Tiara got to thinking. There was definitely an increased interest in the summer leagues this term compared with last year. Or at least more people are vocalizing their interest to me. Perhaps she should look into putting together a pamphlet? Where is that league standing sheet from last summer...? She began to stand to look for it on her bookshelf, but the scream of pain from her back and feet made her sit right back down.

Tiara grimaced in pain. "And I look forward to making them, my dear." She enjoyed her job when she wasn't so sore, especially the part of helping young people achieve their goals. It was extremely gratifying to turn her years of experience back into something that helped the next generation. "You are correct, I will need to see you fly first before I can recommend a good fit for you." Though there were some teams that she would not suggest anyways based on her own past experiences with the coaches.

Why were her feet bothering her so much lately? She glanced at her watch. Of course, it was time to reapply! Digging in her desk drawer, she pulled out a tub of an old muggle remedy she had used after especially hard days at the gym. But... with her back so stiff today... how was she supposed to reach? Tiara looked up at Tessa. "I wonder, dear.. would you help me apply this? I should have done it a half hour ago."

Tessa noticed the Professor begin to stand, but immediately sit back down again. Tessa couldn't help but sympathize. Often times it took her a few tries to stand nowadays- it was quite frustrating. It was all about finding the right way to stand up without her back, knees, or any other joints screaming at her. Her back and knees just tended to be the loudest.

She nodded in agreement and understanding. After all, her style of flying may not work with some teams and coaches. "Thanks so much." After all, that was all she really could say. Even though it was Professor Tyner's job, it didn't mean that she would be willing to dedicate time outside of her normal schedule. And Tessa could tell the woman was genuinely interested in helping her.

However, the Professor's next question caught her a little off guard. Help her with... ointment. "Umm, sure Professor," she said, a little taken aback. She took the tub and looked over. "Where exactly am I applying this?" she asked, curious.

Oh excellent, she wouldn't have to do it herself. It seemed such a shame to go through pain to relieve pain, after all. Students could come in handy once in a while, it turned out. She stretched out her legs and took off her socks. Tiara gestured towards her feet. "Just there, dear. On my ankles."

Oh sweet relief, come to mama!

Tessa gave the Professor a look- it was one more of surprise than anything else. After all, how often did one get asked to rub ointment on someone else's ankles? Not often as far as she recalled. But, with how achy her own back was, she couldn't blame the woman for not wanting to bend over.

"Alright, let me know if you need more..." she said slowly as she scooped up a bit of the ointment on her fingers. Gently she began to rub it onto the woman's ankle- it was as if she were taking care of her broom, she thought with a soft laugh.

Another thing she noticed was that it was making her knucles feel wonderful. "What is this?" she asked, flexing her fingers as she went to get more. "And where do I get some?" This could help improve her joints for the upcoming Quidditch game.

Oh sweet Merlin, that really hit the spot.

More? "I think that amount should suffice, dear. Ahhh..." Tiara sighed in sweet satisfaction. She may be a witch, but her upbringing in the muggle world had taught her that sometimes the muggles really knew what they were doing. Potions were helpful, but at some point you go with what you know.

Tiara let out yet another sigh of relief. "This is the most wonderful thing in the world. It is a simple muggle remedy for joint pain and it has been extremely useful this term for me. The winter has been particularly harsh this year for some reason." Or at least that's what she kept telling herself. "As far as where you get some, any local muggle grocer or medicinal establishment would stock it."

Tessa gently worked the ointment in to both of the Professor's ankles, sitting back with a sigh when the Professor was satisfied. "This feels great," she said, rubbing the remaining amount that was on her hands onto her wrists and knuckles. Instant relief met the joints and she was tempted to ask for more.

"I agree," she said, looking at the name of the ointment and filing it away in her memory. If she could remember it, she was taking a chance with that one. "It has, I think a lot of people have been feeling it," she said, her gaze wandering over to the castle. "Professors and students alike." She looked back down at the ointment, making sure she remembered it. "A muggle concoction?" she asked, surprised. "I will keep that in mind... but I have no idea when I'll get to one of those," she said, shaking her head. She would send an owl to her father, but she doubted that he would remember- or leave his work to run to a muggle town.

So the students were having trouble as well? Tiara knew Anastasia was feeling similarly and she had heard Airey was also suffering. She even knew that one or two of her quidditch players weren't feeling normal. But.. for Tessa to say that so bluntly meant that it was common knowledge amongst the student body in general.

Keep that in mind? "Well if your memory is anything like mine is these days..." She sighed. "I had better just give you a tub. I bought fifteen, so I can certainly spare one." She rummaged in her drawer and found her stash. "There. Share with your similarly-plagued friends." Sharing was caring, after all.

