[Astronomy] TIV: Readings

[Alexis Heart]

Alexis noticed the new arrivals to class both she wasn't very familiar with but oh well when did that really matter. She smiled to them both non the less. Her eyes began to droop and she kept trying to open them up wide once more. It was so hard to stay awake for some reason and it was taking her more work to try to keep awake than it ever would have to do some learning. She needed to do something or she'd risk getting into trouble.

Good thing the professor asked them all to get up Alexis practically jumped out of her chair shaking her head from side to side she tried to wake herself up she needed to pay attention. Moving into the crowd she new she had to try and listen even though sleep was what she was truly craving now. Why hadn't she thought to bring a cup of coffee with her. That's what she needed.

When the professor asked them a question Alexis practically jumped she had actually fallen asleep with her eyes opened standing up. Something she thought never really happened but something she found cool. Biting her lip she looked at the professor once more trying to pay attention, the question went right over her head but apparently Sarie had an answer. Those never occurred to her so she waited to see if the professor would say she was right or wrong.

[littlebean]

Ash smiled at the Professor. He knew his sister was the kid of person people just got along with. It was different with him. He thought he should try and be understanding. "Yeah, she's pretty great though." he added before Professor Owen started the lesson. Sometimes you have to give the devil her due, as Ash saw it.

Immediately following the question, Ashlynd bent down and reached for his book. Stopping and slowly come up, he smiled as though he hadn't tried to do anything. Placing his hands on his lap, he sighed, listening to the older Gryffindor. He loved the subject, but that didn't mean he knew every last thing about it.

[Char Hadley]

Char walked forward as Owen began her lesson, not quite sure of the answer to her question. Letting his gaze wander around the room in search for a hand, he smiled in amusement as he found a sleeping Ravenclaw instead. Maneuvering himself slightly, he shifted himself so he was beside her.

"A bit unfortunate that this class is so late, isn't it?" He whispered, in the pause after Sarie's answer. "I bet it's going to be worth it though." He smiled at her, before squinting in thought and raising his hand.

"Pegasus, too, maybe?" He asked, his lips quirked in a half smile. It was always the obvious answer in all his Muggle lessons as a child and had easily become one of his favourite.

[Professor Dia Hubbles]

Guesses flew to her from all sides of the class room and Dia smiled. It was a terrible trick to play on them so late at night but it showed her who was concentrating and who wanted to participate in her class. As always, Sarie was the first to answer. A lucky guess, Dia thought to herself but nodded to the small Gryffindor. "Indeed, Orion should be rising any moment now," Dia said with a smile, "five points to Gryffindor." Another Gryffindor answered and she laughed. "Pegasus is only going to be over us in January, but I'll give you five points for the guess in any case because that's a class we'll get to soon enough."

She walked between the desks as she spoke. "As Ms Thimble pointed out: Orion. Now, who can tell me the mythology behind Orion?" She past Alexis and tapped a finger on her desk. "And keep those books closed." She had noticed Ashlynd going for his book and didn't want any of that. This question was much nicer and would earn more points, the only other question then was who would give the correct answer first.

[Angelique Juliette]

Walking into class just as the professor asked about the mythology of Orion Angel smiled, she knew a little something about mythology. Raising a hand and beginning to answer she replied, 'Professor, according to Greek Mythology Orion was the son of Neptune and he had the power to walk on water or wade the water's surface. His sight had been taken away from him by Oenopion because he tried to force himself on the mans daughter Merope. After gaining some assistance he was able to seek out the aid of the sun god who restored his sight. One day as he was wading in the water he was killed by the archer goddess. After finding his body the woman who loved him Diana placed him among the stars, where he appears as a giant, with a girdle, sword, lion's skin, and club. Sirius, his dog, follows him, and the Pleiads fly before him.' Her parents had told her that story so many times it was actually one of her favorite myths.

This wasn't one of her favorite classes but at least it gave her the opportunity to discuss something she did so enjoy. Hoping that her answer sufficed she awaited the professors response, she needed some house points for Slytherin and hoped that she would indeed be getting some.

[Professor Dia Hubbles]

The class was silent for a moment, and Dia was worried that the task of a simple story telling was too much for the class to handle. However, someone did pipe up and Dia was glad to see it was a Slytherin, the rarest sight in her class but always a pleasure as they generally had to right answers. Dia listened closely to what Angelique had to say, nodding her head every now and them.

"Oh, very good Ms Juliette, very good indeed," Dia said and clapped her hands together. "Now, as some of you might know different stories from the one Angelique has just told, we are going to disect what you have just said." Dia put a reasuring hand on Angelique's shoulder and squeezed it tightly before moving on around the classroom.

"Now, you mentioned Orion being the son of Neptune. I think you've got your Greek and Roman mythology a little confused for Neptune was the Roman god of the sea. It was Poseidon that was Greek and to say for certain who Orion's father was would be folly. It has been speculated that his father was Hyrieus, and Posiedon did have a child named Hyrieus, though it is unclear if it is the same Hyrieus who is Posiedon's child and Orion's father.

