Myrni hunched over her desk in her office off the back of her classroom, pouring over parchment that had her class rosters mapped out in a meticulous, mathematical fashion. She was making notations beside her students regarding their grades and areas in which they could improve.

Beneath the class lists was another set of lists--of the entire Gryffindor House. And Myrni had equally meticulous notes on all of her Lions since taking over as Head of House. One would never know it because of her serene outward disposition, but Myrni was a quietly competitive woman. She took her job seriously and she wanted her House--the one that she was an Alumna of--to do well. Granted, she was not like some Heads who might go to any lengths to do so. But she would do anything honorable and within her means. And that included checking up on the students in her house and making sure they were prepared and on the right track.

One student on her list was both a member of her house and also on her 7th Year Arithmancy roster was Chance Ryker. Myrni had come to regard most of her 7th years as self starters and needing very little direction. Even if they did get a little spirited and sometimes made decisions that required mediation, Myrni was a professor who tended to trust them and give them more responsibility.

Some students still needed guidance. And Chance seemed to be one of them. Which was why she had requested that he sit down with her to discuss his progress so far that year and also get a handle on where he might be headed in the future.

Hearing some sound out in the classroom, Myrni looked up and called, "Chance? Is that you?"

Some people thrive on pressure, others crumble under it, and some get annoyed and rebel against the force pressing against them.  Chance Ryker has been a member of that last group for years now.  He did not want to take Arithmancy.  He rather hated anything to do with math.  He'd been pushed and goaded into taking 4 classes as the bare minimum that his mother would accept.  Chance tried to hide it, but he couldn't help but feel an attraction for the Arithmancy professor and the head of his house, Myrni Levartian.  Chance was still Chance though, and as he entered the classroom it was fairly obvious to discern he was an individual that marched to the beat of his own drummer.  His wild, black hair was styled erratically, and his white dress shirt had black printed wings across his back with a griffin stretched across the chest and claw marks along each long sleeve.  Chance's black dress slacks and leather shoes were mostly conformed, save for the flared fashion of the slacks and how they frayed along the bottoms.  The 17 year old Irishman slung his cloak across the back of the desk he sat at...on the second row furthest from the front of the classroom.  He heard Myrni's voice and quirked a brow, canting his head as he gazed toward her office door.

"Ya hidin' out in there, teach?"

Leaving his cloak behind and dropping his pack by the desk, Chance proceeded toward the tiny, closet like room and leaned his forearm up against the doorway, which exposed his thick, black, leather wristband and the silver loops attached to the chains led to his ebony and bocote wand.

"Olly olly oxen free?"

Myrni heard Chance approach before she saw him and she stood at her desk, listening to what he was doing out in the classroom. At last, she saw the 7th Year lounge up against the door frame and noted that he seemed to be in possession of a good disposition.

She could only hope that he would be able to leave their meeting with that intact. Myrni knew that she looked (and often was) a pushover. But she also cared very deeply about others, especially her students. This compassion meant that she could impose her will regarding what was in their best interest if needed.

Chase fell into a group of students who she felt needed a certain will imposed upon them. With a small smile, she indicated to a chair opposite her desk. "Good afternoon, Chance. Please, have a seat, will you?" It was a gentle request that also sounded oddly like a command as well. She continued, "I'd like to talk to you about a few things. With the end of the year approaching and with this being your last year here, I just wanted to touch base."

It seemed that Professor Levartian was all business, even if she was pleasant about it.  Chance drew in further upon her offer of a seat and eased down into the chair opposite her desk.  He slumped back quite considerably with his hands low on each of his thighs as he peered around the office, mostly at the ceiling and walls, before returning his deep green eyes back to Myrni.

Ms.Levartian's compassion for her students was fairly well known...and Chance knew that she had his best interests in mind, but he was still nervous about what she could have possibly been calling him in for.  This was highly unusual.

"Alrighty...well, what's on yer mind, teach?"

Chance was still bracing himself...but maybe this would be alright after all.  Only time would tell.

Myrni watched as Chance took the seat opposite her and took the moment to figure out how exactly to word her concerns for the student before her. She didn't want to alarm him or give him  an overwhelming sense of urgency, but Myrni was concerned about him. Most of her students, or at least the seventh years in her house, had some idea of where they were headed at this point in time, even if they had little concept of how exactly to get there.

It was her hope that a discussion with Chance would yield that kind of result. The dark haired professor cleared her throat and casually clasped her hands together on her desk. "Well....Chance....I've been looking over your grades--both in past years and this year--and I do have some....concerns....about your performance."

