I foresee this isn't going to go well on Defense Against the Dark Arts

Professor O'Leary

September 26, 2007 2:04 PM

Lesson 1: Fourth and Fifth Years by Professor O'Leary

The fact that his lesson plans were finished and he had no papers to grade meant that Drake had little to do before class started. As such, he was sitting at his desk, feet up, seemingly napping when his fourth and fifth year students began to wander in. His eyes were open just enough to see if any mischief was occurring, which he didn’t expect as much from his older students. Most knew by now not to in his classroom.

Once the last student was settled, Drake got up and ambled to the front of his desk, which he leaned back on, folding his arms, which were enclosed in large black robe sleeves. He cleared his throat before beginning class, “Welcome back, students. I suspect the rules go without saying, so we will go straight into the lesson we will be learning today.” With a flick of the wand, always under his sleeve, the following appeared on the board:

Advanced Shielding

The Shield Charm (Protego) vs. Hex Deflection (Contego)

“By now, all of you should be well versed in casting the Shield Charm, however, this charm is only designed to deflect minor to moderate jinxes, whereas Hex Deflection is stronger and therefore takes more work to master,” Drake lectured. “To perform Hex Deflection, wave your wand like so.” He demonstrated, which showed a more complicated wand movement than the shield charm. “And say Contego.”

After showing the students a couple more times to try and make sure everyone had a chance to see the correct wand movement and hear the pronunciation, he continued, “For this lesson, I would like each of you to pair off with one other person to practice dueling with this spell. I will be walking around the room observing and answering questions. Now, please gather your things and stand up in order for the desks to be moved for practice.”

Another wave of the wand and the desks were moved against the walls to give enough room for the students to work. “You may begin.”

OOC: Remember, minimum two paragraphs, ten sentences. Be creative and have fun!

Subthreads:

Gotta love teacher-approved fighting by Lexi Stafford with Dalila Bastet, Lexi

I foresee this isn't going to go well by Saul Pierce with Adam Brockert

0 Professor O'Leary Lesson 1: Fourth and Fifth Years 0 Professor O'Leary 1 5

Lexi Stafford

September 26, 2007 5:29 PM

Gotta love teacher-approved fighting by Lexi Stafford

Besides care of magical creatures, defense against the dark arts might be Lexi Stafford’s favorite class (astronomy couldn’t really count, since it wasn’t the class she enjoyed so much as time spent doing the homework). After all, it was the most active of the classes, and she was fairly decent at it. She liked to think she’d gotten voted most likely to be an auror because of that fact, and not any violent behavior with which she was mistakenly associated, though she doubted that a little.

In any case, she was as excited as it was possible to be about going to a lesson when she walked into the classroom. She only gave O’Leary a passing glance while walking by his desk, instead carefully choosing a seat precisely in the middle of the rows. She didn’t want to look over-eager and teacher’s-pettish, but she also wanted to be able to see. She was the sort that liked a happy medium.

She grabbed a sheet of parchment and one of the self-inking quills she’d bought right before coming back to Sonora (she’d never really thought about using them before, but, once Ben pointed out their existence, notetaking became so much easier. Plus, it was always nice not having to worry about ink jars breaking in one’s bag), and jotted down a few comments O’Leary made once everyone arrived and class actually started. Most of it was just review, so she didn’t pay that much attention to what she wrote, but it was good to have it anyway, she supposed.

Practicing it was no problem. She got it about half right on the first try, and entirely on the second. It wasn’t a new concept, after all, and this was one of her good subjects. Then, of course, came the fun part. Partnering up and actually dueling.

She pulled her hair back into a ponytail as the desks were swept away (she’d let it grow out even more over the summer, so now it was constantly in her face if she was tried to move around with it down), and turned to the person closest to her. “Hey, you wanna partner?”

0 Lexi Stafford Gotta love teacher-approved fighting 0 Lexi Stafford 0 5

Dalila Bastet

September 27, 2007 12:09 AM

Here, Here! by Dalila Bastet

Being in her fifth year, Dalila barely gave a second look at the vampire-esque man that taught Defense Against the Dark Arts. She took her normal seat in the second row, near the door. If she had to escape for her life, it was better to be closer to that escape. So far, she has yet to need to escape...always a good sign.

She didn't even bother taking anything out of her bag to write notes with. She assumed, the desks were going to be out of the way in a few minutes. Instead, she pulled out her wand and tried to imitate the movements that Professor O'Leary was teaching the class. She abruptly stood up and her desk immediately zoomed across the room. Shrugging to herself, Dalila turned around just as Lexi asked her to be partners.

"Hey Lex! Didn't see you. Yeah, let's be partners! You wanna start with the deflection spell or you want me to?"

