"That is David, yes, my boy," Annie seemed to perk up a bit more at the mention of her BRILLIANT child. He was simply brilliant, wasn't he? And so much like his father. Just look at him now, completely absorbed in reading that old potions textbook, one hand lazily stirring the cauldron with her broom...

Wait, that wasn't her BROOM broom, was it? "DAVIE," the redhead barked sharply, causing the boy to look up finally. He definitely hadn't so much as flinched when the other woman had addressed him. "What in Merlin's name are you stirring that potion with?!"

"Old broom," the boy replied stoically. "I found it in the corner. It was cobwebby." His large blue eyes trailed calmly from his mom to the other lady and then back to her. "Didn'tja want it cleaned off?"

"Didn't I want it--- that was a COLLECTIBLE," she hissed, though mostly to herself. "Put the broom and cauldron away NOW. And then go to my room and wait there." Merlin only knew what the boy would try to cook with NEXT while she was busy with this interview. OI. VEY.

Davie's face adopted a very stormy expression, one that surely meant a temper tantrum was coming on. He had no idea what he had even done WRONG. Here he was, trying to brew her a POTION, his first one almost EVER, just because she was his MUM and he LOVED HER and HE NEVER GOT TO SEE HER and now she was making him put all his toys away and go to timeout.

"Stupid broom," the little boy knocked the stirrer out of the potion with a defiant hand gesture. Then he sensed his mother's eyes on the back of his head and quietly started cleaning the cauldron and tidying up his play area. Like the innocent little genius he was. Every now and then he stole a look at the lady in the skirt.

*cough*Pretttttylady*cough*

"Sorry about that," Anastasia cleared her throat and resumed speaking with the other adult in the room. "Peyton, that's right." She took her seat as well and pretended to be busily shuffling her papers so she wouldn't lose her temper again with her little angel. He was probably only being rowdy because there was another adult in the room. Just another person to show off for. Tsk.

Annie gave her quill a nudge to start writing and looked up at Peyton with a fixed, professional smile. "Now then, Miss Barr--- sorry, BARLOW," that was an even uglier name; no matter, "why don't you tell me a little bit about yourself? What have you been up to since...." she glanced at the girl's file and her eyes widened.

Class of 2068? 2068!??!! Hold on now, how had Bunz missed that fact on her first read-through of the file? "...since I taught you in Herbology?!!?" she finally finished her sentence with a bit of a disbelieving tone.

Merlin's beard, this was a regular Anna Greingoth-Newell she was talking to here! The redhead's eyes went back to zooming around the file for anything ELSE she might have missed.

Ahh, so the boy was the Headmistress' son. Hmm. Peyton was suddenly really grateful she'd debated that whole 'son versus grandson' deal. She had a feeling it wouldn't have been the greatest way to kick start this interview. She allowed her gaze to follow the Headmistress to the boy, and it was in that moment that Peyton must have noticed the same exact detail the Headmistress did.

Oops, kid. She did an inner smirk accompanied by an inner shrug then waited for the attention to return to the interview. The kid was sneaking passing glances at her, so Peyton offered a small smile of encouragement before turning back to the Headmistress.

"No need to apologize," she offered. It'd totally taken the pressure off Peyton, which she was so grateful for. Thanks, kid. So the interview was back into full swing now, complete with a near second case of mistaking her last name. Ahh, the inevitable 'tell me about yourself' question. Peyton had just opened her mouth to answer that, when the Headmistress seemed to realize one tiny little detail Peyton thought was already commonly known.

"You remembered," she said with a smile. "That's right. I was in your Herbology class my seventh and final year." Twelve years ago, and it seemed more like twenty. Nevermind that. Where should she begin? "I graduated in 2068 and started Wizarding University that fall. I went into Magizoology, which is a four year program, but I decided to study for six years to earn a master's degree," she explained. So yes, Peyton earned a master's degree in Magizoology, but that was all on the resume.

