Passionate Professors || Sebastian Sallow

Part 1 | Ch. 6 - Teasing Memories

After finishing my breakfast with Garreth, I knew I needed to get started going through Professor Hecat's lessons. I headed back to my classroom to settle in further and organize myself.

The office space above the classroom was bigger than it seemed on the outside. The rotunda shaped stained glass window on the ceiling let in just enough light to warm the room making it nice and cozy. Paintings of the countryside hung on the walls, signed B.H., unfamiliar initials had me wondering who the artist was. Tall wooden shelves were overflowing with books, multiple copies of the same title strewn about on the floor. Some texts clearly worn from overuse, others were new editions, neat and waiting to be broken in by a student. Billowing Ravenclaw banners hung from the edge of the ceiling, a blue silk lined with a shiny bronze border.

Professor Hecat's desk was in the center of the room atop a round navy ornate rug. It looked like she had been there just yesterday with the way it was left. Pieces of parchment with chicken scratch notes scattered across the surface, dried feather quills placed in a glass cup, a stained ink bottle half empty lay on its side. All remnants of a busy, brilliant mind hard at work.

I read though the notes and started to set aside the ones I wanted to keep. Some were tips to herself about how to help students struggling with 'Riddikulus', random dates of the goblin war to mention during lessons, a few student's names to check in with over the summer, including 'Gaunt'. I'd have to keep an eye out on my roster, I remember Ominis having a younger sister.

I opened the top drawer and saw an envelope, sealed in thick wax, addressed to "My Successor". I turned the envelope over in my hands a few times before realizing the letter was for me.

I peeled the wax off the back and slid the letter out, it read in that same chicken scratch:

"To my Successor,

This may be my last year as Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor. I'm aging too quickly and can't keep up like I used to. I loved this job; teaching the young minds how to protect themselves and watching them flourish has been my most rewarding task.

To whomever takes over my post, I wish you luck and will give you but one piece of advice. Have fun. The students feel your passion and they feel your pain. Don't let them see the latter.

Good luck,
Dinah Hecat"

I put the letter back in the drawer remembering how she always made our lessons fun. Each spell she taught, chapter we read, discussion we had, proved that her own advice worked. I always felt her passion and looked forward to attending her class. I only hoped that I could provide the same environment for my future students.

I continued tidying up the rest of the desk. Tripping over my bag and spilling out the contents on the floor, I was reminded of all the time I needed to spend polishing her lessons.

Sitting down, I opened the first book. The first lesson was about basic curses and the importance of counter-curses, all theory based knowledge. Pulling out my notebook and quill, I wrote down important notes about the lesson, accentuating what I thought should be key talking points. Rewriting them made me feel like I was making Professor Hecat's lessons my own, even if I didn't have to add much.

I made it through half the book before noticing the cramps in my legs. I had been sitting for hours without stretching them. Packing up my books and wanting a change of scenery, I headed outside near the Black Lake.

The sun was high in the sky, beating down on my shoulders. I undid the top two buttons on my white shirt and rolled up my sleeves.

The lake's shoreline stretched well past Hogwarts but I picked a spot close by, under a big oak tree. The shady branches provided comfort from the hot sun. It was a spot Sebastian, Ominis, and I frequented in the nice weather when we didn't want to be cooped up in the Undercroft.