11:58 AM

The second hand ticked over the peak of the clock’s face as it started on another round of its continuous, never-ending, circular journey. As it did so, the larger stationary hand sprung to life, darting one increment to the right, now only two digits from the large Roman numeral twelve. Tamis Raynor snapped the lid on the pocket watch closed and rested her chin back on her hands in a poor imitation of patience.

The midday sun was high overhead but its distant rays did not stand a chance against the high canopied trees of the Forbidden Forest, overcast skies, or the brisk mountain wind. The latter of three gusted by, fluttering a few stray wisps of chestnut hair that was otherwise pulled back into a single, orderly plait down Raynor’s back. She often wore it that way when she was expecting physical activity or partaking in a planned duel; it kept it out of the way.

Perched calmly on an old tree stump behind Tulojow Nagde’s Hut (and the new Infirmatory), the petite woman tried to feint relaxation. But everything about her screamed otherwise. It could have been that the Auror was actually tense – or it could have been the simple result of the fact that the woman probably did not know how to truly settle down. Even leaning forward with her elbows on her knees and hands beneath her chin the woman had rigid posture -- shoulders erect to keep from actually slouching in the gesture.  The outfit did not help her case, either.

Breaking rules was not exactly a new talent for Raynor. She had, in fact, as a student broken just above every rule Hogwarts had disregarding the ones that would have actually got her expelled. The school had been too much of a home for her to actually risk permanent eviction. But she had not done very many breaking of them since becoming an Auror – though she tended to bend them more as she progressed in the ranks. But that was prerogative. Currently, she felt like a giant contradiction – a significant emotion for a woman who barely managed five feet.

Flooing into Hogsmeade, Tamis had made what seemed to be becoming a routine stop into the new tea shop located there. If anyone remarked on her presence in Hogsmeade, the alibi was well protected and characteristic of her behavior for the past two months. No one would have had any reason to suspect that the Auror had purposely made a show being in the shop for a good half hour, chatting with a few other customers. Nor would there be any reason to connect her to the small golden retriever that had trotted out from behind the little parlor after she had supposedly flooed back to London. The same golden retriever that had shimmed up the path to Hogwarts and followed the Forest here, to the hut. A hut that Raynor was now hiding behind.

Guilt assailed her and made her feel very criminal in nature. The intentions were just, but it still was not sitting well with her conscience. If she was discovered the political repercussions could be astronomical and she was not exactly sure what Analiza would due to her on a personal level. But with all of the werewolf drama buzzing – she preferred to keep this meeting off the radar. She just hoped the Hufflepuff girl she had summoned had shared her enthusiasm for secrecy. Raynor’s vagueness in their brief transmission had not been accidental. An old Auror’s paranoia in case the correspondences had been discovered.

“Do you think she will come?”  She asked Tulojow without shifting her gaze from the paint mare and her fostered unicorn foal contently shredding grass.

It went without saying that Tulojow was, likewise, no stranger to rule breaking and, unlike her former boss, it was a tendency that Tulojow had never grown out of.  She had no qualms about following rules she agreed with but, still, as she faced her seventy-third birthday, she also had no qualms about disregarding rules she questioned - and she always, firmly, believed every rule ought to be questioned.  For everyone's safety.

Growing up in the shadow of the Second World War and the aftermath of its tyranny, Tulojow had come to believe, firmly that blind, unquestioning obedience was far, far more dangerous than careful, conscientious and morally-motivated disobedience could ever be.  If she had her way, it was a belief every student would be taught.  Each individual owed it to themselves and others to question the things the love and force it to stand up to scrutiny.  To prove its worth and value, especially if what they loved could even remotely wielded as a weapon against another.   

In Tulojow's mind, the events that had led them to this clandestine meeting, both within the school grounds and outside of it, completely justified ignoring the rules.  She felt nothing but calm, steady pride as she waited from their third member to arrive.  But, by now, the differences in the two woman's opinions had come to matter much less.

"I have no doubts she'll come," Tulojow answered from the far side of the mare, her tone cramped and slightly winded as she bent over the mare's leg, prying the debris free from the hoof with a well-worn pick.  "But, I have to confess, I advised her to take the assigned time as a little bit more of a casual suggestion.  Students don't typically keep to tight schedules on a Sunday." 

She tossed her head back, throwing her hair back over her shoulders as she straightened stiffly.  Gelar, the five-month-old orphaned product of someone's thoughtless, careless attempts at experimental breeding sniffed at the hoof debris on the ground before moving to the mustang's side to nurse.  Tulojow moved towards the edge of the paddock, leaning against the top fence railing.  She pulled her pipe from her pocket and packed it with a mixture of dried, leafy material before lighting it.  "You must really think she's at risk," as the first few breaths of smoke began to unknit the painful knot in her leg.

This sunny afternoon, Fauna did not walk at her usual meandering, slow pace. Her hat flopped on her head as she briskly stepped along the path to the hospital hut, trying to look inconspicuous and like she wasn’t extremely nervous. She had no idea what to expect. Tulo had told her to dress comfortably, so she wore sneakers, a soft, worn pair of jeans, and a long-sleeved lightweight shirt. Why her clothing mattered, she didn’t know, but she hoped that she’d made the right choices.

