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FearlessLeader19 · #1 (**permalink**) 02-12-2025, 02:11 AM

One of the wonderful things about magic was that Charms could be used to protect one from the elements, particularly on this January morning. You’re able to make your way towards the Pumpkin Patch without hindrances as the path to it has been cleared. As you approach the Patch, you will feel the temperature rise to one that was comfortable enough for you to enjoy today’s lesson; a measure put in place only for the next few hours.

Professor Khanna awaits you in the temporarily magically extended Patch, giving you a break from being cooped up in the Castle due to the weather. As with their previous lessons held outdoors, there are tree stumps for you to get yourself comfortable on. The whiteboard, upon which a question is written, faces these stumps while a short distance behind the board is a neat pile of freshly grown pumpkins. Yes, they had thrived, magically of course, despite the cold weather.

Your professor greets you before gesturing to the coat rack which was magicked to be suspended in the air and within reach of even first years. Should you no longer need your coat, the rack was just to the side of the gate through which you entered for your use.

Don’t forget to pay attention to the words on the board!

Quote:

“A Lethifold is about to attack. Which spell would you not use?
Please do not voice your answer until you are called upon.”

Have a seat and ponder your answer!

Lesson Progression:

OOC: heyyy, lovelies! Welcome to the OOC lesson of the term! Kindly keep in mind that it would not be the first DADA lesson to be taught IC-wise. This is also a gentle reminder that all rules - lesson and general site apply for the duration of this RP! We'll get started in about 24 hours :3 CLASS HAS COMMENCED!

Charely Potter · 02-12-2025, 03:39 AM

Jan usually walked into one of his favorite lessons with his Slytherin besties. But today, his little brother, Idris's usual partner was absent. So today, Jan fulfilled his big brother duty as they walked outdoors towards the Pumpkin Patches together. The path ahead of him was nice and clear, and the temperature rose up into a nice warm temperature. Guess he won't need his coat today.

"Hello, Professor." Jan's smirk came as he removed his coat to hang on the rack. It gave him extra time to read the board. Not use.. Well, that has a lot of possible answers. He considered them after taking a seat at one of the tree stumps.

sweetpinkpixie · 02-12-2025, 04:26 AM

A blast of crisp January air greeted Iris as she stepped outside, but the warming charms woven into her uniform ensured she hardly noticed the chill. She strode down the cleared path toward the Pumpkin Patch, her boots pressing firm prints into the frost-dusted ground. Tucked beneath her arm was her ever-present notebook, its pages currently filled with notes on a work-in-progress translation of an ancient tome on ritual magic, written in Old Persian. The text was proving to be an absolutely fascinating challenge thus far, one layered with symbolic meanings, archaic phrasing, and a structure vastly different from modern spellwork. Balanced on top of her notebook was perhaps the only thing that could tear her focus away from her translation work: The Clockmakerâ€™s Curse, a gothic horror mystery she had barely been able to put down and might have spent all night reading. A blend of eerie atmosphere, intricate puzzles, and a protagonist trapped in a town where time itself was rebelling against its people, the way the author described the unsettling sensation of gears ticking, the way shadows stretched at unnatural angles...it all sent delightful shivers down her spine. Iris was determined to finish it before the week was out - though she was also determined to finish her translation of Old Persian too and there simply were not enough hours in the day to accomplish both these goals.

...if only timeturners could still be a thing.

The change was subtle but immediate, like stepping from winter into a cozy fireside study when she was, in fact simply, crossing into the magically extended space of the Patch. She offered a bright smile towards Professor Khanna as they stood at the front, framed by the curious sight of a pile of freshly grown pumpkins. No doubt Nyle spent a fair bit of time down here bringing his own potted plants along for some vicarious motivation or whatever he called it these days. Iris quickly scanned the area and shrugged off her coat, neatly folding it over the rack before moving toward the front row of seats. She would have waved as well but her hands were quite full and she would rather not have to go chasing down the loose leaf bits from her notebook. Quite the impressive display of magical horticulture, if she did say so herself. Settling onto a stump, the Ravenclaw adjusted her hold and - once she knew her notebook was properly secured - flipped it open, running a finger along the most recent passage she had been working through.

The section she had been puzzling over last night, between reading her book, seemed to reference a purification rite that required celestial alignment...though the wording was frustratingly vague. Did it require actual starlight? Or was it a metaphor for something else entirely? She tapped her quill against the page, lips pursed and completely oblivious to the board and the question she ought to be pondering. She'd get there eventually - probably.

FearlessLeader19 · 02-13-2025, 03:00 AM

SPOILER!!: Replies ^_^

SPOILER!!: Jan! <3

It came as no surprise for Dhruv to see Jan accompanying Idris today, though it was strange to see the Gryffindor not in the company of a certain Hufflepuff. “Mr. Grunt,’’ they replied, sending Jan a similar smirk. They were used to that form of greeting from him and Aryan. “Mr. Grunt.” Id got an encouraging smile, though Dhruv was inwardly worried about him. There was one thing that was set in stone, however: Id would be well taken care of with Jan nearby.

SPOILER!!: Iris! <3

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetpinkpixie

A blast of crisp January air greeted Iris as she stepped outside, but the warming charms woven into her uniform ensured she hardly noticed the chill. She strode down the cleared path toward the Pumpkin Patch, her boots pressing firm prints into the frost-dusted ground. Tucked beneath her arm was her ever-present notebook, its pages currently filled with notes on a work-in-progress translation of an ancient tome on ritual magic, written in Old Persian. The text was proving to be an absolutely fascinating challenge thus far, one layered with symbolic meanings, archaic phrasing, and a structure vastly different from modern spellwork. Balanced on top of her notebook was perhaps the only thing that could tear her focus away from her translation work: The Clockmakerâ€™s Curse, a gothic horror mystery she had barely been able to put down and might have spent all night reading. A blend of eerie atmosphere, intricate puzzles, and a protagonist trapped in a town where time itself was rebelling against its people, the way the author described the unsettling sensation of gears ticking, the way shadows stretched at unnatural angles...it all sent delightful shivers down her spine. Iris was determined to finish it before the week was out - though she was also determined to finish her translation of Old Persian too and there simply were not enough hours in the day to accomplish both these goals.

...if only timeturners could still be a thing.

The change was subtle but immediate, like stepping from winter into a cozy fireside study when she was, in fact simply, crossing into the magically extended space of the Patch. She offered a bright smile towards Professor Khanna as they stood at the front, framed by the curious sight of a pile of freshly grown pumpkins. No doubt Nyle spent a fair bit of time down here bringing his own potted plants along for some vicarious motivation or whatever he called it these days. Iris quickly scanned the area and shrugged off her coat, neatly folding it over the rack before moving toward the front row of seats. She would have waved as well but her hands were quite full and she would rather not have to go chasing down the loose leaf bits from her notebook. Quite the impressive display of magical horticulture, if she did say so herself. Settling onto a stump, the Ravenclaw adjusted her hold and - once she knew her notebook was properly secured - flipped it open, running a finger along the most recent passage she had been working through.

The section she had been puzzling over last night, between reading her book, seemed to reference a purification rite that required celestial alignment...though the wording was frustratingly vague. Did it require actual starlight? Or was it a metaphor for something else entirely? She tapped her quill against the page, lips pursed and completely oblivious to the board and the question she ought to be pondering. She'd get there eventually - probably.

Next to arrive was Iris with her faithful books. Her radiant smile was perhaps enough to add warmth to the surroundings, and it certainly earned her one in return from Dhruv. After she settled in, it pleased them to see that she chose to spend her time wisely by dedicating it to whatever task she had delegated herself. They trusted that she would pay full attention to the lesson when it commenced.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

As ten o’clock arrived, the scheduled hour for the lesson to kick off, Professor Khanna scanned the grounds for any stragglers. Seeing none, they shut the gate then began making their way between the tree stumps. “Welcome to another Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson,’’ they began, clasping their hands at their back. Needless to say they immediately felt their mood rise; Dhruv was just that fond of teaching. “I hope you’ve had a chance to take a look at the question on the board.” Their eyes twinkled a tad as a brief glance was cast in Iris’ direction. “If you haven’t, take a few minutes to do so and decide your answers. Even if you’ve thought about your answer already, you’re free to think deeper about other possible spells that you would not use.”

