Mental Magics Lesson Two | Fifth Years

Paloma strolled in the classroom rubbing her eyes after a night spent awake, finishing her assignments due for that day. She knew she shouldn't have left them to be done on the day before, but on the day they were given she simply hadn't had the time and, then, she ended up forgetting.

But it was time for Mental Magics, and she tried desperately stay awake and pay attention. Who knew what the professor could do inside her mind?

Tessa walked into the classroom. She had hoped that Lena would be there, but she wasn't. That is when she took a sit and pulled out her book. She was wondering what they was going to be learning today.

Looking around she noticed that she wasn't the only one here. And was glad that she wouldn't be late.

"And what," queried Ethon, strolling to the front of the room from the door (which he hadn't opened to enter), "have you both failed to do whilst waiting for my arrival? A very simple instruction, really. Miss Grey? I know that you were here during previous lesson time. What do I require my students to be doing while waiting for my arrival?" He raised an eyebrow expectantly.

The man let out a long-suffering sigh. "Miss Poots, I would be far more concerned with my irritation should you sleep in my class than whatever fanciful idea you happen to have playing in your mind. You cannot focus if you are overtired. Next time you have difficulty keeping your eyes open for class, do not bother to attend.

"What do you know about mental barriers?" Ethon asked, facing his two students with an expression that could have been anywhere between bored and profoundly unamused. "Either of you. Speak."

Paloma's head shot up at the sound of her name and she nodded, blinking fast to keep awake while she stifled a yawn. "Yes, sir, I'm sorry," she apologized, "Won't happen again."

"They block a person from getting into your mind, or a part of it you do not wish for that person to see," she answered. It was a simple term - if he'd asked her if she knew what they were, she'd, obviously, say yes. But defining mental barriers was another thing, asking what they knew about them was even worse. Too vague. And so she finished off, lamely, "They help protect your mind from Legilimens."

The Uchitel arrived late to class, and instead of the flustered attitude she would usually perform at such a mistake she seemed to glide elegantly across the floor, chin held high though not arrogantly. "I'm sorry for my tardiness, Professor," uttered she professionally. "I assure you, as long as it is in my control it will not happen again."

From the words Paloma had spoken, Lena guessed that mental barriers were the subject of discussion. The things she knew about them were not to be said in class; not only would no one believe her, they were closely-guarded secrets. "Mental barriers can depend wholly on concentration, determination, and practice," added the blonde tonelessly, settling down to a seat next to Tessa, "it also depends on the willpower of the practicing; if he is willing and if he has practiced, he should be able to block a Legilimens from entering his mind for some time."