An Impromptu Lesson [TAG: SALLY]

[NATHANIEL ZIMMER]

"After that it's a simple point, swish left, flick, and-" He pointed his wand blowing one of the students' soda cans sky high much to their joy. The children, ranging in ages from third year all the way up to seventh, clapped their hands and asked questions or shouted their praises all at once. Nathaniel Zimmer had taught at Hogwarts on and off for over twenty years and it was well known that the Head of Ravenclaw was a student favorite mainly due to his kind and passive nature but also his vast knowledge of spell casting. The tall and lanky man never seemed to take a day off and spent even his downtime (like now) nourishing young minds that would be the leaders of tomorrow. What used to be fun little side lessons now became that of necessity. The kids needed to know how to defend themselves, whether the Ministry wanted them to be ahead of the curve or not, and Nathaniel wasn't about to stand around and do nothing. That being said that didn't mean the lessons had to be scary. The world was scary enough.

"You just have to make certain that the stance is correct, a shoulder width apart, a bit wider Mister Grayson, and also be sure that your arm point is perfectly perpendicular. It's tricky to learn but once you get the hang of it it's like riding a broom-" He glanced briefly toward some younger students who seemed a bit down about that comment. "Or like riding a muggle bicycle." This cheered them up and everyone returned to practicing with Nathaniel as their guide. It was when he was fixing one boy's reach that he noticed a familiar face watching. Sally Byrne. His former student and now colleague and friend and, well, crush (but no one needed to know that even though some probably did due to the automatic light blush that flicked across his cheeks and his hazel eyes darting shyly away).

"Pardon me. One moment-" He patted the boy reassuringly on the shoulder as his long legs carried him toward the Divination teacher. Hands shoved into his blazer pockets that protected him from the cool fall air on the grounds he stopped before her with a kind, albeit a tad nervous and very aware, smile. "Morning Miss Byrne." He greeted her politely not wishing to bother her or be in her way if she was trying to do something else than entertain an old fool. "You're a far cry from your Divination tower."

[SALLY BRYNE]

The day had seemed light for Sally Byrne. She would call it one of those days when she had only a few classes here. She would usually study her work or leave the castle to get some fresh air. It helped her think of new class lessons or life events in a new light.

Grabbing her tarot cards and placing them in her bag, she headed down the stairs. As she walked, she waved to students who had roamed the halls. She loved her students and had found love in teaching, something she never thought she do.

Sally remembered her day in Hogwarts and her love for Divination to think she would now be teaching it in the same spot she learned. She remembers her fun group of friends and her favorite teachers. Thinking of her favorite teachers, she thought of Professor Zimmer. The man was exceptionally kind and had always had a bit of a soft spot for the merry group of friends who had caused all kinds of chaos. She was unsure how he could handle them so well and not lose all his hair from the stress.

The thought of him made her feel like she had to stop and see him, which is what she did. Leaning in the open doorway, Sally couldn't help but watch him. She did not want to say a word and interrupt him; she had found it quite calming watching how gently he taught. It was amazing how much he could cheer up a class with a few simple words. In sally's eyes, he was an extraordinary man.

When the man finally noticed her in the doorway, she smiled, giving him a little wave. "Good morning, Professor Zimmer." She cocked her head to the side and smiled at him. "Yes indeed, I thought I visited an old friend/teacher." She looked around the classroom watching the children work eagerly. "Looks like you're doing a wonderful job, but that's no surprise." She turned back to look at him. "After all, you always had a way of making class seem fun."

NATHANIEL ZIMMER   // Notes:

[NATHANIEL ZIMMER]

"Ah. Which is it today I wonder? An old friend or  even older teacher?" He suggested quietly, a hint of mild playfulness in his voice that didn't often come out but made an appearance often when the Divination Professor was in the vicinity. He returned her wave with a shy little one all his own that some of the students caught and hid giggles and snickers behind their own hands. They weren't making fun of him (many liked him far too much to do so) but there was something horribly amusing about seeing the straight laced and awkward man try to socialize. He was not so much a social butterfly as a moth.

