Professor of Potions Office
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Inside the classroom, not far from the Professor's workstation, there's a door that leads anyone to the Professor of Potions office. The door is guarded by Nibbles, the carnivorous plant that has been raised by the Professor since it was a bud. The door is often closed to give the Professor privacy, though he will always be ready in case of an emergency.
Inside, the visitors can see a small and simple room with objects that have been placed neatly. The room gives off the smell of mixed herbs that are harmonising pleasantly. In the centre of the room, a large office desk stands with comfortable chairs facing each other. The Professor did all of his paperwork here.
On the desk, there are many objects that can be seen: piles of papers, either from the school or others; a garuda-shaped inkwell with a black quill on it; and a placard with Javanese letters, an unfamiliar writing for some people. There are also jars of snacks: Marshmallow Biscuits, Chocolate Bar, and Chocolate Rocher. The snacks are always refilled by the Professor, so the snacks can always be taken.
A sturdy magical glass window was perched at the side of the room, facing the glorious scenery of the Great Lake. Mundane and Magical creatures can sometimes be seen swimming around from the window. It brings warmth and vibrancy that stand apart from the dark, cold, and damp impression associated with dungeons.
Lesmana Asmaralaya
On one side of the room stands a cabinet containing many documents. Further along the same side, a drawer stocked with snacks, tea, and coffee, with a tea set placed neatly on top. Between the cabinet and the drawer, there's a door to the Potions Storeroom. It is locked with a charm that is too complex for the First to Third Year students, making it impossible for them to enter the storeroom.
There's another shelf standing behind the Professor's desk. It's filled with some potions that are prepared for emergencies. The Professor also put his enchanted radio on this shelf. Another door can be seen standing beside the shelf.
The Potionsmaster is proficient in Ancient Runes. The document cabinet and the door behind his desk are sealed with a complex runic formula, so that no one could open them without the Professor's permission. Charms, jinxes, hexes, or curses wouldn't be able to penetrate the protection. Reckless attempts will result in some effects such as swollen fingers, clown makeup, or hair-raising that looks like electrocuted hair. These effects would last at least for 24 hours, as a reminder of their lack of self-control.
Anyone could expect Professor Lesmana in his office if they hear faint music from the enchanted radio. However, knocking on the door is the best and proper way to check if he is inside. Professor Lesmana would open the door when he heard any knocks. Otherwise, the office would be locked.
Information
- This is an in-character thread where you can do short interactions with Professor Asmaralaya. Due to the nature of this thread, I can provide interaction with one person only. There's a one-month deadline for each post. No reply within this one month, the person would be considered to have left the thread. If you want a group or longer thread, we can do it by making a new thread in the Potions forum.
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Professor of Potions Office
It has been two months and a week after the school year began. For Cassie, this is not a normal school year at all-- she has been absent for a year, and now she has returned to Hogwarts. For the past two months, she has been struggling to catch up-- she has high standards for herself and she is a bit of a perfectionist, but a year of not studying made this difficult for her. She spent nearly every hour awake in the classrooms or the library, trying to learn as much as possible.
This Monday afternoon however, the second she puts down her spoon at the table, tiredness takes over all her feelings. She is just too exhausted to study some more as she has scheduled. 'I'll go for a walk around the school.' she thinks.
A few minutes later, without noticing where her feet took her, she hears some music from behind a door. She stops walking and looks around, finding herself in the basement, in front of the potions classroom.'Where did the music come from?' On the left of the door is the professor's workstation. 'Then this must be the professor's office.'
Professor Asmaralaya, who used to be Slytherin Head of House, in Cassie's mind, is quite a kind and handsome professor. She feels calm every time she has a Potions lesson as if his voice has some kind of magic. She has done many homeworks in the past two months, but among them, her Potions is the best. 'Why not enter and have a chat with him.' she thinks. 'But will he even recognize me?' after all, she feels a bit strange having lessons with students one year younger than her, so she hasn't answered a single question in class.
She decides to give it a try. She takes a deep breath and knocks on the door. 'Knock, knock' the sound echoes in the dungeon.
