"You would stay here, with us—with my mother and Agatha and myself. Your grandfather is here, of course. But he has been unwell recently and might stay up in his rooms," Samuel answered. His eyes remained calm. There was no hint in them that the topic of his father might cause him distress—it looked more so as if his gaze became more impenetrable; more devoid of expression. One had to know Samuel Griffith very well to interpret this correctly, and few people did really know him at all. He continued: "At least until term starts at Hogwarts. By end of the year I will make more permanent arrangements and you will be free to live with me." Living with his niece was a peculiar thought, he had to admit. His usual manner of living on his own would not suffice, it would not be proper. An actual household would need to be established. Samuel studied Eleanor's demeanor, her tightly drawn up shoulders and crossed arms.
Then he moved towards the kettle. It seemed appropriate to offer her tea. "I have secured a position at Hogwarts. Teaching Alchemy." The water began to heat with a tap of his wand. "Which means you would see more of me than you might wish for, should you choose to return to school. As for your current home—it is not my wish to make you choose between your parents and the opportunities I offer. However, your father's reaction to these changes may force such a choice upon us, regardless."
He tapped the kettle with his wand and tea and cups started to prepare themselves. There was a strange mundanity to these acts. "Agatha has already prepared your old room upstairs. Unless you would prefer different quarters, away from the family wing. There is space enough in this house."
Samuel paused. "You need not decide everything tonight. The hour is late." The teacups, finally, settled down on the table. Samuel left behind the secure distance of his place by the stove and sat down at the table opposite of his niece. He looked into her eyes briefly before he took his cup of tea. It was his opinion that he was doing the right thing -- however, and he thought of his brother Gilbert, his maneuver would seperate her from her family of birth entirely. It was sadly not avoidable.
Then he moved towards the kettle. It seemed appropriate to offer her tea. "I have secured a position at Hogwarts. Teaching Alchemy." The water began to heat with a tap of his wand. "Which means you would see more of me than you might wish for, should you choose to return to school. As for your current home—it is not my wish to make you choose between your parents and the opportunities I offer. However, your father's reaction to these changes may force such a choice upon us, regardless."
He tapped the kettle with his wand and tea and cups started to prepare themselves. There was a strange mundanity to these acts. "Agatha has already prepared your old room upstairs. Unless you would prefer different quarters, away from the family wing. There is space enough in this house."
Samuel paused. "You need not decide everything tonight. The hour is late." The teacups, finally, settled down on the table. Samuel left behind the secure distance of his place by the stove and sat down at the table opposite of his niece. He looked into her eyes briefly before he took his cup of tea. It was his opinion that he was doing the right thing -- however, and he thought of his brother Gilbert, his maneuver would seperate her from her family of birth entirely. It was sadly not avoidable.
