Isis Carter-Xavier

January 09, 2023 4:34 PM
It was always a bit fun, really, to pop up in a classroom as a surprise to the class. It had certainly been a surprise to her, having been asked to fill in for Mary with legendary short-notice, but Isis made haste and set off towards the Potions classroom nonetheless. She supposed it was the nature of her position, and why the school kept a substitute on-hand and at the ready, but she definitely would have still preferred a little more notice. Of course, her coworkers could hardly control when an illness or personal conflict arose - and the nature of their scheduling issues were none of her concern - but if they could at least keep her in the loop, it was appreciated. A brief note by owl at the first sign of the sniffles, or something of the lot.

And so, minus a few stragglers who were likely first years still learning their way about the school, Isis was nearly last to arrive for Beginning Potions on that day.

“Sorry about that, class,” she said sincerely. “Last minute changes, so you’ve got me today.” Isis strode up to the professor’s desk and sat her messenger bag down. It was full of hastily made activities for the day’s lesson, which a flick of her wand brought out and slowly began to distribute.

“For those of you who don’t know me,” she added, aimed toward any first years outside Pecari, “My name is Professor Isis Carter-Xavier, and I am the resident substitute professor. Hope you don’t mind a day with me.”

“Currently levitating your way is an activity regarding potions ingredients and their most notable creations. Please draw a line and match each ingredient on the left to the correct potion on the right. You may work in pairs or small groups and use your textbook.” Although she wasn’t sure how necessary that was, if they’d been paying attention the first couple of lessons. Maybe the curriculum had changed, but from what she remembered Sophie O’Malley blathering on about, ingredients were the most fundamental step and often the topic for the early school year. “Let me know if you have any questions.”
Subthreads:
12 Isis Carter-Xavier Mix and match [Beginners] 31 1 5

Leo Lyons

January 21, 2023 11:44 PM
Leo liked school so far. The classes weren't terribly difficult, everyone was decently friendly-even those students that weren't in Teppenpaw- and Donovan had signed up to try out for Chaser, just like Leo. Leo may have been nervous when he was first settling in, but the longer he was at Sonora, the more he was looking forward to the upper grades. He thought he might look very handsome indeed with a shiny Prefect badge on his robes.

As much as he enjoyed his classes, Potions was one of his least favorite. So far all they had done was talk about ingredients and safety. While Leo understood the need to know how to handle emergency spills, the information wouldn't actually come in handy until they actually started brewing. The classroom was windowless, and although Professor Brooding had explained straight off the bat that the dimness helped preserve the ingredients within, it felt mildly claustrophobic to Leo. He'd at least like to gaze at the sky while he daydreamed, for goodness sake.

He and Donovan normally sat together, playing rock, paper, scissors under their desks in the very back row, but today someone else had taken their spots, so the dynamic duo had found themselves separated. When the worksheets had been handed out, Leo had tried to telepathically communicate to the back of Donovan's head how boring he thought this class was, but it didn't work. Pressing his lips together in a 'guess-I'm-stuck-with-it' sort of way, he started the matching exercise.

As he worked through, Leo realized just how little he'd been paying attention in this class. He only knew half of the answers, and those were iffy at best. Panicking, he looked to his neighbor to see if he was the only one struggling.

"Say," he said, trying to play it cool, "Did you get the Moondew one yet? I'm stuck."
64 Leo Lyons Toil and trouble 1568 0 5

Nausicaa Scapetello

January 22, 2023 10:56 AM
Nausicaa was really, really beginning to downright despise these 'beginner' classes. As far as she was concerned, their target did not seem to be 'beginner' but 'remedial'. How much more basic could you possibly get for some of these topics? It was downright infuriating and insulting. The answer was always along the lines of 'the Muggleborn don't know these things.' Well in her opinion, but muggleborn should then have their own remedial class that didn't slow down everyone that already knew what they were doing... or maybe have an entire separate school somewhere that catered entirely to the muggleborns. Last year was bad enough, but she could tolerate it, but now to do it all over again? Ridiculous! On the plus side, it did at least give her time to work on her real mission at the school since any out of class work she had she could do in her sleep.

Professor Brooding-Hawthorne was one of those types of people that Nausicaa could hardly stand to begin with. The woman seemed to be to concerned with things that didn't really matter; where her potion ingredients came from, what alternate ingredients could be used for people who thought those creatures actually mattered, all that sort of nonsense. It was almost a relief to see that she wasn't in class today. Although, what would happen if the professor never arrived for class? How long before they were allowed to simply leave and pursue other objectives? Or were they supposed to sit here and use the time like a study hall? Well, she could do that better in the library.

