Prisms, Professors, and Pygmy Puffs
Julianna shoved her wide brimmed pointy black hat lower on her head. It was no use. The hat sprang back up from the volume of her curls. The corridor leading to the Great Hall was empty and quiet. The students were unloading from the locomotive and would soon file in for the sorting ceremony.
Staccato clicks from her heeled boots announced her stride down the hall. She slowed when she heard a couple of men’s voices speaking urgently in a side corridor. Peaking around the corner, she observed two men. One had dark hair and a nervous face. He was speaking in a low and anxious manner to the taller man with platinum blonde hair.
The blonde man took from his robes a cloudy black prism. “Do you have the page?”
“Yes.” The nervous looking man produced a piece of torn parchment. “But should we -?” His question was cut off.
Floating before the taller man was the prism, he was already manipulating it with his wand casting light onto it from the tip. The brown haired man held the piece of parchment before the prism. Purplish light refracted through the prism revealed text on the parchment too small to be read from where Julianna watched. The darker haired man stared hard at the paper with his head severely cocked as if he were trying to decipher it.
“Curious isn’t it?” The brown haired man asked as he peered at it.
The symbols looked vaguely familiar to her. She had seen them somewhere before she was sure of it. She stepped closer trying to get a better look at that they were doing. The clicks of her heels caught the attention of the blonde man.
A flick of his wand and the light clicked off. The prism fell from where it was suspended in front of him and he snatched with his hand and secreted it into his robes. He frowned at her and turned away. The brown haired man regarded her with a curious gaze as he tucked the parchment away into his pocket. The blonde man took the other man by the arm and led him further down the hall into the shadows whispering as they went.
Julianna’s heart fluttered with nervous embarrassment. “S-sorry.” She said to the now empty hall. Staring at the spot where the two men had been, she backed up the way she came until -
“Oops!”
She bumped into someone and whirled around.
“Oh. Sorry!” She apologized again this time to a smiling woman with robes open that revealed a fashionable red dress.
“Oh don’t worry about them.” The blonde woman said waving her hand dismissively down the side hallway with a knowing look in her eyes.
Apparently she had witnessed the scene. Julianna half turned to peer down the hall again. “I didn't mean to…um what were they-?”
“You must be the new professor. Darkwillow was it?”
Julianna blinked in surprise at the topic change. “Y- yes. Julianna.”
“Wonderful to meet you. I’m Maeve Rivers.”
The women shook hands and then Maeve seized Julianna’s arm. “Come. Let’s go in. The students are arriving.”
Julianna allowed herself to be whisked into the Great Hall by the charismatic blonde woman. After introducing her to several more professors already milling about and socializing near the head table. Above each place at the table billowy gold lettering spelled out the title of each professor.
So they had assigned seats. She had always wondered about that.
“Looks like you’re over there.” Maeve pointed out Julianna’s spot. Care of Magical Creatures. Then she frowned, “Looks like we’re not together.”
When the Headmaster appeared the group of professors fell silent. “Welcome.” He said with a kind of fatherly warmth. His eye fell on their newest staff member who appeared in good care with Professor Rivers. “Take your seats, the students will arrive shortly.”
Julianna shrugged at Maeve and moved to take her spot. But the words of her title moved and floated away trading spots with someone else’s. She watched her title float away until it stopped above the empty seat next to Maeve who looked just as confused. Both women turned to look at the Headmaster who appeared too obviously indifferent to the two of them.
Julianna took her place next to her new friend who was beaming now that they would be sitting together for the ceremony and dinner. The dark haired man she had seen earlier in the hallway appeared. He joined them sitting on Maeve’s other side.
“This is my husband, Holland Rivers.” Maeve announced. “This is the new professor we heard about?” She explained to her husband who nodded pleasantly.
The man didn’t offer his hand but smiled as if nothing strange had happened in the hallway. “Ah yes. Pleased to meet you. If you need anything getting settled in just let us know.”
Julianna blinked and thanked him.
