defense against the dark arts final | open to all students

Who's bright idea was it to hold his exams this early? The past few years of working as an Auror had left Asher a night owl, a habit he hadn't quite broken yet. Still, the classroom was set up and the exam was ready. Since he had never really taught a class before, he decided the best way to test them was in two parts. First came the practical application where they would have to show him they paid attention in his class enough not to kill themselves in the real world, and last would be the written portion.

Unfortunately, he had to actually GRADE the essays, but it was a small price to pay for keeping the administration off his back. That was why he chose to go for a maximum length instead of a minimum. Those ravenclaw kids could be long winded and he refused to spend the rest of his life grading papers so that they could "thoroughly explain their answer." It was right or wrong, no in between and that was how he intended to grade them.

Without the mask where will you hide

I know the truth

Can’t find yourself lost in your lie.

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Raven walked into the room on time as always. Raven was never late but she also made a point to not be early as well. She needed to make an entrance, an impression. So it was a shock to her to see there was no one else in the room. Granted it was exams and most were trying to get in as much studying as possible. Raven made her way to her seat. She always sat in the center most part of the front row. It had been that way since the first year. She had gained some respect upon being sorted into Slytherin, family reputation in all. When it came time for her first class she entered with the same attitude and confidence that she always had. She was eyeing the center seat but someone was already there, some over achieving ravenclaw. Some of her fellow Slytherins noticed her eyeing the seat and before she could go find another they had stood and made the timid ravenclaw move. She took the seat and waved the other Slytherins off as if it had been her intention all along. Ever sense then the center most seat in the front row was always empty, waiting for her. 

She made sure to great the professor as she walked to her seat. "Professor Kale" Raven's voice was not exactly the silk like voice she usually used. This time it was more of presenting a challenge as if tempting the professor to do his worst. It was many due to the rivalry between the student and teacher. Sure he seemed to hate Slytherins in general but there always seemed to be a special place for her. 

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TAGS | all the people! NOTES | FINALS! YAY! CREDITS | created by RYN ★

The Defense Against Dark Arts final was probably the only one that Natalia had actually found herself worrying over for a moment. And it wasn't because she didn't know the material. After all, her goal in life was to be the best in her classes. She knew the material. It had everything to do with the completely unpredictable professor issuing the exam. Throughout this past year, Lilly had kept her distance front he Professor. And not for any reason other than the fact that she didn't see a point in bothering a man she assumed wasn't as smart as she was. But something about this final made her stomach turn over. She could see him doing anything from making them write an essay on parchment the same length as they were tall, to throwing them into the Black Forest and telling them to camp there for the next three days. If they survive, they pass. Since structure was her thing, the random behavior made her uncomfortable. She shuffled through the door, trying not to show her uncomfortable feeling on her face as she walked over to the front row and looked back on the classroom to decide where to sit. She ended up taking a seat next to the Slytherin girl named Ravenna. Lilly smiled at the girl and whispered across to her, "You nervous for the final?" She was sure that she was only asking to try and stave off her own nervous energy.

"Nervous for what, Ms. Page? The final only bites occasionally." Asher's tone was completely serious as he approached the two students, deciding to get their first half out of the way. It would be easier for him to do it in smaller groups and less potentially embarrassing for the, "This way ladies. We haven't got all day. " part of the classroom had been cordoned off by a rather large white sheet, enough for some privacy and giving it a mysterious air.

"your first task is simple. Open the box, repel the monster, and close the box again. You have the necessary tools to complete the task and the knowledge to face it. Good luck. " the slightly maniacal laugh that he let out as the curtain opened was probably overboard, but worth it. What else was he supposed to do right before sending his students up against a boggart? Asher leaned back against the wall and waited to see what the girls came up with, as he assumed they had both been paying attention in class.

TAGS | all the people! NOTES | FINALS! YAY! CREDITS | created by RYN ★

Standing in front of the box next to Raven, Lilly looked down at the container and her mind cycled through all the things that could be inside. The most logical creature would be a boggart. It would present a different challenge to every student and the enunciation on the spell to repel the boggart is rather difficult if you don't know what you are doing. Looking over at Raven, Lilly sighed and nodded, stepping forward, "I'll go first." She said in a steady voice. She readied her wand and flicked it so the box popped open smoothly. Out of the box came the one thing she was most afraid of, which made her face tinge with red as it overwhelmed her. Suddenly, she was surrounded by complete, suffocating darkness. Taking in a deep, labored breathe, Lilly raised her wand and whispered the word that she had practice so many times over a life of being of the dark, "Lumos." A bright, sun-like glow emitted from the tip of her wand and she raised it once again and said in a strong voice, "RIDDIKULUS!" Suddenly, a bright disco ball appeared above her flooding the dark cloud with a multi-colored light show. Fist pumping music chimed around her and she smiled, laughing as the darkness receded into the box.

