Garreth nodded seriously as Rylee promised him she wouldn't mess with Flagrante anytime soon. That was good. She seemed like she was pretty responsible for her age, and clearly understood the common sense behind not playing with dangerous magic. The same couldn't be said for some first years. "It's not used very much these days, but back in the day, people used Flagrante to protect property they didn't want others to mess with, or sometimes even to disarm opponents in duels. These days, we tend to use less.. damaging measures to keep other people's mitts off our stuff." he told the girl, adding a small history lesson to his explanation.

If Garreth was completely honest with himself, he treasured the opportunity to impart some of his knowledge onto a younger student, and showing off some of the spells he'd learned during his years at Hogwarts was a good way to get Rylee interested. It gave her ideas for what she might want to aspire to! "Yeah, that one's a doozy. A fourth year spell, I think." he winked at her. He remembered how impatient he was to learn everything. He had thought he was ready for anything back then.

The older boy watched intently as Rylee went for her second attempt. The boulder had to be an easier target, and there was almost no doubt in his mind that she'd pull it off this time. And she did! "He-hey! Good work! You got it on your second try!" he beamed at the younger student. "I knew you could do it!" Now that he'd seen what she could do, he was confident that she was capable much more.

"If you like, I can teach you another trick with Reparo. It'll help when you have to repair a lot of things at once." he smirked. Now there was a spell he could have used back in his first year. Especially after that potions fiasco.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steelsheen

He was twirling around on the spot, trying to see if maybe theres a tail growing out or something was growing out of him that shouldnt be there "You sure? Because that look on your face... its like I grew a second head or something."

He plopped back on the ground, just stressed out. "Such a weird month." he whispered aloud "I thought my silk pajamas getting all stripey and ruined in the wash was some unfortunate accident-- something the elves dont do by the way-- but what are the odds of me getting electrocuted or my entire uniform turning into a furry wet suit with flippers eh? "

"Oh no, no, that's just...my face," Scarlett joked with a chuckle. She had to try and hide her expressions a bit more around this one. He was perceptive. It made sense why he was Head Boy.

Although it was really REALLY hard to do that...especially when he said all those things. She blinked a few more times, trying not to freak out - there was NO WAY he hadn't, somehow, by some sort of crazy magic, cracked her dreams and figured out what had been happening in her head. In her stupid, messed up head. So she took a second to figure out how she wanted to respond, only to mutter...

"Yeah, that's...really weird, mate. Sounds like you're having a rough start to term," she said with a small smile. As was she, but he wasn't going to know that.

Normally Rylee might have zoned out as Garreth explained the 'how' and 'why' Flagrante was used in the passed BUT he wasn't a boring professor. Not to mention that she was the one who had asked him about it and he was being nice enough to tell her. "So people got smarter and use better ways that aren't so dangerous." This was much better than something that could seriously destroy things and harm or even kill someone.

"Fourth year? That's still so far away..." she crinkled her nose. "I bet you know tons and tons of spells, right?" There was noway he didn't. He was much older than she was.

Rylee giggled excitedly holding up her hand for a high-five. She was trying really hard not to jump up and down or hug the poor unsuspecting older boy. So she had settled for doing a happy wiggle. "It was easier when I really pictured it." Heart and Soul.

Eeeee! "Yes, please!," she exclaimed without hesitation. Any opportunity to learn something new she was going to take it. If it could help her along the way in becoming a smarter, stronger witch she was all for it.

Garreth gave the first year a nod as she proved that she understood the danger involved with the use of certain spells like Flagrante. It even sounded like she had no interest in learning that particular spell. "Well, I don't know if they got any smarter, but they certainly started using less harmful ways of protecting their stuff." He answered her first question with a cheeky grin. Some young witches and wizards were easily susceptible to a thirst for power. It seemed to Garreth that young Rylee was only really interested in gathering knowledge. A student after his own heart.

He couldn't help but chuckle as she crinkled her nose at the prospect of waiting until her fourth year to have a go at the reductor curse. "Don't worry." the boy laughed. The years fly by here at Hogwarts. Besides, you'll learn loads of spells to hold you over in the meantime."

