"This is a cookie trade-off," Tate opened the parcel and took an appreciative sniff of the oatmeal goodness Kurumi had provided. Now that... that was a well made cookie, unlike the crisp little things provided by the house elves.

"What about the house elves? If you're filing a note about the state of your silverware at the opening feast, then I think that ship has sailed."

Kurumi smiled and even giggled a bit as the Headmaster accepted her humble parcel. He seemed...a bit cheery compared to previous times they had talked. Granted, those were few and far between, but he did seem a little more airy.

"It's not a complaint," she said with several rather flustered and elaborate shakes of her head. "It's more of a concern." And not just because her precious kitchen was closed.

"They're off their game?" He wasn't trying to preempt the child, but he was well aware that there was something askew with the house elf behavior. His burnt cookies were a good indication of that.

Tate leaned back in his chair and gazed at Hollingberry with an expectant look.

Off their game? Were the house elves playing a game that Kurumi wasn't aware of? Her shoulders hunched just a bit as she eyed the Headmaster and then looked back at the things that were supposed to be biscuits. "The food isn't up to their standards," she said simply. Ignore Hogwarts' standards, that wasn't the main concern anyway. "I'm...worried that their magic might be failing..."

"I went to the kitchen immediately after the feast and saw...that they had closed it. No students allowed," she tugged at the collar of her sweater a bit. "But...they don't say anything against professors or...pets..."

Yes, the thought had crossed the fourth year's mind to send Walnut on a mission.

"Yes, but pets aren't allowed out of the common room, and professors haven't discovered anything substantially out of place when we visit. As for their magic... well, it's something to consider, but I do think that they displayed their skills are intact when they finally showed up at the feast."

He was certainly aware that there was a problem, but it wasn't easy to diagnose. House elves weren't overly sharing creatures on their own, and Tate respected them too much to order them to go against their nature.

Tell that to Walnut. It was probably a good thing that the Headmaster did not know that Walnut had gone...missing. Hopefully he wasn't on one of the floors marking his territory on one of the tapestries. She really wouldn't put it past the feline.

A small smile appeared on her lips. She was a bit relieved to hear that the professors and, she assumed, the Headmaster himself had been into the kitchens. "I'm glad to hear that things seem to be alright," she said with a small sigh. "I...I have a house elf that I would consider myself to be rather close with." If the elf felt that they were close was an entirely different story however. "Perhaps I have been worrying too much, but it couldn't have been anything small that kept them from their duties." Merlin, were pirate ghosts back? She didn't even want to think about that. "You don't suppose their...loyalties are wavering, do you?"

Not that she was suggesting that Headmaster Tate was treating them cruelly or anything, nor that they were starting a rebellion. Their punishments on themselves had made THAT very clear.

"A house elf's motivations are all his own, but I have no reason to believe any of them feel less than warm feelings toward Hogwarts. House elves do enjoy serving, and they all know how well they are treated here. I wouldn't worry about it, if I were you. The professors are looking into it, and all elves are present and accounted for." That he knew of. It wasn't like he took a roll call, but surely they would report any issues to him.

"Thank you for the cookies, Hollingberry. I'll try to make them last through more than one coffee break."

Kurumi nodded and listened to the Headmaster as he spoke. She knew that she should feel relieved that the professors were looking into the situation with careful observation and nothing but the house elves best interest at heart, but her heart still wasn't at ease. Still, she would try to respect the man's wishes.

And THAT would be her signal to take her leave, yes?

"You're welcome," she said, almost immediately standing at attention. Too much? Most likely. "Thank you for your time, Headmaster. And...I promise I won't go sticking my nose in places where it doesn't belong." Unlike last term, clearly.

"Impossible. You're a Gryffindor, after all. If you didn't stick your nose in occasionally, I'd think you were up to something." Tate reached across the desk and offered his hand for a shake.

"Please send up the next person in line, will you?"

After whacking the gargoyles on the head enough times they finally let Gnaeus in. The old man struggled to make his way up the staircase only to reach the top and find out that they were bewitched to move. He whacked them. Before walking in, Gnaeus fixed his robes, then his hat, and finally he pushed the doors open, revealing the headmaster's office. He could barely recognize the place, it had changed so much since his last visit ages ago. The only thing he remembered were the portraits, some of which he had known while they were alive. "Gaellen!" Shouted Gnaeus with his gruffy voice. He doubted the man could see him because he was shorter than nearly all of the objects in the room, so he was well hidden behind them. Plus, his outfit matched the carpet.

Kurumi's eyes widened as he reached out and offered his hand for her to shake. Really? She could shake the Headmaster's hand? He really was in a pleasant mood! Smiling, Kurumi bowed her head and placed her small hand in his. What had her brothers said about giving a firm handshake? Kurumi honestly couldn't remember, so she gave it a gentle squeeze as she shook it. She couldn't help but think that he was ACTUALLY encouraging her to go stick her neck out.

"Point taken, sir," she giggled.

She then proceeded to head out of the office and down the spiral staircase.

Hmm? Tate peered waaaaaaay over the desk, and his face broke into a wide grin at the site of his old mentor. "Spenser, you old coot. How did you trick those gargoyles into letting you up here?"

