Fourth Down, Twenty-five to Go

Sophie was not a big fan of American football but she did know that you were allowed four downs to move the ball and got more for ever ten yards you covered, having watched American WWB members play pick up games during off times at work sites. So it was that as the impact of the day's news hit her, the analogy of being in the fourth down and having twenty-five yards to cover to get back to a first down seemed rather fitting at the moment. In hindsight, which is always twenty-twenty, she realized that most of them should have seen this coming but they didn't.

Backing up a bit to earlier that morning, Sophie had walked into the Assistant Headmaster's office to find the poor man just short of having a stroke, or at least he was going to give himself one if he got any redder in the face. Finally getting him calmed down after Fettucini brought her healer's bag and she gave him a calming draught, Sophie was able to find out that the Headmaster was gone. Finito. Arrivaderci.

He had been gone more and available less and she knew he had concerns about having had that previous heart attack but she had not expected him to just up and leave but he had and they had to figure out a plan of action till the Ministry hired someone. Assistant Headmaster Benito became Interim Headmaster Benito but had no desire for the position permanently. Because she was level headed and managed to get him to focus on what had to be done in his state of panic, she immediately became Interim Assistant to the Headmaster, refusing to actually be an assistant headmaster herself.

Which is why we now find Sophie sitting at the dining table in the lounge, ledgers and schedules open before her to see what they had coming and where they were. Until someone walked in.

Theo plodded up the steps towards the Headmaster's office, head down, shoulders hunched in the way that meant he wasn't quite dawdling but not in a hurry either. It was his birthday today, he was eighteen and finally old enough to go to the pub, get his license and all that good stuff. Not that it mattered of course because he was stuck at school in Italy none the less and the his enthusiasm was starting to wane now that the weather was getting colder and his thoughts kept going against him by drifting back to the girl he'd met in Melbourne all those months ago. Yes ladies and gentlemen Theodosius Leggieri was lovestruck! Unfortunately for Theo neither condition had excepted him from being sent to the headmaster's office and so, like a cow to the slaughter he reached the Headmasters Office only to find it closed with a note to see the Professor Benito only to be rudely waved away and told to report to Professor Totolos instead.

Had it not been for the lucky break that Totolus happened to be pretty rad Theo might well have been in a bad mood by the time he'd tracked the woman down. "G'day Professor" Theo said as he walked in, a quaffle under his arm it was clear by the much and couple of blood stains on his shirt that he'd been 'up to no good' "Professor Kahn said I was to report to the Headmaster.. only he's not here and Professor Benito sent me to you and so here I am" Theo explained with a nervous smile. "Everything alright Professor?" something felt rather amiss and it had to be big for even Theo to notice it. Nervously Theo moved from one foot to another, he knew he was in trouble.. after all Professor Kahn had looked like he was out to murder him the guy had shouted so much. Of course whether or not it would have any affect on the teenager.. well that was doubtful at best.

Sophie recognized the voice as Theo Leggieri and looked up with a smile. Well, it was a smile till she noticed the blood stains. "Hello, Theo. You okay?" she asked, quickly doing a fast visual check and seeing that the blood stains did not seem to be growing in size or deepening in shade so whatever had been bleeding had been somewhat dealt with. She accio'd her healer bag anyway and made a mental note to just carry it with her the rest of the day, the way things seemed to be going. "How's everything?" she asked, as he began to explain how he ended up in front of her.

Well, at least how he ended up finding her after several sets of directions. There still was the why, which was that Professor Kahn had sent him off on what became a convaluted journey. At Theo's turning the question back to her, after explaining how he ended up there, she sighed a bit and indicated for him to take a seat at the table. "It will be, Theo. But yes, Mr. C is no longer here. Actually Professor Benito is acting Headmaster for now and I'll be helping him, which is why he sent you to me," she explained, asking "And how did you end up being sent on this journey of yours today?"

