after classes...

It was no surprise that Casey would be summoned to his Head of House's office after the incident in Transfiguration. Unlike other classroom occurrences this one was under his control. Not really his fault, depending how the Head of Slytherin took it, but the disruption was unique only to Casey.

Casey was sitting with rigid posture and a wooden calmness, wand held tightly with both hands at either hand, resting on his lap. The almost petrified posture contrasted with the speed of his mental acuity. If he could get Mr. Morgan's support for his side, Casey might be able to avoid the unpleasantries. One very big unpleasantry because the last time this had happened...well, it had encouraged more reckless than normal behavior in the sickly Slytherin.

Landis had been alerted to a situation involving one of his students by Sandusky - and what's more, a student he'd seen as recently as the beginning of the year. That didn't bode well. He'd hoped not to see Casey for a long while yet. Nevertheless he summoned the boy to his office after the day's classes in an attempt to flesh out the situation. There was both good and bad in being so quick about things: on one hand, waiting longer to summon him would have both worn him down with nerves and allowed Landis to gather information from the other staff and Hogwarts' rumor mill. On the other, Landis generally preferred promptness. It spoke of efficiency, and what's more, allowed him to enter his weekend with the situation resolved.

It was also common courtesy to take care of the problem quickly for Sandusky's sake, and a chair sat nearby for the professor when he arrived. Landis was generally cool towards the man, but it was inexcusable to perform poorly in professional matters because of personal opinion. He would get to the bottom of this, in the hopes that the incident in Transfiguration would not occur again.

"Care to explain what happened?" he asked of Casey, without any particular rancor.

"I can say that it was nothing like what happened in Charms."[1] Casey had spent days after that class covered in strawberry shaped boils with hair like candy-floss and smelling of jam. The whole incident was one he wanted to forget. Not enough to remove the memory to a Pensieve or block it from his mind with Occlumency, but he just didn't want attention drawn to it.

"It had to do with my house elf," Casey began with carefully chosen words. He hadn't become publicly reliant on the elf. Save for two instances both out of the boundaries of the castle and when Casey was pretending to be someone else, there was no means where any of the students who reported to Morgan (there conceivably had to be some kind of spy network) to note master and elf working together at school.

"Dingy apparently had the notion that interrupting class would be of service to me. Although when I dismissed and ordered him away he kept showing up."

1.	An Apple a Day Keeps the Poison at Bay

"Well." Landis paused. "That's... good." But not enough. After all, trouble had a rather wide scale.

This time it was a scale that stopped at Casey's house elf.

Landis gave the boy a Look. It was a very speaking look. It was a look that said, I am both shocked and surprised and, have we not had this discussion before? Possibly also: for Merlin's sake. "I can't imagine where he picked up the belief he was so integral to your schoolwork," he said dryly. However, this WAS quite unusual - a house elf dismissed, and insistent on coming back. Less sardonically, Landis asked, "Did he think you were in danger, or later give any explanation for his actions?" They could summon the elf here if they needed to for answers. This was rather strange. It wasn't a Hogwarts elf technically, expected to obey faculty but not compelled to by ownership. "And Dingy disregarded also dismissals from Professor Sandusky?"

"Indeed he did,"  Leopold said as he knocked and let himself in.  "My apologies for being late.  I was detained.  The elf seemed quite insistent that his presence was absolutely mandatory for Mr O'Doherty's  safety and well-being.  I will say in Mr O'Doherty's  defense that he made several attempts to get the elf to obey and leave the class.  Dingy is it?  Most peculiar behaviour for an elf. "

He didn't blame the young Slytherin for the disruption.  The blame lay squarely on the shoulders of his house elf.  "My thought is that Dingy is obeying instructions given to him by someone with more authority in the O'Doherty household but interpreting them poorly.  Something as simple as 'make sure nothing bad happens to him' could cover a very wide range of actions."

He indicated the chair that had been prepared for him.  "May I?" he asked, choosing politeness, rather than making an assumption and being rude.

