Jordyn would never have believed that one could actually – or would actually – tug someone down the hallway by their ear.  But, on this particular day, Jordyn Dimbleby was doing just that.  She had her wand out and pointing straight at Callum’s head, something like an invisible string keeping her and him connected, as he was far taller than she was, and she had to jump to actually reach his ear, the magic would work just fine.

Callum had plenty of things to say about it, of course, none of which any respectable witch would ever repeat, but he was going down a very unrespectable road.  Between all of this bullying, making a spectacle of himself in classes, outside of classes, anywhere, really that would get the attention of professors and now that they all knew his name, that they all knew who he was it was becoming blatantly obvious that Callum Knight was not in those classes that he had caused scenes in. 

Skipping was deplorable, and Jordyn was sick of it.  He was sinking Slytherin lower than the Giant Squid in the Great Lake, and she wasn’t going to stand for it anymore.  So, with that being said, she continued to drag him up the stairwells and through the halls toward the library where their head of house had told her to take him.  A little bit of underhanded dealing was all she needed to do to get Callum Knight an express way ticket to Morgan’s office before he was facing Snark.

“Do you even know what some professors think of you?” she asked as they climbed up the flights of stairs, trying not to lecture, but failing quite miserably, “They’re glad you don’t show up. And I’m fairly sure that means they don’t anticipate you passing OWLs."  It was true, some professors seemed to look relieved, very few voiced their concerns.  "You're not stupid, Knight," Jordyn hated to admit it, but she figured she might as well say it - it was true enough, "but no one would know that by how you're throwing your future away!" 
 
Finally, when she could no longer tolerate his yelling (and they were on the landing of the fourth floor – close enough to the final destination) Jordyn turned on her heel to look at him with a disconcerting, hard gaze.  “If you want to walk by yourself, no funny business.  Straight down the hallway and into the library.”  It was a direct order he best follow.

Jordyn’s fingers twitched around her wand, she would have hexed him so quickly – made his front teeth grow, or perhaps that silly buzz-cut start taking over his head, a long luscious head of hair with pretty curls would certainly be funny enough.  It would be humbling, but she wasn’t here to humiliate him, she was here to make sure he got his life back in order and didn’t screw up even more than he already had. 

Landis, leaning against the check-out counter, listened calmly to the shouting echoing down the hallway outside the library doors. He tilted his head to the side, long hair falling away from his face as he considered. Let's see... five, four, three, two - "Mr. Knight," he said, completely deadpan as the fuming fifth year was prodded into the library by the illustrious Jordyn. "Ms. Dimbleby, thank you. Come on, then, to my office." He turned, black robes trailing, to lead them behind the counter to the room with a desk, a few chairs, and the bare walls of efficiency. He didn't turn back to check that Callum was following. A prefect behind and a head of house in front took care of that.

"Take a seat, Mr. Knight. Ms. Dimbleby, if you would." Instead of sitting himself, Landis stood beside his desk, one spider-like hand resting on neatly stacked paperwork. He surveyed the sullen boy in front of him, his expression glacier cool. He didn't bother to answer the ugly sneer twisting Callum's face just yet - sneers were all very well and good, but Knight's face was practically impaired.

The eldest Knight boy had turned out to be such a disappointment. Rash, loud, and completely arrogant, he didn't have the smarts to know when to shut up. His stupidity had cost his house more in the past few months than any of the other students combined, and he was too self-important to realize that he was alienating himself.  Jordyn, on the other hand, was a doll. Intelligent, determined, a brilliant prefect. And fortunately one who shared his opinions on Slytherin policy. Thus her fiery-eyed presence now, and Callum's in the chair.

"I'm sure you have some excellent excuses for earning yourself the wrath of every professor in school, Mr. Knight," Landis said, without preamble. "I don't particularly care what they are, because regardless of how you phrase them they likely all boil down to the same thing: you think yourself better than everyone else. Quite usual for a Slytherin, especially one with your excellent background, but you... " He paused momentarily, voice lowering to a vicious murmur, "You are doing a piss-poor job of proving it."

Callum wanted to just wrench her wand out of her hand and punch her in the face. It was incredibly unfair for Jordyn to take advantage of the face he would never hit, fight, or hex a lady. It was unfortunate that it was public knowledge, otherwise she wouldn't dare drag him down the hallway like this. He made sure to make her perfectly aware of exactly how angry he was. "I don't give a damn what they think," Callum snarled at her, rubbing his ear when she finally removed her wand. He wanted to turn tail and run- but then she was just going to start up this whole undignified process again.

Instead, Callum just went into the library, followed Landis to his office. He sat down when he was told to, glaring at Landis. Who did this guy think he was? He was a librarian, like he deserved any respect.

