Professor Skies
April 12, 2013 6:59 PM
Challenge Three - Part One by Professor Skies
The final challenge was taking place in the Cascade Hall. The usual furniture had been removed and the room divided into twenty small booths, created by deep velvet curtains hanging from poles. The poles themselves appeared to hang from nothing. The students would find, once ensconced with their teams, that the heavy velvet was surprisingly effective as blocking conversations from the neighbouring teams... They were also spellproof and flameproof. These were usually sensible precautions at the best of times around students, and when emotions were running high it was just asking for trouble not to do so.“Welcome to this, our final challenge,” Professor Skies greeted the teams as they assembled in the entrance hall. “When you enter, you will find a booth with your team's number and a box of odd and ends. The first part of your challenge this morning is to charm or transfigure everything on your table. Each team member must take responsibility for one item. Your task will therefore be to decide how best to show your range of talents, not to show me five or six pieces of advanced work, all done by your oldest student. There is a sheet for you to note whom has started with each object and what their aim was. I and my assistants,” she nodded to any other staff members and prairie elves whom she had been able to rope in for the morning, “will be wandering around during the tasks. We also have ways of verifying those things which we have not seen so, once again, do not pile all the work onto your advanced students. One piece each please.”
A reminder of these rules was displayed in each booth. There were also several chairs and a table, on which was resting a box of ill assorted objects. Each box contained a button, a pin cushion, a feather, a lemon and a medium sized stick. Those with six members in their team would have to think slightly laterally to work out what their sixth item was.
“You will have an hour from when I blow my whistle to make your decisions and complete all your spell-work. The whistle will sound again at the end of the time period and you will step out of your booths. You may go and make yourselves at home. Do not open your box until the whistle sounds,” she cautioned. She waited until all of the teams had settled in their places and then blew the whistle, which had been charmed to penetrate the otherwise muffling effects of the curtains. As she did this, a luminous clock face appeared, glowing on one of the walls of each team's work area. As the time ticked by, segments of the clock went out, showing the teams how much time remained to them.
After an hour, a second blast of the whistle sounded.
“Well done,” Professor Skies smiled when the students had all stepped out of their booths. “You now have a twenty minute break, during which you may get a drink, run around outside or whatever it is you wish to do to let off steam. After that, you will be back here to face the second and final part of today's challenge. Thank you,” she smiled.
Subthreads: Challenge Three - Part Two by Professor Skies
Let's start first this time, Thestrals (Team Three). by Kate Bauer with Wendy Canterbury, Jade Owen, Jorge Garcia
Let's show off together one more time, Team Four. by David Wilkes with Francesca Wolseithcrafte, Thad Pierce, Henry Carey
Team Six, let's conquer this. by Maximilian Joshua McLachlan with James Owen, Willow Collins
Time to Transfigure, Team 18 by Derry Four with Linus Macaulay, Brianna Japos
Why do you hate me, Prof. Skies? (Team 2) by Sullivan Quincy with Carter Browning
Here's our last dance, Team Seven. by Alicia Bauer with Andrina Thornton, Hope Brockert
Paging team 14 to booth 14 by Annabelle Pierce with Cepheus Princeton, Annette Pierce, Cepheus
Let's go TEAM FIFTEEN!! (15) by Regina Parker with Waverly Canterbury, Effie Arbon
Lets finish with a bang Team Nine! by Clara Abernathy with Aubrielle Thornton, Brielle Thornton
Team 8...be...great? by Julian Babineux with Charlie B-F-R, Marcus Williams
The Beginning of the End for Team 12 by Addison Thornton with Arista Thornton
Challenge Three, Team Ten... (10) by Megan Brownbriar
Yay, Transfiguration! (Team 5) by Ryan O'Malley with Jude Butler, Sally Manger
Here come the girls (Team 16) by Josephine Owen with Melanie Lennox
Let's be charming, Team 1 by Fae Sinclair with Henny B-F-R, Analea Thornton
Team 19 - so close to finishing without embrassment by Michael Grosvenor with Abigail Thornton
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Professor Skies
Challenge Three - Part One
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Professor Skies
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Ryan O'Malley
April 19, 2013 2:59 AM
Yay, Transfiguration! (Team 5) by Ryan O'Malley
