SPOILER!!: Professor Smythe
Quote:
Originally Posted by
hermygirl 
Hermy returned to the front of the class, and clapped her hands together. "Now most of you have transferred you're design, I'm going to take you through the next stages. If you're not quite there yet, I'd like to ask you to put your wands and drawing implements down one moment so that I have your full attention." This next bit was the part of the lesson Hermy was most nervous about. She really didn't want any injuries in her class, however minor, just because someone wasn't listening.
"If we were doing this totally by hand, we'd use tools like
this," Hermy said, holding up a set of lino cutting blades and a handle. "These are used to scoop out the excess material from around your design so that it won't get paint on it and won't print." She hoped everyone got that concept. "However today we're going to be using our wands. Whilst it is safer and quicker than these blades, I would still like you to be careful. The charm can be a little tricky to control - which is why I've only got the older years using the lino. The potatoes are softer to work with, and this means the charm is easier to control." She paused to look around the class.
"Essentially we're going to make our wand into the equivalent of that tool, and take out some of the hard graft. The incantation is '
terfodere' and then either '
potato' or '
lino' according to whichever you are using. When you're done you say '
finite'." Hermy picked up the spare half of her demonstration potato. "The reason for adding the last bit is to limit what you can scoop out - the spell can be used to scoop out anything you like, and as you can imagine, this could be pretty risky if your wand were to slip at all."
Taking her wand in her left hand, Hermy held up the potato. "The trick is to get the pressure right, so you only scoop out the desired amount. I find it easiest to build up in layers - put on too much pressure, and the spell will tend to get caught up and then slip suddenly in the wrong direction, ruining your design. I'd also suggest holding your wand more like a quill, as you'll find it easier to follow the shape of your design." She changed the grip on her wand, moving her hand slightly closer to its tip, and holding it between her thumb and first finger as if it was a wand. "
Terfodere potato!" she cast. "Now, see how it scoops out where I'm pointing my wand?" She moved her wand so they could see the potato hollowing out, before saying "
Finite."
"We'll get to doing it on your printing blocks shortly and how to get the best result, but first I'd like you to practice the incantation, and get a feel for how you'd like to hold your wand as you trace round your design. Remember,
Ter-fo-dair-reh." She put the potato back on the desk. "If you've got any questions at this stage, please ask now."
ooc: Don't do anything with wand and incantation together yet - just one at a time. I'll be moving on to that in 2-3hours time.
Alyssa quickly picked up her grey lino once the visiting Professor had clarified that they were supposed to use the same steps as the younger students to transfer their drawing onto the lino. She placed her transfer paper with the pencil drawing face down on the lino and concentrating on the spell, took out her wand, moved it across the surface, and said,"
TRANSFERO". She then removed the transfer paper and was glad to see that the grey lino had the outline of her lighthouse successfully transferred onto it.
The Professor began to speak again and so Alyssa quickly put down her lino and watched as she demonstrated the next delicate steps. '
Wow!. This part definitely looks more difficult. I wish that I was using the potato now.' Alyssa thought to herself. She watched carefully and once the Professor was done demonstrating and giving her instructions, Alyssa picked up her quill and jotted down the steps in her journal.
Putting down the quill, Alyssa exchanged it for her wand. She placed her wand in between her thumb and index finger and held it like she was holding her quill. It felt uncomfortable holding her wand like that because she was accustomed to holding it in a grip. But she continued to hold it and moved it around like she was writing with it and then moved it around like she was simulating cutting something out with it. Once she got accustomed to holding it the way the Professor had demonstrated it, Alyssa holstered it back.
Now for the incantation. Since she was working on the lino, the incantation she would be using would be "Terfodere Lino". She first practiced pronouncing the main spell word, "
Ter-fo-dair-reh...Ter-fo-dair-reh...Ter-fo-dair-reh". Alyssa practiced saying it a couple more times until she was sure of the pronunciation before she practiced saying the full incantation,"
Ter-fo-dair-reh Lino....Ter-fo-dair-reh Lino....Ter-fo-dair-reh Lino."
Then she switched between practicing hold the wand and then saying the incantation separately, continuing to do both while waiting for the Professor to give next instructions.