There was mention of hot chocolate but from what she was also hearing they wouldn't be getting any? This class had a way of crushing her dreams, it was super skilled at it.

She'd admit she was surprized when the thing went zipping suddenly. Guess that was the magic in it afterall....which now made her wonder what muggles were doing with it...because they didn't have magic. They couldn't do anything. They were boring like that. Now Lex had all these questions but before she could begin asking things were falling out; jackets and gloves and such.

Was there a rule about colour? No? Good because she put on a blue jacket, blue goggles and blue gloves. Nobody judge her.

Lex flopped in the seat next to Cassia--yes, this was her seat, sorry to anyone else that wanted it except not that sorry at all. "You think she'll let us drive too?"

Lux was enjoying herself with her friends on the bus, wearing her awesome gear and being totally different in a sea of people who wore their House colours. Well, it was never said they had to do that, and she was content in the blue. Maybe it was giving the Ravenclaw House a little bit of love.

Smiling, she suddenly got a whiff of something foul on her nostrils. EWWWW. It smelled terrible. "Who farted on the bus?" She was riding this thing with a bunch of old people. :/

Seatbelts?

Ben looked around but didn't spot anything that looked like what he vaguely remembered them looking like. Maybe it was an expression. But perhaps they might have been beneficial as the bus roared to life and sped of to Merlin-knew-where, the second year pushed backwards towards the seat. "Yeah...yeah it is." His mind and gaze began to wander and wonder at the possibilities, narrowly avoiding being hit by stuff falling from the ceiling.

"What the--" he mused before being cut of as Professor Hadley spoke up once more with more instructions. Right...adventure gear. He grabbed a red jacket and slipped it on before finding the nearest set of available items...a blue set of driving gloves and a yellow set of goggles. Each followed suit until he was outfitted as directed.

Sander pretended to sniff the air. "Ewwww...Lux I smell that too. Quick open the window. I wonder who passed gas in here?" Sander looked around suspiciously, his eyes falling on Bay and Tessa before darting away. He had to continue to look innocent.

....although right now he's beginning to get that urge again. What in the heck was going on with his tummy. He never had so much gas before in his entire life except for that one time when he had mistakenly eaten too much of a bean dish. But he was not going to tell anyone. As it was he was still feeling embarrassed about the first one he let slip. So he clenched his muscles and kept fighting to keep it in.

What? Took them to school? That was absurd, but Alice was taking every work the professor said, nodding along seriously with her mouth slightly agape. A bus not able to be summoned. How whimsical. Her head kept nodding when the Huxley girl began to speak again, too. Where was the magic?

She would have loved to inspect Muggles up close one day. Like a science project. Dissection and stuff.

And why did they need driving gloves and goggles if they weren't driving? Was Hadley going to give them a turn? Yes, please! Alice obligingly donned a set of red equipment before settling into a seat, not questioning it because she'd already been far too confused in this lesson and was probably annoying the professor. But readddy.

Ugh, such juvenile children he was surrounded by! Nevermind the fact that he was only a second year - he was clearly the most mature one here. Seriously, they were getting all worked up over GAS. SO disgusting. And quite frankly, disappointing.

So he went and grabbed the gear - in green of course - that Hadley had shown them and prepared himself for what would happen next.

Ah ... right, she figured someone might ask that question! Where indeed, was the magic in the magic school bus?

"Muggles... have a very different idea of magic than wizards. They don't know what magic really is, so they use their creative imaginations to try and recreate what they think it is." Hadley explained, using the speaker system at the front of the bus as she held onto the bar.

"Much like we have the wizarding children books, The Tales of Beedle the Bard, they too have children books. The Magic School bus is - in fact - from a children's book series based on scientific facts. The series features the teacher, Ms Frizzle, who takes her students to seemingly impossible locations to educate them on various information." Did that clarify some of the misunderstandings? It should have. "SO that's exactly what we're going to do. We're simulating that by riding on the so-called Magic School Bus to a destination to learn about transportation in more a hands-on way!" Wasn't that cool?



Be seen? Hadley smiled at the Slytherin Prefect and shook her head. "No dear. We won't be seen. I would never risk breaching the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy, even for educational purposes." That was a promise.


The Magic School Bus drove steadily fast through the air, but hopefully not at nauseating speeds. As it did so, Josephina continued speaking in regards for what to expect at their destination. "So we were going to go to a driving range and learn to drive race cars, but unfortunately due to safety and age regulations, we can't. Instead we're headed to something that might just be more fun!" Hopefully it would be anyway. "Similar to cars, but definitely safer...." Considering most of them were underage, she did have to fare to the side of caution.

