Lux had never been to a seminar before, but as soon as she had heard about this one, she had to attend. Photography was rather interesting, and she wanted to learn as much about wizarding photography as possible.

Stepping inside, she saw a lot of faces, but Tessa's hair was what really stood out to her. Making her way over to the older Gryffindor, she noticed that Sander was there. Not really a big surprise, since Tessa and Sander seemed to sit with each other all the time now. Sitting on the other side of Tessa, she beamed at them both. "Hey, Tessa! Hey Mr. Celery Stick!" Hehehe.

Sander's face lit up and the widest smile appeared on his tanned face when he saw Tessa enter the classroom. He wanted to wave to her to catch her attention but he realized that he didn't have to because she had already seen him. As she walked towards him, his heart began to beat rapidly and his tummy did it's regular routine of somersaults. He was so familiar with that feeling now that all he did was smile.

As he looked at Tessa approaching he belatedly realized that his body was adjusting to make room for her on his bean bag. He quickly caught himself. Then she was sitting down next to him and he felt like everything was back in place.

"Excited?" Sander's voice squeaked out the answer. He immediately blushed, cleared his throat and tried replying again, this time the pitch of his voice lowered.

"Excited. Yes definitely. Remember those photos I showed you of the lake and the woods where I lived. I took those. I know it's nothing compared to those up there but I love taking photographs. What about you?" he asked her in return.

'Course Alice was there. She was interested in wizarding photography, on account of it wasn't something she didn't know much about yet, and the lioness had a desire to know practically everything. Plus she still had apron Ascanius pictures to develop for his Christmas gift and stuff.

As she entered the Great Hall for the seminar, the seventh year stopped right by the table at the front and began examining things. First off, the instructor. Alice inspected her right there, staring at her silently before moving her gaze to her camera, and then to the pictures that littered the room. Finally, her eyes landed on the box, then returned to the lady.

"Hi ma'am. Cool camera. What kind is it? Is it a magical one? Are there even magical cameras? What's in the box?" Head tilt. "I'm Alice."

Noticing motion, she turned her head to see Lux join them. She grinned at the younger girl. "Cucumber!" she greeted with a warm smile. "Welcome- please join us!" she said, as Lux sat down next to her. At Lux's name for Sander, she titled her head to one side in confusion. "Did she just call you..." she turned to look at Sander, fighting a grin. He must have told her about his experience being all green. "

"I guess you two have met," she said with a giggle, looking between her two friends.



Tessa felt her heart skip a few beats as Sander's face. It had had just lit up when he saw her... it was almost too wonderful to look at, and yet she couldn't look away. Focus, Tessa, she scolded.

She nodded at his reply, not realizing that she was combing her fingers through her hair as she did so. She stopped, suddenly conscious of what she was doing... and saw that some strands were coming away with her fingers. And... was one of them grey? She frowned, shaking her head. The coloring must be malfunctioning on of her many streaks. She would check them later.

"Very excited. I haven't take much photography, but I'd like to learn," she explained. "And..." she leaned closer. "This way I can see from behind the lens, what will make a good Quidditch photo," she explained with a wink. She wanted to look her best on camera, after all. Suddenly, realizing how close she was to Sander, she sat back- sinking into the bean bag chair.

Sander smiled when he saw Lux walk up and join the both of them. But before he could even greet her, she beat him to it...only she didn't call him by his name. She had used Tessa's nickname for him. He first blinked in surprise and then the laughter broke from his lips and he began to laugh uncontrollably. He laughed until his sides ached.

When Tessa asked whether they had met before, all was able to do was nod his head in affirmative. He laughed so hard that he began sliding off his bean bag until he was leaning against Tessa's shoulder.

Sander waved hello to Lux and tried to compose himself. He wiped the tears from his eyes and took a deep breath before speaking. "Well I believe that you will make a great model in front of the camera," Sander smiled at her.

Why was his face so close to her? Sander looked down and realized that he was leaning against her shoulder. Could he just stay where he was? It felt nice leaning up next to her, but Sander reluctantly straightened up and settled back into his own bean bag.

Now sitting upright, Sander brushed back the locks of his hair that had fallen forward when he had been bent over laughing. He noticed there were some strands of hair lying on his lap and he has motioned to brush them off with his hand, he realized there were loose strands entangled in his fingers. Sander frowned at the sight and made a mental note to change his shampoo.

