Stephen Baxter
December 19, 2005 10:33 PM
Yo Teach [corridors outside Professor Kiva's office] by Stephen Baxter
It was a slightly subdued Stephen who returned to Sonroa after the midterm break. Christmas hadn't been anything like he'd imagined it would be. For one, he hadn't been able to play out with his friends half so much as he would have liked. For another, although he had had a chance to tell his brother Alan about his ideas for Fido, they hadn't been able to really talk it properly. To hang out, and look Fido over, and argue, and draw, and make plans. Rover and Sammy had seen to that.It wasn't like he couldn't have gone out more, hung out with the guys and kicked around a ball. But, with Rover shut up in his room almost all the time, Stephen had felt guilty leaving him by himself all the time. And when Rover was let out for a stretch, or some fresh air, or to answer a call of nature, it was Stephen who had to take him. Stephen who had to make sure that none of his friends were around. Stephen who had to explain to Darren that he wasn't trying to keep his new dog a secret when his friend came to visit at the wrong time, and the explanations hadn't gone well at all. What could he say?
"Sorry dude, but his my teachers dog, and he doesn't like Muggles," hadn't gone down great. Darren had been confused, and a little offended, particularly when Stephen tried to explain that Muggles was slang for a person who didn't go to his school. It hadn't been his greatest hour.
But despite all that, he walked slowly to the Professor's office, drawing out the time as long as he could, still holding the cruppy tightly as though he didn't want to let him go. If only Rover had been a normal kind of dog. All this magic stuff... it got in the way, and made everything complicated, and awkward and... not fun at all.
He tried to explain to the cruppy as he scuffed his shoes on the ground as he made his slow way along.
"You know I love you boy - you're the best puppy I ever had. But... you don't like my brother and you don't like my friends, and you made Dad so angry with all that barking and growling over the break. This whole thing sucks."
Rover didn't seem to understand. He was back to his happy, licking, eager-to-please self now that he was back at the school - far away from the muggles - and he seemed to realise that Stephen was sad. He kept on wiggling in the thirteen year old's arms, licking his face - Stephen didn't protest at all - making sharp little yaps that seemed to say 'don't be sad. I'm here and I'm not going anywhere, and lets go out and play fetch'.
Stephen paused outside the door to give the cruppy one last hug, burying his face in its fur and then lowered it again. He freed one hand, took a deep breath and knocked on the door.\n\n
39
Stephen Baxter
Yo Teach [corridors outside Professor Kiva's office]
49
Stephen Baxter
1
5
Kiva Kijewski
December 28, 2005 4:47 PM
Yes student? by Kiva Kijewski
Kiva had been rather hectic all through break and had only taken the weekend to go home to visit her parents. Her father's health had been steadily declining over the last month and Kiva was worried about how much longer he would last. She wanted to make sure he was well cared for in her absense. Plus, she worried about her mother's health with her taking so much care for her father and not of herself.But, it seemed as though her father's health had leveled off and her mother was in good spirits because of the holidays. Which meant, Kiva had been able to relax some while she stayed those couple of days there. Of course, when she came back to school, she had so much to deal with that she was almost overwhelmed with work again.
And now the students were back and Kiva had to be sure the commonroom, the dormitories, and the school itself was really ready for their return. But, everything was in order and as Kiva went to work on her next lesson, she had momentarily forgotten about everything else. Until the knock on her door.
Kiva sighed and rubbed her tired eyes. She stretched, wincing at her sore muscles, and moved around her desk and answered the door, her eyes widening a bit at the sight of Mr. Baxter and then understanding hit when she saw the crup. "Oh, right, come on in." Kiva held open the door for him and closed it once he was inside her office. "Please, have a seat." She indicated any of the large overstuffed blue chairs that decorated her office.
Kiva returned to her desk chair and sat down, keeping her hazel eyes on Stephen. She sat in silence for a moment, trying to figure out the best way to address the situation. "Stephen..." Her voice was soft but firm, "I understand that you have taken such wonderful care of this crup and I do appreciate the effort you have placed upon yourself for doing so. However, it was inappropriate for you to have done so and though I wish I could allow you to keep this animal, it isn't mine to do so, nor is it safe." Kiva paused there, her brows furrowed. She was never good at this sort of thing.
