Salander was sitting as far back from the class as the circular seating would allow, distracted with questions of his own thats been ringing in his head since the class started...

We're supposed to come as a creature?

He remembered reading the board about coming in costume for COMC class. And he pretty much just bolted back to the dorms to find his costume from last year's ball. And to think he was so proud that for the first time, he came in all prepared.

FAIL!

Preoccupied with trying to find some excuse an animal he could pass himself off as, he vaguely noted that the class has involved the discussion of Muggles again. At this point Salander was resigned that all his classes will be concerning themselves with the group from which he shares half his heritage. Well heck at least he knew quite a bit about muggles, having lived as one for nearly 13 years.



His attention returned back to the center of the circle when the Professor uncovered the crate and revealed a dog.

Or rather a Crup, as the Professor says.

Unconsciously he angled his head down on her question. so quickly that it almost slammed the mask down onto his helmet . Is she serious? "It would cry in pain if you're not gonna numb that area first...." he blurted out, having know a thing or two about cut appendages "But if you do manage to remove its other tail it would look like a regular Muggle dog-- a breed they call a Jack Russell Terrier "

Raven see what the professor is trying to insight to their mind, hope so, she was right, a crup is a puppy, a rat is common to muggles, or simply the cat is a pet in muggles, some have owl, but still he didn't know the answered to why the forked tail will remove from a crup, anyway Raven need to participate in class, what for having in costume if not, Raven raised his 'front paw' "Professor, the crup will begun loyal to anybody who will detached the forked tail from him" Raven answered, he just gamble, he crossed his finger.

*Raising a hand still in character of being a knight riding a dragon Matty said.*
"Unless, my lady professor, you are using a painless Severing Charm he will not be very happy with thou. They have been known to be very ferocious toward non-magic folk and eat anything, some say even a man."

Well, this was quite amusing, no doubt about it. And no, it wasn't Salander's costume that she was almost giggling at either. Didn't he wear that to that ball the year before?

Blinking at everyone becoming rather emotional over the thought of the puppy being hurt, the Slytherin scoffed quietly as she crossed her arms. Really, this happened to crups allllll the time. Did they not think wizards would have found a way for the procedure to be rather pain free for them? "The crup will probably forget what just happened in a moment or so and go back to being it's regular dog self."

Really now. "Maybe even eat some grass."

Hugo took off his mask. Of course, he had to be an eagle. First, he was a Ravenclaw, and second, flying is the best thing anyone could ever do. Thankfully Hugo had a shiny Firebolt 600 so he could be at least a bit like his costume.

Hugo raised his hand. "Professor, you say 'cutting'. There are a few ways you can 'cut' the tail. If you literally cut it, the crup will be in terrible pain-" and Hugo would most likely report the teacher or something like that. Just like he... Didn't do with Lafay for testing on muggleborns. "Wizards usually remove the tail by a severing charm, which is painless and easy, leaving the crup happy forever after," he told the professor. Imagine if the professor came with a big'ol scissor and cut it off. That would be messy.

Eino made an effort to raise his hand, but his entire back, including the back of his arms and legs, and the top of his head, were covered with rocks. He had used an immense amount of superclue and a charm (mostly the charm) to keep them together so hopefully it didn't come apart. It was a very heavy costume but this was the best way to portray his creature and bring some awareness to the danger it posed to the entire world and universe.
He used his left hand to support his right arm and raised his hand. "If you cut the crup's forked tail it will not longer have a forked tail." Naturally. "It will resemble a non magical creature."

Sakura shifted, slightly uncomfortable in her mermaid costume. She'd bought it for halloween last year and hadn't worn it since. Her make-up was simple, a light blue to match the tail of the costume and a bright pink lipstick to match the top. She'd figured simplistic elegance would be best which was why her bracelet, necklace and earrings were all pearls. Sakura had kind of been going for a muggle view since the halloween party had been hosted by a few muggle friends.

While she shifted she thought on the question that the professor had asked them. "I figure the crup would attack you due to pain. However if you use the severing charm the crup should be fine and wouldn't try to attack anyone due to it's loyalty to you. There would also be the added bonus of it looking like a muggle creature, and therefore not endangering itself due to muggles wanting to experiment, or endangering our society if a muggle should discover that the crup is magical," Sakura replied. It wasn't the best answer, at parts it seemed she was a bit off track, but at least it was an attempt and she'd hopefully earn some points for Slytherin this lesson.

