Kinsay didn't like to spend a lot of time in the corridors anymore. Loitering used to be her favorite activity, but the armies of large, scary people and hooded figures that went around killing jarveys and knocking out people's teeth kind of took the fun out of it. That's why this particular second year could be found running into her classes these days. The less time she spent out there, the better her chances of survival were.

"Hi." Kinsay came to an ABRUPT stop once she made it beyond the doorway. She was a little out of breath too, but hopefully Professor Peralta wouldn't notice. There were a lot of stairs between the Charm classroom and Gryffindor tower.

Also. Music! "Is that violin?" And look! A fish tank! Were they going to learn how to make magic fish????????? Because even though Kinsay was still sad about Sweetpea (RIP, Sweetpea), it would be neat to learn how to conjure up a NEW magic fish to take her place. Please?

One thing Gracelyn didn’t mind these days was the weather. If only the layers of jumpers and such actually would work as protection against the hooded figures and their minders, but so far she doubted that. There were a lot of things she was doubting these days, and honestly it bothered her. She’d much rather have proof that people were going to rescue them from all of this, but she knew better than to voice that idea too. Everything was just…bad, and there didn’t seem to be any escape from it.

Until she realized, upon entry to the Charms classroom, there seemed to be an absence of a certain presence. Unless they were just hiding behind those apparent changing rooms, but the tiny voice inside that was keeping her from absolutely losing hope wanted to believe those were just innocent changing rooms. “Good morning Professor Peralta,” she greeted the woman perched on the desk between said changing rooms with a smile before finding a seat somewhere in the middle of the horseshoe. Even one that wasn’t entirely as forced as most of the smiles she felt like giving out lately.

Ash was sad and upset, as usual. She slouched into the charms classroom. "Morning." She nodded once at the professor, in a totally cool way. See, if Ash had like a big scar on her nose, it would complete the look. She did not have a big scar on her nose. She did have a small scar on her nose. "I'm sure this lesson will be exciting." And hopefully not involve being cursed. But Ash didn't hope. Instead, she decided to ignore the fact that everything was horrible in order to look passably approachable/hopeful/happy.

The Charms classroom, and the excited looking little professor at the head of it, almost felt like a normal place. No hooded goons, no menacing air (yet), and no pretending they all hated Muggles just to keep a first year from dying.

Phoebe offered a wan smile to the professor as she took a seat near her younger sister. "Good day, Professor. And good day, small James." Kizzy got a pat on the arm. But NO SHENANIGANS. Look how well behaved this James sister could be.

"Good day, Professor Peralta," Aboli said as she glided into the Charms classroom. The music and temperature in the room was enough to lull the tired seventh year to sleep. She had endured a pretty sleepless night due to her troubling dreams as of late, and she as wringing her gloved hands nervously as she glanced around the room for a friend to sit near.

Alas, there were no close friends. Well then. She was hoping and PRAYING that this class would not at all mention the very COMMON word..."muggle." Please. NO. NO. Aboli wanted to learn something not at all tied to them...for the love of MERLIN.

Charms was still Mamie's favorite subject. She had her uniform sweater on because she knew it was probably cold, even if it was neither cold in the Hufflepuff common room or in the charms classroom. Plus! No Neo-Hooded Squad, either. It was possible they just weren't there yet, but Mamie was excited to have a class without people constantly judging her while she was trying to learn.

It had really been getting to her.

"Good morning, Professor Peralta!" she said before taking a seat toward one of the ends of the horseshoe before. She peered into the bucket of water next to her chair. Would they be...making water disappear today?

If Peralta was trying to actually calm her students, Kale Trent would like to formally request ABBA songs by way of the Mamma Mia soundtrack. Either the original cast recording or Queen Meryl’s version would do. But only ABBA could calm the chaos of this term. So, thoughts for next time.

The first year didn’t hold it against her as he walked into the classroom and offered a greeting. “Morning Professor.”

Kale moved in time with the music to his seat. Again, ABBA would’ve been easier to choreograph. JUST A CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM. You’re good, teach.

Bernie slipped into Charms, tempted to look around for the inevitable guests they seemed to have in all their classes these days, but she was quickly distracted by all the THINGS in the room. In her younger and more vulnerable years, she might have tried to sneak up to the aquarium to get a better look, but she knew by now, at the ripe old age of fifteen, to keep her hands to herself and her mouth firmly shut.

Instead, she drifted over to a seat in the horseshoe by Aboli. "Hi," she greeted the Slytherin with the gloves, raising her eyebrows slightly at the sight of them. WOULD Bernie be finding out the reason for those this year, or...?

Oh, and the professor got a nod too. "Hi, Professor." What an interesting set-up she had here... thus, Bernie was suspicious of it. It was TOO NICE. TOO CALM. This would NOT last for long, not this year, not at Hogwarts.

Quinn made his way to the Charms class, shivering a bit as he entered the door. Charms was one of his favorite classes thus far, and he got a bit more excited when entering the class. He recalled the wandmaker saying his wand was proficient in water magic, so this lesson seemed like it could be right up his alley! If the lesson had to do with the water, of course. "Good morning, Professor Peralta!"

