Miffy wanted to cause even more chaos. That's why her arms were filled with balloons. The balloons were filled with paint. Lots and lots of paint. *GIGGLE* Did Gaston Merchant think he was as strong as that character on the plaque?

Miffy floated through the door. She had waited until Gaston left to do her mischief. She set up a net to hold the balloons over the door to the office. She linked the net in such a way that it would give away the moment the door was opened. The balloons would crash down. "THEY WOULD BURST ON HIS HEAD!'' Miffy cackled then floated off through the wall.

Before she left Miffy dropped the House scarf that had the name of a student printed on it. Students did this oh yes they did. Those should throw Gaston off the trail of Miffy.

Gaston had just returned from a stroll around the grounds, his black and white cat purring contentedly in his arms. Phantom gave a small disgruntled snort as he shifted her just enough to reach his wand. With a nonverbal Alohomora, he turned the doorknob, but the moment he stepped inside... POP, POP, POP, POP!!!

"MERLIN'S BEARD!!! WHAT WAS THAT?!?!" The Frenchman exclaimed, but his voice was drowned out by the sound of rapidfire banging, like a hundred firecrackers going off. His brilliant blue eyes widened in panic at the noise. What? Where? How? Before he could react, something wet and sticky poured all over him - and his cat! With an ear-splitting yowl, Phantom shot out of his arms and made a beeline for the space underneath his desk, leaving a trail of pink, green, and orange paw prints behind. Wait, was that paint?

He wiped his forehead to stop the liquid dripping form his hair from running into his eyes, and sure enough his hand came away stained in a rainbow of colors. But... how had that happened? Gaston's eyes darted from the broken pieces of what looked like balloons littering the floor to the remains of a net suspended above him, and he started to connect the dots. This had to be one (or both) of the poltergeists' handiwork! Those two seemed to have it out for him, but he had no idea why! He sighed angrily, his hands clenching into fists. He had had it with this nonsense! He was going straight to the bloody Baron about this... just as soon as he wasn't covered in paint.

He reached for his wand, but it was nowhere to be found. Where was his wand?! Oh, that's right... it had been in his hand when he was ambushed by the falling paint balloons. He must've dropped it! After a quick search of the room, taking extra care not to get paint on the furniture, he finally found his wand under his desk. A pair of angry yellow eyes glowered at him from the shadows, and the moment he reached for his wand, Phantom growled and hissed. Gaston winced, immediately withdrawing his hand, and saw four red marks running across the the back of his hand where Phantom has clawed him. Obviously he wasn't getting his wand back anytime soon...

As Gaston turned away, he saw something on the floor just inside the doorway. At first he thought it was just more balloon fragments, but upon closer inspection, he found it was a scarf. The paint had made it impossible to tell what colors it had been originally, but it clearly belonged to a student. Gaston didn't want to believe one of his students would do that to him, but the evidence was right in front of him! Why? After he went out of his way to be kind to them...

Eight years as a teaching assistant at Beaubatons, and nothing like this had ever happened to him! Now in only one semester at Hogwarts, he'd already been attacked with knives in the kitchen and now this! Gaston never imagined the residents of Hogwarts could be so cruel! Actually I think I'd prefer the knives, he thought darkly. At least there was a spell to stop the knives from injuring him, but there was no spell to keep his heart from being wounded by this! He blinked quickly as he took several deep breaths, fighting to keep his emotions in line, lest the guilty party was nearby watching, laughing at him. He wasn't about to give them the satisfaction of seeing him fall apart!

Quote:

Originally Posted by MadMadamMalfoy

Gaston was in his office, absentmindedly drumming on his desk in time to the music blasting from his enchanted ipod, when a loud bang startled him. That wasn't him, was it? No, someone was at the door.

He pointed his wand at his ipod dock to turn the music off before going to answer the door, wand still in hand. Since the incident with the paint balloons - he still had no idea who was behind it - he never opened the door without having his wand handy, just in case the culprit decided to strike twice.

