[Flitwick’s Office] The sound of white (prof. Flitwick)

She thought about his question for what felt like a very long time, until Filius was rather concerned that she did envy the girls that bullied her, before she replied. “Well, then, there you are,” he said with relief. She was looking somewhat shrewd now – several more steps above about to cry, although he wasn’t sure he was encouraged by it.

She seemed unconvinced about his second point, but – well – he won some, he lost some, and he was running out of platitudes. He still never felt adequately prepared to deal with students’ interpersonal problems, and he now had over forty years’ experience at Hogwarts (going on fifty, if he included his first seven years there). He tilted his head slightly, his short fingers steepled in front of him.

Of course it would be difficult for her to even feign indifference – let alone to really feel it – but he couldn’t give her any advice there, as he wasn’t entirely sure when or how he had begun to toughen up. Time, he supposed, had worked wonders on him; it had not worked wonders on Miss Robbins yet. “Well,” he said again, “Is that all you wanted to know, or do you have concerns about the exams, or anything else?”

Although it had felt awkward and strange at first, Perpetua was happy by now that she had come to professor Flitwick, that she had confided in him to some degree. Of course, she hadn’t got the response she had been hoping for - that she could move into a different dormitory away from Rowen and her friends - but, somehow, it still felt like a success.

Professor Flitwick seemed to notice the change in her demeanour, too, and Perpetua smiled gratefully at her teacher. Although the situation hadn’t changed, the girl felt that she would leave her head of house’s office with a little more confidence than she had had when she had entered it a few minutes ago.

His question if she had other concerns seemed to be a polite way of asking her to leave soon and Perpetua thought that everything was said anyway. She had no concerns about her exams. She might not be a thoroughly outstanding student but she was doing well enough. She knew, however, that she’d still have to study a lot to get the grades she hoped for but that was hardly a topic she needed to discuss with professor Flitwick. The only thing that would help there was to spend a few afternoons at the library, studying diligently.

“No, thank you.” Perpetua said and got to her feet, nervously flattening her skirt and smiling down at professor Flitwick. “Thank you for taking the time to talk to me,” she said, her voice very quiet again. “Have a nice evening,” she added, blushing slightly, before turning around to leave his office.

[out]

As his student seemed still to be lost in thought, Filius allowed his own to wander: he would have to keep a closer eye on those fifth years (Merlin, they would be sixth years in just two months.) Considering that Miss Robbins might go forward and act according to his advice, it was now firmly his responsibility, more so than it already was. Also, he would be lying if he said he weren’t deathly curious how this would work itself out. The Ravenclaw girls’ class of 2006 was a phenomenon unto itself.

Miss Robbins stood; Filius did too, and waved a hand graciously. “You’re very welcome any time,” he said, “I’ll always be glad to lend an ear.” He’d said ‘my door is always open’ for a few years when he’d started teaching, but his students had realised quickly that his door was not always open – back in those days he’d spent a lot more time than he ought to in the greenhouses gossiping with Pomona.

The door whispered open and shut with about the same level of volume Miss Robbins had been maintaining for the entire meeting; Filius said, “Toodle pip!” and waved her off.


END