I'm so sorry

[Miranda Dawson]

Miranda Dawson wasn't going to DADA class until she apologized to Professor Harris. She wanted to apologize to Professor Harris for running out in the middle of potions class. Miranda didn't care if she missed all of her classes that day, all she wanted was for Professor Harris to understand why she ran out.

Miranda felt so horrible after running out, but she didn't want to go back in and get stared or yelled at. She wanted to tell Professor Harris that she was very interested in the subject of today and keep saying sorry over and over again, to just let him know that her apology was sincere. Miranda was also interested in what that boy with the book was reading and wondered if he had a lot of books. If so, Miranda and the boy would get along well because she loves to read.

Miranda was just going to sit outside Professor Harris's office until he comes back. To make the wait shorter, Miranda decided to do the thing she hasn't done in two years, sing. As Miranda was singing, she felt alive again, she felt amazing, and she felt happier than she has been in years. The happier Miranda got, the better her singing got. Miranda was singing one of her songs she wrote back in the orphanage for a five year old little girl, who loved to dance.

"And you dance, and you dance in a endless flow. With the grace of a perfect design. Stepping out of the darkness and into the glow. And the whole world will see when you shine. You can shine! Shiiiiine!

[Sebastian Harris]

Having reviewed different academic reviews for the past half-hour in the staff room, Sebastian had decided to retreat to his office. The textbook catalogs held firmly in his hand as he walked through the corridors, he wasn't sure yet whether or not he would change the course book for his class come next September. There had been some interesting material in the catalog, along with good reviews, but he pondered for a little bit whether or not it was necessary. His students, overall, were pretty decent at potion making. Not everyone would be able to continue with him after they got their O.W.L.s, but as a whole, he thought his class was pretty well prepared.

His thoughts were somewhat reversed as he neared his office door, seeing a first-year in front of it, singing to no one but herself. It was the young girl who had felt it was acceptable to leave his class that day, before he had even gotten into the thick of things. At least she had what seemed to be enough confidence to come to him, he thought. Now he wouldn't have to seek her out.

"Excuse me, Miss Dawson," he said, announcing himself. "You're blocking my door. But I'm glad you're here; I want a word with you."

[Miranda Dawson]

"Excuse me, Miss Dawson," he said, announcing himself. "You're blocking my door. But I'm glad you're her; I want a word with you."

Miranda jumped as she heard Professor Harris's voice, she didn't expect him back to his office so soon. Miranda didn't like the tone of his voice and was scared because she hated being yelled at. As soon as Miranda thought of being yelled at, she remembered the Williams' yelling at her for doing things that she thought were just perfect and made her feel good. They yelled at her for things like not cooking the food well enough or the clothes were wrinkled. Miranda started humming to herself, so she wouldn't start crying.

But, Miranda failed miserably and started sobbing uncontrollably. She didn't really care what Professor Harris thought, she just cried and cried. She cried for all the things that happened in her life, she cried because she was always keeping her tears in, and she cried because for some reason Professor Harris's presence made her emotions that she held in for so long, finally come out.

Miranda finally came down after a while. As soon as Miranda found her voice, she whispered, "I'm so sorry for acting like this. I'm so, so sorry for running out of class earlier. I'm so sorry is me crying was a waste of your time. Lastly, I'm so sorry for being a horrible student."

[Sebastian Harris]

Sebastian sighed, for he really didn't want to deal with this right now. Sure, he felt sorry for the girl. He wouldn't wish sad feelings on anyone. But he wasn't really too much in the mood for someone sobbing in his office. But alas, that was the situation he was in, so he would handle it appropriately.

"Follow me, Miss Dawson," he said, opening his office door and going inside. His voice was indifferent, but he didn't sound angry or frustrated with her. He lit the lamps in his office, causing the dim light to reflect off the different jars of liquids and ingredients sitting atop his shelves. He set his reading material on his desk and pulled out the seat in front of his desk. "Have a seat," he told Miranda, not even looking at her as he spoke. He was now behind his desk, inspecting his shelves. After a moment he found what he was looking for: a small vial of clear, maroon color potion. He took the vial and handed it to Miranda. "Take it," he said. "It's a very mild calming draught. You'll stop crying and be more at ease while we speak. Notice how it's kind of red? It's been altered; it now tastes vaguely like fruit punch."

[Miranda Dawson]

"Follow me, Miss Dawson," he said, opening the door to his office and going inside.

Miranda followed Professor Harris inside his office. "Have a seat," he told Miranda,not even looking at her. He was now behind his desk, inspecting his shelves. After a moment he found what he was looking for; a small vial of clear, maroon color potion. He took the vial and handed it to Miranda. "Take it," he said. "It's a very mild calming drought. You'll stop crying and be more at ease while we speak. Notice how it's kind of red? It's been altered; now it tastes vaguely like fruit punch."

Miranda took the vial and studied it for a moment. She wondered if she could trust Professor Harris? "Well, he is the potions teacher and he wouldn't poisen a student. That would make him loose his job," Miranda thought.


Miranda took a straight sip. "He's right. It does taste like fruit punch," Miranda thought. Miranda drank the rest of the vial and felt a warm, fuzzy sensation come over her. She felt relaxed and could fall asleep right in the office, if she wanted to. "No, Miranda. You've got to focus on Professor Harris," Miranda thought to herself.

"Thank you, Professor," Miranda spoke softly.

Miranda set the vial down on the desk and looked back up at Professor Harris, waiting for him to speak.

[Sebastian Harris]

Sebastian, meanwhile, took his his seat behind his desk and surveyed Miranda. He watched her drink the whole vial of potion, feeling satisfied when she downed the last drop. Her appearance didn't seem to change, but he had a vague suspicion that she was going to be less likely to break down again.

