*Hums theme to Happy Days* on Defense Against the Dark Arts

Professor O'Leary

April 24, 2008 9:42 PM

Lesson I: Third through Fifth Years by Professor O'Leary

As the students trickled into the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, Drake came out of his office carrying a glass tank. He preferred to handle its transportation the muggle way rather than the magical, because he felt it was unnecessary to use magic for everything, especially when it was something handled quite easily without. Hauling it to the desk, he set it down in view of the students and leaned against the edge of his desk. The aquarium appeared to be uninteresting upon first glance. Inside were just a few simple plants, dirt, and rocks.

A smirk played on his lips, as he began the lesson for this was one of his favorite dark creatures, “Welcome back to another exciting year of Defense Against the Dark Arts. By now, you should already be aware of my rules, however, for those of you that are denser than most, I will review them. No talking when I am talking and no fooling around. Easy to follow instructions to make sure you don’t get hurt. Now, then, if you turn your attention to the tank beside me. To the naked eye, it appears that nothing is out of the ordinary, however, housed inside is a Pogrebin.”

Seemingly to prove his point, one of the rocks decided to move. Drake smiled. This particular rock was named Larry. “Contrary to popular belief, the Pogrebin is not a dark creature. Dark creatures are defined as creatures, which seek to harm for no other reason than to harm. However, it is a dangerous creature found mostly in Russia. What makes this creature so dangerous is that as it stalks its prey, preferably humans, it produces a feeling of despair so strong that it can bring one to their knees. When this happens, the Pogrebin pounces for their feast.”

He waited for any students that were taking notes to finish, before he continued. “Now, you may ask why I chose this particular creature when it’s not a dark creature and this is Defense Against the Dark Arts class. Simple. The effect that this creature has is quite similar to an effect that another creature has, a dark creature, the Dementor. The Dementor is a rather vial creature that feeds on positive human emotion. It sucks them out every happy feeling from a person, leaving behind only a sense of despair. This can lead to a Dementor’s Kiss, which will not only cause despair, but it is the literal sucking out of the soul and forming another Dementor.”

Another pause. “To defend yourself against the Pogrebin is quite simple for a wizard. A simple Knockback jinx will do nicely. However, the Dementor is not so easy, which brings us to our lesson for today. The Patronus spell. To perform this spell, you must think of an incredibly happy memory, something that brings you utter joy. Once you do this, flick your wand like so,” Drake swished his wand, which did not require anything complex, as it was a simple movement, “and state Expecto Patronum!” A shining, silver bat appeared out of the end of his wand. He had always had an affinity for the misunderstood creatures of the night and it was no wonder that it was the animal he associated with.

He gave a bit of a half smile in affection, before facing the class once more. “I would like everyone to put away their notes and books. We are going to move the desks against the walls.” After the desks were moved, this time easily done by magic in order to give the students more time to work, Drake continued, “I would like everyone to practice the Patronus spell. You should all have plenty of room to work. If you are unable to produce a full patronus, do not get discouraged for it is an incredibly difficult spell and there are many fully grown wizards that are unable to produce the spell. However, in the event that you are able to, I would like you to come up here, where the Pogrebin is. In a real situation, you must fight off despair while attempting to produce your patronus, and the Pogrebin will serve to produce a simulation. You may begin.”

OOC: Please remember that posts should be a minimum of ten sentences. Have fun and be creative!
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Subthreads:

There is neither happiness nor misery in the world... by Echo Elms with Elly Eriksson, Elly

*Hums theme to Happy Days* by Irene Liddowe with Irene, Professor O'Leary

Balancing the Mood by Oliver Abbott with Oliver

Memory! All alone in the moonlight. by Eavan Valentine

Oh this is not going well at all by Talitha Cumni with Oliver Abbott, Professor O'Leary, Talitha, Adam Brockert

I am made of happy (so there, Echo!) by Saul Pierce

Patronus? Rock on! by Mateo and Jose Santoro

0 Professor O'Leary Lesson I: Third through Fifth Years 0 Professor O'Leary 1 5

Echo Elms

April 26, 2008 1:15 PM

There is neither happiness nor misery in the world... by Echo Elms

Despite a flirtation last year with the novelty and wonders of Astronomy and the excellent teaching of Professor McFarland, Echo felt a sudden resurgence of affection for his old favorite, DADA with O'Leary. Today's lesson was awesome, being all about mind over mind, which was actually so much cooler than mind over matter and more important to. Echo imagined his spirit guide, the greyhound, emerging for his real eyes to see and eagerly picked through his files of memory for that perfect feeling of happiness.

Sliding his desk to the side with the others, a number of possibilities surfaced. There was the ball, of course, with Elly. Dancing. But then, through it, there was also an awful lot of anxiety and tension involved. Fear that she would realize he really liked her, fear that he would loose his cool--which, by the way, he'd been painstakingly building since Christmas--and freak out. Fear that he would enjoy himself too much. Fear that he wouldn't enjoy himself. Lots of different stuff made it less than what he would need to create a Patronus.

There was also this summer. Seeing a professional quidditch game was a big highlight, what with having his two best friends there and nothing wrong in the world. And that wasn't all. The summer had yet more in store for Echo when he came home.

Her name was Trishy and she was 3 and a half years old with sparse little blond curls and dimples in her smiling baby cheeks. Echo and this bouncing hug contraption were not exactly the most likely of pairs, but it started off slow. Trishy lived next door to his dad and was always running off into their yard when her mom wasn't looking. It was a fun game to her.

Hi! she would say to him, waving with a big smile and laugh in delight as her mom picked her up and hauled her back into her own yard. Next time it would be Whatcha doin? And then, You have big hair. After awhile her mom would just watch from a distance. By the end of the summer, he was babysitting Trishy three days a week. He carried her to park and pushed her on the swings. They chowed down on her mom's ice cream. He taught her how to identify some different types of rocks, even though she couldn't say them quite right. He showed her how to kick a soccer ball with as much success.

It would have been cool to have a little sister. He pictured one particularly fun afternoon hanging out with Trishy. They guys had come over and Echo expected them to rumple him a bit for babysitting, but Trishy quickly won them over with her charms and interest in their soccer ball and kept shouting, "Gooooaaaalll!!!" and giggling.

"Expecto Patronum," he tried. A weak little whisp of light flicked out of his wand. Not all wizards could make a Patronus, O'Leary had said, so Echo thought that whisp was pretty good.

21 Echo Elms There is neither happiness nor misery in the world... 93 Echo Elms 0 5

Irene Liddowe

April 26, 2008 6:57 PM

Hums theme to Happy Days by Irene Liddowe

Defense Against the Dark Arts was one of Irene's best. She couldn't help feeling a sense of determination whenever she walked into the room. Today was no different. Irene entered the classroom, smiling at the framiliar faces around her. Professor O'Leary walked in with some sort of tank. She didn't take much notice of it. It was probably a setting for them to put whatever-it-was in. Irene took a seat in the second row, setting her books underneath her chair. She really loved this class. Charms was in a very close lead, but this year that might change. She was a Third Year now which meant they might be studying some high-level spells. Challenging. She loved a challenge. Irene pulled out some paper and begna taking notes on what was in the apparently not-empty tank. Pogrebins where something she hadn't heard of before. Apparently, they were like Dementors. That was interesting, but Irene wasn't sure if that meant potential for a good lesson...