"Rutter has a home and a family waiting for him. They are very upset with me for allowing him to be misplaced in the first place. I place no blame on you, Stephen, only on myself for allowing such a thing to have occurred in the first place." She sighed again and closed her eyes for a brief moment. "I've spoken to his owners and they have agreed with me on something that I'm sure you may find appealing. They understand that Rutter, no doubt, has taken a liking to you. So, if you agree and are willing, they will allow Rutter a visit back to Sonora once a year to visit you. I will be using him in my crup lessons and during those times, you are free to visit him and take time with him."
She paused again and gave him a small smile. "I need you to understand that what you did was wrong, but your heart was in the right place. We aren't awarding you for your actions, but simply understanding that you and Rutter have a bond of sorts." Kiva stopped talking and waited for Stephen to say something.\n\n
6
Kiva Kijewski
Yes student?
5
Kiva Kijewski
0
5
Stephen
December 29, 2005 11:54 AM
wow... nothing gets past you profski! by Stephen
Stephen entered the office. If he was uncharacteristically hesitant in doing so, it was entirely due to this new situation he was finding himself in. Trouble was something he'd been in plenty of times, and it didn't faze him. Being in a professor's office wasn't really anything new either. But having to give up his crup, that was hard.He settled into the seat Professor Kijewski indicated, still holding Rover, as she hadn't taken the crup from him. He absently contined to pet the cruppy while she talked to him, and even when she was finished, he remained silent for a moment or two before speaking.
"Rover. His name is Rover." Rutter... was that really what his owners called him? Poor guy, it was a pretty weird name, particularly for a cruppy so blatently doggy as Rover. Rover was a much better name. It was a proper dog's name. But arguing it wasn't going to help, and Stephen knew it. "Rover," he said once more, rebelliously.
"I didn't mean to take him," Stephen said earnestly. "But he was just left there, and the poor guy, he was scared and he likes me and I like him - I wish he liked my family. It wasn't cool the way he didn't like Alan or Dad. They can't help being Muggles. It's not like it's their fault. Or his, I suppose. 'Cause he's a crup and all that. I'm going to miss him." A miserable note slipped into his voice, and the crup licked Stephen's nose in an attempt to cheer him up. Stephen lifted his hand to rub the god drool away.
"But I would like that. Do you really think they'll let me? I don't know if I'd like some kid who took my dog away from me. But then, they called him 'Rutter' which is a weird name. Are all magical pets given weird names like that?"
Rover escaped his grip, getting another lick in before bounding off to explore the confines of the office, and Stephen sadly watched him run about.
"I would like to get to play with him again," he said, his eyes on the pup. "I really would."\n\n
39
Stephen
wow... nothing gets past you profski!
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Stephen
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Kiva
January 15, 2006 11:03 PM
Be nice by Kiva
"Rover. His name is Rover."Kiva frowned at him, but remained silent. She wasn't exactly sure why the boy wanted the crup's name to be Rover, but she would let him have it because it seemed important to him. She wanted to get this over with as relatively painless as possible. She mentally gave herself a sigh. She wasn't cut out to be ruthless or disiplinary with anyone. Animals were far easier to handle than humans were. Animals ran on instinct. Humans ran on everything else.
She listened patiently while Stephen explained his reasoning behind taking the crup. She was to blame for the crup being off on his own. But during the time of the storm, she had more important matters, like getting the students the help they needed and reporting to Professor Bulla. The crup would have been perfectly fine. She wanted to explain that to Stephen, to tell him that he made matters worse by not reporting to anyone that he was the one with the crup. But she didn't. Kiva knew that he was only a child who thought that he was doing the right thing.
The frown deepened when Stephen mentioned his family. If she was correct, he was a muggleborn. So, why hadn't he mentioned his mother? Kiva clearly remembered him mentioning her in his letter to her. She shrugged it off, perhaps she had misunderstood him. It was quite possible after all. She smiled at his question, "Perhaps." She said, "Then it's settled. The Monroes are wonderfully understanding people. When my lesson comes back up for next years second years, I'll be sure to inform you of it. For now, Stephen, I think it's best that you say your goodbyes and I can send him back home."
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0
Kiva
Be nice
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Kiva
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5