Phew! He didn't know that the professor was the guy who was with Chris at the student garden. "Ah, not at all, Sir." He grinned at him. Ced found him cool and seemingly nice. Well, spending some personal time with a student was such a cool thing. And then he entered the office. He found it simple yet nice but... there was really something special about it, he pondered inwardly. Those potted plants! "Great office, Sir and I'm Cedric Nicholas Leone by the way. Ced for short."

"Oh, it's nothing very special," Sage muttered, glancing around his plain office when the student complimented it. He'd not seen any other of the staff's offices, but he presumed they were nicer. "I prefer to work outside so I didn't want anything fancy... pleased to meet you Cedric." And just incase, "I'm Professor Dodson."

"Ah, I see. It's really better working outside though you might need to work in a quiet place like this sometime." He told the professor and smiled. And now, it was time to ask about the thing that was bothering Ced a bit. "I really like the newly-transformed Student Garden, Sir. Are you a horticulturist before?" asked he and that question wasn't really the question he'd want to ask.

"And err.. I'm just wondering where you transferred the flutterbies and puffapods. I've been taking care of those plants since I was a first year, Sir. And if you need help 'bout taking care of the greenhouse and Student Garden, please don't hesitate to ask me. Herbology is really something I'm good at." Yep, that was totally true and now that he found out from the job fair the gist of being herbologist, his urge to be one just became even greater than before. Perhaps the professor could give him special lessons about being horticulturist or herbologist. Hmm.

It was nice that the students had actually noticed what he'd done to the student gardens - it HAD undergone quite a dramatic transformation upon his arrival - and Sage smiled proudly.

"I was," the Professor nodded, impressed that this student knew what horticulture was. Perhaps he was one in the making? "I landscaped gardens and studied the plants while doing so." And he'd thoroughly enjoyed it too.

Oh, and the flutterbies and puffapods? "They're currently in pots outside the greenhouses, I've been meaning to put them back into the garden but ran out of time," he said apologetically. "Perhaps ... you could do it, Cedric?" He HAD said he wanted to help after all.

The new professor definitely had rare style and all. The student garden depicted how good this man was! And he found Professor Dodson even more impressive and talented when he said he was a horticulturist. What made him stopped horticulturing though?

"Wow, that's great, sir!" He exclaimed happily and added, "I'd like to be a horticulturist someday, too. I really feel 'bout the plants and all." And that was completely true, he would really like to be one and might as well be a Herbologist pioneer someday. Although his Mom would find the career quite ridiculous, he would still pursue it.. 'cause it was his dream.

And it was really nice to here that the puffapods and flutterbies were just around the corner. "Oh. Sure sir! I would love to." He, once again, responded happily.

"It's a good path to pursue, one I'd definitely recommend," Sage informed, glad to see the interest in all things plants. There weren't enough kids getting into Herbology these days.. seemed it was all about Quidditch. But how were brooms made? WITH TREES.

He bet Cedric had alaready checked out the job fair thing that seemed to be going on in the Great Hall. Sage hadn't had the chance to pop by, but he'd heard that Adrienne Dior was there.

And he was interested in re-homing the flutterbies and puffapods!? Result! Sage grinned gratefully before giving instructions, "there's a large flowerbed I've left for them in the student garden, they just need transferring there from the temporary pots I've left them in. There's tools in the shed if you need them. Think you can manage?" He was sure he could. Maybe he'd get some housepoints for the deed..

Ced smiled as his teacher said that horticulturing was definitely a good path to pursue. He already knew that of course and it was great to have a professor who really feel 'bout the plants... and he do really understand the world of flora as the the woman in the job fair had told him.

Though he loved Quidditch as much as his friends and classmates loved the game, he always tries not to get too distracted by it, so as not to forget his own obligations and such. On the other hand, he'd read on the pamphlet given by the woman in the job fair that students who would like to be a horticulturist should be good at Potions and Transfiguration. He wasn't that good at that subjects but he'd still try in order to reach his dream.

