Thursday, 2.30pm
After lecture and break. Students were given pamphlets with the information on the topic before the lecture.

Anyone can ask questions! Adrianna will call on people if they raise their hand to ask.

---

Despite the lengthiness and complexity of the lecture she had to deliver beforehand, Adrianna was feeling fairly bright and energised. Of course she had her doubts, especially on how she had dispensed the information; she was no public speaker. But she was looking forward to seeing what kind of questions would go her way.

The headmaster - Greyfriar, if she remembered correctly - had mentioned just trying out one lecture first. Adrianna had agreed, given the amount of time needed to cover the general gist of the topic in her own words. Chinese magic after all needed a hefty number of classes rivalling that of Hogwarts’ normal timetable. It wasn’t something you could cover in a day, and these students had their own lives and homework to get done.

She was ready, come what may. As the students filed back in from the break, the Auror smiled at them. Next to her at eye level hovered a shimmering jade green scroll, rolled closed. A gift from her coworkers to help her explain anything she needed about China on a surface level, and technically a book of favourite stories to read on rainy nights at home.

“Welcome back, everyone,” she said, her Beijing accent a little more strongly than usual after having to mention so many Chinese terms. “I hope you’re feeling refreshed? It’s question and answer time, and I’ll try my best to answer as many questions as I can.”

The Hogwarts headmaster stood off to the side. There was a substantial showing of students of all houses and years, clearly eager for a bit of something new. The subject of international magic and magical tradition was a big gap in Hogwarts's usual curriculum, so the opportunity to expand horizons was a welcome one, and one that Knox was happy to entrust with Auror Xin. She was formal with the students but had been doing an admirable job dealing with the mob. And the mob had been respectful enough.

Despite Auror Xin calling the hall to order, a knot of students felt the need to finish their conversation at the expense of others being able to hear. Knox whistled between his teeth, a sharp little tweet which cut through the buzzing. It was enough to catch redirect attention, or at least, lower the students voices to an inaudible whisper.

Frank Sellaphix, fourth-year Ravenclaw, had waited patiently for the promise of a Q and A. The lecture had been bursting with content absolutely brand new to him and therefore he was bursting with questions. He'd filled a page with notes even though there would be no test. Most of his interest was just Ravenclaw curiosity. It felt like the edge of the world had blown open like a door - he'd just had no idea that magic could be so different. But one aspect of his interest was professional. At this point in his maturing life, he felt sure his future lay in taking over the family apothecary. Everyone had given up hope that his older bother Figaro would find an aptitude for it leaving the place uncontestibly for Frank if he wanted it. No one was disappointed.

His was the first hand up, by a hair, and he was called on. He stood from the bench and politely introduced himself.

"Frank Sellaphix, Ravenclaw. Ma'am, what's the difference between Cultivator and a Technical Specialist?"

So far, 2012 had been a rough year for Zeta Pepper. She'd come into the new school term with poor marks and was trying to dig herself out, the first SAWS meeting had been a P.R. disaster, and it was going to be months and months until summer's relief. She'd come to the extra class mostly because her friends were going. Despite being a generally amenable student, Zeta's engagement was beginning to sink into disrespect. Her face was smushed in her hand, lounging on her elbow over the table. She tapped a quill, leaving little black pocks on the wood.

Of course, a nerdy Ravenclaw was first with a question, and Zeta sighed. On a better day the topic and change of routine would have interested Zeta, but she was preoccupied. She didn't want to be at school - troubles here seemed hollow and petty and there were important things going on in London. She was seventeen now (as of the 21st of January) and she felt like she should have more control over her life, but she wasn't brave (or mad) enough to just go. So she sat in a hall full of children raising hands and taking notes and picking their noses.

Kelvin was sitting next to Zeta and he was clearly enjoying the extra lesson much more than his friend.  He wondered if someone had told her it was mandatory.  He quietly reached over and laid his hand on the end of her quill, ignoring the ink that was likely now all over his palm.  He shot her a look that was somewhere between 'please stop' and 'I will disintegrate the quill if you don't stop'.  It was as distracting as it was annoying.  And of course it meant he missed out on asking the first question.  Not that that was important but...

He raised his hand, though refrained from standing like Frank had.  "Kelvin Watkins, Ravenclaw." He'd been working on his ancient runes homework before the lecture and a question had stuck in his head since the lecture had started.  "What's the Chinese equivalent of the runes we use? Is there an equivalent? How similar are they and can they be combined?"[1]  Kelvin had several more related questions but stopped before he asked enough questions to take up the entire q&a time.

