Hungry Like the Wolf [OWL DADA]

[Nikolai Sleptov]

September 12th, 1887

The blackboard was empty, save for a large circle with the word ‘WEREWOLVES’ written inside it, the professor’s lone nod to theatricality. The topic was in the curriculum for the OWL-level of Defence Against the Dark Arts, but still, Nikolai had paused when scheduling it. With the recent scandal surrounding Miss Topaz Urquart, was it really suitable to do it so soon? He had balanced this hesitation by simply giving the other Miss Urquart something of a pass—he was curious to see if she would take it.

The door opened signifying the arrival of the first student. From his seat behind his large, oak desk, the Russian allowed the class to file in and take their own.

Invitational:
@'Edgar Rey II' @'Vesta Bones' @'Cora Smith' @'Tripper Jameson' @'Georg Striebel' @'Ruby Urquart' @'Demelza McGonagall' @'Abigale Abbott' @'Frida Lestrange' @'Joanna Triggs' @'Katherine Yaxley' @'Evie Reese' @'Mozelle Rios' @'Artemis Fairchild' @'Augusta Selwyn' @'Citrine Weasley' @'Beatrix Borgin' @'Hudson Pine' @'Flora Halliday' @'Germander Macnair' @'Maybelle Marriot' @'Gretchen Lestrange' @'Sage Macnair' @'Archelaus Abney' @'Seneca Lestrange' @'Evelyn Tilney' @'Sweetie Whitledge' @'October Lynch' @'Tobin Cartwright' @'Roselaine Jugson'
Students who participate lots can earn some bonus points, so that’s fun.

  

[Beatrix Borgin]

After nearly a fortnight of classes that were gratifyingly harder than last year yet not quite at the stage in term where they caught Trixie's interest for very long the lone topic on the chalkboard in Professor Sleptova's classroom immediately made her feel sharper. She had been hoping for this since they came back and a quick glance around the classroom told her that Miss Urquart had jumped to the forefront of everybody's mind and she wondered who would be the first to mention the girl.

Glancing around again, as she blindly removed her books from her satchel, she tried to spot the other Miss Urquart. This would likely be painful and awkward for her and Trixie was keen to see it for herself.

"Can you see her?" She muttered to Dolores next to her, receiving no response but a shrug from her friend. Rolling her eyes she turned back to the front of the classroom, eager to hear the tone the Professor would take with the lesson.

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   Odira Potter

[Mozelle Rios]

Of course werewolves were on the OWL curriculum. It only made sense, after all. Mozelle shared a common room with the Urquart who was still at Hogwarts, but they hadn't really spoken. Different circles and all that. But Mozelle did not think any less of her, or her father, or even the rest of her family - she'd anticipate her father's reaction would have been somewhere along the same vein, after all.

She took a seat towards the middle of the class, waiting patiently for the class to fully begin with her book open on the table before her.

  

[Ruby Urquart]

After agonizing contemplation, Ruby had decided not to opt out DADA's werewolf lectures. She didn't want to show people that she was scared or that she had reason to hide. She wasn't ashamed of Topaz! (Or so she liked to think.)

That being said, she still made sure to sit close to Libby and Demelza. She still had a bad feeling about this class, so she'd need all the emotional support her friend could give her!

"Miss Fudge!" Ruby called when she spotted her twin's best friend entering the classroom. She tapped the sit right in front of her. Power in numbers and all that.

@'Holliday Fudge'

  

[Seneca Lestrange]

Normally, Seneca wouldn't have paid the werewolf lectures much mind. Werewolves weren't included in Sen's dark magic interests. That being said, Miss Topaz Urquart's transformation over the summer had made it a sensational subject. Her twin would be in the audience that day which would undoubtedly make the lesson even more fun!

Sen was sat around her bubble of friends. "She seems anxious," she noted in a whisper towards her friends and pointed her chin at Miss Ruby.

  

[Joanna Triggs]

Joanna found her way to her usual seat, setting her book to one side and folding her hands upon the table as she waited for class to begin. She sincerely hoped this wasn't about to turn into a gossip hall centered on the Urquart family - but if it did? Joanna wouldn't hesitate to speak in defense of decisions she supported. She didn't think that Mr. Urquart should be judged so poorly on his decision to put his family first. After everything they'd been through, he deserved a break.

But that was just what Joanna thought.

  

[Evelyn Tilney]

Evelyn was surprised to see their subject today, her mind instantly turning to Topaz. She wasn't one to speak out, or be loud but she wasn't sure she could contain herself if she were to hear anyone talking bad about her friend. Werewolf or not, she was still Topaz and Evelyn was still fond of her, she was still a dear friend, especially considering she was Evelyn's first 'real' one. Not just a person she had been paired up with on an assignment, or a girl her Grandfather thought would make a nice companion and had thus set up a 'day' for them to get to know each other.

The young Slytherin sat a couple of seats behind Ruby, Topaz's twin. She wanted to reach out to her, but didn't, for the same reason she hadn't spoken to Ruby since school had started a couple of weeks ago, it was too awkward. She smoothed her parchment out and tried to focus on the teacher, not to any of the tongues wagging around her.