As Fauna neared the hut, two figures came into view. Tulo was there, looking over the fence at a horse and a young unicorn by its side. Her presence instantly made her feel more at ease. Fauna appreciated that she had offered up her hut for the first SAWS meeting tomorrow, and she also trusted and liked her a lot.

Then there was Auror Raynor, who had sent her those very curious letters. She hadn’t told anyone about the meeting, though many of her peers had questioned her about the sudden appearance of the owl and the house elf. Fauna had said something vague about leftover paperwork from her internship this summer. It felt strange and uncomfortable lying to her friends too, but the letters had sounded serious and she wanted to respect Raynor’s wishes.

The woman’s small stature did nothing to diminish the power and professionalism she projected. Even seated, she had this controlled energy about her. Fauna had a feeling that Raynor had noticed her arrival long before Fauna had made out her surroundings. Raynor intimidated her a little, but then again, so did many of the fifth-years.

“Hello,” she greeted her with a nervous smile and glanced at Tulo. “Sorry I’m a few minutes late.” She’d told her friends she was going for a walk and a few of them had asked to come with her, and it had taken some time stumbling over her words to convince them that she wanted to be alone.

Fauna crossed her arms and dropped them again, curious about what would happen now. When they’d met in late August, Fauna suspected that she hadn’t made the best first impression on Raynor, dropping their only camera and admitting that she hadn’t seen anything, anything at all, that would help solve Akiva’s case. However, Fauna hoped that Raynor wouldn’t hold it against her. A sinking sensation hit her stomach as she wondered if the Auror was hoping to get more answers out of her. She didn’t know anything. She wished she did, but the only thing she remembered clearly was the pale, horrified expression on Akiva’s face and the way she’d screamed.

Fauna glanced quickly towards the hut, confusion and then worry crossing her features. “Is Akiva all right?” she asked Raynor suddenly, fearing the worst. “She left to go home yesterday.” Of course, they knew that, but Fauna glanced between Raynor and Tulo anyway, looking for reassurance that she’d made it back safely and something awful hadn’t happened to her.

“Aurors do not have the luxury of open schedules,” she pointed out. Head Aurors did not anyhow.

Still attempting to remain idle, she watched as Nagde dug debris out from the mare’s hooves, swallowing back a comment at the discomfort it obviously caused the elder woman. Not an connoisseur of the animal kingdom, Raynor knew very little about horses besides that they were typically much larger than her and could (and would) kick. That was enough for her to keep her distance. Why it was necessary to clean out the hooves when they would obviously just get particles trapped in them again, she could not phantom.  She wisely silenced her opinion about it and the stress on Tulojow’s knee. She was not going to offer to substitute.

The Head Auror brooded over the proposed question as the distinct pipe smoke drifted through the crisp mountain air. Her gray eyes remained intently on the suckling foal another long minute before she answered. Finally, she gave the woman her full attention, offering a flash of a grin and the most meager shrug of her shoulders. “Constant Vigilance. That is the Auror motto, is it not?”

Yes. She was concerned. There was little evidence to support or deny that Akiva Katz had been the product of a muggleborn hate crime. It was, however, the only probable motive that they had. Raynor had done her homework on this Fauna Blake. A muggleborn herself and her name had traveled through the Ministry on the back of the werewolf business. There were rumors floating that the Hufflepuff had been the cause of an explosive encounter between the Head of the RCMC and the Minister of Magic. Blake was painting a nice target on herself, in other words.

Was that her true motive for being here? Through her worry for Akiva Katz and how occupied her case had kept Raynor … she could not help thinking back on that wide-eyed girl she had so easily disarmed. A Seventh Year Defense Against the Dark Arts N.E.W.T student with less than impressive O.W.L scores in the subject. As Raynor had said, she had done her homework. Every time she thought about the Hufflepuff she could not help but think about her own youth and resistance to learning how to better defend herself. She had thought it unnecessary. Life had taught her otherwise. She did not want this girl to become a victim for the same mistake. She was not about to admit that, though.

Besides, it got her out of the office and away from Radley.  He was becoming unbearable to be around. She had not asked him to come with her on this excursion and he had not inquired about where she was going. A week ago, they would have been joined at the hip. But this was not a week ago.

Someone was approaching the hut. Raynor did not move but she suddenly became more alert, watching and waiting intently – preparing to shape shift back into the Golden Retriever. It was Blake. Moments later, Blake appeared around the side of the Infirmary and Raynor nodded her head curtly to the cautious greeting. As for the tardiness… she glanced up at Nagde once and grunted in resignation.

“It is your time wasted, not mine.” A polite response to an apology, considering the woman receiving it.

Evaluating her carefully the girl seemed almost as nervous and skittish as she had when they first met on that ill-fated night. Less pale, eyes not as wide, but still fidgeting with a lack of confidence about the confrontation. The Head Auror shook her head. That was going to have to change.

