"You encouraged the students to learn unforgivable curses?" The class had gone well. Second-hand accounts of it…not so much. Gavin took a large step back as Connor stormed into his personal space. He held back from drawing his wand, but it was fucking hard when someone was being so confrontational. It was at least a quiet corridor he'd chosen to corner him in. There were no students around, at least. Connor closed his eyes for a moment and restrained himself. That was inconsiderate of him. He knew about Gavin's traumatic past and stepping in his personal bubble like that could be taken as an attack. That he hadn't drawn his wand to defend himself showed how much control he had.
"Absolutely not! We just had an honest discussion about their uses and the consequences of doing so. They're NEWT students! This is shit they need to know going forward, especially if they become aurors!" Gavin wasn't about to apologise for giving them the tools they needed to make the right decisions for their futures. If they could handle that life and become an auror, then more power to them, but if that wasn't a life they were willing to live, then they needed to know before they got suckered into it. Connor didn't look impressed, but he did pause. He couldn't speak for him on that part. He had no idea what being an auror was like, so he couldn't say how best to prepare students for it, but speaking so frankly about the unforgivable curses is…
"I can certainly agree with the sentiment, but perhaps your methods…" He knew he was on shaky ground, challenging him on that. Gavin sighed. He understood where Connor was coming from. He was a bright-eyed, peppy civilian who'd never had to defend himself in a life or death situation before. It was written all over his face. Gavin knew his methods would seem questionable to people like him. "There are some things that students shouldn't be taught."
"It's in the curriculum! I'm not going to sugarcoat it, especially when we both know that certain students already know and use those curses on a regular basis!" He didn't need to enlighten Connor as to who he was referring to. It wasn't exactly a secret that certain pureblood families still got together to torture muggles and lord their superiority. Connor clicked his tongue at the reminder, but he couldn't argue. "Look, they're NEWT students. They need to know this shit before they get out there, and if I'm going to teach them, then they need to know they can trust me." That seemed to get to him even more. Gavin had a certain history that the rest of them couldn't relate to. A stigma he had to overcome.
"So you told them all that to make yourself feel better and boost your ego?" Gavin bristled at the accusation, and Connor knew he'd hit a nerve. If he had less control, he might have drawn his wand. He swallowed the sharp words on his tongue. Getting on Connor's bad side so early in the year was a bad idea.
"No. I told them all that because it's important for them to know." He couldn't really get that across without having the whole conversation again, and he wasn't about to do that so soon after class. He was already tired. "You read that shit in the paper! Would you trust me if you were in their shoes? Would you let me teach you complex spells and hone your duelling skills?" He didn't need Connor to answer. He could see it on his face. Of course he wouldn't. He would have been the timid little Hufflepuff in the front row, only he wouldn't have had the balls to speak up and ask.
"I understand your reasoning, but speaking so freely about such things could be just as damaging as not speaking at all." Clearly, he didn't understand his reasoning. He sighed internally, reminding himself again that Connor was a civilian, and therefore unlikely to ever understand. "I just think you should be more careful about what you're teaching them." That didn't sit well with him. He was new, sure, but he'd been hired for a reason. He'd been hired due to his experience and reputation. What was the point in him being there if he couldn't teach as he chose?
"I'm going to teach my classes how I see fit. If the headmaster has a problem with that, he can find someone else for the job. If you have a problem with that, well…that's not my problem." Gavin's sharp eyes told him the conversation was over. Connor folded his arms and huffed in frustration. He looked pretty ticked off. Not that Gavin could blame him. He'd pretty much told him to fuck off with his unwanted opinion. He was mad, but somehow still came across looking like a kicked puppy. "I get that I'm new here, and you're probably trying to help, but I don't filter shit. Especially not for the older students." By wizarding standards, they were already adults. They could have left and started their careers after their OWLs. Connor seemed set to continue the argument when a third set of steps joined them.
"Gavin, that was quite the lecture you gave this morning." Gavin didn't quite jump out of his skin as Hank arrived. He'd called from further down the hall so as not to startle him too much, but he couldn't help the anxiety flaring in his chest as he waited for Hank's judgement. He wasn't sure how he knew or who he'd spoken to, but if he didn't approve, he was pretty much out of a job. "I watched the whole thing. Very informative and passionately spoken." He's not mad? Judging by Connor's stunned reaction, he'd expected a dressing down of sorts.
