Spark of Joy (Jake)

Guest

Disappointment was a hard medicine to swallow. The idea of failing an assignment was well...unacceptable. Tess found herself embarrassed when at the end of the lesson she had failed to successfully master the Patronus. While at the back of her mind she knew it was not a simple charm, she found herself shuffling out of the class embarrassed. For not only was she late, she had barely made her wand show her form. Rather it was a sad wispy light that would never protect her from what was out there in the world. It was the idea of a bad note going to her father pushed her into going into office hours of Professor Newbury.

'A Holmes never fails Tess Marie, and I'll be damned if I get less than an E' her father had very clearly stated before she went into the carriage that took her to the station. She knew her Head Girl chances were slim to none, but she was going to strive to be the best despite the drawback of being a transfer. So with a much courage as she could she knocked softly at the door of the professor hoping he could spare some of his precious time on a wounded cause such as herself.

Biting her lip, she gripped her satchel tightly, allowing her nerves to show through that small tell. She would buck up and do it, just so long as she could get the charm to work. She figured that once she got the proper training, she would read all the necessary material before class and power through all her lessons. After all if she brother could do it, why wouldn't she?

Subject: Re: Spark of Joy (Jake) Thu Oct 05, 2017 7:37 pm

Jake sat quietly in his office, going over the plans for his next lessons in the time he had left at the castle. Planning lessons with two toddlers around was not easy for him to do, so he made sure to use all of his time at the school to it's potential. Though, of course, he had to make time for students who came to him, too. Thus far this year, his tally was at one. One Mercy Williams, the first year that he found adorable, and couldn't help but smile at when she spoke.

It was more than the previous year, but Jake had a feeling he'd not seen the end of the students at the end of class for the year yet.

His eyes were currently scanning over the permission slip he'd gotten from the Headmistress to take the younger years to see the Grindylows of the lake, feeling relieved that he wouldn't have to do this as a theory lesson.

A knock at the door had Jake look up with a small frown on his features. Looking down at his watch, he denoted the time, not too late that he'd over run and a House Elf was coming to remind him that he had to go...

"Come in!" Jake called out, interest piquing in that moment as he waited for whomever it was that was on the other side of the door to come in and explain what they might want. Interesting was definitely the word for it!

________________________________________________
~ Auror ~ Profile ~ DADA Professor ~
~ In a Relationship ~ 36 ~ Father ~ 6' ~ American Accent ~

Guest

She couldn't help but wring her hands nervously awaiting confirmation to come in. This was much more spontaneous than even she gave herself credit for. Still...she needed to try; be quicker, be faster..be....be more like her brother. She knew little of him, but what she did know was that he was much more aggressive than she ever was. He knew what he wanted, he went for it and always got it. And so here she was, attempting to replicate it.

But when she heard him clearly permitting her to enter, the motivation speech dwindled down to a soft insecure voice telling her to be careful. She was by no means scared of the man but rather...scared she would do something foolish or utter the wrong thing. So she did what she was taught: take a deep breath, exhale, build up the wall, ignore the fear. Pushing the door, she entered and took in the office. It was nice...darker than expected, but the wood designs of the walls were enchanting. She refused to flinch when the door closed behind her, but it did take her out of her stupor.

"Good evening Professor Newbury" she greeted softly. "I-I do hope I am not interrupting anything too important?"

She figured this was the best start...work on simply being able to speak with him, get some office hours, and perhaps he'd accommodate her small favor of tutoring lessons. Hell, worse case he would have a seventh year tutor her?

'A girl can dream Tess Marie'

Subject: Re: Spark of Joy (Jake) Sat Oct 07, 2017 9:28 am

As the door opened to admit the person who'd come to his office, Jake found himself faced with the young witch from Beauxbatons. To say it was a surprise would likely have been an understatement. The pen he was using was laid carefully back in to place as he regarded the witch, trying to catch up with the revelation of the moment.

"Good evening, Tess." Jake replied, before shaking his head at her question. "No, I'm just running over my lesson plans for the next few lessons. Nothing important." He assured her, before motioning to the chair across from his desk.

"Oh, and please, call me Jake. Professor Newbury is awfully stuffy, and I don't think I'm nearly old enough to insist on you calling me such things." Jake told her, smiling to show he would understand if she believed him to be old when he didn't.

"How can I be of assistance?" Jake asked, because students didn't ever come to his office unless they had something they wished to ask of him.

________________________________________________
~ Auror ~ Profile ~ DADA Professor ~
~ In a Relationship ~ 36 ~ Father ~ 6' ~ American Accent ~

Guest

Tess' first thoughts were that Professor Newbury was very polite; whether he was sincere or not did not affect her. She depended on the level of propriety needed in this society to get what she wanted. So she did what was expected; she sat down in front of him, her posture straight and her hands rested lightly on her knees. She was a bit curious as to what was on his desk but she would not pry. Instead she made brief eye contact and smiled shyly.

