"And you really have no idea what it was?" Tina asked as she put a little more salad on her plate. Gavin shook his head as he bit into the chicken leg he'd snagged. He knew the sound of pretty much every creature native to the forest, the larger ones at least. It was definitely large. Sounded like it could be as big as a…phck…Dragons? In the forest? It wasn't impossible, but why on earth would there be a dragon out there? There was one way to find out, but that would have to wait for the weekend. He expected to be gone for a day, at least, if he ventured that deep into the forest. He didn't let Tina in on his plan. She'd be the first to try to talk him out of it.
He was a little put out to find Nines missing from the lunch table, though that wasn't unusual. He often took lunch in the greenhouses during the week when he was setting up between classes. Connor was also missing, though his students had returned. They were huddled at the long tables with their housemates, sharing the details of their morning classes. It seemed he and Connor were on even footing for the best class of the morning. Those odd students who had both classes felt spoiled. It was rare to have such excitement twice in a row. The exhilaration of using advanced spells and the thrill of seeing dangerous creatures in the forest was enough to fuel their enthusiasm for the entire week!
Gavin had another free period straight after lunch, so he made his way along to Nines' class. The excuse that Nines may be up to something nefarious was an increasingly weak one, but he wasn't about to admit that he was going there because he liked him. There was still around half an hour left of lunch when he padded in on silent paws. He rubbed himself against the glass doorframe, purring and sniffing the air as he looked around. Nines was at the front, as he often was during these visits. Judging by the sound of snapping teeth, he assumed it was a higher level class that afternoon. He trilled softly as he left the doorway and crept along beneath the student benches.
"Careful, little one. I don't want these to nip your tail," Nines warned as he hopped on the dais. Neither do I…Gavin mewled his agreement, though that didn't stop him from winding his way between Nines' feet and rubbing has jaw along his trouser leg in greeting. Nines' lips softened as he continued working. Unable to see from the floor, Gavin hopped on the stool, which he'd set a little away from the bench so he could work. "Careful…" Gavin trilled softly, planting his paws on the very edge of the bench and raising himself on his hind legs to see better. On the bench was a row of pots, each around fifteen inches tall, holding small, cabbage looking plants. The plants had large, green leaves that spread like a flower, with a bulbous purple dome in the middle. The domes pointed like teardrops and opened to reveal a row of small, pointed teeth. "I have my OWL students after lunch. They're pruning their fanged geraniums today." Lucky them…
Gavin didn't have much of an opinion on fanged geraniums. They weren't the worst thing he'd had to grow. They were relatively easy to handle as far as carnivorous plants went, and downright docile when compared to things like the venomous tentacular and owl traps. The small ones were, anyway. If well cared for, fanged geraniums could grow to be quite large, with heads as big as beach balls sometimes. The length and width of the stems also varied. Some were land huggers, like fat cabbages, while others would rise off the ground like sunflowers or small trees. It all came down to care and food quality. These had barely sprouted, so they had a long way to go before they'd be as big as even the smallest cabbage. Caring for them was relatively easy at this stage. It was mostly about trimming any dead or dying leaves and checking the soil to make sure it was nice and moist. There was also flossing to consider, but things got far more difficult later when it came to tooth extraction.
"You're lucky they're not big enough to eat you yet," Nines teased as Gavin reached out to paw at one of the plants. The small mouth snapped as its leaves ruffled and fluttered in warning, though at this stage the small plant was all bark and no bite. The snapping force of newly sprouted fanged geraniums was quite weak. They wouldn't even draw blood at this stage and lived mostly on large insects. As they grew, they'd have more biting and chewing capacity, so they could work their way up to mice and other rodents. If they were well cared for, they'd be able to eat larger animals like cats and owls, even dogs and small children. Gavin's tail twitched in amusement as he watched the large green leaves flap almost fearfully. "Little pest." Gavin's heart leapt as he was swept up by a muscular arm and swiftly found himself on his back, being held like a baby as Nines' fingers tickled his exposed stomach.
