Dinner For Scoundrels (Ignatius)

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Was it a wonder that some compared Hiromi Yen to a Dementer? True, she had lots of friends from Ravenclaw, and a good few from Slytherin too, but there were those, especially from Gryffindor and Hufflepuff, that felt like when she entered a room, all the happiness was sucked away from the world. Most of them chose not to look at her as she entered. Others muttered to themselves. Her vampire side allowed her to pick up what those closer were saying, and she scared the hell out of a second year when she turned and glared at her. She didn't say anything though. Today, Hiromi was in a relatively good mood.

She found her usual seat, and a seat nobody else dared take, in the Great Hall and sat down to dinner. She looked at the meal produced by magic and smiled.

"Good, roast pheasant tonight," she said. "Better than that bloody chewy beef we had the night before." She served herself, the grimaced at the usual beverage.

"Bloody pumpkin juice," she said. "Can't I get a decent cup of tea? I'd even settle for British tea right now after drinking this rubbish every meal."

It was again to be remembered that Hiromi was in a GOOD mood. And it also had to be remembered that this WAS Hiromi Doji Yen acted when she was in a GOOD mood. Hiromi was about to settle for the juice anyway when a cup of tea appeared on her table. She looked up to see Professor Mynk staring at her.

"All you have to do is request it," said Mynk. "You know, Ms. Yen, I was once a Ravenclaw myself and I don't recall anyone in my House behaving like you are now, especially a Sixth Year." As Mynk walked away, Hiromi's "good mood" soured.

(Note: I also RP Professor Mynk)

@nellie

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Ignatius had no fixed seat in the Great Hall. He usually sat with people he'd been with during the day, and if he'd been alone, as he had been today, he sat wherever was free. He smiled and waved to most of the Ravenclaws as he passed them, but none of them waved him over or made space for him, so he kept walking. It still bothered him, after all these years, that he'd never managed to find a clique or group to fit in with. He tried to stay positive though; he got along well enough with almost everyone. He was late to dinner tonight too, and he could see only one space - well, two, really. One on either side of Hiromi. As per usual.

He'd always found it strange that she could be so popular, and yet somehow manage to scare everyone away. True, she was half vampire, but surely they wouldn't let her into Hogwarts if she was actually dangerous. Professor Mynk was stalking past him; another person he found slightly intimidating. He smiled and averted his eyes at the same time as she passed him, though he doubted she noticed him. Barely anyone ever did.

As he got closer, the usual tightening in his stomach started. He always forgot how intimidating she was when he wasn't being intimidated by her right that second. He faltered slightly, then tried to man up. They had spoken, at times; they were on good enough terms. He tried to speak, found his voice barely functional, then cleared his throat discreetly and tried again.

"Ahh... hi, Hiromi. Is this seat taken?"

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Humiliated. Hiromi as humiliated by a professor in front of everyone in the Great Hall. She sneered as she sipped her tea. It was rather good, but she wouldn't admit that. She then looked up at the Seventh Year Ravenclaw who wanted to sit beside. She didn't give a polite yes or anything, but he was a Ravenclaw... and a Seventh Year, so she saw no harm in it.

"Well go on and sit then," she said. She then looked at him. "Did you hear what she said? That mad Divination Professor? She said I was not a shining example of a Ravenclaw. Well she didn't say that exactly, but she meant it. Telling me I'm not like the Ravenclaws in her time. Bloody hell... when was that, two hundred years ago?" Some were struck as a bit odd by this as Prof. Mynk was not old at all. As a matter of fact, she was one of the younger of the instructors there. Hiromi knew that, but she found it amusing to refer to all the teachers as old relics from some distant age.

Hiromi sipped her tea again and ate a bite before she looked at the boy.

"Your name is Ignatius, isn't it?" she asked. "You'll be graduating in a few weeks, won't you? Supposed your happy to finally be out of this school. I know I will be. Being at the top of my classes and a respecting member of the Charms Club is well and good, but I am more concerned about what I will do outside of this ancient walls."

@nellie

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Ignatius felt like a deer in the headlights as Hiromi ranted briefly about Professor Mynk. Oh god, he thought. It's like being 12 and hanging out with those 4th-year Hufflepuff girls all over again. He sat down, careful not to knock her at all. He pulled his meal towards himself and took a few bites to stall for time, then nodded as she finished.