"Not every professor," he responded, leaning back in the seat, attempting to appear indifferent. "Professor O Morain hasn't any problems with me... In fact, as far as I'm aware, the only professors who have any right to dislike me are the ones that Snark should have never hired in the first place. Especially that damned Astronomy nut. He can take his muggle theories and stick 'em right up his arse. My mother and father told me I didn't have to go to his class if that was the case. They don't want such primitive, disgusting, anti-wizard views to poison my impressionable mind." Callum looked down, smoothing out his tie as he pulled himself together, pushing the anger away from the surface. Yelling at Morgan wasn't going to get him anywhere. He would save all of that for Dimbleby later.

Examining his nails, he shrugged. "Besides, I've nothing to prove, Morgan. People will get what is coming to them in the end. I'll see to it that they do. The Knight family is not one to cross. My father has friends in high places who owe him big time." Callum's father was also an important member in the ministry of magic. Though a purist family, the Knights had nothing to do with dark magic. They were just insufferable assholes.

"And really, I would hate to waste your time, sir. I'm certain there are books that need reshelving and first years to be shushed. So save the lecture. Because I could care less what either of you has to say."

Jordyn was reliant on the fact that if he wasn’t going to respect her, he would at least maybe respect Morgan as their head of house.  She knew he probably didn’t care much for him as a professional, he was a librarian, which most likely didn’t entail the masculine intensity with which Callum attacked life.  She just hoped that, as he trudged into the library and followed Morgan into his office that he was absorbing anything of what Jordyn said. 

Highly unlikely.  He was very unhappy with her right now, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t right.  That certainly didn’t mean he could disregard what she said either.  Even Professor Morgan started right on it after he instructed them to follow him and take seats.  She liked this office, it was removed from some of the other professors, so they didn’t have to hear them talking about Callum’s recent academic difficulties.  That would just expose him to even more embarrassment, which Jordyn wasn’t intent on doing – she thought it would be counterproductive, but someone needed to do something! 

She sighed though, trying not to agree too hard with Callum.  She had her own problems with some of the professors that he was struggling with too, and she looked at him, his anger evidently bubbling below the surface.  He was going to blow up at her later.  “As much as I agree with you,” Jordyn said smoothly, emphasizing that she was on his side, “particularly about Tapendra… or whatever his name is… but it doesn’t do anyone any good to miss days worth of classes!”    She thought Professor Morgan had a good point, Knight could be better than he was being about everything, really embrace the challenge to overcome, but he was doing a very poor job at handling adversity.  He needed to man-up or ship out and Jordyn could only imagine how poorly that would go over, how much controversy would be generated, especially with all these mysterious 'friends in high places' Callum's dad had.  No matter how many friends he had, he couldn't make Callum do better on OWLs.

She was speaking from a good place, really, it was just a little misguided.  Of course, Callum was in the same place, misguided.  And he was being very cruel about it.  She huffed slightly as he talked about his privilege and how he didn’t care about what either of them had to say.  Jordyn could feel her knee bobbing up and down, her fingers grasping around her bare knee.  She was anxious. 

“You’re going to get suspended, or worse, Callum!” Jordyn finally practically whined.  “Do you really want that?”

For a boy who'd had to be dragged here kicking and screaming, Knight was certainly trying to put on a show of nonchalance now. Landis didn't buy it. His folded arms and contemptuous gaze were indifferent to the glare currently scorching a hole in his forehead.

"Indeed, Mr. Knight," he drawled. "Because passing Care of Magical Creatures guarantees Hogwarts graduation and, of course, plays such an important role in the outside world. Your forward thinking astounds me." Didn't the boy know? Even pampered purists had to graduate.

Landis unfolded his arms, one hand drifting back down to the stacked paperwork on his desk. Delicately he slid a few papers off the pile, glancing down like he was consulting something. A list, perhaps, or Callum's school record - it was the public quill inventory, actually, but Knight didn't know that. "The other classes in which you aren't doing so well - which are, I think, all of them - include those of Professors Austerlitz and Storm, two professors with whom I know you've had altercations, in class or out. I can only assume your wounded pride was what prompted you to make a fool of yourself and Slytherin with them. Tell me, whatever did they do to you?" He raised blonde eyebrows, voice lowering to an amused drawl again, one where sarcasm dripped from every word. "Did they dare make you learn?"

"Especially that damned Astronomy nut. He can take his muggle theories and stick 'em right up his arse. My mother and father told me I didn't have to go to his class if that was the case. They don't want such primitive, disgusting, anti-wizard views to poison my impressionable mind."

Ah, yes. The Muggle professor. Well, they were all purebloods here, Landis could talk freely. Semi-freely.

