If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above.
You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed.
To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.
As always with Professor Hirsch's style, the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom wasn't set up like your everyday classroom. Anyone who's been taught by the man long enough might know that he just doesn't structure his lessons in that kind of format. Not when the subject asked for so much physical activity.
This lesson was no different: the classroom was empty of desks, chairs and any other indication that it was an actual classroom. In fact, the only part of the actual classroom that seemed to have survived this sweep is the large board on one side of the large room. Instead, some cushions and mats have been placed on the floor near the board for people to lounge sit on.
The only indication as to what the lesson could be about can be found on the other side of the classroom, opposite from the board. A few long tables line that section of the room with a cloth covering the oddly-shaped items underneath. Want to take a peek? Sorry, kid, the large bubble surrounding the tables just won't let you do that. You might even get a tiny zap from it, if you try to.
Constant vigilance, anyone?
Professor Hirsch can be found standing near the board and his desk. His arms are crossed across his chest, his legs crossed at the ankles and a small, amused smile playing on his lips.
So come in, grab a cushion, and wait for the lesson to begin.
OOC: Please make sure you're familiar with Hirsch's rules as well as the SS site rules before posting. Class will continue tomorrow (late eveningtime GMT) Class has officially started but you're more than free to jump in if you want to! Just pretend as though your charrie has been there the entire time. Hope you have fun! ^^
Zombie Apocalypse Team Leader ★ ★ in a crown of pepperoni and artisan cheese
So, it was time....
......for her actual favorite subject. Not to take anything away from Herbology, but Defense Against the Dark Arts was sorta like the opposing side of the coin for Olivia. Where Professor Myers and the plants had a calming affect on the Gryffindor, Professor Hirsch and his innovative Defense teachings allowed her to get some much needed aggression out. Especially now. She was beyond ready for Tournament duels this term. Anything to help her stay focused and direct her unpleasant emotions outwards; instead of internalizing.
Ho-dee-hum.
Entering Professor Hirsch's classroom, Liv paused momentarily in the door-frame. Nothing had changed, of course. It was cleared out, well-lit, and open; ready for whatever training activity their fearless Defense leader had concocted for the day. The routine of this was somehow soothing to her soul. No surprises. Something she could depend on every lesson. Maybe today's attempt at faking her excitement and happiness would be a success.
Unknowingly, Olivia sought out Rooney's face. He was already present, of course, and without meaning to, the Gryffindor made her way over, her mind racing with ideas about these odd tables of hidden things. Protected by The Force™️, apparently. Rooney had just tossed something at it...and there was faint sizzling noise. Hearing it, she gave the cloaked tables a wider berth, dragging a colorful cushion closer to her boyfriend. "Hey..."
Oh, and Prince Erik received a wave and small smile. Yep. Today she was really trying.
__________________
We live in cities you'll never see onscreen..._______________________________________________
So very pretty, and we sure know how to run things..._______________________________ Livin' in ruins of a palace, within our dreams...____________
We're on each other's team._____
Bewitching Bowtruckle | a roamin’ numeral | Newt's salamander eyes ❤ | Ko Ko Bop
Carl entered the classroom, not surprised to see it arranged in a unique format. That was Professor Hirsch's style, he just didn't do the desks-and-chairs type of lessons. He smiled as he saw the man near the board. "Good day, Professor!" He said, then turned to the other side of the room. He quickly noticed the tables covered by the cloth and wondered what was underneath, but he knew better than to try and take a peek. They would find out soon enough.
The Hufflepuff took a seat on a mat near the front and waited patiently for the lesson to begin.
Henry was in a great mood as he headed into the classroom. DADA was always a great class for learning spellwork and having fun at the same time, and really what more could you ask for at school? "Good day, Professor Hirsch," he greeted the man cheerfully as he passed, then looked for a good place to sit as the room was starting to fill up already.
Front and center worked for him, and he took a rather comfortable looking cushion to sit on. So what would they be learning today. And oh! What was under that cloth?
__________________
started like a knight in a fairytale_______________________________________________
ended like a moth in flames______________________ ______________________don't you worry I'll be fine _________________________________________________you were good for the plot line
Not wanting to do anything theory related, he was glad to have this class for a change. Practicing duelling was his thing back in llvermorny and he wasn't going to be any different here. Professor Hirsch? Odd name for a professor. Sounds like a brand of chocolate he would eat during his cheat days. You know like Hershey's? Bet half of the class here never had those. They only had chocolates frogs, fudge flies and stuff like that. Anything to do with creatures, they made them into a candy and voila. Anyway, all these sweets in his head making him feel ultra craving for them. So stop it James.
He entered the classroom and waved to Professor Hersheys. Great now, that name going to be stuck in his head from now on. Urgh. He walked to the back of the class and found a seat there. Great place to snooze if the class gets to boring.
Defence Against the Dark Arts, the name alone sounds cool. He entered the classroom, but noticed there were cushions on the floor instead of desks and chairs like an average classroom. He glanced around and saw the teacher. "Good day, professor," he greeted cheerfully. Professor Hirsch looked like he was in a good mood. His eyes caught something covered by a cloth. He looked at the board — no sign of 'do not touch', so he tried to take a peek...
"WOAH!!" he jerked back after he felt a small zap. He turned back to the teacher and noticed him smiling. Was this his plan all along, to prank the students? Nero shrugged it off, hid his hands in his oversized robe sleeves in case he would touch anything else that could electrocute him. He took a seat on one of the cushions at one of the middle rows, awaiting for class to begin. How exciting!
Carlton walked into the class in an air that he hoped expressed confidence. Although he felt everything but confident.
Defence Against the Dark Arts? Yeah, the title of the class alone made him shiver.
It was scary.
As soon as he entered the class room, his false confidence disappeared immediately. No chairs? Where would he sit? He hovered awkwardly by the door for a second before taking a few steps into the room.
"H-hello Professor Hirsch." He nodded and added a little bow.
Wait, he bowed? Was that a tad much? Maybe. Possibly. Probably.
Definitely.
"Ahem" He took a seat near the board on a comfy cushion. After all, he didn't want to miss any instructions from the professor. Missed instructions usually ended up in disasters such as explosions in Herbology class, and he didn't want disasters in a class that taught him how to defend himself against the dark arts. Plus the table on the other side of the room made him slightly uncomfortable.
Carlton reeeeally needed this class.
Ava very much looked forward to her Defense Against the Dark Arts classes. Maybe it was the Slytherin in her but she found herself drawn to the subject matter. She hoped she wouldn't have to need to use this class in her life, but there was a lot out there that she didn't know about and she wanted to.
And they would get to learn how to fight the dark arts! She thought that was cool! And scary. Admittedly, it was also pretty scary. It was about a 50/50. She was tentatively excited, but excited nonetheless.
"Hello Professor," she said brightly upon entering the room. Huh. No chairs this lesson. Okay then. She walked towards the front and found a cushion to sit down on.
She noticed one of her fellow first year Slytherins sitting nearby, they hadn't met, but she definitely recognized him. "Hi," she said to him before surveying the rest of the room. There was a mysterious table that seemed to be repelling Students who tried to come close, or you know, through sweets at it. Interesting.
To be honest, this was one of the lessons he'd been most looking forward to. Mostly because he was just REALLY REALLY curious as to what they'd be doing. And what they would see. And experience. And hear. And all the things really. It was an intriguing lesson for sure. He'd have so many amazing stories to tell over christmas break! So naturally, Cameron was VERY excited to be entering the classroom.
Only it didn't really look like a classroom.
At all.
...
This WAS the right place right?
Blinking a few times, Cameron finally stepped over the threshold, making room for anyone who was trying to come in after him. This was...strange. Why had nobody warned him about this? He looked over to the professor and gave him a curious look. "Hello, Professor Hirsch." Apparently he didn't like desks. Or chairs. Well. Cushions looked fun too, he supposed. So he moved to sit down somewhere near one Miss Charlotte Kettleburn. Okay. He was ready.
“Hello professor!” She beamed while entering the strangely empty classroom, but before she had more time to wonder why the room was so empty of tables she saw a few tables and with on top of it something covered with a blanked. Curious for what could be underneath it she walked over toward it, ignoring the bubble because… It couldn’t be that dangerous, she decided and she… Touched the bubble with one of her fingers, curious for what might happen and… Ahhh! That hurt! Taking a step back she looked slightly irritated at the table, she just wanted to know what was hidden there! Shaking her head she walked away from the table and shot a quick look at the professor to see if he had seen what she had done…
Wizarding World RPG Admin Minister for Magic Alley Proprietor
Leprechaun
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: The Paths
Posts: 40,105
Hogwarts RPG Name: Briallen Ashburry-Hawthorne
Gryffindor
First Year
Hogwarts RPG Name: Nyle Harden
Hufflepuff
Second Year
Hogwarts RPG Name: Iris Harden
Ravenclaw
Second Year
Hogwarts RPG Name: Calliope Barrington
Slytherin
First Year
Hogwarts RPG Name: Diamond Marchbanks
Gryffindor
Sixth Year
Ministry Department Head:
Charles Hollingberry
Minister's Office
Ministry Department Head:
Airey Flamsteed
Mysteries
Diagon Alley Proprietor:
Zachaël Lufkin
Owl Post
x12 x12
hai henry. we sit by you
astronomizzle ♧ gryffinDORK | & the rest is drag ♣ #badluckDerf
DEFENSE AGAINST THE DARK ARTS!
Was honestly not a subject that he had given toooooooooo much thought to. Outside of increasing his knowledge of Dark creatures that is. He HAD heard about Dueling Club in vague detail from Jessa and dad had no-so-subtly encouraged him to sign-up for it as well. Not that the 11-year-old really needed much convincing to try new things like that.
Bounding into the classroom, the Hufflepuff was in mid-greeting of the professor - mouth hanging open - when his baby blues fell on the covered objects.
