Adrian Connery
Adult
Gryffindor Head of House and Auror
Mysterious; another word for boring.
Posts: 110
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Post by Adrian Connery on Dec 9, 2009 15:12:39 GMT 1
Cheeks feeling like they were on fire, Adrian went to take a sip of his drink only to find it was gone. There was no guessing as to who took it and a nasty glare was instantly directed at Abe. He had been planning on hiding behind enjoying that butterbeer. Again his cheeks flushed red with embarrassment and slight anger at his colleague’s smooth comments. ”No, I guess you’re right, I’m not drinking, I’ll have to fix that. Thank you for pointing that out Abe, enjoy your butterbeer,” he answered as pleasantly as he could, more for Diana’s sake than Abe’s.
”Abe’s right again too, the new divination professor is not nearly as good as you were. And the work is unavoidable I’m afraid; some of us have more than about four students taking our subject which means more work. ‘Scuse me while I go get a drink,” the younger man excused himself from the table and back to the bar. He received an odd look from the bartender but was still served the firewhiskey he’d ordered. Since Abe had taken the kid’s drink Adrian decided he might as well skip to the hard liquor.
”I can understand why you wanted to leave,” the Irishman said softly as he sat himself back down again next to Diana. An attack by a vampire would have been pretty traumatic; at least he assumed it would have been. He didn’t really know since he was kind of used to attacks from dark creatures. Adrian took a sip from his drink, relishing the burning sensation as the whiskey slipped down his throat. ”Vampires, what a pain in the arse,” he said more to himself than to Diana with a shake of his head. ”So, how long have you been working at the Ministry? It can’t be all that long can it?”
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Abraham Grey
Adult (A)
Hufflepuff Head of House
Arithmancy Professor
Posts: 152
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Post by Abraham Grey on Dec 21, 2009 19:01:55 GMT 1
Despite the fact that a drink with Adrian had been the plan all along Abe was beginning to wish the man wasn’t there. Although he had brought Diana with him, so perhaps he had some uses after all, limited, but you couldn’t expect much from a Gryffindor. Plus the butterbeer was appreciated and after the burn of whiskey the warm, smooth taste of the drink made a nice change. Abe had always enjoyed the traditional student drink, but endless teasing from his siblings had been enough to convince him that whiskey was the way to go. Not that he’d ever admit that out loud.
”A class like Arithmancy actually requires some talent on the part of the students.” He griped at Adrian, smarting at the dig made at his subject. ”I don’t just let any old person enrol and spend my time causing wanton destruction by blasting things with spells.” Okay so it was a little bitchy, but Abe didn’t appreciate the insinuation that he never did any work. He worked! The fact that he hadn’t marked an essay in four months had nothing to do with it. Actually he should probably get Tristram to handle the backlog of marking he had piling up. That was what substitute teachers were for, right?
His mood wasn’t improved at all when he spotted that Adrian had returned with a firewhiskey. It didn’t matter that he still had half a butterbeer left and he’d had more than enough to drink considering it wasn’t even evening yet, he wanted the whiskey, but Connery was keeping too close an eye on his glass this time around. Instead he chose to focus on talking to Diana. ”Nobody blames you, my dear,” Abe reached out to pat her hand like he might do for a distraught Hufflepuff. ”I personally think Aurors should be doing more to handle the vampire situation. “ He shot Adrian a meaningful look. ”Yes they have rights, but only if they’re willing to follow our laws. Otherwise they’re no different from any other dangerous magical creature.”
Abe almost rolled his eyes as Connery asked Diana about her new job. He wasn’t just going to talk about work the entire time was he? Booooooring. There were far more interesting topics to discuss like whether Diana was still single and if she’d had a chance to read his new book. Perhaps he could offer her a signed copy; women liked that kind of thing. He stifled a sigh and pretended to be engrossed in drawing patterns in the froth of his butterbeer with the tip of his wand while the two of them got on with the inane chitchat.
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Post by Diana Addair on Dec 29, 2009 17:10:46 GMT 1
Ouch. Apparently the relationship between Abe and Adrian was less friendly than she remembered. Diana gave a worried glance between the two men. Friendly teasing was one thing but this was missing the light hearted nature that usually marked a joke. The feeling she shouldn’t be here intensified and writhed in her stomach so she picked up her butterbeer again to give herself something to do with her hands.
Adrian thankfully pulled the topic onto to something else. Work. Not exactly thrilling. Abe’s eye-roll was rather warranted but she’d take what she could get in lieu of them making more snide comments at each-other. Besides, she knew how much Adrian liked work, poor dear. She was surprised he was so introverted actually. Looking like that he should have women all over him, and he certainly wasn’t too old for the club scene. He wasn’t much older than the students actually now that she thought about it.
