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**Wilber Winterbottom** · #1 (**permalink**) 06-11-2025, 11:20 PM

Saturday, 6 February @ 10 A.M.
Great Hall, Hogwarts

The usual grandeur of the Great Hall has once again been transformed to suit the needs of today's Apparition lesson. The long House tables have been magically moved aside, replaced with neat rows of classroom desks arranged to face the front of the hall. Sunlight filters in through the enchanted ceiling, casting a soft glow over the space.

The area is surrounded by several large magical portraits—each depicting a different location: a bustling wizarding market in Paris, the snow-covered peaks of the Himalayas, a cliffside where a violent storm rages, a quiet lakeside cottage, and many other landscapes you may or may not be familiar with.

Dominating the centre is a tall board, bearing elegant, swirling script:

Take out a piece of parchment and respond to the following prompt:
If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would you go? Explain why.
Striding between the desks is Ms. Urquhart, the Ministry-appointed Apparition instructor. Dressed in deep navy robes with silver trim, she moves with quiet authority, pausing occasionally to glance at a student's parchment or offer a brief nod of greeting as you find your seat.

OOC: Welcome to Apparition! This lesson is open to 6th and 7th-year students who wish to take the prerequisite course before testing for an Apparition licence. You may role-play as many characters here as long as they are in the appropriate year and are listed in your postbit.

Note that this lesson IC will be the 2nd of 12 lessons that are part of the Apparition course. That said, your character(s) met instructor Beitris Urquhart during their first Apparition lesson with her the week prior and should be at least somewhat familiar with her. Please reflect that accordingly.

Lesson Progression:
Question 1: Choose one of the Three D's. What does that D mean to you personally? And what is a potential consequence that might occur should it not be kept in mind while Apparating?

Activity 1: Visualise a specific location of your choosing. Sketch or write about that place as clearly as you can; include as many details as possible.

Activity 2: Engage in the mental anchoring exercise to focus on your Destination with Determination and Deliberation. Reflect on the exercise with a peer.

Question 2: What potential challenges do you think one might face when Apparating to an unfamiliar location? How would you prepare for travel to such a place?

Closure

FearlessLeader19 · 06-12-2025, 12:57 AM

The initial Apparition lesson had gone a lot to Aryan’s liking and he was hoping it would continue this time around. As he stepped into the Great Hall with Bry and Jan, his gaze was immediately drawn to the portraits. In his opinion, each site made an attractive picture. Next, his gaze fixed on the board, his mind immediately thinking what a difficult question that was. There would be more time for him to ponder on that but for now, he offered the instructor a bright smile and his usual finger wiggle-wave.

“You guys know where you’d want to go?” Ary was particularly interested in Jan’s answer, since his family travelled a great deal. The guy selected a seat, one that allowed his fellow Slytherins to sit on either side of him if they wanted. But back to the question. He thought and eventually decided what to write:

Quote:

I’d want to visit someplace where lots of Mooncalves live, as they happen to be my favourite creatures. Maybe not Scamander Zoo, though, since I’ve been there tons of time and I’m familiar with all the Mooncalves.

Charely Potter · 06-12-2025, 01:19 AM

Jan was happy to be here with his friends as they entered the second class of Apparition. The snakes continued to slither together as he was with Ary and Bry. "Good day, Ms. Urquhart." She had a cool, frosty air about her. Like stepping out of a cryogenic freeze, those muggles experiment with. But much cooler, figuratively.

As for Ary's question. "Hmm... there's so many choices. Like an adventure or something comforting." It was true, Jan did get to travel every summer, their last trip to India was splendid, and he heard this summer would be more on the tranquil side. His Dad E refused to budge on where the trip would be though.

As instructed, Jan took a spare parchment and quill to write down his thoughts. He had an answer almost immediately, but as he wrote, his mind shifted, and he quickly adjusted his writing to reflect that.

SPOILER!!:

Zoe · 06-12-2025, 01:32 AM

Gilly slid into her seat, her fingers already fishing a piece of parchment from her bag. She tucked a lock of dark hair behind her ear, eyes flicking briefly to the different portraits. Her gaze lingered on the lakeside cottage for a heartbeat longer than the rest—something about water always called to her—before settling on the prompt

She straightened her posture, smoothed the parchment on the desk with the side of her hand, and uncorked her ink bottle with a soft pop. She chew her bottom lip in thought before dipping her quill into her bottle of ink and writing in her loopy, precise script.

Quote:

If I could travel anywhere in the world right now, I'd go to Greece—specifically the islands. There are over two hundred of them that are inhabited, and quite a few are said to have ancient magical springs, hidden coves, and rare coastal plants that only bloom under certain lunar conditions. I read about one that produces a kind of salt crystal used in healing potions—it's supposedly only harvested by diving herbologists in moonlit waters.