...which brings us to our lesson for today. The Patronus spell.

Irene's blue-green eyes snapped up to the Professor. Seriously? That. was. so cool! Irene had always wondered what her Patronus would be, and now she got to figure it out, supposing she was able to do it right. The determination she felt earlier when she first walked in seemed to intensify as she listened to the instructions. Irene went to the edge of the class after she moved her desk and pulled out her wand. Irene tried to focus on the happiest memory she could. Her mind drifted back...

It was summer in Kentucky, meaning that the sun was beating down on five-year-old Irene as she sat on a swing in the backyard. Her mother was sitting on the back porch, smiling brightly at her little girl and waving she she swang clumsily. Irene's small feet dug into the dirt as she slid to a stop. However, on her departure from the swing, her feet became criss-crossed and she fell, her knee hitting the dirt. It wasn't two seconds before her mother was at her side, taking a look at the barely red knee that was causing her daughter so much trouble.

"Look at that..." she said, her hand landing on the top Irene's head in a comforting gesture. "Do you think you'll live?" Irene but her lip and shook her head, her brown braids swinging around her head. Her mother helped her up and said the magic words.

"Does ice cream sound good?" Irene's tears vanished and she nodded enthusiastically.

"Can I- Can I get two scoops?" She said, her voice quivering due to her previous fall. Okay, maybe not so much because she was hurt, but Irene was a smart kid. She knew when, if she played it up enough, she could get away with just a bit more. Her mother rolled her eyes, so similar to her daughter's.

"Just this once."

Irene's fingers, the ones not closed around her wand, closed around the necklace hanging around her neck. Irene moved her wand and whispered the incantation.

Nothing happened.

Irene felt a let down, but immediately reminded herself to keep her moral high. That was what this spell demanded. She knew the problem with that memory. It had Mom in it which unconciously reminded her of her death. It might have been that they went to get the ice cream at the same restaurant that set fire to her mother's school. Maybe it was that the memory had occured not a month before her death. Irene thought back again, thinking of something that would really make her happy, no connections to anything sad. Irene thought back to her first year at the match of Pecari versus Crotalus... and she was playing. Irene tried to resimulate the feeling of flying in her mind and waved her wand.

"Expecto Patronum," She said forcefully, waving her wand. A warm tingle spread through her fingers as a bright mist issued from the tip of her wand. Irene grinned at the result. Irene picked another memory, determinded to get this one to produce the figure she was so anxious to see. Her mind drifted back to last year's feast, to a picture of herself, sitting next to Brett, his expression arranged in an unspoken question. Irene waved her wand and said, with more force,

"Expecto Patronum!"

Irene felt that framiliar tingle spread through her fingers and opened her eyes to see a winged figure emerge from her wand that took the shape of a dove. Irene grinned and felt extremely accomplished for acheiving the spell. She watched as tt hovered around her, its graceful wings fluttering, before dissolving into mist.

0 Irene Liddowe *Hums theme to Happy Days* 106 Irene Liddowe 0 5

Oliver Abbott

April 27, 2008 2:44 PM

Balancing the Mood by Oliver Abbott

Another class with Old Eerie. Oliver scuffed his shoes across the classroom to a desk near the far wall and emptied the contents of his bag haphazardly onto his desk. He liked this class, it was usually half hard-work, half-doss, and the stuff they learned was cool, too. Shape-shifters and plants that eat you – not much wrong with those classes! Today looked to be in the same league. Creatures that sucked out your soul? Wicked!

Oliver did take notes, but he also referenced the page numbers so he could make more reliable and in depth notes at a later date – chances are they were going to have to write an essay on these Pogrebin things, anyway. Or maybe the Dementors – either would be cool. Then Oliver hurriedly shoved all his stuff back into his bag again, so they could move the desk out of the way. That was another bonus of DADA – usually they got to move furniture and practise spells. It was the best!

Of course, the hardest part of this lesson was going to be finding a suitably good memory for producing a Patronus. As the furniture was rearranged around the outside of the room, Oliver thought hard about what could be his happiest memory. Arriving at Sonora hadn’t been all that great, because he was doing it against his parents’ wishes. All in all, the whole event had been rather stressful. Then there was Quidditch, of course. Oliver loved Quidditch, and being on the team was the best thing ever. There again, though, was that element of stress that always accompanied games, like dodging bludgers and working so hard to get the Quaffle before the other team. There was the ball… and Hannah… Oliver nearly blushed thinking about how pretty she’d been, and that she was there are his date! Still, there had been the anxiety, and the fact that they were there together as friends had been somewhat of a damper on Oliver’s emotions.

Perhaps he needed to think further back. Maybe to when he and Julian had been allowed to be young wizards when they were staying with their Uncle Raymond. He let them stir his less hazardous potions, and ride brooms in the yard, and blow Droobles gum ’til their faces went blue. Oliver found himself grinning as he thought about it. Yes, that would do for a start.

Brandishing his wand, Oliver’s voice joined the chorus of incantations, but he produced little more than a wisp of smoke the breadth of a hair. It might even have been a hair. Somewhat disgruntled, Oliver sighed loudly. Maybe his memories just weren’t happy enough?

0 Oliver Abbott Balancing the Mood 99 Oliver Abbott 0 5

Eavan Valentine

April 27, 2008 3:46 PM

Memory! All alone in the moonlight. by Eavan Valentine

Defense had never been Eavan's favorite class for the sole reason of the entire purpose of the class reminded her of bad things. The Boogie Man beneath the bed. The monster in the closet. They're real and they're after you, so you better wise up. It was silly, of course. What would attack her in school besides maybe a mean student. In any case, she still found the class very interesting, and today would be no exception.

In fact, as Eavan listened to Professor O'Leary's lecture, she thought it might be even more interesting than usual. She had read about patroni in a book or two before, and thought it would be amazing to be able to produce something like that. One of the books was a fantasy about a princess enslaved by an evil witch and the lowly kitchen boy saves her by producing the patronus of a flying horse so strong that he flew it up to her window and rescued her. It was a cheesy plot, but very entertaining on a rainy evening.

She took some hurried notes on the pogrebin (she had been daydreaming a bit too long) and then excitedly shut her eyes tight and tried to think of a happy thought. Her first thought came from the summer. The late-night talk sessions in Danae's palatial room. She tried to keep the happy thought in her head as she stated the incantation. She opened one eye to see if she had gotten it. A thin silvery mist hung in the air, but as soon as she saw it, it began to disappear. She had forgotten to keep the happy thought. Maybe a happier one would be better.

She was five years old and had the flu. She was lying in bed and her mother was leaning over her, caressing her hair and softly singing her to sleep. Eavan let the memory wash over her and after a minute or two tried the spell again.

When she opened her eyes this time, she was welcomed by happy puffs of silver mist shooting from her wand. She wiped her eyes and turned to the person next to her with a shy smile.

"I was hoping for some sort of animal, but I guess this is the most I'll be able to do in just one day."

0 Eavan Valentine Memory! All alone in the moonlight. 86 Eavan Valentine 0 5

Talitha Cumni

April 27, 2008 8:16 PM

Oh this is not going well at all by Talitha Cumni

Talitha always looked forward to DADA. She found the lessons fun and challenging. She also admired Professor O’Leary and never bought the stern, slightly scary persona he liked to don in front of students, especially first years. She had seen him with his daughter last year. Anyone with a daughter as nice a Briony couldn’t be mean twenty-four-seven.

