After midnight, technically the early hours of the 6th, but in the same waking day as the 5th

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Stepping into the Slytherin common room, the students within froze and stared. It was luck that Ignan had obtained the password from the student he sought, earlier that day, and the fact he'd already drunk a couple of whiskeys to bide the time over the crossword with Georg - meant that he felt less inclined to hex the lot of them into next week for being up past curfew.

"It is little wonder the lot of you are inattentive in your lessons. Your dormitories now!" He snapped, before nodding to Georgiana Trishna, who knew of this prior engagement. They both waited until her classmates had begrudgingly removed themselves (no doubt to reassert themselves shortly later) before he nodded curtly to her as an indication to follow.

Outside in the darkened dungeon corridor, he paused to wait for Tapendra's sister to follow him out of the common room.
"Good evening again Georgiana." He greeted in a soft voice. "We best be swift, I have a suspicion our actions will be frowned upon by many others in the school." Ignan's mouth curled into a smirk, and they headed up the corridor at a quick pace, their feet as soft as possible upon the stone.

Tapendra would have anticipated them forgetting all about his birthday, and technically it had already passed, midnight behind them. However, what with Ignan's full teaching day, and everyone's evening obligations with extra tutoring, marking or planning, and Tapendra's evening lesson with the third years, there hadn't been an opportune time to do this earlier.

Georg and Johann had already been dispatched with the drink concealed, so that both old friends had one charge each that they would have to explain the reason for only, given the hour. One could never be too careful with Declan and his moods... poor chap was trying, Ignan appreciated, but youthful enthusiasm...

Speaking of youthful enthusiasm, one would only celebrate a birthday at Tapendra's age of course, unless it divided exactly by ten, because any older and it started being a yard stick towards death.

Thankfully they both managed to reach the Astronomy tower without being intercepted, and instead found Georg and Johann waiting for them.

Checking his pocketwatch and the noise coming from the classroom above, it sounded like Tapendra's lesson would soon be finishing, which put them in an awkward position of being in the way as the third years barreled downstairs sleepily towards their beds.
"We might as well save the third years their homework..." Ignan suggested with a complacent shrug, suggesting a move to invade the classroom and call an early end to what sounded like a dull lesson.

Extricating herself from the lap of Justin Something-Or-Other in the back of the smoky commons was odd business, when it involved being summoned into the night by the sod-all years old DADA professor. But it was odd business she achieved easily enough, hopping off him like this happened every day.

Gigi slipped back into her discarded stockings among the scramble of students back to their dormitories, fixed the top two buttons on her blouse, and set about reapplying the plum lipgloss Justin Whatever had mucked up with his face.

She gathered up her shrouded canvases and shuffled after Professor Storm, after giving him a totally polite curtsey and ‘good evening’. She’d known he was coming for her, she’d just…let time slip away from her. That’s all.

Tap’s birthday was something Gigi viewed with a bit of trepidation. She never quite knew what on earth to get him that wasn’t some muggle toy that wouldn’t work on school grounds anyhow. For the past few weeks she’d spent quite a bit of time in the Astronomy Tower after lessons, staring up at the sky, a notepad  in her lap or against some old stone, doodling. He was probably proud of her for not using a quill or charcoal. Gigi sketched with a mechanical pencil, a wondrous advancement of Science with a capital S. Drawing the night sky hadn’t had much to do with it, aside from inspiration.

Referenced from books and more books, Gigi had put the Horsehead Nebula and the Pleiades to canvas. A few artistic flourishes with color, sure, but she thought it was more or less on point. The brush strokes had been laid down over the course of February’s chill, so the palettes were oddly subdued save for the faint glowing charms she’d blended with the paints.

Down the cool halls, up the winding stairs, Gigi kept her lips sealed tight as she trailed after Storm. Funny to be so quiet around a man who’d soon be poking around her brain.

“Good evening, Professor Kirchlehner…”

She greeted him gracefully, going for a ladylike inclination of the head instead of a curtsey to not jostle the paintings. For the other man – the much, much younger man – Gigi was all smiles. Her hip cocked like a pistol.
 
“…and? Oh, I don’t believe I’ve met you before.”

The old men could surprise her brother all they liked. Paying attention to dark-haired pretty things was for more important on Georgiana’s list than whiskey or hearing Tappy talk at thirteen year old bints.

