wide wide world [open]

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The school was buzzing with news of the Triwizard Tournament, and Zytka felt strangely left out of all of the commotion. She had never attended Hogwarts, and while she was certainly proud of the school she taught at, she didn’t have a fierce desire for the school to win like some of her fellow teachers – and most of the students – did. Zytka was more excited about the international cooperation aspect of the Tournament. She knew from experience that coming into a country (and a school) that wasn’t yours could be a scary experience, and she hoped that the students from Durmstrang and Beauxbatons would have an easier time adjusting than Zytka had had originally, given that she had already graduated from school and was totally alone when she came into Britain. She had left her door open despite the fact that it was Saturday and there were no classes in hopes that a wandering student from any school – even her own – would come in to talk about the Tournament.

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It was so weird being back at Hogwarts, yet having nothing to do. Sure, Brandon had his schoolwork from Durmstrang classes, but he wasn't attending the classes he'd been attending all his life, and that was pretty hard for him. So he was wandered the corridors, thinking of the tournament. He wished he'd been chosen as champion. That would have been a better reason for him to be back, now it just looked like he missed Hogwarts and used the tournament as an excuse to come back, which wasn't true. Still, there was nothing he could do about it now, so as he wandered he made his way around to some of his old classrooms. He was surprised when he found the door to the Ancient Runes class open and took a hesitant step inside. "Hello?" he asked as he stepped inside. It was oddly soothing to feel the familiarity of one of his old classes.

@zytka

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Of all the faces Zytka had expected to see at her doorway, a familiar one was not one of them. There was Brandon Fisher, looking resplendent in the red robes of Durmstrang. They suited him well. It had been what, a year, two now since he had departed the school? Zytka couldn't quite remember - the longer she was at Hogwarts, the more the years seemed to blur together. "Brandon." Zytka said with a smile. "How nice of you to visit." She hadn't known that he was a part of the group of foreign students who had come to Hogwarts, but it made sense for him to return, if only as a guide to his fellow students. He must have been disappointed, given that he wasn't selected as the Durmstrang champion, but Zytka hoped he didn't dwell on that; luck simply wasn't on his side this time, and that was okay. There were still plenty of people - and Zytka included herself in that number - who were glad to see his return to the school. "How's Durmstrang been treating you?" She was more curious about what had happened in the year since they had seen each other than the time since September, though Zytka would never come out and say that.

@brandon

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Brandon smiled when he realized he wasn't alone in the room. "Professor," he greeted, returning her smile. "I didn't expect to find you here on a Saturday," he commented, though she could say the same thing back at him. On such a nice day, why wasn't he outside enjoying the weather or off with friends? He hoped she wouldn't ask that, because he wasn't quite sure if he had a good reason. He smiled when she asked about Durmstrang. Honestly, that's what most people who saw him again wanted to talk about. He knew it was weird that he wasn't from their school anymore, but mostly the others were just curious about what was different. "It has been really good for me," he told her honestly. "I needed a change and Durmstrang has really challenged me to try new things and move outside my comfort zone." He gave a wry smile. "That being said, it is nice to be back. How has school here been?" Brandon already knew part of that answer, what with all the things that happened last year, but he still asked it. It would be interesting to hear her point of view.

@zytka

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Brandon said that he didn’t expect her here on a Saturday, and Zytka chuckled. “Where else would I be?” The library was the only other likely answer, and even that was a stretch, considering Zytka liked to make herself available to her students as much as was possible. “Though I am surprised you would be wandering around, looking in old classrooms.” Zytka told Brandon. There were other, better, places for him to be, friends who would probably love to catch up with him. Still, Zytka was more than a little touched that, of all the classrooms in the school, the one he had decided to visit was hers.

“I’m glad to hear that.” Zytka said with a smile when Brandon said that Durmstrang had been good for him. The circumstances around his transfer were still a little vague for Zytka, but if he was happy, that was the only thing that was important. “Well, as you’ve probably heard, last year was difficult.” Zytka said with a soft sigh. “This year has been shaping up much better, though, I’d say.” No one had been murdered yet, which was more than what could be said of the last two semesters at Hogwarts.

@brandon

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Brandon laughed when his old professor pointed out the flaw in his thinking. “You’re right. I should have expected to find you here,” he said with a smile. He shrugged when she pointed out that it was interesting he was looking in old classrooms. “I’m just wandering,” he told her vaguely. “Everyone else is busy with classwork at the moment, so I just thought I’d poke around for a bit. See what’s changed.” More than he thought, that’s what had changed, though all in all it was mostly the school’s attitude that was different than it had been when he was there.