Gaston held his wand out in front of him as his brilliant blue eyes cautiously peered outside, but when he saw who it was, he immediately lowered his wand. "Ah, Miss Skeeter. What brings you here?" he asked, beaming at the Hufflepuff.

He stared at the floor, hoping to hide the blush rising to his cheeks. Well, this was embarrassing! What kind of crazy professor goes around brandishing his wand at his students?! Needless to say, he thought she was someone else...

"Please, do come in," he said, opening the door a bit wider.

OOC: You're welcome to post in Professor Marchand's office now!

The seventh year's eyed widened like an owl's when she was greeted not with the expected pleasant demeanor of the Charms professor but with a wand pointed almost directly between her eyes. Reflexes not the best - as anyone who had witnessed the Hufflepuff's dueling would be able to attest for - Paige did not jump back in surprise but rather crossed her eyes and just STARED at it until it was lowered.

Thankfully for you, professor, the incident made her entirely unaware of any blushing going on on your side of the conversation - her psychic empathy a bit clouded at the moment.

"E-Everything alright, professor?" she squeaked softly before accepting his invitation inside, good trusting Hufflepuff that she was, her own agenda momentarily pushed to the side. Hard to do otherwise when one had essentially just been held at wandpoint by a professor, you know?

Azura smiled as the door opened and she headed into his office as he held open the door.

"Hello Professor Marchand. " She said as she entered the room and smiled warmly at him. "How are you? " She asked nicely before he asked what he could do for her and she smiled a bit.

"Well. " The purple eyed girl clasped her hands in front of her a happy smile on her face. "You see, I've figured out I can do non verbal magic.. not a lot mind you, and so far just first year spells. " She explained.. as she pushed some of her hair behind her ear.

"I was wondering if you could teach me some better techniques, or even help me out with it? Lessons? So to speak? " She asked him softly.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetpinkpixie

The seventh year's eyed widened like an owl's when she was greeted not with the expected pleasant demeanor of the Charms professor but with a wand pointed almost directly between her eyes. Reflexes not the best - as anyone who had witnessed the Hufflepuff's dueling would be able to attest for - Paige did not jump back in surprise but rather crossed her eyes and just STARED at it until it was lowered.

Thankfully for you, professor, the incident made her entirely unaware of any blushing going on on your side of the conversation - her psychic empathy a bit clouded at the moment.

"E-Everything alright, professor?" she squeaked softly before accepting his invitation inside, good trusting Hufflepuff that she was, her own agenda momentarily pushed to the side. Hard to do otherwise when one had essentially just been held at wandpoint by a professor, you know?

Gaston's heart sank as he saw Miss Skeeter's eyes widening... not that he blamed her one bit! Why, she'd reacted much more calmly than he would've if one of his professors held him at wandpoint. "Merlin's beard! I am so sorry, Miss Skeeter!" he exclaimed, hanging his head in shame. "I... I thought you were one of the poltergeists. First the incident in the kitchens, then the stairs, then someone vandalized my office and..." He sighed, running a hand through his hair. Honestly, he thought those two had it out for him! "...and I'm just a little on edge." Okay, that was a huge understatement!

He half-expected the girl to turn and run away, but he was relieved when she didn't. As he re-entered his office, the black and white cat who'd been perched atop the cat condo jumped down and hid under his desk with a loud hiss. Apparently he wasn't the only one on edge! "Please sit down," the Frenchman said, gesturing toward the leather chairs in front of his desk. He took his seat in the larger chair behind the desk and tilted a glass dish full of chocolates toward his student. "Here, help yourself." Hopefully she wouldn't think he'd poisoned the chocolates after the wand incident!

Quote:

Originally Posted by FwooperOnYourLeft

Azura smiled as the door opened and she headed into his office as he held open the door.

"Hello Professor Marchand. " She said as she entered the room and smiled warmly at him. "How are you? " She asked nicely before he asked what he could do for her and she smiled a bit.

"Well. " The purple eyed girl clasped her hands in front of her a happy smile on her face. "You see, I've figured out I can do non verbal magic.. not a lot mind you, and so far just first year spells. " She explained.. as she pushed some of her hair behind her ear.

