Hogwarts - Headmistress's Chambers - Year 2100 - New Years

"You realize this is all highly unorthodox Mister McKennely." Minerva said as she walked around her desk to sit in the Head chair of her office. The same office that had once belonged to many other great Wizards and Witches in times passed. In another part of the school the New Year celebration was just wrapping up as students disappeared happily off to their respective dorms.

"Yes, Minerva I know. But I need them here. You're going to be taking on a great many new staff in the next year and a few more won't hurt anything. If you can't take them on as teachers then take them as extensions of the staff. If something happens can you honestly say your not going to want as much of the faculty on your side as possible?" The tall man speaking remained in shadow as he spoke. His tone even and patient.

"But I've never even heard of this man your talking about. He certainly wasn't a student here. If he really is as dangerous as you'd have me believe than certainly the Ministry of Magic would never allow him to come anywhere near Hogwarts." Minerva reasoned shrewdly.

"Under normal circumstances that might be true. And I do stress the word might. The point of the matter is that the Ministry wants Patent and they can't take him until they have evidence that proves just how delusional he really is. The Ministry of Magic is concerned that he's more a danger to himself than to anyone else. If they weren't absolutely certain of this then they wouldn't have sent me here. The Ministry of Magic isn't seeking your approval on this matter, Minerva. they simply request your cooperation." The man informed her.

At this thinly veiled threat Minerva pursed her lips as glared at the younger man from over the top of her spectacles before settling slowly back into her chair as if she were coming to terms with the business. "Well in that case, Mister McKennley it would appear I have no other choice."

The Express - Passenger Booth - August 14th, 2100 - Day

Susan McKennely hadn't taken the express train to Hogwarts since the time when she'd been a student there and yet she might as well have been a teenager once more with the way the movement of the train and the feel of the seats seemed to transport her back in time. The only thing missing was the trolley of sweets and the gaggle of fellow students. Because she was riding in an adult car the snack trolley had been largely replaced by a more adult assortment of tea thing. However, upon seeing the look of longing on Susan's face the goodly trolley attendant offered to sneak her a chocolate frog or two onto her biscuit plate just for nostalgia sake.

Actually there was something else missing as well. Or rather, someone else from her memory. Peering at her carry on, Susan quietly debated in her mind if it was really necessary for her to read the letter from her brother Jacob again. It wasn't very long after all and she practically had the entire thing memorized as it was. Nevertheless, Susan did fish out the envelop if only so that she could look over her dear brother's hand writing and think back to the last time she'd seen him.

Jacob and Susan McKennely were twins and as such they had an almost telepathic bond that occasionally was more of a determent than an asset to them. Shortly after finishing at Hogwarts the siblings had gone their separate ways and, until now, had not had cause to reunite for any long duration of time. In Jacob's case upon leaving Hogwarts he'd immediately entered into the Order of the Phoenix where he was trained as an Auror, probably in an effort to follow in the footsteps of their esteemed father. During that period Susan had heard little from him and could only presume that he was away in the field tracking down dark Wizards and Witches.

As for herself Susan had spent the first ten years or so traveling about and acting as a mediator between the wizarding community and various magical cultures who were engaged in disputes, disagreements, and misunderstandings with them. Unlike Jacob who tended to communicate himself through his actions, Susan had always been more inclined to use her words as a means for handling and resolving conflicts.

In more recent years Jacob had eventually taken up with the Ministry of Magic although the exact nature of his work with them was never specified nor was Susan very eager to know. Mostly because their mother would have staunchly disproved of her son's current choice in political affiliation. As for Susan, in the last several years she'd begun to lose interest in her work. Anna their activist mother had insisted that Susan was experiencing a kind of burn out and that she was very surprised it hadn't come on sooner given the nature of her job description.

Susan wasn't sure she necessarily agreed with this assessment but what she did readily agree upon was that she was in desperate need of a change in pace.