"Not in danger of any external threat, no," Casey replied. "Dingy knows I'm able to defend myself." Perhaps an unessecary phrasing of the lack of life or death threats in a Transfiguration classroom on an average day but it spoke of Casey's might. If there was one duty Dingy was not expected to follow, it was to be his master's bodyguard.

Casey could almost sense the restrained disdain in Mr. Morgan's voice. No Legilimency or Occlumency at work, just simple body language and past experience. Although Casey was growing in the use of Occlumency so that when Professor Sandusky made his deduction the Slytherin only winced internally.

That was the scary truth. Dingy was very loyal to Casey but technically he was of service to the family. Casey almost regretted leaving Dingy free of duties around the school, if leaving him to the manor (when not taking care of mother) increased the control of the rest of the family.

Casey was uncertain about what to say, if he should say anything. If he revealed the truth, there could be trouble for him hiding it, even a simple absence of explanation could be seen as a lie. But even further, the explanation might not be believed either because of how unusual it was.

"I am not aware of any task ordered to Dingy that would be interpreted as interrupt class. My family appreciates the importance of education so they wouldn't want to disrupt it." Unless I prove to be too good at the magic. "And even if immediate, Dingy has the timeliness to wait until after class. It must be a misinterpretation on his account."

It should be easy, leaving the blame to the house elf. That would be the easiest solution, Casey had done so before, blaming an incongruenty on Dingy when it was an operation he wanted unknown to his family. However, doing so now brought the consequence of the slightest nervous twist in his gut. And it wasn't an allergy or medical malady.

Landis waved a hand, yes, sit. He frowned as he considered the matter. Sandusky's reasoning was the most likely explanation, that someone else - perhaps the head of the family - had given the elf instructions that overrode Casey's dismissals. Most house elves were not without logic, and incredibly loyal. If it had insisted that its presence was necessary for Casey's safety, then it must have had good reason to think so. Landis knew there were elves that had cracked or grown eccentric, who exercised stubbornness and free will despite their family ties. A vague order left plenty of room for an elf's own judgement.

"It must have been some misinterpretation if he continued to stay," Landis mused. He turned to Leopold. "What was the lesson in Transfiguration that day? Was there the possibility of Mr. O'Doherty's suffering an allergic reaction, or otherwise reacting badly with the magic performed in class?" He returned his gaze to Casey, thoughtful. If the elf believed that there would be a situation that its presence could help avoid...

But of course, the simplest way of obtaining an explanation: "Can you not summon Dingy here and ask him?" Certainly house elves could lie if ordered to, but it would be a good start to hear it first-hand.

The request came at no surprise for the meeting. Dingy might be put on the spot but with the right look from Casey the elf would know just what to say. Over the years they had developed alternate means of communication to get each other up to speed in moments.

"Dingy."

There was the silence of no elf appearing. The nerves along his spine began to trigger. It was uncommon when Dingy couldn't be summoned with just an intent laden word. "If he's occupied it may take a moment. Dingy, come here at once."

Still no elf.

Now Casey was worried. Dingy always followed through with any order Casey gave and for the elf to not come confirmed Casey's worst fear.

"We were working on cross-species switches. I suppose that might have triggered an allergic reaction,"  Leopold said, sitting.   "Mr O'Doherty didn't appear in any distress, at least not until the arrival and subsequent refusal to leave of his elf."

He watched Casey's growing worry.  There was nothing more sacred to an elf than obedience to their master.  To deliberately refuse was unthinkable.  Something was going seriously wrong.

"We were working on cross-species switches. I suppose that might have triggered an allergic reaction."

"Perhaps," Landis allowed slowly. Perhaps if the species was some creature to which Casey was allergic... But talking to the house elf itself would be the quickest way to suss out its train of thought. He watched and waited as Casey attempted to summon his elf. A second time, and still nothing. Landis glanced at Leopold, who knew as well as he that this situation had suddenly turned quite serious. Quite suspicious, too. The only way a house elf couldn't answer a direct summons was if it was physically incapable, and there wasn't much able to restrain elf magic.

