Lesson 1 + 2 (Years 3, 4, +5 )

[Halonius Afulas]

It had already been a long morning when Professor Afulas walked into his classroom. It was time to get ready for his third year class to begin their fist half of the lesson that incorperated the fist and second parts of the syllabus in Ancient Runes. Absently sidestepping the one rune in the classroom that would transport him somewhere in the school, Halonius made his way to his desk which was littered with scraps of paper that held many essays from the N.E.W.T.s years homework. 'I really do need to get all of those graded tonight.' he though to himself, as he sat down to find his lesson plan for the day.

After much looking around his desk, Professor Afulas found what he was looking for, the syllabus for the Level one Ancient Runes students. After grabbing the scroll of parchment he was looking for, Halonius stood up and started writing the Runic alphebet (with translations), and drawing a diagram of the eight Runic circles of magic so the students would find it easier to understand. Once finished he sat back down at his desk and waited for his first students to arrive.

[Jeremy Taylor]

Of all his classes this year, Jeremy was looking forward to his electives most of all. With any luck, the teachers didn't know what a basket case he was, he had all of the notes from his older cousins, and not a one required wandwork to pass it. Yes, year three was going to be a good one.

That didn't mean he entered the room skipping gleefully with a bright and sunny expression on his face. The young Ravenclaw entered the room as he usually did, sulking and dragging his feet to an open desk, where he would dump his bookbag on the floor and slump down so that his nose was barely over the desktop. Once he grabbed his notebook, quill, and ink out of his backpack, he was ready for class, anticipating a new subject and a new professor.

[Derrick Breckenridge]

Derrick sat outside the classroom door with a feeling of hesitance growing larger and larger by the minute. It wasn't because he didn't think he could do well or he hadn't read the book cover to cover over the summer it was just that he knew he could either love this class or he could end up hating it. It seemed to be the single class that for whatever reason he felt would give him a bit of trouble. Derrick wasn't sure why but it gave him this odd feeling of foreboding. Shaking it off though Derrick rose, grabbed his bag, and headed into the class.

Derrick didn't know why this class irked him so much when after all he had taken three electives because if he didn't like one he could drop it the next year. If he ended up liking all three he knew he'd be able to handle the course load. He planned on possibly dropping astronomy eventually anyway; the class just wasn't his style and probably his least favorite. Looking around the classroom he took note of Jeremy who as per usual beat him to the classroom. He wanted to take up the conversation that he had started with the boy in the History of Magic classroom but figured at this point and time it was best left alone.

Settling himself down near the middle of the classroom he pulled out his things and opened his book. Leafing through the pages he got himself where he needed to be and readied his quill and parchment. Looking up he gave his usual sheepish smile and greeted the professor.

"Good day Professor how are you?"

Now all Derrick needed to do was wait for the class to start which hopefully would be soon enough. Feeling.....anxious, he supposed, to see what the class really held for him this year.

[Halonius Afulas]

"Good day to you also Mr. Taylor and Mr. Breckenridge, I am doing just fine. If you two would copy the board while we wait for the others to start, I will award your houses each 5 points for being early for class." Professor Halonius said to the two students who entered his class first. The one seemed to be ready for the class and quite excited to start, while the other one seemed to be sort of anxious and apprehensive.

Well nothing to do but wait for the others to arrive in order to start the lesson. Halonius thought to himself as he continued to sit at his desk. While waiting he started to read over a couple of the essays that were the Fourth years homework. Interesting it was to see what the essays contained, some were quite humoring though.

[Jeremy Taylor]

Jeremy's writer doubted anyone else would show up, but even so, Jeremy did as directed. He knew that Drew's old notebook already contained all of the information, including both the Elder Futhark as well as the Younger, but the small Ravenclaw was pretty sure pulling out his cousin's notes wouldn't fly well with the professor. Besides, he'd probably remember all of it better if he did it himself.

Carefully dipping his quill into his ink (Drew had told him drawing rune symbols was easier with a quill than with a Muggle pen), he neatly copied what the professor had written on the board. Now to just figure out what it all meant.

[Claire Desrosiers]

Ancient Runes was one class Claire was not all too sure how to feel about. Sure studying strange runes and such sounded cool but who knows how much work would be involved for the class. However since she had to sign up for electives this year this class seemed pretty interesting. Climbing up the final steps to the seventh floor, Claire turned down the corridor and was fairly certain that this was the right classroom. Of course when seeing two familiar faces inside she was certain of it.

So far only Jeremy and Derrick were inside so it didn't look like too many had signed up for this. Jeremy was never very enthusiastic to see her for reasons Claire did not understand but at least Derrick was a familiar face. "Hi Derrick." she greeted taking a seat by him.

