[Cl] CoMC Term 1, Lesson 5

[Keifer Brently]

"I think the tail is kind of cool" He said "I dont see why people judge if they themselves dont take the time out to get to know people like you. That way they'd know you werent a beast. Its unfair how you've been treated" He said

[profdara]

"I thank you kindly for that kind of thinking. Perhaps someday there will be a Minister of Magic that wants to do an entire recall of the 'beast vs. being' listings and then I and my brethren can restate our case to be permitted as beings. But until that day comes I try to raise awareness among young witches and wizards so that, perhaps, less of my kind will be treated as badly as they have been in the past." his face was calm through the entire speech, and then he smiled. "So Dara, if there's nothing else?"
"There is actually one last thing I'd like you to do..." she said as she reached underneath her desk and pulled out a large target. "Would you mind showing the class your accuracy skills? They see you now as a person with thoughts and feelings like them, but I think they also ought to know that just because you're nice doesn't mean you're tame."

[Keifer Brently]

Keifer glanced around "How?" He asked.

[profdara]

She walked up into the rows of desks an chairs the students were sitting in and set the target up amongst a cluster that included Miss Turpin, Mister Brently, and Mister Malfoy. "Like this," she pulled out a bright red, fine tip sharpie marker and made a single dot in the very center of the bulls-eye. "Whenever you're ready Arsenio."
"Do I have to Dara? I do this every year." he crossed his paws and sulked.
"Do you want us bi-peds to over-estimate ourselves?"
"Yes... it's more fun to attack the proud ones. They scream..." his eyes gleamed wickedly.
"Och, Arsenio, you were supposed to be the nice one today."
"Oh, fine! Fine!" he stood up and began flicking his tail back and forth. Spines leapt from it and flew at the students... then there were a series of arrow-hitting-hay type sounds and fifty-three black spikes stuck either in, or very close to, the sharpie mark. "Happy Dara?" he looked at the students, "Not all Manticores can do that without training, but we begin training our young in self defense before they reach their first birthday, according to bi-ped time measures that is."

[Keifer Brently]

Keifer watched. "Well... all i can say is im glad im not your.. enemy" He said "That was ace! How long does it take to be able to do that?"

[profdara]

"To be as exact as that it takes, about, oh I'd say two years of intense training. To just hit the bullseye consistantly... well, it takes our young about six months to master that." he said thoughtfully. "Does that seem right to you Dara?"
"Yes, that seems right, let me see... I spent, what? A year and a half with you? And your little one was just starting his training, that was in mid-June? By December he was hitting the bullseye with both eyes closed and a series of swinging axes between him and the target."
Arsenio puffed out his chest, "Yes, he takes after his father doesn't he?"

[Henry Boggleworth]

Boggleworth barged into the room hoping he'd catch the tail end of the lesson. He chuckled as he saw the manticore hit the target remembering when one had taken a hit at him too when he was younger. "Morning all, I hope I'm not too late am I?" he enquired as he took a seat knowing he wouldn't be in trouble...

[Draco Malfoy]

Draco stared at the target in awe, his eyebrows raised as he heard the professor's last comment. "Does that mean--" He was cut off as a noisy student ran through the classroom and took a seat. He scowled at being interrupted and continued, though not before sending a glare the Hufflepuff's way. "Does that mean you learned how to hit the target too, Professor? Or were you just an observer?"

[Lisa Turpin]

Lisa listened to the manticore's tale and felt suddenly very sorry for the creature. Trust humans to be ignorant! Putting down her quill, she watched him hit the target perfectly, and grinned as he spoke about his son.

As the new student bustled into the room, she found her attention drift and turned to him, offering him a friendly smile, before picking up her quill and writing about the manticore's incredible aim.

[Henry Boggleworth]

Boggleworth smiled mischievously at the slytherin and then directed a warm smile to a fellow Hufflepuff at the front of the class, he stood up and went to join her dragging up a chair and saying cheerfully "hello there, I hope I'm not interupting, I'm Boggleworth, I'm pleased to meet you!"

[Lisa Turpin]

Lisa, surprised by his boldness, grinned and held out a hand, "Lisa Turpin," she whispered, before noticing the prefects badge on his robes. "Oh! You're the other Hufflepuff prefect, I'm surprised I haven't met you yet!" She said with a friendly smile.

[profdara]

She sighed slightly seeing the Hufflepuff boy busttle loudly into the room, "Mr. Boggleworth... I won't punish you this time but please be on time for the next lesson or I'm afraid I'll have to deduct hosue points." she said sternly. She smiled broadly though when she heard Draco's question, however, "I was hoping someone would ask!" she said cheerily, going back behind her desk and pulling out a long slender bow. She walked over to the target and pulled out the spines, then took her place back where Arsenio had been standing earlier, "Now make sure I'm doing this right, friend." she said to the Manticore as she picked up a half-dozen spines, set them on her desk and then notched on in her bow.
"Oh, very close Dara, but you have to keep your elbow up higher," he trotted over and nudged her arm into place, "That's better, go ahead."
Dara smirked. She remembered all of his lessons, but it had always made Arsenio feel important when he was asked to help. She raised her elbow and released the spike, then immedeatly notched and released the remaining six, all at once. Her clusters were in the bulls-eye, but only two had hit the very center spot. "Would anyone else like to give it a try?" she asked, offering the bow to anyone that might like to attempt the feat of archery. She didn't know how many of the students would be willing, or able since this was an unusual bow. It was very rectangular shaped, making it more difficult to find the center and aim, but you could release several arrows, or spikes in this case, at once, and the accuracy aspect came with practice.

[Henry Boggleworth]

Boggleworth cheered as the professor hit the target, "yeah I'll give it a whirl," he said confidently "though I won't be any good, I'll need plenty of pointers!" he grinned as he stood up and readied himself