Now, this is the life on Charms

Professor Aaron McKindy

November 15, 2009 10:00 AM

Intermediate Charms, Lesson I by Professor Aaron McKindy

Desks Vanished again, and Aaron McKindy was ready for his Intermediate Charms class. The tall, black-haired professor looked over at the blackboard behind his desk on the raised dais and, with a flick of his wand, made a few words appear on it.

Fumos – creates smoke/vapour around the target
Baubillius – creates small, firm bubbles that stick to solid objects
Coloratus Comutare – changes the colour of text or small objects

With that, Aaron propped open his door and stood outside of it, leaning against the wall and greeting students as they came in. Although his pink bubble hat and informal, Muggle attire (today jeans, his usual grey trainers, and one of his more favourite orange long-sleeved-shirts) usually threw a few students off-guard, the man was expecting less of that than he had with his Beginners class. The reason for this became clear when students began to arrive. Although Aaron certainly did not remember all of them, there were a few he greeted by name and with a familiar smile. He was pleased to be back in his element, and no few of the students he greeted remembered him.

After the last few had trickled in (the majority of the class had been astonishingly prompt; Aaron wondered what his predecessor had done to provoke that), the man shut the door and strode into the classroom. He grinned at the arranged students, some seated, some standing, and some looking rather confused. Time to begin.

“Hey guys,” Aaron said, seating himself atop his desk casually, crossing one leg over the other. “For those of you who don’t remember or don’t know me, I’m Professor McKindy. I thought I’d start off the year with some fun-but-useful stuff instead of just plunging right in to cramming for your tests. These spells are eligible to come up on the test though, so don’t ignore them just because they’re not as painful as what we could be doing.

“The three spells I’d like you to use are up on the board. The first one, Fumos, is particularly useful for things like Hallowe’en decoration. It creates a small cloud of smoke or vapour around the target—similar to a Muggle ‘fog machine’,” which Aaron only knew of because Garen had used one in one of the productions he directed, “It’s also useful for drama productions. To cast it, move your wand like this,” Aaron waved his wand in a circle, with a slight flick at the end, “and say Fumos, and you’re set to go.

“Baubillius creates a string of bubbles that adhere to solid objects,” Aaron continued with a grin. “Focus your mind on what colour you want them to be as you cast the spell,” the professor moved his wand in a wavy line and a chain of black and orange bubbles trailed out of it, hovering in the air before Aaron Vanished them with a quick, wordless flick of his wand. “For the final Charm, you just tap whatever you want to change,” there was a black inkwell on his desk the man decided to use as an example, “and say the words. Coloratus Comutare,” then a quick tap to the inkwell and it turned a deep green.

“There are items in the cabinet for you to practise on,” the Pecari Head of House said, flicking his wand towards the cabinet and causing the doors to open rather emphatically. “Feel free to stick things up around the room as you would.

“Oh,” and he added with a bit of a mischevious grin. “I fully encourage you to decorate your Commonrooms for Hallowe’en with this spells. Go on, get to work then! And ask me if you have any questions.”

Standing and stepping off the dais, Aaron re-adjusted his hat of large, pink bubbles and began walking around the group of students, observing their work.

|OOC| You guys know the drill. Minimum 10 sentences, be creative, etc. If anybody wants to do homework, it’s listed under the Homework Bin; just respond to that. Questions, concerns, or explosions? Tag me. Thanks, and have fun!

Subthreads:

Not pleased with the changes. by Ian Grimm [Aladren]

Now, this is the life by Seamus McFarlan with Jera Valson, Jera

0 Professor Aaron McKindy Intermediate Charms, Lesson I 0 Professor Aaron McKindy 1 5

Ian Grimm [Aladren]

November 16, 2009 1:09 PM

Not pleased with the changes. by Ian Grimm [Aladren]

Ian Grimm was not impressed. A hat made up of pink bubbles, a classroom devoid of proper chairs and desks, and a professor sprawled out over his desk like some lounge singer was not what he expected from a supposedly responsible member of adult society. Professor McKindy was hardly the first adult to disappoint him as a representative of grown-ups, but that ridiculous hat seemed awfully pretentious to Ian's disapproving, bespectacled gaze.

Ian also objected to being forced, once again, to engage in group work. He realized that educators as a whole tended toward leftist, collective learning ideas and socializing, but every now and again, he'd appreciate a professor considering that some people like being an individual and independent, and not have to deal with some partner who may or may not be more of a pain and than a help. Naturally, it never occurred to him that some might hold the very same opinion about himself, but Ian was hardly the empathetic sort.

