Lesson 1 - Devil's Snare (5th - 7th years)

The Hufflepuff looked at the Gryffindor's outstretched hand for a few moments, blinking like a fool. He knew she wanted him to shake it, but for the life of him the boy couldn't imagine why. Someone's probably put her up to it he told himself, smile starting to falter. Of course, how couldn't he have seen it before? It was the only possible reason someone could be nice to someone like him. Nonetheless, he shook her hand weakly before returning it to his side. "Sixth year."

Joe was conflicted as to whether he should go next or not. On one hand, it would prove that he wasn't a total wimp and that he could do it without being scared of people knowing he had volunteered himself, but on the other hand, wherever they would be lead by the snare Joe would find himself alone with Joshua Murray for some time. The latter thought brought a wave of a nausea-like feeling with it, but without much more hesitation, the boy whispered nox and extinguished his light, stepping forward slowly and for once managing to stumble.

The boy took a few seconds to steady himself, making sure not to catch Azalea like the Slytherin before him did, and take a breath, reminding himself to stay calm. The thought of being alone with Josh was enough to make him squirm, but he knew he could do it because, well, he didn't want Azalea to find him to be scared. Closing his eyes, the Hufflepuff felt himself sinking slowly as he held himself perfectly still. The sensation was beyond odd, but it was soothing in a way, he found.

Yes, it was oddly soothing to feel yourself drowning without the pain.

Thana remained quiet throughout the first few questions, not saying anything. She did however walk up to the devil's snare when it was offered for people to have a go. She wasn't scared of it, so she went right up to the Professor. 'I'll go" she offered, walking over to it. She wasn't scared of the plant, or Josh Murray. She quickly whispered Nox, and stood behind the other boy Thana believed he was a Hufflepuff. She waited for her turn.

Finally the believed Hufflepuff went down, and it was Thana's turn. Thana nodded at Azalea, then she went straight up and to the plant, allowing the tendrils to take her. She wasn't scared, so she went straight down. Literally in a matter of seconds, she went through. The feeling of drowning almost made her happy, she was oddly peaceful when she thought she might die. But she would never say that to anyone, instead she happily sunk down through the Devils Snare.

When the question to be tangle with the infamous Devil's Sanre had first been presented, JC was almost sure that Azalea was just joking. Surely there wouldn't be anyone crazy enough to actually to that. But then not just one, or two--but three of his classmates headed into the thicket of tendrils and got swallowed up by it. Never being one to allow himself to be out done JC stepped up next and extinguished the light on his wand. "Oh why the hell not seems like a bloody good time." As he walked into the center of the plant and felt it constrict him, he immediately began to panic for a few moments before he felt it getting tighter.

'Get it together mate you can do this' He thought to himself as he tried to think relaxing thoughts. Suntanning on the beach, sipping spiked cocoa in Aspen, surprise early morning wake up sex. And with that JC's body eased into a state of relaxation the plant dropped him through to where his classmates were waiting. "Well that was fun..."

As Azalea gave out instructions, Brooke's eyes went wide. There was no way she was going to be the first to go, and she stood back, waiting. She watched as Josh went, followed by Joe, Thana and another Slytherin she didn't know.

Looking around, she saw no other students moving, and decided that she would be next. Walking forward to the edge of the messy, tangled vines, she whispered, "Nox." She blinked, trying to adjust to the blackness. This was not something she particularly wanted to do, but she knew that Azalea would not let them do anything that would cause them harm. Right?

"I can do this," she muttered to herself. Taking a few quick steps forward, she soon felt her legs being engulfed by the plant.

Instinct kicked in and she tried to pull away, feeling the vines tighten almost painfully. Taking a deep breath and reminding herself that this was just a class and that she was safe, she forced herself to relax. Her body sunk deeper and deeper, and she swallowed the panic that was rising. It was as though she was being buried alive, something that terrified her. Soon, it covered a head and she had to hold her breath for a few seconds. There was a sudden pop and she landed feet first onto solid ground.

October couldn't see anymore, not since she stopped the light coming from her wand tip. The Hufflepuff wasn't afraid of the Devil's Snare, but that could also in a way be considered dangerous if the person began to freak out and no one did anything about it. October decided she'd give it a shot just to get it out of the way, she heard Azalea's voice and in no time did she feel something wrap around her. As if in an instinct, she began to panic a bit and felt the Devil's Snare tighten. October closed her eyes and began to calm her body so that nothing bad would happen to her.

Next thing she knew she felt the plant.. if you could call it a plant loosen and there was a pop and she landed on her feet. October was grateful she was able to get through that without getting hurt.

"Nox" she said and her wand was no longer lit. Mavis didn't know what to do now then hope and pray someone got caught up in that thing and freaked out so bad that the Devil's Snare didn't let go and only tightened its grip. Oh how that would be completely amusing if something like that happened to someone. When she heard no signs of a real struggle, the Slytherin scoffed before going towards the damn thing. Mavis got caught up in it and stayed completely calm and still.

This wasn't the first time she got caught up in this stuff and it wouldn't be the last. When the Devil's Snare let her go, she landed on her feet.

"One by one, please extinguish your wand and come to me. It will be pitch black so listen to my voice. Step into the tangle of vines and let them hold you. Do not struggle and do not try to break free. Just relax and eventually, it will let you go. I'll be here at all times so please remember you're perfectly safe."

Lucy listened to Azalea's instructions. Well, this was quite interesting. Walking into the plant that everyone knew liked to strangle people to their deaths. Though, if Azalea said it was safe, she agreed. She trusted the witch. One by one, she watched as the lights went out. "Nox," she murmured and her own light went out. She slowly and carefully stepped into the vines. She could feel them slithering around her legs and gripping them tightly. It was okay though, because Azalea said it would be. Taking a deep breath, she relaxed her muscles, not focussing on the plant, only on steadying her breathing.

She had begun to sink into the plant. Keeping focus, steadying her breathing, relaxing. And the plant seemed to loosen its grip. It was no longer tight and snug, it was relaxed, as she was. Gratefully, after not too long, she felt her feet touch the ground, and realised she had passed through with ease.

As Cassidy heard what they'd be doing today for the activity, she was shocked. Because, despite Azalea's reassurance that nothing would go wrong, it was still Devil's Snare. Still the plant that would choke every last living breath out of someone if they mistakenly fell into it and struggled a bit too much. It was a big risk to take.

Still, one by one, students diminished their wands, and stepped into the plant. Realising that she'd have to do it sooner or later, Cassidy murmured "Nox" and stepped into the vines. They wrapped around her ankles quickly and tightly, and she couldn't help a yelp of surprise as they snaked up around her legs. It was an odd sensation. She focussed hard on staying calm as the vine coiled around her hips, then her waist, all the way up until she felt (suddenly) her feet touch the floor, and she realised she had successfully passed through.

Shawn was slightly nervous as he watched his classmates go into the Devil's Snare one after the other. If Azalea said things would be okay than it would be, but it didn't stop him worrying a little about the dangerous plant. Seeing that he was one of the last people left to go, he took a deep breath and stepped forward. "Nox." he said quietly, extinguishing his wand.

As soon as he stepped into the Devil's Snare he felt it wrapping around him slowly beginning to squeeze. The natural reaction would be to fight to get out, but he willed himself to stay still and try to relax. Focusing on his breathing, he tried to calm the uneasy feeling that he might not get out. "In, out, in, out." he whispered to himself. Gradually he started to calm down, and he soon slipped through the plant and landed on the other side.