Professor Olivers
July 02, 2014 4:36 PM
Game On! [III, IV, V years] by Professor Olivers
“Good morning students.” This year hadn’t been the best for Florence who was now feeling under the weather. “I apologize for the Amplifying Charm. Otherwise none of you would be able to hear me.” Florence had woken up with a raspy voice this morning and hadn’t found a potion to remedy it yet. An Amplifying Charm had worked so far and had provided a perfect idea for today’s class. She had been going over theory and rushed practical lessons for the whole term to prepare her fifth-years for their CATS, but today they would have a little fun before final exams rolled around. “Please break up into two teams. We’re going to play a review game.”Florence was serious as a professor, serious because she was passionate about Charms and wanted to convey the information well. She took her job seriously and enjoyed focusing on those who sincerely wanted to learn more about the subject. This year in particular had been especially intense because she’d had to cram a year’s worth of information into one term. Her students might have been stressed, but it had been no walk in the park for Florence either. Maybe that had made her strict and less entertaining this year, but she hoped her usually flamboyant style of clothing and easy smile made her at least a little more approachable.
Once the class had split into two sides, Florence waved her hands to move the desks to the sides of the classroom and split the chairs evenly for both sides. She moved two chairs to the front of the room, one for her and the other facing her. “Everyone take a seat in your respective groups. This is how the game is going to work. One person is going to come and sit in the hot seat. I will ask a question that may be on the final exam from everything we have learned this year. It may be a theoretical question or a practical one, so make sure you have your wands on you. If you answer the question right, you receive three points. If you get it wrong, you receive no points.
“However, if you are not confident in answering a question by yourself, you can turn to your team for help. If you get the correct answer your team will receive one point. If you get it wrong your team will lose a point. The members of the winning team will receive one point of extra credit on the final exam. Any questions before we begin?”
After looking around and answering whatever questions people may have had, Florence opened her arms and smiled. “Let the game begin!” She sat down in her seat and gestured to the seat in front of her. “Team one, please send your first contestant up.”
OOC: You can make up a question Florence would ask pertaining to Charms that is appropriate for third-fifth years. I leave it up to your discretion whether or not you get it right. Two hundred words minimum. Creative, realistic posts will receive more points!
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Professor Olivers
Game On! [III, IV, V years]
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Professor Olivers
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Virginia Bellrose, Crotalus
July 05, 2014 6:22 PM
*Tries not to embarrass self* by Virginia Bellrose, Crotalus
This term had been rather frustrating for Ginny. The first half of the year, she struggled to just keep up doing work so that she didn’t fall too terribly behind, but without adequate lessons, she knew it was a waste of her time. Ginny was not someone who sat around reading books and practicing spells unless it was homework. She just wasn’t that smart. She could do just fine in lessons and exams when properly instructed, but she was easily distracted outside of a classroom and would often forget to study if there was no adult reminding her to do such a thing.Then, midterm happened. Ginny thought that when she returned home, it would be bliss. Her parents would dote on her and let her do as she pleased, but instead, her parents were at war with what to do and who to hold liable for the disastrous first term. Ginny’s father felt that Brockert was trying to shove the blame onto someone else but it was clear, in her father’s opinion, that Brockert had not been successful at keeping his daughter safe while she was in her care. He was already in a suit against the Charms facility and was working out to see what can be done to hold the Magical Planning Department. Ginny had to fight with both of her parents to allow her to come back to Sonora. Her father only reluctantly agreed because there would not have been enough time to transfer her to another school. They made no promises that she would continue at Sonora after the school year was over. It would really depend on how the legal issues panned out. Ginny really knew that her father wanted someone to take responsibility for what occurred and from what she could figure, no one had thus far.
The only positive about her midterm was that her parents agreed to her beginning a new type of dance. Tap. Ginny had always enjoyed watching people tap. They had lessons before her ballet class, so she had been able to watch them through the window. Her mother did not think it was feminine enough for her to do, but her father finally relented and her mother soon followed. She didn’t have very long during midterm to study a lot of it, but her dance instructor gave her some basic steps to work on while she was away at school as well as some books to review. He would quiz her when she returned for the summer. Ginny loved her instructor; he was the complete opposite of her Ballet/Contemporary instructor who was so rigid. Ginny was beyond in love with learning this new way of dance.
