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last online Apr 26, 2024 13:51:46 GMT -7
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May 5, 2017 18:32:26 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on May 5, 2017 18:32:26 GMT -7
@imogen
After months of being stationed at Hogwarts still nothing had happened. Nothing at all. No attacks on the school. No real attacks anywhere. To be honest, Claire was seriously questioning their station at the school. The Auror forces could be utilized so much better if they weren't busy here, protecting against a threat that wasn't even focused on the school. Of course, Claire didn't bring up her doubt to her supervisors. Didn't dare to breath a word of her.... discontent. Instead she played her part, the one she always played. Perfect obedience down to the last period. But there were still those doubts. Still that... desire to do more. To not be so idle.
Tonight Claire was walking down one of the off limit corridors for students. Curfew had started only half an hour before so all the torches were still lit. Teachers were still out and about, preparing for the next day. Prefects were meeting up to organize their routes, and Aurors were beginning their own rounds. Claire, preferring to work alone, had already begun hers, obviously. Up ahead, at the end of the corridor she spotted one of the classroom doors open just a touch. There were several classrooms down this wing, but none of them had been used in years. The only people that should even be down here were adults (Ministry worker or Hogwarts). But who would be down here? It wasn't exactly the most popular place around. Deciding it wouldn't hurt to investigate she made her way to the door and pushed it open...
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last online Apr 26, 2024 13:51:46 GMT -7
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May 7, 2017 19:51:58 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on May 7, 2017 19:51:58 GMT -7
Imogen had a habit of losing track of time. It wasn’t a particularly bad thing, since she was always camped out in her room and thus never accidentally missed her classes because she lost track of time, but it meant that more than one time she had to cover up dark under-eye circles with a bit of Metamorphmagus magic because she had stayed up too late and hadn’t remembered to go to sleep. She had been trying to curb that habit lately by going to bed when the students emptied the halls to obey curfew, but obviously, that hadn’t worked. There were still a hundred and one things that she needed to do. To make sure she didn’t accidentally get locked into her own room (there was definitely a story behind that fear, and definitely one that Imogen didn’t want to tell), she had left the door open just a touch while she bustled around, continuing to do all of the things she had put off doing throughout the day. She had several stacks of parchment in organized piles on her desk, prepared to hand back some of the assignments the students had submitted earlier in the month, but a much larger, messier stack just behind the organized ones, of work she had graded but not yet sorted or alphabetized. And then she still had to clean up the feathers from the birds that some of the older students had created in their last lesson, and straighten the desks, and – well, there was always something more to do. So going to sleep early tonight? Probably not an option. Imogen continued bustling around, occasionally banging her knee against a desk or something of the sort and creating a loud sound that disturbed the silence of the nearly empty castle. The silence was so perfect that Imogen could hear when the door’s hinges creaked open a little. Imogen turned, ready to reprimand a student for being out after curfew, but found that it wasn’t a student in her room, but an Auror. “Hello.” Imogen greeted cautiously. “How may I help you?” Was she violating one of the safety rules? She definitely didn’t think so, but with the change of leadership the school had experienced, Imogen couldn’t say that she was certain that a rule amendment hadn’t slipped past her.
Claire Evangeline Slater
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last online Apr 26, 2024 13:51:46 GMT -7
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May 9, 2017 7:16:51 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on May 9, 2017 7:16:51 GMT -7
@imogen
It was a teacher. One of the younger ones too. Claire's expression remained quite still as the woman turned to her, asking if she could help Claire. Claire didn't immediately respond, instead letting her gaze slowly survey the room. Charms. Her gaze returned to the teacher. This much be the current Charms professor, Zhu. While having never spoken to this woman before Claire knew the name. Had to, considering it was currently her job to help protect the school. At the very least knowing the teachers by name helped her know who should and shouldn't be in Hogwarts. "Just making sure everything is alright." She finally answered professionally. She stopped though as she thought about all the noise that had been coming from the room in general before... "Do you need help with anything?" she offered. It was still early in the evening, so she could spare a few minutes if the teacher needed some help.