Dhruv fell silent, allowing everyone two minutes. “You may raise your hand if you have arrived at an answer.”

OOC: Class has officially commenced! Please do not announce your character’s arrival unless you’d like to deal with IC consequences

For now, have them raise their hand to answer the question if they choose to do so. You may pretend Dhruv has called upon them. We shall move on in 24 hours

Charely Potter · 02-13-2025, 04:16 AM

Jan typically felt comfortable in Defense class and this was no different. Professor Dhruv seemed to be happier than usual. He wondered why as the sixteen-year-old glanced at some of his friends nearby before returning his attention to Idris while they waited for the lesson to start.

Eventually, the lesson begun, with the Professor bringing attention to the question on the board. Jan rose his hand, waiting before he was called on to respond, "Maybe... not Lumos. I don't think you'd want to see what's about to kill you before you can actually do something about it."

sweetpinkpixie · 02-13-2025, 07:42 AM

The strawberry blonde had barely noticed the time slipping by, her quill moving fluidly over her notebook as she deciphered another phrase from the ancient tome. It wasnâ€™t until she heard the soft murmur of her classmates and a brief flicker of attention from Professor Khanna - who, Iris noted, was directing a look her way - that she realized the lesson had begun. The soft rustling of tree stumps and the clearing of throats around her pulled her out of her thoughts. Realizing then just how much she had been distracted, she straightened a little, still holding her translation notes in her lap. She quickly scanned the whiteboard, a slight furrow appearing on her brow as she processed the question about the Lethifold - and yet she still did not find herself focusing on the question right away.

Iris tapped her quill against the corner of her notebook, gaze flickering to the question on the board before trailing back down to the word rolling around in her mind. Lethifold. The name had a certain weight to it - something eerie, something insidious. And seeing as she was fresh from her latest translation work, Iris couldnâ€™t resist the temptation to pick it apart was simply too strong. Words had secrets, after all, and she loved uncovering them. The first half (Lethi-) was almost certainly tied to Letum, Latin for 'death' or 'ruin'. Fitting, considering what a Lethifold left in its wake: not a struggle, not a trace - just absence. A smothering fate in the dead of night. There was also the river, Lethe. One of the five rivers of the Underworld, its waters promised forgetfulness, oblivion, erasure. A perfect parallel to the Lethifoldâ€™s silent and seamless kills. Victims didnâ€™t leave bodies rather they simply ceased to be, as if memory itself had swallowed them whole. The '-fold' part was obvious - a cloak, a sheet, something that draped ... like the funeral shrouds that covered the dead, or the peplos of the Moirai - the Fates who wove and cut the threads of life. A Cloak of Death. A Shroud of Oblivion. What a horrifyingly poetic name, you really had to admire it.

Right. The question. She supposed it would be inappropriate to answer the obvious one: anything but the Patronus Charm. But there had to be more to it than that, didnâ€™t there? After all, there were so many spells one might instinctively reach for in the heat of the moment - spells that would seem effective, but would only make things worse. Or, in her case, anything one might try in desperation, since the actual solution was far beyond her current level of magic. A quick flash of Stupefy might feel satisfying, but it wouldnâ€™t do a thing to a creature like a Lethifold. A shield charm would be another go-to, reflexes from Dueling Club, but it wouldnâ€™t stop it from slipping around the edges. Iris chewed on the end of her quill, her gaze drifting between the board and her notes. Was there a deeper connection between the spells we choose and our understanding of the creatures we face? The question seemed simple at first, but now it felt like there was a layer beneath it all. Something to do with why certain spells fail in the face of dark magic. The more she thought, the more she wondered if the answer wasnâ€™t just about which spells wouldnâ€™t work - but why the Lethifold was immune to them.

"Well, seeing as it is a spell designed to lift objects and the Lethifold isnâ€™t a solid or physical entity that can be manipulated like a book or a broom but more a presence, a creature that slides through the air rather than being something you can pick up, Wingardium Leviosa certainly wouldn't work against them."

*Kolyander* · 02-14-2025, 12:38 AM

Bryony had arrived at the pumpkin patch in the highest of spirits, swinging Ary's hand in her own as she bounced along. Sorry not sorry. The holidays had been simply marvelous and she hadn't quite fully settled back into the swing of being back at Hogwarts yet. No, that didn't mean she was disruptive at all. What it did mean, was that everything she did was done with a great amount of energy and happiness.

For example her greeting had been wiggle fingers, the brightest of smiles and a chirpy 'Hello Professor!'. This has been done while skipping over to hang up her coat, it was so warm here! Good work, Professor! An empty tree stump beside the boyfriend was than found, where she may have managed to sit down but her toes silent did a tip-tap dance. Somehow Bry did take notice of the board and the question upon it. Interesting. Were they going to be focusing on Lethifolds today?!

Not much thought could be given to the question though before the lesson had begun. She did give it a minute or two of thought when told to do so. Her hand raising into the air to be called on. "Impedimenta wouldn't be of any help. Trying to slow one down or knock it out of the way doesn't work." As far as she could recall there was only one thing that did work and she couldn't cast that spell yet. So.. she would be doomed to utter failure against a Lethifold right now.

FearlessLeader19 · 02-14-2025, 03:00 AM

SPOILER!!: Responses!

SPOILER!!: Jan! <3

Dhruv wouldn’t know what you’re ‘speaking’ of, Jan; they were always this happy. They lightly chuckled at the response. “Very wise,’’ they agreed. “Light can work as both an advantage and a disadvantage for you. The advantage being you are able to see your attacker. However, if you strategically use auditory perception, or your sense of hearing for example, you can also have the upperhand without the need for seeing.” Dhruv’s gaze focused briefly on Idris who hadn’t raised his hand. This was unusual but understandable given the situation that had befallen him.

SPOILER!!: Iris! <3

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetpinkpixie

The strawberry blonde had barely noticed the time slipping by, her quill moving fluidly over her notebook as she deciphered another phrase from the ancient tome. It wasnâ€™t until she heard the soft murmur of her classmates and a brief flicker of attention from Professor Khanna - who, Iris noted, was directing a look her way - that she realized the lesson had begun. The soft rustling of tree stumps and the clearing of throats around her pulled her out of her thoughts. Realizing then just how much she had been distracted, she straightened a little, still holding her translation notes in her lap. She quickly scanned the whiteboard, a slight furrow appearing on her brow as she processed the question about the Lethifold - and yet she still did not find herself focusing on the question right away.

Iris tapped her quill against the corner of her notebook, gaze flickering to the question on the board before trailing back down to the word rolling around in her mind. Lethifold. The name had a certain weight to it - something eerie, something insidious. And seeing as she was fresh from her latest translation work, Iris couldnâ€™t resist the temptation to pick it apart was simply too strong. Words had secrets, after all, and she loved uncovering them. The first half (Lethi-) was almost certainly tied to Letum, Latin for 'death' or 'ruin'. Fitting, considering what a Lethifold left in its wake: not a struggle, not a trace - just absence. A smothering fate in the dead of night. There was also the river, Lethe. One of the five rivers of the Underworld, its waters promised forgetfulness, oblivion, erasure. A perfect parallel to the Lethifoldâ€™s silent and seamless kills. Victims didnâ€™t leave bodies rather they simply ceased to be, as if memory itself had swallowed them whole. The '-fold' part was obvious - a cloak, a sheet, something that draped ... like the funeral shrouds that covered the dead, or the peplos of the Moirai - the Fates who wove and cut the threads of life. A Cloak of Death. A Shroud of Oblivion. What a horrifyingly poetic name, you really had to admire it.

Right. The question. She supposed it would be inappropriate to answer the obvious one: anything but the Patronus Charm. But there had to be more to it than that, didnâ€™t there? After all, there were so many spells one might instinctively reach for in the heat of the moment - spells that would seem effective, but would only make things worse. Or, in her case, anything one might try in desperation, since the actual solution was far beyond her current level of magic. A quick flash of Stupefy might feel satisfying, but it wouldnâ€™t do a thing to a creature like a Lethifold. A shield charm would be another go-to, reflexes from Dueling Club, but it wouldnâ€™t stop it from slipping around the edges. Iris chewed on the end of her quill, her gaze drifting between the board and her notes. Was there a deeper connection between the spells we choose and our understanding of the creatures we face? The question seemed simple at first, but now it felt like there was a layer beneath it all. Something to do with why certain spells fail in the face of dark magic. The more she thought, the more she wondered if the answer wasnâ€™t just about which spells wouldnâ€™t work - but why the Lethifold was immune to them.

