The Fountain

In the very centre of the rose maze, there is a lovely stone fountain with enchanted water that changes colour to the mood of the person looking into it. As the fountain is a newer addition to Hogwarts, it is not exactly known what the extent of its magic is... perhaps it can do more than change colour... you'll just have to see.

Kiara walked up to the fountain and sighed,

Things had flipped on it's head the the past few weeks she hadn't been able to clear her head in ages.

Looking down at the water it turned a dark shade of blue and she sighed again, so much had happened she didn't know where to begin.

Then Saturn flew up and landed beside, she held out her good arm allowing her to jump on.

Saturn then started singing her favorite song ((May it be)). Kiara became so concentated on that she didn't notice she started glowing with blue flames.

And she started to sing as well.

((Continued from Eglantine's personal chambers...))

Eglantine cast several charms to levitate the fountain's top back on its base. Several students had knocked off its decorative top by hitting into it, along with cracking its water bowl. Now fully repaired, the fountain began to allow the water to cascade through its charmed system once again, changing colour every time a water wave hit the water bowl.

Sighing, she pressed her hand into the water. Thanks to the potion, she watched her hand remain steady in the red water. Knowing there was no one around, Eglantine pushed herself up from her wheelchair, using a levitation charm. Pulling her cane from underneath her wheelchair, she lowered her feet until they touched the stone. Closing her eyes, she attempted to stand, even if it was for a moment.

Instead of remaining vertical, she collapsed, hitting her forehead sharply on the fountain edge right as she caught herself. The entire world about her spun as she seated herself in the wheelchair again. Once her vision cleared, she leaned forward to look into her reflection in the water bowl. Cursing in Gaelic, she pressed a hand against a gash that was already purpling around the dripping blood.

Turning the wheelchair, she made her way back into the castle, heading for the Hospital Wing. Juria would probably not be too thrilled to see her.

Kiara sat by the fountain as filled out paper work, it was things she needed to set up for court, Her main points of evidence was Daniels wand and her blood test result she had sent to the ministry not minutes after it happend.

Sighing she was exshusted, sleep didn't come easy since it happend, everytime she closed her eyes he was there, his hand around her neck.

Looking over her evidence she said "Even when you are dead you still tornment me..."

Then she thought of Sevastyan and he had been forced to kill, and given his past with the dark arts she imagined it must have been painful for him.

"and others"

Ethan Addams strolled leisurely through the Hogwarts Nature Gardens in a casual outfit and robes, taking note of each flower and leaf he passed with a nod as if greeting masses of old friends. Jazmyn, his miniature schnauzer, trotted merrily at his heels. Or at least, she was the last time he looked....

Turning round, Ethan glanced heavenward as Jazzy left a little "present" near some flowers he didn't take the time to identify. "Jazzy," he sighed with exasperation. "I told you to do that before we entered the gardens!" The Herbologist withdrew his wand, all the while muttering about dogs with selective hearing, and vanished the, er, deposited package. He for one certainly didn't want to come across it unexpectedly - slippers or no slippers!

His attention was immediately diverted from his silver-haired canine companion, in favor of a magnificent fountain. Professor Addams immediately headed for it, fairly certain he hadn't seen it there before. Then again, he wasn't really sure he'd been this far into the gardens. Realizing someone was occupying a seat at the structure, Ethan hissed to the dog, "Be nice - you're a guest. And no chasing cats!" He was fairly certain Jazzy didn't understand the first command in its entirety.

Approaching hearing range, Ethan took note of the woman filling out paperwork and remained quiet for a grand total of two seconds. "Wonderful weather, this, isn't it?" he inquired, pretty much oblivious as to what Kiara was presently involved in doing.

Kiara's head snapped up at the unfamiler voice, "Hmm?" Looking up at Enthan she quickly shuffled all her paper work back into her bag and stood up.

