Tapendra paced back and forth in front of the Antechamber's door. It felt like it had been hours before that the chosen Champions had been herded through for Merlin knows what - well, Tapendra knew what. But it felt like it was taking forever, which wasn't helping his concern, worry, and annoyance, which were slowly cooking into the desire to throw something at someone. Preferrably at their head.

He'd been so sure. He'd thought that over and over - but he'd been sure Sasha wasn't going to enter. The other teacher's remarks - mainly those that claimed that he had no confidence in the boy - had been cutting, and embarrassing. He did have confidence in Sasha, and a lot of it. Just not when it came to this sort of thing. Sasha was a Ravenclaw through and through. Ravenclaws weren't designed to fight dragons, they were designed to...to...study the aerodynamics of their wings! To find their genetic breeds! Something that didn't involve getting eaten!

Tapendra paused for a moment, taking a deep breath and leaning on the wall. His robes, which - unusually for him - were actually traditional, were weighing him down. He felt weighed down by more than them - mainly by the knowledge that no amount of protest on his part was going to get Sasha out of this, and by the vague feeling that some trust had been broken.

Fiddling with his long sleeves in an attempt to distract himself, he looked up when the doors finally opened. The group that came out were the champions, and Tapendra stood - eyes locking on a certain figure in grey, bronze and blue.

He strode over, robes sweeping behind him - his height adding to the effect as he bore down on the small group.

"Mister Schlagenweit," he said, in a tone that was polite and neutral - but oddly and utterly lacking in his usual sunny enthusiasm. "If I could speak you for a minute? Privately."

Sasha was used to pomp and circumstance.  Once the whole official weighing of the wands got underway, Sasha fell rather quickly and easily into the routine of it all.  He knew how to do his part - the putting one's best foot forward and ignoring whatever doubtful glances were cast his way from co-competitors.  This part was easy. 

He could only hope what came next was even half as easy. 

But, after all the photos had been taken and questions had been asked, they'd been given the all clear to return to their Houses.  Sasha turned and headed for the door, eager to slip into a quiet corner in some empty classroom and write a letter to Kronos.  He didn't know if the man read the Daily Prophet but he was certain one of his employees did.  Or ... something.  Kronos usually managed to find out most things and Sasha had long ago stopped wondering where the information came from.  Even if it was in a letter, Sasha wanted to be the one to tell him he'd been chosen tournament.  And, while everyone else seemed to doubt Sasha's capabilities and suitability for the competition, Sasha knew he could trust Kronos for vote of confidence and support. 

He could hear the man now, laughing his bright, jovial laugh and assuring Sasha he was 'tickled.'  And, that he had no doubts that his son would do splendidly and surprise them all.  And, most importantly, he was certain Kronos would reassure him that the goblet had not made a mistake.  His mind was engrossed in the midst of playing out the inevitable conversation when he stepped through the door of the antechamber and into Professor Trishna's path. 

Sasha drew up just outside the door and hesitated before responding.  Part of him wanted to simply refuse and continue on his way and his head might have even shook ever so slightly.  But, Professor Trishna didn't appear to be in a mood to back down and there were others filing out of the antechamber.  Sasha knew better than to create a scene. 

"Yes, sir," he agreed, dipping his head once in an overly-formal acknowledgment.  Without another word, Sasha followed Professor Trishna towards an empty corner of the Great Hall.  It was obvious Professor Trishna was upset and Sasha had a pretty good idea why.  Though he couldn't remember Professor Trishna ever being upset with him, he was no stranger to these kinds of situations.  He'd been on the receiving end of verbal lashings, tirades and worse - probably much worse than Professor Trishna was capable of dishing out.  That thought, alone, gave Sasha an unexpected confidence and, again, he nodded once in an obvious gesture of subservience as he looked at the man.  "Sir?"

Tapendra's resolve flickered for a moment, as he looked at Sasha in unmasked surprise. Whatever he'd expected - fear, defiance, shame, worry - cold and formal wasn't it, and it showed on his face and in his body, his shoulders slumping. His eyes darted back and forth, trying to get a clue from Sasha's expression and failing.

