Term V, Improvised Magic

[Angelique Juliette]

Angel was looking around the room and getting slightly annoyed, there were Hufflepuffs, Ravenclaws, and Gryffindors but she had yet to see another Slytherin soul step foot in the room. Where was Erys? She wasn't usually late for classes but this day she was cutting it kind of close.

Ellie Rook the little witch gave her a look as if she were happy about the object Angel had pulled out of the box. She sneered at her trying to think of the proper way to get her back for it. She'd have to think of something really mean and nasty perhaps another unforgivable since she seemed to like those. Angel grinned remembering that class and the look on Ellie's face when the professor decided to use her as a guinea pig. That image would last her for months to come, hers to pull up at will anytime she deemed fit.

For now though she'd think of something else something fitting of the little git. Rolling her eyes she looked toward the door not really listening to all the chatter going on around her, wondering where Erys was once again.

[Professor Daniel Hubbles]

Ellie seemed to find the whole situation hysterical and her laughter just seemed to lighten up the classroom. Apart from the rather miserable looking Slytherin Dan felt like there was a good atmosphere in the classroom today. Still wearing his grandmothers old hat Dan continued to tap his figures on his desk when he noticed another Hufflepuff Via Thorn walk towards him with the dried flower in her hand.
Dan stopped his tapping and gave the Hufflepuff a smile wondering what her problem maybe but as soon as her voice dropt into its hush tones Dan knew that this was more of a social drop in then a query about the lesson.

“The flower?” Dan puzzled as he looked at it a bit more closely. “Now that I am afraid you are going to have to ask Miss Marsh in the library. It was hers…I gave it to her, can not remember how I came to have it back…”

Dan gave a soft laugh as he thought back to that day by the lake, but as Via continued to congratulate him on winning back Dia the head of Hufflepuff gave a very wide smile but he said nothing else, he knew that the classroom was not the best place to burst out into a ramble about Dia. So instead he just clapped his hands together to get everyone’s attention.

“Ok guys everyone back to your seats and just be hush for a moment thanks. You can talk again in a few minutes lets just get the boring bit out of the way first.”

He waited for everyone to finish their conversations and return to their seats before continuing. With a small smile at the class he pushed himself off the desk and pulled his wand out from his jacket pocket and pointed it at the teapot on his desk.

“Ok back to basics for the moment guys...can any of you tell me the difference between Charms and Transfiguration?”

[Via Thorn]

Via couldn't help but smile at the professor when she mentioned Dia's name. She soon dismissed it and remembered the information he had just told her. Giving a nod, she walked back to her seat and sat down once more.

The professor asked the difference between Transfiguration and Charms, and Via raised her hand before blurting out.

"Sir, Transfiguration is essentially the art of changing the properties of an object. Charms is a type of magic spell concerned with giving an object new and unexpected properties" she reeled off. Putting her hand down, she placed it on her lap. She wasn't a know-it-all, but she tried, and hopefully that was the answer Professor Hubbles was looking for. If not, well she'd soon stand corrected.

[Ellie Rook]

Ellie smiled a the class was quieted. She was in a very good mood and attributed that mood to Charms class. She remembered why it was her favorite class, and why, Professor Hubbles, with that ridiculous hat still on his head, was her favorite Professor.
Ellie shrugged as the Professor asked a question. She never really thought about the differences. They were two different classes and of course that meant they were two different things, but she never really thought about defining each of them. As Via spoke, Elie jotted down a few notes on a piece of parchment in front of her.

Transfiguration - changes properties.
Charms - gives new properties.

Hoping Via was right, as she hated crossing things out, Ellie smiled up at the class, ignoring the Slytherins pouts. With Via's help Ellie sort of understood the differences now.

"So, like, if you needed to do something, Charms could help you make an object do something it wouldn't do normally, while Transfiguration would just totally change the object into something you could use?" Ellie said, trying to clarify her thoughts.

