Visiting with Dakest during the first couple days of school was something that Sophie Brown really wanted to make a tradition, so for the second term in a row, here she was, approaching the seating area outside his office, but this year it was without Evangeline Shacklebolt and with a lot of feelings about her dormmate.

She needed advice.

But first and foremost, even before any of her own woes, Soph wanted to check on Dakest. She'd hardly talked to him at all since.. that phone call. But now, they were back at school and things could go back to the way they were before and everything would be okay with him again, right?

...Right?

A few of Soph's usual knocks on the door signaled her arrival to him, if he was inside, and the Head Girl helped herself to--... where... was... the CHOCOLATE?

THE USUAL BOX TO MAKE S'MORES WAS MISSING. The addition of hot chocolate WAS exciting, she would admit, because the man KNEW HOW SHE LOVED HER HOT CHOCOLATE... but... CHOCOLATE AND GRAHAM CRACKERS. "Where's the CHOCOLATE?" she asked, loudly enough for the man to hear if he WAS behind the door.

WAS HE PRANKING HER?

From the time Adi had been first able to cast a corporeal patronus over the summer, he wanted to let his man crush Dakest know about it. He had figured an owl to the man would be awesome but which Professor would want their student bugging them over the summer? Plus Adi wanted to SHOW off his coyote.

"Sophieee!'' He had arrived just in time to hear her shouts. Was she shouting something about chocolate? WHERRREE was the chocolate? He wanted some! But didn't he have enough already? Hehe. "How's it going, Head Girl? I've got Chocolate Frogs, if that's okay for you.'' Grinning, he reached into his robe's pocket for one then handed it over to his friend.

Adi now eyed the door. He supposed Sophie's shouting was enough to bring Dakest out.

The knock was enough to bring him out. In fact, he was pretty sure there was a sign saying so somewhere near his door. Seemed however, that he hadn't moved quick enough, so yelling was a good tactic. Admittedly, he was moving slower than usual, but the knocks hadn't been frantic, so he had seen no reason to be either.

Upon opening the door, he was greeted by two familiar, and admittedly, welcoming faces. Resting his shoulder against the door frame, he frowned slightly at the company in his waiting area.

"Mr. Rehman, care to clarify for me, do badges give yelling rights?" If so, he was going to have to talk to the Headmaster about that. As for Ms Brown's inquiry, his attention turned to her, one eyebrow quirking up. "In regards to the chocolate however, I realized that the reason so many students keep insisting on it in my class, is likely because I freely offer it here. So, why not in my classroom?"

Obviously Brown, that was the most logical solution.

Still, a small smile played on the corners of his lips. "Good to see you two, all in one piece."

Ever since the eight legged incident a few months ago, Yoongi had been thinking about what the Professor had said all summer. ‘why didn’t you send a patronus?’ That question had been in his mind all the time and he had questions himself. What if something like this happened again and he couldn’t get away and run for help? What if he was in life or death situation again or worse what if someone else was and he couldn’t send help? In conclusion, he wanted ..no..needed to learn this spell. He knew he could easily look up books about it but he wasn’t a big reader and maybe the man could give him some tips? Plus, the question wasn’t that weird right? He was here to guide them right?

Feeling a bit awkward being here because he wasn’t a fan of asking for advice , Yoongi stood to admire the beauty of the seating area. How he had walked past this last time without seeing all of this was beyond him. Well, no one in their right minds would stop to admire the view when someone else was in danger ha…. But that was in the past and before he walked to the office door he checked inside one of the boxes and he laughed. He took out a package of magic fire. He knew what these were, he used them ones a few years ago on vacation. Could he? He walked over to the fire and tossed a package in. The flames turned a purple color as he watched and he wanted to throw every package in the box in the fire to cause a rainbow effect but refrained himself from doing that. Instead, he turned his back to the now purple fire after he had seen enough and knocked on the door.

Sophie was EXASPERATED over this turn of events in which all the chocolate was missing, but then a voice from down the corridor was drawing nearer, and Soph turned to see-- Adi, who had come bearing chocolate! A good friend, he was. "It's okay," she sighed dramatically, "I have some back at my dorm. I was just 'spectin' there'd be some here 'cause there was all last term. Think Dakest is playin' tricks--"

She cut off when the door opened and wrinkled her nose at the man in the doorway. He was TEASING HER, wasn't he, by asking about the yelling thing? She hoped Adi would say something sly in defense of her, but Soph went ahead and responded her own way anyway when he gave his elaboration on the missing chocolate, "You KNEW that was my favorite part of your seating area. You did this on purpose." RUINING HER LIFE. Clearly she was just kidding around, as evidenced by her playful tone and the smile on her face, but that didn't make it OKAY, DAKEST.

"I write a super good synopsis of your class in the yearbook for you 'n make you sound AWESOME, 'n this is how you repay me." Soph SIGHED AGAIN and dramatically flopped into one of the chair... log... things, still with a smile on her face that she couldn't conceal. "You can go first, Adi. M'gonna stay out here and stew awhile." Hehehe. But mostly, she just knew she and Dakest were gonna take a long time to talk, so... Adi could go first and do whatever he needed to do. Soph didn't want to feel hurried.

"You have to take it, I insist, Sophie,'' Adi remarked cheerfully. Really, no one should refuse chocolate even if they had a stash up in their dorm. He would know that based on experience.

Annnnd then the door was opening. The Hufflepuff turned his attention to Dakest, a grin in place. "HIIII, Professor!'' Ohh, that question. Sophie beat him to it but he still had a reply. "I think she was just much too disappointed about the chocolate. Even prefects are allowed to get that disappointed over chocolate.'' Right?

