Meeting at sunset (Ksenia/CLOSED]

[Anoushka Drysi Gavronskii]

Late one afternoon, in the northernmost regions of Norway, a Durmstrang student wandered outside the castle. It had been a long day of intense studying, and Anoushka craved a few moments for herself - simply to relax and enjoy the sun set. The blonde teen hurried towards the Durmstrang Lake and settled herself beneath the large oak tree, which towered highest than most. Ana adjusted her silken robes so that they wouldn't crease and sat down. She made herself comfortable on the grassy patch, her back leaning against the bark, and turned to face the horizon. The sun looked majestic, and almost lethargic as it slowly moved lower and lower in the sky. A female voice called her name. Wide-eyed, Anoushka looked up. She straightened her composure and kept her eyes cast down as a sign of respect.

"Good evening professor," she replied

OOC: Set a year prior the tournament.

[Ksenia Cornelia Calpurnia]

The Entrance Hall of the Durmstrang Institute was surprisingly empty and usually cold that afternoon. The sun was already setting outside when Ksenia walked down the stairs and towards the front door. The only sound in the empty Hall were her footsteps, the echoing of her heels on the stone floor. The heavy oak door slammed shut behind her and she made her way down, towards the lake. Ksenia wrapped her fur coat tighter around her shoulders to shield herself from the cool wind. The sun was casting reddish light on the high trees surrounding the lake. It was a sight to behold. It almost made her forget how cold it was. She was often wondering why the school had not been built on a warmer place, towards the south. However, for some reason she'd never asked the Headmaster about it. He would probably be able to provide her with an answer.

Ksenia found herself moving towards a large oak tree. She was enjoying her loneliness... until she realised that she wasn't alone. There was somebody there, sitting under the tree. Ksenia recognised the girl's light hair. "Miss Gavronskii? What are you doing here?" she asked, moving towards the girl.

[Anoushka Drysi Gavronskii]

Professor Calpurnia was one of Anoushka's favourites. As was custom, she waited until being spoken to before looking up. Ana greeted the woman with a warm smile. Seeing as Ksenia remained standing, the blonde girl quickly stood up. Although her body was inclined towards the professor, she turned her head back towards the horizon.

"I wished to watch the sun set before returning to my studies. I am afraid my dormitory is on the wrong side of the castle to see it from the inside..."

"I hope you are well Ma'am," she then added after a brief pause.

Anoushka hoped she wouldn't be chastised for being outside during study hours. It wasn't like she was procrastinating; she thought of it as a brief break and hoped her professor would not see it differently.

[Ksenia Cornelia Calpurnia]

Ksenia's light eyes followed the girl as she stood up. The woman just gave her a brief nod and turned her head towards the setting sun. It was truly a sight to behold. The corners of Ksenia's red lips slightly curled upwards - Professor Calpurnia rarely smiled, especially at her students. Most of them were ignorant and completely useless, but Miss Gavronsky was different. One might even say that Ksenia liked her. The girl had potential.

Ksenia acknowledged Anushka's words with another small nod. Perhaps she was supposed to scold the girl for being outside during the study hours, but she didn't say anything about that. "Of course." she finally said. "Headmaster has for a while been contemplating the idea of moving the dormitories to the other side of the castle, to provide the students with a better view." she sighed impatiently, as though she considered it utter nonsense. "That might actually be a good idea." she finally had to admit. "I am quite well, Miss Gavronsky. Thank you. And yourself?"


(((OOC: I'm soooo sorry for the late reply)))

[Anoushka Drysi Gavronskii]

The young student saw Ksenia's hint of a smile and felt honoured that the professor felt comfortable enough around her to allow it. In turn she smiled herself and focused her attention on the huge fiery mass that was slowly descending beyond the horizon. She did not expect the older woman to converse but much to her surprise that was exactly what Ksenia did. Forgetting about the sunset, Ana turned around to fully face her professor and looked up.

"It would be wonderful if he did. From our dorms all we can see is the dark dreary forest. Not that I mind it, but I would love to be able to see the sunset every day."

She too sighed but as opposed to Ksenia, Anoushka's was more of a dreamy sigh. Knowing that her professor was well made her feel glad. Smiling, she nodded in response.

Remembering her manners she was quick to intone, "I am good, thank you. Tired but good."

[Ksenia Cornelia Calpurnia]

Ksenia found herself absent-mindedly staring at the red ball of fire which was slowly vanishing from their sight. A more romantic person would probably develop some foolish ideas, perhaps even cry, but Ksenia was not a romantic person. She was not that pathetic. After all, she had learned that certain needs could be easily satisfied without involving emotions. However, there was a man too blinded by his success and immense talents to realise what she really desired. And he thought that he knew her...