"Well, seeing as it is a spell designed to lift objects and the Lethifold isnâ€™t a solid or physical entity that can be manipulated like a book or a broom but more a presence, a creature that slides through the air rather than being something you can pick up, Wingardium Leviosa certainly wouldn't work against them."

Distractions happened, which was exactly the reason Dhruv had made sure to allot a few minutes to the task. Iris was in no trouble at all especially since she clearly was putting a lot of thought into her answer. When the time had lapsed, she was among the first that they called upon.

Dhruv nodded, fully in agreement with Iris’ well thought out explanation. “That’s quite correct. For beasts or beings with a non-physical corporeal form, Wingardium Leviosa, and a few other spells - which will be covered later in the term -, would unfortunately be useless.’’ Therefore, Dhruv would hope that everyone present remember this important fact should the need ever arise.

SPOILER!!: Bry! <3

Bryony and Aryan arriving together was nothing new, though Dhruv would keep a close eye on the pair to ensure they did not continue holding hands during the course of the lesson. They greeted them both warmly then wondered how it was that Bryony always found that energy to be extremely bouncy. To be that young! Not that Dhruv was old. Ahem.

There it was! The topic of the day! Dhruv offered the Slytherin a nod of approval but said no more. For now.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Since there were no more hands in the air, Dhruv came to a halt beside the white board. As if that were the cue, the black marker uncapped itself and rose into the air. It poised at the top of the board in preparation to make important points that the students would need. “Today’s focus will be the Impediment Jinx, which was mentioned by Ms. Paton.” The marker took off doing its thing though professor Khanna was doing nothing obvious to control its actions.

“We’ll be touching on further information on the jinx shortly but in the meanwhile, we’ll be focusing on the spell-casting aspect for now. The incantation is Impedimenta, broken up into five syllables and pronounced ‘im-PED-i-MEN-ta’.” Their words were just about captured on the board but they were already moving on. Not to worry, everyone! The marker would catch up plus there would be ample time for note making. Dhruv unholstered their wand for the demonstration for the accompanying movement; it was a simple one. “Simply direct your wand in the direction of the target then trace out a short horizontal line.” This was done, with them tracing out roughly five inches of an invisible line. “If done right, your wand will emit a flash of turquoise light.”

They now gestured to the board. “Take a couple of minutes to make your notes. Once completed, you can move onto your practice. Remember, incantation and wand movements are to be done separately for now. Sixth and seventh years, feel free to work on the spell nonverbally. I will be available to assist if needed, simply raise your hand to get my attention.”

Quote:

THE IMPEDIMENT JINX

Incantation: Impedimenta {im-PED-i-MEN-ta}

Effect: Hinder the movement of the target by slowing it down, halting it in its tracks or pushing it backwards.

Wand Movement: A short diagonal line {roughly five inches}

Light: Torquoise

OOC: thank you for your posts

We’ve reached the mini activity aspect of the lesson and this shall run for 48 hours. I will be checking in at times so if your character needs help, Dhruv will be there :3

Charely Potter · 02-14-2025, 03:53 AM

Jan would have some things to discuss after class ended with the more he observed today. He nodded, considering his answer had some benefits even though it wouldn't be the best spell overall. Oh, the Impediment Jinx! Jan knew about that jinx, he thought it was one of the cooler sounding spells.

Jan offered his little brother a smile to his seat, since everything was going to be okay with things. Jotting down the information off the whiteboard into his notes. Impedimenta.. Impedimenta... He whispered until it sounded right.

Afterward, Jan drew his wand out to draw a short diagonal line. Mentally visualizing five inches took him a moment as he measured it on his notes before repeating the instructions.

sweetpinkpixie · 02-15-2025, 12:34 AM

Iris tilted her head slightly, considering her own answer even as she gave it...and now that she was paying proper attention, something else itched at her thoughts. Professor Khannaâ€™s approval of her answer sent a flicker of satisfaction through her, but it wasnâ€™t enough to quiet her curiosity - after all, there really was only one "wrong" answer to the professor's question so odd of you simply guessing a good answer were astronomically in your favor. If the lesson was on the Impediment Jinx, why start with a question about what wouldnâ€™t work? And why use Lethifolds as the example? It was an oddly specific choice. As Iris jotted down the notes on the Impediment Jinx, her quill moved on complete subconscious instinct, but her mind remained tangled in the odd way this lesson had begun. Lethifolds werenâ€™t exactly a common threat - more of a terrifying what-if scenario whispered about in Magical Beasts to Avoid at All Costs kind of vibes and were so dangerous the Ministry didnâ€™t even bother with attempts to control or domesticate them. If you were unlucky enough to encounter one, you either knew how to cast a Patronus or you disappeared forever. Those were just the facts.

Irisâ€™s brow furrowed as she considered the approach. It was strange, wasnâ€™t it? The question on the board hadnâ€™t been how would you defend yourself against a Lethifold? but instead which spell would you not use? A lesson framed around what not to do. That wasnâ€™t common in Defense Against the Dark Arts - usually, they jumped right into what to cast, what would work, what could save you. She thought back to other creatures or magical forces where certain spells were useless, or worse, humiliatingly counterproductive. If you tried to stun a Dementor, it wouldnâ€™t even flinch. A Reducto against a Boggart? Well, you could try, but youâ€™d probably just destroy its current hideout or send its shattered pieces reforming into twice as many fears. The Incarcerous Spell against a werewolf? That might work on the person before they transformed, but once the moon took hold, there was no stopping it with something so simple.

Maybe that was the point. The reminder that sometimes, spells failed. That it was more about figuring out when to use a spell instead of just how? After all, often spells were taught as catch-all solutions, but real magic ... the practical, life-saving magic ... was all about knowing when to pivot. You had to be able to think through the fight, not just fire off the first thing that came to mind.

She flipped back to the notes sheâ€™d already written, fighting off the urge to delve back into the sentence she had been force to leave midtranslation due to class beginning, and added a line beneath her explanation of Wingardium Leviosa: Knowing what wonâ€™t work is just as important as knowing what will.

Her curiosity far from quelled, the Ravenclaw had enough poise and patience to not question methodology at this time and relaxed a bit more into her seat to settle in for some practice. "Im-PED-i-MEN-ta," Iris murmured under her breath, shaping each syllable carefully. She repeated it again, testing the rhythm of the word on her tongue, making sure she didnâ€™t stumble over the middle syllables in particular. Satisfied, she shifted her focus to the wand movement. With steady fingers, she traced a short diagonal line in the airâ€”just under 13 centimetersâ€”clean and precise, exactly as Professor Khanna had demonstrated. She repeated the motion, adjusting the angle slightly each time to ensure it was fluid and controlled. Rising and repeating, so to speak, until she was certain both the incantation and movement were committed to muscle memory.

AlwaysSnapesGirl · 02-15-2025, 01:18 AM

The initial question on the board made Zephyr wonder if the lesson would be about lethifolds, and that excited him. Sure, they were kinda scary, if he thought about them for too long, but also this was a class, so he didn't expect to actually face one. And they were pretty interesting even with all that creep factor.

He was so focused on wondering what else would happen in the lesson and also thinking about how there were lots of spells that wouldn't work against a lethifold - levicorpus? incendio? protego? Why were lethifolds so resistant to everything? - and then also imagining what he would and would not do if he faced a lethifold, that he forgot to actually raise his hand to actually give an answer. When words started appearing on the board, the Ravenclaw finally shook himself out of his imagination and began writing in his notes.

Right, right, uh, focus on the lesson. Practice time. Great!

"Im-PED-i-MEN-ta," he said to himself slowly, even though he felt like the word wasn't all that hard. But it was good to practice it anyway! Zephyr pronounced it slowly a couple more times before saying it all together, "Impedimenta!"

Sounded good to him.

Now for the wand movement... He moved his wand in a diagonal line motion, but whether it was five inches or not, he wasn't sure. His line was pretty short though, so it was probably fine. He figured he would know once they got to cast the spell.

FearlessLeader19 · 02-16-2025, 03:00 AM

SPOILER!!: Replies!

