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Post by Tamis Raynor on Apr 10, 2007 17:45:12 GMT -5
Here it was. The widely talked about, horribly dreaded, and adored first ever lesson of the Seventh Year's N.E.W.T.s class. Raynor often referred to it as a "review", though the less wand savvy members that took this class usually liked to think of it as a "humiliation".
No desks. No chairs. Not a single reminiscence of a normal classroom setting; not even the Professor's desk. But the room was a long stretch from being empty.
The only explanation of how the huge stage managed to get into the room had to be magical configuration. But why it was in the room? Well, Raynor would let her brilliant little minds figure that one out for themselves. It went from wall to wall, running longways so that it too advantage of the rectangular length of the room. It occupied a good majority of the large classroom, leaving just enough room for the seventh years to crowd in on either side of it by squeezing though the small pass Raynor had left on the side nearest the door. Simply put; it was huge, huge and intimidating if you did not know what you were looking at it. For some, maybe it was even more so if you did.
Raynor herself stood atop the stage, seeming impossibly small on its great width. However, if one took that for vulnerability, they were in for a highly rude and rather obnoxious awakening. And if anyone thought that sparkle shining in her eyes was docile, they were blind and deaf to boot. Was it safe to say the Professor was excited? Oh yes. She was on the edge of her seat so to speak.
This was very bad. The Deputy's thrill was usually the students woes. Dear Merlin, just what did she have in store for the Hogwarts seniors?
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Post by Krissy Fleming on Apr 10, 2007 20:50:15 GMT -5
Krissy groaned as she entered. This couldn't be good. She eyed the stage in front of her with a wary eye. There wasn't much room to stand upon in front of this stage and Krissy wondered momentarily if Professor Raynor would mind if she took a seat on the stage. However Krissy thought better of this idea thinking the professor would probably take that as an indication that Krissy wanted to volunteer and Krissy wasn't in any state pof mind to wish to volunteer to something that seemed to be making the deputy so happy. Perhaps she had sworn revenge to every single student of the school because of what the firsties did to her? There were rumours flying everywhere about what happened outside the hall with the firsties. The strangest of all involved flying octopusses and an flash flood. Krissy had chosen not to believe the rumours but had asked a Huffle first year. Yeah, they didn't know much. But perhaps Raynor was out for revenge.. "Morning Miss" Krissy said to Professor Raynor with a wary smile. Maybe alerting her presence hadn't been the ebst thing to do.
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Post by arianna on Apr 11, 2007 17:30:02 GMT -5
CLOMP! CLOMP! CLOMP!
Arianna could swear anyone could hear her coming from a mile away. Her awkward movement caused her left foot to hit the ground more heavily than normal and it was driving her crazy. She couldn't wait for the day when the Healers would let her take this brace off for good. Another thing not going for the girl today, though, were the bruises she had received from the 'fun' on the train the other day. She had a few on her arms and cheek and was so sore, she could hardly move without pain. Some had urged her to go the nurses for some potions to help, but Arianna refused to see that woman. When would they ever get a decent person in the hospital wing?
Finally making it to the doorway, Arianna looked around and couldn't decide if she should frown or smile. She needed somewhere to sit for a moment and it seemed the only place was on the stage, which looked like it might cause her a little trouble getting both down and up. The stage, though, also made Arianna want to cheer. A stage in DADA? Didn't that mean....wizard dueling?
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Post by Michael Rolen on Apr 12, 2007 10:25:49 GMT -5
Mike walked slowly towards the Defence against the Dark Arts class, following Ari, and wincing every time he heard the clomping of her brace hitting the hard stone floor. He hadn't even asked the girl what she had done to have such a large brace on her leg but the more he thought about it, the more he wanted to avoid asking her as it might be a bit of a touchie subject.
Anyway, Mike walked into the classroom and smiled lightly at Professor Raynor and greeted her.
"Morning Professor"
He said in a rather blunt tone, but thats just how Mike felt this morning, his cheek still felt as though it was red even though it wasn't. He tossed his bag down by the stage and twirled his wand around through his left hand, as if it were a poker chip, Mike had spent most of the summer perfecting this new found talent of his.
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Corey Faulkland
Wizard
Quality Quidditch Supplies Clerk
Life is like a roulette wheel: Seventeen. Red.[on:Good show!][of:Bugger...]
