Professor Marlowe
June 27, 2006 12:58 PM
Lesson One, First Years by Professor Marlowe
Selina didn't go in for grand entrances to a classroom, both because of general impatience with the dramatic gesture and fear of tripping over her own robes or dropping something she was attempting to carry or otherwise making a foolish move in front of the class. She'd noticed, through trial and error, that she often did something of the like whenever trying to make a half-decent first impression, and had come to the conclusion the previous year that she'd do best to be sitting whenever a class entered. It had worked in the beginning, become habit, and was being adhered to as year two as a teacher began with the entrance of a new set of first years.This set, like their predecessors, looked much smaller than they ought to have. Her own height, already considerable for a woman, left her feeling vaguely like a stork in comparison, but she had learned the previous year to shake it off. They'd look normal by midterm. "Welcome to Transfiguration," she said, ignoring also any odd reactions to her accent. "I am Professor Marlowe, and I teach this class. It's one of the more difficult, not to mention dangerous, ones you'll have here at Sonora - some would even say the most difficult. Transfiguration is complicated magic, and fooling around can lead to painful end results. I doubt any of you want to go around with razorblades for eyebrows." There was a giggle from somewhere, but Selina didn't call it. She'd made the example up off the top of her head.
"You'll be starting very simply," she informed them, picking up a small wooden container from the desk behind her. "Matches to needles. The matches have been charmed not to ignite, but be careful with your spell pronunciation just the same, because, as the current second years can attest to, other things are still flammable. I don't expect any of you to do it perfectly on your first try or the like, but I do expect you to keep trying until it is right." She pointed to the blackboard, half-covered in a series of notes. "All of you copy that down, it's very important, and then get out your wands."
When they had all done so and most were looking at her again, she continued. "The incantation you'll be using is pronounced Myxanti Nere," she informed them, being careful to keep it as clear as possible. "I'll perform it now, so watch carefully." Sliding back the carved top of her little box, result of one of the better idle transfigurations she had done in her teens and so having some sentimental value, she withdrew what appeared to be a plain wooden match. Holding it up so it would be more easily seen, she pointed her wand at it and pronounced the incantation, moving the wand point downwards at a diagonal and finishing with a flick of her wrist that brought the wand tip back to its original position.
"Incantation pronunciation, focus, and correct wand movement are all essential to this spell's successful completion," she said, carefully placing the resulting needle on her desk and using her wand to send the box of matches around the room. It returned to her emptier than she'd expected and slid shut once more. "Homework is to read the introduction and first fifteen pages of your textbook by our next lesson. Ask questions if you have them, and begin." \n\n
Subthreads: The aspects of speach by Nikki Ramirez
We get to do spells! by Elly Eriksson with Caedence redoak, Elly
Sitting up front by Echo Elms
Finally, a <i>real</i> class... by Leonardo Idoya with Nikki
Watch me make something explode! by Eavan Valentine with Helena Layne, Eavan
Matchstick Men by Matt and Josh Santoro (Pecari & Crotalus)
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Professor Marlowe
Lesson One, First Years
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Professor Marlowe
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Elly Eriksson
June 28, 2006 3:39 AM
We get to do spells! by Elly Eriksson
When she arrived at Transfiguration, Elly picked a seat near the middle of the class. This was where she preferred to be – close enough to see the lesson properly, but far back enough that she could chat or doodle if the class didn’t hold her attention too well. While the rest of the first year students found seats, Elly inspected the teacher. She didn’t look much fun. She introduced herself as Professor Marlowe, then went on a bit about how difficult her subject was. Elly rolled her eyes. Great, she thought, a difficult subject with a teacher who’s no fun. Elly dismissed the eyebrow/razorblade comment as a feeble attempt at a joke (though Elly smiled to herself thinking that she had met some people who practically had razorblades for eyebrows anyway).Their first transfiguration would be matches to needles. Despite the obvious pointlessness of this task, Elly couldn’t help being a little excited at the prospect of doing her first spell. First, though, she had to copy notes from the board. Elly reached to her bag at the side of her desk and withdrew her quill – a very large and very pink feather. Elly had been disappointed to learn that a quill wouldn’t fit in her favourite fluffy pink pencil case, so instead she had found a fluffy pink quill to compensate.
When she had copied down the notes (which didn’t really make much sense), Elly dove into her bag once again and returned holding her wand: 11 inches cherry wood with a dragon’s heart string core.
Elly listened carefully to the incantation, eager not to make a complete fool of herself in her first attempt at magic. When the box of matches came round (all by itself), Elly took two matches – she anticipated her clumsiness would necessitate a replacement.
At the signal to begin, Elly laid one match in the centre of her desk, placing the other carefully to the side. Concentrating more than she ever had in a lesson, Elly pointed her wand, which felt both alien and ridiculous in her hand, at the match. She said “Myxanti Nere!” as clearly as she could, and imitated Professor Marlowe’s wand movements. Nothing. She tried again; still nothing. Elly sighed and turned to the student next to her.
