Transfiguration Lesson 1: TBA It's a chilly mid-December afternoon outside, but one wouldn't know it by walking into the Great Hall. The hall is illuminated by several floating candles that give off an air of cozy warmth. The only indication of the weather outside is the gray, overcast sky reflected in the ceiling. Students arriving for today's transfiguration lesson will notice that the Great Hall looks a bit different than usual. Several tall pine trees stand at the front of the hall, and all of the house tables have been pushed against the walls. In their place are cushions in festive holiday colors, arranged in a semi circle in front of the staff table. Professor Carton stands leaning against the staff table, seemingly lost in thought. In case the cushions' presence isn't self-explanatory, a note on the chalkboard beside the professor instructs, Please sit on the cushions and wait for class to begin. OOC: Welcome to the first OOC transfiguration lesson of the term. Class Lesson Progression Q1: Name a winter holiday tradition Q2: What spells could be used for holiday deocrating? Main Activity: Crystallus decus & Mediocris luminaria Mini Activity: Tree decorating |
Violet was relieved to be attending a class that wasn't being held out of doors, in the cold, which seemed to have been a trend among the teachers lately. But when she entered, she was surprised to see the Hall rearranged from its usual setup. Pine trees--okay, maybe that was a festive touch. Was it nearly that time of year already? Violet had lost track of time. And--they had to sit on the floor. It always had to be something, didn't it? Well, at least there were cushions. "G'day, Professor Carton," she called up to him, though she wasn't really sure he heard her. Then she plopped down on a cushion and waited. |
Honestly classes in the great hall were the best and the worst at the exact same time. How she couldn't really explain it more than she was glad she wasn't cramped in a room but at the same time the ceiling was just asking her to look up at it and day dream. Walking closer to the front she noticed the festive looking cushions on the ground. Oh comfy sitting. Well, good thing she'd worn her tights under her skirt, you know sitting in the ground and all. Noticing violet she waved before going to find her own seat. "Hello Professor." She said before sitting down on a pillow a bit away from violet but closer to the back. |
Hmmm. Ash had been walking around looking aimless and lost in thought for a very long time. Maybe for the past month and a half. So it wasn't every day that Ash caught a professor looking more lost in thought than she did. She walked over to the professor. "Hi professor. You okay?" Because when she was lost in thought, it was never a good thing. She took a seat next to Violet, cause they were friends and all. "Hi." |
Despite the chill in the air, Claudine felt oddly warm on the inside. Why? Because it was almost Christmas. That meant there would be a break from studies soon and there would be pretty decorations all around. Hang on. Was that why there were pine trees about? Were they going to be decorating trees? Claudine could sincerely hope; she barely even took notice of the House tables sitting elsewhere. Since Carton looked otherwise occupied, the Snakette waved to Violet and Ashley before planting herself on a bright green cushion next to Charlotte. “Hi.” |
HER FAVOURITE CLASS!!! Well it had been in the top three from last year. It was weird …. transfiguration, arithmancy , and potions just clicked. She liked the other ones too but these classes came easier so she was in a GOOD mood headed to class today. Lisa Nam was even skipping because she was so excited. She wondered what they’d learn today. “Hiiii-” she greeted Professor Canton but stopped herself when he appeared to be in deep thought. “Excuse me, sir. Hi!” she said, trying to emphasize her politeness because she was a lady and all y’know. Then she turned to join the rest of her classmates, offering a smile to the students already here (Violet, Claudine, Charlie, and Ash). |
Valentina looked rather excited as she entered the great hall for her next lesson. She noticed the trees, of course, and all the cushions. She wondered what the lesson was going to be about. Something super cool, hopefully. "Hello, professor." She greeted cheerfully - although he didn't look too present. Oh, well. She sat down on a red cushion, smiling at all of her classmates. |
Lesson in the Great Hall? That certainly seemed different. Evan entered and paused, noting all of the trees and wondering if they were going to transfigure things into decorations for Christmas. Professor Carton seemed to like to make things fun and have holiday themed lesson plans, not that the Ravenclaw was complaining on this. He spotted the instructions about finding a cushion to sit on, and moved towards where they were located by the staff table and a chose a red one to perch on. He offered a smile as well to his head of house, "Hello, Professor Carton. Are we decorating today?" The pumpkin lesson had been a favorite of his from previous terms. |
FINALLY! A lesson on FOOD. Because that was the only explanation as to why they'd be having class in the Great Hall, obviously. And who was Kizzy to complain? She was very content with this arrangement! "Hi, Professor - I'm starving," she sidled up beside him so that she could give him a nudge with her elbow. She knew he was starved too. There's no way he was just doing this for them. Professor's needed nutrition too. It was big facts. "Great minds, huh?" She tapped her forehead before hopping down to sit on the cushion next to Val. She offered her dormmate a small smile in greeting. "I hope we're eating pie." That would be nice, wouldn't it? |
