A Special Request [tag: Headmaster]

[ERIK RAUL FENTHORNE]

The climb up to the fifth floor was a tedious one and by the time he reached the top of the stairs, it was draining all of Erik's energy to conceal the fact that he was greatly in need of oxygen and more stamina. Checking to make sure that no one was in sight nor in earshot, Erik gripped the bannister of the steep castle steps and began to huff and puff as he repaid his oxygen debt to his weary muscles. How did he come to be so out of shape? Erik made a mental note to do some form of exercise anytime soon, whatever they had on the menu here in Wexford. He wasn't sure yet whether wizards had the same taste in sports and exercise as Muggles, but he'd make an effort to find out soon enough.

As he rested himself, Erik thought about the reason he had endured those never-ending medieval steps. He didn't know it was possible, but he sure as heck was going to give it a try. Looking in disgust at the Maior crest on his uniforms, he renewed his resolution - he was going to talk to the Headmaster about a possible switch in houses. He didn't care where he ended up in, he just wanted to get away from Maior, the house associated with nerds and books - all the stuff that he shouldn't be.

The Sorting Pensieve had, of course, put him in the house that he had truly belonged to, but Erik was not used to being associated with intellectuals and the like. Jocks and cheerleaders, yes. Bookworms? No. Hell, no. The first day in Wexford had been an absolute nightmare. His stomach felt like it was doing a casual freefall as the Sorting Pensieve announced its decision to place him in Maior. He was slapped with a set of the uniforms, and initiated into the House, along with some characters that he wouldn't even have dreamt of talking to in his previous life back in high school. Most of them even had an entire trunk dedicated to their books. Of course, he had stuffed all his detective novels and Sherlock Holmes books below his clothes, but that wasn't the point here.

If his previous persona was to be believed, Erik was meant to have been sorted into Ignis or Nocens. Maybe more of Nocens, since he liked to fancy himself the bad boy type. But never, never, in a thousand years, Maior. Yes, that would be the plan. He'd try to transfer to Nocens. The headmaster was younger looking than he had expected, and perhaps, without that generation gap, Erik may be able to talk some sense into him.

Erik stood in front of the oak door which announced in a fancy handwriting complete with a flourish the Headmaster's name. There was a elaborate and old-looking knocker below it, which he put to use as he waited for the Headmaster's reply. Once waved in as per normal, Erik coughed, not daring to really look around himself as he kept his eyes on the Headmaster.

"Headmaster, my name is Erik Fenthorne and as you can see, I'm from the house of Maior," began Erik. He could feel his nerves dwindling as he went on. The request he had in mind sounded stupid to him now, and he suddenly found himself wishing he hadn't decided to do such a thing. What if the Headmaster exploded at him? What if he deducted house points from Maior? It was only Erik's, what, third day here and he was already costing his new house? Still, it would be even more embarrassing to simply leave when he had gotten so far, so he decided to steel himself and plunge ahead. "I have a - special request to make. I'd like to request for a transfer of Houses. To anywhere, except Maior."

WORD COUNT (without coding). 665
TAG. Headmaster James Black
BANNER. me

[JAMES ALASTAIR BLACK]

The headmaster walked into his office and looked at the time on his watch that was placed around his wrist. That kid is supposed to be here any minute. At least I’m here early. I can get start on that paperwork for the Ministry before I forget about it. Lately the Board of Education at the Ministry had been sending owls upon owls to the school to see how things were going. Amanda’s mother was head of the board and he couldn’t figure out why all the owls just didn’t go to Amanda. He figured it was because he was headmaster, but Mrs. Lupin knew her own daughter better than him. James thought about how nervous he was getting about the head of the board coming to the school to look around. Quietly he walked over to his kettle and filled it with water from his wand. It was time for a cup of tea before he started going back to work. Lunch had been spent with Amanda and their dogs together in the Dining Hall. James had a sandwich while Amanda was given a steak, which seemed rather tasty and he wished he had thought of having a steak. As the kettle warmed up he walked over to his desk and began looking through the letters he had received as he was out for lunch.