"Hey Cucumber it's good to see you here." Sander smiled over at Lux. He smacked the empty bean bag next to him. "Come, join us." he told the younger girl.

Lizzie stood by her table waiting eagerly for the little works of art to come streaming in. There was so much to cover in the time she was given, so many angles, she could get shots from. The lighting in here wasn't half bad. The woman had to tweak it a bit but that was minor. While waiting she looked to the black tent in the corner. Half the magic would happen in there a little later on.



With a clap of her hands she tried getting everyone's attention. This was a good turn out. Photos did that. They brought people together. "Good day everyone. My name's Lizzie Courwell and like most of you have guessed, I'll be your instructor!" Enthusiasm, they had it...for the most part anyway.

"Before we begin, you've noticed the moving photos around the walls." She shoved off the desk, bouncing slightly in anticipation and snapping a few photos here and there. "What else can we get up and moving." There was no WRONG answer given everyone here was capable of at least a little magic but she was looking for something in particular, something she'd never attempted but had just as much of an appreciation for as she did her own photos.

Hands? Yes? Answers?

Lizzie's eyes moved from face to face waiting and perhaps bracing herself for any completely far-fetched answers. They had those. She remembered her school days. Snap. Sanp. Snap..

Benjy wasn't usually one to attend the seminars. There hadn't been any related to increase adrenaline levels, and thus he wasn't bothered to spend his spare time attending it. This one has piqued his interest, however, when it was posted on the noticeboard. Firstly, because he owned a camera, and it'd be cool to know how to take better shots, and secondly because Mo had done something to the sixth year dorm closet, and the Benjy only knew that it was something to do with photography and generally to avoid it. Maybe this lesson would tell him what it was, and why it seemed so important to his fellow Ravenclaw.

He took a slow walk round the photographs hanging around the place, before plopping into a blue beanbag near the front. Just in time for the introduction and first question.

Unsure whether or not to be unnerved by the 'snap snap snap' of photos being taken, Benjy lifted his chin slightly and raised his hand. "Skateboards," he answered simply. "Well, me on a skateboard, if you want the up bit," he added, as he gave a quick look round the room for Lex. She was probably one of the only other ones at Hogwarts that could do tricks. Thinking of which, they needed to go learn tricks sometime. And talk. But mainly skateboard and do fun stuff.

It took every fibre of her being not to scream with excitement as she found a bean bag to sit in on the side with the good lighting. This was better than when she got the role of Amata in the Academy's production of The Fountain of Fair Fortune last term. Well, almost better. Having the most amazing role alongside her cutie patootie and those two other girls that she outshone was number one on Demelza's list of triumphs. But being one of the instructor's subjects (let's be real – it was so going to happen) was definitely high on her list.

And then she saw Captain Alice get the first shot of the seminar. What was this instructor thinking? Yes, Alice was pretty and all, but she just ... stood there and stared at everything. She didn't even ask to have her picture taken. Demelza dramatically did a hair flip and then raised her chin ever so slightly. Hello! Over here, camera lady!

"Well, the first things that I think of are magical portraits. The school has hundreds of them," Demelza said, raising her hand. She didn't keep her hand up in the air too long in case the camera was pointed at her. She had a number of poses that she was more than ready to try out. "Like magical photographs, they move and can be hung up on a wall." She smiled and tilted her head to the side so the instructor could snap away.

What?

No really, what? Did she want answers? That question though... what else they could get up and moving... up AND moving? Well... you could put a portrait on the wall (up) and charm it to life (moving) so...

The tall Slytherin put his hand up. "Portraits."

Sure. That was true. He was trying to participate see? And nobody needed to know that the only reason he'd come was to try to gain some understanding of something that was really important to someone else. So yeah. He fixed his gaze on the seminar lady and waited.

Photography. Interesting. Sort of. Olly hadn't really decided yet. She of course appreciated photographs as much as the next person but the actual taking of the photographs? She wasn't sure. Actually to be honest, she couldn't remember the last time she'd even HELD a camera in her hands.

