[Astronomy] TV: Lesson II

[Professor Dia Hubbles]

Prof Dia Hubbles had been pondering how to make her classes more interesting to the young people who bothered to attend her class and finally she had come up with a cunning plan. Having made all the proper arrangements and plans, Dia was anxious to see what the children would have to say about it and how they would solve the puzzle she had worked out for them. Dia had always found that a thinking class is a productive class.

It was lucky for her that she could get everything organised with as little hassles as she did. With Dan being busy, Dia had had time on her own to plan, organise and arrange everything she needed to to make this whole cunning plan as safe and fluid as possible. She had had some trouble but she had over come it in the end. As she waited at the foot of the stairs to the Astronomy Tower, Dia could feel her nerves buzzing around her stomach mixed with the assurance that she could not have made better arrangements.

After a few minutes of waiting, Dia grew tired of standing so sat on one of the lower steps, still waiting. She students should be arriving soon and then the fun would begin. It had also been arranged that another teacher would be joining them, just to make the students feel a little safer. She too should be arriving soon.

---

[/u][/b][/i]
Gryffindor :: 0
Hufflepuff :: 40
Ravenclaw :: 0
Slytherin :: 20 [/ul][/size][/font][/color]

[Angelique Juliette]

Looking at the hourglass she watched the sand slip through it for a moment before realizing that it was time for class. Finally, an excuse to leave the common room. She had been growing bored watching one of the boys make kissy faces at her, while asking if she would like to take a trip to a nice deserted classroom. Angel simply scoffed thinking to herself that he wished he could get her alone.

Making to leave the room she realized she was being followed by Mr. Freak. She gave him an icy stare making him realize they weren't about to get to "know each other better". Men were such idiots why were they invented, probably just to torture girls.


Walking slowly through the dark dreary dungeon, she climbed the stairs into the light. Up up and up some more she went, because she chose to take the long way to the towers. Reaching the stairs that led to the class she found the professor sitting there as if waiting for them. "Hello Professor Owen or is it Hubbles" she asked genuinely curious because she heard they had married or something.

[Erys Grace]

Erys exited the common room soon after Angelique, nose wrinkling with disgust at the filth that trailed after her best friend like some lovesick dog. Clasping her hands on his shoulders, she pulled him towards her as if to embrace him.. Before turning suddenly and shoving him roughly against the stone wall. "If you want all your appendages," The animagus warned, eyes whisking up and down his quivering body, "..in the right spot when you get back, I suggest you quit following her around. Take a look in the mirror next time you decide you have a chance and get a second opinion." Leaving him there, shaking as a wet trail slipped down his pant leg, the Slytherin smirked, whirling away from him and heading after her long-gone friend up to the Astronomy tower for her lesson. Or wherever it was being held.

"Hello professor!" Erys greeted her cheerfully, surprising herself at the hint of happiness and sunny tone in her voice. "Got some fries to go with that shake, Angel?" She grinned, playfully nudging her friend in the shoulder. "Took care of the puppy for you." And by puppy she meant said lovesick animal who had wet himself before she was through with him. "He won't be making kisses at you anytime soon." Unless she wanted him to, but he wasn't even pretty, so why bother? Taking out her wand from her pocket and quickly Accio'ing her supplies--as she had forgotten them in her haste to put that idiot in his place--she waited for them to appear with an expectant expression, cooing happily as they flew towards her in her bag. Slinging the bag over her shoulder she waited for what they were to do tonight, and for Angel's responce.[/color]

[Angelique Juliette]

In her haste to leave the common room Angel had forgotten the most important thing, Erys. Her best friend had been there too but because of what happened Angel had completely forgotten. It wasn't until she heard footsteps turning she saw a mane of dark hair that could only belong to one person. Seeing her friend arrive she gave her the most apologetic look. That stupid boy had gotten under her skin more than she realized.

Took care of the puppy for you Erys said and Angel needed no explanation. That was one of the things she loved most about Erys, she was someone you could count on to be there for you no matter what. Angel hadn't expected her to bother but she did. "Thanks because the puppy should be spayed and muttered. Can you believe the gall of him to think he had a shot." She wasn't trying to sound conceited but he wasn't pretty enough for her heck he wasn't pretty enough to be a real puppy. "Anyway I appreciate it."