"Was there anything else, dear?" Because if not... she needed a nap. It was a common midday occurrence this year.

Tessa rubbed the tiny bit of ointment onto her wrists and felt the instant coolness that had already relieved the knuckles on her hands. She looked over and noticed that the Professor appeared to be thinking over what she had said. Had she said something wrong? She hadn't meant to be disrespectful- although she knew she could come across that way at times.

A tub? "Are you sure Professor?" she asked, resisting the urge to take one up immediately. It felt so good on her hands... But she didn't want to inconvenience the woman, who had done so much for her already, and had agreed to do even more (once the weather had improved). "Thank you so much," she said, taking the tub gingerly. "I will definitely have to invest in more if this persists," she said with a sigh.

"No, I believe that is all Professor," she said, slowly levering herself out of the chair in the process she had come up with that was the least painful. "Thank you so much," she said, heading over to the door.

Tyner nodded her head. "Absolutely sure. And you're welcome." She relinquished her grip on the mixture. "Let us hope you do not need any more than just this one, shall we?"

So it appeared that their meeting was drawing to a close. "Again, you are most certainly welcome. It has been a pleasure." Except for the part where she relived unpleasant memories... but that wasn't Tessa's fault. "Come again if you have anything else you need." She opened the door for her. "Have a good evening!"

Waiting on the other side of the newly opened door to Tyner's office was Cutty. He was well-bundled and looking quite calm for a little boy who was day-by-day being morphed into an old man. And old man, who really did quite resemble the passed-on muggle artist known as Andy Warhol. Since his sight had started to go a bit, Cutty had taken to wearing very thick and dark-rimmed spectacles which helped greatly in the classes as well as when he was watching games.

"Professor Tyner, have I come at a bad hour?" He asked spotting another student.

"Oh!!!!!"

Right on the other side of the door was a large, fuzzy object. Not fuzzy as in growing mold or hair. Fuzzy as in blurry. Tiara had to sqquuuiiiiiiiiiiiiiint her eyes to make out the shape as male. OLD male.

"Knock on the door and make your presence known next time! You about gave me a heart attack!" She placed her hand over her heart to check its rhythm. As trusty as her dad's old, beat-up truck back when she was growing up.

Blink. Blink.

Oh, he meant HER. Yes, she was a professor now, and no she shouldn't remember that just because it had been a year and a half now. "What's all this about a mad bower, sonny?" Kids these days. She just didn't understand their groovy lingo.

A mad bower? Cutty considered that as a future career choice for a minute and the only problem with that as that he didn't know what a bower was, but he thought it might be related somehow to the fashion industry. Like a mad hatter, or whatever. His hearing hadn't gotten as bad as some of his classmates and he'd gotten fairly good at lip reading when up close.

"Oh, nothing, nothing, it's just..." He paused considering how to word the next bit. "I have a dilemna." He said sounding as if he were a bit surprised by his own words himself. This all promised to be a very interesting first encounter with the school's Flying Instructor.

So the lad wasn't even going to apologize for almost killing her? She wasn't kidding about that heart attack, you know! The old ticker was just not the same as it used to be. Blasted age.

Why did the children have to mumble so much? She stuck her finger in her ear and turned it back an forth, cleaning out as much wax as possible. It didn't help. I may have to look into seeing if those muggle hearing aids will work in this place. So much muggle technology didn't, after all. "Well go on, spit it out, then. What seems to be the problem?"

A faint little grin appeared on Cutty's face as he realized the possibility of having caught Tyner on what was perhaps an off day that day at the Broomshed. Within the confines of that small space she hadn't been nearly as down-to-business as she was showing her capacity for now. He liked it. He liked it when people didn't waste time.

"I have a broom." His gaze was brought back from the photos of Tyner in her gymnast days, looking more like she did last year. Seeing her finger being used to clear her hearing, the wee Slyth swallowed to clear his throat and enunciated as he went on. "A Nimbus to be exact. Which I can neither use having not made my house team, nor ship back. I was wondering if you knew of any students, who could do with a broom to use for the year, but who maybe couldn't afford one for themselves? Or a promising first year who can't keep one for his or herself just yet?" Cutty hadn't been at the school very long, but it was long enough to understand that offering something out of nowhere without asking for anything in return especially for students of his house might read a bit suspiciously. He was prepared to answer any questions.

He had a room? That seemed like an unusual statement to start out a conversation with. Or had she heard him wrong? Definitely the latter option, she decided, as he began talking about a BROOM. "Hmmm. No one comes to m--"

COUGH. COUGH COUGH. HACK.

