SnitchSeeker.com - View Single Post - Transfiguration Lesson 1: An Unusually Stony October Day

TeafortheSoul · 05-16-2018, 01:18 PM

SPOILER!!: professor

Quote:

Originally Posted by NifflerFan

Celestia forced her face into another warm smile at Miss Macindoe’s words regarding her Quidditch tryouts. ”That’s very good to hear, Miss Macindoe,” she replied sincerely. It was good for the students to enjoy themselves -- that part of Quidditch she certainly did not begrudge any of the students.
She was soon beaming at the Hufflepuff captain, however, because Miss Macindoe had managed to convey what she wanted students to take away from this discussion perfectly. ”I couldn’t have said it better myself, Miss Macindoe! Three points to Hufflepuff!** The Water Making Spell is a perfect example of how a spell can be classified as both a charm and a Transfiguration spell under different conditions or when used in different ways.” Really, Celestia was very, very pleased with this answer. She stared around the room to ensure that everyone else was listening to Miss Macindoe’s answer too. It wasn’t long before her another smile was lighting up her eyes, however, as Miss Macindoe’s comments on Switching Spells were rather amusing. ”Switching Spells are certainly useful, and I’m glad to say that we’ll be studying some of them later in the year.”
OOC: **These are just the 3 points that everyone can earn from answering each question, not points going beyond the normal 20 for Hufflepuff. Celestia just really liked Bel’s answer so she wanted to call it out IC.
Thank Merlin for her older students. Celestia sipped a cup of tea that was conveniently placed near the edge of her desk as she listened to the class’s answers. Many of the students had given a good explanation of the key difference between a charm and a Transfiguration spell, which she hoped the younger ones (and those who were a bit confused) found useful. She didn’t feel much need to rehash what the students had already said out of the context of today’s lesson. She would simply get straight to the reason that she’d brought this matter up in the first place.

”The spell that we’ll be covering today is often referred to as the Hardening Charm. However, this is one of those spells that, like the Water Making Spell, can be classified as both a charm and a Transfiguration spell in different contexts. Miss Macindoe described how the Water Making Spell can be classified as both types of magic already. Although a feeble version of the Hardening Charm can be used to simply add roughness to the texture of an object -- that is to say, to add a certain property to an object as charms do -- there can be a bit more to this spell than that. This particular spell is meant to be used to turn an object completely into stone. Rather than simply altering an object’s characteristics as charms do, this spell therefore alters what an object actually is on a molecular level. Since it changes the essential nature of an object, it should be classified as a Transfiguration spell when used to turn an object into stone, despite the fact that it is most commonly referred to by wizards on the street only as a charm by name. Any wizard with a working wand and a brain can use this spell as a charm if they have learned it before, but it takes far more concentration and will power to use it for its intended purpose -- to turn objects to stone.” Celestia paused here to make sure that she was being clear. She felt that it was important that students understood the slight overlap here and the relevance of this spell to her class. Memories of her own Transfiguration classes at Hogwarts and at university where these spells with sometimes murky classifications had flashed through her head as she was planning this lesson. She felt that this entire discussion would be helpful for the younger students, and would hopefully quel any objections from the older students to studying a spell called the Hardening Charm in Transfiguration class.

Now they could move past the theory, yes? ”So today, we will be emulating many ancient creatures of legend and fact to turn objects to stone. Now, I want you to begin by practicing the wand movement and the incantation. Remember that intention, will, and focus are absolutely essential to a successful Transformation spell, and these can be improved by visualizing the changes and the desired result in your minds before and during your casting of the spell. Watch me, please.” Celestia gave the first and second years significant looks as she doled out this reminder. A lack of will or proper visualization was one of the main causes of failed Transformation spells -- and, indeed, was often the reason that this spell failed to turn its target to stone completely and simply hardened the object’s surface instead.

Without further ado, Celestia moved over to the table pushed against the wall and selected one of the smallest pumpkins. She carried this to her desk and placed it in the center, where all of the students could hopefully see it. ”There will be a bit more to your task for the day than this, but to give you an idea… Yes, this will work. Duro!”, she exclaimed as she traced an almost-complete letter “D” with her wand, aiming for the pumpkin (of course). There was no impressive burst of light or sound from the end of her wand, and the change was immediate. One moment a bright orange pumpkin sat plainly on her desk, and the next it had become a grey, stone pumpkin. Celestia barely spared it a further glance before she turned to the blackboard and tapped it with her wand. The incantation and and a picture of the wand movement appeared on the board and she turned back to face the class. ”Let’s get started, please! Take a few minutes to practice the wand movement and incantation. If you feel comfortable enough after that, you may proceed to attempt to turn your quill or another small object into stone using this spell. N.E.W.T. students should attempt this nonverbally, of course.”

