Year/Job
POTIONS PROFESSOR
Days Since Something Exploded: 0 |
BLAKE
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Post by Mael Gauthier on Jan 22, 2024 19:03:38 GMT -8
Two years of working here and he still couldn't get used to the cold of the dungeons. He'd give anything to have the Potions classroom moved somewhere with windows. Mael felt like he was trapped in a prison most days. Between classes, he made it a point to sit in the courtyard for fresh air. It was either that or he was going to go stir-crazy. Today had been no different, but now that classes were complete, he had work to do. He typically stayed in the classroom for an hour or so in case students had concerns about coursework or marks. Then he'd disappear into his office and grade papers near the fireplace. Afterward, it was off to dinner and then sleep. A dull routine, but he didn't exactly have much else to do. Occasionally he'd get in new ingredients from colleagues outside the castle walls and dabble with endless possibilities.
Today was one of those special days. He rechecked the potions that his seventh years had brewed earlier in the day; making notes here and there about the quality. Most were exceptional, as to be expected of his NEWT level students, but of course, there were the ones that had come up short. Mistakes were to be expected as well. He wouldn't give them a hard time about it. Nothing had been carelessly added. If anything, they'd come up short. He'd been doing this long enough to recognize the signs. He'd have them review and rebrew tomorrow.
With that out of the way, he could focus on his own stuff. He got to brewing with unwavering concentration. The end goal was always to produce something new and unique. Something that would better the wizarding world. He measured carefully, jotted down notes, and tested the effects before adding them to the brew itself. It was a time of relaxation and simple pleasure. Of course, there was also the possibility of an unexpected reaction, which is exactly what happened. Somehow, he managed not to blow off his arm as the cauldron suddenly went up in flames and exploded, knocking him off the stool he'd been sitting on.
Smoke filled the room, and exited out of the only means of egress, the classroom door. Mael, feeling a bit disoriented crawled on hands and knees to the nearest table and pulled himself up. Covered in potion and soot, he waved his hand, clearing the smoke from his face. "Yet another reason I need windows," he coughed.
Notes: Open to all
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Year/Job
Ancient Runes Professor
rouch
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Post by Nicole Halley on Jan 23, 2024 5:26:30 GMT -8
Ole followed the two Slytherin students down the stairs. She didn't trust them to actually go to Iola's office to explain themselves. There weren't many things she treated with such seriousness. Bullying or taking serious risks were at the top of the list. Sixth year students, Tom Barlow and Emma Hartshorn had managed to attempt both and had the unfortunate luck to be overheard by herself. Ole had been trying to find a book in the library when the whispering in the next aisle caught her attention. The pair were attempting to convince a first year to sneak into the greenhouse and to hug a devil's snare because it would tickle. The first year sounded unconvinced, but the greater concern was that if the pair failed to entice the young Hufflepuff they'd try again with someone else. "Professor Halley, we wouldn't have let him actually touch the plant. We just wanted to see if he would do it," Emma tried to explain, turning her head to make eye contact with her. Trying to see if her story was believable. It wasn't. Ole's eyes narrowed, "You can explain yourself to Professor Walker." She trusted Iola to take the potential threat seriously and could put the fear of Morgana in them. A new ancient runes professor with a muggle education was not going to sufficiently convince them to change their ways. They had barely made it into the dungeons when Ole felt the ground shake under her feet. It brought her back to the moments before she had been separated from Isaac. The ground had shaken just as violently before the world came crashing down. A flash of fear had her looking up, expecting to see rocks tumbling down. She pulled both students behind her while she tried pinpoint the threat. The smell of smoke snapped her out of her remembered trauma and found the source. Something serious had happened in the potion's classroom. "Go get help," Ole instructed, and kept an eye on the pair until they were at a safe distance. Pulling her wand out, she took small breath and ran toward the door. Smoke was billowing out, but she didn't see flames. She worried the fumes could be dangerous. She tried to think of a spell that would help, and nothing was coming immediately to mind. "Hello! Is everyone alright?" she called out, hoping the room was empty and some project had just become unstable while unattended. Note: Iola Walker want to come to the rescue?
