Lessons in Legilimencey

Katrina-Carlotta didn't know how she'd ended up here, she really didn't. One moment she was minding her own business, well not really, and the next she was being dragged into teaching! Teaching, of all things! Katrina-Carlotta didn't know what the world was coming too. She was Germany's most revered assassin! Going off and joining the Death Eaters on a whim was one thing, but teaching a young girl Mind Arts?

And then, the outrage, the witch had been told that there would be another teacher as well! Katrina-Carlotta had just scoffed, as if this child could be good enough to need anything beyond her capabilities. Doubtful as it was, that they would be able to find someone better with the Magics of the Mind than herself. Yet here she stood, waiting in what locals called the Shrieking Shack, their designated meeting place. It was large, beat-up enough for them to not have to worry about possible damage, and near enough to Hogwarts without being inside the wards. Oh how Katrina-Carlotta had laughed at that, she would be teaching a Hogwarts student, how very quaint.

She truly hoped that the student would be at least borderline intelligent. If not, Katrina-Carlotta had decided she would just leave it to the other tutor. She, of course, wondered who the other teacher would be. Again, she hoped the person would at least have half a brain. If not, the witch would challenge them to a friendly duel, during which the head of her opponent would accidentally be cracked in half when coming in contact with the wall. On the off chance both were suitable companions, Katrina-Carlotta thought of all the things she and her teaching-partner could introduce this girl to. After all, her apprenticeship had been some of the best times of her life, why shouldn't she share with then next generation?

Her head snapped to the side, in the direction of the door, as she heard footsteps approaching. the woman didn't move, just waited, and watched as the door swung open.

The spring sunshine was keen to water down over the Scottish Highlands though at all times there was a threat of rain. It was not so different from the weather that danced across the Irish coast and though there was certainly less wind, Athena Rookwood felt ever so slightly homesick and she felt her mind turning to her husband and her sons, wondering what it was that they were doing now without her; all three no doubt up to no good.

But the weather was fine and fair, making her mood buoyant and leaving her feeling pleasantly optimistic for the day ahead. It was not as though it was raining cats and dogs, leaving her impatient and groggy with the damp. No, the sunshine was abundant and the wildlife that delved within the forest that flanked Hogsmeade seemed to enjoy a similar pleasure to the Wizardingfolk milling around.

Athena had arrived with an audible crack at the edge of the village an hour or so before she was due to meet her student and her fellow educator in the Shrieking Shack; an abominable place to try and teach mind magic. There was too much distraction, Athena felt, too much interference from the dead with the living. Yet she agreed, albeit testily, to attend but could not help but feel ever so slightly undermined by the other supposed teacher. Athena was far more competent in the art of mental magic than most - Apolline had seen to that – and to have a second opinion would no doubt try on her fragile nerves. Athena’s temper had not been improved by childbirth and in fact it had probably made her worse; the death of her mother-in-law exacerbating her impatience even further. Still, she remained optimistic about the day and did not voice her concerns – well, not just yet anyway.

A light breakfast was consumed in the Three Broomsticks while Athena waited for the allotted time and soon enough it came so with a last mouthful of coffee, the young witch clasped her cloak back around her shoulders and paid the barmaid before leaving the pub.

It didn’t take long for the Rookwood woman to happen upon the Shrieking Shack. She moved with ease up the path but trod carefully once in the rickety building, hesitant when climbing the staircase for fear it might collapse beneath her. In the end it took no time at all for her to reach the room and she opened it carefully, again cautious that the door would come away in her hands.

“Good day,” Athena greeted the woman conversationally when she entered; masking coolly her surprise that it was actually another woman. She noted the absence of the student and could not suppress a smirk – what did they expect? The child was probably abed still. Regardless, Athena made a show of looking at the watch clasped on her wrist before looking at the woman across from her. “It appears as though our little witch things we have all day.”