"Come with me," he said, putting a hand on Sasha's shoulder and guiding him into the far corner of the hall. Here their voices were too far from the others to be made out, which was good. Tapendra kept his hand on Sasha's shoulder until they stopped, and then his hand slid away, his arm falling to his side.

He took a breath. He wasn't sure what to feel - annoyed, confused, betrayed - but it was definitely making him edgy. His honest urge was to grab Sasha and shake him until the kid came to his senses. His gut twisted and he was surprised to find he felt hurt, especially by the boy going all formal on him.

"You don't have to call me sir," he said, rubbing his forehead tiredly. "Sasha-" he started, and then had to stop himself as he tried to find a quick way to voice his thoughts without having to say you little idiot.

"Sasha, we talked about this when - when we talked about it," he said. "I - I told you what this is like. I - why did you enter? You could get killed!" His voice rose in volume and pitch as he spoke. He wasn't yelling but he was clearly very, very close.

Sasha had seen Professor's hand move out of the corner of his eye and his façade faltered as a deep-rooted, subconscious reflex kicked in.  The Ravenclaw flinched and closed his eyes, bracing himself until he felt the man's hand, guiding him across the room.  It was humiliating and Sasha shook his head, hoping the reaction would have gone unnoticed.  Color rose in his cheeks as he opened his eyes, quickly trying to reconnect with the mental place he'd occupied a moment before. 

The color still lingered on his face but all other traces of that momentary reaction had disappeared by the time Professor Trishna spoke, again. 

"What would you prefer I call you, then?" Sasha asked, his tone formal, again.  Sasha had been calling Professor Trishna 'sir' since he'd known the man, though never in that tone.  He re-squared his shoulders as Professor Trishna's voice lifted and waited until the man grew quiet, letting the man's words fully sink in. 

"Any of us could get killed!" Sasha countered, waving a hand back towards the door the antechamber.  "They'll be facing the same risks I will though, for whatever reason, all four schools know their entries weren't quite as disappointing."  Sasha grew quiet and shook his head.  In retrospect, maybe he should have told Professor Trishna he'd entered so, at least, the man wouldn't have been surprised with everyone else.  But, of course, Sasha hadn't expected to get chosen. 

But, the man's very public display of his lack of confidence in Sasha's ability had been painful and embarrassing.  That moment had further concreted Sasha's resolve to prove himself. 

"I've ... this ... I'm not helpless.  I know you and everyone else think I am, but I'm not!  You said it's risky but - really?  It can't be worse than I've already survived and I ... I'm tired of people thinking I'm just some coward!"

Tapendra blinked and stepped back, the surprise naked on his face, his jaw slightly dropped. He'd never - he'd never heard Sasha be upset, let alone with him. It took him utterly by surprise, his anger and concern blanking for a few long moments as the boy spoke.

Sasha was right, of course. As a professor he should be worried for all the students involved. And he was! He was. He knew he was. But he was worried for Sasha most of all. He knew how that probably seemed, and had looked to others, but Tapendra being Tapendra he couldn't help it.

"I don't think you're helpless!" He protested. And, honestly, he didn't. He just hadn't seen anything to show Sasha was ready for this.

It rang hollow, though, and he balled his fists, closing his eyes for a moment.

"I'm sorry, Sasha," he said, tone naked to the defeat and regret he was feeling. "I - I just don't want you to get hurt. I don't want them to get hurt, either-" he gestured limply at the exiting others - "But..." He trailed off. "But I don't want to see you get maimed. And..." His hand threaded into his hair as he sighed, leaning against the nearby wall.

"I don't think you're helpless, but - you always - I've never seen you be confident in your abilities, Sasha," he said. "And it worries me, okay? You're an incredible kid, Sasha, but when it comes to spellwork you've always seemed scared." He looked at Sasha almost pleadingly. "So of course I'm worried!"

A tinge of guilt squirmed in Sasha's gut when Professor Trishna took a step back but the guilt was strongly overpowered by ... by how good it felt to have his voice raised.  He'd never ... he couldn't remember ever being so forward or blunt or loud without any fear of repercussions.  As soon as the momentum faded, he knew he'd regret it but, for now, the adrenaline fueled itself. 

"I'm not confident!  I'm terrified!"  Under any other circumstances, it could have been a confession.  But, under the adrenaline it showed no traces of humility. 

