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Professor Antares returns to begin his second year as a teacher at Hogwarts, and he has used the term break productively. His office, near the top of the Astronomy Tower, still offers the same spectacular view across the grounds, but the professor has applied himself as an interior designer to make the inside look a little more acceptable as well.
The walls are lined with bookcases - big, solid shelves made out of sturdy wood that extent to the high ceiling (where only a ladder or a summoning charm can retrieve what is stored on them). These have replaced the huge cardboard boxes which cluttered up the professor's office last term. Of course, the haphazard stacks of books and journals remain, but the chaos has been confined to the shelves, leaving the floor free.
On the left side of the door, two extra chairs have been set up - in case, perhaps, a student needs moral support when being summoned to see the professor. To the other side, a small but practical stove serves as a life-saving artefact in winter and a space-freeing filing surface in summer. A hot cup of tea is always available.
Most of the rest of the space in the room is taken up by a large desk. Not too much of the dark wood is visible - Professor Antares practices the first-available-surface method of filing, as evidenced by his stove and shelves, and has spread out journal articles, data sheets, and correspondence all over his desk. One corner, however, remains free of clutter. There, in another frame, rests a photograph of two smiling people, their arms wrapped around each other. Risu's parents.
The inscription on the frame reads Karin and Per Laelaps-Antares, Luleå, Sweden.
Rubiey was intrigued by Astronomy, looking at the stars and everything. Of course, there was more to it; that was why she standing here, outside Professor Antares' office. She knocked twice, then stood back to hear if she could enter or not.
Rubiey was intrigued by Astronomy, looking at the stars and everything. Of course, there was more to it; that was why she standing here, outside Professor Antares' office. She knocked twice, then stood back to hear if she could enter or not.
Risu was in a terrific mood. Cheerful to be back at Hogwarts. Excited about the new term and the foreign visitors (he would have liked his old Swedish school to compete, of course), and... Well. Thinking about the evening at the Leaky Cauldron a few days ago. On top of else that had happened in Diagon Alley, his repaired telescopes had arrived.
He was taking a break from reassembling them to stand at the open window and make use of the incredible view over the grounds when there was a knock on the door. "Come in!" he called out loudly. Then he remembered about he open window. "Er... careful, though! There's quite a draught in here."
Risu was in a terrific mood. Cheerful to be back at Hogwarts. Excited about the new term and the foreign visitors (he would have liked his old Swedish school to compete, of course), and... Well. Thinking about the evening at the Leaky Cauldron a few days ago. On top of else that had happened in Diagon Alley, his repaired telescopes had arrived.
He was taking a break from reassembling them to stand at the open window and make use of the incredible view over the grounds when there was a knock on the door. "Come in!" he called out loudly. Then he remembered about he open window. "Er... careful, though! There's quite a draught in here."
Rubiey entered into the office, and was immediately gobsmacked by the amazing view from the window. It was even better than the Gryffindor tower's view. "Err... Hello, Professor Antares. I'm Rubiey O'Rielly, First year Gryffindor. I just wanted to come by and introduce myself, and express how excited I am about starting Astronomy. I've read Hilary Stargazer's Guide to the Galaxy cover to cover, and I must say, I'm intrigued to learn more about Astronomy. It really was a fascinating read." She said, realising she sounded like a suck-up, but it was true; the stars were always beautiful, and she was dying to know more.
Rubiey entered into the office, and was immediately gobsmacked by the amazing view from the window. It was even better than the Gryffindor tower's view. "Err... Hello, Professor Antares. I'm Rubiey O'Rielly, First year Gryffindor. I just wanted to come by and introduce myself, and express how excited I am about starting Astronomy. I've read Hilary Stargazer's Guide to the Galaxy cover to cover, and I must say, I'm intrigued to learn more about Astronomy. It really was a fascinating read." She said, realising she sounded like a suck-up, but it was true; the stars were always beautiful, and she was dying to know more.
The door opened, and a young student walked in. Risu smiled widely as she closed it behind her and introduced herself. "Hello there!" he said, giving the window a slight push to close it halfway - the last thing he needed was for a first-year to accidentally fall out even if the view on the way down would be rather incredible.