The Rookwood woman smiled easily before introducing herself. “I am Athena Rookwood.” She stressed her surname, communicating gently her allegiances as many old families did – often without even realising and Athena was one of them. She smiled again as though nothing were amiss, as though it wasn’t unsettling her being in the Shrieking Shack, and looked about, cringing at the way the floorboards creaked below her feet.

Katrina-Carlotta's mind was alight the second the other woman walked through the old door. By the lightness of the footsteps the dark witch had figured it would be her student, but it appeared be by the other instructor. The newcomer was a woman, young, but definitely an adult. Her posture was one of the first things Katrina-Carlotta noticed, it was the perfect posture that only the trained purebloods seemed to have. As Katrina-Carlotta continued her observations, she noted that the watch on her wrist looked to be adorned with a family crest, definitely a pureblood.

Wondering both how good this woman was at Mind Arts, and how she had come to learn them, Katrina-Carlotta turned to examine the woman's face. She was immediately struck by two things. The first was how tired those eyes were. Katrina-Carlotta couldn't tell if it was from a sleepless night or something else. The second thing, was the familiarity of that face. The elder witch was certain that they had met before, but wasn't positive where.

The speculating woman just nodded and smirked as the other made an off-hand comment about the time that insulted the student she'd never met. Katrina-Carlotta probably would have responded at any other time, but was too busy wracking her brain for a memory of that face. Had she ever been a costumer, back when she was doing assassination jobs? The dark witch didn't think so, this was starting to bother her.

Katrina-Carlotta threw back her head and let out a short laugh as the other woman introduced herself. Athena, of course! "Well if it isn't little Athena Rookwood all grown up," the youngest Du Hunt said lightly. She'd been apprenticing in Italy when Athena was just a little girl. They'd met a few times after Katrina-Carlotta's apprenticeship, the times when Athena had been in Hogwarts, but it had been at least five years. Besides, Athena must have been fifteen or sixteen last they met, and she had grown up quite a bit.

"I wont blame you if you don't remember my face," the mind specialist said seriously, "but I'm Katrina-Carlotta Du Hunt, I knew you quite well when you were young." It was a bit disconcerting to see someone that she still visualized as so much smaller than her, as an experienced adult. The elder woman brushed it off, she wouldn't let something like that effect her in any way. She was allowing herself to slip out of her professional mindset, that wasn't allowed.

"So how did you learn Mind Arts?" she asked sharply. Just because she knew the person, didn't mean she'd cut them any slack for not being up to par. The woman was overly-aware of how much softer she'd been at the age she interacted with the woman in front of her, it would be a challenge not to slip back into such familiarity. Katrina-Carlotta would refuse to allow herself that though. She was a much better person and witch now, stronger in almost every way. She would not act a fool.

With that, she turned towards the door, to wait for their student. Katrina-Carlotta smirked slightly, fully aware of how uncomfortable Athena would be in this environment. Even if not quite as spoilt as some, the woman would be used to her luxuries. Katrina-Carlotta was not a complete stranger to them either, would certainly be pleased to have them if the opportunity allowed, but did not need them by any means. Both her travels, and her life as an assassin had taught her that to be dependent on anything but yourself was a weakness. She fingered her wand slowly as she thought this. To be too comfortable could also be a distraction. Due to this, the woman would sleep in the woods at least once a month, to ensure her senses were still sharped.

Audrey held her black coat around herself firmly, and tried to focus on the click of her heels against the ground leading to the Shrieking Shack. She could only imagine what was inside, thinking back to the letter she'd received the day before.

My dearest Audrey,
It's my pleasure to inform you, your father has found teachers to tutor you in Mind Arts, as of tomorrow, 2 o'clock, at the Shrieking Shack. I'm sure you're aware of it's presents in Hogsmeade, and will take this opportunity seriously by showing up promptly. Keep in consideration the time your father and I have put into furthering your abilities, and make us proud.

All my love.

Audrey contained a scoff at the utter ridiculousness of this request, but found herself at the doorstep of the ancient house none the less. She knew better than to read the letter and assume it's meaning by the words. Her mother, the sweet heart, was trying to put "show up or your father will beat bloody hell out of you" into the best possible way. Audrey shrugged to herself and opened the creaking door, taking the stairs as quickly as possible without testing the aged wood to it's limits.

