A Change of Impressions (Raisa & Xander)

[kat55]

It was so cliché... The good looking, yet arrogant rich man runs into the shy girl with her books; except she was no teenage, hormonal student to be wooed.

But that is getting ahead of things.

Raisa had started her day in a way that no woman wants to start their day, late. Her internal alarm clock hadn’t woken her and she had jumped out of bed an hour and a half late. Sure, it was a Saturday and the only thing she was doing that day was supervising the students in the study hall.

That didn’t mean that she was fine with being late, missing breakfast did that to you... With a speed that could rival the fastest of women, Raisa was ready for her day and in one of her ‘not too happy’ moods that tended to hit her after a stressful morning. The study hall session was starting in fifteen minutes and Raisa whirled around her room, grabbing everything she would need to entertain herself while she watched over the students, and also the various pieces of work that she had to look over.

So, there Raisa was, carrying papers and books under her left arm and briskly walking down the hallways of Hogwarts to the other end of the school where the Great Hall was, set up all nicely for the Study Session. Not that all that many people would even be there, it was an optional session after all.

Raisa still had to be there on time though, disregarding the amount of people who would probably not be there.

Moments later found Raisa rushing around a corner at a speed walk while rifling through papers trying to find an unused piece of parchment – and running into something that wasn’t a wall, and wasn’t a student either.


Raisa bounced off of the man before her and dropped everything, more out of the instinct to put her hands up then anything. She landed, back against the wall, lucky that she hadn’t fallen to the ground and embarrassed herself further. Then she realized just who she had nearly run down.

It was Professor Xander, one of the many men in the school that Raisa would be better off not knowing, of course, she didn’t really know him. It wasn’t like she had ever spoken to him. Nonetheless, her body stiffened slightly and the apology that came from her lips was slightly less sincere then it would have been if her colleague hadn’t been of You Know Who’s followers.
She stood straight again, walking over to her dropped books and papers, bending down and picking it all up, “I should get to the Study Hall.” She muttered.

[thatxander]

Xander Cavanaugh woke up bright and early, but instead of going down to the Great Hall for a loud and boisterous breakfast, he settled for a quiet meal in his personal quarters. He quite liked them, as they were nice, cozy, and not far from the schools library. 

The History of Magic professor sighed as he took the single step down into the small kitchenette from his sitting area. On the small table that dominated the middle of the small area, was a single envelope. The man had no doubt that it was from an upper level Death Eater. 

"I wonder what they need funded now." He muttered to himself and made his way over to the table. Xander opened the offending letter while ordering a modest meal from his assigned Hogwarts elf. His eyes danced across the letter, narrowing little by little the more he read. His food popped onto the table right as the man crumpled up the paper and set it on fire with the swish of his wand.

The man sighed. The entire war was a bit ridiculous, but his family had a lot of money, and because his parents had supported the Dark Lord during the first war, the man expected the same level of loyalty from their son now. His only use to the Dark Lord was his Gringotts account. With Albus Dumbledore dead and gone, Lord Voldemort was clearly the most powerful. His people would be the victors, and if Xander Cavanaugh wanted to survive this war, he would side with the most powerful. And the most powerful simply could not be three teenagers. 

Casting a quick tempus spell, Xander rose from the table, grabbed a text about some ancient Wizarding civilization, and headed out the door towards the Great Hall. He could reply to the funding request later. It was his turn to proctor the Study Hall period. Well, him and another teacher, though he didn't know which.

Professor Cavanaugh stormed into the  Great Hall ten minutes before the Study period was to begin. He glared at the closest student, who just happened to be a third year Gryffindor, and stalked to the front of the room. He set his book down on the small three seater table that was sat in the front of the room. It was where the proctors could sit and keep an eye on the "studying" students. He turned towards the class.

"For those of you who are not aware, I am Professor Cavanaugh. You will refer to me as such. As you are aware, unless you have become hopelessly lost," he glanced at group of Gryffindor's who were goofing off in a corner, "You are in Study Hall. You are here to study, not talk, not play, and certainly not to eat." He glared at a sixth year Ravenclaw who had out a bag of raspberries. She grinned sheepishly and rushed to put them away. "You have less then ten minutes to do as you wish before my rules are out into place. Keep your voices down until then." He finished in a low warning tone. 

Xander had walked around the table and taken a seat when something caught his attention. He lifted his head to see a very nervous looking first year Hufflepuff slowly step up to the table. The man couldn't help but to chuckle.

"I'm not going to bite. Tell you a secret?" He leaned in with a small smile. "I have to make the older students scared of me so they will listen." He winked at the boy and put a finger to his lips, to ensure the boys silence on what he said. 

