Apparition: Lesson Three

[Irene Finch]

Before the end of the lesson, Irene Finch hoped that all of the students would succeed in apparating to their target. She knew that wouldn't be the case, but the pressure was on for the students. This was the last practice after all. Several of the students had managed to apparate during the last lesson, but that didn't always translate to success at the exam.

Addressing the small group of sixth years, Irene walked as she spoke. "Today, we will resume practicing" she began, her icy blue eyes staring at each of the students in turn as she spoke. "I am hopeful that those of you who weren't able to apparate last month will do so today. The next time we meet will be your exam and you will only get one opportunity to succeed or fail. Your test will require you to be accurate when you apparate." She let that sink in before continuing on.

"Line up beside me please." It didn't take them long to queue up. "Alright...I'd like you all to attempt apparating from this end of the Great Hall to that end" she said, pointing towards the doors of the Great Hall. "The red X marks the spot" she added, knowing that they had probably noticed an X etched onto the floor with magic as they walked in. Glancing at all the students beside her, she hoped there would be no splinchings today, though she had asked for one of the school nurses to join them once again. "You can begin whenever you're ready" she said to the student who was first in line. "As soon as you feel comfortable, you may leave. But, please do remember that this is your final opportunity to practice before your exam." They were adults by wizarding standards or close enough anyway, so she wasn't going to force any of them to stay. It was in their best interests to take advantage of the time provided to them though.
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Practice attempting to apparate one by one. Practice as many times as you'd like. Please warn me via PM if you plan on splinching.

 

[Kauri Morales-Tipene]

Kauri was still walking on air with happiness about the last apparition lesson. He had learned to teleport! Though he was mostly getting used to life being filled with magic, some things still made Kauri feel the same sense of wonder he had felt waving a wand for the first time, his first real experience with magic. It felt amazing to be part of this world that so many people would never even dream existed, and Kauri felt acutely aware of that luck any time he was presented with anything so magical.

Though he found the lady from the ministry a bit intimidating, Kauri was eager to get in there and practice more today, and he lined up quickly with the rest of the class when instructed. Having further to apparate this time was more intimidating, and Kauri was a bit nervous, not having been able to practice since their last lesson, but when it was his turn to go he tried to find that focus again, and it didn't take long before he felt the familiar sensation. Opening his eyes, Kauri grinned as he looked down and saw that he had apparated into the exact centre of the X. Pleased with himself, Kauri rejoined the line and spent the entire lesson practicing, wanting to get in as much as possible before the exam.

 

[Caro Taylor]

This semester seemed to be dragging on forever, and for the first time in her life, Caro was antsy for exams. An apparition license had been her number one goal at Hogwarts for as long as she could remember, and it was finally in her grasp. With mere weeks until she would be free to spend the holidays going where she pleased, when she pleased, and doing whatever magic she pleased, Caro felt like these last few days trapped at Hogwarts had slowed to an agonising crawl.

Their final apparition lesson had finally arrived though, and Caro dashed into the Great Hall with the rest of her classmates, eager for the lesson to begin. She was going to nail this, without question, and then nail the exam, and then finally be in charge of her own life. A reckless part of Caro had almost considered dropping out before seventh year... she could travel herself, she could use magic herself, why would she stay here a whole nother year? But Caro knew her parents would never forgive her for dropping out, and she would have felt guilty leaving Sophie to replace her. So Caro was going to stick it out, but the apparition license was essential, no question about it. She joined the rest of her classmates in the Great Hall and lined up when instructed, eager to get started. Determination was one of the most important components of apparition and Caro had that in spades, focusing intently on the target when her turn came. It only took moments before she apparated in a blink, though she found herself a little further off to the side than she would have liked. Caro rejoined the line and practiced for the rest of the lesson, gradually getting more and more accurate as she tried over and over again. By the end of the lesson Caro wasn't ready to leave, but she did feel more confident than ever that she was going to demolish this exam when it came.

