Stretching my legs on Labyrinth Gardens

Professor Levy

February 09, 2012 6:10 PM

DADA Beginner Lesson II: First and Second Years by Professor Levy

Lessons were becoming more difficult for Erica, as her belly had begun to develop rapidly. Even under her billowing robes there was no way to deny the fact that she was indeed having a baby, a baby boy to be specific. The last doctor’s appointments had been fruitful in determining the sex of the babies. At first, they had considered waiting to know, but it hadn’t been very practical since there was a lot of work to be done on the nursery and Torra didn’t want any boring colors or themes. So, after learning that she was having a boy and her partner was having a girl, they had decided on a cute jungle theme. The walls were going to be a sky blue with various jungle plants and animals on the walls. She especially liked the monkey that would be overlooking the babies. Plus, with the set theme, she was hoping that their families would pitch in on matching items that they needed since there wouldn’t be much time after they hit the final couple of months.

Until then, Erica was attempting to focus on her classes, which were requiring more book time than she liked since she found herself less active than she had been and quite often a bit more tired, especially since baby had started kicking. For some the book time was fortunate and unfortunate for others, depending on their opinion of her classes. She liked to think that most found it to be on the unfortunate side, as she did, and though, part of her reasoning for looking forward to the birth of her son was to meet her son, she would also be happy to be able to go back to her regular lesson plans.

Thankfully, today was a lucky day and she would have a day of somewhat normalcy since her first and second years would be going to the Labyrinth Gardens. She had told them the day before to meet here, which made it easier since she had to get a head start. It took her a little longer to get anywhere anymore. Plus, for anyone coming from Pecari, they didn’t have to go clear to the classroom just to come back here. As the students began to arrive, she greeted them with a smile. “Welcome to Defense Against the Dark Arts, Outdoor Edition. Today, we’ll be working with the Point-Me spell that we practiced yesterday. Remember when using the Point-Me spell, your wand should always point North. You will use this spell to help guide you through the Labyrinth Gardens to the designated locations along with the maps I have here.” She passed around the maps so that each student had one.

“There are four locations and at each location, you will find a different color flag, one to represent each House. You may partner with one or two other people. The first three groups back will receive no homework for the night. The first group back will receive ten bonus points. The second group will receive five bonus points.” Erika had decided not to award the third group bonus points, but they would still get the reward of not having any homework. “If you need help, please use the Spark Charm.” She gave a quick demonstration of the charm. “And one of my assistants will come help you.” She had asked for volunteers early in the week from her Advanced class. “If there are no questions, you may begin. Good luck!”

OOC: Please remember to follow standard posting rules. Points will be awarded based on creativity, detail, and grammar. If anyone would like to volunteer their Advanced class students, feel free to, extra points will be awarded.

Subthreads:

Stretching my legs by Linus Macaulay with Meggie Brownbriar (Teppenpaw)

No homework? Score! by Jade Owen with Waverly Canterbury - Pecari, Elijah Errant {Pecari Prodigy}, Jade

0 Professor Levy DADA Beginner Lesson II: First and Second Years 0 Professor Levy 1 5

Linus Macaulay

February 10, 2012 10:28 AM

Stretching my legs by Linus Macaulay

On the occasions when professors would decide to hold their classes outside of the designated classrooms, Linus had equal cause to feel unease as he did positivity at the change of pace. While he sometimes appreciated being in a different venue to further stimulate his learning, it could sometimes throw him when he was trying to remember how he'd performed a particular spell to have not learned that spell in the expected location. It was called state-dependent recall, so his mother said, at it was how lots of students learned to remember new information. So while Linus was genuinely looking forward to a lesson outside in the gardens, where he could stretch his legs and exercise his body as well as his mind, he was dubious that it would really enhace his ability to learn.

Striding confidently into the clearing where they would be meeting, Linus already had his wand out in anticipation of a practical class, and was relieved to find the introductory lecture short because he had no readily available way of note-taking prepared. They had, as the professor mentioned, already practised the Point Me spell, so all they had to do now was follow a map and be efficient n getting through the maze. That sounded simple enough. Almost like a treasure hunt, the second year considered, ut without the bonus of finding prizes along the way. The promise of House points to the first couple of groups back didn't really entice him to try any harder - he was more about the personal gain than group achievement, and so while Crotalus winning the House Point competition would be pleasant, it wasn't sufficient to encourage him to try any harder during classes (though this might be equally due to the fact that Linus always worked hard in his classes - there was no point in slacking off).

