| Puffskein
Join Date: Jul 2020 Location: New York City
Posts: 2,146
Hogwarts RPG Name:
Brandon Fox
Hufflepuff Seventh Year
Hogwarts RPG Name:
Phoebe Calypso [s]Dupont[/s]
Slytherin Fifth Year |  Which came first, the phoenix or the flame?
SPOILER!!: Professor Carton Quote:
Originally Posted by MadMadamMalfoy 
Norman nodded, giving Fox a knowing look. He understood that the boy didn’t mean to cause trouble; that was why he was willing to work toward a compromise.
Had he known the boy’s thoughts about his intense gaze, he would’ve laughed. Not laughing at him, but laughing because his daughter had told him that exact thing a number of times. As it was, he remained blissfully unaware, patiently waiting for the boy to look him in the eye.
Norman was neither surprised nor offended by Fox’s thoughts about the activity. In fact, the constructive criticism was helpful in tweaking his lesson plans going forward. “Fair points,” he replied, a hint of concern betraying his otherwise stoic expression as he watched the boy chewing his lip. He shook his head. “It’s not inconvenient, Mr. Fox. My job is to teach, and different students respond to different teaching methods. When I was in school, I didn’t respond to long, droning lectures with no hands-on practice. You don’t respond to activities that remind you of hurting people.”
He paused to think a minute before continuing, “Let’s try this… You can practice on an inanimate object, something large like a trunk or a boulder to start out, and you can work your way to smaller items as you improve your aim. The object won’t look like a human or creature and won’t have anything inside. You don’t have to worry about burning anything. For now, I’d like you to focus on conjuring and aiming a fire rope. We can work up to real fire when you’re ready. How does that sound?” If Fox had other ideas, he was open to suggestions.
Looking directly at the professor? Brandon would rather not, but he also didn't want it to be obvious that he was avoiding direct eye contact. He looked at his professor's eyebrow, which was near his eyes but not exactly there.
Brandon ran a hand through his hair, messing it up and then fixing it neatly. "I... I guess that would explain why I get uncomfortable during certain lessons, and learning a different way would definitely help me... I just don't like being a burden on people." While it was true that some activities made him extremely stressed out (see: today) and he didn't always respond well to lesson plans, he saw that as a personal failing. It didn't occur to him that Professor Carton would be concerned or sad that Brandon thought of his own needs that way.
He nodded at the professor's suggestions, thinking them over carefully. "I wouldn't mind practicing on a big rock." Those couldn't get hurt, and it they did, they wouldn't feel it. "But I was thinking I wouldn't have to wait a long time for the fire. I mean, I can already aim and cast the spell fairly well, it's mostly the fire part that I don't want to- can't do. But boulders can't really go on fire, so..." He hesitated, trying to find the right words to explain his thoughts. "I could practice the fire part, but it wouldn't be hurt, because it's a rock and not ice." |