it only hurts

Nicodemus Bell. Ancient Studies professor at Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Proud muggleborn. Hufflepuff now and forever.

[nickelsandbells]

pcmfrey:

                    poppy looked up from the files she was                      updating as she dodged valentines from                      cheeky students, only to see nicodemus                      suffering at the hand of just what she was                      avoiding. “ah, yes, the thing!” she enthused,                      taking the paper out of his hand, pretending                      to read it. “run along then, you lot,” poppy                      shooed away the fifth years, continuing to                      walk and expecting nico to follow. “i suppose                     now you owe me one, as it were, professor                      bell.” 

“Yes, the important thing!” he nodded, handing her the paper. “Sorry,” he smiled apologetically at the fifth years before turning back to Poppy and allowing his relief to show. “Sure, sure, name your price so long as it’s nothing illegal.”

[nickelsandbells]

eilidh--fawley:

Eilidh tried to hold in her amusement, but failed as she snorted out a laugh. Hiding her grin behind her hand, Eilidh walked up to the professor. “Okay you lot, carry on your way. I need to talk to the Professor.” Eilidh told the students. She gave them a look and smiled at Nico with a friendly smile. “That was one of the most hilarious things I have ever seen in my life.”

“The students seem to think so too,” he sighed, waving at the fifth years with a smile. “Thank you for saving me. I owe you one.”

[nickelsandbells]

“You really don’t need to go through the whole performance,” Nico assured the fifth years who were delivering his third singing valentine. “Hey! Do you still need to talk about the..?” he held up a random piece of paper from his pocket and sent a pleading smile to the nearest passerby.

[nickelsandbells]

gemsollivander:

“That’s what I think too. I try to keep myself limited to a reasonable quantity of tea but it never quite works,” she said with a laugh as she started down the hallway. “When don’t they drive us mad? The fifth years don’t quite realize what OWLs will be like yet so they don’t take it seriously but the seventh years are already starting to stress over NEWTs. I don’t know which group is worse but I think I’m more annoyed with the fifth years at the moment.” She grimaced in sympathy, having seen her share of students like that - not as many, perhaps, but there were a good number who decided early on that they didn’t like Astronomy. “That must be annoying, because I’d imagine they just stop working once they decide they don’t want to keep taking the class.”

“I’ll make my caffeine consumption reasonable when these kids learn to be reasonable,” he joked with a shake of his head. He cared a lot for the students, but Merlin did they take a lot of energy to deal with some days. “I’ve got the same issue: fifth years who think they can breeze through OWLS and seventh years who treat NEWTS like the end of the world. They try,” he admitted with a sigh. “I just try and keep them from distracting the others. I can understand that it’s not everyone's cup of tea, but I need to be able to get to the kids that want to learn. At least I only have to deal with them one year. I don’t know how you survive five years with kids who don’t want to learn.”

[nickelsandbells]

professor-flint:

He was going to look forward to reading the piece, not only because the topic was no doubt going to be interesting but to also support a colleague and friend.

Busying himself with making a pot of tea for the both of them, Eli glanced over his shoulder. “A marathon? Good for you!” With a small swish of his wand, the water in the pot started to heat up. As he waited, he turned around and reach for a biscuit for himself. “I was thinking of something a bit less active. I’m not exactly young anymore.”

“All the more reason to do it,” he joked, leaning back in his chair slightly. “Hmm, I don’t have many hobbies outside of the academic realm. I know a lot of people enjoy artistic pursuits. Does anything like that interest you?”

[nickelsandbells]

gemsollivander:

“I did enjoy myself. We’re going to try to reschedule for the summer, since it was cut short.” She could understand about his parents, given her relationship with her own parents. “I went home on Christmas but I think mine are used to me being gone now.” Her mother disliked it but she wasn’t even sure if her father noticed. “So we’ve covered the obligatory post-Christmas topics, I think, right? I have a late class tonight and I’m in need of some tea to bolster me through, care to join me?”