"I have a special interest in harvesting ingredients," she said, "both with creatures and with Herbology. I'm happy I've been able to do a great deal of that without harming either. I was hired at a unicorn and mooncalf harvesting center in Nottinghamshire, where I've worked since earning my degree. I helped raise both unicorns and mooncalves, and then I harvested the unicorns' hair and the mooncalves' dung."

So that was it in a nutshell. She assumed the Headmistress would ask for any details if she'd like to.

On one of his sneaky glances at the pretty lady, Davie caught her SMILING at him. His ears turned red and he quickly turned away, picked up his potions book, and hurried into his mother's chambers. He slammed the door behind him.

Annie didn't even hear the slam, as she was still staring at Peyton's file. She shook her head to herself and looked up when the woman started to answer.

Master's degree in Magizoology, yep, that was in the file... interest in Herbology... Annie approved of that... she raised an eyebrow as the woman started talking about harvesting and decided to probe more on that question.

"Have you ever tried to harvest something and had it go terribly wrong?" Annie asked with interest. "What's the hardest thing you've ever had to harvest?"

Peyton decided not to pay the boy anymore attention for now. His mother was handling him, and she didn't want to interfere. She had enough sense to know that wouldn't go over very well at a job interview. Apparently, if the slam was any indication, he'd left the room anyway. Good. Back to the interview. Peyton didn't mind children, but when she was trying to get hired for an open position, she could skip on the whole interruption part.

Peyton instinctively raised her own eyebrows when the woman sitting across from her did the same. Then BAM, difficult question came hurling at her when she least expected it. Nope. She hadn't banked on being asked anything that brought up a degree of emotions in her. She only briefly hesitated before answering, though.

Had she ever tried to harvest something and had it go terribly wrong? "Yes," she honestly answered, "and it's also the most difficult harvesting I've ever done." Her eyes flickered away for a second as she recalled the moment like it was yesterday. Then, looking back at Truebridge, she began. "Her name was Sadie, and she was born to one of the mooncalves I'd raised at the Center. I was so excited about her that I'd named her before she was even born." Peyton had had a name for a male mooncalf, too, but that hadn't been needed.

"She was stillborn, though, and as a person who truly loves and cares for creatures, I had to make the split second difficult decision of whether or not to harvest her organs," she said. "I'd never been involved in that kind of harvesting, but because of my training, I knew how to do it. Something good could come of Sadie's organs, though, so I took her to a nearby harvesting area and started the process. Her mother had followed us though, and got terribly upset--and reasonably so. She couldn't understand what was happening, and she kicked at my arm in some effort to try."

Peyton sighed. "I sliced Sadie's lung in the process, and it couldn't be used," she continued. "That was hard, and I learned several important lessons that day, and it was also very early on in my career."

So, no. Peyton Barlow wasn't perfect. She didn't think Truebridge would have bought a 'No, everything's gone on splendidly in my career' answer either, though.

Annie's eyebrows went up a bit when the young woman admitted to a harvesting gone wrong. She leaned into her desk in interest and listened closely, not at all having expected this answer, but certainly welcoming the honesty. Even if it was a heart-wrenching sort of honesty.

She sighed a little bit sadly when the story was over. "That's... why that's just sad," the redhead admitted. "But I do appreciate your honesty all the same." She cleared her throat and stacked a few papers, sensing that a lighter question would be welcome.

"So, Peyton," Annie put on a brave little smile for her, "what are the three most important things you think you specifically could bring to this post as our Care of Magical Creatures professor?"

Peyton had noticed the Headmistress lean over with an apparent intense interest. Inside, it'd made Peyton hyper-aware of this interview and how well she had to do, but on the outside, she didn't show it. She never once hesitated until she was finished with her story. Now, she looked back at the Headmistress, waiting to hear how she'd take the news of the harvesting gone wrong.

Peyton nodded. "It is sad," she agreed. Thank Merlin nothing tragic had happened since then. Peyton was strong, but there was only so much she could handle, especially when it came to things she'd done wrong. The direction of the interview changed then, which Peyton more than welcomed. She hadn't been too sure what to say after Sadie's story.