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   Ellory Pendergast

[Demelza McGonagall]

Werewolves? Demelza had no idea if Profesor Sleptov was following the curriculum or was doing it out of spite. Still, the would not be a class she would have any intentions of actively partaking in. But she couldn't leave now that she was here. So she took a seat to wait for class to start, shifting uncomfortably as the chairs around her filled in. As her cousin took a seat beside her and the staring became more intense, she shifted her chair noticeably further away. Would it be improper to move away? She had spoken to her yet. She was still mad at her cousin and really didn't want to be attached to the werewolf girl's cousin or the werewolf girl's twin's best friend stigma either. Moving would be a reaction that would shift her in the views of a lot of different people - it wasn't a private place - and she was uncertain as to risk it.

  

[Frida Lestrange]

Frida was anxious for the OWL lesson on werewolves, for she'd have to share the same space with Miss Ruby Urquart and Seneca. Seneca felt little sympathy towards the Urquart twins, but Frida had shared a dorm with one of them since first year. Seated next to her Slytherin cousin, Frida kept her head down and nodded in response to Seneca's question.

"I would be if I was her," she whispered back, her gaze resting on the biracial Hufflepuff. She was surrounded by a few of her known friends — something she imagined Miss Urquart had done on purpose due to the contents of the lesson.

@'Seneca Lestrange'

  

[Holliday Fudge]

Holliday had rather floated around her classes since Topaz’s ailment, less set in her ways without her best friend to anchor her. Thus she obediently moved to sit in front of the Hufflepuff, flashing the girl a smile. She might not have been a substitute for Topaz, but Holliday was growing quite fond of Ruby Urquart.

Her good spirits evaporated when she turned to see the word scrawled on the blackboard.

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   Seneca Lestrange

[Germander Macnair]

The fifth year perfect made his way into class, his bag hanging off his shoulder. He wasn't one of the first there nor was he one of the last either. Glancing around, he took a seat beside Seneca, on the other side that Frida sat, just in time to catch what Sen had whispered. "I wouldn't be surprised if she was anxious. Her sister was just turned into one and now we are learning about them in class. The public view of them isn't nice nor pleasant and the comments people are bound to make are probably not what she wants to hear about her twin. I imagine she'll end up leaving."

Frankly, he didn't like werewolves and he wouldn't be holding his tongue just because the Urquarts girl was here. She could leave if she wanted to, he wouldn't hold her against her will but her feelings were no regard of his.

@'seneca lestrange' @'frida lestrange'

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   Frida Lestrange

[Nikolai Sleptov]

“Good afternoon, class,” the professor greeted, rising to his feet at last as he languidly moved to stand on the other side of his desk. “The more literate among you,” he remarked wryly, “will have surmised already what it is we are to discuss—but who can tell me what is a werewolf?”

  

[Frida Lestrange]

Though Frida usually struggled with the practical aspect of Defence Against the Dark Arts, she was always all-too-willing to make up for it by answering book questions in class. Frida waited patiently to be called on with her hands raised, and she gave one glance at her Slytherin cousin before answering: "A werewolf is a creature that was bitten by another werewolf. During the full moon, the wizard or witch in question turns into a large wolf-like creature and loses all of their senses until the sun rises. They don't remember anything from the night before."

  

[Archelaus Abney]

Most of what Miss Lestrange had said was correct except for the last bit. Raising his hand, he waited to be acknowledged before speaking. "If I may, most of what Miss Lestrange is correct except that werewolves usually do remember the events of the night before," he said before deciding to add on his own little tidbit. "They'll also turn on themselves if they have no other prey available to them." That had to suck the morning after.

  

[Ruby Urquart]

Demelza's shift in her seat didn't go unnoticed to Ruby. First, it brought a sinking feeling to the fourteen-year-old's heart. Demelza, her once bestest friend, would be the one who'd turn her back on her today, of all days.

People were right when they said that you found out who is truly your friend at a time of need.

Holliday Fudge was a better friend than Demelza and she wasn't even family.

Demelza deserved to have been turned into a werewolf. Nothing would have happened to Topaz if they hadn't gone to Demelza's stupid house. At present, Ruby was so angry with her cousin that she was inclined to believe that it was Demelza's fault it all happened. She'd brought Topaz bad luck because she was such a bad person.

Ruby was fuming when the class began. Naturally, one of the Lestrange know-it-alls was first to speak.

'A creature that was bitten by another werewolf.' Topaz was no creature! Ruby hated to hear her diminished to that status.

She gritted her teeth when a Slytherin boy spoke. She didn't like his tone. 'They usually do remember the events of the night before.' He made it sound accusatory, almost. Ruby didn't like the insinuation that Topaz could remember the things that happened to her. That she was in control of what happened on full moons.

"They don't," Ruby called out and turned backward to glance at the boy. She then returned her attention to Professor Sleptov. "They don't remember anything. Nor do they have any control as to what they do. It's as if they're possessed by something external... Strange to them."

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   Topaz Urquart

[Beatrix Borgin]

"Well, she would know best," Trixie muttered to her nearest peer, voice dripping with disdain and quite sure that she was right. Her gaze travelled back to the Lestrange girl with interest: unless there was a wolf in the midst of that family what would she know about it?

"Please sir," she said in a clear voice. "But my father says its only a matter of time before werewolves can control themselves during transformations. That they might become organised."

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   Nikolai Sleptov, Topaz Urquart