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Post by Headmistress Isadora Gunvald on Mar 14, 2023 6:15:31 GMT -8
Transfiguration: Lesson One | The Four Branches Classroom Description A large classroom lined with brilliant marble columns that end in decorative arches supporting a large domed roof. At the sides of the classroom stood several large cages containing a variety of birds and small animals that would be used in practice by advanced students. Three rows of old-fashioned mahogany desks, each sitting two people, fill the middle of the room. At the head of the room stood the professor’s desk, a regal chair lined in navy blue, and two blackboards on wooden frames. The room was illuminated by a row of small arched windows that lined the wall and four round hanging chandeliers.
Lesson One It was morning, a crisp autumn day. Isadora strolled down from her office and into the classroom, excited to begin the new venture of teaching. She had acted as Deputy Headmistress for the past two years but this would be the first time instructing a proper class. Waving her wand in a swift motion, stacks of books shivered and levitated, tucking themselves neatly into the shelves that lined the room. She exhaled happily, before turning to the blackboard and writing “Lesson One: The Four Branches.” Isadora then etched a small diagram, labeling each of the four branches they would be studying.
The empty classroom would soon be bustling with students, all of which would be new to her. Isadora smirked to herself, an element of surprise could be fun. Turning on her heel, Isadora suddenly transformed into a mid-sized black bird with a tail striped with iridescent hints of blue-green. She flew in her magpie form to a perch next to her desk, tilting her head and looking toward the door, anxiously waiting for students to file into the room… House Cup Points for Participation:
1. Attend Class (minium 1 post per class) +10 pts
2. Correctly Answer Question in Class (first to respond correctly) +5 pts
3. Earn or lose house points assigned by the Professor at their discretion.
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Post by Loce Vaisey on Mar 14, 2023 7:46:50 GMT -8
Loce slipped into the Transfiguration classroom early as he’d given himself time to get lost but hadn’t needed it. The staircases had played nice this morning. He found a desk towards the back of the class, staking book and parchment by one chair and settling into the other. He wondered who was in the class with him, if he’d know anyone. He hadn’t had much opportunity to get to know other students, they already had their groups formed. He hoped he’d have at least some classes with Anneli but realized as he sat there that she most likely already had someone she teamed with in classes. The book and parchment placed in the other spot would keep most from joining him, but if she had the inclination to sit there, a book wasn’t going to stop her, especially when the parchment had a Welsh dragon scrawled across the top.
He took in the room, noticing the bird in the corner and nodding in its general direction. He took out a quill with a blue and burgundy feather. Colors of his previous school, but he had a rule with quills, superstition maybe… he used one, and only one, until it either wore out, or he got a poor grade using it. So, this one would be his for a bit yet, as it was relatively new and he rarely got poor grades. Although transfiguration was one of his worst subjects as he personally found most of it was better accomplished with a potion. Conjuring was probably the only branch of the subject that he gave any special attention to.
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Isla Reinhardt
Gryffindor
5th Year - Gryffindor Seeker - Prefect
Posts: 116
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Post by Isla Reinhardt on Mar 14, 2023 8:19:07 GMT -8
Isla strolled casually into the Transfiguration class, looking toward the bird at the front of the classroom and then to the blackboard. She had seen the bird flying over the ceilings of the Great Hall and corridors, but hadn't realized it belonged to this classroom. Conjuration? Vanishment? I should have studied more this summer, she thought idly, her focus had been elsewhere during those months. The room was still fairly empty, she was early.
She glanced toward a familiar boy sitting at a desk, an empty spot next to him. Loce. Better not sit next to him and draw unecessary attention, she thought, wondering what Fergus might think. She hadn't taken part in fraternizing with too many Slytherins thus far. Isla nodded at him with a brief smile before taking a seat at the middle desk in front of him. She turned around, one elbow over her chair, "Nice to see you," her tone taking on a formal tone, before turning to her desk and pulling out a quill, ready to take on the lesson.
