(Ollivander's)Conjuring a Refined Student[Riley Adair]

“Ollllie… I told you …just a second!” Her house elf was pulling on her hand, forcing her quickly down the stairs.  She stumbled down the last two steps, bearley catching herself with the sweeping wooden railing, as her feet found the main floor of the house. Her sudden appearance scared the magically animated birds and other critters in the richly floral parlor's wallpaper decorated with the fruit and late blooming flowers of summer. Once she caught her balance, she glanced up. Immediately her mouth fell open with the surprise of finding the dining room and the parlor beyond, almost completely emptied. A few lone chairs sat at either end of the gaping expanse. At one end only a pair dining chairs positioned with her childhood chalk board formed a sad makeshift classroom for a single student. While the opposite side of the palar remained up touched with the tea table and two arm chairs sitting lonely in the bay window.

“We are expecting Mr. Adair in a few minutes.” Her mother said behind her simultaneously checking her skirt watch while levitating a tray of tea sandwiches and cookies with her wand. When her mother's eyes lifted, Lesleigh noticed that she gave a familiar grimace as she took in Lesleigh's attire.

“It is not like he is a Hogwarts Professor…” Lesleigh said as she folded her arms protectively over her Black banshee band shirt and frayed jean vest.  Although fulling knowing she would have worn the same thing even meeting her favorite professor. What did she expect me to get out my school uniform? she sarcastically thought as Oli assisted her mother with the tray.

“And.. mum is this all necessary?” Lesleigh gestured to the empty room she took a few steps and stood where the couch once was “I thought you said he was going to show me some spells to help me at work. It is not like we are going to cast a patronus.”

She glanced back at her mother, Korrrine who seemed deep in thought still studying Lesleigh's outfit. Then before she know it, her mother started in on how he came highly recommended, was very professional and how she was sure that what he taught would help her at work… blah blah blah. More or less, the same spill she gave her before.

“I know, I know…” Lesleigh said while waving her hand as she walked across the room and was just about to collapsed into the tea armchair when her mother muttered something. A strange sensation like butterfly wings brushing her skin startled the twenty-year-old girl. The blond looked down to see her shirt and vest which had already changed into a tight white scooped neck blouse and her rolled short jeans were transform to a full- flowy mauve-rose tea length skirt. “MUM! I can’t believe YOU! I mean bloody mum, I am not five!”

Lesleigh ran over to the mirror in the foyer to examine her transfigured “new” outfit. The ancient painting of Geraint Ollivander looked through his spectacles at his descendant while mummled and nodded approvingly.  Les rolled her eyes, relieved inwardly that it at least it did not have bows or flowers. Although the skirts high waist did made her look thin, it was way to long for her tastes and needed about half of it cut off. She let her fingers linger on the blouse neck line a little too long. She hated to admit the top was cute and would be a perfect addition to her business attire. Her mother was busy smiling and saying something about how much better it was to always make a good impression. Lesleigh caught her mother reflection reaching out to touch her long blond hair before Lesleigh batted away her mother's hand. Lesleigh was sure that her mother was going to offer to do something about her hair with the some arguments like one should not look like they are just stumbling back from a rock concert. Thankfully her hair was saved by three steady knocks at the door.     

Les quickly looked for her wand while her mother opened the door and greeted her new teacher. Unfortunately, she did not have time to shorten her skirt by the time she was being introduced to a dark-haired man standing a head above her. She was most taken by his grey-blue eyes until his face sharpened into a devilishly handsome smile. He was a lot younger than Les expected and quite younger than most her Professors where in school. Maybe it is common for young-hot-professors to do private tutoring before they… get old and given the opportunity to teach full time.  “It is nice to meet you Mr. Adair. Oh…” she realized she was holding out her wand and had to quickly switch it to her off hand to give a more formal hand shake.

