Students Currently Attending:

Gryffindor

Erik Collins :: 3
Hannah Harper 1 :: 1
Mairead ó Fearghail :: 1
Nikolas Falkenrath :: 2
Tynan MacFusty :: 1

Hufflepuff

Ayla Collins :: 1
Dahlia Collins :: 1
Pax Wintergreen :: 1
Winifred Leigh Oliver :: 6 (+3)

Ravenclaw

Baxter Fox :: 2 (+1)
Cyhirae Trishna :: 2
Eirene Antonopoulos :: 6 (+1)
Ivory Razvan :: 3 (+2)
Pippa Perdue :: (+1)
Serenity Lee Thornton :: 2 (+2)

Slytherin

Erin Dark :: 5 (+1)
Naomi Foley :: 2
Noriko Wakahisa :: 5 (+10)

Staff Attending:

Ignan Storm, Landis Morgan, Tapendra Trishna

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NB: All students and additional staff have arrived on time, and are present at the start of this thread, unless you have a pre-arranged reason for being late, agreed by PM. Late to joining in, in character, just pretend you've been here all along. Thank you everyone!

The inhabitants of Hogsmeade didn't quite know what they were in for as a crocodile of students in Hogwarts uniform were trooped down by three wizard staff down the path into the village and onto the green just beyond The Three Broomsticks pub. Map reference

It was approaching quarter to three as the first and third year students were assembled in a gaggle on the green, their robes clasped around them. The scattered showers of the morning had left by lunchtime, though the sky still looked a little threatening for dropping rain on them, and the temperature had a chill, but none too bad considering it was February.

At half past two, the first and third years had assembled down at the gates with the winged boars, at the time the third years would normally have their usual defences lesson. The first years had been delayed in having their usual lesson straight after lunch to join the third years, and were typically over excited about the prospect of a) joining the older year, and b) not being in the classroom and c) leaving the grounds for Hogsmeade.

He hadn't come without reinforcements, Tapendra, helpful as always when he wasn't hiding under Ignan's bed, and Landis, one of his other trustworthy allies in Hogwarts had both offered to come with him and help keep order and check they didn't lose any.

Readjusting his gloves, and wand in hand, Ignan squared up to the gaggle, and waited a moment for the sea of excited expectation to calm and turn their heads his way.

"Good afternoon first and third years. May I remind you once again that you are representing the school while in Hogsmeade, anything less than impeccable behaviour will be dealt with by the Headmistress or Deputy Headmaster. Given the number of students that have left Hogwarts this year, I wouldn't be so hasty in suggesting any of you to join them." He fixed the two classes of students with a firm stare.

"It will not have escaped your attention that Hogwarts has been the subject of unsettling events in the past month. Although much of this has been swept under the carpet with frivolities last weekend, with arrangement and advice from the Ministry, it has been deemed prudent to ensure each of you has experience in side-along apparition and how to react in the case of forced side-along apparition." Some passers by had stopped to stare and Ignan gave them a polite but telling look with the message to move along.

"Apparition is the disappearance and reapparance of a person, from one place to another over distance." He gestured to his colleagues to demonstrate over short distance for the benefits of Muggle borns and other sheltered students whose parents were too frightened to apparate.
"Apparators are licensed in the majority of cases, as it is a regulated skill. Adults can apparate with passengers, which is termed side-along apparition. Many of you may have already experienced it with parents and family members, and know that it involves steady physical contact with another person, such as hand holding or arm linking. This can be done by the apparator holding onto the passenger or vice versa." The Professor shifted weight from one foot to the other.

"Forced side-along apparition is a form of kidnap, though in dangerous situations by adults caring for the likes of you and younger, it may be a life saving action. However, it can be prevented - by weighing yourself down with a large immovable object, or solid structure. For instance, a house, tree, one of the house tables in the Great Hall, all heavy or fixed to the ground so they cannot be lifted without magic. The apparator will either aparate without you, or experience resistance enough to prevent their apparition being successful. If its the latter, you will be in further difficulties, but by using surprise in weighing yourself down, your escape should be successful."

It sounded so simple, Ignan thought, as he surveyed the sea of faces. Only he and the other two had to take it in turns to wrench each of these ruddy souls from one point to the other on the green to give them the initial experience (hoping to avoid vomit in the process) and then repeat the process allowing them to try and prevent being taken with them. Some days he really disliked his job...