He listened to Professor Dodson, paying sufficient attention to what their Herbology Professor had to say to instruct what he must do. He then grinned back and was quite grateful that the man trusted his aptitude. "Sure, sir. With all those efficient tools, I surely can manage it," he said confidently and was now more than ready to get to work. "And thanks. I'll do the task now, Professor." Woooooot! It was just like he would be doing his hobby and all.

Evelyn, was not happy to say the least. Sure, she thought today was a wonderful day to pay a visit to the student garden, and see how her flowers had done over the summer. But, when she got there, surprise...surprise...

They were gone.

In fact, the whole place looked different. She couldn't even find the last part of her dead flitterbloom that Destiny kicked. Furious, was an understatement for her at the moment. She suspected the Herbology teacher was behind the matter since, well, she couldn't think of anyone else who would mess with the gardens. Which was why...

Knock Knock KNOCK.

Sage trusted that Cedric would do a good job putting the flutterby and puffapods back where they belonged and gave a satisfied nod. The lad wanted to go into horticulture, he clearly knew what he was doing, right? Yes, the Professor most definitely trusted him with the task and it would help him out greatly.

He was about to wish the Hufflepuff good luck - though he didn't really think he needed it - when there was yet another knock at his door.

"Come on in," Sage called, wondering who it could be now.

Hearing the green light to enter the office, Evelyn marched her way in, an obvious grumpy expression on her face as she paused in front of his desk.

Taking a brief glance around the place, since she didn't really care for the moment what it looked like, she noted that there was another person in the room, possibly leaving, but she suddenly turned back to the Professor, looking as if fire should be coming from her eyes, ears, and mouth.

However, with a deep breathe, her expression and posture turned to one of someone innocent and shy. What? Did you think she was going to yell at the Professor? Evelyn, was definitely smarter than that. "Helloooo, Professor Dodson." she said quietly, before speaking what she really came here for. "I was wondering. Were you the one that changed around the student garden? Which is, beautiful by the way."

Oh, Merlin's sweaty undergarments.

This was one girl that did NOT look happy. And if Sage Dodson wasn't a Hogwarts professor, he would've cowered in his seat and possibly hid under the desk upon seeing her expression.

If looks could kill...

He was the grown-up here though. Right. Heaving a deep breath, Sage nodded unsurely. "Why.. why thank you, Evelyn. Yes, that was my handiwork." And it had taken him ages. And he was rather proud of his work.

"Well, your handiwork is amazing." she smiled, wringing her hands behind her back. Clearing her throat though, she shifted her weight from one foot to the other, trying to think up a nice way to ask her extremely important question.

"But umm, there is just one, little problem, that I noticed when walking through there." Nodding at her own words, she swallowed, trying to act nice about this oh so serious matter. "Did you, by any chance that is, when you were creating the fantastic work of art out there... notice a patch of flowers?"

Looking at the Professor expectantly, the Slytherin sighed for a moment before trying to clear up that general description. "I mean, well of course you noticed a patch of flowers. But a certain little group, of blue and white flowers...behind a bush farthest from where people would normally enter the garden and looking as if they weren't supposed to be there?" And maybe half a dead flitterbloom too. She'd have to talk to Destiny about that.

Sage was actually worried this girl might turn around and hex him. Yes, right there, right then. She wasn't stupid enough to do that to a Professor though, was she? She seemed to be acting a little sweeter now though, as she asked about some flowers or something.

He wasn't fooling for it though. He was in alert mode.

"A certain little group of blue and white flowers?" Sage repeated, chewing on his lower lip anxiously. Honestly? He had no clue. He'd sort of... completely gutted the place and redone it. From scratch. He'd saved the flutterbies and the puffapods, but that was pretty much it.

"Not that I can recall, I'm afraid.." he started slowly, deciding to tell her the truth. Not that he had any other option.