SPOILER!!: Jan! <3

Not that Dhruv was paying Jan any less attention but they were subtly observing Id constantly. The younger Grunt was clearly simply going through the instructions without having his heart really in it. Dhruv took some time to correct Idris’ pronunciation and then offered him some encouraging words. Only then did they turn to Jan. “You’re doing excellently, Mr. Grunt. Keep it up.” They knew they didn’t need to add that he should assist Idris when necessary; Jan was responsible enough to take the initiative.

SPOILER!!: Iris! <3

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetpinkpixie

Iris tilted her head slightly, considering her own answer even as she gave it...and now that she was paying proper attention, something else itched at her thoughts. Professor Khannaâ€™s approval of her answer sent a flicker of satisfaction through her, but it wasnâ€™t enough to quiet her curiosity - after all, there really was only one "wrong" answer to the professor's question so odd of you simply guessing a good answer were astronomically in your favor. If the lesson was on the Impediment Jinx, why start with a question about what wouldnâ€™t work? And why use Lethifolds as the example? It was an oddly specific choice. As Iris jotted down the notes on the Impediment Jinx, her quill moved on complete subconscious instinct, but her mind remained tangled in the odd way this lesson had begun. Lethifolds werenâ€™t exactly a common threat - more of a terrifying what-if scenario whispered about in Magical Beasts to Avoid at All Costs kind of vibes and were so dangerous the Ministry didnâ€™t even bother with attempts to control or domesticate them. If you were unlucky enough to encounter one, you either knew how to cast a Patronus or you disappeared forever. Those were just the facts.

Irisâ€™s brow furrowed as she considered the approach. It was strange, wasnâ€™t it? The question on the board hadnâ€™t been how would you defend yourself against a Lethifold? but instead which spell would you not use? A lesson framed around what not to do. That wasnâ€™t common in Defense Against the Dark Arts - usually, they jumped right into what to cast, what would work, what could save you. She thought back to other creatures or magical forces where certain spells were useless, or worse, humiliatingly counterproductive. If you tried to stun a Dementor, it wouldnâ€™t even flinch. A Reducto against a Boggart? Well, you could try, but youâ€™d probably just destroy its current hideout or send its shattered pieces reforming into twice as many fears. The Incarcerous Spell against a werewolf? That might work on the person before they transformed, but once the moon took hold, there was no stopping it with something so simple.

Maybe that was the point. The reminder that sometimes, spells failed. That it was more about figuring out when to use a spell instead of just how? After all, often spells were taught as catch-all solutions, but real magic ... the practical, life-saving magic ... was all about knowing when to pivot. You had to be able to think through the fight, not just fire off the first thing that came to mind.

She flipped back to the notes sheâ€™d already written, fighting off the urge to delve back into the sentence she had been force to leave midtranslation due to class beginning, and added a line beneath her explanation of Wingardium Leviosa: Knowing what wonâ€™t work is just as important as knowing what will.

Her curiosity far from quelled, the Ravenclaw had enough poise and patience to not question methodology at this time and relaxed a bit more into her seat to settle in for some practice. "Im-PED-i-MEN-ta," Iris murmured under her breath, shaping each syllable carefully. She repeated it again, testing the rhythm of the word on her tongue, making sure she didnâ€™t stumble over the middle syllables in particular. Satisfied, she shifted her focus to the wand movement. With steady fingers, she traced a short diagonal line in the airâ€”just under 13 centimetersâ€”clean and precise, exactly as Professor Khanna had demonstrated. She repeated the motion, adjusting the angle slightly each time to ensure it was fluid and controlled. Rising and repeating, so to speak, until she was certain both the incantation and movement were committed to muscle memory.

Since the Impediment Jinx was one that had long been documented to be ineffective against Lethifolds, the question had been posed to the students with the aim of them narrowing down the possibilities of today’s topic. The furrowed brow drew some concern from Dhruv. “Is something unclear, Ms. Harden?” Dhruv would be happy to offer any clarity; they would, however, let Iris know that her logic was directly on track with what they had been hoping to convey.

Because Iris was practicing th e incantation under her breath, it did take a bit for Dhruv to determine that it was being said correctly. In the end, they gave her a nod of approval; this was for the wand movement too. “Nicely done.”

SPOILER!!: Zephyr! <3

Zephyr had been quiet for the lesson so far. This hadn’t meant that the DADA professor hadn’t paid any attention to him. So long as he was focused and taking notes, then they were still forms of participation in the lesson. They were impressed with the way the Ravenclaw’s practise went, offering the young man a sincere, “Excellent work, Mr. Amstern.’’

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Dhruv came to a halt somewhere in the middle of the ‘classroom’ so that their voice would be able to reach each student clearly. “Kindly pause your practise for a moment. You may resume it before we move on to the main activity, which will begin after this final theoretical aspect. The Impediment hinders the movement of your target by slowing it down, by stopping it altogether or by pushing it backwards.” They paused, surveying the class. “How do you think one of these effects is determined as an outcome? What factor or factors determine whether the target is slowed, halted or thrown backwards?” The answer was simple, and would have been something that was mentioned in many subject lessons. “Non corporeal forms are not only forms which the jinx is useless against. Can you list any examples of creatures and perhaps touch on why the jinx might be ineffective against it? Finally, is there anything else you know of the jinx? Feel free to answer one or all of the questions, or to build on another student's answer.”

OOC: Hi, guys! I’ve enjoyed reading your posts so far

To move the lesson along, these are the final questions. The main activity will start in 24 hours!

*Nordic Witch* · 02-16-2025, 06:50 AM

JT was sitting next to his favourite girl at school, meaning Iris and taking down some notes on the lethifold. He had greeted Professor Khanna upon entering earlier with a wave and a 'good day sir!'. The question on the blackboard had given him pause, it was slightly peculiar why Professor Khanna wanted them to think of spells wouldn't work against a lethifold when they usually were supposed to think up spells would work. Curious, very curious.

When asked for a spell answer earlier JT had raised his hand and said "Stupefy is a spell that won't work because the lehifold is immune to almost all spells." Lethifolds were pretty creepy creatures that looked like a rippling black cape and that in JT's opinion was definitley a creature that could show up in his nightmares.

Righto, focus on spell practicing. "Im-PED-i-MEN-ta, Im-PED-i-MEN-ta, Im-PED-I-MEN-ta!" he chanted quietly to himself over and over and over again to not disturb Iris. Hoping that the incantation would get stuck in memory. JT then swished this way and that with his wand trying to get the wandmovement down. He didn't know if he was on the right track since they had no object or creature to try it on and sneaking looks at Iris wasn't helping either.

Looking up at the sound of Professor Khanna's voice he paused his work, carefully putting down his wand. He didn't want to accidentally set soemthing on fire. Hearing the questions JT his hand to offer "The surrounding environment must factor into if the target is stopped all together, just halted or pushed backwards as well as the strength of the spell casted. If the target was in this room then it'd be for example stopped by both desks, and walls with no way to go. I think the Impedimenta spell would be useless against armoured creatures like acromantulas since the spell would bounce off their armour and not cause the creature any real discomfort."

Charely Potter · 02-16-2025, 05:22 PM

Jan felt encouraged by the words of affirmation that Professor D gave him. His little brother's frustrations, he could sense were growing so he took the time to do that in between his practices, "Im-PED-i-MEN-ta" He said aloud, before it was time for another set of questions.

After considering, he answered when it was his turn. "I think, it really depends on how you feel and your intention. If a Lethifold is about to grab my face, I'd first want to push it back and away from me! So it'll probably do that when successful. But if you have something coming at you from a far enough distance, your intention will change to make them slower so you have more time to get away." But what creature would it not work on? "I don't think it would work well on a Dementor, since they feed off your fear and make it more difficult for you to have the spell work compared to the Patronus charm."

sweetpinkpixie · 02-17-2025, 02:19 AM

Iris hesitated for a fraction of a second, the question lingering at the tip of her tongue. Why introduce the spell in a negative context - why frame the lesson around what wouldnâ€™t work rather than what would? Would knowledge that the Impediment Jinx had been documented as useless against Lethifolds for ages appease her? She would likely find the logic was sound and certainly agree that ruling out ineffective options helped refine understanding. Still, most likely it would feel a littleâ€¦ disappointing. Was that really all there was to it? No deeper reason, no hidden nuance to uncover? Her work with dead languages had a way of making the simple things in life feel decidedly lackluster - so it goes, as the stars align.

