Wasting Away the Time [OPEN]

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 Brown ears perked at the sound of student laughter. Instinctively, the brown cat drew her lips back in an annoyed hiss at the outburst. No matter if it was 2030, she was still old school in that libraries were meant to be quiet temples of solitude, not where the party was. But she was getting old, and more irritable to the younger generations/

 Naturally, this wasn't a regular cat roaming the great lengths of Hogwart's book shelves. No. Instead, it was Hogwart's very own Ravenclaw Head, Pippa Noone. As awkward as it could be, Pippa had always had a love of being in her Anigmus form. Maybe it was because fewer people bothered her as a cat, or maybe she just loved the change in perspective as she could reach into places she otherwise never could have fit into. Regardless, she often took the time in between her classes to roam the area as a cat. It was a unique opportunity for the forty year old woman to gather insight on student life, even more so since she was sure the majority of students she passed were probably blissfully unaware that their professor was strolling along beside them. As a whole she tried to keep it a secret, as secret as a public registry of Animgus would allow, and she'd only ever mentioned her ability to a handful of seventh years in her teaching.

 Pippa had been teaching at Hogwarts now for several years, but she still couldn't shake how odd it was.She attended the school as a student a few years after the Battle of Hogwarts had occurred, and she remembered the mix of anxiety and joy that accompanied that time. There were many who were just happy to be alive and free of fear. Just as many who were missing someone, carrying around a hole in their heart that could never be filled. Pippa's Hufflepuff brother had been among the casualties of that day. He was a bright young wizard, and he never came home. Because of that, the castle had always felt a little off to her, as a first year she swore she could feel the eyes of all those who had died that day bearing down on her no matter what she did. Sure, she grew out of that fear, but even today she wonders if those souls still stalk the corridors of the castle. Now, even as she's enforcing the rules, she still expects stern McGonagal to come out and scold her for being out too late. Still, teaching was her life's passion, and she jumped on it when the offer was extended to her,

 Sighing, Pippa jumped onto a table, nosing at the book a student had left ajar. Her tail tip flicked in the slightest annoyance, knowing whoever had left it was likely long gone and expecting magic to sort the book back. It was a shame that kids were so lazy. Magic was nice, but it couldn't and shouldn't solve everything. It was defiantly something that the Ravenclaw Head of House tried to instill in her students, both those in her classes and the ones that she advised in her house.

 (Random, ends badly. o-o)

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Professor Nigel Ravenhearst walked into the library, only to smell cat. And not just any cat, a lady cat. His inner canine immediately turned into action as he sniffed subtlely where the cat scent was coming from. He knew that only one person smelled like this, and it was the Arithmancy Professor, Pippa Olivia Noone. He smiled as he remembered the stern and cool demeanour she had had when he first met her. Of course, that isn't to say he didn't try breaking the barrier, but it was still a work-in-progress.

Rounding a corner, he saw the cat strutting around, only to hiss at something that seemed to bother her. He smiled at the cat and followed it subtely around its course. In the end, they both ended on a table, which Nogel immediately sat on and whispered, while tapping his nose, "Pippa, no use in hiding when I know it's you."

He smiled at the cat charmingly before waiting for the woman to respond. There were two scenarios that was possible. One, the cat will just ignore him. And two, the cat will transform and he will be subjected to an ear-splitting lesson about divulging her secret to the students. He didn;t really midn anyhow since any interaction is good interaction, hopefully it would end well. Hopefully.

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 Pippa took in the dark haired instructor with green eyes, before throwing a glance over her shoulder, hopping to the ground and turning back. "Shhh Nigel, the students are still around," she hissed, narrowing her eyes at her co-worker. She was incredibly paranoid about the younger students finding out about her form, and often the butt of jokes and taunts related to it. She wasn't sure exactly why she guarded the secret so deeply, but all she knew that when it was threatened she jumped to defend it. "Unless of course, secrets are only valuable if they belong to Slytherin."