Oooooooooh....
He was glad that he had pretty good observational skills - sometimes - because he was almost going to go and try to take a peek under them when he saw what happened to others who attempted it. Well...that was just...mean? Smart? It was a pair of socks! Wait...that wasn't right...pair of ducks....PARADOX! That's what that was...not unlike the Dark Arts themselves since GOOD people studied and practiced them and stuff...
His eyes still on the covered objects - professor forgotten, OOPS! - Derf went to sit down next to Henry. He had protected him from their Head of House and his waffles of certain death soooooooo...seemed like a fitting cushion to sit on. "Hi."
__________________
When you're stuck in a moment and your spark has been stolen .................................................. ........... this is our time to own it, so own it..................................... baby we were born withfire and gold in our eyes
Vanessa the Snot Girl l Rachels Rule | rock,tumble,&roll ❆ adorable coffee bean
Defence against the dark arts! That was one of her favorite lessons, something she got from her siblings, but she was really excited for the lesson. She had practically skipped up from the kitchens to get to there on time. She was really excited to learn some new things this year. She hoped it wouldn't be boring, but this lesson had never been boring. It was learning to defend herself against the dark arts though, so she didn't think it would ever be boring.
She stepped into the classroom and smiled. Cushions and mats! Cool. And she noticed the tables on the other side of the classroom. That looked interesting actually. She beamed as she saw the professor. "Hi Professor!" The third year smiled, as she headed and sat down on a cushion. She couldn't wait for the lesson to start.
__________________
It's the end of the show. Of the historemix. We switched up the flow. And we changed the prefix
But we want to say. Before we drop the curtain. Nothing is for sure. Nothing is for certain
Atypical Ravenclaw Bookworm // Hair Flipper Pro / / the edgy starbuckian // Hot Messie
To be honest, Zara was sure how she felt about Defence against the Dark Arts. Yes, she found it interesting but was she supposed to like it or not. Every time she had tried to ask anyone in her family about it, she was always answered with blank stares and a very quick change of subject. There was something they weren’t telling her and that kind of made her want to know more. So maybe she was supposed to like it the subject.
Walking through the classroom doorway, she glanced around and blinked. This wasn’t what she was expecting, but then again she didn’t even know what she was supposed to expect. With a shrug, she continued on her way toward an unoccupied mat and cushion near the middle. Setting her bag down beside the mat, she settled down atop the mat and turned her attention to the front. "Hello Professor Hirsch," she grinned and offered a small wave.
Glancing around the room again, her eyes settled on the covered long tables and her head tilted in thought. What could be on the tables and why were they covered for. All kinds of questions were now running through her head!
doesn't proofread tweets | #wrongaboutcereal | #siriusly? | emo to the extremo
Her favorite class EVER.
Mostly because it was easy to practice for and homework was kind of fun. But also because they got to kick things sometimes. That was the best part, in Zoryn's opinion at least. Which is why she bounced into the classroom wearing the most HUGEST smile EVER. "Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii Professor!" she rocked back and forth giving him an enthusiastic wave. "Are we gonna punch stuff today?" Because that's the real reason why she was here.
That and OH LOOK FRIENDS!
Yooooooooooo. Defense Against the Dark Arts was AWESOME. The water reading lady should totally take lessons from this guy. Just saying. She grinned huge at her friend from the train (Zara) before taking her seat next to her. Hiiiii.
__________________
Days of Potter 2023:___________________________ Which Bertie Botts Flavour Are You? You are Lemon!
Toothless - Napoleon of Crime - Gryffinclaw - Owl Emissary - Pirate Auror - DoctorDonna
Cassie entered the familiar classroom with time to spare for the latest defense class. Her eyes flittering around to take in her surroundings not wishing to be taken by surprise. DADA was one of those you should be observant in. And she didn’t want to let down the professor in what he had taught, especially one’s head of house as Hirsh was. No desks as usual other than the man’s at the front with the board to write things on. And tables off to the side with covered items on top. The Ravenclaw’s curiosity almost drew her over to further investigate but she stopped herself before she moved.
She simply stepped towards the cushions spread in front of the board instead. “Good day, Professor,” she greeted her head of house with a smile before settling on a cushion. Cassie than eased herself down and waited for the lesson to begin. Her eyes now paying closer attention to who else of her classmates were there as well in the class. Kitty and Janelle of her house. Ms. Head Girl as well. And Charlotte and Olivia too. Not to mention all the new younger years.
"Maybe, but satisfaction brought it back to life," replied Kitty with a small smile as she took Jonas's hand. "Nice to meet you Jonas. I'm Kitty." She wondered if he was going to make a cat joke about her name now.
"Well , there's irony for you:" he muttered. "Nice to meet yiu" he said out loud instead.
urine trouble | Pat's Strong Confident Other Half | Pees Like a Champion Unicorn Racehorse
Text Cut: You guuuuys <3
Text Cut: Kimi
Quote:
Originally Posted by Saz Hale
Kimi entered the classroom and said "Good day Professor Hirsch" Kimi wondered what was under the cloth but he was patient and took a seat on a cushion and waited for the lesson to begin
It didn't take long for the first student to make an appearance. Good. Hirsch did want to get this lesson rolling, after all. "Good day, Mr Konakavailen," he said, giving the boy a nod of his head.
And he wasn't going to try to see what was under the cloth? Shame.
Text Cut: Carlton
Quote:
Originally Posted by potterobsessionist
Carlton walked into the class in an air that he hoped expressed confidence. Although he felt everything but confident.
Defence Against the Dark Arts? Yeah, the title of the class alone made him shiver.
It was scary.
As soon as he entered the class room, his false confidence disappeared immediately. No chairs? Where would he sit? He hovered awkwardly by the door for a second before taking a few steps into the room.
"H-hello Professor Hirsch." He nodded and added a little bow.
Wait, he bowed? Was that a tad much? Maybe. Possibly. Probably.
Definitely.
"Ahem" He took a seat near the board on a comfy cushion. After all, he didn't want to miss any instructions from the professor. Missed instructions usually ended up in disasters such as explosions in Herbology class, and he didn't want disasters in a class that taught him how to defend himself against the dark arts. Plus the table on the other side of the room made him slightly uncomfortable.
Carlton reeeeally needed this class.
This next student amused him.
Why?
It was just the general persona the kid was giving off. The hovering at the door tipped off with the bowing. He was used to the bowing from one Jace Reed but anyone else? It was new and he wasn't even sure if it was intentional or not.
"Hello, Mr Lewis," he said, giving the boy a bow of his head in return, "Everything okay?"
Text Cut: Jonas
Quote:
Originally Posted by 2111jen
Another day, another DADA lesson. Giddy with excitement, Jonas walked in. He scanned his eyes around and noticed the professor was standing near the board and his desk, his arms crossed and an amused smirk on his face. Jonas raised his eyebrows vaguely wondering why he was smirking. Jonas scanned his eyes and then saw what he was possibly smirking about. On some nearby tables was a cloth covering some objects it looked like. Upon closer inspection, though, Jonas saw that the tables were proteceted by a shock bubble. Jonas smiled a bit and nodded.
"Very clever Professor" he with a bit of a smile on his own face.
"How are you?" He asked as he found a cushion to sit don on.
Clever? That was a nice assessment, wasn't it? The smile on Hirsch's face only grew, fully displaying the dimples on his cheeks. "Thank you, Mr Emery. I thought they'd be a good practice for constant vigilance. I'm glad you didn't fall for it." Teachers could have fun as well, see.
"I'm very well, thanks. Excited, even. How are you?" Was he settling in okay?
Text Cut: Kitty and mentions of Jonas
Quote:
Originally Posted by Goblinfrog
"Hello Professor Hirsch," Kitty greeted the professor cheerfully as she walked into the classroom and quickly took in everything. "How are you?" The tables covered with white cloth caught her eyes, and seeing no sign giving instructions to not approach,, she walked towards them and etended her hand to touch one of the objects. Instantly she got a slight shock, making her pull her hand back. "GAA!"
Quote:
Originally Posted by 2111jen
Jonas snickered at his place in the seat. Clearly she didn't notice the professor's amused smile. "He was clearly smiling for a reason" he deadpanned looking at the girl.
And next to come was his very own Prefect! Hirsch smiled at her, secretly glad that she was so cheerful for, his ego assumed, this lesson. Those kind of students were always easier to teach, he found. "Hello, Kitty. I'm very well, thanks. How are yo-"
And there was the first victim.
Oh Kitty Kitty Kitty. Did nobody tell you that curiosity killed the Ravenclaw? "You okay there, Kitty?"
As for Jonas, he got himself a small , amused smirk for his response. Good.
Text Cut: Colt
Quote:
Originally Posted by Expecto-Penguin
Alright time for this slytherin's favorite class! He loved when this class was session. He did fairly well in the dueling club and loved practicing spells. He also loved learning about the dark arts. and its history. He was mentally prepared for this lesson. Well he hoped he would be. He walked into the classroom and saw some others beat him here. He nodded towards his fellow classmates and then saw the Professor was sitting there waiting for them. He gave him a half wave, "Hey Professor Hirsch. What's up?" He walked over to the objects that were covered and he wondered what they could be? He saw the bubble and something in his conscious told him not to touch it. He obeyed for the first time like ever.
He scanned the room and found his seat towards the window. He took a cushion and plopped down. Now this was sort of comfy. He got his handy sketchbook and began to sketch before the lesson started.
Ah, the Head Boy! An interesting selection for the Head Boy, as well. Hirsch was quite pleased with this, in fact. The boy was smart, though he did give off the aura of being one of the kids that were just too cool for school.
Huh.
"Hello, Mr Winchester. Congratulations, by the way." At this, he nodded at the badge pinned to the boy's chest. "Not much," he said, giving him a small, nonchalant shrug of his shoulders. Cool enough answer? "What's up with you?"
