The evenings were gradually becoming milder. Enough at least for the hardier European types such as Ignan and Demitria were happy to spend their time outside on an evening as the sun dipped.

Walking through the gardens outside the castle, not far from the greenhouses, but making their way slowly into the increasing shadows, student and Professor were once again spending time, a little less reluctantly than the first time they had met, unsure of how they felt about each other.

"I could only tell you half a dozen or so of these herbs," Ignan remarked to Demitria as they walked side by side, her smaller, slender form looking all the more fragile beside his strong shoulders beneath a cloak.

He stooped momentarily to pinch a clipping of mint, offering her a pick of the leaves before stripping some himself, good for the stomach, and the breath, not that he felt worried by it. The gesture was one of solidarity instead, where Muggles might share chewing gum or peppermints.

"How are things, Demitria? Have you spoken with Landis yet about your career options?" He asked, slipping his hands into his cloak pockets after tossing the stem of the mint away.

Demitria had gone quickly back to her dorm to change before her meeting with her DADA Professor. Even though the Spring was getting milder and she no longer needed to dress like a Siberian to walk outside, the skirt that she had with her uniform was not practical.

It was early evening by the time that she made it outside to meet him. The Slytherin always felt small, but it seemed as if fate always placed her with the tallest people. Both Professors Ignan and Trishna, Xavier, Leon, and countless others were over six feet tall. It wasn't fair. She smiled. She'd learn to deal with it. She chuckled slightly at the older man when he confessed knowing but 6 herbs in the greenhouses. "By no means do I know all of the plants or herbs, but I know most of them. And even the ones I don't know are still friendly. Except the Mandrakes. Nasty things."

She accepted the sprig of mint with a nod. She and Ignan were not close by any stretch of the imagination, but they enjoyed the company. Strellie knew that she enjoyed the company of older people because she liked learning. She shook her head. "No, he hasn't. Keeping up with all of Slytherins is no mean task, as you probably know."

"True, he does very well to manage you all and the books." Ignan shrugged as they set off again at a steady pace down the paths between the planted beds.
"I wouldn't manage a house full of you all." He smirked, "I don't think I could stomach the first years any more than I have to."

It was lies really, he'd become rather fond of the first years, for their amazement at simple magic (which was almost gone now) and their odd personalities. They'd change as they grew up, and next year he'd have more new faces to deal with - if he was still here. The thought of the weekend visit with Tapendra to the Ministry was at the back of his mind constantly.

"I would bet that quite a lot of your classmates will have no idea what they want to do with their lives after they leave here. Why should you?" He drew a hand from a pocket and gestured with it palm uppermost, "You've got your whole lives to work it out."

They walked a few paces and he turned slightly her way,
"This might sound odd, given we're not exactly fluid at conversation on the best of days, but you seem a little thoughtful this evening. Have you to be somewhere else?" 

Demitria smirked slightly. Her entire life... It was an interesting concept for the girl. She often liked to think about the rest of her life, but her life span at the moment seemed shorter than normal. Under current circumstances, it would be wonderful to stay in school forever.

Oh dear. Even her Professor had picked up on her inner turmoil.It was embarrassing to be read so openly. It wounded her Slytherin pride. Ah well...

"There's a lot going on right now. You see, my brother is getting married in the second week of May and OWLS are coming up. Although, I'm just thinking about my birthday. It's tomorrow, technically tonight." Well, it wasn't completey a lie. She was thinking about her birthday, although it was the issues surrounding her birth that had her preoccupied.

Her hand fell on a small patch of basil. If one was to look closely, the leaves were wiggling to receive a loving stroke from the plant witch's slender hand

"There's a lot going on right now. You see, my brother is getting married in the second week of May and OWLS are coming up. Although, I'm just thinking about my birthday. It's tomorrow, technically tonight."

Ignan was surprised, and his expression indicated such for a moment.
"Congratulations to your brother, and a very happy birthday to you. Forgive me, I probably should have known that." He looked apologetically down at her as she ran her hand through the branches of the sage beside her, the smell filling the air.