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Post by Loce Vaisey on Mar 14, 2023 13:45:43 GMT -8
Loce returned her smile nodding. Her greeting threw him a little, she was formal, almost cold, contradicting the initial smile. He supposed it was because he was a Slytherin and she a Gryffindor. Made sense, especially with how much of a Prat her brother could be. That was one word he'd picked up that always seemed to outshine anything American English could come up with. He eyed the bird suspiciously, he’d learned early on never to trust anything that seemed out of place, and that was the only bird not otherwise restrained. “Hey Isla, make any headway?” he ventured, asking directly enough without anyone being able to decipher what he was asking but her.
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Isla Reinhardt
Gryffindor
5th Year - Gryffindor Seeker - Prefect
Posts: 116
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Post by Isla Reinhardt on Mar 14, 2023 17:37:56 GMT -8
Isla turned to him, following his gaze to the suspicious bird that sat perched at the front of the room. "I've seen that same bird flying over the Great Hall and in between classes before," She said, sharing her observations, "Thought it was some Hufflepuffs' weird Magical Creatures project gone free." She shrugged, pulling out a fresh piece of parchment.
She slightly winced with unease at Loce's question, although it had been inconspicuous enough. Isla still wasn't used to a fellow classmate knowing so much about her plans. "Nothing solid yet." Isla said casually, finding it difficult to lie so openly. Her eyes flickered toward the bird again, wondering if there was a third party in the room. She lowered her voice to a whisper, "Progress relies on a few unknown variables, you can say."
Turning back in her chair, Isla quickly scribbled a small note and tore off the corner of the parchment. She reached back, handing him the note, which read, Can't answer anything else right now.
She furrowed her brow and began to copy the notes from the blackboard, glancing toward the entrance, curious to see who would walk in next...
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Post by Loce Vaisey on Mar 14, 2023 17:52:18 GMT -8
He nodded at her comment, the bird was unsettling, but he figured they would know it’s purpose soon enough. “Well, unless you’re planning to break any rules between now and the end of class, I’m fairly certain that it is harmless.”He smirked at her response. Yes, a few unknown variables. He laughed at her note and folded it up, slipping it into his pocket. He wasn’t expecting an answer more than yes or no in the first place. Loce gazed at the door, seeing no other students nearby, he ventured another question. “So, are we not supposed to know each other or be friends?” He asked, genuinely confused by all the rules of engagement at this school.
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Anneli Oden
Slytherin
5th Year - Slytherin Captain - Chaser - Part-Veela
Posts: 296
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Post by Anneli Oden on Mar 14, 2023 18:01:18 GMT -8
Anneli strode through the corridors, an emerald green sash stylishly tucked around her neck and a gold hair clip shaped as a Hungarian Horntail pulling back her hair. It was an heirloom that she had managed to keep after her mother's passing. It had become a good luck charm to her and tradition to wear it on the first day of classes. She was ambitious, usually receiving outstanding marks, but Transfiguration wasn't a class she was particularly interested in. Anneli walked through the doors of the Transfiguration classroom, her head held high as locks of champagne hair fell around the frame of her porcelain face.
She ignored the interior and bird sitting at the front of the class, familiar with the room and the Professor as well. Her attention turned toward the pair of students who were talking quietly together. Anneli clenched her jaw realizing the identities of the two. It was Loce chatting with Isla Reinhardt, Fergus' little sister and the new Gryffindor Seeker. She slowly sat at an empty desk close to the entrance, toward the back of the room. Opening up a leather messenger bag with golden clasps, Anneli took out a polished quill with straight, matte black feathers and a set of parchment. She wrote "The Four Branches" on her paper, her pristine cursive dancing across the top.
Anneli observed the pair discreetly. Her head barely moving, her eyes caught the glimpse of Isla handing Loce a note. Her stomach dropped slightly, wondering what that might be about. Her attention turned back to front of the class. If he wanted to speak with her, I'm sure he'd find a way. She sat like stone, focused, with beams of sunlight falling unto her golden hair.