Yes, he wanted to speak with her about her lack of work today. She, on the other hand, appeared to be here for another reason. Did she honestly believe that he thought she was a terrible student? That was absurd. Yes, he was a strict man; a man that expected hard work from people. Those who weren't willing to work for their future were forever doomed. But for heaven's sake, she was a first-year. This was her first Potions lesson ever. He now vaguely wondered how many of his students believed that he thought they were useless.

"Now, Miss Dawson, why is it exactly that you believe I think you're a bad student? Because I can assure you, right here and now, that nothing is further from the truth. You're a first-year, Miss Dawson; you've just started Hogwarts. Expecting your first lessons to go off perfectly, without a hitch, is completely unrealistic. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

[Miranda Dawson]

"Now, Miss Dawson, why is it exactly that you believe you're a bad student? Because I can assure you, right here and now, that nothing is further from the truth. You're a first-year, Miss Dawson; you've just started Hogwarts. Expecting first lessons to go off perfectly, without a hitch, is completely unrealistic. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

Miranda looked at Professor Harris in shock. I thought he was going to yell at me and throw me out of his class. That's what Jack usually did whenever I do something wrong. Miranda knew that if she didn't control her emotions, she was going to start bawling, again. Miranda failed, again, at trying not to cry, but she let silent tears fall down her face.

The only thing Miranda ever knew or learnt (besides teaching herself) was that if you do someone's work well, no mistakes at all, period, then you'll be rewarded (for Miranda its usally food). If not, then you'll have to pay the consequences (for Miranda it's locking her up in the basement for a day and no food). The consequences are severe depending on what you did wrong.

Miranda looked at Professor Harris and wiped away her tears. She, then said, "I've been told by my adoptive parents that if you do someone's work well, no mistakes at all, period, then you'll be rewarded. If not, you'll have to pay the consequences. The consequences can get severe depending on what you did wrong. That's why I feel like a horrible student. I just hate the consequences I've had in the past. I just get so scared about the consequences I'll have in the future, that I just start saying all these apologies. I'm sorry, again, for running out of class earlier. I get so embarassed that I was crying I didn't know what to do except flee. I was crying because I fell asleep and had a dream and the dream scared me enough to start crying. I'm, again, sorry."

[Sebastian Harris]

Sebastian nodded his head, wishing silently that she was able to go longer without crying. He had been stupid not to expect some things like this by teaching, he thought to himself. Children, and later teenagers, were somewhat unstable and erratic. There were bound to be high emotions with the occasional crying at some points during the term.

"Well, Miss Dawson," he said, "I don't know what your parents have been telling you, but it's very rare, if not downright impossible, to be good at something without a little bit of practice first. I didn't expect a whole lot from my first-years this afternoon, and I don't believe any of my colleagues did either today. This isn't preschool; you're not learning how to stack blocks on top of each other. To become a good witch, magic takes years of study and practice. Potions in particular is one branch of magic that requires the most study and dedication. Now, I'm not going to go as far to say that it was the best idea to leave my class today; you'd be surprised how easy it is to fall behind in school. But missing one lesson isn't something that's going to haunt you for the rest of your life. You understand?" Sebastian wasn't smiling, as he wasn't the type of man that smiled much. But his tone wasn't that harsh, either. Miranda was experiencing one of the kindest moods Professor Harris ever got in. Most people would envy her if they knew what was happening.

[Miranda Dawson]

Miranda looked at Professor Harris as he nodded his head as if he understood her. Miranda was amazed because she never knew someone would understand. All her life she was the girl who acted like the adult and never felt like a kid. She, then looked down at her hands when Professor Harris started talking, again.

"Well, Miss Dawson," he said. I don't know what your parents have been telling you, but it's very rare, if not downright impossible, to be good at something without a little bit of practice first. I didn't expect a whole lot from my first-years this morning, and I don't believe any of my colleagues did either today. This isn't preschool; you're not learning how to stack blocks on top of each other. To become a good witch, magic takes years of study and practice. Potions in particular is one branch of magic that requires the most study and dedication. Now, I'm not going as far as to say that is was the best idea to leave my class today; you'd be surprised by how easy it is to fall behind in school. But missing one lesson isn't something that's going to haunt you for the rest of your life. You understand?" Sebastian wasn't smiling, as he wasn't the type of man that smiled much. But his tone wasn't harsh, either. Miranda was experiencing one of the kindest moods Professor Harris had ever got in. Most people would envy her if they knew what was happening.

Miranda looked up from her hands and looked Professor Harris right in the eye and said, "Yes, Professor, I do understand. And, I'm sorry I got so emotional about it. The dream was just plain scary. But, I was wondering if I could write an essay about the potion we did in class today and turn it into to you the next time we have class? I was, also, wondering if you could talk to Professor Fremen and tell him why my presence wasn't in his class, right now?"

[Sebastian Harris]

Professor Harris nodded to Miranda. "10 inches of parchment," he said, referring to the essay. "No less. That should be enough to for you to learn the theory portion of the potion. However, I would try my hand at the potion before too much time passes, if I were you. Tests and surprise quizzes are no strangers to this school.

"I'll send word to Professor Fremen about your whereabouts. You'll want to stop by his office too, though, because I'm positive he'll have some homework assigned." Sebastian got the parchment and quill out to begin working on the note, intending to hand it in to Will Fremen soon after Miranda left. He took out a bottle of ink and said, "Now, if that's all, I really do have work I need to be attending to. Count yourself lucky that you missed the lesson today; I would if it were me."