"Hank, you can't possibly approve of these methods!"
"And why not? Hogwarts is a house of knowledge and learning. Not all lessons are good, and not all topics are easily taught. When it comes to the unforgivable curses, the curriculum likes to gloss over certain facts, but Gavin's right. If the students choose to learn these spells in the future, then they should fully understand the consequences of using them…Not just the societal consequences, but the personal ones as well. You did an excellent job, son. You were open and honest, you kept them engaged, and the majority of them really took your words to heart." They listened. Gavin couldn't help the small swell in his chest at being told he did a good job. He was also warmed by the reassurance. He was doing the right thing, teaching lessons that should be taught. Connor clearly disagreed, but he wasn't about to argue with Hank. He was both their boss and their senior, someone he looked up to. "Now, you two should get along to lunch and take a break before afternoon classes." In other words, stop bickering in the halls…
"Yes, Sir." Gavin nodded and took the opportunity to escape. Eating lunch wasn't all he intended to do before his afternoon classes. He fully intended to head out and scout the area, maybe spy on some of the other teachers and see what they were up to. He headed to the lunch hall first and grabbed a quick sandwich. Sixty and Elijah were on lunch duty that day, walking the aisles and keeping students in line. He was quietly relieved to find Tina eating, so he caught up with her for a bit. She'd met the first years that morning and astounded them all with her animagus form. They always had the cutest reactions the first time she did it. It was her big party piece. She swooped in through the open door and circled above their heads before diving right in the middle of the room and transforming on the spot. The kids were wide eyed and open-mouthed every time. Some even applauded.
After lunch, Gavin headed outside to explore. He'd seen a lot of professors around the lunch hall, but one had been conspicuously absent. With that in mind, he found a sheltered alcove and transformed. The world looked a lot bigger from the ground, but it was easier to get around unnoticed. The last thing he needed was to be stopped or followed around by curious students. There was a small courtyard near one of the rear doors that was relatively empty. A few students mingled, reading books or talking in small groups. Gavin slinked his way down the path unnoticed and headed across the grassy slope into the open grounds.
There was a lot of space for playing games and practicing spells out here, though no students were taking advantage of it. It was a fairly cold, grey day, and many were still eating and preparing for afternoon classes. The view was amazing. From his place on the path, he could see the Forbidden Forest spilling out on the left, and Hogsmeade sitting on the right with rolling hills and farmland between. Farmers were out in the fields, and a few birds were flying above the trees. It was peaceful. With a flick of his tail, Gavin turned his attention towards the rear of the castle. He growled at the water on his paws as he padded his way across the dewy lawn, making his way along the side of the castle to the greenhouses out back. There were three long glass houses lined up and connected with walkways inside. He trilled softly as he made his way to the doors. One had been left open a crack, likely by the last group of students. He nosed his way around the corner and paused, tail raised and flicking with curiosity.
It looked like a rainforest from his place on the ground. There were tall plants in beds and pots, and more sat on tall benches. Some were moving, flicking this way and that. He could hear the snapping sounds of the venomous tentacular and Chinese chomping cabbages. There were creeping vines literally creeping across the glass ceiling. It looked a little like devil's snare, only it didn't seem to be growing from a tree. A sapling? Colourful flowers bloomed everywhere. Gavin didn't know what most of them were, but he knew well enough not to touch them. Sweet smells assaulted his heightened senses, luring him in, but he circled around them.
