Oh Merlin's pants!  Figaro barely had time to react before Kinsey detonated the entire floating ocean! He may as well have cast a Reductus Hex! The deluge hit the line of students standing off by the windows like they were in the front row of an orca show.  The shocking cold water was beginning to soak Figaro to the bone, even after multiple goes and multiple drying spell. 

"Kinsey, you git...!" Figaro said, kind of amazed he hadn't messed up the worst!  But then, leave it to Kinsey to fail to astronomical proportions.  It was kind of funny though, he had to admit.

When the water finally settled, what remained in the pool would barely come up to Fig's knees. 

As Figaro and his classmates set about to drying themselves off again Figaro glanced up to see a wand had been caught up in a gargoyle's mouth.  He had to jump and reach with his own wand to knock it down.

He tossed it over to Kinsey.  "I think you were holding the wrong end, mate.  Free advice: point with the pointy end."

As soon as the more… inept of his classmates stepped up for their turn - and subsequently proceeded to embarrass themselves themselves one way or another - Theo knew what he had to do and cast a tight, secure shield close to his person, dropping and casting it with a languid grace at turns. ‘Smug’ didn’t even begin to describe the pleased look that crossed his face—and he downright laughed - aloud - at the cross expressions shared by his peers, a soft huff of laughter lost in the clamor of outraged squeals and rushing water.

Letting the shield go - and regretfully eyeing the water that rushed in to swirl at his feet - Theo headed over to the mismatched pair, wand still out as he came to stand by Fig. Glancing briefly at the professors, he looked back down at Phillip with a smile that, as it slowly unfurled, only belied a fraction of the malice lurking beneath those soft, golden lashes. Blue eyes tracked the steady trickle of blood. “You look like you need a hand, Kinsey,” he drawled, his tone pleasant as ever as he slowly raised his wand. “Shall I set that for you?”

And as the Slytherin smiled, the helpful offer never seemed more threatening.

Parting waters. Well, that wasn’t quite as bad as Mysti had thought they would be doing. It didn’t seem all too difficult. And then of course, she got splashed with water as Professor Kesali performed the charm.  Mysti was also glad that she’d put on the other robes.  Had she been wearing her good one, she wouldn’t have wanted it wet. And without a robe, those white shirts wouldn’t have been very helpful.

She watched as the other students took their turns. Most did pretty well, and some of course took a couple turns. And got wet. But then when the Gryffindor, Kinsey, went there was an explosion of water. More water flying towards the students.  Mysti was glad she hadn’t taken much time to do her hair today, because then it would have been for nothing.  Currently her hair just went straight down, completely soaked.

“Thanks, Kinsey.” She said, not realizing the other student was sporting a bloody nose. Looking down at her wet person, thankful she hadn’t bothered drying herself after the initial splash.

Since everyone else seemed preoccupied, she decided to give the spell a shot. The water settled down again into the area with the barrier.  Mysti stepped up to the water and held out her wand.

“ Averte Pedeum a Tuum A Malo” Mysti focused and watched as the water parted, giving her a clear path to the other side. Doing her best to keep focused, she walked all the way through, then turned around. She then watched as the water sloshed back into place and sighed a breath of relief.

Then, she finally allowed herself to dry off a bit, now that she was somewhat more safe from the water.  Unless someone else decided to blow it up.

"Great Job, and Mister Kinsey, might want to put your head back." Gale said as he stood across the other side of the lake that now rested in the middle of his class. The water was calm now that there were no students to disrupt it, and Gale used the spell silently to part the water a little more gently to get back to the front of the class. Couldn't get his shoes wet, they were new.


While up at the front of the class, he kept his back to them while he sat his wand down and removed his robe. Beneath the overly formal attire he wore a simple black tank over brown pants, that gave way to his rather slender figure. Along the pale lines of his shoulders the dark ink of his tattoo looked like spider's legs, but that was only because the rest of it was covered. Jarring for a Professor he was sure, but the next part was really dangerous. And though the students were not going to attempt it until next time he wanted them to see what else the charm could do, and why it was so important.


"I want to show you one more thing before class is over," He spoke with his back still to them, braiding his hair back from his face, "And I'll need a volunteer. Miss Almasy? Would you be so kind?"

To say that she didn't see Philip's 'accident' coming from afar would have been an outright lie but the redhead had nonetheless been one of the unprepared- she flinched at the lashings of waters, teeth bared into a catlike expression of anger. The irritation dissipated quickly enough; getting soaked to the bone could do that to you.

"Honestly Kinsey!" the redhead shook her head at the other Gryffindor- in good humour. The attempts were over too soon however and there wasn't enough time for everyone to taunt or reprimand Philip before Professor Kesali had begun on the next thread of their lesson. By disrobing.

At the mention of her name, Raine's gaze snapped to the front of the classroom alertly.

Was she still a volunteer if he called her out? Not worth considering- she shrugged off her black robes, they were drenched after all, and cut through the water once more to reach the front. Her wand was still drawn.

"Certainly, professor." Raine glanced at the spindly ink marks across the professor's shoulders and then at the hair that was braiding itself into a silver tail. Turning his back to a crowd of disorderly teenagers... precarious positioning. "How can I oblige?"