Of course, returning to Sonora left little time for anything remotely fun. With all the work that they had to catch up on, Ginny found herself falling asleep most evenings in the Crotalus Common room with a book under her head. She really only had the weekends to work on her dancing. She would spend an hour and a half doing ballet and then another hour working on her tap. Her tap was atrocious, she wasn’t used to dancing with heavy shoes on, but she kept focus on her memories of those she used to watch in the window. Eventually, she would get there just as she had mastered the pointe in Ballet and her strong lines in Contemporary. Was she perfect, of course not, she was still learning, but she loved every minute of it.
As for everything else, it was just work, work, work. She did not know how others were doing in their lessons; she was too self-conscious to ask her friends if they were able to keep up with everything, but she felt like she didn’t see them nearly as much as she used to. Hopefully, things would calm down and be normal again.
Of course, now that she was in Charms class and they had to play a review game, Ginny wished the year would be over quickly. She was confident enough in her spell work when she was working by herself or in a small group setting, but to have to do it in front of everyone? On top of that, there was a possibility that she would lose points for her team and they could lose while the other team would gain an extra credit point on their exams. It was far too much pressure for the fourteen year old.
Virginia reluctantly sat with her team and awaited her turn. It wasn’t long and she was grateful to get it done and out of the way. As she sat in the chair across from the professor, her leg bounced agitatedly between them, showing the class her nerves.
What charm is for the incantation ‘hilaro’ and what does it do?
Ginny sighed an internal breath at the question. She knew this one. She hadn’t particularly enjoyed the lesson, but she at least remembered it. “Hilaro is the incantation for the Cheering Charm.” Ginny stated, feeling confident now. “It’s a charm to make people feel happier.” There, done. If it had been some other more drawn out question or practical, she may not have been as okay to answer it, but it was something she knew and therefore, hadn’t made a fool of herself in front of everyone.
Feeling better, Ginny smiled and returned to her team for the next person to have a shot at the game. “That was way too much pressure than a game should be.” Ginny commented to the person sitting beside her.
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Virginia Bellrose, Crotalus
*Tries not to embarrass self*
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Virginia Bellrose, Crotalus
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Adam Spencer, Pecari
July 07, 2014 4:03 AM
I'd say you succeeded. by Adam Spencer, Pecari
If only the year were already over. Adam had been having a difficult time readjusting to the academic structure after nearly six months without it, the summer months included. He'd hardly hard much time to see his mates and he had a difficult time memorising information and knowing it like the back of his hand if he had to study it all himself. Charlotte had been much more interested in socialising the term before as well, a surprising trait he hadn't expected in his sister, so she wasn't able to encourage him to study. Charlotte was proving to be quite the social butterfly on her own terms.Professor Olivers was helpful this term and every Charms class was very productive, though a bit too fast-paced for his liking. However, regarding the circumstances, it was beneficial and Adam was glad Professor Olivers had taken the time to teach a year's worth of lessons instead of skipping out on the first term altogether. Otherwise a whole term's worth of knowledge would have been completely missing from his repertoire and he'd fail his CATS when the time came around. Maybe he was being slightly dramatic, but it was better to be safe than sorry in his opinion. At least in this case.
Today's lesson was a review session, one that Adam hoped he was adequately prepared for by now. When the time came to split into groups, he noticed Ginny and went to join her. He hadn't spent much time with her and Francesca as a trio, they being in different houses and such. "Hello," he said with a smile as he took a seat next to her. He waited patiently as the game began; his turn wasn't going to come around for a little while, but he watched Ginny go up fairly early. She answered correctly and he clapped for her, smiling again as she returned to her seat. "Good show," he replied. "It's quite a prize Professor Olivers if offering so I don't doubt the pressure is on. Times like these I wish I had a more competitive spirit."
