you know I'll meet you there

Calum stuffed his hands into his pockets as he walked to class, his head held high. As the Transfiguration professor, he knew that he should have already gotten to class by now, but he’d gotten a bit sidetracked with other matters. A few of the professors had been talking about certain clubs the school currently had or were planning to set up, but each club needed a professor to overlook them - Calum wasn’t all that interested in the idea, but he’d had to sit and listen while others prattled on about it. “Oi, out of the way,” he grumbled as he passed by a Second Year Gryffindor, rolling his eyes. “Five points from Gryffindor for blocking the corridors when everybody has places to be - speaking of, shouldn’t you be in class?” He arched a brow as he eyed him. “Take another five points from Gryffindor for that one.” And, brushing past the student, he said no more and focused on getting to his Transfiguration class, though he wasn’t in too much of a rush at this point. He was already late, being a few minutes later wouldn’t really hurt the class this early on in the term, he was sure. And, besides, it wasn’t as though he’d face any real consequences for being late, anyhow.

Michael grinned, twirling his wand in his hand as he walked, heading to his Herbology class. He couldn’t wait to start teaching the students everything he knew. When he’d been a student at Hogwarts - a Ravenclaw, even, - he’d spent hours learning everything he could about different types of magical plants, and finding new uses for them, and he couldn’t wait to share all of that knowledge. He’d been late due to the meeting the professors had to attend, but also because he’d received some new seeds that were sent to him by way of his owl, through his parents, and he couldn’t wait to get them planted. The seeds in his pocket, he made his way through the corridors to head to where the Herbology class would take place, though he was in no particular rush - it wasn’t as though he’d be having the students do anything drastic so soon, after all. But, he did want them to enjoy the class and to form a love for Herbology, so he wanted to get there in time to at least pass on something for them to keep in their minds for the future, because many people weren’t aware of how very important Herbology was.

Sarona was eager to get to class, honestly. As much as she didn’t want to part from her friends - she adored them, she truly did, - she, admittedly, had a very good reason to look forward to her Care of Magical Creatures class, that reason being Professor Hemmings, who happened to teach the class. He was a bit of a jerk, she could admit, but she could also admit, at least to herself, that he was an attractive jerk, who’d definitely caught her attention from the moment he was announced as the Care of Magical Creatures professor. She’d been about to part from her friends, ready to say goodbye, aware she was running a little late, but, when she spotted the very professor who was on her mind up ahead, she grinned slightly, deciding that now was the best time to part from her friends, anyway. “I’ll see you lot in class,” she told them with a quick wave before she quickly rushed after Professor Hemmings. “Professor, hey!” she called as she caught up, soon walking alongside him as she grinned, “Not setting the best example when it comes to timeliness, are you?”

Naia watched Sarona rush off, an amused expression crossing her features, because, admittedly, Sarona was a bit obvious - not that Naia thought Sarona was trying to hide how she felt, anyway. “Well, she’s in quite the rush,” she joked lightly to Violet and Etta, grinning slightly despite herself. Shaking her head slightly, she settled her attention ahead as she walked leisurely, not too bothered with the fact that she was running late, - she knew she should be, considering that she was a Ravenclaw, but she was with her friends and she didn’t want to rush anything, - though she nearly paused in her steps when she spotted Professor Irwin, the professor of Charms, walking up ahead when they turned a corner. “Do you think you can technically be late to a class that the Professor isn’t even in yet?” she asked her friends quietly but she smiled and waved. “I’ll see you two later,” she promised before she picked up her pace to catch up with Professor Irwin. “Oi, Professor Irwin, fancy seeing you roaming the corridors,” she mentioned with a small smile. “Does this mean I’m safe from losing points for Ravenclaw? Or do I have to beat you to class?”

Luke Hemmings was a prideful man, he could admit, and that's what made the fact he was running late, to his own bloody lesson, so much worst. The teachers had decided to have a meeting that morning about extra curricular school activities, and as boring as it was, Luke had no choice but to sit down, grin, and go along with it. Straightening out the sleeves of his white shirt as he walked, his wand tucked into the pocket of his trousers, Luke raised his eyebrows as he passed a kissing couple of Sixth year Hufflepuffs, and quickly withdrawing his wand, Luke muttered a silent jinx and smirked as the two were flung back from each other. "Ten points - each - from Hufflepuff. You've got classes to go to, I suggest you and go and find them. Now." He gave the couple a hard glance, and deciding to ignore their scoffs and muttering of disapproval, smirked to himself, continuing to descend the hill that led to the edge of the Dark Forest. There wasn't really a rush, it was too early for anyone's tardiness to affect the class, but Luke liked to keep up the apparent reputation he'd built among students. Hearing a voice behind him, approaching him, Luke rolled his eyes as he realised it was Sarona Kane, a Seventh year Slytherin that was meant to be in his class right that moment. "Sarona," he greeted, not sparing a glance in her direction, although having the girl beside him made Luke feel strangely... warm. "Five points from Slytherin for an eager attempt at hiding one's own absence. Shouldn't you be with the rest of the class?" Luke looked to Sarona then, raising his eyebrows to her.

Violet always spent her mornings with her friends - but today, they had talked a little too much, and the quartet had found themselves late for their respective lessons. It was rare, for any of them to be late, but it happened occasionally. "Honestly," Violet chuckled as Sarona was the first to break away from the group, shaking her head in amusement. Although, following Sarona's footsteps with her eyes, Violet smirked when her gaze fell on Professor Hemmings. "Of course she's in a rush, look who she's spotted." Violet shook her head, but as she turned to look at her friends, she raised her hands at her sides in dismay as she noticed that Naia was leaving, too, and when she saw Professor Irwin, Violet grinned. "Bloody hell, you lot are ridiculous!" She called, but once she heard a familiar voice, one she recognised as Professor Hood, Violet retracted her teasing quickly. In all of her seven years at Hogwarts, Violet had never had a crush on a teacher, she wondered what made the Professor of Transfiguration the exception. Perhaps it was his devilish attitude or handsome features. "See you later, Etta." She laughed, throwing the redhead a wink before pulling away, moving to catch up to Professor Hood. "Oi, oi." Violet greeted, keeping pace to walk alongside the golden skinned man. "Late night last night?" She teased, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "Heard Professor Trewlany's got a thing for you, Professor."

