I Need a Hero

[Valkyria Argyle]

With a bunch of books in her arms, Valkyria exited her office and started walking towards the grand staircase. Usually, she didn’t get so many books at once, but the OWLs and NEWTs were looming and she had been making assignments to prepare her students for their examinations. Her standards were pretty high, but she still wanted to see the hard working ons succeed.

She had descended one floor, when she suddenly felt like she was losing her balance. At the top of the staircase she was about to descend, there was a cord spread across it, that way so if someone was to descend that staircase their fall. It was invisible, which was why Valkyria had not previously seen it - even if, to be honest, she was paying that much attention in front of her either.

Her books fell off her arms and with a shriek she fell.

  

[Felix Parkinson I]

Felix walked slowly up the grand staircase, carrying his broom in on hand and a loaf of bread in the other he'd taken from the great hall as an after practice snack. The Ravenclaw's house practice had gone fairly well today and since the last match of the year was coming up it had been a light practice, just something to warm them up and keep them in shape but not wear them out too much.

Taking the stairs two at a time he was eager to make it back to the Ravenclaw common room and get out of his practice cloths. He was half way up the first set of stairs when he heard a shriek from coming from the top of the stairwell. He glanced up just in time to see a flurry of books rising into the air and a blond women tripping down the stairs.

Already mid stride Felix lunged forward dropping his broom and bread to the stairs, arms outstretched to catch the falling figure. He'd been on his game at practice today and it seemed as if he hadn't yet cooled off because between his quick reflexes and the adrenalin pumping through his veins he surprised himself at how easily he'd covered the distance.

  

[Valkyria Argyle]

If she hadn’t been carrying the books and if her wand hadn’t been well tucked in the pocket of her robes, she might have been able to break her fall. But she couldn’t and Valkyria could not even feel embarrassed about what any of the students who saw her might think. She just hoped that she wouldn’t break her neck and die before she could even see her sweet little Demarcus get married.

And then, she someone caught her. Still visibly shaken, Kyria slowly stood on her feet.

“Oh” she murmured, putting a hand on her chest and breathing heavily. She turned to look at her saviour. “Mr. Parkinson!” Valkyria said with a tone as if she was about to scold him, but then she smiled and said. “Thank you, boy! I thought that this day would be my last! Take twenty points for your house! Ravenclaw, was it not?”

  

[Felix Parkinson I]

Felix let out a small breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding as he caught the women falling. Despite his quick reaction time he was quite sure if he'd really make it in time, so he was relived to find that he'd actually succeeded .

Felix helped the women back onto her feet and for the first time realized it was Professor Argyle who had tripped. He blushed lightly at the thought of having caught his own professor but hoped she didn't see.

" Of course Professor, it was my pleasure. Though really I suppose I was just in the right place at the right time or something like that" He said moving to help her pick up her books, thought she probably could have done it quicker with magic Felix took the moment to recompose himself.

"uh, oh yes Ravenclaw" He said nodding his head in agreement.

  

[Valkyria Argyle]

Ah, he was so modest! Kyria could bet that if it was a Slytherin who caught her they would at least accept a praise. She knew that she would, if she had ever helped out a professor in such a way.

“I do not suppose you saw anyone suspicious looking, Mr. Parkinson?” Valkyria asked the boy. “I was a victim of a horrible, distasteful prank and whoever set it up surely is somewhere around here!”

It must have been set up not too early from now, otherwise someone else would have fallen victim of it.

  

[Felix Parkinson I]

Felix finished collecting all of Professor. Argyle's books and stood up to hand them back to her.

“I was a victim of a horrible, distasteful prank and whoever set it up surely is somewhere around here!

Felix frowned and glanced around briefly before shaking his head. There were plenty of tricksters in the school, and he'd been know to pull a prank or two as well but never on a professor, or an undeserving victim at that.

"No, sorry Professor Argyle. I was just coming back from Quidditch practice so I haven't seen a thing. Perhaps it was a poltergeist?" or a Slytherian he almost added but stopped himself short remembering that he'd heard while in school Professor Argyle was a Slytherian. Didn't do him any good to point fingers anyway

  

[Valkyria Argyle]

Valkyria picked up all her books again.

“Ah, well! I suppose the culprits will be caught sooner or later; they always are.” Valkyria said. Those who were foolish enough to run around the castle setting up traps were rarely smart enough to do it in a way that they wouldn’t be caught in the end. Not to mention that many of those liked to lurk around their traps and laugh at their victims’ misfortune.