 

[Norton Gillespie]

Norton was smiling easily as he headed back into the dorm room, he had spent a little time outside, getting himself a little practice in and getting himself ready for the day. The teen had been enjoying that most of the quidditch semester was over, it meant he could focus on a few other things which were of great importance to him. Like April, his exams, the stars. The teen was getting himself together for the day while also vaguely tidying his dorm, he’d been thinking while studying about the winter break and how much he thought about April meeting his family, or well, what was left of it, maybe even taking her with him to his mother’s grave. He knew he would definitely need to talk to her about it but he didn’t think that as they grew closer he didn’t talk about it, that it might get closer to omitting the truth and he always wanted to be honest with April but he was acutely aware that the heaviness it might bring talking about wouldn’t be fun for either of them. For now however he just packed up all of the things he would need for the day ahead of him and headed out of the dorm room and to the classroom he would need.​

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Norton was pretty eager to get another attempt at apparating, he had managed it once in the last class and he hoped that he would be able to do it again. The teen stood with the rest of the class in the great hall, noting the way that the great hall was empty of its usual tables and chairs. The teen noted the red x mark at the bottom of the hall and could figure out what it was there for. The boy looked up at the teacher as she began speaking telling them what they were to be doing. The teen nodded along and then watched as the first few students began doing what they were supposed to. He didn’t think it was that bad, but it was in front of everyone else, so it was a little worse but he was ready for it. He stepped up to the starting position when it was finally his turn and then looked towards the X at the other side of the room. He focused, remembering all the things the professor had taught them and then let himself be pulled to it. Apparating across with a little crack. He took stock, but with no pain and no apparently missing body parts he could assume that he had managed it just fine. He tried it a few more times before the lesson was drawn to a close and Norton left the great hall.​

 

[Marcos Morales]

Marcos was surprised by how fast this year was flying by. He was having to keep track of how everything was going just so that he knew what would be happening in every day. Since lowering the amount of classes he did overall and having a little more time to himself had helped manage his time better, the busy week prior had been enough to put him a little off kilter and have to work twice as hard to put himself back properly. He needed to just focus and work and not think about anything else. He just needed to focus on each day as it came and by the end of the week he’d back to his routine and managing just fine. It would be better if he wasn’t still focused on doing well exam wise, absolutely needing to work hard in his classes to achieve better than passing grades so he wasn’t the one of the family with bad grades. He knew it would also be important to have a wider plan if quidditch didn’t work out or for the future when he left the sport. With that thought in his head he put down the school book he had been reading and began just getting himself together for the day. Making sure to have all of his quidditch gear with him. With that he headed out of the room.​

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Marcos stood with the rest of the year group as he waited for the lesson to get started, his gaze shifted to the front of the hall where the professor was stood. He was looking forward to being able to give apparition another go. He couldn’t wait to give it another go and be another step closer to being able to finally having the licence to apparate. The doors it would open to him when he became of age. He listened along as the professor gave an explanation to it and then let them get to it. As eager and excited as he was to get started, the boy didn’t want to be first to end up doing it. So, he waited holding back as a few others went before him and then stepped forward. He took the time to orientate himself. Figure out where the location he needed to apparate to was, the location he was in. He took a deep breath, centering himself and thinking over the important D’s that they were to learn. He leaned lightly into the feeling and then apparated across. He was pretty pleased with himself. He didn’t feel anything immediately wrong and from that could gather that nothing was likely wrong. He waited until everyone had gone before trying it again a few times and then finally left the hall when the lesson was at an end.​

 

[Viktor Styx]

Viktor Styx walked into the great hall to see that the sixth years were there for the final lesson before the exam. This would be the last one where they could practice before passing, or failing, the exam. Viktor was determined to pass it so that he could go where he wanted, and do what he wanted. Apparating did not come easy, and he was going to practice as much as he could until he was confident in his abilities. Well, more so than he already was. Viktor went to the opposite end of where the X was. He sighed as he observed as the others practiced. He decided to bide his time for now. He wanted to gain his energy. Viktor finally delayed it enough. He was not going to fail. He would not allow himself to fail. Viktor thought over the three D's and started to practice. He focused and managed to apparate from one end of the Great Hall, to the X. He did not place his destination perfectly, but that was meant to. He walked over to the beginning once more. Viktor practiced for a while more, apparating successfully three times before he was comfortable for the time being. He left the great hall, looking forward to his exam.