He mewled indignantly at the unexpected and intimate treatment. He never let people touch his stomach, though it wasn't the first time Nines had done so. As usual, Nines let out a gentle chuckle and continued to rub and soothe his soft fur. The indignant writhing and wriggling soon became more relaxed stretching and pawing as pleasure swirled in his stomach. Nines' gentle fingers felt so good as they teased and massaged his soft muscles. Nines seemed to know what he was doing as he held him closer, almost rocking him as he continued his teasing. Gavin offered slow blinks and nuzzles, quickly remembering that Nines had no way of seeing his large green eyes, though seemed to understand on some level anyway. His silvery gaze seemed to soften as he stepped away from the bench and leaned down beside the large flowerpot. Gavin let out a mewl of discontent as he was gently set on his paws outside the small bed.
"You can stay, but I have classes to prepare for. Be good for me, little one." Gavin inwardly pouted as Nines reached down to pet and caress his small head. He let out a small meow of agreement, butting Nines' shin and circling around his hand once more before padding into his cosy bed. The scarf was still there, as soft and comfortable as it had been before. He padded in small circles before settling down, resting his chin on the bundled material so he could watch Nines at the bench. He took the plants to the student benches one by one, somehow knowing where each pot needed to go. Gavin could only guess he'd carved braille into the pots or had some other charm working to help. "Are you leaving? It's about to get loud in here." Gavin hunkered lower in the bed, almost glaring as he let out the smallest of growls. "You're welcome to stay…" Nines tilted his head in question, huffing softly as Gavin purred his agreement and nestled lower in the bundled scarf. "Alright, don't say I didn't warn you…"
Gavin purred as Nines crouched and stroked his small head, working his fingers around his ears and massaging the busy little joints. Gavin's eyes thinned as he leaned into the touch, nuzzling and butting for more. They were soon interrupted by the opening of the greenhouse door and a flood of loud fifth years entering. There were two fifth-year classes. This was the lower level. He wouldn't call them dumb, but many of them struggled in his class. It wasn't always due to their lack of knowledge, either. Many of them were overeager and didn't listen to instructions properly. It would also be a bonus if they stopped talking for two minutes.
"Get to your workstations, pull on your aprons, and find your protective gloves. We'll be pruning your fanged geraniums today." Gavin flicked his tail peacefully as he watched Nines descend from the dais to join his students. Murmurs of agreement flurried as they dumped their bags beneath the benches and hurried to find their rolled up aprons and gloves. They helped each other dress and tie the strings, and some of them even pulled their heavy herbology guides out for a quick recap. They'd already covered potting and early care, and now that they'd sprouted, they were going on to the next step. Nines had his own adolescent plant ready to help. It wasn't old, barely half a year, but it was bigger and meaner than any of theirs.
He borrowed the edge of one of the lower benches and had the class gather round, though they knew to stay out of biting range. This plant was about two feet tall, with a head the size of a football. The bulbous part was a deep fuchsia with large green leaves fanning around the head. It turned this way and that, almost as if it were looking at the murmuring children. Nines pulled on his gloves and raised his pruning shears, along with a thick, well-bitten stick. He purposefully reached out and laid a gentle hand on the thick stem. The plant quickly opened its mouth and swung to face him, jaws wide with a silent shriek. It couldn't make noise without vocal cords, though air passed through with an almost hissing sound. Nines didn't even wait before raising the thick stick and letting the plant bite it.
"You obviously don't need to do this just yet, but watch out for the teeth as they get bigger." A small flurry of impressed gasps and murmurs passed through the group as they watched the plant rather happily chew its stick. It didn't even seem interested in Nines now. "This particular plant likes the taste of pine. It soothes the gums while teething…The teeth your plants have now will grow and get bigger. That can be quite uncomfortable and makes them rather grumpy." He continued speaking as he stroked the stem all the way up to the back of the head, where he rubbed gently, as if stroking a pet. The plant almost seemed to nuzzle into the touch, much as Gavin had earlier. Gavin almost glared at the plant as he flicked his tail. "You need to check carefully, especially as you work your way further inside. The outer leaves are easy to see, but the inner ones need more care…Obviously, I can't see the brown of the leaves, but that's the easiest way to tell, and those leaves need to be cut away at the base. Another way of knowing a leaf is going bad is by texture. The healthier leaves on this plant should feel firm and glossy, perhaps even a little waxy. As the leaves get weak, they can do one of two things. They can go hard and crumble as they dry out, or they can go soft and wilt. Does anyone know why there's a difference?" Nines paused and listened for the rustling of robes as students raised their hands. "Terrance?"
