A clamp? Grayson looked down at the radiosonde in his hands and ran a hand over the clamp. That detaches the radio receiver device. Good to know. Now he knew not to Gryffindor about by pushing the clamp in advance. Uh huh. Thanks for that piece of in--

Open a WINDOW?! When it was freaking COLD outside? Just the thought was enough to make the fourteen year old shiver, and not with anticipation. He pulled his robes closer to his body as he slowly made his way over towards a window and opened it. Cool, cold air whooshed inside and for a moment, Grayson forget everything that he was meant to do. All he could register was the fact that everything inside of him felt COLD and he did NOT like this one bit. No thank you. He wanted to be sitting by a FIRE.

Remembering what he was here to do, the Slytherin gathered up his senses and pushed down on the clamp, which detached the radio receiver device. He did keep a hold of the radiosonde because Grayson Whitlock wasn't dumb. The balloon was let out and it bobbed along outside, even floating up a little. He gave it a couple of seconds before yanking it back inside and shutting the window with a snap.

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

Still shivering, Grayson squinted down at the reading. What in the name of Merlin was this thing DOING?! Flamsteed had said to give it a couple of seconds, sure, but he was kind of excited about seeing what this reading said. ESPECIALLY if it gave signs of the snow letting up and there being signs of summer, hot weather and possibly a chance of swimming by the--

-32 degrees? Did this reading really say MINUS THIRTY TWO DEGREES?!

............................ NO. Done. He was DONE with this weather.

Simon continued to watch the temperature drop on his probe. He squinted at the reading and his mouth dropped when he read the number.

-35 C?

How was that even possible? Could it really be that cold outside of the classroom. Perhaps so? He wrote the number down in his notebook and took a step away from the window to let others see their own weather balloons. He was just glad that his probe had stopped fluctuating.

Thank Merlin, he thought.

However, as soon as he thought of that, he turned around to check his readings and saw that the numbers continued to fluctuate. Murphy's law had just happened. Simon just shook his head and watched the numbers as they fluctuated from -35 C to -20 C to -38 C and then back to -35 C.

The winds began to howl and rattle the windows to the classroom. What windows were open were suddenly SLAMMED shut and students standing too close found their cheeks burning from icy cuts caused by the wind.

The balloons trashed about violently and began deflating. A thin layer of ice crept across the surface of the balloons and the device attached, sending ALL OF THEM plummeting into the freezing white abyss below.

Hayden was very confused. Astronomy definitely was not her thing, but she was still trying as hard as she could. It just took her a little longer to get started because she was still processing the instructions. She didn't want to do it wrong. But she eventually made her way over to the window. It was freezing cold thank you very much. She was fully prepared to finish her task as quickly as possible so she could get away from the cold. She let the balloon out the window but she never got the chance to note the temperature.

The cold suddenly increased, and the wind picked up. Before she could even react, the windows slammed shut but she was still left with a lingering chill. She didn't even notice what happened to the balloons because she didn't really care. Instead she turned and fixed Flamsteed with such a look of contempt. This was his fault..somehow. It was his class so that made it his fault. All she wanted to do at the moment was get away from the cold and eat something warm in front of a fire.

Zander let out an audible GASP! when the wind shut the window. Ouchiee, his face hurt. He looked around, face red, with widened eyes. Uh oh. Their balloons! He looked for Professor Flamsteed, with a look of complete worry settling on his face."Uh, Professor, what are we supposed to do now!?!" Did this mean that the winter was gonna stay for a long time? Because yep, that's what he thought it meant. Okay suddenly dropped a million degrees in here because it's even COLDER now, if that's even possible!

As the winds began to howl, Sophie chanced a look in the direction of the professor. Was THIS enough proof for him now? She really, REALLY didn't think this snow was going to let up anytime soon. Her attention was suddenly drawn back to her balloon, when the window she was standing at slammed closed. "Ouch!" she said, putting her hand to her cheek.

She was just about to draw in her balloon and call it quits, when her balloon began thrashing about. "MERLIN!" she called out. A second later, Sophie's device made an odd sound, and then a second after that, her balloon went plummeting into the icy snow below. Umm...okay. *blink*

"Err, Professor? I think the answer is no," she said, "the snow won't be letting up anytime soon." Was it okay to be officially scared of snow now?

