Harder to hide

On the one hand, being inside made it MUCH easier to get these things up. On the other, it meant the chances of being caught went up dramatically. Selwyn slunk towards the Defence classroom as silently as his feet would allow; he wanted to get this poster up right over the classroom door. Or better! Across the gap between the door and the jamb.

First though, he concentrated on sticking up a few to the walls around the classroom. This new warning sign read next five yards, so Selwyn made sure to add posters for a bit of space in either direction of the door. He didn't know what five yards what exactly, but he thought it was a good guess.

Then, finally, he had his opportunity. Casting his sticking charm first to the back of the poster, he was ready to stick it firmly in place beneath the plate that declared this the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom.

Mathias was wandering the corridors of the third floor, when he heard a small noise near the region of the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. His curiosity piqued, Mathias decided to investigate. The first thing Mathias saw, was the sign.

"Patronus next 5 yards..." Mathias read aloud, his face lighting up in delight.

"You seem a little young for giving lessons," Mathias said, turning to Selwyn, "but I must say..what a FABULOUS way to announce a lesson! Every student around will be clamoring for their DADA lessons in the morrow! Can't say I recall Ms. Prophet announcing that she'd have a student teaching, though..."

Mathias watched Selwyn from the corners of his eyes. He always appreciated a good prank, but the sign of a good prankster was not getting caught. Perhaps he could impose that lesson on this young lad gently.

Who the hell was this bloke and why was he wandering around Hogwarts all skeezy-like? Selwyn turned, gave the would-be professor a shifty look and went back to his charming work.

Unfortunately, the skeezer just wouldn't quit. He immediately began with exclamations of joy about learning how to cast a patronus. Selwyn rolled his eyes, while keeping them on his work so the dude wouldn't see just how pathetic he was. Didn't he know anything? Like, for example, that this castle had been invaded by Death Eaters at least five times in the last three years and almost everyone who wasn't a first year could already cast a fully formed patronus?

Work done, Selwyn spun around, ready to face his... new fan? Wow, he hadn't had one of those since fifth year. Maybe it was time to get some new blood in.

"Well, you know, Jamie's so busy, she probably hasn't had time for something so trivial as that announcement," he replied easily.

Seeing the skeezer's face, he realised it wasn't what he thought - some decrepit professor trying to act up to date and fashionable. It was actually someone relatively young. Why oh, why did Hogwarts keep hiring young idiots? Odds were this dude had only walked past the Defence Classroom so he could "coincidentally" run into Jamie in the first place. Double skeezer.

"Ah, well," Mathias replied, fishing around in his pockets, "I must confess that I do not converse with miss Prophet very often. I imagine she is off with Mr. D'Eath somewhere. They do seem to get along quite famously, after all..."

Mathias suddenly withdrew his hand from his robes, pulling out a deck of cards with a flourish.

"Aha!" he exclaimed, waving the cards in the air, "Knew I had them hidden in here somewhere!"

Mathias dropped cross-legged right there on the floor, looking happily up at Mr. Thorfinn. He truly relished it when made someone's day memorable....even if it may not be in the most positive light. Mathias began to spread the cards in an arch on the floor in front of him, using his left hand.

"How about a fortune for the young man?" he said as he did this, "These cards can tell your future when read correctly. What do you say to a reading?"

Selwyn scuffed his foot through the dude's so carefully laid out cards.

"I say yer dreamin'" he replied derisively.

With his job done and this freak harmless for now, he dug his hands into his pockets and walked off down the hallway, whistling tunelessly.

Frowning, Mathias collected his cards. Normally, he would merely ignore such rudeness and cheek, preferring to keep his life simple. However, he supposed that he should probably correct such behavior since he had taken on the responsibility of being a professor...even if only a substitute.

"Young man," Mathias called out to him, rising to his feet; cards stacked sloppily in his hand, "Now I very well could have given you detention right away for posting unauthorized signs...I suppose one could even call it a graffiti of sorts, but I had decided to take it easy. I enjoy a prank as much as the next person. I will not; however, put up with blatant disrespect towards a teacher, even if that teacher is me."

Mathias put on his childish smile again, his eyes flashing.

"Besides, you messed up my completely fool-proof plan of gently chiding you for being caught. My dear boy, if you are going to misbehave, at least do a good enough job so you are not apprehended at the scene!"

The problem with whistling, was there was only so loud you could go. He reverted to humming in order to drown out the teacher's words and sped up his pace concurrently.

Only a couple of yards ahead, the corridor ended abruptly with a set of polished wooden bannisters.

I'll show you a scene.

Mathias followed Selwyn readily down the corridor, though not quite knowing exactly what he was aiming to do. Discipline was not really his cup of tea. He'd be like the dog who finally caught the car....once he caught it, he would have not idea what to do with it.

For now, he merely followed, his wand securely in his pocket; though, his tarot cards were still clenched haphazardly in his hands. He saw that the corridor ended only a few yards up, and Mathias began to fervently search his mind for exactly what he should say. This new responsibility thing was a bit wearying.