Her second question had him puzzled for a moment. Did he know many spells? Now that he gave it some thought, maybe he did! "Well, obviously not compared to the professors, but.. Well, I suppose it adds up after six years. And I'll still have this last term to learn as much as I can before I have to, erm.. leave." he gave the younger student a bright smile, but the prospect of leaving Hogwarts was always tough to face. Even in the most pleasant of circumstances, like when you just made a new friend.

Beaming with a teacher's pride, the seventh year granted Rylee's request for a high-five. He felt a sudden powerful urge to give her a celebratory hug, which in an effort to not frighten the girl, he concealed by simply giving her a pat on the shoulder instead. "And when you really put your heart into it, you completely undid my reductor curse!" he was clearly very pleased with her accomplishment, and even more so with her eagerness to learn more. More opportunity to impart knowledge!

"Alright, so I'm going to have you repair the rock again, but this time..." he paused there, flicking his wand toward the boulder, splitting it once more and causing it to fly apart in all directions. With a swish and a flick of his wand, the seventh year moved the six or so pieces of stone all over the field in front of them, scattering them everywhere. ".. This time, you'll be gathering the pieces from all over." He knew this might be a bit much to take in, so he gave the girl a few moments to absorb the information he'd just given her. "What you want to do is twirl your wand in the same spiral motion as before, only making sure that the spiral is big enough that it covers all the pieces." he did his best to explain, but it was harder than he thought it would be. He demonstrated using his wand, waving with his whole arm so that the spiral he was drawing in the air encompassed every piece of the rock. "If you do it right, the pieces should move towards the center and fuse together as before, no matter how far apart they are."

"At least that's a good start." She smiled at him. Everything had to start somewhere. Baby steps. Just like with dancing. All in good time. One day she would be good at all this stuff too. "Okay... but spells as cool as that one?" Useful spells were great and she wanted to learn them all but there wasn't anything wrong with learning some spells just for fun either.

The look on his face made her giggle. Six years worth of spells was a lot if you asked her! Wait- six years. That meant.. oh, no. The smile on her face wavered a little bit as Garreth confirmed her thoughts. He was leaving after this year. He was a seventh year. She may have only just met him but he was super nice and already she was learning a lot! "You're a seventh year than?..." He would surely move on and forget all about her.

Yaaaay, high-five accepted! Those were almost as good as hugs. Almost but not quite. Nothing was better than a hug. "I did! I had to try really hard but I did!" Almost all her focus had gone into accomplishing that spell.

Repair the rock again? She could do that. She had already done it once before. How was that an- Oh! The pieces were now all over the place! "I can try," she agreed nodding her head. Bright blue eyes watched closely as Garreth preformed the spiral motion with his wand only much larger than before. "Like this?" Holding her wand out straight before her she gave the hand movement a try. Best make sure she was doing it right before adding in the incantation.

"Yeah, the only people left who use unnecessarily dangerous magic like that are old farts and crazy people." Garreth nodded. Change in people's magic habits was slow, but it was steady. Slowly, but surely it improved over time, and he was glad to be around at a time when people were becoming more sensible. Her question produced a grin on the boy's face and he gave her an enthusiastic nod. "Oh, you'll learn way cooler spells than that. Just wait until you learn 'Lapifors'. You like rabbits? Of course you do." Who doesn't like rabbits? "You're in for a good time then."

Garreth was often a little absent-minded, but even he clearly spotted the change on the girl's face as the realization that he was a seventh year hit home. With a slight shrug of his shoulders and a look of 'what can you do?' on his face, he gave the girl yet another nod. "Yup. This'll be my last year. I'm not in any hurry to leave, but they won't let me stay for an eight.. So I guess I'll just have to make the most of it." he tried to sound hopeful and optimistic, but it was hard.

The somber mood didn't stay for long though, as Rylee was attempting to replicate Garreth's demonstration of the wand movement. The he leaned closer to her, putting his cheek right next to hers, trying to see from her perspective. "Yeah, good! All the pieces are within the spiral, so if you add the incantation now, and focus on bringing them together, you should be good!" he gave her all his encouragement, but at this point it was up to Rylee. She just had to focus as hard as she could, and Garreth had no doubt she could pull it off. "Give it all you've got, Rylee!"

