Simon looked at the Professor. "Oh I get it now." Simon smiled, he had been dumb thinking water might work. "Professor what other spells would have put out the fire or is that the only one?"

"Salazar's sand one was pretty good." She said to him. "Now if you don't mind..." She heard someone at the door, "I have other students."

Walking in the office, the first thing Josh's dark brown eyes caught was the younger Hufflepuff standing there. Eh...was it obligatory for him to stand there? The lion bot had heard that the common room for those yellow people was not so far away from the dungeons. ''Hi to you.'' 'Whoever you are...' Whatever,on the other hand Josh knew he had no right to mess with other people's wishes to see the Potions Mistress as well so he just, after staring at the boy some, walked forward and stood before the woman's desk.

Then before Lafay turned to face him, of course in case she was going to do that, Josh fixed his scarlet and gold tie knowing he generally walked around the school with a rather untidily arranged school uniform. Especially his shirt...eh. There was no time to check everything though. Not to mention he couldn't see a mirror around. Plus who had said Lafay would be worried about his uniform or hair anyway? Pffft.

Simon smiled at the Professor. "I'll speak to you later." Simon said as he smiled at the Gryffindor and then he left the room, okay so Professor Lafay wasn't as bad as he thought she was.

"Good day." She said to his retreating form.

She waited a moment and raised an eyebrow to the boy. "Well?" She said crossing her arms, "I don't have all day, Carter."

She didn't have all day...

Eh...

As this caused some pressure on him, Josh's eyes widened a bit as he stared at the woman. Well...yes. Apparently she was finding his presence annoying. That was...sad and disappointing but there was nothing to do about it. He had no power to change people's thoughts, ideas or choices.

Well...then. It looked like he was supposed not to take much of her time, so he was going to cover what he had been thinking of saying in one single time. Without hesitation. ''Professor...'' so he began right after swallowing a bit out of stress. Yet the source for this stress was not that he was afraid of her or of what he was going to say, it was actually that he was worrying about annoying her even more.

''...i have come here with the need of pointing out...five...things.'' or topics or issues or questions or whatever else one would call it. And he was starting right away. Taking a deep breath, he blinked and a ran a hand through his untidy hair. ''One; i don't know if you have seen that gossip paper...'' yes, he was talking about that one which suggested that he had been the one to burn the whole Potions Storeroom because Lafay would not return his undying love. ''...but if you have, i want you to know that i am never scared of my thoughts or feelings being known and i am not a coward to hide anything about them no matter what the result of them would be.'' Yeaa, results like being hexed to the next year or being a victim of a pyromaniac. ''I might be devoted but i also think people are free not to return it. I'd understand that. I am not such a selfish person to be planning that kind of a serious attack over my own, personal, issues''

Waiting for a moment or two to let this sink in, the Gryffindor went on ''Two; i have been thinking of helping you to get the ingredients back even before you have told us to do so as an assignment. I don't have money to buy anything extra but i want to help you with getting the harder-to-get stuff back. So maybe i can help you getting the stuff that we can collect beyond the common places of the grounds. Maybe from the Forbidden Forest...or something like that?'' Did that make any sense? Eh...he hoped it did. ''Three; I know i am supposed to discuss this with Madam Donovan. I will ask her too but i want to know your ideas too. I have...'' somehow ''...started to think of...my future...'' That was if he was going to have one, of course. ''...but i have no idea what i can do after school. Do you think there's...something...i might be able to handle?'' Like did he looked like he could manage a job or was he just supposed to keep working in his uncle's farm? ''Four; i do wonder if you think i can manage being a fine potioneer if i work hard enough. I know i haven't been able to create a work that you'd call more than 'passable' but if you think i have even the littlest hope, i want to try.''

Here, the last one was about to come and the boy had started to feel like he needed to let it out his mouth right now before it was too late and the woman would kick him out. ''And five; would you still say 'no' if i asked you if you could train me again? Isn't there anything i can do for you to persuade you to train me?''

Ahem...

Was he in trouble

Five...

ok...

"You don't have to worry Carter. I don't read trash rags such as the Apparecium. Whatever was said in there, I would consider fabrication." She said regarding the first. "And no, Carter. I am not giving you permission to enter the Forbidden Forrest. For any of those ingredients, I will send someone who isn't as important..." Like a house elf... or Stryker...

Three and four were really intertwined. He wanted to be potioneer? Merlin help us... "You are..." how to put this without offending him... "...idiotically brave. You are passable in potions, but nothing where I would see you going into potioneering. When you speak to Donovan, ask her what she thinks about your becoming an auror."

And then five came along...

See? Idiotically brave.

"The answer is still no." She said looking away. "I will not be a part of your untimely demise. You are not to return to Knockturn Alley." She said firmly.

