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Post by Jaina Gemini on Jan 17, 2019 17:22:24 GMT -8
Jaina was waiting outside the dining hall a minute or two before seven, having reluctantly parted ways with Gideon after an incredible supper - even better for having spent it together. Definitely worth coming back to the castle instead of sitting alone by the fire, working on her homework. She had thought it would be difficult to focus, considering the memories they had already made in her little home away from home. It hadn't been so bad, however. That boded well for if they decided to go out and study together next Saturday night. A little seclusion and quiet, close and private bathroom, a heat source they could control, and snacks made it significantly more appealing than the library or quad.
But that was next weekend - five whole days away. For now, she needed to focus on what was much more important. Christopher deserved her full attention. Jaina stood waiting for him to arrive, the bag with her cookies, books, and wand hooked over her shoulder.
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Post by Christopher Johnson on Jan 17, 2019 18:36:26 GMT -8
Christopher had enjoyed spending time with Jaina this morning in the music room. He had gone to lunch after that and been lucky enough to swipe a few rolls to put back in his bag for later tonight if wanted it. They were now wrapped neatly in his trunk next to some of his socks. He had not wanted any of his roommates to smell them and go running to tell the teachers. The smell thing did not bother him at all. He knew it would not matter what smelt like all about the taste. He was one of those that been known to eat out of a dumpster before.
He grabbed some of his books making sure they were tucked away neatly in his bags. Next to it was a handful of all the different things they worked on writing with along with the actual paper. Christopher hoped that Jaina had a really great time with her boyfriend. The boy did not want to ruin this before actually started it. The woman was nice since wanted to help the preteen on making friends when his own house did not want to even work on becoming his friend.
Christopher finally made his way down to the outside of the dining hall. When he was close enough to the room and smiled. “Hello Jaina,” He waved happily to see that she had actually shown up. Part of his insides figured she said to do it and then would leave him hanging. “I hope you had a good lunch along with spending time with your boyfriend.”
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Post by Jaina Gemini on Jan 17, 2019 19:08:21 GMT -8
Jaina smiled when Christopher appeared, greeting her so nicely. "Yes, we had a very nice lunch together, thank you. Did you try some of the potatoes at supper together? I don't know how I walked away from the table without a bowl to eat while we were studying tonight," she insisted. "Nothing like a good Sunday supper to sustain a person all week long.
She led him through the halls, giving him a chance to reply as Jaina led him down the straightest path to reach the Quad. It should be easy enough for him to memorize if he ever wanted to meet her or others there in the future. Fortunately, when comparing it to the massive size of the castle, the two locations were relatively close.
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Post by Christopher Johnson on Jan 17, 2019 19:22:48 GMT -8
Christopher listens to her talking about the dinner like it was a really great one. “I did not get to eat dinner tonight. Is it really that good that you wanted to take it with you outside of the hall.” He had been interested even more. Someone else that was willing to take food meant maybe she was like him. Plus he was not really all that hungry since had a really big lunch. His stomach could not handle too much food right now. “I had really big lunch so was not hungry. Will make sure to eat a smaller lunch next Sunday to see this dinner. It must be good the way you talk about it.”
He followed her slowly making sure to learn how to get here for next time if there was one. It seemed like it was easy to get here. The plus side was he been here a couple times before. He just did not know that it was called the Quad. When in public school, the boy would not make it long enough before got kicked out. “This place looks comfortable. I am sure it really warm next to the fire pit also.”
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Post by Jaina Gemini on Jan 17, 2019 19:51:43 GMT -8
"Oh?" Jaina asked, seeming distraught. "Oh Christopher, Saturday and Sunday nights are the best meals all week. One is the fun stuff and the other is the big meal - potatoes, vegetables, really well-cooked meat. I live for Sunday night suppers," she insisted, as they reached the Quad.
"Yeah, this is where all the people meet that are in different houses. Sometimes they do games here with large groups of people, or so I've heard. I'm usually focused on my other hobbies or schoolwork."
She led him to a place nearer the fire pit but not so close that they would be sweating within minutes. Settling down onto the floor where they would be able to move around a bit more while working on magic, Jaina pulled her bag forward. "I'm actually kind of glad that you didn't eat supper." She confessed. "I know boys are usually hungry but I was hoping you wouldn't be too full..." She pulled out the bag of chocolate chip cookies, taking them out of the container.
"Call it a little incentive," Jaina grinned. "Levitate a cookie, get a cookie?"
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Post by Christopher Johnson on Jan 19, 2019 16:41:49 GMT -8
Christopher followed Jaina toward the fire pit. He was enjoying the warmth now when he could get it. Once school was over it would be the cold streets again. The magic on the tent they lived in was getting weaker and weaker as the years went by. “Wow, that meal sounds like going to become my favorite after this. Remind me next week to check it out at dinner time.”,
He laughed as worked on rubbing his neck thinking on everything that was going on. Did this girl really want to work on using cookies to try and get him to be better? He had been trying to do this for a while and still was not able to make the stupid thing float. “Okay, I will call it an incentive and try to do it with you around. Maybe this time I will work on trying.”