"But you are one hundred per cent correct in saying that he was blinded by Merope's father and his name was Oenopion. Five points. The story go like this: Orion walked to Chios over the Aegean Sea, and Oenopion welcomed him with a banquet. Orion got drunk and assaulted Merope. In revenge, Oenopion stabbed out Orion's eyes, and then threw him off the island. Hephaestus, god of the forge, he took pity on the Orion and gave him his servant called Cedalion as a guide. Cedalion took Orion east, where the rising sun, who was personified as Helius, restored Orion's sight. Orion then decided to kill Oenopion, but the Chians had built the king an underground fortress, and Orion couldn't find him. (Other sources say it was an iron fortress, built by Hephaestus himself.) So Orion went to Crete instead.

"His death was very contoversial," Dia continued still circling the class and the students, "as Angelique said there is the story of his death Artemis. Another five points for you my dear. The story is that he was hunting, Orion with his dogs on Crete and he stumbled across Artemis bathing. She was furious, of course, I mean which woman enjoys being spied on by a mortal when your a supreme goddess, and she killed him, or at least we think she did. His death was either cause by the blow of Artemis or of the giant scorpion, which became Scorpio, but either way, he died and his body was placed in the stars. There is some dispute whether Artemis had him placed there so he would suffer for all eternity, watching the world go by or if Diana found him, as Angelique pointed out, but the result is much the same. Another five points. That's a total of twenty points for Slytherin, an extra five for answering of course."

Dia smiled at Angelique and turned to the window to her right. "Now, children, if you would gather around, taller students at the back if you don't mind so the shorters ones can see too. Orion is just about to be in complete view, see, there is his belt..."

"... and here is a sixteenth century interpretation of the constellation." Dia opened an old book, it's spine being held magically together, and passed it to the child closest to her open on a page with a drawing of a man brandishing a sword.

[Sarie Thimble]

Sarie listened she loved the stars. She would stare at them for hours. She loved the stories behind them. She looked at the book that was being passed around. She thought about clispo and her son. SHe wouldn't remember his name. He had hunted bears and one of the goddess she couldn't remember who had turned clispo in to a bear then her son had killed him. She was missing a great many details and whiched to remember the story better. She didn't want to say any thing till she was asked about it. The picture she was looking at was well drawn and made her think of long forgotten times.

[Angelique Juliette]

Angel was slightly disappointed about some of her mistakes in recounting the story. She had been sure she was completely correct, but apparently she mixed some things up. It upset her just because she hated to do anything half way. The teachers arm on her shoulder apparently meant to reassure or some such thing did nothing to make her feel any better. Yes, she had earned her house some well needed points but she couldn't help but think it would have been more had she not flubbed her answer.

Holding back a sigh she knew she had to pay attention less she miss something important. Listening to the story told correctly Angel couldn't help but feel angry, she knew that, how could she have forgotten it? Silly girl she thought, getting angrier by the second. Luckily, they had to move toward the window so that they could see Orion fully formed, the sight took her mind off of her mistake for a while, she actually felt awed being able to witness it. Stars were magnificent, so brilliant glittering and shining up in the sky the way they do. A smile crossed her lips as she saw a book being passed to her. Taking it in hand she glanced at the picture giggling to her herself just a little because it seemed a bit silly. Passing it to the person next to her she continued to look out the window.

[Char Hadley]

Char raised his brow as he took the book from Angelique, eager to see what she had giggled at. Holding it carefully in his hands, Char's eyes raked over the yellow parchment and his lips twitched up in a smile.

He had found the lecture, or story session, had peaked his interests intensely and in the last ten minutes he had easily decided Astronomy was his favourite class. When he got a good look at Orion's picture, and flipped a few pages to get a quick look at some other drawings, he hurriedly passed it to the next person.

He joined the group looking out the window and it took a few minutes for him to finally see exactly which stars made up the constellation. When he did manage to find it, he could recognize it at once and he grinned, tracing it - probably looking incredibly odd doing so - with a finger in thin air. He noticed then, that he was standing next to the Slytherin who offered the mostly accurate explanation and thought she was, perhaps, as interested in the stars as he.

"I'm really impressed you knew all of that." He said with an awkward smile before leaning over a bit to his right as a head obscured his view.

[Girty Hubbles]

The forest was pitch black, not even the closest trees were in view. Slowly Girty lowered her hand towards her left sock and looked felt for her wand…it was not there. Panic overtook the Hufflepuff and she started to run, knowing soon she would run into a tree or worse one of the forests creatures. But she hit nothing; so she kept running in the darkness until she saw the glow from a distant fire. It did not seem to get any closer no matter how fast Girty ran. But then she heard voices, different voices all around her. She skidded to a halt as more voices sounded out.

‘Yeah, she's pretty great though."

‘A bit unfortunate that this class is so late, isn't it?’

‘His sight had been taken away from him’

‘His death was very controversial’

‘His death was either cause by the blow of Artemis or of the giant scorpion’

Now Girty was truly confused. She turned from one direction to the other searching for where the voices had come from, but then she heard a low rumbled and the ground beneath her had opened up and she was falling, falling….