But it's not just the magic. It's the sea. I'd spend the mornings combing tidepools for aquatic plants, maybe sketching the underwater growth patterns of native kelp species. And the afternoons? Lounging in the shade with a cold drink and a book, the sound of waves and enchanted lyres in the background.

Gilly gave a small, crooked smile and set her quill down, glancing up just as Ms. Urquhart passed by. She straightened her parchment a bit and folded her hands neatly in her lap.

sweetpinkpixie · 06-12-2025, 06:46 AM

Diamond swept into the transformed Great Hall like she did every room she strut into: like she owned it. The echo of her heels clicking against the flagstones was a satisfying sound, the kind that said I’m here and you’re lucky to have me, those clumped together like clingy laundry because Merlin forbid they attend a lesson without being attached at the hip, and finally to the representative from the Department of Transportation — Urquhart. Who still, frankly, looked like she’d walked straight out of a couture runway in the Alps with all that severe cheekbone and 'I-don’t-suffer-fools' energy. Diamond gave a respectful-enough nod. She liked a woman who didn’t blink before vaporizing a student and had found their first lesson tolerable enough not to be inspired to give any haughtiness ~~and not because karma had bit her in the derriere or anything last time~~.

Settling a bit away from the others, Diamond readied a bit of parchment and a quill as she settled into her seat by the window where the light hit her just right. MAYBE if the Ministry had had decent lighting and better exam writers she wouldn't have failed the written test the first two times ~~and not at all because she lacked focus~~. The questions were clearly phrased to confuse people with actual taste. Diamond had NOT listened to the interview Urquhart had given with the WWN over and over again for clues to be left begging for scraps, obviously.

She glanced up at the board with a faintly unimpressed raise of her brow. Cute. She set her quill to the page and, in her swoopiest cursive, began.

Quote:

Out of here.

Because there are too many anklebiters and I am bored out of my mind seeing these castle walls.

Diamond twirled her quill a moment, letting the flourish of her handwriting dry. She crossed her legs and leaned back with the grace of someone expecting entertainment...and not entirely convinced it would deliver.

Kolyander · 06-12-2025, 09:40 PM

The amount of activities Bry had taken on this class term was more than anyone needed to give a go. It was all slowly zapping up any free time she had left between ensuring she was passing all her lessons, giving her all to her house Quidditch team, pouring everything she had into Animagi training and still doing everything else she had to do. It was all worth it though. If everything went as she hoped... Soooooo much would be accomplished by summer break!

Following both Aryan and Jan into the Great Hall, Bryony did the usual blue eyed gaze about the room. The set up was a little... Different. All of the large portraits was a mere thought, the different locations each one depicted however, certainly something to have a look at. Spotting the question on the board helped it all make sense. Not to mention it gave her something to really consider. She'd been many places with her mama buuuuuuut normally it was never for long and mostly for creature purposes.

A smile and finger wiggle wave was directed towards Ms. Urquhart. Taking a seat at Ary's side, she sent a friendly wave towards Gilly, hiya friend! "Umm... Anywhere there's creatures?" Or perhaps somewhere that would be beneficial to her Ninja Warrior training. Pulling out a sheet of parchment and a quill she let herself write a response with trying to put too much thought into it.

Quote:

Normally I reply to this sort of question with anywhere and everywhere. Getting to go to different places, see new things and meet new people is so much fun. But honestly, I really have no idea where I'd go right this very minute. Maybe somewhere tropical where it's sunny and warm with lots of creatures to interact with.

Maybe she could've given it a little more thought but the response was very much her.

**Beitris Urquhart** · 06-13-2025, 04:32 PM

She swept the room, appraising, noting. Her sharp gaze, cool and pale as sea glass, swept over each student with the sort of detached precision that could measure the width of hesitation in a heartbeat. Aryan's enthusiasm was clear, though a little focus would go a long way; Jan's script had been quite sentimental, though more visual clarity would be beneficial; Gillyweed's words were methodical albeit with poetic leanings that drifted like water; Diamond was one she remembered all too well, and she could sense the impatience and boredom from her response; and Bryony was very much driven by feeling, which was something that would need some guidance.

The gentle rustle of parchment and the faint scratching of quills quieted as Beitris made one final pass between the rows. Satisfied, she turned on her heel, her deep navy robes whispering behind her like a closing curtain.

"Travel, as most of you have just demonstrated, is a desire," her voice—low, clipped, and distinctly Scottish—rang clear, the sound slicing neatly through the Hall's enchanted quiet. "But even magical travel requires more than longing. Apparition in particular is a discipline. It is calculated, controlled, and, above all, intentional. The purpose today's lesson is to focus on that theoretical aspect and sharpen the mental clarity and visualization techniques necessary for effective Apparition."