SPOILER!!: The Board

OOC: Thanks for participating, guys! Celestia and I really appreciate it

.
This is your mini activity, and you have 48 hours before class moves on.
Your student just needs to practice the wand movement and incantation on the board for this activity, and they have the option of turning a small object on their desk to stone if they’re comfortable with the spell. Sixth and seventh years should do this nonverbally. We’ll move on at 12 AM CDT on May 17. You can catch up on the mini activity at any time if you’d like after the class moves on as usual

. Please put “professor” or something similar in the subject line of your post if you’re trying to catch Celestia’s attention during the activity. Feel free to join in if you haven’t posted yet; just pretend that your student has been here the whole time if you want to avoid IC consequences.

Surprised at herself, Bel beamed back at the professor, straightening a little in her seat. Well she'd answered the question well, apparently, but she was less hopeful about the spell. Incantation and wand movement practice she could do at least.

The almost D, she moved her wand in that shape a few times, glancing over at others as she did so... but the part that stumped her was the pronunciation. She, of course, said the u-sound in words like that as a u and not as a double o. D-ewe-ro just sounded far more right in her head, because... every other word with that sound was like that for her. Stupid Latin being confusing. If it even was Latin.

"D-uuuuu--. No. DOOOO-rohhh." It just felt wrong, okay? Hashtag accent poblems. Starting on actually attempting the spell wasn't really an option yet. Bel licked her lips and frowned to herself, listening to those around her and trying to imitate it. "Doooo-rohh. Doo-roh. Dure-oh. Dur." Bleeeeh.

