Theory of Magic 8.1

[Emily Hargrove (MOD)]

Theory of Magic
8.1; Professor Byrne

All years welcome.

[Professor Byrne]

Robert was still leading the same life as always.  It depressed him slightly to know that all his students were growing as people and moving on to different things in their young lives while he was stuck, alone with his research and his ill health, in a life that was academically successful but was, in the grand scheme of things, going nowhere.  No matter.  He'd just have to carry on as he had been for the past thirty years - this was, of course, the attitude that had got him stuck in the first place, but he wasn't to know that.  He thought he was waiting for something amazing to happen; his life's defining moment.  Little was he to know that most of his opportunities had been and gone now; this was looking to be a dead-end life with only a few well-received papers to show for itself.  It rarely threw anything interesting or exciting his way.  Even seeing Maddie in the corridors now resulted in a longing yet pessimistic twinge of his heartstrings rather than a flutter of hope.  He was too old for young love.  In fact, he felt too old for love altogether - probably looked it, too, he decided.  He was a boring person - he looked boring, enjoyed things that were boring to most people, talked about things that bored conversations to death, taught a subject that the students clearly thought was boring... hell, he even felt bored of himself.  He was tired of being ill, tired of being alone and tired of wandering around moping about it - unfortunately, there was little he could do about the first two things, but he was at least going to try to be more cheery.  It couldn't hurt; not unless he smiled so widely that it split his thin, unkissed lips.  He doubted he'd be doing that any time soon.

Aiming to inspire a little more interactivity in his students, Robert had decided to ditch the lecture-theatre style classroom and had instead decided to try the primary-school table method, just for one lesson.  If it didn't work he could always change it back.  There was no clue on the board - which gave only his name and the subject - as to what the lesson would focus on, and he planned to keep it that way for now.  The curriculum had changed, and it meant he no longer had to instruct his students in basic theory - this was a decision he disagreed with, but his main role was to prepare his students for their exams, not prattle on about whatever he found interesting.  He'd have to try and remember that - especially because his idea of 'interesting' rarely corresponded with his students' ideas about what was interesting.  The new curriculum called for discussion; students were going to be required to write essays arguing various sides in their exams.  Robert planned to begin to introduce the idea of debate today.  He was going to allow them to sit where they wanted for now, but after that... well, he might do some shuffling when the lesson began, depending on how the tables evened out.  Each table could sit four people - two on either side of a square desk.  He was still seated at the front of the classroom just to the side of the blackboard, and his table was minimalist as usual.  Only a plain white coffee-cup decorated it along with some neatly-stacked papers and a quill and inkwell.  Everything else was tidied neatly into its correct drawer.  With everything prepared - for now - Robert sipped at his coffee, hoping that the students wouldn't be too boisterous today.  He had an awful headache.

  Investigators are very welcome.  Also, I'd like one table/group to cause Robert a real problem today; if you're interested in filling this role please PM me on Robert and Oscar; both, just to make sure I get it ^_^" Thanks, and happy RPing!

[Cassidy Hunt]

Cassidy was looking forward to Theory of Magic class that day. not because she was particularly interested or especially good at it, but because she was just loving every second in the school, and couldn't wait to have another experience in it. And she wasn't going to get lost. She had had Charms class on that this floor, and had seen this very door before entering there, so she knew exactly where she was supposed to go, and for the most part, how to get there. Which was a first. So she didn't really need to start out early. But she did anyway. She adjustde her robes, pinned on her Hufflepuff badge, packed her school bag, and headed to the third floor.

She entered the classroom, and to her utter dismay, in her scan of the tables, found them absolutely empty. Uh-oh, she thought. She bit her lip, and then headed over to the Professor's desk, She extended her hand, and said, "Good day, Professor. I'm Cassidy hunt, a third-year transfer from Beauxbatons. I'm looking forward to your class, and i's nice to meet you." She gave him a winning smile, almost entirely genuine, along with a copy of her transcript. After that came the issue of where to sit. She already looked foolish, being here first, so she might as well just take a seat and desperately wish she wouldn't be stuck alone and look even worse. So she took a seat at one of the desks in the second row, pulled out the proper book, along with parchment and a quill, and started doodling.

  Anyone feel free to come sit with Cassidy! I'm open to being part of trouble-makers desk too, if you'd like.

[Gunther Hale Addison]

Gunther's stomach was in a right mess as he headed for theory of magic. He was not looking forward to the class, he wasn't sure his mind was able to work in a manner in which he could explain magic, work out how it actually worked, or why it worked. What was the point even? His hand went to his chest and he kept it there for a moment, feeling the cross beneath his robes. He didn't really think mysteries should be discussed, just enjoyed. His hand dropped to his side as he slipped into the classroom, stopping a moment at the entry way as he eyed the professor, who looked a little worn down, and just one other student.

At least that gave him many options for sitting at an empty table himself. He nodded his head to the professor and opted for one of the back tables, settling down quietly and without a word.

