Selina watched the Professor disappear and he posed his next question. She knew from growing up in the Wizarding World that he was not a ghost or anything bad, he was just invisible. Maybe that's what he was getting at. That the true horror in everything people fear is the actually fear itself. When something is invisible it cannot be controlled. The lack of control is scary and people do not know how to react. Therefore fear itself is the only truly scary thing.

"Sir, are you saying that even though we know that you are not going to harm us we still could be afraid? People's minds are a terrible thing. Fear is just a symptom of lack of control. When someone cannot control their lives or what they are going through they react in a way that is manipulated by fear. Although most of the time it is not cause for alarm the human mind does not like to be out of control.

That is similar to the Muggles creation of ghosts and their negative perspective on them. They are not in control of the Magical World so they create it to be this terrible place that is hateful. Hence all of the negative publicity about ghosts and witches and such. They are not afraid of us, but more that they cannot control us."

Kyle pondered, again, chocolate floating - floating. It clicked.

"Are muggles afraid of the things that they cannot see - for example would they think you disappearing was an illusion and try and rationalize it. Even though it is pure magic." She exclaimed - but what exactly was magic - she thought for a moment. Magic was beautiful, perfect, serendipitous, deadly, fun...the list went on and on.

"Only the mean or mischievous," Jared said. Not magical folk in general, thank God for that.

Point each.

"Some do like to be mean," Jared agreed. "Even so, scaring muggles on purpose isn't something the average witch or wizard is likely to do." He paused for a moment, before answering the Hufflepuff's question. "There could be a lot of reasons, some of them quite justified."

He could think of at least a couple that might be potentially life-saving, even now as he awarded Hufflepuff a point.

"No," Jared smiled faintly, as Hufflepuff received another point. "I'm definitely not suggesting that." Especially because creepazoid sounded like the name of some kind of lizard. He nodded as the boy continued to speak, however. "Some things that are presumed 'paranormal' can be something that a witch or wizard did, on purpose or out of necessity."

"It's up to the Ministry to look into that, yes." His tones had a tad of the 'Let's not go into that' touch to them - as far as Jared was concerned, abolishing the Statue had more cons than pros.

Treyen was on the right track. "Unintentionally playing with people's mind," Jared said. "Take a point for Hufflepuff."

Oh?

"So what does that phrase kind of mean?"

Do tell us.


Jared resisted the urge to grin, at her remark. "No, you didn't... ish," he said. Him moving the chocolates? "Of course I moved them. But that's not what a muggle would have thought." See, Little Human?

"That's a very good point, Nika," Jared said. "Often, things that can be explained if people make the effort, are left otherwise because they don't. Take two points for your house."

"There are far more effective spells and methods to ensure muggles don't stumble on that," Jared smiled.

Still. Two points for Ravenclaw.

Jared nodded, glad to see that Kurumi had begun to calm down. He hadn't thought the lesson might scare some of the students but, now that he considered it, it seemed natural that the setting, outside the Forbidden Forest at night and shadows playing everywhere, had.

"That's a unique line of thought, Selina." Jared turned an interested pair of green eyes on the young Gryffindor. "Lack of control can lead to fear, but it is less the fear of certain elements, and more the fear of not being able to control those elements. Take two points for your house."

"That's not just muggles though, is it?" Jared asked. "The unknown can scare us, too. It's true that we are less likely to try to 'rationalize' things, but that isn't necessarily a plus point."


Perfect. "That's it, exactly," Jared said. "Take two points each. There are things that muggles label as 'paranormal' or the actions of spirits, that are actually us. It could be us under Disillusionment Charms or Invisibility Cloaks, us having to perform magic in front of a muggle for some reason, us being accidentally seen practising magic or - regrettably, even though most witches and wizards have more sense than to do this - us attempting to scare muggles."

"But it isn't just muggles. Like Destiny just said, things aren't always what they seem, and it's important that we remember that, too." He stuck another marshmallow on a stick. "We'll come back to this topic in a moment as it's central to today's class but, before that, there's a charm all of you need to learn. It's a magnification charm, and it magnifies the effect of both light and shadow. Like this." He cast the charm at the fire, and the light seemed to spread out in all directions, glowing brighter, its range expanding. Returning the fire to its normal state, Jared cast it on a shadow that lurked between the trees. The shadow seemed to grow, dimming the light of the fire.

"The incantation is luxra magnifica. Luz-ra mag-ni-fi-ka," he repeated, more slowly. "The wand movement is a circle and an X. So." Using his wand, Jared traced a circle in the air, then brought it down twice to make a quick X in the air. "Give it a try." Little lanterns, all lit, appeared in front of each student so that they could practice the charm. "You'll need the magnified light, when we go into the Forest."


OOC: The lanterns are charmed. They cannot burn anyone/ anything. Just saying.