Erys summoned her things for class which was when she realized she didn't have her own. "Blasted, I was in such a hurry" she muttered as she too had uttered "Accio" awaiting her supplies. She so needed to get her mind off what had happened. As soon as her things arrived she grabbed them before they made their way onto the floor.

[Ellie Rook]

Lovely. Ellie thought as she made her way to the astronomy tower. The steps had just come into clear view and besides Professor Dia Hubbles standing at the bases, no other face seemed pleasant to her. Two Slytherins, neither one of them even remotely pleasant were waiting along with her. Silently, as she stepped, Ellie prayed that someone, anyone, would come and save her from these...people.

Walking as slow as she could to waste time, Ellie had to reached the bottom of the stairs sometime. She took one final step and sighed, her journey coming to an end. "Hello Professor." Ellie said with a bright smile, which faded as she turned a quick eye toward one of the seventh years. Ugh.

[Erys Grace]

For a moment there Angel looked embarrassed for 'forgetting her', but Erys only waved her hand in dismissal. She wasn't Angel's accessory after all, her friend was allowed to go places without her. As her fellow Slytherin complained about him thinking he had a shot she smirked. "They always do." Slimey rats. And she didn't sound conceited either, some people just weren't worth their time. It wasn't too much to ask for a man that reciprocated her own level of beauty and status, she shouldn't feel shamed by the thought in the least! Which were her thoughts exactly when Angel Accio'd her things in similar fashion, whipping her hands out to quickly assemble the supplies in her arms before they said hello to the floor. Erys' emerald eyes snapped to the ink jar that tottered precariously for a moment before beginning its plummet to the ground, and her hand was a blur as it swept forward, fingers clasped around the jar as she caught it before it shattered. With a grin she added it back to the pile in Angel's arms, needing no thanks; she knew the other girl was appreciative of it.

The smell of annoyance, or perhaps exhasperation, wafted towards her moments before Rook entered, and Erys smirked at the PeachPuff as she stepped inside the room to cheerily greet Professor Hubbles. On a side note, three professors at the school with the last name Hubbles? Utterly ridiculous! Anyhow, the Slytherin flashed a taunting grin at her--she was dating Bray, right? Whatever, like that gave her a get-out-of-jail-free card in Erys' books--before turning back to give Angel a similar look, but to her friend it was more along the lines of, 'What a Pufftard!' [/color]

[Alice Simmons]

The little Hufflepuff eagerly swung her legs as she sat on one of the many chairs that filled the near empty Hufflepuff commonroom. Her feet hovered a few inches above the ground but they soon made contacted with the rug that lay on the floor when the clock ontop of the fire place chimed quarter to twelve. It was along walk from the Commonroom to the Astronomy Tower with them being at opposite ends of the castle, but it was a trek the second year was willing to take.

Astronomy was one of her favourite lessons and she would never dare miss a lesson so she had spent all evening eating so many sugar quills that the poor little Hufflepuff was on quite a sugar high and ran all the way to her lesson. In fact the Hufflepuff was in so much of a tizzy that she failed to notice that the class was not in the classroom, and it was not a queue of people waiting to go into the classroom but that was where the class was. Unable to stop herself Alice ran straight into the back of the Slytherin Erys Grace, the sudden stoppage of momentum caught the little Hufflepuff off guard and she stumbled backwards for a moment before regaining her balance.

“What ya standin there for?” Alice as rubbed her forehead, a frown slowly setting in as she stared up at the Slytherin in front of her. “Stupid place to stand, if me step brother Dax finds out he will come after ya.”

The Hufflepuff meant business and with an evil glare she stared up at the much older and taller Slytherin determined to stand her ground and not give in to the scary façade. With a small huff Alice stomped off towards Ellie and the Professor offering both a small smile before glaring back at the Slytherin duo.

[Erys Grace]

“Stupid place to stand, if me step brother Dax finds out he will come after ya.”

[/I]
Was the last thing Erys Grace heard after she was run into from behind, and she froze, slowly rotating around to tower over the little brat infront of her. At the threat of her big brother coming to get her, the Slytherin's cold expression disolved into laughter. So Dax was going to come after her, yeah? "And do what? Wet his pants?" She laughed back, as it was common knowledge of he was quite the pansy. If that was all, the ickle Peachpuff could go skip away and pick daisies now. They were standing there because they weren't inside yet, obviously. Simmons should have watched where she was going instead of plowing through the school like a hippopotamus on drugs. Laughing at the mental image Erys turned back around to speak with Angel, glancing over her shoulder and catching the glare before raising her eyebrows twice at the child, as if suggesting something inappropriate. Guys often did it at girls, but in this case Erys just wanted to creep the chick out.