"But, keeping my head down and being a good little boy hasn't worked!  I did what I was supposed to and I still got hurt!  I almost got killed sleeping in my own bed!  I got close to getting maimed walking home in London.  I'm tired of being scared - I'm tired of feeling cursed and I'm ... I'm tired of just sitting by and letting things happen to me.  I -" 

Perhaps, if Sasha had had more experience with such venting, the dose of adrenaline would have lasted longer.  But, almost as quickly as it had spiked, with a slumping of his shoulders, it dissipated. 

Sasha shook his head and leaned against the wall, slumping slowly to the floor.  "I'm ... I'm sorry, sir.  I just ... I assumed ... I counted on it'd being unlikely that I'd get chosen - even if the goblet chose randomly.  I don' t know.  I just thought, maybe It would be like a stray dog.  The curse or bad luck or whatever would just keep ... trailing me and stalking me if I kept trying to hide.  I thought that maybe if I just turned to face it, it'd back down.  And, I just ... if something did happen, at least for once, I was in control?" 

Tapendra stared at Sasha, trying - and kind of failing - to hide the uncertainly on his face. But even as Sasha vented, Tapendra calmed. His annoyance was quickly being replaced by - well, was it pity? It kind of was. But it was more accurately a jumble of emotion that he wouldn't quite work out.

Part of him - the part of him that remembered being Sasha's age all too keenly - knew how Sasha felt, to some extent. The helplessness of being unable to control your own fate, when fate clearly had put up on a river with a waterfall, was something he'd been glad to leave behind - even if he'd been far too late when he finally did.

Sasha slid down the wall and Tapendra knelt, his long robes pooling on the stone floor around him. He cupped his hands together as Sasha spoke, eyes studying the boy's face. "I'm sorry," he said, echoing Sasha's own apology. "I - that's admirable of you, Sasha," he said, and meant it. "I just wish you'd told me you felt that way." Though, of course, he might have just realized it now, when he was voicing his thoughts.

He put a hand on Sasha's shoulder automatically, glancing around the hall. "You can't back out. You're - they won't let you," he said. "Do you - you said you're not as helpless as I think. Are you - how do you feel about this? What do you want to do?"

Sasha ran his fingers through his hair, unsure whether this had been an admirable move.  Or, if admirable and stupid were mutually exclusive.  He had no real good excuses for why he hadn't told Professor Trishna.  At least, not beyond simply not knowing how one started a conversation that centered around fears of being cursed. 

He focused on the simpler, more tangible excuse.  "I figured you'd be disappointed, sir - I mean, professor."  And, that you'd talk me out of it."  After all, it wouldn't have taken much to convince him not to.  And, on some level, it was something he just had to do on his own.  To prove to himself that he could.  "I was ... I really hoped it'd be a non-issue.  You know?  That no one would be the wiser.  But, it didn't work.  It just-" 

"It wasn't my intent to keep you in the dark.  I wish I'd told you." Sasha admitted, truthfully. 

The young man nodded.  They'd explained the rules at the start of the evening - when the goblet was first set out, even.  His mind was already started processing that fact.  "I know.  It's a binding contract.  And, I - I don't think I'd want to back out, anyway.  I'm terrified but ... but maybe this is the rest of it?  Maybe I've got to go through with this all the way to make whatever this is stop?  I don't know what else I can do." 

Sasha shook his head.  "I'm not as-  My wandwork has improved.  I've been able to practice and get some help.  I think I'll be alright.  I just ... how does one get ready for something like this?  I don't really know what I should be doing.  Just practice?"

Tapendra chose not to answer honestly - or at all. He wouldn't have been disappointed but he wasn't going to lie and say he'd have been okay with it - since this whole talk and his reactions had been complete proof he wasn't okay with it. He still wasn't. But in some ways he was feeling better - and was beginning to feel able to accept this.

"It's alright," he said, squeezing Sasha's shoulder. "Just - in the future, you can tell me, Sasha. I trust you." He could only hope the reverse was true. With Sasha it was, sometimes, very hard to tell.

