Marie looked up just as Carter waved at her. She waved back at him as he went to sit with Mina. Maybe once they went into the forest him and Mina would stay close to her along with Destiny and Evelyn. Now all she needed was Evan and she would feel much better. Then again, if Evan wasn't in class she wouldn't have to worry about anything happening to him in the forest.

They were going into the forbidden forest? Jack had said her badge was found near there as well as a few other things, so even thinking about going near there was asking for trouble!

Reese turned her attention towards the forest, thinking of anything she could say right now that would get her out of having to go in there. She could pitch a fit, but that would be sooooo un-Prefectlike, so she knew that was out of the question. And pretty much anything that would get her out of participating in class was out of the question since she a Prefect and needed to be here.

Sighing, she looked back towards the students around her who were answering the question of what kind of creatures lived in the forest. Seeing as most of the creatures had been mentioned, Reese just kept quiet.

Miranda looked about and soon heard Sarah's voice, making her look behind her. She noticed Mr. Lawson standing by a tree and was reminded again of how she wanted to ask him something.

But her attention was brought back to the Prefect and the way she looked. That was probably not a happy girl. Miranda couldn't blame her, really, after all of the things they found out here and they were going inside?

Walking closer to Sarah, making sure Wesley came along, she took the Prefect's hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze.

But again, her eyes fell on the Professor. She bit down on her lower lip, frowning, debating wether or not to just ask him now. But, she didn't want to disturb the class and annoy Mrs. Lawson. Right. After the class, she would go up to his office. Right. So, Miranda gave him an odd smile and turned back to the forest and whatever might be living in there. Hoping it wouldn't EAT THEM.

Heh.

Cooooooooooool!

They were going into the forest Oliver had become so curious about. The fact that it had Forbidden in it's title was like reverse psychology to the boy. It was like having a 'Do Not Press' sign next to a massive red button. Of course it was going to get pressed!

Wand in hand, he wandered closer to Miranda and her band of Rodent friends and smiled at them before he turned his attention to the professor. He raised his free hand to answer her question. “Don't those massive creepy spiders live in there, professor? Erm.. Acromantula?”

Iliana nodded at each student's answer and gave them a smile. "Wonderful answers, all of you," she said. "There are all types of wildlife living in the Forbidden Forest. As it has been said, 'the forest hides many secrets'. Today we will uncover the secrets of the Thestrals."

"I realize that some of you are a bit apprehensive about going INTO the forest, but Professor Lawson and I are here to make sure that nothing happens to you." She looked over towards Marcus and gave him a loving smile. "Now if you'll stay together and follow me..." she instructed, holding up her wand. "Lumos," she said, turning towards the tree line and walking into the forest.

"Now some of you won't be able to see the Thestrals. Anyone care to guess why that is?"

OOC: Creative answers are always good for laughs. Let's have some of those please.

Sigh. It looked like he had no choice but to go into the dark dark forest. BOOOOO. He was going to be sure to stick as close to Lawson and Lawson as possible. Yes. He'd be totally safe if he did that!

He raised his hand, even though he wasn't sure she'd be able to see it in the dark. "Well, not all of us have seen someone die...I know I personally have lived a very sheltered life so the thestral could be right next to me and I'd have no idea..."

As he spoke, his eyes flickered to either of his sides. Was he going mad or did he just feel something breathing next to him!?

"Lumos"

There was no way Marie was going into that forest without some sort of light, even if it was just a small amount from her wand. Looking back she made sure Destiny and Evelyn were right there with her. Now where were Carter and Mina?

She raised her hand, "Professor, only those that have seen death will be able to see the Thestrals." Marie had never seen death before, except when she dreamt about a certain nosy brat being dead. "Does it count if the death you have seen is in a dream?" Because if it did then Marie would definately be able to see them. "Oh, or what about if it was the death of something like say...... a spider? Would that count?" Yes, she had seen the death of a spider before....right after she stepped on it.

Mina fidgeted a little as she gripped her wand. The professors Lawson would keep them all safe, but the feeling of dread was still very much present in the pit of her stomach. Breath, silly girl.