Hmmm, so if the muggles just thought they were ghosts if they saw a witch or wizard performing magic, then why was it illegal to perform magic in front of them in the first place!? That made no sense! Though she so wanted to test her theories on the matter, and then blame it on Mr. French Man Charms Professor if she got into trouble.

However, the charm he finally told them that they'd be learning was actually a really interesting one. One that she could see herself using in the future for whatever purpose. Turning her gaze away from the fire for just a moment, she watched the wand movement and then...

OMG GAHHHHH! SHE WAS BLINDED!

No not really, but the fire light did become brighter, and then the shadows grew to counter the light. That was...interesting. Mentally repeating the incantation, the Slytherin took a deep breath, gaze landing on the lantern that appeared in front of her before pulling out her wand from her wrist holster.

...

"What do you mean, we're going into the Forest?" she asked, eyebrows raising in surprise as she STARED at the Professor. WHY!? WHY AT NIGHT!? WHYYYYYY!?

What did she mean, what did he mean?

Jared looked down at the kitten that had decided to tug at the hem of his robes, eyes big and rather hazel-ish in the firelight, and then at the Slytherin. "Yes." Pause. "To see some fine charmwork."

Chloe suddenly saw the professor disapear but this was nothing startling to her being a witch
She then heard the professor basically ask what else is causng what muggles call paranormal activity to occur, she raised her hand and responded,
"I think you are saying the some witches and wizards are contributing to scaring muggles and messing with their heads and their perception of ghosts. Ghosts are not here took just haunt people. They often don't mean took scare people. They are here's cause they have unfinished buisness on Earth. Tjat can mean haunting someone who wronged them in life but often not. The biggest thing is that muggles don't trust anything they can't explain for the most part. I don't really blame them. If I had no clue about magic I would not trust seeing something float in midair or seeing some transparently human looking thing. They don't know the truth about these things. And it really is better off they don't know cause magic frightens muggles even more then the paranormal which some muggles are actually facinated by.".

Things aren't always what they seemed? Sheesh, this was Kurumi's life story.

Nodding, nervously, at the Professor Kurumi looked up at Patroclus who she still had her arms wrapped around in a bear hug. "S-S-Sorry Patroclus," she blushed glancing over at the other Cookie!Hater. "Thank you." For, you know, letting her sit on his lap and nearly strangle him.

Kurumi was just about to begin practicing the spell when his words hit her.

THEY WERE GOING INTO THE FORBIDDEN FOREST?!

Last time they had done that, she had nearly been eaten by giant spiders...at least Salander had been there. Looked like this lesson she was going to be sticking to Patroclus like glue.

To see some fine charmwork- They could do that in the corridors of the SAFE and NOT FOREST-Y castle.

"But, bright lanterns would be so much prettier by the lake. And there are...spiders in there." Hmm, yes, in there. In there where she was pointing her wand. IN THERE! Did he see? "Big...spiders." Forget the centaurs or werewolves! Those spiders were HUGE!

What was the light spell thing again? Eh.

Ooooh look at the light. It was so pretty.

But the shadows were definitely creepy.

Mia listened intently as the Professor explained the wand movement and the incantation. They sounded easy enough and she had just placed a piece of chocolate into her mouth so that she could practice the wand movement before the incation when Professor Descoteux said they would be going into the forest.

EEEEEEEEEKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!

"What?" She gasped loudly and the chocolate that she had been enjoying hit the back of her throat causing her to start choking.

Oh Merlin!!

She didn't have to worry about the scary things in the forest killing her, she was going to die by chocolate.

Awww! IT WAS SO PRETTY! The tiny little lantern! K-Lee wanted to hug it. Distracted by the pretty little lantern, K-Lee almost fainted as she heard the next part.

"THE FOREST?" The forest was full of mean things, like spiders and centaurs and... other magical beasts. "Professor, not to be blunt, but are you crazy? The forest at night is all... forest at night like with all sorts of evil things!" She did not like the forest at night. Well... she didn't really like the forest full stop.

Better go on with the task anyway. She pronounced the spell in her head a few times. "Luxra magnifica!" She said, performing the wand movement. She looked at the lantern. It seemed slightly bigger, but then again that could be her imagination.

She'd take another try then. This time the result had the lantern larger, but not by much still. Well it was progress.

Emily grinned broadly. "Into... the forest.... Brilliant!" she said looking over at the tall trees that lined the forboding forest edge, jagged branches stretching out like old spindly arms. She loved going into the forest and she didn't get the opportunity very often.

Turning her attention to the lantern in front of her Emily was determined to get the charm right.
She practiced the wand movement first, tracing the circular motin followed by cross in the air.

*circle, cross* *circle, cross* *circle, cross* *circle, cross*

Next Emily practiced the incantation.
"Luz-ra mag-ni-fi-ka.......... Luz-ra mag-ni-fi-ka... Luxra Magnifica!"

