Annelia King

History of Magic Professor, 22 years old. My name's Annelia, and I love all of the nicknames people make for me. I'm from Wales, and yes, I speak some Welsh. I think that's all you need to know about me.

[professoranneliaking]

I think it's time to get inside now.

[jayden-davidson]

[Hiding in his office]

[jayden-davidson]

"You do that" he smiled back, carefully sipping his own tea. He felt truly calm, for the first time in a long time and, were he feeling more confident, he would have said so, but instead he continued to meander through his books, trying to see whether there was anything else the young History of Magic professor might find interesting before reaching his section of books on philosophy. Curiously, he gazed between the books and over his shoulder at the blond, considering suggesting them before shutting his mouth once more with a sigh, and leaning against the book shelf, facing her.

[professoranneliaking]

Annelia blew on the tea, before taking another small sip, pleased when it was a tolerable temperature, and took another longer sip. She looked around again, this time just surveying her surroundings, her gaze finally settling on the bookshelf, Jayden was looking through. "Anything good there?" she asked, taking a few steps towards the book shelf, to look for herself.

[eamonalderton]

That Clarissa Vane girl mentions him repeatedly by name. She’s an enquiry waiting to happen that girl is.

Ohhh I really must…

[professoranneliaking]

Oh dear, is she related in anyway to Romilda Vane? It's documented that Romilda gave Ron Weasley a love potion. Perhaps you ought to keep an eye on her.

[jayden-davidson]

[Hiding in his office]

[jayden-davidson]

"Even then you’d find it tacky, I promise" he replied with a joking wink.

Looking down at her hand once more on his, he couldn’t help but smile, even if only internally. She was truly trying to understand, in her own way. “You’re welcome, of course” he smiled politely, turning back to his bookshelves. “Now, if there’s anything else you want, do let me know. Most fiction books I read once and that’s it, well, I say most, probably about three quarters. Well, I say three quarters, probably half, really…”

[professoranneliaking]

Annelia chuckled. "I probably would," she agreed with him. It felt so natural, holding his hand, that Annelia was a little taken aback, but she liked it, a lot. She took a sip of her tea, and winced a little, as the still too hot liquid scalded her tongue. Annelia smiled, rather amused by his rambling, "I'll be sure to let you know, when I've finished this one", she said, and gestured to the book.

[eamonalderton]

It’s not the dreams that are unbelievable; it’s the writing. Listen to this.

"Thursday: I’m walking in Hogsmeade with a tall handsome man. He gives me a red rose and an Alchemy text book."

They all go on like this! All the fourth year girls this year are fixated on Jayden. It was amusing the first few times, now it’s just tedious.

[professoranneliaking]

That does sound rather tedious. Do they think there being mysterious about the 'tall handsome man'? Or do they go onto mention Jayden by name.

Have you read these to Jayden?

[jayden-davidson]

[Hiding in his office]

[jayden-davidson]

"Oh, absolutely, of course, I wouldn’t tell the students that. That line of thought can lead to extreme laziness, I just don’t find I have the time to be organised anymore. Between classes and Becca and trying to keep students out of trouble and…" he trailed off, before shaking his head, no more depressing thoughts, not for now, he told himself, smiling back at her. "Now, I could make an incredibly cheesy response to that, but I think I’ll settle for just handing you your tea" he smiled, a chuckle sitting at the back of his throat as he did as he said.

[professoranneliaking]

Annelia shifted on the spot, switching her most of her weight to the opposite leg. She wondered what he'd been about to say before trailing off. "Merlin no, I wouldn't dare suggest that to students, it wouldn't be a good thing at all to promote laziness." she said, and nodded, that was understandable. "What if I happen to like cheesy" she said with a soft laugh, taking the tea from him, and holding it close to her chest. On impulse, she leaned forwards and squeezed his hand once, adding another "Thank you" as she did.

[jayden-davidson]

[Hiding in his office]

[jayden-davidson]

Lip still raised in a smirk, Jayden replied “Well, this is a school of magic, why not?”. She was worried, he thought, barely glancing at her but reading her expression as if trying to define every detail. Perhaps she wouldn’t be another one to just accept his line and move on… but what did it matter? She wouldn’t care for long. Brought out of his thoughts by her question, he quickly turned back to the now boiling water, quickly pouring it into a teapot that already contained the tea bags “Well, give it a minute to stew and it should be right. Do you want sugar?”

[professoranneliaking]

"Why ever not," she agreed, keeping her eyes fixed on Jayden, "It does make a lot of things easier," she tucked her hair behind her ear. She hoped that with time, Jayden might feel comfortable telling her, what was going on, but for now, she would just try to be there. "I'm fine without sugar, thank you" she said.

[timothyhobbs-deactivated2016050]

Hey, it’s better than some of the words fifth years have used in my essays. I once received an essay where every second letter was a cuss word, and I mean every second letter.

[professoranneliaking]

Merlin, was it even coherent? Or did it just look unintelligable.

[jayden-davidson]

[Hiding in his office]

[jayden-davidson]

"Ah, but you see, I have this incredible gift that can help… magic!" he teased back with a small laugh. She’s trying to distract me, he thought to himself, and perhaps it was working, but distraction wasn’t going to fix things, and he knew that. His smile fell slightly at the thought. He really was going to have to sit down and focus on fixing himself one of these days soon.

