Getting more acquainted with a creature? Grace backed off a few steps without realising. Trinity was beautiful, but that wouldn't make her less dangerous. Again, what was Grace doing here?! Her intent was earning some points but if that meant touching, she'd have some seconds thoughts.

She had read some article, she recalled. Although she wasn't absolutely sure again, she tried. She raised her hand and said "They are big and powerful. Also they drink only alcohol." But which one? She couldn't tell.

"William, that was wonderful. And you're absolutely right," she said.

"As you'll find in your textbook, there are four breeds of winged horses in the magical world. The Abraxan, the Aethonan, the Granian and the Thestral.

"The Aethonans, native to Britain, aren't nearly as large as the sturdier Abraxan and are chestnut in color. The Granians are grey and are the fastest of all the flying horses." Trinity let out an aggravated sound at this and threw her head up in the air. The professor grinned at her class and whispered playfully, "Someone sounds jealous."

"Thestrals are have white shining eyes, dragonish faces and necks, and skeletal black bodies. And last but not least..." She eyed Trinity and smiled, "The Abraxans, as William pointed out, are the only winged horses palomino in color. They drink only the finest single malt whiskey and require forceful handling." Though obviously, Iliana had never had to be 'forceful'. "Any questions so far?"

The Abraxan was beautiful, even if it was a little scary. The wings looked strong enough to smack someone's head right off. Kiri had a different question, though. Tentatively, she raised her hand. "Erm, Professor?" she asked timidly, not at all sure she should even speak. "I... Can you see Thestrals?"

Kiri had read the textbook, she knew what that would mean. She fidgeted in her seat uncomfortably. "I mean," she added hastily, "y-you don't have to answer, of course, I just sort of wondered how people take care of them if they can't see them. For example."

The professor gave Kiri a sad smile and said, "Yes Kiri, unfortunately I can." Being a Healer at St. Mungos for over six years had left its mark. "Good question Kiri. Anyone else?"

Thomas raised his hand and asked the teacher, "Professor I have a question not about an Abraxan but about a Thestral. In of my books it said that Thestrals can only be seen by some people, and I was wondering who are those people?"

Well that was something Jake could relate to... three months at Hogwarts ast year had given him enough experience that he could see those horse things. It hadn't been a surprise of course, because they had never been invisible beforehand.

But still... he raised his hand into the air. "I got a couple. One's about Thestrals... 'cause I'm curious, ya know? Well... say you can see them... if the memory was wiped of the incident where you started being able to see them... would you still be able to?"

There... that was clear enough without going into details that might upset people, right? Okay, so... people = himself. And Professor Morgan.

Feeling a sudden surge of anger as he usually did at this subject (well... he never asked to see them), Jake pushed it away and asked his second question. "And, Abraxans. How big do they grow? Like, in hands. And what's their wingspan?" he asked, avoiding looking at the large creature.

Well... it was big.

Natka stared in wonder. Flying horses! This just had to be the best lesson of the year... she'd been waiting for absolute ages to 'officially' learn (well, in lessons and with a teacher, rater than just reading stuff out of a dusty old library book) about horse-like magical creatures. And here there was an Abraxan, right in front of her!

Natka could not get the grin off her face, her eyes trained on... Trinity, was it? - as she addressed Professor Morgan.

"When you say Abraxans need forceful handling... does that indicate they are dangerous in some way, or simply stubborn? And from reading about Harry Potter and his adventures, I know you can ride Thestrals... can you ride Abraxans as well? And Granians, and Aethonans? Which breed is most often used by wizards and witches, and for what?"

The questions were spilling out of her almost father than she could think about what she was saying. But there was just so much natka wanted to know about these creatures...

She waited for the answers to her curiosity, her eyes wandering over the large, palomino body of the horse, admiring its beauty and grace. She wished she could get closer.

"No William, there are laws against such things. The Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures has set very strict guidelines to protect against cross breeding," she said, smiling down at him. How she loved an inquisitive child.
"To quote your textbook, 'Thestrals are invisible to anyone who has not seen death.' Does that statement make sense?" she asked sweetly.
"Yes Jake, it's not your memory that makes them visible but the incident itself. It's a very peculiar magic," she explained, giving him a perplexed look. What was he getting at there?

"As far as their size... The male abraxan stands 2 to 3.5 m (7 to 11.5 ft) tall, while the females reach an average height of 2.4 m (7.8 ft). Their wing spans can range from 30-35 feet for the girls, to 45-50 feet for the boys. These big horses need BIG wings to get them in the air."

"Those are great questions," she said, petting Trinity's coat. "You know, most creatures could be considered dangerous... if not given the proper care. Abraxans are not different," she said. "But class, I don't want you to worry. The Abraxans we have here at Hogwarts are very well behaved and friendly."

Holding her wand out, the professor summoned several large buckets of liquid. "Would anyone like to volunteer to help?"

"Er... Sure, I'll volunteer," Kiri said, raising her hand a little uncertainly. She probably wouldn't have under different circumstances, but Trinity stood behind the professor, unmoving, surveying the class placidly. It didn't look as if it was about to bite anyone's head off.

Herminny raised her hand and said, "I'd love to help professor", even though she was not quite sure what exactly she was volunteering to help with she was just happy to help nonetheless.

"Oh... okay," Jake nodded, frowning as he she said the word peculiar. There was... something about that word that Jake hated. "Yeah... it's kind of stupid."

Of course, Jake thought that was what peculiar meant.

"Oh... wow..." he whispered, when he heard how big abraxans, particularly the males, could get. "Big..."

Oooooooooooooooooooooh... looky here.

Jake thrust his hand into the air. "I'll volunteer..." he stated, looking at the buckets. "What exactly am I volunteering for?" he added suspiciously.

