[Cl: D] Discussion of Fagin's contract

[Prof. Jack Fagin]

Fagin strutted down the corridors of Hogwarts glaring profusely at students who even happened to glance in his direction. They weren't giving him the proper respect he required, a minor detail being his contract would begin at the beginning of next year, but a detail he would happily overlook.
He knocked once on the soon to be headmaster's door and hearing no answer promptly barged right on in. Clearing his throat he began glaring at the man stood before him who he presumed was his contractor
"Algernon I presume, Nice to meet you I'm sure," he said in a low lilting voice yet slightly gruff.
"I'm here to discuss my contract, namely payment of course, and when I have to start this blasted job, I think I better think it out again if the money isn't good enough that is. So speak up man, what have you to say for yourself?"

[Prof. Algernon Moncrieff]

Algernon looked up at Fagin for a moment, entirely speachless, his hands frozen of the starchart he had been compiling.

"Er... I mean..." He began. Who did this man think he was? Just barging into his office? The bloody students were more polite...


He set down his pencil and compass, gesturing toward the seat across from him. "Please have a seat. Well, Mr. Fagin," he began, without waiting for the man to carry out his request, "I wasn't the one who set up your contract. That would be Professor Wigglyfish, but I can see no reason why she would have put you down for anything less than all the other teachers are getting."

[Prof. Jack Fagin]

"Professor Fagin!" corrected Fagin with a grimace "only jokin Mr Algernon"
He sat down heavily glaring still more and shuffled on his seat saying gruffly
"this is a bloody hard seat, you don't want visitors to stay do yeh? Now if you were a gent you'd let a slightly older chap like meself to sit down on that comfy chair you're on!" he said sternly with the expectation of Algernon complying he stood up and went around the desk waiting impatiently for Algernon to move
"Now exactly how much are we saying here a grand a week I'm sure, and you do realise I'm giving up years of relaxation to come and help you. You're in desperate need ain't ye?"

[Prof. Algernon Moncrieff]

There was, again, a moment of incredulous staring, before Algernon stood up slowly, muttering under his breath, "That's Mr. Moncrieff." Before sitting down in the other chair, he picked up the chart carefully, rolling it into a tube and tucking it between two of the many bookshelves, as if afraid that the other man would ruin it.

"In fact," he began coldly, "We are not in any sort of desperate need. We get many applications every day, and although not many wizards want to teach Muggle Studies," there was a nasty stress on the words, "I'm sure we have a number of others who would jump at the chance for this job. A thousand pounds a week would be completly unacceptable." He was lying, but, Merlin, this was ridiculous. Algernon knew he should have insisted on doing the hiring for the next term...

[Prof. Jack Fagin]

"No need to be so testy!" chortled Fagin "I were just seeing what you are made of, and I'm pleased to announce you've passed with flying colours, though the thing about being a wizard was a bit of a low blow there, not too nice, I hope you treat your pupils and staff better, will you not even let a man haggle on his own wage? Ah tis not like home, but don't you worry I'll adjust quick, confuse the pupils a lot with apparent mood changes in the blink of an eye, keep them on their toes. Though I'm surprised at there being many applicants for such a job as this, but forgive me in fact don't, I overstep myself and my welcome I'm sure so once we've haggled over my wage I'll go introduce myself to the students, I'm sure you don't mind, no good, now I demand £1000 pounds sterling a week and that starchart wouldn't go amiss either, I'm sure I could get a few bob for that, a good quality chart there, you know there isn't anyone else crazy enough for this job and don't you go rolling your eyes at me, I've the eyes of a hawk and I don't miss nothing, so we're agreed then £1000 sterling a week, grand" he shook Moncrieff's hand frimly not letting him get a word in edgeways
"That seals the deal, with a little spell I know, good-day to you!" He then promptly left the office slamming the door behind him.
Fagin hoped he'd thoroughly shaken the Headmaster and wouldn't mind if he followed him either so only began to walk away slowly.
(ooc sorry about it being rushed, just trying to get his character across, a lot like Fagin in 'Oliver!' if you've seen it, PS great posts the interaction is working perfectly!)

[Prof. Algernon Moncrieff]

Algernon sat staring at his door for a while, completly unsure of what had just happened. Then, with a groan, his head sank down onto his desk, hiding under his arms. Merlin, he wasn't cut out for this... he was going to be a dreadful Headmaster.

