Next Generation 2

[choki]

"Mr. MacCallum," Nikoalaus addressed politely, drawing away his attention from Geneve, "now that we are aware of your purpose, or at least, part of it... is there anything you wish to know from me?"

[Q.Araignee]

Gwydion nodded his acquiescence. "My thanks, ma'am. If it is truly alright, would I be able to remain in this room with Nikolaus? I trust the protective measures you've implemented here will be as good as my own, and it would merely save some time."

As if on cue, the bell rang for the next lesson. "I'm sure most of you will need to be sorting out your students. And someone," Here he turned to Geneve and raised an amused eyebrow. "Needs to hurry along to choose their partner for Transfiguration."

[Ms. Elsewhere]

Geneve looked shocked at what Gwydion had said, because she was thinking just that about Liam. She knodded, gave Nikolaus a desperate look and hurried out of the room clutching her school bag. She had to be more careful!

[DucksRMagical]

Galena nodded at Gwydion. "That will be fine. I have a lesson to teach anyway. Come along, Geneve." Galena got up from her chair and gestured for Geneve to follow. She was teaching Slytherin and Gryffindor first years next. It was still sort of the same as her previous lesson, with the two rival houses, but not nearly as bad since not all the kids had been taught the Gryffindor and Slytherin rivalry.

"I think we all ought to meet back here after this lesson," Galena said before she left, "It will be lunch time, so no one will have a class to teach afterwards. Then maybe we can discuss more about the issue."

Valencia got up the same time Galena did and nodded to everyone as she left. Damien remained seated, but got up after Galena sent him a stern look.

Galena ushered Geneve out of the room after everyone else had left. She shut the door behind her and went back into her classroom, not really thinking much about teaching. Mainly she was focused on the letter Harry had written to her. She wanted desperately to read it, but it was going to have to wait until after the lesson.

[choki]

The room was vacant, except for the two wizards, looking at each other in subtle curiosity.
"Nikolaus Herrmann," he broke the silence, and offered his hand. The other wizard did the same thing. Though the handshake was not particularly firm, the signal was strong - both were not planning to back down from this little 'confrontation'.

[FawkesthePhoenix]

Valencia walked down the corridors leading to her classroom at a brisk pace, wondering fervently what Nikolaus and the Ministry official were talking about. She was going to have a little "talk" with Nikolaus later, that was for sure.

[salemboy]

Damien walked into the great hall, the thought of what had happened previously making him battle the potion he himself had used very strongly. Instead of going down to his classroom, as he knew he should, he went out onto the grounds. Childrens' safety first. He sent out his patronus, saying to the children, "Wait. I will be there shortly." Then he went out to the castle walls, feeling the stone, warm from the sun's rays. He would need to see Hagrid again before the day was over, he decided. And with that, he began casting all of the defensive spells he could think of, a few of his own creation, and using the levitation spell to carry potion's to all parts of the walls. Then he looked towards the lake and set spells on that lake. And last but not least, he set a spell, to know if any dark magic should be performed on the grounds, he will know where and by whom it was cast. He would not allow Nikolaus to endanger the students again. And, feeling that he had done all of the protections possible on the school, he set off for his class, trying to think of something to teach the students.

[Q.Araignee]

For a few minutes there was silence between the two, each eyeing up the other. But it was broken this time by a small sigh from Gwydion, who promptly conjured up a bottle of malt whiskey and two glasses. He poured the drinks and held out a glass to Nikolaus.

"You and Miss Riddle need to be a lot more careful, Mr Herrmann- Damien Nomare is going to be watching you both, and quite likely myself, like a hawk. I wouldn't be surprised to learn he knows a spell to pinpoint so-called Dark magic. Seems right up his street."

[choki]

"Ah... people always seems to relate powerful magic as dark arts... but that's human nature... to think of such connection after several events in the past," Nikolaus answered, and then softened his voice to a barely audible level, "they are scared of formidable wizards," he continued, amused by the statement himself.

[salemboy]

Only then did Damien realize how long it had taken for their argument to be settled, and for him to finish casting all of the defensive spells. The children were all heading into the great hall, to eat. Good. He needed to speak to Ms. Sprague alone, and then he'd go see Hagrid. And with that, he set off towards Galena's office, only to realize half-way there that she too would probably be eating in the hall. So, with a chuckle, he set off towards the Great Hall.

[DucksRMagical]

Galena herded the last few first years out of her classroom and started to straighten up. The Slytherin and Gryffindor first years had spent he lesson trying to transfigure matches into needles. Only a few of them had been successful, but all in all Galena was happy with the way the lesson turned out. There was only one brief skirmish between Albus Potter and Scorpius Malfoy, but the two of them immediately returned to their desks when Galena descended upon them.

Galena put the remaining needles and matches and hybrids of the two into a box and put it in her desk. Then she left the room, locking it behind her. She walked the short distance to her study and noticed that the door was still shut. Nikolaus and Gwydion must still be talking, she thought. Galena conjured herself a chair and settled down to wait until they were done. Damien and Valencia had not turned up yet. Galena hoped they would be there soon.

[FawkesthePhoenix]

Valencia finished tidying her classroom and started towards Galena's office. The Headmistress was already there, waiting for NIkolaus and Gwydion to finish. Valencia conjured up a perwinkle fluffy armchair and settled herself down to wait.