"Welcome to the Astronomy Tower then, Miss O'Rielly. And, of course, to Hogwarts." Risu indicated the chair in front of his desk. "Have a seat, please. I can offer, er, let's see..." He still had not unpacked completely, but he saw his ceramic teapot was on top of the stove next to the door. "Tea?" He shrugged.
"I am certainly very glad to see your enthusiasm. It is not necessary to know the textbook by heart, which, I take it, is more a reference work than anything else. I will endeavour to explain more fully during the lessons." Risu tapped the glass window lightly. "Do you have any specific questions?"
The door opened, and a young student walked in. Risu smiled widely as she closed it behind her and introduced herself. "Hello there!" he said, giving the window a slight push to close it halfway - the last thing he needed was for a first-year to accidentally fall out even if the view on the way down would be rather incredible.
"Welcome to the Astronomy Tower then, Miss O'Rielly. And, of course, to Hogwarts." Risu indicated the chair in front of his desk. "Have a seat, please. I can offer, er, let's see..." He still had not unpacked completely, but he saw his ceramic teapot was on top of the stove next to the door. "Tea?" He shrugged.
"I am certainly very glad to see your enthusiasm. It is not necessary to know the textbook by heart, which, I take it, is more a reference work than anything else. I will endeavour to explain more fully during the lessons." Risu tapped the glass window lightly. "Do you have any specific questions?"
Rubiey took a seat, and smiled at the Professor. "Tea would be great, sir." She blushed slightly; she didn't know the whole of the book of by heart... not yet, anyways. "Well, yes, I do have one, Professor. What exactly will we be studying? And what types of homework is given out?" Ah, that was two. She blushed again.
Rubiey took a seat, and smiled at the Professor. "Tea would be great, sir." She blushed slightly; she didn't know the whole of the book of by heart... not yet, anyways. "Well, yes, I do have one, Professor. What exactly will we be studying? And what types of homework is given out?" Ah, that was two. She blushed again.
"Tea is coming right up. Er... Please make sure to stay away from the window, I'm not insured against deadly plunges." Risu smiled to show he was joking - a little bit of dark humour had helped him and his fellow researches through long and often fruitless nights in South Africa, but a young student, fresh to Hogwarts (and magic) might not be quite as appreciative of it.
He walked over to the stove and fished his wand out of his pocket. While he busied himself with the teapot - the only choice of tea he had was black - he said over his shoulder, "I haven't yet finalised my syllabus for this term, I'm afraid. I have, er, several themes in mind, but I will have to move some ideas to later lessons. Or, perhaps, your next year here."
The teapot whistled. Risu poured some tea, placed the cup on a saucer, and returned to his desk. "Here. Careful, it's hot." He put the cup down on his desk gently - there was just enough room for it at the edge. Everything else was full of papers and magazines. "As far as homework goes, this varies from lesson to lesson, but it will usually be an essay of varying length." He smiled briefly. "One or two rolls of parchment. Topics concentrate on the subject matter taught during the lessons."
"Tea is coming right up. Er... Please make sure to stay away from the window, I'm not insured against deadly plunges." Risu smiled to show he was joking - a little bit of dark humour had helped him and his fellow researches through long and often fruitless nights in South Africa, but a young student, fresh to Hogwarts (and magic) might not be quite as appreciative of it.
He walked over to the stove and fished his wand out of his pocket. While he busied himself with the teapot - the only choice of tea he had was black - he said over his shoulder, "I haven't yet finalised my syllabus for this term, I'm afraid. I have, er, several themes in mind, but I will have to move some ideas to later lessons. Or, perhaps, your next year here."
The teapot whistled. Risu poured some tea, placed the cup on a saucer, and returned to his desk. "Here. Careful, it's hot." He put the cup down on his desk gently - there was just enough room for it at the edge. Everything else was full of papers and magazines. "As far as homework goes, this varies from lesson to lesson, but it will usually be an essay of varying length." He smiled briefly. "One or two rolls of parchment. Topics concentrate on the subject matter taught during the lessons."
Rubiey sipped the tea. It was delicious. She listened intently to what he was saying. The homework sounded fine; she had worried slightly about that. When he finished speaking, she realised she had also finished her tea. "Sounds good, Professor." She stood up. "Well, I better be going. Thank you for your time, and the tea. I look forward to your lessons. See you soon." And with a slight wave, and a swift smile, she turned to leave.
