It's a long and complex theory on Library

Tarquin Fox-Reynolds

April 02, 2023 7:34 PM

Advanced Study Hall - Explain Yourselves by Tarquin Fox-Reynolds

The advanced study hall group gathered in the library. Tarquin nodded to them one by one as they entered. For the most part, they were a fairly self-sufficient group, knowing what they needed to do and having enough inherent motivation to just get on with it. Most of the time. They were still sixteen to eighteen year olds, and skills like time management and study habits were not things that were naturally wired into the brain, no matter what they thought. That also meant they were teachable, and especially with the sixth years being new to their grade level (though not to the school or the idea of study hall) he thought it might be best to give a little structure. Especially given who some of those newish sixth years were.

"Welcome to study hall," he greeted. "As you know, this is mostly a period for you to do self-directed study, or practise more risky spells with an adult on hand. However, today we are going to start the block with something a little more structured. It will only take the first half, after that, you'll be free to do the usual.

"Most of you will either have just finished a unit or be close to wrapping one up in each of your classes. You may think that means it's time to forget it all until you need to revise, but I would not recommend that," he said, using much the same tone that one would use to advise against hugging a venomous tentacular - one that lightly implied very painful consequences. "Today, we're going to look at wrapping up a unit right, so that you have less work to do when it comes to revision time.

"Part one is a checklist to help you make sure your notes are complete and organised." It was very general so that it could apply to any subject, listing questions like 'Do I have a spell/species list from this unit?' and 'Do I have written notes for every theory lesson?' "I would like you to spend ten to fifteen minutes working through the list with a partner, preferably one who shares the subject, though you can compare across subjects, and helping each other fill in any gaps.

"After that, you can continue to work on your notes for that subject if you find a lot of gaps, or you can find a partner who doesn't share the class and try to explain the core concepts to them. We've talked before in study skills about active revision. Tests will not check if you can read and recognise explanations - they will ask if you can give them. Therefore practising explaining things is a core part of a revision strategy.

"I'll be coming round to check in. Off you go."

Subthreads:

It may take awhile by Valentine Duell with Lavender Brockert

It's a long and complex theory by Bertie Jackson

13 Tarquin Fox-Reynolds Advanced Study Hall - Explain Yourselves 1464 1 5

Valentine Duell

April 04, 2023 7:08 PM

It may take awhile by Valentine Duell

Study halls were usually Val's favorite classes. As long as it looked vaguely like you were doing something school related, you could get away with talking about whatever. It was usually a nice break from trying to cram all sorts of advanced things into your brain. It didn't sound like that was the entire plan for today. Val sighed quietly at the librarian's instructions. At least they got partners.

Wrapping things up nice for review was a good thing, and something she had been working on for a little while now. It had been a necessity, as she was almost always in a constant state of reviewing things. Soon it would be done though… soon.

For the time being, she would need to pick a class to work on. She couldn't look at Transfiguration any more at the moment, so… not Charms either.. Herbology sounded good. She opened up her notes by default to the wand woods section, and glanced over the librarian's checklist. Fun things there.

"I think I'm working on Herbology," she commented to her partner, "What do you have?" Val figured she could work on something else, if they really wanted to, but maybe they wanted Herbology as well. Either way she hoped this wouldn't take more than the fifteen minutes that Mr. Fox-Reynolds allocated.

2 Valentine Duell It may take awhile 1490 0 5

Lavender Brockert

April 16, 2023 4:17 AM

I guess I'll explain myself a bit for a change by Lavender Brockert

Lavender could feel time slipping away, the end of the year and graduation getting closer. Soon, she would be leaving Sonora and probably not going to come back for a very long time, when her own children had the Concert or maybe for an alumni event like the fair a few years ago.

And she was worried about seeing her friends again. While Lavender had, of course, met people at balls and in places like St. Berylla’s, she had yet to truly connect with any of them on a deeper level. They weren’t the people she saw day in and day out and had been honestly able to get to know in any meaningful way. Lavender wasn’t like Val, who was the sort of person that was said to never meet a stranger, who was comfortable just talking to anyone. She had a much harder time talking to people and making friends and the incredibly sad truth was that outside of school, she felt like her best asset was her last name. Even here, aside from her cousins, Lavender just had Val and Graham-and she only had Graham because of Val setting them up for the ball. She was going to miss both of them horrendously.

