Seeking Professor Olivers on Charms

Linus Macaulay

August 21, 2013 7:03 AM

Seeking Professor Olivers by Linus Macaulay

At the end of the last advanced charms class, Linus had spoken to Professor Olivers to let her know that he wished to discuss some charms with her, and that he would be back in the next free period. That time having arrived, the sixth year returned to the professor's classroom, and knocked on the door - not softly, but neither too brusquely - before entering.

"Professor Olivers?" Linus inquired, closing to the door behind him. While he didn't necessarily mind being overheard, as his intentions for the fair were already posted on a sign-up sheet where anyone could read them, Linus always preferred privacy in his interactions wherever possible. One could never be sure who was listening, and what they would do with that information... a fact with which he was familiar, having spent a large portion of his earlier years at Sonora eavesdropping for personal gain whenever it was possible. His sleuth days were largely behind him, however, as by now he had gained a reasonable insight into this magical world. Although had yet to truly identify his place in it, the days when useful information could be procured just by over-hearing some beneficial tidbit were long since past.

Linus was hopefully that his professor would be able to be of assistance, and he couldn't foresee any reason that she would refuse to help. He had always considered himself to be an ideal student, participating in class, submitting his homework on time, and maintaining a high standard of work throughout his academic career. He hadn't ever let his social calendar, sparse at it was, interfere with more important affairs, and his extra-curricular involvement was largely refined to Quidditch, allowing plenty of time in his schedule for extra study. He hoped the fair would be an ideal opportunity for Linus to demonstrate his creativity, ingenuity and skill with a wand... he just wasn't sure exactly where to start.

0 Linus Macaulay Seeking Professor Olivers 205 Linus Macaulay 1 5

Professor Olivers

August 22, 2013 6:29 PM

It seems you've found me. by Professor Olivers

It was always Florence's practice to work on grading during the periods she had free. Most of the work she would need to do was piled up on her desk in her office. She would usually hide out there instead of working in the classroom itself, but after Linus had asked to speak with her she worked out in the open. It would be easier than trying to fit him into her tiny, cluttered office space. She had felt the buzz of the upcoming fair and the booths students were thinking of putting up, but she had yet to see the signup sheet. It would be good to see that sometime before the fair to see what her students were up to.

Sometimes it was difficult to get to know students on a personal level unless there was something that really needed to be addressed. As a professor, she was supposed to teach them and advising them usually wasn't a part of the bargain. That was one area that she missed about being a tutor. Since she usually tutored students one-on-one, they got to know each other well. It was something she didn't get teaching a class unless the student took the initiative.

There was a knock on the door and she didn't bother looking up. Since Linus had told her he wanted to meet, she expected him and, as she had expected, he was on time. "Come in," she said, and looked up when he entered. "Hello Linus. Good to see you. Please, take a seat." She stood up, abandoning her grading for the time being, and went to sit at a desk where she would be on the same level as Linus. Interacting with students at her desk made her feel a little overbearing and she liked getting to know them on a slightly more personal level.

"What can I do for you?" she continued. Linus was academically a strong student and she enjoyed him in her Advanced classes. The only thing she could see him asking about was some tutoring or an explanation on one of the theories they had been working on.

0 Professor Olivers It seems you've found me. 0 Professor Olivers 0 5

Linus

August 24, 2013 4:05 PM

Now to business. by Linus

"Thank you," Linus replied, accepting her offer of a seat in taking the weight off his feet and removing his book bag from his shoulder in a single, smooth movement. He was pleased to note that Professor Olivers did not seem at all put out to fit him into her schedule, and that buoyed him to be precise when she queried how she might help.

"It's concerning the fair," Linus began, leaning a little forward in his seat in an unconscious demonstration of his vested interest in the topic of their conversation. "I had an idea for a booth but it involves some tricky spellwork and I wasn't sure firstly if it would be within my ability, and secondly, how to go about it," he admitted. Historically, Linus had been reluctant to claim his weaknesses, but he had since matured sufficiently to realise that only by identifying and owning his short-comings could he hope to improve himself.

