March 9, after dinner


About a week after the full moon, and Zel was honestly feeling pretty good.

Except for the whole guilt part.

His younger brother, Emeric, had absolutely chewed Zel out over the whole yelling at Gale thing. It was only a matter of time, he thought, before Lucas would as well .To Zel, they just didn’t get it. He was jealous, and worried, and scared that them being close to their teacher was going to take away Zel’s place in their lives. He wanted to be the person his brothers turned to. But they needed someone who wasn’t part of this crazy, crazy family. They needed someone who could actually provide things that they needed.

Zel couldn’t provide some of those things, and Rhys… Who knew what Rhys was doing?

But, after given time to think about all of this, he felt like an apology was in order—even if he had found that Charms class to be humiliating, offensive, and manipulative. Gale was hurt. People weren’t the most reasonable when they were hurt.

He didn’t feel the need to get close to the professor—in fact, that was one of the very last things he wanted. He needed distance, he needed to be away from him. But that didn’t mean he couldn’t apologize and make things right. That didn’t mean he couldn’t learn to accept that his brothers wanted Gale in their lives.  Zel wasn’t ready to open himself up to the professor the way his brothers had—and he didn’t know if he ever would be.
He knocked on Gale’s office door and entered once called in.

“Err, Professor? Sorry to bother you.”

For the days following the last class, he spent most of his time alone. With the renovations underway at his house he couldn't sleep there yet, but he couldn't wait. Gale felt a prisoner in this castle, and despite his promises of staying til the end of the year he wasn't sure he could be able to keep going in this job much longer. Chaz he knew by now was probably more worried than anything, but after there weekend together things between them were much better. Chester was an amazing boyfriend, who was supportive and concerned, Nightingale didn't understand what he did in his life to deserve such a man, but he wasn't about to let him go. It was in the middle of a return letter that Gale's door was knocked upon, and it pained him to leave the writing to answer. He figured it was one of the other staff members, and didn't give a good glance until the voice spoke up.


“Err, Professor? Sorry to bother you.”


Zelig surprised him, by standing there, speaking in a rather....quiet? Tone?

"Oh," He let his hands fall to the top of his desk that he was sitting behind and appeared rather shocked that Zel was even standing there, but quickly got himself together.

"Good Evening, Mister Trumble. What can I do for you?" He asked the boy the same as he would any other student, but it was clear that he was putting up ever defensive shield that he could.

Zel flushed and closed the door behind him, slouching in an attempt to make himself look smaller. Still, he towered over Gale from a standing position. He walked over to the desk and sat down at the chair in front of it, facing the professor. Zel still felt so clumsily big in comparison, but sitting down evened things out some. Plus, the professor was behind his own desk, which gave him a barrier behind which he seemed an authority. As he should in his position.
He was surprised that he hadn’t received a detention for yelling at him, for acting so passive-aggressive. Raine had yelled at him, and she received a detention! Granted, she did set a rope on fire…

“I just—“ The Hufflepuff cleared his throat, “I…” The words felt like they were trapped in his throat. Seeing Gale, the anger and hurt was still there—but it was dulled. Apparently, it was something that not even the passing of the full moon could take away. He still felt bad, he still felt jealous, and he was still feeling guilty. There were so many different emotions that he couldn’t just pick one to describe how he felt.

“Sorry for yelling… It—it wasn’t my place.” Zel finally said, clearing his throat again.

Gale hadn't realized that he was holding his breath until Zel sat down, the boy was massive! He could have easily broken a few bones rather quickly if he wanted, but really Gale didn't think Zel would ever try. Truly, the night of their argument was something of a fluke, he was just sure of it--the full moon, but seeing the young man now he had to wonder.

Zel muttered through his apology, and Gale sat down behind his desk again.

"Zel...," He started in a much softer less 'professional' voice, "You don't need to apologize to me. I had plans to come and say the very same thing to you as soon as things calmed down. When I thought maybe we could have a real talk about this, and not raise our voices." In a very even tone, he came to the table and equal player in this, and met the boy eye to eye,

"You didn't give me a chance to answer your accusations, a-and I'd like to. If that is alright?"