Professor Ashton Irwin had a nice ring to it, and Ashton still loved how it sounded when he introduced himself as Professor Irwin, who teaches Charms at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. And when Ashton graduated from this very school years ago, with messy hair, a permanent smile, and a golden and black tie undone at his neck, Ashton never would of dreamed he'd be returning to the place that left such a big impact on him, as a teacher. His first week and a half of the semester had gone smoothly, he'd already began recognising students by name rather than face, and one name that stuck out to him the most was Naia Valentine, a bright young witch in her Seventh year, and she seemed to excel at everything Ashton had thrown at her; and lessons were only going to get trickier, he had no doubt that she would keep up effortlessly. Smiling with the thought, Ashton walked to his classroom with his hands in his pockets, wand tucked behind his ear. He was late, but he didn't mind. This particular class had only been practising basics, so it wouldn't be detrimental to anyone if he, or they, were late; but he never chastised his students, so he hoped they'd go easy on him. Smiling fondly with the thought, Ashton paused when he heard the familiar voice of Naia, but he was sure he'd be able to seek her out in the wildest of crowds. "Naia, good morning." Ashton greeted easily, but hearing her words, Ashton shot the girl a glance as she walked alongside him. "Five points to Ravenclaw for that infamous wit you all seem to possess." He winked, but hearing her offer of beating him to class, Ashton grinned. "An extra fifteen points if you can beat me to the door, how does that sound?" Ashton grinned. "One... two... three!" And on the third mark, Ashton laughed, taking off into a run - it wasn't professional, of course, but he loved being the teacher students could relax with.

Etta found herself grinning at the antics of her friends, shaking her head in amusement as she effortlessly tied her red hair into a braid with a flick of her wand. Waving goodbye to Naia and Violet as they went on to pursue their teachers, Sarona having been too eager for a chance of goodbye, Etta turned a quiet corner that led to the back entrance of Hogwarts, leading to the Greenhouses, where Herbology was due to take place at any moment. Etta didn't mind that she was late, Professor Clifford, the new teacher in the position, was laid back and kind, and his patience never seemed to run out. Tucking her wand into her sleeve, Etta walked at a leisurely pace, but found she soon quickened her feet when she spotted the handsome man that had occupied her thoughts. "Professor Clifford!" She called, catching up effortlessly to walk beside him, clasping her hands in front of her. "Good morning." She offered a smile. "I went to look at the asphodels like you suggested, they really are beautiful in bloom." And when Professor Clifford had mentioned that the flower, related to the lily, was famous for growing on the grounds of the school, Etta knew she had to see them for herself. "But then I read up on it - did you know they're used to make Drought of the Living Dead?" Etta asked with a grin. "Fascinating, isn't it?"

Sarona made a slight face with the Professor’s words. “If I was hiding my own absence, wouldn’t I have tried to sneak around you to get to class?” she asked easily as she swung her arms lazily at her sides while following beside him. Occasionally, her glance went to him, taking in his side profile and admiring him silently in the moments she could without him noticing before she settled her attention ahead when he looked at her. “I should! But Peeves stole mine and my friends’ bags and flew off with them! He scattered them all along the Divination Tower, books and all, and you know how high the Divination Tower reaches and how far away it is from the forest, so it’s really no wonder I’m late - in fact, it shouldn’t have been too surprising if I’d missed the class entirely, all because of Peeves’ antics.” She pouted slightly, although the story itself was entirely false. In truth, she’d merely lost time while talking to her friends and, as sure as she was that the Professor wouldn’t believe her, she did hope that it would at least amuse him a bit, though she was doubtful - in fact, since meeting him since he’d been made the Professor of Care of Magical Creatures, Sarona hadn’t even seen him quirk a smile, just occasional smirks.

Calum swore he’d heard a certain Violet Gaunt’s laughter ringing through the corridor, echoing off the walls, but he tried to convince himself that wasn’t possible. After all, she should already be in his class, waiting for the lesson to begin, and there was no particular reason that he should be able to notice her laughter that easily. Or, at least, no reason that he would readily admit to - or that he really understood himself. He could admit, at least, that something about the girl made him feel a little lighter, a little less strained and angry at and frustrated with the world. When he heard her voice call out to him, though, there was no mistaking who it belonged to and, his brows furrowing, he peered at her for a few moments. “You’re meant to be in class already, Miss Gaunt,” he told her off-handedly, but quickly tore his gaze away, because looking at her too long caused an emotion to stir within him that he wasn’t quite familiar with and he wasn’t sure indulging it would be the best idea. “Five points from Hufflepuff for your tardiness, Miss Gaunt. And another five points for spreading outlandish rumors.” And, while he walked, he noticed his pace had become a little slower, but he tried not to think about it too much, instead focusing his attention ahead.

Naia could feel herself perking up when she heard Professor Irwin’s words and she grinned broadly, nodding slightly. “Good morning to you, too, Professor Irwin,” she greeted happily, unable to help it, because even on her worst days, she found that being around the Professor made things brighter. And, as he continued to speak, she knew it just served to prove her inner thoughts true, and she wished she didn’t have to keep it all to herself, but she knew better than to admit to a Professor, of all people, how she felt about him. “I will gladly take that five points,” she chimed cheerfully, though her grin broadened when he continued to speak. “You’re on, Professor.” And, with a laugh, she waited until he counted to three and, the moment he said three and started running, she pulled out her wand, quickly pointing it at him with a flick of her wrist. “Wingardium Leviosa!” Laughing happily with her decision - especially since the Professor never said the race had to be fair, - she took off in a run herself, passing him with a grin before she focused on getting to his class, though she’d turned on her way to keep him in the air, slowly setting him down on his feet once she’d gotten to the corner before she turned forward, around the corner, and ran.

Michael continued to twirl his wand between his fingers lazily as he walked before he blinked when he heard Etta’s voice and, turning his attention to her, he couldn’t help but to grin at the sight of her. Something about the girl was enthralling, captivating even, and he found that she often made the world around him stop the moment his gaze settled on her. This time, of course, was no different, but he averted his gaze before he became too creepy. “Miss James, good morning,” he greeted pleasantly, nodding slightly as he returned her smile, settling his gaze ahead as they walked, leading the way to the Greenhouses, though he wasn’t at all bothered by the fact that they were both running late to class. “Oh, you did?” His curiosity piqued, he looked to her, offering a small grin. “I’m glad you seemed to enjoy the sight of them, in that case. They truly are a remarkable breed of flower.” But, as she continued to talk, he could feel his heart swelling happily. He, of course, knew that Etta was brilliant in every way, but hearing her talk about anything that had to do with Herbology always seemed to capture his attention so easily. “It is fascinating.” He grinned as he examined her. “Perhaps you should ask your Potions professor if you’ll be learning how to make it, in that case? If you’re that curious about it. I’ve heard it’s a difficult and complicated potion, though.”

Luke rolled his eyes slightly with Sarona's comeback, but he could admit, at least to himself, that she had won that round. Sarona was an interesting student, to say the least. She was incredibly smart for her age, already ahead most of her class, and whatever challenge Luke had decided to set, Sarona always took it on with a smile, and he admired that in the young witch. She reminded him a lot of himself at that age, head strong with a brilliant air of confidence. Walking silently alongside Sarona, Luke couldn't admit that he had slowed his pace down a little, just to spend a few extra moments by her side, and even with that thought running through his head, he remained silent - until Sarona began to speak once more, telling a tall tale about Peeves, the putrid poltergeist that had no qualms tormenting students and teachers alike. Turning his head to look at Sarona, Luke saw her pout and admired her for a moment, but when she glanced back at him, Luke offered an amused smile, shaking his head. "Five points from Slytherin for such a ridiculous tale." And although his voice held amusement, Luke quickened his pace to get to class. "Good morning, everyone." Luke greeted, head held high, long curls tied into a top knot. "I've got quite an interesting lesson for you today, as we'll be learning about something a little more... domestic." Luke looked to the entrance of the forest, then. "She's been out hunting mice all morning, but let me assure you, they are no ordinary feline." Luke whistled, waiting patiently for his spotted Kneazle, smiling as she approached. "This, is Brownie. Can anyone tell me what she is?"

