A unique offer (Potions)

[Professor Aine Monaghan]

Warm spring air drifted around the mountain as it found open windows to explore. Scents and smells filling the atmosphere as they traversed their way to the lonely fairy making her way towards the school. With each gust of wings the soft fluttering of the large wings could be heard. With a determined stride Aine walked quickly to her early morning destination. She had a meeting with Headmistress Rollins about a potential job and she refused to be late.

Soft blond ringlets framed her ivory face, falling to just below her shoulders. Blowing out her breath she tried to push her hair out from in front of her blue eyes. She had decided to walk from her small flat to the Academy for her interview instead of allowing her wings to carry her because walking helped her gather her thoughts. She needed to be focused for her interview and she could feel her mind calm. Smells encompassed her as she smiled as scents of jasmine and lily filled her nose. She loved Providence in the spring for the smells and the warmth of the weather.

Sooner than she would have thought she was standing outside the office of the Headmistress of Providence academy. Knocking swiftly on the door she waited for a response. Her credentials were in place and tucked into her bag.

[Headmistress Rollins]

The day was going great so far. Sammy had already met with Michael Deforsh and the interview went well. She was glad they had the opportunity to catch up a bit and she felt he would be a great fit. He was stern, yet he was also kind and he was always willing to jump in and help when ever necessary. Her next interview was with a lovely gal name Aine Monaghan who happened to be a fairy.

Sammy was always fascinated with creatures of all kind, but fairy's seemed to have the ability to bring out the little girl in her. She'd went to school with a girl was had to fight hard to be able to get into Providence, but luckily her fight came at the same time when Joseph Pierre, a creatures rights activist was lobbying the Ministry to allow creatures to attend magic school. Though it was controversial at the time and the wizarding world was in an upheaval over it, time passed and wizards and witches became accustomed to those changes.

She looked out the bay window that over looked the mountain range. A cool spring rain had begun to fall outside the window, though the sun was still shining brightly. The rain drops created small prisms on the ground as they streaked down the glass panes, dancing small rainbows on the oak floors just beyond. Her attention was drawn from the dancers and directed to the door as a light rap came to the solid oak door. She smiled widely and walked to the door and welcomed Ms. Monaghan into her office.

The Headmistress showed the beautiful fairy to the plush leather seat that sat on the other side of the desk and then sat down herself. She couldn't help but feel happy in her precense, though Sammy didn't allow much to bother her to begin with. She extended her hand to the young woman and said, "I am delighted to meet you Ms. Monaghan. According to your resume and cover letter you are looking to obtain a position here at the school to teach potions. I have looked over your resume and I see you attended both Providence and Greens Academy. I am actually an alumni of both schools as well." She remembered back momentarily to the time she spent at Greens Academyand smiled. She had the best time when she was in college.

[Professor Aine Monaghan]

Brown wood stood in front of the small fairy as she waited for the door to open. Allowing a smile to grace her face Aine watched the door open and the beautiful Headmistress stand before her. Bowing slightly in respect she waited to be invited in before stepping foot into the office. Taking the seat that was pointed at, Aine sat down in the chair, positioning her wings so they would not be in the way.

Taking the proffered hand Aine shook long and hard signifying her strength. Her smile never left her face as she watched the Headmistress go about her business. Her paperwork was all in place and she simply nodded as the woman spoke before speaking herself. Yes ma'am. I grew up here in Providence so it was only natural to go to school here. Green's provided a wonderful secondary education and is where I earned my mastery in potions. I very much enjoyed my stay at Green's, it was definantly an experience.

Her memories of her Alma Matter were fond and she often enjoyed talking about her past experiences. Laughing softly she waited for the interview to continue, already feeling at ease with the headmistress.

[Headmistress Rollins]

Sammy smiled as she thought back to Greens Academy. She had a wonderful time when she was there and missed the old English countryside, though the town was clouded with a looming war. She had spoken with Headmaster Love on several occasions and they were working together to formulate a plan to get all the students up to date on their defense skills in the event the war came knocking at their door as well.

The Headmistress was a strong willed woman though and kept the best interest of her students at the core of who she was at all times. She wanted to make sure above all else that they were prepared to fight if necessary. Micheal Deforsh would be a good fit and Sammy felt confident that he could bring some very important information to the curriculum and get her students prepared.

She looked down at the folder before her, re-scanning the credentials and then said as she looked up at the young woman, "Yes .... I see you graduated Greens a couple years ago with a Mastery in Potions, though you have never actually taught in a classroom. What have you done between graduation and now to prepare yourself for teaching a bunch of obnoxious and at times difficult preteens? Have you spent any time as a intern, teachers aide or substitute?"