Even a few points extra credit couldn't change Adam into a cut-throat competitor. Whilst some played games and sports for the thrill of winning and the glory that came with it, Adam played for fun. It didn't make him much of a competitor or a particularly invested player, but he was a great team-player and supportive of everyone. He was by no means as scary as his cousins could be on the Quidditch pitch.
"How was your holiday?" he asked, whispering so he wouldn't get them into trouble. He was more interested in catching up with his mate than dutifully watching the review game anyway.
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Adam Spencer, Pecari
I'd say you succeeded.
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Adam Spencer, Pecari
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Ginny
July 08, 2014 9:54 PM
Why thank you! by Ginny
Ginny gave an attempted curtsey from her seat as Adam complimented her on her stage presence with the professor. Her smile turned into a scoff when Adam admitted to not being competitive. “But you’re a Quidditch player. Isn’t it your duty to be competitive?” She teased him. Having both Adam and Francesca as friends who are on opposing Quidditch teams had taught Ginny a lot about the sport. She enjoyed watching it, but always thought those who played were far too involved to really enjoy it. Adam was on one of those types of teams and Francesca was on the other. Ginny could never understand how people could play the sport and think it’s fun, but what did she know? She wasn’t allowed to play it.Ginny was not much of a competitor either. Being put in the spotlight for points or to win something made her far too nervous. Ginny did recitals on occasion with dance, but there was no winner or loser in those. Half the time, she never bothered auditioning for a solo because she didn’t want the pressure to be the sole person in the spot light. She danced for the love of dancing and nothing more. She knew that if she were to ever become a wife and mother, dancing would no longer be a part of her. Of course, if she didn’t get married, there would be other problems for her. Her parents would be ashamed of her for not being able to find a match on her own and she probably couldn’t do much with her dancing at that point anyway without there being some flak for it. Her father wasn’t important enough to warrant a betrothal with her, but it wasn’t above her family either. If a family wanted her, then an arrangement could be made. But if there was no one, Ginny didn’t know what that would mean. Would she forever be stuck with her parents? Or living completely alone in an isolated shack because her parents were too ashamed to look at her? Ugh, the problems with being a female.
“Atrocious.” Ginny commented with dramatic flair (or as much of one that she could get with a whisper). “My parents did not want me coming back to Sonora after last terms debacle.” Ginny informed him. “I had to beg and plead. My father said the only reason they agreed to have me return was because it was too late for a transfer. I may not even be able to come back next year, depending on how my parents feel about it all. And, if that happens, I’ll be going to some school up in Canada.” Ginny pouted, her bottom lip poking out as she frowned.
“On the plus side, my parents finally agreed to let me take Tap!” Ginny whispered excitedly. “I’m horrible at it right now, but I’m all for practice, practice, practice.” She gave him a grin. As frustrating as not doing well in dance made her, she still enjoyed the work. “How was your holiday?” She asked him.
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Ginny
Why thank you!
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Ginny
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Adam
July 16, 2014 8:02 AM
I try. by Adam
Adam smiled at Ginny's teasing accusation. It was true; playing Quidditch required him to be competitive on some level, but it wasn't a natural state of mind for Adam to be in. "Ah yes, a duty is a duty I suppose," he sighed as if he were exasperated. "Thank goodness it's a team sport. My team-mates are far more competitive than me." Sometimes their enthusiasm for the sport was a bit suffocating and chatting with his less Quidditch-enthused mates, currently only up to one at the moment, was a breath of fresh air.For the past year or two, Adam had fancied himself, Ginny and Francesca to be their own little clique. If Ginny ended up transferring to another school, what would that mean for him and Francesca? "You can't transfer," he said, slightly horrified. "Canada's an enormous country. And what would happen to Francesca and I?" Adam shook his head. "We'd have no luck finding you so far north except through post, but that's not the same." Adam was adamant about that: she couldn't leave.
