Breakfast, 8 AM, Saturday morning.

Cosgrach checked his watch, tapping his foot impatiently on the floor. Yes, he was regretting his decision--the part '8 AM'. Because that meant he had to be there at 7.45 in case they were early and all, and he hated getting up this early at the weekend.

But he was. Up. For. Two. Brats.

Joy.

Settling down in his usual seat, he was surprised how he didn't feel tiredness but anger. He guessed anger was what kept him awake and ready, and he knew he wasn't getting any breakfast until he sorted them out.

Well? Were they showing up already or not?

"Professor Culloden, Good morning." The boy began with a calm, almost sleepy greeting as he stepped up with a squeaking knee to the dais. The new sound his body was making caused Cutty to bend again at the knees just to hear it again. The boy gave an amused smile. "Get a good night's sleep?" Cutty leaned forward and put his hands on the staff table to kind of lean in.

Fern stepped up to the Staff Dias at precisely 7:59 AM. She had purposely arrived as close to 8 o'clock as possible in order to make sure she would be chained to Cuthbert for 12 hours, and only 12 hours. Because how did she know if she arrived at 7:50 and Cuthbert arrived at 7:50, Professor Culloden wouldn't handcuff them right then and there? And then Fern would be stuck with Cuthbert for a whole additional ten minutes.

Fern didn't even want to think about what could happen in those ten minutes.

The Hufflepuff brushed her hair forward, off of her back and onto her shoulders. She had Siccus Aeroused it that morning until it was voluminous as possible, so as to better hide her face. This was partially because there were atrociously ugly dark rings under her eyes (If only she could wear concealer! Thirteen was less than a year away, and Fern could TASTE it), but mostly because she didn't want anyone to recognize her.

Fern didn't know how her reputation was going to survive this ordeal, but she wasn't going to let herself become unpopular without a fight.

Taking a deep breath, Fern squeaked, "Hello, Professor Culloden."

Cosgrach didn't even note his squeaking knee--he was that grumpy--but just grunted to acknowledge the greeting. He wondered WHY the boy was smiling--WHETHER he had planned something to torture Fern Quimbley, but he didn't say anything. That was Fern's problem. She shouldn't have dared him. Or, if she could dare him, she could surely handle him now.

"Oh, it was fantastic," the man answered the boy and glared at him. If only he hadn't broken up with the girl--why did always someone break up? He didn't bother to ask how his night was, and just waited for the girl as he kept looking at his watch every 30 seconds.

Waiting... waiting... or was she going to be late in the first mor--

THERE she was! Cosgrach checked his watch. JUST in time, with a funny hair. He briefly wondered whether that had taken her so long. He then noted the rings under her eyes, but he wasn't someone to second-guess his decisions so he didn't, and just stopped asking questions to himself about the reasons of those.

Weird. Who could argue with a kid these days?

"Morning," he answered, less grumpily this time. Not that he was favouring the girl, but because being grumpy was tiring and he was tired enough already.

He yawned. He was too sleepy to articulate complex sentences, so he merely said "Bring your hands together."

That was their queue to stand together, Cutty pulled himself straight up out of his leaning and without resistance, pulled up to Fern's side and held out his arm. The boy's mind was chiming, whistling and thumping in an intricate pattern not unlike that of a gamelan, that instrumental ensemble so complex it often took twelve whole people to play it. There are three people here, and only two of them had mistakenly stepped into the instrument.


Surely, it must have been a mistake.


His expression turned towards ...well, maybe it was a hope-ridden smile as he took up Fern's hand and gazed at her as though she were the only girl in the Great Hall (maybe even, the world).

Fern gulped. She hoped Cuthbert had showered. She hoped he had put on deodorant. She hoped he had brushed his teeth and cleaned behind those ridiculously over-sized ears. She hoped he wasn't going to fart in the next twelve hours.

Oh Merlin, please, please, PLEASE don't let him fart!

Fern refused to look at Cuthbert, and she only registered him coming over to her side by the sound of his footsteps and what she could catch in her peripheral vision. When he lifted his arm, she lifted her's too, letting it be next to his in the air, with a good inch (or two) between.

She closed her eyes, ready for the handcuffs.

Then Fern squealed. Cuthbert was HOLDING her hand!!! HOLDING HER HAND!!!! Fern was positive that when Professor Culloden said to bring their hands together, he did not mean together-together. He meant next to each other. Not palm to palm, fingers interlocking. Now she was getting all of Cuthbert's germy, sweaty body oils on her! Hadn't Fern told him, loud and clear, not to touch her!? The Hufflepuff tried furiously to free her hand from his grip. She did not see Cuthbert's expression - all of her attention was focused on his hand and her's.