"I have researched mirrors that show more than just a basic visual reflection," he began to explain his goal in more detail. "My idea is to have a couple of mirrors at the fair, with one showing people the reflection of their self-image, so how they see themselves," - his studying had indicated that this, at least, might be doable. It wasn't easy magic, but the concept itself was simple, consisting of a spell that drew on the imagination of the individual, combining mental cues with the existing visual data to create a believable self-image reflection - "and the other showing something else. I had originally thought of a mirror showing someone how other people see them, but I've spent a while in the school library and I'm starting to think that might be more difficult than I can accomplish in the remainder of term."

Here Linus paused for breath, and to allow his mentor to consider his queries and to consider them, hopefully to conclude with some answers that he might find usual.

0 Linus Now to business. 0 Linus 0 5

Prof Olivers

August 31, 2013 3:22 AM

I commend you for the initiative. by Prof Olivers

Ah, the fair. She should have expected a request like that eventually. He explained a little bit at first, going on to present his weaknesses and drawbacks before his actual project. She nodded, encouraging him to continue. For one of the challenges the year before there had been mirrors charmed to show different images of its viewer. It had been much fun to see, though she hadn't been a part of that particular challenge herself. It would be fun to have something similar at this year's fair; it would almost be reminiscent of last year's project.

Florence appreciated Linus's ambition and that he hadn't allowed the challenge to overcome him. He looked for help and Florence, impressed with his initiative, was going to help him if she could. Showing the reflection of one's self-image was a little more difficult than simply charming a mirror to show either a witch or wizard in a dress or dress-robes respectively, but it was indeed doable. As for his latter idea, she hadn't heard of a mirror taking in the opinions of others to show an image.

She leaned back in her chair thoughtfully. "You're quite right in your last point. Mirror charms focus solely on the individual viewer, and to show how others look at him or her would need the opinions of others. It is complicated magic." She pondered on her options: she could either do the charm for him, the easiest way out, but she didn't want to do his booth for him. The second option was to train him outside of class to the level where he could perform this type of magic. Another was to simply point him to different resources in order to gain the necessary abilities, but that didn't seem as professional.

"It does sound like you've done your research," she told him, "and I do think I could find time to tutor you extra outside of class. We would begin with the spells that deal solely with an individual before moving on to displaying that onto a mirror. It is a little complicated, but with your marks I have no doubt you will catch on quickly. If we meet twice a week, assuming you practice outside of these extra sessions, I have no doubt you will be able to perform them with ease by the time the fair comes around.

"As for your other mirrors, why not one that shows some sort of secret deep within themselves? It could show a person's corporeal Patronus using the person's individual's outward personality. It won't always be accurate, of course, but it could be something. Another is one's greatest fear; it's up to you. What other suggestions did you look at?" It was clear Linus wanted to do something that was personal to people and she was more than willing to encourage that idea. Everyone loved to learn more about themselves.

0 Prof Olivers I commend you for the initiative. 0 Prof Olivers 0 5

Linus

September 09, 2013 9:30 AM

I thank you for your help. by Linus

Linus was not at all perturbed when Professor Olivers seemed to indicate that he had been right; that producing a mirror which showed a person how others saw them was not an achievable goal on this occasion. He knew he had set his sights high, and the consolation of being able to accomplish the first mirror would be sufficient to mar any disappointment he may otherwise have felt. "I would be happy to meet twice a week," Linus enthused, already retrieving his planner from his bag so they could compare schedules.

As for the other mirror, he would have to give it some more thought. While he was drawn to the juxtaposition of opposing views of self and others, he would have to relinquish this ideal... unless, of course, he selected the option of the second mirror being just that: an unaltered mirror. technically, that would be how others saw a person, as a genuine, physical reflection. t was tempting, although it didn't require any knowledge or finesse, and therefore might not be so sweet in its completion.

"I had a look at displaying fears," he told the professor at her query. "There's a spell that sort of acts like a boggart, displaying a person's fears in a visual form," he elaborated, although he wasn't sure how that would work on a mirror, as all the mentions he had encountered had stipulated a blank canvas or bare wall upon which the image would be displayed. "I'd also considered a visual hybrid charm, so if two people look in the mirror simultaneously it will show their singular, combined reflection." That one sort of sounded fun, although it lacked the potential practical application of some of the other options.

"I'll have a think about the second mirror and get back to you, if that's okay," he summarised, still considering his options. After all, there was the potential that he would struggle with the spells he had already selected, and might therefore only be able to showcase one enchanted mirror at the fair.

0 Linus I thank you for your help. 0 Linus 0 5