Although, if she was honest with herself, the seventh year had been missing Val for a long time, even though they were both here at Sonora. If it was this hard now, what would it be like when they graduated and weren’t in the same place anymore? Maybe Lavender would see her but it would probably be a thing where the Teppenpaw was more around as Wally’s girlfriend than as her friend. And then Bonahelle would probably be around too. Ugh. The Aladren was someone she really hoped to never see again. If Val wanted to be with only Wally or even Wally and someone else that wasn’t so vile-still not a situation that she’d especially like, as she really did think her cousin deserved someone all his own-Lavender would obviously welcome her into the family with open arms. She still would. The same did not go for Bonahelle.

Still, leaving Sonora, and having to meet all new people-or at the very least spending more time with people she’d only met briefly and had not really formed any close and meaningful relationships with-and make all new friends filled her with a sense of anxiety, and worries about loneliness, the same kind Lavender had always felt when Val was busy prior to the ball and becoming friends with Graham.

The end of the year getting closer also meant that it was getting closer to the Bonfire-and the dreaded tent situation. The Crotalus just couldn’t do it, she just couldn’t share with Val and that loathsome girlfriend of hers without someone else there too. Which, honestly, would be a completely reasonable way to feel even the Teppenpaw’s girlfriend was someone Lavender liked . Who wanted to spend a school event that was supposed to be fun basically having to be a chaperone, especially when it was your very last night at school?

She needed to talk to Val and today, it looked like she’d finally get a chance. The Crotalus made a beeline for her friend and sat with her before anyone else could. Lavender greeted her and then listened to what Mr. Fox-Reynolds had to say. She groaned inwardly, as he gave their instructions for today in that same life or death tone that everyone seemed to use regarding CATS and RATS. More revision? And, by this time, did they really need to be told how to review? This was Advanced Study Hall so they were all sixth and seventh years and had already been through plenty of reviewing for CATS, not to mention their classes. Plus, methods of studying and reviewing notes were not one size fits all. People learned and studied differently.

Before Lavender could say anything,Val suggested studying Herbology. “All right.” She agreed. However, she really needed to get out what she had to say and be somewhat honest with the Teppenpaw about her feelings for once.“Um, I know we have to review and everything. Again.” She rolled her eyes, she was honestly as sick of review and RATS preparation as everyone else and the scare tactics and the fear of dire consequences that were impressed upon the seventh (and fifth) years on a constant basis. No wonder Ian Malone constantly looked like he was going to have a complete breakdown, and he was a sixth year who didn’t even have a Big Scary Test this year.

Besides, she had quite enough dire situations without teachers adding to it about RATS. Lavender looked at her friend, anxiety forming a pit in her stomach.“I just need to talk to you about a few things. Like the Bonfire. I really really do not want it to be just you, me and Bonabelle in a tent. That puts me in a position where I’m a chaperone and a third wheel.” Not to mention that the Crotalus would likely be pushed out of her own tent so Val and Bonahelle could be alone, if she didn’t end up so uncomfortable that she left on her own volition. And Lavender was not about to let the Aladren push her around, at least in theory. It might not work out in practice no matter how much she wanted it to. ” I don’t want that. It’ll be our last night here, and I want to have fun. So, there must be some other girls that you’re friends with that can join us.” After all, Val considered everyone to be her friend, right? And certainly, the Teppenpaw would want to spend her last night with other friends too.

Other friends that Val might not see again. Which brought Lavender to her second point, one that made her even more anxious. “And, well, honestly, I’m worried about graduating. That I might not see you or Graham even though I’ll try to keep in touch as much as possible. But I won’t be able to see either of you as much as now when we’re at school together everyday. And I’m terrified about having to make new friends because that doesn’t come easily to me.” True,she would have a less limited selection than at Sonora, and if there were more people, it was more likely that some would be people that Lavender could connect with and find common ground with but it still wasn’t easy to get to that point. "That scares me a lot more than RATS."

Plus, what if Bonahelle kept Val from her even more than she did at Sonora? Or what if when Val was with Wally, the Aladren was there too? What if the Crotalus could never again spend time with her friend, just the two of them? Having Wally there was one thing, he was Lavender’s cousin and she loved him, although she still wanted one on one time with Val, Bonahelle was a completely different story.

