Professor Maya Saylen's Cottage
 

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/l.../Maya_Hut4.jpg

The white stone hut looks like it belongs on the beach of Acapulco, seeming a tad fragile with plant stalks making up the roof. But fear not, Maya has made sure it won't collapse on you during a heavy rainfall.
When approaching the ornate door you see a sitting area to the left, also with a roof for shade against the sun – if the British weather allows for any. Feel free to take a seat here while you wait for the Professor.

When you step inside, the first thing you notice is the colorful decoration. Following the traditions of the Mexican lifestyle, Maya has placed several zarapes around the hut (which are also strewn around the floor to serve as carpets) and any other keepsakes - reminding her of family and home. The white walls are adorned with picture frames and paintings, most of which were done by her mother.

To the right, you see an open fireplace with more pictures on the mantlepiece. There is a single white rocking chair across from it that Maya highly values. Please don't sit on it – instead, you are welcome to rest behind it, on the large comfy sofa. Keep your feet off the coffe table though!

A big window to the left side of the hut lets daylight pour inside, litting the room. This is the place where Maya's desk is situated for her to start working on assignments and the curriculum. There's a tall bookshelf next to it where all her favorite litterature is stored aswell as books on various Creatures, Veterinary Medicin and Magizoology.


Please remember to knock before entering. If any lack of respect is shown, Maya will not hesitate to take points.
Now, when you are called inside, please take off your shoes as Maya likes to walk around barefoot and wants to keep her home clean. Thankyou.


The Professor is in.


Do not constipate Maya's office with chatter.

Ever since the feast, which was not too long ago, Treyen had the same question in his head.

Well, it wasn't the only question in his head, he always questioned things. Like, for example, was this the right place where he'll find the new Professor? It looked like a guest house for someone staying with Mr. Masterson, if that someone was on a holiday and liked the beach.

The boy was slightly terrified to even knock at the door, if the thing fell on top of him then he'll blame Mr. Masterson for his poor construction skills.

Nevertheless...

...knock, knock, knock.

Maya had just put the finishing touches to her cottage, placing the book on her shelf, when she heard knocking on her door.
Freezing for a moment, her bare feet slowly carried her towards the window to peek outside, through the curtain. Seeing it was a young student, she reached for the door and opened it, finding herself peering down at a boy.

"Hello...young man. May I help you?" Hmmm.

Oh my Gilderoy!

Er, the new Professor...looked...like someone you don't mess with. Like Kazimeriz. Like Bunbury.

Treyen hesitated a bit. Perhaps this woman already killed Phineas. Poor Phineas, he was soooo young and with a whole life of chasing shiny things ahead of him! But he decided to stay strong. For Phineas. "My name's Treyen Lockhart, and you must be the new Care of Magical Creatures Professor, am I correct?" he asked, with a nod and a very firm voice. As if he knew what he was doing.

"I had a couple questions..." he noticed the barefoot woman and tilted his head to one side, "...if you're the Professor" yes, because if she was the cleaning lady muggles had, then she knew nothing of Phineas, right?

This boy...looked nervous. Ah, she would keep her eyes on this one, who knew what sort of mischief he would run around with at school.
One thing was for sure, the boy showed a hint of alertness. "Yes, you are correct...Mister Treyen Lockhart." Always repeat the names after being introduced - it made it easier to learn names. And she needed to learn the names of potential troublemakers.

A couple of questions? "Yes?" Hopefully...he would ask them this year. Some students here did like to stall.

It had taken her a while to skip over to the new professors uh....hut thingy. Not just because the place looked completely unfamiliar to her which caused her to pass the place a few times. Nope, she had got distracted by the pumpkin patch. Whyyy did they have a pumpkin patch? Why pumpkins? Why not strawberries. Lots of questions she had for her head of house, but first thing first. She needed to speak with the new creatures professor.

Arya had missed her pets that she wasn't able to take home. Where they still here or did this new person replace them? She couldn't sleep without knowing. Well she could, but out of habit she would wake up in the morning and skip down the grounds. What a disappointment it would be for them not to be there.

Skipping over to the professor's place, she noticed a woman and her soon to be skating buddy Treyen. Not one to intrude, the small puff hung back a bit while they spoke, letting her eyes drift over to a new enclosure. Whaaat was in there?

He was usually a boy with words. Plenty of words. Right now he was speechless.

