magic
Auror-in-Training
I didn't do it and you can't prove otherwise...
Posts: 14,114
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Post by Drew Thornton on Jan 15, 2008 0:16:59 GMT -5
Was he hearing her correctly? He didn't have to do the article? She was actually letting him off of it? He had expected to list his whys and wherefores and then still have to do it, but she was simply saying he didn't have to do it after all.
"I did tell her, but she felt that I needed to clear it with you first if I wasn't going to do it," he told her, feeling like there was no need to sit since he had done what he had come for with little effort. There had to be a catch. Perhaps she was kicking him off the paper for not doing the article? He had already come to the conclusion that he'd have to quit, so that wasn't such a big deal. What else could she do?
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Post by viola on Jan 15, 2008 0:36:51 GMT -5
As he didn’t take a seat, Annemarie could see this was going to be a short meeting. She shrugged and nodded. Was it really that hard to accept that he didn’t have to do the article? She figured that it must have had to do something with the Ravenclaw’s strive to do work or something of the sort.
“I wonder why that is…I’m sure she would have told me herself soon or later,” Annemarie again flashed the boy a smile and then thought for a moment. “Oh, but did you think of an article you did want to put into the paper? “ She asked him, thinking that maybe the article was just one he wasn’t interested in. Annemarie had just been giving out ideas for the boy to participate in the paper’s activities. If he had a better idea, she was very open to it.
“I am very sorry about the quidditch section, though. Miss Hjort told me you enjoyed it very much…your articles I read were exceptional. But…you don’t have to participate at all if you cannot, I’d just hate for someone with an idea to be left out of the paper.”
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Drew Thornton
Ministry of Magic
Auror-in-Training
I didn't do it and you can't prove otherwise...
Posts: 14,114
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Post by Drew Thornton on Jan 15, 2008 0:54:02 GMT -5
"She made it sound more... important, I guess," Drew answered, still waiting for the catch. It didn't look like she was kicking him off the paper. Far from it, actually. "I told her I'd talk to you about it." Now he was kind of curious about what van Aller had planned for the piece, but he wasn't about to ask and make her think he was willing to do it.
The conversation seemed to be continuing and instead of excusing himself and ducking out the door, Drew found himself inching towards the offered chair. He wasn't ready to sit down, but he really didn't need to talk to the woman from across the room. That was rude.
"I was thinking of maybe doing an interview with Mr. Embers," Drew said tentatively, "But I'm not very good at interviews. Besides, it's been kind of hard to get a good time with him."
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Post by viola on Jan 15, 2008 1:14:37 GMT -5
Annemarie tried to remember back to her conversation with the Editor of the school paper. “I supposed I could have sounded a bit…”Annemarie paused as she searched for the right word in her vocabulary. “…insistent.” She paused again and sighed to herself. “But since then…some things have occurred, and I need dedication for what I’m looking for out of this piece.” She smiled again meaning no disrespect, but she was searching for something that almost seemed lost to her.
It was as if her faith was faltering again, yet this time it wasn’t in her religion. Instead it was a faltering with her faith in people. Cloud it be that Jedynak was right? No. Annemarie wouldn’t believe it. It had been two weeks since she has last spoken to that man, and yet he still was infecting her mind. She knew what was right…didn’t she?
Thornton inched closer and again she smiled politely at the boy. He obviously did have some idea of what he was looking to do and it was a pleasant surprise. At least it was. A flutter of her eyes, and irritated glint at the mention of her collegue Embers. She took a deep breath, and nodded. “Very well then, Mr. Thornton. If there’s any way I can help you to get the information you desire…or with the article in general…” she stopped hoping that she wouldn’t have to really help getting in touch with the young Embers, but helping to assist with the article was something she could do.
Freedom of the press…and she was just the advisor. Annemarie knew, and accepted that.
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Drew Thornton
Ministry of Magic
Auror-in-Training
I didn't do it and you can't prove otherwise...