After greeting the instructor, Olly had taken a seat on one of the bean bags. Interesting, she felt even shorter sitting on (in??) them than she really was. It was slightly weird yet oddly comfortable. She looked around, her eyes lingering on certain people (one in particular) for a little longer before narrowing her eyes at the photographs slightly. Impressive, she supposed. She really wasn't an expert or anything. Far from, really.

Ah. But questions. The lesson had started. "Drawings too, I guess. Like sketches. You can animate them." Was that what Lizzie Courwell was looking for? Olly shrugged to herself, lazily glancing at the other people who provided answers. Portraits, yeah. And...skateboards? Her eyes rested on Ravenclaw for a moment. Right, yeah. That too.

Sarah was looking forward to this... Her hand shot up just as the teacher asked the question. She waited patiently to be called on. "The other's said magical portriats, we made moving ones in a seminar a few years ago... Anyway, statues and suits of armors can move" She said. And chocolate frogs, which were animated to move.

Lizzie Courwell was an excitable one, it seemed. It was probably because she was so passionate about this subject. Ella would be the same way if they were discussing elephants today...or quidditch. Plus it was nice to see someone who cared so much about something. Their eyes lit up and they got all bouncy and really, it was fun to watch. Maybe someone should be snapping some photos of the instructor so she could see just how clear it was that she loved photography.

Lots of friends were here now too which was nice. Alec got a grin and Tobias too for reasons. Then Asher and others filtered in and Ella acknowledged people with a smile or a nod. It was weird knowing so many people and realizing that you wouldn't be seeing them next term. It was also not the time to be thinking about stuff like that so yeah, stopping that right now.

Anyway, questions. The first one was sort of confusing given the way it was presented. Was it rhetorical or? Ella waited for a moment to see if Courwell was going to give examples and when none came, she figured it was safe to offer suggestions following some of her classmates.

"We once did a project in Transfiguration where we animated little gargoyles. It took a lot of concentration but it was pretty neat seeing what you could get them to do." Tricks and stuff. Some more exciting than others.

Tessa's breath caught when Sander slid against her shoulder. Typically, she would give the person a shove with a laugh, but this time she froze. Would he get upset if he did that? Would he laugh too? Hundreds of outcomes swam in her head... Upset at herself for over-thinking it, she just remained there, with him against her. She liked that option best anyway.

Oh! The seminar was starting...

Tessa offered a sheepish smile when she realized she had asked so many questions. How could one explore without asking questions? The more you knew, the better prepared one could be! There could have been a boggart in the box for all she knew... although unlikely. Too small, right?

"Seminar, got it," she replied with a smile. "Well, I'm looking forward to the seminar- but my best pictures would be on the Quidditch pitch," she said with a grin before walking to her seat. It wasn't boasting, it was just true.

At the question, she raised her hand. "Many of the tapestries around the palace are also enchanted to move," she relied, thinking of the tapestry of the trolls in tu-tus. After all, an image like that stuck with you.

Ian's face popped up as the lady in the front with the camera started talking. It appeared that Ian had followed himself into some sort of photography seminar. Hmm. I wonder when they are going to feed us? he wondered to himself. She started talking about pictures and photographs and he began to look around the room at the different portraits that were there. He was hungry. His whole focus was on getting something to eat and so the only thing he wanted to see moving was a skillet or a waiter's tray.

He put his hand in the air and mentioned, Perhaps we could get some bacon moving, or maybe a chef or house elf serving some food. I always like the pictures of food. Making this statement only made him more hungry and he heard his tummy growl and it seemed to be getting louder.

So Hannah did not normally go to these types of things, but it was her seventh year and she would have some very important tests coming up before you knew it, and what could it hurt really? Well, it could hurt her, but she was just going to suck it up and try to go with the flow... try being the key word. She hoped nobody talked to her because she not in a particular good mood and she would be not be held responsible for that came out of her mouth.

She noticed the witch standing at a small table, and wondering for a moment whether or not she needed to check in or something with her? Were they getting any kind of credit for this? She went with an eyebrow raise to acknowledge that she saw the woman, but at the same time couldn't be bothered with introducing herself or saying a greeting. Whatever.

So what did she do now?

Wizarding pictures? Well this was snazzy! Eliza was ready to start photographing so she could fill her dorm with new pictures of the term. She listened quietly and thought over the question the instructor asked first. Up and moving? Up....and moving? Things....Erm? Brooms?

