New Faces

[phee]

It was odd to be back on Hogwarts grounds after so many years, Phoenix thought, decidedly odd. He stood for a long time in front of Albus Dumbledore's tomb, staring out across the lake, saying nothing. Finally, he rested one palm on the scarred white marble, stood a moment more in silence and then turned away from the lake, walking back uphill to Libby.

"Is it like you remembered?" she asked, her eyes searching his face.

He shrugged, half smiling. "Except for that," he said, lifting his chin in the direction of the tomb.

"Dumbledore's tomb," she said, taking his hand. "He was your Headmaster?"

"Yes, and more. I don't suppose I would ever have had a normal life if it hadn't been for Dumbledore---I told you that. I owe him a lot, him and Severus Snape." He lifted her hand to kiss her palm and she stepped closer, drawing him into her arms for a moment. "And now they're both gone," he said, his tone laced with sadness. "I never really managed to say thank you, you know."

He stepped away from her, but she still held on to his hand. "Don't you think they knew?" she asked, and he smiled again.

"Yes, they knew," he said. "I just regret never having said the words."

Another moment passed in silence with Libby's eyes on his sharp, angular face, and then he drew her uphill with him, moving toward the castle visible beyond. "Come on," he said. "I mustn't be late for my appointment with the Headmistress."

Libby Albion

[Gwen Galdry]

Gwen was in her office awaiting the Arrival of Pheonix Albion and his wife, they would be here any moment.

[phee]

The entrance to the headmistress's office was behind the statue of a gargoyle, and it was there that Phoenix hesistated.

"What's wrong?" Libby asked.

"Damn," Phoenix said. "The password---"

"Nicolas Phoenix Albion?" the gargoyle asked at that moment, making them both jump.

"It talked!" Libby squeaked, grabbing Phoenix's arm.

"Um, yeah," Phoenix said, rubbing one finger along the bridge of his nose. "It does that. Sorry---I should have mentioned it."

Muggle-born Libby shot her husband an annoyed look. "Ya think?" she snapped, and he grinned.

"Sorry," he repeated, turning to face the gargoyle statue. "Yes, I'm Phoenix Albion. I have an appointment with the Headmistress."

"She's expecting you," the gargoyle said calmly, and with that the wall behind the statue split open to reveal a spiral staircase beyond. "Please go on up."

"Anything else you want to mention?" Libby grumbled, stepping onto the staircase.

"Yeah," Phoenix said half a second too late. "The
staircase---"

The staircase trundled into life suddenly and Libby let out another squeal and threw her arms around Phoenix as the stairs turned into a slowly rotating space that rose upward elevator-style, depositing them in the Headmistress's office.

Libby Albion

[Gwen Galdry]

Gwen heard something outside her door, and waved her wand, the door slowly swung open to reveal a man and a scared looking woman, "Phoenix and Libby Albion I presume," she said calmly getting a smile on her face. She conjoured up two chairs infront of her desk, and seated herself at the one behind it.

[phee]

Phoenix smiled awkwardly, untangling his wife's arms from around his neck. It wasn't exactly the way he'd pictured his interview with the Headmistress starting, but lacking a time turner he seemed stuck with the present. "I do apologize," he said. "Libby hasn't been exposed to that much magic and I forgot to warn her about the staircase."

Blushing, Libby took a step back from her husband, salvaging as much of her dignity as she could. "Sorry," she muttered. "It startled me."

[Gwen Galdry]

She smiled a little, "That's completley understandable," she said. "I was a little startled the first time I saw them as well."

She sat down, all the previouse School Masters pictures on the wall were starring at them intently, "So... Libby, You will be our new Hospital help," she said, "and you will be able to visit Pheonix as much as possible."

[phee]

"That would be--oh, that would be terrific!" Libby said.

She sat down, and her husband settled into the chair beside her, still holding her hand. "I have to admit," she said, "I was a bit worried. I mean, I had this picture of me sitting around all day with nothing to do while Phoenix taught classes. I don't know how much help I can be, but I'll certainly try."

"Thank you, Headmistress," Phoenix said. "I know we've both been hoping for a few days to get settled in before classes begin." He smiled at Libby. "I remember the North Tower from my days at Hogwarts," he told her. "The Divination classroom wasn't the easiest to reach, and I can't recall ever visiting Professor Trelawney's study, so I've no idea what our accommodations are like. And I've classes to prepare for---"

Libby was smiling as she watched him, and at that she laughed and shook her head. "He's been talking about nothing but classes since he first wrote you about the position," she told the Headmistress.

"That's not true," Phoenix said. "Just this morning I asked you what you wanted for breakfast."

"And when they served it up at The Hog's Head Inn you were kind enough to conjure it into something edible, which I admit was very nice of you, but I'm dying to see where we'll be living."

Libby Albion