Afternoons <>OPEN<>

[Alexander Tate]

Being at Durmstrang wasn't just about ones magical capability, it was about keeping fit and if a student wasn't on a quidditch team he would be undergoing a fitness class what was on every Monday and Friday. Durmstrang had shown off their abilities when the Tri-wizard tournament was re-opened and Hogwarts was the first year to host. It was thanks to the training at Durmstrang that helped Alex escape with his life that night. His brother never put in any effort and his sister had attended at Beauxbatons so she never underwent the same teachings.

Alex stood looking out at the lake, it was only just around 4pm and it seemed warm for an English summer day. Wearing a black loose shirt and matching black slacks he felt rather warm. A towel around his neck as he had been thinking about swiming. However that involved stripping down and he wasn't sure is any students were around. He wasn't one to show off his torso, infact he much rather have it covered up thanks to the scar he had.

Absent mindedly he reached up and ran his fingers over his shirt where his scar was. Those memories were still fresh in his mind of what happened but it didn't change him much. He remained the same fun loving guy who liked to pull pranks on his students. It made his class interesting as no one knew who he would pick for the prank of the day. He couldn't wait for his next lesson he already had someone in mind and already guessed his reaction.

Taking a deep breath he began walking around the edge of the lake, perhaps he would get a chance when the week end came along and the students were away. So instead he broke out into a steady jog, he had to do something to pass the time before dinner was to be served and stock take wasn't on his list at the moment.

[Jakatra Lenox (HM)]

Jakatra had been coped up in the Headmistress Office for almost all day long. From dawn to dusk, she had been up there, rumaging through Ministry letters, to student records and then other things that had been sent up to her office before the school year started. She sighed heavily as she set down her quill and began rubbing her temples and eyes. She didn't know how her mother had handled it but if her mother could do it, so could her. She looked out the large window and smiled. The sun was close to setting and she had not been outside to enjoy this magificent weather. She slowly got to her feet and stretched, leaving her cat curled up in the chair, next to the roaring fire. Jakatra strolled out the door, closing it behind her. Going down the staircase and out of the eagle that was the entrance to her office.

She began to stroll down the corridor from her office, gazing at the portraits one by one. She stopped at a specific portrait that was wrapped in a silver-goldish frame. The woman stood quite tall, wrapped in dark red dress, with a golden bracelet like item wrapped around her right arm, with a silver serpent on it, aligned with emeralds. She had flowing black hair, silver eyes, and tan skin. She had dark red lips, that creased into a smirk, then into a smile. Jakatra knew who this was. This was her mother; Syria Jakatra Lenox; a former Headmistress; who had died during the finally battle with Lord Voldemort. She had died doing what she thought was right, and in Jakatra's mind, she knew she did. Jakatra continued to smile up at the smirking and then smiling Syria. "I won't let you down mother, I promise." She spoke as she smiled up at her mother, before she continued down the deserted corridor. She walked onto the moving stair cases down towards the main floor. There she walked a few more feet, across the marble floor and out the grand entrance doors and out into the setting sun.

She took a deep breath in, letting the autumn air filled her lungs with fresh air, Her long dark hair flowed past her shoulders and into the wind. She loved the outdoors, and enjoyed the wilderness of the creatures that sometimes appeared on the grounds of Hogwarts. She had been a student here back in the days when Potter and his gang were; though she looked much younger than that, it was indeed true. She took a step forwards and began walking along the stoney pathway that curved along the grounds of Hogwarts. She had felt every stone underneath her bare feet. She then walked onto the grass across to the Black lake. There she sat down underneath a tree where she leaned up against the trunk; and began to gaze heavily outward at the setting sun, that casted it's orange rays onto the dark water.

[Alexander Tate]

As Alex started jogging his eyes were focused on the ground, he was in deep thought. His mind was wondering where the two vampires he had been chasing went to. The trail went cold the moment he arrived in England, that only meant one thing, someone was keeping them safe. The idea that someone was housing these two rose Alex's temper us slightly. He knew he was bent on revenge and it was hard to stay the same person he had been before, however he was trying and that was the main thing. He had been asked about his scar and told a white lie that it had been his ex. He had turned it into a practical joke to keep people from knowing the truth. Lucky for Alex he hadn't had anything to drink which meant his secret was safe for the time being. Though it wouldn't be long until he would have one and more then likely turn up to class with a hang over, that wouldn't sit well with the head mistress.

