It's a helping hand, don't bite it off -- September 2005

I was having the hardest time with this Transfiguration assignment that was assigned to us.  I figured out rather quickly that Transfiguration was not my forte.  However, Herbology and Potions were.  The homework for those were already completed.  I sighed and pushed my book away from me and gazed around the common room a bit.  I saw a couple of boys near me... should I ask for help?  Well, they were not in my class and therefore not in my year.  And I was me.  I never asked for help.  I always figured it out.  Gritting my teeth, I pulled my book back towards me to try to finish this before I ripped apart the parchment I already had written out.

I was sitting at one of the tables in the Common Room, working on homework, when I saw the girl sitting next to me push her books away before bringing them back towards her a moment later. She was a first year and she seemed frustrated. I looked over at her with a small smile. "Everything okay?" I asked. I did not mind helping her if she needed it.

<<just wanted to make sure I had the time line right......Ros would be in first year right? I made it so Abel and her hadn't really talked yet but I can edit it if you want....just let me know >>

<< Yep!  The timeline is right! >>

I was checking some facts in my Astronomy book and looked up when I heard Abel speak.  I had been pleased to get a mate like Abel my first year at school since I came from a Muggle family and having no idea what any of this magic stuff was all about.  Now, however, I was learning rather quickly and I had a thirst for knowledge.  I smiled while Abel went to help out the younger student, but the look on her face made me want to look away -- but it was like a car crash... horrible to watch, but impossible to stop.

I glared at the boy who offered help.  If he was anything like my brother, I would be in for serious non-help.  "Oh yeah, everything's peachy," I snapped at him.  "That's totally why I look as though I'm enjoying every bit of this, thanks."  I really did not need any interruptions.

I flinched at her response and stole a glance at Cameron before turning back to her. I raised my hands in surrender. "Whatever you say. I just wanted to offer you some help but if you don't need it...." I just wanted to help her out since she looked like she was struggling a bit but I knew how girls could be, I did have sister.

I really did not want to have to ask for help, but he did offer it... I took a deep breath to control my frustration.  "No, you're fine," I said to him a tad more politely.  "If you're actually going to help and not make me look like a wanker, I'd be okay with that."  Seth would make me feel so stupid if I asked him for help.

I chuckled at her requirements. "I promise not to do that," I assured her. I sat down and looked at her work. "So I don't accidentally do that, though, why don't you tell me what you don't get so I can avoid going over things you already know so I don't make you look ro feel like a wanker."