Truth, Changes, Everything

Even if Irina Aldon was the good student, she isn't one of those who actually enjoys in studying or researching.
But then again, sometimes you need to do whatever you can to help yourself. Literally.

She was sure that she will die soon.
She felt terrible pain, worse than anything she had ever felt before.
Maybe werewolf bit her. Maybe something else.
She wasn't sure, but the blonde was sure she isn't okay. Something was wrong in her blood and she was able to feel that.

All over her room, Irina could see papers and pictures.
That was everything she was able to find about magical creatures and people who can help her.
The list was almost endless but she didn't have time to call them all.
Some of them are in others countries, for some of them she wasn't even sure where they are now.

Her only hope was one man, Keiran.
Irina couldn't tell he will be able to help her, or if he will even want to try, but she saw something in old newspapers about students who are banned from Hogwarts because they are connected with magical creatures going to one city. And, that was the city where this man lived, at least that is what she found out.
It's not like it was difficult to find some information about him because he is now headmaster of Hogwarts.

That is why Irina was now standing in front of the big castle.
It wasn't easy to come here at all and the worst part is that she wasn't even sure that he will want to see her but she needed to try. As she said before, he was her only hope for now.

They let her come in the castle but she wasn't able to see Keiran before he approves so she was waiting in big hallway praying to God that he will want to see her.

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Keiran wasn't sure which staff member had let the woman in. Maybe Baldric or Ducky or something. It didn't matter. He just knew that someone was looking for him, and he felt rather obligated to check in and see what was the matter. As ever, Keiran enjoyed being helpful, and if someone was asking for his help specifically, he wasn't going to ignore them.

So he left the children with Livia, grateful that neither she or Baldric had taken his and Millie's divorce as badly as he had truly expected them to. So he stepped out of his living quarters, shutting the door behind him, and walked down to greet whoever it was.

A blonde woman he didn't recognize was standing there as he made it into the entryway, and although a confused expression lingered on his face for a moment, he replaced it with a tactful smile as he approached. Keiran lifted his hand from his pocket, offering it to her.

"Hello. Keiran Hayes," he introduced himself, just in case she hadn't seen his picture in the Prophet or something. Not that he'd been in recently; he'd just been in there more than he had ever wanted to be. Publicity wasn't something he yearned for. "I heard you wanted to speak with me. We can head up to my office, if you'd like."

Irina was waiting for a couple of minutes before man, obviously, Keiran came.
He seemed confused but only a few seconds and then he smiled and introduced himself.
Irina accepted his hand and gently squeezed his hand, but even that movement was really hard for her to do.
She was really sick, that is the only thing she knows with no doubt.

"My name is Irina Aldon. Thank you. Because I know I didn't send the letter or something and I just came here but I really didn't know what else to do" she said with tears already glistening in her eyes.
Irina isn't that kind of girl who will cry because of everything, but now, she was scared, helpless and in pain.

"That would be great, thank you." she said and waited for him to lead to his office.

Taken aback, Keiran frowned when it looked like the woman - Irina - was about to start crying. He had absolutely no idea what he could have done in order to cause it, and assuming it wasn't because of him, the potential that some stranger had sought him out for something so serious truly shocked him.

Although he blinked and the frown remained on his face, he tried not to show how shocked he felt. Instead, he nodded a little and turned back to the staircase to show her the way up.

It wasn't long before he felt himself unable to keep quiet anymore.

"All due respect, lass, but... Who sent you my way? I'm afraid I don't recognize your name. It seems like you're quite upset about something, though I can't say I expected anyone to come by."

Climbing upstairs was like walking through the fire, so much pain and burning skin because of bite, but Irina gave her best not to scream. This is school, which means that a lot of students are here and she doesn't want to scare the hell of them.

"I... Can we please talk when we get into your office or at least when these stairs are gone, for now just walking it's kind of big problem for me" she said honestly and when climbing finally stop she looked at him.

"I will just say it now so we are clear. if you can't help me there is no need to bother you in your office" she looked at him before taking a deep breath.
"I'm bitten. By werewolf. Two days ago. And while researching I found out about student banned from Hogwarts because they are magical creatures and something connected with your city. I don't really need time to explain because my wound doesn't stop bleeding. So please, if there is any chance you can help me, please do it, I would do whatever you want, I swear. But I think I will die if no one helps me." Irina finished and looked at him waiting for his final decision.

"I'm sorry," he told her quickly. "I would have simply side-along apparated you to my office if I had known."

Of course, he was appalled at her story. The fact that she could say all of it so plainly and without preamble was impressive, he supposed, but also strange. Unfortunately, her story reminded him of Melissa for a moment and he had to actively push that away. What was more interesting, actually, was the fact that she had somehow traced those students back to him. Those involved had been trustworthy, he felt. So that would be something he had to look into, it seemed. It was definitely a good thing to be aware of.

