Wizard Born

Chapter 12 - Halloween

"Today I will be talking with those of you, who haven't decided on a Science Fair project," Mr. Crew addressed the class. "If I have approved your project, head to the library to began researching."

Roxanne slumped in her seat as the rest of the class filed out. Sevastian paused in the door way to smirk at her.

"Now Miss Weasley, why haven't you submitted a project?"

Roxanne shifted in her seat, "I don't really understand the Science Fair." How could they expect first years to make a new scientific discovery?

"The Science Fair is used to teach the Scientific Method. Do you remember the lesson on the Scientific Method?"

Roxanne nodded. First ask a question, second create a hypothesis, third test the hypothesis, and finally interpret the results to see if you were right. But how do you find something no one else has done?

"Come now Miss Weasley, you have the mind of a scientist. You see the world with fresh eyes and are not easily fooled with how things seem."

Roxanne ducked her head to hide a smile. That was only true because she'd grown up in a Wizarding house with pranksters.

Mr. Crew continued without pause, "What are you curious about? What questions do you have? This should be easy for you."

Roxanne waited to be sure he was done before saying, "Well, I'd like to know how a telephone works."

"That's a little advanced, I'm not sure you would be able to complete your project in time. Would you consider an experiment with radio communication?" Mr. Crew jumped up and went to his office. Emerging a moment latter carrying a large green box and a book. "You could even start training to become a Ham operator."

"Ham?"

"An amature radio operator, who uses a radio like this one for two-way communication."

Roxanne tried to look interested, but she didn't want to communicate. She wanted to help Dad create a Wizard version of the telephone and there was already a Wizard wireless.

Some of her thoughts must have showed on her face because Mr. Crew said, "All right, what's another question?"

Roxanne thought back to one of Granddad Weasley's questions, "Um, how do planes stay up?"

"An excellent question. Though I suggest any tests involve paper airplanes. See I knew this wouldn't be hard for you, off to the library."

Roxanne hurried to obey, surprised at how quickly he had agreed. She had thought airplanes were too advanced for her.

***

Later that week, Roxanne was reading up on the history of Muggle flight, while she waited for Mandy to change after her Ballet class. She was starting to understand why Mandy often compared dancing to flying.

"Let's be ballerinas for Halloween." Mandy said as they walked to Science.

"What?" Roxanne knew Fieldspark celebrated by having a party for the younger students and a dance for the older. But she didn't want to go to the party so she'd paid little attention to her classmates talk about it.

"I know it's a silly, but Mrs. Stalinskey said I could borrow a costume from the wardrobe. And I'm sure she'd let you too because she really likes you. I bet there'll be lots of other girl dresses as ballerinas at the party."

Roxanne decided to ignore Mandy's comment about Mrs. Stalinskey liking her in favor of trying to figure out what she was missing. "Why will there be lots of ballerinas?"