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last online Apr 26, 2024 13:51:46 GMT -7
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May 9, 2017 7:50:34 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on May 9, 2017 7:50:34 GMT -7
The Auror in the door said that she was just checking that everything was alright, and Imogen nodded, glad that she hadn’t accidentally broken any rules. She felt like a student in that regard – always worried that she had done something wrong, even when she was certain that she hadn’t. The number of children that regarded the professor with fear or caution simply because she could accuse them of breaking the rules was a little mind-boggling. That was more with the younger students, though – once they got older, the rules seemed to be more like suggestions to them. When the Auror asked if she needed any help, Imogen shook her head out of reflex. “Everything I have to do is far beyond your skill level.” She explained, gesturing to the larger of the stacks on her desk. “Alphabetization and organization aren’t really what the Ministry imagined when they sent you here, right?” Imogen asked, eyes twinkling a little bit in humor. She was always more relaxed at night, especially when she knew that none of her students were going to interrupt her or antagonize her or anything of the sort. “You’re welcome to stay, though.” Imogen added, not wanting the other woman to think that she was trying to shoo her away or something. Company could always make menial tasks more interesting.
Claire Evangeline Slater
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last online Apr 26, 2024 13:51:46 GMT -7
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May 9, 2017 8:17:25 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on May 9, 2017 8:17:25 GMT -7
@imogen
Claire's eyes followed the Professor's gesture to the desk where a stack of parchment lay. Essays or assignments of some sort. That explained the Professor still being here... though the Hogwarts staff had no curfew so they could be wherever they wanted without any reason. Besides, now was probably the only time teachers got that didn't involve students bothering them. "You'd be surprised." was her answer. Paperwork and politics had practically consumed half of her time. They couldn't so much as move an inch without writing up a report to justify it. Claire's tone when she spoke was just slightly joking (though she hadn't been joking much), matching the casualness in the air.
Claire's eyebrows rose as the Professor stated she could stay if she wanted. Part of her, the logical part immediately wanted to say no and leave, to go back to her rounds. But the curious part of her wondered why the offer was made in the first place. "I wouldn't want to disturb you, you look like you have quite a bit of work on your plate." Rhe polite side won, not wanting to intrude on the woman.
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last online Apr 26, 2024 13:51:46 GMT -7
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May 12, 2017 8:12:49 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on May 12, 2017 8:12:49 GMT -7
Imogen raised her eyebrows when the Auror in the doorway said that the professor would be surprised by her skills. Imogen supposed that meant that Aurors were no less subject to the bureaucracy than the rest of the Ministry, which was a shame. The people who were protecting the world ought to be able to protect it without having to worry about filing a report about every time they sneezed. Imogen’s previous job had been a research job of sorts, so she had gotten used to excessive paperwork, but it was still upsetting that it was as widespread as it was.
The Metamorphamgus shook her head when the other woman said that she didn’t want to disturb her. “No disturbance, I promise you.” She said with a smile. “It can actually be easier to get work done when it’s not totally silent.” Hence why Imogen had taken to humming or singing under her breath when she was alone at nights – though honestly, part of that probably could have been out of nerves, too. “I’m Imogen, by the way.” She said, just now realizing that she didn’t know the other woman’s name, or anything about her other than her title.
Claire Evangeline Slater
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last online Apr 26, 2024 13:51:46 GMT -7
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May 25, 2017 11:20:05 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on May 25, 2017 11:20:05 GMT -7
@imogen
Both Claire's eyebrows raised a little higher. Obviously she hadn't been expecting a teacher to be so.... welcoming to her presence. Quite a few teachers had taken to ignoring the Aurors. Recognizing them as a necessary precaution but like a sliver in their fingers. Annoying but easy to ignore. Claire was fine with that. She wasn't a loner but she didn't much like being disturbed. Being left alone to her own business suited her just fine. "You don't find it distracting?" she asked either that same hint of curiosity as before.
Imogen. The name didn't sound familiar, and Claire knew she'd never met this woman before in her life. But she couldn't be too much older then her, could she? At least from appearances Claire wouldn't guess her to be much older but She'd been wrong guessing someone's age before. "Claire. Slater." she answered instinctually. It was more then likely that Imogen taught both her younger siblings so the woman may recognize the surname.
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last online Apr 26, 2024 13:51:46 GMT -7
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May 27, 2017 18:51:38 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on May 27, 2017 18:51:38 GMT -7
Imogen chuckled a little when the Auror asked if she found the extra noise distracting. “I used to, but during the school day it’s impossible to get any sort of peace, so I suppose I got used to it, and now it’s strange without the chatter.” Imogen wouldn’t have been able to get anything done at Hogwarts if she needed it to be quiet – in her old job, when she had been in her own little cubicle and able to physically shut out all distractions, it had been more practical to get used to working in the quiet.
