Dunes Hallway Adventures

Dune walked the hallway. He was running his fingers through his hair, the first week was proving to be an interesting one. He had had a little over half a dozen students approach him wanting to be Hogwarts champion. He had politely reminded two of them that they were not yet of age he had also had to turn one student down, poor Jane Parigh had went to tears when he had refused to consider her for champion, the fact she just did not have what it would take in his opinion in fact he had watched her faint when he had shown the class his ability to transform into a Dragon. He knew the tasks were brutal, and did not want to subject her to that horror.

He walked on deep in thought, of all those that had come to him. He had been most surprised by Lysander. Lysander he knew was smart and cunning but generally lacked motivation. He had given his consent though, it was rare to see the boy this worked up about something. Dune knew that if he was made champion he would do his very best. Finally drawing himself out of his thought induced walk. He started looking around, a coy smile creeping to his face. He set off in search of either Ms. Greengrass or Ms. Pyxis.

Vela was returning from the dungeons with a pot of salve which looked like it was growing mold. Although classes had just begun, and few students were reporting illnesses to the hospital wing, Vela was stocking up for the rest of the winter season. One could never tell how many infectious little children would be running around.

She was smelling the salve, which had such a powerful odor that she nearly passed out, as she passed by Dune Blackwell in the hallway. Sputtering and reeling from the stench of the salve in the pot, which she was trying desperately to cover with the lid someone else had obviously neglected to secure, she noticed him, and struggled to smile. "Hello, professor," she greeted him as she twisted the cap onto the pot. "Classes going well? Out in the middle of the school for some reason, I trust."

Dune couldn't help but smile at the coincidence,

"Me have a valid reason to be out of my classroom in the middle of the day? Of course not! I left my classroom, half full of 6th years, practicing turning rope into pythons. That was twenty minutes ago.... I wonder how many are still alive?" He said, his hand coming up to his chin slowly stroking it as he considered the possibilities. Seeing a look of horror pass over Ms. pyxis face he laughed.

"Do not worry my dear, I had this period off and was simply going for a walk, to clear my head. Now since I am a true gentleman, why don't you let me help you with that?" He said taking out his wand and with a slight wave he summoned the pot and took it in one of his arms, with a mischievous grin he held out his other arm, "May I escort you to the infirmary?"

Vela would have refused Blackwell's offer to carry her pot of stinking salve, if she would have had a choice, but she found that she didn't; she was only concerned that he might drop it, and students would have to steer clear of this corridor for days because of the stench.

Torn away from her horrific reverie, she noticed his arm. "Ah - of course," she stuttered, gingerly taking the professor's offered arm and heading quickly down the corridor toward the hospital wing. Blackwell had been working at Hogwarts before Vela had come to replace the last nurse, and most of the other teachers were newer than him. "What do you think of the professors, since I've come? So, the past five years?"

He led her down the hall at a slower pace than she would of liked, judging by the way she tugged on his arm. But he refused to let her rush, and instead walked slowly and purposefully down the hallway.

"I am not one to judge, my dear Vela, however if pressed I would say that everyone is a great addition in their areas of expertise." It was clear that he was holding back out of respect for his fellow peers. He walked a little further then spoke once more.

"So my dear, would you happen to be free this weekend? Say Saturday afternoon?" his voice carried a mischievous tone.

She felt color rise in her face when Dune's tone took on the familiarity of a proposal; Vela wasn't a stranger to those, and she wasn't a stranger to accepting them. It was one of her weaknesses, or at least she considered it that way, and she wasn't sure whether she should avoid this or not. Or whether she could.

"Well, I have got student aides helping in the wing on weekends," she mused, already having made up her mind and simply drawing out the process of getting Dune's hopes up, in a manipulative sort of way. "I might have some free time on Saturday afternoon." As long as Dune didn't want to attach any strings to it, she could deal.

Dune could not help but feel slightly elated, Saturday would indeed be an interesting day, now the question remained what to do... but this could be thought over another time. Dune kept his casual pace as they proceeded around the final turn that led them to the infirmary. With a smile he turned to Vela, he handed her the jar and spoke.

"Do you need anything else, before I am called back to my classroom?"

Vela took her jar of salve and smiled back at Professor Blackwell. Sure thing there wouldn't be a problem escaping the romance of this relationship when it was gone, even though they were co-workers.

"I'm sure you're busy. Go on ahead."

Dune continued smiling.

"Well I shall see you Saturday then my dear." As he spoke he glanced down at his watch and saw that he only had 15 minutes before the next class, sighing he spoke again. "I must be off my dear. I shall see you Saturday." He turned and started off for his classroom his face lit up with his mischievous grin.