Just before class she was busy chatting with her friends glad that the class included third through fifth years. Not only was Irene, Jae, Lutece and Oliver there, Elly and Adam were in attendance also. This was promising to be a really enjoyable day.

Professor O’Leary swept into the room and began his lecture. Talitha began taking notes. As he explained the purpose of a Pogrebin, Talitha gave an unconscious shudder. Again she was glad that the forest her community neighbored was filled with mostly muggle plants and animals. She’d rather face a hungry mountain lion than a hungry rock thing.

The opportunity to try to produce a Patronous was exciting. Talitha jumped into line, thinking hard about her happiest thought. There had been so many recently. Her owl, Owl was definitely her familiar as far as she was concerned, not matter what anybody said. Her date with Adam was just the best. She still got happy butterflies in her stomach every time she thought of it. Her parents and her had been able to do lots of fun things together this summer, still leaving her plenty of time to be with her friends camping and swimming. There were very few things in Talitha’s life at the moment that didn’t make her happy when she thought of them with the exception of that creepy stuck up boy whose family owned property near the community, but she didn’t have to waste her time dwelling on that.

She stood patiently in line, thinking her happy thoughts and watching the students ahead of her try. She glanced over at Adam. She did worry about how he would deal with this assignment. As much as she liked Adam, she was very aware of his self-consciousness and tendency to dwell on the negative. She shook herself away from worrying about him. Professor O’Leary stressed the importance of concentrating on joy.

Some of the students did really well. One could even see real shapes in the silvery vapor. Talitha smiled at the pretty dove- like bird that Irene was able to produce. Echo managed a vapor. Eavan seemed very pleased with her poofy puffs of vapor. Poor Oliver, who usually did amazingly awesome things in DADA, was only able to produce a wisp. Talitha thought about how disappointed her friend must be. She hurt for him. He was rather a perfectionist.

As she drew near to the tank the Pogrebin was contained in, Talitha began to doubt herself. If Oliver couldn’t do better, then what hope had she? She was just wasting space in this class. She might as well just go back to her seat. Again, Talitha mentally forced herself toward happy memories, but they weren’t as clear and overlapped with negative ones.

She thought of dancing with Adam and then remembered Christy’s lecture. She thought about swimming at the lake, and then time the pureblood boy came forcefully to mind. He had rather violently stolen a kiss, his tounge was like a fat snake in her mouth she tried to make it postive be remembering the look on his face when she bit it. Then she remembered his hand roughly grabbing at her…

Stop it. Stop it! Stop it! Talitha chided herself, her eyes drawn toward the tank and its living rock. She would keep happy thoughts. She would keep happy thoughts!

A boy was hanging in a tall tree by his underwear. Talitha didn’t mean to do it. “It” happened. She just wanted to stop him from picking on the little kid. His mother screamed, certain any moment the branch would break and he would tumble down to his death. “What did you do?” She’d cried, shaking an ten year old Talitha violently by the shoulders…

She was being punished. They said it was to help her, but they were sending her away to Sonora, a boarding school. They didn’t want her in the community. Mother and Daddy fought horribly about it, but in the end, Daddy agreed to follow his Healer wife’s instincts and make her go. She was cast out, at least as much as one could cast out a child. She’d caused her parents to fight…

Everyone were dancing around a huge fire. They were celebrating Papo’s birthday. Papo was laughing and enjoying himself. Suddenly her big, energetic grandfather grabbed his chest and fell. Mother was over him in a moment, sobbing and passing her wand over his heart. Ennervate! Ennervate! But Papo didn’t get up…

Talitha didn’t want to try thinking happy thoughts any more. Why bother? It was too much effort when there was such tragedy in the world. Why even do this assignment. It didn’t matter. Nothing mattered. She just didn’t want to think anymore. A blackness edged around her field of vision. If she welcomed the darkness, she could quit trying and rest. It would be so easy, such a relief to give in. She wouldn’t fight it anymore, she would embrace the void.

Talitha didn’t feel her body crumple. She didn’t remember rolling up in a fetal ball on the floor. All she knew is that it was a relief to feel nothing at all.

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0 Talitha Cumni Oh this is not going well at all 102 Talitha Cumni 0 5

Irene

May 04, 2008 3:55 AM

Turn for the worse... Tag: Professor? by Irene

OOC: Sorry about the double-posting. I wanted to get the second part in and I managed to grab some spare time.

BIC:
'Why a dove?' Irene though. She knew her name meant 'peace' which is symbolyzed by a dove, but that wouldn't be enough reason, would it? She use to try to smooth out the fights between Mom and Dad, she tries her best to keep Elaina and the twins from their disagreements. Irene didn't like it when people were at odds. It was so much better when everyone got along. Maybe she was more of a "peacemaker" rather than simply peaceful. That would make sense, right? Irene's mood was still high from her recent accomplishment of the Patronus. Maybe she would give the Pogrebin a try! Irene walked forward, nearing the tank. Talitha was on her way up too. Irene kept her mind on her memories, focusing on the times she had spent at Sonora with all her friends, the twins, Brett, Elly, Echo. Remember the ball...

Irene had barely taken three steps when she suddenly wondered if she would be able to produce the Patronus again. The first time was probably just a fluke. It didn't mean she would be able to every time. Sure, Irene liked DADA, but that didn't mean she was good at it. In fact, were there any classes that she actually was good at? Out of habit, Irene's fingers went to her necklace for comfort. This time, however, all that came over her was a huge sense of sadness. Mom couldn't help her, she was dead. Wearing her nacklace didn't mean anything...

"Daddy, why couldn't Mommy pick me up from school? I didn't want to leave early! Is Mom home?" asked Irene as she followed her Dad into the house. The small girl was curious about what was going on. Did Mom's school have the day off?

"Your mom is dead!" Dad yelled as he whirrled around to face his five-year-old daughter. Irene stopped in her tracks, looking up into the face of her Dad. What was he talking about? She had seen her that morning... Mommy was at school, teaching. There was no way she could be...

"What d'you mean? She was home at breakfast..." Irene said quietly. Dad let out a frustrated growl and seized her wrist, bending down so his face was close to hers.

"You're so stupid! The school burnt down and she went with it!" he said, his alcohol-stained breath penetrating her senses, "Mom is dead! Don't you get it? Dead! She's never coming home!"

Irene squeezed her eyes shut, clearing the memories from her mind. She hadn't thought about Dad for months now... She hated thinking about him and all the memories that came with him. Irene's mind was suddenly playing another scene:

She was so hungry... What happened to all the food in the cupboards? Dad came home from the store yesterday with a bag, but where was the food? Irene opened the fridge door and found the shelves were full, but not of anything useful to her. The stange liquid Dad drank looked gross, and she didn't like what it did to him. Irene quietly closed the fridge door, not wanting to wake Dad in the next room. He hated when she woke him... Irene made her way towards the stairs, stepping carefully to avoid the creaks of the floorboards. She made it to the stairs, checking over her shoulder to make sure Daddy was still sleeping. If she had learned anything over the past year, it was to never ever wake him. Irene took a step, but immediately released her foot as the stair creaked with unwanted volume. She closed her eyes, praying he hadn't heard--

Dad let out a groan and sat up, rubbing his bloodshot eyes. He made his way to the stairs, looking irate.