Linus briefly inspected the map he had been passed, and didn't foresee it would present him with too great a challenge. Admittedly he would prefer to work on his own, but seeing as small group work had been part of the instructions, he guessed it couldn't hurt to offer his assistance to one of his less able peers. Though on the other hand, he didn't especially want to be partnered with some rapscallion first year if it could be avoided, so he turned to the closest respetable-looking classmate, and said, "Would you like to work with me on this?"

0 Linus Macaulay Stretching my legs 205 Linus Macaulay 0 5

Jade Owen

February 10, 2012 10:45 AM

No homework? Score! by Jade Owen

Having a class outdoors in the sunshine was almost equivalent to just skipping class entirely, so Jade was in a good mood at the start of the DADA lesson. Plus she didn't have to traipse all the way from the commons to the classroom, the Pecari entrance actually being hidden within the labyrinth, which meant she was on time for class for once. She even arrived before some of the other students, which made this a momentous occasion in her short Sonoran history.

The students gathered 'round the professor and listened to her instroduction. Levy was getting fat, even though she was hiding it well, by intention or otherwise, underneath her robes. Plus her classes had seemed to get more and more dull as the year progressed, with more time spent writing from a textbook and less time spent running around the classroom and hexing her peers. Jade much prefered the more energetic approach to class, and so she was at least grateful for their mini excursion. She became temporarily excited when it sounded like they'd be exploring the maze, but this lessened at the realisation of having a map to follow. On the upside, if she could summon the energy to finish really quickly then she might be exempt from homework as a reward. That would be worth working for (though as Jade rarely did her homework, it wouldn't be too much of a reward... more of a lack of punishment, which was equatable in her opinion).

Deciding that in the interest of prize-winning, and the proverb that two heads being better than one had some potential to be true, Jade wasted no time at all in bounding up to another student and asking, with an insquisitive sort of pleasant expression, "Would you be my partner? I want to win the no homework prize."

0 Jade Owen No homework? Score! 221 Jade Owen 0 5

Waverly Canterbury - Pecari

February 12, 2012 4:36 PM

Let's get that prize! by Waverly Canterbury - Pecari

Waverly was really glad that this class was being held outdoors. It was lovely for an Arizona day, even if it was winter. It didn't really matter here in the nice desert. And plus she loved being outside anyway. She skipped to class, slowing to a walk when she saw her classmates and her professor ahead. She had been here only a couple times, but she still couldn't get over how pretty this place was.

Class today, apparently, was going to be using the Point-Me spell. She hadn't really understood the spell completely. When she used it, her wand would twirl her around. North didn't really mean anything to her, honestly, and she wasn't sure how it would help her get to some place on a map. She took one of the maps that the professor handed out and studied it. It didn't look too hard, but she didn't want to push her luck. Sighing, she watched her professor for further instruction. Waverly's eyebrows furrowed after Professor Levy dismissed them. So they were supposed to partner with people from their house? Was that it?

Waverly was slightly confused, but guessed that to be the case. She shrugged and looked around. She knew her roommate was in this class, so that would be easy to pair up with her. And they wouldn't have any homework from DADA! As much as she liked learning magic, DADA wasn't on her list of favorites. Jade bounded up to her and Waverly smiled. "Of course! We could celebrate having no homework with the package of baked goods my mom sent." She was excited to eat, but it would taste so much better with no homework to worry about. She unrolled the map she had and gazed at it. "Okay, so we have to go west first to get to the Pecari flag." The map was not a very intricately designed map, but she knew that, to begin, they had to go west. The thought of exploring a maze excited her. "Do you think we have to go to all four locations or just one?" she asked thoughtfully.

Waverly thought going to only one location would be safe. After her roommate had put in her two-cents, she nodded and said, "Point-Me!" allowing her wand to twirl her around. Her wand pointed somewhere deeper into the maze, and so she looked to her left where another opening of the maze was. "So let's go this way," she said and took off, really not wanting to have any homework to do for DADA tonight.

