Prof. Griffith's door.

The professor heard the ringing, and walked to the door. His stride wasn't especially fast, but his long legs ate up the ground with surprising rapidity. Who was it, who was bothering him this time? It happened so often, nowadays. It was like the signs didn't exist. If this wasn't a student with a homework problem he was not going to be happy. He opened the first stone door, and, walking into the mudroom that functioned as an office, he closed the door behind him, and opened the front door to find a little boy in really messy clothes wearing a crown of flowers.

He honestly didn't know what to think, but he did know for a fact that this person was not a third year, and hence had not come to talk about homework, which was the only acceptable reason for someone to come talk with him, as far as Griffith was concerned. It was a sight to see, the tall man with wild hair and scraggly beard wearing his long, heavy leather jacket and looking down a a little boy with a flower crown on his head. The welshman wasn't quite willing to let the boy come into his office, not until he knew that his services would actually be required, so he stood in the doorway, and began to talk.

"Professor Griffith, Care of Magical Creatures. How can I help you?"

The boy looked a little worse for wear, even if you ignored the grungy clothes. But that could just be the snow and the wind. It was probably nothing to worry about.

Ah yes. Right to the point it would be. He didn’t seem to be the patent type, much less the kind type. Offer your services and be done. Otherwise he’ll just say fuck off. 

“Rowan Bane. I’m not here to waste your time, Professor, so I’ll be quick. I want to be around the animals, they calm me down, however I know you won’t tolerate it. So instead I’ll offer you a deal.” 

The male wiped the frost and tears from his face, his pale eyes looking up at him. 
“Animals are messy, and I assume you don’t like shoveling their shit or cleaning up feathers and whatnot. I know a decent bit about creatures from hippogiffs to kelpies, so I won’t get myself killed. I clean the enclosures, and stay out of your way, and you let me hang around them from time to time. I’m not asking to learn from you yet or be your friend. I’ll do you a service and stay out of your hair. And I can get up into the rafters and whatnot if you need someone small for repairs or cleaning in tight spaces.”  

He tilted his head to the side slightly. 
“Hence why I’m currently wearing... this. Don’t want to mess up real clothes. I’ll sign whatever papers you want for liability and, it’s not a commitment, if you find me annoying or grow tired of me being around, I’ll leave you alone no questions asked.” 

Now... wait. Let him decide. Don’t continue talking or he’ll just say no.  You made your point.w

So, this kid didn't make much sense. He wanted to be around animals because they calmed him down, okay, sure, he could understand that. He could empathize with the feeling. He knew what it felt like to want comfort that wasn't going to judge you, that forgave you no matter what happened. Creatures, for the most part, were some of the most understanding things he knew of, and he wasn't about to turn this boy away for wanting companionship his fellow students couldn't give.

But the professor was also a bit wiser than that. Creatures could sense your emotional state, and they reacted to it. He was also immediately wary of the boy's supposed knowledge of everything creature related. He either studied a lot about creatures, in which case the knowledge was probably enough to keep him from killing himself. Or he had 'practical knowledge', which was either a lie or a half truth. If a mentor was helping him, Griffith could believe that a magical creature would let the boy come near it. But otherwise, there was just no way. Not in the state this boy was in.

Something else that interested him was that this boy was not dumb. Far from it, in fact. He thought that if he made sure that he wasn't a liability in any way that it would be a lot more likely for him to get this weird job he wanted. Eliminating the downsides with signatures that said anything that happened to the boy wasn't the professor's fault, that he wasn't liable for any damages that happened as a result of the flower crown wearing boy.

But there was a slight miscalculation. Similar, he was sure, to the boy's feelings on this particular matter, Griffith didn't mind cleaning up after his creatures. He didn't mind mucking the pens or sweeping or scrubbing. He kept his stables, and himself, as clean as he could possibly manage to avoid infection or disease.

Still, the boy needed help. In some form or another.

"I don't accept that kind of deal. It's called child labor, kid. And if you got eaten Ms. Wright would have my head on a stake. You say you're experienced with creatures. Where did you learn about them? And what the hell happened that makes you need calming down?"