“Makes you feel inadequate, huh?”
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Elly Eriksson
We get to do spells!
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Caedence redoak
June 28, 2006 1:04 PM
why yes, witches and wizards do that! by Caedence redoak
Caedence sighed boredly while the teacher talked. Blah blah blah...I'm profeser Marlow...must be careful...razorblades for eyebrows, she laughed a bit, yea right!...Matches to needles...wait! Caedence did a double take. Matches to needles! wow! Magic could be great. And then came boredom again . We've gotta take notes. Taking out her favorite quill, a peacock feather, she took notes. Then came the cool part. Teh demonstration. Before she had time to blink, the match changed! WOW! "Myxanti Nere...what a difficult word! Max..mex..myxun..Myxanti...yes, Mixanti Nere!" she whispered.She took three matches. Two were for changing, one for...well she didn't know but she was sure Proffeser Marlowe wouldn't mind! Alright! She took out her wand. Ten inches. Apple wood. Unicorn horn core. Not just the tail hair! The powdered up horn! Caedence felt special for getting this one! Her mom got dumb old tailhair. Just as she was about to practice she heard someone next to her say “Makes you feel inadequate, huh?” She spun to face her. "Why if it isn't Elly! How nice to sit by you. Did you read my books?"she said, without the smile. Elly got on her good side yesterday(ooc:yes, i know it said that classes were over, but lets have fuzzy time make this the next day, shall we?) but today she wasn't going to be quiteas fortunate. After all, we couldn't be touchy feely all teh time! \n\n
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Caedence redoak
why yes, witches and wizards do that!
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Elly
June 29, 2006 4:07 AM
wicked! by Elly
Elly turned, and noticed for the first time that the seat next to her had been occupied by none other than her room mate, Caedence Redoak. "Why if it isn't Elly! How nice to sit by you. Did you read my books?" Caedence said, and she definitly wasn't smiling today."Hi, Caedence," Elly said. Her tone was still friendly, but had a touch of weariness in it, just to let Caedence know that she could be as cold with Elly as she liked and it wouldn't make a difference to how she treated her. "Haven't read the books yet, I've been doing other things. I had a look at the pictures, though, and I'm getting a pretty good idea of why you like to play beater." Elly smiled mischievously at Caedence. It wasn't an insult as such, but by glancing at the books Caedence had lent her, Elly could understand why the feisty halfblood would want to play the position of beater. In fact, Elly thought that Caedence would be a lot happier if she were allowed to carry a bat and hit bludgers at other people in everyday life, too. "I'll read them soon," she shrugged.
"So how are you doing?" Elly said, indicating the matches on Caedence's desk. Any needle yet?" She smiled again as she sat back in her seat, not wanting to get in too much trouble for talking.\n\n
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Elly
wicked!
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Caedence
June 29, 2006 5:55 PM
no, wicked is a musical. XP by Caedence
Caedence let out a little laugh. "Well, let me guess, because I have a big temper. Or is it that I just like causing strife?" with a little smile to match th elittle laugh she sighed.So how are you doing? Any needle yet? Well of course there isn't any needle yet! She hadn't gotten the chance yet! She was being busy making polite company. "no, not yet." she said, "But I'm only half-way raised by people with magic. Allowances must be made." it wasn't the best joke, but at least she was trying.
Muttering the spell she pointed her wand at the match. It... turned grey. "close..."she muttered irritably. "You try it! It isn't too easy. At least its grey, though." \n\n
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Caedence
no, wicked is a musical. XP
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Elly
June 29, 2006 6:13 PM
I do love a good musical! by Elly
Caedence seemed to be in a good mood after all, and she definitely didn’t take offence at Elly’s beater dig. In fact, she laughed. Elly wondered again why Caedence felt she had to act so cold and unfriendly when she was really quite an agreeable person. Elly relaxed a little as Caedence continued chatting and had a go at transfiguring her own match. While it still looked resolutely like a match, it had at least turned grey.“You try it!” Caedence said to Elly. Elly took a breath and returned her attention to her match. Trying to focus, she said the incantation again with the diagonal flick of her wand.
“Myxanti Nere!” she exclaimed. Nothing happened. Trying not to feel too disappointed, Elly tried again. Still nothing happened. She was getting a little bit upset, to tell the truth. This was Elly’s first ever attempt at magic since she had discovered she was a witch, and she didn’t seem capable of what was obviously a simple spell. She might as well have been using a rubber chicken in place of her wand for all the good it was doing. Elly frowned at Caedence. “Am I doing something wrong?” she asked, inwardly worrying that perhaps someone had made a mistake and she wasn’t magical after all.
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Elly
I do love a good musical!
