Valdez sat in his office chair at his desk in the greenhouse, waiting the clock to strike two. That was the time in which he would begin class. Today's lesson wouldn't be hard, it would be more of a 'get to know one another' thing. Herbology wasn't his first choice of classes to teach, but it was a subject he was good at nonetheless.

Yuni went up to the board and jotted down "Devil's Snare"

Ana walked swiftly into class fearing the possibility that she might be late. She glanced at the clock and sighed a breath of relief to see she had a few minutes to spare. She found a spot that looked good and nodded to the new teacher at the front of the room.

She set her things down carefully in front of her and ran her hand along the velvet cover of her journal. She was quite excited for herbology. It was her Mom's specialty and always had been so naturally, it was hers too. Everyone always said she was like her mother's twin and this was definitely true in more ways than one.

*Melanie and Aiden walked into the class together. Harshing had forced them to be a couple before he was forced out, and thus far, it hadn't been revoked...so it still had to continue, after all, a headmaster's instructions were a headmaster's instructions. Mel couldn't be more relieved that he was gone- especially because the authorities now promised to find a way to get Mark and bring him back to her. Anyway, since part of Harshing's order included that they had to show public affection, they were with each other as often as they could be.*

Aiden:"Where do you want to sit?" *he asked as he looked around. Melanie hesitated as she tried to decide which spot she liked the best.*

Melanie:"Ummm, over there is good." *she replied as she pointed to somewhere around the middle of the room.*

Aiden:"You always sit in the middle...." *he wasn't sure if it was a complaint or a statement, he just knew that it had to be said.*

Melanie:"I know," *she replied with a smile before walking to the spot she had mentioned.*

*She noticed that it was someone mildly unfamiliar sitting at the teacher's desk....*

Melanie:"Oh!" *she whispered intensely*"This is Harshing's replacement." *she couldn't help but grin at the last two words. His replacement....it was wonderful.*




~Mel

Rebecca walked across the grass her cloak billowing down by her ankles. Walking down the sudden hill she made her way into the open doorway that lead to the greenhouses. Today she could tell was going to be a half way decent day. One because she liked most of her classes and two she knew she wouldn't be forced to listen to the teacher drone on. Especially in Charms. One of her two favorite classes.

Shaking her thoughts away Rebecca's blue eyes took in the greenhouse and everyone in it so far. Walking farther in she noticed the boy and girl who just happened to take a seat in the middle of the room. Upon further inspection she noticed the teacher setting at his desk. Taking in his appearance she immediately knew he was their Headmaster. Now I'll really have to pay attention in this class, Rebecca thought to herself a small smile on her face while she took the seat to her right and sat down. Not that I wasn't already.

Yuni rose and cleared his throat. He figured it was about time for class to begin. Anyone late would be given a pass, he supposed, as long as they didn't make too much of a scene...

"Buenos dias, chicos," He said, clearly and much slower than he normally would, "My name is Professor Yuniesky Ernesto Valdez. You may call me Professor Valdez, or Professor Yuni. Before we begin with today's lesson, I thought I would clear up some of the mystery about me." He saw the looks the class was giving him, paused, then continued, "I was born in Rikimbilly, Cuba. My parents both lived in Cuba, until we moved to Britain when I was five. I attended Hogwarts, and graduated top of my class from Ravenclaw. Since then, I have held various jobs within the ministry trying to prevent coruption..." He winked and said, "I think all of you are intelligent and well informed enough to know how that went... Anyway, I am fluent in both Spanish and English, as well as some regional dialects..." He paused and figured that he was boring his class. "Anyways... Before we start, is there anything you would like to tell me about yourselves, or ask?"

*Regional dialects- Melanie laughed quietly. Maybe she would actually have a professor for once that never needed her to repeat anything. As far as she knew, she and her brothers were the only students from Sunderland....People just weren't used to it.*

*Aiden gave Melanie a questioning look. What's funny about anything he just said? he thought.*


*Melanie noticed this and proceeded to giggle again. She really did not want to answer the question, but she had one question that had been bothering her for a very long time, so she raised her hand high in the air.*


*This surprised Aiden more than anything Melanie had done lately, and she was full of surprises. She hated talking to people about herself, it didn't make sense for her to do it. He stared at her in confusion.*




~Mel

Yuni pointed to a girl sitting in the center of the classroom. "Yes, you miss, what is your name? Where are you from, and what is your question."
Yuni had the desire to take out one of his cubans from his personalized cigar case, but thought better of it. He was the headmaster now, and his father always told him that smoking was weakness. He loved his cigars though, even though it was disgraceful to his father.