Rubiey sipped the tea. It was delicious. She listened intently to what he was saying. The homework sounded fine; she had worried slightly about that. When he finished speaking, she realised she had also finished her tea. "Sounds good, Professor." She stood up. "Well, I better be going. Thank you for your time, and the tea. I look forward to your lessons. See you soon." And with a slight wave, and a swift smile, she turned to leave.
"I'm glad you approve," Risu said with a slight smile. He tapped away on his desk in an aimless rhythm until the girl was done with her tea.
Then she got up to leave - a short and sweet visit, it seemed. "Thank you for dropping by," he said. "I look forward to seeing you in my lessons." He stood up and walked back to the window as the office door clicked shut behind him.
Sapphinelle happily walked up to the office and knocked on the door.
Astronomy really amazed her. Stars, moons, planets- breathtaking.
She just adored seeing the beautiful planets in orbit, it always struck something inside of her.
Sapphinelle happily walked up to the office and knocked on the door.
Astronomy really amazed her. Stars, moons, planets- breathtaking.
She just adored seeing the beautiful planets in orbit, it always struck something inside of her.
Just a few minutes after the young Gryffindor had left, there was another knock on the door. Risu had started working on one of the telescopes again. There was no way he would get bored of the view onto the grounds - the students roaming them were little dots from this height, and blissfully inaudible - but he needed to finish assembling the telescopes. The lens-crafter had done a terrific job, but the hinges were a little squeaky.
"Come in, please!" Risu called out, putting an oily rag aside.
Just a few minutes after the young Gryffindor had left, there was another knock on the door. Risu had started working on one of the telescopes again. There was no way he would get bored of the view onto the grounds - the students roaming them were little dots from this height, and blissfully inaudible - but he needed to finish assembling the telescopes. The lens-crafter had done a terrific job, but the hinges were a little squeaky.
"Come in, please!" Risu called out, putting an oily rag aside.
Anais heard a voice call for her to come in, so she entered in a bubbly state. Hopefully this Professor was nice, the Potions professor and the COMC Professor didn't take quite a liking to her. Tough crowddddd. She would always love Professor Carlton, though!
She saw a kind-looking man fixing a telescope. She was very handy, but she was a first year, so he probably wouldn't bother to even address the problem to her
"Professor Antares?" she called out in her french accent.
Anais heard a voice call for her to come in, so she entered in a bubbly state. Hopefully this Professor was nice, the Potions professor and the COMC Professor didn't take quite a liking to her. Tough crowddddd. She would always love Professor Carlton, though!
She saw a kind-looking man fixing a telescope. She was very handy, but she was a first year, so he probably wouldn't bother to even address the problem to her
"Professor Antares?" she called out in her french accent.
At the sound of the door creaking open, Risu turned around. A small girl wearing Hufflepuff school robes was standing in the entrance. She looked a little undecided. Risu smiled warmly. "That is me. Come in, please." He gestured towards his desk, noticing as he did so that there was a large oily stain on his hand. "Have a seat. I have tea, if you'd care for a cup," he added.
He wiped his hand on his robes - which only succeeded in spreading the stain out more and messing up the robes. The young student had an accent to her English, one that Risu could not quite place, though. He was familiar with a number of foreign inflections, a not unpleasant side effect of collaborating with an international, even global team of research scientists.
"What can I do for you, Miss..." he trailed off. "What is your name?"
At the sound of the door creaking open, Risu turned around. A small girl wearing Hufflepuff school robes was standing in the entrance. She looked a little undecided. Risu smiled warmly. "That is me. Come in, please." He gestured towards his desk, noticing as he did so that there was a large oily stain on his hand. "Have a seat. I have tea, if you'd care for a cup," he added.
He wiped his hand on his robes - which only succeeded in spreading the stain out more and messing up the robes. The young student had an accent to her English, one that Risu could not quite place, though. He was familiar with a number of foreign inflections, a not unpleasant side effect of collaborating with an international, even global team of research scientists.
"What can I do for you, Miss..." he trailed off. "What is your name?"
She nodded politely to him and proceeded to this desk and took a seat. So, this WAS Professor Antares. Whewwww. She noticed the oily stained hand but didn't mention it, she knew he was trying to fix the telescope. It reminded her of home, of the muggle world. Fixing things by hand. She instantly concurred that it was broken beyond magical repair, and that maybe some old-fashioned muggle fixing could make it work.