One piece... yep! They ALL were, thankfully! "Great to see you, too, Professor." Yessers, indeed! Because this Puff had Glider to show off. "You sure?'' [/B]Adi now asked Sophie? Because he didn't mind waiting either but his Claw friend was already flopping down. "Alright. That's fine by me but don't stew too much.'' He winked.

Sabel's gaze drifted between the two badge-wearers. A Prefect and a Head Girl. Both disraught, or defensive, over the concept of missing chocolate. Were they allowed to get upset? Sure. He gave that a shrug. "Fair enough, but some decorum would be appreciated in handling your distress. Good role models and all."

The smile was a little more firmly in place, but still reserved. They even got the benefit of a chuckle from him, as Brown shot the accusation forward. "Well of course I did it on perfect. Not like the chocolate grew legs and walked off on it's own." His eyes went to Rehman, one eyebrow arching as if to say or did it? This was Hogwarts after all. Home of the unnatural and unusual.

"You also gave me a nickname I'm sure to never be rid of, and accused the boys and I of betraying trust and causing waterworks." The boys of course being Flamsteed and Culloden. A grin played on his lips as he moved away from the door and clapped Rehman on the shoulder. "Wouldn't want to tarnish such an outstanding reputation, right?."

Rehman could answer that rhetorical question or not. Whatever suited him. He gave the kid a pat-pat on the shoulder as he directed him towards his office. A grin was flashed over his shoulder at Brown, even as concern flashed through his eyes.

------------------
Adi can now post in the Professors office. Will be back Sophie Brown!



Admittedly, the knocks on the door were starting to become refreshing. Kept him from thinking too long or too hard on any particular thought that he shouldn't think too long or hard on. That, and add on the fact that none of the knocks were yet desperate, and they were a welcome thing indeed.

Settling the book he had been half reading, half staring at, Sabel rose to his feet and went to the door. He couldn't quite place who the knock belonged to, save that it's owner wasn't a stranger to visiting his office. Those knocks were usually quicker and softer, as if they wanted to be heard, but not at the same time.

Pulling the door open, he was greeted by a familiar face. "Mr. Hyland. Welcome back. I hope your summer was suitable." His gaze drifted beyond the boy, drawn by something out of place. Purple fire. Why was the ---

A grin broke through. "I see you've discovered the magic fire packets. It's about time someone did. I believe you're one of the first."

He heard movement coming from inside of the office. That meant that the Professor was ‘home’ and he couldn’t back down now. He had thought about leaving as soon as he had knocked but the door was already open. Welcome back. Hah. “funny how it’s a welcome back when I hardly remember this place” he smiled sheepishly as he looked at the outdoor seating area. “I remember the panic though” he laughed now, as if everything that had happened a few months ago was a big funny joke now. “But my summer was okay, went to france, my sisters forced me to go up the eiffel tower" he shivered at the memory. "the usual and i made some goals that I want to achieve this year” he said. “How was your summer, sir?”

He got even more relaxed when the Professor grinned as well and he too looked behind him at the purple fire. “Wait, NO ONE ever threw those in the fire?” like whuuuut? COLORED FIRE PEOPLE! COLORED FIRE! “Soooo since I’m the first one, can I have a few packages?” please? “Not for pranks!” he added quickly . “Just for the fire in the Gryffindor Common Room” scouts honour.

For a boy who based his entire life around logic and reason, Hogwarts was a very strange place to be, and Daxton was having a hard time adjusting. The castle itself, even when you knew your way around, was about as confusing and overwhelming as it could get. Doors and entire rooms disappeared and reappeared, there were vanishing steps on the staircases (which in and of themselves were tricky as they always seemed to be moving), the inhabitants of the portraits could move, and move into each other's frames, and even interact with living people, and the list went on and on. Some teachers had even gone and turned inside into outside.

Or at least, that was what it felt like to Daxton. He'd already poked his head into this seating area once, when he made his first trip around the castle, planning the layout in his head, and noticed all the grass. It confused him then, it confused him now. Outside should stay outside. That was why it was outside.

But still, the first year had matters he needed to attend to, and he had at last talked himself into visiting this office in particular. Daxton entered the seating area, wearing his very clearly more-than-second-hand uniform, but no robes, and socks, but no shoes. He carried his notebook, already turned to the a page with 'DO NOT TOUCH ME' printed in giant letters (so that he was prepared to hold it up to anyone who got near him) and a Defence Against the Dark Arts textbook he had taken out of the library, aimed at students a good few years older than he.

Very pointedly ignoring the strange outside-brought-inside seating area that made him all kinds of uncomfortable, Daxton headed straight for the door of the office...

... and froze.

He wanted to knock... but for some reason he could not do it.

At once, he felt irritation surge, and he mentally cursed himself with every name under the sun for his inability to do this one basic thing. Knock on the door, just knock on the door. Stop being stupid, and knock on the door. But he couldn't do it. He couldn't.

So Daxton just stood there. And waited.

Adi REALLY wanted her to take the chocolate frog, but Sophie was trying to make a POINT to Dakest that she wanted HIS chocolate, so the Ravenclaw shook her head regretfully. "S'okay, Adi. Thanks, though." And despite her words being aimed at Adi, Sophie was looking POINTEDLY at Dakest as if to say, THIS IS WHAT YOU'VE DONE TO ME. Adi's defense of her loudness was good, though, and Soph gave her yearmate a thumbs-up and nodded. Yes, she was sure. He could go fiiiiirst.