She held up a postcard for them to see. "Bumper Cars. Anyone want to venture a guess about how they might work?"

Sander listened as Professor told them what they would be doing. They were going to learn how to what? Drive? "Professor did you just say that you were going to teach us how to drive?" Sander asked the Professor.

It wasn't that he didn't believe her, he just had a tough time hearing what she was saying. 'Wait what was she asking next? Bumper cars? How do they work? ' Sander thought to himself

Sander thought for awhile remembering the time he rode on one...somewhere...he just couldn't remember where or when. He raised his hand. "Professor, people sit in these small little cars and they have that cushiony thing around the car, so that when people drive their bumper cars into each other, they bump off them instead of crashing and hurting themselves."

'Wait was that how bumper cars work or was that how the merry-go-round works?' Sander scratched the back of his head.

Bay raised his hand "Professor…. I've been bumper caring…" he smiled and continued. "theres a floor and a ceiling and the car is on the bottom and at the back of the car theres a big pole that goes all the way to the top of the ceiling and the top is full of electricity and thats how the bumper cars work and get their power from." he said while sliding on his gloves.

Mitchell barely had enough time to buckle himself in before the bus went crazy. See. This was why magic people should NOT be allowed to drive. This was AWFUL. He never got motion sick before, but now it seemed inevitable.

But, thankfully, the so called adventure stopped.

He perked. BUMPER CARS?! Seriously. They were going to do that? He took back everything negative he had to say about the school that instant.

He raised his hand. "They're small cars that are designed to bump into each other."

This Magic Schoolbus was something. Interesting. And Schuyler listened while a few other students posed some questions and Hadley answered them. But then, suddenly, there were THINGS falling from the ceiling. Where had that come from?

But Schuyler didn't care enough to question it; she simply grinned and reached for a red jacket first. She snaked her arms through the sleeves and proceeded to grab a pair of gloves and some goggles. On went the goggles, and next the gloves and Schuyler's lips pulled in a smile. She felt quite cool in all this gear. Like she was about.... who knew. Drive one of those motor scooter things.

...... and it sounded like she WOULD be driving soon. They all would. Not motor scooters, but bumper cars. Awesome! Although what were bumper cars anyway? She leaned forward some to get a better look at that postcard. Yeah, she didn't know what those things were. She knew what a normal car was, though. She did have her muggle driver's license after all. Mhmm. Maybe she and Dora and Cat and Nigel and Mo would have an advantage because of that. Driving experience.

Hadley shook her head. "No... no, I think you misheard me. I will not be teaching you how to drive. We are going to be driving, but not a proper automobile. We'll be driving bumper cars!" Clearly she can't have anyone thinking she was going to teach a bunch of underage teenagers about driving. That would just be preposterous!

"Yes. Small cars. With a little rubber bumper so you don't hurt yourselves or the car. Good."

"Quite correct!" At least some students would have a clue what to do. Quite the exciting ride.

Hadley nodded. "Exactly right. These cars are designed to bump into each other!"

More talking and explanations needed. "Bumper car rides, as Mitchell said so bluntly, are cars designed to collide into each other. Each car comes equipped with a large rubber bumper all around it, which prolongs the impact and diffuses the collision force."

Now here was the exciting point, considering what they discussed last term. As Bay mentioned. "Bumper cars do indeed run on .... you guessed it, electricity! There's pole on the back of the car which leads all the way up to a wire grid on the ride's ceiling and the grid carries electrical energy which runs the car." Exciting stuff, right? Fina thought so.

"So when you bump into another car or even the side of the ... arena, the cars themselves may stop or change direction, although you - the driver may continue moving in the direction before the collision, which is why it is extremely important you strap yourself in, using the seatbelt, when you take a seat in the car."


*****


Before they knew it they arrived at their destination, which was exactly as depicted in the postcard that Hadley had held up for them earlier.

"Alright, carefully step from the bus and into the arena. You'll see rows of cars lined up against the entrance. Go and select a car and strap yourselves in and then I will explain the rules."

They had reached wherever they were going already? Heh. Adi was sort of hoping for a longer ride but when he exited the bus and his eyes fell on the cars when he entered the arena, all thoughts of the ride vanished. BUMPER CARS!

Adi needed no further invitation to get into one! He chose a blue one and as Hadley said, strapped himself in. Ready!

If Toby had ever had any doubts about taking Muggle Studies, he certainly didn't have any now. His face had practically lit up with delight at the prospect of riding in BUMPER CARS. There was a ride like this on the pier, near where he lived, except they were technically called something else, and bumping into each other was against the rules. Now he could ACTUALLY HAVE A GO.

