New Kid (Jon)

[Airous Fai]

Age: 11
House: Hufferpuff

Airous was sitting on the floor in the hufferpuff common room near the fire place. He had relit the fire and was now warming is frozen fingers. It was past midnight during winter and Airous was frozen to the bone. Of course the hogwarts blankets had been heavy enough to keep the chill away but Airous hadn't been able to go to sleep and had been wandering the halls. He had come back to the common room when he was frozen.

Airous sneezed loudly. Great he was getting sick again. The small cold was probably from that day. It had snowed like mad around campus and even with the snow a lot of his classes had been outside. He hadn't been feeling good all day. And he felt worse even now. Airous bear hugged himself, trying to keep as much warmth near the fire as possible. His teeth began to chatter and his body began to shake,

Airous jumped when he heard footsteps coming from across the room. Hopefully it wasn't his head of house. The man seemed to not have been in a good mood and Airous wondered why but hadn't wanted to know for he didn't like to talk to others. Nor get on a moody professors bad side.

[Jonathan Doom]

Age: 24

Life goes on. Those were Alissa's last words to Jonathan before he had left for Hogwarts after Summer vacation ended. He couldn't understand how she could sound so callous when she'd spoken them when he'd heard them, and thinking back, he could still not understand. They had resonated in his head all day, taunting him every hour on the hour. She was gone and that was that. But to put it as brash as Alissa had... it was something he felt he would never let her forget. Life goes on, she'd said and perhaps, she was right. But that didn't mean it had to go on yet.

He almost hadn't taken his post back at Hogwarts that year. He almost decided to take a year off for grieving, and almost stayed home to be with the family, figuring they'd need him. Alissa's reaction to the suggestion was what made him return. Not because she wanted him to, but because he suddenly felt like he did not want to be around her. It wasn't like they were getting on well those days, anyway. He'd returned to his job teaching and watching over the badgers, but he hadn't been the same that year. All his students had noticed that his temper had been growing shorter and shorter, and all the Hufflepuffs had noticed that he didn't interact with them as much as he had years prior. Jonathan Doom had returned to Hogwarts, but he had come back as nothing more than a fraction of what he had been the year before.

Meeting Airous, in many ways, had been good for him. Perhaps, in some ways, they'd needed each other more than Jon would ever admit. Jonathan had never been as intuitive as his wife, but the first time he'd seen Airous he felt as though the boy had a lot more going on than anyone would ever guess. He himself could not have guessed exactly what he'd learn in the years to come.

He returned to the common room that night after a long smoke (or pack of them) in a locked bathroom. He had no fear of being caught for magic could easily make the smell disappear. The room was dimly lit by a fire place, of which Jonathan was thankful. The halls had been bitterly cold. Winter had come early and the snow had piled high outside. But the presence of a fire meant that a student was out of bed. Jonathan let out a sigh. It was his job to make sure all his badgers were in bed on time, so he supposed he'd have to say something to the student. He approached the fireplace quickly, sitting on the floor beside the student, knees to his chest. "It is past midnight," Jonathan said, eyes on the fireplace rather than the boy, "Why are you still up?" His voice had sounded distant, almost even cold. Traits that, before the tragedy, only Alissa had heard. "And you should see someone about that sneeze. Untreated colds can quickly become pneumonia."

OOC: I think his age would be right... assuming Airous' current age matches his bio. If not, well, it's close enough. ^^; Hope this works. Also, sorry it's so long. Had loads of muse.

[Airous Fai]

Airous frowned as he realized the figure was indeed the head of house. He had never talked to the man before. He had heard great things about the man passed along by the badgers but all their positive talking had been false, well at least this year. Just his luck to get the grumpy head of house. Airous didn't look at the man. He was to scared to for fear of getting his head ripped off for not being in bed. It took him a few minutes to find his voice to answer Jonathan's question. "I......couldn't sleep....." he said softly.

Airous sneezed once more in his hands. Of course Jonathan was right. He should go to the nurse. But if he did that then he would have to explain the scars and bruises on his body that where covered by his hogwarts uniform. Airous held his hands out once more to the fire and sighed "am....I in trouble?" he asked Jonthan in the same soft voice that could be easily missed. Airous looked up at him for a answer. The head of house professor seemed.... Stressed as if holding a dark secret back. It wasn't Airous's place to poke his nose into but he couldn't help but wonder what was so bad to have made the head of house this way.

[Jonathan Doom]

Jonathan instantly noticed how the young badger wouldn't even met his gaze. He supposed many students had taken to avoiding it that year. (Give a handful of ill behaved students detention for the first time, and everyone assumes you like giving and will likely do so just for looking at you the wrong way.) He could not deny that he felt irate at that moment. Nor could he deny that if Airous spoke the wrong way, he might be likely to throw a detention at him just out of reflex. However, the sight of Airous avoiding his gaze softened him just slightly as he sat next to him. "Why?" he asked simply, eyes on the fire.

