By Two To-Morrow

[Emily James]

As expected, Ms. Emily James stood in front of the Lovegood estate after giving the door a light knock at 2 in the afternoon the next day. She took her hands to her dress and smoothed out the skirt. Out of nervousness, Emily tightened and straightened her bonnet blindly, in hopes she would make an appropriate first impression.

She had not found a governess position in some months, and she was beginning to worry about the state of her affairs; Mr. Ozias Lovegood's post on the bulletin board could not have come at a better time. She was so caught up in her own thoughts, she almost missed the faint footsteps on the other side of the door.

[Ozias Lovegood]

The door was answered by Catchlove, the butler cum valet, who showed Miss James to Mr. Lovegood's study.

Ozias was sitting behind his desk when Catchlove showed Miss James in. The idea of calling the Lovegood home in Wellingtonshire an "estate" was laughable, but if Miss James was from the countryside he could understand why she had called it that. Like most of the houses in Wellintonshire, it was squat and square on the outside and only impressive once you entered the home. It was not at all like his quaint retreat in Irvingly.

He stood when she entered, motioning to the chair on the other side of his desk. "Miss James, thank you for coming on such short notice. Would you like tea?"

  

[Emily James]

Emily was pleased to be let in so courteously and shown to Mr. Lovegood's study. She shook his hand delicately before sitting down across from him as he asked. "Thank you, Mr. Lovegood, for the opportunity," she said. "Tea would be quite lovely."

She got comfortable in her chair and looked around the study; it seemed so appropriately important. She wasn't sure how to start this visit, but she figured a bit about herself will do. Taking a sip of her newly-served tea, she cleared her throat and began. "As I mentioned in my letters, I have worked as a governess twice before," she said. "I am more accustomed to dealing with younger children, but I can reason with children the older they are, as well."

Emily thought back to the children she used to teach and practically raise. "I did attend all seven years of schooling at Hogwarts where I was a proud Ravenclaw and excelled in a few classes," she said. "I work well with teaching children the basics, such as reading and writing and the basics of magic that every child should know before attending their schooling... Is there anything you would like to know?"

[Ozias Lovegood]

The tea was sent for and served, and Miss James positively babbled. Oz thought that might have just been nerves, though, and he was in a rather generous mood. "As I said, Mr. Crabbe is six; his previous governess has left the household. He will need both to be prepared for Hogwarts and properly cultured."

He watched the governess carefully, wondering if she was capable of calming down and speaking at a more normal rate. "Do you have references from your previous employers?"

  

[Emily James]

Emily took the time he spoke to slow down and drink some of her tea. It was lovely--the temperature just right. She dabbed the corner of her lips with he napkin before reaching in her bag. "I do, Mr. Lovegood," she said. "I have a reference from my previous employer here. He had a little girl of whom I took after from ages 3 to 10." She handed him over the papers and waited to see what he would think of them. It had been some time since her last interview and she wasn't sure if she was doing well or not. She tried to keep her head about her the best she could.

[Ozias Lovegood]

Oz took his time reading over Miss James's reference. Although Abraxas was not his son, Oz tried very hard to do his best by the boy. Although Abraxas was an only child, his late father was a second son; therefore, the boy would need a good education to maintain his position in society.

"This looks to be in order," he said after a moment. "If you come with me, I'll introduce you to Mr. Crabbe."