Aurora sighed as she opened the door to the teacher's lounge. It had already been a tiring day, and she had not even had her classes yet. She usually loved the long hours spent with the students in the tower, gazing at the stars and knowing that dawn was not too far away, that she would be able to watch the sunrise before she went to sleep.
But lately her students had been, understandably, absorbed in the goings on at the school, and she was no better. Even her beloved planets could not keep her concentration for long. It was going to be a long night, she knew.
It wasn't until she had closed the door behind her that she realized that she was not alone. Professor Wickham was sitting at the small table, working. She smiled at her in welcome, before grabbing a mug of tea and sitting down across from her, trying her best not to sink into the chair and fall asleep.
The sound of the door opening had hardly deterred Sloane from her work save for a few glances and smile shared between the two women. After moments of silence though, Sloane was beginning to feel rude and it ebbed at her until finally she lifted her and looked at the other professor. She really did seem so very young for her age normally, but at that moment she looked downright exhausted.
Setting her quill down, Sloane opened her mouth to say something and then paused, glancing away. "It probably isn't any of my business, but perhaps you should try a spot of green tea. I can't imagine the strain on energy it must be to work all night."
Actually, she could but that was because she suffered from heavy bouts of insomnia most nights, but the nights she did get sleep, Sloane thrilled in them.
"Perhaps a nap, if you can manage one before class?" she offered - keeping the hint of worry out of her tone. Everyone seemed emotionally if not physically drained these days.
Aurora opened her eyes and looked at Sloane, though did her best to keep the surprise from showing in her face. Sloane rarely showed much interest in anything, as far as Aurora had seen, at least not any further then academic, and the quiet suggestion seemed to convey a certain level of concern that Aurora had not expected.
She smiled again and looked down at her tea. "I have tried, actually," she said, swirling the hot liquid around in it's mug. "I could never abide by the taste, and so took the temporary, and rather unhealthy, way of energy. Caffiene has become a staple in my diet."
"I suppose it's better than taking far too many invigorating draughts, as they can have dire consequences." Sloane considered aloud.
Perhaps her run in with Andy hadn't been such a good thing after all! Sloane found herself wanting to have other conversations - feeling just how starved she'd been for human interaction was beginning to show in herself when she said, "Maybe some supplemental oils would help too. I'm really just guessing, actually. I don't sleep much myself, and it's not for a lack of trying."
Aurora smiled sadly. "He passed away when I was seven, but I have always felt that if there is an afterlife, he is still watching me." She fell silent, and took a sip of her tea. She didn't know what had made her speak so boldly, only that the last several months, perhaps even years, had been so lonely. It had felt nice to be so open.
She considered what else Sloane had said, and nodded thoughtfully. "But in the end we all succumb to a little bit of biased behavior, don't we? Even if it is not quite directed in the ways we project."
Glancing down, Sloane bit the inside of her cheek - something she did when she was in deep thought. Bringing her eyes back to Aurora, Sloane nodded in half agreement. "Eventually, yes, but I feel that it's important to make our own bias if we must. Perhaps I'm merely more worried about thinking for myself and not being pulled into anything for reasons that are all wrong for me and do not apply.
Aurora nodded at that. "I sometimes have worried about my own biases, and whether I was being manipulated. I have since had to learn that something we have to accept manipulation, and turn it around so that we can make our own biases. You can't always give into one side without making conditions of your own."
"My father was a very particular man, because of that I have no doubts that he manipulated me when he told me he wanted me to know all that I can about Muggles. I think it was because he was of the belief that in order to defeat your opponent you must know everything about them." Sloane drew herself up a little and sighed. "I don't think he wanted to kill them though. My father was always very concerned about what it was that others could do for him."
Aurora looked up at her colleague and smiled. For the first time she truly felt at ease with the other woman, having gotten past that initial intimidation and seen that there was a person beneath the slightly hard exterior that Aurora thought she could very likely become friends with.
"Thank you." Sloane said returning the smile warmly.
It was nice to speak with someone in Hogwarts, even if it did break her rule about getting personal. Sometimes rules had to be broken though; a person isn't an island unto themselves after all. "I'm afraid I will need the best to get through some of these papers." she grimaced. "I swear, some of these students need a potion for concentration."
Aurora chuckled and stood up, stretching languidly.
"I know what you mean. My students have barely been able to look through a telescope these last few days." She smiled again and tilted her head. "It was lovely speaking with you, Sloane. I hope you have a wonderful evening."
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But lately her students had been, understandably, absorbed in the goings on at the school, and she was no better. Even her beloved planets could not keep her concentration for long. It was going to be a long night, she knew.
It wasn't until she had closed the door behind her that she realized that she was not alone. Professor Wickham was sitting at the small table, working. She smiled at her in welcome, before grabbing a mug of tea and sitting down across from her, trying her best not to sink into the chair and fall asleep.
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Setting her quill down, Sloane opened her mouth to say something and then paused, glancing away. "It probably isn't any of my business, but perhaps you should try a spot of green tea. I can't imagine the strain on energy it must be to work all night."
Actually, she could but that was because she suffered from heavy bouts of insomnia most nights, but the nights she did get sleep, Sloane thrilled in them.
"Perhaps a nap, if you can manage one before class?" she offered - keeping the hint of worry out of her tone. Everyone seemed emotionally if not physically drained these days.
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She smiled again and looked down at her tea. "I have tried, actually," she said, swirling the hot liquid around in it's mug. "I could never abide by the taste, and so took the temporary, and rather unhealthy, way of energy. Caffiene has become a staple in my diet."
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Perhaps her run in with Andy hadn't been such a good thing after all! Sloane found herself wanting to have other conversations - feeling just how starved she'd been for human interaction was beginning to show in herself when she said, "Maybe some supplemental oils would help too. I'm really just guessing, actually. I don't sleep much myself, and it's not for a lack of trying."
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She considered what else Sloane had said, and nodded thoughtfully. "But in the end we all succumb to a little bit of biased behavior, don't we? Even if it is not quite directed in the ways we project."
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"I wish you the best as well, Sloane."
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It was nice to speak with someone in Hogwarts, even if it did break her rule about getting personal. Sometimes rules had to be broken though; a person isn't an island unto themselves after all. "I'm afraid I will need the best to get through some of these papers." she grimaced. "I swear, some of these students need a potion for concentration."
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"I know what you mean. My students have barely been able to look through a telescope these last few days." She smiled again and tilted her head. "It was lovely speaking with you, Sloane. I hope you have a wonderful evening."
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