Expectations Unable To Be Met

The letter had been too vague, he thought as he glanced around the pub. But what was he supposed to do? Give away everything in a letter that the Ministry could choose to intercept? Although Keiran had gone along with with Marriage Law for fear of Azkaban (not that he regretted it, now), the had resigned the very day the law regarding the Half-breeds had been printed in the Prophet. For all he knew, the Ministry was already aware of his plans. Even if they weren't, he wouldn't put it past them to look into the letters of random people just because they felt like it. Kevin hardly seemed the type to turn around and whine to someone at the Ministry about what Keiran, Rivah and Jack were doing. Even Keiran couldn't believe they were really doing it.

After a lot of thought and one bad attempt at giving a lesson, the Hayes patriarch (for that was most certainly his position, now) had realized that he could not do what he had been so eager to offer. He couldn't stand in that potions lab and ignore the fact that his father had been killed there. There, where these kids were supposed to learn whatever Keiran felt would be useful. They had no idea why he had stopped half way through the lesson and asked that they just do some reading on whatever potions they found interesting. They probably just assumed he felt stressed; he could easily remember the concerned look on Adrienne's face as he turned and marched out of the room.

Sighing, Keiran glanced around the pub as he waited for Kevin to show. If he decided it was worth the effort, of course. Otherwise the man was wasting an evening away from home. Something told him that his time at home was going to become more and more limited as the school became more important to him, and more dangerous for the students.

A letter had arrived in the mail for Kevin earlier in the evening, and the contents inside were to say the very least, fascinating. Some lone, forgotten pub, an old acquaintance, and a plea for help. He recognized the last name written in hasty letters along the bottom, sealed and obviously vague for a simple reason that the Ministry liked to intercept messages for absolutely no reason other then to eavesdrop on the lives of the people who didn't like them. Kevin had no qualm with the Ministry, he just didn't support their ways.

He didn't know what Kieran was up to, nor did he particularly mind, especially if it was in rebellion, that'd be interesting. Otherwise, he was simply curious to see what this man wanted of Kevin. So Kevin smoothed his hair back, combing through it with his fingers as he looked at himself in his mirror. The mirror was gilded and beautiful, with ornate jewels decorating the outer edges. He smiled at the small jewels before reaching into his pocket and touching the two objects in there. A rabbit's foot on a chain, and a small acorn.

Reassured, he smoothed out the amber beads that decked his neck, and looked in the mirror one more time, before nodding to himself and turning on the spot, aparating a few blocks down from the pub he intended upon visiting. Instead of going straight to it however, Kevin stopped in another bar for a time, chatted up a woman, made sure she knew his name and saw his appearance. Said he'd go to the bathroom, and slipped out of the pub.

It was an easy alibi, she would remember what he looked like, know he was at the bar, and if anyone asked, people would have seen him talking to her. He just had to make a point of being seen there again after his meeting was done. A little bit later then he intended, Kevin strode down the street at a leisurely pace, stopping to smile and nod at passerby.

Finally he made it to the pub and he entered as though on a whim, almost walking past, before looking up at it and opening the door. Once inside he looked around for a split second, before spotting Keiran and nodding once, making his way across the room in no particular hurry.

"A strange place to meet an old acquaintance, Hayes. What do I owe this pleasure?" He asked with a slightly lop-sided grin as he eased himself into the booth and leaned back, gesturing to the waitress to come over. "A water please dear, thank you." He nodded once and grinned at her as she made her way across the room, observing her bum as she did, before turning to Keiran again, waiting for him to speak.

Keiran was starting to worry. Ten minutes past their meeting time, he was glancing around for Kevin when he finally caught sight of him. Letting out a quiet sigh of relief he turned in his chair to face the man as he approached and offered a greeting. "Sorry, Kevin," he replied, going for the more informal route even though the other man had used his last name. "I'm sure you noticed in the letter that things needed to be kept quiet. This place was pretty off the beaten path, so it seemed as good as any."

"As I said," he began after the girl walked away to get Kevin a glass of water, "I could use your help. I'm just not sure you'll be interested."

Pausing as the girl returned with the water, Keiran gave a second for that last sentence to sink in. He was constantly glancing between Kevin and his own drink with the worry that the other man might not choose to stay. That he might choose to tell the Ministry and ruin everything. Keiran didn't quite expect it from the other professor, but he knew full well that being overly cautious was not a bad idea. He chose to slowly ease Kevin into the situation rather than dropping it directly on the other man's head.

"See, the Ministry probably won't be happy with what I'm doing. I have a couple folks helping me, but I need to know that you're okay with the potential of Ministry interference. I won't let anyone else be responsible for all of this, since I started it, but Merlin knows the Ministry may try. Thing is, I don't know how long we'll need to keep this thing up, but in the fall I can't expect you to stay. I may have resigned, but I wouldn't dare assume you would have the same reaction I did. My wife- she, well... She talked me into it and now I just can't not do this. I can't explain fully until you're sure."

Keiran didn't want to get too much into the plan until he knew that Kevin was willing to take a risk. So he waited and hoped that he wouldn't have to teach another lesson in that potions lab.

The situation was getting more and more interesting. The man was a nervous wreck that was for sure. He had something on his mind, and was worried that Kevin would walk off. The air was nervous and tense at their table. Kevin was never one to get too frazzled by situations in life. Nor was he one to take a direct role in going against the Ministry, and by the sounds of things, that's what the man wanted him to do.

He spoke of helping, and the fall not being expected to stick around. However Kevin was growing more and more interested in what the man actually wanted of him. He knew he had resigned due to the issue with Half-breeds not being allowed to attend Hogwarts any longer. Ever since that Werewolf thingy or whatever. And Kevin wasn't an idiot, he knew where this was going. For all he could assume, he had taken the Halflings under his wing and was trying to train them himself.

Kevin smiled slightly at the panicked look the man wore. There was a lot going on in this man's life, and he knew the best thing to do, and that was to help the poor man out. Besides, Death Eaters had always supported half-breeds, when the Ministry decided they were unworthy.

How many times must it be until wizards realized that half-breeds and magical creatures were the same as any other wizard. If a wand chose you, you were a wizard, like it or not. Kevin picked up his water and sipped it calmly, waiting till the man finished freaking out before he spoke. Letting a silence settle for a moment, to give the illusion that he was thinking about what he had said to him.

"Well Hayes... I must say I'm flattered to be offered such a position as this. To be approached on a topic of such serious matter, I must have made quite the impression at some point or other." Kevin grinned and leaned forward, smiling still as he set his water down again. "I would be honored to help with such a noble cause as inconveniencing the Ministry of Magic." He chuckled and lifted his water to his lips again. "Now tell me, what is it you need me to do?"