3 Jun 2019, 06:52
It just had to be fire didn't it?
”U-hm... P-professor w-would it bother you to continue this in the office?”
Artemis could hear the shaking in the young teen's voice and gave a nod. Naturally, the boy would be scared. Damn near being burnt up would scare even the bravest of men. And it wouldn't do for anyone to pass through the corridor right now and begin asking questions he didn't feel like answering. It was bad enough he would have to explain all of this to the Headmaster later this evening. Yes, taking this back into his office was for the best. The Charms professor attempted to stand up from his position, but the arms of a certain eight-year-old refused to release his neck and so Artemis stood up with Yuya in his arm, clinging to his wet form.
Turning his head to the child, he roughly said, "You do know that you're getting too big for this?"
Yuya kept his head in his father's neck and just shrugged, not caring. Artemis smiled at the boy and led the two lads back into the classroom and through to his office. Once the door was closed, Artemis guided Alan to sit on one of the armchairs in the office and called for a house elf. The big-eared, large-eyed creature bowed when it popped into the office.
"Would you please bring up three cups of tea, two vials of Calming Draught, and some biscuits for the boys?"
"Shall I also ask the nurse for something for your throat, sir? You don't sound too well." the House Elf asked curiously.
Artemis used one hand and felt his throat and as he cleared it, he winced a bit. "Yes, please." The House Elf acquiesced and popped away. While the elf filled the request, Artemis turned to Alan and said, "I'll be right back, Mr. Vanes. I'm just going to change and get Yuya calmed before we discuss what happened."
With that Artemis walked through another door toward his quarters. Gently prying his son's hands from his neck, he put the boy on his feet on the floor and summoned the suitcase he had packed before leaving their house and enlarged it. "Yuya, find a change of clothes in here and then head back out into the office and sit with Alan."
Yuya nodded quietly and moved to do as his father asked of him. Artemis was a bit concerned about how subdued his son was, but he couldn't worry too much on Yuya. He needed to make sure that his second-year student was calm and to ensure him that he wasn't in trouble for the destruction of the classroom. Artemis knew that, if anything, this was his fault as he didn't take into account to use a stronger ward that would hold up even after he left the vicinity.
Some Charms Master I turned out to be. he thought to himself as he moved into his bedroom to grab a change of clothes. He smelled like burnt wood and smoke and knew that he wouldn't be able to stand that smell if he didn't at least try to wash it off. Making a hasty decision he jumped into the shower and quickly washed himself before leaving the comfort of the hot water, drying, and dressing quickly. His damp and now uneven hair clung to the towel around his shoulders. Looking at himself in the mirror, Artemis made another decision. Holding his waist-length hair in one hand, the man used his wand in his other hand and cut the hair to be even with the uneven length that was now sitting a little past his shoulders. Short hair it is again. With a sigh, he tossed the now dead ends in the bin, used a hair drying charm and then left the bathroom. He'd figure out the rest later.
Heading back out through his living quarters, he moved over to the tray on his desk that thankfully had a warming charm on the tea. Picking up one of the vials of Calming Draught, Artemis downed the whole thing, grimacing a bit as the potion went down his raw throat, before opening up the other vial of Calming Draught and putting one drop in Yuya's cup and two in Alan's own before moving the tray and biscuits over to where the boys were sitting. They were all going to need this potion after the events of today.
"The potion will help ease your nerves. Normally the nurse would give you a whole vial, but I'm also quite sure that you would still need the child dosage considering your size," he said, his voice still sounding rough and scratchy. Artemis coughed hard as his throat constricted a bit, but then it cleared up. Looking on his desk, he saw two other vials on there and he knew one was for the smoke inhalation and the rawness of his throat. How the nurse even knew about the smoke was beyond him. Maybe the House-Elf assumed what happened and explained to the nurse. Either way, Artemis was grateful and he took the potion that would soothe his throat first before taking the one to help clear his airways from any lingering smoke inhalation damage.