“Akiva is as well as she can be,” Raynor attempted to reassure the girl. She was, as far as Tamis knew, spending some quality time with her boyfriend. Considering who that man was, Raynor tried not to think about what ‘quality time’ meant. She would prefer to be able to eat her lunch after this. “I am not here about that – not directly.”
    
Another glance at Tulojow in consultation. Tamis Raynor had as little expertise with adolescents as she did with animals, the only advantage she had with the former was that she had at least been one at one point in time.  She turned back intently to Fauna, considering the girl in the same hawk-like way she had when trying to decide if she was a criminal or not. “How are your Defense classes fairing?”

Fauna was somewhat confused by Raynor’s response to her apology, but she decided not to dwell on it. She shifted her feet, uncomfortable by the Auror’s piercing gaze. It wasn’t exactly negative or judgmental, but it still felt like Raynor was evaluating her for some reason. She knew her posture and mannerisms reflected her lack of self-confidence, but the more she thought about it and wished things were different, the more nervous she became.

She let out a sigh of relief when Raynor reassured her that Akiva was fine, and that wasn’t the reason she was here. Fauna glanced at Tulo when Raynor did, more confused than ever. She was glad that nothing was wrong, but wondered about the secrecy and this meeting. Fauna looked away, thinking about how to ask politely, and then Raynor spoke up, the question throwing her for a completely loop.

Fauna stared at her blankly for a moment. Her Defense classes- somehow, she didn’t think this was idle conversation, but she couldn’t fathom why Raynor would want to know. “Uhh, the class… has been going all right. We worked on the patronus charm a week ago, as a refresher from the end of last year.” Fauna paused, trying to figure out how much to tell her. She wiped at a strand of hair that had fallen in her face and shrugged. “I can make the charm work sometimes, when I can think of a good enough memory. It just… requires a lot of concentration. I’m not very consistent,” she admitted.

That was about as much as she was willing to say on the topic, for now. Fauna had always struggled with the Defense class and often wondered why she still bothered with it. She wasn’t planning on using it for her career (whatever she chose to do). Mainwaring was a great teacher and always there for her when she needed help, so that wasn't the issue. Fauna tended to put off asking for help until mid-semester or later, and then there was always this mad scramble to pass the class.

A wistful smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. She suspected she reluctantly stuck with it semester after semester, because her grandfather had always encouraged her to know how to defend herself. He’d tried so hard to teach her to stand up to bullies when she’d been young, and then when she went off to Hogwarts he had been so excited whenever she talked about Defense. Now that he was gone, it was a way of staying connected to him, somehow.

While she managed to keep her thoughts to herself, Tulojow couldn't help chuckling slightly once the pipe had been balanced at the corner of her mouth.  She had the presence of mind to know that pointing out she was quite luxurious with her schedule during her stint with the Ministry would probably not be welcome.  "Fauna's not an auror," Tulojow pointed out. 

Tulojow brushed her hands against her jeans, freeing her hands of the few stubborn spots of mud that couldn't be dislodged by a simple shake of the hands.  With an arched eyebrow, Tulojow regarded the auror's cryptic cookie-cutter response to Tulojow's question dubiously.  The younger woman couldn't really think Tulojow would believe that there was anything casual or routine about the Head Auror sneaking onto Hogwarts grounds to meet with a student when the school had a perfectly decent Defense Against the Dark Arts professor.  Regardless of what she might say, something must be sitting uncomfortably in Tamis' mind to prompt this rather atypical behavior.  "Mmhm," was all the older woman offered in response. 

Tamis' thoughts seemed to slip, quietly, elsewhere and Tulojow turned her attention back to the mustang and the foal.  She hummed a tune quietly until she spotted the young Hufflepuff on the path heading down towards the cabin.  A broad grin spread across Tulojow's face as Fauna approached and she crossed the short distance between them to greet the young woman.  "Hello, my dear," she offered, giving the young woman a brief, warm hug before turning to walk with her back to Tamis. 

"Nothing to-," Tulojow started but stopped as Tamis spoke up.  She sighed slightly before nodding towards Fauna.  "Did you have enough time to grab enough lunch?"  she asked.  "I've got some left over chili if you get hungry." Tulojow left it to the auror to quiet Fauna's concerns about Akiva and inquired about Fauna's performance in Defense Against the Dark Arts. 
 
Tulojow had long been a proponent of being truthful with children - hiding the truth, even if it was difficult to hear left children ill equipped for what faced them.  Nodding towards Tamis, she turned towards Fauna.  "Given the events over the summer and since the start of the term, Auror Raynor would like to make sure you've got the skills to protect yourself if the need ever arose.  This meeting tomorrow isn't likely to make you more popular among those that might disagree.  If you're going to be stirring the waters, you need to know what to when the waves start crashing in."

The corner of Raynor’s lip twitched at Tulojow’s skeptical sound of disbelief. Otherwise, she pretended not to notice the contradictive, insinuating tone. No. She did not think the retired Auror would be sated with her given response. But she knew the woman would refrain from pressing the issue. The pair may have come to a certain understanding recently, but Tamis Raynor was still Tamis Raynor and that was not bound to change. Even if said woman did have to prevent that small responding smirk from forming on her lips.