Down the hall, she heard the faint noise that startled her back into remembering exactly what she had come to learn, and her steps slowed ever so slightly. She didn't know what to think of any of this. It all seemed silly, spending this much effort on a sixteen year old's "ambitions". This was all just so the dark side had more advantages, but they had plenty of people trained in this, what would one more change? But of course, moments later, she found herself at the door that would lead her to find out.

Upon her entrance, she noted that the room before her was relatively bare, save for two women standing close to the middle, both of which looking like they were expecting something. Audrey cringed as she glanced at her watch. 2:05, and she knew she would never hear the end. She closed the door behind her and her steps sounded louder than ever as she continued into the room. Glancing around and then settling on the women before her, she nodded. She bit her lip, always a bit rough on introductions.

"I'm terribly sorry that I'm late." she settled on, with an apologetic smile. "I'm Audrey Montague."

Before Athena could answer her question, or respond to anything the elder witch had said, their student arrived. Katrina-Carlotta figured the slight delay in Athena's speech was likely due to her attempting to figure out what to say, or perhaps just absorbing the information given to her.

Katrina-Carlotta surveyed the girl for a second. A Montague, yet another pureblood. This country was so twisted, when would they learn that it was not blood that mattered, but power? Ah well, that was a problem for another day. It wasn't hard for Katrina-Carlotta to figure out that this girl, her new student, didn't want to be here. That would be a problem. Because of the nature of Mind Arts, if one didn't want to learn them, it would be incredibly hard to force yourself to. It caused your brain to literally fight itself, allowing nothing to get done. The dark witch considered sending the girl away, but decided against such a rash action for now.

"Hello Audrey Montague, I am Katrina-Carlotta Du Hunt and next to me is Athena Rookwood," Katrina-Carlotta said, absently wondering if the young girl would recognize her name, it was doubtful. "While I cannot speak for Athena, I can speak for myself in that I am one of the most advanced Mind Arts practitioners in Europe," she informed the young witch factually. It was true, the witch had killed the only person she'd ever met who was better than her, an old French wizard. "I am considered a Master, Mistress if you like, in all three mind-related magics. However you, young Montage, do not wish to be here. Why?" The woman kept her face straight as she spoke, even though she desperately wanted to smirk.

That was the way to do it, she figured. Impress and shock the young girl, and then call her out. If she was desperate, the Du Hunt heir figured she could always see if the girl knew occulumency, pluck the answer from her brain and call it training.

Katrina-Carlotta turned to Athena, wondering what her thoughts on their student were, and giving her a moment to speak up, if the other woman wished to.

The decrepit room that surrounded Athena was oddly cosy and it appeared as though once upon a time it would have housed some rather wealthy individuals; though those days were long gone. Athena reached for one of the walls absent-mindedly, smoothing back a curled, faded and water damaged piece of wallpaper, fitting it in line with the rest that stubbornly clung to the walls which seemed to move with the shuddering house that should have been reduced to its foundations decades ago. Athena could picture children galloping about in the rooms, trailing wooden trains with their characters strung together using string behind them as they gave great hollers having sighted a werewolf stalking through the woods or something of the like. A chandelier would have looked so pretty too with winter’s twilight misting through the windows. It was such a shame, the house; such a waste.

The floorboards below the two women gave a low, guttural groan and instinctively, Athena drew her wand from the sheath she kept strapped to her forearm; both for practicality and to keep the Dark Mark concealed from prying eyes. She kept her cloak wrapped up close to her body, concealing the wand from general view, and she eyed the door before looking over her shoulder at the woman. Of course, Athena remembered. She had not been naive, even as a child. She’d understood power and where it placed itself; what Athena loathed was the arrogance of presumption. She had loathed it in her father, her step-mother and many of those in the family she had married into; though in this case she did not let her irritation spark and instead quelled it by focusing on the door, awaiting it to open.

