Lesson 1 - Turning Objects to Stone

[Minerva McGonagall]

Let's take a better look beyond a story book
And learn our souls are all we own
BEFORE WE TURN TO STONE

Professor McGonagall steeled herself for the start of what promised to be a very long day, but one she was well familiar with. Her first class of the day was a group of first year Hufflepuffs, and even though the trick was one she'd played several times over, she loved watching them all walk into the classroom, wondering where their teacher was and why there was a gray cat sitting on her desk. The first time her students saw her smile was an almost imperceptible twitch of her lips in response to their gasps after she transformed. She went easy on the first years, introducing them to Transfiguration and outlining the defining qualities of this branch of magic before the bell rang and they'd left, groaning over their two chapters they needed to read for their next class.

After the first years was her third year class, which was comprised of rather sleepy, unimpressive individuals that morning and Minerva 'accidentally' dropped a large meter stick in order to shock them all awake. It didn't work nearly as well as when she told them what they were reading would be on their quiz for their next class. After that class left, it was time for her fourth and fifth year class. Traditionally they were taught separately, but one couldn't be too prepared for O.W.L. exams, and scheduling had been so tight that year with the influx of Ravenclaw students that it seemed the only option.

She stood at the front of the classroom, hands clasped in front of her as she waited for all of her students to take their seats. This was her class that preceded lunch, and there was always a portion that functioned best right before eating while the rest... not so much. Minerva looked at all the familiar faces and noted how some were starting to fill out their lanky forms, while others still looked like they had been stretched with a medieval torture device over the summer. When everyone had taken their seats she didn't even clear her throat; she just began.

"Good morning, class." They responded tiredly with a chorus of, "Good Morning, Professor McGonagall" that wouldn't have inspired a frightened bird to even blink. "What a greeting," she replied dryly before moving on. "Welcome to another year of transfiguration. Everyone here today is facing the near prospect of the O.W.L. exam for transfiguration, some sooner than others," she added heavily in response to Hermione Granger's frightened look. Honestly, did she think they'd moved them up a year? "So it is prudent that we get straight to work.

"Raise your hand if, for ten house points, you can tell me the spell that turns an object to stone?"

A number of hands raised, but Professor McGonagall called on a person who was sitting furthest from the front. She didn't want her students thinking that she couldn't see them if they weren't sitting three feet away from her.

date monday, september 1, 1994
tag students
lyrics ingrid michaelson - turn to stone
notes welcome back

[ZZ - Kateri Everild]

I F W E O N L Y H A V E O N E T U R N
I N T H I S L I F E W E H A V E T O L E A R N

Kat was not ready to be back at Hogwarts with the early mornings, going to bed at a earlier time, the lessons, the homework. But there was nothing she could do about it as she walked to Transfiguration that day. She just hoped her body would get use to the changes soon and could hear her sisters voice telling her she shouldn't of been so lazy during the summer. It's what the summer is for she remembered telling her as her voice repeated itself in her mind. Kat wasn't sure where the other Slytherins were and who would be turning up to the lesson and was surprised when she entered the classroom to see she was the first one here.

This must be a world record, She thought as she checked the time and the room with only Professor McGonagall in there before stepping inside herself. She gave a brief smile to the Head of Gryffindor. She didn't know the woman that well with her being the head for her rival house which was fine with her. Everyone thought all Slytherins were the same and she had got use to that years ago. While she waited for others students to enter and join her she got out the things she thought she might need for today's lesson before resting her head on her hand, a habit she did alot in waiting. Kat had never been the most patience person in the world.

"Good morning, class." She said when everyone was there, Kat sat up a little before replying with everyone else, "Good Morning, Professor McGonagall" it seemed she wasn't impressed with their greeting but Kat didn't care as she tried to get her mind into gear to actually listen and learn something. She listened to the Professor talking but did not bother to raise her hand at the question that she asked them. She knew someone else would answer it, maybe her own sister who she had seen come in earlier with her friends.

Date 1st September 1994 Tagged Professor and Students
Words Didn't count Outfit Hogwarts Uniform Lyrics Learn by Lamb
Notes Any Slytherins want to sit by me? Credits Layout by myself

[Fred and George Weasley]

I F W E O N L Y H A V E O N E T U R N
I N T H I S L I F E W E H A V E T O L E A R N

TBC

D A T E: monday, september 1, 1994 T W I N S: Fred and George T A G G E D: Professor and Students W O R D S: Didn't count O U T F I T: Uniform L Y R I C S: Learn by Lamb N O T E S: N/A C R E D I T S: Layout by myself

[Hermione Granger]

DEW DROPS ARE THE GEMS OF MORNING
BUT THE TEARS OF MOURNFUL EVE! WHERE NO HOPE IS
LIFE'S A WARNING THAT ONLY SERVES TO MAKE US GRIEVE

Hermione walked with the boys up from lunch, stopping in the corridor briefly to ask Professor Wenlock a question about their new textbook for class before she ran to catch up with Ron and Harry, who were, surprise surprise, still talking about the Triwizard Tournament. Ron was doing the most glowing, however, but Harry nodded along and laughed in agreement as Ron waxed poetic about the 'cup of glory.'

Once inside the classroom, Hermione stepped forward to the front row, sighing when she heard Ron and Harry take their seats a few desks back. They hated the front row, but Hermione found it easier to hear McGonagall and see the board. Plus you could catch her little snide comments that the demure professor thought that no one could hear. Hermione pulled out her textbook, wand and notebook, frowning as she rifled through her bag looking for her quill. She packed her bag very specifically every morning, but she'd had a rough start on her first day and it wasn't something that really endeared her to her roommates. Could they not have bothered to wake her up?

Professor McGonagall welcomed them in her usual way and Hermione replied, her heart beat quickening as it always did at the start of the first class of the year. She listened eagerly as Professor McGonagall spoke, her quill poised in her hand to take notes, and when she asked for the spell to turn an object a stone, Hermione's hand shot into the air like a blade. Duro, duro, duro, duro... she thought, deflating when Professor McGonagall called on someone towards the back of the class. They better know the answer...

tag ♦ Harry, Ron, etc.
date ♦ September 5, 1994
words ♦ rather short...
lyrics ♦ Youth and Age by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
notes ♦Class, class, class...