Where the Streets Have No Name [Bren]

[Professor Florence Jane Law]

Finally, Florence was about to settle into her dream job. The job that, according to her former Heads of Hogwarts, she was going to take over eventually.

The position of Muggle Studies professor was just waiting to be claimed, and she knew that unless she screwed up somewhere in her application, she wasn't getting the job. Overall, she seemed pretty confident. Cocky, maybe, but more confident than that. However, she was also nervous as ever.

What happens if I don't get the job? My husband's going to be so depressed. I could go back to the Ministry of Magic, but what good is that going to do? Train a new intern and have them ultimately take the job soon enough? Bah.

She stared at the salad that she had gotten at some no-name pub in the Alley, poking at the greens with her fork. Somehow, it didn't seem as appetizing as she had intended it to be. Her fate wasn't in her hands anymore, and she hoped to God that somehow, people saw that her dedication in the field of Muggles was enough to get her that dream job.

[Sorry if it sucks. I'm working on that application.]

[Professor Brendan Daylor]

Time had been taking over as it seemed to Brendan. Already it was getting closer and closer to the start of Term and he had yet to find more teachers. With McGonagall stepping down the Ministry had decided to allow Brendan the right to reinstate teachers and hire new ones which was a big worry to him. Having to be the new headmaster of Hogwarts he was panicking trying to find a way to fill the positions. He managed to get most of the teacher's their jobs back but some, like McGonagall, had retired due to old age. His big worry was Muggle Studies. It had been one of the few jobs that was the hardest to find employment to.

Many wizards just don't seem to find the subject interesting enough to teach. Not that I'm complaining, but what am I going to do? Brendan thought long and hard on how to go about to finding the right teacher for the position. Somebody who didn't mind muggles or was perhaps muggle-born themselves. That would be even better he thought. Since the war even as a previous teacher he noticed it hard to keep a Muggle Studies teacher as many lost interest in the subject and demanded a new position. He thought the only reason they kept the job was because most wizards can only call Hogwarts truly their home. He did.

He walked down the streets of Diagon Alley looking at all the applications he carried along with him. He had no time to sit in his study as it was so quiet and term was yet to start. Probably not a good thing for a headmaster to be doing but what did he care. Bren had his own methods. Rushing through all positions were applied for except the muggle studies except one. Florence Jane Law he saw written across the paper. She sounded familiar. Suddenly Brendan looked to his left. Down the street he saw an old woman sitting alone outside a pub. Perhaps that might be her. He rushed towards her and noticed that he had seen her before. He thought that if he could get an interview in today, he could fill the position before start of term. That is, if she knew enough of the subject. It was worth a shot.

"Mind if I sit?"

((It's alright. Practice makes perfect.))

[Professor Florence Jane Law]

Florence continued to poke at the greens sitting on the plate in front of her. She had never taken stressful situations well, and the mere thought of something as important as a job of all things was making her nerves act up on her. She decided against eating the salad and moved on to a lovely chicken noodle soup in a bowl. Wasn't soup good for stomach aches? It might have been if it wasn't caused by nerves, but it tasted good regardless.

Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted a man walking down the street. A younger man, dark hair. Florence wasn't sure what he was doing with all of the students; but maybe there was something up with him that caused him to be out with the shoppers and their families. He had a stack of papers, she observed, and once he noticed her sitting outside of the pub, he started walking over to her. Who is this man, and what does he want with me?

He asked Florence if he could sit down, and Florence extended her arm out. "By all means, go right ahead," she commented, awaiting whatever it was that he had to ask of her.

[Professor Brendan Daylor]

Brendan sat down across from the woman. Still a little shaky, he was nervous about this more than she may have been if she knew what was coming. He really needed to fill this position before the start of term. She seemed oblivious as to who he was, no shocker there. He set the papers on the table and began shuffling through them again as he lost the paper. Finally he found it and shoved the rest of the papers away with his wand into his robe. He set the paper down and looked up at Florence.

"Pardon me miss Law but let me introduce myself first. My name is Brendan Daylor. I am the new headmaster at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and I am here on the behalf of your application for the position as the Muggle Studies professor here at our school. I take it you are still interested?"

He read through the application one more time before looking back up. He tried to act as professional as possible towards her. She seemed way older than him and he didn't need a bad first impression. He waited patiently for a reply. Hopefully she would still take the position. If he could fill the slot Hogwarts would be soon enough ready to start term. Brendan sighed underneath his breath. This could be hard or easy, his biggest fear was that he was afraid that the Ministry of Magic would revoke him from headmaster. He wanted to impress the minister for one, but most of all he needed to prove to Minerva McGonagall that she made a wise choice for the new headmaster.

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((OOC: Sorry it's a bit off in the last paragraph. I was rushed. I kinda attempted to make it better.))

[Professor Florence Jane Law]

This man seems kind of nervous. I don't know why, but I wouldn't blame him if it was for something important...

