|
Post by Tamis Raynor on Feb 12, 2007 18:17:48 GMT -5
The small and rather cluttered office remained unaffected by the events that brewed from out yonder. The desk was still lost under a massive pile of papers, that to the unwary eye appeared to be in a state of mass chaos -- though those stacks might be just a fraction higher from neglect. Trinkets and gadgetry covered every inch of wall and shelf space, some of which were twirling or giving small displaces of sound effects, but for the most part remained silent. A fire crackled behind the desk in a welcoming matter and a platter of still warm biscuits and tea waited at the ready on the desk in front of two plush armchairs that had somehow managed to be crammed into the small capacity.
For all of it, it had the appearance of a well lived in auror's antique shop. As it had for five, almost six, years now. The only change -- one hoped -- residing with the ever fluctuating paperwork. In the speeding current that threatened to overtake a great many people, the familiarity of the Deputy's office was a stable and steady comfort to its owner, and she hoped, to the boy that was expected in a few minutes.
From his perch, Aramis gave a soft hoot -- rewarding him with a quick glance from Raynor. It was well past eleven, though the windowless office could give no other hint of than the odd clock wedged in a corner and Aramis uncanny wakeful state. Most of the school was asleep save for herself, a stray professor or two, and prefects on night patrol. Any and all others were snug in their beds or at least within their houses. With re-hightened security, only a fool would change getting caught out of bed past hours. The only exception? The fifth year Ravenclaw that the Deputy had asked to meet her at this obscure hour.
Quill scratched against parchment in the silence as Tamis attempting to make a dent in the papers masquerading her desk as she waited for Drew; keeping herself busy. She had not told him why she asked for him, but no doubt he could draw his own conclusions on the matter. Aramis gave another hoot. Uncannily awake, indeed. Apparently he sensed his owners apprehension, despite how well she hid it.
|
|
Drew Thornton
Ministry of Magic
Auror-in-Training
I didn't do it and you can't prove otherwise...
Posts: 14,114
|
Post by Drew Thornton on Feb 12, 2007 21:24:16 GMT -5
He had considered not even going. The last time he was asked to meet one on one with a Professor, look where it got him. And now this? After curfew? How fishy was that?
But it was Raynor and that was the only reason he had decided to go. In his debate, he had come to the conclusion that if Raynor was going to sell him out, she would have done it a long time ago. If she were on the Dark side of it all, she would have been working on recruiting him. And Shaw wouldn't have needed him at all. He would have gotten any information he wanted straight from Raynor.
The logic of the matter told him that Raynor was still as safe as he had always believed her to be, but that didn't mean he didn't approach the situation with caution. He had told everyone who bothered to listen that this meeting was scheduled (resulting in an good natured eye roll from Allegra as she moaned "We know!" after the tenth time). He traveled by little known passages. And he listened outside the door before actually entering, wand drawn and ready, just in case it wasn't his Head of House waiting for him on the other side.
There was the gentle shuffle of papers, which could have been a number of things, mostly harmless. Still, he slowly turned the doorknob, hoping to avoid the click of the latch, trying his best not to alert the occupant of the room, and he carefully peeked his head inside to see if it was clear, eyes narrowed and wand at the ready.
|
|
|
Post by Tamis Raynor on Feb 12, 2007 21:46:35 GMT -5
The house elves were having some problems with one of the students cats. When was the date? Oh dear, April 12th. She could at least hope that someone else had seen to the problem or she might the elves a bit more than hostile the next time she made a special trip down to the kitchens. Putting the note to the side, she moved onto the next one. Plumbing problems. Moaning Myrtle was straying from her bathroom again, apparently some of the students had been using her for target practice -- May 4th. They were all quite trivial issues, it was no wonder that she had put them off for so --
Her door was opening.
It was a subtle move. If she had not been waiting for an arrival and if Aramis had not ruffled his feathers at the intrusion, she might not have noticed it. Then again, one does not lead a profession in catching Dark Wizards for a score of years and then proceed that career path with one that involves babysitting teenagers without learning to never be taken by surprised.
Keeping her head down, the Professor stared at the next notice of complaint without really seeing it, peripheral vision honed in on her doorway. It was Drew; he was only one person that tall in the school save perhaps her husband. And, if she was certain, that was a wand poking through with his head. She mentally cursed herself for her foolishness. The time, the place, the mysterious note... she should have been more blunt.
