The 'Master-Apprentice'-Type Relationship

[alt_moderator]

Alternity dealt with themes of education - formal, informal, and via one-to-one tutelage. Which makes terrific sense when you're writing a story that encompasses the span of schooling for its young protagonists. But in Alternity, the scholarship relationships outside of the classroom offered opportunities for characters to work side by side - and often, secretly at cross-purposes.

Through the magic of my phenomenal alt-moderator powers, I have the pleasure of being able to introduce to this thread some very special guests. These individuals forged deep, close connections with each other in either actual or virtual master-apprentice relationships.

We invite you to ask any questions you may have - about their training, about their relationship, about their suspicions, about how their training prepared them for the fights they eventually fought, or lessons they learned that they would pass on - whatever you want to know! Time and space are immaterial here; the individuals who are participating are free to answer in whatever way they see fit, depending on what's called for in your questions.

Please welcome:

Antonin Dolohov
Justin Finch-Fletchley (Noble Arts)

Severus Snape
Hermione Granger (Potions)
and
Draco Malfoy (Occlumency)

Aurora Sinistra
Evelyn Longbottom (Astronomy)

Barty Crouch, Jr.
Hydra Lestrange (Death Eaterdom)

Savitha Desai
Ron Weasley (Auror training)

Poppy Pomfrey
Sally-Anne Perks (Healing Arts)

Comments

[alt_linus]

The challenge to the teacher
Of fair Astronomy
Is teaching students to be still,
And to, observing, see.

To see, not what they may expect,
But what is truly there —
Strange discipline! From dark and still,
Illumination rare!

’Tis not just stars that brightly shine
That can complete the view;
The other, fainter, further stars —
Their light is needful, too.

Their movements, too, contribute
To Life's great orrery.
We’ll see them, if we but be still.
If we observe, we’ll see.

[alt_sinistra]

Did you ever think your detentions and your eyebrows going purple would lead to this, then?

(I must say, your poetry is no guidance of mine: I've no skill at it at all, other than appreciating yours.)

[alt_linus]

It was absolutely beyond my ability at the time to imagine, I assure you! Since then, of course, my capacity for astonishing imaginings has been quite thoroughly expanded.

You know, thinking back to that stretch of time during which I was alternating detentions between you and Professor Dolohov, I cannot prevent myself from envisioning one of those charmed cartoons where a hapless fellow sits with an angel on one shoulder and a devil on the other.

As to the poetry, I have found a most splendid quote by an American author, Mr Mark Twain, so with him I will say that it cannot be helped, the stuff seems to stew out of me naturally as the precious ottar of roses out of the otter.

[alt_linus]

To be less jocular, however, I must thank you for giving me the opportunity to help on the various arithmantic and wards-related desperate endeavours. I am well aware that those of us who came late to the support of Albion were not always easily welcomed as comrades in arms -- or in Arithmancy, in my particular case.