Welcome to Gaia! ::

August felt a weight vanish off his shoulders as he stepped into Moore Italian. Between work and wedding and his cousins’ home burning down in winter, August had spent quite some time either here or at Rion’s tavern. He picked a table in the corner where there would be plenty of room for him and Aldrick to work on.

“Hey Brook. Is Aldrick already here?”

When Aldrick arrived, August waved a little. “I think I understand why you wanted to meet outside today,” he remarked. They visited regularly at Lizzie and Aldrick’s home in Sterling, or at his and Rhea’s home in Scarborough. Despite the bustle of other customers, it was nowhere near as clamorous as having little Liam and Lark Knapp running around.

“Can you take a look at these?” August started, handing over a binder of notes and lesson plans–all beautifully color-coded by his dear wife (his wife!). There was a syllabus, lesson plans and homework assignments prepped in typical Auggie-detail for the first three weeks for each year. Draft rubrics, mock exams, and a whole section of notes on developmental learning for 14-17 year olds. “Do you think I should have sample assignments for them, or is a rubric enough? What about reading notes? Rhea helped me look through sample exams for the fifth and seventh years, but another set of eyes would be great. Am I missing anything?

“What about you? I don’t know anything about Cursebreaking but am happy to help any way I can,” August stretched a little and slouched, contemplating the binder over his tea.

“There’s still so much left to do! So little time!”

Aldrick remarked that somehow being at a bustling restaurant was less stressful than being at their homes. August nodded; It was certainly ironic. But also…comforting, that they had a space outside of home to relax.

They got to work efficiently. Aldrick remarked that a rubric was probably find, and that he would collect sample assignments from the students themselves. ”That…is very good! A genuine example is much more meaningful than a mock.” Also less work! Whew!

”I always think a syllabus is essential,” August replied. ”It sets up the learning goals and is a good go-to for readings and assignments. I was planning to use a Protean charm so that if the students will receive the updated version as soon as it was updated, then announce any changes in class. I have a lot of reading and writing though, so it makes it easier for that.” He looked over and nodded at his own syllabus. ”As for rubrics…for writing assignments it makes sense. Particularly for the younger students. Older students should know what quality work is without as much guidance. But from a grading standpoint it does seem more fair to have one.”

He pondered the question a little longer. ”Actually, speaking of grading rubrics, I understand you cursebreakers read and write a lot of case studies and reports? So maybe if you have a generic report rubric? Otherwise I suppose it has to do with how you are grading them.” His face remained the same, but to an old friend, the relief in his shoulders was palpable. August was glad everything in his class could be broken into easy, straightforward rubrics: from presentations to essay, there were only a few adjustments he’d have to specify for a specific assignments. ”Something like rubrics for spellcasting…it’s possible, but you’d have to tailor-make each rubric to the spell, context, and grade level.”

August flipped through Aldrick’s relatively more sparse binder of notes. As he mentioned, Aldrick had the spells he wanted to teach, and anecdotes noted. August could guess a few of the stories from their talking about work stories over the last few years, but Aldrick had notes connecting the anecdotes to the content that made him nod his head with a thoughtful frown. ”I like these stories,” he remarked. ”It’s a good way to ground the learning in something memorable. And it suits you.” he wondered if he could do something similar. Perhaps he could assign a few of the books analyzed in Law and Literature? (He did love that book and had been looking for ways to incorporate it in an interesting manner!)

August took another sip of tea as Aldrick remarked that there would be several new professors. ”The Department has had a few personnel shifts as well,” he remarked. ”We’ve got a delegate stepping down unexpectedly, their entire team retiring or resigning…anyways, new professors. That’s upsetting. We’ll all be scrambling to get advice from the same senior teachers, and newer professors means a harder time for the students.” August pursed his lips the slightest and looked up from Aldrick’s binder. ”What else did you hear?”

“Writing and reading is a fundamental skill no matter the career,” August replied gravely, adopting the same tone he used to use when recommending additional reading for Aldrick and Lizzie (how much of that had they actually read, Auggie wasn’t sure, but whatever the case they were both doing excellently for themselves.). He paused as Aldrick lamented having to read the reports that the kids would have to write and then remarked how wrong he was a kid thinking professors had so much more freedom. August smirked a little, his eyes vanishing into little slits as he remembered that memory. His expression returned to a thoughtful one after a moment.

