Text Cut: bahaha gosh Lottie

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lockhartian

Oh? Well, the first exclamation was a clear proof that Botros remembered the name. That felt nice. This girl didn't particularly wanted to say more about him in order to make the Professor remember, you know? It made her feel uneasy somehow. But his next words. Potential. Yes, she was quite aware of that, and she tried to hide the smile on her face but it was a difficult task at the moment. Another one of those proud moments here. "I think he still does." She noticed the past tense in his sentence. Her eyes were unfocused on a piece of paper nearby, this was only a distraction from facing the man's eyes. "Knowledge-wise, I mean." A future involving Ancient Runes goes away with that OWL. Anyway, her eyes moved back to Botros and she gave him a nod, "I did." There was that bothersome feeling again.

"That's not why I'm here, though," Botros, you're getting sidetracked. Maybe she was the one getting sidetracked. See what we mean with the focusing??

More nodding came along and... was he getting confused as well? Was there something in the water?! Was this like the ice cream incident two terms ago?! No time to panic, though. Not yet. She had proof. And so she said nothing, her hands opened up the textbook and she took a piece of paper out of it (don't worry, she's not tearing any pages from it), then she placed it in front of Botros. Yup, you're looking at a test made by Lotus. "I did that yesterday, and you can see the answers aren't right." Yeah, you can see that Ansuz has nothing to do with Laguz, they don't belong in the same aett even! "That's never happened before. I mean, on previous terms." All the answers were wrong. And she knew they were wrong. "I only know they're wrong after I'm done with the test, not while I'm taking it." So, THIS was a problem.

But she had a question a very experienced mind could answer. He was the most experienced from all of Hogwarts. "Is it possible to overwork your mind to the point where it purposefully fails you?" She'd been studying since last term, after all.

Botros followed her words with squinted, VERY focused eyes. He didn't even notice how much forward he was leaning across the desk. "Right." Not why she was here. What she was here for was pretty confusing, so... anyway.

Oh! She had a paper to show him. Well that was a relief, why hadn't she taken it out since the start and save him the bad feeling of being so detached from his students' concerns? Botros leaned back in his seat, the paper in his hands and his mouth stretched into a BIG amused, proud smile. The answers were wrong like she said - or well, not wrong, but inaccurate but the test layout was very good. "Miss Wisteria." Thank Merlin she remembered to mention her name in the beginning! "I'll have you know that very few students your age manage to plan out a Runes test like the one you did here. This must've taken you great time and focus. No wonder you're confusing yourself eventually, and going for the wrong answers." He nodded, "Yes. There is such a thing as overworking your mind. Especially with a subject that's considered... academically challenging like Ancient Runes. First thing you need to get things clearer in this subject is a fresh, relaxed mind." He folded the paper and slipped it under the big dusty book on his desk. "Let me hold on to this for a while." He waited for her to speak before he continued.

Text Cut: *pets* we gotchya

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lockhartian

No, of course she wasn't going to argue. Never. It really didn't take her too long to come ask for Botros' advice, you know? She knew the longer she waited, the worst this would be. Why was he extending his hand now? Oh, her textbook? That was quite an odd request, one she didn't see coming, but... okay, she nodded, slightly confused, and gave her textbook away. Then THAT happened.

...HER NOTES?! HER NOTES?!?!

NO RUNES FOR AN ENTIRE WEEK!?

O_O

But, like, WHO TAKES A VACATION LIKE THIS?! Well now, she was beyond uncomfortable already, and started to straighten out her skirt a bit, unwrinkling the non-existent wrinkles. Geez. "I...," there was no need to take her notes away, not to mention they'd be spending an entire hour fetching all of them. It was all worse, because she wasn't sure about whether or not she'd added something of Runes in the L-Squared notebook. Ay. "...yes, I can try that." Did she even have a choice?

Exactly. Exactly!

"Exactly how many stones would I have to bring back?" Watch her obsessing over this instead.

Way to play with her mind and feelings, Abraham Botros. She was more than willing to get that clear and relaxed mind, but she didn't know she'd have to give up her notes. We all know she can ask someone else for their textbook, or go to the library or something. She wouldn't, though. A deal is a sort of promise.