In the end, she let the thought drift away, choosing instead to shake her head lightly. "No, not really, Professor. Just thinking." And she was. But not about what she was supposed to be per say.

Instead, she turned back to her practice, muttering the incantation under her breath. The syllables were deliberate, each one carefully shaped until they sat comfortably on her tongue. Her wand traced the movement - clean, precise, the arc growing smoother with each repetition. When Professor Khannaâ€™s nod of approval came, she acknowledged it with a small, satisfied dip of her head before refocusing. Well, at least the strawberry blonde had every intention of refocusing. The moment she heard JT quietly chanting the incantation to himself, her resolve wavered. For a moment, she simply observed, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. Then, as he flicked his wand at an awkward angle for the third time, she decided to intervene.

"You're overcomplicating the motion," she said, keeping her voice just as quiet so as not to startle him while leaning over to gently tap on his shoulder. "Itâ€™s more of a short diagonal line...like this." She demonstrated, her wand gliding cleanly through the air. "About five inches. No flourishes, no swishing." Iris flashed him a confident smile, her voice bright and light. "You totally got this, JT. Like a sharp pencil stroke when you're sketching."

When it was time to move on, Iris removed herself from JT's personal space and settled back into her seat. She took a moment to carefully consider the professor's latest query. She soon her hand, her voice clear and measured as she spoke. "As already mentioned, intention of the caster plays an infallible role in the potency and performance of a spell. I assume that throwing the target back is the result of a spell done more hastily, fueled by desperation to get the target as far from themselves as possible. Whereas it takes more of a methodical and concentrated casting to stop a target completely. I'd wager that intention plays the more pivotal role than environment, assuming environment excludes what makes up the target itself." Because, as they were about to get to, non-corporeal targets where an entirely different subject. "As I sort of mentioned earlier, spells like this are ineffective against non-corporeal creatures because they lack a physical form that can be manipulated. The spell relies on creating resistance or obstruction to movement, and because these creatures donâ€™t have a physical body, it has nothing to really latch on to no matter how strong the intention of the caster may be." As for what creatures would it not work against, well, armoured and non-corporeal creatures really just covered that all, did it not? Which instead raised a question, a curiosity, that Iris felt more inclined to ask. "Though I find it hard to want to use such a spell against them, given thestrals do have physical bodies but those bodies are only visible and therefore tangible to those who meet particular requirements, is it possible to use the spell against them or does their semi-ethereal state connected to the spiritual realm of death mean they too are resistant?"

FearlessLeader19 · 02-17-2025, 03:19 AM

SPOILER!!: JT! <3

Dhruv had acknowledged that Stupefy, like most other spells, were ineffective against Lethifolds. Yet again, this was a form of reminder that it was important to deduce what creature, being or spirit was being dealt with so that no time would be wasted in throwing ineffective spells against them. The time being wasted could prove to be vital to making one’s escape.
Even if JT had not been confident in knowing if the jinx would work with him, his incantation practise remained on point. The wand movement, however… that was a different story. Fortunately, Iris offered some effective assistance. “Give it another try, Mr. Forsfelle,” they encouraged .

Seeing JT’s hand rise first, Dhruv called on him. “The environment usually plays a key part in any situation,’’ they agreed. “It can be a big help to you should you determine a way to use it to your advantage, as was mentioned in your answer. Hurtling those tangible objects would indeed cause some degree of inconvenience to a corporeal form that’s after you. Strength of the casted spell is another key factor.” Dhruv would elaborate on this in a few minutes. “Acromantulas are a great example of a beast which the jinx is mostly useless against. I use the word ‘mostly’ loosely because the Impediment Jinx can be effective if it hits the underbelly of the Acromantula. There is no protective armour there. It's the same for Blast Ended Skrewts.”

SPOILER!!: Jan! <3

Jan hit the proverbial nail on the head with his response. “Precisely. Intent is something that you are reminded of constantly during your classes here at Hogwarts. The first step to making a spell with multiple purposes work for you is to decide what you want that purpose or outcome to be. The next is casting the spell with the correct incantation and wand movement combination, along with your intent and focus. This also determines how long the target is slowed for, though it’s not typical more than a dozen seconds or so.” Dhruv allowed their gaze to travel around the class. These were key points each student should keep in mind. “That is also correct. For that reason, it is important to use the spell designed for the challenge you are facing, if you can. If you cannot, improvising is best in which using your surroundings to your advantage as Mr. Forsfelle mentioned.”

SPOILER!!: Iris! <3

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetpinkpixie

Iris hesitated for a fraction of a second, the question lingering at the tip of her tongue. Why introduce the spell in a negative context - why frame the lesson around what wouldnâ€™t work rather than what would? Would knowledge that the Impediment Jinx had been documented as useless against Lethifolds for ages appease her? She would likely find the logic was sound and certainly agree that ruling out ineffective options helped refine understanding. Still, most likely it would feel a littleâ€¦ disappointing. Was that really all there was to it? No deeper reason, no hidden nuance to uncover? Her work with dead languages had a way of making the simple things in life feel decidedly lackluster - so it goes, as the stars align.

In the end, she let the thought drift away, choosing instead to shake her head lightly. "No, not really, Professor. Just thinking." And she was. But not about what she was supposed to be per say.

Instead, she turned back to her practice, muttering the incantation under her breath. The syllables were deliberate, each one carefully shaped until they sat comfortably on her tongue. Her wand traced the movement - clean, precise, the arc growing smoother with each repetition. When Professor Khannaâ€™s nod of approval came, she acknowledged it with a small, satisfied dip of her head before refocusing. Well, at least the strawberry blonde had every intention of refocusing. The moment she heard JT quietly chanting the incantation to himself, her resolve wavered. For a moment, she simply observed, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. Then, as he flicked his wand at an awkward angle for the third time, she decided to intervene.

"You're overcomplicating the motion," she said, keeping her voice just as quiet so as not to startle him while leaning over to gently tap on his shoulder. "Itâ€™s more of a short diagonal line...like this." She demonstrated, her wand gliding cleanly through the air. "About five inches. No flourishes, no swishing." Iris flashed him a confident smile, her voice bright and light. "You totally got this, JT. Like a sharp pencil stroke when you're sketching."

When it was time to move on, Iris removed herself from JT's personal space and settled back into her seat. She took a moment to carefully consider the professor's latest query. She soon her hand, her voice clear and measured as she spoke. "As already mentioned, intention of the caster plays an infallible role in the potency and performance of a spell. I assume that throwing the target back is the result of a spell done more hastily, fueled by desperation to get the target as far from themselves as possible. Whereas it takes more of a methodical and concentrated casting to stop a target completely. I'd wager that intention plays the more pivotal role than environment, assuming environment excludes what makes up the target itself." Because, as they were about to get to, non-corporeal targets where an entirely different subject. "As I sort of mentioned earlier, spells like this are ineffective against non-corporeal creatures because they lack a physical form that can be manipulated. The spell relies on creating resistance or obstruction to movement, and because these creatures donâ€™t have a physical body, it has nothing to really latch on to no matter how strong the intention of the caster may be." As for what creatures would it not work against, well, armoured and non-corporeal creatures really just covered that all, did it not? Which instead raised a question, a curiosity, that Iris felt more inclined to ask. "Though I find it hard to want to use such a spell against them, given thestrals do have physical bodies but those bodies are only visible and therefore tangible to those who meet particular requirements, is it possible to use the spell against them or does their semi-ethereal state connected to the spiritual realm of death mean they too are resistant?"

Dhruv’s gaze lingered on Iris a fraction longer than necessary before nodding. If she changed her mind, she was welcome to reach out to them after class or at any time time they were available at their office. The help she offered to JT, however, did not go unnoticed. They smiled to themself before offering, “Five points for assisting and encouraging a friend, Ms. Harden.”

