"A bit. Maybe not so much. This one, its a jinx rather than a curse. Curses need stronger negative emotions and intent to harm behind them, a jinx not so much. Just intending it to work should be enough, you don't have to hate on the dummy."

He glanced at Ivan too.

"It'd be an interesting look, but I think he's more of the leek ears type." Grin. Not that Jim would.

"Were you?" Jimmy raised his eyebrows. "I didn't notice. My bad." Grin.

His smile faded a bit though. "No idea." Having a party? Ballroom dancing? Doing forward rolls? He wasn't sure what made firsties tick.

Mia raised her eyebrows as James spoke and a smile played on her lips. "Have you ever thought of teaching? You're rather good at this Mr Wilkes." Or maybe Professor Wilkes was more appropriate.

Teasing aside, she had been listening. And while she was tempted to threaten Ivan some more, she pointed her wand at the dummy and made a small e motion. "Anteoculatia!" Let's see those antlers.

Oh.

Well now she felt bad.

"Sorry. You'd still look cute even with antlers."

Mia watched him for a moment and then shook her head. "Do you have to do that? You're making me tired just watching you." The kid comment made her laugh. She hadn't noticed. But hey who could blame her, with these two guys distracting her.

Alright this was odd she had to work out for Defense Against the Dark Arts - what would that protect them from? The imminent apocalypse or the zombie army? Neither of which she really believed in.

Looking around, she spotted Jimmy and a bunch of other students she didn't even think she'd met yet. But right now she was on a mission she was going to start etching out her little daily work-out-thing that Lord Borr had told them to do. She was going to be F-I-T fit at the end of term. And maybe that would be good for the up and coming quidditch tryouts get her all limbered up? And ready! Yeah, that would be good.

Glancing over she noticed that Jimmy and the girl he was working with were practicing spells.

She wasn't going to get in their way.

Right now she was going to practice kicking the stupid dummy - not one close to the one that had sneezed earlier no, she was farther down the line out of the firing range.

Raising her leg up she jumped kicking the dummy where its head would have been.

Ouch. She should have stretched before hand.

Rose walked into the DADA training room. She had decided to get started on 'Lord Borr's' assignment sooner rather than later! She sat down and started to meditate about the most inspirational person to her. This was her mum... 'This is a silly assignment, how is this going to help me!' Rose thought as she meditated, but carried on none the less.

Kyle noticed a girl trying to meditate and decided this might be a good idea.

Walking quietly over the seventh year sat down crossed her legs and for a moment began to think hard she had a feeling after what her aunt had told her that a 'proper' roll model would be well...Lord Borr himself, or Shaw, yeah no - it would be Borr. Because right now all she wanted to do was figure out what the crazy tasks had to deal with.

"Ommmm" she chanted quietly letting the energies center her body the calm washed over her and her brain - well her mind, her third eye really felt open her chakras seemed to be tuning themselves to the tone of her own body.

It was calming, relaxing, centering really.

And right now, she was centered on finding out what was up with this new 'important' and 'busy' man. Since she'd never met him yet, she wondered what was up...but she'd wait to see, she'd wait to figure it all out till the end or middle of the term when everything all the pieces of the puzzle would fall into place.

As Aiden walks into the Training Room, she sees two witches are meditating. Obviously they are doing Lord Borr's assignment.

Aiden thinks that maybe she should meditate too, However, she knows that she will fall asleep within ten minutes after meditating. Let alone a hundred minutes. She decides to do fifty front rolls and karate today. Now, is there any planks she could train on?

Alright she had now meditated for what seemed like an hour but in truth was only 55 minutes - she'd need about another 45 to go.

Stretching she slowly stood up. And now, she decided to stretch yes, stretching was good.

Standing up she pulled her arms above her head, and stretching them up towards the sealing she slowly bent down and touched her toes. Easy peasy.

Now, what, she'd simply do it one more time and yeah that would be good for now.

She slowly stretched out again pulling her arms up towards the sky, and then folding down slowly she touched her toes once more.

Her whole body cracking into place with an awful sound but when she righted herself she felt better more aligned in more ways than one.

"I dunno." Jim looked around, feeling a bit like he was in the twilight zone. What the hell was everyone doing?

"I don't really like little kids. And I don't think theres really anything in it for me if I did that whole teaching gig. I don't mind helping you though, Mia." She was his friend, one of the best he'd had and it was rewarding because she mattered to him.

