Second Year Class on Elective Hall

Professor McFarlan

September 23, 2007 4:53 PM

Second Year Class by Professor McFarlan

The usual star-scape didn’t greet the second years. Still using the crystal, Professor McFarlan created a different scene for the Second Years. As they entered the classroom they would encounter a grassy field and over head a moonless night. Surrounding them, ever changing in color and depth the Northern Lights glowed like a rainbow that fell to the ground. The chairs were replaced with the usual students desks.

Professor McFarlan waited patiently as the students made their way to their desks and settled down. “Welcome back. I hope you all had a good summer and are ready to apply yourselves to learning once more.” She walked in between the desks as she talked. It was nice to welcome back all the familiar faces. She was very glad that she could remember most of names too.

“Today, we will study the phenomena known as Aurorae. Most of you are familiar with the Aurora Borealis or the Northern Lights. Strangely, this beautiful occurrence has been viewed as an evil omen in most ancient cultures. The Inuit believe they were their dead ancestors playing soccer using a skull for a ball. The Finns say it is fox made fire and the lights are the sparks caused by the foxes fanning the fire with their tails.

“In magic, the Northern Lights enhance spells used for communications and energy. It seems that the magnetic forces has a very positive effect on health and emotional well being.

“I would like an essay from each of you noting the origins of the Aurorae, when is the best time to view them, the name of the southern counterpart to the Aurora Borealis, how sunspots are related to this effect and any legend, myth, or links to magic. You may work alone or in groups, but I want a parchment from each of you. If you have any questions or concerns, just let me know.”

OOC: Please remember the two paragraph minimum. Use lots of imagination and detail. Have fun.
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Subthreads:

Care to join? by Irene with Ebony

Ooh, pretty by Hannah Laurent with Cissy Tarwater, Hannah

Better late than never, right? by Oliver Abbott

0 Professor McFarlan Second Year Class 1467 Professor McFarlan 1 5

Irene

September 25, 2007 6:25 AM

Care to join? by Irene

Irene entered the Astronomy room but was surprised to see that there was actually a solid looking ground there. No doubt, though, it still looked amazing! The grassy lawn was light up by the Northern Lights that shimmered in the sky. Irene took a spot at a desk.

“I would like an essay from each of you noting the origins of the Aurorae, when is the best time to view them, the name of the southern counterpart to the Aurora Borealis, how sunspots are related to this effect and any legend, myth, or links to magic. You may work alone or in groups, but I want a parchment from each of you. If you have any questions or concerns, just let me know.”

Great. Essay number... Eh, she'd lost track. Irene looked around, hoping to see a familiar face, or even a not-so-familiar one. This was one of the only classes where she couldn't rely on Renaye and Josh to bail her out if she couldn't find a partner, but she'd done it last year. No big. Astronomy was never really her strong point. She had never been through a lot of schooling before Sonora. She had gone up to Kindergarten and then missed first and second grade, thanks to her dad. Uncle Mike hired a tutor and that got her through, for the most part. But that was just basics. They crammed two years into two months. She had barely learned about Outer Space. There was a tap on her shoulder and Irene smiled at the person behind her. Irene brushed her hair in front of her cheek. The bruise was gone by now, but she still felt like it was still blaring on her face... Still smiling up at the person, she said,

"Hi! Care to join?"

0 Irene Care to join? 0 Irene 0 5

Ebony

September 25, 2007 10:30 AM

Northern Lights by Ebony

Ebony had disappeared into the Library straight after a rushed breakfast as she needed to find a few books for her History project. It wasn't until Librarian Reynolds pointed out the time did Ebony realise she was going to be late for Astronomy.

She ran through the corridors, hoping not to be caught by a Professor, and slid into a seat just behind her friend Irene as the Professor began the lesson.

Ebony was pleased to here there was another essay to do for homework. Ebony realised this would sound insane to most people but Ebony really liked school work. As a child Ebony had thrown herself into schoolwork to avoid her Grandmother's scrutiny and in the end she had discovered she actually enjoyed it.

After Ebony jotted the essay notes into her diary she leant forward and tapped Irene on the shoulder. Irene turned and smiled as she brushed her hair out of her face.

"Hi" Care to join?"

Ebony smiled back.

"Sure, working with a partner always saves on time and work involved. Do you know anything about the Northern Lights?"

0 Ebony Northern Lights 0 Ebony 0 5

Irene

September 25, 2007 3:30 PM

Ever seen em? (nm) by Irene

0 Irene Ever seen em? (nm) 0 Irene 0 5

Irene

September 25, 2007 3:48 PM

^^Well, that's irritating... by Irene

Irene grinned at Ebony as she claimed the spot next to her. She remembered working together in Care of Magical Creatures. She was really nice. Aladren, right? Irene friends were mostly from Pecari, but that was also because she saw them the most.