"First, I want to share my passion for creatures with the minds of today and tomorrow," she said. "Secondly, I want to share another passion of mine--harvesting and making use of parts creatures can share with us without being harmed themselves." Then, a third reason? Hmm. "I hope to be an example to the students and show them how important it is to make goals and what achieving those goals can do for your life." Like how an interest in creatures had led to a career for Peyton.

Another summer, another season of hiring. Anastasia settled into her high-backed pink throne chair with a soft sigh to herself. The hardest professors to replace were the ones that had been around the longest. Those ones also tended to have the most non-teaching positions and the most influence on her school.

Hmmph. Like Lafay. Leaving her like that. She didn't even like the woman's reasons for GOING; they were weak, and MOST un-Lafay-like. Alas... it was all done now, and even though she kept going over the resignation letter currently sitting on her desk, Annie knew it was time to consider the Potions Mistress' replacement.

Her first person to consider was someone familiar to her, though she hadn't seen or spoken to the man in probably a decade. Cosgrach Culloden. How fitting that a former Slytherin should replace the most infamous one to date. Heh. She was looking forward to this meeting.

The redhead got her quill ready and started a pot of tea. He should be here..... soon, yes? Assuming he'd gotten the owl wherever he was at the moment?

Cosgrach didn't know what had come over him. One day, he had been lying down on the couch, thinking. The next thing he knew, he was planning a trip back to England who-knows-how-many years later. It wasn't a fully conscious decision, but it was one of those that couldn't be ignored. Like, if he didn't return to England as fast as he could, he would die in a sense and never be happy again.

So, he had been back in the country for a few months now. And someone casually told him Lafay'd quit. He'd never thought that teaching was in his mould, but it apparently was. It had to be. The circumstances couldn't be any better: Bunbury was the Headmistress, he boasted a glorious background for potions and... he felt these weren't his exact reasons, but he couldn't find any other. In any case, he kind of needed money to stay in England.

So, he got that letter, bought a new suit specifically for this day, got a hair cut and shave, bought a bouquet of tulips, wore a perfume and knocked on her door two minutes before the arranged time. He paused only a few seconds before entering with a charming smile characteristing to him.

"My dear Anastasia," he greeted her with a bow, then approached her.

Well, somebody was on time!

Annie stood up when her interviewee entered, then took a moment to just stand there behind her desk and admire him. He'd always been handsome she'd thought, but my, he had aged nicely, hadn't he? Sort of like a more tan version of that Hog's Head bartender. The Board's treasurer. What was his name again? Did it matter? Nooooo.

Cosgrach had brought tulips. "My my, Coss," she greeted him, coming around her desk at last. "You do know how to make a good first impression. How ARE you?" She held out her arms for hugs the tulips, and her usual kiss-kiss-mwah-mwah greeting of fakery.

Cosgrach chuckled in an easy-going manner. Sure he knew that. Hehe.

He gave her the flowers, went along with her way of greeting, then said "I'm great, now that I've seen you." He would feel even better if she just said he got the job.

"How are you? I have to say, you look stunning." As always. He honestly didn't remember a day when she looked only average.

"Oh stopppp," she giggled tut-tutted with a smile, conjuring up a vase with water already in it for the flowers. Just one of her specialty charms she had in her repertoire. She resumed her seat and gestured for him to take one as well. "I'm doing fine, just fine." The redhead's smile broadened at his compliment. "Why thank you." Stunning. She quite liked that word.

Paaaaaaaaause.

"You don't look so bad yourself," she replied with just a hint of color on her already pink cheeks. "What have you been up to? Brewing anti-aging potions deep in the mountains somewhere?" Hehe, though he could use one of her gray-go-away draughts... just a mild suggestion, you know, like a bit of polish on a piece of fine jewelry.

