Having sent an official memo to Miss Barrington disclosing their meeting location and the password that would be required, the Headmaster returned to his office to prepare for the meeting. As she was one of the younglings, he hoped she would be more intrigued with stories and jokes instead of a formal interview.

Alas in terms of preparation for his meeting, Wilber took the time to review some short stories that he had enjoyed reading to his students during his teaching years.

The message had been gotten, and Giselle wasn’t nervous about it at all. Even if it felt a little like she was being called to the headmaster’s office (okay she was). She wasn’t in trouble. She didn’t feel like she was particularly aimless when it came to all the career stuff that had been floating around the castle of late, and if her thoughts currently were more on the Christmas holidays and wondering if mum and dad had any plans for them, that wasn’t her fault. Nor was the fact she was wondering if her sister or brother had had their career meetings already, suspecting Fee would say she wanted to follow in Aunt Bella’s footsteps and be a cursebreaker and Xander…who knew exactly what her brother wanted to do when he grew up. She wasn’t worried about either of them, and she wasn’t worried about herself. Besides, they were only thirteen. They had time before they were grownups.

But back to the matter at hand. She reported to the gargoyles after her last lesson…okay, she might have stopped off in her dorm to drop her things off before heading to the second floor, but it was still prompt by her standards. The gargoyles didn’t seem to be bothered by if she was a second or two late. “Raspberry Jam”, she said confidently to the stone statues. Okay, any time now.

Perhaps choosing a different location for this interview would have made the second year more comfortable. It wasn't as if she was in trouble though and it did delight a wizened old man that it might be one of the few times that Giselle would get the opportunity to see the Headmaster's office. A rare opportunity indeed.

Hearing the gargoyles open, Wilber moved to greet her at the stop of stairwell. "Who's there?" He called down, although it would be revealed in mere moments since she had uttered the correct password. The only question that remained was which pun he should attempt first.

All things told, she probably would’ve been surprised had she not been summoned to the headmaster’s office when it was the headmaster presiding over her consultation. Whether or not it had made her need to remind herself she wasn’t in trouble. Unless, she was in trouble. For not having any idea as to what she’d like to do after graduating. Giselle doubted that, though. That was a silly thing to get in trouble for, after all.

Rolling her eyes as the headmaster had asked who was there, however, might’ve been. But she assumed it wasn’t seen. Obviously he wouldn’t have asked if he saw her. “Hi, Headmaster Winterbottom”, she responded, instead. It was proper to greet professors first, after all.

She hadn't hurried up the flights of stairs, but Mouse had at least made sure to not stop for any detours or distractions. She figured the sooner she notified faculty, the sooner there was a chance of them fixing damage caused by... Whatever. Or perhaps preventing damage by the same being, considering whatever it was seemed to not be a student. And maybe they were looking for something, though what could be found inside the kitchen other than delicious food was unseen to her.

Nor was the food being the goal a consideration.

Stepping up to the stone gargoyles, which more and more made her feel like she's stepped out of Beauty and the Beast, Mouse cleared her throat before speaking. "Minerva Durand to see Headmaster Winterbottom, please. I was hoping to notify him of a vandalism."

If she was in trouble, then Wilber would have sent forth some jokes about it as that was his personality. He probably would also entail some jokes about being clueless. All things considered he definitely did not expect her to know what she wanted to do post-Hogwarts. It was the minority, that seemed to know their life plans before the age of twelve.

"Miss Barrington. Pleasure to meet with you," the headmaster greeted. "Did you know that when pursuing careers, I considered a career in fortune-telling?" He spoke solemnly as if he was serious but didn't finish his thought process as if he forgot what he was going to say.

___

It was lucky that the Headmaster spent a decent time in his office. Preparing for an employment gala was no joke as to ensure a variety of professions could be in attendance. What Wilber hadn't counted on was an emergency meeting from one of his seventh years, although he doubted it was a prank. Those nearing graduation in his experience seemed to be more of the mature students

The gargoyle opened at her words to reveal a spiral staircase that would lead up to his office. He had little reason to deny access even though his desk was piled in parchment responses from vendors. "Miss Durand?" He rose from his chair to meet her at the top of the stairwell. "What a lovely surprise?"

Truthfully, Mouse couldn't even imagine the stress and work and all of the things that came along with being Headmaster. Particularly this term where they had such a large event planned, one which she was very excited to be an option this term so that she could get her own direction for post Hogwarts. But the glimpse of inside his office with all of that paperwork was... a lot. No wonder this was not an every year occurrence!

Turning her attention to the Headmaster, she gave him a small smile and a nod of her head in a respectful greeting. "Hello, sir. I'm sorry to bother you when you're so busy." Another look back towards the desk before back to the Headmaster. "I went down to the kitchens earlier and noticed someon- well... something slashed the portrait of the fruit. It looks like claw marks but... I heard some giggling when I was headed that direction, but I couldn't see anything." Was there anything else she needed to include? "I just figured I should let you know." And maybe also hoped it was an easy fix because.. she was still kind of hungry too.