You'd have to be pretty pathetic to be scared of puppies... on Care of Magical Creatures

Substitute Professor Adrian Meade

December 07, 2012 10:44 PM

Puppies! [Intermediates] by Substitute Professor Adrian Meade

There weren’t a lot of animals -- magical or muggle -- that Adrian Meade didn’t like. His farm was full of animals of every kind (he wished) that were taken care of by some very professional people he had met during his long years on the road. Adrian had started a home for animals that were in need of one. Most of his money went to keep that place open along with the money from different donors. The Substitute professor really felt like he was leaving his print on the world, aside from his various small discoveries around the globe. There weren’t any dull moments with his chosen career. In fact, when he went down memory lane he thanked every single sacred entity known to men that he had not chosen anything in the field of transfiguration. At one point in his life he had thought about going in a different direction, but he now knew he would have been very unhappy. Being in the wild was his thing.

As he entered the COMC classroom, four little crups followed him dutifully. One could think that they were doing it because they were trained, but the reality was that they were small puppies and they were wearing a magical leash. The four little things were now roaming the classroom. Adrian had left them get acquainted with their new surroundings.

The Magizoologist wasn’t really sure about this lesson, because crups were known to be rather awful with muggleborns, but they were so cute and interesting, that he couldn’t postpone it any longer.

As the bell rang, the pups got scared and ran towards his desk and hid under it while his students piled into the classroom. “Welcome,” he greeted them with a smile while a low whimper came from Pippa. Before closing the door he made sure the pups were still there, finally satisfied he closed it. Any Latercomers would miss the awesome lesson.

“Today we are going to study crups,” he informed them with a smile. “I have four of my friends with me, but they got a little scared and are hiding under my desk right now.” He looked down to see Manny coming out sniffling curiously.

“Now, crups are very cute, but can be quite ferocious,” he let that little bit of information sink in. “however, that really comes from nurture. The crups are a wizard-bred dog. We don’t really know when or who bred them, but we do know that they are very loyal to wizards.”

Adrian leaned down and picked Pippa up. “As you can see these ones still have the spiked tails, but by law they will have to have the spikes removed in about two weeks.” He petted her head.

“All the information about crups we have can be found in page 134 of your book,” he said while walking around the classroom with the puppy in his arms and the other three trailing after them. “Your homework will be to write an essay about them, but for now you can play with the puppies. Also, I want you to add your experience with them in the classroom,” he said while turning around and going back to the front.

“These little things can be a tad bit prejudiced, be careful. I have charmed their spikes and teeth so they won’t hurt you if they suddenly decide to bite. I have confidence in that nothing will happen because you will be capable of treating eh dogs like nicely,” he finished his lecture and left Pippa on the floor to play with the other three.

OOC: nothing gory can happen. The puppies are charmed to not cause any harm. Their names are: Pippa, Manny, Trixie and Oates.

Subthreads:

You'd have to be pretty pathetic to be scared of puppies... by Henny B-F-R (Aladren) with Waverly Canterbury - Pecari

They are quite cute... and familiar. by Brianna Japos, Crotalus with Maximilian Joshua McLachlan - Aladren, Brianna, Josh McLachlan

Well, it's easy anyway by Nora Dobson, Aladren

0 Substitute Professor Adrian Meade Puppies! [Intermediates] 0 Substitute Professor Adrian Meade 1 5

Henny B-F-R (Aladren)

December 09, 2012 11:33 AM

You'd have to be pretty pathetic to be scared of puppies... by Henny B-F-R (Aladren)

Henny's initial reassurance at Care of Magical Creatures being held in a classroom – a much more safe, normal environment – had quickly been counterbalanced by Professor Meade's tendency to have whatever they were studying running around loose as they came in. No, she told herself, running around was an exaggeration. The creatures were generally with the professor and behaving perfectly well. Still, she couldn't help but give the room a cautious once over before settling down. Her timetable had informed her that they would be studying crups. Even though she was more of a cat person, it was hard to be very anxious about this lesson. Even at full size, a crup was not big enough to bowl her over. She knew they had a nasty side – one which she internally winced at slightly when reminded by the professor with the word 'ferocious' – but she was very unlikely to see that. Her father had been from one of the very best families. She had no idea which one, of course, but that made little difference to her blood. Her mother had been Muggleborn but she didn't think crups minded Muggle blood from two generations back. They could occasionally be a bit funny with Muggleborns but still usually ok – it was only Muggles that they actually went for. She wondered what it was that made crups able to tell. She didn't believe people's blood was any different. But if they were able to sense magic then they should just prefer whoever was more powerful, and Muggleborns were frequently just as powerful or even more so than those from old families. Could magic smell new? She wondered whether adoption had an effect. Both of her adopted parents came from fairly magical families but if a Pureblood witch or wizard was adopted by Muggles – unlikely as that was – how would the crup regard it? She made a note to herself to try researching this for her essay.

