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Post by Prof. Jonathan Starsmore on Feb 27, 2007 7:57:11 GMT
Jonathan had tried his utmost hardest to ignore the first two students who were closest, their relentless dialog droning in his ear like two conversing wasps bickering over a particularly sought after flower. He tried placing his fingers in his ears to block them out, but upon becoming paranoid of being unable to neither see nor hear, he resigned to sitting up straight, staring at them slightly inappreciatively. It was then he caught the last dregs of their conversation. 'A banshee?' he said indignantly, looking at the cage. It was nowhere near big enough to house a person, even if they were curled up. 'And what in Merlin's name is so threatening about an armadillo of all things?!'
The professor jumped into action now, rising from his seat. There was a gentle scratching as whatever was in the cage gnawed at the bars, obviously very bored and confused by the voices it could not place. It had begun making a little more noisier as the first students had entered, and he patted the top of it, causing whatever was underneath to stop what it was doing and listen quietly.
Jonathan looked at the class now, his gaze washing over them as he paced. Although noisy, Jonathan was pleased that the Slytherin and Gryffindor at the front of the room were not afraid of discussing anything. He recalled his last lesson where he was having to practically pick on people to make them do anything, and he suspected the two of them would have quite a bit to say when they met the other guests of the lesson. He was slightly disappointed to see that, thus far, only only one member of his house had shown up. Jonathan had never really spoken to Torin before, and found him to be strangely quiet - of course, what did Jonathan honestly know about him? He could have been a terrible trouble maker for all he knew...
He came finally to look at the latest arrival, Mozess. He had heard that she was one of several students who had been caught in the forest some nights ago, seemingly undeterred by the strange happenings occurring in the place as of late. Jonathan knew from his other sources - Professor Vickers namely - that she was a considerable sharp young woman.
Giving her a nod of greeting as their eyes met, he returned to the front of the classroom where he delved into a draw in his desk. 'Oy, you two - shut up a minute,' he snapped at Liam and Aerianne. Out of the draw he pulled what appeared to be several necklaces of garlic. 'Put these on...' he tossed them one by one through the air to land in front of the students, nearly hitting Torin on the head. 'It's entirely up to you if you want to or not... it's your neck.' He grinned wryly.
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Dax Simmons
Keeper of the Keys
Hufflepuff Graduate
Posts: 540
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Post by Dax Simmons on Feb 27, 2007 12:19:51 GMT
Dax slowly jogged up the steps heading towards the second floor corridor. As he walked along the corridors, past the suits of armour, unale to stop himself from smile. He had just done his first task as the Defence Against the Dark Arts apprentice and was about to enter the first lesson. Although the task was only to get an example for today's lesson, it had been harder then he thought.
As he pushed open the door the smell of garlic flooded into his nose. Wrinkling his nose at the smell, he walked down the middle of the tables and smiled at the Professor, he gave a small nod to inform him that he had done his job.
“It will arrive in a few minutes. I almost got a black eye, she was not happy to be woken up.”
Dax gave a light laugh and moved to the side of the room, sliding into a empty chair. He looked over the people in the lesson and noticed a few faces, mainly that of Mozess and Torin.
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Post by Ian Gray on Feb 27, 2007 14:34:41 GMT
Ian walked into the classroom, running a hand nervously through his hair. He was only a tad late, but he knew Professor Starsmore had given out some of the only detentions he had heard of.
The professor was digging in a drawer for something when he chose to sit down next to a Ravenclaw. Co-cking his head to one side, he tried to peer over another Gryffindor's shoulder, and jerked back in surprise as a string of garlic landed on his desk.
He threw it over his head nonchalantly, though making a face slightly at the smell, before tilting his chair back to look at the cage.
"Black eye?" He said suddenly, looking at the Hufflepuff who had been talking to Staresmore. He rubbed his calloused hands over his already, slightly, scratched face and grimaced.
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Post by Mozess Mirari on Feb 27, 2007 16:40:11 GMT
'Garlic?' she thought, hesitantly pulling the necklace over her head. She could imagine this to mean one of a few things; 1) inside that cage were a bunch of vampires. 2) Inside that cage was something that the professor wanted to mask their scents from that wasn't a vampire and following that logic, was more likely than not considerably worse. Or 3) he was pulling their legs and wanted them to smell like garlic for the rest of the day. She shrugged, then again her conspiracy-theory mind could be running away with her again and it might not be any of the above.