"I'm always a good role model," was Soph's lighthearted retort to Dakest finally, and she shot the Defense professor a cheeky grin as she wiggled to get comfy in the log chair and made herself at home in his seating area. His entire rebuttal was mega lame, though, and Sophie Brown simply shrugged, the playful smile never leaving her face. "If the shoe fits, professor. If the shoe fits." Because he HAD betrayed their trust and he HAD caused waterworks. It was just fact. He needed to be held accountable for his actions, all three of the professors did. That werewolf class had SCARRED PEOPLE FOR LIFE.

"G'bye boys. Take your time." She'd see if she could eat the entire stock of the man's marshmallows in the time they were inside. That'd show him. Well... she'd do that right after she made hot chocolate, which she went ahead to do now. The man did give her free hot chocolate, which made it a LITTLE better. The little marshmallows got sprinkled atop the full, steaming mug, and she went ahead to eat marshmallows by the mouthful, just as she'd intended to, in between sips.

Omnomnom.

Was...he supposed to be bothered? Maybe his shoulders were, because they gave something of a shrug at Brown's pointed look. He was, however, beginning to wonder if the lives of his students revolved around chocolate. Perhaps they should turn the castle into Willy Wonka's Factory. There'd still be enough danger and drama to label it as Hogwarts. Willy Wart's Factory?

Had to admit, it had a certain ring to it.

His own smile crept into place as Sophie hardly had a hair ruffled by his own retort. Pushing himself straight, Sabel cast her a grin. If the shoe fits? "Find another one just like it."

Was he going to aim to misbehave? Maybe. He wasn't going to tell. For all he knew, Brown might have been subtly interviewing him right then and there, preparing for her next article of the yearbook. The thought nearly had the smile transform into an abrupt scowl.

However, her antics kept the scowl away and the smirk firmly in place. "Don't make yourself sick." With a grin and a wink, Sabel turned back to his office, following Rehman.



Ah, so this was one of the students that avoided his seating area. Good to know. Begged the question though, what was he doing here? Another emergency? Unlikely. Hyland was far to reserved and collected for something to be going on.

One eyebrow went up at the description of the boy's summer. "Being forced up the eiffel tower is a usual summer occurrence for you?" He could understand the reluctance, and the sheer distaste of such an activity, but in such cases he made a point of avoiding said activity. Not making it a habit. Curious, very curious.

Was one of his goals then to avoid that activity next summer? Or perhaps to conquer said fears that had him jelly-legged up all the steps? Goals were good, whatever they were, and it seemed redundant to say so, so he simply nodded in acknowledgement. As for his own summer? Why was everyone asking that question? Including himself. A redundancy that needed quelling.

With a shrug, he brushed it off. "Didn't climb any towers, thankfully." How he wished winter would start so the question would stop.

The fire was a welcome topic saver, and Sabel shook his head with an honest laugh. "Not to my knowledge. Help yourself. I've stockpiled both last year and this year's supply, so there's more than enough to go around." Airey wouldn't mind a green fire in his common room, would he?

"I don't imagine you came just for the magic fire though." Pity how no one did. "So, what can I help you with?"



Sabel was seriously considering putting up a one-way window near his door. The psychology and ettiqutie behind knocking on a Professor's door was always profoundly curious and interesting. No two students were the same, unless they were in a right pickle together, and the newbies were always the most curious to watch.

Some just skittered by the waiting room, and others had the reluctance of a penguin trying to fly. He often wondered at what caused such trepidition in the students. Wasn't like any Professor was known for eating or otherwise severely terrorizing the students, so what, exactly, was there to be afraid of.

Then again, he remembered his own reluctance as a child to approach someone much older and much taller, and with a less mallable opinion on life. Perhaps it was similar.

Either way, the one currently at his door was likely to stand still as a statue for the rest of the afternoon if someone didn't prompt him in the right direction. Shifting the books he was carrying, Sabel moved forward from the hallway and into the waiting area. "Wood isn't known to bite."

Daxton wished that he could have lost track of time as he stood there staring at the door, but in actual fact he was acutely and painfully aware of every second that passed. He could, of course, turn away and leave the seating area, pretend like he had never been here. In fact, Daxton was considering doing just that when he heard movement from the hallway.

He turned right as new arrival spoke. And a strange opening statement it was too; almost like the man were speaking in a completely different language, and yet every word he had uttered was definitely English. There was a moment of complete and utter confusion, wherein all Daxton did was stare, perplexed.

Wood isn't known to bite. It made him suspicious, as he hadn't been worried about that before, but now... well... it made him wonder. He cast a distrustful look back at the door, then turned his attention back to the man heading into the seating area. Dakest. Duh.

Daxton side-stepped, freeing access to the potentially vicious biting door before he might get pushed aside, and quickly held up his notebook, flashing the page that warned against physical contact. Meanwhile, he eyed the books the man carried, curious as to what kind of reading material a Defence Against the Dark Arts professor would busy himself with in his spare time. In his moment of intrigue, he temporarily forgot that he had turned up at this office with a specific goal in mind.

What? Why did he think that it was a usual occurrence ? Yoongi blinked , then thought back at what he had said and he slapped his hand on his forehead. Literally. Forehead red now but ignoring it he laughed. “No, sorry I should have phrased it better. I meant my sisters. My sisters teasing me is a usual occurrence..perks of being the youngest” he said, rolling his eyes. But that was not why he was here and it looked like the Professor was getting awkward as well since he shrugged his question off. What was with Professors anyways? It was normal to ask the same question back right? Oh well.

