Well, like the boy had said, he certainly had no other commitments, so why would he have ane issue with that. Jake nodded.

However, he did not, understand the pointed look at the door, but his business here was sorted anyway. The young man stood up and adjusted his sunglasses on his face. "No. That's it," he said simply. "I'll be leaving then."

He was so VERY tempted to mention Lafay... but what would that accomplish.

Jake waited, in case Tate had anything else to say before he left. This was one thing he figured he should do.

"Thanks for stopping by, lad," Tate stood and extended his hand to the boy for a shake. "I'll look forward to the duel."

Just so long as no one died.

"No problem, sir. Thank you for seeing me," Jake replied, reaching out his own hand to shake Tate's. "Me too."

And with that, a wry smile and a slight nod, Jake cut off the handshake and took his leave.

He probably had homework or something to do. Maybe.

It took him very little time to get to the top of the stairs, having taken them two at a time, and bursting a little unceremoniously into the Headmaster's room. He had no idea what he was supposed to say in defense of himself, or what he was supposed to say in general, so for the first time in a while in the Headmaster's presence he let the first thing that came to his mind slip out. "What was that look for?"

The question, while not exactly respectful, was conveyed in a tone of confusion rather than accusation. He had seen something on the Headmaster's expression, just like at the feast, and he didn't like it. It scared him beyond belief to see the most stable figure in Hogwarts shaken, to see the man he trusted most, scared. Even though the words were out and hanging in the air, he tried to bite away the disrespect by adding an unsteady, 'Headmaster' to the still air.

Tate took his seat slowly before glancing up at Mr. Dakest. And then he took an even longer moment before responding. It wasn't punishment, perse, but he needed a moment before he could trust that he was responding as he wanted.

In measured tones, Tate responded, "What gives you this belief that you have the right to interrogate your betters in this way? I feel like we've circled this block before, boy."

The way Tate was watching him was nerve wracking, and when he finally decided to speak it was worse. Half out of pure fear of respect for the man, a quarter out of guilt for being so rudely blunt, and a quarter of being determined not to back down, he found himself meeting the man's gaze and not moving. "If I reworded it, would it make things better?"

He needed to stop talking, right now, but there was a fear pushing him forward to dangerous grounds again. It would be the same question, the same meaning." Biting his bottom lip, he sucked in a bit of air, as if trying to take his words back. "I don't mean disrespect Sir, but as I am already on the frank path I may as well finish on it. You are scaring me." Not for the words he had just spoken, not for the gaze he was being held under, not for the fatherly-respect he held for the man, but for the little glances and expressions that had started to show through. Scared didn't even describe it properly.

"You're too soft-hearted, boy, if a few sideways glances scare you so badly. It's just a look. As I have a face, two eyes, one nose, a mouth, the basics... I regret to inform you that I am always making one look or another." It was as bald-faced a lie as he'd ever told, and Tate had been quite a proficient liar in his Gryffindor days.

"Did you enjoy your chat with Mr. Gevrik?"

Sabel's eyes narrowed at Tate's words. What exactly was this about?

"First of all, just a look?" His tone turned a little more irritated than he would have liked. "You do know that looks convey emotions? Even the small glance or change in expression conveys something. They're called micro-expressions. And it's not that you have different expressions that concerns me, it is the content of those expressions." His hand went towards the door he had just come from, not quite being able to extended his fingers to point due to the still-present sting of having caught it in the door just to get into Tate's office. "The one you had at the feast for instance. I don't know what it was exactly, but for some reason you are afraid of Gevrik. And I don't know what that just was, but it isn't something I have ever seen from you. So don't tell me I can't be scared. Unless you want me to stop giving a damn, which I cannot do, Sir."

And while he was condemning himself to deep deep trouble, he may as well round it all up with a nice. "And I don't know what the hell this has to do with Gevrik, but the talk was downright worrisome, troublesome, unnerving and all around a terrible experience."

"I'm not free to discuss my relationship with Mr. Gevrik," Tate dropped his gaze and studied the tea set that was now perched on the edge of the desk. Crowded with gleaming tea service and pastries, it had clearly just been dropped by the elves while he was out of the office. Ask, and you shall receive.

"I asked the students to keep an open mind and make up theirs throughout this term, and I stand by that request. It doesn't mean I don't have an opinion, or that I don't want things to go a certain way. You're picking up on that. I will not interfere." He could not, actually.

