Because I can, really....

[camwyn]

Sophronia Toops smoothed down the front of her robes with both hands, shifting anxiously from foot to foot. Oh, sure, she would be spending most of the Feast at the head table, where no one could see but the two teachers on either side of her, but- well, these new robes wrinkled so, and she couldn’t be stopping for a Pressing Charm every few minutes. Why had she ever let Madame Malkin talk her into linen?

"Oh, Sophie, do stop fretting," said the amused, grey-haired witch beside her. "You do this every year, and it never helps."

"Well, I’m sorry, Rolanda, but I’ve got an image to maintain," Sophronia snapped back. It came out a little harsher than she intended, she bit her lip. "Er. I didn’t mean it that way."

"It’s all right." Hooch laughed, clapping her on the shoulder. "Honestly, though, it’s just the start-of-term feast. The way you carry on, you’d think it was an inspection from the Ministry. I doubt if anyone’s even looking at you, other than the first years."

"Yes- well-" A familiar odor stung at her nostrils, distracting her from what she was about to say. Hooch, noticing the silence, turned to see what was so interesting.

"Oh," she said. "Well, that explains a few things. Can’t say I blame you."

Sophronia’s cheeks went red. "It’s not-"

Hooch grinned. "Of course it’s not," she said soothingly. "I understand. Don’t worry, I shan’t say a word."

"I’m serious, Rolanda! This has nothing to do with the new fellow!"

"Really? Can I have him then?"

"Rolanda!"

"I mean, look at that arse of his-"

Sophronia would’ve liked to sink through the floor. All she could manage was an indignant squeaking noise.

Comments

[kippurbird.livejournal.com]

Utterly lovely! Who is Toops though? Muggle studies?

[camwyn]

Yeah. We've never had a canonical name for the Muggle Studies teacher, nor for Ancient Runes; I gave the Ancient Runes slot to one Caleb Augustus Blodgett. Toops teaches Muggle studies and has been pestering John for some time since he knows about a zillion times more about Muggles than any wizard she's spoken to in the past. It's like being the anthropologist with the really obscure specialization, suddenly finding out a new faculty member studied the same dialect of the same tribe as you.

[kippurbird.livejournal.com]

And it doesn't hurt that he's a handsome single bloke either. ^_^