Chapter Two: Advanced Care of Magical Creatures
Lunch in the Great Hall was filled with conversations of the students' first day back. Discussing the new Defense Against The Dark Arts teacher seemed to be the main topic of conversation. Lana Stone was an American Witch who was on a teaching exchange program. Her dark skin and midnight black hair along with her youth caused the entire male population to fall head-over-heels. She wore tight leather pants and equally tight tops. Her robes were usually opened in the front. But if anyone thought that these didn't fit a proper teacher, they were wrong.
Lana Stone was very famous in America, and her fame had just began to reach the British Isles. Her magical skills were just as adroit as her physical skills. "When magic fails, use your fists." Was her motto.
After graduation from the Salem Institute she did field work in America, tracking down numerous vampires and werewolves. Unlike Lockhart, she didn't go around flaunting her abilities, she just...ignored it. Her class room was filled with magical objects that would help one detect the dark arts. There was alos a huge dream catcher hanging in front of the window.
"Seamus says she's as smart as she is beautiful." Ron said to Harry and Hermione.
All three turned their attention to the teacher's table and saw Professor Stone talking with Professor Sprout very animatedly.
"She doesn't fit the description of a Professor, does she?" Hermione said, noting her tight clothing and open robes.
"She's American." Harry stated, as if that explained it.
"Hey, guys, sorry I'm late." Ginny said exhaustedly. She plunked down in a chair next to Hermione and began to pile food onto her plate.
"Where were you?" Hermione asked, Harry and Ron looking up from their plates of food.
"Down by the lake...wanted to catch up on some reading." Ginny blushed slightly, remembering her encounter with Draco.
Hermione raised an eyebrow, and looked at both Harry and Ron who smiled.
"Have you met Professor Stone yet?" Ron asked curiously.
"Not yet, I don't have Defense Against the Dark Arts 'til tomorrow." Ginny said, eating cold chicken and potatoes.
"Why does he keep staring over here?" Ron said through gritted teeth.
"Who?' Hermione asked, looking around the Great Hall.
"Malfoy...he keeps looking over here." Ron's fists clinched and unlinched. "I think he's out to get you, Harry."
Ginny averted her eyes from Draco's, and continued eating in silence while the Harry and Hermione tried to take Ron's mind of Draco.
"I heard they're starting a new training with the upper classmen." Hermioned said. "Something that took a lot of convincing with the school govenors. They just okayed it a couple days before school started."
"Do you know what it is?" Harry asked, intrigued.
"Not yet...but I suppose they'll announce it when they want us to know."
"What do you think it could be?" Ron mused. "Do you suppose it'll be dangerous?"
"I don't think they'd let us do anything life threatening." Hermioned stated.
"I suppose...but wouldn't it be cool if it was?" Ron's eyes glowed with anticipation.
"I've had enough life threatening experiences in my life, thank you." Harry said, causing them to laugh.
Lunch was over too soon and the bell sounded. The noise of shuffling feet filled the Hall as students left to their next classes. Ginny accompanied Hermionie, Ron and Harry to their next class. The sixth and seventh years would be sharing Advanced classes. They walked across the grounds to Hagrids cabin, wondering what weird and grotesque creatures they were about to encounter, only to find Hagrid didn't greet them.
"Professor Grubbly-Plank." Hermione said alloud, recalling the Care of Magical Creatures substitute from fourth year.
"She's the one that brought the unicorns." Ginny said in awe.
As soon as the class circled around the Professor, which consisted of about a dozen students from each four houses, the class started.
"Hagrid and I will both be teaching this class, as we have expertise in different areas of Care of Magical Creatures. He has gone to collect the first animal we will be studying."
The Professor continued with an introduction to the class and what would be expected from the students. Ginny's eyes roamed the students noting only a few of the dozen were sixth years. Ginny suddenly felt alone, when she saw Draco a few people away from her. She had forgotten he mentioned he had this class, and when he turned to see her, she smiled, then quickly turned her head to hear the Professor.