Violet raised her eyebrows with Calum's words, looking to him for a long moment, watching his lips as he spoke and unable to stop herself, Violet admired the handsome Professor. She knew she wasn't the only girl to crush on him, but dammit, she wished she could have him all to herself sometimes, and being eighteen years old with those kind of thoughts was frowned upon, but there was no harm if they weren't acted on. "Professor Hood, with all due respect, if I'm meant to be in class already, then so should you." She pointed out easily, shrugging her shoulders lightly as she kept her pace beside him, tapping her wand against her head to force her blonde hair into a nearly perfect ponytail, not expecting Calum to hold any conversation with her. Pouting when Calum took ten points from Hufflepuff, Violet grinned. "Well, aren't you a full of surprises?" She teased, twirling her wand around her fingers easily, effortlessly. "You must be terribly fun at the teacher parties." Violet rolled her eyes jokingly. "I don't think that last five points was fair, sir. I didn't start the rumour, after all, and we've all seen how she looks at you." Violet felt a surge of jealousy through her veins then, and Violet tried her hardest to ignore it, but frowned instead, walking beside him quietly.

Ashton could never admit it, and he struggled to admit it to himself quite often, but Naia had captured his attention in a way that he couldn't quite describe. She was a good student, incredibly bright and always prepared with a smile for anyone she came across, and Ashton found her so undeniably attractive - he wondered, knowing that Naia was eighteen now, if he'd get in trouble if those thoughts were ever brought to fruition. Toying with his lip at the thought, Ashton was pulled out of his thoughts by Naia, but as he ran, Ashton felt his feet lift off the floor, and he giggled. "Oi!" Ashton laughed. "Naia, that's not fair!" Ashton teased, and aiming his wand at Naia's, Ashton laughed. When Naia let him touch the floor though, Ashton grinned, shook his head and followed her, keeping up brilliantly, turning the corner and laughing all the while. "Wingardium Leviosa!" Ashton grinned, lifting Naia into the air, being careful not to lift her too high. He smirked then, walking past her, keeping her elevated. Approaching the classroom door, Ashton placed Naia on the floor and slowed down to a crawling walk, wanting Naia to overtake him and reach the door first, placing his hands in his pockets and whistling a sweet tune.

Etta watched as Michael twirled his wand in his fingers, and she smiled softly, looking up to the Professor, admiring him for a long moment. He was so incredibly handsome, and his smile was enough to make Etta count her lucky stars that she existed in his life, although she didn't have a significant role there. Folding her arms so ensure her Herbology textbook didn't fall, Etta listened to Michael contently, following his example and remaining relaxed, in no particular rush to get to class. "I did," Etta confirmed with a smile. "They're beautiful, certainly." Etta nodded. "They smell amazing, too." Etta laughed, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Thank you for the recommendation." She walked carefully down the uneven steps, looking over her shoulder. "Oh, I've already made some notes on it." Etta handed him her textbook, the relevant page was folded in the corner for Etta to find easily later. "It doesn't seem that complicated, but practice would certainly help for this year's exams." She shrugged, allowing him to read her notes as she walked ahead.

Sarona couldn’t help the proud grin that spread across her features when she realized that a smile had graced Professor Hemmings’ expression at all, feeling herself visibly perk up. “Considering the tale caused you to be amused, I think it should be five points to Slytherin,” she chimed cheerfully, though she quietened down when the Professor’s pace quickened. She slowed, not wanting to attract attention to the fact that she’d been trying to keep the Professor’s attention, and only joined the rest of the class after Professor Hemmings had greeted everybody. Slipping her way through the small crowd, she listened to the Professor speak and she couldn’t help but to grow curious about what they would be seeing and learning about today. As she got to the front of the crowd, though, she spotted the Kneazle coming out of the forest and Sarona’s heart swelled - surprisingly more so at the sight of the Kneazle than at the smile Professor Hemmings wore while watching his Kneazle. Before she could stop herself, Sarona quickly rose her hand but didn’t wait to be called on before she began to speak, “That’s a Kneazle, sir! They’re supposed to be exceptional at determining whether somebody is trustworthy. Moreover, they’re incredibly loyal to those they take a liking to and are capable of guiding their owners home if their owners are lost.”

Calum peered down at Violet as he listened to her speak and he could admit, only to himself of course, that her voice was the sweetest sound, the only thing he wanted to hear. There was certainly no way he could admit such a thought aloud, though, not when it could come with consequences, and certainly not when it would require him admitting to having a soft spot for her. “I’m a professor. You’re merely a student. Professors are allowed to be late; students, however, are not,” he said casually, offering a small smirk, though his heart swelled when he watched Violet using magic to pull her hand into such a neat, perfect ponytail. He doubted many students held the ingenuity to even think to do such a thing - he knew how much girls cared about their appearance, of course, but not every girl was as brilliant as Violet was. “If I didn’t have surprises in waiting, I’d be like any other teacher at this school.” And, with his words, a proud smirk spread across his features. “And I believe I’m far more interesting than any other teacher here.” After taking her in for a few moments, as subtly as he could, he eventually settled his gaze ahead. “You may not have started the rumors, Miss Gaunt, but you’re repeating them. And, quite honestly, those rumors are repulsive. I have much better taste in who catches my interest than Professor Trelawney.” And, with his words, he stopped at the door to his classroom, turning to look at her. “Don’t believe everything you hear, Miss Gaunt.”

Naia couldn’t help but to laugh when she heard Professor Irwin’s complaints, though she grinned broadly with the way his laugh echoed through the halls, reverberating in her brain in the best way and she took a few moments to just commemorate the sound to memory. A poor choice, as it had left her open to Professor Irwin’s own attack and she gave a noise of surprise as she was lifted into the air, glad for her choice of tights that morning rather than stockings. “Professor Irwin! This could end very badly!” she called out with amusement, giving a noise as she was brought back down. The moment her feet touched the ground, she was off again, though, and, when she saw Professor Irwin walking carelessly and heard his whistling sounding out through the area, she grinned, rolling her eyes, because she was aware he was giving her the biggest opportunity to win. And who would she be to pass up such an opportunity? “You certainly tried hard to actually let me win, Professor!” she called as she rushed past him, slipping into the classroom quickly, though she felt a bit of mischievousness rush through her and she closed the door quickly, grinning as she rushed to take her seat, leaning forward with her hand resting in her palm, her elbow propped onto the table innocently.

