A Feast for the New Headmistress

Unfortunately, if not unsurprisingly, Jack didn’t fall for Jaquellene’s tricks. Amelia knew from past experience that the kid was enough of a troublemaker not to be too gullible himself, but she had to admit she had been hoping he would just take the candy and have to take the rest of the night off to recover from whatever it was that Jack had laced it with. She didn’t feel too badly about those less-than-headmistress-ish thoughts because, A) Jack was intentionally causing trouble here by bringing up Marcus, especially in front of Jaquellene, who didn’t know his history with Amelia, and B) Jaquellene would never have put anything too dangerous in the candies. It wasn’t like he would die of it, afterall.

But instead of ingesting it, Jack merely slipped the candy into his pocket and declared that he was indeed older than an infant, which would have made Amelia roll her eyes if she hadn’t been so nervous about what he might do or say next. And, true to form, Jack ended up trying to tell off Amelia’s shorter redhead counterpart, which was a dangerous idea as far as Amelia was concerned.

“Really, Jack, I’m just fine with the level of excitement I am currently experiencing – actually, it’s a bit more than I would prefer, honestly – but you don’t need to be doing me any favors in the excitement department-“ Amelia responded quickly, partially talking over Jaquellene’s quip – which she was sorry for – but she was hoping to cut Jack off before he got started again. It seemed, however, that her words were unnecessary, because Jack was interrupted of his own accord when he broke into a severe coughing fit that made Amelia take a few discrete steps away from him. She had already been feeling under the weather herself and she didn’t need to be fighting a combination of infections.

Jaquellene had stepped away with her, and when Jack had somewhat recovered from his gagging fit, Amelia took a tentative step back toward him. Jaquellene was reprimanding Jack for interfering, dismissing him with her usual brashness, which in other situations Amelia would have appreciated, but she didn’t know who might be listening, and she couldn’t afford to look too bad on her first official night as headmistress. And she was bound to screw up royally during the speech portion of the evening, so she may as well win at least some points with the spectators now, even if that meant extending an olive branch to Jack Kubin.

“Look,” Amelia began hesitantly, trying to put together words that would sound sympathetic and charming – neither of which were Amelia’s strong suits – “I am sorry if I lead you to any... wrong conclusions with my behavior thus far tonight, but I assure you, I won’t be needing any of the particular brand of help you are offering... but I do hope that you enjoy the rest of the evening. There are quite a few students here now, so you should have plenty of people to converse with until dinner begins,” Amelia said, hoping that she had managed to assuage this particular situation once and for all.

A feast for the new headmistress, surely that was a publicity stunt? Liesl remembered when she was still at school (because it had been just last year), the Board of Governors weren't going to put a barely graduated girl in charge of the whole school were they?

On the other hand, that could have its upsides. But no, there was no way. She had to be a puppet, which led to the obvious question... Who was pulling her strings?

Liesl pursed her lips as she sat down near the top of the Slytherin table. There weren't many people here yet, and the only person who was constantly near their new headmistress was another girl who looked just as young. She couldn't be the one.

Near the dais was an old man with his young trophy wife. He looked awfully pleased with himself, or at least with this whole set-up, AND he was the oldest person in the room. Liesl would have bet money that he was the one who thought up this whole thing. So who was he and what was his deal?

Not that Liesl really cared what happened in high up ministry affairs. Who held sway over Hogwarts was none of her concern, so long as she never had to serve detention, which she never did. Liesl was happy to go along with whoever was in charge and if that meant she had to curse her mudblood classmates occasionally, well her parents would be proud. But it was always useful to be prepared.

There had been plenty of dawdling on Marcus’ part though he’d been content just to mingle with the crowd of people that were milling around the Great Hall, socialising and delighting in the newest development at the school. Marcus had been a Professor not long ago and he was pleased to find that a few recognised him. It had been a brief stint, that was for sure, and it had brought him the money he needed to live, let alone do anything else. His good fortune had allowed him to clothe himself as he would have done months prior but money had just now allowed for it. He was pleased now to find he could wear suits and the like. Fortune was far off but he had luck and he wasn’t about to waste that luck just yet. He just needed to find something a little bit more solid, and then from there he could move on. He was tempted by a Ministerial job though he had yet to decide what yet, but he was looking, that much was clear. Tonight he was just enjoying Hogwarts until he had to return to the daily grind, until they all had to. He was also, though he would not readily admit it, enjoying Amelia.