With a flick of her wand, the prompt on the board shimmered and dissolved. In its place, three swirling words appeared, each more bold and commanding than the last:

Destination. Determination. Deliberation.
"In the context of Apparition," she said, her voice sharp as frost, "it is essential to keep these Three D's in mind. Each is a pillar. Each one a precaution. And each, if forgotten, a path to disaster." Her gaze swept the rows again. "To begin, choose one of the Three D's and define it in your own words. What does that D mean to you personally? And what is a potential consequence that might occur should it not be kept in mind while Apparating?"

*PhoenixRising* · 06-14-2025, 02:33 AM

Wasn't sixth year supposed to be somewhat of a breeze?? Emma had dropped a few classes that didn't make it into the cut for NEWT grades and yet she still was feeling somewhat overwhelmed. Between quidditch and the few classes she still was taking, and now squeezing apparition lessons in, she was definitely feeling the -itis. She perused the question on the board, as she gave a little finger wiggle towards her fellow sixth years - Gilly, Aryan, Jan, Bry - and a warm smile to Madam Urquhart. The woman was nice enough considering some of the horror stories she'd heard of some of ministry employees, this one didn't seem to be too terrible. Of course it was only the second class, so who knew.

Finally setting quill to paper, she scribbled down her answer

Quote:

Dartmoor to see the world's largest quidditch stadium. Or well, maybe just a large comfortable mattress to take a ten hour nap sounds good.

She raised her hand after Madam Urquhart's question. "Destination. A place we want to go. Since apparition is about traveling, you need to be able to have a clear sense of focus as to where you're going, can't be all wishy-washy. Consequence of not focusing on destination when apparating would be going to the wrong place, which could be a blessing or a curse depending on where you end up." Kind of like with floo - you needed to be clear in your enunciations.

ooc: will post Kartik in a moment with his answer after others have a chance to answer first <3

Charely Potter · 06-14-2025, 11:29 AM

Jan waited after finishing writing, looking over at others to see how they were doing before the lesson progressed. He listened as Ms. Urquhart discussed the importance of Apparition and what they'd be focusing on today. Ah.. the 3 D's.

Jan debated on writing the answer down, seemed like a good thing to add on. But he rose his hand to share in the end, "Determination is your full-focus. It's combining the will and concentration together, in this case, on where your destination is. Without the determination, you could end up like Emma said elsewhere or splinching part of yourself from a stray mind."

FearlessLeader19 · 06-14-2025, 11:55 AM

“Too many choices,’’ Ary added in response to Jan. “Yep, adventuring sounds like you.” It was always nice hearing about what adventure his friend was getting up to next. Bry’s answer was also not surprising. He grinned at her. “Makes sense.” Spotting Gilly heading in, he wiggled his fingers in his friend’s direction; Emma too received this greeting. And as he was determined to ace this entire Apparition journey like Dynah had, Ary was quite ready to focus the moment Urquhart got started.

Focus he did, hanging onto the woman’s every word. Ah, yes. The three Ds’, some of the most important aspects in Apparition. The sharpness in Urquhart’s voice made Ary a tad nervous, which was unusual. Perhaps it was his nerves about the mode of transportation in general; the instructor’s tone possibly was only enhancing that.

A hand went up as he was ready to provide his answer. “Deliberation can refer to the careful way in which one does something, but not too careful so as to have second thoughts. If there's hesitation when Apparating, as Jan mentioned, Splinching can happen.”

Zoe · 06-16-2025, 09:32 PM

Gilly's eyes followed the swirl of script as the prompt vanished from the board, replaced by the three new words: Destination. Determination. Deliberation.

Her lips pressed into a thin line, mind already humming as she sat up straighter in her seat. The words themselves held weight, especially now that Ms. Urquhart had drawn their sharp lines between success and disaster. It was one thing to want to travel—another thing entirely to do so with magical precision.

After a few seconds of stillness, she leaned forward and wrote down the three words and her peers' responses on her parchment.

"Deliberation," she spoke, pausing briefly from her note-taking, "to me means proceeding with careful thought. It's the process of steadying yourself and envisioning every detail so you move with a clear purpose. Acting too quickly can be quite dangerous. You would be acting impulsivly if you haven't fully thought of exactly where you want to go, which, besides splinching or ending up in an unintended location, could result in colliding with someone or something upon arrival and causing serious injury."

**Beitris Urquhart** · 06-17-2025, 12:56 AM

Beitris listened with her usual quiet intensity, the slope of her shoulders never shifting, her hands loosely folded behind her back. Her expression remained unreadable as answers began to echo through the Great Hall, each offering her a clearer window into how these students thought about the weight of what they were learning.

When the last voice faded, she took measured steps. The heels of her boots clicked like punctuation. Her gaze swept the room again, pale eyes settling briefly on each student who had spoken.

"Miss Montmorency," she addressed Emma first, "you're right to stress clarity. The Destination must not only be known, but known in full. A vague notion of a place is not enough, and Apparition does not respond kindly to guesswork. Like how a misspoken syllable in Floo travel sends you down the wrong fireplace, a lapse in visualisation may lead you elsewhere. Or worse."