0 Waverly Canterbury - Pecari Let's get that prize! 0 Waverly Canterbury - Pecari 0 5

Elijah Errant {Pecari Prodigy}

February 13, 2012 3:57 PM

Mine! by Elijah Errant {Pecari Prodigy}

Despite the fact that all they seemed to do was read boring textbooks and endless chapters, Defense Against the Dark Arts had managed to maintain Elijah’s interest. He enjoyed squeezing his thumb and forefinger together with only a thin sheet of scroll separating them, slowly tugging down for that sweet riiiiip sound that sprang into melody. Folding the papers up he was able to construct paper birds and amused himself by casting levitation charms and sending the birds into the back of Jade Owen’s neck or watching it get caught and dangle in Waverly Canterbury’s hair. He didn’t have an issue with Waverly, he just didn’t want her to feel like he was paying Jade more attention.

Besides all that fun, Elijah was fascinated with Professor Levy. He’d been around pregnant women before. He had liked to rest his ear against the belly of his father’s third wife, listening intently for the sound of a second heart beak, sure that he could hear the baby’s breath. Shallow within the warm womb. If Jade and Waverly were out of range, or he was afraid of being caught by Professor Levy, he was content to just sit there, facing the front of the room, his face alert but his eyes flashing with images, his mind soaked in questions. How was pregnancy even possible? How could one human carry another inside them for so long? A brain was growing inside Professor Levy, and two feet and two hands and lungs that inhaled, exhaled and a heart that sped up and slowed down, loved and hated, a real being inside another. Defense Against the Dark Arts had become a time of wonderment, a time for contemplation and questions.

He was almost disappointed to know that their next class was to be located in the gardens. Flipping his wand in the air and catching it, dropping it on the ground a few times, recovering and resuming his play, Elijah listened with half an ear to the Professor’s instructions, enjoying the sun beating on the nape of his neck, and his school robes hung a little heavy over his body. “... you may begin. Good luck!” Elijah, unaware that they were to seek out partners, raised his hand and tapped a beat against his neck with his wand, a few blue sparks accidentally shooting out and tickling his ear. He began walking without clear purpose, seeking corners of shade to cool down, already tired, the sweat building in shallow pools beneath his armpits and where his legs bent, painting his caramel skin in thin sheets of salt rain.

“Off ya go.” He tugged his robes up over his head as he continued to walk. Blind for a few moments, stumbling in his path as he struggled with the heavy garment, he finally grinned as he got the thing off and threw it carelessly to the side of the path. The hot air was kinder to his body clothed in a white t-shirt and blue shorts. “Okay...” What were Levy’s instructions again? “Point me.” His wand spun until finally directing Elijah north. He walked a few paces before breaking into a jog, the soft scuffing of his sneakers against the ground. Energy quickly gathered, his heart beating a little faster, and Elijah broke into a run, his feet pushing hard against the ground, body rising and falling in the air beneath the sun, his arms pumping at his sides, one hand wrapped tightly around his rosewood wand. The labyrinth curved and Elijah sped into it, imagining himself in flight, his arms swinging out briefly like a phoenix, and sunlight was his flames. “Point me.”

He ran onto a path that intersected with another, and suddenly caught sight of his housemates. “Hah!” He called out, grinning, to both Jade and Waverly. “Give up now,” He teased, turning to run backwards, watching his feet spring up and down in front of him. “I’ve already won!”

0 Elijah Errant {Pecari Prodigy} Mine! 0 Elijah Errant {Pecari Prodigy} 0 5

Jade Owen

February 17, 2012 7:44 AM

You're doing it wrong by Jade Owen

Out of all her roomates, Jade somehow seemed to spend more of her time with Waverly than with either Theresa or Arabella. The only Muggleborn in the room came with a strange naive fascination, on both sides, as far as Jade was concerned. Plus Waverly's mom sent cookies and cakes, and the other first year Pecari girl wasn't opposed to sharing. Plus, although they had never done anything to support her theory, Jade was sure that Theresa and Arabella talked about her family behind her back. It was paranoia, she knew it - her other roomates seemed like perfectly nice girls - but Jade still couldn't shake the feeling. She didn't like to feel like other people thought they were better than her.

