DADA: Lesson Three (All Years)

Still riding high from Slytherin's amazing victory in March, Mimosa was certain that her team would win the cup. To everyone who had taken issue with Mercy's performance in her own game, the little witch had been quick to point out that Gryffindor had still won and had readily classed both of them as winners.

After all, she and Mercy did everything together, including winning at Quidditch and life in general! After the Winter Valentine's Ball, the girls had been more inseparable than ever before, Mimosa even sneaking into the Gryffindor's dormitory at night for frequent sleepovers. She just slept better with Mercy nearby though the child couldn't pinpoint why that was.

And DADA classes had gone back to normal, with the two girls always entering and leaving the sessions together, hand in hand.

"So I was thinking we have like a huge sleepover for Ashley's birthday,' the third year chattered away as they made their way to Defense class which would be taking place at the edge of the forest. "She's going to be fifteen which is very grown up so maybe we can invite boys to the sleepover too? Constance says big girls are allowed to sleep with boys and Ashley will be really big soon." The idea for throwing the Hufflepuff a birthday party had sparked in Mimosa after noticing how sad the Californians witch had been in March. Now though, all of Lyra's cousins could be invited to the sleepover too!

I'm sure everyone sick of classes and would love a sleep-" the brunette stopped, her eyes taking in the posted note before turning automatically to Mercy. The older witch stepped forwards, reading the note out loud and saving Mimosa the trouble of stringing the words together before they both looked at each other and entered the forest. Mimosa had never feared anything in her life, a sense that came from the belief that nothing would ever hurt her. Mercy was a Gryffindor so she was brave by nature, the younger witch concluded, letting her take the lead. The two girls followed the orange string into the Forbidden Forest, Mimosa slightly behind Mercy with her slower gait though not far behind thanks to their linked hands.

They didn't have to walk far to reach their destination, as they found Jake very easily. A big grin plastered across Mimosa's face as she took in the dressed down teacher patiently waiting for his class to make an appearance. She and Mercy were the first! They had won again!

"Hiya Jake!" she greeted him jovially, using her free hand to wave at the wizard. "We won, we made it before before anyyyyone else."

The Hufflepuff game had sucked, to say the least. They'd won, but only because of their seeker, and it was by far the worst game Mercy personally had ever played.

Sure, she had an excuse. It had been two days before the full moon, and she had quite nearly passed out in the air once or twice during the match, but it wasn't like she could tell anyone that. People knew she was sick, but they couldn't know the real reason, so she'd gotten quite a bit of flack from some jerks in her house.

Still, she was able to brush it off with a little help from Mimosa. Knowing she had her best friend's unconditional support made it very hard for anyone to get Mercy down. Especially after the ball, which had turned out a lot better than she'd expected - somehow, they'd gotten even closer than they had been before. Now Mimosa even slept by her side some nights so they were almost never apart for long. Mercy couldn't have been happier with this turn of events.

As they walked hand in hand toward the forest for their DADA class - something that intrigued Mercy, since they were usually not allowed to go into the forest, especially after what had happened a couple years ago - Mercy listened and nodded as Mimosa talked. They'd had a big sleepover last year with just girls, but it might be fun to invite some boys this year for Lyra's birthday. As long as Squid Boy wasn't invited. She wasn't sure she wanted a sleepover with him.

They reached the edge of the forest, and Mercy moved to inspect the sign that Jake had left for them.

"We're supposed to follow the rope into the forest," she informed Mimosa. Without a moment's hesitation, the two of them stepped through the trees, Mercy taking the lead just in case. Honestly, the forest scared her a little bit. Two of her housemates had actually died here almost three years ago. But Mimosa expected her to be brave, so she wasn't about to let her fear show in front of the younger girl. If anything tried to hurt them, she'd be willing to fight to protect Mimosa.

Besides, she trusted Jake. And sure enough, it wasn't long before they found him standing in a small clearing. Mercy waved with her usual exuberance, grinning at Mimosa's comment.

As more and more students filled in to the small clearing, Mimosa grew curious. Not patient by nature, the witch was steadily tapping her foot, only Mercy's hand on hers keeping the young brunette from suggesting they should start the class anyway? Why was everyone so slow? The Slytherins were at least comparatively faster. Loni arrived only a few minutes after them followed by a sight that almost made Mimosa want to sneer. Squid Boy and Lilac trudged in next, deep in conversation about some stupid, boring topic or another. Ji Hyun and Charles came in next followed by Seema and Jia En and some others Mimsoa didn't care to keep track of.

The girl took some solace form the fact that one Karan arrived, Squid Boy immediately moved to his side, leaving Lilac alone once again. Everyone in Slytherin had gotten the hint, forcing the French witch to find comrades among other Houses. Mimosa watched with some satisfaction as Lilac's blonde pigtails disappeared behind Seema Biswas.

"As I'm sure you're all eager to get to know what we will be doing today, I have something of a treat for you all."

A collective gasp went around the group as Jake revealed what was under the covered cage. The tall hairy things with too many legs looked... curious. Never having encountered an acramantula before, Mimosa unconsciously took a step closer to the cage, tracing the creature's milky white eyes with erh own sparkling bluegray ones.

"Those are...so weird looking," she finally passed judgment on the fifteen meter tall spiders. If they were going to feed them, she was definitely gong to suggest the big spiders try Lilac first.

