'In the Meantime...Something for Fun' Cont..

[Nicci]

At the echo of the screech caused by the door opening, Juliet found herself greeted by over twenty pairs of eyes staring instantly back at her including those belonging to the professor. Hanging her head shamefully, she had no choice but to quickly slip into a vacant seat and immediately pretend to be interested.

Humming disapprovingly, the professor dropped his frown and rose his wand back up in the air to act as a pointer and proceeded on with his lecture.
“As I’ve already mentioned..” he began, placing the tip of his wand back into the tank of murky water beside him “The leathery casing of the embryonic sack has evolved over several thousands of years, perfecting it’s ingenious design of regulating the concentration of dissolved salts in the amniotic fluid allowing the egg to survive in freshwater or.........Mr Bishop!, Miss Summers has missed enough of the class already and probably won’t have taken in anything I’ve just said listening to your whisperings”.

Looking back to the front of the class, Lance retained his worried expression as he glanced away from Juliet who had taken the vacant seat beside him. For one, that was unusual in itself as she usually had the bench behind him all to herself to allow for maximum room for book spreading. Even Fantastic Beasts hadn’t made it out of her bag... Something wasn’t normal.
Embarrassed, he apologised out loud for his disruption and sunk back onto his stool as the professor continued to lecture in the background.
Trying to regain his enthusiasm about the aquatic life cycle of the Hippocampus, Lance heaved a heavy sigh and ran both hands through the fallen front section of his dirty dark blonde hair.
Lulled into the ever familiar boredom feeling that he had been hoping to one day see the back of, he titled his head to the side to see how Juliet was feeling.

Usually brimming with enthusiasm for her favourite subject, Juliet sat with her head on the desk unaware that Lance was concerned beside her. She hadn’t really absorbed any of his whispered questions and hadn’t been composed enough to want to give him a straight answer.
Right now she felt distant, unconnected and really wanted to be close to Seth. Was he sat in his current lesson thinking the same way about her? Or had Peter managed to take over the problem and had him back up on his feet already?.

“......So in conclusion, would anyone like to describe the main features that a young calf has to protect it from predation in its first couple of stages of development outside of the egg?” The professor asked confidently, inspecting the room to select a student to answer.
Surprised at the lack of response, he immediately glanced across to Juliet who always had her hand within seconds of a posed question.
“Miss Summers..Do you not wish to answer the question?” he continued concerned by her lack of interest.

[Nicci]

Smiling and mouthing a quiet thank you, Katie politely declined the offer from the professor to join her on the desk and proceeded past her towards the back of the room. Picking up an out of place copy of Emeric Smith’s A Guide to Advanced Transfiguration Vol.2 on her route, she approached the chalk board and began to write on the large ebony plate.
Keeping her lettering straight and legible at such a readable size was undoubtedly tricky but with the aid of textbook refreshing her memory she wrote up a quick summary of Gamp’s Law of Elemental Transfiguration and bullet pointed the five principle exceptions.

Hearing a mumbling from the students in the classroom, Katie snapped the textbook closed with one hand and strolled back to face the room. As her eyes scanned the room from left to right, she felt proud of herself for coming back and now she just needed to build up the needed respect and confidence to truly fit in. Instantly noticing the saddened expression on Seth’s face, Katie wished she could interact with him and had to find a way to improvise without arousing unnecessary suspicion.

With a short enthusiastic flick of her wand and an announcement of Snufflifors, a bright flash of lavender light emitted from the tip and Katie was left holding a plump, burgundy coloured mouse. With exactly the same colourings as the leather bindings of its previous form, Katie carried the mouse with her down the aisle in between the desks and stopped overlooking Tristan struggling with his textbook.

[Jazzie C]

Jey chuckled and looked impressed. 'As you can see, we are looking at Gamp's law of elemental transfiguration. You will all be attempting soemthing similar to what Prof Weasley has just done, only not with your textbooks - you'll be needing those to pass my class.' Jey said at the class. She grinned at Katie and stood up at the front of the class, she knew she was about to put Katie on the spot, but she knew the girl could handle it.