Aw! A puppy... Wait, cut of it's tail?!?! What?!?!
"Well I suppose you cut off it's tail so it carn't injure people or scrape something, but... professor your not really going to do it are you? It's not right to cut off it's tail, it might be in pain! It's not it's fault it was born like that, poor thing!"
She woudn't, she coudn't, after all she was the care of magical creatures teacher so she must care for magical creatures! She woudn't, not with all these children here! Nope, no way... poor little puppy!

Everyone was talking about it being painless? So what!
"So what it taking it off is painless?!?! If I said 'I'll cut off your arm but don't worry, it'll be painless' would you want me to do it?!?!" she said to mostly the people around her. She hoped some of the people who said it would be ok to cut the poor crup's tail heard what she had said.
"Professor..."
Why was she pleading? The teacher hadn't even said she was going to!

Cedric couldn't have been more delighted. He really liked his bat-eyes costume which was a cool one-piece costume. It couldn't be really exactly a costume for it only covered his eyes but well, it still counts as one, no? And it rather had a sense of notoriety, anonymity, and casualness which he looked for a costume and the bat-eyes one, from the few other costumes his mom had owl-sent him, definitely bore those qualities.

Along with his bat-eyes piece, he was simply clad in plain white t-shirt, that hugged his body quite impressively and well, and slick denim pants. Oh, didn't he look so swell?

So here he was, sat perfectly at ease, a part of the large circle that was formed by all the students. Cedric watched as the professor show them a crup. What would happen if she removed its forked tails? Ugh. Gross. "I think it's either it would cry out in profound pain or burst into sudden fit of tears of joy 'cause its queer forked tails has been fortunately finally... err, removed." Or, maybe, the professor would be punished due to unnecessary meanness. Cedric grinned. He seemed to like the last option.

K-Lee laughed slightly at the thought. Raising her hand, she answered. "It would go on a rampage wouldn't it, thats why you need a licence for them, they are hard to control and if you were to anger them, like cutting its tail off... Well it would depend how you cut it off, and also how loyal it is to you..." K-Lee trailed, stopping her ramble to blush slightly. She hated when she rambled.

"So yeah, it would depend on the age of the crup, how you remove it and how loyal." K-Lee sat up straighter, flicking her hair out of her face. She seriously hated when she went in a ramble-fest.

Jamie raised her hand and said, "Well wouldn't get angry unless it were loyal to you. In which case it'd have to loyal to you to have it's tail cut off."

Iris had kept quiet for the most part of the lesson so far. She was sulking about how the teacher didn't comment on her wings. The wings that took her THREE HOURS to perfect... Siiiigh.

However, when Saylen talked about crups, and chopping their tails off, Iris looked up. She gathered from the fact that Saylen paused before explaining how it was the law to cut their tails off, that she didn't like it.

Raising her hand, Iris figured she should give this question a go. "Um... well, the crup doesn't really have a say in it, does he? I mean... it's like how Muggle farmers clip the wings of chickens so they can't fly off..." Iris paused, wondering how that would have ANYTHING to do with the question. "At least... you'd be able to use a spell to prevent the crup any pain while you cut it off... Wouldn't the crup still show some kind of anger or sadness though? ... I mean, they've evolved to have the forked tails for a reason... and we cut them off for our own safety." Or, at least... Iris thought that's why they get cut off.

Sand.

In.

His.

BED.

Jake was looking at Treyen when he spoke, of course, and just the fact that he'd looked at him... Jake didn't like. He didn't WANT Treyen looking at him. "I swear to Circe, kid..."

"..."

Jake blinked before responding. "The costumes. We had no choice."

WHY were they even dressed up?!

AWWWWWWWWW! A CRUPPY!

Jake had been aware of that law. He raised his hand. "The tail-docking was one of the reasons I couldn't take my crup home after my first year, when we did the nursery thing. I refused to let it be done." He paused, eyeing Saylen. "And if it happens now, that crup will be in a lot of pain. He... or she has done nothing wrong. If you do that, I'd take the crup and leave."

Leave Hogwarts.

"I kind of wouldn't put it past any professor, after the murders in potions."

Ahem. So not bitter.

Rowan sat quietly in her cat costume, taking notes and listening to what the others were saying.

Louisa was holding her parchment too tightly when the Professor got the Crup out. Who said that muggles only would be suspicious about those magical creatures? She, the witch, was as hesitant in dealing with them as muggles would be.