His ears twitched back and forth curiously as he padded silently between the rows of large pots. He turned and hunkered down as he heard footsteps to the right and saw a set of worn shoes come into view. They headed towards a raised dais at the rear of the greenhouse where an old bench stood with stacks of papers and potted plants lined up on it. That was clearly the teacher's desk, and the shoes belonged to Nines. Gavin watched as he headed up the steps and set the large plant down. Mandrake. He recognised it instantly. He was likely preparing for a first year class that afternoon. Gavin flicked his tail lazily as he watched him huff and sigh, turning the pot until it was nicely placed. He had to be pretty strong, lugging a huge pot full of soil and a fat, screaming root baby. His shirt was a little grubby in places, likely from the last class he'd taught. He didn't seem to care about the light smears of earth. Maybe he doesn't know…
"Hello?" Nines paused and looked over his shoulder, silvery eyes scanning the empty greenhouse. No one answered, but it seemed he knew someone was there. He seemed uneasy, brow furrowing slightly as he continued to skim his vacant gaze back and forth. Gavin remained still. He didn't plan on getting caught. He was just supposed to be observing. Would it matter if he found me right now? It's not like he'd recognise me…Gavin blinked as Nines' gaze moved lower. It drifted across the row of large pots before he turned away. "Oh, hello again…You probably shouldn't stand there." Gavin blinked and twitched his pointed ears. Did someone else come in? Was someone else there?
He was cautious as he raised his small head and sniffed the air. It was hard to make out any specific scent through the sweet haze of various flowers. He didn't think there was anyone else in the room, but there was something. Something familiar. Something he remembered. He breathed in the earthy scent that was closest to him. I know that smell…He was next to a huge pot with a tall plant inside. He couldn't really tell what it was, looking up from below. Phck, what is it? It's on the tip of my tongue…Gavin mewled in shock as an invisible force scooped him up and carried him through the air.
"I said you probably shouldn't stand there." Gavin's small heart raced a mile a minute as he got his first look at the towering plant. This one was affectionately called an Owl Trap. It looked a lot like the small Venus fly traps one came across in the muggle world, only this one was much larger, about the size of an apple tree. The chomping mouths were so large they could easily close around a fully grown tawny owl, and they often did in the wild. Gavin rested two small paws on Nines' firm chest as he looked back at the spot he'd been standing on moments before to see one of the chomping heads slowly returning to its raised positions. Holy phck! That thing was going to eat me! His small body trembled with adrenaline at the shock. "It's alright…"
Nines clearly thought he was terrified. He had one arm wrapped securely beneath his hind legs as his free hand came to rest against his small shoulders. He held him in a comforting embrace, long fingers soothing his soft fur and quivering muscles. Gavin stiffened a little at first, paws rigid on his chest. This was not his comfort zone. One did not simply manhandle Gavin Reed. His green eyes widened, heart racing for a whole new reason as Nines continued to coo in his flicking ear. Phck, his voice is nice…It was a deep, rumbling timbre that vibrated through his small chest. The fingers on his shoulder blades crept to his neck and teased his ears. As a human, Gavin would have moaned at how good it felt. As a cat, he purred loudly as his eyes thinned, pushing into the touch and leaning his head back for more.
"Now, how did you get in here?" Nines asked as he tilted him onto his back and exposed his stomach. The phck? Gavin squirmed as Nines tickled his abdomen, long fingers rubbing up and down. He chuckled as Gavin curled his paws around his arm to stop the onslaught of affection with surprised mewls. Nines loosened his hold, letting him wriggle until he was settled comfortably in the crook of his arm again. Gavin flicked his tail indignantly as he looked towards the cracked door. "Did my students leave the door open again? I told them to be careful. I don't want my crop of bouncing bulbs getting out…" Gavin watched curiously as Nines raised his hand and swept the air with his fingers. There was a small clack as the door clicked shut and he returned his attention to his desk. He doesn't need a wand? Wandless magic wasn't unheard of, but it was rare, especially in Europe.
Nines set him down on his desk beside the large mandrake plant and petted his head, giving Gavin the opportunity to look at his books and papers. Everything seemed pretty normal. They were all herbology books that he'd need for class, and the papers were mostly notes on his lessons or diagrams of the greenhouses. A self-writing pen stood in its inkwell, ready to write whatever Nines told it to. Some notes seemed to be safety reminders. There was a list of plants that fifth years would need to grow for potions class, and a list of stock he needed to replenish in Hogsmeade.
