After seeing the Durmstrang Spellworks professor on Thursday[1] Gerard had struggled through the overview of Occlumency exercises he had planned for the Mind seminar that evening. Throughout the hour he had expected Hendurabi to drop in, although the Iranian mage seemed to be avoiding the Belgian advisor as much as Gerard was avoiding him. He knew Hendurabi would not avoid him forever so they were going to have to meet.

After a day of contemplation Gerard decided to act. He learned that the Spellworks professor had created a workshop of sorts on the sixth floor in a spare room. Gerard was going to see him just before he got a full start to his day.

Once he found the right classroom Gerard knocked twice but entered unheeded. He noticed Hendurabi at the professor's desk.

"I am surprised to find you are part of the staff of Durmstrang," Gerard began, polite and conversational. "I would have thought you would teach at your alma mater of Gondhishapur, if you were ever to commit to teaching."

1.	At the end of the tour

He had adopted the classroom on the sixth floor because it seemed out of the way.  The corridor outside did not get much traffic, aside from the odd Arithmancy class, and even the Boy's Lavatory that was located nearby looked as though it got little use.  While he was here, it was good enough to use as a base; somewhere to deal with private matters and prepare well out from underfoot of the other Durmstrang professors, and with less of a chance of getting in the way of his new colleagues from other schools.

Less of a chance of getting in their way, and much less of a chance of walking into any more awkward encounters that he wasn't prepared for.  He had spent the past two days staying far away from any events that might have included the Beauxbatons staff.  Gerard Gries had seemed equally as interested in avoiding him; but as long as the older man was content to keep his unhappiness to himself, there was no reason to rush into the inevitable conversation.

He had been planning to give Gries a few days -- let him come to terms, or drink, or meditate, or whatever it was that the mind scholar liked to use as an excuse when he was avoiding the world these days.  But what he had not expected was for Gries to approach him first.  The knock had come unexpectedly.  Atash looked up, his expression first wary, then immediately guarded.

"I taught there for five years," he replied, dark eyes already fixed on the other academic.  He had not gotten a good look at him the other day.  Much older.  Just as worn.  The past ten years had not been especially gentle to the Belgian, but life had been far unkinder.  With great care, Atash set down his quill, shifting in the chair to face the older man.

"But," he added mildly, with all the polite inflection of one making a minor observation and not firing off an opening salvo, "I found that it was time for a change.  Would you have preferred that I had taken a job at Beauxbatons?"

Gerard hadn't known Hendurabi had gone into teaching. The only magical academy of the Middle East he knew of well was Beit Gaddol. While it would be the generalized answer to say the two were similar that would not be true. It would be like comparing Durmstrang to Beauxbatons, or Hogwarts to Salem. Different apart from small similarities.

"It would not have been mine to say though I would have been concerned to see you there." There was no other way to continue talking without letting an edge of opinion into his voice. "Given your predilections, I imagine you teaching at Durmstrang would be dangerous. Not only for students but for you. Do you teach it there, in your branch of Spellworks?"

There was nothing mild about the mage now.  Every line was sharp, every movement controlled -- he looked more like a hawk than ever as he glared with open hostility at the other professor. 

"I was unaware that I was the one with predilections," he said simply, his eyes hard.  The backwater bar where he had first found Gries, the older wizard unshaven and uncouth, smelling of the months -- the years -- that he had spent hiding from himself.  And at one time, the man had been one of the greatest mind magic scholars of recent generations.  He was a shame.  A waste.  Even now the disgust threatened to show through his expression.

Atash set his quill down firmly on the desk with a finality not normally reserved for such a mundane gesture.  His gaze hadn't left that of Gries since the man had entered.  It was as open a challenge as he could ever give, though he doubted that the Belgian had come here with the intent of probing so openly.  That was not his way. 

"I am pleased to see that you have recovered yourself.  And found…gainful employment?"  He smiled, though the expression twisted more than usual, a sort of hard, mocking smirk.  "It sounds as though the Beauxbatons students conducted themselves well in the First Task.  You must be very proud."

Gerard had faced most of his demons. When the wizarding war had cost him dearly he had sunk to a low point for a few years. It was within that time he had met Hendurabi, a harsh man hidden behind a polite facade. It did not take legilimency anymore to see behind the presentation made by the Iranian.