0 Dalila Bastet Here, Here! 60 Dalila Bastet 0 5

Lexi

September 27, 2007 7:29 PM

Jolly good, then by Lexi

It was Dalila. Excellent. Not that there was anyone she wouldn’t want to work with, really, though she did have to thank every being she could think of that the fifth years wouldn’t be with the sixth years in any classes this year, what with one being CATS level, and the other RATS. That could have made things really tense, if the way the opening feast went was anything to go by.

But, no, it was just the fourth years and them, and life was good. And Dalila wasn’t going to take offense at anything that might happen during dueling. After all, they’d lived with each other for going on five years now. Rather difficult to be resentful over a class exercise after going through so much together. Speaking of which, there were a few things that had yet to be discussed between the two of them…

“You didn't see me? I'm hurt, 'Lila. I'd think I'd be rather hard to miss. You've dashed my hopes and dreams." Lexi grinned. "I’ll shield first,” she continued, backing away a few feet, though not enough that they had to shout at each other to make themselves heard. In fact, it didn’t look like anyone was close enough to hear, though she lowered her voice just the same. “So, how’re you and Adam going? You haven’t talked about that much yet.”

0 Lexi Jolly good, then 0 Lexi 0 5

Dalila

September 28, 2007 1:49 AM

Cheerio, and all that jazz by Dalila

Dalila grinned at Lexi's false sarcasm as she got out her wand. "Well, I figured you could take the dashing of your hopes and dreams...I guess I was wrong." She stopped as Lexi back off, trying to think of what spells she could throw at her roommate, without hurting her badly if the shield didn't hold up.

Dalila looked up with a charm in mind, when Lexi asked her about Adam. Dalila's grin got wider as she began to talk about him.

"Oh we're great. We got to spend the entire summer hanging out as just friends and then we went to a Hex concert and he kissed me. It was just amazing. Ricutsempra!" She cried, trying to see if she could catch Lexi off guard.

0 Dalila Cheerio, and all that jazz 0 Dalila 0 5

Lexi

September 29, 2007 8:52 PM

Righto by Lexi

Dalila definitely seemed happy about Adam. Lexi had gotten that vibe from her toward the end of the previous year, and at the opening feast, of course, but it was nice to have even more confirmation. She deserved it, after all the problems with Jake last year, and for probably getting more than a little caught in the drama between Lexi and Kaylie. A nice, uncomplicated, happy relationship was exactly what her roommate needed.

Lexi listened attentively as Dalila answered her, but her mind stayed at least half on the task at hand, and her wand remained at the ready. So, even though the other girl didn’t break between discussing her summer and casting her spell, the instant her body position changed, Lexi began her deflection.

“Contego!”

It worked, for the most part. However, it wasn’t quite as strong as it needed to be, and so Lexi began giggling a little as the tickling hit her, though it wasn’t very strong, and it wore off after a minute. After they had subsided, she looked up at her friend. “Nice one, Dalila. And I’ve never seen Hex, though I’ve heard they’re good. And Adam seems like a really nice guy. I’m glad you two got together. May you have fewer complications and problematic ex-girlfriends than me and Chris. Rictusempra!”.

0 Lexi Righto 0 Lexi 0 5

Dalila

September 30, 2007 3:58 PM

Indubitably by Dalila

Dalila raised her eyebrows, impressed that Lexi had reacted so quickly. But what would one expect from a beater, such as Lexi? But she grinned when she noticed that Lexi was giggling. Apparently she didn't do it well enough.

Very proud of herself, Dalila was happily listening to Lexi congratulate her on her and Adam going out.

"Well I--" Dalila got out before realizing that Lexi had shot a spell at her. Instead of trying to deflect the spell with a shield, Dalila ducked out of the way, rolling onto the floor, as though she were dodging a bludger.

She got up hastily and brushed herself off. "That didn't go the way it was supposed to," Dalila joked. "Can we try that again?"

0 Dalila Indubitably 0 Dalila 0 5

Lexi

October 02, 2007 1:42 PM

Blast! by Lexi

Lexi felt less bad about the lack of complete success she had with her hex deflecting after watching Dalila. After all, she at least managed to get the spell up properly. She began to giggle again, though this time it had nothing to do with a tickling charm.

“Smooth one, Dalila. Really. Though that roll would have done Jake proud, should he have seen it.” She naturally paused on mention of Jake. While she assumed (and hoped) that if Dalila was dating Adam, she’d gotten over that little crush a while again, but it hadn’t come up in any of their conversations, and Lexi didn’t want to push her roommate too far again.

Shaking her head, she raised her wand again. “Alright, if you insist that we do it again. Though I don’t really think this is fair, since I can’t really get the element of surprise on my side now. Actually, that might be all for the best.” She shot the other girl a slightly wicked grin. “You don’t seem to work well with surprises, after all. Petrificus totalus!”