Text Cut: Alice
Quote:
Originally Posted by Schroyers
Alice stepped into the ever unusual Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. It was a fun subject for the most part.. But like it wasn't something she was amazing at. Honestly she wasn't great at much magic, there was a reason she wanted to be an Actress.
"Hello, Professor.. Do you have something interesting planned today?" She asked him, sure that indeed he did have some odd lesson planned. She loved odd lessons though, adored them almost as much as most girls her age adored the Professor's face. Alice knew he was handsome but she also knew he was a bit... old for her. So she was not about it.
Something interesting planned? Hirsch's attention moved towards the next person that entered the class and gave her an amused smile. "Don't I always, Miss Lupin?"
Well. He liked to think he always had interesting lessons planned. Defence was interesting in itself.
"Hello, by the way."
Text Cut: Olly
Quote:
Originally Posted by littledhampir
Olly was surprisingly early for Defense Against the Dark Arts. He wasn't often early for anything, and yet here he was. The disappointing thing about being fairly early was that none of his friends had arrived before him. That left the decision of where to sit completely up to him with nobody else to base his choice upon. And he would just have to hope that somebody came to join he. He thought somebody probably would.
"Hello professor," he greeted as he entered the room. No desks or chairs. Not surprising, though one would think it would be a surprise to walk into such an empty classroom. Usually, yes, but not this classroom. It looked about the same as usual. Except over to one side Olly noticed some tables covered in cloth. The cloth was pretty lumpy, indicating there must be something hiding underneath it. Olly changed course and started heading that way. He wasn't going to touch anything - it was obviously covered for a reason. He just wanted to get a closer look. Out of curiousness, you know?
Except when he got closer he suddenly couldn't move anymore, and he felt a slight shock like when you slide your socks on the carpet and then touch something metal. He jumped back at the shock and just stared ahead. Huh. Apparently they really weren't supposed to get close to the covered objects. Olly stared toward the tables just a little bit longer before shrugging and going to find a seat. When he did select a cushion for himself he kept glancing back at the tables and the unknown objects. Hopefully they would soon find out what they were.
The next student to enter? A young Slytherin. A young, curious Slytherin. "Hello, Mr Thomas-Borzekowski." See? He'd gotten better at the name.
Ah.
Ah.
The signs were all there: that look of curiousness, the edging closer..... it was just a matter of time before.......
There it was!
The shield had taken another victim and Hirsch found himself slightly more amused than ever. It wasn't harmful so he wasn't worried about it potentially hurting any of the students but it told him who the daring ones were and who liked to be cautious.
"You okay there?" he asked, once the Slytherin had managed to take a seat.
Text Cut: Dora
Quote:
Originally Posted by Erindipity
Dora skidded into the room with a grin on her face. Ojay, she had totally been running so as not to be late. Was it a regular occurence? No. Did she care? Not even a little.
Hirsch was officially her favorite professor now, so punctuality was key. Ahem.
"Good day, professor! " she exclaimed before pulling her wand and muttering an incantation to conjure a small daisy for him. Yep. For HIM.
She laid it on his desk and made her way to a cushion. What did he have in store for them today?!
While most students had their own, slightly usual way of entering a class, this next one was more enthusiastic than ever.
And did Hirsch love it? You bet.
"Hello, Dora." The smile that was on his face only grew at the sight of the Gryffindor, especially since she'd gone ahead and given him a daisy. That was sweet, wasn't it? "Excellent piece of magic you've done there. Thank you for this." Granted, he half expected her to set something on fire because of her proficiency with those spells.
As for the daisy, he conjured up a small vase with some water and placed it in there. There. Now it can stay on his desk.
Text Cut: Nat
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bazinga
Defense against the dark arts. Now this had been a class that Natalia would have fully been dreading and be refusing to go to. That was before she met Professor Hirsch. He had taken the time to get to know her, time to let her trust him, and then took the time to help her with her spells. Now Natalia liked coming to this class and it quickly was becoming one of her better subjects. As she turned into the class her eyes searched the room to see what they would be doing.
"Hello Professor" a smile on her face she walked over towards him instead of going straight to her seat. "I was wondering if I could use the practice room as I did last term and if you weren't busy if you could give me a bit of extra help again." She was very nervous she would never do a patronous and that thought made her feel like she needed to add some extra practices.
The smile on Hirsch's face didn't look like it was wavering anytime soon, especially after seeing who was next to enter the room. "Hello, Nat. Congratulations on the Head Girl badge." Proud? He really was. He might not be able to say it right now but his smile wasn't about to hide it either. She'd come far from that first instance since he'd met her, did she know?
And this question from her only proved it.
"Of course! I'll leave it open for whenever you need to use it. You won't have to ask permission." He would've asked which room she needed but something told him the private practice room would be better suited for her. She wasn't one to show off, after all. "I'd love to. Just knock on my door if I'm not there and I'll come. We could do a review and then work on some of the harder spells."
Text Cut: Sinead
Quote:
Originally Posted by Artel
Sinead sailed into the room with wide and alert eyes, immediately swivelling to take in and examine her new DADA professor. He looked the part, she supposed, in a bit of a stereotypical way; old enough not to be naive, but young enough to be in fit fighting condition, not to mention the tattoos. Apparently he'd gone to Durmstrang. That won her respect more than anything; she wasn't entirely sure, but she thought teaching was stricter out there, especially when it came to Defence Against the Dark Arts. Either way, she'd find out soon enough. Most of her professors hadn't disappointed so far, and hopefully this lesson would be no exception. She was a bit wary of the unconventional classroom layout, but hopefully that just foretold of exciting magic to come. How did he expect her to take notes without a desk, though?
This alarming thought hovering in the back of her mind, Sinead moved from her post at the doorway, taking a step into the room and facing the professor squarely.
"Good morning, Professor," she said crisply. "I'm Sinead Dance. Pleased to meet you." With this, and a firm nod, she gingerly sat herself down on a cushion in the vicinity of a boy she recognised as another first-year Slytherin, even if she didn't yet know his name. It felt bizarre, but she folded her legs up neatly beneath her and sat straight-backed and unmoving, staring at Hirsch and waiting earnestly for the lesson to begin. Defence Against the Dark Arts was practically guaranteed to be interesting- why couldn't they get to business, already?
His first impression of the next student? She wasn't exactly shy, was she? Sure, she seemed to have stayed at the doorway longer than some of the others but the way she'd come up to introduce herself to him wasn't something a shy person would do. He was yet to see what her defensive magic was like but this was promising.
"Hello, Miss Dance," he said, giving the girl a smile and a nod of his head, "It's good to meet you too." He'd introduce himself properly once everyone was here, even if she might already know who he was.
Text Cut: Junia
Quote:
Originally Posted by TakemetotheBurrow
"Hello Professor." The normally cheerful third year was rather somber as she entered the room, not that she was any less ready for class than she usually was. She was just sad. All the sads. BIG CASE OF THE SADS OVER HERE. Actually, Junia was hoping they'd be destroying things today, as her close friendsh-err whatever with someone she cared a great deal for seemed like it was being destroyed and maybe doing some actual damage would help ease the pain. All the pain. SUCH PAIN MUCH OW.
Growing up was SO hard.
Sigh.
She'd be finding herself a cushion now, nothing to see here.
............. Er.
Hirsch had always promised himself that he wouldn't meddle in a student's personal life - a promise that had been broken many times - but this was...... concerning. He remembered the younger Botros clearly, was even looking forward to seeing her in his class because she was adept at his subject, but this was something else entirely.
"A Defence lesson in the morning isn't that bad, Junia." That was his attempt at humour. Was it working?
Text Cut: Elle
Quote:
Originally Posted by SilverTiger
While she was in fact concerned that she was running late, it was nearly impossible to tell if Elle in fact was. She’d been getting better at not being a complete basket case over things like that, and besides, she wasn’t actually overly late. As she’d arrived in the DADA classroom, it was obvious the lesson hadn’t quite begun yet, although she’d sent a slightly concerned look over toward the tables lining the one edge of the room. Moreso due to the lingering sense that getting too close would be bad. The mood in the room told her that much, as well as the words she’d caught coming from the Ravenclaw prefect as she’d passed her on the way to a cushion. No, she was definitely not getting close to the mystery of the objects on those tables.
“Good day Professor Hirsch,” she said, turning her attention to the professor, curious about the small smirk but only giving him a smile in return. Odds were that had something to do with said zap, after all, and she knew better than to question that.
It was funny to see how many of the students wanted to turn up on time. Really. A quick glance at his watch told him that there was still a good couple of minutes left until the official start of the lesson and yet, there were more than enough people here for a good lesson. Huh.
And here came another.
The smirk on his face turned into a proper smile, only showing a small hint of his dimples. "Hello, Miss Penrose." Come in, come in.
And yes, the smile did have something to do with the zap.
Text Cut: Brent
Quote:
Originally Posted by Anna Banana
DUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUDE.
Brent was STOKED. Defense Against the Dark Arts was his favorite class! He was actually early to class, although there was still a small crowd already gathered. "Hello, Professor," Brent greeted, as he made his way into the room. No desks. No tables. Just some mats and cushions. Whatever. He probably wouldn't care if he had to sit on a rock. He didn't even want to sit anyway. He wanted BATTLE.
There was some sort of something concealed under a cloth, but of course Brent didn't fool with that. He wasn't an idiot, and who wanted to anger a Defense professor anyway? Finding a random mat situated somewhere in the middle, Brent took a seat and waited for the lesson to begin.
Enthusiastic students were always fun to teach. The ones who actually wanted to be there to learn something and would put in some kind of effort to do so. He wasn't meant to have favourites - and if anyone asked, he'd blindly ignore it - but...... well.
"Hello, Mr Westwood," he said, giving the boy a small nod of his head. Let's see how this boy fared, eh?
