Long Over Due (Jaquin)

[kamron]

Winter at Hogwarts was winding down, and the first signs of spring made themselves apparent for fleeting instances. That being said, cabin fever was an easy diagnosis for the future psychologist, made especially obvious this particular Monday afternoon as frigid temperatures lingered outside the castle as a reminder that winter was not yet ready to give way to spring. It seemed that even the psychologist was not immune to the restless feelings that hovered over the students, and as a final attempt to easy his emotions Kamron departed form the common room and made his way to the Great Hall. It was not yet time for dinner, but normally students flooded into the space early, weather to spend time with friends from other houses or simple for some time to pass the time with their studies some place other than the far too familiar library.

Stepping into the large room he scanned the still rather empty room. There were a handful of students sitting at each table. A group of Slytherin girls gathered tightly together with their heads close, two Hufflepuff girls looking puzzled as the pointed at the pages of a book, with a Gryffindor boy looking over their shoulders looking as if he was nearly as confused as they were.
It was the Ravenclaw table that his gaze fell to last. Closest to him he saw a small cluster of students giggling over some papers he could no see, further down there was a single student who held a quill that worked furiously across a roll of parchment. Further down still his gaze landed on yet another single student, Jaquin. He hadn’t managed to speak with his friend since the winter holiday, and deciding that a conversation was well overdue.

He made his way down the table to where the older boy sat, a bright smile on his face as he neared his friend, and slid to take a seat beside him.
“Hi Jaquin”

[Jaquin Prokenstien]

Jaquin looked along the derelict Ravenclaw table and watched as students filtered in from the Great Hall. Spring had finally begun to arrive as buds of knew plants had begun to propogate prosperously. However, eminent signs of Winter still remained as temperatures were still as low as ever and most of the quotidian population wore thick winter cloaks. The ground was still scabrous with frozen plants and it was still painful for one to walk into the gale that blew daily; their faces would become pink and tattered. It was also conspicuous that most students spent their interminable evenings in the warm, amiable, and capacious Student Lounge. That was the place where most students were alleviated of their worries of the frigid weather and of their homework assignments. As Jaquin glanced up at the enchanted ceiling of the Great Hall, he would still see the Cimmerian clouds of choler rolling across the sky that was an amalgamation of blue and purple. It was undoubtably another hail storm. Care of Magical Creatures class was nearly unbearable as every visit seemed to be an interminable torture as cold winds blew across Hogwarts Grounds. It took every particular of Jaquin's purposiveness for him to attend the class regularly, unlike many of his other classmates.

The 6th year Ravenclaw sat at the table with a large textbook containing prodigious amounts of information on neurology. Jaquin enjoyed the trainquility and quietude of the Great Hall in contrast to its usual, tumultuous aura. He saw his best friend, Kamron approach and greeted in response, "Good day, Kamron. How have you been?"

[kamron]

For a boy who felt almsot out of place when he first came to Hogwarts, the now fifth year had finally come to feel compleatly at place. Most of that had to do with the fact that it was this year that he had finally truly met Jaquin, a boy who he became instant friends with, and since, desprite both of their busy study sheduals, was now his best friend. They had many similar qualities, first and for most probably being their focus on studies and knowing what they wanted to do with their lives. Even beyond that, Jaquin was an amazing beater, which was also Kamron's quidditch position.

"Busy as always" he replied as he propped an arm up on the table so he could lean against it.
"Though my focus is not what I wish it was. I think the gold weather is finally wearing on me."

He shrugged slightly before glancing at Jaquin's book. It was a rare occasion to see his friend with out paper or parchment near by, so it was a common site, one that he himself understood well.

"Is that a new book?"

