The next day, and the following weeks after that, Kakashi had the teams assembled in the Entrance Hall upon which he began to smile broadly. The rest of the populace did not find this amusing.
"Your assignment for today…" He lowered his voice to a whisper. "Is to bring these blank, hardbound books and these quills and get in the Forbidden Forest as far as you can, taking note of everything you see and bringing back proof that you went that far." Kakashi shook the said things at their frightened faces. "I will be entrusting these notebooks to your team leaders, and the schedule will be four teams in the forest a week. By the rules of safety, I am supposed to assign one of the four Hogwarts guards to your team so you can pass through safety. When you want to escape the forest, simply shoot red sparks up with your wand."
Everyone nodded grimly.
By the end of the first week, The Seekers had come across many different creatures (Harry made sure to include the Acromantulas). They made it as far as halfway from the first Crossing Point until Pansy Parkinson shrieked as she tripped over an errant bowtruckle. Harry had managed to salvage their team by quickly grabbing hold of the bowtruckle, and stuffing it, kicking and screaming, into a sack.
The Crumple-horned Snorkacks however, had suffered gravely. They hadn't even gotten past the first three miles. Malfoy had given a high pitched shriek as a passing Hippogriff stared at him before walking calmly past. Percy had sputtered that Hippogriffs were 'dangerous' and squealed as he raised his wand.
The Quidditch Angels fared slightly better, as most of them were upperclassmen. They made it as far as the stream where Harry camped before fleeing from Acromantulas. They had managed to take more notes than Malfoy, at least and brought back a feather from a Hippogriff.
The Slytherin Slimes hadn't even entered the forest, as Marcus Flint ran screaming from the gate that opened into the darkness. Lee Jordan sniggered openly, as their other teammates cheered.
By the second week, Wizard Wheezes had, by Fred and George's bravery, scored the most points by aptly taking note of everything, bringing back Doxy Eggs as proof and more besides.
The Cat Lovers were second only to Wizard Wheezes in points. Acting like a general at war, Rodger Davies quickly assigned his teammates jobs. Hermione was to take down notes, while Millicent Bulstrode was to spot the various pieces of proof as Kevin Whitby and Rodger Davies captured it. They were only stopped when Millicent Bulstrode tripped over a tree root and squealed out loud as she raised her wand to emit sparks.
Team Seven had entered the forest as they were arguing. They made it as far as the clearing where the Hippogriffs were kept before Adrian Pucey turned tail and ran. Ron took as much evidence as he could, scrawled out some hasty notes and ran after his team leader. They exited the forest arguing, with Ron clutching several items in his arms.
By the end of the two weeks, only the Cat Lovers, Wizard Wheezes, the Seekers and Quidditch Angels had been spared from even more menial labor.
Malfoy was found rapidly scrawling out letters to his father that day.