She cleared her throat. "Apologies. No one comes to mind at the moment. But of course you are more than welcome to store your Nimbus in the broom shed for the year and take it out to fly at your leisure." Tiara couldn't imagine ever going a whole year without her broom. Although, this year... Her body was telling her that it may soon be time to give up flying. The official shuddered at the thought. She had always known it would come some day, but she hadn't thought it would be for another few decades.

"And I will keep my ears open as well. That was a very generous offer to make, Mr. Mordaunt. How very thoughtful."

The boy's expression shifted ever so slightly upon seeing the Flying Official fall into a coughing fit. He stepped forward and administered a few gentle pats upon the back as his mother did him whenever he would cough or choke. Mimicry, but did this in fact help?

Were it not for their height difference they looked much closer in age than Cutty thought he would experience his second year at Hogwarts. Not that it bothered him greatly, being old. He was building the argument against his mother that it meant that he deserved a higher status within their small family unit and he got to have a long, white beard he was a beard-o. The aches and pains were not his favourite thing as they tended to slow him down considerably. Nor was he a fan of the inevitable dying. He was hoping to strip some assets before he went. Plus, he was looking more and more like a Rhesus Macaque. Like one of those flip-books where you can change the top and middle of several pictures to create your own and often hilariously mismatched one, some had flipped the page and given an elderly wizard the head of a monkey.

And then, Andy Warhol's glasses and white, white hair.

His withered and apish face gave in to a large smile at the mention of his thoughtfulness. That was why he'd come instead of just opting to sell his Nimbus in Hogsmeade or even to another student. "Thank you, Professor Tyner. It seemed like it was the most logical thing to do, afterall." Seeing that she had ceased her coughing fit and didn't seem likely to go into it again he withdrew his hand. "Well, that was about all I needed help with today, Professor. Is it alright if I let myself out? Astronomy tonight and there's a few things I wanted to..." Don't say 'look up'! Don't say 'look up!' "Research before class starts."

With a book tugged under his arm the librarian made his way down to Tiara’s office. His ‘official’ reason for going down to see his colleague was to deliver a book he thought she’d might like to read. It was brand new and top seller. The real reason was more of the snoopy, detective, concerned sort. Leo hadn’t been down at the last qudditch games due to last minute stuff that had come up. But he had heard about the rapidly worsening disease. It didn’t just affect student’s it affected Sophia and Tiara and even Annie that he knew of maybe even Javy? The whole school was in peril why weren’t the BoG or ministry for that matter doing anything?

Coming down to Tiara’s office he knocked on the door twice before he resolutely opened the door and walked in. "Tiara!" Leo chirped as he waved around with the book in his hand. "I've got a book for you." Spotting the boy hovering by the door just then he flashed him a smile of recognition "Hello Cutty!"

Hmmm. Was he patting her on the back? That was rather kindly of him. Wheeeeeeze. Splutter. Throat clear. "Ahhh, that's better. What a kind lad you are, Cuthbert." Er... was that it? "Take 500 points for saving my life! Or, wait, no... more like 8." She was getting generous in her old age, but not THAT generous. She could have died, true, but she seemed to be getting close to that anyways.

"Leaving so soon?" So she wasn't going to get him to rub her aching feet, then. "Off you go, then, sonny. And close the--"

"Leonard!" she exclaimed at the sight of the librarian. All thoughts of that young boy had just flown out the window with the entrance of the second youngster. "What brings you down this way, Mr. Kithering?" No, she hadn't registered the fact that he had already explained the answer to this question.

Merlin! Tyner was going to give Cutty a heart attack when she'd said her initial point allotment. He at least had broken out in a small sweat. Eight points, though. That would put him back on the house leaderboard and almost replace the ones he'd lost when the idiot Fern Quimbley drank her own potion and Culloden had blamed him for it. Stupid, stupid Fern.

They'd probably end up married later.

Still, eight whole points just for patting a Professor on the back. Tyner. He'd come back and see her again. Cutty turned when he'd heard his name in the familiar voice of one, Mr. Leo Kitridge. "Hello, Mr. Kitridge.", he greeted the Librarian cheerfully. He turned away for a moment, though just to silently lip the name: Leonard.

When he'd heard Professor Tyner address the Librarian as Mr. Kithering, his lips were sucked into his mouth in effort to stiffle his laughter. It was time to go. "Well, sorry I can't stay." He closed his eyes and breathed deeply. "Astronomy calls. Thanks for your time, Professor Tyner. See you later, Mr. K...Mr. Kitridge." But he said the Librarians name awfully quickly, then held his breath taking his leave of the office and shutting the door behind himself.

