Simon nodded, watching as the gargoyles moved before heading up the spiral staircase ahead of the headmaster. Stepping inside the office since he had permission, he moved off to the aside to await the older man to enter after him. The seventh year tried to gather his words once more, not usually one to spend much time talking with professors other then his head of house or Vindictus.

"Have a seat," Tate stepped around the boy and headed for his desk. He was silent well into making himself comfortable and situating his booted feet up on the desk, but once he was finally ready, he raised one quizzical eyebrow.

"And what are you here to complain about?"

Simon crossed to the chair across from the headmaster's desk and took a seat, remaining quiet until the man finally asked for his purpose. Tate's choice of words seemed to show he had some clue already. "Well the ministry's decision to interfer with the school again for one thing," he said at first trying to think of the best way to put it. First Gevrik and now Borr. "But seeing as I am still a month short of my majority I doubt they'd care much about that opinion," he added with a soft sigh.

"I would like to take you up on your offer of lessons however, Professor. Defense was one of the classes I wished to persue for NEWTS and...even though there still lies to fact that they could be cancelled again this year...I wouldn't want to give up the opportunity to learn what I can." The seventh year speaking calmly and as clearly as he could, thinking on how he would speak if he was speaking to his team.

"I'm twenty-two years into my majority, and they don't give two shiny knuts for my opinion. Not to dismiss your own, but Lord Borr doesn't exactly seem the sort to care what the common man thinks, does he?" Tate responded almost jovially, as if he didn't really care that he was short professors in his school on the whim of a man who would probably never even visit this term.

"What offer of lessons was that?" he mused with distraction. What was the boy on about? He'd changed the subject just when they were getting to the good part of complaining about things. "You want to offer lessons?"

"No he certainly does not," Simon replied in agreement with a shake of his head. The whole issue with the singing and closing everything for the day for a party was proof of that seeing as the man made himself bigger then his inflated form already was. As Tate asked for clarification, the captain swallowed feeling perhaps he was wrong in his words.

"Forgive me...perhaps I assumed too much by thinking that your defense room didn't possibly include some help from yo---" he appologized figuring he might have heard something wrong in the opening feast speech, breaking off as the headmaster questioned him. "Me...teach lessons?" he asked returning the question looking a little quizzical. Quidditch maybe...if team meambers needed assistance but lessons....on defense?

"No, of course," Tate put his feet on the floor with a sudden bang and leaned forward, piercing the young man with his expression. He was definitely paying attention again. Of course, of course... if THE Lord Borr deemed Tate unacceptable to teach Defense but couldn't be bothered to send a qualified replacement, then it was up to Tate to fill in the gap.

"I would be happy to spend some time with you in the training room. Have you considered what you'd like to do after Hogwarts? Spoken with your Head of House about it?"

Simon simply nodded at first, the older man's behavior catching his attention but he pushed it aside to actually answer. "Yes I spoke a little with Professor Carlton when I was trying to decide with OWLS to take though I haven't continued to speak with Madam Donovan," he admitted. Truth be told he had been somewhat closer to the charms professor then the librarian despite all the time he had spent in the library every year.

"I had first considered following my brother into the aurors or law enforcement as a whole, though I have come to think I have other options with my grades in other subjects." In all honesty if he was truthful to himself he was floundering a little in making a decision.

"So... what do you hope to accomplish with additional training in Defense? Do you have so little confidence in Lord Borr?" Because that, in and of itself, was a pretty good reason, but Tate wasn't sure if the lad had something else in mind. Maybe he had an inkling of what he wanted to do and was loathe to mention it.

"I suggest you spend some time chatting with Madame Donovan or another professor you trust in order to make some decisions about your future. You have the whole world open to you at this point... and what you decide now doesn't have to tie you down forever, but it's nice to have the first few steps decided."

"If how he taught astronomy is any indication, then yes I do have so little confidence in him," Simon replied thinking back to his earliest experience with the man in question his second year at Hogwarts. No need to bother commenting on the party they both attended last year which only added to things. "But as to what I hope to accomplish, not entirely sure other then to not miss something that might be useful later on after graduation."

He nodded at the man's suggestion, the advice good and sound to him. The boy would make sure to do so at one point in time during the year at least if not more. "I certainly will Headmaster."

Tate wasn't foolish enough to insult Borr much more than he already had, especially considering he didn't know exactly who he could trust just yet. He may never know... and that included students. He let the topic of the Defense professor drop.

