A pale hand pushed the door of the Occlumency classroom open. Grey eyes peered inside and then platinum locks walked in, dressed in silver robes. Sarah, the new Occumency Professor, surveyed the classroom, her keen eyes picking out the details she wanted to change. It looked like the previous Professor left the classroom in fairly good shape, but there were still few things this Prof wanted to change.

Pulling out a maple wand with silver ornament imbedded in it, half-elf waved it in a gentle manner. A soft blue wave of light spreaded from the tip, leaving the classroom spotless of dust. The curtains that were blocking most of the sunlight tied themselves to the wall on each side. Desks rearranged themselves in a semi-circle, facing the board. The board, in turn, was wiped spotless clean and took on soft grey color. Finding bare stone walls too cold, Sarah covered them with calming greyish-silver velvet. For some reason Occlumency portreyed itself in silver and grey tones in Sarah's head.

Glancing around the classroom once again, Sarah took a deep breath. The air in the room was fresh and smelled of forest after rain. Walking up to the window, woman half opened one, letting in refreshing, yet warm breeze. It certainly seemed like a suited day for the lesson she planned.

Returning to her desk, she tapped it with a wand. The desk took on mahogany color with silver ornament of leaves. It reminded Sarah of home, and made her smile. She missed the deep woods, the calm waters, but year was just starting and it would be a while until she'll see her homeland again. She'd have to bare that in mind and not hope for too much. In addition to desk changing its appearance, folders and some parchment appeared on it. Picking up the top sheet, Professor scanned over it, then put the wand perpendicularly to the paper and said a barely audible incantation. The letters and words projected themselves on the board and stayed there in golden letters.

Introduction into Occlumency.
Physical Aspect

Occlumency, in short, is about concentrating your thoughts together and keeping them tucked deep in your mind so someone with Legilimancy knowledge won't be able to read them. Althought it is done on mental level, it requires similar skill on physical level. We will look into physical aspect today.

It takes some skill to hide your facial expressions and your feelings. However, the fact that you're good at hiding your emotions won't necessary mean that you're going to have an easy time with Occlumency. It's a mistake commonly made among students.

Please take your seat as you enter the classroom. I'll be in shortly.
Professor Kerrigan.

Putting down the parchment, Sarah whirled around and looked out the window. In a split second the classroom was once again empty, awaiting for students to arrive for designated lesson time.

Amatae wasn't sure what possessed her to take this subject, but a nagging thought that persisted at the back of her mind suggested it was to help keep out others that could easily read someone's thoughts. Holding her books tightly to her chest, she zig-zaged through the corridor to the Occlumency classroom. Someone had accidently ripped her school bag, and she hadn't yet received a replacement via O.W.L.

Slowly walking through the halls, her raven black tresses rustled through the breeze the students made as they passed. Her eyes frantically searched for the classroom. She feared she was going to be late, and she didn't want to start out the school year on such a sour note.

A wave of total relief swept over her body as she saw the sign on the door and quietly walked into the room. A bit shocked that she was the only student there, she found an empty seat toward the front of the room. Setting her books down, she gazed up at the Professor, and smiled shyly.

"Hello, I'm Amatae Tylar, Gryffindor." Her amber eyes darted in hopes of seeing some sign of acceptance behind the Professor's quiet face.

Astina walked up to the door to the Occlumency classroom. She gazed down at her watch and gave an enormase sigh of releife. She wasnt late. She thought that she would be late because she had such a hard time finding this place. She pushed open the door and she looked around at the teacher. She knew that Hogwarts got a new Occlumency teacher, but this wasnt at all what she expected.

Astina walked up to a desk that was in the back of the classroom. She liked sitting in the back because she could pass notes and the teacher couldnt see what she was doing very well. Astina ploped her bag down on the floor and flopped on her seat. There was already a girl there. She seemed shy, but Astina couldnt tell because she was sitting on the front row with her back facing Astina.

Astina stood up and walked to the teacher. She caught a glimps of the boared and realized that the new teachers name was Prof. Kerrigan. Astina liked that name. It sounded cool. Astina walked up to Prof. Kerrigan and stuck out her hand. "Hi, my name is Astina Sincaltry. Are you the new teacher" Astina already knew that she was the new teacher, but it couldnt help to be sure.

[OOC: Ladies, please note the last few sentances of my post. I am not in the classroom when you arrive. However, now I have to be for it to make sense. Also, Astina, there is nowhere on the board indicated that my name is Sarah. Just says the last name. :wink: Please try to read the post more carefully next time. Thanks :smile: ]

It took Sarah half the expected time to do what she needed to. She arrived back to the classroom with a small box under her arm just in time to see the first student walk into the door. It was a girl, whose name was Amatae Tylar, as she introduced herself. She was from Gryffindor. Sarah smiled at her and nodded.
"Congratulations on being first, Miss Tylar," she said in her soft voice and settled at the desk.

