A Request (Alex)

[D'rorah Philosophy]

D'rorah waited until the other students had cleared out of the classroom before rising from her desk and making her way to the front, where the Professor's desk was. She waited a moment for him to acknowledge her, standing there silently.

[blue]"As you know, I am a seventh year student,"[/blue] she began when she knew he was listening. [blue]"And for several reasons, I would like to remain at Hogwarts in the coming year. I feel that would be a beneficial situation for all of us. And so, I was hoping that perhaps you might be interested in taking on an assistant professor in the coming year,"[/blue] she paused for a moment. [blue]"Provided, of course, that I earn satisfactory scores on my N.E.W.T.s to justify being awarded such a position."[/blue]

She liked Alex, among her professors. He was intelligent and easy enough to get along with, unlike some of the people she had to deal with at Hogwarts. [blue]"I do not believe the Headmistress will be entirely taken with the idea of my remaining here in the coming year... and I know that it may out somewhat out of bounds to make a request that seems to be of a slightly personal nature, but I was hoping that if you agreed to take me on as an apprentice, she might be more likely to allow me to remain here. I have references and can provide any information you might need about my background in Defense Against the Dark Arts."[/blue]

And now, she would simply have to wait to see what he would think of having her stay behind a year. It would be very convenient if this all worked out. Staying at Hogwarts would be helpful for her... but now she would have to see what Professor Archer thought of the proposal.

[Alexander Archer]

Saying goodbye to the last of the students filing out the door, he smiled happily at the progress most students seemed to have made throughout the lesson. He just hoped it would help some of them in the long run, or even the short term; that had essentially been why he had consented to take on the position of Defence teacher over his previous Astronomy classes. With everything that was happening around the castle lately, he felt it was best to prepare his students as much as he was able. Seated at his desk, it was a moment before he noted that indeed, not everyone had left. D'rorah had approached his desk, and he smiled. "Ah yes, Miss Philosophy, what is it you wanted to talk about?" he questioned lightly.

Listening silently as she spoke, he leant back in his chair slightly to regard her full height better. He looked thoughtful for a few moments as he considered her words. As she mentioned Headmistress LaPointe, he grinned briefly and gave a knowing little smile. "Ah yes. Well, a teaching assistant would certainly be helpful, without doubt, especially one such as you," he replied quietly, knowing full well that she was his best student. "Intelligent, disciplined, thorough... talented, beyond doubt. Between you and me, I believe your N.E.W.T's will reflect all of those qualities very well." He suspected of course that her reasoning was not entirely teaching based, but he worded none of those thoughts in such a public vicinity, albeit an empty one. "If you like, I'll offer this suggestion to the Headmistress and inform her of my complete confidence in you. But the decision, I believe, is ultimately hers," he added in a friendly tone, a smile still on his features.

He would very much like to have her stay on in an aiding capacity; she was possibly one of the most useful people to have staying in this castle, that he knew of anyway. If she realised that too, and was seeking to do something about it, so much the better. He knew Caira was far from prone to the Ravenclaw Prefect, but he would do more than his best to secure her place here for the following year. "With Outstanding in your exams, multiple references and all of the information on your Defence Against the Dark Arts background, Caira should have no reason whatsoever to refuse you," he advised, though suspected that she had assumed all of that on her own. "Get those, and I will be standing behind you one-hundred percent, Miss Philosophy."

[D'rorah Philosophy]

D'rorah nodded as Professor Archer stated that the decision, in the end, would be Caira's. She was hopeful that Archer's backing would be enough to keep her there in the coming year. She wondered what it might be like to work directly with Archer. He seemed much less solemn and more open than had the Professor she had worked closely with at Falstaff's in the Unforgivable Curse research. She imagined he would be easy enough to work for... fair, polite, well-organized, and intelligent. [blue]"Yes, I realize she would be responsible for making the final decision as to whether or not I am able to remain at Hogwarts,"[/blue] she confirmed. [blue]"And also that I shall have to work doubly hard to convince her, given her current inclination against me. I appreciate that you are willing to offer your confidence in me to her. I shall do my utmost to ensure that you never regret having vouched for me."[/blue]

She nodded again at the remark that an Outstanding on her exams, along with her references and her background in Defense Against the Dark Arts, would be helpful in making sure there was no reason to deny her. Of course, she expected nothing less than perfection from herself when it came to exams. Failure to secure an Outstanding would be, quite frankly, unacceptable. She reached into her satchel and extracted a vitae with her references and an outline of the work she had published with her professor at Falstaff's. It was somewhat lengthy, but only because it was thorough. The very last entry read "Unforgivable Curse defense work of a confidential nature." That was the designation she had been allowed to use after the director of the project had reviewed the final results. She had debated at length about adding it at all, but decided in the end it was best to be thorough and accurate. Sadly, the vitae showed no published work since coming to Hogwarts, but then she supposed she had much more pressing issues at hand since she had come here. [blue]"Here are the references along with the curriculum vitae of my current published articles,"[/blue] she explained as the passed the pages to him. "[blue]As long as the information here is sufficient, I believe all that remains is to wait for my exams."[/blue]

