[Dragonolgy] Lesson 2

[Professor Aurora Turolia]

Aurora watched as her old friend walked out the door of the classroom. She had gotten word that her favorite Antipodean Opaleye had hatched an egg, not too long ago. She stood quietly for a moment, looking at the door. She did miss her old job, but somehow it seemed the longer she was at this school the less she wanted to go back. She walked over to the huge cage that sat in the place her desk usually would have been in the front of the room. She lifted a bit of the black tarp that covered the cage and looked at the small dragon inside.

It was only the size of an average dog, and had yet to gain its fire-breathing abilities, as far as she knew it hadn't even flown yet, so it shouldn't be too much of a danger for her class. It looked at her with its colorful, pupil-less eyes, and she couldn't help but smile. Dragons were the only thing that had ever been able to put her in this good a mood. She dropped the tarp back down and leaned against the cage, eager for her students to arrive. However, she did have a few reservations about her students' abilities to follow her rules, since they didn't seem to appreciate her strictness.

[Erys Grace]

This past week had been topsy turvy, at best. Erys didn't know what to make of it, whether good or bad, beautiful or ugly. On more than a few occations she had drifted the corridors in cat form, or skipped a meal instead of eating alone. The magnetic, popular (in the Slytherin sense) teenager felt abandoned without her friends, without Joshua or Veata to hang out with. Even her meetings with Angel were growing sparse, and the twins must be making mischief on their own. Ever-beautiful, she was still magnificent and strong despite losing a bit of weight. She wasn't a skeleton, but Erys found herself thinner than before. Anyone to point this out except for a certain someone wouldn't like the consequences. If anything, she hadn't realised the hunger, it being drowned out by the silence that seemed so much louder than before. Life was a lonely place when you were without your friends for long.

With the weight of the world on her shoulders, Erys Grace walked to class, her stride confident, her eyes glowing. Something she wasn't, was weak. So she continued on her way to class, expecting the snotty Dragonology professor to be in another of her prissy moods. Now, if she could only empathize with the Slytherins, that might make her more keen on joining the class. Participation was key to get house points, and dragons rocked, but if only Turolia was a bit nicer.. The serpent house had the greatest prejudice anyone had ever seen in a long time. Cut them some slack.

Entering the room without a word, Erys walked smoothly to the back, sitting roughly and retrieving her supplies. Removing the cork from her ink jar, she drew out her raven-feathered quill, studying it for scuffs before placing it quietly on the table. Last came the parchment, fresh from her trunk and ready to be written on. After a moment of thinking, she reluctantly raised her eyes up to the teacher, managing a small, polite smile, "Professor Turolia." Came her greeting, filled with an ounce of respect. It wasn't big, but it was something. So far so good.[/color]

[Alexis Heart]

The times she had spent in the common room lately were probably the best times she'd had. So much fun with her new friends and the different things going on. The Quidditch team now felt like a new kind of family to her. It was hard to leave it to go back to the real world and classes. That is what she had to do today. Dragonology class to be exact. Sighing she wasn't a happy girl, the last class didn't go so well and Professor Turolia most certainly wasn't her favorite teacher.

Walking down the hall it felt like she was heading off to some last rights or something. She dragged her feet and made no attempt to hurry even though she had the sneaking suspicion that teacher would not tolerate tardiness. As she saw the corridor come into view she thought of turning back. Maybe she'd go to the nurse and say she felt a really bad stomach ache coming on. That might get her out of class.

She stopped and was about to turn back and do just that but then the face of Professor Turolia popped up and she saw her waving a finger saying something about punishing liars. Gulping Alexis figured that her idea was a bad one. Taking a deep breath she continued walking the door coming into view. Stepping in she just went over to a desk not bothering to look and see who else was there.

[Professor Aurora Turolia]

Aurora stepped slightly away from the cage and looked as she heard someone coming toward the room. She looked at Erys, and responded with her own polite smile, "Hello, Miss Grace." Her eyes went back to the door as Alexis entered without a word. "It's good to see you again, Miss Heart," she said with the same faint smile. She was in an unusually good mood thanks to the dragon that sat beneath the tarp.

Aurora looked at the two girls that were in her class. She had assumed that after the first lesson, some of the students wouldn't return. However, she was pleased to see that these two had decided to keep attending class. They both had seemed exceptionally bright in the first lesson, and she was hoping to see them prove themselves. Glancing up at the clock she looked back to the girls, "As soon as a few more students arrive we shall begin." She glanced at the cage, her smile widening, as she heard the small dragon moving about restlessly within.

[Angelique Juliette]

The sketch pad she was holding had been poised as she continued to draw the eagle owl perched in the tree above her. The pencil gliding over the paper with ease as the form of the bird suddenly took shape. She was relaxed for the first time in days the school had been getting to her lately. Most of her time was now spent alone. It wasn't as if it made much difference she wasn't a social butterfly around school so it wasn't as if anyone would really notice. Sketching was her secret passion her guilty little pleasure if you will.