Or he just didn't want to die.

Aha! He was correct, then why was she barefoot? Oh, noes...this one was a crazy one. Another crazy one.

It was his time to talk, correct? Treyen cleared his throat and breathed in and out. Maybe she was already cooking poor Phineas. The little guy never saw it coming. "Well, you see, our previous Professor..." he started to say, "...she gave us an assignment..." yes, a pause, for dramatic effect, "...as an assignment we were supposed to take care of a creature, you see, and I was only wondering what ever happened to the creatures that used to be in our care..." if this new one ate them or not, "...if they were sent to a nice farm and all" Treyen did, however, smile.

It never hurt to be slightly cute, did it?

While she waited for Treyen to ask his questions, Maya noticed another student approach the cottage and wondered how many questions she had. Inquisitive minds.

"Hello there." She nodded at the young girl. "I'll be with you in a moment." Her eyes rested on the student for a moment...figuring her out.

Allright, but now it seemed Treyen was ready to speak.
Professor, assignment, creatures...gone.

Oh...that's what he wanted to know. "Sent to a farm?" A farm? What farm? "I have no information of them being sent to a farm." She said seriously, watching the contractions of the boys facial muscles. A smile. Lively creatures. "And you didn't really ask me a question, did you?" That was more like...something else. "Though I understand what you are trying to ask. The creatures are still with us." Nod nod.

But she wondered if she trusted the hyperactive kids to get near them.

Treyen shrugged, "But I don't know what the Professor was going to with them...I thought she'd send them to some sort of facility" yeah, that, like a farm, that was a facility for animals.

Mmmhmmm. The boy had a feeling he was going to be eaten next.

And then...

...oh, that was mean. True, but mean.

"Thanks for the observation, Professor" he said, and not in a nice tone, "Perhaps it wasn't a question, but a concern" he nodded, the smile...GONE.

But then came the smirk. "I do have one real question, Professor" Professor, yeah, because he didn't know the name, silly him, "A real one this time" perhaps it was better not to push it, "Are we allowed to visit?" haha, see? A REAL question!

He was still scared, and maybe not too smart...maybe.

Why would the previous Professor send the animals to a farm? They had everything they needed to take care of them here. Unless... no, better not think or SAY it out loud.


Ah, was that some cheek she sensed coming from the boy? Her eyes narrowed slightly, but didn't react any further to it. "I'm glad you know the difference." Maybe next time, he would say so first instead of making her wait for a question.

And then he was smirking. Why.... Eyeing.
A real question... Celebration time. "Yes. You are allowed to visit them." Her head dropped a little to look at him better. "But...you better treat them with care. If you don't..." Pause. "I will know. And there's nowhere to hide in this School." Well, there probably was. But... I know who you are, Treyen Lockhart. Enough with the creepyness. Yes?

"What creature is it that you have been taking care of?" Good thing to know.

"Hellooo." She drawled cheerfully, turning her attention to the woman. Wait a moment, that was something she could do. Cause her mind was on other things. Like the new wooden fenced in area that she couldn't see over from where she was standing. Staaare.

Stupid. Stupid. He was stupid.

Why did he have to make a reply for that observation thing? He was stupid.

Or brave, like Gilderoy.

Yes, that was it. He was brave like Gilderoy.

There was a big smile when she mentioned he could visit, but the smile slowly faded...what was she implying? He took great care of Phineas! He didn't want anything to happen to him, did he? That's why he'd gotten here in the first place! "I always took great care of Phineas, I wouldn't do anything to hurt him!" he sort of exclaimed, slightly defensive, but just sliiiightly, no one could notice that. ;)

Er, yeah. He didn't like that. Nowhere to hide.

Treyen straightened himself, "A Niffler, named Phineas" he said, with a firm nod.

And then he turned when he recognized the face.

Haha. He was saved, he couldn't be killed if there were witnesses. And there was Arya. Perfect!

Treyen waved a bit, not wanting to say a single word.

Hm.
That girl looked sneaky. What was she looking at?

Maya's eyes scanned the area where the girl had been staring at... Hmmm...

Yeah, she'd better distract her soon. Who knows what she is up to.

The boy looked confused. Then happy. Then not happy.
So many emotions seemed to overcome the young man in only a few short seconds. Interesting.

