transfiguration: newt level

[CROAKY IS GRETCHEN WEINER?!]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, background-color: dddddd; border: #cccccc solid 8px; width: 420px; padding: 15 5 15 5px;] I WISH I COULD DANCE ON A SINGLE PRAYER The Words: 433 The Outfit: black robes The Notes :D Conrad massaged his silver temples, attempting to get some of the tension out. It was only the first day of classes and he was already stressed beyond belief. It was the end of the school day, the sun beginning its descent. The students were restless and the teachers were tired. The summer holidays had instilled a sort of laziness into the children, as it always did, and it always took a while to get them up and running against. Second years were always ridiculously smug; they were no longer at the bottom of the totem pole, and thought that they were the top of the food chain now. Sure, it was pretty funny watching them put on airs of sophistication, twelve-year-olds as they were, but it wasn't fun being talked back to all the time. Funnily enough, the sixth and seventh year reminded him of the second years sometimes. They thought they were so great, so ready to be part of the big bad world, but once they graduated, their hopes and dreams would be repeatedly crushed. That was one of the many reasons that Conrad never looked for employment outside of Hogwarts. He hoped that if he worked them hard enough without tiring them out, he could prepare them to some degree. Walking resignedly into his classroom a few minutes late, he saw that some students were already sitting down. He groaned inwardly. This was a big class for the NEWT levels. He probably shouldn't have suggested that all the houses meet together. Usually they paired off the rival houses, Gryffindor and Slytherin, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. But Conrad, being the educator that he was, wanted to try something new this year. He berated his overenthusiastic past self. At least they were all intelligent, as they had all scored an Exceeds Expectations or better on the OWLs. He knew that because it was the first day, he was expected to do some flashy magic, like changing his desk into a magic. But he really had no energy for that. He was grumpy, and he needed to take it out on his students. "Hello class," he said in his stern voice. "Welcome back to Hogwarts. I hope the holidays have given you some relaxation, but has not atrophied your brain. We'll start by reading up on the Protean Charm. It is fiendishly difficult, but oh so handy. Can anyone tell me what it is?" He leaned back in his chair, tempted to put his foot up on the desk. A few faces of pubescent confusion might make him feel better. created by ADE! Pb-ified by WILL

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[AMELIA ROSE SELWYN]

Mia's eyes shot open. She just remembered why she had issues sleeping last night, hence the midday nap. It was the first day of school, something, although she had experienced it five times up to this point, that always racked her nerves. She realized she had slept through her alarm by five minutes but grabbed an apple out of her food stash at the bottom of her trunk. She quickly changed into her robes. It felt good to be back in her robes after three months out of them. She smiled in the mirror, her prefect badge gleaming (although it had been over a year since she heard the news she was named one, she was still extremely proud of it). She saw that her hair was still a mess and she slicked it up quickly in a ponytail and was out the door, apple in hand. She had gone through the normal first day array of classes- talking about expectations and such and now she was onto her last class of the day.

On her way down to the transfiguration classroom she quickened her pace to make sure that she would make it to class on time. She hustled through the corridor, disposing of her apple core and made her way to the transfiguration classroom. She stood outside the door, let out a breath to help drop her heart rate due to nerves and basically sprinting down from the Ravenclaw tower. She conceded after 5 seconds that she was calm enough to go in to the classroom.

Amelia was very happy to be back in Professor Kent's class for the sixth year in a row. She was unsure exactly what she wanted to do with her life but ever since career advising the year before the Department of International Magical cooperation was calling her name and maybe later in life, Minister of Magic. Now though first things first, she saw although she was tardy in her eyes, she was the first to arrive, "Good Afternoon Professor Kent."She said her voice soft as ever. She quickly made her way to the front of the class and claimed the front, middle desk as her own.

[SERGHEI DRAGOS KRUM]

Today was just the same as any other day to Serghei. It might have been the first day of school, but it was his seventh first day of school at Hogwarts, and it would be his last. He was not easily frazzled by the changes in situation, from the days of not attending school to the days of attending school. He was the type of student that kept his head on straight when the game was on the line, a trait he had likely picked up from his father somewhere down the line. Krums were notorious for being sound of head and strong of body.

Though they were far from expected to be sound of mind. There really were no expectations on Serghei for his academic abilities. He was expected to do well on a broom, to have made it on the Quidditch team in his second year, to take the place of Seeker when it was available, and possibly to help lead the team. All of these things he had managed, making the team, becoming seeker, and even taking over as Captain of the Slytherin team. All of these things gained him praise and honor, though more honor than praise in his family's eyes. Never once did they seem interested in his scores.

However, Serghei was interested in his scores. It had hit him in his third year, like some glorified revelation as he sat on his broom looking for the golden snitch that first time in a real game. How many Quidditch teams were there? How many seekers were there to a team? Or just how many team members were there to a team? Now, how many children and adults had grown up wanting to be on a professional Quidditch team? Even to a thirteen year old boy, the numbers were not in his favor. Serghei had always been a bit of a realist.

So, starting his third year, his attendance improved, his attention in class improved, and his studying improved. He might not have been focused on his education in his first and second year, but when Serghei put his mind to something he was as stubborn as a three headed dog. If he wasn't going to be able to obtain a position on a professional Quidditch team, he wanted to have a solid and well rounded education to fall back on. Something that would give him options and opportunities in the real world. He had been fortunate to have his revelation early enough in his time spent at Hogwarts, and had the opportunity to put his head down and get the job done.

So, it was like any other day, though the routine had changed, and he was scheduled to be in class instead of practicing with his father or studying with his sister. He had always been a planner, one of those individuals who scheduled their days in advance. Hogwarts was old hat, really, and was more comfortable to get back into than to go through a summer without it, when his days had felt a bit lopsided and wild.

He gathered his things and made his way to class, not really speaking to anyone on his way. He was in the NEWT Transfiguration class, something that never gained him a bit of praise at home though he knew his parents understood that not everyone would be able to attend. It was an honor, and it proved how hard he had been working over the last few years. His schedule was as tight as ever, and he had arrived just before the class was supposed to start, taking a seat in the front but off t the side so that he wouldn't block anyone's view behind him. Silently and efficiently he had taken out his materials and then sat and waited for the professor to get here and for class to start.

It took a few moments before Professor Kent arrived, a bit late to his own class on the first day. Serghei said nothing, though, it wasn't his place to attempt to correct a professor. Surely Kent had had better things to do, or something to prepare for. Or, whatever it was that professors did before teaching. He simply nodded his greeting of "Professor," to Kent and watched as the man took his position at the front of the classroom. He looked a little tired, but Serghei supposed that the problems that the first day caused for most students could be caused for professors too.

He sat quietly as Professor Kent made his opening statement. It seemed a bit rude for someone looking the way that Kent did, but as usual, Serghei made no comment on that. He then went up to start on the lesson for the day. The Protean Charm. Serghei had been studying on his regimented schedule for the whole of summer, so he knew without question that the Protean Charm was used to link physical objects together, but he did not raise his hand. Serghei had worked hard for his own benefit, not for the credit of knowing the answers. So, as always, he sat in his chair silently and regarded the professor, waiting for another, more eager to prove themselves, student to answer the question asked of the whole class.