 Pippa never knew quite how to respond to the Slytherin Head of House, but she did admit that it tended to be one of trust, and maybe just the slightest hint of hostility. She found his eagerness to approach others to be just a little unsettling. Besides, there was a thirteen year age difference, and while in one's adult life that doesn't make such an impact on relationships, the witch had never quite grown into that understand. Nigel was young, even younger than she had been when she started teaching at Hogwarts. She was thirty when she resigned from her Ministry position and accepted the Arithmancy post at the great wizarding school.

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Nigel smiled at the Professor before glancing around, hoping to not see any student around. The secret of the stern professor was kept guarded by the staff, and he was not the one to spill such secrets when the person herself did not want it exposed. He looked towards the books lining the shelves before grabbing one and feigning interest before saying, Pippa, haven't you learned to trust me so?

The professor feigned flipping the pages. He always liked to irk the Arithmancy Professor, just for fun. It was one of his qualitites to be very sly, as well as clever. Of course, it was a very treasured quality of a Slytherin, which was what made him a great find for the Board of Governors to head the house. Nigel, ever since his childhood, knew how to push almost everyone's buttons. He could irk, amuse, and even flutter anyone's feelings, and he knew it.

He saw the opportunity to do one of those right now and said, "Professor Noone, students are behind you right now."

Nigel knew he was going to pay for this, but he just couldn't resist.

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Scowling, Pippa put her hands on her hips as she watched the Head of Slytherin house pursue the books. She could tell that he wasn't acutally looking for anything to read, and it irked her. Slolwy she shut the book that she had been investigating earlier. A Potions book, probably someone writing an essay. Or just doing casual research? She tended to mistrust students doing independent research on such things, especially Potions which could be used for many illegitimate purposes. But at the same time she was a student once too, and she certainly dove into her own investigations.

 "There are different layers of trust, Nigel," Pippa answered simply, dryly almost. And it was true. She trusted the Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor with the same amount of vigor that she'd trust any of her coworkers. History has shown that minus a handful of occasions that Hogwarts staff has been good wizards and witches. So while she certainly didn't expect him to stab her in the back, she didn't hold much faith that it would be below him to diverge a secret or two.

 Nigel's next words made Pippa jump, and she spun around. She could sworn when she checked before transforming back the isle had been empty. Her brown eyes landed on two scared looking first years from her house. "Miss Montgomery, Miss Long, don't you have some studying to do to keep our house proud, or do you simply plan to wander aimlessly?" she asked, a snarl poking through her words. The elder woman liked to pride herself in her forcefulness, and the way she ruled the house of Ravenclaw with an iron fist. Over the years her seventh years have admitted to being fearful of her when they first enrolled. She took a strange sort of pride in it as she watched the girls scurry away.

 Turning back to her coworker, her face was still consorted into an angry expression.He was trying to be clever now, was he? Unluckily or him, he was up against a Ravenclaw, and they wrote the book on such matters. "I trust that you're properly amused now, Nigel?"

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Nigel smiled slyly at the woman and replied, "Amused? No such word in my vocabulary, Professor. More like, entertained."

The Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor could swear he saw a vein popping from the stern professor's forehead after she had told off those first years. The kids had not really seen her transform, but she didn't need to know that. The more angry she was of him, the more fun the conversation gets. He tried to look around to see if anyone was looking and or listening in on their conversation. He nodded slightly when he saw neither before moving in closer towards the woman.

Nigel knew he was going to pay for this but he did not mind. More probably, he did not think. His usual instincts took over and he whipered, "My dear Professor. You seem a little tense for a second! Is there something I could do to ease those knots? Maybe a massage?"

He was dead, and he knew it when he finished that line. It was too late though, and Nigel knew no amount of charm could probably save him. So, doing his best to put on a brave front, he smiled his signature smile, adding a coyness to it.

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Pippa forced her face into an almost poker like one of calm as she listened to the man correct himself. She wasn't surprised that he'd beat around the bush - what Slytherin was ever direct? -  but she didn't want to show anymore annoyance in front of any of the students that could be roaming around. She followed the mantra of "professionalism, professionalism, professionalism" ever to her faliure "Is that so?" she deadpanned, about ready to dismiss herself and leave the conversation.