@Lesmana Asmaralaya
Wisdom in the mind, Charm in the spirit.
iNPC: Mira Hawkins|Charmer
choco froggies buy&sell Wisdom Ball
Professor of Potions Office
Another batch of clerical works. Lesmana haven't moved his body for some minutes, so he started to feel stiff from here and there. He decided to move from his place. His feet led him to the enchanted radio not far from his seat. He turned on the radio and started to tune the small box. He passed some frequency: news, comedy, podcast, some music channels, and stopped at another music channel that played classical music. He knew the melody. It was songs from Le Carnaval des animaux. He wondered if his favourite song, Le Cygne, would also be played. The first song he heard was Poules et Coqs. A comedic tune that described the chickens really well, in his opinion.
It wasn't long before he could sit back to his place, the radio acted up. It became louder and louder until it could, perhaps, be heard outside the class. It might fill the basement. The Professor rushed to reach the radio again to fix it. It became normal again. The melody changed from Hémiones to Tortues. He sighed. He just hoped that it wouldn't cause any problem.
Then he heard a knock on his office door. He wondered who visited him and their intention.
He reached and opened a door. Outside, there was a student. A Ravenclaw, if he remembered her correctly. He read her files. "Hello," Lesmana smiled. His gaze fell on her softly. "Come in," he gave the student permission to enter his office.
"Have a seat." Another permission was given. The Professor sat on his own chair. He pushed the pile of papers aside. His fingers were folded on the desk. "Is there anything I can do for you?" He waited for the response from the Ravenclaw. The placard stood still on his table, shining from the lamp's light reflection.
@Cassie Jiang
Office Occupied
Professor of Potions Office
Not having to wait for long, the office door opens, and Cassie sees the professor by the door with a friendly look on his face. She walks inside, taking a seat after she is permitted to do so. For a few seconds, she looked around the office. It is tidies neatly, making whoever inside feel cozy. A large office desk is piled with parchment, along with an inkwell and a quill. She cannot ignore the smell either, a mixture of different herbs makes her anxious mind calm down in an instant. And, of course, she can see the placard on the desk, with strange writings on it.
She seems to start forgetting the tiredness that nearly drowned her. Wearing a warm smile, she says a bit shyly, 'Good afternoon professor Asmaralaya. I am Cassie Jiang, a third year Ravenclaw.' she pauses and then continues, 'umm I am walking by the corridors and heard the music inside. I like classical music too. So, uhm, I am a little tired recently and I am hoping to find a place to escape the burdens of academics.' by then she starts to realize how very awkward her visit must be. So she lowers her voice, and murmurs softly, 'I wonder if you have some spare time for a chat or something. You are the nicest professor I know.'
She tries hard to make her visit seem reasonable, though she is still wondering why she had the courage to visit a professor's office just for a chat-- she has never done such a thing before. She puts her hands on her laps and squeezes them to relieve her anxiety. What will the professor say? Am I disturbing his work? she wonders...
@Lesmana Asmaralaya
Wisdom in the mind, Charm in the spirit.
iNPC: Mira Hawkins|Charmer
choco froggies buy&sell Wisdom Ball
Professor of Potions Office
On his seat, the Professor observed the student, quietly judged her. He wondered the reason behind her visit. Cassie Jiang, a third-year student from Ravenclaw. A name unfamiliar to him until his recent return to teaching. The student showed dedication through her work, whether in her typewriting or her brewing. But that was all. Nothing truly distinguishable. Perhaps, not yet. It was clear that she was unfamiliar with the Professor as well, judging from the way she addressed him. Another sign that she only just returned to the school, adding more curiousity for the Professor to know about her absence.
"Don't you find it hard to pronounce? Asmaralaya, the name can be quite a tongue twister," he smiled. "You're free to call me Professor Lesmana. If you're afraid of being impolite, don't worry, I allow everyone to address me like that. Asmaralaya isn't truly my surname. Most Javanese people don't have a surname unless they come from nobility."
