YOU'LL ALWAYS FIND YOUR WAY BACK HOME | BLAISE

[Deleted]

It was weird, being back at Hogwarts after everything that happened. Though she had only graduated eight years ago, it felt strange to walk the halls once more. After having her daughter and then living in the states since that moment, marrying the bastard Devin, and then everything with Ilvermorny. It was like she was supposed to end up back home, no matter what she changed or how she pretended she was different, Hogwarts would always be her home.

After sitting through the welcoming feast, watching as students from Ilvermorny and the fresh new faces of Hogwarts, were sorted among the houses, they settled in to eat. The food was delicious, just as she had remembered. She spoke with a few professors, some that she remembered from when she attended Hogwarts, and some that she had befriended at Ilvermorny that had come over with the idea of a new job teaching their previous subject.

After everything was said and done, Laurel left behind the great hall and made her way to where the professor's quarters, however, with the crowd of students heading towards the staircase, she seemed to have gotten lost in the jumble. That was, at least, until she knocked into someone. “Oh I’m sorry,” she breathed as she spun around to speak to the person directly.

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[blaise leo zabini]

@laurel

09.01.2024

The opening feast was done and over with. New students, first years and Ilvermorny kids alike, were finishing up their desserts and being ushered out into the halls towards their dormitories. Blaise felt like he should have some sort of nostalgia kick from all of this, but he opted to lean back in his chair at the head table and observe everything that was going on in front of him. Nothing had changed here, despite everything outside of the castle walls being vastly different since the last time he was inside the Great Hall. It was scary, actually. He preferred not to call it the resilience of Hogwarts, because that had shown to fail terribly during his time there, especially when measures should have been taken to prevent more damage from being done. But that was then and this was now, and whilst the political climates were eerily similar, he didn’t think it was even close now to what it once was. There were more deaths of students, sure, but the public didn’t seem afraid. That could have been because his generation, the ones that were running the government now, were equally stupid and could remember a time when things were worse than this. The children murdering children were nothing compared to the Dark Lord.

After watching the mass exit from the hall for a few minutes, Blaise finally stood from his seat, stretching his back extensively before making his way towards the doors and out into the entrance hall. The typical walk that he was used to would have him heading straight into the dungeons, though this time around he only had to climb the stairs to the first floor, his quarters being conveniently attached to his office and classroom. Dwarfing the students with his large frame, Blaise moved slowly through the crowd, taking half-steps to their full strides. This was much to slow for his taste, the long corridors of the Ministry having become his favorite location to pace throughout his years there. As he approached the stairs, hoping to bound up them as the Slytherins and Hufflepuffs broke from the crowd, he felt someone bump into him, hard. There had been a significant amount of collisions this entire time, but this actually had some force. “Careful Professor Fawley,” Blaise stated flatly over the drone of students voices, as he looked down and recognized his new colleague. “You’re lucky I’m not one of those tiny first years. They may have been crushed by a bump like that.” He was joking, of course, but it certainly didn’t sound like it from the way he delivered it. Readjusting to the soft lifestyles of the professors and students was going to be difficult.

[Deleted]

The moment Laurel had bumped into the person, she prayed that she hadn’t hurt them. Assuming it was a younger student, she was sure that she’d find someone on the floor. Instead, when she turned to address whomever she ran into, she was a bit surprised to find it was an older man. He looked to be around her age, and she instantly felt relief fill her. While she was quite embarrassed that she had run into a fellow professor, she was just glad it wasn’t a student that she had trampled with clumsy demeanor. “Oh, Professor Zabini, I apologize profoundly. Getting through the crowd of students is a lot harder than it seems,” she said with a small laugh, while she internally screamed and blushed with embarrassment. With these many students, she wondered how she had spent her entire Hogwarts career as a student without bumping a single soul.

She let out a small little laugh as his joking tone, “I wouldn’t call myself lucky, just relieved that I hadn’t hurt one of those young little children. They’d surely love that, finding themselves on the floor among students they didn’t know and easily being embarrassed for the rest of their time here. I’d be the most hated professor in Hogwarts if that came to pass,” she said with a bit of truth, but she doubted that. Her own tone holding a bit of joking about it, as she tried to ease the tension that only she seemed to feel.

