Ancient Recollections [Open]

Lucia was walking through the castle, reminiscing her time when she was a student. It wasn't a very long time ago, but it still felt like a lifetime. Her biggest worries through that time had been if she was going to pass her Ancient Runes exam. A small shudder went through her, remembering how poor she had been at the subject. Yet, somehow, she managed to pass with an A.

Lucia hadn't been the best student, but neither had she been the worst. She hadn't failed any of her exams, but, if she remembered correctly, she had only managed three O's, of which was in Defense Against the Dark Arts, Transfiguration and Herbology. She had been very excited back then. And she was now as well, given that the O in Herbology gave her the position as the Herbologist at Hogwarts.

Becoming a professor had never been her plan, but then, something changed in the blink of an eye, and changed her life and what she thought about it. Teaching suddenly became very attractive.

In her random stroll, she suddenly found herself in the Great Hall and her eyes fell on the door behind the staff table that would lead to the Trophy Room. She hadn't set foot in that place since her sixth year, having been caught by the caretaker with a fellow Gryffindor, some paint and crazy ideas. How much fun pranking had been at that time.

She reached the door and opened it, having thought it was a heavy door, and putting her weight behind it. However, the door wasn't nearly as heavy as she had remember it to be, and she anything but blasted it off its hinges. "Ops," she mumbled, a grin spreading on her face.

Then she noticed the presence of another person. A professor. She didn't know if she was happy that it was a professor and not a student, but she figured it was better. After all, if she was to teach here, it would be rather hard to hide her clumsiness.

"Professor Umbranox," she said pleasantly, having not had the opportunity to meet him before now.

Lucia smiled at him. "That's correct," she said with a smile, hearing his small break before saying her name, "But please, call me Lucia." She felt old when adults called her professor. It was too ... formal.

At first, she was a bit unsure of what he meant, and then her mind switched over to the threat of the Dark Ones. Her joyous smile softened to a solemn one, and she sighed. The thought of the looming threat brought nothing but irritation to her otherwise happy mind. She couldn't believe how people wanted to deal so much damage to others. But unfortunately not everyone could be as naïve and gullible as her.

"I'm glad you see it that way. But it could simply be due to my lack of self-preservation and my extreme need to see the good in everyone. And I might just be stupid," she said lightly with a shrug. But her friends had tried to get her out of taking a job at Hogwarts. They did everything they could to convince her of how bad an idea it was.

But Lucia stood firm. She knew that education was important, and she knew that the society was more important than the threat of evil people. She knew she was putting herself in harm's way, but it was an important job, and she was really glad she was here again.

"How long have you been working here?" she asked curiously.