The Great Hall

"Is that so?" he inquired light-heartedly, meant only in semi-playful reciprocation of her statement. "Vell, that is good."

The understanding Viper spoke with caused Sevastyan to turn his head slightly in her direction, appearing to be half-smiling behind his goblet. "Ve comprehend each other, then," he said without replacing his goblet back to the table. It hadn't been a question.

"I suppose it is no secret, about that former Durmstrang professor?" Sevastyan inquired curiously, attempting to tap a different vein of thought. He wondered what, if anything, Professor Viper knew from the media coverage. "I vos vone of his friends," he added solemnly.

Viper nodded, they were very similar...

She was not entirely suprised to hear that he and the former Durmstrang Professor were friends. She didn't know all the details, but enough to understand what had happened

"Is that why you left Durmstrang?" she asked in a low voice, wondering if the other occupants of Durmstrang had turned on him for his association.

An eyebrow raised, and one corner of his mouth twitched upward. It was an honest question, for she didn't have all of the intricacies of his background. "I finished school at Durmstrang, but taught somevhere else. A very minor school, even smaller than Durmstrang if you vould believe. You could probably fit the main building's first floor and the Library in this room alone," he explained, gesturing to the entire Great Hall, laughing slightly at how cramped his former place of employment had felt only after comparing it to the vast freedom of Hogwarts castle.

"I did try to take over my friend's position before coming here, but they denied the application - because of my association vith him - so in a vay you are qvite correct," Sevastyan added, embittered at the memory. His own school - their own fault for teaching the theory of how to make Horcruxes to begin with - wouldn't accept him because of his associate's blunder. "It is also vy my transfer here vos delayed."

"From vot I have seen of Hogvarts thus far, I believe I vill enjoy being employed here than vhere I vos teaching previously," Sevastyan admitted, both to himself and to Viper.

Viper's eyebrows shot up as she heard of Sevastyan's previous employment and how small it was. She would never have been able to deal with being that close to her students all the time. And not just because she was claustrophobic, but because she would mostly likely snap a few of their necks in retaliation of the constant nearness.

Viper listened intently as he spoke of Durmstrang and their turn against him. She understood his bitterness very well for those at the Ministry behaved very similarly to her when her department was annihilated. Many from other departments stayed far away from Viper as though she was a plague who would desttroy their careers.

She smiled at his statement. "I'll admit, many students are dunderheads but luckily there is quite a bit of space so we are not always at close proximity. I shudder to think what would happen if I wasn't more than hundreds of feet from students at times." she said half jokingly and seriously.

"I can understand that. I have five school-age cousins, and being around them can be a little trying," Sevastyan returned good-naturedly, but was also serious. "The girls are fine - vone is qviet, vhile the other is a little more raised like a boy. The boys, on the other hand. . . talk about a handful - but Boris is the eldest, and the vorst. All of them go to Durmstrang, but guess who they're sent to for rather unnecessary summer education?" Though he doubted she really needed a hint he rolled his eyes in faux exhausted annoyance.

Viper laughed. "Well your patience really is impressive to be able to be able to teach in the summertime and keep everyone in one piece." She for one could not imagine tutoring students during what was supposed to be her vacation, despite them being her own kin.

"The good news is, vot I am to teach is highly practical and can be incorporated into something that requires slightly more endurance. So... 'vone piece' is sometimes a relative term, because Boris is much rougher than the others. The good thing is I am not expected to teach every day - nor vould I, because then I'd never get anything done," he explained. How he managed to keep himself in one piece in the summertime was a miracle after a mock duel with his eldest second cousin: the kid knew more than he let on sometimes.

"Do you do anything special for the summer holiday? ... To celebrate the relative peace and qviet?" Sevastyan asked with a small grin.

Viper thought for a moment. Back when she worked in the Ministry she normally took her holiday during the winter for a month or so at a time Since summer always seemed to have the presence of young students everywhere she turned filling all the shops and pubs in Britain.

Now that she was at Hogwarts and had a concrete set holiday she wasn't entirely sure what her plan would be. After all, most of her friends at the Ministry had children by now so they were quite occupied. And the few who, like Viper, didn't have neither spouse nor children had would have already taken their holiday during the winter as Viper would have done.

Instead, Viper shrugged. "Working on more potions, I suppose, considering by then I'd have little distraction." a thought struck her mind, gracing her with a small smile. "And perhaps practicing more music. Salazar Slytherin was a music prodigy and had a gorgeous piano placed in his chambers, which I now own. Lately, I've found myself playing it more and more, remembering old songs I once knew." Viper explained as a particular melody played in her mind and her fingers lightly tapped at the table, as though it was a piano playing the notes echoing through her mind.

((Morning after Forbidden Forest burning...))

Eglantine picked at a muffin, glancing every once and a while around her as if expecting something to happen. It did nothing to help her nerves that Professor McKevin was humming in his seat, eating a generous helping of just about everything on the table.

An owl flew into the room, a howler clutched obviously in its claws and deposited the envelope along with a slender black rose in front of her. Sighing, she gingerly picked up the howler and moved to leave the Great Hall. However the howler opened as soon as her trembling fingers touched it.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LENTY!" A deep voice boomed. "SWEETBRIAIR, WE JUST WANTED TO WISH YOU THE BEST 51st BIRTHDAY EVER!" Closing her eyes, Eglantine heard rather than saw the students begin to snicker and giggle in their seats.