Cosgrach didn't even try to hide his amazement. She was good at this. He had to learn that spell too, not because he got many flowers, but because he could sell it to people he brought flowers to.

He took the seat she gestured, and smiled again as his eyes shone. He liked compliments too, he did! "You discovered my secret," he said with a dejected face, but smiled shortly afterwards. "I bet you don't even need the power of flowers." Honestly, though. Had she her own recipe?

She laughed again, softer this time. "Ah, the power of flowers... that is why I became an Herbologist...." She was joking, of course mostly.

"In all seriousness, though," the Headmistress scooted up in her chair, "tell me why you really want this job... and you can have it." She hated reading through pages and pages of applications, had she mentioned that yet?

Cograch cocked his head to one side and looked at her with a small smile on his face, but before he could say something, she asked him THAT question.

He frowned and sighed.

"Really, Anastasia?" She used to be original. This was banal. But it was probably real too. He looked away for a second, then focused back on her. He was a Slytherin, she liked him, he had a prestigious past.

"Because I can help students with my potions knowledge." Lafay had left rather... funnily, or so he had heard, so this gave him even more advantages. Did she hear the 'knowledge' part? "I spent about 12 years researching it. I think it's time I taught my knowledge."

Oh, so dramatic with him. Sighs were so Slytherin. "I have to ask," she pointed out, then pointed to her quill scribbling away on its own. "We have an active Board of Governors now, you know. It's not like back when we went to school." When a bunch of crazy Aurors and creepy ghosts ran the place.

Right, he could help students. Annie didn't recall Cosgrach being the helpful type necessarily. She tilted her head and kept a deliberately neutral expression. "Go on. What results do you have of your research? What projects did you bring to fruition?" Impress her, in other words. A lot of people did research. Not everyone did research well.

Cosgrach's eyes went from hers to the quill, page and back at her eyes again. He clearly preferred the way it had been in their era, but he didn't comment.

She really had to ask these, he got that part alright. So he gave her a proper answer as he kept boredom and irritation away from his face and voice. "We documented the magical properties of almost all of the plants in Anatolia," he said in a serious manner. It was almost, because that was how endemism worked: the next day it might evolve into a new kind. She should know it. "Then, we focused on insects, fungi and bacteria in Borneo rain forests. The results of that research was published in United States. In both researches, I researched their effects in potions." He could lend her the books if she was interested in them? Maybe this board would like it more. "I spent four years in Caucasus and researched how potions has evolved since the ancient times. It's impressive." She probably didn't share his enthusiasm, but he couldn't help it. "The books I've written on that topic are recommended in several universities."

It was wise of him not to comment, really. Old friend though he was, Anastasia didn't do well with being questioned.

The quill, meanwhile, really started to go to town on the parchment paper. All the plants in Anatolia was underlined by it. Then, apparently, he hopped over to Borneo... or so the quill wrote... to document the insects, fungi, and bacteria there. Fascinating, it was, to her at least. The plant parts in particular piqued her interest, though Caucasus... why he had spent four years there was beyond her. Then again, she had spent more than four years in Cairo, so....

"Fascinating," she spoke up when Cosgrach appeared to be finished. "I'm surprised I haven't read these books before, but if they do mainly focus on potions..." then that would be why. Also, magazines were so much quicker to read and they had more pictures so she usually stuck with them.

The redhead glanced over her parchment to see if she had any further questions. Oh, just the one, really. "Would you be able to start September first and take up residence in this grand old castle?" The Headmistress gestured around her office with a small smirk. "You do know you're following in some deep footsteps as well, hmm?"

Phew.

Cosgrach knew better than to show her his nervousness and then relief, but he was very relieved. He wanted to flash her a cheeky smile, but refrained from doing so. His smile was as arrogant as he could muster. He wasn't going to hold it against her, now that she hired him as a professor. He was even going to be nice and just leave it at that arrogant smile, and not force her to read his books.