Josh let out a breath of relief when Lafay had stated that she had not read the gossip paper and she did not read it anyway. Well...because having her against himself was one of the last things he wanted to happen, especially if it was because of some nonsense like the Aparecium. Then she did not want him to collect dangerous potions stuff. What could he say? He was just offering his help and there was nothing to do further about if she did not want it. So, he just nodded calmly and silenty at almost her every word while she spoke.

That was until...she called him 'idiotically brave' which kinda broke his heart. No, not kinda, it broke his heart because he thought it was obvious that being 'idiotically brave' was NOT something regarded nice and good in her book.

But...an auror?

She wanted him to ask Madam Donovan about being an auror? That was it? So, he could be nothing but a puppet of the Borr-Stomach and Gas-Filled Ministry, just like Ryan was, in her eyes. Awesome.

He kept staring at the woman despite the fact that she had looked away, of course, refusing what he had asked for again. This, to be frank, did not really surprise the boy yet what made his eyes widen with a mixture of offence, disappointment and sadness combined with a little bit of anger was how she called it...

Untimely Demise...

So she had said.

''Professor...'' the Gryffindor boy said approaching to her desk, leaning towards the Potions Mistress a bit over it. ''Now, i do accept the fact that you will refuse to train me no matter how many times i might ask. I see that you think i must not be returning there. I respect all your thoughts and whatever you should say about this. I respect them and i will do my best to obey.''

Putting his hands on her desk, he kept staring at her...maybe frowning a bit. ''But, you HAVE TO understand me'' he just did not want to look like an idiot who was randomly looking for trouble ''Please. Try to understand me. Do you think i am planning to face them because i think i can deal with them? I might not be the smartest boy you have seen so far, but i am not an idiot either. Do you think i am? I already know nothing i do can match their strenght. I am aware that...i would be...not alive. But i do remember how confident they were with their evil acts. I remember how freely they behave that way. Somebody needs to show them that there are some people who are willing to stop them! Who are not scared of their ways and would try their best to stop them until their last breath. I might be dead, very well, but it is not a big deal while they see they might not be able to act so freely because there will be people who will be against them! My death would bring nothing bad except that maybe Evelyn would be sorry about it. But it will make them see they have determined enemies who are willing to give their lives to stop them!''

Pausing some, he stood straight yet did not look away from the woman. He needed to take a breath or more. And swallowing some again and again and again, his voice got a little bit quieter yet he went on. ''Sometimes professor, i don't know how, but i happen to sense some...darkness in her. Sometimes in something she says, in something she does or just into her eyes. I am not blaming her for having...the tendency. Maybe she was brought up like that, it can't be her fault. But i know that i am not letting them to take her to their side! I already die every night seeing her in darkness during my sleep.So does it really matter whether i die there or not, while she can have a happy and peaceful life without them? In this world...i have nothing else to live for. Do i, professor? So, please understand and do not judge it that...severely.''

"I don't think you are an idiot. On the contrary, which is why I want you to leave this be. Someone needs to stop them. Maybe. But why does that someone need to be you! And why now?" He said to him. Did he not get what she was trying to say by him becoming an Auror? A dark wizard catcher? Helllllooooo?!?

Ok... time to be Slytherin about this.

"Think of Evelyn. How will she feel after they are finished with you? Do you really wish to put her through that pain? Would you put me through that? I will not train you, would you have me feel responsible? Think of me. Of my feelings. Do you think I would not miss you? Stop being so selfish." Gryffindors...

When she began to speak, Josh automatically open his mouth to object whatever she was going to say yet his mouth was just held open the moment he heard the words. She did not think he was an idiot. Well...that was something he was glad to hear while there were many people around who think he lacked a brain. So, he couldn't say anything against it however the others words...for them he had an answer.

Why did it need to be him? ''That's because no one seems to be acting against them. If they did, how could they be that confident? If they did, how come they have grown up to be so strong?'' But why now? He had to stop at that point for a moment so. And that was the very moment it occured to him that he actually did not know why he was hurrying this. It was...complicated. ''I...don't know.'' he said sitting on that very uncomfortable chair in front of her desk.

Then he just stared down at the floor as she went on speaking. Think of Evelyn? He did that everyday...almost evey moment! But...what she was saying a bit different. It was not that he did not think of the possibility that it might be painful for her too. But he was just a boyfriend for her, wasn't he? She could always move on and be happy...maybe? This was impossible to accept for him yet if he had not been around, he would not be able to object anything. Plus, the other girls around seemed to do that easily and frequently anyway. ''No, professor'' he said though, because he NEVER wished to put her through any kind of pain.

And though how surprising her next words about how she'd feel were, the boy did not look up and just kept staring at the floor. Think of her and her feelings? She would miss him? ''I am not selfish, mistress. I just...haven't think of it that way before.''