Dropping the subject because the topic of the fire was definitely more interesting. His eyes lit up and a broad smile appeared on his face and then without another word he twirled around on one foot and walked to the box with the magic fire. He HAD said , help yourself, right ? So the Gryffindor filled his pockets with a few packages and even held a couple in his arms. Then he walked back, trying not to let the magic fire fall. “Thanks Sir!” He was going to be the coolest in the common room now!

“Well, no” he answered. “But I can! How are these even made? I know they’re not really magical cause muggles can buy them as well. How can they have magic powder when muggles aren’t supposed to know about magic? Did something go wrong at the ministry and they went like “ he shrugged, nearly dropping the packages “whatever, it happened?” important questions right there.

“Also, I’ve been thinking about what you said a few months ago” he probably did not remember… “you said “why didn’t you send a patronus?” when I ran up here to get you and well, I want to learn how. What if something like that happens again and i COULDN'T get away? But i doubt it though, i'm to awesome and amazing to get caught but WHAT IF?!" his eyes widened at the thought. "I know I can read about them in books but ..books…..boring , nod if you agree and I learn much better if I hear how to make a patronus from someone and I thought that since you’re the defence against the dark arts professor you could tell me something more about it other than ‘think happy thoughts’ “ He took a deep breath because he had been talking at top speed but it was only for a short while.

“And that obstacle course you set up. Are we supposed to go OVER the bars or under or does that not matter? Cause I couldn’t even climb on the bar” he flapped his elbows like a chicken cause of the magic fire packages in his arms. “How do I get strength in these useless things?” he said, talking about his arms. “I mean, I’ve tried to train for a week now. A WEEK! And I still don’t see any result. “

Breathe kid…breeeaathe.

There was a certain, reoccuring fact of his waiting room. Weird people ended up in it. Often and without warning.

The way the kid side-eyed his door was both confusing and highly amusing. So much so that it almost made Sabel laugh, a noise he swallowed with a hitch and a cough. Merlin, he had to remember how mallable some of the minds in Hogwarts were. If he was a different man, he might see to have a bit of fun with such open skepticism. As it stood, however, it seemed he had done enough potential damage. Hopefully not every door that graced the kid's path got such wary attention. If it did, he might have to go find said doors and make a heartfelt apology.

While he had intended to walk around the kid, and maybe grab a few marshmallows on his way past, the abrupt movement and display of the notepad had him halting. Two blinks and Sabel leaned forward to peer at the paper. The words were big enough, but he wanted to make sure there was no fine print.

Curious. So utterly curious. His eyes went from the paper, to the kid, to the paper and back again, one eyebrow arching slightly each time. At last he fixed the kid with a quizzical expression. "Why? Are you diseased?"

Perhaps more importantly, why did the kid think that he had been going to make contact? Did he think he was that squishable? Or was it something else?

Straightening, Sabel found himself pausing once again as the boy's attention diverted to the books in his hand. With a small smile, Sabel turned them about and pulled the top one off his stack, offering it to the boy. 'Behind the Board of Wizarding Chess. The one below it, now resting on the top of his stack was a bit bolder and brighter; 'Wowing Wizards: Meals to Entertain'.



"Ah. I see. Of course." Grinning, Sabel shook his head. Kids were just too fun to bug sometimes. Apparently, just like younger siblings were.

At Hyland's enthusiasm about the fire, Sabel couldn't help but to laugh. Merlin, he could only imagine what might have happened if he put firecrackers in the box. Actually, that didn't seem too bad of an idea....

As did providing a potentially misleading answer about the origins of magic fire. It was oh so tempting, but the humorous results would be short lived and it was likely the repercussions would find him rather quickly. So, instead he shook his head with a chuckle. "Not quite as exciting a tale as that, I'm afraid. It has to do with chemical ingredients. If you light certain chemicals on fire, they produce different colored flames. It's a muggle's form of magic."

Possibly boring for a wizard, but to a muggleborn it was fascinating and quite wonderous.

The good mood about the fire however, took a bit of a sideways turn when the topic turned to patronuses. Truth be told, for reasons of his own he was relieved the topic had been taught last year and didn't have to be rehashed this year. However, he knew better than to expect no interest in the matter what-so-ever. He had simply hoped, it might be delayed in reaching him for a while. Apparently not.

Thankfully, there was the child mentality of invisibility that kept his mood from sinking too far. And Merlin this kid was like a cat on catnip with his topics. All over the place, but the enthusiasm was not unwelcome.

Chuckling, Sabel shook his head, at the flapping arms and the conclusion to the mile a minute questions.. "First off, you and the others did very well last year, Hyland. You should be proud. Patronus or not. You did what you could do, and what you had to do. No one could ask for more than that. Myself included." Did that mean he owed the boy an apology? Perhaps. "What I said, was of the moment and an impulsive reaction, rather than a logical one."

Moving over to one of the seats, Sabel settled down and motioned the kid to join him at the fire. "I suppose that depends on what else you want to know about the patronus." He had covered everything he knew in class, but perhaps there was further clarification needed?

"Secondly, as for that course, you can do both." Cryptic enough to be helpful? He hoped so. "And it will take a good deal longer than a week to build up that muscle. A few hours a day, every day, every week, every month, for a few months. And protein. Good protein is essential."