"Hardly. Your mind is as impressionable as a rock. But be that as it may, I do agree with you about Trishna. His Muggle teachings are neither necessary nor wanted. But there are times to stand up and times to be silent, no matter your personal opinions. Despite your excellent education, it seems you haven't yet learned that lesson." Prattling about his father and his father's friends... oh, yes. Now Landis sneered. "You remember Lucius Malfoy, don't you? If you attended your history classes, perhaps you would. He's an excellent example of a wizard from an old, old family, and he had many friends in high places who owed him favors. But, Knight, do you remember where he ended up? Do you remember his allies, his high-placed friends, who evaporated as soon as it wasn't to their advantage? Think about it for a moment, see if you can't get it through your thick head. Remember your pureblood teachings. Are you some sort of idiot that you can't see what it is that you're doing? Those who would have supported you given your blood have been turned off by your piggish manners and me-first mentality. You have no allies, Mr. Knight. And no matter how important you think your father is, without ambition and without thought you will end up nowhere, some nothing of a pureblood on the fringes of society still trying to use his name as currency."

Some more prattle, blatant disrespect, interspersed with Ms.Dimbleby's desperate pleas. Landis barely refrained from rolling his eyes, but even that was a close thing. If he'd cared more, he could have informed Callum that yes, he was librarian of both a public and private collection of magical books, which only meant that he had more stored knowledge at his hands of Dark spells and artifact mentions than Knight would know in his entire lifetime. But that would involve him giving a damn about what a little 15-year-old brat thought about him, and as long as Knight listened to him Landis didn't care what he thought. If Knight listened to him.

 It would be far too much effort to Imperio every child in the school, but at times like this Landis really wished he was allowed to.

"Mr. Knight. I may be the librarian, but I am also your Head of House. If the former fact inspires enough contempt as to blind you to the latter... well. That's not my problem, but it might soon be yours. Suspension, as Ms. Dimbleby says, is hardly the worst that could happen."

Callum was obviously offended at the insinuation he was doing poorly in all of his classes. "I am not an idiot," he snapped. "Contrary to popular belief I am far from stupid. I passed all of my midterms with flying colors. I'm doing quite well in Transfiguration, Charms, and Potions. Before Trishna came along I was acing Astronomy. I do well in Divination. I do well in all of my classes. It's not my fault that the professors have come along to ruin that!" It annoyed him to no end when people assumed that he was dumb just because he was strong. Having strength didn't make you stupid.

"And as far as I'm concerned, they all asked for it. Professor Storm allowed Schlagenweit to use a dark spell against me with no reprecussions. I'll admit that torturing Amherst might have been wrong of me, but it wasn't Schlagenweit's place to hex me like that. I researched that spell, you know. It's the closest thing you can get to an unforgiveable. But it was overlooked. The boy is a murderer, and Snark lets him prance around the castle untouched and it disgusts me. My mother is wanting to pull Aglaia out of Hogwarts and get her private tutors because of it. And any professor who is going to let him run amock in class deserves no respect from me."

The truth of the matter was that Callum had been hurt. He had very much liked Professor Storm, and had thought- for a moment- that perhaps the man had realized that he had real talent. But it had not lasted long. That whole display in class had ruined it for him. "If it had been me who had used that spell against someone, I have no doubt I would have punished for it. More than just a couple of points docked from my house, too. And neither of you can argue the truth to that matter."

Callum growled when Landis compared his father to Lucius Malfoy. He pointed his wand directly at Landis' face. "Don't you dare compare my father to Malfoy. The difference there is that my father obeys the law. He was smart enough to keep his beliefs from ruining his life. My father is a good man. He is a good father, an excellent husband, and is damn good at what he does. He is nothing like those idiots who chose to ruin their own futures. He has worked hard to ensure that my brothers, my sister, and I have a chance to make something of ourselves without being ruined by his reputation. My father does not deserve to be lumped in with such filth." With that, he lowered his wand. His family was a touchy subject. Regardless of how he might treat some of them (Blake was a prime example) he would die for them if he had to. Callum did have some morals.

That being said, he turned to Jordyn. "And I don't buy your feigned interest in my well being one bit. I happen to know better. You don't give a damn how I turn out, why should you? You only care about yourself and your precious house points and your prefect position. I should have been a prefect- I had some of the highest grades and I am certainly much more feared than Pennyapple. Fear is how you control people, not coddling them."

