(CL:D)Helia's Detention

[Prof. Algernon Moncrieff]

Algernon Moncrieff sits at his desk, head burried in his huge centaur book. He curses softly, trailing his fingers over the page as if to tear the words from it. "There has to be a way...!" He slams the book shut, only then looking up at the clock. Ah, Ms. Ollivander was due for her detention soon... at least that would be a distraction.

[Helia Ollivander]

She walked into the room and nodded at the Professor, "So what is my detention anyhow?" she asked curiously, wondering what was in store for her. Be it writing lines or cleaning the class room or some such...

[Prof. Algernon Moncrieff]

Algernon looks flustered for a moment, blushing, and running a hand through his hair. "Er... right... I'm supposed to give you something unpleasant to do, right? Er..." he shuffles through the papers ion the desk, cursing himself for being unprepared. He just didn't feel like him self the last day or so... not since... Shaking the thought out of his head, he pulled a gigantic bush of holly out from under the desk. "You can help me dethorn this for tomorrow's lesson. We'll be learning about its properties tomorrow, as well as a few other things..." He trails off with a wink. "You have dragon hide gloves, no?" he asks, pulling on his own, and picking up two tiny pairs of silver scissors. He hands her one.

[Helia Ollivander]

She nodded and summoned her gloves. After pulling them on she took the other pair of scissors and watched as the Professor began de-thorning a branch. She followed his lead on a branch closer to her, "What kind of properties does holly have?" she asked, hoping that by keeping a conversation going she might at least learn something as she was being punished.

[Prof. Algernon Moncrieff]

Algernon runs the scissors gently over a brance, careful to remove only the thorns and not the skin.

"Want to have a head start on tomorrow's lesson, do you?" He laughs. "Couldn't hurt, actually. Might help you get back the points you lost! It's a disgrace, the Hufflepuffs beating us..."

He is silent for a moment, then speaks again, his voice practiced. "Holly is often used in magic as it has amazing protective properties." He sets down the branch, taking another. "That's why they use holly wood for wands, you know. The wand choses the wizard, after all. But anyway, as to Divination... it is said that if, after midnight on a Friday, you are to in silence gather nine holly leaves and wrap these in white cloth using nine knots to tie the ends together, and then place this under your pillow and you will have prophetic dreams that night.

[Helia Ollivander]

She jumped slightly at the mention of wands, "Professor..." she tried to think how to word the question, "You know that my family has made wands for a long time now..." she paused when Professor Moncrieff gave her a questioning glance. "Well, if and when my uncle is no longer able to run the store, I'd like to take over for him, and since I'm only two years away from graduation, I've been hoping to do some studying on wand making..." she paused again, "The only problem is that the only books on wand making are in the restricted section of the library... I was wondering," she decided to go a different way with this line of questioning, "I was wondering what your thoughts on that were?"

[Prof. Algernon Moncrieff]

He sets down the plant for a moment, examining Helia's face. "Well... I mean, there's a reason those sort of books are restricted. Wand making... that's dangerous magic, very powerful. I'd think your uncle could teach you more than any book, couldn't he? Still, a noble endevor! I'd be happy to give you a note on one condition. Write me an essay on how each wand chooses it's owner. That is to say... how does a wand fit it's owner? You may want to use historical figures as examples, you know, Harry Potter, Sirius Black and the like. And yourself, of course. Alright?"

[Helia Ollivander]

"That would be brilliant!" she said enthusiastically. "Thank you Professor." she smiled and continued to de-thorn the holly bush, making sure that all the tiny spikes were clipped off without removing any of the leaves that she assumed would be used in their next class.

[Prof. Algernon Moncrieff]

"Well, alright then! Perfect. I'll just write you a note." He stands up, brushing the thorns from his robes, and scrawls his signature on a piece of parchment. "Now, this is just for anything pertaining to wands, mind you. You don't want to be caught taking anything else, and I'm sure our Munchy would catch you." He hands it to her with a wink.

[Helia Ollivander]

She took the signed note and carefully pocketed it, "Just for wands. Don't worry, I'll be good." she said grinning, then went back to trimming the thorns off another branch.

[Prof. Algernon Moncrieff]

After a while, Algernon yawns and looks up at the clock. "Oh! It's getting late, and I think we have quite enough for tomorrow." He gestures toward the huge pile of brances infront of them. "I think your punishment is over, Ms. Ollivander." He smiles.

[Helia Ollivander]

"Good night Professor." she said laying the silver sciccors back down on the table and walking out the door.

[Prof. Algernon Moncrieff]

Algernon gathers up the branches, secreting them away for the next lesson. He sweeps up the thorns, tossing them out of the window.

He looks around, trying to find something else to do. Thinking is... too confusing. He isn't a naturally suspicious person, but...

He shakes his head violently, deciding to go down the the lake for air.