Advising the Slytherins (open to Slytherins)

[etainmctiernan]

Etain McTiernan looked around her well-appointed office with satisfaction. The mahogany desk gleamed in the lamplight and candlelight that twinkled off the leaded panes in the windows and caught the crystals hanging from the ceiling. The padded chair was comfortable, perfect for long hours of sitting and chatting with students thanks to a solidly cast Cushioning charm. The candles burned at a steady rate with nary a flicker thanks to more cleverly cast Charms. Her papers were in neatly stacked piles, bound with ribbons that were bespelled to expand to accommodate additions to the piles. Inkwells were arranged by color, with pure raven black and emerald predominant among the silver and gold.

A pile of student files lay in a wooden tray on Etain’s desk and she smiled down at it. Most professors hated paperwork but Etain loved reading about her students. Charms was a very personal type of magic and it was best to tailor it to the student, once the basics were learned. Every witch or wizard needed the simple house and health keeping charms, but once beyond that things differed. After all, a mediwitch would never need to use the same charms as an Auror on the job! Etain probably knew more Charms than any other witch in the vicinity, given that she’d been teaching the subject for almost fifty years. She picked up the files and flipped through them, noting that she had alphabetized them within each year.

Etain smoothed the heavy silk of her emerald dress robes, and then adjusted the set of her professor’s gown. Her set of black velvet teacher’s robes bore the silver embroidery that marked her not only as the Head of Slytherin, her old House from her school days, but also as the Deputy Headmistress. She was dressed impeccably for her first meeting with her new charges, wanting to let them know that she was very serious about her responsibilities toward them. First she would meet with her Slytherins – her Slytherins! – and then with the youngsters signing up for her Charms class. A smile turned up the corners of Etain’s mouth and made the laugh lines on her face come to life. It was such a joy to be teaching, and at her alma mater no less!

Etain scanned the files one last time as she waited for her first student to arrive. A musical trilling started up as she read and she turned to the elegantly carved perch hovering in midair. “Why the bright song, Ivanova? Are you enjoying this place as much as I am, love?” The bright little bird, no larger than a dove, sat on the carved wood singing a merry tune. Her jewel-bright feathers flashed in the candlelight as she trilled, showering false sparks off their ends. The firebird had been a gift from a Russian friend, meant to soothe her soul after the death of her husband, Carnell. The little creature was more friend than pet, and often ate from her plate and drank from her cup. Etain hoped the students would find her friend as delightful as she did.

Etain looked up as a knock sounded on the door. “Come in and be welcome!” she called in her rich voice, eager to meet her first student.

[Keaira O'Connell]

So it seemed that there was another change in the staff at Hogwarts. Once again for maybe the third time they had a new head of house, and a new charms professor. Perhaps the previous ones proved to be insufficient for the beloved headmistress. Unlike the others… this new one was a bit more problematic, as in addition to the title of head of house and charms professor, the new professor one, Etain McTiernan was also the new deputy headmistress… The one who would replace Lapointe if anything unfortunate happened to her, here was to hoping that the lightfighters would benefit from any such unfortunate occurrence, and not be worse off for wear. With that thought, Keaira raised a glass of grape juice to her lips, and swallowed it contently.

Breakfast was always the most important meal for her. And it was clearly shown with the nearly empty plate in front of her, and the remains of an orange that she had eaten heartily this morning. Eggs, toast, bacon, waffles, an orange, and a muffin had already been consumed by the young girl. Eating a good breakfast would keep her sharp, and with upcoming events she needed to be alert at all times. Now was a time for diligence, and keeping ones wits about them, not complacency, and dulled senses. So with the emptying of her glass, Keaira retrieved a good sized green apple, and tossed it into the open pouch of her book bag. One more for the trip, before she stood, and swung the bag over her shoulders and began to make her way out of the great hall.

