TBAY:The Point is...(was:Re: [HPFGU-Feedback] RE: We'd Like to Pick Your Brains About TBAY)

[Risti]

Risti was standing at the Hogsmeade Tourist Agency
looking through some pamphlets when she noticed a
sullen figure walk by her.  It couldn't actually be
Severus Snape, could it?  After meeting several Snape
theories over drinks she was anxious to meet the real
deal.  Abandonning her map of the town, she set out to
follow him.

"Why does he want to meet here?"

She heard him mutter under his breath.  Looking around
at the hustle and bustle of the crowd Risti wondered
what it was about this atmosphere that would make
someone want to meet Snape here.  Was it a former
student who didn't feel like going back to Hogwarts? 
Maybe someone with a crush on him who was hoping to
turn the meeting into a more social occasion.  Risti
wondered if the real Snape was as flirtatious as his
theories.

"What's wrong with my office?"

Well, when given that alternative, Risti rolled her
eyes.  Anywhere was better than an office-its
atmosphere was hardly one to foster open minded
discussion.  Besides, if Snape had stayed in his
office, she wouldn't be able to follow him.

Eventually Snape reached a pub and went in.  Still
following him, Risti saw him meet up with an ancient
looking ghost(if it's possible for ghosts to look
ancient.)  
 
"Good evening Professor" Risti heard Snape snap.  He
obviously wasn't in a good mood.  "I hope you haven't
brought me here just to share a cordial butterbeer?"

Upon hearing that it was Professor Binns, and not the
secret source of Severus's permanent frown that he was
missing, Risti decided she could afford to close half
her ear to the conversation for a moment and order her
own butterbeer.  After getting it from the
bartender(who hardly had half the charm of
George-really it was true that you don't appreciate
what you have at home until you travel), she sat down
at the table next to the Professors which was
conveniently open.  When she sat down, Binns was just
finishing reading through a list he held in his hands.
 
"I am incensed", spat Snape.  Risti was surprised
Binns monotone monologue inspired so much attention
from him.

"I deal with potions, an exacting subject where the
attention to detail is absolute. If a student of mine
uses a drop more, or a drop less of an ingredient than
is absolutely necessary the potion is ruined."

"How do you find out if they know how many drops to
use?" Risti interupted cheekily, swinging her chair
around to join the professors.  She was answered with
a blank look from Binns and a cold sneer from Snape.

"Who are you? I don't remember teaching you?"  If
Risti hadn't faced down people whose faces looked just
as mean, and who were also aiming weapons her way, she
might have been a little scared to answer.

"No, I wasn't a student at Hogwarts, otherwise I
wouldn't be questioning you on your teaching methods. 
Do you have the students prove their knowledge by
writing out lists of ingredients?  Do they get graded
on how accurately they copy down the instructions on
how to make a potion?"  Risti took another sip of her
butterbeer, and grabbed the list that Binn's had been
reading off of earlier to scan.

"Do you honestly think I'd let those half-witted fools
off that easily?  Didn't you hear what I said?  Potion
making is precise.  There's more to it then proper
notes-although those *are* necessary.  Those notes
need to become apart of them.  They need to prove to
me that they can act on them.  That they know their
implications!  If I can pound a potion-making into
their heads enough that it begins to define who they
are, then, and only then, can they say that they've
mastered the art of potions."

"So it becomes apart of them.  Got it.  But they do
need to know how to write out the instructions as
well."  The look Snape gave Risti reminded her of the
look her Kindergarten teacher used to give her when
she explained how hard it was to keep the M and W
straight.

"Yes, they do."  Snape turned away from her, obviously
hoping she'd take the hint and leave, and spoke to
Binns again.  "Tell me Binns, why would a poster on
this ludicrous group you mention want to bury an
interesting point of cannon in baroque and
impenetrable language?"
 
"Do you know what Severus, I think I agree with you." 
The ghost said, snatching his list back.

"You would," Risti said with a small snort.

"What is that supposed to mean young lady?"

"Hey, I may not have gone to Hogwarts, but legends of
your class have spread just as far as rumours of his,"
Risti motioned to Snape.  "You aren't exactly known
for outlining *interesting points* without alot of
mumbo-jumbo."

"I make all the necessary points needed, giving
students all the background information relevent, but
not any additional fluff they don't need."

"And at the end of the day, who has really absorbed
what you've said?  I heard even Hermione Granger
started knitting in class by her seventh year.  The
facts are great, but pages and pages-I mean hours and
hours of them?  Sometimes it all just needs to be
shaken up a bit, do you understand what I'm saying?"

"I understand that many people on this list tired of
reading pages and pages of funny little stories that
don't really make sense."

"So do I," a fourth voice chimed in.  Risti noticed a
man standing at the edge of their conversation.

"Dumbledad!" she greeted him like an old friend.  "How
convenient to find you here.  Take a seat and join
us." She stood up to grab another chair to add to the
small table which was beginning to look crowded when
Snape rose as well.

"Have my seat.  We're done here now."  Risti wasn't
sure if it was her imagination or not, but Snape
seemed to be already veering as far away from her as
possible.

"I'm Risti, and on behalf of the Theory Bay Welcome
Wagon, I'd like to thank you for stopping by our happy
home."  Risti pulled her bag in front of her, and
began taking things from it.  "I have some free drink
tickets for George's, Two for One coupons to the Canon
Museum, a couple of CRAB CUSTARDS, an invitation to
the next Barbeque over at the Safe House, and I threw
in a free sample sized package of SUNLIGHT ULTRA,
although I should tell you it really only works with a
MAGIC DISHWASHER."

Dumbledad was giving Risti a strange look as he sat
down.  "SUNLIGHT ULTRA? Welcome Wagon?  Wait a minute,
I'm not even *in* Theory Bay."

Risti grinned widely.  "Oh yes you are.  Geography
really doesn't matter for the bay, didn't you know
that?  Actually, that could be one of the reasons I
don't have a map to offer you, although I wish I did."

"But I didn't really intend to end up here..."

"Do you think any of us intend to be in Theory Bay? 
It's one of those things that just sort of catches
you, whether by a thought that won't go away, or an
over-eager Captain who drags you onto her ship for
interrogation."  Risti hesitated, "Don't worry though,
if you don't want to come back, you don't have to."

"So why me?  Why do I get this special treatment? 
People say people who live in Theory Bay are supposed
to be elitist snobs."

Risti sighed.  "Yes, they do say that unfortunately,
which is really sad, because it isn't true.  As much
as people may not believe it, this isn't special
treatment.  Sure, alot of this might typically happen
off-list, but only because we do try to stay on topic.
 Off list, we tend to jump all over anyone who peeks
there head into the Bay, and beg them not to leave."

"So are you saying the point of all of this,"
Dumbledad motioned to the crowded room, "was to
welcome me?"

"Well," Risti hesitated, "The point is... no, that
wasn't the point.

~Risti, who hopes her point was made.

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