Well. 
That didn’t go as planned.
“It’s called volunteering. Child labor would have to mean I get paid. Which I’m not. But sure, whatever. Pureblooded family. On my father’s side he works for the ministry with creatures and such. We have a collection of them at home. I grew up with them. Books can only tell you so much, in all honesty. Sure it’ll give you facts but nothing is like working with a baby hungarian horntail. I’m not saying I know everything, but I know enough to keep me upright and functional, not dead in the ground.” 
Rowan had quickly stopped crying, instead seemed to focus on the little details of things. Odd child.
“Muggles call it sensory overload. My brain overanalyzes things. Animals follow certain patterns. They follow simple rules. They don’t talk back, they don’t argue, they don’t judge you or-“
He took a breath.
“Yet they’re still complex. They still have feelings. They’re still so beautiful. They don’t care what day you had, just that they get fed like everyone else. Some of them are even loyal to you, if you’re nice enough. Pack bonding and all that.”
He shrugged, drawing a circle in the snow with his toe.
“What I’m trying to say is animals are a perfect middle ground for me. They aren’t- not talking about you, because you’re right to the point- they aren’t manipulative like humans or judgemental or any number of things, and they’re not just plain loneliness, which is frankly depressing.”
He rolled his eyes and sighed.
“I’m rambling. You get the point. Humans suck, animals are nice and calm, I like them, they keep me from having panic attacks. Happy? There’s my sob story. Half of it doesn’t make sense, I know, I can’t think of it off the top of my head every detail, but if you really want, I’ll tell you the full thing when I can focus. Just- yes or no? Will you let me just hang out and take care of the animals? I’m assuming no, but I’m still asking.”

There was a huge flaw with what the boy said, right off the bat. So he had that kind of parent, then. Sure, there were good people in the ministry, but the ministry was only concerned with one thing when it came to magical creatures. Restraint and control, in some form or another. There wasn't a division for happy fun playtime zoo magical creature keeper. That, and the boy had specifically said collection. An odd choice of words for the family pet, and apt word for the gathering of rare creatures they probably had locked up.

However, the boy was young, young enough to probably not know what was going on. Which is why when the professor felt his eyes gaining intensity, felt his jaw clench with a quiet rage, he closed his eyes and relaxed before opening them again and accosting the 11 year old further. What really amused him was that towards the end he said that it was his sob story, but the only thing he mentioned that had to do with sadness was that the implication he was lonely and the fact that he had panic attacks.

"Creatures aren't all that complex. You're overthinking this. Come on back, little man, and let me explain some things. First of all, you're 11, 12 tops. I frankly can't believe that you're already adept at not dying. Second of all, I have a program for kids sorta like you. Kids that want to interact with creatures. You should send in an application, if you're interested. Research Opportunities for Aspiring Magizoologists. R.O.A.M.

Do you understand why I might not want you around magical creatures? If you have a point to make, then make it. That said, what kind of candy do you like?"

It was possible that the boy was just going to walk off, and leave the professor speaking with the wind. But the welshman was going to try, anyway.

“I’m not saying a hippogriff is an astronomer, I’m saying they’re not as dull as like plants. Some people like plants better, they’re not my thing companion whise.” He grumbled. The ministry really wasn’t the best. Which is where he was bluffing, mostly. He got most of the ‘not dying’ part from books. He learned the very basics about behavior from whatever lap dog creature his father adopted for the month. And the teacher was right. They weren’t all that complex from what he could see. They were mostly drugged out of their minds and put up on display. But when they weren’t in their pristine cages, when it was the middle of the night before their next sedative potion, he went out to play. His father was amazed at times when they needed to move the beast and it listened to Rowan. He really wasn’t hoping thats what it would be here. He wanted the undrugged creatures 24/7. 
Rowan was only a child though.
He noticed the professor’s reaction, sighing softly. “I know what my father showed me weren’t the... well they were the real but they weren’t... right. The creatures. I want to see the real ones. I understand that you’re probably not excited about me being around them because I may not have experienced the... real animals. Just the lap dog ones. There’s something wrong with the animals father brings home. They give them something. It makes them dull. But you’re worried that I’ll get injured by the real thing, right?” This kid was either really good at BSing or just really good at reading people’s emotions. That said he could be completely wrong. 
And Rowan seemed to just not answer the candy question.

And just like that, the professor had learned a little bit more. Not a whole lot, but enough. What was strange to the man was that the kid didn't really answer to what he had said at all. It was more like a random statement, something the boy had to get off of his chest. It coincidentally pertained to what he had just been upset over, so in his own mind's eye he was glad that he was able to get validation for what he had been suspecting. It was just weird that the kid would say something like that without a prompt. Whoever he was, he certainly wasn't very good at conversation.

