A Necessary Request

[Zane Lucifer Bishop]

Zee had hoped he would merely run into his Head of House and be able to casually ask for a pass to the restricted section. It had not happened though, so he soon found himself meandering through the third floor corridor toward the Charms classroom. He hadn't wanted to approach Professor Cage in a formal setting as, in such a situation, the man's superiority would be crystal clear. Zee wasn't unable to appear humble and respectful, but his true pride and conceit made his enjoyment of such a role minimal. But still, he needed that pass.

He is the Head of Slytherin, perhaps he'll show you that he actually deserves your respect. Unlikely, but possible.

He reached the wooden door to the classroom and knocked three times before cracking it open and poking his head through.

"Professor Cage? May I have a word sir?"

[denny]

"Professor Cage? May I have a word sir?" Danny looked up from a small stack of papers and a book. His quill had finished his last sentence before hanging uselessly in the air, waiting for further memos. One slim brow cocked up under his hair line as he surveyed the head intruding his classroom. "You didn't leave me much of a choice, did you?" His remark was dry and with a flick of his hand, the door flung wide open, exposing the student. Slytherin robes. Good at least he was from Danny's own house. Made things a lot easier.

"Make it fast, I'm busy." Not bothering to stand up or acknowledge the student any more then necessary, Danny's finger twitched and the result was a warm glass of firewhiskey being poured. Closing the text book and shuffling it aside, Danny tugged another book out from a pile and opened it. "Oh, do introduce yourself, we wouldn't want to forget our manners now would we?" It was more a direct order then what the florished words would say. A chair hopped away from the wall on it's own accord and propped itself eagerly in front of the desk, waiting for Zane to sit.

Although he'd never admit it, a distraction from his lesson planning was welcomed. For some reason, he just couldn't understand how to teach a full body stun charm without having the headmistress dismiss him for abuse to the students. Sure, there was a great lenency to the Charms position, but some restrictions and regulations unfortunately still applied. He had been so involved in his planning, that it was only now that Danny realised he was rather hungry. Perhaps he'd find himself a snack or two later.
(sorry, not long. )

[Zane Lucifer Bishop]

Zee kept his face neutrally inquisitive as the door swung wide. He wasn't sure about this. Most Slytherins seemed friendly enough to other Slytherins, but would the Head of House see himself as so far above the students of his own house as to treat them contemptibly? Arrogance did seem to be an altogether too common trait amongst his house. A smirk crossed his mind, though he kept it from his face.

Perhaps that's why the hat placed me where it did.

Zee broke into a quick walk up to the professor's desk at the order to be expedient. It didn't seem as though Cage would appreciate a drawn out introduction and explanation of why he'd come calling. He sat in the seemingly impatient chair and took a brief moment to figure out how best to go about this. Thinking it best to keep up his assumed personality for all he met at the school, with only minor changes meant to ingratiate himself with his particular audience at any given time, he allowed a small grin to form.

"My name is Zane Lucifer Bishop, sir. People just call me Zee. Well, some people. I just transferred in. I was wondering sir if I could get a pass to access the restricted section of the library. Some of my research requires books that are understandably kept away from the younger students. I would be most appreciative sir."

Oh how he hated calling the man "sir." He wouldn't have minded if he'd been able to add a healthy dose of bitter irony into his voice. He wanted that pass though, and so he played his part well, sounding perfectly deferential. His smile was pleasant but somewhat unassuming. He sat waiting for a response patiently.

((lol, that's fine. Those uber long posts you and Dee keep throwing at each other scare me just a little bit.))

[denny]

"A transfer eh?" Danny's eyes didn't leave the all too eager chair until Zane had taken it as a host. Wooden legs tremored for a minute or two before the chair settled and stiffened again. It wasn't often that Danny had visitors, at least not of Slytherin housing, much to his own preference. However the chair had been forced to endure the weight of many. Professors, Gryffindors, even filthy Hufflepuffs. But the honor of a Slytherin buttocks had excited it. Too much it seemed that it had almost buckled when Zane had sat.

Bringing his fingers to his exposed forehead, they talentedly massaged the skin there. Waiting patiently for Zane to finish his introduction and of course the reason he was here. Danny concidered the boy for a moment. He seemed much older then some, sixth or seventh year perhaps. Definately a student in studies that would require those restricted texts. "What's so important that you already need pass to those pages?" His voice was kept calm and casual while Danny pulled a piece of parchment out of a pile.

