Professor K-J, are you there? on Cascade Hall

Jade Owen

June 12, 2013 5:29 AM

Professor K-J, are you there? by Jade Owen

The Headmistress' office was not normally the sort of place a Pecari such as Jade ought to seek out, yet here she was, surrounded by an array of peculiar plants, knocking on the door. If she had been pressed to predict why she might, rhetorically, end up visiting the Headmistress in her office, Jade would have guessed that she'd have been summoned for disciplinary action. She wasn't naughty intentionally, but, for one reason or another, the fifth year did seem to get herself into trouble. Her grades were low, not because she was especially slow, but simply because the activities that she chose to follow in her free time were invariably more interesting than the contents of her class assignments. Plus she got distracted easily. Plus she was forgetful. Plus she was lazy.

Neglecting her schoolwork was just one of the reasons she might have been called to see the Headmistress. Another reason might have been her propensity for setting her dormitory on fire; during each of the previous four years, Jade had managed to cause at least one small fire in the Pecari commons. None of the ignitioons had been planned, but were more often due to a spell going awry, yet Jade didn't think staff would care about the reason behind her actions if she were to accidentally burn down the school.

Then there was her argumentative attitude, her lack of respect for authority, her lack of respectfor others' property, her tardiness, and her general appearance that hollered lack of finesse. All in all, when she considered hervarious short-comings, Jade was surprised that she hadn't ended up in this office before, and yet, she was here entirely of her own volition. She raised her hand, knocked on the door three times, and waited to be admitted entry.

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Headmistress Kijewski-Jareau

June 13, 2013 7:43 PM

Where else would I be? by Headmistress Kijewski-Jareau

Kiva had been consumed with keeping up with all the correspondence with the Administration. On top of that, Chloe kept coming for visits whenever she was bored and thought Kiva was missing them. It was cute and sweet, but sometimes Kiva actually was busy and couldn’t indulge Chloe with playing around. With a new Muggle Studies professor and no Librarian, Kiva was short handed in a place where an adult was needed and an adult in a field that half the school wouldn’t be caught dead taking. It was not the easiest starts of the year, but so far things were progressing, so she couldn’t really let herself feel too overwhelmed with it all.

A knock on the door had Kiva look up from the mountain of paperwork on her desk. If anyone ever said that this was a luxury job, she would curse them. There was never end in sight. Even her summers were busy with filling what positions she could, sending out noticing to new students, meeting with the school representatives after they’ve returned from speaking with Muggleborns, on top of filling out more paperwork and answering parents’ owls. As much as she could claim it was rewarding, no one really took to heart everything that she and others in her position did.

“Yes?” She called out, pulling the plant vine to release the door and allow the visitor entrance. “Oh, Ms. Owen, how can I help you?” She couldn’t recall ever seeing the fifth year in her office before, nor could she remember any staff indicating that she would need to have her in her presence. So, that meant that Jade needed something from her. “Please have a seat.”

6 Headmistress Kijewski-Jareau Where else would I be? 0 Headmistress Kijewski-Jareau 0 5

Jade

June 14, 2013 10:25 AM

How would I know? by Jade

Upon gainig entry, Jade progressed through the doorway and took a quick glance around the office, taking in her surroundings before sitting in the seat that was offered. "Hello, Headmistress," Jade greeted, for once wearing her uniform robes as they had been designed to be worn - it was imperative she make a good impression today. She wasn't very good at small talk, and the sheer amount of papers piled on Professor K-J's desk indicated the woman was very busy, so Jade got directly to the point of her visit.

"You might be aware that I have been running a horse lovers' club for the past two years," she said, "with fairly informal meetings for students to get together to share equine anecdotes, pictures, what have you." While it had started off being fun and informative, there was only so much that could be said about the creatures, even if one shared Jade's passion for them. "I think it would be an excellent activity if the club could be introduced to a more unusual breed. We'd find it both interesting and enjoyable," she smiled, hoping that her idea would at least be considered rather than dismissed instantly.

"I know you don't teach Care of Magical Creatures any more," Jade added, feeling the need to explain her reasoning for not asking the relevant professor, "but I know you have contacts with specialist horse breeders" the fifth year rambled, "plus I figured you'd have to give the final go-ahead anyway, so I came direct to you." That was a tip she had learned at an early age: cut out the middle man.

Having presented her request, there was nothing further Jade could do other than await a verdict. With a hopeful smile, she asked, "So what do you think?"