"The tea is getting cold, Mr. Thornton. But if you are unsure of my intentions, I can surrender my wand to you and drink from the pot first." It was a simple statement, as if such a gesture would have been asking her to name her favorite color. The quill scratched a few words of recommendations about the empty classroom on the fourth floor. She still hadn't looked up. Direct eye contact was probably not recommended, it might influence his decision.
|
|
Drew Thornton
Ministry of Magic
Auror-in-Training
I didn't do it and you can't prove otherwise...
Posts: 14,114
|
Post by Drew Thornton on Feb 12, 2007 22:30:20 GMT -5
He had about a dozen questions at the ready, everything from the shape his Patronus took, to the name of her boyfriend when she had been his age. Of course, realistically, a good impersonator would have studied up for those things and known the answers, but still, it was worth the effort.
But it was the tone of her voice that convinced him. That was something that couldn't be faked, no matter how much someone tried. Firm, but understanding and just a little sarcastic. Only the real Raynor... and his parents... would speak to him like that. He bypassed the questioning and carefully moved towards the chair, keeping his eyes on her, just in case he had been wrong.
"I'm here," he said, stating the obvious. He was pretty sure why she had called him in, but still, didn't want to make any assumptions.
|
|
|
Post by Tamis Raynor on Feb 13, 2007 17:00:46 GMT -5
Sprinkling a pinch of sand over the latest response to some issue or another so the ink wouldn't smudge before it had a chance to dry, Raynor finally glanced up. Even though she expecting it to be there, it still hurt to see the distrust and caution lurking in the back of his eyes. She could understand it, yes, perfectly so, but it didn't stop the pang of the initial blow before she could quench it. She delayed the inevitable conversation longer by placing the jar she had produced the sand from back inside the desk. Filibustering? Perhaps.
"As I asked you to be," the Professor responded with a small incline of her head. He had ignored her earlier suggestion, which she took as a good sign. Even now she studied his face with as much care as she dared show. Despite the evident weariness, it would have been easier to try and read a rock. There was the same air of... quietness? ... about him that she had gleamed in him since his return.
"I daresay the chair won't bite," she continued, "though the biscuits might. Professor Gallaudet made them earlier -- a first attempt -- and I trust his cooking skills less than my own." And they had remained untouched on her desk for a good part of the day under the effects of a warming charm to keep them soft. She was not about to be the guinea pig on this one and had been trying to lure an unsuspecting victim into the trap for half the day.
Usually, she would have jumped straight into the reason for calling him here, especially at such an obscure hour. But this was not an unusual circumstance. Especially not if he was distrustful... she needed the contrary for this.
|
|
Drew Thornton
Ministry of Magic
Auror-in-Training
I didn't do it and you can't prove otherwise...
Posts: 14,114
|
Post by Drew Thornton on Feb 13, 2007 19:00:29 GMT -5
"So you are trying to kill me?" he asked softly and small hint of a smile crossed his face. It didn't last very long and by the time he had taken the offered seat, all traces of it were gone. He knew he was being paranoid... hated the fact that every small thing made him jump. But knowledge of it didn't help the anxiety any.
He fiddled with the cuff of his sweatshirt as he watched her, waiting for her to speak again. He didn't touch the biscuits.
|
|
|
Post by Tamis Raynor on Feb 13, 2007 20:55:41 GMT -5
"No, if that had been my goal, I would not have warned you before hand," she pointed out. It was heartening to see the smile, but alas, it slide away almost as soon as the corners of his lips had begun to turn upward. But he was sitting. She had never seen him this inexplicably nervous in her office before. On the contrary, the more trouble he usually was in, the more at home he seemed to be. Then again, he was no where near in trouble this time around -- at least not with the rules.
Not completely at ease, she had not expected him to be. But he wasn't ready to bolt either. Well, anything was better than nothing.
"I apologize over the time. In ... lieu of recent activities, I fear that I have spent a lot of my time dealing with the press. This was the only time that a private conversation can be held." It was the truth of the matter after all, and there was the explanation over the absurd hours. The Deputy Headmistress pulling a student into her office past hours? Yes, next time she would try and consider how her actions appeared to an outside eye.
And now the real reason for the hesitation. There was an extend pause before she opened her mouth again.
"You are probably tired of hearing it, but I want to know how you are holding up. You have been through a terrible ordeal..." And she did not quite know how to continue. Having been through a couple of those numbers herself, she knew that one usually did not want to talk about them. Did not want constant inquiries about their mental health or suffer insufferable bouts of pity. She was concerned about him and wanted to know how he was doing, she just did not know how to ask it.