Text Cut: Leon
Quote:
Originally Posted by FwooperOnYourLeft
Leon was excited for Defense against the Dark Arts, it was one of his favorite classes and of course Professor Hirsch was one of his favorite teachers. The 7th year wanted to be like him.. He was the epitome of cool!
The dark haired boy headed into the classroom and looked around.. there was no desks or anything like that so the seventh year took a seat, but not before nodding to the Profesor and giving him a "Hello Professor Hirsch. "
Leon settled down and sighed softly.. he hadn't been doing well in his search for his sister.. he needed to find someone who could possibly know her.. but who?
Maybe he needed to start talking to fourth years?
If Hirsch knew what Mr Kennedy thought of him, the man would've been very, very flattered. The epitome of cool wasn't exactly a small compliment, was it?
But as it were, the man knew nothing and remained completely oblivious. But he did know of Mr Kennedy, especially seeing as the boy was in his house. "Hello, Mr Kennedy." A smile and a nod for you.
Text Cut: Rooney
Quote:
Originally Posted by Shanners
Getting comfy on a cushion, Rooney was sO ready for DADA this year. He'd been so into the classes after trying so hard with his OWL exam and just making Professor Hirsch remember that he existed over here. Keeping himself on the radar of his Head of House. Priorities, man. He had no time for anyone else in the classroom right now and was just eyeing up the table with hidden things on it. Rooney Bronwyn was intrigued as anything and nEEDED to know what was there. He'd laughed at each person that had tried to touch and wanted to have a turn himself.
So he sought out a wrapped sweet from his pocket and tossed it in the direction of the table and CACKLED at the small buzz sound before it clattered to the ground and rolled away. It had been funny enough that he hunted through his pockets for another sweetie.
There were the curious ones and then there was Rooney Bronwyn.
Hirsch, who'd been smiling at the sight of his laughing Prefect, suddenly grew confused by his search and then.........
........... and then he lost it. Completely. He was standing at the front of the room, laughing at the sight in front of him. Sure, it was a good way to test the shield to see if it would do anything but this was taking constant vigilance to a whole new level. Was he really entertained by the effects of the shield charm he'd put up?
Teenagers.
Text Cut: Skylar
Quote:
Originally Posted by PhoenixRising
Skylar was stoked about today's lesson because ONE it was Defense Against the dark arts and was generally useful knowledge. Two, after two years of being a bystander this was the first year she would be partaking in the Dueling Club, which meant putting all her learned knowledge to work. It wasn't going to be easy but she was willing to work towards it.
Entering the classroom, Sky wasn't the least bit surprised by the lack of proper desks or chairs. She was intrigued by the mysterious table but figured it was covered for a reason. If Hirsch wanted them to see it, he'd have not concealed it. Speaking of Hirsch.... "Hello Professor!" Sky greeted. Did he NOTICE her enthusiasm and her presence? Because she was totally enthused right now, even if this wasn't flying.
Shaking his head and leaving Rooney to throw whatever he wanted at the shield, Hirsch turned his attention towards the next student to enter the class. Another enthusiastic response? Maybe today was his lucky day. Or maybe, a large number of people seemed to like his subject.
Both? Both.
"Hello, Miss Diggory." She got herself a smile from the man.
Yes, he did notice her enthusiasm and was glad that it was there.
Text Cut: Janelle
Quote:
Originally Posted by Daydreamer11
Janelle arrived for Defense Against the Dark Arts class in a curious mood. She wondered what Professor Hirsch had in store for them today. Entering the classroom, she saw no clue as to what they might be doing. She would just have to wait to find out, like everyone else.
"Hello Professor", Janelle said as she made her way past their fearless leader. He was hiding something from them and Janelle was a bit anxious to find out what it was. Finding an empty spot, she sat down on a cushion and set her bag on the floor. After taking out her parchment and quill, she sat back to people watch until class began.
Another curious Ravenclaw? Not exactly surprising but she didn't seem to be as curious as her Prefect had been.
And yes, the items on the table were going to remain a surprise until the time called for it. Sorry.
"Hello, Miss Guidry." Funny how the girl had made it to her final year at Hogwarts already. He could've sworn she'd been a young teenager just the other day. Huh.
Text Cut: Katy
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cassirin
Defense Against the Dark Arts certainly wasn't one of Katy's favorite subjects, but it was interesting and important and the professor was dreamy, so she didn't hate turning up for it. At least they did things, got their hands dirty, so to speak. At least it was practical for real life.
If only the professor didn't make them sit on cushions like this was primary school, it would be very nearly perfect.
Katy sighed at the sight of the cushions, but she still had a twinkle for the professor as she found a seat. "Good day, sir. Mystery thingy for us? Do we get extra bonus points if we guess what it is? I think it's probably a giraffe." Or not, but maybe he'd laugh.
And here was a response that got him laughing yet again. Bonus points? A giraffe? How exactly did this young Slytherin's mind work?
"It would be interesting if I had a giraffe under there, wouldn't it?" Why he would bring a giraffe into a lesson on Dark Arts, he didn't know. They weren't exactly dangerous creatures, were they? "You don't get bonus points for guessing but you do get bonus points for that amusing answer."
Text Cut: Charlotte
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tegz
Charlotte naturally was excited for DADA, since it was ALMOST as good as straight up dueling was, and she waved at Professor Hirsch with both hands. DOUBLE enthusiasm.
"Hi Professor Hirsch!" She would HAVE to go show him her medals later! She really would! This thought, being as all consuming as it was, happened to be enough to keep her from noticing the covered whatever it was. Not yet back in the practice of constant vigilance over here. Char found a spot right as close to the middle as she could get. Hopefully today's class would be something that related to DUEEEELING.
Here was a student who never failed to show her enthusiasm. Never. Especially for his subject or duelling.
And so, naturally, Hirsch found himself smiling a full-dimpled smile.
"Hello, Charlotte." Or Sharky, as she once introduced herself as. "Come and see me after class, okay? I have a few things to discuss with you." As mysterious as it sounded, he was sure she could figure out exactly what he wanted to talk to her about. It wasn't exactly hard guesswork.
Text Cut: Olivia
Quote:
Originally Posted by Watson
Defense Against the Dark Arts taught by one of Hogwart's many heartthrobs? Now this should certainly be interesting. Olivia walked through the classroom door to find a couple of students already here. Wow. People were here early. Or perhaps she was a bit tardy? No, no, no. She couldn't be possibly tardy, right? She had left with at least ten or so minutes to spare. She greeted the Professor with a smile and a nod. "Hello Professor!" Then she headed to the cushions and matts to find a place to sit down as there weren't any desks in this classroom. Her eyes caught a table that had many weird bumps on it. It was covered in a cloth. What was covered underneath? She raised an eyebrow. Hm.. Intriguing.
His attention was diverted as someone else entered the classroom so he couldn't really elaborate on his answer. Instead, he ended up giving the newcomer a smile and a nod of his head in return. "Hello, Miss Holden."
A new Gryffindor, wasn't she? Hm. It would be interesting to see how she did as well.
Text Cut: Liv
Quote:
Originally Posted by Govoni
So, it was time....
......for her actual favorite subject. Not to take anything away from Herbology, but Defense Against the Dark Arts was sorta like the opposing side of the coin for Olivia. Where Professor Myers and the plants had a calming affect on the Gryffindor, Professor Hirsch and his innovative Defense teachings allowed her to get some much needed aggression out. Especially now. She was beyond ready for Tournament duels this term. Anything to help her stay focused and direct her unpleasant emotions outwards; instead of internalizing.
Ho-dee-hum.
Entering Professor Hirsch's classroom, Liv paused momentarily in the door-frame. Nothing had changed, of course. It was cleared out, well-lit, and open; ready for whatever training activity their fearless Defense leader had concocted for the day. The routine of this was somehow soothing to her soul. No surprises. Something she could depend on every lesson. Maybe today's attempt at faking her excitement and happiness would be a success.
Unknowingly, Olivia sought out Rooney's face. He was already present, of course, and without meaning to, the Gryffindor made her way over, her mind racing with ideas about these odd tables of hidden things. Protected by The Force™️, apparently. Rooney had just tossed something at it...and there was faint sizzling noise. Hearing it, she gave the cloaked tables a wider berth, dragging a colorful cushion closer to her boyfriend. "Hey..."
Oh, and Prince Erik received a wave and small smile. Yep. Today she was really trying.
Huh.
See, Hirsch half expected Miss Phillips to give Charlotte a run for her money when it came to who could out-enthuse the other. But this? This was different. This was new. She was still smiling, sure, but it wasn't on her level of bounding into the classroom and being as sparkly eyed as he expected her to.
Let it go? He was going to.
"Hello, Miss Phillips." She got a smile from the Defence Professor.
Text Cut: Carl
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jean Granger
Carl entered the classroom, not surprised to see it arranged in a unique format. That was Professor Hirsch's style, he just didn't do the desks-and-chairs type of lessons. He smiled as he saw the man near the board. "Good day, Professor!" He said, then turned to the other side of the room. He quickly noticed the tables covered by the cloth and wondered what was underneath, but he knew better than to try and take a peek. They would find out soon enough.
The Hufflepuff took a seat on a mat near the front and waited patiently for the lesson to begin.
Was his usual lack of tables and chairs not surprising? Good. It meant that they knew to expect this lesson to be a physical one and not one where they would only have to sit back and take notes. Though, he did hope it wasn't becoming a boring.
But Mr Leonard seemed to be as happy as ever, if that smile was anything to go by, so he was going to ignore his worries for now. "Hello, Mr Leonard." Smiles for him, too. It would be interesting to see how he did in the Duelling Club this year.
Text Cut: Henry
Quote:
Originally Posted by emjay
Henry was in a great mood as he headed into the classroom. DADA was always a great class for learning spellwork and having fun at the same time, and really what more could you ask for at school? "Good day, Professor Hirsch," he greeted the man cheerfully as he passed, then looked for a good place to sit as the room was starting to fill up already.