"You are the seeker of information that should not be known and you do not care for how you accomplish that. I suppose that is why Durmstrang would value your inclusion in their halls." Gerard's eyes, not fully open, did not break gaze. They both knew what the other could try, like the chess masters that could play games without a board, only waiting for the first move to begin a predictable pattern.

"It is still early enough in the tournament where Beauxbatons can pull ahead from behind. Not all of the champions for that task may have been suitable but they were drawn from the Goblet." Had Atash been present at that time Gerard might have expected him to confound the device to better Durmstrang's chances. "Though I am proud of the efforts of one." Corey had been in his element for that task and he had done the best. His score was higher then several opponents, excluding the champions of Salem.

Atash silently raised his eyebrows, his smirk still lingering as he eyed the other man. 

"I have not speculated aloud about the reasons surrounding your employment," he said evenly.  "I would appreciate it if you would remain civil about mine."

The Belgian's speech was one for the textbooks: it was still early, Beauxbatons could still come from behind.  But they both knew the truth of it.  He had made a careful study of what was known about the Tournament and the other schools before arriving in Scotland.  The French-speaking institution was known for its emphasis on the arts and etiquette.  If its staff were anything like Gries, they would certainly play by the rules.  Neither was a recipe for doing well in a cutthroat competition, especially now that the Beauxbatons champions were doomed to continue from a position of weakness.

"And yes," Atash agreed politely, rising slowly to his feet.  "One show at effort certainly excuses other failures.  I can see why that would be enough to inspire you to feel pride in your students."

They could play at this game all day long; carefully chosen barbs, smoothly worded attacks that struck without leaving any other sign.  He wouldn't do open battle with Gerard Gries: not here, not yet.  The older man was a master at mind magic, though he was far from invincible.  The challenge that he posed was too personal to let slide, but Atash would choose the time and place.  For now, it was better to gage, to wait, to get a clearer idea of the other man's intent.

"Even so, I admit," he said smoothly, his manner controlled and mild once more, "that I am pleased that you sought me out.  I had been hoping for a chance to have a word with you, but I did not want to impose if you preferred your privacy."  His dark eyes swept over the Belgian wizard, his expression silently calculating.  "I hear that you are conducting a seminar on Occlumency for the students?"

There would not be much to speculate about Gerard's employment. There had been an opening and he had filled it. Certainly, he was immensely over qualified for the role he now placed himself in but Beauxbatons liked to see the return of alumni who had done great and then came to work at the school.

"Our champions may do better on the challenges that require finesse and wit." Beauxbatons had such varied coursework, and the students encouraged to have rounded educations, that any potential riddle or labyrinth would become their forte. Atash was not impressed, perhaps taking the first Task and Beauxbatons champion from the last time the tournament was revived as proof that the quality of the academy pupils had declined. Recent years may suggest such a decline but over the centuries Beauxbatons had held it's own as one third of the TriWizard Tournament. Statistically, the history of the event led to almost even wins from each school.

Gerard could maintain his composure. His brother, back when they were still speaking to each other, always joked he could when big at games of cards. Such a use of Occlumency, for a poker face, did not sit with his ethics. Although Gerard would have one heck of a poker face. Still, Hendurabi's sudden interest sent a chill through his steeled veins.

"You are correct, my seminar deals with several branches of the magic of the mind, although Occlumency and Legilimency will be the primary focus." A deliberate pause. "Not taught as you would teach it. For the betterment of the relations of our schools, I instruct in a safe and secure environment."

A slow, lazy smile spread across the mage's face.  He gave the other wizard a smug, considering look as he crossed his arms.

"Yes," he agreed, his tone nothing but polite. "Though I imagine it is all really for the betterment of the students themselves.  That is the point of this, after all -- creating a culture of exchange between faculty and pupils alike, yes?  Durmstrang, Hogwarts, and Salem are all lucky to have the benefit of your example and instruction."

Pressing his mouth shut, he made a show of looking pensive for a moment, though he did not try hard to hide his smirk.

"You know," Atash began, clearly watching the other wizard out of the corner of his eye, "I have recently found myself being asked to provide similar instruction to some of the Durmstrang students.  Nothing like your numbers, of course -- just a small, select group.  But," he added thoughtfully, "it is more challenging than I would have anticipated; I often find myself wishing I had more experience teaching such subjects.  And here," he said, giving the Belgian a respectful nod, "I am lucky enough to find myself in the presence of one of the great masters."  The smile he gave Gerard did not come close to reaching his eyes.  "I am certain that I would learn nearly as much as the students, if I were to observe your next seminar."