Posts: 682
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Post by Corey Faulkland on Apr 12, 2007 11:44:06 GMT -5
Corey, quite much like Mike had been wondering as to the circumstances that had required Ari to wear such an obviously muggle device. Muggle healing ways were incomplete, and generally took far longer than most wizarding potions and spells sparing perhaps skelegro. The only upside to them of course was they generally hurt less, and tasted better. Something the wizarding realm needed to greatly improve on.
Upon entering the 'second-floor-classroom-of-doom-and-fear' Corey noticed the stage immediately and almost walked right back out. He knew what this meant, however the last time he'd been on one of those it involved hits of a completely different sort. Most being below the belt or over the shoulder and all of which highly painful. "Dueling stage..." the lion found himself muttering, almost as though he might perhaps fear the words escaping his lips--which, int ruth he did. This was no show against Jones, nor was it actually staged. This, would most like be real spells with real results, all fo which of course were free game sparing the Unforgiveables. The chances of injury--or deformity, were high, and most likely a trip to the Wing would result. "...dueling stage...." He muttered again, perhaps the notion of fear had been misinterpreted for curiosity, or longing? Wandwork, was of course completely different from fists and feet....
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Vanessa Harrison
Witch
LoA Graduate
Whatever gets you through today...
Posts: 362
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Post by Vanessa Harrison on Apr 15, 2007 9:02:21 GMT -5
"Oh no," said a deeply saddened voice as one Vanessa Harrison entered the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. She wasn't sure if it was for the contraption in front of her, or someone in the room. Maybe it was more for the contraption.
Looking up, Nessa saw Raynor standing on top of the long stage and the girl's heart sank slightly. This did not look good. Unless...were they to duel? If that was so, perhaps it would be so bad. Vanessa would be able to take out her anger on a classmate, preferably a boy that was standing in the room already but she wasn't going to get her hopes up for that. But right now, she just really wanted to jinx somebody.
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Esmerelda Mizart
Witch
Artist
Just leave me your [stardust] to remember [you] by..[on:find another galaxy]
Posts: 576
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Post by Esmerelda Mizart on Apr 15, 2007 17:52:39 GMT -5
Es entered the room, excited for what she would learn in DADA this year. It was always an interesting class and one of the ones she liked more. A suprised expression crossed her face as she saw what was there. There were no desks, no chalkboards, even the Professor's desk was missing. In it's place, there was a huge stage and standing on it, the Professor. She looked tiny compared to the ginormas thing she was standing on. Es tucked her long black hair behind her ear as she wondered what this meant. The only thing that came to mind was that they were to duel.
Personally, she did not mind so much although she stayed away from it. It was just something she didn't do. But then again, when she thought about it, she really kind of wanted to jinx someone. It didn't have to do with anyone in the room, and Es wasn't even sure if it was because of someone in her head. She just felt like she wanted to jinx someone. And when Es felt like that, you should stay out of her way. Although she looked totally composed on the outside. This was going to be fun....
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Deryn Morgan
Ministry of Magic
Auror-in-Training Witch
Posts: 648
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Post by Deryn Morgan on Apr 16, 2007 20:27:03 GMT -5
The stage brought a smile to Deryn's face. This was just what she needed, a chance to hurt someone. OK, maybe not that cruel, but she did like the idea of dueling. If that's what was happening. Judging from the stage, it seemed like this was a pretty likely option.
Spotting Corey once again, Deryn wondered if she should join him. Maybe, not. Agreeing on a different option, Deryn stayed close to the wall, her bag still on her shoulder as she waited quietly and in quite the very anti-social way, for the class to start.
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Post by Tamis Raynor on Apr 17, 2007 13:32:58 GMT -5
Nodding her head in response to those that greeted her, she did not answer any of their questions; not even a word in return greeting. Instead, she studied faces. Some were utterly bewildered, not grasping at all what laid ahead of them. The vast majority seemed able to put one and one together, and there was a mixed reaction of horror and excite plastered on those faces. It was those with anticipation that she noted the most. The only outward sign of emotion at all was the slight frown on Raynor's lips when Arianna clomped into the room -- but it came as quick as it went.
