#01 [September 4, 2016: Sunday, Week 1. It's been a very busy day for the first years at Hogwarts, as they were just a few hours ago brought to the school, sorted into their respective houses, and treated to a delicious and extravagant start-of-the-year feast. Eliana didn't end up eating that much, though, as she was too busy gazing at the room and the ghosts and the other students and professors and also the hat and trying to see Luke allll the way over at the Hufflepuff table...] #01 [Really, sensory overload.] #01 [Felix Blackstone, a fifth year prefect (and also the student who made the comment concerning the sorting hat eating itself) just lead the new Slytherins to their home in Hogwarts: the dungeon, as it's affectionately called, through an extremely well-hidden door in one of the basement walls. The common room itself has dark green carpet and light stone walls. It's filled with heavy and dark antique furniture with silver accents and furnishings, there are snakes and skulls depicted everywhere, and the whole room is cast in a green light in the day due to sunlight passing through the lake water lapping against the large windows. The fireplaces are, at least, lit and crackling, providing some much needed warmth.] #06* Vesper is already in the common room, occupying a high-backed chair set a little apart from its fellows near one of the fireplaces. Perhaps it only accidentally resembles a throne. Evangeline has pulled another chair closer to him and is chattering away about something that happened over her break, but while he responds to her courteously enough, his attention roams around the rest of the room. There's a gaggle of second-year girls in one corner and a few older boys near one of the other fireplaces playing some kind of game. And then, of course, there are the new first-years, led by Felix, just by the entryway. Vesper's gaze lingers ever so slightly on one gangly girl with curly dark hair. #01 [Felix ushers the lot of new students in and makes eye contact with Vesper briefly before he steps in himself, moving so most of the students can see him. "The password changes weekly," he says. "Make sure you check the posterboard often and *rememeber* it if you want to sleep in your own bed at night. Ravenclaw might be the smart lot, but you don't get to be idiots. Your trunks and all pets but owls or the ones you have on your person," he glances over the crowd and a couple of first years shift uncomfortably, "are already in your rooms. Those assignments are on the posterboard, too."] #01 ["Remember that you're in the greatest house in Hogwarts - the only one that really gets anything done a lot of the time - and that means every one of you is better than every other student in this bloody school. You're going to have differences and disagreements - a LOT of them - but you're going to keep them to the dungeon. You're going to wonder why others got sorted into Slytherin, but you're going to keep *that* to yourself. You ALL deserve to be here. Outside, we stick together and look after our own. Got that?"] #06* Vesper watches Felix for a little while, but he seems to be satisfied with what he hears, because he turns a little more attention to placating Evangeline. #01 [There are murmurs of assent throughout the crowd, though not from Eliana, who's busy looking around the common room and trying to keep from gaping. "Good to hear," Felix says, "We'll see if any of you actually remember that, too." He grins. "That's about it. I'll let you lot look up where your rooms are. If any of you need anything, just come ask me." And at that, most of the students break off, relieved, and start swarming the poster board.] #06* Eliana gets jostled a bit and glares at a few of the perpetrators before moving farther away from the center of the mob. There's no point in checking the board yet. #06* Eliana ends up, in her sidestepping, near Vesper and Evangeline. Now that she's close, Vesper can see that she's biting her lower lip as she watches the other students. #06* Vesper 's gaze flicks over to Eliana periodically as she comes closer. He doesn't say anything to her yet, though. #01 [Evangeline is busy catching Vesper up on the latest gossip! "So I found the cutest pair of boots at Madam Malkin's - I'll show you sometime, they're *adorable* - and you'd never guess who came up to me - MALFOY. Draco Malfoy, seriously, I know his family's had trouble since the war, but the Malfoy name still carries a lot of respect in certain circles. He told me that he'd heard about my accomplishments last year and that he's looking forward to seeing what I decide to do after graduation."] #06* Vesper smiles at Evangeline with every appearance of