Seb was walking the halls of the school looking for Professor totolos that professor Benito told him to find as he was yet again unprepared for class and had been sent to the headmaster who was not there and then the dept headmaster and now well you get the point.
He knew that this being his well hr lost count of the amount of time he been sent to the headmaster for the same crime Seb guess that Professor Benito was tired of not getting anywhere with in so sent him some place else.
Seb has asked one of the house elves where to find the lovely professor from his fist day and proceeded to the lounge.
Of course when he walked in he found her in front of a large pile of books and thing and Theo holding a quaffle and looking a little beat up.
as he got closer he heard that the headmaster was no longer here and that professor Benito was in charge no wonder he had sent him away today.
"Umm sorry to interrupt but i to have been sent to see you" Seb decided to get in while there was a brake in the conversation in the hopes of being dismissed with out to mary questions Maybe he would not have to say anything about not having any school thing in front of a boy he consider almost a friend

While Theo's nose still felt rather tender he nodded enthusiastically "Yeahright Professor.. totally" he'd all but forgotten the blood stains on his shirt by now. Looking quizzical as the Professor Acco'd something he glanced down to notice the blood "No biggie.. had a bit of bad luck out on the pitch... Professor Kahn fixed it right up but the others ..well they're still getting patched up I bet" Theo looked rather proud of his achievement in being the first of the injured to make it this far. It was all rather more challenging in Italy amongst so many other guys who where bigger then him that Theo often felt hard pressed just to keep up.

"I think it was the window that really got up his goat though" Theo added as he played with the quaffle in his hands, glancing around the room worried that one of the other Professors might walk in and tell him off. He didn't know that there where events happening at the school bigger then any impromptu quidditch match that had gotten a little out of hand. Sitting when directed to Theo listened with a look of blank shock at the news that the headmaster was gone "He's alright though right Professor?" Theo asked in concern.. mostly the concern that Professor Kahn would get the top post and then he'd have to deal with him doing the evening prayers.

Giving Professor Totolos his usual 'you're probably going to regret this' smile Theo shrugged "Well me and Demetri where playing Quid only some of the other guys wanted in so youknow how it is.. " in many respects it was a wonder that a school with so many boys wasn't a constant battleground in some Lord of the Flies style chaos. It was just then that another figure appeared "SEBSTER! Put it here man!" Theo held out his hand for a high five from the younger student who he'd somewhat taken under his wing on account of being the only other Aussie at the school who wasn't his brother Daniele.

Yes, quidditch, another game Sophie wasn't a big fan of and in this case because it usually meant an increased workload for healers thanks to wayward bludgers and quaffles and other such fun items. Speaking of quaffles, that was one that Theo was holding right now, as he assured her he was all right and that Professor Kahn had seen to his healing. "Well," she began, standing and getting her wand, "Humor the old lady healer and let me do a quick diagnostic to make sure." She took her wand, uttered the correct spell and watched as the soft pale blue light shimmered over Theo assuring her that his injuries that were left were just minor scrapes and the nose fixed correctly. Granted Kahn was a professor but he was rather oriented in dueling than healing.

"Well, you'll definitely life," she told him and as he commented on others, raised an eyebrow, "Hopefully so will the others. Window?" she asked, not sure she really wanted to know but guessing she was being given no choice since Benito sent him her way. Sophie did not mind, after all, she seen enough pick-up quidditch games get out of hand with her daughter growing up. Yes, her daughter, Pandora, and not Anton.

She was going to explain what little she knew to Theo about the departure of the headmaster when another student arrived looking for her. Sophie managed not to actually sigh as she realized she was looking at Interim Headmaster Benito's style of handling things, pass the buck and apparently the buck stopped wherever she was located. "Hello Seb, how are you doing?" she asked hoping he'd relax a little as she silently debated whether she should conjure a 'take a number' machine for herself. Deciding they all needed to relax, she indicated they should take seats at the table and slid the bookkeeping she was going over for Benito to the side. "Okay, I think some milo and maybe some biscuits are in order for all of us and then I'll explain to you what's up with the headmaster and you can explain to me why I am your favorite person to look up today? Sound like a plan, guys?" With that she summoned Fettucini and requested the snacks for all of them. Judging by Fettucini's choice of towel, it seemed Linguini had already passed the word to the house elves of the situation.

Seb hope to be dismissed were dashed as professor Totolos advised them to sit and to as she ordered milo and cookies from the rather strangely dressed House elf.
Seb high five theo as he stood there
Why did this always happen to him Oh that right my parents are a$$ holes who don't care Seb sat as instructed hoping to avoid the coming conversation about why he was now in front of what he now assumed from what little he had heard was the new deputy headmistress of the school Seb KNew it would not be long after he told her and theo that he had no school supplies and that he was a poor or unloved or both.
Tho he was sure that theo's story was far more interesting given it involved a window, Blood and flying.
"Well professor I don't... I didn't Do. Looks like you had fun today Theo" Half way thro expelling he decided to just talk to theo it was far easier than trying to tell her why he was here/