Michael grinned as he listened to Etta speak and he took in her words, loving listening to her talk, especially when she was talking about anything Herbology-related. For a moment, he entertained the thought that he was meant to meet her, that he was meant to teach her everything he knew, that they were meant to find each other. But, he knew better than to entertain that thought, because that thought always expanded to him being hopeful that she was meant to be his and he certainly couldn’t allow thoughts like that could flit about in his mind so easily. But, as she spoke, a part of him wanted to point out that no herb or plant or flower could ever compare to her beauty. He, of course, kept this thought to himself. “You don’t have to thank me, Etta,” he assured her with a smile, peering down at her. “I’m glad you’re finding so much amazement in it. If you ever want any other recommendations, don’t hesitate to ask. I have tons of books full of information about other herbs in my office, too, if you ever want to borrow any.” The least he could do was to encourage her love for herbology and he tried to tell himself that that was all it was, a professor encouraging his student to chase after something that interested her. “If you need any help with that practice, I’d be happy to help in that department as well. I’m sure I can manage to offer some pointers.”

Luke studied each student that stood in front of him, staring at Brownie with furrowed brows and frowns of confusion. But when Sarona's hand flew into the air at a speed that was almost impressive, Luke allowed her to speak and grinned with her knowledge of the magical feline. "Well done, Sarona. Fifteen points to Slytherin." Luke couldn't help but smile, admiring the girl and how her whole existence seemed to glow. She was always so brilliant at capturing Luke's attention, and he would go as far to say he loved her for it, loved her in general, because damn it, he meant it more than he could ever express. "I had to ask for Professor Dumbledore's permission for this lesson, but he was quick to allow me the pleasure -" He threw something; a big, old book, onto the floor. "To let you wonder the grounds of Hogwarts." Luke looked to his class. "If anybody doesn't want to take part, you're free to leave, but I expect an essay on the Kneazle on my desk by the end of the week. Those of you who are interested in testing the incredible internal compass of the Kneazle, gather around the portkey." Luke approached the book. "Sarona, will you carry Brownie for me? I assure you, she's taken quite the shine to you."

Violet walked beside Professor Hood easily, unaffected by his cocky demeanour, finding it endearing and so attractive, she was unsure if she could ever put it into words. "Merely a student?" Violet scoffed, smirking up at her teacher with the confidence to match his own, knowing if she ever wanted to stand out to him, she'd have to be his equal. "I think I'm a rather good student, Professor Hood." Violet smiled. "And what are these surprises you've got up your sleeve?" Violet looked up to the golden skinned man, studying his face carefully for any hint of humour, but when she saw that he kept his usual straight face, Violet exhaled, continuing to twirl her wand in between her fingers gracefully. Stopping outside the classroom with him, Violet raised her eyebrows. "Well, then, Professor, if I shouldn't believe everything I hear; I shouldn't believe that you're more interesting than any teacher here, or that you don't have a crush on Professor Trelawny." She pointed out with a smirk. "And you can't prove anything otherwise. So, as good as that attempt was, you still lost." And passing her teacher to open the classroom door, Violet took her seat, tucking her wand up her sleeve.

Ashton giggled as Naia caught up with him, and as she rushed past him, Ashton couldn't help but laugh, smiling fondly. Naia certainly had a way of bringing out a side of Ashton he didn't even know was there - a side of happiness, a side that he could fully embrace, because it was the best side of him - and he was so grateful to the beauty. Ashton loved teaching, and Naia was one of the reasons for that. She made it worth it. When the classroom door slammed shut though, Ashton laughed, shaking his head and lingering outside for a moment, trying to get Naia's image out of his mind, and biting his lip, Ashton tried to distract himself by walking into the classroom. "Good morning, you lot." Ashton grinned, going to lean against his desk so he could see each individual face, although the only face he wanted to see was Naia's. When he saw her, chin resting in her palm, Ashton grinned. "We've got quite the interesting class for you today. We're going to be learning how to enchant a quill to write a love note. It's a little bit of a tricky spell, but you guys are smart. You'll get the hang of it. It's kind of like Armortentia without the difficult ingredients." He beamed happily. "Does anyone want to volunteer to fall in love with me for a moment?"

Etta looked to Professor Clifford to ensure she wasn't bothering him, aware that she could sometimes talk a little too much. "I want to thank you, sir." Etta smiled back, her freckled cheeks heating up a little as she saw just how wonderfully green Professor Clifford's eyes were. Focusing back on her textbook to stop herself from treading in dangerous territory, Etta listened to her teacher talk, adoring the sound of his voice, and Etta knew she could happily attend one of Professor Clifford's classes all day. "I'll happily borrow some, if you don't mind." Etta smiled. "But as for the practice, I could use some help with that, too." Etta confessed. "This past assignment Snape gave us was fairly easy, but he's getting worst and worst for bullying students." Etta frowned. "Poor Neville Longbottom doesn't get a moment's peace, and quite frankly, I don't want myself in that firing line." Etta confessed.

Sarona felt herself perk up immediately when Professor Hemmings granted the points and she grinned proudly, but refocused her attention on Brownie, the Kneazle. She couldn’t help but to watch the Kneazle in wonder, a part of her wondering why in the world Professor Hemmings had waited until now to introduce the beauty. Of course, she paid attention to what the Professor was saying, but only barely and, when she heard her name, she blinked as she peered over, only then managing to tear her gaze away from the Kneazle. “Oh, um, how are you so sure?” she asked, but she moved over, anyway, now that she was given permission to, because it was taking everything in her not to not pick up and cuddle the Kneazle before she’d been told she could carry Brownie. Crouching down, her heart swelled when the Kneazle wandered over to her and she grinned. “Hi there, Brownie, you’re a cutie,” she chimed happily, reaching her hand out to stroke Brownie’s fur before she picked brownie up gently and made her way over to the book.

Calum listened quietly to Violet, though he couldn’t help but to smirk as he examined her, taking her in, in awe of her confidence, in awe of her. She always seemed to have a way about her that drove his senses to extremes and all he wanted was to tell her that, but he knew better. No, instead, he had to maintain his professional role as a professor - even if the ‘professional’ part was a bit of a stretch, considering he never really avoided tormenting the students a bit, taking extra points away even when unnecessary. “Perhaps a good student, but still one who enjoys spreading rumors,” he chimed easily in response, “You’re smarter than that, Miss Gaunt. You should be able to tell a truth from a lie, especially when those lies are downright slanderous.” Shrugging casually, he watched as she twirled her wand, just taking in everything about her that he could, while he could, no matter how small the action was. “Now, if I told you, they wouldn’t be surprises at all.” Shrugging, he watched as she entered the classroom before he followed. “Alright, class,” he announced the moment he stepped in, “Today, we’ll be working on turning parchment into fabric. Bonus points if you take the time after class to turn that fabric into something useful.”