Ryan wasn't sure how they'd done on the second challenge, but they seemed to have made it through okay. The worst part had been the wall, as far as he was concerned. They'd lengthened the rope all right but he'd never been really allowed to run and play outside and climb trees and stuff. Not so much being expressly forbidden, but because he knew he'd track mud in,his mother would throw a fit and very bad things would happen to him. Of course, then she would berate him for not being a normal boy. Whatever Ryan did was wrong no matter what, and he eventually became very withdrawn and tried his best to stay out of her way. Except that she would hunt him down just to torment him-and the word hunting was not really much of an exaggeration, he really had felt like her prey.He wasn't sure what to expect for the last challenge, but he did know that he would be sort of glad when it was all over. The worries about whether or not his team respected him was a little much, though it did, at least, have the benefit of keeping Ryan's mind off things like RATS and graduation. He had one idea of what he'd do afterwards, but that wasn't really a career. He'd probably work in his family's whiskey distillery, or something with transfiguration. The Crotalus was pretty sure that he'd do all right on that part of his RATS, the rest he wasn't quite as sure about. He was never confident about other things at all, even though his grades weren't at all bad. There was always the possibility of anxiety getting to him though. Even though Ryan didn't take DADA and there was no chance of having to deal with a boggart.
Once the whole team was there, Ryan faced them. It was time to give Ridiculous Uninspiring Pep Talk Number Three, which would be similar to Ridiculous Uninspiring Pep Talks One and Two, given he really had nothing new to add. It wasn't so much that he found all pep talks to be that way, just the ones he himself gave. There was nothing inspiring about him and he couldn't instill confidence in himself let alone others. "Okay, we have done wonderful so far. After the first challenge we were in second place and while the second one didn't exactly play to our strengths, we did all right and made it through without any real mishaps. As we got the athletic one out of the way, this couldn't possibly be worse." Nor was it real likely to involve boggarts. They'd already had to do that and it was unlikely that they'd have to go through it again. Based on the way the room was set up, flying was also unlikely. Ryan would be fine. They all would be. "It's been a pleasure working with you all."
When they found out what the first part of the challenge was actually going to be, he figured that he, at least, was going to be better than fine and the normally very reserved boy actually had to restrain himself cheering out loud. He could use transfiguration and surprisingly, Ryan had never found much in the subject which took him too long to do. In fact,this seemed like a challenge that they'd absolutely do well on. Lucrezia had expressed that she was pretty good at Transfiguration too and Sally was of course brilliant and magically potent. Angel's savant like talent for being able to do any spell perfectly after seeing it once was an excellent one to have on a challenge like this. He was just a tiny bit worried about the two first years. They were younger and hadn't really expressed that they had much talent in magic, though Rory had said she picked up on things quickly, so maybe she was better now that her first year was almost up.
"I should take the most difficult object." Ryan stated. He wasn't trying to show off. He was the oldest, a seventh year. It would make sense that he should be the one who knew how to do transfiguration-or for that matter, charms-the best, even though he was obviously going with the former. Of course, from his perspective it was hard to figure out what precisely was the most difficult object. He was pretty sure he could do anything with any of them just about. He thought organic objects might be more difficult than non organic ones. Living ones were, but then, Ryan couldn't really consider a lemon or a stick living anymore when they were no longer. He supposed the real issue would be having to make it into something as unsimilar from the original object as he possibly could. Possibly using animal transfiguration given his age and skill level. "I'll take the lemon." Turning it into a bird would probably not be too difficult. A canary would be the obvious choice because they were both yellow, but Ryan felt he might be able to handle maybe a cardinal or something. A parrot or a peacock might be a little much.
There was also the slight problem that there were six of them and five objects. He doubted one of them was supposed to sit out. Ryan thought for a moment."Do you think the sixth item is supposed to be the box?" He asked.