Soon students began pouring in bringing the cacophony of their excited voices. The seat on Julianna’s other side remained mysteriously unfilled.
Defense Against the Dark Arts.
The Headmaster stood to shush the students. The din hadn’t quite died down when the door at the end of the hall clanged open over the half shushed voices of the students. The man that came through the doors strode with intense purpose. When he got closer she could see that it was the blonde man from the hallway. It sent a shock of icy dread through her. The only empty seat was next to her. She almost wished she hadn’t been moved next to Maeve if only to save her the embarrassment of sitting next to him. Maybe he would act the way Holland had. As if nothing had happened.
He rounded the table, nodded to the Headmaster (who looked slightly peeved at the man’s tardiness), and took his seat right next to Julianna without acknowledging her presence.
“Now we’re all here.” The Headmaster said in a voice that was loud enough to be heard but that demanded apt attention to hear. “Welcome first years….”
The Headmaster’s voice faded into the background as Julianna’s mind was focused on surreptitiously studying the man sitting next to her. She thought about that spinning prism and the parchment with the golden text. He had golden hair and a severe, set jaw. There was a c-shaped scar that started above his eyebrow curved around the outer edge of his eye and towards his nose. He kept his grey eyes trained forward until a slight twitch her direction startled her into staring down at her lap.
The Headmaster’s words were far away. “Pleased to announce the addition of Professor Darkwillow who will be teaching Care of Magical Creatures this year. Let’s give Professor Darkwillow a warm welcome.”
She heard her name - Darkwillow - but didn’t respond.
Maeve elbowed her. “That’s you.”
Julianna realized she was being announced and sprung to her feet. Her hands flew to her hat to make sure it stayed stuck down to her head at the sudden movement. She stared out at the students issuing their polite applause. She smiled brightly at the young faces staring at her and nodded at them.
She plopped back onto her seat and realized the man sitting next to her was now fully staring at her. She noticed for the first time the green tie in a windsor knot at his throat beneath his robes. Obviously Slytherin house, which explained the icy air emanating from him. She couldn't quite understand the look in his eyes.
“Professor Weatherfare has an announcement.”
The man next to her stood slowly. He rose and it was like he kept rising and rising. She hadn’t realized how tall he was until he was standing there right next to her. From his robes he pulled out a tattered red and yellow scarf and a dirty green and white beanie hat.
“These items were recovered from the Dark FOrest. It is therefore my understanding that the houses of this school have re-initiated the competition to see which house can go the deepest into the forest.” He held up the articles of clothing for proof. The hall filled with the nervous whispers of students. He waited until they were silent again. “I will remind you that wandering into the Dark Forest is strictly prohibited. This unauthorized competition will not continue this year. If you are found in the Dark Forest you will be subject to punitive measures decided not by the head of your house but by me. If articles of your house’s clothing is found in the Dark Forest your house will be docked points. As such, ten points from Gryffindor and ten points from Slytherin.”
The two affected houses cried out a protest before they were hushed by the hand of the Headmaster. “Thank you, Professor Weatherfare.”
The man nodded curtly and sat back down.
“It is also my pleasure to announce that Professor Weatherfare will be taking over as Slytherin’s Quidditch coach.” The Headmaster continued, gesturing down the table at the man who had chastised the entire school.
He nodded stiffly at the Slytherin table whose recent point docking didn’t stop an unnecessarily raging applause.
Julianna politely clapped and smiled as warmly as she could manage at the frowning man next to her. “You were in House Slytherin?” She asked genuinely curious as to why she didn’t recognize him from her school years. Then again it was a big school. Or he could be older, though he didn't appear much older than she.
“I went to Durmstrang.” He replied as if put out by her assumption. It’s not like he was wearing green and had been announced as Slytherin’s Quidditch coach.
“Oh!” She turned slowly back to her own meal when she realized he didn’t intend to carry the conversation.
