Transfiguration ((OWLs))

[Professor Minerva McGonagall]

Minerva opened the door the the Owlery and entered the room while the sound of feathers and silent hoots surrounded her. Lookign around sharply Minver made her way through the numerous owl belonging to different students and stopped in front of a tan owl. The owl reached out it’s leg tomwards Minerva and she tied her letter to the owls leg. The owl hooted softly before raising gracefully into the air and floating out of the room. Minerva watched it go for a few moments before taking hold of her long skirts and briskly walking out of the owlery. She had a class starting soon and Minerva wanted to make sure everything would go perfectly. She would not tolerate any insolence in her classes and everyone had to try and give their best.

When Minerva opened the door to her classroom and stepped in the big clock showed that there was still a full hour until next class would begin. She had preparead the class thoroughy so nothing everything should go swiftly, but Minerva still liked to look over her things. Everything seemed to be in order so Minerva took a seat at her table and pulled a stack of essays closer to herself. There would still be plenty of time before the students would start arriving and she could use that time to grade a bit. She had not gotten a chance to correct this essays made by her NEWT years the previous evening so she did it now before her students had arrived.

[cleo]

Cleo brushed her vibrant recd hair calmly. She adored her hair. It wasn’t overly long as it merely brushed the tops of her shoulders, but the colour was rich and full and her hair was healthy. She was even prouder of it because her mother had had the same colour hair. A lot of people told Cleo that she looked exaclty like her mother. Cleo was glad to hear that – his ’father’ had rejected her even before she was born, so Cleo didn’t want anything to do with that man. He didn’t deserve even knowing her and that man – whoever he was, Cleo hoped he’d choke – had no right to ever try to influence Cleo’s life in any way.

Cleo noticed that she was gribbing her comb, and dropped it on the small table. Pushing through her hair a couple of times to givve it a bit wind-blown attraction Cleo covered her lips with red colour, once again settling for not as bright colour as she herself usually preferred. But she had McGonagall today and that wrinkled prune most certainly wouldn’t like to see any proper make up in her class. Not that Cleo actually needed make-up to enchance her features. She was rather pretty the way she was. Cleo even dressed a bit boringly today. A jeans-skirt, white blouse and her black school-robes over htem. She even wore black boots, instead of her favorite red ones.

Grabbing ehr things – her wand, some paper, her transfiguration book and a few necessities Cleo shoved it all in her small black backpack. Throwing the small bag over her shoulder Cleo jogged out of the common room and down the stairs having to make a slight detour to avoid Peeves on the way as he seemed to be amusing himself with peting students iwth water-balloons. Cleo had no desire to get wet. McGonagall might take points if you showed up soaked in her class. And going bcak to chance and then be late for class wasn’t a very good idea either. Arriving at the classroom without any more problems Cleo frowned slightly upon seeing the classroom was empty. Wehre were people lately? She never came extremely early but lately she had been early for classes constantly. First Herbology, now Transfiguration. Not seeing much point in waiting outside the classroom Cleo entered the class and took a seat in the middle of the class while giving McGonagall a dull: „Good morning.“

[illiya]

The morning had gone from bad to worse for Illiya and she nursed her newest bruise tenderly as she limped down the stairs towards her Transfiguration class. After losing points for her own house just that morning, she’d also managed to get potting soil all over herself during Herbology. Illiya had rushed back up to the dorms after class to change so that she wouldn’t lose any additional points for her house by tracking dirt into Professor McGonagall’s room when she went to class. Transfiguration was next and Illiya breathed a little sigh of relief. It was the ONLY subject she managed to be fairly descent in without hours upon hours of study. She was very fond of her stern head of house and thought highly of the woman. To Illiya, McGonagall was the epitomy of class. She loved the way McGonagall held herself and was always impressed by her.

Today, however, she was sure her head of house would KILL her. After quickly changing into clean clothes, Illiya had gathered her books and rushed down the stairs determined not to be late. She wanted to be early for this class so that she could get a seat up front. This year was OWLS after all and Illiya wanted to be able to absorb every last bit of knowledge McGonagall could offer. Everything seemed to be going better until Illiya hit the fifth floor stairwell, where much to her surprise, she discovered a thin layer of water coating the stairs…a little too late. She had skidded right off the top step and, arms flailing like pinwheels, Illiya had toppled right down the short flight of steps and finally stopped in a heap on the small landing that fortunately split up the staircase. Her papers had flown everywhere and she was pelted rather painfully in the back of the head with two separate books. "Peeves." she growled.