Sabel had to blink, quite a few times actually, to make sure he heard Tate right. He had been positive he would have been skinned and hung out to dry with the way he had spoken to the Headmaster, and he would have deserved it too. But now that Tate was speaking on quieter terms, that he was simply speaking, he found some of his anger ebbing and the concern presenting itself as a more honest expression.

There was a moment of hesitation before he moved up to the desk and took a seat across from Tate, leaning forward and resting his elbows on his knees, clasping his hands together as he mulled over Tate's words. He wasn't really sure what he could say, and once again he felt troubled by how Tate was acting.

His eyes flicked over to the foe glass, a slight frown pressing at his brow, his tone level and almost quiet. Tate deserved an honest answer to his question. "I went to Gevrik's office to try and sort out the man's intentions for myself, to figure out why he was so... unaccommodating and taunting at the feast. The response I got was...not much better than how he had treated Mr. Vindictus." Wringing his hands together, he gave a last frown at the foe glass before returning his eyes to Tate. He would ask about Gevrik's power in a moment, but for the moment he needed to ask something else.

"If I may be completely honest, Headmaster, I trust you with my life and beyond even that. So, if you can understand why it makes me so nervous to see you yielding to him, to stepping down and being a peg under him, perhaps you can understand my fear." He wanted to tell Tate to interfere, to give his opinion, because right now, it was the only guidance he could trust. "I'm not blind, Sir, but I don't understand everything that I'm seeing."

"The problem with being the Headmaster is that you start to forget, and maybe others forget, that you aren't actually the man in charge. I make decisions as best I can, but I have to bow to the curriculum changes and staffing suggestions put forth by the Ministry. If the decision is between always getting my own way and staying where I can do the most good... well." He spread his hands.

Well. That decision was easy. He would stay at Hogwarts and bite the bullet, so to speak. He didn't like having Gevrik there, but it could be worse. It could be so much worse.

A small nod left Sabel, his eyes going to the edge of Tate's desk, frowning. It was true, he had forgotten that fact himself. But it was beyond unnerving when the man you looked up to most no longer to be quite so powerful as you once believed.

Letting out a slow breath, Sabel sunk back into the chair, drawing a hand down his face. Dropping it back against his leg, he offered Tate a tight, apologetic smile. "I am sorry for...the way I addressed you, Sir. I could offer an excuse or reason but it doesn't change that it was irresponsible of me." Looking down at his lap, he let a slight shrug roll of his shoulders. "I guess I'm just afraid of losing...someone again." He wasn't too sure how that was related to the way Tate had been acting lately, but somehow, it still made sense in his mind.

"I like the fact that you question the norm and feel out your boundries from time to time," Tate finally gave in and poured himself a cup of tea. Loathsome, terrible stuff. Why were the elves to hesitant to bring him good, strong coffee?

"But eventually you have to figure out when that's appropriate. You can't be a good soldier if you never figure out how to follow directions. And if you feel respect and trust, then you need to show them." And he wasn't showing them by questioning Tate so much.

He didn't look up. Didn't say a word in response. Simply looked at his hands, feeling more guilt and the weight of reprimand firmly on his shoulders. How was he supposed to make a soldier at all if he kept pulling stunts like these simply because he couldn't control himself and frankly because he cared too much to stay silent. But that wasn't what bothered him, at least it didn't bother him the most. It was that he had disrespected Tate beyond any stunt he had pulled before, and he knew it.

A slight, short but firm nod left his head as he kept his eyes locked on his hands. "Yes, Sir."

"Good lad," Tate stood and held out a hand to the boy. A sign of forgiveness. "And for your trouble, I'll tell you... you should spend some time in Hogsmeade. Very interesting people can be found there almost every day."

Sabel's eyes came up as Tate spoke, his gaze still regretful and somewhat ashamed. Still, he did his best to put it in the past and learn to be more mindful of himself, even when he was beyond concerned for the man before him.

He gave Tate a faint smile as he returned the handshake firmly; a smile that faded for confusion. "I'm....not sure I know what you mean Sir." Besides the fact that Hogsmeade was generally made up of 'interesting' people. Maybe Tate would give him a bit more to go on than that, but he had the feeling if he had been able to, he wouldn't have made the statement so cryptic. "...But thank you. I'll visit there when I can."