Front and center worked for him, and he took a rather comfortable looking cushion to sit on. So what would they be learning today. And oh! What was under that cloth?
And here came another familiar Hufflepuff.
While he didn't know the boy as well as he knew some of his other students, he never had any kind of problem with the boy. And, if the lesson on Draugrs was anything to go by, the boy wasn't exactly bad at Defence. He'd produced fire spells well enough.
"Hello, Mr Whittebrook," he said, giving the boy a smile and a nod of his head.
Text Cut: James (Hirschy's kisses mwah)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Symphora
Not wanting to do anything theory related, he was glad to have this class for a change. Practicing duelling was his thing back in llvermorny and he wasn't going to be any different here. Professor Hirsch? Odd name for a professor. Sounds like a brand of chocolate he would eat during his cheat days. You know like Hershey's? Bet half of the class here never had those. They only had chocolates frogs, fudge flies and stuff like that. Anything to do with creatures, they made them into a candy and voila. Anyway, all these sweets in his head making him feel ultra craving for them. So stop it James.
He entered the classroom and waved to Professor Hersheys. Great now, that name going to be stuck in his head from now on. Urgh. He walked to the back of the class and found a seat there. Great place to snooze if the class gets to boring.
A silent one? They were always hard to figure out because they could either be really good at Defence but wanted to stay cool about it, or they could be terrible at it and wanted to be anywhere but here. He just didn't know and couldn't exactly suss this new student out.
No matter. The Slytherin got himself a nod of the man's head.
Text Cut: Nero
Quote:
Originally Posted by slytherus
Defence Against the Dark Arts, the name alone sounds cool. He entered the classroom, but noticed there were cushions on the floor instead of desks and chairs like an average classroom. He glanced around and saw the teacher. "Good day, professor," he greeted cheerfully. Professor Hirsch looked like he was in a good mood. His eyes caught something covered by a cloth. He looked at the board — no sign of 'do not touch', so he tried to take a peek...
"WOAH!!" he jerked back after he felt a small zap. He turned back to the teacher and noticed him smiling. Was this his plan all along, to prank the students? Nero shrugged it off, hid his hands in his oversized robe sleeves in case he would touch anything else that could electrocute him. He took a seat on one of the cushions at one of the middle rows, awaiting for class to begin. How exciting!
An excitable first year? That was always a nice break from the angst he'd been used to. Though, he did hope the kid could hang on to the enthusiasm for as long as possible and not let something like puberty ruin it.
"Hello, Mr Ballarat. Welcome!" He couldn't help but smile in retur-
............. Heh. Victim number three?
Hirsch tried not to laugh but even so, he couldn't hide the smile that spread itself across his face. Constant vigilance, anyone? "You okay there?" Nothing else is going to electrocute you, kid.
Text Cut: Ava
Quote:
Originally Posted by Winter Dreams
Ava very much looked forward to her Defense Against the Dark Arts classes. Maybe it was the Slytherin in her but she found herself drawn to the subject matter. She hoped she wouldn't have to need to use this class in her life, but there was a lot out there that she didn't know about and she wanted to.
And they would get to learn how to fight the dark arts! She thought that was cool! And scary. Admittedly, it was also pretty scary. It was about a 50/50. She was tentatively excited, but excited nonetheless.
"Hello Professor," she said brightly upon entering the room. Huh. No chairs this lesson. Okay then. She walked towards the front and found a cushion to sit down on.
She noticed one of her fellow first year Slytherins sitting nearby, they hadn't met, but she definitely recognized him. "Hi," she said to him before surveying the rest of the room. There was a mysterious table that seemed to be repelling Students who tried to come close, or you know, through sweets at it. Interesting.
There was an abundance of enthusiastic first years, wasn't there? Pity that he didn't seem to have a lot in his house but even so, Justin was lucky. They didn't look like the type to cause a lot of trouble he hoped.
The girl earned herself a smile from the Defence Professor before he said, "Hello and welcome, Miss James." Were the Slytherin first years planning on sticking together for this? Some sort of strategy? Or was Hirsch looking into this a little too much?
Text Cut: Cameron
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lislchen
Defense Against the Dark Arts.
To be honest, this was one of the lessons he'd been most looking forward to. Mostly because he was just REALLY REALLY curious as to what they'd be doing. And what they would see. And experience. And hear. And all the things really. It was an intriguing lesson for sure. He'd have so many amazing stories to tell over christmas break! So naturally, Cameron was VERY excited to be entering the classroom.
Only it didn't really look like a classroom.
At all.
...
This WAS the right place right?
Blinking a few times, Cameron finally stepped over the threshold, making room for anyone who was trying to come in after him. This was...strange. Why had nobody warned him about this? He looked over to the professor and gave him a curious look. "Hello, Professor Hirsch." Apparently he didn't like desks. Or chairs. Well. Cushions looked fun too, he supposed. So he moved to sit down somewhere near one Miss Charlotte Kettleburn. Okay. He was ready.
And here came another Slytherin first year. Though, he didn't look as enthusiastic as the previous one seemed to but he did look curious, if that look was anything to go by. Hirsch wasn't going to answer any questions he had. Nope. Let him stay curious for a while longer.
“Hello professor!” She beamed while entering the strangely empty classroom, but before she had more time to wonder why the room was so empty of tables she saw a few tables and with on top of it something covered with a blanked. Curious for what could be underneath it she walked over toward it, ignoring the bubble because… It couldn’t be that dangerous, she decided and she… Touched the bubble with one of her fingers, curious for what might happen and… Ahhh! That hurt! Taking a step back she looked slightly irritated at the table, she just wanted to know what was hidden there! Shaking her head she walked away from the table and shot a quick look at the professor to see if he had seen what she had done…
It wasn't long before another student entered the class and so, his attention was diverted yet again. The classroom really was filling up, wasn't it? "Hello, Miss Griff-"
............ Heh.
Victim number four? Not as many as he'd expected, actually.
The amused expression stayed on the Ravenclaw Head's face, though he did try to turn it into a comforting one once he caught her looking at him. "Are you okay?" They weren't dangerous, mind you. Just a small precaution.
Text Cut: Derfael
Quote:
Originally Posted by sweetpinkpixie
DEFENSE AGAINST THE DARK ARTS!
Was honestly not a subject that he had given toooooooooo much thought to. Outside of increasing his knowledge of Dark creatures that is. He HAD heard about Dueling Club in vague detail from Jessa and dad had no-so-subtly encouraged him to sign-up for it as well. Not that the 11-year-old really needed much convincing to try new things like that.
Bounding into the classroom, the Hufflepuff was in mid-greeting of the professor - mouth hanging open - when his baby blues fell on the covered objects.
Oooooooooh....
He was glad that he had pretty good observational skills - sometimes - because he was almost going to go and try to take a peek under them when he saw what happened to others who attempted it. Well...that was just...mean? Smart? It was a pair of socks! Wait...that wasn't right...pair of ducks....PARADOX! That's what that was...not unlike the Dark Arts themselves since GOOD people studied and practiced them and stuff...
His eyes still on the covered objects - professor forgotten, OOPS! - Derf went to sit down next to Henry. He had protected him from their Head of House and his waffles of certain death soooooooo...seemed like a fitting cushion to sit on. "Hi."
The curiosity of this next student amused him very much. It was interesting to see how his thought process worked without him having to say much. He could almost sense the caution, the way it almost looked like he was going to touch the shield himself. Hirsch waited to see, a curious glint in his eye, until.........
............... nope.
And not even a greeting either. Should he be offended?
Text Cut: Hattie
Quote:
Originally Posted by RachieRu
Defence against the dark arts! That was one of her favorite lessons, something she got from her siblings, but she was really excited for the lesson. She had practically skipped up from the kitchens to get to there on time. She was really excited to learn some new things this year. She hoped it wouldn't be boring, but this lesson had never been boring. It was learning to defend herself against the dark arts though, so she didn't think it would ever be boring.
She stepped into the classroom and smiled. Cushions and mats! Cool. And she noticed the tables on the other side of the classroom. That looked interesting actually. She beamed as she saw the professor. "Hi Professor!" The third year smiled, as she headed and sat down on a cushion. She couldn't wait for the lesson to start.
Another enthusiastic student? He really was being spoiled for these type of students, wasn't he? Not that he was about to complain, of course, but it did inflate his ego just a bit. Keep them coming, keep them coming.
"Hello, Miss Paton," he said, shooting her a smile of his own. Good thing she hadn't gone to see what was under the cloth, actually.
Text Cut: Zara
Quote:
Originally Posted by DH Vixen
To be honest, Zara was sure how she felt about Defence against the Dark Arts. Yes, she found it interesting but was she supposed to like it or not. Every time she had tried to ask anyone in her family about it, she was always answered with blank stares and a very quick change of subject. There was something they weren’t telling her and that kind of made her want to know more. So maybe she was supposed to like it the subject.
Walking through the classroom doorway, she glanced around and blinked. This wasn’t what she was expecting, but then again she didn’t even know what she was supposed to expect. With a shrug, she continued on her way toward an unoccupied mat and cushion near the middle. Setting her bag down beside the mat, she settled down atop the mat and turned her attention to the front. "Hello Professor Hirsch," she grinned and offered a small wave.
Glancing around the room again, her eyes settled on the covered long tables and her head tilted in thought. What could be on the tables and why were they covered for. All kinds of questions were now running through her head!
Oh, he knew this newcomer. She was one of the few new Ravenclaws he had and so, it hadn't exactly been hard to remember her face and name in time for this lesson. "Hello, Miss Monroe," he said, giving her a smile.
She wasn't about to go and inspect the items? Probably for the better. Though, the curious way she was looking at it hadn't gone unnoticed, either.
Text Cut: Zoryn
Quote:
Originally Posted by ArianaBlack
Her favorite class EVER.
