[Y1] Lesson I- Centaurs

As opposed to starting the first lesson for the First Years with Flobberworms, Selene decided to switch things up a bit. As she stood by the edge of the forest, Selene wore jeans and a black tee shirt, with her hair up in a ponytail. She patiently waited before all the students were gathered to start speaking.

"Good morning, and welcome to your first Care of Magical Creatures lesson." she greeted them. "As you can see, this lesson will be held inside the forest and will consist of Centaurs. Firstly, I want you to divide up into partners, as you will work on a small assignment before leaving. The following people will work together. Ryland Marcotte and Sévérine Rivera, Rebecca Jones and Leonardo Griffin, and Chris Moreau, you will work with me." She saw the students look at each other and then she continued, "Firstly, I want you all to stay together and follow me." she said as she ventured into the forest with the students behind her.


OOC: I am only counting the characters that have been active for a few while, so that rules out Arabella Thomas and Illy Jenkins. If any other students register while this lesson is going on, they will have to contact me.

Leonardo was very excited as he ran down to the Forbidden Forest. He couldn't believe he would have his first Care of Magical Creatures lesson! The teacher introduced herself as Selene Vega. When she mentioned partners, Leonardo became all ears. "So, Rebecca Jones?" he said to himself. Leonardo started to look around for Rebecca.

I had to hurry up if I didn't want be late for my first lesson of care of magical creatures. Quickly I went down the stairs until I feared that I might fall. I crossed the entrance hall and went out the castle. I started a sprint upto the place where the lesson took place. I arrived just in time and the teacher began to talk.

She introduced herself as Selene Vega. I didn’t anticipate the teacher of care of magical creatures was a woman like that. This thinking made me smile. She followed by expressing the subject of the lesson : the centaurs. We had to work with a partner and because of the imparity I had to work with the teacher. I sighed. At least I didn’t fear anything.

After her explanation, we came into the Forbidden Forest.

Ryland nodded as he heard the professor talk. He had heard somethings about her from the Malfoys, mostly from Wade, and he sincerely hoped she would be as nice as they had said. As he glanced around he realized there were mostly boys in the class and that he was supposed to work with Severine. That fact made him feel a bit better.

Centaurs, he thought in amazement as he listened to Madame Vega speak. Ryland hurried up and followed her into the dark, deep forest as he mentally prepared himself for the majestic creatures he was about to see.

Severine saw Ryland glance at her and she waved as she went over to stand next to him. She had seldom spoken to him before. "Hey Ryland," she greeted as they moved towards the forest.

Selene turned around abruptly, "Ryland Marcotte." she announced. "I forgot to tell you I made a mistake and accidentally put you in the First Years. You're supposed to be in the Second Year's class." All of a sudden, a deep red bird came flying from the thickness of the forest and settled down next to the Gryffindor boy. "Scarlet will escort you back to the Castle and protect you in case you need her assistance." she told him. "The rest of you, follow me." She led them to a clearing dark enough to create an eerie mood but bright enough to allow them too see clearly, a dark figure approached them from the other side.
"This is Phrixus. An old friend of mine." She said once the figure came into full view. It was a centaur; big and masculine. His muscles were well-defined, showing great physical strength. His hair, long and dark as the night, danced with the breeze. His eyes, a bright shade of icy blue, only made his moonlight-colored skin all the more stunning.
"Nice to see you again. Thank you, for helping me" She told him, and in return, the centaur greeted her kindly, and in a friendly manner. Turning to her students, she spoke to them.
"Everyone, this is Phrixus. As you can see, today, you will also sketch a real-life centaur, for he has agreed to assist in your learning."

Leonardo waved to Ryland as he went back to the castle. Professor Vega told everyone to follow her into the forest. Leonardo was a bit unsure at first. Going into the Black Forest was something that he thought they wouldn't do, that they were just going to stay outside the forest. However, he went with the class and ventured into the forest. When there, he saw a centaur that Professor Vega introduced as Phrixus. The next thing Professor Vega said stunned him. They were supposed to draw him? He was good at drawing, but was he that good? "Well, lets try it out." he thought, and started drawing.

Severine clicked her tongue as Ryland made his way back to the castle with the bird flying by his side. She was shocked when Professor Vega said they were going to draw the centaur. I'm dead, I'm dead, I'm dead, she thought to herself as she held her pencil in her hand.

She had never been good at art, she mused as she tentatively sketched the centaur's broad shoulders. Didn't she once get voted as worst artist ever? Chancing a peek at Leonardo's drawing, Severine let out a soft groan as she saw the beautifully sketched centaur.

Gabrielle felt like a complete idiot as she walked towards the Forbidden Forest. Her escort, a sixth year, was trying his best to ignore the sullen girl beside him. Had she been a little more careful in the halls, she wouldn't have had to stay behind an extra ten minutes to help put things away and miss the beginning of her second class. She sighed, clutching the note in her hand, hoping her Professor would be forgiving.

