Botros smiled and nodded at the Head Girl. Great question, he patted her shoulder allowing her to go back to her seat. He turned to the students who let up their hands to answer.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Felixir

At the question, the third year flung his hand up into the air. "Sowilo!" he began enthusiastically. "It's got a few divinatory meanings - I think they all do - but one for sowilo is 'positive energy'." Tobias sent vibes of silent thanks towards Ella for picking a question he could answer. Or at least... he hoped that that was a correct answer.

"Sowilo, the sun rune, is about positivity and optimism. Very good."

Quote:

Originally Posted by HazelStone101

"Well, there is Hagalaz, it symbolizes change to come in the near future.." Emma answered, smiling over at the both of them. She was just so pleased with herself, hopefully her smarts would be earn house points soon. Merlin, did the 'claws need the points.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saiai

"Hagalaz, for the purpose of Divination often signals that a change is coming, oftentimes for the better. However, it also symbolises disaster, loss of some kind, maybe even blame," Ana said, sounding somewhat lively. "As for a magical purpose... It is often worn as a talisman to remove unwanted influences, or to break any destructive patterns, which ties into the change part of it's meaning," she finished, actually quite happy with her answer this time.

"Great answer! Two extra points for you." Botros told the Slytherin, and nodded with a smile to the Ravenclaw. He waved his wand so that the words were etched on the blackboard for the others to write down.

Quote:

Originally Posted by UnicornDragonPatronus

Seeing the girl get up, she offered a reassuring smile. She knew some people were nervous getting up in front of everyone, and it helped to have some smiling faces looking back.

Tessa looked up at the girl's question, then slowly raised her hand. "There's Raidho," she said, glancing down at her notes. "It is the rune of change, journey, or destiny- or, at least, those are a few of the ways it is defined," she explained.

Quote:

Originally Posted by FearlessLeader19

Oh! He knew a Rune! The second year instantly raised a hand. "Raidho means journey. It represents a positive change or development which may be physical or spiritual.''

"Raidho means a journey, yes, and it represents change from place to place. Change of energy. We don't use Raidho with the transfiguration spells, by the way, because the change in mostly about a place, it's about movement not about the change of energy."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lexers

But she had a question. And he had an answer. It was a little weird though. Was it supposed to be directed at the Bishop girl or Botros? Uhhhh. He put his hand up anyway, "well there's Ehwaz." He nodded and then cleared his throat, "it's the rune for locomotion. It makes movement easier." Maybe thats what happened with Stonehenge. Cool. Cool, cool, cool.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tegz

"Ehwaz is a movement and transportation rune. You can invoke it magically to move things, or to make heavy things easier to move." Yeah. Pretty cool. "Like you could carve it or paint it on a giant stone and it'd be much easier to move. One of the theories that I liked is that the pyramids in Egypt were built in this way - muggle slaves did the grunt work, but wizardkind used Ehwaz among other rune symbols marked on the giant stone blocks so that they'd actually be easier to put in place without actually having to have a witch or wizard standing there and levitating them."

"Mr. Odessa here answered his own question as well as Ms. Bishop in one answer." Botros gave him a proud smile, then tapped the blackboard to write about Ehwaz. "Interesting theory about the pyramids, Mr. Odessa, while nothing is proven, I had similar thoughts about ancient miraculous structures across the world. The advanced physic laws did not apply back then, they didn't have it, magic becomes the only explanation for how they did it. Then with the Egyptian runic legacy, it's runic magic." Nodnodnod.

Quote:

Originally Posted by FireboltAvis88

"The Rune Dagaz means day or daylight, breakthrough, a new beginning or radical change. It's divinatory meaning is happiness, success, activity, a fulfilling lifestyle, satisfaction. Basically if a person draws this rune, they should be expecting a breakthrough in whatever activity they are currently working on. They will eventually achieve success if they are prepared to make radical changes. Basically that the darkness is behind you, a new day has begun." Sander explained.

Then he remembered there was a converse meaning to the rune.

"There is no reverse for Dagaz but there is a converse. If drawn in that position, it means that now is not the time to make changes. But one must continue to persevere and trust in one's strengths and abilities, until the moment is right."

Sander concluded his answer.