Several months ago upon writing to her brother regarding her feelings Jacob had responded with the interesting suggestion that she consider becoming a teacher. If anything, Jacob believed, educating young people would provide his sister with a decidedly significant change of scenery and hopefully allow her to gain a fresh perspective about what she wanted in her life.

At first Susan had dismissed the notion but as the weeks progressed the thought of teaching appealed more and more. In her previous line of work Susan had spent countless hours trying to knead the minds of those whose opinions about the world had already formed and hardened. Perhaps if she had the opportunity to mold and guide younger minds while their beliefs and world views were still forming, she could help to open her students minds up to the same objective possibilities that she spent countless hours trying to drill into the unbending brains of the adults she delt with?

Either way Susan had still largely been on the fence about teaching at Hogwarts until she's received the most recent letter from her brother.


Dear Susan,

It has come to my recent attention that my services are in want on an administrative level in London. I've also been recently approached to help supervise the influx of incoming educators at our old Academic stomping grounds. I don't exactly know if I'll be teaching but my last conversation with Headmistress McGonagall seemed to support the notion that I at least make myself available to incoming staff. As you know I was never one to do very well in the class room. I find it hard to imagine teaching would show any sign of improvement in that regard.

You on the other hand would be phenomenal as a professor and besides that if you accept the Headmistress's invitation I have it on good authority you ad I will finally have a proper reunion.

I miss you Sue. Plain and simple. So come along already, will you?

Love,

J.


After that Susan had needed no further encouragement and now there she was on the Hogwarts express with her cat Matilda lazily in tow.

"I've missed you too, Jacob." Susan said to herself as she glanced out the window and let her mind flow backwards in time.

Hogwarts Express - Passener Booth - August 14th, 2100 - Day

Nkenge was unimaginably bored. Her eyes had skimmed over the same line of text in a lesson book she was previewing and editing for a friend and each time he committed to getting down to buisiness, her pen (a muggle contraption that she used religiously, no matter the looks she got from her colleagues) poised to get with the editing, her son's collosal snores would hack away at her concentration again. She blew out a frustrated breath and dropped the book in her lap, glaring at the teenager spread out on the seat across from her. She would not throw the book at him. He was a growing boy in need of his rest, plus the book was heavy and had sharp corners and she'd feel bad about it later...

She was starting to forget why he was even here... the school term didn't even start for another week. Still, Matt insisted that he was too old for babysitters and Nkenge was loath to leave him alone in her flat so that he could throw some ridiculous muggle-esque house party. She wouldn't be surprised if the reason Saya had been so scarce around was because he had to send the word around that the party was off...

"Ugh," she snorted quietly and threw down her book, gathering her robes around her. She stood and quietly exited the cabin, just taking a moment to wander down the row of passenger compartments serenely. She was off to her third year as a teacher at Hogwarts, and expected it to be the best yet. The students knew what to expect of her by now, and it was possible that her reputation could trickle down to first years by now. As she was walking, she noticed a small, blonde head alone in one of the cars. She had noticed the new face on the platform, but had been too busy with Mathias to investigate. Well, now was as good a time as any, she thought.

Slowly, Nkenge slid the door of the compartment open, offering a small smile. "Hello. I'm sorry I did not get a chance to introduce myself before." She had a bit of a light accent, Europe was not her true home, but her speech was clear. "I am Nkenge Atamata, professor of potions and potion's mistress. Yourself?"

"Oh." Susan turned her face about when the other Professor approached her compartment and introduced herself. She'd been feeling a tad self conscious sitting all alone like she was very happy to have some company.

"Hello. Susanna McKennely. Charms Professor." Susan didn't bother to include the fact that she was new. If Nkenge was a returning Professor then she'd probably already realized that Susan was new to the school faculty. "Please, call me Susan and by all means take a seat if you like."