He watched closely as Mia threw the jinx at the dummy, which sprouted antlers. They were sliiiightly crooked, but pretty awesome for a first go. "See all you gotta do is believe in yourself Mia, and like I said, know what you can put behind the intent to drive it faster and harder."

He spotted Kyle come in and...

... okay what was going on?

It was creepy. It was. Had someone brainwashed half the student population? What was with all the forward rolls? The omms? The lame attempts at beating up practice dummies and punching bags? The random running?

"Am I missing something here?"

When Jimmy asked if he was missing something, "Oh, its the Dark Arts 'journal' thing..." She explained lamely, looking over to him.

She walked over, chuckling.

"Don't worry, but the Minister 'Professor' assigned a year-long assignment of stretches, meditating on a proper roll model...I can only assume he means himself - and thats for 100 lovely minutes." She'd rather stick hot pokers in her eyes.

"Yeah, and talking to a mirror, lame stuff" she added the final bit of her explanation after all it was entirely stupid. Like 10 ways to make you look completely insane, lose all your friends, and alienate people yourself.

Jim raised his eyebrows. And that was why people were just rushing around like sheep, being idiots and getting underfoot?

"Have you read anything at all about that Borr guy? You know he used to be a caretaker right? Pick up trash and all? Here at Hogwarts even. And then there was some whole ministry regime thing and actually theres been a few of those and every time he's involved? And that cult thing, he's part of that too, so I've heard. The bit I want to know is why anyone would bother doing whatever it is he says, like bloody sheep, and not even question it. Well, I don't know what this journal business is but I'm not wasting my NEWT year on forward rolls and stretching or bloody meditation. Not for DADA. Meditation is a Runes thing, or maybe Divination at a stretch." Jim shook his head. No way.

"If you want to waste your time, thats up to you Kyle, but honestly, from what I've read, the guy's a joke and every time he's supposedly teaching a class at Hogwarts, nobody learns anything at all except for how narcissistic and mad the man is. And right now? That whole thing about him being the acting minister of magic? Well, thats a joke too. He's a figurehead. A puppet for that cult. I might not be into politics and junk, but I keep up with things. My cousin works at the Daily Prophet, and I hear stuff. But me, I'm not gonna waste my time with anything that man thinks we oughta know. But you're welcome to join us if you want to learn and practice something real because as long as Borr is supposedly the professor for Defense against the Dark Arts, nobody's gonna learn a single relevant thing unless they teach themselves or find someone that will." He finished seriously, confidently.

Sarah entered the Training Room. She saw some students meditating. Wait? Defense training room, wasn't that supposed to be for training yourself in DADA? She got confused. Now why do people meditate in here? she thought to herself. She looked around with eye brows raised. Would anyone explain what is happening? She saw two people talking to themselves, a big girl, probably seventh year and another, little smaller than her. She loudly said, "Hey" with a smile, hoping someone would respond.

"Well - most of the stuff I'm doing it so I can use it for training for Quidditch you know...stretching and all" Kyle explained with a smile she liked stretching.

"and the rest of it...why not keep a journal and send it in so that the Ravenclaws win the house cup - and wasn't aware he was a caretaker - but, the whole thing about the cult...yeah my aunt works at the Ministry and my sister the daily prophet" Kyle hadn't told anyone here of Charlie really.

"I'm more doing the 'stuff' so I can snoop around...I mean who wouldn't want to uncover what the real plot is...besides, if you notice all the stuff on the list seems like stuff you would do if you had to fend yourself off from an impending zombie apocalypse...or inferi really" she still felt like she was onto something there....like they would have to run their way to safety from those crazy ministry Professor's and yeah...the cult in general.

"Actually - I never thought we'd learn anything the moment I realized who the new Professor of Defense against the dark arts was...thats why I had the idea - that we should start something up like the fabled 'Dumbledores Army' of the late 90's...maybe we could call it Tate's Army because we all know Tate doesn't like Borr" she chuckled.

"So...would you want to start a secret group of students who practice actual spells that will most definitely be on the NEWTs?" She asked, raising an eyebrow maybe she was speaking someone who wanted to finish their NEWTs off well's language. "And don't worry - i'm just doing a bit of the stuff...for this, you know - so that I can help get our house up there for the house cup at the end of term" she explained with a smirk. Yes she wanted to get Ravenclaw to win and she was going to do that. Plus it was nice to meet someone who didn't like Borr - but who liked him? Honestly?