"Yes lovely weather, you must be the new Herbology Professor, I am Headmistress Kiara. Welcome to Hogwarts" she said as she held her and out to shake.

Ethan jumped when Kiara had more or less started as well. At the hasty pick-up of papers the wizard couldn't help the fact that his lower lip had twitched downward in a kind of grimaced 'oops' fashion while she wasn't looking.

"Aye, that I am," he replied congenially with a slight combined English/Scottish/Irish accent and reached forward to complete the gesture of greeting. "Ethan Malachi Addams, at your service; and it is quite a pleasure indeed to make your official acquaintance, Headmistress. Simply wonderful to be back here at Hogwarts - though I don't recall all of this," Ethan added, gesturing with his eyes going back and forth within the lenses of his glasses as if watching a tennis match, the look meaning to regard the whole of the gardens. "I doubt even the Professors would have coaxed me to leave here if I didn't have to - simply lovely addition."

Jazmyn sat at her master's feet and gave a bark that clearly sounded as though she felt horrible at being left out of the introduction process. A curious expression crossed Ethan's face as he turned his head slowly to peer down at the dog with a look that clearly stated Impatient, as always, aren't you?

"And this lit'le nuisance is Jazmyn Addams - Jazzy for short. She's trained not to chase the cats, and mostly friendly unless I indicate otherwise. But sometimes she has the bloody worst case of selective hearing I've ever seen; I'm not quite sure where she picked it up," Ethan stated with keenly-inflected humor almost in one whole breath.

"I, er, hope I wasn't interrupting anything crucial? I should've recognized the signs of a body seeking solitude when I seen you: what with my being a bloody writer you'd think I'd have learned, honestly..." he trailed off, realizing that he was rambling. While the humor was still there, it was clear he was being serious about everything he was saying this time.

Kiara smiled "Yes the garden in a new addition, there is a small foresty park attacked to here, You will probably like it"

She laughed at the introdution to Jazzy "Very well it is good to hear she won't chase, but we have alot of room on the grounds for her run all she wants"

"And it's alright you weren't intertupting anything, have been at it for hours anyway I could use a break, so no worries. Are you enjoying being back at hogwarts, then" she asked. She found Ethan rather amusing, he certianly loved to talk that was for sure.

Not that she had a problem with it.

"Spiffy," he said animatedly in regards to the park. "Lots of different kinds of things growing on trees besides the woody masses... Are they by any chance those favored for wand wood? I have a passing interest such a thing - perhaps the little sprouts would like to know more about the properties their wands may possess depending on the wood used..."

"She will simply love that: always ran around the house at Tiree: upstairs, downstairs, round the gardens - through the gardens to my great aggravation as she dug up all the bloody plants... ah well, can't help but love 'er despite it all," Ethan continued on. Turning to Jazmyn he said briefly, "You hear that? Free running about: all your precious little heart desires!"

"With the greenhouses locked up tight this time..." he muttered, as if pretending that only he and Kiara could hear this little tidbit of information.


The head of blond-brown hair bobbed in confirmation that he was glad to hear he hadn't interrupted. For a few moments he was silent, wondering what it was she had been at for hours and deciding where to begin going about answering her question. "It has always been the home away from home that never hopped between countries. Yes, I am enjoying my return to Hogwarts very much!" he said, the several seconds worth of nodding before he'd stopped somewhere between the words 'countries' and 'return' making him look a bit like a bobble-head.

Suddenly, his brows knitted with curiosity as he focused his eyes on her eyes. "You know, you look vaguely familiar have we met before?" Ethan asked curiously.

Kiara laughed slightly as Ethan went on his tangent, he certanly wasn't shy.

"I am glad you are enjoying your self" she said with laugh.

Kiara's eye peaked with interest when he asked if the had met before, now that shr thought about it he did look familiar.

"Your right, you do look familar, I have seen you before, but I can't put my fingure on it"

Kiara though for a monent it would been years ago.