She watched as Dax entered the room and said something about a black eye and something not being pleased to be woken. She was really getting curious now, and itching to find out what today's lesson was about. She waited semi-patiently for Professor Starsmore to continue, drumming her fingers on the desk in front of her, smiling slightly at the Professors blunt way about things.
She saw Ian enter as well. It seemed a lot of the people she'd gotten into trouble with were in this class. IT was appropriate though, trouble makers do need to know how to defend themselves afterall. Perhaps if she were better at using the Protego spell she wouldn't have gotten knocked out so easily in the forest. She looked down at her hands, the knuckles were still scabbing over to her great irritation, but she did like the idea of war wounds, and these were very definate war wounds.
She looked around the classroom and up at the professor 'I think I'm going to like this class...' she thought to herself with a smile.
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Post by Girty Hubbles on Feb 27, 2007 18:15:12 GMT
Girty slowly walked down the corridor towards the classroom. She was already late and there was no point rushing. Ambling along she reached the large door that led to the class room. She fell straight into it, having to regain her balance as it was no longer in front of her.
Looking around the room Girty knew only a few faces. Putting her in even more of a grumpy mood she walked down the side of the room picking the table closest to the wall a couple of rows in. She gave a sigh as she sat down, pulling out her stuff from her bag.
“Sorry I’m late.” She mumbled and she rested her head in his hands, feeling rather confused at why the rest of the class had chains of garlic around there neck.
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Post by Prof. Jonathan Starsmore on Mar 8, 2007 15:19:57 GMT
Jonathan gave Dax a satisfied smile as he ambled into the room. It certainly was useful to have someone around to do his dirty work and run errands for him, especially when it involved dragging a girl from her dormitory so that he may exhibit her in his lesson. He wondered vaguely how Dan Hubbles would feel about Jonathan using his little sister like this but decided he would probably be able to sway the man with a good helping of points to Hufflepuff. A late Gryffindor entered the room, and Jonathan picked up another loop of garlic and flung it, this time hoping to actually hit someone. Unfortunately he missed.
'Ah, Girty!' He realised she had at last entered the room, looking less than agreeable. 'Why don't you come up here?' he grinned slyly, pushing her desk out of the way and taking hold of her chair, dragging it to the front of the room loudly. Girty was rather taken a back at this and tutted in annoyance as the professor dropped a sash of garlic over her head. 'Right then,' he clapped his hands together loudly - the classroom door and the drapes closing simultaneously so they were now cloaked in soft shadow.
The cage rattled excitedly as it seemed to sense something was going on. 'For fifteen points, someone give me the definition of half-breed.'
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Post by Ian Gray on Mar 8, 2007 17:22:20 GMT
As soon as the light dissolved, leaving the class in a hushed darkness, Ian's interests peaked. He looked around the room with a raised eyebrow, garlic swinging around his neck unattractively, before finally catching sight of the cage.
Drawn toward it, he was about to move to the seat closest to that section of the wall, when the Professor's voice caught him off guard. After a Hufflepuff was called toward the front, Ian tipped the legs of his chair back and raised his hand clumsily.
"Half-breeds," Being a half-blood himself, he was well familiar with the term. Not only in wizard standards, but Muggle as well. "Are people that have parents of two races, whether it's based on nationality or bloodtype." He paused, crinkling his brow, before grinning slightly.
"Or maybe something bizarre like half-centaur and half-banshee."
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Post by Sophie Hargreaves on Mar 9, 2007 10:02:20 GMT
Knocking once upon the oaken door Sophie pushed it open and swept inside wondering what was in store for today. Defence Against the Dark Arts often brought up surprises. Slipping quietly into a seat she looked reproachfully up at the Professor knowing she could quite easily be in for it, but murmering "sorry sir," in a hushed strained voice nonetheless. Looking around the room rather bewildered she realised she in fact knew a few of the pupils present, especially one who made her colour ever so slightly. Smiling lightly at Dax she looked away and began to focus upon the lesson at hand. It looked suspiciously like this was going to be an incredibly strange lesson having entered on hearing Ian's comments on half-breeds, her curiousity was quite aroused. She grinned at Ian hoping he'd have secured some points for Gryffindor with the answer.