"Dingy may currently be serving another member of your family, one with more authority," he suggested pragmatically, his voice low, expressionless, deadpan. It was slender comfort. Either that was the case, or the elf was dead. Even, possibly, freed. Landis had a great deal of experience with controlling heads of families, and Casey's parents or grandparents might have something to hide that the elf could reveal. It was not uncommon for pureblood families to keep their secrets. It would make sense especially if they'd ordered Dingy to show up in Casey's class.

He looked back to the boy, who was obviously surprised and worried by the refusal of his elf to show. Landis had no desire to assign discipline to a Slytherin who had done nothing wrong. That, at least, was a benefit he allowed his house. "Mr. O'Doherty, I would like you to bring Dingy to me when he next appears. His misbehavior is clearly not due to lack of direction on your part; however, it would be helpful to ensure that such academic disruption doesn't happen again. Until he does reappear for questioning - " He nodded to Leopold - "I see nothing else that can be done."

"Agreed,"  Leopold said, nodding.  "A very curious circumstance, to be sure.  I see no reason why the boy should suffer for the actions of his elf.  You will let me know what the outcome of your interview with the elf is?  I'm curious as to what was behind its behaviour."

He stood and bowed slightly to Landis and nodded to Casey.  "Unless there is something else you'd like to discuss, I'll take my leave."  He paused at the door, waiting to see if either of them had anything they wanted to discuss.

"Until he does reappear for questioning I see nothing else that can be done."

They were talking about Dingy, who at that moment was entering the room, as the Transfiguration professor paused by the door. The elf was quivering underneath the saucepan he used for a helmet. And behind him was a strikingly reed thin wizard in a sharp looking suit.

"Forgive my lateness, I had to come from the village and meet the Headmaster." Martin indicated the other wizard with him and the elf.

Herschel stood behind Casey's father with his arms crossed. "Sirs- this is Mr. O'Doherty. He has insisted upon making an appearance..." It was obvious from his tone that Herschel was displeased with the arrangement at hand. "I trust one of you will show Mr. O'Doherty out of the castle and off the grounds once this little... meeting... is over. I have more pressing matters to attend to." With that, Herschel gave a curt nod and excused himself.[1]

 Martin O'Doherty ran his fingers along the edges of the briefcase under his armpit. "I came as soon as I could once I discovered that Dingpot was unable to complete the task instructed him." The elf winced.

Martin contemplated the two members of staff, eyes turning from the Head of Slytherin to the Transfiguration instructor. "Although now I can see why. Don't tell me my offspring has been giving you the run around?"

Casey shot a very severe look at his father. One that wasn't afraid but burning with hatred. Their eyes locked but Martin was the first to look away, extracting a document from his briefcase. "It's a very simple task that Casey is making much harder than it needs to be."

The document looked very formal looking. Martin read the opening lines. "By right of ownership and patriarchal standing in the O'Doherty family, Ainbheartach orders the favorite grandchild, Casey, to return the ancestral family wand on loan for educational purposes, the wand with these parameters: 9 inch long Hornbeam shaft, Leprechaun Hair core, inflexibly built." His eyes left the document. "I'm here to collect it."

1.	collaborative from Thea, as Herschel was then Headmaster at this date

Leopold looked at Casey's father.  "A rather ill timed request, to be sure,"  he said.  "I assume that there is a formal agreement in place which specifies the terms of the loan?  I'd like to see it, if you don't mind.  I'm not trying to usurp your position as head of Mr O'Doherty the younger's head of house, professor Morgan, I just find the timing of the withdrawal of the loan rather interesting.  I've got a number of years of service on the board of governors for Hogwart's, so red tape and it's associated difficulties are not unfamiliar to me."

If the documents did indeed allow for the sudden and unexpected removal of the wand from Casey's hands, it would put the boy in a very unfavourable position.  Even if he got a new wand that day, he would have almost no time to become familiar with it before his midterms.

Just as Sandusky was about to exit, two more visitors arrived. Landis frowned as Martin O'Doherty strolled in along with their missing house elf. He did not much care for parents - especially pureblood ones, whose pride he understood too well to dismiss. Headmaster Reid's subsequent announcement settled him, the surprise easing off his features, though the Headmaster's obvious displeasure was noted.