Putting the box in front of her, Sarah touched the small lock on it and it clicked. Opening it just slightly, she grinned to herself and shut the box tight again. After the lock clicked, professor put the small box into one of the bottom drawers. She looked up instantly after that as the door to the classroom opened again. Yet another student walked in, Gryffindor again. That made Sarah wonder if only Gryffindors could make it on time lately.

This student, however, seemed to be more outgoing. She came up to Sarah and put her hand out, indroducing herself as Astina Sincaltry. That followed by a slightly silly question, but Sarah knew why. She smiled, stood up from her chair and shook girl's hand.
"Pleasure to meet you, Miss Sincaltry. Yes, I am the new Professor, and this will be my first year on teaching this subject."
Sarah settled back into her chair and glanced at the watch. Whoever was going to attend this lesson had another 5 minutes.

Astina smiled at Prof. Kerrigan and walked back to her seat and sat down waiting for the other students. She looked at her watch and saw that the Prof. was right. Now there was only four minutes for the other kids to get to class or there would only be two people to have class with.

Astina took out her book on Occlumency and began to read. It wasnt that interesting at all. There were all kinds of tips on how to keep a solid barrioer in your mind so that no one could keep sending you horrors in your dreams.

Astina closed her book and set it on her desk in front of her. She folded her arms and slouched in her chair waiting for class to start.

(ooc: I fixed it. Sorry Prof. :nosweat: )

Cyn had come in quietly about five minutes after the first students had gotten there, and had chosen a seat in the semi-circle of desks that allowed her to see everything, but only be seen if the person looking for her looked in the right direction. She yawned lazily and massaged her closed eyelids with her fingertips. Whoever had said that people who got up early were more likely to succeed was dead wrong. Blinking, the tall Slytherin looked up at the board and read it again. The first time she had stepped in this classroom, she had had no idea what Occlumency was- she had taken it on a whim, and had decided that she'd drop the subject if it proved to be either too difficult or too boring. She still didn't really know what was going on, or exactly what Occlumency was- mindreading, wasn't that just an inborn skill, same as Kit's telepathy and her own Metamorphmagi powers? She hadn't known it could be learned. But, apparently, it could, and that meant- her eyes narrowed and a crease of a frown worked itself between her eyebrows- that she had better practice this subject, and practice it well. Secrets were sometimes all that held a life together, and Cyn's secrets were more dangerous then most.

She leaned her chin in her hand and stared at the chalkboard until her eyes slipped out of focus. 'I wonder when class will start...'

Astina looked towards the door to the classroom as to was flung open and a rather tall Slytherin girl walked into the room. She couldnt have been more than two inched shorter than Astina herself.

Astina turned back around in her seat to face the front. Well, there was now only three kids in the classroom Astina smiled to herself. She liked small classes. She was always stuck in large classes at her old school in India. Even here at Hogwarts the classes were still large. She hoped that only a few more kids would come to this class.

Astina pulled out her scetch pad and a pencil from her book bag and began to draw a dragon breathing fire.

The time stretched out quite slowly. It was beneficial for Sarah since she had more time to run her lesson plan in her head over and over and over again. Woman had to admit that she was nervous. Why, she didn't know. Well, there was the fact that she never taught a class before. But Sarah's been a figure in authority since 4th year or so when she became a Prefect, then a Head Prefect and finishing Hogwarts as Head Girl.

Door opened again; through it came in a tall Slytheryn girl and settled at the desk. Sarah observed her for a second before getting off her chair. She decided that she might as well start the class now, and everyone else will just catch up later. Coming around her desk, her leaned on it, supporting herself with her hands on both sides. She lifted her eyes off the floor to survey the room. Well, it's now or never.

"Before I begin the lesson, I would like to introduce myself. My name is Professor Sarah Kerrigan. I'm the new professor of Occlumency and this is my first year teaching anything for that matter." She took a pause to let those words sink in. "I already met Miss Tylar and Miss Sincaltry." That moment her eyes rested on Cyn. "Would you please introduce yourself, miss?"

Astina stopped drawing the dragon's wing that was bent low over its scally back. She put her pencil back into her book bag and closed her scetch pad with a snap. Just as she hooked her bag shut with all of her stuff safly inside, Prof. Kerrigan started class. Astina snapped to attention and listened to the teacher. She was talking to the Slytherin girl and asking her to introduce herself.

Astina turned around in her chair to look at the Slytherin girl. She waited expectantly to learn more about this girl. Astina brushed some of her long red hair out of her darkly tanned face. That peice of hair always seemed to escape her pony tail.

Her shoulders relaxed. She felt at ease for some reason. Amatae turned when she heard the voices of other students arriving after her. She had recognized Astina from her own house. But the Slytherin girl, she had not seen before. She was amazed at how much negative energy radiated from this girl. She couldn't understand what or why this was.

