SPOILER!!: Yo answers (no individual replying cos y'all rocks!)

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Originally Posted by hermionesclone

... Oh! They weren't going to be rune casting? MAN.

The boy reached up a hand and ruffled his hair. So... they were going to be using transfiguration with the runes? But... that didn't really explain why they were out here. Unless they were... going to be transfiguring the boulders into something else? ... Yeah. He had no idea.

Sigurd... Sigurd... Why did that name sound familiar? Alec looked past Botros and over towards a nearby boulder, except he wasn't really paying attention to it. Instead, he furrowed his eyebrows and tried to think of any story that linked to Sigurd. This... was hard. Because Alec remembered reading this story only to be thoroughly confused and decided that skipping over it was the best plan. ... Yeah... why had he done that again?

After a couple of minutes, the hand went up in the air. "Erm..." Shuffle! "He... he attacked a dragon called... Faf... Fafnir? Yeah, and took the gold the dragon was guarding." Did that count as a heroic feat? Alec... had no idea. None whatsoever.

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Originally Posted by TakemetotheBurrow

No rune casting, then? Well, that was okay with her. She was actually kind of excited to use runes with magical spells. Plus she wasn't horrible at Transfiguration so that definitely helped too. The blonde double checked her bag to make sure she had her runestone set and smiled to herself when she found it in her bag. Cool. She would have been embarrassed had she forgotten.

Eyes back on Botros, the blonde listened intently to him. Sigurd? He...had a sword, yeah? It was originally his Dad's and it had been broken or something in battle. A battle with...Odin or something, right? There was so many battles and things that it was really hard to keep it straight in your head and Ella bit her lip trying to get all the information straight before opening her mouth.

After a while, the seventeen finally raised her hand. "Sigurd used his departed father's sword, which was called Gram, I think. And he wielded Gram to defeat that dragon that Alec mentioned, Fafnir. This was a dragon guarding...gold and I believe Sigurd got that plus wisdom from killing it." And that...wasn't a particularly articulate answer but hopefully Botros understood what she meant.

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Originally Posted by FearlessLeader19

Ah. So that was what they were doing. It sounded complicated to the poor first year. He seriously hoped he would be able to do what the Professor had in mind. And yes. He had brought his runestone set.

So, Sigurd... Adi was sure he read a bit on this person. Now what had he read....? Oh yes! He raised a hand. "He was sent to get the gold that was guarded by the dragon.'' Who had sent him? Was it his brother? Father? Adi couldn't remember.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meizzner

Nigel knew the answer. But yeah a little to much daydreaming in the morning. But come on. It is still way to early to be outside in class. Did he bring his own runestone set. That was a very good question. But the thought of tranfig spells was nice. Nigel like the type of magic.

Now what was this about some Norse myth. Ah Sigurd. Awesome Sword, Killing dragons, and gold. All of which was pretty awesome. But all said already.

"He liked his swords. He had Gram and then discarded it for Balmung......Nothung or was it Balmus."

Nigel could not remember the precise name. But this guy did have some awesome swords.

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Originally Posted by Team ronmione

.... Oh well. You can't win them all.

So Tag semi blanked out at Professor's next question. Alec and Ella were saying really smart stuff. Good on them! There were swords being mentioned. Swords! An something sort of came back to Tag.

"That dude, Sigurd, went with his dad? to kill that dragon and then they went back to their kingdom or something and got gold. No wait! Ella and Alec said it. The gold came from the dragon. Ummm.. isn't there something about pits, yeah?"

Remembering history and facts like that was never Tag's strong point. He was slightly better at the more hands on stuff. Give the leprechaun a break.

.... Tag knew his stuff.

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Originally Posted by LilFox06

Norse mythology was not Anya's favorite. She preferred Greek mythology. Norse people were just weird. So were ancient Greeks... but not as much.

What did she know about this story? Well. It was weird for one. She raised her hand. "He drank..." Stuff she was not going to mention because it was gross. "And learned how to talk to birds." Or something. You know, since everyone else already mentioned the dragon and sword.