She was not used to having backs turned on her, but she kept her feathers from ruffling as Nagde walked over to greet the Hufflepuff. It was, after all, Tulojow.

Watching the pleasant exchange between the two Hogwarts residents, Raynor began to have her doubts about being her. She felt compelled to ensure this one (what should have been insignificant) girl’s safety. Yet at the same time, Fauna Blake terrified her. Oh. The adolescent was far from a threat. That was, after all, why Tamis was here. But she did not know how to… interact with her. Tulojow was right on that. Fauna Blake was not an Auror, she was not even a Trainee. She was a seventeen year old witch who, as far as her grades spoke, never intended on joining Law Enforcement. This sort of thing should come with a manual. Not that Raynor would read it – she detest books – but it would have been considerate.

Was hugging the appropriate greeting? She was not making that gesture. It would probably frighten both of them.

The Patronus Charm? Listening intently to the girl’s problems with the subject, she mentally filed away a few key points for further evaluation. Making the charm work… cannot think… requires a lot of concentration. Not even a two minute explanation and Raynor could already pinpoint the girl’s problem. She was thinking too much. Making it more difficult than it had to be. For now, she kept this opinion to herself.

Still seated on the tree stump, Raynor opened her mouth – but this time it was the Hogwarts Healer that cut her off. Yes. Truly, the woman was her karma. Inclining her head once, she silently confirmed that what Tulojow said was the truth. Wait – meeting tomorrow? Her eyes shot over quickly to the retired Auror and then quickly away again, as if the motion had not occurred. She did not like the sound of that, but decided ignorance was the preferable alternative – for now.

“Today would be your first lesson,” she was not a Trainee, she reminded herself and forced herself to add, “if you will allow me the opportunity.” Tamis Raynor was not accustomed to asking for permission. “It would be a trial lesson. If you do not like it then you would not have to meet with me again.”

Best to give the girl some time to absorb that, before saying much more.

Fauna accepted Tulo’s hug with a surprised grin. The woman’s welcome reminded Fauna of her grandmother, both possessing the same warm smile and use of ‘my dear’. Fauna shook her head shyly when Tulo offered her some chili, murmuring a thank-you and letting her know she’d already had a hearty brunch. The exchange almost made her forget that Raynor was there, watching with what Fauna interpreted as an indifferent expression.

She looked between the two women, wondering what they had planned for her. Both of them seemed to want to speak at once, but Tulo was first, explaining that Raynor was here to make sure she had the skills to defend herself.

Her eyes widened in surprise. Nerves then took the opportunity to pounce, causing her earlier unease to come back full force. If this was because of SAWS, then Astrid was in danger too, because she’d founded it. Yet, Tulo had mentioned that the Shrieking Shack incident added to the problem. She bit her lip, trying to understand. Were her abysmal grades in Defense such common knowledge that they thought she needed extra help? It was true- she could use the extra help, but it was a little embarrassing. Fauna also questioned why Mainwaring wasn’t involved. She already felt comfortable around him. Perhaps Raynor thought it better if only she and Tulo knew about this, Fauna considered, remembering her request for secrecy.

She nodded at Tulo, still processing everything when Tamis told her that this was only a trial lesson. Fauna couldn’t help but stare at her. How many people, excluding those involved in magical law enforcement, had received private lessons from the Head of the Auror Office?

Fauna gave Tulo a bewildered glance and looked at Raynor again. “Am I… that bad?” She flushed, not wanting to hear an answer about her lack of Defense skills. “I mean, is it just me.. am I the only one in danger? Because… there are other students standing up for werewolf rights…” she trailed off. “I guess I just don’t understand. I was the first person to find Akiva, too… but, it’s not like I saw anything useful,” she grimaced. Fauna still thought about the strange mark left on Akiva’s wrist, but she certainly didn’t recognize it from anywhere or know what it meant.

Though she felt like she was in over her head, Fauna met Raynor’s eyes. “I’ll do the lesson,” she reassured her, stomach shifting queasily at that announcement. The Auror had gone to all this trouble and she wouldn’t feel right refusing. “I could always use the practice. I just.. I’m still not sure why. If you can tell me...?” She left the question hanging there, her voice uncertain and worried. It was possible that Raynor wasn’t supposed to tell her more, and that Fauna was wasting enough time asking questions. However, if she could tell her more, she wanted to hear it.

Her back still to the younger Auror as she spoke with the student, Tulojow had missed Tamis' curious glance towards her.  While she didn't feel the need to hide SAWS from the Auror, Tulojow had, purposefully, avoided mentioning the student's werewolf-rights group.  There were some activities the Ministry just didn't need to know about.  In Tulojow's experience, government meddling in student protests often led to unfortunate results.  She might be here on unofficial business but Tamis was, no doubt, still a respectable representative of the Ministry.

The surprise that registered in the Hufflepuff's face was much easier for Tulojow to recognize and much easier to understand.  Having a woman of Tamis' rank taking a personal interest in one's education - who wasn't an Auror-in-training - was bound to raise alarm in most people.  With a calm, easy smile Tulojow nodded at Fauna before turning and crossing the distance towards the Auror, encouraging the Hufflepuff to follow. 