The professor did like it when the students built on each other's answers. “A good train of thought. Any outcome of the spell must be the intent of the caster, it need not necessarily boil down to the emotion they are experiencing in the moment - desperation, fear, pain, joy etc. The use of the environment can be more of a ‘Plan B’ if spells fail. So yes, intention is more important.” An excellent point was raised about Thestrals after another moment of sharing some helpful reminders. “Unlike the non corporeal creatures, Thestrals do have a corporeal presence even though they are only visible to some of us. To back up this point, someone who cannot see a Thestral is still able to sit on its back for a ride, they remain tangible even if invisible. Therefore, it is possible to use the Impediment Jinx against them."

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

“That brings us to the end of our discussion for now. If you would return your belongings to your bags, then leave your bags at the coat rack…” There were still spaces there for the students to do just that. The professor gave them some time to complete the task. But Dhruv didn’t just stand around there; not when there was the Pumpkin Patch to prepare for the main activity. The tree stumps all vanished in the blink of an eye with an effective hand movement. The whiteboard was magically moved {carefully as to avoid any accidents with the students} so that it came to a rest just beside the coat rack. The information pertaining to the jinx was still there should anyone needed to refer to it.

Finally, the ground on which they were all standing transformed into an exact replica of a race track used by Muggles for their track events. Pumpkins of varying sizes {though not the boulder sized ones} rose into the air before soaring as one to the end of each lane where they remained hovering.

“Please stand behind this yellow line.” They indicated to the bold yellow horizontal line. “One student per lane. Now as you can see, at the opposite end of where each of you is standing is a pumpkin. They are charmed to charge towards you at varying speeds. Your goal is to use the Impediment Jinx to keep them from crossing the line behind which you stand. Should the pumpkin cross the line, they will sit there just behind you for the duration of the activity. This will serve as a tally to determine who managed to keep their pumpkins at bay the longest, and a new pumpkin will replace it. For extra motivation to keep them away, the pumpkins are carved, much like sinister jack-o-lanterns.” The pumpkins all took on wicked expressions characterised by twisted smiles and the other assorted features that they wore during Halloween.

“Ready your wands. On the count of three. One… two… three!’’ The targets began closing in on the corresponding student, all at a slow pace for now.

OOC: Hiya! The main activity starts here and will last for three days {until Wednesday 19th February in the late evening}. You are free to determine at what speed the pumpkin targets your character, and how many they are able to keep away or cross the line

I shall be checking in and posting where necessary.

sweetpinkpixie · 02-18-2025, 03:44 AM

Iris had never been particularly invested in earning house points, but she found the practice itself an intriguing study in behavioral reinforcement. At its core, the system functioned much like traditional conditioning - rewarding desired actions to encourage repetition until they became habit. The notion that incentives were necessary for acts of basic decency, such as assisting a friend or completing a task efficiently, spoke to a larger commentary on societal structures. Did people require external motivation to act, or was this simply a more formalized reflection of the incentives that already shaped human behavior? After all, professional advancement and the strengthening of personal relationships operated on a similar principle - offering rewards, tangible or intangible, for continued effort. Curious, wasn't it? In any case, the Ravenclaw gave a polite nod of acknowledgment and appreciation and then moved on ... mentally filing it under things she tolerated but didnâ€™t particularly like.

Iris focussed, instead, on absorbing the professorâ€™s response with quiet consideration, filing away the clarification for future reference. She had already suspected that intent played a more critical role than raw emotion, but having it confirmed reinforced her understanding of spell mechanics -precision over impulse. The discussion on thestrals was equally thought-provoking ... their physical presence, despite their selective visibility, made them a unique exception to the usual limitations of spells against non-corporeal beings. It was a reminder that perception and reality were not always aligned in magic, and that what one could see had little bearing on what actually existed. Fascinating...riveting, really...and soon the second year was turning the concept over in her mind. Would be a worthwhile cause to create bind rune bracelet designed to counteract the limits of perception ... allowing one to interact with that which they could not see. An absolutely would be a fascinating challenge to be true and a pity that she would not be able to use herself as a specimen since she could already see thestrals but perhaps she could see other things...like the auras that Jericho would often describe, one of the first clues that lead to them exorcising dad from his Dark curse...

She immediately thought of Kenaz for illumination, to metaphorically and perhaps even literally "light up" what was otherwise obscured. Ansuz, associated with divine insight and communication, could aid in bridging the gap between perception and reality, sharpening the wearerâ€™s ability to notice or sense unseen presences. Perthro, tied to fate and the unknown, might enhance the userâ€™s awareness of hidden forces, while Gebo, the rune of exchange and connection, could symbolically tether the wearer to what existed beyond their natural perception. She made a mental note in her notebook to experiment with rune combinations later. If successful, it could have fascinating implications and not just for creatures like thestrals but for anything that magic sought to obscure.

She was doing it again - getting lost in her own head, hyper-focusing on her interests and intellectual curiosities. It wasnâ€™t until her peers began shifting around her, lining up according to Professor Khannaâ€™s instructions, that she snapped back to the present. Her fingers latching onto JTâ€™s sleeve as she tugged him along with her toward the starting line. Upon selecting her lane, the second year turned her attention to the hovering pumpkins ahead and rolled her wand between her fingers. The Impediment Jinx was comparatively, straightforward, but precision and timing would be key. She inhaled, centering herself as the countdown began, and the first wave of pumpkins lurched forward ... however it did not take long for her thoughts and interests to betray her focus once again.

A bit of Sumerian ... or had it been Akkadian ... he had come across that described the ancient practice of carving gourds, long predating the modern jack-oâ€™-lanterns and the early Celtic traditions most closely associated with them. Gourds were carved or painted with sigils to trap malevolent entities or guide the souls of the dead and there was even a theory that the use of fire within these gourds was not just for illumination but to mimic the guiding lights of the Otherworld. It was even implied that some of these flames came from not just simple candles but enchantments, which unraveled a whole new level of intrigue...

Iris was too caught up in her own thoughts, entirely and completely off task, to notice the impending threat. Her mind was still turning over the idea of binding runes, flickering through ancient texts on visibility and perception, tracing the lineage of carved gourds as protective symbols and was halfway through mentally sketching a prototype for an enchantment when a flicker of motion in her periphery finally registered.

Oops.

The charmed pumpkin was already upon her, its wickedly grinning face mere strides from impact.

Charely Potter · 02-18-2025, 06:58 PM

Jan felt ready to try out the spell now as they were instructed to pack up their bags and set them aside for the activity. Jan made sure to capture the information into his notes and getting everything situated before the stumps disappeared. Interesting... He was always impressed by how the Professors changed the environment for their lessons.

Okay, so he had to be quick. Jan thought over the spell and instructions as he stood behind the yellow line awaiting the pumpkin to come after. Boom! He barely has his wand out when the first pumpkin came at him.

"Impedimenta!" Jan drew a diagonal line, but the speed of the pumpkin made him flinch as the spell slowed it down partially... but he still had to duck as it flew past his head before sitting neatly behind him. Okay... Next one he'll get it.

FearlessLeader19 · 02-19-2025, 01:33 AM

SPOILER!!: Iris! <3

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetpinkpixie

Iris had never been particularly invested in earning house points, but she found the practice itself an intriguing study in behavioral reinforcement. At its core, the system functioned much like traditional conditioning - rewarding desired actions to encourage repetition until they became habit. The notion that incentives were necessary for acts of basic decency, such as assisting a friend or completing a task efficiently, spoke to a larger commentary on societal structures. Did people require external motivation to act, or was this simply a more formalized reflection of the incentives that already shaped human behavior? After all, professional advancement and the strengthening of personal relationships operated on a similar principle - offering rewards, tangible or intangible, for continued effort. Curious, wasn't it? In any case, the Ravenclaw gave a polite nod of acknowledgment and appreciation and then moved on ... mentally filing it under things she tolerated but didnâ€™t particularly like.

Iris focussed, instead, on absorbing the professorâ€™s response with quiet consideration, filing away the clarification for future reference. She had already suspected that intent played a more critical role than raw emotion, but having it confirmed reinforced her understanding of spell mechanics -precision over impulse. The discussion on thestrals was equally thought-provoking ... their physical presence, despite their selective visibility, made them a unique exception to the usual limitations of spells against non-corporeal beings. It was a reminder that perception and reality were not always aligned in magic, and that what one could see had little bearing on what actually existed. Fascinating...riveting, really...and soon the second year was turning the concept over in her mind. Would be a worthwhile cause to create bind rune bracelet designed to counteract the limits of perception ... allowing one to interact with that which they could not see. An absolutely would be a fascinating challenge to be true and a pity that she would not be able to use herself as a specimen since she could already see thestrals but perhaps she could see other things...like the auras that Jericho would often describe, one of the first clues that lead to them exorcising dad from his Dark curse...