He perfectly hid his chuckle in his mind after knowing that the student could hear the sound of the music from the corridor. He should bring his enchanted radio to Hogsmeade next weekend, if the time allowed him.
"There are many places to destress yourself in this school, yet you came here." He opened all the snack jars on his desk, one by one, the soft clink of glass adding the melody . "The Courtyard. The Great Lake. The Rehearsal Room or Ballroom, if you only wanted to listen to music. Or Duelling Room. I heard some students destressing themselves there." His eyes returned to her, steady but unreadable.
He masked his judgment behind a faint smile. "I doubt I'm the nicest professor here, but I do have time," he stopped for some seconds, adding, "Mind you that I have no place for you to escape from your responsibility. But sometimes speaking is enough to lighten the weight. I will listen."
He nodded toward the snacks. “Take one. Sugar helps the brain think.” His fingers folded on the desk again. “Now. Tell me what has been pressing on you.”
@Cassie Jiang
Office Occupied
Professor of Potions Office
Cassie feels a bit restless sitting in the chair, but it hasn't been long before she giggles softly when the professor pronounces his surname and comments it as 'a tongue twister'. She nods a bit when she hears the fact that many Javanese people don't have surnames. It is a new piece of knowledge for her. I'll learn a bit more about the culture there, she thinks.
She listens quietly to the professor and is about to explain why she chose to visit him to relieve stress to prove that she isn't going mad when she hears the words 'I will listen' She feels a bit calmer, knowing that the professor won't turn her away.
She has to admit that she is delighted when she is allowed to take a snack. She loves sweets. She wants to have one of those the moment she saw the jars and she finally has the chance! She takes the sweet at the very top and says 'Thanks professor As..Lesmana' She isn't used to calling a professor in his or hers First name, but it does sound better than the long word Asmaralaya.
She paused a few seconds to finish the sweet and to organize her words. And she starts to talk about her stress. She is not that used to talking about her feelings to another adult, so she fails to speak as fluently and logically as she used to. 'Umm... do you know that, professor, I should have been in Fourth Grade by now, but I missed a year last year. So, um, I am finding it hard to make new friends and perform well enough in my academics. Well, I don't mean that I'm getting Trolls or so. But, I sometimes think I am sort of a perfectionist in some ways. I may get upset if I get a single E on my report card. I've been studying for all my spare time, and this makes me tired. But I can't tolerate not getting a perfect academic performance. I umm...' she doesn't know what to say next, so she pauses and looks down at her hands for a few seconds...
@Lesmana Asmaralaya
Wisdom in the mind, Charm in the spirit.
iNPC: Mira Hawkins|Charmer
choco froggies buy&sell Wisdom Ball
Professor of Potions Office
He listened to the Ravenclaw carefully. He assessed every word that came from the student, recognising the tone and emotion attached to it. "I'm aware," he answered, acknowledging her school year clarification. The reason behind it was still mysterious. He wasn't the type to push anyone to be open. He rather kept the boundary wall of each party's stand still.
The movements of Le Carnaval des animaux could be heard. Playful, sounds detached from the atmosphere that has been changed. "You seem have a lot on your plate," he said. He stood from his seat. His slender fingers lowered the volume of the Enchanted Radio. It sounded more like background noise at this moment. Enough to fill the emptiness in the room.
He sat back, making a quiet creak on the seat. The same fingers tapped on the desk lightly, a habit that sometimes slipped out whenever he thought of something. She wasn't the first one to have this problem. He had seen many similar cases with different backgrounds and different approaches. The source could sometimes be found easily, whether it was external or internal, or both. It depended on how each individual responded.
He broke the silence. "Is there anything else, Miss Jiang?" he asked calmly. "Sometimes we already know the answer of our problem. So I want to know this. If you just need to be heard, that's perfectly fine. If you'd like my thought, I can provide it as well."
The choices were in her hands now.
@Cassie Jiang
Office Occupied
Professor of Potions Office
The professor asks Cassie if she needs advice. She thinks silently for a few seconds.
