Inside

[Headmaster]

The Headmaster smiled kindly. "I would be a cruel man to keep a good father from his son." He nodded. "For now though Mr. Lloyd I will have to ask you to return to your common room. It is well after curfew and I am sure your mind has been restless until this point. It would be good for you to rest it."

[Oliver Lloyd]

Oliver stood up with an elated spirit. "I will sir. Thank you for listening to me. I promise I will not disappoint you," he said with a smile. Oliver walked to the door but did not disappear until he had waved goodbye to the Headmaster.

[Headmaster]

The Headmaster nodded, dimming the lamps in his office and finally retreated to bed as well. He yawned into his hand as he went.

[Blake Deimos]

Blake had wandered around the castle after silently leaving the common room after double checking if his wand was at his holster. He let his book dangle from his hand as he strolled and somehow- he found himself in front of the Headmaster's door. Without thinking, he knocked without fear or caution and stood there wondering why in the name of Lucifer's broken wings he did that.

[Headmaster]

The Headmaster's voice came from behind the door, soft but rather welcoming. "Come in. The door is open." It seemed as though he was smiling as he spoke.

[Blake Deimos]

Blake gently opened the door and shut it behind him, "Good evening Headmaster. I trust you are well and good? Did you get my box? I never got to thank you for your gift, it was very kind of you sir-- so thank you." He rambled as he spoke, nervous to find himself here and at the same time, remembering everything he ever wanted to tell the Headmaster if they met again.

[Headmaster]

The Headmaster smiled at Blake from behind his desk. "You're more than welcome Mr. Deimos." He nodded. "And thank you for the gift, it was very much appreciated." He set a few papers aside. "Is something on your mind?"

[Blake Deimos]

Blake shifted on his feet, face flushing, "I don't know if there is or not. To be honest- I don't even know why I came up here." He tried not to fumble with his book as he looked around and the back to the Headmaster, "And Blake is fine, Headmaster. I am not one to formalize myself just yet."

[Headmaster]

He nodded and smiled. "Have a seat then. We can have a cup of tea and perhaps a few sweets." He offered. His eyes were kind behind his glasses and the wrinkles in his face showed his age in the dull light.

[Blake Deimos]

Blake took a seat in a chair in front of the desk and scooted up. He was able to sit with his legs crossed on the cushion of the chair and he put his book in his lap to free his hands, "How have you been Headmaster? Terribly busy? I didn't pull you away from anything, did I?"

[Headmaster]

"I am always terribly busy Blake, I welcome the break." He smiled and waved his wand watching a kettle begin to boil on a table not too far away and a knife slicing some fairly generous sized pieces of what appeared to be banana bread with chocolate chips.

[Blake Deimos]

"Oh.. well, I feel silly for asking something like that then. I should have realized you were busy, I mean, you are the head of our school and you oversee everything. I am however, glad to offer some sort of small reprieve, though I doubt I will be stimulating conversation." Blake smiled a little, sheepishly raising his shoulders as he looked to the Headmaster.

[Headmaster]

"What is troubling you young Blake?" He watched two plates fly over, touching down lightly on the desk followed by full cups of tea. He smiled as the cream and sugar containers touched down as well.

[Blake Deimos]

Blake sighed softly as he stirred in some cream into his tea, doing something he often saw Freya doing- biting his lower lip. "I- I don't know sir. I feel.. for lack of a better word- alone, as if I don't fit in with the peers of my year, but I don't necessarily fit in with any other year either because of the age differences. I find myself questioning people, questioning motives, and above all, questioning myself. And although I feel alone, I like to be alone and I use to loathe it completely because I'm use to having a confidant to go to. I feel that everything's wrong and everything's right- I feel.. torn." Blake stared into his cup as he spoke in a tone unlike him, unattached to the world and his feelings. He hadn't even known he was bottling so much that it was starting to wear at his walls.

[Headmaster]

He nodded as he listened. "I believe that because you are an exceptionally bright young man perhaps your peers feel slightly intimidated by that, though it is difficult to say. I trust you've made some fairly good friends though?" He took his glasses off, setting them on the desk as he sipped his tea.