The Astronomy Classroom is pleasantly warm tonight, candlelight flickering low as moonlight streams in through the glass dome above and the tall stained-glass windows that surround the circular space. The dome itself, charmed and centuries old, has been enchanted to shift and adjust ever so subtly throughout the seasons—like a great cosmic eye always looking skyward. Tonight, however, something feels ... different. A slender slit has opened in the uppermost section of the dome with starlight pouring through this opening seeming more concentrated than usual. It's as though the dome has become a great magnifying lens—or better yet, a pair of oversized loupe glasses, like those worn by old wandmakers and jewel appraisers. The effect bathes the entire room in a gentle glow—cool silver blended with warm candle-gold—so that despite the late hour, it feels curiously bright and alive, like the cusp of dawn.

Arrayed across a large round wooden table beside the storage closet are string instruments from across the globe—from lyres and lutes to zithers and sitars, from handheld harps to ukuleles—each one's strings catching the candlelight like threads of spun glass. There’s something reverent about their presence, like artifacts displayed in a museum or offerings at a shrine. Very curious to an Astronomy class to be sure.

Professor Burbage floats mid-air near the table, admiring the craftsmanship of the assembled instruments. Her translucent fingers hover just above the curve of a worn banjo, trailing through the air as if stroking the memory of music rather than the instrument itself. A wistful smile ghosts across her face—rare and unguarded. Lullaby time was a sacred ritual in her household once upon a time… her husband’s voice low and sure as he strummed the guitar while seated in the plush chair in the corner of the nursery, their children tucked safe and drowsy beneath patchwork quilts. She doesn’t speak of it, but the memory is stitched into her expression.

"Come in, come in," she trills softly. "Find yourself a seat and settle in. Try not to trip over your own feet."

class progression
Q. What is the first constellation you ever learned about and do you remember why it stuck with you?
A. Up and out of your seats, dearies, to select your instruments (follow up questions as welcome)
A. Casting Memorae Lucentia
M. Memorae Lucentia guidance from The Narrator (badger_boy_93, Fearlessleader19)
M. Memorae Lucentia guidance from The Narrator (Charely Potter, WhittyBitty)
M. Professor Burbage offers encouragement and instruction
M. Memorae Lucentia guidance from The Narrator and something more (badger_boy_93, Fearlessleader19)
M. Memorae Lucentia guidance from The Narrator (WhittyBitty, PhoenixRising)
Q. What influence may other constellations have on different kinds of spell casting?
M. Memorae Lucentia guidance from The Narrator PhoenixRising)
M. Final thoughts and reflections. Class dismissed!

OOC: class will not officially begin for a bit (somewhere around 24 from the launch of this thread). Your characters can chat among themselves but please do try to keep conversation to a minimum, daaaarlings. Could you also be a dear and title your posts with your character’s name and House? My weary old eyes do have a dreadful tendency to bungle things.

Class has officially begun. Please do not post your character arriving unless you are willing to accept any IC consequences that may come your character's way! You may post as though your character has been present all along and join in at any time

This lesson has concluded. You are free to post and play catch-up however you see fit while it the thread remains open.

Q - question
M - moment
A - activity