"Right here goes nothing", she whispered to herself.
Gripping her wand, Emily performed the spell, aiming at the light emitting from the lantern.
"Luxra Magnifica!" .................................................. ..
............................................. nothing...
"Hhhmmm"
Trying again, Emily concentrated on the light, being very careful with her wand movement.
"Luxra Magnifica!"................. nothing. Ugh!

"Luxra Magnifica!" she said once more.
This time the light from the lantern grew bigger enxtending outward and spreading a warm glow on her.
She ginned, having succeeded.

"I'll consider that idea for the next lesson," Jared offered. Spiders? He scratched his chin thoughtfully. He liked spiders. The more poisonous, the better. "There are spiders in the castle, too."

"Mia?" Jared asked, his gaze directing itself away from Evelyn, at once. He should have known giving out that chocolate couldn't be a good idea. These students could turn anything into a disaster.

Jared might have found the fact that he had been asked that before, amusing. It did not show in his expression, though.

"You'll all be fine," he said, voice reassuring.

...

Maybe he should have added an I hope after that.

Finally someone that understood the thrill of exploring the Forbidden. "Good job, Emily," Jared said, as the Ravenclaw practised and perfected her execution of the charm.

...

"Yea, but..." Scoffing, she moved to the side slightly for a more comfier patch of grass before continuing. Who was choking anyways? "But those spiders aren't big enough to eat me." And she could usually burn those spiders and they'll die faster then she can blink. The ones in the forest however...she was pretty sure they could blow it out with a single GROWL.

...In her mind, spiders growled.

"Luxis Mageater." Triangle aaand...circle... Eh. Seriously, now she was all distracted. GREAT! Just great.

OOC: sorry about my above post. I had no idea Maxilocks would be posting in what is my 2am some I took my time took come up with something good and that is why I don't want took edit it and will move on here. I understand different timezones and all and I am fine with that

As soon as the professor said they were going into the Forbidden Forrest Chloe felt excited. What other time would she actually been allowed to explore the wonders of the Forbidden Forrest. She heard the incantation for a charm they needed to learn took magnifying light. She then saw the professor do it and noticed the wand movement looked rather tricky. A similar lantern took the one the professor demonstrated with appeared at her feet and she knew what she had took do. A circle then an x. Alright, "luxra magnifica", Chloe said waving her wand in a manic circle and then squiggly x. Nothings happened. Can't get it at first, try again. Practice wand movement, perciseness is key. It took a couple more attempts before she had a workable circle followed by an X. Now for whole spells once more. Chloe concentrated on obtaining a magnifying light as she said, "luxuria magnifica", and turned her wand took make the most percise circle followed by an x and: Success, Chloe saw magnifying light eminate from her wand making light eminate from the lantern ten fold, awesome. She was now ready and rearing took go but she quickly realized most of her classmates were not, great.

Yes. He agreed. Those spiders weren't big enough to eat students and, hence, not big enough to interest him in general.

"No one's going to be eaten, Evelyn," Jared said.

Once again... he hoped.

Luxis Mageater? Well, that was most illuminating. "Luxra magnifica," he corrected. And? "The wand movement is so." Circle, cross. He traced it in the air.

"Luxra magnifica," Jared corrected. The Gryffindor had gotten the hang of the charm soon, and he looked up again as rather bright light crept into his immediate surroundings.

"Nice focus, Chloe."

AHA!

Did everyone hear that? DID THEY!?

Destiny had gotten a answer CORRECT!

She was so happy, she could have fell backwards right off the hay bale she was sitting on. And that would have meant taking Raccoon Girl down with her, but there could have been a chance that Raccoon Girl would have fell on top of her and yeah. It was best just to sit still and ignore the glances she was getting from the little Gryffindor sitting on Patroclus..STILL.

HMPH.

And even if she were to send a glare in that little girl's direction, it wouldn't have lasted long because all of a sudden, she was blinded by the light..and no, she was not going to start singing that muggle song. Even if it was a very catchy song.

Squinting through the light, Destiny watched the Professor demonstrate, even pulling out her own wand to practice the movement. Circle, X. Circle, X.

Easy, peasy!

Taking a moment, she SCOFFED at everyone who was afraid to go into the forest. Really? And she gets called the chicken, pffft!

It wasn't like they were going into the forest with an evil French man..

Oh, sweet Merlin!

"EVELYN!! WE'RE GOING TO DIIIIIE!!"

"That makes a lot of sense." Kyle agreed, nodding her hair bouncing as she did. Bouncy bounce-bounce she thought as it tickled the back of her neck.

luxra magnifica Kyle thought, huh sounds interesting. Still, she was proud she'd gotten points for Ravenclaw often times she'd not get any because of her well - eclecticisms. Circle, and X she thought as she moved her wand practicing the movement. Trying to make it flow through her arm to her wrist better.