[Britnay Grindelwald]

Theory of Magic, just the lesson Britnay needed. She more then needed it actually. There was so much still to learn and such little time for it. Between the rest of her studies, spending time with her family and being so relaxed from the two week Holiday Lacertus had taken her and Kahlehnar on, her mind was full of so much. Plus the added fact that now the invites had been sent out for the wedding in July, she needed to sort more and more out on that. The good thing was, they already had the place for the ceremony and reception, she had already sorted out catering and transport. As well and a guard. Yes, Britnay Grindelwald was going to have people at her wedding that would stand guard around the perimeter. Why? Because she knew that have the place open for some to arrive meant other could get in. Others she wished not to have come in and so it was safest. It was lucky though that those contacts of her fathers was still willing to help and trust her. Leading her to discover a little more about her father and what he had done for a job. She knew he was connected to the Ministry both in London and Germany, but for what, she was still trying to uncover it. Franko, a old time friend of her fathers had offered to tell Britnay, now that she was old enough to know, but she refused. She wanted to give it time, discover it on her own. He was cool about it and he was the one helping out with the guard.

It was really amazing how with so many thoughts, time seemed to go so fast. Not to mention how you could be at one place one moment and then another the next. That was how Britnay found it moments later from the last thought. She had arrived at the Theory of Magic class room. In fact, she had already entered, without even paying attention. Being at Hogwarts for seven years almost, she was so used to directions that it came so simple to her to just go some place. So as she took a quick look around, seeing Professor Byrne there, looking as odd as he had the last time she had been a class with him. She actually wondered if things were ok with the Professor. However, she was not going to make a deal about it before a whole class of students.... Actually, make that two students. That was all who were there besides Britnay. Neither anyone she was actually interested in speaking with and so, moving to a back row, noting the change in the way of seating, Britnay sat down. Taking a deep breath, she went back to the thoughts of before, the things she still needed to get sorted for July.

[Jesse Benson]

Jesse had never found Theory of Magic particularly interesting. But Jesse was tired of interesting. There had been way too much going on in his life right now. The fight with Gavin, Eliza freaking out after... It was all a little too much. Jesse wasn't one to sit in bed and hide from life, though. He knew he had to get out and live. After all, you only live once. So here he was, walking down the third floor corridor towards History of Magic, perfectly happy with the fact that he was headed towards a normal, boring class. That was how class was supposed to be, anyway. He just hoped that drama wouldn't break out this lesson. This was a little much to hope for; classes at Hogwarts always ended up getting a little too over the top for Jesse's liking. Why couldn't they just be like elementary school? That was all Jesse wanted at the moment: no cares, no worries, and no drama. Surely Theory of Magic could deliver that...

Slipping through the door, the Gryffindor surveyed the scene and a wry smile slipped over his face. The very setup of the room reminded him of elementary school already. The square tables were just like those he'd sat at eight years ago. Jesse glanced around - not anyone he'd care to talk to, though he did give a smile to the girl in the second row - and headed for the front row. He took a seat at one of the tables in the front row, right in front of the professor. The place least likely to be dramatic. He gave the professor, who didn't look very well, a cordial nod before dropping his bag and leaning back in his chair. He eyed the Hufflepuff girl for a moment, and then his eyes flicked to watch the door. Now all he needed was friends. He just hoped they wouldn't make anything a big deal. This was Theory of Magic: a good, old-fashioned, low-key, boring class. That was what Jesse really needed.

[Annie Crane]

Annie slunk into class with a fierce, determined look on her face. This whole back at school nonsense was just that, nonsense. Her social worker was, quite frankly, a total moron. She didn't need or want a second chance, particularly not here. But, according to him, it was imparitive for her social and mental health she return to the places she once loved. An anathema. She had loved Hogwarts but it wasn't like she hated it now, it had just lost it's shine. Cillian had gone somewhere, he was probably homeschooled or something, and Jake was the only real friend she had. To put it bluntly things hadn't changed at all. Annie was right back where she was during her first year, she was a lonely, mean, Ravenclaw who was too smart for her own good.

Quietly sitting down at an empty table she mindlessly spun the ring on her left hand. Lenoire. She had a lot of things that marked her, defining features if you will. The dagger she used to keep in her boot, now tucked into jeans. The ring he'd given her, the tattoos she'd gotten herself. That defiant, hang-the-world grin only a few people ever got to see, and the line upon line of scars marking her wrists. It was all a part of who she was. She'd stopped cutting, for now, and she'd started wearing shorter sleeves. If that was who she was she wouldn't hide it.

[Jake Davis]

Did anything really change? Perhaps at home, yes, but not in here. He had thought that maybe he'll get a fresh start, new classes, new people. Wrong. Dead wrong. First class of the year and Bradford just had to be there. As the boy dragged his feet in the corridors, he couldn't help but wonder what that boy had been doing while he was gone. But did he really want to know? probably not. Jake left. And their lives went on. Not like he 'changed' so many lives during his stay, anyway. How could he? when all his attention and alone time were given to that Ravenclaw? God, what has he been doing?!

Head down as he entered the room, he knew not a lot of people would be eager enough to be as early as him. True. In fact, he wasn't even in the least eager; he just wanted some quiet time. Some quiet time where there were witnesses that could keep him in check instead of going insane. As he lifted his eyes, he scanned the almost empty room. But it didn't exactly do much use; the pair almost immediately landed on the hair of a blond girl he knew just too well. Stop it, he warned himself, she just wants to be friends. Friends. Oh how that word just made his chest tighten. Patting his robe, he headed to the seat beside Annie and dropped his bag on the floor beside the desk. "Morning."