1.	Hope the topic of the question is fine.  It popped into my head while I was reading the plot thread.

Adrianna’s eyes glanced at the first boy, then the second, taking note of their positions. A pleased smile curled her lips as she perched herself against the edge of the teacher’s desk, hands clasped in her lap.

“That’s a great question you’ve asked, Sellaphix,” she said. “A Technical Specialist is someone who focuses on technical skills, which in your case would be subjects like Potions, Herbology, Divination and more. Studying the properties of plants to make medicines is a popular and profitable career among adepts and non-adepts alike, and divination is an immensely varied and competitive field in China.”

She shifted against the desk. “On the other hand, a Cultivator focuses on improving themselves from within - for example, management of life energy, understanding the relationship between the Five Elements and the study of being in harmony with the universe. The intention is being able to tap into the very balance that makes up the world and use it to enhance one’s own magic - hence cultivation, the practice of growing and nurturing yourself. The Chinese Auror force are all skilled Cultivators. There's a lot more to that, but I can give a demonstration later to outline the differences, and maybe even give a lecture based on cultivation alone,” she finished.

As for the other question, now that was harder. She tried to recall as she looked towards the other boy. “Watkins, was it? The answer to your question is quite complex, so I'll just give a general overview and if it brings up anymore questions, I’ll try my best to answer further."

Adrianna paused. “In China, we have Chinese Etymology and it’s similar in that studying it helps us to understand how modern written Chinese is structured. With me so far?” She paused to look around at the students’ faces.

“That’s where the similarities end. Modern written Chinese comes from four different systems that changed over hundreds of years and wasn’t actually written down for half of that time. There are over ninety-six thousand forms in ancient Chinese known today, compared to twenty thousand in modern usage.” She couldn't resist a knowing smile and nodding at some of the expressions the students made.

“None of the systems can be combined. Very few people use it to write anymore. Most of them are no longer used in magic, simply because... well,” she spread her hands, “it’s a lot to learn, and there's not enough time in one life for it. Luckily, you don't need to learn it to speak, read and write Chinese fluently, and while knowing ancient Chinese is a benefit it's not that much of one unless it's literally your job."

Her hands fell back in her lap as she smiled brightly at her audience. "I hope that was a good enough answer? If you have further questions, please. Do go ahead and ask, and if you don't quite understand something I'm totally okay with you asking for clarification."

Wesley fidgeted at his desk, rolling up the pamphlet in his hands, and tempted to bop someone in the head with it. Maybe sleepy Zeta. He liked Zeta though. Only his closest friends actually liked being bopped in the head and poked and pestered during class. Or at least, they didn't hex him for it! With great self-control, he let the pamphlet spring out of his hands and drift back onto the desk.

Sulwen sighed pointedly beside him.

Question time! The Ravenclaws were first with their typical sensible questions. One Ravenclaw girl (the fourth-year who often shushed him in the library) sitting near Frank Sellaphix was taking notes on the answers to the questions, even. Wes shot a look at the door. Ravenclaws were the scariest students of all, and no one knew.

He leaned over to peer at whatever Sulwen was drawing on her pamphlet. Not notes, but some kind of doodle? She glanced up, covering the page with her hand and frowning at him until he looked away.

Alright Sulwen! She should ask a question. She usually had good questions.

Auror! He heard the word Auror! His head swiveled to grin at the presenter. He shot his hand up in the air. She was totally okay with clarification, she said, so she must be totally okay with hearing the question that everyone must be dying to ask.

"Hi, I'm Wesley."

He looked around with a slight smile. Cheer up Zeta! Wesley was on the case!

"Hufflepuff," he pointed to himself with both thumbs. His glance landed on the Headmaster, then back to the Auror.

"You're an Auror!" he blurted. "Yeah? Do you use plant magic here too, to take down the bad wixes?"

He paused. He didn't remember the exact word she'd used.

"Cultivating," Sulwen whispered.

"Cultivating," Wes repeated. "You could send a Devil's Snare after them."

Brilliant.

“Hi, I’m Wesley. You're an Auror! Yeah? Do you use plant magic here too, to take down the bad wixes?" Hasty whisper. "Cultivating. You could send a Devil's Snare after them."

It took her a good moment before his meaning dawned on her, and once it did she smiled. “A Devil’s Snare makes a good weapon, but it does prefer the dark and damp doesn’t it? Help me recall again, what’s its weakness?”

A hand went up from somewhere in the audience. “Bright light and heat?” volunteered its owner.