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Ryan O'Malley
Yay, Transfiguration! (Team 5)
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Ryan O'Malley
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Jude Butler
April 22, 2013 8:16 PM
Yay? Not for me... by Jude Butler
Jude had one thought on the day of the Third Challenge. This is it… The only thing that she was worried about (other than the Challenge itself) was that perhaps Angel wouldn’t want her help with his homework anymore once the Challenges were over. Of course he was older than she was, much older, but she’d come to enjoy her time with him. She feared that he wouldn’t want to spend time with a stupid little first year anymore once the Challenges were over and was almost brought to tears by the thought.Almost.
Then she thought better of crying over it and hoped that it wouldn’t be like that at all. Crying would make everyone think that she was a big baby, and she’d done enough of that over the Boggart in the First Challenge, she didn’t need any more of it.
She walked into the Hall, nervously glancing around at all the little compartments in the room. She spotted Angel and made her way to him. When she got to him, she spoke. “Hey… We still meeting tonight for homework after the Challenge?” she asked, before the others made their way to them.
When Ryan and the others made their way to them, he spoke and Jude listened to him say that they’d done wonderfully so far and though Jude disagreed, she wouldn’t interrupt to say so. It couldn’t possibly be worse? Jude thought, betting it could be.
Professor Skies welcomed them and explained what this Challenge was. Jude looked to Angel in horror. She was going to have to charm or transfigure something? “But…” she said to him, heart thudding. She knew Angel wouldn’t quite get what she was thinking emotion-wise, but she hoped he’d understand that she was scared of failing and ruining Ryan’s chance at winning because she was a stupid muggleborn first year. The rest of them at least had prior knowledge of magic before the beginning of the year, even Rory’s knowledge was more than hers, she’d discovered. Jude felt like she’d be a failure if she did anything and she didn’t want to do that to Ryan or any of the others.
Ryan said that he should take the most difficult object and Jude didn’t say anything against that. She sure wasn’t going to take the hardest one! When Ryan asked if they thought the sixth item was supposed to be the box, Jude thought about it and wondered if he could be right.
“Could be…” she said softly, biting down on her lip in thought. “Or what if one of the older students were supposed to bring another item to the group? Or if we’re supposed to use something in our pockets as the last one?” she added to his suggestion.
“I’m not trying to take over the group, trust me, but I thought maybe those could be viable options too?” she added, ending tone as if it was a question as well as a hope that the others would know that she hadn’t been trying to screw them up or anything, just that she was trying to help. She took the chance to glance at Sally, fearful at her reaction to the stupid first year’s speaking aloud in front of more worthy people and shyed back against Angel once more.
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Jude Butler
Yay? Not for me...
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Jude Butler
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Sally Manger
April 24, 2013 10:35 PM
Cue inspiration by Sally Manger
The penultimate challenge was finally upon them. Sally was not altogether sad to see the challenges ending, but she would miss certain aspects. Being on the same team as her brother—while merrily being separated from Carrie, who she never intended to claim as a sister—was an excellent way to spend time. Sometimes it seemed only Ryan understood her, which was convenient, since she hardly understood herself. He knew what she was feeling before she did.Other times, she was certain Angel could have identified. Neither of them was particularly emotionally driven, so their correspondence was perhaps the easiest the brunette had ever experienced. It was helpful to have him, a comrade of sorts. As she grew more and more familiar with her emotions, feeling alone seemed inevitable, but somehow, in his simplistic manners, Angel eliminated that reality. She wished to remain friends with him after these challenges, but she was unsure if that would occur. Angel would likely want to spend time alone, maxed out on socialization.
In theory, she liked the rest of her teammates well enough. They all seemed like fairly nice students. The fact of the matter was just that she had not bonded very much with them. Such bonds were difficult for her, so to see that she had formed one connection—no matter how limited, no matter how shaky its future—was already an impressive feat. Sally was content to one new friendship, for it was one more than she anticipated.
Despite this, she was not sure if she would go so far as to call it a “pleasure” to work with this team, as Ryan phrased it in the conclusion of his mini-speech. Pleasure implied too strong of happiness, and the Aladren hardly ever managed to rise beyond contentedness. Her emotions were still oddly controlled and small-scale, at least usually. Occasionally something stirred within her, something potent and dramatic, and it instilled a flicker of fear.
