Greenhouse Five (Dangerous & Advanced-Level Plants)

Eglantine carefully hid her disapproval at Miranda's either lie or half-truth, which was basically the same thing... A master of deception herself, she had learned long ago how to tell if someone else was lying. So she did either know Viper personally or professionally. Maybe they hadn't gotten on...it would hardly shock her.

"We have a friendship of sorts." Eglantine replied, not exactly sure what else to call their relationship. With Sevastyan now in the younger witch's life, she barely saw her, save for meals...but Eglantine was busy enough with Edwin, who could easily keep four mothers busy, and her work, to not think about it, until now.

Getting the feeling that the other Professor could spot her dishonesty, Miranda quickly added "I've never met her." she offered with pure honesty, for that part was completely true. She'd never met Amaranth face to face, never introduced herself or held a conversation. All she had were whispers.

Miranda nodded in comprehension of Eglantine's assessment. "Of sorts? I take it you do not quite get along?" Perhaps all the whispers about her legendary temper tantrums were true...

"Then you must know her by reputation." Eglantine surmised, hand still playing with Excessum. That was quite possible due to Viper's rather large ego...

"We have differences in opinion on many items. Attire, teaching..." she left off the other big one.

Miranda nodded. "Indeed, whispers and articles concerning ECHOs demise."

She raised an eyebrow at Eglantine's response, feeling she was leaving something out. "Oh come now, Professor. Don't tell me trivial things such as that strained any relations between you and her..." Normally Miranda wouldn't delve so deeply and forcefully in feuds but this was different. Very different.

Eglantine longed to be able to seat herself in her wheelchair, however since the wooden item was in her chambers, she had to be content with the levitation charm. It irritated her to no end that after just having met this woman she was boring into personal matters. Typical of head people, she thought.

"It is hardly something I wish to discuss." she stated softly. As her thoughts mused over Dracovan Viper and how he had died, she felt a wave of energy stronger than the others wave over her from Excessum.

Miranda winced. Clearly she had lost control and come on too strong. "Of course, Forgive me, Professor. I did not mean to pry. Alas, I'm afraid I've always had a problem with curiousity." Miranda concluded with an apologetic smile.

Eglantine nodded, she had become much more forgiving since doing things with Horatio, who was about as curious as they came...
"It is okay... maybe I am slightly too private with my life. But what happened is between Professor Viper and I..."

"No, no. It was my fault. Here we are having just met and I was already badgering you. And you are wholly right, whatever happened is between you and Amaranth." Miranda nodded fervently and apologetically.

Deciding she liked the woman, Eglantine gave her a rare smile. "How did you become a counselor?" she asked, trying to keep the conversation from dying.

Miranda smiled her gratitude, resisting the urge to sigh in relief, before she answered the question seriously and honestly.

"Well, I grew up in and was apart of a traditional pure-blood household. One where children were taught obedience and discipline, self-sacrificing for the family's advancement were all that mattered. Thoughts and emotions must be bottled up, never revealed and fake smiles and bows the only signs of affection. I know how hard it is to live like that. No one should ever have to live like that. Why, that's not even living..." As Miranda spoke, the far-away look in her eyes appeared once more as they moistened with emotion and long, forsaken memories.

Eglantine listened, amazed at how similar Miranda's childhood sounded like Viper's... Pulling her lavender handkerchief from her pocket, she handed it to Miranda. Her own childhood had been difficult so she could hardly fault the woman for becoming emotional.

Breaking from the emotional rollercoaster, Miranda declined the offered handkerchief with a smile, blinking the tears away. "Why did you choose to be a Professor?" she sniffed with a small smile, trying to lighten the atmosphere.

Eglantine tucked the handkerchief away, her face a neutral stone. "I desired to help the growing generations learn. My own education as a child was far from pleasant, and I hoped to be able to make a difference in my students' lives."

"I see..." Miranda replied softly. "Have you taught here very long, Professor?"

Having already informed Miranda that she had begun teaching at Hogwarts that year, Eglantine cocked her head in a feline manner. "I have taught for 31 years, at Beauxbatons, as a private tutor and at a muggle university..."

Blinking her eyes, Miranda realized that she had just repeated a previously asked question. She mentally sighed in irritation. She always had a tendency to get a bit...scatterbrained when distracted. With a light blush, Miranda quickly adressed the younger witch.

"Forgive me, Professor. I'm afraid I tend to lose my train of thought when I have alot on my mind. That and its one of the lovely gifts old age brings you." she chuckled softly, rolling her eyes at herself in the process.

Remembering how she had asked the same questions repeatedly at a certain ball, Eglantine nodded. "Oh it is quite all right. Memory is such a strange thing anyway." she stated, her tone serious and without levity. Excessum was making it difficult for her to pay attention to Miranda... it was as if being near the other witch angered it...

Miranda smiled in gratitude at the understanding the other witch displayed, opting to change the subject. "Your form is quite impressive. Did you become an animagus under a tutor?" Miranda inquired curiously, for her sons and husband, although bore the snake charmer's gene still self-studied for an additional form.

True, they had tutors but having one to learn to becom an animagus would have been foolish, for then it would all have to be legalizes and recorded, making it completely useless for the Viper's plotting and spying.

Eglantine removed her hand from her pocket, surprised by how much will power the simple action required...
"No, I did not have a tutor. My father assisted me though." Slightly untrue, as her father had basically patted her head and cheered her effort...then later had refused to allow her to register. She had registered, at 16 years of age becoming one of the youngest animagi.

Miranda nodded thoughtfully. "How kind of him..."

Malachite had always let the boys teach themselves, firmly believing in self-tutoring, for anything else her considered mollycoddling. Miranda distinctly remembered her youngest son Maximus becoming an animagus a few weeks shy of turning fifteen, an impressive accomplishment that would have warranted various forms of recognition. Unfortunetly, becoming registered with said form on the public eye was unacceptable for the Vipers.

Despite excessive pleading from Maximus and Miranda herself, Malachite would not budge and change his mind, leaving Maximus's victorious feat to remain unknown, forgotten. All to help nourish the Viper clan's ambition.

Eglantine longed to be able to leave the Greenhouse then, to get away from the woman and anyone else who might ask questions and ask for answers. But she didn't move a muscle despite her longing. Her childhood was over; her father was dead and her brother blamed her for his son and wife's death. The past, although constantly nagging at her mind, was slowly fading. The future, held her son and Horatio...and Excessum.

"Do you have family?" she asked, not wanting Miranda to find her rude.

Miranda sighed. She always hated when people asked this question. Mainly because she had a difficult time answering it.

"I did, a long time ago. Unfortunately they're all dead now." Once again, semi-truth that could be slightly detected in her voice considering she still had two granddaughters.

Eglantine bit her lip. She had unfortunately asked the wrong question. "I am sorry to hear that." she stated softly. And please don't ask that question to me as well...she added silently. Most counselor's eyes seemed to light up at the mere mention of her husband's death, as if Eglantine desperately needed counseling due to her loss.

Sensing Eglantine's reaction to her answer, Miranda sought quickly to reassure her. "Not to worry, dear. It was a long time ago that my husband and sons died and I have moved past it and accepted it. Life must got on, after all."

"What of you, Professor?" Miranda deliberately left the question open, not necessarily fixated on husbands and children as to help relieve pressure the question may carry.

Well, she had sense, Eglantine admitted. And then came the question. Thankful that it was general enough to allow her to answer it, she sighed.

"I have a brother in Germany. He has two sons with him and a daughter who attends Hogwarts. Bella Rosier, she is a 5th year."