"Should I be worried about how much we plan to drink, given the amount we're stowing away here?" Johann asked with amusement on his features as he helped Georg pack the bottles into the magically enlarged wizard's purse. Inside they clanked but sounded like they wouldn't break.

It didn't take long for them both to reach the alcove in the spiral staircase that led up to the astronomy tower's top. Johann decided it was best not to start a conversation to provoke Georg into telling him stories, considering they were twelve foot from a classroom where Tapendra was teaching. It was almost certainly going to end in loud exclamations and laughter, which was unbecoming at such a late hour when one was meant to be acting professionally.

Ignan and a younger lady in uniform appeared moments later, Johann understanding this to be Georgiana Trishna, Tapendra's younger sister.
“Good evening, Professor Kirchlehner…” Her eyes lingered on Johann, who smiled politely. “…and? Oh, I don’t believe I’ve met you before.”

"We might as well save the third years their homework..." Ignan gave a cavalier shrug, and ascended the stairs before them.

"Johann Storm." He introduced himself, extending a hand to shake. "You must be Georgiana Trishna." He addressed her politely.

"Now, I believe you'll need to re-read your chapter, and complete a full set of notes to prove your understanding, complete with diagrams, this is astronomy after all. Professor Trishna will issue any additional work you need to prepare for next lesson, later tomorrow, or rather, later today, given the hour.... Gather your things, and be off quietly to your houses now. The Deputy Headmster is on the prowl and I am sure none of you wish to lose any points for disturbing the peace after curfew." [1]

Ignan's steady and authoritative voice filtered down the curl of the spiral staircase to them waiting below. Johann's ears picked up a slight change in Ignan's tone to the way he addressed students publicly to the way he addressed family and friends in private. There was an edge to his voice, reminiscent of Ignan's father, who Johann had the misfortune of being at the sharp end of as a child and teenager.

"He's not sending them all down here past us is he?" Johann asked worriedly, realising they were about to be set upon by a gaggle of students excited at having their class cut short. He stepped in front of Georgiana suddenly, with his back to her.
"Well I'm sure the two of you don't want the younger ones to twig there's something other than official business going on here?" He paused, glancing to both their faces "Or am I over-estimating the intelligence of Third Year students at Hogwarts?" Johann asked, his mouth curling, not sure at all what Georgiana was doing behind him.

There was a rumble of footsteps, and feet appeared on the stairs, students drifting down, staring at them all. Johann straightened his face and regarded them all with interest. Such a variety of expressions and reactions, how curious.

1.	From 3rd Year Astronomy, Down the Well, which is in progress at the same time

"Should I be worried about how much we plan to drink, given the amount we're stowing away here?"

The only reply Johann got from Georg was a cheeky grin.

He followed the Storms in silence and kept careful, official watch over Johann as Ignan departed. He eyed the boy thoughtfully; too clever for his own good was the jist of him, Georg thought. Still, he was a Storm - surely he'd find his other interesting qualities out soon enough.

He lit his pipe as they waited, the dull glow clearly visible on the dim stairs. Tapendra's lecture was clearly hitting some rough spots, since the younger man would talk in big chunks and then stop and answer something. It make Georg glad he didn't have to lecture the 3rd years. Or any years, really.

Georgiana got a quick smile from him when she arrived with Ignan. He wasn't sure what to make of her yet - though the instant change in her demeanor around Johann let another assumption drop into place. She was also the reason the bag he was carrying had cider in it instead of one more bottle of brandy.

He couldn't help a grunt of amusement as Ignan dictated a fairly extensive set of homework to the 3rd years - so much for saving them. He gave the kids his best blankly serious face so they'd get out of the way faster. He even added a displeased scowl for good measure.

When he couldn't hear - or feel - they feet on the stairs anymore, he nodded to Johann and Georgiana. "Shall we?" he said, walking past them towards the final set of steps into the classroom itself.

Continues from: Down the Well

"What's going on, Ignan? Don't tell me another student snuffed it..."

"Oh, you'd have heard that long before I arrived with Oliver in your class." Ignan smirked, "though I know I can rely on you to help me bury the bodies if there ever was." He told Tapendra almost happily, and stepped away from him, hearing footsteps approaching, and soon enough the sight of the other three stepping into the classroom.