Lowering his hand to his side, he tucked it in his pocket, his frown intensifying with an unnerving thought. "Mr. Gevrik has a decent hand over Hogwarts and the Ministry, doesn't he?" Pursing his lips he considered the question before shaking his head, as if thinking better of it. "...I...guess I'm just wondering what kind of influence he can have over a student's future after Hogwarts."

"He has only as much influence as you let him have. He can't keep you from..." Tate considered. "He can't keep you from the ITF, at least. Things are changing locally, and I admit I don't know the climate as I should. But I know some men in the Auror office, so I think we have an in there, if necessary."

Sabel frowned at that. It didn't sound very convincing. Especially not the added on 'if necessary'. Still, he let a small nod leave his head. "I'll do my best to step carefully around him." Tate was right, as usual. Another person only controlled you as much as you let them.

Letting out a slow breath, he found his eyes going back to the foe glass, his brow furrowing. "Changing locally...like the Statue?" He still didn't know what to make of it. "There has been a lot of talk of it." Somehow though, he didn't think the Statue was something that Tate wouldn't know about. So, was there something else?

"Something like that," Tate responded, his voice vague. "I hate to rush you, lad, but I should probably get back to work. And you have some training to do, I'm sure." He gave the boy a tilt of the head. "We'll chat again soon."

Something like that, but judging by the tone of Tate's voice, not really like that. Nevertheless, now wasn't the time for more questions.

With a nod, Sabel pushed himself to his feet. "Of course. And...." He considered apologizing again, but pushed the thought out of his mind. They had already made amends so there was no point going back when it was expected that they would move forward. "...Thank you."

He gave another respectful bow of his head, and a slight smile before leaving the office. There was a lot to think on and digest, and a lot of what he had just learned to put into practice.

Jaina entered into the Headmaster's office. Her wide blue eyes looked around the walls in amazement at all the pictures moving. There were a two names that she recognized from listening to Benjamin talk. She would have to ask him about them.

She turned to look at Professor Tate. "Sir, I'd like to apologize for my emotions in class. I tried very hard to control them, but when i heard some of the Slytherins talking like being muggleborn was horrid, it was like listening to my parents say that I was a horrid, cursed child because I was a witch. What's worse is that I'm a metamorphmagus, I believe Nurse Morletti called it. I felt like I was slowly being marked. I'm trying to learn how to control my hair color change better so please don't penalize my friends either because they were more concerned for me knowing my background." she pleaded. "If you must, sir, take away my points and give it to them. I'll give you their names if you'll give them the points back. It was my fault, not theirs. I should be punished, not them. I'll do extra work, too, to make up for anything bad that happened to you, too, because I heard Mr Gervik came to see you after I left. Sir, if I got you in trouble, I'll do my best to get you out of it. I promise." she hoped her pleas for her friends would not fall on deaf ears. She wanted to make things right and just.

"You have to understand that no one in this school is targeting you. We are going to have an open discussion about history, and you simply cannot take every lesson personally. No one in that classroom expressed their belief that Muggleborn witches and wizards are less than those of magical origins, and the wizards we discussed with those beliefs are long dead. That stuff... it exists. You have to be brave," Tate gave her a pitying glance, but his tone was gentle.

As for her friends, though, she couldn't take back what they'd done. "I can't let you fill in for your friends. They disrupted my class and disrespected everyone in the room by continuing to whisper and move around while class was in session. They aren't being punished because they comforted you."

Jaina hung her head in silence. "Yes, headmaster. It's just more frightening then I imagined. I thought I'd seen everything in Ireland with my mum and dad doing business in the north, but this is all new."
She thought about what he said about her friends. "Sir, only 3 of them. I don't mind. Honestly. I'd do anything for them. They're the first and best ones I've got. I'll even promise to try harder and to get them to not disrupt any more." There had to be something she could do for them.

"I think it's best you worry about yourself and try modeling good behavior to your friends," Tate agreed with a slow nod. Bossing your friends around sometimes just led to alienating them, but just behaving well could be the best influence possible.

"Nothing bad will happen to you here, child. I hope you believe that."

Jaina looked up at the headmaster, her eyes had obviously seen more than a child of 11 should have. "Yes, headmaster. I will try to do better in class. I'll also try to get a better hold on my emotions so my hair doesn't disrupt your class any more. As for feeling safe, I have my friends so as long as I'm with them, I do. This world is strange and new, but they are helping me as best they can for first years. Is there anything I can do to smooth things over with Mr Gervik? I didn't get you into trouble, too, did I?" The last thing she wanted to do was to create more problems for the headmaster.