Sighing in relief, he turned back to the boys and saw that both of them were looking at him, Yuya with a guilty expression and Alan, well, he wasn't sure what look the boy was giving him, but he knew he had to reassure them both.
"Don't look at me like that, you two. None of this is your fault. The classroom will be fixed up again and the most important thing is that the three of us are safe. Especially you two." Artemis picked up his cup of tea and took a sip, relishing in the warmth of the liquid, before turning to Alan. "I am not actually aware of everything that happened before I arrived here, Mr. Vanes, but I would have assumed that you knew the Extinguishing Charm. Is that not the case? Is that why you couldn't put the fire out?"
He truly didn't know anything about the boy's past lessons before he came to teach at Hogwarts. Personally, he wouldn't have even taught Incendio to first years which is the year they were supposed to learn the fire-making and extinguishing spells. But Alan was a second year. Surely by now he should have learned all about the spells or had tutoring to learn them? Either way, it didn't matter. He was just happy that the boys were alright.
Looking at Yuya, Artemis took another sip of his tea before addressing the youngest child. "Yuya, I think we should keep this a secret from your mum, don't you think?" his voice was sounding a bit clearer than it did moments ago.
The child looked up. "You don't want mummy to chew you up and spit you out for leaving two kids alone, do you, daddy?"
Artemis refrained from the shudder that wanted to wrack his body. Chewing him up and spitting him out was the least of Artemis' worries when it came to his wife. Yuya stared at his dad before a thought occured to him and the boy smirk in a way that would make people think that Artemis cloned himself.
"I won't tell mummy if I don't have to do homework and if I can become a Gryffindor like Alan when I turn eleven. Oh, and I want your cookies and snacks for a month."
Artemis choked on his tea and sputtered as whatever he was drinking went down the wrong tube. Blackmail? My kid is trying to blackmail me?Artemis looked at his student before turning and narrowing his eyes at his little boy. He knew Yuya would tell his mother about the fire if he didn't give in though. But he didn't have to give in to everything.
"I don't take kindly to you blackmailing your dear father, son. However, I will allow you to have my snacks for two weeks except before dinner and I'll reduce the amount of summer work you usually do. As for you becoming Gryffindor, that is not for me to determine when you turn eleven. However," Artemis took his own robes and cast a few spells on them to make them smaller and then put the Gryffindor insignia on them. He then put the robe over his son's head. "you can go around wearing that for as long as you want and be an honorary Gryffindor. Deal?"
Artemis watched as his son thought about the deal, then examine the robes and when he saw that they looked exactly like Alan Vanes' own, smiled widely and nodded at his father eagerly. Standing up, the boy moved in front of Alan and held up his "new" robes. "Look Alan! I'm a Gryffindor just like you!"
Artemis smiled softly at the two boys and he walked over to the teenager. Putting his hand on the boy's head, he ruffled the child's hair affectionately. Something that wasn't completely uncharacteristic of Artemis Vernatis, but it was rare. "Mr. Vanes, I think I also will renounce the assignment I had given you. So long as you remember my name the next time we meet," he said with a smirk.
Artemis Vernatis
Professor of Charms
3 Jun 2019, 10:10
It just had to be fire didn't it?
♫
The young Gryffindor was still nervous and visibly shaking as he watched the professor curiously. He was smiling though, a thin smile, when he saw Yuya clinging to the form of his father, resting his face into the crook of the professor's neck. No matter how nervous and frightened he was from the scenes that played in front of his eyes mere moments ago, he could not help but smile at this wholesome image that displayed in front of him. Alan would fight anyone who would say something mean about the professor, he was not as mean or strict as the rumors let him be. Then again Alan was not one who let himself be blinded by rumors.