Still, he couldn't hide the shock on his face. It wasn't something that he wanted people to know about, of course. If anyone at the Ministry had a reason to go after him, they could certainly use that against him with a claim of treason or something similar.

"Please," he requested firmly, "come inside."

Only once she had done so did he agree to talk. Closing the door behind him, Keiran leaned back against his desk and folded his arms over his chest. "I can help you. On the promise that you will keep whatever you know about me and those kids to yourself. Is that understood? Otherwise you can leave right now."

While looking at Keiran, Irina decided he was worth to be trusted. He seems polite, nice, and more than anything, willing to help to the total stranger.
She just smiled and shook her head.
"It's okay, I came here, I can endure few more stairs. Don't worry" she tried to say it seriously, she has to be brave and strong now, there is no time for suffering just yet.

She doesn't have time for long talk because she was dying, she is aware of that. That is why she said everything almost in one breath.
He looked shocked. Why? Did she say something wrong? Maybe she messed up everything and now he won't help her, she will be on her own.
With that fear, she came into his office and in the same moment sat on the floor. It wasn't politely, he may think she doesn't have manners at all but she just wasn't able to stand anymore. And chair looked miles away from her.

"Merlin, I won't tell anything, mister Hayes. I just need help, I'm dying. I don't know anything that can hurt you and even if I do, I would never tell to anyone, because I care about other people. I'm here only because I know I don't have much time, and I think I'm too young to die, I just want to live. Please, help me, I swear I will keep quiet and stay away from your life once I'm good. You don't need to see me ever again" she said honestly, looking at him, even if she only wanted to cry.

[ooc: Maybe we can say that in helping her, Keiran also gave her a position as professor & HoH so she could work and he could help her while they're both at Hogwarts.]


Keiran had never had someone blatantly inform him that their life was on his shoulders. True, he had taken that sort of trouble on before. He had done terrible things, saved people as much as he could. But this was truly worrying. So he needed to truly think this over before he made any assumptions or promises.

"Look," he said with a sigh, "I'm sure it isn't fun to relive it, but... What exactly did the healer tell you? I need to know if I'm meant to help."

He was, of course, assuming that she had been told she was under the weather and was taking things a step too far. That didn't explain her desire to seek him out, though. Keiran couldn't think of anyone at St. Mungo's that would point to him -- even Khaat. He had sought out her help in the past, but she had never needed anything from him, so he just tried to listen to Irina despite the way his mind was spinning.

[That is great idea, on that way I have reason why Irina became professor]

She looked at him with shock written all over her face.
"Healer? You are saying I was supposed to just go to the hospital? Who knows what they would do to me and even worse" she stopped speaking for a moment because pain was even bigger.
"Look, someone bit me, but that person probably feel really bad for that. I don't want him or her to get in trouble, so I didn't go to the hospital" she looked at him seriously, and hoped that he would understand that she wouldn't change her mind about this. That werewolf could be just the innocent person who didn't know what he is doing, or couldn't stop himself.

"So please, if you can help me. I don't have more options. You are my only hope. I promise I won't tell anything about you to anyone, I won't even tell that you are the one who helped me, just do something" last words she said almost screaming and tears appeared on her face once again.

Keiran frowned sharply at her response. So she was convinced she was dying but hadn't seen a healer and had yet to tell him what in the hell was wrong. Brilliantly unhelpful, that. But whatever. He had dealt with stranger things in the past, that was for sure. So he kept his expression bland and tried to absorb anything she managed to tell him - however vague it was.

But he couldn't really blame her for being unsure how to talk about something like this. He'd nearly died. Twice. And almost lost his leg in the process.

Perhaps he needed to spend more time with boring people.

One thing he did not know what to do with was her claim that he was the only one that could help her. Had she never heard of werewolves before? He knew that wasn't possible. She had to have come out of a magical school - if not this very one - in order to know about this place. So it seemed like he needed to step back and look at this differently.

"Okay, calm down," he told her, holding his hand out, palm towards her. It was meant to be a soothing gesture, but he didn't know if it would work. "I didn't realize it was something beyond a usual health issue. Alright. So.. a werewolf?" He asked, lifting his eyebrows pointedly. "Why didn't you seek out someone who's like you, as opposed to a professor with a potential bank of knowledge on the subject? I don't even teach Defense Against the Dark Arts or Care of Magical Creatures. Granted, werewolves do have a bit to do with Transfiguration don't they?"

Considering that, he sighed and let his shoulders relax. "Fair enough. What is it that you want to know?"