The Staff Table
 

The school staff is seated on a dias high overlooking the Great Hall. You may approach them for conversation, but they probably deserve a peaceful meal as much as anyone else.

This is for Robyn! <3
 

Risu put a final piece of toast (covered with strawberry jam) in his mouth and chewed slowly. He would have to remind himself to stop by the kitchens at some point before term ended to compliment the House-elves on their fantastic work. Even something as mundane and ordinary as toast was prepared perfectly. The bread was nice and crunchy, but not burnt. He washed it down with some tea and sighed contentedly.

His high-backed chair creaked as he leaned back to survey the Great Hall. Risu had enjoyed a lazy and late breakfast, so the house tables were nearly empty, and only a few latecomers (or those enjoying a free first period) were around. The staff table, similarly, was unoccupied with the exception of Risu. Astronomers made up for their late nights with late mornings.

But Risu had a few things to do today. Among them was a visit to a fellow professor. He emptied his teacup and got up to leave.

Brant quickly ran into the great hall and spotted Professor Antares. He looked like he was ready to leave. "Professor Antares" Brant called out to him. Maybe he could corner him and get some information from him for his History of Magic Homework.

Risu paused in mid rise (and shine) as he heard someone call out his name. He glanced up and spotted a student hurrying towards the raised staff - and right now, breakfast - table. Gryffindor. He had a larger-than-usual badge attached to his robes, and after a moment's shuffling through the list of names in his mind, something that every educator must sooner or later acquire, Risu decided that this was the Gryffindor Quidditch team Captain Brant DeVaice.

He looked like a young man with something on his mind. Risu sat back down, gesturing to Brant to join him on the dais. If there was something to discuss, Risu would do that with his behind placed firmly on a chair, and maybe, he added with a glance at the large pots of tea and coffee in front of him, another cuppa.

When the boy had climbed the dais, Risu said, "Yes, Mr DeVaice." He smiled slightly. "Or do you insist on Captain? What can I do for you?"

Brant joined the Professor on the Dias. "I don't mind either Brant or, DeVaice, either is okay with me" Brant informed the Professor.

Looking at him Brant said. "I was wondering if you could acutally help me out with my History of Magic Homework." staring at the man Brant continued.

"We are supposed to ask a professor or staff member, of their past experiences from Hogwarts." he said waiting for an answer.

"Brant, then," Risu said, "I've never been fond of calling someone by their last name only. It seems a bit rude. But anyway." He waved a hand in a gesture that seemed to say that he needed a physical action, such as this, to stop himself from starting an unstoppable stream-of-consciousness rambling. Which was not too far from the truth.

The Gryffindor's request sounded unusual, but Risu, rescheduling his other plans for the morning in his mind, nodded in the direction of the empty chair next to him. Usually the Care of Magical Creatures professor sat there, but Risu didn't think Iliana would begrudge her Quidditch Captain the comfort of her seat for a few minutes.

"Of course, if I can help," Risu said. "Please, sit. Would you like something to drink? Our food up here isn't any different from what you students get, of course... But, what experiences of mine do you require?"

Brant took his head of house seat and said "No thank you Professor, I've already had breakfast." he said while taking out his note pad.

"Well. I don't know what type of information we should be getting so lets start with your classes and what not. or anything that sticks out to you" Brant said while taking out his quill ready to take notes.

"Very well. Then I shall have tea for the both of us," Risu said with another slight smile. He waved his hand lazily, and the large teapot lifted itself up from the table and poured some of its contents into Risu's cup. With a soft thud, it came to rest on the dark wood again. Risu, slightly proud of himself - this was one of the only household spells he could really do without difficulty - took a sip, then put the cup aside carefully.

He placed the tips of his fingers together and stared at the ceiling for a moment. This morning, the sky was a dark grey. The occasional snowflake could be seen swirling past, or perhaps it was just a forgotten dead leaf the wind had coaxed out from somewhere in the Forbidden Forest.

"Well... You are probably not aware of this, Brant - which is why I begin like this, but I only spent two years at Hogwarts. I was born in Sweden, and I went to a magical school there for a time. But we had to attend a school abroad, for at least one term, and I decided on Hogwarts." He smiled to himself, now beginning to get lost in memories. "I was quite keen on astronomy already at that time, and this school," he waved a hand around at the old walls, "was offering more in this regard than the old academy in Sweden."

He took another sip of his tea. "So when I arrived, that was really the only subject I paid any proper attention to. Some of the other teachers weren't too pleased with that, and I remember being forced to swallow this one potion or other of mine that I had managed to mess up. I had not, apparently, paid enough attention." Risu winked at Brant. "I learnt my lesson, though. Trying to walk with tentacles instead of legs was quite difficult."

Brant took notes quickly, because Professor Antares talked fast.

Brant let the Professor ramble on while taking more notes.

What a strange feeling. Risu felt oddly flattered by the attentive look on Brant's face and the way his Quill scratched over the parchment as he took notes. All of that seemed to tug on his brain, compelling him to talk more about his past.

"And I'm sure that Potions professor must have conspired with some of his..." Risu paused. "... or her, I can't quite remember, colleagues, because when I'd managed to get myself up to the Hospital Wing, the nurse said she couldn't undo the effects of the potion, and that I should ask the Charms instructor." He tapped a finger against the tea cup. "Which I then proceeded to do in my half-cephalopod form, but I was then informed that I had to administer the spell myself. And, as you can imagine, Brant, having mostly paid attention to Astronomy, I was bit, er, lacking in that subject too."

He grinned suddenly. "I am not telling you this so that you can emulate me, by the way," Risu said sternly, but his eyes were twinkling brightly. "At any rate, perhaps you agree that this was a somewhat cruel but highly effective way of my teachers to get me to take their subjects a little more seriously. After going through a number of different animals' legs, my Charms professor took pity on me and gave me a human lower body again."