"I'm sorry, Miss Avalon," Jake sniffed, trying to breathe properly. Maybe he should give the healer the note from his dad about the anxiety. He hadn't expected to come to the hospital wing, so he was worried about what to do.

First things first...

Heading for a seat, Jake took the flowers out from behind his back, feeling a tad miserable. The flowers were all different colours, as Jake had absolutely noooooo idea what this lady-person liked.

"I chose to come and apologise to you, Miss," Jake started, by way of explanation. "And Kazimeriz also felt that I should write you a letter of apology and read it to you, and bring you flowers," he shrugged here, a tad lost. "He said ladies enjoy flowers and... well... I'm not exactly going to disobey him now, am I?" Jake added, a touch of resentment in his tone.

Holding out the flowers and reaching into his pocket for the note, Jake bit his lip. "Please may I read it to you, now?"

Jake was by no means calm, but he just wanted to get away from the lady, as she had seemed so angry before.

Oh that is too cute. And OH!! Look at the pretties!!!!

Cari pulled out a small cauldron from one of her shelves and filled it with water. It would do for now.

"Thanks Jake. That's very sweet." She accepted the assortment of Gerbera Daisies and arranged them in the cauldron. Actually they didn't look half bad like that. She grinned at them, and Jake with delight.

I got flowers! HAHAHAHAHA!

Kazimeriz... Bah! Strange old man, with archaic methods... Strange!!

"It's not a very good idea to disobey him no," she admitted. "So you can, by all means, read me your letter." Your very unnecessary letter.

She took a seat behind her desk and waited for the poor kid to start.

Taking a deep breath, Jake looked up at the flowers that Miss Avalon arranged and teared up a bit. This was totally ridiculous, all this just from a couple of stupid outbursts. Giving a little nod, Jake unfolded the note and started to read it out in a stop-start manner.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jake's left-handed scrawwwl

Miss Avalon,

I was going to apologise to you about my behaviour during the feast, in which I was insubordinate and uncooperative, and also for the fact that you had to witness my disgraceful behaviour and my temper. Professor Kazimeriz has instructed me to write a letter of apology to you, Professor Bunbury and Professor Morgan also, and read it aloud to you, as well as bring you flowers.

So, I am incredibly sorry for my “deplorable” behaviour at the feast and that you had to have words with me about my behaviour, and that I abused the renewed privilege of speech when you gave it back to me, both with my outburst at the staff and arguing. I hope I can be forgiven and I assure you that I am to attend nightly detentions with Professor Kazimeriz for my behaviour until he says otherwise.

Sorry again,
Jakers Upstead,
Second year,
Hufflepuff.

Looking up uneasily, and sniffling a little, Jake avoided eye contact. It had been hard to write that, and even harder to read it, and not just because his writing was dreadful.

"And, I'm sorry about my reading," he added, shrugging a shoulder. "I'm good at reading, just not out loud. I'm, like, giving the letter to you as well, if I was hard to follow," Jake explained, apologetically, with a voice that hinted waterworks... not that he'd let that happen.

Now for the verdict...

Dun, dun... DUNNNNNNNNNNNN!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zoerawrr

Taking a deep breath, Jake looked up at the flowers that Miss Avalon arranged and teared up a bit. This was totally ridiculous, all this just from a couple of stupid outbursts. Giving a little nod, Jake unfolded the note and started to read it out in a stop-start manner.



Looking up uneasily, and sniffling a little, Jake avoided eye contact. It had been hard to write that, and even harder to read it, and not just because his writing was dreadful.

"And, I'm sorry about my reading," he added, shrugging a shoulder. "I'm good at reading, just not out loud. I'm, like, giving the letter to you as well, if I was hard to follow," Jake explained, apologetically, with a voice that hinted waterworks... not that he'd let that happen.

Now for the verdict...

Dun, dun... DUNNNNNNNNNNNN!

