[mp] be as you are. [patty]

september 2003

When the letter had come in the mail for this year's term at Hogwarts, Jari had skimmed over the booklist and went straight for the S.N.A.I.L. questionnaire. The incoming fifth year had been taking it upon himself to "mentor" incoming Hufflepuffs for the last three years, and he was beyond excited to be able to do it in an official capacity. He had written his responses clearly, slowly, and with an apparent dedication and sent it back right away.

Now that the term had started (and he was a PREFECT!), Jari Trickett couldn't wait to get together with his mentee. He was happy to find out it was none other than Patience Blackstone, a witch he'd written to before her first year, and sort of taken under his wing the last term. They already had a good rapport, so it was more than fitting. And he already knew a little about what she struggled with and how he could help her. Everything was lining up perfectly.

He'd left a note for her with one of the other second-year Hufflepuff girls to find him on the grounds for today's meeting. The last time they had gotten together, it had been soggy and rainy, typical September, but today it was nice enough to enjoy the sun while still having it. Winter was on the way, and soon enough, gray skies and white powder would engulf the castle. Not today, though! It was crystal clear, barely a cloud insight and the atmosphere was as blue as the ocean. Jari felt energized by the warm sun hitting his Hufflepuff yellow sweater. The wizard found himself way too preoccupied watching it glint off the shiny Prefect's badge as he waited for Patty to join him next to a large oak tree in the lawns.

@Patience Blackstone

Wheen Patty had heard about signing up for a mentoring program, the thought was enticing. At first, she had considered signing up to be a mentor herself! When she mentioned the option to her sister, the young Hufflepuff was quickly shut down. Her sister had made clear points-though each one seemed to cut her deep. They were just words, but it was true. Patience had a difficult time focusing. She struggled to complete homework assignments nad projects. While she had learned the layout of the school, she was still unaware of all of the shortcuts and easy ways to get to classes. Class lessons were substituted with daydreams. While her grades were subpar, they were never as good as Abigail's.

Defeated, her confidence shrinking, she was coaxed into signing up for a mentor instead.

She had been reluctant to fill out the survey. It was only five questions and sat ominously on her desk at home for the entirety of summer break. Days before the deadline was due to owl the questionarre in, Abigail had once again persuaded her into finally filling it out. The blonde was so embarrassed to register.

When she had gotten the results back, she was so thrilled! @Jari Trickett had been assigned as her mentor and she couldn't've been happier. The two were already close pals. He had tried to get her to particpate in the quidditch tryouts, but she didn't show. She wasn't a fan of quidditch, but she was a fan of him. She'd made it to a couple of his games last term when she wasn't trying to catch up on last-minute assignments.

Patty came down to the oak tree he told her to meet him at. It was a gorgeous day! Merily she skipped down the path with her curls bouncing over her shoulders. When she spotted Jari, she smiled and offered him a friendly wave before she sprinted the rest of the way down. "Hi mentor!" She nudged him playfully in his arm. "How are you?"

"Hello Mentee," Jari said back with a giggle and pushed off from the tree he had been leaning against. "I'm good, glad it's sunny out, might even see Snorgles flying above the forest today," The Hufflepuff told her with a seriousness on his face. Snorgles were a myth, but like many, Jari believed the winged creatures were real and he knew they loved to bask in the sunshine. "How about you?" Leading her away from the tree he slung his back pack over one shoulder as they walked. He headed no where in particular but figured they'd find a good spot and stop when they did. He wasn't picky, so long as they could stay outside a while. He hated being cooped up in the castle, especially when it was nice enough to be outside still.

"Did you bring your coursework?" He asked politely, but without an ounce of pressure behind his tone. Jari knew mentoring was more than just tutoring. Sometimes they would work on essays and assignments but sometimes it was just about hanging out and being there for the other. She wasn't a first year, but Jari remembered his second term, and it was only slightly less confusing than the first. There was still plenty of things to learn and the teenager was excited to teach.

"Or did you want to work on something else today?"

"Snorgles?" Her head turned in the direction of the treetops to the Forbidden Forrest. "You know they don't exist! No one has ever seen them." She knew with Jari, he believed everything to exist until he was proven wrong. "No one has seen them. Though it would be cool if we could say we did!" Jari was a young man of plenty of faith. He believed in many things which had not been seen, and never supplied substantial evidence and truth of their existence.

"I'm good," she sounded very cheery with her response. Patty found it so much easier and much less embarrassing to state she was in a good place than to admit that the first month of school had been a little rough already. There was no need for Jari to think she was dumb. Maybr he wondered why she signed up for a mentor? She really hoped he wouldn't ask.

The little girl followed him with a quicker pace than her usual stroll. She noted how he seemed to have gotten a little taller than last she saw him and now she had to keep up with him. Her thumbs tucked under the straps to her backpack at his question. "Yeah," she admitted dully. I don't really want to work on anything at all," she sighed. "School is great and all, but I think I'd enjoy it much much MUCH more if I didn't have homework. Don't worry. I've got it all with me! Where should we work on it at?"

"Yes, they do!" He countered her words with a chuckle and a bit of glee. Jari was used to believing in things other's didn't, it never bothered him when the disagreements started though. He wasn't the sort of conspiracy theorist who demanded everyone get on board. He'd offer his opinions, and he'd respect theirs, and leave it at that. It was the same anytime he brought up aliens and UFOs. "Seeing as they are half turtles they love it when the sun is up and hot, cold blooded you know," Jari informed her like they were talking about something widely accepted. He'd done plenty of homework on cryptozoology and Snorgles were far from the weirdest of creatures he'd learned about. Winged turtles were pretty cool sounding though, he had to admit.

"Keep your eyes on the skies Patty, and we just might!" Jari was endlessly hopeful and full of a sense of optimism that never seemed to wane. He nodded when she said that she was good and honestly he was happy to hear it. Jari remembered his first few years at Hogwarts and there was a lot of adjusting to do. And he had about a bazillion cousins around to help him get the hang of it.

Chuckling again Jari found her answer quite amusing. And he could relate. Who wanted to work on assignments when the weather was as beautiful as today? But still, he was supposed to be a good influence, so there was no way he was going to convince her to slack off and put her homework to the side. But maybe they could do a little classwork and a little fun, there was no rule that said they couldn't do both, right? "I wish I could say it gets easier," he told her with that typical Hufflepuff honesty and slowed down when they came to a set of stone picnic tables in the clearing. They weren't far from the lake, so if one really listened they could hear the sloshing sounds of the Giant Squid playing in the summer waves.

"Here is a good spot, I'd think?" He mentioned but left it open in case she didn't like it. "So what kind of homework do you have?" Jari knew she wasn't old enough yet to be taking Care of Magical Creatures, his favorite class, but he liked to think he could help her with any of her second year assignments.