Zel shook his head in disagreement. No, he needed to apologize. He had been rude, said hurtful things that he mostly regretted. They were words that needed to burst out att hat moment, and he wasn’t sure he regretted saying them? Rather, he regretted the fact that they hurt his professor, that they were scathing words. He had always heard that while bones and bruises could heal, words cut through people to the core. It was harder to stitch those kinds of wounds back together. Magical potions and healing spells couldn’t fix damage done to emotions and pride.

He listened, his body tense—as if he was ready to spring out of his chair and run at any given second.
Zel’s eyes met Kesali’s as he listened to the professor’s words.

"You didn't give me a chance to answer your accusations, a-and I'd like to. If that is alright?"

A stiff nod was all he could manage in response, but it was unmistakably a sign that he was willing to listen, to let Gale say his piece.

"I'm going to be very frank about this alright?" He waited a moment to see if Zel would protest before continuing, "I understand where you were coming from, and how that it would have looked on the other end of things. It looks like I'm just moving right in and sweeping up everything that is dear to you and all that you have left. I get that. I do. And I'm so very sorry if you feel that way, and I want you to know that I'm not trying to do that." Gale held onto the edge of his desk,

"I don't want to be your parents, or take your family away from you. I'm not your father, or ever will be. But I just...Zel, I had to grow up so fast. So fast, I don't want you to have to. Any of you. I want you to enjoy your time here and be just as you want. I want to be your Professor who will go to bat for you during the big game, I care about each and every one of you. Some just a little more than others, but no one is trying to take anything from you. No matter what happens, I want you to know that I'll do everything in my power to keep all of you together. So that you can be big brother and protect what is yours. Alright?"

It was exactly right.

He felt like Gale was sweeping up and trying to take the role of dad or big brother. Trying to take Zel’s place. Or his parents’ place. And even as Gale spoke and explained it wasn’t what he was trying to do, Zel still felt like that was exactly what he was doing. This was the sort of thing that would take time for him to adjust to—to become okay with. Just because Gale didn’t want to do these things, just because he wasn’t trying, doesn’t mean he wasn’t taking them away, accepting the role of big brother and father.

But Gale was attempting to meet in the middle. Zel had to respect that.

“I—“ He grimaced, “You can’t keep me, or any of us from growing up too fast.” There were so many things that happened in their lives that forced them to mature in different ways. He wanted his little siblings to have chances to be kids, and he felt like they had that opportunity. Time for Zel himself was running out. He was sixteen. He was going to be seventeen this summer, an adult. Beinga werewolf now? It was forcing him to grow up and change in ways he wasn’t ready for, but had to be ready for.

Being around people with Figaro made him feel more his age. Raine too.  He was thankful for them.
“I… Don’t see why we would be apart.” Zel shrugged, “My siblings and I—we’ll stay together no matter what.” Unless Gale knew something he didn’t, Zel didn’t see any reason for him to be separated from his family any more than he already was.

"I know I can't, but I want to. I don't want you to ever have to be forced to do anything that is against your will. But I'm not going to try and force this on you either."

“I… Don’t see why we would be apart.”

Gale looked nervously down at the floor, was this a good time to tell him? He wanted to be upfront with Zelig, but what if he was wrong? So he dove straight into a stretch of the truth,

"You know...I don't really know how to answer that. Never thought I'd ever be apart from my family either," He smiled with a little pull of his lips as he looked back at Zel, "I threw tantrums on my dad every time he dropped me off at the train station, but you know...sometimes things just happen." He shrugged, not wanting to make this about him, or one more sob story to tell the students. He was just going to be a strong assertive presence.

"And you are right, you will stay together. Because they've got you, and that's all that matters." He sat rather defeated as he admitted that, but deep down he knew it was the truth, "And actually, I just bought a house. And will need lots of help getting it fixed up. Maybe if you were interested in helping we could work out a pay arraignment? Perhaps over Spring Break?"

