alt_neville: (Default)
Neville Longbottom ([personal profile] alt_neville) wrote2011-01-27 12:30 pm

Transfiguration, whoa

We've been studying transfiguration during movement. Today was centrepe-- centriput-- whatever that force is when whatever you're putting the spell on moves in a circle. And is it simply going around in a circle or actually spinning on an axes. And what's the adjustments you need to make for a different center of gravity.

Actually, I didn't get center of gravity at all. I just didn't get it, and that was where we broke off yesterday, when my apple burst into pieces, and Professor Carrow said--well anyway, he didn't think much of me not getting it.

So Professor Brutka was trying to explain it to me again today, and I still wasn't getting it. I could feel myself getting all red in the face. I figured it was more points lost for Gryffindor for sure. But then he transfigured three apples into spinning wooden tops, except that the little disk was at a different point along the stick: at the top, the middle, and on the bottom. He had me spin them and watch the motion and THEN I got what he was trying to get across, what the force was, and how the center of gravity changed everything. He had me play with making the disks bigger or smaller, too, and by the end of the class I could adjust so I could transfigure every one of them, no matter what speed they were going.

I even got a couple points for Gryffindor. Can't remember the last time that's happened in a Transfiguration class.
alt_mcgonagall: A natural facial expression for McGonagall: slightly pursed lips, raised eyebrows. (Default)

Order Only

[personal profile] alt_mcgonagall 2011-01-27 06:55 pm (UTC)(link)
Who in the world is surprised that Neville is a rather good student when he isn't frightened out of his wits by Carrow?
alt_frank: (Default)

Re: Order Only

[personal profile] alt_frank 2011-01-27 08:38 pm (UTC)(link)
and good on him.