open study {evelyn}

[gavin henry bertram]

Though during the week Gavin had to adhere to the strict schedules he abhorred, Saturdays were something of a magical thing. He would stay in the tower, leaving the trap door unlocked and the ladder down, making it known to students that they could come and go as they pleased if they wished to come and attempt to divine things, or seek his guidance about symbolism that kept cropping up in their subconscious or their dreams. This, was ideally how Gavin would teach at all times, but unfortunately it wasn't good enough for the school board. So he needed to have a designated curriculum, specific time slots, and grades. Grades... Gavin hated those the most.

How was he supposed to assign a value to what was so abstract a concept as the workings of the subconscious precognition and Inner Sight? But he had to play their games, jump through their hoops. Sighing lightly, Gavin poured himself a cup of tea, watching as the leaves swirled around as he poured the boiling water over them. It was decidedly quiet in the North Tower, he'd had one student come and ask his advice, but since the Hufflepuff girl had left he hadn't had another student stop by. Though it was, of course, a Hogsmeade weekend, so he wasn't expecting many to stop by.

At any rate, this was nice, the still quiet, he could practically feel it in his bones how still the castle was with the majority of students out visiting the village during the day. But come evening they would start to trickle back in, and he'd sense the bodies and their futures moving about again. Though for now, Gavin would take the quiet. He began humming quietly to himself, reveling in the scent of the burning incense mingling with the breeze blowing through the open window. He scooped a few spoonfuls of sugar in his tea and stirred lightly, careful to not scrape the bottom, and thus disrupt whatever message would be waiting for him at the bottom.

Though before he could begin to drink the tea he had prepared, he paused. There was someone coming, they weren't yet at the base of the ladder, or even where he might be able to hear footsteps, but Gavin knew. He often got insight for these trivial details. He was suddenly excited, he was never opposed to spending the day alone consulting the Beyond, but it brought his heart joy when a student might be serious enough about Divination to put in more than the minimal amount of effort. Gavin sipped his tea lightly. "Good afternoon," Gavin called in direction of the open trapdoor, and only a moment later heard the telltale signs of someone climbing the ladder.

[evelyn amelia strauss]

Evelyn wasn't sure what to do. She needed help on her Divination work, a subject that she had grown especially fond of, but was terrified to go seek help. Divination wasn't difficult for her, being her second strongest subject, behind Potions, but concentrating was becoming especially difficult with the new professor being as attractive as he was. He was exceptionally quirky, which made him all the more attractive. But, Evelyn knew how to control herself. She was able to keep her longing gazes far away from the professor. Unfortunately, getting help on her school work would require a one-on-one session.

Men weren't a troublesome aspect for Evelyn. She wasn't out seeking lovers, but sometimes they found her. She was well-versed in both relationships and with sex. It was his age that intimidated her. He was at least ten years older than she was, probably more, and that was absolutely terrifying. It was more than just a physical attraction that she had been feeling. Evelyn had developed a fairly serious crush on her teacher. The thought made her sick. That was incredibly improper. Besides, she had more important things to worry about than fantasizing about her professor.

Evelyn paced down the hallway towards the North Tower. It was said that Professor Bertram, or Gavin, as he seemed to prefer, was a gifted Seer, which was the reason that he'd been offered the job in the wake of the previous professor's passing. That in and of itself was something that terrified her. If there was anyone that would be able to see the things that bothered her most, as well as see that she had frequent panic attacks, it would be him. She wanted to keep them from the public as much as possible, and Gavin might be the one to uncover the truth.

Her work and book were tucked into a satchel she had around her shoulder and it swung against her hip as she walked. Taking deep breaths seemed to be the only way to calm her. She anxiously tapped her fingers against her hip as she approached the tower. This was going to be interesting. Part of her wished that there would be at least one other person up there in the Tower already to keep her from making a fool out of herself in front of her teacher, but another part wanted desperately for there to be no one but her and her teacher. It was a disgusting desire, but the idea made her heart flutter. Evelyn hesitated at the ladder, peering up at the open trap-door.

"Good afternoon."

Evelyn jumped slightly at the sound of Gavin's voice. She forgot in that moment that he had the Sight, his Inner Eye had probably seen her coming for the past few minutes. Taking a deep breath, she made her ascend to the tower. Peering up, she glanced about the room before lifting herself into the classroom, finding herself to be alone, save for Gavin. She absently tucked her hair behind her ears. "Uhm... hi, Professor,"

[/color] she said, looking at Gavin.