Perhaps, she hypothesized, this emotional diverges between what she knew and what she was experiencing was the culprit behind her magical deficiencies exhibited this year. The fifth year had managed to return to her grades to their proper standings through intensive studying, acing theoretical tests to compensate for her lack of practical performance. Still, the grades meant nothing to her now; what considered her was that she did not know what her own body was doing. Sally had, until this year, exhibited a rather potent magical talent. This year, that was gone.
Now, however, was not the time for evaluation of her personal dilemmas. Now was time to master this challenge. Ryan suggested the sixth object—for their team was more numerous—could be the box in which the items were held, though a moment later Jude offered other alternatives. “I support Ryan’s theory,” she stated predictably. She tended to agree with her brother; he was well-educated as he neared graduation, and much smarter than he realized. “We should use the box. Who would like it? I think I’ll take that feather, myself.” Her mind hatched an unfathomable idea, or at least, one so to her. “Would turning the feather into a replica of the covered wagons be a desirable plan? I could then enchant it to skirt around.”
“What do you intend to do with the lemon, Ryan?” she inquired in his direction. Sally felt oddly creative, inspired to change what was before them, to transfigure or to charm. “You should certainly induce life. What about a small version of Scruffy? That is his dog,” she added to the other group members, alleviating any confusion that could have risen. “If possible, I suggest we all make our objects reflect our school.” She smiled without intent or realization of the action, feeling both oddly satisfied and continuously engaged. In a most unusual way, all she wanted to do… was do.
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Sally Manger
Cue inspiration
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Sally Manger
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Jude Butler
April 25, 2013 12:35 AM
Cue fear by Jude Butler
Jude knew as soon as she’d said something that she shouldn’t have. I should have quit while I was ahead… she thought as Sally mentioned that she agreed with Ryan. She should have known that would have happened. I should have known… she thought as she moved even closer to Angel. Glancing towards Rory as well, she hoped that Angel or Rory would understand what she was going through and would at least say something to her defense.Sally went into what she would do with the feather and asked Ryan what his plan with the lemon was, talking about making it into a miniature version of his dog. After that she spoke about how each of them should make their objects reflect their school and when Sally smiled, Jude realized that she had no way of doing what Sally wanted.
Jude was useless and she knew it. She wished that the floor would swallow her up or that she was not picked for Noah’s Arc or something like that.
She looked to Angel, who’s side she surely didn’t want to leave and whispered into his ear, “I can’t do what Sally wants… I know that… I know I’m still little, still learning, but I can’t do it… And they’re all going to laugh at me…” She looked to him in almost a begging look. She couldn’t make a fool of herself again. It was bad enough that she tried to help and got shot down, AGAIN…
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Jude Butler
Cue fear
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Jude Butler
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Ryan
April 27, 2013 4:13 AM
The only thing we have to fear is...my sister. by Ryan
Ryan knew quite well that Jude wasn't trying to take over the group, even though he wasn't too sure she had much respect for his ideas. It wasn't her fault, he was only respectable in the pureblood sense. People might respect the O'Malley name and especially the fact that his mother-horrid as she was and as lousy as she treated him and the fact that she hadn't been much of a mother to him at all-had been a Brockert, but Ryan didn't find himself personally as someone who commanded much respect at all and Jude was not one who would recognize his name and respect him simply for being from the family he was. Plus, he never really was one to expect that either. He'd never been so entitled,not like Carrie. That might be the one advantage to the fact that his mother didn't like him. Ryan didn't have any self-esteem but at least he hadn't turned out to be a spoiled little brat like his younger sister.The thing about these challenges were, that while everyone had a right to make suggestions-he didn't want to be a bossy tyrant, for one thing he wasn't good at it, like so many other things that weren't transfiguration and for another he genuinely didn't enjoy it, who was he to tell others what to do? Ryan had difficulty bossing around house elves-but it still...hurt when someone did. And it seemed it was always Jude doing so, not any of the others. He'd quite clearly had done something to put her off. Possibly she'd had a run in with Carrie and just assumed they were alike. Or because Ryan was simply off putting. He'd certainly always believed himself so. That was probably it.
