Ryder walked quickly up the stairs to the battlements of the Astronomy Tower, hoping there would be no students congregating there and doing Merlin knows what. Once he reached the top, he paused, looked around, and smiled coldly.

He set about the Tower, scatterering candles everywhere so there would be enough light. When this was done, he Transfigured a section of wall to act as a blackboard, well lit enough so all could see. Upon the board, he began writing instructions.

Professor Friday Ryder
Sit. Do not talk loudly.
Make yourself comfortable.

Lesson 1: The Moon and it's Craters

He stood next to the blackboard and waited for his students to join him.

Fawne was one of the first ones to make the journey up the stairs to the astronomy tower classroom. To be honest she'd explored there on many occasion but it had been a long while since she'd had a lesson there. As her mind dwelled over thoughts her feet carried her to the classroom door. With a very short pause she cleared her mind and focused on the lesson at hand. Being whimsical was not an excuse to fail her OWLs.

With a small push she slide the door open, creating a small gap rather than opening it fully and stepped into the class room. She looked around and immediately noticed she was the first one to arrive. With a slightly distracted look she read the bored and choose a seat, one relatively in the middle. She decided since the bored said 'don't talk loudly' it was safe for her to say hello to the professor. She was if nothing else always polite.

"Hello Professor Ryder." her voice was soft and musical, it certainly wasn't loud.

Robyn grinned, Oh how much she loved Astronomy. Mostly because she liked the sky and high places, in general. But there was one problem, stairs. Robyn hated stairs and they were an everyday burden on her to get up to the Astronomy tower. She and April hung out there quite often and she knew no one noticed they were ever there. Or, that's what she thought anyway. Robyn sat in the middle row or so. She was shocked she was on time. But, she was on time for all the classes she loved. Robyn pulled out her notebook, doodling a few things, her hand carefully fiddling with the neckalace that Tristan had given her forever ago. She wasn't in a particular talking mood, so she did not talk.

OOC: I haven't made the topic where Mel comes back from her little meeting with Harshing yet, but I'm pretending that it's after. She would've healed quickly with magic.


*Melanie walked into the classroom, Alex, Ian, and Aiden in tow. It was...a bit strange to see, but after what Harshing had done...none of them wanted her to leave their sight. Mel was still obviously still shaken beyond belief...she couldn't get the feeling out of her mind...having everything that she had felt over the past few months overwhelm her at once...mixed with all of the actual physical pain she was feeling and her pain for Mark being hurt....Not to mention the fact that Harshing told her Mark had been changed. What Harshing hadn't mentioned was that that was only a ploy so he could watch Melanie suffer as she tried to figure out what he had done to her baby. He was more than right...it was driving her insane.

There was a full range of emotions among the men. Aiden was the protector, the one really taking care of her, being both caretaker and defender. Ian was the worried one, watching her every move as if she was going to randomly try to kill herself at any second. Alex was furious, and it was obvious. He was the one sending out death stares to anyone who walked by, threatening people to stay away from Mel. It was one thing to hurt his sister, but to hurt his nephew as well...someone who couldn't do anything about what was happening. That was what really defined the line between hate and absolute loathing for him. Now, it didn't only exist for Harshing, no, the hate extended to anyone who had ever wronged Melanie. He was sick of seeing her hurt...he wasn't going to tolerate it anymore. Anyone who said anything bad to her anymore would be personally attacked by him, either verbally or physically...mostly physically, though.

Ian was of course as angry about what had happened as Alex was...but...he expressed it differently. He was always the more gentle one in situations. It was obvious that that was what Mel needed right now anyway.

Aiden...he really hadn't understood the full extent of Mel's problems until now. Seeing how it lasted with her, how it truly got to her....He couldn't stand it. The sadness and anger he felt were clear in his eyes....and the respect. Anyone who could go through this multiple times deserved recognition, not hatred.

They entered the class, Aiden holding the door open for the other three and entering last. Melanie glanced nervously around the room, as if Harshing or Grendal were going to pop out of no where. They followed Melanie's lead from there- they expected her to head towards the middle of the group of seats, but instead she headed to the back. None of them acknowledged the professor or Fawne at all until after sitting down. Alex and Aiden were sitting on either side of Mel, and Ian was next to Aiden. Alex leaned back in his seat and crossed his arms, ready to defend Mel at any second. Aiden watched Mel as she took out a notebook and started drawing on a blank sheet of paper with her quill. She would cross everything out within seconds of starting it. Ian was the only one who showed that he noticed Professor Ryder or Fawne at all. He smiled sheepishly.*

Ian:"Hello, Professor. Hi, Fawne." *he greeted the two. He realized how much it felt like someone in the room literally just...dropped dead, so he tried to make small talk.*"It's been really warm out lately...a nice change from how it was a few weeks ago. I just wish I had more time to spend outside." *he was aware of what a horrible conversation starter that was, but it was better than nothing. Then he saw what the board said.*"Oh....sorry."




