What's that magic in your charms? [Charms, 1st to 7th Year]

[airshipswank]

[ Good morning, darling seventh year students! Remember when Charms was a harmless subject with a lovable old professor and a slim to none chance of suffering emotional or physical trauma? No? Excellent.

Today each of you will find a candle sitting on the desk in front of them. Don't worry, unlike last time it will not grow teeth and attack you on sight. So sit down, get comfortable and listen to the task at hand! ]

Now, given the dreadful quality of your memory charms last week I trust that at least none of you will have any trouble recalling... the freezing charms you were taught in your third year. Today-

[ He snaps his fingers, lighting all the candles in the room at once. ]

-you will freeze the small flame in front of you.

[ He allows for a dramatic pause and for his students to wonder what place child's play like that has in a seventh year class. ]

Of course there... is a catch. Not only do I expect your actual incantation to be silent, no, I... should also like you to move your wand and lips as if you were conjuring fire. Allow me to demonstrate.

[ Professor Buckingham draws his wand (Dogwood, dragon heartstring, 15¾”, rather flexible, of course) and aims a flowing motion and a booming Incendio! at the candle on his desk, but instead of flames his wand produces a jet of ice that freezes flame, candle and holder solid.

Cue moment to let the display sink in. ]

To maintain the appearance of one charm while executing another is the very peak of focus, control and unity between you and... your wand, not to mention quite the edge in a duel.

[ It's also a rather underhanded technique and greatly frowned upon by Professor La Fère... which is all the more reason to teach it passionately and thoroughly!

Buckingham grins broadly and moves to the side of the classroom in strides. ]

That said, good luck and... do mind the eyebrows, eh?

[ For any ghosts, members of the faculty or students not presently suffering from his class Professor Buckingham will be in his office, grooming his owl. He will also be wandering the hallways often enough, especially to return a little something to a certain Ravenclaw's office. ]

Lesson Plan
First Year

[ We seem to be curiously light on students in their first year these days. If we were not then this would be where Professor Buckingham would teach the Wand-Lighting Charm while judging the new arrivals on their fashion, pet and wand choices. ]

Second Year

[ It's time to conjure up some green paint and throw it! At least if you are Professor Buckingham. Students are expected to use Aresto Momentum to stop the attack. Victory and house points go to whoever is not covered in green paint by the end of the lesson. ]

Third Year

[ Bring your pets, dearest students! Today you will learn how to turn even the most drab creature into a colourful sight of joy! ]

Fourth Year

[ Accio antidote! At the beginning of this lesson there will be a delicious treat waiting for each student. Consumption is mandatory and will result in fun changes such as enlarged ears, blue skin or beaks! But don't worry, don't worry, none of it is fatal and if you manage to accio the correct antidote with your name on it (all hidden in this room somewhere) by the end of the lesson then you won't even need to wait the rest of the day for the effects to wear off!]

Fifth Year

[ Your desk is sporting lips! Big, noisy lips that just won't stop talking! Use the Silencing Charm to make them shut up. Do take your time with it as well, that is, unless you are bothered by the fact that what those lips are saying just so happens to be a string of embarrassing little secrets, such as the name of your current crush or what you do with that bunch of Gillyweed at night. ]

Sixth Year

[ BIRDS! It's a lovely day today, so let's take that Avis! summoning outside. Your grade will not only depend on stance and elocution of the charm itself, but on the visual appeal of your flock as well, so don't even dream of conjuring up a common pigeon. ]

Comments

Third year here!

[bureaucracy_is_for_chumps]

[Now this was...strange. Avery was already a bright little creature, being a peacock and all, but now he was positively...er.]

What did I do to you? I'm so sorry, Avery.

[She looks away from the most FABULOUS of peacocks to her professor.] Just a question, Professor... does this work on people by chance? Does it wear off after awhile or do I gotta do a reverse spell?

[airshipswank]

[ Sauntering through the increasingly colourful rows of pets Buckingham pauses in front of this glorious sight, scratching the peacock's head with his finger. ]

Mhh, quite the stunning bird you have there.

