Joanne Rowling has no middle name. The K. stands for the Knife she'll take to you if you violate her copyright.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

''I forgot to ask Ron or Potter about - ''

''Geoffrey.''

I knew that exasperated tone of voice. It was that voice women reserve for men about to do something they think is stupid.

''Yes?'' I sniffed my shirt. ''Is this shirt okay for a quick trip to my quarters?''

''Tergeo. Is that better?''

''Much, thanks.'' I pulled my shirt on. Galilea watched me from her bed, blankets still wrapped tight around her. She didn't need to put in an appearance in the Great Hall just yet, but I was on supervisory duty that day.

''Geoffrey, how long have you been at Hogwarts?''

''Um...'' I did some quick math. ''Nine, ten days. Something like that. Why?''

Galilea sat up. Even wrapped in blankets she was a distraction and a half. ''In less than a fortnight you've immigrated to a new country, discovered magic, started with a new employer, attended a formal dinner, experienced a phobic attack, arranged interviews with multiple people, written a new class syllabus, and survived an assassination attempt.''

I stopped in the middle of buckling my belt. ''Yeah. I guess...'' I'd been going to say 'It's been a busy week', but really... ''It's been a pretty crazy week.''

''Muggles.'' Galilea sighed. ''Not everything has to be done now. Geoffrey, I truly admire your energy, but for your own sake please slow down.''

''Yeah, all right, good idea.'' I looked around Galilea's big round room. ''Have you seen my boots?''

''Have you checked under my shawl?''

''No - Oh, good.'' I hung the shawl a little more neatly on the back of a leather chair. ''Okay. I'll take today easy. I just need to update my research notes - ''

''Neville refers to it as your 'wall of crazy'.''

''It's just a little bulletin board.''

''It's a five foot by five foot bulletin board covered with news clippings, personal notes in different colours, pins in different colours and sizes, and three colours of string connecting it all together. To say nothing of the shoe boxes and notebook you've filled over the past week.''

''Well yeah, I need to keep - ''

''And,'' Galilea said. ''The collection of textbooks you've filled with notes and scribbles.''

''Uh. When you put it that way...''

''On top of it all,'' she went on. ''Rubeus informs me that the regulars at the Hog's Head are scared of you.''

''What?''

''I don't know how it is in your world, but in the Wizarding World people like you usually result in lurid headlines splashed across the front page.''

''Excuse me?''

''Oh yes. It's always a Slytherin or Ravenclaw. The one who likes to sit quietly in the corner, not speaking to anyone, muttering 'fools' under his breath and chuckling to himself as he make notes in magical textbooks... It all ends in maniacal laughter and horrible new Dark Curses.''

''Riiiight...'' I sat on the arm of an overstuffed leather chair. ''Okay, point made. I promise not to invent any new Curses, horrid, Dark, or otherwise - ''

''And not to conduct any experiments on living subjects.''

''I can't promise that. I'm a social scientist. In my field, there's no point to science if no one gets hurt.''

''Hm, a bit like the Dark Arts then. Best speak to Professor Lestrange, she's the Chair of those studies.''

''Not Professor Fairbairn?''

''No, no. By Hogwarts statute the Defence instructor is never allowed to be Chair of Dark Arts. There's far too much turnover in either post as it is. The previous Chair was eaten by Things.''

''Uh...'' I will not ask. I will not ask. I will not ask. ''I promise to take it easy today. And over the next couple of days, outside of class.''

''Thank you. And I will send Professor Burke a note, asking her to supervise the students today.''

''But I'm - ''

''Resting. You're gray as a ghost. Go have breakfast, and take the rest of the day off. You can meet your students tomorrow.''

IOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIO

After breakfast I went back to my quarters intending to organize my notes. I sat down for just a few minutes and didn't wake up until Galilea knocked on my door two hours later.

Maybe she had a point.