"No - it's not a matter of you being that bad," Tulojow said before Tamis had an opportunity to answer, turning back to Fauna when they'd neared the younger Auror.  Whether or not that would have been the answer Tamis would have offered, Tulojow wasn't sure.  But, Tamis was probably far more used to blatant clinical assessments and brute honesty which wasn't, necessarily, what the student needed. 

"You may not be top of your class at DADA, but I haven't heard you're flunking out or anything.  From what I understand, you perform sufficiently enough for the class - but this, really, has little to do with an academic class.  I'd say it's more a matter of being insufficiently prepared.  For better or worse, classes have very little practical use in the real world."

Tulojow left the question of whether Fauna was at a higher level of danger to Tamis.  She was well aware that the Auror office was probably trying to keep details and rumors surrounding the - for lack of a better term - brand on Akiva's arm and what relative risk it might pose quiet.  Tulojow would speak her mind when it came to teaching the students and expressing her opinion but she would, certainly, not speak out of turn and compromise the investigation - or the Auror's office's larger goals. 

The Hufflepuff, again, asked for an explanation as to why.  That, as well, Tulojow believed, would have to be up to Tamis to answer.  Fauna was, after all, looking for the answer from her.  She could hear the doubt in the student's voice and was tempted to preface Tamis' answer by confirming that Fauna was more than entitled to an answer.  A month ago, perhaps, Tulojow might have even done so in hopes of ensuring Fauna received an answer.  But, instead Tulojow simply nodded at Tamis, hoping to encourage the woman to offer an explanation.  It was, still, an improvement over forcing the woman to do so.

For several long and uncomfortable minutes, Tamis Raynor stared back into Fauna Blake’s imploring gaze. The physical similarities between the two were almost as startling. The girl, while younger, was already taller but had the same fair skin which Tamis was sure burned just as easily as her own. Each had dark shades of hair that made their light colored irises more pronounced by the contrast. And there were starkly obvious differences. Those large blue eyes, warm and sky colored, questioned with a bewilderment written blatantly across her face in bold, thick letters. They were met with her own, as intensely colored but more the shade of hard steel, and a visage that would have made a rock envious. 

It was day and night encased in the same, general physical attributes. They could have passed for a relation and after initially meeting the girl Raynor had considered the possibility – purebloods had many unacknowledged relations. The revelation of the girl’s muggleborn status snuffed out those concerns. It was purely coincidence.

Is that why she had decided to take a personal interest?  She could not answer that question for herself let alone another. But until she found the answer, she would continue to question the reasoning behind her motive.

Raynor was not unintelligent. She understood that proposing this offer would sound outrageous. While her rank in the Ministry was far from the top it was not without its weight and that weight had materialistic value. She had felt the same when Jason MacDonell had taken an interest in her – though she had been less compliant about it.

And the young woman was still awaiting an answer.

Apparently she had been waiting too long for Tulojow chimed in again, filling in some of the answers. A small frown creased her lips again, the only change of expression she offered as she kept her attention on the Hufflepuff. It was no use chiding the older woman. Tamis was, after all, here on the Healer’s hospitality. She was not without her manners.

Perhaps it had been for the best. The older woman’s answer to Blake’s skill level was sugar coated but not untrue. Raynor decided that it was best to stay with the answer and neither embellished nor negated it.

Though she missed Tulojow’s encouraging nod, the fact that the woman had not spewed an entire speech before Raynor could get a word in spoke wonders. All that was left to decide was how much say. A part of her was still considering not explaining any further at all. But she could feel Tulojow Nagde mentally breathing down her neck in warning and the Hufflepuff was quite obviously gaining courage to ask the questions. There was a backbone in there, it seemed, just a very fragile one. Tamis approved.

And she was going to do the lesson. The assurance provoked a relief to anxiety she had been aware of feeling.

“Whether or not you actual saw anything would be irrelevant to the perpetrator,” she replied in response to her concerns about Katz’ case. There was another significant hesitance in which she chose her words even more carefully than usual. “We have our suspicions that Katz’ kidnapping was an organized muggleborn hate crime.” She did not specify if they believed it was an individual or group organization.

 “In addition to your name showing up in the Prophet, there is also rumor that a letter you sent to Covadonga Gertrudis resulted in a heated confrontation in the Minister’s Office.” One of her eyebrows arched with the statement, as if looking for verification. Raynor was neutral on the Werewolf issues, having much more important concerns to deal with in her own Office. All she cared about was the child’s growing celebrity status. “You have painted an impressive target on your forehead.” The Head Auror rarely knew how to be anything but blunt when she did speak honestly.

Finally, she glanced back at Nagde. Though more out of curiosity to how to retired Auror reacted to her response rather than looking for approval or displeasure. When she spoke, it was still to Fauna. “If you are at risk, you need a crash course in practical defensive measures – faster than Hogwarts can offer to you.” Tulojow was correct on that notion, if the school could offer a complete education in seven years her Trainees would not need an additional three years of learning practical application.  Not that she was looking to make an Auror of the seventh year. A small smirk filtered onto her lips, “As you said, the practice cannot hurt.”