Her mother went into her hostess/ fundraiser mode and showed Adair the cleared out parlor and connecting dining room (now classroom) asking if there was any other modification he required. Seeing that everything was in order. She waved her wand summing her handbag and hat, which floated from table in the foyer gracefully. As she positioned them and adorn lacy summer gloves she announced she must be off. She was keeping the other ladies from the Witches Institute waiting and had a meeting with S.C.A.R.E. immediately following. She bid her good byes to Mr. Adair and thanked him again. Stopping at the foyer before leaving, her mother added as an afterthought, "Lesleigh, if Mr. Adair needs anything else don’t hesitate to call Oli. She keeps herself-hidden but always ready and watching if she is needed."

"Yes, Mum." Les replies as polite as she could as her mother let herself out the front door. Something about her mother tone said that Oli will be her mother eyes and ears and will intervene if needed. As if her or her new professor could not be trusted to conduct themselves properly. It was not like they were alone with Izotz  and Papa in the shop down stairs. Still the thoughts flooded the boy crazed young woman's mind as she glanced at the dark professor and she could feel her cheeks redden. She tried to cover her thoughts by forcing her mind onto another subject. "Would you like some tea before for we begin?" 

She gestured to the bay window ready with a small assortments of snacks, knowing that Oli will float the cups and teapot in.

Today was a break in Riley’s normal routine, he was going to give a lesson in Conjuring to the daughter of the Ollivander’s. He loved Conjuring himself and had excelled at it when he went to Ilvermorny; one of the best in his year. Now he used that skill to earn a meager living and as a cover for his activity in England. He had already given lessons to several others; how to conjure puppets, it was the easiest part of the subject. And the most harmless; he wouldn’t want to teach dark wizards and witches magic that could be dangerous in the wrong hands, but puppets were mostly harmless. It gave him access to people who wouldn’t normally look at him twice and there was valuable information to gather just by having lessons with their children or entering their houses. Not that he thought the Ollivander’s were bad people, on the contrary, he knew of and respected Mr. Ollivander greatly. From what he had experienced of his wife so far he was simultaneously impressed and a little intimidated.

He had brought his Grimoire with him; it was one he had written himself to use for such lessons. He didn’t want to show the full extent of what conjuring could actually do so he only kept information about simple puppets and some spirit conjuring as well in it. The dark green book was tucked under his arm as he walked up to the Ollivander’s residence. He wore a black leather jacket; it was well worn and soft. He had put on a dark navy shirt just to make himself a little more presentable and wore dark jeans without holes in them for once. He realized he probably didn’t look as ‘refined’ as he should, but this was how he was comfortable dressing and doing conjuring in uncomfortable clothing was not ideal.

The door opened after a few knocks and Mrs Ollivander stood in the door. He greeted her and was soon introduced to the younger Ms. Ollivander who he noticed stuck her wand towards him; he couldn’t help but chuckle discreetly and politely took and shook her hand once she managed to switch her wand to her other hand. “Nice to meet you Miss Ollivander,” he greeted her politely and followed Mrs Ollivander into the dining room. He looked around at the interesting wallpaper, he was always fascinated by the decor of the different wizarding families; it was all so different from where he grew up in America. “It’s perfect,” he assured her with a smile. “Have a good day,” He bowed his head slightly as Mrs. Ollivander left and turned his attention to the younger Ollivander. The fact that she was a little red in the face didn’t even register with him.

“Tea sounds nice,” He nodded with a smile. “We can talk about Conjuring a little before we start the lesson.” He joined her at the bay window and put his Grimoire in his lap. “This is a grimoire, I don’t know if you’re familiar with them already. They’re books of magic used in Conjuring because you often have to remember a lot and it takes years to memorize it all. What do you need help with most in your life?” He asked picking up some snacks. “It can be used for alot, just not the best magic for a spontaneous fight,” he chuckled taking a bite of the snack and grabbing the teacup as the house elf floated it to them.

“Sure.” Lesleigh agreed and took one of the seats. The twenty year old examined Mr. Adair once more before he sat down. A part of her was quite surprised that her mother had taken him so seriously. According to her mother all respectable wizards should wear ‘traditional wizards’ clothes.’ Leigh on the other hand like approved of the alternative look of her teacher.  His leather jacket and crisp black jeans was an odd choice in summer, but the young witch had always loved the wizard and muggle rock theme attire, and approved whole heartedly. One must look good right? It made her feel even more self-conscious about the white and pink tea party outfit.

