Tiernan Mortimer was an unusual man even for a wizard. Quiet and solemn he was never fully comfortable with those around him. Preferring stark silence to words. Tiernan is either respected or feared by the students and there is no middle ground. He is a hard man to like and a harder man to understand. The relative peace of the world didn’t seem to make him any warmer. He still remembers the days of the war and the loss of his father. He will never forget or forgive the man and it has left a bitter streak in Tiernan. Though honestly Tiernan did not like war or fighting, he would not hesitate to do so if it was required. Tiernan did not think that the muggle-born of half-bloods were any less then the pure-bloods, but he was often accused of this because he was a harsh teacher. He expected greatness from every student and he did not settle for only their ‘weak efforts’. It gave him a reputation of being cold and cruel. One he did not care about either way. Tiernan didn’t care who liked him or who didn’t.<br/><br/>Tiernan walked through his chambers at Hogwarts having come early as usual to make an assessment of the herbs he had on site. The greenhouses and his stores of ‘student’ ingredients. Some of his ingredients tended to go bad if not properly cared for over the summer and no one ever knew how well things were kept here while he was away. He trusted no one. It was a trait that drove most crazy since he tended to double check everything. Especially if his life were to depend on it. Tiernan knew that being a pureblood son of a death eater meant he was a target by pure status. Not that he himself had ever done anything to merit the mistrust. He didn’t care though, he was who he was.<br/><br/>Tiernan made it a point in the dead of night to seek out the barriers of the school and lend what aid he could away from prying eyes. Only a few people knew he helped with their upkeep. Only a few would judge his actions based on truth rather then their misguided belief that the father made the child. Tiernan never really liked sleep, since sleep brought memories and memories were one thing he despised most of all.<br/><br/>Tiernan began to meticulously catalogue every ingredient. Checking the measures on the jars of some, the freshness of others, their names and states. Making lists on parchment as he went through the over crowded storeroom just off his own sleeping quarters at Hogwarts. The quiet of the castle a peaceful reminder of the times he had spent in this place. The walls filled with silent voices he could still here even when it was quiet. He hated noise, but somehow the hustle and bustle of the castle had never seemed like noise coming through the cold stone walls around him. Today there was no noise. It was silent, but his mind provided the noise and echoes for him.<br/><br/>The  whole of two hours spent cataloguing left him with an extensive list of items that required purchasing from Diagon Alley some of which would need to be grown. He would have to touch base with the Herbology professor before too long for use of one corner of the greenhouses for some his more ‘interesting’ plants. Tiernan looked up at the clock he kept and sighed. If he left now he’d make the train back with the others. A thought that made him frown severely, but it would be the best mode of transportation to bring all his purchases, seeing as he would be needing to replenish far more then he usually had to flying wouldn’t do him any good and neither would using the Flow Network from Hogsmeade.<br/><br/>Grabbing his list Tiernan walked down to Hogsmeade and made his way to Diagon Alley from their through the Flow Network. It didn’t take him long to retrieve all of his packages. His arms overcrowded with boxes and bags he made one last stop to a bookstore in Nocturne Alley and grabbed a few books on poisons. He always did enjoy finding new antidotes and the best way to do that was to study the poisons. Satisfied that he now had everything he made his much slower way out of Diagon Alley and to Kings Cross station.<br/><br/>Happily unloading his parcels into a trolley was about the best thing that could have happened about this little adventure. He did not however enjoy the thought of a train ride with the other professors. He hoped he could either find an empty compartment or be alone with Nice to talk. He had not seen her all summer and she was an old friend. One he bore a silent interest in. One he knew no one suspected.<br/><br/>Pushing the trolley into the portal at a casual walk he exited onto Platform 9 and 3/4 with a deep frown as he saw how many people where already here. Sighing heavily he ignored almost everyone as he walked towards the train. His eyes narrowed to dangerous slits and a harsh grunt responding to any greeting issued his way. Since he usually didn’t ride to Hogwarts with the other professors he was an odd sight here on the platform. He unloaded the trolley and headed into an empty compartment storing his parcels in a safe place for the journey..<br/><br/>As he finished he looked out the window of the train and spotted Nice. With her husband. His eyes narrowed further in dislike and annoyance.