"Oh, sorry! I'm Sapphinelle Della. Bonjour!" she said happily and guessed that he was trying to find out where she was from. She gave him that hint to make it a lot easier, hah. "Tea? I'd love some, thank you so much." she said with a smile. She loved the teachers here already! But some of them were SUPERRR strict, eeep!
"I'm looking forward to Astronomy. I love the stars and planets. We studied them intently in Muggle school." she said with a nod, worrying if she was acting too stuck-up or something.
OOC: Sorry for the delay. Just got off a transatlantic flight.
Encyclopaedia Galactica
Quote:
Originally Posted by Anais
She nodded politely to him and proceeded to this desk and took a seat. So, this WAS Professor Antares. Whewwww. She noticed the oily stained hand but didn't mention it, she knew he was trying to fix the telescope. It reminded her of home, of the muggle world. Fixing things by hand. She instantly concurred that it was broken beyond magical repair, and that maybe some old-fashioned muggle fixing could make it work.
"Oh, sorry! I'm Sapphinelle Della. Bonjour!" she said happily and guessed that he was trying to find out where she was from. She gave him that hint to make it a lot easier, hah. "Tea? I'd love some, thank you so much." she said with a smile. She loved the teachers here already! But some of them were SUPERRR strict, eeep!
"I'm looking forward to Astronomy. I love the stars and planets. We studied them intently in Muggle school." she said with a nod, worrying if she was acting too stuck-up or something.
"Sapphine Della..." Risu repeated. He smiled. "It's nice to meet you. Sit, please. I'll have some tea coming right up." He wandered over to the stove and started bustling.
Behind him, at the desk, the young Hufflepuff was prattling away merrily. Risu grinned to himself. He obviously loved his students telling him that they liked his subject, but they always acted as if they were sharing a rather grandiose revelation. There had to be some kind of interest in Astronomy them to climb all those stairs up to the Tower.
He'd forgot about the oily hand. The teapot nearly slipped out of his fingers as he was pouring the girl a cup. He supported it with the other hand just in time. To calm his nerves, he got himself one as well. Picking the two cups up carefully, Risu returned to his desk. "There you go," he said, putting one of them down in front of Sapphinelle in the same spot that Rubiey's cup had occupied.
He sat down on his side of the desk with a sigh and accompanying chair creak. "Well, Miss Della, I'm sure I will be delighted to have you in my lessons, then!" he said cheerfully, tapping the edge of the cup with a finger. "Do you have any questions about the subject?"
No, no, no. She was not agitated. Of course she was not. Only a little pale and excited. There's a difference, see?
Hands clasped round a roll of parchment, one tied up with a bright red ribbon that looked a little [okay, a lot] out of place as she held it, close to her chest and against the fabric of her pale, blue robes, Davina knocked at the door of Professor - Professor Antenna? Antarctica? She had honestly forgotten the name, in her present state of mind - the Professor's office.
Knocked so hard, it flew open.
Oh my. How rude of her. "I do apologize, Professor Ant... Risu." She paused. There was a student, in the office. Miss Della, in fact. "I'll come back another time," Davina said. She didn't sound sheepish, did she? Eeep. "I had an astronomy question to tackle, and you seemed you like the best person to consult. I, err, apologize again."
No, no, no. She was not agitated. Of course she was not. Only a little pale and excited. There's a difference, see?
Hands clasped round a roll of parchment, one tied up with a bright red ribbon that looked a little [okay, a lot] out of place as she held it, close to her chest and against the fabric of her pale, blue robes, Davina knocked at the door of Professor - Professor Antenna? Antarctica? She had honestly forgotten the name, in her present state of mind - the Professor's office.
Knocked so hard, it flew open.
Oh my. How rude of her. "I do apologize, Professor Ant... Risu." She paused. There was a student, in the office. Miss Della, in fact. "I'll come back another time," Davina said. She didn't sound sheepish, did she? Eeep. "I had an astronomy question to tackle, and you seemed you like the best person to consult. I, err, apologize again."
Oh Merlin.
Before the young student had much of a chance to reply, there was another knock on the door. This one had a certain agitation to it, and the thus harangued door responded by flying open, revealing not a student but one of Risu's new colleagues. She had the slightly flushed look on her face of almost everyone who'd just climbed the Astronomy Tower. She also looked a little embarrassed, probably by her abrupt entrance. Well. The window was open, she could blame the draught on it.
