Flying [Classroom] - Sept. 18th-24th/Sept. 25-Oct. 1st

[np_dumbledore]

[Professor Geoffrey Chandler's class

Comments

Second Years

[np_professor]

Second year Flying is held on Friday afternoons from 1:00 to 4:30 (afternoon 1&2).

Re: Second Years; Friday, Sept. 22nd, afternoon 1 & 2.

[candleschildren]

Geoffrey had spent his entire lunch hour preparing for his afternoon class, and by the time that class was ready to start, the ground of the entire Quidditch pitch was covered with feather mattresses that he'd conjured. He waited until all but the last few stragglers had shown up at the entrance to the pitch, then greeted them before launching into his spiel

Re: Second Years; Friday, Sept. 22nd, afternoon 1 & 2.

[cassie_carys]

Cassie looked around the group, hoping to find a partner. Particularly a partner who was good at safety spells. She didn't think she was too bad at staying on her broom, but considering the falls she'd taken at Quidditch tryouts, maybe not. (Then again, Cassie thought, that was really the bludgers' fault, not hers.)

Re: Second Years; Friday, Sept. 26th, afternoon 1 & 2.

[candleschildren]

Like the week before, the Quidditch pitch was once again covered with feather mattresses Geoffrey had conjured when his second year class arrived. "Same as last week, kids," he told them. "So find your partners and pair up. If you make enough progress this week, we can start on useful defensive spells in the second half of the class."

Re: Second Years; Friday, Sept. 26th, afternoon 1 & 2.

[littleremy]

"Spells?" The enormously big happy-face that had previously existed on cheerful little Matthieus face had, unsurprisingly, vanished with one little word. He was so bad at any sort of wandwork, which was stupid because Remy wasn't bad at it, so why was he?!

The little boy glanced nervously at the mattresses, not exactly sure all of a sudden how much progress he actually wanted to make if it meant they were going to be waving their wands about. Flying wasn't about wands! Remy had never mentioned wands!

"We have to do spells?"

Re: Second Years; Friday, Sept. 29th, afternoon 1 & 2.

[candleschildren]

"Nothing complicated," Geoffrey reassured the panicked-looking Hufflepuff. "Most defensive spells you'll use when flying are just variations on Wingardium Leviosa. Others include cushioning charms and sticking spells. And, if there's enough interest expressed, I may include some simple healing spells. Think you can manage that? If not, don't worry. We'll be doing this for a few more weeks still. And you can always ask for help if you feel you need it."

Re: Second Years; Friday, Sept. 29th, afternoon 1 & 2.

[perrie]

"No, I-" Matthieu still looked nervous, and his little fingers tapped the thick wood of his broomstick anxiously. "I'm fine. Really. Thanks."

By the colour his face had gone, he didn't particuarly seem fine at all. He was going to fail. He'd never fly as well as Remy, and he'd never be as good at Charms, and everyone would laugh at him, and this was so awful! He should just expel himself from school right now and be done with it, because that was certainly the way he was heading right now.

"Mr Geoffrey?" He ventured, tentatively, once the other second years had trotted towards the mattresses, "What happens if we can't do the spells?"

Re: Second Years; Friday, Sept. 29th, afternoon 1 & 2.

[candleschildren]

Yikes. Here was something Geoffrey just wasn't used to - a tentative little kid. Most of his experience with children came from the time he spent with Rhianwen's kids, and Gillichu was an curious, adventurous little brat, while Nimuë practically exuded confidence. "Hey. It's no big worry. The spells are just to help when someone else falls from their broom or when you fall from yours. If you mess up or you can't cast the spells, no one's going to get injured in class." At least, not severely. He hoped. "That's what the mattresses are for, after all." The boy still didn't look completely convinced, and Geoffrey smiled reaching over to ruffle his hair. "Hey, tell you what. How 'bout you and I partner up this week? How does that sound to you?"

Re: Second Years; Friday, Sept. 29th, afternoon 1 & 2.