After the owl hooted she looked around the grounds were empty it was time for class. Putting her things in her bag she got up and walked slowly back to the castle. Running wasn't really lady like and well she just wasn't up for it. Her peaceful day had just been ruined due to classes. Trying to think as she walked she finally remembered that she had Dragonology class.

Walking into the room she noticed that she wasn't late. Then her eyes spotted Erys the first smile she'd worn that day appeared on her face. At least she'd be around someone she didn't detest. Completely ignoring the other girl in the room she nodded politely at the professor and made her way over to Erys immediately. Sitting down she arranged her robes that had gotten caught on the seat and once they were squared away she looked at Erys and whispered very lowly.

'How are you? It's been a while.'

[Professor Aurora Turolia]

Aurora smiled slightly as the girl entered the room and spoke quietly to her friend. At least they were trying to be quiet after the last lesson. Perhaps the students weren't as undisciplined as they had seemed during the first lesson. She cleared her throat and stood looking toward the back of the room where all the students had sat, waiting for their attention. She would wait no longer for students to arrive, if they did come then they were welcome and if not, then she would be teaching only those who really wanted to learn about dragons.

When she saw that their attention was on her, Aurora began. "It is lovely to see you all here again," she said with a faint smile. She was not surprised by the dramatic drop in attendence. However, she was not concerned about it because these would be the ones who get the most out of the class anyway. "Today, I have decided that we should study a particular dragon species, the Antipodean Opaleye. I believe that you told me a little about this species in the last lesson Miss Heart," she said looking at the youngest girl.

"Perhaps one of you could give me a bit of information on this dragon." Her eyes went from girl to girl stopping only for a second on each one. She walked over and stood by the cage as she waited for the girls to give her a little bit of information so that she could unveil the creature that was in the cage.

[Professor Ashton Laurent]

Ashton rushed breathlessly into the class, the Professor had just begun talking and he hoped he could slip past her unnoticed. Although he tended to stand out in crowds, so that was unlikely. Still, it wouldn't hurt to try. Staying close to the wall, which luckily was partly in shadows, Ashton made his way to the back of the room, praying that he wouldn't get called out for his tardiness.

[Erys Grace]

Erys strode into class just in time to catch the professors question, having to think only a moment before coming up with an answer. She knew this, dragons were her passions. Or one of them. "The Antipodean Opaleye lives mostly in the valleys of New Zealand, and parts of Australia. They are pearly colored, and the last part of their name 'Opaleye' came from the appearance of their beautiful eyes, which are multicolored and pupil-less. They have a medium build compared to their cousins, but they're still dangerous; their flame is a vivid red, and they feed on sheep. Or the occational human." She couldn't help but add with a small grin, as she slid into her regular seat at the back, away from Ashton. From where she was sitting she had a perfect view of the specimen in question. Or, whatever was hidden underneath the fabric.

Curiosity spurred, the Slytherin fluidly drew out her supplies yet again, uncorking her ink jar and basically recording what she said on the Antipodean Opaleye. Her feathered quill rapidly scrolled the information down, in her perfect script. Smiling to herself, Erys remembered being awarded the best writing at the award ceremony a while back. Not the strongest thing to be proud of, but it would do for now.[/color]

[Professor Aurora Turolia]

Aurora nodded to the boy as he entered the class late. "Thank you for joining us," she said, knowing that had it been any other day she would not have tolerated tardiness. "That is very correct Miss Grace," Aurora said looking directly at the Slytherin who was proving to be an excellent student.

"The Antipodean Opaleye is known best for it's beauty. Personally, I find it the most beautiful species although all have their qualities." Aurora stood in front of the cage as she spoke, thinking of the creature within. "Seeing as how it is one of the less aggressive species, I thought it would be a prime choice for a visitor," as she said this Aurora pulled out her wand and with a flick the tarp was off the cage and the dragon within was revealed.

The small dragon was lying down asleep in the cage, rather peaceful like a pet dog. "Everyone this is Susie. Susie is a young Antipodean Opaleye from one of the dragon reservations I used to work on," she said looking down at the Susie with a smile. The creature stirred a bit and its colorful eyes fluttered open. "Now if you would come just a bit closer," she said motioning the students toward her. They certainly wouldn't be able to see very well from the back of the room.

[Angelique Juliette]

A correct answer and from her own house that made Angel proud. Erys seemed to know a thing or two about dragons. Angel thought they were majestic creatures. Funny story about her one that she never told anyone when she was about three her mother had read her a book about dragons before sending her off to bed one night. For about a year after that she would beg her parents for one telling them she would take care of it, feed it, and walk it. They refused of course but still she had wanted one. She might still want one.

As the cover was pulled off the cage on the professors desk Angel bit her lip to keep from oohing and aahing. When they were told to get up for a closer look she was the first one out of her chair. Susie was absolutely magnificent and didn't appear to her to be remotely dangerous. Multi-colored pupiless eyes staring into her gray ones. She wanted to touch it and wondered if that was allowed. 'Are we able to touch her through the bars?'

