|
|
Post by Avalon Yuciano on Jun 20, 2010 16:46:20 GMT -5
Avalon didn't respond nor look up as he spoke to her -too busy signing the last few pages of her contract. However, a small smile tugged at the corners of her mouth as she registered what he said. "You say that as though you've had a change of heart." She stopped long enough in her signing to look up and gauge his reaction. "It'd be nice if you said said yes, you've had because assuming someone like you could have had a change of heart about teaching than so could I. After all teaching 'isn't something that I necessarily wanted to do.'" She grinned at him as she repeated his words back to him, "Do you like teaching now?"
Finishing up the last form, she pushed the packet of parchments across the desk toward him again. In the process her eyes caught sight of a photograph behind him. "She's precious." She asked, indicating the picture she was referring to with a nod of her. "Your...daughter or...?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Sirius Black on Jun 20, 2010 17:05:36 GMT -5
He actually couldn't help but smile at her now. "I do," he answered. "It surprised me, really. I never saw myself as the professor type. I think Professor McGonagall had her doubts about me was well. I haven't exactly had the most conventional background..." And it didn't help that his image didn't exactly scream 'educator.' So far, he was one of the only professors who did not dress formally for lessons. Jeans, boots, and his leather jacket were a constant staple in his repertoire... And some of his shirts hardly his his tattoos. "But I couldn't imagine myself doing anything else. It's not something I can explain."
He took the packet and then looked up at her, then to the photograph of his daughter jumping up and down in a bouncer. He beamed involuntarily. "Yes. Lilianna Aurora," he said. It was a name that he had picked out and had been lucky enough that Gabrielle had liked it. "She was seven months old when this photo was taken." It was just after Gabrielle had died. "They do grow so fast."
|
|
|
|
Post by Avalon Yuciano on Jun 20, 2010 17:43:45 GMT -5
"Conventional is boring." She stated simply. She'd never liked following the rules nor behaving as her parents saw fit. It was probably why they had trapped her in a promise she couldn't get out of. In a betrothal she didn't want, but couldn't do anything about. She may not have liked rules or regulations, but she had an odd sense of commitment to her family that had sealed her fate. Sighing involuntarily, she nodded solemnly when he came to a loss for words. "I think I understand."
She found herself forgetting her depression as she saw how clearly Black adored his little girl. "She looks like a very sweet child." And that's when the pieces fell into place for her. He had a child and the ring he wore could only mean one thing. He was married -damn it. "You and your wife are very lucky."
|
|
|
|
Post by Sirius Black on Jun 20, 2010 17:59:59 GMT -5
He chuckled. It went without saying that he agreed with her. "Well, I'm certainly the first ex-convict to not only become a professor here, but Head of Gryffindor and Deputy Headmaster. I'd say we pretty much threw convention out of the window." He was very tempted now, judging by the sadness in her eyes, to cast the Legilimency charm just to know what she was thinking. Of course, that was far too intrusive and unprofessional. On top of that, it was none of his business. But why was she so forlorn? Why did he care?
"She has her moments," he said fondly. Her next statement stung, and he visibly went frigid. He couldn't be angry at her for not knowing. Given her job, it was likely she was not around when it happened. "My wife died," he said. It hurt less and less to say these days. "She was murdered by a Death Eater. It's just me and Lilianna now, but I do consider myself very lucky to have her. She's a constant joy in my life."
|
|
|
|
Post by Avalon Yuciano on Jun 20, 2010 18:17:47 GMT -5
Single. "Shit, I'm sorry." She should have considered the possibilities. There was a war going on and war brought casualties, but never would she have guessed that his wife would have been one of them. "I...I...she's beautiful, sir." She smiled, but there was an edge in her voice. She felt terrible for having brought up such painful memories and she could tell she'd struck a nerve by the way he'd reacted. "Could you give me that tour now?" She'd do anything to get out of his office and on a different path.
