Hospital Wing

((no problem, you were all typing at the same time I was...lol))

((lol...it's okay))

Mae turned, still attempting to hold in her laughter, "What's so funny Professor?"

"It's just that, I've spent my entire life telling myself 'I will never be my parents and family, I'll never live my life serving a Riddle like them' and, well, here I am, serving a Riddle!" she exclaimed, laughing even harder.

Mae couldn't hold it in any longer, and she bent over laughing, and clutching her stomach.

Kiara hung her head.

"Good grief... This is why I didn't say anything"

Mae looked from her two Professors; one laughing, the other looking slightly annoyed, to her Headmistress. And then she paused in mid-laugh, "What do you me Professor, 'you'd never live your life serving a Riddle'?"

"This is foolishness. Pull yourself together, both of you." Eglantine did not find the situation funny in the least.
"Headmistress, your being a Riddle does not change anything other than the fact that if Lord Voldemort did send you a letter, you may be in personal peril. I would suggest you contact someone you trust and reinforce the wards of the school."

Ignoring the other Professor, Viper managed to calm herself and summoned her normal goblet. However this time she substituted the red wine for a very aged vodka. She took a long sip. "I've done it. I've finally hit rock bottom." she drained the rest of her goblet and reached for the bottle to pour more.

Mae raised her eyes in surprise at Professor Viper's comment, but she did have to agree with the younger Professor, although she wasn't sure what about.

Kiara shook her head sadly.

"Right now Eglantine the only people I can trust even sightly are the people standing here in this room"

Mae felt her cheeks flush at the Headmistress' words, unsure of whether she included or not in that fact.

Viper swallowed with little difficulty. "Even her?" she gestured to Mae. "Merlin, if you trust people that easily, its a wonder the school has yet to be attacked!" she stated, pouring herself more of her beverage.

Mae had to agree with Professor Viper, she was awfully young to be trusted by the Headmistress of Hogwarts, even if she had been worried about her.

"Indeed, well then the wards must be strengthened and we must decide what to do." Professor DeLanquar glanced over at Professor Viper who was still drinking.
"And would you stop thinking about yourself for a moment please!"

Viper paused in between sips. "Oh, I'm so sorry! How rude of me." she waved her hand, summoning three extra goblets and filled them with vodka, handing one to each person.

Mae raised her eyebrows, "Professor? I can't drink vodka ..." she trailed off slightly.

"Not what I meant." Eglantine muttered, accepting the goblet nonetheless. Almost unconsciously, teaching for 20 years will do this, she took the cup intended for Mae as well. "Too young," she stated simply.

"She is not." Viper replied absentmindedly, taking delight in the ripples she was creating in her beverage.

Mae raised her eyes brows and took the glass, avoiding meeting the three professors eyes'.

Kiara shook her head again at Viper, her trusting to easily at the moment wasn't the issue.

"No that isn't what I mean, anyone outside the castle can't be trusted now. I mean I addressed the letter about drumstrang to Harry Potter himself it must have been... No Saturn"

Whistling as loud as she could, she called her Phoenix.

Nothing...

"He has Saturn..."

Viper raised an eyebrow. "Who?"

A bit confused, Mae leaned against a table besides the three professors, causally leaving the glass of vodka on the table.

Professor DeLanquar quietly banished Mae's vodka and replaced it with apple juice.

"Saturn must be your bird." Eglantine muttered. "Well then, I suppose we could use another means of sending a message."

"I wasn't going to drink the vodka!" Mae laughed, "I was just going to leave it ..."

Viper ignored Mae and proceeded. "Yeah and I'm old, she's older," she pointed to Kiara. "And your oldest! Now, really, Professor! Voldemort's on the loose and this could be her last oportunity to try Desdemonia Vodka. Do you really want to rob her of this once in a life time opportunity?" forcing her favorite card, the guilt trip, upon her rival.