"Why this Charm can be so important. It parts crowds, parts brush, and even fire Miss Almasy. Would you, do the same with the water, but fire this time just aim here ok?" He pointed to his chest with his wand now facing her again, and pulling away the leather from his eye. She would be the only one to see, and he put the bit of leather in his back pocket. It was ugly and eerie, but otherwise not nearly as horrid as he made it out to be. The eye seemed dead, void of color, like a ball of white glass sitting in his socket.

With a very formal stance he made the gesture of a duel to her, and inclined his head to give her the go ahead.

There was a reason he'd picked Raine, and he couldn't help but admit he was worried about her. She seemed very different this term, even just from Christmas, and could swear he felt her thirst for destruction the moment she came back.

Raine narrowed her eyes at the older wizard, instinctively suspicious of the invitation to cast. It didn't help that he removed the leather-patch to reveal the scarred tissue beneath; if anything, it made him appear a touch more sinister than usual.

"Alright," she took a step back- a clear indication that her charm wasn't going to be by any means minuscule. Why not, after all? Georgiana would reproach any hesitation to hex the professor. The Gryffindor glanced briefly at her friends and caught Whitman's eye. He knew what was coming.

Kesali had asked for one similar to their pool of water but fire didn't stagnate like liquid, it was continuously shifting and burning. Raine looked back to the front and nodded in response to his go-ahead. A tingle passed her fingers before she flicked the wand.

Mulciberus! A small lick of flame swayed from the tip - hardly enough to scar - and then with two quick  jerks of her wrist, suddenly flared into a fiery tail that thrashed about dangerously. The heat travelled quickly up her arm, which was strained by the effort to whip the fire towards the professor and not her classmates.[1]

1.	Note: Anyone's welcomed to have caught a burn or two from this but it's fairly intense and would need to be healed quickly!

When Gale called Raine to the fold... Turning around to watch, taking a small step back, for a closer look– it was all reflexive for Theo, habit until it’d become instinct. The Gryffindor was, in the Slytherin’s opinion, rather noticeable merely by existing, but perhaps it could be said that he knew better than anyone (especially by those banal hangers-on who called themselves her friends) that there was more to notice than the brilliant flare of her hair - or her temper - the cutting retorts or even the deliberate strides with which she moved—that underneath, there was not just what she was, but what she would do, unpredictable even when that, in itself, was a prediction.

Comparing her to fire—it was so trite, but accurate nonetheless. And the comparison proved true only a few seconds later.

Sparing just a heartbeat, a swift, fleeting moment to admire, Theo watched the flame light up all her hair with its deadly glow – a sigh may have even escaped – before he sprung into action, spurred on by the determined slant to her mouth and the pitch of her arm. His wand conveniently already drawn, the prefect swiftly shifted it to the hand closest to the pool of water and advanced just a foot or so, wand pointed in its direction as he got ready to swing-

His arm swept up in one sharp, slashing movement. Glacialis contego! As if magnetized, water rushed from the pool, headed by a point that followed the sharp tip of his wand. As it sped to follow the wand’s course, it gathered up the puddles that lay in its path, each and every drop adding to its bulk—to the sizable wall it left behind, glittering and frozen, long enough to span several feet.

Solid enough, to protect.[1]

The stray tongues of flame that hit the barrier, sizzled to naught. Behind it Theo stood untouched, hand falling to his side and face devoid of expression—except for the satisfaction – and something else – that left his gaze dark and half-mast. He pocketed his wand.

Adjusting his tie, Theo spared Phillip a glance. “You missed a spot,” he supplied, smirking faintly as he pointed at his chin.

Turning ‘round again, he caught Raine’s eye and winked.

1.	With Lily's permission! If you'd like, you can consider your character covered by the shield's perimeter.

Professor Kesali had a flair for the dramatic, and calling up the formidible Raine Almasy was just part and parcel of the show.  Figaro might not have been interested in saying so, but she'd been a great partner to have during the Second Task and so yes - Raine was badass.

At the mention of fire, Figaro and many of his classmates edged back a few feet - which wasn't nearly enough.  As Raine cast a spell like a flaming whip, those standing nearby had to lunge away with shouts of surprise and singed eyebrows.  Some other students were clever and quick, like Theo, and avoided the flame in other ways.

There was something absolute mesmerizing by the way the fire lit up Raine's face, her hair, and even her eyes. It was a wild sort look that made him wonder if deep down she wasn't made up of the burn.


Gale spoke the little passage of an American Poet, and smiled a little at Miss Almsay before letting it truly sink in what happened. And that is what he got for letting the drama unfold. Never a dull moment.

"Raine, M'dear." His voice cracked, with the shock that shifted over his tongue and tore away the kindness, "A hex, was not what I had in mind." Thankfully Mister Theo was on his toes, and apparently knew something about Raine they didn't. Gale simply stared at her in shock, absolute shock of what happened. He looked as though he was about to pass out, growing a bit pale, even for him.

"Take a seat," He ordered her before putting back on his patch and turning towards the class, "You all did a wonderful job today, and I think we can see why this charm is rather important, I would like for you to practice it on crowds only, and Theo...Wonderful quick reaction. I'll reward ten points to your house. So it will make up what Miss Travers had you miss. Thank you." He turned to the rest,

"Dismissed."

---

OOC: Thanks guys that was fun! Looking forward to next one. You guys are great! If there are to be any spin off threads please tag this class back in it, prettttty please! <3 Gale will stick around to talk to Raine if anyone else wants a chat. He's always available in his office, just PM me if you want a side thread.

1.	Robert Frost