Not that he could recall? Seriously? How could someone miss those perfect and colorful (even though most were white) flowers!?

Frowning, she relaxed in posture until freezing like a statue. "Oh." she mumbled, staring down at his desk before clearing her throat again. "If you don't mind me asking, what did you do...to fix the place up?"

Perhaps he was joking. And saved the flowers. Putting them somewhere nice and comfortable where they could look down at all the other pathetic flowers. Mwaha!

Cupcakes... couldn't she just give herself the cupcakes instead of going out of her way to give some to someone else? It was loads easier and not as much of a hassle. But noooo.... she just HAD to give her cupcake to someone else. Her delicious beautiful yummy cupcake. Why? Just why?

But no matter. It was for Ravenclaw. They needed the points.

Siiggghh.

Cedes approached the greenhouses and entered, making her way towards Professor Dodgson's office. Oh wait. Was it Dodgson or Dodson? Shooot. Now that she thought of it, she recalled students calling him Dodson. But she was SURE it was Dodgson. What would she call him by? Oh dear. Panic attack. She didn't want to go calling him by the wrong name. Maybe he wouldn't want her cupcake. And if he didn't want her cupcake, who else would she give it to? He was the one with the cooties. Cedes had secretly snuck in a cootie shot. He was going to die a dramatic death due to cooties and then Cedes would be responsible and she would fail Charms and her fifth year at Hogwarts and then Ravenclaw would lose the House Cup. AAAAHHHHH. Save her.

She hoped that perhaps he'd have some sign on the door but it didn't look like it. Luckily, Cedes heard voices on the other side of the door, indicating there was a guest that the Professor was attending to. What should she do? Knock? Linger there until everything was done with. Linger sounded like a better idea. Maybe one of the voices would mention the Professor's name.

By this point, Sage was pretty sure he'd done something terribly, terribly wrong. And that this young girl was going to make him PAY. Oh, but what was he thinking!? She was just a student! And he was her Professor. Right. Positive thinking.

"Well.. I.. I gutted the place and gave it a complete makeover," he said simply, wondering now if tellng the truth was such a good idea. "Looked to me like bad weather and noone to tend for the gardens over the summer had killed off a lot of the plants too." And he'd come and made it loads prettier.

He...

He gutted...

Deep breathe. Deeeep breathes.

Her precious flowers, were obviously gone. He KILLED her flowers! He... He should PAY for that! Forget the fact that there was bad weather, she worked hard on those, and was hoping that the herbology teacher, WHOEVER it was, would be taking care of the garden over the summer...

But apparently not.

Rubbing her face in frustration, her arm twitched towards her wand but she paused. This was a Professor. She couldn't do that. But it was tempting. Distraction! She needed a distraction! And LEAVING was NOT an option at the moment. Evelyn didn't have enough time yet to attempt to glare a hole through his head. "Do you have some parchment and a quill?" she forced into a nice civil tone as she clenched her fists behind her back.

Arithmancy homework. She remembered there was a part in it where they could ask a Professor about...something something. Yes. She needed to find out more about this Professor.

Sage gulped. It was a loud gulp that he was pretty sure the girl must've been able to hear. Actually, he was pretty sure she could probably SMELL his fear. This kid gave him the heebie-jeebies, there was no doubt about that.

So he was naturally a little shocked when she didn't just go ahead and curse him, but asked if he had some parchment and a quill. What a strange request. Random.

He was thankful to still be in one piece though and with a quick nod, pushed some old parchment and a self-inking quill across the desk for her.

He wasn't sure what to say.

Pushing the chair that she saw forward, without taking her eyes off of the professor, Evelyn sat down and scooted the parchment closer towards her.

It took a moment, but she finally picked up the quill and spoke up in a quite normal tone. "In Arithmancy, part of our homework is to offer a reading to a professor of one of the four core numbers we had learned in class." Continuing to stare at the Professor, she finally blinked for a moment before smiling.

