There were days, Phineas Nigellus thought, when he couldn't wait for the evening hours. Today had been one of those days. Hogwarts had far too many children for his liking.
He shook his head as he reached for the Floo powder. At least he had something to look forward to.
He burst into the sitting room at Malfoy Manor. Townsend already had tea laid and a deck of cards out. He looked up to see the expression on Phineas' face and chuckled. "Rough day, I take it?"
"No thanks to yours." Phineas took a seat across from Townsend. "I don't deny that Sinclair is uncomonly intelligent for his age. Still, I don't think it warrants him getting into arguments with professors."
Townsend grinned. "And what did my sainted progeny decide to pick a fight over today?"
"Something with Arithmancy, that's all I know. Apparently Zeno had an incorrect number on their test, Sinclair spotted it, and it sent the entire class into an uproar."
"And who was right?" Townsend reached for the cedar humidor and passed a cigar to Phineas.
"Sinclair, of course. Now Zeno's making threats about resignation and going on about how he's gone daft and can't teach any longer, the students are more intelligent than him and such nonsense. I expect you'll be getting an owl from him in the morning."
"And I'll be sure to assure him that my son is the only one more intelligent than he is." Townsend began shuffling the cards. "You'll never imagine who called today."
"I imagine you're only bringing it up to distract me from the fact that you're using the deck that tells you what I've got in my hand." Phineas produced his own deck from his robes and passed it to Townsend, who sighed ruefully and accepted it. "Don't keep me in suspense. Who decided to grace you with their presence?"
"Pavo and Theodosia Black." A small smile spread across Townsend's face as he spoke their names, his eyes intent on dealing the cards.
Phineas raised an eyebrow. "They're back in the country?"
"Flew in last week. They're hosting a dinner party in a fortnight; I expect you'll be getting your invitation shortly."
"That should be a wonderful time. It'll be nothing more than Pavo listing his contributions to the Witches' Institute and how they could have never gotten along without him."
Townsend took the trick and drew a card. "I wouldn't be so sure. He apparently had something he was bursting to tell me, but somehow managed to keep it in. Whatever it is, I'd imagine it must be something more than a year of teaching in America. He only rambled on about that for about an hour."
Phineas smiled. "Well, I have a feeling they're coming back to a bit of a disappointment. Orion's marks are terrible. NEWTs are in a month, and if he manages one, I'll be amazed."
"Poor Pavo," Townsend replied sardonically. "Off educating the underpriveliged while his own son turns out to be an idiot."
Phineas shrugged. "Apparently the Appleby Arrows are interested, which is fine for the boy, but you and I both know Pavo's not looking for a Quidditch player for a son."
"True enough. To step away from the digression, though, I have to admit my curiosity is piqued. Pavo's got something up his sleeve, and you and I both know it must be something big."
"Which, coming from Pavo, frightens me a bit."
"As it should." Townsend took the last trick. "I believe I have just won, and I believe that that is the first time I've beaten you at German whist using a legitimate deck."
"An accomplishment indeed." Phineas gathered the cards. "I'll be supplying the cigars next time, then."
"And about time. I'm nearly going broke, keeping you in fine tobacco."
Phineas snorted. "Not won any cases lately?"
"You know better than that, Phineas. There's just been no cases to be had. Things have been either quiet or petty, and that's not good for business."
"And that's why I'm not in law. For that matter, I probably shouldn't have gone into teaching, but at least it makes the Galleons." Phineas stood up. "And with that, my friend, I must make my departure. I'll see you tomorrow, and we can speak more of Pavo Black's troubles then."
Townsend smiled. "Have a good night."
He shook his head as he reached for the Floo powder. At least he had something to look forward to.
He burst into the sitting room at Malfoy Manor. Townsend already had tea laid and a deck of cards out. He looked up to see the expression on Phineas' face and chuckled. "Rough day, I take it?"
"No thanks to yours." Phineas took a seat across from Townsend. "I don't deny that Sinclair is uncomonly intelligent for his age. Still, I don't think it warrants him getting into arguments with professors."
Townsend grinned. "And what did my sainted progeny decide to pick a fight over today?"
"Something with Arithmancy, that's all I know. Apparently Zeno had an incorrect number on their test, Sinclair spotted it, and it sent the entire class into an uproar."
"And who was right?" Townsend reached for the cedar humidor and passed a cigar to Phineas.
"Sinclair, of course. Now Zeno's making threats about resignation and going on about how he's gone daft and can't teach any longer, the students are more intelligent than him and such nonsense. I expect you'll be getting an owl from him in the morning."
"And I'll be sure to assure him that my son is the only one more intelligent than he is." Townsend began shuffling the cards. "You'll never imagine who called today."
"I imagine you're only bringing it up to distract me from the fact that you're using the deck that tells you what I've got in my hand." Phineas produced his own deck from his robes and passed it to Townsend, who sighed ruefully and accepted it. "Don't keep me in suspense. Who decided to grace you with their presence?"
"Pavo and Theodosia Black." A small smile spread across Townsend's face as he spoke their names, his eyes intent on dealing the cards.
Phineas raised an eyebrow. "They're back in the country?"
"Flew in last week. They're hosting a dinner party in a fortnight; I expect you'll be getting your invitation shortly."
"That should be a wonderful time. It'll be nothing more than Pavo listing his contributions to the Witches' Institute and how they could have never gotten along without him."
Townsend took the trick and drew a card. "I wouldn't be so sure. He apparently had something he was bursting to tell me, but somehow managed to keep it in. Whatever it is, I'd imagine it must be something more than a year of teaching in America. He only rambled on about that for about an hour."
Phineas smiled. "Well, I have a feeling they're coming back to a bit of a disappointment. Orion's marks are terrible. NEWTs are in a month, and if he manages one, I'll be amazed."
"Poor Pavo," Townsend replied sardonically. "Off educating the underpriveliged while his own son turns out to be an idiot."
Phineas shrugged. "Apparently the Appleby Arrows are interested, which is fine for the boy, but you and I both know Pavo's not looking for a Quidditch player for a son."
"True enough. To step away from the digression, though, I have to admit my curiosity is piqued. Pavo's got something up his sleeve, and you and I both know it must be something big."
"Which, coming from Pavo, frightens me a bit."
"As it should." Townsend took the last trick. "I believe I have just won, and I believe that that is the first time I've beaten you at German whist using a legitimate deck."
"An accomplishment indeed." Phineas gathered the cards. "I'll be supplying the cigars next time, then."
"And about time. I'm nearly going broke, keeping you in fine tobacco."
Phineas snorted. "Not won any cases lately?"
"You know better than that, Phineas. There's just been no cases to be had. Things have been either quiet or petty, and that's not good for business."
"And that's why I'm not in law. For that matter, I probably shouldn't have gone into teaching, but at least it makes the Galleons." Phineas stood up. "And with that, my friend, I must make my departure. I'll see you tomorrow, and we can speak more of Pavo Black's troubles then."
Townsend smiled. "Have a good night."