Yuni was standing outside his classroom. Today, they would be having a hands on lesson... It was a beatiful day outside, nice, warm, and sunny. It was the perfect day to learn about aquatic plants.

Lisette walked up to the professor who was blockign the entryway to the classroom. "Oh were outside today?" She asked. She smiled at the professor and walked around the grounds waiting for more students to arrive.

Solana arrived to Herbology and saw Lisette standing outside. Walking over to her housemate she asked, "We're studying outside today?"

Jesse completely lost track of time, therefor found himself running to Herbology. Once there, he noticed only two other students were there.

*Oi, I'm such a loser. And right infront of Lis.* he thought to himself as he came to a stop infront of the teacher.

Ana, completely ready for her second lesson, walked up to see the others sitting outside the greenhouse. She took this as meaning that there would not be a 'regular' lesson today. All the better for learning, she figured.

She found a comfortable spot and sat down in the grass to wait for the others. She stared at the blades of forest green and ran her hand over the tips. She smiled, happy to be outside. Nature wasn't her hobby, it was her life.

The headmaster noticed that the majority of his class was there and decided to begin the lesson. "Buenas tardes clase," Yuni said, "This afternoon, we will be exploring the uses of Gillyweed and learning about the various properties of other aquatic plants. We will be going for a swim, so I suggest that you quickly prepare..." Yuni smiled on the inside. His class has no idea that they would be, in essence, diving in the lake. He figured it would be important for them to not only know the lake, but understand it's ecosystem. He had made a deal with the mermaids to be peaceful and for them to keep the giant squid away...

Like with all lessons, Flame was late, she didn't care for nor wish to give this headmaster the impression that she held any respect for them. Her attitude was calm, and she walked into class, saring at the teacher, not a word of explanation or apology. She walked to the back of the class and stayed there, if this professor wanted to start something then let them.

"Miss..." He wasn't sure what to call her. Under the ancient registry he had, she was Lestrange, but this was the girl that called Harshing father. "I'm glad you were able to grace us with your presence today. I trust you are prepared for today's lesson?" Yuni had shed his clothes in favor of a modest pair of light blue trunks with an orange Hawaiian floral print. He was proud of his physical shape. He hadn't worked out in years, he hadn't the time, but still maintained some definition in his abs and other muscles.

She looked at the professor and rolled her eyes. "Like you don't already know- Harshing." She rolled her eyes, why were professors so thick these days? Would she have called Harshing dad if he wasn't just that? Was she ready for a lesson? Not at all. "Of course not. I just thought i'd turn up." not a single hint of sarcasm in her voice.

Solana smirked at the exchange between the Headmaster and Flame. Then she looked down at her uniform, How the hell am I supposed to swim in this she thought. Which brought her to her next question. She didn't know how to swim.

God she hated Herbology.

Seeing that his class was mostly ready, except for one girl who apparently didn't want to go swimming. "Okay class," Valdez said holding up a bag filled with tangled plants, "This is gillyweed. Who can tell me everything about gillyweed?"

Nana sat quietly in her swimming clothes as a girl said something sarcastically. Then the professor/ headmaster asked about gillyweed. She didn't know everything about gillyweed but she knew it did something with swimming because they were all going swimming.

*Muchia simply sat there in his swimsuit. He couldn't believe what the Harshing girl got away with. Ex headmasters daughter or not she had showed up late to class and had blaitantly disrespected the headmaster and she got no punishment, not even a warning. He had no idea what gillyweed was either and even if he had he didn't know if he would have answered*

Ana was excited because gillyweed was something she did know about. It was one of her mother's favorites to talk about.

She raised her hand to answer.

"Well, gillyweed was discovered by Elladora Ketteridge. It gives the person who eats it gills and webbed hands and feet for optimal swimming performance under water for approximately an hour."

She felt mostly satisfied with her answer except for some reason she felt like she was missing something. Nonetheless, she decided to leave her answer the way it was.