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Headmistress Kijewski-Jareau

June 15, 2013 7:27 PM

It was more rhetorical than anything. by Headmistress Kijewski-Jareau

Kiva was always a little apprehensive whenever a new person entered her office. It was the side of her that had always feared the judgment of others. Over the years, that part of her had faded as she had grown more confident in herself and in her work, but every once in a while, whenever she saw someone take notice of either herself or of something personal to her, her heart stopped just for a moment in anticipation of the verdict that would come.

She had seen Jade look at her office. Aside from the paperwork on her desk, her office was impeccable. Being a single mother of one for so long and then suddenly a mother of five, she and Jeff had kept their home in clean order. It was the only way to manage it all. She kept that thought process in her office too. Her bookshelves that lined most walls where filled with books that she had throughout her years as a Magizoologist as well as a Professor. Not all of them were specifically about creatures. She had sections on Potions, Charms, and Transfiguration. She was sure there was one on Defense too, somewhere. Pictures of her family were also placed periodically on the shelves, although a family portrait was on her desk. This one was done over the summer, so all of them were present. Aside from the shelves, it was her desk and the visitor chairs that were much like the chairs found in the common rooms. It wasn’t much for personality, but it was homey and that was what she liked about it.

Kiva sat back in her chair while Jade began to talk. She wasn’t really sure what she had been expecting from Jade when she had first seen her on the other side of her office entrance, but she was surprised to find herself being relieved that it only had to do with her horse club. Kiva was aware of all the known clubs in the school. She had needed to make sure they were appropriate and were handled correctly. Most of them had advisors, but she wasn’t sure if Jade’s did. She thought that Professor Meade would have been the most suitable person for the job, but maybe Jade had someone else in mind.

Kiva looked at her inquisitively when she mentioned ‘unusual’ breed. Since Kiva had no way of knowing what breeds Jade had already discussed and this being a Magical School, she had assumed they covered everything already in their meetings. “First, I need more detail as to what it is exactly you are asking of me.” Kiva began, having taking a moment to work over what the young student was presenting her with. “I’m assuming when you mention ‘unusual breeds’ you mean the winged kind.” Kiva questioned, just to confirm they were discussing the same thing. “What exactly are you asking from me? Do you want me to bring various horses to the school for your club to study or where you hoping your club could go on a field trip?” Kiva was sure she could make either of those a reality, but the latter would require more work and parental permissions.

6 Headmistress Kijewski-Jareau It was more rhetorical than anything. 0 Headmistress Kijewski-Jareau 0 5

Jade Owen

June 23, 2013 8:38 AM

I don't really get rhetoric. by Jade Owen

Worse, perhaps, than a definitive 'no', was waiting for any sort of answer altogether. In the very moment that she stopped talking, Jade was eager to have some sort of response; anything would do, as she didn't feel entirely comofrtable in the pristine office of the person with most authority in the school. Jade had issues with authority figures, and she really didn't want to start having one with Professor K-J, so she was hoping to keep this meeting as short as was humanly possibly, at least until Jade got a better bearing of the scenario. Luckily, Prof K-J didn't keep her waiting long at all, speaking after only the briefest of pauses. Furthermore, it wasn't even a rejection of the notion, but a way of garnering further information from the fifth year.

"Winged breeds would be ideal, yes," Jade nodded empathically. Her club had already briefly touched upon everything from Falabellas to Percherons, with everything in between being largely more accessible. Unicorns, of course, had been fawned over in detail, with the younger students hanging on the promise that they may encounter such a creature in their CoMC classes at some stage, but winged horses - of any species - were still largely unattainable. "Though actually miniature breeds would be popular, too." Here she was betting on anything little being cute, and anything cute being appreciated by her group of fellow female fanatics.

"What exactly are you asking from me? Do you want me to bring various horses to the school for your club to study or where you hoping your club could go on a field trip?" the Headmistress asked, and Jade was delighted that the query had been put forward - it meant that there was a possibility of one of them being allowed.

"Either," she replied, her eyes dancing with excited anticipation. "We've only had pictures and stories in the club so far," she reiterated, "and some of the members don't have access to horses of any breed outside of school, so I thought it would be really exciting to arrange some sort of visiting experience. Maybe there could be an information pack or presentation or something about the breed we meet, too," she added thoughtfully.

"A field trip would be super cool," Jade hastened to add, because that really did sound like a wickedly good time, "but even just having a winged horse in the school that we could meet would be awesome." Jade liked her little club, not only because it focussed on one of her favourite things, and not only because it required very little effort on her part to maintain (all she had to do was remember to arrange and advertise meetings from time to time), but also because it created a sort of clique, where even the most prissy pureblood girls didn't mind talking to her about their shared interest.