"You probably anticipated we'd forgotten, especially Georgiana, that's my fault." Ignan explained to Tapendra. "We were discussing a worthy examination topic and she missed her opportunity to visit you before your evening duties. Its too late to go out and celebrate your day, so we thought you might appreciate a little company up here instead."

Giving Tapendra a genuine smile (which was quite an unsettling experience to most people) he patted the younger man on the back, to propel him forward into the room to the others.
"Happy Birthday Tapendra." Ignan told him with sincerity.

Tapendra stumbled forward, more or less struck dumb by Ignan's attitude. When he did managed to find words, it came as a quiet, "You interpreted my class early, gave them about 4 times as much homework as I give them and threw them out just to celebrate my birthday?"

His expression turned into a soft smile. "Thank you, Ignan." He walked towards the center of the room again, stretching and popping his back. "I appreciate it, I really do." Even if it was weird to have Ignan be cheerful over something like this.

He smiled at Georgiana and Johann. "Nice to see you again, Johann. And Gigi...thanks," he said, a little more vaguely. He gave her a slightly flighty look; like he expected her to stamp her foot and stomp out of the tower at any moment.

"Only four times more?" Johann asked, casting aside his long grey wool coat and scarf over one of the desks in Tapendra's classroom and looking around himself, sliding his hands into his suit pockets. "That sounded like a light day." He shook his head, completely transfixed by the classroom, not making eye contact at all until he'd done a full turn on the spot to admire his surroundings.

"Mm, sorry for making them think I'd arrested your sister." Johann finally regarded Tappy, and looked to Georgiana and smiled at her. "I suppose you're used to her arresting boys rather than the other way round." He muttered quietly, thinking aloud unfortunately. Ignan gave him a mortified look.

"Happy Birthday all the same, even if it was technically yesterday." He smiled, drawing a dark blue parcel from his coat, containing a first edition of a well loved and respected astronomy author. Funny what things clients occasionally left behind at the Ministry, Johann thought, just glad the book was going to a good home. Tapendra wouldn't know that he'd almost entirely forgotten he'd agreed to come to Hogwarts for this little midnight birthday over two weeks ago, so that he could be permitted to enter without serious questioning from any staff. Vedir had kept him busy again. He'd donate some money into the fountain in the atrium again for allowing himself to forget.

"Mm, sorry for making them think I'd arrested your sister." Johann apologised. Ignan watched his cousin's interest in his surroundings, and unusually, his interest in Georgiana Trishna. Merlin, perhaps Johann did actually notice women as more than fellow human beings? That would be reassuring to his mother, Camille, who was giving up all hope on the thought of her only son getting married, or better, giving her grandchildren. Ignan wondered if she'd actually looked at the son she'd raised, before having such expectations.

"I suppose you're used to her arresting boys rather than the other way round."

Ignan shot Johann a dangerous look. A warning shot across the bows, for sure. Not good to talk about a colleague's daughter like that. Though, he probably meant it as a compliment, Ignan was sure Tapendra was quite sensitive about his sister, if his reaction towards Cyhirae, his own daughter was anything to judge.

"Happy Birthday all the same, even if it was technically yesterday."

Ignan caught Georg's eye and motioned for them to get out the drink, which was bound to take the awkward edge off the situation before Johann made things worse. Reaching into the bag with Georg, he admired the choices. Here was hoping it wasn't lost on Tapendra, and that they could get him to bed later, without him dragging one of them along with him.

"Here, get that down you. I know we're in your classroom, but you needn't stand there looking so awkward now. You're not about to teach us about Mercury, or Merlin forbid, Uranus." He pressed a glass of something that smelled strong onto Tapendra.

"Don't delay, young Trishna, not putting my career on the line for you to stand there and gawp at us all," Ignan teased Georgiana.

"I suppose you're used to her arresting boys rather than the other way round."

Tapendra's expression went carefully poker faced. Johann was right, of course - but he didn't really want to discuss the difference in morals between himself and his sister tonight. He let it slide and smiled easily instead. "Thank you, Johann."

Any annoyance he may have felt at Johann was tempered largely because he was distracted by Ignan, however. He did his level best not to give him a look like a fish out of water. The clinking of bottles was a welcome sound, he had to admit, and he hoped that explained some Ignan's, well...cheerfulness. It was odd to see Ignan seem cheerful without wanting to attach the word 'fiendish' to it, too.

"Ignan? Are you alright?" he asked, finally. He did follow Ignan's request and relaxed, visibly. Drawing his wand again, he started changing the windows - from the dreary Mercury to the bright blue of the Pleiades. The globe just got turned off.