Amatae didn't feel so badly after she had heard the professor confess she's just as new to this subject as she was. She wondered if this isn't what somehow made her more relaxed. Sitting, waiting patiently for the professor to guide them on what they should do next.

"Would you please introduce yourself, miss?"

Cyn looked up, hooded gray-bronze eyes slitting back into focus. She blinked and then gave the professor a lopsided half-smile, expression guarded. She couldn't tell if the professor would do anything to her yet, but with things like mindreading you could never tell. She had only known what Kit had done because of the few times he had gone out when her and Jareth ran the roof walking shift, mostly as a watchman. Kit hadn't been exactly free with his gift either, and spent most of the time hunched over in the basement with a killer headache trying to repair his fractured shields. Cyn had wondered then what it would've been like to live like that... hopefully, if she learned this stuff right, she wouldn't have to. Maybe Kit wouldn't, either. If she could find him, maybe she could teach him. Supposing he hadn't already gone too...

"Cyn Canadensis," she replied, folding her arms loosely on the desktop. "I'm in sixth year Slytherin." Long legs stretched out under the desk. She gazed past the professor once again, eyes refocusing on the blackboard. Her expression held carefully blank as it recommended, Cyn let her eyes wander impassively around the classroom. It was very different then the last time she had been here. Hopefully she would learn something worthwhile this time.

Sarah studied the Slytherin student with mild curiosity in her eyes. She gave a small pause in between their introductions and when she thought she waited long enough; a loose smile appeared on her face. Sarah pushed herself away from the desk that supported her.

"Pleasure to meet you, Miss Canadensis," she replied and slowly started to walk around her desk. Reaching the chair where she sat several minutes ago, Sarah had her back to the board. Although she knew quite well as to what was written on it.

"I'm guessing that some of you might want to jump straight to learning how to mind block, but I don't think that's the right way to learn," she said, slightly leaning on the desk. "I don't want to repeat myself, but today we'll be learning about controlling our emotions on a physical level."

She paused for a second, observing the three ladies that were sitting somewhat apart. Taking another walk to the front of the desk, Sarah glanced out the window. She was nervous, and she knew that her body wasn't hiding it. But she did that on purpose.

"Alright. Here's your first in class assignment. I'll be using the Discovery Method today. When someone is angry, how can you tell they are angry?" she asked, scanning the faces.

The teacher's question startled Astina. She thought that she would ask some kind of difficult question. None the less, Astina raised her hand. "I can tell if someone is angry when they flash me a nasty look or they dont talk and they answer you with grunts or short, nasty answers."

Astina looked at the teacher for her reaction to her answer. She liked being right, but it didnt really matter with her if she was wrong. She just felt really stupid if she said the wrong answer.

She slouched back into her chair in the back row and crossed her arms in a tired fasion.

Amatae's eyes shot straight at the professor. How can you tell if someone is angry?" This question mulled over in her brain. She heard Astina answer, and she thought about it for a moment.

Raising her hand, she also replied with what she hoped to be a somewhat correct answer. "One way you can tell someone is angry, is that their eyes convey an annoyed, irritated, aggitated appearance, or their body stiffens. Another possibility would be that the person's face contorts in a negative manner."

Afraid that she either had made a complete fool of herself, or even worse, tried to appear a smarty pants, she sat waiting in anticipation for feedback from the figure standing at the head of the class.

Sarah listened to the response of the students, considered for a moment their answers. There were some elements missing in each response, but it was just natural. Her question was quite vague and she certainly didn't expect the students give her an answer that she wanted, exactly down to each word and letter.

"That's really good Miss Sincaltry, Miss Tylar. So if I to put your two answers together, you can see that an individual might express their anger through their speech pattern, their facial expressions and eyes. In addition, it is usually shown in their body movements, so called body language."

Sarah reached for her wand, pointed it at the board without looking. Whatever she just said appeared in a point form, in faintly shimmering golden letters.
Introduction into Occumency
Physical Aspect
Anger can be expressed through:
- speech pattern
- facial expressions
- body language
- eyes
- actions

Another question arrived to Sarah's mind, somewhat off the lesson plan. She took a second to word it properly before speaking.
"How would you try to distinguish if an individual is angry with you or with something else? If you figure out that they are angry at you, how would you react?"

"How would you try to distinguish if an individual is angry with you or with something else? If you figure out that they are angry at you, how would you react?"

Cyn's eyebrows fought to keep a steady position on her face. What was this, a shrink session? However... deciding that playing along would be more beneficiary here then rejecting the odd question out of hand, Cyn thought about it for a second before muttering, "Ask aroun'. Stay away from 'em... an' try t'figure out why." Getting someone angry at you in Darkside was not a good idea, particularly if-

Cyn blinked, clearing her mind and pushing it back towards neutrality. The professor was a mind-reader. Anything Cyn thought here before she learned the mind-blocking stuff could possibly make it's way up to higher ears, and possibly was not good odds.

((OOC: hee hee, sorry for the long wait in replying... :blush: )