"Thuhh-these are ffffine," Jake nodded, casting a wary eye towards the gargoyle. Some weird memories he had of last term. Like suddenly finding himself in there with no memory of showing up.

Still, the boy stood up, standing straight and looked straight at Tate. He wouldn't be rude, but instead she he was someone whose view could be trusted. When Tate sat down again, Jake would. Some old sign of respect.

Looking at the girl as she explained, Jake waited for Tate's response before he chose to speak.

Tate seated himself on the nearest sofa, facing the students. He was definitely listening, his whole body inclined toward them and his forearms resting on his knees.

"Part of teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts is providing you with the background knowledge of what you may be up against in the future. Forewarned is forearmed... or is it the other way around?" Tate answered, his tone light, but he was clearly uneasy.

"But if Professor Duskurk was doing more than just discussing the theory behind such Dark magic... that would be of concern to me."

Okay. Forget sitting down. Forget waiting his turn.

"Ssssir," Jake blurted out, trying to calm his speech. "Huhh-he wwwanted us ttto cast unffforgivables. It wwwere Crucio earlier... Buhh-but the way hhhe spoke... It'll buhh-be the others..."

Hmmm... maybe it was worth mentioning. "We wwwwere allowed to luhh-leave if... yeah... Buhh-but that's suhh-still illegal... right? I wuhh-wanna do Def-... Def-... DADA, an' he ssssaid to llleave if we dddidn't want to dddo the curses..."

Okay... stutter overload.

"I dddon't lllike it. I love ssspiders. I ddddidn't try and hhurt mine at all."

Oh... had he mentioned it was spiders?

Eh. He'd work it out.

Alexa nodded her head in agreement with the boy. "Yes, sir. He told us we would be practicing the Unforgivables in class and then had us cast the Cruciatus Curse. No disrespect intended, Headmaster, but I will not attend a class where a Professor is teaching Dark Magic. I do understand what you said about being forewarned or armed or whatever, but sir, I am twelve years old, I see no reason for me to learn to cast Unforgivables." she blurted out after the boy's outburst.

She shifted again on the couch and slinked down a bit. She was not sure how the HM was gonna take this, and she was seriosuly nervous.

"Oh, I see," Tate said, his voice quiet and his eyebrows knitted together. "Well, I'll speak to him about it. He shouldn't be asking you to do anything illegal, regardless of good intentions."

Although knowing Thomas, there were no good intentions involved.

Jake only sighed. Adults always said they'd talk or have a word with someone... and it never worked.

"D'you puhh-promise, ssssir?" the boy asked tentatively, looking slightly uncomfortable. "Buhh-because... Like I sssaid... I want to dddo DADA, but I'm nnnot a kkkiller..."

Because eventually, the killing curse would come up.

Like... seriously... that was it?!

Alexa fought back the urge to stick her bottom lip out and pout. Instead she sat up straight and looked dead at the Headmaster and asked, "Sir, do we have the option of not attending this class? He is a very rude and creepy man I am not comfortable around him.... It seems like he wants to teach us the Dark Arts, not Defense."

She steeled herself for his answer, although she hoped he would allow the students to decide for themselves...

"I promise, lad," Tate said with a small grin. "I will SPEAK with him, tell him I find his curriculum to be unacceptable. And if he makes no changes, you must report back to me once again."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pink Ninja

Like... seriously... that was it?!

Alexa fought back the urge to stick her bottom lip out and pout. Instead she sat up straight and looked dead at the Headmaster and asked, "Sir, do we have the option of not attending this class? He is a very rude and creepy man I am not comfortable around him.... It seems like he wants to teach us the Dark Arts, not Defense."

She steeled herself for his answer, although she hoped he would allow the students to decide for themselves...

"You never HAVE to take a class, my dear. If you choose not to take it, that is your own decision. I personally find Thomas to be a bit rude and creepy myself, and I would be in your shoes as well. Don't go if you don't want to go. Take up Runes or something equally safe and challenging."

"I'll duhh-do that," Jake nodded quietly, telling the absolute truth. Of course he would. Nobody should get away with murder.

Nobody.

"Am I eck-eck... excused to luhhh-leave nnnow?" the boy asked politely. Wouldn't want to just walk off. That'd be rude.

Alexa smiled a crooked smile at the Headmaster. "You are aces, sir. Me mum always told me I HAD to take DADA and I HAD to take this, that, and the other. And yeah, that dude is super scary and I don't think I want to go to his classes... which is a shame because DADA was my favorite subject last term. Anyway, I reckon I'll get going, sir. Thanks." she said with a sigh of relief.

She rose from the couch and smiled weakly at the boy. "By the way, I am Alexa Kennedy. Thanks for speaking up with me. See you around." she told him before turning to walk away.

"You're both dismissed," he agreed, shoving to his feet. "And because I'm rather fond of those who stand for what's right and no one else in the class saw fit to speak out, how about three points to each of you?"

Oh oh! And he had the vouchers! He pulled out two and held them in front. "And these things, if you want them. You can decide which gets which."

Alexa turned on her heel when the Headmaster began to speak. What an idiot, Alexa! she scolded herself internally. Smiling at the Headmaster she said, "Thank you very much sir."

She looked back at the boy and said, "You can have them both actually because Healer Ashford gave me one when I was leaving the Hospital Wing earlier."