"In the ministry?" she mumbled as a blurry image came to her mind

Ethan favored the Headmistress with a smile and a quiet but rather good-natured laugh to join hers. Surprisingly, he didn't seem to have much more to ramble about. It looked as if he was thinking about it, though: the castle held many wonders. "Does the Room of Requirement still stand? That was always a fascinating little room..." Ethan inquired, though deliberately stopped himself short from going into detail. It showed, too, for he'd taken a rather large breath at the pause.

Blond-brown eyebrows rose when Kiara confirmed that they had indeed met. Now all they had to do was figure out where they'd seen each other. It couldn't have been whilst here at Hogwarts, because she looked a great deal younger than his ex-wife Laura...

Dark chocolate eyes scanned her face, her hair... trying to find a match amongst the images in his head. The moment she mentioned Ministry, his eyes widened. "I had nothing to do with that poor mutated venomous tentacula they brought in! And Jazzy knows better than to nibble on plants that bite back..." he assured the Headmistress, as though she had been aware of the incident. Thinking for a moment, the expression on his face reminiscent of a 'where did that come from' kind of look. Ethan waved both comment and countenance off with the wave of his hand. "No, that couldn't be it..."

"The only other time I've been to the ministry was for..... erm.... divorce court. October twelve, the year twenty-twelve. Slightly embarrassing business, that: half of my readers were shocked, another quarter intrigued... impossible to keep anything of a private nature private when your soon-to-be ex-wife wants to make it public....." he explained, looking and sounding rather sheepish.

"Did you have a job in the Ministry before all this?" Ethan changed the subject.

Kiara nodded about Room of Requierment "yep it is still here, of course we use it for all sort of things" she said.

Kiara gave him a confuse looked and tilted her head "That was you?" she asked as she shook her and gave him a amused smile

When he mention the date he had been divorce her eyes widened "Divorce court that is where I met you before, Our cases where being held at the same time and we met during there recess."

"And not that is matters really but was a Auror at the ministry aswell then" she added.

Ethan would have given her the same look if she'd just told a child that Christmas would be held twice a year instead of once. "That is wonderful news! I have a rather particular project in mind - thoroughly secret - but I have a need for a remote place to conduct research. What better place than there, right?"

At her question, he was completely lost for an answer for a whole five seconds. "I was there, observing the case regarding the plant..." Ethan admitted, yet shook his head. "But it wasn't me," he whispered in assurance. The wizard's eyes looked a bit bigger as he said this, as though they had widened.

Her next statement made something in his mind click: a foggy image of a memory floating back to the surface. "Ah, yes - that was it!" he exclaimed, though his voice had lost a little bit of its previously animated edge. "I'm sorry things did not work out with your spouse - as a highly personal topic I won't ask for details. Well... maybe just one what was his name again? Lah-strain-gee or something, wasn't it?" Ethan asked, though had a feeling he just completely botched the name.

"An Auror!" the animatedness was back to full as he nodded slowly. "Now that's a fascinating occupation. Unfortunately it didn't really suit me own lifestyle very much, but it's good to see someone stepping up to face the nasties of the world. I'm sure you do great work... did... well, still do, really... you know what I mean," Ethan offered amicably.


Certain that her master had basked long enough in this new person's spotlight Jazmyn approached the woman and stood on her hind legs, placing her forepaws just below the human's knee. Standing in this manner, her head just barely met the middle of Kiara's thigh. To complete the maneuver, Jazzy bestowed the Headmistress with the always successful sad puppy-eyes look. It obviously didn't occur to the schnauzer to wait and see if Kiara did or didn't like dogs.

"Jazzy..." Ethan heaved a sigh. "Down off the lady's knee with you - Come!" Jazzy refused to move an inch. "My apologies, Kiara..." he began, trailing off.

Kiara laugh and kneeled down in front of the dog. She didn't mind dogs in the least, granted she wasn't about to get one of her own, but she was a animal person so she didn't mind.

