T6: Salamanders

[Prof Brianna O'Donnell]

Salamanders

It excited O'Donnell to no end to know that this magnificent creature was just about to spring up, just in time for her class to see it. What a treat. She had stumbled across the Salamander's nest only hours before and after thorough inspection she discovered the actual hatching time would coincide perfectly.

It was with this thought buzzing in her mind that Bree waited in her usual spot on the edge of the forest for her class to come. It was a rather chilly day in October but the sun was shining - not all that brightly but it was something - and there were very few clouds in the sky. This was both suprising and alarming, because October was meant to be a wet month and it would probably mean that the following weeks would be drenched. A not entirely happy thought but not even unhappy weather could dampen her spirits today.

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Points:
Gryffindor: [1] [2] ["]
Hufflepuff: [2] ["] ["]
Ravenclaw: [2] ["] [4 present]
Slytherin: [1] ["] ["]

[Sarie Thimble]

Sarie was heading down to COMC. She heard the lesson was on Salamanders. To a normal person this wouldn't be very impressivebut Sarie wasn't normal far from it. She was a 13 year old witch and she wanted to learn it all.

She arrived to the class is usually held. No one else was there yet but she could wait. Nothing could spoil her mood. She had just won the match of her life a week ago and she wanted to get back to classes.

[Rosalind Matthews]

In spite of everything the classes at this school were just real fascinating. She was heading to care of magical creatures. What it was all about she had no real clue but the name was cool enough for her. Rosa wondered what kind of creatures were considered magical. The intellectual side of her wanted to read up on it but the other part of her wanted to be shocked when she got there.

The class was held outside Rosa was kind of familiar with it already she'd been outside on a few occasions so she didn't have a lick of trouble finding her way to this class. Bag slung across her shoulder she hitched it up a little higher on her shoulder because it threatened to fall down. Her hair started blowing in the breeze some in her mouth so she started to spit it out. She thought of putting it up but she was trying to be cute and now she was just annoyed.

When she finally got there she saw the professor standing there so she politely said "Hello" while seeking other signs of life. A pretty young girl was there one that seemed familiar, it came to her soon the girl from the hall with the paintings. "Hey you're Sarie right?" So far Sarie was the only truly nice person Rosalind had met.

[Carolanne Roberts]

For an October day, the weather was rather cooperative. Carolanne 's school robe was just enough to keep her comfortable as she headed to the usual spot by the Forest for her Care of Magical Creatures class. There had been a burst of rumors just hours before the lesson about Salamanders but Laney knew better not to assume that rumors were always correct so she came to class with everything she might need in case the lesson was changed. Thanks to some spells she had learned back in her earlier years at Hogwarts, Carolanne was able to fit anything and everything she would need into her book bag without weighing it down.

The edge of the forest was just coming into view and Carolanne noted that she wasn't the first one there. It wasn't a surprise to her however, she was just glad she wasn't late. The shiny Head Girl badge that stuck to her robes was just one of the reasons she was losing sleep at night. She'd was used to squeezing in time with Maxi and homework when she didn't have any duties.

As Laney approached, she could make out the other students. Sarie, and Rosalind, a new transfer student in her house. She hadn't had much contact with the girl yet, but made a mental note to hang out with her soon. Carolanne tried her best to mingle with everyone from her house and as many outside of her house as she could. If she has time that is. "Hello, Ladies," she greeted her classmates with a grin.

[Erys Grace]

After having finished up with Hundar after another Dark Arts lesson, Erys scuttled out of the classroom in the dungeons, quickly advancing on the common room and managing to get changed into nicer (less scullied) robes before rocketing outside. She had managed to remain in this class, perhaps due to her spotless participation points and fondness for animals? Whatever the case was, the Slytherin loved this class, and she wasn't about to miss it any time soon. Coiling the muscles in her legs she leaned back, leaping forward and concentrating within a split second as bones shifted and rearranged, pupils' slitted and fur sprouted from her skin, and before she hit the ground she was a large, albeit exotically spotted, bengal cat. She hadn't been in her animal form in a while, and the itch to run nearly drove her mad inside. Plus it cut the running time in half, almost guarenteeing she wouldn't be late. Seeing a small cluster--if it could be called that--she soon changed back, arriving while picking pieces of grass and leaves from her hair. "Professor." Erys smiled breezily in greeting, nodding to the other two students.