Evelyn's Outfit[/blockquote][/blockquote][/blockquote][/size]

[gavin henry bertram]

Gavin shifted slightly in his position, to an outsider it might seem uncomfortable (as he had opted to sit cross-legged on top of his desk rather than in the chair behind it), though he was quite content, he merely had the tendency to squirm. He was a self-identified busybody, he needed to be constantly moving or at least doing something, it had always been a challenge for him to sit still. Gavin usually moved his legs around, and often would get up and pace back and forth- he was sure that by the time the school year was out he will have worn a path in the carpet near the front of the tower room where he would pace back and forth as he taught.

Of course, how much actual teaching he did was debatable- Gavin liked to allow his students to figure things out on their own, and merely consult him for guidance when it was necessary. Though he did have to do the lessons as part of his jumping through hoops, so he would merely present divining techniques as they worked for him, while encouraging the students to pursue other means of uncovering messages from the Beyond if his methods to them proved ineffective. Divination, he found, was easily the most tailored subject- no two people, Seers or not, could See the same way.

Gavin smiled gently when a redhead climbed up into the room, he hadn't yet had time to memorize all the names of his students (though he was very good with connecting names to faces), and hers was evading him, but he was sure if given a few minutes he would be able to divine it, or something close to it. His mind automatically assumed "Weasley" given the vibrant colour of her tresses, though he knew a moment later that she was not part of one of the larger families in the school, her features, while striking, weren't of that particular gene pool.

He nodded lightly to her, picking up the saucer from his desk beside his knee and nesting his cup into the indentation at its centre. His tea was a bit too hot to drink comfortably, so he would wait. Automatically he turned his cup counterclockwise three times. It didn't do anything as far as what he might be able to read in the leaves once the tea was gone, it was more along the lines of his habits, things that he didn't pay attention to when he was doing them. Gavin liked to do things in multiples of three or seven, such pleasing numbers they were.

He briefly crinkled his nose at the title of "Professor," he didn't think that he would ever get used to it, and thus far had even been giving students permission to call him by his first name when not in class. "What might I be able to help you with?" asked Gavin, a bit saddened that this would likely be schoolwork-related, he found this redhead intriguing. She was beautiful, and there was definitely something different about her, and he was determined to figure out what that was- whether it was through Sight or simply talking. Some might deem this desire inappropriate, but Gavin didn't think so.

[evelyn amelia strauss]

Evelyn found herself watching Gavin. He really was a peculiar man. He had these little quirks that fascinated her, and his choice in robes was flamboyant, to say the least. It was rather endearing. She wanted to get to know this man, but she knew full-well that it would probably be he who was getting to know her more, just because of his Inner Eye. Seers fascinated her to no end, and she loved Divination, if only because of the opportunity it gave her to learn about the practice of honing in on one's own, if not quite as powerful as a Seer's, Inner Eye.

Evelyn saw him turn his nose up at the title of Professor, and she immediately cursed herself. It was rude of her, she knew that he preferred students to refer to him by his first name. She watched him play with his tea, turning the cup three times. Even while doing this, she could tell he was trying not to disturb the tea leaves at the bottom. Evelyn didn't realize she was staring so intently at him until she caught herself biting her lip. Anxiously, she ran a hand through her hair, hoping he hadn't noticed the slightly sensual gesture.

"What might I be able to help you with?"

Evelyn focused her gaze on him, letting the question sink in before holding up a finger and smiling softly at Gavin. She set her satchel on the closest table and dug into the bag, producing her book and all her notes. "I was just wondering if you'd be able to... I guess, give me a private lesson..."

[/color] she replied. Mentally, she was cursing herself. That came out slightly provocative. He was just so attractive... Clearing her throat, she wandered over to where he was sitting. It was going to be difficult, being in such a close proximity to him, both because of how attracted she was to him, as well as the fact that he was a Seer. There wasn't any telling what he would be able to pick up on.