Naia grinned when Professor Irwin walked in, her world brightening considerably with his entrance, despite that she’d seen him merely moments ago. She couldn’t help the happiness that swelled in her chest, sending a happy warmth spreading throughout her being, and all she wanted was to pay as much attention to the Professor as possible, never wanting to take her eyes off of him. As he began to speak, though, she listened intently to what he had to say, blinking as she dropped her hand to the table and leaned forward, unable to stop the curiosity from seeping through her. “Professor,” she called as she raised her hand, “Will the words be our own or will the quill just have a mind of its own or something?” Arching a brow, she couldn’t help but to be curious, wondering if the words had to be spoken aloud or thought of, or perhaps the quill could read every emotion on its own and interpret them, or simply write out the letter all on its own without considering how the witch or wizard truly felt. “Either way, I’d be happy to volunteer.”

Michael’s expression softened into a fond smile as he watched Etta, though he tried to force it away when she looked at him, not wanting to give away his attraction to her, or how deeply rooted his feelings for her had grown. “Well, if you insist,” he told her gently, not wanting her to feel as though her gratitude meant nothing to him; on the contrary, the fact that he was receiving such gratitude from Etta made his day in a way that only Etta was capable of doing. For a moment, he was sure that he saw a blush spreading across her features and, watching her, he had to bite back his temptation to grin, though, since she’d dropped her gaze, he allowed himself the moment to admire the sight, to admire her, because it was all he really wanted to do for the rest of his life, even if he was sure he’d never have that honor. “I don’t mind at all, Etta,” he assured, allowing his grin to break forth then. “You can come by my office whenever you’re ready to borrow them and I can show you some of the more useful books, whatever you need.” All he wanted was to help Etta and to encourage her, after all. Hearing her words, though, he blinked. “Well, in that case, we’ll have to find a way to make Mister Longbottom’s day a bit better, don’t you think? And we’ll make sure you don’t end up in Snape’s line of attack, I promise.”

Luke couldn't help but feel relieved when a good portion of the class began to filter out, deciding not to take part in the lesson. The group he was left with, apart from Sarona, were students that often didn't pay much attention, and he wondered if this was a better opportunity to have some alone time with the girl that had his heart in her hands, completely unaware of her power. "See?" Luke grinned when he saw Sarona carrying Brownie in her arms, reaching to scratch behind the feline's large ears. "I told you she likes you." And Luke wished sometimes that he could tell Sarona that he liked her, but he knew it was important to uphold his reputation, the school's reputation, and his professionalism. He had too much too much respect for Dumbledore and Hogwarts to ever destroy that. Hearing Brownie purr, Luke smiled and looked to the remaining students. "Ready?" Luke asked, gently grabbing the material of Sarona's cardigan to ensure she wouldn't be left behind. As the world around the group began to spin, Luke watched their surroundings change to nothing but tall trees, near the Black Lake. "Can anyone tell me where we are?"

Violet took her seat inside Professor Hood's classroom, watching as he took control of the class with a cocky kind of confidence, and Violet loved it, almost going as far to say she loved him. Listening to Professor Hood talk, Violet was happy to listen to him, admittedly finding it easy to get lost in the sound of his voice, appreciating that he had a slight lisp. "What on Earth could we make that would be useful in Hogwarts?" Violet shot back easily, taking out a spare piece of parchment and untucking her wand from her sleeve, placing it on the parchment to stop it rolling back up. She already knew this spell - it was one she'd learned by reading in the library one lazy afternoon as a third year. Hogwarts had always been so incredible to Violet, and the magical world was one she wanted to be a part of, to know everything about, because the history behind it all was so incredible. "And besides, isn't this spell a little too easy, Professor? Kid's stuff." Violet smirked.

Ashton studied the class and he noticed a few of the female students raise their hands, and as amusing as Ashton found their eager attitudes, his heart settled with relief in his chest when he saw Naia raise her hand, and he hoped that she would volunteer. "Well, Naia, that's where it gets tricky," Ashton explained, "Under the spell, the quill can read body language and emotion." He explained, hoping the students found it as interesting as he did. Ashton had always found different spells so intriguing, and that's why he decided to apply for the Charms position. "And based off that alone, the quill will write the note without any human hand. I've never seen this spell say the wrong thing, it's usually always right." He explained with a dimpled smile. "Naia, as you're so curious, I'd like you to come up. The rest of you, grab a partner and hope that no hidden crushes come out into the open." Ashton teased, getting along well with each of his students. Getting a roll of parchment, and two quills, Ashton smiled with the thought of seeing Naia's quill write something sweet about him, and as much as he knew that it was all wishful thinking, he couldn't help but really hope.

Etta smiled to herself when Professor Clifford finally accepted her gratitude, and after a long moment, she turned to look at him. "I'm really grateful, Professor Clifford. I'll probably drop by after lunch, or something." Etta shrugged her shoulders lightly, wanting an excuse to spend some more time, alone, with the handsome Professor. Hearing his determination to make Neville Longbottom's day better, though, Etta blinked with his words and smiled with adoration, nodding. "Definitely. He gets enough trouble as it is from Draco Malfoy." Etta pulled a slight face of disgust, trying not to be too obvious, not wanting Professor Clifford to think she was a cruel student. "It isn't fair, how he gets treated." Etta admitted, only concerned for Neville because he was a good friend. Hearing his words about Snape though, Etta laughed, looking to him with an almost bashful smile. "Thank you, sir." She blushed, heading into the greenhouse, stood among her friends and ready to pay attention to whatever lesson was planned out.

Sarona lifted her gaze to Professor Hemmings when she heard his words, though her heart swelled with the sight of his grin, and she felt lucky to witness such a vision. “Well, then, I’m honored,” she hummed out happily - and she was, both because Brownie might actually like her, and because she’d gotten the chance to witness Professor Hemmings’ grin. Still, when it was drawing close to time to leave, she drew close to the professor when they gathered around the book, and she chewed on her lip when he grabbed her cardigan but, quickly, the world spun around her, and she stumbled a bit once her feet were back on the ground. She held to Brownie still, not wanting to risk hurting the kneazle, and she tried to ensure that she stayed put, not wanting to risk falling with the kneazle still in her arms. Still, as she registered Professor Hemmings’ words, she peered around, listening, and she could hear the water of the Black Lake rippling from a distance. “Somewhere near the Black Lake?”

Calum arched a brow as he took in Violet’s challenges and, for a long moment, he watched her before he shifted to lean against the desk. “Cloaks. Pillowcases. Gifts to friends. Gifts to lovers. Clothes in general. Socks - oh, trust me, we all know that we all lose our socks constantly,” he offered up easily in response. “The point is to be creative, Miss Gaunt.” Shrugging, he straightened, pushing away from the desk to make his way closer to her. “And, while you may be quite aware of the spell and its mechanics and its uses, not all of your fellow students are. It’s an easy spell, yes, but many easy spells can come in handy in times that you wouldn’t expect.” As he drew closer, he took in her beauty, but did his best to not be too obvious about it - he knew better than to let his emotions for a student show, after all, especially when the feelings he harbored for the girl was looked down on, and he’d rather not risk somebody picking up on it, even if a part of him hoped that Violet, of all people, could see it. “If you wish to skip out on the lesson, you’re welcome to, but who knows when you may need an easy spell like this - a kid’s stuff spell, as you say? Best to be prepared, don’t you think?”