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Originally Posted by lemon

Sigurd! Alice's previous disappointment from getting her first guess wrong disappeared almost immediately as Botros continued. Did he remember her questions about this hero from last year? They weren't ever answered, but she'd done her own research, and it looked like it was going to help her.

"He does a lot of stuff with Fafnir's remains that kind of help him. Like bathing in his blood to become invulnerable and tasting it to attain the ability to talk to birds and eating his heart to gain wisdom." Almost like a really knowledge desperate Ravenclaw, she decided.

"But I think he was a hero 'cause he had the courage to kill the dragon, and that Sigurd was more respected because of that and his bravery, not his smarts or cunning." Did the eagles and snakes hear that? Total Gryffindor. Alice liked this guy for sure.

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Originally Posted by Cassirin

Mo kept bouncing, because he wasn't sure he was supposed to stop and because he liked how it felt to be moving in the early morning air. Bounce bounce bounce. Sigurd, hmm? He tried to pull out any memories or stories or ANYTHING he knew about Sigurd from his previous readings, although all the bouncing made his brain feel spinny.

"I think his story starts out sort of sad, Professor, because his dad dies before he is even born and just leaves him this old broken sword, but it turns out happy because he uses the pieces of the sword to make a new super sword." Mo bounced and jabbed and parried in the air. "And he always has these people telling him what to do and trying to trick him into doing what they say. If he had a dad, I don't think he'd fall for it over and over, 'cause he would have been more secure in his own self rather than seeking approval of strangers."

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Originally Posted by PotterHeadforLife

And Professor Botros got a thumbs up right back and a sleepy grin. Because that was all she was going to do for now.

Once Kat was bit NOT so tired anymore, she blinked a few times. Oh right, runestone set. She had hers inside her bag. No big deal. And about Sigurd. She's heard that name before, read it actually while studying for NEWTs. Some of them said stuff about him already, so that was cool too. She raised her hand up. "Like they said, Sigurd did attack the dragon Fafnir. And he was able to learn the language of birds for drinking Fafnir's blood." Uhm, that was kind gross. "He also has the gift of wisdom... or prophecy." Something like that.

For eating a roasted part of Fafnir's heart.

Merlin's beard.

Botros had a wide smile on his face knowing that some students did some light reading on Norse mythology even though it wasn't mandatory. "Those are great snippets from the story, yes. There are several versions of Sigurd's legend, they mainly differ in who is taking the shape of whom but the events are almost the same."

... "You don't have to continue bouncing if you're fully awake and functional, by the way." Offering a kind smile to a certain Ravenclaw Captain.

SPOILER!!: The Silence (#DW reference, anyone??)

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Originally Posted by AlwaysSnapesGirl

Ugh, spells, why.

But she could always use more practice with lots of different spells, she supposed...it just wasn't usually very fun and sometimes frustrating. Which was also something to work on. Meh. Why had she come to Ancient Runes again?

Penelope wasn't sure, and she also wasn't sure who the Sigurd person was. These stories still didn't interest her so she never bothered to read them, even if she was technically supposed to for this class. But it seemed most other people had and they gave good enough answers that were easier to attempt to remember than reading it. So it all worked out. Just meant she was staying quiet instead of giving her own answer.

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Originally Posted by lazykitty

.........

No idea who this Sigurd person was. Not that her brain was providing anyway. Uh oh. What this happened during her NEWTs? Not good.

Okay, breathe, Carter-Hope. Nothing bad is going to happen if you miss this one question. But just in case, she started taking notes.

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Originally Posted by fanficfanatict

Ascanius was trying so hard not sleep right now, mostly because the fifth year had a nasty habit of snoring, but Botros was making it hard for him, yeah? S'like so boring and he was old so there was nothing to keep his attention. S'not that he thought Botros was a particularly interesting person in his youth either. Just...he didn't wanna be here, yeah?