Jonathan heard him sneeze again and turned his head at the sound. Airous hadn't said anything about whether or not he'd see a nurse, so Jonathan could only assume that meant he wouldn't for whatever reason. "I'm serious about seeing the nurse," he said, voice sounding a bit harsher than he intended. He couldn't have known about what Airous was hiding underneath his Hogwarts uniform. And even so, he still might have urged him to at least consider seeing the nurse. He sighed at Airous' question. Was Airous in trouble? Well, he hadn't released a bucket of crickets in the library like the last student he gave detention to had. Nor had he bullied a Muggle born kid like that Slytherin boy had. Still, up at midnight and in the common room? Such behavior really wasn't common from his Hufflepuff's. Especially that year. "Do you think you should be?" he asked, "Be careful answering that question."

[Airous Fai]

Airous heard the professor sit next to him. He swallowed hard nervously at Jonathan's question. "n-nightmares..." he said honestly. Though he wondered if Jon would believe him. Airous nearly jumped when Jon spoke once more. Harsh words aimed at Airous. He looked up at Jon and stared at him with wide eyes as if Jon had back handed him. He didn't know how to responded. He knew Jon was right, he should see the nurse. But if Jon knew what he was hiding would he understand why he didn't want to? After a few moments Airous nodded to Jon "yes....professor Doom." he said trying not to mumble.

At Jon's next question Airous bit his lip as he thought about a answer. Yes he should get punished for he had stepped out of the common room and was up past curfew. He just wished he wouldn't be. Airous sighed looking down in shame "yes professor Doom." he said being honest. He figured he rather get in trouble for being honest then get in trouble for trying to get out of trouble. If that made sense.

[Jonathan Doom]

Jonathan stared at Airous in confusion when he said nightmares. Though he still felt irritated and slightly angry, he softened a bit at the word. He knew too well what it was like to not be able to sleep because of nightmares. He had spent most of his childhood sleeping with one eye open, and after what happened to his daughter... He couldn't remember the last time he'd gotten a good nights sleep. "Nightmares?" he asked, voice suddenly more gentle than it had been only seconds prior. "Care to explain?" he questioned, though he wondered if Airous would even want to answer.

He let out a sigh, some how doubting that Airous would see a nurse. He made a mental note to speak to the nurse later and ask if she had seen him. He'd probably just drop it, though, after being distracted by work the following day. Planning lessons, grading papers, making tests and pop quizzes... it wasn't as easy as some students seemed to think it was. "At least you're honest," Jonathan said in reply to Airous' answer, "But I'm not so sure you should be in trouble. At least you're still in the common room. Think about the Gryffindor and the Slytherin heads of house. They have to deal with students sneaking out late at night, don't they? Worst I get is someone sitting in the common room at midnight," he sighed, realizing that, maybe, he had been too hard on his students recently. Nevertheless, he knew it wouldn't change any time soon. "House point loss or detention," he said, "Your choice."

[Airous Fai]

When Jon asked for him to explain, Airous froze like a deer in headlights, eyes wide, not making eye contact to the car, who in this case was Jon. How could he explain. That the nightmares where based off his home life where his father was a abusive drunk? Would Jon believe him? Airous didn't know the man at all. He might go straight to the headmaster. If airous's father knew he told someone he would surly kill him. Airous needed a lie. "Just......I...i...guess.....h-homesickness." That was good. Airous breached out slowly so Jon wouldn't notice when he realized that he probably would have a successful lie.

At Jon's question, Airous honestly wasn't sure. He hated having to chose. So instead he shock his head. The pressure of such a easy choice already getting to him. He had never been in trouble before and he didn't like it. It showed on his disappointed look on his face as his eyes became softly wet from holding back tears. "Detention..." Airous whispered. He deserved it anyways. Wasn't that what his father would say when he beat him.

[Jonathan Doom]

Jon kept his gaze on Airous, noticing how he avoided eye contact. Perhaps, that was one of the first things that had made him curious about Airous. Perhaps, it was one of the first signs he'd picked up on. At that moment, however, he wasn't sure what it meant. Maybe it was just fear of being in trouble. After all, it was late and Jon did have the authority to punish him. Detention was being gentle, technically. Most professors would determine that a letter home, loss of house points, and a detention were more sufficient. He probably would have himself, if the boy hadn't softened him just a bit. He furrowed his brow at Airous' answer. The way he spoke it - the stutter - it didn't sound that convincing to him. "Just homesickness?" he asked doubtfully.

He heard Airous whisper his answer. He wasn't like the other students. The ones who would fight the punishment, or the ones who would shiver in fear. No, Jonathan felt he wasn't even like the latter. In fact, he couldn't determine what was going on in Airous' mind. He sighed. There was a soft, almost solemn smile on his face as he said, "I'm sorry," It wasn't often that professors actually apologized to students, but Jonathan was, in many ways, unconventional. "I understand too well what it's like to be homesick. We professors experience it from time to time, too. I guess I've been too rough on you guys lately, haven't I?" he added with a frown, "Tell you what. We'll just brush this under the carpet and pretend it never happened as long as you promise that it won't again."

[Airous Fai]

The more Airous thought of it the more he realized it had been a complete lie. Home was the very last place he would ever want to be at that moment. He would rather be tied to a tree in the forbidden forest than be home. He just hoped Jon wouldn't see how the lie.