"I was wondering if you could teach me some better techniques, or even help me out with it? Lessons? So to speak? " She asked him softly.

Gaston gave the young Ravenclaw a polite nod in acknowledgement. "I'm fine, thank you for asking," he replied automatically, dropping his gaze so she wouldn't see the emotion in his eyes. In reality, he was far from fine. Fear for his own safety and a broken heart... not a good combination! But his student didn't need to know all that, did she?

He took a seat in the large leather chair behind his desk, and his cat jumped into his lap with a plaintive meow, as if she could sense his sadness. He gave the black and white persian a little scratch behind the ear as he motioned for Miss Snow to sit down. His eyes changed upon hearing the reason for her visit. "Nonverbal magic already? I'm impressed!" he said. Noverbal magic at the third year was exceedingly rare; even he himself hadn't been able to do it until then end of his fourth year. "Of course, Miss Snow. I'd be more than happy to help." After all, teaching was his job!

He nodded when she said she'd only been able to do first year spells so far. "Well, that's to be expected. Learning nonverbal magic is like learning the spells all over again," he went on. The same also applied to learning wandless magic, but they'd cross that bridge later. "Let's see what you can do. Try to levitate that dish." He inclined his head toward the glass candy dish on the desk in front of him. Seeing where she was at now would help him determine the best way to help her.

Azura titled her head a little as she heard the Professor say he was fine. She had caught something in his tone, in the way he dropped his eyes when he said it. She knew that move. She had used it all last term when her mom had been gone. The whole "I'm fine but not really, but please don't ask about it."

So Azura respected his wishes and replied with a "I'm glad to hear that Professor. " She had a warm smile on her face though, trying to be reassuring at least a little bit.

She stood before his desk as he took a seat and she smiled warmly at the cat as it jumped into his lap. "Awww, what's its name?" She asked curiously, the sight of the feline made her miss her own pet, but not was not a time to dwell!

"Thank you Professor! I discovered it by accident and I've been wanting to help it along really. " She explained to the man. Her purple eyes resting on him as he spoke. Her Raven head nodded at his words. "It seems that way Professor, I've managed to do more advanced non verbals, but only once.. and then I can't seem to get it again.. first year spells I can manage to do over and over. "

Azura tucked some hair behind her ear as the Professor asked her to levitate the candy dish.. she nodded as she took out her wand. The little fourteen year old took a moment to still herself and empty her kind of all distractions. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She opened her purple eyes and aimed her wand at the candy dish..

'Wingardium Leviosa!'

She thought as she did the appropriate wand action and the candy dish rattled, lifted upwards for a little bit before she set it carefully back down on the desk..

*pant pant*

Candy dishes were harder than feathers.

Gaston couldn't help but notice the tilt of Miss Snow's head, as if she could sense he really wasn't fine at all. Merlin, he needed to do a better job hiding his emotions! He half-expected her to ask him what was wrong, but he was relieved when she didn't. That would've been an awkward conversation between professor and student!

He did manage to return the girl's smile with a somewhat sad one of his own as she inquired about the cat purring in his lap. He started to move his hand, but the cat wrapped both of her front paws around his wrist. Clearly someone wasn't finished being petted! "Her name's Phantom," he replied. Because of the white marking on half her face that looked like a mask? Would she get the reference?

Gaston listened patiently as Miss Snow explained her situation, nodding every so often to show he was paying attention. He watched as she attempted the nonverbal levitation charm, his own wand at the ready just in case she couldn't keep the candy dish in the air... but it turned out to be an unnecessary precaution. He smiled, applauding slightly as the girl successfully completed the spell. "Bravo, Miss Snow! Well done!" A thought suddenly occurred to him. "Oh! Do help yourself to a few!" He inclined his head toward the dish full of chocolates. He couldn't believe he hadn't thought to offer before!

Well, the girl was right; she could do nonverbal first year spells! The professor wondered how she might handle something more challenging. After all, how else would she learn? "Now let's try something a little more advanced, shall we?" he said, casting an encouraging glance at his student. "Try to take my wand."