She turned toward Jan next. "Mr. Grunt, you mentioned something many quickly forget: will and concentration are not separate things in this process. Determination is a force of magical intention. A spell without intent is air. An Apparition without Determination is a wound waiting to happen."

To Aryan, her tone did not soften, but there was the faintest thread of approval threading through her next words. "And yes, Mr. Atreyu-Rehman. Deliberation involves carefully and consciously executing the act of Apparition, both in thought and movement. Hesitation leads to hesitation in the magic. And when magic hesitates, it fractures."

Her steps brought her slowly closer to the front once more, though her words were still clearly aimed at them all.

"Miss Beery," her voice cut through gently, like the edge of a quill. "You brought up a great point for all to consider when Appariting: it is not just about getting there—but about what awaits when you do."

Then Beitris' chin lifted slightly. "This is why we start with theory. With thought. With understanding. Because instinct without training is chaos. We will go more in depth about potential Apparition hazards and how to avoid them next week. The remainder of our lesson today, however, will focus on applying the Three D's with an exercise that I would like to guide you through at this time."

She waited a moment, allowing silence to settle.

"Please go ahead and close your eyes," she instructed. "Breathe in, breathe out, and back in again. Think of a location you know well. It could be the place you wrote about earlier or an entirely different place altogether. A favourite corner of the castle. A cosy nook in Diagon Alley. Your bedroom. A beach you visited as a child. It does not matter, so long as it is specific and you are familiar with it."

Her voice was steady, a metronome of calm guidance.

"Now, focus on the details. What does the ground feel like beneath your feet? Is it stone, wood, sand, earth? What scent fills the air—baking bread, pine needles, saltwater? What colours do you see? What time of day is it there? Are there sounds? Light? Shadows? Wind? Stillness?"

She let each question hang for a few moments before continuing.

"When you open your eyes, I want you to sketch or write about that place as clearly as you can and capture it on your parchment. The more details you can recall about that specific place, the better."

OOC: You will have a couple days for the first part of this activity. Feel free to get creative with how your character visualises a specific location through words, art, or a combination of the two!

Charely Potter · 06-18-2025, 02:56 AM

It was validating to Jan when Ms. Urquhart reaffirmed, agreeing with his thoughts. Where will and concentration are part of a unified act. He smiled at Ary's thoughts on Deliberation along with his fellow seat neighbors.

During the next process, Jan closed his eyes as instructed, breathing in and out, just like his Firther and Dads would encourage him during any physical activity. And yep, it was also part of Quidditch. He thought about a few areas, what he was most familiar with was where he slept. In the Slytherin dorm room and then the bunk bed at home he shared with Idris. Idris, of course, got the top bunk with his smaller size. So he could picture the exact measurements of himself lying on the bed facing up at the carvings he drew into the board of the top bunk.

As for the ground? It was soft from the carpet, before he would be on the bed with the cleanest sheets and sweet scent of lavender that his mum used. The sheets varied, but in the summer when he stayed, the sheets were white to combat the heat with the light and cool colour. Once Jan had the vision on the room, he opened his eyes and then began to scribble into the parchment at least from the viewpoint of when he enters the room.

SPOILER!!: jans bedroom

sweetpinkpixie · 06-18-2025, 08:57 AM

Diamond couldn't help but have her insides stir a little as the instructor’s icy voice sliced through the Great Hall. It was the kind of tone that wanted to command attention and could do so effortlessly, the captivating eyes just the cherry on top of the whole vibe, but she also couldn't quite help assuming it was also the tone of someone who hadn’t had a good scandal to warm them in years. A travesty, truly.

She gave a subtle glance at the board as the shimmering script reformed, her lips twitching into something just shy of the equivalent to an eyeroll. Oh good. A pop quiz disguised as a motivational poster.

With a graceful stretch of her fingers, she readied her quill again and began to scribble in delicate cursive, all smooth loops and sharp points that could cut if you looked too long, while others around her voices their thoughts aloud.

Quote:

Deliberation
The art of not making impulsive, emotionally compromised magical choices like some people make romantic ones. It’s the pause like a mental breath and the moment you decide rather than react.

If you skip it, well... worst case, you splinch and ruin your outfit. Best case, you wind up in Knockturn Alley when you meant for Bond Street. Frankly, between these two outcomes, I can’t decide which is more tragic.

She finished her paragraph with a smug little flourish and blew on the parchment before leaning back in her seat while crossing one leg over the other. The Gryffindor didn’t bother sparing her peers a glance not a listening ear. Surely someone defined "Destination" as "the beach" like that was some profound revelation. As if Ms. Urquhart would reward sentiment.

Her quill twirled idly between her fingers, and she cast her gaze toward the nearest window, pretending for a moment she could step right through it and be anywhere but here. But then again... if she got too good at this Apparition thing, they’d just expect her to show up to everything.

