loyalotter | 25th Gryffindor Note [Action/Voice]

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25th Gryffindor Note [Action/Voice]

[ Hermione's been thinking about the DA and what Xion talked to her about a few days ago. As far as she's concerned, it's high time the DA's started to get actively involved in Luceti. It's high time they became protectors and not just a secret society. So, for all you DA members (check the OOC post), she's looking out for you all to talk to you.

After a few minutes, as she hangs out on the porch of House 26, she opens up her journal for a voice post. ]

If you all had the chance to protect someone or a group of people, would you do it?

[A few minutes later, she adjusts the question:]

Rather, if you had the chance to protect someone using magic that wasn't your own, something you would have to work on often with another group of like-minded people, would you do it?

[She can be found either on the porch or in the Welcome Center for actiony things.]

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I wouldn't know who to ask. I've been going to school and learning what I can. I mean... I'm not sure who would have the patience for a total magic newbie.

I don't mind. I'm normally a tutor for school here, but I've also worked with people regarding the filial spirits and I'd be more than happy to teach anyone who wants to learn. Do you have time now or would you prefer to set up a time later?

Would you really? I'm so far out of league on this, I can't even tell you. Anytime's good; I don't want to impose.

We can start now if you'd like. I can meet you by the barracks and we can work from there. If you haven't actually tried to work with the spirits at all yet, I won't be able to teach you much, but I can at least show you some of the techniques I've learned.

[She pauses just a moment.]

Don't worry too much. With filial magic, everyone starts the same. You'll catch on in time.

I can totally do that. I'm Alexis, by the way.

Hermione. Nice to meet you and I'll see you shortly?

Absolutely.

[With that, Alexis closes the book and makes her way to the barracks. She'll be there, leaning against wall outside and bundled up against the cold -- and with a small notepad, where she's reviewing the notes she's taken while working with Kipinn and Nala.]

[Hope Alexis isn't too sensitive to loud noises, as there's a decent CRACK from somewhere nearby. As usual, in weather like this, Hermione's taken to Apparating everywhere. She doesn't turn up right next to the barracks, but she's close enough that Alexis can probably see her just pop up out of nowhere. She approaches easily, handbag over one arm, wand tucked in her pocket.]

Alexis?

[Alexis has seen many things during her time in Luceti that are very strange for her, but there are some things that she'll never quite get used to. A loud crack and the person she'd just been talking to just appearing out of nowhere? Definitely on the weirder side of things. Alexis jumps, startles, and manages to drop her notebook in the snow.

She does recover quickly, though, when she sees who it is and waves a little before picking up the notebook.]

Yeah. Hi. Thanks for coming.

Sorry, I should have warned you. It's just easier than walking through the snow.

[She smiles.]

This isn't the best weather to be working on wind in, but we'll manage. Here. [She pulls out her wand and conjures up a jar of fire. It's her specialty.] This will help keep us warm. How much have you worked on with the spirits so far?

[Alexis just waves a hand.] It's fine. I should learn to expect such things.

[She blinks at the jar of fire for a moment before deciding to just roll with it. Better not to strain her poor brain with all these things that just weren't possible.]

Some. I managed a few small things with Kipinn, but I don't have any control beyond a few seconds -- and what I do have feels pretty shaky. I've talked to Nala, but I haven't tried anything with her. [She shrugs a little.] So much responsibility with that one, you know?

[She kneels down to set the jar on the snow. It'll still keep them warm, but this way she won't have to hold it.]

All right. We can start with something easy. [She pauses a minute and looks sideways at Alexis.] Magic is what you make of it and it's only as good as the actions you perform with it. It's not for everyone, but it can be helpful when you wouldn't expect it.

[She offers a small smile before it's business time again.]

As you've probably discovered already, it requires a great deal of concentration. Back home, we use wands and incantations, so we not only have to focus on how we're pronouncing the spell, but also on how we're moving our wands. I've found that it's helpful to have, at the very least, a motion with one hand to accompany what you're trying to do. Think of it as a focus; your magic is an extension of your arm. Like this.