Quote:

Originally Posted by MadMadamMalfoy

Gaston's heart sank as he saw Miss Skeeter's eyes widening... not that he blamed her one bit! Why, she'd reacted much more calmly than he would've if one of his professors held him at wandpoint. "Merlin's beard! I am so sorry, Miss Skeeter!" he exclaimed, hanging his head in shame. "I... I thought you were one of the poltergeists. First the incident in the kitchens, then the stairs, then someone vandalized my office and..." He sighed, running a hand through his hair. Honestly, he thought those two had it out for him! "...and I'm just a little on edge." Okay, that was a huge understatement!

He half-expected the girl to turn and run away, but he was relieved when she didn't. As he re-entered his office, the black and white cat who'd been perched atop the cat condo jumped down and hid under his desk with a loud hiss. Apparently he wasn't the only one on edge! "Please sit down," the Frenchman said, gesturing toward the leather chairs in front of his desk. He took his seat in the larger chair behind the desk and tilted a glass dish full of chocolates toward his student. "Here, help yourself." Hopefully she wouldn't think he'd poisoned the chocolates after the wand incident!

The more intelligent move would have been to pull her own wand out so she could properly defend herself, but this was just another instance proving that she did not have the innate duelist mentality. Not to mention her reflexes in general still left much to be desired. "It's...okay...professor," she stammered. "If it's any consolation...I do not believe that either of them would have knocked," she added with a nervous laugh. "Have you...considered Ashwagandha, professor? It's one of the most powerful herbs in Ayurvedic healing. Might help with...your present condition. I'm growing some in my dormroom at the moment." Among other things...which she was going to need to figure out what to do with before the end of term. Her Devil's Snare snapling couldn't come home with her, for example.

...........Paige was not so sure that sitting was such a good idea given his familiar's reaction and the seventh year was now thinking about the contents of her bag and whether or not she had anything to make the cat feel better. She didn't suppose that the string from one of her Honeyduke's wrappers would be appealing...

"Thank you," she replied politely as she accepted one, but did not yet pop it into her mouth and eyed it in her hand for a moment before just diving in to what she had come here to discuss. "Professor...it is my ambition that after graduation I become a healer...and I've received my acceptance from Wizarding University into their Healer Studies program so my foot is in the door. I'm...debating between two specific healing practices and one of them is spell damage...so...I was wondering if you could offer any guidance in the practice of...memory charms..."

Gaston smiled sheepishly at his student. "No, I don't suppose they would," he agreed. He'd realized that only after his wand was drawn. He blinked, slightly caught off guard by Miss Skeeter's offer. No, he hadn't considered that! He'd heard of the plant of course - he vaguely remembered there being a question about it on his Herbology NEWT - but he was really not a herbologist. "Thank you, Miss Skeeter. That would be very helpful indeed."

His bright blue eyes darted to the Persian cat crouched under his desk. "Phantom..." he said in a reprimanding tone, but he knew scolding the cat wouldn't do any good. She'd been like this ever since the paint balloon incident. With a flick of his wand, he levitated a small toy mouse, dangling it in front of the cat's eyes; the animal batted at it, purring contentedly. Once his cat was distracted, he turned his attention back to Miss Skeeter. "Sorry about her," he said. "She had paint dumped on her earlier this term, and now she reacts like this whenever the door opens."


Gaston beamed at the Hufflepuff upon hearing the reason for her visit. He had a tremendous amount of respect for healers. Come to think of it, he would've considered the profession himself, if only he wasn't absolutely useless at potions. "Congratulations, Miss Skeeter!" he said. "It's a truly noble ambition." He would've expected nothing less from one of the kindest students at Hogwarts!

He considered the girl's question a moment before answering. "Memory charms are a double-edged sword. When done properly, they're extremely useful but can have catastrophic results in the wrong hands. The key is concentration. Focus on the specific event you want your target - and only on that! Lack of focus produces a weak spell; too broad a focus can cause permanent damage."