“I got the job about three weeks after I left the school,” she recalled, putting the mug down and tracing her finger around the edge of the flagon thoughtfully. “The position at the school gave me a real boost in getting hired. It looks good on a résumé. They still made me guess the colour of the interviewers socks though,” she added with an amused huff, as though such a thing was beneath her ability. “I guessed maroon and beige with wands on them. Must’ve been right because they gave me the job after all.”
Hmm, yes, the vampire issue. Not a topic she was fond of these days, but she answered Abe anyway just to be polite. “It’s a pity to have vampires like that around the place. The ones that try so hard to get society to accept them lose before they even start.” Actually, speaking of: “Did they ever catch that one in the forest?”
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Adrian Connery
Adult
Gryffindor Head of House and Auror
Mysterious; another word for boring.
Posts: 110
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Post by Adrian Connery on Dec 30, 2009 14:00:42 GMT 1
Arithmancy was a subject that made about ninety-five percent of the student population of Hogwarts cringe, even Abe knew that. Yet still he stuck up valiantly for his subject, Adrian had to give the other man credit for that even if he didn’t want to. It was no hidden truth that the Defence Against the Dark Arts professor disliked Arithmancy, he’d never been good at it and it brought back painful memories of Rickie. His younger brother had been brilliant at it, as Abe always told him, and Adrian had willed him to get a job involved in it at the ministry before the two of them had fallen out.
In an attempt to hold his tongue lest it start his colleague on an Arithmancy related rant, Adrian shot back the rest of his whiskey and listened, one eyebrow raised, to the other man’s conversation topic. The look that was shot in his direction at the talk of Aurors and vampires was certainly noticed by the Gryffindor head. ”I wouldn’t know what the Aurors are doing these days, I’m just a teacher now,” Adrian shrugged, lying through his teeth. It was not supposed to be common knowledge that the Ministry had reinstated him as a working Auror, only the Headmistress knew what was going on.
It was good Diana was working at the ministry, it was relatively safe there. The only vampires that went through there were representatives of their kind, civil and trustworthy people. One of whom Adrian had to have a meeting with in the next few days for information on vampires in Hogsmeade. It was bound to be long and tedious, even now with all the rights they had; vampires did not like ratting on other vampires. ”The ministry’s a good place to work; no kids or homework to mark,” he chuckled. The slight smile on his face soon turned to a frown at the talk of vampires.
”Vampires have the same rights as us these days and they fought hard for them but ones like the bastard that was in the forest make the entirety of them look bad and make the Ministry re-think giving rights to them in the first place. That’s just common knowledge,” Adrian commented lightly to Diana, choosing not to say anything in answer to Abe’s statement. The Irishman agreed with the other professor but knew that vampires were much more treacherous than any other dangerous magical creature simply because they had retained a level of humanity. Dragons and Manticores were perilous to handle but they were also universal in their line of attack whereas all vampires were different and had human intelligence.
”The vampire that attacked you is dead. He was killed by another vampire –who is also now dead- about a month or so ago,” Adrian answered almost too quickly with a grim smirk. Because of Dacian, the other vampire, and their deaths the man was juggling too jobs, a tonne of files on vampires and vampire related cases, as well as a young partner. He hoped at least the woman would find some comfort in the news.
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Abraham Grey
Adult (A)
Hufflepuff Head of House
Arithmancy Professor
Posts: 152
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Post by Abraham Grey on Jan 4, 2010 2:28:31 GMT 1
”I wouldn’t call it a guess.” Abe said, tuning back into the conversation with a flattering smile. He might have little interest in Diana’s new job, especially since it was in the field of Divination, which he really did think was closer to guesswork than anything else, but that didn’t mean he was going to miss out on an opportunity to flirt. There was nothing better than a well-timed compliment; his brother had taught him that. ”Not with talents like yours. It really was a shame to lose you at the school.” Her incredible rack for example, Merlin he missed the glimpse of cleavage he used to get of a morning.
He shifted in his seat, leaning over to slap Adrian on the shoulder in what was supposed to be a friendly pat, but might have become a little rougher than necessary as he eyed the empty whiskey tumbler enviously. ”Ahh, but once an Auror always an Auror, right Adrian?” Abe said persistently. ”I bet you still know the secret handshake.” He knew for a fact Adrian had been involved in dealings with the vampire since the attack on Diana, he’d had the broken nose to prove it, and Connery really wasn’t the type to let things drop. He couldn’t imagine the Gryffindor Head of House just handing over to the ministry without a fuss.
”Lots of politics to deal with working for the Ministry though.” He pointed out in response to Connery, partially just so he could disagree. Abe wasn’t a fan of politics, at least not the type he’d grown up with. For his mother something as simple as a seating plan for a dinner party could cause the biggest scandal of the year and that was something he’d definitely wanted to get away from, which was why he politely declined her monthly invitations whenever he could. That and she was trying to get him to settle down and marry a nice pureblood girl again. She couldn’t have another son turning out like Marcus. At least at the school his biggest worry was making sure Jerry didn’t sit behind Miranda and dip her hair the inkwell again.