"What are doing down here?" He roared, one hand closing around her upper-arm. "You know not to bug me when I'm sleeping! Where you trying to run away?! What? These aren't hard questions, Irene! Are you too stupid to answer? Stop crying, you look pathetic!" Irene blinked back the tears that treatened to fall. She hated when he yelled at her...

"I was just getting food..." she said quietly.

"Always have an excuse don't you?" He said, looking down at the six-year-old girl with disgust. "All you do is bother everyone! You can't even let me sleep for fifteen minutes without running around making noise! You're little mind can't comprehend that I don't need to let you stay here! I could throw you out on the street any time and see how hungry you are then! You know what? No one will care, so you better shape up if you want to stay in this house!" He pushed her away from him, turning back towards the couch, leaving the small girl to quietly lock herself in her room.

Irene's eyes remained shut, her hands pressing up against them. He had been right... She had never thought about how he had kept her in the house. It could have been so much worse... But Dad kept her around and all she did was act like she was in the worst place on Earth... What kind of kid was she? Was she still like that? She had never thanked Uncle Mike for taking her in. He probably only kept her around because she was his sister's daughter. She was ungrateful and bothersom. It was a wonder she was still in his house. Irene removed a hand from her eyes and clutched the desk in front of her, steadying herself. Talitha had fallen beside her, but Irene hardly noticed. She couldn't help her anyway. She couldn't do a spell to help her.

Dad was looking down at the twelve-year-old girl, as if wishing her drop dead at any second. Irene's cheek was burning. He wasn't even suppose to be here... She had been away from him for five years now and he came and ruined everything, just before she was going to see her friends. Irene couldn't tear her gaze from his look of penetrating hatered. Every second of it made her sink lower into misery. He really hated her... All those years living with him, it didn't matter. He hadn't wanted her there at all. He had shown her that now, and she had the mark to prove it. Why was it so upseting to her? She hated him right back, so why did she care if he did? Irene looked up at him, burning with anger and saddness all at once.

"Go home," she spat. He turned and left, leaving her behind without a care in the world. Because he didn't care anyway. He didn't want to see her, and she knew it. Irene placed a hand on her glowing cheek and returned to the house...

Irene was shaking now, both hands clutching the desk. Her wand was sitting in her pocket, useless. She felt the tears rolling down her cheeks and the energy draining from her, making it difficult to stand. Irene wanted so much to just collapse, but something was telling her to stand. She had to keep standing for some reason... Irene's hand closed around her wand, willing for anything to make this depression go away. She couldn't remember the spell... Could she do it if she did remember? Irene clutched her wand, trying to think of anything that might be doable. All she could see was flashes of Mom's casket, hear Dad's drunken yells, feel the pain in her face. For the briefest moment, she saw the twins, grinning at her. Irene took the moment and pushed herself away from the desk, the tears still falling swift and fast. Her hands were shaking and the room was spinning. All she wanted was to get out right now. Irene stumbled backwards, her mind still picturing blurry flashes from the past. As she backed away, Irene held her wand out, trying to muster anything to help this feeling go away. She grasped that fresh picture that had just recently entered her mind. She closed out Dad's screaming and tried to imagine it as laughter. She waved her wand and muttered,

"Expecto Patronum..." This was to no prevail. Irene swiped the tears from her face that seemed to be coming like raindrops. She pictured the twins and Uncle Mike again, focusing on the Summer when they had all been together. The screaming was very distracting and she could still picture the purple mark on her face... Irene shook her head and imagined her real family and said forcefully,

"Expecto Patronum!" A large cloud of mist escaped from her wand, blocking the Pogrebin from her sight. Irene took the opportunity of brief peace to escape. She went to the farthest end of the room, sat in a chair, and pulled her legs up to her chest, burying her head in her arms. Footsteps drew near and Irene looked up. It was Professor O'Leary. Irene wiped her tears away and turned to him,

"Professor?" She said, trying to steady her breathing and make her voice sound the slightest bit normal. She didn't think she achieved it. Her breathing came in shallow short breaths and her voice was unmistakably one of someone who had just been crying, which was obvious from her eyes and the tears they were still producing. "Can I go to the restroom, please?"

0 Irene Turn for the worse... Tag: Professor? 0 Irene 0 5

Elly Eriksson

May 06, 2008 3:29 PM

Sounds dull by Elly Eriksson

This class had its moments. Generally, Elly found the spells rather too difficult, and the essays rather too long. Occasionally, though, Professor O'Leary would surprise them all and do something amazingly fun, like the ice-skating last year, or the treasure hunt the year before. So Defence wasn't her favourite class, by any means, but it beat most others for variety. This class was one of those potentially cool, potentially awful classes. True, they got to think about their best memories - never a bad thing - but they had to do a ridiculously complicated spell with a happiness-sucking creature in the room. Fabulous.

When they'd pushed all the furniture to the sides, and gathered to practise the spell, Elly culdn't help but feel a bit daft. Surely an especially good memory should come automatically? Well, that was what happened, but Elly was flooded with so many wonderful memries, mst of them from her time at Sonora, but she couldn't decide which one to choose. Eventually she settled on a fairly recent one - watching the Negators play with her two best friends sat with her, all of them having the time of their lives.

Elly smiled outwardsly at the memory as she raised her wand. Of course, the spell did nothing at all. Elly wasn't exactly surprised - although she was far more likely to pick up a spell quickly now than she was in her first year, it still took her far longer than her peers to master any new magic. Some others were having uck, though - not far away Echo had produced a silvery whisp. Elly sidled over to him, dodging raised wands on her way.

"Hey, nice whisp," she said, grinning.

0 Elly Eriksson Sounds dull 92 Elly Eriksson 0 5

Echo Elms

May 07, 2008 9:53 PM

Nah, see, it's all based on comparisons. by Echo Elms

"Nice whisp."

"Thanks," Echo beamed. He thought maybe with some more practice he could do more than a whisp, but for a first try that whisp was a pretty sweet result and he knew it. It wasn't just that he had some good memories to work with either.

"I read a couple chapters ahead this summer," he admitted. Being ahead of the class meant that he didn't have to try spells without knowing everything about them first. He hated doing that because it was sort of like jumping out of a plane and then reading the next step where you open the parachute you hadn't known you needed. Usually, though, he didn't have time to be ahead, so it probably wouldn't last much through September.

"The trick is what you're focusing on when your remembering," he explained, paraphrasing the textbook. "It's not enough to just remember something happy, you have to actually remember the feeling of happiness and let it make you happy all over again, like you are transporting your feelings back in time to that moment."

He pictured Trishy laughing again and throwing her in the air... there was a moment there when he realized he was a normal kid around Trishy. He smiled at the thought and almost forgot to do the spell at that key moment. This time a little spark of white flickered at the end of his wand, rather less impressively than the first time.

"Missed it. It takes some timing. Gotta get it just right, at that peak of emotion, or it's no good. Any luck?"