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"Hi,", and then, lowering her voice, added, ""Is he okay?" and gestured with her head towards Professor Carton. He was the second or third teacher Violet had noticed who seemed preoccupied, which probably meant something was going on at Hogwarts. As usual. |
A lesson in the great hall was a bit different but not the strangest thing she'd seen around here. So Dahlia thought nothing at all of it as she walked through the doors for the transfiguration lesson, however the tall pine trees caught her eye. A very casual glance around was done, her thoughts kept tightly reigned in as she located herself a bright red cushion. "Hello, Professor. I hope you're doing well today," was her gentle greeting as she took her place and sat down. The man looked completely consumed by his own thoughts and she could understand that, it was the holidays and this castle always had something going on. |
Question 1 Text Cut: Individual replies ^_^ Norman absentmindedly checked his watch; it was almost time to start. As if on autopilot, he started to reach for his wand to close and lock the door, but he remembered they were in the Great Hall, not his classroom. Locking the doors to the Great Hall was probably not a good idea! He’d just have to keep a close watch for late arrivals. Let’s get this over with! He thought as he stepped forward. “Right, let’s get started,” he addressed the students. “Who can give me an example of a winter holiday tradition, be it magical or muggle? It doesn’t have to be your own tradition -” He could completely sympathize with those who may not want to talk about their personal lives! “- just one that you know.” OOC: I’m so sorry for the delay! Question 1 is up, and class has officially started now. If you’re just joining us, pretend that your character has been here the whole time unless you want IC consequences for a late arrival. We’ll move on in 24-28 HOURS. ^_^ |
Oh. Would you look at that? Carton hadn’t been that lost in thought that he hadn’t noticed her. “Hi, professor. Didn’t mean to disturb your thinking.” She gave him a smile then made a second attempt to head off to find a seat. Now settled in, Claudine raised a hand in reply to Lisa’s smile. Wow. That Ravenclaw was excited, wasn’t she? As the lesson got started, she sat up, her interest rising at the question. Winter holiday traditions. There were quite a few she knew of {and she tried not to think of her own family right then}; Claudine even knew about a few Muggle ones. “There’s Bonfire Night,’’ the Snakette volunteered, lowering her hand after being called upon. “I’m not exactly sure of the entire history behind it but I recall this activity was somewhat violent. Over time that changed and it became more family oriented.’’ |
Okay, Ash was not the most perceptive person in the history of the universe, but she did know what being lost in thought looked like! Her whole family made that face a lot, and if she had looked in a mirror every once in a while(she didn't), she'd know that she did it too. Especially recently. Sooo she just raised a suspicious eyebrow and sat back down. Professors lied about everything, why wouldn't they lie about this? But he smiled, so maybe he really was okay? She shrugged at Violet. "Dunno. He said he was, but..." She shrugged again. He was reminding her of Father, but nicer. "People exchange gifts in the winter. With people they like... and other people who they have to give stuff to." Like family members. And former friends. "It's usually a way to show affection." But not always. Not always. |
Winter holiday traditions?? Valentina wondered what that had anything to do with transfiguration but the professor obviously knew what he was talking about. "Building a snowman!" Because that's the best part about the holidays, right?? So, she didn't exactly like the cold weather but building a snowman with her family ever winter has always been a tradition. So much fun!! |
The vague response with the glint in Professor Carton's eyes got another smile from Evan, as he simply nodded his understanding that nothing would be really disclosed until due time. He got himself comfortable on his cushion as the lesson began, thinking on holiday traditions while others gave answers. He hadn't heard of bonfire night, so he filed that away to look up, and snowman's were fun. He raised his hand and waited for his turn to contribute. "a lot of people choose to decorate for the holidays, putting up Christmas trees and outside lights and even sometimes mistletoe. Some people get so into it they even collect certain types of decorations, like Santa Claus figures, to display every year." |
"I am, Professor, thank you." Dahlia gave a warm beaming smile up at Carton from her spot on the cushion on the floor. It was nice when others were having a good day, especially whenever she was too! The holiday season made things wonderful, how could anyone be sad right now?! Okay, so she knew people could be sad.. she herself had been awhile back at this very time of the year but she would rather not think of that right now. Only good thoughts would do. Ohh, holiday traditions! Lia loved those! Making memories were some of her favorite things to do! Sitting up straighter on her cushion she lifted her hand up into the air and waited to be called on. "Some families get everyone in the family together for a big holiday dinner or a party." Her own family did the dinner thing each year as best that they could with whoever showed up now that there was getting to be more and more of them all. |