Gnaeus hurriedly made his way toward the man, reached for his hand and shook it firmly. He could have embraced him but all he could reach was his leg. "Tiny Tate, you have grown up!" Gnaeus bellowed looking up at the man. "We ought to change your name to Tower Tate!" He said and hit him on the leg with his staff. Every time he spoke he produced a miniature earthquake, he could even feel the glass ornaments trembling. "Ah, you very well know those puny stone gargoyles can't hold me back!" He felt the need to scold him for poorly protecting his own office, but Gaellen was a big boy now, and that was probably only intended to keep the little ones away so he dismissed the idea. "So, you're the hotshot of this school now, eh? Task force life got too hard for you?" Gnaeus stroke his beard as he took a good look around Tate's office, occasionally raising his hand for a polite wave at the portraits he recognized.

"Something like that. You know how all that paperwork can get a man down." Or maybe how life had a way of creating situations where hard decisions had to be made, including one where he gave up a job he loved for a woman he loved more.

Plus working at Hogwarts wasn't bad.

"I'm glad you're here. I hope the trip went well."

"Aye, aye." That paperwork could turn anyone into a dementor, even the happiest of creatures, but they weren't here to talk about that. Gaellen had invited him to Hogwarts for a different business, one that didn't include paperwork, hopefully. "It did, it did." Although he couldn't say the same about his reception. Several of the students had confused him for a hairy house-elf and others for a jinxed first year. But enough of that, surely Gaellen had important business to attend to, and this conversation would have to take place at another time. "So, tell me, Gaellen, what exactly did you invite me for?" Clearly it wasn't just to chitchat, but if that was it then Gnaeus would be pleased just the same.

"I had a thought, Spenser, and I wanted your input. The students are in need of a little organization and skill development in the art of dueling. I know you're... free at the moment, or I hope you are," Tate tilted back in his chair and propped a boot up on the top of his desk.

"You could stay a while."

As Gaellen spoke, Gnaeus made himself comfortable on the chair across the table, and by the time he had settled the young man's face was hidden behind a boot. Gnaeus had always turned down teaching jobs, because he very much enjoyed the positions he had held at the Ministry, but he had run out of options. That blast-ended-blood-sucking-boogeyman had fired him from his job at the ministry, and he despised idleness, so he was considering all options. "Hmmm..." He began, stroking his long beard. Free lodging, free food, and the opportunity to teach students how to hex one another? "You've asked the right man!" He declared, striking the table. Wait, had the man even asked? No matter. He had been an Auror, many, many, many years ago, during his youth and early adulthood, and had participated in duels ever since. He was the perfect candidate. "I will take care of your little pupils and turn into dueling champions!"

"Excellent. We'll have to be sure no one gets injured, and especially that no one dies. Other than that, you have free reign. See if you can't get them organized," Tate peeked around his boot and wagged an eyebrow at Gnaeus. It was a hefty job for the little man, but if anyone in the world was suited for it, that person was Gnaeus Spenser.

"Oho! Now, now, you know I can't promise that no one will get injured." He rested his hand on his belly and chuckled. A jinx or a hex here and there was inevitable, but there would be no need for a healer. "Is it true that that flobbering fat forest troll was responsible for the Defense Against the Dark Arts education of the students last year?" If that was the case, Gnaeus knew he would have many challenges ahead of him, but he was prepared. Not even the product of Lord Boar's incompetency was going to ruin this experience for him.

"I have a very skilled Defense professor THIS year," Tate said tactfully. Who said Gryffindors never grew up? That was practically a politic answer.

"You just worry about dueling. I can set you up with a room, and you can have all the food you can tease out of the elves. There isn't anything better than free food and kids to boss."

Hmmm, elf cuisine. Gnaeus rubbed his hungry belly as he pictured all of the delicacies he would be enjoying throughout the year. "A man could ask for nothing more!" No wonder Tate liked it here so much, and it showed. "That is that! I shall begin tomorrow! If you need me, I will be in the kitchens!" He bellowed and jumped down from his chair, revealing he was much more agile than he appeared to be.

"Thank you, Gnaeus," Tate stood so he was better able to peer down at the shorter man. It was a pain not to get to catch up with his old mentor, but he knew the man had to prepare for the dueling. Aaaaaand Tate had a slew of students waiting outside his door.

"Thank you, Gaellen." He said and jabbed the Headmaster with his staff. Oh, maybe that was a little too hard, but it part of the emphasis on the you. He looked at the man apologetically, then smiled. "I will see you around." With that, the little man was out of the office, and on his way to the kitchens.

Hmm. Tate watched the older man depart before removing his feet from the desk and stretching out his tall form.

Now would be an excellent time to stretch his legs and head downstairs to see who was still waiting.

Presley took the seat on the visitor side of the desk in Professor Tate's office. She sat up straght, not wanting to look like a slacker when he came through the door, which could be any minute. She let her eyes gaze around the office, taking in everything that was there. For all she'd spoken with the Headmaster, she'd never actually set foot in his office. But he'd sent her here, and here she waited patiently, for him to deal with the situation that was happening outside of the office.

The most interesting object in the room, perhaps, was the foe-glass in the corner. Presley studied it for a moment, brifly seing the outline of a face. She leaned forward, trying to see who was the foe in the tool. The face dissapeared all too quickly however, and Presley sat back, unable to get a clear picture of who had it in for the Headmaster.