Albus knocked. He didn't really want to, but the headmaster had asked him to, so there you have it. He actually knocked with his head. Two sad, small raps as he considered how Malfoy had looked sweeping around the corner as he left the professor's office. Too damn good was the pitiful answer. Before Albus could get too maudlin, however, the door opened and he very nearly fell onto the petite witch who had opened it. Stuttering an apology, Albus let himself be guided in to a very messy office. It looked as if everything had been swept off the desk and someone had… oh god… no! I SO don't need that mental image!
"And you are…?" the new potions professor arched a brow at the boy standing before her. Hoping against hope that he couldn't tell she was preoccupied with the question of just where her panties had ended up. Nowhere noticeable. Please, god? Turning her attention back to the… Student? Professor? She hadn't met all of the staff yet, so she couldn't be sure.
"Albus Potter, professor. The headmaster asked me to come by and check up on you. You know, see if you knew where the loo was and everything." Regaining some of his composure, Albus leaned against her desk and flashed his trademark grin. His cousin and best friend Lucy had told him it could melt the pants off a witch or wizard in 2.5 seconds. (He'd tried it. She was right.) It appeared this professor was made of stronger stuff than most, though, as she simply looked at him for a moment and made a moue. "I've had the ... pleasure of meeting your father a few times during my career. I can only hope you don't take after him too much."
Albus bristled. As much as he disliked being compared to his father, he deeply respected the man and all he had done, and still did as Head Auror in the Ministry. "And if I am?" He asked, adopting the same arch look she had favored him with before. "Would there be an issue?"
The professor laughed. "I can tell by your response that in some ways at least you are exactly like your old man. But your tie colors tell a different story…?" she trailed off, clearly waiting for him to explain just how the "chosen one's" son came to be wearing the serpent's colors.
"If you must know, I'm a tad bit more… hm. Wily, I suppose than dad is. I have the suspect gift of manipulative genius." He grinned again, this time imbuing the smile with all the attributes that had gotten him sorted into his dearly beloved house in the first place.
Oh. My. God. What have I gotten myself into? The witch frantically cast about her for a change of subject. "I'm Professor Larkin," she extended her hand, and was surprised by how cool his fingers were around hers. "Thank you for welcoming me to Hogwarts. I don't actually know where the loo is, so if you wouldn't mind…?" She trailed off, looking up at him slantways through her lashes. A rather effective tool if she did say so herself. Oddly enough though, the tall Slytherin just laughed.
"Sure thing, professor. If you'll follow me?" And without further ado, Albus led her down the hallway to the ladies' lavatory.