Indeed, it was almost that time of the year when the air gets chilly, people get nostalgic, teens getting antsy to go home...and well, the time too to celebrate traditions. Decorating the place was one. It's a very big deal in the Mordaunt clan, in fact each family try to outdo the other by decorating their homes as opulent as they can get. It was always their great-grandmother Sofia who wins by default, however. No one can upstage that woman. Ever. "We do celebrate our own feast at home, Professor. My great-grandparents have been hosting the family luncheon for decades now. We usually spend the day with the whole clan, exchanging gifts, playing chess or other board games like Monopoly, playing football...more eating." Noah crossed his arms in thought as he sunk deeper into his cushion. It was a relatively happy and relaxing holiday for all of them. Especially for a soon-to-be-17 year old, who will officially have the Trace off him. This year was particularly important. |
Kins was still stuck on the fact that they wouldn't be eating food during class today. Why would you have a class in the Great Hall if it wasn't going to be about food? This was just about the silliest thing Kinsay had experienced all week! And you'd think someone with the surname Carton, would provide drinks. At least! But winter traditions? Kinsay listened to her peers share some they knew about before raising her own hand. "Every year I make a snowball called Jerry and keep him in the freezer, but my dad always throws him away because we need freezer space for other stuff - but, professor, don't you think a snowball's more important than peas?" Freezer Jerry and the peas were their tradition. Kind of. But Kins was going to present factual evidence this year so that dad would let them keep Jerry and toss the peas instead. No one ate the peas anyway. Peas are gross. |
Snowmen are at least ten times more important than peas, can confirm.” She would know, she was an absolute expert on what happened to be important and what absolutely wasn’t. General rule of thumb to follow? If Kizzy said it was important, Emmerson would find a way to make it so. “I like that the whole family gathers back at the manor every Christmas. We catch up on how things have been and I’m getting old enough Mum and my aunt and cousin don’t make me leave before they start discussing things. I mean sometimes they still do but I learn a lot now.” And that was better than presents in her estimation. It didn’t need to be Christmas for her to get presents and with her mother’s penchant for being anywhere in the world regardless of season, she didn’t necessarily need to wait for snow either. It was the inclusion and the bonding she got to do. |
Violet was rather fond of Christmas, or Yule, as her family referred to it--everyone in the family got together and at least pretended to get along. "My family burns a Yule Log--my grandfather lights it with a bit of last year's log and we let it burn all night on the winter solstice." And now she was deemed old enough to stay up and watch it and help keep it going. Violet loved staying up at night. |
Charlie smiled as Claudine sat down beside her, "Hey Claudine." She didn't want to get too chatty because it seemed Carton would notice and draw him out of his thoughts. Or maybe it wouldn't bother him at all. Oh? Holiday traditions she loved them they were so different everywhere she had been in her childhood. But most of all she truly enjoyed all of the ones that were rooted in holiday markets. Smiling and listening to the Yule logs and gatherings she hadn't had that odd of a holiday tradition now that she heard it. "We always visit holiday markets/bazaars because they hold items the are traditional to people, while also offering up food and drink that are local." It was always nice when they were somewhere warm when they would visit the markets because it was always a bit more fun. |
this, then bed Holiday traditions? Like Christmas or holidays in general? Okay, probably Christmas with what time of year it is and all. "We have Nikolaustag, which is this day in early December where someone dressed as St. Nicholas brings children presents. And he's usually accompanied by this scary dude named Krampus. That's on top of the usual gift exchange done on Christmas Eve....." Yeah, it was a lot. And even she had never really understood the purpose of Krampus. It was just tradition. |
Question 2 Text Cut: individual replies ^_^ Norman’s aquamarine eyes swept the hall in search of any more hands in the air. When he saw none, he addressed the class again, “As you can see, there are many winter holiday traditions throughout the world…” The thought briefly crossed his mind to share one of his own traditions with the students - it seemed only fair after they’d shared theirs with him - but he remembered he didn’t have any. He momentarily looked down and caught himself fidgeting with his wedding ring. When had he started doing that? He aimed his wand at the chalkboard, hoping that would distract himself from his thoughts, and the writing there disappeared. In its place, a list appeared: Quote:
OOC: Thank you for your patience! Question 2 is up. You’ll have ABOUT 16-18 HOURS for this one. ^_^ |
It wasn’t surprising that so many of her classmates leaned towards listing a tradition that stemmed from their own families. Claudine honestly felt a little uncomfortable because she couldn’t help, in that moment, to miss her family. She was allowed to even though a fair few of them were killers, right? Sigh. When did her life become so complicated? Claudine kept her head down and worked on making her notes. Maybe one day she’d have traditions with her own family. She’d see what life had in store for her in that aspect. The mention of decorating had her brightening up, however. Christmas had always been her favourite holiday. One spell immediately came to mind. She raised a hand. “There’s ‘Crystallus Decus’, the spell that transfigures a small amount of snow into ice ornaments.” |
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