After getting himself something to drink, pleased to find a supply of Firewhisky, Marcus began to work his way back through the crowd towards the Headmistress who was stood with a redhead who Marcus vaguely remembered but didn’t care enough to try and recall her name, and a student who was equally as unimportant - if not more so. Marcus ran a hand through his hair and took a sip of the Firewhisky for strength before slipping through a group of young Hufflepuffs, apologising for disrupting their conversation, and finally making it over to where the Headmistress and her odd choice of company had stationed their selves. Marcus smiled gently, his eyes falling to Amelia over the other two and looked at her appraisingly, cheekily making a show of dragging his eyes up and down her form before smirking a little and stepping forward.

“Well don’t you look a picture, Headmistress?” He began with a warm smile. “How are you, Amelia?”

Jack raised his eyebrows, this adult really starting to tick him off. But fighting her wouldn't be a good idea. Fighting would be a really bad idea. Not only is she older, and more experienced, but she was close with Amelia it seemed, another dangerous person. His odds weren't in his favour.

"Psh, no one in this Castle gives enough of a good time for me to be around. Except you."

He said, looking at Jaquellene.

"But you are what us younger folk call 'aggrevating'."

His words were smart assish, yes, but he didn't really care. His lack of safety around others was surprising. He was a Ravenclaw, known for his intellect. Kind of. But Jack wasn't one of the smarter ones. He relied more on gut instinct. But before he could say anything else, the man he pointed to earlier had basically come out of nowhere and made a pretty big show of checking Amelia out. Jack rolled his eyes, dubbing this man a 'try hard'. He looked at Jaquellene, wondering if she was getting the same effect as he was. He took a step back, and sniffed.

Amelia had barely managed to finish asking Jack in the most polite way possible to please go away when her handle on the situation – already tenuous – slipped even further. And all on account of the arrival of the very subject which had brought Jack over to her in the first place.

She hadn’t seen him coming, such was the crowd that had now formed in the Great Hall, consisting of students, faculty, parents, friends, ministry workers, members of the Hogwarts Governing Board. But as soon as he was near to her, it was as if every hair on her body stood at attention, and a shiver ran up her spine that sent her eyes flicking over to meet his, a motion she immediately regretted. His eyes were lit with the light of his smile, which was directed pointedly at Amelia and was completely effective at freezing her to the spot. It took her a moment to realize that her mouth was hanging open from the sensation of him being so near to her, and then a few seconds after that to figure out the mechanics of closing it.

Say something… say anything… no, not anything… something intelligible… Amelia’s subconscious probed her, trying to get her to make some kind of response that would save her in this situation. But as absolutely anyone could have predicted, the internal push was in vain.

Marcus was even more breathtaking up close, though whether that was due to his attire and physique or the memory of the last time she had seen the person to whom they belonged was unclear even to Amelia. His dark hair was tousled slightly, probably from his habit of running his hands through it, and he seemed completely relaxed in his stance, holding his firewhiskey as though he regularly rubbed shoulders with the most important people in the magical world. While Amelia was taking him in, she had failed to realize that he had begun to do the same to her. She wasn’t fortunate enough, however, to miss it entirely, and when she caught his eyes raking over the curve of her hip slowly, she felt the skin there burn with a flesh memory of when his hand had rested there, pulled her closer to him as he wrapped his fingers around the bend in her waist…

Oh heaven, Amelia thought, blushing furiously as her eyes dropped immediately to the floor, intentionally avoiding Marcus’ direct gaze. Stop thinking about that. You’re going to faint. Or worse, do something with him you’ll regret. You’re the headmistress now. You can’t just give in to every whim, especially those that originate below your navel.

I’ve got it, okay? Amelia’s rational mind countered, though made less believable by the fact that she nearly swooned at the sound of Marcus’ compliment, followed by her name on his lips. All night, she had wanted to run from the sound of her own name, of everyone congratulating her on something she didn’t feel she had earned.

But not from Marcus. He was causing a whole host of mixed feelings. Currently, Amelia’s body was debating whether she wanted to fling herself at him or think of a reason why she needed to get as far away from him as possible.

Oh yeah… you’ve got it, her subconscious thought sarcastically.

“I’m doing… very… um… I’m doing well,” Amelia stuttered, breathless for no rational reason as she tried not to look at Marcus for too long, but also not be impolite by ignoring his gaze altogether. She was being a spaz, but she didn’t know how to stop it. Her body had a mind of its own right now, and it was focusing on all the wrong things.