She immediately thought of Kenaz for illumination, to metaphorically and perhaps even literally "light up" what was otherwise obscured. Ansuz, associated with divine insight and communication, could aid in bridging the gap between perception and reality, sharpening the wearerâ€™s ability to notice or sense unseen presences. Perthro, tied to fate and the unknown, might enhance the userâ€™s awareness of hidden forces, while Gebo, the rune of exchange and connection, could symbolically tether the wearer to what existed beyond their natural perception. She made a mental note in her notebook to experiment with rune combinations later. If successful, it could have fascinating implications and not just for creatures like thestrals but for anything that magic sought to obscure.

She was doing it again - getting lost in her own head, hyper-focusing on her interests and intellectual curiosities. It wasnâ€™t until her peers began shifting around her, lining up according to Professor Khannaâ€™s instructions, that she snapped back to the present. Her fingers latching onto JTâ€™s sleeve as she tugged him along with her toward the starting line. Upon selecting her lane, the second year turned her attention to the hovering pumpkins ahead and rolled her wand between her fingers. The Impediment Jinx was comparatively, straightforward, but precision and timing would be key. She inhaled, centering herself as the countdown began, and the first wave of pumpkins lurched forward ... however it did not take long for her thoughts and interests to betray her focus once again.

A bit of Sumerian ... or had it been Akkadian ... he had come across that described the ancient practice of carving gourds, long predating the modern jack-oâ€™-lanterns and the early Celtic traditions most closely associated with them. Gourds were carved or painted with sigils to trap malevolent entities or guide the souls of the dead and there was even a theory that the use of fire within these gourds was not just for illumination but to mimic the guiding lights of the Otherworld. It was even implied that some of these flames came from not just simple candles but enchantments, which unraveled a whole new level of intrigue...

Iris was too caught up in her own thoughts, entirely and completely off task, to notice the impending threat. Her mind was still turning over the idea of binding runes, flickering through ancient texts on visibility and perception, tracing the lineage of carved gourds as protective symbols and was halfway through mentally sketching a prototype for an enchantment when a flicker of motion in her periphery finally registered.

Oops.

The charmed pumpkin was already upon her, its wickedly grinning face mere strides from impact.

While Iris had one manner of looking at the points being awarded, Dhruv had another. They wouldn’t dispute her reasoning as there were valid points on her end. However, they liked to think of it as a form of reward for showing initiative.
The Hufflepuff getting lost in her thoughts was not necessarily a bad thing; Dhruv was just concerned that she zoned back in so as to not miss anything pertaining to the lesson. But even if she did, there were always her friends whom she could ask to borrow their notes, or even Dhruv who would offer all the necessary clarity readily. As Iris already knew, accuracy was key so she would need to give the activity her complete attention. Unfortunately this didn’t seem to be happening and what seemed like in the blink of an eye, a pumpkin was seemingly going to smash into Iris at top speed. Seemingly. Because, as usual, there were protective measures in place. The pumpkins were charmed to soar past the students without harming them once they crossed the line. Should the students try to cross the line, however, they would find their path blocked by an invisible force.

SPOILER!!: Jan! <3

If Jan wanted to ever wanted to study other spells, in addition to the Patronus Charm, he just needed to ask. Fair warning, the sort of spells that allowed one to switch environments were some of the most complex.
Dhruv watched approvingly as the Slytherin shot the jinx in the pumpkin’s direction. Even if that one wasn’t slowed as much as Jan might have liked, it was still a great attempt. The second pumpkin was already taking up position at the other end of the track. A second later, it began advancing.

OOC:

There’s still time for this activity {about 25 hours} after which there will be one more question

sweetpinkpixie · 02-19-2025, 06:39 AM

At the very last moment, instinct jolted Iris into action. Her breath hitched as she yanked her wand up, fingers tightening around the familiar grip. No time to thinkâ€”just react.

"Impedimenta!"

The spell shot from her wand in a raw, unfocused burst of magic, wild with urgency rather than careful intent - too forceful and too chaotic. It struck the charging pumpkin head-on, but instead of smoothly halting its momentum... it was blasted backward with alarming force, the impact cracking through the air like a misfired hex. Which, well, it kind of essentially was seeing as the gourd was hurled several feet back down the track, spinning wildly before a jagged chunk of its side was blown clean off, bits of orange flesh and seeds splattering onto the ground.

For half a second, Iris simply stared.

Eyes wide.

Mouth agape.

Straightening and remembering to breathe, she forced herself to refocus...though not until she chastised herself a bit. Sloppy execution, driven entirely by last-minute desperation - no control, no finesse. If she had hesitated even a second longer, she would have had a grinning, sinister-looking jack-o'-lantern sitting smugly behind her as a marker of failure. But it wasn't near failure that had her muscles feeling so tense at the moment. A sharp prickle of realization crept up her spine. She had been thinking too much ....as usual ... her mind wandering into theoretical applications, breaking down the spellâ€™s mechanics rather than focusing on its execution, speculation on bind runes and pushing the limits of spellwork and laws of magic. Worse still, there had been a flicker of thought, a moment of instinctive panic, that had veered toward annihilating the pumpkin with Bombarda rather than tastefully stopping it with Impedimenta. The result? A spell fueled more by force than control. Sloppy like something Nyle might accomplish on a good day.

Well. At least, technically speaking, she had stopped the pumpkin.

Shaking off her lingering surprise, the petite Ravenclaw adjusted her grip on her wand, pushed up her glasses, and inhaled deeply. The next pumpkin would be coming soon and she had absolutely no intention of repeating the same mistake. This time, she would focus. This time, she would cast with precision.

â€¦and hopefully, not accidentally explode her pumpkin again.

Charely Potter · 02-19-2025, 11:50 PM

Jan dusted himself off from the mild disappointment before he prepared for the next pumpkin. This one came a little slower, which was just what he needed. "Impedimenta!" The pumpkin did manage to slow down, which resulted in its haunting smile and laughter to sound in a more sinister way. It didn't stop though as it continued zooming past him to lay next to the first pumpkin.

Okay, this one has to be it. Jan concentrated and when the next pumpkin came, "Impedimenta!" He nearly screamed. This caused the pumpkin to slow down considerably to a crawl and then... it fell to the ground in a splat, spewing pumpkin chunks. He did it! Though it was a bit messy. "Sorry about the mess, Professor."

FearlessLeader19 · 02-20-2025, 03:00 AM

SPOILER!!: Iris! <3

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetpinkpixie

At the very last moment, instinct jolted Iris into action. Her breath hitched as she yanked her wand up, fingers tightening around the familiar grip. No time to thinkâ€”just react.

"Impedimenta!"

The spell shot from her wand in a raw, unfocused burst of magic, wild with urgency rather than careful intent - too forceful and too chaotic. It struck the charging pumpkin head-on, but instead of smoothly halting its momentum... it was blasted backward with alarming force, the impact cracking through the air like a misfired hex. Which, well, it kind of essentially was seeing as the gourd was hurled several feet back down the track, spinning wildly before a jagged chunk of its side was blown clean off, bits of orange flesh and seeds splattering onto the ground.

For half a second, Iris simply stared.

Eyes wide.

Mouth agape.

Straightening and remembering to breathe, she forced herself to refocus...though not until she chastised herself a bit. Sloppy execution, driven entirely by last-minute desperation - no control, no finesse. If she had hesitated even a second longer, she would have had a grinning, sinister-looking jack-o'-lantern sitting smugly behind her as a marker of failure. But it wasn't near failure that had her muscles feeling so tense at the moment. A sharp prickle of realization crept up her spine. She had been thinking too much ....as usual ... her mind wandering into theoretical applications, breaking down the spellâ€™s mechanics rather than focusing on its execution, speculation on bind runes and pushing the limits of spellwork and laws of magic. Worse still, there had been a flicker of thought, a moment of instinctive panic, that had veered toward annihilating the pumpkin with Bombarda rather than tastefully stopping it with Impedimenta. The result? A spell fueled more by force than control. Sloppy like something Nyle might accomplish on a good day.