He kept calm, again. He had already steeled himself against the knowledge of what this boy's father was doing, and confirmation of something he had already prepared against wasn't going to make him look worried. He would focus on answering the boy's questions, and posing those of his own.

"Not just that. Sure, I don't want you to get hurt. But I don't want the creatures to get hurt either. Does that make sense? Tell you what. If you want, you can come on inside, I think I can help you, at least a little bit. And do you really not like candy? I don't think I've ever met a kid that didn't like candy of some form or another."

He opened the slab door a little wider, and stepped to the side to allow entrance to the spartanic room with the coat rack, desk, and two chairs. He wasn't going to ask about the boy's father. That didn't matter right now. The kid mattered. He needed help first, then the man could see about doing something about the creatures.

Ooc: Am I the only one imagining the tiny flower child now being guarded by big grumpy man? Lmao

And in that, you are correct. The child was shit at conversion. He no longer had a plan, so he would ramble at times. But enough of that.

“Oh. Yes. I usually assume they can hold their own against someone as small as me. But I guess there is dieting and whatnot to factor.” And now invited in, the tiny child walked inside of the office, eyes quickly darting around. He gathered information surprisingly fast, as he soon enough turned back to the teacher, looking up at him again. 
Gosh the child was short.
“I mean, I like caramel, but you’re already doing enough for me.”
Well... that’s what you get for having a reputation as the grumpy no nonsense man. 
The boy was expecting a price for everything. 
He took off his hood, but kept his cloak on still for a moment. 
And for once he wasn’t rambling. He kept quiet, and kept his head down, realizing how out of hand he must be. How irritating. He wasn’t going to chance this opportunity now by being a loud mouth. 
“Your reasons do make sense, in all honesty. They have brawns but we have... well intelligence and brute force sometimes...” 

The boy more slunk in then walked, and the flow of words seemed to have stopped dead. Only quiet observations and responses, matched with a meekness that seemed sort of amplified in the stark bareness of the office. Still, that was sort of expected. Outdoors wasn't all that new. New areas made people uncomfortable, just like creatures. That wasn't anything new, or different. He expected it. But change was good.

If the body changed environments to something new, it, too, had to change and adapt. And something that was changing or adapting was a lot harder to mold. Although in this case he wasn't trying to mold very much. Just trying to leave a positive impression. Which was hard enough to handle. The advantage change gave would be necessary.

"One second."

The man's hand vanished in his pocket, then his entire forearm before it reappeared holding a caramel. Holding it in his hand, he walked with long strides to his chair on the other side of the desk, and tossed the candy to the boy with one hand, gesturing to the chair with the other, indicating that sitting was encouraged.

"Catch. Don't let it stick your mouth shut. And some creatures are a whole lot smaller than you are. Now if you don't mind, please take off those shiny earrings and rings you've got. Stash them in a pocket or something."

There was really no reason for Rowan to have any verbal response to either statements, though he did as he was told, taking earrings, rings, bracelets, and necklaces off. I would say it was a bit of a surprising amount, but that would be an understatement of sorts. He found somewhere to stash it all thankfully.
As he sat across from the Professor, he ran over two different things.
First- the list of reasons why he may be helping him. Which all and all, was short, and not all of the reasons great.
Second- trying to figure out which creatures would require no shinies. Nifflers came to mind first. Which would make sense too because the professor was talking about creatures smaller than him. However stashing the jewelry in a pocket probably wouldn’t be sufficient enough for them to keep from stealing it.
The Bane looked back up at the Professor, giving him a curious look.
“I still have no clue why you’re doing this. You were to the point and very ‘stay out’ and ‘serious business only’ a minute ago. What changed, sir? You don’t even have me in a class yet.”
Although I would love to be in his class. 
The flower child placed the caramel in his pocket, still so hesitant to take anything from him, and only now remembering to observe formalities. 
Why was Rowan even questioning this? It was what he wanted so why wasn’t he just taking it and running?
The child really was odd. Rambling one moment, and silent as a statue the next.
He was the kind though where the silence was just calm and relaxed, most often not awkward in any way. 
His grey eyes flicked from the Professor to the room again, going over it for a second time. This may be a long day.
But thankfully, the child wasn’t crying or anything anymore.