Half Hour Before Curfew

Gale was making his last little rounds, not quite ready to retire, but beyond finished with one of the first days back. He hadn't slept well the night before, he missed his lover more than words could express. He swore he saw him in everyone, heard his laughter, and even thought he could catch a glimpse of his scent on pillows Chester never slept on. Gale couldn't wait for the weekend, and would have rushed home tonight had it not been for that poor lost look in Lucas' eyes. That boy would snap long before this week was over, and Gale wanted to make sure he was here to catch him should he fall.

"Have a good night, Miss Perry," His thoughts were interrupted by a student leaving the great hall, but otherwise he felt he was alone.

The clean up was complete as once again the tables turned into game surfaces, and Gale started to clean up a little of the mess left behind. Chess, a favorite pastime of some of the students was always to be strung about in anger or frustration,  a few cards here and there. And no matter how many times they were left behind, Gale picked up the pieces with a small smile, letting the 'rook' warm in his palm just a few moments longer.

Ezra slipped back into the castle, which was growing quieter by the second as curfew approached.  He smelled dark and spicy like his expensive brand of cigarettes, smoke clung to him still.  He headed immediately towards the dungeons but movement to one side caught his attention.  A girl was leaving the Great Hall and returning to her dorms.  The lights were still on but there was no after-dinner noise. 

Glancing back at the stairs down to the common room, he felt immediately conflicted.  Damn it.  Stragglers happened every once and a while.  He wasn't a prefect but he wasn't particularly interested in letting some hapless first year lose points for his house.  He strode towards the doors, his feet echoing off the stones purposefully to announce his presence and hopefully stir students into action without him having to say anything.

Shit.  Ezra pulled up short in the doorway.  Professor Kesali was picking up the game sets.  Unfortunately there was no one else in the room.  Everyone had gone to bed or been shooed off by the professor.  That meant there was no one to divert his attention to.  He put his hands in his pockets and turned to go.  Hopefully he could just leave and go finish his homework before Kesali picked on him again.  He swore that bastard had it out for him.  He'd just love to know why Kesali held a grudge on him.

When Ezra came in, Gale swore the air left the room, every shadow seemed to skitter from his feet, and even the house elves who were also cleaning were quick to move away. The whole thing seemed eerily familiar, and despite Gale's desire to just let him go, he couldn't keep harboring these brash feelings forever.

"Mister Inkwood, you can help me if you have the time." Gale left the offer open, wondering if the boy would even pretend to hear him, but still he continued to clean.

"Perhaps tell me how your break was while doing so?"

Ezra froze in the doorway, all ready to hightail it back to the Slytherin dorms.  Of course Kesali would want him to help.  What better opportunity to harass him?  Ezra turned and forced a friendly smile onto his face.  He was a clever, resourceful Slytherin and it was a very convincing smile that actually seemed to reach his eyes even though he didn't feel it.

"Of course, Professor," he agreed pleasantly.  He walked over to the table where Kesali was cleaning up and clearing away.  He reached for a card of exploding snap, only to have it explode into a puff of smoke at his fingertips.  He waved his hand to clear the smoke and then shot the whole set a withering look of disapproval. 

"Break was fine," he told the Charms professor stiffly and somewhat warily.  "I was able to go home and visit my family."

"Good," Gale smiled at the boy, "Seeing your family is always nice, hmm?" He almost spoke out to tell him not to bother with the deck, but hid a little laughter when one card exploded, "Ezra, Honey, just leave those. How about you push all of the chairs in?" It was an easy enough task, Inkwood was able to do it.

"Staying out of trouble I presume?"

How in the name of Merlin did he get himself into situations like this?  Ezra rolled his eyes when he turned away from the professor.  He pushed a chair in and then another, straightening and positioning them for the next day's breakfast.  Honey.  Professor Kesali called him honey.  He must be getting laid at last to be treating Ezra of all people like a person worthy of emotional endearments. 

Or perhaps he was trying to patronize Ezra.  Honey, don't you think picking up cards is a little to complex for you?  Ezra had to close his eyes and take a moment's pause to will away the anger that came so easily ever since Kesali had embarrassed him and Livi in the hallway.  He turned a sly, almost wicked smirk in the professor's direction.  "Of course I am," he said sweetly.  "You know me, just going to class, doing my work, and hanging out with friends.  Why?  Are you... concerned?"

"Of course I am concerned, Mister Inkwood, you are one of my students. An extension of my arms. I carry your future in the palm of my hands, or at least help shape it. I am always concerned with the wellbeing of my classes, and you are no different. Just because I caught you snogging another student doesn't mean I'm going to turn away from you or act like I do not care." As he spoke he continued to clean, pulling out his wand now to use a little magic for the bigger projects.

"And let's face it Ezra, you have a wonderful reputation for getting yourself into trouble, so let's not act coy shall we?" He smiled at the boy over his shoulder, "Should I be concerned?"

Ezra resented the notion that Professor Kesali was in any way responsible for the course of his future.  He was a highly intelligent and resourceful young man with ambition to justify is house sorting.  He didn't require anything from this many who looked down on him at every turn.

His face, however, betrayed none of his dislike for the professor.  Instead it fell into an innocent look of confusion.  "I'm afraid I don't know what you mean, Professor," Ezra confessed.  It was true he did a lot of things that would get him in trouble if he got caught but Ezra didn't get caught.  Ever.  He had a clean record aside from a few small incidents in his younger years.  Therefore, the Professor had nothing but rumors.

Should I be concerned?

Ezra shrugged gracefully at that.  "Your concern is none of mine, but I do appreciate that you're looking out for me.  Thank you, Professor."  His words were seemingly polite and friendly but held  the sharp possibility of an alternative meaning.