He did not, however, believe that he could find himself expelled. "The both of you are nutters. The headmistress likes me. She wouldn't expel me for no reason. And I've hardly done anything to warrant it. If Schlagenweit can prance around holding hands with Amherst, using dark magic, and murdering people and not be expelled- what do I have to worry about? Besides, even if I were expelled, I would just take up with private tutors and pass my examinations that way. It's not as though they would break my wand for it. That takes an especially grave offense. That's why I had to take care of Schlagenweit's for him. He's not fit to carry a wand or call himself a wizard."

Jordyn felt distinctly uncomfortable.  Callum and Professor  Morgan were vying for control, and one’s cool and slippery voice, intense in its own right, and piercing eyes looking at Callum, she got shivers being in the same room.  Callum Knight was far less constrained in his anger, though he was trying.  It probably took Professor Morgan years to perfect the cool anger he was exhibiting.  They were going back and forth, and for the most part, Jordyn was just listening.  She had been the device to get Callum there, but she really had nothing to add, except for the occasional plea.

Professor Morgan was better than her at this anyway, maybe Callum would listen.  He seemed to have a good handle on what was going on.  Even if Callum had an answer for everything.  Even to the answer to his daddy issues, the one thing that Jordyn could not help but frown at.  She did not enjoy the fact he relied upon Daddy to help him through things.   

Professor Morgan had that covered though.  One needed to be resourceful, cunning, and really solidify their spot.  People went in and out of power easily, look at her own father, his humiliation largely secret from almost everyone he ever kept in contact with – you didn’t rely on your position, because it could be ripped away from you, and when you weren’t prepared with another idea, well, you had to find other things.  It was harder for some people, and Jordyn didn’t know how much longer the charade could hold up.  But she remained quiet, gasping and covering her mouth as Callum pulled his wand.

He was seriously going to do that?  She covered her face with her hands, trying not to say anything, though the urge to call him an idiot was really building up in her head.  She warned herself with his wand out he could do something even more stupid than threaten a professor, and then turned on her.  She gulped and sat straight, she wasn’t going to let him intimidate her when he was angry like this and Jordyn firmed her jaw and furrowed her eyebrows. 

“I don’t like seeing smart people acting like idiots, “ she responded flatly, turning to face Professor Morgan again, not wanting to dignify the rest of whatever he had to say.  Perhaps he had a point, but he certainly shouldn’t be encouraged in that arena.  He already had a big head, Jordyn wasn’t going to stroke his ego, and she wasn’t going to dig herself into a hole any deeper than it was.  So what if she cared about house points and a little house pride?  It was a good thing!  And she sighed in slight disgust.

“Don’t you think the proper people should be dealing with that Knight?” she asked honestly, though her voice was laced with agitation.  “You don’t get to decide who is and isn’t a wizard or fit to carry a wand.  If you want to do that, study, become something in the ministry, and get on the Wizengamenot.”  It seemed obvious to her, but some people were so dense.  Callum blocked information out though, he didn’t look at everything, he chose to be that way, and perhaps that was part of Jordyn’s interest.  He really needed to get a grip and open his eyes.  If he did, he'd be smart enough to see he wasn't doing himself any favors, like Professor Morgan said.

"I wasn't talking about your grades. Your grades are more than satisfactory, save in Trishna's classe. I was talking about your behavior. I could care less if you flunked out of Hogwarts, as long as you did it quietly, but your behavior is costing Slytherin dearly both in points and honor."

Schlagenweit and Amherst - even Landis knew about that. He shook his head, mouth thinning to a disapproving line. "Use your eyes and ears, pay attention to what's around you. To think that you could get away with bothering one of them and not have the other retaliate was short-sighted of you, especially in such a public setting, especially in front of Storm, who is the most sharp-eyed witness you could have ever chosen." He paused, considering the boy in front of him and the girl that stood just behind. He'd have to be careful of what he said now, of what he implied - not for Callum's sake, but for Jordyn's. He knew that Callum was the worst sort of bully, one who would be wholly supportive of attempts to take Schlagenweit down. That was usable - that was helpful. But Jordyn's views Landis was less certain of. At least in name, as a prefect, she should not be kindly disposed to attacks against another student. Landis didn't know her well, but he thought he knew her well enough to guess that she was not given to corruption of her duties. It was good at times like this, but bad for what he wanted to talk to Callum about, at least considering Schlagenweit.

"Were you to attack one or the other," he continued, in the same crisp tone, "You ought to have covered your tracks. And when caught, don't whinge about the pain you endured as a consequence of your own actions or throw a temper tantrum about how unfair everything is. You earned this. So no one has ever pulled an Unforgivable on you? You are a lucky boy. And you're even luckier that Schlagenweit, given all the little tricks taught to him by his benevolent criminal mentor, didn't do more than he did. He isn't weak prey any more, and the loss of his family has rendered him unstable. Your old tactics will not work."