Naia watched Ashton as she listened to him, taking in his explanation, but also just enjoying listening to his voice. When she heard him invite her up, though, she perked up a bit and grinned, climbing to her feet quickly to make her way up to him, curious and eager to see what the quill would write. A part of her was nervous that it would reveal her feelings for him and that it could end up with her getting in trouble, but aside from that, what was the worst that could happen? “Alright, I’m ready to do this when you are, Professor Irwin,” she chimed happily, peering up at him before she dropped her gaze to the quill, not wanting to stare at the professor for too long, worried that other students would notice, or that Professor Irwin himself would notice - and she didn’t want to make him uncomfortable or to upset him, so it was best to just focus. That was what she told herself, anyway. “So, shall we get started with this?”

Michael smiled as he listened to Etta speak, and he felt his heart jump a bit, racing a little faster with the thought of her coming to his office during lunch, finding himself looking forward to the possibility, even if he was trying to remind himself that nothing would happen. “I’ll make sure to leave the door open for you, in that case,” he promised her with a small nod, watching her for the time, taking her in, loving seeing the smile on her features, finding his heart swelling with adoration. Etta seemed to have that effect on him - an effect that only she could bring him, and he couldn’t help but to let himself enjoy it, even when he knew that it was highly unlikely that anything would come of it. Regardless, he nodded along to her words. “I agree. Perhaps, when you come by the office, we can put our heads together and come up with a way to cheer him up - he deserves that much, at the very least, to know that people care.” As they got to the greenhouse, though, he shook his head. “It’s nothing to thank me for, Etta,” he promised with a grin before he moved pass to address the class. “Alright, everybody, today’s mostly going to be spent transplanting a few juvenile plants, but, once that’s done, there’s good news - you’ll be released and you can do whatever you want.”

Ensuring that Sarona was able to steady herself on her feet, Luke let go of Sarona's cardigan almost hesitantly, just the small bit of contact having ignited thoughts he couldn't control, his heart pounding with anticipation, and he knew he'd landed himself in trouble, because Sarona was Luke's biggest weakness, and although he had no qualms in admitting that to himself, he knew that he couldn't let other students - especially Sarona - figure out his best kept secret. Reaching to scratch behind Brownie's ears once more, Luke looked to the small group. "Oh, Colin, stop being so dramatic and get up, you're dirtying your uniform." Luke rolled his eyes at the Gryffindor boy. As Sarona spoke up, answering his question, Luke had to bite down gently on the inside of his cheek to stop the smile that threatened the corners of his lips to spread. "Well done, Sarona. Ten points for Slytherin. If you could put Brownie down, that would be wonderful - she's going to guide us through the forest and back to the castle, and I know most of you already know your way, but trust me when I say that she'll guide you along the safest path."

Violet fought the need to hold her breath when he leaned against his desk, just the sight of him causing her to shift a little bit in her chair. "There's only one good reason why someone would lose their socks," Violet shot back, a smirk tugging at the corners of her lips as he walked closer to her, and although Violet knew she was pushing her luck, she couldn't stop herself from studying him for a moment. "Do you lose your socks quite often, Professor?" Violet tried to look as innocent as possible. Violet almost quietly hoped that Professor Hood would give her a detention, just so that she could spend some time with him. But still, Violet listened to his words carefully. "I'm not undermining the talents of my fellow students, Professor, but in our last year, this is a spell that we should already know and already be able to perform with an almost perfect execution." Violet shrugged. "But of course, let's make some socks. I could use a new tie."

Ashton grinned as Naia approached his desk, and he carefully, he handed her a quill, studying her for a moment longer than he had intended. Leaning in towards her, Ashton smiled. "You look a little pale, Naia. Are you feeling alright?" And he hoped that she was, feeling the concern for the beauty bubble up within the pit of his stomach. But when he heard Naia's reassurances that she was ready to begin the lesson, Ashton offered a small smile to her, his dimples etched into his cheeks before he pulled his wand from behind his ear and aiming the end to his quill, Ashton muttered the incantation softly, but loud enough for Naia to hear, knowing the class would be gaining their knowledge from their Charms textbook. Seeing his quill shudder to life, Ashton smiled softly. "Your turn." Hearing the class behind him get to work, Ashton felt relief flood through his chest, because he could focus a little bit more of his attention onto Naia, and he watched his quill with furrowed brows, worried it might reveal his attraction to the most beautiful girl to ever exist - at least, in his eyes.

Etta tucked a stray strand of red hair behind her ear as she listened to Professor Clifford's words. "Thank you, sir." Etta smiled, and although it was purely on a student teacher basis, Etta felt a shiver of excitement pass through her at the thought of having just a moment alone with the Professor that she'd developed quite the crush on - possibly even more than that, something that Etta found came so easily when she was in Michael's presence. Hearing his suggestion to help Neville though, Etta found that her smile had only broadened further, if possible, and she nodded at Michael, looking to him like he'd put the stars in the sky. Focusing on the baby mandrakes in front of her, Etta pulled a little bit of a face, but knew it was easy if handled with care.

Sarona watched the professor for a few moments, taking him in, and she chewed on her lip to bite back her grin when she heard him speaking to Colin. Ducking her head, she reached her hand up to stroke Brownie’s fur, humming in thought. “You hear that, Brownie?” she asked jokingly, grinning to herself, “I’m racking up the points for Slytherin.” Smiling with amusement, she lifted her gaze back to the professor, but she nodded slightly to his words. “Of course, professor,” she assured, grinning as she set Brownie down gently, though she couldn’t help but to watch the professor more often than not, because he truly did astound her, in every way, and she truly wished that she could tell him what he meant to her.

Calum arched a brow as he watched Violet, listening to her words, but tilted his head. “We both know that socks go missing all the time, usually from the cleaning,” he told her but he offered an amused look, soon smirking as he examined her. “I’m surprised you’re not jumping at the opportunity to get creative here, especially with your creativity with your words.” And, admittedly, he posed it as a sort of challenge - unashamedly, he could admit to himself, and he shrugged, moving away from her desk to look to the class. “Since Miss Gaunt insists that the spell isn’t worth hers or your time, class, we’ll be taking five points from Hufflepuff.” Looking to her, he tilted his head. “And, just for the hell of it, we’ll add a detention.” With Violet’s constant reactions, though, he was certain the detention wouldn’t bother her in the least.

Naia blinked with Ashton’s question, feeling her cheeks warm a bit. “I’m alright, it’s just a little warm in here,” she quickly tried to excuse, her voice quiet because she didn’t want to attract attention to her own embarrassment that she was nervous about what her quill might write. Still, seeing that Ashton had leaned in towards her, she tried not to think too much into it, tried not to assume anything or hope for anything, but she could feel her heart swell because, for just that moment, they were closer, and she let herself enjoy it before she dropped her gaze to the quill. Nodding to his words, she pulled out her wand. “Alright, here goes nothing,” she murmured before casting the charm Ashton had said on the quill and she watched it come to life, her heart racing at what it might write when it came to Ashton.

