Professor Christiansen was funny with his 'nei's and 'ja's, but Helena didn't laugh or giggle or anything. It would've been rude, right? Especially when she was sitting there in the front. But if the man was going to teach at least one more term, maybe she'll get used. Hehe.

And when he spoke again, Helena wodered if he wasn't quite telling them the opposite thing that they've learned during the last lesson. Or... maybe not? "You've taught us about the meanings of the runes. That's what witches and wizards use," the girl said with a slight shrug, then let the hand that was up in the air fall back on her lap.

Marilyn sighed, thinking back to Third year...

Yea, she couldn't remember anything. The blonde frowned, making sure to listen to what everyone was saying.

"Zat is right." Tristan nodded and didn't notice the Gryffindor girl's confusion. "Zere are a number of rune spreads or rune dravinks. Ve draw ze runes accordink to one and read zeir meaninks."

"In ze last class ve did a sree rune spread, ja? Ze serd rune indicated outcomes zat could happen based on ze present. But ve must remember zat nothink iz ever set in stone. Ze present changes, zen ze possible outcomes iz also beink changed."

"How iz muggles' use of runes to 'see' ze future different? Vat do ze muggles think?"



ooc: Sree = three. Serd = third. Wizards and witches believe that runes cannot tell us the exact future and what they predict doesn't have to happen. He wants to know what muggles that firmly believe in runic divination, tend to believe about it.

"How iz muggles' use of runes to 'see' ze future different? Vat do ze muggles think?"



ooc: Sree = three. Serd = third. Wizards and witches believe that runes cannot tell us the exact future and what they predict doesn't have to happen. He wants to know what muggles that firmly believe in runic divination, tend to believe about it.[/QUOTE]

Samira had no clue. The girl didn't know a thing about Muggles. This wasn't Muggle studies after all, or else she would have brought a pillow...

Thinking hard, the Slytherin reluctantly raised her hand. "Maybe they believe that it's a sign or a warning about the future...?" It came out sounding more like a question. Gah! She didn't know anything about Muggles!

Marilyn frowned. She did remember hearing something...

"I think the muggles call them tarot cards...Most are skeptical about those who insist they can see the future...but there are a select few who are firm believers. Psychics, as they're called, believe that they can predict the future based on past and present...and they also believe they can predict who in your life will effect these changes, whether good or bad."

Kurumi assumed that from the expression on the man's face that she had said something right since he seemed to be somewhat pleased with her answer. Then again, his expressions were sometimes harder to understand than his speech, so Kurumi remained rather poker faced in her seat.

Chewing on her bottom lip for a moment, Kurumi raised her hand. "Runcasting, I believe is the term that non-magical people apply, is said to invoke something in the subconscious part of ourselves. Perhaps it is even a part of us that we are not even aware of. Although, I am not sure that this is so different from witches and wizards, when one poses a question to the runes, your entire mind, conscious or unconscious, is focused on that question which means that the selection of runes is not totally random, but rather choices made by our subconscious." She paused for a moment thinking that she was making even less sense than he was when he spoke. "It is more psychological. Meaning, um, that instead of predicting the future we are instead examining cause and effect and pointing out a likely outcome."

Tristan nodded and looked at the second Slytherin girl who had spoken. "Ze muggles who vork vid runes often think zey can 'see' ze future. Zere is no 'seeing' ze future, ja? Future iz ever changink..." Runes could not be used to 'See'.

"Ze serd use of runes iz channelink spiritual zenergy. I show you one vay zat can be done, ja?" He nodded. "Vat are ze chakras beink?"



ooc: So he's saying that another use of runes is channeling spiritual energy and that he's going to show them one of the ways in which energy can be channeled via runes. He's also asking them to tell him what the chakras are.

Wait, chakra?! Like, the concept that came from Hindu texts and was often applied in yoga? Kurumi had had to perform simple versions of chakara channeling when her mother had tried to train her to become a shrine maiden, but Kurumi had never taken well to the practice and each time had ended up in her getting scolded.

"Chakra are energy centers within ourselves and is a mixture of the physical energy present in every cell of the body and the spiritual energy . They are sort of receivers and transceivers for spiritual energy. Some say that they are connected within the entire body by energy channels which runs either alongside or inside the spine."

They were talking about chakra now?

"There are seven chakras, which are like... some force centers from a point of the body." Or something like that.

But what had chakra to do with runes?

Tristan nodded and smiled at the students. "Very good."

"Chakras are veels of zenergies present in ze human body. By receivink and transmittink positive or negative zenergies zey are ensurink a balance or disbalance in our bodies. Ze most well known system of chakras is beink zat of seven chakras. I show you ze chakra stones now, ja?"