Looking back at the Headmaster she wondered whether or not she should mention the mishap that landed her in the Hospital Wing... Nah. It was probably not something he needed to be bothered with. So she smiled and turned around and headed back in the direction she had been headed.

"Thuhh-thank you," Jake nodded his head, looking at the voucher things and to the girl. He couldn't write much, so why would he need a quill? But he'd let the girl decide.

It was polite.

"Thuhh-thank you, ssssir," Jake mumbled again, smiling a little.

Wait... both?

Looking to the Headmaster, Jake took them both in his hand and bit his lip. Was that okay? Maybe Tate would like to take one back. "Sir? Whhat... duhh-do yyou want one bbback?"

"If you don't want both, I'll take one back," he said agreeably, extending his hand. "Or you could consider it a gift from your kind young friend there. You may choose."

Mehhh... Jake didn't want to look greedy. He really didn't... but he liiiiiked presents. And maybe Tibi would like a nice quill... maybe they could go catch up over a butterbeer. Right on. He'd have to thank the... unknown girl.

"I'll take 'em buhh-both," the boy smirked a little cheekily, the tinges of humour coming back to his features. "Thuhh-thanks sssir... and fffor ag-agreeing to ttttalk to... Dddd...Duskurk."

With a last smile, Jake put the coupon voucher things into his back pocket and gave Tate's extended hand a kind of... low five. "Luhh-later sssir," he grinned, heading off down the corridor. Oh and... for future reference. "Nuhh-name's Jake by the wwway... Juh-jake Upstead."

Of the mighty Upstead clan. HUZZAH!

"It is good to meet you, Mr. Upstead. Good day." And Tate bowed before taking off in the opposite direction. He and Duskurk were going to have a chat.

Miles walked up to the Headmaster's office looking around his shoulder for Cela. She wouldn't like the fact that he went the Headmaster before their Head of House but...he was told to...right? Straightening his already straight shirt nervously he raised his hand and knocked on the door lightly. Maybe no one would be home...maybe he should just turn around and leave. Who knew how many people had already talked to the Headmaster about this issue anyway.... Yeah that's it he could just leave. Silly for coming up here really. He started to turn around and then stopped. But what if no one had come to tell him. He should know what's being taught in the school.... It was his duty to inform the Headmaster of what was going on as Prefect. He looked down at his badge and sighed not really sure of what to do he stood looking a bit lost.

Tate approached his office from down the hall, spotting people still waiting in his seating area. Hm. Interesting.

"Ah, the other Ravenclaw prefect. What's the story, morning glory?"

Miles started to think no one was home after all and decided it was better off left alone. The next lesson would be better right? More...age appropriate and doesn't leave one to wonder certain...things. Turning to leave he heard the Headmaster's voice and looked up. "I..um..." his forehead wrinkled in puzzlement at the Headmaster's question and he shook his head, "..what?"

Forgetting momentarily the spiel he had been working on he sighed, "I just came to see if anyone had spoken to you about the DADA class."

"Ah, so you WILL report problems to me, unlike your stubborn counterpart," Tate slid down into a chair and put up his feet. He studied the boy.

"Have a seat. Several have, yes, but perhaps you'd like to... unburden yourself?"

"Well you're the Headmaster...and you asked me to so yes." He watched as the Headmaster sat down and he smiled, "And I like you. You seem...cool." And not scary unlike that Professor Duskurk.

"Umm...ok." He moved over and sat beside the Headmaster. "I just thought that...well..." Miles Vorkosigan at a loss for words what would Fia say. Clearing his throat he shook his head, "Sorry. I just can't help thinking that if Celandine saw me here she'd scold me for not speaking to Vindictus first but...I feel more comfortable talking to you than him for whatever reason." He leaned forward in the chair and sighed, "I didn't know who the DADA professor was until I was told to read my history. I went to the library on my regular day of random reading and I found out about him. The lesson just...worried me." He looked at the Headmaster, "Does that make sense?"

Ah.

"And who do you think Professor Duskurk is? Duskurk is a very common last name in..." UM? "In Denmark. Very common. But as to the lesson, I've already spoken with him. He will not teach Dark curses any more."

Miles laughed slightly at the Headmaster's attempt to...well whatever that was. "Yeah and Vorkosigan is common in Russia," he said with a cheeky smirk. "I read that he taught here once and he was found to be a dark lord of some sort and was consequently removed from his position...and didn't go quietly," he mumbled. He tapped his fingers lightly on his leg, "I don't want my dad to know he's here. If he knows he'll send the bodyguard to watch over me here and I don't want a babysitter watching my every move in school I get enough of that at home...." He was on his own tangent now but registered what was said about no more dark curses being taught.

Vida knows the password. Acutally by heart now. Walking down the seating area with a flower in her hand, Vida's eyes glinted at the sight of him. He was there, talking to a student, intensely. She took a seat silently, well it was so difficult for her, but still for the sake of the place. The place was really simple but neat like the man-in-charge, radiating postive vibes. She sat there silently for her turn to talk with him.

"You ramble. Quite a bit. Are you aware of it?" Tate raised his eyebrows at the boy but otherwise remained placid. "It's endearing in women, I find, although moreso when they rant. Less endearing in Ravenclaw prefects. What is it you are trying to say? You suggest I've hired a Dark Lord to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts? Clearly I would never admit to such a thing."

He nodded at the young girl who had seated herself nearby. She was one of the girls from the grounds, right?

He THOUGHT she was.