Apparition Lesson Two

[Cecily Rambolt]

*posted for Irene Finch

Lesson 2

Irene waited at the front for the students to arrive, less nervous than she had been last week. She had placed big hoops around the floor of their room prior to their arrival. As soon as the last student arrived, she stood, wanting them to get started and get as much practice as they could. “Ok. Today, you’ll be practicing using these hoops. Remember the three D’s: Destination, Determination and Deliberation” Irene stated easily, “And don’t get frustrated if you can’t do it right away. It will take time. So, get started and I’ll be walking around in case of anything.”

RP practicing Apparition

 

[Estrella Drage]

It took all of Estrella's will not to nibble on her fingernails as she reluctantly swept into the Great Hall. Her stomach churned as if some invisible hand had reached through her skin and couldn't decide how exactly to arrange her insides. Although it was less than conventional, she felt as if she were going to throw up. Bile coated the back of her throat. What was worse, she had tied back her hair too tightly. Her scalp burned in retaliation, not helping to soothe her nerves one bit.

In the long stretch of time she had attended Hogwarts New Zealand, Estrella had never been so jittery and anxious about a lesson in her life. An Arithmancy exam or eating a box of Blast Ended Skrewts were both agreeable compared to this. She had never imagined that the aspect of Apparating would be so frightening for her. Heck, just a few months ago she had been excited about it. Apparition was supposed to allow her freedom that she had never gotten to taste before. Turning seventeen was just the tip of the iceberg- and she had only been given a taste of meeting that landmark age.

Now, Apparition seemed less like a freedom and more like a disgusting piece of obligation to throw onto her plate of worries. She swallowed painfully as the rest of her peers entered the room. She couldn't tell how they felt about this- but she was sure that they all felt more confident than she did. The Ravenclaw commenced to stare at the floor as she waited for the lesson to begin. The sooner that she could crawl back to her bed and wallow in her self pity, the better.

Ms. Finch's words fell on Estrella's ears in a long drone- she felt as if she were going to throw up every one of her organs just thinking about Apparating. She knew her three D's- but whether she actually knew how to apply them as a completely different story.

Estrella trained her eyes on a hoop that was placed closest to her. She drew a deep breath in, letting it fill her lungs before pushing it back out. Concentration was a concept that was completely lost to her. Sure, she had her destination in mind- but deliberation and determination were out of her reach. Clenching her fists, she squeezed her eyes shut. She thought about the circle- and wasn't surprised to see that she hadn't moved a millimeter from the spot she had started out at.

Despite Ms. Finch's reassurances, Estrella was brimming with frustration. She had always strove for perfection in all of her classes. While she had not always attained it, the Ravenclaw had kept pretty high standards for herself. Apparition seemed to mock her- it was something she could not master right away, and she hated it because of this very reason.

Her brown eyes darting about the hall in desperation, she felt that she needed to at least do something today. After fruitless after fruitless attempt, she started to feel a little tug pulling her in the direction of the hoop. Her confidence rose just a little- and satisfied that she might be able to accomplish something, Estrella pushed herself to her destination.

She was delighted when she found herself a few feet ahead of where she had started. Not exactly her intended destination, but it was something. A burst of excitement coursed through her, and she took a step back. She knew that she could do this, she just had to. Estrella didn't want to make herself look like an imbecile in front of her peers.

The second time around, things didn't go as planned. Her head had swelled too much for her to truly focus on the last aspect, deliberation, and she suffered for it. The Ravenclaw ended up in her hoop, which was a plus. However, the terrible pain in her hand was not. She looked down to see that her right thumbnail was missing.

Tears welled in Estrella's eyes, and the normally proud Ravenclaw was reduced to cinders as she bit forcefully on her lip to keep from screaming. She left the Great Hall in a rush of embarrassment. Her only destination in mind now was the Hospital Wing.

 

[Professor Cyndi Kingsley]

As Cyndi walked toward the Great Hall for the next apparition lesson, she tried to figure out why she was so apprehensive. She had always been in awe of her father whenever he apparated, and she couldn't wait until she was able to do it. Now, she was getting the chance to do so, and it was taking every bit of her to not turn around and head back to her room. With a deep sigh, Cyndi entered the Great Hall.

The floor of the Great Hall was full of big round hoops. Cyndi tried to smile at Estrella, who was already inside, but she didn't think she succeeded. She wasn't even sure that Estrella even saw it anyway as she seemed lost in her own thoughts.

