[CR.Staff] Bookworm

[Professor Ashton Laurent]

Ash sat quietly in the staff room with a cup of coffee and his favorite book. Seeing as it was a Saturday, he had no classes to teach and had not been able to sleep. Despite the fact that it was about seven in the morning. Ash had always been an early riser of course. But even he would've liked to sleep in on weekends. Not this one apparently.

The young teacher turned the page of the well-worn, slightly dog-eared book laughing quietly as he came across a particularly funny sentence. Sometimes it seemed to Ash that he read even more than a normal Ravenclaw. When he'd been living with his dad, reading had been his escape from the abuse. Even if only for a little while. Now of course, he read for pleasure and of course to learn knew things.

In Ash's way of thinking, one was never finished growing, nor were they finished learning. Learning and growing in his oppinion, were life-long occupations. He learned new things every day. Even when he wasn't reading to learn information, he learned to expand his imagiation. Many would think that being the logical Ravenclaw he was, that Ash wouldn't have much of an imagination. But he actually had quite a big one. Of course with his upbringing, he kind of had to develop an imagination to keep from going crazy.

Hearing the soft click of the door handle being turned, Ash looked up to see who would enter the room. He knew it was still early, and so he hadn't been expecting anyone else to be up. Apparently someone was.

[Shayla Kane]

Shayla had been on patrol all night. The goings on at Hogwarts were dire more than the students knew. Aurors were placed at the school in order to keep the students safe but they were trying to do it in secret so as to not arouse suspicions which was why Shay was forced to patrol late at night when the other professors, prefects, and head boy and girl were off in their dorms or quarters sleeping for the night. Shay didn't mind this she was happy to do anything. She loved being an auror it was honest work and could be really exciting.

At the moment though the only thing Shay wanted was a cup of coffee. It was early yet and though she should be asleep she couldn't seem to get her eyes to clothes so she figured she'd venture out and try to sneak into the staff room hopefully before anyone else got there. Shay yawned loudly while placing her hand on the door knob.

She turned it slowly while the yawn subsided. Pushing open the door it was to find that the staff room was not empty as she hoped. Shayla was about to swear but thought better of it. There wasn't much she could do about it now she was already seen. So she simply offered up a huge smile. "Morning there, just here for some coffee didn't mean to disturb you or anything" nodding brusquely she headed straight for the coffee pot and poured herself a cup.

"Don't let me disturb you or anything I'll just be on my way" she said trying to head out.

[Professor Ashton Laurent]

Ash simply smiled and nodded, turning his attention back to his book. It seemed that... Shayla? Was that her name? Wasn't in the mood to chat this morning, and Ash himself was feeling too calm and relaxed to push it. So he just went back to his book and let her get her coffee and such without bothering her.


Although he had to admit... he was curious about some things. "Just... how bad are things right now? I mean, I know I'm a teacher and whatnot... but from what you've seen, have things gotten better or worse?" he looked apprehensively at her, almost as if he were afraid of the answer. Which, if truth be told, he was.


The former Ravenclaw got up to get another cup of coffee as he waited for Shayla's answer. He leaned against the counter sipping at the hot liquid, wincing as he carelessly scalded his tongue.

[Professor Dia Hubbles]

The October wind was blowing hard as Dia Hubbles made her way across the courtyard, her dark blue scarf was wrapped tightly around her neck and her pale skinned hand was holding the collar of her coat up around her for extra protection from the weathers icy grasp. The strands of her blond hair that where too short to be tied back danced around in front of her face, seemingly being the only thing having fun in the cold Scottish weather.
It was early in the morning, when Dia left her parents house in Kensington it was almost quarter to seven, she guessed by now it would be past the hour. She did not feel like heading back to her and Dan’s room, she would only wake up and a groggy Dan was never a fun thing. So Dia had decided to head towards the staff room, at this time on a weekend no one would be up and about so she could sit down with just her thoughts…clearly other people had been having a rough night.

As Dia approached the staff room the door was slightly ajar and she could hear a familiar voice sounding out into the silent corridor, and what it was saying made the Ravenclaw head of house wince the tiniest of bits.

“I don’t think that is your business Mr Laurent” Dia’s soft voice replied to his question, although a slight smile that was tugging at the side of her lips. Her sharp blue eyes turned to look at other women standing in the room and Dia nodded her head in acknowledgement. “Miss Kane is probably sworn under secret oath by the ministry as it is.”

