Quarter past four in the afternoon


Photographs, dozens of them, were neatly laid out on the many desks that Virgil had charmed together and transfigured into a great working table. The subjects of these images varied. Professors Donovan & Donovan, as he called them. A big Russian man. STI slides. Prim looking Headmistress McGonagall. Cepheus Gamp. All of them were speakers at the sex education panel last Sunday.

He and Ji-Hyun had covered the event for the yearbook, and developed their pictures respectively. It was time to go over them now to see which ones Gracie might like for their publication.

Virgil sat by an open window overlooking a steep side of the grounds, green earth of imminent spring falling away to the lake below. It was a chilly afternoon and a light mist had set across the water. He used a match to light his cigarette and leaned over the sill to breath out a wisp of smoke.

His thoughts were miles away.

The classroom door opened and the Slytherin looked over his shoulder. "Shut it," he told Ji-Hyun softly as she entered. It wasn't contraband but it wouldn't do to be caught smoking anything at all in the castle, after that stint with Sophie at the hospital hut. Virgil took another drag before stubbing out the cigarette.

Just in case his classmate didn't like the scent, a clove blend of tobacco. He turned back to the table of photographs and nodded at the other side, which he had left clear for her to lay out her pieces.

"How many do you suppose Gracie will want?" Virgil asked, distractedly.

As she entered the classroom, Ji-Hyun’s nose wrinkled. She was glad that Virgil had decided to put the cigarette out; even if the smell lingered, it wasn’t as strong as it would have been.

“Hi,” she said, shutting the door behind her before turning to look at Virgil. He looked better than he had been. Perhaps knowing he was going to be a father had invigorated him? Knowing that people in her year were not only going on to do jobs, but having babies, alarmed her. She still felt very young – even graduating was scary enough, let alone having a child. Once you had a child, you would have a child for the rest of your life! And yet Virgil seemed so serene.

His question pulled her out of her thoughts. "She said four to six pages," Ji-Hyun said, "I checked, because I thought she said four to six photos." Gracie had been very definite about that. "And we should probably have spares, in case she rejects any."

Ji-Hyun bit back a sigh. When Gracie was there, it was difficult not to get swept up in her enthusiasm, but afterwards, you realised how much work there was to do. But at least she wasn’t the only one, and picking out photos was more fun when you had someone else to work with. Virgil could be a little critical, but that was a good thing when they had to pick the best photos.

"We should probably have one of the whole panel," Ji-Hyun said, pulling the folder with the photos she’d taken out, “in their t-shirts. I have a few, if you don’t?” She still couldn’t believe that they’d been persuaded to wear them. “Professor Donovan is frowning in all of mine, though.” Their charms professor was famously grumpy, so it was difficult to get photos of him smiling.

He nodded distractedly, setting his matchbox on the table and picking up the stack of photographs that were designated especially for Professor Rick Donovan. It was slightly thicker than the other stacks - with the exception of the Being Division head, of which there were many many pictures that looked identical for having been taken in quick succession.

"What Gracie demands..." Virgil mumbled and trailed off with obvious implication.

Their yearbook general editor was going for a comprehensive recollection of their year, sparing no effort and setting the standard high. He didn't mind the work. It was a good distraction from recent worries; almost as good a distraction as deliberating on Cepheus Gamp's splendid profile. NEWTs were manageable enough but he had been trying in earnest to avoid certain housemates since Tuesday night.[1]

No. Not a good time to dwell on that. "Should we start with Donovan then?" he handed the stack over to Ji-Hyun, breaking away from the clouds of thoughts drifting behind his eyes. A smirk. "I have one of him smiling. Or growling, I can't recall." Virgil's gaze dropped to the top photograph.

The Charms professor holding up a metal object from which... nobody anticipated pleasurable usage. It would go into the Howler if not the yearbook.

Virgil glanced at what his classmate had brought to their meeting. "May I?" he met her in the eye, resting one boney hip against the desk as he reached over in anticipation of perusing her shots from the panel.

1.	Forbidden Fruit - March 29th