A turn of events

[Patricia Styx]

Patricia had been enjoying herself immensely so far that night. Almost as soon as she had entered the hall she had meet Ruki, the Drumstrang Transfer she had meet not too long ago on the Quidditch Pitch. He was great company and after a few dances Patricia had to say it was probably one of the best Halloween Feasts she had been too in her four years at Hogwarts. After a short while Patricia had to say she was feeling somewhat parched, so excusing herself from Ruki for a short minute she went to the refreshments table to obtain a drink for her and her dance partner. When she reached the table she poured two drinks, before returning to Ruki she took a sip of her own and watched everyone else for a minute or two, everyone seemed like they were having fun - it was definately a good night.

 

[Nicolas King]

Nicolas entered the great hall in his usual Hogwarts robes and scanned the hall for Patricia. A few students gave him quizzical looks, especially the older ones who knew that he always attended the Halloween feast in costume, but he paid them no mind and didn't even reply to the countless greetings of 'Happy Halloween' he received. He spotted Ms. Rogers at the refreshment table, several metres away from himself, and his face contorted into a visible grimace. He knew the task ahead of him would be one of the more difficult that he'd ever faced. Swallowing hard, and feeling the room heat up around him, Nicolas approached where the light-hearted Hufflepuff girl stood.

Walking up to the girl Nicolas wondered if it'd be best simply to change directions, tell Cecily, and have her deal with everything - but he decided it wasn't necessary to spoil her evening as well, not yet, at least. Coming beside the girl he inhaled deeply before he spoke, "Patricia," He began, calling his student by her first name - a practise which he had never followed and could quite possibly tip her off to something being amiss already. "I need to have a word with you... in the Entrance Hall." Nicolas' solemn gaze was fixed upon the girl standing next to him, she seemed to be quite enjoying the night, and here he was prepared to give her news to turn her world on its side.

 

[Patricia Styx]

About to turn on her heels, returning to Ruki, Patricia heard a voice call her. Turning she saw the face of her previous Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor - thoughts of the game where she pretended to have a crush on him re-played through her head making her laugh to herself. "Good Evening Sir." she greeted him brightly, not questioning why the Headmaster was talking to her. Upon hearing his request Patricia gave him a slight questioning look, but didn't dare question any Professor - let alone the Headmaster - asked her to do. "Sure thing Sir." she said setting down her drinks she looked up and him again and waited for him to lead the way.

 

[Nicolas King]

(OOC: I'm just going to RP the entrance hall bit in this thread, too)

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Nicolas lead Patricia in to the Entrance Hall in silence, not wanting to try light hearted small talk before delivering the news which was in his cards to tell. Shutting the door to the Great Hall and the frivolities within as they entered the Entrance Hall, Nicolas pondered for a moment whether it would be better to dismiss the girl to enjoy her evening and have her visit him in his office afeter the feast, but this option would make things even harder on her, he feared. He wondered, as well, if he should bring her to his office to deliver the news, or even the hospital wing where she might be able to receive some consulting and some all-comforting chocolate while she dealt with her loss.

Nicolas finally, after a moment of silence in the hall, decided it'd be best to deliver the news to her and allow her to react however she would - then he could gauge the situation, and what he'd do about it, from there. "Well, Patricia." Nicolas began, still entirely unsure how he would put things, "I received news this evening that your brother, Joseph, has passed away." He stopped at this, watching the young girl for her reaction.

 

[Patricia Styx]

That's fine

As Patricia followed Professor King out of the Great Hall her eyes shot back to Ruki, she hoped he wouldn't mind her leaving him like this but she figured she would only be away for a minutes and he wouldn't even notice. Letting Professor King close the door into the Great Hall behind her, she looked at her Headmasters face every possible situation going through her head. But each one seemed more ridiculous after the other, to be honest she was completely and utterly confused as to why Professor King had sought her out, tonight of all nights, and what he had wanted to talk to her about.

As Patricia observed the man's face she tired to deduce anything that might give away what he wanted to talk to her about. The more she looked the more she could see that he looked the more she could see a solemn gaze on his face, was something wrong? He stomach lurched slightly as she started to expect bad news. Hearing the man utter her brother's name for a brief moment her features lighted, maybe Nataliia had given birth already? It would still be early but entirely possible. But the words that followed her brothers name was ones she hadn't expected to hear.

Feeling as though someone had kicked her in the gut she bent over, doubled in pain. With her arms wrapped around her body, to hold herself together, she took a few sharp breaths. On the verge of tears she looked up at Professor King and said though heavy breaths. "But, he's only 23 he couldn't have just passed away. He's about to be a father for crying out loud!" she said, her voice rising in anger. "Who told you this?" she asked, if this was some sort of sick and twisted joke that someone was playing on her, they were going to pay.

 

[Nicolas King]

Nicolas stepped in and put his arm around the girl, holding her up as the news affected her in a very visible way. Letting her try to catch her breath, Nicolas waited in silence, just holding the girl as grief, then quickly enough denial, consumed her. "I fear it is true." He assured her, how he knew this he didn't know - he'd only heard the news recently from a woman who was surely a Death Eater, but he hadn't sensed her to be lying - not about this, at least. "A woman named Nicolette Hansel informed me." Nicolas continued, wondering if Patricia knew the woman and this would somehow confirm the news for her - but he would be even more happy if she'd never heard of the woman and everything turned out to be some grand scheme. This would be one instance where his auror's instinct failing him would be perfectly acceptable to him.

In the next moment Nicolas attempted to help Patricia stand once more, "Perhaps we should go someplace else..." He offered her, a comforting smile filled with sadness displaying itself on his face as he spoke. "Would you like to go to the Hospital Wing? Maybe we could go to my office, discuss things there, have some pumpkin juice and some chocolate? " He continued, hoping to move Patricia from the Entrance Hall where anybody could see her at any time to someplace where she could handle whatever plague of emotions was now assaulting her, and perhaps have some questions answered.

 

[Patricia Styx]

Patricia heard Professor King confirm that what he had just told her true, but she still didn't want to believe it, it couldn't be true. Her stomach lurched again when she heard the name of who had told Professor King. "Niccy." she said so low it was practically a whisper. She wouldn't lie about this. she reasoned with herself. Sure she barely knew the woman, but she trusted and respected her enough to believe the words. But how did she know? she wondered to herself. She had far too many questions but she couldn't form the words, she couldn't bring herself to ask, it would make it all too real.

Tears started to fall from the young girls eyes when she felt Professor Kings arms around her. She allowed Professor King to stand her up, but her legs were like jelly, she leaned on him for fear of falling. Patricia's thoughts were all over the place at the moment in time, she didn't know what to think. She was a bag of emotions, sad for the lose of her brother, angry that he was gone How dare he just leave like that, without saying goodbye What about Nataliia and little Joanna? she thought to herself. Hearing Professor King's suggestion of going somewhere else she knew it was the right thing to do, but no offence to the Headmaster but she didn't want to go anywhere else with him, the questions she had couldn't be answered by him.

Trying to find strength so she could stand by herself she started by walking away from Professor King but gradually her strength came back and she ran out of the castle in the direction of the greenhouses. Only one person could possibly answer her questions now, as much as she hated it, she had to talk to her father.