It would have been easy to begin that now. The puppies were probably going to be in high demand throughout the class. She could just sit quietly working. Except that Professor Meade required them to write about their experiences. And anyway, this was an assignment she could do. It was a puppy. She was supposed to tackle her fears, not make up flimsy excuses to escape even the least threatening of animals. And there were very few negative consequences to worry about in this lesson. Professor Meade had made sure the puppies wouldn't hurt them. Even if they could bite, even if it could hurt (which it couldn't) and break the skin, what damage would it do? They were not going to leap at her throat and go for the jugular. A nipped finger was probably the worst outcome and that was scarcely something to be afraid of. She would have thought thinking through the worst possible consequences would make everything much more scary. She had thought that was what she tended to do. But what she had tended to do was exaggerate and catastrophise. If you thought through the worst possible realistic consequence, very few things were actually all that bad. She just had to keep things in perspective.

One of the puppies was hovering off to the side. It didn't seem too keen on the large crush of people. Henny was really more of a cat person. Fully grown dogs didn't make her feel all mushy and adoring. But puppies, with their big eyes and wobbly little legs... Well, you'd have to be pretty heartless not to be just a little bit moved by them. And Henny wasn't heartless. She picked up a ball from the box at the front.

“Hey puppy,” she said, not quite sure which one she had got. She wiggled the ball a bit. The puppies eyes lit up and it followed her hand. “Here you go,” she smiled, throwing the ball. She released it perhaps a tad quicker than most people would have done. People tended to build the atmosphere a little bit more, but the puppy eyeing her fingers enthusiastically had made her uncomfortable. The puppy scampered after the ball, eagerly running back with it but showing no signs of meekly giving it back. Henny reached out her hand tentatively, holding it out in the hopes that this would indicate to the puppy to give her the ball back. The puppy turned away from her hand, lolloping a few steps away and enthusiastically chewing on the ball before realising it wasn't being pursued and wrestled with. It dropped the ball at its feet. Relieved, Henny stepped forward to pick it up, upon which the puppy gleefully seized the ball and scampered a few more steps away. Again, no one followed, and it turned, bemused. It looked at Henny, with its head on one side, regarding this poorly trained human who didn't know how to play properly. She had turned to the person nearest to her though.

“I guess that's that game over with,” she shrugged.

13 Henny B-F-R (Aladren) You'd have to be pretty pathetic to be scared of puppies... 211 Henny B-F-R (Aladren) 0 5

Brianna Japos, Crotalus

December 09, 2012 3:22 PM

They are quite cute... and familiar. by Brianna Japos, Crotalus

Brianna had kept to herself for most of term since returning from midterm and having that discussion with Michael. She realized that it was better that she didn’t have friends because they were complicated and she would just mess it up anyway. She worked with people when she had to in lessons, but liked it better when partners weren’t necessary. The only thing that remained the same for her was that she ate her meals quietly with Josh. The only reason for that was because he wasn’t complicated with her. They just sat and ate together. Nothing more. Yes, it was better this way.

She took her seat in Care of Magical Creatures and waited for the lesson to start. She used to love this class. Not for the animals, but because it had been taught outside. But then, for whatever reason, it was moved into a classroom. Brianna sometimes hated the school. It was much like the building at home. The walls were too thick and she felt trapped from time to time. Like at home. She watched everyone else have fun and know their place in all of this. She was never a part of it. Just and outsider looking in. These walls kept stifling her. She liked to be outside so much more. She felt free there. No one around to judge her. No one around to care who she was or how she looked. The gardens were a bit spoiled for her now, but she would still choose that over being stuck inside the school.

Brianna waited for the lesson to begin and was surprised to find that they were going to be learning about crups… again. Was this a reviser lesson for the fifth years? She was only a first year when they first learned of them, but they weren’t so complicated, she thought, where of all the creatures to revisit, the crup was one of them. She had to wonder if maybe all the switches that had happened in the past, the lessons just became scrambled. Or maybe the professors didn’t care and just did whatever they felt like. That’s how it felt to Brianna most of the time.