That, and she had yet to find out exactly what had happened during his absence. Until now she had not inquired, believing it too soon. But for the sake of... bigger things... she would need to ask that inevitable question soon as well. It made her want to be sick.
|
|
Drew Thornton
Ministry of Magic
Auror-in-Training
I didn't do it and you can't prove otherwise...
Posts: 14,114
|
Post by Drew Thornton on Feb 13, 2007 21:34:10 GMT -5
"Sorry..." Drew said quietly, apologizing for the extra work she was doing. It was all because of him, after all, wasn't it? The press, the parents, the lockdown, the destroyed greenhouse. He had been the cause of it all.
He wasn't even exactly sure what had happened. All he knew was what had been pieced together by other people. Most everything else was a blur jumbled with the nightmares that kept him from sleeping. He shrugged in response to her question, finding it the most honest answer he could come up with. To those he didn't fully trust, he would have plastered on a fake smile and answered that he was fine, but of course it wasn't true. The truth was he wasn't sure how he felt. He was achy and nervous, tired and incapable of focusing on anything, he had a constant headache and had lost his appitite, but he was alive, back at school, and his bruises were healing.
He shrugged again, venturing a look at her. How was he holding up? He really wasn't sure.
|
|
|
Post by Tamis Raynor on Feb 27, 2007 21:35:14 GMT -5
The signature arching of an eyebrow followed Drew's statement. If she had not feared treading the boy in an already -- fragile did not seem like the appropriate word -- state of mind, she might have scolded him for it.
"Sorry?" She repeated, clucking her tongue against the roof of her mouth. "I think not. If anything I should be apologizing to you." Lips parted a second time, no doubt about to begin a half an hour rant to over exaggerate her point ... but then wisely snapped them closed again.
Not that she did not have anything to say on the topic. Drew had been abducted from right under the safety of her grasp. Worse, while he was suppose to have been in the company of someone Raynor would trust her life with. Or could she still? After dealing with dark wizards, and worse, students, Tamis learned long ago that a daft frame or mind was a fatal one. But to ask would be to confirm her suspicions.
Two consecutive shrugs. She had hoped for something more, but had not expected it. For the moment, she let it be. She would land that blow later... when she could work up the courage to do it.
"I see." She responded, letting her words hang in the air for a moment. Best to cover one issue that would at least bring them closer to the major one. So she pushed ahead in her usual manner, covering the awkwardness still in the air for Drew's benefit. "I did want to talk to you about taking my class next year," she continued. "O.W.L scores, or no O.W.L scores, I would have to hang you -- as well as my better judgment -- by the ears to keep you out of it." If that was still what he wanted; she did not know. "But the sixth year N.E.W.Ts class may be... difficult. The curriculum focuses strongly on the unforgivables... all of them."
She had very little information on what had actually happened to him. But, again, Raynor was not daft and had had her fair share of run-ins with unsavory characters. They all tended to be unimaginative when it came to choice of spells.
|
|
Drew Thornton
Ministry of Magic
Auror-in-Training
I didn't do it and you can't prove otherwise...
Posts: 14,114
|
Post by Drew Thornton on Feb 27, 2007 22:59:39 GMT -5
Drew was about to protest the fact that she should be the one apologizing, but her tone made it clear that the subject was closed for the time being. Instead, she moved on to his OWLs and his prospects for next year. His lack of attention had unfortunately carried over into his tests and he hadn't been able to finish most of them. Even in his best subjects he felt he'd be lucky to scrape by with an A. He hadn't even bothered to show up for the Herbology OWL.
He had hoped to continue in her class next year but flinched when she mentioned the Unforgivables. Of course he knew that they were covered in the sixth year, in fact he had heard rumours that she actually put some of the students under Imperious to give them practice in fighting it. Why was she bringing it up now? Did she think that he wouldn't be able to handle it?
Did he think he'd be able to handle it?
