(DADA) T4: Lesson One: Bloodsuckers

[Girty Hubbles]

Leave? No way, not Girty. She had never missed a lesson even when she was ill she always found a way to get in and at least sit in the back and write down a few notes. With a frown and a small glare at the Professor before pulling out her parchment and quill from her bag. It was such a political answer from her and that always grated on her, she could not understand why professors were so scared of saying something they would regret and it was clear that this certain professor was picking her words carefully.

Rubbing her nose Girty decided it best to hold her tongue, she was not stupid enough to argue back to a teacher, defiantly not at the start of term. With a sigh Girty dipped her quill in the ink pot and started to write down what others were saying simply to keep her mind focused and entertained, not that the stuff she was learning was of any use. Other members in the class seemed to know quite a lot about Vampires and Girty gave them all quick glances as they answered, making a mental note of who had said what. However the question from the Ravenclaw drew her attention.
Sitting up in her seat Girty thought about it carefully and raised her hand in the air and began to speak.

“Well the muggle stories have vampires turning into bats, but that basically makes them an Animagus which we all know can happen. But the idea of them being able to turn into other objects and change appearance in my opinion is hard to believe. That will have to be some strong form of transfiguration for that to happen.”

Girty lowered her hand and picked up her quill and started the twirl it around in her figures. She had a feeling that the professor may have not took to Girty as well as others have done in the past and she started to worry that the idea of her answering a question that was directed to her might have not helped.

[Veata Bane]

Snaking her sepentine fingers over the dragon carved into the length of her wand, V smiled, casting a smug glare over to the Hufflepuff girl. Try to redeem yourself all you want, Veata snickered in her mind, But it seems to me this teacher hates you as much as any Slytherin. Ravenclaws could at least be admired for their smarts, but Hufflepuffs just tried to hard to be good at what they could never accel in. How sad, their futures so bleak while all the other houses at least had something to live for, whether it be a Slytherin's determination to be the very best, a Gryffindors courage and chivalry, or a Ravenclaws smarts.

To V, the Hufflepuffs were just... there.

Anyway, she had won Slytherin seven points, which was awesome, even though they were already the Champion house so far. And rightfully so. Instead of offering any more information on the subject, she watched a small quarrel about transfiguration of vampires into other animals. Shape shifting? I think not.[/font]

[vampireangel]

Erika walked into the DADA classroom, and looking at the word written on the board, smirked. So, the topic is vampires today is it? Well, let's see how much these mortals really know. she mused to herself, as she ran her teeth over her own hidden fangs. Smiling she nodded to the professor. "Hello professor. How are you doing today?" Taking a seat near the back in the shadows, she looked around the room. So many faces. So much blood. She hadn't had a decent meal in about a week, and their blood was calling to her. She knew she'd have to curb her desires however if she wanted her secret to stay a secret. She nodded at the other students, then turned her attention to her notebook, which she began to doodle in.

[croll]

"No problem Miss Thompson, it happens." Caroline smiled slightly, waiting for the student to take her seat before looking around again. Moreso at the Hufflepuff and Slytherin who hadn't yet provided something, but she figured they were either waiting for someone to finish, or ran dry in the information category. Both were very probable answers, and she wouldn't hold them accountable for it. Everybody had those days.

"Another quick fact I'll get into his half vampires. All vampires are considered half human, theres always that chance they retain some of their magical potential and are able to complete a few spells. They must concentrate during this, depending on the level of their skill. This hybrid of sorts could happen if, say, a Veela was bitten and changed into a vampire."

Miss Hubbles could glare all she wanted, it didn't bother her in the slightest. She had never found her students intimidating. Opening her mouth to form a reply to Miss Heart's question, Caroline looked at Girty, surprised the Hufflepuff had answered. Arching an eyebrow slightly, the professor tapped her wand against the board, writing down what she had said. Instead of the reaction expected of her, Croll was actually pleased. "You're right. Unless an animagus was turned into a vampire, they shouldn't be able to change into an animal, unless talented at Transfiguration. They do possess other useful talents, or enhancements. First person to name four gets four points."