This is where it would start, with Atash Hendurabi. He would sit smug atop some throne of self superiority to whoever was in the room and make a suggestion that sounded harmless enough. Had it been any other member of visiting faculty Gerard would not be concerned. Bai Li Yang of Salem's had revealed in confidence her own applications of Legilimency and an interest to assist where she had time between her delegation duties and joint Creature lessons.

"I left the seminar open to those who are the right age or above. If you had been a student I would have cautioned that there would be much you have missed to catch up on, though I doubt that would stop you." Spoken with such intent that Gerard would not be raising a red flag by denying one man to observe the seminar if he wished but the Iranian mage would occupy a great deal of Gerard's interests.

"I'm sure your students of Durmstrang would be interested. They are welcome if they have not already attended. Monsieur Faust, in particular, must contribute to the challenge. He seems the pupil who reads the last chapter of a text first before starting a subject. His interests in the medicinal aspects of Legilimency are noble but should he theorize before he knows the basics he would do more harm than good, in practice."

Faust -- interesting.  He did not know the young Oberteil student very well, but this was the second time that his name had come up in conversation since Atash had arrived at Hogwarts.  Maras had mentioned the boy as well.  It would not have surprised Atash at all to hear that the Durmstrangen were staying clear of Gries's workshops -- the ones who had an interest in mind magic already received private tutoring, after all -- but apparently young Faust was making an effort to integrate with the other delegations.

That might prove advantageous, or it might need to be eventually dealt with.  For now, he merely filed the information away.

"Yes, of course.  In practice."  Atash smirked.  Gerard Gries would probably prefer that all of his students were old, gray, and able to recite every relevant text by memory before he really let them try anything in practice.  He seemed to trust others barely more than he trusted himself.  Without a doubt, those taking part in his seminar classes on Occlumency and Legilimency would suffer through hours and hours of philosophy and rhetoric before they were ever allowed to even consider broaching the practical.

But that didn't mean that sitting in wouldn't be interesting.  Even if he only did it to watch Gries squirm.

"When is your next seminar?" he inquired nicely.  "I will have to do my best to attend."  He smiled, dark eyes fixed on the other man.  "I am very glad to see that you are willing to let past difference lie, Monsieur Gries."

Gerard remained firm in his stance. He was not going to let whatever opinion Hendurabi had bother him, his estimate being close to accurate he would wager. Tone and the emphasis of words could speak volumes and the Iranian's words suggested Gerard may have not trained the students attending the seminar well enough.

"I have them scheduled for Thursday evenings although there are exceptions I have been ready for. Scheduling difficulties." This wasn't in response to Atash being in the castle. As far back as when Gerard began preparations in September there was the risk of Thursday not always being available.

"...to let past differences lie..."

There was no change in his posture but a rigid severe confidence backed Gerard's words. "I will not bring up the elements of the past with the respect and trust that you will do the same. This tournament is not the forum to discuss those matters. Any of it. So I do not want to hear any rumor based on what only the two of us know. If that honor can be kept we shall remain civil for the remainder of the tournament."

And now, Gries's reasoning behind seeking him out came into clear focus.  Atash regarded the other man with a sharp gaze, silently considering him from across the room.

The Belgian wizard was not here to put forward a challenge or lay out his threats; he was here to negotiate.  And in that, Atash thought, his interests were revealed.  That had always been the most difficult part about any assignment that he had been tasked with, any class that he had tried to teach -- determining what was in it for the other party.  If Gries was prepared to come here, to make this statement, then he would be prepared to do more.

"I am sorry to hear that you seem to think I enjoy rumors," he said at last, with only a faint, bitter smile.  "The only way that I will discuss the past, Gries, is if someone else starts the conversation."

Gerard was not fooled by Hendurabi's rebuff of the mild accusation. The mage would not like rumors about himself as much as the next person only rumor and half truths were common from Atashwhen he wished to discredit.

However, an understanding was coming to form. Neither of them would want the details known whether as embarrassment or a sign of past weakness. "I am glad to hear that. You have my word that I would not start or continue a discussion of the past. If you follow the same we will continue the year without discomfort."