"She does seem quite..." But Hiromi was speaking again, asking him about graduation. He shoveled more food into his mouth. In truth, he had no idea what it would be like to be out of Hogwarts. He had no idea what he would do, no idea how he would live, or anything like that. Briefly, he considered murdering his father and inheriting early, then pushed the thought away, ashamed for even thinking it. It crossed his mind far too often. Maybe things between them would improve if Ignatius spent more time at home.

"Oh, yeah, it is," he nodded. "And after I finish should be great. Sleep in til whenever I like, do magic at home, maybe go on holidays..." He didn't know what to say to her, he realised now. He also realised he should have realised he wouldn't know what to say before sitting down, so he tried with his usual awkward questions routine. "What do you think you'll do when you finish next year? I mean, do you have a career in mind, or just..." He trailed off. Should've stopped talking after the question. He was always nervous talking to people he barely knew, but this felt ridiculous.

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Hiromi rolled her eyes at the boy's plans. Hiromi's was big on staying active, and felt other Ravenclaws should be too. She didn't plan on taking any kind of a break after she graduated. She planned to go right into the Ministry. They need more people with a brain there after all.

"Sleep and vacations," she scoffed. "You're wasting your time. Make something of yourself. Are you going make seven years at this school a bloody waste of time." Hiromi sighed. "I suppose I'm going to have to take you under my wing now, wise you up to the ways of our world."

When he asked about her plans, Hiromi gave her smirk again.

"Of course I have a career in mind," she said. "I'm going to work for the Ministry, more specifically the Department of Mysteries. If you ask me, those they currently have handling the greatest mysteries of our world are probably incompetent, especially given recent events. Everyone in the Ministry needs to step up their game after that, or we'll have another Battle of Hogwarts on our hand."

People around the table were rolling their eyes at Hiromi and some were on the verge of telling her to shut up. Mocking the school was one thing. Trashing the Ministry of Magic was another. But right now Hiromi was focused on Ignatius. She had been incredibly bored as of late, and he was someone who could occupy her time. If there was thing she took pride in... it was turning people like him into people like her.

@nellie

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Ignatius almost jumped and looked abashed. "Yeah, I suppose..." he replied. He had never known how to deal with Hiromi. That was why they had never been close. But he had resolved to be more brave in the previous months, and he could think of nothing more intimidating than speaking to someone like her. "I guess, I might go traveling and maybe test my skills against a Giant or something." Poor Ignatius. Always too little, or too much.

As she spoke, Ignatius noticed the reactions of the other students, and found himself roused to a sort of indignation. Sure, she was loud, and opinionated, and even obnoxious, but they had no right to judge her. Though he was a little hazy on religion or divinities, he had always had a certain sense of 'to each their own', and nothing failed to enrage him - in his quiet little way - than any offence to his sense of fair play.

"That sounds brilliant," he said, though he still couldn't meet the eyes of the students judging her. "Change is essential to life, and if slow change is rejected, more violent means should be adopted, especially if the staff are getting lax - which is a huge failing of bureaucracy. The Ministry had an overhaul twenty years ago, after the Battle and victory here. It's probably due for another one." He chanced a glance up at her, suddenly remembering her reputation. Everyone said she chewed people up and spit them out. He figured it was too late to back out now.

@hiromi

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Fighting a Giant? That sounded as ridiculous as being lazy and doing nothing. Fortunately now Ignatius would be in her care until he graduated... or at least that was her determined mindset. She seemed to forget that "pupils" of the past had grown tired of her and left her.

She then nodded when he said her career choice was brilliant.

"Of course it's brilliant," she put in before he went on. She found his analysis of the Ministry to be a good one... perhaps even better put than her own. He was learning already.

"Very well said, Ignatius, very well said indeed," she said. "Perhaps a new Minister maybe. If you ask me, someone was positively nutters putting Draco Malfoy in that position. After all, we all know what he did in the Battle... ran away like a coward with his mum and dad. At least the dark wizards and witches had a side to take. You have to give them that."

"Watch it, Hiromi," whispered another Ravenclaw.

"Watch what?" she asked. "Am I to be expelled because I have a political opinion. The last I checked, we did not live under a dictatorship, though sometimes I wonder about that."

Hiromi sighed and decided to change the subject. She turned to Ignatius.

"So now that I have taken you under my wing," she said, looking over the fact that the boy had not confirmed such a mentor/pupil relationship. "We're going to start with how you keep yourself up. I suggest a trip to the Wizardwear store in Hogsmeade as soon as possible."