being actually pleased for her. "How very exciting for you. And what did you tell him?" #06* Eliana glances over at that and gives Evangeline a dubious look. And then her gaze moves to Vesper, and she tilts her head, thinking. #01 ["Well!" Evangeline says, with a pleased hair toss over one shoulder, "I told him that we really must get together some time - after I graduate, of course - as he also offered me some connections concerning future job prospects. And then I unfortunately needed to to leave... I had to pick up my books, you know."] #06* Vesper murmurs, "Of course." There's a faint twinkle in his eye, but surely he's excited for Evangeline, not amused by her. #06* Eliana makes up her mind and takes a few more steps until she's in front of both seventh years. "Um, excuse me?" #01 [Evangeline turns her attention to Eliana and glares. "What do *you* want?"] #06* Eliana blinks at the glare, but surprisingly, she doesn't back down. Instead, her voice gets hard. "To talk to Vesper." She looks at the Slytherin in question. "If that's okay." Evangeline opens her mouth to reply, but is cut off by Vesper. #06* Vesper 's voice is actually almost sharp. "Do be polite, Evangeline. It's part of my duties to help new students." He transfers his attention to Eliana and smiles encouragingly. "Of course it is." #01 [Evangeline pauses, but she accepts that well enough. "Right, of course. Head Boy duties and all. Your responsibilities take all of the fun out of everything, Vesper." She turns her attention to Eliana and smiles, though it's not a particularly nice one. "Welcome to Hogwarts." She gets up and stalks off to her room.] #06* Vesper looks after Evangeline and suppresses a sigh. But he smiles as he turns to Eliana, waving her towards the seat Evangeline just vacated. "Well, what can I do for you, Eliana?" #06* Eliana watches her go as well, then turns her attention to Vesper. "Is she always like that?" she blurts without really thinking. #06* Eliana notices the wave belatedly and moves to sit, discovering the chair's a lot more comfortable than it looks. #06* Vesper watches Eliana consideringly, the smile still playing about his lips. "Usually, yes." #06* Eliana shifts a little. "Right. Okay, well. I was just..." She takes another moment, looking down at her jeans-covered knees, then: "I hate skirts." #06* Vesper blinks at her briefly. "And...?" #01 So I don't want to *wear* them. Ah. As part of your school uniform, of course. #06* Vesper frowns faintly, but it's in thought rather than displeasure. "You know I can't do anything about that rule, right?" #06* Eliana looks up at Vesper. "No, I didn't, because they didn't give us a handbook or anything..." She frowns and says, more to herself, "Maybe I should read that history book the guy at Flourish and Blotts made us get. It could be in there." Hogwarts, a History? #01 Yeah, that's the one! By Bathilda Bagshot! #01 I just got so distracted by the potions book because I wanted to see if it was like chemistry, and I couldn't even really understand the magical theory one... #06* Vesper shakes his head. "No, there's nothing about uniforms in there, if I recall..." He trails off, thinking, then blinks at Eliana's mention of "chemistry". After a moment, though, he decides to just ignore it. "I have to enforce the rules. I can't make exceptions, or changes. But that doesn't mean there's no one in this school that can." #06* Vesper smiles at Eliana. "You just have to talk to the right person." #06* Eliana nods. "Do you know who that would be? Luke said maybe the headmistress or our head of house - that's Professor Horace Slughorn, right? - but he really wasn't sure either." #01 At my last school they let me wear the boys' uniform. Luke? #01 Yeah, I met him while getting my wand. Luke MacRae, he got sorted into Hufflepuff. #06* Eliana reaches up to tug at her hair a little. "We, uh, were kind of thinking that we *might* both get sorted into Ravenclaw, but things didn't turn out that way." #06* Vesper studies Eliana some more. "I thought that might be the case. That you might have been sorted into Ravenclaw. And Luke MacRae...must be Matthew and Mark MacRae's younger brother. Hm. Well, anyway, he's probably right. You could talk to Professor Slughorn about it, and he might be able to give you permission, but he'd probably have to check it with Headmistress McGonagall, too." #06* Eliana nods. "So if that's the case, maybe it's best to go straight to McGonagall?" #06* Vesper tilts his head, considering. "It would be polite to speak to Professor Slughorn first." And he could back you up with the headmistress as well. #01 That makes sense. #06* Eliana bites her lip a little bit, looking out at