Susan made a face at her familiar Matilda who had lazily stretched herself out across the entire span of the opposite seat. At first the feline looked as if it had every intention of ignoring her, but after a few seconds the cat languidly did stand up and give up the seat. Although she made quite a show of making it look as if it were her own idea and not at Susan's request.

"I'm sorry i didn't say Hello before. I believe you were on the platform with me. I haven't taken the train in ages and I suppose I was worried I'd miss my time." Susan realized she was babbling which was not a trait she was generally afflicted by, and soon shut her mouth so that Nkenge could reply. "Are you a returning member of the Faculty?"

With a final wand wave, the tidy things became even neater. The young redhead woman in front of the fire gave a small grin of satisfaction before adjusting her tall brown hat, scooping a rather large pile of books into her arms, and taking a small pinch of a curious black powder labeled 'Floo.' Cassandra gave her London home a once-over look, bringing to mind the phrase 'My idea of cleaning is sweeping the room with a glance.' She then proceeded to step into the fireplace - an odd action if there ever was one, in the mind of muggles - and dropped the Floo powder, clearly saying "Hogwarts Herbology Office!" Minerva had allowed her special use this one time, as she had missed the train and Proffesor McGonagall was disinclined for her to be late. Cassandra had heard there were several new teachers at Hogwarts this year, she being one of them. 

She thought this over the whole time she spun through the green flames, seeing flashes of others and their lifestyles. She recalled not too fondly her first experience with Floo powder - Cassie had puked up her stomach's contents for several days. And it still gave her a rather queasy feeling, but this time she was able to overcome it and step out of the fire neatly, brushing bits of soot from her robes. She checked the sun outside - she had about an hour before the feast. Not a lot of time, taking into consideration she had to unpack and inspect the greenhouses. Well, her luggage was already here, so that made unpacking easier. Cassandra decided to take some of the seeds she had and plant them right away. 

And so she did, sorting plants into greenhouses, drawing up more lesson plans, and taking care of general Herbology business, not to mention taking inventory. All in all, she spent her time wisely - usually, she was slow at doing physical labor/chores, but Herbology was really the only thing that made her move quickly and carefully about. By the time she finished taking stock of everything - which took most of the hour - she was rather dirty and she has no time to clean up. With a resigned sigh, Cassie made her way to the Great Hall.   Wait. Where were all the students? She poked her head inside to reveal emptiness. Minerva's light footsteps reached her ears and she spun about, confused.

"Pro- er, Headmistress McGonagall. Where are the students? Am I late?" Her worry seeped into her voice. Minerva wore a tight expression on her face, though whther holding in laughter or severely pissed Cassandra couldn't tell.

"My dear Cassandra, now Professor Lotus. You aren't late. You're two week early." Cassandra flushed red to the roots of her carroty hair. "I thought you would realize that, but I opened the Floo passage anyway." The younger teacher shuffled from foot to foot, like a student being scolded.

"Er..." was about all she could say. It was true she had been so anxious and nervous she had forgotten to glance at her calendar, but two weeks early? How humiliating.

The Headmistress smiled. "Well, we are only human. I suppose this gives you lots of needed time for nourishing of plants and so on. Herbology was never my strong point, but I'm sure a week would do no harm. Seeing as you are here already." Cassandra could only nod at the older woman's wiseness. She smiled briefly as McGonagall spoke about Herbology, nodding again.

"You are absolutely correct, Headmistress. Thank you. I won't forget about next week!" She grinned brightly at the Headmistress of Hogwarts. "Goodbye, Headmistress, thanks!" Professor Lotus ran out, headed in a beeline for her precious greenhouses. Oops. She reprimanded herself on the way back for being so foolish.

Hogwarts - Private Staff Quarters Near Gryffindor Tower - Day

As it happened Jacob McKennely had been present at Hogwarts for some time although he had not been formally introduced to any of the faculty to speak of since he'd appeared shortly after the celebration of the new year during the previous school term. Not that he was seen very much around the campus. Mostly Jacob had appeared to keep to his assigned quarters and the staff had been told he was merely a guest of the school and not someone of particular importance. Of course all of that was a carefully fabricated half truth. The truth of the statement was that Jacob was indeed a guest of the school upon special request. The falsehood was that Jacob's presence was of no particular importance.