As they came to an opening in the forest, it was clear what -- who the subject was today. Gabrielle couldn't help but smile then. A real centaur? Oh, this had to be the most exciting thing to happen yet! She was already digging out her field journal as the sixth year carefully led her to Professor Vega. Gabrielle fumbled for the note, dropping her bag and its contents for trying to do too many things at once.

"Sorry, Professor." She said, distracted. Reaching down for her bag, she handed Professor Vega the piece of parchment that explained her tardiness.

"Don't worry," Selene assured the girl. As the students continued drawing Phrixus, Selene observed and walked around, seeing how the students reacted to the centaur in front of them. "Is anyone familiar with any of the myths relating to them?" she asked them.

When Professor Vega asked the question, he thought to himself: "Come on man, you know this one." Carefully, he raised his hand and answered: "The origin of centaurs is said to be that they were descendants from the Greek god Ixion.

Smiling at Leonardo, she said "I believe there are two myths concerning their birth. They were said to have been born of Ixion and Nephele, the cloud made in the image of Hera. Another version makes them children of a certain Centaurus and the Magnesian mares. Centaurus was either son of Ixion and Nephele or of Apollo and Stilbe, daughter of the river god Peneus. So yes, you are correct. 5 points to Ravenclaw."

"Centaurs are very misunderstood creatures, although they are rather fancied and respected by many. Centaurs have been long thought of as fierce, harmful creatures, when in truth, they are very kind. Their pride is what may be confused for what they say is animalistic and dangerous. You all know of the stereotypical centaur I suppose, but what else is there to these magical creatures? I want you to look outside their stereotype." She walked around, inspecting the students' sketches. "Greek Mythology has played a great part in stereotyping the centaurs. I mean, you read the myths, and you encounter centaurs described as wild, overly indulgent drinkers who turn to violence when intoxicated, and generally uncultured. However,, there are myths of those who aided heroes, such as Chiron who later became a teacher to many great, respectable heroes, such as Aeneas, Achilles, Jason, and Perseus. I want you to give me something that you think makes them magical."

It seemed that everyone making their way up or down the moving staircase this morning was mad at Penelope Franklin. And they were – because she was sprinting. Bumping into professors, ducking around sixth years, apologizing in urgent mutters; the first year left a trail of chaos behind her as she made her way outside. In short, she had woken up late. The Ravenclaw sprinted across the grounds, her ringlets wild behind her as she propelled her short legs forward. To her immense relief, however, she was one of the first students to arrive. With an exasperated wave to the professor, Penelope plopped herself on the ground and tempted to tame her curls as she finger brushed them to the side.

Before long, class began. The Professor started speaking, and Penelope rose hastily to her feet. The chaos of the morning had distracted her from the excitement of the lesson, even though her mother had told her that the interesting things didn’t really come until later. The lesson today was to be centaurs. Penelope wasn’t sure whether to be excited or nervous; the class reaction was mixed.

Following Professor Vega into the forest, Penelope’s green eyes constantly moved from the left to right, from the soil underneath to the trees above. The first year wished she had more time to view the entirety of the forest, instead of treading about like nothing was special. Of course, it looked like any other forest, but the Ravenclaw knew that there was much more inside – things her mother had warned her about. She fell to the back of the pack and tried to remember what she knew about centaurs.

Penelope heard the professor speaking as she maneuvered her way to the front of the class. And her mouth fell open in awe at the creature. She could barely believe her eyes – it was the most majestic, yet terrifying thing she had ever seen. The Professor’s instructions broke her gaze away - she was told to sketch him, so the brave Ravenclaw took a few solid steps forward to get a better view. She didn’t get too close, but she let her eyes roam over him; he didn’t seem real. It was if, at any second now, he would disappear into thin air. His piercing eyes made the first year feel a slight discomfort, so she slunk over to the nearest tree trunk, pulled out a quill and began drawing. She hated this assignment – no way her clumsy artwork could depict the power of the creature.

The Professor spoke as she made her way around, and the first year listened vaguely as she attempted to capture the essence of the creature. But, alas.

“Oh,” she perked up, looking at the Professor, “They’re skilled in Astrology, right? They study the stars.”

"Yes!" Selene agreed as Penelope gave a right answer. "Five points to Ravenclaw. There was a centaur here at Hogwarts, who once taught Astrology. Does anyone know his name and when he taught?" 

"Centaurs like to be pretty isolated, they rarely come out to greet people and have a nice conversation with them. That's why we're pretty lucky to have a few of them living on the forest. Besides Astronomy, they're also great in Magical Healing, Divination, and Archery."