[Girty Hubbles]

Girty was making her way down the corridor to her dragonology lesson when she heard an almighty noise. Glancing at her watch she noticed she had five minutes to spare, it would not really harm having a small look at what it was, although this idea did not go as well as she had guessed. As she rounded the corner she saw the grounds man Dax chasing a pair of blast-ended skrewts around the corridors. Naturally Girty volunteered to help her old friend out.

After a minutes of laughing at Dax, chasing the stupid creatures up and down stairwells and finally levitating them out of the window Girty entered the class room with only a few a few burns marks to so for it. But as she approached the Professors desk to apologise for her lateness her eyes fell upon the dragon that was sitting in the cage. Her mouth dropt open slightly and Girty forgot all about being late and telling the tale about the blast-ended skrewts, instead she stared in wonder at the creature.

“She is beautiful.” Her gaze turned to the professor and the spell that was upon her was broken and Girty suddenly remembered where she was. “Sorry I am late professor. I was helping the groundskeeper round up some lose animals. It won’t happen again, I told Dax to keep a closer eye on them.”

She gave a small laugh but feared that this may not be the time to be making jokes so quickly walked over to the closed table, placed her bad on the floor and sat on the edge of her seat lost in her own thoughts as she looked on at the dragon.

[Bradyn Reed]

[ I shall barge in now too? ]

Bradyn looked at his watch. Late again! These early classes were really starting to kill him with his side tutoring, and this class he really needed to attend since it was only the second lesson and he'd missed the first since he ditched out with Bry. Bray really needed to learn to manage his life a bit more. As he walked quickly down the hallway he heard voices coming from the classroom, and knew he must be a bit too late. He quietly sneaked into class and looked around a bit before taking a seat in the back by Ashton, hoping to not be noticed.

After he got his bearings, he noticed what everyone was staring at. A bloody dragon, in the classroom. Bray couldn't help but stare at it in awe. It was adorable, amazing, and.. real! Maybe this class was more entertaining than he gave it credit for.

[Professor Aurora Turolia]

Aurora looked at the girl that entered with only the slightest flicker of annoyance at her tardiness. Normally, she would not have put up with it, but on this particular day, she was very happy, because she had Susie here. "I don't need your excuses, Miss Hubbles, just do not let it happen again," she said in a stern voice.

She glanced down at Susie and when she lifted her gaze again she saw another addition to the class. "Welcome to class, Mr. Reed, I do believe. You might want to be more prompt next time you come to my class," she said looking at the boy sitting in the back of the room.

"As I was saying," Aurora continued. "Susie is and Antipodean Opaleye. A species known for its beautiful look." Aurora looked around the room at the awe on the faces. She had forgotten that most people weren't as used to dragons as she was. "If you to like you can come a bit closer," Aurora said directing it at the two tardy students. "She is still young, and not too much of a danger, just don't get right up at the cage, keep some distance."

[Kendal Montgomery]

Kendal didn't even want to walk into the classroom now as she heard the professor's voice from outside. She wasn't the only one who had been late but after hearing the way they were spoken to didn't make Kendal feel all that confident. She wasn't usually late, most of the time she was prompt probably too prompt for her own good, but today had just been an off day for her. She had so much trouble getting on tract but there was no way Professor Turolia would care about that. Kendal knew that skipping class wasn't an option so she would just have to tough it out and enter the room.

Taking one step in the room she took a few deep breaths before taking the next few steps. Students were lined up walking over to the desk to look at something nestled safely away in a cage. Deciding to go straight up to the professor she kept thinking about ripping off a bandaid, if you do it fast it won't hurt as bad and you'll get it done faster. "I'm sorry I was late it's just been a rather hectic day, not that it's any excue, but I do apologize.' With that said she moved to the back of the que waiting to see what was in the cage and hoping that she wasn't about to get a reprimand.

[Erys Grace]

Standing without hesitation, the Slytherin stepped forward, gracefully drawing closer to the cage with nothing but confidence in her eyes. She was always good with creatures, being one herself. Recalling this as she stopped short of the full way - as Turolia warned they shouldn't get too close - Erys admired Susie from afar, smiling despite herself. Glancing with irritation at the Hufflepuff, she shook her head with a sigh, reminding herself that they were prone to do this. Alot. Looking back to the baby dragon once more, she maintained a smile; a gesture stale on her lips since the day.. He left. Perhaps this class would be good for her after all.

"Can she fly yet, professor?" Erys questioned, her voice smooth, her eyes still locked on the creature. If only they could touch it. Hold it, even. She had a way with beasts, perhaps she could try? Though, thinking against it now, the Slytherin decided it best to just watch. The past few months were forgotten for now, and she felt a warmth fill her up inside that had been absent for god knows how long.[/color]