Maybe they should investigate this so-called-cult and try to dislodge its hold on the school...but that would be dangerous right?

While trying to control her breathing, Aiden pants as she bends down using her hands to support on her knees.

"Hey," her response alternates with her rapid breathing.

Even with James and Ivan holding her attention, Mia could not fail to notice all te young kids coming into the training room along with a couple of older kids.

What the...?

Weird.

"Aww James, you are too sweet." Not that she would say it out loud but he was going to make some girl really happy one day. He was boyfriend material as much as he didn't want to admit it. "And I guess it takes a special type of person to teach." Although some of the teachers they had this year left a lot to be desired.

When the antlers appeared on the dummy's head, Mia got all excited and she gave James a big old hug. "James, you're the best. Can we like get together once a week or something?" She was more comfotable with James teaching her than she was in actual DADA.

Mia gave the Ravenclaw girl a smile as she talked to James and while she was only half listening because she was quite fascinated by all the other students doing some sort of exercise regime, she caught half of the conversation and she raised her eyebrows. "Maybe we should make that twice a week." she whispered to James.

The training room. Spike hadn’t been here before, and wasn’t planning to go here today until he heard a familiar voice. Apparently Jimmy was doing some sort of speech, and Spike peeped his head round the door before quietly slipping inside. He frowned, confused, though he guessed it was something to do with the ridiculous assignment they’d been set. Sure, he was up for doing something a little more physical than reading books – Spike was well known for hating sitting sit for more than five minutes...but ballroom dancing? Pfffttttt. Karate maybe, not that he knew how to do any. Forward rolls around the Great Hall around dinnertime was tempting. But dancing and speeches and mediation were all just a big waste of time, in his opinion.

He had all the energy he needed. Too much probably, until Quidditch kicked in. What Spike really (desperately, some of his Professors might say) needed help with was his wandwork. Big time. With that and his lack of love for books, it was anyone’s guess how Spike had ended up in Ravenclaw. DADA was one of the only lessons that held his attention long enough to learn anything involving a wand. He took his wand from his pocket, and fingered it nervously. “Jimmy,” he spoke up, looking at the older boy slightly wide eyed through his curls. “Would you know, like, er, help me? With stuffs?”

...and just maybe Spike could find a way to get him and Finn talking again along the way.

"Only when I want something." He rejoined, giving her another of those leers, though by now it was pretty clear that he was really only kidding around. It was just nice that he could with Mia and she wouldn't get all worked up. "Well, I'm not that special type."

He hugged her back when she managed the antler spell and nodded.

"I think that'd work. I've got all the time in the world for you, Mi."


"Honestly you're better off going for a run around the grounds and getting on a broom for Quidditch training." Jim told her gently. Speaking from experience here. Seeker remember? He smiled at her but the smile faded a bit when Kyle spoke again.

"Because I don't want to be a sheep. I don't want to participate in a pointless exercise of mass-brainwashing when all it does is pander to the desires of a narcissistic nutjob. And I don't ever want to be rewarded for something that isn't worth the work in the first place. If all its about is house points... well thats not a good enough reason for me. You do what you have to do, but I won't."

He listened patiently, twirling his wand through his fingertips as he marveled at Kyle's imagination. Or maybe she was just crazy. "Borr's motives are to make Borr more 'important'. None of that stuff will do one jot for Inferi. You need fire spells to fight them off. I think you're over analysing things. Kind of getting too into a fantasy there, Kyle. Kind of like in Northanger Abbey, when Catherine Morland makes up all these gothic conspiracies because she read too many novels and..." OH crud. Jim trailed off.

NOBODYNEEDEDTOKNOWHEREADSJANEAUSTEN!!!

"Or so I heard." He tried for a casual recovery, all smooth nonchalance.

Ahem.

"And theres no need to do a secret group of anything." He gestured at himself and Mia, quite openly practicing and learning things. "But like I said, you're welcome if you want to get in on this. We could all meet up weekly, just work on some things."

In other words, she was pretty enough that he didn't mind her hanging around.

"I guess I should introduce you or something. This is Mia." He gestured towards the Hufflepuff at his side. "You already know Ivan, right?" Jim looked over his shoulder towards where Ivan was still doing sit ups. Heh.


