Once more, as the professor began to talk, Melanie's eyes shifted from her wooden board to the front of the classroom. She tried to focus on what the he was saying, though some of it just went over her head. At least she caught the incantation and wand movement for the next spell, though. Melanie set the wooden board aside, propping it up against her desk so it was out of her way. Then she got her branch out.

Right. Now to concentrate again.

Thinking of her goal to turn the branch into a pole, Melanie flicked her wand and spoke the incantation. "Palus." Slowly, the branch began to change. Frowning slightly, when it was done, Melanie picked up the product of her effort and examined it. She supposed it could be considered a pole. In all honesty, it resembled a straw more closely, though.

Sigh. ... "Reverto."

Melanie visualized the transformation she wanted the branch to make again, taking a bit longer than before. Then she tried the spell a second time. "Palus." she said, flicking her wand sharply. This time, before Melanie's eyes, the branch got a bit rounder... maybe a little longer... and smoother too.

It wasn't perfect, but it was definitely an improvement from her first attempt.