And she was totally right. Josh would hate himself, alive or not, if someone happened to be in pain because of him. So, yes, it was better if he reconsidered his future plans. ''Thank you.''

OMG!!! This is soooooooooo late! So sorry!
 

"Well, think of it that way," She repeated looking at him. "before you do something rash."

She walked him to the door, a hand on his back and said "Think..." She repeated again. "Now go."

She then opened the door and saw the other students. "Come in Miss Hollingberry. You two may come in as well, Miss Moretz and Master De Simpson... or you may leave..." She said watching one of them leave.

Simon walked into the Professor's office and smiled. "Professor, I want to say that even though you nearly killed me in my Second Year, I have enjoyed your lessons this term." Simon was thinking about giving her a hug but decided against since he didn't want setting on fire.

Chloe had recieved an urgent measage from professor Lefay soon after she was back in her own body but still in Simon's clothes. What on Earth was this all about Chloe quickly made her way to the corridor outside professor Lefays office and was called in pretty much the moment she got there. She walked into the office and said, "Good day professor Lefay", Chloe ssaid sounding a bit scared not knowing what she did forall the urgency.

"Hello Miss Morets, and I'm glad, Master De Simpson," She said sitting in her chair. "Was that all?" She asked the boy.

Simon smiled at the Professor. "No I also want to appologise for my behaver in your classes." Simon said truthfully. "I sort of thought that the detention me and J.D had when I was in my second year made him leave." Simon sighed, "But I don't think that is the case now." Simon wasn't sure if it had something to do with it, he had been scared after that but he wouldn't let Professor Lafay know that.

Okay, what was this about, it seemed to have nothing to do with her, nowhow was she gonna say this nicely. "Uh, Professor Lefay, why was I called here?", Chloe asked hoping that did not seem rude. All she heard was a hello and thus far none of the conservation seemed to involve her at all. Though it was nice to see Simon was trying to change his ways.

Kurumi made her way in and remained standing more out of respect and being polite than nervousness and fear - although some of those emotions were present. This WAS Professor Lafay's office after all and Kurumi still got nervous whenever she was around her.

"Good day, Professor Lafay," Kurumi said with a slight bow and surprisingly no stammer.

Kurumi's toes wiggled inside her shoes as she remained standing for a few more awkward moments.

"Apology accepted," she said with a nod.

"It's LAfay, and you were called inside because you were loitering just outside my office." she said raising an eyebrow to the girl. "You are free to leave if you have no business here." She added.

"Miss Hollingberry," She said, looking at her through her lashes, "How may I assist you."

Tugging on the bottom of her grey Hogwarts sweater, Kurumi felt a little relieved that there had been a Miss attached to her name. Last time they had spoken the Potions Mistress had seemed less than pleased to have Kurumi in her presence.

"I've been meaning to come and talk with you for some time now, since you assigned the ingredients homework," Kurumi began finally greeting the woman's gaze with her own. "It's actually why I submitted jobberknoll feathers." Her toes wiggled a bit more as she finally got down to the point. "I came to ask you some advice on brewing memory potions. At least...I think it is a memory potion that would be best suited for the situation..."

Simon smiled at the Professor, he was glad she had accepted his appology and was about to ask if he could leave when Miss Perfect Kurumi started talking about Memory Potions, he was confused as to why she would want one and then he asked the Professor. "Professor how long does a Memory Potion last for?" He couldn't see it lasting forever.

Okay, this was weird, someone sent her a note to come here, she assumed it must be Lafay, guess not. Oh my. "Thank you for your time professor Lafay, sorry I mis pronounced your name and I will be going now.", and with that she got up to leave and headed for the door. That was rather embarassing.

She was about to answer the girl when the boy spoke up...

The boy was eavesdropping. Even Hecate didn't like that. "It depends on how long you brew it." She said looking at the boy. "Master De Simpson, are you finished with your business, or is there more?"

Hecate nodded to the girl courteously and waved her wand to open the door for her.

"Miss Hollingberry," Take a seat. She said and then looked over at the boy to see if he was staying or going.

Kurumi's head snapped around when Simon spoke up. She didn't have anything against him, but she was silently wishing that he had chosen this moment to not to have paid attention to what she was saying. Then again, ever since Herbology he had been hanging on her every word which made working with him easier, but now it had stopped the Potions Mistress from answering her question.

Once she motioned for Kurumi to sit down, she took the nearest chair, which was a little off to the side, and waited.

Simon wanted to stay with Kurumi, but he didn't want to get into trouble with Professor Lafay. "nope that was everything I think." Simon smiled as he looked at Kurumi. "See you later." He said as he smiled at her and with that he walked out of the Professor office.

"Good day." She said to the nosy boy.

She turned to Kurumi and crossed her arms. "Why do you wish to brew a memory potion, and what exactly are you asking me to clarify, Miss Hollingberry?"