As soon as Hadley allowed them to leave, Toby moved down the aisle of the bus and hopped out, taking in the sight for a moment before heading straight for a white bumper car. He strapped himself in and waited.

Had she said they DID get to drive? Even if it was the tinier cars? Alice had absolutely no experience with those Muggle seats on wheels, since she'd never been driving before. But she knew Dora had, and invited Vesper as accompaniment and not her, which she was still sour about for the record (what kind of best friend did that anyway? Hmph). And Schuyler and Nigel, who were the only other people here who knew how. They'd help her, right?

Psh. But she was Alice Fischer. She didn't need help.

The seventh year was one of the first to bound off the bus and into the arena, selecting herself a pretty orange car and hopping in. Orange! Yes. And then she strapped herself in like a good kid who had some regard for safety, though she had none. And then waited.

Ian woke up as they pulled to a stop. He had drooled on his robes and reached up with his left hand to wipe his mouth dry. He heard the professor say they needed to get off the bus. He reached up with his left hand and grabbed the headrest of the seat in front of him and pulled himself up. He turned and as he placed his cane in the aisle in front of him, he tried to step off. He didn't realize that his leg had stiffened up and moaned as he tried to move his right leg. It hurt a great deal for his joint to move.

He finally was able to shuffle off the bus and out into the arena. He'd ridden bumper cars before at an amusement park. He liked it then, but he wasn't sure how it would work with this sore hip. He looked down at one of the cars and sized it up. The best he could do was slip into the car and allow himself to drop into it. He cried out briefly with the pain of a jarring hurt, but stifled most of the noise. He belted in and waited for what was next.

Ben didn't like the sound of bumber cars. It didn't sound safe, or at the very least comfortable. Who would want to be bumped and jostled around by others? Unless these cars allowed you to move away fast enough...like a broom allowing you to fly away from a bludger during Quidditch. There had to be escapes...right?

He let the other students attempt to answer Professor Hadley's question, the answers not helping the Gryffindor's ideas of their activity at all. Which in turn was making him quite in a funk. To say he didn't really want to participate was a slight understatement. But as the woman directed them back off the bus, Ben doubted he had very much choice. Especially when Adi was excited about it because his friend could be quite stubborn and would no doubt lead him off to the bumper cards regardless.

So with a soft sigh, he followed the Hufflepuff out of the seat they had shared and moved to the front of the bus to get off. He hadn't thought he needed to be careful simply going down the aisle but in a bout of clumsiness managed to either trip over his own feet. Or maybe something that had fallen from the ceiling. Benjamin pitched forward arms flailing and trying to grab onto something to catch himself and getting a hold of Hadley's arm.

Oichi was not sure what the winter attire was for since they were just doing bumper cars, but heck, why question the professor when they were about to do a fun activity even her body could handle. She slowly exited the bus and carefully got into into a bright apple red bumper car and stapped herself in. She could not wait to start.

Bay was getting more excited now. Bumper Cars!!! BEST CLASS EVER!! he quickly went over to a bumper car and got in… he pulled the straps over his shoulders and looked around to see where all the other cars were placed…. he was glad he had his gloves on and he decided that he would look cooler if he wore his goggles. Taking them from around his neck he placed them around his eyes, carefully adjusting them.

"All strapped in and Ready Professor" he said happily.

So pretend magic he should have known. Muggles were strange creatures. Honestly they probably should have a beast ranking all for themselves. As he sat and hardly heard her talk about cars. They were going to ride cars now. He squinted at the tiny picture not being able to make it out, but someone else said about bumper cars. Bumper cars? What in merlin's beard was she going to have them do.

Then a smile crossed his face, "Are they like bumper brooms? I've done those before." If it was like that but with muggle cars that could be kind of cool. When the bus stopped Bart eagerly looked out the window and saw some tent thing. Was that where the cars were?

He hurried to stand and right away wish he wouldn't have. "Owww my back." Stretching it must have been the uncomfortable seats. Yep had to be. He followed the rest out and found himself a cool red car.

Let's do this!

Awesome. They would get to drive whatever those things where. Though the bumping into other cars did not sound as fun to Nigel. As long as his head and aching joints were fine at the end of this it would be a successful class for Nigel.

He got off the non magic school bus and went over to a empty car. Weird it only had one pedal. It seemed to Nigel the more crazy and unpredictable you were. This game was for you.

Still better than staying in that bus Nigel thought strapping himself into this tiny car.