“Correct. A little inconvenient if you were chasing someone in broad daylight.” Adrianna smiled. “Manipulating plants is but one part of the art of cultivation, which is the closest approximation in English. In Chinese it is actually 修炼[1], which translates directly to practice. In the same way that you come to Hogwarts to grow your knowledge and nurture your skills through practice, cultivation aims to achieve the same in physical, spiritual and mental capacities.”

She paused. “As for plants in combat, we do actually use them but we prefer having more control over the plant. Plant manipulation is a unique and fairly difficult art to master. I’m not saying I’ve used it myself,” she added in a lighthearted tone, “just not to say you are incorrect. The Chinese use it differently from the West, is all.”

1.	Pronunciation

The students were asking insightful questions. Professor Singh was proud. He had listened with interest. Taken notes. He politely raised his hand.

"Professor Singh. Head of Gryffindor and Transfiguration." Introduced the Professor. He spoke softly. Just loud enough to be heard clearly.

"You mentioned most Chinese magic is now considered pseudoscience. The International Statute of Secrecy was instituted in 1689. Do Chinese wixes hide in plain sight? Are Muggles more forgiving of seeing magic by accident? How strictly is the Statute enforced?"

Plants in combat? Zeta looked over to see the Hufflepuff who asked the question. Her faith in this crop of first years was waning. Kelvin's question was very typically Kelvin, of course, quite esoteric. Even if Zeta had wanted to answer a question, she was having a hard time forming one. Nearly everything the Auror said was so completely new to her that it was hard to narrow down on a specific thing. Instead of soak it in, she felt herself checking out. Everywhere else in the world was more interesting than Hogwarts.

Professor Singh spoke up and Zeta realized this class wasn't just for students. It was actually a good question and Zeta started listening.

"You mentioned most Chinese magic is now considered pseudoscience. The International Statute of Secrecy was instituted in 1689. Do Chinese wixes hide in plain sight? Are Muggles more forgiving of seeing magic by accident? How strictly is the Statute enforced?"

From a professor, at that. Adrianna nodded her head at him with a smile as she tried to keep an idea of how to answer. The audience was after all a majority of schoolchildren.

"I appreciate that question, Professor Singh. I had the same one myself when I first arrived there." The Auror flicked a few stray strands of hair from her face. "Chinese magic is intrinsically tied into cultural identity. Of course it is not mandatory to use Chinese magic to be Chinese, but every ritual and incantation, every prayer and gesture, is a part of their lives. Because they have done it so openly for millennia rather than hide it, most of Asia doesn't find it out of the ordinary. Muggles view it in a variety of different ways - some think it's mere superstition, others feel there is a grain of truth, and yet others devoutly follow the magic even if they can't tap into it.

"It helps that Chinese magic isn't necessarily flashy or require grand gestures. Much of it is communication with what the Chinese believe are spirits who grant us the use of magic, rather than magic being an innate ability. Perhaps it might be true." She winked at the audience. "Chinese wixes - adepts is the word they use, rather - do not need to hide. Muggle Chinese use the same rituals as much as adepts do. Whether they work or not depends on the individual. Thus their society does not need to cover up the use of magic - only if they can do more than an ordinary person. Does it work? Can it work? Muggles can't prove it, but there are mysterious circumstances where results do happen. Hence, pseudoscience."

She rested her chin thoughtfully on one hand. "As for the Statute... this is where I think cultural differences exist. Chinese culture advocates cooperation over individualism. One may be unique, but when working in a team one doesn't try to prove oneself at the expense of their peers. Thus the Statute is maintained not just because there is a law about it, but there is societal pressure to not be disrespectful to those around you, or make yourself look more important than everyone else. The spirits we occasionally request for aid - the unseen world, some call it - can also make their judgments.

"Of course, the Chinese government being what it is - yes, there is a China law specific to the use of magic and it is draconian if you get caught. Overt use of display of magic in public is paid with a 10-year sentence in a restricted-magic prison or a hefty fine, or both, and that depends on whether the judge is having a bad day. In addition, the incriminated brings dishonour to their family. Reputations in a world fuelled by connections would crumble." Adrianna clasped her hands. "Whether you feel the Improper Use of Magic Office is comparable to the Chinese justice system is entirely up to you."

A thought occurred to her, and she decided it would be prudent to mention at least. "When it comes to matters of Black Magic and criminal usage of magic in general - now that's a whole different topic, but I'll stop there because that was a long enough answer already." She laughed. "Please let me know if you need any clarification."