RP: Transfiguration Is...
Date: 06 September 1998
Characters: Minerva McGonagall, Wayne Hopkins, Seamus Finnigan, Hermione Granger, Harry Potter, Draco Malfoy, Ernie Macmillan, Mandy Brocklehurst, Other N.E.W.T. Prep Transfiguration Students
Location: Hogwarts
Status: Semi-Public (Open to AM & PM Transfig Students)
Summary: Minerva wastes no time finding out where her students stand.
Completion: Closed
There were only six desks in the room. Even the professor's desk had been transfigured into a long table. The desks were shoved up against the blackboard, facing it with parchments and self-inking quills at each. The other short wall, contained a rack of crates, each labeled with a student's name. The two longer walls had tables. Each one on the window side contained a different transfigured item. Each one on the door side contained untransfigured items. There was also a table in the middle of the room set with five mirrors.
As the students trickled in, she asked them to stow their bags under the tables and make sure they had their wands. "You may look about, however do not touch anything yet." When it was time, the professor called them to attention. "If you will all gather here in the middle, I would like to begin."
"Transfiguration is some of the most complex and dangerous magic you will learn here at Hogwarts. Anyone messing around in my class will leave and not come back. You have been warned." It was Minerva McGonagall's standard first year admonishment but it would not hurt her N.E.W.T. Prep students to be reminded of her policy.
"I would prefer not to waste anyone's time on material that does not need to be covered. Therefore what you see today is an excercise that will allow me to further tailor the lesson plan to your specific needs. This is not a classroom for children being forced to learn. It is a classroom for young adults who want to learn. You will need to find your own personal motivation for doing so if the ability to sit the N.E.W.T. is insufficient inducement." Minerva smiled, "Now then, let me explain what this is."
"Over by the door is Station 1. The group assigned there will rotate through the tables performing the transfigurations displayed. Try it non-verbally first. If you succeed, transfer your transfigured item to the crate along the side wall with your name on it. If you do not succeed, try again verbally. Successes to the crate. If you do not get it on the second go, move on to the next transfiguration until you have worked through the lot. If there is still time remaining before I have you move stations, you may make additional tries. If you complete them all before time is up, come here to this center table where you will be set human transfigurations until time to switch."
Minerva moved to the tables under the windows. "Over here is Station 2. The group assigned here rotates in the same manner, attempting to return these already transfigured items back into their original form as displayed. Non-verbally first, verbally second. Successes to the crates with retries being the same. Again, if you complete the work early, come to the center, where you will be set human transfiguration."
Gesturing toward the desks, she continued, "Station 3 includes a written examination of your knowledge of the theory." Minerva waved her wand at the blackboard above, displaying an example. "I do not want essays, nor do I wish to read minutiae. Follow the example. Give me two or three, clear, distinct sentences, followed by the major bullet points, for each of the items. Include a sample spell from that classification of transfiguration and describe the wand movement. If you cannot do it all, do what you can. If you can't do any of it, place a question mark next to the item. Do not waste my time or your own attempting to bluff your way through it. It never works and it will only serve to give you writer's cramps and me a headache." Minerva looked rather pointedly at two of her most egregious bluffers before moving on. "I do not expect you to know all the material. Only leave blank those items you do not have time to complete. When you have answered everything you possibly can, place it in your crate and come to the center."
Minerva counted them off and sent them to the various stations. "Now then, begin."
Characters: Minerva McGonagall, Wayne Hopkins, Seamus Finnigan, Hermione Granger, Harry Potter, Draco Malfoy, Ernie Macmillan, Mandy Brocklehurst, Other N.E.W.T. Prep Transfiguration Students
Location: Hogwarts
Status: Semi-Public (Open to AM & PM Transfig Students)
Summary: Minerva wastes no time finding out where her students stand.
Completion: Closed
There were only six desks in the room. Even the professor's desk had been transfigured into a long table. The desks were shoved up against the blackboard, facing it with parchments and self-inking quills at each. The other short wall, contained a rack of crates, each labeled with a student's name. The two longer walls had tables. Each one on the window side contained a different transfigured item. Each one on the door side contained untransfigured items. There was also a table in the middle of the room set with five mirrors.
As the students trickled in, she asked them to stow their bags under the tables and make sure they had their wands. "You may look about, however do not touch anything yet." When it was time, the professor called them to attention. "If you will all gather here in the middle, I would like to begin."
"Transfiguration is some of the most complex and dangerous magic you will learn here at Hogwarts. Anyone messing around in my class will leave and not come back. You have been warned." It was Minerva McGonagall's standard first year admonishment but it would not hurt her N.E.W.T. Prep students to be reminded of her policy.
"I would prefer not to waste anyone's time on material that does not need to be covered. Therefore what you see today is an excercise that will allow me to further tailor the lesson plan to your specific needs. This is not a classroom for children being forced to learn. It is a classroom for young adults who want to learn. You will need to find your own personal motivation for doing so if the ability to sit the N.E.W.T. is insufficient inducement." Minerva smiled, "Now then, let me explain what this is."
"Over by the door is Station 1. The group assigned there will rotate through the tables performing the transfigurations displayed. Try it non-verbally first. If you succeed, transfer your transfigured item to the crate along the side wall with your name on it. If you do not succeed, try again verbally. Successes to the crate. If you do not get it on the second go, move on to the next transfiguration until you have worked through the lot. If there is still time remaining before I have you move stations, you may make additional tries. If you complete them all before time is up, come here to this center table where you will be set human transfigurations until time to switch."
Minerva moved to the tables under the windows. "Over here is Station 2. The group assigned here rotates in the same manner, attempting to return these already transfigured items back into their original form as displayed. Non-verbally first, verbally second. Successes to the crates with retries being the same. Again, if you complete the work early, come to the center, where you will be set human transfiguration."
Gesturing toward the desks, she continued, "Station 3 includes a written examination of your knowledge of the theory." Minerva waved her wand at the blackboard above, displaying an example. "I do not want essays, nor do I wish to read minutiae. Follow the example. Give me two or three, clear, distinct sentences, followed by the major bullet points, for each of the items. Include a sample spell from that classification of transfiguration and describe the wand movement. If you cannot do it all, do what you can. If you can't do any of it, place a question mark next to the item. Do not waste my time or your own attempting to bluff your way through it. It never works and it will only serve to give you writer's cramps and me a headache." Minerva looked rather pointedly at two of her most egregious bluffers before moving on. "I do not expect you to know all the material. Only leave blank those items you do not have time to complete. When you have answered everything you possibly can, place it in your crate and come to the center."
Minerva counted them off and sent them to the various stations. "Now then, begin."