*Added questions? Melanie tried to hide her surprise. It wasn't anything big, but it was enough to take her off guard.*
Melanie:"Oh, um," *she put her hand back down, trying to remember what he had asked her.*"My name is Melanie Hunter...I'm from Sunderland, and....Are you going to do anything about the ban on....the banned...people who can turn into animals?" *she asked, trying to phrase the question so that she would never actually, in all technicality, say Animagus. According to Harshing, it was illegal. She figured that the current circumstance mad ethe law a little less severe.*




~Mel

"Mucho gusto Miss Hunter." He paused. He hadn't decided what to do about the policies that Harshing left behind. "Corazon, do you mean animagi? I believe that everyone should be able to expand their knowledge and ability of all things magic. However, there is a right and wrong way to do things. I think that if," he stressed the hypothetical, "you are thinking about trying to become a animagus, you should go through the proper channels, or at least talk to some adult you trust..." He paused, realizing that he didn't really answer her question. "I plan to offer a course next term that discusses how one can become an animagi, and going about it legally."

Melanie:"Well, sir....I already am." *she explained to him.* "Harshing made it so that we aren't allowed to transform anymore or...basically anything."*She wasn't really sure if she was getting her point across to the headmaster or not.*




~Mel

"Chiquita, I believe that if you can do it and it's in the parameter of the law, you should do it." He smiled, the kids were surpassing his magical ability when he was their age. If it wasn't animagi, it was something else... "Any more questions?"

Nana rushed across the Hogwarts grounds to get to her first Herbology class. She was really late and the constant wind was blowing against her making it rather hard to run, She finally reached the door of the greenhouse. Before Nana walked in she stopped running and tried to walk in as quietly as possible. Nana snuck into the room and sat at the desk nearest to the door. She hoped that since she was in the back no one would notice that she hadn't been there before.

"Miss," Yuni spoke, "Why are you late to my class?" He didn't take well to people sneaking into his class. He wouldn't have minded if she had come in and profusely apologized. Next to godliness was punctuality in his book.

Darn it all Nana thought. She was most defnately busted for being late. She was actually late for a good reason this time, she was so worried she'd be late that she wasn't watching where she was going and had gotten caught in that trick step. She said,

"Er, I was late because I got caught in that trick step on the staircase. Then I was stuck there until someone got me out." Nana hoped that would be enough for this teacher,

Valdez was clearly disappointed. "Chiquita, that is a terrible excuse. You are a third year. That's not a valid excuse any longer. Not only will you be docked ten points from your house, you will serve a detention and write me a paper on the importance of being on time." He turned back to address the rest of the class.

"It's time for the lesson I suppose. The Devil's Snare... It is made of several springy tendrils and vines which are sensitive to the touch. It uses these tentacle like vines to ensnare anything that touches it. This plant will strangle anything that it captures, so it is important to understand how it works. There are only two ways to escape this plant. First, and the most difficult is to relax. This will allow you to slide through it. The other way is to start a fire or heat it. This may be easier depending on how calm you can remain. Some people enjoy carefully clipping this plant and potting it." He paused, "From a botanical point of view, Devil's Snare does not tolerate sun very well and should be kept indirect from it. They thrive in humid, damp climates. This is important to remember in case you are ever in these climates."

"Today, you will be pruning and transplanting the school's Devil's Snare plant. I trust that all of you remembered your pruning sheers and dragonskin gloves?" He gave them some time to take out their necessary supplies, then said, "This must be done carefully so as not to die. I recommend that you do this with a partner so you have someone to help you if you get trapped. Off you go"

Double darn it! If I'm on time once I'm late the next time At least Nan had remember her gloves and her pruning sheers. Now all she needed was to remember not to be late to detention. She also needed a partner she hoped someone would walk over to her.

*Muchia Dawson strolled into class a good 15 minutes late. He didn't care though. he was late all the time and never realy attempted to remedy that. As he walked in he spotted the girl that he had hepled out of the trick stair on the way here. He gave her a quick smile and walked over to the seat his friend John had saved him.*

Muchia: Sorry I'm late sir *he said adressing the proffessor in a tone just slightly sarcastic but not so sarcastic that a teacehr could get him in trouble for disrespect* It wont happen again.

Rebecca listened to the teacher/headmaster. As he spoke about himself then asked if anyone had any questions. She kept her hand down quite content at the moment. Though when another girl raised her hand and asked her question Rebecca's eyes brows rose wondering why she was asking something like that. Though once her and the headmaster continued speaking to one another she gasped slightly in surprise. She had to admit she was a little jealous of the girl. After all ever since Rebecca had found out what an animagus was she'd wanted to be one.

Shaking her thoughts away Rebecca turned toward the girl who had come in late. Watching the interaction between her and the headmaster she couldn't help but think the punishment a little over done at least the detention. It was the girl's first tardy wasn't it? Even so Rebecca kept her mouth shut and listened on as the headmaster gave out directions. Once she had gotten out her supplies and applied her gloves she started to walk over to the younger Hufflepuff girl for a partner when a boy came in late.