"Hello, Miss McCallister. I'm doing great, thank you for asking. Make sure you copy the notes down on the board." It was almost time, after everyone got through the study period. Caroline had convinced a vampire student to join them for a demonstration, and she'd pick someone to use their knowledge on the species to protect themselves. It was perfectly safe, the vampire would risk certain expulsion from the school if she tried anything, and she was set on graduating. There were also a few spells in place, if anybody panicked and couldn't remember what to do.[/color]

[vampireangel]

Erika smiled and nodded her assent. Although she wasn't sure why. Being a vampire herself, she knew everything about them. Heck, why was she even in this class!? Um, because you want to see if these mortals actually understand vampires? answered the voice in her head. Erika gave a mental sigh. True she admitted to herself. With a sigh, Erika flipped to a clean page, and prepared herslf to take the unnesseccary and dreaded notes.

[Veata Bane]

Veata glanced another smug look at Girty before lifting her hand up into the air, her wand still clutched in spindly fingers. "I believe those talents are speed, enhanced senses such as hearing, sight, smell. They also have extreme strength that any human could not hope to attain, no matter how they trained their body, unless amplified by magic."

Grinning, Veata leaned back into her seat, happy with her answer. Yes, she was doing really well this class. It was just too bad that Erys wasn't here, together they could rock the socks off the other houses and drag Slytherin so close to the House Cup the other houses gave up hope. Tapping her toes happily on the classrooms stone floor, V dipped her long white quill into her black ink and began to scribble down notes about vampires, all of which she already knew. God, she was good with Defence Against the Dark Arts.[/font]

[vampireangel]

Erika smiled at the Slytherin girl. "Wow, you really know your stuff!" she said, surpised that anyone would know that much. "But," she continued, "You forgot some stuff. Like what about the myths and truths of vampires? How can you tell myth from truth? And more imporantly, how did the myths get started?"

[Angelique Juliette]

So far Angel hadn't added anything to the classes discussion on vampires. This wasn't good and she was making the Slytherin's look bad something she hated doing. At one point she thought she had a chance to redeem herself when the professor asked yet another question but she was beaten out by one of her own. Veata had a knack for those sort of things and Angel had admired her for it. She was quicker and therefore got the answer out faster than she had.

Trying not to look too disappointed Angel just continued to write down all the things that were on the board so far. Her good mood about the class already beginning to slowly leave her and she didn't know why. It wasn't the first time she hadn't said anything in class. For some reason though she didn't want to disappoint the Professor. She'd just have to put forth more effort she knew this stuff and she could do this she just had to learn to move faster. Smiling to herself she waited.

[croll]

Turning to hear Veata answer, Caroline nodded, impressed at the girl's know-how. "Excellent! Four points for Slytherin." Looking up to address the rest of the class, she copied the four qualities on the board, under strengths. "Vampires are very formidable opponents, even a turned child is deadly. You have to distance yourself away from them, unless you want to get bitten. You all know that they consume the blood of their victims by sinking their fangs into their flesh, and hitting a vein. The horrible part of it, is at the start you feel pain, but then it slowly turns to pleasure. That is why is so hard to get away after." Quite sick, actually. At least people have written this down for the next unsuspecting person that came along, unprepared. But not these students, they would know. At least Miss Hubbles was participating despite her reluctance.

Fixing her eyes on Erika now, Caroline nodded, glad of the reminder. "Very good, thank you Miss McCallister." Beginning to walk around the room slowly, she weaved gracefully throughout the rows, continuing, "How are all myths started? It depends. Muggles who know nothing of the magical world catch a glimpse of a kelpie in the middle of the lake, and BAM!" Clapping her hands together, the loud smack reverberated throughout the room. "The Loch Ness Monster is born. That was one of the stories they told, passed on from generation to generation. As the tale is passed down, it gets exaggerated and changed, until its entirely different from the truth. Many people have different views about what the monster is, just like vampires." Really, she should be the one asking questions, but Erika brought up a good point. "As always, these myths have to be tested. So, someone approached a vampire and lit it on fire. Or staked it through the heart, or cut it's head off. I dont suggest doing it yourself, since most if not all of them have been tested and either affirmed or denied."