Ian liked his lessons to be practical in nature and at least minorly pertinent to his life. As he had no intention of ever requiring the use of bubbles or smokey fog, he decided to begin with the last spell first. He'd leave the Halloween decorating to the Pecaris and Teppenpaws; he'd save his time and energy for more sensible pursuits. And strange as it was, changing the color of small objects or text would be helpful in his later years as head of Grimm Inquiries. After all, most magical text wasn't exactly electronically inclined, and no matter how much his father hexed the printing press, its sole font color remained black.

Walking purposely over to a nearby classmate-- Ian had, of course, never seated himself on the ground, rug or no rug, it was still the floor-- he brandished both an open Charms textbook and his wand. "Let's start with the last one, yeah?" And then without waiting for an agreement one way or the other, he continued on with the spell. "Coloratus Comutare."

When the text turned a faint pink instead of the bold red he had intended, Ian frowned and decided to blame the lackluster results on the absence of proper tables. "I need a desk, or something. I refuse to have to do this on the floor."

0 Ian Grimm [Aladren] Not pleased with the changes. 0 Ian Grimm [Aladren] 0 5

Seamus McFarlan

November 18, 2009 4:30 PM

Now, this is the life by Seamus McFarlan

Seamus strolled into Charms class, early for once with a smile on his face a mile wide. This year would be the best ever in more ways than one. After receiving a long and rather painful lecture from his parents about his grades, he was determined to right the wrongs he’d committed his first three years and actually try studying. He had been just getting by. That wasn’t good enough and he knew it. When he’d first arrived at Sonora, he thought that just being a relative of the former Astronomy professor and an Aladren would make school easy and he could just sit back and enjoy the ride. It didn’t dawn on him that he might have to well, work to get those high marks everyone, including himself, expected of him.

So firstly, Seamus was determined to study and really apply himself in his fourth year. Who knew, if things went as planned, it might not be too late to achieve his original goal and earn a head boy position, possibly even prefect. That would be sweet.

Secondly, he had heard about the change in professors that summer from his aunt and couldn’t wait for the year to begin as one of the new purveyors of knowledge was one of his favorite adults. Charms was practically his worst subject, but with Aaron McKindy as the teacher, he might actually get something out of it. Aaron was great fun when he visited during his Aunt Kate’s convalescence even if his daughters were nose-in-the-air snobs.

Seamus looked around the room and his smile widen even further. Yes, this year was going to be the bomb! No desks, lots of cool posters and decorations. Already things were better than Seamus could possibly plan. The professor was there, looking as colorful as ever with the legendary hat atop of his head.

“Hullo, Aaron!” Seamus called out and then felt his cheeks warm realizing his faux pas. “Uh, I mean, Professor McKindy, sir. Glad t’ have ye here. I heard ye got yourself married, congratulations!” Personally, the professor’s choice of spouses weirded the fourteen year old out a bit, but to each his own. “Me folks wanted me t’ send you their best wishes and Aunt Kate told me t’ tell ye, ‘Fáilte Baile!’.”

Other kids began filtering into the room, so Seamus decided to stake out a prime spot for the class. He stretched out full length, hands lace behind his head and legs crossed at the ankles. It was fun to watch the look on each of the students faces as they reacted to the changes to the classroom and got their first look at the new professor since most of them were to involved with partying at the Opening Feast to pay much attention. Seamus listened to the instructions closely for once as they actually sounded fun. The old hen that taught the classes before had a peculiar talent for sucking the enjoyment out of everything.

Released to partner up and practice the three charms, Seamus gave a nod to the student next to him.

“So, how about it?” Seamus grinned. “Would ye like to give it a go?”

OOC: Translation in order. Fáilte Baile= Welcome Home

0 Seamus McFarlan Now, this is the life 111 Seamus McFarlan 0 5

Jera Valson

December 18, 2009 10:42 AM

We're still in a class by Jera Valson

Jera was excited to be studying charms this year. Professor Taylor - although a good teacher - hadn't been very much fun. This year, however, her mother had assured her that charms classes were going to be fun. Jera believed her - Aaron McKindy was a friend of the family, and Jera had decided she liked him the first time she'd seen his bubble hat. Apparently she wasn't the only one; Seamus also seemed very pleased to see the charms professor. Jera couldn't help but giggle as he took the seat next to her.