the gradually emptying common room before turning back to Vesper. "Maybe I should ask him tomorrow, like... if I have class with him. He teaches potions, right? He's probably busy right now." #06* Vesper looks off through the walls in the direction of Slughorn's office. (Right now. Considering how things move around in Hogwarts, it might be different tomorrow.) "Well...he might be preparing for the start of classes right now, but Professor Slughorn is always happy to talk to his students." He grins at Eliana. "Plus, he's been teaching for years. I'm pretty sure he knows what he's doing by now. If you want to go right now, I'll take you.” #06* Eliana perks. "Really? Thank you!" #06* Vesper smiles and rises. "Sure. C'mon." And he heads towards the door with a jerk of his head. #06* Eliana hops to her feet and heads after Vesper. #06* Vesper leads Eliana through a few hallways and up a flight of stairs. Professor Slughorn's office is close to the Potions classroom, though since they don't actually pass it Vesper can't point it out to Eliana. Still, they arrive at their destination quickly and Vesper raps on the door. #06* Eliana looks around while she waits. [A voice that was once deep and rich but is now thinning a little with age calls from behind the door, "Enter!"] #06* Vesper steps inside, beckoning Eliana in after him. "Hello, sir." #06* Eliana walks in after Vesper and forces her hands out of her pockets. [A short, portly man is sitting behind a large, rather messy desk, shifting papers around. There's a tin of some kind of candied fruit sitting at his elbow. His eyes light up when he sees Vesper. "Ah, hello, Vesper! Didn't think to see you so soon!" And then he sees Eliana coming in behind him, and the twinkle in his eyes turns acquisitive. "Oh, and who have you brought me? You're one of my new Slytherins, aren't you? Eliana, wasn't it?"] #06* Eliana tries not to look nervous. Or put her hands back in her pockets. "Yes, Professor. Um. Eliana Casale." #06* Vesper smiles deferentially at Slughorn and gestures Eliana forward. "Good memory, Professor." She had a question I thought you might be able to help with. [The professor turns to Eliana. "Yes, yes? Always glad to help promising young students! What can I do for you?"] #06* Eliana stops looking at all of the jarred potion ingredients and turns her attention back to the professor. "Well, I... I don't like wearing skirts. So I was wondering if I could wear slacks instead? I wouldn't mind wearing the boys' uniform. I did that at my old school." [Slughorn's eyebrows rise a little, but after a moment he says, "Well, well, no reason why not I suppose, as long as you *are* wearing a uniform...hm, yes. I shall have to get the headmistress' approval, of course, but I think she'll grant it." He looks at Eliana speculatively over the expanse of his desk. "You'd like to be able to wear your altered uniform tomorrow, I'm sure?"] #06* Vesper stands back out of the way, waiting quietly and attentively until something else is needed of him. #06* Eliana brightens. "If I can." ["Do you have the proper uniform slacks already?"] #06* Eliana shakes her head. "My uncle didn't get them. Just the skirts." She makes a face. "I have pants and stuff, but they're not in uniform." [Professor Slughorn looks genuinely disappointed, even distressed on Eliana's behalf. "Well, certainly, you won't be able to wear the boys' uniform until you *have* it. But at the very least...let's see, I could speak to her at breakfast tomorrow, see about bringing you to speak to her..." He shuffles around in the papers on his desk until he apparently finds the right one, holding it up. "Aha! Let's see, you'll have Potions with me tomorrow afternoon. Why don't we go speak to her just after that? That way you'll certainly have permission when you do get the uniform pants."] #06* Eliana smiles. "That'd be great. Thank you, Professor." #01 The uniforms, um... how do I go about getting them? Do I call my uncle and have him mail them here? [The professor blinks at Eliana again. "Well, you could floo call him, I suppose, but if you don't know where he is or he doesn't have a fireplace handy...you're probably better off just owling him. And then yes, once he has them he'll be able to owl-mail them to you. Your mail always arrives at breakfast, so you know."] #06* Eliana blinks. "Owling?" And then her expression clears. "Oh! Okay, thank you. I, um, don't own an owl... are there ones for general use?" #01 Also, what's a floo? And why would he need a fireplace? #01 He has one, but it's not usually lit. #01 And why would I need one to call him, anyway? I have a phone. #06* Eliana reaches into her pocket and pulls the muggle device