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Tweak says, "If you make a grab for freedom"

greenest_thumb (greenest_thumb) wrote in bp_off_camera,
@ 2009-08-20 11:34:00

Entry tags:

2024 08, fleur weasley, hogwarts, neville longbottom

RP: Oh dear...
Who: Neville Longbottom, Fleur Weasley
Where: Hogwarts, Headmaster's Office
When: August 13, 2024, evening
Rating/Warnings: None
Summary: Neville discusses the counselor situation that arose at the camp
Status: Private, On-Going

Neville really didn't know why he was just the slightest bit nervous. Maybe because this is the first discussion he'd had to have with a parent in his new position. Also, his owl to Fleur had seemed a bit presumptious on second reading, to him it did anyway. Really he did not wish to discuss Louis himself, that was a family matter and best left to Fleur and Bill. He chalked it up to never having written an owl like that before, in this kind of situation. What was really concerning Neville was Daniel and Ariana, and the possible amendments to the guidelines for appointing counselors.

He sat at his desk until he felt restless and decided to wait for Fleur at the bottom of the staircase, needing to get some air as well.

Smiling brightly when Neville heard heels on the stone floors of the castle, Neville extended a hand in welcome. "Mrs. Weasley, so good to see you." He motioned to the staircase and did not need to give the password as the staircase waited for them both. "May I offer you something to drink, a tea perhaps."

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steelrose
2009-08-20 04:11 pm UTC (link)

"Oh heavens, mon ami. You needn't be so formal, Neville. Unless you would rather me call you Headmaster so you can get used to the new name?"

Fleur smiled genially at the younger wizard, taking his hand in hers and kissing him on both cheeks as she normally did when meeting family or friends.

"Do not worry, I am not here to demand heads to roll though earlier I had felt very - how you say? - like a warrior?"

She walked up the staircase with Neville behind her. "Tea would be lovely, thank you. I hope this meeting hasn't taken you away from your dinner or more important matters."

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greenest_thumb
2009-08-20 04:20 pm UTC (link)

Neville smiled and shook his head at himself when he did realize how incredibly formal he was being. "This is all new to me Fleur, very different from being a Professor." He received Fleur's usual European greeting.

"I daresay I'm glad I'm meeting with you now though. I assume there is much talk... or, very little talk going on at home right now." It was one of the two extremes for sure, having been through them himself.

Opening the doors to his office he thought the sitting area would be better for this discussion as it was more comfortable and he thought they both had had a trying day. "Please have a seat." Neville only needed to think of tea and there was a tray waiting for them on the side table courtesy of the house elves. "No, this is a fine time. Minerva is either working or out visiting with her mates and I'll be seeing Frankie during the day."

He sighed and sat only when Fleur had picked her seat. "First of all, I'd like to apologize for my return letter." Neville saw the look of confusion that painted Fleur's face before he elaborated. "I had said this meeting was to discuss your son, though that's not correct. I don't presume to have any opinions on how you, your husband and the rest of your family should or would approach this matter. That is up to you entirely." He leaned forward and asked Fleur "How do you take your tea?"

After they both had their teacups in hand, he put his aside to cool slightly and folded his hands on his knee. "However, I'm assuming your letter to me today was in regards to our counselor, Mr. Harris?"

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steelrose
2009-08-21 05:13 pm UTC (link)

"I daresay it is, but do not fret mon ami - you will do Flitwick and those before him proud, I have no doubt," she assured Neville.

Fleur said nothing, though Neville was right. At the moment, Louis was not speaking to her and was still in his bedroom at home. She sighed internally. Something would have to be done, and Fleur knew that Louis wouldn't do anything unless someone reached out to him.

Taking a seat in a very comfortable chair in Neville's office, Fleur smiled.

"How are your children? Minerva must be a grown lady by now. And Frankie - he is still at Hogwarts, oui?"

Fleur held up her hand and waived Neville's worry aside as if it were a tangible thing. "Neville, I understand. I appreciate you assuring me that the school will not meddle in the affairs of family, but I know my letter came as a shock. It was a shock to moi, and to Professor Silver...but regardless, thank you."

She took her tea with milk only and took a sip gratefully when Neville handed it to her.

"Oui. Mr. Harris has behaved inappropriately for a person of his responsiblities at the camp. As I explained to Professor Silver, I could have reported him to the Ministry. But, I would like to keep this out of their hands and let the school deal with him. I'm not concerned about doing this for Mr. Harris, but for my son. Agreed?"

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greenest_thumb
2009-08-21 05:30 pm UTC (link)

"I can only do my best and hope you and my predecessor are correct." Neville didn't know if he'd ever get used to how much faith people put in him, it was slightly unnerving when all he could do was try his best.

"Minerva is twenty years old now and is working at Olivanders as a shop assistant." He beamed proudly and nodded, hoping that she still liked the job after the mad rush before school began. "Frankie's going into his fourth year now and while he's here I'll get to see him every day, so it's good on both sides."

Neville inclined his head in a small nod, glad that his apology about the owl was understood. Plus he agreed with Fleur that Daniel's behaviour was very inappropriate. The counselors were there to 'be there' for the kids, to talk to and to act in Ariana's stead when she couldn't be around all the time.... not to snog the campers and play pranks on their parents. Neville wasn't sure which one of the boys came up with the idea but really, with the responsibilities given to Daniel, he should've put a stop to it.