When it did, Athena was pleased to find a Slytherin rather than any other little chit. Of course, Athena herself had spoken at length with a handful of Montagues before accepting their request that she help educate their daughter. Athena didn’t care to put much effort into the education of the girl. The other witch would see to that. She wanted to, after all. Athena was more interested in seeing how the little witch worked and wondered if she would actually be at all proficient at the infuriatingly subtle way that normal methods of Leglimency were employed. Of course that wasn’t to say that Athena could not harness such magic. No, she could and did but she was loathe to use it for she preferred the more destructive methods that were used torturously.

Athena bristled a little as she was introduced by Katrina, ever so slightly offended that the woman took such liberties. Athena refrained from spouting her birthright and her place in Pureblood heraldry as was customary for many when offended. Athena did well to remember that though much of what she would say would be uttered in truth, certain aspects of her story had to be taken into consideration. She was a Goyle, importantly, the first of her name and married, becoming a Rookwood, the only son and heir of Augustus, forth son of Raghnall. That meant nothing of course, not to Katrina and possibly not to Audrey; the latter of whom was too young to understand and the former who was too European to truly care. Athena said nothing, turning her head back towards the window, quelling her temper.

“Because she’s sixteen years old,” Athena filled in dryly, as though she were bored. “She’s also stood in a house that by rights should have fallen down at least a century ago with two strangers who aren’t entirely trustworthy and she’s most likely also to get a chill so I do not think it is too much of a wonder why she doesn’t want to be here. You do not need Leglimency to work that out.” Athena crossed her arms over her chest. “Stand up straighter,” She told the girl before deciding: “Teach her Occlumency first; or is it re-educate? You’re mind is like a sieve, girl.”

Katrina-Carlotta had figured that she and Athena could get along. Perhaps the woman had assumed this because she'd known Athena when she was young and naïve, or because she'd held her when they were both much younger than the two were now. However, Katrina-Carlotta found herself reevaluating her previous thoughts. She had been aware the other woman would be offended after being introduced without permission. That move had also made out that Katrina-Carlotta was the one in charge and the more powerful of the two. This was correct, of course, Katrina-Carlotta had spent more years than Athena had been alive learning of power and the dark arts. Athena had no true way of knowing this though, and so would likely be displeased with her.

The right side of her lips turned up as Athena began to answer the question Katrina-Carlotta had directed at their student. The woman was anything but pleased, however. The witch had been talking the girl into a trap, a test of sorts. Athena had just given the young girl the perfect route out. Not only that, but Athena had also insulted Katrina-Carlotta's observational skills, and then ordered her to teach the girl Occlumency. Simply ordered her, as if Athena was far above her! The woman relaxed herself with the thought that if she and Athena had dueled, Athena wouldn't have a chance of winning.

"Oh little Athena, at sixteen I had already learnt both Occlumency and Legilimency. In fact, I have a rather fond memory of my sixteenth summer in which you managed to get ice-cream all over your face, and then insisted upon spending the rest of the day drooling yourself to sleep on my lap," Katrina-Carlotta announced with her hands clasped together, the undertone of spite purposely undisguised. It was true, her sixteen year-old self had been rather fond of the adorable toddler Athena, she'd never imagined herself throwing the memory back in the younger woman's face.

Turning to the girl, Katrina-Carlotta spoke again, "Madam Rookwood is right that you don't trust us, you have no reason to. This must change if you want to learn anything, your mind will rebel against us otherwise. I suggest we spend today getting to know you and your current capabilities." The dark witch wasn't going to coddle her student, but she needed the girl to trust her. Frankly, the woman had always been able to trust honest teachers far more than any other type, so that would be her approach, "if you are cold, I suggest a warming charm."