Mostly because it was easy to practice for and homework was kind of fun. But also because they got to kick things sometimes. That was the best part, in Zoryn's opinion at least. Which is why she bounced into the classroom wearing the most HUGEST smile EVER. "Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii Professor!" she rocked back and forth giving him an enthusiastic wave. "Are we gonna punch stuff today?" Because that's the real reason why she was here.
That and OH LOOK FRIENDS!
Yooooooooooo. Defense Against the Dark Arts was AWESOME. The water reading lady should totally take lessons from this guy. Just saying. She grinned huge at her friend from the train (Zara) before taking her seat next to her. Hiiiii.
Remember what he said about enthusiastic students being one of his favourites? That wasn't about to change anytime soon, it seemed.
The man watched, slightly bemused, as the young Gryffindor entered and seemed to bring enough energy to light up the room. At this point, he didn't even care if she'd had too much sugar for breakfast. He was just far too amused.
And her question only made it worse.
Once again, Hirsch found himself chuckling at the question from a student. He should give points for making him laugh. Really. But how soon would it be before someone jumped out at him and presented him with a bad pun? "Hello, Miss Spinnet," he said, smiling at her, "As for punching things: I'd say close enough." And that was about as close to an answer as she was going to get. Sorry, kid.
Text Cut: Cassie
Quote:
Originally Posted by Holmesian Feline
Cassie entered the familiar classroom with time to spare for the latest defense class. Her eyes flittering around to take in her surroundings not wishing to be taken by surprise. DADA was one of those you should be observant in. And she didn’t want to let down the professor in what he had taught, especially one’s head of house as Hirsh was. No desks as usual other than the man’s at the front with the board to write things on. And tables off to the side with covered items on top. The Ravenclaw’s curiosity almost drew her over to further investigate but she stopped herself before she moved.
She simply stepped towards the cushions spread in front of the board instead. “Good day, Professor,” she greeted her head of house with a smile before settling on a cushion. Cassie than eased herself down and waited for the lesson to begin. Her eyes now paying closer attention to who else of her classmates were there as well in the class. Kitty and Janelle of her house. Ms. Head Girl as well. And Charlotte and Olivia too. Not to mention all the new younger years.
This was another reaction that amused him but in a different way to some of the other's. Miss McNally was a smart girl, there was no doubt about it, but she was also good at maintaining a level of constant vigilance that some could very well learn from.
And you know what? He was proud. Really.
"Hello, Miss McNally," he said, smiling back at her.
When it looked like no one else was coming and the time was close enough to start, Hirsch took out his wand and flicked it at the door. At once, the door shut itself with a small, resounding SNAP! Was that enough to get everyone's attention? He hoped so.
"Welcome to another year and another lesson of Defence Against the Dark Arts." If they didn't know him, where had they been hiding?
"Firstly, I'd like to apologise for the zap anyone experienced by touching the bubble over there." At this, Hirsch nodded over towards the other side of the room where a few long tables with items covered by cloth stood. "I want to keep the objects a surprise and, well, it's a good practice of constant vigilance. You never know what you could find in these classrooms." Not that he was about to hurt them but, you know, cursed objects were a thing in the real world. "But do know that it's harmless and, apart from giving you a small shock, it won't do anything to you."
"Now." He gave his hands a small clap while he let a slightly dramatic pause drag out. "Today, I want to deal with spellwork. It's your biggest arsenal and being able to cast a spell well and properly is your guide to success against the Dark Arts." There were other factors too, of course, but he had a point to make. "But! As with anything, there are a few downsides to spellcasting. If you've taken part in duels before, or even cast spells before, you'll know that sometimes, things don't always go your way."
Pause.
"So what I want to know is: what is your biggest problem when casting a spell? What's the most frustrating part?" Try and really think, okay? "For those of you who've taken part in Duelling Club, try and think back to those duels. For those who haven't really cast a lot of spells, try and put yourself in a position where you're duelling. What would you find difficult?" Apart from actually casting the spells in the first place, that is.
OOC: Ohmygosh this turnout though *__* *so flattered!* Sorry to keep you guys waiting! Thanks for sticking with me <3 Class has officially started so please keep the chatter to a minimum! And if you haven't posted yet and want to, just pretend as though your charrie has been there the entire time!
The question is simple: what is the most frustrating part about casting spells? Try and think outside of the box and not repeat answers, pretty please. Weird answers are ALWAYS welcome!
I'll carry on in roughly...... 20 hours' time. That gives you until 9pm GMT!
Thanks once again, lovelies
__________________
Last edited by hermionesclone; 01-15-2017 at 02:52 AM.
dream until your • dreams come true ~ Human pygmy puff
So apparently they were going to have to wait to find out what the professor had hidden. Janelle could wait. She had no choice really. As Professor Hirsch called the class to order, Janelle gave him her full attention. Ahhhhh, they would be dealing with spellwork today.
The Professor didn't waste any time in getting to the first question. This was one answer that Janelle did not have to think about. She knew her biggest problem when casting a spell and raised her hand right away. When it was her turn, she began to speak. "The thing I find most difficult is keeping my concentration. Sometimes I'm clear on the incantation and the wand movement, but if I can't keep my focus.......my spell is doomed." She had gotten much better with her concentration over the years, but it was still a challenge.
__________________
Days of Potter 2023:___________________________ Which Bertie Botts Flavour Are You? You are Salt!
Atypical Ravenclaw Bookworm // Hair Flipper Pro / / the edgy starbuckian // Hot Messie
Once Zara was done pondering the identity of what was hidden on the table, she noticed Zoryn beside her and smiled bright in return. It was so nice to have a friend near and so far Zoryn was probably her favourite friend.
Hearing the class called to order, she turned her full attention to Professor Hirsch At the moment of a zap, her eyes wandered to the table for a second before returning to the front. It was a good thing she had just pondered on the items on the table and not tried to look. Being zapped was not something she wanted to happen.
Spellwork? That wasn't what she expected to hear they were doing today, but as she thought at it; it kind of made sense to her. Spellwork was kind of the backbone to everything, wasn't it? Slowly she raised her hand. "I have troubles with form and movement," she offered shyly. "Spell casting required precise movement and most of the time, I don't get it right and things usually don't always work out right." So far there hadn't been any disasters, but it still bothered her. Spells worked but never perfectly like she wanted and she spent so much time just practising movements over and over.
It didn't take long for the first student to make an appearance. Good. Hirsch did want to get this lesson rolling, after all. "Good day, Mr Konakavailen," he said, giving the boy a nod of his head.
And he wasn't going to try to see what was under the cloth? Shame.
This next student amused him.
Why?
It was just the general persona the kid was giving off. The hovering at the door tipped off with the bowing. He was used to the bowing from one Jace Reed but anyone else? It was new and he wasn't even sure if it was intentional or not.
"Hello, Mr Lewis," he said, giving the boy a bow of his head in return, "Everything okay?"
Clever? That was a nice assessment, wasn't it? The smile on Hirsch's face only grew, fully displaying the dimples on his cheeks. "Thank you, Mr Emery. I thought they'd be a good practice for constant vigilance. I'm glad you didn't fall for it." Teachers could have fun as well, see.
"I'm very well, thanks. Excited, even. How are you?" Was he settling in okay?
Text Cut: Kitty and mentions of Jonas
And next to come was his very own Prefect! Hirsch smiled at her, secretly glad that she was so cheerful for, his ego assumed, this lesson. Those kind of students were always easier to teach, he found. "Hello, Kitty. I'm very well, thanks. How are yo-"
And there was the first victim.
Oh Kitty Kitty Kitty. Did nobody tell you that curiosity killed the Ravenclaw? "You okay there, Kitty?"
As for Jonas, he got himself a small , amused smirk for his response. Good.
Ah, the Head Boy! An interesting selection for the Head Boy, as well. Hirsch was quite pleased with this, in fact. The boy was smart, though he did give off the aura of being one of the kids that were just too cool for school.
Huh.
"Hello, Mr Winchester. Congratulations, by the way." At this, he nodded at the badge pinned to the boy's chest. "Not much," he said, giving him a small, nonchalant shrug of his shoulders. Cool enough answer? "What's up with you?"
Something interesting planned? Hirsch's attention moved towards the next person that entered the class and gave her an amused smile. "Don't I always, Miss Lupin?"
Well. He liked to think he always had interesting lessons planned. Defence was interesting in itself.
"Hello, by the way."
The next student to enter? A young Slytherin. A young, curious Slytherin. "Hello, Mr Thomas-Borzekowski." See? He'd gotten better at the name.
Ah.
Ah.
The signs were all there: that look of curiousness, the edging closer..... it was just a matter of time before.......
There it was!
The shield had taken another victim and Hirsch found himself slightly more amused than ever. It wasn't harmful so he wasn't worried about it potentially hurting any of the students but it told him who the daring ones were and who liked to be cautious.
"You okay there?" he asked, once the Slytherin had managed to take a seat.
While most students had their own, slightly usual way of entering a class, this next one was more enthusiastic than ever.
And did Hirsch love it? You bet.
"Hello, Dora." The smile that was on his face only grew at the sight of the Gryffindor, especially since she'd gone ahead and given him a daisy. That was sweet, wasn't it? "Excellent piece of magic you've done there. Thank you for this." Granted, he half expected her to set something on fire because of her proficiency with those spells.
As for the daisy, he conjured up a small vase with some water and placed it in there. There. Now it can stay on his desk.
The smile on Hirsch's face didn't look like it was wavering anytime soon, especially after seeing who was next to enter the room. "Hello, Nat. Congratulations on the Head Girl badge." Proud? He really was. He might not be able to say it right now but his smile wasn't about to hide it either. She'd come far from that first instance since he'd met her, did she know?
And this question from her only proved it.
