... the problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.

"Now then," Monty Pepper spoke, sitting back on his painting stool in the middle of his bright studio at the back of the house. The daylight streamed in through the glass ceiling over the canvases, two portraits in oils set on easels, others propped against the wall. The ones on the easels were unfinished, and several propped against the wall looked to be sleeping. In the corner, up on a high shelf a huge owl sat fast asleep, having only briefly cracked an eye open to regard the visitor momentarily before slumbering again.

The young man stood in the room had left Hogwarts for the final time a week or so ago. His daughters, Zeta and Eta had been about earlier, but Monty had found reasons for them to visit Ambrose and Tim ahead of the garden party gathering on Saturday so that the house was empty. His long suffering wife, Catherine, was out as usual earning a living as an accountant, though he had mentioned the fact he'd invited a young man over to discuss his artistic potential.

"We've no money to employ an apprentice," She'd reminded Monty, but he'd smiled beneath his bushy beard.

"This is the day job," He gestured either side of him. "And you've seen a little of the other business in the papers." He pulled at his beard and smiled. "I won't lie to you, it took a while to get a living out of this, but I wouldn't have it any other way. But - I invited you here to find out about you, son. Take a pew, and tell me about yourself."

Shade was beyond nervous, he honestly didn't expect an answer back so soon, so he didn't get much time to prepare.  He stood in the brightly sunlit room and looked casually at all the artwork that was displayed there.  Here he went again, doubting his ability.  Shade stood there while the older man talked to him, but he was barely listening.  He was going over reasons in his head of why he shouldn't be here, why he should just excuse himself and run home to his parents.  Then he remembered that he had friends that told him that he was good, so he stayed.

He almost missed the offering for him to sit down.  He moved slowly at first, cautiously, then found a seat and sat down and with all the bravery that 7 years of being a Gryffindor could offer, he took a deep breath and said, "What would you like to know?" and set his bag by his feet, for a brief moment, regretting to dress casual like he did.

Monty raised his eyebrows and his eyes glinted beneath bushy brows. He'd been painting that morning, so he was in a shirt with the sleeves rolled up, paint splattered on his jeans though he'd worn an apron. There were flecks of paint on his forearms in various colours. The young man opposite him was dressed mostly in black, and Monty wondered for a moment if he was warm considering the colour in the sun.

"Anything you feel of importance, son." Monty replied plainly and sat forward, resting his elbows on his knees and clasping his hands together. "You've left Hogwarts recently, that I know, and you've a keen interest in pursuing something artistic for your career, but other than that I know nothing. But, I'm a curious man, and you might suppose I have a bit of an ego if I'll entertain a letter out of the blue that cites me as a suitable expert, so here you are." He pointed a finger towards Shade momentarily, and then lowered his voice, eyes keenly focused on the boy,

"Seize your opportunity, I'm listening. Why this, why now?"

Shade shifted in the seat he was in and thought about how to answer this question, a small smile came to his face as he realized who the main person was behind his sudden desire to do what he wanted.  He leaned forward and put his elbows on his knees as he answered the question.

"While I was in Hogwarts I wanted to do my best so that when I graduated I could help out my parents, but I had some friends that told me I had talent.  I didn't want to believe them, but I started sketching again." He took a breath, "Then a few days ago, I ran into one of those friends and she told me that I really should try to follow my artistic desire."

Shade looked at Mr. Pepper and kept going, "Normally I would just brush that kind of thing off, but this friend has a place in my heart and I tend to listen when she tells me what to do... no matter how much I don't want to."  He moved back against the back of the chair, "She gave me the confidence to actually go through with what I had planned and now I just am trying to figure out where to start."

It was a cute story, for sure, Monty thought to himself as Shade explained.
"It'll be hard," he told Shade straight out, "no money in being an artist, not straight away anyhow. If you're good enough, if you work harder than you've ever worked before and find the right people, then you might." For such a jovial wizard, his tone was rather serious for the moment.

"If you're looking to support your folks sooner, than later, then you might consider something more run of the mill while you work at things on the side. I don't mean to put you off, Shade, but a wizard has to be realistic."

He cracked a grin.
"But you're only young once to make mistakes and find out, and you've come to the right place!" He sat back, crossed his legs over at the ankles, his comfortable brown leather shoes creaking as he did.

"I've seen you've tried sketching, but what else have you tried? Just drawing? What experimentation have you tried?"