The first year sighed, visibly relaxing, and a small smile spread across his face. "I was told to give this to you." He handed the professor a small rolled up parchment. Xander frowned at it and then looked back at the student.

"Who gave it to you?" Curiosity and confusion dominating his features. The boy looked nervous again, but only slightly.

"I don't remember all the Professor's names. I'm sorry." 

"That's perfectly understandable. But I advise you to learn them quickly. Thank you for delivering this." He nodded to the boy in dismissal and looked down at the parchment. Xander unrolled it. 

The note was from another professor, asking him if he had gotten the letter from the morning, and that if he had, the Dark Lord wanted a reply by dinner. Xander swore under his breath. He had maybe six minutes to get to his quarters and back. 

"You!" The professor pointed to a seventh year Slytherin that he was passing on his way down the middle of the Great Hall. "Don't let the place burn to the ground while I'm out. I'll be back momentarily." He was out the door before the boy could reply.

Xander practically took the stairs two at a time. He was nearing his rooms and so slowed to a casual walk. He closed his eyes and yawned as he rounded a corner, but was brought to a stop immediately. He startled when he heard things fall to the ground. 

The Professor froze and grimaced when he realized he must have hit someone. He eased an eye open, before opening them both suddenly and forcefully. 

It's her. She was beautiful. Professor Raisa Piper. The Magizoology professor. Xander had seen her a few times around the school and on the grounds, and everytime he was struck anew by her beauty. He immediately opened his mouth to apologize, but was cut off by the woman's less then sincere apology. Your Death Eater reputation precede's you. He thought to himself. Although he didn't have much of a repuatation, as Xander was a master at keeping his record "blood clean". At the girls half-assed apology, his eyebrows met his hairline in sincere amusement.

Very theatrically, Xander bowed gracefully before her. Something you would see out of a Shakespearian play. There were debates within the Wizarding world concerning the blood status of William Shakespeare. Half of the Wizarding world felt he was Muggle, and those who believed a Muggle incapable of producing such culture, claimed him as a Pure Blood. That was how his mother and father felt, and so Xander Cavanaugh had a very cultured history. 

"Forgive me fair maiden, for I believe it was I who should have been paying more attention." He grinned up wildly at the young lady as she headed for her fallen stuff. Xander's smile faltered. He rushed ahead of her and knelt down across from her.

"Let me help. It's the least I can do." He gathered the things she had not already taken into hand and stood.

“I should get to the Study Hall.”

Xander's eyes lit up. "You're my fellow Study Hall proctor?" He put all of the papers under his left arm, and with his right arm, put a hand over his heart. "I am honored." He bowed his head with a smile. 

Professor Piper was someone he had wanted to meet, but never knew how to approach. And then there was the added issue of him being a Death Eater, and her being a Muggle Born, but he didn't want to think about that at the present time. He was just happy that he would spending the next few hours with her. 

[kat55]

Professor Xander had always been one of those men that Raisa would admire from a distance, but never actually speak to. His looks were usually the type of thing that would get her talking to them immediately, wondering if they had a kind, romantic personality. However, the man supported the Dark Lord, he was a bloody Death Eater. Raisa was what his kind would call a ‘mudblood.’

The next time she looked at him, he was... he was bowing, and then he was spurting Shakespearian words and apologizing. For a moment she was sure that she was mocking her, that he was being cruel to her because of their blood differences.

Raisa looked up from where she was on the floor, ready to snap at him as she would any condescending bastard, but the expression on his face was no more mocking then a child’s smile. For a moment she was confused, wondering if maybe she had it wrong. But Raisa was not the type of person to see things that aren’t there, sincerity being something that she did see in Xander’s face.

When the man knelt down in front of her and helped her to pick up the various books and parchments that had fallen to the ground, Raisa was even more surprised, this was Xander Cavanaugh in person? He was nothing like the strict, rich, arrogant man she thought he would be, of course, he might just be faking... If he happened to be doing so, then he was quite an amazing actor.

Raisa looked up momentarily only to realize just how close he was and she immediately stood with a sniff and wrapped arms around the stationary she held, pulling them to her chest along with the books that she had gathered from the ground.

He said that she was his fellow study proctor and that he was honored, she furrowed her brow, Raisa wasn’t sure what to think of that just yet. Then again, she had the next few hours to be with him, to figure him out. Maybe her surprise and confusion would diminish along the way.

But what was it about his behavior? He was being very gentlemanly, and with a start Raisa realized that she had begun to smile at his antiques.