She offered a smile, something that she didn't offer to just anyone. [blue]"I really do appreciate your help, Professor. I would very much like the opportunity to work with you in the coming years. You seem genuinely concerned with the cultivating the abilities of the students of Hogwarts to be able to defend themselves when the need arises. As the safety of our students is one of my primary concerns, I appreciate that you are working to help in furthering that goal."[/blue]

[Alexander Archer]

He'd never really thought about the possibility of taking on an assistant professor, but if he had he was sure D'rorah would have been his first consideration. Regardless, he still figured that most of this hinged on Caira, and he knew that she was far from partial to the female Ravenclaw Prefect. But still, optimism was one of his strong suits, and he was positive that if they presented a good enough case, the Headmistress would accept it. Nodding slightly, a small smile sitting on his features, as she noted she would need to work extra hard, he was sure she fully comprehended the work involved in her request. "I'm sure you couldn't possibly make me regret my decision, Miss Philosophy," he added lightly.

Waiting for a moment as she reached within her satchel, he accepted the papers and set them together on his desk. "Excellent, excellent. Yes, I think that's all until the exams. I'll breach the subject with Headmistress LaPointe before then, to see if we can get at least a decision pending N.E.W.T's before the holidays." Hopefully he could convince her as soon as possible, get her to decide and be unable to revoke that decision. He would need to handle it carefully, because he truly believed that D'rorah Philosophy remaining at Hogwarts would be best for everyone; he could be terribly convincing at times, he just hoped this would be one of those occasions.

Collecting the papers she had provided, he slipped them into his briefcase and rose back to level height to find her speaking once more. Creating a broad smile, he nodded once or twice in response to her words. "Yes, well, none of us can be too careful these days," he admitted lightly. "I just hope that what I teach can have the advantage of helping someone, even just one," he added, sure that if only one could be helped then it would be worth the effort. "I'm just glad I'm not the only one," he assured her, knowing she was in the same mindframe. "Oh, and thinking along those lines, Miss Philosophy," he added, as if just remembering what it was he was about to say. "Professor Dunham fancies herself an extreme Herbologist... she has what she calls a project in the Forbidden Forest, and didn't seem to take my warnings about that particular area too seriously. She did, however, also push upon me some great story about a World Tree, I believe; a tree that offers god-like powers - it sounded like that's what she was trying to recreate or grow in the forest. Either she feels safe within those borders for a reason like being aligned with the creatures currently roaming in there, or she's rather ignorant. If this tree business is true, she could also be a very great asset for whichever side claims her." He hadn't meant to sound so brash in those last few words; she was of course a person, and the idea that one group would simply 'claim' her was quite crass, but it was the most eloquent way he could put it. "I just thought you should know, you might want to keep an eye on her," he ended quietly. As he had spoken, his voice had remained quite lighthearted, though the topic seemed far from it.

[D'rorah Philosophy]

D'rorah nodded as Alex replied, already starting to get her hopes up regarding the coming year. If she couldn't get an appointment to remain at Hogwarts, she would have a lot of work to do before the end of the year to ensure that she would still be able to meet with the Lightfighters. As many problems as they faced with the unity of the group, her leaving would only negatively affect the entire situation. She wanted to avoid it at all costs. And, staying on as an assistant professor would perhaps give her time to work on her own research as well. It might also, if news of the war became public sometime soon, give her the opportunity to teach the students how to more accurately defend themselves. While a very strong Patronus would cause a Shadow a some pain, it would not truly hurt or damage it. And from the smoky wisps she had seen at wandtips during this particular lesson, she knew the students needed, if nothing else, some way of learning to identify Shadow Magic.