"Ah...here comes Hagrid now." Everyone's eyes turned towards the direction Professor Grubbly-Plank's eyes were looking at to see the tall figure of Hagrid coming closer. He seemed to be carrying a large pole over his shoulder and something was attatched to it, dangling down. As he neared, the students could make out what exactly was dangling from the pole.
"Alans." Hermioned whispered to Ginny, which made her more confused.
"Our first animal are alans." Professor Grubbly-Plank said when Hagrid hung the pole from two posts in the ground. "These creatures are almost always found hanging upside down from trees. Notice that they have fingers on their feet and toes on their hands. Their wingspan can reach up to six feet if they live to their full lifespan, which is nearly a hundred years."
Grubbly-Plank paused, allowing Hagrid to continue. "Found this lot not far into the forest. Very amiable creatures, good natured towards humans. Look at their faces," Hagrid gently grabbed an alan from off the pole, leaving the other four, and raised it upright so it's face was in plane view. "Looks almost human, don't it?"
Indeed, it did. It's eyes and nose and mouth were distinct human features, if it wasn't for the fact it was covered with feathers. The alan slowly opened its eyes and blinked several times until the class came into focus. It yawned widely, then closed its eyes again. The class laughed at how large its mouth opened.
"They're nocturnal, but answer directly to a human cry for help. They've been known to find lost children in forests and return them safely to their parents. Go ahead, stroke 'em."
The class walked towards the alans and began to stroke them. Their soft feathers were welcoming, and their anatomy comical. The alans stayed asleep the whole time, not bothered by being handled by a bunch of Hogwart's students.
"In the tenth chapter of your text, you'll find a section on the alans. I want you to read it and write a summary in your own words concerning the section and your experience with them." Professor Grubbly- Plank said as the bell rang.
The class groaned. Hagrid never gave out homework, and this was too much to bare. But before they could leave for their next classes, Professor McGonogall came strolling up to the class.
"I have an announcement to make." No one seemed surprised, it was as if they were waiting for this. "For those of you who are in Advanced Care of Magical Creatures and/or in Advanced Defense Against the Dark Arts will go through a special training." Everyone was quiet, not wanting to miss one word she said. "On June first, both classes will come together, and you will be partnered up with someone. We are going to make a special effort to team you up with someone in another House, encouraging inter- house relations, and you and your partner will be dumped in the middle of the Forbidden Forest."
The class gasped in horror and excitment. Harry groaned. After having entered the Forbidden Forest on numerous occasions, he was reluctant to enter it at his own free will.
"Settle down...now, you will have one week from the moment you're set down to find your way back to Hogwarts. If after a week is up and you are not at Hogwarts, we will come and get you, and you will have failed your final. Do not worry, the whole year you will be prepared and prepped as to what is in the forest and how to defend yourself. If, by chance, you come across an obstacle you cannot cross, you will perform a simple spell which will allow I or one of the other Watchers to know your exactly location and we will come and fetch you, and you will have failed your final. Any questions?"
An array of hands shot up into the air, and McGonagall called on them one at a time.
"What will we get to bring with us?"
"You will be armed with only your wands and five flasks of your choice of potion that you will have to make before hand. You will be asked to carry a tent with you, seeing as you will be spending a few nights."
"When will we know who our partners are?"
"After Christmas break, I will post the partners in the Great Hall. You will then hae to decide on which five potions to bring with you, and you will have to practice with them."
"What if we don't want to?" A voice asked, causing everyone to turn. Draco's arms were folded across his chest, his lips posed in a smirk.
"Well, if you refuse, we will have no choice but to send you home with your things." McGonagall ended there, and left, leaving the students to talk amongst themselves.
"Wicked." A seventh year boy said behind Ginny. "We finally get to see what's in the forest."
"I heard there are hags and horrible creatures in there." A girl shuddered.
"Great, this is just great...I don't get killed by Voldemort, but I will be by some horrible creature in the Forbidden Forest." Harry sighed.
(A/N: Lana Stone will play a more important role in the story later on. For those of you who can't picture her, I based her off Tia Carreer's character Sydney Fox in the fabulous television series Relic Hunter. I suggest you watch at least one episode, it so rocks!!! And Nigel's such a hotty.)