NIGHTLY DETENTIONS!? For snapping at the teaching staff? Who HEXED him in the first place? EXCUUUUUUUUUSE ME?

Caroline struggled. STRUGGLED. for control. It took her a full minute. "You did very well. And it was a very lovely, heartfelt... enlightening... letter." I'm going to kill that man. I'm going to kill him with my bare hands. Oaths or no Oaths.

She needed chocolate. NOW.

Cari opened her bottom drawer and pulled out a candy tin. "Did you know my brother, Jake? Tobi Avalon? He was at Hogwarts last term. He makes sweets and sends them to me." She opened the tin and revealed several glossy cubes of chocolate-lime fudge, her very favourite. "Would you care for a piece of fudge?"

"Thank you," Jake whispered, staring down at the floor. He was glad that that part was now over, and managed a good breath of oxygen. It had been nervewracking, waiting for the response, but Jake now knew he had no reason to be scared. He folded the note again and held it out for the healer-lady.

"Tobi? Yeah," Jake nodded at her. Ahh, he knew that name was way too familiar. Turns out, it was the same. "We helped out with the Muggle Studies final last year, and finished it in the same group."

Jake eyed the fudge with the utmost suspicion. "Errrrm..." he tilted his head a little before he remembered. "Well... my dad kinda maybe might have sorta... banned me from eating sugar," he explained, nose wrinkled.

Ahhhh, that reminded him.

"Oh, I have some note from my dad, just in case... I dunno. You know I'm kinda odd and stuff... well, it explains that," he added, hand headed for his other pocket. "Would you like to see it?"

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zoerawrr

"Thank you," Jake whispered, staring down at the floor. He was glad that that part was now over, and managed a good breath of oxygen. It had been nervewracking, waiting for the response, but Jake now knew he had no reason to be scared. He folded the note again and held it out for the healer-lady.

"Tobi? Yeah," Jake nodded at her. Ahh, he knew that name was way too familiar. Turns out, it was the same. "We helped out with the Muggle Studies final last year, and finished it in the same group."

Jake eyed the fudge with the utmost suspicion. "Errrrm..." he tilted his head a little before he remembered. "Well... my dad kinda maybe might have sorta... banned me from eating sugar," he explained, nose wrinkled.

Ahhhh, that reminded him.

"Oh, I have some note from my dad, just in case... I dunno. You know I'm kinda odd and stuff... well, it explains that," he added, hand headed for his other pocket. "Would you like to see it?"

The more she got to know the pinkhaired boy, the more Caroline liked him. Even if he was as jittery as a hen on espresso. And he seemed to have reasonably fond memories of her brother, but then Tobi had that likable quality. Most people got on with him. She'd never figured out the trick.

No SUGAR? Is that even legal?

"That's okay Jake, next time I owl Tobi, I'll ask him to send something sugarless. Just incase you show up with another black eye." She wasn't going to ask how he got it. It seemed like a private matter.

"I think I had better read your father's note," she said taking his letter of apology- it would come in handy later, and waiting patiently to know what might be contained in the message from his father. "I wouldn't call you odd, but if there is something I need to know, it's better that I know it sooner rather than later."

"Okay," Jake nodded, giving a little smile. "Here's hoping it's not all that painful if I manage to get another one somehow."

And hopefully it will not be from first year girls headbutting me.

Nodding again, Jake began to feel like one of those odd little bobblehead things that muggles put inside their cars, all this nodding he was doing. He reached inside his pocket and found the note his dad had written, which had been sealed shut magically, so Jake couldn't read it. "Here you are," he said, handing it over and glancing around the room, fairly uninterested in the contents of that particular note.

Cari took the note and tapped it with her wand. It sprang right open as if it were meant for her, or perhaps someone on staff.

Hmmmm.... She thought, reading the note. "Well, I'm glad your father wrote me a note, that is very helpful." Well it was something to think about anyway, Cari was a bit prone to panic herself, and she found the best thing was to manage stress wherever it was possible, but how do you ask a twelve year old to be more aware of his stress level? She stood and headed over to her door.