OOC: Oh geeze these are gonna be long posts....sorry.....




~Mel

Valentina enetred the classroom and sat quietly at the front. it was her first astronomy lesson, and she wouldn't miss it for anything in the world.

the took parchment and ink out and looked around the classroom. There were six people and the teacher. a tall boy was sending death glares at anyone, and once he gave her a dirty look, she couldn't understand why.

so Valentina decided to turn back to look at the back at the blackboard.

The moon and it's craters... interesting!... she thought.

she turned her head and started looking at the candles' warm flame flickering. she started to feel drowsy and sleepy.

Ryder watched several students trickle in; first two girls, then a group of boys and one girl, and finally another girl. It was quite an amlount thus far, but he knew more should be arriving eventually, so he decided that he would have to wait for stragglers. He glanced at his watch. It wasn't late yet, so there would be no punishments. He turned to his students.

"Hello, all. We'll wait a few more minutes, and then begin. We wiil be, very soon, learning one another's names, but we'll wait for the stragglers just this once. Please do not talk very loudly, as we are outside and wouldn't want voices to travel to sleeping students."

Valentina nodded at the teachers instructions, even thought she knew he was probably not looking at her.

She started wondering how many stars she woud be seeing in the sky that night, when she yawned, but quickly closed her mouth, so that she wouldn't annoy her teacher.

April launched herself up the stairs at full speed, not wanting to be late to her first Astronomy class. She didn't particularly love the subject, but she figured it couldn't be too hard. She took the steps two at a time and landed at the top in record time.

When she got upstairs to the landing, she noticed she wasn't too late. The Professor was standing at the front of the class, observing, and there were 6 students sitting on chairs and such. April quickly took a seat by herself and read the board.

The Professor's eyes lingered on her for just a moment, but said nothing. The board said not to talk loudly, so April chose not to talk at all. She waited for class, on the Moon and its' craters, to begin.

Winding her way up the stairs with a haughty lack of haste, her pale hazel eyes narrowed and were lent their habitual gold hue in the gloom of the staircase as she lifted her head, assessing the distance. As she did so, her generous mouth formed a small moue of distaste as she examined just how much further she would have to climb. Really, she mused, it was downright rude to expect students to practically exhaust themselves in an attempt to merely reach the classroom, especially those as despising of exercise as she was. As it was the climb had caused two spots of high colour to form on Eudoxia’s cheeks, staining her pale complexion and this was by no means the first pause she’d made in her climb, her breathing was laboured as though she’d just run a race reminding her of just how unfit she was in spite of her svelte frame. Nevertheless with a small shake of her head and a look of grim determination she steeled herself and began to climb the stairs once more.

She did not stop until she reached the landing and surveyed the door for a few moments as she collected herself, blowing strands of auburn from her face, she flicked imaginary bits of lint from her robes and carefully composed her features -with the ease of a practised manipulator- into a look of neutrality. Sauntering demurely into the classroom head held high she paused for the briefest of minutes as the Professor spoke, flashing him a winning smile which failed to reach her eyes in the process- at least she wasn’t late. Well, she thought, it wouldn’t hurt to start off on a good note at least. Stalking haughtily into the room her eyes fell upon each of the seven people seated there, her gaze inscrutable as she eyed them up and down a flash of frostiness in her eyes, weighing them up coolly before a charming smile played across her lips. Within five minutes Eudoxia had decided (albeit very judgementally) just who was worth talking to. Sliding gracefully into a seat on the edge of a middle row, she pulled out an ink well, quill and parchment from her bag arranging them neatly on the desk before turning her attention to the board, barely able to suppress an audible sigh.

The craters of the Moon? Merlin, she’d hoped for NEWTs to yield something at least a little interesting like Mars or Venus not the Moon, which, for all it’s majesty she’d covered enough times in her OWLs or in one of her own extensive research stints. A small frown tugged at her lips, a sullen look marring her fair features before with visible effort she shrugged it off and brightened; perhaps a little revision was just what she needed, perhaps (though it was doubtful, she thought vainly) she’d learn something new as well. With a flourish she wrote the title down before dropping her quill and looking around expectantly.

Rebecca had made her way into the classroom just after April and another Slytherin girl made their way in. When she looked around, blue eyes searching the classroom, she took in many different people some familiar and others not. When she moved her gaze to the front where the teacher stood she let her gaze stray there only briefly before moving to the middle row and taking a seat.