“Never a bad time for a cuppa,” he nodded. He far preferred coffee to tea, but he was forcing himself to spend less time holed up in his office despite all of the terrible things that had come with this year's holiday season. “Fifth or seventh years driving you mad, yet? I always seem to have a wave of second years realize over Winter break that they don’t want to take Ancient Studies next year.”

[nickelsandbells]

professor-flint:

Eli pushed open the door and held it open, stepping to the side to let the man in first. “Those are some good ones. When you get to a good point, I wouldn’t mind reading your paper.”

“I was thinking of taking up a new hobby, but I’m not sure what it would be,” he answered, “Anything you suggest?”

Upon entering the staff room, he immediately noticed the biscuits sitting on the table. “There, as I promised,” he smiled.

“Thanks,” he nodded at the other man as he walked through the door. He immediately set his stack of papers on the nearest table. “I certainly wouldn’t mind getting some more opinions. It’s still in it’s early stages, but I will take you up on that offer.”

“Don’t mind if I do,” he chuckled as he took a seat at the table and grabbed a biscuit. “Hmm, I enjoy things that allow me to be active. A friend and I run a marathon together every summer, and I really enjoy that.”

[nickelsandbells]

professor-flint:

“That’s good to hear.” The holidays had always felt a little empty for him after his separation, and Eli grew a bit envious of people who went home to spend time with their families. 

He adjusted his glasses briefly before answering, “Received a Christmas letter from my daughter. She’s doing well, as is her mother. So, that was nice.” There wasn’t any point in talking about the other part of his family - his brother and sister were no doubt doing well with their families. “Did you make any New Year’s resolutions?”

“I’m glad to hear it,” Nico offered him a genuine smile as they reached the staff room. “A few, travel more, brush up on my Gaeilge, get the paper I’ve been working on published, the usual. Do you have any?”

[nickelsandbells]

fabicn:

   “It’s definitely interesting. I wonder if any wizards ever wrote something on that subject too. Interested to see what their opinions on certain questions are, through the prism of their mind.“

“Oh, I’m sure at least one has, though it's more likely they published it in the muggle world. There are a fair number of muggleborns and half bloods who choose to pursue muggle careers despite their magical aptitudes. It’s a shame more of them don’t write about their experiences. I’ve always found combining muggle and magical knowledge quite useful.”

[nickelsandbells]

gemsollivander:

“It is, and I’ve always had a bit of wanderlust in me. I spend holidays out of the country more often than not.” She knew that it was a constant source of disappointment to her mother, but there wasn’t anything to be done about it now. “I was in Portugal, actually. Met up with some old friends there to ring in the new year.”

“That sounds wonderful; I hope you enjoyed yourself. I’ve always wanted to visit Portugal, and just travel more in general. I’ve only got the Summers free, though. My parents would be devastated if I didn’t come home for the holidays, and I feel like it’s the least I can do since leaving Ireland.” Nico had spent a majority of his adult life away from home, and while it was best for him he knew it hurt his parents to have him so far away.

[nickelsandbells]

professor-flint:

“I would imagine there are a great many useful Muggle inventions that would make life simpler,” Eli commented as he stepped out into the hallway and waited for his colleague.

After side-stepping a rushing student, he answered, “Pretty much the same thing as I always am. I’m also waiting for the impending dread of O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s to take hold of my classes, but I suppose that won’t happen for a month or so. And yourself? Was your holiday alright, despite all the news?”

“It wasn’t bad for a trip home,” he said with a weak smile. Nico’s contempt for his hometown was no secret, especially not for those who had known him as a student. He’d never fit in there, but his sister death made every visit painful, and the holidays were the worst. “I did enjoy seeing my parents. How’s your family doing?”

[nickelsandbells]

fabicn:

    » “Oh, I am sure in that too, but you see, I think that’s quite the topic too. Are you interested in psychology?“ 

“I find what I’ve heard interesting, but I’ve never looked much into it myself. What about you, do you like psychology?” 