Junk. Junk. Junk. Oh look something interesting, he thought as he began to open the letter and to his disappointment it was another envelope of junk mail. A sigh came from his parted lips and he started cleaning off his desk. His desk had started becoming a wastebasket and a workspace for the past week. Usually he kept everything in tip-top shape, but lately everything was just a mess. James ran his hand through his dark brown hair and he began chewing on the inside of his lip. Soon his desk was clear and every paper was in their correct file. Amanda would be proud of him for having the place clean and professional looking. It was his office and his mess was an organized mess in his point of view. If he didn’t have a meeting with a student he would take a nap since he didn’t sleep very well last night. All night he had been hanging out with an old friend of his, Jonathan Lupin, in the Quidditch Pitch. Nostalgia was coming back to him each and every day he was at this school. Hardly there was a place that he didn’t remember being in or some event that had happened in the area.

The kettle began to whistle and he put a caramel toffee tea bag in his infamous Batman mug. James poured a cup and a half of sugar then he poured in the hot water into the mug. Once he finished pouring he heard a knock at the door and his head turned toward the door. Must be the student. “Come in,” he said as he used his wand to magically stir his mug. The student came in and the first words out of his mouth were ‘Headmaster’. A shudder came over James Black and he looked at the student and said, “The ‘H’ word: Headmaster isn’t allowed,” he said softly. “I’m not that old be called ‘Headmaster’. James will be fine.” James was his name so he preferred to go by that. Or you could say ‘Black’ and it would be the same as ‘James’ to him. “You can sit down you know? I swear I’m not going to bite,” he chuckled and sat down at his desk. “Do you want any tea?,” he asked then took a sip of his warm tea. It felt refreshing down his throat and he took a couple more sips as the student made his request.

James looked up from his mug and raised an eyebrow at the Maior. “Is Maior not to your liking?,” he as setting his mug down on his desk. “What’s wrong with the house? Who wouldn’t want a freakin’ dragon as a mascot?” Now he was joking around and he knew he should be serious. “Now really all honesty. Why do you want go into a different house?” Never before had he ever heard of a student wanting to change houses. “The Sorting Pensieve doesn’t lie about what house you should be sorted into. Maybe you haven’t seen why you would be sorted into that house? For instance I was an Ignis when I started at this school a long time ago. Do I look like I’m courageous and brave? There are other things that go into being in a house. Like for Ignis you also have to be honest and loyal. I know I fit those descriptions, but they all come together in the end.” His brown eyes looked back to the student as he took another sip from his mug. “Just because you don’t see yourself as a bookworm doesn’t mean you don’t belong in Maior,” he smiled trying to completely understand what Mister Fenthorne.

APPAREL • clothing.
MUSE • through the trees by low shoulder.
NOTE(S) • ☺
TAG • erik fenthorpe.
WORD COUNT • 841 [without coding].

[ERIK RAUL FENTHORNE]

Erik raised an eyebrow as the Headmaster told him - not to call him Headmaster. Sure, he was young, but Erik had assumed that people just loved power titles like that. Does he not like the position? began Erik's inner sleuth, Or did he get it too easily for him to appreciate the title? Erik took the time that the James Black was offering him tea and doing the niceties to do a quick scan-over the room. A cartoony looking Batman mug sat in front of James - a rather laid-back personality then, someone who doesn't take himself too seriously. Should I?. The piles of letters strewn across the table - he doesn't value neatness either, or he has too many things on his mind. Probably both, seeing as the school just re-opened. From what he could gather now, James Black seemed to be someone perhaps too young for heavy duty as Headmaster of a new magical school, though committed to it since he hasn't showed any signs of relinquishing his title.

Taking a seat, Erik cringed when James Black mentioned the term 'bookworm'. He knew it, Maiors were associated with bookworms. How on Earth did he land up in this place? "That's precisely my point - er - Mr. Black," said Erik, still refusing to drop all forms of honouraries with a personage who was obviously superior to him in an academic setting. He was rigid like that when it came to fixed hierarchy. "I don't even want to be near those bookworms. Besides - do I honestly look like one to you?" Erik didn't stop to wait for a reply, since he knew it was going to be 'no'. "There has to be some grave mistake here, Mr. Black. I have never been associated with books nor intellectuals in my life and I'm not about to start even in a magical school."