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Post by Girty Hubbles on Mar 9, 2007 16:05:22 GMT
When the Professor dragged Girty up to the front of the class she knew that her day could not get any worse. That was until she heard the subject that they would be studying today. Her eyes grew wide as she looked around the room seeing everyone’s eyes fixed on her. Looking to the ground Girty started to plan what she will do to Dax next time she saw him in the Common room.
As Girty continued to study the cracks in the class room floor she knew that the Professor had her here for a reason. Grudgingly Girty mumbled her answer to the question.
“A half-breed does not depend on who your parents are. It depends on your own blood. The main example of this is the werewolf. No sane person would intentionally be bit by a werewolf. As from a single bite the victim receives almost a mutation of the blood. It takes hold and they are no longer themselves. They have no control and would kill their best friend his the opportunity arose.”
She knew she had strayed off the point but to be honest she did not care. Looking up at professor her eyes narrowed, showing her displeasure but also asking him if he was happy with that.
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Post by Dean Winchester on Mar 12, 2007 2:16:28 GMT
Dean walked into the classroom qucikly and quietly, taking the seat beside Ian. He picked up the strung garlic and wrinkled his nose at the strong smell that wafted off it. He slipped it around his neck in the immitation of everyone elese and zoned in on the class. He didn't raise his hand but recited the answer in his head, if he were to be called on. A half-breed is a mix of two diffferent things, either race, nationality or religion. An example would be what Slytherins call mudbloods, a mix between the races. Another example would be the Metis in Canada, a mix between not only the religion but the nationalities as well. Dean shrugged to himself and decided to actually say something in a class. He raised his hand and recited the answer in his mind "A half-breed is a mix of two diffferent things, either race, nationality or religion. An example would be what Slytherins call mudbloods, a mix between the races. Another example would be the Metis in Canada, a mix between not only the religion but the nationalities as well."
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Post by Prof. Jonathan Starsmore on Mar 21, 2007 0:25:32 GMT
'Exactly, well done.' Jonathan patted Ian's shoulder firmly. Twenty points to Gryffindor for Mr Gray and Mr Winchester's comments and five to Hubbles for her - er - rather elaborate rant.' He leaned closer to her for a moment, one eyebrow raised. 'Smile. Might never happen.' He winked at her. 'Got a present for you.'
Turning back to the class Jonathan began to pace back and forth, one eye on the cage. 'In the wizarding world half-breed is a term given to an individual - usually a human - who may be part something else. It gets a little more complicated politics wise when centaurs -' he nodded at Ian. '- come into the picture. While they may appear half-man, they certainly don't have any human heritage and I expect you'd get a hoof in your face if you suggested it. Hubbles's example of a werewolf is good. While you can have pure breed werewolves who are dog-like regardless of full moons or not, if a person is bitten by one they develop the involuntary ability to change, as does their blood - usually permanently.' He looked upon Girty now, seeing she was glaring at him all the more strongly. He simply grinned.
Walking to his desk, Jonathan opened a draw and pulled out a pair of long dragon hide gloves. As he tugged them on he stood next to the cage, a gleam in his eyes. 'Once - shall we say - infected by another creature's blood, there are various effects related with certain species. Usually the most unpleasant thing to be is one of this -' he placed a hand on Girty's head, at the same time whipping off the cover on the cage...
Something the size of a small dog and very furry sat in the cage, it's big black eyes staring about the room woefully as it buried its snout in it's chunky paws, snuffling and growling. Several people gasped while several others - mainly girls - let out a chorus of 'Awwwww!' and leaned forward in their seats, trying to get a better look at what was none other than a werewolf cub.
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Post by Girty Hubbles on Mar 21, 2007 17:06:44 GMT
As the Professor leaned close to talk to her, Girty snorted at his comment about her smiling, and then when he put his hand on her head and reviled a Werewolf cub to everyone her mouth hung open. Starring hopelessly at the ball of fluff Girty could hear his sniffles and whines.