...was that a hopeful smile? Cosgrach was going to take it so. See, Fern? He is giving you a chance to make it up to him! Even holding your hand like--but why was she squealing!? Out of excitement? Must be so. Yeah. That--that expression. PURE EXCITEMENT! AWWWW--EEEEWW! Cosgrach tried not to look judgmental or disgusted, and just... ignored her efforts to yank her hand free.

...too much excitement. Maybe she needed another dose of the calming draught?

Drawing his wand from its sleeve holster, he muttered a few words, wove an invisible chain with his wand and a soft-to-touch-impossible-to-break handcuff bound their hands together.

"Okay, come see me at 7 PM in my office," he said to them in an almost neutral tone. His grumpiness was definitely dissolving. "If you need to use the bathroom, say 'emergency' and the chain will break for seven minutes, and seven minutes only. After that, it will try to pull you to each other wherever and in whichever state you are." So, like, be fast with the nature's call. "You can only use the password three times in a day." This was another test of how well they compromised: if any of them tried to pull a prank on the other by using the password in vain, the other one would have to find a way to shut them up not to waste it, because: "There will be consequences for both of you if you enter places you should not enter." Like each others' toilets and common rooms.

His hand moved to his pocket and drew a formal-looking paper signed by him. "This is a formal request for you to be admitted to the classes in handcuffs." He paused, thought it over, then nodded to himself.

"Any questions?" Could he enjoy his breakfast now?

Is this what it was like to be incarcerated? Cutty would probably find out eventually. Silly smile that was meant to look hope-stricken still there upon his face until he let go of Fern's squirming little badger paw ...probably at the precise moment she was pulling with the most force. With his free hand, he took the document, the formal request, and gave it a quick read. Alright, let's hope Professors Bentley and Thompson would understand. He made to roll it up and tuck it away into his bag. He'd be holding on to that thank you!


"No questions from me, Professor Culloden." He said calmly, still meditating on that 7 minutes rule. What manner of magic was this? Obviously it was possible to learn it even if his magic was not yet developed enough to perform it.

Fern didn't see Professor Culloden weaving the magic handcuffs, either.

No. All she could see - or think about - was Cuthbert's nasty hand trapping her's. And about how she bet he didn't wash his hands after he handled dung bombs and whatever other questionable objects he kept in that bag of his. And about how dung bombs were made from - wait. Were they made from real dung?! EW EW EWWW!!! The sudden appearance of the handcuffs on their wrists didn't stop her efforts, and Fern dug her heals into the stone floor and pulled, pulled, puuuuuuuulled-

At last! She had freed herself! "WoowoAH!" Fern's jubilant face quickly turned surprised and fearful. She had pulled too hard, and now she was flailing, trying to catch her balance - or catch something to hold onto.

That's how she suddenly found herself clinging to Cuthbert's left arm.

...

...

...

SHE WAS TOUCHING CUTHBERT. HE WASN'T TOUCHING HER. SHE WAS TOUCHING HIM.

Fern let go. She didn't look at Cuthbert. She didn't look at the professor. She wasn't listening to anything anyone was saying. She was planning the fastest route to Azkaban, so she could offer herself up to a Dementor and get her soul sucked.

Cosgrach was glad Cutty took the paper, because he definitely was the more responsible one. He nodded at--

.....

.........MERLIN! Couldn't she stay CALMLY just ONE moment!?

Cosgrach waved his wand to keep them safely on their feet, and GLARED at the girl.

"Do you want me to stick your hand to his, Ms. Quimbley?" Maybe the boy was torturing her, maybe he KNEW she would flail and all, but Cosgrach didn't see it that way at all. What he saw was: Cutty was responsible, smart, impressive and eloquent (and right to break up with her); whereas she was this squirming, loud, not-really-bright girl (maybe she brew a love potion to get his attention?--she was just a second year, though, so it had to be that she BOUGHT it). Cutty was beginning to impress him again, whereas she was in the negatives. He HOPED she would pick herself up, or else...

"Now, please go." He turned 90 degrees to the plate in front of him and showed he was focusing on his food now. That was their cue to be GONE for good now, because his patience was wearing out, especially with her.

Breakfast time! Anastasia was happy to report to the Great Hall for breakfast. Her hip was aching again (probably because she'd teetered over in that Magical Creature playpen) and she was looking for some warm porridge to take her mind off the pain.