This morning seemed slightly off, mostly for the lack of her usual companion by her side, but some things needed to be done alone. And the pair of them could not attend an advising session together, so she had awoken earlier than normal, bathed, dressed and eaten alone, and was just now headed to meet the newest head of Slytherin house. Her hair was skillfully swept back away from her face on the right side, and held there with a small clip; makeup was daintily applied to give the appearance of flawless skin, without the makeup being too noticeable. Her best school robes were spotless, and pressed, before she slipped into them, and even after the feast she just had, were still quite remarkably pristine. She was after all about to meet her head of house for the first time, and request some time away from the school, and talk about her future all in the same meeting. It was better to look perfect, and not need to be, than to have every flaw pointed out.

Keaira’s steps were quick as she progressed through the halls headed for the third floor, and the charms professors’ office. She had been there once before to meet her head of house Professor Cage, but that all seemed like a long time ago… back after the training in china, first meeting Zane, and before she had lost Dien. As she reached the top of the stairs on the third floor, a small smile spread across her face, although she was already awake and had started her day, Zane had decided to remain in his dorm, and now close to two hours after her, he was just rising from his bed. But it was still early; the day had many more hours to go. A small thought, of “Morning sunshine” was sent his way, as she headed down the hall and soon stood in front of the professors’ office. With a smile in place, Keaira brought her hand to the wooden door and knocked twice.

The response was nearly immediate, and Keaira showed no hesitation upon hearing the professors’ voice. The door was pushed open, and she crossed the threshold into the newly decorated room. It was much more feminine then the last time she had been within its walls, but then again the professor was now a female and not a male.

“Good Morning professor, how are you finding Hogwarts?”

Keaira asked the question as she made her way across the room, headed for the desk where there was an empty chair, presumably for the students that were invited to an advising meeting. Keaira scanned the woman’s features. Noting her skin color, and eyes, as well as the raven hair with its weavings of silver, Keaira wondered about her past, something she did sometimes. But it was a fleeting thought that was quickly replaced when Keaira caught sight of the small bird and its happy tune. The creature looked beautiful, and its fiery coloring made Keaira instantly think phoenix, yet it was small… almost too small to be so. Whatever the case was Keaira smiled, and looked from the bird to the professor.

“That’s a beautiful creature you have there professor, but, what exactly is it?”

[etainmctiernan]

The first student through her doors this morning couldn’t have been a better omen. Keaira O’Connell, one of her House Prefects came in, greeted her with perfect politeness and then noticed Ivanova. Etain suppressed a chuckle. With Ivanova around to fascinate the students, who’d ever notice her? “Good morning to you too, Ms. O’Connell and welcome.” Etain held out her right arm and gave a whistling trill, and the bright bird swooped gracefully down to settle on the sleeve of her dress robes.

The older witch held the little bird out to Keaira. “This little lady is Ivanova, a classic example of Ignatia claricarmens russica, or the Russian firebird. Delicate little things, but they love to sing and are very affectionate. And they can stand the cold like nothing I’ve ever seen.” The bird ducked its head against Keaira’s hand for a second and then trilled some music at the older witch. “The little imp likes you.” She looked at the bird affectionately. “Go on and sit up there, but watch that you don’t drop anything on the desk or our heads, little love.” The bird gave her a disgusted look and Etain laughed as Ivanova swooped back up to the ceiling.

“So, I understand you are in your fifth year here at Hogwarts.” Etain picked up Keaira’s folder and put on a pair of reading spectacles, glancing at the folder’s contents. “Good solid marks in all your classes, although you seem to be excelling in Transfiguration. No surprise there, given that your grandmother Artemis was famous in Pureblood circles for her skill at it.” Etain smiled at Keaira, her eyes sparkling. “Even when I was off teaching in Ireland, we’d hear the stories about something new she’d come up with. She was quite a firebrand of a witch.” Etain put the folder down, took off the spectacles, and gave Keaira a measuring look. “So, what may I assist you with, Ms. O’Connell? Is there anything I can do for you here at Hogwarts?”