|
|
Post by Alloy Alloy on May 3, 2006 5:32:40 GMT -5
It was just like any other day, the headmistress was roaming the halls to make sure no students were running about skipping class. Obviously, she wasn't a very good Headmistress or all the students were on their greatest behavior since school had started. Instead of looking out for students in the hallways, Odette decided she'd have to go make sure her new Flying and Quidditch professor, Alex Parks was doing all right.
She made her way to the professor's office, and knocked softly on his office door. While waiting she brushed a couple strands of hair from her face.
|
|
|
|
Post by ...Really Bad Eggs... on May 3, 2006 15:44:10 GMT -5
Alex was replying to an owl he’d been sent earlier that day – it was from his daughter, Sammy’s, nanny who was saying she had to stop looking after Sam for ‘personal reasons’. It would have helped if the childminder had elaborated in the letter, and it frustrated Alex that he had so little to go on. After all, as much as he’d like it, it wasn’t as if Sam could come and stay with him at Hogwarts.
Interrupting his thoughts there was a light knock at the door, “Enter,” he said, without looking up, but the person hadn’t seemed to hear him, so he got up and strode over to the door, pulling it open he greeted the person on the other side with a smile, “Yeah?” he said. Noticing it was the Headmistress he smiled slightly wider and said, “Hi there, you wanna come in?” Backing into his office he stood so Odette could walk in and brushed some of the stuff he’d been moving into the office off a chair and pulled it out for the Head to sit on.
“Right, what can I do for you?”
|
|
|
|
Post by Alloy Alloy on May 3, 2006 15:46:17 GMT -5
Odette moved her way into the office with a smile. "Oh, nothing. I just came to see how things were for you. To see if you are doing all right with lessons and what not." Odette bushed a few of stray hairs back behind her ear. Her smile widening a bit.
|
|
|
|
Post by ...Really Bad Eggs... on May 3, 2006 15:59:23 GMT -5
"Oh, nothing. I just came to see how things were for you. To see if you are doing all right with lessons and what not."
Alex grinned and sat down, crossing his legs on his office chair – he may be 36 but he was still agile enough. He swung a bit on his chair and said, “Oh fine. The kids can behave like prats but they’re alright really,” he said, with a feeling of compassion for the pupils he taught, “But what can you expect? I mean they’re kids.” As he’d been speaking he took his letter off the desk and shoved it his drawer, thinking it was slightly unfair that this was happening in his first term.
“Actually, I was wondering if you know of any child minders around here?” he said, after Debbie had died he had moved away from Australia, and so Alex was not only new to Hogwarts, he was new to the country too, “My youngest – Sam, she’s four, needs one for while I’m working…”
|
|
|
|
Post by Alloy Alloy on May 3, 2006 16:30:47 GMT -5
Odette thought after he asked,"My sister is a child minder." Her sister had just received her college degree in child care. She was ready to begin working, and had asked Odette to help her with finding one.
|
|
|
|
Post by ...Really Bad Eggs... on May 3, 2006 16:37:35 GMT -5
"My sister is a child minder."
“Yeah?” he said hopefully as an owl tapped on his window, “Sorry,” he apologised, spinning around on his chair to open the window and accept the owl. After quickly scan reading the letter he cursed under his breath. It seemed that the child minder – Sarah Jane’s mother was in hospital, that had been the ‘personal reason’, and Sarah Jane wanted him to come pick up Sam that day, as soon as he could. He bit his lip after reading the short letter again and then remembered he had company.
“How soon can she start work?” he said, inquiring after Odette’s sister.
|
|
|
|
Post by Alloy Alloy on May 3, 2006 16:42:44 GMT -5
"All I have to do is send a quick owl, and she'll be happy to work." Odette said, and got ready to send an owl if needed.
|
|
|
|
Post by ...Really Bad Eggs... on May 4, 2006 11:22:46 GMT -5
Alex looked at Odette, “Would you?” he replied, just as yet another owl flew through the window he’d left open. “Here,” he said, sliding some paper across the desk and handing her a pen, “If she could start tomorrow?” he said, prompting her for her letter. He then stood up and detached the letter from the owl which was fluttering around the office, reading it he cursed, just as there was a whoosh in the fire place, and Sarah Jane stepped out of the fire place holding Sam who looked sleepy.