Then came some of that famous hot-headedness he'd heard so much about. "Put the wand down, Mr. Knight," Landis said in distinctly unimpressed tones. "You know it's more trouble than it's worth to curse your own Head of House." If Knight didn't listen to him... well. Landis knew where he stood with Analiza, and he'd enjoy giving Callum something to think about. Maybe pain would be the better teacher. But fortunately - unfortunately? - Knight was already putting his wand away, having proved his point. Well, having proved that he reacted irrationally when confronted with talk of his family, anyways. "Tell me then, all instructional lessons of careless purebloods aside... this father of yours, so brave, so strong, so well-liked. Good father, an excellent husband - yes, he sounds very honorable. I'd like to know, after all the hard work he puts in so that your brothers, your sisters, all of you can have a chance to "make something of yourselves without being ruined by his reputation"... how exactly are you repaying the favor?" Landis narrowed his eyes, voice low but without that subtle hint of mockery that'd been there before. (He did want Callum to think, after all, not just react.) "Do you think your behavior would make him proud? And don't give me any excuses about what he's told you himself. A father - a good father - will say anything to make his children feel better. How do you think you reflect back on him? Think about it, and tell me."

Callum turned on Jordyn, who for her part was looking pale but set-jawed. Good girl. "I quite agree. What does it matter whether we care for you or not? You certainly don't care for many people. But your stubborn idiocy is insulting, particularly when we both know that you can do better. Likewise, the reason you didn't make prefect is astoundingly clear. Pennyapple obeys the rules, or at least he doesn't get caught doing otherwise. But you? You take pleasure in flaunting them. Your vicious satisfaction at other's pain, while commendable in some very specific disciplines, is unsightly in schoolchildren. Until you make at least a pretense of bowing to authority, you are not likely to earn yourself any honors. You are a blade that can cut any way, and therefore untrustworthy. As for fear, it is only the most obvious way of controlling people. There are many others."

"The Headmistress is as much subject to popular opinion and controversy as anyone else. The Board also controls her actions, she doesn't act alone. Believe me - if it came down to your neck on the line or hers, she wouldn't hesitate to expel you. Analiza didn't get to her position by being soft." Landis paused again, the harsh line of his mouth softening. His eyes flickered down, and his hands drifted apart to land atop the stack of papers again, all signs of someone reluctantly about to expose a secret. Well, they should be, Landis was trying his damnedest to exaggerate said signs. Knight was awfully thick at times, and Landis wanted to make sure he was listening to this. "Schlagenweit may not be... so safe as you suspect. Remember what I said about popular opinion, and keep in mind that he is now a potentially dangerous ward of the Ministry. Many parents and board members are not happy with his continued presence here. I trust that both of you will keep this information to yourself. Especially you, Knight. I will not be so open in the future should I hear this floating around school, particularly if pinned to me. And, Knight? Keep in mind how in your interest it is to stay silent on the things your Head of House tells you." Not a threat - an opportunity, as subtle as Landis could make it while still trusting that it might sink in. He hoped Callum would get the clue. There was only so much he could say in front of Jordyn.

Who, incidentally, was quick to point out the legal ways of getting someone else's wand snapped. Oh, he'd been right - she was lawful and fair through and through, traits both highly desired in a prefect and highly inconvenient in a Slytherin one. Well, highly inconvenient for Landis.

"Ms. Dimbleby is right. There are many ways to go about getting the things you want."

Callum was visibly shocked to hear Jordyn say that he was a smart person. So she had noticed he wasn't a complete imbecile? Well good for her. Perhaps her observational skills weren't so terrible after all. Now only if she would learn a woman's place in the world, he could actually like her. As it was, she had earned a solid toleration on his end. "I do appreciate the vote of confidence, Jordyn." Any further, sarcastic comments he would have liked to have made were cut off by his Head of House, who launched into quite the speech.

He listened carefully, maintaining the proper level of interest while allowing his mind to wander. Really the way that Mr. Morgan spoke made Callum believe he was full of hot air. The Slytherin had grown up in the realm of pureblood society, he knew what it was like to take your verbal skills and put them to use in a sparring contest. Unfortunately for him, Landis was not only far more experienced, but far more skilled in the matter of not saying what his words truly meant. It was a tactic that Callum endeavored to perfect in the future, for now he would admit his defeat and attempt to glean the implications of Landis' words as well as formulate a response that would be properly placating to both his head of house and his prefect.

Landis' suggestion to cover his tracks and be less obvious in his attacks echoed much of what he had picked up from Storm when he had gotten into a fight with Figaro in the hallways. It seemed that the professors had no problem with his causing trouble, just his getting caught while doing it. "Professor Storm gave me similar advice," Callum stated, allowing him to continue without further interruption.