"Is it hydration? If the plant is healthy and has a lot of water, the leaves will wilt, but if it's malnourished and dehydrated, they'll dry out." Terrance was a Hufflepuff, a plump boy with curly brunette hair and round glasses. Nines nodded his agreement and awarded points appropriately. The students watched as he pulled one glove free with his teeth and gently ran his hands over the outer leaves. The one problem he seemed to have was that, as a herbology professor, his plants were all healthy and well cared for. Each of the large outer leaves was perfectly green and smooth.
"Absolutely right. You'll notice the leaves of this one are a little crumpled or pebbled like a cabbage. Don't be concerned about that. It's perfectly healthy and happens as they get bigger. As long as it feels waxy or glossy, it's fine." He worked his way to the second layer, stroking right to the base of the leaf each time. The students watched, enthralled as he moved the larger leaves with his gloved hand and stroked the inner leaves with the other. It wasn't until the fourth layer that he found a leaf that was wilting. "Ah, see here…This leaf is just beginning to wilt. Touch here…" He took Terrance's hand and guided it to the leaf, keeping his own arm between the biting head and his student.
"I can feel it. It's like…It's almost rubbery…" Nines nodded his agreement as Terrance stepped away. Another student, a timid-looking Ravenclaw, voluntarily took his place. She was a lot shorter and actually had to stand on tiptoe to reach that high. She was like a mouse compared to the rest of the fifth years, and one of Gavin's favourites. Small but mighty. She'd try her hand at any spell, and often beat even the largest boys in the class during duelling practice. She murmured her agreement before returning to the group.
"You'll be able to feel the leaf better once I remove it…Now remember, I said you need to cut right at the base. We do this to make it easier for new leaves to grow, and if it's diseased, cutting at the base will stop it from spreading. Pruning is also an excellent opportunity to check for any sign of insect larvae. If you find any, then remove the infested leaf. You don't want hatchlings eating your geraniums." With his gloved hand, he picked up the shears and effortlessly snipped the leaf. He let the students pass around and feel the wilting leaf while he returned his own fanged geranium to its usual home at the edge of the greenhouse. He also gently pulled the pine stick free and replaced it with a small mouse, a trade the plant happily accepted. "Now that you've all had the chance to see, it's your turn. Check your plants. If you need help, don't hesitate to call me."
Gavin rolled on his side and stretched, clawing the air sleepily as the students returned to their places and got started. It had been quite a long day for him, with little sleep that he remembered. He purred lazily, closing his eyes as he listened to Nines' voice drifting here and there. The students were a lot quieter now that they were focused, and the gentle rustle of leaves and snips of shears soon filled the greenhouse. It didn't take long for him to return to the alley, knees hitting the ground with a thud. Pain wracked his body, leaving him a sobbing, writhing mess. His nose stung. He rolled, screaming as heat seared his skin, red sparks crackling across the surface.
"Hush, little one…Come here…" A wave of calm washed through him. He blinked his tired eyes open long enough to register Nines' gentle hands lifting him from the small bed. He was safe. Tucked securely in the crook of Nines' arm. He held him against his chest with one hand while the other stroked his head and back. Gavin nuzzled closer, purring loudly as the memory of blinding pain fell away. His small body was still trembling as Nines soothed him with gentle hands, whispering quiet assurances as he continued pacing the greenhouse. Gavin was vaguely aware as Nines carried him across to his desk. He trembled again as he was set down on the hard surface, not even opening his eyes as soothing hands stroked his back. There was a delicate smell. Something sweet. It was like the lotion Nines had put on him the night before, only there was something else in there. Camomile? He wasn't sure. Plants weren't really his thing. Whatever it was, it was soothing as Nines stroked down his back and sides.
His whole body felt limp and content as Nines gathered him up once more, keeping him settled in the crook of his arm as he returned to his students. It didn't seem like they'd noticed Nines' distraction, though he did hear a few of the girls in the class letting out small sounds of awe as they noticed him tucked in his embrace. To his credit, Nines didn't let them pet him, using the excuse of him being asleep. He was pretty sure they were disappointed, but the last thing he wanted was random hands pawing at him, especially so close to a nightmare. The only fingers he tolerated were Nines' as he scratched his neck and ears. He nuzzled closer, burying his small face in Nines' cotton sleeve as he went back to sleep.
