A long silence settled before Jaren replied again, still sounding calm.

"You asked for a reason behind the invasion of privacy. The reason is that you set foot in Hogwarts at a time when trust between students and any non-senior staff had been broken by the events in the terms before, which is unfortunate. The previous replacement staff managed to perform several crimes right under the student's noses because this privacy of theirs was respected and left unquestioned, and if it had not been breeched, the crimes would have continued unabaited. Those...staff from the Ministry were able to imprison three of our former Professors without clear explaination to the student body as to the nature of the charge, and tortured them. One of our Professors, my former Head of House, died before she could be rescued."

There was a slight bite to his words as he said this.

"The Daily Prophet does not cover the fact that it was because a student decided to breech that privacy, that the crime was uncovered. If not, the other two professors held hostage would not have been recovered alive."

"You may say that I overreacted due to past circumstances, but after several years of similar events like the one I have described...I believe it is safer to err on the side of caution than to give a benefit of a doubt and let the student body fall prey to another attack."

"In some Muggle governments there is a...certain piece of legislation. It states that, when the country is in a state of war, or on the brink of an 'insurrection', the privacy and general rights of the citizen are to be forfited so that the government is able to take appropriate measures to resolve the crisis. That is my opinion on privacy--in a critical situation, it may have to be sacrificed in order to ensure public safety."

Jaren paused briefly to allow his words to sink in. Speaking that much seemed to have taken quite a bit out of him mentally, even though he looked alert as ever and as calm.

"You ask me for one good reason as to why you should trust me again. My answer is that you do not have to. I have never done anything to gain your trust nor do I request it," he finished quietly.

Jaren had expected no less a punishment, and displayed no surprise whatsoever at the verdict, nor the berating that came before. Good luck to Professor Fox, however, on contacting any parents or guardians of the Slytherin prefect, as the former had ceased to exist fifteen years ago and the latter had disowned him. As it stood, there was nobody in the contact slot of his school record.

"So far as this term has run, just you, Professor. I suppose I'll be meeting you in the detention hall tonight?"

Professor Fox gave Jaren a strange look. "I'm not the only new professor this term. What did I do to warrant such interest on your part?"

"It is enough for me to say that you did, unfortunately," Jaren replied shortly but keeping his voice civil.

"The honest answer is that I only have so many mirrors," Jaren replied shortly in a quiet voice. Tension was beginning to build in the small room, though Jaren fought to keep his calm facade up with good results.

Jaren nodded only once and got up, sweeping out of the Office without another moment's delay.

:: Ganymede wasn't sure Professor Fox had yet heard that she was the one who was spying on him. She cautiously walked in, her empty school bag on her shoulder. She saw that Jaren had left already. Her hopes sank a bit.

"Hello Professor", she said rather uneasily. She waited to see if he wanted her to sit down.

If he has no clue.. then I think I'll run as fast as I can to the RoR. I need to talk to Nadia. I hope Jaren is alright. I wonder why he isn't in Fox's office still? She thought as she stood there. ::