Gerard was finding that his days at Hogwarts, thus far, were not as busy as he had anticipated, even as the Champions for the First Task would be announced later tonight. The students from Beauxbatons had no apparent problems besides the disregard for the 'lower culture' of the English school. Otherwise they had adjusted well enough to the schedule of classes with a symposium of international peers.

Gerard had been given an office and quarters near the Beauxbatons dorms although he had yet to remain in it for long. Given the transient nature of the year, and his level of flexibility, he found other places to work in the castle or the neighboring village unless he planned an appointment.

Such was the breeding grounds for a seminar series he had proposed and accepted responsibility of, recently cleared with the Hogwarts staff. At Beauxbatons, Gerard introduced the eldest students to Occlumency and Legilimency, an assistance that would easily transfer to this school year at Hogwarts. Little in his lesson plans would need to change. During the first meeting, planned to be a question and answer session, he would be able to gauge what was known by each of the international students and adapt accordingly.

Notices had been set up that, before the month of September was out, Gerard would begin his seminar into the Magic of the Mind. In preparation, Gerard decided to review his lesson plans in the atmosphere of the Three Broomsticks. He only ever drank gillywater or occasionally butterbeer, keeping his head clear as he worked.

Bai Li entered the Three Broomsticks that day with—as usual—business on the mind, although the today’s goal was not usual at all. An accomplished Magizoologist in her own right, the professor often made new acquaintances in a professional capacity. Often, the purpose was consultation, a desire for her expertise in matters such as breeding, handling, or harvesting; other times, it was research, bargaining done for information or acquisition.

Today, however, was not one of those days. This time, she was not here for her expertise in the field, but for a skill she seldom advertised.

Her cloak draped over an arm, Bai quietly approached, her footsteps lost in the hum of surrounding conversation.  “Monsieur Gries,” she greeted Gerard, inclining her head slightly as she stood by the chair opposite of him. “Thank you for taking the time to meet me here. I do hope you weren’t too busy.”

Gerard was greeted by the American Magizoology professor. He noticed Bai carried herself with a confident, statuesque demeanor. Minimal signs of narcissism but in her case her natural elegance did not conflict with the nature of her work. She clearly enjoyed her work instead of considering it beneath her worth.

"You are welcome, please have a seat. I haven't been too busy." Gerard straightened his papers. It could be considered rude if he had other work that would distract from their time. The request for a meeting was brief in that Gerard didn't fully know why she wanted to meet with him. "I must admit I'm surprised you wanted to meet here. Though I will agree that I have scarcely used my office given to me by Hogwarts."

There were the times Gerard needed the solitude for intensive work, like analyzing class grades when he was at Beauxbatons. But Gerard usually preferred to see people, whether in their company or in casual observation. For local staff in his field, Hogwarts was more the realm for the counselor Maiko Biladeau-Yukawa, which Gerard could respect. He recognized the first hyphen of her name. He would try to meet her sometime.

But to the business with Bai Li Yang. "Tell me, how can I help you?"

Not unused to scrutiny—or returning the favor, for that matter—Bai met the stare with equal measure, dark eyes assessing as they flitted over his face. Although they had never met, the name Gerard Gries wasn’t completely unknown to her; more than once she had seen it under a photograph of this polite, if grim man. He was well-known in the field, the study of Mind magic, his work extensive, and bore insight in areas where many did not, or could not. Over the course of her research the man had frequently surfaced in journals and texts, and when her travels took her through Europe his work had been all the more available.

She noted the polite expression, and thought of the papers that had been written on Legilimency and Animagi in particular. They had been of great interest to her.

“The Three Broomsticks is… comfortable,” she admitted, taking a seat. If he meant that a common, if popular pub didn’t seem like a part of her comfort zone, well, he was right. But she knew better; there was something to be said about neutral territories, after all.

She paused. Typically speaking, she was not one for directness. But that was usually when she wanted something, and Gerard seemed more likely to appreciate that type of approach than anything else—particularly when he was the one being approached in the first place. “I wanted to speak to you about your upcoming seminar,” she said, briefly glancing at the sheets on the table, “on Occlumency and Legilimency. I have some questions, if you do not mind.”

Without waiting, she pressed on. “A number of my students have expressed interest in it,” Bai told him, neatly folding her hands on her lap, “and I am an Occlumens myself. But normally we do not offer either skill at Salem—not openly, at least. Those who do learn there are often graduates, ones who require it—or desire it—for a specific career they want. May I ask as to how you’ll make a demonstration of them, if you are?” She assumed he would. Almost demurely, as if chastened, she added, “I do hope you understand my concern…”

That was only her tone, however; she looked at him intently.

"Hmmm." She was correct in saying places like The Three Broomsticks was comfortable. It was the atmosphere the Gerard had lost himself in once, left, then slowly allowed himself into again. He knew his limitations.