[Professor Aine Monaghan]

Shifting slightly in her chair, Aine kept her gaze focused on the woman in front of her. The question was valid and she would have to answer for her lack of classroom application. I have virtually no classroom experience in the practical application of teaching. After obtaining my potions mastery I traveled back home to Ireland for a few years. I wanted to see if I could find a job at a school there to stay in touch with my roots. I did get the opportunity to intern with the current potions master at Hogwarts though they are a bit more strict about having creatures for professors.

Biting her lip in nervousness Aine never faltered in her eye contact. Her goal was to be as honest and open as she could be about her experience. Taking a moment Aine once again schooled her thoughts before continuing to speak. I like kids. I remember what it was like for me here at Providence and I hope that I will be able to change the lives of at least one student. Times are different, creatures like myself can be teachers and even attend school but we all have to have someone that guides us as we grow. I am sure that you have other more qualified people waiting for a chance at this position so I will not be angry if you turn me down. After all I have no practical experience in teaching but I do have experience in dealing with children. I used to help out at the orphanage and parish in Dublin in the summers I went back.

[Headmistress Rollins]

Headmistress Rollins smiled widely when Aine said she had interned under Professor Elmer Woodroff. She adored the short gruff little man that reminded her of a troll, though that was because he was an eight troll which did not qualify him for creature status. The two connected via Mirror Warp at the Cafe Yahala in London for lunch two weeks prior on a lovely Sunday afternoon. She'd developed a professional student-teacher relationship with him and had remained in contact with him long after she'd interned with him many years back. He was one heck of a good teacher though and Sammy respected him tremendously.

She smiled at Aine and responded to her by saying, "Professor Woodroff is a wonderful man and teacher, so interning under him brings a lot of merit to the table as far as I am concerned. I interned under him myself so I understand the value in the time you spent under his guidance. I think it is important to bring personal experience into a job, using both the good and bad things you learned as a means to teach the children your own life experiences as well. I know as fairy things must have been hard on you. The kids were most likely very hard on your when you were in school, but you were one of the pioneers on a path to changing the magical world view and stamp out discrimination. I thought it was way past due honestly and I really respect Joseph Pierre for what he did to get creatures rights passed. He was a good man, rest his soul."

She paused to take a drink ice cold coffee that sat on her desk and then continued.

“I guess my take on you being a creature may be different than most; I believe with the adversities you faced going to school your attitude could have gone either way, but you remained positive and steadfast and you worked hard to get where you are now and that will not go unnoticed. What would you say are your strengths and weaknesses?"

[Professor Aine Monaghan]

Quiet filled the office as Aine contemplated what she should say to the headmistress. Being a creature in this day and age had provided her with the ability to learn and expand her knowledge but it did not teach interview techniques. The shy part of her personality was starting to take precedence, dictating what she should say. Biting her lip as she thought before she spoke, Aine mentally prepared herself. It is hard to say what I think my strengths and weaknesses are. I have always tried to be patient and understand with everyone. Not all of us have had the luxury of being around creatures but I will not tolerate ignorance and inequality.

Shifting in her seat slightly she leveled her gaze with the headmistress. It was a 'now or never' situation and she would only be honest with herself and those around her. I have a tendency to be a bit long-winded especially about topics that fascinate me. I doubt that my students will like that quality in me but they will be better potion makers for it.

[Headmistress Rollins]

Sammy smiled when Ms. Monaghan explained she was long winded in her teachings, though patient and understanding and intollerant of students that behaved poorly towards each other. She may not have any teaching experience, but everyone had to start sometime and this was the perfect way to start. The semester would be beginning in about a month so she would still have time to look over the wizarding standard curriculam that was standard through out all the wizarding schools across the ages, though, of course, many core classes had been added along the way and more electives made schooling much more fun.

Potions was alot of fun, at least to Sammy and she always found it intriguing that mixing different elements would create. She remembered back to a potions class she took when she was in her fifth year at Providence. This cute freckled red headed boy that was always looking at her happened to put the ingrediants together in the wrong order and blew up the classroom. Luckly it only singed the top of his head slighty, accelerating the need for a haircut as it smoldered and he blushed wildly.

She smiled at the woman and said, "Well Ms. Monaghan, I have a couple more interviews for the potions position, but I feel this interview went well, by all extensive purposes you are qualified to teach potions with your Mastery, but I do need to conduct these other interviews to give them a shot as well."

Headmistress Rollins was really only conducting the other two interviews because she had to. Neither of the other two had much life experience and both graduated with an associates in Potions, still very young themselves, fresh out of college.

She stood up and shook the lovely young woman's hand and said, "Now ... when it comes to becoming a teacher, if we bring you aboard, we expect a two year contract at the start. Once that is fullfilled you will have a review and the option to sign a five, ten or twenty year contract with a review each year. We have a full benefit program including all medical and dental, life insurance, all the standard wizarding holidays are paid and we have a 401k program that we will match upon renewing your contract. You can expect an owl in short order with my descision."