She took her notes as usual though, opening her book and allowing them some more detail. When the class was allowed to run off and play, Brianna didn’t move from her spot. As much as she would enjoy playing with the young crups, they were already surrounded by her classmates and Brianna didn’t want to pull any of them away. After a few moments, Brianna got up from her desk and made her way over to the crowd. She stayed on the outskirts, trying to get a glimpse of the small dogs, but never quite interfering with anyone else. Still, just seeing the dogs gave her heart a squeeze of warmth. She could never be allowed a pet back home, but she could understand why someone would want one. They just… made one sort of happy just by looking at them.

Brianna shifted to get a better view and stepped on another foot. “Oh sorry.” She apologized, moving away as she did so.

0 Brianna Japos, Crotalus They are quite cute... and familiar. 0 Brianna Japos, Crotalus 0 5

Maximilian Joshua McLachlan - Aladren

December 09, 2012 7:13 PM

Eh, they're alright. by Maximilian Joshua McLachlan - Aladren

Preparing for CATS was much more time-consuming than Josh had hoped for, and he loved it. He loved studying and he knew, whatever the examiners decided to bring to the table, he would be able to conquer it. It was really the only thing he found pleasure in, studying. That and potions. Everything else seemed so monotonous and, well, worthless. At least with all the knowledge he could gain from his academics he could take with him in the long-run.

When Josh walked into COMC, he didn't see anything different right away. He sat in the back and noticed Brianna there. He didn't really know what to think of their lunches. Sometimes she spoke, sometimes she didn't, and he sometimes responded, sometimes didn't. He felt like the most in-depth they had ever spoken was at the gardens. Everything else he knew about her was from observation. It was easy to observe someone when they ate lunch with you everyday.

But for whatever reason, she still ate with him and he still couldn't decide if he was glad for it or not. They were similar in more than one way, though their attitudes towards their different situations were very different. He had come to conclusion long ago that whatever he said couldn't change anyone's mind. It was best to stay out of other peoples' business and listen instead of inputing his own opinion. It kept him from getting into trouble and heated arguments. At least, now he knew that better after last year.

After shifting his eyes from the back of Brianna's head to the professor's desk, he realized what they were going to study today as their heads peeked out from under it. He was a little surprised that the professor had chosen crups since they were known for being completely prejudiced against muggle-borns. He had never studied them in the classroom before, though he had read about them. It was going to be an interesting lesson, to say the least.

Although, apparently, not thought-provoking. An essay on crups and they got to play with puppies during the entire class period. Josh didn't know if he should rejoice or mope with the lack of work. Either way, he wasn't completely unhappy with the prospect of playing with puppies the entire period. He would just get bored very quickly. Maybe he could get his essay finished during class and have more time to do something else. Like brew potions.

When the rest of the class went up to play with the puppies, Josh knew it was going to be a madhouse up there. There were definitely more students than there were dogs, so he might as well get started with his essay now and play with them later. But he supposed he wouldn't get a chance to do such a thing. He'd rather get the playing out of the way.

Josh went up with the rest of the class to see the puppies, and his height as well as his ability to sneak into spaces gave him quite a good view of them. He was surprised that the spikes were still on their tails, but the professor had said he'd charmed them so nobody would get hurt. These were dangerous animals, but Josh guessed puppies couldn't be too bad.

It was getting a little crowded and Josh didn't think he'd like to stay staring at these puppies for much longer. He moved back a little and then was stuck for a moment longer before somebody stepped on his worn leather shoe. He turned and recognized Brianna before she apologized. "Hi Brianna," he greeted her. He had never been good at small talk and she should know that if their lunches had been of any indication, so he left the next sentence or two up to her.

0 Maximilian Joshua McLachlan - Aladren Eh, they're alright. 0 Maximilian Joshua McLachlan - Aladren 0 5

Waverly Canterbury - Pecari

December 09, 2012 7:31 PM

These puppies kind of are scary... by Waverly Canterbury - Pecari

When Waverly walked into the COMC classroom again, she realized that she missed class being outside. She was definitely an outdoors-y sort of girl even if she did enjoy baking and all that inside. She did, however, like the animals they got to study in this class whether class was indoors or outdoors. When she realized they were going to study puppies, she became excited; that was no surprise, seeing that she was an easily excitable human being.

Waverly was more of a dog person than a cat person like her sister, and so she liked to play with the neighborhood dogs when they were being walked. She had tried to set up a dog-walking thing once in her apartment complex, but that hadn't really worked out too well since she had been nine then. Maybe if she tried it again this time it would go better. After all, she was almost fourteen.