She made her way slowly to the dais and wasn't surprised to see only Cosgrach here. It was still pretty early. Most of those young hooligans liked to sleep in, didn't they? Except for these two hanging out here, apparently? Annie eyed them briefly as she walked the length of the table.

But oh, her attention was mostly focused on Cosgrach. She simply had to sit next to him. Annie touched her hair nervously as she approached where he was sitting and then casually pulled out the chair beside him. She hoped her hair was looking all right. Not that she was vain or anything, but *ahem* she had a feeling her unsavory roots were showing and it had only been two weeks since she had last colored them.

She was going to have to write to Madame Primpernelle's and complain about their watering down of their potions later. Hmmph! But for now... the redhead spooned some cream of wheat into a bowl and busied herself with adjusting its sweetness. She pretended not to listen to whatever was going on with the Puff, the Snake, and the Potions Professor. She'd talk to her colleague when they were done.

Cutty managed to keep a smile from his face as Fern plopped into him. Such a waste of energy. Such a waste of marvelous, marvelous energy. Well, never one for waste, Cutty's mind began to twist and plot as he tried to figure ways to channel Fern's energy for his own benefit. Maybe if he invested in rollerblades...? H'mm.

Mush, girl! Mush!

That last word from their potions master was given and Cutty took it as their queue to depart from the staff table. In a manner which almost implied that he could care less about Fern and her woes, the boy started their departure, but first...




"Good morning, Headmistress Truebridge." He acknowledged the school's Headmistress with the parting salutation. Being dismissed, he would not linger. Instead, he headed straight for the Slytherin table...and Quimbley was coming whether by will or force.

Really, kids, go. Cosgrach was trying to decide whether he should ignore them, but he couldn't think long. Annie had come, and distracted him by her roots--didn't she know she could do colouring? sitting next to him.

"Hello Annie," he said, and distantly heard the boy--he was good at ignoring, y'know, and thinking that they were finally gone, glanced sideways at his Headmistress and took some eggs on his plate.

"Slept well?"

"No!" Fern yelped, all thoughts of dementors replaced by that of an even worse fate - her hand glued to Cuthbert's ALL DAY LONG. "I mean I mean!" Fern took a deep, shaky breath. She tried to compose herself. This was very hard, "Sorry professor, sorry!"

Right. Fern didn't need to be told twice. "Yes sir!" she squeaked, and started to leave, but her wrist jerked against the chain. Cuthbert had stopped. Why had he stopped?



Oh!

Oh no!

It was the headmistress.

Fern's fashion idol.

Professor Elwood had the most fabulous collection of jingly bracelets, and Professor Bellaire wore dragon skin dresses, but Headmistress Truebridge belonged to a class all her own. She always wore the cutest heals and boots, and her outfits were always color coordinated and fashion forward, and her hair was always perfectly coifed. She WAS fashion. The living embodiment. Oftentimes, Fern wondered why Headmistress Truebridge was a headmistress when she could so easily be the chief editor of Style Sorcery and have VIP front seats and backstage passes for all of the best fashion shows.

Normally, Fern wouldn't have complained, not when this meant that she got to see Headmistress Truebridge's fashion choices on a daily basis. Today, however, she was wishing Headmistress Truebridge was A. Truebridge with a London penthouse and an office in DA.

Fern shook her head, trying to get her bushy hair to better hide her face, and she shoved her free hand into her pocket in order to hide her dark orchid nails. "Hello, Headmistress," she said in the very lowest voice she could manage, before feeling the chain on her wrist yanked again - this time not in protest to her movement, but instead pulling her along. Fern turned and followed Cuthbert without complaint, keeping her head down.

Text Cut: Cutty & Fern

Quote:

Originally Posted by SlytherinSistah

"Good morning, Headmistress Truebridge." He acknowledged the school's Headmistress with the parting salutation. Being dismissed, he would not linger. Instead, he headed straight for the Slytherin table...and Quimbley was coming whether by will or force.

Quote:

Originally Posted by imaginarynumb3rs

Oh!

Oh no!

It was the headmistress.

Fern's fashion idol.

Professor Elwood had the most fabulous collection of jingly bracelets, and Professor Bellaire wore dragon skin dresses, but Headmistress Truebridge belonged to a class all her own. She always wore the cutest heals and boots, and her outfits were always color coordinated and fashion forward, and her hair was always perfectly coifed. She WAS fashion. The living embodiment. Oftentimes, Fern wondered why Headmistress Truebridge was a headmistress when she could so easily be the chief editor of Style Sorcery and have VIP front seats and backstage passes for all of the best fashion shows.