Christopher worked on holding his wand out and pointing it towards the cookie. He then worked on saying the enchantment that knew went with it. “Wingitdium Leviousa.” He sighed as nothing happen. He did not understand why everything has to be in some language did not have. Christopher also has been doing the movements wrong even if did not know it.
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Post by Jaina Gemini on Jan 19, 2019 17:01:41 GMT -8
Jaina watched him carefully while listening closely to his pronunciation. It was quite evident to her what the problem was this time around. Repitition could help but it could also make the words meaningless; especially after failing time and time again. She had been there more times than she could remember. Her brother Jack had accused her of being guilty of this more times than she could keep track of.
"Okay," she said positively. "This is why it is good to have one on one help. Professor MacDuff is one of our best teachers but she has a great many students to help. So, first things first; stand up." Jaina stood up as well, moving to his side and asked for his wand hand. Slowly, she moved him through the proper flick and swish motion twice before releasing him.
"Now I want you to do it on your own, exactly as we just did it. Do not say anything. Do not think anything. Just do the wand movement."
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Post by Christopher Johnson on Jan 19, 2019 18:13:44 GMT -8
Christopher listens to her positivity and was actually happy that someone had it. He worked on moving to work on standing up like was told. He felt her moving his hand in the proper motion. “Thank you again for helping me. I sure that Professor MacDuff does not really like me. I get my papers to work done so it is why I am passing.”
He worked on watching what she did with his wrist. Christopher kept doing the movements slowly to make sure did them write. He felt his mind wandering over the different things that could happen when did this. Christopher closed his eyes a moment breathing in slowly. His hand moved to work on moving slowly.
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Post by Jaina Gemini on Jan 19, 2019 18:29:12 GMT -8
"Little tighter on the swish," Jaina coached. "Remember, mind black - just focus on the movement of the wand. You don't need your arm; it's all in the wrist. The rest will come later." She took her wand, struggling to keep her mind blank as Jaina held her arm close to his. *See, right here." He was simply overflourishing, which was a very common mistake in the first years.
"And I can just about guarantee that Professor MacDuff doesn't hate you. I actually cannot see her hating anyone. She's really a very nice woman if firm at times. But it's only because she wants you to succeed - to reach your full potential. Now, try it again."
Just like the teacher mentioned, Jaina made him perform the movement again and again until finally, he caught performed it just right, to which she cheered enthusiastically. "There! You did it, Christopher. That's the first step." She bent over and grabbed him a cookie, handing it over. "Do you recognize the difference now? Can you remember to do that from now on? Short swish and firm flick."
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Post by Christopher Johnson on Jan 19, 2019 19:15:40 GMT -8
Christopher listens to everything that Jaina said about holding the wand correctly. He wanted to make sure that was doing everything correctly even if that meant doing it bigger then should have. “I think that got the movement down finally. I was making the movements way to big that it was not getting the right swishes and flicks, to begin with.”
He worked on taking the cookie and sitting it down next to his books confused on why she was actually giving it to him. The rules were he had to make it float to get it so why having one how. “Thank you, Jaina. The first step is harder then looked. Why did you actually give me a cookie? I did not get it to float as you told me to.”
Christopher set down next to the fire again when got little chilly. “You sure that she does not hate anyone. I am sure that some of the teachers don’t really like me at all. Most of the teachers in my other schools did not like me either.” He knew that could most likely talk to the teachers, but he did not know how to talk to them. He wondered if could trust this girl with his secret.
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Post by Jaina Gemini on Jan 19, 2019 20:56:29 GMT -8
"I gave you the cookie because you earned it. Wand movements can be very tricky - going from one to another. Besides, it's just nice to have a good chocolate chip every once in a while." She grinned, plopping back down onto the ground. "And these are some of the best I've ever had."
She considered his other question, debating in her head the pros and cons of how much information to give him. Just because she thought of one teacher one way, didn't mean it was true. St. Roix, for example. And the new Transfiguration teacher, who she did not see eye to eye with at all.
"The teachers here aren't like other teachers. They certainly do not hate kids because of their grades nor for any other reason. They are here because they want us to learn - to grow up to be the best witches and wizards we can possibly be. We are the future, Christopher. We will grow up and shape the wizarding world for forever, one way or another. For them to not like us, to work against us is like hoping that the world will end with them and I don't think any of them are that selfish." That one took a lot of work but her face didn't so much as twitch in disbelief. He needed reassurance, to make up his mind for himself.
"Professor MacDuff is especially kind, as is Professor McDanna, the potions teacher. They are devoted to helping their students in any way that they can, especially Professor McDanna. There are times when she gets firm but that is only because there are dangerous things in the potions lab and she doesn't want anyone to get hurt."