Waverly had no idea what crups were like except that they looked like puppies with spiky tails. She tried to wonder what Professor Meade meant when he said that they were loyal to wizards (did he mean men?), but she knew it was inevitable that these crups were more loyal to those who were half-bloods or purebloods. It was unfair that it had to be this way. But, if it really was by nurture and not nature that the crups were loyal to those who'd grown up in the magical world, then playing with puppies shouldn't be too bad. Waverly just hated all the prejudice that came in this world with being a muggle-born. It's not like it was her fault.

Nevertheless, she went up to the front, hoping to get a good view of them. It was lucky that she sat in the middle so she could get a little closer to the puppies. They were so cute! Waverly wanted to get closer, but she didn't think she could squeeze through without feeling bad. So she just looked at them for awhile and then spotted Henny a little apart from the rest of them. Henny was playing with the pup and Waverly went to join her.

Just watching someone else play with the little puppy made Waverly's insides all mushy. The puppy was so cute! "Aw, it's so cute," she couldn't help gushing. "It looks like he wants you to follow him." Waverly made a few steps forward, and when the puppy noticed her, it scampered a few inches ahead, and then went back to her, sniffing. It was so intent on sniffing that it dropped the ball and suddenly bared its teeth at her gave a little puppy growl.

"I'm not going to hurt you," she cooed as she kneeled down even if her heart was sinking. The puppy sniffed her fingers, and then made to bite it. It was a good thing that there was a charm on the puppy's teeth because it would've sunk its teeth in pretty deep. She wrenched her hand away, sour-faced. "It's so unfair that crups don't like muggle-borns," she told Henny as she moved back to stand next to her. She could definitely write about how unfair it was for muggle-borns that certain animals were prejudiced too. Besides, how did they know? She was just as magical even if her parents weren't.

0 Waverly Canterbury - Pecari These puppies kind of are scary... 0 Waverly Canterbury - Pecari 0 5

Henny B-F-R

December 10, 2012 10:09 AM

Did our personalities get swapped? by Henny B-F-R

Henny watched at Waverly took command of getting the ball back. Her friend was very clued up on animals in general and seemed to know what she was doing. Henny was therefore very surprised when the puppy growled at and bit the other girl. She flinched back as though she herself had been bitten.

“Oh, are you ok?” Henny asked, shock prompting the reaction before she remembered that, in theory, Waverly couldn't be hurt. Her immediate thought was that the dogs were not in fact as friendly and fluffy as they had seemed – that they were dangerous. But then she remembered that Waverly was Muggleborn. They were more dangerous to the other girl. Whilst feeling reassured about the situation in general, it made Henny's insides twist uncomfortably. She didn't like the idea that animals could, and would, discriminate and she felt guilty. It was stupid, it wasn't her fault but whenever the wizarding world dealt a blow based on background, it made her feel bad. She came, more or less, from the other side – the established side, the one that did things like that. Although, in reality, where personal opinion dictated who was acceptable and who was not, she was a persona non grata more often than not.

“Naughty puppy,” she said, without any trace of authority to her voice – it wasn't her puppy to discipline and she wasn't really sure how one got the point across to an animal anyway. She could only hope that, being a magical animal, the crup was intelligent enough to understand. “No biting Waverly – she's our friend,” she explained. It felt very weird to be having a conversation with an animal. Not because she thought it was incapable of understanding, there was a good chance that it was, just that it wasn't something she usually did. Some animals, of course, it was pointless to try to reason with. Chimeras, for example. For all their appearance of human intelligence, they could not understand reason and mercy. She gave a little shudder at the thought.

“I know... it's.... I... my mum was Muggleborn,” she said, although that was probably more her subconscious trying to prove to Waverly that she wasn't One Of Them than it was comfort for the other girl, “Professor Meade said nurture over nature, right? So maybe they don't always. I mean, I've heard more about them being ferocious towards Muggles than Muggleborns. But... maybe it's like with regular dogs. Their natural tendency is to jump up at you, right? And some breeds are... a bit bitey,” she said, a flicker of a grimace crossing her face, “But you can teach them not to be. Pretty easily – to a degree that most people regard most dogs as safe, right? So, maybe crups are naturally a bit bitey, especially with Muggleborns but are easily taught that that's not ok.

“And lots else is going on... This one obviously doesn't love the crowd and the noise. Maybe it just got a bit spooked on top of... everything else,” Henny said, meaning Waverly's blood status but not wanting to say so. “Or it changed its mind about giving up the ball. I reckon puppies are easily bribed – their favourite's whoever's throwing the ball, right? Give it a go.”