Currently Jacob was situated at a small round table before the fire of his room looking through the personnel approval's of the new school year. While there had been several wizards and witches to apply for the available positions which McGonagall had personally overseen, it was Jacob (under the authorization of the Ministry of Magic and his own judgment) who had hand picked the final applicants for the various open teaching positions. For the moment Jacob was simply re-aquainting himself with the profiles of those who had been newly hired as well as the names of the returning staff from the previous year. It had taken alot of wrangling to investigate who the personalities really were behind their names and well rounded portfolios. and Jacob found himself tired for it.

Eventually Jacob finally came to Susan's file. Not only did the paperwork contain information about her recent work history but also information regarding when she had been a student. Nothing too invasive. Just a list indicating the house she'd been sorted into and the school affiliations and positions she'd held. Breathing out audibly, the tall man leaned back into his armchair with the page opened up to his sister's moving photograph. As he looked a wave a familial fondness seeped into his chest followed by an uncomfortable sliver of guilt. In spite of being very close all their lives Jacob couldn't help but feel like he'd somewhat abandoned his sister all these years. Granted the nature of Jacob's work as an Auror had forced him to keep his family at arms length but the truth was that his occupation had only been a convenient excuse.

How many moments had he really missed in her life? And did his sister really feel as accepting of the fact as her letters had indicated? Jacob wasn't sure. Certainly in some cases Susan had every right to be furious with him. As Jacob contemplated all of this the fingers of his free hand had been tapping upon the arm of the chair. Not exactly incessantly but enough to act as a ind of physical distraction from something else that was churning about in his mind. At length, Jacob set the file back down upon the table. Now that the new school session was about to begin he wouldn't have to keep sneaking about when he wanted to come and go places.

Although Jacob wasn't quite a teacher, upon the beginning of the new year he would be officially coming onto the schools administrative staff mostly acting as a teaching assistant, tutor, and substitute when other staff members needed the help and even in some cases where they didn't.

"Well, what do you think? Should I stop sitting around her and see if there's anyone new whose arrived?" Instead of talking to a familiar Jacob was in fact addressing his primary wand which he'd apparently placed at the farthest end of the table he was working upon like a table weight. It seemed the wand itself declined to offer any indication of an opinion and causing Jacob to smile at it and stand up.

Several Minutes Later...

His appearance in the greenhouse part of the Herbology department wasn't exactly planned. Rather Jacob had run into Minerva as he walked through the halls and been informed that a new staff member had arrived. Furthermore Jacob didn't exactly announce himself upon entering the green house. It was more that he simply let himself in to observe the new teacher for several long seconds as she worked. As usual when decorum wasn't forcing him into robes Jacob was dressed in casual jeans a gray sleeveless sweater over a white button down shirt and his suede Jacket.

"I hope your finding everything in order, Professor." Jacob opened casually when the woman hadn't seemed to notice him after a minute or two.

Nkenge smirked at the little cat, who moved with so big of an attitude. She sat down daintily across from the new teacher, waving away her appologies. "Yes, this is my third year. I'm sure you won't mind the first year at all. It goes by quickly and the other teachers are very supportive. The students, however," she sniffed, wrinkling her nose. "Well, many of them will seek to take advantage of you. I am sure you will be able to handle it though."

Nkenge leaned back in her seat, studying Susan's face intently. "I am sorry, but I feel as if we have met before. Did you go to school at Hogwarts? Your name, McKennely, seems very familiar to me, but I cannot remember why..."

