Julie raised her hand then said "each word your write down in runes has a magical connection with it, which from runes magic history, alot of them have their names connected with it. In order for the magic to be imposed few element words must be written in rows or binded, for example two names in one row or three names binded at the root for the the magic to connect them together, but when you have language, the magic will be lost becuase of confusion and the main elements will be lost with other words and the magic won't find them for binding." then pausing hoping she was on track.

Adrienne scowled at the know-it-all Gryffindor. She always went ahead of the Professor, in all classes, and Adrienne had no idea how to differenciate between what the Professor wanted and the facts she was spouting like Old Faithful. Nevertheless, she dutifully wrote down what everyone said, just in case.

Maureen thought about this question and raised her hand and said "Maybe because long texts takes a long time to say it so you wouldn't have much concentration as much as the short ones. For the short ones you only need to concentrate for a short time. Also while saying the phrase, you might get mixed up and get it wrong."

Samantha sat wondering. She didn't really know anything about the Ruinic Texts. She sat there writing notes on The correct answers that were being called out, Just for future reffrence.

meghan scribbled the notes down on parchment. She was impressed by julies knowledge of the subject and agreed with what she had to say about this particular question.

Gaby raises her hand. "Professor, could it be the ancient rune alphabet, the symbols I mean, have magical powers of their own. Each symbol has a meaning uniquely its own, so that one symbol or two could relay the magical powers desired without having to carve out a lengthy incription." She knows her answer is quite different from the other students, but Gaby remembers her sister telling her about the exposed rune tiles at Platform 9 3/4 last term. They were hidden there to protect the entrance, so no one was needed to read the inscription for the magic to work.

Thinking hard, Jessica took notes attentively. She didn't want to miss out anything. The class was too interesting. She couldn't possibly bear to miss anything, even if it was of the least importance.

"As I thought, most of you see the difference in length as a problem, and that is true," Professor Opteryx said, nodding to those who answered. "Your chances of making a mistake are greater the longer an incantation is. Therefore, it's best to keep things short and simple, but that's not the only reason..."

Quote:

Gaby raises her hand. "Professor, could it be the ancient rune alphabet, the symbols I mean, have magical powers of their own. Each symbol has a meaning uniquely its own, so that one symbol or two could relay the magical powers desired without having to carve out a lengthy incription." She knows her answer is quite different from the other students, but Gaby remembers her sister telling her about the exposed rune tiles at Platform 9 3/4 last term. They were hidden there to protect the entrance, so no one was needed to read the inscription for the magic to work.

"Ahh, here we're getting a little closer," Professor Opteryx said, nodding to the Hufflepuff girl. "Each rune has its own unique properties. By stringing it together with other runes, you are in essence connecting these properties together like you would by placing different ingredients in a cauldron to make a potion. Some runes will compliment another, strengthening it, while another combination would create more harm than good. The more runes you string together, the more complex these interactions are, to the point where they may begin to cancel each other out or create undesired effects to the spell you're attempting to reinforce. Therefore, it's much easier to string a short series of runes together than it is to create a longer string of them.

"All of this discussion revolves around a single assumption--that the runes are spelled--that is, magically activated. I could write a series of runes on the blackboard right now and they would be as magical as the notes all of you are taking, because I haven't activated the magical power and properties that they represent. A rune is like a container for a specific magical power--it's empty and neutral until you put the magic in to activate it. Most long and lengthy documents written in runes are not using the runes for their magical properties but simply for their script, and have never been magically spelled. These scripts have no magical value and cannot be considered as magical artifacts."

"Any questions before I assign the homework?"

Eunice looked at the mounds of notes she took and shook her head; she couldn't think of any questions at the moment.

Emma had a question. She lifted her hand in the air.
"Professor, is there a simpler way to explain it, my head's about to explode. What exactly are the runes? Are they the magic, or the engraving or... something else?"
She had tried to copy everything down but there was to much and she couldn'T shorten it becuase she didn't quite understand.