"Oh. I'm not so sure about all of that but the sentiment is appreciated." He responded, a lightly blush raising in his cheeks as he glanced back at his students who, upon seeing his head turn, went back to practicing so that they weren't caught oggling the exchange between the two popular professors. Nathaniel, none the wiser, than turned back to face his colleague and friend. "I am glad that you think so. Perhaps you can relay those thoughts to their parents and the Ministry." Unlikely, nor did he genuinely wish it of her. That was opening a can of worms none of them had the support to overcome. The students needed to know how to protect themselves but, as usual, The Ministry was dragging its feet. Nathaniel, though a soft spoken man, wasn't going to stand idly by. The students would be safe and get what they needed under his watchful eye.

The sun shining through behind her as she stood in the doorway of one of the stone arches leading out to the courtyard was no match for the brightness that she brought with her Nathaniel noted. Perhaps an inappropriate thing to think about a coworker, let alone a former student, but he thought it never the less. "I thought that outside might be a better venue for rehearsal as there seems to be far less valuable artifacts about." He gave her a friendly, lopsided, closed mouth smile finding the one that she often was sporting contagious. She had a cute smile. No... A lovely one. It always brightened his day and she didn't even have to say a bloody word. That smile gave him a small surge of boldness which led him to his proposal. "Perhaps you would care to demonstrate?" 

Immediately the students started to surround them eagerly, grinning from ear to ear.

"Yes!"

"You have to!"

"C'mon Professor Byrne! Do it!"

"Lets see what you 've got!"

[SALLY BRYNE]

"Hmm, why not both." Sally gave him a playful wink. There was something about being in his presence that she felt comfortable teasing him. Maybe it was just his kind nature? the man had been there for anyone who needed it the most a trait that she loved about Nathaniel. Seeing him again and inaction had brought back fond memories.

"Oh come on Nate, always so modest." A slip saying his first name. She had hoped he did not mind.

A smile came to her face while watching him the light reddish color coming on his cheeks. Sally had thought it adorable how his cheeks would fill with color whenever someone complimented him.

She smiled and looked down as she noticed the Students watching them but as soon as they saw their teacher give them a look they went back to work. She smiled at the little interaction, it remind her of her friends in school and how nosy they were when two teachers talked to each other. Especially when they thought it was a romantic exchange but this wasn't one it was just visiting an old friend right?

"If I could I would in a heartbeat. I use to write about you all the time to my mother does that count?" She let out a slight laugh feeling saying that aloud was a bit awkward.

"Oh, that seems like a nice idea." She had forgotten how cute her former teacher was especially with that smile on his face. It didn't help he had a great personality too. Not that he was ogling him up after all he was her coworker and former teacher.

A full face of red came upon her face when he asked her if she like to demonstrate. Especially when the kids had got excited about the idea of her doing some magic. "I don't know...." she placed her hand on her hip. She gave a bit of a huff to keep the kids' anticipation. "Ok, ok I will show you guys how amazing Professor Zimmer is after all he taught me all the great charms spells." She looked over at him smiling. "Lead the way Nat- I mean Professor Zimmer."

NATHANIEL ZIMMER   // Notes:

[NATHANIEL ZIMMER]

A small blush crept onto his cheeks at her playful wink. "Point taken." He chuckled softly, briefly looking down at the grass. A few of the students behind him hide their own snickers and whispering catching the interaction of two of their favorite teachers.

Sally was always so effortless and joyful. She was a breath of fresh air around these parts. Anywhere really. Sally Byrne was a gift to all those she came around. All Nathaniel could hope was that he managed to keep her in his orbit. Not forcefully mind you, but just that he kept her interest... even if just as a friend. If that's all they ever could be (and probably should be) he would accept it whole heartedly.

Nate? The unfamiliar usage of his first name instead of Professor Zimmer or Nathaniel was unexpected. It felt unfamiliar. Very few people in his life gave him nicknames. Well, if Sally wished to be one of them Nathaniel would be pleased to have her in their company.

"Modest? Oh no, Miss Byrne. I prefer to see it as honest." The Charms Professor responded serenely. Nathaniel was a lot of things: kind, polite, nerdy, awkward at times, but most of all humble. This humbleness was briefly risked when Sally mentioned writing about him. "Did you now?" His voice cracked within his own throat and he cleared it, politely covering his mouth with the back of his left hand. "I am honored." He forced out. "Pardon me." More students giggled and whispered - something Nathaniel was oblivious to as always.

