Oh, how Alex WISHED he'd been blessed with ab muscles while going through puberty. These HURT! Now he knew why all those stay at home mums he'd seen growing up always did yoga. It definitely kept you in shape!

He raised his hand, nearly toppling over in the process. "Lethifolds are definitely dark, Professor. They like, eat people, don't they?" he answered.

Bending and stretching himself to what was called the boat position, Eino listened and tried to forget not to breathe. He clung each of of his hands to the other and rested on nothing but his bottom. It was a not very easy to keep balance and Eino almost did fall over a few times, though he was able to recover. It was a little hard to pay attention, let alone speak, but maybe that was part of the lesson. How to think and perform magic in... compromising position? If that was the purpose, then it was brilliant, and Eino would practice it even outside of the class. Maybe he could come up with a pogrebin position. Eino tried to raise his hand one first time but nearly fell over. It was hard balancing with his one hand, so instead he shot his hand up very quickly right when Professor Romanos looked at him. That way he was able to return it to the boat position and prevent falling. When granted permission to speak, he said, "Redcaps are considered dark creatures because they will kill anyone who approaches them, sometimes in very nasty ways."

And Arya could return those looks all day TOO. Didn't Treyen ever tell Ellie how persistent she was? If not, well... she would learn. Heh. That response was... something, and clearly they would need to have a talk before the next lesson. Ellie wasn't even participating in the activity!

It was clear that Arya was holding the Captain to impossibly high standards. Standards she assumed most Ravenclaws to hold themselves to.

"Quintapeds could be considered dark," She raised her hand long enough for the professor to see. "Not just because they eat humans, but because of how they have come to be." Moving into the the boat position in one swift motion, she rocked a little and looked at Ellie again. She whispered, "Do you need help getting like this?"

Cause the prefect would help. It was her job. Hehe.

Ellie raised an eyebrow while LOOKing at the Prefect.

"Noooo," she whispered back. She just didn't want to look like a FOOL. Because that was what you look like, Arya - and class - a FOOL.

"Daily basis," Nate repeated with a small smile. It really wasn't hard to imagine that each student used at least one hex, jinx, or possibly a curse per day...

Boat? "Erm... What?" Nate muttered in disbelief. He couldn't have even imagined being able to do that boat position, so he made to flop onto his back. Sure he was strong, and he had decent balance, but that? That was too much. "Professor Romanos," he started, sounding almost cordial but not quite formal, "An Inferi is most definitely a dark creature because an Inferius is a cadaver reanimated by nothing other than Dark Magic. But if you don't count corpses as creatures, then I'm going to have to fall back on Dementors because of their nature." He was pretty sure that Medea knew what he meant by 'their nature'. After all, she was the DADA professor, right?

Nessie groaned as she got into the 'Boat Postition'. To say that it was uncomfortable would be an understatement. She started feeling the burn in her stomach after a few minutes. She really didn't see the point of this or how connected to D.A.D.A.

Nessie spoke up as best as she could. "Dementors are dark creatures, Professor." She stopped a moment to catch her breath. She really hated this position. "They feed off the happy memories of other beings."

The dark arts creature? It reminded her with Professor Glass that also asked about it last year. Raven raised her hand and answered.

"Professor Romanos, One of the dark creature is dementor." said her. And she was not too comfortable with the yoga position.

Amelia looked at the Professor as if she was mental. Was she really supposed to do all these weird bodily positions?

With a sigh, she shifted into the boat, thinking that at least it wasn't that uncomfortable -- so far.

She raised her hand again now. "What about an Acromantula, Professor? They're huge spiders and really dangerous. They're gross and poisonous and can eat you."

Clearly she hated spiders.

Uh-huh. Yes, yeap..And oh, yeah. Beezus just nodded and nodded as Professor Romanos added more idea as to what Dark Arts were. She had elaborated it for all the students to understand. And yes, Beezus did understood it very much.