"Okay..." he answered carefully, still not sure where she was going with it. He bit on his lip nervously, hoping she wasn't going to kick him out of the Defence class. It was true that lately he had been thinking that Librarian might be a better career choice, but still, he really didn't want to have to give up her class.
|
|
|
Post by Tamis Raynor on Mar 7, 2007 19:44:10 GMT -5
The Deputy reached for one of the cups of tea before they chilled, but did not take a sip. She ran her thumb over the brim in a subtle attempt to deal with a slight bout of anxiety. This entire round-about way of asking questions was not her style. Normally a very blunt woman, she despised such antics and now knew why she avoided them; they were utterly useless. "I have full confidence in you, Drew. I'm not sure what you are scored yet on your Defense O.W.L but under conditions... I refuse to accept anything below an E, and I know you were capable of an O, but you might not have it. With all of my books behind you and the Restricted Section, you are above your grade level. I know you can do the work, and I would be happy to have you aboard." And a small pause, so small it was almost unnoticeable, but it was there. "But do you think you can do it? Facing the Unforgivables after experiencing even one first hand under foul conditions is not an easy thing." There was considerably more handling of the tea cup and the Professor studied him with gray eyes. She knew personally how that could be. It was years before she would even allow one to think to cast one of those forbidden spells around her. "If you can, I want you in my class. You will need it for sure to be an Auror. But if you cannot... I might be able to arrange something one on one though it would be at obscure times such as this." ((EDIT: forgot time line. No one would know the scores yet. Your post still works though.))
|
|
Drew Thornton
Ministry of Magic
Auror-in-Training
I didn't do it and you can't prove otherwise...
Posts: 14,114
|
Post by Drew Thornton on Mar 7, 2007 20:47:49 GMT -5
Drew nodded, not exactly sure what he was agreeing to, but mostly confirming his understanding of what she had said. It was true, he had bombed his OWLs. He had known it as soon as the proctors shouted time and he looked down at a mostly blank paper. He had known it when he dropped his wand during practicals, forgetting every spell and potion he had ever learned, unable to perform a simple summoning charm. He hadn't even bothered to show up for Herbology. He knew he would have lost it entirely if Hellebore had been on the test.
He took the remaining cup and stared into it for a while, feeling the warmth on his hands, smelling the herbs that drifed up on the steam. He slipped a finger inside and made little waves that rippled against the sides of the cup, finding the splashing slightly theraputic. Dang, he missed the ocean.
"My dad says I can retake them over the summer," Drew said, removing his finger from the cup and looking at Professor Raynor for confirmation. He wasn't entirely sure he would do better, but he was definitely sure he could do better.. or he could have a month ago. Merlin knew he couldn't do much worse.
"I want to be in the class if you'll let me," Drew told her, mustering as much confidence as he had been able to all week. If he couldn't handle Raynor's class, he had no businees trying to be an Auror, plain and simple. If nothing else, it would tell him if he was cut out for all of this.
"I mean... I figure... Crucio is about as bad as it gets, right? Everyone thinks the AK is the worst, but you get hit with that and you're dead. What do you care? Imperio... sounds like a pretty good alibi for doing rotten stuff. Besides, you can fight it, right? I need to know I can fight that one..."
He wasn't entirely convinced in what he was saying. That little voice in the back of his head was still trying to push the whole Librarian idea.
"You'll give me a chance?" he asked, needing her to confirm what she had already said. "I mean, if I... if I freak out or something, you won't back off, right? You won't go easy on me just because of... because of this? If you don't think I can do it, you'll tell me, right?"
Better to find out now than to get kicked out of the Academy.
|
|
|
Post by Tamis Raynor on Mar 7, 2007 21:38:29 GMT -5
"Yes, I'm sure you can. The situation can be explained to the Examination Authority. Your Dad will probably know what to do." She hoped she sounded half as confidant in that as she meant to. There was no a single time that she could recall that a student had been allowed to retest. But she doubted even Harry Potter had an experience like that close to testing. It sure would have made newspapers. Chosen One having to retake a test? But there was hope and she was not going to dash it.
Her head bobbed once in response to his acceptance of her class. Inwardly she was relieved and delighted at the same time. If he could agree to that, it was one step closer to recovery... "Then you are in it." She arched an eyebrow and the corners of her mouth quirked upward into a resemblance of a smirk. "Just don't spread it around. Professor Raynor make an exception, I'll never live it down."
The attempt at good natured banter did not last very long. The planes of her face smooth back into a serious demeanor. For the fourth time this night, she considered telling the boy something that only a list of people she could count on one hand knew. Now, after listening to what could almost be taken as a plead for honesty, she decided. He needed to know for his own good. Despite how reluctant she was to do so.