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Year/Job
Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor
I had been lost to you, sunlight. And flew like a moth to you, sunlight. |
Animagus
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Post by Iola Walker on Jan 23, 2024 7:56:01 GMT -8
With a heavy sigh, Iola finished grading the last essay. Rory was three inches short and most of his essay was a jumbled mess. A deep frown marred her features as she used her quill to write a large ‘P’ at the bottom of the scroll. She’d have to take him aside later and question him; he was an acceptable student, at least in her class. Iola set aside her quill and picked up her teacup, taking a slow sip. Chili purred beside her, curled up on her desk like she always was. The brunette reached over and stroked the kit’s striped orange fur, humming the soft melody of a song Mam used to sing to her.
Iola was still struggling to come to terms with the fact she had killed her student’s mother and that she had know her fate the entirety of his time at Hogwarts. All those years without any answers when it had always been in front of him. It was hard to continue with her classes and duties as Head of House without falling apart. She often cried herself to sleep, longing to feel her husband’s warmth and his arms wrapped around her. If only her phone would work at Hogwarts - she could FaceTime her family and at least feel some sense of happiness again. Iola wrote to Nyle explaining the situation and he wrote back arranging for them all to meet in Hogsmeade as soon as she was free. Hogsmeade weekend was coming up and she could hardly wait to see them again.
When she finished her tea, Iola looked up at the clock. It was about time for her to start patrolling the corridors. It didn’t seem like any students were going to venture into her office so she headed out early. Anything to distract herself from the pain.
Students were milling about as she walked, some of them were huddled together likely gossiping. Iola’s startling blue gaze passed over each and every student, smiling softly at the ones who chose to greet her. She didn’t see anything troubling until two sixth years, Tom and Emma, came rushing from the dungeons. “Professor Walker!” They called out, Iola stopping in her tracks. Their eyes were wide with panic and they struggled to catch their breath. “What’s happened?”
The witch rushed down to the dungeons, the smoke filling the hallway now. She coughed as it filled her lungs, waving her wand to produce a bubblehead charm, giving her clean air to breathe. Iola hurried to the classroom, finding Ole first. Iola cast another bubblehead charm on her and moved to Mael who was covered in soot and ash. She did the same for him before turning to the potion. It was still smoking, whatever he had done had clearly not worked. She banished the rest of the potion, stopping the smoke at the source. She turned to her colleagues. “The smoke should dissipate on its own now. What on earth were you brewing?”
Nicole Halley Mael Gauthier
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Year/Job
POTIONS PROFESSOR
Days Since Something Exploded: 0 |
BLAKE
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Post by Mael Gauthier on Jan 23, 2024 9:24:20 GMT -8
Mael was only slightly put off by the failure. It wasn't the first time he'd blown up a cauldron, nor would it be the last. One does not succeed in life without making mistakes. His muggle friends would often say he was a mad scientist. He did not feel the need to disagree. Anyone who grew up with as many siblings as he could hardly consider themselves sane. A smile curved his lips at the thought. Perhaps he'd exploded one too many cauldrons and now a few screws were loose. A voice came from the doorway, and he was drawn back to the present situation. Ah, it looked as though the smoke had caught the attention of what he could only assume to be an actual adult. "Still in one piece," he called back. Or at least he thought it was. He didn't feel the warm, sticky sensation that usually accompanied hemorrhaging. He would know. He'd nearly severed his arm once during his apprenticeship. The pain hadn't really come until he'd seen the damage done. Talk about a fright. "Thanks for asking," he added after a moment.
Two was company, three was a crowd, and a crowd they now had as yet another of his colleagues came to his aid. It was hardly necessary. The concern was warranted considering all the smoke, but he was fine. The air was suddenly cleaner, and he gave a nod of appreciation to Iola, though her decision to banish the potion was disappointing. Hopefully, his notes were still intact. "Professor Halley. Professor Walker. A good evening to the both of you. I do apologize for the scare, but I assure you, everything is fine." He offered up a friendly smile as the remnants of smoke disappeared. He gave a sideways glance to where the cauldron had been. His notes were singed, but eligible. At least from this angle they were. He took the time to remove his robes, setting them neatly off to the side. He'd collect the residue for further evaluation later. That, and he was checking himself over.