She listened carefully as he went on to speak about Professor Dunham and her new research in the forbidden forest. D'rorah frowned at the news. [blue]"To be quite frank, I would prefer not to claim someone who chooses the idiocy of entering the Forbidden Forest after having been warned of the danger there.[/blue]" She shifted her weight on her feet slightly and the frown disappeared as she regained a more normal, emotionless facial expression. [blue]"I believe I have heard of the legend in question, though I have never before met anyone who believes it is credible. However, I suppose I stand as living proof that not all strange myths can be readily dismissed as fiction,"[/blue] she added. [blue]"I suppose I now have a new subject to search out amongst the libraries of the world... for one, what sort of "god-like" powers might be attributed to this tree... and will the darkness in the forest taint them..."[/blue] she trailed of thoughtfully for a moment before picking up with a new thought. [blue]"And I can only imagine that allowing something like this to be grown in the Forbidden Forest would give Dark Phoenix free access to it... which is something that absolutely cannot be allowed to happen."[/blue]

She inhaled slowly, considering the time she would have to dedicate to this new problem. It would mean less sleep once again. And it would mean patroling the Forest border more actively in order to ensure that people stayed out... and that Professor Dunham didn't get herself killed while working on this new project. D'rorah could understand why the Professor might be excited about her research... she only wished that it hadn't led Dunham into the darkness of the Forest. [blue]"I will, of course, do my utmost to ensure that Professor Dunham remains safe, despite her apparent suicidal tendencies."[/blue]

[Alexander Archer]

Avoiding the automatic response of laughter at her comment that Professor Dunham might be best left alone, he comprimised with something more along the lines of a smile. "Yes, my primary concern was the idea that Dark Phoenix could gain it, being so easily within her grasp. She can't have failed to notice such activity within her borders," he agreed quietly, knowing that if there was any truth in this myth then it would need to be dealt to very quickly. "Perhaps, instead of the library, there might be an easier way... To just ask Catherine?" he added. He imagined the library and her books were a one-stop shop; the automatic response. But he also supposed that with how eager Catherine had been to share this initial information, she could very well open up to them - or him, at least, with some ease.

At D'rorah's last comment, he smiled once more. "Yes, thankyou, I'm on the lookout as well, I just thought an extra pair of eyes couldn't hurt," he said. "So, I will speak to Caira and try to lay some foundation, as I said, with these references. I'm not sure whether it would be better to talk to her with me, or to let me handle it alone and avoid her altogether while we await her decision... Whatever you think would be best, I will of course be more than happy to oblige," he added with a supportive smile. "I have high hopes that this will all work out; if you don't mind me saying so, you seem very much like you belong at Hogwarts."

Pushing back his chair a few inches, he rose from it and collected his briefcase as he did so, resting it upon his desk briefly. "And my door is always open, D'rorah. For anything," he added lightly, hoping that she knew he meant it. Awaiting her reply as he indicated he was leaving, he made sure to receive it before they departed the classroom. It wouldn't entirely do to have their conversation eavesdropped on, or simply overheard, for that matter.

[D'rorah Philosophy]

Archer's suggestion made perfect sense, of course. Simply asking Catherine about her research would certainly be much quicker than venturing to the library is she was indeed so keen to share her work. But then, she didn't know the herbology professor at all. In fact, given her complete and utter inability to keep so much as a pot of fluxbloom alive, D'rorah made a point of avoiding the greenhouses. Plants never fared well around her, something Master Xiu had once attributed to the darkness within her... even though she'd never witnessed anything of the like from the other Shadow Warriors. [blue]"Perhaps I might be able to catch her away from her classroom,"[/blue] she admitted reluctantly, already doubting the possibility that that would happen. [blue]"Or I suppose I could manufacture some reasonable excuse for introducing myself to a professor of a subject I have no talent for whatsoever."[/blue] Perhaps, with any luck, she would be able to manage the visit without causing every plant in the greenhouse to die.

She nodded as Alex mentioned that he would begin laying some foundation with Caira for her. [blue]"I believe it would be far better for you to go alone to begin with... perhaps that would allow her an opportunity to forget that the request that is being made involves myself as the one seeking to remain at Hogwarts."[/blue] She wasn't sure what to make of the statement that she belonged at Hogwarts. She supposed she'd managed to find reasons she was necessary around the school... and she'd also managed, for the first time in her life, to find people of her own age who were close to her. Perhaps Archer was right, perhaps this was somehow where she belonged. If the Assistant Professorship went well, who knew? She might even end up as the actual professor for Defense Against the Dark Arts some day.

She stepped back from his desk as he pushed his chair back and stood. Her brows came together in confusion for a moment as he stated that his door was always open. She wondered for a moment if that was a response to something about her appearance or manner of speaking. Had he noticed that she and Dylan were sitting separately? Had he heard the crazy rumors flying around about her of late after the incident in the common room and her later incident with the "moving staircase"? [blue]"Thank you, Professor,"[/blue] she replied finally, her uncertainty clear in her voice. [blue]"And thank you for your time today,"[/blue] she added, hoisting the strap of her satchel higher on her shoulder before offering him a polite nod. [blue]"Good day."[/blue] With that, she turned to head from the classroom.