@nellie

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Ignatius smiled when she praised him. For all his book smarts, he really wasn't very bright when it came to emotions and social stuff. Combined with the other students' comments, he was feeling pretty reckless and thinking he could definitely learn to enjoy being around Hiromi. She was more astute than most people gave her credit for. He felt a bit doubtful about her mentoring him, but he couldn't think of a way to say it that wouldn't end with a jug of pumpkin juice tipped over his head, and some severe verbal berating. So he smiled weakly and went along with it. But then she said he'd have to dress differently, and his scalp prickled.

"Uhh... Hiromi, I, ah... well, my mum bought me these... before she died, and I kind of don't want to... I want to keep wearing them." He had all but grown out of them. The sleeves of his shirts and robes were almost painfully short, but he had never even considered buying new ones, despite the fact that he bordered on looking ridiculous in them. It would also involve asking his father for money, which was something he avoided at all costs. The mean old miser would probably have scoffed and sworn at him, if he was in a bad mood. Not that Ignatius had ever tried.

@hiromi

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Okay, Hiromi was a good bit cold and cruel, but even she had her limits. When he said that his mother bought his clothes before she died, even Hiromi could not say anything cold in return. She wouldn't apologize, but she wouldn't say anything cold either.

"Well..." she said. "Now that I think of it, you are a bit fashionable in your own unique way. The clothes will do fine." She even gave a small smile at this. Despite whether she was intentionally trying to show it or not, she was telling him she was sorry for what she said about the clothes, and giving her condolences for his late mum.

"Well then," she said. "What shall we work on? I think you could do with a change of attitude. You have to be out-going like myself. If you're not people are going to tear you down, walk all over you. You can't hide in the bloody corner the rest of your life, now can you... especially if you expect to fight ogres or giants or whatever you said."

Hiromi finished up her dinner, and rose, eying those who were still shaking their heads at her. She then caught of glimpse at Mynk who sat up at the head table. She gave the Professor a cold, but careful look, and was angered when Mynk merely returned it with a civil smile and nod. Hiromi then turned back to Ignatius.

"If you're finished with your dinner, come with me," she said. "We have a lot to do and not a lot of time to do it in."

@nellie

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Ignatius gave a small smile in return, suddenly nervous. He couldn't recall having ever seen Hiromi smile before, and now he didn't know what to say. She was helping him out, as far as she was concerned. And he had noticed that in the past couple of months he'd looked more and more like an idiot.

"Ah... it's OK, I guess. It was years ago, but if I want money I have to ask my dad, and he's... well. I avoid talking to him." He clammed up after that. If he could've sprung, fully-formed, from his mother's mouth like in Greek mythology, he would have happily done so. As far as people at Hogwars were concerned, he may as well have. "However, if you know of a good, cheap shop, I guess that'd be OK?"

He wolfed down the last of his meal and followed her. He let his food settle for a few minutes, then asked, "So, how do I be outgoing? I don't want to be a dick. It would be nice if people noticed me a bit more, though..." He thought of Ellen, and decided that if Hiromi could teach him how to talk to her, then anything that came along with it would definitely be worth it.

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Hiromi was feeling guilty deep down about the clothes remark, and therefore wanted to speak no more of it. So she gave a simple response when he asked about a cheap shop. For another thing, Hiromi didn't do "cheap" anyway.

"We'll see to all that later perhaps," she said. "For now we focus on attitude."

She stepped out of the Great Hall and made her way back toward Ravenclaw Tower. It was not a fun walk after eating, but Hiromi took it slow, and her mind was now occupied on teaching Ignatius. She listened as he asked about what it took to be outgoing, and then spoke on how he could potentially be as such without being mean.

"Well no one says you have to be a di... be mean to be outgoing," said Hiromi. "But you do have to be able to speak your mind when it needs to be spoken. People like honesty, as long as it's not too brutal. But a little brutal honesty lets people know where you're coming from and that you don't tolerate rubbish. They'll respect that. For instance, if someone's spells are horrid, I'm going to say something before they blow up everything around them, or if another girl's hair is a bloody eyesore, she needs to know before she distracts someone and causes them to bump into a wall."

Hiromi then watched as a girl with such hair passed.

"Really, Silvia, really?" she said. She then looked back at Ignatius.

"So you want people to notice you?" she said. "Then do something dynamic! Get out there and get involved in things! You can't bloody well wait around until some troll you can fight gets loose in the castle again."

@nellie

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Ignatius followed, frowning and nodding as he concentrated on her words. It made sense, kind of... Public service or not, he decided to wait until he'd learned a bit from Hiromi before figuring out nicer ways of doing things, anyway. And maybe a bit of a no-nonsense attitude would help his confidence.