[Jaquin Prokenstien]

Jaquin reminisced the long days he had spent in Hogwarts and how he had become such good friends with Kamron, who was evidently an experienced psychologist, not to mention his skill as a beater. Jaquin had found that his personality appertained to Kamron's individuality; they had affinities for many of the same things, such as a near obsession for academics. He was of course studying for his N.E.W.T.s tests in his 7th year just as Kamron was studying for his O.W.L.s tests that year. Jaquin disliked most tests because of their tediousness. However, he knew that taking the test was consequential in proving your academic reputations to be verities. Jaquin listened to Kamron's comment and replied with a slight grin, "Same here...... Of course! The weather get's to everyone."

Jaquin noticed that Kamron was looking at his textbook with interest. "You see, I also need to study neurology to get my degree in Biology in a normal, muggle university. I guess it also relates to psychology," Jaquin said as he showed Kamron the book.

He glanced outside as multitudinous students began rushing into the Great Hall, creating a cacophony that consisted of the shuffling of many feet upon the sleek, marble floors. Jaquin turned back towards Kamron, "Anyways, if you are interested, I could let you borrow it..."

[kamron]

He nodded at Jaquin's comment over the book. It was rather equivalent to him and his psychology books. It was not a topic covered at Hogwarts, yet he studied it almost daily. He too had thought about attending a muggle university after his N.E.W.T.s, thought he knew there would be some commotion in his family about it. He was after all a pureblood, and while his parents thought that muggles were rather interesting people, he didn't see them being completely thrilled about their son's deciding to live among them.

"Yes, I do understand. You have your Biology and I have my Psychology. I have wondered though, how hard it would be to get into a muggle University with the former schooling of Hogwarts. Mainly if there would be some difficulty in the application. Of course living as a muggle might also be an interesting turn in life."

[Jaquin Prokenstien]

Jaquin drank some orange juice as he listened intently to what Kamron had to say. The sky slowly darkened into a deep purple color as the sun dissapeared behind the collosal mountains that surrounded Hogwarts. The few remaining students that had not arrived for dinner began filtering into the Great Hall for dinner. Jaquin checked his watch and found the time to be 6 o'clock. He looked around as sumptuous, opulent foods appeared in the plates in front of them. There were multifarious dishes and there was a copious amount of food. Jaquin helped himself to some pasta and contemplated on Kamron's inquiry. It was obvious that they were in different situations. Jaquin, in the summer after his 5th year had already taken the test for enrollement into Harvard medical school and Stanford's curriculum, and he had been accepted at both universities. So, now Jaquin only had to choose the one he felt was best suited for him. His specialty class would be biology and genetics. His friend, Perseus had also been accepted at Stanford, Princeton, and many other universities where his specialty class was physics and mathematics.

"Well, in my case, I have already been accepted into several Universities like Harvard and Stanford in the United States. However, for a pureblood like you, I would advise taking muggle curriculums over the summer. It will be a much more difficult life, as Perseus, my studymate and I already live like muggles. In your case, I would also take classes like muggle studies and actually utilize their technology instead of relying on magic. It would help you in the long run....." Jaquin reasoned as he explained to Kamron about how the muggle academic world worked.

[kamron]

((Sorry Jaquin, things have been a little cazy latley))

He nodded as he listened to Jaquin's sugestions about him stepping into the muggle life. He was aware that he would need to do that, but he was also aware that it would not be an easy move from his current existance. He had never spent a day of his life with out the assistance of magic, and it was not an easy thought to imagine doing certing things. He had taken muggle studies, and read muggle books, but things like cars and laundry still seemed strange things of a distant culture.

"You're right. I do need to start to experiance the muggle world, even if it is just for bits of a time at first. Perhaps I can fine a philosophy course this summer. I have yet to decide where I would lke to study psychology, I think your planning skills are much pbetter than mine if you have already given thought to where you would liek to go and are already accepted!"

