Nightingale, was dreading the following week of classes, and was desperate for a bit of a release. His books were getting well worn, and though the library wasn't too far of a little walk it was painful to even press on. He missed Chester, more than he ever thought he would, and he worried that they wouldn't soldier through this fight. However, it wasn't the fight that kept him awake, but the nagging feeling that something else was desperately wrong.

Bits and pieces of the puzzle didn't fit, the letters felt wrong and distant. The nights seemed darker, the forest unsettled, but it was the moon that gave away little parts of the secret. Some nights it was worse than others, and Gale took to the trees like an unearthly being. He felt himself come to life in the dark forest floor, the tall outstretched arms of every tall oak and evergreen pine, but still he could not find closure.

The nightmares returned, but were different this time. They came without warning, and sometimes even in the late afternoon naps he often took in his office. Tonight, was no different. With a bright blush on his cheeks, his hair up in the comb that had belonged to Chester's grandmother, and a oversized sweater pulled over his shoulders Gale made his way down to the library.  Desperate for something new to read, and to return the books he borrowed once already.

All of the students should have been in their rooms, and though Gale wasn't on the best of terms with Landis--he wasn't about to let that stop him from something new to read.

"Good Evening."

It was nearly curfew, and the library was accordingly empty. Landis surveyed his kingdom from his stance near the main desk, his student helpers the last to scuttle out. His gaze rose to the bas-relief gargoyle above the door which was as alert at this time of the evening as he. Its sharp eyes didn't detect any strays over the tops of the shelves, or it would be mugging at him, chortling, pointing after the intruders - it had a simple sense of humor, but they finally understood one another. He gave it another half hour, as always, before he would pace down the narrow aisles to check for himself, lock the doors, and leave.

Supposedly. 9 o'clock was, at least, when he could leave if he chose. But between doing work in his rooms or in his office here, he normally chose his office and would stay very late hours indeed deep in the concentrated trance of the serious workaholic. He had gotten somewhat out of this habit before break as Juliette was generally waiting on him to come to bed, but now he no longer had that peculiar dilemma of his personal life intruding upon that of his professional one within the walls of Hogwarts castle.

The gargoyle was silent and could not alert him of anyone's presence when he wasn't looking, but Landis heard the faint susurration of footsteps on library carpet and turned. The Charms professor approached, dressed casually in the way that one whose duties had ended much earlier in the day could.

"Evening." His pale eyes lingered on the woman's comb in Gale's hair, but other than his flat return of basic manners Landis said nothing. He only waited, as the professor was likely to explain his presence well before Landis managed to suffer any twinge of curiosity.

"Hi." Gale smiled as his voice remained quiet, as he put a few books on the counter. Landis looked...well, he looked like Landis, but he just seemed different. Perhaps it was just his imagination, but there was something about the man that seemed put off. Was this because of his lover? He'd heard a little of the gossip that went through the veins each night, but he tried to ignore them. He was victim to a good deal of it, but often brought it on himself--Landis did not. Landis kept his distance from everyone, kept himself quiet during wilder times, and was much more reserved than Gale ever wished he could be.

"How are you?" Came a little question, testing the waters of where they stood. He didn't think he and Landis had any hard feelings towards one another, but that first week here in the woods probably didn't set the best first impression. Gale found it rather hard to win back opinions, and he figured with this one it was a lost cause.

Gale set his books on the counter and Landis began to reregister them at once, presenting his profile to Gale as he flipped open their covers and withdrew their cards. Deftly his hands like great pale spiders flicked and stamped at a pace slightly slower than his usual in order to prolong the task he could do in his sleep. In the two massive tomes beneath the counter a slash appeared through Gale's name, loaned books, and check-out date in the one, and in shimmering ink his name appeared next to a new date in the other. His absorption could not have been any more clear an indicator of his lack of desire for late-night conversation.

The professor's question came, small and hopeful, though the busy whisper of this activity. Without turning from his work one of Landis' brows rose, a whip-sharp blond quirk which conveyed to the book currently under his scrutiny a certain disdain in the proceedings. "Peachy," he said. His tone inbued the word with as much personality and joie de vivre as a centuries old corpse. Given that Gale was still standing there after having returned his books, Landis continued, "Can I assist you in some way?"

Their first interaction he had made more effort towards maintaining conversation; now, long after the conclusion of said unfortunate first meeting, he did not even try.  That Kesali had turned out to be an apparently competent Charms professor instead of the tree-caressing maniac he'd first led Landis to believe was a little disappointing, but his erratic behavior and muggle-loving ways kept him firmly in the camp of colleagues Landis found both personally and professionally lacking. Their interactions since he had kept brief.

It took everything in him to not get lost in the titles that jumped out at the professor from the rows. He could see a few things he'd read before, but wouldn't mind to again. As well there were what it appeared to be a few new things? He hoped so. It was nice to think that even the great Hogwarts Library kept up with today's studies and modern ideals behind some spell casting, but Gale kept that opinion to himself.

Can I assist you in some way?

"Oh...um," Gale hadn't realized he was holding on the edge of the counter so severely until he let go of his hands and they still ached, "No. I suppose not. I just haven't talked to you since school started back up. Is everything alright? Did you have a nice holiday?"

Landis glanced at Gale again. The arched eyebrow had yet to fall and now it was joined by the faintest shadow of a disbelieving sneer. Surely the man had not sought him out solely for this puerile small talk? What privileges the other staff members might possess by virtue of having never stared him down with a hand on their wand, Kesali did not share. They seldom had reason to converse together and Landis saw no reason to break tradition now.

He drew his wand. With a quick glance at the inner cover of each book, he sent them bobbing on their way with mental directives to their shelf. As he did so he spoke to Gale, his words cool and somewhat preoccupied by the magic he was performing but still very precise. "No students of mine are causing trouble in your classes?" Landis asked. "No castle matter, nothing in here you'd like to check out? Then as far as I'm concerned we have nothing to discuss, least of all the state of my holiday." He finished, and tucking his wand away focused all his attention on Gale. "The library is closing, Professor. Good night."

Sought him out, no. Engaged. Yes. Gale had come to return the book, but was trying to make attempts at mending some of the friction he'd caused in the staff. Landis would have none of it, but he was alright with that. He doubted they had much in common anyway.

Trying his best to not appear wounded, he gave a little sigh of relief, "Ok good. Because I hate small talk, but felt obligated. I really didn't want to hear about it anyway." He motioned for the book he checked back in, "Just that, tonight Landis, carry on." With a pat to the House Elf there waiting he turned to leave.

Landis' slitted eyes followed Kesali as the other man turned to leave, but he let the inappropriate use of his name slide. It wasn't worth the argument. Fortunately they seemed to share similar views on the usefulness of small talk, though unlike Gale, he did not feel at all obligated to carry it.

The elf had a message for him from another professor, which he took as Gale slipped out. The great doors ponderously ground closed and locked with an echoing series of clicks. Holding the scrap of elf-delivered parchment loosely in one hand, Landis disappeared down the hallway beside the counter that led to the back rooms and his office.