When the substitute teacher arrived at the absolute last moment, she groaned internally. So close to actually being productive. Professor Carter-Xavier (what did these women have with the hyphenated names? It was a ridiculous practice that couldn't work beyond a generation or two before you had names like Susan Carter-Xavier-Brooding-Hawthorne-Maxwell-Smith-Brockert-Jones.) was head of Pecari and any association with that house was not a good sign. Her tardiness and apparent unpreparedness did little to dissuade Nausicaa's opinion of the house or any of those associated with it.

Nausicaa nearly went livid when she heard the substitute's activity for the day. They were drawing lines between pictures? For a lesson? It took all of her considerable willpower and poise to not gather her things and walk out of the classroom to do actual work. Oh, she certainly had questions for the 'Professor', but none that she was actually willing to voice just yet and risk loosing any level of influence she may have gained among the staff or students. So she did her best to keep her calm and proper facade in place.

The paper landed in front of her and she glared at it for a moment. How simplistic could you get? They were even allowed to consult their books for this? Oh what a relief, she thought sarcastically to herself. A moment later and a few quick strokes of her quill, she had connected the pictures and completed the assignment. She could have done this when she was eight, her tutors had covered potion making basics long ago. Once that was done, she pulled out her potion book to review brewing techniques that they had touched on at the end of last year and had better get to soon this year.

Nausicca was disturbed by the boy next to her. Right, she had sat here in theory, to try talking to yet another one of the first year boys. She wanted to see if he would be a potential valuable asset, or someone to be avoided. From the sound of his question, he may fall into the latter category but there was always the chance he might be good for something other than potions. "Wiggenweld Potion" she responded casually while flipping to the next page of her book and not looking up from it. It was used for other things as well, but they didn't show up on the sheet.

While still not looking at the boy, Nausicaa asked an innocent question, "What do you think of this class so far?"
2 Nausicaa Scapetello What is going on here? 1561 0 5

Leo Lyons

January 22, 2023 10:26 PM
The girl beside him didn't even look up from her book to answer him. Nausicaa Scapetello; one of the second year students. Leo noticed that her paper was all filled out already. He rolled his eyes. Of course he would end up next to a know-it-all. He tried another telepathic message to Donovan, but Donovan just scratched his nose.

"I see where I've gone wrong," he told the girl, or rather, the side of the girl's head, "I had salamander blood down for the Wiggenweld, but I suppose that one is more 'crucially' used in the Strengthening Solution. My mistake."

There, now she might not think he was an idiot. He certainly wasn't going to ask her for any more help. He'd rather get every answer wrong on the dumb worksheet.

Just when he thought she was going to go back to ignoring him, she spoke.

What did he think of the class? In a word, boring. Leo squinted at her, trying to gauge what sort of answer Nausicaa was looking for. He could be blunt about it, but if she liked Potions, she might not take it well. On the other hand, it seemed like she was as disinterested as he was, although the fact that she apparently knew all the class material already might be the reason for that. Clearly, he could not use the same excuse.

"Truth be told," he said, picking up his page and fluttering it through the air, "I'm not much of a 'worksheet' guy. I want to actually make potions. It might hold my attention better. At least in Herbology we got to walk around while we filled out the paper."

Leo didn't know how his comments would land, but the corner of his mouth curled up to have said it aloud. This class sucked. In Flying, they actually got to ride broomsticks; in Charms and Transfiguration, they were practicing spells already; same for Defense Against the Dark Arts. The only class that the first years were still doing solely bookwork, was Potions.

Logically, he knew that the teacher had her reasons for not unleashing the first years on a bunch of volatile ingredients on day one, but Leo couldn't help but think that surely by now, she would be willing to risk a small cauldron explosion. Not that it was the sub's fault- judging by the way she was one of the last to reach the classroom, their regular professor had given her little warning. Still, Leo was impatient, and, sans Donovan, he was looking to gripe about it.
64 Leo Lyons Nothing interesting 1568 0 5

Nausicaa Scapetello

January 26, 2023 6:29 PM
Nausicaa largely ignored it as the boy tried to explain away his ignorance, it didn't help. While his response was somewhat reasonable, it betrayed his lack of examining the assignment in its entirety before beginning. She would have thought that was more of a Pecari trait, but anybody other than an Aladren would... she stopped herself mid-thought. How horrible, she was starting to identify with the structure this place has forced upon her. Yes, obviously the other houses were not Aladren, but the entire premise of anything at this school being worthwhile was not one she wanted to entertain. She got the best of a terrible situation, which was still terrible.