He sat in one of the desks closer to the middle and took out some parchment and a quill.

Curtis arrived for the next class, Charms. He eyed the set-up of the room, as familiar as he grew accustomed to the horse-shoe seating, he learned over the years to be extra observant with any new changes in a room. Today there were marbles in the middle of the fish tank.

"Hello Professor," He greeted entering in, where to sit. He eyed Aboli for a moment but didn't want to seem like he was following her. That would be weird. So he gave her and Bernie a hint of a smile before sitting elsewhere in the back.

His arms were folded as he fought the urge not to sleep while waiting. It was a challenge with this type of music playing, but it wouldn't be the first time he fought sleeping in class.

Heath's dark eyes surveyed his surroundings as he stepped into the charms classroom, taking in the fish tank and buckets of water. First Flying, and now this. What was with all the water lessons this term? Never mind, he didn't have the time or energy to play guessing games! All his focus was on keeping out of trouble and keeping up his stoic facade… a facade he could feel crumbling the moment he heard the classical music. Up until now,* he'd refused to think about the family he missed, but that music reminded him too much of going to shows and concerts with his dad, something he might never get to do again. He had no idea if his dad was still alive, for Merlin's sake!

If he could trust his voice not to break or the hooded guys not to appear out of nowhere at any moment, he probably would've asked Professor Peralta nicely if she'd turn the music off. But he couldn't chance it now! Instead, he greeted her with a nod of acknowledgment and a quiet, "Hello, Professor."

He chose a seat at random, taking care not to jostle the water bucket as he took out a quill and parchment, and waited for the lesson to begin.

Charms class was certainly a lesson she could get through unscathed, right? Although all the water in the classroom reminded her of their last flying lesson, which had turned into a complete disaster.

"Good morning, Professor Peralta," Avalon said politely as she made her way toward the desks.

She slid into a seat near Kale, giving the Gryffindor a wave. (If Kale had made his thoughts about the music choice public, Avalon certainly would have agreed that ABBA would be the superb choice.)

The first thing Lia noticed upon entering the classroom was the music. While classical wasn't at the top of her list, she was happy to take what she could. Right now any music was helpful. If it could take her mind off of the uncomfortableness of having those Hooded Minions lurking about in every single lesson, it was a good thing.

Secondly, blue eyes landed right on that fish tank filled with colored marbles. What was that about? They wouldn't be competing against each other, would they? Not that there was anything wrong with some healthy competition while learning.

Then of course there were the buckets of water beside each desk. Curious. Very curious indeed. Dahlia was careful as she moved along the horse-shoe setting arrangement to find an empty seat. "Good morning, Professor," she greeted with a soft smile, sliding into the first seat she came across that was empty.

Quietly she took out her things and laid them neatly on her desk in front of her.

Entering the warm and inviting classroom, Fiona observed the assortment of objects. "Good morning, Professor," Fiona greeted in a slightly weary tone which was a reflection on how recent events were starting to affect her mind. She found a seat and quickly sat down before preparing herself by getting out her quill and notebook.

Noise. Noise. Everyone in this place seemed to like some type of noise or another, but by now Nem was pretty much used to it. Didn't embrace it. Didn't like it. Eternally privately frustrated by it. But used to it.

"Morning, Professor Peralta," Nem greeted the woman mechanically as they entered the class and dropped into the first available seat. They gave a cursory look at the fish tank looking thing, then at those structures either side of the professor's desk, then just leaned back in their chair waiting for the class to start.

Ah... Charms, a class that Tadhg liked very well and oddly good at. Walking into the classroom his blue eyes wondered around the room, looking at a fish tsnk with colored marbles in it he wondered what they were for, weird a fish tank would be here. Seeing the buckets of water he noted to himself to be careful while taking a seat. "Good morning Professorm" With a kind smile he took a seat beside Dahlia careful not to step in the water as he did so.

Getting his books and supplies out he set them neatly on his desk. "Hey Bubbles, what do you reckon we're learning about?" His eyes still on the fishtank in front of them he bit his lip in wonder. Whatever they were learning about, he was sure it was going to be interesting.

Given the way the term had been going, Teddy James had begun to understand the importance of being proximally close to the people he loved most at every opportunity. This meant that any class he had with either of his siblings was one he felt especially protective, defensive, and worried over - worried for their safety, and for his potential inability to protect them from the evils that had taken residence at their school. Their school. Teddy kept that in perspective in times of great distress: this place didn't belong to those deranged adults, and just as history showed time and time again, good would ultimately triumph over evil.

It wasn't easy to remain optimistic, and the exhaustion of it all had already taken a physical toll on him, but he sought to exhibit strength and resilience in front of his sisters for as long as he could keep that up.