"Ah, I am glad to hear that there would be interest. I want to assure you that it is not my intention to make anyone feel uncomfortable during the seminar, it will be a place of security. No one will have to admit more about themselves then they would ever wish." She admitted to be an Occlumens. Slightly unusual for her field but Gerard never considered that the skill was only useful for certain careers. And yet, as she stared at him he wondered how complete her training was. Those that learned Occlumency naturally advanced in both the recognition and the performing of Legilimency.

"While I do not know your full abilities I don't believe I would be talking beyond your grasp on some of the subtleties of an Occlumens. Beyond resisting the probing of a mind penetration spell, the Occlumens is able to arrange his or her mind to create a 'truth' that, fictitious or not, they can present as what they believe to be the truth. In that way the Occlumens could influence their responses when pressed for the truth." He paused to lock his fingers together. "After preparing the students on the processes of Occlumency, I would use those methods to give them a feel for an altered state of mind. Though nothing as strong as Veritaserum." Although the British had recently come up with a party beverage that may as well be a truth serum. Though it was mild which interested Gerard for his lessons.

"The actual spell, Legilimens, would not be appearing before the snow melts, if all goes according to plan. And I would not be the one using it on the students."

Patiently, Bai listened, merely lifting a shoulder in an elegant half-shrug at his subtle assumption. He was correct; she did already know—and what he spoke of about Occlumency, was all true… particularly the bit where he had mentioned compulsion. Occlumency was the art of internal defense, primarily intended against the unwanted intrusion into one’s mind but capable of defending against more. In theory, his plans should work; there was nothing about them she wouldn’t do or approve herself, both as a teacher and an Occlumens.

However…

Brows rose a fraction. “On each other, then?” she inquired, smiling so faintly it was no more than a brief quirk of her lips. “That should prove interesting.” Or disastrous, depending on how receptive one normally was to such a turn of events; students did entrench themselves in the most amusing of situations. One involving Legilimency—or Occlumency, really—had the impressive potential of going so very wrong.

The longer she thought on it, the more intrigued she found herself to be with this undertaking.

Bai looked at him then, eyes thoughtful as underneath the table, her fingertips drummed lightly against her lap. True, she already had things to do—that, above all, was her largest concern; Ferreole, the Tournament, and regular lessons took enough of her time as it was. They generated enough work without adding more to it herself. But on the other hand, the petite woman couldn’t deny it; Mind Magic research was her passion. Another expert on it—a renowned one—here—holding a seminar? Extremely intriguing.

“If you would allow,” she finally said, her soft tone belying that level stare, “I would like to lend my assistance.”

"It seems unusual, but I think it would be unlikely that anyone should be skilled enough at Legilimency to cause damage at that stage. Even if both the sword and shield are weak, they are still equal in strength." There were, of course, other possibilities. Gerard did not know how or even if the subject was taught at other schools. The students of Durmstrang may have already been prompted in training, or advance quickly if they did not already know. As for the other schools, there were hints, such as Bai Li Yang, of professors that knew the subject. Whether or not they instructed other students remained to be seen.

She had an even stare, easily the command against wayward students or creatures. Gerard kept it with greyed eyes.

"If you are interested, and are not troubled in doing so, I would highly value your assistance." Gerard realized he had not been loaded with as much work as her, his duties remaining mostly administrative while she already co-taught another class. "Even for academic demonstration, I am at times uncomfortable with casting Legilimens on an inexperienced mind. Once it gets to that stage, if you knew enough about controlled probes it would ease your sens of security."

Eyes crinkling at the corners, Bai smiled, pleased at his thoughtfulness. “It will be no trouble,” she said simply, inclining her head ever so slightly. She hadn’t actually thought he would refuse, per se, but the possibility had crossed her mind. “It is not often I find myself with an opportunity-” and the time “-to have a hand in Occlumency-Legilimency instruction.”

Back at the Institute, there had been at least one other teacher who was as well-versed in the arts as she was—more so, actually, as it had been he who had taught Bai Li herself until graduation. However, even though the pair of them would have been more than enough to teach a class, they had already been responsible for more than half a dozen others pertaining to their own departments—he for Herbology, she for general Magizoology, and Care of Magical Creatures as well. Combined with existing obligations and the mixed, ambiguous stance even progressive Salem had on the skills, they had relented after the first wave of opposing arguments, if reluctantly.

Hogwarts, now, would be different.

“I will admit, I am not so… apt, with casting Legilimens myself,” she added, a little regretful—and with some care, because for her it was more of a case of on what rather than the actual action itself. Regular animals and magical beasts were one thing, admittedly difficult minds in their own right, but human minds—particularly teenaged ones, however inexperienced—were another. She had just… never them as interesting, really, and so infrequently accepted invitations when they were offered. “But I can. At your direction, I will more than happy to assist in that capacity.”

A thought occurred to her, and the corners of her lips lifted even further. “It would be interesting, if there are any practicing Durmstrang students present, yes?”