Never mind that now. She must give her opinion. Cutting the little thing's tail? "It might squeal.." She started after raising her arm. "..and bite you.. I mean the person who cut it for it?" Nervous smile.. smirk more like it. As for physical changes she had no idea. and not interested

Savannah waited for further instructions as she saw a girl sitting by herself. She walked over...well, at least she has someone to talk to. "Hi." She said awkwardly. "Nice kitty costume." She commented, which was true. The kitty costume was adorable.

As the professor walked closer and closer to the mysterious crate, Sierra braced herself to set eyes upon whatever exciting creature was hidden inside. She craned her neck a little so that she could get the best view possible, and then when the crate was finally opened...

...a crup came out. A crup?!

Sierra's shoulders slumped and she wrinkled her eyebrows in confusion. Why was the professor showing them something as simple as a crup? Sierra had seen what seemed like a million and one of these creatures before, and she even remembered her sister had one named Piccadilly.

She'd been expecting something a little more exciting, but at the same time, she supposed the professor had her reasons. Which she found out a few seconds later, of course. Were they going to sever the tail of a cruppie today?! Raising her hand, Sierra said, "Actually, I think it's painless for the crup. My older sister has one," she said. "I think it just gives them more of a dog look than a crup look, really."

Piccadilly, Sierra had heard, really didn't seem to mind. Then again, Sierra had only been three or four years old when the crup had lost it's other tail.

"Thanks," Rowan whispered back to the girl, hoping to not get into trouble for chatting during class. "I'm Rowan."

Blink. The teacher was laughing at her, omg.

That confirmed it. Ella was the idiot of the class. "Thank you, professor." She responded falsely when the adult commented on her hat. To be honest, she was proud of her hat. It was the rest of it that was just, URGH!



Ella missed the first few questions, because she was having a mini temper tantrum about this lesson. But then a little cruppie got brought out and it was just so cuuuuute, and she wanted to stroke it. That moment was tarnished when the professor mentioned cutting off it's tail. At first, Ella was shocked that the professor was suggesting to do it here.

She thought about the question, then raised her hand. "I don't think it would be too happy about it. But it's something that all crups have to have done, so there's nothing to complain about." She said that because there were some students in the class who were getting all pouty about it. She continued, "it's painless too, isn't it? I mean, people use a special severing charm to do it... which is painless. I think." She remembered hearing something about this at her old school. If it wasn't painless, Ella would be added to the other pouty student list.

Looking back to the crup again, Ella smiled. Daw, she loved Care of Magical Creatures.

Patroclus had yet to put forth answer yet. Sitting just off to the side, of the class, the boy had to make sure he wasat the back or, way from the others so that his enormous golden wings, were not blocking the view of those around him. Listening to the answers about the crup, Patroclus thought it was time he started to contribute.

"The fact that we are magical I believe would make a big difference, to the situation," the boy's voice rang out from underneath his mask. "Plus the fact that you are learned and accomplished Magical Zoologian, would help. I am sure there is a spell or a potion that would render the operation a quick and painless experience for all involved." Professor Saylen may have been muy caliente but she was also very smart, so the crup was in very capable hands, magical hands.

Happy with his answer, Patroclus smiled beneath his ancient greek mask. It had been the perfect solution to the costume question. There was one creature that Patroclus loved the most out of all creatures, and so he had dressed as one, his vintage Givenchy set off the tones beautifully!


He was an Abraxan of Course!

Eagerly, Wesley leaned forward to see what was in the crate, brushing her "tentacles" aside for a better look. Oh! A crup! Curiosity turned into delight, she grinned.

But then she gasped. Forgetting to raise her hand, the Hufflepuff cried, "Oh no, Professor Saylen! You can't, you can't! It would bleed!" Blood. Wesley covered her mouth, stomach clenched and ready to revolt.

She knew about the law, of course. It was written directly in the textbook. But...but Wesley had always assumed the Crup was stupefied before any action was taken. And then after, well, surely some pain-relieving potion was administered.

And here Evelyn was talking about instantly eating grass and being normal. Wesley stared at her, eyebrows lifted with horror and confusion. She wished.

Seeing the puppy, Emmaleigh let out a squeal. She just couldn't help it, he was so cute. Hearing the question, she raised her hand. "without something for the pain, It would probably hurt a little bit." Noticing the reactions around her, she shrugged. "But I don't see what the big deal is. Muggles basically do the same thing to some dog breeds. They dock their tails to keep it from getting damaged, for hygine, or because it's the "Breed Standard". It seems like doing it to the crup is for it's own protection." The young girl wasn't heartless, she just didn't see why everyone should be all worked up.