Leaning forward a tad and silently sniffing, a little grin graced her expression. "Salamanders?" She guessed, having smelled the trace of the somewhat-reptillian creatures on the professor. Finally getting the last flecks of leaf bits from her hair, she then ran her tongue along her lips, quelled excitement for the lesson bubbling up through her throat.[/color]

[Alice Simmons]

Over the years that the Hufflepuff had spent in Hogwarts and hours attending Care of Magical creatures lessons Alice had learnt to love the lesson and she was even getting to like Professor O’Donnell. So despite the fact that it was a cold October morning the third year Hufflepuff was more then happy to wrap up warm and trudge down to the normal meeting spot by the edge of the forbidden forest. There was a rummor around the school that they were going to be looking into Salamanders, although Alice had heard from Dax that they had been found in the forest so the chances where that this one could be true…although she preferred to believe that the rumour that they were doing to be studying man eating Occamy!

The ends of Alice’s yellow and black Hufflepuff scarf bellowed around in the wind as she walked down the gravel paths from the castle and then across the lawns. There seemed to be a small gathering of people a member of each house, or at least there was now Alice had showed up. Taking a rather wide birth of Miss Erys Grace Alice went and stood as far away from the Slytherin as possible although was quite sure to shoot her an evil glare before looking over at the Professor.

“Hiya Professor. Ain’t it a nice day?”

[Marcus Conway]

Marcus had been thinking lately that maybe he should take more care to walk with Alice to classes – after all they did have the same classes, mostly, and they were best friends – but it seemed that his clumsiness would keep him from doing that today. It was his scatter-brain-ness that kept him from catching up with Alice in the common room before they had to leave for the Care of Magical Creatures lesson and in his hurry to catch up with her the small red-head kept tripping over his own feet. This was a perfectly normal way to begin a day, that was for sure.

Anyway, Marcus ran down the corridor, up the stairs to the main entrance hall and out, just spotting the end of Alice’s scarf as she disappeared out the door. “Scarf?” Marcus groaned. He had forgotten his and the young Hufflepuff got cold very easily. It was probably fate but it was lucky none the less that right at the moment his older sister, Amara, walked by, wearing her own scarf. Marcus managed to talk her into letting him wear it for the lesson – actually, she seemed all too happy to get rid of it in fact – and out of the castle Marcus ran.

Bolting down the lawns, Marcus could see Alice and, with his bespectacled sights on her, the third year sprinted down the lawns. He was going faster and faster and he couldn’t slow himself at all, gravity was clearing working today, but eventually the step decline of the lawns eased and Marcus slowed to a heavily breathing trot as he joined the group of - *gulp* - girls in front of the - *second gulp* - forbidden forest.

Pushing his glasses up his nose, Marcus swallowed his heart back into his chest, and gave Alice and all the other girls a weak smile. “Hi Alice,” Marcus croaked and then coughed before smiling up at the professor.

[Prof Brianna O'Donnell]

Bree didn't have to wait long before the students started gathering. First was the Gryffindor that Bree had never really liked - nothing against her but it was just that she was a Gryffindor, some grudges never die. She acted all cordially of course and gave them all the marks they deserved but something about he know it all attitude just got to Brianna sometimes. Nervermind that, Bree smiled at the small girl as she came and at the two Ravenclaws that followed on quickly.

"Thimble," O'Donnell said, adding a nod as she greeted the others, "Matthews. Roberts." The very next instant one of O'Donnell's favourite students joined the throng. "Grace." She gave a peculiar greeting and Bree frowned at the Slytherin. "Your answer is enigmatical. How did you know ..." Bree shook her head, her short hair flying around he head "... doesn't matter. Yes, it's going to be an interesting day." Bree crossed her arms and gave the Slytherin a wink and a telling grin.

And then the two Hufflepuffs came, together as ever. Though the two were sickeningly adorable Bree enjoyed having them in the class, they always managed to spice things up somehow. This was something she would never admit to anyone as it would invariably get to the ears of a certain huffle-lover and it would ruin her ... it would ruin her even if it didn't so she kept her opinions to herself.