Speaking of politics weren’t the two of them being terribly liberal about vampire rights. Abe frowned and took a long draught of his butterbeer. ”Sneaky little bastards the lot of them.” He announced. ”The ones that act civilised now are just biding their time for an easy meal ticket in the future. Don’t forget they have eternity to lull us into a false sense of security. It’ll all end in tears...” He broke off to belch, belatedly raising a hand to cover his mouth. ”And blood. Tears and blood, you mark my words.”
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Adrian Connery
Adult
Gryffindor Head of House and Auror
Mysterious; another word for boring.
Posts: 110
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Post by Adrian Connery on Feb 13, 2010 13:29:16 GMT 1
Why hadn’t he just ditched Abe? Gone to a completely different place to catch up with Di? He had been an idiot for including his colleague in something that he felt should have been private. Adrian was probably upset due to the fact the Arithmancy professor had some semblance of charm and ease around women whereas he was stuck with the boring conversation topic of work and his amazing ability of extreme awkwardness. This combined with watching Abe flirt with Diana only served to make the Gryffindor head frown before muttering something about another drink and retreating to the bar, shrugging off the other man’s rough pat on the shoulder.
At the bar he downed a shot of firewhiskey before returning to the table with another in hand. ”Aurors don’t have a secret handshake, that’s old. We had a complicated series of clicks, hums and whistles when I was one,” Adrian said seriously but a quick wink at Di told the woman he was only joking. Although he highly doubted Abe would be thick enough to take that of all things seriously, there was no harm in messing with the other man’s head if he was.
Instead of arguing the matter further, the Defence Against the Dark Arts professor ignore what was spoken about politics. Because of vampire politics he was being run off his feet and, besides, it was really boring to talk about after day after day of dealing with it. But he couldn’t resist opening his mouth, loosened by alcohol, at Abe’s little speech on blood suckers.
”You better be careful Abe. There’s not much sunlight in here and if there’s a vamp about and he hears you say all that stuff it’ll be your blood sucked next,” the young man said sinisterly, wrinkling his nose in disdain at Abe’s belch. ”Vampires aren’t as bad as people make them out to be, all those bull shit stories people come out with. For one thing they do not sparkle and the ones that are bad don’t last long. They generally, you know, axe off the ones who cause trouble.”
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Abraham Grey
Adult (A)
Hufflepuff Head of House
Arithmancy Professor
Posts: 152
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Post by Abraham Grey on Mar 29, 2010 16:17:29 GMT 1
Connery went up to the bar to get himself another drink and Abe turned his seat, considering hollering after the man to get a round in, but a quick glance at Diana’s pint glass told him she wasn’t even near done and he’d definitely had more than enough considering it was the early afternoon. It was one thing to get a little merry, but he didn’t want Diana thinking he had some kind of drinking problem, that definitely wouldn’t convince her to spend any more time around her ex-work colleagues.
Abe snorted into his almost empty butterbeer as Adrian returned with another whiskey and picked up the conversation where he’d left off, joking about the secret Auror handshake. ”Well if all else fails you could always get a job at Seaworld talking to the dolphins.” He shot back; missing the wink Connery had aimed at Diana, but not nearly drunk enough to believe that the uptight Gryffindor Head had ever indulged in a secret greeting that involved imitating a dolphin. Still, it was probably better that they stuck to light teasing rather than the rather more serious one-upmanship they’d been attempting earlier.
”I can hold my own against a vampire.” Abe insisted, hoping Connery wouldn’t sink so low as to remind him in front of Diana that that wasn’t strictly the case. He was unable to resist nervously glancing over one shoulder to scope out the rest of the pub either. There didn’t really seem to be anybody shady looking or even anybody remotely interested in their conversation, but as Adrian had said it wasn’t like they sparkled, which would definitely have given the game away a bit. ”Oh yes and taking the law into their own hands by killing off their own really endears them as a species.” He added, wondering how Connery could even try to defend them. He should have known better than most just what vampires were capable of.
”Anyway,” Abe said before either of the two of them could respond. ”I should be going, I’ve got another best-seller to write and some autographs to sign.” He wasn’t much in the mood to compete with Connery any more, he wasn’t sure why he’d agreed to go for a drink with the man in the first place, although the unexpected meeting with Diana hadn’t been unwelcome. ”It’s been lovely to catch up Diana,” Abe leant across the table to kiss her on the cheek, displaying surprising agility considering he was a couple of firewhiskeys and a butterbeer down the road. ”We must keep in touch by owl.”