The next time he raised his head, it was to the deafening sound of stools scraping wood as the students tucked them under the benches and started to leave. He was still snug in Nines' arms, and feeling much better now he'd had a proper nap. He yawned and stretched out one paw, blinking as gentle fingers took it as if holding his hand. Nines massaged his paw, encouraging his claws out as Gavin watched with a quizzical blink. He ran his fingers over the tips, humming at how sharp they were. Gavin tugged his paw back indignantly as Nines carried him up to the dais and plucked a small pair of clippers from his box. Did Connor give him those?
"Here, let me help…It can't be comfortable with your claws like that." Gavin had no problems with them, but it probably wouldn't hurt to let Nines have his way. So long as those are the only things you're planning on cutting off…Nines sat on his stool and gently set him on his lap, stroking him with one hand before reaching down for his paw. He seemed both pleased and surprised as Gavin simply allowed him to press his claws out and snip them one by one. Gavin was surprised he could cut so cleanly when he couldn't see. Once he was done with his front paws, he moved his small body, sitting him up like a child so he could get at his large back feet. It was a little weird to have someone handling his back legs, but he still let him have his way. "Good boy." Gavin purred at the gentle praise, nudging Nines' hand with his nose.
Nines continued to stroke and soothe him as he got to his feet and crossed to his bench. He set him down on the mostly bare surface and massaged his back and shoulders all the way to his tail. Gavin stretched out his front paws, clawing the table as Nines scratched around the base of his tail. Nines chuckled softly as he hunkered lower and flicked it back and forth. He was getting a little over stimulated. He shook himself as Nines drew back with a final pet and asked if he wanted to remain for the next class, too.
Regretfully, Gavin had his own class to teach. A class he was probably late for already. He hopped down with a small trill and rubbed himself against Nines' shins in farewell before hurrying back to the school. The halls were still relatively busy, which was a good sign as far as getting to class on time went. He ducked into an alcove and turned back at the earliest opportunity, stepping out as if nothing had happened. No one even batted an eyelid as he passed through the halls and returned to his room, ready for a fourth-year lesson on vampires. Obviously, there was nothing practical in this class, much to their disappointment.
Despite having to learn the boring side of vampires and how they'd adapted to wizarding society, the students still enjoyed hearing the muggle lore and stories. Although vampires did have an aversion to garlic and sunlight, there was no truth to the myths about silver and crosses. Some muggles even believed about driving stakes through their non-beating hearts. Apparently, many vampires had used this to escape once they'd been caught. Better to be staked than burned. Fire was one of the few ways they actually could be killed, though many used transfiguration to become bats before that point. The problem with that, of course, was ensuring all the bats survived and reformed in the right places.
Most vampires had been wizarding kind before the change, though there were a few who'd come over from the muggle realm. Muggle vampires didn't have quite so many talents as wizarding kind, but they still had unmatched strength, speed, and resilience, not to mention immortality. Only vampires with wizarding blood could use transfiguration and other magic, though muggle vampires had the same hypnotic gaze. Magical ability was truly the only difference between the two breeds, and they seemed to live in relative harmony. There were so few vampires overall that it was rare for two or more to ever be in the same place unless they had family ties.
"Have you ever hunted a vampire?" It was a Gryffindor boy who'd asked, of course. He was probably romanticising the life of an auror in his head, hunting killers and monsters. Gavin huffed in amusement as he sat on the edge of his desk at the front. Since they'd finished taking notes, they were in free talk, expanding their knowledge by sharing what they knew outside the books they'd spent the past hour and a half looking at. Most students had caught on by now that Gavin Reed had a story for everything. There weren't many evil forces he hadn't encountered, though he didn't really count vampires and werewolves among those.
"Not hunted, no. I've met one though…Nice guy. This was back when I was travelling through Europe on a case. I came across this small town in France, a really quiet place, mostly muggles. I was tracking a smuggler, someone trying to get dragon eggs to England. Anyway, I stopped in a little village in the ass end of nowhere one night and headed to the local inn. The owner was a vampire called Francis, and he gave me a room for the night. He'd lived there for over a hundred years already and fed off the local muggles. A little memory charm kept them from noticing the whole aging thing. Every few decades he obliviated them and reintroduced himself as the new innkeeper. No one ever questioned it." The students seemed quite amused at the thought, though Gavin couldn't tell them much about Francis beyond that. He'd been turned as a young man, way back in the thirteenth century, travelling the world for the first few hundred years before eventually deciding that settling down was much easier. He'd said he may travel again someday, but was content in his small tavern in the middle of nowhere for now.