[Angelique Juliette]

Her eyes rolled so much she was jokingly thinking to herself that if she didn't stop they might just stay that way. Lucky for her they didn't. Where were her friends, she couldn't make it through this blasted class without them. Already she was feeling sickened by the present company. So much happiness and joy she thought she was going to be sick. She was hardly paying attention barely catching he bit about the difference between Charms and Transfiguration.

She always knew there was one but never really bothered to know exactly what it was. Writing down bits and drabs of what she was hearing around the room Angel looked down at her notes as if transfixed mainly because she seemed to be loosing focus rather quickly. The whole thing drifting away like the thought of that mangy old boot she got stuck with.

[Professor Daniel Hubbles]

In Dan’s eyes it was always a good thing when the Hufflepuff’s decided to speak up. You can call him bias but when it is Hufflepuff’s answering the questions he puts forward in lessons it is only the right thing but to reward them. It was Via who spoke up first and gave a very good definition and Dan could not help but grin when she had finished. He wondered around to stand next to the teapot to explain it even more to try and make it clearer for some members of the class when Ellie spoke up and did the job for him. Folding his arms and leaning back on the desk Dan could not help but grin.

“Brilliant, take 10 points each. That is the basic difference between the two. I could turn this teapot into a turtle and as a result would be completely changing its properties as it would be very difficult to brew tea with.” Just to prove his point and to show off Dan pointed his wand at the pea green teapot and lo and behold seconds later a rather surprised looking turtle was sitting on the desk. “Now if I was to cast the Engorgio charm on the turtle it would be exactly the same lettuce eating machine, just on a slightly larger scale as we have simply given it one new property.”

Dan looked around the room to make sure that everyone was still following him. Now was the time to ask if they had any questions before the class moved on any further. Reaching out Dan picked up the turtle as it was about to walk off the edge of his desk and with a quick flick of his wand he was soon holding the teapot once again.

“Right this is when I want you guys to show me how inventive you are show me an example of both Transfiguration and Charms so I know that you understand the difference.”

With another grin at everyone Dan placed the teapot on the table and pulled the hat off throwing it in the direction of Fay.

[Via Thorn]

As professor Hubbles began to explain in more detail about the differences between Transfiguration and Charms, she listened intently, but somehow, she knew the theory but practical work for charms wasn’t her strong point. The more she thought about it in her head, the more confused she became, and when the professor changed the teapot back, she stood herself up and readied her wand, unsure of why she had stood up in the first place. She looked back at her seat as if it held the answer as to why she just stood up, but it did not hold the secret. It seemed someone was playing a prank on her and using a charm of their own. It seemed they didn't take kindly to her smart-arse comment moments before.

Now she was in full view of the class, she became embarrassed and quickly sat back down. Gulping back a dry lump that had now formed in her throat, she pointed her wand at the flower that was now laying on the desk for a moment before scrunching her face up in thought. She was sure to mess it up, she’d overthought about it, and overthinking in a situation was never good, it gave room for doubt.

Flicking her wand at the direction of it, and reciting the incantation, a spark fluttered from her wand. A sign of failing, miserably. As she looked at the affect it had on the flower, she saw it was now just petal-less, and the petals had crumbled into dust. Well, much use that would be. Shrugging at the professor, she blushed a little and bit her lip in embarrassment.

"Erm, Sir? I think i'm going to need another flower"

[Ellie Rook]

Ellie beamed at the points awarded to her. She wasn't trying to be smart, she was actually trying to dumb what Via said down for herself, just in front of the class, and aloud. However, Ellie wasn't going to say no to house points for Hufflepuff. See suspected that Hubbles was slight biased as well.

Ellie watched the demonstration, understanding what was going on now. The turtle was adorable, though, Ellie was probably sure that if she got any closer to it, it would bite her.

Given the freedom to try her own magic, Ellie was almost bouncing with excitement. She watched as Via tried to perform the first spell, but failed. Ellie looked in her direction, and smiled reassuringly.

The Hufflepuff sat down to work on her own magic. The squirrel looks up at her with one eye. What to change him into. She had a moments thought of changing Boris into a really squirrel, but she wasn't sure she could handle that magic, and she also felt like it wouldn't be the smartest idea.