She eyed the boy. “I trust that you are studying hard for your exams, Mr. Parkinson? Quidditch is a lovely sport, but many students focus so much on it that they do not give their classes the proper attention.”

  

[Felix Parkinson I]

“I trust that you are studying hard for your exams, Mr. Parkinson? Quidditch is a lovely sport, but many students focus so much on it that they do not give their classes the proper attention.” The professor which caused Felix to actually grin. Talking about scholastic was something he never shied away from

"Of course Professor Argly. My studies have been very diligent I assure you. Quidditch is just away for me to blow off a little steam. And since I don't have the NEWTS until next year I'm not quite as busy as some of the 7th years" Though truthfully even if he had been a 7th year he doubted he'd have much trouble with juggling his commitments. He might not be extremely ambitious or know what he wanted to do in life yet,but the sorting hat had placed him in Ravenclaw for a reason. As much as Felix loved quidditch was a scholar at heart, and that would always come above his other per suites, even dueling. He almost frowned at the thought of dueling, perhaps if he'd practiced a little harder instead of studying he would have made it rather in the tournament lists. It was a bit of a sore spot that he'd been eliminated in the 3rd round.

"Are your classes going well Professor?" He asked noticing for the first time the titles of all the books she carried.

  

[Valkyria Argyle]

Valkyria was glad to hear that. Quidditch was a fine hobby for a young man, but some students seemed to think that Hogwarts was some sports academy than a school for witchcraft and wizardry. Quidditch was an excellent way for someone to become fit, but in the long run, the things they learnt in class would benefit them more. One could play Quidditch for so long, but the spells and potions they learnt they’d use for a lifetime.

“Quite well, my boy!” Valkyria replied. “Though, with the OWLs and NEWTs approaching, quite a lot of students are anxious about their success.”

Especially in her class. Her standards were rather high, after all.

“I do not suppose you have ever considered the possibility of tutoring a younger student?” Valkyria asked. “Unless you already do?”

  

[Felix Parkinson I]

Felix nodded as the professor spoke. It had almost been a year ago that he'd taken his owls and he remembered rather well the frustration and pressure that same with studying for them. For his part it wasn't really the studying that had been stressful for him, after all he was quite fond of such things, but everyone else with their frantic demeanor.

Felix shrugged lightly at her question.

" No I haven't, I guess I have simply never been asked to before" He responded casually. He'd never thought much on the subject but was open to the idea.

  

[Valkyria Argyle]

“You definitely should, in that case!” Valkyria commented. Felix Parkinson was a smart lad so she was sure he’d be able to help some of the less hard working or intelligent students. Valkyria could name quite a few people in her classes who could use some help.

“First years could always use some additional help, especially those who come from a less than fortunate background,” Valkyria continued. “There’s a first year, in my class, Mr. Jason Rohlwing. While he manages fine enough, him coming from a muggle family puts him in a disadvantage sometimes. I am sure he would be open to him tutoring him!”

The boy had never actually come to her, expressing the need of a tutor, but it wasn’t like he didn’t entirely need one! Considering the spells he was attempting at the latest dueling tournament he could use a tutor to teach him that magic came with hard work.

  

[Felix Parkinson I]

Felix cocked his head to one side searing his memory for any recognition of the name. It' wasn't likely that the boy was a Ravenclaw, considering most were very studious, though anything was possible. However, he made it a point to try and know all of his fellow house mates and Jason Rohlwing just didn't seem to ring a bell. With no recollection of the boy Felix simply shrugged and smiled.

"Sure, I wouldn't mind helping out a first year" Though he'd never really thought about tutoring before , Felix was found of helping others, especially the younger years who were still trying to get their barring in life and at Hogwarts. Though he didn't show it Felix was actually very pleased at the opportunity.

  

[Valkyria Argyle]

“Good!” Valkyria said. With an older student as a tutor, Rohlwing would hopefully keep out of trouble as well. Of course, Felix Parkinson was not the model of good behaviour with him being involved with alcohol a few weeks back, but generally, he was a good lad.

“Well then, I shall leave you,” Valkyria pleasantly said. “I have quite a few essays to read. Have a nice day and thank you again for saving me!”

With that, Valkyria headed back to her initial destination.

  

[Felix Parkinson I]

Felix nodded in reply as he collected his own things from the stairs.

"Have a good day Professor" He said as he inspected his roll of bread before shrugging and blowing it off. He was still hungry and it still seemed like a perfectly good piece of bread. So walking up the stairs he tore a large chunk out of it and made his way to the Ravenclaw common room in order to change out of his quidditch clothes.