Crossing her arms over her chest and looking back to Angel now, Erys widened her eyes to silently say, 'My, isn't she the little darling?' and though the voice wasn't behind it you could almost taste the sarcasm dripping off the gesture. If the PeachPuff had wanted to scare her, she should have used a better insult than pitting her brother against them. If you want to play the dissing game, you had to learn how to play. After all, you didn't throw people in planes and tell them to fly them. They needed practise and training. Idiot.[/font][/color]

[Professor Dia Hubbles]

Dia didn't wait long before the first of the students started coming. The first was, surprisingly enough, a Slytherin. The student, Ms Juliette, greeted her though somewhat uncertainly. Dia did understand, though it had been several months since her marriage to the new Headmaster. The professr tilted her head to one side, her honey-blond locks falling down, and she smiled.

"It's Mrs Hubbles now, Angelique," the professor said as another Slytherin joined them. Dia merely smiled at the Slytherin as she curtly turned to Angelique and began talking. Dia listened, naturally, and was shocked by what she heard. It was hardly a way to speak that was fit for young women, but the two Slytherin's persisted.

Soon a Hufflepuff came and Dia felt rather more disposed to them these days ... for reasons she was uncertain of. "Good evening, Ellie," Dia greeted her in return with a broad smile. "And how are you this evening?" Dia continued to smile at the fifth year, awaiting her reply, but her smile soon fell when the sound of a higher pitched voice came to her ears that she had not heard so far that evening.

Dia turned to look and saw a young Hufflepuff standing in front of Erys, demanding she watch where she stood. The relationship between young Alice and her step brother, the Grounds Keeper was simply darling and upon Alice's words her smile returned. In one flash of the Slytherin's wicked grimace, however, Dia was on her feet and striding towards the Slytherin. She wasn't smiling any more.

"Ms Grace," Prof Hubbles demanded, seeing the glare she gave the young second year. She stood right up close to the Slytherin so she could see the glint in her eyes. "Mr Simmons is a member of staff at this school, I will have you remember, and as such you will regard him with respect. He is a braver man then you and would rather tell a person to their face what he thinks they are rather then taking the cowards way out and blabbering behind their back to their sister."

Dia thought she was a rather patient woman, understanding too, but the one thing she could not abbide was cowardice. She took a step back, fixing Grace with a last scrutinising look. "Ten points from Slytherin for your behaviour," she informed her, "and your head of house will be notified." Dia turned her back to the Slytherin two and returned to her seat on the stairs.

After a moment, Dia took a deep breath before saying, "we will wait for the rest of the class before we leave. Don't want anyone to get left behind." She smiled at the students each in turn.

[Erys Grace]

Oh snap. When Hubbles strode over Erys knew she was in trouble, and she listened patiently with nothing but calm spread out on her face. The teacher hadn't heard Simmons, most likely. "I don't have a problem with her brother, Professor. Alice threatened to sick her brother on me if I didn't move out of her way, thats all." It was the truth. Hubbles heard it and she knew it. If she was going to keep on going about how Erys wasn't brave--where the hell has she been? Erys was one of the most brave people at the school, stupid faculty--then the Slytherin would be more than happy to speak with the Head of House as well at this prejudized behavior against her. "But thank you kindly for the insult." She added cooly, not above taking it to.. Who was it? Oh yes, the Head of House, who would just love to know that Erys had been run into and threatened before she responded that way, and then was yelled at because of it and insulted. What a nice professor!

Like it bothered her anyway.

Erys just couldn't stand it when people jumped to conclusions like that. Sure, she said something mean about him, but Simmons started it by threatening to have Erys beaten up by her older brother. And sure, everyone knew he was a pansy and wouldn't be able to do it even if he was superman, but the idea that the brat got off scott-free was irritating. Just because she was a professor gave her no right to flap her lips and insult her students. She was supposed to have self control and patience, was she not? My god. The ten points could be regained in this class anyhow, Erys was one of the top particpators as it is. As if she'd let the professor rile her up. Narrowing her eyes but saying nothing more she turned away so Hubbles wouldn't see the grin slithering on to her face.[/color]

[Professor Dia Hubbles]

From her perch on the stairs to the Astronomy Tower, Dia blinked at the Slytherin seventh year with a bemused smile touching one corner of her mouth. She frowned and after a moment's silence stood up again and moved towards Erys again slowly, keeping her blue, twinkling eyes on Erys's brown ones the whole time. Dia stooped over the Slytherin, putting her face very close to the young girls, waiting for her to finish speaking.