So, she breathed in and out, LOUDLY, too, so he could hear her. OMG, she would die if Airey told her she should take a week off Astronomy. "Okay. It's a deal. I'll have a week free of Runes." Does that include any Runes Master as well?

It was obvious how nervous she was, it was so obvious Botros thought he was going to have to send a Patronus to the Healer soon. But the girl seemed to hold on to that last string of sanity nerves well, which was good. Very good. He offered her a smile when she bravely handed over her textbook. "I wouldn't have asked you this if I didn't believe you could do it. Okay?" He walked to her and gently ushered her to follow him outside the office. "Your OWLs don't depend wholly on this week, and you're not going to fall behind because of it. Your homework and participation is adequate enough to give me the impression that you're going to nail those OWLs anyway." He wouldn't say that to other students, that would be like a ticket for them to lag in their studies.

"I promise to keep your notes in a safe place." He smiled reassuringly, in case that was what causing this haywire reaction? "And Feo isn't around to chew on them!" No cruppy no worry.

How many stones.... seriously? Botros scratched his bald scalp, "I'm going to use them and make a customized runeset. Maybe more than one if you bring enough." So. Did that help? Yes, miss Wisteria?

Botros closed the door behind them and proceeded to sit behind his desk, folding his hands onto his stomach and leaning backwards. The girl seemed to take her time wording her question, which indicated a thoughtful mind of hers, he waited for her to decide on the best way to express what she needed to say.

"The homework was an exercise of what we learned at the end of our class." He answered simply, with a smile. "We learned in class how we write in runes. How to change the English text into a Runic text. The homework was the opposite process, I offered you a Runic text and asked you to give me the English translation of it." Did that answer her question? "I don't mind seeing what you came up with, of course." The professor leaned across his desk, expecting her to hand him a parchment of her "guess work".

"You had done the work correctly, dear, next time you should hand over your homework even if you think it's incorrect. My impression is that you are here to learn, and you will be awarded for your efforts not the result. The result matters in the final exams only." He smiled at her and handed back her parchment. "If you need further tutoring in this subject then I suggest you seek help from your peers. Captain Fischer is one of the bright students in my class, you may ask her for help." Gryffindor too!

In the afternoon, Botros always made time for tea and ancient indecipherable scrolls the university still sent him sometimes. He had books and books piled on his desk, and on top of everything was a long scroll of runes. His wand was working as a magnifying glass and he leaned close on that scroll, the steaming cup of tea sat on the corner of the desk, dangerously close to fall over.

Botros took a moment to blink at the man by the door before he recognized him as one of the Governors. He stood up and offered a nervous smile, "Hello, Mr. Atticus." Fresh memory for the win! Or as the kids say FTW. Anyway. Yes, hellow Governor who suddenly popped into our office not accompanied by the headmistress. Was he here to sack him? Was this how things worked now that Truebridge was too old and too deaf?

Botros gestured at the empty chair in front of his desk, "Sure, come on in." Questions. Yes. Sure, he bet it was about this aging thing. Ab didn't mind answering questions about that. "Tea?" He stood up, ready to sit on the chair opposite of the man and pour him a cup of tea.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Erik Vinteren

By the hammer of Thor, the rumours were true.

Erik stood silently at the door to Botros' office, staring at the Ancient Runes professor with his icy eyes. The man had miraculously grown hair, fine blond hair at that. He looked in perfect health while the true youth of this school were rotting away.

He followed Atticus into the office. "You look well," he spoke quietly. Suspiciously well. What was his secret? He looked for Ivy to get to the question asking.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sarahlooo

Tea? "I'd love some," Ivy Knox said upon entering the office of her former colleague. Well, wasn't he all young and fresh now? Ivy stepped past Erik and got a good look at the Runes professor. Goldilocks wasn't half bad looking when he wasn't a wrinkled prune, eh?

The situation with aging students was a strange one and she was certain that this man here was the root of the problem. While everyone was aging, he was getting younger. Botros had to be behind it, but how? He didn't seem the type to do this sort of thing, but then again, people were unpredictable. If it WAS his idea, he was certainly doing a bad job at concealing it.

"When did you first start to notice the changes in your appearance? And health -- has your health improved as well?" She wasn't even going to entertain the idea that he didn't know why they were. He was old, but he wasn't dumb.

