Why Persistence Always Wins [James Balan & Nerisei]

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Success was something Nerisei thrived to reach. Her goals had always been grand and she had managed to fight for them every single day. It had never been a question whether the young witch would continue on with her education, once she left Hogwarts. Her position as Prefect, and the the ultimate honor of becoming Head Girl, proved that the abilities the young witch possessed where many and very valuable. Determination being one of them. Which is why Nerisei Volkova had tried so very hard to persuade James Balan, the best Potions Master out there to take her as an apprentice. Only to be turned down again, and again... and again.

But after twenty five attempts and over thirty letter from her, the stubborn man had agreed upon a meeting, in order to discuss what exactly Nerisei had in her mind, and see whether their demands could meet halfway. Which was a small win for the Ravenclaw witch, who made sure to arrange such meeting in an environment where he would feel most comfortable. She couldn't teleport outside of school, but Hogsmeade did have a couple of places where the two could meet and discuss unperturbed.

Rock Blood was a nice, dark lit pub, owned by Avis Crownguard. Nerisei went there quite regularly, since the Three Broomsticks seemed to always be full of noisy and nosy teens, something that Neri avoided like the plague. When she wanted to chill and relax, there would always be an empty seat for her at the Rock Blood, plus a shot or two of Firewhiskey. Something that she appreciated greatly.

Saturday evening had arrived fast enough, and Nerisei made her way out of the castle, dressed warmly enough, and towards Hogsmeade, where she would finally meet up with the one man that had been avoiding for so long. But he was the one opportunity she had into becoming the best Potions Mistress out there, and she was not going to give up on her dream, because of a stubborn, yet very talented man. He had seen her abilities before he had left Hogwarts, so why was he being such a jerk?

Arriving at the shop a good ten minutes early, Nerisei shed her coat and waved at Avis, before picking one of the tables in the dark lit corner and plopping down. James Balan should arrive any minute now, and she had to be prepared for everything.

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Why Persistence Always Wins [James Balan & Nerisei] Image

James Balan had never really liked children, it had never been a secret, either. His patience did not extend very well to those who were learning, and yet he'd ended up with a job at Hogwarts. It had been the bane of his life, enduring the slow pace of the children as they tried to master the subject he had found ever so easy since he'd first learned. It had been a welcome offer to leave the school a few years previously.

The research he'd completed in the field had brought him a lot of money since then, and a steady job helping with other research in the potions industry. His name was now known amongst those in the field, and the short stint of teaching was firmly behind the man now.

Children, though, were not.

It had been just before his departure from the school that Circe had provided him with the news he'd never thought he was going to hear from a woman. He was going to be a father. The news had not made James happy, to say the least, and it had taken the man a while (and some terse words from his mother) to get him less frosty to the situation. It had taken him longer still to accept it as being true, but it had been almost instantaneous that his mind had changed. With the kick of his daughter's small foot against Circe's stomach one morning, James Balan had finally realised that this might just have been what he was waiting for all this time.

Not that he would ever, ever admit that aloud.

Valentina had been born shortly after James had left the school, and was getting very quickly towards three years old now. A daddy's girl through and through, the young witch had been spoilt rotten since the moment she'd arrived in his life. Not softening the man, but making him grow in to a better one. Between Valentina and Circe, James had lived a relatively quiet life since leaving Hogwarts. He appreciated this new lease of life for the most part too.

Of course, quiet only lasted so long, and at the end of the school year the man had started to receive letters from one of his ex-students. Nerisei Volkova had been a capable witch, her grades in Potions were the highest of her year when he'd been teaching her, marking her with more scrutiny to push her harder. The witch had always pushed back against his tough nature, excelling past her peers. But James did not have an interest in what she had to say now. He was no longer a professor, and she was a child.

It was why he had returned each of her letters when they arrived, denoting his lack of interest without outright saying so.

They still came.

James kept sending them back.

Except for the last one. Circe had retrieved the last letter that had come because James was too lazy to crawl out of bed that morning. She'd opened it on his behalf, as had become annoyingly customary with their shared living arrangement. Upon finding that the witch had written many times asking for help and that her partner had not replied, the witch had gone off in one of her normal angry rants about him not being very responsible. The way she got so angry made the man want to call her back to bed, but she had not been in the mood. Instead, Circe had replied stating he would meet Nerisei to hear her out, and that was precisely why James was here at Rock Blood in Hogsmeade.

Entering the bar, James had ordered himself a FireWhiskey before looking around. Spotting Nerisei wasn't too difficult, she was one of only a few occupants at the bar at this time, and also the only one alone. Picking up his drink, James moved to her table and sat down opposite the younger witch.

"You don't quite easily do you." James offered in lieu of a greeting to the witch as he made himself comfortable. It would be difficult for most people to tell that he actually admired that, but he would never admit to such things aloud. It would go without saying, too, that the man expected her to start talking, and not waste his time if she really did want his help in whatever matter it was that had brought him here tonight.

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