“And you, ah, well you… you look very nice yourself,” the youngest headmistress returned his compliment, sincere though she sounded significantly less charming than he had.

“Have you met Jaquellene?” Amelia added too quickly, dragging the shorter redhead forward to where she was standing. She was trying to break the tension she was feeling between herself and Marcus – did he feel it too, or was it all in her head? – “I mean, Jack. Have you met Jack? She works at the Ministry, head of a whole department,” the young professor rambled, now having gone from the stuttering extreme to the ‘I-can’t-shut-up’ extreme. This wasn’t going well.

Jack is never going to believe you now… Amelia’s subconscious said with a roll of its figurative eyes, ready to give up on Amelia already and the night was only just beginning. She could see out of her peripheral vision that the boy was still standing there, not having taken her dismissal at all seriously. Although Amelia wanted to deny it, this could only get more complicated.

Jack laughed as the young boy seemed to be at a loss for anything intelligent to say- unless he simply did not know how to string together an intelligent comeback. Jack typically did not rise to bad comments. The snarky, intelligent comments were worth her time and simply challenged her in the way she enjoyed to be challenged. Stupid comments, and yes these boys comments were more akin to these, simply amused her for the lost effort.

“Is ‘aggravating’ a new term? I was unaware,” Jack chuckled. “In my old age I must have missed that new slang word. Damn hooligans.” She raised the Firewhiskey to her lips, drinking deeply. Boy, she would need it if this was the reception here.

Jack suddenly felt the approach of someone, and a much worthier-male through the puny student into his shadow. Jack raised an eyebrow at the hungry look in his eyes as he regarded Amelia and Jack glanced at the new headmistress. She felt as though she had been thrust into the role of bodyguard/bouncer (by her own accord, of course) and she wanted to know if this male was welcome, or if he was just some stalking creeper.

Amelia looked ill at ease, but not in a way that necessarily made the newcomer seem all-to unwelcome in her eyes. Jack was thinking of ducking away, maybe dragging the student away so Amelia could have a moment, but it seemed whatever battle Amelia was fighting was not one that she wanted to fight on her own. Jack was suddenly thrust before Amelia- Jack had never figured Amelia to be strong enough to move Jack when Jack did not intend on moving.

Jack glanced at Amelia as she was announced with her full name, but Amelia quickly amended her innocent mistake. Jack cleared her throat and held out her hand to shake the hand of the male before her. Her eyes narrowed. She had made it her business to know most of the werewolves around Britain, and this man seemed to strike a chord that told her she had come across his file before. “Yes, Head of Creatures unit. I specialize in spectral beings and werewolves,” she added, trying to hint she was person to come to for help. She still had an innate need to help werewolves, even if the last werewolf she had tried to be there for had seemingly forgot her.

There was something endearing about Amelia Lyons that Marcus couldn’t quite put his finger on. He supposed it was the way she seemed to flounder for words to say though he couldn’t exactly claim to be one with words either; but it was that stuttering that made him smile and made him want to undo it, to make her more relaxed around, not just him, but everyone she met. Marcus watched a familiar sight to him, one that made a smile tug at the sides of his lips. He tipped his head to the side slightly and observed Amelia again before taking his eyes off of the blonde and to the redhead by her side who the former had introduced as ‘Jaquellene’ then Jack.

Marcus clasped Jack’s hand with his own and smiled warmly at her, shaking it firmly but not at all vigorously, just short and firm. Marcus removed his hand and introduced himself, “Marcus Pattinson.” He told her after a swig of his drink. “I do think you suit Jack better, if that’s any consolation. Jaquellene... too old; too formal. Head of the whole department though? That’s impressive. As impressive as becoming the Headmistress of this fine establishment. With the amount of youth in high places now I reckon poor old Lupin will be rather out of his depth.” Marcus smiled thoughtfully before adding. “But then, I was never particularly interested in that sort of stuff, politics and all that. Not actively, anyway. I prefer adventure. How do you like the department, Jack?” Marcus asked, returning his eyes briefly to Amelia before placing them back on the redhead, deciding he’d relieve Amelia of her panic, and that he’d talk to her more personally a bit later. Small talk would do for now; not that he was good at it mind you, but it would do.

The new comer shook Jack's hand and, if handshakes were anything to go off of and she always had, then she appoved of him. He introduced himself as Marcus and complimented her on her choice of name. "Thank you, that was what I thought." He continued to speak and Jack let him, still trying to reason out Amelia's panic in her mind. Jack knew Amelia as a rational person, and there did not seem to be any rational reason this Marcus fellow might cause her panic.