Until his father became the focus of the conversation again. "Your sarcasm is offensive," Callum stated flatly. "I meant what I said about my father. I am proud of my heritage and where I come from- the last thing that I intend to do is sit back and allow a librarian to badmouth him. Head of house or not you are nothing compared to my father." He was glad to hear the mocking tone drop out of Landis' voice , but less pleased for the question that was posed to him. If Callum were to be honest, his father had no idea of his behavior at school. While at home, Callum behaved with the utmost respect and decorum. He knew better than to act as he did at school- his father would beat him for it. But he had never stopped to consider the reprecussions his actions at school could have on his family.

"My father would not be proud to call me his son." The honesty was surprising, and Callum's eyes were downcast as he confessed it. It was shameful to say such words out loud.

His words about Schlagenweit did not go unheeded. "I do not presume him to be safe. He murdered someone- why should any child wizard capable of that be deemed safe? And further more, why should he be allowed to continue his education at Hogwarts? Self defense or not, he is not someone that should be allowed to continue his studies. If anyone else had killed a person, there would be an uproar. But why not for him? It makes no sense." And Landis ellaborated, stating that many parents and board members had the same opinion that he did. Callum was not aware of that, though he was glad to hear that some people in the wizarding world had a brain.

"Whatever words are spoken in this office will not leave it," Callum reassured his head of house. If Landis was willing to divulge such sensitive information, Callum was not going to compromise the ability to learn such things in the future. It was useful to know when you were ahead.

"Perhaps I will get into the ministry," he said to Jordyn. "Perhaps I ought to aspire to become a member of the Board of Governors. At that point I could prevent filth like Schlagenweit from terrorizing Hogwarts, and prevent incompetent professors like Trishna from finding employment here. Whatever possessed Snark to think he was fit for the job is beyond me. If I were the headmaster, I would prefer the class have no instructor rather than hire Trishna... Or Austerlitz for that matter. Her opinions on purebloods are most offensive. The things she said to me were uncalled for, and it is a pity the old hag is too stupid to realize she's no better than those she insults."

Everything going on at this point did not seem to concern Jordyn very thoroughly.  Yes, she had brought Callum here and wanted him to know all about what was going to happen to him if he did not stop and have a suitable role model to lead him in the proper direction, but that was as far as she was concerned.  It was her house that was in trouble with him getting in trouble left and right, so now she was handling what she could.  The rest was up to Callum. 

So, with that in mind, Jordyn listened to quietly, gasping just a little when Callum admitted his father would not be proud.  She did not think that anyone would ever admit that, least of all Callum, who toted his father’s connections and prominence as his own personal store of luck.  Jordyn knew things did not work that way, or at least she had never experienced that.  Perhaps there were those that abided by the family name rules and the idea of inequalities before the rules, particularly in the ministry.  She supposed she could see that, but whatever it meant, Jordyn couldn’t stand it.  She wanted him to understand that things could possibly change and if that happened, he’d be out of felix felicius for good. 

Shifting in her seat, she felt rather uncomfortable with all of this talk.  It wasn’t really what she expected, though she supposed her expectations were probably off anyway.  She had never done this sort of thing before.  She had figured the foresight to help Callum would also help her.  It showed initiative and an understanding of her classmates, it was ambitious and calculated, but for a good reason.  She liked to think that maybe it was one step closer to becoming Head Girl.  She was certainly the only one she would deem worthy to fill that position, at least. 

When Callum began to speak to her, she held her tongue.  She knew if Callum wanted to, he could do those things.  He wasn’t unintelligent, and he knew how to get what he wanted.  He was smart and cunning, like most Slytherins, with few exceptions.  “Exactly,” she finally agreed at the end, “you just have to be patient.  And making a fool of yourself now will just hurt your chances.  Professor Morgan is right.”  She nodded. 

Glancing down at her hands, Jordyn flexed her gloved fingers and looked up at the Professor.  “If you do not mind, Professor,” she licked her lips, “I am supposed to begin my prefect rounds in a little under fifteen minutes.  If I could be excused, I would appreciate it very much.  If Mr. Knight is in the hallway after that point, I will be sure to make a note to not deduct any points.” 

"Professor Storm gave me similar advice," Callum broke in once to add, and Landis' mouth curved in a small smile. Of course he did. Ignan Storm knew the way of things. Such a formidable - and admirable - man. But Knight seemed to be listening; he was calming down, no longer on the edge of his seat demanding to leave. Until Landis began on his family again, with the predictable flair-up from the boy.