"I thank you for your time profess-Jake. Forgive me, I meant Jake" she corrected herself blushing slightly at the tone of familiarity.

She wasn't used to this; at Beauxbatons there was a clear distinction between student and professor. Madame Chevreaux would never allow the level of insolence. Still, at the professor's friendly smile, she looked down bashfully at her lap as she gathered her thoughts.

"I..I wanted to come to your office in hopes of getting your assistance. You see, I was not pleased with my actions within your first lesson and I was hoping that I could...I could get some help. If I can be frank, I'd like an O in your class, and I'm willing to work hard for it. Even...even if it meant tutoring from an upperclassman."

Subject: Re: Spark of Joy (Jake) Sat Oct 07, 2017 11:55 am

As the young witch moved to sit before him it was quite easy for Jake to denote the kind of background the witch came from. Years of seeing the stark contrast between the Pureblood members of society in the school made the new ones stick out like a sore thumb. Though, he would not hold this against the witch, it gave him a small insight to what Tess dealt with at home.

The apology that came from the witch as she struggled briefly to comprehend the casual nature in which he kept with his students made Jake wave it away. There was no need to apologise, many of his students still struggled with the concept, because it wasn't exactly normal. Tess would, like the others, get used to it eventually.

"You realise that my last class was set up, purposefully, to not be easy. And, that I expected almost nobody to be able to complete the spell?" Jake asked the witch, though he was not looking for an actual reply to those words. Instead of lingering on the fact he'd set his students up to fail, however, Jake took in the notion Tess had come up with in that she wanted help to do better.

"Well, I always admire those who are able to acknowledge that they have a weakness." Jake told her, giving a small smile of encouragement. "But, I don't pass on the help that is asked for to the older students in the school. If you'd like tutoring on the Patronus Charm, or any other part of the curriculum, you can always come to me. However, you've caught me in a moment where I am almost ready to leave -- children don't look after themselves." He explained fondly, motioning to the picture on his desk of Ivan and Adrienne that smiled back at him.

"But, I can offer to meet with you at another convenient time, and we can work on the Charm, if you'd like." Jake compromised, looking to the witch to see if this was genuinely what she wanted.

________________________________________________
~ Auror ~ Profile ~ DADA Professor ~
~ In a Relationship ~ 36 ~ Father ~ 6' ~ American Accent ~

Guest

Asking for help was nothing something that she was used to doing. It was a bit like swallowing your pride, and while she was not used to it, she knew it was a necessity. Professor Newbury was the answer to her issues and it could make and break her. Admittedly she sat up straighter when he began to explain what was going on.

She has assumed that it was not an easy session,but she admittedly hopes that she could have easily succeeded. It was a bitter pill to swallow failing to show that she was worth some praise even as someone like Professor Newbury.

“I still wanted and still want to succeed. And the more opportunities I get,the more comfortable I’ll be to take these lessons. The change is palpable in these lessons as there will be a point where that excuse won’t work. And sir with all due respect, I do not like being behind to everyone else. I need to get ahead”

Her eyes trailed to the image of his children. While she was not sure that she liked children but at a surface level they looked pleasant. She nodded a bit shy forgetting that professors had lives and others things that were the center of her universe. But when he offered his help,
Tess smiled.

“I’d really appreciate your help” she said softly. “I’ll visit at a more respectable time.” She got up, curtsied (out of habit) and left.

Subject: Re: Spark of Joy (Jake) Wed Oct 11, 2017 7:07 pm

As Tess explained her reasoning for being here, Jake nodded in understanding. Being ahead of your peers... well, Jake could remember those days, fondly, of course. "I understand. We can draw up a plan to catch you up, and get you back on track if you would like, that won't be an issue. But, like I said, please don't worry that you can't complete such a complex spell, it is easily the most difficult piece of magic there is, and not just anyone can do it."

When Tess accepted his help, Jake gave the witch a smile. It was going to be a project, he supposed, seeing if he could muster the capability in this one student to perform a feat of magic very few could.

As the witch moved to leave, Jake stood from his desk -- the curtsy he had to bite a small chuckle down at, but he nodded as she said she'd visit at a more acceptable time. "I'll send you a note, with when I'm free." Jake called after the young witch before she left, deciding it was likely easier for him to send her that, then her try to catch him when he was around.

________________________________________________
~ Auror ~ Profile ~ DADA Professor ~
~ In a Relationship ~ 36 ~ Father ~ 6' ~ American Accent ~

» You Kept This From Me?!? (Kit & Jake)
» Around Again (Jake)
» A welcome home. (Jake )
» The Godfather (Jake)
» Clearing the Air [Jake]