Posts: 14,114
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Post by Drew Thornton on Jan 15, 2008 1:36:12 GMT -5
Yup, he for sure wouldn't have been dedicated to that piece she had suggested, or at least not in the way she would want him to be. It was one of the main reasons he had been so adamant against doing the article she had perscribed. He was far from offended. He was downright relieved.
He felt like he was on the verge of being excused and that was actually fine by him. She had okayed the idea on Embers and seemed understanding that he might not be able to actually do it.
"No, I sh... I should be okay," he stuttered, taking a step backwards towards the door, probably looking silly for all the back and forthing he was doing. "Thank you, Professor." So it hadn't been half as bad as he had expected it to be.
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Post by viola on Jan 15, 2008 1:48:57 GMT -5
Annemarie cocked her head and looked at the boy with a bedazzled and confused look. Was he dancing? Thinking that he must not have stopped at the bathroom before coming by, or that the visit frightened him that much, Annemarie wasn't one to keep him too much longer, but hadn't he just said that he couldn't find time to meet with Embers, nor was he good at interviews to begin with? Annemarie sighed. Was it so horrible to feel as if the boy's talents for writing were being wasted?
It wasn't her place to say anything, for a reporter should have full right to want to write what they wanted to in school. Though, if he ever experienced the real world, Annemarie knew that assignments were not hand chosen, rather they were given to them to be done.
"Please...don't thank me..." Annemarie's Slytherin past wanted to tell him why he shouldn't be thanking her. She wanted to tell him very badly that it was because she was allowing him to waste his abilities on a silly article he'd not be able to reflect his abilities within. Annemarie didn't want to be thanked for allowing such injustice to be done. At least it seemed to make him happy.
"Oh! And Mr. Thornton..." she called out after him. "Raynor just hired Embers an assistant of sorts...co-referee or something? Do interview him as well....if you would, please? That way we can see both of the refs opinions and such on when the games will actually be starting back up and such. It doesn't have to be long, but a word or two from the new man to be helping with the games would be very informative indeed for the rest of the student body." Annemarie smiled hopefully at the boy. No, she didn't like Jedynak, but if Thornton was insisting on doing an article on the ref, he might as well bring in a few from the assistant of his as well that way the article was more full.
"It will make your article and however you write it more full..." she nodded. Yes, if he insisted on quidditch, might as well use all of the resources around it wisely. No games? Next best option. The man who canceled the games, and the one hired to get them restarted. Maybe the article wouldn't be so wasted then, and neither would the Ravenclaw's talents.
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Drew Thornton
Ministry of Magic
Auror-in-Training
I didn't do it and you can't prove otherwise...
Posts: 14,114
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Post by Drew Thornton on Jan 15, 2008 10:09:24 GMT -5
"Mr. Jedynak?" Drew asked, not really caring for the man, but not totally against talking to him. Of course, it brought up a whole new set of issues. "He tends to be harder to get ahold of than Mr. Embers." Drew thought that maybe he could ask Celina to help him, especially since she was on the paper and all, but he didn't feel right using that particular connection. He was mostly worried it would just exasperate the situation.
"I'll try though," he told her. He figured it was the least he could do considering she let him off of the other assignment.
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Post by viola on Jan 15, 2008 11:28:40 GMT -5
"Yes, that's him," Annemarie commented to the young Thornton's question. Though when he spoke about Jedynak being hard to get a hold of, Annemarie only wished that was the case for her. Though she hadn't seen the man in a couple weeks, she hadn't been hanging around long enough to be found herself. "Well, do try, Mr. Thornton. I'm sure whatever you come up with will be fine." She gave him a nice, but encouraging smile as he told her she would try. A brighter day it was than the last time they had met with each other.
"Good, that's all anyone can ever ask from someone is that they try, and try their best." She nodded, and took out a quill to get started on the work for that day. "But is there anything else I can help you with this day?" she asked him, not wanting to push him away so soon if he had more questions.
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Drew Thornton
Ministry of Magic
Auror-in-Training
I didn't do it and you can't prove otherwise...