[perrie]

"Um. Okay." Matthieu smiled shyly, only half daring to believe that such a cool teacher willingly wanted to single him out and work with him. Him! Silly Little Hufflepuff #3! "I'd like that."

He fidgeted awkwardly for a moment, then motioned, even more awkwardly over to the mattresses, not sure whether to mount his broom and fly over, or walk over or what. Did he need his wand already? Was he supposed to be in the air? He couldn't even pretend to be cool!

Re: Second Years; Friday, Sept. 29th, afternoon 1 & 2.

[candleschildren]

"Alright. You'll have to tell your partner from last week that they're working with Pimento today," Geoffrey said, walking out onto the mattresses. Hm. They were pretty firm today... he'd have to soften them up some once he was in the air.

"We're not doing spells until the second half of class, so don't worry, you can put away your wand," Geoffrey reassured the Hufflepuff. "What's your name again? I'm still learning who everyone is."

Re: Second Years; Friday, Sept. 29th, afternoon 1 & 2.

[perrie]

"Matthieu Cowan." The little boy told him, and climbed carefully on top of the mattresses, testing his balance, and looking more than a little nervous as he mounted his broom, almost toppling over in the process. His wand, thankfully, he stowed away in his back pocket. No spells for now! Thank God...

Re: Second Years; Friday, Sept. 29th, afternoon 1 & 2.

[candleschildren]

Cowan? Now why did that sound- Oh. Ohhhh... Was this-? Hm. Mounting his own broom, Geoffrey grinned at Matthieu. "Cowan, eh? Don't suppose you'd be Remy's brother now, hm?" he asked cheerfully. The seventh year had mentioned something about a brother who'd be in one of Geoffrey's classes, hadn't he?

Waiting for the boy's reply, Geoffrey rose a few feet in the air and started shooting cushioning charms at the mattresses.

Re: Second Years; Friday, Sept. 29th, afternoon 1 & 2.

[perrie]

As soon as Geoffrey mentioned Remy, an entirely different change came over the second years face - all of a sudden he seemed to wake up, light up, become delightfully excited over something all over again. "You know Remy?!" Matthieu's eyes were wide with awe, any reference to his older brother or familiarity with him gaining instant bonus points. "He's so cool! I'll never be like him, but everyone says I look just like him and that's okay by me! I don't reckon I can fly, but he can fly, he can fly so good!"

The Hufflepuff rose unsteadily into the air, still chirping nine to the dozen at Geoffrey whilst gripping hard at the handle. "He," Matthieu told Geoffrey with absolute conviction, "Is the coolest brother in the whole world! I wish I were more like Remy."

Re: Second Years; Friday, Sept. 29th, afternoon 1 & 2.

[candleschildren]

"Aah. He's on the Gryffindor team, so I see him at practices and things," Geoffrey explained. He wasn't going to bother to elaborate past that - second years were second years, after all. If Matthieu wanted to know about his brother's... extracurricular activities, he'd have to hear about it straight from Remy.

"Maybe you should try to be more like you right now," Geoffrey suggested as he reached out and steadied the boy's broom.

Re: Second Years; Friday, Sept. 29th, afternoon 1 & 2.

[littleremy]

"Why on earth would I want to do that?" Matthieu laughed, and carefully eased his grip, trying to sit up straighter. Some people were already bragging about being able to fly without even holding on, and he was dying to manage that too.

"Remy's much cooler. Everyone says so, and all the girls love him. They're always around him. Nope." He shook his head, quite positive on this, "I'd pick being him over being me any day."

Re: Second Years; Friday, Sept. 29th, afternoon 1 & 2.

[candleschildren]

"Girls, eh?" Geoffrey asked with a grin as he continued to gain altitude. "That's a big concern for you, then?" He wondered if the boy knew that girls weren't the only ones who loved his brother. Probably not, at this age.

"Try scooting forward a bit," he said, flying closer so as to steady Matthieu's broom so that the Hufflepuff could do as instructed. "You'll get better balance that way. The tail end acts a bit of a counter-weight, and if you sit too far back, the broom'll tend to want to buck you off."