Katrina-Carlotta wondered what the Hogwarts student thought of them. She would almost certainly recognize Athena's name, and just an examination of the other witch could tell even the most unobservant of her bloodlines. The Du Hunt, on the other hand, was dressed in expensive black robes, designed for movement with just a subtle embroidery. She wore no jewelry or baubles purposely. Such things could get in the way during a fight, and attachments towards any item became a weakness that could be used by an enemy. Merlin knows that she'd done something similar often enough. She also wondered what her student would make of her accent, it was a light mix of Russian and German that she had purposely never gotten rid of. It created an air of mystery, and was useful for when people attempted to track her as, before her move to England, she'd lived in Italy. It tended to throw people off, Katrina-Carlotta had always been a fan of doing that.

Audrey looked slightly taken aback, and straightened her posture as she'd been taught to in the presence of respected elders. The young girl felt the pride in her two mentors, as it usually is in powerful pureblood women, though she tried to steer as far from those thoughts as possible. The air in the room they'd chosen to meet in had grown cold and thick with the slight flares of tension, but Audrey didn't waver from her usual blunt attitude. She refused to let anything shock her here.

Letting a smirk play at her lips when Athena Rookwood voiced her opinion on why Audrey didn't want to be here, she had figured that Katrina-Carlotta had questioned her as some sort of display of power, but that had been so beautiful played off by the other woman that it hardly needed a further answer. Audrey battled her overwhelming honesty and decided to leave it as the simple answer provided for her. She fully realized the obvious fury of Katrina, but hardly found it something worth curing.

Audrey tilted her head at her instructors, after their catty conversation had come to a slight close. Audrey found the whole thing rather ridiculous. They were years her senior, but still treating each other like students. Let alone the fact that Katrina's insult would barely faze most, let alone an adult of any self respect, though it was good to note that they had previously known eachother, a curious fact that Audrey would revisit another time. Still, she respected her elders, and let the conversation slide, assuming it was just the tension of the meeting. "I have a small knowledge of Legilimency, and I'm practicing learning to control my Empathy. I don't know much about Occlumency as of now." she said, deciding if they were to teach her anything, they might as well know the truth. This time, directing herself at Katrina, "I assure you, anything you want to know you need only ask. I know well enough to not lie to someone mastering in Mind Arts, and I have no reason to lie anyway." she commented.

Being in the same room with these witches, she felt herself taking off of their feelings slightly. More and more she felt the want to learn the things she'd been brought here for. On any other day, she might say the same, but she had never wanted to use it for the same reasons her family wanted her to learn it. None the less, she kept her head tall as she felt the scrutiny in her direction. "Thank you, but I rather enjoy the cold. I'd be happy to continue whenever it suits the two of you." she said, bowing her head respectfully. She was curious what the ladies would want to learn of her.

The Goyle temper was famed and the cause of many periods of exile in which the matriarchs sat and enjoyed mindless pursuits while the males stormed and idled and grew irritated with the placidness of their mothers, sisters and wives. It was a temper that had gotten Athena in to trouble and her father before her and his father before him; it was something totally unavoidable and completely unmistakable. It was perhaps one of the main reasons why Athena held the runic-numeric number in her skin, emblazoned across her flesh, giving details of her crime her sentence and her cell. Of course, Apolline had known how to press her step-daughter and Athena had responded in kind. The woman maintained that what happened was deserving of Apolline and was in a strange way oddly grateful for the kindness that one particular witch showed her and the situations that exploded in the wake of what even Athena would admit to calling a catastrophic mistake. However now, Athena measured her temper and distracted herself with the goings-on in the village below. She would not rise to it, she told herself. Or, well, she’d try.

“I too,” Athena commented carelessly, stepping closer to the window, observing more closely some sort of altercation between ... ah, yes, of course: a Death Eater and an Order crone. Athena’s eyebrows rose a little at the anecdote Katrina felt the need to share with the room. Her first thought that no doubt Kendall would’ve enjoyed such a story had he been there and Athena could already envision the smirk he’d wear. Her second thought was that in reaction to Katrina’s words and Athena brought her hand to her cheek, rubbing her fingers across her cheekbone before letting it drop. That particular evening had coveted Athena’s distaste for her step-mother and though Katrina perhaps had not been privy to what had gone on, Athena did feel a little scorned that the woman had seen to remind her of it.

