A meeting of the minds (Cage)

[Keaira O'Connell]

Keaira’s eyes fluttered open as she lay in her bed, the sun peeked through the curtains that draped around her. A moan escaped her lips as she thought momentarily of rolling over and going back to sleep. But as quickly as that thought occurred she had to suppress a sharp gasp as the nights events came back to her and she remembered the broken arm, and rib. It had been far too late to go to the hospital wing when she returned last night, and there were bound to be too many questions following a visit like that.

So as she slowly pushed herself up from her bed she winched with pain, and quickly summoned some bandages from her trunk. There was no time right now to worry about broken limbs, she had places to be. Quickly, but carefully she wrapped her chest up, putting pressure where it was needed. It wasn’t perfect but it would do for now. Once her chest was wrapped she moved on to the task of her arm. Memories of the previous night flew through her head. All she really wanted was to fall gently back in to her bed. Unfortunately as she knew there were still a lot of people that needed to be informed of her return.

She soon was dressed in long sleeved robes, with her shiny prefect badge, and green Slytherin house emblazoned on her chest. She was after all planning on seeing Alessandro once again today. Or at least that was originally the plan. As she swept her hair back and out of her face she heard a muffled ‘meow’. Looking down she saw Artemis, holding a letter in her mouth. Keaira smiled and reached down to pet the cat and retrieve the letter.

Quickly reading it over she soon found that her presence was being requested by Professor Cage, the Slytherin head of house. She allowed a small frown to pass her features before brushing it away. Alessandro would have to wait; besides this would give her more time to think about what to truly say to him to convey her anger. Her mind worked on what she needed to do for the rest of the day as she put the finial touches on her appearance. This was after all her first full day back at the school. She really didn’t know where things might take her today.

With everything in order she slipped out of the common room door and headed for the office of Professor Cage. Hoping that this wouldn’t turn in to another interrogation, but still wary of the possibility she found it important that she have her anti-vertiserum potion at hand. After all, certainly there must have been some questions as to where she had been and why it had taken so long to recover. Keaira passed a few people she intended to say hi to on her way, but merely nodded an acknowledgement and continued on her way. Just as she reached the door she quickly took a small dose of the potion, stashing the remains in a little nock in the wall she then knocked on the door.

As she waited for an answer from inside she began setting her mental barriers in place. There was, in these times, very few people she trusted, teacher or students. Unless she was certain she would not take the chance.

[denny]

Morning had come as an unpleasent surprise. Though as the sun eagerly dropped peircing rays through opened windows and surpassed curtains hoping to prevent it's entrance, one room didn't have the delightful usual effect. Normally, the sunlight would enjoy the usual groans of uncooperative humans trying to avoid reality. Morning just came too soon. Yet, as it sneaked through the desolated hallways of the school, it's long fingers creeped into the charm's classroom and more so into a cozy little room not far from the class. It's dark draperies and snakelike appearances of statues and emblems was comforting to a soul already awake.

Danny had showered, shaved and even had already eaten breakfast. His teeth were brushed and short hair already combed into place. Definately this was a new thing for the Slytherin man. He had never been an early riser, but today seemed different. Although classes would start in just a couple hours, his lessons had been postponed for another week. It wouldn't be a lie to say that Danny was rather excited about conducting his class at long last. He had much looked forward to it, and being able to share with students the talents of charms.... Shiver. It excited him to say the least.

Packing a sack of goodies, he was pushing some decorations and some objects (that would be used in his classroom) into the pockets, Danny made the transition from chambers to office just as an owl hooting rather sorely charged through the window. "Ah, Jamie... What happened here?" Danny had watched the femme bird perching herself on a roosting pole by his desk. Her feathers were ruffled and there was a bloody scratch across her beak. If the poor owl could speak, she would have told her master of the ruddy cat that stole the letter away from her leg. Jamie didn't seem to get that Danny couldn't speak owl, and was hooting furiously.

Stroking the bird's feathery head, he shushed her while examining the ribbon shredded yet still somewhat tagged to her leg. "That musta been some battle." Offering the owl a treat, he brushed her black feathers back and smoothed a wad of tissue across her beak, soaking the blood up. "Here this should help.." With a gentle flick of his risk, her scratches healed and Jamie's hooting softened. "Rest. You did fine..." He waved his hand again and food poured into the raised bowl. Gingerly the raven black owl began eating, just as a knock came to the door.