"I think I'll talk to Professor Morgan, since you and she seem to get along so well, and in the mean time, why don't you go out and enjoy the day? It's nice outside, and Mr. Masterson has created a nice of a sandbox that is worth checking out," she said, opening the door. "And if you need anything else, please come back and see me."

Having been distracted by something for a few minutes, Jake had started to daydream a little. As he heard Miss Avalon speak, he quickly shook his head and looked around.

"Okay then," Jake smiled, looking back to the laaaaaaaaady. He wandered over towards the door and was about to leave when he remembered. "Sorry again, Miss. And thank you," he added, wandering out of the door, maybe to check out this sand box.

Sand was just... no.

But... a BOX!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zoerawrr

Having been distracted by something for a few minutes, Jake had started to daydream a little. As he heard Miss Avalon speak, he quickly shook his head and looked around.

"Okay then," Jake smiled, looking back to the laaaaaaaaady. He wandered over towards the door and was about to leave when he remembered. "Sorry again, Miss. And thank you," he added, wandering out of the door, maybe to check out this sand box.

Sand was just... no.

But... a BOX!

"You're welcome Jake," Cari assured him. Watching him amble out the door.

Strange little thing. Doesn't help that he seems to get picked on. Even by-

Quote:

Originally Posted by XanaSnape

A bit winded from the many, many steps, Professor Kazimeriz came up to Miss Avalon's office and knocked on the door. He eyed one of the empty benches, then decided to stand. He settled himself against his cane and waited, rather looking forward to speaking with Caroline again.

Oh speak of the Grim!

"Professor Kazimeriz?" Cari asked loudly - his hearing might be going. "Did you need something? Or are you lost?"

Ziing!

She had meant to discuss Jake with Professor Kazimeriz, perhaps not so soon, but then, no time like the present.

Professor Kazimeriz heard the dulcet tones of Miss Caroline's voice call out to him -- very loudly, in fact. He cringed inwardly. Why does everyone always assume the elderly are incapable of hearing? His ears were still as sharp as they had ever been, thank you very much. But never mind that. He stepped into her office, his wand in his free hand behind his back. He cast orchideous silently, conjuring a moderate bouquet of beautiful exotic flowers. With a flourish, he presented them to her, bowing slightly.

"Miss Avalon." The corners of his mouth twitched at that- it was obvious that she'd done her research well. But then, who wouldn't look up their fate when using a time turner to visit the future? He would have, that was certain. "I came to bid you a formal hello, and also on official business. It is part of my duty as Potions Master at this school to provide the hospital with necessary potions, tinctures and balms so that you may execute your duties successfully. I am here to request a list of your inventory and anticipated potions needs for the upcoming quarter, so that I may fulfill them." He dipped his head slightly in a tiny mock-bow, ever the gentleman, smiling --almost smirking-- softly at her.

Well, it was a day for flowers wasn't it? Caroline accepted the flowers wordlessly, careful not to touch the petals, lest she blacken them with her fingers.

White Calla Lilies. Odd. Really very odd that they were her favourite. Well the red ones were. The white ones were her great-grandmother's favourite.

"Thank you for your... courtesy... Professor," she said with great difficulty.

Hmmmm, best to conjure a tall slim vase for these. She did so and filled it with a low level of water before setting them into it.

"As for my inventory and my potions needs, I think you'll find that I'm quite capable of seeing to that on my own, Professor," she added with more than a hint of combative pride. "I wouldn't want to impose on you. Teaching and terrorizing students must be be strenuous enough for a man of your..." decrepitude? geriatrics? feeblemindedness? "golden years?"

She was picking a fight, and it might be completely immature of her, but he was mocking her. He kept smirking at her. And she kept missing the joke. She didn't like it.

