Third, Fourth & Fifth Years: Lesson One

[Adelaide Debussy]

Far off in the distance a clock chimed midnight. Adelaide sat in her cushioned navy blue chair in a pastel floral dress, a cream sweater draped over her shoulders. It was a rather chilly night and she didn't want to freeze. Tonight her class would talk about one of the most beautiful happenstances in astronomy: auroras. Nothing was even close to matching the beauty and splendor, the sheer magnificence of these swirling colors. She hoped that her class enjoyed the first lesson as much as she did.

She looked to the glittering sky, seeing no signs of clouds shrouding the stars' brilliance. It was a beautiful night. The room was dimly lit, and one could make out the figures of tall telescopes behind the semi-circle of chairs she had arranged for her students. The chairs were backed with the same material as her own cushioned chair for comfort. She also secretly thought that they made the classroom a bit...well..classy. Adelaide awaited patiently for her students, hoping that they weren't still dreaming in their beds.

[Derrick Breckenridge]

Derrick stretched out in his chair in the common room and stared at the clock. It was almost time to go to his least favorite class of all his curriculum...Astronomy. It wasn't that he was a terrible student in the class, it was actually quite the opposite, but it was the fact that it put facts to the stars. Derrick disliked this he'd much rather believe that it was just magic, unexplainable mystical magic, and this class ruined it all for him. He would go though, it wasn't in him to skip classes, and he just wanted a reason to go stare at the sky late at night. This way he wouldn't have to sneak out and could just walk up to the tower with no worries. Picking up his bag he threw his book into it and made sure his parchment, quill, and ink were in the bag. Derrick doubted that he would actually take notes but would bring it along to attempt to look busy. Standing he sighed and headed for the tower.

Derrick approached the stairs leading up to the tower and hesitated. He was having second thoughts and doubts about approaching. There was really no anticipation of this lesson especially since it was dissolving the mystery behind something as beautiful as auroras but he knew he would have to manage. Derrick Breckenridge didn't skip classes. Sighing he began to climb the stairs to what would be the classroom and soon enough the door was in front of him. Turning the knob he took a step out into the evening air and inhaled deeply. He loved the smell and the feeling it gave his body it was like...well for lack of a better term a breath of fresh air. Looking around he flopped himself down into one of the chairs, since no one had arrived yet he wasn't particular, and relaxed as the chair consumed his body. They were comfortable and depending on how this class went he may have to fight off sleep if sleep managed to overtake him this late at night during the class. Looking up into the stars he smiled and just hoped that the class went well.

[Brenton Douglas]

The library wasn't the most comfortable of places to nap, at least not in the back corner with a pile of books surrounding one. Brenton had decided to try and study something for History of Magic (slowly becoming one of his favorite classes) and had only succeeded in putting himself to sleep with the Goblin Wars. Thankfully his newt Archimedes seemed to work like a time clock and had walked right across Brent's face at a quarter to midnight, when he was supposed to be in the towers.

Packing up a couple of things, Brenton tossed his bag over his shoulder and took off like a fire toward the towers, feeling like he was going to be so late it wouldn't be funny. However, he was surprised when he entered and only saw one other face besides the new Professor's. It was the same one from his potions class, but he didn't know who the boy was. Likely scum from the bottom of his shoes, but everyone was to the Prince before he really knew who they were and could rightly determine their status in his country.

Choosing a seat not quite too near, but not too far from the boy, Brenton glanced around for a clock, wondering when Jeremy would show his face...or Claire...or maybe even Miss. Trixie. But, hiw eye caught the sight of the new professor, and his stare was immediately fixated on her...

[Claire Desrosiers]

Claire did not feel in the least tired tonight which was awfully strange for someone like her. Normally she was be whining about going to Astronomy since it was a night time class that was ment for sleeping. Of course stars were nice to look at if that was all you were doing but examining and studying them? That was one thing that was not up the young Slytherin's alley. Tonight, Claire sat cross legged on her bed reading a book until the clock right next to her said it was time to get up. Unfortunalty since her house was all the way down in the dungeons this ment she had to run. Quickly throwing her books into the bag the third year put on her robe again and charged down the stairs and out of the common room.

The journey was as long as it always was trudging up the grand staircase. So far Claire wasn't sleepy yet but a class at midnight might soon put an end to that. There were only a couple of boys sitting in the room already, one was unfamiliar to her but he appeared to be around the same age. "Hi Brent." Claire waved taking a seat close by him. Looking up again there was another new face but this time it was the professor's. This was definatly going to be interesting now.

