Lesson One - Introduction to COMCSS

[Professor Shira Yocheved]

It was time for the very first lesson of Care of Magical Creatures subject. Shira had accepted to take Summer School position on top of her regular schedule. She knew that some of the students did not have such a class until she came into the clearing. Now hearing, since the school is fairly new, that she would be the first teacher to teach a class, whether it be summer school or not; she was the first and quite excited. Of course, Shira never showed any excitement and was her strict-old self.

This lesson was to take place within the classroom. Rarely would such a lesson be taken place for with the creatures that she has, the classroom would be used only for her to keep her paperwork in or for detentions if needed. Shira was definitely not someone to be lenient when a student was misbehaving.

She saw students coming in and Shira gave a small, welcoming smile to them all. "Welcome to your Care of Magical Creatures class during the Summer. Please take your seat, and I will take attendance. Please acknowledge that you're here when I say your name," she said, and she grabbed her roster and began to go down the names. There were three students in her class for now, but she can feel that more will come. And if not, then three was more than enough. It would mean that they would get individual attention and learn a lot more than if it was during the regular school year. Shira began to go down the list:

"Jacquiline Darkangel. Zoe-Lynn Kavanagh. Serenity Morgan," she called out, pausing after each name. She looked up at the girls and gave a small smile. "This is such a small class isn't it?" she asked, not caring for the answer. "It does not mean that you will have the advantage to goof off," she said, looking towards the Renard student. She knew how Renards were. They were just like Slytherins from England. She hoped this one would not cause her trouble, no matter how much she enjoyed that house.

"Now, let us get started. I bet you're wondering what I expect within the classrooms. Just like any classroom, respect everyone and everything - including the creatures, and the most important rule of all is to follow directions. Any directions that you don't follow may result in an injury. Not all creatures are play things that are harmless. There may be creatures that are larger and stronger than you. The rest of the rules is common sense and I feel that I don't need to give you a list.

"If you do not follow the rules there will be consequences. One can be your own injury from the animal, another points can be taken off your grade, or detention taken with me, or the last consequence is that you will have a one-on-one chat with Headmistress Rollins in her office," she paused, hoping the students got all of this. "Do I make myself clear?" she asked.

Shira walked over to her desk and sat on top of it. It was cleaner than any desk anyone had ever seen and she was proud of it. Though it was her first class, so she may not know what would be on her desk later on. She then decided to discuss how grading will work out within the class.

"I don't do 'homework' so of course you can be happy about that, but I do count a lot of your grade by participation. If you miss a class, then you will not get credit for the class and your grade will go down. Each class is 25 points, and there are four for the COMCSS. Though the lesson number and points may change. If you are late, then a couple points will be marked down. I take no exceptions for I am taking off my summer vacation to teach here in Providence. So please try your hardest to make the classes that I give.

"If you want to know how well you're doing, you may look at the spiffy COMCSS Gradebook. It will be updated after every lesson."

She knew that she was coming off too strict, but rather that and than loosen up if she wanted to. But first, she wanted to let them know that she means business and nothing more. "Do you have any questions?" she ended, looking at the small bunch.

[Jacqueline Darkangel]

Jacqueline walked in and sat down she was always conscious of her new wings as they moved behind her as she walked and she felt very uneasy about them. Walking into the classroom Jacqueline took a seat at the back of the class she tried to make herself as small as possible and unseen.

When the professor called her name she jumped slightly. “Yes professor, I’m here. “She said then settled back to listen to what she had to say all the time aware of the two other girls in the class, she wondered what they thought of her and if they saw her as different or a freak.

Jacqueline smiled a little when she said about goofing of, it was not her intention to goof of she had come here to better her self and she was going to prove it, no matter what happened. She sat and listened to Professor Yocheved tell them exactly what she wanted them to do and not to do and what she expected them to do , Jacqueline sighed as she sat listening to what would happen if they didn’t , knowing there was a possibility some one would try and push the professor eventually.
As the professor spoke again asking if the all understood Jacqueline noticed her sit on her desk.
“yes professor “she replied feeling her wings brush against the desk next to her making her more aware they were there. “I wish I could just forget them for an hour” [/i]she thought but it was impossible every time she moved she became aware of their weight behind her.
Reaching into her satchel she took out her sketch book and laid it in front of her, she knew if any thing she could make notes as she sketched as the professor talked, if she needed to.