He got up quickly. "No, no, please... Come in, er..." First-name basis? Risu glanced at Sapphinelle. "Davina. Pull up a chair if you want," he said, waving a hand vaguely at the extra chairs next to the door. "I have some tea as well," he added as an afterthought.
Then he noticed the parchment in her hand. So she needed his help? "Well, I am glad I appear to be the person best-suited to tackle your questions," he said with a slight smile. "Excuse me, please, Miss Della," he said to the student. Then he turned to his colleague again. "What can I help you with?"
Before the young student had much of a chance to reply, there was another knock on the door. This one had a certain agitation to it, and the thus harangued door responded by flying open, revealing not a student but one of Risu's new colleagues. She had the slightly flushed look on her face of almost everyone who'd just climbed the Astronomy Tower. She also looked a little embarrassed, probably by her abrupt entrance. Well. The window was open, she could blame the draught on it.
He got up quickly. "No, no, please... Come in, er..." First-name basis? Risu glanced at Sapphinelle. "Davina. Pull up a chair if you want," he said, waving a hand vaguely at the extra chairs next to the door. "I have some tea as well," he added as an afterthought.
Then he noticed the parchment in her hand. So she needed his help? "Well, I am glad I appear to be the person best-suited to tackle your questions," he said with a slight smile. "Excuse me, please, Miss Della," he said to the student. Then he turned to his colleague again. "What can I help you with?"
Di had never been clumsy. One of the few good things about being Davina Markovic [so she told herself in super unhappy times] was that elegance - at least - came naturally to her. But, looking up at the astronomy Professor right now, Di fully felt that any and all elegance had deserted her the moment she had managed to throw the door open like that. How rude. How impolite.
How.... embarrasing.
Davina? First name basis? Um. Di was... not used to referring to fellow professors by their first names. So far, Josephina was the only one she had managed to come to a first name basis with. But since she could not for the life of her remember whether Risu's last name was Antenna or Antarctica, she did not press the matter. "No, thank you, I'm fine," she said. Translation? I have a feeling that if I try to pull up a chair right now, it's going to end up sideways on the floor. "I... I used to think Jarnsaxa is the name of a giantess." She paused. "It's, err, Norse mythology." She paused again. "Something that I read -" Ten minutes ago - "Recently gave me the impression that it might... be a celestial body. Is it?"
Right. This sounded stupid now. Di resisted the urge to bite her lip, and looked up at Professor... Risu with large, hazel eyes that looked a liiiittle unsettled. She attempted to smile like, you know, this-is-something-I-came-across-and-found-ohsointeresting-so-I-thought-I-would-ask but the look did not quite come off.
Di had never been clumsy. One of the few good things about being Davina Markovic [so she told herself in super unhappy times] was that elegance - at least - came naturally to her. But, looking up at the astronomy Professor right now, Di fully felt that any and all elegance had deserted her the moment she had managed to throw the door open like that. How rude. How impolite.
How.... embarrasing.
Davina? First name basis? Um. Di was... not used to referring to fellow professors by their first names. So far, Josephina was the only one she had managed to come to a first name basis with. But since she could not for the life of her remember whether Risu's last name was Antenna or Antarctica, she did not press the matter. "No, thank you, I'm fine," she said. Translation? I have a feeling that if I try to pull up a chair right now, it's going to end up sideways on the floor. "I... I used to think Jarnsaxa is the name of a giantess." She paused. "It's, err, Norse mythology." She paused again. "Something that I read -" Ten minutes ago - "Recently gave me the impression that it might... be a celestial body. Is it?"
Right. This sounded stupid now. Di resisted the urge to bite her lip, and looked up at Professor... Risu with large, hazel eyes that looked a liiiittle unsettled. She attempted to smile like, you know, this-is-something-I-came-across-and-found-ohsointeresting-so-I-thought-I-would-ask but the look did not quite come off.
"I guess I should know about the giantess Járnsaxa, seeing as Norse mythology is right up my cultural alley," Risu said, smiling his little smile, "but I have to admit, I have never delved much into mythology of any origin. I happily take your word for it in this matter."
