Hogwarts: Staircase, early evening

[fortunatestory.livejournal.com]

If anyone's walking around the castle in the early evening, they might come across Rhys, sitting in a lovely squishy armchair on a staircase landing and sipping a cup of tea. There's an empty portrait frame next to him- if you're fast, you might notice a flurry of movement across the other paintings nearby. The girl in the picture's shy, you see.

And you've interrupted their chat. How rude.

Comments

[reincarnshaman.livejournal.com]

Trever steals a tart with a whisp of his wand. "Because they're so much different than ours," he says, chewing on it.

[fortunatestory.livejournal.com]

"I don't mind reassuring them. Helping them realize that muggles aren't always as different as they think is as important as helping them understand the ways that they are different." Rhys does not comment on the stolen tart. It's quite all right.

[reincarnshaman.livejournal.com]

"Kale thinks there should be a way to get magic and muggle technology to work together. He's always trying to do that... tends to blow up in his face."

[fortunatestory.livejournal.com]

"Well, that's not impossible. I knew some Americans who were quite good at it- of course, they're all about technology over there, at least the muggles. It's quite understandable that some of it would infect the witches and wizards, too."

[reincarnshaman.livejournal.com]

"It would be nicer if it could work here, on campus."

[fortunatestory.livejournal.com]

"Oh, well, Hogwarts likes its traditions and its antique air." He pats the wall next to him fondly. "I can't quite blame it."

[reincarnshaman.livejournal.com]

"And they're not bad things either, but there are more muggles around than wizards, it's bad that we can't openly acknowledge our existence."

[fortunatestory.livejournal.com]

"I can't imagine Hogwarts with technology about." He actually shudders a bit. "Technology's lovely- it really is. If I didn't think it was, I wouldn't be teaching Muggle Studies. I just don't think it belongs in Hogwarts at all. What would be the point? There's more to being a Muggleborn than your strange devices."

[reincarnshaman.livejournal.com]

"I am not muggleborn, but my family has always lived with muggles. My father's part of Irish government," he snaps briefly before calming himself down. "He talked about creating a school for muggles and magical folk alike."

[fortunatestory.livejournal.com]

"My apologies for assuming." Rhys takes a sip of tea, looking thoughtful. "I am torn on that matter- I am uncertain whether the split between magic and muggles is necessary, but I know how muggles would react to magic."

[reincarnshaman.livejournal.com]

"And that is what eventually stops my father. He's a man of peace. The last war here hurt him badly - not physically - but in his heart."

He remembers coming home after the Battle of Hogwarts to see his father looking like he'd aged thirty years. He never once raised his wand in combat though he never minded his sons learning it.

[fortunatestory.livejournal.com]

"I should have been here." He hadn't heard about the troubles in England until it was too late- one of the curses of being separated from the magical community so often.

[reincarnshaman.livejournal.com]

"We did all right. I can say I still have some nightmares of that night."

[fortunatestory.livejournal.com]

"I'm sorry. War is hell."

[reincarnshaman.livejournal.com]

"I was... fifteen." He shakes it off and smiles a little as Veena tries to ooze into Rhys' lap.