 The Slytherin head of house approached her, and the brunette tensed, much like a cat ready to strike. Her hand slide into her robe sleeve and around her wand, half wanting to send some hex or charm her coworkers way but stopping herself short. It would be disastrous for her career, to say the least. "Professor Ravenhearst, might I suggest that you take a few steps out of my personal bubble and give those hands of yours a rest," the woman responded with more intensity to her low voice that she had intended. "That beaming personality of yours might impress the Headmaster and the other professors of whom you deal with, but it'll do nothing for me. Furthermore, do you honestly believe that this is the best venue for such an unbecoming display of childishness and lack of focus?"

 The Hogwarts professor could recognize the charm of Nigel Ravenhearst, but it was a brand that didn't appeal to her. She wasn't sure what she found so repulsing about it, but she was fairly certain that she was the only person who wasn't heads over heels adoring of the man.

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Nigel saw the professor becoming very tense and angry, which actually scared the man for a second. He knew that he had somehow crossed an invisible line that his colleague had set up and he needed to ammend his mistake. He knew that straining a relationship would not do well for him, as well, Professor Noone was known for her very vicious spell casting and he wasn't about to test her.

"No need to be snappy, Professor. I was just lightening up the mood."Nigel stammered as he took a step beck, with his hand gesturing for appeasement.

Raking his hand through his hair, he asked diplomatically, "So, what are you doing here Pippa? I would think that you had more important things to do other than following students around in the library."

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Pippa sighed as the womanizing professor finally backed off. She felt insanely silly, and defiantly knew that she had been overreacting in her viciousness towards her colleague. She never took advances well, that was for certain. It was probably why she never married and had that baby that she had always wanted and thought she'd have. She just never found someone she meshed with. She could dance around that the issue with this was the thirteen year age difference, but it wasn't at all. Still, her usage of "professor" was a clear sign of her annoyance. She only ever lobbed it at the coworkers she was angry at, or who were much older than she.

"No, you're right Nigel. I'm sorry, I just wish you didn't feel like you always had to lighten the mood," Pippa said, picking at a loss thread on her robes. She had taken note of Nigel's somewhat fearful reaction with some satisfaction. Maybe the talented wizard would learn to be a little more respectful, although she doubted it. Regardless, she'd never actually initiate a fight. She knew enough of the man to know that he would be a difficult match.

 "I'm just procrastinating I suppose," the professor answered, shrugging her shoulders. She wasn't sure exactly herself why she had chosen to roam the book shelves. "I don't have a class this period, and I didn't want to grade papers just yet. So I decided there was nothing better than strolling around aimlessly in my Anigamus form."

 Nigel was a fellow Anigmaus, and she was sure he could relate to her love of her animal form. It was her go to medium of de-stressing and thinking over life and certain problems. The ability to spy was an added bonus, and one she used occasionally in her Ministry years. Pippa's form was certainly more useful than some. People tend not to think twice when they saw a cat. A white wolf on the other hand, was far more suspicious. "What about you?"

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Nigel Ravenhearst sighed in relief as he saw the stern professors' face become much more relaxed. It seems his retreat was making things much more comfortable for Professor Noone, and he was glad for it. He did not want a full on hex on his face just yet, he still had a class in a few hours and having to miss it would definitely make him sad, if not depressed. Nigel liked teaching, and he savoured every class he taught.

The Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor smiled before replying, "Well, I have a class in a few, but right now, I'm mostly free and am on the prowl for some good texts for light reading. Of course, I could prowl around in my form but the students might panic, and we don't want that, yes?"

Nigel knew that a person in his animagus form felt much more free. It seems that the animal side of the person, which was mostly locked away, made it so that the person felt much less restraint and more freedom. It came with being an animagus, and that's why most animagus were warned not to fully succumb to their animal side. Being an animal, without restraints, was a great feeling. But it took great mental strength to not be overcome by it.

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The thread that she'd been pulling up started to give faster than anticipated. Wrapping the lose bit around her fingers she tugged on it, breaking it off closer to the cloth. She'd mend it, later, probably in an attempt to further procrastinate grading her essays. She tended to set high standards of writing and research requirements, and graded harshly based off of her criteria. She felt it made her students better for the effort, though the downside was that she spent twice as long on a paper as any of her peers did.