Lunch in the Great Hall was filled with conversations of the students' first day back. Discussing the new Defense Against The Dark Arts teacher seemed to be the main topic of conversation. Lana Stone was an American Witch who was on a teaching exchange program. Her dark skin and midnight black hair along with her youth caused the entire male population to fall head-over-heels. She wore tight leather pants and equally tight tops. Her robes were usually opened in the front. But if anyone thought that these didn't fit a proper teacher, they were wrong.
Lana Stone was very famous in America, and her fame had just began to reach the British Isles. Her magical skills were just as adroit as her physical skills. "When magic fails, use your fists." Was her motto.
After graduation from the Salem Institute she did field work in America, tracking down numerous vampires and werewolves. Unlike Lockhart, she didn't go around flaunting her abilities, she just...ignored it. Her class room was filled with magical objects that would help one detect the dark arts. There was alos a huge dream catcher hanging in front of the window.
"Seamus says she's as smart as she is beautiful." Ron said to Harry and Hermione.
All three turned their attention to the teacher's table and saw Professor Stone talking with Professor Sprout very animatedly.
"She doesn't fit the description of a Professor, does she?" Hermione said, noting her tight clothing and open robes.
"She's American." Harry stated, as if that explained it.
"Hey, guys, sorry I'm late." Ginny said exhaustedly. She plunked down in a chair next to Hermione and began to pile food onto her plate.
"Where were you?" Hermione asked, Harry and Ron looking up from their plates of food.
"Down by the lake...wanted to catch up on some reading." Ginny blushed slightly, remembering her encounter with Draco.
Hermione raised an eyebrow, and looked at both Harry and Ron who smiled.
"Have you met Professor Stone yet?" Ron asked curiously.
"Not yet, I don't have Defense Against the Dark Arts 'til tomorrow." Ginny said, eating cold chicken and potatoes.
"Why does he keep staring over here?" Ron said through gritted teeth.
"Who?' Hermione asked, looking around the Great Hall.
"Malfoy...he keeps looking over here." Ron's fists clinched and unlinched. "I think he's out to get you, Harry."
Ginny averted her eyes from Draco's, and continued eating in silence while the Harry and Hermione tried to take Ron's mind of Draco.
"I heard they're starting a new training with the upper classmen." Hermioned said. "Something that took a lot of convincing with the school govenors. They just okayed it a couple days before school started."
"Do you know what it is?" Harry asked, intrigued.
"Not yet...but I suppose they'll announce it when they want us to know."
"What do you think it could be?" Ron mused. "Do you suppose it'll be dangerous?"
"I don't think they'd let us do anything life threatening." Hermioned stated.
"I suppose...but wouldn't it be cool if it was?" Ron's eyes glowed with anticipation.
"I've had enough life threatening experiences in my life, thank you." Harry said, causing them to laugh.
Lunch was over too soon and the bell sounded. The noise of shuffling feet filled the Hall as students left to their next classes. Ginny accompanied Hermionie, Ron and Harry to their next class. The sixth and seventh years would be sharing Advanced classes. They walked across the grounds to Hagrids cabin, wondering what weird and grotesque creatures they were about to encounter, only to find Hagrid didn't greet them.
"Professor Grubbly-Plank." Hermione said alloud, recalling the Care of Magical Creatures substitute from fourth year.
"She's the one that brought the unicorns." Ginny said in awe.
As soon as the class circled around the Professor, which consisted of about a dozen students from each four houses, the class started.
"Hagrid and I will both be teaching this class, as we have expertise in different areas of Care of Magical Creatures. He has gone to collect the first animal we will be studying."
The Professor continued with an introduction to the class and what would be expected from the students. Ginny's eyes roamed the students noting only a few of the dozen were sixth years. Ginny suddenly felt alone, when she saw Draco a few people away from her. She had forgotten he mentioned he had this class, and when he turned to see her, she smiled, then quickly turned her head to hear the Professor.
