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Post by Alexander Archer on Sept 30, 2007 2:12:09 GMT -5
Alex made his way up to the Astronomy tower about half an hour early. Dressed in his regular black robes, underneath which he had on a pair of jeans and a black cotton t-shirt, he ascended the final few stairs and entered the classroom. His dark hair was as per usual, forming a small spike in the middle of his head and with him he carried a medium-sized black case. Placing his bag on his own desk as he went, Alex made his way to one of the large openings in the room. He smiled out at the clear night sky, thanking the clouds for not making much of an appearance.
He was more excited than he could express for his first lesson, and began his inspection of the class. He hadn't had much of a chance to actually come up here so far, his busy timetable only allowing him small visits that ranged from a peek to a few minutes. Never before had he actually roamed around, taking in the appearance of the classroom in close detail.
As he went about the room, he righted a few chairs, straightened a few desks and generally cleaned up. Altogether, however, the class wasn't too much of a mess. Deciding that, for the purposes of today's lesson, he would like the seats in a better arrangement, he set about shifting their positions. The rigid rows that once were, were no longer, having transformed into a just over half of a circle of desks, his own at the head. Deciding that were he to look at it from above it might appear as a sort of horseshoe, he nodded contentedly and moved to his desk.
Extracting his own, newly-bought collapsible brass telescope and setting it up beside the nearest archway. Looking around once more, he saw that things were as he wanted them, and settled down into his seat, leaning back and checking his watch. Seeing that there was about five minutes to go until 11pm, he waited for his students to begin arriving.
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Susan Matthews
Gryffindor
[red]5th Year Gryffindor[/red] Shadow Warrior of Earth
goddess, nymph, divine.
Posts: 505
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Post by Susan Matthews on Sept 30, 2007 7:58:04 GMT -5
Susan happily made her way up the astronomy tower. She was happy about this, only because, coming from her common room which also resided on the seventh floor, she didn't have to take many stairs. She pitied the Slytherins and the Hufflepuffs for all the stair-taking they were probably enduring right now. With Astronomy supplies in hand, including her very own telescope, Susan quietly walked into the classroom.
She was surprised to see that she was the first student to arrive. Usually a Ravenclaw or another over-achiever would already be in the classroom, waiting for class to begin. Seeing the new layout of the class room, she had to decide where to sit. There was no necessarily "front" and "back" with the horseshoe-like arrangement of the desks. Just to be safe, she chose one of the two seats closest to the professor.
"Hello, Professor!" Susan greeted Professor Archer excitedly as she approached him. "I am very much looking forward to your class," Susan told him genuinely, before sitting down and attempting to organize her things. The truth was that she did very much enjoy astronomy. She was fascinated at the aspect of outer space and couldn't wait to learn even more about the very vast subject.
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Post by D'rorah Philosophy on Sept 30, 2007 12:58:20 GMT -5
D'rorah walked in quietly, carrying her telescope and satchel. She had been readying through her new textbook while waiting for customers at Ollivander's the previous day and was anxious to see how the class would go. "Good evening, Professor Archer," she greeted formally as she made her way to a desk in the front of the classroom. She wondered what they would be doing in class today--whether they would be working in the text or actually outside star gazing. She was slightly apprehensive about the prospect of star gazing, worried that having so many students outside might possibly attract Shadows or other such creatures of the Shadow Realm.
Seeing Susan, she nodded politely and took her seat. At least there would be others there to help if something were to go wrong... though exposing themselves to the students was one of the last things she wanted to do. Her mind worked through possible contingency plans as she waited for class to begin... whatever happened, she intended to be prepared.
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Post by Keaira O'Connell on Sept 30, 2007 13:40:14 GMT -5
Keaira was very glad to have a class that took place so late at night. It gave her so much to look forward to each time the class arrived. There was just so much she loved about Astronomy. The late nights gazing at the stars with her father tended to keep her in love with the subject.
As she made her way to the top of the tower, she let a small amount of happiness overcome her. She just couldn’t wait to be able to look up at the stars again. She clutched her telescope in her left hand, and her book bag, weighed down her right shoulder, filled with books, and writing utensils. There was only one thing that dampened her spirits about the class. Being outside at night wasn’t the best idea, as Shadows were so easily drawn to them it seemed.
As she pushed open the door to the classroom, she smiled. There was D’rorah, and Susan. They would be alight. “Good evening Professor, D’rorah, Susan.” She nodded to each in turn before taking a seat.
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Post by Alessandro Darko on Sept 30, 2007 13:49:29 GMT -5
It was late and time for his first Atronomy lesson. Alessandro entered the classroom finding Susan, Dee, and Keaira. "Hey guys..." He said groggily as he came into the room, remarking on the horseshoe arrangement of desks. He took a seat close to the front of the class, or, closer to the professors desk. He looked up at the professor and greeted him. "Evening Professor Archer." He said with a smile.