Rylee couldn't hold back the giggles. Old farts and crazy people! She had been right in thinking that she could be herself with Garreth. He was funny. Cooler spells? "Really?" He wasn't just saying that now, was he? "Lap-a- what now?" she tilted her head giving him a confused look. "What's that?" Nods. "Uh-huh! Everyone likes bunnies!" They were so cute and fluffy!

Blink. Blink. "Would you really stay... if you were able to?" Very important question.

It was luck that she didn't go turning her head to look at him or they might have ended up hitting their heads together. Rylee smiled and nodded once. If Garreth believed she could do this than she would. It was exactly the same thing as before only using a being spiral when she drew the wand movement.

Lifting her arm she created a large spiral in the air with her wand as she spoke clearly, "Reparo!" Nothing. That was okay. She was prepared to try again for as long as it took.

Garreth couldn't help but smile. If he was completely honest with himself, he was rather pleased at his ability to summon laughter in Rylee. Was he a funny guy? Maybe. Or maybe he just found it way easier to talk to younger people. Students his own age were so intimidating. Brilliant and studious as he was, Garreth had never been able to shake the feeling that other students were as smart as he was without any of the social problems. "Lapifors." he spoke slowly and clearly to make sure she caught it. "A transfiguration spells that turns practically anything into a rabbit." he winked, knowing she would be a fan of that one.

"Yes." He answered almost immediately. "I think so." There wasn't really much to think about. Maybe it was silly, but if he had the chance, he would stay at Hogwarts forever. "I could be useful teaching first years fun charms." he smirked.

He watched her first attempt at a wide-angled Reparo and gave her a nod and a pat on the shoulder after it didn't quite work. "Don't worry, this one's hard to pull off. You need to visualize the pieces coming together. Try again!" the older boy encouraged her. His confidence in her was absolute and it was clear in the tone of his voice.

Once he got to know her better he would see that she was very easily excited. Lots of things made her giggle and she nearly always sported a smile on her little pale freckled face. This time when he gave the incantation again she made sure to listen more closely. "Lap-i-fors?" she repeated softly nodding slowly to herself. It sounded right. GASP! "Whoa?! Noway! Really?! When do I get to learn that one?! Do the bunnies last a really long time or so they turn back on their own?!" Could he teach her now?

Just knowing that he would actually stay if he could made her smile again. "Don't forget second years!" she giggled. Next year she would be a second year and she was sure that Garreth had a lot that he could teach her.

Nods. "Visualize. Got it." That's what she had been doing. Rylee held up her wand again and once more made created a large spiraling shape in the air before them, "Reparo!" Nothing. Again. This was definitely much harder than she had expected. There would be no giving up. Determination is what fueled this eleven year old. Sooner or later she would accomplish this even if it wasn't today. For now though she tried again and again...and again. All to no avail unless a slight quivering of the pieces of rock counted for much.

The smile on Garreth's face only grew as the effects of Lapifors dawned on Rylee. He gave her an enthusiastic nod as she repeated the incantation and struggled to hold back a chuckle at her onslaught of exclamations and questions. "It's a third year spell, that one, I'm afraid.. But I suppose I could teach it to you early." he winked, barely holding back his own excitement. "The bunnies don't turn back on their own, they're permanent until you transfigure them back, but they are a bit slow in the head." he gestured with a finger towards his temple. He remembered reading somewhere about the mental faculties of animals transfigured from objects, and about how they weren't exactly impressive, but in his mind, that just made them even cuter!

"Seeing your skills with your wand today, I'd say you'll probably out-skill me by next year anyway." he grinned. He didn't want Rylee to feel like she missed out by him not being there next year. Her enthusiasm for learning reassured him that she would know everything he knew by the time she was his age, so no worries there!

He gave a supportive nod as she attempted and re-attempted the mending charm. "Good, you're totally making progress!" he reassured her when she couldn't quite manage to repair the stone. He took swished and flicked his wand towards it once more and moved one of the pieces closer towards the center piece. "Maybe the spiral was just a bit too big. Maybe give it a try now?"

Bunnies! Rylee wanted a bunny! Rylee wanted anything that was cute and fluffy. Bunnies were most definitely that. The wide grin on her face faltered just slightly until Garreth finished speaking that is. "Really? Would you?! Can we try it now?!" Now would be the perfect time. Eeeee! Cue lots of wiggles. Huh? Slow in the head? Blinks. "Well that's okay.. it's still a bunny, right? It will hop around and be super cute and fluffy?"

