"Don't confuse a banshee with a ghost. A banshee wouldn't be have any loved ones, as they were never living people. You're still thinking about the myth versus the reality. What Muggles believe about banshees is not necessarily always true. They don't understand Dark magic or Dark creatures, so they make up stories that reflect that."

Nadia was amazed by the answer. It did make sense, that. Probably she would be an easy victim, she thought with some apprehension.

*raise hand* "And why would the Banshee cry? Is it a way to weakwn her victims even more?" she asked immediately. At Rae's question she considered it some more before adding.

"I guess, being a *Spirit and so alike the Dementor, a patronus would do," she answered doubtful but smiled. She always loved this part of the lesson.

*Kirstie pondered the Professor's Question*

"Staying healthy would probably be a good defence, because the Banshee wouldn't be able to attack you, but i don't know how you would say defend a loved one against a Banshee"

Professor Rae smiled. "The wail is considered their way of communicating. Or... perhaps the fear instilled in the hearts of a victim cause them to weaken from fear. Either way... the wail is mostly important in identifying the presence of the banshee."

"I think a patronus would work VERY well against any Dark creature, including the banshee. However, many wizards can't perform an effective patronus. Any additional ideas?"

Anelreas made a note on her parchment to look more into what was myth and what was fact. Sometimes she couldn't tell them apart from the books she read. She'd only hoped that what she'd read was true.

As the patronus charm was brought up, Anelreas's ears perked up.

"That's a good thought, Kirstie. I like how you're thinking non-magically. Staying healthy, or even keeping your distance would help keep you or your loved ones safe. What else?"

Anelreas pondered for a bit. "Do they 'live' in groups?" She used 'live' loosely. "Or are they secluded creatures?"

"The banshee is a solitary creature. It would be hard pressed to find enough to feed off of if it had to share with others in a pack."

Mithos raises his hand "Do Banshee appear during the day or only at night?"

"They prefer to come out at night, because they can blend in more easily," Rae nodded. "Now, let me give you a hint. There's a way to move GHOSTS around if they don't want to or can't move... that might work in driving away a banshee long enough to run."


ooc: *stares* Tell me you've read CoS. C'mon. Tell me.

*Kirstie, not being very knowledgeable about ghosts, sat and thought about it*

Mithos writes down what has been said about the Bashee

ooc: now don't be mean to me i never read the first 2 books... Cho is not on them so its a waste of time.

"Um, professor, could you use a fan, some sort of wind spell?"

Nadia was about to say the fan thing, remembering that Petrification class... was it with Rae or with Tari? Ah, nevermind, but she was beaten up to it by Kristie (ooc: the CoS hint gave it away).

"Wind, yes," she said. "A common wind spell or trasfigurating something into a fan... or one of those muggle devises like an air conditioner. The most powerful the better I perssume." (ooc: wind spell is invented though Nadia has been using it for some time now, lol)

"Exactly, Kirstie. Five points to Slytherin. Wind is an excellent way to keep a Spirit at bay. There's a particular spell that is very easy to use." She raised her wand and shouted, "Gaoth Fortus." A strong wind blew into the classroom, ruffling books and papers and blowing hair back. "Notice the wave like wand-motion from left to right. Go ahead and give it a try, although I suspect your winds will not be THAT strong the first try."

*Kirstie got out her wand, and following the professor's instructions, moved her wand from left to right and said 'Gaoth Fortus', whilst pointing at her quill. The feathers on the quill rustled slightly*

Mithos took out his wand and said "Gaoth Fortus" he wasn't expecting how the spell would come out it happened that the wind was strong enough to push him back and make him fall over. He got up with a red face and sat quily...

*Kirstie, trying again, pointed at her DADA textbook, which was standing on end, as she said the incantation and performed the wand movements left to right. The book wobbled and fell off her desk*

Hannah did as the professor said, and moved her wand from left to right and said "Gaoth Fortus" and pointed her wand at her quill. it fell on to the floor.

Nadia nodded and pointed her wand to the wall where it could cause no damage. She waved expertly and smirked --

SWISH!

Nadia looked back while the last of the wind blow dissippated. Her hair was a mess for the spell wind had just rebounded and hit her straight in the face, and now she was looking like she was coming right out from bed sleep.

Gaoth Fortus, eh? Nadia thought smirking. To be completely honest she had practiced a spell much alike that one, the etymology and movement very much alike as well, at her first year. Actually, her mother had insisted. You see, with so many bird pets she needed to help them learn how to fly, and to do it, a small wind spell was really useful. With the years she had mastered it a lot and made it really powerful, as much as creating a small twister. It was this spell that had helped her with retrieving Spots' snitch at the HIT task. A snitch was easy to manage, with a body? Even if spiritual, she never tried or believed it possible. Yet it did made sense. And now, with this more powerful version of the spell, it would come dead useful.

She whipped her wand again, from left to right, and tried: "Gaoth Fortus!"

Another blow of wind erupted, this time Nadia had it more controlled, pointing at the floor. Ah, dear, she didn't mean to show off, she thought looking around with a shippish smile; honest, she just already knew this spell basics. And she was quite enthusiastic that how strong it would become in the open air...

Just from Nadia's spell alone, Anelreas's hair warped around her. She shook her head and took a few steps away from Nadia. Safety precaution, nothing more.

Having no idea how the spell would work for her, she tried anyway. What harm could it do? She debated whether to follow Professor Rae's hand movements or Nadia's. The Professor's seemed much safer.

Poiting her wand at one of the chairs near her, she recited, "Gaoth Fortus!" A light wind blew, gently pushing the chair a few feet away. Anelreas bounced happily, glad that she did the spell right. Though, it would take her a longer time to get it as powerful as Nadia's or even the Professor's.

"I see excellent progress here today. I'm going to dismiss you today, and I hope to see all of you practicing this spell in the Duelling Arena throughout the week. Homework is due February 12th. I would like to receive a parchment with the following questions answered in full:

1) Give a physical description of the banshee.
2) What are the Muggle myths about the banshee?
3) What are the true FACTS about the banshee?
4) Give a brief description of your progress with Gaoth Fortus."



ooc: That's funny, Nadia... especially since we posted it at about the same time. Fortunately for both our peace of minds, I map out my whole lessons before I start... so... I promise I'm not stealing from you .