(Thursday) October 10, 1894 - Forbidden Forest

By Thursday, Basil was pleased with how the week of joint classes had gone between Transfiguration and Defense Against the Dark Arts. Despite a few little hiccups here and there, from which both he and Gus had pulled a few lessons learned, he figured he liked the idea and would be keen to repeat it again. By this point in the week, as he made his way down toward the Forbidden Forest, most of his NEWT students knew what they were in for having heard rumblings from the introductory and OWL students. He had high hopes for them however, and was interested to see what strategic thinking might be spurred on this cold, overcast afternoon. The weather had certainly held up much better earlier in the week and it was all Basil could do to hope that it might hold out just one more afternoon. (Though the rain would certainly add another level of difficulty to the challenge, he didn’t himself particularly want to stand out here for two hours grading them in it…)

When both classes had gathered, Basil turned to address them as he had all the rest. “Good afternoon to our NEWT Transfiguration and Defense Against the Dark Arts classes. As I’m sure you’ve already heard, or guessed, today’s lesson will deviate a bit from the norm in that we will be undertaking a practical field study. Consider it a sort of test and please pair off, or form groups of up to three.” He made a vague gesture and pulled the example flag from his pocket.

“This is an example of the type of flag each group will be required to retrieve. There are a number of them spread across the forest in difficult to retrieve locations, unable to be summoned or easily identified by magic, and will require you to be creative in your attempts to locate and keep a hold of them.” The purple piece of fabric in Basil’s hand twitched to life and began to dart about, slipping from his grasp and racing off into the woods. The brunette cracked a grin as it went. “You will be required to use your not-inconsiderable knowledge in both subjects to retrieve them and report back to Professor Lissington and I. Please too keep in mind while we are out here that these woods are home not only to the friendly sort of creature. Be respectful of your environment, keep alert, and if anything dangerous occurs-- please shoot up a string of red sparks and either Professor Lissington or I,” or both, realistically “will come to assist you.

We will indicate the end of the lesson with the sound of a gong and expect each of you to return to the castle promptly, after checking in and giving a brief summary of your experience. I do not expect everyone will retrieve a flag, but to fail to do so will result in a failing mark. Any questions?”
 

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Benedict Hunter, Isobel Valenduris, Scallion Escher, Paxton Fudge, Abraxas Crabbe, Sybille Lukeson, Charles Whymper,
Emma Flitwick, Nicodemus Dursley, Nicodemus Zabini, Harmony Gambol, Hesper Gamp, Sirius Black, Flora Mulciber

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By Thursday, word had gotten around what their classes were doing which caused a mix of excitement and groans – the latter mainly from those who were no longer taking Transfiguration. Gus had reminded them that they still had the skills capable of doing the challenges because they had taken five years of it, but if they weren’t up to the challenge then they could just write him an essay instead. Only a couple students took him up on that offer. They were sent to the library while the rest of them wandered out to the Forbidden Forest, where Gus quickly took his spot next to Basil as he explained why they were and what they were going to be doing. Gus fussed with his scarf because it was colder out here than he imagined it would be. Hopefully the rain will hold off.

The other professor pretty much covered all of their expectations, and Gus didn’t feel the need to chime in. Even if they were taking either of their NEWT classes, he felt confident they would know, or at least someone in their group would know how to defend themselves; plus he and Basil would be there in an instant if something was going terribly wrong. Maybe they’d see why the forest was forbidden for them to enter while they were still learning spells. (Although if he was being honest, he definitely would have jumped at the chance to explore the place without a professor watching his every move.)

Gus stepped forward to help answer any questions there were before he stepped back, wearing a bright grin. “You need to pair off because it’s safer, although you may work in groups of three if you wish.” By this point, NEWT students knew who they worked well with so it didn’t take long. “Follow me.” The professor waved at the group of students, and he took them onto a path, pausing at the entrance of the forest. “Have fun and be safe. You may begin.”

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Are you student? Learn how to earn house points!

Benedict had dropped transfiguration for his NEWTs, it wasn't that he was bad at it, or even that he didn't enjoy it, he was just better at other things and there was never the time to do everything. He had taken DADA though, so was still required to do this combined experience.

He was quite excited, he loved a chance to get into the forbidden forest and boldly approached one of the other new sixth years to pair up. "How about it Mr. Whymper? Want to team up?" he asked. "You don't both subjects don't you? I only have Dark Arts, but I'm pretty handy with creatures too." he nodded and smiled, now that was a subject he excelled in, and it would hopefully help if something wild did decide to intervene in there practical.

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Charles Whymper

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It was certainly an unusual lesson, Sybille thought as they gathered at the edge of the forest. She had no interest in entering, and she was rather nervous that she had not taken Defense last year, nor this year, but she hoped that she might be able to remedy that with whomever she partnered with.

She looked beside her with a smile, wishing Fleur were here, "Shall we?" She asked of her fellow student. Hopefully she wouldn't have to find someone else to partner with.

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It was a strange set up for a class, but Charles was taking both Transfiguration and DADA as NEWTs, so it was a bit like killing two birds with one stone. Or something to that effect anyway.

"I'm not much for creatures," he told Mr. Hunter. "But I can handle the rest, I think. We can balance each other out."

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"Perfect!" he said confidently to Charles before checking his boots and making his way into the forest. He loved the forbidden forest, it was so wild and the noises that filled the environment were miriad. They quickly became separated from the group and Benedict looked hard into the higher parts of the trees.

He reached up and pulled down on one of the branches, causing drops of moisture to fall. "Think you could turn me into a monkey or something?" it would make exploring the trees much faster and if he was honest, Ben liked the idea of being a monkey for a bit. "Or we could try something else" he laughed.