Catching the disappointed look from Angelique, Caroline smiled sympathetically, deciding to give her a chance to contribute to the lesson. "Miss Juliette, would you care to tell me a few myths about vampires?" Very soon, after this question perhaps, would she bring in the vampire student.[/color]

[vampireangel]

Erika froze as she heard Professor Croll explain that unless you wanted to be bitten, you should stay away from vampires. A cold fury filled her veins. Was this woam actually saying this? Not caring that she might get in trouble, Erika stoo from her seat and adressed the professor. "Actually professor, I believe you may be a bit mistaken." She said as she walked around the room, weaving throughout the desks. "True, vampires can be formidable, but that does not mean, that they have no control. They do. Getting near a vampire, will not neccessarily get you bitten. Unless of course they are hungry. Then you need to be careful. Another thing you may not know, is that there are some vampires out there who consider themselves 'vegetarians' meaning that they do not drink human blood, but rather animal blood. Neither are they as wicked and cruel as they are mad out to be. Well, some are, but not all. After all, vampires were once human themselves were they not? They have feelings. The can feel sadness, happiness, jealousy, anger, and yes, even love. We vam--" suddenly Erika stopped. Oh no! I almost gave away my secret! she exclaimed in silent panic. She stared around the room with wild eyes, praying that no one had noticed her slip up.

[Angelique Juliette]

She hadn't meant to do it but she had no control over it. A huge smile spread across her lips. The teacher was giving her a change to redeem herself and she actually jumped on it. Taking her quill she put it in her mouth for a minute sucking on then end as she thought about the myths she'd heard. One popped into her head and she pulled it out.

'One of the major ones is about vampires sleeping in coffins. It was started by gravediggers who thought they saw them raising from the ground. Truth is the vampires will sleep wherever as long as they feel safe there.

Also the whole garlic thing is untrue. That won't cause them to back off it smell bad yes but it won't save your neck.

Before I forget the whole cross thing too, it was something started by religious types but a vampire is no more effected by a cross than I am by well by this quill in my hand.'

Oh and let's not forget one of the big ones the one that most people believe in is the one about them and sunlight. True it might effect them but they're not going to burst into flame at the sight of it. They won't be able to see it renders them slightly blind or they might have a fit of some sort but no fire.

She knew there was a lot more but she was having some trouble remembering them at the moment. She thought that she had done a good job with what she gave her so far, she hoped the professor felt the same way though.

As she was finishing up though one of the other students apparently who disagreed strongly with what the professor had said about their feeding habits got up and pretty much told the teacher she was wrong. Angel's eyes opened wide as she watched wondering what the girls issue was, why was she so upset about it?

The whole thing was odd and apparently the girl noticed too because she stared at them all but not before she said what seemed to be We vam. Could it be? Was that what this was about? It would explain the whole thing.

[croll]

Opening her eyes wider with surprise, as she had asked another student a question instead of her, Caroline raised an eyebrow. "There are few vampires who retain these eating habits, but you are right. The students at Hogwarts have no way to tell that if they encounter a vampire, unless said so, but who in their right mind would believe them just like that?" Narrowing her eyes, testing Erika's reaction, she wondered what the last unfinished piece of sentence was. We vampires, maybe? Was this girl saying she was a vampire? Oh, there were so many ways to test that theory, but Caroline didn't wish to disrupt her lesson. "Five points for your answer, Miss McCallister, it was very well-informed." She finished calmly. Any other teacher would have docked points for being disagreed with - but that wasn't it in a sense, she was mostly adding on unmentioned bits - but she had a level of patience most professors lacked.

