Viper's Office

"No, he died in an accident." In the back of her mind, Eglantine heard the screech of metal against metal and the terrible sound of squealing tires. Even 7 years had not been enough time to erase those memories.

"Potions accident?" Viper asked, more interested than she cared to show.

"A vehicle accident." she said, hoping Professor Viper would not have anything against muggles.

Viper choked on her red wine. "A muggle hit him?"

"It was an accident. The driver was asleep at the wheel." Thankfully, she thought, Professor Viper did not seem to be making the connection.

"What a shame. And to think that had he merely apparated to his destination he would be here today."

The cane began to tap against the stone. Looking out the window still, Eglantine replied.
"He couldn't apparate."

Viper looked at Englantine in suprise, her suspician rising, especially since her colleague refused to meet her gaze. "Wh-Did he fail his apparition test?"

"He never took it." Still she refused to admit the full truth. It would be better to see the reaction slowly than quickly. Already Eglantine knew that most witches and wizards looked down at muggles and the Viper family had been rather pro Voldemort...

"Well that's silly of him!" She took a glance at the the other woman, it didn't take a legilimins to know she was hiding something, so Viper decided to have a little fun with her. "Well why didn't he floo or better yet fly? There are many other options to traveling."

Feeling rather bated, Eglantine continued the "game". "He couldn't fly. We did not have a fireplace. He always travelled by muggle transportation."

Viper rolled her eyes. "How did you not have a fireplace? Every wizarding family has a fireplace in their home!"

"He wasn't a wizard."

Viper dropped her goblet in suprise, the sound of broken glass echoing throug the office. She assumed that the Professor's late husband was a squib, not a muggle! She tried to say something but no avail. She simply had no words.

Pulling her wand out of her robe pocket, Eglantine muttered "Reparo" and watched as the goblet repaired itself.
She winced slightly as she bent to pick up the goblet and held it out for the professor to take.
"A kinder, better man never lived." She said softly.

"I highly doubt that. Wizards do tend to live longer than muggles." under her breath she muttered. "It's no wonder you weren't able to have children."

"Longevity does not always improve the mind or the heart." The muttered statement though hurt her far worse than the first; but she choose not to say anything else.

Walking up to the potion mistress's office she suddenly felt a little silly, She could have easily talked to them over the floo from her office.

Shaking her head at her own silliness she rasied her hand knocked on the door.

Due to the fact that she was closest to the door, Professor DeLanquar turned to open it; glad to have the conversation interrupted.
"Good evening, Headmistress."

Kiara smiled when Professor DeLanquar answered the door.

"sorry to interrupt, but I have paper work you and Professor Viper need to fill out for Gringotts" she said as she held up the 2 peices of parchment.

"May I fill mine out later on?" Eglantine asked, anxious to leave the room.

Kiara blinked, suddenly she could feel the tension in the air, it was so thick she could cut it with a butter knife.

"Umm alright, but I need it by tomorrow morning, the ministry is expecting your papers". she said as she held up Eglantine's paper.

"Err.. Is everything alright?" she asked.

"No, everything is not alright. But I will fill out the paper and you will have it after dinner tonight. Good day." And without looking back at the Potions Mistress, she left the office. It was not an exit that could have been called graceful or even quiet as the cane interfered with both.

((Professor DeLanquar can now be found in her office, her chambers or outside.))

Kiara moved out of the Transiguation Professors way as she abruptly left the potion mistress's office.

"What on earth, now what" she asked more to her self then anything.

She looked over at Professor Viper.

"What happened?" she asked.

Viper held her hands up in front of her in defense. "I honestly have no idea, Headmistress. One moment, she's asking me if I'm excited about teaching and the next thing I know she's insulting my attire and wailing over her dead husband!" She took a sip of her goblet once more before turning to the Headmistress with her "courtesy smile".

"Now, what are the papers I need to fill out?"