 

[Phoebe Holland]

Phoebe's mind wasn't on the exams as much as it should be, as she knew her baby sibling could be born any moment. She hadn't had much interest in the baby during her mother's pregnancy, but now that it was nearly here, her curiosity had gone up. It would be strange to have another sibling, especially one so far apart in age from all the others. But maybe it would be nice in a way too. Phoebe was now old enough to teach a little brother or sister a lot of cool things. And that was something fun to look forward to.

The girl made her way to the great hall for the final apparition lesson of the year. She was feeling pretty confident, because she had managed to apparate into the hoop last week. The girl smiled at the teacher as she spoke to them, even if she didn't seem very cheery herself. She was clearly trying to intimidate them, and on some of the students it seemed to be working. Phoebe was mostly excited. She lined up when the professor told them to, then told them to attempt apparating from one end of the great hall to the next. There was a red X to mark the spot. Phoebe was excited for the challenge, and glad to hear they got to begin. She waited until her turn to try, and when it was time she focused all her attention on the red X at the other end of the hall. Phoebe managed to apparate over there, and was pleased to see she had landed on the X perfectly. She grinned, then left the great hall when the lesson was over. She was confident in her abilities.

 

[Sophie Wilson]

Sophie was feeling a little bit stressed about the Hogwarts Monthly deadline that was coming up. Her team seemed to be busier than normal, and she had a sinking feeling that she would be covering for a few people this issue. It wasn't bad, but she also had exams to worry about. She cared more about the paper than her grades, but she knew her parents wouldn't feel the same way. Sophie was working hard and didn't have much time for a social life lately, not that she'd ever really had a big social life. Caro was really her only good friend left, and she knew her crush on Gabriel was absolutely hopeless. It was best not to focus on that and wait for it to pass.

Sophie headed over to the great hall for the final apparition of the year. She was feeling a bit nervous about it all, even though she had managed to apparate in the previous lesson. This was partly because she had left a few hairs behind last time, and partly because she hated that she didn't get a chance to practice between lessons. What sort of system was it where they only got to practice for this on two separate attempts and then had to do an exam and do it for the rest of their lives? Amber had assured her it wasn't too hard, but everything seemed to come easily to Amber. Sophie wasn't so sure. She lined up with her classmates when the Ministry lady told them to, and watched as her classmates apparated over to the other end fo the great hall, most of them seemed to be able to do it quite well, and when it was Sophie's turn she knew she had to do well too. She tried to do what she had done last time, and after a few tense moments, she managed to apparate to the other end of the room. She didn't land on the 'X' perfectly, but a few more attempts fixed that. She felt more confident about it all when she left the great hall. Maybe she would pass the exam after all.

 

[April Ward]

April hadThe stress of the last few weeks was finally starting to get to April, but what was worse was that the fact that October was leaving soon was finally sinking in. Somehow, she'd never really imagined what it would be like to return to Hogwarts next year without her older sister. It would be so strange, and April was sad about it. She remembered how they hadn't gotten along at first, and it seemed wasteful to her now. They had wasted a few years simply bickering about nothing, though even now she thought that had mostly been on October and not on her. But even worse than all of that was that April was starting her final year soon. How had that happened? She couldn't imagine graduating yet, and it was only a year and a few weeks away. Time seemed to go a lot faster these days, and it was frustrating.

April headed over to the great hall for apparition. She was annoyed at this class, and had seriously considered pretending to be sick to skip it. But as this was her only chance to try to apparate before the exam, that had seemed very unwise. She sighed when the teacher kept up her whole mean thing, where she was always staring at students without smiling and seemed to try to make them a bit scared. April felt like she would do better at this class if the lady wasn't doing that. Though a distant part of her that sounded a bit like October recognized she was blaming her own lack of success on someone else. She was impatient to try, and when she did, she tried her best to combat her nerves. She HAD to do it now. She just had to. If she didn't manage to apparate now, she would never pass the exam. It took April a while, especially with the stress of that thought bugging her, but eventually she did it. She was only halfway across the room, nowhere near the X, but she had done it! She whooped and then tried again and again, until she was nearly in the right spit. When the time was over, she was glad that she had managed to do it.