"I mean... I'm trying to get a handle on this class. It isn't really my strongest subject, but I love it... it's fascinating. I really want to learn all that I can, and being around... certain people... in the class is... well, it's making it difficult,"[/color] Evelyn replied. What Gavin didn't know was that certain person was him, and she desperately wanted to be taught one-on-one. She really did love Divination and really was fascinated by it, but the chance to learn directly from Gavin was what really had her here.[/blockquote][/blockquote][/blockquote][/size]

[gavin henry bertram]

Gavin slightly tilted his head to the side, watching the girl. Though he had to wonder if "girl" was even the appropriate term, he seemed to recall her being with the seventh years, that had to make her seventeen. So she was an adult. Technically. Gavin surprised himself with these thoughts, they seemed to border on creepy. Not only was he supposed to be in a position of authority over her, but he was thirty years old. That was quite the difference. Regardless of how well the young lady carried herself, it was still thirteen years between thirty and seventeen. Why was he even thinking these things? So odd, they were, though he wasn't used to needing to oppress his attraction to someone.

All his life he had sorted of gone with the flow on that sort of thing. Gavin wasn't exactly experienced romantically, having never had a person in his life that he desired a long-term relationship with, but he wasn't shy about approaching people of either gender that he found attractive, or going to bed with them. Sex was about the only time where Gavin wasn't weird about having physical contact, mostly because it was necessary, but indeed sexual contact was really the only sort of touch he enjoyed, otherwise he preferred a great deal of personal space. People had so many germs, he could practically feel them crawling onto him via someone else's hand...

A private lesson? Gavin's head adopted a more dramatic angle at which it was positioned on his neck, as if he were attempting to imitate an owl. Well that was definitely a first, not that he was going to complain- he loved to see the passion. Here was a girl who wasn't afraid to seek what she was after. If it was a lesson she wanted, it was a lesson she would get! He was delighted, nobody had ever expressed that sort of enthusiasm for his class. Granted, they had hardly been in school a month, but still, the first eager pupil...

And all the same it wasn't just what she had said, but how she said it. Very intriguing... But she seemed anxious somehow. Gavin wished she weren't, he knew that he was odd, but he was entirely harmless. He listened to her explain her rationale behind asking, though something also struck him as being slightly off about it, no matter. He was going to spend time with this highly interesting female, and that would do for him. "Well then, how about you join me for tea?" said Gavin.

He cautiously got down from his desk and, minding his already poured cup of tea, nonchalantly pushed papers and books onto the floor. He pulled over another chair before sitting behind his desk and reaching to pour a second cup of tea. Sitting in his chair. Well, this was new.

[evelyn amelia strauss]

Evelyn watched as Gavin tilted his head in an almost comical way, staring at her curiously. It was absolutely adorable and she tried her best to contain the smile the action was bringing to her lips. He reminded her of a little owl, eyes wide, head turned crooked. It was rather endearing. Anything he did was simply adorable, and the light in his eyes and the smile on his lips was absolutely infectious. He seemed thrilled at her request, but the intelligence behind his eyes was a bit intimidating. There wasn't any telling what he'd be able to pick up from her.

Evelyn suffered from panic attacks, as well as a crippling fear of both the dark and of being alone. The panic attacks only came when she imagined a future without her parents or when she remembered anything about her past, which usually revolved around memories of her parents. She could normally keep them under control, but she was afraid that, when a time came that she couldn't get it under control, she'd be in front of people. The idea of having a panic attack in front of someone, followed by having to explain why she was having them, was absolutely terrifying.

"Well, then, how about you join me for tea?"

Evelyn smiled softly as Gavin stood and pulled up a chair right next to his desk before reaching towards the tea pot to pour her a cup of tea. She approached, setting her book and her notes on the desk before settling herself down into the chair. This was certainly going to be an interesting adventure, what with the teacher she was infatuated with sitting mere feet from her. Evelyn anxiously smoothed her skirt, mentally cursing herself.

She was normally very smooth and eloquent, someone who was bold and brave and able to defend herself and speak her mind in a graceful fashion. Unfortunately for her, Gavin was preventing her from doing such things. It was bothering her to no end. This wasn't something she was used to. She was the typical embodiment of a Gryffindor. She was bold, she was outspoken, and she wasn't afraid to defend herself, her beliefs, and those closest to her, even if that meant getting a little physical...

