The Dark Side of History Closed

 Teaching the seventh years was, in fact, Leonie's favourite class to teach. Though the Dark Arts proved difficult due to her wand at first - the core has long since adapted to the use of dark magic - she pulled off the class without any struggles. That day, they were discussing theory and the students happened to be quite creative, as well as intelligent. She enjoyed it, and she couldn't wait for the next class. It surprised her that she would even be eager about a class. She didn't want to be here, she wanted to be in the Ministry.

 Class had been let out for a few minutes now, and Leonie sat in the chair behind her desk. The notes were still up on the blackboard behind her, in her naturally scrawly handwriting. She preferred to use the chalk herself, thus her fingertips were coated in chalk dust. Magic was not to be used for everything. In front of her, a short pile of papers sat in front of her. A few students managed to finish their homework in class, and it was better to mark them now rather than later. The less time spent marking at a time, the better.

 She did not go undisturbed though. In a matter of moments after the last student exited the room, another person entered. They were not a student, but rather a co-worker of hers. From what she could remember, he was the Head of Gryffindor. At least, that's what she learned from her research on the ''wizard net'' back in Germany. He leaned against the door frame, and verbally knocked. To that, she rolled her eyes. He was weirder than she imagined him to be. She turned back to the paper on the top of the pile, giving the student a grade on the first question.

 "Hello Mr. Cazarez," She phrased, her eyes skimming the last two questions before giving them an overall A. They had missed a few points, and was close to getting a P, but she was apparently in an alright mood that day. "They were alright, and you?" She questioned, sparing a glance in his direction before slipping the graded paper to the bottom of the pile, starting on the next one. Her voice sounded monotonous, as though she had no particular interest in having this conversation. She tucked a piece of white blonde hair behind her ear. Honestly, she had no clue if the other professor even had classes that day. It was safe to say that she didn't pay much attention to others' schedules. She had no plans on becoming attached. 

"My classes? Thrilling as ever, of course," he mentioned casually, ignoring the dry tone. "I kept the soap storm inside the classroom this time even."

Professor Cazarez provided no further explanation of what that meant or if he had failed to keep a storm of soap in his room previously. The Spaniard thought back to how annoyed some students had seemed at becoming covered in soap. Apparently, the impervious charm was not common knowledge. He did not dare change his plans though as he quite honestly found the whole thing entertaining. Teaching spells and having some fun in History class wasn't a crime as that old ghost might have students think. Out with the old and in with the new. That was a common theme in the classroom he was visiting in actuality. He quietly wondered to himself how long this new professor would last.

"How are you adjusting to Hogwarts, Professor Che... Shi... Chine... Schein... Leonie?" Sebastián struggled outwardly with the name before giving up and offering an apologetic grimace.

The History of Magic Professor stepped a bit further into the room now that he was at least acknowledged. She did not seem excited to see him but he was determined to meet and make new friends with the professors around the school. Most of the women so far only teased him rather than forming a true bond. Not that is was their fault he was such a flirt. His Spanish Heart could not be tamed, at least in his mind it couldn't yet. This time he was putting real effort into not accidentally flirting with the professor he was meeting, His other focus was on not staring, which was a different yet similar goal. If he could hold out, maybe his new neighbor and fellow head of house could become a real friend. Maybe she would be cold and they would hate each other too.

To be determined, supongo (I suppose). He thought to himself as he considered if she had a personality behind the cold exterior.

Refraining herself from rolling her eyes at the other professor's comment, muttering under her breath, "Unlike last time." Sebastián had been sure to fill the hallways with soap the last time he had taught the class on whatever it was. It even starting leaking into Leonie's classroom from underneath her door - and that was hard to do considering her door was so close to the ground it was almost heavy to open. She turned back to look at her homework, ignoring how the professor proceeded into her classroom. She didn't mind, despite never really being in the mood for company.

 He had asked her how she was adjusting to Hogwarts, and she looked at him blankly - almost coldly, in fact. He couldn't even pronounce her name, yet she could pronounce his. Did he not pay as much attention to her as she did him? She paid a decent amount of attention to all of the professors, actually, although if none of them would pronounce her name right, was it really worth it? She huffed, putting her quill down as she rubbed her temples with her fingertips, leaning her elbows on her desk as she closed her eyes. 

 "I'm adjusting fine." She grumbled, opening her eyes to slightly glare at the man in front of her, pursing her lips, "Is this all you came to see me for, Professor Cazarez? To see how I am adjusting?" She asked, her tone sharp enough to cut through solid ice. Some people told her she should be softer with her words, but most of the time she didn't even notice how she acted. It wasn't her fault she spoke the way she did; like mother, like daughter. Wasn't that how the saying went?

It brought a slight smirk to the Gryffindor Head of House's face when she quipped back about the soap storm. Sebastián liked hands-on lessons even for history, but it did backfire sometimes. It was his goal to bust through the cold layer that was Leonie's outer shell. She would be his friend or at least learn to tolerate him. That or she would hate him and he'd be a great annoyance to her for many years. Either way worked for him, though he would prefer a good friend.

"Of course not, Leonie," he said casually, but his accent showing a bit stronger. "If we will be such colleagues and neighbors, I figured we'd spend a lot of time together and we should try to get to know each other."

A genuine smile crossed his face and he tried hard to make sure he wasn't being a total flirt. It was working so far, for the most part at least. Especially with recent events from the Ministry shaking up the school, he would want to know his fellow head staff well. This one seemed cold on the outside but she was knowledgeable and focused enough to get the job done. Professor Cazarez could be silly but he was a professional Curse-Breaker before Hogwarts and knew when to get serious as well.