Watching the boy Rebecca finally made her way over to the girl. Glancing at the other Rebecca smiled and asked, "Hey do you mind if we partner up?" As she finished her question she couldn't help but glance at the headmaster to see what he was going to about the boy who had just strolled in.

Valdez smiled. He despised tardiness, but more than tardiness, he hated sarcasm, even the slightest tone of it. "Sir," Valdez said addressing the young man who had arrived late, "You will be serving detention with Ms. Dirks'n. Perhaps, you and her can work on your essays on the importance of being on time together? You will also lose ten points from you house." He paused, "Ten points from Hufflepuff..." He paused again, "Let this be a reminder to all of you all that punctuality is one of the more important things. The majority of you made it to class on time, but we have had to stop twice now for these distractions. If you choose to come late to my class, don't come at all."

*Muchia sat down quickly surprised at the punishment gevein to him for a simple tardy. He was used to getting detentions and the like but still he thought it was completely unjust. First herbology class of the year and already he could tell he wasn't going to do too well at it.

He glanced around him to see who this Dirks'n girl who he'd be spending detention with could be. He thought it must be the girls he had helped out of the trick stair because she must have been late to and this teacher obviously had a problem with tardiness.

Nana kept her thoughts to herself about puncuality and what she tought of it. She also didn't say her thought about being reffered to by her last name. The boy who had helped her out of the stairs had been late too, weird that they'd be in the same class. They could write the darn essay about trick staircases and no getting caught int them. Then again that would be a bad idea seeing as this teacher didn't seem to like sarcasm. Nana nodded as a girl she had seen at the spring formal said,
"Do you mind if we partner up?" Nana said,
"No not at all." She smiled some and made room for the girl to sit down with her. The two of them waited for their Devil's Snare.

OOC- where should Muchia and Nana go for detention, the headmaster's office?

As Rebecca heard the Headmaster take away ten points from Hufflepuff Rebecca sighed irritated that they'd lost so many points in one class. Part of her didn't even think it was possible until of course now. Shaking her thoughts away she turned toward the Hufflepuff girl who she suddenly noticed was Nana from the Spring formal. Smiling at the girl she sat down in the seat next to her glancing at the devil snare in front of them.

Rubbing her gloved hands together she extended her right arm out and took the devil snare in her hand. Pulling it out of the pot it was hiding in Rebecca gasped slightly as her arm and the devils snare hit the light. The bloody plant was already tightening it's grip on her arm. Turning to Nana she pointed with her left hand to there pruning shears.

"I'll hold this Devil snare while you prune it than we'll trade places when doing the next pot of devil snare. Deal?" She asked Nana hoping she'd agree to it quickly as Rebecca took a deep breathe to keep herself calm.

Nana grbbed the pruners and pruned the Devil's Snare. As she cut she said,
"Oh yeah sure, now chill and don't move." Nana was really careful not to cut Rebecca's arm as she pruned the plant. It writhed as she cut off its parts but she just kept cutting until her job was done.

*Muchia had no idea what they were supposed to be doing. He looked about him to see what everyone eklse was doing. They seemed to be pruning the strange plants in front of them.

Simple enough, he thought and he reached out to grab his plant. the instant he touched it it seemed to try and grab his arm. He ynked away instinctively. He looked about him. Everyone elses plants had wrapped around their arms as well but not so much as his had. He reached out again with the same result. This time however he couldn't get his arm away from the plant.

He struggled against the plant but it was quickly enveloping his entire arm. He looked around franticaly for any sign of what he should do. He looked over to John who was sitting next to him.*

Muchia: help me. *he whispered*

*John quickly lit a small fire under Muchias arm and the plant began to recoil.*

Muchia: thanks man

John: no problem, just try to relaw and if you get into trouble put it near som fire.

"Yes ma'am," Rebecca automatically replied as she glanced up to Nana when she heard the girl's reply. Surprise was shown on her face as she watched the other. She would have ever expected the shy young Hufflepuff to say anything like that. I guess we learn something new everyday, she thought quietly as she turned her blue eyes back to the devil snare that was continuing to tighten it's hold.

When she finally noticed Nana was done moments later Rebecca heaved a sigh of relief. She felt like her arm was numb and she knew for sure there was no circulation running through her arm then. Tuning out her thoughts though at that moment she pulled out her wand and lit a burst of light under the devil snare. It immediately recoiled and Rebecca took that time to plant it back in the pot it came out of. Once this was accomplished Rebecca turned to Nana with a grin.

"Your turn," she announced happily glad to be done with her part of holding the darned plant.

OOC: Fast forward a few minutes...

IC: Yuni could see that all the students were nearly done and that minimal damage had been done. "Well done chicos... If you were told to write an essay because you were tardy, please owl it to me. If you were given detention, you may serve it in my office. Thank you for a successful first lesson. You are dismissed." Yuni sat back down at his desk, in case there would be any more questions.