...anyway, he didn't wanna answer this guys question. S'not his style anyway. So he was just gonna staaaare at Botros and remain silent. If he wanted to call on him or whatever he wouldn't have the answer. He wasn't a book eater like his fellow classmates.

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Originally Posted by hpfan18

When the professor asked about Sigurd, Kace had no clue who he was. He gave the professor a quizzical look like he spoke gibberish to him. But he heard what they were going to do and it was interesting.

He listened patiently and waited to hear the answer and once he did, his classmates seemed to know what they were talking about and he took some notes.

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Originally Posted by DaniDiNardo

Nuh-UUHHHHH!!! Sugar was NOT potentially life threatening. What was the Professor going on about? When had sugar ever hurt anyone? Never. Exactly. All he had to do was say no, he didn't need to go spreading horrid rumours about something meant to make you all warm and happy inside...oh yeah and hyper...because it made her hyper too but pffft, people acted like that was a bad thing.

The things the Professor was talking about didn't ring many bells in her head, probably because she was still sleepyyyy and being denied the little relief that could come through the consumption of sugar.

WAIT? WHAT? HOLD ON!! LOST GRYFFINDOR HERE!!!

O_O

Alexa's eyes widened and she staggered before catching her grip on her friends shoulder. Erm....rune set....the thing she left on her bed but meant to put into her bag before rushing out of the Common Room...? That rune set? The Gryffindor lost all colour in her face and just stood there STARING.

Erm...

.....um....uh.....nothing to see here, just pay attention to all the lovely students answering the question.

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Originally Posted by Luna_Midnight

What?? Nerida's brain was pulling a blank. She knew zip not-a zero about this Sigurd person. She needed to study more for Ancient Runes, what if this happened on the NEWTs? How could she not know something? She had been studying for like ever.

Sigh pulling out some parchment it was time for her major note taking! And made a mental note she needed to study some more. Looking around the room she saw that she wasn't the only person who didn't know who Sigurd was.

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Originally Posted by dans_grl431

Sigurd? Blair wasn't even about to pretend she knew who this was. It was far too early in the day, her brain was still warming up. The name wasn't even slightly familiar to her. Instead she stayed silent and listened to the responses of her fellow students. Looking around she noticed thankfully she wasn't the only one not offering an answer.

No harm in not knowing. Though Botros found it odd that Cambridge had nothing to say, it wasn't like she prevented herself from improvising when she didn't know the answer. His eyes lingered on her for an extra moment before moving to someone else.

SPOILER!!: Maika

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Originally Posted by Zellanna

While she tilted her head back, resting it in her hands as she looked at the sun, she muttered, "'He took his vorpal sword in hand:/Long time the manxome foe he sought—/So rested he by the Tumtum tree,/And stood awhile in thought./ /And as in uffish thought he stood,/The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,/Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,/And burbled as it came!/ /One, two! One, two! and through and through/The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!/He left it dead, and with its head/He went galumphing back.' Except his father was dead and it certainly wasn't the Jabberwocky." She giggled a little to herself as she thought. Okay, so her mind wandered off a bit.

Without thinking, she followed more out loud, "Sigurðr, or Sigurd... His story is in the Völsunga saga. He was the son of Sigmund, who was the son of Völsung, who was the who was the son of Rerir, who was the son of Sigi, who was the son of Odin himself. I think this is important because Völsung had his hall built around the great oak Barnstokkr, which Odin stuck the sword Gram into and said it was meant for the man who could pull it from the tree. Of Völsung's children, it was Sigmund who pulled it from the tree. Which is where the sword came from that Sigurd used. The entire tale is fascinating, but getting back on topic, King Sigmund dies before Fœddr Sigurðr, or The Birth of Sigurd. Um..." She pulled out a book that had the title of Völsunga Saga, and opening it revealed something other than English. "Um..." she repeated again, looking for when Sigurd received the sword. "Grew up with Hjálpreki... I know he was fostered by Reginn somewhere, the sword was broken and Reginn reforged it, but I can't remember where it was broken in the tale or when it was given to Sigurðr. I know though that after using Gram to slay Fáfni, it was Reginn to drink the blood, and Sigurðr to eat the heart. And Fáfni was... Reginn's brother..." She sighed and closed the book. "I'm sorry. I only have the Old Norse version of the stories, and I don't read it very well. I haven't finished reading Sigurðr- I mean, Sigurd's tales yet."

