A Cuppa Between Colleagues PV Sabine

Forty-six.

It had been forty-six years since Felix had last stepped foot in Hogwarts’ hallowed halls, since he had sprinted to practice on the Quidditch pitch with his teammates, his broom and pads banging against his legs. Their homecoming hadn’t been anything extravagant or over-the-top, but they were still glad to be able to return to the castle they had called home for seven years of their life. Of course, certain things had changed beyond recognition, but for the most part, Hogwarts was still the death-trap-in-school’s-clothing that Felix remembered and loved. He had never foreseen himself ending up in education after his education and even after his career in Quidditch, but he supposed that his time coaching for Pride of Portree had helped him grow into a competent enough educator and leader. Being a professor at a school that had both withstood and created history was a privilege, and they intended on taking their new job just as seriously as they had taken Quidditch. Although he was coming fresh out of nine years of retirement, that certainly didn’t mean he was any less sharp than he had been when he had graduated forty-six years ago.

After his first couple of days spent settling into his office and living quarters, preparing lessons, and readjusting to life at the castle, Felix decided it was high time to introduce himself to his new colleagues– or, as he was more used to calling them, teammates. They knew very little about their colleagues at Hogwarts aside from names, subjects, and office locations, but they could at least put a face to Sabine Blumenthal’s name due to their frequent passings on the path that led to their respective teaching spaces within Felix’s first two days. She was young, startlingly young (as many of the professors were, he learned; he didn’t remember his professors being this young fifty-some years ago), but she carried herself with a certain confidence and gravitas that made Felix sure that her students adored her. It would be good to get acquainted with her sooner rather than later, especially if they were going to be in such close proximity for the foreseeable future. Thus, armed with his tea stone, two cups, and a basket of biscuits (all precariously balanced in his arms), the new Flying professor made his way out of his office within the castle and over to Sabine’s office by the stables, gently knocking on the door with his elbow once he reached it.

“Alright there, Professor Blumenthal? It’s the new flying professor, Felix…” they called out, their shoulder pressed against the door as they strained to listen to a response. After a brief pause, he added, “I have tea! It’s traditional Chinese style, but if you’ve got time for a bit of a chat, I can make you a cup. It’s a far more interesting process than a teabag and hot water, I can guarantee that. Ooh, and I brought biscuits as well, can’t forget about those.”