“I’m ever so sorry for doing this to you,” Sarah Jane said, handing the little girl off her shoulder and too Alex, “My mum had an accident and I need to get to the hospital…” the girl started to cry, “I’m s-so sorry…”
Alex sighed, and patted Sam who he was holding. She smiled and sucked her thumb, “It’s okay Sarah… just look after yourself, okay?” With that Sarah Jane stepped back into the fire and disappeared.
“Great,” Alex said, “Now what am I gonna do?”
Sam looked up at him and grinning she stuck her finger in his ear.
|
|
|
|
Post by Alloy Alloy on May 4, 2006 15:01:24 GMT -5
Odette had watched the whole scene. "Just let me owl my sister, and since I don't have anything else to do today, I could watch your daughter." Odette offered while smiling at the little girl. She then began her letter staying that she'd found a job for Hayley, her sister. "Umm, where should Hayley meet you tomorrow to begin?" Odette asked.
|
|
|
|
Post by ...Really Bad Eggs... on May 6, 2006 4:28:38 GMT -5
"Just let me owl my sister, and since I don't have anything else to do today, I could watch your daughter.”
Alex smiled, “Please? I have another lesson in…” he looked at his watch, “Another fifteen minutes…” Upon hearing that Odette had offered to look after her Sam buried her face into Alex’s neck and clung onto him as tight as she could.
“Umm, where should Hayley meet you tomorrow to begin?"
“Could she come here? I mean I could probably go meet her down in Hogsmeade… what do you think?”
|
|
|
|
Post by Alloy Alloy on May 6, 2006 4:54:56 GMT -5
"Oh, she can meet you here. That's not a problem." Odette said and finished her letter off. She then folded it and sealed it with the school emblem(?) and set it off with her tiny white owl. Coconut.
|
|
|
|
Post by ...Really Bad Eggs... on May 6, 2006 14:30:18 GMT -5
"Thanks," Alex said in reply, truly grateful towards her. Then he finally spoke to his daughter, "Hey there Sam, you're going to go with Odette now... okay?" Sam looked over and eyed Odette wearily, "Want to stay with daddy," she said looking at him.
"Daddy's got work," Alex said smiling and hugging her extra tight before handing her over to Odette.
Sam, who seemed more bemused and tired than grumpy at the moment let her father detach her from his shoulders and into the arms of the new lady. She reached up and pulled some of the lady's hair, "Pretty lady," she commented, before resting her head on Odette's shoulder and yawning.
"Sorry," Alex apologised about her pulling Odette's hair, "She's going through one of those phases..."
|
|
|
|
Post by Alloy Alloy on May 6, 2006 14:35:11 GMT -5
Odette mentally said an "ow" and her expression showed it, and nodded when he apologized. "It's okay. Looks like this little one is tired. I'll go see if I can put her down for a nap. If not I'm sure we'll find something to do."
|
|
|
|
Post by ...Really Bad Eggs... on May 6, 2006 14:39:29 GMT -5
Alex smiled gratefully again, "I owe you one," he said, then adding to Sam, "Behave yourself for Odette, alright?" Sam didn't look at him, she had decided Odette smelled nice, and had her eyes closed and her thumb was back in her mouth. Alex moved around them and held the door open for Odette, he was trusting her with his kid, so she'd better look after Sam, however, Alex had no doubt she wouldn't be just fine.
|
|
|
|
Post by Alloy Alloy on May 6, 2006 14:43:39 GMT -5
She smiled at Alex before leaving his office and heading to her own to place Sam down for a little sleep time. Maybe while the little one slept she could figure out what the two could do together until after all lessons were done for the day.
|
|