13 Henny B-F-R Did our personalities get swapped? 211 Henny B-F-R 0 5

Brianna

December 10, 2012 7:17 PM

Always a pooper, you are. by Brianna

Brianna hadn’t been paying much attention to whom it was that she had stepped on until she heard the greeting. She turned, surprised, to see Josh standing there. She knew that he was in her classes and everything, but she never worked with him. She knew that he preferred his solitude and she didn’t want to become annoying to him. She was certain there would be a moment when he no longer cared to have her around him even at meal times, but if she could drag that out for a little while longer, she thought she would be okay. She just… had to keep herself in check.

Anyway, what had actually surprised her was that he was up front in the crowd of students instead of reading one of his books at his seat or already starting on the homework. It was a rather strange sight to see him up in front with everyone else. Maybe he really liked crups? Or dog like creatures? She couldn’t really blame him for that. Brianna would really like a small dog. She could take him out on walks with her and sit in the park with him. She wouldn’t be so alone then. And maybe she wouldn’t look as strange sitting on a bench all afternoon if she had a dog with her. But, her parents couldn’t afford an animal to keep and their apartment had barely enough space for the three of them. That was no place for a dog.

“Hi Josh.” She greeted in return, aware that she was probably looking at him in a silly way, unintentionally. “Do you really like crups?” She asked him, probably answering any questions as to why she may have been looking at him weirdly. “Are you able to see them?” Brianna was on the taller side for her age, but she wasn’t tall enough to see over everyone else, especially the boys of her class. She could probably fit into a small space and watch, her being so thin and all, but she didn’t really want to make a spectacle if herself by forcing her way into everything.

“We did a lesson on crups when I was a first year, well, Crups and Kneazles, but there was only one of each and I didn’t really get a chance to look at them.” Brianna told him. “At least this lesson has four, but… they seem pretty busy with everyone else. I was hoping for a look though.”

0 Brianna Always a pooper, you are. 0 Brianna 0 5

Josh McLachlan

December 12, 2012 12:27 AM

I would be offended...but it's true. by Josh McLachlan

The question Brianna asked was slightly odd in the way she'd asked it. Did he really like crups? "They're alright," he said with a little shrug. "My grandmother had a few crups acting as guard dogs." They would be especially efficient if any muggles had dared to cross the magical barrier between the estate and the rest of the Scotland forest surrounding it. It was a good thing for their own sake that they hadn't, at least not that Josh could remember. He could remember playing with one of them around six years old before his grandmother had died. He didn't know whether they had been kept at the manor when his eldest uncle finally decided to move in years and years later, or if they had been put down.

Josh had never had a real soft spot for animals, however. He had had an owl of his own once, but one of his relatives had killed it, he couldn't remember who now. He couldn't even remember the owl's name anymore. He was good at forgetting those sorts of traumatic events.

He looked over at the crups, able to see over the heads of most of the students. "Yes," he replied, and then listened as she told him about the first lesson she'd had with crups. It was surprising to him that crups and kneazles had been studied in the first-year class, but he didn't dwell on the thought. Instead, he tried to think of a way to bring a puppy to Brianna who seemed to want to see one.

Unable to think of a subtle way of bringing the puppy to Brianna, he leaned forward and bent down. His long arms reached for one of the playful little pups past everyone's legs and he carried it out of the crowd. The puppy licked and nipped at his fingers, trying to get free, and he ignored it. He met eyes with Brianna and tilted his head as an indication to follow him out of the crowd. He was sure there had to be some students peeved that he was taking one, but seriously, there were five; enough to go around.

Once Josh was out of the crowd, he went a little ways away from the others and set the wriggling puppy down. He hoped Brianna had something to entertain the little crup because he certainly didn't know how to deal with a baby crup. The little puppy, this one named Manny, was sniffing around curiously first on the floor, then Josh's shoes, then Brianna's. Josh stayed crouched down and stroked Manny's back. The crup's bright eyes looked up at him, his tongue hanging out for a minute as he panted, and then turned to Brianna, sniffing once more.

It was hard for anything to get through Josh's hard heart, but he had to admit a baby crup was cute. It didn't give him the fuzzy warm feelings or anything, but it reminded him of something. Maybe of life back in Scotland, isolated in the forest with his grandmother. When things hadn't been so complicated for him. He pet Manny's back, his hand more than half the size of the crup's little body. Manny was still sniffing Brianna. "I think he likes you," he told her.