Illiya had lifted her self up tenderly to discover no broken bones and a whole lot of bruises. The first few paragraphs of her notes on Herbology were now nothing more than a blurred ink blot on the now soaked parchment that was balled up and shoved in her book bag. She had gathered it and several other ruined pieces of parchment, shoving each into her book bag roughly. She gathered her soaked books in her arms and noted that the whole front of her robes were dark with water. Illiya had dragged herself painfully up the stairs once more to the common room and after a unpleasant look from the Fat Lady, Illiya had made her way back inside to change….yet again.

Finally, bruised, unhappy, and carrying a few books with wrinkled pages, Illiya found herself at last in front of the door to Transfiguration. She pushed the door open and was pleasantly surprised to find she was not late at all, but rather that she was the second person in the classroom. She hobbled up front and set her books down. At least things seemed to be looking up now.

This joyous revelation was quickly squashed when Illiya sat down and looked down at her shirt only to discover that though she’d changed her top for a dry one, her books had still been a bit damp. A large spot of moisture showed clearly on her top and Illiya quickly wrapped her outer robes tightly around her to hide it, glancing about nervously to make sure no one saw. She frowned at her books and hoped they would dry fairly unwrinkled. Illiya pushed back a few straggly wet locks of hair behind her ears and ignored the burning in her cheeks that said she was blushing furiously. Instead, she looked up at the Professor seated at the desk and offered a pleasant if quiet, “Good afternoon, Professor McGonagall.”

[Cassandra Blackfire G7]

Transfiguration! Cass was excited since this was her absolute favoriate class. In fact, she had been taking lessons with McGonogall to beome an animage, and she couldn't wait till the lessons began again. She swore that she had even managed some fur on her left arm a couple of weeks ago. She was carrying the large, hefty volumes that McGonogall had given to her before the start of the summer. They were quite interesting, and she wanted to drink up more of this knowledge. Cass waived at several people on her way into the classroom.

Placing the books on the desk, she smiled at Professor McGonogall. " Good day, Professor. Thanks for letting me borrow the books over the summer, and I can't wait till we can start animagi lessons again. I've learned a lot. In fact, I found this book by Braden Broflin in the library about large animal transformations. It's quite interesting."

Cass took her seat by another fourth year Gryffindor. " Illiya, right? I don't think we've properly met. Cassandra, Cass for short."

[aubree]

Aubree had, had a horrible day. She was still dirty from Herbology. Aubree detested being dirty and she had no time to change her appearance. She barely had time to see her face in a mirror and when she did Aubree almost screamed. None the less, she walked into the castle and made her way up the steps. She longed to be heading to Potions right then. She was rather gifted at it, but she was also pretty good at Transfiguration. As she went up the steps she spotted all the first year skipping off to their classes. Morons. She thought. Aubree continued her journey to the classroom. She didn't see anyone worth her while as she walked. Most of the students walking near her were Hufflepuffs. Filthy. She thought. Aubree detested muggle borns as did every worthy Slytherin. She scowled at them as she found the classroom.

Aubree entered gracefully. Just because she was dirty didn't mean she could not be her usual worthy self. The room only had two other students so there were plenty of seats she could choose from. There was only a Gryffindor and a Ravenclaw present so she chose a seat in the middle. Aubree was getting tired of the back. Before taking a seat she went to the front of the room. "Good morning professor." She said to McGongall. Professor McGonagall was the Gryffindor Head of House and Aubree didn't really like her, but she was still respectful. She then turned and sat down waiting for a someone to come sit by her.

[crane]

Gary whistled a happy tune as he trotted through the hallways of Hogwarts iwth his bit tattered bag thrown over his shoulder. The bag was old and had belong to Gary for years already, but he liked it. His sisters had decorated it so it looked good and strong and happy. The bag was even dearer to Gary because of the work her sister had put into it to make it look nice. It reminded him of his family and home. He liked Hogwarts and he was over-joyed of the possibility of being able to use magic again yet he still missed his home and family in the muggle world dearly. At least he could use the school owls sometimes to deliver messages to home.