Horrifying. Unless it was somewhere she wanted to be, duh.

But then they were moving on to...ugh. Meditation.

Diamond suppressed the urge to audibly groan as Ms. Urquhart transitioned into her very best imitation of a spa receptionist guiding someone through their first aromatherapy session. Imagining a destination wouldn't be all that difficult. But she DID have several (all of them fabulous) but after a bit her thoughts settled on one in particular. One that made her sit a little straighter in her seat even as the rest of the Hall melted into dreamy introspection. Her lashes lowered (if she had to close her eyes she was going to do it like a starlet caught in a wistful montage) and in no time flat she saw it, clear as if she'd just stepped into it.

The announcer’s booth at U-17 matches. High above the pitch. Wind in her hair. Voice echoing across enchanted amplifiers. Every head tilted up. Every broom below just waiting to react to the beat of her voice. The air smelled like adrenaline and roasted peanuts. There was always a half-empty tea cup resting on the ledge beside her and a stack of parchment fluttering from the breeze — notes she never really needed, but liked the look of. The floor underfoot was a smooth wooden platform slightly worn in the middle from pacing. Below, the pitch always looked electric like the grass had its own pulse. Sometimes sunlight bathed the whole field in gold while other times storm clouds hovered like spectators themselves caught up in the tension of the match. Up in this booth she was untouchable. The queen in her tower and her voice the game’s second heartbeat.

When Diamond opened her eyes again, there was a glint there... but NOT from some meditation induced serenity. Rather, it was from remembering exactly who she was when she was up there, mic in hand and and the entire stadium in the palm of it. And now she had to sketch. Ugh. In fact, DOUBLE ugh. There was a reason Diamond preferred careers where she painted scenes with her words, not actual parchment and quill. This was cruel and unusual punishment for a student who had been forced (illegally, if you asked her ~~which no one was~~) to retake her written exam more times than should be allowed by international wizarding law. But fine. She could sketch.

And by sketch she of course meant she absolutely did draw the announcer’s booth…with herself front and center in it. If anyone had the nerve to say it looked more like a self-portrait than a setting study, well maaaaaaaaaaaaaybe they just needed a better understanding of visual hierarchy.

Text Cut: the embarrassment that is Diamond Marchbanks

Kolyander · 06-18-2025, 04:21 PM

Thinking about where she would want to go in the current moment was one thing. Putting into words what the three D's meant to her (granted she only needed to pick one) was entirely another. Words still sometimes came out in a jumble when she was excited about something. And Bry was very excited about these lessons.

The excitement was reined in tightly, she needed to control herself. No accidents could be had. All responses needed to be understood. Her own included. They may have been moving on but that didn't keep her from having a go at writing down her thoughts.

Quote:

Determination

Determination is super important while apparating anywhere. The want and need to go somewhere has to be there. Any doubt at all about where you want to appear may ruin everything. You may end up in the wrong place or not anywhere at all still right where you started.

Sure Bry could've written more but Beitris was speaking and all of the blonde attention shifted onto the instructor. Blue eyes closed as slow inhales and exhales were had. It was so odd because so MANY places could've chosen. There were many spots around the castle and on the grounds, her home where her papa was right now, all the places she had gone with her mama over the years to help with creatures. Yet, none of those is what flooded her mind right then. The colors, the sounds, it was all so vivid and perfect. A smile graced her lips as she remembered it all like yesterday. Despite having to now put the vision into words, this was a million times better than her trying to draw it.

Quote:

What I see in my mind is a place I haven't been to in a few years. A place my poppy used to take me. It was in the middle of the forest, so many trees surrounded the area like tall skyscrapers blocking out most of the sunlight. There was a small open area devoid of trees where we would set up our tent. A little creek was very close by where we fished and watched creatures come to drink. I remember sitting in the doorway of our tent and watching a mama deer and her baby fawn drinking from the creek one morning as the birds chirped in the trees and bits of the rising sun fluttered through the tree tops. It all smelled so earthy, fresh, clean. It was beyond lovely.

Bryony set her quill down and reread what she had written. Hopefully it was enough for others to picture it as she was.

FearlessLeader19 · 06-18-2025, 10:00 PM

The instructor continued to make him nervous, and that tone certainly inflicted more nerves upon him. So much so that he completely missed the approval woven in her voice. She reminded him of someone but he couldn’t recall whom it was at the moment. He could only hope that she didn’t see the nerves he felt though he might confide in Jan and Bry later on. Ary managed a single nod then devoted his attention back to processing the answers given by the others. Jan's friendly smile did help ease his feelings, by the way.

