N.E.W.T.'s Lesson one

[DONOVAN THOMAS RHODES]

N.E.W.T.'s Lesson One

Donovan was glad that these classes had started up again, but he knew one student was looking forward to this class. Always the most eccentric one to join in a conversation and the first one to answer his many questions within the class. Sure, he had been here since the few years after he had graduated and traveled the world. Maybe there was someone just as studious as she was, but the only other student that had ever showed particular interest was that Seizel Capper fellow from Ravenclaw. Acing all the tests with O's, and obviously one of the smartest Ravenclaw's from the male side he had seen in a while. Brushing back some of his shaggy dark-brown hair, and let his dark brown eyes stare at the board with the words he had put up on it. Those big bold letters, read exactly what he was going to teach them, and how to apply them to the ancient texts he had found while traveling the world.

Donovan would surely have those few that would want to hear about his endeavours and adventures as well. Perhaps, this time he would have an assignment to make them right an essay about the many different areas where they think runes are located, besides just in Egypt. Yes, discussion on the many other ancient civilizations using runes as well, but he wasn't about to reveal anything at the same time. Tapping his fingers against the desk already and then turned around to vie many eager young students wanting to learn. Many of these eager young students would find out how to decipher the many ancient texts on those pyramids in Egypt in the long run.

Wearing the usual, his hat was on the desk, and his many texts with their runes on them he had found throughout his many travels in the three years he had been going around the world to acquire them. Many of the students would see the same runes they saw in their fifth year. Except there was a whole scripture written on the board with the many different runes. Tapping his fingers against the mahogany desk once again, and now was starting to just smile at those who entered before he started. If anyone was late, he would have to dock points, but he was going to ask questions and assign points to whoever got them right first. Hence the point of lessons too.

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[AUBREY LYNN MCNEAL]

Bouncy, bouncy, fun, fun, fun, the wonderful thing about Aubrey is I’m the only one! Just kidding Aubrey would never really think that, but Aubrey was bouncing along the way to her Ancient Runes class; after all, it is her favorite class! She had one of the biggest smiles on her face, all excited for her lesson, she was prepared all right. Even though the course only required a couple of books, she had several stuffed in her back pack. She was serious about this class, as well as Arithmancy. She needed both of those classes to have her dream job.

The young blonde was whistling merrily to some random tune that happened to be in her head as she walked down the fourth floor corridor. She had actually gotten up quite early that morning as she always did on the days she had Ancient Runes and that was because of the fact that she was excited for the class! It didn’t take her long to get to the classroom either and she immediately entered the class room, grinning from ear to ear. “Good Morning Professor Rhodes~!” she called out to Professor Rhodes even though his back was turned to her. She had immediately taken one of the front row seats and pulled out her books, quill and parchment. “So what do you have planned for us this year? Are we going to learn more runes then we normally do?” she was her usual cheery self like she always was around Professor Rhodes. She couldn’t help it, he was her favorite teacher after all and there’s the fact that he teaches her favorite class!

[rose]

Rose usually was up early in the mornings but the morning of Ancient Runes she tended to be up much earlier than normal. Perhaps because it was one of the most interesting classes she took, although they usually all weren't all that terribly boring. So she was up eagerly and was gathering her ancient runes text and a few extra books into her schoolbag. You never knew when you would need an extra book and Rose liked to be prepared. It was only after she had made sure she had all the materials she needed before she even worried about getting dressed. Getting the materials always took longer for her than dressing. And with a uniform anyone who made dressing hard was way into fashion and needed something else to concentrate on. Pulling on her black and red skirt and white top, she completed her outfit with her Gryffindor robes and a tie. And though she wasn't prefect she made sure her quidditch captain badge was pinned to the front. She was really proud of her position.