[professoranneliaking]

Annelia snorted, amused by his teasing. "So, you just 'accio' anything you can't find?" she said, glad to have made him laugh, even if it was just brief. She furrowed her brows, at the drop in his smile, the words 'Are you sure you're okay?' on the tip of her tongue, instead she settled for, "How's that cup of tea doing?" even if she hated herself just that little bit for doing so.

[eamonalderton]

I should let you read some of these dream journals. They’re almost all totally fabricated, but some are a right laugh.

Any interesting plans now you’re free?

[professoranneliaking]

What's the most unbelievable dream you've read about in those journals?

Unfortunately no, I wish I had.

[jayden-davidson]

[Hiding in his office]

[jayden-davidson]

That brought a slight smile to his lips as he shook his head, looking over his shoulder with a raised eyebrow, “Do I look that organised to you?” he asked. “Oh no, I didn’t mean it like that, well, of course, it probably sounded like that, Merlin. I simply meant… I was joking is all” he stumbled over his reply.

[professoranneliaking]

She smiled back, "No, you really don't Jayden, honestly, how you find anything is beyond me" she teased. "Oh, I see" she said, smiling at him again. "It's okay, honestly, I was just making sure," Annelia shifted slightly on the spot. Her tongue snaked out and licked her lips, before she opened and closed her mouth, as if she had something else to say.

[jayden-davidson]

[Hiding in his office]

[jayden-davidson]

Letting the kettle boil on the small fire, Jayden stood once more, looking in random draws in an attempt at finding cups and tea bags, completely unaware as his hand clenched and unclenched itself, subconsciously wishing it were still being held by the young professor. “Ah, well, I can understand your willingness to help, in that case” he smiled down at her.

[professoranneliaking]

Annelia watched him as he searched for the things he needed to make tea, "Don't you keep all your things in one convenient place?" she asked, running her fingers down the spine of the book he'd lent her, that had been forgotten in favour of holding Jayden's hand. "I'd be willing to help anyway, even if I had something other than marking planned" she smiled back at him. She didn't want him to think that was why she was trying to help, Merlin no.

[jayden-davidson]

[Hiding in his office]

[jayden-davidson]

"So," he forced a grin, slowly, almost unwantingly removing his hand from hers as he moved around to make tea, "what were your plans for the rest of the day, before, you know, dealing with old me?"

[professoranneliaking]

Annelia wanted to lean forwards and grab his hand again, her palm feeling cool after having held his. She smiled warmly at him, hoping that if she was cheerful, then it might help. "I didn't have much planned, I was going to spend an hour or so marking, but I can do that tomorrow" she replied, she would much rather spend time with Jayden, whatever the circumstance, than return to her marking.

[jayden-davidson]

[Hiding in his office]

[jayden-davidson]

Jayden couldn’t help the sad smile that played on his lips at her words. Overly caring, and wise beyond her years, Annelia might be, but he would hate himself if he unburdened his troubles onto someone so young and innocent, and yet, his mind flitted towards his best friend, old and sinful wasn’t of much use to him either. Again, he couldn’t quite bring himself to reply to her words, once again changing the subject. “Would you like some tea?

[professoranneliaking]

Annelia watched Jayden's face, hoping to find some hint of what he was thinking. She wanted to wrap her arms around him, to bury his troubles in her arms, but that didn't happen in real life. She didn't want to ruin the friendship they had either. "Tea sounds perfect, I'd love some" she said, with a nod.

[jayden-davidson]

[Hiding in his office]

[jayden-davidson]

And there it was, another person who believed him, who would take ‘I’m fine’ as an answer, without pushing. He was pushing people away, he realised with a sigh. He had done the same with Becca after the attack. Say ‘I’m fine’ enough, it doesn’t become true, it just becomes habit, he thought to himself. He couldn’t bring himself to reply, least of all to say he was fine once more, and so he merely took her proffered hand, holding it gently yet firmly, as if it were a lifeline. A silent way of letting her know he wasn’t ok, and that he was grateful for her efforts.

[professoranneliaking]

Annelia gave him a little smile, and looked at their hands, glad he hadn't pulled back. She gently ran her thumb against the back of his hand. She placed the book onto his desk, and put her hand on his cheek for a moment. "I'm always around, you know that" she said, "If.. you ever... aren't fine" she added in a murmur.

[jayden-davidson]

[Hiding in his office]

[jayden-davidson]

"Oh, take your time with the book, much better to take it all in than rush it", he smiled. Watching her glance around the room, Jayden was suddenly relieved that he had thrown out the empty bottles of firewhiskey the night before, of course, that didn’t hide the fact that his once beautifully full drink cabinet was now nearing empty, nor did it hide the two most recent purchases that had been added to his bookshelf, an advanced guide to protective spells and a smaller book, sitting right next to it explaining depression. But then, even if she were to see these things, he could find excuses, he was sure of it.

"Well, I’m not. I’m fine, see?"

[professoranneliaking]

She didn't spot anything, which both relieved and disappointed her. Despite his assurance he was fine, she couldn't believe him, and she wanted to, it would have been great, to believe that everything was fine. Still, she didn't want to push him, she had no wish to make him angry with her. "Of course, I agree. I'm quite a slow reader when it comes to fiction" She said, walking forward and reaching for his hand, thinking that perhaps just that little bit of physical contact might help.

"If you say so"

[timothyhobbs-deactivated2016050]

I hate to say it, but I think everyone did at least once in their first year…

[professoranneliaking]

Oh, I can forgive the first years for doing it, but when the students get to being say, fifth years, you'd have think most of them would have outgrown the use of the word cool.