---

Her eyes flew open and she was sitting in the Astronomy tower, holding onto the desk in front of her tightly. The rest of the class seemingly had managed to stay awake and were standing by the window looking up at the sky while others were looking at a rather old looking book. With a deep breath Girty slapped the side of her face to try and wake herself up and slowly stood up from her table and walked over to where everyone was standing. And as soon as she joined the group one of the Gryffindor passed her the book.

“Orion? So that is what we are doing then. That would make sense, and tells me I am not going crazy.”

Well to Girty it showed she was not going crazy, even if she was talking to herself while looking a book.

[Professor Dia Hubbles]

Dia watched as the book was passed from one person to the other. As the book reached Girty's hands Dia smiled at her but noticed something odd, something that made her frown. "With us again, Ms Hubbles?" Dia said jokingly with a slight laugh to emphasis the joke. The tension between them had become something greatly tangible and Dia did not desire it to so between them.

The class had to go on.

Dia composed herself again, straightening herself where she sat. She cleared her throat and looked to Orion once more. "Since we are here already can anyone spot Canis Major?" It was just below Orion and every hunter needs his hunting dogs, if one was to ask Dia Owen's opinion. She smiled at the small class and did wish that these silences were not so awkward.

[Girty Hubbles]

Girty continued to look at the book, fascinated by the pictures and how well it has been preserved over the many years, but then this was Hogwarts and magic could do many things. But it was then she heard Professor Owens voice sound out behind her and Girty knew she had to play her cards carefully. One part of her knew that Dia was only joking, had it been last year she would have laughed along but things had changed and Girty has a grudge against her. But her mother has taught her never to show grudges clearly in public, always try to mask it so watches on can believe it is just their imagination. So that is what Girty had decided to do.

She vented her anger by snapping the textbook shut and as the thud of the ancient pages died away it was replaced with the sound of a soft chuckle from Girty as she slowly turned around to face the Professor.

“I do not think I am all here yet Professor. Ask again in a few minutes and I might have woken up more.”

Turning her head to the sky Girty had to stifle another yawn and blink a few times to try and get the sleep out of her eyes. She hoped the cool, fresh night time air would help wake her up and as her gaze fell upon on particular bright star that Girty guessed it was part of the Canis Major constellation. After a few moments of silence had fallen over the class Girty lowered her head and rubbed the back of her neck and turned once more to Professor Owen.

“Did you want us to find Sirius…or something more difficult?”

[Professor Dia Hubbles]

Dia laughed and looked out the window. Without even searching, Dia could see Canis Major and watched at the bright Dog star, Sirius blinking to the left of Saiph. Dia had always loved that name, Saiph, though the star was not so bright it was understated and beautiful. Still chuckling to herself, Dia turned back to Girty and smiled. "Yes, Girty," Dia said smiling, "just point it out to me. If you would like you can tell me the story too but all I want right now is for someone to show the class where Canis Major is."

((apologies for the short post there just wasn't more to say.))

[Kendal Montgomery]

Kendal had made it to class but if might have been a few minutes later than expected. Luckily, professor Owen seemed to be busy so Kendal hoped her entrance went by unnoticed. Making sure she took a spot all the way in the back, she set herself up taking her things out and trying to focus on what she saw going on at the moment.

The professor was asking them to look up something but she had no idea what Astronomy was so hard for her, so much information to remember. How was anyone supposed to retain that much information along with all the other information they had to remember.

They were being asked to show her where Canis Major is located. Kendal had heard of that before and somehow something in her brain clicked. Boldly she raised her hand. "It's hard to detect, I think it's because it's behind the plane of the um, I think it's the Milky Way." She looked hopefully, because she needed the credit and the house points wouldn't be so bad either.

[Professor Dia Hubbles]

Dia heard a voice from the back of the small group of students gathered by her at the window. She listened and could tell that the Hufflepuff was trying. She watched the girl talk and could see she was searching for an answer, any answer. Dia smiled gently before locking her fingers together and putting her hands in her lap. She had not foreseen that such an answer would be so nearly correct and she was certain that Kendal would be surprised too.

"You are half correct, Kendal," Dia said smiling wider still, "it is hidden behind a plane but not the Milky Way. It's hidden behind the horizon." And after a moment, she added, "mostly. See just the top is showing just the top of his head can be seen: Sirius there and Mirzam a little closer to the horizon. Sirius is the nearest star to us that isn't the sun and so the brightest too. And now it's Mythology time but I don't want to bore you with my jabberings. Someone tell the story of the alpha star?"

Suddenly, Dia heard the far off chime of the clock, chiming the hour. "Well, nevermind about that," Dia said, standing up and brushing her hair aside. "We'll continue the next time I see you. The moon would have set by the time we come here so seeing would be easy. Thank you all for coming. Class dismissed." She smiled at the class and waved her wand, the door opening and the candles in the room bursting into light.