Continuing to make his way around the classroom, he gave students the occasional approving nod or double thumbs up as they worked. The varying numbers on their devices was...a little concerning, but he was trying keep a goblet is half full mentality.

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Narrator

The winds began to howl and rattle the windows to the classroom. What windows were open were suddenly SLAMMED shut and students standing too close found their cheeks burning from icy cuts caused by the wind.

The balloons trashed about violently and began deflating. A thin layer of ice crept across the surface of the balloons and the device attached, sending ALL OF THEM plummeting into the freezing white abyss below.

...and then THAT happened.

"EVERYONE STEP AWAY FROM THE WINDOWS! BACK TOWARDS YOUR SEATS!" he barked. Just in case something else were to crash into the glass and break them. It was a wonder they hadn't shattered when they had slammed shut just now. His own cheeks had been cut by what he imagined was a tiny piece of ice and a thin blood red line tore across his cheek. Nothing too worry about though, just a flesh wound. "Is everyone alright?"

DID THEY REMEMBER THAT THERE WAS NO SUCH THING AS DYING IN ASTRONOMY? HMMMMM?

Merlin, over exaggerating much there, Flamsteed?

Glancing out the window nearest him once more, he could just barely make out the shape of several balloons zooming past the window in ways that seemed to defy scientific theory.

Well...at least that proved ....something....

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArianaBlack

Zander let out an audible GASP! when the wind shut the window. Ouchiee, his face hurt. He looked around, face red, with widened eyes. Uh oh. Their balloons! He looked for Professor Flamsteed, with a look of complete worry settling on his face."Uh, Professor, what are we supposed to do now!?!" Did this mean that the winter was gonna stay for a long time? Because yep, that's what he thought it meant. Okay suddenly dropped a million degrees in here because it's even COLDER now, if that's even possible!

Walking calmly back to his desk, the astronomer leaned both hands on his desk and knotted his brow as he stared at its wood surface. He just barely heard the Gryffindor ask a question. Now? Now? Well...they couldn't very well do the activity...and without any readings to work with trying their hand at meteorology would be unfulfilling...so. SIGH.

He turned his attention to Miss Newell and let out an awkward chuckle. "Afraid you are right, Miss Newell," he replied, his lips pursing as he continued to think. "I regret to say .... that is all that we can do today." Awkward pause and lots of squirming. "As you all can see, and most likely suspected prior to our failed experimentation just now, this weather is beyond scientific theory. Now, I understand that many of you have theories as to what is causing this, I have my own as well, but before we all go jumping to conclusions I would like to propose an extra credit opportunity to those interested. I have been dabbing in meteorology myself to try and figure this weather out, but this is far beyond science and..." He paused for a moment. Please no one panic, okay? "...there is something else at work here. I have asked Professor Botros to assist me with my research in the library, so any students who wish to help us are welcome to it. I promise it will be worth your time." Hopefully the old chap had found those books on the Star Temple of Avalon he had requested.

Rapping his knuckles on his desk three time in frustration, he took a stiff stride forward.

"Homework will be posted on my announcement board later today, along with information about this extra credit research session. Class dismissed."

OOC: I will close this thread approximately 24 hours from the time of this post, so if you wish to catch up you may. Just title your posts 'activity catch up' or something similiar

Thank you all for coming! *boo hiss hiss at The Narrator*

Ian had been headed back to his desk when he felt the breeze and heard the windows shatter shut. He was grateful to have his back to the commotion, but he felt some small bits of something hit his robe. He went to turn when he heard the professor cry out and he quickly headed to the rest if the way. He listened to professor flag steed and decided he'd like to get in in this extra credit.

Jasmine had just come closer to the window and opened it further to check on her balloon. While she was looking down at her temperature gauge, she felt the wind pick up considerably. That was really saying something because the wind was pretty fierce to begin with. All of a sudden a big rush of air blew in and the window slammed shut. Jasmine and some of her classmates must have gotten hit by ice pellets because her cheeks started stinging like crazy.

Jasmine looked up just in time to see the balloons going wild outside the window and then they were gone........just like that. O_______O What in the world was happening? When the Professor said to move away from the windows, Jasmine didn't have to be told twice. She headed back to her desk and then heard that class was being dismissed. Not knowing what else to do, Jasmine packed up her things and prepared to leave.