0 Josh McLachlan I would be offended...but it's true. 0 Josh McLachlan 0 5

Waverly

December 12, 2012 12:44 AM

Maybe? by Waverly

"Yeah, I'm fine," Waverly said, still put out that the puppy had tried to bite her. She had to remind herself that it wasn't a normal muggle puppy. Even regular puppies bit though, so maybe it was just a thing with the babies. Although, according to the professor, the puppies in the magical world didn't grow up to be nice dogs all the time. The spike on its little tail looked scary too, now that she thought of it.

Waverly smiled at Henny's attempt at cheering her up whether or not she meant it. It was kind of working. "I didn't know your mom was a muggle-born." Henny could probably understand a lot of the prejudice that went on from both sides, then. Waverly couldn't imagine any pureblood guy she knew being willing to be friends with her much less marry a muggle-born. Yeah, puppies are probably easily bribed," she said, taking the ball that had rolled away. The puppy was staring at her curiously, watching to see what she would do next. Waverly rolled the ball gently at the crup, and the puppy snatched it up happily and began to prance off like it had with Henny. Waverly chased after it like she assumed it wanted, and the puppy looked back once and ran a little faster now that there was a chase.

The puppy didn't seem to care that she was a muggle-born this time and Waverly felt her heart swell. They went a full circle around the desks and back to Henny. Waverly was giggling by this time and felt a little silly running around in class. She stopped when they reached Henny, but the puppy ran on. Maybe those Quidditch practices had helped a little, but she didn't feel worn out at all.

The puppy ran a little more and then turned to see if she was following, his spiked tail wagging. Seeing that she wasn't going along anymore, the puppy toddled back over to her, ball still in its mouth, but when it reached her, it sniffed and its tail stopped wagging. The ball dropped out of its mouth again and it sniffed Waverly again. She was hesitant to put out her fingers to it this time, but she didn't need to. The crup growled again and she sighed.

"Well, it was nice while it lasted," she said. "You should try playing with it. I think she likes being chased around." Waverly smiled at Henny and rolled the ball over to her. The puppy eyed it, ready to make a scramble for it. Henny might as well take advantage of playing with the adorable puppy if Waverly couldn't.

0 Waverly Maybe? 0 Waverly 0 5

Nora Dobson, Aladren

December 12, 2012 8:54 PM

Well, it's easy anyway by Nora Dobson, Aladren

Nora was not the sentimental type. She tended to be more about the intellectual side of things. Even in Care of Magical Creatures where people went all to pieces about the cute little animals they had sometimes, the Aladren was more interested in the magizoology aspect and what made animals tick. Even though she generally preferred human psychology to animal. Humans were just so complex. What made some do horrible things, even to their own wives and children? She understood that some were betrothed and not in love, but that wasn't an excuse. What made others stop eating? People thought Nora seemed cold and detached but all she really wanted was to understand these things.

Some animals were not without their complexities either. For example, the crups they were studying today. Why did they hate Muggles? Certainly a crup couldn't read the propaganda, couldn't remember the Burning Times, when witches and wizards were persecuted-or rather, muggles outcasts were excused of being magical folk like it was the worst thing in the world. As far as Nora was concerned, your blood didn't necessarily make you a better person-her grandfather was pureblood and evil -but it was an infinitely superior way of life to be able to do magic.

So why didn't crups like Muggles? There had to be something inherently different about them and the only thing that Nora could come up with was the obvious-that they didn't have magical powers.Dogs-crups-could sense all sorts of things and she'd heard that all animals could sense evil, before people could, even though kneazles were obviously the best for it. Nora imagined that crups were used be prejudiced purebloods who wanted to keep Muggles away and kneazles were used to keep evil people away. Her mother had insisted on having one, for some reason even though Grandfather had little interest in any of them other than Uncle Oliver and his son, Oliver II. Oh, and driving Grandmother crazy of course.

As usual, Nora gave the professor her full attention. She honestly did respect Professor Meade. He really knew his stuff, even though he was a sub. Sometimes, subs could actually be very impressive, because they knew a lot about many subjects. Professor Fawcett, one of the most respectable professors-blood wasn't important in such matters-had started out as a substitute, teaching many subjects, even flying lessons. She had nothing but admiration for her Head of House and while Professor Meade had so far only taught them COMC, he surely had the credentials.