Gary had tried to look proper today. McGonagall was a fair teacher but stern at the same time. For some reason Gary didn’t think that she would allow someone or something looking out of order in her class. That was why Gary usually tried to choose a seat near the end of the classroom. His school robe was new and his pants and simple T-shirt were neat. But he still hadn’t found the time to visit some hair-dresser so Gary pushed trhough his fingers trhough his hair a bit shyly. They were starting to get a bit too long actually. But Gary just couldn’t seem to find the strength to actually go and cut them off. Hopefully McGonagall wouldn’t notice. Or at the very least hopefully she wouldn’t mind awfully.

Opening the classroom door Gary looked around curiously. There were students here already, but the classrooms weren’t absolutely packed yet. That girl from Ravenclaw with the vibrant hair was here. Gary had met her during the Welcoming Feast. A small sad smile crossed over Gary’s face as he tought of the Hufflepuff girl who had learned. Gary hoped that she was happy now. Whereever she did go. Two Gryffindors were already huddled together and a Slytherin girl. No one Gary knew yet, so he made his way to the last seat so as to be out of the viewing range of McGonagall and took a seat there after muttering a quick hello to the professor. Pulling out his book and wand and everthing else he might need Gary settled down in his seat.

[illiya]

Illiya looked up nervously as Cass took the seat next to her. The girl seemed nice enough but Illiya clutched her robes a little tighter around her, trying to hide the distinctive wet spot on her shirt. Cass was another fourth year Gryffindor girl and it struck Illiya again just how little she’d gotten to know those in her own house. This girls had been sharing a dorm room with her for three years and though Illiya knew her name, she’d never really spoken to the girl at all. Cass offered an introduction and Illiya smiled pleasantly in return. “Illiya Jenkins.” She said softly, her hand reaching up instinctively to push her glasses back up onto her nose once more as they seemed ever determined to flee. Within moments, they had already begun a slow but steady descent back down her long nose.

[Liam Angelus G5]

Liam had to rush through the halls of the castle so that he would not be late for Transfiguration. He knew that Professor McGonagall, his head of house, would not tolerate any lateness, especially from students in her own house. On his way through the halls, he managed to run into several first years, causing them to drop their things to the ground. Liam helped them father their things before he continued toward the Transfiguration classroom.

Liam opened the door to the classroom and saw several other students in the classroom already. He saw Cass and another Gryffindor girl already sitting in one of the front rows. As he headed toward the front row, he said, "Good day, Professor." Liam walked to the front row of desks and took a seat next to Cass and the other Gryffindor girl. Liam took out his Transfiguration books and his wand and waited for class to begin.

[maddiemalfoy]

Maddie strolled along the halls of Hogwarts, her bag slung over her shoulder carelessly. It was just another day, that she went on in, not really giving much of a care in this world, including this school. Now, of course she kept up, and knew all about the good gossip, everything that everybody who were worth knowing about was talking about, and regular going-ons, she just didn't care too much about school. Hogwarts had always been more of a social place for Maddie, and she didn't mind, because she paid at least enough attention in class, to get 'O's and 'E's, in most of her classes.

The teenage girl rounded a corner, and she was at the classroom door. She peered through the doorway, class hadn't started yet, and there didn't seem to be too many students there yet. Maybe she still had time to skip... But... she wouldn't. She sighed. Professor McGonagall and her father would probably have the girl's head, if she did that once more. She snickered to herself. She had done that only twice last year, but her blasted sister seemed to have more than just lose-lips, and wrote to her parents all about it. So, this summer, of course, she received a huge lecture over it, but Maddie wasn't about to go back on her parents' words, bad things would happen then, so the girl shrugged once more, and strided into the classroom.

Maddie didn't intentionally like Transfiguration, especially since the professor was the head of Gryffindor house. However, that was probably the only thing that Maddie rather disliked about the class. It was rather interesting, and she really hated to admit it... but the professor wasn't as bad as all the other Slytherins tell her up to be. Maddie shrugged yet again, as she scanned the classroom for a seat. There was only one Slytherin there, that Maddie knew fairly well. Maddie swiftly moved over to Aubree, just in time to hear her greet the professor. Maddie took a seat beside her, while putting her bag on the floor. She raised her eyebrows slightly, and said. "Yes... morning professor." Maddie was careful to not drawl out her voice, as she usually did. She really wasn't in the mood to be sentenced to detention, just because she didn't have 'proper' behaver. "Hello." she greeted, this time in her regular voice, as she turned to Aubree. As she put her hands on the desk, before her, she looked around the room, wondering how full the classroom would get. She turned her attention back to the professor, waiting for class to officially begin.