Shaking her head as if to clear if from dizziness she reached out and gently pulled the parchment from Xander’s arms, “Thank you...” She said quietly, pulling up a small but genuine smile, he had apologized and helped her gather her things from the floor after all. “And, it wasn’t really your fault that I ran into you, I was walking rather fast and not paying attention to where I was headed. I’m the one who should be sorry.” Raisa suddenly remembered just why she had been rushing around the corner and she gasped, “We’re late for the Study Hall.”

[thatxander]

Xandar watched his fellow professor stand and hold her supplies tightly to her chest. It didn't take a Potions Master to see that she was obviously uneasy about being around him- and knew exactly why.

A small flutter of hope blossomed deep within his gut when a smile lit up her delicate face. His own smiled increased, almost unconsciously, he found himself growing a little more confident.

Raisa shook her head, and took the books from Xander. “Thank you...”

"Anytime. I'm a sucker for the pretty girls." Xander blushed lightly. He hoped she wasn't one of those women who was offended when a man complimented them. He had heard about Muggle feminist. They wanted to be treated as wholehearted equals. "I'm sorry." He quickly amended. "That was out of place."

Xander mentally slapped himself. He wasn't making sense. His thoughts were a tangled mess, and he felt like he just needed to breath. Xander Cavanaugh simply did not get nervous around women. Not meaning he had dated many, or had tried to. He just knew how to be respectful and polite. But here, with this woman, he found all his manner's hiding under the hypothetical bed, and reducing him to a mere stuttering and lost man.

“And, it wasn’t really your fault that I ran into you, I was walking rather fast and not paying attention to where I was headed. I’m the one who should be sorry.”

Xander was already shaking his head. "A man never lets a woman take the blame."

Raisa gasped, and Xander looked at her in concern.

“We’re late for the Study Hall.”

The professor began heading in that direction, his steps falling in sync with her own pace. "Don't worry. I put a seventh year Slytherin in charge." He said reassuringly. Then he remember the group of Gryffindor's. He snorted. "Maybe we should hurry back."

He was pleasantly surprised to enter the Great Hall and see everyone sitting and working quietly. He was impressed. He glanced over at the Slytherin, nodding his head in recognition. "Five points." He said with a last nod. Once at the front of the Hall, he spoke again.

"This is Professor Piper. As with me, you will refer to her as such. I will not tolerate 'Piper' or simply 'Professor.' Oh, and 'hey' or 'hey you' is not acceptable either." Xander ended on a somewhat lighter, yet still serious, note.

He turned to Professor Raisa, as he would now have to call her in the presence of student, smiled politely and pulled the chair out for her.

[kat55]

"Anytime. I'm a sucker for the pretty girls."

Surprise was written all over Raisa’s face at that, and Xander seemed almost to be blushing. “Um, I don’t exactly know how to respond to that.” She replied honestly, wondering what had gotten into her fellow Professor. She was about to add more to her statement when Xander spoke again.

"I'm sorry.That was out of place."

Blinking some more, Raisa smiled slightly once again, “It just might have been yes.” A fine eyebrow arched slightly and she hugged her books even tighter to her body then before, almost as if she were nervous but this time she didn’t know why.

Usually, around Death Eaters and the like, Raisa was rather nervous, sarcastic, and potentially rude despite the possible threat of angering them enough that she would be found ‘no longer useful’ and thrown out like a bag of trash. The only reason she was still at the school was that it was hard to find someone who would want to be hired to work at Hogwarts just then, with all of.... everything going on.

Her apology seemed to have the wrong effect on Xander, different from what she had expected. "A man never lets a woman take the blame." he said and Raisa gaped.
Xander was a very, very, very different man from that whom Raisa had believed him to be.

“That is a really... nice thing to say but I can’t say I’d agree with that.” Raisa replied with a shrug and yet another half smile, she still wasn’t sure enough around him to give him her best just yet. “If a man and a woman became killers, and then only the man was tried, is that
the right thing? An apology is an apology, whether made by a woman or a man.” In a moment
Raisa realized that she just might be taking it a bit far and blushed slightly, mumbling something that might have been an apology had her face not been buried into her books.

She was relieved when they began heading to the Study Hall and followed the other Professor in, walking briskly in his wake.

Raisa smiled now, listening to Xander’s speech about how she was to be respected as a teacher. She looked out over the heads of the students who were in the room, nodding to show her approval of the title, and thinking that Xander was probably only doing this for her.

Of course, when he pulled the chair out for her she smiled genuinely, Professor Xander finally having earned it after his last gentlemanly help. “Thank you.” She said softly, not wanting to alert the students to their speaking.

[thatxander]

Xander watched the woman blush and looked away, pretending not to notice. he dipped his head. "Point conceded. In that case, I accept your apology."

The Professor's heart gave a small leap when she thanked him with a genuine smile. Maybe there was hope after all. He looked at the girls pile of papers and smirked. "Where you expecting to be bored?"