Either way, Jude clearly thought his ideas were dumb and for someone who seemed to think herself useless and not have much self esteem-feelings that the Crotalus could totally relate to-she didn't seem at all shy about sharing her ideas with the rest of the team. It was probably a good thing for her, to grow through these challenges enough to speak up. Merlin knew that Ryan had never been able to and the only reason he'd been expressing them during these challenges was because he was the team leader and every suggestion that he made had him worried about being shot down by the others. It was much more stressful than the upcoming RATS, but possibly not as much so as knowing that when he went home this summer, that he'd have to be around Carrie. Honestly, without the third year, Ryan's home life would be so perfect and peaceful.
He gave Sally a grateful look. Thank Merlin that she was on his team. The Aladren always backed Ryan up, making him feel like his ideas weren't as stupid as he felt when Jude suggested something. Especially given that, well, he actually didn't have anything in his pocket. He had not been told to bring anything, he had not been told all that much about this challenge at all and if one of the older students was supposed to bring something, they would have been told to. Otherwise, that would be setting people up to fail and the challenges were, at least in theory, supposed to have everyone on an even playing field. As far as Ryan knew, nobody was a Leglimens, and thus able to read the minds of the staff members if that was the case. Granted, there was the possibility that people with relatives on staff-such as himself or Angel-could have been told that, but Ryan, at least, had not been and as far as he knew neither had Arabella or Amity. Plus, there was the liklihood that Uncle Seth wouldn't know anyway. According to him, he never did and nothing they found unpleasant was his fault. At least that was what he'd told Amity when she'd complained about her teammates.
"That's a really cool idea." Ryan replied to Sally's about representing the school. "I mean, making a mini-Scruffy would be awesome, but not really representing Sonora. Maybe I could do a prairie dog instead, to represent Teppenpaw. I mean, it would be easier than making it a snake for Crotalus from a lemon." It was certainly more creative than the lemon into a bird though. He looked at his sister for a moment. "Maybe you could do a snake out of the stick or a bird out of the feather. " Okay, so Sally or the others might want to do a charm, but with Ryan, it was habitual to think of Transfiguration first. It was not only the one and only thing in the entire world that he was remotely good at but he'd grown up in a family where it was rather a big thing.
He wasn't even sure what people could do with the other things. "Or stuffed animals might be all right if someone doesn't have the skill for live ones. To make a wild boar for Pecari and whichever Sally doesn't do. I'm not entirely sure what else could be done to represent the school. Someone could also go with the covered wagon idea. Oh! And the button could be a replica of the plates we eat off of for meals." Ryan felt a little proud of that last one actually.
Jude seemed unhappy though and the Crotalus wasn't entirely sure why. Was it because they hadn't gone with her idea? It wasn't his fault or Sally's that they hadn't been told to bring stuff to the challenges and he honestly didn't have anything in his pockets. She also hadn't seemed to like it when his sister suggested they use his transfiguring the mud idea instead of wading through it like Jude wanted. It sort of surprised Ryan, she didn't seem like a spoiled brat that had to have everything her own way like Carrie did. Maybe she was just embarrassed like he had been. "Jude, you don't have to go with our ideas for what to do. If you want to come with your own idea of what to do on your object, that you are capable of and feel more comfortable with, feel free to do so, even if it doesn't fit the theme Sally came up with."
He turned to his sister. "Sally, I like your theme a lot, and think it would be really cool if we all could do it, it was very original thinking but if people can't do it and would have an easier time with something else, I want everyone to do their best so we can succeed in this challenge." He hoped she would understand and not be hurt by what he'd told Jude. Besides, it was better than what would happen if someone went above their skill level and failed. They were in second place-well, after the first challenge, he didn't know if they'd taken a fall during the second one-and maybe they could overcome the first place team and actually win. It was something Ryan actually really needed , he needed to feel like a winner for once in his life.