”What if you set up a peer review kind of system? It would take some training, but you could have students exchange reports to read, edit, and grade.” August clicked a pen and pulled a legal pad out of his briefcase, drawing out a rough diagram. ”So you have a case report due this week. In class, you go over your expectations and key details. Then, as part of their homework the next week, the students exchange papers with someone and have to read and grade their peers. They recommend a grade for it, possibly including edits to what they think is O quality. Then you take a random sample of them and grade both versions yourself as a spot check. Just to make sure no one is just giving their friends Os.” August tapped the pen against the pad thoughtfully. ”My issue is that it means its nearly 4 weeks before they get feedback. That’s not good. Hmm. Maybe make the peer exchange part of the initial assignment? Not the first assignment of course.”

The conversation turned back to the new openings and personnel changes. Aldrick had a chipper look on things, saying they were only hired because they were well versed in their fields for the past five years. August wasn’t sure what to think. He had gotten this position almost by chance. He had heard Professor Evera was retiring, and she had asked Alarick Lorien for a recommendation. Apparently that had gotten pushed around the department and August had put his name forward as a volunteer to teach. He could hardly believe that Hogwarts would hire him when they had been looking for someone with a much more distinguished record like Mr. Lorien. But the interview seemed to have gone well, and he had confirmed the acceptance letter was authentic so…whatever it was.

Brook stopped by with an extra large surprise, listing off a half dozen toppings. ”Thanks, Brook. Don’t forget to take a break when you can,” he said as Brook took off again.

Aldrick mentioned that he had invited another person. ”Oh? I heard someone in my department was considering a career shift and applied to charms as well, but didn’t hear if they got it. Did your friend get the position?” Truth be told, August didn’t even know who exactly was the candidate. He had been more than busy with his own application and new work with all the staff team changes.

August set aside the binders and helped himself to a slice, trying to figure out how to keep all the toppings from falling. Aldrick asked if he was continuing at the ministry and August nodded seriously. ”Still a staff member. There’s been a team swap, but I’ll mostly be doing the same work. My new boss and I are meeting in a few weeks to finalize a schedule, but my proposal is I’ll mostly be working remotely from Hogwarts, and only in the office on Wednesdays and Saturday mornings if needed. All my classes are on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so if I have to be out of town for something, I’ll do that sometime between Friday and Monday. “ August turned the question back on Aldrick. ”You do have 4 kids to watch now. I heard some folks were leaving due to family reasons. It’s an issue. Did you already turn in your two weeks?”

Oh, making everything build up to one final paper was a good idea. August nodded, jotting the idea for himself. ”Maybe I could have them stitch a few assignments together to build a final project,” he considered out loud.

Aldrick, of course, had given his two weeks as soon as he got the Cursebreaking professorship. So that explained why Aldrick seemed to have so much more free time lately. August let a little sigh escape him– somehow those closest to him had decided to go for highly dangerous jobs–auror, cursebreaker, cursebreaker, magizoology, circus performer, hit wizard….only Mallaidh and Brook had quiet, safe positions. He couldn’t say anything about it, knowing they were happy and good at their work. But well..”I’m sure it’ll make your wife and kids happier when you aren’t risking life and limb on a daily basis,” he murmured.

”Congratulations then,” he replied. Aldrick frowned. ”Your dad? I don’t believe so. He was always out when I was around. Or I was always out when he miraculously remembered to check in.” What did this have to do with anything? August couldn’t say he had much to say about the elusive Mr. Knapp–aside from how irresponsible he seemed to be, always getting his wife pregnant and then running off somewhere else! For “work”. The bitter part of August was always surprised there hadn’t been an adultery scandal out of all this. He recalled Aldrick mentioning something about ministry-adjacent work, but that still didn’t excuse his piling children on his wife without being there to help her raise them. Mr. Knapp, as far August could tell, was only around to create the child–not even to see them born!. He had stopped by for the funeral when Deepak died. Deepak had DIED! And all he could do was pop by for a funeral, not even stick around to take care of his grieving children. He hadn’t been there when Aldrick got Lizzie pregnant before they were even out of school–although given Mr. Knapp had done the same to his own girlfriend at the time probably meant he wouldn’t have been a great influence on the matter anyways. He hadn’t been there for Lizzie and Aldrick’s wedding, or the birth of his grandchildren, or Brook and Gus’s opening of Moore Italian. Apparently, somehow, Mr. Knapp was a decent enough fellow when he was around, but August had certainly never met him, only seen the gaps–and children–he left behind.

Still, this was Aldrick’s father. August kept his expression and tone civil. ”Why, did you hear from him recently?”