So when Waverly agreed to work with her, and even made the prize sound yet sweeter by the suggestion of adding baked goods into the bargain, Jade responded with a skip in her step as they made their way towards the entrance of the labyrinth. Finding a partner quickly was the first stage in finding the flags quickly, and they had accomplished that much already. Following Waverly's direction, Jade accompanied her with a brisk step. She realized that she didn't actually know the first thing about map reading, but it couldn't be too hard to follow the little lines using the Point Me spell for guidance.

"I think it's this way," Jade ascertained at the next junction, and she flung out an arm to point, just as Elijah Errant emerged from the direction she was indicating. "Give up now," he said, "I’ve already won!".

"Dumbass," Jade quickly responded with a grin. "You're going in the direction that is opposite to winning." Direction had never been his strongest sense, she figured, otherwise he wouldn't ever have flown into a goalpost. He didn't demonstrate some logic, though, in having taken off his robes. For giving her the good idea, Jade decided to go easy on him. "You may as well join us," she said as she progressed in the right direction, giving Elijah a nudge so he followed her course. "I'd hate to see you stuck doing homework while we throw cupcake wrappers at you." Well that was a lie. It sounded like immense fun, now that she thought about it.

Pulling her own robes off and stuffing them into her bag as they took the turning, Jade looked over at her original partner and asked, "Where next, Waverly?" She felt much more comfortable in her brother's old jeans and white cotton blouse than she had in the restrictive robes.

0 Jade Owen You're doing it wrong 221 Jade Owen 0 5

Waverly

February 17, 2012 4:39 PM

Follow the leader! (a.k.a. me!) by Waverly

It was kind of funny to see Elijah going the wrong way. He had annoyed her completely at first, but after spending a lot of time here, she had come to be a little bit more open-minded concerning her peers. He was still a little annoying, but she could deal with it. After all, he was funny in a weird sort of way. Waverly laughed as Jade talked to Elijah. She didn't really want to share her baked goods with Elijah, but there was a whole lot of cookies and bread, so she didn't think it would be too much of a sacrifice if he joined their group. "Our group gets cookies," she said with a grin at Elijah. "Besides, we'd beat you anyway if you didn't join us. Cookies and no homework would be the best, and there's definitely enough to go around!"

Waverly felt like grinning when Jade asked her to direct them, and she said, "Point-Me!" and closed her eyes, letting the wand lead her. She felt like Inigo Montoya from The Princess Bride when he needed the sword to lead him. For a moment, she pretended that was the case, but her wand stopped before she could completely pretend.

She opened her eyes, and her vibrant green eyes sparkled. Her wand was now pointing at a pathway that looked open, meaning that was north. West was where they wanted to go, but right now they were at a dead end. Which could only mean they had to go left again. Or right. Waverly furrowed her eyebrows for a moment, then decided quickly. "That way!" she pointed the her left again and skipped through. If there was a path to the right, then that was where they wanted to go! If not, well, they'd probably have to turn around and go the other way. This was all about taking chances, right? And bonding!

0 Waverly Follow the leader! (a.k.a. me!) 0 Waverly 0 5

Elijah

February 18, 2012 3:27 PM

I am no one's follower! by Elijah

Elijah paused in his run, startled by the strange sound Jade had just made. ‘Dumbass.’ He repeated in his mind, another smile breaking out across his face. ‘Dumb-assss.’ He longed to drag out the syllables, enjoying the newest expansion to his vocabulary. “You’re the dumbass if you think that’s the right direction.” Elijah declared, letting himself be briefly nudged by Jade, walking back where he’d just been. “I was just there and it’s not.” The whole path he’d taken had been a blur of light and fire; there hadn’t been time to use the Point Me spell. The offer of cupcakes was tempting however, and Jade seemed so confident that she knew where she was going (she was wrong but the confidence was persuasive) and in any case, Elijah wasn’t really clear on where he was supposed to be going. He knew he was using the Point Me spell, just unsure what the spell was leading him toward.

While Jade stripped (always the lady) Elijah turned toward Waverly. “I could get the cupcakes myself if I really wanted them.” Strawberry icing and soft chocolate cake beneath it draped in whipped cream and caramel sauce and chocolate fudge and Elijah flushed in the heat at the thought of such a delicious treat. “I’m coming along only because it’s rude to deny a lady.” He waited for Waverly to cast the spell, turning to see if Jade was done taking off her robes before his eyes lit up. “Oh, hey, you got a map.” He bounded forward and tugged it out of her hand. “I’m navigator! Called it!” He studied the lines for a few moments, brow crinkling, and then shoved the paper back at Jade. “Eh - I don’t need it. I have a keen sense of smell.” Waverly cast the spell, her wand spun, and then began skipping in the indicated direction.