[Halonius Afulas]

"Good morning Miss Desrosiers, if you would please copy the board, we will get started as soon as all of you are finished. You will a be awarded 5 house points for being on time to class." Halonius said.

While reading over his lesson plan, Halonius was sitting at his desk wondering why his class was so small. Ahh, oh well, not all the classes can be big ones, this was an elective after all.' he thought to himself. And so he waited untill everyone finished copying the board. When they were finished, Professor Afulas would explain the Runic alphebet and its translations.

[Derrick Breckenridge]

Derrick sat calmly now staring at the board absorbing the symbols. For whatever reason like most words, books, and any other form of written expression they had a very calming effect on him. Maybe this class wouldn't be that bad after all or so he hoped at that moment. Dipping his quill he began to copy the runes from the board. Carefully, slowly, and precisely Derrick copied them and was slightly startled when he heard his name being spoken.

Turning he saw Claire take a seat next to him. It was odd for him in a way seeing as up until this point no one had sat next to him in class unless it was by force due to lack of seats. Smiling in his usual sheepish manner gave her a small wave with his quill. He debated saying something as he began to copy what was on the board and felt that as long as he continued to work he could allow himself to do so.

"Hullo there Claire how are you doing?"

Derrick felt odd as the words escaped his lips so easily but knew that he shouldn't be as he was now familiar with Claire. Running his hand through his hair he continued to copy the symbols on the board with even more ease then he had before.

[Claire Desrosiers]

Cool, Claire managed to get five points just for walking in. Were professors just feeling generous lately or what because her muggle studies professor also gave her points for just walking in. Then again that woman was also the Slytherin Head. Oh well, whatever gave the snakes a fighting chance at the cup was welcome. Turning her attention back to what the professor instructed to do Claire pulled out a clean notebook along with a quill and ink.

"Hm, I'm doing fine." Claire replied to Derrick as she began to write, "Just hoping that this class is an interesting one. Well, it sounded like that when I signed up for it. What do you think?"

[Jeremy Taylor]

Jeremy finished copying the board and carefully blew on the wet ink to help it set faster. He was pretty sure that Drew's notes had the same kind of stuff, but the Ravenclaw knew that teachers sometimes checked work and he'd get busted for trying to pass off his cousin's stuff as his own.

While he waited for the professor to continue, he took out his book and pretended to read, watching the door for more people to come in, and keeping an eye on the other two who seemed to be kind of into each other. Brenton was going to be pissed when he found out.

[Derrick Breckenridge]

"I'm kind of hoping the same, if not I'll just drop it next year I signed up for three electives just in case one didn't interest me."

This was after all the truth because Derrick knew he would love Care of Magical Creatures but Muggle Studies and Ancient Runes were both wild cards. Two classes that sounded interesting to him but upon further investigation couldn't be. Derrick knew this and that was was he had signed up for both. Divination and were both out of the question as he doubted he had any kind of foresight powers and numbers just weren't his bag in most cases. Both classes also carried the same theme which was being able to tell predestined events. Derrick didn't like that he preferred to not know what was going to happen until it happened. That way he could be surprised about something in his everyday life.

Turning back to his notes Derrick finished the last of what was on the board and waited for his ink to dry and for the professor's next instructions. Derrick's next thought was about neither though as he realized he needed to set a date for Claire's first guitar lesson. He really didn't know her schedule so the best choice in this matter was to just be open and ask about it. After all it wasn't like she didn't want to associate with him in public she was sitting right next to him at the moment.

"So Claire when do you want your first lesson, that is of course if you are still interested in having me teach you?"

Running a hand through his hair Derrick noticed Jeremy sitting near the back and for whatever reason really didn't think anyone else would be joining the class all too soon. With that in mind he decided to attempt to reach out to his classmate. Derrick knew what it felt like to sit alone and in most cases that wouldn't be too much of a problem for himself but didn't think Jeremy had the same exact attitude as him in this situation.

"Care to come sit with us at all Jeremy?"

There it was innocent just as he had intended and it would be a much easier class if they all were grouped together. What harm could come from him asking the young Ravenclaw anyway?

[Jeremy Taylor]

Jeremy doing his best not to look like he was watching the other two, and when Derrick turned to speak to him, the Ravenclaw pretended to study his book intently. He was actually surprised the Huffle boy said anything and Jeremy really wasn't sure how to respond. There was a huge part of him that longed to be part of the group and join them, but that other part of him was sure he was only being invited so that they could mess with him.

"No," he snorted back, rolling his eyes and going back to his book. He didn't need them anyway.