[Monica Henshaw S5]

After Herbology was over Monica, went back to the slytherin common room. She knew that she had extra time to fix her look. She had been a bit tired considering all the walking she had been doing to get to her classes. She took out her wand and taped her hair. It looked re-combed and perfect. She then put her hand in her robe's pocket for her eyeliner. After her finishing of applying it on she was on her way to her next class. She then walked out of the common room and into the school's corridors. Monica was in disgust in the sight of many new first years walking around. She sure wasn't in the mood for bothering considering her bad headache she had from listening to professors talk all day.

She saw the room not to far from her, as she walked in she took a slight glimpse at the big clock in the room. Monica had been accurate she did have enough time to get to class. She was amazed at that but didn't really care if she was late or not. She shrugged taking a seat in the far back, being away from anybody. She didn't even take her time to look around to see who had been in the class already. Besides she already knew much of the stuff the professors thought since her parents gave her classes during the summer so she wouldn't have to listen to those annoying voices. Monica then put her head down on the wooden table not getting ready for class. She wanted to be her normal self....Ouite.

[livinghope1986]

Mandi looked around the hallways. She wasn't late, but it seemed like she was. The hallways were pretty empty. She turned the corner and ran straight into a suit of armor. She fell backward and rolled quickly as the suit of armor fell down next to her. She sighed. Things hadn't been going any better for her recently. She kept having things just happen to her. She picked herself up and heard the familiar cries of Filch. She quickly grabbed her bag and ran. She didn't want to run into Filch this early in the day. She didn't ever want to run into him. She ran down the hallway and reached the Transfiguration classroom. She was panting as she entered the classroom. "Professor," Mandi panted as she acknowledged Professor McGonagall. She walked toward some other Gryffindors and sat down.

"Hi, Cassandra and you're Illiya right? I'm Mandi," Mandi said as she introduced herself. She sat down near them and pulled her books out of her bag. She looked over at the girls and smiled. She was a year older than them, but she didn't really care. Most of her OWL classes had more 4th years than 5th years.

[Fiona O'Reilly S5]

Fiona pulled her school robes on and looked around the dorm room. Some of the girls were already up and out, but there were a few still there. Fiona didn't say anything as she felt the pearl around her neck. She hadn't taken it off and didn't ever plan on it. She sighed to herself. She hated the fact that her parents were dead, but there was nothing she could do to change that. Unless...maybe there was some way she could bring them back. To do that she would need to be the most powerful witch in the world. She wondered if the Dark Lord knew how to bring people back to life. Fiona pulled herself out of the thought and turned her attention to her backpack. She picked it up off the ground and made sure her Transfiguration book was in it. Seeing that it was she headed out the door and up the stairs of the dungeon.

Passing the Great Hall she held her breath at the sickening smell of food. She hadn't eaten much since her parents death. It just didn't smell good or taste good. She continued to the stairs and made her way up them pushing the younger students out of her way. "Watch where you're going!" Fiona yelled as some kid ran into her. She didn't want their sickening germs anywhere near her. She pushed past him quickly and up the next flight of stairs toward Transfiguration. She wasn't in the mood to go to class, but she had to. She loved the class, but hated the professor. Professor McGonagall was the head of Gryffindor house. Fiona hated Gryffindors. She didn't want to be around any of them.

Stepping into the classroom, Fiona made her way quickly toward Maddie and the other Slytherins. She didn't want to even look at the other students. She didn't even acknowledge Professor McGonagall. She sat down and pulled her things out of her bag. "Hi, Maddie," Fiona said.

[simone]

Simone had pulled her hair into a loose bun that day rather than a ponytail so she knew there was no change of it getting in her face as she struggled with plants and attempted to change the properties of whatever it was they were going to do in Transfiguration that day. She sat at then end of the Ravenclaw table that morning eating a bowl of cereal while looking over her Tranfig textbook hoping she hadn’t forgotten too much over the summer. First class up was Herbology and Simone took off her robe and carried it because it was just too warm in the greenroom she found. She had her uniform on anyways so it would be fine.