Finally his gaze rose from the ground and he was looking ahead. He could only just make out that someone up was ahead, a slight frown appeared and he quickened his pace. At first he thought it was a student and wondered if they were alright. As he began to get closer he realised it was the headmistress. Alex was a little worried, she was sitting by herself under the tree just looking out onto the lake and wondered if anything was wrong. He had a soft spot when it came to see a woman in distress and seeing she was his employer he wanted to help.

"Miss Lenox!" Alex called out his Italian accent noticable compared to the British one that everyone else seemed to have. When he was a few meters away he slowed down his pace. By the time he got to her his pace had completely stopped, standing in front of her it was easy to see the concern in his eyes.
"Is everything alright Miss Lenox?" Alex asked as he grabbed his towel to wipe away the sweet that had formed on his face.

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[Jakatra Lenox (HM)]

Jakatra had been sitting there, getting lost in thoughts that seem to juggle with her mind. She remembered her mother, wondering who her father may be, and if what her mother did was the right thing. A lot of things had wander to her mind constantly. She had been only a teenager when her mother had passed, only to die in her arms. She had been beautiful, the last time Jakatra had remembered her. She sighed as she closed her eyes, in order to concentrate on the thoughts that race through her mind.

It was only the sound of another's voice that distrubed her from the string of thoughts. She opened her eyes and darted them towards a young man, standing before her. "Oh, Hello Mr, Tate, how are you doing today?' She asked, before catching the questions he asked her. She recongized the soft italian accent Alexander Tate had. Jakatra shrugged. "Nothing much, just remembering things from the past." She said.

[Alexander Tate]

Hearing her voice gave him some comfort. She didn't sound as though she was upset or depressed which eased Alex's thoughts a little. The frown had now faded away and it was replaced with a small smile, dimples formed on his cheeks right next to his scar. Kneeling down on one knee, he wiped his forehead once again.

"Rather well Miss Lenox, just passing time before dinner." For someone who was Italy his English was rather well, he had taken classes for english when he was at Durmstrang. As his hazel orbs came up to meet Jakatra's darker ones his smile only grew. She was indeed a few years older then him but she didn't look the part, age had definatly been kind to the headmistress and not to kind to him. The scar made him look a little rough and his age showed and some mistook him to be in his late forties because of it.
"To be honest Miss Lenox I was a little worried, it looked like something was troubling you." Alex owned up to why he had interupted her thoughts, remembering the past could be painful, he knew all too well.

"I hope what you were remembering hasn't hurt you, I'd hate to see those eyes red from tears." Leaning on his knee with his arm his smile widened a little. She would probably think he was trying to hit on her when he was only being honest

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[Jakatra Lenox (HM)]

Jakatra's light lips curled into a small smile. Jakatra usually got caught up in her many thoughts that seem to come and go. Mostly because in her sixth year she was reunited with her mother, and found out her mother had did the best she could to protect her. Most people didn't understand why some parents did what her mother had did. Now that Jakatra had been Headmistress for the past six, seven years now and she had not been as good as her mother yet. Her mother had dealt with the Ministry throwing threats of disthrowing her to someone who knows how to handle things, dealt with the wrath of Voldemort when he had risen to power, and then died in the last battle, for Jakatra and her brother.

Her silver eyes looked up at him. "That sounds like a good idea. It's been a really nice day to do that." Jakatra had to agree. "Really? Was it that noticable?" She aked, wondering if her thoughts had gotten to her facial expressions, getting her that lost and deep within them. "It's all good, some of it bad. The only things that are troubling me are the ones if, my mother had done the right thing and who my father was." She spoke to him.

