Class #2: R&H / 6&7

[Professor Minerva McGonagall]

INTRODUCTION

Group #1: Ravenclaw Sixth and Seventh Years
Group #2: Hufflepuff Sixth and Seventh Years
Discussion: Vanishing spell

Shuffling the papers on her desk - left behind by her previous class and in quite a state of disarray, might she add - into an more organized pile, Minerva McGonagall glanced up, narrowing her eyes at the students that were taking their seats. It was a bit refreshing, having the older ones in here. Although Transfiguration was such a widely required subject and most did continue on (there wasn't quite as much of an advantage of having lost the students by their NEWT years that weren't wholly interested as in certain other subjects) at least by now they had matured from their younger years at Hogwarts. A peal of laughter broke out in the back of the classroom and she sighed. Well. Some had matured, at least. Arching an eyebrow at the group of students seated before her, she cleared her throat, ordering "Quiet," and waiting until she had their full attention - it didn't take too long, thankfully. At least they'd learned one thing in the past five or six years she'd been teaching them. "Today, you will be practicing Vanishing spells on a more complex subject." Flicking her wand at the board so that the notes she'd prepared for today's lesson appeared, she turned back to the class and then waved her wand again so that a small, grey mouse appeared on the desk of each student promptly. A mouse would be more challenging than any small invertebrate they had worked with before. "The trick," she instructed them, is concentration. As always, focus, and be precise." she emphasized, narrowing her eyes behind her half-moon glasses, lips pursed tight. "You may begin."

[alicelogan]

If it could possibly be imagined, Alice Logan was having a fairly decent day today. She’d gotten up this morning, feeling a renewed sense of hope at having learned the night before that her application for Quidditch Match Commentator had been accepted. She couldn’t wait to write to her grandfather and share with him the good news, and so getting through Transfiguration would have been slightly difficult if Professor McGonagall wasn’t her favorite teacher, that is. Things had cleaned up between them since last year, and Alice, now both a Prefect and the Quidditch Match Commentator, had a lot to show for her maturation. She knew that Professor McGonagall would be proud of her, because she was normally such a good student and, she thought with a flickering swell of pride, she deserved her current titles. Granted, she was a little nervous to get out on the podium and narrate every single game, but she felt confident enough to where she reasoned if she could do it once, she could do it again and again. It was simply a trick of getting over the first time, and then after that, she’ll have found her comfort zone. At least, that’s what Ted had comforted her with, and who knew better about things like this than Ted Tonks? He was walking beside her, for they were in the same Transfiguration class, and chatting her up about how wonderful she’d be and how excited for her he was. Ted, too, had decided that there would be no wasting of his final year at Hogwarts, and tried out for the position of First Beater on Ravenclaw’s team only to be accepted. From what Alice understood, he was accepted a bit grudgingly by his new captain, Andromeda Black, but that was understandable. First Beater had been Drake’s spot, if she recalled correctly, and what was more, Annie and Ted didn’t get on so well, either. So it was natural for there to be a bit of tension. Still, Alice was relieved Ted had gotten the spot both from her sympathies as a friend and her relish in the knowledge that she wouldn’t be so alone out there. “Thanks, Ted,” she said as he finally concluded his speech on how Newtonian physics proved she’d be the best commentator since McAlly. “But hush, don’t want Professor McGonagall getting upset with you for blathering on in class,” she chided coolly, winking at him. She grabbed his upper arm and led him into class, selecting an end chair and seating Ted next to her. She just wanted to make it very clear to the rest of the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs in the room that there were some people who were not welcome to sit by her. Such as Andromeda, for instance. She doubted Ted would want to sit next to her, either, so she was doing them both a favor by closing them off to the rest of the room. Once she’d sat down and arrayed her books on her desk, Alice peered up friendly at Professor McGonagall and offered her a pleasant smile of greeting. As soon as the professor began to speak, though, she hushed her thoughts and focused on what was to be the context of the lesson, for she had already decided she was going to excel at it. It was––ooh. Vanishing spells! Now, that was something Alice could definitely d––on a mouse? Oh, dear. She'd never done it on something like this before. This big, this sentient. In fact, it took most of her strength not to squeal in girlish fear like some of her classmates. But no, no, she had to do well at this, she told herself firmly. She grabbed her light birch wand with determination and focused her eyes on her subject. Just focus, focus, focus...

[ritaskeeter]

Transfiguration was definitely not Rita's favorite subject. For one thing, McGonagall seemed to hate her. For another... Well, that was mostly it. Perhaps hate was a strong word, but the professor was just so... Ugh. She was never swayed by any of Rita's excuses or charms and she didn't tolerate nonsense. She expected so frickin' much for all of her students and honestly, it had been a bit of a struggle for her to do well on her exams last year. Sure, she could do all the stuff when she really set her mind it but Rita just wasn't the most invested student. That was pretty obvious. But McGonagall? Did she appreciate it when students were whispering to each other about so and so or passing notes back and forth instead of paying attention or being completely focused on attempting a new spell? No. She didn't. Not. At. All. Which was why, needless to say, Rita tended to find Transfiguration an exceedingly boring class. But Flitwick had told her that it was an important one for her to take. Since she had zero clue what she wanted to do after graduating. But whatever, she had lots of time to figure that out. Sort of. Something like that. Who cared. Flipping her blonde curls over her shoulder, Rita all but bounced over to her seat, perky as can be. She was in a good mood today and that meant that she just might pay attention to the lesson. Maybe. Then again, there were always so many more important things to do. Like take note of everyone else in the room. She glanced around at them, eyes narrowing only as she spotted a certain brunette girl sitting down with a certain dark-haired boy. Rolling her eyes, she straightened back up in her seat. She was not going to think about Ted right now. Or even if she did... who cared? She was over him, she reminded herself. One hundred percent over him. There was none of that awkward feeling in her stomach or throat that she'd gotten used to, it was just... nothing. And maybe that was just her good mood winning right now but it was victory enough. And as for little Alice Logan? Rita wasn't about to waste time picking the other girl apart in her head. Why would she waste her time on that when she'd soon be more than satisfied enough? Smirking at that, she turned her attention to McGonagall for once, figuring that she was maybe even in a good enough mood to actually focus today. Shocker, eh?

[Professor Minerva McGonagall]

POINT COUNT

TALLY	Gryffindor	Ravenclaw	Hufflepuff	Slytherin
Attendance	00	10	00	00
Earned	00	00	00	00
Total	00	10	00	00