She paused, her eyes panning over his face, careful to watch his expression for a negative reaction. "And given that it's near the end of the semester and you're soon to be finished with school, I wanted to speak with you about where you see yourself after Hogwarts." She paused again and raised her brows. "Have you given any thought as to what you'd like to be when you--" she used two of her fingers from each hand to make quotes before saying, "Grow up?"

Professor Levartian was really belaboring her thought process it seemed.  What was it that she was having to so carefully choose her words for?  Chance quirked an ebon brow toward her and canted his head for a moment, before she actually spoke.

"Ohhh...it's gonna be one of *those* meetin's eh, Prof?"

Chance sighed, now readying himself to hear the same nagging and scolding he'd heard from his mother for how many years now?  The professors also took their turns, but none seemed to come forth with the unrelenting, determined force of Theresa Ryker.  So whatever Myrni would throw at him would pale in comparison...His expression did sink slightly, as if disappointed with the topic, moreso than crushed by shocking news.

"I really dnno honestly.  I mean, I'm guessin' that no hot brunette professors o' arithmancy're gonna be askin' me out cuzza m'grades.  Just figured I'd kinda float where the wind blew me...see what happens, y'know?"

Chance had never been quite that blunt while flirting with an older woman before and surprised even himself.  However, he felt a little dejected with disappointment and let what was actually on his mind slip.  The year was indeed drawing sadly to a close...so the awkwardness didn't mean as much.  As much as Chance enjoyed some of the people at Hogwart's, he'd be thrilled to leave mandatory studies behind...

Myrni sighed, having expected his reaction to her inquiry, but half hoping that he would not look at it quite as negatively as was often possible. Again, he intent was not to lecture him  or to alarm him, but she could not deny that she hoped the conversation might spark a little fire under his backside, propelling him into a meaningful direction. She wanted that for all of her students.

"I'm afraid it is, Chance." She paused, her teacherly expression seeming to override the humanly compassion that seemed to pervade her existence. She looked over at him and listened as he responded. Her lips toyed with a smile at his attempts at flattery before she seriously told him, "Well, there's nothing wrong with floating where the wind blows you. But we can't do that forever. And there's nothing saying that you need to have your life planned out for every little detail," she heard herself saying. Myrni was a perfect example of someone who liked living life by the seat of her pants. But she also had responsibilities. She taught. She researched and wrote for scholarly publications. And in between all of that, she was able to enjoy the fruits of her labors. That was what security in one's place in the world was able to provide.

This was something she hoped students like Chance would aspire to have. Clearing her throat, Myrni gently pressed a little more. "Are there specific interests that you might like to pursue after school? Do you have any ideas of the kinds of jobs that you find interesting?"

Chance cleared his throat somewhat, trying to cool his head a bit.  He hated thinking about things like this.  Schoolwork, future plans, and living up to his potential were among his least favorite subjects to discuss.  So this would be a very difficult conversation.  Luckily...Professor Levartian had always been very kind, gentle, supportive, encouraging, and yes quite attractive which helped.

"Well...let's have at it then!"

Chance smiled a bit with a shrug as he folded his arms across his chest with a faint, good natured smile.  He was trying to keep a good attitude and such, but he was definitely bracing himself at the same time.  As Myrni spoke...he listened.

"Tell ya th' truth...I don't really know what I'm meant fer.  Things just don't seemed spelled out fer me like they are fer other people.  Just seems like other people know exactly who they are, what they want, an' what they wanna do...an' I'm just kinda...here."

Perhaps it wasn't the best explanation, but it was the way Chance felt.  He really didn't know where his strengths lie, nor how to focus himself toward any particular goals.

"I dunno...like what?"

His answer was rather broad...but to him, so were the professor's questions.

Now it was Chances turn to speak and hopefully set her at ease with his response. She partially expected some resistance, but she hoped he would be open to her meddling....and needling. When he finished, she splayed her hands out in front of her and gave him a shrug.

"Fair enough," she said simply. "I suppose I can accept that." She paused and tilted her head slightly to the side, as if trying to peer through the whole of him. Myrni thought back to her own time in school and specifically her final year when the world had seemed so uncertain and daunting at times. Even she had found it hard to know what her path was until a year or two out of the castle.  Eventually, she had found that teaching was her calling.

"Well....there are an endless number of things you could do," Myrni said. "Like, if we knew what your favorite class was....Or what hobbies you enjoyed most. I guess I don't expect you to have every aspect of your life mapped out," she conceded. "But I suppose I would like to see you have a little more direction. Does that makes sense?" She raised her brows slightly, expectantly. Then she added, "Next year, you won't have school to rely on for the basic necessities in life.....feed you, house you, teach you. And you won't always be able to rely on your family to provide for you either. At some point, you'll have to fend for yourself." There was an eerie silence before she quietly asked, "Do you think you have it in you to be able to do that, Chance? Because if not, we might want to do something about that...."