"Who are you, Ms Grace?" Dia asked, staring at the girl unflinchingly, unblinking. "Are you a teacher? Are you a pied piper? Or even as high as a prefect?" Dia spoke slowly, softly, keeping her face close to Erys's. "No?" she offered, one eyebrow raising, "then why do you persist on acting like you are better then any of the other students?" Dia took a small step back and crossed her arms. If there was one thing that irritated her more then cowardice, it was a self-righteous Slytherin who felt victimised by everyone.

"You mistake me, Erys," Dia said, her voice still soft, steady. "You disrespected a staff member and it is my prerogative to enforce such basic fundamentals as respect. I do not refute that Ms Simmons may have been in the wrong –" at this she shot the young Hufflepuff a stern look over her shoulder "- but it does not excuse the way you reacted, the childish way you reacted, mind: ‘but she started it!’ " Dia wined and rolled her eyes, "oh yes, very brave! Demonstrating your obvious superiority on a girl nearly half your size and as much younger then you isn’t a show of bravery, Erys: that is cowardice.”

Dia could not believe the cheek this girl had developed recently. Dia had always liked her, despite her Slytherin-tendencies but it was all too clear that she had turned to the Dark Side and chosen popularity over humanity. Alice was a second year, over-confident by the fact that they were no longer the babies of the school as all second year are, and Erys should have known better. Dia remained standing, watching Erys. The contemptible spirit of the girl would not let it rest where things stood as they were. It was only a matte of time.

[Erys Grace]

"Who are you, Miss grace?"

And heres where the issues with overly-authorative figures came in. "A prefect. Just because you're a teacher doesn't mean you're better than any of the rest of us." Erys replied calmly, knowing full well the title would be stripped soon as they choosed new ones. And at the lable of cowardice she kept a collected face, quelling the storm within her eyes and blinking it away. She couldn't afford to lose more house points. "It wasn't as if I 'demonstrated my superiority'," During this she made air-quotes. "out of the blue. She ran into me then snapped at me for being in her way. I was provoked, and reacted according to my nature." There was the word again: cowardly. "Oh, and you would know all about how cowardly I am. Like its was so tough for a Ravenclaw at this school. We Slytherins are this way because you made us this way, and just because you get angry by our behavior doesn't mean we're about to change now. Time to face the fruits of your labor." Erys stared back at her, just as firm and unflinching as she was. She wasn't afraid to stand up for what she believed in, and just because some nazi astronomy professor decided to get all up in her grill didn't excuse that fact. She was definitely getting detention for this, and part of her craved it. At least she'd go out with a bang.

"I came here to learn, not argue, but if you'd rather I leave.." Erys drifted off, eyeing the door hungrily. Go ahead, Hubbles, kick me out. She seemed to tell the professor with her eyes, her expression hinting at a grin. She'd take a shortcut to Hogsmeade and have a beer with Ricky and Morgana while she was at it. Though the professor was crafty enough to know that was probably what the Slytherin was about to do, and would keep her there just to prevent her from having fun. Your move.[/color]

[Prof Brianna O'Donnell]

Professor Brianna O’Donnell had been filled in on the Astronomy professor’s fascinating plan for the evening and had agreed to give a hand. Naturally, Bree had not thought of the late hour at the time and as she dragged herself towards the Astronomy Tower she could feel it was going to be a long night. Although Brianna was a party girl she liked her sleep and she always tried to get as much as she possibly could. Tonight, that would not be an option. Bree sighed.

She rounded then corner in the corridor and saw ahead a group of people, including the ever radiant Dia, who was looking very authoritative indeed. Bree smirked to herself, having seen much the same picture when she attended school at Hogwarts. Shaking her head, Bree hurried over catching a few of Dia’s words. Her interests were instantly prickled and she watched the Slytherin retort with baited breath.

That certainly wasn’t how Slytherins acted, Bree thought with a curious frown and tilt of her head to the side. Being a Slytherin herself, Bree knew that Slytherins were crafty and cunning, not foolhardy and stupid like Gryffindors, like Grace was being. The young Slyth was begging for detention, Bree could hear it in her voice. What was the game? she wondered as she went and stood next to Dia, arms crossed in much the same manner as her college.