"I was brewing something new. A colleague of mine who is a Herbologist sent me new ingredients from an expedition they recently took. I, however, seemed to have miscalculated." He spoke as though this was a normal occurrence. He had a burn on his forearm, but it was hardly anything to fuss about. His hair and face were covered in soot, but otherwise unphased. Lucky break. Once he was satisfied that he wasn't disfigured he started the process of cleaning up the mess he'd made. Wand in hand, he continued to speak to the two women as he worked. "No need to worry, the ingredients are harmless. I test everything before I brew. Again, I apologize for the scare."
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Year/Job
Ancient Runes Professor
rouch
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Post by Nicole Halley on Jan 23, 2024 16:31:42 GMT -8
Ole had pressed into the room, concerned someone may have been so injured they couldn't speak. Getting low, she scanned the ground for signs or life, but it was hard to see anything further than a few feet in front of her. The confirmation from Professor Gauthier that he was uninjured was a relief, but she wished he might have more urgency to leave the room for fresh air. Then, suddenly the smoke was gone around her head. It took her a second to realize Iola had made it to the scene and had control of the situation. As the room cleared, Ole stood up straight, looked around to make sure there hadn't been a student in the classroom. Once she was sure the threat was over, she watched with some humor as Mael went about saving the remnants of his experiment.
The potions professor looked entirely unbothered by the mess and maybe a little put off that Iola was so efficient in her work neutralizing the situation. Ole nodded her thanks to Iola for the help and gave Mael another once over. "You have a burn," Ole observed, not sure if he had noticed yet in his intent to survey the disaster. "If it's an experimental potion, you might want to have the healer check you out. The components are clearly combustible with the right combination, you could a bad reaction," she said, not wanting to make a big deal about it, but the entire experience had left her on edge. That and her lab safety training from her chemistry classes always made her err on the side of caution when chemicals were involved. Potions wasn't much different in her book.
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Year/Job
Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor
I had been lost to you, sunlight. And flew like a moth to you, sunlight. |
Animagus
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Post by Iola Walker on Jan 24, 2024 3:43:45 GMT -8
A manicured brow raised as Professor Gauthier assured them everything was fine. Iola looked around at the dissipating smoke, the singed notes, and ruined cauldron before resting her gaze back on the Potions professor. It certainly did not look like everything was fine, but he appeared to be largely unharmed. Though one could not be certain until they’ve checked him out. He removed his robes and set them aside and Iola’s startling gaze was pulled to the burn that seared along his arm. If that was the worst of his injuries then Iola agreed, he was just fine. Mael answered her question and her brows pulled together in concern. Ole mentioned his burn and told him he should get looked over by a healer. Iola nodded her agreement.
“We all should get looked over,” she said, pointing at the cauldron. “All of us breathed in that smoke and we have no idea what damage it could do.” He had assured them that the ingredients were safe, but Iola was proficient in potions and she knew that one wrong move could have disastrous effects. “Perhaps we should arrange for a separate room for you to brew your experiments.” She wasn’t only thinking of her colleagues, but the students who may become victims of whatever accidents may happen.
Mael Gauthier Nicole Halley
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Year/Job
POTIONS PROFESSOR
Days Since Something Exploded: 0 |
BLAKE
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Post by Mael Gauthier on Jan 24, 2024 7:28:36 GMT -8
Mael already had two older sisters to tell him what to do, he did not need two more. Go to the healer. You breathed in smoke. That potion was unstable. Did they think he'd made it this far in life without taking risks? He had trained for years in preparation for this position. Their concern was borderline nagging. As if he weren't aware of the possible consequences. He also understood why they were concerned. It was kind of them, considering they could have ignored his little mishap and carried on with their day. He wasn't completely unappreciative. "Too much dragon horn," he commented when Ole pointed out the burn and combustion components of the potion. "Probably best I stick to three tablespoons instead of four." He gave a small shrug. He raised his arm and looked down at the burn. "Second degree. I've had worse." He was in no way denying that his arm hurt. It was red and ugly, but he considered this good, seeing as though his arm was still attached. Glass half full.