"Of course! I'll leave it open for whenever you need to use it. You won't have to ask permission." He would've asked which room she needed but something told him the private practice room would be better suited for her. She wasn't one to show off, after all. "I'd love to. Just knock on my door if I'm not there and I'll come. We could do a review and then work on some of the harder spells."
His first impression of the next student? She wasn't exactly shy, was she? Sure, she seemed to have stayed at the doorway longer than some of the others but the way she'd come up to introduce herself to him wasn't something a shy person would do. He was yet to see what her defensive magic was like but this was promising.
"Hello, Miss Dance," he said, giving the girl a smile and a nod of his head, "It's good to meet you too." He'd introduce himself properly once everyone was here, even if she might already know who he was.
............. Er.
Hirsch had always promised himself that he wouldn't meddle in a student's personal life - a promise that had been broken many times - but this was...... concerning. He remembered the younger Botros clearly, was even looking forward to seeing her in his class because she was adept at his subject, but this was something else entirely.
"A Defence lesson in the morning isn't that bad, Junia." That was his attempt at humour. Was it working?
It was funny to see how many of the students wanted to turn up on time. Really. A quick glance at his watch told him that there was still a good couple of minutes left until the official start of the lesson and yet, there were more than enough people here for a good lesson. Huh.
And here came another.
The smirk on his face turned into a proper smile, only showing a small hint of his dimples. "Hello, Miss Penrose." Come in, come in.
And yes, the smile did have something to do with the zap.
Enthusiastic students were always fun to teach. The ones who actually wanted to be there to learn something and would put in some kind of effort to do so. He wasn't meant to have favourites - and if anyone asked, he'd blindly ignore it - but...... well.
"Hello, Mr Westwood," he said, giving the boy a small nod of his head. Let's see how this boy fared, eh?
If Hirsch knew what Mr Kennedy thought of him, the man would've been very, very flattered. The epitome of cool wasn't exactly a small compliment, was it?
But as it were, the man knew nothing and remained completely oblivious. But he did know of Mr Kennedy, especially seeing as the boy was in his house. "Hello, Mr Kennedy." A smile and a nod for you.
There were the curious ones and then there was Rooney Bronwyn.
Hirsch, who'd been smiling at the sight of his laughing Prefect, suddenly grew confused by his search and then.........
........... and then he lost it. Completely. He was standing at the front of the room, laughing at the sight in front of him. Sure, it was a good way to test the shield to see if it would do anything but this was taking constant vigilance to a whole new level. Was he really entertained by the effects of the shield charm he'd put up?
Teenagers.
Shaking his head and leaving Rooney to throw whatever he wanted at the shield, Hirsch turned his attention towards the next student to enter the class. Another enthusiastic response? Maybe today was his lucky day. Or maybe, a large number of people seemed to like his subject.
Both? Both.
"Hello, Miss Diggory." She got herself a smile from the man.
Yes, he did notice her enthusiasm and was glad that it was there.
Another curious Ravenclaw? Not exactly surprising but she didn't seem to be as curious as her Prefect had been.
And yes, the items on the table were going to remain a surprise until the time called for it. Sorry.
"Hello, Miss Guidry." Funny how the girl had made it to her final year at Hogwarts already. He could've sworn she'd been a young teenager just the other day. Huh.
And here was a response that got him laughing yet again. Bonus points? A giraffe? How exactly did this young Slytherin's mind work?
"It would be interesting if I had a giraffe under there, wouldn't it?" Why he would bring a giraffe into a lesson on Dark Arts, he didn't know. They weren't exactly dangerous creatures, were they? "You don't get bonus points for guessing but you do get bonus points for that amusing answer."
Here was a student who never failed to show her enthusiasm. Never. Especially for his subject or duelling.
And so, naturally, Hirsch found himself smiling a full-dimpled smile.
"Hello, Charlotte." Or Sharky, as she once introduced herself as. "Come and see me after class, okay? I have a few things to discuss with you." As mysterious as it sounded, he was sure she could figure out exactly what he wanted to talk to her about. It wasn't exactly hard guesswork.
His attention was diverted as someone else entered the classroom so he couldn't really elaborate on his answer. Instead, he ended up giving the newcomer a smile and a nod of his head in return. "Hello, Miss Holden."
A new Gryffindor, wasn't she? Hm. It would be interesting to see how she did as well.
Huh.
See, Hirsch half expected Miss Phillips to give Charlotte a run for her money when it came to who could out-enthuse the other. But this? This was different. This was new. She was still smiling, sure, but it wasn't on her level of bounding into the classroom and being as sparkly eyed as he expected her to.
Let it go? He was going to.
"Hello, Miss Phillips." She got a smile from the Defence Professor.
Was his usual lack of tables and chairs not surprising? Good. It meant that they knew to expect this lesson to be a physical one and not one where they would only have to sit back and take notes. Though, he did hope it wasn't becoming a boring.
But Mr Leonard seemed to be as happy as ever, if that smile was anything to go by, so he was going to ignore his worries for now. "Hello, Mr Leonard." Smiles for him, too. It would be interesting to see how he did in the Duelling Club this year.
And here came another familiar Hufflepuff.
While he didn't know the boy as well as he knew some of his other students, he never had any kind of problem with the boy. And, if the lesson on Draugrs was anything to go by, the boy wasn't exactly bad at Defence. He'd produced fire spells well enough.
"Hello, Mr Whittebrook," he said, giving the boy a smile and a nod of his head.
A silent one? They were always hard to figure out because they could either be really good at Defence but wanted to stay cool about it, or they could be terrible at it and wanted to be anywhere but here. He just didn't know and couldn't exactly suss this new student out.
No matter. The Slytherin got himself a nod of the man's head.
An excitable first year? That was always a nice break from the angst he'd been used to. Though, he did hope the kid could hang on to the enthusiasm for as long as possible and not let something like puberty ruin it.
"Hello, Mr Ballarat. Welcome!" He couldn't help but smile in retur-
............. Heh. Victim number three?
Hirsch tried not to laugh but even so, he couldn't hide the smile that spread itself across his face. Constant vigilance, anyone? "You okay there?" Nothing else is going to electrocute you, kid.
There was an abundance of enthusiastic first years, wasn't there? Pity that he didn't seem to have a lot in his house but even so, Justin was lucky. They didn't look like the type to cause a lot of trouble he hoped.
The girl earned herself a smile from the Defence Professor before he said, "Hello and welcome, Miss James." Were the Slytherin first years planning on sticking together for this? Some sort of strategy? Or was Hirsch looking into this a little too much?
And here came another Slytherin first year. Though, he didn't look as enthusiastic as the previous one seemed to but he did look curious, if that look was anything to go by. Hirsch wasn't going to answer any questions he had. Nope. Let him stay curious for a while longer.
It wasn't long before another student entered the class and so, his attention was diverted yet again. The classroom really was filling up, wasn't it? "Hello, Miss Griff-"
............ Heh.
Victim number four? Not as many as he'd expected, actually.
The amused expression stayed on the Ravenclaw Head's face, though he did try to turn it into a comforting one once he caught her looking at him. "Are you okay?" They weren't dangerous, mind you. Just a small precaution.
The curiosity of this next student amused him very much. It was interesting to see how his thought process worked without him having to say much. He could almost sense the caution, the way it almost looked like he was going to touch the shield himself. Hirsch waited to see, a curious glint in his eye, until.........
............... nope.
And not even a greeting either. Should he be offended?
Another enthusiastic student? He really was being spoiled for these type of students, wasn't he? Not that he was about to complain, of course, but it did inflate his ego just a bit. Keep them coming, keep them coming.
"Hello, Miss Paton," he said, shooting her a smile of his own. Good thing she hadn't gone to see what was under the cloth, actually.
Oh, he knew this newcomer. She was one of the few new Ravenclaws he had and so, it hadn't exactly been hard to remember her face and name in time for this lesson. "Hello, Miss Monroe," he said, giving her a smile.
She wasn't about to go and inspect the items? Probably for the better. Though, the curious way she was looking at it hadn't gone unnoticed, either.
Remember what he said about enthusiastic students being one of his favourites? That wasn't about to change anytime soon, it seemed.
The man watched, slightly bemused, as the young Gryffindor entered and seemed to bring enough energy to light up the room. At this point, he didn't even care if she'd had too much sugar for breakfast. He was just far too amused.
And her question only made it worse.
Once again, Hirsch found himself chuckling at the question from a student. He should give points for making him laugh. Really. But how soon would it be before someone jumped out at him and presented him with a bad pun? "Hello, Miss Spinnet," he said, smiling at her, "As for punching things: I'd say close enough." And that was about as close to an answer as she was going to get. Sorry, kid.
This was another reaction that amused him but in a different way to some of the other's. Miss McNally was a smart girl, there was no doubt about it, but she was also good at maintaining a level of constant vigilance that some could very well learn from.
And you know what? He was proud. Really.
"Hello, Miss McNally," he said, smiling back at her.
When it looked like no one else was coming and the time was close enough to start, Hirsch took out his wand and flicked it at the door. At once, the door shut itself with a small, resounding SNAP! Was that enough to get everyone's attention? He hoped so.
"Welcome to another year and another lesson of Defence Against the Dark Arts." If they didn't know him, where had they been hiding?
"Firstly, I'd like to apologise for the zap anyone experienced by touching the bubble over there." At this, Hirsch nodded over towards the other side of the room where a few long tables with items covered by cloth stood. "I want to keep the objects a surprise and, well, it's a good practice of constant vigilance. You never know what you could find in these classrooms." Not that he was about to hurt them but, you know, cursed objects were a thing in the real world. "But do know that it's harmless and, apart from giving you a small shock, it won't do anything to you."
"Now." He gave his hands a small clap while he let a slightly dramatic pause drag out. "Today, I want to deal with spellwork. It's your biggest arsenal and being able to cast a spell well and properly is your guide to success against the Dark Arts." There were other factors too, of course, but he had a point to make. "But! As with anything, there are a few downsides to spellcasting. If you've taking part in duels before, or even cast spells before, you'll know that sometimes, things don't always go your way."
