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[wunderkind]

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[bitty_justice]

I...see.

[And Miles frowns a little bit at that, troubled. What would Dad say? That's not hard: Dad would say that there's no one who's superior automatically, that some are born with certain skills and others are born having to work a bit harder but that in everyone there's a capacity for greatness. Or something like that. Miles isn't a hundred percent sure, but he thinks that sounds a lot like racism - which is weird, because that oughtn't exist...

But - that's what they say, is what Sirius said, which means that he shouldn't be really worrying about it because that's not what Sirius says.]

But I bet you anything that I'll get better marks than you in history class. I'm always at the top of my class in history. So you're not superior there, are you?

[And Miles offers a tentative grin, hoping Sirius will return it, hoping that Sirius won't suddenly start hating him.]

[parumcanis]

[He was unwilling to look around at Miles, worried what he would say, worried what he would think--and he knows that this is wrong, too, that he ought not to be worried what a muggle-born thinks of him--because he isn't anyone worth worrying about.

But he is. He's a friend--and despite the little touches of haughtiness that occasionally govern Sirius' behavior, he wants, beneath all of that, to be liked.

He looks around in surprise at Edgeworth's words, catching just the end of that grin.]

Maybe.

[It's a joke, he realises, and he begins to smile, just a little--]

But I don't care about history, so maybe it won't matter.

[Not in terms of superiority or inferiority, there. Just in terms of Miles and Sirius.]

[bitty_justice]

[Miles replies cheerfully - more cheerfully than he feels, a bit, but he's encouraged on by that uncertain smile - he wants to strengthen it.]

Well, of course it won't matter. It doesn't actually matter who gets better marks in what thing or who's better at what. What matters is whether or not you're kind and whether or not you bring positive changes to the world - that's what my dad says.

[But then, with a grin:]

Bet I'll do better than you in Transfiguration, too, though.

[parumcanis]

[Oh, no. The first bit, he's not sure of--that's not the way that he's ever heard anything explained, and he's wary of seizing onto it or even considering it too much but-- at that last bit, Sirius just laughs. That is outright ridiculous.]

You will not! There's no way, 'cos I'm already good in Transfiguration--I've accidentally done it loads of times!

[bitty_justice]

That just means you haven't got good control. The third chapter in the textbook talks about that a bit. I'll have good control, I'll bet you anything.

[But that's friendly, affable - teasing, really, more than taunting. Just a bit of needling to get Sirius laughing again.]

[parumcanis]

Too much control, maybe. That's not what magic is. You have to have a bit of control, yeah, but there's more to it than that. It's not neat and tidy.

[He says this with great confidence and authority--and already his mood is improving. It's easier to discuss topics like this, topics where he can tease back and not talk about anything too serious.]

[bitty_justice]

What is it, then? Because the book says you need...focus, and you need to have a solid understanding of all the principles...

[parumcanis]

Yeah, and you just have to be good at magic.

[He shakes his head, like he can't believe this one fact has been overlooked so easily.]

You have to know how to do it and trust yourself to do it right. If it was all about books and things then anyone could do it.

[bitty_justice]

Trust yourself.

[Miles smiles a surprised, curious smile.]

Is that really part of it?

[parumcanis]

Well, yeah! If you don't, then you won't be able to do the spell properly, because you'll be questioning yourself. You'll lose faith. All magic needs it.

[He nods, sagely. He would know, right? Wizard born and all.]

[bitty_justice]

Well -

[He thinks about that a moment.]

I guess law's kind of the same way...You have to have confidence there, too.

[parumcanis]

{There's magical law, of course, but Sirius' experience is limited to the Black family retainer, who he sees only at Christmas parties and the occasional spared glance in the front hall, on his way out the door, muttering tensely to Father.]

Why? So you make more convincing arguments?

[bitty_justice]

[He nods enthusiastically.]

Yeah. And also because your clients need that - they need to know they have someone believing in them. Because when you stand accused of a crime is the hardest time in your life, so you need someone standing beside you.

[parumcanis]

That's not the hardest time.

[But he's arguing just to argue, without any real conviction behind it. Rather, he's studying Miles with some interest, like he's something he's never really seen before--because he is, in his way.]

So that's what your father does?

[bitty_justice]

[Miles grins, cheerful in spite of Sirius arguing against him.]

Yeah! And he's one of the best. He has lots of awards for being a lawyer and being a good person and things.

[parumcanis]

[He wrinkles his nose a little at that, less certain of the latter of those.]

What award d'you get for being good?

[bitty_justice]

A humanitarian award!

[Miles is delighted Sirius asked; he grins - indeed, he beams.]

For doing pro bono work.

[parumcanis]

Good work?

[He laughs--it's redundant, if he tries to translate it--and he's crap with languages and things, they don't stick in his head the way that spells do, but he thinks it's redundant, or maybe a joke--]

Did he get a trophy? It doesn't count unless he's a trophy--or a medal--

[bitty_justice]

He got a plaque. That's sort of like a trophy.

[Though that's a silly rule, and he shows it by wrinkling his nose - ]

And it's not good work, it's...pro bono. Meaning when you're doing work for people but don't ask for money for it.

[parumcanis]

A plaque's not bad.

[He'll allow it, because it's Miles, and Miles' dad, who Sirius already tentatively likes by association. He scratches at his eyebrow as he tries to work out the next bit of that.]

So--why are you doing it? As a favor?

[bitty_justice]

[He shakes his head.]

No, not as a favor...Or, well, not in the sense that you'll get anything for it. You're just doing it because it's the right thing to do. Because there are people out there who need help but can't afford help, so you just step in.

[parumcanis]

[It sounds too good to be true. Sirius isn't advanced enough a thinker to have to many opinions, and he's grown up around his family--so some things are curiously unformed about his thoughts and all, but...]

And that's what your father does? He helps people just--because?

[bitty_justice]

[A happy, firm nod.]

Yeah. Just because it's the right thing to do.

[parumcanis]

[Well. That's-- different, and something to be proud of. Or at least, Sirius thinks that it might be. He gets the feeling that he's not necessarily meant to think that way, which makes it somehow better.]

But how is he paid, then? It's still his job, right?

[bitty_justice]

[A nod.]

Yeah. People who can afford to pay - they have to pay. And Dad's the best, so everyone wants him as their lawyer, so he can take on clients who pay a lot. And then he can help out the people who can't pay.