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blaise leo zabini

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[blaise leo zabini]

@laurel

09.01.2024

The requirements for a witch or wizard to become a professor had clearly been lowered over the years since he had last stepped into Hogwarts. Not only did these ‘professors’ seem barely older than the seventh year students, but their lack of awareness and understanding was absolutely phenomenal. What had any of them truly accomplished outside of educational studies and research? He would wager that more than half were barely qualified for their positions, the only reason they had them in the first place was because McGonagall was lenient and trusted those she watched grow. That point was irrefutable, because it was the exact same reason why he had this job too. As for Professor Fawley’s qualifications, Blaise was unsure. He had purposely avoided the files of the other professors for this exact reason. He was supposed to play nice now, and while it irked him to have to do that so soon after leaving the hitwizard department again, it was this or back to being an Obliviator, and he didn’t want to do that again. “Apparently so,” Blaise responded to her comment about having difficulties in the crowd. At least he could still be snarky when he wanted to. The students and teachers didn’t have to like him, and he most certainly didn’t want them to think that they had to.

The other professor continued on talking though, instead of carrying on with her walking like Blaise expected her too. He let out a deep chuckle as she posed the idea that knocking a student over would make her the most hated. That would be a sight to see for sure. “You’ll always be hated by a certain crowd,” he said dryly, positive that she would understand that he meant the hardcore pureblooded children that still thought blood purity needed to happen, which directly countered her position as the Muggle Studies professor. Awful little thoughts, those ones had. “Regardless, I’m sure there are some of us that will rub off the wrong way by the end of the first week.” He was referencing himself, of course, because it was inevitable. There would be a few smart-ass children in each class of each year, pretending like they knew everything that was going on in the world. If only they knew half of it.

[Deleted]

Laurel couldn’t tell if her colleague liked her, the way he acted towards her, the way he responded to some of the things she said. She felt a shiver run down her spine but didn’t comment on it, just because she was a transfer professor from Ilvermorny didn’t mean she wasn’t any less qualified for the position here at Hogwarts. Plus, she had attended the school years ago, she knew the way it worked. She cleared her throat, the tension between them awkward as he responded to her comment. His words weren’t rude, but they were filled with a hostile tone, or at least, to Laurel they did.

‘You’ll always be hated by a certain crowd,’

The dry words that came from Professor Zabini’s words were true, but they hurt her a little. She knew she was in for a treat coming here where blood purism was more prominent, but she didn’t think that she would feel the hostile tension from a fellow professor, someone that should be professional. “And are you part of that certain crowd’, Professor?” she questioned, her own words coming out dryly. If he wanted to be hostile, so could she. Her position as a muggle studies professor was always going to be questioned, especially with everything that was happening both in inside and outside of Hogwarts. Laurel got it from her father when she revealed what she would be teaching in Hogwarts; her mother had stuck up her nose. It didn’t matter that she was a pureblood with a tainted child, but the fact that she taught a class that revolved around muggles, that seemed to be the last straw for them.

“Probably, some people are just not fit to be around children, and some children are just not fit to be around the adult teaching the class. This generation seems to be more prominent in their ways than others; I’m sure we’ll be hearing gossip of the worst professor within the castle soon enough, probably way before the first week ends,” she breathed out with a fake smile on her face.

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blaise leo zabini

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[blaise leo zabini]

@laurel

09.01.2024

He didn’t need to have mind-reading powers to know that his blunt dig at her position as Muggle Studies professor had been driven into place, just as he had hoped. In actuality, Blaise could care less about her profession, blood status, and personal endeavors. There were enough people out there that would pretend to care at the drop of a hat if she really needed someone for that. As for her question about whether or not he was a part of that crowd, Blaise shrugged. That was always an excellent question. “Depends on who is asking,” he stated, inhaling sharply. “In my world, trivial things like that actually matter. I could care less when it comes down to it though. It’s a waste of time getting hung up on something everyone has, wouldn’t you say?” Time and time again it had been made obvious that the ‘purity’, as some would call it, of one’s blood meant absolutely nothing. Their Minister was a muggleborn for Christ’s sake – anyone refuting the fact that she was not a talented witch was better off living in their fantasy world because they wouldn’t have a place in the real one.

Blaise simply smiled as she responded. If he managed to be the most hated of them all by the end of the first week, then he had completed his goal. Fear was a hell of a way to teach a person – it was how they had conducted the training for the hit department, and it was how these kids were going to spend the rest of their lives if things continued going the way they were right now. Dark arts were no laughing matter, and that was something he wanted to instill in all of them as quickly as possible. There was no telling what kind of garbage their previous professors had stuffed their head’s with. “Even with the ones destined to dislike you, you’ll have some of your Ilvermorny students, won’t you? Any bright ones in that bunch?” There was no telling what kind of nonsense he was going to get from the Americans. Having spent enough time across the pond whilst his wife was working on set, anything was possible with them. Especially disgruntled children that were forced to move.