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Elly
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Caedence
June 30, 2006 6:49 PM
Oooh, have you seen 'CATS'? by Caedence
Caedence laughed at Elly. It wan't a nice laugh either. I guess a person cant be fully cured. While Caedence made no concious effort to be a better person, this muggleborn, without any magic in her to begin with, somehow magically is starting to get rid of 10 hard years of being cold. There were some snags, though. Such as her laughing at Elly's folly."Well, Elly, you are too tense. That's my guess. You're scared. Relax. Breathe deeply. It's probably like riding a horse. It'll know you dont want to, and it wont work. Myxanti Nere" she said, this time the match turned black. "Heh, guess it charred, huh? Well, still I'm not so tense about it. It isn't the end of the world if I mess up. It is for you. You cant feel like that. You could end up blowing up the school. Relax and ununciate. And if all else fails, get out a magic marker, color it grey and hope the teacher doesn't notice." There she goes again! Making jokes! 'I really have to stop that' Caedence thought.
ooc:Many people ask, how do you say that name. if you want to know, it is Cay-dense. People keep asking, so I figure i'll tell ya. \n\n
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Caedence
Oooh, have you seen 'CATS'?
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Elly
July 01, 2006 3:51 AM
Yes, but I prefer Phantom! by Elly
Caedence laughed at Elly. It wasn’t a friendly laugh like Elly’s, but nonetheless it reminded Elly that getting upset over not being able to do one spell was probably pointless. The teacher had said it would be hard, after all. Elly decided that perhaps if she hadn’t mastered any magic in two weeks then maybe that was a sign she shouldn’t be here. As it was, Elly listened to Caedence’s suggestions for improved magic – the analogy of riding a horse didn’t help too much, as Elly had never so much as petted a horse, let alone ridden one.“If all else fails, get out a magic marker, color it grey and hope the teacher doesn't notice” Caedence said. Elly grinned at her; she could be funny after all. Perhaps Caedence was more comfortable in a regimented lesson environment that an open and uncontrolled environment like when Elly had met her in the dormitory. Right, relax, Elly thought. Not the end of the world…
“Myxanti Nere!” Elly said one more time. When she looked back at her match, Elly was both astonished and delighted to see that, although it was still closer to a match than a needle, it now had a dull sheen to it and a blunt point at the end. “Hey!” she exclaimed, probably far too loudly as she got the impression that a few other students had turned to look at her, “I did something!” She grinned manically at Caedence. “Thanks,” she said to her new friend, “that’s the first magic I’ve ever done!”
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Elly
Yes, but I prefer Phantom!
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Elly
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Caedence
July 01, 2006 2:22 PM
Ahh yes. Phantom is awesome by Caedence
Caedence backed her chair away. So Elly was a crazy lady! Well, that was just peachy! Make friends with someone as much of a maniac as that. Well 'friends' is a bit strong a word. More like 'tolerance'. Or 'truce' would work too."You have some serious issues that need to be worked out." she said backing away a little more. "myxanti nere" she said. The match....dissapeared! WOW! reaching down to touch where it was last seen she gasped in pain. A pinprick of blood showed on her fingertip. Great, she turned it into a needle, and no one could see. "Guess I have more of mum in me than I though."she muttered.
OOC: have you noticed that the thread in our dorm has been updated? \n\n
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Caedence
Ahh yes. Phantom is awesome
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Elly
July 02, 2006 3:59 PM
I saw Blood Brothers last month... by Elly
OOC: yes, I did notice the girls’ dorm thread has been updated, I just thought it was more appropriate for Meredith to reply. *shrugs* If she doesn’t add anything soon, though, I’ll probably add something :DBIC:
Elly smiled still wider as Caedence backed her chair away. She was funny! Especially compared to how she had been before. Elly seemed to have that effect on people though… it was the same with Echo. He had been really quiet for the first few minutes of their conversation, but soon enough he was cracking jokes along with Meredith and Elly herself. Elly peered around the class to see if she could spot Echo – he was sitting on the front row. She understood that, he seemed more like a front-row person than a sit-further-back-so-you-don’t-get-caught-talking person. She sought out Meredith, too, and flashed her a smile.
Her attention was distracted, however, when Caedence said, "You have some serious issues that need to be worked out." Elly laughed out loud but stifled it quickly, having forgotten for a moment that she was in a lesson. You’re one to talk, she thought.
Elly watched as Caedence tried again to transfigure her match, but seemed to vanish it by accident. Elly felt distinctly more comfortable now. So her match still wasn’t a needle, but at last she hadn’t burnt it then made it disappear like Caedence did. In fact, Elly was beginning to enjoy herself. As a result, when she tried the spell yet another time, the match in front of her became much more needle-like, still too fat and blunt, but it even had a little hole in one end! This magic stuff was cool.
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Elly
I saw Blood Brothers last month...
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Elly
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