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Another Apparition Lesson
Author: Aaron Miller
Date: 03-02-11 16:37
As the second apparition lesson of the 2004-2005 school term got under way with Professor Wylkie Twycross's never ending repitition of the three Ds - Deliberation, Destination, Determination - all I can think is how glad I am that when I learned to apparate I took private instruction from someone who did not say the same thing on an endless loop the entire time and that, as with most magic I've learned, I picked it up relatively quickly. As an adult first learning about the Wizarding World and that I am a part of it I had been concerned that learning proficiency might be much more difficult, sort of how it's usually harder for an adult to learn a new language than it is for a child. One thing that definitely went to my advantage in learning spells, potions, and so much other Wizarding World knowledge is that I have a good memory. My sister has a decent memory and while she had learned a great deal as well since being told she's a witch she's not as proficient as I am in as many things. As much as I have learned though there is still so much more. Given that just the other day when talking with Professor Dumbledore about this very thing and he told me, "I am still learning as well," I could continue learning magic and about the Wizarding World for as long as I care to be studious.
There a crack and a surprised cry, though not a cry of pain. A minor success early in the second lesson as one student manages to send the bottom half of her long hair into the middle of her hoop. Splinched but not in a painful way and now she's wondering how her hair looks because she might not want us to fix the splinching. I give Deak a stern look when he seems to be rolling his eyes over this though I suppose I can't blame him for thinking it silly. Kissy has a compact mirror, which she enlarges enough for a good view. Deciding she does, in fact, like the unexpected hair cut, the splinched hair is quickly whisked away and the lesson resumes.
Returning to the chair along the wall where I'd been sitting I sort of wish I'd arranged to skip out on this lesson. With a second baby on the way, with Sage and Drake - and Ophelia - sometimes staying with us, with Deak in our residence in the summer and during holidays when we are here and not on vacation or at Cloud's Kiss, Saffron and I had been debating whether to ask for a large flat or move. If we moved, we'd need to find a place. Cloud's Kiss is fine temporarily as a place to live but in order to continue holding the bulk of Muggle Studies classes there being there long term means using little to no magic. There is magic around the large perimeter of the estate as part of a protective barrier for Hogwarts since there is a single Floo conduit between the estate and the school but if we lived there, doing magic on a regular basis, it wouldn't be long before I couldn't use things like the computers for teaching classes. There are two house elves there but they don't use magic except on occassion. The Bingleys who watch over the place for me are squibs so they don't use any magic at all.
Professor Dumbledore showed us a bigger residence earlier in the week and after more debate, Saffron and I decided to move into it rather than buy, or rent, a house in Hogsmeade or elsewhere. The flat in London that I had ended up buying after my then roommate got married and moved out wouldn't have worked for us as it's only two bedrooms. Mum and Dad have both used it at times and now Drake and Ophelia are using it extensively enough that they're going to call it their first home after tying the knot this spring. Moving a corridor away is just as well with me though it's still quite a bit of work moving from one apartment to the other, even if using magic to transport items. While I'm here at the appairtion lesson this morning Saffron is looking over the new flat, trying to decide where she wants things to go as it's not only larger but the layout of the floorplan is different as well though I think even if it were basically the same she'd be giving the rooms a critical eye as to what she might do differently in them. There's also been painting and/or wallpapering to our tastes and since we didn't get to truly plan a nursery when having Niccola, we've both spent part of this week deciding on the specifics for it.
Making matters more difficult is that Saffron has been somewhat distracted after being paid a visit by her father the other day. Lohengrin certainly dropped a bomb that has left Saffron, Sassy, and Sage torn between being angry at their father for wanting to start another family at his age when he didn't do very well the first go around or whether to be happy that he seems to have taken Saffron's criticism well and seems more open to doing a better job of parenting this time.
At least I don't have to worry about a Valentine's gift. I've had one for a couple of weeks now and since there's not a dance or other party in need of chaperones Monday night, I have reservations for Saffron and me. Sage is babysitting Nic for us since his own girlfriend is a student here and not free to go out that night though Sage has asked if it's all right for Georgia to come by the flat. Georgia dropping by is always fine with us though Saffron does have her concerns that at their ages they might be taking advantage of having a place to themselves for a little while when neither of us is there.
My attention is drawn back to the students again just then. I half rise from my seat but am waved back down. Nothing to be alarmed about. Another minor success, this time in the form of someone sending a shoe into the hoop. The shoe is whole, inact so the student just has to take a second to put it back on before being ready for another apparating attempt.
Leaning back in my chair I wonder if I still have one of those hats with the music programmed into it and if anyone would mind if I showed up next lesson wearing a cap.
(Cornelia) Angry
Author: Griet
Date: 03-02-11 18:05
The only time Cornelia had ever noticed the difference in age between herself and Gervaise, which wasn't large at all, was when she went to her classes, while he, Oberon and Griet attended their classes together. Now she had something else to serve as a subtle reminder: the apparition lessons.
Griet, Oberon and Gervaise had already taken the course and earned their apparition licenses. Now it was Cornelia's turn.
Last weekend, she had left the lesson loathing the sight of Wilkie Twycross and his three Ds. He made apparating look so easy, and yet for Cornelia, it seemed impossible to master. She'd tried and tried and tried to disapparate from her position and then reappear in the hoop in front of her, but all she had managed was to very nearly fall onto her butt.