At least with this exercise he could easily carry out the next task easily; Divination {and Professor Khanna’s occasional meditation sessions} helped since focusing was required. The sixth year closed his eyes; he inhaled deeply then exhaled in the same manner. This was definitely familiar territory. The place Ary picked out? A quiet spot at The Cliffs Dragon & Hippogriff Reserve. His favourite spot where the grass was super soft and super green, the tall trees providing a cosy canopy of shade. He liked to be there bare feet, without fear that his feet would be pierced by anything. And when it rained? When it rained he smelt the raindrops on the grass and leaves. When it was sunny, it was breezy and bright. In both cases, the earthy smell - much like the kind in the Greenhouses - was present. Overall, this spot was a quiet one. Ary thrived on that quiet.

The guy opened his eyes to write exactly those thoughts.

Zoe · 06-20-2025, 03:16 PM

As Beitris spoke, Gilly's eyes drifted shut with the quiet reverence of someone opening a familiar, beloved book. Her breathing slowed as instructed—inhale, exhale, again—until her thoughts drift far from the stone floors of Hogwarts, far from the familiar scenery of the British Isles. Instead, she found herself standing on sun-warmed stone, the click of distant heels echoing faintly in her memory. Mykonos. More specifically Little Venice.

She hadn't been there in a while, but the image returned with startling clarity. Gilly sat a moment longer in silence, imprinting the memory with care, then opened her eyes.

Quill to parchment, Gilly began to write freely, almost like a diary entry. Descriptions came in waves, fragments, sensations:

Quote:

Tucked along the southwestern edge of Mykonos Town, Little Venice is a captivating quarter where the charm of the Cyclades meets the elegance of the Italian Riviera. Here, centuries-old buildings stand defiantly at the water's edge, their brightly painted wooden balconies suspended daringly over the sea, as though reaching out to touch the Aegean.

During the golden hours of late afternoon, the entire area is bathed in a warm, honeyed light. The sun dips low, casting elongated shadows and turning the whitewashed walls into shades of rose gold and peach. The buildings themselves are a mix of former sea captains' homes and merchant residences, each one uniquely characterised by its colour—splashes of cobalt blue, crimson, and emerald green frame shuttered windows and hand-carved doors.

Waves lap gently against the foundations of these waterfront homes. Boutiques and cafés line the promenade, their open terraces filled with the hum of conversation and the scent of sea salt mingling with grilled octopus and citrusy drinks.

The alleyways twist and meander, revealing artisan shops, hidden staircases, and ivy-draped terraces. A few metres away, the famed windmills of Kato Mili rise against the sky, completing the postcard-perfect view. As evening falls, locals and visitors alike gather here, drawn by the sound of waves, the vibrant nightlife, and the spectacle of the sun melting into the horizon.

When she finished, she paused to straighten her parchment and set her quill aside, a quiet confidence settling in her chest.

**Beitris Urquhart** · 06-21-2025, 03:59 PM

Beitris moved slowly between the rows, her boots clicking softly against the stone floor, the rich navy of her robes brushing just above the ground. She didn't interrupt the students, only glanced down now and then at their parchments with a practiced, appraising eye.

When she reached the front again, she turned with deliberate stillness, letting the echo of her final step fade. Her hands clasped behind her back, she spoke, her voice quiet but unyielding.

"Before Apparition is ever done," she said, "the process begins here." She tapped her temple once, lightly. "Not in your wand hand, but in your mind. And it is breath that carries that thought forward."

With a flick of her wand, the board shifted again. The bold letters spelling out the Three D's were joined by a new phrase written in clear, deliberate script:

"I am focused, and I can visualise where I want to go."
"We are going to practise a method of mental anchoring. While we won't be Apparating today, this exercise is meant to aid you in focusing on arriving at your Destination. Here is where Determination is built—in the quiet, deliberate rhythm of thought. And Deliberation is honed not in motion, but in the pause before it. Apparition rewards clarity, so practising this process is quite crucial until it becomes second nature.

"You may keep your eyes closed or open, as you prefer. Sit comfortably. And let's begin." Her voice slowed, rhythm like a calm current. "Inhale for four counts ... one, two, three, four. Hold ... one, two, three, four. Exhale ... one, two, three, four. Again. Inhale ... one, two, three, four. Hold ... one, two, three, four. Exhale ... one, two, three, four."

She gave them a moment to settle into the rhythm before speaking again.

"As you breathe, mentally repeat the affirmation: 'I am focused, and I can visualise where I want to go.' Let that phrase thread itself through each inhale, each exhale. Let it replace the clutter."

Her voice remained low and smooth.

"Now, I want you to take that sense of calm and direct it toward the place you wrote about. If your thoughts begin to wander, acknowledge the distraction and gently return your focus. Let your Destination come into sharper view. Call upon your Determination to picture yourself arriving there with purpose. Engage your Deliberation to visualise the details fully—each step, each sensation—with thoughtful precision. Let these intentions guide your mind completely."

She allowed several beats of stillness before her voice, once again firm, concluded the exercise.

"At this time, I'd like for you to turn and talk with someone sitting near you. Consider these questions: How did this exercise affect your ability to focus on your chosen location? What came easily to you, or what was challenging? How might this kind of mental preparation help you in mastering Apparition or other areas of magic? Is there something you would do differently?"