Rylee beamed up at him. He was seriously going to give her a big head with all his praise. "Nah-uh! That's not possible... but... I'll try!" she giggled loudly. She would do her very best to learn as many spells as possible as well as try to execute them perfectly.

Progress was always a good thing. She nodded at his encouragement. As long as she was trying and she was. Now that he had moved the pieces closer together maybe she could get it. "Okay." Creating the spiral with her wand just like before she cast, "Reparo!" this time there was a clear quivering from the pieces of rocks before they flew back together to reform the large boulder. "I did it!" Ry cheered happily throwing her hands up in the air. "Did you see, Garry, did ya?" Giggles.

Such enthusiasm! It had been a while since Garreth encountered another student with as much desire to learn as he had. Now that he had, it made him wish even harder that this wasn't his final year at Hogwarts. But no matter. He could pass on what he knew and maybe when it was Rylee's turn to be the 7th-year, she could teach someone else something she learned from Garreth. The thought alone sent a warm feeling through his body that almost completely cleared away the dread he felt when he thought of having to leave. "Sure we can try it! You've had your Transfiguration groundwork in class, right?" He smiled down at Rylee, almost as excited to teach her as she was to learn. He did need to make sure that she had a grip on the very basics of transfiguration before teaching her something meant for third year students.

"Oh, it's more than possible!" he argued with a laugh. This time, he was sure she'd be able to pull of the mending charm. and when she made yet another attempt, and he heard the confidence in her voice, he was completely convinced. He'd wanted to start cheering before the spell even took effect, but decided to hold it back for a few seconds to keep from breaking Rylee's concentration.

"Wohoo!" the 7th-year whooped, throwing his arms up, unintentionally mimicking Rylee's own celebratory gesture. "You sure did! I knew you could do it!" he beamed at the 1st-year, almost a little bit too proud of his new student. "What an amazing performance!" he gestured enthusiastically at the stone with a laugh. "Just look at that rock! It's good as new! I'm so proud of you!"

There was no better way to be than to be happy. Sometimes Rylee wasn't in the highest of spirits but usually she could shake herself from that and be her happy, smiling little self once more. Like right now. "Uh-huh! I'm not great at it but I try and I'm getting better!" She nodded eagerly more than ready to learn anything he was willing to show her. It didn't matter if it was a charm she wouldn't be able to accomplish for years to come, all that was mattered to her was he was willing to show it her.

Rylee smiled widely. With him believing in her so strongly there was noway she would ever let him down. Not that she was one to give up easily or at all.

Giggles happily. "It looks just like before! I'm good at this!" She beamed up at him brightly throwing her arms around him in a hug completely unfazed by the fact that maybe he wasn't the hugging type.

Though he had spent countless hours pouring over hundreds- if not thousands of books in the school's library, taken notes in every class, and put his heart and soul into every last ounce of homework he had ever had, what Garreth had perhaps learned the most about was friendship. He'd learned about making friends, getting to know people, interacting with people, and how to spot a new friend when he made one. And in that moment, sitting under that tree by the lake, being hugged by this enthusiastic first-year, his friendship-sense was tingling like crazy. He hesitated but a single moment and then wrapped his arms around Rylee, squeezing her back.

"You're wonderfully eager to learn, Rylee." he smiled. He pulled away to look her in the eye as they chatted. "Are you sure you're not meant to be in Ravenclaw? You know we have the best Common Room, don't you?" he smirked slyly.

"In regards to learning Lapifors, we'll need something to turn into a rabbit. Do you see anything nearby that according to the basic fundamentals of transfiguration would make a good bunny?" He shot a few glances around the surrounding area and then to Rylee. Of course, if she wasn't sure what to choose, he would help her out, but he wanted to see what she'd pick. "Remember: The less an object has to change, the easier it is to transfigure it."

Rylee was a huger in every sense of the word. She could happily sit right here all day giving out hugs and receiving them. It was that moment of security that she liked most. The reason behind it never seemed to matter much, she just always felt better afterwards.