The final bell echoed through the halls, and the door in the back of the room closed with it, resounding a small snap as it locked itself against outside forces. With today's lesson, it would not do well for someone to accidentally, or otherwise, stumble into this classroom.
The room was oddly silently askance. Perhaps more had caught on than Raynor originally thought.
"Welcome back, Seventh Years, to your final year at Hogwarts. Your years of learning have come to a close with Defense Against the Dark Arts, if you do not know this subject by now and you fail that NEWTs exam, I will personally string all of you by your toes." Usually, those words held a threat to them, but this time it seemed more humor than anything else. Just Merlin hope they did know their stuff by now. "Therefore, this year is not about drilling last minute information into your skulls, but rather about practical application. Real practical application. I will not lie to you and say that it is not likely someone will not get hurt."
A shocking statement coming from Raynor, whom forever and always put student safety before everything else. But the students before her were no longer children. They were all of legal age, and therefore adults in that respect, Raynor could not baby them anymore. This was the last year that she could make sure they knew what they were doing before heading off into a world full of ill intents and not so savory wizards. Better to learn and get hurt now, than learn and get killed later.
"Today, we begin our review with spells. Not just spells learned in this room, but in all of your classes, you are going to need them. But nor do you want to forget the defensive ones learned here, as you will need those most. That said, I want to start this afternoon off with a simple question, and I want you to give a shot at it; there are five rules to dueling, what are they?"
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Corey Faulkland
Wizard
Quality Quidditch Supplies Clerk
Life is like a roulette wheel: Seventeen. Red.[on:Good show!][of:Bugger...]
Posts: 682
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Post by Corey Faulkland on Apr 17, 2007 17:05:01 GMT -5
As the bell sounded and the door clicked shut, eternally sealing Corey (as well as the others in his foreshadowed room of doom), he found himself now suddenly wishing he had left moments before--whether Raynor noticed him leave or not would have been far less a consequence. Yes, Corey, like many others feared dueling, at least, dueling with wands, not only in the classroom setting, but in general. It just wasn't his strong cup of tea, but to every fear there was a day to dace it, and a confrontation in the halls certainly didn't come anywhere close Damage there was minimal. Here, here it was a whole new level, with only oen new rule. You would get hit with something.
So with the arena set, gladiators in place, the only thing remaining was for Caesar to fly through the window on a broom...oh...wait, in this room raynor was Caesar. Well this meant they were all screwed... "Wonderful..." Corey muttered, noticing Deryn to his left-ish and then checking the faces around him. All that was needed now was some excentric first year to bust through the door and shout: "Cheer up everybody! Dueling will be fun!"
Chances of such an event: Pretty high.
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Post by arianna on Apr 19, 2007 1:10:58 GMT -5
The five rules of dueling...It had been a while since Arianna had reviewed the rules of dueling, and she couldn't quite remember actually having a duel in class. She was fairly certain she could remember them, though.
"Bow.....hold wands at the ready....erm..." Arianna's mind drew a blank. She wasn't even sure if that much was correct. Bowing, after all, was more of a formality than a rule. Some might consider it important enough to be a rule, though...
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Post by Krissy Fleming on Apr 26, 2007 7:04:54 GMT -5
Krissy only really knew the one rule of dueling. Bow. She ahd learnt the others a long time ago but she couldn't remember them now. She knew there was something about being nice in there but she didn't know what. "Uh... play nice?" Krissy suggested vaguely. Okay so her answer was pretty bad but it did make some form of sence. Well maybe not but at least she tried.
She wasn't exactely too keen on facing up against the other students. For one, she didn't want to hurt them. For another, she was sure a few of them were quite a bit better than her. She hadn't exactely had much talent in spell casting. Afterall, she had at one stage given Ricky antlers.. Although she had gotten quite alot better and quite quick. She knew she could probably beat anyone in casting a spell, however her spell was likely to do something funny. Although her previous grades had been quite good. Maybe she would go okay afterall?
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Post by arianna on Apr 27, 2007 19:48:08 GMT -5
Arianna snorted at Krissy's answer and couldn't help but reach over and poke the girl in the side. She wasn't meaning to be rude, but it was quite funny. Play nice? In a duel? Maybe if you were up against your friends you'd want to play nice, but should she find herself caught in a life-or-death situation, Arianna certainly wouldn't play nice. In fact, she would probably even play a bit dirty if it would get her out of harm's way.