Botros gave the two former colleagues, current Governors a nervous smile and a nod. Yes, he did look well, Merlin was everyone going to rub that in? He got it. "Thank you. You look well yourself." Ab answered Vinteren even if the man was being sarcastic. Maybe. He couldn't tell with that face.

The eighty-years-old (his birthday wasn't until August, thank you very much, he was still eighty, DP people) turned to the teapot and started pouring a cup for the lady. As he handed it to her, she started asking those interrogating questions. Botros didn't mind. It was suspicious and note-worthy that he got significantly younger while the rest of the staff and students were withering away. Even he was scared and confused inside.

"I think the first time I noticed something out of the ordinary was around November. I usually take those walks outside, with my cane, and it takes me two to three hours to go all the way to the Black Lake and then come back to my office. And my knees would feel sore by the end of the day." He was repeating himself, his Healer already heard this. "It took me an hour that month. And I didn't even use my cane that much." He was sitting behind his desk now, the parchments and scrolls and books still messily scattered over his big desk. "So, yes, my health improved very well in the beginning. My appearance didn't change--" He added that last bit, a little indignant. "--that is my appearance. I've always looked like that." Hmph. Ignorant people, thinking he'd always been grey and raspy with a hunched back. "I've started gaining back my appearance recently. Around a month and a half ago." He answered, finally. Yes, he was a little touchy when he was younger.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Erik Vinteren

Alexandria....Egypt? Curious things were known to happen in Egypt. This very school had been haunted by an Egyptian ghost, as Erik well knew. That ghost had supposedly devoured one of his very good friends.

He merely raised an eyebrow in reaction to the professors' answers, and the addition of two governors to their party. "Have you recently checked yourself, your office, and your belongings for any curses, Mister Botros?" Erik piped up calmly. Not to make the man paranoid, but....well, he could stand to be a little more paranoid in this mad school.

Well. No. Because he was hoping this significant health progression was not a curse, maybe his new potions were working! Botros took a moment to answer fairly, "No. My office is already well-protected against curses. Especially after that incident few terms ago. I highly doubt anything cursed can make it through that door without bursting into flames." He gave a confident nod, "You can do a check if you insist, though." It would be disrespectful to him personally, he was skillful enough to protect his own territory against sabotages.

Y'know, once he learnt that Hogwarts is a dangerous place to live in without anti-cursing your every possession.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sarahlooo

Ivy took mental notes of what the old-young man said. His walk took half as long and didn't require his cane as much. "And now? Do you use your cane at all?" Had it continued to get better? She didn't know the man all that well, but she assumed it would sure be a down day when they figured out the cause of this... and reversed it.

An eyebrow cocked when he got defensive about his appearance not changing but simply that he had gained his appearance back. "And have you always been this testy about your looks, or did that come with your appearance... coming back?" Touchy subject, she discovered. And what did Ivy do with touchy subjects? She mocked them.

Scrolls from Cairo? Ivy eyed them carefully for a moment. Hogwarts didn't seem to have a great History with Egyptian things. Erik posed a good questions. "Perhaps we should check them?" she proposed, looking to Erik. That was his territory more than hers. She returned her attention back to Botros. "Anything else noteworthy? Meet any new people, started a new diet, moved into a new home? Have you seen a healer about your... condition?"

Yeah, he didn't like the woman. How did he manage to like and respect her before? Botros answered automatically after each one of her questions, "No." About the cane. "No." About that testy nonsense. He was not touchy.

Sherman's friends were being mean to him, Botros gave his friend puppy looks.

Oh she wanted to inspect his scrolls? Or the Vinteren guy was going to. He didn't like this, but he just frowned and didn't answer that one. "No. No. No. No. Oh!" He paused when she mentioned the healer. "Yes. There's a Healer at St. Mungo's that manages my potions and health condition. I owl her once a week. So yes, I have contacted her last week about this... unusual health progress." There. Could they lay off the scrolls now?

... head turning to Mr. Atticus. "She sounded interested in her letter, interested but concise. She mentioned doing extra tests and asked me for closer observation of my health. Nothing more." Botros started twiddling his thumbs rather nervously at this point.