The witch finally remembered that she wasn't alone and turned towards Ana with a strange look on her face, as though she was surprised that the girl was still there. It took her some time to remember what they had been talking about. "He will eventually do as he wants. I only hope that a better view wouldn't be too much of a distraction for your colleagues. They hardly do anything, even with their windows facing the forest." she said in her high-pitched voice, usually very annoying to other people. Ksenia remained silent for some time; it wasn't like her to have a small chat with a student. She just nodded her head in response. Another moment passed and she realised that she was probably supposed to say something. "Aren't you cold, Miss Gavronsky?" she asked when she realised that the girl was sitting on the grass. Ksenia couldn't even imagine herself sitting like that, it would ruin her clothes.

[Anoushka Drysi Gavronskii]

"They are not that bad," she replied feeling defensive of the other students.

If she had to be honest with herself, Ana knew that Professor Calpurnia was right but agreeing would feel as if she was betraying her follow Durmstrangers. The pitch of Ksenia's voice had always marveled Anoushka - she did not care that others deemed it as annoying, Ana liked it and that was it. She almost nodded to herself in finality to her inner argument.

Embarrassed she said, "Yes Professor. I did not think to bring my heavy cloak, and it's getting quite chilly now. But I do like the feel of the grass blades. Have you ever felt it Madame?"

She made her slip from Professor to Madame seem normal, natural and effortless.

[Ksenia Cornelia Calpurnia]

Ksenia shrugged. She didn't seem to be particularly interested in students, the foolish lazy children. "Not all of them." she said flatly. "I do believe that most of them are just wasting their time here." Well, at least they didn't have any mudbloods in Durmstrang."I don't even dare imagine how pathetic they would be if we didn't accept only pureblood witches and wizards." There wasn't a single person in Durmstrang who wasn't a member of a respected pureblood family... except Ksenia of course, but nobody had to know anything about that.

The older witch realised that she was slightly cold, even though she was wearing a warm fur coat. "Perhaps you should go back to your dormitory, Miss Gavronsky. You might catch a cold out here." Ksenia folded her arms across her chest, looking at the grass with slight disgust. Who knew which awful ghastly little creatures lived there. It looked quite dirty from where she was standing. "No, I can't say that I have." she admitted. Anoushka had called her Madame, instead Professor, but Ksenia considered both titles acceptable.

[Anoushka Drysi Gavronskii]

Even if she had wanted to Ana could not bring herself to argue with Professor Calpurnia. It was not only a matter of rank, but also because she did not wish to be on Ksenia's bad side. Anoushka stared down at her feet and started tapping the points against one another.

"I know many who have been forced to attend the school

... I don't understand how some of them feel that being magical is a burden. I pity the muggles, they don't know what they are missing."

It was not usual for Ana to express her opinions, however, she felt comfortable to be honest around the professor. Ksenia's expression did not go unnoticed and Ana wondered why on earth did nature disgust her so. Staring ahead of her she stretched her limbs in the grass and closed her eyes.

"I recommend it Madame. It's like being caressed by feathers. Only the grass here does that."

Suddenly curious she looked up, "Could someone have enchanted it?

[Ksenia Cornelia Calpurnia]

Ksenia was looking at the girl, tilting her head to the side. She wasn't particularly interested in hearing their sad little life stories, but she obviously had no choice. "They should all come back wherever they came from and let me work with those who deserve my attention." Ksenia made a small nod in Ana's direction, as though saying Yes, I meant you. You deserve my attention.

It was something new even for an older and experienced woman to hear that some idiots felt that they were burdened by their abilities. "That's nonsense." she shook her head in disbelief. "How could anyone be so stupid?" she asked quietly as if talking to herself rather than to Ana. Ksenia almost laughed at her following words; she could never pity the muggles - they had nearly killed her many years ago. They would have burned her, had she not been rescued. "Muggles are dangerous." that was her only comment and she hoped that her student wouldn't notice a slight tremor in her voice.

The comparison was interesting and Ksenia nodded her head, imagining feathers caressing her skin and the soft blankets on her bed. Then she realised that she was tired and sleepy. The girl seemed to be enjoying herself, sitting on the grass. "The grass?" Ksenia asked "Well, theoretically, someone could have done it. But I don't know why anyone would want to do it."

[Anoushka Drysi Gavronskii]

"Yes Madame," Ana agreed.

Ksenia was an extraordinary witch and wasting her time was despicable in the blonde's eyes. What came next was unexpected, but it sure pleased Anoushka. Her pale cheeks reddened and a hint of a smile appeared on her lips. Professor Calpurnia's gesture made her feel worthy of being in her class. Figuring that the question was rhetoric, Anoushka remained silent. However, Ksenia's comment about muggles confused her.

Edging closer to her professor Anoushka said, "Dangerous? How?"