"You have more than a chance, Drew, you have a promise that I'll hang you by your ears if you do anything less than I expect of you," the eyebrow raised again, "which is a lot." A deep breath. "I won't back off, Mr. Thornton. And I most certainly will not go easy on you. I believe you can do this, because whether you believe it or not, it is going to make you a stronger auror."
He would question that, so now she would have to explain. Swallowing the last of doubts and regrets, she did just that. "Did I ever tell you how I became an auror, Drew? It was never on my list of dream jobs, I can assure you. I wanted to heal and deal with life, not death. I was 20 years old and my new Fiance decided to walk me home after my day at St. Mungos, I never liked apparition, you see. He was an auror and one that had recently busted a large black market chain. They wanted to get even, payed for some hired hands and attacked us. I was not able to defend myself, I was too scared. He tried, but protecting me and fighting five men at once eventually failed."
She paused again, something she seemed to be doing a lot today and stared at the boy before for, as if trying to measure his worth. Whatever Raynor found, she agreed with, for she started up again, "I was not their goal, but I served as a good tool for their means. To be tortured receptively with the Cructius Curse, and made to do things I will not go into with the Imperious because it hurt the man who was watching before they mercifully killed him? They made the mistake of allowing me to live and reach back into the world to stop the likes of them. I learned how to defend myself and break the Imperious Curse, and now teach students going into the world to protect themselves."
Not liking the uncomfortable silence that would follow that story, she raised the cup to her lips and drained it. Then, without even a second of consideration, tipped half to container of sugar into her cup, refilled it, and downed that as well. When she was able, she continued.
"I will not go easy on you, Drew, as I know what it feels like. It was a life altering experience, and this might change your ideas about your future. It is really soon, it took a good six years for me to get over my reluctance with the Unforgivables. If you had backed out of my class, I would lay off, but if you really want into it, I'm going to push you."
|
|
Drew Thornton
Ministry of Magic
Auror-in-Training
I didn't do it and you can't prove otherwise...
Posts: 14,114
|
Post by Drew Thornton on Mar 8, 2007 0:14:30 GMT -5
Drew nodded solemnly as she spoke. Yes, he had known bits and pieces of the story but it had been told to him years ago in the most vague of manners and as if it had all happened to a third party. Drew had kept it all to himself, deducing that Raynor didn't want it spread around. He quietly admired that man he had never met, never dreaming of bringing up Tait's name until he had stood in front of her office door that very evening.
He could tell it still bothered her to recount that night and he was honored to hear it, this time with the honest details. But he admired the small woman sitting across from him as well. If she could do it, so could he.
He let her finish her story, keeping quiet as she refilled her tea cup, feeling like it wasn't his place to speak in that particualr moment. When she spoke again, she said what he knew she would and once more, he appreciated her honesty.
"You won't have to make an exception," he told her, confident his father's contacts would pay off. They had to pay off. He'd be lucky to get any OWLs, much less the five he needed to get into the Academy. He didn't usually enjoy riding in on daddy's coatails, but this was different. Deep down he knew he deserved better than the dismal scores he was bound to receive.
"Can you get me into Herbology?" he asked, not sure if his own contacts could work on this one, because yes, this would be a huge exception. Herbology wasn't mandatory for anything he wanted to do, but he felt it was necessary for his own well being. "I don't need the grade. I just... need to sit in on the class."
... prove that Shaw didn't beat me...
|
|
|
Post by Tamis Raynor on Mar 20, 2007 16:44:08 GMT -5
Could she get him into Herbology? That was a difficult question. In reality, the title "Deputy Headmistress" really had very little power. Some authority over the staff when it truly counted, but they were all equals for the most part. Her reign dealt more with the students than anything else. The only weight she could throw around was that attached to her name itself. Reputation. It was a useful tool that could turn into a double-pointed wand.
As of the moment, Raynor could only phantom one reason why he wanted in on the class, though the fact that he had been abducted from a Greenhouse tickled the back of her brain as well. A way of coping perhaps? She would have to talk to the Professor then.
"I'll see what I can do, but we'll have to refrain from promises. Sitting in will not be a problem, but if you want an aurors path, you will most certainly need the grade.You will also need at least Potion, Charms, and Transfiguration. I'm confident in your ability to retake the tests," she again left unsaid that he might not be able to.
Pushing the thought aside, she went on, "but if that doesn't happen until after the Summer Holidays, you will have to talk to your Professors and see what they are willing to do."
|
|