Florence watched as the man, now sitting down and introducing himself as the Headmaster of Hogwarts, looked at the application she sent in intently. She was amused that he would know who she was, but she didn't want to question his knowledge and sat back in her seat.

"Of course, I'm still interested," she replied, knowing that one dumb statement could blow her chances of getting the job. "The whole culture of Muggles and their resources have been a passion of mine since I attended the school myself. To know that my knowledge of the subject can help your students advance in life is appealing. The Misuse of Muggle Artifacts department at the Ministry has longed for someone to take over my role."

It was obvious that the woman was rambling on. It also seemed as though she was bragging just a slight bit. But what she had said was true.

Her life since graduating from Hogwarts was Muggles and their lives. It helped that her parents were muggles, and it also helped that her five years of Muggle Studies at Hogwarts were some of the best hours of her life. In fact, Florence thought that there couldn't have been another person in the wizarding world who was more passionate about the subject than she was.

"So," Florence asked, leaning forward and putting her elbows on the table. "Where would you like to start?"

[Professor Brendan Daylor]

Brendan listened very carefully as the woman explained her interests in muggles and their culture and how the live. The whole subject he could tell seemed very fascinating to her. It was real amusing to listen how in depth she was with the subject. It kind of reminded him of his love for transfiguration as well. Just the subject alone was magical enough for him. The ability to transform an object or person into another object was amazing. Sadly, he would not be able to teach the subject this year which bummed him more than anything, but still Muggle Studies was as of the importance right now.

Where would Brendan like to start? That was a very good question he thought. Where would he like to start. It already seemed like this woman knew almost all there was to know about muggles. Of course he grew up in a neighborhood with some and being a half-blood meant he was partially muggle himself. Even if he had muggle blood in him he definitely knew he could not compete with this woman even to save his life. Muggle Studies obviously seemed the right position for Florence Jane Law.

"Well," he started. "It seems you know a lot about muggles Miss Law. Very fascinating, your knowledge, it is very intriguing to hear you talk about the subject ma'am. I'm very intrigued indeed. Now tell me did you previously work at the Ministry of Magic? You mentioned the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts department. Did they fire you or did you just decide to work at Hogwarts instead?" Brendan ordered a drink from the waiter that walked by as he spoke to the woman. He wanted to know all he could about her before making his final decision. It would not be wise to hire an undercover death eater as a professor, not that he wouldn't notice. The woman seemed to have more wisdom than he originally thought

[Professor Florence Jane Law]

Florence started to feel a bit more comfortable about the interview as it slowly progressed. In the back of her mind, however, the statement that she made to open it did sound kind of farfetched and long-winded. She didn't mean to go that long without letting the Headmaster get a word in edgewise, but it wasn't as though she meant to say something as long as that to begin with. She reached over to her diet soda and took a sip of it, then spoke up.

"Oh, no; I didn't get fired," she said, making sure she emphatically reminded Brendan that she hadn't done something stupid. "I worked in the Ministry for the longest time. It was just that I was looking to do better things, and that the head of the floor thought that I was perfect for the job at Hogwarts. I had originally been an intern for two years prior to this discussion, and I joined the team full time not too long after that. I had my life all squared away at that point in time, but..."

It made sense for her to note that it wasn't a firing that was the reason for her departure. But there was something else that she didn't want to announce to Brendan just yet. It wasn't a firing that was getting to her; never was fired from the job to begin with. But she didn't want to tell him that she had left the Ministry on an uneven ground.

[Professor Brendan Daylor]

Brendan was quite intrigued with the fact that Florence had worked before at the Ministry of Magic. Perhaps if he hired somebody with a work history from there he wouldn't receive as much criticism as he expected. No, he told himself, I must do this right. No moving around it. I've got to do this right. I can't hire her just because of her previous work. Oh why is this so hard? Brendan sat there listening to her as she went on. She may be a good thing for the school though. The more experience in the field, just maybe.

"Wow, miss Law this is just extraordinary. Amazing at the least. With experience like that it seems almost perfect for you to join us at Hogwarts. I've had enough trouble with the Ministry already. They seem to think I can't handle a school such that size. Because I'm young and it would make parents 'worry about if their children are safe with me running the school.' Honestly its a reasonable decision, but thankfully McGonagall stands by my side all the way.

"I don't want to hire you just because you've worked with the Ministry just so you know. What I'm looking for is someone who knows what they are teaching. Someone who can describe the difference between wizard teaching and muggle teaching. Someone who can teach the students about the religions of muggles and why they support them. There are many differences between us and the muggles. It's quite a complicated process at first, but I believe if taught well the students can manage. Can you handle all that?"

Brendan finished his drink and brushed his hand through his hair. It was the longest interview he's done but it seemed right. The more he could learn about the woman who might possibly start working with him, the more he can trust her. She seemed wise and if she can handle teaching seven-years of students then she could handle almost anything. Brendan looked down at his list of current positions filled. He had not assigned any heads of houses either. This would be a main problem coming up. Before term would even start he would have to make sure there was a head for each house. Still, as he watched the woman sitting across from him, it felt as though there was something she wasn't telling him. Curious, he was.

