Transfiguration's Office

Viper looked at Eglantine who was eyeing her oddly with barely concealed curiousity. "If you wish to know something,go right ahead and ask." she said frankly, and she meant it. The meeting with Reginald's daughter had put her in a wonderful mood, one that wouldn't spoil easily.

Eglantine was once again reminded that they belonged to different generations.
"How do you know Miss Vaight's father?"

"On a professional or personal level?"

"You said he worked with you, so I suppose, personal."

"Well, it started off very professional. In my earlier days, The Head of Reginald's Department, Alden Dagobert, wished to become a sponsoror. Reginald, at first, refused, saying that it would be a waste of money. He was quite doubtful, afraid that sponsoring would be a waste of money. Dagobert wouldn't hear a word of it and arranged for us to have dinner together privately and it all flew up from there." she smiled to herself. "He became our top sponsoror."

"Oh, I see." Professor DeLanquar saw too much in the simple explanation and did not wish to pursue it.
"Did you ever meet any of the Malfoys? she asked, subtly changing the subject.

Viper laughed. "Met them? We practically lived next door, we were so close. Father and Lucius were very close. Did they disown you after you married your mu-husband?" she asked, halting herself.

"No. I never met any of them. My father and mother wanted to travel the world and nothing else."

"How fortunate for them. Being able to follow their dreams without someone stopping them."

"Indeed. And they even to this day continue with their travelling." She almost smiled as she thought about the colourful owl she had gotten from her father and mother yesterday morning. They had been in magical France.

"So aren't alone. You do have living family members." she stated, desperately trying to keep the venom of envy from dripping through her voice.

"Yes. My father, mother and brother. He has a family, three boys and a girl. You would like them."

Viper shot her an "are you serious look", wondering if she had lost it.

"They excel at potions and are every inch Slytherin." She paused and then continued. "Erin is 20, he works in the Ministry. Severus and Corin are 17, they graduated from Durmstrang this year and Bella is 14, a fourth year here at Hogwarts. She is in your potions class."

Viper laughed to herself. "I take it you have not seen the assignment on my board, Professor. I refuse to teach any pupil who does not solve my riddle at all or correctly, regardless of their age."

"Oh! I haven't been in any of your classes though, so how would I know what you do in them?"

Viper smiled. "I assumed one of your "cubs" may have run weeping to you over my "meanness". Believe it or not, I even managed to reduce a few to tears during my first lecture."

"Congratulations! I had no idea potions required tears to be successful. But at least your class paid attention. During Muggle Studies, almost all the students paid as much attention one could expect from someone asleep." It was most depressing to think back to her lessons.

Viper smirked. "Tears are a sign that I am doing this abysmal job properly. Tears are equal to fear. Fear is equal to understanding the dangers making potions comes with. I daresay I'll only have about a dozen students this year. The riddle I assigned was quite difficult. I had to read the whole riddle to solve it."

"Is it fair to only allow Ravenclaws to learn Potions?" her attempt at humour would hopefully not offend Professor Viper.

"Is it fair to have a class with only Muggle Borns in it?"

"Touche'." she said not certain if Professor Viper was offended or not.

Viper smiled. "Intelligence and logic are two very different things. In fact, I find that its the Ravenclaws who tend to have the most difficulty with riddles."

"I wouldn't know." Eglantine gave in. "But do remember that they are children. And sometimes children need understanding as much as they need fear."

Viper nodded. "However, it is that kind of thinking that leads to accidents in potion making. If anything children need common sense. Without that than they're hopeless. I refuse to take responsibility for a student blowing himself up because he misread the book."