Burrowing his brows together in concentration, Alaster picked at his s'more. He knew this one...he really did. Didn't he? Runes wasn't one of his easiest subjects, but he tried...most of the times. After finishing his s'more it was a lot easier to concentrate and finally he remembered, "Well, we know it means journey, but did you know that Rune could have been directly derived from Latin R." he stated.

Kurumi flipped through her notes until she came across the rune that looked very much like a capital R. "Professor, the rune, as others have already mentioned, represents 'journey' as others have mentioned and it's shape may be directly related to the Latin 'R'," she said as she raised her hand. She hoped that that last part wasn't too obvious. Oh, a Syltherin student had beaten her to that answer...she flipped through her notes a little more looking for some more information to offer. "Raido is also the corresponding letter of the Gothic alphabet 'r', called raida." Kurumi was very happy that she had read ahead and taken notes.

Di placed the tip of her wand on the student's finger, removing it once it had been healed. "There you go," she said, pleasantly.

"The Latin alphabet as we know it today, came after the Elder Futhark," Di explained, cheerfully. "The shape of the reconstructed Proto-Germanic r-rune - that's Raido! - is, however, believed to be a derivative of the Latin R, yes."


Di beamed. "Correct, all of you," she confirmed. "Raido is often known as 'the traveller's rune.' It represents ride, change, quests and journey, and is recorded in all three Rune Poems."

She tapped the chalkboard, again. "Three houses, tied!"

Digging into a small runes-bag, Di held up a rune. "Let's see who's going to be the first to guess the name of this rune, correctly!"




Points Chalkboard:

Hufflepuff: 4
Slytherin: 4
Ravenclaw: 4
Gryffindor: 2

Ooooh. Finn knew that one. "I believe that rune is Uruz" He stated as he put his hand up. Now he really did hope that he was correct, because he would like a right idiot if he was wrong.

Flip flip flip. "Professor...is that Uruz?" Kurumi asked squinting at her notes. "I believe it means the aurox, or wild ox."

Cosette sat with her book open and her eyes almost lifeless. She wasn't entirely that head over heels in love with runes. It was always a necessity to her and she really didn't care for them. Even though she was told by old professors that she was gifted with keeping all the knowledge in her head from lessons about runes. Sighing, she flipped her book closed and raised her hand. If this game was to help get points for her house, she might as well help out.

"Professor, that rune would be Uruz. The symbol for the rune would most likely be a wild ox," she cleared her throat before continuing. "It mostly describes physical strength, agility, freedom, and power. Whereas if it was reversed, it would show weakness, obsession, force and violence." After she finished, she smiled. Strumming her fingers on her book, she looked around at her fellow peers.

Oooh, that was more information than Kurumi had written in her notes and quickly jotted down what the Ravenclaw girl said.

"That's correct," Di agreed, nodding at each of the three students. Uruz, it was. She put down the rune, and looked round at the rest of the students seated round the campfire. "... and what do we know about Uruz? One fact per person, please."

"The shape of the rune may represent the shape of the now extinct animal's broad shoulders?" At least she thought she had read that somewhere...

What did he know about Uruz? "Well my mother said it was the rune of health and strength." Thats why she had them in the home. It was a little weird. "I think that it also includes emotional and spirtual strength." He thought so anyway, but it was best to find out, so that he could make amendments to his notes.

And Grayson's hand went back up. It was weird. "Uruz has to do with strength. Both physically and mentally, as well as challenges that could lead to change." Maybe she should read more often, things that weren't related to Harry potter, that is. But she stillt hought the marshmallow idea was spurring her on. Or maybe just competition.

Raising her hand once again, Mia spoke. "Uruz is the second rune of Futhark. It means physical or mental strength. For a man - male virility, manhood. For a woman - fertility, femininity, womanhood. It's characteristics are mental agility, physical development, mental and bodily health and power."

Cosette bit on her lip. Another fact about Uruz? Hadn't she said enough about the rune? Picking up a long stick that was by her foot, she picked it up and started to trace the rune in the wet grass. She raised her hand, remembering another thing she had left out. Go figure. "Uruz is in the Elder Fuhark alphabet. Also in every Runic Alphabet it represents the letter 'N'."

"Not extinct," Di grinned. "Extinct for muggles, though. But good answer. Out-of-the-box."

OOC: That's SS canon. Term twenty-two.

"Uruz is 'U,'" Di corrected pleasantly. "N is Ingwaz. But yes, Uruz is a part of the Elder Futhark."

"Good answers," Di said. "Uruz is commonly taken to mean 'wild ox.' It is recorded in all three Rune Poems, but each mentions it differently - hence the rune's alternate connections to ore and rainwater. The general symbol is the auroch, an animal that is believed by muggles, to be extinct."

She tapped the chalkboard another time. "It looks like the Eagles have the lead, now."

"Our next rune is... Thurisaz."