Giving them both a smile, Bree greeted them too. "Simmons, Conway," she said, adding, "I see your sisters dropped this class. Just as well, she was too good for her own good." Bree stalked around the group of chattering students towards the entrance to the forest, a small path surrounded by trees, well used by many many ages of students and teachers. "Are we all here?"she asked.

[Ginny Weasley]

Could there be anything worse then having brothers. Ginny had 6 of them, it was a punishment she told herself. She was still cleaning feathers off of her robes after she opened that package she found on her bed that morning. When she saw the insignia from her brothers shop. Ginny never learned as soon as she pulled the tie the whole box exploded covering her in yellow chicken feathers. They stuck to her and it took her hours to get them off. She was late for her first class and had gained herself a detention for that night.

She couldn't risk another telling off. Professor O'Donnell wasn't always the most understanding professor. She entered just as the woman asked if they were all there. "Yes" Ginny said loudly walking in just in time. Hoping she wasn't going to get any slack she picked off yet another feather she missed. Rolling her eyes she was wondering how she'd get back at those two doofs.

They appeared to be headed into the forest. Oh well maybe something in there would inspire her. Maybe something venomous to stick in a vial she's tell them it was cologne or something. That was worth going in there. Ginny grinned and started to follow the professor.

[Prof Brianna O'Donnell]

There was a decisive 'yes' called from the group of students and Bree took that to mean that everyone was there. Looking around at the assembled she highly doubted it but she continued regardless. Smiling, as nothing could break her sunny mood today, and nodding at each of the students present, Bree clapped her hands together loudly to give each of the students a bit of a jolt then rubbed them together.

"Right," she said, pondering where to begin and how much to give away right away. "We are going to be going into the forest, as per usual, and, as per usual, I will expect you all to remain on the path or at least suffer a horrific dead. I'd hate to give you back to your parents in pieces. Ok, move briskly and follow me." Turning sharply on her heal, Bree turned towards the forest. It was much cooler underneath the trees, and a lot more moist. You could taste it on the air. Bree so enjoyed that taste.

Her long legs made her stride wide and her brisk pace helped her cover a lot of ground very quickly. She didn't look back at the students though, as she knew that they would do their level best to keep up with her or they would get left behind. O'Donnell knew that and she knew that the students knew it too. The path they were on was winding, but Bree knew it well so hardly had to look, though with the only constant thing in this forest being change it was always important to look where you were going.

Soon Bree deviated from the path, signally with a wave of her hand for the students to follow. Walking around an overturned tree stump, Bree came to a halt, watching the students come around. "Alright children," she said softly, "everyone form a circle around here please. Grace here." She grabbed hold of the Slytherin's sleeve and pulled her into position. "Weasley, you here." She pushed the Weasley girl behind the two short Hufflepuffs. "Conway, Simmons here," she said, jerking them where she wanted them.

When she was done, the small group of students had formed a lovely semi-circle around a small smoking divot, protected on the other sides by the over turned stump and the rest of the fallen tree. "Wonderful." Crouching down, Bree pawed the hot earth, before looking up at her class. "Ok, so we all heard Grace here -" who O'Donnell had pulled into standing next to her "- speak about Salamanders, but can anyone tell me what a Salamander is and which kind we are going to see today?"

[Alexis Heart]

Alexis had been standing in the corner not really talking to anyone. For some reason this year she wasn't feeling quite herself, no real reason why she was just bleh. Her friends kept asking her what was wrong but she really couldn't give them an answer. Things had been going well enough, her mind immediately went to Shaun but she was hard pressed to feel happy these last few days. Normally she would be standing right in the throng of students chatting away with someone.

Even where the professor asked if they were all there Alexis could only give a half hearted yes. They were yet again going into the forest. Alexis pushed herself off the tree she was leaning against. Class didn't stop just because she was in a crappy mood.

Following after Professor O'Donnell Alexis was careful to stay on the path as instructed. When the professor moved off the path Alexis looked at her and just followed. They soon gathered around a tree stump and still Alexis couldn't seem to find herself all that interested. As the other students began to appear around them Professor O'Donnell requested they get in a circle around the stump.

