CoMC NEWT 4

A faint pop could be heard as Thaor apparated just outside Hogwarts grounds. He had finally returned to the school after two weeks vacation. Thaor let out a soft sigh as he walked towards the gates, holding his wand straight up in the air, and walked through the gates. I sure as hell didn't miss this place. he thought to himself as he walked towards the CoMC classroom.

Upon entering the classroom, Thaor remembered how boring it was on the inside. With a slight chuckle to himself, he sat down at his desk and read the notes Caelani had left him.
Poor attendance? Thaor thought to himself, I'll fix that he said with a sick smile.

Today's lesson would prove to be an interesting one, if no one got hurt, or would that make it very interesting?

Jack had not really, erm, attended her other Care of Magical Creatures classes, simply because she heard it was not a permanent teacher and nothing dangerous. Truth be told, she was busy as hell with all of her other classes and Quidditch and Potter's Army and the tournament... Should she go on? No, she had stopped attending her favorite subject because her sanity could not handle it at the moment.

But now, she was back in action. The old teacher was back and a dangerous class was rumored to be planned. Finally. Jack would not mind pursuing a career as a Magizoologist. She dealt better with animals than with humans anyway. Dragon taming sounded fun... As it was, she was on the search for a Jarvey. An insulting ferret seemed like her perfect companion.

She entered the classroom and reeled back slightly as she always did when she entered a class first, since she was not used to the strange feeling of being on time or, worse yet, early. She shrugged. She would eventually live down the impression. Ah well. She nodded at the professor, grunting her welcome, and took a seat in the back.

Brienne padded into the class, and heaved her books down onto the desk before her. This would definitely be a good class. She heard that today's study would involve some very interesting creature. She didn't know the name of it, but by the description it was badass. Probably. Or, at least that's what someone told her before she went to the class. She'd wanted to sleep though, and was thinking of not attending just for the sake of being a nuisance and sleeping, however that was something that she worked out to be a bad idea. A very bad idea. She had her chin practically touching the desk when she sank into her seat. Whatever the lesson was, it better start or else she was getting up and leaving. Leaving until it was all over. Well, she wasn't really going to leave but she certainly wanted to.

Boredom was never a good thing, and this was definitely a day that wasn't suited to have a no good threshold. Stan was in a semi-bad mood. So much so that he was a bit off his rocker today. He was usually off his rocker, but this was different. Somehow. This was different in some way that he knew all too well. There was always good and bad days in his world, but this was a day that was absolutely terrible. He was used to these days, but that was something that came with the need for coping strategies. He was completely dry today. The sooner he got out of class, the better. He'd have a stiff drink and a good smoke of weed.

Softly, Stan sighed as he sat his books down and waited patiently in his seat for class to start. He found it best to keep his trap shut and wait. Meanwhile he put his music player to his ear and listened to the tunes that came from it. Only he could hear it, but he was sure he'd get yelled at for it.

Thaor frowned as Jack was the first to enter the classroom, he frowned both because Jack was a Gryffindor, and because a Gryffindor was the first person to enter his classroom. Thaor however then smiled, as he remembered she was brilliant at Care of Magical Creatures, and she hadn't shown up for her previous classes, which meant he could take house points.

Jack, I was made aware, that you failed to attend this class while I was away. Normally, this would result in detention, but you being a champion and all, I'll just take house points, 25 for each absence. Giving a total of 50 from Gryffindor. Thaor said with a smile.

Thaor turned towards Brienne as she entered. Good morning Ms. Ravenquist, I was informed you also, missed class while I was away. That will be 25 points from Ravenclaw.

Thaor really loved taking points away, it gave him a sense of control over the students, he really didn't like giving detentions, he didn't want to spend any more time with the rodent like students than he had to.

Thaor smiled as Stan entered the classroom, yet another Gryffindor to take points from. Stan, you failed to attend the last lesson, that will be 25 points from Gryffindor. Thaor said with a satisfied smile.

Thaor looked at his watch, and decided it was time to start class. He stood up, and walked over to a cage in the back of the room, took off the sheet that was covering it, and opened the door. Can anyone tell me what this is? Thaor asked as a Sphinx came out of the cage.


(FEEL FREE TO GOD-MOD THE SPHINX-IT IS A NPC)

Jack opened her mouth to protest, but even she knew fair was fair, though she found twenty-five points to be a bit extreme, seeing as it would usually take two or three classes to make it up alone. And fifty. She stared at him, silently tallying the points in her head. With it, Ravenclaw may have well pulled forward. If she wanted to earn it back, she could not mouth off... "Sounds fair, all the more to earn back, then, eh?" she said, in a tone that sounded joking but did have an edge of sarcasm to it, though it was very subtle.

Great... With Stan's twenty five they would have a lot to make up for. However, she was completely thrown off when the professor revealed the magnificent creature in front of the class. Jack's mouth tipped open slightly as the beautifully lethal Sphinx slipped out of her cage, beginning to pace in front of it for a moment before settling, like a queen on a throne, regally in front of it.

"A Sphinx..." Jack said aloud and then realized she may have a chance to earn points back. She normally hated resembling the eager Ravenclaws with thrust hands and bottoms on the edge of their seat as they desperately tried to ruin their social lives, I mean, get good grades. However, this was where subject. She placed her hand in the air and said, louder, "It's a Sphinx. Obviously with a lion's body and a woman's head. Deadly, but they love riddles." The Sphinx's eyes flashed towards Jack and Jack met her gaze, nodding to acknowledge her. Sphinxes were much cleverer than regular creatures and Jack understood to give her respect and not treat her like a common house cat.

"Ooh, a Sphinx", Brienne totally ignored Eldir taking away points from her house. Subconsciously, she wanted to, as well. Ignoring the point taking was the best thing for her right now, she was a bit too interested in the creature. She gave it a respectful look, obviously the Sphinx was very regal, and knew it. She looked very queenly sitting in front of the cage.

"An interesting fact about the Sphinx", Brienne raised her hand, "They're categorized as beasts, instead of beings by the Ministry because of their violent nature. However, I'd still classify it myself as a being, since it knows human speech, and is obviously sentient and intelligent". The human-headed lion regarded her with a silent stare, intimidating. "Sphinxes require a great deal of respect, just like the Hypogryff". Brienne thought of a riddle, "What is one of the words that is what it is?"

The Sphinx thought for a moment, "The answer is 'word', it is what it is, by definition".

"That's right! You truly are an intelligent being".

Stan seemed to smile, Brienne's riddling of the Sphinx was very fun to watch. If only he could think of a riddle just as good. Instead though, he just looked over the Sphinx with silence.

Marlowe was wincing in pity. Yes he thought the creature was pretty and everything, but wasn't it kind of demeaning to put something as self aware as that on display like this?

"First of all,it's ironic that you think it's fun to objectify a creature with any sort of intelligence, considering you yourself get marginalised all the time for being a werewolf, Brienne," he observed. "This sphinx isn't here for your entertainment."

He looked up at it for the first time, quickly averting his eyes as they encountered the bared breasts of the beast. Really, what a thing to bring into a classroom.

"Secondly, I don't think it's intelligent at all. It only asks and answers riddles with reference to word-play, it relies heavily on controlled theoretical situations because real-world factors would render the riddle moot and it uses unreliable metaphors and symbolism often without telling its victims, as in the famous "three legged man" case."

"I'll agree that it's clever, but not intelligent, no."