Responding to her question, Ebony said, "Sure, working with a partner always saves on time and work involved. Do you know anything about the Northern Lights?"

Irene did a half shrug. "Not really. I wasn't too into Astronomy when I was in school. I remember seeing Balto, I'm not sure if you know it, the Disney movie? The Northern Lights were featured in it a little. That's pretty much the extent of my knowledge." Irene paused, racking her brains for more information... "But being serious, I think it has something to do with the gases in the atmosphere that cause them..."

Irene wasn't really concentrating at the moment, she was too busy starting up at the sky. She remembered this one day, near the end of fall, where she had seen the Lights. She and Uncle Mike had been sitting around a fire, roasting marshmellows, when Uncle Mike looked up. He tilted her head towards the heavens and she saw the curtains of light swaying in all different colors. She hadnt wanted to go inside, but eventally Uncle Mike convinced her she would die from frostbite if she slept outside like she had wanted to. Irene looked towards Ebony.

"Have you ever seen the real deal of the Lights?"

0 Irene ^^Well, that's irritating... 0 Irene 0 5

Ebony

September 30, 2007 12:02 PM

bad holidays. by Ebony

"Have you ever seen the real deal of the lights?"

Ebony shook her head immediately. She had never seen the Northern Lights for real. It did sound fascinating, but the only time her parents could have time of work for holidays was when Ebony had finished school over the summer. But every summer thay had to spend it all at the estate in England with her family.

Therefore all of her holidays had incolved either being hit, belittled and generally ignored when she wasn't being insulted. Oh and she was locked in random cupboards too by annoying cousins.

Ebony really wanted to have a proper holiday. Daydreaming a little, Ebony contemplated pursuading her parents to take her to see the Northern Lights at some point. It would be educational. They might fall for that.

"Do you know what months to Northern Lights are in the sky? Or do they appear every day all year?"

0 Ebony bad holidays. 0 Ebony 0 5

Irene

September 30, 2007 3:03 PM

Never fun. by Irene

Irene didn't think that Ebony would have seen the Lights. They weren't exactly common. She had only seen them a few times in her life. Maybe three or four. But when she did see them, she never wanted to go back inside. It was weirdly hypnotizing... When Ebony shook her head, confirming that she hadn't seen the Northern Lights, Irene said,

"They're really nice. This is a good simulation, but the real deal is so much better."

"Do you know what months the Northern Lights are in the sky? Or do they appear every day all year?"

Irene was sure they appeared everyday, just not in the same place. She wasn't really sure.

"They're mostly in the North, well they're the Northern Lights, so yeah. I live in Northern Michigan so I see them very rarely. I don't think you can see them by planning and that kind of stinks," she said. If she knew when and where they would be appearing, Uncle Mike would probably have real trouble keeping her inside at night.

0 Irene Never fun. 0 Irene 0 5

Hannah Laurent

October 05, 2007 12:38 PM

Ooh, pretty by Hannah Laurent

The oddity of walking into the Astronomy room and seeing desks rather than recliners wasn’t unnoticed by Hannah. It was a shame for the chairs had been rather comfortable, but she supposed that for some they had been too comfortable and maybe a student or two may have just been too relaxed causing a light slumber. Giving a slight shrug, she picked one of the desks and looked at the visual aspects that were going on with interest. It was kind of like a lightshow.

When the professor began her lecture, Hannah pulled out her notebook and a pen to take notes. Apparently the lights were known as the Northern Lights. That sounded familiar and she was sure that she had probably learned something about it before, but there was nothing like recreating visually to implant it in one’s mind. Unfortunately, Professor McFarlan felt an essay was also needed. With a sigh, Hannah pulled out a fresh piece of paper and the book to begin her essay.

She chewed on the end of her pen while looking over the text. After doing so, she thought for a few moments of how to phrase what it had said before putting:

The origin of the Aurora Borealis is caused by solar wind particles interacting with the planet’s magnetic field. The best time to view them is during December to March, because the nights are longer and the sky is darkest.

Looking over what she had so far, she gave a frown. Her essay was going to be very short and she might not get a good grade unless she could flush it out more. Turning to the person nearby, she asked, “How are you doing?”

0 Hannah Laurent Ooh, pretty 98 Hannah Laurent 0 5

Cissy Tarwater

October 07, 2007 6:27 PM

Ugh, pretty by Cissy Tarwater

Cissy didn't even know why she was staying here. She was going to be married to some lame loser anyway and have to spend the rest of her bleeding life cooking and wishing she could kill her husband with too many children who she'd also wish to harm. What was the use of education if your life was going to suck anyway? Frowning bitterly, she walked into Astronomy.

