Closed Quiet Curiosity

[Lilith Ilves]

Lilith had read as much as she could about the subject of Transfiguration in the past two and a half years. It wasn't only limited to what happened during lessons, but she had also made the effort outside of them. First there had been nothing but curiosity really, need to learn more, then it had morphed into a want or a need to get as good at it as possible. She'd always loved challenges really and Transfiguration was the one subject she wanted to see just how far she could take it. Though first she'd figured she'd talk to her Professor about it, especially given he was an Animagus and thus had to have some useful insights.

That was what had brought the third year behind Professor Pirrip's door, hesitating on knocking on it. She didn't want to bother the man but she wanted to ask a few questions, see what might be possible for her. After a few moments of hesitation Lilith brought her fist up and a second before knocking she mumbled to herself, "You got this." And then she gave two polite knocks, waiting for the man to either open the door and let her in or open the door and turn her away, she just hoped it'd be the first option.

 

[Professor Edward Pirrip]

Edward was behind on marking again. He’d set aside the afternoon to work through a stack of third year essays and had just written a final grade on Lilith’s essay when a knock came at the door. His ears pricked up, metaphorically because he was in his human form, but he stayed frozen for a moment. He wasn’t in the mood to be interrupted because he needed to stay focused, stay productive, and get ahead of all the marking he had to get though.

For a moment he considered ignoring the knocks. Maybe they’d get the hint and just wander off? But the door wasn’t locked, and the idea of someone opening the door to check if he was in and seeing him sitting there pretending not to have heard the two very polite knocks would have been far too awkward. So despite every cell in his body barking for no distractions, he called out in his usual friendly voice, “Come in!” with a cheerfulness that didn’t quite match the twitch in his tired smile. That was Edward all over, always ready to greet and always ready to help, even when it wasn't really convenient for him.

 

[Lilith Ilves]

In the time that there was no answer Lilith had thought about turning around and fleeing the scene about three times. It hadn't really even been that long that she'd waited when the Professor's friendly tone called her in, but her brain had went on overdrive anyways. Carefully opening the door Lilith peeked her head in first, sort of testing the waters. "Hello sir, I hope I'm not disturbing you," the third year said as she finally stepped into the room. Scanning the room her eyes widened a little bit as it seemed to match the season they were currently in, so cool but not the reason she was there.

"I was wondering, see I am quite curious about a few things and I wanted to see if I could maybe talk to you about them?" Lilith asked still hanging in front of the door, carefully wording it not to seem too overbearing and trying to stay polite. Even though the Professor was smiling there was a tad of tiredness too. "If not that's alright too, or I can just come back later if you'd like?" The last thing the Ravenclaw wanted to be was an inconvenience and if her Professor was busy or tired she'd come back later.

Out of Character:

wasn't 100% sure how the office would look like so i just interpreted it from "with a new look for each new season." to be changing with the seasons outside lmk if you want me to change it

 

[Professor Edward Pirrip]

Edward rubbed a hand over his face just before the student entered, putting on a smile for them. "Lilith!" He greeted, setting his marking aside. He gestured to the chair across from him. “You’re not disturbing me. If anything, you might give me a break from marking. Go on, sit down." Lilith had the look of someone with something on her mind and he wasn’t about to send her away without giving her the opportunity to unburden first. “Alright then, what’s got in your curious head of yours?”

 

[Lilith Ilves]

Lilith took a seat glad that she'd not been thrown out and told to come at another time because she might had not quite frankly. "I have been reading the books we use for the subject and I even bought another bigger book, which I finished within twenty-four hours because quite frankly it was the most interesting book I have ever read, but that's not the point." She stopped herself from rambling with a small shake of her head. "I think I want to take Transfiguration for all seven years and I couldn't help but notice that you are quite clearly an Animagus," Stating the obvious felt stupid but important none the less. "I know that all animagi's must go through training as well as officially get registered, but I wanted to ask what was the process like for you?" She asked nervously, it was something she'd given thought to for the past few years and wanted to eventually ask the man if it'd be something she might be able to sign up for.

 

[Professor Edward Pirrip]

Edward could have guessed why Lilith was here, but he preferred to let students get to the point themselves. He scoffed a friendly laugh when she said she'd read a book in a day. Typical Ravenclaw. And then, there it was. She was asking about his experience becoming an animagus.

He drew in a slow breath before answering her question. "Honestly? Horrible." He answered honestly, "The process tested me. On top of that it's tedious. There are months of preparation including rituals, timings and rules so precise that I had to start all over again a couple times because I got it slightly wrong. And some moments are really quite terrifying." Edward paused, he had not been registered as an animagus long so the process was still fresh in his mind, "I knew there might not be anyone who could help me if it went badly wrong." And then he gave Lilith a lighter look and leaned forward a little, "But I'm guessing you haven't come here to get scared off?"

 

[Lilith Ilves]

Giving a small nod Lilith listened to the Professor. She held back an involuntary grimace at his honesty of it having been horrible, though she'd be lying if she said it didn't pique her interest further. Everything he said made sense, given the information she'd already read about it, it would have been odd not to feel like the training tested those who chose to do it. As Professor Pirrip finished Lilith could feel her smile return in full force. Indeed, she had not come here to be scared off.

"You'd be right on that one, sir. I was thinking I want to learn more and as much as possible. I want to challenge myself, as much as I love the things we learn during lessons I want to, no more like I need to learn more. It feels like it's never quite enough you know?" She explained, leaning further back in her seat and her confident smile turning more sheepish. "I would like to train to be an Animagus and I figured you'd be the best Professor to go to about it." Lilith said with sincerity, because it was true. If she was going to talk to anyone about this passion of hers and need and want to learn more it was Professor Pirrip, she knew, had seen it with her own eyes, that he was brilliant at the subject so much so that he was a registered Animagus himself. "I'm willing to work for it, I'll do whatever you need me to do. I'll write a seven hundred page essay if you want me to, though I'm hoping I'm exaggerating here," letting out a small laugh the Ravenclaw did hope he wouldn't ask that much from her right now.

 

[Professor Edward Pirrip]

Lilith was one of Edward’s highest achieving students. She was bright and curious in all the right ways. From what he had seen from teaching her the last couple of years, academically he had no issues with taking her on for animagus training. What he didn't know so well was Lilith herself, what was she like when her patience was tested 100 times over, was she reckless? and how well does she handle extreme stress. It was all the important stuff when it came to animagus training. “It’s going to take you years," he said plainly, no trace of exaggerating in his tone because it really was. “But since you mentioned essays so enthusiastically, a seven hundred word one sounds like a fine place to begin.”

“You told me that you've done your research on the animagus process," Edward chose to trust that was true and wasn't going to ask her to do any more. "But now I want to understand you. How you plan to manage the emotional and physical demands ahead. What safeguards are you going to put in place before attempting anything dangerous? What are your strengths, but more importantly for this process in particular, what weaknesses will you need to confront, and how will you plan to do that?” He had given a similar assignment to Audrey once and it had proven useful for them both. Edward picked up a quill and wrote out the assignment, remaining silent as he did. He wondered if he should get a few of these printed for when other students came to him about animagus training. Then he folded the parchment and handed it across the table to Lilith. “Do you have any questions?"