The wooden floor creaked slightly as Risu walked around his desk. His feet led him to one of the high shelves on the wall. "As far as astronomical objects go... I am not a planetary scientist, so I could not say for sure, but the name suggests a moon to me." He tilted his head sideways to read the titles of the books, keeping up his chatter while he did so. "A moon of Saturn, if I am not mistaken. It is the only planet in the Solar System whose moons are not named solely after Greek or Roman mythology."
Risu poked the back of a large book triumphantly. "Hah. One moment, please, Davina..." He tugged at the tome (an encyclopaedia of Solar System objects published by the International Astronomical Union) until it unstuck from the rest of the row, and carried it to the desk.
"Now, watch your teacher work, Miss Della," he said to the young student sitting at his desk with a grin. He began flipping through the book. "Saturn, Saturn," he mumbled, skimming the pages rapidly. "Where is your Norse group of moons..." He stopped.
"Found it," he announced, and added, not without pride, "I was essentially correct. Jarnsaxa is an outlying moon of Saturn. Six kilometres in diameter, orbiting Saturn in retrogade mot-..." He stopped. Davina would hardly know what that meant. Or have to. "Erm... Orbiting Saturn at a distance of about 18 million kilometres." He glanced over the rest of the entry quickly. "Are you looking for anything in particular?"
"I guess I should know about the giantess Járnsaxa, seeing as Norse mythology is right up my cultural alley," Risu said, smiling his little smile, "but I have to admit, I have never delved much into mythology of any origin. I happily take your word for it in this matter."
The wooden floor creaked slightly as Risu walked around his desk. His feet led him to one of the high shelves on the wall. "As far as astronomical objects go... I am not a planetary scientist, so I could not say for sure, but the name suggests a moon to me." He tilted his head sideways to read the titles of the books, keeping up his chatter while he did so. "A moon of Saturn, if I am not mistaken. It is the only planet in the Solar System whose moons are not named solely after Greek or Roman mythology."
Risu poked the back of a large book triumphantly. "Hah. One moment, please, Davina..." He tugged at the tome (an encyclopaedia of Solar System objects published by the International Astronomical Union) until it unstuck from the rest of the row, and carried it to the desk.
"Now, watch your teacher work, Miss Della," he said to the young student sitting at his desk with a grin. He began flipping through the book. "Saturn, Saturn," he mumbled, skimming the pages rapidly. "Where is your Norse group of moons..." He stopped.
"Found it," he announced, and added, not without pride, "I was essentially correct. Jarnsaxa is an outlying moon of Saturn. Six kilometres in diameter, orbiting Saturn in retrogade mot-..." He stopped. Davina would hardly know what that meant. Or have to. "Erm... Orbiting Saturn at a distance of about 18 million kilometres." He glanced over the rest of the entry quickly. "Are you looking for anything in particular?"
Di tried [and failed] to shrug. The fact that she knew about Jarnsaxa the giantess, had its reasons.
Not a planetary scientist? "But... you teach astronomy," Di protested. He had to know. Because if he did not, that meant she would have to search for someone who did. It could take ages to find a person like that. Di frowwwwwned at the thought but, fortunately for her, Risu did seem to know something.
Wait. Retrogade motwhattt? Di blinked. Thankfully, Risu seemed to have decided that that information did not concern her.
Looking for something in particular? Did 'the same thing I have been for the past ten years' sound like a good idea? Um. No. "Thank you," Di said politely, glad at the realization that most of her wits seemed to have returned. "I thought you might know if..." She paused. "If there are people that are named after that planet." Planet? Oh great. "Err, moon. I mean... last names? Famous families?"
He would know, wouldn't he? Di realized a moment later that he most likely didn't. Yes, she knew about tribes, clans, people of that sort named after and devoted to runes. But those were not ordinary people and, most importantly, that had been a part of her degree. Necessary research. No such case here. Di decided she still had cause to hope - after all, someone related to planetymoonythings had a much better chance of knowing things like these than... someone like her.
Di tried [and failed] to shrug. The fact that she knew about Jarnsaxa the giantess, had its reasons.
Not a planetary scientist? "But... you teach astronomy," Di protested. He had to know. Because if he did not, that meant she would have to search for someone who did. It could take ages to find a person like that. Di frowwwwwned at the thought but, fortunately for her, Risu did seem to know something.
Wait. Retrogade motwhattt? Di blinked. Thankfully, Risu seemed to have decided that that information did not concern her.