Trying to say something Girty could only muster up a series of choking sounds as she watched the small cub behind the bars of the cage. Closing her mouth and swallowing hard Girty tired once more to confront the Professor.
“Where did you get that? More to the point why do you have it?”
She shot a glance at Professor Starsmore wanting him to explain everything but she knew far to well form experience that he would either simply laugh or ignore her straight off. She waited with for his explanation, constantly giving quick glances back at the poor creature.
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Post by Loren Hayes on Mar 24, 2007 21:46:25 GMT
Loren had slipped into the darkened room several minutes ago without being seen, but had been too busy scribbling down notes to take in the fact that most people in the room had long loops of garlic around their necks, nor that a large, veil covered cage sat at the front of the class. Her interests were roused however when several people in the class reacted to something, and Loren looked up, raising her eyebrows at the sight of a big-eyed werewolf cub looking around at them innocently. She dropped her quill and grinned adoringly. 'He's lovely!' she declared, leaning forward to get a better look.
Girty did not seem too impressed however. 'Probably a breeder,' she said with a thoughtful nod. 'Dragon experts are a lot more common but lots of people specialise in werewolves. The ministry has a special facility.' She knew all this from her friend in Hogsmede who worked in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. He had never been involved with ministry-owned beasts himself - he chaired the Pest Advisory Board - but he had seen plenty.
'Can we stroke it, sir? If we put the gloves on I mean,' Loren asked eagerly, raising her hand.
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Post by Prof. Jonathan Starsmore on Mar 30, 2007 13:16:23 GMT
Jonathan grinned cheekily at Girty, content not to answer her question and leave her hanging, only this was spoiled as his least favourite Ravenclaw - the bratty, swotty and out spoken Loren Hayes - piped up at the back of the room to butt in with her usual know-it-all tone. 'No, you cannot bloody well stroke it.' Jonathan snapped back, a slight sneer on his face. 'Not unless you fancy growing a full beard ever full moon, Hayes.' He added as he picked up a string of garlic and winged it her way across the classroom. I hope she's allergic, he thought nonchalantly.
Giving the elbow-length hide gloves an extra tug, Jonathan undid the knot of the cage's roof and reached inside, gruffly getting hold of the cub by the scruff of its neck. It began to snarl and growl in the way that puppies do, and although it was ridiculously heavy Jonathan lifted it out by one hand, quickly walking over to Girty and dumping it in her lap. The professor caught sight of a few people glaring at him indignantly with their mouths open. 'Oh, give it a rest. If she gets bit all she'll need is a plaster.' He tutted, waving his hand dismissively.
The cub wriggled angrily in Girty's lap, shocked that it had been thrown into the arms of a human of all things. Jonathan gave it a quick pat on the head, letting it get its small jaws round his gloved finger. 'Right then. Looking at it - who can tell me the difference between a werewolf and a regular dog?' He asked, looking around the room expectantly.
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Post by Sophie Hargreaves on Apr 2, 2007 12:05:05 GMT
Giggling as her goodly Gryffindors secured them some points she mused over an answer herself, with a far off expression for a moment she was instantly brought with a jolt to the present by the unveiling of the most gorgeous animal she had ever seen. Letting out a gasp she awed along with the rest. The little ball of fuzz reminded her distinctly of her own dog at home, now grown up it had been so adorable at birth.
But there were some key differences, if only she could remember the topic from Care of Magical Creatures, she'd only read several chapters just the other week. Gradually answers drifted into her brain, smiling she raised her hand and on being gestured to speak she said
"well there are only a few small things, like the snout, a dog's is usually smaller though it depends upon the breed of course." Crinkling her brow she searched for another answer gazing with dreamy eyes at the cub.
"ooh yes and the adorable cute tail too, the tufts are perfect," she declared smiling. But on dragging her eyes from the cub, though shocked it had been dumped into the arms of a student she assured herself the professor must know what he was doing, surely? But on seeing his expression she couldn't help but wonder, he seemed uncommonly happy, elated that a student could so easily be bitten. The professor was a strange and curious man for sure, and those deep eyes...
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