February 27th, 1890 — A Random Corridor

The period between the end of classes and dinner time seemed to be Adrienne's favorite time of day. While being an OWL student meant she had only started to comprehend what the meaning of a work ethic was, she was still a sucker for the lazy moments and didn't hesitate to take advantage of one whenever she could. This seemed to be such an occasion.

Plus, she was studying a book...it just didn't happen to be anything she was currently studying for a mark in school. A Guide to Intermediate Legilimency was propped in her hand, its pages significantly worn. Even the cover seemed to have been mended repeatedly, as it was frayed within what seemed to be it's last breath. In her other hand, the Slytherin held a half-eaten apple she'd been munching on to tide her over until their next meal.

Adrienne's eyes shot across each page in concentration. Occasionally she glanced at the silver cat that sat next to her, her eyes narrowing slightly as if she was trying to read the cat's mind. Artemis merely stared back unblinkingly; if it were a staring contest, the clear winner was the lazy animal. With a sigh, Adrienne turned back to her book only to find someone in front of her staring at her; or rather the title, seeing as it was just below her eye line. "This is my own copy." she said by way of greeting, her thumb prepared to flick open to the page where her name could be found in faded ink.

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Open to another student (6th year+) or a member of staff!

  

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’Oh do excuse me Miss Selwyn’ Meserimus said with a smile, ’I though it was beginners Legilmency, which I was looking to borrow from the library’. He was clearly joking. The Slytherin head of house glanced between his student and the cat that sat next to her and wondered if she was attempting to use her new skills on the animal.

Meserimus had a sense of pride when his students showed themselves to be competitive and keen to advance, he had himself been a similar sort of competitive in school – and in his experience it was a mark of their house. Competitive in academia was a big part of the ambition oft associated with Slytherin, and the sort of cunning intelligence needed to work out for oneself that advanced magic was there to be sought out, and it was on the individual to seek it. A good example was Miss Whitleidge – who had managed the animagus transformation while still in school – and another member of Slytherin house.

’Intermediate Legilemency’ Meserimus said with a stroke of his beard and an amused tone in his voice. As though mulling the words over in his mind. ’How very ambitious of you Miss Selwyn, have you a particular reason in mind to master the skill? Or do you intend to use it to divine the OWL results from the examiners mind.’ he asked with a smile. ’Not that I disapprove of either motive.’

  

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Bee is amazing

Adrienne blinked. It hadn't occurred to her to use Legilimency for OWL's results; she had far from a photographic memory, but she knew she wanted to achieve those results on her own. She took another bite from her apple before closing the cover. "No," she replied, her eyes downcast as Artemis came to sit on her lap.

It was, she supposed, rather comforting that Professor Valenduris wasn't one to balk at dishonestly obtaining OWL results. But having the prospect dangling in front of her really didn't make the notion all that more appealing. "If one can master it, they'll be further able to repel it." she said, putting the book away beside her.

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For Meserimus there was a difference between stealing results, or writing notes on your wrists and obtaining the results through the use of some other form of magical skill. After all Legilemency was considerably more difficult to master than information on Goblin Battles from the 16th century, and if one mastered the suprerior skill in order to prosper at the more simplistic task then as far as Meserimus was concerned the results were warranted. It was perhaps mean spirited of him to think that some classes were superior to others but as someone who had mastered an academic subject he did find himself looking down on some other subjects. Potions, alchemy, herbology, charms, DADA, transfiguration, and perhaps the occaisional other would be all that amounted to truly worthy of study- the others...well 'soft' subjects at the best.

When she revealed her true motivation was actually to learn Occlumency Meserimus could not help but be surprised. 'Have you any reason to fear the invastion of your mind?' he asked, as a head of house he needed to confirm for himself that nothing was threatening the students of his house. After discovering the threat apparently posed to Mister Leverett by other elements of his life, he was perhaps being a little too cautios in dealing with his students. 'Any reason you need occlumency to gaurd your thoughts?'

  

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Bee is amazing

Again, the Slytherin girl shook her head. "No." She repeated, though she averted her eyes to think of her entire family. "Not fear, exactly." Secrets seemed to be the fabric with which the Selwyn tapestry was woven, and Adrienne knew that when the time came for her to have her own secrets, she should do well to guard them from anyone with prying eyes.

"Once one can read your thoughts, they are able to truly hurt you, are they not?" she replied evenly, raising her gaze to her Head of House once more.