But perhaps Callum really was listening - flat-voiced, he used words instead of resorting to his wand. Landis smiled again, another smirk-like twist of thin lips. "You're learning, Knight." And he left it at that. There were all sorts of things he could have added, starting with the fact that Knight wasn't the only pureblood in the room and going from there, but... well... Landis could swallow his pride when necessary. Like now. It wasn't worth sniping with a school boy over something unimportant to the lesson he was attempting to teach. Besides, it was worth it to see the boy actually thinking about his question. Landis' eyes widened at his honesty - he hadn't expected Callum to give in so quickly, and with so little fight.

"I see," he said, after a long hesitation. Again, there was no mockery in his voice. "It's something to remember." He wasn't really sure what to say beyond that - Landis wasn't exactly accustomed to comfort or encouragement. Knight didn't really seem the type to need that, however, and thank Merlin.

"The evidence is too inconclusive to pin him for that," Landis said, shaking his head, "Whatever the obvious conclusion seems to be. But, given his recent education in the Dark Arts, as well as this incident, Schlagenweit seems destined for a harsh future." It almost sounded like a promise. Given what he knew, given the things Ava reported to him with blank eyes and a flat tone, it might as well have been.   

He let his mind wander a little as Callum expounded to Jordyn about how he was going to become a Ministry bigshot and kill all the Schlagenweits or something, pondering the question of Ava. She was proving more problematic than anticipated, and it was all Cinaed could do to keep her under control. Landis had had to renew the Imperius several times now, but he'd seen her in the hallway and the library between bouts of mental possession. She'd seemed vague, confused, bewildered by the smallest details, not uncommon symptoms for someone under the curse as she was. But there were moments when her manner would slip back into something more attentive, when her old intellect would shine through her eyes. She was nothing compared to her mother - a rather disappointing offspring to the noble lady - but she was sharp. Of course she was. Otherwise she wouldn't have been in Slytherin. And that sharp mind hadn't been suppressed enough for Landis' satisfaction.

It shouldn't have been a problem. When she was completely under she was obedient enough, a handy extra pair of eyes and ears. And she didn't have many friends. Those she used to have had been alienated, carefully and deliberately, by her strange and aggressive new behavior. But Schlagenweit had been probing, and Landis was afraid that when their control was weak something unexpected might happen.

It was a troubling thought.

Jordyn brought his mind back to the matter at hand. Professor Morgan. Bless her prefect little heart. Landis almost laughed.

"Of course," he said with a nod. "We wouldn't want to keep you from your duties." Convenient - Landis liked that. "Thank you, Ms. Dimbleby, for all of your assistance."

As soon as she was gone he turned his gaze back on Callum.

"So tell me, Knight. Do you plan on behaving? Or, more important - do you plan on enjoying yourself in a more subtle and consequence-free manner as befitting a proper Slytherin? I don't want to see you caught again. But I should point out - " Another smirk. "That by no means do I want you to stop. Particularly when it comes to Schlagenweit."

Callum remained quiet, assuming that after Jordyn left that this would all be over. He could go about his business as per usual, and lick his wounds later on. He wasn't angry anymore about this little chat. Sometimes you needed a good kick in the arse to make you realize you were being a complete and total idiot. Callum was burning a lot of bridges he shouldn't be, and making problems for himself that he didn't need to deal with later on. He was only a fifth year, after all. No reason to destroy his future before it even started.

"I had thought about keeping my nose clean. Could be an interesting change of pace," he offered to his head of house. But was surprised by Morgan's sudden change of pace. He didn't want Callum to stop having his fun? What was the point in that? What exactly did he want Callum to do?

"Well, sir, to be entirely honest- it's not as though I get caught on purpose. And up until the last few months I was doing a decent job of keeping myself out of trouble. But it seems that Hogwarts is turning into-" he paused for a moment, re-thinking his words. Calling his school a shit hole to his head of house might not be very beneficial to him. Callum should be a bit more respectful than that. "Well, it certainly is not the place that it used to be," he finished.

"So tell me, Mr. Morgan, exactly what is it that you would prefer I do?" he asked. "I am in Slytherin. I know that you are driving at something- and I believe that it would benefit the both of us if we cut to the chase. I have a curfew to maintain, and you have books to dust."

"I'm sure you don't get caught on purpose. But - hm - surely you've been taught the Disillusionment charm by now? Or the Bedazzling hex?" Landis pondered this. He knew when he'd learned those spells, but that'd been much earlier than they'd been taught. He couldn't remember now if they were even taught at all. Merlin, if not, kids these days weren't learning anything useful. "I will teach you if not. I have a feeling they'd come in handy."

"Well, it certainly is not the place that it used to be."