However, the next part she did not quite get. Boat whaaaat? Boat position? Really? They were going to do that? A voice inside her mind inquired as her eyes was set on the Professor as she demonstrated the position for them. What was this? DADA turned into a Physical Fitness test? Beezus frowned. She can't do that, her body was not that flexible and just by looking at the position, she knew that her legs and thighs would be sore. But really..what could she do? When all her classmates were starting to do it too? She just had to.

With a small sigh, she untangled herself from the last position, and yes, her back hurts now. Then she looked once more at the Professor and tried to follow how she raised her legs. First, she placed her legs together that it was now looking as if glued. Then slowly. she raised them up, and up.. and BLAM!

She fell back downwards. "Awww.." she uttered as she massaged her hips. She had completely failed that attempt of a boat position. "Oh, never mind me Professor," she said as she tried again.

Finally having success over doing the position, she difficultly raised her hand to answer the next question. "Professor, another dark creature is an Inferi." And because she was talking with difficulty because of that position, she sat up normally for a while as she continued, "They are corpses, Dead bodies that have been bewitched todo a Dark wizard's bidding." Afterwards, she retained the boat position.

Getting out of the lotus position, Elise had a bit of trouble untangling her legs. Nearly falling over, she put a hand out to steady herself before leaning backwards and lifting her legs together. A little unsteadily, she hugged her legs, wobbling around. A boat, sure. During a storm.

Elise found it even harder to raise her hand in the position, but dd it quickly. "A lethifold is a dark creature, professor," she answered before putting her arm back in the position.

Erm, ...okay, what?!

They were meant to sit in some weird boat position now?! BUT WHY?! Sierra felt silly, but regardless of that, she twisted her body sideways and got into the boat position. This felt weird. Thank Merlin for Quidditch, though. She'd at least worked up some strength...

"A pogrebin," she finally said, and then she tried to raise her hand but figured that her boat [position] would sink if she did so. So instead, she sort of grinnnnned at the professor. "It follows you around and gives you a sense of hopelessness until you finally collapse. At that point, it devours you." It also resembled a rock, too, so that you wouldn't see it coming even if it was right in front of your face. Creepy little creatures.

Wait, was this physical fitness class? He didn't knew Hogwarts had this. "Lethifolds," said Hades before moving on to the torturing position. Thank Merlin he was used to it! As the result, he had rippling abs muscle. "They suffocate and digest human while they were sleeping. I've came across one earlier this year. Glad my dad used the Patronus Charm," he shrugged. Creepy creatures they were.

Was she serious with this yoga thing? Melanie struggled to support her voice as she held her legs out in front of her, her tailbone aching from the pressure this angle put on it.

"Well, Professor," she forced out, "Dementors are definitely considered dark creatures." Seemed like a pretty safe answer, considering they sucked out souls and everything.

"I would say a creature is considered dark when nothing good can come from it, when it inherently causes harm, Professor," she elaborated. "Like, dragons for instance, while they can cause harm, it's not their nature. They don't go out of their way to do it, they'd only do it for defense purposes. Whereas something like Dementors," she shuddered at the thought, "suck out souls. That's their function."

Melanie hoped that made sense. She didn't want to embarrass herself in her first Defense Against the Dark Arts class.

"But you have to!" She was still whispering, but now she had to stop rocking to give Ellie a look that said she HAD TO BE A BOAT. "Your not learning or setting a good example for the other students."

It was her job!

Taylor changed into the boat position easily, thankful that she did yoga almost everyday. Answering the teacher's question, "Basilisk are considered dark animals..." She paused then said, "Its because of the poision in their teeth/ fangs..... right?" Taylor wasn't one hundred percent sure but thought it made sense.

She had to? And why was that?

Blink

"I don't see what yoga has to do with Defense anyway," she fail!whispered. Besides, Ellie WAS setting a good example for the others. The example of NOT looking like a FOOL.

