John's transfiguration textbook closed with a thud. This was getting ridiculous.
As one of the few first-generation wizards to be accepted into Becknel Academy via the lottery program, you'd think they would at least offer some kind of tutoring if he fell behind. John had already went to the transfiguration teacher for help and all he got was a reminder to 'make sure to read the chapter again more thoroughly this time'. He packed up his books and left the library. The thought had crossed his mind to ask Dave for help, but he was already busy with his own work, and even though he was passing John doubted he could explain the material very well. It was all really frustrating. Not even five months ago had he been introduced to magic and suddenly he was expected to keep up with everyone. Asking someone else for help was John's last resort, but he had exhausted all his other options.
John took his time walking to the girls' dorms, knowing it was partly in an effort to stall. He had asked around and apparently everyone he talked to pointed him towards the same person, who unfortunately happened to be in a different transfiguration class. He exited the tall school building and followed the path to the dorms. What's the worst that could happen? Even if she didn't agree to tutor him she wouldn't exactly murder him for asking. Worst case scenario John planned to pace around the upper year dorms until someone finally took pity on him enough to explain this damned match to needle thing to him. Finally at the dorms, he wandered around with the piece of parchment he had scribbled her name on. Breathing a sigh of relief after a few minutes he raised his hand and softly knocked on the door. There were a few moments of silence, then the sound of someone shuffling around before the door swung open.
"Can I help you?" asked Rose. John was oddly surprised to see her in normal pyjamas. He thought maybe wizards had some sort of weird sleeping wear given that they just wore robes all day.
"Uh yeah you're, you're Rose Lalonde right?" he asked.
She shot him an incredulous look and pointed at the name on her door.
"I'm assuming you can read otherwise I'd recommend making the staff aware of that, Egbert."
"You know my name? You know what don't answer that actually. Look," he said, stopping his fidgeting to look at her, "I need help with transfiguration, and everyone says you're the best in our year."
"I'm quite flattered but what makes you think I have time to teach it? Or that I'm qualified to at that," she asked.
"Please? I can do magic I swear it's just the theory I can't keep up wit-"
She raised her hand to stop him.
"I'm well aware. Did you know that you're among the top five in our year at charms? You don't have to impress me," she paused, "I can make you a deal."
John's expression rose at that. Maybe he wouldn't do so bad in class this year after all.
"Name it," he said.
"I help you with your transfiguration and you help me study ahead in charms," she said.
"I haven't exactly studied ahead..." he said sheepishly.
"I didn't expect you to, but if you agree then you're going to go through advanced material with me. So, do you agree?" she asked.
"Yeah! Definitely, thank you!" he answered, grinning.
"Meet me at the library Wednesday after class," she said, a small smile playing on her lips, "consider this a sort of alliance."
She closed the door and John hurried back to his room before curfew began. An alliance, he had an alliance with Rose Lalonde.
Wednesday rolled around and John found himself hurrying to the library for his transfiguration lesson. The worst thing he could do right now was be late for their first meeting.
Rose was already sitting at one of the tables when he got there. It turns out she wasn't as intimidating as she seemed, especially not while she was so focused on trying to explain their lessons. She went through the theory with John, correcting his notes and clearing up a few things the teachers had simply assumed he already knew. Even though this was a 'progressive' American school it seemed the teachers just weren't as prepared as they should be for kids who came from a non-magical background. She took her time explaining which syllables he had to put emphasis on for each spell and how wide he should wave his wand depending on the area of the transfiguration. Overall, it went better than John thought it would.
"Here," she said, placing a match on the table, "I'd advise you not to set this on fire, especially here."
"I can do this," he said, still unsure of whether or not he could do it.
Rose motioned for him to go ahead and with a deep breath he went through the wand motions, making sure to put the emphasis in the proper places. Sure enough, his matchstick smoothly changed into a sharp silver needle. She picked it up and examined it, then placed it back on the table with a grin.
"I can't think of anything you could've done better," she told him.
"Wait really? That was it?" he asked, surprised. She nodded.
"I'll go through all of your spells with you as the year goes on to make sure your movements and pronunciation are right, but that's it for now."
