If At First You Don't Succeed . . . PV Galim Closed

@Hui Ming

Grading was what other professors were often doing. Maya, instead, was working on lesson planning. She needed to continue her lessons for the following year, and even create a first-ever O.W.L. for her class that was of her style. It was hard work, but definitely something to be grateful to have in file later on when students do take their O.W.L's.

As she was shifting through her lessons, a child seemed to have barged into her classroom and into her office space at her desk. He immediately asked her if she was the professor of Muggle Studies. Maya's eyebrows shot up in annoyance at the lack of manners the child had. She dropped her quill and crossed her arms of her red cloak.

She kept quiet for a few seconds, giving silence between his question and her answer. She was contemplating whether or not to share her annoyance or swallow it as a hole.

"You tell me," she picked the prior in her response. "What is it that you need?" she asked the young boy who, most likely, was not of age to be in Muggle Studies. She could be wrong but he seemed to be only a mere first year from the looks of his baby face in comparison to other students.

Interacting: @Maya Galim
Mentioning: -

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The moment of silence lingered between his question and her answer. He could practically feel himself being judged in that moment, from his Asian features to his tidy clothing; perhaps even his posture. He could do nothing but stand still, as the moment passed, and an answer came.

The bespectacled Chinese boy stiffened at the tone of voice. It was a rebuke, and he already felt flat-footed. Had he done something to offend her, or was this just the way of things here? He had not stormed her room the way he expected Schneider would have. He had been made aware, by multiple people over the course of the summer, that he was not like the rest of the people here. That he did not belong here. Even then, he was not quite used to being rebuked. Not for some offense that he was not even aware that he had given. Perhaps his body language simply screamed Mudblood? But even that could not be right. Avery had much the same background as him, but they were like night and day.

Hui Ming gulped, attempting to gather all the courage that seemed to have suddenly disappeared. Only yesterday, he had lamented not being in Gryffindor or Ravenclaw, and now he was quivering in his shoes at the acid tone of a teacher. He had to get a hold of himself.

"Ahem, yes. I had not-" he trailed off, realizing what a stupid thing it was that he was going to say. I had not realized that I was interrupting anything very important, as it was only the first day of classes, really? He needed to get screw his head on straight; he could not afford to be put off-kilter this easily.

He exhaled, before trying again. "I apologize for being a bother," he said, carefully keeping his tone of voice neutral. His impression of the magical world, already poor from the very few interactions he'd had with it thus far, worsened further. This was the muggle studies professor. Surely, she had had more than one Muggleborn approach her wishing to continue with their muggle education? It was the first day of classes, she should have been expecting students to pop in left right and center. Clearly though, he had missed something. It seemed to happen to him a lot when he expected this world to function like the one he had come from. Adults in this world are all preoccupied with their own little lives, not bothered about students who did not fit in with the lazy, brutish archetype that seemed to be the norm. And if he was being petulant in that judgement, or immature, or perhaps even mildly unfair; it was something that he seemed to miss almost entirely. "I was advised by my Head of House to approach any of the Professors had I any issues relating to academics. I thought the Professor who taught Muggle Studies would be most appropriate in my case."

Even though the words he spoke were addressed to the teacher, his eyes had lingered on her desk up. Only now did he slowly look up at the adult. "I wanted your advice on how best to continue my Muggle education, since your subject seems the closest to the study of Muggle subjects like the sciences, mathematics, and literature." His brows frowed just slightly. "If I was mistaken, I would appreciate if you could point me to where best to take my questions."

Despite his efforts, he somehow ended on a high cadence, giving the impression of uncertainty, as if this were all a question that could be easily dismissed, and he did not know what he was doing. That impression was true of course. But he had not intended to all but telegraph that in the beginning of this interaction.

Note OOC:

Talked to Professor Jensen who has indeed advised Ming to 'talk to any of the professors' if he had problems with the muggle educational curriculum he's pursuing on his own.

@Hui Ming

"Your apology is accepted," she said immediately after he had stated he was sorry for being a bother. It was the first day of classes and already he had a student, who was not even in her class, want to talk about something. She knew full-well what it could be. It was definitely muggle-related. Most of the muggle-born students came to her knowing that she was the Muggle Studies teacher. Every where she had a small handful of first years that she would help guide.

She stopped with whatever she was doing and looked up at the student, listening to him. For the first time, she was asked a question on how to keep going with muggle curriculum coinciding with magical curriculum. Maya clasped her hands and sighed. Not because she was bothered, but rather because she had to share with him something that he may not want to hear.

"Have a seat," she said, ushering him to sit across from her.

"There's not a best way to continue your muggle studies," she started. "When you first encountered magic and received your letter, you were given a choice between two worlds: magical and muggle. Engulfing yourself in the magical makes you sacrifice your muggle side."

Maya paused, hoping that he would understand where she was getting at. "I do recommend perhaps taking your muggle studies over the summer. This can, however, prevent you from joining our annual summer camps that we do every off-season of the year. But that is the best compromise I can give you. As for pure advice... Stay in the magical world and learn what it has to offer but never forget who you are."

Perhaps it was not what he needed to hear. She was not the type to sugar coat anything. Straight forwardness was her M-O. She waited patiently assuming the child had to process her words and figure out their next move.

Interacting: @Maya Galim

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He watched the Professor clasp her hands and sigh. Clearly he had missed something.

At her prompting he took a seat opposite to her, his back straight and his posture perfect, even as she continued and told him that picking the magical meant sacrificing the Muggle. Almost instinctively, his body tensed at the blunt answers and advice he was given.

No, that could not be correct. I'm expected to continue my education after this! Was his first thought. He could almost imagine the shame his parents would feel if he were never to go and get a degree from University. A proper mastery or two, to fit in with the family name.

He did not say anything for several moments, though his agitation was clear from his body language. What could he say? He could hardly tell a professor that he needed to continue and excel at his muggle studies; that this was his duty to his family and his name and heritage, and he could no more turn his back on that than she could expel him for being impertinent.

"Well," he said finally, hints of a Chinese accent bleeding into what had been a posh London elocution. He focused entirely upon the earth-shattering crisis that was the former part of her response, so much so that the latter part about not forgetting his roots was all but left unprocessed. "I promised my parents that I'd keep up with a proper education while I was here."

A wince, and then. "They might owl me assignments to test if I'm keeping my word."

He let his words hang, the request for help clearly implied, but left unsaid.

@Hui Ming

It was pure enjoyment to see a child wanting to hold onto their past life and move it into their new one. It was the hardest thing about being a Muggleborn. How would someone be able to jump into a whole new life and world and leave the one that they just got to know for the first 10 years of their existence? The hardest part of it all: balancing the two out. Maya had found her balance, but it took a lot of travel and knowledge. This child was about eleven or twelve. There was no way, whatsoever, that he would understand how to balance them together. Should she allow him to try though? He'll succeed in failure, she thought.

"That was your mistake, Mr. Ming," Maya continued. "You made a promise to your parents without understanding the rigorous course you'll be taking here," she stopped and shrugged. "As I've mentioned, perhaps taking some courses over the summer would be best, but during the academic year, you cannot be able to balance out both your magical and muggle studies. It may not be what you want to hear, but I promise you, you'll drown in both if you take on both."

Maya paused again, thinking, and crossed her arms when she was ready to persuade. "Focus on your magical studies now. Your life is not the same anymore and it may be hard, but you need to focus on what's best for you as a Muggleborn. You have potential in the magical world," she added, pushing for him to do his magical studies. It is, most commonly, what is best for him or he would drown in his work. In addition, he would not have a social life with all that he had to do.