Alan would follow the man with the child clinging to his neck through the destroyed classroom, making nausea raise in him. He did that with a simple spell? It was a sickening thought and it made the second year hope he would never have to use this spell again, or at least not while he was alone. The wooden floor in that classroom was charred around the places the action figure had stood, which was now an unrecognizable piece of molten plastic on the ground. The thick walls of smoke that had previously occupied the room were now thinned down and see-through, making it possible for the Gryffindor to see the actual amount of damage he had caused. He hoped the professor was not all too mad, but he was sure his parents could help with the damage control. However he did not want them to know just yet, did not want them to see that he couldn't even handle to cast a first year charm, while his father was probably still sick in the hospital. He did not want to be an additional burden of their already big worries.
Shame filled him as he concentrated on the office door, rather than his surroundings and a sigh of relief slipped past his lips as soon as he entered the professor's office and closed the door to the demolished classroom behind them. Sitting down on the armchair, the professor had assigned for him, he crouched back to the end of it and leaned his back against the cushioned rest. He watched in concern as the professor called for a house elf and in the first moment panic raised in the pit of his stomach that he might call for the headmaster, a man that Alan did not like and wanted to be as far away from as humanly possible while living in the same castle. Again he was met with relief when the professor merely asked for tea, biscuits and vials of calming draught. Alan knew this potion, it was given to people who just went through some crisis or hurt themselves really badly. He trusted the professor to know the amount he would need to give to kids, so he did not bother to say anything. He just began to look forward to the biscuits while his wildly beating heart was slowing down to a more common beat rate. The adrenaline and blood stopped rushing audibly through his veins as Alan tried to distract himself by looking around in the classroom.
When the professor addressed him, telling the second year that he would be going to change clothes and calm Yuya down, Alan nodded stiffly. He wished the day would just be over and that the professor would not expel him or something during that talk. Alan watched as he left the room, giving Yuya a soft smile as he took a peek at the young Gryffindor over the shoulder of his father. Only know while he was sitting alone and had time to think about what had happened he noticed that the front of his robes were damp, making him realize that the professor indeed had been drenched in water head to toe, making the second year silently hope that the older man would not catch a cold.
While the professor was occupied in what Alan assumed were his private chambers he took a look around in the office, spending a glance at the books in shelves wondering if it were Charms books only or if the professor had other interests than his subject. However Alan stayed in place, as he was still too shaken for snooping around. He would probably have another chance to do just that. So for now he was sitting there, fingers nervously playing with the hem of his robes as he finally put his wand away in the holder. When it took more than a few minutes Alan was getting impatient, fiddling around more in the seat until his face lit up when the door was opened. But his expression was quickly replaced by a frown followed by a face of horror. The professor's hair was so much shorter now! Was it because of what happened in the classroom? Was it all Alan's fault in the end.? He bit hi slips nervously and glanced over at Yuya to see if the young boy was alright.
Alan blinked when the professor pushed the tray with biscuits and tea towards him and Alan nodded at the man's words. He had always gotten the child dosage while he was sick or so, so he doubted it would be any different now. With shaking hands Alan would reach for his cup of tea and take a sip, savoring the taste of the apple and cinnamon flavored liquid, that run down his throat hotly. It did not take much time for the potion to take effect as his breathing and and heart slowed down until they reached a steady rhythm.
”But professor... your hair-”, he stuttered and voicing it made him stare at the professor in worry. Alan would not want anyone to mess with his hair without his permission and the professor had to cut it short because of a mistake he made, surely he was far less than amused or happy by this situation. The hair had been so pretty and long, the professor surely loved his hair that way or he would have kept it trimmed. When the professor uttered his so called assumption Alan shook his head nervously. ”It had only been added to the c-curriculum recently, Sir, because of the events and their relation to fire accidents.” His voice was cal and collected, a sign that the potion had taken effect, however his hands were still fiddling with the cup in his hands, twisting and turning it while he was talking to the man.