To some her mood might seem down or upset but in reality she was just content and clam. A different kind of attitude to those who knew her, but not a bad one. It was rather good for those who didn't care for her bubbly personality.

Shaking her thoughts away Rebecca got comfortable and got out parchment, ink and her quill before looking to the board and seeing what the class was about today. Reading the words she felt herself smile. Today's class should be interesting, she thought to herself suddenly as she settled herself for the class to begin.

Fawne wasn't quite sure what to make of Mel and her entourage. Nor did she know what was wrong with Mel. At first she merely wanted to run up to her and help in whatever way she could. That was merely in her nature. However after noting the looks Alex was giving out she wasn't quiet sure Mel would want to be spoken to, maybe thats why they were all crowding around her?

She didn't get much more time to deliberate on the fact though since Ian appeared to be making small talk with her. A small smile grew on hr lips as she tried to make the younger boy feel calmer, he was obviously a little awkward right now. Though who knows why? when she spoke she was careful to keep her tones low like the teacher asked.

"Hello Ian...The weather has been wonderful, it is a shame you do not get to venture outside more often...Oh how rude of me; Hello Alex, Adrian and Melanie. Are you looking forward to the lesson?" her voice was honest and her intentions obvious, she was being nothing but kind and trying not to dig into whatever the problem was.

Ryder had realized that most of the students who at least planned on arriving were now here, and either way, he was growing impatient. He stood back up and faced the class, which was quiely chatting amongst themselves. He drew out his wand and sent a small shower of sparks through the air. It caught the class' attention, and they quieted.

"Good evening. I'm the new Astronomy Professor, for those of you dimwits who hadn't realized." He puased for dramatic reasons, and then re-started. "You may call my Professor Ryder, but I'm not so much into formal names, so to speak, so Ryder also works fine."

"I expect you all to behave, and keep your voices down. Any fooling around of any sort can be dangerous, and thus will recieve a loss of points, or a detention. Neither of which is enjoyable, trust me. Tardiness is not accepted, and therefore, will be punished by any means I deem necessary. Is this clear?"

He didn't wait for a response, but rather continued, now pacing up and down in front of them. He twirled his wand, and his cold eyes glanced over each student's face.

"Very well. Today we begin with the Moon and it's craters. This class is very mixed between years, so this is why we start out easy. I won't expect any complaints from you older students."

"Let's begin. Someone here point out the Moon in the sky for me. Raise your hand before doing so, please."

Valentina listened carefully to the teacher's explaining. When he asked if everything was clear, she nodded her head and said a weak "yes" in case it disturbed the teacher.

she slowly lifted her hand in the air, trying to catch her professor's eye.

"it's over there, " she pointed at the sky, were there was the bright silver orb.
"it's a satellite, and tonight's Half Moon..." she said weakly, unsure if he wanted her to say that as well.

Ryder studied the small girl who answered, and nodded.

"Correct. It is indeed the half moon tonight, so correct again. Yes, everyone, that is indeed the half moon, just over there." Ryder pointed once again to the moon, and watched his class follow his finger in the direction to gaze at the orb.

"Now, lucky that the half moon was mentioned. It leads me to my next question. Who can tell me something about the phases of the moon?"

As she listened to the teacher introduce himself and start the class the only though that came through her mind was that at least Ryder didn't seem as mean as Professor Casanov. Thank god, she thought to herself quietly as Valentina went ahead and answered the first question. Glancing up to the moon she listened on as the professor asked a question. Letting her blue eyes stray to him she raised her hand before answering.

"Well there's nine phases to the moon, but four of them people don't usually know or remember. They are the waxing and waning crescent and waxing and waning gibbous." Stopping at this point Rebecca let her words stop flowing and closed her mouth. Waiting to see if she had answered correctly.

Ryder nodded in response to the girl's correct answers. He felt a bit ignorant, since he didn't know any of thier names, but he didn't care. He would learn them very soon, he presumed.

"Very good," he replied. "That's correct. Now, I want to get everyone better involved. Take out some parchment and a quill, and write me a paragraph or so about what you know about the phases of the moon. I'll give you about 10 minutes. Please begin."

Valentina thought carefully about this task, before starting to write.

Moon Phases
Firstly,the changing shape of the bright part of the Moon that we see is called its phase.
The phases of the Moon depend on its position in relation to the sun and Earth. As the Moon makes its way around the Earth, we see the bright parts of the Moon's surface at different angles. These are called "phases" of the Moon.

she bit her quill. She couldn't think about much more to say, so she reread it and looked around to see who alse had finished.