"Dagaz is all about positivity. Almost like Sowilo. If it comes up in a spread, you can rest assured, if you use it with some of your spells then it'll most likely turn the unpleasant effect to a pleasant one. Stinging hex, for example, won't work with Dagaz." He nodded at the boy, pleased with his answer.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bubbles

"Hagalaz," she said. Under the table she rubbed her clammy palm against her uniform skirt. This answering questions thing was giving her anxiety a run for its money. "It represents changes made in the near future and other time related things like, um...ummm, crisis, catastrophes...completion." Didn't sound too good.

Curiosity prickled at her. Slowly, her gaze fell on the professor. She wanted ask something related to this. But...no. That would call attention to her. Yeah, better not. She pursed her lips, then turned her attention back to the Head Girl.

"First rune of the second Aett. Change in its bad face, sudden and unpleasant change usually. Yes, very good, dear."

Quote:

Originally Posted by DecemberMoon

There was just so much to know about Runes. The more people said their ideas and takes on each question, the more Eliza wanted to know. She watched as Ella thought up and asked her question. Eliza for one was thankful that she could answer this one fairly easily. She'd always liked the rune that first came to mind, so she told about it. "Kenaz is a rune whose divinatory meaning includes things relating to creativity and inspiration... thoughts like insight or solving problems, being wise and thoughtful." It really sounded like a good rune all the way around to her.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rosa Chispa Princessa

Oichi quickly made a note of her little mistake when she heard the professor say z little something rather strange to her. Wait, wha? Why is the professor asking A student to ask a question? Weird. But the Slithering prefect answered the call so I might as well answer her question. Oichi raised her hand, "Kenaz represents the insight and insight to totally change you're direction in life. To remake yourself in a whole new light off the better.".

"Yes, that's the divinatory meaning. Kenaz is also a great rune to use with fire spells." He smiled and nodded.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saraie

Okay so he was going to try one more time on this question. Just to see if he did have an idea of runes. "Mannaz? Mannaz its divinatory meaning includes social concerns, family, community, relationships. "

"Exactly. If you see a Mannaz runestone in a divination spread, then it's telling you about family or a certain intimate person in your life. Mannaz is great to wear when you're going out with family or a group of people, for example."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meizzner

Yeah Nigel kind of zoned out thinking about nothing on the last question. But onto the next question. So runes and meaning. Easy enough.

"Isa meaning inactivity or blockage"

Had more meaning but Nigel did not really want to go that into detail. Though Isa was probably already said. But Nigel was not really listening. So who was asking the next question.

"It means that when used for divination, it's great with spells of ice magic-wise." Botros nodded, noticing that most students aren't answering the head girl's question accurately.

Quote:

Originally Posted by aaetha

Adrienne had already mentioned Jera, when she was talking about Sif a moment ago, so she figured she may as well continue on with the same rune. "Well, Jera is part of the second aett." On second thought, she had no idea if she was pronouncing it right or not. Was it supposed to be yer-a? Did Norse have j's that weren't r's? Why were runes so confusing? "And from a divination point of view, it means some sort of positive change, usually. Like, you're going to be rewarded for whatever work you've been doing." If that made any sense.

Quote:

Originally Posted by hermionesclone

Hand went up in the air. "There's Jera," he started, "Which, erm... which talks about change, usually a really positive change. And a reward. Maybe... maybe someone could be going through a really difficult time and if they're trying to see what their future holds and this rune comes up, it could give that person that little extra push to hold it together. So... yeah. That's Jera." Thumbs up.

"Yes, but it's more about the final result. The rewarding ending. The harvest, as it says in your book. So it's the change accompanied with an outcome, the ending of a process." Nodnodnod. "Great rune to use with herbology spells."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squishy

Trying to envision what she had read in her book, after a moment she raised her hand to answer the question. "Algiz has the meaning 'protection'. It relates with defence, support, assistance, and something about a devine plan." Whatever that meant.

"Exactly! We can use this rune with the shielding spells, it'll make them stronger and last slightly longer. The divinatory and magical meaning for this rune is identical." He smiled encouragingly.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cassirin

So even though he knew the question was done and they'd moved on, Mo had to offer, "Professor? Just... another nice thing about using Runes is that with a wand, no matter how fast you are, you can only ever cast one spell at a time. With a Rune, you can do multiple magicks at once. It's really the only way you can strengthen a spell as you're casting it... you use magic on your wand as you use your wand for something else." There. Just because it contributed to the conversation, and someone might not realize how dead useful Runes were.