Body language meant an awful lot and Chance was quite watchful of the subliminal signals Myrni was sending.  Every little tilt of her head, every pause of her breath, and yes...the hands splaying out across her desk.  Perhaps she was a little uncomfortable too?  As she seemed to be "trying to peer through the whole of him" Chance took on an awkward, boyish half smile and scratched at the back of his neck.

"Teach...sheesh, yer embarrassin' me 'ere.  Gonna make me blush, an' that's not good fer an Irish!"

Of course Chance's coloring was not remotely traditional Irish, but the joke was offered up anyway.

"I've never been big on classes, honestly.  No offense intended o'course!  Jus' doesn't seem me...th' rules, regulations, readin', writin'....jus' not me.  Honestly if ya weren't th' arithmancy teacher, m'afraid they'd haveta get an entirely new gradin' scale jus' fer how low my grade'd go!"

Chance was moreso praising Professor Levartian's teaching abilities than her looks, as he'd previously hinted...but her looks were definitely what had him paying attention in class.  And that was STILL difficult for him to do, so one could imagine maths were not his strong suit!

"Guess I'm best at Defendin' 'gainst th' Dark Arts.  Jus' seems t'be th' one that sticks out t'me.  Seems t'make sense.  Hobbies...rock, laughin', flirtin' with gorgeous brunettes-heh, sorry I'll behave m'self."

Chance shook his head, seeming to surprise even himself by his flirtation.  Then it seemed Chance's green eyes wandered off slightly.

"Seems like I do that a lot.  Kinda...start crackin' jokes when I dunno what t'say or what t'do.  Guess I'm that way a lot eh?"

This seemed a sudden self realization moment for Ryker.  Myrni followed up her previous line of thought and he was definitely feeling uncomfortable then.  There was a great deal of self doubt hidden away in Chance's being...probably due to feeling constantly inadequate because of his mother's constant nagging.  Some of the professors were pretty close to that level of condescension themselves!

"I seem t'always make m'way when m'back's against th' wall.  Guess I jus' need somethin' t'push m'back against th' wall without stranglin' me in th' process-if that makes a lick o' sense?"

"I'm sorry, Chance. I don't mean to make you uncomfortable with all this serious talk," Myrni said in earnest. "And the last thing that I want to do is to place undue pressure on you....the kind I thought you couldn't handle." She paused before quickly adding, "But I do think you can handle more pushing." She made an indication with her thumb and forefinger. "Just a teeny bit more. Don't you think?"

Again, it was a question, but the way that she said it made it sound more like a suggestion. A very strong suggestion. Myrni had that way of pressing something without it seeming like that was what she was doing. And in no time at all, she had convinced a person to do the very thing she had suggested in the first place. "I understand that classes aren't for everyone. I really do."

When Chance started to use flattery with her, Myrni flushed a bit but tried her best to steer the conversation back to the topic at hand. And finally, he did open up a about what his interests were. And his affinity for DADA was something that she could work with. "Wonderful. Perhaps you could work in law enforcement. Maybe we could line up a shadowing day for you when we come back from the winter break. You can spend the day with an Auror or talk to some of the other individuals involved in the Magical Law Enforcement offices. You can find out all about the careers where you protect others....or fight for them. Fighting for a good cause...that's always positive!" Myrni gave him a nod of approval. "And never dull, I would think."
 
The Arithmancy professor became pensive again, her brow furrowing as she did so. "But for now....are you involved in any clubs yet?? Perhaps the deuling club? Or...." Myrni's eyes brightened as she remembered a newer club that was formed. "How about SAWS? They need people to advocate for their good causes. Does that interest you?"

Myrni was about to say something else when there was a light rap on her open office door and she looked up to see Grace Eddy, the 7th year female Gryffindor prefect standing there, hugging her books to her chest.
 
"Ah, right on time, Ms. Eddy," the teacher proclaimed. She glanced back at Chance and smiled. "Well, Chance. Funny you should say that you do your best when someone is pushing you. Grace here is one of Gryffindor's best students. And I don't mean just in academics. She's a hard worker and she's involved." Myrni gave each seventh year a long look. "Perhaps you'd allow her to be a positive influence on you?"

And there again was Myrni's gentle pushing...

---

OOC: I will post separately more from Grace's point of view after you reply!

Myrni was practically givng Chance a verbal shoulder rub here with her sly encouragements.  She was trying to focus Chance without hammering home any points to push him away.  If Chance's mother had that particular skill, who knew where Chance would be right now?