[Jeremy Taylor]

Whoever thought that it was a good idea to hold classes in the middle of the night had to be nutters. It was hard enough to focus in daytime classes and throwing sleep deprivation into the mixture only complicated things.

It wasn't that Jeremy disliked Astronomy. In fact, any class that didn't involve wand waving was a class he probably enjoyed, but with Jeremy being Jeremy, he would always find something to complain about.

He entered the room sluggishly, frowning at the occupants. There was already that annoying kid from some of his other classes, and Brenton. The problem was Brenton was already sitting next to Claire and Jeremy was sure there was no way the Slytherins would want him around. He dropped his things on the floor and slummped into a seat that was nearby, but not entirely next to them. As he sank into the soft, comfortable cusions and looked up at the night sky, he couldn't help thinking that the professor was setting them all up. Everything about the layout seemed indicitive to sleep and he was certain that as soon as his eyes drifted shut, he'd be in for a world of trouble.

[Brenton Douglas]

Completely distracted in watching the Professor, Brenton didn't notice the entrance of the most noble lady of Hogwarts, and she almost went completely unnoticed even after her greeting. It took a moment, and Brent probably looked dumb just sitting there, staring, ignoring the girl, but a second later his mind registered the voice and what it said. Blundering around, his eyes looking wildly for some excuse in case he was accused, he could feel the burning of red take over. This was one of the most flustering of moments.

"Hi Claire," he croaked, a small, somewhat forced smile on his lips. Claire was definitely the most noble, and likely the prettiest too.

Only moments later his best mate came through the door, and though Brent tried to get his attention and wave him closer, Jeremy sat away from him and Claire, which only made the Prince feel pushed to the side. Well, no one could do that to the Prince, Jeremy was just going to have to wait for his comeuppance though.

[Trixi Turner]

Midnight. What a dumb time to hold a lesson. Trixi disliked Astronomy purely for this reason. She did not agree with having a lesson at night time and then having to wake up in the morning for more lessons. It seemed counter-intuitive towards her study. Not that she really studied anyway but it was the only logical argument that would work to an adult. They rarely agreed with 'I like my sleep'.

However the young Slytherin had managed to drag herself out of her bed and up towards the classroom. Why did the class have to be at the top of the towers anyway? It was so far away from the Slytherin common room. It was ridiculous. Trixi climbed the staircase up to the astronomy classroom, tripping on the final step and grazing her hands and knees. That would teach her to not lift her feet high enough while climbing a staircase. However it did manage to wake her up slightly.

Trixi entered the astronomy classroom wiping her hands on the sides of her robes. She glanced around the classroom and spotted her friends. Making her way over to them Trixi sat down on the other side of Claire. "Hey Claire. Hey Douggy!" she said to the two of them, her usual greeting applying even late at night for the male Slytherin. Trixi dumped her bag and looked at her hands in front of her. They were bleeding slightly from the fall. Although Trixi didn't care too much.

[Adelaide Debussy]

As the students shuffled in and took their seats, a smile appeared on her face. She was happy to see that at least some had made the effort to join her tonight, and she hoped that she could at least hold their attention for three-quarters of the class. Alright, Adelaide, time to start class. She told herself, gaining confidence. She gracefully rose from her chair and strode to the front of the room, her dress floating. "Good evening, everyone. My name is Professor Debussy, and I will be teaching you the art of Astronomy. I know that it's rather late to hold class, but now is the opportune time for you to gaze at the stars in all their splendor. Try your best to stay awake because tonight because we will...we..."

Her eyes fell on a little blonde girl whose hands were bleeding slightly. It didn't seem major, but she didn't want blood all over her room, that was for sure. "Excuse me miss, are you alright?" She looked at the girl, deciding that her comfort was more important than her lesson for the time being.

[Jeremy Taylor]

Perhaps it was a good thing Jeremy hadn't sat next to Brenton, considering Trixie took a spot next to the other Slytherins. The Ravenclaw considered going over there to save his best friend from the second girl, considering Brenton had saved him earlier that day, but he chickened out, slinking lower into his seat and rolling his eyes at the professor's concern. Trixi was just being Trixie and wasting time. Time that Jeremy could have used to finish this class and get back to bed. Bummer.