He didn't look like a creepy stalker.

He compared her job to Amelia's and Jack said, "Well, I get it lucky. I just have to deal with dragons and werewolves. It's kids that become a pain," and with that she have the little Jack-boy a pointed glare, a smirk playing on her face. He inquired about the department and Jack decided that continung the small talk gave Amelia a chance to gather her bearings. "Ah, it's wonderful. It's nice to get paid for doing what you like and getting to boss people around."

For every moment Jack was standing near her, Amelia was thankful that there was at least one person she knew who had the social graces to get her out of having to talk. The shorter redhead had given Amelia a curious look when the headmistress had pulled her forward and introduced her rather brusquely to Marcus, but she had only missed that one beat; then she had casually started up a conversation with the young man who was sending Amelia’s autonomic nervous system haywire.

Although Amelia was having trouble focusing on the actual content of the conversation Jack was having with Marcus, she was aware enough to notice that Jack placed a particular emphasis on the fact that she worked with werewolves. Had she picked up on that so quickly? Amelia would have been unlikely to have figured that out if Marcus hadn’t told her, and she fancied herself more observant than most.

It’s her job, Amelia, her subconscious reminded her, That’s why they made her head of the department. Now what are you planning to do to prove that you have earned your placement as headmistress?

Even from within her own head, the questions Amelia didn’t have answers to kept coming.

Marucs had introduced himself to Jack and been appropriately impressed when Amelia noted that Jack was the head of a ministry department at such a young age. The headmistress might have even been a tiny bit jealous at how impressed Marcus was if he hadn’t gone right ahead and noted that Amelia’s new position as headmistress was equally impressive. Now if only Amelia felt she had earned it, it might have made the situation easier to handle.

But with Marcus so close she could smell his cologne and the scent of his skin, Amelia doubted this conversation would have been easy under any circumstances. Especially with the dark-haired boy’s eyes flitting over to her every few seconds, that dangerous smirk tugging lightly at the corners of his lips and preserving the blush that had crept up so fully before.

With Marcus and Jack having fallen into a conversation they could share, Amelia’s input was blessedly unnecessary, so she would have been content to stand slightly behind Jack and wait for her heartrate to regulate itself again. But she wasn’t given more than a minute’s respite before a man came up and tapped her on the shoulder. He was an elderly gentleman with long grey hair tied back in a ponytail, slicked back to prevent stray hairs from infringing on his put together visage.

“Madame Headmistress, we await your speech before dinner can begin,” he said, not without a hint of impatience. When Amelia glanced down at her watch, she realized why: she was ten minutes late to begin the feast with her speech.

“Yes, of course,” the young headmistress said hastily, setting her glass of water down on the nearest table, from where it was quickly whisked away by a house elf, “It does not due to… keep people waiting,” Amelia replied, swallowing hard as she realized it was time. She couldn’t avoid this any longer.

“You’ll have to excuse me,” Amelia said to the Jacks, and Marcus, with whom she tried not to make too long of eye contact, but she still lingered just a second too long and mentally chided herself for it, “Duty calls, you know. But it was good to see you again,” Amelia said, trying to address the group at large rather than just Marcus, but it was not completely unclear where her attention wanted to go. Jaquellene had already known Amelia was glad to see her, and Jack… well, it was doubtful that he truly believed Amelia was happy he had approached her with his vendetta to hook her up with Marcus.

“I’ll see you later, okay?” Amelia whispered to Jack as she was ushered away to the podium by the Governing Board member, her heart racing faster with every step toward the raised staff platform.

I can do this. I can’t do this. I have to do this. I can’t do this. I will do this.

Won’t I?

Amelia excused herself for the speech and promised to talk to Jack later. Jack hissed a "Good luck" back to the other redhead and then looked at the company she had been left in. Well. This was awkward. Jack was not good with people, but who knew. Maybe she could do better for Amelia's sake. Jack spotted a sixth year she was familiar with and excused herself. She grabbed the boy and whispered, "Want to make a galleon, Rollins?" He nodded excited and she handed him her bag and gave him instructions. He nodded eagerly and ran out of the hall.

She returned to the company of Marcus and the Ravenclaw boy and smiled casually at them. She glanced at her glass. "Ah. All gone." She retrieved a new mug of Firewhiskey and returned to them. "Amelia should be starting her speech soon," she said, after the silence had begun to stretch. Ah boy. How she hated public relations. This was why she was not in H.R.