Turning back to Miss Juliette, the professor nodded her head as she spoke, concluding that this class was extremely knowledgable on the subject. "Very good. It is doubtful a single clove of garlic will repell them, but if you drop them in a sea of the stuff, they might gag a little." Laughing at the joke for a moment, she pointed her wand to the board, and the writing appeared. Being a big board, it wasn't that close to being full of information just yet. "You are very right about the coffins, Angelique. And the sunlight. They can walk into light for periods of time without being bothered by it, unless accustomed to the dark. One thing you must remember though, is that vampires hate bright light. And I mean blinding."

"Five points for Slytherin, thank you Miss Juliette. If everyone is finished with their notes now.." Waiting a bit, Caroline walked around, inspecting their work with little hms. "Now, with all this under your belt, you should be able to protect yourselves. But just to see what your innovative minds can come up with, I'll be picking a volunteer for a little demonstration. Ah, Miss Bane! Come on up." Veata hadn't raised her hand, but she had picked her anyway.

Slytherin: 16
Gryffindor: 10
Ravenclaw: 0
Hufflepuff: 0

[/color]

[Veata Bane]

Veata had been curled over her notes, daydreaming, doodling, not paying attention at all. In fact, she had basically completely missed the Gryffindor stand in angry retaliation to one of the teachers bits of advice. She didn't know what it was, but the girl seemed pretty steamed about it. And after that, besides hearing 5 more points to Slytherin, she didn't hear anything. She hadn't been sleeping well again this term, just like the last. And so it wasn't unusual for her to zone out after the beginning of a class.

So when Croll called out her name, she jumped, sending her back rigid. Come on up? What was this, Defense Against the Dark Arts presents The Price is Right? "Oh crap," she said quietly, standing up and grabbing her wand, heading toward the front of the class. Demonstration? Good God today was reeeaaally going downhill now...[/font]

[Cessily Monroe]

Even though Professor Croll had promised Ravenclaw seven points for her participation, Cessily couldn't help but feel that she betrayed her fellow vampires. Not like she knew anybody else, so the only one she was hurting was herself. Not a problem; just because the few students assembled for the lesson knew how to defend themselves, didn't mean they couldn't be taken and drained. She'd just go for the smaller ones, or, someone who hadn't gone to that class at all. Good plan. Gliding silently into the room, she crossed her arms over her chest, waiting at a cleared space in the front of the room. "I'm here, professor." She murmured, her voice lulling and hypnotic. The warmth seemed to be sucked from the room as she spoke, breathed into her instead of air. It was a habit some vampires possessed.

Staring at Erika for a long time, Cessily arched an eyebrow, surprised another vampire was in attendance. She hadn't enjoyed this, by the way her eyes fumed. Ah, well. Thats life, sweetie. If you didn't like it, you shouldn't have came this class. Drawing her death-wand (a pun of course, its very scary. Acromantula venom core with tattered Dementor cloth around it, very cool.) out, the vampire awaited the volunteer to join her, smiling coldly. There should be some space between them. Listening without speaking for Croll's instructions, she glared around the room, wondering how they would react to her bringing in a -insert high girly voice here- real dead vampire!

[Joshua Rivas]

Joshua Rivas swaggered into the class, late as usual. A dark haired girl was standing beside the professor, who he smiled at. Most professors knew Joshua's penchant for lateness, almost as much as his skill with spells. He headed towards the back and pulled up a chair, his eyes scanning the room. All females in today. What did it take to have some male companionship in this place? He always seemed surrounded by the fairer gender. Sometimes a guy just needed his boys to laugh with.

Only then did he notice what was written on the board.
Vampires... He thought, a chill going through his spine. Still, always eager to learn he was willing to sit through the class that would pinpoint every one of his weakness and screw-ups during the incident last term. And he hadn't even noticed who the dark haired girl was yet...