Taking a deep breathe, she held her wand high and followed toward the forest. She had nothing to fear, she kept telling herself as she cast Lumos.

"Thestrals can only be seen by those that have seen death or in severe cases, been though near death experiences."

They weren't going to find spiders!?

Aww. Now Destiny had an empty container sitting in her dorm and there will be no itty bitty spider in it. Unless she just so happens to find one crawling about..she'll have to keep her eyes open.

Professor Lawsons better protect Destiny. Or she will jump right in the arms of Professor man Lawson, and that would mean actually touching him..ewwww! Standing up, Destiny followed into the forest, maaaaybe walking a little too close to the Professors.

So what..she was scared.

'Some people can't see them because they can't afford special Thestral goggles.' Destiny had heard all about them goggles. They let you see the Threstals, but not the Threstal poo.

Go figure.

"One can only see thestrals if one has seen death. Literally. Like it happened RIGHT in front of you." she said, suddenly realizing how close to the professor she really was walking. Huh, when did that happen? Had she somehow drifted over towards the Professor in the hopes of maybe feeling secure and safe in the depths of this dark forest?

Pffft...Nah!

Evelyn was probably just walking fast and somehow managed to catch up. "I mean...it probably has to be so in front of you, that you could probably feel whatever agony they are in. Almost...almost as close as we're standing right now." she whispered last, gesturing slightly to the minimal space there was between them.

Okay maybe that was too close. And of course, she was pretty much kidding. You didn't have to be close to death to really see a thestral. You just had to see death in Action! BOOM!

Miranda wanted to go inside the forest, like, now. She saw Oliver walk over to them and she gave the boy a smile before turning back to the Professor. Well, this time, she had her own robes one. Heh.

Uh...oh! We are MOVING!
As the Professor lit her wand, Miranda had to release the girl from her 'clutches' and get her own wand lit. "Lumos." But she kept close to Wesley and Sarah and Oliver. Because, y'know... no, you don't know what could hop out from behind a shadowy tree, that was the point. Like a squirrel... or something. o.O

Thestrals!? Ugh. Well, Miranda hadn't actually seen death, so her chances of seeing the creatures was going to be infinitesimall. And she dearly hoped no one here would be able to. Miranda glanced at her friends, wondering if they might actually be seeing them.

"Ma'm," she raised her wand up, casting light around her, "Is it because..." Er, better not to mention the 'D' word infront of Wesley? "...uh, because the Wrackspurts have been at it again, making your brain all fuzzy?" HOW was a brain infesting creature better than...'the deep sleep'?

Heh, who knows.

Sighing Kay started to walk with the Professors ahead of her. She really didn't want to go into the forest but, how could she not. If that was where the class was going to be. Thestrals would be cool and she wondered if she would be able to see them. She new all about death and losing someone. well two someones. "Professors, Thestrals can only be seen by people who have seen death or felt the sadness or loss of death." Kay said holding her wand tighter as she called out. "Lumos." the light that come from her wand made her feel a little better, but she wished Rex was here with her. She was scared and she really didn't like be a lone.

Releasing his wand from its holster, Marcus held it up and said a very soft "Lumos" as he followed behind the students. He snorted softly at some of the students answers but didn't say anything else.

Although he was quite tempted the scare the living daylights out of Evelyn and sneak up behind her pretending he was a thestral but he refrained from doing so. She would probably scream and scare them all off.

And well he needed them for his part of the class.

Carter followed the rest of the class. "Lumos." he whispered lightening up his wand. He made sure Mina was close as they neared the forest. He caught Marie looking back a few times. Maybe he and Mina would catch up to them.

Twirling her wand Arya walked on the outskirts of the group between the two Lawson's. Having both of them there had taken away most of her fear of walking in the forest. She didn't light the tip of her wand, finding it much more enjoyable to walk in the dark.

Won't be able to see them? Arya could think of no reason why they wouldn't be able to see the creatures and was begining to wonder why they were in the forest looking for a creature they couldn't see. As she listened to the anwsers other students were giving she looked around the forest with curious eyes.

