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Post by Rowan Trace on Mar 6, 2011 17:31:45 GMT -5
He was almost sure to find peace in the library, amongst the old books with their faint, musty scent and the oft-abandoned tables. Few students were here at this time, only the most studious, and those had little interest in begging him to make an exception, just once, and bump their Dreadful up to Acceptable. No, they were mostly concerned with making up the three points they missed on the last quiz, and reassurances of extra credit to come were enough.
He sat in an armchair near one of the tall windows, one foot resting on the small table between him and the small couch facing him. He loved these reading areas, where he could fool himself into thinking he was here alone, where there was nothing but enough candlelight to read from and a calming view across the moonwashed grounds.
His bookbag was propped against the chair, and his lap desk rested across his thighs as he marked errors on the last homework assignment in ink from a blood-red quill. There were two neat stacks on the coffee table, one he had yet to grade, and one which was complete. Now and then he would raise his wand and the sheet in front of him would shift into the latter, sorted by class, then alphabetical order, by last name. He was content, for the most part. How anyone could expect Skurjify to clean anything was beyond him. Spelling, like pronunciation, counted.
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Post by Keith Evans on Mar 6, 2011 17:49:41 GMT -5
Keith hated learning how to get around in a new library. In his experience, every single one was different, no matter that they all supposedly had the same system of sorting the books. His library had had moving stacks and old slideshow reels against a wall. This one was like a maze. How did anyone find anything in this one? When he stumbled across yet another book-empty reading alcove he gave a frustrated sigh before realizing that he vaguely recognized the man sitting there.
He couldn't have mistaken him for a student even if he hadn't seen him at the staff table, not with all of the papers on the desk. He hovered for a moment as his eyes caught on the man's hair and facial structure before he blinked and spoke. "Excuse me, I don't want to interrupt," he said. "But does this library have any kind of method to it at all?"
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Post by Rowan Trace on Mar 6, 2011 18:06:39 GMT -5
Rowan lay his quill on the page he'd been reading, marking the last line he'd finished with his finger before looking up. He typically wore his professors' robes unless he was leaving the castle or holed up in his quarters, but their new Herbology professor apparently did not. He put on a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Of course," he said. "It's just not intuitive." Not to most, anyway. He'd figured it out on a guided tour.
"Beginning at the farthest corner of the library from the desk, School segments are arranged alphabetically, beginning with Ancient Runes. It weaves back and forth the room, then sweeps around the outer wall of the library, Academic, Fiction, Muggle Fiction, Muggle Non-Fiction, and Non Fiction ending nearest the desk. It was a mess last year, but our new librarian has been working on it." He smiled again. "Is there anything else I can help you with?" He wanted to get back to his work. Why hadn't the man simply asked Dru?
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Post by Keith Evans on Mar 6, 2011 18:15:12 GMT -5
Keith saw no reason to wear his professor's robes outside of the class when he was on his own time, it hadn't been required at his old school except during classes and official functions. "Sounds like it's still a mess," he said, glancing around. He hadn't gone to the librarian mainly because he hadn't seen her, and really how hard could it be to find the books he needed? That was something he had seriously underestimated. "No, that's all, thank you. You're...the Charms professor, right?"
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Post by Rowan Trace on Mar 6, 2011 20:15:56 GMT -5
"I am," Rowan said, setting aside his quill. He lifted his wand and with a swish and flick, sent the paper he'd begun back to the incomplete pile, silently declaring that the man had his full attention, though he had yet to determine whether it was necessary. "My name's Rowan. You're Keith Evans, right?" It had been announced over supper, as little attention as it might have gotten from most. There had been some loud whoops from those with a passion for Herbology, and various greetings from the staff table, but Keith seemed unremarkable.
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Post by Keith Evans on Mar 6, 2011 20:20:52 GMT -5
"Yes, that's me," Keith said, nodding. "I have to say it's nice being somewhere where the professors are closer to my age. All the ones at my last school were at least twenty years older." There hadn't been much to relate to them with, he had stayed mostly to himself because of it, heading into town when he could to find some companionship from people his own age. Not that he hated older people, he just needed some peer contact now and then. "Can I sit? I need to reset my mind from wandering this place."
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Post by Rowan Trace on Mar 6, 2011 20:52:12 GMT -5
Rowan gave a mental sigh. It seemed he'd be finishing up today's homework in his quarters later. "Of course, make yourself comfortable," he said. He wasn't being faced by idiocy so far, only what he might expect from someone who'd never been to Hogwarts, so it shouldn't be too bad. He removed his shoe from the coffee table and brought up his wand again, clearing away both papers and lap desk to make room.
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Post by Keith Evans on Mar 6, 2011 21:04:53 GMT -5
Keith set his bag against the chair next to Rowan and settled himself down in the chair. He tucked one leg beneath him and propped his other foot, knee bent, against the edge of the table. "So how long have you been here?" he asked. "The headmaster seems convinced I won't last two months." It was something he was determined to prove the man wrong on.
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Post by Rowan Trace on Mar 6, 2011 22:17:15 GMT -5
"Since August 2009," Rowan replied. "And he's justified; a lot of people come and go without explanation. It's not personal." Rowan eyed that foot on the table a moment, then let himself relax slightly and bring his own up. "Forgive my phrasing, but why here, anyway? I know my own reasons." But apparently this guy had had a position somewhere else and moved. It made little sense not to apply to where he wanted to teach in the first place.
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Post by Keith Evans on Mar 6, 2011 22:25:06 GMT -5
"I took a job at my school when I graduated until I could find somewhere else. I've always heard about Hogwarts, who wouldn't want to work here? The position wasn't open when I graduated, though." It was just a great turn of luck that the spot had come available now, and Keith had jumped on it as soon as he heard. His previous headmaster had understood.
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Post by Rowan Trace on Mar 6, 2011 22:44:47 GMT -5
Rowan nodded. That made sense, and he couldn't fault the reasoning. "Were you looking for anything?" he asked, gesturing toward the shelves with a tip of his head. He wasn't much for idle conversation and hoped that wasn't where this was headed. He conversed with his friends, and occasionally others, when he was out. School was business, as it always had been.
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Post by Keith Evans on Mar 6, 2011 23:01:06 GMT -5
"I figured I should know where my section was," Keith said. "And where the fiction sections were, for good measure. I was going to look to see if they had the Handbook of Hippogriff Psychology, too." It was a tall order, but it was better to go ahead and figure it out rather than rush through to find something he needed the day before he needed it.
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Post by Rowan Trace on Mar 6, 2011 23:25:34 GMT -5
Rowan looked out into the shelves, mentally plotting the sections he knew best and tracing lines between them. "Hippogriff Psychology would be in the Care of Magical Creatures section, which is a few rows that way," he said, gesturing. "Herbology is somewhere in the middle on the right side." He nodded slightly, sure of himself.
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Post by Keith Evans on Mar 6, 2011 23:32:29 GMT -5
"Thank you," Keith said, glancing in the direction Rowan had gestured. "I'll find it later...unless you're trying to get rid of me?" He hoped not, it would be nice not to be blown off so soon again. The corners of his lips turned in a small smile. "I can be quiet and let you finish your papers, I know how much of a pain it is looking through page after page of misspelled words and ink blots."
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Post by Rowan Trace on Mar 6, 2011 23:43:52 GMT -5
Rowan's eyes flicked briefly toward the ceiling at that. "I never noticed until I started teaching, but 4th Year girls draw so many hearts and flowers on their papers that it becomes distracting." Were they under the impression that he'd give them a higher grade for their sense of artistic doodling? If so, they were to be sorely disappointed. He marked off for things he couldn't read.
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