[Maddyson Cross]

Maddy was never prepared for Astronomy. Never. The girl just couldn't manage to wake up on time, or to stay awake. She was still quite young, but she had had two years to get the hang of it, and she still hadn't. It wasn't something that you could say that the fault wasn't hers; she owned it entirely; she just couldn't get herself motivated enough to wake up in time. Today was no exception to the growing pattern.

Running upthe stairs as fast as she could, Maddy was really tired. She hadn't intended to go to sleep, but she had drifted off by the fire, and that was worse than planning it. This meant that she had no alarm, no wake up call, and she was screwed. "Oh no." She said, running up the final stairs, her bag swinging around on her back. Pushing the door open just as the professor asked Trixi what was wrong. Was she late? The young girl really hoped she didn't get into trouble.

Wandering into the classroom, placing her things down on an empty desk, Maddy looked at the professor in an apologetic way. "I'm really sorry, I'm late."

[Trixi Turner]

Trixi glanced up as the woman started the class and was utterly confounded when the woman stopped and spoke to her. Concern? Over her well being? Well that was a new one. "I'm fine" Trixi said, wiping her hands on her robes again and hiding them under the table. Trixi didn't want to be in the class and she didn't need the students in the classroom thinking she was some kind of sissy because the professor had needed to stop the class because her hands were bleeding slightly. Trixi glanced around to try to see the expressions of everyone else, worried they'll now think she was an easy target, although there wasn't really anyone much in the room, and mostly only people she knew. She didn't have to worry too much.

The main problem was Trixi now didn't know how to get the attention off of her and onto something else. Luckily Maddy came into the room just at the right moment. Speaking to the professor and being late. Trixi hoped the woman would yell at the girl about being late, if only to get the attention of the classroom off of her.

[Derrick Breckenridge]

Staring at the stars Derrick felt warmer inside and wished he had his guitar with him. It was just the kind of night that had it not been for this class he would have most likely have found a tower to play his guitar peacefully or just star gaze. Sighing he realized that the more he thought about it the more he wanted to just get up, leave, and do so. Was this odd of him to think like this? Was it normal for people to have the impulses he had? Derrick shook these thoughts because he knew in truth he probably could never and would never know. It wasn't exactly something that he or anyone else as far as he knew would walk up and just ask someone. After all he rarely talked to others and what were the chances that he'd actually ask anyone that kind of question. It seemed to personal for him to even bring up.

Derrick heard the professor speak and turned his head to listen to what she was saying and realized he was no longer the only one in the classroom. It was now filled with a significant amount of his peers. Derrick noted that the Professor paused mid sentence to address the Slytherin girl whose hands were bleeding. This was a good start he thought seeing as it drew attention away from him and put it towards that side of the room. Derrick sat up and noticed that Maddy had entered the room. Turning he gave her a small friendly wave and then turned back to watch the Professor and waited for her to speak and her instructions on what they should do first.

[Adelaide Debussy]

Adelaide smiled at the girl as another one entered the room. "As long as you're alright, we'll continue." She whirled around to see the other girl take a seat, looking a little disheveled. She apologized for her tardiness and had a sad look upon her. "That's quite alright, miss, but be sure that next class you're here on time," she said gently. She resumed the place in her opening statement, ready to finally begin the class.

"As I said before, I'm Professor Debussy. Tonight, dear ones, we'll be taking a look at auroras. ACCIO ASTRONOMY BOOK!" Adelaide swiftly produced a wand and swished it gracefully as a book from the back of the classroom zoomed into her hands. She placed her wand back where it belonged and then opened the book in her hands. As she opened it, beautiful colors sprang forth, brightest of pinks and deepest of reds swimming in a dark orange color. The colors swayed back and forth, but never left their rectangular boundaries.

"This, class, is an aurora. What can any of you tell me about an aurora, or what it was named after?"

[Jeremy Taylor]

Jeremy jumped when the professor pulled her wand and summoned her book. He had been convinced he wouldn't need a wand for this class and therefore might actually have a chance at doing well. Now he wasn't so sure anymore.

Slumping lower into his desk, he hoped the professor wouldn't call on him to answer the question. He knew the answer was probably in his own book, but just off the top of his head, the only Aurora he knew of was the princess from his little sister's Sleeping Beauty DVD. He highly doubted the professor would appreciate that as much as Sarah did.