Points Chalkboard:

Ravenclaw: 8
Hufflepuff: 5
Slytherin: 4
Gryffindor: 3

Finn was quite grateful that his sisters were good at runes, because he knew some of these answers, which were pretty good. "Thurisaz is the third rune of Futhark, and I think that it's sometimes referred to as the devil's rune because it is the rune of chaos, evil and temptation."

"Thurisaz is also known as 'thorn', by Anglo-Saxons, but the original meaning of the rune was frost giant. And it's considered the gateway rune. Oh, and it's associated with sapphires, blackthorn and oak trees," Grayson blurted out, making sure to raise her hand again. The fact Ravenclaw was in the lead made her want to answer more. Definitely some sort of competitive instinct coming out, since she wasn't hyper yet.

After Kurumi had changed her notes about the animal not being extinct, she grew up not knowing she was a witch until two weeks before Hogwarts so she was surprised to learn that they were still around...make a note to meet one at some point, she flipped through her notes to find the next rune.

Aha!

"Thurisaz," she really hoped she was saying that correctly. "...represents the TH sound for which there is no English letter equivalent."

Ooc: my charrie wouldn't have known it wasn't extinct anyway. tehehe

Gah Finn had beat her again, Mia raised her hand. "The energy of Thurisaz can be used for good or chaos. It represents the forces of the human psyche including anger and lust. The thorn is a symbolic weapon, it can pierce, stab or tear but it can also be protective like a thorny hedge. It may also signify a stroke of luck, but is more often a warning that your luck is running out."

Running a hand through her hair, she nodded to the Professor. Eh, she was a bit rusty. She wasn't big on runes anyways. Hit Wizards needed to be good in spell work, not runes. Thank goodness. Hearing they were in the lead, she smiled. Finally. They needed all the help they could get with the hourglasses. Raising her hand, she smiled. "Thurisaz, normally seen for a tendency for change. It also was seen for having a dark meaning behind it, even when not in the reversed state. It means using force, destruction, and conflict."

"Great answers, everyone!" Especially that girl's. Badger girl. Meh. Di really ought to have asked the students to make nameplates, or such. Maybe in the next lesson?

"Thurisaz represents forces and emotions - generally dark or evil. It is often considered a 'negative' rune, and characterizes anger, darkness, the desire to cause mischief and conflict in general. It is most commonly connected to Thor, the god of thunder, lightning and destruction; and Loki, a giant and known mischief-maker."

She paused speaking, to tap the chalkboard. "Let's see... Eagles still in the lead. Lions have finally caught up, and are now tied with the Snakes."

Digging into the small runes-bag, Di brought out another rune. "So, who can tell me something about this rune?"



Points Chalkboard:

Ravenclaw: 11
Hufflepuff: 6
Gryffindor: 4
Slytherin: 4


OOC: This is the last question for this evening, guys. Thanks for the fun. I'll resume this lesson later, most likely in five or six hours. Once again, chatting is okay in small amounts. ^__^

Mmm. Finn popped a marshmellow into his mouth as he looked at the rune. He'd seen that before, he knew what it was, but he was getting a little distracted by how good that marshmellow was. "That rune is Jera..." Okay now that did it represent. "And I think it has a meaning of harvest, or the agricultural year." And all that thinking had totally earned him another marshmellow.

Katie looked at the runes with great amazement, this was fantastic! she was having so much fun, then again, Slytherin needed more points on the chalk bored, go snakes! they need more badly, once she hears that next question or whatever she is answering and getting it right! Oh yeah!

Grayson almost bounced in her seat as she raised her hand. "That's the symbol for the rune Jera. It means harvest, and is also known as the rune of success and continuity. It also represents the twelve months of the year." As she finished, she took a deep breath. She needed to calm down, or sugar wouldn't be necessary. But Ravenclaw really needed the points.

Mia was really liking this class and she raised her hand again although she had been beaten by Finn again. "Jera if the twelfth Rune. It represents the twelve months of the year. It implies fruitfulness, profit or achievement of a goal. It also means the cycle of seasons implying movement, change and natural development. It is usually very positive, but as a symbol of cause-and-effect it may portend the end-result of past actions. Jera may also represent justice, which can be positive or negative, a reward or a punishment."

"Jera as Rune No. 12 represents the 12 months of the year. It's characteristics are success in endeavours, fruition of plans. Good spirits. Just rewards for past efforts. Inventiveness, talent or skill. Great reward to those who work with their hands or on the land. And I think it has a connection to the sun?" Kurumi said with her hand raised as she read from her notes. Runes was actually kind of fun! It was like figuring out a puzzle...

Kurumi decided it was time to indulge herself with a marshmallow and began toasting it over the fire until it was a perfect light brown color. Turning said perfect marshmellow into a smore, Kurumi started enjoying her first smore as a witch. It almost tasted better and a huge smile crept across her face.