"The time from now will proceed as follows - each of you will apparate with either myself, Professor Trishna or Mr Morgan with conventional side-along, and then, you will attempt to prevent your apparition. The others of you will remain here, and the faster this progresses, the shorter we will all have to stand out here in the damp. There will be no exemptions. Understood?"

Now was it his imagination, or did a significant number shuffle towards Tapendra at that explanation...?

"If you're both ready? Just from one side of the green to the other at most, not long distances." He conferred with the other two wizards. "I'd avoid your daughter if I were you." He smirked at Tappy. "Besides, she'd probably prefer to try and rip my head off instead."

Turning back to the students, he stepped forward, looking for his first prey, or willing volunteer.

Winifred was incredibly excited about a class off campus- and when she saw there were going to be other professors in attendance, her excitement tripled. Three professors and Hogsmeade! This must be one super duper important lesson indeed! She hopped along, skipping down the trail, chattering in excited tones with her friends as they made their way to an open space.

She stopped with everyone else- paying close attention to what was being said. (Close attention by the standards of Freddie Oliver at any rate. Which meant she wasn't daydreaming the whole time Professor Storm was babbling.) Sidelong apparation sounded quite exciting! And learning how to prevent a kidnapping seemed even more exciting. Winifred was convinced that she would do a marvelous job- her uncle was an auror after all, if anyone had the instincts to prevent a kidnapping it was a girl who was related to an auror.

Winifred had not, however, been exposed to apparation. Her father was a squib, and her mother wasn't licensed for it. So she always used floo or broom travel to get from place to place. The chance of finally getting to experience apparation was incredibly exciting! When it seemed they were waiting on victims volunteers, Winifred jumped excitedly and rushed to Professor Storm's side. Winifred batted her lashes at him and grinned broadly. "Me first!" she demanded. "I want to try it! Oooh this is so exciting!"

"I'd avoid your daughter if I were you." Ignan's tone was that combination joking and slight menace Tappy had now grown used to. "Besides, she'd probably prefer to try and rip my head off instead."

Tapendra was wrapped warmly in brown, fur-lined winter robes that actually made him look somewhat like a wizard for once. He couldn't help the wry smile at Ignan's words. "Not if she wants to have an allowance ever again," he said dryly. "Though, no offense meant, if she managed that, I would be impressed. Horrified, but impressed."

Admittedly a splintching is what they'd just have to hope to avoid - he considered himself lucky, having never had one, but with the distraction of the students around them the three teachers certainly had to focus as much as possible. He took a deep breath and worked on preparing himself mentally.

He adjusted his glasses as Freddie piped up, and he couldn't help his smile turning fully into a smirk. "Good luck with that one, Ignan," he said, quietly, before he turned to his own set of students.

The third years!  They were having a class with the third years!  Noriko was beside herself with excitement.  Since their arrival at the gate with the winged boars, she had been on the verge of ecstatically bouncing up and down.  Never before had she actually looked forward to a Defense Against the Dark Arts class!  Not even the thought of spending the next hour under the malevolent eye of Professor Storm could deter her anticipation.

As they made their way from Hogwarts down the road to the small town, Noriko had hurried to keep up, practically lugging Eirene along in her effort to keep pace with Baxter Fox, one of the third year Ravenclaws.  Even though she was still a little timid around Eirene, the fact that the other girl had given her a Valentine (A Valentine!  She'd gotten a real Valentine!) had gone a long way in mollifying Noriko's feelings towards her.  It was hard to stay mad at someone for inflating your bum when they called you a "tweet" friend.

It was impossible to imagine a better set up for a Defense Against the Dark Arts class.  Here they were with the third years, she was practically standing next to Baxter Fox in the crowd, and Professor Librarian Morgan was there, too!  Noriko tried to catch the eye of her Head of House so that she could beam at him.  She enthusiastically nodded along as Professor Storm talked about how they should all be on their best behavior while they were in Hogsmeade, hoping that both Professor Librarian Morgan and Baxter Fox would see her.  She wouldn't put it past the Muggle-born Gryffindors to cause trouble, but Noriko was determined to do Slytherin proud.

Professor Storm explained the lesson for the day, and Noriko's heart nearly leapt.  Apparition!  She couldn't believe it!  She knew all about apparition!  Her father, who lived with them outside of Liverpool but worked at the Ministry, used apparition as his preferred mode of travel, and he had taken Noriko side-along with him loads of times.  It was the first time that the subject of a Defense Against the Dark Arts class hadn't filled her with insipid dread, although she had secretly liked the time that Professor Storm had made the silver bird fly to her desk and give her a point.

