You're going to be popular. I can tell... on Charms

Sub. Professor Joseph Regal

July 09, 2012 8:12 PM

Move those feet! [3 - 5 years] by Sub. Professor Joseph Regal

Joseph had been at Sonora for a few weeks now, and he was rather enjoying the experience of teaching once again. Too much time inside a lab could prevent anyone from looking outside the box and that was something needed in charm research. Trying to solve a problem when one was inside it became harder and harder with each passing day. The researcher had found out that by focusing on other things his mind began working on automatic, and he had finally found the solution for the screening charm he had been working on for a few months now. He had the students to thank for that. He had made a ton of notes during his free time and sent it to his research partner. He was sure they were going to be able to perfect it in the next couple of months. It was going to be a breakthrough in charms specialty. Essays would be written and published in prestigious journals, and he was going to be famous.

Planning an intermediate charms lesson was harder than it appeared. The kids in that age range were harder to plan for, because they were in a weird stage. He had to find a charm that was basic or too advanced and that was hard. However, he had decided to make the class fun in a more physical form. The charm he had picked was one that could be used in DADA, but it was worth a shot. It was a charm that would help the children in a lot of ways.

“Welcome!” he greeted as the students began piling into the classroom. He had changed the room’s décor for the class. Instead of desks it was empty with a couple of tennis balls machines (4). The equipment had been charmed to work in a magical atmosphere and would begin working as soon as he tapped them with his wand.

“Okay, today we are going to practice the shield charm. For those that aren’t familiar with it you flick your hand clockwise two times and say Protego” He demonstrated it two times before continuing with his lecture.

“It is somewhat difficult, but I am sure you will be able to master it before the class is done.” Joseph was of the idea that students learned quickly when they had to actually use it. That was why the tennis balls machines were there. “This charm is the simplest of the charms variety and as you get older you will begin to practice the more complicated ones.”

Joseph smiled, “Now, I want to see 4 lines, each one in front of one of the machines. You will practice it against the tennis balls that will shoot out of them,” he clapped on time. “Don’t worry, you can’t get hurt…that much.” He grinned. “The balls will shoot at you and you need to cast the charm to have it ricochet of the magical barrier. Remember once you have your turn you need to go to the back of the line and wait to go again.”

“The important thing is to concentrate and have fun. I will be watching from the side.” He waited until the students were in line before starting the machines, “AND start!” He tapped the first machine and took a step back to let the students have their fun!

OOC: posting rules apply!

Subthreads:

You're going to be popular. I can tell... by Michael Grosvenor with Brianna Japos, Crotalus

"Move those wands" would be more accurate by Maximilian Joshua McLachlan, Aladren with Ryan O'Malley, Crotalus

I'd prefer a workout for my mind. by Nora Dobson, Aladren

0 Sub. Professor Joseph Regal Move those feet! [3 - 5 years] 0 Sub. Professor Joseph Regal 1 5

Michael Grosvenor

July 11, 2012 6:40 PM

You're going to be popular. I can tell... by Michael Grosvenor

As had become habit, Michael headed to the front of the class, so as to be better placed to hear the Professor's instructions. Except, today there were no desks to sit at, so, he stood near the front of the gathering group of students. Michael was used to mishearing things. He hoped he had misheard what Professor Eagle had just said. It had sounded like he'd said that the spell he wanted them to try was pretty difficult but that they'd have tennis balls fired at them before they'd really had a chance to practice. However, as he found his classmates shuffling into lines, he had to tell himself that, unfortunately, that really was what was about to happen. And that being near the front had its disadvantages, as he found himself heading up one of the lines.

The professor tapped the machine and not only did Michael realise that he was spectacularly not ready for what was about to happen but also that every instruction the professor had given them (apart from 'stand here and get tennis balls fired at you') had gone out of his head. He let out a short stream of words that was not especially appropriate for use in the classroom, and swung his school bag up to deflect the ball.