 "Some light reading you say? What do you have in mind?" The thought caught Pippa's attention immediately. Reading had always been one of her great loves. She tried to read something new everyday, be it news reports, a novel or a reference book. She was constantly thriving for more knowledge. She also loved sharing it, part of what made her a great professor (Well, in her mind at least).

 The woman let out a low chuckle at Nigel's words. "That's for sure. Your form's not very helpful in terms of sneaking, is it?" she prodded, keeping her voice formal enough not to slip back into total joking. She could practically hear the first years running to her panicking over a white wolf roaming the great halls. "More work for the rest of us, needing to do crowd control. Although, I'm curious what go down. I have a feeling some of the more daring students would challenge you."

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Nigel smiled at her before thinking if he should divulge which books he was here for. He knew that a certain someone woudn't want him to be looking at these kinds of books, and yet he felt obligated to learn more, even try to help that person alleviate her stress each time this situation happened. Nigel shook his head before replying slowly, "Lycanthropy. I wanted to research about them more."

The professor knew that Pippa would somehow know that he was lying, well maybe not divulging the whole truth. He was going to research more into Lycanthropy, but not for light reading. It was for a certain someone, and he knew that that certain someone, if she knew, might try stopping him from helping her. But of course, Nigel would never back down if he knew that it might help a friend. And he was certainly not going to back down in this endeavour of his.

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 "Lycanthropy. I wanted to research about them more."

 Instinctively Pippa's eyes narrowed at the words. Generally speaking she found that when witches and wizards looked into lycanthropy it wasn't for recreational purposes. The entire concept of such an awful disease was depressing, and their was still a lot of social stigma attached to the condition. Nigel's specialty wasn't in the field either, and while the woman was curious she didn't find it appropriate to pry. As much as she loathed to admit it, she trusted his judgement enough that if he was keeping a secret he would keep it from becoming dangerous to the students.

 "That's quiet an interesting topic, for light reading," Pippa said, shrugging and drumming her fingers against her desk in thought. "Have you tried Hairy Snout, Human Heart? It's an autobiography of a werewolf, published in 1975. It's a little outdated in that regards, but I'm sure the message is just as clear."

 The book suggestion wasn't as important to Pippa as Nigel's response would be. She had always believed that much could be learned about a person and their intent from the books they read.

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Nigel smiled at the suggestion of the professor before thinking. He was actually trying to find biographies, or maybe even journals of witches and wizards that had lycanthropy. If he was able to find one, and learn how they had managed to endure their transformations, then maybe he might be able to help his friend. Truth be told, he was very concerned for Eva, and what she had to go through every month. At times, when he was in his White Wolf form running in the Forbidden Forests, bathing in the full moon, he could hear the moans inside the cabin of the old keeper of Hogwarts. From then on, Nogel only got more curious and now, he decided to do something about it.

The professor shook his head before walking towards one section of the bookshelves before grabbing the said book that Pippa had mentioned. Also, he espied one other book that had no title. Narrowing his eyes, he grabbed it, only for the book to almost fall on the floor. Nigel quickly caught it before the cover fell open to reveal a name he was slightly familiar with due to the man's legacy, Remus Lupin.

Quickly, Nigel took both book before saying, "Well, I'm off now Pippa. I think I got everything I will need for my research. I do hope you stop hounding these students!"

With that, Nigel immediately set off, very excited of his find. If he was right, this was the journal of Remus Lupin, one of the greatest Werewolves in the turn of the century. And, if he was lucky, he might just get a clue as to how to help Eva and her furry little problem.

Exit!~

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 Pippa watched as the man retrieved her suggested book and one other. She tried to peer at the title but couldn't mange to see anything. She forced herself to forget it as she watched him gather his things.

"Well, I'm off now Pippa. I think I got everything I will need for my research. I do hope you stop hounding these students!" 

 The brief exchange had just about exhausted the Hogwarts Professor, and she was relived to see him go. She barely bit back the sigh of relief that bubbled to her lips, replacing it instead with a scowl. "I never hound students, Nigel. I'll have you know. Everything I do is for their own good!" she called in mock outrage to the man's retreating form. She waited for a few moments before smoothing her robes once more and walking towards the exit of the library, deciding to maybe get some more work done.