And if they weren't in second any more they had ground to make up for and it would be for the best if people did what they were capable of.
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Ryan
The only thing we have to fear is...my sister.
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Ryan
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Jude
April 28, 2013 9:59 AM
Maybe, yes, but also failure... by Jude
Jude watched Ryan and Sally from the hopeful comfort of the others and felt as if she really should have kept her mouth shut. Why did I even answer his question? It only made things worse… she thought. She’d respected the older student enough to the point where when he’d asked for their thoughts, she’d done just that. If she had no respect for him she would have just kept her mouth shut. She wanted to win just as much as the next kid, but this was Ryan’s last real chance and she wanted it so badly for him…Jude never thought that anyone other than herself was dumb, and the majority of the team’s reaction to her showed that she indeed was, just that… Dumb… Ryan had asked for imput and Jude had given hers, as stupid as they (and she) was, it apparently was a bad idea to have given her imput.
Ryan agreed with Sally’s idea to represent the school and Jude sighed silently. It wasn’t that she was entirely unhappy, however, she wasn’t in the mood to fail again… She’d been hoping that this wouldn’t be too hard, that’s why she’d suggested things that were slightly easier. It was certainly not because she thought anyone else was stupid, she just knew that she was…
When Ryan spoke to her, she looked up at him. “It’s not that I don’t want to go along with your ideas, I’m just not capable of it and was only trying to help… You’d asked for ideas, that’s all I was trying to do.” she said softly. “And if I don’t follow with you all I’ll feel more stupid than I already do cause I’ll be so different…” she finished, even softer.
She knew she’d fail if she even so much as attempted what they’d wanted to do. Jude didn’t want to fail in the least, specifically Ryan and Angel. Angel had been so nice to her and Ryan, well, he was a seventh year and this was it for him. Jude felt like they’d hate her if she didn’t do their plan, it hadn’t helped when she’d tried to make suggestions in the challenges past. She was going to fail, and she would fail hardcore. Then when Ryan spoke to Sally, telling her that it would be cool if everyone could do it, but it may not work for everyone and it would be better if they’d all succeed at this task and the challenge. There was something inside of Jude that told her that he just wished that he didn’t have her on their team. Even Rory would have probably been able to do what Sally wanted, she had magic in her family. Jude, did not.
Jude was incapable and she knew it. She’d make them lose, and it was then that she knew it. It hurt her that she would be the reason for her team to lose.
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Jude
Maybe, yes, but also failure...
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Jude
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Ryan
April 28, 2013 11:29 PM
Trust me, I've experienced both. She's scarier. by Ryan
The seventh year blinked. He had not expected Jude to express how she felt. Though he certainly never would have been able to say something at her age to an older student-and probably would not have been able to make a suggestion to someone now that he wasn't comfortable with, his cousins or Sophie were one thing, but the rest of his yearmates, not so much. Maybe not even James. Honestly, Ryan felt a certain amount of pride that the Aladren was his friend, because he didn't seem to like all that many people and out of all the people at Sonora, he'd chosen Ryan as someone he liked.And of course, there were certainly younger students not shy about expressing their feelings. In fact, Amity hadn't stopped doing so all year. Come to think of it, aside from Kira and Chaslyn, the latter of whom seemed to be a bit scared of her mother, just as he was of his though not to the same level, none of his first cousins seemed to have that problem. Valerie was quite shy though and Ryan couldn't imagine the fifth year speaking up to give suggestions for her team either. Though she had been her team's overseer and from what he understood, it sounded like she'd done a pretty good job. He was really proud of her for doing so well in that. Also of Amity for not going off on her teammates, though he suspected Arnold Carey's presence was a factor in that, as his younger brother was in Amity's year and she wouldn't want Arnold to say bad things about her to his brother, who could be a potential betrothal for her someday.