She noticed and thought it was odd of him to slip the book into his lap. She wondered if he was unsure what to do with it. He likely thought it would take up too much space on the small round tea table and she guessed he did not wish it to be on the floor. Yet as he began to introduce the book to her, she realized his lap was where he preferred it. It was something akin to how people treat their new wands, preferring to press them up to their chests as if they couldn’t bare to be parted. 

“Not really.” She said dubiously as she examined the thick book with her eyes. Books and her were not the best of friends. Yet, as she met his blue eyes, she was flooded with the desire to please him.  “Isn’t is used to record spells?”

She nodded as his eloquently words flowed out about his obviously favorite subject. Who knew that book nerds could look so attractive. Then he asked what she needed to know conjuring for. In truth she had not known much about the subject, beyond a few attempts to produce birds in transfigure class and did not think it would help her to know it until recently.

The tea cups and pot floated over, and she poured out her serving while answering. “Well I am not planning to get into a bar duel anytime soon.” She laughed pairing his joke with her own. She went on to load her tea with two scoops of sugar, forgetting that she was the hostess and should have performed the nicety of pouring him a cup. “I kinda need it for work. Well, at least my Mum thought it would help.  The creative department at Label gives me a lot of physical tasks. You know; fetching accessories for models, rifling wardrobe for photo shoots, clipping and pasting new layouts together late with the graphics department. By the end of the tenth hour I can hardly hold my wand. Then I have to repeat the process at least six days out of the week.”

There was more to it, but she did not want to go into her condition. Not with a teacher, especially with him being so cute. It was like having the pickup line in a bar…. ‘Hi, I got issues. Do you want to date me?’ Although life would be easier if guys had said their issues right off the bat. She thought bitterly as she sipped her extra sweet tea while claiming her own set of sandwiches. The tea needs whisky. She thought sadly and she put it down and continued. “I am guess, I am hoping to make work easier. I just hope it will not take me years to do that.”

Riley smiled as she paired her own joke to his, it was always nice with students who weren’t too serious about magic or life. When you had fun with doing something you were more likely to actually learn it and Riley thought conjuring was the most interesting and fun subject you could study. He poured his own tea, not bothered at all that she hadn’t done it for him. He was from a middle class family in America; tea wasn’t really the norm back there and he hadn’t actually been to formal parties before he came to England. Normally he did prefer coffee, but had learned to like tea while living in England. It did seem like the only thing they drank. Used to dark coffee he preferred his tea a little bitter and didn’t use sugar or milk in it.

He patiently listened to her tell him about her troubles at work, nodding along and keeping his eyes fixed on her; interested in what she was saying. He put the cup down on the table and placed his hands on the Grimoire when she finished talking. “It’s a hard subject to learn beyond a beginner stage, but it can be very user friendly for beginners if you have one of these,” he patted the book softly and picked it up so the cover faced her.

“The grimoire came to America from Europe and Ilvermorny, the American School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, took up teaching the subject. It’s a book of magic specifically directed towards conjuring magic,” He opened the book to show drawings of animals and descriptions of the spell; incantation and hand movements explained by every animal. “This one I made myself with the most important information on conjuring puppets. A puppet is an animal that you can control with your mind; it’s like an empty shell and not actually a living animal,” he explained with a smile, closing the book and putting it down in his lap again. “The first animal you learn to conjure at Ilvermorny is a Jackalope,” he grinned thinking back to the days where they had raced the weird creatures on campus; betting on who would win.

Pulling out his wand he put a spell on the book to make it hover at eye height for Lesleigh, opening up to the page where it showed the strange jackrabbit with antlers. He moved his hands in fluid motions, almost like dancing with your hands, but very precise; while chanting some specific words in latin softly. On the ground in front of him a thick mist appeared and swirled fast until a solid creature sat where the mist had been. The creature was incredibly odd with it’s insane antlers and powerful rabbit body; just like the picture in the grimoire. It just sat there perfectly still like a statue. “You can control it with your mind, see through its eyes and talk through it if you want to,” He looked back to Lesleigh and while he did the jackalope jerked into action taking a sprint around the room, before stopping where he had conjured it in the first place and stood still again.

