Sapphire was pleased with herself with the last question she raised her hand and answered "the new moon is in the first two weeks while the full moon is in the last two sir"

Chris raised his hand "False sir They are they are normally bery goood workers."

Jessica raised her hand: "It's false. In fact, it's the other way around. The new moon covers the first two weeks and the full moon the last two."

Well everyone seemed to be disagreeing with him, saying it was false and reversed. But didn't it sort of depend on which you counted was first and last? So the timing was very theoretical in nature and could be argued either way. Ah and sidekick girl just seemed to want to show him her smartypantsness.

Sighing, he shot a glare to her that said 'see you in the corridor after class. we need to settle this'.

Astrid glanced over and caught Dominic giving her the MOST hateful look. She rolled her eyes at him and turned her attention back to her textbook, trying to concentrate. What was his problem anyway? He really needed to give it up already. If hating her made him feel better then GOOD! The feeling was mutual. Maybe if he would have had an ounce of respect towards her best friend, things could've been different but....whatever. Feeling irritated and highly distracted now, she turned back towards Dom and mouth, "What?!"

Nico raised his hand, "False; New moon is the first two weeks and Full moon is the last. This division is the same with all Celtic Tree Signs."

He paused and added, "It makes sense- being a lunar-based calendar- that the moon phases provide further divisions and insight; The new moon occurs when the sun and moon are in conjunction and occupy the same part of the sky from our perspective on Earth. The moon's unilluminated side is facing the Earth. It represents new beginnings and return to life. The full moon occurs around 14 and 15 days after the new moon, and is shaped like a complete disc. The moon's illuminated side is facing the Earth. The full moon reflects the maximum light from the sun and in general represents abundance and completion. If the moon has such a powerful pull on the tides it makes sense that the Celtic druids would see it having a powerful pull on the psyche."

Cale raised his hand. "That's false professor...the new moon is the first two weeks where as the full moon is the last two weeks." he answered.

Will nodded, raising his hand. "Yes, that's false, sir. It's backwards. "

Faye shook her head and raised her hand. "Actually professor that's false, the new moon is the first two weeks and the last two weeks are the full moon." she said.

Whitney raised her hand. "That's false professor and actually backwards. The new moon is the first two weeks while the full moon is the last two weeks." she said, hoping she was right.

Jillian raised her hand. "I think it's false sir. The full moon doesn't cover the first two weeks of the month, but the last two. The new moon, however, covers the first two weeks."

"Not exactly.", Kapoor said, trying to sound undiscouraging. Dominic was going to be a tough-teach...

"That's exactly right. 2 points."

"Yes, Miss Deschain. 2 points."

"2 points, Prefect Greingoth."

"You are correct, Prefect Green. Take 2 points."

"Good. 2 points."

It took a minute, but the Professor realized that the student had been answering the question from before. "You mean, in reference to the Ivy personality? H'mm, well that is not an impossibility, but I can only award for the latest question. If you wish to earn points, please try and answer the last question asked." Getting the hang of things always took a little time, but the student seemed bright and hopefully would be earning housepoints with the best of 'em.

"Correct. 2 points."

"Well done, Nico. You've clearly done your research. Take 3 points."

"Good, Prefect Newell! Good. 2 points for Gryffindor."

Oh, Thank you, Merlin! "Excellent Prefect Jones! That is the right answer!" One could never give too clear an indication towards the boy, whom the professor felt was a rather hard-to-learn. "Two points."

"True! I mean, yes the answer is false. Not your answer...! Your answer is correct. I mean...2 points!", he cut himself off before he smoked the fire of confusion any longer.

"Exactly so. 2 points."

"2 ponts." The Professor nodded.


"Who can list some alternative names for the Rowan Tree?"

Nico raised his hand, "The Rowan tree is called raun or rogn in Old Norse, caorann, or Rudha-an in Gaelic and in folk stories has been referred to as; Mountain ash, Quickbane, Quickbeam, Quicken (tree), Quickenbeam, Ran tree, Roan tree, Roden-quicken, Roden-quicken-royan, Round wood, Round tree, Royne tree, Rune tree, Sorb apple, Thor's helper, Whispering tree, Whitty, Wicken-tree, Wiggin, Wiggy, Wiky, Witch wood, Witchbane, Witchen, Witchen Wittern tree and Dogberry tree." Half way through, Nicholai referred to his textbook for more names before taking a breath and noting, "Rowan is easier."

Raiden's hand shot up. He remembered this! "The Rowan Tree is also known as Mountain Ash, and some people call it the "Lady of the Mountains" because it grows in odd places... It's also called "Bird Catcher" because it lures birds in for some odd reason, "Wiggy" and "Witchbane"...ooh, and "Delight of the Eye" too." He thought for a second. "There's also a special name for a Rowan Tree that grows out of another Rowan Tree, that's known as "Flying Rowan"... and it was thought to be a counter-charm against sorcery, I guess against dark magic in general?"

He beamed. He loved when he knew answers.

