Lesson 2: Nifflers (All Years)

Aimee kicked herself for running short on time last lesson. Pregnancy brain had caused her to run over, in which the students had to rush and leave and she was unable to give them their exit assignment, which meant she was unsure of their understanding over Hippogriffs. Christmas was swiftly approaching and Aimee hoped her students would retain knowledge over the Christmas holidays. So Aimee, decided to give them a quiz after Christmas, seeing how many actually understood what it was she taught and how many had let it fly through one ear and out the other.

Earlier in the week, she had sent out an owl, asking that none of her students wore jewelry or anything shiny for the next class, or the animal they'd be dealing with could bite. While she prepared for this class, she had to rely on Dylan and her own magic, as she was far too big to bend over. Aimee was due any day now, at any moment, however, she was still teaching and still hoping she was inspiring her students. Being a professor and a Head of Slytherin was by far the best decision she had made to this day.

They would not be going into the forest today, as in was not needed. Plus, it wouldn't be safe for Aimee anymore. Today, they would be doing a lesson over Nifflers and participating in a little game. She had magically cleared out a rather large area in the snow,making it strictly earth and buried treasure. The student whose Niffler had found the most gold, would be awarded House Points. She looked out across the grounds as she waited for her students, the snow thick, the air frigid and her cheeks red. She tightly pulled her winter coat around herself, as she saw the sight of the first students showing up.

Though he liked animals, Bennett was starting to regret taking the class. Why would he need this anyway? Of course, he couldn't just drop it, especially since the professor was pregnant and pregnant women often made drama out of everything. If a student dropped her class and she felt bad, Bennett would have felt bad as well. He could just not sign up for it next year, that was reasonable. As he debated whether or not to stay in the class, he put on a coat after checking to see that he didn't have anything shiny on and headed for the class.

It was mostly empty by the time he arrived, really only the professor was there. The snow had been cleared from part of the area and Bennett wasn't sure he liked that very much. He was rather fond of the season. Unsure of whether he should stand in the dirt or in the snow, Bennett stayed at the edge of the snow and looked down at his feet. He balanced back and forth slowly, trying to pass the time until anyone else arrived.

Alberi did not want to come to class. In fact, he didn't want to go to any class. When he woke up, he managed to pretend to feel bad, at least until the next lesson. This was one of most humiliating things that happened to him... After getting a C in a Math test. And it was he had remembered one thing differently! If the teacher looked past that, his calculations were great... And yet he had a foolish C... It could have been a B, at least... Alberi tried to keep his mind on the humiliation that will wait him with that but it didn't work. He was going to be a laughing stock - he was sure. And although such things usually didn't mean something much to the boy, he never had fallen and lost consciousness in front of the whole class before...

Because the hospital wing lady (Alberi didn't care enough to remember her name) was in a hurry to send him off, he hardly managed to dress into his Hogwarts robes and had forgotten his cape and tie, which were the only things right next to the door. And he didn't remember about them until he had exited into the cool air outside. Oh well, he wasn't going back. It was enough walking through half of Hogwarts once... Man, he is getting dramatic after he had hit his head. And using uncultured words such as 'man', in his head at least. Which was enough for the boy, really. Perhaps he was growing mad without normal and unmagical books to read and his computer... When will the winter come so he can go back home? Maybe he could think of some way to make so technology doesn't interfere with magic... He's going to search for that, definitely.

Alberi sighed slightly to himself and began to walk towards class but stayed more to the side he wouldn't be seen. If he could survive this without being spotted... Heck, he wasn't even planning on answering question for the next few lessons, which really was something for Alberi. In his old school he was know for always being a know-it-all and telling the teacher what he thought for the lesson, being annoying for everyone else in the class. After a while the teacher learned to just let him do something on his own, so he doesn't talk in class. His A was sure in any way.

Finally, he made his way to class. Everyone seemed to be looking in different directions, so he made his way more towards the shade of the trees, hoping that none would want to look towards where he was. It was a 50% chance, really. And he hoped to Fates were with him, though knowing his luck at this school, it probably would be. He was starting more and more to regret coming to this school at times, even though he's learning magic. Most likely when he graduates, he'll have a muggle carrier and just use magic to help him. He'll see, there is still seven years until he graduates. Seven years of which he'll probably have to often remember this embarrassing situation...

It was no issue for Nilla to refrain from wearing anything shiny, considering she possessed little more than a few pairs of earrings that she rarely wore. She pulled on her black, wool pea-coat and tugged a pair of soft, leather gloves over her hands before sauntering out to class. The professor looked about ready to pop, and Nilla briefly wondered when the woman was due. Soon, she hoped, that baby had to be just about done growing.

Nilla did not like winter. The cold made her real joints stiff and therefore made it harder not to limp. Water had to be kept off her prosthetic at all times lest it freeze the joints, which meant that she had to wear boots near constantly to prevent snow from getting into her shoes. Winter was a hassle of a season, in Nilla's opinion. She trudged through the snow to the clearing and waited for instructions in silence.

Naomi knew immediately what they would be studying when they received the message not to wear anything shiny to class. She was excited to see the Nifflers, but it was with great reluctance that she removed her mother's engagement ring from its place on a chain around her neck. She hadn't taken it off in years except to shower and even then, half the time she forgot. But it was likely to get her attacked, so she left it on her bedside table.

By the time Naomi met Finley for breakfast, her usual quiet good cheer had reasserted itself. Once in a while, she felt herself reaching to play with the ring on the chain and had to drop her hand into her lap when she remembered that it wasn't there.

The pair of Ravenclaws made their way down to the class still talking, Naomi watching the ground at her feet as she picked her way through the snow. She looked up when Finley reached out to guide her, quickly catching sight of Nirek and frowning. She followed willingly, greeting the professor with a smile. As she glanced at the woman, her vision wavered in the way that she had begun to get right before a vision and she reached out to clutch Finley's hand so she wouldn't stumble into anything.

A Christmas tree with presents sitting under it, mostly a blur of green needles and bright wrapping paper...

Hospital hallways, white and clean...

A baby's crying echoing down the corridor...

"Oh," Naomi said quietly as she blinked back into reality, the process having only taken a few seconds. "I, uh, I think Professor Valentine is going to have her baby on Christmas," she whispered quietly to Finley, letting go of his hand. Her practice with her visions had made her much better at grabbing details from the quick images and sorting them into a picture.