The man before him got an uncertain, appraising stare, though Daxton did not allow eye contact to occur, not even once. He was not quite sure what to make of Dakest, though admittedly the same could be said for everyone he came into contact with. For now, he defaulted to the same opinion he generally held of everyone: that he did not trust him. Not yet, perhaps not ever. It was safest to view everyone as such, and also... it was easy.

Daxton shook his head, looking right at the Dakest man's arched eyebrow. Then he paused, and considered the question properly. Really, he had no real way of knowing whether or not he was diseased, but as far as he was aware, he was fine, in the physical sense. Nothing contagious. He shook his head again.

And ignored the question of why, because the answer was so simple it should have been obvious. Because he did not like it. Because he did not want it. Because everyone he had met at this stupid school so far apparently needed to be reminded that personal space was a thing, that dolt of a groundskeeper, especially. So here Daxton was, doing what he shouldn't even need to do, and making his wishes clear from the off.

In any case, that was no longer important, because books. His curiosity piqued, Daxton reached out and took the book right out of the man's hand, oblivious to whether it was actually being offered to him in such a way. Wizarding Chess... interesting. He had heard of it, and was eager to see how exactly it differed from actual chess, which he like to play on their battered old laptop back home, sometimes against his mum, not that she offered up any real competition.

Daxton glanced up again, stretched up a little onto the tiptoes of his socked feet, and took a look at the other book that was now visible. But seeing the title, he made a face and turned his attention back to the book on Wizarding Chess, now on top of his own pile of textbook-and-notebook, and flipped through a few pages, the etiquette of interacting with a professor (which generally included not ignoring their presence when he had been the one to initiate the visit) entirely lost on him.

As a muggleborn himself, but adopted by purebloods at a very early age , It was quite interesting to hear how the muggles made fake magical fires using chemicals. He had no idea what chemicals were and it sounded a lot like potions but he kept his mouth shut and listened. It was simply, set chemicals on fire and you get colors. “And these chemicals… can you buy them in stores or?” cause he’d love to make one himself , maybe over the summer and scare his sisters. “And how do they know which chemical is which color? Do muggles have potion labs as well?”

Was It just him or was the Professor not really happy with the topic of the patronus? He had thought that out of all people, he would be the most excited about it and it did make him feel a bit uncomfortable. But before he opened his mouth to say anything he was getting complimented for his actions last year. The Gryffindor loved compliments. Basically lived for it. But he usually sought them out, not get them randomly and as he sat down on one of the seats near the fire as well he stared at it. Placing the packages on his lap. Then, a broad smile appeared on his face and he turned at the Professor. “Thanks , Sir! You’re probably the only one who said that” apart from Adi and Marsha no one had even said anything close to a thanks or well done. It was frustrating, especially when he basically risked his own life for a bunch of strangers. Fellow students…but still strangers because he never hung out with them. “At least someone appreciates my efforts. You know what the girl who I saved said to me?!” he changed his voice in to a slightly higher pitch. “I’ve got it” Could he believe that?! “I risked my life for her and I get a ‘I’ve got it’ and then she completely ignored me and went to her friend instead and thanked HIM!” But, he didn’t have any issues with that anymore. Nope. Not at all… maybe a little… but not as much. She had probably just been in shock.

Sighing loudly, Yoongi grabbed a package from his lap and threw it in to the fire. The purple fire now changed color at the bottom and turned blue. Nice. But patronuses. He knew there had been a class last term about it but he had been so out of it thanks to OWL studying that he only remembered bits of …basically all the classes he had had. Oh , he did remember almost fainting from mental exhaustion in Charms ~! But how to say that he hadn’t been paying attention without sounding like he hadn’t been paying attention in class? Yeah, there was no way. So, to have some more time to think , he threw another package in to the fire. Which was now purple, blue and bright pink. “Well, I’ve been trying to make a patronus but I just can’t focus. I have a happy thought in my mind and then my mind wanders off and I think of everything else and then it fails and its really frustrating! How do I calm my mind without the boring meditation thing?” cause he had tried and it just made his mind sing songs…

“Both?” he repeated, raising an eyebrow because he had the feeling the Professor was joking. “So I’ve been struggling to get on the bar for nothing and I can just go UNDER it?!” boooo. He was clearly frustrated by that because he still had bruises on his legs and arms from where he had fallen from the bars. “I HAVE TO TRAIN THAT MUCH AND THAT LONG?!” Nuuuuuuuuh. “But…but If I train longer than an hour I’ll sweat and ewwww! And my hair will be a disaster when it gets sweaty and flat and ewwww” It was a big decision enough to even train an hour but to train for this long?! The protein thing was handy though.

Staring at the fire, he suddenly had another question that he had tried to find answers for but couldn’t find it. “Do you know what a Flower Boy means, Sir?” he asked, probably out of the blue. “Cause this girl keeps calling me that but refuses to tell me what it means and there is NOTHING about it in the library books , even the herbology books!” It was really frustrating.

Not diseased. "Good. That's very good."

Would have meant a trip to the infirmary, and that would have undoubtly resulted in bursting the kid's personal bubble. So, very good. They could keep the drama to a minimum. An apparently silent minimum.

Not that Sabel really minded. It was an intriuging change from most students that ended up in the waiting area. A dead silence, compared to the normally verbose and non-ceasing jibber-jabber of excitment. It meant he had to be more alert for the subtle notes of conversation which registered in facial expressions and small gestures. An intriguing and welcome change indeed.

A small smile worked it's way onto Sabel's lips as the boy took the offered book. Seemed that the kid had an interest, or perhaps he simply didn't know what wizarding chess was. Or, he'd never seen a book before. Or he couldn't read. Alright, so not having verbal cues made things a little more difficult.