Logan eyed the professor and tried to get in the boat position thing but...failed and toppled over with a thud. His face turned red quickly and he tried the position again, and managed to do it. He then thought hard. Hmm....he didn't know any dark creatures AT. ALL. He was a muggleborn, he didn't know this stuff. And he hadn't really read any of his books...was he supposed to have been reading them before he came here?! Oh no maybe he was....he nervously looked at the ground and racked his brain for ANY dark creature name. Nothing. He sighed and shrugged it off (which was quite hard to do when you're in the boat position) and he kept his mouth shut since his mind was blank.

So they are going to do the boat position? It looks weird in a way but Jonathan tried to do the position. Jonathan is long-legged so it might look a bit awkward. Nonetheless, the next question was about their knowledge on dark creatures.

Jonathan raised his hand but mange to balance himself properly "Dark creatures..." he started "Grindylow are considered to be dark creatures. They eat humans but they can survive on fish and other sea creatures." Jonathan added. This question was actually asked in his OWLs last term.

Trust the basilisk to be the first one mentioned. "Good, though there has been some debate on whether or not it is a dark creature." The thing killed with it's eyes for Merlin's sake. It should have it's own category.

Not at all affected with the lack of balance some of the students had, Medea nodded anyhow, just focusing on their answers. "Yes, dementors. Good."

And the topic of boggarts. Such a debate she had with herself whether to really teach about them this term or not. "Great example."

Looking over to the girl who raised her hand, Medea smiled and nodded, not yet effected by the position she was in. "Grindylows! Yes. Not very nice creatures, indeed."

She was kinda hoping to avoid the topic of werewolves. "Yes, verewolves have indeed been put onto the dark creatures list, though their lines between the dark and light have been blurred greatly." A difficult topic to discuss.

Good Merlin, did any of these kids get exercise at this school? "Banshees, good." They should be stuck in the other category with the basilisk.

"Yes, they do have rather nasty affects on us, don't they. They don't just affect us vizards though, keep that in mind." she said, nodding a little before moving on to the next student.

She was pretty sure the girl could be even more blunt with her answer. If that was even possible. "Hinkypunks. Good."

Oh, most definitely. "Oh better. They smother people in their sleep first and then digest them." Leaving no trace what-so-ever. Fun stuff, right? "Good though. Lethifolds."

Probably one of the more brutal dark creatures as well. "Recaps, most definitely. 'Nasty ways' doesn't nearly explain it though." she laughed quietly and went on to the next student.

Another topic where the lines between a dark and 'light' creature was considerably blurred. "While the quintaped are rather dangerous creatures and their creation is questionable from the creators part...they aren't exactly dark per say. Vouldn't vant to be around one though." They did eat humans like she said.

Daily basis...well, she would just be keeping an eye on things. She remembered being a student. Students and their shenanigans.

"An inferi, huh?" she repeated, nodding her head ever so slowly. Okaaay, now she was starting to feel the effects of this boat position. "Quite frankly, I've alvays thought of them as cursed objects." Hehe...

Right. Moving on!

"Dementors, right." she nodded. Horrible creatures.

Dementors seemed like the more popular topic apparently. "Yes, good." she nodded.

Someone had something against acromantulas. Then again, who didn't? "While completely dangerous, gross, poisonous, and able to eat you, they aren't labeled as dark creatures. Any idea why?"

Hehe...

Covering up her laugh with a small cough, Medea cleared her throat after a second before she was able to look back over to the girl. Right. "Careful Miss Castell." Really, she didn't want to take a trip to the hospital wing already.

The topic of inferi came up again. "Right. Good."

"A lethifold. Good. Any idea why?" she asked.

Finally made it to the topic of pogrebins. She was beginning to think no one would get around to it. "Good example, yes. Pogrebins are indeed dark creatures." Annoying little things.

Came across...what in the world? Where had the boy been? "Lethifolds...right." she nodded slowly. She had to ask. "Where vere you when you came across it?"

"Dementors, right." she nodded before listening to what else the girl had to say. "Right. Dark creatures harm because they can and not for survival or any other purpose. Good."

