CLOSED: Dancing to My Heart Beat - 01 (for nephrit)

[eldrineabernathy]

Eldrine had been so excited to start Ancient Ruins during her fourth year. So excited that she had bought nearly every book she could in order to study ahead during the summer months! After all, she had to catch up! Rowan, one of her best friends, was extremely excited when Eldrine told her that she would be joining her favorite class this year. After the last three years at Hogwarts and coming face to face with a mystery that was much larger than she had anticipated and definitely MUCH bigger than just her missing brother, she could use all the knowledge she could get her hands on.

And frankly, after a failed first year in Divination, there was no way she was stepping in that enclosed space again.

So, Ancient Ruins it was.

Besides, after reading through one of Rowan's books during winter holidays the year before, she found the subject matter absolutely fascinating!

What Rowan failed to tell her was there teacher was absolutely... fascinating, beautiful in a she's-dangerous-but-you-can't-help-but-stare-at-her kind of way and beyond intelligent! There were rumors, of course, that she was a vampire. Those rumors have neither been confirmed nor denied and frankly, Eldrine wasn't sure how much stock she should actually put into those rumors!

After all, everyone kept saying that Snape was a vampire or some kind of dungeon bat and that simply wasn't true!

One thing was for sure, she was really glad she had joined Ancient Ruins this year. It was going to be a challenge though. Reading and understanding the material was different than reading and making sure her assignments were top notch. She wanted to stay at the top of her class if she could help it! After all, she really wanted to be Prefect next year (and ultimately Head Girl). Never mind the fact that she got in trouble at the end of every year...

When the class was finished and Professor Kitiara dismissed them, she packed up her books and stood from her chair. She nodded as Rowan packed up her things and said she'd be in the library during their break if she wanted to join her. Eldrine would but at a more sedate pace.

Comments

[nephrit]

"And yet many who attended other houses have joined him, but they would prefer to ignore that than recognize the flaws in witches and wizards rather than in the houses," Kitiara said, nose wrinkling as she considered it. "Think of the madness of the Gryffindors as they rush in where angels fear to tread. Or that Ravenclaws will focus purely on their books and ignore the world around them. Perhaps Hufflepuffs can afford to have that attitude, but no one else," she added, obviously having put thought into this before.

"It most certainly is, but to survive it, you need to learn to work with their narrow minds rather than butting heads with them," she noted, hoping the girl took that to heart.

"Perhaps, and I have aligned myself in many ways with Slytherin, knowing how others would see me. I'm willing to stand up to it and what it means. I suspect you are, as well."

[eldrineabernathy]

Eldrine watched her professor as she spoke and tilted her head slightly before nodding, agreeing with what the woman was saying. "You're right," she said. "House affiliation doesn't matter to me. I have two friends in Gryffindor. Ravenclaw's are great and a Penny, who is in Hufflepuff is probably just as Slytherin as the sneakiest Slytherin." To Eldrine, it didn't matter what house you were in. What mattered to her was how you treated others. Like when she had to duel Merula because she was bullying everyone. Strongest witch ever her arse.

"I'm prepared and willing to stand up to it," she agreed with a nod. "Why did you choose Slytherin? I've heard you're going to become Slytherin's coach... faculty coach..." she really wasn't up on the terms but had heard it going through the conversations her classmates were having.

[nephrit]

"And that is something many don't consider as well. What does the hat use to chose from. The person you are? What you value? What will help you the most. Those things are not always the same and would therefor indicate different houses, though none of them would be wrong. Had I been a student here, would I have been sorted Slytherin or Ravenclaw? Both would well suit, after all,' she said, allowing that she certainly contained Slytherin tendencies, not that she felt it was something she had to tell. It was obvious by her very nature.

"I am certainly going to be acting as Slytherin's head coach, though the student team leader will mostly lead the team. I am quite the accomplished quidditch player, and I would like to help see Slytherin obtain the house cup. As for why? It suits my nature, and I suspect I'm outcast enough that I am much more Slytherin than said learned students."

[eldrineabernathy]

Eldrine nodded and gave Kit a smile. "Sometimes I wonder if the hat shouldn't re-sort students after a while. What eleven year old knows who they are or what they value at that time?"

"That's great! I've heard many are excited and maybe a little nervous," she said with a laugh. Not that she knew that much about Quidditch. She liked to fly, sure but Quidditch? Wasn't her cuppa tea.

"I shouldn't keep taking up your time," she said after a pause, shifting her bag on her shoulder again. "I look forward to your classes."

[nephrit]

"Is that not a truth," she said, nodding and looking at Eldrine appraisingly. She did enjoy when a student seemed to understand more than her educators often did. And she considered the ways to make sure they were aware of that.