Seeing people beginning to murmur, Jey flicked her wand and shot sparks to gather their attention. 'Professor Weasley will be leading the lesson today and I will be keeping a VERY close eye on all of you. Not careful and you'll be polishing floors with First years.' She finished and turned to Katie expectantly.

[Nicci]

Hearing Jay introduce her as Professor, Katie looked up and immediately blushed a deep shade of scarlet. “M...Miss is just fine, Professor” She spoke, stuttering slightly as her nerves decided to show themselves again. “It would be an honour to lead the class..I just wish I’d prepared more”.

With Tristan comfortably looking and reading the relevant section of the textbook, Katie took a few steps towards Seth and gently placed the transfigured mouse on the edge of his table. She sensed something was wrong and although the mouse wouldn’t last forever, it may at least keep him company and show that she still cared about him whilst they were in the lesson.

“Well..now where shall I begin?..” Katie announced with a partial giggle trying to ease the conscious feeling of being the centre of attention. “As I already have put up on the board, you all should be aware from your years of study at Hogwarts the physical principles of Gamp’s Law and understand the five most important exceptions to elemental transfiguration. It is knowing this law that we as wizards and witches can use magic for a variety of needs..Not just turning a toad into a fine china teapot because grandma has decided to pay you a visit.”

Taking several steps forward back to the front of the class, Katie continued. “Conjuration and Transmutation together make up a large part of the school of Transfiguration. For example we know that food cannot be created from thin air, it can be summoned from one location to another, enlarged or duplicated...but it cannot be conjured..... Gold is a prime example of a precious metal that can be transmuted from hard base metals such as iron or zinc, but even as Leprechauns know.. Their gold will simply return back to leaves and twigs after they know their target has been deceived by greed”.

“And what about a final thought to one of the items on the bulleted list..True Love! Something so complicated, unpredictable but undoubtedly pure is not something that can be replicated, hidden or deceived into being something it isn’t...”

Pleased with her opening introduction, Katie smiled across the room and longingly watched the little burgundy mouse curl itself up in Seth’s hand.
“As the Professor has already informed you, you will be practicing the art of conjuring to build on what you learnt in your 6th year. I know it’s still early in the term but start small with a few practice spells and as you develop your confidence it will begin to clearly show in your creativity of your conjured items. Your N.E.W.T exams will be the most difficult you will ever have yet to sit here at Hogwarts and I would hope to see you all achieve your dreams and pass the class.”

[Jazzie C]

Jeyna watched her proudly. She'd gone for it and she was doing well. Lia watched Katie intently. She'd always thought transfiguration wasn't much of a challenge - kinda like Jey - but at least it was becomming interesting now. Lia flicked her fringe out of her eyes and sat up straighter in her seat. She couldn't wait to get started on the practical stuff. she was itching to pick up her wand and try. Again Jey locked eyes with Lia and the red flash appeared again. Jey smiled slightly and leaned against the desk.

[Nicci]

Picking up her wand, Serena stared intently at Katie as she spoke near the front of the room. She had recognised her, the moment the ginger haired young woman had returned followed by the ostrich patronus. She was pleased to see that Katie had been accepted back into the school after the difficult events that happened the week before in Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes joke shop in Diagon Alley, but although Peter had believed her about what happened to Juliet in the bookstore...Seth on the other hand was still claiming ignorance and ignoring her.

She hadn’t intended to make enemies with him but she couldn’t trust Juliet. It would be his loss at the end of the day; Olli and Erin were much nicer people regardless of what bad words Callie had to say about them.
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“Ok class, wands at the ready! You have twenty minutes to perform the first exercise. Concentrate on yourselves not the person next to you. I will award ten house points to the student who conjures the most interesting object..” Katie began confidently raising her wand back up in air
“Now don’t just think bigger is better, oh no..This is about starting small and expressing yourself creatively”
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Concerned, Tristan reached across his body and pulled out his wand from his right pocket with his left hand. Vigorous wand exercises might be a struggle with his sore shoulder and his disappointedly rested his wand on the open textbook. He knew exactly what he would conjure if he had fully ability to do so.
Thinking about his creative choice, he glanced over his shoulder hoping to catch a glimpse of Erin.