"Aww.. alright Professor.." Theo whined before standing up and doing the 180 so the Professor could run her wand over him. He was tempted for a moment to ask just what spell she had used but then it would hardly be wise when Theo couldn't be sure that it had been something she'd mentioned in class on one of his daydreaming escapades. "See.. toldya I was alright" he said with a grin even if he still felt a bit stiff and sore it wasn't the first time he'd ended up on the wrong end of a healers wand. Happy for a excuse to 'hang' he flopped into the chair offered to him and nodded "Yeah.. chapel window.. don't see all the fuss about it I mean not like it would take more then a reparo to fix eh? Not like at home" it frustrated Theo sometimes that his parents refused to let them use magic at home, just because 'anyone' might happen to notice at the wrong time did not make a good enough excuse in Theo's eyes when there was so many chorus that cold be done easy as can be with a touch of magic.

Grumbling good naturally he perked up as Sebs came in the room and met his high five. Curious as he was to know what had lead to Sebster being sent to Professor Totolos he was distracted as the Professor mentioned Milo. Is if you had to wonder why Professor Totolos had quickly become Theo's favourite teacher at the school? "Best idea I heard all mornin' Miss" Theo said looking forward to the unexpected feed. True it was too since the previous 'great idea' of the day had been the one that ended up with blood on his tshirt and Professor Kahn screaming at him for a entire half hour (or so would be how Theo later dramatized it to his peers). It was a sure good thing to be away from that guy, Theo was pretty sure that if the word was out for the next person to get a heart attack it would be Professor Kahn for all the screaming he went about with. Trying to keep a straight face at the house elf's outfit Theo had tried his best to not laugh or 'act weird' around them but to him they where still creepy and a bit disturbing. Kicking his feet up Theo gave Sebs a broad grin at the question "Yeah, bit of fun.. but c'mon Sebster what the hell did you do to get in trouble?" It utterly baffled Theo that anyone would think Sebs would be a problem but then again some of the teachers sure did like to get their knickers in a twist.

Sophie was making notations on a page in her notebook as to the results of the diagnostic and grinned back at Theo, "Yes, but you are going to be sore later, more than now but you will live," she told him. It was as he explained which window that got broken that Sophie could understand why the professor took it so hard. "Depends, Theo," she began explaining. "Not if it was the stained glass one. Repairing artworks are not quite the level of a simple reparo. If magic can fix the window, it will be fine but if it cannot and it was the stained glass one... " she trailed off, not wanting to upset the boy at how much a simple stained glass window cost, let alone the large one in the chapel. If it was that one, repairs or a new window would begin at 14,519,109 Italian Lira though possibly more. Hopefully, it was reparable and she was not going to think it worse till they knew for sure.

However, she was more concerned about why Sebastian had been sent to her as Theo encouraged him to open up. "Please, Sebastian. There's no way we can help you work out whatever is wrong if you don't talk to me," she told him. "Nothing you've done could be too bad." Not what she had seen of the boy.

Seb hated that all the action in the room was focus now on him and what he had done to get sent to the Dep Headmistress. Seb hated this part, the part where he had to come clean about the fact that he had spent most of his time this year borrowing books, quills even parchment from fellow students saying he left his in his rooms or some such nonsense.
"well you see I... well professor I have... well the thing is..." Seb was not making a lot of sense and really not in a hurry to get to the point.
He pick up his cup took a sip and then a deep breath put the cup down and started again.
"Ihavenoschoolbooksandstuff" It come out in such a cluster of word you have to work hard to work out what the boy had said as he no looked at his shoes like they were the most interesting thing in the world.
Seb knew from experience he was going to have to clarify the statement he had just made.
"well you see I just never got around to buying any you know was um busy doing stuff and then well now I'm in Italy and don't... can't buy any" Seb hope that would make sense to the Professor
"Professor miss" Seb added after a time know that respect was very important well a least that what his father had always told him why he listen to that man was well unknown since it was becoming ever so clear that he did care for his only child because if he did he would have bought him his school things so for yet a 3 year Seb had to go through this.
"I'm so sorry Professor i can do better I get like a job or something really no need to worry" Seb decided to try and fix this by offering to fix it.
seb was usually good at that maybe when he was old enough to work here in Italy and then he would just buy his own stuff.
Seb waited.