"Thank you, Prof... Gavin. Thank you, Gavin, I really appreciate this,"

[/color] Evelyn said, watching him pour the tea. This was causing her heart to pound a violent tattoo against her ribcage. She'd be able to control herself, she had to. There wasn't any way she was going to reveal all her secrets intentionally to this man. She desperately hoped that his Inner Eye wasn't as strong as the rumors said, otherwise her attempts at concealing her deepest fears and secrets would be completely in vain.[/blockquote][/blockquote][/blockquote][/size]

[gavin henry bertram]

Gavin again shifted a bit, he wasn't used to chairs, he didn't like them, not really. His mother had been the epitome of a flower child- their home hadn't had any formal furniture. They had sat on cushions on the floor, had simple mats for sleeping on when the weather didn't permit them to sleep outside under the stars. Really, for Gavin it had been an ideal lifestyle, he had loved the pace of it. But there wasn't a doubt in his mind that he was needed here. Where else was Hogwarts going to find a true Seer? Gavin didn't know if the post could survive another fraud.

So he would stay and get used to living in a stationary place, having a rigid schedule. And thus far it seemed like it was already paying off in the form of this attractive young woman wanting his attention, though he did wish it weren't strictly academic-related... He supposed that he would take what he could get, at least at this point. And a part of his conscience was advising him against it, it would be most unwise for him to pursue even a brief affair with a student hardly a month into his new post. Gavin was slightly frustrated by it all, he didn't like having to hold himself back.

Though he had something of a reputation to uphold now, not just at the school, but also in the academic community. Gavin had established something of a name for himself with the works he had published, it would be a shame to have it slandered by something as simple as a little love. Such a funny thing, society... "But of course," said Gavin with a gentle smile, "ask and ye shall receive." Really, he was more than happy to counsel any student who wished to delve further into the Beyond, it was a delight that anyone would even ask.

He lightly nudged the second cup toward the girl before picking up his own and taking a short sip, allowing his gaze to meander over the young woman, taking her in, gently prodding his Inner Eye to reveal something, anything about her. A name would be nice, but it wasn't necessary. The letter E was sticking out to him- there was a start at least. And also, an odd sense of nervousness, panic almost. Gavin pulled an expression of thought, not quite sure what to make of it. All in good time, he knew better than to force the Sight, that never boded well.

"Sugar?" asked Gavin, carelessly gesturing to the bowl on the desk. He didn't have out any milk, usually rendered the readings worthless, it was too heavy for the delicate tea leaves. But a bit of sugar never hurt, he found. He decided he would let the girl carry the conversation for now, it wasn't necessary unless she wanted it.

[evelyn amelia strauss]

Evelyn watched Gavin shift a bit in his chair. He seemed a little uncomfortable. It was probably another one of his quirky traits. Suddenly, Evelyn wanted to get to know the man further. It was driving her crazy, this pull she felt towards him. She hadn't felt something like this for another human being before, and she wanted nothing more than to explore it further. Sure, she had found people that she was physically and emotionally attracted to, but this seemed different, somehow. It could have to do with the fact that he was her elder by a significant amount, and that he was also her teacher. Still, looking couldn't hurt anyone, as long as she enjoyed herself quietly. Just being in his presence was making her both comfortable, as well as wary, a mix of feelings that made the pit of her stomach clench up and caused her heart to rise up into her throat. It certainly wasn't a normal occurence.

The whole ordeal made her rather confused. Being both at ease and uncomfortable around her teacher made it very hard to concentrate on much else, which was both a curse and a blessing. On the one hand, it was very easy to relax around him, regardless of the attraction she felt, but that relaxation could come at a price. There wan't any telling where her brain would travel to if given the opportunity to wander, which could possibly lead to a panic attack. Just thinking about having an attack in front of Gavin was beginning to set one off. Taking a deep breath, Evelyn forced a smile, trying incredibly hard not to let Gavin sense this. Given the fact that he was a Seer, it was going to be incredibly hard keeping anything from him... still, Evelyn knew that she had to. It would be a challenge, but she'd be much more content if her secrets were kept that way for as long as possible.

"But of course, ask and ye shall recieve."