Sidney takes her wand out of its holster and performs the lumos charm. She would love to be able to see a thestral, but she has never seen anyone die. Sidney follows after Professor Lawson (the cute hunk) into the Forbidden Forest. She hopes they don't go anywhere near the Acromantula caves. Sidney has no desire to see spiders of any kind.

Shivering slightly, Aaron slid inconspicuously closer to his captain as he inched toward the forest with the rest of them, listening to the Professor speak on how they would be uncovering the secrets of Thestrals. Why wouldn't some of them be able to see Thestrals? Forget about DEATH like some of the other kids talked about... HA! Yea right.

Aaron raised his hand up, "Some of us won't be able to see Threstals because you're gonna BLINDFOLD us." Duh. Professors were tricky like that.


ooc: Yes. I spelled thestrals wrong. Yes, it was on purpose, *points to character* He's 11; he don't know the difference ;D

"You can only see them if you have seen death." Her hand was in the air and her tones, extremely quiet. The Thestral, it was a beautiful creature - gorgeous in its own way, no doubt about that.

But death?

To say the least, it was a topic that she did not discuss often. Its mysteries were many -- and none of them could fill, could ever fill, the gap that it had created in her life, more than once.

Silently, she lowered her hand.

"Lumos" Patroclus whispered, as he moved silently by the side of Professor Mr. Lawson.
As they moved closer to the trees, they sheer size of the trees became evident. Patroclus an avid outdoors fan, instantly pictured himself climbing the trees and starring at the untouched sky.

Still in a daze the words of Professor Mrs. Lawson, drifted past his ears, ".....Threstal...". Hearing those words, Patroclus' eyes snapped and focused on the back of the female professors head. He couldn't help but think will anyone else be able to see the horses of death?

Candy WAVED her hand in the air.

"Professah!" She said all HAPPILY. "Is it because they're only visible to people who smell funny or smell like ROSES?"

She squinted through the dark but saw nothing. But then again she didn't really smell of roses. So she wouldn't be able to see one anyway.

HOW SAD!!!

Jake raised his hand, a frown on his face.

"Yyyyou t-t-told mmme th-that it dddoesn't matter if you ffforget the dddeath you saw either," he said, choosing to elaborate on other answers instead of repeating it. "Yuhh-you ssstill see it even if yyyou ggget the mmmemory taken."

The boy sighed.

"Kkkkind of sssuckish, rrrreally."

''Aha! Because i am coming there and they are sooo scared. Little bittle fainthearted ponnies'' Josh murmured and laughted afterwards as he walked deeper in the forest along with the class, cheerfully waving his wand to enjoy himself with the sight of little light waving in semi darkness.

He grinned again and stopped waving the wand when Jake spoke or tried to spoke. Why was this guy not trying to speak human speech instead of Hello Kitty? Whatever, now he had more important concerns than the stuttering Hufflepuff like that certain Slytherin friend and maybe her friend to share his chocolate. He could not see them but he was going to make them see him.

So, he raised his hand and spoke addressing to the Female Lawson. ''Professor! Professor! I have a problem here. You said 'some of you won't be able to see the Thestrals', right? And some means not the majority as i understood it. Then most of the people here talking about seeing death to be able to see those ponnies which means, if some won't see them and the majority will, the majority of people here have seen a death? Hmm?'' he actually had no idea why would one see them or not but he thought this would be worth pointing out. ''How could most of people here be all experiencers of death? So, i think there must be another way.''

“Lumos.” Oliver muttered and shone his wand at the trees, trying to peer into the forest. He wondered if Mr Masterson ventured in there regularly and knew all the cool creatures that lurked in there. He had no doubt that if there were centaurs in there, as one of the other kids pointed out, that they already knew that they were coming.

Thestrals? Weren't they those horsey lizardy things? He glanced at Miranda, then made a face. Did she just say the professor had a fuzzy brain? He snorted, unable to help it. Well they do say pregnancy temporarily shrinks your brain, so maybe it was true. Still, it was rather a cheeky comment from the yellow captain. The prof should take points for that. Defo.

“Is it cos they're likely to be waaay up in the sky, miss?” Oliver asked raising his hand. “And you've got to have eagle eyes to spot them?” Of course Oliver had perfect vision so he would have no problems here. But.. that didn't make any sense because surely they could look for them from outside the Forbidden Forest.