Looking for something in particular? Did 'the same thing I have been for the past ten years' sound like a good idea? Um. No. "Thank you," Di said politely, glad at the realization that most of her wits seemed to have returned. "I thought you might know if..." She paused. "If there are people that are named after that planet." Planet? Oh great. "Err, moon. I mean... last names? Famous families?"
He would know, wouldn't he? Di realized a moment later that he most likely didn't. Yes, she knew about tribes, clans, people of that sort named after and devoted to runes. But those were not ordinary people and, most importantly, that had been a part of her degree. Necessary research. No such case here. Di decided she still had cause to hope - after all, someone related to planetymoonythings had a much better chance of knowing things like these than... someone like her.
Didn't he?
Risu smiled gently, not in the least fazed by Davina's protest. "I do teach Astronomy," he said, still reading the encyclopaedia entry on Jarnsaxa. "And I'm sure my knowledge is broad enough to tackle any questions that might come up in class. Or, if not, know where to look." He poked the book. "Like now." He turned to the next page. "But my own scientific training and research lie more in the area of cosmology. I feel confident speaking about what I know there. But I could not, for example, tell you the exact position of a small moon such as Jarnsaxa. Or its composition." He waved a hand. "And so on and so forth. The Universe is a big place, as I'm sure you can appreciate, and no one can try to keep all of it in a single head."
There was a lot of interesting stuff about Jarnsaxa in this book, though. Risu had always been more interested in objects starting at the size of, say, star (up to the entire cosmos itself), and planets and moons had always been off to the side.
He tapped a slender finger against the page. "Unfortunately, I fear I have to disappoint you yet again. This will tell you all about the astronomical object Jarnsaxa, and the origin of its name, but nothing about, er... genealogy, which seems to be what you are looking for." He inserted a pencil into the page as an improvised bookmark and closed it. Looking at Davina, Risu continued, "I am personally unaware of anyone by that last name as well... I would say that anyone having that name would most likely trace it back to Norse mythology rather than a fairly obscure moon of Saturn."
Risu smiled gently, not in the least fazed by Davina's protest. "I do teach Astronomy," he said, still reading the encyclopaedia entry on Jarnsaxa. "And I'm sure my knowledge is broad enough to tackle any questions that might come up in class. Or, if not, know where to look." He poked the book. "Like now." He turned to the next page. "But my own scientific training and research lie more in the area of cosmology. I feel confident speaking about what I know there. But I could not, for example, tell you the exact position of a small moon such as Jarnsaxa. Or its composition." He waved a hand. "And so on and so forth. The Universe is a big place, as I'm sure you can appreciate, and no one can try to keep all of it in a single head."
There was a lot of interesting stuff about Jarnsaxa in this book, though. Risu had always been more interested in objects starting at the size of, say, star (up to the entire cosmos itself), and planets and moons had always been off to the side.
He tapped a slender finger against the page. "Unfortunately, I fear I have to disappoint you yet again. This will tell you all about the astronomical object Jarnsaxa, and the origin of its name, but nothing about, er... genealogy, which seems to be what you are looking for." He inserted a pencil into the page as an improvised bookmark and closed it. Looking at Davina, Risu continued, "I am personally unaware of anyone by that last name as well... I would say that anyone having that name would most likely trace it back to Norse mythology rather than a fairly obscure moon of Saturn."
"I don't doubt that you are qualified to teach astronomoy, Professor," Di said quietly. She had not been trying to cast suspicion on his aptitude. "I can appreciate how big a place the universe is." More than most people perhaps, given that she could not even search this country [forget the biiiig universe] completely for... a Jarnsaxa.
Norse mythology? Di shook her head. "No Norse mythology," she said quietly. She sounded like she knew that for certain. "It has to be the moon." Pause. "Unless there is some sort of cookie named Jarnsaxa out there, I mean. Or there really is no background there, and the use of that name is only a coincidence." Hazel-eyed blink. That last prospect sounded terrible. Please no?
She stood up straighter. Not that it helped much, given that Professor Antartica - Antenna - Risu was still half a foot or so taller than her. "Thank you for your time, Risu. I apologize again for -" Wasting your time - "Barging in. I didn't mean to knock the door open like that."
Right. She could go back to her office and give this search up, now. Like she should have, long ago.