[Q.Araignee]

Gwydion smiled approvingly. “Of course they are, because they cannot fully comprehend what makes them different- and that begets fear. Fear leads to anger, anger to hate, and finally hate to suffering.”

“- which brings it back to a full cycle of fear... constant fear... the strike of terror in our hearts, no one would trust anyone,” Nikolaus added, “and that, my brother... would always be the first sign of darkness.”

“You call me brother...then you have realised something. And there I was thinking I had done a fairly good job with my acting today.” Gwydion paused to take a leisurely sip of his whiskey. “You’re more perceptive than most, I’ll give you credit there. You’d do well to help Miss Riddle in that department.”

“And I honestly thought for a moment that you were one of 'them' - the misled, proud, noble angels,” Nikolaus laughed politely, raising his glass for a toast in the air. Gwydion acknowledged the toast.

"Come now, there's always someone who bucks the trend. It just so happens to be me. Not that anyone else has a clue- I'm sure you appreciate just how hard it would be to remain an Auror if they knew, especially led as we are by Mr Potter."

“Nomare is no fool, though I would say his perspectives were more towards the extremes... It might be prudent for me to ask the real motives of your visit, unless of course if you are willing to enlighten my curiosity,” Nikolaus said, in a suggestive tone.

Gwydion held up a hand and spoke genially. “All in good time, we have plenty of it before lunch is upon us. Perhaps we should get the formalities out of the way first. If I may, what exactly is your connection to Grindelwald? You look far too similar for that to be a coincidence.”

Nikolaus almost choked when he heard the question brought up, but he composed himself as Gwydion looked on attentively. Any flustering gesture would only give the game away. The truth was he, himself, were unsure of his actual ancestry. No doubt, he was a part of the pureblooded Herrmann family for Durmstrang only admitted pure-bloods. But Grindelwald was, himself, too, a pure-blood. Was Dumbledore telling the truth? “Perhaps we are both of German descent?” he replied rather slyly.

Hmm, was there a tinge of unsureity in that response? Gwydion smiled and let it slide for now. “Indeed, that may explain it. Then perhaps you can help me understand what really happened with the dragon. Miss Riddle fair turned white when it was brought up, and seemed to defend you a little too adamantly.”

“The dragon was meant to be a grand magic show. Pity, it went awry.” He shook his head in disappointment. “Scared a couple of kids. As for the defensive stance, Miss Riddle and I happened to share certain similar views. A view, for all one knows, you might understand how easily 'we' are misunderstood.”

He was trying to protect the girl, of that Gwydion was certain. So he picked up on that last sentence and gave Nikolaus a piercing look. “Ah, the royal “we”. Would Miss Riddle come under this “we” that you state, by any chance?”

Nikolaus looked at him, comtemplating. Should MacCallum know? Something inside his head told him likewise. With the calibre of a man like him, Gwydion would find a mean to approach Geneve. Letting the inexperienced girl to handle Gwydion, would probably jeopardise her own well-being.
“As you should have known by now from Mr. Potter... Miss Riddle, in an unfortunate twist, has received my knowledge on dark arts,” Nikolaus spoke.

“So she does still have the knowledge...no wonder you’re being so protective.” Gwydion knocked back his glass of whiskey and refilled it. “I take it you don’t intend to leave her to her own devices, that could be fairly disastrous all round.”

“Indeed,” Nikolaus replied, drinking from glass which Gwydion had offered to refill. He was fully aware of the event today. Geneve would require the private lessons sooner than he initially thought. “However, aren't you worried? As a Ministry auror, that something of that nature would happen to the descendant of Voldemort?” He questioned purposefully, wanting to know what exactly was on Gwydion's mind

Taking a sip, Gwydion thought carefully how best to reply to this- it would not do to reveal too much. “I think,” he spoke quietly, though his voice had gained a definite edge. “That it would be best for us to leave this conversation here. It would be wise for you to figure out a way to avoid Nomare and start your lessons with Miss Riddle as soon as possible, and if I can help with that I will- I am more aware of these things then you probably surmise.”
Outside, the bell rang once more to indicate that lunch time was upon them. Gwydion finished his whiskey and stood up, giving a nod of due respect to Nikolaus.
“If you will excuse me, I must go speak with Galena. There will be no further consequences enforced for “your” dragon display, but I may not be able to cover you a second time.”
He walked to the door, but something made him turn back before he opened it with a faint smile and a meaningful look- his voice very low, almost inaudible.
“As you said, brother, people are scared of we formidable wizards.”
And with that, he opened the door. He hid his surprise at seeing Galena already waiting there.
“Ms Sprague, I was about to come look for you.”

[DucksRMagical]

"Mr. MacCallum," Galena replied as she got up from her chair. She flicked her wand and it disappeared, "I trust you and Mr. Herrmann had a enlightening conversation? I would like to discuss some things with you now, along with Ms. Marcellus," Galena gestured to her friend. "As well as Mr. Herrmann, if he's willing."

Galena strode into her study and took a seat behind her desk. "Please, be seated again."

[FawkesthePhoenix]

Valencia vanished her chair and strode into the office, paying Gwyidion no mind. He ignored her, the way people who hate animals ignore their friend's pets! As if she had no idea what was going on, and wouldn't understand if anything was explained to her. But Valencia kept her face completely clear of any anger as she sat down. As a skilled Occulmens, Valencia knew the value of keeping others in the dark of how you feel.