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I've never doubted shifting because my dad was a shifter for years.
He told me stories from his one reality all the time, about how he was a warrior that could transform into a giant black cat, called iekkrans.
About all the other clans of wolves and bears and lions, how he made me a princess that knew how to fight any man that tried anything with me. How the warriors fight with music and create it with the clash of their weapons.
He told me about a crazed princess from another kingdom that was so unstable you could probably find her running down a road naked and not be surprised.
He told me how when you married someone in this reality you formed a spiritual bond so strong that if you broke it, it could kill you, and that HE had his bond broken and barely survived it.
He told me about how in courting culture, the only way to win a mate was to prove to the father you loved them. And the magic knew if you were lying. He told me then about 2 brothers that fought for my heart, and how the older one won.
He told me about eternal cities that were created from exoloding worlds, how those cities were permanent and euphoric, and how if you dare entered one you'd never be able to leave again.
He's told me so many stories about the warriors of the universe and how they become stone cold and trained to kill EVERYTHING they're commanded to kill.
My dad is a fucking bad ass, and I'll never doubt reality shifting because of him.
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FOR EVERY CLASS . always sit where you can see (or avoid) the professor’s mood swings. bring a spare quill, and for Merlin’s sake, read all instructions on the board
★⋆. ASTRONOMY
DEALING WITH PROFESSOR SINESTRA . she’s chill if you stay quiet. don’t interrupt her passionate stargazing rants, or she’ll assign extra homework on constellations literally no one’s ever heard of
HOMEWORK . star charts and essays on planetary motion. tedious but straightforward—accuracy is everything.
TIPS TO EXCEL . memorize constellations and learn how to cast Lumos just dim enough so that you don’t blind everyone during late-night pitch black lessons
EXTRA CREDIT . spot and track a rare celestial event, like a comet. (bonus points if you can pronounce its Latin name to Sinestra without choking)
AVOID MISHAPS . never mix up Mars and Mercury on your chart—you’ll be doomed in astronomy and divination
★⋆. CARE OF MAGICAL CREATURES
DEALING WITH PROFESSOR HAGRID . show genuine interest in his creatures, even if they look like they could eat you (because they definitely could)
HOMEWORK . research magical creature habits and write about their care. watch out—he loves long essays (he can basically make students write books about his favorite subject for him)
TIPS TO EXCEL . always wear dragonhide gloves and boots that cover your ankles. treat the creatures and Hagrid with respect—he’ll notice
EXTRA CREDIT . help feed or clean up after the creatures during your free periods or after class. it’s messy, but he appreciates it immeasurably
AVOID MISHAPS . never, ever call a Blast-Ended Skrewt “gross” within his earshot
★⋆. CHARMS
DEALING WITH PROFESSOR FLITWICK . he’s sweet but sharp. pay attention, or you’ll be called on mid-yawn to demonstrate something tricky.
HOMEWORK . practice spells at home. if your wandwork looks like you’re conducting a dance recital, you’re doing it wrong.
TIPS TO EXCEL . focus on precise wand movements and pronunciation—no “swish and flick” means no charm
EXTRA CREDIT . perform an original charm in class and explain how you invented it (hint: slap a name on something flashy, and ramble about how Flitwick’s class gave you the “tools to do it”)
AVOID MISHAPS . don’t use charms on your classmates (no matter how obnoxious they are) unless you want detention for “unsanctioned spellcasting”
★⋆. DEFENSE AGAINST THE DARK ARTS
DEALING WITH THE PROFESSOR . varies wildly year to year. if they’re twitchy, don’t ask questions. if they’re confident, challenge them slightly—they love it
HOMEWORK . spell practice, theoretical essays on defensive strategies, and (sometimes) practical exams.
TIPS TO EXCEL . master shield charms early—Protego is your bread and butter. always watch your back in “surprise” practical tests (the surprise could be a curse aimed at your back)
EXTRA CREDIT . propose new defense tactics for obscure threats like Lethifolds or hinkypunks, it shows interest in the less ‘cool’ aspects of the dark arts
AVOID MISHAPS . don’t hex yourself in class while demonstrating a jinx. you won’t get in trouble. but it’s embarrassing.
★⋆. DIVINATION
DEALING WITH PROFESSOR TRELAWNEY . just nod and act fascinated. she’s happier when you look like you believe her
HOMEWORK . dream journals, tea-leaf sketches, and guesses at what the stars are “telling” you.