"Didn't he try to feed on you?" They seemed a little surprised. There were a lot of rumours, and not all of them were exaggerated.
"No. Forced feeding isn't actually as common as you think. They feed on muggles freely, but tend to leave wizarding kind alone. Sometimes the feedings are even voluntary. Something of an exchange is made. The venom of a vampire has been known to cure diseases, extend life spans, and cause euphoria. Many muggles have even voluntarily become thralls because of it." They briefly covered venom addiction and the slavery associated with certain vampire sects. These were mostly ancient families that had long since died out or changed their ways. Slavery had become increasingly unpopular within Europe and even muggles had risen against it. Venom addiction was a little more difficult, since it worked in the vampire's favour and could rarely be proven. It was also rarely a problem. Wizarding kind didn't see muggle addiction as their problem to deal with, and muggles had by now largely forgotten that vampires ever existed.
"Is there some sort of register for vampires, like there is for werewolves?" It was another Gryffindor who'd asked, a pretty blonde girl with a braid over one shoulder. Gavin nodded. There was, but much like with werewolves, it was difficult to say whether they were all actually registered. Many vampires considered themselves separate from wizarding society, and therefore not under the jurisdiction of their laws. This was especially true of muggle vampires. They hadn't heard of wizards before turning, so they didn't care to associate with them after. So long as they didn't actively interfere with wizarding society, there was generally a live and let live agreement between the two species. Some vampires even played an active role in the wizarding world. One of them was an unspeakable at the ministry.
Gavin stretched and sighed as he watched the last student leave. What a day…With all the extra spying he'd done that day, he'd been quite busy. Not to mention the possibility of there being a dragon in the forest. Kent will have a field day with that one…He wondered if he already knew. That roar had definitely been deep enough to be in his territory. He shook off the thought for now. That could wait. His focus now was on cleaning up the room and getting ready for the next day. The sixth years would do a refresher on duelling rules before spending the next hour and a half having a miniature competition to sharpen their skills. He was looking forward to the practice, but not so much to the high risk of injury. If Connor knew, he'd definitely be on his case about it. There weren't many safety precautions he could take, besides banning a few of the more deadly spells and placing an extra limiter spell on the room.
Once his planning was complete, he returned to his rooms to get ready for dinner. It wasn't a special day or anything. He didn't even change. He simply ran a comb through his hair and grabbed the smart jacket for his current outfit. Since his first day, he'd become quite attached to the striped black and green waistcoat, especially when paired with the cat cameo. He straightened the small cat at his throat, enjoying the way the emerald eyes glittered in the low light. Feeling a little more like a professor, he headed down to the Great Hall, where most students had already gathered and sat huddled together. He tried to suppress the stupid little smile he knew was trying to reach his lips as he noticed Nines was already seated.
"Hey, how was your day?" Nines knew he was talking to him. Tina wasn't there yet, and he rarely spoke to anyone else at mealtimes. Nines smiled as he turned to face him, gladly telling him all about his first years and their most recent lesson on hemlock. They'd planted their seeds in the outdoor plots and spent the rest of the lesson learning about its various uses. They'd be brewing doxycide from its leaves with Elijah later on in the semester. He and Elijah had already planned for the crossover in their classes. If all went well, their hemlock would be ready within two months. He also briefly recounted the fanged geranium lesson, though Gavin already knew what had happened there.
He almost lost focus as he noticed Tina and Connor entering. They were walking close, having a hurried and intense discussion. Tina didn't exactly look angry, but she was certainly upset about something, and Connor seemed almost flustered. Gavin leaned his chin on one hand as he watched them approach the dais. Tina took the lead as they reached the steps, but turned back sharply to deliver a small swat to Connor's shoulder. He couldn't hear what she said, but she was clearly cross as she prodded his chest with one finger and turned her back with a huff. She tried to seem more composed than she was as she hurried to her seat. Gavin was surprised as he noticed Connor's hand raise to grab her robe, but he held back at the last minute, looking a little dejected as he circled to the opposite end of the table to reach his seat.
