Professor Kennedy, Miles
Location: Potions Classroom, Hogwarts
Mentions: N/A
Why in the seven blasted hells had they put Potions next to the dungeon for all sakes?
The first day had been a good, interesting little shock. He'd busied himself away by organizing all the various bottles that had been stored openly on shelves for who-knows-how-long, had a cabinet or seven made by a woodworker in Hogsmeade, moved it all down to the classroom. That had taken a day or so of work, real work, but by the end of it things were far more neat…and secure. Then came the cleaning, which Mr Kennedy was sad to say he did so with a small army of enchanted brooms. That day had ended with the ordering of a few enchanted lamps to give some semblance of heat for the room, which had proven damnably cold, and attaching them to the stone ceiling. It had paid to arrive a week before, Kennedy decided, as he surveyed his newfound domain cup of tea in hand.
It’d been so long since he'd been to Hogwarts that the new Potions Master found that he'd forgotten how dreary the classroom was. He'd accepted, forgetting it was near the Dungeon of all places. Still, though, Kennedy was rather pleased with how the whole event had gone, stretching up and down on his toes to feel the warm lining of his slippers, taking a sip of his tea.
In the corner, meanwhile, one lamp had all but practically gone out. Well that wasn't entirely true, it's just that a great big monster had decided to cuddle about it for the heat. A great rumble came and went, the sounds of thunder and trains roaring past. Dull shadows shifted and cut with every move, every adjustment of posture.
“You know there's a whole castle to explore.”
Luminous eyes turned about, a shadow cutting across Kennedy’s face. “Meoooow,” came the response, claws scratching into the woodwork.
“Well, yes, but it's not as though you'll get picked up by any of the students.”
“Meeeeoooowwwwww. Meow. Meow.” A cock of the head. Light shined past his face like a half halo to illuminate whiskers and the fringes of fur.
“Well not all of them will feed you.”
“Meow. Meeowwww.”
“Make certain you tackle the bigger ones, then.” Kennedy smiled, taking another sip before thinking up an image of a little First Year getting tackled by Lickspittle. He snorted, chuckled, then coughed on the tea. Hacking away for a few moments, the teacher finally noticed a figure standing in the open doorway. Certainly they were no taller than a very short child, clothed little and barefoot, and so could really only be one thing. House Elf.
“Excuse me, sir,” came the voice of one, too, young and high pitched. Kennedy had never given much love to the idea of those or how their service was gained and kept. Really it was saddening since such let the wizard do however they wished to the elf. He'd heard of cruelty before, and found the whole issue to be saddening. Elves could be treated well at Hogwarts, but couldn't they be given simply a different deal, not reliant on the courtesies of their masters?
“Yes?”
“Lunch is being served in the Great Hall, sir. If you wish it can be brought up to you.”
“Lun…” He checked his watch, exhaling out at the result. It really was time for lunch, how very well and annoying. “I'll eat in the Great Hall, thank you…?”
The house elf looked with a degree of confusion, approaching with apprehension, concern, but…curious enough about why there was the question. They passed under a lamplight and finally Kennedy could see the face clearly. Rather young seeming for a house elf of Hogwarts, he thought, with a great big nose and great big ears.
“I'm Professor Kennedy, and…you are…?” He leaned down, proffering his hand.
“Tolpy, sir.” The house elf cautiously took his hand, to which there were just a few shakes before Mr Kennedy finally released his grip.
“A pleasure to meet you. By the way, Tolpy, I should tell you that I am…very forgetful. I may leave old shirts and the like about when I'm not in my room. I probably just…no longer like them or some such. Please tell the cleaning elves that they can clean those up and dispose of them as they wish. Thank you.”
“Of course, sir.” The elf looked like he had a thought on the insinuation, but a twinkle in his eye kept any sort of question spilling forth. Kennedy smiled again.
“Good good. Oh, and I will be up for lunch, I swear.”
Satisfied with the job and conveyance, Tolpy disappeared, leaving Kennedy to look down at his slippers and realize that changing might be for the best. Some of the professors he'd be seeing for the first time since they were all kids, others he'd barely seen at the castle since they'd arrived, and some very few Kennedy had never seen at all. The equal of fur slippers and a heavy coat was hardly the best first impression.
“Mmmmrrrrrrooowww.”
“Yes, I'll get you food too.”
Location: Great Hall, Hogwarts
Mentions: N/A
Arriving at the Great Hall with no students was rather strange as well, Kennedy decided, tapping his foot after entering through a side door. The tables stretched out before him, empty as well save for lit candles at intervals. He could hear his tapping echoing out through the space, the ceiling…somewhat impressive, sure, but Kennedy could recall great illusions there to make it look like one world or another. With that and the students gone…and the wizened professors not there, seated up at the front, it felt off.
A few steps, past the side of the room, past the portraits and there he was at the front of the great room. Where the teachers sat, that whole desk…it sunk in that this would be where Kennedy would be sitting, eating, trying to not make a fool of himself. If that happened it'd be no use trying to pretend like it hadn't. Well…heck. No wonder why they'd always looked so wooden. The Great Hall still had no other teachers in it though, eerily quiet all told,and in the midst of waiting on any others Kennedy decided to play a little game.
Going down the table, trying to remember all the old professors and how they were, he soon was at one spot drumming away his fingers on the table. What was that woman's name…?