As Lyman knocked on the door that led to Professor Kesali's office, he pondered why he was there in the first place. He wasn't good in Charms class, but he wasn't terrible at it, like he was at History. And it wasn't like the Professor scheduled any remedial classes for him; he was just going there voluntarily in an attempt to improve his charm casting skills. Perhaps he should just go back to the homeroom and play chess with somebody, or read animorphs or grab a manga from his (admittedly small) collection.

 He didn't move from his spot, though, because even as he asked himself the 'why', he knew the answer. Forms of entertainment like muggle books and chess, they'd only remind him of the muggle world, and he needed to keep his mind off of that place, lest he grow impatient and have a tantrum during potions class or something terrible like that. Charms seemed like the perfect class to practice for keeping his patience in check while being removed enough from the muggle world to keep his mind away from it.

 Besides, he needed the practice; at the rate he was going, he'd probably fail his Charms exam!

Gale was quick to answer, having thought that Lucas would have dropped by, by now. He worried about his little Ravenclaw student far more than he should have, but he did his best to try and keep his role professional. Nightingale, loved his students--more than words could express. He didn't care how badly it made him look to the staff, he wasn't there for them. He was here for each and every one of those little faces. Big hearts and sound minds, the sort of students that always did the best in his class bored him, it was the ones that made learning a challenge as it pushed his limits as a teacher that he cherished the most. He hated to see them struggle, but more importantly loved to watch them overcome it all.

"Good afternoon Mister Steed," He opened the door wider to let the boy pass should he need, motioning to the chair that seemed always eager and waiting for one of his precious darlings. There were pillows and blankets, books and cookies, a fire going in the hearth, and as always magic in everything.

"I'm glad that you can make it. Come in and take a seat. Tell me, how have classes been?" Small talk, for a small boy.

 "Good afternoon, Professor Kesali." Lyman smiled a small smile at his charms teacher as he made his way to the chair that was offered to him. "My classes have been f-" No, not fine, Lyman chided himself. If his classes were fine, he wouldn't be here requesting help from his teacher. He started over. "I'm not doing very well in every class except for Defense and Potions. You know how I'm doing in Charms, right sir?" The first-year's smile disappeared as Lyman remembered how he'd taken a long time to learn each spell, and how weak they were when he succeeded. It wasn't a low magical potency but his inability to concentrate that led to his low grade in Charms.

 "So, anyway, I thought that maybe I could try to improve in some of my classes. And I heard that you helped students that came here and asked for help, so I figured, why not give it a try?" He brought his bright red backpack (which seemed extremely out of place alongside wizard robes, wands and the like) to his lap and took out his charms textbook and notebook. As an afterthought, he brought out his wand's protective case as well. "Could you, Professor?"

"You know how I'm doing in Charms, right sir?"

"I do indeed," He answered plainly as he followed the boy into the room, as Lyman went on about his other classes Gale listened very intently. He did notice the boy was slipping a little, but he tried his hardest; that was all that mattered, at least for a first year. When he was asked if he would help, Gale smiled.

"Of course I will help you," Gale looked at the wall clock, and made sure he had enough time since it was getting close to his next class, "But let me say this. Lyman, you work very hard. I can tell. You are slipping I think because you might be pushing yourself a bit too much. Are you sleeping well?"

 Lyman nodded. "I think I'm sleeping fine, sir. It's not that I'm really pushing myself, I think; I've had trouble keeping my mind off of home-" and the internet, he added silently "-since the beginning of the school year, and I've been having trouble concentrating because of it. I thought that maybe learning from a teacher would make it easier to practice, since it would be harder to let my mind wander, you know?" Lyman took a moment to look at the clock himself; why was the professor-

Oh. Right. It was Thursday, and while first years were lucky enough not to have any classes in the afternoon, he probably had to teach one of the other years. "Um, I could come back later, or tomorrow, if you've got a class soon. Um, sir. I'm sorry if I interrupted anything or, or something like that."

"No no, please. Take a seat. We can work a little before class. Though it does worry me that you have been having trouble concentrating. Is that something I could help you with?" In his class he knew the boy wouldn't have to worry too much, but there were other members of the staff that would eat him alive for the entire ordeal.


Gale pulled out his own wand to do a few little spells to help the room seem a little more inviting. He opened the curtains, stirred the fire, and pulled down his first year books. Before he began he wanted to give Lyman a chance to explain why he was having trouble in class. If it was something the boy would rather spend the bit of time talking about he would happily do just that.

 "Well, do you know anything about the muggle world?" Lyman didn't wait for a response. "There's a thing called the internet, see, and before I came to Hogwarts, I usually spent hours each day on it. It sort of became an addiction, I guess. I've had trouble concentrating on things ever since I got to Hogwarts, and I'm more impatient than I used to be. It didn't really go away, and even now I'm still a bit preoccupied with the computer and stuff." He frowned.

 "Anyways, I'm just hoping to improve my grades to something a bit more passable. Like, at least C - er, I mean Acceptable - instead of Poor." He looked at Professor Kesali hopefully, then realized that he hadn't even explained where he'd been having trouble. He knew that his teacher probably already knew, but it was probably important for him to know where he thought he was doing poorly. "Erm, I'm mainly having trouble sustaining charms. I think I know the correct wand movements for most charms, but I have trouble remembering which one go with which words.  You probably know my strengths and weaknesses better than I do, though."

"Well, do you know anything about the muggle world?"

Gale smiled at that, of course he did, but Lyman wasn't to know. He had grown up with the ability to endure about everything in the muggle world, and even now beneath his robes he wore muggle things. He wasn't pureblood by any stretch, but he knew that sometimes it's best if the professors came across as if they were.

"I do know a good deal about the muggle world, but the internet isn't something I'm very aware of. Computers and all electronics sort of make me uneasy. I'm always afraid I will break them, but I do know at least enough to understand that it can be fun. I've always been fascinated by it. It makes me sad that computers and the like don't work here, technology is something that our world just flat our refuses. Trust me, I hear about it a lot. My partner is an architect, he's a very forward thinker and sometimes all I can do is listen." Gale smiled at this, he always did when he talked about Chester.

"I think you have been doing well enough for a first year, but the fact that you have come to me with a concern lets me know that you will be a very valuable student, Mister Steed, but I would recommend working on your hand motions. In your book there are diagrams for each, and I would also consider perhaps practicing the commands after you get the motions right." Gale opened the book to one of the very first lessons he thought this year, -- it was tradition after all.

"Let's practice Wingardium Leviosa as it is one of the most simple. The hand motion as you can see is like this," Gale lifted his wand a bit to make the proper motion, and planned to use the very book they were looking at.

Of course since he was a professor without even speaking the charm the book took flight, but by now this was a charm that even the first years should be able to do.

"Now you try."

 Lyman nodded and complied; the levatation spell was simple in comparison with charms like the wand-lighting spell or other higher-level spells learned that year. "Wingardium Leviosa," he said, waving his wand in the correct manner. The book floated into the air for a second or two, then dropped back onto the ground with a heavy THUD.

 He had to bite his tongue to keep himself from cursing, before waving his wand once more. "Wingardium Leviosa," He said, irritation not-quite inaudible in his tone. This time, the book floated into the air and stayed there. "There you go," he said, smiling, before letting it slowly fall onto the ground.

 He looked back up at his teacher, grinning slightly. "Like I said, I'm mostly having trouble sustaining spells and remembering which words go with which wand movements..