“Sorry, Professor,” he intoned, both for his language and also his performance. He was fairly sure the Professor hadn't said anything about staying put until you got it right, just moving out of the way when you'd had a turn, so he turned around and shuffled, slightly red-faced, to the back of the line. Taking a deep breath, he drew his wand, intending to practice whilst he worked his way back to the front.

“Protego,” he cast. It wasn't as bright as the Professor's, but a little purple bubble appeared around him. “Are you kidding me?” he asked himself. He could actually have managed the assignment, had it not been for time pressure caused by a ball flying at his face. Funny how that kind of thing kept you from doing your best.

13 Michael Grosvenor You're going to be popular. I can tell... 199 Michael Grosvenor 0 5

Maximilian Joshua McLachlan, Aladren

July 11, 2012 8:26 PM

"Move those wands" would be more accurate by Maximilian Joshua McLachlan, Aladren

The Charms professor was no longer teaching, the last Josh had heard. It was made obvious mostly because they now had a substitute professor. It was curious to Josh, but he didn't think twice about it. He thoroughly enjoyed Charms as a relaxing sort of class where the wand-work was a little easier than DADA or Transfiguration. The professor only mattered when he or she actually had to teach the subject. As long as the professor was good, then Josh didn't care who it was.

Today Josh hadn't tried to put much effort into his appearance. His short brown hair was tousled and getting too long, his school robes wrinkled, and one of his shoelaces untied. His physical appearance didn't matter as much to the fifteen-year-old as his brain did. Though his disheveled appearance seemed to add more to his good looks than take away from it.

Josh was reading a prestigious Potions journal as he walked into class his usual five minutes early. It was invigorating, learning about all of these different potioneers and their theories, work, and experience. Josh's greatest ambition was to become one of these people someday. Though wand-work was great and all, Potions truly had his heart.

Class began and Josh hastened to put the journal away in his bag. He pulled out his self-inking quill and parchment, wand beside him, ready to take notes if necessary. Usually he didn't need to take notes in Charms class, but one could never be too prepared. Usually.

As expected, it was a practical lesson today and Josh put away the quill and parchment easily. The Shield Charm had been one of those that had been necessary to learn, coming from an infamous European family. They had no mercy when it came to dueling, which his uncle had proved to him several times before. As a thirteen-year-old, his uncle had taught him the charm, forcing him to practice dueling a much more experienced wizard until his body was so sore he could hardly move. This was going to be cake compared to that.

Josh stood in one of the lines, his wand in a defensive position for the time being. When it was his turn, he readied himself, body tense in preparation for the oncoming tennis ball.

As soon as the machine spit a ball at him, Josh deflected it with his wand with a quiet, "Protego." Once he got started, it was much easier to defend himself. They came at a constant speed which Josh soon picked up on. When the machine stopped for a longer period of time, Josh assumed his time was up and went to the back of the line as told. A small smirk briefly showed up on his face before his face went blank again. It was definitely clear that Josh was pleased with himself even if the training to get to this level had been torturous in a not so metaphorical way.

0 Maximilian Joshua McLachlan, Aladren "Move those wands" would be more accurate 0 Maximilian Joshua McLachlan, Aladren 0 5

Brianna Japos, Crotalus

July 12, 2012 8:23 PM

Professors sure do like to be popular by Brianna Japos, Crotalus

Brianna was surprised to find that the Charms Professor had gone. For some reason, the professor felt weird enough to her to be a keeper, but it was obvious that the adults in her world felt differently. She didn’t know if it was a willing leave or if it was a forced leave, either way, Brianna had no feelings toward it one way or another. The man was strange, but his lessons had always kept her on her toes, so she respected him. She could only hope that the next professor also offered her nice challenges that had her learning so much and kept her on her feet.