[Jaquin Prokenstien]

Jaquin turned back towards Kamron with a grin and said, "Better get started soon, as I don't see any alternative. I would suggest visiting America to look for some of those universities for future psychologists like you. You may even meet other wizards in the same predicament. Perseus had been there once before, just this last summer. He has many pen-pals from the Salem Witches Institute of Witchcraft and Wizardry. There, many people also plan on attending muggle universities after graduation. I know that we study mathematics in potions, arithmancy, and astronomy, however, they differ greatly from muggle arithmetic, which is much more sophisticated. I would also suggest studying their mathematics. Back when I was still in my third year, I had a tutor teach me geometry, algebra, and algebra II, which are very useful subjects in the muggle world. You will need to get at least an average score in that area to be able to attend. I don't doubt your ability one bit. However, beginning your studies now would probably be best for your future...."

Jaquin paused after his long explanation and gulped down mouthfulls of pumpkin juice before returning to their conversation. Speaking eloquently, Jaquin said, "Are you planning anything tonight? We could study some astronomy, and while we're at it, I could teach you some of the more advanced mathematics I have learned from Perseus...."

[kamron]

He listened intently to what Jaquin was saying. His friend had a much greater unerstanding of working his way into the muggle world that he did. He had always been mildly aware that he needed to find a way, but he hadn't put quite a smuch throught to it as he should have.

"I had at one point considered attending Oxford, but I would think that it woudl be easier to get into an University in a different country. Or easier to slip the fact that I have not attended a normal school durring my prior education."

He paused for a moment, trying to remember if he had any pervious arangements for that evening.
"I am free this evening, I would much appreciate the study company and to go over some of this muggle mathamatics"

[Jaquin Prokenstien]

Jaquin finished his palatial dinner and stood up from his seat. He took a hold of his bag of books and motioned for Kamron to follow him. They would be visiting the Astronomy Tower where very few people tended to be. His schedule was rather capacious because Jaquin had finished most of his homework early. There would be ample time for him to brush up on the more sophisticated muggle mathematics that was sometimes required in Astronomy. He had never had the same affinity for numerals as Perseus had. However, Jaquin shared the same talent for learning and excelled in linguistics, having learned eight languages already and constantly ameliorating his skills in each language. That was partially the reason for his multitudinous travels to foreign countries where he not only learned more about their language, but also developed greater empathy for their culture and history.

Jaquin traversed many stair cases before ending up at the base of the tower, which was a long, tedious climb up a spiral staircase. They finally reached the observation tower and found only a few other students to be looking towards the stars. "Let me show you some useful muggle mathematics that also apply to astronomy," Jaquin said as he turned towards Kamron.

[kamron]

He finished his own meal about the same time that Jaquin finished his, and he too began to gather up his books and they started to make their way up to the astronomy tower. Astronomy had long been one of his favorite subjects, probably his most favorite in the magical world. It had such intresting power. Even beyond simple planets and constalations. He was currently reading a book that discussed the truth behind the muggle idea's of Astrology.

Once they reached their destination Jaquin meantioned relating muggle mathamatics to astronomy, something that did perk his intrest.

"That would be wonderful Jaquin. I am thankful you are willing to take the time to help me with muggle related studies."

[Jaquin Prokenstien]

((I feel guilty. Anyways, let's continue this post. ;D))

"Great!" Jaquin exclaimed as he began setting up his telescope and moving his books and star charts to their appropriate locations. "Let's see here, I think that we should start with fundamental muggle geometrics. First, we need to talk about angles. Can you tell me what you know about angles? The first thing is that if something strikes a flat surface at a certain angle, the smallest angle between the path of that object or light and the wall will be equal to the angle formed when the object or light deflects off the surface of the wall. That is how these telescopes work. They magnify and reflect everytime the light from the stars bounces off one of the mirrors built inside. That way, you can adjust it to the correct angle for optimum observation." Jaquin took up his telescope and began adjusting its angle towards the starry sky and began recording planets and distant stars onto a chart of the Milky Way.

[Perseus Feynman]

((I'm posting here to keep this post alive. ;D ))