[Zoë-Lynn Kavanagh]

Waking up in her dorm room, Zoë looked around her room. It was summer vacation and she was still up early. Of course the reason for her being up so early was a decent one. Of course some might say that it wasn't as decent as she thought. But truth be told, she was really looking forward to it. Summer school full of Care Of Magical Creatures was the reason for her rising this early. She had elected to take it, that made it even better.

Quickly Zoë made her way from the dorm to the classrooms. Looking around it took her a moment until she found the classroom for the class. Standing on the outside of the door, she took a deep breath and pushed it open. Seeing the professor and one other student already in the room, Zoë made her way toward an empty chair. Sitting down she waited, waited for the teacher to begin.

It wasn't long before the professor stood and called the class to order. Zoë gave her, her undivided attention. Watching her glance over a piece of paper that seemed to be the roll, she soon came to Zoë's name. Slowly Zoë raised her hand and said, "That's me. I'm here." She said with a soft smile.

Just then she noticed that the list the teacher had gone down was extremely short. Only three students with Zoë being one of them. It could lead to a very interesting class. Of course this made Zoë smile more, she liked that idea. It also meant that would come closer to getting the teachers attention more often. Even might learn more things. The possibilities were endless and this made Zoë smile.

Zoë sat listening very closely as the Professor went over her rules. When she asked if she had made herself clear, Zoë responded by nodding, Yes Ma'am.. She did understand and planed to follow them with no problems.

No homework. Well that allowed her to let out a big sigh of relief. Not all homework was bad but it was also nice to not have to worry about it. Zoë sat listening to the rest of the Professor's speech. She didn't have any questions but looked around the room at the others to see if they had any.

[Jacqueline Darkangel]

Jacqueline watched as another pupil entered the class room to her relief it was Zoe she watched as she moved to sit down at a desk seemingly not noticing she was there, she must have been doing a good job of blending into the back ground for Zoe not to notice she was sat in the same room.

Sighing she looked out the window and began daydreaming about being outside in the fresh air and feeling the soft breeze, somewhere where she could stretch her wings , instead of inside sat in a stuffy dusty class room waiting for the last pupil to arrive.

Jacqueline let her wings sag slightly as she lent back on the wall behind her, she felt its cold stone against the bare point between her shoulder blades , it reminded her of the cold in the cave she had been in not that long ago and shivered as a slight tingle lingering in the muscles of her back, a lasting reminder of the pain she felt that fateful day.

Now with her heart heavily she began to doodle images that came to her mind, they were of people like her, happily and carefree flying in the sky , their wings spread out like those of giant white winged birds, others not so happy filled with death and killing. As she drew it was like some one else had taken control of her mind and hand, the drawings not of her own memories, but of some horrible masquer that had taken place long in the distant past of her memories, he hand moving across the page images appearing right in front of her .

Jacqueline stopped drawing placing the pencil gently down as she looked at the papers in front of her, each different yet the same, each telling a different story but some how the meaning the same. Gathering the papers together she slipped them into her book deciding she would go to the library later and take a closer look st them, turning once again to the window and the sun that streamed threw, her mind again drifted to being out side her wings spread out behind her as the wind blew threw the feathers behind her.

She had not yet learned if she could actually fly, but the drawings she had, showed people like her actually flying, could it be possible, she wondered , would they be strong enough to hold her weight.

She glanced at Zoe who too seemed in her own world as the teacher called Zoe's name. Jacqueline sighed again this was not what she expected at all , she knew little about the care of magical creatures and thought taking this class would help her if she ever had to care for something, what ever it might be.

Jacqueline looked at the blank board all on it was the teachers name when she asked if anyone had any question Jacqueline raised her hand , then taking a deep breath she spoke up.

"I am sorry to interrupt but when dose the class start , I mean professor ,theirs only three of us and two are already here" she said hoping she wouldn't get into trouble for speaking out as she was usually the last to say anything. She pushed her dark hair behind her ear as she tried to ignore the knots in her stomach which at that moment had appeared her hand resting on her sketch book in front of her.