Getting steadily to his feet proved to be a little more of a challenge and Abe found himself using Connery’s shoulder to steady himself, which he really hoped Diana would mistake for a friendly gesture rather than an inability to stand on his own. After that he couldn’t very well leave without at least acknowledging the Gryffindor Head of House. ”See you back at the school Connery, don’t you two have too much fun without me.” Abe grinned, hoping to fluster the straight-laced professor and topping the comment off by pulling the man into the kind of hug that can only be achieved by the slightly tipsy. After that he felt he’d done quite enough damage and left the two with a final wave.
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Post by Diana Addair on May 5, 2010 8:47:38 GMT 1
Diana didn’t like this conversation. Not in the slightest. All the talk of vampires was bringing back memories of tall dark forests and real or imagined visions of dark eyed men holding her hostage. She shifted uncomfortably again, drawing her hands close to her underneath the table as though for protection while she watched the two men talk.
Dear Adrian was nice enough to try and break the tension with a joke and she forced herself to laugh politely. Abraham’s return quip about SeaWorld caused her to giggle a bit louder and brought to mind Adrian trying to lecture dolphins the same way he taught his classes. Oh dear. It probably wasn’t fair to laugh.
The situation reverted to serious until Abe looked like he’d decided he had enough. Diana watched him lean over and accepted his quick kiss on the cheek while looking like she’d been caught off-kilter.
“Oh, okay,” she replied confusedly, watching him stand up with a vaguely surprised look on her face. “Feel free to send me an owl for anything. It was good to see you too, Abe.”
She busied herself with her drink until the two men had said their awkward goodbyes and Abe departed. Now that the older professor was gone she was suddenly at loss as to what to say again. Adrian was sweet but not always the most finessed conversationalist.
“Well, that was an interesting reunion...” she attempted awkwardly.
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Adrian Connery
Adult
Gryffindor Head of House and Auror
Mysterious; another word for boring.
Posts: 110
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Post by Adrian Connery on May 15, 2010 6:30:32 GMT 1
Vampires, they were such a buzzkill, even more so than Adrian was normally. It wasn’t like he set out to purposely kill the happy mood; it was a side effect of being forced to be an adult since being a teen. An almost defeated sounding ”Hrmm,” was the only answer the younger man gave Abe, there was no point arguing vampire rights further. It was far too political and more than likely not something Diana was interested in hearing. The older professor was right; vampires weren’t the most endearing creatures but the ones that still had remnants of humanity weren’t too bad. That Samual Jacobs guy wasn’t too painful to work with.
”The only autographs you’re going to be signing today will be for detention slips and failing Arithmancy essays.” A low blow but totally a true blow. Adrian had read Abe’s first book out of courtesy when he’d started teaching at Hogwarts and couldn’t see, even three years later, why it had become a best seller. He’d fallen asleep halfway through the first page. Still it had garnered the other man a huge amount of money so all Adrian could do was sit and be jealous at that and the fact Abe kissed Diana on the cheek.
He waved half-heartedly at the Hufflepuff head’s back and tried to at least sort of look like he was sorry to see the guy go. With his current track record and the already thick awkwardness between them, Adrian highly doubted he would be having any fun let alone too much. Mirroring the woman, Adrian too began to fiddle self-consciously with his drink, unsure of what to do or say next. Thankfully she broke the silence first but it only served to make his face flush hotly. ”Interesting doesn’t really cover it. I’m sorry for that and everything else. This hadn’t been the way I’d envisioned seeing you again,” Adrian chuckled nervously.
He couldn’t help but smirk painfully at his own social ineptness. Admitting he’d wanted to see Diana again the way he had, probably not the smoothest way it could have been put. ”I have really missed you around the place. There’s been no more hitting my head in cupboards or morning chats since you left,” Adrian ventured apprehensively. Maybe it was because of the alcohol or Abe’s influence but, with his heart racing, Adrian grew bolder with his words.
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Post by Diana Addair on May 18, 2010 5:10:35 GMT 1
It took a moment for Diana’s brain to click as to what Adrian meant. ‘Hadn’t been the way I’d envisioned seeing you aga—’
... Oh.
The only reason she didn’t flush redder was because this, at least, was territory she was more familiar with. Diana was hardly blind, and she was more than well aware of how she looked and the attention that usually got. Some people were less subtle than others (Abe), but even with Adrian’s almost contagious shyness she’d started to suspect he had a thing for her towards the end of her astoundingly short time at Hogwarts. He had a tenancy to go above and beyond the call of duty when she was involved, and...
Well, heck. She owed him her life for that.
And you know what? She’d been a fairly ungrateful about it too.
The memory of this seemed to endear him a little more to her and Diana slipped over a seat to sit next to him.
“Oh well, there’s always that portrait on the wall you hit with the bar of soap that time. Did anyone ever take that silencing charm off him the poor fellow?”
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