psl for Dumbledore: An American Witch in Scotland

[mosthexcellent]

"Is it true?"

She asked it before the door to the classroom had even closed behind her, eyes level on her professor sitting at the desk. It wan't angry, or not at him, anyway. She'd heard he'd been moved from the class he'd been teaching--Defense Against the Dark Arts, at which Lorelei excelled--and hadn't waited for the rest of the official announcements and presumably useless shuffling. She'd always been the sort to find out the answers she wanted for herself, and no amount of teachers calling after her down hallways or threatening detention--when she hadn't done anything wrong yet, anyway--was going to stop that.

"Professor?"

Comments

[chambermusicandtenpins]

Dumbledore smiles at that, at both her acceptance of the idea and her clear nervousness at doing so. In a tone that he hopes is a reassuring one, he says, "Then we shall make sure you are. I can speak with the Headmaster later today to see what can be done."

The second part is honestly heartwarming. Albus likes to think of himself as a good teacher -- he's been called vain more than once for his surety in himself, not without reason -- but there is something genuinely affecting in hearing students value his teaching. He nods in response, answering:

"And you shall. If the books are insufficient -- well, I may not be able to teach the class in the same way as before, but I am a teacher still, and would be happy to meet after class to make sure you are given the education you wish for."

[mosthexcellent]

"You don't have to demonstrate the spells," Lorelei says. "We learn silent magic earlier at home than here. It's supposed to keep us safer from the No-Majs," she sighs dutifully, with the air of an often-recited admonishment. She frankly doesn't think anyone really cares about witches and wizards save the very small groups of crazies--and usually, they're good enough at making themselves known before any witch gets close enough to be hurt.

"That's why we moved here, you know. I moved with my brother after our parents died. Because here there aren't rules about who you can know and talk to. Or there weren't."

[chambermusicandtenpins]

Those words feel like an old bruise, an ache buried underneath everything else. He remembers hearing other witches and wizards discussing smugly how enlightened Britain was compared to the laws and prejudices codified in the States -- and yet it seemed that every day they crept closer to something far worse than whatever the Americas had dreamed up.

"A very valid reason to make the move," Albus answers with a small, wistful smile. "Britain is all the better for both of you being in it. Hopefully it can live up to the reputation it once had with you."