[ Even before the rainbow charm, mind, and that is saying something. Ah, but where were we? ]

The charm will wear off by itself, over the course of... a day, two at the most.

[ Reversal spells exist, but some of those pets look awfully drab in their natural state, so really, Buckingham sees no need to rush. ]

Oh and, by chance it does work on hair, human hair, as well, so... do be careful with your aim, won't you?

[ ...Judging by his grin there is some debate as to whether he means 'careful not to hit anyone' or something quite the opposite. ]

[thestormcomes]

[Olivier is currently sitting at his desk in his office, grading some truly horrendous papers analyzing the differences between Cornelius Agrippa's method and the Chaldean Method.

Compare and contrast should not be that difficult. This essay was practically a freebie.

Admittedly, he found it a bit unusual that Sibilla did not deliver any messages for him at breakfast - even when there is no post, she swoops in to dip her beak in his orange juice - but she might have spent the night hunting, in which case she deserves undisturbed rest.

Olivier isn't too bothered, either way. Not when he's got three lectures to give this afternoon and a complicated theory to clarify in Advanced Arithmancy.]

[airshipswank]

[ Oh, poor, poor Olivier. He so deserves a break from his ignorant students, non? Mais of course he does! Somebody should really knock on his door and distract him for a moment.

KNOCK. KNOCK.

There. ]

Oh monsieur le professeur, could you spare a moment for me?

[Action] Seventh-years ftw

[endlessbeato]

[Beato's eyes widen in shock at Buckingham's display. This is going to be tricky, even for a Ravenclaw. But he has an excellent point, and she does love a challenge...she'll give it her best shot!

[Beato closes her eyes, concentrating on the feel of her wand in her hand, trying to focus on the connection. Her eyes snap open, and she mutters the spell.]

Incendio!

[A tiny flame comes out from the tip of her wand and she gives out a small yelp, jumping slightly in her chair. She was so sure she had it! But practice makes perfect, after all.]

[airshipswank]

No need to worry, Miss Beato, I believe our class did quite well with their fire extinguishing charms last year.

[ Ahh, but the surprise is actually a good start! At least she was not expecting to be grilled, meaning she was quite focused on that freezing charm already. Quite focused, but not quite focused enough.

Still, that first attempt shows promise and Buckingham will interrupt his rounds to linger nearby and observe the second. ]

Hell yeah Third Year!!!!

[onetruepurring]

[Nepeta takes one look at the rainbow colored bird and decides that no, she does NOT want her lovely Christopurr Columpuss rainbow.]

Purrofessor? Are there charms to make them a solid color?

[airshipswank]

Why, there... must be dozens. Hundreds. With a little variety perhaps even thousands.

[ A beat. ]

And yet none of them are on today's lesson plan.

[itsahotone]

[Charms is something Santana's pretty good at. She enjoys wand-work (wink wink) and hands-on experience (wink wink), so anything not from a book is much more interesting for her.

Therefore, on her first try of the new assignment, she only screws it up a little. So there.]

[airshipswank]

[ A little can go a long way when you are playing with fire. Fortunately Buckingham is ever so forgiving... towards his more favoured students, anyway. ]

Let's... try that again, Miss Lopez, without the fire this time, difficult... as that may be for you.

[ itsahotone for a reason, after all. ]

Seventh Year Slytherin

[akapeanut]

[George is a little intrigued by the trickery, actually. Even if she's a little offended by the implication that her memory charm was anything but flawless. Then again, she probably shouldn't be practicing on the professor himself. Kind of defeats the purpose.

In any case, she's a quick study at the freezing spell on its own. She's just having trouble keeping her mind and her mouth separate.]

Incendius. Fuck.

[She takes a deep breath and tries again. Glacius. Glacius.]

Fuuuck.

[She just kind of drops her wand on the table. This is such a pain.]

[airshipswank]

[ Oh, Miss Lass. So inelegant. And so dreadful at memory charms, why, Buckingham can't recall her managing to alter the memory of a single student. It's quite sad, really... ]

Now that is not part of the incantation, Miss Lass.

