Class Sign-Ups (1961-1962)

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Transfiguration

Transfiguration sounded like an interesting subject to take, possibly even useful considering the many things that have seemed to happen of late in the castle. Lionel stopped outside the Transfiguration classroom looking for a sign-up sheet to be lying about as the other classes had seemed to have, but none could be found. Frowning for a moment, Lionel wondered if the professor had forgotten to post one on the door. Perhaps Professor Renard was inside the classroom, and if so, he could ask her about the sign ups. He knocked softly on the door and listened. No response of "come in" or any of the usual greetings followed. Lionel paused for a moment and wondered if he should open the door anyway. He leaned slightly against the door and rested his ear on its grained surface. What was that he was hearing? Was it music? It sounded faintly like the harmonica player on the streets of Paris. Curious, Lionel opened the door to take a peek inside.

The sight that greeted him left him astounded. He was no longer in Hogwarts, neither was he even in England, he was home. Lionel blinked in amazement as he stepped out of the corridor and into the Parisan streets. The smell of fresh croissants wafted to his nostrils as he proceeded down the street to inspect the sights and sounds he had grown to know so well, almost causing his stomach to growl in response to the savoury aroma that teased his senses. Just beside him to his right appeared a stand that resembled the assorted tables and such the other professors had provided for the class sign-ups. Lionel decided to leave the reminscing for now and fulfill the original purpose he had came here for. He approached the stand, and was greeted by a beautiful belle.

"Bonjour. Are you here for ze sign-ups? Mademoiselle Renard has left this for you."

Her voice drifted to him almost melodiously, as if in tandum with the harmonica music that floated down the streets.

"Oui, merci boucoup mademoiselle." He replied. "Are you the professor's assistant? It is most certainly a pleasure to meet you." He flashed his old charming French boy smile - his confidence returning to what it had been back in France. The atmosphere had most certainly put him at ease. He could now behave as he had been accustomed to without worrying if his conduct seemed out of place. This was France; this was home. - or so the young lion thought.

"Pardon me for a moment mademoiselle, I won't be long in filling this up." Lionel excused himself with another smile as he bent over to add his name onto the already existing list.

Name: Lionel Bryant Lefevre
House: Gryffindor
Transfiguration level: 5
How well do you speak French? Fluently - it is my native tongue.

With that settled, Lionel diverted his attention back to the fair maiden that was situated behind the stand. Reaching over the stall to plant a kiss on the teenage girl's hand in greeting, Lionel resumed his little dialogue with the charming lady.

"Je m'apelle Lionel Lefevre - vous vous s'apelle comment?" Lionel queried. He was in no hurry to leave the classroom just yet, not while he could bask in the air of Paris - at least for a little while before he returned to the reality of Hogwarts.

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Conjuring/Summoning

Lionel had been deliberating in the commons all morning on what classes he would sign up for and had decided at the last moment to take a stroll through the corridors outside the classrooms in hope of better inspiration to govern his decisions. He had come to a pause outside the conjuring/summoning classroom when he noticed the last name of the professor who was to teach this class. Vasilijev, wasn't that the same surname as the man who had been introduced as his house head? How coincidental, perhaps this was a relative of his househead, or his wife. Either way, that was reason enough for the Beauxbatans transfer to give this class a try. Pulling a quill out of his pocket, he began to write:

Name: Lionel Bryant Lefevre
Year: 5th
House: Gryffindor
C/S Magic Level: 5
What do you wish to attain from this class? Is there anything specific you are wishing to learn?:

Lionel paused for a moment on the last question, wondering what he should pen in the column of the last question. After some thought he hastened a scribble:

To be able to better understand the subject and have a greater command in it. I am willing to learn anything you are not hesitant to teach me.

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Social Magic

Lionel had just been about looking for interesting classes to sign up for when a sign on the classroom door he was approaching caught his eye:

Social magic? Lionel thought What is that?

His eyes glanced at the sign up sheet that had been placed neatly to the point of graceful perfection on an equally small-but-classy side table. A chair had also been placed there as if for students to take a seat should they take long in deliberating on what to write - not that anyone would while filling in standard information about themselves, would they?

Lionel's eyes darted to the instructions Professor Willows had dictated at the top of the parchment - the information required was anything but the standard kind the other professors had inquired for. He had be tempted to see what the other students had written in response to Prof. Willows' last enquiry, but he had been bred too well in French manners to intrude into someone else's privacy. No matter, a class in social etiquette appeared interesting enough to the young lion - perhaps he could learn a thing or two about the English culture and etiquette through this class.

Seating himself in the elegent chair - for he had come to realise why anyone would have to spend much time thinking - Lionel picked up the quill that had been placed beside the parchment to begin writing:

Name: Lionel Bryant Lefevre
House and Year: Gryffindor, 5th Year
An example of your personal standing in the area of etiquette: I have had the privilege of being taken in by one of the most polished gentlemen thathave ever graced the halls of Beauxbatans and owe it to them that I have learnt how to carry myself in French society. I have unfortunately, never been exposed to English etiquette before, and have had the misfortune of having to play by ear throughout the opening feast. It was to my embarrassment that I had so narrowly escaped a humiliating situation when I had almost kissed a girl in greeting as I have been so accustomed to doing. I have grown very uncertain in myself of late in consequence, and would very much appreciate it if you could show me the ropes on how to conduct myself here in England.

Lionel stared in surprise at his closing sentences. Nearly kissed a girl in greeting? Why on earth had he written that down? And when did it happen? The young man pondered for a moment and thought back to the opening feast. Yes, that had been true, he had almost kissed Amaya's cheek instead of shaking her hand, but hadn't engaged in that behaviour out of sheer nevousness and uncertainty then - but he didn't remember consciously noting that occurance, had the quill been charmed to tap even into his unconscious knowledge? The fifteen year old studied the quill intently for a moment: perhaps it had just been charmed to pick up on the truth - afterall, his self-confidence had been dwindling slightly the past few days. No matter, charmed or not, Lionel was had to leave his application as it was and procede with finishing his to-do list for the day. Placing the quill neatly back to where it belonged, the young french stood up and returned the chair to its original position, and proceeded to continue strolling down the corridor scouting for classes.