Grabbing her clutch, she rose swiftly and headed for the door. Damn her and her mouth! Damn her and her thoughts! She'd been disappointed at the thought of him being off limits and then thrilled when he'd unknowingly corrected her. His wife had been killed and she'd thought of his status rather than his pain. Although within seconds she'd thought about the latter -she'd give herself that much. "I'd like to see my classroom, chambers and office first please." She gave him her back as she waited for him patiently by the door.
|
|
|
|
Post by Sirius Black on Jun 20, 2010 18:27:56 GMT -5
Sirius smiled at her to show her no offense had been taken. "It's fine, professor," he said. Yes, it had been extremely hard to deal with those first few months, but like he'd pointed out, it was easier to deal with now. He'd gotten to the point to where he'd accepted that there was nothing he could do about it and that life had to go on. He stopped smiling, but not because she was striking a nerve, but because he did not want her to feel guilty for bringing it up. "She lived her life the way she wanted. She did a lot of good things for a lot of people. You have nothing to apologize for, professor. I'm not upset with you." He adjusted his jacket and nodded at her, his rare, kind smile returning. "Of course."
He walked up behind her, leaning around her to open the door for her, standing back so as not to crowd her. "Your classroom is on the first floor," he said. "We'll... look at that last. Your office and chambers are closer." They were already in the Gryffindor tower. Sure, Ravenclaws was clear across the other side of the castle, but there were less stairs involved. "Well," he began, trying to keep up conversation as they walked, "You've already met the Head of Gryffindor - so I guess next on the list is meeting Professor McGonagall and the Head of Slytherin..." That wasn't a happy thought at all. "Though if you didn't want to meet Persephone Silverton, I'd understand completely."
|
|
|
|
Post by Avalon Yuciano on Jun 20, 2010 19:02:53 GMT -5
Avalon would have rather not have met anyone on the way, but she assumed she must. "I'll meet with both women." She'd heard of Persephone Silverton -a Death Eater, but other than that she didn't know much of the woman. She took a few moments in silence before she remembered something he'd said in their interview. "You told me I needed to inform my employer when I needed to take a holiday months in advance since I'll be Head of Ravenclaw." She looked away and bit her lip, "It is unprofessional to ask since I have yet to start, but I will need two weeks in October." It took her a second before she could speak past the unbearable lump in her throat. "Two weeks for last minute wedding arrangements, for the wedding, and for my honeymoon." She choked on the last word, but quickly covered it with a cough.
"Would that be all right?" She knew better than to wish for him to say that it wasn't, but that didn't stop her. She would pray till the last day even if it was in vain.
|
|
|
|
Post by Sirius Black on Jun 20, 2010 19:18:34 GMT -5
He frowned at her question. Three months in advance was one thing, but she was asking for a lot of time off with only a month in advance. And not even during a holiday - During terms. "It's not unprofessional," he assured her, still thinking. "But, I'm not sure how possible it is. That's a one month notice, and it's during a very crucial time." December would have been easier. Summer was preferable. "That's going to have to be something I discuss with McGonagall about. Most likely, the school governors would have to sign off on that. I don't see why they wouldn't." It wasn't like she was just taking time off for herself. "But that's just something that I personally have no power over." He did notice how she seemed to speak of her wedding as though it was a funeral. Now he was even more curious.
"Professor Black!"
He looked away from her towards a Hufflepuff that had obviously been running up too many flights of stairs. "Professor Snape told me to tell you that there's a fire in Dungeon number three and that he's caught the students responsible for it. He wanted me to get you."
Sirius fought the urge to groan. Not only did he have to deal with a fire, he had to deal with Snape. "Well... Professor, I'm sorry, but I'm afraid we'll have to continue the tour later. I trust you remember where the Ravenclaw Tower is. You'll find both your office and your chambers there." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a key for her to allow her access to both rooms. "I'll see you later."
With a smile, he turned away from her and headed down towards the dungeons.
|
|