Nora nodded at the mention of the essay. She never minded doing them, not even the weekly essays in Charms. She never came back with less than a ninety percent and that was rare. She would play with the puppies, as it might show her softer side, before allowing another student to have their turn and starting on her homework. Nora approached the box and picked out one of the two remaining, the one she thought had been called Pippa. She stroked the puppy as it began to lick her face.

11 Nora Dobson, Aladren Well, it's easy anyway 197 Nora Dobson, Aladren 0 5

Brianna

December 13, 2012 8:10 PM

I'm glad it's not offensive for you. by Brianna

If he found them to be ‘okay’, she was still holding on to that shocked feeling about him being with the rest of the class. If they weren’t that attention getting for him, usually he lost interest pretty quickly. And since he already knew of crups, it only made this moment all the weirder. “She did?” Brianna stated. “Were you by Muggles?” She asked, although maybe that wasn’t appropriate? “Because we live in downtown New York City, even though it’s the Magical part, the building owners don’t allow for crups in case of accidental Muggle encounters.” Not that that would be the only reason why she didn’t have a crup. She didn’t have one because her parents couldn’t afford it.

Even though she knew it was probably impossible for the professors to do, Brianna wished that they brought enough material, or in this case, crups, for everyone so that they didn’t have to share. This was the intermediate class, which held the most students. Even with a handful of puppies, there weren’t enough to go around and some students would be left without a chance to see them. It didn’t seem all that fair, but she knew that she couldn’t really blame the Professor.

She watched out of curiosity as Josh moved over the students hovering around the puppies. Maybe he really wanted to see one? He must really enjoy dogs to make that sort of effort and deal with half the school. She was surprised, once again, when he emerged from the crowd with one of the crup puppies. She locked eyes with him and understood his instruction. Bending down, she quickly grabbed a squeaker toy and hurried after Josh to a spot away from the crowd. She wondered if anyone was miffed that he had taken the crup away from them. Was that considered rude even though that person had been taking time away from everyone else with the crup? Oh well, it was too late to really change that now. Besides, she really wanted to see one of the crups.

She managed to make her way too him without anyone being upset and found the puppy smelling her shoes. Because she was in a skirt, Brianna knelt down on her knees and started petting the little dog. He was just so cute, Brianna couldn’t help smiling at him. “Do you think so?” Brianna asked, giggling as the crup started licking her hands. “He’s just so cute!” Brianna exclaimed, a large smile on her already large lips. Holding out the toy, Brianna squeezed it to allow the noise and startled the dog. Manny immediately began his ‘fight’ mode and attacked the toy happily. Brianna started to giggle again. “I really wish I could have a pet.” Brianna commented while she played with the crup. “Do you have any?”

0 Brianna I'm glad it's not offensive for you. 0 Brianna 0 5

Josh McLachlan

December 14, 2012 12:09 AM

It's just when it comes from you. by Josh McLachlan

Josh didn't find it surprising that Brianna seemed surprised that his grandmother had crups. She was a single woman living in the enormous McLachlan estate. Besides the house-elves, nobody had stayed around to keep her company. It would have been unfortunate if it wasn't her snarky disposition that had chased them all away in the first place. But Josh couldn't remember all that much about her except that she was strict. He had only been seven when she died, so he only knew her as his strict, unloving grandmother. "Not really," he said, knowing that any muggles around the area would have suffered if that wasn't the case. "The estate's in the middle of a huge forest. Nobody for miles, except maybe the lone, lost muggle traveler." He shrugged. "I think they might've been for companionship too." If his grandmother had needed anybody's companionship, it would've been in the form of pets.

After bringing the crup to Brianna, he was glad that she seemed to really like it. The crup certainly seemed to like her. Her question sounded rhetorical, so Josh didn't bother answering it, watching little Manny play instead. His mind wandered to the lake where his grandmother had almost drowned him trying to teach him to swim. One of the crups, he couldn't remember its name, had barked and barked at him, trying to find a way to get to him without getting wet himself. Besides that incident being traumatic for a five-year-old, that memory reminded him why he liked animals a little bit more than people. At least animals were frank with their loyalty.

Josh was brought out of his musings when Brianna asked him a question. "No," he replied, leaning back to sit down completely. "My cousin does, the one I live with, but no crups." He couldn't count how many Darcie had now, but she certainly had way too many for a four-year-old. Her interests in anything were also fleeting and he could see her growing up to be the unhappy, attention-seeking type. If he cared enough, he would try and intervene, but she wasn't going to be his problem. It was just sad that his aunt and uncle had to conceive such a beautiful child and leave her to become such a monster.