[Prof. Jack Fagin]

Fagin muttered darkly to himself then promptly waltzed right back into the office, seeing Moncrieff looking none to cheerful slumped onto his desk he shouted
"What the hell do you think you're doing? Call this Headmaster material? Act like the man you are!" he roared standing over Moncrieff glaring down at him.
"Pull yourself together man! What if a student saw you with your head in your hands? We'd loose the little respect we have that's what! Now have you not got anything to say to me? No things I must do next year?"
He heavily back into the comfy chair and looked curiously over at Moncrieff.

[Prof. Algernon Moncrieff]

Algernon looked back up at the man as if he was entirely insane, which evidently he was.

"Respect?" He asked, in a voice which had become rather higher-pitched than he apreciated. "Respect? I have students tackling me and tickling me until I can't breath in my classes! The nurse keeps turning my things into MINKS!" he gestured wildly at the rather ugly floral couch on the other side of the room inexplicably. I have a teacher using unforgiveable curses HUFFLEPUFFS! And the person who really runs this school is a hundred year old boy prodigy and his pet German, and you're telling me they won't respect me if they see me lying here?" Algernon broke into rather histerical laughter.

[Prof. Jack Fagin]

Fagin smiled Moncrieff had opened up just as he had wanted.
"At long last! You're finally telling me something! It seems you've a great many problems here, I'm bloody glad I'm not in your position, but you need to win their respect somehow, there's a riddle for you to think on!" he smirked then continued in his lecturing tone
"But remember this never show weaknesses, you'd say no to my help anyway so I won't bother offering it, but at least you've identified all your problems, now you need to start tackling them!" laughed Fagin raucously "ha don't envy you at all that's for sure!"

[Prof. Algernon Moncrieff]

"Thanks. Loads." Algernon responded coldly. "Now, Professor Fagin, if you please..." He gestured toward the door. "I have work to do."

[Prof. Jack Fagin]

"Well!" roared Fagin "showing me the door eh?" He glared at Moncrieff and as he stood up to go took one of Moncrieff's precious starcharts without him noticing of course, because this thieving was a hobby of his and it helped to persuade people as well. He had already taken a number of items without Moncrieff noticing and now he promptly left with a flourish of his large green coat and a snarled.

"I'll be back soon!" He then slammed the door as he left and strolled off taking out the things he had taken, "Hmmm a lovely starchart this is, top quaility and this watch is rather nice too."

[Prof. Algernon Moncrieff]

Shaking his head, Algernon turned back to work on his starcharts -- but it seemed to have vanished. Sighing, he picked up quill and parchment to begin again the work of five years... before his tears began to blur the ink and he was forced to stop.

[mistressofdarkness]

Erika had been standing outside the whole time under her Invisibilty Cloak and had heard the whole thing. When Fagin came out she quickly stepped back and when he was out of sight, she pulled off her cloak and walked into Professor Moncrieff's office. She saw him trying to rewrite his starcharts before he had to put down his quill because of the tears blurring the ink. Erika stood for a moment then walked over to Professor Moncrieff and placed a hand comfortingly on his shoulder. "Don't let Fagin get to you. He's not worth it." she said softly "You are going to be one of the greatest headmasters that Hogwarts has ever had. I know you will." she said with an encouraging smile. "Besides," she continued, "You're the Headmaster. Why are you letting him treat you like dirt?" Erika really did believe that he would be one of the greatest Headmasters that Hogwarts had ever known, she just had to get Algernon to believe it as well.

[Prof. Algernon Moncrieff]

Algernon looked up at the girl, quickly wiping away his tears, and sending her a watery smile. "I'm glad you think so... although you might be the only one." He told her, setting down his pen and shoving the barely started chart away from him. "He took my starcharts." he informed Erika sullenly.

[mistressofdarkness]

Erika smiled. "No, I'm not the only one who thinks so. You just have to believe in yourself. Forget Fagin. He's nothing but a pompous, arrogant ass. Please excuse the language. I know you can do this." She sat in silence for a moment then trying to lighten the mood said, "Hey, you know what? It's hot and I'm hungry. Want some icecream?" She looked at the professor as she waited for a response.