"It is perfectly alright" she said as she skratched Jazzy behind the ears.

Eglantine floated along in her wheelchair as Horatio recited the sixth canto of The Lay of the Last Minstrel, one of her favourite poetic works. It sounded different in his deep passionate voice than when she recited it, but it was lovely nonetheless. In fact she preferred listening to him.

He had just begun the third part of the canto, when he stopped mid word.
"Not scorn'd like me! to Branksome Hall
The Minstrels came at festive call;
Trooping they came, from near and far
The jovial priests of mir-."

Glancing up, Eglantine then saw Kiara and a middle aged man right by the fountain. But what froze Eglantine and made her eyes widen, was the dog that sat in front of Kiara, who was on her knees scratching its ears.

"Lovely day, eh?" Horatio exclaimed, noticing that the blood had drained from Eglantine's face and that her green eyes were as wide as saucers. He took her trembling hand in his, patting it gently.

Kiara looked up and smiled "Yes it is"

Noticing the look on Eglantines face she said "It is alright Eglantine she is friendly, not to worry"

Standing up she made the introductions "Professor Addams this is Professors Delanquar and McKevin. Eglantine, Horatio this is Ethen Addams the new Herbology professor"

"Oh, good," Ethan replied simply, clearly relieved she didn't mind the canine intrusion. Spoiled little mutt, you are, Jazzy... he mused fondly. She was practically his best friend after the matter of his divorce with Laura was settled.

The schnauzer leaned into the scratching, clearly enjoying the attention and completely oblivious of the newest arrivals.

Ethan glanced in the direction of the unfamiliar voice, a smile pinned to his face. "It is indeed, my good man!" he remarked pleasantly. The man was about to ask if the witch in the wheelchair was all right when he distinctly caught the phrase 'she is friendly'. Must not be fond of dogs... Ethan thought. To each their own.

As though Jazmyn had heard those key words as well, she returned to her place on all fours and laid down at her master's feet as if to prove it.

"Jazzy, why don't you go for a nice run, eh?" Ethan suggested to the dog, who merely tilted her head at him. "Yes, yes: a run, Jazzy - run! Go! Fly like a hippogriff, as it were." Immediately Jazmyn stood up, wagging her tail, and then took off at a rather impressive speed in the opposite direction of Eglantine and Horatio.

"And for Merlin's sake stay OUT OF THE LAKE!" Ethan called after her as though he were a concerned parent admonishing a child. "Doesn't listen worth a damn, sometimes, that dog..." he added.


Returning his focus to the others, Ethan nodded to both of the new professors in turn. "I am very honored to make both of your acquaintances, professors - what may I ask do you two teach?" he greeted and subsequently inquired with a great deal of energy. Ethan reached forward to shake hands with them both in turn.

Horatio shook the man's hand, a large smile plastered all over his face. "The honour is mine, Professor. I teach History of Magic. Adorable dog you have there." he commented, glancing in the direction that the dog had vanished in.

"It is indeed lovely to meet you, Professor Addams." Eglantine stated softly, shaking his hand after Horatio. "I am the Transfiguration and Muggle Studies professor." She was delighted to hear that he was the Herbology professor, doubtless to have wonderful ideas about plants, something she did not mind hearing about.
However, she made no comment about the dog...

"Ah, History - I take it Binns isn't teaching anymore then? Didn't think he'd ever retire, even as a ghost," Ethan commented, hardly a malevolent note in the whole statement. He hadn't cared much for the professor, but a good twenty-someodd years away from Hogwarts lessened the dislike more than he'd anticipated back when he was seventeen. "And thank you - Miniature schnauzer; name's Jazmyn. Lovely disposition but needs to work on her listening skills," the wizard added in response to the compliments on Jazzy. Remarkably spoiled, too...