What.

Hearing everyone's comments and ideas...and worries, Maya was a tad perplexed at how they were acting. Did they really think she would actually cut off this puppy's tail??

Maybe...she should set up a shield around her and the pup. Just incase.

"Some of you say it would be cruel. Some said the pup would feel the pain. And some of you think that the creature might turn against me if I did sever the tail." She wasn't saying that she would...or that she wouldn't. Her eyes rested on the three students before moving on.

Really? "No one is forcing you to stay here, Mister Lockhart. It is obvious you are not interested in participating in this lesson since you did not even bother to dress up as required." He could leave if he wanted to, it wasn't going to be her loss.

Oh for the love of... Her evil?? Thankyou?
Now why would she say something like that. "You are also not obligated to be here. This lesson is not for my benefit."

Huh. Allright, yes, a shield would be a good idea. But atleast these kids had spirit. "I would be dissapointed if you didn't." Moving on.

These three other students were not bad thinkers either.

Method? "I would use the severing charm. The only charm approved to remove a Crup's tail." Allright, forgive her lack of english. She meant sever. Hehe.

Oh, flattery. A smile tugged on her lips at the young Prefect's words.
"Ofcourse there are other ways to remove the tail... But the most prefered way is the Severing Charm." She nodded.

"Indeed. They say it is painless." However, Maya wouldn't know since she wasn't a Crup and she'd never had a forked tail severed off her. But she trusted it was indeed painless. Again, she regarded the two young girls.

Looking around the circle again, Maya just had to do a double take. It seemed she did this often when Mister Salander was present. Was that costume his favorite thing to wear at her lessons?

But to answer their questions... "Yes, indeed he would look and probably act like a regular dog."

"That might be true." Or it might not be. Should Maya demonstrate now?

"Loyalty may or may not have a factor in how well the puppy recieves his new tail..."

Oh. Now she got what he meant. Heh.
Another one? Really? "As I said before, only you can decide wether or not you want to learn in this class." Meaning he could also leave if he wanted to. But don't expect a good grade, children.

Murders? Frowning, Maya stared at the Hufflepuff. Why was he always so cryptic? "I'd like to see you try, Mister Morgan." Heh.

Seriously.
"I hear you two and I will take points if you continue to disrupt the class." Maya eyed the two students.

Uh. Maya glanced at the young girl but didn't say anything. She was aware that there were some young students here. But still.

Nodding at the girl, it seemed most of them could see the similarities. "Good thinking."

Maya cringed at the outraged cry of the Hufflepuff Prefect. She had heard alot of them during this lesson. And she wasn't even halway through it. "Please, calm down Miss Reagan." Weren't Hufflepuff already struggling with points?

"That is true. Again, the similarities between the Muggle and Wizarding world seem alot stronger when you think about it."

'It's not it's fault it was born like that...' Bingo.

"You are all very passionate about the Crup... I admire that." She really did. But whatever happened in this class was not in their control. "It does seem unfair for this young creature to have to change who he is. Specially since it doesn't know what he's being put through." But, what did she know.


Kneeling down next to the crate, Maya opened the little door and picked up the Crup from inside. The forked tail still waggled happily and it was really excited by all these students around him. The Mexicana kept scratching it under the chin, hoping to calm it down a little before setting it down on the ground, where it kept trying to have a tug war with her sleeve.

With a small wrist action, Maya's wand shot out from her holster and into her other hand. Aiming it at the sky, she mumbled an incantation and a light blue shield surrounded her and the crup. Protection, because she didn't know what these kids would do.


And without further ado, she made the forked tail dissapear.
There was no blood, no cries of pain, no nothing. But the puppy felt something, ofcourse, as it started to look around - much similar in the way a dog chases its own tail.

After a moment, it sort of stumbled around, as if not having enough balance, trying to sniff at the students through the shield. Soon enough, the tail stopped wagging and instead it was lowered down under his own body. The sign of fear and uncertainty.

"What is it doing and why do you think that is?" Silly question, perhaps, but it was important that they'd know what was going on.

Hugo hesistantly raised his hand. "I think it's noticing something is missing. Like it was robbed." he said, not entirely sure if he understood the question right. "Like it's losing a bit of it's power."