"Hey, you want to-" Gavin shut his mouth as Tina swatted his arm. Alright, shutting up and not asking. He looked across at Nines instead, noting the slight smirk on his lips. He sighed, feeling slightly wronged. What the phck did I do? It seemed like she was mad at him, too. Why, he couldn't say. He was relieved to have Nines on his left, so he actually had someone to talk to as Tina quietly fumed over whatever Connor had said or done. Looking at Connor, it seemed he was similarly subdued and annoyed. He kept glancing across at Tina, jaw tightening as if he had something to say, but was hesitant to come across and say it.
"You smell nice…" Gavin blinked at the sudden compliment, looking around to be sure Nines was definitely talking to him. He was looking his way. Gavin frowned, unsure what he meant at first, but as he sniffed his sleeve he realised that he smelled like that lotion Nines had rubbed on him the night before. He hadn't even noticed the scent clinging to him. It was barely a faint sweetness now, but it was still there. "You…don't happen to own a cat, do you?" Gavin clammed up at the suggestion. He wasn't sure what brought that on.
"No, uh…but I do have one visiting regularly." He was pretty sure Nines bought the excuse. He'd been in just about every classroom at this point, so it sort of went without saying that someone would notice eventually. It was weird, hearing Nines talking about his animagus form like a separate being. He had a soft look in his eyes as he recounted the story of how this little brown cat had started appearing around his greenhouse. Gavin couldn't help chuckling about it as Nines talked about all the ways he was trying to make it feel at home. He assumed it had an owner somewhere, but so far, no one had claimed it. He knew it had to belong to someone, because it had joined him briefly on the train at the start of the year.
"Who knows? Maybe it's just a stray looking for a change." It wasn't impossible that a random animal could have slipped onto the train at the station, but from the healthy coat and full stomach, Nines doubted it was feral. It may not be the most groomed of cats, but it certainly seemed domesticated and well cared for. Not the most groomed? How rude! Gavin usually kept himself pretty clean, cat or not.
"That story sounds familiar…" Nines' tone was almost teasing as he smirked and leaned back in his chair. Gavin huffed and knocked his shoulder. They would have continued, only Hank chose that moment to officially begin dinner. He listed off a few reminders. No duelling in the halls. No sneaking around after curfew. Sixty also had a reminder to deliver, saying that Quidditch practice would begin on Saturday, and the first match would be in two weeks. The students were clearly thrilled. They'd already had trials, but now that practice was set to begin officially, they'd be able to share the pitch, use the balls, and have small practice matches between houses. It would also mean the pitch would be open throughout the week after class more often.
That meant more work for Sixty, Connor, Nines, and Tina. As the heads of houses, it was their job to schedule and monitor the practice sessions. Nines wasn't as interested in Quidditch as the others, having never played, but he was more than willing to do his part to allow his students to enjoy it. As far as coaching went, however, he was relying heavily on the older students to impart their superior knowledge of the sport. Slytherin was often the winning team, having Sixty as their coach, and their biggest competitor was Gryffindor, due to Tina's wealth of experience. Nines made a mental note to clear sections of his busy schedule in order to monitor training and attend the matches for moral support.
Gavin was relieved to find that Tina cheered up once dinner started and she was finally filling her empty stomach. He decided to keep her in a good mood by not asking what the hell was going on with her and Connor. She seemed to appreciate his silent agreement not to ask and told him about her third years finally managing to turn flat paper into small origami sculptures. They'd made all sorts of things. Houses, birds, butterflies, kangaroos, and even bears. Unfortunately, that now meant they were transfiguring written messages into birds and butterflies and flying them to their friends across the room when she wasn't looking. Gavin smirked. That's a mess of your own making.
"Tell them you'll read them if you get your hands on them," Gavin suggested with a small smirk. He remembered his own teachers threatening the same thing, and some had followed through. All sorts of things had been read out. Questions about the topic, talking about cute boys, written love confessions, and even secret plans to break curfew. Gavin and Tina had been smart enough not to write anything sensitive in their own notes, on the rare occasion they even needed them. They'd usually sat together in the classes they'd shared. No one had ever bothered with seating plans, and students were only moved if they caused trouble.