After that class was Transfig and Simone ducked into the bathroom first to fix her hair and the wee bit of makeup she actually wore – even though you would be hard pressed to guess what it was beyond the sheer lip-gloss. For the most part she simply viewed fussing over hair and makeup as a frivolous girly routine to help people hide from the realities of life. Not that she told anyone this view but…

When she felt she had gotten most of the grim off herself Simone put her robe back on betting that McGonagall would not appreciate anyone being out of uniform. Walking into the class she noticed it was beginning to fill up but there were still a number of seats left – including ones besides two people in her house and year. Gary was in the back and Cleo was in the middle… She and Cleo shared a dorm so Simone decided to go take the seat next to Gary.

“Good morning Professor.” Simone called across the room before placing her backpack on the ground and sitting beside Gary. “ ‘Morning. Glad to be back? Summer was certainly not long enough I swear.” She said to him with a smile before taking out some parchment a quill some ink and her text.

[Professor Minerva McGonagall]

Minerva finished correcting the essay, correcting the wand-movement in it. Looking the essay over once again Minerva decided that it was acceptable and after placing the grade on the topmost right corner, pushed the stack of essays further away. Students had been piling into the room one by one as she had been working on the essays and noow it was exactly the time to start the class. Putting her quill into a ink-opot Mineva stood and smoother her hair back to the tight bun on her hair.
„Good morning, students,“Minerva said as she walked around her table and sttod in front of her class as she watched over the classroom and the students filling it and held a qshort pause. Feeling satisfied that everyone’s attention was on her Minerva nodded and started to explain todays lesson.

„Today should be a farily easy class for most of you as I expect you still recall some previous spells and enchantments. This is OWL years for some of you and the others should pay attentoin as much. Now I am sure you are all familiar with ink-splashes on your parchments.“ To illustrate her words Minerva took her quill and made a rather big ink-splash on a spare piece of parchment before showing it to the classroom.
„For introduction of this lesson I would like one of you to demonstrate to me the simple vanishing spell to get rid of this one. Any volounteers?“ Keen eyes looked over the classroom as Minerva waited for some hand to raise.

[Cassandra Blackfire G7]

A vanishing spell! In her eagerness to please Professor McGonogall, Cass shot her hand straight in the air. She had been working hard on Transfiguration all summer, and she was eager to show her newly acquired knowledge. She really didn't want to be known as a know it all, but Cass wanted this opportunity. Also, Cass wanted to prove that she could earn points, and not just lose them.

[Professor Minerva McGonagall]

A hand rose and Minerva gave ms. Blackfire a curt nod.
„Yes, ms. Blackfire, please come here and demonstrate the vanishing spell to the class.“

[Cassandra Blackfire G7]

Cass pushed her chair back and made her way to the front of the classroom. She was a bit nervous. In fact, she could feel the Slytherin's eyes boring into her back, hoping that she would fail and make a fool of herself in front of the class. Of course, she noticed that none of them had volunteered. It had gotten unusually quiet in the room. The loud clicking of her heels on the stone floor seemed to reverberate across the entire room.

Finally reaching the front of the class, she smiled at the Professor and pointed her wand at the at the parchment. Make a bit of what looked like a scouring motion with her wand, she commanded the blotch on the paper to vanish. " Evanesco." Watching eagerly, Cass saw the blemish lift from the paper. The parchment was clean once again.

[illiya]

As Illiya’s attention was focused on Cass, another young Gryffindor moved to Cass’s side and sat down with them. Illiya knew the boy only by name but had never talked to him personally. He was another 4th year like her and Illiya had always fancied him a little. She quickly looked away to hide the small blush that crept to her cheeks when he sat down. She’d never sat close to him before and was suddenly grateful that Cass was in between them. He seemed to know Cass pretty well and Illiya felt pretty dumb that she knew so few people on a friendly basis. She’d been so absorbed in her books and studies that she hadn’t made too many friends, though she was doing much better this year. Illiya was sure though that she would do something to make Liam think she was an utter clutz, and Illiya would just up and die if she humiliated herself too badly in front of him.