What was that slamming noise? Adi (after nearly jumping out of his skin) turned back towards the windows only to realise those that had been opened had closed thus making that slamming sound. O_O Back to desk. Yes, Adi did that.

Too bad about their experiment but this extra credit thing sounded cool. The Hufflepuff was definitely up for it. Anyway, he packed up his stuff. All he wanted to do now was get to the Puffer common room, sit in front of that fire and never move.

"Bye, Professor!'' And with that, he was out of the classroom.

The wind picked up and all of a sudden the window closed. Unfortunately, Simon had been standing way too close to the window. The closing window nearly got his nose when it slammed shut. He felt a burning sensation in both of his cheeks as if the icy wind had cut it. In the reflection of the window, he could see a drop of blood rolling down his cheek. "Ouch," he said, wincing as he tenderly touched his cheek to see if he was alright. Wiping the blood away, He took a couple steps away from the window to avoid getting another cut.

He turned a blue-eyed gaze towards the balloons just in time to the balloons wiz around and then plummet into the icy abyss outside. "Merlin," he said. This possibly couldn't be normal weather, now could it? There had to be something else... Simon's eyebrows raised when Airey told them that class was over and that something else was at work here. Still listening, Simon headed back to his desk and began packing his things. "Professor, I'll definitely be at the library to help out," he said with a nod. Holmes and Watson would be on the case.

Okay, that seemed simple enough, right? RIGHT? So, they had to open the windows... and let the cold inside? Did anyone fail to notice there was something wrong with that?

If they weren't allowed outside... then surely nothing should be coming inside.

But that was just her, apparently, and she waited for a few windows to be open and pretty much kept her distance from it as she did this whole balloon thing. BUT MAN ALIVE the weather was SOMETHING something. If anyone thought it was going away anytime soon then they were fools, indeed. The -30 C temperature she read simply probed her right.

Excuse me, wait, -30 what??

Yeah, she wasn't gonna get close to that temperature, like nope. So she stepped back and was about to ask Professor Airey something... when...

...EXCELLENT. /sarcasm

Erm, well, yeah, she couldn't help but look at what happened to the balloons out there. That was... well, beyond the wall. And Airey may be right about something, but she had no theories, she simply wanted this to be over. But that reaction from the balloons merely made her wonder if that cherry blossom would actually live if they got out of this mess.

Library, eh? As long as no one thinks of burning books then she'd be there, no doubt. For now, she quickly gathered her things and left after saying the usual 'Thank you's and 'See you, Professor's and whatnot.

Well, Zander was out of here. Yep. He was actually kind of thankful for the wonky weather taking it's toll because uh, it was getting freezing in the room again and Zander was just as done with the winter as he was with his potions homework- which he had surprisingly completed. Give a hopefully smile and a shrug to Professor Flamsteed, the boy wasted no time to go and gather his things.

On his way out the door he turned and gave the professor a quick, "Goodbye!" As well as a, "Stay warm!" He was off to get some hot chocolate or something. Possibly a new face? All those red marks did not look like they were leaving any time soon.

Ethan was just about to get a proper reading...which was...way below freezing point by the way, when he heard the howling wind. Not good. The Slytherin was about to say that the activity wasn't a good idea when he suddenly felt his right cheek burn...then the window slammed shut on him. The device too was gone because he had to let go and back off. So sorry about that 'fessor.

The boy touched his cheek and winced at the pain. Merlin, was he bleeding? He probably was. Ethan got back to his seat and started to pack his things when Flamsteed mentioned that something else was at work here. Oh maaaan. He and Simon were right all along. This is not just nature. While packing though, Ethan had his mind on Flamsteed's words...him and Botros working out on something. Well...it sounds fun, because INVESTIGATION. The Slytherin glanced at Simon and gave him a nod. "I'll help too, Professor." Because why not? Again, INVESTIGATION. DETECTIVE STUFF, YEAH? Yeah. Woooohoo! Ahem. Anyway. It was time to go...so. "See you around, Professor." Ethan got up and walked towards the door. "C'mon Watson!" he called out to Simon. They've got stuff to discuss. Mhm.