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Charles Whymper

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Paxton was eager to get started, he was in both DADA and Transfiguration and enjoyed both classes. He was familiar enough with Miss Lukeson, having been sorted alongside her into Hufflepuff. He knew her just enough to know that she was not be the sort that was eager to trek into the Forest. "Yes, let's," Paxton said when she addressed him and seemed to want to pair up. He had no issue with that. "Don't worry, I'll protect you," he said, unable to resist a bit of a flirtatious wink.

Sybille Lukeson

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set by Bee!

Was she so easy to read? Sybille flushed slightly and looked away from Mr. Fudge. She had no idea what to say to that.

"I'll follow you then." She found herself cringing as she added then, unintentionally acknowledging whatever that statement from him had been. At least he was taking NEWT DADA that was better than her own position.

Paxton Fudge

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"I doubt it," Charles said. The image was an amusing one, though, but Charles thought he was as likely to just give Mr. Hunter a tail and not much else, which wouldn't help them. "I'm sure we can figure something else out, though."

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Benedict Hunter

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Nicodemus idly wondered if being in both newt classes was going to be a benefit here. He knew some of his peers were not in both classes, some were in one or the other. There were some peers who were not here at all because they had stricken both DADA and Transfiguration from their rosters. "I guess this is it," he said to the person he had paired up with as they made entry into the forest.

open to a partner!

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set by Lady!

Watching as his NEWT students paired off in the forest and began to deliberate, Basil took a step closer to Gus. He was just about to mutter something about it being colder in here than he remembered when the sudden sound of something large crunching through the undergrowth sounded quite close to where the group was yet assembled. Something large and slow, but certainly not docile.

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Benedict Hunter, Isobel Valenduris, Scallion Escher, Paxton Fudge, Abraxas Crabbe, Sybille Lukeson, Charles Whymper,
Emma Flitwick, Nicodemus Dursley, Nicodemus Zabini, Harmony Gambol, Hesper Gamp, Sirius Black, Flora Mulciber

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Paxton could not help but get a kick out of the seemingly bashful reaction he had managed to coax out of Miss Lukeson. He began to lead the way when the sound of loud crunching reached his ears. Was this part of the lesson? Even so, he drew his wand and stepped protectively ahead of Miss Lukeson. There was something coming towards them. "I'm sure the professors can handle whatever that is," he said in reassurance though he kept his wand ready just in case.

Sybille Lukeson

  

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set by Bee!

Was it just her or was it getting cooler? Sybille shivered despite the relative heat of the day, suddenly wishing she had worn a sweater or her cloak. Goosepimples rose on her arms as they heard the sound of something. In one step Mr. Fudge was before her, even as she reached for her own wand. But a frown crossed her lips at his words, she had rather hoped he could handle it.

Before them a black cloaked thing rounded a tree, surprising the beginning of a scream from Sybille before she could cut it off. Had she not suddenly felt as if every member of her family had abandoned her, crushing the weight of her multiple heartbreaks on her, Sybille would have had the presence of mind to identify the thing as a dementor and to know, with a trembling terror, that she had never been able to cast a patronus. But as it was she could only thing of every horrible thing that had faced her in her young face, unaware, even, of the silent tears streaming down her face.

  

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Benedict nodded to Charles Whymper and began to try and think of something else. He thought back to his experience with Anne Moony and the bowtruckles, they seemed quite placid once they had their twigs into some fresh woodlice, but could they be persuaded to help.

Ben's skin went cold thought when the creature appeared... a dementor! What was that doing here and why? He shivered as the risk of failure set in but he tried to steel his heart. A Gryffindor is brave, a Gryffinor is noble, he had read enough of these stories to know what to try. He pulled out his wand and stepped forward "Expecto Patronum! he said loudly. His wand glowed and rivers of pale blue light flew out like a stream. Contained within this stream was the very faint and whispy outline of some kind of shark, long and slender with an elongated caudal fin. It spun and lashed at the creature but Benedict had not given spell enough for it to corporeal and the clued dissipated as the creature swept forwards and through it, only briefly pausing to work out which student had tried to chase him away and make a beeline straight for Benedict.

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Basil Foxwood Gus Lissington

  

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He and Basil were here to protect their students, although they weren't going to intervene unless it was absolutely necessary; the professors wouldn't be out there in the real world to protect them, although most of their students wouldn't ever come in contact with dangerous creatures. However, this seemed like the perfect time to ensure that none of them winded up in the nurse's office.

Gus wasn't entirely sure which one of the group was afraid of dementors, a topic they had covered as OWL students, but he wasn't surprised to learn that someone was petrified on them. Mr. Hunter did his best to cast the spell, although Gus wasn't surprised to see that it failed; it was something they hadn't covered yet, and most, if not all of the NEWT students walked away from Hogwarts without ever having cast a fully corporeal one. Still, a bit of pride swelled in his chest seeing one of his students react to quickly.

"Riddikulus!" Gus cast the spell right at the creature, and before it could transform into his fear, the dark folds of the dementor curled into a balloon, complete with a smiley face on it. It bobbed in place in front of them. He eyed the group of students. "Can you one of you transfigure me a box, preferably with a lid."

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Benedict Hunter, Isobel Valenduris, Scallion Escher, Paxton Fudge, Abraxas Crabbe, Sybille Lukeson, Charles Whymper,
Emma Flitwick, Nicodemus Dursley, Nicodemus Zabini, Harmony Gambol, Hesper Gamp, Sirius Black, Flora Mulciber

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Charles had enough time to react to look away. He had no desire to see whatever his greatest fear was, thank you very much. Instead, he did as Professor Lissington requested and conjured a box with a lid. "Will this work?"

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