Tears pricked at her eyes as she waited for Val to respond. She attempted to brush them away as she really didn’t want to start crying here in front of everyone.

OOC: Ian is my character, but it's an honestly fair assessment for anyone to make of him.

11 Lavender Brockert I guess I'll explain myself a bit for a change 1504 0 5

Valentine Duell

April 24, 2023 9:38 PM

Communication is very important by Valentine Duell

Valentine was glad to be sitting next to one of her best and oldest friends. She knew their relationship was not perfect. Nothing ever was, but... Val knew it was true that she didn't have a lot of extra time for her friend, but she didn't have a lot of extra time for anything these days, and she did her best to make time for Lavender. Just as she tried to make time for Bonabelle and Wally and the Game club and everything else she actually wanted to do that wasn't studying. Soon the studying would be over, well... sort of. She wasn't actually foolish enough to think that she wasn't going to need to learn new things after graduation, that was the point of an apprenticeship after all. But she fervently hoped it wasn't going to be like classes and RATS prep.

As such, she smiled very knowingly and sympathetically at Lavender's comment about reviewing everything. Again. From what she knew Lavender was doing better in classes than she was, and didn't have as much riding on the results either. Valentine thought that sounded lovely and considered Lavender very lucky on that front.

Lavender's voice, when she spoke again about needing to talk, cried out to Val that there was serious things afoot. She would have liked to close up the book and put down her quill in order to fully focus on Lavender and what she wanted to say, to show Lavender that what she needed to say was important to her as well, that Lavender was important to her. But, she also didn't want to get both of them in trouble for ignoring the Librarian's instructions. So she did the best she could do under the circumstances, she put down her quill and pushed her book away a bit while she turned to give Lavender her full attention.

Valentine listened intently as Lavender poured out her feelings. There was so much more to this than just what Lavender was saying, but perhaps that would be for another time. For now, Val reached out and put her hand on Lavender's and gave her friend an encouraging smile. "Thank-you for telling me Lavender." She would have liked to give Lavender a hug, but now probably wasn't the best time. There had a lot not being said between them, and some of that was definitely her own fault. She did not want to make the problem worse. "Would it surprise you if I told you that I honestly haven't actually given bonfire arrangements much thought at all with everything else going on?" It was true, and now that she actually thought about it, she wasn't quite sure what she was going to do about it.

"You are right, I would love to have both you and Bonabelle together." Merlin only knew how hard she had tried to try and get her two best friends to be friends as well, but they seemed to be dead set against the idea. That had always hurt, she did not like choosing between them and had done everything she could to spend time with both of them once it had become perfectly clear that they didn't want to spend any time together. Did Lavender really think so little of her though that she thought Val would treat her like a third wheel? That hurt a little as well, but that seemed to be how things went. "I'm certainly alright with having more girls in the group," She paused a moment, "I wonder how many other girls don't have a set of three to meet the requirements. We could host anyone else that doesn't have a full group." She wasn't sure if that was Lavender was going for, Val was aware that Lavender wasn't a hugely social person, but if she wanted more people this was one way to get them.

"As for after graduation," Val let out a melancholy sigh, "There's no way around not getting to see each other as much as we do now." She was pretty sure Lavender wouldn't react positively to an invitation to come live with her. "However that doesn't mean it won't ever happen, we'll just need to schedule time to visit each other. I don't know what working and apprenticeshipping will be like, so the best promise I can make you is to do my best to be there when you need me."

Valentine's encouraging, smile of love and friendship shifted a little to take on a hint of her occasional mischievousness smile. "I'll make you a deal, whenever you have a fancy ball or other shindig that you want to make some friends at, let me know. I'll do what I can to come along with you and do what I can to help." Then she gave Lavender a wink, "All it'll cost you is the loan of a fancy dress, I won't be able to afford anything close to good enough for a party like that for probably a long time."