Lucy sat down and following the instructions of the professor she stayed away from the windows.
She decided to gather her things and she said:"
Thanks professor for the lesson..see you later.."

Ian gathered up his stuff and walked up Professor Flamsteed. Sir, where in the library will we be meeting? There was no question that Ian would participate in this adventure. It wasn't about the extra credit. Ian was just really a curious child and he wanted to be a part of learning what was going on.

Focus. Concentration. Penelope was focused on the balloon. Securing the balloon the way Lex had showed her and moving her wand less than her first try, she cast the spell. "Helic Umtus." The first few tries did not work, but eventually she was able to produce enough helium for her balloon. "Thanks Lex."

She got a radiosonde and attached it to her balloon, ready for the next step.

Penelope was standing by the window, trying to get an accurate temperature reading on her radiosonde, and probably going to get frostbite again if she stayed there too long. The current temperature on her radiosonde was -30°. That seemed crazy, but with the weather as it was, she was prepared to believe something as crazy as -100°. Well, maybe not that cold.

The window slammed shut, hitting her nose. Ouch. Her cheeks burned from icy cuts. Was that blood running down her cheeks? The cuts on her cheeks hurt, but it was the blood flowing from her nose that worried her the most...


... She stepped back from the window, not wanting to get hurt more than she already was. Blood from her nose was dripping down her face. It would take more than a lint roller to get that out of her shirt. "Professor," she said, but stopped talking and pinched her nose to stop as much of the blood as she could before she finished talking to him. He would be able to see the cuts on her cheeks and the blood from her nose.

Extra credit research in the library! Penelope would be there, even it it was not for extra credit.

"Bye Professor!" he said with a warm smile and just as about he was going to walk through the door, Ethan beat him too it. Plus, he was calling him by the name of John Watson. It was time for the two boys to put their detective hats on and start hypothesizing about all the crazy things that they had witnessed at Hogwarts. They all must have been linked somehow, yes? "On my way, Holmes!" he called out as he caught up to Ethan.

The last of the Gryffindor's hopes and dreams were trashed with her readings she'd found and the readings she'd seen on some of the other devices. No matter what the numbers said it all came down to the fact that it was ridiculously cold outside and they could possibly be stuck here for an eternity. That was shoddy timing right there. The summer she would officially be of age and there might not be a summer to begin with.

Lex stood by the window, sullen in light of this new revelation. Even after the windows slammed shut and the Professor was yelling for them to retreat Lex found herself standing there a moment longer, the snow bruises ignored as she watched the wind wreak havoc on the balloons that were now trapped on the outside.

Was the Professor planning to get those devices back? Did it matter? They were all stuck here weren't they?

With a heavy sigh she walked back to her desk to collect her things and mumbled something like a 'you're welcome' to the Claw Firstie. The Professor said something about the library. The Library? Sure. Why not? What else did she have to do in this obviously Circe forsaken snow fortress? "See you then Professor." SIGH.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edward Penguin

Ian gathered up his stuff and walked up Professor Flamsteed. Sir, where in the library will we be meeting? There was no question that Ian would participate in this adventure. It wasn't about the extra credit. Ian was just really a curious child and he wanted to be a part of learning what was going on.

"I'll need to check on the availability, but we may be able to utilize the restricted section," he nodded. Not like Leobald was around to tell him otherwise.

Quote:

Originally Posted by griffin

[
... She stepped back from the window, not wanting to get hurt more than she already was. Blood from her nose was dripping down her face. It would take more than a lint roller to get that out of her shirt. "Professor," she said, but stopped talking and pinched her nose to stop as much of the blood as she could before she finished talking to him. He would be able to see the cuts on her cheeks and the blood from her nose.

Extra credit research in the library! Penelope would be there, even it it was not for extra credit.

Oh sweet solstice. He was going to be the end of this poor Ravenclaw!

As students left the classroom, leaving just him and Miss Wright lingering, he pocketed his Star Trek handkerchief and removed another simple black one to offer her. "Here, Miss Wright," he said with an anxious smile. "Let's get you cleaned up. Clean, purified water in the astrophysics laboratory."

Gingerly, he put a and on her back between her shoulder blades and lead the first year out of the classroom; locking the door behind him.