In contrast to Julianna's weak grasp, Owen's hand wrapped fully around hers in a firm but not harsh handshake. When he released her he tucked his hand into his pocket as if to save some of the warmth of her hand for later. He sat back down when Holland encouraged them to do so and watched Julianna scoot her way to the table. She tucked her hands between her knees in a way that reminded him of one of his more timid fourth years. He could tell she felt put on the spot.
“Nonsense.” Holland countered when Julianna nearly begged off participating in their discussion. “I would love to hear your perspective.”
Owen remained silent in the interim, picking up his drink again and resuming his laid back posture, one hand still cooly in his pocket. Content to observe the Rivers’ coax their new curly hair pet out of her hidey hole.
“Well, Owen was going to tell us an amusing anecdote about his own experimentation with Felix Felicis. And then he was going to defend its use.” Holland prompted his frowning friend.
“I wasn't --” Owen cut himself off to sip at his drink and resigned to telling the story anyway. He couldn’t explain the fluttering of nervousness in his gut at talking about himself in front of the new professor. “A lot of aurors microdose with it to give us --them--” He corrected himself. No longer one of them after all. “-- an edge in investigations...in and other things.”
Holland’s nod was very serious. “I see.”
“So anyway a couple of summers ago, the Ministry wasn't having any luck in arresting Isaac Ivors. So my partner and I decided to take a bit...more Felix Felicis than is typically prescribed. Just to see, what would happen with our investigation."
Holland muttered an ‘ah’ to express that he was following along. He remembered the wizard who enjoyed torturing muggles. “And what was that like?”
“I bought a trunks-worth of Bertie Botts Every Flavor Bean and spent hours picking out every single good flavor. I didn't eat a single bad one. Not a single one.” Owen gave Julianna a side glance to gauge if she would find the tidbit amusing.
Owen's emphatic way of speaking and the comical subject made Holland laugh. “That doesn't sound so bad.”
“And then I robbed a muggle pet store and stole a parakeet. I almost exposed myself. Shortly after, I caught Isaac Ivors and then enjoyed some more beans.”
Holland smiled. “That seems like a pleasant outcome.”
“I thought so too. Until I woke up barfing the rainbow on Scottish hillside with the unconscious body of Isaac Ivors and a panicked parakeet in a cage.”
Holland choked on his drink and then dabbed sheepishly at his lips with a handkerchief. “You what?”
“I was fired three days later after I turned in Isaac. He is still unconscious. I think ...I put him into that bird somehow. I can’t figure out how.” Owen shrugged. “The Ministry thinks I tortured him comatose. But I didn’t.”
“Wait. Is that the same parakeet in your office? The one you call--”
“Isaac? Yes. The Ministry let me keep the bird. They have his body somewhere. Still breathing.” He shrugged again. It wasn’t his problem any more, clearly. He gave Julianna another sideways glance. Would she think him cruel?
“And is... this why your students always complain about your beans?”
“When they misbehave, they eat a bean or five from the jar on my desk. They thought it was a very fun joke until they found out that every single one of them is vomit or something nasty.” Owen grinned wickedly. “I couldn't let all those nasty flavors go to waste. And the most amusing part is, they can't figure out how I picked out all the good ones.”
Holland laughed and slapped his thigh. “Brilliant.” He sobered up from his amusement quickly. “But why do you defend Felix Felicis?”
“There is nothing inherently immoral about the formulation. It's how you use it that gets you in trouble. I suspect that the potion acts more on relaxing the ego and expressing the intuition than just in confidence boosting as everyone erroneously postulates. I found it very useful tool to learn about my own thinking processes and how to get out of my own way and let...well my intuitive sense take the lead sometimes. ” Owen gave Julianna a third sideways glance. She certainly knew what it was like when he let his intuitive side take over. “Plus even a slight edge over a dark wizard or witch can mean the difference between life or death. And you can be damn sure they aren’t wringing their hands over the ethics of enhancement techniques.”
Holland frowned again and itched his chin. “Interesting.” He fell silent and his eyes popped up to Juliana. “And what do you make of this?”
“Nonsense.” Holland countered when Julianna nearly begged off participating in their discussion. “I would love to hear your perspective.”
Owen remained silent in the interim, picking up his drink again and resuming his laid back posture, one hand still cooly in his pocket. Content to observe the Rivers’ coax their new curly hair pet out of her hidey hole.
“Well, Owen was going to tell us an amusing anecdote about his own experimentation with Felix Felicis. And then he was going to defend its use.” Holland prompted his frowning friend.