He took the glass from Ignan and eyed it for a moment before he shrugged and downed it with impressive speed. "I think I've had enough of Mercury for one night, anyhow," he said, mostly to himself.

"Ignan? Are you alright?" Tapendra asked, and Ignan purposely ignored him. He was instead glad to see Tapendra down his first drink swiftly.
"I think I've had enough of Mercury for one night, anyhow,"

"Good." Ignan replied firmly, drawing to one of the windows to see the effect Tapendra had set upon them with interest, his glass in his hand. "Do you remember the Astronomy classes at Durmstrang, Georg?" He asked, eyes still regarding the windows, hand swirling the glass thoughtfully. "Dreadful in comparison to this." Ignan expressed his own opinion and turned back.

Johann caught Tapendra's eye and shrugged, acknowledging the fact the older wizard was acting a little out of character that evening. Settling in one of the seats in the front row with his own drink, he leaned back, and stared past Ignan at the constellation outside.

"Do you remember the Astronomy classes at Durmstrang, Georg?" Ignan asked, facing the wrong way, his voice fainter but still unusually brusque. Johann's eyes slid from his older cousin to the man that Johann now understood - not to any depth yet - was an old friend, and knew exactly what Ignan had been up to during the time he spoke very little about to the family these days. Johann hoped Georg would be more forthcoming with the stories of their travels, a decade or two before Johann's own ones.
 
"Dreadful in comparison to this." Ignan declared, and turned away from the window.
"Oh, I don't know." Johann replied smoothly, "I kept up with it, but I didn't value knocking people about quite so much as you did." He meant Ignan and the fact he became an auror in Germany, and now taught students how to curse, hex, jinx, counter curse and shield amongst other rather physically involved deeds.

Johann looked respectfully to Georg.
"I cannot speak for you of course, Sir. But, forgive me, I suspect I could apply the same to you?" He had been intrigued by Georg in the time they had been in each other's presence this evening. The older man smelt of tobacco, and his mustache not only hid, but gave away ticks to his personality and habits. His accent was not so unsimilar to Johann's own native one.

Remembering the younger member of the gathering was still present, Johann turned his keen eyes to Georgiana.
"Do you follow your brother's interest in the heavens?" He asked her softly, his gaze lingering. "Or are you more of the hexing type?"

"I slept through most of my astronomy courses, when I had the chance to," Georg admitted, finding himself a seat on one of the two couches and stroking the fire up with his wand. He was still retrieving bottles.

"Have to admit having them indoors would have been nice - freezing your bullocks off on the castle walls didn't endear me to the subject, much..." He grinned. "Though from what the students say, this class is just as dull despite the nice decor." He ignored the vaguely hurt look that flickered across Tapendra's features and worked the cork out of a bottle of fire whiskey.

"I cannot speak for you of course, Sir. But, forgive me, I suspect I could apply the same to you?"

He shot Johann a momentary thoughtful look. "Somewhat, somewhat. I consider myself a scholar, I just prefer my research to be...hands-on." He hadn't gotten himself a Warlock title for nothing.  "I say, Ignan, if this drink is what's resulted in your good mood, you'll have to make sure none of us have some. If it can get you smiling it'll probably kill the rest of us."

"Do you follow your brother's interest in the heavens?" Johann asked Georgiana softly, his gaze lingering. "Or are you more of the hexing type?"

The lingering gaze - whatever it might really mean - earned Johann a sharp look and an almost uncharacteristic narrowing of the eyes from Tapendra. "She's more the hexing type," he said, clearing his throat pointedly. "Though she's miles ahead of most of the students here, regardless..."

It wasn't that he was angry, persay; if shown a list of possible suitors for Georgiana, Johann would be one of the least unpleasant. But there was just something about watching her flirt, and something even worse about watching men flirt with her. Deep down he knew she could take care of herself - her early life had cemented that as important in her mind, he was sure - but he couldn't help but feel instantly protective.

That, and he got the vague urge to throw her suitors out of windows. He'd rather not do that to Ignan's nephew, but if it came down to it-

Ignan and Georg seemed content to ignore Johann - though the thought that Johann wasn't flirting with his sister never crossed Tapendra's mind - and Tappy couldn't help piping up.

