22 Mar 2023, 20:56
Desperate Hours
Alexander trudged through the corridors of Hogwarts with a heavy heart. He had always been a natural when it came to Herbology and Potions, but astronomy was another matter entirely. Despite his frustration, he was determined to succeed and make his granny and mother proud. The towering shelves filled with books on every subject imaginable, however, seemed to mock him. How was he supposed to find the answers he needed? Nevertheless, he spotted a table in the corner of the room and headed over, slumping into a chair and staring at his homework with a deep sigh. He looked childishly desperate, wishing he could master the subject.
As he searched for the necessary books, Alex felt that sense of desperation continuing to creep up on him. He couldn't seem to find anything useful, and he was getting tired from walking up and down the aisles. Finally, he stumbled upon a book with a faded blue cover that read "Neptune: The Mysteries of the Eighth Planet." Alexander grabbed it eagerly and flipped through the pages. It was filled with intricate diagrams and charts, and the text was dense and technical. Alexander sighed, feeling a sense of tiredness wash over him. He knew that he had a long day ahead of him, and he was determined to get his homework done. He settled down at a nearby table and opened the book, his quill poised over a piece of parchment. As he began to read, Alexander's frustration grew. The words on the page seemed to blur together, and he struggled to make sense of the complex scientific concepts. "I am just eleven," he thought slightly rebelliously, "and I even can't remember my first four years."
At that moment, there was nothing for Alex that could not be more interesting than this strange little planet called Neptune. If he had a chance, he would have certainly preferred to plant a herb or to stir a potion. As with everyone, Alex too, was deeply prone to improve his skills in a subject he already had some degree of knowledge. There was no loophole, and neither there was any possibility of ignoring it. Neptune. This infamous and ominous little planet became a source of threat that dangered all the amusement on the blue planet that Alexander lived in. His stubborn mind and unwavering reluctance doubled the effect of his unwillingness.
Then, he saw that Simon was in the Library too. Simon was, in a way, the image of what Alex wanted to be - hardworking, successful, athletic, helpful, and prefect. Well, Alex could be regarded as a hardworking one too, but only if he really interested. Was he successful? That was highly debatable as it was too early to come into a conclusion yet. Athletic? Alex was the complete opposite of whatever that word meant. Being helpful alone could not be considered a high accomplishment and according to every single Hogwarts record, Alex was not a prefect.
Simon had helped Alex navigate the castle at the beginning of the term. It was very generous of him, and Alex, as a very well-mannered Manchester boy, was not the perfect candidate to ask for more help. Still, he was completely aware that without a helping hand, he would be buried under the rubble of his homework on Neptune. With small steps, thus, he walked towards the fellow badger two years older than him. "I know I am a hopeless case," he said airily in a self-deprecatingly cheerful tone, "but if you have five minutes to spare..."
@Simon Kincaid
6 May 2023, 13:21
Desperate Hours
Offering assistance to @Alexander Harland
Simon was also over near the shelves of books, standing in the aisle way with a book open in his hands. He was skimming it, glancing over the words and the pictures to see if he felt it was worth a read or just best placed back onto the shelf. He was there just to pass some of his free time while AngelFyre practiced her dueling.
A voice caused him to look up, and he saw a fellow Hufflepuff heading his way and his instant reaction was a smile, welcoming the intrusion. Simon was always happy to help if he could and it seemed that his fellow badger was hoping for some assistance.
"Hey, man. Sure. What's up?" he asked as he shut the book he was looking through and reshelved it back where it belonged betweeen Standard Details of Unwelcome Wonders and The Essential Compendium of Unknown Sites.
His eyes naturally gravitated to the book in the other boy's hand. "Ah, Neptune - the Roman god of the sea. Talk about teamwork with that discovery - apparently it was discovered by a German scientist named Johann Gottfried Galle who used calculations of French scientist Urban Le Verrier and John Cauch Adams of Britain. It became a sort of joint British-French-German discovery."
He was rambling some of the nonsensical facts that filled his dhampir mind and upon realizing it, silenced himself and smiled again. "Need some help with Astronomy? What's can I help with? Come, bring your things over to the table there. I'm sure some conversation and lemon drops can fix this."
Simon pointed over to one of the wooden tables toward the center of the Library where he had his things.
Be kind to one another. (*iNPC is Miles Thatcher)
6 Jul 2023, 20:21
Desperate Hours
Alexander's green eyes widened with excitement and admiration as Simon suddenly began listing all the things he knew about Neptune as if he had been waiting for someone to ask him. “How on earth do you manage to keep all this in your mind?” the young Hufflepuff chirped. "It would take me three days just to memorise that German name alone!", he continued. Normally he would try to speak more formally. But Simon had provided him with much more information than Alex had initially hoped for, which prompted the young badger to display the patterns of behaviour he was accustomed to in Manchester. He had also suspected, to tell the truth, whether Simon had consumed a vial of Memory Potion recently. Fortunately, he had not lost his manners enough to ask such an inconsiderate question directly. "But thank you so much," he said, saving for last what he should have said in the first place. "How can I turn down this kind offer?"
Alex sat down in one of the chairs at the table that Simon had pointed out. His facial expression was subtly exhibiting a sense of coyness, yet it also could be regarded as somehow prying. "Actually, the thing is that," he started to talk smoothly, "it is very challenging for me to study subjects that are not my favourites. I guess that's why it's clear even from my first year that I will always remain an average student." He sighed calmly. “These are not impossible things to memorise, of course. And I know very well that if I spend enough time, I can somehow get this information into my head. But, truly, I can't find enough motivation to do it, which makes me question myself."
He looked at Simon's face just for a moment. Did the prefect's face look a little pale, or did it seem that way to Alex? "I hope I didn't overwhelm him with my complaints," he thought to himself. "Anyway," he said, not wanting to bore Simon any further, "Do you know a way how I can be more enthusiastic about this information about Neptune? I'd love to share your passion for it."
It was nice to have someone around to share one's worries. Alex felt a deep sense of gratitude towards the older boy's presence in the right place at the right moment. He promised himself to repay this kindness one day.
@Simon Kincaid
24 Jul 2023, 03:03
Desperate Hours
Talking with @Alexander Harland
"I don't know where you're from, mate, but I'm from South Kensington, London and I read once where London may be one of the most light-polluted cities on Earth. I guess we don't get a lot opportunities to see stars or planets or anything up in space from where I was so Astronomy fascinated me in school. Almost like learning about mythical creatures like dragons or werewolves," and he smiled because he learned since his muggle days that those sorts of creatures weren't mythical - they were as real as the stars and planets.
"But really, it's a matter of tricking your brain and just simplifying stuff. Neptune is blue in color, like the sea, thus the Roman god of the sea. Then for the discoverers I think of GLA - Galle, Le Verrier, Adams. As for where they're from, Johann is quite a common German name, Le Verrier is very French sounding, and Adams, well, classic Brit. Got lucky with those ones."
"Sometimes, not in this case, but I make up a silly sort of children's book with things. "Once upon a time, in the Land of Neptune, three friends, Galle, Le Verrier, and Adams, lived near the sea....and go from there."
"Doesn't much matter how you remember it, so long as you remember it."
Be kind to one another. (*iNPC is Miles Thatcher)