This was too exciting!  Noriko felt herself, for once, drawing up with pride.  Not only did she know all about apparition, but her parents had very sternly cautioned her on how to get away from strangers if necessary.  Neither her father nor her mum had much patience for Noriko's nervously worded warnings most of the time, but they still took Stranger Danger very seriously and had impressed as much on their gaggle of children.  She began automatically reciting the rules from the Muggly the Bear afternoon special in her head.  If they don't have a wand, don't respond.  Twist and shout, don't apparate out.  If you see a Dark Mark, don't -

Professor Storm's explanation of what they were going to be actually required to do snapped Noriko out of her thoughts.  A sudden fear struck her, and she shot a nervous look at Eirene, edging away from the other girl.  She wouldn't put it past the Ravenclaw to try and inflate her bum again, just to give Eirene something unexpected to hold on to so that she'd get the best marks.

It was just her luck, too, that the one class that they had with the third years didn't require partners.  Noriko swallowed hard, glancing nervously in Baxter Fox's direction as she drew up her courage.  Well, she'd never know if she didn't ask.

"Do you - ...doyouthinkthey'llletusdoitinpartners?" she asked, blurting all the words out in a voice much higher than she normally used.

Baxter removed the glasses from his face and carefully cleaned the lesnes as Professor Storm took his time explaining the reason they were in Hogsmeade, and then explaining the details of their lesson. Apparation was not something that Baxter was a total stranger to. His father was an auror- which made Baxter more familiar with such things. His dad preferred apparation to other forms of travel- and Baxter couldn't blame him. Floo was disgusting, portkey was juts plain horrid, and brooms were so inconvenient for longer distances.

The Ravenclaw had gotten sick the first time he'd apparated- so he would not be surprised to see others experience the feeling. Especially if they had to try to ground themselves. Baxter's familiarity with resisting apparation was practically non-existant, however. He had been given the speech before from his father, especially if things were nasty at work. Stranger danger, et cetera. His mother had once explained to him that nastier criminals would target families- but it hadn't sunk in with Baxter, because it had never happened.

Baxter was about to address Professor Trishna when he he heard the fast paced, high pitched voice of a nearby first year. He instinctively arched a judgmental brow at her, wondering why she was posing the question to him instead of one of the professors. Professor Trishna had a first year daughter after all, so it would make sense for a first year to choose to ask him. "The only partner you'll be having is whichever professor decides to apparate with you," he told her. Baxter's tone was bordering on condescending, but he was really trying not to be mean to her- she was only a first year after all. "You can't really practice a fake kidnapping scenario with a buddy. Besides, if you had a partner, that's just one more person you might throw up on."

Nikolas grinned at Storm's description of today's lesson, "This is going to be great." This was why he liked DADA so much, all of the classes were practical lessons with everyone taking an active role instead of just sitting in the back of the class, listening to the droning of one teacher on one thing or another. And then the subject matter was always so interesting...

"You can't really practice a fake kidnapping scenario with a buddy. Besides, if you had a partner, that's just one more person you might throw up on." Niko chuckled and smaked Baxter hard on the back, "Ah come on Baxley, she's just a firsty. I bet you did something equaly embarising you're first time, eh?" He turned and smiled disarmingly at Noriko, "Though he's right, this lesson's really just about you and the professor."

"Speaking of which..." Nikolas turned and stepped up near where Professor Storm was standing. He grinned at Storm, "I'll go after Winnie, Sir."

This looked to be...interesting. He shot a side glance to Noriko at the sound of her voice. Was she actually...happy? Tynan was a bit at a loss for words, since 'cowering in fear' seemed to be the only emotion Noriko was capable of, ever. It was weird to see her talk to others so eagerly - even if the 3rd years shot her down almost instantly. Tynan felt a pang of sympathy at that - it was rare enough to see her not being scared, even if it was usually funny when they freaked her out.

What was it his brother Will always said? 'Only I'm allow tae beat 'cha oop?'

He got his mind back on the lesson as the children milled about in confusion. This would be fun, hopefully. He made a resolution not to throw up; Keegan and Mairead would never let him live it down, especially if they didn't. Bugger - he really didn't want to be known as 'Boakin' MacFusty'.

