I'm so sick of running
As fast as I can
Wondering if I'd get there quicker
If I was a man
And I'm so sick of them
Coming at me again
'Cause if I was a man
Then I'd be the man

April 2, 1890 - Potions Classroom

It was rather frustrating. To say the least. Sweetie had seemed to be overlooked at every turn today. Outshined by one male peer or another. She was beginning to get quite sick of it. Her protection charm had been far better than Mr. Bones. That defensive spell had been more awe inspiring than Mr. Pyrites. And even Mr. Macnair's potion had smelt a bit off, in her opinion. But they all seemed to get higher praise today. It seemed like that was a constant.

Having had enough of it for today, she had actually been stupid enough to mutter 'are you serious' out loud. This had resulted in being asked to stay after class. Which was not her norm. She was not used to this. She didn't like this. "Professor Valenduris, I apologize for my blunt rudeness earlier." She stated the moment the last fellow student had left the room.

---

Meserimus Valenduris/Madeleine Backus

  

---

Magic by Lady!

Wanna be there for Sweetie during her post-election slump?

Miss Whitledge had been on edge since she had arrive din his classroom, that much was obvioius, na dher muttered exclaimation at his praise of Mister McNair was final proof positive. He wasn't one to give out detentions willy nilly, and even less so against his own house, especially the likes of Miss Whitledge who was a superior student. Her mastery of the animagus transformation well ahead of expectation, and her age was proof enough of that. It had been enough even to impress Archimedes, who had nodded thoughtfully and asked for her to be pointed out to him.

When the rest of the class left, she started by apologising, but he gestured into his office, and took a seat behind his deak. 'Take a seat please Miss Whitledge' he gestured to the ladies chair which sat opposite his desk, in his office. Normally the chairs defauly position was as a gentlemans chair but would augement itself to suit the gender of the person taking the seat; the lowered arms of the ladies chair necessary to accomodate the skirts of the young ladies.

'Have you thought about what your prospects are after your schooling is complete?' he steepled his fingers before his face. Having recently had a similar conversation with Miss Lestrange he was curious as to wether their answers would differ.

  

---

Bee is amazing

The gesture did not sit well with Sweetie. Did that mean he didn't want to hear another word? Was he that insulted? It was just one comment. She had more negative words with her own brother. But she did as - gestured? - told.

The chair she was faced with sitting in magically changed before her eyes to better accommodate her dress. At least that was a positive to her day thus far. "I plan to be an unspeakable." Not an answer that most women were likely to admit so quickly. And she was unapologetic of that. No mention of a marriage. She could honestly care less about getting married at this point.

---

  

---

Magic by Lady!

Wanna be there for Sweetie during her post-election slump?

Meseirmus was perhaps more understanding than most would be of a woman wanting her own profession, after all part of his attraction to Katerina had been drive and her ambition. He also understood that most women of rank and breeding were looked as ascant if they sought a career rather than the normal avenues of acceptable behaviour for women of their class.

'I have 2 important questions for your Miss Whitledge and I won't judge younr answers' he explained, 'Are you very sure that you have no interest in debuting and being a debutante, and if not, has anyone made an introduction for you at the ministry?' he asked.

---

  

---

Bee is amazing

Father and mother had always been ones to encourage a career. Mother had even taken one after she had been out of mourning over father. It was hard for each of the Whitledge children, but it was also something to be admired. Though Sweetie wasn't very sure if she would ever choose to have children. Risking giving up her job in order to raise them. But that was not something she mentioned to anyone. She had dealt with enough judgement over her choices in life.

The questions were to be expected, though the first was not all that welcomed. Sweetie was sure not to let any negativity show. "I'm certain that I shall not be an official debutante of the season. No one has made any offers to introduce me in the Ministry." As if Handsome would ever bother.

---

  

---

Magic by Lady!

Wanna be there for Sweetie during her post-election slump?

Meserimus nodded in consideration of her answer

'It is a difficult path you have chosen Miss Whitledge' he acknowledged, 'More than one of my daughters and granddaughters has chosen work over more...' he picked his word carefully, 'traditional employment.' It hadn't always been easy, he would like to think he had always been accepting but that wasn't true, the first of his daughters to choose employment had erupted into a major family dispute, long since resolved of course, but time and tides change a man and he now knew that pleasure and satisfaction that could be gained from working as a form of self fulfilment. 'But if you would tread it, I may be able to make some introduction for you to someone within the appropriate departments.' he offered seriously, 'I presume your family have accepted your intentions' he smiled, slightly, 'Even if they are not entirely thrilled' he knew something of the young lady brother and guardian, having taught him, he worked for the ministry himself if he wasn't mistaken.

---

  

---

Bee is amazing

Sweetie would be lying if she had said that it wasn't refreshing to hear a professor see her choice in a more positive light than most of society. And to have daughters who worked as well? It did bring a sense of calm to hear. Not many families were so open. Hers was an odd one, to say the least.

"I would be most grateful for your aid. And there is nothing to worry of my family. Our parents raised my sisters and I to see women in careers as something positive. While my older sister may be a debutante, I'm sure my other sisters will find careers for themselves." Although she could never be sure of Pumpkin at this point, and that did tug at her heart. Still, she had to move on. Mourning practically seemed the norm for her family, so she knew how to keep a calm face at this point.

---

  

---

Magic by Lady!

Wanna be there for Sweetie during her post-election slump?

Meserimus nodded carefully, 'Excellent! In that case I shall make some enquiries,' he explained to her, 'It may be that I do not receive any sort of the reply until after your debut and you've completed your Hogwarts career.' he explained, most sensible ministry types wouldn't waste their time with a Hogwarts age student, not at least until their NEWT grades were released and any career became a likely possibility - lest every student with Troll level results waste the time of every auror in the Empire with pointless conversations and mindless chatter when there was no real chance of any sort of career coming from the time and effort.

'I'll let you know as soon as I have something Miss Whitledge,' he explained, 'your grades are predicted to be good, and with your notable achievements as an animagus I'm sure we can get you something of a head start.' Meserimus gave her a benevolent smile.

---

  

---

Bee is amazing

It was a sensible assumption that Ministry officials would not care at all for someone without NEWTs score results. Quite frankly, she wouldn't bother opening a letter about someone in her current position if she was in charge of a Ministry department. Too many other things to do with so little time.

A head start would be wonderful. For a woman, a head start was everything. Someone in the likes of Kristoffer Lestrange could only have his daddy snap his fingers and the annoying snob would be the assistant head of a department in the matter of hours. While she was in a better position than other girls of lower standing, she was still a woman. "Thank you, professor." This was certainly not how she anticipated this conversation going.

---

  

---

Magic by Lady!

Wanna be there for Sweetie during her post-election slump?

Meserimus nodded thoughtfully and scribbled a note with his quill, a reminder to himself to take note of when the NEWT grades came out and to send an introduction letter when the time came. He had plenty of contacts within the ministry and he searched his memory for the correct one. 'when your NEWTs drop through the letterbox I'll send you a note to say I've written. If you don't get it do send me a letter to remind me!' he chuckled, 'I'm of rather an age and can be forgetful.' He wasn't generally, but he was also expecting to be lost in his own work during the summer and if there was anything likely to make him forget his promise it was his own research.

'I'm sure your grades will give you no grounds for concern - so we need only wait out the summer.' he noted.

---

Wrap?

The following 1 user Likes Meserimus Valenduris's post:1 user Likes Meserimus Valenduris's post
   Acacia Darlington

---

Bee is amazing