Gavin sat nervously, tail flicking as he examined Nines' face. He couldn't help remembering the night before. The softness of those lips against his own, the feeling of his fingers in his hair, the warm embrace and gentle assurances. That wasn't even real! It was a phcking dream! He was glad to be in cat form as his skin prickled. He was pretty sure he'd blush bright red otherwise. The familiar fresh, earthy scent reached his small nose, encouraging memories of the night before that made him purr. Nines' lips softened as he finally looked up.
"So, what brings you here today?" he asked curiously as he held his hand out. Gavin watched with interest as a small trowel floated into his waiting hand and he started loosening the soil around his mandrake. The small shrieking root seemed disgruntled at the prodding as it moved beneath the surface. Gavin padded closer to nose the edge of the pot, scenting damp earth and rot. Phck, it certainly smells like it needs changing! He flicked his tail in distaste as Nines' lips quirked. "Did you come to see me?" Gavin maintained his feline persona, flopping onto his side and flicking his tail as he stretched out over the papers, doing his best to look cute.
So far, Nines seemed to be in the clear. He wasn't doing anything suspicious or underhanded right now. He was genuinely just preparing for his next class. Gavin hopped down from the desk to explore a little, flicking his tail at Nines' warning to be careful. There were quite a few dangerous plants in the central area, but they were far enough from the student benches to be a non-issue. The right side of the greenhouse was filled with medicinal herbs like dittany. These likely got sent to the hospital wing once they'd matured, or maybe Elijah made the potions first. Half the greenhouse was filled with empty plots for the first and second years. From what he remembered, third and fourth years were in the second greenhouse while fifth, sixth, and seventh years shared the third. There were also outside plots for the hardier plants.
Gavin hissed as a small vine slid down from one of the pots above his head. It had small yellow spines on the surface that made him cautious. He hunkered down and lowered his ears, using his claws to tap the end. At his touch, the playful vine whipped back and forth, enticing him. Toying with him. Gavin's eyes sharpened as his feline instincts took over. It was like he'd zoomed in with a camera lens as he eyed the twitching tip and got ready to pounce. He raised his hips, shifting his weight from paw to paw before making the leap. His claws opened as he reached for the spiky vine, only to find himself suspended in mid-air before he reached it.
"I thought I told you to be careful," Nines chided as he gathered him in his arms once more. Gavin meowed innocently as Nines sighed and teased his ears. "This is a Snargaluff, a constrictor plant. The spikes aren't just for decoration. They're made to rend flesh and keep the pods safe." Gavin vaguely remembered those from his fifth year. From what he remembered, he and Tina had worked together to stun the vines and harvest the inner pods. He couldn't even remember what they'd been used for, but he remembered the thorns hurt like a bitch. "It's also omnivorous, so be more careful, little one." Gavin meowed again, blinking as Nines' finger prodded his pink nose. "I mean it."
Nines lowered him to the floor to allow him to continue his exploration, only this time, he remained close. He walked alongside him as he wove between plant pots, pausing beside him to lecture him on the dangers of various plants. Most of them were poisonous, a few were venomous, and over half were carnivorous or omnivorous. He was almost surprised the school actually let students loose in here. The most dangerous specimens tended to be the most alluring. They were brightly coloured or moved and danced to entice their victims closer. Gavin went about as close as Nines allowed, but backed off with a warning. The only time he was caught off guard was when a bouncing bulb toppled to the floor. He was upon it in an instant, batting and pawing as it hopped across the floor. What's this?
The bouncing bulb hopped off between the benches as Gavin approached a faded tan pot that was about twice his size. The huge terracotta pot had been left on its side at the edge of a bench. He could see why the moment he walked around to look inside. It was empty, and one side had been broken. The shards had been cleaned up, but the body of the pot had been discretely tucked away. Gavin padded inside and turned around before settling on the curved surface. It was a pretty cosy hiding place, and would probably be nice in a sunnier spot on a good day. Nines' footsteps paused as if he'd seen him slink inside.