"Umm... Because DADA is about defending yourself against things, are we going to learn how to fight one?" she attempted an answer to Jake's question, her eyes still fixed on the giant bugs. She knew she didn't like small bugs, they were icky and got everywhere. But big ones... Maybe she could ask Jacques to get one for her, to study it more closely. They didn't look all that dangerous. Mimosa knew bugs were easily squishable so size shouldn't make it any different, they would just need a really big shoe. "Or maybe something to make them run away?"

Defense Against The Dark Arts in the Forbidden Forest? How. Cool. The note left in the Ravenclaw common room was read aloud by some seventh year he had yet to truly meet, and wasn't sure he wanted to. He instantly started wondering what they could be doing in the forest, and what the professor had planned for the lesson. From what his cousin had told him, the forest held a large variety of creatures, and while he wasn't a true animal person he had to admit, learning to defend yourself against something that could fight back was much more thrilling than purely theoretical lessons.

So, when it came time for that day's lesson in defense, Gabriel had wandered to the edge of the forest, looking around to see where the class would take place. But there was no sign of anyone else, save an orange rope leading into the trees and out of his field of vision and a sign posted near it. There was a moment of hesitation as he gazed into the forest. If this rope didn't lead to the class he could get in serious trouble for going in there alone, and yet he didn't want to seem like a coward for not following the bright orange thing. The sign seemed legit, but there was always the possibility of some other student posting it to pull a prank.

The sound of chatter filled his ears as he thought and a glance over his shoulder revealed his sisters, talking excitedly as they made their way towards him. Well now he definitely couldn't look like a coward, so he played it off as if he'd been waiting for them. At least if they got in trouble he could blame the sign. Maybe having class in the forest wasn't so cool after all. Especially if other students were getting as worried as he was about it all.

"Girls!" He said, in a mildly scolding voice, "You almost made us late, hurry up." And with that he turned to venture into the trees, fingers skimming the rope to make sure he wouldn't lose it. He only hoped he wasn't dragging the twins into trouble right along with him.

He didn't have to worry long however, as soon he could spot Jake and their classmates, and he managed a small smile. He only wished he'd gotten here sooner, before some of the others, but at least he'd been there to guide his sisters, who's chatter had turned to nervous albeit excited whispers as soon as they'd passed the tree-line. The two gathered close to him and he quirked an amused eyebrow at them before turning his attention to the lesson, which they'd arrived just in time to participate in.

The mention of a so-called "treat" did nothing to excite Gabriel as he waited for the actual news, though both the twins gasped in excitement.

"Today's lesson will encompass a little bit of hands on work, a little bit of DADA, and, a very small part of potions."

The news pulled at Gabriel's interest, and made him wonder what they could be learning. The word Acromantulas caused his eyebrows to shoot up in surprise. The giant spider creatures? He remembered enough about them to know they were dangerous, but they had them here?! At Hogwarts?! What kind of school would allow students to literally live so close to the beasts?

As the cage with the monsters was revealed He found himself growing quite still, staring at the huge things in surprise. So they not only lived close to them, but they would be working with them? For Merlin's sake, this school just wanted to kill it's students, didn't it??

Katerina immediately squeaked at the sight of the bests, inching closer to Gabriel, while Beatrice actually wandered closer, studying the giant spiders with interest. The question posed by the teacher only completely registered in Gabriel's brain after a younger student had already answered and he pulled himself back into the lesson, though his eyes didn't move from Bea, listening to the answer as he watched the first year carefully.

"Something to do with their poison or their venom I'd guess, considering you mentioned potions?" Gabe supplied, trying to focus on the lesson through his worry for his sister as she stepped even closer to the cage. He needed a good grade in this class. "Maybe making an antidote or something?"

A few minutes later, Jake confirmed that she was correct, they would indeed be fighting them. or that was all the child could comprehend among the gentle corrections. not having been told she was wrong, Mimosa always acted under the assumption that she was correct in everything.

Soon enough, the class was divided into teams of knockers and collectors. While everyone would have a go at trying to get the giant spiders on their backs, not everyone wanted to get close enough to collect the venom. Mimosa didn't really mind until Jake mentioned the possibility if it staining her uniform which made the tiny witch wrinkle her nose.

No, Acro- Acru- Acroo- thingy venom on her clothes would never do. Lilac could go on in and get messy like that. "We'll head the knocking team," Mimosa offered, raising her and Mercy's joined hand up in the air and volunteering on the Gryffindor witch's behalf too. This was exciting. They were supposed to try it together because Jake had said that a few jinxes together were better than one.

"Ready?" she called out, her wand extracted from her sleeve and trained on the tall, hairy thing with too many legs. Beside her, Mercy seemed ready, as did Seema and Gaspard. "Set! Go!"

Together, four spells shot from four wands towards one big spider... and it had no effect. A second try resulted in the same.

"Guys, I think we all have to aim at the same area," Seema whined after a third failed attempt. Gaspard merely nodded while Mimosa looked annoyed. Why did Seema think she knew everything? the girl could get highly annoying.

"Well I think we should all aim at a leg each. That way it would have four useless legs and spiders can't just move on half their legs," she interjected, not really knowing anything of the sort but saying it to undermine Seema. Plus she knew everyone would listen to her a lot more.

Everyone nodded at the idea, picking a leg each to point their wand at before simultaneously casting four knockback jinxes. At first, the child thought it hadn't worked. The spider remained upright, but only for a few seconds before it gave what sounded like a clickity sigh and fell, face first, into its neighbor, taking the other acramantula down too.

"There, two in one," the little Slytherin beamed proudly. "And that is how it's done."