"Right. OK. I think I get it."

He spotted a Gryffindor with a strange, red, pushed-over-sideways mowhawk. Had it been a Quidditch day, it could have been understandable, but the guy had had it for over a week now with no signs of changing it. As the guy walked past, Ignatius took a quick breath and gave it a go.

"Hey, Declan, put that thing away before you take someone's eye out."

"Piss off, Rivers," he replied, barely glancing Ignatius' way. Ignatius felt like his face would spontaneously combust any second. He glanced at Hiromi, half-anticipating a bad reaction. 

"He probably will take someone's eye out," he tried weakly. "Then he'll be sorry..." He trailed off and looked at the floor.

@hiromi

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Hiromi watched the exchange between Ignatius and Declan. The boy had it right for a moment there, but then he backed away at the first sign of retaliation. Oh, this was going to take some doing. Hiromi rolled her eyes and sneaked a spell that caused something slippery to be on the ground in front of Declan. The boy tripped, busted his rump, and spilled his books and other items all down the hall. Hiromi watched with a wicked grin, then turned to Ignatius.

"That was good for a start, but if you want to get into it with one of those cocky Gryffindors, then you need to follow through," she said. "You see even thought they actually don't, Gryffindors believe they can amount to the level of a Ravenclaw. You bite, they are going to bit back...." She then drew close to Ignatius. "And that is when you bite harder." Hiromi snapped her teeth in the air in between her and Ignatius to demonstrate.

"You'll pay for that, Rivers!" threatened Declan, who obviously assumed the boy was responsible.

"There," said Hiromi. "I gave you another opportunity to prove yourself. If you're so bloody hell-bent on fighting giants and trolls, then that pathetic little Gryffindor should be nothing to you."

@nellie

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Ignatius felt his stomach drop as Hiromi cast the slipping spell at Declan. "Oh sh-" He spun and managed to look Hiromi in the eye as she neither praised nor reproved him. His palms were sweating, his heart pounding, the sense of impending doom impeding his ability to concentrate. He nearly had a coronary when she stepped closer, then jumped as she snapped her teeth close to his face. I hope Father buries me next to Mum, he thought. He could hear Declan yelling and stomping over. He drew out his wand, discreetly, and tried to rally his nerves. Close up, Declan was a good two inches taller than him, and twice that wider. Did he play Quidditch? Ignatius couldn't remember, but he wouldn't doubt it.

"What was that, huh?" Declan shoved him in the chest. Ignatius stumbled back a few steps, then, aware of the sudden attention they drew. He stepped back up.

"Don't push me," he mumbled.

"Or what, huh?" Declan pushed him again. "I'm sorry, I didn't hear you."

Ignatius felt burning hot humiliation rising in his throat. How many times had something just like this happened? He'd lost count, and the realisation made him angry.

"Huh? Huh?" he mocked. "Is that all you have to say? I guess, Gryfinndors aren't renowned for their eloquence, but seriously? Learn some new words, caveman."

Declan's eyes looked like they would pop right out of his head. He made a short, strangled noise somewhere in his chest, then swung a fist at Ignatius. Unaware even though he should have expected it, he copped it in the lip and tasted blood as he stumbled back into the wall, the small crowd parting, not bothering to help him up. From the ground, he glared up at the Gryffindor, then fired a hex at him. "Agrestus!"

Declan froze for a split second, then turned into a chicken in a cloud of feathers. Ignatius just stood there, dumbstruck.

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Hiromi watched the exchange like a vicious animal viewing members of its species about to tear each other apart. Frankly, whether Ignatius grew a spine or tore the Gryffindor apart, she wouldn't care... as long as there was blood. She could always find a new student to mentor after all. She was definitely impressed with Ignatius though. He was looking pretty tough and standing up to the idiot. He was hateful too, and Hiromi especially dug that.

When Ignatius was punched and feel back, Hiromi turned to see the blood on his lips. This made her practically foam at the mouth. She didn't need blood to survive given she was a half vampire, but she craved it like a full one. She wanted to run over and lick it off Ignatius lips, but knew it was foolish to do so in public. She quickly went for the blood in her flask, taking a quick sip.

Then, Ignatius cast the spell and Hiromi laughed wildly. Her laugh then ended when she looked down the hall.

"Oh bloody hell, it's Professor Grimp!" she said. She grabbed Ignatius' arm. "Let's get out of here!"

Why she pulled the boy along instead of bailing on him was simple. She now saw potential in him, lots of it! She wasn't letting this one go!

@nellie