"Transfiguration - lovely subject! I'm afraid I didn't take Muggle Studies, though: I learned all about muggles from me home... as various of places those were," Ethan replied with a nod to Professor DeLanquar. "Ol' mum and I moved around a lot!" The professor didn't even notice she hadn't said a word about Jazmyn, and didn't bother to bring her into the conversation a second time.

"Ah yes, as dull as Professor Binns was, I was rather disappointed when he was not here when I arrived. I always enjoyed hearing about the Goblin Wars. Lovely bit of history that. Might bring them up in class one time or another." Horatio chuckled. "Jazmyn...lovely name. How long have you had her?" He patted Eglantine's hand once more before releasing it.

Eglantine sighed softly. Horatio already enjoying talking more than he should...now he had someone who shared his fascination with verbal communication. She was not surprised that Professor Addams had not taken Muggle Studies...for what she had heard, most teachers who taught it had done so rather poorly. Not to mention if he had first hand experience with muggles...

"Ah - Goblin Wars! Wonderful - I too enjoyed learning about them, though I tended to be more attentive when doing my own study for an essay than actually listening. You could say I'm a very reading-oriented person. And a writing-oriented person, but that's a hippogriff of another color.

"I'm sure you'll make a fine replacement for Binns. Have you had your first lessons yet? I bet the old Gryffindor-Slytherin scrap's still going on, isn't it?" Ethan chatted with Horatio happily.

When the topic turned to Jazmyn, and how long she had been in his care, Ethan had to think. "Well, I've had her since she was a pup sometime after my divorce six years ago... I'd say she's about four or five, in our years. The sprouts got a rather big surprise the next time they came to see me for the weekend - rightly didn't want to leave in favor of playing with the poor thing till she dropped of exhaustion!" A good-natured laugh punctuated his anecdote.

Horatio chuckled, obviously enjoying the conversation. "Yes, I taught my first lesson. It went very well. Started out with a quick game to get to know the students. Before Hogwarts, I was a tutor, so I teach better if I know whom I am teaching. And yes, the Gryffindor-Slytherin conflict is as intense as ever. We have a delightful Head of Slytherin, Professor Viper. But I'm afraid the students are as sneaky and devious as ever, bot Slytherin and Gryffindor. Professor DeLanquar is the Head of Gryffindor. But I do not think she really understands the rival war between the to houses. She never came to Hogwarts you see. But she is a charming woman nonetheless. Rather quiet though, hardly can hear her even when she does speak."

He properly roared with laughter as Ethan recounted about Jazmyn's puppy experiences. "Sounds as if you and Jazmyn get along well. She reminds me a bit of my dog. Had a English cocker, when I was a young man. Alas that was many years ago. I have been thinking about getting another dog though. Any suggestions on a good obedient breed?"

Ethan nodded at the wealth of information being supplied in turn. This Horatio fellow was an amiable chap that seemed to like discussion almost as much as Ethan himself. It was with a great amount of certainty that he assumed befriending this wizard would be exceedingly easy. "A game - intriguing. This will be officially my first time teaching any subject, I think... I might have provided instruction elsewhere, but it wasn't for a long amount of time and it was entirely higher-educational purposes. Perhaps, in time, I shall reach an area of expertise comparable to my peers," he offered with an inclination of his head.

Viper... where had he heard this name before? Ethan was fairly certain he'd heard of someone with this last name before. Either that or it was a pseudonym, which was equally probable. "Now, there is an interesting coincidence between House and surname, isn't it? I recognize the name, actually, but can't remember exactly where I'd heard of it. Does the good professor and Head of Slytherin happen to have a repertoire in potions, by any chance?"

"And it is a pleasure to become acquainted with another Head! I've also decided to take on the duty as Head of Ravenclaw House, as it were," he added.