"Yes, I agree. And I'm very glad that you have chosen not to involve the Ministry... it would be a bad situation for everyone involved." Neville cleared his throat and sat forward slightly. "That being said, Professor Silver has advised me that Mr. Harris has been reprimanded by herself and if I were to let him go, it would leave us shorthanded. So what I'm suggesting is letting Mr. Harris stay for the last week and explaining to him that if he chose to apply next year as a counselor, he would be under severe scrutiny and may not even get the job because of this incident."

He bit his lip and continued "Also, I believe you would agree if I were to make it very clear that any counselor at the camp would need to treat this as if they were applying for an apprenticeship to be a professor, because those are the rules that need to be followed. As well, I believe more counselors would need to be appointed." He waited to see what Fleur thought of his ideas and left his expression open if she had anything else to add so he could clarify his intentions.

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steelrose
2009-08-22 05:17 pm UTC (link)

"That's all any of us should expect from you, Neville - is your very best. Including yourself. Do not put any more pressure on you that others already have, oui?"

Fleur gave Neville and encouraging smile before they continued their conversation.

"Ah, how fast they do grow up," she sighed. "Victoire is still in Egypt, completing a program there as a cursebreaker. I'd honestly thought she would be married by now, like moi - but she has her own path in life. They all do." It was difficult for a parent to accept, but Fleur tried as she could though her expectations for her children were high.

At the subject of her visit, Fleur put down her tea cup and steepled her hands in front of her. She nodded slowly, after Neville finished.

"As Professor Silver would not doubt have contact you, I had a talk with her and though she has reprimanded Mr. Harris for his actions I would rather see him removed from the camp. Not for further punishment, but my trust in him with the other students is obviously damaged. However, I cannot insist upon the matter if that will leave Professor Silver shortstaffed. She has a great responsibility on her hands, and so many teenagers in one place."

Fleur smiled with the teeniest amount of humour.

"I agree with your suggestions and it is unfortunate that hadn't been the case before. I don't blame the school for that - Flitwick's passing most certainly had been a difficult burden on everyone for it was so sudden." Fleur breathed, waving a hand briefly.

"And then with the Malfoys and their troubles. That poor, poor femme," she murmured, shaking her head.

Fleur paused for a moment, thinking of Libra Malfoy before continuing. She cleared her throat, refusing to ponder further what it would have been like for her if it had been Victoire or Dominique or even Louis.

"I do think that if Professor Silver wishes to continue the program, she needs more staff that includes one or even more Professors and not just counselors, n'est ce pas?"

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greenest_thumb
2009-08-23 04:13 pm UTC (link)

"Believe me, I will do that as well." He couldn't say how he was going to do that, or how well, but the very last thing he did need was more pressure.

"I understand, however yes, if Mr. Harris was removed from the camp now, it would be leaving Professor Silver with just one other counselor. I appreciate your concern as well, I don't think that less supervision would be a good idea, even in this case."

When Fleur mentioned Flitwick, Neville became slightly sad that his friend had passed, and then Libra was mentioned and he felt even worse. He thought he had managed to feel better about the girl who didn't have to be in the middle, but every so often, he got a pang of guilt.

"She does. Every year before this has passed without major incidents such as this." He didn't know why that year was so different from the others but, apparently it was. "Hopefully we'll be able to make suitable amendments for next year so that something like this never happens again." Neville really didn't have to say more as Fleur had the same ideas as he did, and ones that needed to come to fruition.

He tapped at the chair slightly and wondered about something. "How is everything then... at home I mean, with Louis?" Neville had a pretty good idea of what might be going on but, really... "You know, I would give anything to go back in time and be in his shoes. He probably would very highly doubt that I'm serious right about now but, it is true. To have parents that had such a strong reaction to his well-being... it's better than no reaction at all." Or having no parents at all.

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steelrose
2009-08-24 02:28 pm UTC (link)

"Oh, well...you were a teenaged boy at one time, n'est ce pas? You know how moody and difficult they can be," Fleur said then sighed. "Louis is such a sensitive boy and he is - special. He has attributes inherited from my side of the family which no other male that my mother nor I can remember there being for generations."

She paused, searching for her words. "It makes relating to others more complicated for him. Something which I had to overcome when I was young as well."

Fleur smiled sadly and nodded after Neville spoke. "He is very fortunate, oui. Whether or not he sees that now, I cannot say but I am confident he'll come around to knowing that. Right now he is just very upset and embarrassed and confused."

She leaned forward, her brows knit into a frown of concern. "I just hope that all of this hasn't painted a permanent impression of my son to you, for I know he'll be worried about that come the new school year."

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greenest_thumb
2009-08-24 04:14 pm UTC (link)

Neville listened intently to everything Fleur was saying, about how sensitive a boy Louis is and how he has 'atributes' that Fleur herself had to endure when she was young. He was not going to pry, instead he took Fleur's words to heart and resolved to remember that for the future. She would know best about her son since she'd gone through the same 'adjusting'.

"I'm quite sure he wouldn't even want to hear it now but, and mind you my Gran wasn't really awful - not in the slightest, but it took me a while to realize that her strict nature was because she cared." He played with his fingers, something he did when he thought about his childhood and continued. "But to have both parents there for you, and recognize you and be concerned about your well-being... it's something he'll realize is special."

Sitting back in his chair after exposing a little more about his childhood that was entirely necessary, he listened to Fleur's question and shook his head. "Heavens no Fleur. Like you said I was a boy once too... I wouldn't presume to make impressions of Louis based on this. He's a very smart young man and over the years he's proven himself to be a good student, helpful, inquisitive. No, this brief instance will not mar my impression of him in the slightest. So you can put his mind at ease if it comes up."

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