Fancy started massaging her hand as she welcomed the break from note-taking. The professor hadn't even spoken that much - it was the student's responses that had been so lengthy, causing her hand to ache from the vigorous, constant writing. Fancy didn't have any questions, but she was sort of dreading the homework. Today's class was very indepth and Fancy expected the homework to be long and tedious work. She glanced up at her professor, with a note of pleading in her bright green eyes.

"Professor, if you would be so kind as to put it in laymen's terms for me to understand, because the way it's been put so far isn't clear to me." Adrienne had never felt so dumb in her life, besides Arithmancy, but that's a whole different can of worms.....

Professor Opteryx paused, looking at a few more confused faces than he'd thought he would. "Alright, alright. Let's think of each individual rune as a candle, and the flame as its magic. When the candle isn't lit, it can't give off heat and light, even though it has all the necessary bits to keep a fire burning. It has to be lit by a match or have a flame transferred to it in order to begin functioning as a candle. Once it has been lit, it will continue to keep that flame burning for a long while.

"The same thing goes with a rune--it has in it the power to contain some magical force, but you have to first light it up, in essence, for it to begin working. With out that first flame or spark, it is useless as a magical artefact. Is that any clearer?"

Fancy was greatly pleased that her professor had decided to explain the concept of runes to them in simpler terms. There had just been so much information in the class, she knew that many of her classmates felt the way she did - overwhelmed. The information was swimming in her head, and now with the analogy that Professor Opteryx had given, the information was a little clearer. Wanting to let the professor know that she had greatly helped her (and probably many others), Fancy raised her hand.

"That is much clearer, Professor Opteryx. Thank you so much!"

Haefalaswen listened carefully to everything what the professor said, this was all soooooo interesting. She was really fascinated.
She scribbled down everything on her parchement.
She smiled at the professor, she thought the comparison to a candle was quite funny but very well said because it seemed that lot of other students understood better.

Romy dipped her quill in ink and wrote the informations down. And wait for a new question.

Stacey felt a little better about runes once Professor Opteryx explained it in terms that she understood a little better. She was so afraid that she would not be able to really get into class that much but now felt better about it as a whole. She sat with her quill in hand and parchment out ready for the homework that the professor was going to give.

Laurasia took down her notes & awaited the homework assignment. Also noticing the confusion on some of the other students faces, she wondered just how much clearer Professor Opteryx could be in his explanation. She listened, with a growing smile on her face, as the professor used the analogy of an unlit candle. "Now that was perfect. How could anyone still be confused after that example. So simple, yet so perfect," she thought to herself.

Rave scribbled down all the professor had said and waited for the homework assignment

"Thanks Professor, it's much clearer now." Emma wrote the professor words in her parchment relieved, she understood now and that was very good, she couldn't come back to class without understanding the basics, how complicated would the next things be...

Emma thought this made perfect sense. She didn't know what last year's teacher was like, but she couldn't help but think that he or she couldn't have been better than Professor Opteryx.

"If that's all, I'm going to assign the homework. Don't worry too much about the magical properties of runes right now; what I would like you to do is get yourself aquainted with the runic alphabet. Treat it like a secret code--memorize it and play around with it, learn it well. There's a table of what letter each rune corresponds to in your textbook--use that as a guide to decipher this message:" Professor pointed his wand at the blackboard and the following symbols appeared:



"In addition, you can send me a phrase written in runes for bonus marks. Instructions on how to do that can be found on the announcements board. Class dismissed."

Alanna recorded the homework, wondering how she would pass this class. She was confused already! She gathered her notes, books, and other materials and left with the other students.

Falas scribbled her homework on a piece of parchement before putting all her stuff in her bag. Ancient runes was definitly interesting.
"Goobye professor !! Great class !! Have a nice day !!" she said waving at the professor and she stepped out of the classroom...

Emma grinned broadly at the Professor. She left the room with her things, planning to do the homework right away.