"Yes," he said to starting this September, "If you mean Mistress Lafay, I've heard her... fame." He grinned. "So I think she's only made my job easier." In disciplining the students, at least. He knew he was good in potions, so he wasn't worried about being compared with her.

"Any chance my office can be somewhere with real windows, at least?" He wasn't going to push for it, but he would be a more pleased professor if she could arrange that.

Wonderful, he could be here for the start of the school year. And look at how smiley Cos was being. His grin was becoming infectious, gosh. She was going to end up with wrinkles after this interview.

"Well I'm sure she's made your job SOMETHING," the redhead conceded. "Just try to not set any students on fire this year, hmm?" That wasn't too much to ask, was it?

As for the windows... Annie just laughed her tinkly laugh again. "You know we keep the Potions master in the dungeon. It's Hogwarts tradition." So that was a no, sorry.

Right. Lafay had left her impact well in this castle. But...

"Fire?" His eyebrows shot in the air. "Not my thing." He hoped his dismissive tone said it all. Fire was dangerous, whether it was a fire that wouldn't essentially hurt a student or not. Did Lafay discipline her students like that? Tut tut... the respect he felt for her was shaken a little.

"Shame." He sighed dramatically, but she was the boss. Who said what time he had to enter his rooms anyway?

"Does this board... dictate anything?"

"I've always thought you were too cool for fire." Annie might have winked in Cosgrach's direction. She checked her scroll and quill, which had gradually stopped writing, and set the quill down sideways. Interview done, hurrah.

The board... "They don't do much interfering, that I've seen," she answered after a thoughtful pause. "They do, however, review the teaching staff every five or so terms." Come to think of that, they hadn't done a review in a while... "So you should have nothing to worry about." She smiled again.

"Do you have any other questions? We'll send over your official contract by owl." After the Governors had looked at it for sentimental or whatever reasons.

Cosgrach smirked then. She was absolutely... "Right." He had better ways than physical threat.

...oh? He would willingly take her word on that. "Great, then." He was too cool to admit they worried him too, but he was honestly relieved. He wasn't used to much criticism.

"None." For now. He got up. They would reminiscence old days later. "Thanks, Annie." He somehow felt that was necessary, then smirked the Slytherin way.

"Hope to see you soon and remember old days." Hehehe.

"Of course! Thank YOU for interviewing." Annie stood up too, somewhat relieved that she had found a) a suitable, or more than suitable, replacement for Lafay, and b) an old friend.

Anyway. "You're always welcome in my office." She gave him a nod hugs were unprofessional, huh? and showed him to the door. Well then. On to her next interviewee.... heh... a Javier was the name. Wonder if he was French?

Cosgrach almost said that she was welcome in his too, but remembered that she was the Headmistress. She was basically welcome anywhere at school. Instead, he simply nodded back and said "Have a nice day, then," before exiting her office.

Stepping inside the castle of Hogwarts, after a good decade and a-half was Javier Thompson. Formally, at least until things went casual for Javy. Other than time, not much had changed within as he noted whilst heading to the Headmistress' office. Javy had thought over the position when it first arose. Yes, there had also been a position of Potions available. But his heart and experience always tied in with creatures, where he felt at home with, which spectacularly led him to returning to Hogwarts again.

Based on his appearance, not many would consider his endearment for the creatures at first glance of him. At least not until said glance was shifted toward his Lala. The goose. Who was following obediently behind him. She was well-trained, but with no one to watch over her she was staying right by his side, and hopefully the Headmistress would be as welcoming with her. Though Lala did not need to have them on anymore at her age and experience. For setting any worries aside forthe public, she was wearing her light-blue with snowflake patterned booties and a matching diaper. She was a good goose and Javy believed that others can see it too.

Javy knocked, just to make his arrival known, before entering in.. and smiling at the familiar face, "Good day.. Headmistress." Carefully drawing out the new title. Then he extended a hand to grasp the once Professor to him into a nice shake, whilst Lala curiously gazed at the new lady. "It is good to see you again." Still stylish as ever, he noted.