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Post by Christopher Johnson on Jan 20, 2019 15:30:56 GMT -8
Christopher understood what she was saying and moved to work on taking the cookie back in his hand. He did not mind actually getting to have one for not doing the work correctly. The first year worked on taking a bite of the cookie and actually let a small gasp from the favor. “Wow, this is a really great cookie. It one of the best ones that I have ever tasted in my life. Where did you get this one from.” He took another bite.
“We are the future but still the past is what works on giving us all the examples that we want. Not everyone is meant to be a great wizard. I mean some graduate some this school but still do not make it anywhere. They are like any other no-maj.” He knew that his mother was a witch and had no job. “It nice that these teachers are not like normal ones. None of my other teachers at schooled like me. I actually spent most of my time in detention in school. These teachers seem nicer here since not ended up in one.”
“I tried to stay away from the potions class. I not very good in that class at all. Why does everything have to be so precise? They need to have something where maybe only need about this time.” He thought that could be why Professor McDanna really did not like him. “She gets firm with me for sure. I mean messed up most of the potions I tired. Need to work on maybe working on maybe trying to talk to her later for some more help. Maybe if had extra time would do better. I like Professor MacDuff she is nice.”
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Post by Jaina Gemini on Jan 20, 2019 16:04:49 GMT -8
"A neighbor back where I lived, she sends me care packages every month or so. The best day of the month when I get the package," Jaina grinned. She listened to his disagreeing opinion, nodding. "I suppose that not all of us can go on to invent new, world-changing spells or potions. That would be highly unlikely," she finally agreed.
"But I believe that it is better not to focus on what is unlikely and, instead, focus on what you can do - as an individual - to make the future better. For example, I know of a woman who grew up rather privileged. Her family was very old money, a pureblood family going back to the medieval days, always focused on the betterment of wizardkind as a whole. Amongst her relatives were a great many wizards who had bettered the lives of the magical world through acts of charity as well as improving spells and potions or working as Aurors to protect those that needed it. That was how this woman was raised. She had so much potential - she could do so very much.
"And for a while, she followed the course that her parents laid out for her. Good education, the right friends, future marriage prospects - everything she could want was there. But she didn't want it." Jaina admitted. "She informed her parents that instead of their plans, she would pursue the art of healing and, what was worse, she wished to marry some nobody who lived out in a rural area with little money at hand. The complete opposite of everything they wished for her - and she gave up all that for this smaller life where it seemed that she could do very little. A disappointment, indeed." She shook her head.
"But no one saw the potential - no one but her. See, out in rural areas in the central states of our country, hospitals are few and far in-between. And while yes, we are capable of apparating, it's hard to transfer someone bleeding to death over hundreds of miles in hopes of reaching a magical hospital in time. With this in mind, the young woman and a few of her younger colleagues recognized a need. It took a great deal of time, money, and sacrifice but eventually, they managed to establish small, magical clinics located in small-town hospitals that normally served No-Maj patients. So now, instead of having to travel hundreds of miles with devastating injured patients, it's a journey of fifty, no more than one hundred miles to get them somewhere safe that they can receive immediate attention. Her family was insulted by such a small life. She could have worked in any major hospital in the country but she chose this instead, the hopes of helping a few over the many.
"Maybe her choice will not change the world as a whole. But the few people she manages to save because she chose the harder path, the less glorious one? Their world is changed because of her. So no, we all won't have fame and glory but we can still make the world better."
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Post by Christopher Johnson on Jan 20, 2019 17:34:04 GMT -8
Christopher moved to set the cookie down. It was a good one and did not know it would be able to get another one later so wanted to save it. “That nice that you have a great neighbor that sents you care packages.” He then frowns knowing he never gets one. “You have a lot of happy days during the school year. I mean the day get the packages, Saturday, and Sunday.”
He worked on picking his wand up not wanting to talk about how not all witches and wizards got fame. The female in her story got what she wanted in the end. She opens a clinic that helped people out. What if the woman would have gone on a different path that gave her fame. “She is happy though right. The woman in your story is happy with life even if her family does not like it. Her life has saved many other people lives. If could go back to this other life of fame and future would she do that.”
Christopher was thinking about it all and was worried about everything that was going on. “I know of a witch that had a family. It seems that everything was going to be happy with her. Then there was something that happened and now her life is nothing that wanted. The female is now living on the streets not able to get a job or do anything. She not happy and wished could do more for her family.” He worked on focusing on his wand movements. Christopher wanted to make sure got all this done correctly.
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Post by Jaina Gemini on Jan 20, 2019 19:00:38 GMT -8
"When she made her choice, to go down this different path, her great and powerful family disowned her," Jaina explained simply. "The siblings she grew up with and the parents who had showered her with such love will no longer speak to her. They pretend as though she died or as if she does not exist. Even knowing that that was a possibility, she did not shy away, so firm in her belief that she was doing the right thing. And now she has a new family with the man she married and all of the patients that she's helped - who love her for always being there for them. I cannot see her being happier anywhere else," she admitted.
When he began to talk about another woman, Jaina listened carefully, nodding. "I see. That would be very hard for a woman with magic to have to accept such a circumstance. Is she the only witch in her family or are there others?"
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