"Animals are comforting," Josh admitted, "even just goldfish swimming around in their bowls." He watched Manny quietly as he continued to attack the toy. The toy's squeaks seemed to spur on the little crup to play-fight more. Pets were like children; innocent before they came to understand their surroundings and the cruel world. Josh hadn't come into contact with too many babies, but when he did, he felt bad for them. He wanted to protect them, but, as a realist, he knew the world's adulteration was inevitable.

Josh eyes went to gauge Brianna's reaction. She never seemed to be totally happy and Josh picked up on that from time to time. With the crup, however, she seemed to be at home, in a sense. He couldn't remember hearing her giggle either except for that time in Charms class, but that didn't count. He studied her face, wanting to know what it was that Brianna was always concerned about. He knew there were things she was hiding, but he couldn't know the extent of it. When he was younger, Josh had always been a self-preservationist, but after meeting Cecilia, he had found himself extending to try and protect those he cared about. Moving to a different school in a different country had been mostly for Cecilia's sake. It was a way he could protect her from his uncle's attention.

It was strange to think that Brianna could be someone he would be willing to protect. Perhaps not to that extent, but she was something of a friend. He didn't know what they were, exactly, but he didn't think he felt the desire to protect just anybody.

His eyes flicked back down to the crup and he sighed through his nose. His hand reached out to stroke Manny's back. Josh didn't allow himself to miss anything, even pets. He didn't want to; it was a sign of weakness, but more than that, getting too attached to anything meant that it was going to be hurt or taken away. That was how life was for Josh and that was how his relatives wanted to keep it. The McLachlan motto: all weaknesses are hinderances to power; therefore, get rid of anything that makes one weak.

0 Josh McLachlan It's just when it comes from you. 0 Josh McLachlan 0 5

Brianna

December 17, 2012 12:50 AM

Does that make me special? by Brianna

“Oooh.” Brianna said in understanding when Josh had mentioned the crups were more for companionship than anything. She had just been thinking of that herself. It was a selfish thought to have, but Brianna really felt that even something as simple as a furry friend would help improve a person’s life tremendously. They could not sit and have a conversation with you on days when you want to chat, but they could at least listen to you banter. And on the days where one felt so lonely, they would be there to keep one company. When someone was sad and crying, they would comfort them during their time of need. Brianna didn’t have any friends, but she felt that a dog wouldn’t hate her for her looks or for her status. The dog wouldn’t lie to her or say her feelings didn’t matter. The dog would love her unconditionally and never leave her side.

Brianna thought it was strange that he had to state that his cousin did but he did not. If they lived together, wouldn’t the animal then be all of theirs? Why did one gain possession over another? Were they cutesy kittens or some other girlish animal that Josh didn’t agree with that made him not consider them his pets too? Or, was there something more than that?

Josh never discussed his life with her. She really knew nothing about him other than what she heard from her parents and they weren’t the most reliable when it came to sources about other families. However, sometimes they really did learn a lot. People talked openly to others of their class and often ignored those who were beneath them but happened to be in the same room. Her mother was a quiet woman when she worked and was often forgotten in the background while Socialites held their afternoon group teas together and gossiped. That was how she had learned about the McLachlans. But all she knew was that Josh was an orphan, his parents had died when he was a baby, and that he had lived in various places across the ocean after that. She felt that there was something more to that. He didn’t talk about something very important, but she wasn’t sure what. She just knew that he didn’t want to get close to people and since she didn’t want to bother people, it seemed to work out best for them.

“Fish?” Brianna had never considered having a fish for a pet. “But they don’t really do anything. How is that comforting?” Maybe having a fish bowl in her room would be okay? It didn’t take up a lot of space and she didn’t think she would need to feed it a ton where her parents couldn’t afford it. It was a thought anyway. She would have to discuss it with her parents to see what they thought. Next year was her CATS year and she was likely to have to buy expensive books and lots of materials where her parents might not be able to extend their funds for a fish and some food. Maybe someday though.

The crup paused in his fight with the squeaker to enjoy Josh’s attention for a little bit. Brianna looked around the room for a moment to see what everyone else was doing. She would have to write a report about this, so she ought to actually be studying the crup instead of just playing with it. But, she already knew a bit and could learn the rest from books. He was just so cute, she could eat him up! “I never realized how cute dogs could be.” Brianna commented as she studied Manny enjoying his petting. “I sometimes see dogs when I go to the park, but I don’t get close to them because you never know if they bite. But, if they are like this, I can see why they are so loved.”

0 Brianna Does that make me special? 0 Brianna 0 5