Evelyn smiled, nodding slightly. She reached forward to her notes, suddenly unsure of where to start. Divination was a tricky and broad subject. There weren't a lot of people who carried the skills necessary to understand it, and there were an even fewer number of students who actually enjoyed honing those abilities. She desperately wanted to learn more, both because she was fascinated by the subject and because she wanted an excuse to spend time with the handsome man in front of her. Gavin nudged the cup of tea in her direction and she took it, smiling up at him before nestling the delicate porcelain figure in both of her hands. "Thank you,"

[/color] she replied, shooting him a small smile. She allowed the tea to cool some before taking a tentative sip. The liquid soothed her throat, and she sighed in contentment. This brew was good, the best that she'd had in a long time. The only thing that would make it better would be...

"Sugar?"

Evelyn looked up, slightly startled. She doubted that it had anything to do with his being a Seer, but it was quite the coincidence that he'd offered her exactly what she'd been looking for. She reached towards the bowl on the desk, using the silver tongs to pick out three cubes of sugar, dropping them into her glass and carefully stirring it in such a way so as not to disturb the tea leaves nestled at the bottom of her cup. "Again, thanks. Now, the Divination..."[/color] she said, taking a small sip of her now sweetened tea before setting the cup aside, reaching for her notes. She shuffled through them a bit, looking up at Gavin after a while with a small, sheepish smile plastered onto her lips. "I have to admit, I'm not quite sure where to begin,"[/color] Evelyn sighed, biting her lip slightly.[/blockquote][/blockquote][/blockquote][/size]

[gavin henry bertram]

Gavin was quiet a moment, merely holding his cup between both his hands to warm them, and watching the young woman whose name began with an E. Something about her he found utterly fascinating, there was something that set her apart from the others, something... Tragic. Or at least Gavin was getting the suspicion that it was, and his suspicions were seldom wrong. But he wouldn't pry, these things were to be handled delicately, peeled back layer by layer over time, and really, he felt that he had all the time in the world. He figured that if the young woman had approached him, she would be likely to make these visits regular.

The very idea was exciting to Gavin. He hadn't even yet remembered her name, and yet already he wanted to spend more and more time with her. He liked to figure people out, what made them tick, and this redhead was definitely a dynamic character. He lightly sipped his tea, closing his eyes and savouring it. Since taking up this job he could afford the finer things in life- now he bought quality teas and luxury wines, rather than the more cost-effective labels he stuck to before. And the difference was noted, this tea was particularly lovely. Not as lovely as the young woman across the desk from him, but lovely all the same.

Gavin almost found himself wishing that they were sharing this afternoon with wine rather than tea, though that was a bit beyond the confines of a Divination lesson. As well as the fact that it was only two in the afternoon. Though that never stopped Gavin before, he was of the philosophy that adults should be able to consume whatever they wanted whenever they pleased- though it was a bit odd to resort to alcohol so early. Wine was an evening beverage to be enjoyed by the fire or with a nice dinner.

The redhead's smile was as charming as the rest of her features, really, she was an enchanting presence, even if she did not feel at ease with herself. He could feel the tension radiating off her in waves, he was sure that even someone with senses duller than his could. Or perhaps he had gotten sharper over the years as he had honed his own abilities. Whatever the case, he could tell that something was making her nervous. Gavin sipped his tea again, still politely watching her, this time not scanning her body for anything that might attract the attention of his Inner Eye, but instead meeting her gaze.

Gavin watched as she went to start whatever this one-on-one session was in almost a formal manner, he wanted to smile, maybe chuckle a bit. Oh students and their ways, so used to rigidity in their classwork, it seemed a foreign concept to them that there really was no set method to Divination. True, to a certain extent charts and diagrams and textbooks could be useful, at least when it came time to decoding, but even those weren't obsolete, and they had little value in the process of actually divining anything.

Without inquiring permission, Gavin lightly took her stack of notes and skimmed through the first few pages. Her handwriting was beautiful as she was... "Evelyn, Evelyn," Gavin said, lightly shaking his head with a smile, "if we are to begin anywhere, you should put these away, formulas have little use in this phase." He placed her notes back on the desk before sipping his tea again. He allowed a pause to lapse for his words to sink in, he was likely going against everything she'd ever been taught.

It was only then he realised that he had said her name, it had slipped out so naturally, it must be hers, he decided. "Drink your tea, breathe deeply, and quiet your mind, having all this information bouncing around in your conscious mind makes the subconscious that much harder to hear," said Gavin.