Fortune swept in to save her as another Gryffindor moved over to sit nearby. The girl was just a bit older than Illiya, a fifth year, and she seemed nice enough as she offered an introduction. “Yes. It’s nice to meet you Mandi….well, I mean formally that is. I mean, I’ve seen you around obviously, we’re in the same house.” Illiya offered the girl a warm quick smile and then turned back to her wrinkled books on the desk before her. She was sure she’d just made an idiot out of herself. Of course Mandi knew what she meant when she had said ‘nice to meet you’, Illiya chided herself. Soon enough, Professor McGonagall stood to begin class. She started and showed everyone the ink blot on the paper. Illiya frowned a little and cast an unhappy glance at her book bag, where, crumpled and abused, her Herbology homework was hiding. It more resembled the ink blot the professor was holding than the neatly scribbled writing she had left her earlier class with and Illiya vowed to hunt Peeves down later for it.

Beside her Cass raised her had quickly to demonstrate the vanishing spell and then strode up to the teacher, her heels clicking loudly on the polished floors. Illiya was glad a Gryffindor was going to perform the spell. They could use all the points they could get. Seeing that the girl had done the spell correctly, Illiya offered her a smile.

[Professor Minerva McGonagall]

„Very good, ms. Blackfire. 5 points to Gryffindor. You may return to your seat now.“ Minerva said as the young girl managed with the charm. It wasn’t bad achievment at all. Even when she would have wanted a bit more smoother movement of wand. But everybody worked in their own ways.
„’Evanesco’ is a fairly easy spell that all of you should have mastered by now. Today you are going to be learning a much more advanced and difficult version of the same spell called ’Evanesco Difusto’.“

Minerva picked up one more piece of parchment she had prepared earlier and showed it to the class. The black spot on this parchment was larger than the one ms. Blackfire had removed but it didn’t seem in any way different.
„This spot has been made by two different inks. I used blue bink to make one spot on this parchment and then covered it with black ink. The two colours have merged by now. Should you use Evanesco on this ink-spot, then you will loose the spots made by both colours. However if the writing under the black ink is important, then that is not an option. This is what you use ’Evanesco Difusto’ for. It shall take a bit longer than mere ’Evanesco’ spell but this spell will make it possible to remove only on colour of ink from the parchment.“

Holding the parchment in her left hand so everyone could see it Minerva raised her wand and pointed it at the parchment. „Evanesco Difusto.“ The ink glowed dark-blue for a moment before the black ink vanished and the word Transfiguration appeared on the parchment written in blue ink.
„I have prepared a parchment like this for all of you. The word written under the black ink is your respective name of house written in the colour of your house. Red, green, blue or yellow. I will be looking over your success in the end of the class but now get to work. Remeber the charm is ’Evanesco Difusto’.“
Minerva waved her wand and a stack of parchments rose from her table before one parchment flew over and settled down in front of every student. Minerva remained standing as she observed the first hesitating tries of the spell.

[cleo]

Cleo looked at the display of spell McGonagall put up. She wasn’t Cleo’s favorite – honestly, who would like an old prune like her who had no sense of fashion what so ever? – but she did have to admit that she was good at what he thought. Unlike Snape McGonagall told you exactly what to do and forced you to work for your grade in this class. Evanesco Difusto. Cleo hadn’t even known such a spell exicted... but... perhaps she could use it on nail-polish? Remove one layer of nail-polish with a spell to decorate her nails better after a moment? It was that thought that made Cleo actually pay more attention in class than she usually did.

Picking up the parchment that floated in front of her Cleo stared at it. She was supposed to bring out a blue word Ravenclaw from under this huge black inkspot? Wouldn’t it be a lot easier to charm the ink to carve the blue letters into the black ink? Cleo sent a careful glance towards McGonagall before deciding that the outcome wouldn’t be worth the risk. Besides she would have to learn the spell one way or an other. Sighing Cleo picked up her wand and shifted the parchment in front of her slightly.
„Evanesco Difusto!“ Cleo ordered sharply with a flick of her wrist scowling at the parchment as nothing happened. Keeping on retrying the charm Cleo started to show a bit of improvement. After about the 12th try the parchment was mostly clean of the black ink. The word Ravenclaw wasn’t exactly the cleanest clear blue, but rather something between blue and black. But it was there in a rather weird hand-writing. Staring at the word Cleo chewed her lower lip, wondering if it was good enough.