21 Echo Elms Nah, see, it's all based on comparisons. 93 Echo Elms 0 5

Saul Pierce

May 10, 2008 10:49 AM

I am made of happy (so there, Echo!) by Saul Pierce

Professor O'Leary had an advantage over most other professors in the school when in came to Saul Pierce. Saul was just a tiny bit afraid of him, and not for the normal reasons most of the other students cited for being nervous around the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Saul wasn't afraid of failing or vampires or anything like that. Saul was afraid he'd decide Saul wasn't good enough to be with Briony anymore if he did something spectacularly stupid. Like, for example, do the wrong assignment, as he was wont to do in his other classes.

So he sat up in his chair and tried his very best to pay attention. He fidgeted in place. He dropped his pen. He picked up his pen. He spun his pen around on his desk. He spun his pen around off his desk. He picked up his pen. He sat up in his chair and tried his very best to pay attention. He fidgeted in place.

And at the end of the lecture, Saul surprised himself by having a pretty good idea of what they were doing and how they were supposed to do it. His ebullience from that alone might have almost been enough to get a small white wisp of smoky magic from his wand, but Saul had far better memories to draw from than an educational moment in a Dayda class.

He grinned over at Briony, the centerpiece of many such memories, and stood up for better dramatic posture as he brandished his wand. "Expecto Patronum!"

Nothing.

Momentarily crushed, Saul looked at his wand in betrayal. Then his cheerfulness immediately returned as he realized his mistake. "Oh, yeah," he said, more to himself than to anyone else. "Gotta think of a memory. Right."

So he held up his wand and thought of how pretty Briony had been at the ball, and how she had smiled at him, and how much fun they'd had, talking and laughing and dancing and having their drinks spout fireworks. "Expecto Patronum!" he cast again, and this time, there was white smoke that, for almost a whole second, whirled about in front of him, flirting with forming a recognizable shape, but dissipating before it could do so.

Encouraged by this near success, Saul's spirits buoyed further and he tried again, thinking now of the day he'd asked her to ball, and how he'd felt when she said yes, and the walk in the gardens they'd taken. "Expecto patronum!"

The smoky white again spilled out of his wand tip and this time, drifted together to form a very basic and indistinct outline of a figure in a wheelchair before that, too, vanished into the air after less than a moment.

"Whoo!" Saul exclaimed, having seen it for long enough to know what it was supposed to be. "It's Auntie Gina!"

1 Saul Pierce I am made of happy (so there, Echo!) 82 Saul Pierce 0 5

Oliver

May 10, 2008 5:05 PM

Thread hopping... by Oliver

Around him, Oliver's classmates were yielding far more successful results. True, most of them were a year or two above him, but Oliver knew that shouldn't stop him from trying his hardest. Maybe he needed a stronger memory? The times with Julian and Uncle Raymond had definitely been the best, but they wern't exactly clear memories any more, it had been so long ago. What else made Oliver happy?

He hda always enjoyed singing, and had been the soloist in the Chicago city choir for four terms. Since the summer, though, they wouldn't let him sing in the youth choir anymore, because his voice was rather unprdictable in pitch, so that wasn't going to produce a patronus. Neither was his violin - Oliver had been a brilliant musician until he'd come to Sonora and left his instruments behind to gather dust. Instead of music, Sonora had Quidditch. Now that might just work! Oliver tired to capture the exact moment when he'd looked at the notice on the board in the commons to discover he'd made the Crotalus team.

Taking a deep breath, Oliver held that memory and cast the spell again. Still nothing more than a thin vapour appeared, and Oliver started to get frustrated. Why couldn't he do this?

(OOC: continued in a post further up the thread)

0 Oliver Thread hopping... 0 Oliver 0 5

Oliver Abbott

May 10, 2008 5:16 PM

You think? PROFESSOR! by Oliver Abbott

Oliver didn't know if his magic was letting him down, or his memories, and neiter option cheered him any. This was pathetic - Defense was perhaps his best class, so why was he messing it up so terribly? Lots of other students seemed to be doing okay, and some of them had even had a go with the Pogrebin. Oliver pushed his glasses back up his nose with a frustrated sigh. He would conquer this!

As his glanced somewhat jealously at those confident enough in their skills to face the Pogrebin, Oliver noticed Talitha in the queue. He was pleased, and a little proud (not that he'd ever admit that to her - she didn't seem to appreciate him suggesting she was weaker than him in any way), that she'd progressed so far already. He paused from his attempts to watch hers instead. But something wasn't right - Talitha's face had gone almost as pale as Oliver's own. Within moments she was keeling towards the floor. Immediately forgetting his own work, Oliver's fist closed around his wand and he pushed his way to the front of the class. "Professor!" he shouted, as he reached Talitha's side.

"Come on, Talitha, come up over here," he said to his friend, gently tugging her elbow and trying not to sound worried. She would be fine - nothing a quick pepper-up wouldn't fix, he was sure of it. Still, it was natural to panic when one of your friends collapsed in class.

0 Oliver Abbott You think? PROFESSOR! 99 Oliver Abbott 0 5

Elly

May 18, 2008 2:09 PM

Ah, like the dichotomy of good and evil? by Elly

Elly's jaw dropped when Echo admitted to having read ahead in the course. She always knew he was a bit... not geeky, exactly, because Echo wasn't a geek, but he always seemed prepared, like having a notebook in his pocket wherever he went. But this reading ahead was something else entirely. Luckily, he saved himself from a joking, though scathing nonetheless, comment by continuing talking and imparting the knowledge gained by his nerdish behaviour.

"Right, so instead of just thinking about chocolate I've got to imagine the taste?" Elly clarified with an odd analogy. Echo tried again but his second attempt wasn't so successful as his first had been. He put it down to timing, and Elly felt her shoulders slump. "So wait, I have to get a happy memory, recreate the actual feeling of happiness, and get the timing right? I have enough trouble just trying to get the wand movements and incantation sorted," she sighed. "I'm doomed, Echo."

Still, realising she was doomed certainly wasn't going to get her a passing grade, so Elly thught she might as well give the spell another go. Closing her eyes to block out the unpleasantries held within the DADA classroom (which were numerous and vile), Elly held her wand out and tried hard to imagine quite how happy they'd all been when they saw Frankie Pallante smash the bludger right into the opposition's Seeker. Elly couldn't help but grin at the memory - Meredith had clutched her arm in excitement so hard that it left a bruise, and Echo had almost been off his seat.

"Expecto patronum!" Elly called loudly, and opened her eyes. To her delight and amazement, she too had managed to produce a silvery whisp. "Hey, I did it!" she turned to Echo, grinning widely. "I made a whisp, too!"

0 Elly Ah, like the dichotomy of good and evil? 0 Elly 0 5

Professor O'Leary

May 18, 2008 5:21 PM

Let's try to make it a turn for the better by Professor O'Leary

With the Pogrebin in the room, Drake opted to stay close to where the cage rested on his desk. He felt it was best to do so, knowing the enormous effects that the smaller than most creature could cause. However, his plan to do so was interrupted when he noticed one of his students crying and heading to the farthest end of the room from the tank. As he much preferred to be alone when he was upset, he opted to give her a moment, before checking up on the girl. He knew it was probably a result of the despair and depression that was caused, but if having a daughter had taught him anything, it was never to assume.

Approaching her, he put a bit of weight into his steps to let her know that he was nearby. He was always being accused of sneaking up on people. It wasn’t something that he did intentionally, but the years of ice skating lessons topped with the years of defensive training had produced a naturally light step. When he was a little closer, she glanced up, and though, it appeared that she was attempting to hide the fact that she was upset, it was obvious from the redness of her eyes and the labored breathing.