It was true. Jakatra didn't know who was her father, and her mother had taken that secret to the grave. "You remember a lady by the name of Syria Lenox?" She asked Alexander, wondering if he knew such a lady or heard about her at least. Jakatra had looked down, as she played with her fingers. She looked back up, studying him. She chuckled a bit. "I take it, it's that noticable huh." She replied. When she thought about her mother, it did bring tears to her eyes. Her mother had died in her arms, and yet she didn't know that much about her..only in that one year she got to know as much of her mother. She remembered her being a bit burned from the curse she had preformed on herself, to save her kids.

[Alexander Tate]

Alex nodded to her first question, he had noticed it. Jakatra had the same look his sister use to get and being around her for as long as he did he picked up on it quickly. As Jakatra began explaining what was on her mind, he moved to sit down next to her. One leg straight while the other was bent, his arms resting on his knee. Head turned to pay attention to what she had to say, her mind was full of questions ones that it seemed could only be answered by her mother.
When asked anout Syria Lenox, Alex had to take a moment to think. Obviously it was her mother, just from the last name but as Alex thoguht a few memories came back. She was the headmistress of Hogwarts quiet a few years ago, she had battled to save those precious to her and even though she lost her life the wizarding world were indebted to her.

"I remember her, She saved the wizarding world from the Dark Lords second rising. Durmstrang honours her memory and every year we have a moment of silence." It would probably be news to Jakatra as Durmstrang never made it public. It was just their way of saying thanks and as far as he could remember it still went on even today.

"Maybe there was a reason why she never told you, as the saying goes....Alcuni dicono che loro continuerebbe piuttosto non sapendo, gli altri dicono che loro non può vivere a meno che sanno. Nella fine il suo un cerchio vizioso." Alex purposely said in Italian, a grin appeared after he had said it. Knowing full well it was going to confuse Jakatra as he hadn't heard her speak Italian. He waited another moment before translating it for her.

"Some say they would rather go on not knowing, others say they can't live unless they do know. In the end its a vicious circle." Maybe he was being a little too deep, but the situation seemed valid for it.

[Jakatra Lenox (HM)]

She couldn't help but to smile. It was comforting to know that sometimes there was always a person willing enough to listen. Though not many had been nice to her as much as Alexander had been. She was made fun of, because of the way she talked or the way she dressed. She had dressed like her mother had when she first came to Hogwarts. It was her mother who had made her feel welcomed. She allowed her children to take the standard test to see what year they would be in and allowed them to be sorted. She was never made fun of being the Headmistress daughter, mostly because Syria had been stricted and never gave anyone any different treatment. She taught them the same, taught them how they should be taught. She reigned for a while as Headmistress and got even a fancy portrait up next to Dumbledore's.

Jakatra smiled. "Do they really?" She asked. "Yup that was her. I've heard other stories about her. How she mingled with the Dark Lord; and had been this powerful Dark Lordess and a couple years later; she turned to the good side, even became a Professor. That's around the time me and Dhaka; my twin brother were born, but other than that. That's all I heard of." She said feeling a bit better knowing that some people gave her mother respect for what she had done.

She lifted an eyebrow up at him, not knowing what he had said, then nodded. "That was beautiful.' She said. "Though I don't know. I guess apart of me wants to know who he was, what he did. Wondering if he was still alive." She said. "What about your parents if you don't mind me asking?" She asked, wondering about Alexander's parents.

[Alexander Tate]

"Of course, she sacrificed a lot. Anyone who doesn't should be stripped of the title of wizard or witch. Defeating him wasn't a small feat." Alex spoke softly, he had indeed noticed her smile and was more then happy to lend a listening ear. It wasn't just because Jakatra was his employer, she was a fellow professor and if one of them had a bad day then they all had a bad day. It was what his father had told him and had lived by it for quiet some time. When Jakatra went into detail about her mother he was learning a few things he had never been told. If what she was saying was true then there was nothing wrong with it, she might have been once in fovour of the dark lord but she turned that against him. To Alex it didn't matter what she might have done, she was still have his respect.