….Well, she had thought that anyway, but looking at the lesson that was currently in stored for them today by the substitute, Brianna highly doubted that she was going to have any fun. She liked to challenger herself slowly. She knew that this wasn’t how the real world worked. She was always thrust into the worst of it when she was home and magic wasn’t something that could very well help her. For one because she wasn’t allowed to use it until she was of age and for another because everyone else could use it too. She didn’t like to have to live that way in school. She didn’t want to be thrown into the mix of things just to see what she had to offer because she already knew what little it was and it embarrassed her when she wasn’t able to do something that others could. She thought that everyone would pick on her for sure if they knew how pathetic she truly was.

Seeing the weird things in the class and everyone forming lines, Brianna knew today would be one of those days that she hoped everyone else did just as horribly as she did so that they couldn’t pick on her. That was an awful thought to have, but she couldn’t help it. So far, everyone had been okay with her at Sonora. She wasn’t as popular and full of friends as she had once hoped, but she wasn’t being bullied or beat up like she was at home and that was something. She was lonely, but she had always been lonely, for as long as she could remember. It didn’t really bother her too much anymore.

Brianna didn’t understand what the contraptions were, but she was a little fearful of them, especially when the balls shot quickly out and at people. Brianna was behind Michael. She had spoken to him before, but it was brief. In that time, he had admitted to being deaf. Brianna had understood why he had kept it hidden from others because it was similar to her keeping her poor status hidden. Although she hadn’t spoken to him sense, she had wished for good things to come for him and from the time she did see him in class or in the hall, he had friends and that made her feel better for having listened to him.

He had taken his turn, but hadn’t said the spell. Brianna, chewing on her naturally swollen lower lip out of anxiety, stood with her wand held tightly in her hand. The ball flew from the thing and came speeding at her. Having forgotten the spell, Brianna threw her arms over her head and twisted herself away. The ball hit her square in the back. Brianna, embarrassed by the yelp sound she made at the contact, walked herself shamefully to the back of the line.

“Oh… you got it to work?” Brianna asked him, unsure of whether or not he had heard her. “I’m not fast enough for it.”

0 Brianna Japos, Crotalus Professors sure do like to be popular 0 Brianna Japos, Crotalus 0 5

Michael Grosvenor

July 13, 2012 5:12 PM

I hear it's the main thing that draws them to the profession by Michael Grosvenor

Michael kept half an eye on the students ahead of him in the queue. Brianna's attempt was about as successful as his own. He was glad not to have been the only one to mess it up, although he still felt bad for his classmate. Especially as it was Brianna. He'd only ever really had one extended conversation with her but it had been a pretty big one. He also remembered that she felt different to other people too and he hoped she wouldn't be feeling too bad about herself for not doing the spell. He turned to smile at her as she came to join him, genuinely pleased to see her.

He caught roughly every third word of what she was saying. The tennis ball machines were pretty loud, but with the occasional break in the racket, and keeping a close eye on her mouth as she spoke, he thought he'd got the gist.

“I only made it work once it didn't count any more,” he said. The old Michael would have bluffed a reply but now, when he wasn't sure, he d to incorporate the bits he thought he had heard in order to give his reply context. That way, if the context wasn't accurate, the listener had a better chance at picking up where he'd gone wrong. “Facing off against the machine is just a bit... pressured. I bet you could do it too, just practising in the line

“Did you get hurt?” he added, remembering that Brianna hadn't really used a prop so much as herself to deflect the ball.

13 Michael Grosvenor I hear it's the main thing that draws them to the profession 199 Michael Grosvenor 0 5

Ryan O'Malley, Crotalus

July 22, 2012 8:50 AM

I'd rather move them for some other reason. by Ryan O'Malley, Crotalus

Ryan looked warily at the odd contraptions. He had no idea what they were, but he had this tendency to be cautious about things that he wasn't sure about. He was, after all, a Crotalus and his upbringing had taught him to be a bit fearful of unfamiliar situations. The only thing Ryan could expect about them was that they would be unpleasant.Maybe not as unpleasant as being around his mother or sister, but nonetheless horrible.

