DADA for Muggles [Wednesday, September 9, 5th period]

[siriuslyscarred.livejournal.com]

The Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom today resembled a farmers' market. Under the enchanted sky (today a clear blue), there were bins of various objects: cabbages, sticks, potatoes, and logs.

"Good afternoon, class," Remus said as they entered, the desks shoved to the sides of the classroom. "Today we tackle the problem of camouflaged enemies. Since this is only the second week of class, we're starting you out small. Each of these bins contains both perfectly innocuous objects, and creatures that resemble them. None of them is particularly dangerous -- however, you are all welcome to a pair of gloves, should you feel the need."

He paused, and continued, "While these animals are all from our world, specifically, it is hardly uncommon for creatures, both dark and light, to conceal themselves by masquerading as something else. For instance, most jungle-dwelling large cats have patterns that resemble shadows from their natural environment, so as to blend in all the better and stalk their prey."

"Some modifications can serve defensive purposes," Sirius added. "And some--like a Whomping Willow--" his eyes twinkled at Remus, "--are just ornery." Sirius nodded and gestured at the bins. "In today's exercise, you're looking to differentiate dugbogs from logs, bowtruckles from sticks, gnomes from potatoes and Chinese Chomping Cabbages from, erm, cabbages." He began passing around sheets of parchment breaking down the differences between the various objects.

"And as a final note, next week we will be covering boggarts, which take the form of your greatest fear," Remus added. "If you'd like to be excused from class in advance, do please see Professor Black or myself during our office hours."

[OOC: Preplayed with lycanthromoony, the excessive OCD is up! Have at it!]

Comments

Re: Bin #2: Bowtruckles and Sticks

[pastmewrong.livejournal.com]

Right, because poking them wasn't at all going to piss off the little stick-things with the sharp nails.

"What you calling this method?" Effy asked from where she was peering over his shoulder.

Re: Bin #2: Bowtruckles and Sticks

[lovemykilt]

"Dunno yet. I have the feeling that the name'll have the word 'baiting' in it somewhere, though."

Re: Bin #2: Bowtruckles and Sticks

[pastmewrong.livejournal.com]

"Hm." Effy slipped her gloves on after a moment, and moved a bit closer to the bin. "Question is," she said, "is it actually working?"

Re: Bin #2: Bowtruckles and Sticks

[lovemykilt]

"Well, on one hand, I'm not sure which is the beastie thingy. On the other, I haven't had my eyes scratched out, yet."

Re: Bin #2: Bowtruckles and Sticks

[pastmewrong.livejournal.com]

"Coming out on top, then." Effy would rather like to keep her eyes too. "Don't look too scary," she noted.

Re: Bin #2: Bowtruckles and Sticks

[lovemykilt]

"I look scary?"

Re: Bin #2: Bowtruckles and Sticks

[pastmewrong.livejournal.com]

"The... whatever the hell these things are," Effy clarified, and glanced to give him a look over. "Neither do you." Because he seemed worried.

Re: Bin #2: Bowtruckles and Sticks

[lovemykilt]

Sometimes the mohawk scared people. It was worth checking on. He nodded. "Point. I think we're supposed to be looking for eyeballs."

Re: Bin #2: Bowtruckles and Sticks

[pastmewrong.livejournal.com]

Fortunately, Effy hung out with far, far creepier people than Priestly with no qualms whatsoever. A little mohawk wasn't about to bother her.

"And looking for twigs with eyeballs used to be weird for me," she muttered, half to him, as she peered closer.

Re: Bin #2: Bowtruckles and Sticks

[lovemykilt]

"I know, right? Gotta love Fandom."

Re: Bin #2: Bowtruckles and Sticks

[pastmewrong.livejournal.com]

"Long as I don't lose a finger." Because in this class, that scenario wouldn't entirely surprise her.

"I'm Effy," she added a moment later, a slightly late introduction.

Re: Bin #2: Bowtruckles and Sticks

[lovemykilt]

"Priestly." He nodded to her. "And, yeah, I'd prefer to keep all my fingers intact. I'm hoping these are magic oven mitts."

Re: Bin #2: Bowtruckles and Sticks

[pastmewrong.livejournal.com]

"They don't look very magical," Effy said, glancing over at him. "But maybe looks are deceiving."

Re: Bin #2: Bowtruckles and Sticks

[lovemykilt]

"They're sticks with eyes." Priestly shrugged. "Of course, so are stick bugs. But I'm pretty sure 'looks are deceiving' is the theme of the whole class, today."

Re: Bin #2: Bowtruckles and Sticks

[pastmewrong.livejournal.com]

"Didn't think that applied to the gloves, though," she remarked, smirking and going back to her search.

"Do think I see something moving." Unless that was just him poking at things.

Re: Bin #2: Bowtruckles and Sticks

[lovemykilt]

Right, Priestly was a genius, he was. . . .

"Ooo, where? I'll grab it."

Re: Bin #2: Bowtruckles and Sticks

[pastmewrong.livejournal.com]

Effy pointed, through a gap in the pile. "In there."

She probably could've reached to try and grab it herself, but he seemed to want to be the one getting his fingers scratched, and she was hardly going to stop him.

Re: Bin #2: Bowtruckles and Sticks

[lovemykilt]

It was more that he was the one wearing gloves, and some small notion of chivalry, really. Priestly reached for the twitching twiggy thing, grabbed at it, and made sure to hold it well away from his eyes.

Re: Bin #2: Bowtruckles and Sticks

[pastmewrong.livejournal.com]

Twitchy twiggy thing did not seem all that impressed by being manhandled, from what Effy could tell.

"Don't think I'd want one as a pet," she remarked.

Re: Bin #2: Bowtruckles and Sticks

[lovemykilt]

"I think my flying squirrel would try to gnaw on it," Priestly agreed. ". . . What do we do now that we caught it?"

Re: Bin #2: Bowtruckles and Sticks

[pastmewrong.livejournal.com]

"Not a fucking clue," Effy admitted, wrinkling her nose.

"... You own a flying squirrel?" Weird pet.

Re: Bin #2: Bowtruckles and Sticks

[lovemykilt]

Priestly nodded. "His name is Ramone. I was gonna get a cat, but Ramone kinda picked me."

Re: Bin #2: Bowtruckles and Sticks

[pastmewrong.livejournal.com]

Effy looked him over once more, a little more appraisingly, and quirked an amused smile. "Music fan?" she guessed.

Re: Bin #2: Bowtruckles and Sticks

[lovemykilt]

Priestly grinned. "Hell yeah."

Re: Bin #2: Bowtruckles and Sticks

[pastmewrong.livejournal.com]

"Dunno how I could tell." Couldn't be the naming of his squirrel after a punk rock band, could it?

"Not enough of that here," she said, shaking her head. "Zombies do not count."