"Now you're the one that's being modest, Profesosr Byrne." He told her gently as the students continued to clamor about trying to encourage her to join in. At her bashfulness his 'teacher side' kicked in and instantly he was in comfort and reassure mode. When she relented he smiled, especially at her teasing words, and he nodded, raising his hand to quiet down the hub bub that was forming. "Right. Right. Well, there you have it. You all heard Miss Byrne." Turning from the group to Sally he lowered his voice a bit more softly. "Care to demonstrate a disarming charm?" He suggested. Most students learned it their second year, a fairly simple spell, but when an adult wielded it... it was practically an art form.

Standing along side her he raised his own wand. He would cast it with her. Looking over his shoulder down at her he smiled expectantly and patiently. "Ready?"

[SALLY BRYNE]

He was cute when he blushed, Sally thought. Was it wrong to believe that? No, no, shake the idea out of your head Sally. He was your teacher in the past. Hearing him chuckle made her stomach filter. He had a nice laugh too. How any woman could turn him down astonished her.

Pusher her hair behind her ear and blushed with her accidentally calling him Nate. It was weird for her, but she felt calm with him that she had used it.

"Hmm, well, I think we both disagree with that." A smirk crept upon her face. Nate was so kind and pure, and he was just so modest. In her eyes, he was the perfect man. Not that she would date him. He was, after all, her old teacher and now co-worker, which would be odd. Right?

She bit her lip with a beat red face and looked down at the floor. Why would you say that to Nate, she thought. "Oh ya." Sally nodded her head. "After all, you were a great teacher, and I am sure your students now say the same things. " She gusted her hands towards his class. "Me modest, no. You have to be beaten at that." She smiled, looking back at him.

When the class let out a giggle, she turned red. How embarrassing, she thought. She was sure these kids were getting ideas about the two even though she played with the thought herself.

Sally turned her attention to the class and smiled, placing her hands on her hips. "Sure, I can do that." Her hands dropped to her sides, grabbing her wand in her pocket.

She took a step next to Nate and raised her wand. She looked over and up at him, smiling. Part of her wanted to melt, but she kept it together. "I'm always ready when your near by" She smiled back at him.

NATHANIEL ZIMMER  // Notes:

[NATHANIEL ZIMMER]

The gaggle of students chorus of giggles surrounded them. In some ways, Nathaniel felt like he was a student again, swarmed by his peers lightly taunting him because he couldn't connect five words in a coherent string of thought in front of a pretty girl. No. Woman. Sally was a woman now. A young one. Keep it together old man. Too young for you. Too bright. Too kind. Too trusting. You're just a lecherous old man to even be thinking of her in such a light. It's your ancient mind playing tricks on you. Steady. Focus. Remember Rose, remember what happened. Your frail heart can't take that again. Not that Sally ever would, she didn't have a cruel or untrustworthy bone in her body.

He ignored the students little laughs and playful remarks. As two of the more popular Professors at Hogwarts the students felt so comfortable with them - often to a fault feeling free to joke with them like they were a part of the student body. While some adults would be offended, Nathaniel took it as a compliment. They were comfortable around him and he was a part of their lives beyond just at 11 AM every other weekday. It was the utmost compliment as an educator to be honest.

At Sally's confidence and the way her slender hands rested on her hips playfully cocky and adorably quirky in a way so very her he smiled. "Very well." My oh my, it was becoming increasingly difficult to wipe this thin mouthed smile from his face when she was around. Then again, why would he want to?

Both Professors stood with their wands at the ready. Nathaniel's form poised after years of execution (including ten as an auror), his focus unphased, particular, and purposeful. While he might not be the best conversationalist he excelled in all things spellcasting and literature. A pretty 'niche market', but at least it was something. As put together as he was, Sally's heartfelt (but probably just a throwaway) remark, threatened to undo him. Merlin and all the stars in the sky, how he wished that was true.

"Oppungo!" His wand pointed to the ground and a pebble whisked up from the grass and launched at one of the remaining soda cans knocking it to the ground hard with a loud clang. One of the fourth year boys raced over with two of his guy pals picking it up and peering through the hole that had been dented through the aluminum. 

"Whooooaahhh...."

"Nice one Professor Z!" All eyes then looked to the Divination Professor to see what she would conjure up. Probably something good!

TAG: SALLY BRYNE