Botros smiled widely and clapped again, "Great said, Captain! Runes help you multitask magic-wise, if you're good enough of course."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cassirin

"GEBO, Ella. Miss Bishop." Always Gebo. Gebo was like an X, and X was a kiss. See? "As far as magical uses, Gebo is a relational Rune and can be invoked to strengthen those relationships... or even find them. Plus it's lucky! Or at least it could invoke luck. Balance, both physically and emotionally, which is really important for Quidditch and studying for NEWTs." And... yeah.

Clapping again, "Great answer, yes." He tapped his wand on the blackboard again.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BriGranger1990

Bri grinned slightly, she got the question about the Norse gods and their runes right...well kind of. She was writing down all the other gods and their runes, and meanings, that she missed the next question. She blushed but she managed to write down notes about it. She listened to as Ella got up and spoke. Bri wrote down the stuff she mention before raising her hand before giving her answer.
" I know a rune. It is called Wunjo. It means Joy. I think it helps strength harmony, among other things." Bri said softly

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anna Banana

Uhhh...what?

That sounded like a really easy question that had been asked in a really difficult way. Sophie ran the question through her mind a good two or three times before she finally thought she'd figured out what Ella was asking.

She raised her hand...to a student.

"What about Wunjo?" she asked. What a name! "I think it stands for glory and power!" All the things she loved the most. Well, ...not the most, but she did love them. "Also...success and worth."

Quote:

Originally Posted by DuckyLinJi

He listened to her question and was glad he was able to answer this one. It was a textbook question so the Gryffindor raised his hand in the air. “Wunjo” he said “has to do with achieving goals and uhm...success?"he was pretty sure it was right.

"Wunjo is a rune of joy, yes, when you see it in a divinatory spread then be ready to get happy. It's a great rune to carve on amulets and wearing them when you're stressed out too, or even give them to a friend as a gift." He was pleased with the girl's answer. Very young but very open mind.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Expecto-Penguin

Now Ella was asking the question? Oh this might be a good one. He listened intently and then looked into his textbook for a rune. He found a cool one and raised his hand. "Uhh Ella? There is a rune in here called Laguz and its means water. Also this is the rune of unconscious intuition and mystery."

"Correct. Laguz is a rune you'd use with water-related spells. It usually tell you about your emotions in a divinatory spread." Botros smiled at the boy.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lissy Longbottom

After flipping through his notes quickly, he found an answer that he THOUGHT would make sense and raised his hand. "Uruz means being spontaneous and stuff, and that's it's divination meaning, so it tells you to just...go with the flow and stuff and not worry about anything."

Quote:

Originally Posted by lemon

"Uruz!" Hand up for the best rune! Yep. "It's meaning has to do with like... gut feelings, or instinct... energy, I think? Passion, wildness, irrationality.." Were they getting the gist of why this was her favorite? "It represents raw physical power, but when it's inverted, it has to do with a weakening of yourself. Any type of weakening, physical or emotional." Pause.

"And I like that it can let you pick up a giant hammer and smash stuff with it." Hulk smash. Grr.

Of course this Captain would say that. Botros chuckled lightly and nodded at her, "Excellent answer, everyone." He tapped his wand against the board.

Quote:

Originally Posted by nanyjj

"There is a rune called er... þurisaz, and I think it roughly means hard times in divination and self-discipline in magic." Pause for a short moment, thinking. "'We should understand the painful times that we are dealing with.' That's what my dad says all the time."

"Thurisaz, yes!" Botros nodded, encouraging. "It's the rune of heroes, as I sometimes like to call it. It symbolizes the dramatic effect or event in one's life that changes them to a better, stronger person. It's that moment when you feel like everything around you is going wrong, only to know that it was just life's way of making you happier and generally better." That was the Divination part. "Magically, it's great with counter-spells." He smiled.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhoenixStar

"There's Nauthiz and that means leading to strength... so using this rune could quite literally help you achieve something that you would not have been able to do so alone." It was like an extra little boost of strength.

