Dresden Academy

Who: Anastas and Valentin de Kooning, Dr. Dawkins
What: Dawkins picks a schedule for Stas, Val acts as translator
Where: Dr. Dawkins' office
When: Evening, December 2nd
Rating: SFW

Of all the offices he'd been shunted in and out of since making his decision to attend Dresden, this was the tidiest. The walls were clean, mostly bare except for the various framed degrees and one very abstract painting hanging behind the desk. The man sitting just under that painting was bald, though he wore a scant beard and moustache. He was wearing a gray suit with a pale blue bowtie.

He introduced himself as Dr. Nathaniel Dawkins.

Val sat beside Anastas and served as translator. He'd been doing it so much, he wondered if maybe he wouldn't end up sitting next to his brother in classes come January.

"Anastas de Kooning," Dawkins said by way of introducing himself. "Valentin, it's good to see you again."

Val nodded. He'd only had to explain about their family situation once and that was to the headmistress. Everyone else seemed filled in and stopped questioning why he had taken responsibility for his brother. He was also pleased that Dawkins remembered him; he'd only graduated from Dresden a few years prior.

"I've reviewed your transcripts from Blue Ridge and I think I've managed to sort out which classes would best conclude your education here." Dawkins passed a piece of paper to Anastas and Valentin leaned over to translate.

Defense Against The Dark Arts, Astronomy, Charms, Wandless, Advanced Transfiguration II, and Advanced Potions II. He must have chosen the advanced classes based on Anastas' study at Blue Ridge.

He was pleased enough with the schedule, but for Charms sticking out like a sore thumb among his interests. "Ask him about dropping charms," Stas poked at his brother in Russian.

"My brother's curious about preempting charms for wandless."

"Ah yes. I had scheduled him for both, but that could change. Is there a particular reason why he'd rather not take charms?" Dawkins asked.

"He just preferred wandless," Val answered. Some things he didn't need to discuss with Stas again; they'd already been over his expectations for the next semester. "I showed him the brochure for the electives and the only ones that really caught his interest were Combative Magic and Art."

Dawkins nodded, took the schedule back and made two quick notes on it. He was rather pleased to see that Anastas might explore his artistic side some more. "I'll mail you a revised schedule before the semester begins. Did you have any other questions or concerns?"

Val translated again and Stas frowned. "Just the language barrier thing," he answered simply. He didn't pick up much of what anyone had said to him today, though admittedly he was a touch overwhelmed by the whole situation. Office to office, shaking hands, meeting with various faculty and staff. That conversation with Mother Criss threatened to derail him entirely.

Thankfully they'd done most of their touring while classes were in session and he hadn't run into any students. Mostly he was having three way conversations with adults and his brother. Val understood just how tired he was of the process. His physical therapy had him back in better shape, but he still became easily fatigued if overstressed.

"We're still a little concerned about how well his English is progressing," Val said simply.

Dr. Dawkins nodded. "Yes, that's been a concern of mine as well. We could potentially assign him a translator, but I'm afraid you'd have to pay their salary."

Val sighed heavily at that. He might just better volunteer to do it himself rather than pay someone else. He was already paying the freelance translator Leif for English lessons; the problem with hiring him for more work was that Leif was a muggle and knew nothing of the wizarding world. "We'll continue to work on it," he assured Dawkins with a futile glance to Stas. He could explain their position later; maybe it would jump start Stas to try harder.

Anastas understood more of this than he expected and he knew exactly what that glance from Val meant. It was probably the only sticky spot in his acceptance to Dresden. That and the fact that he still hadn't spoken to any of his friends at Blue Ridge about his sudden disappearance after spring break.

There is unfinished business all around me. He forced a rare smile for Dr. Dawkins. "No questions more," he tried in English.

Val nodded, pleased to see Stas speaking English for the first time all day. "I think we're all set," he added.

Dr. Dawkins reached across the desk and shook their hands. He had managed to place the boy in some challenging classes, comparable to what Anastas had been studying when he was forced to leave school. It worried him though, because he'd read everything else that came in the rather large file along with his transcripts. On paper he wasn't very much like his brother, the responsible and well behaved Valentin.

Anastas de Kooning was a troubled young man. This could be a fresh start or it could be a fresh disaster. From this point forward it was mostly out of Dawkins' hands. Then again, Dresden was all about second chances. Dawkins had just set up several second chances (and one very last chance) during the course of the day in scheduling the university students. He watched Anastas and his brother leave, both young men ready for some rest after their long and probably anxiety ridden day at Dresden.

Stas turned to his brother in the hallway. "Do you really think I can do this?"

Val noticed that Stas hadn't said should or expressed any kind of doubt about attending school in the spring. This was something else, a kind of hesitance about his ability to get some good out of Dresden. "I think you have to."

Stas smiled because he understood every single word. He clapped his brother on the back. "To hotel?"

"Yeah. Let's go to the hotel. I don't know about you, but I'm ready for a nap."