That’s when she realized the pygmy puff she had been nursing back to health had escaped from it’s comfy home in the pocket of her robes to the table and was making its way towards the grouchy professor’s plate.
She felt a hand seize her arm and turned to share a horrified look with Maeve. On the other side of Maeve, her husband watched the scene with a kind of clinical curiosity.
The pygmy puff pilfered a roll almost too large for it from the grouchy professor’s plate.
Julianna sat in frozen silence as she watched the little puff struggle to carry the roll back towards her. She tried to shake her head discreetly at it. No. No. She said to it with wide green eyes.
Suddenly the thing was frozen and the professor picked it up between his thumb and forefinger. His wand was out. He’d petrified the creature.
“I believe this belongs to you.” He said sternly as he held the little pink creature for her to retrieve.
Julianna was mortified and embarrassed but also angry. “You didn’t have to -”
Suddenly the pygmy puff was moving again, fluffed up even more and angrily squeaking at the mean professor.
Maeve was giggling next to Julianna. “Don’t mind Owen, he’s always cranky at the start of the school year. Aren’t you, Owen?” She asked with pointed sternness.
Owen grunted. “The sorting ceremony can be such a bore.” He complained as if that made up for his behavior.
"Owen," Maeve said undeterred by his attitude. "This is Julianna Darkwillow. The new professor."
"I'm aware." He said with no shortage of sauce in his voice, but he turned toward her and offered his hand. "Owen Weatherfare. Nice to meet you. We've been needing that position filled. The students are vastly under prepared on the subject having had nothing but substitutes for two years now."
She wasn't sure if he meant that it was 'nice to meet her', but she shook his hand and smiled nervously. "I suppose I have my work cut out for me." She said with a giggle that came out of nowhere. She felt her face turning red.
"Indeed." He said and turned back to his plate.
Bitch, I'm limited edition.
The following 1 user Likes saronym's post: megs
« Next Oldest | Next Newest »
Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 08-26-2015, 10:08 PM
Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 08-26-2015, 10:12 PM
Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 08-30-2015, 10:49 PM
Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 09-03-2015, 04:44 PM
Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 09-30-2015, 05:42 PM
RE: Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 10-18-2015, 08:05 PM
RE: Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 11-12-2015, 11:03 PM
RE: Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 11-21-2015, 04:52 PM
RE: Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 10-03-2016, 05:44 PM
RE: Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 01-24-2016, 07:47 PM
RE: Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 09-11-2016, 10:47 PM
RE: Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 09-16-2016, 11:44 PM
RE: Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 09-17-2016, 02:16 PM
RE: Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 09-21-2016, 09:14 PM
RE: Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 09-26-2016, 06:37 PM
RE: Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 09-28-2016, 08:56 PM
RE: Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 10-07-2016, 09:12 AM
RE: Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 10-25-2016, 05:09 PM
RE: Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 11-03-2016, 05:28 PM
RE: Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 11-15-2016, 10:43 AM
RE: Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 11-30-2016, 02:52 PM
RE: Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 02-11-2017, 10:22 AM
RE: Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 04-13-2017, 04:16 PM
RE: Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 04-30-2017, 08:27 PM
RE: Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 05-14-2017, 06:30 PM
RE: Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 05-29-2017, 12:07 AM
RE: Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 06-01-2017, 08:13 PM
RE: Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 06-17-2017, 07:24 PM
RE: Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 06-21-2017, 07:06 PM
RE: Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 07-30-2017, 09:04 PM
RE: Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 09-19-2017, 12:31 PM
RE: Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 10-25-2017, 11:59 AM
RE: Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 11-18-2017, 01:45 AM
RE: Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 12-08-2017, 06:21 PM
RE: Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 03-04-2018, 09:16 PM
RE: Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 03-30-2018, 10:28 PM
RE: Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 04-05-2018, 02:45 PM
RE: Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 04-30-2018, 04:38 PM
RE: Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 07-17-2018, 02:57 PM
RE: Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 01-12-2019, 07:09 PM
RE: Artifacts [Read Only] - by saronym - 02-08-2019, 11:42 AM