Finally shouldering her bag she left the Gryffindor tower and after a quick breakfast she was on her way to the ancient runes classroom. The ancient runes professor was easily one of her favorites, and if she were asked she wouldn't mind saying he was one of the better looking professors. But no one asked and she was just as happy not to say. In no time Rose arrived and the only two people present were the professor and Aubrey. She had forgotten that Aubrey took ancient runes as well. For Rose it was a required course if she wanted to work in the department of mysteries, after all you never knew what one would come across in that department. Rose took one of the front seats near Aubrey. "Morning Professor, morning Aubrey! Rose really hoped they learned a bunch of new runes, she couldn't wait!

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[shailene]

Shailene had been awake for about an hour, she was one of the first to wake up in her dorm. She was in the middle of packing her bag for her classes today. First on her schedule was Ancient Runes a class to particularly enjoyed. It was quite different from most of the other classes she had, and boy did Shailene have a good amount of classes. Ancient Runes was one of the few classes that didn't really deal with magic itself, it was a class she was sure anyone in the world could take, muggles and wizards alike could share in the knowledge of ancient runes. Dressed in her Hufflepuff robe, she stood up from her bed, packed away the ancient runes book she had been reading, and slung her polka dotted back over her shoulder. Adjusting the strap, Shailene left the Hufflepuff common room and made her way up toward the fourth sixth floor, stopping in the Great Hall to grab a bit of toast to ease her hunger pains.

Shailene was excited to learn new things this year, as she was every year, but she loved that with each year the work was becoming more challenging. In her fifth year they learned what some runes meant, but hopefully now they would at least be reading some sentences in the ancient text or perhaps paragraphs. Shailene felt ready for such a challenge. Entering the classroom she noticed she was third to arrive, excluding the professor. "Good morning Professor Rhodes." She said with a smile. She always found the professor rather handsome but she was use to him, rather than their new muggle studies professor who she embarrassed herself in front of.

Shailene took one of the last seats in the front row, seating herself near two Gryffindors that she knew but wasn't fairly close with. "Hello Aubrey and Rose." She said sending them both a smile.

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[DONOVAN THOMAS RHODES]

Finally, students were actually arriving and the desolated classroom wasn't so bad anymore, at least now he could stand looking at it. Even with all the empty seats still waiting to be occupied, deciding to just give in to a little bit of conversation with the few students that had arrived. Sure, there was some tension between some of them, but Donovan was rather strict about his job. Some students had even tried asking him out, but to save them from embarrassment, he usually waited until after class to have a word with them. It was the best time to stop them from ogling him as he knew for a fact they were well too young for his tastes. Sure, one of the teachers in the school was young and was interested in him, that was different.

After all, adults could date other adults and it wasn't odd for a forty-three year old these days to date a thirty-two year old or even twenty-five. Twenty was just pushing it, however, he wasn't about to let his guard down even for these students. Donovan got lost in thought as he then finally shook his head, soon looking back towards them as he saw Aubrey bounding in. Of course he was thinking she was pretty happy for just getting here. Always a little too enthusiastic as he knew she'd have the answer to almost every question he had. Usually hesitant about choosing her at times, but he figured it was fair since after all if they answered the questions right, they did deserve the points.

Two Gryffindor's and one Hufflepuff, was that really it? Donovan would seriously have to start docking house points if people didn't actually show up to these classes. Finally responding to his students, "Well, today we're going to be learning about greek runes and how to decipher many phrases, along with the regular ones added along with them. So this is going to be a tough year, hopefully you're up to the challenge, of course I'll be talking about my adventures too," he said, smiling warmly as his deep voice resounded throughout the classroom.

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[blythe]

Again. Another class. Given the choice she wouldn’t attend at all and just lay in her best sleeping the entire day away. Or do something a little more productive than sit through classes she really didn’t care about. Very few classes were interesting enough to hold her attention for more than five minutes; she just really didn’t like the way most teachers broke things down so much it was as if they were talking to young children when in reality, they were young adults. Mostly she just went to class because she had to, and she really didn’t want people who had power over her angry at her, especially teachers.

