(Untitled)

[onceupona_npc]

Date/Time: 'Trouble Brewing' - Thursday, October 22nd, 1981; Morning
Location: McGonagall's office
Open to: Pat, Andra
Involving: NPC McGonagall

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[patfiddlesticks]

Patrick was apparently the first in. He stepped in, the absolute face of business. He was dressed to the nines, perfectly crisp pants peeking out from behind a finely laundered robe. His tie knot was perfect and straight, holding up the collar of his french-cuffed dress shirt, and every single hair on his head was perfectly in place. As he stepped in, he gingerly pushed his glasses further up his nose, and gave the teacher a nod. "Professor McGonagall." he said politely.

Taking a seat in front of her, he placed a muggle notepad onto his lap. "Should we get started, then?"

[onceupona_npc]

Minerva shook her head, still relaxing just a bit as Fiddlesticks entered. "No, not yet, Mr. Fiddlesticks, we're still waiting on Miss Owen." She gave him a small nod, but then tensed as she heard another soft shuffling of feet at the door.

She sat up, preparing to begin if that was the last of the small group; and sure enough, it was.

Andra entered, perhaps the opposite of everything Pat exhuded. Her hair was lank and tinted with red, her eyes downcast, lips turned into a soft frown. Her robes were neat but nothing extraordinary, and it was obvious that she had taken no special care to look nice. Just Andra. Which was all she felt like she was.

She looked up, expecting to have been first. She gasped lightly as she realised Pat was already there, and instantly a hand flew to her hair. She felt ridiculous now, having him see her looking the way she did. Not unkempt -- but unhappy.

"Professor," she greeted softly, slipping down and avoiding Pat's gaze.

[patfiddlesticks]

Patrick didn't even so much as look at her when she walked in. He was doing his damnest to avoid even the slightest bit of eye contact - the professional visage was sure to fail the second he saw her. It was the last thing he'd give her

[andraleigh]

Andra fought to not roll her eyes at Pat's instant diving into of topics he wanted to discuss. Though his general attitude was the same -- well prepared, looking nice -- his demeanour was different. He was ignoring her, and it only flared her anger further.

"Professor, there's something I'd like to discuss with you afterwards," she said softly, keeping her eyes on the Deputy Headmistress. She offered the tiniest of friendly smiles, really not wanting to look at Pat either. The git.

Minerva nodded slowly, eyes travelling between the two students. An eyebrow rose slowly, her lips thinning to a frustrated line. What on earth had happened between them now? "Very well," she replied, before sighing and leaning forward to keep their attention

[patfiddlesticks]

Patrick absolutely froze as he sat there, staring at her. "Wait, what do you mean?" he asked quickly as he leaned forward, pressing his hand against the table. He shook his head, eyes narrowing in disbelief. "No. No. Hogwarts won't close. Where will the children go?! There's no other schools around here for them to go to! And this is the safest place that they could be, if they mind their rules and all!"

He leaned back into the chair, still shaking his head. "No. No."

[andraleigh]

The colour drained from Andra's face as she listened, her head slowly shaking and expression at last matching Pat's. "P- Professor, that's.. Just because of the attacks? But.. but no one's died! The Aurors have saved all of them... Bastian, well, he did, but not really, and so he's safe and that means we've lost no one..."

She swallowed, looking down at her hands worrying in her lap. Yes, she was concerned about where the younger students would go to school... Yet the more selfish part of her was worried about where she would live. November first? That was so close.

Minerva sighed and shook her head, eyes closing slightly. "I'm afraid there isn't anything that will sway the Governers," she replied. "Perhaps the last chance we'll have will be this week when they pay us a visit, but there's no reason for us to hope it will change their decision."

[patfiddlesticks]

Patrick, on the otherhand, didn't have anyone but the students in mind. "McGonagall!" he cried out as he rose to his feet, passion almost dripping from his every pore. "We can't just.. just bloody send them all out there!! There are things back at their houses that are ten times more dangerous than anything here!" He knew it wasn't her fault, but he was leaning towards her and damn near exploding nevertheless. "Half of these students are going to go out into the real world and be killed within days! This is all some of them have got - not too long ago, I was talking to a child outside after putting on a play with them, and they told me about back home.. how unloved they were, and how they felt like their Mum and Dad only sent them off to get rid of them.. and I'm sure that child wasn't the only one! We can't just.. bloody send them all home! We can't!"