"My folks? My father is a professor at Durmstrang, teaching Legilimency to the senior years. My mother is a Healer and works in a hospital over in Venice, sometimes she will go to the school when a situation arises." Alex explained, his father had been the one to teach him Legilimency and his father's best friend taught Occlumency. He had excelled at both however found potions to be of his foretay and yet he didn't like cooking that much.
"You shouldn't worry about your mother it doesn't matter about who she was before she defeated the dark lord. If you love her and have fond memories thats all you need, for if you keep living in the past....you won't get much further in life." He had paused half was through, he was telling her one thing and yet he was doing the same thing. He wanted revenge for what happened nearly a year ago now and yet he wasn't taking his own advice. Maybe once it was over he would move on but until that day Hogwarts was just a small stop on the way.

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[Jakatra Lenox (HM)]

Jakatra smiled and chuckled. "Well not many people were nice to my mother, mostly because of what she had done in her earlier years." She spoke. It was weird. She felt really open with Alex for some reason. Even though she was outgoing, she hardly was open to anything personal, such as her mother. She chuckled. "No it wasn't. From what I had heard, back in the early fifties, to the late seventies, he was considered to be the most powerful Dark Lord that the Wizarding World had ever seen. Then once again back in 1994 he rose up again, and continued where he left off." She said to him, remembering her mother telling her about the Dark ages.

"Ahh.." She said. "That's why you asked if you could teach Occlumency and Legilimency." she said, wondering why he wanted to teach that class, after he had gotten the post as the Potions master. Jakatra thought it was a good idea to teach the students something new, but have it open for those who wish to take it. Jaktatra still thought about her mother. Mostly from all the burns a curse can do to one person. She had to split her soul into two pieces in order to bring her and her twin brother back to life. Jakatra looked at Alex. She had noticed the scar on his face. She really didn't want to ask him about it, mostly because it was something you usually don't ask someone unless they bring it up. "So how was your day today Alex?" She asked him.

[Alexander Tate]

"There skills that come in handy..." Handy indeed, Alex had been using it to get some of his information however now he had no leads to get information. If anything Alex was glad he was able to get a teaching position, he had missed it deeply. He was glad Jakatra was letting him teach the way he was use to, for not once had anyone complain that his class was boring. He kept it thriving by interacting with the students. Giving them some freedom when they were working or had completed their tasks for the day.

"Its been interesting, they seemed a little shocked when I pulled a prank on one student. I don't think they were expecting a potions professor to be laid back." He could still see their shocked faces when he had given one student the wrong ingrediants, making the concocsion bubble over and onto the student. He had warned them that he would be pulling the odd prank but no one took heed until today.

"You won't get any complaints from my class I don't think. But how was yours Miss Lenox?" Even though she had called him Alex he still kept calling Miss Lenox, a sign on respect on his behalf. However if she asked him to call her Jakatra then he would oblige. He noticed that she had seen his scar, he hadn't said anything in the interview about it but people were curious by nature. "Don't worry about this..." He said pointing to his scar, showing off another grin. "...My Ex, she was a little crazy..." A little white lie couldn't hurt, as he didn't want pity or sympathy for what happened. He was going to deal with it his own way and in his own time, inbetween however bending the truth wasn't going to hurt anyone.

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[Jakatra Lenox (HM)]

During summer break, Jakatra knew she needed to hire a full new staff since the others were getting old and she actually gave Binns a retirement since he had been teaching for a long, long time. Jakatra had been stressful over summer since she was getting owls from the Ministry, from concerned parents, and just a bunch of other things. She was finally glad that was over with.

Jakatra laughed. "Yeah, Professor Snape, who had been the previous potions master I've heard was a tight arse. Always finding ways of getting the other houses to losing points rather than his house; which was indeed Slytherin. Then Professor Slughorn, he as I remember from the other students was Lockhart in fifty years. He had been the professor before you." She reassured him. "But you know that you have to give them the correct ingrediants at the end..just so that I won't get a bunch of angry parents." She said laughing, as she played with a blade of grass.

She chuckled. "Well I hope not. Then the flock of Owls will come from parents telling me I should have been wiser at picking my staff members." She said looking at him with her silver gray eyes. She shrugged her shoulders. "Could have been better. Stressful since it's another year and with some of the disappearences happening. I'm starting to get letters from parents already." She spoke. "That's why I wish sometimes my mother was here. She would have known what to do." Jakatra said. She chuckled. "Well I didn't want to stare or ask about your scar. Looks more of a were wolf scratch." She said.[/center]