[August 25th] Apologies are in order (Jillian/Mary)

Jillian had almost choked on her drink when Mary finally entered, she coughed and hoped the professor had not noticed though she thought that extremely unlikely. She managed a smile when the vampire sat down, well aware of all the looks she was now getting.

"Hello, Maria." she managed, "Er.. I don't think I'm allowed to order Wyne for you, else I would. How are you?"

Taking a deep breath Jillian nodded, doing her best to stay calm. "Actually, I was instructed to meet here. I would have gone to your estate otherwise." she said honestly, knowing that the statement would probably convey a lot of what she had to say. Mary's subdued and neutral tone was not reassuring, but she still felt she could trust the vampire.

"I suppose you have an idea what I have to say then? I am sorry."

Jillian averted her eyes for the first time when she saw the disappointment on Mary's face. "I, er.. I hope so. It was interesting, though I feel I have wronged you somehow."

She clutched her mug tighter as she looked back up, meeting Mary's gaze.

"I try not to lie," Jillian replied, privately adding that one of the reasons for that was because she was no good at it. "It was my choice, I am my own master." she smiled, feeling far less anxious over the conversation now the worst was over without issue. She was not going to talk of Rose however, that might be taking things too far. "I am looking forward to both your classes, I made sure I would not be restricted there before deciding. My parents were not convinced Muggle Studies was a good choice for NEWT level, but my summer has shown me how important it is to know about worlds other than your own." she took another sip of what remains of her drink before asking a question she clearly much wanted an answer to, "Your offer to be friends despite my choosing another still stands then?"

Jillian was clearly interested in the idea of an overnight stay in Hogsmeade. Her mother had a couple of electronic things she kept in a cupboard that had belonged to her mother, but until she had obtained her phone Jillian had not had too much to do with them herself. The phone had proved itself impressive and almost worth what it had cost, so she did want to see more. "I am glad of that, though mentor is something that will take some getting used to.. I still regret having to choose though." she adds, giving Mary a look.

"I appreciate that you will be there if I need. David too, I hope." she smiled brightly. "Although I hope it is not just your word that allows us to talk like this?"

Relief and reassurance spread across Jillians features and she nodded, hoping she had not begun to blush. "It was your lips that said a man can't have two masters," she reminded, "I am glad we can be friends. It was you and your classes that set me on this path after all."

Jillian stared into Mary's eyes, trying to figure out exactly what she was thinking. Those green orbs were the first vampiric eyes she had looked into after avoiding them in class for so long. She surprised herself how much that habit had changed over the summer, she could happily gaze into David's eyes for hours given the chance and she had learnt from Rose that the habit was not good defence and that trust was important. "I have a mentor, but I am my own master." Jillian said plainly, still watching Mary for any reaction though she did not actually expect to see any. "You and your classes," she repeated.

"I shall gladly keep that in mind, Professor." she said using the title not to belittle any friendship that may be forming, but to show she still holds great respect for the vampire. She hesitates for a moment before asking, "Has your summer been okay? You seem different than you did at school the couple of times I have seen you. Very different environments each time I know, but I wanted to check. I know an awful lot has gone on after all."

There was definitely a great deal of curiosity in Jillians expression as she listened to Maria's words. Part of her really desired to ask more but she remembered how she had been told that any friendship between them would include limits on what they could talk about if she accepted anothers mentorship. That look to the vampires smile sent a shiver up her spine but only made her more curious. "I am glad for that, I guess.. Your sire is still around then?" she asked, thinking the question a safer one. She had no idea of Mary's age but she had a theory which was enough to know that her sire must be a very old one.

Jillian sighs, watching Mary's expression with a soft smile. "The exotic and unconventional pirate?" she asked wistfully. What little she knew of the story was truly romantic she thought, so different from the tales of David or Nikolaus.

The smile was wonderful, it brightened Jillians day just to see it. Knowing she had brought that about gave her confidence that they could make the friendship work despite all the obvious troubles. "I have never travelled myself, I can't help but feel there is still romance to it all. All the way to america, I've no idea how much I shall see. Wizarding communities are kept so small that even with aircraft the world seems quite vast to my eyes."

Jillian still had no idea what burden her friend and teacher had given up to change her outlook and attitude, but she had grown up around so much strangeness that she felt as long as Mary was happy with herself, then it would be alright. She had found it no surprise to see that the woman was different outside of the classroom in any case.

"I think I appreciate the Statute, is hard to imagine what it must have been like before it though. At least magic has come a long way since that time!" she smiled, a slight hint of pride in her voice with that last.

"They certainly have," Jillian said with some certainty, not noticing the change in Maria's demeanor at first. "As for classes.. Yours as I've said and of course Charms. I'll also be taking Potions, Transfiguration and Arithmancy. I am thinking about sending a request to continue Defence Against the Dark Arts too, when I get the school. Assuming my OWL grade is high enough."

Jillian's head tilted a little, both puzzled and curious about the laugh. "How many of you professors are good friends outside of school?" she ended up asking, her mind thinking that she already knew that Maria, Aisha and McGriffin had obviously all been on close enough terms. She knew that much, even though it was obvious that would not be too accurate a fact now.