0 Lexi Blast! 0 Lexi 0 5

Saul Pierce

October 05, 2007 2:46 PM

I foresee this isn't going to go well by Saul Pierce

Saul managed to pay attention during Professor O'Leary's lecture. This was in part because he hadn't enchanted his classroom to be so eye catching that Saul found it impossible to give the teacher any heed, and in part because he was Briony's father. Given his lack of attention in most of his other classes, Saul suspected the greater reason was the later one.

Ever since Echo brought it to Saul's attention that he (Saul, not Echo, Echo was totally in love with Elly no matter how much he tried to deny it) was crushing on Briony, Professor O'Leary had begun to loom larger in Saul's eyes than he ever had as the vampiric DADA professor. So he didn't let himself stare at Briony (and most definitely not at Pepper) and he made himself pay attention to the lecture.

Unfortunately, for all that he was able to follow the lesson, Saul knew he wasn't going to be impressing any girls or fathers this class. He might be able to pull off the hex deflector, if he got really lucky, but not one single hex or curse came to mind that he have his partner practice against.

There was one easy solution, however, that he knew from years of poor attention skills. He'd just let them hex first. He stood up and pulled his wand out of his pocket while the desks and chairs were all whisked away. Looking around, he spotted a potential partner and approached, practicing the wand motion Professor O'Leary had showed them as he walked. "I challenge you to a due-el?" he greeted with a grin, a raise eyebrow, and a corny accent.

1 Saul Pierce I foresee this isn't going to go well 82 Saul Pierce 0 5

Adam Brockert

October 06, 2007 9:36 PM

Yeah...for me. by Adam Brockert

The very moment Adam heard what today's lesson was going to involve, his stomach contracted into a tight ball. The idea of dueling anyone made him ill. He knew full well that he was going to end up the person badly injured or at least losing. He was going to end up humiliated in front of both years.

"I challenge you to a due-el?"

Oh no, of all people, why did Saul Pierce, Mr. Popularity himself, who was everything he wasn't have to pick on Adam for a partner when half the class was probably dying to work with him? There was no way he stood a chance against Saul in a duel. That's probably why , he realized, he'd rather humiliate me than one of the others. And on the off chance, Adam won (which wasn't too likely, as he thought everyone was better than him at everything) people would probably hate him for beating the most popular guy in class. Especially if he caused accidental injury. Saul was liked, Adam was hated and it was just a fact of life. No matter who was the actual winner of the duel, Adam would still come across bad and Saul would still come across good. He was doomed either way.

Of course, he couldn't refuse either. That would just plain be rude, even if one didn't factor in who was liked and hated. Besides, there were far worse people to go up against. Adam was pretty certain Briony was a fairly good duelist because of her father. Morgaine, Devian Dupree or Geoff Layne would probably be completely scary and when Adam came down to it, he didn't really want to take a chance of injuring Allie or Pepper. (Pepper would probably be easier on him though.) The one person of the fifth year class Adam might have liked a chance at injuring was that boy, but that was probably a pipe dream at best anyway. Perhaps he really was better off with Saul.

"Well, okay," Adam replied meekly as butterflies beat around in his stomach. He still felt like he was going to vomit, but hoped he wouldn't as it would be totally humiliating.

However, he couldn't help but wonder if it would count as a dueling move if he vomited all over his partner. If Adam was going to such a thing, he'd much rather have it be on Saul than one of the girls in his class. Adam liked the three Teppenpaws too well (though in Pepper's case, hopefully she'd forgive him) and Lila and Morgaine would probably do something to destroy him. They both reminded him just a little too much of Chelsea.

11 Adam Brockert Yeah...for me. 78 Adam Brockert 0 5

Saul Pierce

October 08, 2007 11:35 AM

Eh, for both of us, most likely by Saul Pierce

He'd selected Adam Brockert. There were two main reasons for this. (A) Adam probably wouldn't completely embarrass him in front of said crush and crush's father, and (B) he'd been the first person Saul laid eyes on after he started searching for a partner.

For a moment, the look in Adam's eyes made Saul think he was going to bolt, but then he agreed and Saul grinned at him brightly. "Excellent." He stepped back and brandished his wand theatrically (which was, really, about the only thing he was really talented at with a wand). "Ready?" he asked, and when Adam gave some indication that he was, Saul commanded, "DUEL!"

He crouched down into a fencing stance (not that he'd ever fenced, but he'd watched the choreography for the swordfights in Hamlet two or three times every day for most of a summer) and waved his wand around in front of him as he followed Hamlet's initial flourishes. Mostly, though, he was just being showy while waiting for Adam to make the first move.

1 Saul Pierce Eh, for both of us, most likely 82 Saul Pierce 0 5