He took out a little pouch from his pocket. Reaching inside it, he held up a purple stone. "Zis iz sahasrara or Crown chakra on amezyst." He held up a dark blue stone. "Zis iz ajna or third-eye chakra in Lapis Lazuli." He held up a light blue stone. "Zis iz vishuddha or sroat chakra on blue calcite." He held up a pitch black stone. "Zis is anahata or heart chakra in advenzurine." He held up a shining golden stone. "Zis iz manipura or zolar plexus chakra in golden calcite." He held up a scarlet stone. "Zis iz
svadhisthana or sacral chakra in red zasper. It iz beautiful, ja?" He held up a breathtaking red-black stone. "Zish iz muladhara or root chakra carved on obsidian stone."

He put the first stone on top of his head, held the second against his forehead, and the third against his throat. "You place all of zem on zeir respective chakras, ja? You are zen beink able to focus, concentrate and think clear. But zeir actual abilities are beink much more impressive." He murmured an incantation over the stones, placed them on himself again, and disappeared from the classroom. Moments later, he reappeared. He put the stones in a bag. "Vat just happens? Vat iz beink strange about it?"



ooc: Amezyst = amethyst, zasper, = Jasper, sroat = throat, zolar plexus = solar plexus. When he muttered the words and put the chakra stones on himself, he disapparated from the classroom and then apparated back to it. He's asking what just happened and what is strange about it.

Kurumi figured that she was just going to have to check out a book from the library about these runes when class had ended, because nothing the man was saying made any sense. Still, Kurumi took notes on her parchment - at least, they looked like notes when you looked at them sideways and squinted at them with only your left eye opened.

What happened next was certainly not what she had expected to happen. Professor Viking disappeared! Kurumi arms flew up in the air and she squeaked loudly. There had been no wand movement so, unless the man was gifted in wandless and nonverbal magic, there was no way he had just cast a Disillusionment Charm on himself.

She was just about to ask HIM what had happened when he seemed to have asked the class the same thing. Well, she could state the obvious and tell him that he had disappeared and reappeared, but she was pretty sure that he already knew that and she would most likely receive strange looks for suggesting it.

"P-Perhaps all your chakra points began beating in rhythm? The runes focused all of your body's chakra to beat and flow at the same time, and this made it so that you appeared invisible..." But perhaps he had gone to the beyond? Chakra did work in strange and mysterious ways after all.

Blink, blink.

What was this man talking about?!

However, Helena's attention has been caught as he suddenly disappeared, and then appeared back. Did the stones do that? Whether they did it or not, it was cool! Being able to disappear with a few stones. "I suppose you placed them in the right places of chakra?" The girl suggested, even though it was pretty much obvious that that was what he did.

"No... not right answer..." Tristian shook his head. The students did not understand. He took the runes out of the bag. He placed them on himself again and disappeared from view. Several seconds later, he returned with a basket of vegetables from the kitchens. He vanished the basket.

"I put zese on and apparate and zisapparate. Vat iz beink strange about zat?"



ooc: So he's asking what's strange about the apparation and disapparation.

Not the right answer?

...

Well, which one was it, then?

Helena had something in mind, now that he mentioned the apparition, but she wasn't quite sure if it had something to do with the answer he wanted to hear. "Professor? Did you reappear because you wanted to, or did the..." the what? "disappearing thing last only for a few moments?"

Did that even make sense?

William raised his hand. " Charkra stones have tp do with energy" Willaim told the professor. " The Charkra Stones have to do with physical and mental energy and the energy can be split. " Willaim said to the professor. " So when yo uapparated and re-apperead it must have to be done becuae of your concentration on yoru physical and mental energy" Willaim explained to the professor. Willim hopes this is the right answer.

What? Savannah is totally confused.

Savvy tried to concentrate. She had a hard time understanding what the professor said, he had a terrible accent. Who seriously, can understand him? "It's not strange. Well...at least not to wizards and witches." Savannah was pretty sure that wasn't the correct answer.

Penny put her hand in the air... "Sir, is it strange because normally a person can't apparate and disapparate within Hogwarts, because of all the protective enchanments?"

Tristan clapped his hands. "Ja, ja, zat is correct answer!" He said, thinking her very clever! "It iz not beink possible to apparate and zisapparate inside Hogvarts. But vid ze chakra runes, I vas able to do so. It iz not regular apparition but apparition based on zenergies. Zat shows how useful channelink zem can be. Von can render even poverful traditional magic uzeless!"

He carefully put the runes back in the bag. Invoking these runes was a long and complicated process... and there was only one invoked set at Hogwarts... "Zese are useful, ja?"