Oh, loud noise. Maya grimaced a little -- she did not approve of whining or high pitched...whining. The Professor took a deep breath, "I can see that." He didn't know where... Phineas? - was, so yeah, he didn't take good care of him, did he?

A Niffler? Squinty eyes.
"What is it that you do, with Phineas the Niffler?" Did the young man go around using the creature as his own treasure detector? End of squinty eyes.

Well... If there were lots of 'lost' announcements, at the Lost&Found, regarding shiny things, she knew who to ask.

Yes, she better see that.

He wasn't the one to hurt animals, you know, he cared for them as long as they weren't animals who were human before, got it? Like, human transfiguration, yeah, that Treyen didn't particularly approved.

The boy resisted the urge to laugh at 'Phineas, the Niffler', it sounded funny for some strange reason, "I fed him, and played with him, and wrote entries in a journal with every visit, I also made sure he always had something to drink" he took care of him, didn't she understand what took care of an animal meant?

He tilted his head to one side, "We weren't allowed to take our creatures outside of the Nursery..." that's why he didn't take Phineas with him, see? "...so I got him a pair of keys and a sickle to keep him entertained" now he was being himself again, talking and talking and giving details.

So maybe crazy woman wasn't as scary as he thought.

Emmaleigh saw a cottage near the pen with all of the farm animals. "maybe thats where the person in charge of the animals lives." she thought, so she made the journey over to the cottage. Once she arrived, she noticed two older students were already there, so she waited quietly behind them.

Maya listened as the boy gave details on his 'took care'-ing events. She actually felt approvingly of what Treyen was telling her. "I understand." For second there, she almost told him so. But best not give them any fuel for their mischief.

Oh, that was good. "Your previous Professor was correct in deciding that." Yes she or he was. She'd been looking quite serious during this conversation, until he mentioned the keys and sickle - a soft chuckle escaped her. "Those are good things for a Niffler to play with." There...a compliment. Almost. It would have to do until the boy proved himself worthy of something more. "How old is Phineas? And what does he like to eat and drink?" Quiztime!

Uh oh. Another student!
Shifting her eyes from Treyen to the newcomer, Maya kept vigilance.
"Good day." Another nod to the girl, "Please have a seat if you wish. I will be with you shortly."

Squint.
Vigilance.....yes.

Emmaleigh nodded at the Professor, well, at least she thought she was the professor. She took a seat, and waited patiently for her turn.

Mmhmm. Mmhmm.

Yes, perhaps Professor Lawson knew what she was doing. Er, no, Professor Lawson knew what she was doing.

Treyen nodded. No smile. Just a nod.

But then the smile came. A big one. He knew the keys and the sickle had been the best ideas he'd ever had! He was no stupid boy, he was a smart one. But, of course, if Phineas ever complained then he knew he wasn't doing a good job.

Now she was the one asking questions.

Tsk. Tsk. This was no test. "Well, I don't know for sure how old he was when he was given to us, he was a newborn...so perhaps a month or so old" he started to explain, leaving no question that he had nothing to do with the fact that Professor Lawson didn't tell them how old the creatures were, "So, he should be about a year now" at least he knew that.

Treyen had to think hard, Phineas never gave him much trouble when it came to eating, "He liked milk at the beginning, for some odd reason" he said, tilting his head to one side, "Then he switched to water" then his head tilted to the other side, "When it came to food..." eh, Treyen forgot, no, wait, he remembered! "...he had special food in the Nursery, I never asked what it was, though...and some biscuits and treats, you know, like the ones for dogs" he nodded, and she probably didn't hear what he said in his low voice back there.

But he was rather annoyed at the questions. The Niffler was not dead. "Would you like to see the journal as well?" he asked, apparently annoyed.

Ah, the boy's facial muscles contracted again. Another smile.

Maya kept her scrutinizing eyes on Treyen as he calculated the probable year of the Niffler. She was not impressed though that he didn't know exactly how old the creature was. These things, people need to know. But allright, about a year or so then. "Mhm." Not impressed.

Errrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. Milk, for some odd reason?? Maya actually rubbed her face with a hand. Ay.
Special food? Yes, but what WAS this special food? Bisquits and treats did not count as food. "I suggest that if you wish to keep Mister Phineas, that you find out what sort of food he eats." That...wasn't a suggestion. Find out what food it is or find out how it feels to be Niffler-less.

The journal? No, she didn't have time for unreadable hand writing today. She held up a hand, "No, I don't need to see it. I trust you recorded your findings that Phineas ate...canine food." Ay ay ay.