"What have you got there?" he murmured as he crouched beside the pot. Gavin mewled and batted his hand in warning as he reached out to touch the jagged edge of the broken pot. "I'll be careful." Nines pressed on, slowing his hand and grazing his fingers over the cracked edge. He sighed as he finally scooped the pot, and Gavin, into his arms and headed up to his desk. "If I've told them once, I've told them a thousand times…" Gavin could only guess he was grumbling about his students hiding things from him. He quietly agreed. Things like broken pots were easy to fix when you had all the pieces. "You seem comfortable in there," Nines' teased as he set the large pot on the dais behind his bench. It was a nice spot, surrounded by a few harmless, leafy plants. He could see the whole greenhouse as he raised his small head, besides the edge that was blocked off by Nines' bench.
Gavin purred quietly as he curled up and flicked his tail. This would be a good spot to monitor things on another day. Unfortunately, he had his own classes to teach after lunch. Nines' lips quirked as he turned his attention back to the plant on his desk. He'd loosened it enough to easily lift it from the pot. The next part was setting up a larger pot ready for the repotting. Gavin watched as he waved his hand and a large orange pot floated up to sit on the edge of his desk. He added a small layer of soil and used his hand to make a snug well in the bottom, ready for the mandrake to sit.
"My students should be arriving soon…and you should be on your way, little one. I don't want the mandrakes to damage your ears." Amen to that! Gavin unfurled from his cosy nook and stretched out his legs. Nines followed as he padded his way down to the glass door, where he meowed a request. Outside, there was already a small gaggle of first years waiting in tidy robes. "Good afternoon. Come in and find your overalls, and make sure you each have two cotton balls on your desk. We're repotting mandrakes today, and I'd prefer it if no one fainted," Nines instructed as he opened the door, which allowed Gavin to slink his way out. He retraced his steps into the courtyard, which was a lot busier than when he'd left.
His visit had been interesting, on an intellectual level. Nines clearly knew his stuff when it came to plants. He had a lot of dangerous stuff in there, so he was experienced in handling dangerous goods. Does that means he uses them for nefarious deeds? Probably not, but it did no harm to be cautious. All he knew was that there was something shady going on. He didn't know what kind of shady. It could be narcotics. It could be smuggling. Even some sort of murder plot. Purification. A plan to corrupt young minds and condition the next generation. It was really too early to say, and he had no evidence of anything so far. It might not even be a problem with Hogwarts itself, it could be Hogsmeade…In which case, poaching was a distinct possibility.
His next two classes went smoothly. He was confident enough from the first class and Hank's endorsement that he had no hesitation in delving into their chosen topics and answering any questions they had. He held back on the details between the different age groups and was a little vaguer, using phrases like you'll learn more as you progress or that's something we only cover at NEWT level. They seemed reassured enough to feel content in taking his classes, at least. Many of them even seemed to have fun, pushing the boundaries to see how much he'd let slip. They also had a lot of questions about their own curriculums, like whether they'd really get to perform a Patronus, and if they could get a real boggart in the classroom. The boggart he could manage, but the werewolf and vampire were a bit beyond his means.
There was a good few hours left before dinner when his classes ended, so he took the opportunity to wander the grounds some more. He transformed in his office before padding cautiously through the school. Students left him alone, likely assuming he was a pet left wandering the halls. It wasn't unusual to see cats and owls freely enjoying the grounds. He headed out and circled the castle again, making his way to the Quidditch field this time. The season hadn't started, and trials were a way off, but he could see tiny figures whizzing about on broomsticks. As he slipped onto the field, he quickly realised there was a second year flying class still in session. The stronger flyers were already up in the air flying laps while the weaker ones stood in a circle holding their broomsticks.
"…your thighs and grip about a third of the way down with your hands." Sixty was sitting on his broom, idly floating in place as he showed them the correct seated stance. This small rabble of students seemed to be the least confident of the lot. There was five of them. One seemed overly enthusiastic while the others just seemed uncertain or scared. "Quickly! What are you waiting for?" Sixty waved an impatient hand that spurred them into action. They climbed on their brooms and gripped the handles tightly. The overly enthusiastic Hufflepuff wasted no time in leaping into the air, only to aim his broom straight at the ground. "How many times, Hopkins? If you tilt forward like that, you'll face plant the grass. Do you want to break your nose?" Sixty had already caught his broom, suspending him a foot from the ground as he shrugged sheepishly.