Without the mask where will you hide

I know the truth

Can’t find yourself lost in your lie.

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Raven was about to respond to the Ravenclaw girl who decided to take a seat next to her. That is until the professor answered in her stead. She didn't want to admit it but it was along the same lines of what she was about to say. As much as she tended to but heads, Raven had to admit that she had more in common with the professor that she figured either would admit. After he spoke again Raven stood and followed the professor to the strange sheet. She had to wonder what Professor Kale had in mind. 

Raven's mind was spinning at what was going to happen. Monster in a box. That could be a many number of things. They had learned much in the past year, however with the way the Professor was acting Raven could only come to the conclusion of a Bogart. That should be simple enough. She knew all the charms so this was going to be simple right? What form was it going to take? That was the issue. She feared that people would find out, the shame, loosing everything. She had gone through the possibilities in her mind about what would happen when or if she was labeled an blood traitor. 

She was glad when the Ravenclaw went first. It gave Raven some more time to think. She watched the girl being surrounded by darkness and it hit her. What she feared the most. It wasn't being exposed it was becoming like them. Her worst fear was becoming another monster like those her blood line had produced. She had the ability to become like them but her beliefs kept her from becoming one. Yet if she abandoned that then all that was left was the darkness. 

It was her turn and Raven walked confidently towards the box. The creature emerged and fell into a dark puddle on the floor before slowing rising. the dark shape took human form and Raven was now looking at a cloaked figure of herself. She stared into the cold eyes of her fear, gripping her wand tightly. "Riddikulus!" Raven's voice was strong and powerful. The bogart melted down so there was nothing but a snake laying on the floor. Raven chucked coldly at the creature. She hissed at it and the bogart slithered back into the box. Raven quickly cast a locking spell to prevent the bogart from getting out.  

Raven gave the professor a sly grin as if to laugh at him but her eyes were dark. She was still haunted by the form the bogart took and the image was not about to leave her anytime soon. 

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"Well done ladies." Kale stated grudgingly. "Back to your seats, you have a short essay to complete and then I'm done with you for the year." And maybe forever.He still hadn't decided whether he was staying at Hogwarts or returning to full time Auror duty. They had called him in a few times on weekends and over the breaks, but no one had stepped up to take his position. This was just supposed to be a temporary gig.

His musings carried over in to the main classroom where he flipped over the board to reveal a prompt. No other students were here yet, meaning Ravenna and Natalia would likely finish before their classmates arrived. "Half a scroll on the transformation process for werewolves. How, when, why, and is there a way for them to avoid it. Put it in the cauldron by the door and leave when you finish." With his instructions over, Kale returned to his desk, not quite paying attention to either student. They weren't who he had to worry about when it came to things like cheating, so why bother?

you are my shooting star

you give me love and light through the shadows of the night

Oliver walked into class noticing that he was a few minutes late and he groaned, it wasn't like him to show up late to class but thanks to working through the night to actually finish the final history paper he ended up sleeping past his alarm, thankfully though he had grabbed a few things from the kitchens on the way back to his dorm last night so he was able to have a small bite to eat.

He heard Professor Kale mention the prompt for the final essay of the year and he smiled a little, the topic was one he had enjoyed reading about. As he set his bag on the ground next to him he waited from Professor Kale to finish before he said, "Sorry I am late Professor."

words: 131 • tagged: Open • outfit: link

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do you really want to know?	TAG ASHER JAMES KALE OLIVER FATIN FOSTER
OUTFIT	NOTES: bogart in the box? bring it on.

don't you dare look back

Lyric got to Kale's class at the same time as one of her house mates. As long as she wasn't the last one in, she didn't care. The classroom was pretty bare, but maybe she was just super early instead of late. Kale motioned for her to join Oliver behind some creepy curtain he had rigged up in one corner of the room just to give them some creepy directions involving a box. "Mind if I go first?" She asked Oliver, stepping forward before she could hear his answer. The sooner this was done, the better.

A loud screech signaled the opening of the trunk, but she quickly forgot how weird that was as a dozen snakes slithered out. She had gotten used to Raven carrying Onyx around because she could ignore the snake like a piece of jewelry, but these were much different. Poison practically dripped out of their pores, her heart racing as they inched closer and closer to where she stood.

"Riddikulus." Lyric yelled, regaining her composure at the same time one of the "snakes" touched her foot. The slithering menaces instantly turned in to balloon animals of various shapes and sizes that she quickly scooped up and placed back in the box. A loud thud echoed through the room with the closing of the lid along with a nervous giggle. That was way too close. She thought, joining Oliver on the other side of the room.

just keep your eyes on me

HAYANA OF CAUTION 2.0

Without the mask where will you hide

I know the truth

Can’t find yourself lost in your lie.