’Can I go to the restroom, please?’

Drake’s features twisted into a frown, as he considered whether or not he should let her go. If it had been merely the effect of the Pogrebin, then normally it would have worn off by now. Of course, there were the rare cases where the effects lasted longer, in which case, he would have no problem letting her go. Or even if it wasn’t, there was also the possibility that she was one of those people that liked to be left alone when something was wrong. Truth be known, he was one of those people. It was his loner nature. It was what had made partnering with him in skating a frustration. It was probably one of the reasons that his colleagues strayed from him. Admittedly, he didn’t help matters by holing up in either his classroom or quarters.

On the other hand, if there was something bothering her, she could be one of those that felt better after talking. Briony was like that. Though, he always had to drag it out of her whatever was wrong. He always knew when there was something, because she had a bad habit of tugging on the end of her hair, but she was always reluctant to talk. After another moment’s hesitation, he decided on the former. If he was wrong, then he could always let her go off to the restroom.

He grabbed a nearby chair and turned it backwards. Sitting down, he offered his handkerchief to the girl. After all, despite his reputation, he did have some manners, not many, but some. Not wanting to ask outright, Drake began at the easiest point, he could think of and as a result ignored her original request. Otherwise, she could ignore his talking and request to go again. “You did very well with the Pogrebin, Miss Liddowe. They are very difficult to work with and the emotions that can come are very strong. I noticed that your patronus was a dove.” It was a bit of a distraction to allow her to calm down, but eventually he would get back to what she had felt.

0 Professor O'Leary Let's try to make it a turn for the better 0 Professor O'Leary 0 5

Professor O'Leary

May 18, 2008 5:27 PM

Sorry for the late reply by Professor O'Leary

OOC: Just a quick note, Talitha - for the lesson the students were to practice on their own (relatively) before coming up and practicing with the Pogrebin. :P

BIC:

The lesson was going extraordinarily well, given the difficulty of the task. Drake was even pleased to find that a couple of students had managed to produce a patronus. Of course, even for those that hadn’t, there was still hope, as most adult wizards couldn’t even bring about the wisps that some of his young students were able to. Regardless, of the students’ abilities, Drake kept a watchful eye for anyone that went near the Pogrebin. While the creature didn’t directly cause negative memories to be brought forth like Dementors did, it was almost inevitable that they would on their own due to the intense feelings of despair.

Despair and depression were both emotions that Drake was familiar with. Every time he was around the rock animal, he couldn’t help, but recall his worst memories. It was inevitable with the associations. He remembered the smell of her perfume, the way she wore her hair. He remembered how graceful she was on the ice. He remembered the day she agreed to be his wife. And most of all, he remembered the day her life had been claimed and the aftermath. He remembered the daze of talking to Aurors and the funeral. He remembered holding his crying, motherless child. He remembered how helpless and empty he had felt. He remembered feeling that he couldn’t go on, that he wanted to give up. Yes, he knew all of those emotions well, how hard it was to stand up to them.

So, when there was a shout for him from someone near his desk, he wasn’t surprised. Unfortunately, he had been assisting a student on the other side of the room and therefore, it took him a little longer to make it to where a student had collapsed, as he had to dodge items, such as desks, bags, children that were in the way, but for doing all this, he still arrived fairly quickly. Stooping, he immediately checked her pulse, though, it was probably unnecessary, but he did so, merely for the fact that he had been trained to do so. It was steady, maybe a little faster than normal, but nothing to be concerned about and she appeared to be breathing just as normally. The only thing that was wrong was that she wasn’t conscious, but that was easily fixed.

Digging into the deep pockets of his robes, he pulled out some sniffing salts. He held it under Miss Cumni’s nose, waving it slowly back and forth. He assumed that the girl had reacted to the creature; however, it was always best to find out for certain as an appropriate precaution. As he waited for her to wake up, his eyes staying on her, he asked the boy that he had briefly noticed nearby, “Mr. Abbott, did you notice exactly what happened?” If anything more serious had occurred, he would be sending Talitha to the medic. Otherwise, he would just send her to rest for a few minutes at her desk and leave the Pogrebin for another day.

Once Talitha had woken up, Drake further made sure that she was all right. After doing so, he made the suggestion, “Why don’t you go sit at your desk for a bit? Once you feel calmer, you can try again, if you’d like, or you can take the opportunity to do some reading in the textbook.” While it was the professor in him that brought up the lesson, he didn’t actually expect her to. For the most part, she was a good student, who didn’t give him any trouble and she had tried her best on the assignment that he had given them, so he was willing to turn a blind eye to her doing something else, as long as she wasn’t causing a disturbance. Before sending her away, he gave her an awkward pat on the back, as a reassurance and slipped a chocolate bar into her hand. It wasn’t a necessary remedy when dealing with Pogrebins, but chocolate seemed to help with everything, in general.

0 Professor O'Leary Sorry for the late reply 0 Professor O'Leary 0 5

Mateo and Jose Santoro

May 18, 2008 7:33 PM

Patronus? Rock on! by Mateo and Jose Santoro

Despite the fact that neither Santoro twins could truly say that they enjoyed the company of Professor Dreary, they could both agree that his lessons were usually interesting and, next to charms and transfiguration, the most useful to them. Not that they ever thought they would need to defend themselves from anything full of Dark intent, but the idea that they would have the ability to do so set them at ease. This lesson, however, once the Profesor got around to explaining it, seemed remarkably cool. They were going to be able to practice the Patronus charm and finally be able to see what their animal gaurdian would be.

The twins set to work next to one another, both eager to produce the charm and produce it well. Of the two, Mateo was also better at completing the charm at a faster rate than his brother. But that wasn't to say that Jose was terrible at wandwork. In fact, as Jose grew older, he learned that although his brother could do the work faster, Jose's spell work was usually stronger. The reasoning behind this was due to the fact that Jose took the time to understand the spell instead of simply waving his wand to produce the effect of it. He wanted to know everything about the spell and once he had that knowledge down, only then could he truly produce what was the intentions of the Wizard or Witch whom created the spell to begin with. It was these facts alone that were the obvious differences between the two boys. Why Jose was in Crotalus and Mateo in Pecari.

However, as true as it was to say that Jose thought everything out, it was also true that when it came to figuring out specific things like what sort of animal they would be if they were animagus and what their patronus would look like, both boys had studied this charm in particular since they were young. Of course, they had never actually practiced the charm, but both had the sense of understanding that came with the charm. So now that they were going to be actually be able to practice the spell with their wands, both Santoros were more than willing to put the work and effort into it.

Mateo stood for a couple of moments trying to think of a very happy memory where this Patronus charm would work for. He had a lot of great memories, but were they happy enough for it to work? There was always the Christmas memory with his relatives, everyone laughing and presents being had. But then there were also the parties that his family and their various friends put on that were always a sure good time to have. But which memory to pick? Which one would be most effective? Oh well, it wouldn't cause any harm to try all of them out and see which one had the best effect. His first couple of memories didn't work at all and some of the others caused for whisps to form. But none of them were good enough memories to produce the most desired effect. Paco's wedding produced far better of a form that Mateo had anticipating and though he saw what looked to be the beginning form for a Hippogriff, Mateo still was not satisfied that this memory was the best one to use. Closing his eyes, Matt thought back through the 14 years of his life...remembering probably only the last eight of those years. The ball last year particularly stuck out in his memory. Dancing, laughing, have a great time with friends. Already he could feel himself smiling. Keeping that memory and feeling in mind, Mateo performed the spell and was granted with the full form of a Patronus. Grinning wildly, Mateo felt completely satisfied by his work.