"Huh," he said, "how do you know all this anyways?"
Rose leaned back in her chair.
"I've always been fascinated by the idea of transfiguration," she said "that you are not exactly one thing or another, just blank canvas. You can conjure something out of nothing and vanish an object into nothing, so it stands to reason you have the potential to be anything."
"That's one way to think of it," he said.
"Enough talk of philosophy," she said, bringing out her charms book, "now you have to keep up your end of the bargain."
"Mister Egbert!"
John jumped, sitting up straighter in his chair. He had been daydreaming in class again, and Mr. Robell didn't appreciate it much.
"If you feel like you're too good to pay attention in my class, why don't you demonstrate the spell we've been working on this week. Matchstick to needle."
John scrambled to get his wand. It took him a moment to focus on everything he had worked on the day before, but it was easy to repeat once he did it right once. Readying himself, he cast the spell and watch his matchstick transform into a needle.
Mr. Robell actually looked surprised for a moment before schooling his features again.
"At least try to look like you're paying attention," he said before walking off.
"Okay how the fuck did you do that?" asked Dave as soon as the teacher was out of hearing range.
"What do you mean?"
"Who are you and what have you done to John Egbert? Last time you tried this you tinted it grey," Dave argued.
"Okay so, I've been getting lessons," John admitted, "I asked someone to tutor me."
Dave went back to taking notes as the teacher walked by again.
"Who's tutoring you?" he whispered.
"I asked Lalonde," he whispered back, looking back at the teacher to make sure he wasn't too close.
"As in Rose Lalonde?! Are you out of your damn mind Egbert?"
"What? What's wrong with Rose?" John asked defensively.
"The entire First Transitional class is scared of her, including me. Rumor has it she's hexed someone already."
"So? She's not a future Dark Lady, Dave. She asked me to help her with her charms work," John explained.
"She what? Lalonde is taking charms advice from you?" Dave asked, surprised. "Now I've got to see this."
"Yes?" Rose asked as she opened the door.
"Yeah is this Lalonde tutoring services because-" Dave started, but Rose slammed the door shut with an irritated look on her face.
"Rose, he's with me!" he called out.
Slowly, the door opened again with Rose standing there looking exasperated.
"I didn't say you could bring guests," she said slowly.
"I know I know but Dave wanted to tag along, he won't interrupt. Right Dave?"
"What am I, a puppy?" he asked, annoyed.
Rose pinched the bridge of her nose and took a deep breath. Closing the door behind her, she motioned them to follow.
"They're not letting us cast spells in the library so we're going somewhere else today."
John rarely took this path at all. It started at the girls' dorms and ended, if he remembered right, somewhere near the greenhouses. He tried to keep up with Rose's pace through the unfamiliar path but she seemed to know it like the back of her hand. Dave was to his left, and from what John could see just as confused as him.
"Where are we going?" asked Dave.
"A study room," Rose replied curtly.
"Yes but where is it?" he followed up.
"Why are you asking so many questions?" she countered. "We're here anyways."
John looked around, but the spot Rose has stopped seemed like the rest of the path. For that matter, it looked like the rest of the school grounds in general: perfectly manicured grass, and dirt paths covered by overgrown trees. Rose kneeled down next to one of the trees and looked almost as if she was turning an invisible key in its trunk. With a groan, the tree lifted itself up to reveal an archway into the building behind it.
"My friend showed me this a few weeks ago, she has a bit of an affinity for plants," she said in an oddly soft tone of voice.
"You have friends?" Dave asked in mock surprise and Rose shot him a glare.
"Do you want to be here or not Strider?"
Dave threw his hands up.
"Sure. Follow the future dark lady into the forest and step in her evil tree lair. Nothing wrong with that plan."
Rose rolled her eyes and motioned them in. Setting taking out her books on one of the tables in the room, she quickly got started where they left off last time.
A/N: I am a serious author who's writing a serious fanfiction with serious dialogue, as opposed to an awful mess of snarky teenage bullshit.
But really, I'm writing this more to get back in the habit of writing than anything else. I don't have a set plot in mind or an update schedule or anything of the sort so if that's what you're looking for I'm sorry.