Devin looked up the stairway as it swung around to face the east side of the tower. [i]It is almost like the school has a vendetta against people figuring out how to navigate its halls[/i] he thought after getting off the stairs. It has been several weeks since the young professor had arrived at Hogwarts and he had yet to master the grounds beyond his classroom and outdoor areas. He knew the Forbidden Forest better than he did Hogwarts.

He had a suspicion that students had been ordered by their house heads to follow help him around in hopes that he would award points to those that assisted him. The plan had worked as he already had awarded more than 20 points while getting lost. Thankfully when he turned the corner he saw that he was standing in front of the Transfiguration classroom which had its door slightly open. “Excellent!” He said with a happy tone. [@ScarlettWaters16]

“What is that Professor Coal?” A stern voice echoed. The voice cut through the light hum of students moving about the tower and its owner needed little introduction. Wearing a brilliant black and green robe, with a hat an equal match to the upright posture, the Headmistress stood in the middle of the corridor that Devin had just walked past. 

How she got the jump on him Devin never could figure out, but he chalked it up to her knowing the school better than anyone. He felt a slight prick run along his spine almost like he was in a jungle with a very powerful cat. “Headmistress, it is good to see you. I hope you are well?” He said with a bright smile. He enjoyed the Headmistress. She was clever as they came and wasn’t really interested in nonsense. "I was just looking for the Transfiguration classroom. Seems I am starting to get the hang of this school. What can I do for you today?"

Being someone who enjoys a fair bit of nonsense meant Devin had his friction with the Headmistress, but really it was just their alternate personalities. She seemed to hold his opinion high enough that if Devin explained himself the Headmistress would usually side with him. The problem of course was Devin rarely explained himself. It was mostly out of laziness and not an act against the system.

“A Leviathan?” The Headmistress said in a very curt tone. “A Leviathan. Professor Coal this is completely out of the question.” She said while walking over to the Magical Creature professor. They were now only five or so feet from Professor Terrabeth’s classroom. “I mean really I had my reservations about having you take students into the Forbidden Forest, but now you want to take them out to see a Leviathan?”

“Well the students have finished their advanced aquatic beast’s readings. Seems only fair to show the reality of what they have been reading.” Devin said with a smile. He knew this was because the letter he sent in a request for a field trip to the Arctic Ocean to see one of the last remaining adult [url=http://fc05.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2012/001/0/0/leviathan_by_ourlak-d4ky5n6.jpg]leviathans[/url] in Europe. For monster watchers it was a spectacular event and Devin felt it would be an amazing opportunity since it was going to happen closer to Scotland than it had ever in the past. From the tone the Headmistress was using it was quickly looking like it wasn’t going to happen.

“Do you have any idea how dangerous those beasts are? And you want to put them on a boat and just shove off towards the beast famous for devouring ships whole?” The Headmistress seemed angry when she asked this, but Devin knew the Headmistress long enough enough to know she wasn't actually upset so much as very reserved. More than likely seeing his request as dangerous just made him think it best to pull the young professor back a little.

“I am aware. That is why we wouldn’t be in the boats. We can leave that to the thrill seekers. I have it on good source that the leviathan’s path will stretch along the north coast of Ireland and Scotland. There will also be several of my friends from multiple Monster Regulation and Protection NGO’s in attendance. I have no interest in endangering the students. Only enrich their understanding of the animals they share this world with.” Devin purposefully used some key words as well as used a warmer than normal tone.

The Headmistress seemed to soften after Devin explained the students wouldn’t be on a boat. Still she wasn’t completely sold. “I will talk to some of the house heads, but you are not going to just take any student who completed the course. Each student will have to get another permission slip signed and I don’t want to even think about what we might need from the ministry.” She then started to leave.

Saying a quick goodbye Devin turned back to head over to the Transfiguration classroom. “Professor Coal I believe you have a class starting in ten minutes…” The Headmistress said in what could only be described as an educator’s voice. There was a silence that again gave Devin a short prick. He could tell he was glancing at Devin with a knowing gaze. 

“Of course Headmistress . Just checking on the animals in Professor Terrabeth’s room. You know how the cleanup can cause the house elves trouble.” Devin than made a quick exit before the Headmistress could give a more direct order to get ready for his morning class. He opened the door into the Transfiguration classroom and walked in with a bright smile like a boy who had just left a store after buying a brand new toy. 

“I have tracked lions across the Savannah and shadow caps in the dead of night and none of them compare to the Headmistress.” He smiled even more as some of the students who had heard the conversation in the hall gave a little laugh. Looking around the classroom Devin saw the normal amount of cats, dogs, birds, and other creatures that used to know only how to be a pencil, cup, book, or other object. Slowly the animals started to move over towards Devin.

Since as long as he can remember he had always had a way with animals that seemed to draw them towards him. It was what made him want to pursue a career involving them. Giving a cat a nice scratch on the head earned a purr and a bark from a dog got Devin to lean over and give it a pet as well. “Hey Terra. I heard the students in my class yesterday say there was going to be a visit to Hogsmeade in a couple of days. Thought you might want to make a date out of it and enjoy the village together?”