Leaning back in his chair and steepling his fingers in a rather authoritative position that he was used to, Erik stared long and hard at the Headmaster's face, studying every feature and every line in it. He knew it was discomfiting to the other person, but he wanted to gather as much information he could about the Headmaster, any leverage he could use to get what he wanted. Young, the Headmaster was very young. Perhaps far too young to be Headmaster. But Erik wasn't going to jump to conclusions, he hadn't been in the school long enough to assume so far. He began very quietly but resolutely and firmly, "Mr. Black, the Sorting Pensieve works by looking at one's thoughts, does it not? Could it perhaps have drawn out the wrong sort of thought from my head, and then placed me in Maior because of that? It isn't that I don't think of books in my life, after all - the Sorting Pensieve could well have picked out a train of thought that related to books, and then made an error of judgement. I know it's a far jump - but it could happen, Mr. Black, you must admit."

WORDS. 537
TAG. headmaster!

[JAMES ALASTAIR BLACK]

As Erik Fenthorne began talking again James realized that the student that was not going to let up about the pensieve. James put his left index and thumb finger on the bridge of his nose and began to press it gently. He used this to relieve some of his temper that was slowly rising. I do not have time for this. Much rather do something else for a change other than settling what house should someone be in. If I had the time to sort every student that stepped foot in the castle I would, but I don't have time and I'm not about to start with this student. Through his nose he took a deep breath until his lungs were full of oxygen, then he started exhaling slowly. Once done breathing he let the bridge of his nose go and he put his hand on the desk to place it somewhere. "Mr. Fenthorne, please. You know you don't want me to to tell you what I think about you in the house of Maior. Well I'm going to answer you anyway. To be quite honest you look like a Maior. The way you present yourself as a matter of fact. Right now the way you say you don't want to be around them is something a typical Maior would say. Maiors really don't like anyone, not even even the people that share a house with them."

The headmaster took a sip of his tea to relax himself. His hand ran through his dark brown hair and he looked down to the mess on his desk. I have too much to do today. Got to clean then fix something to eat and then take the dogs for a walk. There was also a letter from the Ministry he needed to address, but he would need Amanda to also work with him on that. Scooter came running into the office and jumped in James' lap making James jump a little. "Scooter, what in the hell do you think you're doing?" The pet wagged his tail and began licking from the mug. "Oh good grief," he said as he picked up Scooter and sat him on the floor. He put the mug next to Scooter since he would no longer be able to drink from the cup. "Sorry about that," he said looking back to Erik. "Is it honestly going to kill you to be in the Maior house? Is it making it hard for you to sleep at night? Any abnormal habits going to start?" James put his chin on the palm of his hand as his elbow went on his desk.

"The only way I know how to do this is to get the pensieve and do this all over again." Once that was said Pebbles and Bam-Bam came bursting in. "Couldn't you guys wait until I was done. I know you are anxious to go outside, but really now." Duke should just run in here as well since we've got every other dog in here. Sighing he got up from his desk and looked back to the student that sat in front of him. "Could you please follow me, Mr. Fenthorne? We'll see if there was a mistake when the pensieve sorted you." James slowly began walking out of his office and across the hall, next door to Miss Lupin's room. In this room, that looked like a closet on the outside, they kept the pensieve so that it would not be disturbed or break. The pensieve was very, very fragile and was to only be used in serious situations. Sorting a student all over again was not very serious, but to James it was serious enough so that the student would be put at ease. Now perhaps this can be settled and we can be done with this.

James opened the door to the room and looked behind him to see if Erik Fenthorne was behind him. The room was like another room of the castle. It looked small on the outside, but the room was very spacious for such a small thing. He walked up to the pensieve that was in center of a room surrounded by a one-eighty mirror in a shade of dark sea green. "Please join me over here Mr. Fenthorne if you could." Scooter, Pebbles, and Bam-Bam came in to play and James rolled his eyes. "Act like lost puppies you lot." "Now just relax," he said as he pulled out his wand and put it over the water in the pensieve. Not touching the water he made a stirring motion and the water began to stir on its own. "What I am going to do is get your memories and put them in the pensieve here. There the pensieve can sort it out to find your true personality. Such as why you do the things you do. From there it can tell us what house you should be in." His wand was now pointing at Erik's ear and he swished it around to pull out four to five memories and placed them in the water.

APPAREL • clothing.
MUSE • heartkiller by HIM.
NOTE(S) • sorry this took me so long to get to.
TAG • erik fenthorpe.
WORD COUNT • 878 [without coding].