Class: Music, Hogwarts Orchestra & Frog Choir

[Avis]

The music room is filled with every imaginable instrument, most of them magical but some also Muggle-made. A large music organ occupies all of the back wall and soft tones fills the air as some of the instruments are playing music on their own accord. The melody is beautiful, if a little sad, and students stand mesmerized for a moment as they listen to it. Then their attention is drawn to the rest of the classroom: beautiful seats occupy the room (students interested in art might recognize them as from the Art Nouveau style) and several equally beautiful standards hold sheet music. A baroque cabinet stands against one wall, filled with tomes containing more sheet music and pictures of famous composer-wizards line the wall; most of them are masters of Classical music, but a few are contemporary. One of them, a particularly fat man with a large moustache, looks disapprovingly at the students as they file in.

A tall, regal woman enters through a door at the back of the room; she is easily the most beautiful woman the students have ever seen. "My name is Mrs. Coulter," she says in a clipped, cold voice. "If you are here because Music seems like an easy way to score extracurricular points, please: get out." Her voice is perfectly polite, even if her words are not, and she makes a point of waiting for people to leave. Then she continues, her voice slightly warmer now. "If you are here to learn music, please be seated and be welcome. Let's see if you have some talent we can shape." And with that, she starts class.


Teacher: Alice Coulter (NPC)

Spoiler: show

Alice Coulter - Castle Caretaker & Music Mistress - House Slytherin

Age: 43
Wand: Elm, Cockatrice Feather, 11 1/2", Stiff
Patronus: European Magpie
Blood status: Pureblood

Appearance: Tall with porcelain skin, a regal bearing and aristocratic features, Mrs Coulter might be one of the most beautiful women in England. She has long black hair with white streaks and a deep, almost metallic, blue-green gloss. Her sapphire eyes are her most striking feature and nothing seems to escape their notice.

Bio: Mrs Coulter, née Ms Black, grew up in the faded glory of her family while her Pureblooded 'friends' grew up in riches. Resolving never to be poor herself, she is quite greedy. Unfortunately for her, she is also quite complacent. And while she'd like to think she has a thirst for adventure, the truth is she really does not want to bother with 'strange' foreign habits or dusty hotels. As a result, she sought her adventure and riches close by: at Hogwarts. Even as a student, she explored the Castle in secret, stealing away the odd forgotten object here and there. Now, after years of working as the Castle's Caretaker, she knows its hidden passages and secret rooms better than anyone. Strangely enough, she finds secrets still; it is almost as if the Castle, somehow sentient through all the magic coursing through its walls, has turned itself into one big 'room of requirement' for Mrs Coulter's pleasure. Despite the fact that she steals (though only forgotten objects and never from students or teachers), Mrs Coulter is indispensable to Hogwarts. No one knows the Castle better, or has a better grasp of the day-to-day magic that makes it function, or the House Elves that work tirelessly behind the scenes.

Mrs Coulter is a paragon of Britishness. She frequently corrects students and teachers alike on correct pronunciation or grammar, and she is very particular about adhering to teatime. She is also very musical, with a clear soprano voice and a talent for a wide variety of instruments, and serves as Hogwarts' 'Music Mistress' (Mrs Coulter abhors the title 'Music Master' as she is female and the term master clearly incorrect to describe her). Usually strict and cold, at least until one gets to know her better, her passion for music is real and students who share this love might see a friendlier side of her.

While she insists on being addressed as 'Mrs Coulter', no one has ever seen Mr Coulter.

[Alien Iris]

Iris hurried into the classroom at precisely 4:29. It was quite a ways to the music room from the attic. She sat down and began to unpack her instrument. Students around her were warming up in a cacophony of sound.

She was glad for the excuse to leave the attic, and had always enjoyed Orchestra Practice. This was her third year as a viola.

[WolfMoon]

Tavish entered the classroom right after Iris. He sat down, trying to prepare a little before the practice started. He wanted to go to her afterwards to tell her about his idea. Maybe she could ask Mrs. Coulter about it. He would have done it himself but to be honest he was a little afraid of Mrs. Coulter. She used to correct him when he was talking, so he barely ever got the chance to just say what he was thinking. He was always nervous when talking to her and the more nervous he was the more he failed to speak without his accent which made it impossible for the untrained ear to understand him. So Mrs. Coulter used to ask him to repeat and that made it even worse... It was a vicious circle...


"Let's start now that we're complete." Mrs. Coulter said. She was delighted to have another evening filled with music.



((OOC: Btw, do you know the official time for tea time? I'm afraid I don't... My host family in England used to have tea between 3 o'clock and 4 o'clock but I think it was between 4 and 5. How much time do you usually spend on your afternoon tea? To explain my questions: I've just read Mrs. Coulter's biography and stumbled over the line "she is very particular about adhering to teatime."))

[Alien Iris]

((OOC: I actually live in the US and don't drink tea terribly often. As a possible solution maybe she has always had teatime at 3 on Orchestra days and 4 on regular days? She still particular, just it moves one hour up.))

Iris looked up at Mrs. Coulter as she spoke. Setting her instrument on her lap she glanced around the classroom. Everyone seemed to be here. That was a relief. No lectures in the importance of being on time for class from the music mistress today.

[WolfMoon]

Tavish enjoyed himself during practice. It sounded pretty good. They were finally playing in (almost) total harmony.

At the end of practice Mrs. Coulter said: "All right, everyone. We have a little more than a month for our christmas concert, so I need all of you to focus on it. You have done pretty well today but we need to practice more. We'll meet again on Wednesday at the same time. Don't be late."

Tavish put his violin away and walked over to Iris.

"Hey, um, could you do me a favour?" He asked.

[Alien Iris]

Iris had done pretty well during practice. She’s gotten off tempo a few times, but besides that it had gone well.

Iris was packing her viola away when Tavish came up to her.

“Sure! What is it?” she replied. Any excuse to waste more time here.

[WolfMoon]

"Well, um, while I've been walking by the lake I've had an idea. The view is amazing just like music, so I thought that we could combine the two and organize a concert by the lake. We could play next spring or summer. I thought you could help me with suggesting it because, well, I usually have trouble talking to her, ye know." Tavish said.

He felt a little uneasy talking about it. But he had to admit that his respect towards Mrs. Coulter was more like fear of her. She scared him a little because he wanted to be perfect but he knew he wasn't and that was why he made even more mistakes in her presence.

"So, um, could you ask her? Please don't add that this was my idea because she'll ask why I haven't come forward and that would be so awkward..."

[Alien Iris]

((OOC: It won't color at the moment, I'll edit it later))

"That sounds like a great idea! I'd be glad to talk to her," Iris responded. She often played on her own at the Black Lake, and it truly was a beautiful setting. "I'm sure she will love it. Be right back."

Iris joined the short line to Mrs. Coulter. There were only a few students in front of her, asking about specifics in the music they had not got time to address in class.

[WolfMoon]

The other students all asked their questions and all seemed to be very pleased with the answers the Music Mistress gave. She was an expert and enjoyed sharing her knowledge with students who shared her interest in music.

"Miss Featherfew, how can I help you?" Mrs. Coulter asked when it was Iris's turn.

[Alien Iris]

"Ummm..." Iris's mind went blank for a few seconds as Mrs. Coulter stared at her. "Sorry! I was wondering if maybe we could play out by the black lake some day? Its very pretty out there and the sound would probably travel well across the water. Maybe have a spring or summer concert as well? What do you think?" She awaited the music mistresses response.