So far, this lesson wasn't going any better. Cornelia stared fiercely at the empty hoop in front of her, very much determined to appear within it, but apparently she didn't possess enough deliberation to move into her destination.
"Miss Vanderbilt. To apparate, you needn't look quite so constipated. It requires a certain amount of concentration, yes, but you don't have to scrunch up your face such that you turn purple," said Professor Twycross, after he observed Cornelia's intense expression.
If Cornelia's face had indeed been purple, now it turned red, but not from embarrassment at having been described as being constipated. She was extremely angry.
Cornelia was so angry that she didn't even hear the giggles that had erupted in response to the teacher's comments. All she could think about was how Wilkie Twycross had just found himself on her shit list.
Instead of concentrating on her hoop, Cornelia directed her steely gaze at him until Professor McGonagall stepped within her line of view and gave her a disapproving glance. Cornelia looked away then and forced herself to attempt to apparate some more. She totally relaxed her facial features, so that Professor Twycross couldn't call her out again.
Frustrations
Author: Nathaniel Ross
Date: 03-04-11 14:35
The majority of the students, who were attending the apparition lessons, lectured by professor Twycross left the great hall annoyed and frustrated. A Ravenclaw girl near Nate had even reached to the point of asking the Professor if he recommended any books on the topic for her to read so she could be able to dominate the theory and it would help her with the pratical part.
Lilac was waiting for Nate by the door, eager to know about Nate’s progresses.
“Nothing happened.” He told her.
“You didn’t seem frustrated, like the others.” She pointed out surprised.
“You know me, I’m a patient guy. I’ll get there eventually.” If the other witches and wizards could aparate then he would be able to do so as well, so he wasn’t worried with his failure in these first couple of classes.
Lilac praised Nate for his attitude with a kiss on his cheek. She told him she was sure she wasn’t going to be so patient like him when her time came to learn to aparate as well.
“Imagine how it will be like, my cousin and I together at an apparition lesson!” Nate chuckled with that image in his head.
He and Lilac went to the common commons together, the topic of the conversation passing from the apparition lessons, to classes and then to the Valentine ’s Day. Nate was grateful there was no dance since he was a bit shy and he didn’t like to dance in the middle of the Great Hall having everybody watching him. However he was eager to give his Valentine gift to Lilac.
He had made a special request at Briar’s Bakery, asking for a box of comestible lilacs. He knew they would look like flowers but he knew Lilac would enjoy the fact they were sweets. He smiled with anticipation, just thinking on her face when she opened her present at the Ravenclaw table, Monday morning.
“Here you are Nate. I have been looking for you all over the place.” It was Cecilia. She was carrying her potion’s manual and Lilac sent her a furious look. “Can you do me a favor and teach Lilac how to chop ingredients? Because she’s not capable of such thing and since I’m her partner I always suffer with that. I know you still have potions, so I beg you, help her. I tried to but she refuses to listen to me.”
“I’ll do my best.” He assured Cecilia who then left, joining some other colleagues who were studying.
Lilac was a bit ashamed and she was muttering that she was going to teach her cousin a lesson for humiliating her this way.
“Don’t worry, Lilac. I’ll teach you some tricks; maybe some advance things if you like. Then you can impress your cousin in the next class.”
With the perspective of beating her cousin, Lilac accepted Nate’s offer and soon they were alone at a corner studying Potions together.
Saturday Morning
Author: Fritz Schnackenpfefferhausen
Date: 03-04-11 17:46
On Saturday morning, Fritz finds himself lounging around in his room in a pair of pajama bottoms and a long-sleeved T-shirt. He's been up for a little while. Domino, the kneazle he'd adopted from Hagrid just over six years ago, wanted Fritz up, up, up at the crack of dawn. Fritz resisted for as long as he could, but Domino wouldn't leave him alone.
Usually, Domino has a better temperament, but as he's gotten older, he's gotten a bit more finicky. Fritz has tried to appease the kneazle with treats and extra playtime, which sometimes works, but often time just leads to more early morning pestering.
Fritz is more or less awake by now, but he doesn't quite feel up to showering and getting dressed for the day. Earlier, he shuffled down to the kitchen to have some jam and toast and a cup of coffee. He's never been much of a coffee drinker but has been drinking it more and more as of late.
He drinks it some mornings, when he's tired and in need of a jolt of caffeine, and occasionally with Frau Hockenheim before he leaves her house after each visit. He's been back to his community service for a little while now. At first, he'd been reluctant to return to Frau Hockenheim's home, but after going to speak with her, he found her much more likeable.
Nowadays, she makes a real effort to acknowledge him more than her television when she is talking to him, and she even inquires into his personal life. Fritz obviously can't tell her everything, since she's a Muggle, but he says what he can and is glad to be able to converse with her in a friendly way.
The tasks she gives him are less menial and repetitive unless it simply can't be helped. Fritz minds less about those things, knowing now that Frau Hockenheim is trying to treat him like a human being and not a nobody.
Up in his room, Fritz briefly wonders what he might do during his community service on Monday, but those thoughts shift inevitably to Valentine's Day, which is also on Monday. Fritz has made dinner reservations for him and Coco at a nice restaurant in Muggle London. He plans on giving her a dozen long-stemmed roses, a box of his favorite German chocolate, and a silver key pendant on a silver chain.
Thoughts of Valentine's Day shift then to the Potions textbook in his lap. He reads until he decides it's time to finally take a shower and get dressed.