The possibility of not being able to read was quickly crossed of the list of possibilites however, when the kid made the most disgusted look at the cookbook. Sabel couldn't help the laughter that spilled out. "My turn to cook this week."

It was an explanation that perhaps the kid didn't need or want, but there it was. Below that book, if the kid had bothered to look a bit longer, might have been subjects of more intrigue. [b]'Thestrals, A Creature of the Selective'[/i] and 'The Terrors of Night, Dark Wizards and Witches of Note' were both tucked under the cookbook.

"Tell you what, I've got these ones I have to get through. Why don't you have a read through that one, and when your done you can let me know if it's worth my time or not."



Would it be a cop-out to tell the kid he should speak to the muggles study professor about such topics? Perhaps, but then it would certainly save him some time, and might give Moxley an interesting class lesson. Or derailment. Shaking his head, Sabel retrieved one of the packets from the basket. It seemed like he was going to have to buy some more. "Not generally. Yes and sort of."

Could the kid keep up with his own questions to remember which answers went with which questions? He waved the packet. "They have what you would call scientists, or in this case, chemists who study these types of things. Reactions and the laws of the natural world and the like. I might have a textbook somewhere back home if you'd like to take a peruse through it."

Was it bad to encourage the kid? Surely not. Not if it was educational as well, right?

His smile faded from one of amusement to introspection as he watched the colors dance and change with each new packet thrown to the flames. A shrug rolled off his shoulder. "Don't take it personally. In those types of situations, no one ever has their heads screwed on right enough to form any sort of decent thought. It's just the way it is. Know that her still living and breathing is your thanks. And that's all the thanks any of us should need."

It was his turn to toss his packet into the fire, and he did so. Green flames sprouted, dancing about with gold flecks like some sort of St. Patrick's day celebration exploded in the fire pit. "As for your issue with your patronus, it's not supposed to come from the head. As cheesy as it might sound, it is supposed to come from the heart. Fill you up. Not just exist in here." He tapped a finger to the side of his temple. "Here is fragile and wavering. The heart is often strong and stubborn."

Did that help? He hoped so.

And as quickly as the weighted words were done, he was laughing again. "Well, would you rather do something difficult and accomplish it, or take the easy way out?" Did he really want to know the answer to that question? He wasn't sure. It was possible the boy's sentiment about any sort of physical labor was answer enough. "The more you train, the less you'll sweat. Your body will get used to it. As for hair? Your going to have to ask someone else." Airey, or the groundskeeper perhaps. "I'm really not good with it."

And then there was the flower boy comment. He had to press his lips tightly together to keep from sputtering out laughter. Dear Merlin, these kids. "Most commonly?" He shrugged a little, scratching his jaw. "It refers to a younger attendant in the wedding. Though usually it's flower 'girl'. Less commonly?" Now how to put this? He pressed a finger over his lips, considering for a moment. "It...might refer to your impeccable need to maintain the highest standard of hygiene."

That was....a fine way to put it, right? "Or maybe she just likes your cologne." Did the kid wear cologne? Was that even a wizarding thing?

Being laughed at was now such a familiar situation for Daxton that it barely even bothered him, and he did not visibly acknowledge it at all. Though he was, nevertheless, curious as to why Dakest was laughing at him.

Cooking. Gross. All sorts of... of food and revolting smells and touching things with weird textures and colours and consistencies and dealing with a kitchen at a high temperature and all those unpleasant things. In short, a sensory nightmare. In their bungalow back home, Daxton hated it even when his mum cooked in the kitchen and he stayed in his room. There was no door on his bedroom - the result of what he now knew was accidental (or... maybe not-so-accidental) magic - and the curtain that hung there instead did nothing to keep the smell of food at bay. It turned his stomach just thinking about it.

So he simply nodded, only vaguely registering the extra information because it did not affect him in the slightest, and quickly scanned through the contents page of the book he now held, and then the first page of the introduction. He would have kept going too, were it not for Dakest's statement, which caused his eyes to flicker up for just a second.

He could take this? Read it? There was no need to even consider the offer; Daxton was already nodding his head 'yes' - no 'thank you' or anything of the sort. He looked up again and spared the professor another look that lasted a good few moments this time, like he was trying to work the man out - which was, in fact, exactly what he was doing. If Daxton came to any sort of conclusion, it did not register on his face. He looked back down at the book, and carried on reading.

Dakest had told him that he could, and Daxton saw no reason why he could not start right here, right now. The man before him would surely stand there and wait until he was done, and then they could talk. About the book, and about the topics that had piqued Daxton's interest and brought him here in the first place.

Surely.

“Ah…no thank you…” he answered and a slight blush formed on his cheeks as the Professor offered him a book he could read about the chemist subject. He didn’t enjoy reading unless it had to do with Charms or comic books, those were fun to read too. “It will probably just pick up dust in the trunk up at dormitory anyway..” at least he was honest about it right?