"Can't be worse then last years Footie final Miss" Theo joked, it was the first time he'd been bumped up to the over 16s and had to deal with the much bigger and rougher players when compared to the kids he was used to. While he'd managed to at least hold his own the defeat on that day had almost been as painful as the bruises as the Traralgon side where well known for playing dirty. Listening to the Professor Theo's face coloured with guilt at the mention of the stained glass window. "Oh..." he said when she explained that reparo wouldn't be able to fix it. Had Theo paid more attention in magical theory he might well have already known that but 'theory' was just another word for 'turn off' and his mind had been on the upcoming Quidditch tryouts instead. Speaking of which.. "Hey Miss.. you wouldn't happen to know whats going on with the Quidditch Tryouts would you? Cause I was gonna ask Professor Kahn but..." he shrugged it off, Professor Kahn was not anyone Theo would be talking to any time soon if he could help it.

Helping himself to the biscuits and milo as the Professor and Sebs talked Theo was intrigued and felt pretty bad for Sebs when he told them he didn't have any school stuff. "Man so that explains it!" Theo did wonder why it was that Seb's was always borrowing his things, he'd just assumed that Sebs was forgetful or just couldn't be bothered with having to carry all those books around all day. Given half a mind Theo would have tried getting away with that himself if it wasn't Professor Kahn that he had after break. Either way he didn't want to make things worse and so after pocketing a couple of extra biscuits for later Theo spoke up "If it's alright Miss I might be off.. well unless you wanna punish me or something?" Theo wasn't sure if she would or not, after all it had been a pretty big window and Kahn had been pretty mad. Theo just hoped he would hold it against him for the rest of the year, but something about the guys popping veins when he'd been shouting gave him the feeling that Theo had just made a enemy for life.

Seeing the look on Theo's face, Sophie knew he realized now the severity of the damage though when he changed gears to tryouts she raised an eyebrow. "I'm afraid it will be waiting till our new coach arrives and I have no idea where that stands right now," she told Theo, "But I'll check on it," she promised.

However, the conversation turned to Sebastian and his reason for being sent here. At his explanation, Sophie was trying to decide who she wanted to chew out. His family for not supplying things, previous schools for whatever they had done to make him so afraid to tell her or just anyone who came in her path at the moment. Fortunately, just taking a few moments to concentrate on the simple act of breathing redirected her thoughts on the matter to solving the problem. She smiled, "Well, Sebastian, yours is an easy problem to solve. We get you what you need, starting with the books," at which point she called Linguini back and told the elf, "Please go to the stock room and get a complete set of year three books for Mr. Sebastian here?" she asked. While Linguini scurried off to take care of the request, Sophie assured the student, "You don't need to go getting a job anytime soon. Studies come first and we'll figure out a way to make it work for you. Let me know what you need and we'll go from there." She smiled and added, "Hopefully all problems the next few weeks will be as easy to work out as yours."

She sighed as Theo asked if he could, well, escape is what he wanted. "Theo, you really need to learn to be more aware of things. I'm going to have to talk with Professor Kahn and see if I can calm him down before we determine what, if any, your punishment is. However, for now, will you assist Sebastian in catching up with some of his work now that he has books?" for at that point Linguini returned with the requested books and set them on the table before popping off to the kitchens again.

"Hello" Jamies said as he walked into the tea room at the academia magic di italia.
It was then he noted the group 2 boys sitting at a table with who was clearly the woman he had been told to seek out One professor Sophie Totolos
"You be Totolos?" Jamie asked as he walked further in to the room hopping to get the Quidditch classes sorted out and then go back to the hotel and get drunk or should say get more drunk. it wasn't like he was ever sober these days.
"I'm Jamie I'm here to talk Quidditch classes" Jamie said as he flopped in to a vacant chair near were the hues elf had placed the books.
"the old guy said to talk to ya about it" Jamie said unable to unwilling t remember the name of the professor that was in charge of the school who had dismissed him when he tried to talk to him about the classes it was not like jamie time was important he was just a world class Quidditch who was here to help the kids learn the best sport in the world.
I mean like jamie want to be here anyways he had really wanted to just drink himself in to an innocuous state after hearing that SHE was Engaged to that poof of a french man anyway.
"Hay a young recruit already i ready good a this already" Jamie mumbled as he took in Theo clearly a Quidditch player.

Seb sunk back in to his chair as the professor started to get the house elf to gather him some books and mumbled " Thank you its never easy to solve coz they don't care"
web really though getting a job was a good idea less time at home was always a good thing he could just see how sorry the felt for him and he hated it.
"sure Thank you" Seb said as the house elf retired with the books he was going to need.
Theo was to help him with his school work
" i won't need help i good at catching up have to do it every year when i finally get book" Seb said looking the large books in front of him.
when the was a voice from the door he sounded english he just almost stumbled in to the room and the asked after the professor in a rood way and the sat down like he was really important.
the mumbled about theo and Quidditch.
Seb was silently happy the man had ignored him last thing he need was have to buy a broom or any thing he was really bad at flying any way.