As such, Teddy slipped into the seat beside Kizzy, on the opposite side from where Fi had sat. That way, the second year Gryffindor was sandwiched cozily between her older twin siblings. "Hello professor," Teddy greeted with a respectful smile, the tension he felt upon walking in having subsided considerably due to the atmosphere of the room, before leaning behind Kiz to squeeze Fi's shoulder first, then gave Kiz a side hug before returning to an attentive-and-ready-for-class position.

Know where Emmerson was sitting? Where she liked to sit, by her favourite people. Emm wanted to plop down right by Kizzy but Teddy beat her to it rather unceremoniously. This was one of those bad omens Professor Smiles told them about.

Now sulking something fierce, Emm slipped into the seat by Phoebe instead and spilled over onto her desk in dejected cruppy fashion. "Hey Professor. Nice and warm in here. It's the little things." That reminded her the professors still sorta cared about their well-being. It'd been....a confusing time. Some of the professors were saying things Emm couldn't tell if they meant.

Half the time she was positive the school really had been taken and all the professors converted but then they did little things like this and for even just a second, the school began to feel normal again.

It helped that there were no hoodied baddies this class. It was nice to have a little breather where she didn't have to consider every word she said carefully and could focus on...y'know, learning. Could've learned better in the seat by Kizzy though, definitely.

There were dark circles present under his eyes and he looked positively tired when he entered the classroom. If things were normal at hogwarts he would have greeted the professor enthusiastically but they weren’t . Actually, the act of even coming to classes was slowly draining him.

”Morning Professor” he greeted and dragged his legs over to an empty seat. He placed his bag next to his desk and looked at the fishtank. So how were the Hoods going to ruin this class today? Speaking of them, he hand’t even seen them yet…. He turned his eyes away from the fishtank and looked behind him at the back of the room but he couldn’t find them.

Was he going to have an enjoyable class for once?!

Claudine half expected to find The Hoods already there in the Charms classroom. Fortunately, they were not which left her feeling quite warm, figuratively and literally. “Good morning, Professor,’’ she greeted, feeling a rise in her good mood. Hopefully, this would last throughout the lesson. On her way to the back of the classroom, Claudine gave Quinn and Fiona a smile. Heath got a grin. Was she sitting beside him today No? She decided to sit beside Curtis because, hey. This was his final year at Hogwarts and Claudine wouldn’t get to bother him much after he graduated.

“Hi, Curtis.’’ The fifth year maneuvered around the bucket of water to take her seat, eyeing that and the fish tank with interest.

The music came to a stop with a wave of her wand and a second flouish caused the classroom door to close, signaling the start of class. They'd lucked out so far with the lack of guests and she wasn't going to waste a minute of the time they had, knowing they might come and interrupt at any moment.

"Alright everyone, welcome!" Neva moved towards the center of the room, hands on her hips. "I know it's early, but we've got a lot to cover today, so shake off those tired feels and try and fire up those brains of yours." They'd give that a try for her, wouldn't they? "You'll need them to accomplish the spell we'll be working on today." And they'd want that spell to work once they got to the practical portion of the lesson.

"Humans are defined as terrestrial beings meaning that they live on land. If you take a human and drop them into a different environment, say water, that's when problems can start to arise. What are some difficulties humans can encounter when underwater?" She paused, looking around the room. "Think outside the box, feed off each other's ideas, and please be respectful." The floor was theirs.

OOC: Hello friends, sorry about the late reply! My computer decided to update before I could do anything and it took forever! If you haven't had a chance to post yet, just post your charrie as if they've been here all along (of face IC consequences of a late arrival)! The first question is asking what kinds of difficulties humans can encounter under water. Be creative, have fun, and try not to repeat other people's answers! Class should be moving on in 24 hours from now!

Ash perked up at the question. She did not want to give the typical drowning answer. She swam and surfed all the time, and she knew about water. She picked a darker answer instead. "Water is often violent. If you're in water, and a big waves comes, it can smash your face into the ground and paralyze you, or worse. Or smash you into another object, like a board or a swimmer. That's dangerous too." Water deserved respect. It was very powerful.

The thought made her sad. It reminded her too much of home. Did she miss home? Not really. But home was better than here. And her friends were there. She looked down and scribbled some things on her arm in fancy lettering.

"Covered in chaos
waking up nightly without you"

Brief good mood over.

Quinn smiled back at Claudine. He still didn't know her very well, but she was always pretty nice whenever they had small interactions with each other. It was nice to know one of the older kids—he mostly knew first and second years.

Think outside the box. So, basically, don't say 'you can't breathe underwater'. Quinn thought about it for a moment.

"Uh... well, there's that one illness called the bends or something, right? It's like... um... when you're deep underwater and you go up to the surface too fast, something happens with your blood and you get really sick. Would that count..?"

They were going to be dropping humans into water? That did not sound fun. Mamie was 100% not interested in swimming today. She nodded along to Ashley's answer, waves could be scary. And the bends, also scary. She raised her hand, ready to contribute...very much inside the box. Mamie wasn't an outside-the-box thinker.

"Well, if you're submerged, breathing. Humans can't breathe underwater like merpeople do," she said.