"I myself brought a book." He held it up for her to see. "I have always found myself drawn to the history of the Wizarding world. It's so, fascinating." His eyes lit up. This was his favorite topic.

"I know you teach Magizoology, but how long have you been a Professor? This is my first year." He asked kindly. The questions were dull, and not very enticing, but if they would result in her speaking, and thus him hearing her voice, then he would continue will the idiotic questions.

There were so many questions he wanted to ask, but she obviously knew about his Death Eater associations, and he didn't want to scare her off with all the questioning.

[kat55]

Raisa nodded, feeling content with Professor Cavanaugh’s answer. “Good, I was beginning to think that you wouldn’t listen to me there.” She was joking of course, if he hadn’t stopped to accept her apology she probably would have given him the silent treatment until he gave in, if he gave in. Raisa wasn’t the type to push for something unless she truly cared for the outcome, and in this case she wasn’t so sure what she wanted.

She noticed Xander’s look towards her papers and nodded at his question, “I don’t like to sit down doing nothing when something can be done.” She replied. If there was work to be done and she had free time, then why ever not?

Raisa looked at the book her colleague was holding up for her to see, “I love to read, but History class was one of my worst I’m afraid!” she shrugged, “I was always better with animals and Charms.” Holding up her own book, which happened to be the leading book on Magizoology, she smiled. “This is more my calling.”

“I’ve been the Magizoology professor for about three years, the job can be boring but I love it, I get to teach what I love.” Raisa smiled again, feeling more relaxed in the presence of the other professor now.

“What about you, anything interesting about your job, or is it boring teaching the same thing that you learned in you years at school?”

[thatxander]

“I don’t like to sit down doing nothing when something can be done.” She replied.

"Ah yes." Xander replied quietly. He heard a noise and glanced up at the room. he made eye contact with a giggling Ravenclaw who sat beside a Slytherin. He gave her a warning glare and she mouth an apology. He glanced back up at Professor Piper and smiled. "But when do you ever relax, Mademoiselle?" He was sitting in the middle seat, forgoing the original plan to leave a chair between himself and whoever was scheduled to be with him.

Professor Cavanaugh blushed and looked away. "Animals. I like them, the soft domesticated kind. But to be honest, if I walked into the Forbidden Forest and came upon one of those animals, I would more then likely faint. They scare me." He admitted a little reluctantly, but feeling as though he could trust her. "I was actually fairly good at Charms. I was particularly skilled at Defense Against the Dark Arts. Got my N.E.W.T in it," He smiled proudly, "along with a few other classes, including History of Magic."

"If I remember correctly, I don't think we had that class when I was here." He grinned teasingly. "I guess I will just have to sit in on one of your classes." Xander elbowed her in a playful manner. Another sound caught his attention and he looked up, expecting to have to take house points from Ravenclaw, but instead he saw two student glaring at each other. A sixth year Slytherin and a fifth year Gryffindor. They had been hissing things to each other from across the room. Professor Cavanaugh stood from his chair, allowing it to make a loud screeching noise against the floor of the Great Hall. All the students napped their heads in his direction.

"I do believe I said Study Hall is for studying, and silence." He glared equally at the two boys, and even a quick glance at the Ravenclaw. "If the two of us can hear you, then you are obviously not doing what you are supposed to be doing. You are disrupting the other students. If your foolish rivalry is besting the two of you, then pass notes for Merlin's sake. But I will have my rules respected. Now silence!" He snapped in a low and even voice. He sat down, never breaking eye contact with the two boys. He finally tore his eyes away to look at the gorgeous professor who had a soft spot for animals.

"Never boring. It's as you said previously, I get to teach what I love. This is my first year here, as I think I said," his eyebrows nit together cutely in thought as he tried to remember. He shrugged his shoulder's and continued, "I try and make projects. Allow for reenactments. I'm trying to talk old Snape into letting me set up a play. But you know he is. Always grouchy and short with people."

[kat55]

"But when do you ever relax, Mademoiselle?"

Raisa shrugged, “When all of the work is done I guess. Plus, I love my subject enough that it is no trouble to mark the work that my students do in my class.” Of course, there were always the idiots who had only joined the class thinking that it was an easy Outstanding. Not a chance, Professor Raisa ensured that only those with a passion for her subject passed with a good mark, if they didn’t like Magizoology, she let them know that they had to work hard to pass, or drop out of class.

Arching her eyebrow once again, Raisa smiled, “I’m sure I would be able to take you into the Forbidden Forest to show you exactly what is dangerous, and what isn’t. The unicorn, for instance, would be a creature that I would happily show you. Of course, I wouldn’t be much help against an Acromantula. They generally don’t listen to reason...” Now she was just teasing, but at least she no longer felt the previously felt unease of being around the other professor.