He sat down and began to unload his things. Parchment, a quill, and his astronomy book. He sat there fiddling at his desk. He was anxious and could not sit still. He looked over at Keaira and decided to strike up a conversation.
"Hey Keaira, how have you been lately...I haven't been able to chat with you much these days." He said offering her a friendly smile emerging from his weary expression.
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Post by Dylan Cooper on Sept 30, 2007 22:25:36 GMT -5
Ascending the last few stairs of the long staircase, Dylan entered the Astronomy classroom. Considering it, he thought it vaguely resembled the Owlery. Minus the owls and the mess they leave behind, of course. Its high-vaulted ceiling, open stone archways were seemingly perfect for an Astronomy lesson in the middle of the night. It was rather cold, however. Glad that he'd thought to wear warm clothes underneath his robes, he saw that already there were several people. Supposing this was normal, considering the two minutes until class started, he noticed that everyone seemed to be as close as possible to the front of the... horseshoe? What on earth?
Casting an only slightly weary glance at Keaira, he saw his dorm-mate Alessandro talking to her, as well as D'rorah and Susan nearby. Seating himself inbetween the latter two, he gave each a small smile, placing his brass telescope and backpack onto the desk before him, he greeted the as-yet-unbeknown to him professor. "Good evening, Professor," he said in a voice that would have barely reached the man.
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Post by Wysteria Edwin on Sept 30, 2007 22:33:44 GMT -5
Wysteria walked into the room quietly, seeing Alessandro and Keira already engaged in conversation, she made her way next to Susan. The circular tower didn't really have a secluded section, so she might as well sit next to someone she knew. Giving Susan a warm smile, she set her things down and took out blank parchment and quills.
She hadn't much liked Astronomy before she had taken the OWL-level course, however the more advanced topics were much more enjoyable to her. She hoped they wouldn't be reviewing first, since she often got bored and her eyes would glaze over if she was hearing information she had already memorized.
(OOC: sorry for the short post...)
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Post by karinachan08 on Sept 30, 2007 22:37:51 GMT -5
Ariana was walking up to her First class of Astronomy. She had two mins before class Started and was only about half way up the Stares. One thing she hated more then Herbology was all the steps in this school. She finely made it to the top by running up them. She Opened the Door and walked in before Finding a near the Middle. She looked around and wonder what she would need for class. She looked around and saw that Susan, Dylan, and Alessandro where in class. Along with the Girl that was her House mate, a girl for Hufflepuff and a Girl from Ravenclaw that she didn't know yet.
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Post by Keaira O'Connell on Sept 30, 2007 23:14:31 GMT -5
Keaira had been busily gathering her paper, quills, and parchment as the rest of the class gathered. She smiled as Alessandro came towards her and sat down. She had sorely missed having him around. With out Mister Alessandro Orion Darko, she found that her days were far too serious. He had a way of making her loosen up, relax, and just have fun. Happiness, and fun it seemed were in such short supply with all the dark proceedings that occurred around them.
[glow=red,2,300]"Hey Keaira, how have you been lately...I haven't been able to chat with you much these days."[/glow]
She still remembered the last time she had really seen, and chatted with him… It was that same night that she had that dream, and then the shadows seemed to over take Alessandro himself momentarily. He had scared them all, and then he just got up and left with out really allowing them to check to see if he was really fine. It worried her, a lot, mostly because she honestly cared for Alessandro, as a friend.
“Hey there Alessandro, I’ve been, busy, and well… I’ve had a lot on my mind.” She yawned a little, covering her mouth as she did. While she yawned she slipped in to Alessandro’s mind, sending him a simple message, “D’rorah and I have been arranging for me to go to China for training, cause she is too weak to train me herself, and the threat of another attack is too great, we are going to need this extra help.”
As she finished her exaggerated yawn she looked at him, his eyes gleaming like always. “How have you been? You know I miss our little jokes, so much, I find life to be quite dull with out your face.” She finished the last statement with a smile and a twinkle in her eye, the one that said she had so much mischief planned.
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Post by Alessandro Darko on Oct 1, 2007 1:09:10 GMT -5
Talking to Keaira was tonic to his soul. The relationship they had since their first meeting seemed to be a playful and practical-joke rivalry between the two. She pushed his buttons and he pushed right back.
As Keaira responded to him, slipping the thought into his head that she'd be going to China for training due to D'rorah's lack of energy to do so herself, his jaw dropped.
"What???" He rasped, and quickly realized that the communication was purely mental and straightened up as if to say: "Sorry, forgot, telepathy and all that..."
He thought loudly hoping she would hear his response. Thats CRAZY, Keaira, I'm so jealous you're going to China. He smiled andthen responded to her verbal answer.