He nodded when she mentioned last year. “I heard about it. That’s part of the reason I wanted to come with the Durmstrang students this year, but … even if I had been here, I wouldn’t have made a difference.” Brandon wasn’t being self-depreciating, he was being honest. He was a musician, not a fighter. He wouldn’t have been able to stop the attacks. “I am glad that things are better this year. I was worried they might get worse with the Tournament, but it seems like the extra protection around the school is doing its job.” He looked at his professor curiously, “Do you think the attacks are going to come back this year?”

@zytka

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Zytka smiled when Brandon laughed; obviously he was beginning to remember his time at Hogwarts a bit more clearly. “If you’re looking for changes, this probably isn’t the best place to go searching.” The only thing that changed in Zytka’s room was which flowers were blooming atop of the syllabary bookshelf. There was also a small area in the corner of the room that was roped off, though nothing about the corner had changed yet. If Caro ever decided to take Zytka up on the offer of a garden space, the roped off area would be where everything was planted. “Have you visited any other professors?” Zytka asked. She wondered what else Brandon had learned with his exploration.

Zytka nodded when Brandon said that he wouldn’t have been able to do much if he had been there the previous year. Zytka hadn’t been able to, either, but it was still nice to be there, to attempt to protect her students in the only way she could. “I don’t know.” Zytka admitted when Brandon asked if the attacks were going to redouble. “I hope that having all of our Aurors here will make it harder for an attack to succeed, but the Tournament is all about spectacle…” And if there was anything the opposing side enjoyed, it was spectacle.

@brandon

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When his old professor told him that there wasn't much that changed around here, Brandon nodded as he looked around the room. She was right. However, the odd truth was, Brandon didn't know what he was looking for. He thought it was change, but maybe it wasn't. Honestly, what he really wanted was a feeling of belonging and he wasn't finding that anywhere. He missed belonging at Hogwarts, but now that he was back with a different school everything was different and weird. He already tried explaining it to one of his fellow students and failed, so he wasn't about to try and explain it again. "I guess you're right about that," he told her with a smile before shaking his head, "No, I've just been wandering. I've seen a few rooms, but you're the first person I've run into." Not that he minded. Sometimes the quiet was what Brandon wanted.

Brandon nodded when she said she hoped so, but that the whole thing was about spectacle. "I know. I hope everything goes smootly and safely, but I'm wondering if that's a naiive hope," he confessed honestly. "Which is part of why I wanted to be here. I wanted to make sure my family and friends were safe, if I got a chance to help. At least I can help more if I'm here than I could if I were in Durmstrang." Did that make any sense? Brandon wasn't sure, but it was the truth. He wanted to help those he cared about. He couldn't help it.

@zytka

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Brandon didn’t seem bothered by the fact that nothing in her classroom had changed, and Zytka found herself buoyed by that. Sometimes people assumed that a lack of change was automatically a bad thing, but Zytka found that, especially in these tumultuous times, constancy was important. Brandon continued on to say that she was the first person he had run into, and she nodded. “I hope my conversation hasn’t been disappointing.” She said, raising an eyebrow with a small half-smile. She didn’t consider herself a particularly good conversationalist, partially because she wasn’t a native English speaker, but Zytka doubted that Brandon would tell her even if she hadn’t been the best conversation partner.

“I wish I could disagree with you, and say that it isn’t naïve.” Zytka told Brandon quietly. “But I make it a point not to lie to my students, current or former.” People didn’t simply raise hell for a year and then disappear because it was convenient for them. With any luck, the Ministry would find a way to apprehend the culprits before they could cause any more havoc, but that didn’t seem likely. “I’m sure they appreciate you returning.” Zytka told him gently. “Please try not to worry.” She continued. Brandon had been a Hufflepuff, and Zytka was especially worried about the Hufflepuff house when it came to the results of the recent altercations. They were all so warm-hearted, and it would kill Zytka to see that warmth fade away.

@brandon

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Brandon smiled when she brought up the fact that their conversation wasn’t particularly riveting. “Of course not, professor,” he told her honestly. “It was nice to see you again, to be able to just talk about things on my mind. I hope you don’t mind my distracting you from your work.” At least, Brandon assumed she’d been working on something or other before he came up and disrupted her. He was sure she didn’t mind, but felt like it would be polite to say something about it.

Brandon nodded when she said she would not lie to him. “I appreciate that. I want to try and be ready for whatever is going to happen this year. I hope we can keep it from getting too severe.” Rather, make it so that no one died this time. She told him to not worry and Brandon shrugged. “I’m trying to not think too much about what is going to happen, but I cannot say that I won’t worry. I suppose I’ll just try to make sure I’m prepared as much as I can be. Then I won’t need to worry as much because I’ll have a plan if something does happen.” Brandon wasn’t quite sure if anything he was saying made sense, but he was trying. He wanted to find something that could distract his classmates and himself from the worries of the last year or so.