The charms professor felt an example was needed and drew his wand, pointing it at the black and white cat. "This should make her forget all about the paint incident."He probably should've done that right after the incident happened, but he didn't like using magic on his pet; this, however, was for teaching purposes. He traced a thought bubble shape with his wand. "Obliviate." The cat stopped playing with her mouse and sidled over to Miss Skeeter, looking up at her with an inquisitive meow. Was that example helpful?

Poltergeist and herbology talk aside - although she would be more than willing to indulge the man more on the latter subject any time - the Hufflepuff watched at Professor Gaston's familiar was appeased by the toy mouse. "It's no problem at all, professor," she assured him, on both accounts (the Ashwagandha and concerning his cat's behavior). She knew how skittish creatures could be after something they perceived to be traumatizing had occurred. Lionel had had his fair share of spooks over the terms, the worst being that of the acromantula invasion in her mind, so thankfully Phantom had only had to endure paint. Hogwarts had been...rather timid in retrospect the past few terms compared to her early days at the castle.

Finally taking a seat, Paige's cheeks couldn't help but flush at the professor's praise and her fingers toyed with her charm bracelet a bit sheepishly. "Thank you," she squeaked softly while a proud smile tugged at the corners of her lips. "I was actually inspired to become one because of daddy..."

Trailing off a bit, she listened as the professor spoke and felt a little bad that she had not been more specific with her inquiry. Still, she nodded her head in understanding before offering up a bit more clarity. "Daddy used to be the Editor-in-Chief of the Daily Prophet...but there was an incident involving Dark wizards that left him in St. Mungo's for nearly two years recovering from his year and a half of being under the Imperius Curse," she began, her voice surprisingly steady given the subject matter. She had come to terms with what had happened, no vengeance in her heart, and was just grateful that she had him back. "They also severed off several of his fingers with Dark magic...and he...um...he cannot recall any of it. I know trauma can cause that sort of reaction, but I believe that there is more to it than that. Dark wizards are exceptionally efficient when they wish to be...so they likely Obliviated him...or perhaps even administered a False Memory Charm..." She paused, eyes back on the cat who was reflecting a much more peaceful presence than before. "...I was thinking more along the lines of the sort of work that a Reminisciator would perform..."

Or was it Reminisciators? Paige was not terribly familiar with the inner workings of the Ministry, but DID know of specialists there who focused on memory retrieval and reversal...

"...memory charms aimed to help repair spell damage done."

Gaston was relieved that Miss Skeeter didn't seem bothered by the rude welcome she'd received from him (or his cat). Most people would get angry, but she'd actually offered to help him. He supposed he shouldn't be surprised. She really was going to make a fantastic healer one day! He returned the Hufflepuff's smile with an equally proud one of his own, but his smile quickly faded as he listened to her story. His blue eyes widened in shock as his hand flew to his heart. It was truly astonishing what awful things humans could do to each other!

Hearing his students' tragedies always affected him, and this was no different. His heart went out to the poor girl and the thought crossed his mind to give her a hug, but that would be crossing a line. He couldn't even being to imagine what that had been like, but Miss Skeeter had handled it well. He had even more respect for the girl's ambition after hearing her story. "Miss Skeeter - Paige, I am so sorry you and your family had to go through that," he said. It was cliche but true. "I'm sure your father is very proud of you."

Gaston felt stupid for not seeking more information before he said anything. "Well, that's a somewhat different matter," he said with a small embarrassed smile. "Memory restoration is the most complex branch of memory modification and requires more than just careful wandwork. There's an element of detective work to it. One must reconstruct the patient's memories through accounts from reliable sources. The same need for focus and concentration applies, though in this case, it's usually preferable to put back the memories a little at a time rather than all at once. These individuals' minds have been so damaged that total and immediate recall could traumatize them further. Does that make sense?"

He wished he could provide an example of the spell in action, but he didn't think his poor cat would tolerate it and he wasn't about to attempt it on himself or his student. Still he had a few more words of encouragement for Miss Skeeter. "Most importantly, memory restoration requires something that isn't taught in any class at Hogwarts. It takes patience and compassion, and you already have that." Granted, he hadn't known her that long, but it was evident from the first time he met her. "I know you'll make a wonderful healer, Miss Skeeter, whichever area you choose."