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The second part was a relief. Easy and straight forward. Raven took her seat, quill and parchment ready and started to write. She would have this essay done in no time. Werewolves were an interesting topic and the Slytherin had done some extra research on the matter. Mainly because it was an involuntary transformation and she wanted to be an Animagus.

Transformation Process for Werewolves
Ravenna Gaunt

When the full moon has risen, werewolves undergo a painful transformation into  a near-wolf, half human half wolf, because of the infection lycanthropy cause by being bitten by a werewolf. Werewolves loose their ability to maintain human thoughts when in the wolf like form. They are aggressive towards humans and will even attack loved ones either infecting them or killing the victims. However, they will maintain all memory of their transformation.  

Damocles invented the Wolfsbane Potion that allows the werewolf to maintain their human mind during transformation. It can not stop the transformation but it does keep the wolf brain at bay. It must be taken every month. 
 
With her strait to the point explanation done raven rolled up the parchment, stood and walked to the cauldron. She placed the scroll in the cauldron and walked out the door without another word to the professor. She was still shaken up by the bogart but she wasn't about to let anyone see that she was shaken. She walked out with the same air and confidence that she had entered with. She wasn't going to give the professor the satisfaction of beating her down even if it was just a little.

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you are my shooting star

you give me love and light through the shadows of the night

Oliver smiled as Lyric arrived at roughly the same time as he did and when Professor Kale led them to the curtained off area she jumped in front of him to face the boggart, she did ask if she could go first but he wasn’t really worried about it though. He watched as she faced off against her fear of snakes, he saw her take a moment to compose herself and then defeated her fear smiling he said, “Great job, I never knew you were afraid of snakes though.” Smiled he began to walk forward, and he took a couple calming breaths as he took his spot in front of the box.

Closing his eyes he took a deep breath, as he did this he heard the box open and he opened his eyes. When he did he had to force himself to stay in one spot as a chasm seemed to open in front of him and the edges seemed to start cracking and falling. Raising his wand he said in a strong clear voice, “Riddikulus!” The chasm closed and the room was filled with butterflies that he led towards the box which slammed shut. Once the boggart was back in the box he felt a few beads of sweat slide down the side of his face and he laughed a little, “Well that was… interesting. I guess my secret is out.” Oliver said as he walked over next to Lexie he noticed his hand shaking a little.

words: 249 • tagged: Open • outfit: link

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the fight never ends

all I have is one last chance
I won't turn my back on you.

Asher watched his first two Gryffindor students go up against the bogart and was pleased with not only the results, but the fears that caused them. Snakes were a legitimate nuisance, something that could kill a person in an instant. He wasn't scared of them himself, but it was an issue he could respect. Physical, not mental. Foster's fear of heights fell along the same lines. They were Gryffindors alright through and through. 

"Alright, last part. Follow the prompt on the board, half a scroll and then leave it in the cauldron at the back." The next few stragglers entered the room and he moved to take them back to face their fears, leaving the young lions to work on their own answers. 

Come back down, save yourself
I can't find my way to you
And I can't bear to face the truth

made by Δ ashy of caution & shine

you are my shooting star

you give me love and light through the shadows of the night

Running a hand through his hair as he walked back to his desk taking a deep breath he found himself nervous and on edge a little but he knew he could write this small paper on Werewolves fairly easily. He leaned down to his bag and pulled out a scroll and his quill and started working on his assignment, the memory of his boggart starting to slip back into memory only.

Transformation Process on Werewolves
Oliver Foster

Lycanthropy is an illness that is spread with the contact between saliva and blood, and so when a human is bitten they are thus infected and will become werewolves themselves, only if they are bitten by a werewolf in their wolf form. Most muggles will die if they are bitten. It should also be noted that you can’t pass along the infection to your children, only a bite will transfer the illness or lupine tendencies if bitten while in human form.

Though they can live otherwise normal lives, once a month on the full moon a werewolf will be forced to undergo a very painful transformation. They will lose all connection to their human self and become very aggressive, even to those close to them. If they have no one to attack or other animals around to occupy its attention they will attack themselves out of frustration.

Sadly there is no cure for this illness, there is however the Wolfsbane Potion which will allow the werewolf to retain their human mind, it was created by Damocles. This potion is very difficult to make and apparently tastes horribly but any attempt to sweeten the taste renders it useless. In short there is no way to avoid the transformation but there is a way to keep your human mind which keeps you from harming others and yourself.

Once Oliver had finished his paper he rolled up his scroll and picked up his bag as he placed the paper in the cauldron at the front of the class and then walked out of the room. He knew he would need to go take a spin around the pitch on his broom a few times before the finals so that he could force his fear deep inside so it doesn’t cost him during the game.

words: 378 • tagged: Open • outfit: link

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