“I never had Magizoology as a class until my Seventh year, I must have gone to school a bit later then you.” She smiled now, thinking that it might have been a tad cruel to say but that she really didn’t mean it like that. “But yes, please do sit in on my class; I’m sure that you would enjoy it! We’re learning about rare Magical Creatures on Tuesday, you should come. I particularly love that part of the year.” It was true, she absolutely loved the rare creatures part of the curriculum. Everything was so unique and rather strange and her students never knew the answers to her various questions in class. Teaching something entirely unknown to the class had always been a favorite thing to do during classes for Raisa.

When Raisa heard the noise she was perfectly ready to stand up and tell them off, but Xander got there first and she shifted back into a relaxed position in her chair, watching him do his job as he should. He was especially attractive when being strict to the students; although Raisa was sure that his smile would be even nicer (she hadn’t really been looking when he grinned the past few times). At least the unruly boys listened; they’re young minds went back to work, glancing occasionally at one another with a face akin to frustration, but slightly more harsh.

“That is good, I’d hate to teach something that I don’t enjoy, I’m sure I wouldn’t be able to stand it for long.” Raisa laughed quietly, not wanting to disturb the hard working students (few that there were). What he said next of course shocked her out of laughing, “A play?” she asked incredulously, not unhappy with the idea but surprised that the man beside her had even thought of one. Her original impression of him had been entirely wrong. It seemed a change of impressions was in order. Raisa liked plays, or rather, musicals as music was a hobby of hers. “If you do a play I might just help out, maybe add some singing in there. I do love music.” She gazed almost wistfully through her handsome colleagues face, forgetting for a moment that she might seem to be staring at him. As soon as she did realize, her face jerked away and her eyes roved over the student’s heads.

[thatxander]

The professor watched his colleague shrug as she explained her passion for the subject. He found it very admiring. Most of the professor's at the school cared little about their subjects. That was probably to do with their jobs being assigned by the Dark Lord, as most of the professors now were Death Eaters, along with himself. The difference was that he actually cared about his subject and about his students.

"So far I have discovered that my one N.E.W.T class is my hard workers. Not many continue with History of Magic after their OWL's. Understandable of course, what with having to learn from Professor Binns." He shuttered at his own memories of his class with the ghost. "I understand that my subject isn't easy for most. You do have to know dates, and some students don't have a knack for it all. I find my Pure Blood students care little about Wizarding history outside of their own family history, the Half Bloods are utterly board with it. In fact, a majority of my N.E.W.T classes are Muggle Born." He shrugged his shoulders, never even pondering the fact that the woman in his presence may find that particular topic awkward.

Xander's eyes widened dramatically in mock shock. "Oh Madame Piper, I don't think my reputation could handle it if I were to pass out at the site of a mere unicorn." He smirked playfully, but then said seriously, "It's embarrassing, but I would probably have a heart attack if I ever came across an Acromantula.." He shuddered and slightly paled at the thought. "Horrid creatures."

"Alas, you are a young pretty woman, and I am but an old man." He whispered, hand on heart. But he couldn't keep his act for long and he laughed, grinning wildly.

"Rare magical creatures eh? I might come ready for class. Quill and parchment." He teased. "I'll sit with the Slytherin. And no discrimination from you." He chuckled. "And if I answer correctly, then we get points." Xander laughed outright that time.

“That is good, I’d hate to teach something that I don’t enjoy, I’m sure I wouldn’t be able to stand it for long.”

He couldn't help it. He loved her passion. It was attractive when any woman talked about what she loved. And Professor Raisa Piper was the most attractive of them all. 

His eyes widened humorously in confusion as she began to laugh, but then it relaxed into a calm grin as she playfully teased him about his idea of a play. "What? Witches and Wizards can't be thespians?" He said confidently, left hand on his heart and his right stretched out away from him. A few of the students looked up at him in complete confusion, and Xander had to act quick to cover his snort of laughter. 

“If you do a play I might just help out, maybe add some singing in there. I do love music.” 

She seemed to be staring at him, not that he mind, it just gave him an excuse to stare back. Raisa Piper was so beautiful. And she wasn't just beautiful, she was a unique beautiful. Classy and elegant. You never saw Pure Bloods that beautiful everyday. Perhaps it was a Muggle thing. Xander couldn't help but wonder. Here was a girl who was just, out of this world. She was passionate about her profession, sweet, gentle, and he suspected, based on her voice, that she had a singing voice that could rival that of the soprano in the Choir of Angels. 