His fluttering of the paper caught her eye and she looked towards him, and he finally said something sensible. She allowed just the smallest bit of a smile for him. After all, one must do what one can to encourage good behavior. Although she really didn't needed reminded of that Herbalism assignment. "Quite right," She commented, "Making potions would be a much better use of our time here. However I might guess that the ones we would be allowed to brew would not be very interesting. But it would be much better than..." she shot her own worksheet a disgusted look, "these."

It seemed to her that he at least was dissatisfied and had little problem with voicing such opinions. That was something that she liked about him as well. Perhaps she could encourage that as well. After verifying that Professor Carter-Xavier was not nearby, Nausicaa decided to try an experiment. "I suppose this is what happens when you bring in the head of Pecari in to substitute. I'm sure, from the lateness of her arrival it was a last minute thing, but still... one would think that even the substitute would know a simple potion that us beginners could handle."
2 Nausicaa Scapetello I concur completely 1561 0 5

Leo Lyons

February 11, 2023 12:03 AM
Nausicaa gave the barest hint of a smile as Leo was complaining, looking at him for the first time since he'd opened the conversation. She sat, perfectly poised, on the bench next to him as she confided her own disappointment with the curriculum. She was probably right in that beginners wouldn't be doing very interesting potions, if they were allowed at all. Still, Leo was glad he was in good company in finding Potions class...well, stifling. There wasn't even a window to look out of while you daydreamed about playing Quidditch. Something about preserving the light-sensitive ingredients that lined the shelves; it had been mentioned in one of the first classes.

What was the point of preserving them, if you weren't ever going to use them? Leo wondered. He nodded along with Nausicaa, the corner of his mouth lifting into a cheeky half-smile. Whenever things got too boring back home, he and Donovan would put a snake in the teacher's desk.

This is what happens when you bring the Head of Pecari in to substitute.

It was jarring to hear the prejudice come out in her voice, a sneaky backhanded insult so innocently spoken that Leo almost missed it. Smirk frozen in place on his face, Leo thought about how to react. His eyes flicked up to the back of Donovan's head. Donovan was in Pecari, and he was great. He was Leo's best friend. Through thick and thin and wild flying wagon rides that made you hurl. Why should it matter that he was in Pecari?

He could jump up and tell the professor, but that wouldn't accomplish anything besides hurting her feelings. He could argue with Nausicaa, but if Leo was being honest with himself, she was a little intimidating, and he wasn't entirely sure he would come out on top in a verbal fisticuff. Still, he couldn't let it pass without saying anything.

"I'm sure she has to follow the lesson plan," he said in defense of the professor, hoping it to be a reasonable enough statement to ward off an argument.

"Besides," he continued, "If we were making potions, it wouldn't give me the opportunity to do this."

With that, he pulled his wand out of his robes and, checking that the professor wasn't looking, covertly picked up the jar of pickled frogs from the shelf adjacent that had been staring at him this whole time. If Nausicaa was bored, he could stir up some excitement. And it wouldn't include putting other people down.

"Cover me," he murmured, although he didn't know if she could do it as well as Donovan could.

He knelt down beside the desk as though he was tying his shoe, hiding the jar beneath his robes as he struggled to crack the lid. The pungent smell made his eyes water, and he hoped it wouldn't spread too quickly through the classroom.

" Wingardium Leviosa! " he whispered, sending stinky frogs floating into the air in front of him. He hastily lifted them up to the ceiling, trying to spread them throughout the classroom evenly. Where the frogs touched the stone arches, they stuck, their tacky bodies lending them a natural adhesive. Leo quickly replaced the cap on the remaining frog liquid, shoving the jar into his satchel to dispose of later before taking his seat.

"And now," he said, picking up his worksheet and pretending to point something out on it to Nausicaa, "We wait."


OOC: I'm guessing they've got about a minute before frogs start raining down on the classroom.
64 Leo Lyons Oh, really? 1568 0 5

Nausicaa Scapetello

February 11, 2023 5:44 PM
Nausicaa eyed Leo carefully, yet discretely as she watched his reaction to her experiment. He didn't miss it, as she thought he might, that was a good sign, at least he had some intelligence in that head of his. He froze however, she could almost see the cauldron in his mind bubbling away, trying to brew up the correct response.... or just let it go. He did not take the easy way out though and just let it go. His response was also in defense of the teacher whose class he had just been complaining about. Interesting, and a tad disappointing. She had definitely found that the prevailing attitude about the school was one of 'niceness'. Everyone seemed so concerned with being 'nice' and 'thoughtful' about each other that nothing else could get done. That is why this place was a stagnant mess with them stuck filling out childish worksheets as an excuse for a lesson. 'Nice' never got you anywhere.