Already another bird this time a falcon was depositing another howler in front of her.
"Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday dear Eglantine, Happy Birthday to you!" Esis' voice echoed through the whole room.

Kiara was trying her hardest not to laugh knowing this was embarrasing for Eglantine.

But she couldn't stop a few snickers.

"I.. take it... this way you didn't.. tell me when your ....birthday was?" she said in between her laughs.

"Happy birthday"

Eglantine gave a rather annoyed glare at Kiara, but nodded. "Thank you."

Another owl flew into the Great Hall, this time a large bundle of blue roses to give to her. A note attached said the roses were from Madame Lasharna.
"Last year it was a litter of kittens, thank goodness she is preparing to travel." Eglantine muttered.

((Different timeline))

Viper smirked at the sight before frowning and turning to Kiara as a realization hit her. "Kiara, when the giantess arrives, what am I supposed to do about Drakon?" she asked, gesturing the snake curled around her seat, relaxing.

Kiara sighed, this may be difficult.

"Is there anyway you could keep him as far away from the Headmistress as you can? I am not asking you lock him away or anything. Just make sure where she is he isn't. I am sorry Viper I don't like it either"

Kiara sighed again, it would be a problem.. newly bonded familars hardly went anywhere without eachother she was the same way with saturn when she first bonded to her.

"Fine if you must cast a disillustionment charm on him then, and stay as far away from her as you can. And if drakon is discovered I will deny any involment. I that clear?" she said.

Kiara glared, "I mean it Viper if you don't need to go near her don't, though i don't know how she can be alergic to a snake"

Kiara rolled her eyes but winked, "Some how I get the feeling she isn't as "alergic" as Eglantine says she is, no one can be alergic to every animal with out going nuts"

Amy sat in the great hall, Aiden was om the quiet end of the table reading through his transfiguations book.

Amy couldn't keep the silly grin off her face and she was waiting for Darien and Ana to get there she had a rather strange question to ask.

Darien wandered into the Great Hall, and sat down next to the twins.
"We're here...Oh Merlin..." He stood up again and walked to the doorway.
"Come on Ana, the book will still exist in the five seconds it will take you to walk in a straight line, to the table and sit down!"
"I'm getting there."
Darien grabbed Ana by the arm and literally dragged her to the table. She sighed and sat down.
"It's an exciting book-hey!"
Darien vanished the book. "Now it's gone! Stop being so damned anti-social Ana!"
Ana sighed. "If we were in the common room brother, you would pay dearly for that."
"Well we're not, so tough." Darien smirked.
Ana gave him a withering look.

Amy smirked "I should do that to Aiden one of these day, but he does my studing for Trainsfigurations so I can't complain"

Then Amy got up and leaned in close to Darien and Ana.

"Any way I wanted to ask you something" Amy started to blush.

" Since me and Nicolas will be going on yet onther date, and you are thong only other slytherin dating a Gryffindor I was wondering...."

Amy was a red a tomato as she said casually, loud enough for both Darien and Ana to hear.

"What is it like to kiss a Gryffindor?"

Ana stifled a laugh.
Darien snorted.
Ana elbowed him. "Darien try to act slightly mature, and don't laugh at Amy."
Darien took a deep breath in. "Okay...Um..." He pinched his nose and laughed silently for a moment, facing the table. "Okay, now I'm done."
Ana put a hand to her head. "Apologies for Darien...he's an imbecile."
Darien glared at her before turning back to Amy. "Um...good? Well, I don't know what it'd be like for you, as I don't know what your Gryffindor buddy's kissing abilities are-Ana will you stop laughing!"
Ana raised an eyebrow, still silently giggling. "What? I'm laughing at you, not Amy."
Darien rolled his eyes. "Shut up. Anyway, I guess you'll just have to find out. However, I would be optimistic if I were you, as his cousin is a good kisser...And ignore Ana."
Ana's eyes were now shut as she rocked back and forwards slightly in her seat, in silent hysteria. "Sorry Darien, but you shouldn't talk about stuff...really, you shouldn't! Anyone got some chocolate I can pilfer?"
"What has chocolate got to do with anything?" Darien asked, bewildered.
"It's the next best thing to popcorn..." Ana grinned.

Amy smiled and laughed herself.

"Wow that was one question I thought I would never ask...Oh and of you guy wouldn't mind not telling Aiden about this, wouldn't want him killing Nick before I get a chance"

"Okay...but blame Darien if he reads his mind."
Darien looked outraged. "And why would I have my mind invaded?"
"Because you spent your occlumency lessons money on a stick that flies." Ana rolled her eyes.
"It's a broom-" Darien began.
"-Stick." Ana finished.
Darien glared at his sister, who met his glare, unimpressed.
"Admit it Darien, you just can't beat me in an argument! Girls shall always beat guys."
Darien scoffed. "You wait til I'm older..."
"Okay, but remember...Boys don't grow up, they just wear bigger clothes."
Darien let his head fall forwards into his hands. "What did I do to deserve this constant stream of abuse?"
"You let me get away with it."
"I hate you." Darien muttered.
"Whatever." Ana turned to Amy. "Are all brothers as pathetic as him, or is he some weird mutation?"