"Do we really have to learn to fly?" It was a Ravenclaw girl asking this time. Her small hands trembled as she straddled the broom, brown eyes wide and teary. Sixty returned Hopkins to the ground before turning to her with a small frown. Every class had its share of difficult students. There was always someone who didn't want to take part, and in physical classes, that number shot up. This one seemed to have a problem with heights.
"Of course! Every witch and wizard should learn how to use a broom. It's a basic requirement for a lot of jobs." That much was true, though the invention of floo powder had changed things somewhat. Brooms were better because you didn't need a fireplace, and it made you less sick than port keys or apparition. "You don't even have to get more than a foot off the ground today, alright? Just pick your feet up." Gavin wasn't sure how much of a compromise that was. The girl didn't seem too thrilled, either. Sixty hopped down with a sigh and left his broom hovering as he stepped up beside her. "Come on, Sandy! You were doing fine at the end of last year!" Sandy clearly hadn't touched a broom all summer.
"Incoming!" Gavin winced as he watched a Slytherin boy whizz towards the group on his broomstick. Sixty clicked his tongue as he waved his wand and stopped the broom in its tracks. The small group snickered as Sixty dangled the boy upside down and rested a hand on his hip. The boy ran a sheepish hand through his shocking white hair, blue eyes glimmering with mischief. Sixty liked him. Gavin could tell. From what he could see, the whole group liked him. Class clown.
"Care to explain yourself, Maverick?"
"I-I was just, you know, practicing my snitch chasing skills?" Sixty's scoff said he didn't believe him for an instant, but he finally turned him upright and pointed him up and away. Maverick seemed to know what was coming as he gripped tightly and grinned, licking his lips as he hunkered down and aimed his broom towards the top of the stands.
"Then perhaps you'd be good enough to practice your snitch chasing skills up there!" Sixty swung his arm and tossed the broom with a silent spell, cackling under his breath as Maverick whooped and yelped his way clean over the stands. The small interruption seemed to have raised a few spirits, at least. A couple of those less confident kicked off the ground enough to hover for a few seconds before touching back down. "Alright, how about this? You hold on and practice your balance, and I'll control the broom, alright?" Sandy still seemed terrified, but she nodded and gripped tightly. Gavin watched as Sixty flicked his wrist and her broom left the ground. He didn't toss her the way he had Maverick. She was barely half a foot above the grass. "Tighten your thighs…Straighten your arms. Chin up…Alright, now pull up-pull up!" Sandy yelped and huddled over the handle as the broom tipped back, which then sent it tipping forward. Sixty was there in an instant, grabbing the tip and forcing it upright. "No-no-no! Don't ever hunch up like that! Remember last year?"
"I-it made me spin."
"That's right, it span you like a Catherine Wheel and you got sick. What's our rule?" Gavin had to admit, he was surprised at the way Sixty handled things. He was pretty attuned to the students in his class and knew those he could trust to work alone and those he had to watch. He knew who could handle a little rough and tumble and who needed to be nurtured. Sandy was clearly the nurturing type. She was absolutely terrified as she clung to the handle.
"A-always sit straight, and centre your weight." Sixty nodded and kept hold of the broom as she sat up and shuffled to the middle. It would probably be easier if she got one with a proper saddle, but seated brooms were expensive. As students got older and their parents bought them brooms, they'd get that sort of thing. The training brooms were simply that. Brooms. Wooden handles and prickly brushes. Terrible for sweeping and flying alike. Older students often joked that if you could master a training broom, you could fly anything.
"You good?" Sixty let go as she nodded. Her lip quivered a little as she pulled up and straightened out. Sixty walked along beside her, offering a few words of encouragement here and there. Sandy did as she was told. She bent her knees a little more, straightened the handle, and raised her chin. She wouldn't be playing Quidditch anytime soon, but at least she was off the ground. Sixty remained alert, hand raised and ready to grab the handle if she started to tilt. He gave her an encouraging nod as she smiled at him, clearly pleased with herself. Sixty didn't even tell her when he relinquished control and lowered his wand. Gavin's ears twitched as he watched. She was really flying now and didn't have a clue about it.