He watched as the flames turned a green color as the Professor threw in a package as well. Yoongi decided to stop throwing them in now or else he wouldn’t have any left for the common room. After hearing what he had to say about the whole rescuing situation he sighed heavily. “I know, I’m glad they’re all okay. Especially Adi and Penelope” the two people he had left in the entrance hall. He still didn’t have the courage to admit that he had been scared and that he had run away in fear, getting the Professor had popped in to his mind later. But the topic got him thinking of another question that he had forgotten about until now. “What’s a neck bottle or bottle neck?” which one was it? "Is it a tactic they teach Aurors? cause it sounded like it, really confusing though.....Sorry about all the questions” he laughed, scratching the back of his head. “I’m just curious”

The mind is fragile and wavering whereas the heart is often strong and stubborn. The Gryffindor looked away from the green fire and stared with a blank expression at the Professor. “Riiiiight…” he said after a long pause. “I did not get that at all but I guess it’s something to think over” what had that even meant?! He was sure it would click one day.

“Accomplish something using the easy way~!” he grinned, teeth flashing . Too bad they didn’t do the sparkly TING thing. As for the sweat problem, Yoongi rolled his eyes . Guess he had to just deal with it. If it was true that the longer he worked out the less he’ll sweat he’d try it. BUT THAT COMMENT ABOUT HAIR! The fifth year GASPED. “You doooon’t!?” he said and folded his arms over each other. His hair was his life and now the man was telling him he did not know how to keep the sweat away from his hair while training. "Well that's stupid" he mumbled. Maybe there was a spell for that? "By the way, speaking of hair, would red suit me?!" he asked, eyes wide and staring at him as if he was mentally saying 'say yes!'

And then his excitement dropped when the Professor told the meaning of Flower Boy. “WEDDING?!” that didn’t make sense at all! Why would an eleven year old be talking about weddings to him?! But then the less commonly thing made more sense and he visibly relaxed again. “It’s the latter” he said with a nod. He wasn’t afraid to admit he maintained a high standard of hygiene. The cologne part though? No. “I don’t wear cologne but I do wear body spray" he sniffed his arm. still gooood~

The kid was a curious one, and not in a way that Sabel minded. In fact, the silence and the looks were bordering on some sort of endearing quality. It was only topped by the fact that as soon as the boy was offered the book, he promptly delved into it.

The eagerness made Sabel smile, and not one to discourage interest or study, Sabel moved around the kid. He almost gave him a clap on the shoulder too, and remembered only at the last second the initial greeting scrawled on paper. Chuckling, Sabel shifted his books about into his opposite arm and headed towards his door.

"Let me know what you think of it when you are through." No need to hold the kid up further. Clearly there was reading to be done.



Sabel shrugged, not in the least bit bothered that his offer hadn't been taken up. Not everything was for everyone, and chemistry most certainly was no exception to that rule. No sense in telling the boy that collecting dust on a shelf was exactly what it was doing in his current possession anyways.

The topic quickly turned nullinvoid at the boy's honest curiosity. Sabel couldn't help but laugh, dropping his heels from the edge of the fireplace and sitting forward. "Ask away. I don't mind in the least." Too bad he didn't have an example though. A quick cast around the seating area confirmed that he was lacking the prop he needed. Pity.

With a sigh, he turned back to Hyland, spreading his hands in a gesture as if he could craft from air the object he needed. "You know a bottle, right? Glass or otherwise. Coca Cola or Sprite or whatever you kids are drinking these days." Surely he did. "A bottleneck refers to the effect that a literal bottle neck has on anything that passes through it. How it narrows and tapers? That's what it is. So, in reference to strategy, it refers to filing enemies through a narrow point so that you don't get their whole numbers gushing out at once. Makes them easier to deal with, in a confined space and limited numbers."

Did it make sense? Was he going to have to draw a picture? Hold a lesson?

Hopefully. If he didn't get this, then he surely wouldn't get what he meant about the heart and the head. That, he would leave for another day and another time. Didn't want to overload to kid with too many thoughts.

Because apparently simple things were best here. Sabel nearly well rolled his eyes, sitting back in his chair with a huff. Of course he'd want the easy way. Really, who didn't want such a thing? Habit often forced him down the hard road, but that was just a consequence of his subconscious. Tricky thing that it was.

Like hair. Which, he would have laughed at had the kid not just asked him that question. Instead, Hyland got a disbelieving stare. Really? Had he not just said he was no good with hair? That included all manners, from sweat saturation to color changes. "No clue."

Honestly, no clue. He had no experience in discerning such things. Hair was hair and looked as hair did. To the Defense Professor, it was as simple as that. Apparently as simple as discerning which of the meanings 'flower boy' held. Sabel nearly laughed at the confident claim, and dare he say proud claim, that Hyland accepted the options with.

He did laugh when the boy went to smell himself. "For Merlin's sake, just call it cologne."

So engrossed by the opening paragraphs of the book was Daxton that he did not at first register quite what was happening around him. He gave a simple nod of the head at Dakest's words, still flying through the first page until he became aware that the man was moving past him and walking away.

Daxton looked up, blinking. It was not the first time he had been confused when the world did not simply pause around him until he was done with whatever he was doing; every time it baffled him. He had not forgotten his initial reason for coming down to this office, however, and suddenly it was back at the forefront of his mind.

He took a step forward, opening his mouth to try and say 'wait I'm not done' or something to that effect, but as usual whenever Daxton tried to speak, the words would not come, as though something was blocking them before they could leave his brain. For just a second he tried to force it, but was only met with frustrating failure. Giving up, he shuffled the books in his hands and opened up the Defence Against the Dark Arts text from the library. He flipped the pages until he came to a marked page - the start of a chapter on Legilimency and Occlumency - and silently held it up at Dakest before he could disappear into the office. A clear (in his mind, at least) indication that he had another reason (and still more beyond that) for being here.