"I've been better..." He trailed off looking toward the front of class wondering when the lesson would begin. "I've had a lot of time to myself trying to sort out everything thats been going on with me....I've been avoiding people lately, but I think things are going to get better....hopefully." He said with a half smile.
"When are we going to create another secret garden again? That was fun..." He said lost in remembrance.
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Post by Alexander Archer on Oct 1, 2007 5:08:15 GMT -5
Nodding to every student as they entered, he smiled and noticed that, so far, only seven people had shown up. Wondering if that was it, he stood up. "Alright, everyone," he said in a clear voice, noticing that he didn't need to be too loud; they tended to be crowded near the front. "We might get started then, considering the most diligent of you have managed to rise from your beds at this hour." A smile was clearly evident on his features as he spoke, and he retrieved his wand from within his robes and began to explain the lesson. "I assume you all have your telescopes, so if you'd like to just set them up by the open archways," he said, indicating them briefly. "Tonight you'll need to align them five parsecs to the left of Luna, our moon. What we are looking for is the Small Magellanic Cloud, a dwarf galaxy in its own right." A brief flick of his wand produced an image of the galaxy on the roof. "If you don't know what you're supposed to be looking for, take a quick look at our enchanted roof and memorise the key points. That should make it a lot easier to find. Now, who can tell me what constellation it might be located in?” he asked, looking for raised hands.
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Susan Matthews
Gryffindor
[red]5th Year Gryffindor[/red] Shadow Warrior of Earth
goddess, nymph, divine.
Posts: 505
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Post by Susan Matthews on Oct 1, 2007 7:15:57 GMT -5
Upon hearing the question, of which she was almost positive she knew the answer to, Susan raised her hand eagerly. She was determined to earn her house a few extra points where they were lacking. Although Gryffindor had received a few bonus points from the Herbology Professor, she wanted to feel as if she had actually earned a few of them.
"It's Tucana!" Susan blurted with her hand still in the air. She hadn't meant to speak out of turn, but with the excitement of actually knowing one of the answers, she couldn't help her self. She hoped she wouldn't get in trouble for not waiting to be called on. She did love the subject of Astronomy and couldn't help if she wanted to share that fact.
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Post by D'rorah Philosophy on Oct 1, 2007 10:52:11 GMT -5
D'rorah had raised her own hand to answer, but, showing more restraint than her counterpart Gryffindor, had no chance to answer before Susan blurted the answer. Her eyebrow arched slightly as her hand returned to her desktop to retrieve her quill. Wondering what the Professor might think of the breach of etiquette, she assumed he was one of the laid-back types who would show little, if any disapproval. She resumed her air of vague indifference as she began writing again, adding a few details to the notes she had begun taking. The lecture notes, even if they were material with which she was already familiar, would find their way into her materials... one never knew what might or might not be useful in such a situation.
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Post by Alessandro Darko on Oct 1, 2007 11:46:37 GMT -5
Alessandro brought out his telescope at the mention from the professor and began to calibrate it accordingly. He then asked the class which constellation the dwarf galaxy replica he had created was in. Alessandro had absolutely no clue, but noticed Susan and D'rorah's hands fly into the air. He turned to the professor to see which he would call but then heard Susan's voice ring out the answer.
Alessandro looked back at the two girls and noticed D'rorah retrieve her hand from the air with an arched eyebrow. He was sure that blatantly shouting out answers is something Dee definitely did not appreciate.
"The Tucana..." he mouthed as he scribbled the answer down on his parchment as he proceeded to draw a small diagram of it.
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Post by Alexander Archer on Oct 2, 2007 2:16:33 GMT -5
Smiling at the enthusiasm of his Gryffindor student, he nodded. "Correct, Miss Matthews! Five points to Gryffindor!" he said happily. "I would ask you, however, to refrain from calling out in the future," he added with a small smile. Not having failed to notice Miss Philosophy's hand also rise, he remembered the first time he'd met her and smiled at the memory. His first impression being that she was an intelligent student, from the initial evidence it looked like he was correct.
"Right, now, I know this is fifth year stuff. But don't panic all of you who're older, we'll cover a variety of things this year!" he said energetically, wandering around to check the alignments on their telescopes. "We just need to cover a few things so that fifth years will have a vague base of knowledge for more advanced work," he elaborated.
"Now, this particular galaxy, though only containing several hundred million stars, is one of the most distant objects able to be seen with the naked eye from Earth, being only 200, 000 light years away," he explained happily. "So, who can tell me what kind of a galaxy it might be?" he asked. "It might help to know that it has a declination of negative seventy-three degrees, if you're not seeing it. Okay, so, is anyone having trouble finding our little Magellanic cluster of stars?" he asked curiously, wanting to make sure that everyone was on the same page.
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