"Well...if it was anybody but yerself, I dun' think I'd be handlin' it as well. Ya've always been good t'me an' ya've 'aven't steered me wrong yet.  So yeah...if yer don' th' pushin'...guess I don'mind it s'much."

It was actually quite flattering to Chance that Myrni was taking his compliments in such a way that it made her flush.  He'd likely have a stupid sideways grin all day now.  It seemed rather firmly attached to his mug now actually.  Chance seemed to mostly just grin and nod after that point...but perhaps some of Myrni's specifics struck here and there.  He'd heard of SAWS before, after all...sounded like a worthy cause.  Didn't the professor just mention something about Magical Law Enforcement?  Well..all of that seemed to vaguely sound amiliar at least, but then...what as this about grace Eddy?

"Huh?  What's 'at?"

Chance hadn't had much dealing with Grace in all his seven Gryffindor years at Hogwart's, but he knew who she was and seemed to know mostly what she was about.  She seemed nearly his polar opposite at first glance.  She was the studious, driven type that reminded him far too much of his mother.  A mother his own age was an eerie thought inded...Chance glanced from Grace to Myrni and then repeated the process.

"How's 'at?"

Grace shifted her weight uncomfortably as she stood just inside of the small office. It had been such a long time since she had been in the Arithmancy classroom as she had stopped taking the course after sitting the OWLS. She had actually enjoyed the class, but surprisingly had been able to restrain herself from taking more classes than she knew she could reasonably handle. That had been a huge step for the overachieving Seventh Year.

Agreeing to do this was also a huge step for her. Grace already had a full slate of activities and responsibilities. She didn't enjoy the thought of tossing another onto her pile...and one that involved a fellow student who had been, for the most part throughout their time at school, the classic underachiever.

But when Professor Levartian had requested her help in a way that was impossible to say no, Grace had reluctantly agreed. Afterall, she was a prefect and maybe this didn't exactly fall into the offical description of her job duties, it didn't seem that far of a stretch.

As she looked over at her classmate and tried to keep her judgmental tendencies in check. But that was extremely difficult. Even his appearance suggested that he was an underachieving slacker. Did he just roll out of bed for this meeting?

When Chance asked how she could have a good influence on him, she cleared her throat and quietly suggested, "I think what she's trying to say is that she hopes that by hanging around with me, some of my good habits will rub off on you." She gave a half shrug. "Maybe you'll want to be a better student....get more involved....stuff like that."

Chance was already questioning whether or not Grace Eddy was going to be the "tough pill to swallow" that he'd imagined.  In fact, he was basically sizing her up as she was with him.  She seemed so perfectly put together and by the book.  It was very anti-Chance.  Where was her own personality?  She simply looked like...a student.  Their mutual lack of understanding toward each other could prove quite the obstacle.  There was something about the way Grace looked at him that made him felt she was looking "down" at him.  Chance wasn't fond of the feeling.  After Grace's explanation...which seemed both condscending and annoying...Chance sighed and looked to Myrni semi-mournfully.

"Well...I guess ya know what yer doin', Professor.  Unless ya got th' job on those looks alone."

Chance couldn't help himself...and one of his nervous quirks was that when he didn't know what to say or felt uncomfortable in a situation, he simply had to crack a joke or remain deathly silent.  The Irishman definitely preferred a joke.


"An' maybe I can tach ya t'lighten up a bit an' crack a smile every now an' then, eh lass?"

It wasn't intended as a verbal smack, but it may very well have come off as one.  Chance smiled and seemed almost to feel awkward for having said that out loud.  He cleared his throat a bit, but kept a light smile...trying to show that he meant no harm and he was truly friendly.

Myrni stood and walked around her desk to a place between the two students. For different reasons, they had quickly fallen among her favorites within Gryffindor House and now she hoped that their two distinctly different personalities would be able to work alongside one another. Inasmuch as Grace was a star pupil academically and it seemed like it was only Chance's well being she was looking after, Myrni was also worried about the prefect's ultra serious nature about practically everything. If the girl didn't endeavor to some more relaxing pursuits or surround herself with easier going individuals, she would likely drive herself mad.

Myrni placed a hand on a shoulder from each student and proclaimed, "Wonderful. I'm glad you agree about my knowing what is best." She allowed that statement to hang in the air for a moment before she nodded matter-of-factly and said, "I think the two of you will be a great influence on each other."

Myrni gave them both an encouraging squeeze. She hesitated for a bit before she decided to pose another idea. "You know what else you could do to show more responsibility, Chance?" She did pause again before answering her own question. "I am in need of someone to fill the Seventh Year male prefect role when we return from the holiday break. Think you'd be up for that?"