Placing herself into position she listened as they were asked about Salamanders. Somehow her brain couldn't shut off, and her mouth was opening despite herself. "They're lizards actually they're fire-dwelling lizards that feed on flames. If I remember correctly they only live as long as the fire they came from is lit." She thought it was something like that, but who knew.

[Bradyn Reed]

<sub>Perhaps it was because of the fact that Care of Magical Creatures was his only class outside that made him so oblivious of it time after time. Often he would just be sulking around the castle, not really wanting to go to any of his classes but knowing that he ought to when he realized what day it was, and what class he had at that time. This time it involved him having a sudden epiphany while in the library trying to find books on animagi, and he literally swore out loud, much to the disappointment of Miss Marsh. Checking the clock, he knew that he didn't have much time to get down the forest's edge and if he didn't get their fast enough, he might not find them in the forest. 'Which is faster, cat or human?' He thought, doing the mental math in his head quickly even though he knew the answer by heart. Cat, the small creatures could really move.

Changing in the middle of the library, he bolted out of there like a bat out of hell, being fortunate enough to catch on of the Russo sisters on their way in so the door was open and running between their legs with little courtesy. O'Donnell wasn't someone he wanted to be late for, she was quite the frightening woman when she tried to be, and frightening even when she didn't try to be. The small, dust colored cat darted in and out of the brush following the scent of a certain Slytherin that was sure to be there. As the edge of the forest loomed in front of him, he just managed to see the tail of someone's robes disappear among the trees. Good time, good time, he could just scoot in on the end and hope that the group was large enough that he wouldn't be noticed for suddenly being there.

Falling in step behind Alexis, he remained in his cat form for the time that it would take him to catch his breath, as that would be far too embarrassing. When it looked like the path widened out, his steps slipped towards the trees and he darted behind one for a few seconds to quickly change back and walked out as if nothing had happened, quickly patting himself down to make sure all of the items in his pockets had made it through all right. It would be terribly embarrassing to have lost his wand. Slipping noiselessly into the half circle, he listening in on their conversation about Salamanders. At least it was an interesting animal that they were studying.</sub>

[Prof Brianna O'Donnell]

It was a Ravenclaw that spoke up to Bree's question. The woman stood up straight, her mud covered hands hanging limply at her sides, looking at the girl as she spoke. Bree nodded vigorously and smiled, looking around at the group at the faces of the students. It was always nice to know that people were still coming to her class. Sometimes she wondered if she was a little nicer she might have more but that was something she didn't know how to do.

"Very good Heart," Bree chimed, smiling at the girl, "ten points to Ravenclaw." Bree knelt next to the smoking mound again. "I have cheated here a bit, placed a spell on this particular fire to keep it going so that I could show you. Yes, they need their fires to survive. How long can they survive outside of them?" Bree looked up at the students expectantly. They had to keep up with her pace, when she was like this there was no stopping her.

[Hattie Thorne]

Hattie trotted over to the group, cheeks flushed from her hasty rush from the castle to the Care Of Magical Creatures Class.

Her cheeks flushed an even darker red as she noticed that the class was already started. She was late. Again.

As she came closer, she heard the last snatches of the teachers question.

"... Long can they survive out of them?" Hattie glanced at what the students were gathered around and saw the smoking fire.

"Salamanders." She breathed. Guessing what the question had been, she immediatly threw her hand into the air and blurted

"If regularly fed pepper, they can survive for up to six hours when outside of a fire."

[Prof Brianna O'Donnell]

Brianna smiled at the Gryffindor that answered. "That is very correct," Bree said gleefully. She was pleased to see the Gryffindors taking part of her class at last. It had always seemed that the Gryffindors all banned against her to boycot her class and avoid her. Perhaps they were affraid of her? Perhaps. But this Gryffindor didn't seem to be and it made Bree smile.

"And that's the crux of the matter, they must be fed peppers to last as long as that. Otherwise they can go twenty minutes, tops!" Bree, feeling proud of her class, stood up and back a step. She'd crossed her arms across her chest and smiled at the students accembled. "Salamanders are highly sort after creatures, can anyone explain why that is?"