"Yes. My brother and I were students from 76'-83'. Diffrent houses. You might be thinking of him more than..." Very pleased that the other professor was inclined to join her, Susan tucked away the envelope she'd been holding and studied Nkenge for a moment trying to place the face which indeed did look very familiar. "No, I remember now. Slythrin Quidditch team. You were their Beater, right? I'm almost sure of it. A year behind me. Oh, those games were madness! You're team really gave us a run for our money. I think Slythrin had one of the highest casualty rates against opposite teams in over a decade. There were days I was sure I was going to get my head taken off which it very nearly did."

Although Susan was usually very calm and not one to get excited, the topic of Quidditch was a different matter entirely. Being one of the few subjects the blond woman was practically cutthroat about in the most delightfully enthusiastic kind of way which was clearly evident in the way she clapped her hands together and became completely animated with steel edged glee.

Nkenge threw her head back and laughed in delight. "Yes, yes, I remember! Ah, you were one of the most agile keepers I've ever played against!" she laughed. "Yes, the team certainly enjoyed my aggressiveness, though I remember my mother was appauled. She said I played quidditch more like a burly man than a proper lady. But, you, ah, I do not believe I ever got a hit in with you, though our captain often wanted us to keep an eye on you especially. Impressive, very impressive." Her confidence in the new teacher soared. In her opinion, anyone who could hold their own on the quidditch field could do basically anything they wanted and probably do it well. "So, what brings you back to Hogwarts? Anything specific, or did you simply find the tug of teaching within you?" she asked with a grin.

"Honestly it never occurred to me teach in such a large capacity. My mother's a rather well known activist and since leaving Hogwarts I caught the bug and went into the Core. I've been working as an educator and mediator between the Wizarding World and various indigenous magical cultures from all over the world ever since. But admittedly I've burnt myself out on it as of late." Susan confided with a cleansing exhale. "I didn't even know Hogwarts was going through such a profound change up until my brother Jacob wrote me about it. And well, here I am."

Susan threw up her hands and shrugged. "Teenagers after all can't be any worse in relation to some of the entanglements and individuals I've had to deal with in the past. As far as I'm concerned this is practically like a vacation."

She didn't bother to include the fact that another big motivation was the opportunity to see her brother again. Privately she didn't allow the reality of their estrangement to bother her, but when it came to people who had known the sibling at any time in their past, Susan felt slightly embarrassed that she generally didn't know anything more about what had been going on with Jacob since leaving school.

"And you, Nkenge. Tell me all about what's brought you back? I'm so glad your a retuning teacher. you'll have to enlighten me about what the school is like now." She said with profound sincerity. Susan had never been one to dislike anyone out of turn and the respect between the women was mutually felt.

((Site glitch, sorry about the double post))

Nkenge rolled her eyes and waved the comment about teenagers away as if it were a bad smell. "Teenagers, bah!" she said good-naturedly. "Hags, goblins, all can be perfectly lovely given the chance. Teenagers though..." She tutted. "I have one myself. He lives in my flat, eats the food I cook him, wears the clothes that I buy, and all the while lays about and bemoans his life. Vampires are honest, they acknowledge that they are sucking you dry. Teenagers are convinced that they are doing you a favor." She reached out gingerly to the cat stretched out beside her as she spoke, reaching out a hand to let her sniff and when she turned away, unconcerned, stroking her back lightly.

"Anyway, I have always loved Hogwarts," she said wistfully. "It was very bittersweet when I graduated and entered the real world. But, two years ago, Headmistress McGonagall sent me a letter saying that she had heard good things about my work in Africa and with the Potions Corporation I had worked for and that if I wanted there was a position as a professor available." She shrugged. The decision had not been hard for her to decide whatsoever. Of course, Mathias had been angry at his mother's "attempt to micromanage his life", but Nkenge had seen to it that that attitude was nipped quickly.

"I am sure you will find your way quickly. You know how every class believes themselves to be the best," she said with a smile. "It is different, experiencing it all as an adult. There is more responsibility, more to teach, and more to learn as well. I enjoy it very much."