Daniel Raised his hand and said The rowans or mountain-ashes are plants in the family Rosaceae, in the genus Sorbus, subgenus Sorbus. They are native throughout the cool temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, with the highest species diversity in the mountains of western China and the Himalaya, where numerous apomictic microspecies occur. The density of the rowan wood makes it very usable for walking sticks and magician's staves. This is why druid staffs, for example, have traditionally been made out of rowan wood, and its branches were often used in dowsing rods and magic wands. Rowan was carried on vessels to avoid storms, kept in houses to guard against lightning, and even planted on graves to keep the deceased from haunting. It was also used to protect one from witches. Often birds' droppings contain rowan seeds, and if such droppings land in a fork or hole where old leaves have accumulated on a larger tree, such as an oak or a maple, they may result in a rowan growing as an epiphyte on the larger tree. Such a rowan is called a "flying rowan" and was thought of as especially potent against witches and their magic, and as a counter-charm against sorcery.Rowan's alleged protection against enchantment made it perfect to be used in making rune staves , for metal divining, and to protect cattle from harm by attaching sprigs to their sheds. Leaves and berries were added to divination incense for better scrying.

Camira raised her hand, eyes on the notes she'd made in preparation for this lesson. "Alternative names for the rowan include Delight of the eye (Luisliu), Mountain ash, Quickbane, Quickbeam, Quicken (tree), Quickenbeam, Ran tree, Roan tree, Roden-quicken, Roden-quicken-royan, Round wood, Round tree, Royne tree, Rune tree, Sorb apple, Thor's helper, Whispering tree, Whitty, Wicken-tree, Wiggin, Wiggy, Wiky, Witch wood, Witchbane, Witchen, Witchen Wittern[2] tree." She paused to take a breath before continuing. " I'm sure there are more, but I can't think of them. I do know that "mountain ash" is a rather confusing alternative name because it implies that it is part of a group of trees of the genus Fraxinus. It has also been referred to as the Dogberry tree, but that has more to do with botany and less to do with its magical and divinative properties." Was that everything? Hopefully.

"Whispering tree, Whitty, Wicken-tree, Wiggin, Wiggy, Wiky, Witch wood, Witchbane, and Witchen." chris raised his hand and said determined to get points this time.

Astrid raised her hand and said, "The Rowan tree is also known as the "Mountain Ash", "Delight of the Eye," "Wiggy," "Witchbane," and "Lady of the Mountains," due to the fact that it often grows in the most inhospitable of places, though it is most frequently found in mountainous areas as well as gardens. Also, A Rowan which grows out of another Rowan is known as a "Flying Rowan" and was considered especially potent against witches and their magick...a counter-charm against sorcery. The Rowan's ornamental wood is a wonderful lure for birds, which gives this tree yet another name, "Bird Catcher."

Will raised his hand, feeling encouraged. "Of course, there's always the muggle scientific name, Sorbus aucuparia. But it's also known as raun or rogn in Old Norse. It also has folk names including Delight of the eye, Mountain ash, Quickbane, Quickbeam, Quicken, Quickenbeam, Ran tree, Roan tree, Roden-quicken, Roden-quicken-royan, Round wood, Round tree, Royne tree, Rune tree, Sorb apple, Thor's helper," Will grinned at that one as he read from his text, "Whispering tree, Whitty, Wicken-tree, Wiggin, Wiggy, Wiky, Witch wood, Witchbane, Witchen, and the Witchen Wittern tree. In Gaelic, it is caorann, or Rudha-an." Whew.

"Delight of the eye, Mountain ash, Quickbane, Quickbeam, Quicken (tree), Quickenbeam, Ran tree, Roan tree, Roden-quicken, Roden-quicken-royan, Round wood, Round tree, Royne tree, Rune tree, Sorb apple, Thor's helper, Whispering tree, Whitty, Wicken-tree, Wiggin, Wiggy, Wiky, Witch wood, Witchbane, Witchen, Witchen Wittern tree. Many of these can be easily linked to the mythology and folklore surrounding the tree." Miles said with his hand rasied.

Jessica raised her hand: "the Rowan tree is also called Mountain Ash, Sorb Apple, Witchin, Wiggin Tree, Quicken. The Latin name ,used in Science, is Sorbus aucuparia. In Gaelic it is called Caorthann."

Anna's hand shot into the air. "The other names for the Rowan Tree are 'Mountain Ash,' 'Delight of the Eye,' 'Wiggy,' 'Witchbane,' 'Bird Catcher,' and 'Lady of the Mountains.' A Rowan growing from another Rowan is called a 'Flying Rowan,'" she said.

Jai raised a brow. Some Tree. she wrote down the alternative names.

The Professor listened to Nico as he spouted off no less than twenty-nine different names for the Rowan tree. "That's quite a few names. Merlin! It's as if the Rowan broke down and had an identity crisis."

"10 points for your answer."

"'Delight of the Eye', I like that." The professor chuckled lightly. "Very good answers. 7 points."

"Good. Three points. And, take an extra 2 points for your extra information."

"Excellent! Ten points for you, Miss Yaxley."

"Very good! 9 points to Gryffindor."

"7 points. Nicely done, Miss Deschain."

"10 points. Mr. Jones, have you been studying?"

"Good job. 10 points for your answer."

"7 points to Hufflepuff."

"And, 7 points to Gryffindor as well."


"Which of the trees is known for being susceptible to lightning strikes?"

Lightning strikes. After checking his textbook, Clifford raised his hand, in the air. "Hmm. Is that the Ash Tree, sir?"