Posts: 14,114
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Post by Drew Thornton on Jan 15, 2008 21:10:54 GMT -5
Drew considered apologizing for his behavior during their last meeting, but as that last meeting had been an attempted apology as well, he wasn't sure that was such a good idea. Besides, considering the last apology was for something he wasn't responsible for, he figured he had a freebie coming.
''No... I think that's it," he told her, still disbelieving he didn't have to do that horrid article she had suggested. He'd have to remember to tell Felicity that van Aller wasn't as bad as he had first thought.
Except now he really wanted to know if even the article wasn't as bad as he had thought s well.
"So... so like, what were you thinking about the other article?" he asked, unable to help himself. "I mean... I can't do it, but maybe... I mean... maybe I can look for someone who could do a good job on it?"
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Post by viola on Jan 20, 2008 10:33:47 GMT -5
What had she been thinking about the article? A question that utterly shocked and left Annemarie speechless for a few minutes as Mr. Thornton asked about the article he has just turned down doing. Of course, she still believed fully that he didn’t have to. It was all up to him, especially since the school newspaper needed filling with some kind of articles in order to call it a paper.
As for what she had been thinking. It had changed drastically since she had first told Miss Hjort about it at the beginning of the month. She had wanted an article based on what respect was to different people. Basically, it was an article that would have been written on if respect actually existed as a common truth. And yet, anymore, Annemarie was finding that the attitudes of the children were not only based on their discrimination of others, but also because of what had happened in January.
“Well, to tell you the truth, Mr. Thornton, I was hoping that if you did choose to do the article you would stop by. For, I have found that what I was looking for it to be at the beginning of the month, with all of the new knowledge I have acquired about this school through it’s teachings by people I was unaware would teach me…” Annemarie paused, looking up as if she were really thinking about her wording and nodded her head. “I think what I had in mind has changed greatly from an article fully based on if respect actually exists on as a common universal truth, to something about the respect held after the aftermath of what happened in January.”
She didn’t want to press any buttons with any of the students based on what happened, especially since she had not been there herself, but she just shrugged and nodded her head again. “I was hoping that we’d discuss it better than that of course because there are many details and angles that are not exactly straight forward.” Again she smiled and nodded. “But, it’s alright. I’m almost unsure if it is too early for a recap on such horrid events, any ways. I wouldn’t want to give others another reason to…” Annemarie stopped short, then realizing that what she was about to say may not have been the most appropriate.
“Well, to have issues I suppose. But that’s what I was trying to look for, Mr. Thornton. A search for more answers I suppose. Answers for all of those whom need them.”
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Drew Thornton
Ministry of Magic
Auror-in-Training
I didn't do it and you can't prove otherwise...
Posts: 14,114
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Post by Drew Thornton on Jan 20, 2008 14:23:58 GMT -5
Drew wasn't exactly sure what she was trying to tell him. He knew all of the words she was using, but the way she put them all together confused him. He was pretty sure she wasn't insulting him, so for a while he just smiled and nodded back, all the while trying to figure out what she was saying.
She was glad he had stopped by because she herself, had changed her mind on the article. She had learned some things herself and her angle on the subject had changed. Was she saying that not everyone's ideas on respect were the same? That's what he thought she was saying and if so, he believed that too. While there were some common guidelines, respect varied from person to person, place to place. He would never even dream of burping after a meal, but in some countries, it was a sign of respect for the cook. In Western cultures it was considered rude to wear a hat inside, but in many Eastern cultures, you kept your head covered. And even in his own life, a girl had once accused him of being uppity for pulling a chair out for her. Wait... had that been Felicity?
And then she started talking about "horrid events" and while he assumed that she was speaking of what had happened in January, he really couldn't be sure. Plus, he wasn't sure what that had to do with the respect issue so much.
"I'm sorry, Professor. I don't think I understand what you mean," he finally admitted, sincerely hoping she'd explain. Even if he wasn't going to write an article about it, perhaps he could get a better insight as to where she was coming from.
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