out to show him. "See?" She presses a button at the top, waiting for the slide-unlock to come up, and then frowns at the screen. "Looks dead, though." [Professor Slughorn nods. "Certainly, there are owls that all students can use - Vesper can show you the owlery, if he's willing - " He glances at Vesper, then back to Eliana at her further questions, blinking. "Ah, muggle-born, are you? You'll find a great many muggle-built things won't work here at Hogwarts. It looks like your 'phone' might be one of them."] #01 ... What? #06* Eliana looks back up at Slughorn. "*Why*?" she asks, panicked undertone clear in her voice. #06* Vesper nods at the professor when Slughorn looks over at him, then looks over at Eliana's muggle device with interest. He stays quiet, however, as it's Slughorn's show right now. [The professor shrugs. "The interaction with powerful magics. I can't tell you exactly why - very advanced magical theory, there, I hardly understand it myself and I doubt you have the background to yet."] #06* Eliana looks back down at her phone and tries to calm down. "Okay, well, I'll have to find out later. And if there's a way to circumvent it, because this is *stupid*." Never mind that her head of house said he hardly understands it and she's only eleven. She turns her attention back to Slughorn. "So I write letters and send them with owls?" [Professor Slughorn nods at her. "Yes, exactly."] #01 And they can read the addresses on them and know exactly where to go? What happens if one of them gets hit by a plane or something? Is there a return postage service? [The professor blinks. "A plane? I don't think you need to worry. The owl post is very reliable."] #06* Vesper steps forward. "I think we'd better let Professor Slughorn get back to preparing for the school year." #06* Vesper smiles at Eliana. "Besides, you have a letter to write now." #06* Eliana starts a little; she largely forgot Vesper was there. "Oh! Yeah." She smiles sheepishly at the professor. "Thanks for all of the help." [Professor Slughorn twinkles cheerily at her and waves a hand in a gesture of dismissal. "Not at all, not at all! I'll see you tomorrow, Eliana!" He glances at Vesper. "I'd like a word with you, too, Mr. Kartal, when you have the time."] #06* Vesper nods at his head of house as he's ushering Eliana towards the door. "Of course, sir." #06* Eliana is ushered! She waves back at Slughorn before she actually gets out the door. #06* Eliana says to Vesper, "I can find my way back to the common room. If you want to talk to Professor Slughorn now?" #06* Vesper shakes his head. "No, that's all right. Even if you can find find your way back on your own, the professor wouldn't like me just leaving you. I'll be able to talk to him soon enough." #06* Eliana blinks, a little surprised, but she says, "Okay." And starts heading back! She'll even lead if Vesper lets her, because she needs to figure out her own way around. #06* Vesper does hang back a little when Eliana shows signs of wanting to take the lead. After all, it'd be interesting to know if she *can* find her way back after just the one trip... #06* Eliana leads the way without hesitation, sometimes brushing a hand against a wall or checking a step on the stairs, but she manages to get back to the blank wall that leads into the dungeons without a misstep. "Basilisk," she says, confidently, and the wall slides open. #06* Vesper raises his eyebrows in an impressed expression behind her back, then wipes it away effortlessly to smile down at Eliana instead. "Well done. I tell you what. You're going to talk to Headmistress McGonagall tomorrow after class, right? Write your letter and bring it to dinner tomorrow, and I'll take you up to the owlery after dinner." #06* Eliana blinks up at him. "Really?" And then she smiles back. "Okay. Thank you, Vesper." You're welcome. I'll see you tomorrow, Eliana. #06* Eliana smiles again and waves, then heads over to the posterboard to find out where her room is. And also that she has roommates. This'll be fun. #06* Vesper returns to his thro-er, chair, possibly to answer questions about where he took one of the firsties just now. #01 [That does in fact happen, as one sixth and two seventh year classmates descend on Vesper to ask what the heck.] #06* Eliana finds her name and location, and she heads off to the first year girls' wing, glancing at Vesper and his new company as she goes. #06* Vesper is smiling cheerfully, but from the variously cajoling and frustrated expressions on the faces of his interlocutors, he isn't giving them as much in the way of answers as they desire. #06* Eliana bites the inside of her lip and vanishes from the common room. #01 [Session End!]