Pause.
"So what I want to know is: what is your biggest problem when casting a spell? What's the most frustrating part?" Try and really think, okay? "For those of you who've taken part in Duelling Club, try and think back to those duels. For those who haven't really cast a lot of spells, try and put yourself in a position where you're duelling. What would you find difficult?" Apart from actually casting the spells in the first place, that is.
OOC: Ohmygosh this turnout though *__* *so flattered!* Sorry to keep you guys waiting! Thanks for sticking with me <3 Class has officially started so please keep the chatter to a minimum! And if you haven't posted yet and want to, just pretend as though your charrie has been there the entire time!
The question is simple: what is the most frustrating part about casting spells? Try and think outside of the box and not repeat answers, pretty please. Weird answers are ALWAYS welcome!
I'll carry on in roughly...... 20 hours' time. That gives you until 9pm GMT!
Thanks once again, lovelies
Jonas bit his lip. The frustrating part? Huuuuuum.
He thinks he knew. He raised his hand.
"For me it would be the incantation. I mean..." he frowned. "Some spells are fairly recent and theyre created by Americans sometimes ao the accent would be different."
Let your light shine || Be the sun || You're important. Always.
Noelle had sat down right beside Olly on one of the cushions right after he had said down. She gave a hearty smile to one of her favorite professors. "Good day Professor." She said in greeting before leaning against Olly for an armless hug.
Her eyes scanned the covered table, wanting to know what was hidden. She could contain her curiosity though. She knew they were hidden for a reason. That didn't stop her from asking Olly what he thought was underneath. "I wonder if it's dangerous." she whispered to him.
Oh yay. Class was starting.
Noelle hushed when Professor Hirsch stared talking. Her eyes darted along the table again before he asked the question. She didn't have to think on this. "Mines probably the concentration. Imagining the spell happening. My mind wants to cast it and then think about what I want to do next instead of concentrating on the spell." That wasn't a good thing when you wanted a strong spell.
__________________
You is kind You is smart You is IMPORTANT Farah Dubey Seventh Year Hufflepuff
Baguette | there is no D in my name | TRAITORclaw | Queenie of Narnia
Most frustrating part of spells? Hmm...that was tough. Spellcasting could be frustrating in general, at least when you were first trying a new one. Sometimes it was the incantation, sometimes the wand movement, sometimes concentrating on the intended result...it could be anything, depending on the spell.
The mention of dueling in particular though brought another thought in Rula's head. "I think sometimes the most frustrating part for me is remembering all of them," she said, raising her hand. "Most of the time I can remember whatever spell it is I'm wanting to use, of course, but occasionally I forget the incantation or wand movement in the heat of the moment, like it just slips my mind. You know, like how sometimes you try to think of a word you want to say but can't remember what word it was? Kinda like that." And that was pretty annoying. There were lots of different words just like there were lots of different spells, so it was easy for them to just slip your mind sometimes.
__________________
if we fall, we will fall together; and when we rise, we will rise together__________________♥♥♥♥ together we are dangerous; together with our differences; together we are bolder, braver, stronger
Made of Awesome | Ern-la the Best-wa | TZ's Apogee
Spell casting wasn't really all that hard, though. It took a bit to get good at some spells, but that was about practice. It wasn't about things being too hard. It was just about learning.
Or maybe that was the answer? Katy smiled broadly at Hirsch, since he liked her giraffe answer, and shot her arm into the air. "Sir? I think spells just take a while to learn. Like you need to get used to the incantation and wand motion, figure out how it feels to get it right so you can cast flawlessly in the future... I'm not sure it's a difficulty so much as a process."
Hiss!Roar!Growl!Caw! | Hermione's Double | The Little Three | Alecate
Brent smirked. Had he known people were getting zapped over by the bubble, he'd have paid better attention to it. Would have been a cool show to watch. But whatever. The lesson was moving on now. He tried to think about all the duels he'd had in the past and what might have been frustrating for him. People were talking loads about concentration, and all Brent could think about is how frustrating it'd been that time somebody had spit their gum out on the arena floor, and he'd lost a battle all thanks to the gooey mess on his feet.
He didn't think that would make a really good impression on the professor of his favorite subject, though, so he tried to think about something else instead. Finally, he raised his hand in the air. "You know what's difficult for me?" he asked, answering a question with a question. "When someone casts two spells back to back, and I'm not expecting either one. It's hard to come up with something on the spur of the moment that can block one spell but also get to the next one in time." He hated losing battles that way!
not throwing away my shot | Slytherpuff | roll for initiative | woof you ❤
Oh yay Noelle was there and sitting by him. Olly grinned at her but then class was starting so he couldn't really say anything. Professor Hirsch was definitely right that spells did not always go the way they were supposed to. They definitely didn't always work the first time. There were a lot of reasons Olly could think of that made spellwork frustrating. His top answer was the what Noelle said: concentration. He did not exactly have the best concentration. It was easy for his mind to wander and hard for him to get the amount of focus he needed to properly cast a spell, especially the more advanced ones. That older Slytherin, Rula, had a good answer too. There were so many spells it was sometimes hard to remember all of them. But Olly needed to come up with his own answer.
He didn't duel but he tried to think of what it would be like if he did. Or if he was in a dangerous situation. He raised his hand. "Rula had a good point. There are so many spells sometimes you don't remember the incantation or wand movement. I think it would be hard especially when you're in a dangerous situation. You have to think quickly but it's harder to think under pressure so you might not be able to think of the right spell fast enough."
Snow Miser | Munchy | Molly Hooper | T | Hey, you | Phantom | Mrs. Chris Evans | Brat Pack | Tristalen
Leon tilted his head a little as he listened to Professor Hirsch speak and the boy let question flow over him for a moment as well as let his classmates answers move through his ears..
Yes, concentration was hard. As was remembering spells, he had trouble with both of those. Though his trouble was really..
Leon raised his hand and said "Intent, Professor. That's what I have the most trouble with, summoning the correct intent and emotion for the spell at the proper moment. Dueling and spell casting can sometimes happen so fast, that even being in a proper mind set, intent can hinder my casting. "
The grey eyed boy had spoken his piece and put his hand back down. He was loving this lesson all read.
lives in a hobbit hole || Ern and Touz's Nuzzle || roflysst || looking at a seed packet
Quote:
Originally Posted by hermionesclone
Here was a student who never failed to show her enthusiasm. Never. Especially for his subject or duelling.
And so, naturally, Hirsch found himself smiling a full-dimpled smile.
"Hello, Charlotte." Or Sharky, as she once introduced herself as. "Come and see me after class, okay? I have a few things to discuss with you." As mysterious as it sounded, he was sure she could figure out exactly what he wanted to talk to her about. It wasn't exactly hard guesswork.
When it looked like no one else was coming and the time was close enough to start, Hirsch took out his wand and flicked it at the door. At once, the door shut itself with a small, resounding SNAP! Was that enough to get everyone's attention? He hoped so.
"Welcome to another year and another lesson of Defence Against the Dark Arts." If they didn't know him, where had they been hiding?
"Firstly, I'd like to apologise for the zap anyone experienced by touching the bubble over there." At this, Hirsch nodded over towards the other side of the room where a few long tables with items covered by cloth stood. "I want to keep the objects a surprise and, well, it's a good practice of constant vigilance. You never know what you could find in these classrooms." Not that he was about to hurt them but, you know, cursed objects were a thing in the real world. "But do know that it's harmless and, apart from giving you a small shock, it won't do anything to you."
"Now." He gave his hands a small clap while he let a slightly dramatic pause drag out. "Today, I want to deal with spellwork. It's your biggest arsenal and being able to cast a spell well and properly is your guide to success against the Dark Arts." There were other factors too, of course, but he had a point to make. "But! As with anything, there are a few downsides to spellcasting. If you've taken part in duels before, or even cast spells before, you'll know that sometimes, things don't always go your way."
Pause.
"So what I want to know is: what is your biggest problem when casting a spell? What's the most frustrating part?" Try and really think, okay? "For those of you who've taken part in Duelling Club, try and think back to those duels. For those who haven't really cast a lot of spells, try and put yourself in a position where you're duelling. What would you find difficult?" Apart from actually casting the spells in the first place, that is.
OOC: Ohmygosh this turnout though *__* *so flattered!* Sorry to keep you guys waiting! Thanks for sticking with me <3 Class has officially started so please keep the chatter to a minimum! And if you haven't posted yet and want to, just pretend as though your charrie has been there the entire time!
The question is simple: what is the most frustrating part about casting spells? Try and think outside of the box and not repeat answers, pretty please. Weird answers are ALWAYS welcome!
I'll carry on in roughly...... 20 hours' time. That gives you until 9pm GMT!
Thanks once again, lovelies
OooooooOOOOH!? Things to DISCUSS??? Charlotte was CURIOUS and INTRIGUED and you BETTER BELIEVE she was going to go straight to Professor Hirsch's office after class (Unless she got distracted by something else. Thennnnn there might be a delay. Ahem. But she WOULD get there!) Char gave him a thumbs up. YEAH. Sounded good to HER.
And ooooh the lesson had started and.... uhh?
Charlotte looked confused, and for good reason. What was he on about, about spells being frustrating? Whaaaaat?
She really had to THINK to come up with something and then it hit her and she stuck her hand up.
"Its frustrating when its a boring spell that does pointless things that you will basically NEVER use, or like the ones that it would basically be faster to just do a thing the muggle way, but you have to learn about them in classes anyway!" So, you know, not dueling. Basically.
__________________
love is like a letter wrote :: and life is like an envelope
be careful who you give it to :: they might not give it back to you
DADA Lesson One - Fianto Duri 
x12 
x12