He tapped his wand and a necklace that had runes dangling from it appeared. "Runes are beink used in zwellery for two purposes: ornamental and protective." Of course the two purposes could be combined... but he wasn't talking about that right now... "Vat is ze difference betveen zese two kinds of runic zwellery?"



ooc: Von = one. Runes can be used to make two kinds of jewellery (zwellery): ornamental and protective. He's asking you to tell him what the difference between these two kinds of runic jewellery is.

Marilyn rubbed the back of her neck, trying to remember everything she'd had the pleasure of reading on this particular subject. She supposed it was really just a play on words.

"Sir, I believe ornamental runic jewelry would simply be for looks only...and protective runic jewelry would actually serve some sort of purpose...Whether it was health or something that would up ones magic..."

Kurumi nodded and felt like she really should point out that there were SOME that could apparate and disapparte within Hogwarts. In fact, they were the ones producing all the food that was on their plates at every meal. However, Kurumi was certain that Professor Viking wouldn’t want to hear anything about that.

Kurumi thought for a moment about his question and wondered if the answer was really as straight forward as it seemed. It was always hard to tell with this man. “Ornamental jewelry it made not with the direct intention of being used as a magical or protective item. More to enhance a look and be an accessory. On the other hand, protective jewelry, such as talisman and amulets using runes, are made and worn for the sole intention of being used as a magical or protective item.”

"Good." Tristan nodded.

"Ornamental runic zwellery iz vorn to enhance ze looks. Zat kind of zwellery iz beautiful, ja? Protective runice zwellery iz not always beink beautiful. But it can help ze vizards and vitches... to concentrate... vard off evil... ensure good health... it iz for zeir protection." His accent was as heavy as ever.

"Ze most popular runic zwellery iz beink like zis." He held up the runic bracelet. It was a delicate, shining thing. "It iz beautiful, ja? But it iz containink invoked runes. It iz protectink ze vearer." It was good for the wearer...

"Vat iz a bind rune?"



ooc: The most popular runic jewellery combines ornamentation and protection. The question he's asking is What is a bind rune?

Kurumi rubbed the back of her neck as she thought and tried to make out exactly what he was asking. At first, she thought he was asking her where she could BUY runes, but that made very little sense considering the way class had flown thus far.

"A bind rune is, essentially, a symbol composed of several runes. I believe that this is usually two runes. It is said that doing this will concentrate the power of the individual runes into a more powerful force."

"In lamens terms, a Bind Rune is a symbol composed of several Runes, overlaid, one upon another, to form a single character...and a more powerful entity than any of the involved single symbols contained."

"Bind runes iz a symbol composed of two or more runes." Tristan said and nodded at both the girls who had answered. "Zere are rules and regulations to follow ven composing a bird rune. It iz a complicated process, ja? Overlaying several runes vidout havink studied how to do so iz useless! Zere vill be no effect!"

He paused. "Zere are several kinds of bind runes. Ze most common is mergink several runes by overlayink each over ze ozer (other). Bind runes enhance ze pover of individual runes and concentrate zeir inherent forces."

"Runes are also used in magick. Zey can harness ze subtle zenergies in our vorld and environment. Zat means runes can be used to brink peace and heal." He looked at his watch. "Zat is all for today. Now I vill give homevork, ja? Make your own protective runic zwellery. Explain vich runes you use and vy. Owl to me. Ten points. Due one week. Ja? Ja. God dag and sank you. Have a good summer."



ooc: HOMEWORK: Draw a piece of jewellery (bracelet, necklace, earring or whatever you like) containing at least one rune. (You can draw it by hand or use a software) Tell me which rune or runes you chose, and write a paragraph on why you choose that specific rune/ those specific runes. This homework assignment is due a week from this post and is worth ten points. I will keep this class open for several more hours if you want to RP your characters leaving and then it will close.

Kurumi leaned over the edge of her desk and tried to take in what Professor Viking was saying, but she really wasn’t getting too much. She felt as though vital information was being passed to her, especially about these bind runes, but none of it was really making sense. The parts she did get were something about making something, owling it to him, and ten points. Yep, she was going to have to go to the library and immerse herself in books about ancient runes.

Closing her own textbook and tucking her parchment into the front pages of it, Kurumi cleared off her desk and looked at Professor Viking once more. She HAD made some sense out of one thing he had said…and it was a bit alarming and almost made the homework seem like an impossible task.

“P-P-Professor, you said that overlaying runes without knowing how to properly do so would be worthless…” she said in a mousy voice. “Do you…could you…um…perhaps provide some general guidelines about this so that we can avoid making something ‘useless’ for our homework assignment?” Failure, after all, was a very scary thing. What if she made some protective jewelry that ended up producing the opposite effect and sent the owl meant to deliver the assignment to him to its doom. Not only would the owl die, but it would appear as though she hadn’t done the assignment!