Professor Xander realized he had been staring too long, probably with a goofy smile on his face, and blushed, looking away. He coughed awkwardly. "I would love to hear you sing." He hoped he wasn't being too bold. That was another thing this woman did to him. She made him doubt everything he did or said. He felt like he needed to tread lightly if he wanted to get anywhere with her. Normally he was a smooth guy. But she smiled, and a little piece of ice chipped away from his heart. He thought they would get along. As long as she didn't question his beliefs. He wasn't sure how well that would go over just yet. And he wasn't about to ruin something that could end beautifully.

[kat55]

It seemed that Professor Xander Cavanaugh, the Death Eater who Raisa had always assumed was just ‘one of the men,’ was a really smart, passionate guy. Although he had different views on a great many things compared to herself, Raisa felt that their passion connected them in a way she hadn’t felt with any other professor due to their different reasons for being there and such. “I find muggleborns tend to pay more attention in class, perhaps because classes are so very different from home. Not only that, but the muggleborns,” she stopped for a amount before backtracking a bit, “Not only that, but we didn’t have parents, or a parent, to teach us any History in the beginning. Most half-bloods and pure-bloods have already learned at least a portion of their history, and therefore have less of a need, or appreciation for history. That is my thought process in that area at least.” Raisa shrugged; perhaps she had said something too personal, too passionate, especially around a pure-blooded Death Eater such as Xander was.

It was hard for Raisa to forget who her present company was; she kept thinking that he would bring up her heritage negatively in the conversation. That would certainly put a damper on the rest of the study period.

Now though, Raisa felt like any interruptions were far off, talking about unicorns as they were. “I’d certainly lose any and all respect for you Xander.” She replied, giggling quietly at the sudden image of an unconscious Xander before a unicorn. “Let us not go into the Forbidden Forest for an adventure then, I really don’t want to have you life in my hands like that. The Acromantula could show up at any moment and I’d have a dead or dying Xander to care for, not my idea of a good time I assure you.”

Xander’s next comment made her blush again and Raisa briefly wondered if the next few hours were going to be as full of pink as she was now. But that was beside the point, he had called her pretty and himself an old man ,even if he had been joking. “You, an old man? What are you, 26? There is no way you are old, I myself am no older than 25!” Another grin broke through her exterior then.

“I’m fairly sure that it is a direct violation of some rule or another of the school’s to give you points, terribly sorry.” Raisa replied, her own face a mask of seriousness that didn’t last for long in the now happy mood of the Proctor table.

Also in mock shock, Raisa raised her own hand to her chest, “I said no such thing! I myself am into the performing arts as much as any muggle singer. No, that is a lie, I don’t sing except for on my own. My... self-esteem keeps me back I guess.” Raisa smiled a crooked smile, “I guess I could be more then I am if I believe more in myself.”

Raisa realized when she stopped gazing off at Xander’s face that he had been doing the same, at her face, and once again a blush came to her pale face, very visible in the light of the great hall. Then he said that he wanted to hear her sing and she blushed an even deeper shade of pink. But before she could stop herself she said, “Ok.” And somehow, someway, she became pinker.

Clapping hands to her cheeks in embarrassment, Raisa leaned over her desk. Xander seemed to be bringing her out of a very private, fragile shell that she had kept quite safely on her exterior for a while now.

[thatxander]

The Professor listened to the woman speak intently. "I can see where you might think that. And it is true. But as a Pure Blood, I know that it is part of our job as Pure Blood children to learn about our Wizarding history, especially family history. And thus there is no excuse for any of the children to slack off in the class." If possible, he lowered his voice even more. "To tell the truth, I enjoy teaching the Muggle Borns in my NEWT level classes. I see their eyes light up the way mine once had when I was a little lad. Much younger then these students." He hadn't wanted to speak too loudly in fear of a few of the children in the room who's parents were Death Eaters writing home about what Dear Old Professor Cavanaugh had said.

"But you would care for me, right? If I were sick or dying?" His eyes widened dramatically, as if her answer would mean him living or dying. There was nearly nothing a man like more then the reassuring touch and calmness of a woman when they were laying in bed sick.

Grinning widely, Xander gasped theatrically. "Professor Piper! A woman never asks a man his age!" He teased lightly, using the female dominated phrase.

"Hmmm." He rubbed his chin in thought. "Oh well. I guess I will have to whisper my answers to the Slytherin nearest me." He began to chuckle but stopped when he looked up. The Gryffindor and Slytherin seemed to not be able to move past their foul attitudes.

"Do you know their names?" He jerked his head in the direction of the kids. "I'm about ready to doc points." Xander was looking over at the boys, nostrils flared.