“Before you can actually try the conjuring you need to work on hand movement and incantation separately; it needs to be very precise,” He smiled at her. “Any questions before we start?”


Sorry it took me forever! christmas chaos >.<

His smile… appeared again and she could not help mirroring it with her own wide one.  As she talked, she noticed that his blue eyes stayed fixed on hers from above the rim of his tea cup. She felt a little unnerved that they did not once leave her face as most wizards do. Most wizards at pubs look her up and down or others simply glance over her dismissively. Instead she felt like he was truly interested in her and what she had to say.

It was only after she stopped talking, did his eyes leave her. He placed down his mostly finished tea cup and his hands went straight to his book. While his words flowed, she watched him gently caressing the object in her lap. She became extremely curious about the thick dark tome and half wished she was in its place. As he lifts it to show her, she examined the unfamiliar cover which was supposedly her key to learning Conjuring magic. She acquisitively glanced at him, figuring he would continue to tell her what was its title, the name of it's arthur and where she would inquire the large book. Instead he alluded to a vague description of the book's origin. With his mention of Ilvermorny, Les was finally able to place his deep throated accent. He was lot easier to understand then the few American wizards she met at bars. 

As he opened the book, she examined the inked illustrations, diagrams and notes, which appeared to her as a combination between The Standard Book of Spells and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Although the movements and the incarnations were fascinating, it was the detail of the fur, skin and feathers of the animals depicted that surprised her. It was nowhere close to the sketched form of a patronus and even more detailed than most magic fauna illustrations.  Les concluded the beast must have been stunned for hours to get that record that much precise detail of an animal. She glances up in surprise when she heard that he made “this one himself,” noticing he did not point to an entry.

“You made this?” She pointed her figure inches above the page, drawing a clockwise circle to elude the whole book.

She sat back in her chair and studied him, impressed. Not that she ever wanted to write and illustrate a book, but there was something inspiring about it. She wanted to grab the book and flip through all the pages curious if all was so well don. Yet something about the way he handled it since her enter the house, gave her a feeling it would be rude. She let him continue without any further interruptions, even as he describe the term “puppet.” The word disturbed her. She had only heard the word used loosely to describe the victims of the Imperious Curse. Her eyes narrowed as she reexamined her professor and wondered if conjuring magic was just a form of calling animal and controlling them.  “An empty shell... not a living animal?” she repeated suspiciously.

“A jack-a-lope?” She asked slightly confused while searching her own memory in vain for such an animal. He seemed to be amused by her befuddlement, but thankfully he did not dwell on it. Instead he magically lifted to book and displayed the corresponding illustrated page. Her eyes took in the unfamiliar horn baring hare as she wondered just how the beast would burrow or not get caught in brush with horns protruding from its forehead. His movement and chanting pulled her eyes away from the page. He displayed a practice grace as a mist formed before him. Lesleigh halfway expected a Patronus, but the un-illuminated mist suddenly formed the actual mottled fur beast, not the silver patronus likeness.

Lesleigh was searching the still beasts’ eyes for any signs of life, when it abruptly into movement. The startled girl let out an involuntary shriek as she lifted up her feet, perching on her chair and got out her wand defensively. Her irrational fear of the strange creature was short lived as she soon found it standing completely still again at the exact spot it was conjured, exhibiting skills beyond the best trained pet. Her body slowly released its tension as her mind tried to process this magical beast that was sprinting wildly around her Parlour a moment ago as a part of the conjure magic.

“So, it, this... jack-a-lope, is in your complete control as soon as you conjure it?” She asked, before she tried to clarify. “You don’t have to cast anything else? I mean, it is already under some sort of … Imperious Curse as soon as it ... forms.”

Sorry it took me so long to get back smae christmas chaos.