Airous listened to Jon with wide eyes and he said that they could pretend it never happened. No professor would ever let a student off the hook so easily. "Why?" Airous said without thinking of the question before he spoke it. He had wondered why Jon had let him go but not many students would question it. He played with his fingers in a nervous motion. He wished he hadn't asked why but it was to late now.

[Jonathan Doom]

Why. That was a strange question for a student to ask. Jonathan eyed Airous for a moment, wondering why he would even care about the why. Most students would be happy to get off scot-free, without a single punishment to show for the crime. They'd promptly thank the professor before scuttling quickly away before the professor in question could change his or her mind. Why was Airous different? As Jonathan stared at the young student, he had his own why on his mind. The difference was, he didn't speak it aloud.

"I suppose because I feel like if I should punish a student," he began, eyes on the fire as he spoke, "the student should have done something to deserve the punishment. I don't feel like you have. Sure, you're awake past curfew. And you should be in your dorm, rather than in the common room. But," he added, eyes on Airous now, "you didn't leave the common room. You're not disturbing anyone, nor are you wandering the halls. You're innocently sitting in front of a fire. Is it often hard for you to sleep?" he asked curiously, "Do you often have nightmares?" He wasn't sure if Airous would answer either of those questions, but he allowed them to be spoken out loud.

[Airous Fai]

Airous listened as his question was explained. Airous nodded slowly understanding. Though he was still curious. Professor Jonathan had been in a way, plotting his punishment. Making him scared and then making him have to chose. All in all taking it back. Airous didn't question his judgement anymore though. Instead he remained quiet.

Airous nodded to answer Jon's questions. He did often have nightmares and he usually came down to the common room or wondered the halls to try to clear his mind of them. "I sleep walk....sometimes too." He said softly. He figured maybe that would help him in the future if Jon was to ever catch him sleep walking. Then maybe he wouldn't get punished for it.

[Jonathan Doom]

Jonathan glanced at Airous when he explained that he would sometimes sleep walk. He sympathised with Airous. More than he cared to admit. Nightmares often plagued him, too. Too often he'd fall asleep next to Alissa or Jacoby, to have to be shaken awake in the middle of the night due to tossing, turning, and having a damn near panic attack in his sleep. He didn't think he was a sleep walker. At least, neither of them ever reported that. They did tell him of night terrors. But he couldn't remember those, anyway. Still, he wasn't willing to share too much of that with Airous. Not yet, anyway. Scratch the surface, maybe. But right now, he was far more concerned about Airous. Because his instincts said something wasn't right, and wasn't Jacoby always telling him to trust his instincts?

"I'll keep that in mind," he vowed. And he would. It was important to know, after all. Such things had to be recorded in permanent records. Especially when the school was a boarding school, like Hogwarts was. "Have you ever... spoken to anyone about this?" he asked. Curiosity killed the cat and all, and Jonathan was a curious and concerned man. "I won't force you to. If you don't want to," he added quickly, knowing many Professors would have. His own head of house had and he had vowed never to do the same unless the situation was dire. Of course, just then, he didn't know that Airous' was.

[Airous Fai]

Airous stayed as he was, huddled in on himself, catching warmth from the fireplace. He felt his head start to hurt and wondered if he should try to sleep once more. He didn't want to get up and just leave rudely though. At the same time the conversation was starting to make him feel unconfrontable. If Jon got to close then who know what would happen.

Airous shock his head no at Jon's question. He hadn't taped to anyone about the sleep walking. Then he would have to explain the nightmares. Which all lead back to the main source of the problem. Airous wasn't ready for anyone to find out about his home life. He was scared. Scared of what might happen if they knew. Though he was sure his father didn't keep much of it a secret.

[Jonathan Doom]

Jonathan kept his eyes on Airous, warming himself up with the fireplace. He held either hand in front of it, allowing the heat to spread through them and to his body. Even still, there was a slight shiver spreading through him suddenly as he stared at the boy. He noticed how he got quiet. He wondered if he was withdrawing, but didn't ask. He didn't know much about Airous, and wasn't sure how far he should pry. He himself wouldn't have opened up readily to a stranger at Airous' age. Even now, he would avoid the questions, opting to change the subject instead. Still, the quieter Airous became, the more his curiosity toward him grew.

He saw Airous shake his head and sighed. "Have you ever considered it?" he asked carefully, obviously considering each word before he spoke it. "Of course, no one can force you to," he added. He grew quiet for a moment, eyes drifting to the fire rather than the other. "You're very quiet," he noted.

[Airous Fai]

Airous watched Jon outstretch his hands to catch warmth from the fire. The air had become heavy and Airous couldn't help but cough, feeling as if he was chocking on the weight of the silence. His cough had a sickly dry sound to him. As if his lungs where scraping against tobacco, though, Airous hand never smoked in his life. However his father was a chimney even when sober. They say second hand kills faster than first hand smoke.

"I'll...be picked on....if others knew." He said softly. It was the truth though. Airous was picked on by the other students for just using the bathroom. It seemed no matter where he went someone was always trying to kick him down. He heard Jon's next words and suddenly became nervous. "S-sorry....ill try....not to be." He said the sentence strained.