[Professor Florence Jane Law]

"I'm sure McGonagall believes that you can do this. The fate of the school is in your hands, and even though they passed the torch to someone of your age, that doesn't mean that the school is going to crumble under pressure." Florence knew about cracking under pressure after a few experiences at the Ministry, but she overcame them and grew stronger. And she knew that if Brendan could overcome any challenges that were in front of him, he'd grow stronger and become the Headmaster that McGonagall wanted out of him to begin with.

When Brendan told her about the lesson plan that he had in mind, the older woman eyed him intently. She had a few lessons lined up in front of her to begin with, but any suggestions for other lessons would help. She already had Muggle civilizations of the past, famous Muggle dignitaries from around the world... Those would help the students understand what the Muggle world was like before and after Christ, but besides that? Most of what she had was subject to change. "No problem," she said. "I'll be happy to teach the students that. I had a few other ideas in mind as well, and I wouldn't mind incorporating a combination of both your ideas and mine into the lesson plan."

It sounds too good to be true, she thought, sipping her drink and leaning back in her chair. "I'm hoping that the students of Hogwarts can become more understanding in the subject. I'm afraid that too many people just don't understand how critical the Muggle world was in the past and is in the modern day."

[Professor Brendan Daylor]

Brendan eyed the woman as she encouraged him. Being the headmaster was going to be tough and brutal for him. He just hoped she was right. Too much pressure could possibly send him over the edge, but he's had practice in the field of pressure and managed to hold his ground but nothing could compare to what he would have to take on in order to complete this task that he had now taken on. His biggest fears were yet to come, and it wasn't even September yet.

"The muggle world is very critical and quite remarkable. It will take a while for students to understand the full meaning of how the muggle world compares to us. There are so many comparisons between the two worlds, but there are many differences as well. However, with the minds of the students in this generation they might not give a care or two what they are learning. Most of them think of the subject as a joke, mostly those of a pureblood family that raised them to believe that muggles are a joke and the world would be better without them."

Brendan had a very clear memory of dealing with this. Back at Hogwarts he had a friend who's family was pureblood as well and tried to corrupt him telling him all muggles and muggle-born wizards were dangerous and demented and needed to be rid of. Even most half-bloods were hated by the family. Brendan being one of them. Brendan was a half-blood wizard. His mother was a pure-blood witch who descended from the Black family, but was disinherited and sought upon as a blood traitor. He remembered wanting to one day prove to those families who hated muggles and help them believe that not all muggles are bad.

"It's a sad world out there Florence. The fight these days between muggles and wizards alike. It's all stupid and pointless. The worst part of this was back when they tried to hang anyone with supernatural powers. We're practically ignored now, even with the slightest sight of magic until someone decides to unleash it all right in front of the naked eye. However, I believe that what you have to offer to teach these students is worth something to learn. You seem to know a lot about the subject."

This interview was going pretty well, or at least Brendan thought. This was probably the longest and most talkative he's been in any of the interviews he has conducted. He had a few left to do, but some of them were just asking old teachers if they want their position back. He looked around at the sky as it began to darken and it was only near past noon. Brendan held his wand tightly. He felt a shiver down his spine, but that was naturally common for the past week or so. He looked away and back at Florence. The determination beaming in his eyes hoping that if she takes the job he will offer her, she will stay with him through Hogwarts for a long while. At least until he's got it all under control. She was someone he would definitely want along by his side under hard circumstances. Should what he fears soon come, she would be a useful accomplice along with a few others. Soon words suddenly shot to the tip of his mind. Order of the Phoenix

[Professor Florence Jane Law]

"Some of these students are probably going to be undecided with their lives after Hogwarts," Florence said, making a note in her head that the Headmaster had confidence in her. "The purebloods are going to want to spend their lives in the footsteps of their parents, but the muggleborns and halfbloods? Some of my past co-workers in the Ministry didn't even know if working in the Ministry was what they wanted to do when they were students. I've met some people who weren't sure if they wanted to work in wizarding world to begin with."

It was a sad state of affairs indeed. Florence had met many a person in her day.

There were the people who knew what they were doing with their lives from the start. There were the people who left the wizarding world behind and took jobs in the muggle world because of different situations. There were the people who knew that they wanted to work in the wizarding world, but they weren't sure what they wanted to do. Different strokes for different folks, obviously.

Florence nodded, agreeing with what Brendan was saying. "Yes, of course. Even if someone uses their magical powers for non-harmless activities, we're going to get lynched and driven out of town. I would love to see equality for witches and wizards, like how same-sex marriage has started to be accepted in other countries. But unless people take off their rose colored glasses, that's not going to happen. And I'm kind of saddened about that."