"I don't doubt that you are qualified to teach astronomoy, Professor," Di said quietly. She had not been trying to cast suspicion on his aptitude. "I can appreciate how big a place the universe is." More than most people perhaps, given that she could not even search this country [forget the biiiig universe] completely for... a Jarnsaxa.
Norse mythology? Di shook her head. "No Norse mythology," she said quietly. She sounded like she knew that for certain. "It has to be the moon." Pause. "Unless there is some sort of cookie named Jarnsaxa out there, I mean. Or there really is no background there, and the use of that name is only a coincidence." Hazel-eyed blink. That last prospect sounded terrible. Please no?
She stood up straighter. Not that it helped much, given that Professor Antartica - Antenna - Risu was still half a foot or so taller than her. "Thank you for your time, Risu. I apologize again for -" Wasting your time - "Barging in. I didn't mean to knock the door open like that."
Right. She could go back to her office and give this search up, now. Like she should have, long ago.
"It has to be the moon, you say?" Risu pursed his lips, confused. Something had to make Davina sure of that, her announcement had been fairly... forceful, but from his perspective - which was of the thrown-off-guard variety - the sequence was kind of reversed. The Norse name Járnsaxa had been first. Hadn't it?
Davina seemed to be thoroughly distressed over his lack of help. He flipped the book open again, rereading the end of the entry where references had been listed. At first glance they all had to do with the astronomical properties of the moon, but perhaps if he started digging a little, he could find some sort of anthropological research as well...?
"I'm sorry I can't help you," he said apologetically, inserting the pencil in the encyclopaedia once more, "not right away at least. But..." he waved a hand vaguely in the direction of his shelves, "if you wanted me to look through the rest of my books, I could certainly do that. I could also contact a few of my former colleagues and students. The community of astrophysicists is a rather small one, and you wouldn't believe the peculiar interests of some of my peers."
He smiled nostalgically. "Maybe someone there has specialised, if you can call it that, on names derived from astronomical objects." His smile widened for a moment. "Such as mine. Or... well, of course, I do not mean to presuppose a course of action you might not want to take, or to suggest something you haven't tried already, but our librarian here at Hogwarts could quite likely help. I haven't really talked to her yet," Risu added, "but I'm sure she is very knowledgeable."
♥My Very 1st Tag | ~Filofax:Forever~ | ~Evil Slythie~ | Chris' Caretaker♥
'Okay. Enough delaying.' Norah reminded herself mentally as she somehow, miraculously found her own way to the astronomy tower. She was far too shy to ask another student who had attended the school for several years for directions, and in any case, Norah felt she needed to do things on her own.
Her brown eyes caught sight of the observatory notices and summed things up for herself...'Need permission from the professor to use it past curfew.' Something else for her to maybe ask if she could muster up the courage.
The fifteen year old reached the doorway and knocked softly, but it was so quiet that even Norah could barely hear it. 'No good.' She knocked a little bit louder, which should have been audible.
'Okay. Enough delaying.' Norah reminded herself mentally as she somehow, miraculously found her own way to the astronomy tower. She was far too shy to ask another student who had attended the school for several years for directions, and in any case, Norah felt she needed to do things on her own.
Her brown eyes caught sight of the observatory notices and summed things up for herself...'Need permission from the professor to use it past curfew.' Something else for her to maybe ask if she could muster up the courage.
The fifteen year old reached the doorway and knocked softly, but it was so quiet that even Norah could barely hear it. 'No good.' She knocked a little bit louder, which should have been audible.
OOC: This is taking place after everyone else has gone. I dunno if they are going to post again or not. ^.^
For once, Risu did not have anything to do. No papers to read, no homework to grade - no office to tidy up, either. He had taken the opportunity to just switch his brain off completely for the rest of the day. Standing at one of the large windows, he stared blankly into the grounds. Autumn was in full swing, and red and yellow leaves were tumbling everywhere as the wind pushed them around. It had a hypnotic quality to it.
In one hand he was holding a large mug of hot tea. Risu had also put on a thicker cloak, complete with scarf, to avoid getting a cold.
There was a knock on the door. It was a soft knock, the kind people employ when they're not really sure whether they even want to be heard. Risu was so lost in thought (lost in not thinking, really) that it took him a few seconds to get the appropriate reply together. "Er... yes? Come in, please."