[evelyn amelia strauss]

Evelyn watched carefully as Gavin wordlessly picked up a stack of her note, his eyes skimming across the page. Her throat tightened a little, and she desperately hoped that he enjoyed what he was looking at. It was silly, but she desperately wanted to impress this god of a man in the area he was strongest in, even if she wasn't strong in it. It was bothering her to no end, but at least he seemed intrigued. There was a light behind his eyes that made her heart flutter lightly against her rib cage. He really was a beautiful human being.

Gavin was, as she slowly realized, the epitome of physical perfection. He was tall, he was strong, he had handsome, proportionate features. His eyes were deep, intelligent, and beautiful. His lips were full and had a slight pucker that made her feel like swooning. Instinctively, she bit her bottom lip, a habit she wasn't familiar with. She was normally very calm and collected, never one to fawn over a man, but Gavin was different. His eyes flicked up from the page over to her, and she met his gaze quizzically.

"Evelyn, Evelyn, if we are to begin anywhere, you should put these away, formulas have little use in this phase."

Evelyn felt her face color slightly, and she nodded, reaching forward to take her notes from him. Her fingers brushed lightly against his and she felt electricity dance up her arm. She quickly put her notes and book back into her satchel before looking back up towards Gavin. For stability, she clutched her tea cup in both of her hands, lightly taking a sip. It was relaxing, the tea, but her brain was far too on edge to fully enjoy it. Evelyn was slowly beginning to think that coming up to the Divination classroom was a mistake, there was far too much at stake for her, far too much that Gavin could figure out merely by accident with his Inner Eye...

"Drink your tea, breathe deeply, and quiet your mind, having all this information bouncing around in your conscious mind makes the subconscious that much harder to hear."

Evelyn looked up at him, breath catching slightly in her throat before nodding stiffly. This was just the thing that she was afraid of. The clearer her subconscious, the easier it would be for his Sight to pick up on little things, that much she knew. Still, his soft command made her woozy and she had no choice but to comply. Evelyn began sucking in deep, even breaths, closing her eyes and taking occasional, savoring drinks of her tea. She opened her eyes and smiled sheepishly at Gavin. "I'm not really very good at relaxing."

[/color][/blockquote][/blockquote][/blockquote][/size]

[gavin henry bertram]

Gavin sipped his tea before again going to rotate the cup gently three times in an anticlockwise manner, allowing himself to pay Evelyn his full attention. Normally he wasn't quite so focused, he could easily be described as being a bit scatterbrained, able to go on random tangents simply because the topic came up in his mind. But today his thoughts were exceptionally clear, it was as if there wasn't anything in the world he would rather think about than the redhead across from him. It was a foreign sensation, though Gavin readily embraced it, he saw no reason to be ashamed of his attraction. He just knew that he wasn't allowed to admit it.

He worked hard at not recoiling when her fingertips brushed against his, he didn't wish to offend her, but he was this way with everyone, even his own mother. No touch, touch was bad unless it was of the sexual variety. Though he didn't flinch, Gavin couldn't help his visible cringe, and the feeling of pathogens now crawling onto his hand. It was utterly distracting- now he couldn't focus on anything, not even the enticing redhead just across his desk... No, now he had to deal with her germs. It was all very distressing. Gavin would be stressed about it anyway, but he was especially so with Evelyn, he didn't want to frighten her away with his weird behaviour.

Though the fact remained that he could not do anything without taking care of the whole touch and germs thing. Attempting to be discreet, Gavin reached his hand into the pocket of his brilliant peacock blue robes, wiping his contaminated fingers off on the fabric. His mind instantly quieted now that the perceived threat had been taken care of, and his posture relaxed once more. Hoping his discomfort hadn't been too obvious, Gavin once again cradled his cup in both hands, taking and lengthy sip.

He had definitely been out of his element, there. He had never been the type to face his fears, but rather he wished to avoid them entirely. Touch and the concept of germs freaked him out, the sight of blood made him faint, and rabbits... He found them utterly terrifying. They were simply too cute, too fluffy, too innocent. They must be hiding something.Gavin once again focused his attention on Evelyn, how calmly she breathed and sipped her tea, yet something about it seemed not entirely genuine, as if she weren't really relaxed, and then she spoke what he had been thinking. He blinked slowly a moment, he didn't think that was the case, anyone could be capable, there was just usually something holding their conscious minds ransom. "Nonsense," said Gavin, "anyone can relax, allow their subconscious room to speak. Something is holding you back is all." He spoke gently, in an informative rather than accusatory manner, though his gaze never left hers.