Since the students seemed a bit confused as to who to go to, he shrugged at the other Gryffs and got in the vague sort of hybrid of crowd and line forming near Professor Storm.

Cyhirae blew into her cupped hands to warm them as she waited with everyone for the lesson to begin. After Professor Storm finished explaining today's lesson Cyhirae glanced between the three adults. 'Let's see, the known danger of Professor Storm, the unknown danger of the Librarian or Dad. Yeah. No contest.'


Cy slid next to her father and smiled up at him and resited the urge to reach up and hold his hand. It wouldn't do for her to be caught being overly affectionate with her father right now. Not that she minded being affecitonate but there was Professor Storm and the third years to think about, especially after one of them had shot poor Noriko down. And she was actually being cheerful for once. "I'll go with you Da- Professor Trishna."

Harry felt Dumbledore's arm twist away from him and re-doubled his grip: the next thing he knew everything went black; he was pressed very hard from all directions; he could not breathe, there were iron bands tightening around his chest; his eyeballs were being forced back into his head; his ear-drums were being pushed deeper into his skull.

"Not if she wants to have an allowance ever again," Tappy replied dryly, sharing a moment of humour between them. Ignan hadn't bothered to penalise Tapendra's daughter heavily over trying to curse him the previous month, having caught wind of what Tapendra had done to his own daughter later that day. She'd served a number of detentions, and some of the tanks in the classroom had finally looked clean through elbow-grease.
"Though, no offense meant, if she managed that, I would be impressed. Horrified, but impressed."
"So would I...!" Ignan agreed, and turned his attention to an approaching victim.

Winifred blinked rapidly and grinned at him, before exclaiming
"Me first! I want to try it! Oooh this is so exciting!" Partially taken aback at the girl's enthusiasm, he made the snap assumption Winifred may have not experienced apparition before.

"Good luck with that one, Ignan," He heard Tapendra say and caught sight of his colleague's cheeky smirk.

"I'll go after Winnie, Sir." Nikolas spoke up from behind, and Ignan was surprised to see a group of students forming a rough outline of a queue behind Nikolas.

"Very well." Professor Storm addressed, and without asking Winifred if she had apparated before, faced her and clasped the student tightly by the shoulder with his left hand. The two of them blinked out of view before Nikolas, Tynan and the other students. Gripping harder still as the two of them were pulled through and reappeared, he didn't doubt he'd have left bruises on the over enthusiastic third year's shoulder, as they reappeared across the green behind the group, beside a memorial to the first wizarding war with benches and railings around it.

To his partial surprise, as they reappeared, he wasn't so much gripping Winifred's shoulder, but having to hold her up...

Winifred was not certain why the professor had to hold her shoulder so tightly, unless there was real and imminent danger of him letting go and losing her. Her mind wondered briefly exactly what happened to side-long apparators if they managed to get knocked loose from the competent witch or wizard who was taking them some place. But Winifred barely had time to consider the not-so-pleasant possibilities behind such a mistake before the unmistakable crack and they had gone.

And it was an awful- tremendously awful experience. She felt sick, she could barely breathe. Her ears hurt- she was dizzy, there something totally off about her balance, and the hand on her shoulder just hurt. Winifred tried to gasp in- but she couldn't do it, she couldn't breathe. It hurt. So naturally, the girl panicked- as much as a fourteen year old girl could panic in the split second it took to apparate.

It did not, however, feel like a split second. To Winifred it felt like ages- years- centuries even! And then the blackness from the apparation changed- it was a fuzzy blackness, and instead of emptying the contents of her well fed stomach (as she was very want to do), Winifred lost consciousness and she fainted.

When they reappeared on the other side of the green, Winifred was being supported by Ignan. Not that she was aware of it- she wasn't aware of anything. But when she awoke, no doubt her enthusiasm would be entirely misplaced. The Hufflepuff had expected it would be an incredibly unpleasant experience, she had even suspected she might get a little nauseated, but Winifred had never thought she would end up fainting on the defense professor- of all the people to faint on, that was probably her worst choice.

"Merlin dammit!" Professor Storm exclaimed, seeing the lolling head of Winifred below him. The students across the green had turned to stare and some laughter could be heard. Why had the first student have to pass out on him?!

"Somehow don't think apparating is going to be your thing, Oliver." He informed the unconscious third year matter of factly. Her limp state forced him to drop the student down onto the damp grass unwilling to keep her hauled upright. Unfortunately it was still dewy from the earlier rainfall, not that he gave much consideration to how muddy her backside would be later.