His first thoughts were suspicious ones.

Why would Gale make some weird implication that Zel and his family would be separated? It wasn’t a big one, but it was there when the professor had said that he never thought he’d be away from his family either. The suspicion was soon mingled with pity—it must have been rough, to be separated so young. It had been tough for Zel and his older siblings too, when their dad died in the attack that turned Emeline. Losing a parent was rough. Losing a whole family would have been even more difficult to deal with. He was glad that his younger siblings were too young to remember what their dad was like—it was difficult to miss someone who was never there.

But then, he was reassured. Yes. They would be together. And it was because there was no way in the world Zel could ever desert his brothers and sisters.

The prospect of a Spring Break job was intriguing. Zel was definitely interested—he needed a way to make money to help Lucas and Emeric get what they needed. Working for a teacher to earn money was a more honorable, comfortable method of raising money than having it just be handed to him.

“I… Will think about it.” Zel didn’t want to sound like he was too eager. “Maybe for a couple days?” He was hoping to visit Emeline and Garrett at least once over Spring Break. Even if it was just for lunch.

"If it would please you yes, for a few days."

Gale sat back in his chair to study the boy before him, trying to find as much of Lucas as he could, wanting nothing more than to see those sweet little hopeful eyes; innocence before it was corrupted. He took a deep breath at the harrowing ache that filled his chest, and tried to quell the desire to reach out and just pull one more of his students into his arms. He could hold Zel, for this he was certain--despite how much taller he was, how he would hardly fit.

"The house is very old, I could use the entire NEWT class to put it back together, but it is mine and a home, no?" He smiled and held the bit of information still, today was not the day that Zel Trumble should know the truth, but it still broke his heart. The unanswered letters could wait another day, but he wasn't sure if he could keep them a secret for long.

"There is even a little cat who is large with kittens I think, that or worms. I am not sure."

He nodded politely.

Zel would definitely think about helping him get the house cleaned up and appropriate for living, it all depended on how he was feeling—and he wasn’t ready to put a full commitment on it yet.

When the cat was brought up, Zel had to admit to himself he was excited. But then he gave Gale a squinty-eyed look.
“What do you mean, either pregnant or has worms?” In order to tell that a cat has worms, it usually took awhile. And if the cat’s stomach was large with worms, it was probably very, very ill. “You can tell, you know, if a cat is very sick, just by looking at it. Does she look sick? Also, pregnant cats might act a bit more affectionate…” He cleared his throat. No, he didn’t come here to talk to Professor Kesali about cats, no matter how much he loved them. In fact, he wore the cat sweater that Winnie had gotten him on Valentine’s day quite often, much to Emeric’s embarrassment.

"I don't really... Know what else to say?" He looked down at his hands, "So.. May I be excused?"

“You can tell, you know, if a cat is very sick, just by looking at it. Does she look sick? Also, pregnant cats might act a bit more affectionate…”

"Then I think for certain it is kittens. The cat is very friendly, very needy and eating very much. It's hard to get her to a vet during the week, but I was going to pester a friend to do it, though he works too. Despite my youth, I never had many pets. We only had horses, and many strays. But they always ran away," He shrugged, "Or...I mean ran away back home, from running away. Ov yilo isi,[1]no?"

"I don't really... Know what else to say?' [...] 'So.. May I be excused?"

"Zelig, I did not call you here. You came of your own free will. You do not need to ask my permission for anything," He folded his hands over his lap, "Thank you for coming, and thank you for the apology. You must know how much it means to me, and how I too am very sorry for overstepping. Let's just put this behind us, and think of classes no?"

1.	Romani = It is ok.

“Yes sir.” He bowed his head politely. “I—I’ll be going now?” Zel stood and hesitated, opening his mouth as if he was going to say something. But no, the thoughts he had couldn’t be put into words yet. “See you in class then.”  The Hufflepuff shook his head and made his way through the exit, closing the door silently behind him.

End scene