"An English Cocker!" Ethan practically cheered when Horatio had finished. "Good breed, I've heard, though I regret to say I didn't have many pets as a boy because of all the moving about from country to country. I've had a total of three dogs so far, though I have to admit one was me Mum's dog, and they were all good on the obedience level. I suppose it depends on what you want the creature to do: Yorkies make good companions, are easy to train, but pretty active as I learned when Mum asked me to walk our first poochie. When we moved to England we rescued an abandoned golden retriever... she was cool as a cucumber and supremely obedient. Doesn't do so well with birds and small game because of it's hunting instincts, though... that poor duck that always swam in the lake near our house never knew what hit 'im...

"Now, the schnauzer, particularly the miniature, is a good guard dog: obedient, congenial, gets along well with other household pets... Though my previous two dogs were indeed adorable, I tend to favor my Jazzy above all," Ethan explained what little he knew of dog breeds with gusto. "You might even want to look into getting a mixed breed..."

Deciding it wouldn't be right it ignore the others, Ethan turned to Eglantine to ask a question he'd been musing for the past few minutes. "You're not a native of Hogwarts, Professor DeLanquar? Beauxbatons, then, I presume? I reckon that's where my kids'll go, if the ex-wifey has her way... what's it like there, if you don't mind me asking?"

"I trust you shall." Horatio laughed. "And shall soon exceed. My games and trivia bits have been and I quote a dear colleague, "Are only substitutions for any real knowledge an teaching skills"." He chuckled. "Good chap said it, an old researching friend on mine. Hadn't much faith in my abilities, I suppose, but nice man."

"Yes, as a matter of fact, she is our Potions Mistress as well. Good one too, isn't that right, Professor?" Horatio asked, glancing at Eglantine who had already resigned herself to listen to the conversation. She nodded.

"Three dogs, my word. And in such a short time too. I wouldn't put you at an age over 40." Horatio commented, pulling out his pipe. "All good dogs, I'm sure. Although, I may have to give it some thought. You see, I've taken up a friendship with a cat and the two, cats and dogs I mean, hardly get on well. She may force me to choose between a dog or her and that would be awfully frustrating."

Eglantine looked up at Ethan's question. "I taught at Beauxbatons, but never attended there as a student, Professor. It is a pleasant school, with lovely grounds and a good curriculum."

"Faith is where it all lies if you ask me. If you don't have faith, whatever you're attempting won't work. Sometimes, though, even faith is not enough. Look at the universal wish to fly: the Muggles had faith that they could do it, but in the end needed a metal shell called an air-o-plain to get the job done. Just like us and brooms, I imagine...

"And it takes a good man to be an honest one, though not all good ones are honest in my observations," Ethan replied congenially.

"I met a woman named Viper a while back... needed Remedial Herbology lessons, along with a few others in her department, so I was called away from my herbal research to instruct. It was really no trouble as the plant was being a bloody pain in the a- er, I mean it was being most uncooperative. She knew her potions, but needed a bit of brushing up on her plants," he explained the reason for his asking.

"You are very kind, Professor McKevin: last June I in fact celebrated my fourty-first birthday. And yes, thought is good: the type of functions you want the dog to handle, train-ability, and disposition and health concerns are all things to consider... not saying I really went that far - just some blather some menagerie attendant said to me one day. In one ear and out the other until needed, I suppose.

"Well, if you and your cat-friend agree to get a dog: the younger the pup, the better you can train it to accept other animals as part of the 'pack' mentality," the blond professor advised. It was clear he was passionate about animals... and herbs... and anything else one dared get him started on.

The wizard bobbed his head several times in response to Eglantine's answer. "Good, good. If I know Laura like I think I do, she'll likely send all three of the little sprouts there. She wants what's best for them, and so do I... Is it true we're hosting the Triwizard Tournament this year?"


"Great Merlin, the two of you are rather quiet, eh? I don't bite - I promise," Ethan observed, chortling lightly at the joke. He did notice, however, that he and Horatio seemed to be dominating the conversation and mentally promised he would do his best to make sure the Headmistress and Head of Gryffindor would be included more from now on...