"If I didn't want to learn I wouldn't be here," she stated honestly leaning back to look up at him. Ginger hair flew about her small face as she shook her head giggling. "Nah-uh... but the sorting hat did consider it for a tiny moment... it considered Hufflepuff too." The house she had hoped to be in originally. "We have the best common room," she argued playfully. Didn't he know about the rock wall and video games?

Rylee was already wiggling in excitement. Her gaze shifted from Garreth to look around the area as he spoke. "Well it should be something similar in shape so kind of roundish would be useful... like a rock or something?" A rock was hard though and bunnies weren't. They were soft, cute and really fluffy. "Would something softer be better?"

"Obviously, but I'm willing to say you're a step above your average Gryffindor." Garreth winked with a smirk. "The hat considered putting me in with you lot for a moment too. Could have been a Gryffindor like my mum. I'm happy with how things turned out, but my dad sure wasn't!" The book shook his head and gave a shrug. His father had always been very adamant that he be sorted into Gryffindor, as if Garreth had any real control over which house he ended up in. "I would have missed out on the undisputed best common room." he added, playfully continuing the argument.

He nodded approvingly at Rylee's suggestion. "Round is good, so we could go with a rock, sure!" he beamed. Transfiguring an object's hardness wasn't super complicated, but the challenge came in turning an inanimate object into a living creature. "Don't worry too much about making it as fluffy as possible." he said, reaching for a nearby stone. "Just focus as hard as you can on giving it.. energy." he was struggling to explain properly, but he was sure Rylee could figure it out.

Normally Rylee wasn't a blusher but this compliment had her cheeks growing warm and the sensation alone surprised her. "Thank you," she whispered almost shyly his words really meaning something to her. Lifting her blue eyes to meet his gaze she appeared confused. "How come he wasn't happy? He didn't want you to be a Ravenclaw?" Her parents were thrilled with the house she was placed in even though everyone had bet on Hufflepuff. "My daddy was in Gryffindor and my mummy was a Ravenclaw."

A rock it was then. Rylee looked at the rock in Garreth's hand and nodded slowly. "Give it energy.. life?" she asked taking the stone from him and setting it down on the ground at her feet. "It's Lapifors, right?" Bright blue eyes looked up at her friend to make sure. "And I just point my wand at the rock..." She was speaking mostly to herself but if he answered her that would be just fine.

"Lapifors!" she cast pointing her wand at the rock at her feet. Her focus and intent was there but something was lacking for nothing at all happened. That didn't discourage her one bit as she tried several more times before finally lowering her wand and looking at Garreth. Help?

The towel. That was the most confusing to her. She could see how the soap ingredients would work and how the face mask would go together, but seeing the bamboo in front of her and trying to imagine the spell turning it into a usable towel was a bit much.

After stopping by the herbology greenhouses and collecting the bamboo she needed, Emmalyn headed towards the grounds by the lake. She wanted to be able to spread out and it would be easier to clean up her mess that way too.

The day was beautiful and the light breeze floated the wisps of hair that had escaped from her ponytail. The bright sun sparkled against the waters of the lake and warmed her skin. She knew that her choice to go outside for this task was a great idea. Once finding the perfect spot near the lake, she sat out her bamboo and looked over the instructions. “Strip the fibers.” What exactly did that mean? She reread the steps and, to the best of her ability, started stripping the fibers of the bamboo. Once complete, she pulled out her wand and pointed “ intorqueo corda” She hesitantly commanded. The fibers began to worm and twist about. She watched, waiting impatiently to see what would happen. Much to her disappointment, the resulting product was a big ball of mess. Not one bit like a towel. “Ugh” she exhaled.

Determined to try again, she started over with another piece of bamboo. She stripped the fibers and placed them before her. This time she held her wand more purposefully and commanded “ intorqueo corda!” The fibers once again began to twist and weave together. This time, instead of a ball of mess, a towel formed. A beautifully soft beige colored towel. She jumped up in her excitement and looked around to see if anyone had witnessed her success.

Once she got over her excitement, she bent down and felt the towel. Probably not the softest towel ever, but soft enough to be used on a body without injury. Emmalyn picked up the towel and folded it into her bag before dashing back to the castle. It was finally time to test out her creations.