He was proud of his own team too. They had done so well so far, and this had to be the easiest challenge of them all. Ryan rather excelled at transfiguration, even compared to some of his relatives, at least the ones he'd had classes with-and especially important was that he knew full well that he was better at it than Carrie was. Though, back before the divorce, when Ryan would come home with Os in Transfig, his mother claimed that it was only because of the genetics inherited from her side of the family, and that he was nothing compared to the rest of them. Which had not proven to be true, but then neither was a lot of stuff that she said.
For some odd reason, these challenges had brought up a lot of stuff about his childhood within his own mind. For the part with the boggart, that had made sense. It had turned into her and she had berated him until Sally and Jude had stepped forward and it had changed into what they were afraid of instead. While the first year had freaked out and began crying-a perfectly understandable reaction to someone's worst fear, he'd been shaking himself and he was an adult -his sister had handled it admirably and admittedly, the Crotalus had immensely enjoyed seeing Ross Manger as a clown.
In fact, Sally had been a huge asset to the team and he was so happy to have her with him. Ryan didn't think he could have managed these challenges without her and they definitely would not have been in second place after the first challenge. He was also thrilled that Jamie and his father had regained custody and that he would have Sally, their brothers and especially Peyton back with them. Unfortunately, they'd have Carrie to contend with, but when he'd asked Uncle Seth a long time ago about how they survived life with his mother, his uncle had remarked that there was safety in numbers and that there were seven of them against one of her. Plus, his grandparents were both decent people. Grandmother Enid was so kind and loving, and even though Grandfather Otis came across gruff, cranky and miserly, he was great too and seemingly even had a soft spot for the seventh year.
Aside from that, well, perhaps it was just that Ryan needed to prove to himself that he wasn't worthless, maybe even prove it to her , to them . It was very possible that Carrie would whine to his mother if his team beat hers which would likely lead to contacting Uncle Seth and accusing him of helping Ryan cheat. Or Uncle Seth or one of his other aunts or uncles would contact his mother to throw it in her face about how wonderful he'd done. Of course, that meant that he...would actually have to do wonderful.
Of course, nothing Ryan would ever do would ever impress his mother and make her think he was anything but dirt. He could contribute something great to the magical world, be someone amazing and be important beyond his family name-which was unlikely-she'd still hate him and not recognize anything he managed to accomplish, would minimize it at best. It was probably best that he just try to feel good for himself, though Ryan had his doubts about that happening too. At least he'd realized he was never get his mother's approval and while that hurt immensely, it was probably good and healthy that he'd accepted it.
Now he had to handle Jude though and show her that he didn't really think she was stupid. He thought she had low self-esteem. Maybe one of her parents had treated her like dung too. Ryan faced the first year."It wasn't that I don't appreciate your help. The fact is, I just...know more about magic. Even if you were from a magical background, I'm still a lot older than you. I've learned more. I don't always think my ideas are very good either." He admitted. "And I'm sure that even if you can't go with the theme Sally suggested, you've probably learned something in class this year. Professor Olivers and Professor Skies are both excellent teachers and I'm sure they've taught you something . Do what you're most comfortable with. Nobody expects anything really advanced from a first year, including Professor Skies."
With that, he turned to the lemon and began to think of all the similarities between it and a prairie dog. Really, Ryan had always rather wished he'd been in Teppenpaw, because it was the one house that Carrie never would have been sorted into. As it was, they were stuck in the same house and as far as he was concerned one of the best things about graduating was that she'd be at school most of the year and he wouldn't be. Briefly he debated the merits of spending part of his summer with Sophie or Arabella or his grandparents just to be away from the little monster.
In his mind he pictured a cute little prairie dog. Teppenpaw had a cuter mascot than the snake that represented Crotalus, a thought Ryan kept to himself because 18 year old boys were not supposed to be into cute things that weren't girls, but it was a statement of fact that prairie dogs were cuter than snakes, just like it was a statement of fact that Carrie and his mother and Ross Manger were terrible human beings.
Ryan did the spell and in place of the lemon was a perfect prairie dog. He had wanted to give it an imperfection, honestly, but he was afraid of getting marked down for it and he really did want to do the best he could. Maybe this time that would be enough.
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Ryan
Trust me, I've experienced both. She's scarier.
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Ryan
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