Michael grinned slightly, watching the class, but ultimately paying more attention to Etta than anything. He tried not to be too obvious about it, not wanting to show his affection for her, since she wasn’t aware of it and he knew that it would only serve to cause trouble - and he didn’t want to lose his job or to tarnish his reputation. But, at the same time, he knew that, if anything ever did happen between himself and Etta, and they had to face any sorts of consequences, it would be well worth it to call her his. Shaking his head to rid himself of the thoughts, he proceeded to wander around, watching as the students transplanted the mandrakes and dismissing those that met the quota, a part of him hoping that Etta would take her time. But, then, he was reminded that he’d get to see her soon after the class ended, anyway, so he wouldn’t complain if she finished quickly.

Luke watched how Sarona interacted with Brownie, how gentle she was with the beautiful feline, and Luke couldn't help but adore how his Kneazle was so comfortable within Sarona's arms. Listening as Brownie purred within Sarona's embrace, Luke bit the inside of his cheek once more, not wanting Sarona - or other students - to catch on to his dangerous attraction to her. Luke knew, he understood, that falling in love for a student was reckless behaviour, but damn it, she was worth being reckless for. She was worth all the trouble, if it meant Luke could have her to himself; and that was his most selfish desire. Watching as the beauty set Brownie down gently, Luke smiled at the creature as she nuzzled into his leg. Reaching to scratch behind her ears, Luke looked to the class as Brownie began to lead the way. "Well, what are you all waiting for?" Luke grinned. "C'mon."

Violet listened to Calum with a small smirk tugging at the corners of her lips, not missing how he looked to her with amusement. "I think the house elves do a wonderful job with the washing, personally." Violet shot back coolly, peering up to Calum with an expression she tried to keep as close to bored as possible. "I've never lost any socks, sir." Violet shrugged, and when Calum posed the challenge to her, Violet smirked. "Well hey, I'll get creative. But you can do better than this, Professor Hood." Violet shrugged her shoulders, pretending to remain unbothered when the handsome man took took five points from Hufflepuff, and when he added a detention, Violet merely grinned and offered her professor a nod. "I look forward to it."

Ashton smiled softly when he was certain Naia was distracted by enchanting her quill, unable to stop himself from looking to her, although trying to be discreet as possible, not wanting other students to cotton on to the attraction Ashton felt for the beauty before him. "Good pronunciation," He praised, his eyes lowering to their quills. His own had already began scribbling furiously on the parchment, and Ashton could feel his heart jump in his chest. Distracting himself, Ashton stood straight, studying his class of Seventh years. "Good job, everyone. I wonder if anyone will be leaving this classroom as a couple." Ashton teased, admitting to himself that was all he wanted for himself and Naia, but he knew that feeling that way towards one of his students was irresponsible beyond words. Looking to his quill as it fell to the table, Ashton peeked at the words it had written. Love beyond words. Feeling heat rise to his cheeks, Ashton cleared his throat and broke the enchantment that had been placed on the quill, quickly scribbling out the words. "Let me know what yours says, Naia." Ashton grinned, revealing his dimples as he went to check on his other students.

Placing her earmuffs on her head, Etta lifted her gaze for a moment to watch Michael, studying him as he interacted with his students, her heart swelling at just the sight of him. Etta wondered, for a brief moment, how a silly school crush could develop into something this incredible, all the while the subject of her desires being completely unaware of it all. Focusing on the mandrake once more, Etta gently lifted the screeching creature from it's pot, taking her time in hopes that she could have a moment alone with Michael. Placing the mandrake into the other pot, Etta blanketed it with dirt, scrunching up her nose with concentration. Hearing a thud from beside her, Etta blinked and turned to see Neville Longbottom had faded, much to the amusement of Slytherins. "Uh, Professor Clifford..." Etta called, trying to hide her own amusement, knowing Neville wouldn't mind, considering the two had been friends for so long. "Neville fainted."

Sarona smiled to herself, finding herself enjoying the fact that Brownie seemed comfortable around her, her heart swelling a bit, a part of her wishing to take it as a sign that she belonged with Luke. Chewing on her lip with the thought, she peered over at Luke for a moment but quickly looked ahead, not wanting to attract attention to herself. Seeing everybody beginning to follow Brownie, she trailed behind the others, a part of her not too eager to get back to the school or to end the lesson so soon. Her attention was caught, though, when she heard a noise and, pausing in her steps, she peered towards the direction she’d heard the noise before looking back towards the class - they were already a good ways ahead, nearly out of sight, and she knew the way back, so she let her curiosity get the better of her, and made her way through the trees to follow the sound, her gaze eventually falling onto a cute Clabbert.

Calum watched Violet for a few long moments - probably moments that he shouldn’t have risked - and although he was amused with her, he had a facade to keep up; the last thing he needed was for somebody to notice him giving special attention to Violet or giving her special treatment. “Ah, I suppose a detention would really only serve to give a Hufflepuff an extra nap, hm?” he asked easily in response, arching a brow as he watched her, leaning against his desk, trying his best to not get too lost in her, but he knew that he was never the luckiest in that department when it came to Violet - he could try his best, though. “I’ll have to make sure to give you as much work as possible so that you don’t waste the valuable time in detention to learn a lesson about respecting your elders.” Looking at the other students, he arched a brow. “I suggest the rest of you do as you’re told. Get to work on your assignment right away.”

Naia peered over at Ashton as she listened to him speak to the class, and she smiled fondly despite herself, ducking her head a bit as she focused on the spell despite her nervousness of what the quill might reveal. She worried that it might reveal everything she felt for her professor - or even inner thoughts that she certainly didn’t want him to know, - worried any revelation could get her in trouble and cause her to receive a lecture on how inappropriate it was to adore a professor the way she did. Dropping her gaze to her parchment as the quill wrote, she saw the words Endless love written and she quickly ended the spell, balling the parchment up and throwing it aside, to the floor, only realizing afterwards how ridiculous the action was - her panic had made her forget that she could just set it on fire and get rid of it entirely. Pulling out a clean parchment, she quickly wrote Genuine respect for a favorite professor and looked towards Ashton’s parchment, noticing the scribbled out words. Her curiosity got to her, but she looked towards her professor, watching as he went to the other students quietly.

Michael grinned slightly as he worked with the students, though his gaze occasionally went towards Etta, never wanting to take his eyes off her for too long, worried that something awful would happen to her if he didn’t keep an eye out for her. Everything about the girl lit a fire within him that he was certain could never be put out, and he didn’t want to lose the feeling, ever, because he’d never imagined feeling this for anybody. While it wasn’t the wisest decision to feel the way he felt for a student, he knew he couldn’t fight it, and he didn’t have a choice in how he felt, he just knew that he loved her with every fiber of his being, even if he could never act on that feeling. It was torturous, but he knew that this was how things had to be, regardless of how much he hated it. At least he could be in her presence, enjoy listening to her speak, and take her in, memorize everything about her before she inevitably graduated and he risked never seeing her again. Looking over when he heard her speak, though, he blinked when he saw Neville on the ground, out cold. “Right,” he said eventually before clearing his throat. “Alright, that’s it for class today. You two -” He motioned to two students, “- Take Neville to Madame Pomfrey. The rest of you can go on about your day, class dismissed.”