Hogwarts - Transfiguration Classroom

A White Terrier calmly trotted into the classroom, minutely disturbing the still silence that was ever present over the long Summer break. The room, usually filled with utter pandemonium is, for the moment in it's rarity, orderly. In a flash of an eye, Keeleigh transformed herself back into her humanoid form and sat at her usual seat, mounted atop an elevated platform overlooking the entire classroom. She heaved a sigh. It was time for work.

Sure, school would not begin until a week from now, but her subject being 'Transfiguration' requires quite a load of preparatory requirements; such includes the assurance to the Headmistress that all is good for another chaotic school year. Without much hesitation, she begun taking down inventories and other essentials and checked them against the schedule, ensuring all was okay.

It was her third year teaching at Hogswarts and despite numerous uninteresting times such as these, the job so far has been the least enjoyable. Sure she had did not have the company of her parents here, but she reassured herself that it was time to move on and out of her comfort zone to do the things she enjoys.

“Professor Pennington?” a frail yet effeminate voice interrupted her thoughts.

“Uh-yes Headmistress McGonagall?” replied Keeleigh, looking up to see the Headmistress standing by the door.

Gradually, she stood up and made her way to the tall and stern looking woman. Even as a Professor did she found Minerva still to be a person not to be messed with and one she treated with utmost respect.

“Keeleigh, is everything alright?” asked Minerva politely.

“Yes, everything is fine here,” responded a rather puzzled Keeleigh, hoping she hadn't done anything wrong. “Is there something you want me to help you with?”

“Ah, nothing my dear, I'm just making sure all is fine. Oh, and there are some new people that have joined us today. Please be sure your warmest welcome. If there isn't anything else, I shan't interrupt you any further.”

"I sure will, Headmistress." Keeleigh gestured a nod as the Headmistress continued her valiant stroll around the school, relived that all is fine.

Hogwarts - Greenhouse One - Herbology

Cassandra had been busily potting puffapod plants when Jacob had arrived, causing her to look up, startled, and drop a few seeds. They burst into flower on her shoe. She tried to ignore the ticklish feeling they gave. The newcomer had piercing gray/blue eyes,, and the look about him that showed he had been here for a while. Her cheeks pinked slightly in embarrassment before she registered what he said. "Oh, yes. Everything is just fine. I'm particularily pleased with the assortment of leftover plants." She quickly planted the remaining seeds their pots, brushing off her hands of dirt before turning brusquely to the stranger.

"I'm Cassandra Lotus, Herbology Professor here, though you probably already know that. You are?" Cassandra held out her hand to shake, trying to ignore the fact she had already accumulated dirt under her nails. It would be nice, she supposed, to meet a few more teachers and adults around the school before term began as to feel comfortable. And have someone to speak to as the year dragged on other than her semi-sentient plants.

Hogwarts - Green House One - Herbology

"J. Adam McKennely." His hold was solid and strong as he met her gesture with his own.

"A pleasure to make your acquaintance." Jacob smiled pleasantly enough although the up tilted lines of his mouth didn't quite extend into his eyes which had a decidedly more measured tone to them as if he was present in the moment yet also looking off at some distant point with his mind's eye. "I'll be occasionally sitting in on classes this year and doing some tutoring. I really rather feel badly for anyone who has me as a teacher or a substitute, I've never been the studious type after all."

"Mm." Jacob made a sound as if he'd found the answer to some kind of question he'd framed in his mind and released Cassandra's hand. This time he did smile genuinely as his eyes seemed to brighten slightly and refocus. Jacob stretched his neck to the side as if he was working out a kink and then graciously stepped around Cassandra so that he could walk about the green house.

"Well I must admit this was one of my favorite classes when I saw a student here. I can't profess to be much of a gardener now but I do still have the occasional nostalgic fondness for the smell of freshly turned dirt. If you ever need any assistance with anything let me know. Herbology was one of the few subjects I was actually good at growing up. Especially when the plants bit back." He chuckled lightly.