[She pushes her right hand out in front of her, moving a small blast of wind only about the width of her arm. She doesn't hold it for very long, as this is just a demonstration.] It's mostly a matter of training your mind to concentrate on something you can't see. You have to imagine it into reality.

[Alexis watches and listens with as much attention as she can muster. To actually hear someone explain some of these things is helpful; Alexis has been going to school but this is so far beyond the realm of her Normal that even rudimentary lessons sometimes go over her head. But she still watches Hermione closely as she demonstrates.]

I hadn't really thought of that. I figured it was just a mind over matter type thing; gesturing didn't occur to me.

It's a matter of what works best for you and how you think and learn the best.

[She demonstrates once more, this time curving the pull of wind off to the side.]

You can give it a go now, if you'd like.

[Alexis nods and then focuses -- just thinking and talking with Kipinn for a few moments before she tries anything. She wants a gust of wind -- just a little one, and nothing extravagant. It's just a matter of moving air.

And, like Hermione said, visualizing what isn't there and making it real.

All right. She can do that.

Alexis holds out her hand, staring at the space in front of her palm. There's air there. She just wants to gather it and move it. She can't help the smile when there is some movement. It isn't much and it certainly isn't very powerful.

But she moved the air.]

Very good! [At least she's a very uplifting and encouraging teacher. Hermione beams at Alexis and nods.] That's a very good start. A few more tries and you should have a better idea of how to control it. It's all very much contained and dependent on how much concentration and guidance you give it. If you use the magic's natural state to manipulate it, you'll have a better chance of getting it to cooperate.

[Alexis smiles at the positive reinforcement, then the expression gives way to one of confusion.]

Use the magic's natural state? I'm not sure I understand.

Well, for instance, let's take wind. Air's natural state is to remain a gas like this, but be flexible and easily manipulated. [She waves her arm around in front of her to demonstrate.] It reshapes itself when someone pushes it around. But if you want to make it do something else, like move in a specific direction, you have to gather it up by moving something else into the space it once held, even if it's just more air.

Water is much the same. The other elements seem to be a bit different, but the general idea is the same. Fire requires concentration and constant vigilance- [Mad-Eye would be proud of her.] -because its natural state is very uncontrolled. You have to work with its desire for expansion, funneling it in the direction you wish for it to go. If you simply tried to stamp it out or thrust it somewhere without keeping tight control over it, you'd likely end up with a much bigger fire from the flames leaping out.

Does that make sense? I can demonstrate, if you'd like.

So you don't just force it to move how you want it to move. You work with it's natural tendencies.

[Alexis' voice is soft, musing. She's thinking this through -- and, what do you know, it makes sense.]

Can you demonstrate? I think I understand, but I'd like to see it in action.

[She nods and brings up her hands again. Fire is much more difficult for anyone simply because of its nature. She takes a couple of steps away from Alexis so she won't have to worry about the girl making a wrong step while she's working. A small ball of flame appears in her hand.]

I admit I'm still working on my control with filial fire magic, but this is my own natural magic, and it works in generally the same way. See how the fire is reaching upward? It wants to grow and if I don't keep feeding it energy, it'll die.

[Which she demonstrates by letting her concentration dwindle until the fire is merely a spark again, and then she brings it back up.]

Now, if I want to use it, I have to concentrate on it. Since it already desires to grow, I can use that to bend it into doing what I want it to do. Like this.

[She lets it grow a little higher, careful that it won't singe her hair or clothes.]

If I want to use it for attack or defense, I have to be extra careful. I can turn my hand and direct it further.

[She turns her hand so the palm is facing outwards and moves it across her chest area. The fire grows, following the path she's laid out for it, until it looks a bit like a twisting whip as it curves around in the air. After a few seconds, she lets the fire disappear completely and turns back to Alexis.]

Wind is exactly the same, just a little less visible and a lot easier to manipulate.

[Alexis is nodding, taking this in and watching Hermione's hand movements carefully. All right, this makes sense.]

So you work with it, instead of forcing it to do what you want. That makes sense; I think I can do that.

[Well. Maybe.]

[Hermione nods encouragingly.]

Exactly. It'll take practice, but once you've gotten the idea, everything else ought to come much easier. So you can work on that in the meantime.

Did you want to see or work on anything else?

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