Tulo’s words didn’t completely reassure Fauna, because she often felt like she didn’t do well in Defense, but she trusted that Tulo was being honest and meant what she said about needing practical defense in the real world. The real world… or even just the halls of Hogwarts. It would be nice if she didn’t have to resort to knocking over a locked cabinet (with a ghoul inside) to distract her more skilled opponents.

Fauna nodded at her gratefully, following her lead and moving closer towards Raynor. “Thanks. Yeah… that makes sense. Classes can only do so much.” And, in a classroom the professor had to focus on all the students, not just one. Here she’d be getting individual attention- for better or worse!

When Tamis began answering her questions, Fauna was surprised but relieved. The Auror didn’t seem annoyed or impatient, but treated her like an adult who could handle the information. It was a lot to swallow. She couldn’t help the alarmed look that flitted across her face. However, at least she knew, and that was one last thing that she’d have to wonder about or worry over.

An organized muggleborn hate crime… Fauna rubbed at her arms, suddenly feeling a chill. It was horrible enough that someone had kidnapped Akiva and hurt her, but to single her out for something that she couldn’t control? Something that, in Fauna’s mind, wasn’t a fault at all? The news upset her and even made her a little angry. Unfortunately, there were still people in the wizarding world who believed in blood purity, including some students at Hogwarts. Her expression turned troubled. It all made a lot more sense, now, why Raynor wanted to make sure she could defend herself.

Her eyebrows flew up, taken aback when Raynor told her that Covadonga Gertrudis had confronted the Minister because of her letter. “What?” She said dumbly, taking a moment to process it. “I… didn’t know. I’d just written Miss Gertrudis to let her know that Ollie had been expelled. I didn’t expect.. there to be a.. confrontation,” her face flushed and she bit her lip. If anything, she’d wanted Snark to be confronted, but certainly not the Minister.

“You have painted an impressive target on your forehead.”

After a moment, Fauna nodded in reluctant agreement. A crash course seemed more important than ever. Though she was apprehensive that Raynor would be the one teaching her, she supposed she should be thankful that the woman was taking time out of her busy schedule. Plus, Tulo would be there. Surely she wouldn’t let anything too humiliating happen!

Nodding again, she tried to return Raynor’s smile. The practice couldn’t hurt. Thrown back at her, the words sounded ironic.

“So, um… what are we going to do today?” She wondered, attempting to ignore the highly imaginative possibilities that ran through her head, all of them ending with her in the hospital wing.

Another small smirk filtered across the Aurors lips, as if in a response to an ill-humored joke Blake had been unaware of making, “then you do not know Covadonga Gertrudis.” Inform the woman that a creature had been dealt a possible injustice and not expect her to react? It was easier to tell a hot kettle not to whistle. But Raynor was not here to discuss the Department Head’s volatile, activist tendencies. 

Watching the young Hufflepuff carefully, Tamis noted every facial deviation. She noted every twitched eyebrow, every crease that came and went from the girl’s forehead, and every quirk of her lips. She even noted the subtle shifts in stance; the fidgets that she might be unaware of. Inwardly, the woman sighed. Getting this girl into any reasonable condition was not going to happen overnight, nor was it going to be easy. She was far too readable. Every thought was written plainly across her face. It made her a dangerous breed of predictable that all the occlumency in the world could not cure.  They would have to fix that, too.

The seventh year seemed to weigh the new information heavily and the Auror waited in apathetic silence, hiding her apprehension. Even though the girl had previously agreed to go forth, there was no actual contract. She could still leave; she could still balk and run. That was why Raynor had been as frank as she had, almost cruel. The teenager had to know how very serious the situation was and Tamis waited to see how she was going to handle that information. Again, she pondered why she cared.

Finally, the response came and the smirk translated into a wider, more approving, grin. It faded almost as quickly as it appeared, though, transitioning back into the more familiar, stoic visage.

At long last, Tamis finally stirred from her makeshift seating, rising to her rather unimpressive height. Her rigid posture, while commendable sitting, was even more immaculate while standing, yet, even so, the petite woman still stood nearly half a foot shorter than Fauna. Compared to the more willowy Healer – well, at least from a distance Raynor could be taken for a younger student though it was best not to mention that fact to her.

What were they going to do? Raynor had come prepared with an agenda. She should have known better than to plan ahead, however. Within five minutes of being with the girl in much less stressful circumstances as their initial meeting, Tamis had abandoned her preconceived curriculum. Each individual wizard was different, with their own style and faults and strengths. Usually the Auror had a year to observe the trainees she worked with, gauge these factors, and specialize their training accordingly. She did not have that kind of time with Fauna.
Then, an idea came to her.

“The Patronus Charm,” she replied. “You have been going over it in class. I require a corporeal performance of all of my students, future Auror or no.” It was a requirement to even be considered for candidacy to the Auror Training Program, an enforcement the Head Auror was adamant about. Not only was it bloody useful, but it was a good test of ability. Clasping her hands behind her back, Tamis took on the persona of an expectant instructor, “Show me how you produce one.”