He listened to the other kids answers. You have to have seen death to be able to see them? Urgh. Well this was going to be a fun lesson. Not. Cos he wasn't going to be able to see zilch.

And that was just the answer she was looking for. "You're absolutely right, Jack," she said, smiling at the Head Boy.

"Thestrals are invisible to anyone who has not seen death," she addressed the class. "Superstitious wizards consider thestrals bad omens because of this anomaly." It was obvious by her tone that she did NOT agree with such ridiculousness.
Professor Lawson grinned at Marie and shook her head. "No dear. The death of a spider wouldn't leave its mark on you like the death of a loved one. More than likely, you won't be able to see them." Oh how she wished they could all be so fortunate.
Laughing openly, Iliana shot Destiny a smile. Honestly, she had no clue why Marcus teased these two so much. They were delightful girls.

"And did you bring your Thestral goggles, Destiny?" she asked playfully. That she HAD to see.
Was it a shock that the WRONG answers were so much more appealing to her than the right ones for this lesson? At least they brought a smile to her face.

"Miranda, I would assume the Wrackspurts have set up quite a camp around me lately," she laughed. "But no... Sadly, I'll still be able to see the thestrals."
With a shocked little gasp, Iliana turned towards Aaron with her hand on her hip. "Would *I* do something like that to you?" she teased, throwing him a playful wink.
Iliana raised an eyebrow and pulled her hair to her nose. She smiled, inhaling deeply and then said, "Smells like Lavender and Chamomile; not roses. But good guess."
When Ili heard Jake's comment, she put her arm around him and gave him a squeeze. "Unfortunately Jake, that's true. I have no doubt that you'll be one of the few that are able to see them. Maybe you can help the others." It wasn't much but maybe helping would take his mind off of WHY he could see them.
"Josh, I used the word SOME because I didn't want to draw attention to those of us that CAN see them. I would prefer not to put anyone on the spot." She was sure he'd understand where she was coming from.

Turning towards the others, Iliana stopped walking and cleared her throat. "Whether or not you can see the Thestrals... it is completely up to you if you'd like to share that with the group. If you do decide to share, I will make sure that this is a safe place to talk about it."

There would be no teasing today. Punishments would be swift and certain.
Continuing down the path, the professor looked up just as Oliver had mentioned the sky. "Actually Oliver, thestrals wings are capable of very fast flight for several hours at a time, but they tend to spend most of their time on the ground. Isn't that interesting?"

...

Out of the corner of her eye, Iliana caught the first glimpse of the winged-horse. She stopped abruptly and placed her finger on her mouth in the universal 'shhh' gesture. "Alright class, there are some thestrals gathered just up ahead. Please spread out into a semicircle around me and be careful not to spook them."

Removing the leather satchel from her shoulder, Iliana handed it over to Marcus and took a few steps forward. From where she was standing she could see seven... maybe eight thestrals nearby. They were BEAUTIFUL!

"For those of you that can see the creatures and would like to volunteer, please come forward and describe to your classmates what you see. Only list one characteristic at a time for now."


OOC: I only need 5 or so volunteers for this portion of the lesson. Points will not be distributed for "seeing" the thestrals so please only volunteer if it makes sense for your charries' history. And remember, most school-age wizards/witches would not have witnessed death so young.

Jack blinked. Did Lawson have like, a super heightened sense of hearing or could she actually see the thestrals? He frowned and looked around as she asked for volunteers--could anyone even see them besides her? BOOOO he wished he could see them!

Then again...he was glad that he couldn't. The thought of seeing someone DIE right in front of him was kind of scary and being able to see the thestrals was only a small plus.

Suddenly a question popped into his head, and he raised his hand. "Professor, I'm not volunteering, cause I can't see them but--is there any way for people who haven't seen death to see them? Like has someone invented a...a...special magical camera that can take a picture of them or something?" he asked in curiousity.

"If not...they should," he added with a little grin. That would be AWESOMEEEE. Plus it would help the Thestrals and their reputation, because if people knew what they looked like they wouldn't be nearly as scary and mysterious!