Brilliant! Ellie thought of the perfect thing. She brought out her wand and pointed it at Boris. With a frown she said, "Sorry, It won't hurt." and covering his eyes lightly with her free hand, she performed the movement, clearly saying the incantation. Boris changed, become a very ugly train set. The brown color of his fur was still present in the paint color on the sides of the train, and a small bit of tail was still present on the caboose. Ellie smiled and giggled at her creation. She raised her hand.

"Professor, umm, theres still a little Boris left." She said with a smile, pointing at the smidge of tail left behind.

[Felicity Locke]

It took all Fay had not to break down into laughter as Hubbles put the hat she pulled out on his head. She covered her mouth with one hand and turned her head so it looked like she was looking at the wall. Her shoulders shook with silent giggles. No wonder Hubbles classes were always ones of her favorite.

As Ellie and the other Puff spoke, Felicity scrawled down some notes. She glanced back at the hat, which sat at the corner of her desk. Transfigure it into something. Hm..What to do..
The feather caught her eye, and suddenly an idea sparked in her head. A grin spread across her face.

Fay swished her wand and murmured the spell. Thank you May for those extra lessons. The hat's form condensed, and the feathers seemed to spread. After a minute or two, a small bird (probably the size of a canary) sat before her. It's belly was purple, while the rest of it was black. Felicity held out a finger and it hopped onto it. She giggled and pet its head softly. "Shall I name it after you Professor?"

[Sarie Thimble]

Sarie smiled when she heard what the Professor wanted to know. She dug some paper and wrote down.

Transfiguration changes the object

Charms gives to the object

She knew that it didn't sound very good but it was true. She sighed and blew on the ink so it would dry quicker.

[Angelique Juliette]

Great now she had to do two different things in one class? Wasn't this charms? Why were they being asked to transfigure an object. Angel was looking at Professor Hubbles with eyes narrowed into slits. Now she was being asked to pick up that nasty boot. Angel glowered and looked at the thing distaste etched on every inch of her pretty face. She was so unhappy with this particular class especially since no one she wanted to see was actually sitting there.

Grabbing a piece of parchment she used it to grab the boot with because she'd be damned if she was going to touch the filthy thing again. She was only doing this because she was a Slytherin and as such she had to make it her business to make her house look good.

The boot stood stationary on her desk and now that it was closer to her than before she realized that it smelled to boot. Rolling her eyes she felt as if she would have loved nothing more than to throw it right back at the professor or perhaps Ellie. Shaking her head she knew she had to transfigure it into something soon or risk being sick because the site of the thing made her so. Deciding that a nice owl would suffice she pointed her wand at the thing and said the spell watching it turn and thank goodness make a scops owl. Small and tweeting at her. Angel liked owls just about as much as snakes, they were dead useful and well she just always seemed to have this connection with them. Again she used her wand saying "engorgio" watching as it grew before her eyes now turning into about the size of a regular owl.

Well at least she did her part though she still didn't appreciate having to do the work of two classes in one.

[Kendal Montgomery]

Kendall was listening to professor Hubbles when he gave her very own house 10 points. She was ecstatic about it because they were doing great this term and well she wanted to keep up the good work. It was always nice to get rewarded for a job well done, at least that's how she felt about it.

Now it was time for them to get to the lesson and it seemed like they would be doing something from both charms and transfiguration. Well now as she stared at the little action figure by her she wondered what in the world she would transfigure him into. She figured a switching spell would be pretty interesting but what to turn it into. She sat there for a while wondering and then she thought something small. So using the switching spell she made it a shiny new button. Nothing elaborate about it that was for sure but it made it easier for her when she used wingardium leviosa watching the button fly up in the air with her wand. Her eyes never leaving it before she brought it back down onto her desk. So funny how it went from an action figure to button to flying object in no time.