"Perfect, yes!" The professor raised his eyebrows, impressed. One of the few students who knew how to answer Bishop's question. He clapped. "Great answer, Nauthiz is about having to fulfill a need in your life. It's about what missing and what you're supposed to focus on in the coming future."

Quote:

Originally Posted by hermygirl

"Othala," he replied to Ella. "It's all about property and inheritance, with an emphasis on family and belonging." Yeah, that. Inheritance and belonging. He wrinkled his nose as an image of his cousin floated into his mind, before shaking it away as a single word replaced it: martyr.

"Yes indeed. Othala is a happy rune to me, personally, it's sometimes about the intimate relationship between family members." Botros smiled to the boy, oblivious to his thoughts.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PotterHeadforLife

But yeah, she had to answer. Astrid raised her hand and said, "Fehu's divinatory meaning includes stuff like prosperity, wealth, and all those bling-blings." She grinned. Hehe. Bling-blings. The word made her giggle. "And its magical meaning includes more money and getting a job or a promotion. Like something really good that includes all the blings." GIGGLY GOO.

Bling-bling? Botros smirked and raised an eyebrow. Nice expression, not at all academic though. "Correct. Fehu can be used at your work place, carved there even for some good business luck." Great job, new student!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lady of Light

She gave a small smile when the Head Girl asked the next question. She liked Ella, yep. And the question.. She looked rather nervous before raising her hand again. "Ansuz. It means a message or some kind of an insight? A form of communication." Awesome! Yeah, she DID get that right. This lesson wasn't going to be that scary, after all.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaniDiNardo

Her attention fell next on Ella after Botros asked her to give the next question. At first she thought it would have been something extra hard, you know her being a seventh year and knowing practically everything but it was simple enough and straightforward. "There's Ansuz as well." Lex began. "It usually refers to the people in authority in the individual's life so like the Professor's and Student Leaders and such. It could also refer to creativity, a creative person maybe or just a creative idea as well." That was obviously the Divination meaning behind it, which of course both Ella and Botros would know so no need to explain that.

"Yes, exactly! Ansuz is probably the most divination-related rune in the set. It's about open paths of communication; misunderstanding, delusion, manipulation by others and the such." The new student had potential in this class. Botros gave her a small smile.

Text Cut: The Bazinga, DaniDiNardo, lemon situation

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bazinga

Now Captain pretty was being totally lame. Was the entire school just lame. "I'm not insulting anyone Captain I'm just saying and asking. Last I checked that was allowed in schools or had that rule changed unless you are older?" He glanced at the professor for his opinion. Honestly Bart didn't see that he did anything wrong. He just felt there should be some teaching before they were expected to know answers and the fact that older students were asking the questions, why wasn't the professor it was there first lesson.

He was super annoyed and just wanted to leave. He really wasn't learning anything at this point and now that two people he had on the cool end of the world dropped to the lame side he wasn't in the best mood. It was time to go find something else to do was class over yet?

Quote:

Originally Posted by OwlEcho63

Hazel knew a little bit about Ancient Runes, but it still definately wasn't her best class. There were too many symbols, too many meanings, and most of all, too many hard things that were similar to other hard things! But besides all of that, she knew a few runes from last year. Plus she'd read the book. And her sister's book. But mostly just her sister's book. "Um, isn't there a rune called Kano? It's the rune for fire? But it also means that change is coming, right?" She wasn't sure if that was right. It might'be been Kajo, or Kamo, or maybe there wasn't even a rune for fire at all! Again, there were just too many things to deal with in Ancient Runes!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bazinga

How on earth was he suppose to know. Any of these questions? Were they suppose to read during summer? Did this man not realize it wasn't cool to study about weird words and symbols over the summer. He looked around how were these students answer this stuff? Did they have it memorized especially the first and second years.

Why was he here again?

This was just so dumb and why wasn't the professor teaching? He wondered if the headmistress would like to know that she was paying an old teacher to sit around while he had students teaching his class.

"Professor how do you expect us to know these answers. I've never taken Ancient Runes before. It wasn't required for first years at my old school." Honestly shouldn't he be teaching this stuff before quizzing them?