This is indeed a good question. Before it was asked, she had never thought of it. What is the real purpose of her visit? To be honest, she feels much better after telling the professor all these, as she has few friends to listen to her experiences ever since she returned to Hogwarts. However, she is also aware that, if she stops the discussion of this topic right now, she may leave the office soon, and go back to her busy studies. She may be happy for today, but what about two months later? What if she feels tired again soon? She indeed needs an adult as not only a friend who listens, but also a mentor who advises.
'Thanks for listening to me, professor Lesmana,' this way of calling the professor seems much more natural by now. 'And yes, I would love to here your opinions and thoughts.' As she speaks, she reviews what she said in her mind.
All of a sudden she remembers not talking about the reason why she was absent. So she adds, 'oh and I forgot to say why I was absent from school. I'm sorry for that. I was too stressed with my studies by the end of second year, and my father has some business to do in China, so we went there for a year, until I am relaxed and prepared for the new school year.' She stops talking and waits for the professor's answer.
@Lesmana Asmaralaya sorry for the late reply, I was busy with my schoolwork yesterday and the day before
Wisdom in the mind, Charm in the spirit.
iNPC: Mira Hawkins|Charmer
choco froggies buy&sell Wisdom Ball
Professor of Potions Office
"I see," Lesmana nodded after hearing the reason behind her absence. He could understand it, but also had concerns for her future education at the school.
When he heard that she would like to have his advice, he wondered if the student chose that decision solely because she wanted to or if it was a mere respectful gesture that, actually, wasn't necessary either. The Potion Master was pretty laid-back. The number of detentions he had given so far was never more than the number of his fingers on his hand. He didn't know why there weren't any students who wanted to approach him before.
He chuckled silently. His fingers stopped tapping. Smile was never leaving his face. "Alright," he said before taking a deep breath. "Do you know that it's really okay to make mistakes?" he asked. He leaned his back against the seat. "After listening to you, I found that your intolerance of imperfection makes you fall into stress. Yes, hard work is important. But you can't force your body and mind too much." The Professor reflected. The words weren't only for the student, but it was also for him. It was Le Cygne turn now for the next movements of the orchestra.
"Catching up on the term might be hard and need more effort. But studying shouldn't be done under a stress condition. Make your learning process fun. Insert anything that can make you happy into your studying process. Also, remember, your body and mind deserve a reward after the hard work. Have fun somewhere in the castle, or Hogsmeade even. Reconnect with friends or make new connections. I believe, once you learn how to tolerate imperfection, you will be able to catch up on the other things."
Le Cygne was finished just after he took another pause. He put his gaze through the student once again, calmly. "So, Miss Jiang. Do you feel better now?" he asked.
@Cassie Jiang
Office Occupied
Professor of Potions Office
Cassie listens silently to the professor's words, nodding occasionally to show that she is listening. Professor Lesmana's smile seems especially contagious, making her smile happily too without noticing at first. She has once read a study conducted by some muggles that if someone smiles for a while, his or her mood will be improved even if that smile is just a fake one. She has to admit that she feels much happier now.
'Thanks so much professor.' she answers after the professor has given her great advice. 'I should indeed make my studying process more interesting. Will setting goals and rewarding myself a sweet or a trip when I meet them be a nice way of doing so?' she smiles even more warmly. She realizes that her words has become more fluent and natural by now. She is no longer that anxious.
'Sometimes, I will get a bit mad at myself when I see a grade that is not O on my report card.' she giggles as this behaviour is sort of mad, even in her perspective. 'I'd be screaming in my head, sometimes not completely because I can't accept imperfection but mainly because I imagine myself making a painting with Os and suddenly I accidentally dipped a drop of ink in the middle of it. Can you get that feeling, professor?' she pauses to bring herself back from that imagination, 'it's not such a great deal, but I occasionally gets a bit mad for a few minutes. Do you have a way to cure it?' her grin widens.
'Oh by the way,' she adds, lowering her voice a bit, 'that sweet tastes great, can.. I have another?'
@Lesmana Asmaralaya
Wisdom in the mind, Charm in the spirit.
iNPC: Mira Hawkins|Charmer
choco froggies buy&sell Wisdom Ball