"You two can head on up. I'll be sure to find the Healer when I've finished tidying up here," he told them. His blue eyes blinked when Iola spoke of a separate room for brewing. "Would you like to trade? I'd be happy to have just a window." His lips curved into a smile. "Feels like a prison down here most days, not that I'd know anything about that." He reached down to pick up a jar of fluxweed. He stayed crouch down, balanced on the balls of his feet, pausing to gingerly rub his chest. Well, now he knew it wasn't the sudden explosion and some startle effect that had cause him to hit to the floor. It was a piece of cauldron that had knocked him back. He was willing to bet he had a nasty bruise under his button up. Still lucky, his sternum wasn't broken, and neither were any of his bones.
He stood up slowly with the jar in hand. He'd agreed to go to a healer, which he'd have done anyway without their two cents. Now he had to reassure them this was an isolated incident. Time he could have spent cleaning up so he could get hurry up and get healed up. "I usually brew in my office where it's warmer," he began. "But it's still early and I like to leave the classroom door open to give the students a chance to swing by in case they have questions and/or concerns they'd prefer not to discuss in front of their peers." He plopped down on of the chairs. Standing was suddenly a chore. "And yes, I am well aware that someone could have walked in, but I have safety measures for that." He might have been a bit unhinged, but he was still responsible, and could act like a functioning adult in the face of adversity. "I would never intentionally harm a student or my colleagues for that matter."
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Year/Job
Ancient Runes Professor
rouch
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Post by Nicole Halley on Jan 24, 2024 18:52:49 GMT -8
Ole was thankful Iola was there. The smooth-talking potions professor was a lot to take in all at once. And his dismissal of her concern had her questioning herself. She didn't think she was overreacting, but had she been alone, she would have chalked her unease up to her unresolved trauma in her past. Iola didn't seem entirely convinced at his assessment either. Ole looked from Iola and back to Mael only to find he had disappeared. Looking over the bench, something about his behavior reminded her of a student who was trying to convince her they had done their homework assignment, they just had to find it. When he stood back up, something was in his hand, but she couldn't make it out.
Opening her mouth to question the logic of experimenting with a potion during his open office hours, she just promptly shut it. She was having a hard time enough feeling like an outsider, second guessing a fellow professor wasn't her best move. At the mention of safety measures, Ole looked around, trying to spot one. If a student had entered the classroom, innocently thinking they could ask their professor a question at the wrong second, they could have been harmed. Ole wasn't sure what came over her, her mouth started running without her brain, "That's why they're called accidents. You might not intend to do harm, but someone could have still gotten hurt." The words were out before she could stop them. If he had reacted to the situation with the seriousness of a responsible adult, she might not have felt compelled. Sure, her subject matter had very little risk in the classroom. Classroom safety wasn't her business. It just seemed to her that if potions were going to be blowing up, it should be Professor Gauthier's responsibility to avert catastrophe, not cause it.
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Year/Job
Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor
I had been lost to you, sunlight. And flew like a moth to you, sunlight. |
Animagus
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Post by Iola Walker on Feb 4, 2024 10:13:54 GMT -8
A soft smile touched her lips as Mael asked about trading, letting her know how he felt about the dungeons. Iola spent most of her school years holed up in the dungeons either in her common room or in this very classroom. It felt like home to her, but she did very much like the sun that beat down into the large windows in her own classroom. "I don't believe I have that power," she told him with an amused smile. "But I can certainly arrange for something to be built on the grounds for you to work on your experiments. I'll be sure to include windows." With the right enchantments, she didn't see how that would be a danger to anyone but himself. Ole seemed to struggle with concept that someone could have been hurt and while Iola was inclined to agree, she felt that the Potions professor understood the danger better than they could. She rested a gentle hand on Ole's arm. "I think he understands, Ole," she said softly, offering up a small smile. The danger has passed and they were all quite well. Well, perhaps Mael was not as well as the witches, but she figured a trip to the Hospital Wing would cure any ailment he suffered. "It would be wise for us to get looked over soon, but we can help clean up if you'd like," she said to the Potions professor. "I'm sorry about your potion."
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Year/Job
POTIONS PROFESSOR
Days Since Something Exploded: 0 |
BLAKE
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Post by Mael Gauthier on Feb 5, 2024 6:41:31 GMT -8
Professor Walker told him they couldn't change rooms, and he gave a nonchalant shrug. "It was worth a try," he told her with a wink. The Potions Professor perked up a bit when she offered to have him something built for future experiments, and she even threw in the offer of windows! He looked as happy as a small child being given their favorite piece of candy. "That would be lovely." Mael had an entire lab at home, built into the basement and protected by charms, but he rarely had time to make it back home unless it was a weekend or the summer. Something on the grounds would truly make him happy, especially if it meant not being stuck in the dungeons.