"Most of that starcharting is nonsense, honestly," He said, tone lighter. "No one uses it anymore - no one teaches these kids any useful science. I ended up paying more attention to my friends in school - they knew more about real Astronomy than the teacher did..."

"She's more the hexing type. Though she's miles ahead of most of the students here, regardless..."

Tapendra replied for Georgiana, and Johann turned his head to her older brother. His reasons had been to engage Georgiana in the conversation, but looking at Tapendra now, Johann suddenly wondered if his interest was being interpreted as something worse, given the look Ignan had given him moments before.

"That's very complimentary." He replied respectfully, with a nod.

"Most of that starcharting is nonsense, honestly. No one uses it anymore - no one teaches these kids any useful science. I ended up paying more attention to my friends in school - they knew more about real Astronomy than the teacher did..." Tapendra explained.

"Its more the application of patience and accuracy, is it not?" Johann asked in response, leaning forwards suddenly, as if he was a student in Tapendra's class, and placed his elbows on the desktop, resting his chin on his laced fingers. "No one apart from true seers really uses anything in Divination, yet any half observant person could cobble together a reading for you without any inner eye." Johann added as a suggestion. He had never been keen on seers, or those who claimed to have the inner eye. Gave him the shivers at the thought of being able to foresee usually terrible events.

"Even I can foresee that Ignan's unusually pleasant demeanor this evening is not only driven by the wish to celebrate your birthday as a dear friend, but also the fact that Georg has a wide selection of liquor with him, not that you are able to drink it in any measure given certain responsibilities," he meant Georgiana's presence, which would mean they'd have to remain sober enough to think rationally in their professional capacities as teachers until they could escort her back to her dormitory, which Johann understood to be multiple floors below them.

"... And the fact he smugly thinks he's procured a rather suitable birthday gift for you." Johann raised his eyebrows briefly at Ignan as if to say so there and looked to Tapendra.

Ignan gave a nod in agreement to Tapendra's comment about Georgiana being ahead of her counterparts. That was one of the reasons he was particularly pleased she had sought him out earlier to discuss a little private tuition. Nothing to worry Tapendra about at this stage, like any parent. At the age he was, and in his position, Georgiana wasn't going to be attempting to flirt with him, even if she was attempting to with Johann, somewhat fruitlessly, even though Ignan's younger cousin was obliging by asking her polite, including questions.

"Most of that starcharting is nonsense, honestly. No one uses it anymore - no one teaches these kids any useful science. I ended up paying more attention to my friends in school - they knew more about real Astronomy than the teacher did..." Tapendra explained, referring to their discussion of his class.

"Its more the application of patience and accuracy, is it not?" Johann switched his interest to Tapendra with the curious intent of a lion watching a herd of antelopes to pick its dinner. Ignan recognised it as the look where the conversation could either go in agreement with Tapendra, or he'd purposely play the other opinion to draw debate out of Ignan's colleague. Perhaps it had been a bad idea to invite him.

Crossing the room to the lines of bottles, he took a seat beside Georg, and picked up one to examine and unstopper for a sniff.
"Not bad..." he murmured, enjoying the sniff.

"Even I can foresee that Ignan's unusually pleasant demeanor this evening is not only driven by the wish to celebrate your birthday as a dear friend, but also the fact that Georg has a wide selection of liquor with him, not that you are able to drink it in any measure given certain responsibilities," He was right of course, damn him.

"... And the fact he smugly thinks he's procured a rather suitable birthday gift for you." Bottle still in hand, Ignan met Johann's look of raised eyebrows.
"I haven't forgotten about it, if that's what you're implying." Ignan replied much more sourly, and rather more his usual self.

Placing the bottle back down, he reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a crisp envelope with Tapendra's name on the front in Ignan's handwriting. Within was a letter from a well respected wizarding photographer based in Diagon Alley, agreeing that the appropriate sum of money had been pledged by Ignan at their shop to cover an album of photographs for Tapendra, Cyhirae and Georgiana, which would be taken at their next convenience, as long as it was before November that year.

He had originally considered someone to paint them all, but paintings of oneself were often considered morbid, given their connections with retaining a wizard's imprint after death. Photographs, and including the two family members closest to his colleague was a reminder that family was important, and recording the current time of his life, considering Tapendra's usually optimistic outlook, couldn't be all that bad.

"Here, happy birthday." He stood enough to reach the envelope to Tapendra.