Wesley subconsciously placed her hand on her heart too, nodding. Branches of the heart- just like branches of a tree. The Hufflepuff grinned, proud she had made the connection. For once, she was following the conversation.

Eager to contribute, Wesley raised her hand,"I think it means she will have a successful ministry, because her emotions will guide her, and since her ideals are ummm," she paused, glancing back at her textbook, "honorable, they will lead her to success. And the Minister is also courageous and, uh, insightful, so she has lots of knowledge and bravery to do the job right...maybe?"

On second thought, maybe she didn't get it after all.

"No thanks, I am fine just a little chill was all" Marie said.

Raising her hand Marie said "Professor I believe it to mean that our Minister will be successful in making positive changes and that her achievements will be guided with honor and courage." 'Wow, that answer actually sounded believable' she thought as she listened to the other students giving their answers.

Carter raised his hand. "Since the Sowilo is a rune meaning respect and guidance I think that the new Minister has good emotion state, one filled with guidance for us. I think it means that she's a good person striving to do what's best." He wondered if that was true or not. After all, he knew absolutely nothing about the minister, or even that they had a new one. He looked around waiting for other's answers. Maybe they would be similar?

Herminny raised her hand and said, "I believe sowilo literally means sun and it is said the sowilo rune is like an inner light of the sun that shines through a person to help them to overcome problems and reach ones goals. I think our minister having the sowilo rune means she's a person who is good and will strive to get things done the best way she can for our wizarding world.".

"You know, Professor Lupa," LouAnn said, her hand raised high into the air. She'd been quiet for most of the class, letting everything sink in while trying to figure it out. She thought now would be a good time to try and provide some input. "When I think of the Sun, I think of how it's presence represents a brand new day and a new beginning. It's sort of like our chance to close one door and open another. I think that can be compared to how one Minister of Magic left, therefore taking all his ideas and beliefs with him, and another came. She'll bring all her ideas and beliefs with her, and things will start all over and be brand new to us...just like how the Sun brings us a brand new day."

She blinked, wondering if she'd even said anything that made sense. It wasn't like LouAnn to be so detailed in an answer, but then again, she had been sitting here a while thinking it over.

Chris watched and listened as Professor Lupa drew the rune and then tod them what it was. She then asked how they would interpret it. He listened politely to the others as they said what they felt and then he raised his hand. "Professor I read this as you pulling the Sowilo rune for Minister Taylor, because the sun represents new birth. With her gain of office we will have new ideas and hopefully the beginning of a good, happy and successful society." he said looking at the runes as he spoke.

"Great! a point to everyone who answered..." She pulled a second rune:

http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/m...nes/sowulo.jpg http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/m...unes/blank.jpg http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/m...unes/algiz.jpg

She placed it to the right of the first one. "What rune did I pull and what is its meaning?"

Theo put his hand up, "It is a man raising his arms. Its meaning is 'HELP'"

... That kid. Was weird.

Livvy blinked at the boy's answer and couldn't help but smile at how he thought the rune was. It was a good guess though! But she was afraid that 'man raising his arms meaning help' wasn't exactly the right answer. Though it could be related if you thought about it hard enough. Livvy raised her hand up into the air, to answer the question that the Professor lady had asked.

"The rune that you just pulled out is Algiz. Algiz represents protection and the feeling of protecting one's self or others as a necessity. Not only that, but the rune is connected with the gods, an awakening, and a higher life," she said, nodding her head.

Kay put her hand up to answer the professor. "This is the Algiz Rune. It's repersentation of the Norse God Heimdall and is some times called the Elk Rune. It stands for defence, protection, and sanctuary." Kay said to the Professor. Kay was starting to like this class.

Jacoby raised his hand "Its Algiz and it means Concealment, safe refuge, or protection."he said

"That's Algiz," LouAnn said, her hand raised into the air. "It stands for room to grow. It also stands for being protected and kept safe."

She glanced over at Theo, the boy who'd said the rune was a man raising his arms and calling for help. To be honest, the rune really did look like that...and Algiz stood for safety, so she supposed it would fit right on in.

"Protection, exactly! One point to everyone who answered." She said proud of her class... "Did you know that Algiz was frequently inscribed on the shields of soldiers to help protect them? It symbolizes defense of what you consider sacred and a relationship to the divine, though it also emphasizes the separation of wizard and divinity." She said.

She turned around and lay on the ground on her tummy, her feet up in the air and holding herself up by the elbows. "It's in the second position which is called the 'Branch of the Mind.' All people have both an emotional side and a logical side. This rune is what defines the person's logical side. Can anyone interpret the rune in this position?"

Carter raised his hand. "Somebody is thinking about opportunity and protection, like they are working toward that goal." he offered unsure if he was thinking along the right lines.

Chris raised his hand. "Well Professor could it mean that Minister Taylor spends alot of time thinking about ways to protect the wizarding community and thinks over her decisions without doing anything too rash?" he asked as his interprentation.

"You need to think of my question when you are interpreting the rune: 'Will the new minister of magic be good in her position,' remember?" She said to the student.

...

"Yes..." Alessia said cold face. "I suppose she is..." She didn't much like the new minister... she'd voted for Cooper.

"Hmmmm Yes... I guess she needs to be. She has big shoes to fill..." She said...

"Mmhmm..." she said nodding.

"Very good... A point to all of you who answered," she said not smiling.

"Let's move on, shall we?" She didn't wait for the answer and pulled another rune:

http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/m...nes/sowulo.jpg http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/m...unes/blank.jpg http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/m...unes/algiz.jpg

http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/m...nes/eihwaz.jpg

"All right... in position 3, The Supporting Branches, I have pulled Eihwas. This position tells us what it is that is beneath the person. What is in their subconscious that they keep secret from everyone..." She said and smiled, "Can anyone tell me what are the meanings of Eihwas and, keeping my question in mind, what is your interpretation of this rune would be?"

Becca smiled back at Professor Lupa before raising her hand, "Eihwaz is generally a positive rune in divination. Its traditional meaning is yew; because of this Eihwaz is associated with hunting and the daring that hunting necessitates. Eihwaz indicates that the querent has set her sights on a viable target and is unlikely to encounter defeat. And even if she does encounter catastrophe, it will be minor and may in fact be to her advantage in the long run. I think it means she's meant to take risks and have a little sweet revenge every so often, though a constant dosage could lead to catostrophic events, so she should pick and choose wisely." She summed up quickly. Goodness were those branches swaying and those chirping birds ever so distracting? Becca realized quickly that she thinking about being distracted was adistraction and stirred from it to listen to other participants.

Chris raised I hand, this time starting to see where Professor Lupa may be going with this. "Professor, perhaps the meaning of the Eihwas rune for the Minister could mean that she has had something happen in her past that she wants covered up and hidden from everyone? Or that she wants to leave behind the past and just start anew?" he said throwing both those ideas out there.