“What’s going on here?” Bree enquired, giving Erys an enquiring look before turning her face to look at Dia, her eyebrows raised in shock. “Is Grace up to her new tricks then?” Bree suggested, knowing that the young girl would squirm under both of the professors’ scrutiny. Perhaps that was the reason she enjoyed doing it in that case.

[Professor Dia Hubbles]

The exact reaction Dia knew would come, did, and with the fury of a discrimination-battered girl, wounded by the world and never accepting any of the blame for herself. Dia smirked, a look that did not suit her soft features. It was a little sad. Though she had been a Ravenclaw she at least knew the difference between evasion and compensation, which this Slytherin, smart though she was, clearly did not understand.

A high, cold laugh escaped Dia’s lips and she threw her head back, her blond hair waving as it wanted. Looking at Erys again, her smirk still on her face, Dia chuckled, “my dear girl, the mere fact that I have graduated makes me better then you. This is a fact of life you will have to learn one day and for your sake I hope you learn it soon. The world beyond these walls doesn’t care if you have a quick tongue or a harsh flick in your wand, if you are lower in the food chain you mean very little.”

Bree was at her side now and Dia turned to her fellow teacher and smiled. “This young woman thinks that she can disrespect one of the staff members and get off it by blaming the fact that she was provoked by a second year.” The two professors laughed heartily, before turning back to the young girl in question. It was clear what she wanted, detention, and she may receive it soon enough but Dia thought she was feeling charitable and would give her a third chance.

Dia would leave Bree to comment on being force to be the way they were by the mold society put on them as she had once been a Slytherin herself but the latter Dia would handle. “I don’t remember having to write your N.E.W.T.’s at the end of the year,” Dia said sardonically, “so why would I matter to me if you leave. If you don’t want to learn, if you don’t want to pass the year then you don’t have to force yourself upon us any more. Either way, the information I have to share will come out and it makes no difference to me whether you are here or not.”

Dia smiled gently at the young girl. She was certain she would feel targeted by this fair action but Erys seemed to have been acting out of sorts in recent times and in Dia’s opinion she needed to be shown that those in positions of authority were there for a reason. Dia smiled at Bree, waiting to hear what she had to add.

[Prof Brianna O'Donnell]

It was all too plain that this confrontation had been going on for some time. How exciting, she thought, smirking from the tall blond woman to the shorted dark haired girl, and the class hasn’t even started yet. Bree was beginning to think that this class may turn out to be interesting after all. Drama was a great source of entertainment for the Care of Magical Creatures professor and she always found an abundant supply around Hogwarts.

Bree flinched playfully at Erys’ words about being better then others. Then she laughed. “Of course it does,” Bree said very quickly just before Dia spoke. She chuckled to herself, a hand moving to her mouth as she looked to the other three students who were there. Dia then explained the situation and Bree nodded, frowning in mock concentration. This truly was one big joke to her. How silly some people could be sometimes.

Erys ranted on about how she was the way she was because she was forced to be that way and all Brianna could do was laugh. She laughed long and hard. She clapped a hand to her jean-covered knee. “Grace, come on, be serious,” she chuckled, “there’s more to being a Slytherin then fitting a mould. No one forces you to do anything, you choose to: you chose to react the way you did to the little scamp, you chose to take up this confrontation you can’t win, all your choice. And it is those choices that define you. Seems to me that you need to take a little more responsibility for your life instead of blaming others the whole time.

“In the end you will realise that no one else matters and in life there is only you.” Bree continually surprised herself with rare moments of wisdom like that. Had Erys not been so wrapped up in her own world she would have been impressed by it too. As it stood, Bree couldn’t see the Slytherin backing down or giving in. On top of being cunning, Slytherins tended to be stubborn too. Bree sighed as she knew that there was little avoiding what was to come.

Dia spoke again and Bree listened to her. Bree had always liked the way Dia’s voice sounded when she was being in-charge, it took on a different quality that she also noticed with Archi. The memory made Bree smile. Bree smiled and nodded emphatically when Dia finished talking.

“But, whatever you choose,” Bree continued quickly after, “you will certainly have detention. Friday I think will be a good day. You will receive an owl giving you the details within the next day or two. Any objections?” Bree raised her eyebrows questioningly.