Professor Cavanaugh frowned at her words. How could someone as beautiful and fun spirited as her have low self esteem. He leaned in close, "I will believe in you enough for both of us. How about that, my dear?" He said softly with a smile. Raisa was so kind, and so smart. He would simply have to work to build her confidence back up. It was the only option.

Xander's heart fluttered at her soft, "Ok." And suddenly he never wanted Study Hall to end. He wanted to spend the rest of the day with her. Rather it was on their own or watching a bunch of bratty kids threaten each other. Xander wanted to know her favorite color, her favorite book, her favorite foods, places, and drinks. In less then an hour and half, Raisa Cavanaugh had managed to slow down the fast paced and ever so charming Xander Cavanaugh. She was one of a kind, and the only woman who had ever made Xander Cavanaugh second guess himself or his actions.

Raisa had covered her cheeks and bent forward over the desk. Xander smiled broadly at her actions. They were so cute! Everything about her was precious. He tenderly laid a hand on her upper back, laying his other arm, which supported his head, on the table in front of him. Her face was hidden from view.

"Was that a smile?" He questioned happily, looking sideways at her. Xander lifted his hand that lay on her back and began poking her in the side, chuckling softly.

[kat55]

Raisa smiled, he had so much passion! Plus, he seemed to have none of that ‘Pure Blood vs. Muggle Born’ way of mind. Of course he had to lower his voice when saying so, but she didn’t mind. At least he had said it. Suddenly, Raisa felt much more at ease. “I love that,” she admitted, “The way you care about your students, muggle born or not, is great. Thank you.” Raisa thanked him not only because she felt more at ease, but because he was like a breath of fresh air in a stuffy room – that stuffy room being Hogwarts. “When I look down at my class, I usually see passion. That would probably be because my course is optional. My classes are never very big, but the people that I do get as my students have a real care for the subject I teach them. Some want to be in the Ministry working in the Magical Creatures department, others just want to own their own. I make a point to ask every student why they are in my class, and to remember it too.” She remembered every one of the children’s answers, mostly because she loved to remind them of their dream when they looked down, or just plain bored.

Xander’s question as to whether she would care for him or not if he were sick or dying made Raisa laugh quietly, “Of course. I wouldn’t be able to leave someone sick or dying on their own. So yes, I would.” She arched an eyebrow again, thinking that his wide eyes were showing them of rather nicely.

“Terribly sorry dear, I forgot myself.” Raisa apologized, just as dramatically, with a sweep of her hand to top it all off. “Let us forget I ever asked such a question and be done with it!” Now she grinned, having to stop herself from laughing as it would be unseemly for two professors to be joking around when it is study hall and the students themselves aren’t allowed to talk.

Raisa looked when Xander asked for the names of two students, she knew neither. Being the teacher of an option made it so that many of the students never even met Raiser, or her them. “I’m sorry, if I could help I could. “ She smiled slightly at the glares the two boys were giving each other. The Gryffindor/Ravenclaw rivalry was legendary, it was like a younger copy of Dark vs. Light, but of course, not all Slytherin’s turned out evil and not all Gryffindor’s turned out good. Really, it was depended on one’s history added to the personality that already existed. Just because Slytherin’s were sly, didn’t mean that they were all mean. Being one of the Hufflepuffs had given Raisa a perspective that was very different on the two houses. Gryffendors were always so impulsive, and Slytherins were sly and almost deceitful. Of course, she had been biased towards the Slytherins, seeing as most called her ‘mudblood.’
All of a sudden there was a warm hand on her back and she knew it to be Xander. Deciding not to move from her position on the desk she smiled for real this time. “What do you think Professor?” she replied with a question when Xander asked whether she had smiled or not. Then she was being poked in the side and she yelped, alerting a fifth year Gryffindor girl who was in Raisa’s class that the two professors were up to something.

Raisa could see the girls knowing grin and giggle and she blushed, hiding with her face to the desk again. “They’re looking.” She whispered, turning her head to face Xander while keeping it on the desk.

[thatxander]

Chills spiraled down Xander's back when Raisa smiled. They always did. he had only seen her a few times, and even if he would catch a small grin when she was speaking to a student, he would get goosebumps. Xander Cavanaugh was a charming man by nature, and thus had made many women smile, but hers0 Raisa Piper had the best smile he had ever seen. And when he had caused it, it made him feel special. And then her saying that she loved his care for his students, despite their blood status, made his heart melt a little bit. Too bad the "Dark Side" was more powerful at the moment. As of right now, the Order seemed to be fighting a losing battle. It had been that way since Professor Dumbledor had died. That was when he changed "sides." Xander Cavanaugh would not be caught on the losing side. If the Order suddenly made a come back, he would fight to stop funding the Dark Lords schemes. But the man had been trying to recruit Xander for a while, and he only accepted when Albus had passed.