"Thank you very much Miss Anderson. Yes, that is the basic idea. Five points to Ravenclaw" He pulled a single plant out of the bag. "Each of you are going to eat one of these and we will go explore the lake. You can go as far as 20 meters out and no further. The deal I've struck with the mermaids will only protect you for that far. You will collect at least 5 plants from the lake and we will press and identify them, as well we will learn their magical properties." The headmaster began passing out a gillyweed to each student. "The most pleasant way to eat gillyweed it to swallow it whole. If you chew it, you will likely gag and may cause you to vomit." He swallowed his own and jumped in the lake. "Let's go!" he called to his class.

Solana took the offered gillyweed hesitantly. This stuff was suppossed to help you breathe and swim for and hour. Eyeing the gillyweed distrustfuly, she popped it in her mouth and quickly swallowed. Now it was time to get in the lake.

She quickly shed her school robes, staying in only her shorts and tank top. She felt the gills begining to grow on the side of her neck and dived into the lake.

The cold water felt refreshing and the water passed through her gills, allowing her to breath that way. She blinked and began to search for plants. She saw a green slimy one and grabbed it, praying it wasn't just seaweed. Then she continued looking.

Lisette was in her swim suit, under her clothes, and right in front of Jesse too. Lis thought to herself. She was not fat, just self conscious. She took the gillyweed and ate it with her eyes closed. She then followed Solana to the edge of the lake. She stripped off her uniform and folded the clothes neatly beside Solanas. She then dived into the lake. She opened her eyes and felt the water going in and out of her gills. It was a wonderful experience. She kept breathing, gettign used to the way the gills worked, and then started looking for plants.

Robyn's swim suit was under her uniform, and she felt like jumping into the lake for being late again. She found her way to the lake, muttering how much she didn't like all clocks and how much they didn't like her.
"Sorry I'm late. Couldn't find a swim suit." Robyn smiled innocently. She looked at everyone's gillyweed, and taking one popped it into her mouth. She carefully took of her uniform and sighed. Robyn was self-concious about how she looked, she was beautiful but she rarely showed it. Robyn dived into the water and opening her eyes, felt free.

Ana stood, feeling completely vulnerable in her swimsuit. If there was one thing she always tried to avoid, it was that particular situation right there. She had always been heavy, ever since she could remember. She felt mocked by every pretty celebrity out there. Nevertheless, she knew this was Herbology and there was no getting out of it.

She swallowed the disgusting looking plant and dove in.

It was an odd feeling, being able to breath underwater, but it was cool all the same.

Solana swam through the cold waters, the water felt suprisingly refreshing on her skin. She looked around for any type of magical plants beside the green slimy one she had clutched-she was sure it was only seaweed.

She couldn't find anything.

Jesse was still just standing there in his black and gold swim trunks. He was in shock. Jaw a little lower than usual, he was still amazed at Lis in her bathing suit.

Nana had absolutley no desire to swim with other people but it looked like she couldn't get out of this with a "stomach ache". She took off her uniform and set it on the ground without folding it. Nana popped the gillyweed in her mouth and she almost gagged swallowing it. She felt herself swallow it and she jumped in the water faster than she would have thought possible. Nana took a breath underwater and felt the water move refreshingly through her gills. She swan towards the bottom in order to find the plants she needed to find.

Lis was underwater looking around. She had come to like the gillyweed. It made her feel so free. She could swim anywhere and still breathe, it was amazing. Lis was swimming out to the limit that the Professor told the class. She was looking all around. It was mostly dark all around but she could see pretty colors here and there.

Lis swam closer to the bank when she saw a few patches of colored plants. She pulled up five of them. SHe wasnt exactly sure what they were but she decided that these were good enough to take back to the surface.

Cassiopeia took the offered gillyweed, and took off her uniform to reveal the swimming costume underneath. Shivering slightly in the cool breeze, she threw her tangle of long, curly, dark blonde hair out of her face, and dropped the gillyweed into her mouth.

Cassie swallowed, and felt a stinging sensation in her neck. Diving into the lake, her long, slender limbs completely streamlined, she proceeded to propell herself to the murky depths, marvelling at her new gills,

She found that, for once, being a long and gangly girl helped with something; her legs were ideal for swimming!