[Thomas]

Erin smiled as Tristan dropped down beside her "Hey Ganny.. thanks for helping me with Olli" she flicked her book to page 97 distractedly "He's been really acting up, and Professor Fischer won't tell me what's up, she knows what's wrong I just know it" Flicking her wand distractedly she conjured a fork, then flicking her wand it turned into a gecko. Normally she loved transfiguration, but she had far too much on her mind "And do you recognise Miss Weasley? She looks so familiar... she's a pretty crap teacher, Gamp's Laws? Please"

[Jazzie C]

Lia sighed, almost bored. she started whirling her wand slowly conjuring a very elaborate clear crystal rose. she frowned at it, taking it from the air and placing it slowly onto her desk. she whispered something and it started to glow. She didnt realise that some of the others were watching her, including Jeyna.

Jey paced back and forth between students and stopped by Erin and Tristan as they were talking about Katie. 'None of that language in my class please.' She said, her eyes flashing dangerously.

Lia fiddled idly with the cystal rose, absently watching them. She was finding school frustrating. She could conjure stuff that was easy. She was good at magic, but she had no real friends. Not yet at least. She started whirling her wand again, conjuring more flowers until she had a bouquet of glass flowers with little bees and creatures on them. She wondered what she'd have to do to fit in. What she'd have to do to avoid Jey as well.

[Nicci]

Tristan frowned at Erin’s comment as he continued to stare down at the wand resting on his desk. He hummed in a disinterested agreement as he looked up to hear Professor Garland’s scolding for overhearing Erin.
Erin definitely wasn’t acting like her normal self, ever since Olli’s fall she’d been everywhere in body but not in true spirit. Of course he had no idea who either of the tutor’s were, this was only halfway into his second week and he still couldn’t find the library alone if he tried. He hoped the Erin he thought he was getting to know would have at least considered someone else’s feelings before coming up with such an insensitive statement.
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Overhearing Erin’s comment, Katie’s heart sank. She had hoped that the students would have been slightly more forgiving instead of being outright and blunt with their feelings.
Shuffling her foot on the spot, she felt disappointed. She was a terrible professor there was no hiding that, but maybe that was because she wasn’t trained to be one, she was only meant to be a class helper.
Sympathising back to the little burgundy mouse, Katie related herself to the transfigured creature. Sometimes it was better to be timid and stay hidden away from the world than be brave and take the risk of being struck down.
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Near the back of the room, Serena had calmly begun following the textbook’s guidelines and had managed a series of conjurations. Firstly a silver teaspoon from thin air, then changing the teaspoon to a teacup....But going to the next stage of teacup to kettle had badly backfired.
Worried at the sight of enlarged cup with long frog legs, Serena pushed back her chair and shrieked as the misshapen object leaped off of the desk and landed unexpectedly on her lap.

[Jazzie C]

Lia started conjuring more little objects. she realised she was being watched when Jeyna came over to her and leaned in close to examine the objects. Slyly she leaned in closer to Liana and whispered into her ear. She then straightened up, smiled innocently and walked over to katie. 'Ignore them.' Jeyna said. 'You're doing great. They're being stupid.' She murmured and went and sat back on her desk.

---

Lia recioled as Jey leaned in towards her. She was touching her glass flowers, picking them up and whirling them through her fingers. She leaned in closer to Lia and put her mouth near Lia's ear. Quietly and slyly so nobody could see, she whispered 'I found you little Lia.' And moved away smugly. Lia looked horrified and smoothly slid her chair backwards, picked up her things and left hte room, slamming the door behind her. Way to make a dramatic exit, she thought to herself. Now they were all going to think she was a freak with a grudge agains the new teacher.