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Post by Loce Vaisey on Mar 14, 2023 18:21:40 GMT -8
Movement caught his attention, turning his head towards the student who had slipped in unnoticed. Anneli. He frowned. She’d had to have seen him when she entered but chose to sit by herself. He glanced back towards Isla and back at Anneli, wondering if his proximity to Isla was the issue, or if he’d been correct in his assumption she had friends she’d rather sit with. But if that was the case, why would she not have said hello at least? Swallowing his pride, he stood and walked over to Anneli. He perched on the desk, pulling out the chair to use it as a foot stool. He gazed down on her, placed his elbow on his knee and rested his chin in his palm. “Hej igen." He hesitated before diving into the real reason he'd come to see her. "So… Are you waiting on someone, or did I manage to offend you?” He pushed his bang out of his eyes. He may have been direct, but circumventing the true issue was never very productive.
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Post by Gwendolyn Shaw on Mar 14, 2023 18:32:25 GMT -8
Gwen was eager to be amongst the first to filter into the classroom. She despised being late, mostly for the individualized attention it drew when you walk in and everyone is seated already. When all eyes turn to you. When you have to, panic-stricken and rushed, glance around to find an open seat… Just imagining it made Gwen feel uneasy. Large groups of people had the tendency to unsettle her. But it was early in the year yet, there shouldn't be too much comotion to wade through just yet... right?
Gwendolyn pauses at the door. Is it too early? That option also ran the risk of individualized attention. Being the sole person sitting there. Waiting. But she internally shoved away the worry. She is another year closer to graduation, she can’t carry on like this forever. Anxious. Second guessing. She’d made the mental pact with herself to be more purposeful going forward, more tenacious. Do things even if outside her comfort zone and let the chips fall where they may. “Inébranlable.” She murmurs softly beneath her breath before striding into the room with an air of confidence.
She sees that there are already a handful of students, all spread out throughout the room. Normally, Gwen would choose an unoccupied desk. One preferably at either the very front of the room or the very back. Being in the middle felt messy. But she spotted Isla Reinhardt and without further contemplation, she moves gracefully toward the open chair beside her. She looks down, "This seat free?" She asks with a smile.
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Post by Liam Greenway on Mar 14, 2023 20:51:12 GMT -8
Shit. Shit. Shit. SHIT! He was running late. He really needed to start going to bed earlier. No more secret rendezvous...no more wandering about...no more anything that would only leave him to sleep for three hours and then conveniently sleep through his alarm. He booked it up the staircase two at a time, his book bag shaking and jangling against his back. He checked his watch. He maaaay be able to make it... if none of the staircases moved. He really hoped the powers that be were on his side today.
Sweat began to form on his brow. Great. Hair would be ruined and limp. Sigh. He dodged Peeves, sprinting around a corner. He couldn't afford to be held up again. He managed to jump onto the first step of a staircase just as it started to move. "Thank God," he muttered, continuing his journey up to the classroom.
He flung the door open and burst inside, only then he finally came to a stop. He threw himself into the nearest chair and said breathlessly. "Morning, everyone."
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Anneli Oden
Slytherin
5th Year - Slytherin Captain - Chaser - Part-Veela
Posts: 296
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Post by Anneli Oden on Mar 14, 2023 21:17:47 GMT -8
Anneli looked up from her parchment as movement caught the corner of her eye. She looked up to see Loce suddenly perched at her desk, using a chair to lean on. A swirl of feelings ran through her in that moment, but nothing she would allow to physically translate to her face. She gazed back to him, fighting a smile, "Hej, igen." Her voice was stoic, a change from the previous warmth she had revealed to him in the Room of Requirement. Noticing the transfer of a note between Loce and Isla made her rightly suspicious, or so she thought. What had been written there? Did he know of her past with Fergus? Why did she care? "Neither." She answered briefly, gazing back up to him steadily, "You seemed busy." Anneli raised a slight eyebrow in the direction he had just come from.
Just then, an unfamiliar Slytherin boy burst into the room, removing her attention from him for a moment. A tall boy with long blonde hair. She didn't feel the need to reply to the public good morning, opting instead to shoot him an icy look before moving her gaze back to Loce.