But she couldn't let this go. "Also, I suggest you go and 'figure out' why the Niffler drank milk in the beginning." Sigh. "Was there something else you wanted to...concern-ask before I send you out to solve the milk-mystery?" Hmmm?

Dianna was walking down the school grounds when she decided to look at the small cottage where the Care of Magical Creatures Professor stayed.

She heard that there was a new professor and even though CoMC wasn't her best subjects, she was curious on how she was like.

All she wanted was to say how she can't wait for the classes to start..And nothing else. She went over and waited behind some other students and while doing so, can't help but stare at the cottage. She haven't seen much of these kinds before and was awed by the uniqueness of it.

WHAT?!

If he wants to keep him?! She was taking him away?!

Yes, Treyen didn't like this woman. He shouldn't have said anything in the first place.

As glad as he was that he'd found something to research about, he didn't like the feeling that Phineas will be left without a Lockhart if he failed. Haha. What was he thinking about? Lockharts didn't fail. "Okay, Professor, I will" he nodded, and was all military-like.

But...but...canine food. Phineas liked that. What was he supposed to do? Treyen didn't made a comment, or he will for sure lose Phineas if he did.

O_o

Why he drank the milk? Eh, was that going to be ALL, or did Treyen need to find a piece of parchment and write down all the things he had to find out? "Yes, Professor..." he almost sighed, "...I mean, no there's nothing else I need to ask, and yes that I will find out" just in case she decided not to understand him.

While Treyen spoke, Maya couldn't help notice another student arriving. This one looked...curious. And why was she staring at the cottage so much? She'd better not do anything to it -- Merlin knows how much kids like to doodle on things.

"Good day." Serious nod. "I will be with you in a...moment." Like a very long moment.

Oh dear.
More students. And this one...seemed to be carrying something. Maya straightened up a bit more, her eyes going all alert at the sight.

That stuff better not be for the animals, or so help that girl, Maya would strip her of points so fast she wouldn't even have time to say 'bäääääääää'.

"Hello there. There...seems to be a waiting line." Like, obviously. "Have a seat while you wait."


Did the words struck a chord with this boy? He was awfully quiet.
"Good." There we go, Maya was waiting for that discipline to show itself. Glad he agreed.

Hm? She thought there was another 'sort of'-question heading her way, but the boy seemed to change his mind quickly. Stare. "Well? Do you need time to write the instructions down or do you think you will remember to find out why the creature drank milk?" Because he was just standing there. "You'll find that the library has..." okay, she might not agree fully with this, but she had to say it, "...many good books on magical creatures." He did know where the library was, right?


Now, where was that girl...
"You there." Nod, "What can I...help you with?" Stop staring, childe. It's alarming.

Arya couldn't stop staring at the fence. She may have even drifted closer to it while waiting for the woman to finish speaking to Treyen, who's wave she had missed because of all her staring. What was behind it? More creatures? She had heard a few noises that sounded too familiar.

Was that.....sheep? Naaah. There were no muggle animals on the castle. Unless. Hmm.

Her eyes drifted rather reluctantly back to the woman when she spoke loud enough for her to hear. Skipping over to the woman, she gave her a welcoming smile, and a little wave to Treyen. "Hello, professor. My name is Arya Lovegoods. Third year Hufflepuff."

Questions. She had them, but the one she had come to ask was moved to a back burner when her attention had been diverted. "I was wondering what's behind that fence." She pointed at the fence she had been staring at. The fence was too far away for her to get a good glimpse of anything, but this woman would know right?

This was...the worst idea he'd ever had.

Coming here.

To this hut.

Perhaps he'll convince Mr. Masterson of bringing down the hut.

Treyen shook his head. No, he didn't neeeeeed to write down anything, he had a perfectly good memory. At the moment, anyway. "No, thank you, Professor" that's sooo not what he wanted to say, "I will, I will" he practically lived in the Library, he knew where to find stuff.

Except he'd never researched anything for the Niffler.

At least he'd get to go and do some research! Win!

"Thank you for your time, I will see you at class" he smiled, haha, if he ever went to class. Smirk.

And then he was off....in a mission. He wanted to stay, though, make sure the woman didn't do anything to Arya, but there were other people around, including glitter!girl, who he was not speaking to yet. He still had glitter in his hair.