A Moment Of Your Time PV Prof. MacTavish

The early afternoon was a time of peace for the professor, and he was glad for that. On occasion would a student wander in, seeking his aid in whatever they were longing after, but that was the rare occasion. On a typical day, he would sit alone in his greenhouses, tending to his plants. Other times he might not find himself in the greenhouses at all but instead relishing in the common room that he once spent seven years in. On the extremely rare occasion might he be walking the path of the Forbidden Forest, but that was more of a personal thing than anything else.

Instead of being in any of those places, he was holed up in his office. Far too hot to be in the greenhouses, far too mundane to be in the forest, and far too peaceful to be in the common room. So here he was, confined to the elements that made up his secondary workplace. If he was really feeling like it, he could have easily gone to the staffroom, searching for the company of his fellow professors. But he did not feel like it.

Boniface was a plain man. Ordinary, right down to the bare bones. He graduated and then that was that. Off to live the life of a borderline-hermit, much to the dismay of his family. But that wouldn't stop him on his mission to change the world with the ways of extreme gardening. Everything he had to offer, his knowledge, was put on display for his students to see. One day, should he spawn an offspring of his own (though that was unlikely for the foreseeable future), he would teach them his ways and wisdom as well. Until then, he had no one but his students, many of which were bright and flourishing, ready to accept the path of knowledge.

Hearing the call of a student, he pushed himself from his chair, answering the knock on his door. The face of Mac Murphy, a student he remembered from his first day, appeared before him. "I see that we meet again. What is it that I can do for you?"

If there was anything that he liked, it was to make an impression. Though he was typically very refined, he did enjoy putting on a good show for those who were willing to watch. He wasn't shy of the stage, but he certainly wasn't casting himself as the main character. Instead, Boniface enjoyed being the side character. Not very important to the plotline, but still memorable enough to be loved by the majority of those watching. Some might love to hate him, others might love to love him. Whatever it may be, he certainly wasn't shy of the attention that he seldom did receive, though received enough to make him feel accomplished and useful.

With the wave of his hand, he offered the boy to come inside. With another wave, this time of the wand, he summoned some tea. It was in his nature to be hospitable, given that was the man that he had been all these years. Someone with open doors and all the medicine one might need. Whatever young Mac Murphy desired, it could be done over a calm exchange, or perhaps even to be considered reciprocity. Whatever it may be, Boniface was here to listen.

Mac smiled to his elder as he was ushered inside, muttering a polite 'thank you' under his breath as he made his way over to the desk. He watched as, with a single flick of his wrist, MacTavish summoned up some tea for the both of them. Nonverbal magic was far beyond his grade, but still a talent that he one day hoped to learn. He grinned like an idiot as he accepted the tea, holding the cup in both hands.

"I just wanted to see if you were holding up okay, professor," Mac said as his nervous fingers fiddled with the handle of his cup. In all honesty, the words felt silly as they left his mouth. Mac only hoped that MacTavish didn't misinterpret them; he wasn't trying to suck up to him or waste the poor man's time. His intentions here were genuine, not some arse-backwards attempt to get his grades up by buttering up his Herbology professor.

The simple truth of the matter was that MacTavish was new to Hogwarts. Yes, he'd attended there in his youth, but teaching and learning were two very different things. He imagined it must have been overwhelming, having to adapt to everything all over again. Mac felt that he could relate to that, as his first day at the school had been... hectic, to say the least. He'd built up a small support system now, with several close friends to keep him grounded, but if he could change anything about his first few days at the school, he would have wanted someone to reach out to him. Being uprooted from your home and thrust into a new environment is always a stressful situation, regardless of the circumstances.

Mac pursed his lips as he tried to find the right words to convey this, words that would hopefully make him seem less like a total nutter or a wannabe teacher's pet.

"I mean... I remember when I first came to Hogwarts—I'm a muggle-born, so I didn't know about... well, anything, really. I didn't have any friends or elders to show me around, so I just had to fend for myself, for the most part." He paused briefly as he looked up at MacTavish, then quickly continued, his voice hurried and somewhat rattled with nerves.

"Sorry if I'm bothering you, professor—I'm sure you've got a lot on your plate. I just remember meeting you in the Small Hall, and it didn't seem like they sent anyone to greet you."

With the wave of his hand, Boniface brushed off the statement of the boy. Sure, he had an awful lot on his plate. That was the life of being a professor. However, he was never going to deny a student. Boniface was more or less proud, mostly, that a student would come to him for anything. Typically, when strange people wandered to his door, it was in search of a miracle. This boy, however, was just asking about the Scottish professor's well being. It surprised him and flattered him all at once.

Being greeted by several different students, each in their own way, was new to Boniface. Some decided to sneak into his greenhouses. Others simply came to his door. He was meeting new people every day. It was wonderful, really. He had never in his life (outside of his youth, which he spent here) been so flooded with people, anxious to meet him.

The gentle nature of the boy called Mac Murphy was one that Boniface would come to appreciate. He was not aggressively friendly, much like the Hufflepuffs. Nor was he proud and discourteous, much like the house of the elder. He also was not condescending, like the slippery snakes. Instead, he was simple, genuine, and thoughtful. Perhaps that was the life of a Ravenclaw. Mac certainly did fit a pleasing trope; wise beyond his years.

Smiling gratefully, Boniface took a sip of his tea, and then responded thoughtfully. "I appreciate yer concern. I am settling in quite well. It is very nice to be back. Didnae think I would get the position, honestly."

Boniface MacTavish was an honest man, and he did not keep his thoughts withheld from those who asked for them. He was like this with anyone. Students. Colleagues. Friends and family. No one escaped his unfiltered replies. But it turned out alright, because he was typically very plain and boring. He wouldn't be caught saying anything that he shouldn't.

"Yer not bothering me at all. I quite like having visitors. Not very many people come my way." It was a half-truth. People were interested in him. Students, mostly. However, he was typically caught in the halls or the greenhouses. It wasn't often that one would come to his door simply so they could chat. That alone meant something to him when it came to Mac's visit. It meant that there was thought put into this.

He could only smile, thinking of Mac's story. "I'm a muggle-born myself- ye may or may not have known that. I felt much the same when I first started here. Those were different times, of course. Much scarier ones. But I think our experiences might have been much the same." It was all that he could do to reassure the boy that he would be alright. Of course, when Boniface was attending Hogwarts, it was right towards the end of the infamous Second Wizarding War. 1998 was a strange year for him.

Despite this, he wanted to ensure Mac that in a way, he wasn't alone. This visit might have been about him, but Boniface would find a way to turn it around just as quickly.