Sander had no problems playing with bumper cars. He walked as fast as his tired legs would take him and managed to squeeze his body into a yellow one before putting tightening the straps around him.

"Vroom....vroom...vroom. Watch out Bay, Tessa and Lux, I'm going to be looking out for you guys," he waved to his friends.

The bus was moving REALLY quickly. And Alec hadn't expected it, which explained why he was gripping the edge of the seat in front of him so tightly that his knuckles ended up turning white. His eyes were wide, too, and he wasn't looking anywhere else but towards the front of the bus. At the rate the bus was going, he was going to end up feeling si--

... Wait. WAIT. Did Hadley just say... BUMPER CARS?!

GRIN. Bumper cars were AWESOME. And they reminded him of a certain birthday of his where good and bad things had happened. But he was concentrating on the good. The part where he'd managed to go to a carnival with a certain blonde and... had managed to knock into the blonde a couple of times in his bumper car. ... There was an orange car too! That one liked to bump into them lots.

... Right. Yeah. Moving on...

Alec stood up slowly and let some people head off first before ambling out of the bus himself. And... those were... BUMPER CARS! A wide grin spread across the eighteen year old's face as he headed over towards the closest bumper car. Good memories. LOTS of really great memories. Settling down inside the red car, he strapped himself in before looking over at Hadley. He knew the rules of this game, yeah, but maybe... maybe the woman had different ones? Shrug.

Sander was sitting all squeezed up in his bumper car. His knees were up to his chest and he was hunched over the steering wheel. He quickly looked around to whether the other cars were all of the same size. He thought he saw a slightly larger one and decided to get up and change cars.

That's when he realized he was stuck!! He couldn't move out of his sitting position and his back and knees were beginning to hurt. Not only that but the precarious position he was in gave him the urge to toot again.

This time he just released it without holding back. They were in the open air. No one would hear or smell it.

'Whoa!! What a stinker!!' Sander thought to himself as he took a whiff of the air around him. He made a mental note to stay away from any cabbage dishes tonight at dinner.

But right now he needed help. Raising his hand, he tried to get Professor Hadley's attention. "Professor I'm stuck!! I can't move at all. I don't think these cars are meant for someone my height. May I have permission to use the enlargement spell on this car?" he whispered to her.

As the students filed off the bus, if there was one thing Hadley hadn't expected it was for a student to go flailing backwards as they tripped over .... themselves? Reaching out her arm for the second year, she smiled consolingly at him. "Careful there! Don't want to hurt yourself before you get jostled around!" She winked.

"Yes. They're pretty much exactly like Bumper Brooms." Hadley nodded in affirmation.

Just as she was about to give off the rules, she heard a request from one of her seventh years and stared in confusion. "Um... all the cars are the same size... and should be quite roomy, but as you wish." She nodded in approval. "BUT only enlarge the inside of the car, not the outer appearance, got that?" There would be no unfair advantages with regards to size of vehicles.


*****

Once everyone was off the bus, Hadley followed into the tent-like area to address them all the rules of the game. She glanced around to make sure everything was set up the way planned.

"For today's activity, you will be collecting these." She held up a standard rubber latex balloon filled with helium with long strings attached to them.

She let it go and it floated to the top of the ceiling, but the string was long enough that they could still grab it even while seated in the car. The balloon floated and bobbed along the ceiling, the string wiggling beneath it.

"There are four different coloured balloons, each with corresponding coloured strings. Your task is to grasp hold of as many different balloons as you can, drive over to the appropriate coloured hurdle and tie it onto the hurdle. Tying a blue balloon onto a yellow hurdle will earn the yellow house points. Tying the correct balloon will onto the correctly coloured hurdle will earn that house points. Understand?"

"The balloons and their strings don't stay still. And even less so when we're all driving around, they'll definitely be difficult to grasp while driving. But fortunately if you bump each other, you can collide without too much danger due to the rubber bumper." Smiling at the class she gestured toward the cars.

"Any questions?" Hadley glanced around to see if they were all ready. "Alright, on my count to three ..." She held up fingers as she counted. "One.... Two .... Three!"


***** GAME RULES *****

Object is to collect as many balloons in your house colour as possible and tie them to the correctly coloured hurdle, one hurdle located in each of the four corners.

* Do NOT Double Post
* Only one balloon per post, please
* It's FINE if you character ties a balloon not in their house color
* It's fine if you mis-tie a balloon and comes undone off the hurdle
* Don't RP the results, such as if you bump another character's car
* Perfection is definitely NOT expected
* Having FUN is expected though

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to VM, PM, or IM me!

You will have until approximately 9pm EST on Wednesday February 5th