lightning strike

“Oh no, not me —– I’d be sitting in my office and relishing in the peace and quiet, knowing that I ought to enjoy it while it lasts.”

“Well that would be just boring Professor,” Valeria said with a giggle. “Though a break every once in a while wouldn’t be too terrible.”

“That sounds terrible. Perhaps you’d do good following some lessons about dressing normally and understanding the basics of fashion, because this is not making a statement: this is frankly just gross.”

She looked at Lucius Malfoy with a blank look on her face, giving him the chance to admit he was just kidding. (She truly hoped he was). Upon realizing he was, in fact, being serious, she laughed loudly. “The basics of fashion? Oh gag me green with a tangerine. I understand basic human decency which is more than I can say for you, which is frankly just gross.”

“Sure thing, guial. Only, will it mean as much, since she’s not a student? I don’t really get how petitions work. Like, can just anybody sign, even if it doesn’t effect them?” Camila chattered away as she painted Val’s nails. “Petition to stop straight boys leering at me, and I get all my gay mates to sign? It’s a thought. I mean, at least it’s still somewhat legislative, like I’m assuming we can’t petition for me passing Herbology.”

Valerie’s face scrunched up in thought for a moment before she shrugged. “I dunno, I guess... I mean, it’s like she’d be saying that she wants there to be a club for this, so even though it wouldn’t affect them, if they believe in it, it’s worth a shot!” She giggled at Camila’s examples. “I’d sign both of those petitions for you Babe,” Val told her friend. “And I’d forge as many as I could as well.”

“Indeed,” he agreed. Any hope of resuming his work was dashed upon hearing her next words. Eli sighed inwardly to himself. “Not much is ‘going up in here’,” he carefully repeated the phrase she’d used. “Just marking.” He paused for a moment. “Well, if you’re going to stay, then do properly come in.”

She grinned, gliding into the room with a small sway of her hips that she got from her Grammy. “Great, thanks for inviting me. That door frame wasn’t very comfy.” Valerie plopped into a seat and looked at the teacher. “Valerie Mconish, pleasure I’m sure.” She extended her hand before continuing. “Wanna talk about gender roles or male driven work forces? Or society’s pressure to fit a certain standard of beauty? Those are my favorite topics. You?”

“I’m bringing the glitter, here, you’re supposed to bring the gossip!” Camila scolded, taking her friend’s hand and starting in on the polish. A good time-killer while she made something up. “Oh, wait, I’ve got an update on the bird I thought was cheating off my Herbology project, I think the trowel was supposed to be a euphemism?”

She watched as Camila started painting her nails and laughed. “Well no one’s signing my fucking petition! So the only gossip I have is that this school is full of misogynist pigs but that’s nothing new,” she said with a shrug. “A euphemism? How interesting. At least the bird wasn’t cheating?” Val asked with a laugh.

Anka continued her notes as the girl replied, though she was interested in the conversation. “No such thing as true hypotheticals, besides would you have preferred a sarcastic throwaway?” Still, she appreciated what she felt had been a compliment as opposed to being thought of as morbid. Eyebrow arched at the idea of not wanting to fight her off, but she supposed underestimation and inflated egos went both ways. “I suggest you at least steal someone else’s wand, or you’ll be caught for sure.”

She laughed and shook her head. “Nah, sarcastic throwaway would’ve been pretty shitty on your part. You might have almost made me feel bad about myself.” Not true, of course. No one ever made Valerie feel bad about herself, but that was of no importance. “Smart thinking,” she said as she raised an eyebrow right back. “You and I might just be a killer team, you know,” Valerie teased.