Jose's memory was far more easier to come by than Mateo's seemed to be. It was a memory that shouldn't make him as happy as it did considering the circumstances of it. Still though, when he did think about it, he always smiled and felt a little giddy about it. He never told anyone though, most especially his brother. Because, to say it outloud would make it true. As things stood, it was probably for the better for everyone if he didn't say anything about it. Just remained something of an experiment. Nothing more than him merely trying understand the feelings in which such things brought about. Even so, Jose couldn't help himself as he glanced over at Danae as the memory of what they had shared came back to mind. Quickly glancing away again and trying desperately not to blush, Jose raised his wand. His first attempt brought nothing, but by his third he could see a shape begin to form. What he saw excited him. The front have was shaped as an Eagle, the second half was that of a lion. It was a Griffin. One of Jose's favorite of animals. Already his excitement was mounting. "Oi! Mateo, did you see that? Amazing!" He chatted happily to his brother.

Mateo (although slightly annoyed that his brother had a better Patronus than he) smiled and nodded his head at his brother. "Yeah, we'll be up practicing on those Pogrebin in no time."

6 Mateo and Jose Santoro Patronus? Rock on! 95 Mateo and Jose Santoro 0 5

Irene

May 19, 2008 6:27 PM

Worth a shot (WotW) by Irene

Irene didn't like being in full view of the class when hse was upset. Crying was so embarrassing... It made her feel like she was this weak little girl who couldn't handle the situation, which may be true. The images of the memories were still fresh in her mind, not forcefully, like the Pogrebin had caused, but just on the surface of her mind, causing her attention to be drawn to it. It was seeing the memory of the day of Mom's death that made her miss Mom so much that it almost hurt. For a second, she almost felt angry with her for leaving her to deal with Dad for two years of suffering. How could she just leave her like that? And Irene had so much to learn about her magic... But she was left to do that by herself. She couldn't put any blame on her though. That was simply ridiculous. Mom would never have chosen to die. Irene blinked, trying to clear her head as she returned her attention back to Professor O'Leary.

Instead of directly answering her question, however, the Professor responded with: “You did very well with the Pogrebin, Miss Liddowe. They are very difficult to work with and the emotions that can come are very strong. I noticed that your patronus was a dove.” Irene nodded, taking a few deep breaths before she felt confortable speaking, though her voice was still rather choked. She couldn't help but let her spirits lift at the compliment. After all, this was something she may want to do with her life eventually. She would love to teach DADA some day. Mom was a teacher, so it would be nice to follow her footsteps.

"Thanks, I like the dove, but patronuses are challenging," she began, wiping away her tears once more. "I like this class. The challenge was fun, but the Porgrebin... It had more than I expected." Irene didn't normally talk about her Dad or Mom with anyone. It wasn't that she had a problem with it, but she didn't want to sound like she was begging for pity. She hated getting the "You poor thing, you tortured soul" treatment. She was gradually getting over it. If Dad would go away she would be over it by now, but he kept turning up. That was what presenting the problem. He had this profound knowledge of how to make her upset. Every look, every word just made her angry, sad, upset, and gave her the tendency to act rashly.

The Porgrebin had so much more than expected. Irene had no idea how the dementor would effect her if this is what that stupid little rock did... She really wanted to do well in DADA. She felt like she had the motivation to do well and was pretty sure she could do most of the spells. Irene would just have to try harder. If she could block out memories better, then maybe she could really get the hang of this Patronus thing.

0 Irene Worth a shot (WotW) 0 Irene 0 5

Oliver

May 23, 2008 1:31 PM

We forgive you by Oliver

Within a second Professor O'Leary had joined them, and was making good and sure that Talitha was okay. Oliver stepped back a couple of paces, giving them both more room. When asked if he'd seen exactly what had happened, Oliver fumbled for an answer.

"Um, n-no, not really. She turned white and fell over, but I was practising the spell, so I didn't really see..." he tailed off, having already given the professor probably more information than was strictly necessary.

Talitha came round fairly soon after Professor O'Leary wafted thse smelling salts nder her nose - Oliver wondered vaguely if they were some magical sort, or the same type Muggles used. What an odd thought to have. Anyway, not wanting Talitha to worry, Oliver flashed her a grin when she looked his way. Then he stepped forward to help her up, if she wanted or needed some assistance. The Professor suggested that Talitha should take a moment's rest, so Oliver walked with her to the desks that had been pushed to the side of the room. He was going to make her rest a while because, knowing Talitha, she would almost certainly want to get straight back on the horse. Figuratively speaking.

Once they were out of earshot of the professor, he grinned at her, and said, "You just can't help being an attention seeker, can you?"

0 Oliver We forgive you 0 Oliver 0 5

Talitha

May 25, 2008 8:05 AM

Well... by Talitha

Darkness was good. Oblivion was a comfortable place to be. One didn’t feel anything, remember anything. One just floated. A horrible something assaulted her nose and burned her eyes, interrupting the place of peace she had fled to. She shook her head and angrily batted at the offending source of interruption. To her dismay, the source was the professor’s hand. Blinking her eyes against the sudden glare of light, Talitha looked from one concerned face to another and put the pieces of the puzzle together. She had fainted. How embarrassing!

Meekly, she allowed herself to be led to a desk, her friend on one side, Professor O’Leary on the other. Talitha bit her lip in an effort to fight back the desire to break down in tears of humiliation and frustration. She managed to control the sobs, but no matter how hard she tried to stop them, silent tears fell down her cheeks unabated. When the professor patted her kindly and gave her chocolate, the copious flow only increased. She hated feeling like a weak, silly girl. It was stupid to let some dumb rock thing get the best of her. She should have been stronger than that. Worse, everyone had seen! Great, just great.

She focused on the chocolates in her hand, not wanting to see if anyone was staring at her. The only way to redeem herself was to get back into line and this time do it right. She was no baby and she wouldn’t act like one. She glanced at the Pogrebin in their glass cage. They were not going to win. Talitha wondered if determination, seasoned heavily with anger would help against their powers. If it did, she’d have no trouble at all this time.

"You just can't help being an attention seeker, can you?"

Talitha glanced up at Oliver. She couldn’t help but laugh weakly, in spite of herself, at his friendly jibe. She brush the tears from her face and offered him one of the chocolates, gracing him for a moment with a mock glare.

“I suppose I should have practiced first, like the instructions said, instead of just diving in.” Talitha admitted meekly. “Go me.”\n

0 Talitha Well... 0 Talitha 0 5

Oliver

May 26, 2008 3:10 PM

To err is human by Oliver

Although Talitha did laugh at little at the joke, when she looked up, Oliver was horrified to see that she was crying. Talitha didn't cry! She got back up and tried again, she told failure where to stick it, she made unreasonable bets and jests, but she never cried. Oliver was very confused. He couldn't even understood why she was crying. She obviously wasn't hurt, which meant she was actually being a girl and crying about something other than physical pain. That threw Oliver completely. A crying girl in pain could be taken t the hospital wing, but an emotional crying girl was another puzzle altogether. The fact that this puzzle was Talitha only made it harder to solve.