"Enter." His voice was commanding enough to cause the door to swing open on it's hinges, exposing a girl on the other side. "Miss O'Connell, come in. I see you got my message. Good."

[Keaira O'Connell]

Keaira couldn’t help but wonder what kind of person Professor Cage might just turn out to be. Would he be your average Slytherin with their thoughts of nobility, and arrogance? Or perhaps he would surprise her with more of a turn towards the calculating and driven like she tended to be. Maybe he might just be found to hold the same prejudices most did, and the same ignorant hate that flowed around them. Hopefully she thought, that he might be more like her own mind set, however she would be prepared for the worst. Her mind wandered the possibilities as she waited for his invitation to join his presence.

[glow=red,2,300]“Enter.”[/glow]

The word was spoken with force, and commanding, a characteristic she found she shared in some ways. A leader she thought. Just as her hand touched the door handle she found that it was pulled out of her reach and opened of its own accord. Something that thins being Hogwarts did not surprise her in the least. Entirely unshaken she crossed the threshold. She held her head high and confidently, Keeping her posture as strait as possible reaching her height of 5’11”. Although she was usually found walking strait, and tall, today it was even more evident as she attempted to keep her body from bending and causing pain to shoot through her side.

“Good morning Professor Cage, and yes, I did, may I ask what you wished to speak to me about, sir?”

Several possibilities ran through her mind quickly. Did he wish to know where she had been? Or how she was doing? Would he wish to have information on students in his house, or would he seek information on all the students. How much did he know about what was going on? Would he be asking what she knew herself? Or would he want to know the ‘rumors’ the school held. She had thought of several answers to these questions on the way to his office, the question was, what would he be asking?

[denny]

Danny took a vase filled of water, and served a healthy portion out into another raised bowl for the owl to help herself to. Jamie hooted gratefully and fluffed her feathers. Scooting closer to the edge of the pole, she snapped at the water for a nice long drink. Danny turned his back to the feasting bird and watched the student well into her later years at the school, approached his desk. He saved his breath for now, not wishing to speak louder then necessary or repeat himself in case unheard. She was confident with her stride yet he could see the injury pronouncing itself in her step. Rather the stiffness of her body. No body was that proper in walking.

"You're a Slytherin prefect, or so I'm told." Danny said after a few minutes. He slid down into his seat and busied himself with straightening some papers and filing a couple parchments into his desk drawers. "And you've been away for some time on unexplained injury Miss O'Connell." His eyes adverted from the papers, to her again, falling to her arm. "Of course we're pleased to see you've returned, and in one peice. That's always a nice bonus, but I must impress that I'm curious to know why you've missed so much time here at Hogwarts. A prefect certainly shows your interest in studies and the school. Why do you miss time now, when it seems to be paying off?"

Danny casually twisted his wrist, causing a chair to bound from the back of the office over to where Keaira was standing. It teetered from one wooden leg to another, eager to let the student sit down. Danny's questions were riddled with curiosity and geniune seriousness, he let no hidden objectives taint his words and kept his facade passive and pointed.

[Keaira O'Connell]

Keaira allowed Professor Cage to ask his questions with out interruption. She had after all learned that it was always a good idea to keep quiet when dealing with the unknown, until it was known. Her mind picked through his phrasing of the questions. He complimented her, and then remarked that he was concern all in one step. Keaira silently wondered what he really wanted to know before she decided on a response.

“Well, Professor Cage, you have been informed correctly I am the Slytherin Prefect.” She started, but stopped shortly to have a seat in the chair that had excitedly made its way to her. She smiled a little, before continuing on. “I’m sure Professor, that in my absence there have been more than a few rumor as to why I have been gone, most of which I am quite sure have no founding. However, I had hoped that the Headmistress would have mentioned my absence so as to keep me from traveling to each teacher one by one and explaining it to them.”

Keaira sighed, as she considered the prospect of going to each of her teachers and informing them of her recent ‘illness’ It had been a little more shocking that the headmistress hadn’t at least told her head of house why she had been absent, but it would all be fine. With just a moment’s pause she continued,

“Unfortunately for myself, my family has a history of a genetic disorder which results in a comatose like state when its not cared for properly. In my carelessness I missed a few doses of my medication, went to the great hall for lunch, and woke up a week later in my parents’ estate. After which my body needed to once again readjust to the dosage of elixir to prevent future occurrences. Precautionary steps have been arranged to make sure it does not happen again. I must admit it was foolish of me to allow something like this to occur.”