"You're more than welcome, Sebastian," Sophie told the younger student. She would try to keep up with the boy and see if he was in need of other things as well as find a way to help him with that but without him seeming to get handouts, either in his eyes or the students. "Well, then perhaps you can help Theo learn how to catch up for those moments he loses track of where he is in class?" she asked, good naturedly with a smile.

It was that moment, someone new entered the room and plopped down at the table. Sophie raised an eyebrow and with a wave of her hand closed up her ledger and started her things organizing themselves into a manageable pile. Did she smell alcohol on the man? It was faint but she was sure she picked it up. "It's Professor Totolos and I believe you're referring to Headmaster Benito, otherwise known as your new employer." She told him, both acknowledging she was the one he was looking for and correcting his lack of manners. "Yes, we need the classes up and running as soon as possible. It's already two months into the year and the first quidditch match is coming up in two weeks against Venice. Classes are Monday and Wednesdays at eleven in the morning and team practices are every afternoon at three."

It was then an idea struck Sophie and she smiled. Not just any smile but the one that, had it been directed at either of the students when they told Sophie what they had done or not done, fear would have entered their hearts. It was not directed at them but at the new arrival. "Sebastian, you mentioned wanting a job? It won't involve flying but the team needs a scorekeeper and statistician. It would just mean keeping track of the games and each player's statistics during them and at practices. It's a paid position, not much but enough to provide some extra funds." Turning back to Jamie she added, "And, yes, you have your first student and possible team member. You'll need to schedule tryouts for tomorrow afternoon and your first class is tomorrow morning. The boys will show you to your room and classroom. Any further questions, Professor?"

"Sucks Miss.. was looking forward to playing some real Quid.." Theo explained before just sitting quietly as he finished his food and picked up his Quaffle to go. "You sound like me Pop" Theo joked, though something in his expression said that he knew he was in trouble, anything that involved the mention of Professor Kahn was not going to be a good thing. "Righto Miss" Theo replied with a nod of his head, he wasn't much for academics but helping Sebs would be a pleasure when compared to some of the other punishments he could have been handled. Even easier since Sebs said he was good at catching up. It seemed that for today at least Theo could breath easy...... or at least until a new person arrived and Theo was gobsmacked into just staring.. it couldn't be? No way!

"Y..Your.. Jamie.. Savage?.. of the Cubby Cannons?" Theo was wishing his voice wasn't wavering as he stared at the English man. While Theo wasn't much for study he had read Quidditch Though the Ages and Great Quidditch Players of the 20th Century back to back. This guy was a walking legend! He couldn't believe it, a real time Quidditch Champion was right here at his school and wait.. was that him he was talking about? Theo gulped, Jamie Savage was the replacement coach? That was just so unreal! "Venice an't gonna stand a chance Miss" Theo said puffing out his chest, his brothers where going to be so very jealous that he, Theo got to meet Jamie Savage, in the flesh. That was way cooler then having a shirt signed by Gary Ablett.

"What?... No one said i was ganna have to Live here" Jamie was more than a little taken a back By the woman who had corrected him the moment he walked in to the room. But worst of all living on school ground meant rules. lots of rules about alcohol , woman and Behaviour. Jamie hated rules he was a man and quite capable of deciding for him self what to do and not to do.
The boy in his Gear spoke up.
"Yes i am Jamie savage and yes i just resign with the canons." Jamie had never coach a team full time but he was sure he could do it.
"That right we'll kick Ass young man" Jamie said as he heard the boys an wavering conviction in the teams new coach.
"tho i ganna have to call my agent and the team i mean live at a school. what that about?" Jamies was damaging for a quill and some paper to send a letter to the Idort that had made this decision.
"I got training in England for the team and the cannons to" Jamie pulled out a a pen and then found a paper.
Scribbled a note on the paper and then said "Nice a towel boy well that problem one solved for the guys, umm ganna need to put posters up training tomorrow can do" Jamie made very little cents to any one thats not him.
Jamie stood "need to go to rooms and on the way lads show me the owlary so i post this off to" Jamie said as he walked to the door.
He made no attempt to talk to the woman that was quite roowed to him.