Botros moved with his cane closer to the Slytherin girl, he extended his hand to take the book she was holding. "Can I borrow this please?" He smiled. "You're absolutely right about what you said. Very good." Though when he looked up at her classmates, he saw too many blank faces staring their way. It made him chuckle a bit. It was too much information for all of them, he wouldn't want them to memorize this at this stage of their runic education.

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Originally Posted by SweetPeea

Nicola had to admit it, she was a little bummed that they weren't going to do any searching on the grounds. BUT, nonetheless she was soon paying attention to the lesson once more. Which was when she heard Professor Botros bring up Norse Mythology & the hero Sigurd. And it wasn't long until the seventh year's hand was soon raised in the air.

"Sigurd was known as a legendary hero from Norse Mythology. I also heard that most of his earliest extant representations come in pictorial form from seven runestones in Sweden." Coming from Sweden herself, she recalls hearing certain things about Sigurd from her father when he used to study the hero.

OH-she almost forgot!

"And after his mother Hiordis married King Alf, he had sent Sigurd to Regin, where Regin had first tempted Sigurd to greed & violence when he asked if he had control over his father's gold. Pretty much, Regin was questioning why Sigurd acted as a simple stableboy instead of having his own horse. Which as I'm sure you know, he went in search to retrieve his own horse, named Grani, which was derived from Odin's Sleipnir. And yes, he did slay the dragon Fafnir with the resembled sword that was once his father Sigmund's. I even heard that once he slayed the dragon, he beheaded Regin, roasted Fafnir's heart and even consumed part of it, which apparently gave him the gift of wisdom?"

Nicola then cleared her throat once all of that....information came pouring out of her mouth. She then smiled towards the Professor as she began to run her fingers through her hair a bit silently.

Botros went back to stand in front of his students, an arm was outstretched to point at the Ravenclaw. "Yes! Right there. While all of you got Sigurd's legend correctly, I'm glad that Miss Kusakindla mentioned his horse, Grani.

"Sigurd's legend, in summary and due to the old Norse version, is that he's a dragon slayer. He used his father's shattered sword to go after the dragon, Fafnir, and take the gold he was guarding.

"In his journey to slay this dragon, the hero Sigurd meets a long-bearded old man he had never seen before. Sigurd tells the old man that he is going to choose a horse, and asks the old man to come with him to help him decide. The old man says that they should drive the horses down to the river Busiltjörn. The two drive the horses down into the deeps of Busiltjörn, and all of the horses swim back to land but a large, young, and handsome gray horse that no one had ever mounted. The grey-bearded old man says that the horse is from "Sleipnir's kin" and that "he must be nourished heedfully, for it will be the best of all horses". The old man vanishes. Sigurd names the horse Grani. "

"Of course the old man was none other than Odin." Botros paused, and started pacing slowly, "Grani, the horse, and Gram, the sword, are the two assets that helped Sigurd become the Norse hero her was." Stopping to face the students again, "Being the last lesson this term, shortly before you all take your exams and endure a little bit of stress." Maybe more than just a bit in case of the fifth and seventh years. "I figured we could all use some fresh air and try horseriding, not just any horses, Grani horseriding." Beaming and clearly so pleased about this, Botros looked over the path that led further from the castle.

"Before someone joins us now, I need you all to think about the runes that would help us with transfiguration spells, shapeshifting and drastic change." What are they, what would they choose? He'd been teaching them for three years now, they should get it right... or half-right for the first timers.

ooc:
- Have your character mention only one rune, please, and explain briefly why they think it's good for transfiguration spells.
- Class will continue in 20 hrs maximum.