[nickelsandbells]

professor-flint:

Eli frowned, brow furrowed as he searched for it in his brain. No such luck. “It would seem it was the latter, apparently,” he said, giving up on the search. His features grew more serious. The attacks and public display of murder were still fresh in everyone’s minds, dimming the New Year. Though he wouldn’t fully understand what it would be like to be in other man’s shoes, given the whole stupid notion of blood purity, he was aware of the very real threat and danger.

“Alright, I suppose,” he said – a well practiced lie – “It has been ages, but it’s fine. We’ve all been preoccupied lately. I was wondering if you wanted to go to the staff room and have some tea. I think I also spotted some biscuits.”

“I can’t say no to biscuits. Just let me get a hold of this mess,” he scooped up a pile of parchment on his desk before standing up. “I’ll never understand why notebooks and pens aren’t more common among wizards,” he mused as he walked out the door, locking it behind him with a quick spell. “What have you been up to?”

[nickelsandbells]

professor-flint:

It had been a while since he’d chatted with his friend. Having some free time, he’d decided to stop by the man’s classroom. Eli waited for the students to pour out of the classroom. Standing by the entrance of the door, he made sure to allow Nicodemus attend to any students before stepping into the classroom.

Glancing over at the board, he didn’t recognize the topic. “Is that new, or has part of my memory gone?” He shook the brief bit of confusion from his mind and turned to Nicodemus with a smile, “How’s the New Year treating you,” he asked, even though they were already well in the new semester.

“It’s a few thousand years old, actually,” he retorted with a grin. He hadn’t been very sociable since the holidays. He appreciated Elijah taking the time to visit him. It did make things easier. “I’m about as well as anyone can be considering...” he drifted off with a shrug and an assumption he would understand. The attacks were taking a toll on everyone, but muggleborns like himself were hit the hardest. “How have you been?” he asked, his smile returning. “It’s been ages. I’m sorry I haven’t stopped by your office yet.”

[nickelsandbells]

mckinnonaf:

Sitting on the floor, knees tucked under her chin, leaning against the wall, Marlene sighed. It was a sigh full of questions, a sigh full of exhaustion, a sigh that rang deep through her bones. Mr. Fortescue — the Muggles — Matthew — it was all so much and she was so tired. “I don’t know,” she said heavily. She didn’t know if he wanted an answer—didn’t even know if he was asking her, not really. She just knew she didn’t have any to give. She rubbed at her eyes, trying to ignore the pricking behind them and hoped her body would get the fucking clue, that she didn’t need that right now. “People feel too permanent to just—” she broke off, waving her hand in the air. Be gone, she meant, not be there anymore, leave, die— She closed her mouth over her palm to stop the words, told her body not to shake to stop it all from consuming her, and willed her breathing to even out to stop it from shuddering.

Nicodemus hadn’t even realized he was talking. He hardly felt like himself lately. The holidays were always difficult, but throwing himself into his work normally made things better. It wasn’t working with all of the chaos and mourning teenagers. He tried so hard to help them, but every conversation flooded his mind with reminders of when he was in their shoes. He’d fallen asleep at his desk trying not to think about his sister, and ended up waking up from a far too vivid dream of Am. He swore he could have touched her and, “How can someone just not be there anymore?”

He tried to hide his surprise when someone answered, but it was hard not to react when that person was Marlene Mckinnon-- the girl who’d lost her brother. It had been so soon for her, and he felt guilty when he saw how close to tears his half awake mumbling had made someone so fragile. “Hey,” he whispered kneeling down next to her, “It’s alright. I know it doesn’t make sense, and it’s difficult, and,” he brushed his hair back not really sure what he was saying. “You don’t have to say anything. If you want to I’ll listen, but I’ll leave if that’s what you need.”

[nickelsandbells]

“That’s it for todays lecture, but I wanted to remind you all that my office is always open during lunch and after class. If you have any questions about the material or you want to talk about everything that's happening feel free to stop by. Have a nice day.” He smiled at the wave of children who filed out the moment he gave them the okay, and turned his attention to the few stragglers in case one of them wanted to take up his offer.

[nickelsandbells]

madeyedmoody:

“Where did you say you found this?”

“Someone left it behind in my classroom. It seemed harmless, but I wanted to be safe.”