With a growl, he turned, slowly circling around the room as he just went on and on and on. "What about their educations?! Muggle students will likely have the option of

[andraleigh]

Andra remained quiet, letting Pat go on his tirade, feeling fear grip her stomach tightly. She couldn't even think of how to go about voicing her concerns, telling McGonagall that Pat was right. She was all but paralyzed with fear.

Minerva sighed and shook her head, holding out her hands openly to Patrick. "Mr. Fiddlesticks, our hands are tied. There is nothing we can do except await the final decision of the board."

She relaxed, watching him vent and show his frustration. For in all honesty, he was doing exactly what Minerva wished she could do.

[patfiddlesticks]

"Professor McGonagall!" he cried out in reuturn. He looked, for the first time that day, and the second time ever in front of the Deputy Headmistress, like a hopeless little boy. "We.. we can't."

He knew it did no good to plead the case of the other students with the one person who likely couldn't do a single thing about it. But he knew he'd have to get it out of his system before he saw the persons responsible.

With a sigh, he settled back into his seat. "...when are we going to tell them?"

[andraleigh]

Minerva gave a soft sigh, happy to see him calming a bit at last. "Tomorrow, Mr. Fiddlesticks," she replied. She pursed her lips together, shaking her head. "Professor Dumbledore will be making the announcement. I'm truly sorry, both of you, but we need you to be supportive and show everyone that you stand firm with your Headmaster. Emulate him, be strong."

Andra nodded slowly, still staring at her hands in her lap. Words were beyond her.

[patfiddlesticks]

He nodded solemnly. "Then ah.." Pausing, he thought throught he rest of the month for a quiet few seconds before he continued. "...the Halloween Dance.. could we still hold it, then? Perhaps as some sort of.. going away ball, or what have you. Something special to remember everything by. Even if Hogwarts reopened next term, some of us wouldn't be able to return."

Part of him was growing bitter - Andra was just sitting there, like some mindless, daft idiot. He finally looked at her, eyes narrowing slightly in disgust at her reaction.

[andraleigh]

Minerva nodded slowly, her lips fleshing back out a bit. "That sounds like a lovely idea," she replied, almost smiling at the Head Boy. "I think that Professor Dumbledore would enjoy a notion such as that."

She gave Patrick a decisive nod, then arched her brows. "You may leave your suggestions with me, Mr. Fiddlesticks, though I'm not sure of what use they'll be. Miss Owen, you may stay behind to discus whatever your matter is."

Andra looked up at that, feeling a bit of relief swelling. She nodded, then swallowed and looked to Pat.

There was no way she'd talk about her issue with him there.

[patfiddlesticks]

Patrick placed his notebook down on her desk, then began to rise--

Oh, that's right. She had something to discuss with her. He immediately sat again, motioning between him and Andra. "OH." he said quickly, laying on the charm. "Oh no, as Head Boy and Head Girl, we work as a team. I should stay. Really. Especially since Miss Owen here looks so dreadfully uncomfortable - really, I see need for me to stay here and assist where ever possible."

[andraleigh]

Andra looked up sharply at him, the Gryffindor anger finally rising to a majestic swell. "No, I'm afraid that where this matter is concerned, we do not work as a team. This is personal, Mr. Fiddlesticks," she paused, spitting out the name that she knew he loathed to be called, "so I suggest you leave and take your Head Boy notions with you."

She took a deep, shaking breath before turning back to Professor McGonagall, almost trembling with rage. The absolute nerve!

Minerva, while usually apt to side with Fiddlesticks and his charm, had raised an eyebrow at Owen's calm but fierce way of responding. She knew the lion in her all too well, and had to take her word for it that the matter did not deal with any further discussions that should involve them as a team.

"I'm afraid she has a point," she replied slowly, looking back to Patrick. "You've no right to stay in her personal matters with me."

[patfiddlesticks]

"Fine." he replied sharply as he rose to his feet. "And I'll be waiting outside the door, so that once you two finish your talk, I can come back and discuss certain matters involving a certain young professor of yours and his behaviour around others - you'll want to hear this, Professor McGonagall."

He glared at her as he turned, stepping around his chair. Well. Two could play that game.

[andraleigh]

Andra sneered at him as he glared at her, the pair the epitome of childish behaviour. She wasn't worried about what Pat had to say -- there was nothing he could say that was terribly suspicous. The only thing that had happened had been out of sight and was unknown to everyone. He couldn't. Right?

She swallowed, then shook her head quickly.

"Nevermind, we'll work it out," she replied, standing and racing to the door, grabbing his arm and yanking him with her. As soon as they were outside, she glared at him, shaking her head.

"I loathe you," she hissed.