Oliver wanted to comfort her. Usually he did that by insulting her or making jokes, but he sensed that neither would be appropriate, especially seeing as he'd already made one playful jibe. He wasn't convinced it was the right thing to do, but he gave her a quick hug, not even aware that she was trying to offer him some chocolate. It was peculiar - he could rest his chin right on the top of her head. He didn't hold her for very long, not least because they were in a classroom full of people, and still felt as though she might need some comforting. "You weren't the only one who, um, had problems," he told her. "Irene nearly passed out, too. I think she might have gone to the girls' bathroom to vomit."

"But yeah, maybe you should, you know, learn to walk before you swim... or something..." Oliver trailed off, not sure he'd gotten that analogy entirely correct. That wasn't the point. "I can't even do this spell," he said forcefully, partly to make Talitha feel better still, but also partly to vent his own frustration.

0 Oliver To err is human 0 Oliver 0 5

Adam Brockert

May 31, 2008 3:43 PM

I must be very human then by Adam Brockert

Today's lesson for Defense did not thrill Adam. Actually, it sort of made him anxious. He wasn't quite sure he could make a patronous. Not that he didn't have a happy memory. He actually did, surprisingly enough. A warm blush crept to his cheeks as he looked over at Talitha. Adam not only had going to the ball with her, but just the fact that she'd said yes in the first place was happy. He just wasn't sure that he could keep that happy memory in his head during such a crowded class. There were so many people there and that naturally made Adam nervous. Plus, what if all the younger kids got it and he couldn't? He'd feel so stupid.

Adam went over to the corner. He really wanted to join Talitha but he felt that he should really practice the spell until he got it right. However, he kept glancing in her direction in order to help keep the happy memories in his head. It wasn't working too well, though, as he was painfully aware of everyone else as well.

Before he knew it, Adam glanced over and Talitha was on the ground. His eyes grew round and his mouth fell open. What was wrong? Was she okay? He started over there, his work forgotten. However, before he could make it, both Professor O'Leary and another boy had reached his friend and she was revived. Adam was glad. Still, he wanted to make sure she was okay.

Then he froze. Talitha was still talking to the other boy. Should Adam even go over there? The other boy might not want him around. Worse, maybe even Talitha didn't need him there if she had her other friend.

Cautiously, Adam approached. "Um, Talitha, are you okay?" he asked. He was kind of worried. He could see that she'd been crying too and that made him feel even worse for her.

11 Adam Brockert I must be very human then 78 Adam Brockert 0 5

Talitha

June 01, 2008 11:12 PM

Aren't we all. by Talitha

Talitha returned Oliver’s hug, allowing herself the warm comfort. She felt his heartbeat under his robes against her cheek. All too soon it became too awkward and she pulled away just as Oliver did but the warmth of his kindness didn’t wear off. Her friend’s gesture rested like a warm blanket across Talitha’s shoulders , making her feel better, more confident.

"You weren't the only one who, um, had problems. Irene nearly passed out, too. I think she might have gone to the girls' bathroom to vomit."

“Oh, no!” Talitha’s concern for Irene banished any residual self pity she was feeling. “I hope she’s alright. Those rock things are awful. They make you feel so sad. Then it’s like every bad thing that ever happened to you was happening all over again all at once.”

"But yeah, maybe you should, you know, learn to walk before you swim... or something. I can't even do this spell."

“But you can do it at least you made a vapor. I saw it.” Talitha said. “That’s better than over half the class.”

With a nod, she indicated several pairs and small groups of students. Their faces were screwed up in concentration as they tried to do the spell and then fall in disappointment when nothing happened, not even a whisper of a vapor.

“Irene’s dove thingy was pretty, what do you hope yours will be?”

As Oliver answered, another voice interrupted them. Adam asked if she was alright. His face was full of worry and concern. Talitha smiled up at him, although her eyes began to glisten again. This time the tears were happy ones. She slipped an arm around his waist and gave him a quick, reassuring hug.

“I’m fine, Adam. Really. Just tried to tackle those things before I was ready and got slammed for it. But they won’t win next time.” Talitha vowed. “Do you know Oliver? He’s from our House and one of my first and best friends.”

Talitha knew what her happiest memory would be. It would be today, right now, in DADA. Two of her dearest friends rushing to her side when she needed them most and surrounded by so many others she cared about. She was truly lucky indeed. At that very moment Talitha was quite sure she could produce a patronus with no effort at all, even if it was as big as an Orca.\n

0 Talitha Aren't we all. 0 Talitha 0 5

Oliver

June 05, 2008 11:10 AM

Actually, I'm an alien disguised as a human by Oliver

She had seen his vapour? Oliver was mortified; he had hoped to produce something far more excellent than a tiny silvery slither. It was frankly embarrassing that he'd managed nothing more. As to what he hoped it would be, Oliver didn't really care. As long as it wasn't anything stupid like a butterfly or a kitten, right now he'd be happy with just about anything. If he could actually do the spell, he would hardly complain about the results. He started to tell Talitha so, but stopped when they were joined by another student.

Oliver knew who Adam was, of course. He's taken Talitha to the ball at the end of last year and he was in their House, just older. Still, he'd never spoken to him, and for some reason it felt odd meeting him for the first time with Talitha there. Oliver felt a peculiar sort of older brother instinct for her, though it wasn't quite what he'd felt when he'd met Charie's boyfriend over the summer. He'd told his own sister she just shouldn't be dating, but he didn't feel the same with Talitha - she could do what she liked, but Oliver did have some odd compulsion to dislike Adam on principle, which was ridiculous, because Talitha was obviously very pleased to have him around.

Ignoring all the bizarre musings, Oliver nodded in greeting to Adam, and grinned a little when Talitha introduced him as as one of her best friends. There was no denying the truth in the statement, but it made Oliver smile nonetheless. She could have just said 'friend', after all.

0 Oliver Actually, I'm an alien disguised as a human 0 Oliver 0 5

Adam B.

June 26, 2008 7:51 PM

Don't tell Zack that... by Adam B.

Instant relief filled Adam when Talitha hugged him. She didn't mind having him there. It never seemed that she did mind having him around, but Adam was still kind of worried that she'd change her mind at some point. "I'm glad you're okay." He told her. Adam had been quite worried that his friend wasn't after she'd fainted. At least Talitha was able to try. He wasn't sure he'd be able to.

Actually, it had been Oliver whom Adam thought wouldn't want him around. Just because he was friends with Talitha was no guarantee that he would like Adam. And they were best friends? It was perfectly all right that Talitha had other friends of course but what about him? Did Talitha consider Adam a best friend too or did she like Oliver more?

Plus, what was Adam supposed to say to Oliver anyway? "Nice to meet you" or "Pleased to meet you" sounded so stuffy and formal. Other people his age did not talk that way unless they were of the snooty pureblood variety. That was in most circles at Sonora not acceptable. Lots of people just liked "cool" which Adam never could be. He didn't even know what cool people would say. Seeing as Oliver just nodded a greeting, though, he merely nodded back and waited for Talitha to continue the conversation.

11 Adam B. Don't tell Zack that... 78 Adam B. 0 5