Holding her semi upright with his left arm, crouching beside her, he flicked his wand at the bridge of the girl's nose.
"Ennervate!" 

Tappy smiled down at his daughter, and Storm be damned, he couldn't resist her cheerfulness. He put his hand on her shoulder, the fur of his coat causing his hand to basically disappear.

"You've done this before, Princess," he said, cheerfully. "Remember - deep breath, calm mind, close your eyes, and you won't throw up." An affectionate ruffle of her hair later, he took a deep breath himself, closing his eyes and concentrating, his spare hand gripping his wand. He pulled her against his side and Appriated to the other end of the field.

He stumbled a bit on re-entry, as was hard not to do; Ignan's voice nearby drew his attention and he looked in surprised at Freddie's passed-put form. Since Cyhirae seemed to be alright, he let her go and jogged over, kneeling halfway in the grass next to Freddie.

"Passed out, did she? Bad luck, that," he said, checking to make sure she was still breathing.

Serenity didn't fully understand the grave situation they were in. Hogwarts had been bustling with whispers that the school was no longer safe and that Sasha, the Ravenclaw Prefect, had been the last one seen with the now deceased girl. The teachers seemed under partial stress since the death of the student, but that was probably because of all the Aurors coming in and out of the school.

If there was one person that she felt safe with, it was Professor Bombay. He was her Head of House, wasn't he? Surely he could protect the Ravenclaws? The next person was, of course, their DADA teacher and out of a lot of students on the trip, Serenity Lee didn't move when he gave them the options of having someone to Apparate with. Instead, she actually huddled closer.

Her hazel eyes swept over the 3rd years who, for the majority, looked excited about learning how to Apparate early. She, of course, didn't much care to learn. Her older siblings had told her it was an awful experience and her mother's casual reply of, "You'll get sick the first few times, mind, because it does take some getting used to," as well as the sight of the 3rd year passing out on her first try didn't ease the first year's conscience at all. So far, of course, Professor Storm had proven himself to be more than capable of teaching the students with his practical (albeit sudden and dramatic) methods and she was more than willing to learn from him as she would from Professor Bombay.

Serenity, feeling a horrible lurch in her stomach, waited patiently for her turn behind Tynan with her head ducked to hide her face with her curtain of hair. This was something she really didn't want to try...

Winifred felt a tingling on her nose, and slowly she became aware of her surroundings. She could see and she could hear, but she couldn't yet move her body. She looked, wide eyed at Professor Storm (who had obviously tried to kill her in the midst of the apparation, why else would she lose consciousness), afraid of what he might have to say. But it seemed that Professor Trishna was going to come to her rescue- and make sure that the evil professor did not whop her on the head with his wand.

But soon she could move- though she felt dizzy still, and definitely more than a little nauseated. "That was awful," she pouted, slowly climbing to her feet, trying to dust the water, mud, and clumps of grass from her rump. "I think I'm going to be sick."

Winnie stepped backward- away from the two professors, wrapping her arms tightly around her midrift. She gave Professor Storm a look that could kill- the Hufflepuff completely blaming him for whatever had gone wrong. (Naturally it wasn't some typical, biological response to being apparated. It couldn't be that. Not when Professor Storm had been the one to apparate with her.)  "And it's cold," she further complained- it seemed her sense of the weather was a bit heightened since she was already feeling ill.

"Passed out, did she? Bad luck, that," Tappy remarked, appearing at the other side. Despite himself, Ignan gave his colleague a filthy look.

"That was awful," Winifred spoke as she came round, forced by Ignan's spell. "I think I'm going to be sick."

Well do it well away from me, Ignan thought as she scrambled to her feet, clutching at her stomach and shot him a scorned look.
"And it's cold," She moaned.

"Thank you Tapendra." Ignan told his colleague brusquely, as if also pointing out he hadn't needed assistance. Like a tomcat he was quite possessive over his territory as a Professor of Defences, and regrettably this was rearing its ugly head. He winced inwardly as he heard his tone and realised it would be interpreted as sarcasm.

"Oliver!" Ignan barked at the student, advancing towards her swiftly, a murderous look in his eye. "Resist!" Clasping a hand to her upper arm roughly, he gave her no further chance to react, and just hoped when he reappeared back where they started, she was still the other end of the green by the memorial, with all her nausea.