She had thought of story and had made sure every detail was consistent for the past 3 weeks. She knew that her fathers letter said the same tale, and had even gone to the steps to make sure her story could be verified. Medical records would confirm the existence of her condition, and there was a house elf that was charged with ensuring her medicine was taken on a daily basis. In fact her story was not even that much of a stretch of the truth. As a child she had spent weeks in the hospitals due to the same condition. And she already had a regularly taken dosage of medicine. Yes, it was very believable, and only slightly distorted from the truth.

Keaira wondered if this would satisfy his question, and then cause him to move on to another topic, or if it would just cause him to ask more. She wondered if any one had questioned her capability to continue her role as prefect, even though she had managed to keep up in her schooling even while she was sick.

[denny]

"I see." Danny had summed up his reply with those two bare words. He remained thoughtful for a moment as his mind seemed to drink the information in. It was the first movement or noise he had made since she had begun explaining, and that was how he intended it. Yet now, the room was quiet, except for perhaps Jamie's unceremonial feasting. The walls seemed to groan as water rushed down the pipes hidden there, something that didn't phaze him. Stashing a couple new papers into a folder, he stowed it into the bottom drawer before closing it and locking the desk with a flick of the wrist.

Danny was silent for only a minute, no more or less as he thought about her comment. The headmistress was very busy, but she kept her teachers very informed of the school's happenings. That needed correcting. "I'm not sure where you have collected your assumptions of Headmistress LaPointe, however I assure you, Miss O'Connell that she is very thorough with her teachers and students. And she would have made it clear about your absence. However, don't think you were the only one absent those weeks." His voice was rather strong, not willing an arguement to rise. He had a point, and made it clearly.

He let a moment gratefully pass, the air settling for that time before he concidered now the reason of her absence. "Comatose." Danny seemed unaffected, but he had been for reasons he wouldn't ever explain or unhide. "How did you injure yourself then? I don't recall anyone ever showing physical injuries from a coma." Danny turned his head over his shoulder as an elf raced inside from the door carrying a tray of busiques and goblets overflowing with milk. Lifting his brow aloft, Danny let the elf set the tray down, a further exploration of the silver tray found finger sandwhiches lined up on one side and some cheese and fruits on the other. It definately seemed to be a delicious array of goodies. Helping himself to a bit of salami, stacked in the center along with other meats, he offered some to her also with a motion of his wrist.

[Keaira O'Connell]

Keaira left her expression unreadable as she waited to hear Professor Cages' response. He seemed to take a moment to consider the facts before acknowledging her story. He appeared to gage her with some interest, a thing she had grown used to over the past five years. Not that many people who met her could honestly say they found her bland, boring, or plain. It was just an effect she seemed to have. As he commented on her feelings toward the headmistress she realized the slight folly in her speech. And set out to correct it. “I’m sorry I failed to take in to account all the possible variables. A foolish mistake that one happen again. "

After a moments consideration he repeated the word comatose, and then he questioned her regarding her injury. She couldn’t help but frown a little; the reaction would play to her advantage. She had thought about this answer as well. Since deciding to go to bed last night with out healing up. It was the most believable one she could think of in the short time she had. She sighed before looking him in the eyes.

“Well sir, I was hoping to skate by with out having to explain this to more than one person. I suppose I was wrong in assuming I could fool some one with your perceptions. I was planning on finding professor sparrow, and asking about mending potions. It seemed to be the far less embarrassing option. Unfortunately last night was my first time side along Apparateing, and I let go before we reached our destination, thus finding myself falling from a higher distance than I had expected. My mother was never good at mending spells, so she told me to go to the hospital, however, it didn’t bother me much last night. This morning however, I realized I might have broken something. Needless to say, I don’t savor the idea of Apparateing again, even if it’s only side along.”

Her speach was fluid, and conversational. It did not seemed to be rehersed, and she even managed to blush a little in embaresment of her own mistakes. Keaira was pretty good a spinning a tale, particularly one with half truths, and missing details. She had side along Apparateed last night, but the other details were a little misconstrued. Even her mind only showed the tale she had told as she pictured herself falling from 10 feet up. Keaira made a mental note to see professor sparrow shortly after this meeting ended to inquire about that potion.