"You may have missed some of our previous meetings," he said, quieter now as he approached the desk so students would not hear from the hallway. "Have you been briefed on the mask?"

The last bit was a near whisper as he looked her over closely. She would be someone a lot looked to due to the subject she taught and the position she held above Slytherin. He was sure Ackerley or someone had briefed her already, but it didn't hurt to ask. Plus it would maybe be a more serious topic to connect over and break that icy wall without trying to burn it down by force.

 A scoff sounded from the woman as she called her by her first name, yet she didn't correct him. She did have a rather sour look on her face though. No one here called her by Leonie, and no one would as far as she was concerned. If it happened again, she would correct him. Instead, a sickeningly sweet grin was on her face, albeit fake, bright. "I don't do getting to know each other, Mr. Cazarez," She told him, his name like venom on her tongue, "You don't try to know me, I don't try to know you. The end." 

 Hopefully, that was the end of that. She didn't need temporary people prying into her life, especially when most of who she is is a secret within itself. Having been through the Ministry and the Unspeakable department, Leonie wouldn't be the same for a while. She pursed her lips, leaning back in her seat and crossing one of her legs over the other. He asked about the mask, and the German woman let out a breathy sigh, shaking her head. But not because she hadn't been briefed on it, but because he really didn't know anything about who she was, or why she was sent here.

 "Of course I have. Why do you think the Ministry sent me here?" She asked, her tone slightly agitated. She took a breath or two, then slouched her position slightly, but not quite enough to notice. She lowered her voice, "Stolen, yes? And it all connects back to here.." She trailed off, gesturing with her pointer finger on the surface of her desk, moving it from one point to the next, away from herself. "Suspicious." Drawing her hand back, she glanced to the man once again, "Do you know anything significant that has not been reported to the Ministry?"

 It didn't hurt to ask, and Leonie was evidently nosy, even though she tried not to make it too obvious. Most of the time, she knew everything that she needed to, therefore she didn't ask many questions. But now the Ministry was lessening contact with her and she was worrying - were they keeping her out of the loop for a reason? And if so, why? Had she done something wrong? Leonie played a front that she was still close with her original employment, but in reality she wasn't quite sure about it anymore.

This woman was certainly not the usual type Sebastián tried to get close to, to say the least. She seemed cold and unwilling to make new friends at all. Maybe the rumors were true about her being more strict and unemotional than the others. The Spaniard didn't give up though. Everyone could be broken and no one who taught students would last bottling themselves up. They'd snap one way or another. Professor Cazarez was now on a mission to get a smile from this woman.

"I may have learned a few things, studying some historical texts," the History of Magic professor teased to Leonie in response to her latest question. "But..."

Sebas trailed off at the end to study her for a moment. She claimed not to want to get to know others or for them to know her. He thought she must have been tortured in life at some point to be so beautiful yet not want to be around others. A true shame in his eyes. She had the potential to light up a room, but instead she was the counter-spell. As a curse-breaker in his last employment, Professor Cazarez saw her as project now. What could break her outer shell?

"...but I don't know if I should share information before getting to know someone." His smile returned as he looked over the Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor.  "The best curse-breakers still have a team. Trust me on that."

A hopeful Sebastián approached closer yet and extended a hand. A handshake he hoped she would accept meaning they'd get to know each other rather than being feuding neighbors and house heads. She acted like she wasn't sticking around long, but the Head of House title said otherwise. He had time to break her if she didn't accept now. It was a challenge he gladly took on, not even just because she was beautiful.

 Leonie's eyebrow quirked as the man left off on a but. She had a right to know either way, there shouldn't be any sort of 'but' coming up. No matter what it was, she would probably get news of it from the Ministry sometime soon anyways. She didn't need to waste her time trying to convince some History of Magic professor to let her in on what he knows. Sure, he might have been a curse-breaker in his younger years, but he wasn't anymore. It made her wonder for what reason he would have left the position. Not that she needed to know, but she was curious.

 "But?" She questioned, raising her other eyebrow along with the one that had been previously raised. She rested her elbow on the edge of her desk, perching her chin in the palm of her hand as she watched the other professor. A scoff came from the woman as he replied, and she pushed up off the desk, leaning back in her chair with enough momentum to spin her around once. She narrowed her eyes at him, pursing her lips. He wasn't quite giving up. She turned her face to look away from him when he held out a hand.

 "I don't do getting to know people, Cazarez. I told you that once already." She stated, closing her eyes as she drew in a deep breath. She didn't want to lose her temper - she wouldn't. "You can either tell me, or not. It is simple enough, no?" She asked, finally looking back to the man. She didn't need confirmation, she knew it was simple. And if he didn't tell her? It wouldn't be the end of the world. 

It seemed his little game was not going to work so simply on Leonie. Sebastián was not sure if this intrigued him or upset him. The project would take more than one swing. She did not seem like much of a friendly person at front, but everyone had friends. Even Voldemort, the source of evil himself, had friends. The Spaniard knew he could find the way but this was obviously not the method nor the time. This one would take more work and care.

"You will find it easier to cope if you find friends here," he stated simply, disappointed in her reaction. "As for the mask, the rumors I read of are little more than that. I'm sure I can interest you in the texts later. If you wish to get them, and chat, my room is next door."

The History of Magic Professor watched the woman for a moment before letting out a sigh and retracting his hand. He gave a weak smile to her and started to walk out slowly. In his mind, there was a lot of work to be done. Sebas wondered if she even cared at all. Could someone truly be cold to the core? He doubted it with all his heart. Even the head of Slytherin had to have a soul.

Sebastián gave a wave and a slight bow as he left the room. He made the short trip to his classroom to clean up some things before making the stroll back to his main office and quarters. There was grading to be done and plans to be made.