He sat back a bit, and sighed, returning his hands to their originally cupped pose. This really couldn't have come at a worst time, could it? "You - well, you practice everything, really. We try and make sure everyone - that everyone's ready. Ignan would be best." He looked at Sasha seriously. "I'll try and help you anyway I can, Sasha. If you don't want to work with Ignan, then - I can try and take his place in that. But Defense - I'm not terrible at it, but he'd be better."

He ran a hand through his hair. "But we don't know what you'll be facing. It could be a maze or a dragon or a spelling bee, for all we know - and even when I do get told, I can't tell you."

"Just - in the future, you can tell me, Sasha. I trust you."

Sasha blinked and then stared at a spot on the floor, brows arched in thought.  The comment, of course, was connected to the Tournament but the undertones clearly stretched beyond that.  Presumably, there'd be no 'in the future' as far as the Tournament went so...what was he referring to?  That Sasha could trust him enough to tell him everything? 

Sasha didn't distrust Professor Trishna.  He probably trusted the man more than anyone else, save one.  A very important One.  Just as much as Sasha had kept his muggle life and wizarding life at arm's length when he'd been a fourth year, he'd been keeping his associations with Professor Trishna and Kronos completely separate.  He trusted both but neither knew about Sasha's trust in the other.  But, did that mean he didn't fully trust either? 

No.  It didn't.  At least, that's what Sasha had convinced himself of.  It was more like ... maintaining relationships with divorced parents who couldn't stand the sight or mention of each other.  Peace was best maintained when they were each quaintly oblivious to the others importance. 

However, that meant Sasha needed to know where to draw the line.  He couldn't ignore the two sides.  Which meant, he had to have the presence of mind to recognize practicing defense with Professor Trishna wasn't an option.  He might not be able to tell Professor Trishna why, but he had to recognize the risks himself.  And, find a way to muddle through any resulting questions.

"That's not a good idea, sir."  Sasha said, shaking his head.  "I don't think practicing with you would be a good idea.  It ... I just ... I don't want anything to go wrong and-."  Professor Storm might be able to handle it when it did; Sasha wasn't sure Professor Trishna could.  He could practice with Mr. Morgan, but he couldn't tell Professor Trishna that. 

"I don't know.  I-  Maybe I can just review notes."  And, leave the hand's on to the unspoken librarian. 

“I’m sure your notes are wonderful, Sasha, but-“ Tapendra wasn’t sure what to think of Sasha’s rejection of the idea. He’d done well in DADA. He wasn’t Ignan, but, surely he could substitute when it came to practical application practice!

He was aware of Sasha’s issues with incorrect spell use – having been told and heard about the incidents from the year before. Bu he wasn’t sure why this could be an issue. Tapendra was fine with getting knocked around in spell practice, He was getting trained by Ignan in Legilimency, after all.

“But they won’t b an effective substitute,” he finished, and offered Sasha was he hoped was an open, encuraging smile. “If you’re gonna do this you should be preparing to win, not just to survive. I’m sure you can do it if you put your mind to it and we work hard on it,” He stroked his beard. Unless…

“Is there – If there’s another teacher you’re more comfortable with, then I won’t stop you,” he said, though his tone made it clear he wasn’t the slightest bit sure which professor that would be. Surely fter everything Sasha hadn’t decided he’d rather study with Aileen?

"I have two weeks." 

September 26th.  Two Saturdays from now.  And, those two weeks would likely go by in a flash.  With absolutely no idea what he'd be facing and what spells or skills or information he'd be needed, how was he really supposed to prepare in two weeks?  "How am I supposed to know what I need to practice?  I just ... everything?  And, what are - I assume there are rules.  Limitations.  I mean, the kids from Durmstrang - they know different stuff.  What can we, or they, use?" 

"And, there are going to be people watching, won't there?  A lot of people will know what I do?  Is it just the students from all the other schools?  Are there going to be others?"  How many people were going to be watching him muddle through whatever it was they were going to be doing?

Sasha quickly shook his head.  "There isn't anyone else," he admitted.  "If I have to practice with someone, I'd rather it was you."  Professor Trishna was a known entity and reliable.  Risk aside, it was an obvious choice.  But, he couldn't be assured of 'risk aside.'  "Or, Professor Storm.  And ... he's probably safer?  But-"  There was the obvious.