Watching the exchange between the professor and his son he could not help but the chuckle that slipped past his lips. The child was smart and knew how to get what he wanted, making Alan smile a bit. Now not only his body seemed relaxed but also his mind was slowly calming down. It made him happy that the boy wanted to become a Gryffindor because of him, made the pride of a lion rise in his chest. When the boy turned to him, presenting himself in the Gryffindor robes, Alan could not help but to get drawn in by that amount of excitement in the younger boy's voice.
”I can see that, you look like a real lion now, but can you roar like one?”, he asked the child, challenging him playfully. He was however caught off guard by the professor's next words, as he turned towards the spell master. ”Y-your name?,” he asked before his eyes widened and he pulled out the piece of paper from the pocket of his robes, unfolding the paper. He said he was allowed to look at it after the spell was casted, correct? Alan looked at the arrangements of letters with a puzzled look, before looking at the man.
”Professor V-Vernatis?”
This is a main account tied to: Nichlas Forsberg
5 Jun 2019, 11:24
It just had to be fire didn't it?
Artemis chuckled as the boy stuttered out his name. Granted he had to look at the little slip of paper, but at least the boy finally knew his name. And now that he managed to get the child to say his name, he could focus on the secondary issue at hand.
This boy didn't have confidence in himself to cast a spell and he couldn't hold his concentration.
When Alan had replied with
"We have a problem then, Mr. Vanes. You're not confident to cast Incendio and you sorely lack the ability to concentrate properly and focus on what you're doing. I sure that you remember that focus and concentration are one of the rules when casting a charm, correct?" Artemis asked, a slightly stern tone edging into his voice. He understood that the spell was just added and he could forgive Alan for not learning it. The professors at the time should have ensured all students learned the spell at some point, whether as a homework assignment or mandatory lessons. But he wasn't going to go easy on the lad for not learning how to control himself, control his mind, and focus on the task at hand.
"You're lack of concentration needs quick fixing. I can only help you learn and master spells after you've found a way to concentrate your mind. If you need help to start, the first thing you can try is meditating. Meditate before bed and after you wake up. You don't need to do it for a long time but you need to be able to clear your mind of all distractions. Do some exercises during your free time which will also help you focus on one thing. Write a distraction to-do list where you write down all of your distractions and learn to ignore all of those distractions. You need to learn how to concentrate, Alan."
Artemis let his words settle in the room and swirl around in both of the boy's ears. Yuya moved closer to the boy and bravely, yet still quite meekly, said, "Dad, don't be mad at Alan. He didn't mean to burn the classroom."
Artemis looked at the boys and sighed before moving to kneel in front of his young Gryffindor student. Putting a hand on the boy's head, he ruffled the lad's hair and gave him a soft smile. "We'll work through his, Alan. I will do my part to make sure you learn the spells you desire...so long as they are in the school curriculum...and you will practice on your concentration skills. Deal?"
Artemis hoped that Alan would heed his words and hope that the boy will eventually learn to practice on concentrating on the tasks at hand instead of allowing every sound or thought to distract him. It would be hard, especially if he was used to being distracted, but he would have to learn.
This boy didn't have confidence in himself to cast a spell and he couldn't hold his concentration.
When Alan had replied with
Artemis seriously wondered what the hell was this school doing with their students? Of course, the Charms professor had heard about last year's Blossom Ball event and how a fire had started just as it had at the Blossom Ball this year that was in progress before he arrived. If what Alan said was true, then these teachers only decided to teach the students the extinguishing charm as a way to clean up their own mess. Instead of monitoring the students as they should have. Just like this year when the students were all left on their own. Why were students always left to fend for themselves?"It had only been added to the c-curriculum recently, Sir, because of the events and their relation to fire accidents.”