Once Martin revealed the purpose behind his business, the reasons for his urgency became very clear. It was a very ill-timed request, but it was one which might have been twisted to more favorable circumstances by Casey's acquiescence of the wand early on. Landis, raised to duty and obligation regardless of personal feelings, was surprised at Casey. Such rebellion was ultimately pointless.

Martin's visit also confirmed what Landis had already thought. The house elf had been acting on other, stronger instructions. That was a relief, at least one mystery solved. What it implied, however... Landis turned his gaze on Casey, one brow arcing in silent demand of an explanation. "Were you fully aware of this standing order?" he asked, voice lowering to a certain delicacy of phrase which bid Casey to carefully consider his answer. Lurking beneath the silken tone was the unmistakable implication that Casey had lied to both of them. Let the O'Dohertys handle their own familial matters; Landis was not here to judge whether Martin's demand of a wand from a boy who would need it on a daily basis was more unfair than Casey's stubbornness to give it up. However, lying to the staff and especially his Head of House was something Landis appreciated even less than surprise parental visitations.

He nodded to Leopold as the older man began to pour over the documents. If the claim was legal and allowed for the wand's immediate confiscation, then Casey would have no choice but to relinquish the family heirloom. Possibly it might never be returned. After all this, Landis rather doubted Casey would still be the favorite grandson.

At this point of time, Casey was thankful for being introduced into Occlumency. It allowed him to keep his face blank as he thought.

He had been foolish to hope that the family would stop at Casey’s rebuffing of the order. There had been times before, like the most of last year’s finals where he had been stripped of the wand and been forced to comply. Keeping Casey in line wasn’t even the point of this arrangement, the wand of Leprechaun Hair and Hornbeam was very powerful. Nowhere near Death Stick levels but on a tier second to that legendary wand. The real dispute was over who got to wield that power.

And Casey was attached to it. Very odd for a legacy wand, wands that had been passed down though families with multiple owners were hard to wield unless you were enough like the previous owners. Casey was, along with his own high level of magical potential, so the hornbeam wand and he resonated. Enough that he felt the stubborn personality of the wand favored Casey’s output of magic more than his grandfather, who had not been using it as regularly as the grandson.

Given the way things were going, the O’Dohertys were most likely going to revaluate the importance that Casey’s education included the ancestral wand. Something Casey had not wanted to give up. So any previous rebellions Casey had kept under wraps might come to a head out of this, Casey actively showing his dislike for how his family did things.

Maybe because he had found something else to protect…

Contemplating all the coups and counters at work was tiresome but Casey kept his composure cool and calm. He needed to so he could salvage the situation even if it meant parting with the treasured wand.

“Was I aware of the standing order?” Casey began in his response to his Head of House. “The ‘order’ is rarely ever so formalized to warrant a warrant to return the wand. But I’m fully aware of what the agreement is. I am loaned the wand for educational purposes from the current head of the family and wand master, my grandfather, until he requests it back. An agreement long been informally enforced.”

“So when Dingy originally interrupted class, it was to deliver the message to return the wand. The only time we trust the house elves with the wand is for deliveries like that, for immediate transfer. I simply asked Dingy to deliver a message if the discussion of returning the wand could be delayed until after class, with the notion that I hoped I could return it after a day of classes—”

“And disobey a demand to return the wand?” Martin said, an irked quality to voice.

“It’s within my rights of the agreement,” Casey said. “The family values my education and I am allowed the wand for educational purposes. Surely it would be a disservice to interrupt a class when demanding it back. Previously I’ve been allowed to attempt a negotiation for the terms of returning it outside of class. A further disservice would be the choice of replacement wand I would receive, and I note Dingy didn’t have it with him the first visit. The Withered Stick is hardly suitable to be called a wand anymore. Black Walnut tremendously looses power when its original owner goes through inner turmoil. And I would dare say that having someone of my magical capabilities use a wilted wand like that,” there was a brief twitch of his lips when he looked back to his father, “might cause it to break completely.”