Once it felt like second nature - which was about six circles and x's she tried saying the spell. So it was luxra magnifica, but she wanted to say it right "Luz-ra mag-ni-fi-ka" she tried. Nothing - the wand movement was right.

"luxra magnifica" a second time with a circle and x and it grew a little bit, but not enough.

Deep breath. Clearing her mind, "LUXRA MAGNIFICA" she pointed the wand and spoke powerfully - not loud, just in a strong tone. And there, right before her eyes the lantern began to grow larger and larger until it stopped once it was nearly three times its size.

The light, arching around, warm soft light. Light that couldn't help but make her smile - it reminded her of the old fireplace at home...aah childhood, she thought smiling even more.

She thumped her chest a couple of times as her face turned a slight shade of red. Mia glared at the Professor, finally managing to get the piece of chocolate to slip down her throat. Yes thanks for your help!

Raising her wand in the air, to practice her wand movement, Mia was tempted for half a second to throw something the Professor's way. But that would only get her into trouble so heaving a sigh, she began to practice the wand movement.

Circle, cross.

Circle, cross.

Circle, cross.

And now the incantation. "Luxra Magnifica!"

"Ooops, I guess I will try that again then.". She noticed the lantern at her feet and put two and two together. With a quick yet percise circle and then x movement of her wand toward the lantern. "luxra magnifica", and with a bit of concentration the small light in the lantern grew ten fold.This result did make a lot more sense. "I got it this time", Chloe said holding up her fully little lantern proudly.

....

Jared decided he hadn't heard that.

It seemed like Kyle had begun to get the hang of the charm. One or two more tries, and she should have it down pat.

"Good job."

What? It wasn't his fault, was it?

....

Okay, okay. "Water?" Jared asked and, before Mia could answer, a goblet full of the said liquid suspended itself in midair, in front of her.

"Perfect," Jared said, smiling faintly at the proud expression on Gryffindor's face as she held up her little lantern.

Having practiced the wand movement, and dropping her want several times in the process, Kurumi looked at her lamp and then around at her classmates who were either blinding themselves or freaking out about going into the forest. Why did they have to go into the Forbidden Forest...and talk about ghosts?

Groaning silently, Kurumi repeated the motion and spoke, "Luxra Magnifica."

The light in her lamp burned very brightly for a second, and then went back to being dim. It reminded her of the times when you turn on a light switch and the light suddenly pops and then dies because the light bulb broke.

Perhaps she needed to speak louder?

Repeating the wand motion once more, Kurumi took a deep breath. "LUXRA MAGNIFICA!"

This time, it was as if her little lantern had exploded, or perhaps Tinkerbelle had sprinkled a little too much pixie dust on it.

Merlin. "Kurumi..." He had almost jumped to his feet, wand at the ready. Jared shook his head. "We're at the edge of the Forbidden Forest."

Being at the edge? No big deal. Being at the edge and shouting at the top of one's lungs for all the creatures inside to hear?

....

Really.

Pfft, how does HE know, hmm!? He wasn't the divination professor!!

...

Oh. Well, there was the problem on why the light in the lantern didn't groooow. "Thank you." she muttered, watching the wand movement. Aw okay. Not triangle-circle. Circle-X. Got it. Maybe.

Luxra magnifica..."Luxra Magnifica." she said, first creating a circle and then the X. MWahaha! MWAHAHAHA! See that! Her lanter BRIGHTENED- wait. Wait no. That was just Cookie Girl's lantern's light invading her own lantern's space. Good Merlin...

*shudder*

"I KNOOOOOW!"

Destiny thought she didn't know!? Well, pfft. She totally knew. Nothing good went on in that forest which was why it was called FORBIDDEN. Maybe the professors didn't know that?

K-Lee didn't really trust the teacher saying they wouldn't die, but she didn't push the subject.

She decided she wanted her last few minutes of life doing magic, so she set about perfecting the spell.

"Luxra magnifica!" This time K-Lee kept her mind on making the light grow, trying hard to have the incantation and wand movement.

She gave a grin as she noticed it had worked. Her grin dropped a few seconds later as she remembered that she was going to die in the Forbidden Forest in a little bit.

Now she was terrified again.

Mia had to suppress a smile when a goblet appeared before her and she looked over to the Professor. "Thank you." She said placing her hand around the stem of the goblet and bringing it to her lips. But before she took a sip, she gave Descoteux a small salute with the goblet. At least she was starting to feel better.

After taking a couple of sips, Mia placed the goblet down beside her and got back with practicing the charm.

She pointed her wand at the lantern in front of her, she did a circle with her wand followed by a quick cross and then said the incantation. "Luxra Magnifica!" The light within the lantern began to expand and spread at least six feet wide.

"Yes! I did it!" Finally she had managed to get a spell to work first time.