Elijah fell in place beside her, an arm quickly slinging along her shoulder, hanging casually. “Once I lead us to victory, I’ll let you have some of my pile of cupcakes, all right?” He smiled at her, and then added, “Oh - and, by the way, you like potions work, right?” He didn’t really have time to do his potions essay, what with exploring the school, having fun flying, hanging around the library gazing at Miss Diaz, and just not wanting to do potions. Waverly seemed like an all around good student which normally would be a point against her except for instances like this one. “That essay due next week seems pretty fun, yeah?”

They path they were on led them onto another going right. Elijah let his free fingers graze the various vines that dangled around them, enjoying the heat that consistently pressed against the nape of his neck, some droplets of sweat slipping down his back. “Where to now?” He asked as they found a fork in the road, pulling out his own wand to cast, “Point Me.” He pulled away, smiling wide, trusting his instincts and began to walk without waiting for an answer. “Definitely left.”

0 Elijah I am no one's follower! 0 Elijah 0 5

Jade

February 23, 2012 4:06 PM

You should try it; you might get somewhere by Jade

"I’m coming along only because it’s rude to deny a lady," Elijah declared, and Jade had to presume he was talking about Waverly. She also assumed it was because he wanted to share their cookies and cupcakes, and because he was hopelessly lost, not for whatever lame sexist excuse he could think up on spur of the moment.

The reason for him being hopelessly lost was soon exposed when he got so excited about seeing a map. Considering they'd been passed round at the start of the class with enough for one each, he obviously hadn't been paying the least bit of agttention to the assignment. It was just as well he ran into them, really, as he conceivably could have been running round the labyrinth all day otherwise. "Moron," Jade muttered under her breath, so low it might not have been audible to the others and they argued over which direction to go next, and with an tone so amused that anyone hearing her probably wouldn't have taken her insult seriously.

Jade's inital eagerness to win was quickly wearing off. She didn't like actually working for a reward; she'd rather just receive the reward. In this case, as she could share Waverly's treats and not do her homework anyway, the reward didn't even offer substantial incentive. Still, she didn't exactly mind wandering round the gardens with her Housemates as they followed a map (or at least they could be following it - Jade wasn't sure enough to step in and take control, so she was just relying on the other two to lead her to victory), and there was still a chance they might be first back. Even Elijah's interest in winning seemed to be waning, as he seemed to be buttering Waverly up to do his homework for him. Jade smirked; he should try just not handing work in, like she did. She was sure the professors had practically stopped actually expecting her to complete assignments to an acceptable standard. She could mess with their minds and actually write a full essay one day, just for kicks.

"Have either of you guys been into the labyrinth much before?" Jade asked her companions as they rounded a left turn at Elijah's instruction. She had wandered in a couple of times herself, but she tended to prefer empty spaces to enclosed, and so would prefer to be lost in the expanse of the pitch than among the hedgerows of a maze.

0 Jade You should try it; you might get somewhere 0 Jade 0 5

Waverly

February 23, 2012 10:27 PM

Seriously by Waverly

Waverly felt uncomfortable when he put an arm around her, but didn't say anything. The boys she had dealt with at home were much less suave and she didn't really know how to deal with boys that weren't playing tag or running around yelling about cooties. Maybe magical boys were different? So far none of them had been really normal in her standards, though Elijah was pretty close to it.

She didn't even have cupcakes, but if Elijah did, then she was in. "You mean when I lead us to victory," she corrected him, smiling smugly. She was smart and she knew the right way to go. Elijah obviously didn't. Waverly was very close to nudging his arm off and flipping her hair over her shoulder. If it wasn't in a ponytail, that was. When he spoke of homework, she immediately caught on and narrowed her eyes at him. As oblivious as she seemed, she knew when someone was trying to use her.

She lightened up her glare and smiled sweetly instead. "Nope. It seems really boring. If you think it's fun, you'll have fun with it! You might be the only one though. You should do mine for me if it's fun for you."