2 Valentine Duell Communication is very important 1490 0 5

Lavender Brockert

April 25, 2023 9:08 AM

Well, I'm trying by Lavender Brockert

“You’re welcome.” Lavender replied, somewhat because that was how people replied to someone saying thank you. In truth though, it had been sort of a big deal to admit this. She had a hard time being honest with people sometimes, not so much in terms of outright lies, but in admitting how she felt. She was generally okay with talking about things with her family, because they were pretty much stuck with her, but with Val and even Graham, she worried that they’d get mad and stop being her friends. Like,Lavender didn’t think Val-or Graham either, but that was less complicated or admittedly relevant in this respect- was completely unaware that Bonahelle was not her favorite person but the Crotalus did not want them to think she was a mean person. She did not want them to think she was the one at fault

Because, she was pretty sure the feeling was mutual. And that the feeling had been there on the other seventh year’s part before it had been on Lavender’s. True, she couldn’t read Bonahelle’s mind, for which she was excessively glad, because she was sure it was the stuff of nightmares, so she could not be one hundred percent certain but she had still been pretty sure that the other girl did not want her around. And did not want anyone around so she could have Val all to herself. Bonahelle’s attitude towards Stanley had only solidified this opinion.

And yes, Lavender understood being shy and being an introvert. She was sort of both, but that was not the same as Bonahelle who clearly thought she was better than everyone. That they were not worth her time, and that she didn’t want them to have Val’s time either. Because apparently the Aladren had never learned to share as a child. The irony of which would almost amuse Lavender if it was not going to affect someone else she cared about as well as herself. Still, there was a difference, the Crotalus was shy, Bonahelle was a snob.

“Actually, that doesn’t surprise me at all.” She replied. “I get that you’re focused on RATS and studying but this is actually something I started worrying about last year at the Concert when I realized what our last Midsummer event would be. Not that I worried about it every second,” Lavender added, lest she sound like a real weirdo.

Still, she worried about social stuff far more than academic stuff like everyone else seemed to. Because being liked was more important than to her getting into some elite school or any school for that matter. While she was going to college, admittedly to meet people, and hopefully make friends and…find a husband. It might be utterly pathetic to try to get an MRS degree rather than focusing on a degree so she could have a career or because she just enjoyed knowledge and learning.

However, that was not really how her world worked and also, Lavender wasn’t Ivy. Her priority was not knowledge, she wanted to have someone love her-and only her, which was not selfish,like Bonahelle was, because it was perfectly acceptable for the significant other to spend time with his friends, she just didn’t want him to have another romantic partner-unconditionally. It was true that her relatives did, but it was just…different. She just wanted that special connection that so many people in her family had. Lavender wanted to meet her soulmate.

And being in a school sounded like arguably less pressure, more natural setting than a ball.Although she hoped she would not run into the same drama as she had at Sonora.

“I know, and I know you would not deliberately leave me out or make me a third wheel.” The Crotalus replied Although she probably would.. “But you and Bonabelle are” well, not a couple exactly with Wally involved. “Together. And no matter what, I still would be. It would be the same if it was us and Wally.Plus, it’s just…awkward, and I need a buffer.”

Val suggested finding other girls who didn’t have a third. Which sounded like the best possible solution. While Lavender wasn’t the most social, and being with a lot of people would normally not be her first choice, this was so the lesser evil at this point. Plus, it actually sounded like a nice thing to do. “I think that’s the best solution.” She replied. “We know the sixth year girls will stick together and be a trio, but we could ask Amethyst and Iris at least.” The former was Lavender’s cousin and a Challenge teammate, so she did sort of know her.

“Oh I know it’s inevitable.” The Crotalus replied. “But that doesn’t mean that I don’t want to keep in touch. We can do those lunches we talked about scheduling in before.” She joked, before turning serious again. “I’m just worried, you know, about making friends in college and having to start all over”

She paused. “Honestly,um, I worry about you a lot. Like you overdoing it, the way my cousin did. I know the situation is different but overworking and overextending yourself is not good.Like, I’ve wondered if maybe a less intense career path would have been better but I never said anything because I didn’t want you to get mad at me. Wand making is cool and important and all and I don’t want to criticize you or make you feel like I don’t support you.” In this respect anyway. “I just don’t want you to get sick, physically or mentally because I care about you.”

Lavender smiled. “That sounds like a plan. You might end up going to them with Wally anyway.”