"Ah, yes. My... golden years. I am so grateful to you for your concern, madamoiselle. 'Terrorizing' students is, after all, both my duty and my pleasure as a professor, and I thank you for taking my obligations to my students into your consideration." He chuckled mildly, his smirk growing. His eyes were laughing at her as he spoke. "However, it is part of my job responsibility to stock the hospital wing, and I am not willing to shirk that responsibility to help you. I assure you, I am competent and capable of managing my time-- though of course not as well as you are, but we cannot all have the advantages you have, Cari."He laughed at this little in-joke between them, sure she would know just what he meant. "I will of course play along with your game, dear, but I must insist on managing the hospital wing's potion stores. Now, if you could please compile a list for me, I shall pick it up tomorrow." His tone indicated that this was not a request, but a direct command. The past aside, he simply would not have this slip of a girl blocking him from completing his duties.

"If you are so insistent on making my job lighter, I will have a list prepared for you," she said through gritted teeth. Oh she was going to have this man brew her Pepperup Potion until he was red in the face. Oh yes she was. And he might as well restock the missing bone-knit potion.

"But while you're here," she continued, sitting down at her desk and pulling out Jake's letter of apology, "I'd very much like you to explain the meaning of this. Do sit down Professor," she passed him the letter.

"I might have follow up questions."

Kazimeriz raised an eyebrow and took the letter from her. He read it and then looked up at her. "It is a fairly self-explanatory note of apology; what is it that you were unable to comprehend, dear Cari?" Kazimeriz looked up at her, bemused.

I hate this man. I really honestly hate him.

"Did I say I couldn't understand it?" she snapped. "I asked you to explain the meaning of it, and perhaps I should be more clear: What did Jake Upstead do to earn nightly detentions, indefinitely? Because I can't remember him swinging from the chandeliers in a state of undress or sacrificing a live goat or anything else so shocking."

If she were honest with herself, it was none of her business. But she detested that man, and she felt that his picking on the child was excessive. And he was picking on her too! He was making fun of her with that smug expression, daring her to say something. Well she was saying something!!!

Kazimeriz watched her rant. She was like a little pug, yapping about angrily and nipping at his heels. It was almost amusing. He eyed her, trying to keep his face composed into an stern expression. "I do believe that Mr. Upstead's detentions and what he did to earn them are a private matter between Mr. Upstead and myself. I will state, however, that they are completely necessary and while you may object to them, it is not within your duties in this school to question my authority or my disciplinary methods with the students. This is the second time that you have seen fit to overreach your authority and poke your nose into another professor's disciplinary tactics, and I assure you it will not be tolerated. Is that clear enough for you, Miss Avalon?" Kazimeriz spoke in a cool tone, but his gaze had become hard and cold. She would learn her place, by Merlin.

Marcus strolled along the third floor corridor with the jar of pickled Murtlap's under his arm. Not exactly the present he wanted to give her but seeing how they only just barely knew each other it would have to do and besides that it was useful.

He stopped in the doorway and was just about to knock when he spotted the old man inside and he just managed to catch the last of his speech. Marcus immediately looked to Caroline and raised an eyebrow, he knew that she could handle herself, he was merely curious as to know what had happened to get such a reaction out of Kazi.

"Hope I'm not interrupting" he said quietly. Well yeah he was hoping that he was interrupting, he didn't like the way the old man looked at her but he didn't want to die...just yet!

Quote:

Originally Posted by XanaSnape

Kazimeriz watched her rant. She was like a little pug, yapping about angrily and nipping at his heels. It was almost amusing. He eyed her, trying to keep his face composed into an stern expression. "I do believe that Mr. Upstead's detentions and what he did to earn them are a private matter between Mr. Upstead and myself. I will state, however, that they are completely necessary and while you may object to them, it is not within your duties in this school to question my authority or my disciplinary methods with the students. This is the second time that you have seen fit to overreach your authority and poke your nose into another professor's disciplinary tactics, and I assure you it will not be tolerated. Is that clear enough for you, Miss Avalon?" Kazimeriz spoke in a cool tone, but his gaze had become hard and cold. She would learn her place, by Merlin.

