Professor Blackthorn's Office

[Caeleb Dracus]

Caeleb managed to keep his serious expression, though it was a struggle.
"Well Professor, many philosophers and psychologists would say that unerstanding is really a point of view. It may be different from each person's perspective. Who am I to tell you what you understand? Or what you don't?" he asked thoughtfully.
"If, as I assume you are, referring to my doodling then I believe you are overreacting slightly. I would have erased them myself, but you beat me to it. I apologise if it alarmed you, however." he apologised with a slight nod of the head.

[Kaiia Blackthorn]

"Alarmed?" Kaiia took a hold of her irritation. The boy was treating the whole thing as a joke. "Do you understand the consequences of even being suspected of having Death Eater sympathies? Besides which, many people gave up their lives for all that the Dark Mark represents - you dishonour their memories when you scribble it so casually." This, she realized, was what made her the angriest.

[Caeleb Dracus]

Caeleb's eyes flashed black and the inner torrent swelled angrily. Challenging his loyalty and respect to the cause was a dangerous thing to do. His fists clenched, but he held his countenance.
"You know Professor, some psychologists would say that your reaction of horror upon seeing those tributes to our cause was a very telling sign: that when confronted with it in the sanctuary of your classroom where you can hide your beliefs, it bothered you. Why would that bother you Professor? Some psychologists would say it was a sign of guilt. Do you feel guilty, Professor?"
He took seat in the chair, though he wasn't offered one and clasped his hands under his chin, watching her appraisingly.
"Maybe you are not as dedicated as you truly believe yourself to be...if the mere sight of The Dark Lord's icon can induce such a dramatic reaction."

[Kaiia Blackthorn]

"Guilt?" Kaiia hissed. It took all her will not to transform into her animagus form and use her talons on him. "I should feel guilty for having a husband who died in the cause of the Dark Lord? You question my dedication when I willingly gave up two unborn children because he required it? Are you so arrogant that you would put our ultimate goal in jeopardy because it makes you feel grown up and dangerous to pay 'tribute' to our cause?" She was trembling with fury now.

[Caeleb Dracus]

Caeleb's fury was growing too. It swirled within him, the torent threatening to spill over. But he couldn't allow it to. Dara had made it quite clear that she needed him here at the school, and attacking a teacher would most certainly get him expelled. He forced the fury down with great difficulty and fixed her with a cold stare.
"We have all lost people we love. We have all made sacrifices." he said calmly, choosing not to dwell on his sacrifice. "I should not have been so careless, Professor. I shall not do it again." he added, through clenched teeth. "But please do not question my loyalty. I am more dedicated than you could imagine. Believe me. Everything I am belongs to Kildara Snape and the cause she represents. We shall not have to have this conversation again." he spoke with difficulty, but he meant what he said. He just hated having to back down. But it was for Dara. It was all for Dara.

[Kaiia Blackthorn]

Sacrifices. What could a child like him know of sacrifice? Kaiia felt the first rippling sensation of transformation, and clamped down on it hard. Kildara seemed fond of the boy; she wouldn't appreciate it if his eyes were clawed out. She tried to focus on just breathing, on not allowing her fury to get the better of her, as he went on.

Angry as she was, Kaiia could detect the sincerity in his voice when he spoke of Kildara.

Quietly, she said, "I will not question your loyalty again - as you should not question mine. But it seems to me that you are - over-zealous in expressing it. Trying to impress people with Dark Marks does not further our cause. If we can best serve Kildara by waiting, watching, without drawing attention to ourselves, then that is what we must do. Hard as it is."

She turned away and walked over to her desk, her eyes drawn irresistably to the photo displayed there. Taking her anger out on this child would do nothing to serve the cause that Damon had died for. Without looking up, she said, "You may go now. I believe you still have homework to finish..."

[Caeleb Dracus]

Caeleb glowered at her back. He was still seething and her scalding him like a child was feeding the flame. He hadn't been drawing Dark Marks to show off, he didn't care what other people thought of him and certainly had no interest in impressing anyone. This woman had him all wrong. He fought back a rebute but held his tongue. It wasn't worth it. She was as stubborn as he was.
"Professor, as you may recall I was not present when the last piece of homework was set. This is why I did not complete it. But if you still wish me to complete it, I shall." he told her, nodding is head respectfully. Despite his arrogance he knew what this woman had been through and he did respect her. He just couldn't resist the challenge or the fun of the play. But he realised that perhaps his judgement in engaging her had been askew.
He waited politely for a response.

[Kaiia Blackthorn]

Kaiia turned and looked at him meditatively, thinking back. "In that case," she said, "you are exempt from the punishment, of course. However my advice to you is the same as it was to Miss Scarlett - completing the homework will help you keep up with the class." She shrugged. "It's up to you." Privately she rather doubted that he would bother; but perhaps he would surprise her. "Of course, you are expected to do the homework from this lesson. It will be posted later." She sat down at her desk, her glance going once more to the wedding photo.


OOC: the photo she's looking at is posted at the beginning of this thread, BTW

[Caeleb Dracus]

Caeleb nodded politely.
"Yes, Professor." he replied and turned to leave the room. He looked back see her staring at the photo on her desk again. It didn't take a genius to work out who it was a picture of. She nodded one more time and left the room.