He took strange care when inking his quill, and almost tenderly scribbled on the slip. His fine looped writing was slowly forming the access that Zane was requesting. But of course, Danny took his time. There was no rush, he had afterall, asked a question. Dotting both of the 'i's' in permission, he dipped his quill into his black ink pot before continuing. I, Danny Cage do give permission and access to Zane..." Again his ink had run dry and he dipped again. But this time he didn't write, waiting for Zane to explain himself.

[Zane Lucifer Bishop]

Pressure was kept in his legs, ready to support him should the unruly chair decide to collapse or perhaps buck him out of it. Soon enough though it settled and he relaxed the tensed muscles. Zee nodded his unnecessary confirmation when the professor commented on his transfer.

"Yes sir. I was homeschooled 'til now. My parents wanted to keep me away from all the less than pure blood that roams about the school. They were both Slytherin as well."

He kept his tone neutral as he mentioned the blood prejudice, unsure of where the professor stood. Mentioning his parents had both been Slytherin was a somewhat obvious attempt at making a good impression. But since it was true, why shouldn't he use it? Zee pondered the question quickly. He didn't wish to take too long to answer, but had to consider how much to tell. Mention D'rorah or not? Confess it's for personal research and not assigned projects? The man was the head of Slytherin, but that didn't necessarily mean anything . . .

In the end Zee banked on the professor holding at least some of the stereotypically Slytherin views. He wouldn't mention Ms. Philosophy as she was not a Slytherin and his working with her may not be taken well. All these thoughts flew through his mind and no more than 2 seconds passed before he answered the question.

"Honestly sir, it's for my own research. Better defenses, better curses to defeat those defenses, even better defenses that will hold against the improved curses. It's kind of a never ending cycle. I do have some of my own texts, but the library holds far more."

He watched the professor scribe the pass eagerly. Some of the hunger Zee felt was allowed into his eyes, but a fair amount was held back. He didn't want to seem too anxious.

[denny]

Danny appeared to not be listening as his eyes travelled to beyond the window. Yet he was doing just the opposite, and each word was carefully concidered. Homeschooled... Definately with good reason, though Danny wondered if he would uphold the thought. Surely keeping a purist line, pure was important, keeping the pure blood away from the others wasn't recommended. He didn't agree with intermingling between half breeds and purists, yet it wasn't in his nature to disown the mudbloods either. Each could be turned into something powerful, just keep them out of the purist lines.

"I see." While Zane finished explaining it was for personal gain, Danny finished the note. Stamping it with a hogwarts emblem, his flicked his hand and into the parchment, next to his neat writing, a mark appeared. It's edges glowed a soft crimson, and smoke puffed from the burning paper. He admired the mark for a moment, watching the snake slither around the four letters that spelt his name. Each head of house had a similar symbol, each with their house pet. The parchment curled into a neat roll and carefully Danny tied a silver ribbon around it. "This should be enough." He handed it across the desk to Zane and finally looked at him. "Don't disappoint me Mister Bishop. I will expect you to show me what you have learned when charms classes commence." He waved his hand in dismissal, giving the student the right to leave if there was no further questions. It definately interested him in what would be learned.

[Zane Lucifer Bishop]

Damn. That's another person you'll have to show something to. First Ms. Philosophy and now Professor Cage? Do you not comprehend the concept of secret research? You'd have been better off continuing your solitary education and not come here to deal with these meddlesome imbeciles.

The insult in Zee's mind had little foundation, and he knew it. D'rorah was certainly no fool and it was doubtful that the Head of Slytherin House would prove himself to be anything less than dangerously cunning. Still, he hated that he'd come to rely on the both of them in order to make the most use of his resources. True, with permission to access the restricted section of the library he would have much more useful information at his fingertips, and the value of the Ravenclaw prefect's work was undeniable. But Zee wondered if the price he would have to pay would prove too high. He certainly wasn't foolish enough to trust the man sitting before him, though D'rorah seemed honest enough. She had after all shared her research with him. Should he not return the favor?

What a silly notion. How in all the infernal did that ever come into your mind? I'm not entirely sure this school is good for you. You've been having strange thoughts lately. Perhaps it would be best to return home . . .

Zee shook the disturbingly accurate thoughts away. He couldn't leave. He liked it here, despite all the unexpected occurrences. Or because of them. He took the rolled pass from the professor with a gracious nod and stood.

"Thank you Professor. I shall have something for you soon. Good day."

Typically Zee would have gone on for a bit longer, using more flowery language to express his gratitude, but with his menagerie of annoying thoughts, he was eager to escape and find some seclusion. Turning, he walked briskly from the room, shutting the door behind him.