Landis stopped himself from shaking his head. More than you know, he thought, with a great deal of regret and an even greater deal of anger. "What I want you to do, Mr. Knight, is to promote Slytherin's best interests in all areas, including its views towards unsavory, unclean individuals. Bad blood is as much a threat as anything else to the pureblood way of life." Were he to cut to the chase any more than that, Landis thought he could very well lose his job. Suspicion, at the very least. Oh, he wasn't telling the boy to murder anyone - best leave that to the professionals - but, regardless. "I want you to be as ambitious as the hat who placed you in this house believed you to be. Should you need any assistance or advice, I have more knowledge than you in certain areas and would be more than willing to help."

I have a curfew to maintain, and you have books to dust. Landis gave a tight-lipped smile, more of a sneer than anything else. His tone, when he spoke, was as dry as those dusty tomes. "Quite. You mustn't miss your pubescent bedtime. Go on, then. You'll have detention next Saturday with - " A barely discernible pause, as Landis mentally sorted through candidates. Well, the boy had been unexpectedly attentive, he deserved a prize. " - Vaillancourt. " She'd give him a hell of a time, but at least he'd have something to look at. "And I don't want to have you dragged in here like some stray again." Then came the knife-edge smile again, not a sneer but a secretive, somehow conspiratory flash of teeth. "If you come to me again, I will hope it is because you have something worthy with which to waste my time."

Callum shook his head. "Have't heard of the bedazzling hex yet," he said. "Disillusionment charm I know- but I haven't mastered it yet. It's tricky." Usually Callum was excellent with a wand- but charms were harder for him than transfiguration for the most part. He had read somewhere about how people who were pure of heart generally were better at Charms. Maybe that was the problem here. It could be a number of things, really. There was no way to specifically know. But if his head of house was going to teach him spells to help him- he wasn't going to tell him no.

Although, he was surprised that Landis wanted him to further his purist views. He had expected to be told to keep it quiet. Bad blood was a threat- he knew that, he understood it. Ambition, however, wasn't Callum's strong suit. He didn't know what he wanted to do in his future, and naturally he would do whatever daddy told him to- that was the way pureblood life was. But Callum was determined to be good at everything else in the mean time, and climb to the top of heap. "Maybe next year I'll be a prefect and I can do a better job at it than the ones we have," he added.

Callum couldn't help but groan when he was told that there would be a detention. He had genuinely thought that he was going to get out of this meeting with little reprecussions. He was wrong. "Professor Vailancourt?" Callum repeated with a slight grin. She was one of hell of a woman- gorgeous, really. Callum liked her red hair. Maybe, if he was lucky, Imogen would grow up to look like her? That would be nice. "Yes sir- it won't happen again." He'd hex Jordyn and run from her before he'd let her haul him to Landis by the ear again.

He stood up, and gave his head of house a respectful nod. "You will be pleasantly surprise by my change in character over the next few weeks, Mr. Morgan. If it helps Slytherin, and it keeps me out of trouble, I'll do what I need to." And if he it got him some extra tutoring for hexes or charms to keep him out of trouble, why not? Besides- Callum really did want to be a prefect the following year. "Is there anything else, or may I be excused?"

"Have't heard of the bedazzling hex yet. Disillusionment charm I know- but I haven't mastered it yet. It's tricky."

"They're very similar," Landis said absently, mentally condensing the information for as quick and simple a lesson as possible. "But unlike the Disillusionment charm, the Bedazzlement hex affects the viewer, not the person attempting to hide. The mild influence the spell exerts is what classifies it as a hex. It's not much harder than the Disillusionment charm - " That was a lie, but Landis believed in the power of self-frustration to drive people to success - "And I trust you could pick it up easily once you've mastered that."

Knight expressed his hopes to be prefect next year, and - surprised, wary, and only slightly cynical - Landis nodded. "I wouldn't be adverse to such a thing," he said. "Should you truly improve." And, seeing Callum's grin at the choice of punisher, the corner's of Landis' lips curled up ever-so-slightly to match. "Yes," he said, and he sounded almost amused. "I believe she mentioned scouring cauldrons. I'm sure you can handle that."

Another unexpected display of maturity and good manners. Again, Landis was surprised. He considered himself a persuasive orator when he had to be, although he depended more on practicality than charm, but this sort of transformation was really rather amazing. He certainly couldn't take the credit for it - but it made him wonder exactly what it was that he'd said that'd set the gears to turning in Callum's mind. The same boy that'd had to be dragged into his office and had tried to curse him was now asking ever-so-politely to leave... and vowing both to change for the good of himself and his house. Remarkable.

"I'm pleased to hear it," Landis said. He was smiling now, but more more pleasantly than all his thin-lipped smirks, the first genuine smile he'd offered since Callum had arrived. "I will hold you to that. And yes, you may be excused."