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaniDiNardo

"Oi. It's called prying open your runes textbook--the one your mum was required to get you before you got here, and turning to the section on runes. Don't make it look like rocket science, it's really not that hard." So quit making Gryffindor look bad, merlin knew she did a lot of that on her own and the house needed redeeming members.

"Alternately you could sit quietly and let everyone else's knowledge seep in to you." That could work too, mhm, she was in no position to tell anyone to read.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bazinga

"Mind your own business Alexa, just because I open it doesn't mean I get it. Maybe it should be taught before questions are asked to first and second years that all this is foreign too." He glared at the prefect ad here he thought she was cool. Well she just lost her cool ranking to dorkville ranking. He had no time for older bookworm students. Forget that.

He looked away from her not touching his book, because nope not going to happen. The man didn't want to teach he wasn't going to try to learn. Pointless class anyway. So he just looked around the room and wondered if a nap really could happen.

Quote:

Originally Posted by lemon

And obviously, Alice was just sitting there and being the good girl that she was. Total angel and stuff.

Until she heard that kid open his giant mouth. Merlin. First he kissed her, now this.

"Oi. That's your prefect you're talking to, Maroon. Watch what you're saying. You owe her some respect, almost as much as you owe this professor whose teaching style you're insulting." He got looks. "And the advice she's giving you isn't bad. I'd take note of it if I were you."

Yeah, you're welcome, Alexa.

Botros sighed, frowned, and hit the ground with his cane forcefully. "Enough." His voice was gentle, though.

He looked at the Prefect and the Captain first, "Let me handle this, please." They had good intention, they were trying to do their duty. He got that. Though in a classroom, he was still here and their help was not needed. Yet.

His eyes were on the little kid next, stern but not unkind. "Mister..." Name tags, right. "Maroon. When you have a question, a concern or anything to discuss with me, you're more than welcome to come to my office or wait until the class is over. Interrupting the class with uncalled-for, pointless and most importantly false comments is unacceptable, punishable even." But Botros was not going to punish a new kid during his first lesson. "In addition, your attitude towards your student leaders was disrespectful. And in my presence." This called for a deeper frown. "You're not obliged to give a complete answer in my class yet, but you are obliged to pay attention to your classmates' answers and then to what I add to them." Botros didn't even want to explain the obvious to the boy but he did anyway. "You obviously was not paying attention to anything, and you obviously are not willing to try and open your textbook." And that was the last minute Botros was going to waste on this subject. "I will ask you to leave my classroom now if you're not willing to pay closer attention." With his wand, Botros opened the door for the boy. "End of discussion. No more words on this subject from anyone." He did not wish to treat his students with frowns and lectures but sometimes they forget where the red line is drawn.

Botros was mad. And now that he was no longer smiling, he pointed at the blackboard for the students to write the notes. He went to sit behind his desk, rubbed his face and waited.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blackboard

Runes: Divination & Magic
Rune:: Divination : Magical use
Fehu:: Prosperity : Financial success or luck
Uruz:: Passion : Physical Strength
Thurisaz:: Dramatic event : Counter-spells
Ansuz:: Paths of communication : helps with general spells
Raidho :: Change of energy : spell of transportation
Kenaz:: Inspiration : Fire spells
Gebo:: Relationship related : great to carve on amulets
Wunjo:: Joy : great to carve on amulets
Hagalaz:: Positive Change : curse-breaking usage
Nauthiz:: Necessity : general spells
Isa:: Blockage : icy spells
Jera:: rewarding final change : Herbology spells
Eihwaz:: Turning point : transfiguration spells
Perthro:: New Beginning : (mysterious/unknown)
Algiz:: Protection : shielding spells
Sowilo:: Success : warm spells
Teiwaz:: Discipline : healing spells
Berkana:: Fertility/growth : healing spells
Ehwaz:: Change : movement spells
Mannaz:: Community : great to carve on amulets
Laguz:: Emotions : water spells
Inguz:: Productivity : Herbology spells
Dagaz:: Happiness : disables hexes
Othala:: Property : great to carve on amulets

"We talked about the magical use of runes. How do we use runes with our spells?" The technicality of it. Do they draw them on wands? Do they chant? Botros waited for the students to raise their hands and answer.