And Astronomy, what was the use of this class? It was nothing, it was stupid and useless. Who cared about the stars and the moon and whatnot? Really! Cissy wished to Merlin she could sit up in the Aladren dorms and hex Paul and Lussni all night, that would certainly be better than being here. In this class. With the useless education surrounding her and a cheap "engagement" ring on her left hand. Did she have to parade this piece of aluminum with faerie dust of all things around on her thin hand. Honestly, if it slipped off one more time...

No, she couldn't throw it at that Horace boy or her mother's face. However much Cissy wanted to, her mother didn't need to know Cissy's likings of the Dark Arts. They had been a proper pureblood family, against Muggleborn education, but never dallied in the Dark Arts. Neither family. Even when the Tarwaters were rich. And Cissy couldn't lose her record of being perfect to adults.

Cissy sat down next to a bubbley looking blonde (ugh, nasty) her black hair tossed casually over a shoulder as she looked at the bright lights and the equally bubbley looking teacher. She hadn't liked this teacher, from the beginning. But then, who did Cissy like? No one, really. Everyone was annoying. Everyone made her angry. She scowled at the bright light everyone else 'oohed' at, and looked away. Light, she preferred the dark.

Aurora Borealis, it even had a corney name. Of course, Cissy sighed, and opened the Astronomy book. Couldn't the teacher just teach them about the Borealis and be done with it? Did they really have to write essays for her? Cissy believed this to be laziness. In a scraw she quickly jotted down a few sentences.

the aurora borealis is made because of the sun's particles interacting with earth's field. it happens in the northern hemisphere. there is also a southern part in australia with similar--

The blonde next to her cut off the writing. Cissy kept her eyes on the paper, not feeling like looking at her. "I'll be fine if you stop talking," she said coldly, not caring if other students found her mean. It was already too late for that, and as long as Paul didn't let it slip where his cuts and bruises came from, it was all okay. No one would know, and she could let off the verbal stress she needed.

0 Cissy Tarwater Ugh, pretty 0 Cissy Tarwater 0 5

Hannah

October 08, 2007 11:40 PM

What do you have against pretty? by Hannah

’I’ll be fine if you stop talking.’

At first a look of surprise came to Hannah’s features, then it changed to one of disgust. This girl was utterly rude! It wasn’t as though she had been chattering endlessly away about something irrelevant to the class. The professor had said they could work in groups and she had merely been attempting the bridge to forming one.

Hannah flipped her blonde hair over her shoulder. She always prided herself in being friendly to others. After all, her mother always quoted about doing unto others as they do unto you. However, there were just times, like this one, where one just had to speak their mind. She was about to state exactly what she thought. She even opened her mouth to, and then closed it. ’One, two, three...’ she counted in her mind.

Once she reached ten, she spoke, forcing herself to be as polite as possible, “I’m terribly sorry if I bothered you in any way. Obviously, you don’t want to work with anyone on the assignment and therefore, I’ll leave you alone.”

That said, Hannah turned back to her own work, trying again, starting with reading through the chapter again much to her chagrin. She didn’t get very far though, before she found herself daydreaming about flying among the northern lights. She could imagine the wind whipping through her hair, as she got lost among it all.

0 Hannah What do you have against pretty? 0 Hannah 0 5

Oliver Abbott

October 27, 2007 2:23 PM

Better late than never, right? by Oliver Abbott

Astronomy was fairly cool in that you never knew what crazy effect would be waiting for you in the classroom. This lesson it was grassy fields under an oddly lit sky, and Oliver rather enjoyed the relaxing ambience. He listened with interest as Professor McFarlan explained about the Northern Lights, and how they had been viewed by different cultures – that sort of stuff was always fairly interesting. He liked how Professor McFarlan explained how things like the align of planets and stuff could have an effect on what magic was cast during that period – it was pretty cool that external factors could influence stuff like that.

The class assignment was to write an essay on the coolness of Auroras, which Oliver thought might even be fun to do. He scribbled down the requirements in his notebook before settling in to work with his textbook and parchment laid before him. Oliver had no qualms with working with a partner, but he didn’t mind working alone, either. He decided to begin the assignment on his own, but would collaborate with a classmate if anyone approached him. Oliver was happy to work with just about anyone – even Lutece would be tolerable in astronomy, because it was stuff that applied to Muggles, too. Plus she couldn’t ruin Oliver’s work, and his grade, like she’d done in potions in first year. Oliver still resented her for that.

0 Oliver Abbott Better late than never, right? 99 Oliver Abbott 0 5