Cyndi grew more and more apprehensive as the time of the lesson approached. She tried to calm her breathing but was having trouble doing so. Finally, her cousin, Irene began the lesson. She reminded all of them of the three d's, but Cyndi wasn't really paying attention. She jolted to attention though as they were instructed to begin. "Huh?" Cyndi said in a startled voice as everyone began.

She looked at the hoop in front of her, which she was supposed to be able to apparate into. Here goes nothing, Cyndi thought to herself as she thought about the three d's. Destination... Determination...and what's that last one. Oh yeah,Deliberation, Cyndi thought as she got ready. "Here goes nothing" she mumbled as she tried to picture herself moving into the hoop. Cyndi closed her eyes so she could visualize but she didn't feel anything happening to her. Opening one eye, Cyndi peeked at her fellow classmates to see if any of them were having more success than she was. I guess I'll just travel by broom for the rest of my life...that's not such a bad thing, Cyndi thought to herself as she tried to make herself feel better.

I think I need a different tactic, Cyndi thought as she continued to not succeed at apparating. Cyndi cleared her mind, and then attempted to see herself going into the hoop again. Finally, toward the end of the lesson, Cyndi felt a slight tingle as she tried to think about getting herself into the hoop. But, before anything could happen, the lesson had ended. Cyndi's hope was slightly renewed that she wasn't a lost cause at this, and she figured that next week with more practice she might actually do it.

 

[Jaken Styx]

Jaken found himself rather nervous about apparating. Although, he couldn’t contain the excitement he had either. He got up early that morning and showered. But, that took longer than usual. He towel dried his hair and got dressed in his Slytherin robes. Lesson two, and then a few more. Then, it would be freedom to apparate whenever he pleased. That is, once he is out of school.

He entered the Great Hall, seeing his classmates. He forced himself to look relaxed and collected. However, he could not convince himself that he was as calm as he looked. His stomach was swirling with apprehension. He swallowed hard and his mouth went dry. He tugged out a water bottle from his robes and took a sip before the lesson began.

The sixth year bit his lip when the instructor began to speak. He hurried and closed the lid, setting the water beside him on the floor. His gaze went to the hoops on the floor. Naturally, his face twisted with mystification. Irene then explained it enough to where he understood what was going to happen. Grinning crookedly, he let out an edgy sigh. He was ready, wasn’t he?

Jaken repeated the three D’s in his mind. Destination. Determination. Deliberation. He stared at the hoop. Well, there was his destination. He rolled his eyes to himself. Now, determination. Jaken found himself not really wanting to apparate to a hoop. It seemed silly. However, it was just for practice. Just for that, he felt more confident, and before he knew it, he had the second D.

The last D seemed rather difficult. Inhaling deeply, he closed his eyes. He pictured himself moving to that spot. It came naturally. He pushed himself to that spot. Opening his eyes, he found himself short of the hoop. Just the tips of his boots were touching the hoop. Well, he managed to move a few feet. Jaken turned and went back to the spot of which he started.

He began the process all over again. The first two D’s came easy to him. Just the third was getting to him. He pushed himself again. During the time, he had his eyes closed. Apparating took all his strength from him. Breathing heavily, he glanced down to find himself in the circle. Something felt wrong though. He absentmindedly felt his head. His hair felt slightly different. Shorter.

Jaken shook his head, and a few strands fell. “So much for not splinching. Eh, I needed a hair trim anyway.” He was whispering this. He left the Great Hall and went to his dorm to check out his hair, to see how much exactly went missing. Raising an eyebrow, he noticed that it was simply thinner and slightly shorter. Nothing bad. He smiled to himself, and couldn’t wait for the next lesson.

 

[Bruin Dumbledez]

Bruin entered the Great Hall for the second week of Apparition lessons feeling less than confident. He had a bigger than average body to work with in the first place and had shown virtually no natural ability to move it from one area to another by any method other than walking. The only thing he recalled from the first week was the Three D's, although Destination, Determination and Deliberation or whatever weren't working much for him.

When instructed to, Bruin moved into position and then began to try and envisioning himself moving to the hoop in front of him. He closed his eyes and tried to focus on the hoop and then add in the element of moving towards with a determined mind. Nothing!

Bruin tried to talk himself through the process, having mastered most other magical challenges placed in front of him up until this point. Alright, my destination is that hoop...I am determined to get there...and I will move with deliberation! Bruin turned a little and imagined moving forward, but only managed to throw himself off balance, step on the hoop and stumble into a table.

Bruin had moved beyond the three D's to a fourth and fifth, Done for the Day. He'd try again next week.