Her other news, much less grim than that which he had just addressed, seemed to make her happy and Adam smiled. "That's great! Another form of dance to practise in Dance Club." Adam had never had a strong interest in any type of dance form except ballroom, a necessity for the balls he would eventually attend as an adult. Charlotte had taken ballet lessons, but never tap. Lily, on the other hand, loathed ballet. Perhaps tap was a dance form his currently resistant youngest sister would enjoy. Lily did like making loads of noise. He'd have to suggest it to his mother the next time he wrote home, or at least tell Charlotte to include it in her weekly letters.
Before he could tell Ginny about his holiday, it was his turn to approach the chair. Adam did so, feeling a little nervous at being put on the spot, but the question was relatively simple: perform the Animating Charm on a doll to make it perform a dance. Adam was not well-versed in what tap dancing looked like, so he had the doll waltz with an invisible partner for full marks. He was glad his individual studying had paid off, and he went back to his seat smiling.
"My holiday was interesting, to say the least," he said as he sat back down. "Similarly to your parents, my mum freaked out on Charlotte and I and didn't want to send us back either. My uncle had to convince her it was all right for us to go back to finish the year. I didn't realise how much she worries, my mum, but she certainly can make herself sick with it." Adam loved his mother, but he hoped his sisters didn't turn out as tender and fragile as she.
"I'm glad we don't have to take our CATS or RATS this year," he sighed. "I feel sorry for all the studying the fifth and seventh years had to do." CATS were relatively important, but RATS were going to be a nightmare. They were important exams and Adam wouldn't want such big distractions keeping him from doing well and securing a respectable future for himself.
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Adam
I try.
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Adam
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Ginny
July 25, 2014 12:52 AM
You do it so well. by Ginny
Ginny rather agreed about his teammates. Of the lot of them, she only knew the Pierce twins on a more informal way since they were part of the dance club and both Francesca and Adam seemed close with them due to Quidditch. Ginny was certain that if she hadn’t befriended Adam and Francesca first, she would not be part of their trio. Instead, it would be a Quad friendship, Adam, Francesca, and the Pierce twins. It had been awhile now since she had felt insecure about her position in their friendship, but knowing that they had still practiced Quidditch with the twins while the staff was missing and didn’t seem to have much time for her ebbed away at her. That was probably why she had spent a lot of her time in her own common room. It helped her forget sometimes what she was missing out on. Until they graduated, she knew that the insecurity would pop up every once in a while. She had grown used to it after spending years isolated from everyone else.She smiled, trying to hide the relief and pleased feeling as best as she could, when Adam seemed unhappy with the idea of her leaving Sonora. “Oh, I’m not sure. Perhaps, without me around, you and Francesca will fall madly in love and live happily ever after!” Ginny stated innocently with a grin. She didn’t think either of her friends were interested in one another and even the very idea of it almost made her laugh. It would just be too strange if they ever did. “Anyway, we manage to find you just fine in England. If my parents due decide that it’s better for me in Canada, you better find me and help me escape from their evil clutches!” Ginny hoped all the legal stuff would be taken care of before summer hit so that she wouldn’t have to fight her parents on coming back to Sonora.
“Yeah, I’m hoping to learn some more steps before next year when I start the club back up.” Ginny stated. “My mother doesn’t really like me learning it because she says it’s not feminine enough of a dance and she’s worried people will think of it as a ‘lowly’ dance for someone of our standards, but whenever I see someone do Tap, it makes me happy.” Ginny shrugged. She had no idea if that made any sense to him.
She watched as Adam took his turn with the game and clapped politely as he succeeded. “Bravo!” She whispered when he returned, giving him a quiet clap since the next student was already in the middle of answering the question.
To be honest, Ginny was happy to know that her parents weren’t the only ones who had overreacted to what had happened. “Parents, what can you do?” She asked rhetorically with a shrug. “At least you have additional family here that can persuade your mother’s opinion. It’s just me and my parents hardly take my opinion into account for anything.” She loved her parents, but they were rather frustrating most of the time.
“At least they have options when they get to take it.” Virginia commented. “I would love to be able to have an open book CATS exam next year. I wouldn’t want the horrible studying to go along with losing half a semester in the process, but open book would still be a pleasant option to have.”
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Ginny
You do it so well.
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Ginny
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