The fourth year wasn't disappointed in the class - charms that made celebratory decorations were certainly a lot more fun than charming things to float. What was the point in that, anyway? Jera took some notes on the charms for the class, and was happy to oblige Seamus when he asked (in a roundabout way) if they should work as partners.

"Yes, okay," Jera replied with a smile. As an Aladren, it was no wonder the fourth year wanted to do the spells in the same order that their professor had demonstrated them. But she didn't want to impose this ritual on her partner, so she said, "I'm going to start with Fumos." Picking up her textbook, Jera placed it purposely in the centre of her desk. Next she took up her wand, and like Aaron had shown them, moved it in a circle with a flick at the end. She incanted the spell and thin wisps of vapour started to rise from beneath her textbook.

"It kinda worked," Jera said to Seamus with a smile. "You think?" She looked again at the smoke. It was hardly a theatrical display but it obviously worked a little. "Maybe you can do better?" Jera suggested.

0 Jera Valson We're still in a class 112 Jera Valson 0 5

Seamus

December 23, 2009 8:05 AM

So let's be "classy" by Seamus

OOC: Sorry, didn't realize that I would get a response. Thanks for joining in.

BAC: Seamus smiled with all the charm he could muster. Charms was honestly the bane of his life. Being an Aladren and the “only son”, with sisters that were out doing him grades-wise, the pressure was on when his House mate succeeded in at least making a good show of the fumos charm. The fourth year hesitated to try the assigned work. If he failed, there was little doubt, considering his aunt’s friendship with Aaron McKindy, it would be reported to his family. More importantly, his folks.

He tried to remember the wand movements the professor demonstrated. He glanced over his sporadic notes and the pages in the text book. Could he do better? Well, there was no avoiding trying.

Carefully he mimicked the wand flourish and muttered Fumos. Nothing. Not even a whisper of smoke.. Angry with himself, he did it again, with a lot more enthusiasm. FUMOS

A huge billowing cloud issued from under the textbook the pair was focusing on. It made Seamus’ eyes water and caused a sneezing fit that embarrassed him thoroughly. Fine, he messed up again, probably choking the life out of Jera. Not a smooth move around a cute friend.

Seamus decided to try the next spell as the cloud of smoke dissipated. He looked over the instructions in the textbook he never bothered cracking open until that moment. Perhaps he would have better luck.

“Baubillius” Dozens of multi-colored bubbles emitted from his wand. At first Seamus was delighted with his success. He laughed at the glorious display. Then a particularly huge bubble enveloped him and his partner and stayed stubbornly in tact. It was unusual, but spectacular. The view of the classroom was distorted. Magnified in some directions, tunneled in others. Seamus laughed even harder.

“Sorry, I guess I don’t know m’ own strength!” Loath to pop it, instead he impulsively kissed Jera on the cheek.

“Beat that!” He challenged.

0 Seamus So let's be "classy" 111 Seamus 0 5

Jera

January 04, 2010 3:57 PM

I think you need more practise at that by Jera

Seamus didn't seem to be all that great at cjharms. While this made Jera feel a tiny bit better about her own performance and capabilities, mostly she felt bad for her partner, and she wanted to help him out. To Seamus' credit, he didn't give up. That boy just kept right on trying until he'd created enough smoke to choke them both, and a bubble big enough that it surrounded the pair of them. Jera was dazzled by the charm and its effects on her view of the classroom, whereas it seemed to excite a kind of euphoria in Seamus: he was laughing quite a lot, and then he kissed Jera on the cheek. It was quite a surprise, and she'd never really been kissed by a boy before. Despite being shy with strangers, Jera wasn't intimidated by people she knew.

"Your charmwork is sloppy," she said with a teasing smile. "But don't worry," she said, and placed a quick kiss on Seamus' cheek in return, "I'll help you out." Aiming her wand above the two of them, Jera cast diffindo and the bubble popped round them into a hndred tiny bubbles which then floated off around the classroom. "You need aim and focus," she said, hoping the other students hadn't seen what had happened in the bubble. She enjoyed her housemate's company but she wasn't ready to endure rumours about them; she'd only have her mother to answer to.

As if to demonstrate her advice wasn't just empty words, Jera aimed her wand now at Seamus' textbook, and incanted Coloratus Comutare. The book turned a glowing yellow, looking a bit like a toxic potion had been spilt on it. Looking at her partner, Jera grinned unashamedly. "Beat that," she repeated his earlier challenge.

0 Jera I think you need more practise at that 0 Jera 0 5