She was not a spoiled child who needed to learn her place. And it soured her to be treated like one. "Has it occurred to you, Professor, that I could have told Jake Upstead that I thought your disciplinary tactics are excessive and in some cases dangerous, impugning your methods to a student rather than speaking to you directly?"

Quote:

Originally Posted by aussiegirl

Marcus strolled along the third floor corridor with the jar of pickled Murtlap's under his arm. Not exactly the present he wanted to give her but seeing how they only just barely knew each other it would have to do and besides that it was useful.

He stopped in the doorway and was just about to knock when he spotted the old man inside and he just managed to catch the last of his speech. Marcus immediately looked to Caroline and raised an eyebrow, he knew that she could handle herself, he was merely curious as to know what had happened to get such a reaction out of Kazi.

"Hope I'm not interrupting" he said quietly. Well yeah he was hoping that he was interrupting, he didn't like the way the old man looked at her but he didn't want to die...just yet!

Caroline noticed Marcus in the door and held up a hand to ask him to wait. It was maybe a little more harsh than she meant to be with him, but she was in mid-debate. "There is overreaching my authority and then there is expressing my opinion when I have one" she continued, "I have no authority whatsoever unless a student has a health related issue. I understand that. What you need to understand is that I have no intention of keeping quiet if I feel I have a valid opinion. I'm not tearing down the halls throwing fits and breaking people out of detention. Most people in there earned their place."

She had never had it in her to back down. Life would be easier for her if she had. And though Professor Kazimeriz was old, decrepit, and creepy... Cari was pretty sure she was making her life extremely hard just by saying anything at all, much less her exact words, "You heard it from me, and not from anyone else that I find some of your methods to be excessive. You will not hear it from anyone else, when I find your methods to be excessive, but you will always hear it. Is that clear enough for you?"

She glanced back up at the door where Marcus waited. Okay, so that wasn't her at her best. She certainly was keen to pick a fight with perhaps the most dangerous person on staff. Apart from Marcus himself, though she never considered Marcus to be dangerous. Unnerving yes, dangerous, no.

"I wouldn't say so," she dismissed, a little too brightly. "You can make yourself comfortable on the chaise, the Professor and I were just finishing up."

Professor Kazimeriz listened to the hummingbird rant, his grin widening as she continued, and finally couldn't help himself. Warm, deep laughter erupted from the man for a brief moment as he worked to compose himself. Merlin on a unicycle in a catsuit, she was on FIRE! "Crystal clear, Miss Avalon. As long as you are professional enough to address your issues with me directly, without attempting to undermine my authority over my students, I have absolutely no issue with you expressing your opinion. Not that I have ever been able to stop you, of course. It remains one ambition that I am afraid I shall never achieve. Alas." He chuckled again, shaking his head and smirking. "The hospital's potions list... I shall pick it up or send for it tomorrow." He shook his head, rising but still amused. "Professor Lawson." He nodded politely. "Miss Avalon and I are done here. But I would like to speak to you when you have some free time--" He glanced at Caroline. "--privately. Please stop by my office at your convenience."

Hehe...he loved the woman's spunk. Um...yeah her attitude not her!! Oh dear Merlin, shut up Lawson. He moved into her office and sat down on the chaise and waited patiently for her to finish giving Kazi a mouthful. He felt like a bit of an idiot sitting there with a jar of pickled murtlap in his lap. "Please don't stop on my account." Marcus stifled the smirk that was threatening to break across his face. This was just too much fun, he just thanked the heavens that it wasn't him on the other end of that tirade.