Normally, Fern wouldn't have complained, not when this meant that she got to see Headmistress Truebridge's fashion choices on a daily basis. Today, however, she was wishing Headmistress Truebridge was A. Truebridge with a London penthouse and an office in DA.

Fern shook her head, trying to get her bushy hair to better hide her face, and she shoved her free hand into her pocket in order to hide her dark orchid nails. "Hello, Headmistress," she said in the very lowest voice she could manage, before feeling the chain on her wrist yanked again - this time not in protest to her movement, but instead pulling her along. Fern turned and followed Cuthbert without complaint, keeping her head down.

Hmm, had she met this little boy before? Bunz squinted at him to try to see if she recognized his face, but evidently her eyes weren't yet awake. The boy's face still appeared blurry. Hmm. "Good morning..." And the girl, did she know her too? No? Again with the squinting... the Headmistress shook her head and wiggled her fingers bye bye to the pair. "Good day... stay out of trouble now..."

Naturally she had no idea about the real reason those two were up here. No idea. Cosgrach though...

Quote:

Originally Posted by StarShine

Really, kids, go. Cosgrach was trying to decide whether he should ignore them, but he couldn't think long. Annie had come, and distracted him by her roots--didn't she know she could do colouring? sitting next to him.

"Hello Annie," he said, and distantly heard the boy--he was good at ignoring, y'know, and thinking that they were finally gone, glanced sideways at his Headmistress and took some eggs on his plate.

"Slept well?"

"Hello," she turned a beaming, bright white smile on him. "I did, did you?" He looked a little tired, to be honest... but hopefully he hadn't noticed her roots? She squinted at the assortment of foods on the table and added some what she thought were blueberries to her porridge. "How are your lessons going?"

Cosgrach couldn't help but snort when Annie told them to stay out of trouble. He debated whether or not he should tell her how many of her students loved to be in the middle of the trouble, but kept his mouth shut in the end. Maybe she was mourning for something, judging by her hair and how... old her face looked. Yeah. Nobody's live was fantastic these days anyway, so...

"No, not really." He made a face, then took another piece of egg into his mouth. After he was done chewing, he said "No one messed up with the brewing, so I'm content." He then smirked. "Lafay was tough, eh?"

Quote:

Originally Posted by StarShine

Cosgrach couldn't help but snort when Annie told them to stay out of trouble. He debated whether or not he should tell her how many of her students loved to be in the middle of the trouble, but kept his mouth shut in the end. Maybe she was mourning for something, judging by her hair and how... old her face looked. Yeah. Nobody's live was fantastic these days anyway, so...

"No, not really." He made a face, then took another piece of egg into his mouth. After he was done chewing, he said "No one messed up with the brewing, so I'm content." He then smirked. "Lafay was tough, eh?"

Was Cos snorting over there? Annie gave him a peek or a squint, more like from the corner of her eye and went back to eating her porridge. Maybe he was just clearing his nose... er... throat... whatever, it was too early to think on it too much.

"Sorry to hear that." She blotted her mouth politely and gave him more of her focus. Well, no one had messed up! That was something. "She was, but I don't know if she was necessarily tough on the students academically." Pause. "She was just a tough... personality in general." Maybe that was a trait shared by all potions masters, she was starting to wonder.

Cosgrach shrugged, and eyed the food in front of him. When he couldn't sleep, he didn't exactly want to eat either. He grumpily eyed the table, then settled on taking half a crêpe.

Hmm, she was tough in general. Of course. It was enough to judge so just by looking at the faces of the students. He didn't comment further, though. It was others' job to gossip.

"How is your..." Did she have a child? He couldn't remember. Better to leave that vague. "Your family?"

He still looked and was moody, but at least he was trying to make small talk.

Quote:

Originally Posted by StarShine

Cosgrach shrugged, and eyed the food in front of him. When he couldn't sleep, he didn't exactly want to eat either. He grumpily eyed the table, then settled on taking half a crêpe.

Hmm, she was tough in general. Of course. It was enough to judge so just by looking at the faces of the students. He didn't comment further, though. It was others' job to gossip.

"How is your..." Did she have a child? He couldn't remember. Better to leave that vague. "Your family?"

He still looked and was moody, but at least he was trying to make small talk.

A shrug? A shrug was all she was going to get for that answer? He was the who had asked.... so Anastasia shrugged too and swirled her spoon around her porridge. Stir stir stir. Such a quiet morning.