OOC: You will have a couple days for the last part of this activity. Feel free to get creative with your character's thoughts, details about what they are visualising, ability to stay focused, etc. For the reflection at the end, you are welcome to name drop someone or be vague about whom they are speaking with.

FearlessLeader19 · 06-21-2025, 05:57 PM

At least Ary hadn’t thought that the Apparition process started with his wand hand. It was sort of one of those trick statements like you drew with your eyes, and not your hands. It was already his opinion that the act of meditation played a big part in Apparating and this was in a way confirmed by the new phrase on the board. Once again, he was reminded of that Concentration meditation where every participant was told to focus on an object or phrase. Ary made a mental note to tell Professor Khanna how much those meditation exercises were helping him.

The Slytherin hadn’t expected them to be Apparating today; to do that would have been way too premature. He was grateful for more theoretical lessons for now. He had found that he focused better mentally when he closed his eyes so Ary did just that after adjusting his spine so that his back was poised quite straight. Then it began: inhalation with four counts, holding with four counts then exhalation with four counts. And repeat. Sure enough, he soon found a rhythm going, a soothing one too. It made him forget about how nervous Beitris made him; it even made him quit wondering about the person she reminded him of. How could he not forget when he was busy silently repeating: “I am focused, and I can visualise where I want to go. I am focused, and I can visualise where I want to go.”

Charely Potter · 06-22-2025, 03:53 PM

I am focused, and I can visualise where I want to go

Jan mentally read off the board before Urquhart continued with the part of the session. He was okay with them not doing the Apparating today; he was more thrilled with the idea than actually confident. The challenging part did trace back to keeping full focus on the destination rather than everything else when it came time.

Sitting comfortably, Jan followed the instructions, first with his eyes open so he can visualize the demonstration before repeating it with his eyes closed. He inhaled... one hippogriff.. two hippogriffs.. three hippogriffs... four hippogriffs.. and exhaled. Repeating the motions.

Thoughts of hesitation and doubt gradually dissolved when he mentally thought, I am focused, and I can visualise where I want to go... Visually thinking about his bed back home, the feel of the sheets, and fresh smell. He thought about his little brother too, with his head poking out from above looking down at him with that goofy smile, excited to see his big brother as usual. Did that count as distraction? Definitely.. but it was a positive one he'd have to work on. His thoughts returning to feel of the bed he wanted to return to and the set-up of his room and environment.

Afterward, Jan turned to Ary who was close by, who was concentrating on the task. He could wait on sharing his thoughts until they were ready. He would've liked to hear about how they handled distracting thoughts and returning back to focusing.

FearlessLeader19 · 06-22-2025, 11:13 PM

Was Ary calm? Yes, he absolutely was. It might explain why there was no difficulty with him picturing his spot at home in that same sense. In fact, he pictured it so clearly, he momentarily forgot that he wasn’t actually present there. He saw himself suddenly materialising in the middle of the canopied place and having the surprise of greeting another life form there - his Mooncalf, Artax. The creature’s presence made the scenario seem even more real. He pictured taking steps towards Artax, the soft crunch of grass beneath his trainers, the wind ruffling his hair, the earthy scents.

As for the latter bit of instructions, there were two persons Ary could talk with: Bry and Jan. So, he directed his words to both, after he had listened to Jan, that is. Yep, he gave his bestie the chance to speak first.

Zoe · 06-24-2025, 04:18 PM

Gilly's hands had settled quietly on her lap when Ms. Urquhart first began guiding them through the mental anchoring exercise. At the instructor's command to close their eyes, she did so without hesitation, letting the world dim behind her lids. The Great Hall faded gradually, like a curtain being drawn closed.

She drew in a breath as instructed—one, two, three, four—held it—one, two, three, four—and released it slowly, letting her shoulders soften with the exhale. Again. Then again. Each round smoothed the restless edge of her thoughts, allowing the crowded hallway of her mind to empty until it was just her and the rhythm of her breath.

I am focused, and I can visualise where I want to go.

Gilly repeated the affirmation in her head, quiet and steady, letting it loop with each inhale and exhale. At first it felt like a mantra borrowed from someone else, an approach she normally didn't feel was necessary. But with each repetition, the words seemed to settle in her bones, aligning with her own intent. Her thoughts, usually flitting like curious fish, now moved like the tide, deliberate and slow.

Then came the image.

She let it unfold rather than summon it forcefully. Little Venice, Mykonos, bloomed in her mind's eye. The sharp scent of sea salt and sun-drenched stone. The breeze tugging playfully at her hair as she stood at the water's edge, watching waves lap against the foundations of buildings that had stood for centuries. Her bare feet pressed against warm, uneven cobblestones. Somewhere nearby, a string of wind chimes tinkled gently. She could hear the low hum of conversation from a nearby café and feel the cool condensation of a glass of citrus water in her hand...