11 Lavender Brockert Well, I'm trying 1504 0 5

Valentine Duell

May 04, 2023 9:18 PM

You are doing a great job by Valentine Duell

Lavender definitely seemed to be getting some things off of her chest, and that was a good thing. This is what Val wanted. She wanted to know what her friend was thinking and how she was feeling. To be honest, she could understand why Lavender hadn't wanted to say anything, some of it was difficult to hear. It sounded like there was some fundamental difference in how each of them saw the world and people around them. That wasn't bad, everyone was different and that is what made them interesting. But it did make misunderstandings easy.

She had a very valid point with the bonfire arrangements, and once more, for the millionth time she wished her friends had gotten along together better. Val nodded along with Lavender's suggestion of Amethyst and Iris. "We could check in with some of the younger girls as well, they still may not have formed many close bonds yet and would like to be included without a lot of fuss."

"We absolutely can," Val replied when Lavender brought up their lunches. Unfortunately there wasn't much she could think of to help Lavender feel better about starting over and making friends in college. One thought did occur to her though and she smiled, "I won't tell you not to worry about college, and I do hope you have lots of friends once you get there. But, it isn't all on you. Be yourself, and be open to people, let them make friends with you. I know you can do that. Just, be available to them."

Valentine understood that Lavender cared about her, and didn't want bad things to happen to her. That was good, but now Val felt like it was her turn to tread a little carefully while still returning Lavender's honesty. She did feel a bit wounded and it may have shown a bit in her smile. "First of all, I'm not mad at you, and I appreciate your care for me." She paused a moment to collect her thoughts, "But, I knew what I was getting into when I started down this path. Mr. Row made it all abundantly clear at the beginning." She made a playful grimace accompanied with an eye roll. "It was my decision to make, even if it meant giving up a lot of the extra social activities that I liked to do, and I had to keep taking transfiguration. " She sighed, "I want to do this with my life, and I'm going to try my best to make it happen, I hope you understand." Val paused again, mostly for dramatic effect this time. "Thank-you for caring, and I'll do my best to take care of myself in the process."

"That's true," She responded to Lavender's observation about going to balls with Wally. She hadn't really thought about that. Wally just didn't seem to her like the sort of person that would revel in going to balls, but if he had to for society reasons... well, she could try to do what she could do to make it fun for him at least. "If that is the case, we may have to go dress shopping sometime." She really hoped those fancy ball dresses didn't cost what she thought they did. But if Wally had to go to them, maybe he had a source of funding for such things.

2 Valentine Duell You are doing a great job 1490 0 5

Lavender Brockert

May 06, 2023 5:44 PM

Thanks by Lavender Brockert

Lavender was relieved when Val agreed with her suggestions. Although, to be honest, she did not care if it was Amethyst and Iris or someone else entirely who joined them. Short of possibly Aunt Pearl and Carrie,both of whom the Crotalus was pretty sure she’d never actually met but both of whom were rumored to be the most terrible people ever-and if they were worse than Bonahelle then they pretty much had to be pure evil-Lavender would have taken just about anyone as a buffer to prevent the awkward situation of it being just the three of them.
“That would be nice.” She agreed with her friend.” They’d probably think it was cool to hang out with older students.” Merlin knew that Lavender certainly had thought it was cool to spend time with her siblings and Peyton and she got the impression that Piper and Charlotte liked hanging out with the seventh year and the others around her age. Although Charlotte thought they had an awful lot of complicated drama. Drama that of course Lavender blamed Bonahelle for, even though anyone from the outside looking in might put on Val. However, the Crotalus was not about to do that because Val was her friend and Bonahelle most definitely was not, so in Lavender’s mind, it was so obviously the Aladren’s fault.

And actually maybe they should ask Charlotte to join them. Since the first year was Wally’s younger sister, maybe she and Val should get to know each other better.Piper would probably share with Levi but she didn’t know who her cousin was going to ask as their third.

Lavender nodded. “Thanks. I mean, it’s not like I’m not open to making friends. I am. That’s the thing, I just am not sure they’re open to me.. I mean, people weren’t exactly flocking to hang out with me here.” Not that she needed a lot of friends, because she wanted to have close bonds with people and she wanted to spend the time with them so such bonds could form. It probably would be good to have more than one though. “Why would college necessarily be any different? And what if…I don’t fit in. Just because I do all right in school doesn’t mean that I’m some super intellectual and what if everyone is? What if they think I’m dumb and superficial?” Granted, it wasn’t as if she was going to the sort of school that Ivy had.