"Maybe." He agreed. "Mia, this is Kyle. She's in my house and year. And on yearbook. She's pretty epic."



Huh? Jim looked around and then down, eyes falling on Spike.

"... yeah? Yeah. Alright. Sure, kid."

... what stuffs?

He grinned cheerfully at Spikey.

Okay maybe he could make ONE little kid exception. Spike was alright. He was epic at Quidditch after all, so that counted.

Ivan kept moving his torso up and down when he heard Mia ask him to stop. Laughing he stood up and gave her a smirk, "Well I have to do something to keep this awesome body," he said lifting his shirt slightly.

He looked over his shoulder to see James talking to a Ravie he recognized but couldn't remember the name and then just about died of laughter as he overheard something James said. HE READ JANE AUSTEN????? Of course...we'll ignore the fact that to know what he was talking about Ivan had to have as well. Yup just ignore that. In fact he was pretty sure they had to read a couple of those together for one of their many tutors...maybe.

The difference was that he wouldn't be going around telling everyone that he read...well anything. "You know for trying to keep a low profile on the smarts stuff James. You don't do a very good job at it." Ivan now. He did. Maybe James should take some lessons from him.

Spike nodded somewhat excitedly, his curls bouncing. "Thanks," he said, returning Jimmy's grin. "I'll try reaaaally hard."

And that's when he glanced round at who else Jimmy was talking with. Apparently, he hadn't thought this through...as everyone else was, well, ooooold. Not that old peeps were bad - he got on with Jimmy and Finn and Emily, didn't he? Just that, they'd all be doing much more complicated things than him. They...wouldn't mind an inept second year, would they? Spike looked back up at Jimmy, doubtfully nibbling his lip.

"You sure you don't mind? I can do whenever..."

He looked round the room, avoiding anyone's gaze, and as he did so the dummy with antlers caught his eye. "You can give someone antlers?" he asked, amazed. He could totally rock the antlers look, oh yes. He didn't click that it wasn't intended for just some fun headwear. "Awesome!"

Sarah smiled at her. Slytherin, hm, doesn't matter. she thought happily. "Hi, am Sarah, first year Gryffindor" she continued, still smiling, "So, you're meditating in here...?" she asked confusedly.

"Well, maybe the lake can be charmed for you to be protected? I'm not sure." Jordan replied while discovering that a lot of people that came into the training room did not like working out. They preferred reading and looking into the mirror. "Wimps." Jordan thought to himself while benching in the DADA Defense Training Room.

A girl waved at Presley and and inroduced herself. Presley grinned. "Hello, Ariana. My name is Presley. Can I work...train...whatever it is, with you?" She felt stupid for stuttering like that. Only idiots had a hard time coming up with words. Why did she always feel so out of place around people? Her dad had been the wittiest, most approachable person ever when he was here (or so she'd been told), and her mum hadn't been exactly anti-social, so why did Presley turn into a blithering idiot around normal people?

"Maybe..." Emmy trailed off, lost in thoughts of giant squids and merpeople. "Uhh, so, do you want to run sometime?"
"Oh, sure. I'm Emmy." Emmy replied. She still thought that the DADA teacher was a bit loony for making them do all these crazy excercises. "What do you think, Jordan? Want to learn to dance?" Akward.........

Jordan replied with, "I can do running. Not big on dancing. Haha."

Wait did he just say a Jane Austen title - she pushed the thought to the side as he offered for her to join their little practice group. That would be fun - really, she needed to do that. After all she hated hurting people or things in general.

"Hey don't worry about the nonsense - and yeah, that would be great about the group" she smiled over. Nervously fidgeting with her wand for a moment there.

"I think i need to practice actually having any conviction in any Defense Spells" she smiled over to him, he was a nice guy and not to mention had a good view on how Borr's idea was to make Borr 'better'.

Elle walked into the Training Room, ready for class. She looked around, and didn't notice anyone she knew. So she picked a chair and sat down. She was people-watching for a bit, then decided to take out her book and flip through it.

Just as she was opening it, she noticed a clicking noise coming from the window beside her. She looked up and saw her big barn owl, Roman clicking his beak against the window pane. She noticed he was holding his wing oddly, so she opened up the window, and he fell over onto her desk. As this happened, Elle let out a shriek: "ROMANNNN! NOOOO!"