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Post by Loce Vaisey on Mar 14, 2023 22:15:39 GMT -8
She responded, but dang, he wondered just what he’d done to piss her off. He thought they had been on better terms. He sighed, contemplating retreating to his seat when she answered. Neither It didn’t sound too convincing. He met her gaze, then having to break away to look back over his shoulder to identify the object of her busy comment. Isla, now joined by another Gryffindor. He laughed, he couldn’t help it. He shook his head and lowered his voice to the point that only Anneli would hear, unless someone was purposely attempting to listen in. “Isla is just an acquaintance … friend… maybe? I guess. I don’t even really know. I met her in Diagon Alley in the Apothecary and helped her with a potion issues. I was just checking in to see her progress.” It was true, at least in part. He felt guilty only giving her that much, but telling her anymore here would put himself in jeopardy as well as Isla. He looked up as the boy blundered into the room. He was honestly surprised to see Slytherin robes. He had figured from the amount of disruption and the general greeting to the world he would have been in Yellow. He turned his gaze back to Anneli then nodded in the direction of the table he’d been occupying. “Care to join me? Or, may I join you, Or?”… Or do you want me to leave you alone the last was left implied as he didn’t want to entertain the thought let alone speak any reality to it. He wanted her company, but only if she wanted his. He thought about his dealings with Isla and realized that could end up being more of a problem than he had originally anticipated.
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Anneli Oden
Slytherin
5th Year - Slytherin Captain - Chaser - Part-Veela
Posts: 296
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Post by Anneli Oden on Mar 14, 2023 22:41:48 GMT -8
She took a moment to refocus herself after hearing the sound of his laughter, admittedly becoming lost in the casual chuckle. Anneli listened to what he said about Isla quietly, her eyes straight forward. Perhaps it was because of her past, or maybe because he had been talking with someone she didn't particularly prefer, but the need to guard herself was strong. Isla Reinhardt was one of her top competitors on the Quidditch pitch and also the little sister of Fergus. Time would only tell if Anneli would be able to tell Loce the full story there. In any case, Anneli had no reason not to believe Loce. He was a new student, after all. Of course he was going to make friends with all sorts. Still, she sat guarded.
Anneli gazed back up to him for a moment before removing her bag from the seat next to her. "I was hoping we might sit together." She admitted, dropping her suspicions for the moment. Anneli had spent the morning hoping to see him in at least one of her classes. Sitting next to him would only be a bonus. "Snälla du, please." Anneli offered again softly, finally revealing a smile up at him.
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Post by Poppy "Pip" Blomst on Mar 14, 2023 22:54:09 GMT -8
Poppy pranced happily into the classroom, the bag at her hip covered in dirt from her early morning shift at the greenhouses. A rather large, magenta hat shaped like a fuzzy Puffskein sat over her platinum blonde hair, which was cropped short at her jaw and bangs. "Hello everyone." She said cheerfully, her airy voice revealing the excitement she had for her first class. Poppy had just been made a Hufflepuff Prefect a few days before, and was still feeling chipper about it.
"I've brought first day gifts, pumpkin pasties! The best taste of autumn you'll find." Poppy announced, moving to reveal a platter of golden brown circular pastries, heat still rising from them. "Worked with the House Elves on this one." She beamed, skipping to each desk and placing a pastry upon the corner of each one. Before moving to sit down, Poppy dramatically turned and bowed to the magpie bird that sat at the front. She slipped into a desk at the front, taking out a quill that had a trio of multi-colored rainbow feathers.
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Post by Loce Vaisey on Mar 14, 2023 23:19:45 GMT -8
Loce relaxed visibly as Anneli removed the bag and finally gave him a smile. Forgiven, at least for now, but he suspected there would be more to that conversation later. “So was I.” He added sliding into the seat next to her. He glanced from her to his book and parchment still perched on the desk behind Isla. Not wanting to leave her side he drew his wand. “Accio” He used the basic summoning charm and his belongings floated over to him, landing gently on the desk before him.
A Hufflepuff literally danced into the room wearing the most ridiculous hat. He thought to take a page from Fergus’ book, but then noticed the Prefect badge and glanced again at the bird in the corner. Nope, he would let it be. He followed her with his eyes as she placed pastries on every desk and nodded his thanks, not that he had any intention of eating it, but acknowledged her gesture nonetheless. As she settled into her chair he looked back at Anneli. “So… are they all like that? And was that one miss sorted?” He whispered indicating the overly cheerful Slytherin with a nod.
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