Back to his fully Jovial and energetic nature, Jacob turned back around to face Cassandra and hoisted himself upon one of the empty tables. Kicking his legs like a kid and humming lightly.

"You dropped one by the way." He said pointing.

Cassandra smiled at 'J. Adam Mckennely' and nodded her head politely. "That's good that you liked Herbology. I can't have everyone hating it, nowadays." Something in her eyes twinkled - it was a bit of a laugh, really, seeing as Herbology wasn't often considered the hardest of subjects. She stooped low for a second to wipe off the puffapod and replant the flowers.

Finishing up with that, she quickly stepped over to a table, where a basic manila envelope lie shaking. Grinning with excitement, she pulled out Venomous Tentacula seeds, planting them swiftly into smaller pots and stowing them away under a shelf. She proceeded to steer herself away from the other seeds and pulling herself up next to him.

"Thanks." She told him. "Was there anything you came specifically for?"

"As a matter of fact I did come for something specific. Its actually a request." Jacob slid off of the table and resumed a fully standing position. He then reached into the inner part of his coat to produce a pice of paper with a list of ingredients on it as well as a notation about how much was needed in a specific time frame.

While the purpose of the ingrediants weren't written down, anyone proficcent in plants and their magical uses or potions would have recognized what the combination was usually applied to. Likewise the potion that the plant combination was used in were a regular question of the sixth year N.E.W.T. Potions class. In this case the plants listed included Asphodel Root, Wormwood, Valarian Roots and Sopohorous Bean; and were the standard ingrediants for the Draught of Living Death.

"If you would keep a reasonable supply of these plants in stock for me throughout the upcoming school year I would be most apreciative." Smiling a wide closed mouth smile, Job handed over the short list. "Anyway, I realize it might take a little time but I've figured the first round should be ready about the start of the school year so I'll be back to collect them from you when they're ready. It really has ben a pleasure to met you Professor. I'm sure you'llbe seeing me very soon"

At that the tall man did exstend a wider grin that showed off his teeth before he gave Cassandra a dipping nod and excused himself, mentioning something about the nearing arrival of the Hogwarts train.

Hogwarts - Dusk - An Hour Before Dinner

As the sun began to finally set the distant sound of the Hogwarts Express could be heard as it began to slow and draw to a stop at its final destination. In many ways the journey to the actual castle for the staff was much like it was for the arriving students only with far less fan fair.

Indoors the castle was a buzz of activity with the house elves working in the kitchens with no less vigor than they would have possessed were they feeding a thousand rather than the much smaller groups of castle staff and faculty along with the few early arrivals within the various student dorms. Besides that there was a neverending amount of cleaning to be done and tasks to be seen to both in preperation for the upcoming start of the school year and the needs of the returning teachers.

(oops)

Hogwarts - Transfiguration Classroom - Dusk - Hour Before Dinner


"Oh, dear. Um...No. Huh, well...Perhaps...No? Hm. I really must..." Albie wasn't exactly lost as much as he was simply having a bit of trouble finding his classroom. Muggle Studies was natorious for being one of those required classes that got moved, sometimes multiple times within the same year, to various locations throughout the school.

Actually the rail like professor had been having a difficult time getting around all day long mostly because he was a little frightened of the moving stairwells and the talking pictures almost always gave him poor advice. A nervious if kindly fellow by nature, Albie wasn't the type to demand respect from anyone and therefore it was often not readily given to him by many of the itellegent oddities within Hogwarts walls. Having walked about the school the entire day caught up in absolute confusion and disaray as he searched for his classroom, Albie had unfortunetly resorted to simply poking into whatever door way or room happened to come in his line of sight in the hopes that eventually one of them would be the room he wa looking for.

"My...My...My...I really must make a map one of these days." Albie tended to stutter but this was largely due to the fact that thoughts passed so quickly through his mind that he had no other choice but to snatch at them before the more important thought got completly away.