Well. At least, technically speaking, she had stopped the pumpkin.

Shaking off her lingering surprise, the petite Ravenclaw adjusted her grip on her wand, pushed up her glasses, and inhaled deeply. The next pumpkin would be coming soon and she had absolutely no intention of repeating the same mistake. This time, she would focus. This time, she would cast with precision.

â€¦and hopefully, not accidentally explode her pumpkin again.

It was needless to say that Dhruv too was momentarily surprised. When it came to practicals during their years as a professor, one can never tell how a student will handle mastering a spell. Irregardless of the fact that Iris had not controlled the spell as much as she would have liked, the result had been… mesmerising. It was in that moment that Dhruv knew Iris was a force to be reckoned with when it came to spellwork.

SPOILER!!: Jan! <3

The second pumpkin now stood behind Jan but Dhriv could not be more pleased with the efforts the Slytherin kept putting into the task at hand. The third attempt produced a huge result, clearly a result of all that hard work. The mess was not a concern at all. “No worries, Mr. Grunt. It’ll be taken care of.” And Dhruv saw to it. Magically, of course.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Unfortunately, it was nearing the time to wrap up the lesson. Since there was one final aspect to cover, Dhruv, with a sweeping motion of their hand, froze each pumpkin along the track. “Apologies for interrupting your practice. Not to worry, however. Your homework will ensure that you have ample practise.” More on that in a few minutes, students. “Before you are dismissed, was it challenging or easy - or even a midway point of the two - for you to command the spell? For example, if your intention had been to simply slow the pumpkin down but it was blasted backwards instead, why do you think an outcome that you weren’t focusing on occurred instead? What do you think can be done to remedy such a situation, and in the long run prevent it, not just with the Impediment Jinx but with any other spell?”

OOC: this is the final question before the lesson closes! You’re free to wrap up any last bits of practise

My next post will be in 24 hours.

Charely Potter · 02-20-2025, 05:04 PM

Jan smiled to hear that the mess was okay before it would be cleared up. Maybe there was a fragment of his fear from upsetting the Professor back in his first year, but such memories rarely ever came to his head. He always felt safe in the class since then. He gave it one more trial run, where the pumpkin slowed almost instantly and once again fell into a heap of pumpkin chunks.

Then it was nearly time for the lesson to end with a question posed. "I think it was challenging, because the speed was always different, so trying to will it the way you want to on command made it more easy to make mistakes. But it got easier the more I tried, so I think that helps build more experience so that you're ready in the face of danger." Jan answered when it was his turn. He'd definitely have to practice more later on.

*Nordic Witch* · 02-20-2025, 05:06 PM

When JT had gotten the wand movement wrong for the 4th time, he was ready to give up. Iris however came to the rescue and gave him a helpful tip to think like he was drawing a sharp pencil stroke with no swishing or flourishing. "Thanks Iris," he murmured with a sideways glance. "I'll try that." Trying to do it like Iris suggested JT felt how the wand movement came more fluently when he practiced which caused him to smile a little. He was glad for Iris sake some minutes later too when she got awarded points for assisting him.

Several minutes later JT followed his peers over to stand behind the yellow line next to Iris facing the pumpkins with jack-o-lantern faces. He didn't like the look of them, and was glad that he was holding his wand. Gripping his wand tightly he listened to the instructions. So he was supposed to try and stop the pumpkins from crossing the line by casting the Impedimenta jinx at them. It was reassuring to know that if he failed the pumpkins wouldn't attack him.

When a pumpkin started to move towards him at low speed JT quickly aimed his wand at the pumpkin and casted firmly "Impedimenta!" As luck had it his aim was off by a little, and when the pumpkin came even closer, he had to duck low to the ground to avoid impact. Yikes. He'd get the next one.

Trying again, JT casted again "Impedimenta!" This time, he slowed the pumpkin down, but it still kept moving so he panicked, and casted with a cry "Impedimenta!" this time he accidentaly managed to blast the pumpkin with force backwards so it hit the back wall and smashed into pieces. Oops.

In his last attempt JT took time to aim well before casting firmly "Impedimenta!" to stop the incoming pumpkin, and this time it actually stopped before it got to the line which felt like a big success. When the practice session ended JT pocketed his wand, and raised his hand to reply in response to Professor Khanna's questions. "I think for me it was challenging since I got different outcomes in every pumpkin stopping attempt. I think that happened because I didn't aim well enough or got panicked or didn't know what I intended to happen. I assume more practice is the only way to get better at casting spells."

FearlessLeader19 · 02-21-2025, 03:00 AM

SPOILER!!: Jan! <3

That… wasn’t the actual Dhruv that Jan had upset but their Mirror version. Those Mirror moments were perhaps the only aspect of their life that they disliked. That version would never be upset by a student.
Dhruv couldn’t have been more pleased with Jan’s progression throughout the lesson; they were certain that he would excel at DADA OWL. “Speed is indeed a factor, yes. Some would find it easier to control if the speed was on the slower side, while it would be the opposite for others. As with many things, it varies with individuals. Experience will always remain key in whatever new spell is being learnt.” Which is precisely why the homework will be comprised of such instead of an essay.

SPOILER!!: JT! <3

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nordic Witch

When JT had gotten the wand movement wrong for the 4th time, he was ready to give up. Iris however came to the rescue and gave him a helpful tip to think like he was drawing a sharp pencil stroke with no swishing or flourishing. "Thanks Iris," he murmured with a sideways glance. "I'll try that." Trying to do it like Iris suggested JT felt how the wand movement came more fluently when he practiced which caused him to smile a little. He was glad for Iris sake some minutes later too when she got awarded points for assisting him.

Several minutes later JT followed his peers over to stand behind the yellow line next to Iris facing the pumpkins with jack-o-lantern faces. He didn't like the look of them, and was glad that he was holding his wand. Gripping his wand tightly he listened to the instructions. So he was supposed to try and stop the pumpkins from crossing the line by casting the Impedimenta jinx at them. It was reassuring to know that if he failed the pumpkins wouldn't attack him.

When a pumpkin started to move towards him at low speed JT quickly aimed his wand at the pumpkin and casted firmly "Impedimenta!" As luck had it his aim was off by a little, and when the pumpkin came even closer, he had to duck low to the ground to avoid impact. Yikes. He'd get the next one.

Trying again, JT casted again "Impedimenta!" This time, he slowed the pumpkin down, but it still kept moving so he panicked, and casted with a cry "Impedimenta!" this time he accidentaly managed to blast the pumpkin with force backwards so it hit the back wall and smashed into pieces. Oops.

In his last attempt JT took time to aim well before casting firmly "Impedimenta!" to stop the incoming pumpkin, and this time it actually stopped before it got to the line which felt like a big success. When the practice session ended JT pocketed his wand, and raised his hand to reply in response to Professor Khanna's questions. "I think for me it was challenging since I got different outcomes in every pumpkin stopping attempt. I think that happened because I didn't aim well enough or got panicked or didn't know what I intended to happen. I assume more practice is the only way to get better at casting spells."

JT’s progression too was one that pleased Dhruv. It was quite rewarding to a professor to witness the determination most students would show followed by the eventual success. Dhruv sent the Slytherin a nod of approval when that pumpkin smashed after being blasted backwards, pieces joining others already on the ground.
“Understandable, Mr. Forsfelle. Being able to say an incantation, aim while performing the correct wand movement and keeping a clear head can be tricky at times. Practising mindfulness through methods such as concentration meditation is one way to help with keeping panic at bay.” Concentration meditation activities are something Dhruv held at least once a term for this exact reason.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

“It was wonderful seeing all the progress you made today, everyone.” It truly was. There was no need to bother tallying the pumpkins sitting behind the students as there weren't that many collectively, a testament to a successful activity session. “As we have long established, practise is key to mastering a spell. For that reason, for homework you are required to visit the Dueling Arena at least once before the week is over to practise the Impediment Jinx with a dummy. I will be dropping by ever so often to assist and to monitor your progress.” The dummies, if blasted backwards, unlike the pumpkins, would suffer no damage.

“Class is dismissed. Don’t forget to grab your coats as you’re bound to feel that chill eventually on your way back to the Castle.”

OOC: That’s a wrap! I appreciate you guys for posting! <3 The thread will remain open for a few more hours should you need to have your student answer the final question or post them leaving

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