Unexcitedly, picking at her nails and taking her sweet old time, Blythe slowly made her way through the halls and over to Ancient Runes, one of the most lacklustre classes she had. At least in Potions or something there was the chance that someone would screw up and gives some entertainment, all they did in Ancient Runes was sit there and listen to their professor. Albeit their hot professor, who was a bit too old for Blythe’s taste, but she enjoyed looking anyway. What else was she supposed to do? Actually listen? That was a laugh. She’d just talk her way out of the assignment or get someone to ‘help’ her do it. Maybe if she was bored she’d pick up her Runes text book and take a stab at it, but that was unlikely.

The minute she walked into the room she felt like groaning. She was going to be stuck in here with two Gryffindors and an annoying little Hufflepuff. Slinking in quietly, she took a seat in the very back corner, neglecting the fact that the class was basically empty and she could be seen easily. Her nose upturned disgustedly as she took in the lack of students; where the bloody hell were they all? If she could give her precious time in this dreadful place, their lowly lives could do it too. If they didn’t have to show up, then why should she?

[shailene]

The last ring of the bell could be heard echoing through the corridors announcing that all students were late and class was about to begin. Shailene straightened up a bit in a her as she adjusted the items on her desk. The ancient runes textbook sat in the center of her desk, taking priority over most of the other objects. A piece of parchment was the main focus which was laid on top of the unopened book. It was likely that she would be jotting down a lot of notes as well as reading from the book itself and transferring some information into her notes from the book as well. Her ink bottle, which was fairly full, was positioned in the right hand corner of her desk to coincide with the fact that she wrote with her right hand. It just made for easier access. As the bell came to a silence Shailene picked up her quill ready to write.

Professor Rhodes began to speak capturing the attention of the three students that had bother to attend class this morning. He informed the class that they would be studying Greek Runes, which she promptly titled her blank piece of parchment. Shailene was ready for the difficult task at hand as well as the Professor's travel stories. "Where did you travel to this summer?" Shailene asked as she placed her quill into the ink bottle to rest. It was widely known that every summer Professor Rhodes went traveling to discover more runes to teach the following year.

There was a rustling in the back of the class which caused Shailene to looked behind her as a Slytherin strolled into class, late. Shailene gave the girl a small smile before turning around to pay attention.

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[DONOVAN THOMAS RHODES]

Donovan was looking at all of his students, and some weren't present, tch, well guess he'd have to dock them for not showing up. It didn't matter since he knew that his class was supposed to be one of the toughest out there next to Arithmancy. What surprised him more, was that his star pupil wasn't piping up more than usual, and especially since she loved his class. Amusing as that may be, he soon settled on the rest of them as he heard Shailene ask about his travels. Getting there was the tough part as he had to make sure there weren't going to be any more late-comers that thought they could just waltz right in without a deduction to their points. Finally he just sighed softly hoping that the rest of the students would at least make another appearance before he chose to actually consider taking this job.

Oh well, it really wasn't a favorite subject among money but he had to take into consideration that his pupils, few as they were, tended to be just as eager to learn, or to watch him, he really didn't know. Finally opening a book on the table and then pointed towards the label on the front that read GREEK RUNES. Soon set the book back down as he picked up a copy of each of the books to hand to his students. As soon as he had done this, he soon turned back to his class, regarding Shailene, along with Blythe with remote interest. "Well, glad you asked about my travels Ms. Wood, cause I was indeed about to tell you why we're studing Greek Runes. I happened to visiting Greece along with Egypt this year, and I must say that Egypt runes aren't quite what you would expect. Of course, visiting all the tombs was fun, but Greece had it's own inspiring quality to it. I understood all of the runes mind you, considering that's what I'm an expert in obviously," he paused to laugh at that.

Of course he was too smart for his own good at times, but he hoped his dry sense of humor would wear off on these kids. "Greece is rather magnificent during the summer this time of year, but alas it was short-lived, now I'm back here. Of course I'm going to teach you all about the greek runes and maybe some Egyptian Heiroglyphs if we get that far, the muggle world is very interesting. I did find a strange set of ancient runes within the Heirgoglyphs though, something that is close to resembling them in a more advanced language, but either way we're going to focus mainly on the greek ones," he stated rather matter-of-factly.

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