[Professor Daniel Hubbles]

Dan jumped back up onto his desk and folded his arms watching the class start to cast their magic on bits of rubbish they had on the desk in front of them. However not all the magic seemed to go correct Via for example managed to make all the pedals on the flower disintegrate and was asking for another and Ellie has turned Boris into a train set but the tail still seemed to be present. With a small chuckle Dan slipped off the desk dragging the box with him and wondered over towards Via, holding the box out in front of him with a smile upon his face.

“Do not worry about it Miss Thorn, I never liked that flower anyway. Pick something a little less biodegradable.”

Leaving the box on the table Dan spun around on his heel and looked over at the small train set sitting in front of Ellie. As she pointed out the remaining remnants of Boris Dan crouched down in front of the desk and found it hard not to laugh at the small section of tail that was left. He was about to suggest a spell that could be used to get rid of that little section when he heard the sound of a bird tweeting. At first he thought he was going crazy but when Fay asked if she should name it after him he looked up to see a small purple bird perched on her finger.

“What Daniel the purple Canary? Does not have quite the right ring to it…”

With a small laugh Dan pushed himself up and looked at the other students in the room, the Slytherin seemed determined to hate the lesson and if that was the way she was going to act then Dan would not bother her. Sarie seemed to not have read the board and did not even have an item to cast any spells, Ashton was not doing anything so it was up to Kendal to restore Dan’s faith that people were doing stuff in his lesson. With a small smile he watched the Hufflepuff turn the action figure into a button and then levitate it, simple yet effective. But that is what most of the spells had been, simple nothing big, nothing that made Dan wonder if they should evacuate the classroom, he wanted explosions.

“Ok the next person to make their item blow up, catch fire, let off poisons gasses or whatever…shall get 20 house points.”

[Via Thorn]

Via paused, blushing, holding the stem of the well, ruined flower in her fingers. Looking around at the rest of the class, she managed a small, yet still embarrased smile to Ellie who did a lot better than herself, and to a Ravenclaw, Fay, who seemed like she was flirting with the professor. She looked back to see the professor laugh at her and bring the box over.

Dipping her hand back into the box, she pulled out a small yellow leather looking notepad, the used pages had been ripped out and only a few blank ones remained. Flipping it over in her hand, she tilted her head before looking back up at the professor.

As he said that 20 points would be awarded to the next person to blow the item up, she grinned. She was obviously gifted in ruining things more than changing them, and knew the exact spell to cast upon her new item. Coughing slightly to clear her throat, she placed the book down on the desk and pointed her wand at it before thinking of the pronounciation.

"Confringo!" she exclaimed, and the book exploded, from what it seemed, within, and pieces of the leather fell about the wooden desk with small scraps of paper that were burning slightly.

[Ellie Rook]

Ellie laughed a the bird, happily chirping away. She turned back to her train...with a tail. She shrugged. Apparently, it wasn't a big deal that it had a tail. After all, this wasn't transfiguration. She probably would need to perform a perfect charm to make up for her mishap with the tail.

"What!?" Ellie said, knowing all to well that the Professor enjoyed explosions and such. She frowned. She could never ever imagine blowing Boris up. Well, it wasn't exactly Boris anymore, but there was still a little bit of him left that she would hate to blow up.

"Oh duh!" Ellie said, figuring out the perfect way to get the tail off. "Diffindo." She said happily, pointing to the caboose of the train, and the tail fell off, severed. She picked it up. It looked kind of lonely, as lonely as a squirrel tail with out a squirrel could be. Waving her wand, she turned it into a flower. Smiling, she gave it to Via, who had demolished hers before.

Ok, back to the train. What could she do. The ugly brown color was most hideous. A train would never be painted that color. Perfect idea. Ellie pointed her wand at the first train and happily said the color change incantation. A red flare emitted from her wand and the first car became a vibrant red color. Three wand waves later, and a yellow flare, a green flare, and a blue flare, the train was coming along lovely. the caboose was now left, still brown and ugly. Ellie pondered. She had run out of colors. Smiling she waved her wand and a rainbow emitted out of it, coloring the caboose in a dazzling sequence of every color you can imagine. She smiled, reclining on her chair, happy with her work.