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Headmistress Kijewski-Jareau

June 24, 2013 6:33 PM

That's alright. by Headmistress Kijewski-Jareau

Kiva knew that the club that would most likely end up being the one who needed help was the Horse Club. She had been anticipating something from the club the moment they were founded. The baking club, she was sure, used ingredients from the kitchens. The Prairie elves were conditioned to always say yes and often wanted to be rewarded, so they would go out of their way to make students happy. If eggs and flour were needed, they would grant that wish. The problem was that it was school money being used in the club and as far as Kiva could recall, it had never been actually requested through her to use school purchased material. However, since they obtained flour, eggs, and most essential ingredients for baking by a truckload, so to speak, she had let it go for now and simply requested inventory status from the Kitchen elves. As long as it was in small doses, it should be fine and not affect their budget for food. If it did, she would have to put a limit on it, or ask for the club to raise money.

This was something she was going to have to do with Jade and her club since she seemed to like the idea of a field trip. Thinking on it now, the only club that wasn’t likely to need money was the book club since they had a library full of books and could owl home for copies of other books they wished to have.

Kiva sat in silence for a moment while she worked out what it was that she could really do for the club. Really, she didn’t see any issue in bringing the animals to the club. Most especially when they could coincide with the lessons for CoMC. The field trip is something entirely different. Those could be pricey. Even with her connections, when she had taken the students to the horse ranch, some of the expense she had paid out of pocket due to budget concerns. The school ran on taxes and donations, but that was all limiting and the cost of running a school ran quite high.

“I could work and coordinate something with Professor Meade so that when horses of any kind, but mainly Winged are being taught that a special time is set aside for your club.” Kiva began, feeling that was at least something to give the girl. “As for field trips, those are costly. If you and your club members are willing to raise some funds to help with part of the costs of a trip, it is something that we could work out. Of course, we would have to obtain parental consent and get an adviser as well as a staff chaperone travel with you.” Kiva explained. There was far more detail in it, but that was something that could be worked out later. “And, if you would prefer something less costly and more attainable, we do have the Mirage Chamber. I could set it up for specific breeds that you wish to discuss for that day.” There were options. If Kiva thought of any additional ones or Jade brought any to the table, it was something more that they could discuss.

0 Headmistress Kijewski-Jareau That's alright. 0 Headmistress Kijewski-Jareau 0 5

Jade

July 08, 2013 4:20 PM

I'm glad you're on my side. by Jade

Jade listened with keen interest (and far more attention than she had ever paid in any classroom) as Professor K-J explained the various options that were open to the club and its members. "If you can co-ordinate with professor Meade," Jade borrowed the Headmistress' phrasing to sound more coherent, "that would be awesome. I mean, I'm guessing some of us at least will meet the creature in class anyway, but it'll be nice to have a more intimate sort of session." Besides, she doubted any of her club members would begrudge having to meet an exciting breed twice; the opposite was far more likely. The point of the horse lovers' club was that its members didn't get tired of horses.

"If we could maybe think about a field trip for next year," Jade said slowly, thinking aloud, "then we could maybe do fundraising activities this year to cover the cost. Does that sound okay?" she checked her idea over for its required approval. "I mean, we'll have more time to prepare if it's next year, plus I should be focusing on my exams this term," she added as an after-thought. She was sure she'd pass everything (well, potions could be a bit hit and miss but Josephine was writing some rhymes to help her remember this rule and that ingredient and the like) and so there was no need for her to work any harder, really, but teachers liked to hear that sort of thing.

"The mirage chamber would be cool, too," Jade commented, although she didn't really know how much work a professor would need to do to get the right sort of set-up. Actually, she didn't know very much about the room at all, and so was reluctant to use it, "but I think sessions with professor Meade and a field trip next year should be plenty for the time being," she said with a satisfied smile. "I can't wait to go and tell the others," she said, standing up in her chair for a moment before sitting back down again. "Oh, do you want me to talk to Professor Meade or will you do that?" the Pecari asked, forgetting her formalities again. Then, once she was sure nothing more was required of her, Jade stood a second time, and said, "Thank you so much for your time, Headmistress." She grinned widely, and stepped form the office with a skip in her step. She was counting the meeting as a success.

0 Jade I'm glad you're on my side. 0 Jade 0 5