Glad that the Professor hadn’t been mad that he had refused his offer on the science book, Yoongi relaxed in his wooden chair and threw another package of magic fire in the fire. As he watched it turn bright pink, the Gryffindor turned away from the fire and looked at the Professor with a curious expression on his face as he started to explain what a bottleneck was. “WAIT!” He shouted, louder than he had intended and pushed his hands in his robe pocket. He searched for a moment, obviously he had used the Undetectable Extension Charm on them. Finding what he needed, the Gryffindor pulled out a notebook and the pink flamingo quill he had bought in Diagon Alley.

Smiling, he placed the notebook on his lap. “It’s good to write things down right? Maybe I need it someday, maybe I’ll be an Auror one day? Not that I want to be one...i mean” he frowned and pointed to his face. “See this face? it would be a shame if it gets scarred up”uhuh. “But my sister always said she never wanted to work at Gringrotts cause of the goblins but guess who is a curse breaker at what place now?” oh right…getting side tracked, oops. “So, you never know right?” he would be an awful Auror though LOL Nah, he just stuck with becoming a model/wand maker.

He wrote down the strategy of the bottleneck , even drew a little coca cola bottle next to it as reference. “So, if you managed to get a group in a bottleneck it would be like seeing them as bowling pins and pushing one over would result in the rest of them falling as well?” he asked and then added “You know a bowling pin , right?” with a grin as he used the same question when he had asked him if he knew what a bottle was. Merlin’s beard he wasn’t dumb. “This is a lot easier than that cryptic ‘head in your heart’ thing” wait , was that right? “Oh! Also , can I ask why you stopped being an Auror?” he asked casually as if he was talking about the weather, jumping to the next question. He had so many, not sorry! “Cause a teaching job would be pretty boring right? Does it have something to do with what the Prophet wrote and you want to prove them wrong ? yes, he had been following that story but one thing he had learned from his parents was to take newspapers with a grain of salt.

No clue?! Yoongi shook his head and sighed. “No offence Sir, but you might be brilliant at strategies, you’re horrible at the simpler things. The correct answer would have been “Yes, it would look perfect , go buy the dye now” and then I would have asked you for money cause I have none”he laughed. That wasn’t so hard right? He still needed to learn a lot about teenagers. ……Or was only he like that? Hmm…something to think about…

Just call it cologne?! “No” he said defiantly, crossing his arms over each other and looked the other way. “And the correct term is spray” he said as he rummaged in his pocket again and got out the bottle and held it up, “see?”

It was the slight movement that caught his attention. Or perhaps the urgency within it, that had him stopping and turning to face the kid again. While he didn't mind the lack of verbal communication, it was showing it's cracks where it's failing effectiveness came.

Waiting, Sabel watched the boy gape like a fish in water, before pulling open a book. Squinting at the page, Sabel leaned forward and took a quick stock of the contents which were displayed. His mood could not have darkened more if a thundercloud had rolled directly over his head. His eyes went up to the kid, locking onto him with a searching gaze for a long moment, before he straightened and motioned for him to follow.

This, was an office conversation.

OOC: You may now post in the Office



Their conversation had been so casual, or relatively speaking casual, that the sudden exclamation was unexpected and startling. Sabel flinched, and admittedly expected the boy to pull something much more interesting out of his pocket. Something perhaps dangerous that they needed to have a serious conversation about. That being said, pink was quite serious. Especially when it came to a quill.

Eyeing the kid, as if he might pull out something even more shocking to the senses, Sabel shifted a bit. And managed to turn the choke of surprise to a cough into his arm at the mention of Hyland and Auror in the same sentence. "Anything.......can happen."

Or something of the sort.

Thankfully, the bowling pin analogy gave his concern something else to focus on. It was an interesting comparision, and he scrubbed his chin in thought. "Not entirely the same. Bowling pins would be more if you had a lot of opponents in a small space, and you were able to deliver a critical blow that affect them all. I suppose in that sense it refers to a bottleneck mentality, and you could combine the two. But bottle neck is more for thinning numbers as they come at you. If you bowl them, persay, more will just take their place."

Battle tactics 101. Perhaps he should hold a lesson on it. Last year wasn't the first time that Hogwartians had been involved in a mass battle. Some strategy sessions could be beneficial. In both battle and word choice.

All at once, Sabel found his expression, his amusement and his interest flat-lined at the next question. The one that hit a bit too close to home. The one that went on hitting close to home as the kid kept rambling on. It didn't help that there was a quill and parchment on his person either, and he was taking notes. Didn't help at all.

"You may not." Maybe it was a bit unfair? The choice of words and the end-of-conversation-tone which he delivered it with. But that was how it was. Some questions couldn't be asked, and some wouldn't have an answer. He had no interest in proving himself to the Prophet, just as he had no interest in explaining his career change decision. The people that needed to know, knew. And that was all that really mattered at this point.

As for the matter of knowing the simpler things, he couldn't really disagree. It simply wasn't the way his brain worked, and he was fine with that. Gave him less to worry about, like whether he should die his hair or not. So much simpler. "So, you would rather I humor you with what you want to hear? Why are you asking then, if you already have your mind made up?"

Seriously, kids these days. The kid got an even stranger look as the bottle....colonge...spray....scent thing was pulled out and displayed proudly. "Whatever.....floats your boat."

It was no wonder why Hugo wouldn't pay Dakest a visit once in a while. The professor was cool and there was something he wanted to discuss.

The fourth year walked to the seating area and before knocking he checked his pockets to see if he didn't forgot a piece of paper. An important piece of paper. Now that he was sure about it he went on and knocked on the door two times.