When the Auror gave her name, Imogen’s eyes raised. “You’re Grey and Addilyn’s sister?” She asked. She taught both of the other Slater children, and she hadn’t actually known that there was a third Slater child. She wasn’t all that close to either of the Slaters, though, so Im supposed that her knowledge of the family wasn’t expected to be impeccable. Imogen half-considered making a comment about how Grey could never keep his eyes open in class, but she didn’t want to accidentally come across as antagonistic, and so kept her mouth shut.
Claire Evangeline Slater
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last online Apr 26, 2024 13:51:46 GMT -7
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Jun 21, 2017 13:43:49 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Jun 21, 2017 13:43:49 GMT -7
@imogen
The concept made sense. Considering how many students were at Hogwarts the woman probably never enjoyed total silence. The Autor department at the Ministry could be the same at times but Claire opted for earplugs at those times. Simply because she's rather focus on her work and not risk getting distracted. "I see." she answered casually. "I'm not the best at 'chatter' as warning." the young woman was very forward. So small talk could be... difficult.
So the teacher, Imogen, did know her siblings. Claire immediately nodded. "Yes. Eldest by a few years. They probably don't mention me much." She didn't sound at all surprised or hurt by the idea of her siblings not mentioning her. She and Grey's relationship had always been strained. And she'd been distant with Addilyn the entire school year. "I hope neither of them gives you too much trouble. If they are, I apologize for them." Typical Claire. Apologizing for her siblings for something they might not even be doing.
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last online Apr 26, 2024 13:51:46 GMT -7
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Jun 23, 2017 17:02:27 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Jun 23, 2017 17:02:27 GMT -7
Im nodded when Claire said that she wasn’t the best at chattering. That was fine by her. When Imogen got nervous, she tended to overcompensate by talking too much, so having someone who didn’t say much complemented that aspect of her personality quite well. Besides, not talking meant not criticizing, and anyone who kept Im’s fragile ego from being hurt was good enough in her book. “Practice makes progress?” Im asked with a glint in her eye. She could see why Claire wouldn’t want to become good at chatter, but if she accidentally got better while conversing with the professor, would she really be that upset?
Imogen nodded again when Claire said that she was the eldest Slater child by a few years. That must have meant that the two of them had gone to Hogwarts together, though separated by quite a few years. “I haven’t had a lengthy conversation with either of them, so I wouldn’t know whether or not they’d mention you.” Imogen said. She avoided Grey the same way she avoided most of her Gryffindor students, and Addilyn didn’t seem all that interested in her, either, which was fine by Imogen. She didn’t need to be liked by all of her students. “No trouble at all.” Imogen said, directly contradicting her opinions on Grey in saying so. Sometimes truth had to suffer for tact.
Claire Evangeline Slater
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last online Apr 26, 2024 13:51:46 GMT -7
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Jun 28, 2017 7:38:39 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Jun 28, 2017 7:38:39 GMT -7
@imogen
The corners of Claire's lips twitched before curling upward into a subdued but otherwise amused smile. Claire had a love/hate relationship with the concept of perfection. So the fact that this woman had replaced it so easily with progress without any knowledge of Claire's history was a pleasant surprise. It was also rather strange that such a remark actually brought out a true smile, something Claire hadn't done much since Casey's death. "Yes, it does." She agreed on that same casual voice as before.
"They probably don't." mention her. Especially this year. She and Grey hasn't gotten along since they were children so she was partially convinced most of his friends didn't even know he had an older sister. As for Addilyn... well if Impfen has taught in previous years maybe she would have heard of Claire from the youngest Slater but this year their relationship had been strained. "I'm sure they are both embarrassed having me at Hogwarts. No one wants an older sibling hovering about." she explained, partially lying herself there. imogen didn't need to know the real details of why the siblings were slightly estranged. "Is this your first year teachind?"
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last online Apr 26, 2024 13:51:46 GMT -7
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Jun 29, 2017 12:45:32 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Jun 29, 2017 12:45:32 GMT -7
Imogen was surprised to see the Auror smile. It wasn’t that Claire looked like someone who didn’t like to small, but maybe that she hadn’t had a chance to smile often. Imogen recognized that look, because she had seen it staring back at her in the mirror for several years when she was younger… and sometimes she still saw it, on her particularly bad days. It was no matter, though – Imogen was glad to bring a little bit of happiness to Claire, even though the professor wasn’t sure what exactly she had done to warrant such a smile.