She continued “Or if I’m too awkward? I mean I picked to go to college because I felt it would be easier to form real bonds with people than in the superficial world of society balls. Because I don’t want superficial relationships” Lavender realized what she had just said, that she was worried about people she was superficial. “ but that doesn’t mean I’m into, like, deep things like…politics.” She actually wrinkled her nose. Politics were a source of division and conflict and if people disagreed on issues then you were enemies for life.

And she probably wasn’t explaining herself very well here either. “Like, I might not be smart enough or deep enough for the intellectuals and too deep and smart for, like, the vapid sorority types. Not to mention too awkward.” Once again, Lavender was worried that she had nothing going for her but her last name. Which hadn’t even helped her make friends at Sonora.

Val looked…slightly hurt at what the Crotalus said about her wanting to be a wand maker. Crap . That was precisely what Lavender had been trying to avoid by not communicating how she felt. Still, hopefully, what she said next would make things better. “I suppose you must really want to do it then.” She knew that Val wasn’t very good at Transfiguration and how important the other seventh year’s social life and activities were to her so these were obviously major sacrifices. Lavender personally would have never kept up a class that she wasn’t very good at. “Which means that you probably should, then. If you feel that passionate about it.”

She looked down at the table. “I just…feel like time with me was one of the things that got cut out most. Maybe because I don’t have as much to do or as many friends. I mean, even with keeping as many classes as I did, I really don’t want to study all the time. Regardless of the fact that some of the professors seem to want to make you feel guilty if you don’t” Lavender rolled her eyes again. “In fact,the one thing I am looking forward to is that after RATS, I’ll get a three month break from doing so.”

11 Lavender Brockert Thanks 1504 0 5

Bertie Jackson

May 06, 2023 10:42 PM

It's a long and complex theory by Bertie Jackson

Bertie usually liked study hall. It was an opportunity to work on the independent research project he was conducting for Charms. It was provisionally titled 'Are spell words as important as you all make out, or are you just being classist, ableist buttholes?' He was aware that he would likely have to modify that title when he was seeking publication but as a working title, it did everything he wanted.

It was a deeply complex question, and it was likely he would be researching something similar into his PhD years, but that was why it was good to start now. Maybe if he got a head start he could graduate early, or fully solve the problem by the time he was into the antiquity of his mid-twenties. That was quite old, and he intended to have several notable achievements by then. It had already spiralled somewhat out of control, in that the areas he had assumed he would look into as his background study had been woefully under-researched—namely the variation that was possible within spell pronunciation before things blew up. People's accents differed, and whilst many people did smooth and standardise them when spellcasting, there was bound to be variation, especially in vowels where most of an accent was carried - a British person and an American person saying the word 'dog' would pronounce it completely differently, whilst both saying the same word and saying it correctly. If the universe was listening for the word, it should recognise both variations as valid. Logically, the same range of tolerance existed within spellcasting.

And yet, that wasn't what they were told. They were told there was a One and Only Pronunciation, and woe and fire betide the ones who messed it up. The point was reinforced with snide little stories where the punchline was someone like him, who stuttered. Even though non verbal spellcasting existed. Even though some cultures relied entirely on nonverbal, non-wand based magic or used improvisation as a key part of magic.

The rigid insistence and power given to these flimsy, single words and the way they were enforced was classist, ableist, and racist. And Bertie was determined to prove it all.

Except today, he had to check his already orderly notes and check up on someone else because apparently some people made it to advanced classes without learning basic study skills. And the librarian thought he would need at least ten minutes to work through the list when he could tick it all off without even looking.

He took one of the lists, and took out his Transfiguration folder. Most of the people who took Transfiguration were acceptable company—it was a course where the less academically minded tended to fall by the wayside. Finding someone who shared his course, he gave a sigh.

“Shall we just get this over with? I have all these,” he said gesturing to the list. “I’m not sure why anyone wouldn’t.”

13 Bertie Jackson It's a long and complex theory 1497 0 5