Why Lizzie would ever kill Aldrick for being in the house so much was beyond August. It wasn’t like Aldrick didn’t have friends or didn’t go out. Plus he would have a job at Hogwarts! But Aldrick was rambling on already, talking about how he totally didn’t make up his dad and his dad totally wasn’t invisible. August pushed his glasses up and raised his eyebrows in skepticism, which turned wry as soon as Aldrick went on joking to punch him if he ever became an invisible dad to his own kids. ”As you wish,” he said with a smirk. ”If I ever feel your parenting is lacking, I will absolutely punch you again, Aldrick. You have my word.”

Aldrick went on, talking about how his dad had apparently caused quite a few issues–what else was new?-- at his work now. Yeah, August understood that. The department was in a bit of a fuss after Alarick Lorien not only stepped down from the Supreme Mugwump position so soon, but also quit the department entirely. There were rumors of bad blood, an assassination attempt, bribery from other nations– it was a moot point either way. The Minister of Magic would be submitting his recommendations for the position.

Brook’s voice suddenly tore through the diner with an excited squeal, and August looked over to see a familiar face enter and…come towards their table? August stood cautiously, his polite and civil work face sliding firmly into place as he wiped his fingers off on the napkin to greet the man properly.

Mr. Lorien sir, I didn’t know you were joining us.”

Aldrick slid over, grabbing another piece of pizza entirely too casually. ”Uh yeah, August this is my dad, Alarick.”

August was pretty sure his brain was short- circuiting as he put things together. ”Your….dad? Alarick Lorien is your father? Why didn’t you ever say anything? We work in the same department!” He turned to Alarick, his incredulity and suspicion leaking out through the seams of his tightly controlled civility. ”I suppose Lorien is a pen name? Or a family name? No wonder I never found anyone under Knapp. So..I supposed you’re the ‘friend’ who applied for the Charms position, sir? Congratulations…? I’m surprised you didn’t take the position in Wizard Law.”Or that you’re such a terrible–absent father, yet such a diligent ambassador. Brilliant in the conference room, absent in the living room. Of course. People really are never one consistent person. And Aldrick! Was this some kind of prank?! Why didn’t you say anything?!?!

Alarick Lorien greeted him with one of his usual great puns. August had no sooner questioned the whole situation before Mr. Lorien adopted an all-too-familiar tone and August realized he had made a terrible mistake. He hushed up as Alarick began one of his rants, listening carefully as he sipped his tea.

Mr. Lorien recounted a few tales about how he always had focused on not just what the law was but how it would be enforced. Actual enforcement, of course, wasn’t for the members of the International Confederation of Wizards, but Alarick Lorien, in his typical thorough attitude, had always paid attention to how things were worded specifically so he could help those enforcing it. As a professional, August thought Alarick Lorien was of the highest caliber. As a father…well now August was quickly trying to reconcile this with his very low opinion on Aldrick’s father.

Mr. Lorien rambled on about that ridiculous case of Karen and the house elf, about creature regulation. He completely skipped over Liam and Lark Knapp’s underage magic signs– Lizzie had done an excellent job teaching the young kids control, the only signs had been a few harmless floating crayons at home, as far as he knew–which of course Mr. Lorien knew or remembered nothing about.

Aldrick was mouthing something as Mr. Lorien continued on about crups. August couldn’t really read lips that well, but given the context clues and what he managed to guess, he deduced Aldrick was thinking about Vespera’s crup Lyra. He signaled to Aldrick to ask him later, so he could clarify the extenuating circumstances of that Mr. Lorien then finally getting to…what sounded like a point?

August nodded as Mr. Lorien explained why charms was a better fit. He had to admit, the rationale was insightful and he appreciated the connection to everyday life–or everyday Quidditch–not to mention law and international law. Typical diligent work on Mr. Lorien’s part!

Of course, the next moment Mr. Lorien went off about the Winchester Massacre “fiasco”. August sipped his tea calmly, willing himself to betray nothing. Just as Alarick Lorien had distanced himself from the better-known Knapp family name, August Li was distanced from the better known Winchester family name. Mr. Lorien did not need to know that that “fiasco” had resulted in the death of his uncle and family. Besides, he was right to be concerned about Flick.

Thankfully, Aldrick cut off further discussion of the massacre at the estate. ”Only that he did ‘something at the ministry’. Regardless, if you did mention, then I’m sorry I missed it” he replied. Thankfully Lizzie was the auror. Evidently August would make a terrible detective. ”When you said you were named after your father, I figured he was Aldrick Knapp Senior, to be honest,” he replied. Evidently he needed to keep better track of his friends as well!