She slowly raised her hand to reply, "Brooms? They're up and moving...a lot really." She put her hand back down and wondered if that was the type of answer she'd been looking for.

Sander sat back and listened as the other students volunteered their answers while he thought of something he could get up and moving.

Tapestries? Mentioned. Pictures? Mentioned. Animating objects to move? Mentioned. He was running out of answers.

Then he thought of something he had heard that did get up and move. So he raised his hand and answered, "Professor, perhaps a magic flying carpet?"

...................... Huh.

What can they get up and moving? She didn't KNOW. Plus, the question was so confusing and like... Merlin. Astrid stared at the seminar lady with wide eyes. So confused. She didn't know. She didn't know ANYTHING else that could get up and moving. So... yeah.

But... now she thought of something. "Pretty much anything you animate moves, yeah?" You can animate a toy doll and it'd move, but that was really scary and like... NOBODY wanted toy dolls to move. Oh Merlin. Nope. Forget she ever thought of that part. Yeah. Okay. Forgotten. Done.

Adi looked around as someone greeted him. "Oh, Hi, Benny!'' he responded. "How's it going?'' But he couldn't say much more as the lady with the camera began to talk. She talked a lot.

What could they get moving? Anything, really. But Adi liked Ian's answer best. Yep. He raised his hand. "I agree with Ian. Anything that has to do with food.'' Because food was one of the best things ever even if they just looked at it in books or other media.

Gwen didn't quite understand the question. Did she mean which things they could make move? Because basically anything could move as long as a person moved it. Listening to the other students answer she raised her hand. "In Herbology Professor Bentley made the topiaries move." Maybe that was the sort of answer she was looking for.

Oh! She was taking pictures of them! Gwen smiled a little bit more, no need to look like a grump in a picture, however, she hoped that the last few pictures didn't end up on these walls, because who knew what sort of horrible face she'd been making without knowing it?

Nigel thought this was a tad bit confusing. So it had to be something moving like a broom or skateboard. Or was this just about pictures, since this was a photography seminar after all. But it all related to moving pictures so answering did seem best.

"Like a surfboard"

Movies and TV shows or anything like that was also true. So yeah.

His... his eyes?!

Alec blinked. They weren't doing that weird colour thing again, were they? This was a good thing, right? A small grin flitted across his face and he nodded at her, as a way of saying thanks. His eyes... that was something he hadn't gotten remarks on before. Hair? Sure! LOTS of times. But... eyes? Hardly ever.

She seemed really happy, Ms Courwell did. Happy and... able to snap pictures really quickly. She was a professional so maybe that wasn't surprising but it was enough to make the boy impressed. Could he do that? Probably not. He could try but... the pictures would come out blurry from him moving too quickly. To him, this looked like a pretty normal room with lots of pictures and photography items around.

The question was weird. What can you get up and moving? ... Erm... anything? Like Astrid had said. The Head Boy looked away from the photographer and around at the pictures. Crups, people dancing... and... hold on. "Erm... Ms?" he started, raising his hand in the air, "What about the Snitch? I mean... it's a ball but it has wings, which imitate the wings on the Golden Snidget bird. I guess... those have been charmed to move around on their own?"

... That... was not answering the question. ... Was it?

This was a weird question. Did she mean just drawings and portraits and stuff? Caleb had never tried to get any of those moving. He thought they just...like...DID. There was actual work behind that? Huh.

He raised his hand. "Doesn't the text on the newspapers move? Or at least it CAN move. The pictures on the paper move too," he pointed out.

Cutty liked the directions West and Caleb were going. Get those points for Slytherin, boys! Wait, would there be housepoints for this? Not that the promise of being able to take and develop magical blackmail photos wasn't enough, but hey...two birds. He had been thinking of less literal examples of up and moving. His hand went up in the air, "Ideas, Miss Courwell. You and get an idea up and moving." If you have the will to and resources.

Moving, huh? Well, Tobias had an answer for that. One he knew was right. He grinned and raised his hand, answering enthusiastically.

"Me!" And he wasn't just calling her attention, that was his answer. "Me. I can move. We can make me move." Didn't even need magic. Toby was doing it now, see? Wavewavewave.