“You’d be surprised.” Imogen commented. Sometimes when parents or elder siblings were at school, they were surprised to hear that their siblings spoke of them often. Even if it was just a passing comment, Claire would probably be surprised how often she came up in her siblings’ conversations, or crossed their minds. Claire said that her siblings’ lack of mentioning probably had something to do with her own presence at Hogwarts, and Imogen made a sympathetic noise. “I have a younger sister here, but she decided not to take Charms this year so I wouldn’t have to teach her.” The professor commiserated. She liked to believe her younger sister had had more logic in the decision than not wanting her sister to be her professor, but hopefully it showed a level of empathy with Claire’s situation. “Yes, it’s my first year. When I first started I was convinced it was going to be my last, too.” Imogen admitted. Now she was fairly certain that she was going to stay at Hogwarts for at least a year longer, just to figure everything out.
Claire Evangeline Slater
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last online Apr 26, 2024 13:51:46 GMT -7
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Jul 28, 2017 9:22:16 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Jul 28, 2017 9:22:16 GMT -7
@imogen
Did her siblings talk about her? Honestly, Claire wasn't sure. At least now they had something to talk to people about. Claire had killed Elaine Dupree's right hand after all. But she couldn't see either of them bragging about that. "Maybe." she slowly answered, her voice somewhere between skepticalism and mild curiously.
A look of surprise crossed her expression as Imogen admitted to having a sister at Hogwarts as well. Claire thought she'd had it bad. To actually be a teacher to a sibling would be... she couldn't imagine. Yes Imogen said her sister wasn't taking charms but she was still a teacher. Still an authority figure. "How old?" To have a sibling still in school... Imogen couldn't be that much older then Claire, could she? It was very possible that their school years had overlapped a little. Unless there was a huge age gap between Imogen and her sister.
While Claire didn't know much about teaching at Hogwarts the idea of a teacher lasting only a year was a foreign concept. It's been quite common before the second Wizarding war but since then... not so much. "Why did you think that?" she asked curiously. This conversation was surprisingly lasting much longer then she'd first anticipated.
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last online Apr 26, 2024 13:51:46 GMT -7
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Jul 29, 2017 9:11:09 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Jul 29, 2017 9:11:09 GMT -7
Apparently her attempt at finding something in common with Claire had worked, because the Auror asked the professor how old the latter’s sister was. “Seventeen. She’ll be graduating in May.” Imogen said. It was a good thing Julia didn’t share her interest in Charms, Im thought, because otherwise not taking the subject – and not taking the related N.E.W.T. – could spell disaster for her career choices. Imogen had been trying to keep her nose out of her sister’s personal life (since it was strange to talk about those things with a professor, even one you were related to), which included not asking too many questions about Julia’s intended career path.
“I’m not as good with people as a teacher ought to be.” Imogen answered breezily when Claire asked why she thought she was only going to last a year as a professor. Admitting that to herself had been the first step in improving it. “And Hogwarts wasn’t always the best place for me.” It had been the site of much emotional turmoil, and reliving her teen years hadn’t been the most pleasant for Im. But she had gotten past that, with time. “I’m also slightly worried that if I were to leave, they wouldn’t be able to find a replacement.” Imogen added. With everything that had happened at Hogwarts lately, there wasn’t exactly a long line of people waiting for jobs there.
Claire Evangeline Slater
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last online Apr 26, 2024 13:51:46 GMT -7
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Aug 11, 2017 10:49:17 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Aug 11, 2017 10:49:17 GMT -7
Claire nodded slowly. "Same age as Grey. What house?" Not that Abby if this information was particularly important... but still. Maybe Grey knew Imogen's sister? It was hard to know since there were so many students. Hogwarts in particular could hold hundreds upon hundreds of students in its walls without strain, and the only reason it's halls weren't always packed was because of the wars. They'd done serious damage to the magical community in the U.K. War always took out huge portions of a population. It's be many years before Hogwarts returned to full capacity. But she'd read that in its height there'd actually been entire class 'departments', multiple teachers teaching the same subjects. Claire wished she could have seen those days.
Not being good with people did seem like a valid reason to have difficulty teaching. Claire could relate to that. But what Imogen said about her school years... well, of Claire didn't have better manners she might have asked what happened. Luckily she knew not to push subjects like that. Especially with people you had only just met. "I think that those sort of things only make someone a better teacher. Because they know they aren't best suited but still try anyway." Claire surprisingly found herself saying in return. And meaning it. It was admirable to do things that didn't come naturally.
@imogen
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