The blood drained out of his face upon finding out precisely what they were doing. Ryan could appreciate the need for protego , Merlin only knew when Carrie would decide it would be fun to practice any hexes or curses that she learned on him, but he did not especially want tennis balls-Ryan didn't know what tennis was but he knew what a ball was-flying at him. He could get in the head or nose.

Or worse.The fifth year did want children someday after all. He'd been taught it was the duty of pureblood men to have heirs to carry on the family name. Plus, well, Ryan had this need to compensate for the way that his mother had treated him. To have children that grew up happy and loved by both parents. It would be important to find a wife who would be a good mother too. Which would mean that someone would have to actually want to be with him. Which Ryan felt was unlikely.

He looked anxiously at the machines. Even if he didn't get hit anywhere, this was surely going to be humiliating. Everyone except for Sophie, from the third years to his own class would make fun of him for the rest of his time at Sonora. Maybe even his best friend wouldn't want to be seen with such a laughingstock-and Merlin help him when Carrie found out.

When his turn came up, Ryan felt slightly sick. It didn't help that the fourth year boy in front of him had done it perfectly. As the tennis ball flew in his direction, the Crotalus shouted at the spell and moved his wand in what was likely not the correct motion-it was hard to concentrate on that with something speeding toward you- but dove out of the way instinctively. Ryan turned bright red, went to the back of the line, and waited for the laughter to begin.

11 Ryan O'Malley, Crotalus I'd rather move them for some other reason. 176 Ryan O'Malley, Crotalus 0 5

Brianna

July 22, 2012 4:16 PM

And here I thought it was for the children by Brianna

The smile on Michael’s face relieved Brianna somewhat. For one, that meant that he remembered her (and not in the whole ‘we’re classmates’ sort of way) and that their conversation together hadn’t been completely forgotten. For another, he wasn’t horrified at the idea of being seen talking to her. Brianna wasn’t necessarily someone people felt inclined to be around. She knew she had her flaws in her personality. She wasn’t an overenthusiastic person. She wasn’t a bubbly happy go lucky person either. She didn’t like to draw attention to herself or speak without reason. She was quiet and because of that, she felt she was overlooked. People wanted carefree friends, like those in Pecari or Teppenpaw. Not those who seem like a downer. It wasn’t like she meant to seem like a downer and maybe she didn’t, Brianna just didn’t like to speak up if she didn’t have to. Her quiet demeanor made her forgettable.

She tried not to get nervous when she realized he was watching her mouth. Her lips were a large reason as to why she had bullied so much growing up. Although she was finally growing into her looks in a way that her lips didn’t look quite so large on her face, she still had issues with them and didn’t feel comfortable when someone noticed them. She knew why he was looking at them, of course, but it didn’t ease her anxiety much.

“Oh, I probably could.” Brianna agreed. “But I’m not quick with my wand in these situations.” She admitted. Michael was right about the machines. Facing them was just as scary as being the in Defense room when they were throwing spells at each other. Brianna had David to rely on, so she did okay. Here, it was just her and her wand against a really fast ball.

”Did you get hurt?”

The question confused her for a moment if only because no one had ever really asked her before. She smiled at him though to show that she was not injured. “I’ve been hit by worse things.” She admitted with a slight shrug. “I mean, it hurt a bit since it was going to so fast, but the balls aren’t solid, so it’s not a big deal. Besides, if maybe you show me how to do the spell, maybe I can block the next one?” Brianna suggested, mostly because she had forgotten how to do the spell and was hoping he would repeat it for her.

0 Brianna And here I thought it was for the children 0 Brianna 0 5

Nora Dobson, Aladren

July 23, 2012 9:26 AM

I'd prefer a workout for my mind. by Nora Dobson, Aladren

The machines present in the Charms classroom aroused Nora's academic curiosity. Perhaps they were going to learn how to charm water out of them or coloring said water as a special affect for the Concert. The event might not have been something that she was especially interested in participating in-though she had no choice-but Nora was interested in such a spell. Sort of a combination of aquor and the color changing spell.