"Ah...here comes Hagrid now." Everyone's eyes turned towards the direction Professor Grubbly-Plank's eyes were looking at to see the tall figure of Hagrid coming closer. He seemed to be carrying a large pole over his shoulder and something was attatched to it, dangling down. As he neared, the students could make out what exactly was dangling from the pole.
"Alans." Hermioned whispered to Ginny, which made her more confused.
"Our first animal are alans." Professor Grubbly-Plank said when Hagrid hung the pole from two posts in the ground. "These creatures are almost always found hanging upside down from trees. Notice that they have fingers on their feet and toes on their hands. Their wingspan can reach up to six feet if they live to their full lifespan, which is nearly a hundred years."
Grubbly-Plank paused, allowing Hagrid to continue. "Found this lot not far into the forest. Very amiable creatures, good natured towards humans. Look at their faces," Hagrid gently grabbed an alan from off the pole, leaving the other four, and raised it upright so it's face was in plane view. "Looks almost human, don't it?"
Indeed, it did. It's eyes and nose and mouth were distinct human features, if it wasn't for the fact it was covered with feathers. The alan slowly opened its eyes and blinked several times until the class came into focus. It yawned widely, then closed its eyes again. The class laughed at how large its mouth opened.
"They're nocturnal, but answer directly to a human cry for help. They've been known to find lost children in forests and return them safely to their parents. Go ahead, stroke 'em."
The class walked towards the alans and began to stroke them. Their soft feathers were welcoming, and their anatomy comical. The alans stayed asleep the whole time, not bothered by being handled by a bunch of Hogwart's students.
"In the tenth chapter of your text, you'll find a section on the alans. I want you to read it and write a summary in your own words concerning the section and your experience with them." Professor Grubbly- Plank said as the bell rang.
The class groaned. Hagrid never gave out homework, and this was too much to bare. But before they could leave for their next classes, Professor McGonogall came strolling up to the class.
"I have an announcement to make." No one seemed surprised, it was as if they were waiting for this. "For those of you who are in Advanced Care of Magical Creatures and/or in Advanced Defense Against the Dark Arts will go through a special training." Everyone was quiet, not wanting to miss one word she said. "On June first, both classes will come together, and you will be partnered up with someone. We are going to make a special effort to team you up with someone in another House, encouraging inter- house relations, and you and your partner will be dumped in the middle of the Forbidden Forest."
The class gasped in horror and excitment. Harry groaned. After having entered the Forbidden Forest on numerous occasions, he was reluctant to enter it at his own free will.
"Settle down...now, you will have one week from the moment you're set down to find your way back to Hogwarts. If after a week is up and you are not at Hogwarts, we will come and get you, and you will have failed your final. Do not worry, the whole year you will be prepared and prepped as to what is in the forest and how to defend yourself. If, by chance, you come across an obstacle you cannot cross, you will perform a simple spell which will allow I or one of the other Watchers to know your exactly location and we will come and fetch you, and you will have failed your final. Any questions?"
An array of hands shot up into the air, and McGonagall called on them one at a time.
"What will we get to bring with us?"
"You will be armed with only your wands and five flasks of your choice of potion that you will have to make before hand. You will be asked to carry a tent with you, seeing as you will be spending a few nights."
"When will we know who our partners are?"
"After Christmas break, I will post the partners in the Great Hall. You will then hae to decide on which five potions to bring with you, and you will have to practice with them."
"What if we don't want to?" A voice asked, causing everyone to turn. Draco's arms were folded across his chest, his lips posed in a smirk.
"Well, if you refuse, we will have no choice but to send you home with your things." McGonagall ended there, and left, leaving the students to talk amongst themselves.
"Wicked." A seventh year boy said behind Ginny. "We finally get to see what's in the forest."
"I heard there are hags and horrible creatures in there." A girl shuddered.
"Great, this is just great...I don't get killed by Voldemort, but I will be by some horrible creature in the Forbidden Forest." Harry sighed.
(A/N: Lana Stone will play a more important role in the story later on. For those of you who can't picture her, I based her off Tia Carreer's character Sydney Fox in the fabulous television series Relic Hunter. I suggest you watch at least one episode, it so rocks!!! And Nigel's such a hotty.)