The Gavronskii children had led a sheltered childhood; their parents had made sure not to expose them to muggles but warned them of their devious schemes to take control over the wizarding community. That is why they needed to be eliminated, before they got strong enough to overpower magic. Her father did not believe that was possible. He said that muggles are pathetic but that they should be killed anyway.

Anoushka lay down on the grass and stretched out her body while saying, "To make it more pleasant maybe? This is the only grass I allow myself to sit on. It really is unlike any other."

The smile and her expression in general were inviting Ksenia to try it, to sit on what she believed was enchanted grass.

[Ksenia Cornelia Calpurnia]

The strict professor had noticed her student's reaction. She didn't usually say anything particularly flattering to other people, but Ana had talent which many others unfortunately lacked. When Anoushka moved closer to Ksenia with a rather confused look on her face, the older witch realised what she'd said. It was too late, the girl's attention was focused on her and there was nothing she could do, other than answering her question.

"They are a threat to all of us, to entire magical community. They are pure evil." Ksenia hissed, her voice barely a whisper. "They might seem weak, but they only want to destroy us, burn each witch and wizard they catch with their dirty paws." Her breaths were quick and shallow and her face turned white. She tried to pull herself together, before Ana noticed anything strange about her behaviour. It was probably too late, though.

The idea of someone being so interested in grass that they actually wanted to cast a spell on it and make it more pleasant, was something that Ksenia could not comprehend. "That's nice." she slowly replied to Anoushka's words. Was the girl expecting her professor to join her and actually sit on the grass? That idea seemed even stranger to Ksenia, known by all of her students and colleagues as a woman whom everything disgusted. She couldn't stand people sneezing around her or even touching her. However, Ana was giving her such a sweet smile that she was finding it hard to resist. She hesitated for a moment, fighting herself and trying to decide what to do. "Do you really believe that someone has enchanted the grass?" she asked. "If someone wanted to be more comfortable, they could have easily conjured an armchair." That was what she would have done.

[Anoushka Drysi Gavronskii]

Ksenia hesitated when posed with the question about muggles; that made Anoushka wonder and for a moment she did not think that her professor would actually reply. When Ksenia started explaining, Ana frowned and looked dubious, that is until the older woman spoke about their thrive to destroy the magical realm.

"Burn?" she echoed weakly.

Anoushka visibly shuddered, remembering overhearing her aunts talking about a pureblood couple that has been burnt on a stake. At the time, she had not connected the occurrence with muggle activity but know that Ksenia has mentioned it, she was seeing things from a different perspective.

"Madame? Have you ever encountered such muggles?" the blonde asked.

Her professor seemed thorn on whether to sit on the grass or not; Ana hoped she would.

Nodding she replied, "Yes I think so. Perhaps you are right, Madame, but if it was a student that might have gotten them on trouble."

Again, she smiled at Ksenia - promising that the grass was clean and comfortable.

[Ksenia Cornelia Calpurnia]

Ksenia realised that she had been a complete idiot and said too much to her student, but it was too late to fix the damage. Her encounter with muggles, all these years ago, was something she never thought about and never talked about. Nobody knew about it and nobody asked about it because they didn't know. Ksenia was worried that the girl might figure everything out, that she might suspect that her professor had previously encountered the ghastly muggles. Ksenia's voice was cool and calm when she repeated Anna's last word. "Burned."

Professor Calpurnia bit her lower lip so hard that it nearly started to bleed. Ana's question made her nauseous and she closed her eyes for a space, trying to get rid of the hunting images and unpleasant feeling of flames on her skin and clothes. She quickly opened her eyes, focusing her gaze on Anoushka. "Even if I had, it wouldn't be important anymore." her voice and hands were still shaking, but she had managed to regain some composure.

Ksenia just shrugged at the though of a student getting into trouble after casting spells on the grass. She couldn't recall such an event. "I don't think the Headmaster would punish someone for practicing magic on the grass. However, I would probably give them detention for not having though of conjuring a chair." With that words, Ksenia gave Ana a small smile.

[Anoushka Drysi Gavronskii]

Professor Calpurnia was visibly upset, and Anoushka immediately regretted questioning the older woman about muggles. Her heart was telling her to drop the subject but her curiosity wanted to know more. Ana knew that Ksenia was hiding something and by the look in her eyes this something haunted her very being. The blonde allowed herself to be distracted by the professor's idle chit-chat. Despite worrying over Ksenia, the student still laughed when she spoke of detention. After that Anoushka was silent for several minutes. She finally stood up and looked up at Ksenia, feeling awkward.

Taking a deep breathe she said, "If it bothers you... it is important."

Her eyes were wide; their expression genuine. She was by no means fishing for information. She had no interest in divulging Ksenia's secrets. However, she was concerned and it showed.