[Deleted]

She listened to her fellow professor’s words, and while they didn’t fully answer her question in a yes or no manner, it did make her think for a moment. Laurel had been raised in her blood-status, made into a proper pureblood witch that would marry a fellow pure-blood and carry out her family’s pureblood status. Of course, she followed down a different path after she gave birth to her daughter and was pretty much shunned by her family. She didn’t care about her blood or the blood of another; it didn’t matter no matter what anyone thought. “I agree, though others might not think the same ways.”

His question about having Ilvermorny students that liked her, and even asking about some bright students. She smiled, “There were a few that enjoyed taking my class, some had a right distaste for it. But I can most certainly say they are all bright in their ways, be it in a passion of muggle students or that of potions. Some strive where others fail and vice versa. I believe all of them are bright…” she said with a smile. “Though if I am honest, some of the things taught at Ilvermorny are far from what is taught at Hogwarts, so I wouldn’t be surprised if some fall behind for a bit.”

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blaise leo zabini

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[blaise leo zabini]

@laurel

09.01.2024

Fuck what others think, is what Blaise wanted to say out loud, almost forgetting for a second that he was now held to a standard as a professor at Hogwarts. The precious minds of young witches and wizards couldn’t be tainted by his foul language, something that would pass as normal conversation had he stayed at the Ministry. That only slightly aggravated him so far, he was sure it would fade over time. Assuming the students didn’t make him want to jump off of the top of the Astronomy Tower by the end of the year. If they were anything like his classmates back in the day, that was a possibility. A handful of familiar surnames were still floating around the castle too - apparently he was incapable of escaping them whether he was at the Ministry or Hogwarts. “That’s unfortunate for them then,” Blaise shrugged as he continued shuffling forward in the crowd. Scuffing his shoes along the marble floor was going to leave some serious marks on them by the time he escaped from this mess. Of course the first thing the students would do to him would be to force him to ruin his shoes.

The way Professor Fawley described her more aspiring students made Blaise realize that the same thing could be said about almost any class. While he hadn’t taught this crowd yet, he had enough insight left over from his years at Hogwarts to know that there would always be some students that detested class, and others that seemed to know everything. Like their current Minister of Magic. She could never seem to keep her hand down. It had been annoying. Blaise clicked his tongue when she said that the Ilvermorny children could fall behind in their studies. Leave it to Americans and their magic, unsure of how to use it or teach it, apparently. “Suppose I should fit remedial classes into my first week then,” he muttered to himself, glancing over the tops of the heads of the students that encircled him. “So what exactly are they taught there? Muggle Studies sounds the same as it is here, for the most part. Am I going to have to teach basic defense spells to seventh years because their former professors were incapable of doing it?” There was a hint of disgust in his voice, now realizing that he was going to have subpar students and colleagues alike. So much for trying to return Hogwarts to its former glory.

[Deleted]

Laurel couldn’t agree more that it was unfortunate for those that held to the old way of thinking. She didn’t say this though, instead stayed silent for a few months, as if thinking on how to react to his words. The sound of both him shuffling his feet and the sounds of the students filled her ears before he spoke once more, saying that fitting in a remedial class in the first week would be in order. “I’m sure a remedial or even a refresher would be helpful for all students. They are just coming back from summer, they likely turned off their brains and forgot everything they learned in their classes this past year,” she said truthfully, attempting to pull her Ilvermorny students out from under the shoe that he was placed on them. He had muttered it, but she was close enough to have heard bits and pieces of what he spoke, putting together what he said was not difficult in the slightest for her. Laurel laughed at his words and even his disgust in what he was saying. “No—no, we teach mostly the same things, though probably different ways and different order than what is taught her. I can’t speak for anything but my class, so I know what I taught before, and I will surely learn what was taught to which years once I settle in and read over more paperwork. Perhaps ask your Ilvermorny students what they learned or even remember and go from there?” she questioned with a raised eyebrow. “The students aren’t stupid, they’ll surely be quick learners,” she said before looking at him and adding, “Patience is all they need.”

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blaise leo zabini

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[blaise leo zabini]

@laurel

09.01.2024

Blaise wasn’t sure if it was possible to turn one’s brain off if there was never anything there to begin with. His colleague was seemingly taking the optimistic route. That didn’t work for all students or teachers, namely the ones that had drilled into him the toughest lessons he had ever encountered during his educational and early professional careers. Defense Against the Dark Arts was not something to be trifled with; one that was too easy-going and soft about the subject could be seen as weak willed or spineless, afraid of showing the true horrors for what they were. The children of Hogwarts had seen plenty of death in the last few years and would surely see more going forward. He had been the same. Professor Fawley though, from what Blaise could deduce, was from that in-between period where everything seemed like it was rainbows and sparkles. Happiness to spread around, and joy to be had. That was only capable because the corrupt individuals in the Ministry had been mostly weeded out or killed.