Usually she would explain, in depth the uses of a particular charm or enchantment, and how to practically apply it. Many other times, she would drop helpful hints to perform something correctly. She would do both of those things, eventually. But she wanted to see what the girl could do, without assistance. It would be a good place to start, observing her with something she admitting to having some difficulty with. And it was familiar enough not to completely scare the Hufflepuff away on the first lesson.

Fauna bit her lip, wishing she hadn’t mentioned the Patronus charm at all. The seventh-years in Defense had been working on it for a while and she still couldn’t produce a decent one. Merlin, she could barely tell what kind of creature it was.

Her cheeks flushed, but she nodded, withdrawing her wand from her pocket and racking her brain for a good memory. It was hard enough for her to block people out in Defense class, but with two adults standing and watching her, she had an even tougher time. Despite the Auror’s best intentions, Raynor still intimidated her, and she wanted Tulo to be proud of her as well.

Closing her eyes, she turned slightly away from them, worrying as she did so that she should be able to concentrate facing them head on, with her eyes open. Fauna shook her head and let her mind drift to music, to the first time she’d played a song on the piano. Her fingers knew the keys, remembering which chords to strike, and moving automatically past minor mistakes. Music filled her ears, sweeter because it was something she’d made just by playing it. Her usual nervousness melted away, and she could feel the mood of the melody and forget about her own thoughts. Most important of all, she remembered how her grandpa had grinned at her when she’d finished the song, putting an arm around her shoulders and giving her one of his rare hugs.

Fauna opened her eyes, aimed her wand into the empty space, and murmured, “Expecto Patronum.” Suddenly, just as she spoke, several doubts rushed through her mind, reminding her of the occasions when playing the piano had been so difficult and frustrating, and when she’d given up and ran out of the room in tears. She tried to push those thoughts away and focus just on the good, and the silvery, transparent form that walked- no shuffled, out of her wand seemed to become clear for an instant.

The creature was medium-sized, low to the ground, with a very long, strange fur coat. It looked back at Fauna expectantly, but in the next instant, vanished.

Fauna sighed, lowering her wand. She’d wanted so much for it to work this time. It was so much easier to let go when she was doing something that made her happy, like playing the piano, making art, or spending time with her best friends.

However, to dwell on a happy memory, to let nothing in the world bother her at that moment, felt almost impossible.

Fauna glanced at Raynor, wondering what she thought of her. It couldn’t be anything good, she decided hastily, but maybe if she explained…

“It’s hard to, uh, hold on to it... and think of nothing else,” she told her, glancing at the ground, then at her wand, and then at Raynor again.

The vision of calm, Tamis Raynor stood with apparent ease and patiently expectant of her newfound pupil. Slouching seemed impossible of the woman despite her best efforts but she at least attempted to relax her shoulders without any real effect. The hands behind her back, however, told a different story. They were clasped so tightly that she could feel the bony prominences of her knuckles. She wanted the young student to succeed. And she, as well, did not want to fail. Since beginning the actual ‘lesson’ Raynor had avoided looking at Tulojow.  She did not want to see disapproval furrowed between the taller woman’s brows.

Fauna turned away from the two adults and Tamis allowed it, gaze unwavering in its critical observations. Confidence was certainly lacking. The Hufflepuff was so unsure of her abilities that she had physically tried to escape an audience. Was it a fear of failure or a fear of being seen as a failure? There was a crucial difference, there. Blake was thinking so loudly that the Auror almost believed she could hear those thoughts, watching the girl’s fingers as they moved to some invisible and unidentifiable pattern. Was the Hufflepuff aware of the subconscious motion with her free hand? Probably not.

At long last, the young woman turned back to face them and murmured, murmured, the incantation. Most individuals felt so strongly about their memories that they spoke firmly, if not shouted, the summons when they were first learning. The Patronus flickered briefly into being, an unusual what appeared to be terrestrial creature, but it was gone before Raynor could clearly identify it. Pitiful and defeated, the girl bowed her head toward the ground glancing remorsefully at her wand and then back at the Head Auror.

There was that word again.

“Stop thinking,” she commanded.

Advancing on the girl, Raynor unclasped her hands, and flicked the adolescent gently but firmly between the eyes. “The magic does not come from there,” she tapped her index finger against the center of Fauna’s chest. “It comes from here.” While she was in close proximity to the girl, she reached up and put a hand on either one of her shoulders pushing them up and back, “and stand proud. You look like an American with that posture. You need to appear strong, imposing, to an opponent.”

Lifting Blake’s wand hand, she pressed the girl’s fingers tighter around the wooden rod and jerked her arm upward. “The magic does not come from here, either, but this helps you focus it. It’s a powerful weapon, treat it as such.” She shook her head. “You are the magic. You are a Witch. It is a part of you. Always has been, always will be. It is what makes you unique, makes you special, makes you important. You do not come to school to learn magic or how to make your wand do magic, you learn how to better control it, to harness it and direct it. To control it. You can study spells and memorize incantations. But you cannot learn magic from a book. You have to feelit. Otherwise anyone could be a Witch.”