"Is it alright if I do one for you?" Might as well. She had the parchment, the quill which she suspected was a self ink quill since he didn't give her any ink, and she was sitting down all ready. Mwaha!

Despite secretly wishing this visit would be over, (Evelyn gave him the creeps. Probably something to do with her lack of blinking like a regular human) Sage was quite glad when she explained the reason behind wanting some parchment and a quill.

He'd been expecting something ... sinister?

"Oh, yeah.. that's uh.. that's fine," he nodded, a tad shocked that she wanted to do her Arithmancy homework about him. "You need to know my full name and birthday? That sort of thing, yes?"

Good.

Ignoring the oh so obvious funny expression on the Professor's face, Evelyn leaned over the parchment slightly and wrote the needed title in the left hand corner. "Alright then. Yes, that's generally what is needed." she said, smiling slightly as she sat back up. "Depending on what you want done of course. You may choose."

Hmm, he probably didn't know what the four core numbers were did he. "There are the Life Path number, the Heart's Desire number, the Expression number which is also known as the Destiny number... or you can have your Personality number done."

Distraction was working.

Sage waited patiently when Evelyn said he could choose. Well, that was nice of her he supposed. Only problem was, he had always been clueless when it came to Arithmancy.

Core numbers...? Aha.

He gave his beard a small scratch, like he always did when he was thinking something through. He already knew his personality.. and he wasn't bothered about knowing his heart's desire either. He'd forgotton the other one so that left.. "Let's give the Life Path one a go. What do you need to know for that?" He asked, leaning forward a little. He was curious now.

Life Path number? She was SURE he would've gone for the Destiny number. Ah well...

"I need your birthday for the Life Path number." she said, holding the quill and ready to write it down. How much older or younger was this professor compared to Professor Hadley. Hmmm. For some reason, it was just funny knowing an adults age.

And yelling it out to everyone.

Which of course, she stopped doing since she was eight. Looking at the Professor expectantly, she smiled again and waited. She needed a good plan for the next Herbology lesson. Dodson seemed twitchy when frightened.

He wasn't sure what he'd rather give Evelyn.. his full name or his birthdate. It was for educational purposes though, wasn't it? And it wasn't like she could do anything terrible with the small bit of info. He was being nice and helping her with her studies. Like a good professor.

Then why was he so bloody nervous!?

Ack.

"And the year too?" He asked, deciding to add it just in case. "That would be August the 12th, 2042." Which would make his Life Path number....?

Everyone's birthday was in August! Well okay, no, that wasn't true. And she certainly hadn't met many people with a birthday in August as of yet, but it felt like she did. Maybe she just didn't like sharing that month.

Writing down the birthday, it took her a moment to map out the Pythagorean number system in her mind, but when she did, it only took her a few moments to write everything out. Peaking up at the Professor though in the middle of her calculations, as if to be all dramatic like, she raised a brow and huddled closer to the parchment to block out what she was doing.

Teehee.

"Alright!" she said, sitting up after a minute or so and smiling broadly. "Your Life Path number is the number 1." Oh jooooooyy. "But before I tell you what number 1 means, you should probably know what the Life Path number is, right?" Right? "So, this number represents the path, or road, you will take in life, as well as the abilities and talents you possess that will help you along the way. And, it also tells what you can depend upon or use while taking this little...journey, to find your success in the world."

Now that THAT was out of the way...."So, number 1. If I remember the book correctly," which of course she did. Pffft. "This is pretty much saying you will or are becoming a...strong independent person. And sooner down the road you'll learn the qualities of a leader who will have many opportunities to show this side of you, and your strong courage, determination, and spirit will help you on the way."

Fascinating. So, where was all this courage it spoke of? She swore his eyes were about to pop out when she came storming into the room. But first... "Librarians usually get this number."

BAhahahaha! Well it did say in the book that people with this number did well in bookstores. Even though that's not the only job it suggested.