Luke exhaled happily as he listened to the wind weave through trees, and studying his students carefully, Luke stuffed his hands into his pockets to protect them from the bitterly cold air of the Scottish highlands; his gaze falling easily to Sarona again, just in time to see her quickly look ahead, as though she hadn't been looking in his direction. Luke ignored any hope that ignited in his chest, because Sarona was a good student, determined to do her best, and he knew that she achieved such wonderful marks by immersing herself as much as she could - it made sense that she looked to him for direction. Following Brownie, Luke watched the Kneazle as she stopped to sniff at her surroundings, and for a moment, Luke listened to the murmurs of the students around him - pausing only when he noticed that Sarona wasn't among the small crowd. "Has anyone seen Sarona?" Luke asked, arching an eyebrow as there were mutters of denial across the group. Rolling his eyes, Luke frowned. "You lot are useless. Follow Brownie back to the castle, anyone caught straying will be given a whole semester of detention, do you understand?" Luke warned. "I know the way back, so I'll go and search for her. Go." And as the group continued to follow Brownie back to Hogwarts, Luke turned, walking in the opposite direction. "Sarona?" Luke called, slightly panicked, wondering why he worried so much for a girl that was meant to mean so little. "Sarona!" Luke called again, venturing into the trees. "Sweetheart, you here?"

Violet tried to keep still as Calum kept his gaze on her for a moment that felt for an eternity, swearing that just having his attention made her skin flush in the best way. "Do I have something on my face?" Violet asked with attitude, raising her eyebrows with a small smirk; but as Calum tried to degrade her and her house, Violet laughed, nodding. "Yes, sir. You see, we get our homework done by dinner, so we're the best sleepers. We just remain humble." Violet shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly, straightening her back. "I respect my elders, sir. I just think that you're underestimating your ability to teach, and it's my education that gets affected by your lazy tactics." Violet tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, starting on her assignment as she hummed happily, trying not to allow herself to be pulled in by the charm, by the tension that lay thick between a student and her teacher. "You know, Professor Hood." Violet chimed once more, already advancing in her assignent without much effort. "You're no fun."

Ashton exhaled as he scrubbed a hand over his face, knowing that the assignment had been risky from the moment he'd chosen Naia, but a part of him didn't regret choosing her. He knew that he was forbidden from adoring her the way he did, but he seemed to have no knowledge on how to do anything else; she occupied his heart and mind in the best way. "Good job guys," Ashton praised happily, clearly so proud of his students, wanting encourage them to be the best they could be. Turning on his heel, Ashton looked to Naia with a sweet, dimpled smile, wanting to encourage her too. "I'm so proud of you," Ashton spoke, maintaining his gaze upon Naia, and knowing that he was speaking those words directly to her, without being too out there. Approaching his desk once more, Ashton offered Naia a wink as he sat with her once more, looking to her parchment, although his brows furrowed a little as he noticed that the words he'd scribbled out had disappeared completely. Glancing to Naia, Ashton offered a grateful smile at her words. "Thank you, Naia. I'm honoured to have you as a student." He promised, before pulling away and clearing his throat, laughing at the sight before him. "Dean Thomas and Summer Foster, stop your canoodling." He teased. "Right, the lot of you - I want two parchments about this particular charm on my desk for Monday. No excuses. You're free to do as you please." Ashton smiled. "Now get out."

Etta hung back when she'd heard Professor Clifford confirm that class was dismissed because of Neville's forgetfulness to use his ear muffs correctly, and taking off her own ear muffs, Etta fixed her red hair with a laugh as she tread to Michael carefully, clearing her throat to get his attention. "Professor Clifford," she offered a sweet smile. "Do you have any seeds fit to grow on a dormitory window sill?" She sat on the old wooden table as she watched him carefully, her eyes following his movements, because everything he did was just so fascinating to Etta, and she wished, more than anything, that she could call Michael hers. "I want to brighten the place up a little."

Sarona blinked when she heard Luke and she looked towards his voice, but looked back to Clabbert, her brows furrowing as she got closer. She saw a small gash along its back and it was holding up one leg, refusing to put it down, the sight of the blood from the gash worrying Sarona. Carefully, she reached to take the Clabbert from the tree, surprised that it didn’t try to fight, but that made her worry more. She held it close to herself before turning. “Here, professor!” she called back before following his voice, though she was surprised when he’d called her ‘sweetheart.’ If she wasn’t so worried about the Clabbert, she was sure she’d be blushing. She walked carefully to avoid hurting the Clabbert further, and looked up when she finally spotted Luke, offering a weak smile. “Sorry, professor,” she said quietly, watching him, “I found an injured Clabbert, though. It looks pretty hurt.”

Calum arched a brow when he heard Violet’s question, though he smirked. “Actually, you do have something on your face - I believe you’re even blushing,” he said easily, though he figured it was because she was embarrassed or annoyed, and he was sure the rest of the class thought the same. “My lazy tactics?” He arched a brow, motioning around. “The majority of this class is having trouble with this spell, which proves my point, that it is a spell worth putting to work.” He watched her for a long moment. “And I do not intend to be fun. My intent is to teach. As a professor, I am meant to ensure that my students succeed in the lessons, and that they know charms that can be put to use - I am not meant to be a fun professor, who indulges the whims of his students.” And, while she was the most gorgeous thing he’d ever seen, he made sure his words were pointedly directed at her, because he wasn’t quite fond of his authority being challenged. “That aside, the lesson is over, class is dismissed.”

Naia watched Ashton for a few long moments but she nodded, ducking her head before she went to gather her things, her cheeks still warm, her heart thumping in her chest, because she worried that he would find the parchment she’d thrown on the floor. But, then, she wondered why the hell she didn’t just set the parchment on fire - it would have been the smart thing to do, it would have kept the parchment from ever being read. A part of her was certain that, subconsciously, she wanted the professor to find the parchment, to read how she truly felt, but she tried not to entertain that thought too much, because she knew it would never matter. Quickly, she left the classroom once she’d gathered her things, her head still ducked.

Michael hummed in response when he heard Etta approaching him, curious to what she wanted, but he smiled when he heard her question, and he nodded slightly. “I’m sure I have plenty,” he assured her, “Is there anything specific you’re wanting? Magical plants? Flowers? Herbs?” He arched a brow with curiosity, though he found himself watching Etta, never really wanting to take his gaze from her, because she was the most amazing thing he’d ever seen, ever witnessed. And, when he heard she wanted to ‘brighten the place up a little,’ he found himself thinking that a plant wasn’t necessary at all, because Etta brightened every room she walked into with ease, without even trying, and he found himself hyper aware of the fact that she didn’t even know it. “Or does it not matter as long as it is simply capable of surviving on the windowsill?” He offered an amused grin, though he was curious overall.