[evelyn amelia strauss]

Evelyn saw Gavin tense up a little at her touch, causing her to frown. It was a little unfortunate, and her heart sank. It was foolish to think that this attraction was mutual. He was her teacher, she couldn't delude herself to that fact. Crinkling her nose slightly, she settled deeply into her chair, sipping her tea absently. She hid her distaste from him, though, as he redirected his attention to her. Regardless of how inappropriate the pull she felt towards Gavin, Evelyn was pleased, her body humming with the warmth his intense stare was washing over her entire body.

Gavin seemed to listen to her in a doubtful nature, causing the lump in her throat to tighten. This was all rather awkward. He was so incredibly close to learning what it was that was keeping her mind in a state of unrest, and she desperately hoped that he wouldn't find out. She hadn't admitted to anyone that her parents were dead and that she had several crippling phobias developed because of it. Her chest fluttered in her anxiety, and she took a few, calming breaths. She couldn't have a panic attack, not here, not in front of Gavin.

"Nonsense, anyone can relax, allow their subconscious room to speak. Something is holding you back is all."

Evelyn couldn't help herself. Her gaze widened in slight panic as he hit the nail on the head with his statement. His tone wasn't accusatory, merely informational and matter-of-fact. He didn't know what exactly was ailing her, but he knew that there was something. She shifted in her seat and attempted to hide her discomfort behind a sip of her tea while she searched for the right words to say.

This wasn't right. Evelyn was normally good with words, good at speaking her mind. Unfortunately, speaking her mind meant revealing the truth to Gavin, and if he found out she didn't know what she would do. She had been doing such a good job at hiding her secrets from others for the past few months since her parents had died. Evelyn closed her eyes, blocking the thoughts from her brain. Thinking too hard about it would simply make her go into one of her panic attacks, and she couldn't have that. Not in front of Gavin.

Evelyn opened her eyes and offered her teacher a small smile. "Yes, I suppose you're right,"

[/color] she replied, but didn't press further. Hopefully, he wouldn't either, and they could simply continue their private lesson without any further interruption. Evelyn locked eyes with Gavin, tipping her head back slightly to examine him as she took a sip of her tea, hoping desperately that he would move forward and that his Sight wouldn't detect anything too severe...[/blockquote][/blockquote][/blockquote][/size]

[gavin henry bertram]

This moment was rapidly turning into a an odd mixture of pleasant and uncomfortable, Gavin wasn't really sure what to do with it. If he had encountered Evelyn in any other situation than him being her teacher with something of a reputation to protect, he might have already made a move. Not that he was the kind to just sleep around, but he didn't have qualms with taking someone attractive he knew relatively little about to bed. But such thoughts about Evelyn in this context of their relationship he knew were to be considered inappropriate. Such an unfortunate thing, he himself was of the belief that sex between consenting adults was completely fine no matter the situation.

As long as no one was being hurt, what did it matter what society thought? Then again, he had grown up in an almost unconventional manner- the commune where he had lived all his life had been largely poly-amorous, without any qualms with homosexual acts. It had been incredibly liberating, Gavin had simply been free to pursue whomever he wanted that also had interest in him, no expectations. Not that he saw anything wrong with a more conventional relationship, he just hadn't found the right person to give his complete commitment to. Though he did still have his lover.

They shared beds on occasion, weren't really friends, weren't in love, just liked to spends nights together, though Gavin would love someone to truly share himself with. Hours of conversation under the stars, revealing his deepest secrets, greatest ambitions... Gavin nodded when Evelyn said that he was right, of course he was, he could feel her tension. It puzzled him, he wondered what the reason for it might be, though he wasn't going to pry. If she felt like sharing, she would. Of course, if his Inner Eye were to go in that direction there would be little he could do to stop it...

Though Gavin found that he very rarely got the whole, specific picture. He more often got bits and pieces- certain letters for names, for example, or a particular emotion, or a general point in time. Those combined with other bits and pieces or what was revealed through interaction, was what allowed him to piece things together. Gavin would be the first to admit that the Inner Eye didn't know everything, nor did he really want it to. Nobody should have absolute power in that regard, the concept in and of itself was frightening, took the life out of living. "What helps me," said Gavin, leaning forward a bit, "is to imagine a box, imagine myself putting whatever it is in that box, and closing the lid. It's still there, but not demanding attention that way."