Waverly was correct in her assumptions in this labyrinth so she hesitated when Elijah quickly led them left once again. She looked over at Jade who was also quick to follow Elijah, and then decided to follow as well. She didn't like the boy stealing her attention. She'd check the map soon.

"I've been in here once," she said cheerily. "I walked through it with this one boy, Cepheus. I got to get to know this maze a little bit."

Elijah fell in place beside her, an arm quickly slinging along her shoulder, hanging casually. “Once I lead us to victory, I’ll let you have some of my pile of cupcakes, all right?” He smiled at her, and then added, “Oh - and, by the way, you like potions work, right?” He didn’t really have time to do his potions essay, what with exploring the school, having fun flying, hanging around the library gazing at Miss Diaz, and just not wanting to do potions. Waverly seemed like an all around good student which normally would be a point against her except for instances like this one. “That essay due next week seems pretty fun, yeah?”

They path they were on led them onto another going right. Elijah let his free fingers graze the various vines that dangled around them, enjoying the heat that consistently pressed against the nape of his neck, some droplets of sweat slipping down his back. “Where to now?” He asked as they found a fork in the road, pulling out his own wand to cast, “Point Me.” He pulled away, smiling wide, trusting his instincts and began to walk without waiting for an answer. “Definitely left.”

0 Waverly Seriously 0 Waverly 0 5

Waverly

February 23, 2012 10:28 PM

OOC by Waverly

OOC: Sorry! I forgot to erase the last two paragraphs. They were my references. Please ignore them!!!

0 Waverly OOC 0 Waverly 0 5

Meggie Brownbriar (Teppenpaw)

March 02, 2012 9:29 PM

Realizing truths to point me. by Meggie Brownbriar (Teppenpaw)

Megan Brownbriar wasn’t entirely thrilled that the Defense Against the Dark Arts class was supposed to meet outside that day. Sure, she LOVED being outside, who was she kidding? But she knew that Gareth was in the class as well and could therefore not show her love for it or he’d have an issue with it. She was trying to prevent that from happening completely by making her face seem as if she wasn’t happy about where their class was to be held.

Meggie had a way of being adroit, her mother had always told her that. Especially when she’d been pregnant with each of her siblings in turn. Meggie was almost sure her Mother had said that because she liked to help, but if by chance she was clever, she would show it now. I am adroit, just like Momma said. she thought as she made her way to the Gardens for class.

The first year Teppenpaw hadn’t really noticed how large her professor had gotten with child, but when she saw her, she couldn’t help but smile. Her eyes glittered with happiness for the woman in front of her and Meggie realized why they’d been having more book lessons lately and she was suddenly okay with that.

Meggie stepped closer to her professor, feeling somewhat closer to her than ever before. The first year wasn’t sure why that was right away, but then it hit her. She’s pregnant. That’s what it is, like when Momma was. Megan sighed as Professor Levy went on to tell them what they were to do with the Point Me spell they’d worked on the day before. There were maps and at each location were flags. Megan wrote all that down briefly in her notes as she listened to the rest of the directions.

“No homework if we’re one of the first three groups back!” Meggie whispered to someone on her right side, happily. “Awesome!” she said, trying to sound like a ‘normal’ kid rather than some pureblooded brat. Yes, she was a pureblood, but it wasn’t her choice and if she could change that she would.

Meggie pushed her notebook back into her backpack and shoved her arms back into the arm holes to get it back onto her back again as she pulled her wand out of her pocket where she’d stored it as she took notes. She looked around her to see if she could find herself a partner that WASN’T her cousin for a change and she lucked out as an older boy from Crotalus who’s name she thought was Linus, but she wasn’t sure, asked her,

"Would you like to work with me on this?"

“Sure.” she said, smiling at him. “I’d like that a lot.” she added, “I’m Megan Brownbriar, but you can call me Meggie if you want.” she offered, hoping that she was right with his name and indeed he was Linus as she thought. The first year hadn’t been too many places for which part of her blamed herself, the rest of her blamed her cousin who somehow seemed to find her wherever she went other than the games when she’d dressed as other people just to go get her adrenaline rush.

0 Meggie Brownbriar (Teppenpaw) Realizing truths to point me. 0 Meggie Brownbriar (Teppenpaw) 0 5