However, her nose wrinkled when she heard what the lesson would be. The Aladren was perfectly capable of it, of course, but it wasn't really to her taste. It would be better for them to practice blocking a minor spell like perhaps expelliarmus instead of doing something that seemed like a lawsuit waiting to happen. There were a lot of people from rich and powerful pureblood families in this class and those sorts of families-like hers-could cause a lot of trouble for Professor Regal and Sonora in general if their children were badly injured.

Not that Nora was hoping that happened. She barely knew the man, she just thought this lesson lacked common sense and good judgement. In fact, the third year often wondered what made professors choose specific methods for teaching their curriculum. In this case, she figured Professor Regal thought that this was fun for people. That was a bit of an inaccurate assumption. Not everyone loved sports or physical activities and others were just bad at them. Plus, one had to know their audience, and Sonora was mostly full of pureblood girls that were trained to believe most sports were unladylike.

Nora practiced the wand motion and the pronunciation of the spell a few times, she was certain she had it right but the real test would be when she went up against the tennis ball machine. As she waited, she decided to watch the others have a go at it and try to analyze what they must be thinking. Both Ryan O'Malley and Brianna Japos seemed to reflexively jump out of the way as if they were scared of it or something, the latter being hit in the back. Michael Grosvenor let out a string of dirty words and then went to go practice the spell.

The transfer, Josh McLachlan, seemed to do a perfect job. There was something oddly intriguing about him. He was terribly unfriendly, was smug about his level of intelligence-more so even that people said she was-and mostly interestingly, from a dark family. Nora was dying to know all the psychology of both why his family was the way it was and how it affected his own behavior. Was he evil too? The third year had an evil grandfather but nobody else closely related to her was so, which left out a genetic component.

Nora wasn't entirely sure she wanted to ask him either. Oh, she was fascinated to hear about it, but he gave the impression of both wanting to be left alone-which she could ignore in the name of research-and of thinking himself better than others-which the younger Aladren would not tolerate from anyone.

It was her turn now and Nora drew her wand quickly, doing the motion and saying the spell right away getting it up at just the last second before the ball hit her and bounced off her shield charm. It was a simple spell after all. Satisfied, Nora took her place at the back of the line.

11 Nora Dobson, Aladren I'd prefer a workout for my mind. 197 Nora Dobson, Aladren 0 5

Michael Grosvenor

August 02, 2012 2:11 PM

Aw. Bless... by Michael Grosvenor

Michael was a little concerned when Brianna said she'd been hit by worse things than a tennis ball. She didn't play Quidditch, so he got the feeling she couldn't mean a sporting situation. However, he thought class might not be the best place to ask. He made a mental note to try to talk to her more though. Brianna had a slight habit of dropping in these vague comments, indicating that things were wrong in her life, but without seeming to give an opening to talk about them.

“Sure,” he nodded, when she asked for a demonstration. He was glad to hear her give herself a vote of confidence in being able to do it when not under pressure. “So, you go in a circle with your wand, like this” he demonstrated in slow motion, “and say 'protego,'” Michael wasn't always the most confident in his pronunciation but the way he'd said it when practising had worked. “And I guess the usual things of visualising and trying to focus your energy or whatever it is we're supposed to do,” he shrugged, with half a smile. Sometimes, he felt like it didn't need explaining. Like there was this innate thing that he could do, that he could make flow. But sometimes it just didn't seem to want to work and he wished someone would tell him how or why it was supposed to. But maybe that wouldn't help. He guessed knowing how your body worked didn't help you make it better when you were ill. But knowing how an engine worked might help you figure out how to put it right. He wasn't sure which one magic was more like.

“Protego,” he cast again, half to reinforce it for Brianna and half to have another go himself. Again, the slight disturbance of the air, the weaker version of what the professor had cast, appeared around him. He waved his wand to cancel it, giving Brianna a sheepish little shrug, as if to suggest it was just a fluke. He wasn't really used to people asking his advice.

13 Michael Grosvenor Aw. Bless... 199 Michael Grosvenor 0 5