[ He tuts and watches, waiting for her to try again. ]

sixth yearrrrr

[hahahaha]

[Well, Anri's managed three or four sparrow, but right now they're just hanging out on her head and shoulders.

She's...not really sure what to do with them.]

[airshipswank]

Interesting.

[ During his round Buckingham spots the birds perched on one of his student. ]

If... somewhat inanimate for a conjured flock.

[ They really ought to soar majestically through the air, this picture of complacency is not quite what he had in mind. ]

seventh year Slytherin heck yeah

[eatsyourscience]

[Despite his being a Slytherin, Souji is not sure about the ethics of this charm.]

...Professor.

[airshipswank]

[ Slytherin and 'not sure about ethics' are not permitted to appear in the same sentence. Ten points from Slyther-- GDI. ]

Yes?

[action]

[jivitadana]

[Have another seventh-year Ravenclaw here with a canonblind-mun so please forgive any mistakes or misconceptions on how anything works. Charms is one of Minato's better subjects, but even then, this was still a challenge.

His verbal incantation though is just as silent since he never did speak up all that often. Ice briefly appeared around his wand but didn't go anywhere after that, the candle flame still flickering. Still have to work on this, or at least directing the ice to go toward something, and in the best case scenario, the flame.]

[airshipswank]

[ Oh, but he did manage the ice, which is very nearly the tricky part, although that... certainly is an interesting accident. ]

Careful with that, a damaged wand would be a... rather poor display of unity.

Action, Sixth Year Class

[thisisherson]

[Wow, what a practical spell! Kurt will clearly be using this at every wedding he plans in the future, large flocks of white doves that are far too glittery to exist in nature.]

Avis!

[And out of his wand shoots two small-ish doves that flutter about in Kurt's general vicinity. It isn't terrible for a first effort, but Kurt clearly wanted something more spectacular to happen.]

[airshipswank]

[ Professor Buckingham would expect nothing less of his students. Oh, what pride the narration feels on his behalf! ]

Hmm...

[ Allowing one of the two doves to land on his hand Buckingham examines the specimen. Not inventive or particularly daring, but certainly a classic that does not lose its style. So far, so good. ]

Try... a broader arc when you swing your wand the second time.

fifth year ravenclaw

[walkingdesuno]

[ by god Conan made that thing shut up very quickly ]

[airshipswank]

Oh?

[ Excellent progress and... very interesting. ]

Someone here was... quite eager to complete that exercise in a hurry.

Fifth year Gryffindor; eavesdroppers welcome?

[reckless_eagle]

[Feliks is usually decent at charms, but after the first few failed attempts, he's getting a little... flustered.]

I mean, honestly, what's the problem, love? So you fancy your best friend! So he's a boy! So he hasn't mentioned a thing about it since he got drunk and kissed you! What, are you worried he didn't mean it? Do you feel cheap? Worried that To--

[Blushing fiercely, he claps his hands over the lips.]

Oh, my god, shut up! Shut up right now!

[airshipswank]

[ A curious professor approaches the desk curiously, remembering with a broad grin why this exercise is one of his favourites. ]

Ahh, young love. So... heart-wrenching.

second year paint target

[learnedsomething]

[Yeah, like Kyle's going to let himself go around all green. What is he, a Slytherin? He practised the spell under the desk with a quill the second the professor explained the lesson and thinks he'll be able to get out of here clean.

So bring it.]

[airshipswank]

Mister Broflovski!

[ With that cue Buckingham brings it in an elegantly swishy arc and near grotesquely neon green colours. ]

[airplanecups]

[DICKS. he just can't stop melting things today.


...sticks hand in the air.]

[airshipswank]

[ Oh dear, here we go again. How did this boy not accidentally liquify the entire school yet? ]

Mister... Hudson? Are those preparatory gymnastics or do you have a question?