“Maybe so,” Blaise eventually conceded on whether or not the students would remember their lessons. The upper years would be a waste of time, though he was sure he could mold the younger students into efficient duelists and masters of defense. All they needed was a curriculum that wasn’t afraid to be a little messy. And one that McGonagall would sign off on. He didn’t need her going soft in her latter years like Dumbledore did. At least she had a spine and wasn’t afraid of showing it.

Fawley answered his second question, explaining that their subject matter was the same for the most part, though was probably taught in different years. That made sense for some classes, though the basics were just that at the end of the day; the basics. Those couldn’t be jumbled up and mixed around between years. Trying to imagine first years attempting a shield charm without understand the introductory wand movements or why one would need a shield charm in the first place, hurt his head immensely. “Do you have children, Professor Fawley?” he inquired, before continuing, “I have two. One is still here, the other graduated last year.” Blaise allowed a pause in his statement as the crowd around them surged slightly, signifying that the upstairs houses (Gryffindor or Ravenclaw, it didn’t matter which), had managed to finally break out on the Grand Staircase and out of the Entrance Hall. Any moment now they would be able to escape this jam too. “What I’m getting at is that they have to be quick learners, even if they’re stupid. Because if they aren’t, they’ll be joining the dozens of peers that have already been murdered. Another statistic. That, is what patience has gotten us so far.”

[Deleted]

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SINGING LIKE IT'S
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[attr="class","next"] ‘Do you have children, Professor Fawley?’

Laurel found herself stiffening at the question, unsure of where he was going with this. She nodded her head, “Yes, one – she’s not school age yet,” she said softly and slowly as if she were hesitant to reveal that information. However, it didn’t seem like it was anything bad to reveal because he was quick to say that he had two, one that was still within Hogwarts’s grounds and the other that had just freshly entered the adult world. She nodded her head, the pause feeling like a pound of bricks on her chest. She watched as the crowd began to disburse, meaning that any minute now they could go their separate ways and she could forget this bit of conversation. However, what Professor Zabini said next shocked her slightly. She nodded her head, lost for words before she finally let out a breath and began speaking. “I understand the students have to be quick learners, but you don’t have to be so morbid. While, yes, the killings did happen on this campus we have since gained a sense of security, and I doubt many of these students will be another ping on your unnecessary statistic you are using to prove a point to your words,” she said with a determined voice. Just as she finished speaking, the sound of talking and laughter disappeared, and the stragglers were all that was left of the once full Entrance Hall.

She nodded her head, “It was lovely speaking to you Professor Zabini, but if you excuse me, I think it’s a good idea that I retire for the night. You should do so as well; a new day is about to happen filled with surprises.” With those parting words, she turned on her heels and began her walk to where the faculty needed to go to get to their rooms. Her thoughts were plagued by what Blaise had to say though. Would her daughter, when she entered Hogwarts, become another statistic on the wall of those that had been murdered? She didn’t even want to think about it; she didn’t even want to think about any of these students losing their life before it even began.

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TAG blaise leo zabini

NOTES le end for laurel!

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[blaise leo zabini]

@laurel

09.01.2024

The response Blaise received from Professor Fawley was disappointing. He had figured she would understand where he was coming from, seeing as she had a child of her own. The saving grace in her case was that the child wasn’t in school yet; which meant she was safe for a few years still. Blaise knew this would all blow over eventually. It only took a couple of years last time, and the real bad times even less than that. Once the organization behind everything reached peak crazy, things would start crashing down around them. From some of the paperwork he had read prior to his departure from the Ministry, the higher-ups seemed to think they were close to this point. Blaise didn’t think they were quite there just yet. It was sad to see someone so optimistic over an impossibility. Her idea of a new ‘security’ on the school grounds was nothing more than a feeling, his own feeling being that they wouldn’t know what was going on until it hit them. Just like the last year. And the year before that. Blaise kept his mouth shut though. It wasn’t worth it to argue with her, especially in front of the students. His statistics were accurate because he had to deal with the aftermath. He and his colleagues were the ones tasked with cleaning up the mess, hunting down dark witches and wizards barely old enough to drink by muggle standards. Children killing children. Professor Fawley was only tasked with making the good children stay good, and the bad ones feel safe enough that they could slip through the cracks without anyone noticing. “Have a good rest of your evening as well, Professor Fawley,” he responded as he headed off towards his own quarters. “We’ll see. I doubt much can surprise me anymore.” If only she knew the things he had been forced to see as a hit-wizard. Most couldn’t.

[The End]