05-16-2018, 01:18 PM	#83 (permalink)
TeafortheSoul Formerly: Tegz Demiguise Join Date: May 2008 Location: Hobbiton Posts: 24,243 Hogwarts RPG Name: ??? Ravenclaw Hogwarts RPG Name: Ronnie Thurkell Gryffindor Seventh Year x12 x12	lives in a hobbit hole \|\| Ern and Touz's Nuzzle \|\| roflysst \|\| looking at a seed packet SPOILER!!: professor Quote: Originally Posted by NifflerFan Celestia forced her face into another warm smile at Miss Macindoe’s words regarding her Quidditch tryouts. ”That’s very good to hear, Miss Macindoe,” she replied sincerely. It was good for the students to enjoy themselves -- that part of Quidditch she certainly did not begrudge any of the students. She was soon beaming at the Hufflepuff captain, however, because Miss Macindoe had managed to convey what she wanted students to take away from this discussion perfectly. ”I couldn’t have said it better myself, Miss Macindoe! Three points to Hufflepuff!** The Water Making Spell is a perfect example of how a spell can be classified as both a charm and a Transfiguration spell under different conditions or when used in different ways.” Really, Celestia was very, very pleased with this answer. She stared around the room to ensure that everyone else was listening to Miss Macindoe’s answer too. It wasn’t long before her another smile was lighting up her eyes, however, as Miss Macindoe’s comments on Switching Spells were rather amusing. ”Switching Spells are certainly useful, and I’m glad to say that we’ll be studying some of them later in the year.” OOC: *These are just the 3 points that everyone can earn from answering each question, not points going beyond the normal 20 for Hufflepuff. Celestia just really liked Bel’s answer so she wanted to call it out IC. Thank Merlin for her older students. Celestia sipped a cup of tea that was conveniently placed near the edge of her desk as she listened to the class’s answers. Many of the students had given a good explanation of the key difference between a charm and a Transfiguration spell, which she hoped the younger ones (and those who were a bit confused) found useful. She didn’t feel much need to rehash what the students had already said out of the context of today’s lesson. She would simply get straight to the reason that she’d brought this matter up in the first place. ”The spell that we’ll be covering today is often referred to as the Hardening Charm. However, this is one of those spells that, like the Water Making Spell, can be classified as both a charm and a Transfiguration spell in different contexts. Miss Macindoe described how the Water Making Spell can be classified as both types of magic already. Although a feeble version of the Hardening Charm can be used to simply add roughness to the texture of an object -- that is to say, to add a certain property to an object as charms do -- there can be a bit more to this spell than that. This particular spell is meant to be used to turn an object completely into stone. Rather than simply altering an object’s characteristics as charms do, this spell therefore alters what an object actually is on a molecular level. Since it changes the essential nature of an object, it should be classified as a Transfiguration spell when used to turn an object into stone, despite the fact that it is most commonly referred to by wizards on the street only as a charm by name. Any wizard with a working wand and a brain can use this spell as a charm if they have learned it before, but it takes far more concentration and will power to use it for its intended purpose -- to turn objects to stone.” Celestia paused here to make sure that she was being clear. She felt that it was important that students understood the slight overlap here and the relevance of this spell to her class. Memories of her own Transfiguration classes at Hogwarts and at university where these spells with sometimes murky classifications had flashed through her head as she was planning this lesson. She felt that this entire discussion would be helpful for the younger students, and would hopefully quel any objections from the older students to studying a spell called the Hardening Charm* in Transfiguration class. Now they could move past the theory, yes? ”So today, we will be emulating many ancient creatures of legend and fact to turn objects to stone. Now, I want you to begin by practicing the wand movement and the incantation. Remember that intention, will, and focus are absolutely essential to a successful Transformation spell, and these can be improved by visualizing the changes and the desired result in your minds before and during your casting of the spell. Watch me, please.” Celestia gave the first and second years significant looks as she doled out this reminder. A lack of will or proper visualization was one of the main causes of failed Transformation spells -- and, indeed, was often the reason that this spell failed to turn its target to stone completely and simply hardened the object’s surface instead. Without further ado, Celestia moved over to the table pushed against the wall and selected one of the smallest pumpkins. She carried this to her desk and placed it in the center, where all of the students could hopefully see it. *”There will be a bit more to your task for the day than this, but to give you an idea… Yes, this will work. Duro!”, she exclaimed as she traced an almost-complete letter “D” with her wand, aiming for the pumpkin (of course). There was no impressive burst of light or sound from the end of her wand, and the change was immediate. One moment a bright orange pumpkin sat plainly on her desk, and the next it had become a grey, stone pumpkin. Celestia barely spared it a further glance before she turned to the blackboard and tapped it with her wand. The incantation and and a picture of the wand movement appeared on the board and she turned back to face the class. ”Let’s get started, please! Take a few minutes to practice the wand movement and incantation. If you feel comfortable enough after that, you may proceed to attempt to turn your quill or another small object into stone using this spell. N.E.W.T. students should attempt this nonverbally, of course.” SPOILER!!: The Board* Incantation: Duro Pronounced: DOO-roh Wand movement: an almost (but not quite) completed letter “D”. Do not close the “D” at the bottom! Wand Movement Picture OOC: Thanks for participating, guys! Celestia and I really appreciate it . This is your mini activity, and you have 48 hours before class moves on. Your student just needs to practice the wand movement and incantation on the board for this activity, and they have the option of turning a small object on their desk to stone if they’re comfortable with the spell. Sixth and seventh years should do this nonverbally. We’ll move on at 12 AM CDT on May 17. You can catch up on the mini activity at any time if you’d like after the class moves on as usual . Please put “professor” or something similar in the subject line of your post if you’re trying to catch Celestia’s attention during the activity. Feel free to join in if you haven’t posted yet; just pretend that your student has been here the whole time if you want to avoid IC consequences. Surprised at herself, Bel beamed back at the professor, straightening a little in her seat. Well she'd answered the question well, apparently, but she was less hopeful about the spell. Incantation and wand movement practice she could do at least. The almost D, she moved her wand in that shape a few times, glancing over at others as she did so... but the part that stumped her was the pronunciation. She, of course, said the u-sound in words like that as a u and not as a double o. D-ewe-ro just sounded far more right in her head, because... every other word with that sound was like that for her. Stupid Latin being confusing. If it even was Latin. "D-uuuuu--. No. DOOOO-rohhh." It just felt wrong, okay? Hashtag accent poblems. Starting on actually attempting the spell wasn't really an option yet. Bel licked her lips and frowned to herself, listening to those around her and trying to imitate it. "Doooo-rohh. Doo-roh. Dure-oh. Dur." Bleeeeh. __________________ love is like a letter wrote :: and life is like an envelope be careful who you give it to :: they might not give it back to you