[Professor Aine Monaghan]

As the interview came to a close, Aine was feeling more enthusiastic about her chances. Interviewing was something that she had very little experience with but she hoped that this one went well. The headmistress was speaking about benefits and contracts and Aine smiled. Two years is extremely generous as a trial period. It is so hard to judge ones abilities even in a year as it sometimes takes a bit of time to form a set way of teaching. Standard curriculum aside, there has be some extra element to the class that keeps the students engaged and that is what I hope to bring.

Rising from her seat she stood, as she waited for her dismissal. Headmistress Rollins had mentioned sending an owl with her decision and she would be looking forward to the delivery of said document even if it was to say she did not get the position. I shall await the owl. I will be going, I know you are very busy and I do not wish to take up more of your time than what is necessary.

[Headmistress Rollins]

Headmistress Rollins smiled with kind eyes at the woman as she rose. She took in her hand into hers and gave it an eduring squeeze and said, "Have a great day Ms. Monaghan. It has been a pleasure."

She saw the lovely blonde to the door and then went and sat down at her desk exhausted. It had been an extremely busy day, she'd interviewed with many qualified individuals and still had some more to go. She looked at her watch and noticed the next potions potentional was due to arrive any minute and wondered how that interview would go.

A small knock on the door came and Sammy called the person in. The next potential was the nervous sort; nervous to the point where she started making Sammy nervous too. She was all in a twit, her eyes darty and the angery, nervous energy that was radiating from her would not work for the children. People feed off others with negative aura's and she did not need her kids going into their next classes in a twit themselves. The interview didn't last long and she was all too glad to show her to the door. She was less qualified than Ms. Monaghan anyway.

The second potential and last interview for the day decided they just weren't going to show up, which immediately put her off. She was a bit surprised that she didn't get a phone call, but figured perhaps it was an omen. She refilled her coffee cup with some fresh warm coffee adding a small pour of sugar to sweet it just slightly and then stood at the large bay window holding the warm mug and looking out the window. She called forth her enchanted quill and told it she needed an owl to be written.

It obligied as it should and waiting with the tip hovering just above the paper, read to write what ever she said. Sammy took a sip of her coffee and then began.

Dear Ms. Monaghan, It is my pleasure to offer you a position with Providence Academy. Please find enclosed an offer letter and the contract. Please read it over thoroughly, sign and date it and then return all documents to my office as soon as possible. You will also find the handbook with the benefits package and the 401k information.

She walked over to the letter and picked it up and blew the ink dry and then folded the letter over and put it in an envelope and opened the window outside her office and stuck the letter in the mail pickup clip. The letter carrier was due by twice a day and her second round was coming up.

Pertilla Grappletree was her name and she was quite the character. She was an old witch with wirey gray and black hair that hung in greasy strands and her eyes were sunk in though her eyes were expressive and young, a light steel gray. Wrinkles created a road map across her face telling the tale of her age. She liked to chat for a moment before flying on so Sammy kept the window open so that she knew she had arrive.

Sammy chatted with the old witch for a spell and then watched put the windwo as she made her way around the rest of the town and then speed off to the main hub where they would sort the letters and send the carriers off to deliver them efficiently.

[Professor Aine Monaghan]

Since leaving the interview with the headmistress, Aine had tried to figure out what she should do. Knowing she was qualified meant nothing if she could not convince others of said qualifications. Thankfully, because of Joseph Pierre, the world was more tolerant of creatures. It felt nice that wizards and witches alike could see the value in having the assistance of creatures as a benefit and not a hindrance. As the cool air that constantly surrounded Providence hit her, Aine felt her wings flutter. She liked the weather, well to an extent, it was never too hot but always cool enough.

Aine decided that she would head home. Even if she did not get the teaching position she was sure that there were other jobs she could get within the town. At least she knew that Cecil would allow her to work as a stock assistant. After all she can put the wands on the top shelf without having to climb the ladder. As her thoughts carry her, Aine walks herself towards her house. The looming house on nestled in Woodland Park was all hers and she was proud of it. Pushing the door open, Aine slipped inside. Heading to the master bedroom Aine tossed her bag on her bed and headed towards her dresser. Pulling out her favorite pair of pj's she padded her way into bathroom.

After an hour and one relaxing bath, Aine was in a happier mood. Making her way into the kitchen she heard the scratching of talons at her window. Using her wand to open the window, Aine watched the owl that landed on the table. Opening the document she was happy to find that she had been given the position. Reading over the contract she happily signed her name and sent it back to where it came from.