"I might just do that. Maybe I'll even make up what's on the paper to embarrass them!" Gavin was pretty sure she was joking. She'd always been pretty soft. He'd been fairly lucky in his own classes. His students were often so engaged in the lesson that they rarely had time to pass notes. If he caught them, he usually let it slide so long as they were actually getting their work done. That was especially true during the book study sections. There was nothing so boring as book work, and he was fully aware of that. Hell, if I could send notes to Tina and Nines during those classes, I would!
"An appropriate punishment," Nines agreed with a small smile as he spooned mashed potato on his plate. Gavin leaned on his elbow thoughtfully. How does Nines know when notes are being passed in his classes? He couldn't see. Did that mean students were forever passing notes, and he was none the wiser? Or did he have some sort of charm set up to help? He seemed to do a lot of things with ease. He was plating his own food, and seemed to know exactly what he was picking each time, without assistance. Is he using his nose? The scent of sausages was recognisable, but could he really pin it down to the exact platter? And he plucked food with the tongs so easily, as if he knew exactly where it was. A locator spell? Nines' lips curled at the edges as he poured gravy over his plate, somehow knowing when he had enough. He's been blind for decades. Maybe it's just routine…
Gavin snapped out of his daydream as Tina asked for salt. That spurred him to fill his own plate with thick sausages, fluffy potato, caramelised onions, carrots, and green beans with gravy. He'd missed meals like this. Other countries just didn't get British food quite right, especially when it came to sausages. He was stuffed by the time dessert came, opting to pour a coffee and sip slowly while Tina ate a slice of sponge cake. She saved the cherry on the side of her plate to eat last, as always. Nines wasn't really one for sweets, though he did nibble a little cheese with a small cup of tea. After dinner, Nines offered to walk him back to his rooms as always. Gavin glanced at Tina, but she seemed to have other things on her mind as she met Connor's gaze across the table.
The night ended as usual, with Nines walking him back to his classroom door. The younger students had already returned to their dorms, leaving only a few older students in the corridors. It wasn't exam season yet, but many had already taken to studying in the library at night to get a head start. The corridors around Gavin's classroom were always empty. Students didn't need to walk that way to reach the dorms or the library. That meant they were completely alone. He crossed his ankles as he leaned on the door, hands shoved in his trouser pockets. He sighed softly, admiring Nines as he stood with his hands behind his back. The sight never failed to churn his insides and make his chest flutter. Nines was handsome. His silvery eyes were almost glowing in the dimness of the corridor. His dark hair was neat as always, besides the single curl over his brow. As he smiled, a small dimple appeared in his cheek. It was almost like he could feel him watching.
"Well…I should leave you to enjoy your evening." Gavin almost snorted at the thought. He rarely enjoyed his evenings, especially those he spent alone, sequestered in his rooms. There was little to distract him since he'd planned for the next day already. I should probably get a head start on the rest of the week…Lesson planning could take a while some days, and he didn't want to be caught with too many classes and not enough time. He was pretty sure Nines had better things to do than linger in the hall, too. He always seemed to be up to something or other.
"Enjoy is a strong word, but I guess I have some planning to do." Nines seemed almost proud as his lips curled. Gavin swallowed as he stepped closer, almost crowding him against the door. His expression softened as he reached up to lay a hand on his stubbled cheek and caress the scar across his nose with his thumb. Gavin couldn't help turning his face into the touch, closing his eyes as the thumb moved higher to caress one of his closed lids. When he opened them, it seemed Nines had leaned even closer, but he drew back just as quickly.
"Sorry…I should have asked your permission first, but…I don't get to see faces often, and it so easily slips away…" Gavin blinked in surprise. He forgot what I look like? It seemed weird when he put it like that, but it sort of made sense. He got to see Nines every day, but since he couldn't see, Nines was limited to his voice and that one time he'd let him map out his skin. His stomach fluttered at the memory as Nines slowly drew back. Gavin caught his wrist before he could go too far and returned the hand to his cheek.
"I don't mind…You can touch me." His skin heated at the softness that lit Nines' face. He remained still, barely trembling as Nines raised his other hand to cup his cheeks. He was gentle as he stroked his cheekbones and worked his way up to his brow. Soft thumbs traced his hairline before long fingers crept into his locks and over his head. He teased his ears and neck on the way down, and explored along his chin and jawline. Gavin had to hold back from pursing his lips as a gentle thumb stroked his lips, almost begging to be kissed. The fingers soon returned to the scar across his nose, probably mapping it out as his most prominent feature.