When prompted to regroup, Gilly did so slowly, as though waking from a gentle dream. There was a moment where she just ... sat, letting the residue of the vision settle before she turned to the classmate beside her.

"That actually ... really helped," she admitted, her tone thoughtful rather than surprised. "Sometimes I struggle with focusing on just one thing at a time. There's always background noise in my head, and I tend to move from one thing to the next fairly quickly. But the breathing sort of ... softened it all? I was able to just be in the place, like I'd stepped into the memory instead of just remembering it."

sweetpinkpixie · 06-25-2025, 01:47 AM

They WOULDN'T Apparating today??

Well...

Diamond didn't scoff exactly since she DID have manners when she wanted too and especially when the person deserving of the eye roll offered a service that she desired, but the deep exhale she let out as the breathing exercise concluded may as well have counted as one. Eyes still closed, she gave herself a count of three before cracking one open and stretching her arms out in front of her. This was SO BORING and how was she meant to be calm when she felt like life had taken on a grayscale hue?!

Still. She had to admit, reluctantly, that the steadiness helped ISH. Her usual day was go-go-GO with her lips moving faster than her quill could keep up, so being made to sit in a moment of silence with nothing but her own thoughts was sort of refreshing...in the way that a face full of ice water was in the dead of winter.

Diamond leaned ever so slightly to her left and the peer beside her. "If the goal was to feel like I was back in the announcer's booth, it failed. The energy in this space is all off and honestly everyone is just bringing me down." She shrugged her shoulders and looked at her freshly manicured nails in tangerine orange and with rhinestones and GLITTER. "The vision obviously came easy. When you've got presence like this, you don’t exactly struggle to see yourself places. Challenging part? Sitting still long enough to care. But I see what Urquhart is going for I guess."

**Beitris Urquhart** · 06-25-2025, 02:10 AM

Beitris moved soundlessly between the desks, robes brushing gently against the floor, her expression a smooth mask of composure. No smile. No frown. Just the steady, appraising sweep of her pale eyes. Postures appeared to be steady, layered with quiet effort and focus. There certainly was potential across the room.

When the students began sharing their thoughts, she quietly listened. While this moment would provide them with the opportunity to verbalise their thoughts and hear a perspective that may be different from theirs, she was gauging understanding and mentally making note of potential ways she could potentially support them in upcoming lessons.

She let the last murmurs of the partner conversations naturally drift into quiet. Then, without announcement, she returned to the front once more. Her hands came together behind her back in a gesture of practiced ease.

"You've all now visualised a place you know," she began, her voice clear and low, its even tone carrying effortlessly across the hall, "which is precisely the correct approach when you begin learning how to Apparate. Start with the familiar. Anchor yourself in what is known."

A beat passed.

"However."

That single word shifted the air slightly.

"Apparition in the real world is not exclusively confined to the familiar. It is not always tidy, or safe, or comfortably rehearsed. You will not always be afforded the luxury of comfort. Whether in field work, emergency situations, or travel to another site or country, you must be prepared to Apparate to locations you may not know well. This is the moment where every inch of preparation counts. Where recklessness becomes risk. Where magical control must be paired with critical thought. Because when the unfamiliar becomes your destination, what you do before you Apparate is every bit as important as the act itself."

She began to pace slowly once more, the sound of her boots echoing lightly in the now-listening silence. Her gaze passed over the room again, more pointed this time.

"Before we conclude our lesson today, I'd like for you all to consider the unfamiliar. What potential challenges do you think one might face when Apparating to a place that is vaguely described, faintly remembered, or completely foreign? And, perhaps more importantly, how would you prepare for travel to such a place?"

OOC: We're moving on to the last leg of the Apparition lesson! We will bring things to a close in a couple of days; feel free to play catch-up as needed.

Zoe · 06-26-2025, 05:27 PM

Gilly hesitated for just a moment after Urquhart's final question, fingers lightly pressed to the edge of her parchment. A quiet glance was exchanged with those sitting near her before her gaze drifted toward one of the enchanted portraits—specifically the stormy cliffside—then back to the front of the room.

"The biggest challenge I foresee is incomplete visualisation and the consequences that come with it. Without knowing exactly what the space looks like, I might miscalculate the arrival point and put myself at risk. A staircase that wasn't anticipated, a sharp ledge, a crowd of people, or even just a tightly enclosed room could cause serious injury."

She wet her lips before continuing, steadier now.

"To prepare for travel to such a place, I'd begin by gathering as much detail as possible. I'd use magical maps or talk to someone who's been there—ask about the ground, the lighting, the space. If I had access to photographs or moving images, I'd study those, practicing visualisation before attempting the Apparition."

When she finished, her shoulders remained straight. She let her words hang there, before she slowly sat back, fingers curling loosely around her quill to continue her notes.

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