"We have a problem then, Mr. Vanes. You're not confident to cast Incendio and you sorely lack the ability to concentrate properly and focus on what you're doing. I sure that you remember that focus and concentration are one of the rules when casting a charm, correct?" Artemis asked, a slightly stern tone edging into his voice. He understood that the spell was just added and he could forgive Alan for not learning it. The professors at the time should have ensured all students learned the spell at some point, whether as a homework assignment or mandatory lessons. But he wasn't going to go easy on the lad for not learning how to control himself, control his mind, and focus on the task at hand.
"You're lack of concentration needs quick fixing. I can only help you learn and master spells after you've found a way to concentrate your mind. If you need help to start, the first thing you can try is meditating. Meditate before bed and after you wake up. You don't need to do it for a long time but you need to be able to clear your mind of all distractions. Do some exercises during your free time which will also help you focus on one thing. Write a distraction to-do list where you write down all of your distractions and learn to ignore all of those distractions. You need to learn how to concentrate, Alan."
Artemis let his words settle in the room and swirl around in both of the boy's ears. Yuya moved closer to the boy and bravely, yet still quite meekly, said, "Dad, don't be mad at Alan. He didn't mean to burn the classroom."
Artemis looked at the boys and sighed before moving to kneel in front of his young Gryffindor student. Putting a hand on the boy's head, he ruffled the lad's hair and gave him a soft smile. "We'll work through his, Alan. I will do my part to make sure you learn the spells you desire...so long as they are in the school curriculum...and you will practice on your concentration skills. Deal?"
Artemis hoped that Alan would heed his words and hope that the boy will eventually learn to practice on concentrating on the tasks at hand instead of allowing every sound or thought to distract him. It would be hard, especially if he was used to being distracted, but he would have to learn.
Artemis Vernatis
Professor of Charms
5 Jun 2019, 14:44
It just had to be fire didn't it?
♫
Alan nodded. Of course he knew the rules of casting any spell successful. Professor loved repeating that rule over and over, but Alan still was kinda annoyed by himself that he was not good at that rule. He wished that concentration just was not necessary to launch a charm, but secretly he knew that was wishful thinking. The professor was also right with calling him out for the lack of skill in concentration. Alan was bad at it. Everything could distract the second year and he realized now that this would be a huge problem if that would go on like that. Alan was pretty sure that he would end up being a danger if he would not learn it, but it also sounded so boring.
“You need to learn how to concentrate, Alan,” is what the professor was telling him, after listing a few ways on how Alan could improve. But that sounded boring. Meditating. However Alan would give it a serious try. He wanted to cast spells and he did not want to be the reason he could not improve. Maybe it really was his own problem after all and the professor was right. Maybe Alan was a bit too unfocused for such tasks as a spell that required concentration for longer periods of times. It was probably the reason why his Lumos spell would dim within seconds after he casted it. Or why Scott was able to keep a feather floating even if Alan used the General Counter Charm on it.
He peeked up when the professor ruffled through his hair, making it end up tousled and disarranged. But the deal sounded good. ”Deal! But u-uhm Professor ...Vernatis? Would it be doable for you to meet from time to time to practice my concentration while casting? O-only if it would not be a bother-”, he asked hopefully a nervous glimmer in his eyes. Alan would try to work on his concentration but he would not want to cast spells that could go wrong without supervision.
This is a main account tied to: Nichlas Forsberg
10 Jun 2019, 02:15
It just had to be fire didn't it?
Artemis smirked at the boy before him and ruffled his hair a bit more. Standing up, Artemis responded, "I would prefer that you try to do this on your own and see what works for you. There are plenty of ways to focus and concentrate on what you need to do. However, if I ever have time, we can meet up...outside and practice any spell you wish to do."
Taking Alan's empty teacup, Artemis moved back to his desk and refilled it, leaving out the potion this time and handed it back to the twelve-year-old. He turned to see if Yuya would want more of the potion but he saw his son leaning heavily against Alan, his head on the older boy's shoulder. Though his eyes were opened slightly, Artemis could see that the little boy was fighting sleep. Moving the few steps over to the pair, Artemis put his hand on Yuya's head.
