"Ah, sunlight and fresh air are good for the soul," said CK as Lu, Alli, Remus, James, Sirius and herself walked around the oval.
"Yeah, it's just brilliant," grumbled Lu sarcastically.
"Oh don't be like that," said Sirius, "I feel like exploring. Let's go in there." He pointed towards the part of the Rosewood Reserve that was on school property.
"We can't go in there," said Alli immediately.
"Why not?" asked James.
"Well that's obvious isn't it?" said Lu.
"No."
"It's dangerous!"
"How is that little cluster of trees dangerous?" said Sirius.
"It's not the trees that are dangerous Sirius," said CK, "It's what live in the trees."
"Yep," said Lu, "Drop Bears. Very dangerous."
"What are Drop Bears?" asked James quickly.
"Noone told you?" asked Remus.
"No. What are they?" asked Sirius.
"They're these bears that climb up into trees waiting for the right moment," said CK.
"The right moment to what?"
"To pounce on unsuspecting people and claw their eyes out. Very intelligent beasts they are too," said CK.
"Y-y-your lying," said James.
"Why would I lie about that? Am I lying Remus?" asked CK.
"No. I'm surprised our teachers didn't debrief them like they did me," said Remus.
"Probably knew they wouldn't listen," said Lu.
"What did they tell you Remus?"
"They told me, ah," said Remus, looking at the girls for help.
"Hoop Snakes," whispered CK.
"About Hoop Snakes," he said.
"Hoop Snakes?" asked Sirius.
"Yeah," said CK, "They slither up on top of hills and mountains and when they see their prey they bite their tail and roll down the hill, then when they get close they let go of their tail and leap at you."
They spent the afternoon telling the boys about Jumping Spiders, Crocodile-Ducks and Man-Eating Ants. By the time it was home time they were severely shaken up.
That afternoon they were having an early dinner, when Ben came jumping down the stairs.
"I gotta go dad," he said, "Mister Quintley's got a cow stuck in an old abandoned mine. Kaitlyn needs some help getting him out."
"No!" yelled Sirius and James, making everyone in the pub jump.
"What?" asked Ben.
"You can't go out there it's dangerous," said Sirius quickly.
"It's fine Sirius, I've been out there before," said Ben, a smirk on his face.
"But what about the Drop Bears?" said James.
"Drop Bears!"
"Yeah, and the Hoop Snakes and the Man-Eating Ants and the Crocodile-Ducks," said Sirius.
Realizing what they were going on about everyone in the vicinity started laughing.
"There is nothing funny about Crocodile-Ducks! Why are you laughing?" asked James.
"I think someone was pulling your leg mate," said Steve.
"What?"
"Drop Bears and whatever else you said aren't real, mate. They're made up to scare the tourists," said Ben.
Realisation that they had been played like a fiddle dawned on James and Sirius' faces. They looked at each other and then at Remus and said, "YOU!"
"You and those girls played a trick on us," said James.
"Uh, don't go doing something rash guys," said Remus, backing away with his hands up, "It was just a joke."
"But now you have awaken the sleeping giant," said Sirius.
"Vengeance shall be ours!" yelled James.
And laughing evilly they walked backward up the stair and into their room.
"Are they always so melodramatic?" asked Ben.
"Yep."