iv. the emperor -- tristan

[ELEANOR CORDELIA WORRALL]

It was dark but somewhat pretty

TRISTAN GRAYSON OLLISTON , 688, just a little before spring lol, i thought it was a fun idea

It was a Thursday which meant Ellie could save herself an extra trip up all the stairs it took to get to her favorite place in Hogwarts - oh, well, one of them, after all could you really have just one favorite place in such a wonder? Never the less Ellie was on a mission after her divinations class finished up. Typically one gave gifts to their friends, family, and well anyone who was of important to them - but typically one gave gifts to them on their birthdays; except Ellie seemed to have opted for the day after. Perhaps this was a little strange, but it was sort of how Ellie worked. There was a reason behind (this) madness though, sure the school had honored Tristan the night before with a toast and cake and some singing and all the works professors got on their birthdays, but Ellie knew Tristan was American which meant today was also his birthday! Since there was the time difference.

Now Ellie had been teased a few times by some of the meaner girls about having a 'crush' on her professor. The truth was, that was about as far from it, there was nothing inappropriate and only foolish girls with too many insecurities thought that. She never really had gotten over her father walking out on her family, she understood why he left her but...her family too? Well in the couple of years that Ellie had been under Tristan 's teaching she had come to see him as - well she knew he was not her father and would never be her father but, he gave her this sense of self and confidence - something she wished she had a father to do. It made sense to the strange often glossy eyed girl. Just like it made sense to wait half a day to give him his birthday present.

It was almost difficult to pay attention during today's lesson because she was more excited to tell Tristan happy birthday (again). Instead of lingering around admiring the classroom like she normally did Ellie Was quickly to her feet and anxiously waiting her classmates to file out of the room one by one leaving herself and Professor Olliston. Ellie was grinning from ear to ear, a Cheshire cat in her own way - even a little mad. "Happy birthday Professor!" She said in her sign-song sort of way as she nearly skipped over to him, in between each table. Yes normally she floated through them eye glued to the crystal balls and finger tips tracing the patterns in the table cloths, she always was so far off in her own little worlds - but today was not just any day now, was it?


In her hands she held a rectangular-ish gift that was wrapped in some sort of galaxy looking cloth and tied with a golden looking twine. Holding it flat in both her hands she presented the small gift to him. Now everyone knew it was bad luck to buy your own tarot cards - you would always have to question if your reading were bias or not, though some would say it was also bad luck to receiving them as a gift too, either way it meant you often ended up using the same deck of cards for years and years before getting a new deck. Which was actually a shame because not all decks read the same way, and some decks were entirely unique in themselves. Although there wasn't much about this deck that was entirely unique but she had found the druid depictions beautiful and felt it was the perfect gift for her favorite professor. "Don't forget, seven nights under your pillow and yours cards will never lie to you."

Ellie did look rather pleased with herself as she awaited Tristan's reaction. It wasn't like the girl was going to be offended if her gift was a flop, but her Professor was a kind man so she had no doubt whatever his reaction of the gift he was not going to be rude. Yes, she always felt safe with him.

Just like everything I see

[TRISTAN GRAYSON OLLISTON]

Words: 539 | Tag: ELEANOR CORDELIA WORRALL
Notes:

Tristan was an American wizard who lived in Britain, he found a love here in the United Kingdom. Well... he didn't find it here but he found that he could continue what he made him happy here. He was back where his roots had begun. He taught a subject that was deep into his family's roots. He'd never understood it as well as, well, as Madeline, his younger sister who was a seer, but he understood everything else. He saw the day to day, he was more than qualified to be here at one of the oldest wizarding schools in the world, to teach something as delicate as Divination. Tristan knew that his subject was a joke among normal wizards, but he didn't do what he did for the normal wizards. He did it for those that liked the strange, or were a part of the strange. He'd lived his entire life through the strange and he loved it.

Tristan spoke with confidence when he taught his lessons. Confidence for him could sometimes come off a little more eccentric to others. It was because he enjoyed his time teaching, he always had.

The previous day had been his birthday, another year older. It seemed like yesterday he was turning seventeen and becoming an adult in the wizarding world, preparing for exams at Ilvermorny. He had received some gifts from his family back home, a few other professors gave him some things for lessons.

After this particular lesson he was greeted by one of his favorite students. She had slowly become family for him since they had met. A girl who was a seer. He smiled when she wished him a happy birthday. She produced a galaxy cloth rectangle tied together with a golden twine. He smiled as he carefully took it. ”Thank you Ellie,” he said with a smile. He carefully undid the twine and looked at the deck of Tarot cards. ”I've been in need of a new set of Tarot cards, my set is currently in the process of attempting to turn to dust,” he chuckled. He pulled the deck carefully out of their box and felt the new cards in his hand. He loved it.

”You listen well to my teachings,” he told her when she mentioned the seven nights under his pillow and his cards would never lie. It was something that he taught often. She always seemed to soak up his lessons. ”This will be going immediately under my pillow before bed tonight,” he told her with a wide grin. He sat down in a comfy armchair that he had near a fireplace in his classroom. This was a period of time where he had a decent amount of spare time.

”So Ellie, how's school for you? Getting ready for your O.W.L.s?” he asked her. Tristan had fairly high expectations for his N.E.W.T.s students. It wasn't that he tried to weed out his students, but it was at the same time. His N.E.W.T. classes were more oriented into one on one time to develop more, when his classes would be of only a small handful of students. He expected at least an E from O.W.L.s in his class to continue up to N.E.W.T. levels.

*template by Fiona Maccafferty of CTTW!

[ELEANOR CORDELIA WORRALL]

It was dark but somewhat pretty

TRISTAN GRAYSON OLLISTON , 418, shorter post sorry!

Ellie was beaming as Tristan opened his gift - and even more so when she saw how well it was received. She hadn't expected anything but a positive reaction from Tristan but that didn't mean she wasn't more than pleased when she got the reaction she wanted! "You are very welcome Professor! Every time I saw you using your cards I felt bad - though you can tell you have a well loved and used deck, it's more sad when they just sit forever waiting to be used..."

She got a little carried away in her thoughts but still the smile remained on her face. She had to giggle a little when Tristan mentioned she paid attention during his lectures - of course she was going to listen to what he was teaching. Divinations after all had been one of the most helpful subjects yet to the young witch.

"I do hope that they will read well for you, something about their druid depictions and runes just - it just seemed so fitting for you." Yes Ellie was clearly pleased with herself. How often did she have a day where she had this much right going for her? Not often it seemed. Ellie followed him over towards the fireplace but wasn't intent on sitting down, at least not yet - she had just sat for an entire class after all. Instead she wandered admiring all aspects of the room.

No matter how many times she was in this tower she always found something new catching her eye it seemed. What would it be today. Hearing his question Ellie turned around and looked to her teacher with her ever present smile. "Well, it would be nice if I took to all subjects like I do Divinations, I must admit it's a little intimidating knowing the O.W.L.s will be soon...I never have been too fond of studying."

It was difficult not to laugh at her own words. She had her own struggles in a few classes but she would be fine on her tests, so long as she kept up with her work and gave her best effort when the exams were administered. "Are you getting ready for all these test, sir? Maybe you should stock up on eye relief potions, for the strain they will have to endure when you proctor your exams" Young wizards could be rather creative in their attempts at cheating after all. All the teachers would be watching them like hawks searching for field mice.

Just like everything I see