all eyes are on you

Hermione flushed with pride once more under the compliment. She pulled the book towards her once more, eyes rapidly scanning the page that she already knew pretty much by memory. She was a little disappointed not to be given a direct answer, but Jane had made a good impression on her so far as far as teachers went. “Is that the method that worked for you?– the simplest of possible answers?” she asked, eyes bright with eagerness. “Is that for theoretical aspects only or does that philosophy work for you in practice as well? Do you do much practical work in the field of arithmancy? I suppose Hogwarts doesn’t give you much opportunity for that.”

As much as Jane admired Hermione’s ambition, she couldn’t help but feel somewhat overwhelmed by all the questions. She held up her hand in a signal for quiet. “It’s true, I haven’t had much practical work while here at Hogwarts, but I wasn’t always a professor, you know. I have used some of these methods. And yes, in my experience the simplest solution yielded the quickest result, though that’s not always going to be the case. Sometimes you need a more complicated answer for a more intricate problem. That’s why you need to study all methods, because until you’re in the moment you won’t know which will be best to use.”

Hermione was already rapidly flicking through the pages of one of her library books the moment Jane said she could spare a few minutes. “I was reading about the icosant formula and it’s application in breaking curses described here–” The page she’d opened up her library book to was pushed towards Jane. “–but chapter two of our assigned text suggests that a simple Beilstein pattern would do and I can’t figure out what situations would call for the first over the second. It’s not strictly homework I know. I’m not sure the icosant formula is even tested in our N.E.W.T. exams, but you must have done extra studies past Hogwarts to be teaching correct? I honestly have no idea what kind of qualifications Hogwarts teachers are required to get, because it seems like all our Defence teachers have had none, but that must be the exception not the rule I’m sure.” Hermione’s babbling seemed to only stop for her to take a breath.

Jane looked over the pages Hermione turned toward, pursing her lips some as she fought a smile at the young woman’s enthusiasm. “You never cease to amaze me, Miss Granger. You always go above and beyond, and I respect that. I think girding yourself with more knowledge is always a good thing. I say, if you really want to understand the difference between the icosant formula and the Beilstein pattern, do your research and figure it out for yourself. I think it can benefit you to know, but don’t get too caught up on technicalities. Sometimes the simplest answer is better, but you can decide for yourself which fits your own style of curse breaking in practical usage.”

Hermione flushed with pleasure at Jane’s approving words. She always was a sucker for validation from Professors. “Professor Middleton, how are you? Did you need help finding something? I know this library pretty much back to front so if you’re searching for something in particular I can point you to it,” she rambled, even as she stacked her pages of loose parchment a little more neatly. “If you’re not busy I have a few questions somewhat related to this assignment. I was saving them for next lesson but since you’re here, that is, if you’re going to be here a while and don’t mind answering, I’d like the opportunity to discuss them.”

Jane paused for a minute in thought, glancing toward the clock on the wall to determine the time. “I suppose I can spare a few minutes,” she decided, taking a seat across from Hermione. “What are your questions?” she asked, folding her hands on the table top. She normally didn’t take time out of her day to answer questions, unless she was in her office already, but for Hermione Granger she was always willing to make exceptions. Perhaps it was wrong of her to have favorites among her students, but it was difficult to not hold the bright young witch in high regard.

Hermione tutted. Gossip about the start of the quidditch season buzzed annoyingly through the library and she had a strong urge to imitate Madam Pince and shush them all. Not that quiet murmuring was disallowed in the library, study groups needed to be able to talk, but this kind of murmuring was getting on her nerves. She did not need to hear that debate over who had the best ass while riding on a broomstick. She really did not.

Pausing in her note-taking, Hermione set down her quill and massaged her head. She could admit that a good part of the problem was that she wasn’t getting enough sleep lately, and not getting enough sleep meant she couldn’t focus on homework. Her mind kept drifting off to catch on those mundane conversations. It was probably for the best then, that someone came to join her. “Oh, let me just–” Hermione gathered up the arithmancy books she had spread over the table to make more room for them. “You weren’t looking for any of these books were you?”

Jane couldn’t help the small smile that quirked the edge of her lips, as she saw the Arithmancy books piled around Hermione. It was always nice to see her students hard at work with their studies, especially one of her favorite students. “Ms. Granger, hard at work, I see,” she said with an approving nod. “I have my own copies, thank you.” She glanced around at the others in the library, unable to help but notice the lack of studying. “I’m glad to see at least one of my students is taking the assignments seriously.”

“I know” he said as she mentioned him being able to drop the elective. It was something he had considered, but he knew that the subject had been one of his mother’s favorites. She had kept a few books on it at home, ones that Declan had only ever read the titles of. “I don’t want to drop it. I can’t.”

Jane studied him, acknowledging his earnestness. “Okay, well, keep working at it, then. If you fall too far behind I can’t promise you’ll be able to pass your O.W.L.s for it, which means you won’t be able to test for it during your N.E.W.T.s.”

“no, of course not” he quickly shook his head, hoping she hadn’t thought that’s what he was looking for. “thank you.”

Jane nodded. “I know it’s a rather complex subject,” she allowed. “Not everyone can understand. If you find it too difficult, you can always drop the elective, but I encourage you to keep studying. It’ll look good on job applications if you have an O.W.L. in the subject. And it can come in handy if you ever need to break a curse.”

Declan nodded his head, “Over and over.” It just wasn’t clicking. One of the seventh year Ravenclaws had tried to help him, but the way he’d tried to explain it had just left him even more confused.

Jane pursed her lips, lowering the paper. “I can assign you a tutor,” she offered. “And give you some more material to read, but I can’t give you any special treatment in the classroom or during exams.”

“It’s about the homework” he started, taking a step away from the door. “I - I just can’t seem to get it. I’ve done it every which way I know, but I’m still coming up with the wrong answers.” 

Jane raised an eyebrow. “Have you studied the reading material?” she asked, turning to her papers to find his classroom work. After a few seconds she found it and pulled it to the top to look it over. It was rather abysmal.

A few seconds passed from her call to come in and the door being pushed open. Declan stepped inside of the office, closing the door behind him, but staying nearby unsure of whether or not he was going to quickly be dismissed. “I can come back if you’re busy” he said, noticing the papers on her desk. 

“Mr. Jacobs,” Jane greeted, setting aside the paper in her hand and folding her hands on her desk. “How can I help you?” She hoped this wouldn’t take long, but she wasn’t going to dismiss a student if they were here genuinely asking for help on something.

At the knock on her door, she sighed and gestured for whoever it was to enter. “Come in,” she called, hoping the visit would be brief.

“I - what?” Declan asked looking down at his clothes. He didn’t think there was anything wrong with his clothes. Sure, he tended to wear clothes from the thrift store, but they weren’t bad. At least in his mind they weren’t. They were the clothes he’d worn to school in Los Angeles before he’d gotten his job in the business, ones he’d gone to the store with his mom to get. Why would he just stop wearing them now?

Jane glanced over at the boy who’d spoken. His clothes weren’t the latest fashion or anything, but he wore them well enough. She flashed him a grin. “Don’t worry, kid, I was talking about that walking abomination.” She nodded toward a woman wearing a yellow and brown jumpsuit. “She looks like a banana, don’t you think?”

“You should lose points for that outfit alone,” she stated, directing this at a particularly close passerby.