[ With some students you just have to ask. ]

7th year Hufflepuff

[bicorn]

[ Brittany may not have the best wandwork of her grade level but she's always been a surprisingly decent study at Charms. As difficult as today's assignment may be for the average student however, it seems almost tailored to her unique way of thought processing. She's rather easily able to compartmentalize the two concepts and -- for once in her life -- beat everyone else in the class, including Santana, to achieving the objective. ]

[airshipswank]

[ What fun would Charms be if it wasn't whimsical? And Professor Buckingham looks rather pleased with her achievement. ]

Hufflepuff. Ten points. Exemplary work, Miss Pierce.

6th year!

[doesntmiss]

[Clint has been practicing this for days. It helps that he's good with precision movement anyway, so Charms is right up his alley anyway. Take stance, raise wand, and-]

Avis!

[conjure up a group of six kestrels, that promptly begin circling him and gradually gain altitude, watching the other birds and wizards. Clint watches his birds in turn. Pretty good, from what he can tell.]

[airshipswank]

[ Well, well, well. Let Professor Buckingham circle this particular student. ]

I should... like to see your stance again. The same charm, movements without the incantation, if you please.

7th year Slytherin

[epiccombo]

[This shouldn't be too hard, and it's quite a bit less pointless than that ridiculous divination assignment.

Puck does the required wandwork and says the incantations, and before long, he's achieved the objective. Without singeing his eyebrows or anyone else's, for that matter.]

[airshipswank]

[ It's really quite vexing to have a student rub you the wrong way and find that not only are they in your own house, no, they are also quite decent at the subject you would love to lecture them in. ]

You're slumping your shoulders again, Mister Puck.

[ But where there's a will there's a way. ]

7th Year Hufflepuff~

[fryingpanfu]

[If there's one thing Rapunzel is good at, it's Charms, at least when it comes to wand stuff. She watches and listens carefully to her teacher.

She looks at the candle and concentrates.]

Incendio!

[Look at that, the first frozen candle of the day!]

[airshipswank]

[ Ahh, Rapunzel's hair! One of his favourite and most stunning students!

...The girl attached to it? Oh. Oh yes, she is doing rather well too. ]

Ahh, fine work.

[ A wave of his wand and three more candles appear on her desk. ]

Care to try again, Miss Rapunzel?

[action] seventh year (gryffindor)

[klutzer]

[ This one isn't particularly hard. Sure, it's tricky, and Bartz can't say he's outstanding at Charms class (possibly a little above average, either Good or Excellent, because it's pretty interesting compared to some other classes), but that's where his mimicking skills come in handy. Thankfully, today he's pretty much in the mood to pay attention (instead of annoying his classmates or something along that line), and miraculously, he didn't miss anything in Buckingham's demonstration.

The result is a perfectly freezed flame. ]

Oh, yeah! I did it!

[airshipswank]

[ The break from that particular students usual display does not go unnoticed. ]

Having... a lucky day, are we?

[ He is half joking. Probably. ]

7th year gryffindor

[itsalluseless]

Is this even a part of the curriculum? I mean, this seems way too hard, even for seventh year.

[Objecting to the subject to try and distract from the fact that you are absolutely terrible even at far simpler spells than this? Hells yeah.]

[airshipswank]

[ You tried, Battler. You tried. ]

Quite right you are, but imagine how much more... impressive that will make your success.

[ A success which your teacher is now waiting for. Go on, a demonstration, if you please! ]

[Action] 2nd year gryffindor, here!

[immortalhoodie]

[Caught off guard and relying on his Muggle reflexes, Kenny ducks instead of doing the incantation, causing some other bloke to get covered in paint instead. Woops.]

Uh...sorry. I'm still getting used to Wizarding things.

[The grin on his face says otherwise, however.]

[airshipswank]

[ Buckingham tuts, but the accidental victim of his paint attack was not a student whose well-being he feels particularly invested in, so any form of reprimand is clearly not as sincere and staggering as it ought to be. ]

You're well into your second year, Mister McCormick, I... urge you to invest some time into a more creative excuse.