"Oh!" Her family! Maybe he did want to talk to her. That was enough to cheer the redhead up slightly. "They're well, I think. I haven't been over to our cottage in a few days. Ethan's working on another book. Davie says he wants to read it." And he could, because he was a brilliant little boy.

She pondered whether she should inquire about his relatives? Were his parents still around? Probably shouldn't ask that, as their... history and their money issues was probably a sore subject for him.

"Have any plans for today?" the redhead asked instead.

Cosgrach was easy to irritate today, so he was a little irritated with her stirring the porridge for far too long, but he was well mannered enough to keep his mouth shut. He just side-eyed her, though, and focused on his crepe and which jam to have it with. Strawberry? Orange? Cherry? Hmm.

Oh, so she did have a boy, because the man was sure Ethan was the husband. "That's great." What was good was, though, how she sounded more cheerful. "How old is Davi-e?" Cosgrach had almost said 'David', but maybe that wasn't the full name. Who knew? No, seriously, did someone know much about her other than herself here?

"Torturing those two that had just been here," he said casually as he rolled his crepe. "You?" Cue a side-eyed glance as he took a bite from it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by StarShine

Cosgrach was easy to irritate today, so he was a little irritated with her stirring the porridge for far too long, but he was well mannered enough to keep his mouth shut. He just side-eyed her, though, and focused on his crepe and which jam to have it with. Strawberry? Orange? Cherry? Hmm.

Oh, so she did have a boy, because the man was sure Ethan was the husband. "That's great." What was good was, though, how she sounded more cheerful. "How old is Davi-e?" Cosgrach had almost said 'David', but maybe that wasn't the full name. Who knew? No, seriously, did someone know much about her other than herself here?

"Torturing those two that had just been here," he said casually as he rolled his crepe. "You?" Cue a side-eyed glance as he took a bite from it.

"Mhmmm," Annie agreed as she ate her porridge. It was good, good for her adorable little family. "David? Oh, he's.. well, he's fiv--- no, he's SIX now." Six and growing up so fast! Ugh! She gave a tiny sigh of displeasure at the age of her baby. Already.

*sniffle*

She blotted her mouth with her napkin and maybe dotted at her nose with it too. Subtly, though, because she too had table manners. "Oh are you?" Annie flashed Cos a brilliant grin. "I do so love student torture. What was the manner of today's festivities?" Her? "I don't know, I was thinking of taking a brisk walk out to the greenhouses." Maybe... he'd care to accompany her?

Hmm? Annie might have batted her eyelashes a few harmless times before she ate another bite of porridge.

Six? Goodness. Annie really WAS a mother--for a while now. It would cost him more than some imagination to picture her looking after a child though, so he didn't even attempt to. He just wrote it down as a fact, and it was that.

He missed the nose part as he was busy eating his crêpe. He caught her grin though, and once he had swallowed all in his mouth, he returned it back with a glint in his eyes. With or without a child, Annie was still the same. Thankfully.

"She loved him, he broke up with her, she became angry and dared him or something with my potion," really, what a silly move, "and I caught them, so they'll spend three days handcuffed together." His face shone. Wasn't that a brilliant idea?

Greenhouses? "I don't have anything else to do in the morning." He wasn't that rude to invite himself to her trip though, no matter how she batted her eyelashes, so it was up to her to invite him.

And back to the crêpe's last part.

Six years, yes, six years was a dreadfully long time. How kind of Cossy not to comment though. Anything he would have said would have only made her feel older, and she was old enough as it was gray roots showing and all.

She finished off her porridge. "Oh young love," she tittered at the children's silly misfortune, though they had really brought it on themselves. "Brilliant punishment, though. I suspect she'll forget all about her feelings for him if she survives those three days." If she survives. So well done, potions professor!

"Well, would you care to join me?" Annie casually invited him along. "It looks calm outside." Do say yes. She would be disappointed now if he didn't.

Cosgrach snorted. Young love. He doubted they knew the definition of 'love'. At least they kept their lips to themselves in his dungeon.

He laughed somewhat cruelly, then. Annie understood him. He loved her for that, no matter how... rudely she had treated him back then. "Thank you, Headmistress. I hope both will enjoy it." He was sure he gave the girl her life's chance, though, really. A new chance to make Cutty love her again or something, though he doubted she would be loved by any with that voice of hers.

"I'd love to." He felt relieved that she officially invited him, because you never knew with these women.

He ate the last bit of his crêpe and poured himself a cup of tea. After drinking that, he was all ready to go.