Heavydirtysoul
Date: 10th September 2025
Location: Hogwarts, United Kingdom
Mentions: @Silas Norwood
Active abilities: Calming Presence, Cat's Grace
Continued from: Shadows That Move
Location: Hogwarts, United Kingdom
Mentions: @Silas Norwood
Active abilities: Calming Presence, Cat's Grace
Continued from: Shadows That Move
The boy's reaction to her mention of Bach almost made Jessamine laugh. However, as a Responsible Adult and point of authority, she schooled her features into submission and did not promote the use of the word 'fuck' from a twelve-year-old by encouraging him. She stared above his head, her lips pressed into a line (instead of a smile), her hands folded very neatly in front of her before she finally shrugged. 'It's not as if I know what's popular with the kids these days,' she murmured. She raised an eyebrow at his lack of knowledge regarding the Weird Sisters – either he was a Muggle-born, or she really was getting old – but didn't comment much on it, only saying, 'Not necessarily, no.'
His excited (if she could call it that) reaction to the mention of Linkin Park, though, had her smiling once again. Probably a Muggle-born, then. That he had recognised the bands she'd mentioned was certainly a good thing, considering that it had made him perk up a bit, but Jessamine still kept herself on her toes. Every time the boy moved, she did her best to appear as if she wasn't observing his movements, although she remained keenly aware of the way he gripped tightly onto his arms, as if he were attempting to hold himself together.
He was so small – just barely older than her own daughter. The comparison nearly made her grimace; although she maintained the calm smile on her face, something twisted in her stomach, and she desperately wished she could do something to make the boy at least loosen his grip on himself. No child should have to feel that alone, that unsafe, that unable to simply relax.
He had, however, acquiesced to coming to her office, so Jessamine led the way. She kept an eye on him, making sure he was following and keeping up well enough as she began to lead him up the many, many stairs. 'Well, I'd imagine it's rather uncommon to have a lift in an old castle. We're meant to just firm it.' She breathed a bit slower to keep her own lungs capable before adding, 'Not sure if you've noticed, but wizards aren't exactly known for accessibility. It's something some of us have been working on.'
The boy introduced himself as Silas, to which Jessamine nodded, not really wanting to say more. Her focus remained on keeping her breathing steady as they climbed. The worst thing about Runes was the height of the tower. If not a lift, which Silas was completely correct about, couldn't they have just not had a classroom in a tower? There were plenty of other rooms. Surely the abandoned toilets could have been revamped since she had graduated and been turned into a classroom for Study of Ancient Runes.
Once they got a bit closer, Jessamine slowed down and took a slow, somewhat shaky inhale. 'Football, hm?' She raised an eyebrow as she opened the door to the classroom a bit more fully and ushered Silas in. 'It's a shame there's not a lot of that here, although I'm sure some of the Muggle-born students would rejoice if you got an unofficial club or something started. Have you had a look at any of the bigger sports here – you know, Quidditch, racing and the like?'
She strode into the classroom, once again being reminded of how, despite her late-night escapade, she had not managed to acquire the ink she had needed, and she sighed to herself before gently poking Asclepius on his nose. He had rolled over on his bonsai tree, a trick he had grown rather fond of recently. He flicked his tongue at her, and she stared at him before whispering, 'You have a visitor. Be nice, and you'll get a treat, okay?'
He promptly attempted to play dead. Rolling her eyes, Jessamine gestured to the snake. 'This is Asclepius. As far as I'm aware, he doesn't bite. I do not think he is the most intelligent...' She paused, staring down at the snake. She didn't think he understood English. '...anyway, he's a bit odd. Don't mind him too much. I can get some tea started – is there a specific type you'd prefer?'
Perhaps a bit quickly, she would move on to the topic that had excited Silas earlier: music. She made her way over to the old Victor Victrola in the corner, with multiple large cabinets for the storage of discs surrounding it. 'You can pick out what you want. Do you know how to use a record player? If not, I'll show you. But please be careful with the discs. If you drop one, that means no music for either of us, because it will break. Okay?'
His excited (if she could call it that) reaction to the mention of Linkin Park, though, had her smiling once again. Probably a Muggle-born, then. That he had recognised the bands she'd mentioned was certainly a good thing, considering that it had made him perk up a bit, but Jessamine still kept herself on her toes. Every time the boy moved, she did her best to appear as if she wasn't observing his movements, although she remained keenly aware of the way he gripped tightly onto his arms, as if he were attempting to hold himself together.
He was so small – just barely older than her own daughter. The comparison nearly made her grimace; although she maintained the calm smile on her face, something twisted in her stomach, and she desperately wished she could do something to make the boy at least loosen his grip on himself. No child should have to feel that alone, that unsafe, that unable to simply relax.
He had, however, acquiesced to coming to her office, so Jessamine led the way. She kept an eye on him, making sure he was following and keeping up well enough as she began to lead him up the many, many stairs. 'Well, I'd imagine it's rather uncommon to have a lift in an old castle. We're meant to just firm it.' She breathed a bit slower to keep her own lungs capable before adding, 'Not sure if you've noticed, but wizards aren't exactly known for accessibility. It's something some of us have been working on.'
The boy introduced himself as Silas, to which Jessamine nodded, not really wanting to say more. Her focus remained on keeping her breathing steady as they climbed. The worst thing about Runes was the height of the tower. If not a lift, which Silas was completely correct about, couldn't they have just not had a classroom in a tower? There were plenty of other rooms. Surely the abandoned toilets could have been revamped since she had graduated and been turned into a classroom for Study of Ancient Runes.
Once they got a bit closer, Jessamine slowed down and took a slow, somewhat shaky inhale. 'Football, hm?' She raised an eyebrow as she opened the door to the classroom a bit more fully and ushered Silas in. 'It's a shame there's not a lot of that here, although I'm sure some of the Muggle-born students would rejoice if you got an unofficial club or something started. Have you had a look at any of the bigger sports here – you know, Quidditch, racing and the like?'
She strode into the classroom, once again being reminded of how, despite her late-night escapade, she had not managed to acquire the ink she had needed, and she sighed to herself before gently poking Asclepius on his nose. He had rolled over on his bonsai tree, a trick he had grown rather fond of recently. He flicked his tongue at her, and she stared at him before whispering, 'You have a visitor. Be nice, and you'll get a treat, okay?'
He promptly attempted to play dead. Rolling her eyes, Jessamine gestured to the snake. 'This is Asclepius. As far as I'm aware, he doesn't bite. I do not think he is the most intelligent...' She paused, staring down at the snake. She didn't think he understood English. '...anyway, he's a bit odd. Don't mind him too much. I can get some tea started – is there a specific type you'd prefer?'
Perhaps a bit quickly, she would move on to the topic that had excited Silas earlier: music. She made her way over to the old Victor Victrola in the corner, with multiple large cabinets for the storage of discs surrounding it. 'You can pick out what you want. Do you know how to use a record player? If not, I'll show you. But please be careful with the discs. If you drop one, that means no music for either of us, because it will break. Okay?'