Gah!! What did he do? Marcus returned the nod. "Certainly Professor Kazimeriz, as soon as I am finished here I will swing by your office." He kept his face polite and leaned back casually in the chaise but his insides were screaming. Maybe he should speak to Zan first, no that wasn't a good idea. He wouldn't be very objective, too much had gone on between those two. Eh...he would just find out what the old man wanted and then he would get the hell out of there.

Quote:

Originally Posted by XanaSnape

Professor Kazimeriz listened to the hummingbird rant, his grin widening as she continued, and finally couldn't help himself. Warm, deep laughter erupted from the man for a brief moment as he worked to compose himself. Merlin on a unicycle in a catsuit, she was on FIRE! "Crystal clear, Miss Avalon. As long as you are professional enough to address your issues with me directly, without attempting to undermine my authority over my students, I have absolutely no issue with you expressing your opinion. Not that I have ever been able to stop you, of course. It remains one ambition that I am afraid I shall never achieve. Alas." He chuckled again, shaking his head and smirking. "The hospital's potions list... I shall pick it up or send for it tomorrow." He shook his head, rising but still amused. "Professor Lawson." He nodded politely. "Miss Avalon and I are done here. But I would like to speak to you when you have some free time--" He glanced at Caroline. "--privately. Please stop by my office at your convenience."

She had been bracing herself for... well not that.

What was so funny? Hadn't she made good points? Presented her argument clearly? Concisely? Hadn't she ruffled a few antique feathers? Why was he laughing at her? She wouldn't pout. She WOULD NOT.

And what on earth did he mean? He'd never been able to stop her from expressing her opinion? When had he had the chance? The feast? The staff meeting? She didn't understaaaaand!

Quote:

Originally Posted by aussiegirl

Hehe...he loved the woman's spunk. Um...yeah her attitude not her!! Oh dear Merlin, shut up Lawson. He moved into her office and sat down on the chaise and waited patiently for her to finish giving Kazi a mouthful. He felt like a bit of an idiot sitting there with a jar of pickled murtlap in his lap. "Please don't stop on my account." Marcus stifled the smirk that was threatening to break across his face. This was just too much fun, he just thanked the heavens that it wasn't him on the other end of that tirade.



Gah!! What did he do? Marcus returned the nod. "Certainly Professor Kazimeriz, as soon as I am finished here I will swing by your office." He kept his face polite and leaned back casually in the chaise but his insides were screaming. Maybe he should speak to Zan first, no that wasn't a good idea. He wouldn't be very objective, too much had gone on between those two. Eh...he would just find out what the old man wanted and then he would get the hell out of there.

As soon as Kazimeriz was out the door the first thing she did was slam it behind him. Childish? You betcha. But her head was spinning and if she saw his face again that day she would cheerfully hex his creepy eyes right out of their creepy sockets.

Rather than returning to her desk where there were just too many flowers, all of which were in some way Kazimeriz' doing, she flopped down on the chaise next to Marcus. "He'd probably notice if I tried to poison him wouldn't he?" she asked, only half joking. "What brings you to visit me?"

He couldn't contain the laughter any longer and he let out a raucous laugh followed up with a very loud snort. The look on her face as she slammed the door on the old man was priceless.

Marcus gave her a startled look as she sat down beside him, he hadn't been expecting that and he held up the jar of pickled murtlaps. "I brought you a present!" Oh for the love of Merlin, did he always have to be such a sap around her? "Well courtesy of Mr Santos actually" he added with a chuckle.

She didn't pout. Did not. Okay she totally did.

"Why am I suddenly so amusing to ex-aurors?" she huffed.

There was crossing of the arms, and tucking under of her legs. And yes, there was definitely pouting.

Said pouting disappeared suddenly when Marcus showed her the murtlap. Over the course of her day she had been given cheerful Gerbera Daisies, elegant Calla Lilies, but neither delighted her like a gift of potions ingredients.

She was just weird that way.

"Really?" Caroline made a grab for the jar to inspect the contents. How COOL! "You had the hand-crusher pickle murtlap for me?"