"You ready for a nap, kiddo?"
Yuya shook his head and held onto his new friend. "No...I wanna stay with-" a wide yawn broke the boy's statement, "with Alan," he finished, his eyes closing of their own volition.
Artemis smiled at his son and gently picked up him, letting the boy rest his head on his own shoulder as the excitement from the day finally took its toll on him. If Artemis wasn't required to stay awake for the entire day tending to his students and other teacherly duties, he would have gladly joined his son in taking a nap, but alas, he had to "adult".
He looked at Alan again. "I'm sorry about that. I think you've made quite the impression on Yuya here. He's quite fond of you, Mr. Vanes." Shifting the boy to a more comfortable position, Artemis leaned against his desk and looked Alan over. "You're a bright kid, Mr. Vanes. I hope you know that. I'm also sure that you'll be able to overcome any shortcomings with your concentration either alone or with help. I may not always be able to help you, I will admit this, but sometimes the best help comes from those your age and not always from an adult."
Yuya jerked in his sleep and Artemis let out a sigh. "I apologize for this, Mr. Vanes, but I will have to leave you for now to put Yuya down and also figure out how to explain our...situation to the Headmaster. I think it would be good for you to return to your common room, shower, and take a quick rest yourself. I'm sure that the excitement from today is also taking a toll on you."
Moving to a part of the wall in his office, Artemis touched the panel and the wall parted revealing a hidden door. "I'm sure you wouldn't want to walk back through the classroom, so by all means, use this door. It will disappear once you walk through it and you won't be able to find it again from the other side." Artemis moved back over to where the boy was and put a hand on his shoulder briefly. "I hope you have a good rest of your day, Mr. Vanes. See you in class."
Taking Alan's empty teacup, Artemis moved back to his desk and refilled it, leaving out the potion this time and handed it back to the twelve-year-old. He turned to see if Yuya would want more of the potion but he saw his son leaning heavily against Alan, his head on the older boy's shoulder. Though his eyes were opened slightly, Artemis could see that the little boy was fighting sleep. Moving the few steps over to the pair, Artemis put his hand on Yuya's head.
"You ready for a nap, kiddo?"
Yuya shook his head and held onto his new friend. "No...I wanna stay with-" a wide yawn broke the boy's statement, "with Alan," he finished, his eyes closing of their own volition.
Artemis smiled at his son and gently picked up him, letting the boy rest his head on his own shoulder as the excitement from the day finally took its toll on him. If Artemis wasn't required to stay awake for the entire day tending to his students and other teacherly duties, he would have gladly joined his son in taking a nap, but alas, he had to "adult".
He looked at Alan again. "I'm sorry about that. I think you've made quite the impression on Yuya here. He's quite fond of you, Mr. Vanes." Shifting the boy to a more comfortable position, Artemis leaned against his desk and looked Alan over. "You're a bright kid, Mr. Vanes. I hope you know that. I'm also sure that you'll be able to overcome any shortcomings with your concentration either alone or with help. I may not always be able to help you, I will admit this, but sometimes the best help comes from those your age and not always from an adult."
Yuya jerked in his sleep and Artemis let out a sigh. "I apologize for this, Mr. Vanes, but I will have to leave you for now to put Yuya down and also figure out how to explain our...situation to the Headmaster. I think it would be good for you to return to your common room, shower, and take a quick rest yourself. I'm sure that the excitement from today is also taking a toll on you."
Moving to a part of the wall in his office, Artemis touched the panel and the wall parted revealing a hidden door. "I'm sure you wouldn't want to walk back through the classroom, so by all means, use this door. It will disappear once you walk through it and you won't be able to find it again from the other side." Artemis moved back over to where the boy was and put a hand on his shoulder briefly. "I hope you have a good rest of your day, Mr. Vanes. See you in class."
Artemis and Yuya leave the thread.
Artemis Vernatis
Professor of Charms