Shade listened respectfully as the man explained some things.  Most of it he already knew.  "I know it will be hard and I know there won't be much money coming in, but I planned on getting a job as well, something to pay the bills while I'm trying to make it work with my art."  He stopped and thought for a moment.

"My parents are great, they don't need the help or the money, but I would like to be able to tell them I'm a success at something I love." He took a breath, "I've tried painting, but I can never get the strokes right, most of the stuff I've done is with a pencil and then I color it in with whatever suits me at the time.  I've used watercolors and chalk mostly."

"Of course." Monty echoed Shade's comments about being a success at something he loved. His moustache curled as he smiled beneath it. What a wonderful point to be at, discovering that a talent could be used and then deciding which path to take it. Monty had been there once but he'd been quite captivated with learning the art of magical portrait painting - not only profitable but an enormous legacy where a person could live on.

"I see, and do you ever give life to your drawings with charms? It's not essential! And what do you prefer to draw? The world, landscapes, life, portraits, animals? Technical drawing? What gets you most excited?"

He reached over and poured tea from the teapot which had been stewing gently beside them in the sunshine as he listened.

Shade sat forward in his chair for a moment before answering the question, "Honestly, I haven't ever thought about doing that, I knew that it was possible, but I've just been focusing on improving my drawing skills."

He was being honest, with the drama from his sister not talking to him, the new budding relationship with Chloe, and the trying to step out into the artist world, he was a little behind on what he was trying to do.  "I've actually not had that much time to think about it lately, real life has caught up to me." he said with a grin.

He didn't really mind that life caught up with him, he had money from his parents, and the support of most of his family, so he wasn't really wanting for anything.

"Life has a habit of doing that." Monty smiled and stirred the tea before reaching out one mug to Shade to take to drink. "It will take dedication, long hours to refine your skills. If there are other things on your mind, perhaps consider whether this is the career you want? You are still young, you have time."

He got to his feet and cracked a window open to let in a little more summer air from the garden into the bright conservatory studio at the back of the house.
"An afternoon a week, or a morning." Monty offered, and inhaled the fresh air before turning back to look at the young wizard. "You have a space here, and, if appropriate, observe sittings, or make use of them yourself, and I'll guide you as best I can. You'll have homework, mind you." He raised his eyebrows, "That's what you came looking for, wasn't it?"

Shade took the mug and sipped at it.  His mind was reeling, this was beginning to be easier than he thought, the man was offering to help him see if being an artist was right for him.  He couldn't believe it.

"Yes sir." he answered, standing up and placing the mug on a table, "I will accept any and all help you wish to give me and I never had a problem with homework, " before he could stop himself he added, "unlike my sister."

He skipped over that little comment he made and asked the question that thrust itself to the front of his mind, "When can I start?"[1]

1.	sorry it's so short

"Heh, well it's you not your sister I'm offering this to." Monty replied with a stroke of his beard. "Next week, but before then, why don't you come back on Saturday?" He slid a hand into the pocket of his cords and sipped at his tea.

"We've a gathering of friends - annual thing the family does, out in the garden," he nodded out through the windows to the garden lined with tall trees to help with apparition and hide any children flying brooms in their younger years.
"You're welcome to bring your friend."

Swigging the last of his tea, he passed by Shade sat down and opened a cupboard behind.
"Do yourself a favour son, use some heavier paper. Give this a try." He handed over a larger sketch pad with heavier paper. The first few pages had been taken out, used for sketching sitters or family, or perhaps Zeta had been borrowing it, he couldn't remember.
"Come by on Saturday, we'll set a day for you to spend some time." He nodded to Shade and then looked out of the back window with a start.
"I'm afraid I'm going to have to turf you out, Mrs Twig's here already." He thumbed at the portly witch who had appeared in the back garden at the foot of a tree. She had an equally large black and white cat trapped under her arm. Monty crossed quickly to a canvas and gave Shade a peek.
"Have to paint her and the cat, but she's paying well. I'd let you stay but she'd only try and talk to you. It's a mercy, believe me."

He turned away, threw open the door to the garden and gave a little bow to the witch who barely seemed to fit through the door.
"Mrs Twig, how lovely to see you. Mr O'Connor was just leaving." The witch eyed the recent Hogwarts graduate as she passed by and went to find her seat.

As Monty let Shade out of the back door, he shook his hand.
"See you Saturday, apprentice."