One could not combat such a system directly. She knew that to do so would get that foolish person ostracized and unable to affect anything any more. So she just gave his response a hint of a smile, "Of course." He had been sorted into the nicest of the houses, so his reaction wasn't completely unexpected. She arched her eyebrows in curiosity as he continued. What was he doing? She was beginning to think talking to him in the first place had been a mistake.

In a flash he had something from the shelf and... Cover him? What sort of thing was that to ask of a proper young lady such as herself? Something of an indignant look crossed her face as he bent to his task with the jar he'd taken. Before she could do much else, his jar was open and she was hit with a ghastly smell and then he made foul smelling frogs float up to the ceiling! What was he doing? Based on the smile on his face, she figured he must be thinking this was a great way to liven up the class period. She quickly verified, thankfully that there was not a horrid frog directly over her own area and whatever his mischief was, it should affect her to much. She was getting the impression that this boy may not have been sorted correctly.

As far as she could tell, his plan did nothing but generate mischief. It would not advance their potion lesson at all. She was bored and unsatisfied with this lesson because they were not learning anything useful. He was apparently bored and unsatisfied with this lesson because it wasn't raining frogs. Nausicaa was beginning to have serious doubts about being able to work Leo into her plans. Not to mention his potential mental instability. Still... she couldn't resist, she just had to know. Was there more to this than chaos? Was there some grander scheme that she couldn't fathom? She doubted it, but... While appearing to read from her text, she asked the question quietly, "Are there more steps to this scheme of yours?"
2 Nausicaa Scapetello You doubt me? 1561 0 5

Leo Lyons

February 12, 2023 9:13 PM
His remark in defense of the teacher seemed to go over…well, it went over. It passed without much more than an affirmative from Nausicaa, however insincere it may have seemed. She didn’t smile much, he noticed, and when she did, it was only as much of a smile as was polite, although most of the rest of the time she had a look on her face like she was disgusted to be here.

Leo wondered why Nausicaa had chosen to sit next to him, if he was so terrible. Although, come to think of it, she sat with someone different almost every week. Doesn’t she have friends, he wondered. Considering it, maybe she didn’t. She wasn’t the friendliest person- the way she spoke reminded Leo of a princess-too good for all the ‘peasants’ she was surrounded by, always prim and proper and detached. She seemed very…political. Anyway, it was weird, the way she kept hanging around the first-year boys. Like she was trying to get them to worship her or something.

With that thought in mind, and the comment she had made about Pecari still swirling around in his brain, Leo devised a plan to see if she was as cool as she was pretending to be.

In his time at John Henry Elementary School, Leo had learned how to tell the people he wanted to hang out with, from the people he didn’t. The chill people were the ones who knew when you had done something, and kept their traps shut. The others would squeal. Jilly Anderson had taken the shed snakeskin he’d left in her desk and made a bracelet out of it. When Madison Tucker had gotten a dead mouse, though, she shrieked and carried on like she was dying and Leo had ended up in detention.

The disgusted look on Nausicaa’s face when he asked her to cover him left Leo wondering if she would turn out to be a tattletale, but she didn’t immediately stand up and shout, so he continued. He was sure any moment, the professor would turn around and find him floating frogs as quickly as possible up to the ceiling, but his luck held out a few more moments.

Once the deed was done, and he had made sure Nausicaa hadn’t had any of the stinky things directly above her, she asked him if there was more to his plan.

Well, yes, there was. But he wasn’t going to tell her it was a test of her .

“Watch everyone’s reactions,” he said, his quill moving meaninglessly across the parchment on his desk, “You can learn a lot by how people react to a shock. It might be quicker than trying to gauge people individually like you’ve been doing.”

And all it costs is a detention, he added to himself. There was a zero percent chance he was going to get away with this prank; his hands smelled like frogs.

What he’d said was true...ish. It was just a broader stroke of what he was doing with Nausicaa, really. He’d hazarded a guess about her intentions with the first-year boys. If he was wrong, it was easy enough to backtrack with a ‘misunderstanding’ line, but if he was right…he might just earn a little respect. And if he had her respect, maybe he could start trying to change her mind about Pecari.

As he smoothed his parchment across his workbench, he heard the slightly wet THWAP of the first frog dropping.
64 Leo Lyons Never, my liege! 1568 0 5