"Sadly some in charge would then think that is saying they were wrong, and how can they admit that? They certainly won't do that."

Kit smiled and it was so predatory. "Oh they should be nervous. I'm not sure there's a person here that can fly the way I do, and I won't take it easy on anyone. I do hope they're prepared."

Kit smiled at that, nodding.

"Our first meeting will be this next week. Tuesday evening, after dinner here in this room. I expect you there, Eldrine."

[eldrineabernathy]

They were opinions that she felt she couldn't share with just anyone. If you asked her, British wizards and witches were very stuck on tradition. They've always done this so that must be how things remained. She was glad, and a little surprised, when Kit actually agreed with her. Many teachers simply rolled their eyes or ran her off (see: Snape), sneering about how she simply didn't understand tradition. She did. She was well aware of tradition.

This simply didn't make sense.

Sometimes she wondered if she would have made a better Ravenclaw and then remembered why she was sorted into Slytherin in the first place.

"Sometimes I wonder if it's not because it's simply tradition and Merlin forbid if they change it."

Eldrine felt a smile tug on her mouth as she noticed the professor's look as she spoke about flying and Quidditch. "I am getting a feeling that there may be more tryouts if people aren't able to keep up," she laughed. Kit didn't seem to be the type to tolerate nonsense or a lack of trying.

She was honored to be included in this special class / club and wasn't about to let her down. Or herself. "I will be there, you can count on it."

[nephrit]

As an outsider to British wizarding tradition, Kitiara would be the first to agree with those thoughts. She had seen more progressive countries, and she has seen how old things in Hogwarts went. Even in a tradition bound culture such as Japan, things were not as bad as they were in England.

Kitiara hadn't come to Hogwarts though to fall into their history. She had changes to make, and things to learn. As she hoped her students would as well.

"It may well be, though it would also disrupt houses in the middle of the year. Imagine losing all your best quidditch players, or your best students who garnered so many housepoints. They would have to redo so much to change that. Not that they wouldn't, but when they look down the long line of changes, many stay with what they know."

Even as she says it, she clicks her tongue and gives a shake of her head over that.

Laughing at that, Kit nods. "There may be. I can teach them if they're willing to learn, but they have to be willing." And sadly so many teenagers fought learning.

"Oh, Eldrine. I am counting on you. In so much." It may have sounded threatening, but Kitiara wasn't bothered by that.

[eldrineabernathy]

Eldrine tilted her head, considering that for a moment. "That's a good point. It would work better if it was at the beginning of the year." But these people were to become her family but she had to admit, the people that were her family here at Hogwarts, were a mix of every house. But Kit had a good point all the same.

She grinned. "I normally don't attend the matches but I may actually have to attend the first one." At the very least. She was interested to see how her housemates played after Kitiara's coaching. They would only improve, right?

Despite herself, Eldrine felt herself flush. "Oh, well - better not disappoint then," she said with a laugh. "Hope you have a good rest of your day, Professor." She tucked the parchment into her pocket before turning and heading out of the classroom. She wasn't sure what it was but there was something about Kitaira that made her want to stick around and continue talking. But she had lunch and to meet up with Rowan in the library. She didn't want the girl to think she'd forgotten about her after all!

[nephrit]

"It certainly would have to be, though I can see where it might disrupt too much. A shame really. Also a shame that everything is defined purely by one of four options when so many that I know of certainly fall between houses. " It's something in her short time that she has seen time and again, though with the parameters set for them, the Hat has done the best it can.

"You should. I suspect many will be shocked and surprised at some of the things Slytherin has learned even in the few weeks I've been coaching them. For your sake, and your houses, at least try a match."

There was going to be anger and protests over the methods they would be using, but they all fell within regulation, and there was nothing that could be done. It wouldn't stop many from trying though. Kitiara actually looked forward to the protests. And smiling sweetly afterwards.

Watching her go, Kitiara couldn't help but to smile. That had gone better than she had hoped it might, both in first being approached about the rumors, as well as in drawing the girl in. Even if it was a horrible idea, knowing what Kit did about herself and the girl.

[eldrineabernathy]

"The world is full of shades of gray, if you ask me," Eldrine said with a smile. She might be young but growing up in a home who's parents were fairly distant and whose brother disappeared after being expelled from school, she learned that the world isn't one way or the other.

She left Kitiara's room with a little smile on her mouth, thinking of the conversation she just had with her new professor. It wasn't what she had expected when she stayed after class. Hell. She hadn't expected to actually STAY after class for long or at least that long. It felt like she had talked to the other woman for hours. It had felt so easy.

When she finally met up with Rowan, she waved off the girl's concern and told her excitedly that she had actually been invited to a special Ancient Ruins club. Rowan was probably just glad that her friend didn't have detention yet.