"But - really.  I actually got a fair bit of practice over the summer.  I mean, not for this - I wasn't expecting this.  But, defensive stuff - stuff to use in case of werewolves.  I just ... I don't know what of it I'm allowed to use.  Or, what I should be using."

"What do you need to practice - what are you not confident in?" Tapendra asked, tone even and encouraging. "They'll - they gave you some clue, right? What to wear? If they say to wear a nice suit you're probably not going to be wrangling Thestrals, right?"

He ran his hands through his hair, letting his breath out. "I don't know yet. I - we're supposed to be let in on it. So I can let you know...whatever we're allowed to tell you. But until then, I know as much as you do, Sasha. I'd guess it's going to be everyone who watches, though. The - everyone, the staff and students, and guests from the Ministry."

Not that that was very reassuring to either of them, he was sure. Sasha's words didn't make him feel any better, though; he had the feeling he wasn't getting told something, but wasn't sure enough to call the boy on it.

"You - that spell you used in the class, last year. You - don't use that sort of thing and you'll be fine," Tapendra said. "But practice is still a good idea, Sasha, even if you got a lot of practice in over the summer." He looked at the boy and quietly wondered who he'd practiced with over the summer, though. Surely they'd get a good substitute.

"If there's no one here who you'd be willing to practice with, I can - I can try to arrange for someone from off campus?" He suggested.

Sasha dug in his pocket and pulled out the notice the champions had been given.  "Champions must bring the following to the Task: Their wand, undamaged and properly maintained; - I ... that seems obvious - a pair of shoes with thick soles, ideally with a short and practical heel; - I ... a heel.  Like, riding boots?"  He glanced up, curiously at Professor Trishna.  He looked back at the page.  "-a pair of thick leather gloves; and, finally, they must wear their uniform in a way that is practical for rigorous outdoor activity."

Everything pointed to outdoors, obviously.  Perhaps, it was simply a matter of Sasha's perspective being skewed by his own hobbies but the rigorous outdoor activity and heeled, thick-soled shoes pointed towards ... well, animals.  "Dragons were the first task in the last Tournament, weren't they?  I remember reading that somewhere.  They wouldn't - they wouldn't repeat a task.  Would they?" 

Sasha took a deep breath and braced his hands against the wall behind him, pushing himself to his feet, again.  "I ... I felt pretty confident with everything for OWLs.  Except for Divination and I know that'll be useless."  He shook his head.  "But, I know this won't be anything like exams - I don't know how useful that is." 

"You - that spell you used in the class, last year. You - don't use that sort of thing and you'll be fine."

"Obviously, not that one," Sasha quickly defended, color rising in his cheeks.  That one seemed obvious.  As did the one he'd used on that Ashford fellow - the one that had been used on Ava.  There were a whole slew of spells, though, that Sasha wasn't certain on.  "But, there might be others - others like that that I ... maybe I ... shouldn't ... use."  Sasha's voice trailed off and he cast a quick, uneasy glance around their vicinity. 

He was treading on dangerous ground and needed to back off it, quickly.  Professor Trishna just needed to understand and accept it wasn't just a simple matter to practice with anyone.  "Look.  I ... don't know.  There isn't anyone I know off campus who could-"  No.  No.  Back track.  "That won't work.  Unless you know someone - I just ... it's better if they know some of that other ... stuff."  Sasha shook his head, running a hand over his face.  Despite the obvious discomforts, agreeing to practice with Professor Storm was quickly becoming the lesser of two evils when compared to the current line of questioning continuing.  "I'll ... I'll practice with Professor Storm.  I'll just ... figure it out." 

"I don't think so, but that doesn't mean they won't repeat the spirit of it," he said, carefully. He didn't know the plans. They hadn't been let it on enough, in his opinion. Of course, that could all change - he could walk out of here and into a meeting that explained it all.

"Others like that?" Tapendra asked, as Sasha spoke, but fell silent as the boy continued - his lips slowly pressing into a worried line, his brow furrowing. "Sasha - look," he said, reaching forward and gently touching the boy's shoulder. "Sasha," he said, seriously - his gaze calm and steady as he could make it. His suspicions were rising quickly as - he had to know.

"Sasha, what aren't you telling me?" He asked, earnestly. "What's wrong?"