With a soft chuckle Dia sat down on a tattered looking easy chair that was closest to the raging fire in the hearth. The heat from the flames warmed every inch of her body and the trails of the night before seemed to wash away. It was nice to be home.

[Shayla Kane]

When Shayla head Ashton ask her that question all she could do was close her eyes and do her best to think of an answer that wouldn't compromise her position as an auror but that wouldn't make him more suspicious then he already was. Of course it being so early and her lack of caffeine was making it rather difficult to think of anything at the moment. Her brain felt as if it had suddenly shut down on her leaving her standing there looking like a completely fool. If she wasn't so tired she could have given a brilliant response to the Muggle Studies professor. It was her own fault of course since she knew she shouldn't have come to the staff lounge. Now the time had come for her to answer questions she did not want to nor was she really at liberty to, but telling him that would simply make whatever suspicions he might have even worse.

Shayla opened her eyes sort of wishing that she could have disappeared at will. Too bad you couldn't just apparate of dissaparate inside of the castle. Biting her lip she did the only thing she could at that very moment which was walk toward the counter and grab herself the cup of coffee she had been dying for since she walked in there. Shayla busied herself with the making of her coffee so that she wouldn't have to look at Ashton for a little while. Her brain was still working on a lie something that bugged her because she was usually quick about concealing things you had to be when you were an auror but the nightly patrolling of the halls made it so hard because now she wasn't getting enough sleep another bad thing when you were an auror since you had to be on your game at all times.

Just as she turned around to look the man in the eye the door to the staff room opened and the Headmaster's wife walked in the room. In no time at all the atmosphere in the room changed as Dia managed to tell Ashton what Shayla was doing there was none of his business. Somehow Shayla felt suddenly relieved and as Dia gave a chuckle Shay smiled and took a sip of her coffee. "So how are you Mrs. Hubbles?" Shay asked respectfully very glad for a change in subject as she leaned against the counter taking a sip of her coffee.

[Professor Ashton Laurent]

Ash just shrugged when Dia said that what Shayla was doing here was none of his business. He supposed in a way that that was true. But hey, he was curious. "Yeah, it's probably not my business. But hey, I'm curious. So? Shoot me" he replied offhandedly.

He honestly wasn't offended by Dia's response. He just figured that as teachers they had the right to know what was going on in the school. Not that he offered this opinion. He had learned long ago, that his opinion mattered little. Or, that's the impression he got anyway.

Letting out a small yawn, the young teacher got up and attempted to pour himself some more coffee. Instead he ended up splashing the hot liquid on the counter. He chuckled tiredly. It was amazing at how useless he was in the mornings. Sighing he cast a quick cleaning charm and turned back to the two women.

"So, what do you two have in mind for the weekend?" he asked, taking a sip of his coffee, wincing as the hot liquid burned his tongue. He really needed to remember to blow on it first.

[Professor Dia Hubbles]

It seemed like a nice atmosphere to have entered from not only the harsh coldness of the outside world and the troubles of life. The fire was inviting, the company nice and Dia could not help but feel like her spirits had automatically been lifted, after all it would be much nicer then a groggy Dan who would no doubt bring everything around onto him, she normally did not mind listening to him rambling away but today, just for once she wanted to be away from the hassles of married life and just, relax.

“Don’t give Dan the invitation” Dia teased lightly at the young Professors statement out being shot. She knew that he and her husband had a nice playful friendship so she knew that he would not take any offence by her comment, particularly when I small smile graced the women’s fair features. Clearly she could not keep her mind off her husband, but it seemed everyone else was willing to talk so thankfully the conversation moved away with Shayla asked how she was. “I am coping.” She gave a small laugh and a shake of her head letting her blond curls bounce around her face. “Just been home, it…it was nice.”

She hoped neither of them could see the slight look of concern in her normally sharp eyes, but even if they asked she would say no. Her private life and family life was private for that reason and so as a result Dia quickly flipped the question straight back at the Ministry official with a small smile tugging at the edge of her mouth. “How are you Shayla? Been on patrol tonight?”

Clearly however their conversation was boring Mr Laurent as his loud yawn echoed around the room like a lion roaring at the dawn and as he wondered over towards the sideboard to pour himself another cup of coffee Dia pulled out her wand forcing her own mug to float over towards Ashton giving him the hint to pour her a mug. “I don’t know, I guess my weekend depends on how many of my students have done their homework.”