Wheeling away from the student, Raynor put some distance between then and drew her wand from its hostler – a common method among Aurors. Holding it firmly before her, she continued her mini speech. “When you first learn how to cast a patronus, professors often tell you to think about your happiest memory. It is a very misleading phrase. It is not the memory itself that provokes it, but the emotions that coincide with it. A patronus is a corporeal representation of your positive energies – an embodiment of your soul, if you would. When you think of a memory, focus on how it made you feel, not the physical details. And when that feeling is at its peak, harness it and direct all of that energy into a shape; make it real.”

Fingers flexing and tightening around the familiar shaft of her wand, Tamis Raynor took her own advice. Usually her happy memory was of her time at Hogwarts, before Tait had died and her largest concern had been her O.W.L exams. The feel of belonging and mattering to someone. That feel was still there, but it was a different memory that came to mind. One of throwing a boot a little too low below the belt on a very tall and burly man. Of coming out of her room to find the same man and her house elf scowling at the floor and carefully not looking at each other. Of that same man, at the gun range…

She verbalized the spell for the sake of demonstration.  A large, silvery Siberian Lynx leaped from the end of her wand, its facial and leg markings distinct in darker and lighter shades of metallic. It prowled around the trio for several minutes cautiously before flicking its sharply pointed ears at its charge. A moment later it disappeared in wisps of silvery smoke.

“But maybe I am wrong,” she finally continued, suddenly sounding very harsh and cold as she slipped her wand back in its holster, even indifferent. “Maybe you are just that weak; a poor excuse for a Witch. Your heritage speaks for itself. You are not magical enough.”

The words left a bad taste in her mouth. She hated herself for that. Anyone that knew her well would have been shocked if not confused. Despite Tamis’ standing as a Raynor, she was a well reputed ‘blood traitor.’ Her house elf in particular constantly reminded her of her disgrace. But she needed to provoke emotion, any emotion from this girl besides intimidation and fear. She did her absolute best not to look at Tulojow Nadge.

She was just afraid that the Hufflepuff was not the only one she was going to incite a response from.

When Raynor strode towards her and actually flicked her between the eyes to prove her point, Fauna flinched, frowning in annoyance. She allowed the woman to fix her stance, even though she felt a bit like a puppet. With her shoulders straightened, her head started to droop in revolt, but she quickly looked up again, struggling now to fight back an embarrassed laugh.

The string that was Raynor pulled her arm upward and showed her how to aim, explaining that the magic came from inside her, from her heart not her thoughts. Of course, of course she knew that. But it helped to hear it from her. Magic wasn’t about the wand or the spell, but what she could do from within.

Her head bobbed agreeably, trying to take in all the valuable information. Her straight shoulders and back felt foreign to her. It wasn’t exactly pleasant because it made her feel vulnerable and more noticeable, but it wouldn’t hurt to start practicing good posture, too. Perhaps she should tell her friends to flick her between the eyes whenever she slouched. Fauna resisted smiling at that thought. Grinning at Raynor now, in the middle of her speech, seemed like a death sentence!

She watched, her eyebrows raising higher and higher as Raynor cast the Patronus spell and brought out a fierce, graceful lynx. The animal circled them warily, completely ready for anything, before it disappeared on Raynor’s command. Fauna wanted to be able to do that. She could do that, couldn’t she?

Fauna nodded and looked at Raynor, ready to try again. There was something closed off in her eyes, however. Fauna opened her mouth, wondering what was wrong, but then Raynor spoke in a cold voice. Despite Raynor’s feigned indifference, Fauna imagined anger and disappointment lurking behind her words, which hurt as much as the words themselves.

“…You are not magical enough.”

Fauna stiffened and stared at her, her breath catching in her throat. She looked into her eyes, trying to figure out if she really meant it. Those words hit hard.

What was that Raynor said earlier about an organized muggleborn hate crime? It didn’t make sense for her to want to help someone she thought didn’t deserve it. Fauna couldn’t help but be reminded of the way Vienna treated her- condescending, cold and confident. Vienna, too, seemed to be more offended by Fauna’s lack of confidence than her lack of blood purity.

So, she’d been right to assume that the auror thought badly of her. Her fears were confirmed. Yet, Fauna had trusted Raynor not to insult her like that.

Her eyes narrowed and her grip tightened on her wand.

“No,” she said quietly. “I’m not- I mean, I-I’m just fine, magically. I’m here, at Hogwarts, which proves something,” Fauna said, her tone becoming moody and angry, like it did when she fought with her mother at home.

She crossed her arms, heart pounding, everything in her body telling her to run away. Anger and resentment flickered within her, like it always did when she felt attacked. How could Raynor say that? How could Tulo let her say that?

Fauna met Raynor’s gaze again, trying to push back her shock and hurt, and attempting to mirror the strength she saw in the woman. It was a shoddy attempt, but an attempt nonetheless.

“And… heritage?” Her lips thinned. “Come on. I thought you.. were trying to fight against that,” Fauna heard the hurt creep into her voice and looked away, trying to distance herself from the situation.