Mael's blue grey eyes raised slowly to look at Ole as she snapped at him. Well, that had been completely unexpected. He decided immediately that he did not like Nicole Halley. She reminded him a lot of his sister Manon, and that was not a compliment. Manon was a bossy woman who thought she knew everything. Manon would often scold him about one thing or the other. It was as if she wanted to make Mael feel small. How many times had she told him his ideas were crazy or ridiculous or downright stupid? He could hear her voice now and it annoyed him. Had he listened to her all those years ago he wouldn't be the man he was today. He was quite successful, and Manon had done nothing significant with her life.
Iola tried to smooth things over, but Mael was already sliding off the seat. The adrenaline had worn off, and he was starting to hurt. He probably shouldn't have sat down so soon. Iola was speaking, but he just shook his head at her offer. "I'll manage without, thank you." Some of the lightness that had filled his voice moments before had faded. Whether it was due to pain or Ole trying to take the wind out of his sails was yet to be determined. Maybe it was a bit of both. "It can be rebrewed," he told her when she apologized about the potion. "Not the first one to go up in flames. Most certainly not the last." He waved to Ole and pointed about four feet from where he'd been sitting. "To quell your concerns," he told her politely. It would do no good to pick a fight with the woman. He just wanted her to know he wasn't a mindless buffoon.
He drew his wand from his pocket, waving it lightly. A faded white chalk line appeared on the floor. "This is the safety line," he told her. "From here to the door is off limits for brewing." A line of desks were strategically placed as a reminder to the students. At the beginning of the year, he'd informed them that he had an open door policy, but if he was brewing, the line was not to be crossed unless he gave them permission. Mael made his way down to the far side of said line, pointing out broken pieces of the cauldron that had been blown away. None had crossed the line.
"I talked with the Charms Professor when I first got here," he told her. "In the event of a failed potion, this line, while it seems pointless at first glance has a dual purpose. Everything from the brewing side to the line stays in, with limitations," he added. "Mainly projectiles and flames. It's practically Protego in a straight line." He pointed back to the safety side. "While this side acts as a bubble. It pushes physical beings back towards the door, but cushions the fall." He pocketed his wand. "And at both ends, runes are carved underneath the floor for reinforcements. My teacher taught me that it's good to have a fail-safe. He always said runes are less likely to be tampered with if people don't know they're there." Mael walked towards the door, leaning against the doorframe as casually as he could. He was starting to feel like he'd been hit by the Hogwarts Express. "Sadly, I can't do anything about the smoke." It wasn't perfect, but it was better than nothing.
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Year/Job
Ancient Runes Professor
rouch
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Post by Nicole Halley on Feb 13, 2024 15:11:51 GMT -8
Ole was painfully aware that she'd gotten on Mael's bad side. What was worse, she didn't even know where her scolding had come from. Something about the shaking of the stone ceiling above her, the dust falling from the cracks, had set something off inside her. Her family had insisted she go to therapy after the cave in. Nothing about the situation at the time seemed like something that could be fixed by talking about it. Looking down at the line Mael pointed out she felt bad for assuming he didn't have some protections in place. Even though his line depended on students listening to instructions, which in her experience wasn't an absolute fail safe, he had at least thought it through. The runes and charms appeared to do their job.
Leaning over she picked up a fragment of cauldron. "I'm sorry I assumed," she started lamely. More than anything, she wanted to go outside. She wanted open sky above her. It felt like the room was closing in around her now that her adrenaline was wearing off. Setting the mangled metal down, she looked at the potions' professor. He had clearly been on the other side of the line. If the explosion had gone another way, he could have been critically wounded or worse. "Not much threat of explosions in my classroom. You're braver than I am," she offered lamely and wondered if she had some responsibility to stay and help right the room or if she could make her leave. She figured Mael was as keen on her leaving him as she was getting outside. "Do you want help righting this?" Taking small, measured breaths, she hoped her colleagues didn't notice she was dangerously close to having a panic attack for no good reason. Not one they knew about anyway.
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