Hogwarts: Staircase, early evening

[fortunatestory.livejournal.com]

If anyone's walking around the castle in the early evening, they might come across Rhys, sitting in a lovely squishy armchair on a staircase landing and sipping a cup of tea. There's an empty portrait frame next to him- if you're fast, you might notice a flurry of movement across the other paintings nearby. The girl in the picture's shy, you see.

And you've interrupted their chat. How rude.

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[fortunatestory.livejournal.com]

"It would be so much easier if someone would create a quill that would write our thoughts in the blazing glorious way that they appear in our minds, wouldn't it?" Rhys selects his own cake and leans back in his chair, thinking.

[will_scarlett]

"I'm not even sure if that would help. Sometimes it seems like I can almost describe what I need to but then I think about it and I don't,"

Even though he's not failed any classes, Will still doesn't consider himself a strong student. He knows how to do things but he feels far more confident when he's doing than writing. Its one reason that while he enjoys Hogwarts, he's not always sure he belongs.

[fortunatestory.livejournal.com]

"I've had that problem before. It took me a long time to figure out how to write things so I got decent marks on essays." Of course, when he was at Hogwarts, all essays were in Latin, which made life even more interesting. He taps his fingers together thoughtfully, pondering the problem at hand. "How have you been trying to write this essay? Just straight through or have you been brainstorming and outlining and such?"

[will_scarlett]

"I'm trying an outline. They don't always work for me but as there are different parts of the spell, it seems like that might make more sense,"

He's constantly trying various things because some things works better than others depending on the topic.

[fortunatestory.livejournal.com]

"Try a brainstorm? Write down everything you can think of to do with the spell. It can help get your brain working."

Poor Will. Writing essays is No Fun, and Rhys sympathizes.

[will_scarlett]

"I will. I want to do well on this one because Transfiguration does make sense to me,"

Will likes Professor Owens, he seems to know so much and understand how complex the spaces between the Muggle and Wizarding worlds can be to live in.

[fortunatestory.livejournal.com]

"Transfiguration is by and large one of the more logical branches of magic, in my opinion. It seems to be more consistent than Charms."

Rhys has spent a long time wandering between both of them and watching them develop, watching the gap between them widen. It's a strange place to be.

[will_scarlett]

"I've never been that good with Charms. Things seem like they should work but the result isn't what its supposed to be."

[fortunatestory.livejournal.com]

"It's a tricky one. I like it, but it's surely not for everyone. Is Transfiguration your favourite?"

[will_scarlett]

"Yes, but Defence Against the Dark Arts is close because I know I can use it. I just like seeing how things can change with Transfiguration."

[fortunatestory.livejournal.com]

"And it can be useful in its way. Defense Against the Dark Arts seems to be quite popular these days."

[will_scarlett]

"I like to be prepared as do a lot of others,"

Things are tricky in Nottingham and Will wants every weapon available to him.

[fortunatestory.livejournal.com]

"Quite understandable. Preparation is admirable- it's only when it crosses the line to paranoia that it turns bad."

Don't mind him. He likes giving advice a lot.

[will_scarlett]

"How do you know where that line is?"

[fortunatestory.livejournal.com]

"It's difficult to tell from the inside, honestly. When you're being paranoid, you've got a skewed view of the danger you're in, and anything you do seems rational or at least excusable." He frowns, taking a bite of cake. "The best thing to do, I think, is to have someone you can trust to tell you when you're treading that line."

[will_scarlett]

"I think I have some people I trust to do that,"

They're all on the alert but some more than others.

[fortunatestory.livejournal.com]

"That's good. Is there a reason you need to be so cautious?" Rhys leans forward a little, his face concerned. He doesn't like to think of anyone being in danger at Hogwarts.

[will_scarlett]

"There's just some troubles at home, so I want to be prepared,"

And here as well but its not his place to talk about DA or Order business.

[fortunatestory.livejournal.com]

"I'm sorry to hear that. I hope things work out for the best."

Unfortunately, Rhys has been in America for the last fifty years, so he's a little bit out of the loop.

[will_scarlett]

"So do I, but I think it will in time."

[fortunatestory.livejournal.com]

"Things often do, even when you least expect them to."

[will_scarlett]

"So you have to be prepared for anything that might happen and know how to think on your feet."

[fortunatestory.livejournal.com]

"Excellent qualities in any situation, not just trouble. Thinking off your feet means you're in trouble."

[will_scarlett]

"Which I try not to be too often if I can help it though it doesn't always work,"

He knows he has a bad temper that's got him into some fights he shouldn't have gone into.

[fortunatestory.livejournal.com]

"It's one of those things that comes with experience. Don't do anything too stupid and I'm sure you'll be fine- you seem like a bright lad."