@zytka

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Zytka smiled when Brandon said that her conversation wasn’t boring. She couldn’t remember if he had always been this polite – time had a funny way of blurring people’s edges – but it was nice to talk to a student who wanted to speak about more than just homework. “Work can wait.” She said with a shrug. Zytka was ahead on the grading she had to do, and it wasn’t every day that a former student came to visit.

The professor gave her former student a small smile when he said he appreciated she wouldn’t lie to him. Everyone seemed to say that, but few seemed to actually mean it. Zytka could only hope that Brandon was in the latter category. “I doubt there is much that we can do.” Zytka replied. If she was religious, she would have prayed, but she wasn’t religious, so all there was left to do was wait. Zytka had considered learning to duel, but it didn’t feel right on her body, mostly because she’d have to use a wand for most of the spells. “If it comes down to it, and you need someplace in the castle that is safe…” Zytka said slowly. “I cannot promise that I can keep the others away, but I can promise that I will try.” Dueling or no dueling, Zytka would protect her students, even if her own life was the cost.

@brandon

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Brandon couldn't help but smile a little when his professor told him that work could wait. It was a good feeling, having people put things to the side for him and it was something he wasn't used to. During the last year he hadn't been close enough to anyone that he felt like that happened much. In Durmstrang, he stayed to himself a lot more than he ever had at Hogwarts. Maybe that was one reason it was so strange being back. "Well I appreciate your time," Brandon told her. He didn't know why he was behaving so formally, but he was.

She said there wasn't very much they could do and Brandon nodded in agreement, "I know, but at least being here will make me feel like I can help more than being so far away." It didn't make much sense and Brandon knew it, but he would feel better being here and doing whatever he could than he would have felt being so far away, unable to do anything. "Thank you," Brandon answered sincerely, "If anything does happen this year, I will keep that in mind. Especially to help out with the younger students. If I did end up coming down here, I wouldn't just let you fight for me. I'd be standing beside you." He hoped she wouldn't take offense to that, but Brandon was of age now and he wasn't about to let people die for him when he could assist them.

@zytka

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Zytka smiled when Brandon said he appreciated her time. “It is just as much yours to take as anyone else’s, especially since I’m giving it freely.” Really, if Brandon wanted to make good use of both of their times, Zytka could perform for him, perhaps lighten the mood a little. It would be an odd time to mention such a thing, though, so Zytka contented herself with waiting for a more opportune moment to bring up the suggestion.

The professor nodded when her student said that being at Hogwarts would make him feel less powerless. That was why she had refrained from returning to Uganda this past summer. “This is not the life I wish for you, Brandon.” Zytka said sadly. “It is not the life I wish for any of you.” It still hurt Zytka’s heart that one of her students was having to declare that he would fight alongside her, and it hurt her heart even more to know that it was a definite possibility that he would make good on that promise. It was strange, how school was supposed to be a safe place, but now Zytka was looking forward to each class graduating so they would at least be less threatened while at school. “Do you know what you’re looking to do after graduation?” Perhaps that would put them on a happier train of thought.

@brandon

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Brandon nodded his agreement when she said her time was for him just like it was for everyone. Still, she didn't have to put her grading aside. Not that he was going to comment on it more. He recognized when her mood grew sad. Obviously it wasn't a very cheery topic and Brandon felt a little badly that he continued it, but he didn't know what else to say. "I don't think any of us wished for it either, Professor, but it is what it is. We can't change what's going to happen. The only thing we have control over is how we respond to it." His father told him that a while ago and it stuck with him. He couldn't change what others were going to do so he needed to focus on himself and what we would do with the time he had. Brandon smiled when she asked what he was going to do after school. "Something with music. I haven't quite decided what yet, but I definitely want to go into something musical." Most people would think that was lame, but Brandon didn't care. His music was his life and he couldn't imagine doing anything else.

@zytka

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Zytka nodded when Brandon said that no one else had wished for this life, either. He continued on about how they couldn’t change what was going to happen, and she gave him an amused smile. She knew that already, and it was a bit strange for her student to be treating her like she was a child who had not yet learned that the world was far from fair. She shook her head, choosing not to comment on what she had been told, since her only comment would have been that she knew all of that already.

“Ah. Performance?” Zytka asked. Something with music could just as well mean composing or directing, but if her memory served her well, Brandon preferred to play. “I used to be a performer myself, before coming to Hogwarts.” She couldn’t recall whether or not she’d mentioned that before, but now that it was out in the open Zytka hoped that Brandon asked to see her skills. She was itching to show off, but didn’t want to be quite so overt about it.

@brandon