“I wasn't --” Owen cut himself off to sip at his drink and resigned to telling the story anyway. He couldn’t explain the fluttering of nervousness in his gut at talking about himself in front of the new professor. “A lot of aurors microdose with it to give us --them--” He corrected himself. No longer one of them after all. “-- an edge in investigations...in and other things.”
Holland’s nod was very serious. “I see.”
“So anyway a couple of summers ago, the Ministry wasn't having any luck in arresting Isaac Ivors. So my partner and I decided to take a bit...more Felix Felicis than is typically prescribed. Just to see, what would happen with our investigation."
Holland muttered an ‘ah’ to express that he was following along. He remembered the wizard who enjoyed torturing muggles. “And what was that like?”
“I bought a trunks-worth of Bertie Botts Every Flavor Bean and spent hours picking out every single good flavor. I didn't eat a single bad one. Not a single one.” Owen gave Julianna a side glance to gauge if she would find the tidbit amusing.
Owen's emphatic way of speaking and the comical subject made Holland laugh. “That doesn't sound so bad.”
“And then I robbed a muggle pet store and stole a parakeet. I almost exposed myself. Shortly after, I caught Isaac Ivors and then enjoyed some more beans.”
Holland smiled. “That seems like a pleasant outcome.”
“I thought so too. Until I woke up barfing the rainbow on Scottish hillside with the unconscious body of Isaac Ivors and a panicked parakeet in a cage.”
Holland choked on his drink and then dabbed sheepishly at his lips with a handkerchief. “You what?”
“I was fired three days later after I turned in Isaac. He is still unconscious. I think ...I put him into that bird somehow. I can’t figure out how.” Owen shrugged. “The Ministry thinks I tortured him comatose. But I didn’t.”
“Wait. Is that the same parakeet in your office? The one you call--”
“Isaac? Yes. The Ministry let me keep the bird. They have his body somewhere. Still breathing.” He shrugged again. It wasn’t his problem any more, clearly. He gave Julianna another sideways glance. Would she think him cruel?
“And is... this why your students always complain about your beans?”
“When they misbehave, they eat a bean or five from the jar on my desk. They thought it was a very fun joke until they found out that every single one of them is vomit or something nasty.” Owen grinned wickedly. “I couldn't let all those nasty flavors go to waste. And the most amusing part is, they can't figure out how I picked out all the good ones.”
Holland laughed and slapped his thigh. “Brilliant.” He sobered up from his amusement quickly. “But why do you defend Felix Felicis?”
“There is nothing inherently immoral about the formulation. It's how you use it that gets you in trouble. I suspect that the potion acts more on relaxing the ego and expressing the intuition than just in confidence boosting as everyone erroneously postulates. I found it very useful tool to learn about my own thinking processes and how to get out of my own way and let...well my intuitive sense take the lead sometimes. ” Owen gave Julianna a third sideways glance. She certainly knew what it was like when he let his intuitive side take over. “Plus even a slight edge over a dark wizard or witch can mean the difference between life or death. And you can be damn sure they aren’t wringing their hands over the ethics of enhancement techniques.”
Holland frowned again and itched his chin. “Interesting.” He fell silent and his eyes popped up to Juliana. “And what do you make of this?”
Bitch, I'm limited edition.
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Toil & Trouble [Closed] - by megs - 01-31-2019, 12:05 AM
RE: Toil & Trouble [Closed] - by megs - 01-31-2019, 12:49 AM
RE: Toil & Trouble [Closed] - by saronym - 01-31-2019, 07:38 PM
RE: Toil & Trouble [Closed] - by megs - 01-31-2019, 11:59 PM
RE: Toil & Trouble [Closed] - by saronym - 02-01-2019, 03:09 PM
RE: Toil & Trouble [Closed] - by saronym - 03-10-2019, 08:12 PM
RE: Toil & Trouble [Closed] - by saronym - 03-16-2019, 05:43 PM
RE: Toil & Trouble [Closed] - by megs - 03-10-2019, 01:14 PM
RE: Toil & Trouble [Closed] - by megs - 03-15-2019, 11:24 AM
RE: Toil & Trouble [Closed] - by megs - 05-09-2019, 05:19 PM
RE: Toil & Trouble [Closed] - by saronym - 05-27-2019, 11:15 AM
RE: Toil & Trouble [Closed] - by megs - 05-27-2019, 02:50 PM
RE: Toil & Trouble [Closed] - by saronym - 05-27-2019, 06:51 PM
RE: Toil & Trouble [Closed] - by megs - 08-25-2019, 12:25 PM
RE: Toil & Trouble [Closed] - by saronym - 12-22-2019, 05:12 PM
RE: Toil & Trouble [Closed] - by megs - 12-25-2019, 03:41 PM