"Not much fun to spend your evening ahead of your birthday with a relative many times your age, or are there plans afoot in the Slytherin house you are purposely avoiding so as not to spoil a surprise?" He smirked, albeit kindly for his usual style.

"We don't have to do this, you realise, Demitria...?" He suggested, concerned that the witch was only meeting him out of politeness and because she had been requested to by the rest of her family.

Demitra took her hand off the sage. "Thank you sir, and its not a problem at all, Professor, not at all.  I don't have anything planned. At least not at the moment. I may just go back and practice piano a bit." Her thoughts flew to Leon. She hoped he would come by the Room of Requirement if she actually did go. It was always fun when they practiced together.

"Honestly, I'm not really in the mood for a party. I'd rather be here." She chuckled. "I don't mind being here with you. I love my girls, but sometimes, being around a whole gaggle of snobs can get old. I'm probably the smartest one there, so some intelligent conversations help my conversation deprived brain." She smirked.

"Honestly, I'm not really in the mood for a party. I'd rather be here. I don't mind being here with you. I love my girls, but sometimes, being around a whole gaggle of snobs can get old. I'm probably the smartest one there, so some intelligent conversations help my conversation deprived brain."

"Ha!" Ignan hooted, raising his head and looking amused for a fleeting moment. "Fair enough. Though I'm more flattered to be chosen over the piano, in truth." He turned his gaze to his younger companion a moment "You must let me know if you would ever entertain an impromptu audience."

The conversation a little awkward as ever, the two of them thoughtful, but respecting of each other,
"You'll be missing your brother's wedding?" He asked, "A great family gathering, no doubt?"

Demitria smiled up at her Pofessor before turning back to the various plants infront of her. There were a few dying blossoms on the plants. Her long piano fingers quickly began breaking off the various dead buds to let the plants have some more light. "I would love to have you, sir. It's been quite a few years since I've entertained anyone except myself. I fear my preformance skills are rather rusty."

When Storm asked about her brother's wedding, Demitria tensed. Her face became rather passive, with only a slight scowl turning down a corner. "I wish I was," she scoffed. She had moved on to another row of flowers, seeing little weeds beginning to grow around the edges of their pots. Instead of taking out her wand, she pulled them out manually, not caring that she was getting dirt under her perfectly manicured fingernails.

"It's on the 16th of May, a Saturday, so my mother is pretty much demanding my presence. It would be travesty of highest degree if I did not attend." The sarcasm in the Russian girl's voice was heavy, making her accent more pronounced. "And yes. It seems like the entire Ukranian community, most of Lithuania, and a significant portion of England is attending. I don't know most of them. I'm limited to my relatives and old friends from Russia." Vaugely she wondered if the Grummans would be attending... most likely. By Merlin it would be awkward, especially if Arturo was there. She had no clue whether she was still betrothed to him or not... 

"It's on the 16th of May, a Saturday, so my mother is pretty much demanding my presence. It would be travesty of highest degree if I did not attend." It wasn't hard to hear the sarcasm, and he peered down at her curiously, his hands knotted behind his back as they walked.

"And yes. It seems like the entire Ukranian community, most of Lithuania, and a significant portion of England is attending. I don't know most of them. I'm limited to my relatives and old friends from Russia."

"Of course it would be a travesty, you are a daughter of beauty, brains and skill. There is undoubtedly a waiting list to dance with you." It sounded like sarcasm, but only to save her of blushes. "I know well how these things work, Demitria, though I was the other side of them at your age and into my twenties. The trick is to move far away, but as the years go on, you'll return for more of the sadder celebrations - funerals and so on. Then you'll hope for a wedding, to headcount and see who to cull next." An almost mischievous expression crossed his features, "Just a well timed door slam, rug not charmed down... the whole family breathes a sigh of relief."

Looking up and studying the taller branches around them, he added,
"Think about it while you're there, I guarantee it'll make it a little bearable."