TIPS TO EXCEL . make up dramatic predictions that sound poetic. extra marks for impending doom towards a classmate
EXTRA CREDIT . spot a “true vision” (or just pretend you did). a fainting act doesn’t hurt
AVOID MISHAPS . never laugh at her predictions, even if they sound ridiculous—she’ll doom you for life (and you never know what fate holds)
★⋆. HERBOLOGY
DEALING WITH PROFESSOR SPROUT . show some love for plants, and she’ll adore you. don’t sass her or underestimate how dangerous some herbs are
HOMEWORK . care guides for magical plants, essays on uses for their parts, and detailed sketches
TIPS TO EXCEL . be gentle with the plants, even the ones with attitudes. also, if you’re prone to daydreaming, please keep a note of which vines bite
EXTRA CREDIT . cultivate a rare magical plant and present its uses in class (good luck)
AVOID MISHAPS . always wear gloves when handling anything spiky, slimy, or screaming
★⋆. HISTORY OF MAGIC
DEALING WITH PROFESSOR BINS . he doesn’t even care if you’re awake, but it helps if you look like you’re taking notes
HOMEWORK . endless essays on goblin rebellions, giant wars, and other events you’ll most definitely forget by next term
TIPS TO EXCEL . use mnemonic devices to remember key dates. start essays early—he grades on length
EXTRA CREDIT . find obscure historical details to add to essays. mentioning “primary sources” makes you look smart, and Binns doesn’t typically look into it further
AVOID MISHAPS . don’t doodle in your notes too obviously—he might drone on even more if he catches you
★⋆. POTIONS
DEALING WITH PROFESSOR SNAPE . know your ingredients and don’t speak unless spoken to. follow his instructions perfectly and try to look invisible. or he’ll eviscerate you
HOMEWORK . brewing practice and essays on potion theory. if you mess up the potion, he’ll expect twice the length in your essay
TIPS TO EXCEL . re-chop your ingredients before class, and try to do other prep work. Snape hates inefficiency
EXTRA CREDIT . create a new potion under his supervision. (warning: he will make you test it.)
AVOID MISHAPS . don’t ever blame Snape or his instructions if something explodes. just accept it and clean up quietly
★⋆. TRANSFIGURATION
DEALING WITH PROFESSOR MCGONAGALL . she’s strict but fair. do your work well, and she’ll respect you; slack off, and she’ll make you wish you hadn’t
HOMEWORK . spell diagrams, written explanations, and frequent wandwork practice
TIPS TO EXCEL . precision and focus are key. get creative, but don’t try anything too wild without permission
EXTRA CREDIT . demonstrate a flawless human-to-animal transfiguration (with her approval)
AVOID MISHAPS . never let your transfigured objects escape—chasing a hopping teacup through the halls is not fun, and you’ll never hear the end of it
★⋆. ARITHMANCY
DEALING WITH PROFESSOR VECTOR . she’s sharp and no-nonsense, but she’s got a soft spot for students who genuinely try. don’t show up without your charts; she’ll notice
HOMEWORK . endless numerical equations and analysis of magical patterns. expect to translate runes into numbers and vice versa
TIPS TO EXCEL . understand how numbers relate to magic—this isn’t just math, it’s magic theory in disguise. double-check your work; one wrong digit can tank your entire assignment
EXTRA CREDIT . present a new numerological correlation, like how the number “7” might affect potion brewing. bonus if it’s creative but realistic
AVOID MISHAPS . never guess at a solution—Professor Vector will spot laziness in seconds. keep your workspace neat, or the equations will haunt you
★⋆. ANCIENT RUNES
DEALING WITH PROFESSOR BABBLING . she’s patient and incredibly smart, but don’t come to class unprepared. misreading a rune will make her launch into a lecture about “respecting the symbols.”
HOMEWORK . translate ancient texts, decipher rune sequences, and write essays on magical etymology. sometimes includes carving your own runes for practice.
TIPS TO EXCEL . memorize the rune meanings and their magical properties—flashcards help. pay attention to detail; even a tiny line can change the meaning of a rune
EXTRA CREDIT . create your own rune sequence that produces a magical effect and explain its purpose. creative runework always gets top marks
AVOID MISHAPS . don’t mix up Nordic and Celtic runes—they have very different contexts, and Professor Babbling will lecture you for days
★⋆. MUGGLE STUDIES
DEALING WITH PROFESSOR BURBAGE . she’s enthusiastic and loves students who ask questions, even obvious ones. if you show respect for Muggle ingenuity, you’re golden
HOMEWORK . research papers on Muggle inventions and their impact, as well as practical exercises like identifying Muggle objects
TIPS TO EXCEL . don’t overthink it—Muggles live without magic, but they’re surprisingly clever. show curiosity and avoid using the word “primitive”
EXTRA CREDIT . present a Muggle artifact and explain how it works. bonus points if you demonstrate something functional, like a can opener or a bicycle pump
AVOID MISHAPS . don’t call electricity “the Muggle version of Lumos” unless you want a 10-minute tangent about how they’re completely different
★⋆. FLYING
DEALING WITH MADAM HOOCH . she’s strict but fair; listen to her instructions, and she’ll let you have some fun. mess around, and you’ll be grounded faster than you can say “Quidditch”
HOMEWORK . practicing broom control outside of class and writing essays about famous flyers or the mechanics of flight
TIPS TO EXCEL . focus on balance and broom grip—this isn’t about speed (yet). always stretch before class; cramps mid-air are embarrassing and painful
EXTRA CREDIT . show off advanced flying techniques, like tight turns or broom dives (but only if you’re really confident). bonus for clean landings
AVOID MISHAPS . never try to show off in front of the first-years—wobbling on a loop-the-loop is not a good look. keep your broom maintained; a splintered handle spells disaster.
[ there you have it—follow this guide, and you’ll not only pass these classes with flying colors, but you might even look like you know what you’re doing while you’re at it, and maybe you’ll avoid getting hexed by Snape. we’ll see ]
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