"Thank you…" They lingered, staring at each other. Gavin swallowed as he watched Nines' tongue dart out to wet his lips. Shit was going to get weird if one of them didn't say something soon. He could smell the faint earthy scent that clung to Nines' clothes and feel the warmth of his breath as he leaned in. "Good night, Gavin." He stepped back, something almost regretful in his expression as he held his hands behind his back once more. Gavin ran a flustered hand through his hair, heart still racing as he pushed off the door.
"Night, Nines…" He watched him until he was out of sight and entered his classroom with a sigh. His skin tingled as he tried to push away that thought that Nines had almost kissed him. He'd leaned right in, barely two inches apart, before pulling back. His stomach was tying itself in knots, lost between fear and disappointment. He did his best not to think about it as he settled in his office and pushed himself through planning a few more classes. He kept an eye on the clock, determined to be in bed at a reasonable hour.
As usual, sleep was illusive. Maybe it was that nap I took earlier…He turned on his side and curled up a little at the memory. The greenhouse was warm, and the little bed smelled like Nines and his plants. Nines had lifted him in his arms and cradled him like something precious, holding him close enough to listen to his thudding heartbeat. There was also that sweet smell. Gavin raised his pyjama sleeve and sniffed his skin. It was still there. Did he put something on me earlier? He could smell camomile. Glancing at the window, he wondered if he could see the greenhouses from there.
He got out of bed and padded over, leaning his head against the glass. His tower was turned a little too far away to see the greenhouses. He sighed, hesitating as he fiddled with the top button of his pyjama shirt. If the greenhouse was dark, he could always just come back. He headed down to the classroom and transformed, slinking his way through the corridors and out to the yard. As he turned the corner, he noticed the distant glow of candlelight. Nines was awake. He trilled softly as he hurried to the glass door, which had been left slightly ajar, almost inviting him in.
Nines was about where he'd expected, sitting at his desk speaking softly to his quill as it scratched the page. Gavin remained silent as he approached, enjoying the dulcet tone of Nines' voice as he padded his way to the edge of the dais and hopped up. It seemed Nines heard the small thud of his paws as he stopped speaking and turned his way. His lips softened as he waved the quill back to its pot and pushed his stool back in invitation. Gavin trilled in greeting as he hurried over to rub and butt his trouser leg, accepting the long fingers that scratched his head.
"Twice in one day. I feel spoiled." His voice was soft as he picked him up and set him on his lap. Gavin purred softly as he settled down in a contented heap. This was much better than his bed. Nines was warm, heat radiating through his trousers to warm his small stomach. His fingers were gentle and soothing. The deep timbre of his voice was comforting as he murmured gentle assurances and kind greetings. Even the greenhouse was nice. The rustle of plants as they swayed and moved was relaxing. He knew Nines would watch over him, and the more dangerous plants couldn't even reach the dais. He felt at ease. Safe. He purred softly as he closed his eyes.
Nines seemed to be busy that evening. He remained seated, gently stroking his fur, but as soon as he'd settled, he waved his quill into action and continued where he left off. From what Gavin picked up between sleepy purrs, he was planning a lecture on deadly nightshade for the third years. They'd be growing some for Elijah's classes, and he was going over the safety aspect. The last thing he wanted was for one of his students to eat the plant on a dare. The side effects were quite serious, sometimes deadly. Hence the name…
Gavin lowered his chin to Nines' thigh and stretched out his paws, gently kneading the fabric of his trousers as he flicked his tail. The hand on his back was almost rhythmical as it stroked from head to shoulders over and over. It was soothing, sending contentment swirling through his insides. The air was humid with the scent of leafy plants and sweet night flowers with a hint of fresh earth. Nines' hand felt relatively soft, despite all the gardening he did. He experimented with lotions. Perhaps he had one for rough skin. Gavin's ears twitched, lazily listening to the thrum of Nines' voice, the rustle of creeping plants, and the buzzing of insects. He didn't even notice the hand still, or the voice falling silent as Nines' head came to rest on his desk.