Thomas raised his hand and said, "Professor I'd love to help and to be a volunteer." He wrote what the teacher said about the Thestrals.

Satine watched a ton of hands go up in the air, but she figured it wouldn't hurt to volunteer also...

"Professor, I would love to help....that is if there is still some spots available..."

Cam could just picture a bigger male Abraxan, with like, a 50 feet wingspan?! That was insane. And yet, cool at the same time.

EEEP the professor was asking for volunteers? For the Abraxans? Meaning they could like, totally get a closer look at Trinity! After finishing writing down his notes, he raised his hand uuuup high. "OOH! Pick meee pick mee--that is if you've still gotten any room?" Meh, had he miiisssed his chance? Stoopid notes.

Iliana smiled mischievously. 'Great! Everyone sounded ready.' She took her wand again and gave it a quick swish towards the stables. Just then, each of the Abraxan's stall doors opened simultaneously. In one large, uniformed group, the winged horses walked out into a partitioned section of the paddock, that she'd set up for the occasion.

"Class, we have been fortunate enough to obtain enough Abraxans into our care that each of you will be able to work with your own. There will be no partnering up required for this lesson," she explained with a smile.

"Now if I could get each of you (her volunteers) to come to the front, grab one of these buckets and quietly stand in front of the Abraxan you'd like to work with. For this part of the exercise, I'd like you to stay on this side of the barrier." Better safe than sorry.

OOC: For the partition: imagine a fence such as this. Students on one side, abraxans on the other. ;) You'll be able to touch them, feed them, etc... We're just keeping a safe distance in the beginning.

Surprised, Jake leapt backwards... or would have leapt had he not been sitting... so he settled for a backwards roll. Pip pip.

This meant he could stand up pretty easily, but he wasn't sure he wanted to anymore... those biiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiig Abraxans had startled him, but he was getting over it.

Missing the professor's mischevious smile, seeing it as a normal CHECK OUT MAH HAPPINESS smile, Jake went ahead and grabbed a bucket, before sizing up the creatures. Immediately, he headed for the smallest one he could see (he had a good measuring eye?) and stood in front of it, gazing into its face and trying not to be scared.

Oh Em Gee she did not just say they didn't have to partner up for this lesson, was this Will's lucky day? It must have been, because he grinned a wide grin, his blue eyes shining with pent up happiness as he got up slowly, staring in awe at the many Abraxans before him. Ari was not going to believe this! oh wait, she dealt with dragons all day, this would be nothing for her, right.

Walking over to the fence he picked up a bucket and held it in his right hand, his eyes searching out one of the creatures who'd look the most like him. He spotted one by the end ducking its head and eying the ground and thought there it is. Walking up to it quietly and carefully he stopped on his side of the fence, his grin even wider than before.

Looking back to professor Morgan he waited with a slight bounce for more instruction.

This. Was. Just. Too. Cool!

Oh dear. A single Abraxan wasn't quite as scary as a whole herd of them. She was grateful for the fence, however feeble and useless it seemed. But it represented a sort of safe boundary. Kiri got up and walked to the front of the class to pick up one of the buckets. It was heavy enough that she had to sling her arms around it to be able to carry it. The liquid inside nearly spilled over as she wobbled to the fence.

Up close, the Abraxans all looked similar. They were very big. Kiri chose the one that she thought appeared most peaceful; it was also one that put Kiri close to Professor Morgan. Just in case...
When Kiri reached the fence, the Abraxan turned it's massive head and glanced at her with vague interest. She heaved the bucket up as high as she could and waited, wondering whether she was about to get headbutted by a giant winged horse.

While Thomas took a bucket which was on the other side of the classroom he looked at the Abraxans to see which one to work with. The Ravenclaw looked at the Abraxans with a bucket in his hands, he deiced which one still. He wanted one which didn't look have a lot energy or was to strong. Thomas picked a smaller Abraxan which was very close to the end of the fence. He walked up to the Abraxan trying not to make such a big eye contact or the Abraxan might attack him.

Whaaaaat?

Cam hadn't known that they were going to do it individually, he would have thought... it was some sort of a partner activity. See, right now, he was more worried about the Abraxan's state and health than his after he'd been done with it. Just... chaaaaos always seemed to happen around him, and he was really getting his suspicions if he was indeed cursed. Cursed. Yes.

But whatevaaar, if Abraxans were nice and gentle like the professor said they were, then he was up for it! All giddy and excited for the activity they were doing right now, he grabbed a bucket and ... decided which one to pick.

Whiiiich? Closing his eyes shut, he chanted, "Eeny meeny miny moe, catch the tiger by the toe, if he hollers let him go, eeny meeny miny," and he ooopened, "mooooe."

...

Quite a big Abraxan he'd picked. Like. Big. BIGGER than most of them. Eh. He walked up to the winged-horse creature and waved a hello. "Hiiiiiii." But pshh he just COULDN'T get along with creatures if they didn't have a name. Everyone and everything had to have a name. Even the non-living ones. It was in his rulebook. Yeah. "Professaaah, have you named this one yet?"

Herminny walked up to the front and grabbed one of the buckets and saw a pretty little Abraxan to the far left she wanted to work with and walked over to it with the bucket filled with some sort of liquid in hand and waited for future instruction.

"Of course he does, Cameron. All of my Creatures have names," she said, her green eyes twinkling. "His name is Necromancer." The moment his name was uttered, the Abraxan lifted his enormous wings and gave them a hearty flap, sending a gust of wind towards the professor. Holding onto Trinity to keep her balance, the professor laughed. This was going to be a fun lesson.

"Once everyone has selected their abraxan, we'll continue," she announced, allowing a bit more time for the slowpokes.