Dark animals. Well that made it sound a little less evil. "Basilisks have been considered dark creatures, yes, though I don't think it's because of their poisonous fangs. Vot other attribute do they have you think could put them on the list?"

Oh, Merlin. "Be careful Mister Floyd." Even through the dim room, she could see the red glow on the young boy's face, and she was pretty sure it didn't have to do with the candle light. Goodness...

"Grindylows, right." she nodded. "I actually...haven't heard of a grindylow eating someone. Could be possible." Now that she thought about it. "They are particular violent towards humans though..." Eating them though? Just, ew.



The last portion had her attention diverted to the two girls. Really? In the middle of the class?

Reeeaaally?

It's not like Medea cared or anything. "Do keep the whispers down you two." she raised a brow at the two of them. Whispers were meant to be whispered. Shaking her head a little at their fail-ness, Medea glanced to the rest of the class. Because of that, they got to stay in the boat position even longer.

"Any other suggestions on dark creatures or vot defines a dark creature?

Oh. Well, Amelia thought that they should be, though she supposed that she could guess as to why they're not. "Because they're just giant spiders that eat big things that include people?" But maybe that was all it was if they weren't classified as Dark. :S She still considered them Dark Creatures in her world.

She raised her hand to answer the next question now. "Dark creatures don't have the complete life cycle that a regular animal has. They are basically evil in a physical form. So the're just made to do evil." Or something like that. o_O

He was going to tip over any second now.

Kennedy thought of the question and his thinking face turned into one that resembled a kind of suffocated look. He wasn't suffocating though, it was the mixture of thinking and yoga that was at fault.

He raised a shaky hand and said, "I think what...defines a dark creature is..." BREATH. "The way they use their abilities," skills, whatever power they had. "If it's to simply...cause harm on purpose then that...labels them as dark creature." ...

SPLAT.

The boy fell flat on his back, but luckily his head landed on his school bag. He smiled sheepishly at Professor Romanos and got back up to boat position.

Raven tried to answer what defines a dark creature. She raised her hand and answered.

"Professor Romanos, if I'm not mistaken dark creatures are the creatures that were controlled by dark magic such as Basiliks that were controlled by Parseltounge and Inferi that were controlled by the dark magic too." said her, whether it was right or not.

True, Jonathan hasn't heard of such creatures eating humans as well, maybe he understood it differently? Jonathan nodded when the professor did added more info about them. Although one can never be too sure of what these creatures are capable of. They live under water so no one can really be sure if they eat humans or not.


Still in the boat position, Jonathan thought of what defines the dark creatures, well, dark. He raised his hand to answer again "Most of these dark creatures were labeled that way is because of their ability to harm humans." Jonathan answered. "It's who they are by nature. Take for instance the dementors. Everyone is afraid of them because they can kill anyone without mercy at all." Jonathan added. Jonathan hasn't seen a dementor yet nor he has any intentions in seeing one. Most or maybe, almost everyone are afraid of those hooded creatures.

Any more suggestions? Hmmm...Beezus thought hard. What else has not been mentioned? She raised her hand as another thought struck her. "Errr--were kappas already mentioned Professor? Or vampires perhaps?" she answered in a question.

Now..off to its definition. What exactly describes a dark creature? She once again raised her hand. "Uhm..I heard they aren't really animals..and that they seek actively to do harm." Because they were dark, heck that was it!

Kurumi continued to struggle with this boat pose, swaying back and froth as she steadied herself. The woman made it look SO easy it wasn't fair. When she thought she had her balance enough, Kurumi raised her hand and, OH!, didn't wobble much at all. Practice makes perfect, right?

"Professor, do dark creatures have to have the ability to think for themselves or have free will? Or, can beings that have been enchanted by Dark Wizards by use of Dark Magic be considered Dark Creatures as well, such as Inferi?" They sort of fit the three principles behind what made up dark creatures at least, it just depended on what the whole magical in nature meant. Magical concepts were often times more complex than they seemed and gave the Gryffindor a headache trying to make sense of it all.