500 points!

Leo was ready to clear his throat and protest when Tiara amended herself and just awarded Cutty with 8 points for patting her on the back to stop her coughing fit. Poor woman, this disease wasn’t being gentle to her. They needed a cure.

Eyes widened considerably when Tiara spotted him and called him L E O N A R D.

Gulp. Gulp. Mr Kithering wasn’t that much better either. Keeping a straight face Leo turned briefly to the young snake as he turned to leave. "Goodbye Cutty!" he called after the boy.

Crossing the distance between him and Tiara he chirped in a happy tone eyes twinkling. "I've got a brand new book for you. It's called 'The wonderful art of flying: A guide to broom sports, fouls, tricks and much more by Marcus Sutton.' I thought you'd like to read it?" Holding the book out to her Leo hoped Tiara wouldn't start calling him sonny, or some other version of leo..Leonard was enough..

"Astronomy is calling? You tell her I said hello, will you? Such a wonderful student she was." Or wait, was that her sister? No, she was definitely thinking of the right person. That had to be over ten years ago even though this was her second year of teaching. "Any time, my dear lad. Anyone who saves my life is welcome back!" Especially if they brought prune juice. "Have a nice day, Cuthbert!"

But Kithering here, what had HE done for her? Why was HE in her office? He certainly hadn't saved her l-- "Book, eh? That sounds fascinating, I love books!" She gave him a big smile, but then it began to fade as her brow furrowed. "Title's much too long, though. People these days thinking they need all these long, fancy names to sound good. Back in my day things were simpler. People just read for the enjoyment of things!" She suddenly eyed him suspiciously. "You aren't one of fancy-pantsy long title likers, are you, sonny?" Was he here to convert her? What if that book burned compliance into her brain!!

Without warning, she whipped out her wand, pointed it at the book, and sent a huge stem or air at it. "Get that thing away from me! I won't be fooled! You can't brainwash me!"

Wait!

Wait!

Just wait a minute!

How in great Muriel's socks had they gone from excitement over a brand new book to Tiara thinking he was there to brainwash her? Taking several hasty steps backwards Leo quickly snatched the book up and held it behind his back to not get it more damaged than what the steam had already rendered. This was not going as planned.

Taking a long rapid breath as Tiara was still aiming her wand at him Leo said tentatively eyes widened slightly with worry. "Tiara, I'd never brainwash you. I just wanted to bring you something nice to read. I didn’t know you didn’t like books with long fancy titles." Leo hadn't even registered that Tiara called him sonny just like she had Cutty minutes earlier it was the least of his worried. Pushing the book down into a robe pocket he tried to plead. "Tiara please put your wand away I’m not here to brainwash you." Please believe him.

Oh stink. He'd moved it out of harm's way. Actually, mission accomplished either way. It was safely away from her and she would no longer fear its brainwashing Dark Magic!

She glared suspiciously at him. "You aren't, eh?" She lowered her wand. "Well alright, then. Have a seat. Prunes?" she said, holding out her special stash. "So, Leonard... why ARE you here?" Certainly a visitor should state his intentions, no? And he hadn't said anything of the sort, or she would have remembered it, of course!

Taking a deep breath of relief as Tiara lowered her wand Leo shook his head in affirmation. “Certainly not, I'd never ever do that to you." Cautiously he moved over to take a seat in one of the rickety chairs by Tiara's desk. Taking a prune from the bag he plucked it into his mouth to taste. "Have you produced the prunes yourself? They’re tasty." Not that Leo ate prunes very often only about once a year or something.

He let his gaze wander around the office for a few minutes before they came finally to rest on Tiara again. "I came to see how you were. So how are you feeling? I heard you fell off your broom during one of the quidditch matches." And please Leo prayed don’t get mad at him for wanting to see to a colleagues well-being. He didn't want to get hexed.

Excuse you, mister Kithering, but stealing a colleague's prunes didn't happen to be a way to endear yourself to your host. And it didn't make the host any more likely to believe that you wouldn't try to brainwash her, either. Hmph! She snatched away the prunes and said, "That's certainly plenty, Mister Kithering." She set the precious bag back inside her desk. "No, I do not intend to reduce them any more." He had done that for her enough already.

What was it about these young whippersnappers and constantly inquiring about health? She wasn't 150, you know! "I'm just fine, Leonard Kithering. A little fall can't keep this one down so easily, thank you very much." And he would be so lucky to be this way when he got to be this age! "Granted, I seem to not have my typical reflexes and balance," which contributed to the fall, "but surely that is to be expected after such an unfortunate accident."