Athena turned a little at the girl’s admissions but tempered the surprise she wore on her face. “An Empath?” Athena’s eyes flicked over to Katrina, curious to see what the other woman thought of the situation. “They are supposed to be rarer than unicorns willingly giving their blood. Do you speak with a false tongue or did Graham Montague finally produce something worthwhile?” Athena sincerely doubted that the girl was an Empath. Athena had met only one other in her life and it was a mere girl, like Audrey, one who had captured Athena’s attention and, certainly, that of her father-in-law’s. This girl seemed coyly aware of her abilities, something which Athena did not see in the other Empath. “Tell me, what is it that makes you sure of your abilities there?”

The Rookwood woman quirked an eyebrow at the girl’s preference to the cold but Athena could not help but disagree. Removing her wand, she flicked it in the direction of the fireplace that stood as the focal point of what was left of the room. Flames ignited out of seemingly nothing within the hearth and warmth that Athena was infinitely grateful for spread through the room. It did not do much but it certainly took the edge off of the house’s iciness and for that Athena was glad. She threw up a shield around the fireplace as an added precaution, just in case the house wanted to go up in smoke and wouldn’t with the spell in place. Settled, Athena put her wand back in her pocket and looked to Katrina. She could take it from there.

Katrina-Carlotta watched as Audrey spoke. The woman allowed a genuine small smile to curl upon her lips. Perhaps the endeavor would not be a waste of everyone's time. The girl was watching them, summing up and observing their reactions. From what she knew of the Hogwarts houses, the dark witch would pin this girl as a Slytherin, perhaps a cunning Ravenclaw. When the girl mentioned Empathy, Katrina-Carlotta allowed her head to tilt back in realization. The woman had felt some foreign magic about the girl, but had been unable to pinpoint it. An Empath, how completely fascinating.

The dark witch took a moment to consider how this would affect the Montague's training. If anything, it might make it slightly easier for her to learn. The tension in the room had to be interesting for the student, however. They would also have to take into account that the moods of everyone involved may very well effect how successful each lesson became.

Katrina-Carlotta watched in amusement as Athena immediately doubted the student's words. The girl had just admitted that she was not unintelligent enough to lie, perhaps Katrina-Carlotta had made a mistake in riling the other witch as far as she had. The amusement remained as Athena lit the fireplace of the old mansion. Purebloods and their comforts would never fail to amuse her.

Still interested in the unexpected ability of the young witch, Katrina-Carlotta approached the girl, holding out a hand, "May I?" the dark-haired witch asked, before placing a cool hand on the side of her student's neck. The woman purposely tilted both her head and eyes down and to the left, hoping to put the girl at ease since her aim was not to read her mind for truths.

The European was trying to get a feel for the Montague's magic. It was an odd talent that she'd learned long ago, but still wasn't particularly skilled at. It had been explained to her that magic was like faces. With enough examination, they could be recognized anywhere. There were some who could tell when a person was in disguise, due to the signature of their magic, but Katrina-Carlotta was hardly that good. She just wanted to know what an Empath felt like, for if she were to ever stumble across one in future. Indeed there was a difference to the magic of this girl, like how those who used Mind Arts were different, but more subtly so. She had no doubt of this girl's ability when she took removed her hand from the young girl's skin ten seconds later. The only mystery was why Athena was so shocked that Audrey Montague had this power, was the girl not a true Montage?

"An Empath indeed," Katrina-Carlotta stated aloud, only partially for Athena's benefit. Spotting an old armchair against the wall, the woman cast quick dust removal and strengthening charms, before crossing the room and throwing herself down on it. There were times for grace, and the woman didn't consider this one of them. "So Miss Montague, I presume this little ability of yours will affect your learning of Mind Arts. While I could guess, do you have any idea how your learning will be affected, or is that something the three of us will have to figure out together?" the woman said in the direction of the youngest witch.