[evelyn amelia strauss]

Evelyn continued to sip her tea, awaiting Gavin's response in a somewhat anxious fashion. She wasn't really sure what to make all of this. Had this been in a different setting under a different set of circumstances, Evelyn wouldn't have hesitated to be a little flirtatious, regardless of the age gap. Age was but a number, and both her and Gavin were adults here in the wizarding world. It wouldn't hurt to be a little flirtatious, no? Still, Evelyn knew that there were boundaries, and being a little seductive towards her teacher would no doubt get them both into trouble.

Still.. the desire was still there. Even after the slight uncomfortable edge that their time together had begun to take, she was still fascinated by her professor. He was unlike anyone she'd ever encountered before, and it was making her a little lightheaded. She wasn't one to swoon over people, but he was having a strange effect on her. Perhaps it was the way his eyes sparkled or the way his lips moved when he spoke, or the fact that he could pull off such a beautiful color of robes...

"What helps me is to imagine a box, imagine myself putting whatever it is in that box, and closing the lid. It's still there, but not demanding attention in any way."

Evelyn found herself leaning forward as Gavin did. She watched him for a moment before realizing their proximity to each other. Clearing her throat, she broke her gaze and leaned back in her chair, resting her tea cup in her lap as her hands cupped the delicate porcelain. She nodded softly before closing her eyes, trying to visualize exactly what it was that Gavin had said.

She took the thoughts of her phobias and her panic attacks, as well as the memories brought forth by her parents' deaths, and tucked them inside the imaginary box, closing the lid and locking them away tightly in the back of her mind. She opened her eyes to look at Gavin, offering him a small smile. Immediately, she felt relaxed and content, her problems seemingly forgotten for the time being.

"I... thank you, Gavin. That helped quite a bit,"

[/color] Evelyn said, smiling softly at him. She brought her tea cup up to her lips to take a sip. Her troubles were gone, but with that had come an overwhelming urge to flirt with her professor. All her cares seemed to have vanished, albeit in a temporary fashion, but one thing still remained: Evelyn was incredibly attracted to Gavin. Hopefully she'd be able to control herself...[/blockquote][/blockquote][/blockquote][/size]

[gavin henry bertram]

Gavin noticed the closeness in proximity around the same time that Evelyn did, though when she backed away he remained where he was. He was comfortable here, being close he didn't mind, it was touching that bothered him. Though he was slightly disheartened that she had moved away, but then again, it was foolish to think that someone of her age would pursue someone of his. Gavin had always thought that age mattered relatively little between consenting adults, but he knew not everyone shared his fairly lax standards on love and sex. At any rate, Gavin knew that it was probably for the best, she was in this newly-established "off limits" zone, along with anyone else that might tarnish his reputation.

Not that he had a good one, he just didn't have a bad one. He was a clean slate, and he didn't want his slowly rising position to be taken from him. Gavin still wasn't quite sure what to think about teaching, but having at least some influence in Britain's academic community was exciting. He wanted to bring light back to Divination, for so long it had been dismissed as either imprecise, impractical, or just plain silly. He wanted to restore its validity as an area of study.

Gavin was quiet as Evelyn followed his instructions, and as the redhead's eyes were closed he took the opportunity to look upon her fondly- really, she was a beautiful creature. Pleasing to look at, striking features, a spotless porcelain complexion... He was sure her skin felt every bit as luxurious as it looked, even the parts he couldn't see. Gavin imagined that the pristine ivory continued on beneath her clothes, undisturbed, flawless skin... He blinked these thoughts away as Evelyn opened her eyes, now no longer visibly tensed. That was better, now perhaps they might be able to get somewhere as far as Divination went, though he couldn't help a small voice in the back of his head, speaking up, expressing its interest in something else entirely.

It was small, easily ignored, though all the same Gavin wasn't used to doing that. He didn't like having to hide something which he felt was so simple. Why did there have to be so many rules? It was a bit saddening, but she had backed away from him, so there probably wasn't any use fretting, anyway. He smiled toothily when Evelyn admitted that his advice had helped, he was sure that it would, but it was nice to hear all the same. "Lovely," said Gavin, expanding his grin a bit before finishing off the last sip of his tea.