Gavin hunkered down with a surprised hiss and looked up as a loud crack sounded above their heads. Sixty was already alert, steadying Sandy's broom with one hand and pointing his wand upwards. Three brooms whizzed off in different directions as another spell went off with a flash of green. Sixty remained calm as he told Sandy to hop down and said that they were all to wait where they were before hopping on his broom and shooting up. His yells were almost deafening as they echoed across the pitch, even without an amplification charm. He sounded like a howler as he chewed out the advanced students. Duelling on broomsticks was stupidly dangerous. It was something they let NEWT students practice only under strict supervision, with height limitations and often above water.
"I don't care who started it! Are you eighteen? Did you pass your OWLs? I don't think so! Get on the ground! Right now! Twenty points from each of you, and you'd better pray I don't ground you for the rest of the year!" Sixty was still scowling when they reached the ground. He let off a loud whistle that brought all the advanced students zooming over to land and dismount. With a wave of his hand, the whole class sat, brooms neatly set aside on the grass. He certainly seemed to have them well trained in that regard, at least. "Safety talk! Why is it a stupid idea to duel on broomsticks?" The three guilty boys, two Gryffindors and one Ravenclaw, lowered their heads meekly as Sixty looked around the class. "Aiden."
"Because you might fall a long way?" Sixty awarded Hufflepuff five points for the right answer, which certainly seemed to brighten Aiden's day.
"Exactly! Even when NEWT level students are practicing mounted duelling, there are strict safety measures in place. You should never let off a spell while mounted unless it's in a controlled environment, and never - never - right up at the top of the stands!" Sixty's sharp eyes travelled over every attentive face to make sure they were listening. They were. It was hard to ignore Sixty when he was this mad. It would be downright dangerous. "Gerald, Matthew, Louis. You're grounded until further notice, and if you want to fly again this year, then I want each of you to write a three thousand word essay on mounted duelling accidents throughout history." Fair. The boys clearly disagreed, but Gavin probably would have made it five thousand and banned them from class and Quidditch for the whole year. "Three thousand. Minimum."
Sixty dismissed his class with a sigh and had the students stack their brooms neatly, ready to be returned to storage. A few students had brought their own brooms and obediently kept them in their hands as they walked back to the castle. Only third years and above could fly outside of class and Quidditch, and even then, they could only do so away from the castle. The last thing they needed was broom races in the halls or between the spires. Gavin watched the students slowly amble off, except for Sandy, who hovered anxiously, clutching her broom.
"What's up?" Sixty rested his hands on his hips, giving her a small smile as he waited.
"I'm sorry…I live in a muggle town, so I couldn't practice over the summer. If you hadn't been stuck helping me, then the boys wouldn't have started fighting, and-" Sixty waved off her concerns with a small scoff. Gavin twitched his ears. It was sort of sweet, how the younger students would beat themselves up over things that couldn't possibly be their fault. Sixty left the pile of brooms for a moment as he rested a hand on her head.
"I understand that not everyone can practice. That's why I spent extra time with you guys on the ground. You weren't the only student in the group. I just happened to be helping you at the time it kicked off. Their poor behaviour isn't your responsibility. Your flying is your responsibility, and I think you did well today…What do you think?" Sandy looked doubtful at the praise. "Did you get your feet off the ground? Was your posture right? Did you keep your balance? Did you hover by yourself?" She nodded meekly on all counts. "Then you did your job…That's better than you did in your first lesson last year, right?" Gavin could only guess she was one of the students who suffered some form or vertigo or flying phobia. She seemed much happier as she agreed. "Now go on…You have about an hour before dinner." Sixty huffed fondly as Sandy cheerfully put down her broom and skipped off. Gavin purred softly as he huddled in the grass watching Sixty as he levitated the brooms and headed to storage.
From what he could see, Tina was right. Sixty appeared quite abrasive and shady when you first met him, but he was good underneath. He doubted anyone up to no good would care so much about broom safety, though I guess it would help him blend in…Still, his gut said that Sixty was in the clear. He'd watch a bit longer, of course. It would be irresponsible to form a solid opinion after a single class. Gavin stretched to his feet and padded his way back towards the castle. Sixty was right about dinner, and he was already hungry with all the transformations that day.