Xander smiled. "I think I will do that, during my first class. Ask what every student wants to do with their life. My class isn't optional, so I do have a lot of behavior problems to deal with. He glanced up at the students causing trouble now, checking to see if they were still glaring at each other. It seemed that at the time being, they were behaving. As I said, I favor my NEWT classes." He grinned.

The Professor blushed when she said she would care for him if sick. "Good," He teased with a grin. "Next time I get sick I will send you a Patronus."

Raisa showed off a bit of her own theatrical drama, quite nicely in fact, and Xander was ready to wrap his arms around her waist, kiss her on the nose and claim her as his. Xander loved nothing more then a confident and theatrical Witch. Well, she didn't have to be theatrical, but he loved a Witch that would be silly and play around- have a good time with him. And now he found that Professor Piper was not only the most stunning Witch he had come across, but she was willing to joke around too. She was the complete package, and Xander Cavanaugh now had his heart set on winning the woman over.

"That was beautiful, My Dear." he smiled softly, warmly at her. At this point, the students in the room didn't matter. They were the adults, and they didn't have to tiptoe around the students. The Professor shrugged his shoulders when she said she didn't know the student's names. He turned to the glaring students, and was going to ask for their names, but he shrugged. If they got any worse then he would just assign them detentions copying dates from a NEWT level History of Magic textbook. That ought to be punishment enough. "I'm sure we will end up having to get them by the end of class."

Xander's smile widened, "What do I think? I think you are smiling widely and your heart is thumping. What can I say? I am a charming guy." He said softly, only joking of course. Professor Cavanaugh was definitely not a conceited guy. His face lit up when she blushed, knowing he had done something right if he could bring her out of her shell. She mentioned the students looking and he discreetly turned his head. He saw the grinning fifth year Gryffindor and he winked at her, letting her know that she had officially made the teacher blush. He turned his back at the angelic woman.

"Who cares," he whispered, "we ought to give them something to stare at." With the back of his hand, Xander caressed Raisa's face. "I think you look beautiful." He said with a soft smile.

[kat55]

Raisa smiled again, she was getting to be quite quick to smile around Xander. To be perfectly honest, she had never imagined herself next to him like this, just talking, flirting a bit even. Okay, so they were beginning to really flirt now... But what was the difference? It was happening anyways, no matter what she thought about it. Of course, her perspective had changed drastically from when they had bumped into each other in the hallways – her disdain for him had quite obviously shown through. In fact, before now she had always thought of him as just another one of ‘those Death Eater guys’ and never really given him her time of day, other than to glance at his handsome face. He was so incredibly different from that man she had imagined him to be. He was romantic, theatrical, fun to be around, but most of all, he was kind – to her in any case.

Now they were talking about themselves, and Raisa wasn’t hesitating to answer! “I think you most definitely should ask them about their plans. It is really interesting just to hear what they have to say. There is nothing quite like listening to those whose passion is your subject talk about their futures.” She laughed then, “I can understand why, NEWT classes have got to have a bit more passion for the subject I’d think.”

And then Xander was blushing, and Raisa was smiling, “I’ll come for you.” She replied, if he was sick she would help. Of course, her joking tone held some truth to it. She would help him if he ever needed it, now that she knew that he was a great man.

Beautiful? Xander thought her ridiculous dramatic display beautiful? Raisa wasn’t going to complain. His... charming happiness was contagious it seemed, at least it was to Raisa, who smiled back just as warmly, “Thank you Xander.” She replied appropriately. Just then, all she could think about was
Xander’s warm smile and the way he said “My dear.” It was so perfect, charming, and absolutely romantic, was she taken with him? Perhaps, with time she might just fall for him. As it were, she was enjoying his company immensely and hoped that she could spend more time with him now that her confidence was raised and her doubts about him practically erased. How could less than an hour get
her this interested in him? Who knew?

“I’ll keep watch on them for you. Maybe they will calm down if I stare long enough, “To push her point she began to stare as she had said she would, but soon became bored and turned back to Xander, eyes watering from being kept open and a grin upon her face. “I give up.” She admitted, laughing quietly.

When Xander commented on what he thought, Raisa blushed, again. Really? Honestly? More blushing? He was going to think her shy or shallow if the rouging continued. Her blush deepened to unimaginable depths of pink when he said that she looked beautiful, and she grinned, lifting her head high this time, almost as if to show of the pink glow that radiated off of her previously pale face. “I, uh, thank you...” she responded with another laugh, this one appreciative this time.

Could any other professor even compete with the level of charm and handsomeness that Xander had? The answer to that question was a definite no.