"Don't you also get a tea party afterwards?" Arianna asked, trying for a voice barely loud enough for Krissy to hear. Of course, this was Raynor we're talking about. Arianna wouldn't be surprised if the woman had heard her as clearly as though she had been standing right next to her.
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Corey Faulkland
Wizard
Quality Quidditch Supplies Clerk
Life is like a roulette wheel: Seventeen. Red.[on:Good show!][of:Bugger...]
Posts: 682
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Post by Corey Faulkland on Apr 29, 2007 20:56:36 GMT -5
Five points of dueling, what int he name of Merlin was she talking about? "Professor...does dueling even have points of conduct? I mean, the only dueling I know of is two people throwin' spells a' eacho'er and trying to defeat eachother. If there's supposed tobe formality, im, I think I can safely say it won't be used all too often in this world." Corey answered, cautiously, but he answered. They were dueling words in both contexts and he knew it, but that didn't stop him from saying them. In his eyes, dueling had no professionalism, it wasn't like the muggle dueling of the ages past where you walked fifteen paces turned and fired...
Oh no, it was far from that. Dueling held a rule where everything could be used, and everything could be won or lost at will. The only 'point' he could conjure into his head was kill or be killed...and that wasn't much of a positive point to be said. But when was anything involving Corey, what he said/did, and any combination of Raynor ever anything positive or good?
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Post by Tamis Raynor on May 16, 2007 18:59:18 GMT -5
For a moment, Raynor simply stood there and smiled. That barely visible smile that just barely upturned the corners of her lips. That small grin that teased "I know something you don't know." It was as bad as the Professor feared. They knew to basics to a formal duel. Bow with wand upright, pivot, turn, and duel. But she had a firm image in her head of what would happen if they tried such with the likes of Shaw -- and shoved the image quickly out of her mind. And play nice!? Oh, Merlin take pity.
She was not sure if she had managed to hide the horror from her face at such a statement.
A clearing of her throat, "If you are in a formal duel, Miss Shriver, bowing would be appropriate. However, if you are planning on doing such against a Dark Wizard, you can join miss Fleming in the afterlife after she's finished playing nice."
Never let it be said that the Seventh Year class did not keep her on her toes. A fact true with the girls... and the opinionated Faulkland, whom she gave a small smirk to in return.
"You are correct, Mr. Faulkland. There are no points of conduct, though there are rules. I apologize for not pointing of the difference earlier. As for your conduct, if someone is threatening any of you, I want you to be as nasty, dirty, and conniving as possible. You do what needs to be done, using the five rules; agility, skill, efficiency, vigilance, and strength."
As she stated each word, it appeared in the air, written in fiery letters, ordering themselves vertically with agility at the top and strength at the bottom.
"Agility. Preform your spells quickly. Do not wast time. You can be the most talented wizard in the world, but if you cannot supply a decent amount of spells and not as faster -- or faster -- than your opponent, then arrange your funeral now. This also includes reflexes. Roll, dodge spells. Avoiding getting hit is a good idea.
"Skill. You have learned a surplus of spells in seven years, use them. And use your skills. Nonverbal spells, fluctuate between offense and defensive techniques. Use all of your ability to its best.
"Efficiency. Use what works and what works well. You want a duel to end as quickly as possible. Use spells that will get the job done with the least amount of effort. Be efficient.
"Vigilance. Always. Be. Aware. Of. Your. Opponent. Watch his moves, anticipate his actions. Do not just concentrate on your half of a dance or your partner may step on your toes.
"And, Strength. Know your own power, know what you are capable of and use every bit of it to you advantage. A weak spell against a well casted one will get you killed."
She paused then, giving herself a moment to breathe and let the class soak that in. It was quite similar to the speech given to Aurors-In-Training. It was, after all, where she had got it from... with her own alterations.
"Questions? And," another smirk, "yes, Miss Shriver, I do rather like a cup of tea after a duel." No, Raynor had not caught all that the girl had said, mainly just a few words muttered with 'tea' being most predominant. If it had been the normal class set up, and the students not piled around her, she would not have heard anything at all.
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