"So you're interested in dueling with me? Getting a few pointers?" He'd agreed to duel several seventh years last term, so perhaps this was going to be a thing he did now.

Seeing as Tate had gone quiet about anything further to do with a certain professor, Simon had the feeling he might have gone too far himself so he followed the headmaster's example. No need to get in trouble when he was trying to help himself, no way that would get his companion to agree to what he had asked about.

"Yes I would be," he said with a nod.

"I think that can be arranged. Why don't we make an effort to get together later in the term in the training room?" Tate was hoping the boy didn't want to go duel IMMEDIATELY... especially with a line at his door.

"Anything else?"

"That would be fine...once classes start and tryouts are out of the way," Simon replied agreeing that later was better especially seeing as the term had just started so there were bound to be things either of them had to handle first. At the headmaster's final question he almost answered no but for some reason couldn't help thinking back to what the man had said earlier.

"When you questioned earlier about whether I wanted to offer lessons...would that be a possible idea?" he asked trying to put his thoughts into words. "I mean maybe not myself or just myself but maybe the older students helping the younger students with the basics."

"I think you and your fellow upperclassmen should make a point of being available to those who are interested in additional Defensive training, but you cannot force anyone to participate, and you cannot interfere with their studies," Tate mused. "But you can have occasional use of the training room."

Simon nodded in understanding as he listened to Tate lay down the boundaries and other suggestions for the task at hand. "Of course...I wouldn't think of forcing anyone...but if they show an interest," he mused finding what was said to him as logical. And interferring with other students and their work would interfer with his own so a no-go even before Tate mentioned it.

"Thank you sir," he said moving to get back to his feet. "Then I think that may be all."

Tate rose and offered a hand to the young Lion across his desk. "I look forward to the duel, and I look forward to seeing what we can come up with to help our youngsters with their Defensive training. Have a good day."

And as an afterthought... "Please send up the next in line when you leave."

Simon accepted the offered hand and the handshake that came with it. "It will certainly be interesting," he said simply for lack of a better thought coming to mind. "And you as well Headmaster," he said before nodding to show he understood the requestion. The captain then turned and headed out of the office and down the spiral staircase.

The young prefect shimmed her way through the door when reaching the top of the stairs, sending Tate a half smile as she bumped the door closed with her hip. "Hey, Headmaster." Her eyes didn't do much wandering as she made her way to one of the seats, settling in as she spoke. "I... guess you kinda already know why I'm here."

Tate watched the young Hufflepuff enter his office, noting that she moved through the room with confidence, as if she felt she deserved to be there. Funny, that. It took a lot of effort on his part not to write her off completely as a selfish little girl, all things considered.

Instead, he gestured for the chair across from his desk. "I have my guesses, I suppose. You want to complain about staffing?"

Well, that was just about right she supposed. "Not all..." Not the ones that he'd chosen for them to learn from. She tugged her ear a bit as she accepted the seat. "Just the ministry ones. And not so much complain as to ask for assistance. I don't think I'll learn anything with Borr teaching defense this term." Please PLEASE let it only be a one term thing. "I was wondering if in both our spare time you could teach me something of value?"

"Your classmate beat you to it, actually. We're going to try to set up extra study sessions in the Training Area," Tate gave the girl a level look. Surprises around every corner with this one.

"What in particular are you looking to learn? Of value?"

Her classmate. She really SHOULD learn his name, especially since he knew her name. And probably meet up with him later. "Mainly stuff for OWLs I guess." She mused, giving her ear another tug. "More advance defensive spells." Arya was only just aware of how vague her response was.

"Miss Lovegoods." Tate studied his hands on the desk before finally looking up at her again. Sigh. "I have been removed from my position as Defense professor because I was not deemed qualified to teach. Whether or not that is true, I cannot supplement an entire defensive training for each student outside of the classroom, especially as I would be going specifically against the will of the Ministry to do so." And he was trying to KEEP the job he had left.

"That being said, if you can focus your intent a bit more, I promise to do what I can to make sure you get the lessons you require."

Arya hadn't REALLY looked at the Headmaster until now, and when she did, all the other thoughts swimming around in her head stilled as she listened to the man speak. And even after she remained silent for a moment because she wasn't sure if he wanted certain spells or just the types. In the end though, it was the prodding of an old memory that had her settling for a mental compromise. "Truebridge gave us a list of spells last time he taught defense. I'd like to learn a couple more of those. It's mostly hexes and jinxes I think. I can show you the list later if you like." It wasn't ON her, but it was in some findable place, mixed in with her other defense notes.