Up ahead of him was another door. This one clearly marked, not that ALbie nessisarly paid any attention to what the words actually read. In his experiance it was better to just look for himself as he never did know when someone was perhaps playing a prank on him. Nevermind that the pranks were usually orchestrated by students and that there were practically none about to carry out such a deed to begin with.

Walking hastily up to the door Albie seized the handle with hopeful enthusiasam before he muttered something under his breath and threw the door wide. Once open he then remained in the doorway and bending, at the waist, stuck his torso through the doorway to give a very exagerated scan of the room with one hand firmly on the door handle and the palm of his other holding the faded dull silk of his top hat in place. Had Albie bothered to read the door he would have realized that it quite clearly read TRANSFIGURATION and not MUGGLE STUDIES as he was not so clearly hoping the room would be.

Furthermore id there was anyone actually present in the room Albie hadn't seen them emmidietly and was craning his neck to slowly scan thecontents of the back of the room instead of logically peering towards its front.

(Deleted - Wrong location)

Keeleigh was just about at the final few checks of her housekeeping for the day when the sudden thunderous noise rattled across the classroom. The main classroom doors were flung open and along with the gush of kinetic energy, it invaded the classroom that was lull for the majority of the day. The birds which were peacefully confined into their appropriate cages hung well atop the classrooms were violently awoken, sending feathers and more pandemonium across the room.

Immediately Keeleigh swiveled her wand and brought things to order. "What in Dumbledore's name...?" she cursed under her breath.

She too had quickly snapped out of her usual self for a moment, jolting out of her seat in utter bewilderment. As soon as she regained her composure, she looked to see who was the untimely uninvited visitor. Albie, she sighed. Nearly anyone would have told him off at this moment, but no, not Keeleigh. She is simply pathologically incapable, due to her stubbornly propitious nature of doing so.

"Yes Professor Akakios," she smiled, seemingly undeterred by the current events. "Could I help you in any way possible?"

In some ways it might have almost been beter had Keeleigh dived into a repramand. Albie certianly wouldn't have blamed her for it . "Professor Pennington! So sorry...Completly my fault...H-had no intention of disturbing you. Its just...I think I've gone and misplaced my classroom. You haven't seen it anywhere, have you?"

Upon snapping his neck to look at Keeleigh Oswald instantly removed his hat and tucked it behind his back. "I set Tibs off to find it earlier and I'm afraid he hasn't come back yet."

Tibbit was Oswald's beloved pet chipmunk that he almost always carried about with him. No sonner did Oswald comment about his little friend did the creature apear with a squeen from the direction of the kitchen and jump into the center. "Again, s-so very sorry. I really should have known."

Albie shuffled his feet and made a tisking sound in the back of his throat as if he was slightly embarrassed by his flub. "Anyway this obviously isn't it-t-t-t. Will you be joing us for dinner?"

As quickly as he's errored Albie began to bounce back. His confidance rebulding itself right before the other Professor's eyes as he straighted up and half stepped into the room. Keeleigh was one of those poeple who tried to be nice to everyone and Albie greatly apreiated the woman for her tolerance of him even if he did exasperate her sometimes.

"Professor Akakios," Keeleigh smiled diligently, "yes I would be at dinner tonight... And don't feel sorry professor, we all make mistakes sometimes. I will have this place cleaned up, don't you worry one bit."

Displaying her usual beamish, buoyant countenance, she gave Albie one last look before carrying on with her work, disregarding the mess around her. Albie wasn't exactly the man everyone in Hogwarts treated seriously, by staff or students. Nasty rumors about someone in his family marrying to a troll plagued his school years and left terrible impressions of him till today. Keeleigh had always the desire to bring some of that up with him someday to finally end this nonsense, but his many plausible reactions constantly deterred her from doing so.

Nevertheless, Albie was someone, like everyone else, she had respect for; impervious to his eccentricities, although sometimes that respect has constantly been besieged.