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With a quick wave of his hand, he turned the stone planter into a bench. Meserimus seated himself beside the girl, although taking the low stone bench that sat along the hall, rather than the floor, he was 140 after all. He noted the averted eyes and avoidance of his gaze.

’You can speak to me with candor Miss Selwynn’ he noted to her, ’If you do not wish anything to go further than between us we can keep it that way.’ In his long life Meserimus had been the keeper of a lot of secrets, student and adult alike, ’But you are right’ he admitted at length. ’Those who truly know us have the tools to hurt us.’ it was very slytherin to fear the exposure of the soul, the weakness that others could exploit. ’But those who truly know us are also those that can truly love us.’

He understood that better than most, his wife was young, and beautiful, he was old – very old. And It was only Katerina’s knowledge of him, the colour and youth of his soul that formed the basis of their romance. ’Secrets form a wall between us and others, but a secret shared can bring people together.’

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Bee is amazing

Adrienne offered a smile to the elder professor – she appreciated his frankness and dedication to let his students know their voices would be heard. But Adrienne was not one of those students begging to have their thoughts validated, solely because she did not think much of her own ideas. People could criticize or praise her however they wanted, but she decided she would very much like to remain unchanged.

Love, however – she loved her brother and she knew one day she might meet someone that would change all of that. It wasn't a day she looked forward to; merely an event she knew might happen but was blissfully happy to ignore it until such matters made themselves known. "I quite agree, Professor," She said, grateful that he'd not punished her for her thoughts. "As a future woman of society I do feel that it's important to keep ones own ideals guarded to a point."

Artemis purred in her lap, arching her back and mewing contentedly. "However I find the secrets I share with my friends do make those relationships special in a way."

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Meserimus smiled behind his beard, ’possibly a rather good idea Miss Selwynn, while I have some experience of the fairer sex I would imagine the secrets of young ladies to be the best secrets indeed’, his daughters and granddaughters had all gone through one of those phases, furtive notes in dairies and journals, long letters to friends and confidantes no doubt spilling the truth of some lost love, or handsome cad who would not notice them – that’s what he presumed at least.

’I do not personally keep many secrets,’ he shared in turn, ’when you are as old as I am time is much too precious to worry about who knows what colour your socks are.’ he chortled and combed two his fingers through his beard, that wasn’t strictly true, he had as many as any man ’so I have never had much use for legilmency myself, but if you are looking for additional classes I might have a word around for you? Or see if there is someone, by way of a tutor, to be recommended for a young lady?’ he offered, when one of his own children had shown an interest in becoming an animagus, they had procured a tutor to assist her in her home.

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Bee is amazing

Adrienne offered a grateful smile. On top of being her Head of House, she appreciated him as a Potions professor and rather liked his lessons. She excelled in them and when she had questions he always answered her with gusto. It was because of this that she nodded her acceptance of his offer without suspicion. "I would appreciate that, Professor Valenduris, thank you," she commented. "If it's not too much trouble for you."

The last thing she would want to do is hinder him; being a professor must be rather busy after all!

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'Not at all Miss Selwyn' he remarked, it was late in the year, so it was unlikely that they would manage to get anything in place by the end of the school year 'But worst comes to the worst if we can't get anything arranged for over the summer months we will get something in place by the time you get back in September.'

He moved a little, preparing to head bit further down the corridor, his stomach growling for dinner, the smell of which was already wafting through the castle. He did often wonder how the elves achieved that - the kitchens were cut off from the rest of the school through the kitchen portrait, but somehow the smell always permeated the school for the hour before dinner - a silent call to the castles residents to remind them it was almost time for dinner -from the highest tower to the deepest of the dungeons, the smell of roasting meats and savoury sauces got into every corner of the castle.

'Be sure you don't miss dinner Miss Selwynn! You'll need plenty of energy to master such a complex skill.' he gave a curt formal bow to the young lady, and headed down the corridor to towards the stairs that led to the great hall.

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Wrap - unless you want a reaction.

  

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Bee is amazing

"I won't miss it!" Suddenly she was looking forward to the next year. On top of Ambrosia giving her pointers on becoming an Animagus, she also now had Professor Valenduris helping her search for a Legilimency tutor. Smiling to herself, Adrienne nodded. "Thank you, Professor Valenduris," she said. "I look forward to next year."

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