Great.

[Chris]

As Katie proceeded with her lesson, Seth, Peter and Alex paid attention to it. There was no way to hide Seth's sadness over what happened not long before the lesson. As she transfigured the mouse and brought it around, she laid it on the edge of Seth's table. It worked its way towards him, and he felt a human connection as it curled up in Seth's hand. Looking up to Katie, Seth gave a small smile. Peter and Alex wasn't sure what to make of it, but glad to see Seth smile. Alex didn't know about what happened before, while Peter did.

As the lesson proceeded, they were given the assignment. Seth thought about something to conjure, and had to think for a moment. Taking out his wand in the mean-time, Seth drew some inspiration from the mouse, and decided what he wanted to make. He waved his wand and tweaked the normal 'orchideous' spell and conjured a small example of the stinky flower from the rainforest. Eyes getting wide, he vanished it and put his head to the desk. That flower wasn't what he was going for, but he wanted a specific flower.

*******
Peter began to think about his assignment and saw Seth's massive failure. Patting him on the back, Peter added in a softer whisper, "you must be meaning this." With a wave of his wand, Peter conjured a rose. Seth shook his head, and whispered, "I was thinking an orchid, but conjured that Rafflesia instead." Peter gave a small smile and conjured an orchid with a minor modification of Seth's attempt. Peter tried to think of something different. He decided to go small rather than big. Waving his wand and muttering a conjuration spell, a small phoenix action figure appeared and began to fly in front of himself.

Seth and Alex were amazed. "Cool, Pete," added Alex. The little figure did a bit to raise Seth's spirits. Seth started on trying to conjure a small bird, but was afraid if he actually conjured one since he could fail so badly here too.

Alex in the meantime, was trying to think of something to conjure. He decided on a miniature dragon statue of a Chinese fireball.

(Sorry for not coming on the last couple days...or more. I've been busy. I hope this reply brings my characters up to speed. )

[Nicci]

(Hey Chris, lovely to see you. It's ok we thought you'd be busy so kept things running at a even pace so everyone could jump back in when they wanted to. Your post is great, I really enjoyed reading how you connected it in. Hope we can catch up again soon)

As Seth placed his head on the table, the transfigured mouse gave a startled squeak and dashed up onto the edge of the nearest closed textbook and sat tall, with its tail hanging over the side. From here it had a safe lookout post and twitched its whiskers at the sight of the model phoenix floating high over head.
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With the excessive bouncing of the frog legged teacup, Serena had taken cover under the table and waited for her moment to zap the annoying monstrosity back into something more normal once it had landed on the floor.
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Surprised by the way Lia had instantly got up from her seat and stormed out of the room, Katie glanced concerned at Professor Garland who was acting like nothing was out of the ordinary. “Is everything ok there Jay? Will she be alright?” she asked caringly.

(Afraid I don’t know where Gen went as I don’t know what Tom has planned for Lyn but my other characters will follow in a post shortly)

[Jazzie C]

Lia walked out of the classroom - well practically ran - and sped her way down the corridor where she collapsed in a heap on the floor under a huge window. She put her head in her arms and sat, shaking. She wanted so badly to conjure herself somewhere else. She HATED that godforsaken woman and what she had done to her and her family. Why was she here? why? She was sobbing loudly with her back against the cold stone wall when she felt a touch on her shoulder. Someone had followed her.

(okay, really i cant choose...help me out...someone follow? xx)

[Nicci]

“Excuse me?” Kalina asked the unfamiliar girl sat underneath the bay window. “Is everything ok?”. Placing her hand on her shoulder she waited for a reply, a bad answer was better than just walking past ignoring her.
Kalina had spent the morning in Ancient Runes and Arithmancy and was on her way down to the library to meet Callie to work on their paired numerology assignment.

[Lauren]

(ARGH what's been going on??))