Lesson 8 - N.E.W.T. Level

Another school year, another bunch of new and old students... Every year the same, but every one of those years he enters these classrooms with a smile on his face and joy in his heart because of the classes and the opportunity to teach new wizards and witches what he knows. The lesson plan and the working methods are still the same, the classroom is still empty... but the latter will soon change. Professor McCoy took his seat at the front desk and waited, scrolling through papers.

Jake walked to class, knowing he was early to get there- for the first time. It was only because he hadn't been able to sleep the night earlier and he had been walking around the grounds, trying to find something to do, or at least trying to make himself go to sleep. He was up before dawn trying to make himself sleep the enitre time. When the sun finally came up he was in the common room, waiting until everyone woke up so he could make his way to class. He walked along the empty halls, no one had even come out of their common rooms yet.

He didn't care as long he wasn't late for class- again. He walked into the class and was pleased to find he was the first one to arrive. He walked toward one of the front seats. "Good morning, Professor." he said, as he sat down in one of the seats in the first row.

Yumi woke up very early that morning, not knowing why, if she never woke up very early. She got up knowing she had plenty of time to get ready before having to go to class. She changed into her Slytherin robes and for the first time before going to class she applied some make-up. She didn't really like to use make up when she was going to class, but she didn't really care anymore, so she had decided to apply it. Not that it was much, all she put on was some lipstick that matched the color of her lips so it wouldn't be very noticeable and a little bit of eye liner, she didn't like making herself stand out much. She preferred to stay hidden from everyone else.

When she was finally ready, she left the common room and walked out to her class. There were still not many students walking about but they would be soon. She entered the classroom and saw one other student there along with the Professor. She smirked and turned from the student to face the professor. "Good morning Professor! How are you today?" she asked, flipping her hair over her shoulder, and letting it fall down her back.

Amelia ran a hand through her hair as her feet moved swiftly over the last few stairs to the landing. Her nervous ticks were coming out full force lately, with the added responsibility of having to play a role in the defense of the castle. Ever since the 'event' - which was what everyone was calling it now - Amelia had felt as though there were always more eyes on her, one of the chosen few that had been selected by the headmaster to stay behind while everyone else was escorted back to their common room. Amelia hated the feeling.

Luckily, the corridor was mostly empty as she approached the transfiguration classroom, slipping silently into the room to find that a few other students had arrived before she had. Swallowing hard, Amelia walked through the desks without making eye contact with her peers and approached Professor Wilson's desk.

"The headmaster has informed me that I will be needing extra lessons from you in order to be useful to him and the rest of the school," Amelia said, struggling to maintain eye contact with the professor as she said this. She was careful to keep her voice low so as not to call attention to the conversation.

"I am available on Sunday and Thursday nights," Amelia said, sliding a piece of parchment with this information written on it over to the professor, "Please let me know which of these times will work best with your schedule."

Having conveyed the information necessary, Amelia nodded curtly to dismiss herself and moved to take a seat in the second row away from the other two students in the room. She had enough on her plate right now without being forced into making small talk. That stressed her out almost as much as being one of the only students responsible for protecting the castle from imminent attack.

Yeah. Amelia really has her priorities in order.

Upon opening up the bottom drawer of his bedside table, Elijah wished he hadn’t. He didn’t mind the assortment of PlayWizard magazines in there but it was what was on top. There were at least a dozen packets of cigarettes in there, partially obscuring the model on the front cover of the magazine. Elijah slammed the drawer shut again, his mind no longer recalling what he’d gone in search of before he’d stumbled across the damning drawer. He didn’t really want to see that so early in the morning. Elijah got up and had a shower after that, shaking off the bizarre feeling with the hot water. He towelled himself dry and took time to get dressed. He was feeling a little bit delicate today and it was for that reason why he went to the Hospital Wing before heading to class that morning.

Taking a mouthful of water, Elijah heard the doors to the Hospital Wing shut as he retreated from it. He descended a set of stairs and twisted the cap back onto the bottle of water he’d been given. It didn’t take him long to get to the Transfiguration classroom. When he arrived, the door was already open so he only had to duck inside. Elijah took his seat quickly, hoping to avoid attention as he removed the extra vial of potion he’d received, hoping to be able to read what was in it. He sat in silence, reading the label and taking in its words. It wasn’t to be used too often as it was addictive. Elijah didn’t care so much about that. He knew addiction well enough and frankly he’d had enough of it. Still, at least these potions would help him feel less vulnerable and stronger. He was sure they were calcium replenishments or something. The ones he had to pick up later would help with the nicotine.

Jack figured she had better actually start attempting to attend classes, now that the end of her final and most important year of Hogwarts was drawing to a close. She had never found much importance in attending classes since all that the teachers did was B**** and preach, but she knew she would have to get over that, and get over that quickly.

She tramped into Transfiguration and grabbed a seat in the back, which was her favorite position in the classroom, no doubt. She collapsed into the chair and pushed her bag off her shoulder, kicking it under the table so it would be out of her bubble. She propped her feet up and reclined in the chair, resting her arms behind her head and letting out a loud yawn.

Her sentiments.

Without Kellan around, Remembrance figured she didn’t have a reason to skip classes. She had planned to drop out of school after her 6th year but after Kellan left her, she knew she would need to take her classes so she had a chance at being successful. She wanted to become something besides a drop out who ended up a waitress getting low tips and living in a low-rate hotel with sh**ty rooms.

As she walked into the classroom that morning, Remembrance looked around to see if anyone she knew was in the classroom. Without any luck, Mems nodded toward the professor before sitting down in the back of the classroom. Mems had never liked being around people she didn’t know, even if the professor for the class was her favorite of all of the professors.

‘just my luck.’ Remembrance thought. ‘I’m stuck in class with a bunch of strangers instead of sitting at the lake hoping not to get a detention.’

Alexis had been wandering around in the common room for quite a while after waking up at around midnight. She hadn't been able to sleep, why? She didn't know but something was bothering her. She tried to ignore it, but it was always present. Something was wrong with her. Now she knew she had to attend classes but obviously it was too early for classes to start, so she was waiting in the common room until it was time to go.

Time went faster than she had thought and now she found herself on her way to class. On of her favoriite classes, if anything. She walked through the door and passed the professor saying a faint, "Good morning Professor." and headed for a seat near the back. Like she usually did during ever class. She never liked to be in the front of the class.